Good morning. It’s Friday, and this is the last newsletter of the semester. Good luck on your finals, and we’ll see you in January!

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1.

The company that constructed USC’s Ginsburg Hall sued the university, alleging that it hasn’t received payment for its work on the seven-story computer science building. Turner Construction Company, which says it’s facing “significant hardship” because of the non-payment, is seeking $12.3 million.

Jackson Mills / Daily Trojan

2.

USC’s decision to purchase a ChatGPT Edu subscription has caused quite a stir among faculty. Partially in response, the Daily Trojan’s editorial board embraced the decision but called for more guidelines. “The true power of AI lies not in its availability but in the structure of its implementation into schooling,” the board wrote.

Editorial Board / Daily Trojan

3.

USC’s trustees are an influential bunch. Collectively, board members have pumped millions of dollars into state and federal elections, revealing their priorities and political affiliations. Annenberg Media scoured Federal Election Commission filings to profile the board’s 10 biggest donors.

Staff / Annenberg Media

4.

Annenberg will offer a course next semester that explores the “cultural impact of G-Dragon,” a K-pop star. The four-unit Monday lecture is listed as closed on web registration, but it’s nonetheless generating buzz in South Korean media — and makes USC the latest school to offer a course on contemporary musicians.

Kwak Yeon-soo / The Korea Times

5.

Interim President Beong-Soo Kim, who’s a lifelong cellist, recorded Bach’s First Cello Suite for a radio episode that’ll air next Wednesday at 7 p.m. In case you missed it: During the pandemic, Kim and his wife were the subject of a heartwarming profile when they performed porch concerts for their neighbors in Pasadena.

Classical California