The University of Southern California is backtracking on a policy intended to exclude men from using parts of an on-campus gym under a student-government-led program designed to make female and &#8220;non-binary&#8221; students feel more comfortable.
On April 6, the Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment (SAGE) launched a &#8220;new inclusive workout space&#8221; where &#8220;women and non-binary students can exercise with a sense of ease,&#8221; <a href="https://dailytrojan.com/2026/04/07/lyon-gym/">the Daily Trojan reported</a>.
SAGE says it is &#8220;responsible for <a href="https://engage.usc.edu/sage/home/">advocating feminist issues</a> on campus&#8221; and describes itself as a programming assembly &#8220;committed to uplifting all voices oppressed by the patriarchy,&#8221; according to the <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sageusc/">group&#8217;s Instagram page</a>.
The program, held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., is offered in partnership with the Lyon Recreation Center, an 80,000-square-foot facility serving as &#8220;the main hub for USC Recreational Sports department operations,&#8221; <a href="https://recsports.usc.edu/rec-facilities-page/main-facilities/lyon/">according to the university</a>.
The group is using the Robinson Room — a &#8220;<a href="https://recsports.usc.edu/rec-facilities-page/main-facilities/lyon/">studio-style area</a>&#8221; used for various workout activities, including dance, Pilates, and yoga — as a safe haven from &#8220;male-dominated fitness spaces.&#8221;
Jana Alnajjar, a USC sophomore and SAGE’s advocacy liaison, said the idea came from hearing women and &#8220;non-binary&#8221; students &#8220;experience a common sense of discomfort in the gym.&#8221;
“I’ve heard from multiple women and non-binary students’ perspectives who want to be involved within different workout spaces, but don’t really feel comfortable being at the gym,” Alnajjar told the Daily Trojan. “Whether that means they’re getting approached regularly or people look them up and down. Over time, that discomfort leads them to stop trying to go to the gym altogether.”
Alnajjar added that the approval process involved “a lot of back and forth” because the room is supposed to support women and &#8220;non-binary&#8221; student groups, but remain open to all under university policy.
“This program is sponsored by USC’s undergraduate student government and is open to all students consistent with university policy,” USC said in a statement to The Daily Wire.
On Wednesday, SAGE appeared to backtrack on the program&#8217;s intended exclusion of males, saying &#8220;inclusion is a foundational value of this initiative.&#8221;
&#8220;SAGE hosts a small workout space weekly to foster access and confidence in fitness settings, including but not limited to women and non-binary students,&#8221; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DW5gq3TFGPQ/?img_index=2">the group said in an Instagram post</a>. &#8220;We believe that every student deserves to feel comfortable and confident in fitness spaces, and we are proud to play a part in cultivating that environment at USC.&#8221;
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the Campus of the University of Southern California

College Students Try To Ban Men To Protect ‘Non-Binary’ Gym-Goers In The Name Of Inclusivity

Education

Social Issues

U.S.

University of Southern California

California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has gone DEFCON-1 on President Trump’s new education agenda — <a href="https://www.kcra.com/article/gov-newsom-threatens-to-withhold-billions-from-california-colleges-that-sign-trumps-compact/68366652" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatening</a> to yank billions in state funding from any California university that dares join Trump’s sweeping “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.”
Trump’s 10-page declaration demands universities ditch DEI ideology, stop using race and gender-conscious admission standards, freeze tuition hikes, cap international student enrollment, and enforce free speech protections for conservative students. The compact calls for ending race-based hiring, restoring standardized tests like the SAT, and banning the use of endowment money for political causes.
The Trump administration sent the compact to nine elite universities this week — including the University of Southern California, the only school in California on the list. Those universities that agreed would get preferential access to massive federal grants, increased overhead payments, and priority in civil rights investigations.
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Newsom responded in all-caps rage, appearing to mock Trump’s social media style: “IF ANY CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY SIGNS THIS RADICAL AGREEMENT, THEY’LL LOSE BILLIONS IN STATE FUNDING — INCLUDING CAL GRANTS — INSTANTLY. CALIFORNIA WILL NOT BANKROLL SCHOOLS THAT SELL OUT THEIR STUDENTS, PROFESSORS, RESEARCHERS, AND SURRENDER ACADEMIC FREEDOM.”
USC — a private university — received $28.4 million in Cal Grants last year alone. Statewide, private institutions hauled in $227.6 million. Public colleges, such as the University of California and California State University systems, raked in a whopping $2.2 billion from Cal Grants in the most recent budget year. Newsom is threatening to axe it all.
The legacy media is clutching pearls over the compact, warning that Trump is “politicizing” higher ed. But White House adviser May Mailman <a href="https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/trump-universities-compact-federal-funds-agreement-df158493?gaa_at=eafs&amp;gaa_n=ASWzDAjelwuXl8TA4CzirTqRK9Hyi6E682Bq3vwYUToAONl96khJkbNWTWxpdFeloT8%3D&amp;gaa_ts=68dfbc86&amp;gaa_sig=C5Sjme964PrJZ5EEW7ZEedhXq7Hn7eUUHmJEm0OHm8IDOhaliFSUR_pzVPOgoDMOVi_iuqK7Hm9UYNkpjUZ3NQ%3D%3D">stated</a>, “Our hope is that a lot of schools see that this is highly reasonable.”
Meanwhile, the usual suspects are losing their minds. Ted Mitchell of the American Council on Education <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-political-agenda-colleges-federal-money-756407729a3b16c7bb51564d5056084c">called the proposal</a> a “Faustian bargain.” Larry Summers — Obama’s former Treasury Secretary — said it’s like “fixing a watch with a hammer.”
The compact also explicitly defends women’s sports by requiring colleges to recognize biological sex in athletics and protect fairness in competition — a direct rebuke to Newsom’s radical gender policies.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson fired back at Newsom’s tantrum, saying, “Gavin Newscum should worry about the disaster he’s created in his own state.” She added that opposing the compact means opposing “efforts to cap wild tuition hikes and protect free speech.”

