The University of Southern California commissioned Slatoff to create a powerful tribute to the women of USC—celebrating their leadership, intellect, and enduring influence within the university community. Rising 12 feet atop a nine-foot pedestal, the bronze figure of Hecuba anchors USC Village as a contemporary counterpart to the university’s famed Tommy Trojan statue, symbolizing wisdom, compassion, and moral strength.

Encircling the base are six female figures in relief, each representing a different academic discipline and cultural heritage, unified by a flowing ribbon that weaves among them as a metaphor for shared humanity and the pursuit of knowledge. Drawing on both classical and modern inspiration—from ancient Greek pottery to the film The Trojan Women—Slatoff’s design integrates timeless ideals with a distinctly modern voice. Inscriptions from Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Euripides’s Hecuba further echo the themes of justice, reason, and resilience that define the work.