Good morning. It’s Thursday, and I’m reading about how Fodor’s put this Southern California monument on its “No List.” Also: I realized about an hour after sending yesterday’s newsletter that I accidentally restricted responses on the testimonials form.

If you had tried to submit one but couldn’t, you can do so now. I’d really appreciate it! Onto the five USC, Los Angeles and California stories you need to know for today.

1.

Adjunct professors in USC’s film school are looking to unionize, asking the university Wednesday to voluntarily recognize the United Auto Workers union as a bargaining representative for the group of roughly 250 professors who say they’re grossly underpaid. If the school declines — as it did a year ago with the nascent graduate student workers union — the coalition will have to file for a union election with the National Labor Relations Board.

2.

Right now, LA City Council members have the final say over how the city’s districts are redrawn every 10 years. That essentially gives them the power to choose who does — and doesn’t — vote for them, and was the topic of the notorious racist audio leak scandal last year. But that could change soon. The council unanimously approved a plan Wednesday that’ll let voters decide in November whether to establish an independent redistricting commission, an effort to reestablish trust in the scandal-plagued institution.

3.

California State University faculty plan to stage one-day strikes at four of the system’s largest campuses next week. The union is asking for a 12% wage hike this year; CSU offered 5% each year over three years. University leaders say the system can’t afford such a high raise right now, also noting that the faculty union and students bitterly opposed a tuition hike earlier this year. The union, for its part, noted that several campus presidents received raises of as much as 29% last year.

4.

USC is exploring the idea of opening a late-night lounge somewhere near the center of campus that could feature TVs, video game consoles, board games and, crucially, food and beverage after the dining halls have closed. The space wouldn’t be bookable for programming or events and would operate Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, closing as late as 4 a.m. There’s no set opening date.

5.

Gov. Gavin Newsom will debate Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis tonight on Fox at 9 p.m. EST. DeSantis will walk into the showdown with decidedly more at stake. The Republican presidential candidate must give his trailing campaign a boost less than seven weeks ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Newsom will look to dutifully play his role as a Biden surrogate — but will no doubt use the nationally televised event to boost his own profile. Don’t forget: He’s still the governor of California. Right?

You’re all caught up. Thanks for reading Morning, Trojan, and have a good day. Anna Hsu copy edited this newsletter.

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