Tamara Almoayed
As seen in:
USC Annenberg Media,
Business Recorder
Is this you? As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.
Claim your profile
Articles by Tamara Almoayed
OPINION: Annenberg earns a C- for courage
Lindsey Vonn knows how to get back up on the slopes. At Annenberg’s 2026 commencement, she will likely tell this year’s graduating class to do the same. After a crash at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and emergency surgery to save her leg, she knows a thing or two about overcoming challenges. Next month, I am moving back home to Bahrain, an island in the Persian Gulf that is about one-quarter the size of Rhode Island.
Woman detained by U.S. Marshals Service on USC’s fraternity row
A woman was detained in a parking lot on USC’s fraternity row Thursday afternoon by officers who appeared to be with the U.S. Marshals Service. At least four agents wearing vests — who identified themselves as U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and police — placed the zip-tied woman into an unmarked black Ford. An agent on the scene told a reporter the woman had allegedly “kidnapped” her children, and said there was a warrant out for her arrest.
Incoming class of 2030 set “all-time high” GPA record
USC’s incoming class of 2030 is bringing in a grade point average of 3.92 — an all-time record for the university. This raises the GPA average 0.02 points higher than last year’s admitted class. “The academic strength of this admitted class is truly exceptional, with a record-high average GPA and standardized test scores among the strongest in our history,” Dean of Admission Timothy Brunold said in an emailed statement on Thursday.
Photography company says Epstein file connections against them are unfounded
At least ten school districts across four states have either paused or canceled contracts with Lifetouch — the largest school photography company in the nation — after links between convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the former CEO of the company’s ownership group were discovered. These links were based on over 8,000 mentions of Leon Black, CEO of Apollo Global Management (Apollo) in the Epstein files.
Days before the election, Trojans reflect on the role of student government on campus
Flynn Blackburn, a freshman studying film and media studies, was asked how he felt about the upcoming Undergraduate Student Government (USG) elections. “What does it do,” he asked. “What can it do?” As the official governing body over the over 20,000 undergraduates at USC, USG is supposedly driven to improve the undergraduate experience for all Trojans, according to the USG website.
Weak turnout to mysteriously organized protest against ICE
An ICE Out rally on campus at Tommy Trojan had a minimal turnout with no more than 10 people arriving to the Thursday night protest, which was set to begin at 7 p.m. A flyer for a protest against federal immigration enforcement action had circulated sparsely on social media in recent days. But no person or group ever claimed direction over the event, and no one calling themselves an organizer showed up Thursday.
Nine colleges across the U.S., including USC, receive threats to campus Thursday
At least nine colleges across the country received threats to their campuses Thursday, multiple news outlets reported, triggering campus lockdowns and heightened security. USC received a threat of its own. The FBI later confirmed it was a hoax with no credible threat. The university had notified students of a “direct” threat against an employee who works inside the Bovard Administration Building Thursday afternoon, and said there would be a “heightened security presence” on campus.
Los Angeles FBI says USC threat is a hoax
Campus police, LAPD and the FBI are investigating a threat against an employee who works inside the Bovard Administration Building, a TrojansAlert message sent at 2:06 p.m Thursday said. DPS has not clarified yet whether there is an active threat to campus or whether students should avoid the area. Increased security is in place around campus, the message said. There was no visible police presence near Bovard as of 2:30 p.m. Thursday. This is a developing story.
Erewhon to open in Downtown LA
Erewhon will be coming to downtown Los Angeles in 2027 as part of the company’s greater series of expansions. The new store will be located on South Hill Street — about a 15 minute drive from the central USC area. Known for its $20 dollar smoothies and celebrity audience, Erewhon has established itself as an ultra-luxury grocery store.
Angel trees go viral
A decades-old holiday program is getting a new wave of attention. The Salvation Army’s Angel Tree initiative, which provides gifts for children in need, has gone viral after influencers began posting their shopping hauls for dozens of “angels.”
Student voices on premium tech perks
Students share their opinion on the new OpenAI subscription included in their tuition, sharing a variety of opinions about the newest collaboration.
Is Tech Disrupting Our Culture?
At Wonder Tech Fest, a global conference in Long Beach, innovators are exploring how technology is shaping various industries and culture.
USC Keck and Norris nurses strike over staffing and working conditions
Registered nurses at USC’s Keck and Norris hospitals walked out today, demanding fair wages, adequate staffing, and time for meal and rest breaks. Nurses say the lack of resources has made it harder to care for increasingly sick patients, while Keck Medicine says negotiations are ongoing.
Over 90% of USC trustees’ political donations have gone to Republicans, thanks to one member
President Donald Trump praised multi-billionaire Miriam Adelson during his speech in Tel Aviv last Monday, thanking her and her late husband Sheldon Adelson for their contributions to his two presidential administrations over the last decade. “Miriam and Sheldon would come into the office,” Trump said.
Vermin violation forces brief closure at Rock and Reilly’s
After a forced closure this weekend by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health due to a vermin infestation that was in violation of health and safety codes, Rock and Reilly’s in the USC Village has reopened.
