USC's student senate recommended expanding dining hall hours, as well as meal plan use to athletic concessions. Student senate also recommended expanding Wi-Fi coverage in outdoor areas around campus and implementing a notification system for those registered with disability services.
USC's board of trustees met on the USC Aiken campus to discuss USC's ongoing partnership with OpenAI and to officially designate the Carolina Autism and Neurodevelopment Research Center.
USC's student senate recommended upgrades to Russell House Underground, implementing safeguards in areas around Russell House, and adding free printing to the Honors Residence Hall. Senate also recommended providing students with a rentable umbrella system, similar to the rentable to-go container system used at campus dining halls.
This year, Cocky's Reading Express celebrates 20 years of promoting literacy in South Carolina Title I schools. CRE has given a total of 174,900 books away and plans to give away 20,000 more books this year in celebration of its anniversary.
USC alum Julian Sikkes built a website that uses AI to help diagnose car issues and provide ways to fix them.
Students at USC provide positive feedback on the new night shuttle system that travels to on and off campus locations. Implemented earlier this year, the Night Service Transit provides Friday and Saturday night rides and are slowly increasing in ridership numbers as the year continues.
USC's student senate passed legislation to request that USCPD and the Columbia Police Department routinely monitor Blossom and Assembly Street, encourage senate representation on the USC Master Mobility Plan and recommend inclusion of routine doctor's appointments and the loss of a pet as excused absences. Senate also passed a recommendation employing the assistance of Dr. Michael Goodman to help revise and edit Student Government codes.
USC President Michael Amiridis discussed enrollment numbers, research funding and infrastructure in his annual State of the University address.
The South Carolina Student Legislature (SCSL) chapter at the University of South Carolina gives students the chance to participate in mock legislation and debate bills they create.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said a project to create a new accreditor for universities will fight "woke accreditation cartels." USC is aiding in its creation. However, some faculty have expressed concerns regarding the accreditor system.
The Center for American Civic Leadership and Public Discourse hosted politically opposed philosophers and friends Robert P. George and Cornel West to discuss how they maintain a friendship despite political differences. George and West discussed the importance of seeking and sharing truth while challenging one’s assumptions.
The 117th student senate passed recommendations to create and expand an esports program on campus, urge the city of Columbia to implement a sidewalk along 411 Huger St. and expand Jewish food options on campus. Senate also passed legislation related to Student Government operations and codes.
In collaboration with other marine science research institutions, USC's Baruch Marine Institute joined the Lowcountry Shrimp Collaborative to research the effects of rising water temperatures on two species of commercially valuable shrimp. The Lowcountry Shrimp Collaborative, a collection of Southeastern marine science research organizations, analyzed historical data and current field samples to determine how estuarine shrimps' migratory patterns are impacted by increasing water temperatures.
USC turned Campus Village 1 lounge rooms into student dormitories for the 2025-26 school year due to record enrollment. Some students said they face issues with class sizes and registration as well.
The 117th student senate removed Senator Jacob Whisenant from office after the Court of Impeachment recommended he be convicted. Student senate also passed legislation recommending the student representative on the board of trustees have a vote, USC develop a Carolina Self Service app and that plastic utensils in dining halls are replaced with paper ones.
The Court of Impeachment has recommended the conviction of a senator and has dismissed all articles of impeachment for Student Government executive members and 34 other senators.
The 2025 hurricane season is predicted to be "above-normal" but less active than the devastating 2024 hurricane season. Students can stay informed through reliable sources of weather updates to prepare themselves if a hurricane comes to South Carolina.
