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EDITORIAL, Page 12
The Editorial Board urges professors to cancel classes on Election Day.
THE TEMPLE NEWS
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How to vote in person, by mail in the 2024 election
BY SAMANTHA MORGAN Assistant News Editor
HOW TO VOTE BY MAIL WHERE TO VOTE IN PERSON
Voters should expect to vote for the president, a Pennsylvania U.S. Senator and a Pennsylvania State Representative for their federal candidates. Voters can also cast votes for state candidates running in this election for the Attorney General, Auditor General and Treasurer.
First-time voters should be prepared to show ID on arrival.
When voters enter their designated polling location, they will first check in. Voters will then make their selections on the touch screen. The candidate they select will be highlighted in green.
After they make their selection, they are encouraged by the PA Government website to double check that their preferred candidate is highlighted and that they have voted for all contests they wish to. Voters are not required to vote for every contest.
When voters are finished casting their vote, click ‘print’ on the screen. The printed paper ballot will show up in a window to the right of the screen. Voters can ensure that all selections are accurate and then click ‘cast’ to submit the ballot. A confirmation screen will appear after the ballot has been submitted.
Voters can request a ballot by applying online at the state website, by mail or at the local county election office. Voters can also vote in person with their mail-in ballot before Election Day once their county’s ballot is complete.
Voters must request their mail-in ballot by 5 p.m. on Oct. 29.
In order to complete the ballot, voters can follow the instructions below:
Carefully read the instructions on the ballot and make voting selections. After voters mark their mail-in ballot, they must place their ballot in the yellow envelope labeled ‘official election ballot.’ Then, place the sealed yellow envelope into the pre-addressed outer return envelope. Make sure to sign and write the current date on the voter’s declaration on the outside of the outer return envelope. The ballot will not be counted if this step is not completed. Finally, return the fully filled-out ballot to the county election board or another designated voting area.
Mail-in ballot voters can return their ballots through mail, at a drop box or another officially designated location.
Absentee and mail-in ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. on Election Day to your county election board.
VOTER GUIDE
VOTER GUIDE 2024
Here’s who North Central residents can vote for
The Temple News compiled a list of all the candidates voters will decide in the Nov. 5 election.
BY EVELYN BLOWER News Editor
PRESIDENTIAL RACE
Kamala Harris (D) and Tim Walz
Vice President Harris is running with Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. She announced her candidacy in June after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race.
Her key issues include reducing child poverty, supporting labor unions, lowering the cost of healthcare and giving families more paid leave, according to Ballotpedia. She worked on voting reform during her tenure as vice president.
She has a bachelor’s degree in political science and economics from Howard University and a law degree from the University of California, Hastings. In 2010, she was elected as California’s attorney general and held the position for six years. In 2016, she was elected to the U.S. Senate and held the position until 2021.
Donald Trump (R) and J.D. Vance
Trump, the 45th President of the United States, is vying for presidency again with a new vice presidential candidate, U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance. Trump’s key issues include rebuilding the economy, increasing oil and natural gas production and increasing border control, according to his campaign website. He focused on immigration policies and corruption as president.
He has a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Pennsyl-
vania. He had not held political office before he was elected president in 2016. He owns the Trump Organization, a conglomerate of his business ventures, previously owned by his father.
Jill Stein (Green) and Butch Ware
Stein, a Green Party activist who also ran for presidency in 2012 and 2016, selected Butch Ware, a professor at University of California Santa-Barbara, as her running mate. She received 0.36% of the popular vote in 2012 and 1.07% in 2016, according to the Federal Election Commission.
Her key issues include reducing climate change, transitioning out of using fossil fuels and decreasing U.S. foreign intervention and militarism, according to Ballotpedia.
She has a degree from Harvard and a medical degree from Harvard Medical School. She was a practicing physician in internal medicine for more than 20 years.
Chase Oliver (Libertarian) and Mike ter Maat
Oliver, the chief executive officer of the Libertarian Party of Metro Atlanta, declared his candidacy in April 2023, according to Ballotpedia.
His key issues include lowering the cost of living and inflation, invigorating the immigration system and lowering foreign military intervention, according to his website.
He was a political activist in Georgia, mostly from his participation in the Libertarian party in the early 2010s. He would be the first openly gay man to be president.
U.S. SENATE
Bob Casey Jr. (D-INCUMBENT)
Casey has served as a U.S. Senator since 2007. His key issues are protecting voting, women’s and workers rights and fighting what he calls “greedflation,” according to his website.
He served as Pennsylvania’s auditor general from 1997 to 2005, then State Treasurer for two years until his Senate tenure. He graduated from the College of the Holy Cross and holds a law degree from the Catholic University of America.
David McCormick (R) McCormick, a retired veteran and former CEO of Bridgewater Associates, ran for Senate in 2022 and narrowly lost the republican nomination to Mehmet Oz by 0.1%. He did not run against any other candidates in the 2024 primary, according to Ballotpedia.
His key issues are reducing inflation from “Bidenomics” policies, securing the U.S.-Mexico border and stopping crime, according to his website.
He received his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and a doctorate in international affairs from Princeton University. He also served in the Army during the Persian Gulf War.
Marty Selker (Constitution)
Selker, a Clarion, Pennsylvania native and truck driver, has never run for elected of-
fice before, according to Ballotpedia. He serves as chairman of the Clarion County Constitution Party.
His key issues are securing the national defense, reducing reckless administration spending and freeing American workers from foreign powers and globalist agendas, according to his website.
Leila Hazou (Green)
Hazou, a Palestinian business owner from Milford, Pennsylvania, credited the ongoing oppression in Gaza as her inspiration to run for Senate.
She prioritizes human and women’s rights, the right to healthcare and the removal of corporate lobbying from politics in her campaign. She graduated from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and received her master’s degree in business from Loyola College, according to her website.
John Thomas (Libertarian)
Thomas is from Kittanning, Pennsylvania. His candidacy motto, “Peace. Prosperity. Pennsylvania,” is the basis of his key issues, which include reducing foreign intervention abroad, according to his campaign commercial.
U.S. HOUSE DISTRICT 2
Brendan Boyle (D-INCUMBENT)
Boyle has held the position for five years, winning nearly 76% of the vote in 2022. He held the seat in Pennsylvania’s 13th Congressional District from 2015-2019. He also worked in the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives between 2009-15 prior to that, according to Ballotpedia.
He has worked on the House Committee on Budget, the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on Foreign Affairs in past assignments.
Aaron Bashir (R)
Bashir is vying for Boyle’s House seat for the second time after receiving 24.3% of the vote in 2022, according to Ballotpedia.
Bashir is a 2006 actu - arial science alumnus and worked as a financial accountant for the City of Philadelphia, according to his website.
STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Eugene DePasquale (D)
DePasquale, who won the primary with 35% of the vote, served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 2007 until 2013, then became auditor general from 2013 to 2021, according to Ballotpedia.