Gavin Newsom

Newsom Goes Nuclear: Threatens Colleges That Back Trump’s Education Agenda

California

Donald Trump

Politics

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/university-of-southern-california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Southern California</a> announced on Thursday that it was canceling its main commencement ceremony that attracts tens of thousands of guests after far-Left extremists were violent on campus this week during anti-Semitic protests.
The school canceled the student valedictorian’s planned commencement speech last week after the Muslim student, Asna Tabassum, was <a class="c-link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/16/us/usc-valedictorian-speech-gaza-war.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/16/us/usc-valedictorian-speech-gaza-war.html" data-sk="tooltip_parent">accused</a> by multiple organizations of openly trafficking in anti-Semitism on social media where a link she promoted featured <a class="c-link" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5oPPbWtgom/?img_index=3" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://www.instagram.com/p/C5oPPbWtgom/?img_index=3" data-sk="tooltip_parent">propaganda</a> that called for the “complete abolishment” of Israel, among other things.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Breaking &#8211; USC valedictorian Asna Tabassum will NOT be allowed to speak during commencement after outrage ensued following her authoring an antisemitic social media post on her Instagram account.
h/t <a href="https://twitter.com/JWheelertv?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JWheelertv</a> <a href="https://t.co/VhilgFpFYp">pic.twitter.com/VhilgFpFYp</a>
— StopAntisemitism (@StopAntisemites) <a href="https://twitter.com/StopAntisemites/status/1780013324731605170?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2024</a></blockquote>
&#8220;Over the past several days, discussion relating to the selection of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor,&#8221; said Provost Andrew Guzman. &#8220;The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement. We cannot ignore the fact that similar risks have led to harassment and even violence at other campuses.&#8221;
Police have arrested scores of students at subsequent anti-Semitic protests at the school this week after the events turned violent.
The school said that it was &#8220;implementing additional security measures&#8221; to keep commencement activities safe on campus, including directing everyone who is attending to enter limited &#8220;specific points of entry&#8221; where all people and bags will be screened and a &#8220;clear bag policy&#8221; will be enforced.
The school&#8217;s announcement on the commencement ceremony said that because of the increased security and amount of time needed to screen everyone entering, &#8220;we will not be able to host the main stage ceremony that traditionally brings 65,000 students, families, and friends to our campus all at the same time and during a short window from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.&#8221;
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&#8220;We understand that this is disappointing; however, we are adding many new activities and celebrations to make this commencement academically meaningful, memorable, and uniquely USC, including places to gather with family, friends, faculty, and staff, the celebratory releasing of the doves, and performances by the Trojan Marching Band,&#8221; the school added.

USC Students Hold Protest In Support Of Gaza

USC Cancels Main Commencement Ceremony After Far-Left Extremists Disrupt Campus

Anti-Semitism

Israel

Less than one week after canceling the student valedictorian&#8217;s planned commencement speech, the administration at University of Southern California (USC) announced that they would also be rescinding invitations to all outside speakers who were scheduled to be a part of the ceremonies.
The <a href="https://www.provost.usc.edu/important-update-on-2024-commencement/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">initial announcement</a> was made via an April 15th letter posted by the Office of the Provost on the school&#8217;s website, which said that student valedictorian Asna Tabassum&#8217;s speech was being canceled in the interest of public safety.
Noting that the commencement ceremonies were likely to draw a crowd of more than 60,000, Provost Andrew Guzman raised concerns about law enforcement&#8217;s ability to keep everyone safe if tensions were to be inflamed.
&#8220;Over the past several days, discussion relating to the selection of our valedictorian has taken on an alarming tenor. The intensity of feelings, fueled by both social media and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, has grown to include many voices outside of USC and has escalated to the point of creating substantial risks relating to security and disruption at commencement. We cannot ignore the fact that similar risks have led to harassment and even violence at other campuses,&#8221; Guzman wrote, noting that evaluation of social media had not been a part of the initial selection process.
Protests erupted on campus demanding that the school allow her to speak, and within days, a <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/usc-cancels-commencement-speakers-after-canceled-valedictorian-speech/story?id=109444698" target="_blank" rel="noopener">follow-up announcement</a> stated that all outside speakers — including alumnus and &#8220;Crazy Rich Asians&#8221; director Jon Chu and tennis legend Billie Jean King — would also be removed from the program.
A Friday memo, according to ABC News, explained the decision: &#8220;To keep the focus on our graduates, we are redesigning the commencement program. Given the highly publicized circumstances surrounding our main-stage commencement program, university leadership has decided it is best to release our outside speakers and honorees from attending this year&#8217;s ceremony.&#8221;

USC Graduation Plans Devolve Into Chaos After Student Speech — And More — Axed From Program

