June 11, 2015

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THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2015

THE DAILY PENNSYLVANIAN | THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

Pre-frosh awaits trial for domestic violence

Ronald “Hopper” Hillegass was arrested in New Hampshire for assault and domestic violence JESSICA MCDOWELL AND DAN SPINELLI News Editors

PENN FOOD TRUCKS: the challenges of the business

Truck owners discuss legal and financial aspects of food truck business LUIS A. FERRE SADURNI Staff Reporter

On 40th and Locust streets Sadik Karakulak leans over the front window of his food truck and hands a fresh order of falafel to his third customer in the last ten minutes. He removes his gloves, checks his phone and returns to the front of the truck. “You were asking about my biggest challenge, right? For me, it’s managing my two businesses,” says the Turkish owner of Troy Food Truck, which serves Mediterranean food on

campus. Karakulak also manages a Mexican food cart at 38th and Spruce streets. For Karakulak, getting his two businesses off the ground was an even bigger challenge that entailed capital investments, countless permits and, most importantly, patience. Not anyone can pull up a truck and sell their cuisine at Penn. To be a mobile food vendor at University City, prospective food truck operators have to apply for a location permit through the Philadelphia government. Food truckers are put on a waiting list and are notified when designated spots open up around campus. That notification can take time. “I waited over two years for

this spot, but now the waiting list is even longer,” Karakulak says, who has been serving gyros and falafels to Penn students and faculty for almost four years now. Karakulak’s two year wait was well worth it since it guaranteed him one of only two spots on 40th Street between Spruce and Walnut streets. Once a food truck gets a location permit in University City, it can maintain its spot by paying an annual renewal fee. For Troy, that means paying a yearly $3,500 for its sought-after location. To avoid paying such a hefty fee, some owners decide to do business on food carts rather than food trucks. Food carts are usually smaller, cheaper to buy, pay lower fees for location

permits and are easily towed by a motorized vehicle. “I started with a food cart because it requires less money to start off. When you start you don’t have a lot to invest with. I started with this and am comfortable like this,” says Leo Saavedra, owner of Tacos Don Memo at 38th Street between Spruce and Locust streets. The limited amount of designated spots on campus coupled with a growing food truck industry has made the waiting list longer and more competitive. Saavedra explained how it took him only three months to get a location permit on 38th and Sansom streets seven years ago. SEE FOOD TRUCKS PAGE 5

Nearly two months after being arrested on domestic violence charges, potential incoming Wharton freshman Ronald “Hopper” Hillegass is set to stand trial. Hillegass, a senior at St. Paul’s School in Concord, N.H., was detained last month by local police for allegedly burning his girlfriend’s leg with a hot lamp after a school dance in January. Hillegass, whose grandfather attended the Perelman School of Medicine, declined to comment on whether his offer of admission still stands since his arrest. Hopper did not speak to The Daily Pennsylvanian for this article at the behest of his attorneys. The complaint was originally reported to a school disciplinary committee, which asked Hillegass to leave school until “it could be sorted out,” said a relative of Hillegass’s — who works in communications at a Washington, D.C. firm . St. Paul’s deferred comment on Hillegass to this relative, who spoke on behalf of the family. Hillegass’ relative and a member of the heavyweight rowing team — who spoke with Myhr before his termination — both said that he was being recruited to row at Penn. In an interview on Wednesday, the relative and Andy Good, an attorney representing the Hillegass family, would not confirm whether Hopper is still being recruited. Associate Director of Athletic Communications Chas Dorman said he was not aware of the situation and that Penn Athletics has “calls into the admissions office.” Heavyweight Rowing Head Coach Greg Myhr, whose contract was not renewed this week, was unavailable for comment. Dorman cited an NCAA rule preventing coaches from speaking about student-athletes before their SEE HILLEGASS PAGE 3

Student accepted to all eight Ivies chooses University of Alabama Student’s decision calls Penn financial aid policies into question BRYN FERGUSON Staff Reporter

Every year, a handful of students achieve what seems impossible to many: acceptance into all eight Ivy League schools. While many of this year’s accepted students decided to attend one of the Ivy Leagues, one student chose elsewhere. Ronald Nelson, a high school senior from Texas, received national attention for declining all eight Ivy acceptances to instead attend the University of Alabama, citing financial reasons. Nelson received a full-ride scholarship to the University of Alabama — the financial aid he was offered from each Ivy League school meant his family would have had to take on debt. At Penn, the average financial aid package for incoming freshman is $44,843, with annual cost of attendance without aid at approximately $66,800. However, some students at Penn find the aid that they receive to be satisfactory. Rising College sophomore Annie Freeman’s entire cost of attending Penn is covered by the university. SEE ALABAMA PAGE 5

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Thousands mourn Beau Biden’s death President Obama was among those who eulogized the former Attorney General

JESSICA MCDOWELL News Editor

Thousands gathered at St. Anthony of Padua Church in Wilmington, Del. for the funeral of 1991 College graduate Joseph R. “Beau” Biden last Saturday. Biden, who was the former Attorney General of Delaware, died on May 30 after a long battle with brain cancer. “The reaction has been universal,” said Reverend Leo J. O’Donovan, President Emeritus of Georgetown University, who spoke at the service. “Whether you were a friend of Beau Biden’s or knew him only from the press, how sad. How very very sad.” The church had room only for

those personally invited by the Biden family. Guests included dozens of foreign dignitaries, several Senators and State Representatives, Bill and Hillary Clinton and the Obama family. Hundreds more gathered in local gymnasiums and cafeterias nearby, where the service was streamed on TV monitors. Four eulogies were delivered, including one from United States President Barack Obama. “Beau Biden was an original,” Obama said. He described the “cruel twist of fate,” — a 1972 car accident that killed Biden’s biological mother and little sister — that forced Biden to “ask God for broader shoulders.” Obama also joked that Biden took after his father, Vice President of the United States Joe Biden, following a career in politics and even choosing the same law school. “He even looked like Joe, though Joe would be

EYE ON POLITICIANS PAGE 2

the first to admit that Beau was an upgrade. Joe two-point-oh,” Obama joked. Obama acknowledged Biden’s political accomplishments as Attorney General, which included protecting women and children in Delaware from domestic violence and sexual assault. Biden ended his second term as Attorney General in January and had announced that he intended to run for Governor of the state. “He accomplished in 46 years what most of us couldn’t do in 146,” Obama said. “The world noticed, they felt it — his presence was felt. And isn’t that the whole point of our time here?” Obama’s 25-minute-long eulogy was followed by Biden’s half-sister and 2010 School of Social Policy and Practice graduate Ashley Biden. Ashley described her life as “a collage of memories and moments [of

I had come into the hospital in a state familiar to most Penn students, overwhelmed and overrun.

Beau] — Beau was a constant presence in my life.” Ashley described memories of visiting her older brother while he was a student at Penn “even though the most unpopular thing to do was invite your 8-year-old kid sister to spend the night in your college apartment.” “I hung around Beau-y so much that his friends nicknamed me ‘flea’,” she laughed. Though Ashley described many of her own memories of her bond with her brother, including taking him to his chemotherapy appointments, she remembered most his relationship with his brother, Hunter. “Hunter was the wind beneath Beau’s wings,” she said. Immediately following Ashley, Hunter gave the final eulogy. In his SEE FUNERAL PAGE 2

ROWING COACHES FIRED BACK PAGE

— David Marchino PAGE 4

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