Students said they couldn’t discuss Emma Watson’s USC visit.

Four anonymous posts about Emma Watson appeared on a student forum on October 14. Replies pointed toward an Annenberg class and said photographs weren’t allowed.

I wanted to know whether she had visited—and what she had discussed.

The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative advertised industry guests in Professor Stacy L. Smith’s COMM 313. The timing fit: on October 14, class was scheduled to end at 3:20 p.m. The first post appeared at 3:53.

On October 21, I emailed Smith to ask whether Watson had visited COMM 313 on October 14 and what the appearance involved.

A week later, I still had no response. Perhaps I should have sent an owl.

So I went to Annenberg to ask students myself.

Students said they couldn’t talk

Outside COMM 313 on October 28, I spoke with at least six students. I introduced myself and Hello, Trojan, and explained that I was considering a story.

Several confirmed that Watson had visited. Most said they couldn’t discuss it further or understood that the professor wanted the appearance kept low-key. When students remained unwilling to elaborate, I moved on.

Were they being asked for discretion, or did they understand that talking could get them into trouble?

Outside the classroom, a woman interrupted my reporting and asked who I was. I introduced myself and explained why I was there. She introduced herself as Kate and, as I recall, as the director of the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.

During our introductions, she began insisting our exchange was off the record. When I asked whether Watson had visited and on what day, she would not confirm either. She repeated “off the record” about five times in all. I do not recall agreeing to that arrangement.

I was nervous and offered my hand as I introduced myself again. She did not take my hand. “We’ve already met,” she said.

When I asked for an email address to follow up later, she declined, saying class was about to begin. I found the exchange curt and condescending. I left feeling that even asking about the visit was unwelcome.

Could students get in trouble for talking?

That afternoon, I followed up with Smith and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative.

What had students been told about photographs, recordings, social media and discussing the visit afterward? Were those requests or requirements? Had students been told there could be consequences? Was any of it in writing?

On October 30, Emily Cavalcanti, Annenberg’s associate dean for communication and marketing, responded. She said guest speakers regularly visit USC classes, pointed me to the student handbook’s rules about recording a class, and directed future inquiries to USC News.

But my questions went beyond recording.

I followed up with USC News: Had students been told not to talk about the visit, including to reporters? Had they been warned they could get in trouble?

I also asked for Kate’s full name and title and a response to my account of our exchange.

Cavalcanti replied:

“We have no further comment at this time.”

I have not established that students were threatened with or received any penalty.

What I actually learned

Watson visited COMM 313, according to several students I spoke with. The timing of the online posts points to October 14 as the likely date.

Watson’s visit was described to me as an industry guest discussion about feminism and her experience as a woman in a predominantly male entertainment industry. I was also told the appearance was not about an upcoming film.

The Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s public course description advertises industry guests, naming Brie Larson, Tessa Thompson and Daniel Kaluuya among previous speakers. But when I asked what students had been told about discussing Watson’s visit—and whether talking could bring consequences—Annenberg refused to say.

Hogwarts has the Chamber of Secrets. Annenberg has COMM 313.

Were you told to keep quiet?

Have you been told to keep something that happened in a USC class quiet? What were you told, and by whom? Were consequences mentioned? Were you given written instructions or asked to sign anything? Firsthand accounts, documents and corrections are welcome.

Have another USC story that deserves reporting? Email [email protected] or message anthonyshen.07 on Signal.

If you need your name withheld or want to speak off the record, tell me before sharing sensitive details so we can agree on how the information may be used.