Hamas

“Euphoria” actress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/celebrities">Sydney Sweeney</a> clapped back at the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hollywood">film producer</a> who said she was “not pretty” and not good at her job.
Carol Baum, best known for her work with Dolly Parton’s TV and film production company Sandollar Productions, made her <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/entertainment">observations</a> about Sweeney during a “Dead Ringers” (1988) film screening on April 11. The producer spoke with New York Times critic Janet Maslin during a Q&amp;A, saying she was underwhelmed by Sweeney’s romantic comedy “Anyone But You,” which she said she had watched recently on an airplane. 
“I wanted to know who she is and why everybody&#8217;s talking about her,” Baum said, per <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13315349/Hollywood-producer-Carol-Baum-Sydney-Sweeney-not-pretty-act.html">The Daily Mail</a>. “I watched this unwatchable movie — sorry to people who love this movie — (this) romantic comedy where they hate each other.”
The executive producer, who has worked in the industry since the late 1980s, also teaches at the University of Southern California. “I said to my class, ‘Explain this girl to me,’” Baum continued. &#8220;She&#8217;s not pretty. She can&#8217;t act. Why is she so hot?&#8221;
Sweeney’s rep responded with a <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2024/04/17/sydney-sweeney-responds-to-carol-baum-criticism-film-producer-euphoria/73364056007/">statement</a> to USA Today blasting Baum for her comments.
“How sad that a woman in the position to share her expertise and experience chooses instead to attack another woman,” the actress’s rep said. “If that’s what she’s learned in her decades in the industry and feels is appropriate to teach to her students, that’s shameful. To unjustly disparage a fellow female producer speaks volumes about Ms. Baum’s character.”
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Maslin also addressed the comments going viral with an <a href="https://twitter.com/JanetMaslin/status/1780439936606318922">X post</a> shared on Tuesday. “We brought up ‘Anyone But You’ because it’s been the rare smash hit rom-com at a time when they aren’t working,” the NYT critic wrote. “Not because we wanted to take cheap shots at anyone.”
Plenty of fans and coworkers took the opportunity to heap praise on Sweeney. 
“Immaculate” producer Teddy Schwarzman <a href="https://twitter.com/tschwarzman/status/1780598277559509034">wrote</a> on X, “I’ll enlighten Ms. Baum that two-time Emmy nominee Sydney Sweeney is not only one of the most talented actresses I’ve worked with, but also incredibly smart, kind and humble. I’m not sure why someone who claims to still be a producer would make such terribly ugly comments, but I can assure everyone that Sydney is at least beautiful on the inside.”

Sydney Sweeney

Sydney Sweeney Responds To Film Producer Saying She’s ‘Not Pretty’ And ‘Can’t Act’

Sydney Sweeney Responds To Film Producer Saying She's 'Not Pretty' And 'Can't Act'

Celebrities

Entertainment

Hollywood

The <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/university-of-southern-california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">University of Southern California</a> (USC) has barred an economics professor from campus after he spoke out against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/hamas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hamas</a> at a pro-Palestinian rally.
Professor John Strauss, who is Jewish and a supporter of Israel, was filmed walking by a pro-Palestinian protest earlier this month and calling Hamas members “murderers” who “should be killed.” Clips of the interaction were later posted online by accounts calling for Strauss’s ouster and mischaracterizing his remarks, claiming he directed them toward all Palestinians, according to <a href="https://www.thecollegefix.com/usc-professor-banished-from-campus-after-anti-hamas-comments-go-viral/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The College Fix</a>.
“His racist, xenophobic behavior, including stepping on names during a memorial service at USC for over 10k innocent civilians that lost their lives in Palestine, is unacceptable. His remarks – ‘everyone should be killed, and I hope they all are&#8217; &#8211; are not only offensive but also promote and incite violence,” a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/demand-the-termination-of-usc-economics-professor-john-strauss-for-racist-and-xenophobic-behavior" target="_blank" rel="noopener">petition</a> for his ouster from the university said.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
here is <a href="https://twitter.com/USC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@USC</a> professor John Strauss saying “every one of them should be killed, and I hope they all are” while passing by students who organised a memorial for 10,000+ Palestinian martyrs killed in the past month <a href="https://t.co/Iuox2laMKL">pic.twitter.com/Iuox2laMKL</a>
&mdash; tara (@taraxrh) <a href="https://twitter.com/taraxrh/status/1723062614295445678?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 10, 2023</a></blockquote>
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A 20-second video of the interaction shows that Strauss spoke about Hamas.
“People are ignorant. Really ignorant,” Strauss can be heard saying as he walks upon the demonstration. “Hamas are murderers. That’s all they are. Every one should be killed, and I hope they all are.”
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Video 1" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/978k1yK7zt0?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Amid calls for his ouster, Strauss later defended his comments to the Daily Trojan, a USC student newspaper.
“I don’t mind if they want to memorialize people who were killed. That’s fine, just as Jewish students are memorializing Israelis who were killed,” Strauss said. “But this started as a result of Hamas terrorist attacks,” referring to the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
Israel declared war on the terror group Hamas as a result of a surprise terror attack on October 7 that resulted in the deaths of roughly 1,200 people, mostly Israeli civilians, with hundreds more Israeli civilians taken hostage in Gaza.
The USC administration barred Strauss from campus after the backlash over his comments. In a letter to the professor obtained by the Daily Trojan, the university told Strauss that he would teach and interact with students strictly online for the rest of the semester “to minimize disruption to the educational environment and to ensure a safe environment for both you and students.” The university said the action taken was not disciplinary.
The restrictions placed on Strauss have sparked a counter-backlash. The Orange County Register editorial board published an <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/2023/11/21/usc-return-professor-john-strauss-to-campus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">editorial</a> this week calling for USC to reverse its decision forcing the professor remote.
“America’s campuses have become places where it’s somehow actually harder than elsewhere in the marketplace of ideas for a person to express an opinion some students don’t like,” the editorial board wrote. “Such is the higher-education reality that caught up with USC economics professor John Strauss this week when he found himself booted off his own campus, forced to teach his courses both at the doctoral and undergraduate level online from home, for the supposed sin of speaking out forcefully against the murderous terrorist group Hamas.”
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“This is an outrage,” the editorial said of Strauss’s comments being taken out of context. “And to have the university support it is even worse  — adults should know better.”