He received his law degree from Widener University in 2007. He is prochoice, anti-corruption, pro-universal background checks and pro-union, according to his website.
Dave Sunday (R)
Sunday has been York County’s District Attorney since 2017, according to Ballotpedia.
He received his juris doctorate from Widener University in 2007, according to Ballotpedia. His motivation for running is his own track record as District Attorney, where crime decreased 30% in York
VOTER GUIDE
during his first term, according to his website.
Justin Magill (Constitution)
Magilll was in the U.S. Army and practiced law in Erie, PA. He received his juris doctorate from the Roger Williams University School of Law, according to his website.
Eric Settle (Forward)
Settle served as Deputy General Counsel to the PA Governor Tom Ridge and worked in healthcare law, according to his website. He earned his juris doctorate from George Washington Law School.
Richard Weiss (Green)
Weiss worked as an attorney for Mochtar, Karuwin & Komar in Indonesia. He received his juris doctorate from the University of Denver. He practices corporate law and finance law, according to the law firm’s website.
Rob Cowburn (Libertarian)
Cowburn, a Boston native, currently serves as the Chair and President of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania and as a Senior Associate Attorney in Pittsburgh, according to his website and the Sommer Law Group. He received his juris doctorate from Suffolk University Law School.
STATE AUDITOR GENERAL
Timothy DeFoor (R-INCUMBENT)
DeFoor has worked for the Office of Inspector General, as a Special Agent for the Commonwealth, in the Office of Attorney General and as Dauphin County Controller, according to his website.
Malcolm Kenyatta (D) Kenyatta, who has held a seat in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives since 2018, is running for auditor general as well as District 181.
The 2012 public communications alumnus served as a coordinator for education at the Hahnemann University Hospital and as the diversity and inclusion engagement coordinator for the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, according to Ballotpedia.
Reece Smith (Libertarian)
Smith, the Pennsylvania Libertarian sponsor for auditor general, hopes to clear up mismanagement of funds and audits if elected. He wants to publicize audit results, oppose bipartisan corruption and audit the Governor’s office and legislator, according to his website.
Eric Anton (American Solidarity)
Anton currently resides in Dauphin County. The American Solidarity Party runs on a platform according to religion and “Christian tradition,” according to their website. Anton does not have a campaign website.
Alan Goodrich (Constitution)
Goodrich, from Tioga County, was the headmaster of Wesley Academy, in Knoxville, Pennsylvania. He was also in the army for 25 years, according to the Westfield Free Press-Courier. Goodrich does not have a campaign website.
STATE TREASURER
Stacy Garrity (R-INCUMBENT)
Garrity, a retired U.S. Army colonel, was elected treasurer in 2020, according to her website. She did not run against any other candidates in the primary and won by 0.8% in the 2020 election, according to Ballotpedia.
Erin McClelland (Democratic)
McClelland ran for U.S. House in 2014 and 2016, according to Ballotpedia. She began a private practice for addiction treatment in 2002 and has worked for an institute for education and training in addiction.
She won by almost 10% in the primary election against Ryan Bizzarro, the party’s endorsed candidate.
Troy Bowman (Constitution)
Bowman, from Lancaster County, is an Air Force and Air National Guard veteran and works in IT. He previously ran for Lancaster County prothonotary in 2011 but suspended his campaign after a brief controversy involving his petition signatures, reported LancasterOnline.
Chris Foster (Forward)
Foster is from Pittsburgh and joined the Forward party this year to bring an “independent perspective” to the position, according to his website.
He has experience in real estate and tennis instruction, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Nickolas Ciesielski (Libertarian)
Ciesielski went to Carnegie Mellon University and works as a mechanical engineer and in the oil sector, according to Ballotpedia. He prioritizes financial literacy and reducing inflation.
evelyn.blower@temple.edu @evelyn_blower
VOTER GUIDE
VOTER GUIDE 2024
How presidential candidates tackle notable issues
The presidential candidates are running their campaigns on these major proposed policies.
BY SAMANTHA MORGAN Assistant News Editor
Leading up to the presidential election, candidates have laid out their core campaign values — highlighting starkly different visions for the country’s future.
Donald Trump, a 78-year-old former businessman and President of the United States, is running as the Republican nominee. Kamala Harris, the 60-year-old Democratic Party candidate, is currently vice president to President Joe Biden and a former attorney general from California.
Independent and third-party candidates on the Pennsylvania ballot include Green Party candidate Jill Stein and Libertarian Chase Oliver.
Donald Trump Economy
Trump has been heavily praised by his supporters for his economic policies. He believes tariffs protect American factory jobs from foreign competition. He proposed a 60% tariff on all goods imported from China as well as a 20% tariff on anything imported by the United States.
Tariffs are paid for by the importers, in this instance, the American companies importing the goods. In turn, these companies typically have to charge consumers higher prices for the cost of goods.
Trump proposed to extend the individual income tax provisions and business tax provisions of the TCJA, a tax code signed by Trump in 2017 which is set to expire in 2025. Trump also plans to eliminate taxes on social security benefits and lower the corporate income tax rate to 15%.
Trump also proposed eliminating taxes on income from tips, of which Harris has also approved.
Reproductive Rights
Trump has been known for his shifting stances on abortion. He boasted about his decision to appoint three Re-
publican Supreme Court justices who contributed to the overturning of Roe v. Wade, but has also said he would not sign a federal abortion ban.
During the Sept. 10 Presidential Debate, Trump declined to answer whether he would veto a national abortion ban if he were elected. He has said the current abortion bans are “too tough,” but has not shared his plan on how he would fix this issue if he became president.
Health Care
Trump has been notoriously against the ACA, which was put in place in 2010 by former President Barack Obama. The ACA requires that most Americans receive insurance and pushes states to allow all Americans to sign up for insurance.
During his presidential run, Trump attempted to change the ACA by passing the American Health Care Act. This act would have gotten rid of the individual and employer mandates on health care, amended Medicaid eligibility and lessened the protections of patients with pre-existing conditions. The Senate did not pass the bill.
Military Spending
In his presidential term, Trump signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill for the largest military budget in history. Trump has made it clear that if elected, he will make the U.S. military the most “modern, lethal, and powerful” force.
Kamala Harris Economy
Harris has championed the idea of an ‘opportunity economy.’ She plans to forgive medical debt by using federal funds to buy medical debt from health providers. She also plans to continue supporting Biden’s student loan forgiveness initiative.
Harris said that she would not increase taxes for families earning less than $400,000 per year. Her tax policies aim
at taxing the wealthiest Americans to further aid the middle class.
Some other notable economic policies Harris has proposed include banning price gouging in grocery stores, a $6,000 child tax credit, a cap on prescription drug costs and down payment assistance for first-time home buyers.
Reproductive Rights
Harris has promised to protect reproductive freedoms if elected. One of her main goals as president would be to reinstate Roe v. Wade. Harris emphasized the harm that could come if the abortion ban continues as women are denied access to reproductive healthcare.
