Bump!
I'm getting my PhD at USC, and I'll be bringing my dog (coton de tulear, 14 lbs).
Is the town motorcycle friendly?
Is there a location that is near the campus and nightlife with a fenced in area?
Realize that when it snows driving is impossible. Also market square gets extremely loud and rowdy. its a great place in terms of safety but there are down sides.
Edit: I commuted to Knoxville every weekend to visit a gf for two years.