Daily Trojan USC.edu

RSS

Letters

Issue date: 10/20/05 Section: Opinions

Page 1 of 1

Cults are on campus

I found it interesting in the article published about how USC shouldn't be worried about cults on campus, yet there are definitely cults on this campus ("Web site aims to warn others about cults," Oct. 4).

I am not talking about the traditional thinking of a "sacrifice your babies and vulcan mind-meld" type of cult, but definitely high pressure groups which can be categorized as cults for the abuse in which they make their members constantly endure.

As a former member of the International Churches of Christ, I found it laughable that you quoted their leadership, when perhaps they are the worst of all groups on the USC campus.

Do not mistake me for libeling a group, in reality I just prefer to give the other side of the story that most people don't know because people are too afraid to say anything.

It took me awhile to actually write this letter, because the emotions involved when even thinking about my membership there was overwhelming.

I really hope that the students of this campus really consider that cults do exist and be ever so cautious when choosing a church home.

Marisa Ligons
senior
religion, history

Game unforgettable

When work stops, life slows down every Saturday for college football. Whether you're 77, 7, 0-7 or 7-0, there are three sacred Saturday hours when your school takes the field.

Sometimes, a victory follows, other times not.

Yet, very few times do we find that there are no proper words to describe what we just witnessed. I certainly don't have such capabilities, but I can tell what I saw last Saturday in South Bend.

I saw two college football teams, one undefeated, the other only a year away. I saw a 4-year-old Irish fan taunt me every time his team moved the ball ten yards.

I sat next to a nice 85 year-old Notre Dame fan, who had been sitting in the same seat, every Saturday, for the past 66 years. I saw that same, mild-mannered 85 year-old man scream "kill Leinart" during every third down and I saw him pray before that crucial fourth and nine. I also saw his wife hug him when the game had been decided, knowing that tears were not far behind.

I was punched in the back of the head, told to shut up, to sit down. But the one thing I heard most often was "Welcome to Notre Dame" by the best college football fans I have ever shared a stadium with.

Eighty-three thousand of them, wearing green, believing, because well, that is what you do on Saturdays.

For the Irish, it wasn't their day, upended by an audible and No. 5. For the Trojans, Saturday marked another passed test during a season of never-ending exams.

For me, Saturday was about sharing an amazing experience with friends, about staying on this remarkable three-year ride that I never want to see end, about a gutsy QB sneak with virtually no time left nor timeouts remaining.

Last Saturday was about college football in the absolute middle of nowhere in the absolute center of the sport.

It was about three sacred Saturday hours and one game I'll never, ever forget.

Scott Blumenthal
Class of 2000

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools

Subscribe:

Advertisements:

Custom T-Shirts
Home Services Guides | USC Self Storage Discounts

Comments and Forum Posting Policy

Thank you for your interest and participation in the Daily Trojan comments and online forum system. To safeguard USC's Principles of Community while fostering a healthy campus dialogue, we require users to follow these basic posting guidelines:

Right to Delete Posts
Any postings that the Daily Trojan deems incongruent with its policies - including messages that are defamatory, obscene, abusive or in violation of copyright or trademark laws - are subject to editing or deletion. Although the Daily Trojan cannot reasonably expect to review every forum posting and is not responsible for any posted content, it reserves the right to monitor forums and remove posting privileges of users who violate these terms. All messages must be written in English.

Posting Rules
Comments, interactive areas, discussion boards, and the Daily Trojan Forums are intended to encourage public debate. We expect participants to differ ? judgment and opinion are subjective, and we encourage freedom of speech and a marketplace of ideas. But by using these areas of our website, you are participating in a community that is intended for all our users. Therefore, we reserve the right to remove any content posted on our site at any time for any reason.

Decisions as to whether content violates any Posting Rule will be made by the Daily Trojan at its sole discretion, after having received actual notice of such posting. Without limiting our right to remove content, we have attempted to provide guidelines to those posting content on our site. When using our website, please do not post material that:

contains vulgar, profane, abusive or hateful language, epithets or slurs, text or illustrations in poor taste, inflammatory attacks of a personal, racial or religious nature, or expressions of bigotry, racism, discrimination or hate.
is defamatory, threatening, disparaging, grossly inflammatory, false, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent, inaccurate, unfair, contains gross exaggeration or unsubstantiated claims, violates the privacy rights of any third party, is unreasonably harmful or offensive to any individual or community, contains any actionable statement, or tends to mislead or reflect unfairly on any other person, business or entity.
violates any right of the Daily Trojan or any third party.
discriminates on the grounds of race, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation or disability, or refers to such matters in any manner prohibited by law.
violates any municipal, state or federal law, rule, regulation or ordinance, or attempts to encourage such an evasion or violation.
unfairly interferes with any third party?s uninterrupted use of the Daily Trojan.
advertises, promotes or offers to trade any goods or services, except in areas specifically designated for such purpose.
uploads copyrighted or other proprietary material of any kind on our website without the express permission of the owner of that material.
uses or attempts to use another?s account, password, service or system except as expressly permitted by the Terms of Service.
includes images, photos, or articles or other content that constitutes, promotes or encourages illegal acts, violation of any right of any individual or entity, violation of any local, state, national or international law, rule, guideline or regulation, or otherwise creates liability.
uploads or transmits viruses or other harmful, disruptive or destructive files.
disrupts, interferes with, or otherwise harms or violates the security of our website, or any services, system resources, accounts, passwords, servers or networks connected to or accessible through our website or affiliated or linked sites.
"flames" any individual or entity (e.g., sends repeated messages related to another user and/or makes derogatory or offensive comments about another individual), or repeats prior posting of the same message under multiple threads or subjects.