USC building goes viral on TikTok
Tomo Chien & Matthew Royer
February 12, 2025
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, and we’re reading about California’s “normal gay guy” Republicans. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.
1.
USC’s newest building is TikTok’s latest obsession. Viral videos featuring Ginsburg Hall have garnered tens of thousands of views on the social media app, where students have become fixated with its noise-controlled private study booths. Building staff say only the first and ground floors are accessible to all students.
2.
Last night’s student government debate was about as wild as you’d expect. KFC Kevin doubled down on his promise to bring fried chicken to the masses. The beer guy, after being reprimanded for profanity, said he wants to turn sorority houses into homeless housing. Then the Raising Cane’s fanatic cited his pivot to Shake Shack as evidence of his tenacity.
3.
A federal judge temporarily barred Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing financial aid data at U.S. universities after a group of University of California students sued over privacy concerns. The order will stay in place until Monday as the judge awaits arguments in the case.
4.
The biggest rainstorm of the season is expected to start pummeling California today, though the heaviest downpour won’t come to LA until tomorrow. Officials warned of flash flooding and debris flows across the region, and took steps to protect burn scars from the Palisades fire against mudslides.
5.
California teens, shunning the good-old-fashioned bong, are now hooked on Exotic Whip canisters. The canned nitrous oxide is ostensibly a kitchen tool meant to make whipped cream, but offers a brief high when inhaled — with a potential for brain damage and death by asphyxiation. “They go really well with psychedelics,” said one prolific user.