Rahman and Kim win USG election
Tomo Chien
March 04, 2026
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, and these are the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.
1.
Sophomores Syrabi Nur Rahman and Diane Kim were elected president and vice president of the Undergraduate Student Government by a comfortable margin. If their campaign promises are to be believed, we’re now in for free Grubhub, LinkedIn premium, Zipcars, and Canva Pro, plus extended Fryft hours.
2.
At least one USC board member attended a closed-door meeting in Dallas where university leaders discussed a proposal that could radically reshape college athletics. The pitch: pool the media rights of all NCAA Division I programs — a move that could supposedly lead to more revenue for everybody.
3.
USC students from the Middle East say they’re on edge as the war in Iran widens with no apparent end in sight. “I wake up and I’m worrying about my family in Lebanon and worrying about my country,” one student said. “It’s a big emotional weight.”
4.
Students: There’s a decent chance you won’t own a home in California unless you inherit it. New data shows that 1 in 5 property transfers in the state last year were made through inheritance: a record high that’s double the national average. “Homeownership has become a ’til-death-do-us-part scenario,” said one financial adviser.
5.
Southern California’s deserts are experiencing one of their most spectacular wildflower blooms in a decade. Vibrant carpets of flowers have been reported in Death Valley and Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, although experts say they might not last long. Hipcamp created a superbloom forecast map with suggested nearby campsites.