Recognizing the 18th International Day of Nonviolence
On this day in 2007, the United Nations marked October 2nd as the international day of nonviolence. While not being an official public holiday, it is a time for people across the world to reflect on global issues and to find common ground amongst a time of turmoil.
Campus safety, freedom of expression under scrutiny after Charlie Kirk dies at Utah college months after USC visit
Just over six months ago, conservative activist Charlie Kirk drew a huge crowd at Tommy Trojan while on his “American Comeback” tour. He spent time with campus conservatives and signed MAGA hats for an excited crowd. In the hours after his assassination at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday, the USC community talked about Kirk and their own concerns about campus security.
Doheny student workers told to stay in library amid bomb threat evacuation
Lalou Ratsimihah was working their shift as a front desk assistant in Doheny Memorial Library when their manager told them to grab their belongings and tell students to evacuate. The student’s manager didn’t say why, only that there was an emergency and Ratsimihah could not leave until everyone was evacuated. Until Ratsimihah, a junior journalism major who uses they/them pronouns, received an email from TrojansAlert on their phone, they didn’t know that a bomb threat had been made on the building.
Dornsife Office of Experiential and Applied Learning closing amidst university budget cuts
The USC Dornsife Office of Experiential and Applied Learning (ExL) is being shut down, according to Emily Hodgson Anderson, the USC Dornsife College Dean of Undergraduate Education. However, programs under ExL will continue.
OPINION: A voice from the Middle East in uncertain times
My 10-year-old sister was on a school field trip at a local waterpark on Sunday when the sirens started going off for the first time. She had coordinated matching swimsuits and flip-flops with her friends, packed her sunblock the night before, and woken my parents up at 5 a.m. because she was “too excited to sleep.” Within an hour of arriving at the waterpark, the Bahraini government informed schools they needed to shut down immediately.
From Iran to Israel: How GPS jamming affects civilians across the Middle East
*Editor’s note: Last names have been removed from this piece for the protection and safety of the people involved. Abdulla, 22, was driving through Bahrain on Saturday with a car full of friends when he realized his GPS had set his location to Israel. He input directions to a popular local mall into Google Maps only to find that it was 21 hours away instead of the usual 15 minutes. “I was shocked,” Abdulla said.
From the archives: one year since the tents came down
USC’s pro-Palestine encampment was first erected on the morning of April 24, 2024. By about noon, the LAPD riot police were called in by DPS, according to legal observers. By 6:20 p.m., the first arrest was made. Organized by USC’s Divest from Death Coalition, the encampment lasted 11 days. By the final LAPD raid on May 5, at least 50 USC students were arrested, with at least 29 students facing interim suspension.
Case alleging that USC failed to protect Jewish students and faculty from pro-Palestinian protests is dismissed
A class action lawsuit brought against USC was dismissed on March 5 after plaintiffs failed to respond to motions to dismiss or strike “class allegations.” The lawsuit was brought by a Jewish USC professor and student, alleging that some Jewish faculty members and students feared physical harm if they walked through the on-campus pro-Palestinian encampments and protests during the spring 2024 semester. U.S. District Judge Fernando L. Aenlle-Rocha dismissed all allegations against USC.
Alleged trespassing suspect released by LAPD, DPS warns students
Earlier today, USC’s Department of Public Safety emailed students warning them that a man suspected of attempted sexual battery was released after being arrested outside Wallis Annenberg Hall for trespassing on Wednesday. “A suspect in multiple recent DPS reports, [Israel] Jherson Araujo, which was the subject of a DPS crime alert and incident resolution alert sent out to the university community last week, has been released from custody,” DPS wrote in the email.
Five ways USC is celebrating Valentine’s Day
As the USC community gets ready to celebrate Valentine’s Day, some organizations have gotten a head start on this year’s celebrations.
Meet the Candidates: John and Gwen
John and Gwen first met during a leadership program last spring at the Marshall School of Business. Unlike your conventional duo, John and Gwen were matched up based on their strengths and weaknesses as leaders using a “strength finder”. Objectively, their skill sets are supposed to complement each other.
Despite deepening polarisation, Pakistani students still flocking to the west
Hamza Khan moved to the US from Lahore three years ago to pursue higher education at Arizona State University, a school ranked 200th on the QS rankings this year. Now, the 21-year-old has chosen a major, and decided that returning to Pakistan is not on the table. “There is better opportunity here, job security, (and) a fair system,” he said. Harsh words, but true for the most part. Apart from the obvious, Hamza also says career options are limited in Pakistan.
Coalition representatives say first meeting with Folt was ‘extremely frustrating’ in Q&A session
On Monday, members of the USC Divest from Death encampment pledged they are not going anywhere from Alumni Park following talks with President Carol Folt. Speakers told the crowd in the park that the meeting with Folt was “frustrating,” even as they plan to return to the negotiating table Tuesday at 2 p.m. According to a USC Divest representative, Folt told negotiators that no students involved in the encampment were at risk of academic consequences for their participation.