USC Professor Booted Off Campus After Saying Hamas Terrorists ‘Should Be Killed’

USC Econ Professor Booted Off Campus After Saying Hamas Terrorists ‘Should Be Killed’

Have you ever aspired to be the best in your field? Did you ever refer to doing a job outside of the office as &#8220;field work?&#8221;
Are you wondering why these questions seem so out of left field for a Daily Wire column?
Well, if you answered yes to any of those questions, then you may unwittingly be promoting racism and bigotry — according to the University of Southern California School of Social Work.
It seems wokeness knows no bounds — which is entirely the point of those who promote it. They have no limit in their zeal to assert power and are willing to coerce you into following along with their plan.
On January 9, the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work sent an email to faculty, staff, and students notifying them that the department has new speech code guidelines in order to ensure &#8220;inclusive language and practice.&#8221;
&#8220;Specifically, we have decided to remove the term &#8216;field,&#8217; from our curriculum and practice and replace it with &#8216;practicum,'&#8221; the letter <a href="https://twitter.com/houmanhemmati/status/1612635584539033603" target="_blank" rel="noopener">explained</a>.
What is so egregious about the word &#8220;field&#8221;? Well, according to the brainiacs out on the West Coast, it is offensive to black and immigrants everywhere.
&#8220;Language can be powerful, and phrases such as &#8216;going into the field&#8217; or &#8216;fieldwork&#8217; may have connotations for descendants of slavery and immigrant workers that are not benign,&#8221; according to the letter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Another perfectly good word is being canceled: The USC School of Social Work is nixing the word “field” as in “field work” &amp; “going into the field.” USC thinks this has something to do with white supremacy. Please stop. <a href="https://t.co/4AzzrJ3tV8">pic.twitter.com/4AzzrJ3tV8</a>
&mdash; Gail Heriot (@GailHeriot) <a href="https://twitter.com/GailHeriot/status/1613043428820148224?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
If a word isn&#8217;t &#8220;benign&#8221; that would mean it is malignant. Per the letter sent around, the word &#8220;field&#8221; is so malevolent that merely using it promotes &#8220;white supremacy, anti-immigrant and anti-blackness ideologies.&#8221;
So, the school is beginning to put its words into action by banning the term altogether.
In doing so, of course, they are unwittingly revealing their own racism by implying that only black people and immigrants work in &#8220;fields.&#8221; It doesn&#8217;t need to be said, but of course, every civilization on earth has had &#8220;fields&#8221; in one form or another and somebody who worked there.
This would be like saying we need to ban the word &#8220;trade&#8221; because of the &#8220;slave trade.&#8221;
If you&#8217;re thinking that this makes no sense, then you&#8217;re forgetting that the point isn&#8217;t to be logical for Leftists. It never is.
The Left&#8217;s goal is complete and total domination of every aspect of American life in order to create a collectivist nation.
The department is absolutely correct: &#8220;Words are powerful &#8230;&#8221;
If you can <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/stanfords-new-harmful-word-list-is-right-out-of-ruth-bader-ginsburgs-playbook-from-50-years-ago" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ban certain words</a>, then you can control thought and language. If you can dictate the way citizens in a country speak and think, then you can dominate them into submitting to whatever your goals are.
As previously discussed, the Left has known that fact of life for quite some time. The late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader-Ginsburg was one of the foremost advocates of changing the entire U.S. code to neuter it completely of gender.
Well, it&#8217;s time that conservatives level the playing field. Put another way, let&#8217;s leave it all on the field and play to win. One person, for example, who is playing for keeps is Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. DeSantis recently appointed six non-woke, conservatives to the Board of Trustees at the New College of Florida— a public liberal arts college.
It seems the goal with such appointments is to alter the direction of the school in order to stop the diversity, equity, and inclusion nonsense in its tracks while replacing it with something that actually benefits society and the American way of life.
Those individuals have to be confirmed by the state Senate, but it&#8217;s already ruffling feathers.
In response, one alumnus told The Daily Beast that &#8220;he remembers when conservative board members would push for more changes on the margins — such as better job placement for students — rather than fundamental restructuring of the school’s values.&#8221;
https://twitter.com/TimMeadsUSA/status/1612898965891973121?s=20&#038;t=pD1Uss6rwKOJ_mHOGcmwow
The simple response to that is: New rules, pal.
The old ways weren&#8217;t cutting it, and it&#8217;s how we ended up with nonsense such as banning the word &#8220;field&#8221; while demonizing anybody who disagrees with that.
In short, the latest attempt to bastardize the English language coming out of USC&#8217;s School of Social Work should be rejected wholeheartedly.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Why? Stock photo