Health Care
Harris previously backed Medicare for All, but she no longer considers it a major campaign point. The Harris campaign announced proposals to expand Medicare and Medicaid.
It is likely that Harris will continue the policies put in place under Biden, like strengthening the ACA through the American Rescue Plan, a plan to provide
relief to Americans following the pandemic. Additionally, Harris could continue supporting the Inflation Reduction Acts, which expands dental, vision and hearing benefits for those with Medicare, lowers drug costs and strengthens Medicare.
Military Spending
The Biden-Harris administration released their proposed 2025 defense budget which requested $849.8 billion for the Department of Defense. In 2022, Biden requested a $752.9 billion budget for national defense.
The Biden-Harris campaign believes this budget will allow the department to advance their goals of defending the homeland, deterring strategic attacks against the United States, building a resilient joint forces and defense ecosystem and more.
samantha.morgan@temple.edu @sammimorgann
NOEL CHACKO / THE TEMPLE NEWS, FILE / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump vying for the White House this election.
VOTER GUIDE
VOTER GUIDE 2024
Here’s what to know about PA’s U.S. Senate Race
Casey and McCormick are vying for a Senate seat alongside three third-party candidates.
BY NURBANU SAHIN Assistant News Editor
Five candidates are running for a United States Senate seat in Pennsylvania this election year. Major party candidates Bob Casey and Dave McCormick have centered their debates on inflation, the economy and reproductive rights.
U.S. Senators are up for reelection every six years. If Casey is reelected, Pennsylvania will have two Democratic senators for the next four years.
Here are the candidates for one of Pennsylvania’s seats.
Bob Casey Jr (D-Incumbent)
Casey has held a seat in the U.S. Senate since 2007 and is the son of former Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey Sr. Casey’s campaign advocates for protection of abortion rights under the U.S Supreme Court ruling of Roe v Wade. He aims to work toward achieving affordable higher education, fighting ‘greedflation,’ using renewable energy and preserving the rights of individuals.
“Corporations were engaged in price-gouging, taking advantage of the pandemic and the inflationary pressures,” Casey said in his second debate against McCormick. “I think we should do something about it, we should point it out like I have [and] issue reports on it. Second, we should pass price-gouging legislation to hold companies accountable. Thirdly, we should rollback those big corporate tax breaks they got a couple years ago. The difference in this race is I want to go after price-gouging, my opponent won’t do it.”
Dave McCormick (R)
McCormick is a graduate of West Point and a veteran. McCormick has held jobs both in the private and public sector. He was a Deputy National Security Advisor for former President George W. Bush as well as former CEO of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates.
This is McCormick’s second bid for the U.S. Senate in Pennsylvania after he conceded to Mehmet Oz in 2022 in his
first run.
McCormick has been critical of Casey’s policies and tenure as U.S. Senator. He argues for a more strict and secure border and increased resources to the military.
McCormick has previously supported the Supreme Court’s decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade. He recently stated he supports voters in states choosing if they will or will not protect abortion rights.
He has been vocal about his disdain for inflation like Casey. McCormick states that excessive spending under the Biden administration has been the leading cause of inflation in the country.
“As a former CEO, Dave has experience creating hundreds of Western Pennsylvania jobs and eliminating wasteful spending,” McCormick’s campaign website stated. “He knows what it’s like to be responsible for the bottom line, and in the Senate he’ll work to rein in government spending, oppose tax increases, and exercise fiscal responsibility to lessen the burden on the people of the commonwealth.”
Leila Hazou (Green)
Hazou worked on Wall Street after receiving her master’s in business administration from Loyola College. She changed her registration from Democrat to Green this year after becoming disappointed with Casey and the democratic party.
Hazou’s campaign focuses on a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and women’s, LGBTQ+ and worker’s rights as well as accessible healthcare, including abortion rights. Hazou ties her anti-war stances to her Palestinian heritage. Hazou also believes that student loans should be forgiven.
“Leila believes that college should
be free, that people who go to college or who go to trade school are doing a service in their country,” said Alex Casper, chair of Hazou’s campaign. “They’re building up their institutions, they’re building up their communities and we need them to do it. We need people to go to school, become doctors and become teachers. We shouldn’t charge them for doing a service for our community.”
John Thomas (Libertarian)
Thomas currently teaches at a charter school in Kittanning. Thomas’ campaign is focused on what he calls the three P’s - peace, prosperity and Pennsylvania.
His campaign is based on the Libertarian values he hopes to teach Pennsylvanians. Thomas believes in allowing Pennsylvanians to file bankruptcy on student loans, closing military bases in other countries, a secure border and a ban on abortions.
“My campaign focuses on peace, prosperity, and Pennsylvania,” Thomas wrote in a statement to The Temple News. “America sends resources away
from Pennsylvania to countries throughout the world. This makes Pennsylvania less prosperous, while making the world less peaceful. We bring peace and prosperity to Pennsylvania by keeping those resources right here at home.”
Marty Selker (Constitution)
Selker is a resident of Clarion County, working as a truck driver for the natural gas sector.
Selker’s campaign priorities include national defense, foreign policy, defending families and “Pennsylvanians overall.” He believes that American resources should not be wasted in undeclared wars. He aims to bring down reckless spending, inflation and excessive taxes.
nurbanu@temple.edu @nurbanusahinn
COURTESY / WIKI COMMONS AND DAVE MCCORMICK Republican candidate Dave McCormick is challenging Bob Casey for his U.S. Senate seat.
VOTER GUIDE 2024
Bashir challenging Boyle for District 2 House seat
Bashir and incumbent Boyle will face off for the second time for a seat in the House.
BY EVELYN BLOWER News Editor
The Temple community has faced safety and state funding concerns in recent years — areas in which Brendan Boyle and Aaron Bashir want to improve if they win in the Nov. 5 election.
All House of Representatives seats are up for election, which includes Pennsylvania’s 2nd district. The district encompasses most of eastern Philadelphia, stretching from Franklin Mills at its most eastern, down to Center City’s South Street. It also includes most of Main Campus, east of Broad Street.
The district has seen some contention, like in 2016 when Chaka Fattah resigned due to a racketeering conviction. Dwight Evans won the special election, then current candidate Brendan Boyle won in 2018 after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that the original map was gerrymandered. Boyle has held the seat since 2019.
In the 2023 Community Survey by the Census, the district represented about 714,000 people. The district votes 20% more Democratic than the national average, which means that the district is the 64th most Democratic district nationally, according to the Cook Partisan Voter Index.
Here is a look at where Boyle and Bashir stand as they face off for the second time.
Brendan Boyle (D-Incumbent)
Boyle has a long history in politics. In his undergraduate years at the University of Notre Dame, he worked as a mayoral campaign coordinator, then as a fundraiser for Bob Casey for Governor. He later became a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He has been in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2015.
