MEDIA ADVISORY: USC’s first lady joins students protecting statue as rivalry game draws near

Niki C. Nikias adds tasteful twist to Trojan Tradition

Contact: USC Media Relations at (213) 740-2215 or uscnews@usc.edu

WHAT: As excitement builds for Saturday’s USC-UCLA rivalry showdown at the Rose Bowl, dozens of USC students who are members of the Trojan Knights protect Tommy Trojan day and night from vandals. They’re camped out around his feet, and Tommy has been wrapped in silver duct tape to protect him from vandals. This 70-year tradition will be flavorfully enhanced Thursday by USC first lady Niki C. Nikias, who will provide the students with baklava, a traditional Greek dessert, in a gesture of gratitude for these efforts to uphold a university tradition. This is the seventh year Nikias has delivered baklava to the Trojan Knights in the week before the rivalry game, establishing a new tradition alongside longstanding ones.

WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 17, 10:45 a.m.

WHO:

• USC first lady Niki C. Nikias
• Members of the Trojan Knights, est. 1921, guardians of Tommy Trojan and the Victory Bell

VISUALS AND RESOURCES:

• Iconic Tommy Trojan statue wrapped in silver duct tape
• Traveler, USC’s mascot, the noble white horse that appears at USC home football games
• USC first lady Niki C. Nikias handing out baklava
• Dozens of USC students in tents and sleeping bags

WHERE: USC University Park Campus, Hahn Plaza (Tommy Trojan) Los Angeles, CA, 90089

PARKING: Please RSVP to uscnews@usc.edu or (213) 740-2215 for parking information. Media are asked to check in upon arrival.

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