President Folt says LAPD will not mobilize tonight after discussion with encampment organizers
Annenberg Media attempted to interview USC President Carol Folt as she was walking out of the encampment negotiations at Ronald Tutor Campus Center Monday. She confirmed that LAPD would not be mobilizing tonight. When asked about the massive LAPD mobilization Saturday and why the tactical alert was ultimately called off, she did not respond. “I’m going to tell you I don’t really have answers for that right now,” she said.
Student events canceled amid police activity
Student groups were left displaced and scrambling over the weekend when USC administration revoked all event permits for on-campus functions, including end-of-semester celebrations and performances, amid campus unrest. This came just as a citywide tactical alert was issued by LAPD Saturday from 6:30 to 11 p.m. in response to USC Divest From Death Coalition’s ongoing encampment, as reported by City News Service.
The struggle behind the post grad job hunt
Since the pandemic, statistics show that the job market is tougher than ever. Students can expect to endure a six month job search after their initial application, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The job market is also more competitive today than ever, with applicant pools being larger than ever. In 2022, there was a job opening for every applicant.
As hatred on college campuses grows, hear from a Jewish professor in support of Asna Tabassum
The President of Columbia University spoke in a House Education Committee hearing this morning to discuss the university’s response to anti-Semitic incidents. Nemat Shafik, President of the University, was joined by a law professor and two trustees.
Temporary hold on dog breeding permits
The Los Angeles City Council approved a temporary lock on dog breeding permits attempting to address overpopulation at the 6 city run animal shelters. Many organizations and people are supportive of this temporary ban on permits to breed dogs. Senior VP of PETA, Lisa Lange said this was a step in the right direction to ensure the safety of animals in Los Angeles. Lange: Well, it’s criminal that anyone would breed dogs. While there are so many homeless ones in our Los Angeles shelters.
FDA argues in favor of abortion pill in Supreme Court
In 2016 and 2021, the FDA released changes that broadened access to the abortion pill drug, allowing people to obtain over-the-phone prescriptions from a doctor and receive the pill through the mail. The pill has since been used in about 63% of all U.S. abortions, according to the Guttmacher Institute. The Biden administration is trying to defend access to mifepristone against anti-abortion and pro-life groups.
How are USC students coping with finals stress?
With finals on the horizon, student stress levels at USC are at a peak — many Trojans feel overwhelmed and burned out. “Burnout” affects about 80% of college students, with 40% of them being overwhelmed to the point that it is difficult to function. As is the case at many high-ranking universities, students at USC feel pressure to maintain top grades. In fact, in 2010, USC was ranked the 18th most stressful college in the country by the Daily Beast.
‘Last, best and final:’ SAG-AFTRA strike persists
Negotiations between the Screen Actor’s Guild and prominent Hollywood studios have again stalled after the most recent negotiation Monday. The actor’s union began a picket against Hollywood earlier this year following issues related to artificial intelligence, as well as other topics like residual pay and a simultaneous strike by the Writers Guild of America.
California raises minimum wage for fast-food workers
Fast-food workers in California will have their wage increased from $15.50 to $20 an hour thanks to a bill signed by Governor Gavin Newson this month. The new minimum wage will go into effect starting in April. “California is home to more than 500,000 fast-food workers who – for decades – have been fighting for higher wages and better working conditions,” Newsom said at a press conference.
USC to celebrate LGBTQ+ History Month
Student drag performers, DJs, various campus organizations and student assemblies gathered in McCarthy Quad for PrideFest on Friday to kick off LGBTQ+ History Month. The month was formally established in 1995 to highlight LGBTQ+ achievements. It has since grown to become an acknowledgment of the ongoing challenges faced by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual communities. It also coincides with days of celebration — including National Coming Out Day on Oct.
Coffee and chaos: USC Village Starbucks swarmed on discount Thursdays
Get ready for a side of chaos with your coffee. Every Thursday through the month of September, Starbucks is offering its rewards members a buy one get one free deal (BOGO) for every fall beverage they purchase after 12 p.m. local time. On the first Thursday of this month the USC Village’s Starbucks was mobbed by a crowd of customers taking advantage of the company’s deal. Two employees said the Village store was the second busiest Starbucks in the country that day.
A trivia app is handing cash to USC students. Where is this money coming from?
Meet USC’s newest app: TapTap, a live trivia app that allows USC students to compete and win cash prizes. Since it launched in late August, there has been a growing number of students across campus who have been dropping everything to answer a series of 10 trivia questions every day at 5 p.m. Students have eight seconds to answer questions in various categories: campus life, sports, science, business, music, art, food, history, math, geography and pop culture.
USC plants Seeds of change - but they aren’t growing on students
Returning USC students may have noticed a few changes at one of the most popular dining facilities on campus: Seeds Marketplace. The sandwich shop — which in the past has offered a plethora of grab and go options and an array of self-checkout counters — has experienced a total makeover, leaving many students wondering why. The self-checkout is gone, replaced with a cashier stand.
Show More
loading
Actions
Is this you?
As a journalist, you can create a free Muck Rack account to customize your profile, list your contact preferences, and upload a portfolio of your best work.Get in touch with Tamara
Contact Tamara, search articles and posts on X, monitor coverage, and track replies from one place.
Learn more about Muck Rack