While in Congress, Boyle has worked within the Temple community. He proposed a bill in June to rename a Postal Office for Sgt. Christopher Fitzgerald, the former Temple police officer
who was fatally shot in 2023. He also worked on helping Temple with federal funding for public safety, including funding for an upcoming gun detection system that the Department of Public Safety will implement in the coming months.
“It’s been well publicized that the neighborhoods adjacent to Temple’s campus have seen an increase in crime, including violent crime and crime involving firearms,” wrote Sean Tobin, Boyle’s campaign spokesperson, in a statement to The Temple News. “Through this new technology implemented as a result of this funding, Temple’s on-campus police department would be able to leverage its security camera network to detect weapons.”
Boyle’s main policy platforms include a strong stance on tackling climate change, revitalizing the economy with high paying jobs for Philadelphians, forgiving student loans and reforming the loan program, according to his spokesperson.
“Last election, the people of Philadelphia rewarded Congressman Boyle for his proven record of fighting for the people by re-electing him by over 50 points,” Tobin wrote. “Congressman Boyle is confident that the people of Philadelphia will again make the right choice and he will be sent back to Washington to continue fighting for the people of Philadelphia.”
Aaron Bashir (R)
Bashir, a 2006 actuarial science Temple alumnus, is again running against Boyle. Bashir lost by more than 50 points in 2022, but is hoping for a more successful run this time. He emphasized the role of God in his life that has helped him on his campaign and in his life experiences, but that Temple helped him in his professional aspects.
“Safety and security for the Temple community is the top priority, reducing crime and making the city safer would be
my top priority,” Bashir told The Temple News. “I would love to help with as much funding as possible for the good academic programs that Temple needs, however, I would make sure that it’s not just the liberal or left narrative that’s being promoted in the university. The job of the university is to be simply neutral.”
He worked for the City of Philadelphia for 10 years as a financial accountant for the pension fund, which was around $4.4 billion at the time. He also worked as a financial director for a non-profit organization, a home care business and a lawn care business.
Bashir said he wants to put the American agenda first, prioritizing issues that face the homeless, veterans, seniors, disabled people and working families. He wants to use the House seat to fight inflation that has been an issue for many Americans and make America energy-independent by bringing back energy sources in the U.S., instead of buying from Middle Eastern countries.
“For too long, we’ve been sending all this money to all these third world countries where it goes into the deep pockets of corrupt politicians, but that money produces more hatred, more corruption and more terrorists against America,” Bashir said. “It’s time that we spend that money here to assist students like in Temple. We need to help them with more federal grants and other grants that can help the students get educated.”
evelyn.blower@temple.edu @evelyn_blower
COURTESY/ WIKI COMMONS AND AARON BASHIR
Brendan Boyle is facing off against Aaron Bashir for the second time for a United States House seat in Pennsylvania.
VOTER GUIDE
VOTER GUIDE 2024
Incumbent faces Philly native for auditor general
DeFoor and Kenyatta are running for state auditor general, along with three third party candidates.
BY BAYLEH ALEXANDER Features Editor
As Auditor General Timothy DeFoor (R - Incumbent) reaches the end of his first term and aims for a second, he is challenged by Malcolm Kenyatta (D) and three third party candidates in the Nov. 5 election.
The auditor general ensures the state’s money is being properly managed by holding the federal government accountable for taxpayer dollars. Here’s a look at where the race stands.
Timothy DeFoor (R - Incumbent)
DeFoor has more than 25 years in public service. His role as the Dauphin County Controller in 2015 gave him the opportunity to establish Dauphin County’s first Audit Division and the Dauphin County Retirement Fund report, according to the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General’s website.
DeFoor said he is dedicated to ensuring Pennsylvania taxpayers are being treated fairly and with accuracy. If reelected, DeFoor’s first plan of action will be to unite the auditor general office and create career building opportunities for office members. He believes a foundation of strong leadership is crucial to conduct strong audits.
“What I’m proud of is that we changed the way that we do our audits and write our audits,” DeFoor told The Temple News. “As opposed to doing an audit, and if there’s a finding or an issue, as opposed to just placing blame, we came up with common sense solutions on how to fix a problem.”
In his current term, DeFoor’s “common sense” solution was to create the transformation officer position, a role responsible for continued improvement within the department. The position was created to provide office members with the adequate training and education necessary to build on their careers.
Malcolm Kenyatta (D)
Kenyatta, a North Philadelphia native and the democratic nominee, will
be DeFoor’s major party opponent in the upcoming election. He received a bachelor’s degree in public communication from Temple in 2012.
As an openly gay Black man from an under-resourced neighborhood in Philadelphia, it is Kenyatta’s mission to campaign for social justice and equality. If elected, he hopes to do this by protecting voter rights and abolishing government corruption, he said.
Kenyatta’s campaign was recently endorsed by former President Barack Obama.
If elected, Kenyatta’s primary goal will be to formulate a department that benefits working people and increases access to affordable healthcare and housing. One of his primary missions is to connect with Pennsylvania residents and assure them their needs are being met.
“We need to ensure that people understand that there is one person in state government whose entire job, day in and day out, is to ensure that the government is working for them,” Kenyatta told The Temple News. “That is operating needs and that we are being thoughtful and respectful and prudent with taxpayers dollars.”
Eric Anton (American Solidarity)
Eric Anton has been an American Solidarity member since 2017, and was elected to its national committee in 2018 and 2023. As the incumbent state coordinator, he is the ASP auditor general nominee, according to the party’s website.
ASP is based on the tradition of Christian Democracy and brands itself with three core principles: common good, common ground and common sense. Their policies oppose abortion, value economic security and emphasize a community-oriented society. Anton describes the party as socially conservative and economically liberal.
“We believe in Christian democracy,” Anton told the Temple News. “Where your faith can promptly inform
your values and then to conform how you act in the public sphere to the idea that we have a duty and an obligation to the least among us.”
Alan Goodrich (Constitution)
As the Pennsylvania Constitution Party chairman, Alan Goodrich and his political party are dedicated to ensuring party officers and leaders will be held to high conduct standards in dealing with the public, donors, government officials and candidates, according to the party’s website.
The Constitution Party strongly emphasizes reducing corrupt government and strives to elect honorable politicians. Their standards for righteous leaders include obtaining the three pillars: integrity, liberty, and prosperity. Their principles include being pro-life, granting the right to own property and protecting American sovereignty, according to the party website.
Reece Smith (Libertarian)
An anti-major-party politician, libertarian Reece Smith strives to bring at-
tention to an overlooked office, according to his website.
As auditor general, Smith hopes to audit the state government and politicians and oppose bipartisan corruption. As a libertarian, he does not have confidence a major party leader will suffice in an auditor general position.