Out Of Left Field: USC’s School Of Social Work Bans The Word ‘Field’ Because It’s Racist, Apparently

Out Of Left Field: USC's School Of Social Work Bans The Word 'Field' Because It's Racist, Apparently

Academia

language

Woke Culture

Wokeness

Olivia Jade Giannulli didn’t become a household name until she was associated with scandal.
The 22-year-old YouTube and Instagram influencer had a small following, plus the vague fame that comes from being the product of two famous parents. But Olivia Jade didn’t really explode into public consciousness until her parents were forced to serve prison time for bribing her into college.
She and her sister Bella Giannulli were caught in the middle of the 2019 admissions scandal. Their parents were convicted of paying $500,000 in bribes to the University of Southern California to get their daughters in, misrepresenting them as being worthy of rowing scholarships. Many other parents were part of the scandal but Giannulli’s parents,“Full House” alum Lori Loughlin and fashion designer Mossimo Giannulli, were two of the most famous criminals.
Loughlin and Mossimo each spent months in prison and were forced to pay a hefty fine. Now followers are wondering how is Olivia Jade moving on and what does she think of everything that happened?
The influencer shared some of her thoughts during an <a href="https://www.facebook.com/redtabletalk/videos/298151528184131/">episode</a> of Red Table Talk in December 2020. To hear her tell it, part of the blame can be chalked up to pure privilege.
“I feel like a huge part of having privilege is not knowing you have privilege, and so when it was happening, it didn’t feel wrong,” Giannulli explained during the interview.
“I also felt very misunderstood. The picture that has been painted of me, I feel like, is not who I am. I’m not this bratty girl that doesn’t want to change anything. Also, I understand why people are angry and understand why people say hurtful things and I would too if I wasn’t in my boat. … When you read it, you realize that there’s, like, some truth. I understood that people were upset and angry, and maybe it took me a little bit longer to understand what for, but man, am I glad I did realize.”
Giannulli also said she took “privilege and all my blessings for granted” and didn’t stop to consider them during the course of her life.
The YouTuber noted that she understands–to an extent–why her parents did what they did.
&#8220;On paper, it’s bad — it’s really bad,” she said during the Red Table Talk episode. “But I think what a lot of people don’t know is my parents came from a place of just, ‘I love my kids I just want to help my kids — whatever is best for them — I worked my whole life to provide for my family.’ I think they thought it was normal.&#8221; 
She continued, &#8220;There is no justifying or excusing what happened because what happened was wrong, and I think every single person in my family can be, like, ‘That was messed up. That was a big mistake.'&#8221;
Because of it, the former USC student never returned to college. She explained why during the conversation, saying she was “too embarrassed&#8221; to go back after the scandal went public. &#8220;I shouldn’t have been there in the first place, clearly,&#8221; Olivia Jade said.
The famous daughter also had some thoughts on shame and how it has affected her.
“We were talking about being in the public and being publicly shamed, and I was like, ‘Well, my situation doesn’t even compare, I’m not even going to start to compare it to yours,&#8217;” she further explained during a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@oliviajadeg/video/6944020363877616901">TikTok video</a> before revealing what a “very inspirational” woman said to her.
“And she looked at me, and she said, ‘Olivia, it doesn’t matter if I’m drowning in 60 feet of water and you’re drowning in 30, we’re both still drowning.’ I think about that quote every day because I think it’s so true and it’s such a bigger message to our world right now. I think we’re all very quick to judge. I think we’re all very quick to put people down.”
“I just want people to remember, like, if your feelings are hurting, if they’re valid to you, they’re valid,” she continued. “It doesn’t matter if someone is going through worse. You’re allowed to have a hard time in this world. That doesn’t take away from somebody else, and that shouldn’t take away from you. We’re all human beings.”
Olivia Jade’s mom Loughlin is relaunching her career by joining GAC, a new network to rival Hallmark. The influencer also made her return to the public spotlight when she joined the cast of “Dancing With the Stars” for the fall season in 2021. She said she did it in part to prove her willingness to work hard for what she has.
“For the past few years, I guess you can say I’ve been wrapped up in a scandal. After everything happened, I did step back from social media and just soak in what everybody was saying,&#8221; she explained during the show’s premiere.
&#8220;I’m not trying to pull a pity card, but I just need to move forward and do better. &#8230; I just want to show people that I have a different side to me, I have a strong work ethic.&#8221;
Olivia Jade further discussed her feelings on the admissions scandal and moving on from it during an <a href="https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-conversations-with-olivia-87991908/">episode</a> of the “Conversations with Olivia Jade” podcast. 
“You live your life a little bit differently in my opinion. You kind of start to believe what people are telling you, like, you don’t deserve a second chance, and there is no room for growth and you feel like, not to sound super dark, but how do you bounce back? I want to be alive, I still want to grow up,” she said.
&#8220;I’m not trying to victimize myself, but I also am trying just by being and having this personal experience, I really do understand how different of a persona I&#8217;ve become because of it — and not entirely in a good way sometimes,” Giannulli continued.
&#8220;I would be crazy to not have learned anything from this situation of constant guilt and stress that I&#8217;ve given to myself and waken up every day for almost two years straight seeing something written about you,&#8221; she continued.
&#8220;I&#8217;m not saying this to throw myself a little pity party. It&#8217;s circumstantial and obviously, we really messed up. I don&#8217;t want that to be taken out of context. Speaking as a human, with my own mental [health], it&#8217;s so much harder for me to be forgiving of myself because I feel so unforgiven by what feels like the entire world to me. It&#8217;s just like everybody hates me.&#8221;

