September 29, 2016

Page 1

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2016

THE INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

penn gets (co-op)erative

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n invasive turtle species has taken over the BioPond and a group of professors sees no other option than to euthanize them. Biology professor Arthur Dunham estimated 75 red-eared sliders — a mid-size turtle native to the southern regions of the United States and an invasive species in Pennsylvania — are currently living in the pond, and it appears they have all but eclipsed the species of turtle native to the pond, the painted turtle. Dunham is a herpetologist who has written papers on turtle conservation and a member of the James G. Kaskey Garden Committee. The red-eared sliders can survive in many environments, including polluted waters, which makes them susceptible to carrying disease and spreading it. Minor risks to a population’s health and the health of other

TURTLE TR UBLE

populations are increased when there is overpopulation, said Biology professor and Department Chair Brenda Casper, another member of the James G. Kaskey Garden Committee. The turtles are responsible for creating a stinky odor around the pond by allowing its nutrient load to skyrocket. They stir up sediments at the bottom of the pond, and they feed off of the plants in the pond that are meant to keep the nutrients at an ecologically sustainable level. Recent algal blooms have also contributed to the odor. Over the summer, one visitor to the park mistook the odor for a gas leak and called the fire department. Though plans have not yet been finalized, members of the Committee and the garden/ greenhouse who have worked with consulting veterinarians

Red-eared slider turtles have invaded the BioPond, threatening its ecosystem. Now, a group of professors says the best option is to euthanize them. ALIZA OHNOUNA Senior Reporter

SEE TURTLES PAGE 7

Michelle Obama rallies students to vote in N. Phila.

After delay, freshman class board election results released

Karim El Sewedy won the race after two competitors were disqualified

The First Lady spoke at La Salle University at noon

CHERRY ZHI Deputy News Editor

HARI KUMAR Contributing Reporter

Karim El Sewedy, an Engineering and Wharton freshman, won the Class Board presidential election, the Nominations and Elections Committee announced on Wednesday at 3 p.m. This year’s new student election results were delayed from their planned Sept. 22 release after accusations were raised of violations of the Fair Practice Code, the regulatory document that governs student elections. At a public hearing on Sept. 24, the NEC found two candidates running for Class Board President guilty of violating the FPC by posting or having someone else post on their behalf campaign material in the official Class of 2020 Facebook page. The two candidates, Engineering freshman Jack Talley and College freshman Connor Wright, were disqualified and the NEC announced that a reelection for the Class Board presidency would take place. Results for the other races were announced after the hearing, including in the Undergraduate Assembly New Student Representative race, where there was a tie between College freshman Michelle Kim and College freshman Max

First Lady Michelle Obama made a passionate case for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign in North Philadelphia on Wednesday. Obama delivered a speech at La Salle University at noon, drawing such a large turnout that TV screens had to be set up outside the auditorium in which she was speaking to accommodate the large number of attendees.

MANON VOLAND | CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Michelle Obama came to Philadelphia on Wednesday Sept. 28 in the Clinton campaign’s latest effort gain support from Philadelphia voters.

EDIBLE BOOKS CONTEST PAGE 5

SEE CLASS BOARD PAGE 5

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Yet when black and brown lives are being lost nationwide, the University of Pennsylvania remains silent.”

Many Penn students made it out to the event, either to volunteer for the Clinton campaign or to just hear the speech. The audience was primarily composed of young adults and college students, an environment ripe for her message about getting the youth to vote. She told the audience that voters under the age of 30 allowed her husband to score victories in four key battleground states in the 2012 election, including Pennsylvania. “Each of you could swing an entire precinct and win this election SEE MICHELLE PAGE 3

INTO THE WILD BACK PAGE

- Titus Adkins PAGE 4

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September 29, 2016 by The Daily Pennsylvanian - Issuu