“A divided state legislature means that Democrats and Republicans are working together to waste your money, and history shows an auditor general from either major party will not even investigate it,” according to his website.
bayleh.alexander@temple.edu
EARL KUFEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS, COURTESY / WIKI COMMONS Incumbent Tim DeFoor is being challenged by Temple alumnus Malcolm Kenyatta to be Pennsylvania’s next auditor general.
VOTER GUIDE
VOTER GUIDE 2024
Four candidates face incumbent for treasurer
Candidates clash over foreign investments and government transparency in the election.
BY SIDNEY ROCHNIK Managing Editor
Five candidates are on the ballot for Pennsylvania treasurer, including incumbent Stacy Garrity (R).
The state treasurer, a four-year position, manages the Commonwealth’s $150 billion in state funds through their investments. They can also create saving programs to support Pennsylvanians.
Here’s where candidates stand on common student concerns like foreign investments and higher education support.
Stacy Garrity (R- Incumbent)
Garrity defeated former Treasurer Joe Torsella (D) in 2021.
Garrity has since expanded the 529 College and Career Savings Program, a program her campaign said aided 30,000 families in saving for their children’s future higher education costs.
She introduced a tax credit for employers who contributed to their employee’s savings and waived the fees for account holders each year, which she said saved families 11 million dollars in her first term.
Garrity created the Transparency Portal for the state treasury, which allows anyone to compare revenue and budget details between years.
“As your Treasurer, Stacy knows how important it is to meet people where they are and offer real solutions, not just empty rhetoric,” Garrity’s campaign website reads.
Following Hamas’ attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Garrity increased the state’s investment in Israel Bonds by $20 million, drawing criticism from pro-Palestine supporters who wished to see the government divest from the country.
Erin McClelland (D)
McClelland spent much of her career as a counselor for mental health and substance abuse before entering politics. She beat the Democratic Party’s endorsed candidate, Ryan Bizzarro, in the
2024 primaries.
She has not received Gov. Josh Shapiro’s endorsement, having stated she would fight against school vouchers — a way for public funding to be used to pay private school tuitions — in court if elected. She also later spoke against his potential vice presidency.
McClelland wants to use the power of the state treasurer to pressure companies to maintain an ethical workforce and supply chain, moving away from inhumane domestic and overseas working conditions.
She also said she should prioritize domestic investments and disagreed with Garrity’s investment in Israel.
“It’s time we elect a responsible, honest-broker to oversee the Commonwealth’s Treasury who is committed to rebuilding our state’s supply chain with transparency and integrity and managing our taxpayer’s coffers with diligence and accountability,” McClelland wrote on her campaign website.
Chris Foster (Forward)
Foster, a once lifelong democrat, started running this year as a candidate for the Forward Party, a party formed in 2021 by former presidential candidate Andrew Yang to promote centrism.
Foster’s priorities include government transparency in its finances and increasing Pennsylvanians’ financial literacy. He also believes in being apolitical through legislative or executive branch disputes and remaining neutral in social issues when controlling the treasury.
“I firmly believe that every Pennsylvanian deserves to have confidence and trust in their state government, particularly when it comes to matters as critical as fiscal management,” Foster wrote on his campaign website.
If Foster receives 2% of the vote, the Forward Party will be recognized as an official party in Pennsylvania.
Nick Ciesielski (L)
Ciesielski, current chairman for Westmoreland County’s Libertarian
Party, believes that much of Pennsylvania’s day-to-day problems stem from the consequences of government overreach following the pandemic — rising inflation and the devaluation of the dollar.
“At least having this forethought and saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to be responsible and work with a plan for this for some of these eventualities here’ [will] set it up so that at the very least, hopefully, Pennsylvania is able to mitigate the negative consequences,” Ciesielski told The Temple News.
For Ciesielski and many Libertarians, this comes from investments in alternative currencies like Bitcoin and gold to offset inflation. One of his promises is to help Pennsylvanians use Bitcoin in everyday transactions to provide financial freedom.
Ciesielski otherwise believes in privatization rather than many public services, including education, due to the lack of market forces motivating positive change.
Troy Bowman (Constitution)
Bowman currently serves as treasur-
er for Pennsylvania’s Constitution Party, a religious right-wing party dedicated to interpreting the Constitution as intended by the founding fathers, according to the party website.
While Bowman has run for local office before, this is his first run for state office — and he was meant to be a placeholder for the party’s spot on the ballot until they found someone who wanted to run, he told The Temple News.
Bowman hasn’t created any longterm plans for state treasurer or a campaign website. He wants to bring attention to his party instead, he said.
True to his party, he finds foreign spending and government financial aid in areas like student debt forgiveness unconstitutional.
sidney.rochnik@temple.edu
COURTESY / WIKI COMMONS
Incumbent Stacy Garrity is opposed by Erin McClelland in the race for Pennsylvania’s next state treasurer.
VOTER GUIDE
VOTER GUIDE 2024
Six candidates vying to be next attorney general
Candidates are running on hot-button issues ahead of the Nov. 5 election.
BY BRADLEY MCENTEE Assistant Opinion Editor
Six candidates are on the ballot for Pennsylvania’s next attorney general, a state position responsible for ensuring public safety through prosecuting public corruption and organized crime.
The position is currently occupied by Michelle Henry (D), who took office in January 2023 and is not seeking a term this election. She was appointed by former Attorney General Josh Shapiro (D) to finish his four-year term after he was elected Governor in 2022.
Here’s what the candidates have to say about their stances on student issues like gun control and environmental sustainability.
Eugene DePasquale (D)
DePasquale previously served in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and two terms as the state’s auditor general from 2013-21. As auditor general, he uncovered $103 million dollars of misused state funds and addressed 58,000 ignored calls from the Child Abuse Hotline, WHYY reported.
In 2018, DePasquale released an official report from the Auditor General’s Office detailing recommendations to reduce gun violence by implementing specialized mental health training, hunter education programs and in-depth background checks.
“When it comes to priorities, reproductive freedom is certainly a top priority of mine, and certainly safer communities is another critical part — and also consumer protection,” DePasquale told The Temple News.
Some of DePasquale’s other top issues include fighting price gouging in healthcare and pursuing predatory scams, according to his campaign website. He also plans to fight against corporate pollution and invest in opioid addiction treatment programs.
Dave Sunday (R)
Sunday, who currently serves as York County’s district attorney, has been
in office since 2018. Before his tenure, he was a leader in the formation of the Group Violence Initiative and the York Regional Opiate Collaborative, which reduced crime by 30% and equipped law enforcement with Narcan.
Sunday supports the current abortion laws in Pennsylvania and will defend the current legislation, he said in the attorney general debate on Oct. 3. He also said he would model crime deterrence after York’s GVI, which encourages communication with block leaders and community members to hold offenders accountable.
Sunday’s campaign is most concerned with fighting the opioid epidemic and increasing consumer protections, according to his campaign website. He currently serves on the Elder Abuse Task Force in York County, which protects senior citizens from predatory scams. He also appointed a special prosecutor dedicated to elder abuse.