Harding – Olivia Jade and The College Admissions Scandal (1)

‘You Live Your Life A Little Bit Differently’: Olivia Jade On Life After Scandal

Readers Pass

Head football coach at the University of South Carolina Shane Beamer ripped into &#8220;miserable&#8221; CBS sports journalist Dennis Dodd on Thursday over a now-deleted tweet mocking the USC boys for celebrating their Duke&#8217;s Mayo Bowl victory.
As <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2021/12/30/south-carolina-shane-beamer-mayonnaise-bath-dukes-mayo-bowl-win/9056526002/">highlighted</a> by USA Today, Beamer was not lucky enough to endure the classic Gatorade-dump following the win — but he did endure a bucket of mayonnaise over his head, apropos of the Mayo Bowl:
<blockquote>
The celebratory images of Gatorade being dumped over a coach is synonymous with winning any big football game. It&#8217;s tradition.
But things are different this year in college football. Coaches have been receiving some non-traditional baths after <a class="gnt_ar_b_a" href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2021/12/30/college-bowls-whats-worth-watching-new-years-eve-day/9050356002/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}">bowl games</a>. <a class="gnt_ar_b_a" href="https://twitter.com/espn/status/1476376054415736837" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|inline click|${u}">Cheez-Its</a>. French Fries. And now, mayonnaise.
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer received a mayonnaise bath — 4½ gallons of mayonnaise, to be exact — after his Gamecocks beat North Carolina 38-21 in the Duke&#8217;s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday.
</blockquote>
&#8220;Honestly, I&#8217;m thinking, &#8216;Oh my God, I have to go do this mayo bath now,'&#8221; Beamer said following the victory against the Tar Heels.
All in good fun. Well, not to Dodd.
The CBS journo took to Twitter to seriously mock the athletes enjoying their victory in unconventional, and kind of gross fashion. “My God, we’ve reached the point where hyping a condiment being poured on an adult male passes for programming,&#8221; he <a href="https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs/status/1476592509333774339">posted</a> to Twitter. &#8220;When we have the discussion about bowl relevance, I’ll start right here.”
Beamer did not hesitate to blast Dodd, and he didn&#8217;t hold back. Not only did the coach rip the journalist for being joyless, but took a swing at Dodd&#8217;s poor record of gauging Beamer&#8217;s team success.
“What’s it like being so miserable all the time? For a sport you &#8216;cover,'&#8221; Beamer posted to Twitter. &#8220;Praying for you.&#8221;
&#8220;I still remember back in July at SEC Media Days when you said the CEILING for our team was 2 wins …Keep bringing that expert &#8216;analysis,'&#8221; the coach mocked. &#8220;Happy New Year #FindSomeJoy.&#8221;
Ouch.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
What’s it like being so miserable all the time ? For a sport you “cover” <a href="https://twitter.com/dennisdoddcbs?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@dennisdoddcbs</a> …Praying for you 
I still remember back in July at SEC Media Days when you said the CEILING for our team was 2 wins …Keep bringing that expert “analysis” 
Happy New Year <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FindSomeJoy?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FindSomeJoy</a> <a href="https://t.co/2C0hJ54oSE">https://t.co/2C0hJ54oSE</a>
&mdash; Shane Beamer (@CoachSBeamer) <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachSBeamer/status/1476691683970629640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 30, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
A fan account of the team snapped a screenshot of the tweet before Dodd deleted it. &#8220;Shane Beamer made Dennis Dodd delete his tweet,&#8221; the post was captioned. &#8220;That&#8217;s my head coach. #FutureIsBright.&#8221;
https://twitter.com/GamecockSplash/status/1476723912352358402?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1476723912352358402%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&#038;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2021%2F12%2F31%2Fsouth-carolina-shane-beamer-dennis-dodd-dukes-mayo-bowl%2F
Following the game, Beamer made it a point to respond to earlier criticism that he should have fired offensive coaching staffers.
“We had a plan of how we were going to win the football game, but I don’t think I anticipated it going that well.  Credit to our offensive staff for (that),&#8221; he said, <a href="https://www.thestate.com/sports/college/university-of-south-carolina/usc-football/article256941402.html">according</a> to The State. &#8220;All I’ve heard for a month is how awful they are, and what am I doing not firing people and things like that. Well, I hope that’s a great answer for you right there. That’s why.”
<a href="https://dailycaller.com/2021/12/31/south-carolina-shane-beamer-dennis-dodd-dukes-mayo-bowl/">H/t</a> Daily Caller
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nc-state-head-football-coach-says-ncaa-stands-for-no-clue-at-all-after-holiday-bowl-ruled-no-contest">NC State Head Football Coach Says NCAA Stands For ‘No Clue At All’ After Holiday Bowl Ruled No Contest</a>

Duke’s Mayo Bowl – North Carolina v South Carolina

USC Coach Humiliates CBS Journo Into Deleting Tweet: ‘Keep Bringing That Expert Analysis’

