A stark warning for international students
Tomo Chien
April 22, 2025
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, and I’m reading about how universities became dependent on the federal government. Onto the five USC, Los Angeles, and California stories you need to know for today.
1.
USC issued a stark warning to international students, directing them to “exercise caution” in their social media presence which may be scrutinized by immigration officials. The school warned that entry to the U.S. after the summer break may not be guaranteed. “The decision to travel internationally should be made carefully,” USC wrote.
2.
A pro-Palestinian student group plans to blockade the “Zionist” Village Friday evening. It’s not clear what the protest, billed as a major one, will involve. The group holds such attainable goals as putting local residents in charge of classroom curriculum, and turning USC into a school that’s “democratically governed” by students and workers.
3.
One man was killed and another was wounded in a shooting at the corner of Western Avenue and Exposition Boulevard yesterday afternoon. It was the second deadly shooting in Expo Park in recent weeks, after a suspected gang-related incident left three people injured at a bus stop near campus.
4.
Mayor Karen Bass unveiled a budget proposal that would lay off hundreds of city workers in an attempt to close a nearly $1 billion deficit. Notably, the proposal would fund new positions at the fire department while slashing civilian roles at the police department. The proposal is now headed to the City Council for weeks of deliberations.
5.
Former Fox News host Steve Hilton announced he’ll run for California governor, becoming the second major Republican candidate to enter the 2026 race. Hilton, born and raised in Britain, is already espousing creative new rhetoric. “Let’s make California an inspiration again,” he said in a promo video.