Sunday did not respond to The Temple News’ request for comment on his campaign.
Richard Weiss (G)
Weiss is a lawyer who has practiced both local and international law. Weiss feels most passionately about his opposition to United States military assistance in the Israel-Hamas War, he said.
“I have pledged that if elected, I will sue the federal government,” Weiss told The Temple News. “The Foreign Assistance Act does not allow providing any military assistance when humanitarian aid is restricted or impeded, and that’s what’s going on right now.”
Weiss’ other key stances include wanting to eliminate slave labor in prisons and pursue legal action against unregulated fracking wells and pursuing corrupt politicians, according to Ballotpedia.
Eric Settle (Forward)
Settle previously served as Deputy General Counsel to former Gov. Tom Ridge and was a Policy Director for a democratic mayoral candidate, accord-
ing to his campaign website.
The most important thing to his campaign is making voters aware of third party options, Settle told The Temple News.
“I say to people, ‘You’re not throwing away your vote when you vote for me,’” Settle said. “‘You’re actually sending a message that says we want more than two choices.’”
Settle supports sustainability efforts, the right to an abortion and gun control, according to his campaign website. Settle also wants to ensure job security in healthcare by overseeing transactions between non-profit hospitals and corporate entities.
Justin Magill (Constitution)
Magill is a U.S. Army veteran and currently practices estate planning in Erie, Pennsylvania, according to his website. He is currently the vice chairman of the Constitution Party of Pennsylvania.
“The biggest priority to me is making sure that the government is held in check,” Magill told The Temple News. “The Attorney General’s Office has a
great authority to do that, to investigate accusations from the general public about what government officials are doing.”
Magill believes that the government should have no involvement in the free market and that abortion should be considered murder. Magill does not support any restrictions on firearms.
Rob Cowburn (Libertarian)
Cowburn is an attorney for Sommer Law Group in Pittsburgh. Cowburn’s top issues are fighting government corruption, expanding charter schools and eliminating business regulations, according to his campaign website.
Cowburn did not respond to The Temple News’ request to comment on his campaign.
bradley.mcentee@temple.edu
COURTESY / WIKI COMMONS Eugene DePasquale is running against Dave Sunday to be Pennsylvania’s next attorney general.
OPINION
EDITORIAL
Off for Election Day
For many students, the upcoming election on Nov. 5 will be their first opportunity to cast their vote in local and state races and for the next President of the United States. Despite the day’s importance, Temple doesn’t cancel classes, which has been a longstanding point of contention among students.
Students deserve off on Election Day to vote without the restriction of class attendance. With divisive issues like abortion and immigration on the ballot, the outcome of this election will determine the future of the country’s political landscape.
The Editorial Board urges professors to cancel classes and give students Election Day off to prioritize voting for students. Many students may need to travel home to their polling locations, wait in long lines to cast their vote or may wish to volunteer at the polls. Participation in elections is a cornerstone of democracy and students should be able to exercise their civic duty.
In the 2020 Presidential Election, the national voting average for college students was 66%, according to The National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement. In comparison, 73% of Temple’s eligible student voters cast their ballots, The Temple News reported. Even if Temple’s administration refuses to cancel classes, professors should prioritize students’ voting accessibility to make Election Day easier for the student body.
In previous years, students have fought to have election day off to no avail. In 2022, a student successfully advocated for students in the Beasley Law School to get Election Day off, but non-law students were exclud-
ed. In 2023, Temple presented a scheduling poll for the 2024 Fall semester requiring students to choose Election Day off or a week-long fall break. Students should not have to choose between their break and accessible voting on Election Day.
Temple doesn’t have a policy prohibiting professors from canceling classes or holding virtual meetings, so professors should consider canceling classes to allow students to vote more easily. Granting students the day off also gives professors greater mobility to vote. By canceling or hosting online classes, professors can focus on the importance of their vote and follow through with a voting plan.
In two weeks, students will vote to determine the political standing of the country. On Election Day, students and professors deserve an uninterrupted day to vote in person and play an active role in the electoral process.
THE ESSAYIST
Learning how to cut apples
A student reflects on the loss of her grandmother and how an afterschool snack impacted the grieving process.
BY RACHEL KEALEY
For The Temple News
Iremember my grandmother had snowwhite hair.
Her eyes were green, different from her daughter’s brown eyes and her husband’s cataracts. They became glassy after she got sick. I remember her frail skin when she got cancer and how easily she bruised. I remember her perpetual frown. Although I never saw her after her death, I can only hope the corners of her mouth were not set in an eternal scowl of discomfort.
My grandmother lived with me for most of my life. I took the school bus daily from the long driveway to our house and saw her white hair from the end of the road as my bus approached.
When I got off the bus, we walked hand in hand down the gravel path to the house. She seemed so big to me then. In most of my memories, I am at eye level with the hole in her nightgown above her waist. Her nightgown smelled like apple juice and cigarettes, like innocence and agedness.
My grandmother’s age never scared me, as it could have frightened many other children. I didn’t see many differences between us, except her eyes were green and mine were brown. As I got older, it was easier to see how alike we were. My mother looked like her and I looked like my mother. We all had the same soft nose, rosy lips and tired-looking, wide eyes.
A peeled and sliced apple was always waiting for me on the kitchen table after school, with a small ramekin of caramel sauce next to it. I imagined my grandmother’s frail and veiny hands cupping the apple, slicing it gently.
It seemed as though my grandmother
would live as long as I would, that a world without the both of us in it was unimaginable. I hadn’t thought of her sickness as real until the bus dropped me off alone in fifth grade and I found a whole apple on the table instead of a sliced one. I stared and let it sit on the plate for a few minutes before I picked up a knife and put it back down.
This break in my routine wasn’t just an adjustment to learning how to cut apples. It was an adjustment to living without my grandmother and a moment of recognition that her life wouldn’t last nearly as long as I had hoped it would.
I was forced to learn how to slice apples by myself. The knife grazed my hands many times before I learned how to cut apples without cutting my fingers. As the wounds on my hands healed, the ones on my heart began to scab over.
My mother was more distraught than I had ever seen her. I remember her crying on our porch. I had just taken the bus home from school, and was eating an apple I had cut up for myself as I sat next to her. She took a slice from my plate and we sat in comfortable silence.
In my grandmother’s absence, a new routine started. I would cut up an apple with a small dish of caramel and leave it for my mother after work. The first few times, her eyes teared slightly. She said nothing and smiled. It was my grandmother’s smile: no teeth, but the corners of her mouth rose peacefully.
In taking over her daily routine within mine, I felt closer to my grandmother after her death than I ever had during her lifetime. My hands cupped the apple in the way that hers did. The young flesh on my hands contrasted the knife in the same ways that her old, paper-like skin did. Though she was gone, in those solitary moments of slicing and eating, I could’ve sworn I had her with me.