For the first time in the 2021-2022 college football season, a game has been postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak. 
On Saturday, the Cal Golden Bears lost to the Arizona Wildcats after being forced to play with less than 50 scholarship players due to 24 players and five coaches being held out for COVID-19 protocols.  
On Tuesday, the university announced the postponement of Cal’s upcoming game against USC due to additional football players testing positive for COVID-19.
&#8220;It was a difficult decision to postpone this Saturday&#8217;s game against USC,&#8221; Cal Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton <a href="https://calbears.com/news/2021/11/9/football-saturdays-cal-usc-game-postponed.aspx">said</a>. &#8220;We know how important every one of our games is to our student-athletes, especially our seniors who have been incredible representatives of the program, but it was the right thing to do. Due to additional impact on specific position groups, we have decided to postpone Saturday&#8217;s game. We have had multiple COVID-19 positives within our program, and we are taking every step we can to mitigate the spread and protect the greater community.&#8221;
Even though the university has stated that the football program is 99% vaccinated, at least 44 people have tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week, according to Berkeley’s Department of Public Health. 
&#8220;Berkeley Public Health continues to work closely with University Health Services to help contain and respond to a major COVID-19 outbreak involving the coaches, students, and staff in the Cal Football program,&#8221; the statement says. &#8220;All of these 44 lab-confirmed cases involve people infected with highly contagious COVID-19, which spreads easily unless public health safeguards are used.&#8221;
On Monday, Cal quarterback Chase Garbers — who missed the Arizona game due to COVID-19 protocols — posted a statement of frustration on social media regarding testing by the University Health Services.  
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“We have worked too hard to have someone take this all away from us,” Garbers wrote.“It is wrong. We deserve answers and transparent communication.”
</div>
</div>
</div>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
We players are frustrated with our University Health Services(UHS) ⬇️⬇️⬇️ <a href="https://t.co/U1GDfOJjg6">pic.twitter.com/U1GDfOJjg6</a>
&mdash; Chase Garbers (@ChaseGarbers) <a href="https://twitter.com/ChaseGarbers/status/1457913852578779144?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
Cal linebacker Luc Bequette also weighed in regarding testing, claiming that University Health Services threatened to arrest vaccinated players who refused to test. 
“UHS told us we could be arrested for refusing to test as vaccinated individuals with no symptoms,” Bequette posted to Twitter. “If I understand correctly, I can go to San Francisco, steal a bunch of items in a Walgreens, and not be arrested. However, if I refuse a test in Berkeley, I can be… “
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
UHS told us we could be arrested for refusing to test as vaccinated individuals with no symptoms. If I understand correctly, I can go to San Francisco, steal a bunch of items in a Walgreens, and not be arrested. However, if I refuse a test in Berkeley, I can be… <a href="https://t.co/dfCiELikMi">https://t.co/dfCiELikMi</a>
&mdash; Luc Bequette (@LucBequette) <a href="https://twitter.com/LucBequette/status/1458142012872425473?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 9, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
Tuesday night, a spokesperson for Berkeley&#8217;s Department of Public Health blamed the program for the outbreak in an email to The San Francisco Chronicle. 
&#8220;Cases emerged in an environment of ongoing failure to abide by public health measures,” the statement <a href="https://www.sfgate.com/collegesports/article/cal-football-covid-outbreak-44-cases-berkeley-16608097.php">reads</a>. “People in the program did not: Get tested when sick, stay home when sick, [or wear] masks indoors.”
 &#8220;These simple measures keep people safe,&#8221; the statement continues. &#8220;Failing to do so results not only in individual infections, sickness, and worse, but also threatens the safety of all around them – especially those with compromised immune systems.&#8221;
The game has been rescheduled for December 4, a day after the PAC-12 Championship Game, which both USC and Cal have been eliminated from. 
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 23 Colorado at Cal

Cal, USC Football Game Postponed Due To COVID Outbreak Among 99% Vaccinated Golden Bears Football Program

College Football

University of California Berkeley

Well, USC can end any hope they had of hiring Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin for their head coach opening. 
In a fantastic press conference on Tuesday, Tomlin emphatically shut down rumors that he may be interested in coaching college football. He’s happy in the NFL, he’s happy coaching the Steelers, and if you’d like to ask him a similar question moving forward, be prepared for a terse response. 
&#8220;Hey guys, I don&#8217;t have time to for that speculation,&#8221; Tomlin <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/steelers/2021/10/26/mike-tomlin-pittsburgh-steelers-shoots-down-usc-lsu-rumors/8552937002/">said</a>. &#8220;That&#8217;s a joke to me. I have one of the best jobs in all of professional sport. Why would I have any interest in coaching college football? That will be the last time I address it &#8211; not only today, but moving forward.&#8221;
&#8220;Never say never, but never,&#8221; Tomlin said. &#8220;Anybody else got any questions about any college jobs? There&#8217;s not a booster with a big enough blank check.&#8221;
Tomlin was asked about college openings after former USC quarterback Carson Palmer floated his name for the opening as a “wild-card” candidate.
On the <a href="https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/HSW1987918246?selected=HSW3487168317">Dan Patrick Show</a>, Palmer was discussing potential candidates, and let the interest in Tomlin slip. 
“You’ve got Penn State, you’ve got Iowa State, you’ve got Cincinnati,” Palmer <a href="https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2021/10/26/carson-palmer-usc-coaching-search-mike-tomlin">said</a>. “You’ve got a wild card like a Mike Tomlin, if Mike Tomlin wants out.” 
Tomlin has been the coach of the Steelers since 2007, won a Super Bowl in 2009, and has amassed a 154-87-1 record in his career in Pittsburgh. 
He ended the press conference by asking whether other prominent coaches are asked about leaving the NFL and joining the college ranks. 
&#8220;Anybody asking (New Orleans Saints coach) Sean Payton about that?&#8221; Tomlin said. &#8220;Anybody asking (Kansas City Chiefs coach) Andy Reid about stuff like that?&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin swiftly rejects any speculation he’d be a candidate for the USC job. “Never say next, but never.” <a href="https://t.co/EiP1spB4jc">pic.twitter.com/EiP1spB4jc</a>
&mdash; Field Yates (@FieldYates) <a href="https://twitter.com/FieldYates/status/1453038526996549633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 26, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
&nbsp;
The USC job became available in September when head coach Clay Helton was fired after six years and change. 
“This afternoon I informed Clay Helton of my decision to make a change in the leadership of our football program,” Director of Athletics Mike Bohn <a href="https://twitter.com/USC_mikebohn/status/1437524310348886018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1437524310348886018%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fncaa-football%2Fnews%2Fwhy-did-usc-fire-clay-helton-loss-stanford%2Fan9f28zaq3291j1xd4as0zvq4">said</a> in a statement. “Clay is one of the finest human beings I have met in this industry, and he has been a tremendous role model and mentor to our young men. We appreciate his many years of service to our university and wish him nothing but the very best.”
Cornerbacks coach Donte Williams took over as interim head coach, and the Trojans are 2-3 since he was given the job. 
There have been many big names rumored for the opening, including Matt Campbell of Iowa State, James Franklin of Penn State, and Luke Fickell of Cincinnati.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/usc-moves-on-from-clay-helton-will-conduct-national-search-for-next-head-coach">USC Moves On From Clay Helton, Will Conduct ‘National Search’ For Next Head Coach</a>
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Cincinnati Bengals v Pittsburgh Steelers

