Koryn Frye-Fuentes and Alec Tiffany help out during a BSA meeting about Lorenzo, Monday evening. ( Neon Tommy/ Celeste Alvarez)

With their hair perfect, dress on and make-up complete, USC sophomores Alec Tiffany and Koryn Frye-Fuentes did not expect to spend their Saturday night in the lobby of Lorenzo Student Apartments, but that’s exactly what they and several others did. 

The two Lorenzo residents were among more than 60 USC students dressed in formal attire on their way to the Black Student Assembly’s biannual SC Invite at the complex on April 12, when Lorenzo management shut down the event around 11 p.m. Saturday night, sparking allegations they racially profiled students. 

“The way they treated us was so poor and disrespectful,” Tiffany said. “I’ve never seen this done before so it leaves us with the question, 'Is it because we’re black?'”

As a result, BSA is seeking an apology and possible financial compensation from Lorenzo for investing nearly $3,000 into the extinguished party.

“What we really want is an apology from the Lorenzo,” BSA Co-Director Casey Ellis said. “Some kind of compensation for the fact that we spent thousands of dollars on this event and it literally went down the trash.”

Problems began Saturday morning when Lorenzo managers told the Black Student Assembly only 60 students could attend the event and not 100 as originally planned. Lorenzo managers blamed the mix up on the loss of event paperwork.

The situation escalated as guests began to show up. Only 60 wristbands were set aside for the event, but Lorenzo security mistakenly gave some to non-party goers or other Lorenzo residents, according to students. Several BSA members had to wait outside after being denied access to the event. 

The party was eventually shut down by Lorenzo, claiming it was “out of control” and that management and their residents felt “threatened” by the group, Ellis said.

“That’s where the profiling comes in,” Ellis said. “I think it’s definitely racially charged.” 

When BSA event producers left the event, Lorenzo security told the event coordinators they were “surprised” that the Black Student Assembly's people peacefully dispersed.

“That in of itself is disrespectful, to say that you were surprised. Because what you’re saying is that usually we're not civil,” Ellis said.

Lorenzo managers called USC’s Department of Public Safety for help, but Community Relation’s Officer Kenn Whittaker said there was no reason for them to get involved. 

“I told a Lorenzo official I really didn’t see a problem going on,” Whittaker said. “I mean these kids were dressed to the tee. That’s something to be admired.”

Whittaker agreed with some of the students who mentioned the partygoers were not a stereotypical crowd. DPS Capt. Ed Palmer also openly supported the BSA’s efforts in seeking an apology from Lorenzo, saying the complex should address their actions. 

“You need to make them accountable because they should be,” Palmer said. “Lorenzo would like to say they are part of the university. [President C. L. Max] Nikias has made it clear they are most assuredly not.”

Whittaker also maintained that DPS has no contract with Lorenzo and only responds to calls that involve USC students. 

“As students, wherever you guys go, we’re going to be there,” Whittaker said. “If it’s USC involved, we’re going to be there.”

BSA is also gaining support from Lynette Merriman, the Assistant Provost for USC's Student Affairs Office. Merriman is currently working on a statement about the incident and is also hoping to join BSA co-director Ama Amoafo-Yeboah in speaking with Lorenzo's management.

Lorenzo’s media lounge was offered to the group for free, with only liability forms that stated BSA would not damage the venue property required by Lorenzo’s Resident Services to rent out the space, Ellis said.

Much of their $3,000 financial loss came from the event’s other expenses, including the event’s DJ and decorations.

Since the incident, Lorenzo has not reached out to the group. Scarlet Garcia, the Resident Services Manager, also declined to comment on the matter. 

The consequences of Saturday’s fiasco has also sparked conversation about racial profiling and racism amongst USC students in the black community. 

For incoming Lorenzo resident and BSA member Mark Love, the whole situation is surprising.

“I personally have never felt discriminated at the Lorenzo. The security guards always treated me fairly and were willing to help and even answered my questions as far as leasing,” Love said. 

Although he was not able to attend the event, Love said if the incident was racially motivated, it was likely just a continuation of the racial prejudice he feels is present on campus. 

“I have noticed that every time there is an event with a high concentration of black students, security is strictly enforced more so than parties on the Row,” Love said.

Despite past experiences that have happened on campus, Love believes that students of color can still feel comfortable at and around USC. 

“The few instances of racial profiling does irk me at times, but it's not a consistent problem as far as I am concerned,” Love said. 

However, for Lorenzo residents and BSA members Tiffany and Frye-Fuentes, Saturday’s issue was part of a larger struggle that they believe should be fought alongside other USC students and organization. 

“We are all students of USC and we are all striving for higher education,” Frye-Fuentes said. “We should all stick together on this and really work together for change. It’s not just a color issue, it’s an everybody’s issue.”

“Regardless of race it was a nice event that should not have been targeted the way it was, but because it was targeted in that nature we think it was racially charged,” Tiffany said.

Following Saturday’s event and past incidents, the two friends say they will not be returning to Lorenzo for the fall semester and urge other to follow suit. 

Staff Reporter Celeste Alvarez can be reached here or follow her on Twitter here.