I’m writing this essay nine years later, in the same bedroom where my grandmother tucked me in every night. When my mother comes home from work in an hour, there will be a small dish of caramel sauce and sliced apples on the kitchen table for her, and no blood on my fingers.
rachel.kealy@temple.edu
Donate your clothing to promote sustainability
A student argues that students should practice sustainability by donating clothes.
BY MOLLY CAUFIELD FOR THE TEMPLE NEWS
As the autumn weather continues to chill, students may be preparing to swap out the clothes in their wardrobe to get ready for cooler weather. This time of year brings an excellent opportunity for students to assess their closets and determine what clothing they can donate to make a sustainable impact on Temple and the Philadelphia community.
The United States generates around 17 million tons of textile waste annually and 66% of unwanted clothes end up in our landfills, according to TheRoundup, a sustainability activism website. Clothing and textiles sent to landfills can take decades to decay, which releases harmful greenhouse gasses into the air and accelerates climate change.
To mitigate these dangers, students should make a conscious effort to practice sustainability through ethical shopping and clothing donation rather than just discarding their clothes. Temple’s campus and the surrounding Philadelphia area have many sustainability outlets students can utilize to revamp their wardrobes while practicing climate consciousness and providing clothing to those in need.
Mel Spiegel believes practicing sustainability is important for college students as they step into adulthood.
“It’s a lot of people’s first time being independent,” said Spiegel, a senior media studies and production major. “And so when you start having good habits, and especially habits that help the environment when you’re young, then it’s like just built into your adult life as you continue to grow.”
Individuals do not wear nearly 50% of their wardrobes, Vogue reported. People often ignore perfectly wearable clothes sitting untouched in a closet, contributing to the common cycle of overconsumption.
Instead of leaving clothing unused, students can pass it on to others, giving
them new purpose and reducing wastefulness. Students should go through their clothes and consider donating the items they rarely wear on campus or at a local thrift store before purchasing new items.
On campus, the Sustainability Office hosts events and creates opportunities for students to practice sustainable living. Each residence hall lobby has a clothing and food donation bin that accepts donations year-round. In the spring, those clothes are taken and resold for low prices at Temple Thrift pop-ups the following fall.
Philadelphia is also home to other donation-based non-profits, like Cradles to Crayons, which provide clothing for local families and children. Other options around Philadelphia include Career Wardrobe, Philly AIDS Thrift and Project HOME. The City of Philadelphia website also provides a list and accompanying map of local resources for textile donation so students can choose the most convenient spot to recycle old clothing.
Bryce Forys, the sustainability coordinator for the Office of Sustainability, believes clothing donation is one of the best ways for students to help the environment.
“[Textile waste is] a huge issue here in the United States in terms of types of materials that end up in the landfill, and being able to recognize what you no longer want or need and donate them, that would hopefully end up in the hands of someone else that for a cheap and reasonable price, I think is a great part of the circular process,” Forys said.
Microtrends also pose a significant threat to clothing sustainability, driven largely by social media constantly advertising new products. Most of Gen Z turns to social media for fashion inspiration and are highly susceptible to fast fashion marketing from retailers like Shein, Romwe and the TikTok Shop.
Clothing from fast fashion companies only lasts around 10 wears and 15 days on average, The Washington
Post reported. Even though buying cheap clothing may seem like a way to save money, it generates a bigger financial waste because they are discarded so quickly. It’s much more financially and environmentally sustainable to go thrifting or buy ethically made clothing.
Jadyn Gibson has taken advantage of on-campus clothing donation opportunities like thrift pop-ups and believes other students should do the same to implement more ethical habits.
“I think it’s important to be more sustainable on campus,” said Gibson, a senior anthropology major. “Because some people come from different economic backgrounds, and being on a campus that’s so diverse like Temple, it just makes you realize, if you have it, then why not just give back?”
There are various opportunities
for students to practice sustainable living on campus. Something as easy as donating old clothing can significantly reduce waste, support the sustainability of Temple’s campus and help those in need. Practicing sustainability through these pathways can help students develop necessary ethical habits as they grow into adulthood, preparing them to contribute to their community positively.
molly.caufield@temple.edu
JUAN COLON/ THE TEMPLE NEWS
Marveling at new movies during my coming of age
BY BRADLEY MCENTEE Assistant Opinion Editor
My experience with the Marvel universe began when I was around four years old. My dad would put on the old Spider-Man cartoon in his bedroom while my sister and I nodded off to sleep. I didn’t pay much attention to the plot because my brain was too enamored by the vibrant red outfit.
As I got older, my dad started sharing his expansive comic book collection with me. Our car rides were often filled with hour-long conversations about the history of Wolverine, the logistics of Thor’s hammer and whether or not Spider-Man shoots webs out of his skin or through machines on his wrists.
After years of bonding over this discourse, my dad decided that I was finally old enough to see a Marvel movie in theaters when I was 10. Walking into PG-13 movies as a 10-year-old kid made me feel like I peaked in coolness.
From that point on, my dad and I saw nearly every Marvel film on opening weekend, adorned in matching comic book t-shirts for each excursion. We would both get overly excited during a fight scene and start punching each other’s arms.
Our tradition extended into my high school years until the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 forced everyone to forego movie theaters entirely. I had nothing but spare time on my hands, so I decided to watch movies at home. I started exploring cinema outside of Marvel, watching everything from coming-ofage movies like “The Edge of Seventeen,” to experimental dramas like “I’m Thinking of Ending Things.”
The last time my dad and I bonded over a Marvel project was in September 2021. “WandaVision” was airing weekly and we traded reviews after every new episode. But after “WandaVision” ended, it seemed like Marvel was releasing projects faster than before and neither of us could keep up. We missed one release after another until we disregarded the films entirely.
The increase in releases coincided with Marvel’s decrease in quality. The movies no longer brought excitement to my dad and I. When Marvel dropped new trailers, we scoffed at them and scolded their bad ideas and casting choices instead of clearing our schedules for opening weekend.
Since then, I started strengthening the love for film I developed during quarantine because Marvel movies were no longer filling my time. I fell in love with indie horror because it made me feel the same adrenaline Marvel did when I was younger.
Recently I decided to rewatch “Avengers: Endgame” as a nostalgic palette cleanser. I expected to get flashbacks of my dad and me sitting in the Regal theater where we first saw it together in 2019, but instead, I felt nothing. I noticed that the coloring choices were drab and the screenplay was mediocre at best.
Marvel disappeared in a snap.
stare dejectedly.
After I watched “Endgame” again, I got caught in a spiral about why I was reacting so adversely to the film. What I once thought was a grand cinematic achievement was no longer, because I had no benchmark for what makes a satisfactory film.