‘Never Say Never, But Never’: Mike Tomlin Shuts Down Questions Around College Football Openings

Pittsburgh

The days of Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart lighting up the scoreboard at the Coliseum are long gone. USC is no longer the top destination for premiere high school football talent, and that doesn’t sit well with an alumni base that expects to be in contention for a national championship every year. 
New leadership is clearly needed in Troy, and head coach Clay Helton is out. 
On Monday, USC announced that the program has parted ways with their head coach of six years and change. 
“This afternoon I informed Clay Helton of my decision to make a change in the leadership of our football program,” Director of Athletics Mike Bohn <a href="https://twitter.com/USC_mikebohn/status/1437524310348886018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1437524310348886018%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fncaa-football%2Fnews%2Fwhy-did-usc-fire-clay-helton-loss-stanford%2Fan9f28zaq3291j1xd4as0zvq4">said</a> in a statement. “Clay is one of the finest human beings I have met in this industry, and he has been a tremendous role model and mentor to our young men. We appreciate his many years of service to our university and wish him nothing but the very best.”
The decision comes after a wildly disappointing loss to unranked Stanford on Saturday. The then-No. 14 ranked Trojans were never in the game against a Cardinal team that lost to Kansas State the week before. The final score was 42-28, but USC was down 42-13 in the fourth quarter before scoring two touchdowns in the final quarter. 
It was the final straw for a fanbase that has been calling for Helton’s job for several years. 
Helton’s final record at USC is 46-24, but the last three years have been a struggle. USC has failed to win more than eight games since 2017, never able to once again rise to national prominence. In his time running the program, Helton went 9-12 against ranked opponents and 3-6 against top-10 opponents. 
Helton thanked the players and the fans for the opportunity. 
“To our players, both past and present, I am forever indebted to you for what you have given me,” Helton said in a statement. “The relationships that we have built and the memories that we have made will be with us forever. I am so appreciative for all of the hard work that our current staff and student-athletes have put into preparing for this season, and while it will be hard to not be in the fight with you, I am confident that great things are ahead.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Thank you Trojan Family. Fight On! <a href="https://t.co/ejZe6Pr5rV">pic.twitter.com/ejZe6Pr5rV</a>
&mdash; Clay Helton (@GSCoachHelton) <a href="https://twitter.com/GSCoachHelton/status/1437589560750325763?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2021</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;
USC announced that cornerbacks coach Donte Williams will serve as interim head coach. Helton’s contract runs through 2023 and has a buyout in the area of $12 million, according to ESPN. 
In Bohm’s statement, he said that they will conduct a national search for their next head coach “over the next few months.” 
“I want to be exceptionally clear: our university and leadership are committed to winning national championships and restoring USC football to glory … Over the next few months, we will conduct a national search for our new coach,” Bohm’s statement <a href="https://twitter.com/USC_mikebohn/status/1437524310348886018?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1437524310348886018%7Ctwgr%5E%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.sportingnews.com%2Fus%2Fncaa-football%2Fnews%2Fwhy-did-usc-fire-clay-helton-loss-stanford%2Fan9f28zaq3291j1xd4as0zvq4">continued</a>. “We will actively and patiently pursue a coach who will deliver on the championship aspirations and expectations we all share for our football program.” 
USC will undoubtedly be looking to make a big splash with their coaching hire, but who will make a big enough splash to satisfy the fanbase is the question. 
Matt Campbell has turned Iowa State into a top-25 program, but Los Angeles is not Ames, Iowa. It’s hard to imagine Campbell turning down the job if offered, but Bohm and USC may be looking for a bigger name. The biggest name would be Urban Meyer, but Meyer is in his first year coaching in the NFL and has a franchise quarterback in Trevor Lawrence to hitch his wagon to. James Franklin, Luke Fickell, and Mario Cristobal are all names to keep an eye on. 
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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