Rise of the Ivy sorority
Tomo Chien
March 09, 2026
Good morning. It’s Monday, and these are the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.
1.
The Greek life craze has made serious inroads on Ivy League campuses in recent years, where new sororities are spawning at a seemingly rapid rate. But rather than just, like, hazing potential new members, many require letters of recommendation, interviews, and essays. It is, in other words, a feeding frenzy for pricey rush consultants.
2.
USC will open a pharmacy in South LA next month in an effort to bring much-needed medications and health services to an underserved neighborhood. The storefront on Crenshaw and Slauson will be operated by USC’s pharmacy school.
3.
Nadine Strossen, the former head of the ACLU, will visit USC today at 4 p.m. for an on-stage discussion with law school Dean Franita Tolson. The two will discuss the “state of free expression” given recent court battles and campus controversies. In-person registrations are going fast, but you can also watch on Zoom.
4.
The New York Times resurfaced stunning allegations of verbal and physical abuse against employees at Noma, the world-famous Copenhagen restaurant that opens a Silver Lake pop-up Wednesday. Diners, who shelled out $1,500 per seat, will face a somewhat uncomfortable protest by former workers on opening day.
5.
It was a photo finish at the LA Marathon yesterday when Nathan Martin staged a wild come-from-behind kick to win by 0.01 seconds. Martin is the second straight American to win the race, which this year saw 27,000 runners. Kenya’s Priscah Cherono claimed the women’s title.