The films I watched and enjoyed now as an adult had a nuanced commentary Marvel never dared to try. Everything feels legendary when there’s nothing good to compare it to. I had tried so hard to cling to the mystique of Marvel films for the sake of my childhood. But with that one viewing, my reverence for
No matter how old I get, I’ll always want to feel the rush of a Marvel release again. I want to go back to lovingly punching at my dad’s arm out of excitement during a fight scene and to feel my head resting against his bicep in the theater during a boring shot sequence. The fondness of those memories is gone now, and I beg for them to come back in one piece.
The saccharine taste of childhood memories fades fast. I know it’s an inevitable side effect of the horrendous condition of aging, but I never anticipated it happening so soon. Nobody tells you what to do when the memories fade either. It feels like you’re supposed to watch them fly by and do no more than
The best I can do now is focus my memories on the other heartfelt moments my dad and I shared. Like the times when he taught me to throw a baseball in our front yard or when he jokingly chased my sister and me up the stairs to get us in bed faster. Glints of childhood joy can be excavated from any memory, I just have to learn how to find them.
bradley.mcentee@temple.edu
A student reflects on their changing relationship with the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
TYSHON CROMWELL / THE TEMPLE NEWS
STUDENT LIFE
The horrifying consequences of exploitation cinema
A student urges their peers to avoid exploitation films this Halloween season.
BY BRADLEY MCENTEE Assistant Opinion Editor
With Halloween creeping closer, students are diving into the scream-inducing realm of horror movies to get into the holiday spirit. For many, this includes scouring for recommendations of cinema’s most gut-wrenching and depraved creations.
This desire often leads individuals to the horror subgenre known as exploitation films, which are cheaply made movies that rely on cultural taboos like sexual assault and extreme violence to rake in profit. These films typically feature excessive violence or sexual content that appeals to the sordid desires of their audience.
Exploitation movies are often recommended on the internet despite their excessive use of brutality. Women tend to be subjected to a majority of violence, and watching these films can reinforce misogynistic tropes.
With the horror genre being so widely beloved, it is crucial for women’s victimization to not be sensationalized. Though it’s understandable for students to seek out intense horror films this time of year, they should avoid exploitation films at all costs.
Temple film professor Eugene Haynes has noticed the harmful trends in horror and believes repeated victimization of certain characters can reveal filmmakers’ immoral intentions.
“It’s not really the horror that you watch,” Haynes said. “It’s the other more exploitive visual things that are going to play. That’s where I draw the line.”
“A Serbian Film” is one of horror’s most infamous films, as it contains graphic depictions of various forms of sexual violence. Exploitation movies like “A Serbian Film” rely on the victimization of women to satisfy their male characters and appeal to the male audience. The female characters are rarely
explored outside of the context of their abuse.
Rylee Mahnesmith, the editor-in-chief of Lunar Journal, Temple’s intersectional feminist literary magazine, has noticed this trend in extreme horror movies and it has turned her away from the genre almost completely, she said.
“It makes me think about the tie between a woman’s value and her ability to be sexually desired or attractive to men,” said Mahnesmith, a junior English major. “So [it’s like] women are only able to get away or to be stronger, to survive when they are a sexual object or an object of desire to a man.”
Students should be able to parse through movies for insensitive tropes and know what trends to avoid. One of the most prominent tropes in exploitation films is the Woman in the Refrigerator trope, which describes the trend of victimizing women to motivate a male character.
Supporting movies that employ the Woman in the Refrigerator trope can have measurable side effects on female audiences. The repeated objectification of female sexuality in mass media causes low self-esteem and promotes sexual aggression, according to UNICEF.
Being able to identify ethical sex in movies is a crucial skill in media literacy. Responsible portrayals of sex should serve a purpose and be edited without sensationalizing the scene, according to Raindance, a UK-based film festival and training program. The use of violence in movies must also be treated with the same care.
Kartik Nair, a film professor, believes debates about excessive violence are not new, but the nature of exploitation movies may prove unique moral concerns.
“It is certainly the case that gore film production can be challenging,” Nair said. “Because of actors’ bodies to place themselves in dramatic, performative situations, and because the films are of-
ten low budget, there’s a kind of further precarity to the labor.”
Distressing imagery is a powerful narrative device and should only be consumed by students when it is intentional and develops the film’s story. Analyzing the consequences of violent or sexual scenes is an easy way for students to decipher a filmmaker’s intentions, and differentiate horror movies from exploitative films. The use of intense visuals should serve as a symbol for a broader social conflict or reveal another layer of a character.
Examples of horror films with effective uses of violence are the original “Hellraiser” and the thriller “Titane.” Both films utilize bone-chilling violence to make cogent social commentary on gender and domesticity. A more recent
release that students should support in theaters is “The Substance,” which tackles feelings of aging as a woman through traditional body horror.
Instead of avoiding horror altogether, students should find horror films that intentionally use graphic imagery for the sake of artistic expression instead of exploiting the pain of the female characters. Recommending films with excessive brutality and sexual content only spreads harmful ideologies and should have no place in modern discourse.
bradley.mcentee@temple.edu
TYSHON CROMWELL / THE TEMPLE NEWS
LIVE in Philly
HALLOWEEN IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT
BY NOEL CHACKO Staff Photographer
Philadelphia’s Historic District was filled with Halloween excitement on Saturday as families gathered for “Halloween in the Historic District.”
The event, which was organized by the Independence Visitor Center Corporation in partnership with the National Historical Trust, offered families a chance to explore Philadelphia’s historic landmarks while enjoying Halloween-themed activities.
“The goal is to really remind Philadelphians that this is our local national
park,” said Maita Soukup, vice president of experience and engagement at the Philadelphia Visitor Center Corporation. “We’re always serving visitors who come from all over the country and world to visit the Liberty Bell and see the birthplace of America here in historic Philly. But sometimes residents forget that they also have this resource.”
The event offered more than just treats; many organizations and museums across the district hosted activities that blended history with Halloween. The Science History Institute features attractions for all ages, drawing interest from both industry professionals and families. The museum offered a trick or treat station, scavenger hunt and food science “I Spy” game with historical recipes, drawing attention from event attendees
Elizabeth Fedie stumbled upon the event
while exploring Philadelphia’s historic sites while visiting from Minnesota.
“We just saw it along the way,” Fedie said. “Lots of fun. The kids have really enjoyed the activities and got some candy and treats.”
Fedie’s family originally came to see the Liberty Bell, but the Halloween event turned out to be a pleasant surprise.
The event saw a steady flow of families throughout the day, a sign of success for Soukup.
“Whenever you do anything for the first time, you really just want to make sure that you get the word out properly,” Soukup said. “Everything kicked off at 11 a.m., so you know, to see that there was lines of people waiting to get going before 11 a.m. meant that was a pretty great feeling.”
Attendees left with candy-filled bags and
memories of a uniquely Philly Halloween experience.
“We have trick or treating across the whole Historic District,” Soukup said.
“The great thing about today is you can go trick or treating. You can pick up candy and engage in like over 30 spots and sort of get a flavor for what you might want to come back to on another weekend, which is cool.”
David Santiago, a Philadelphia local, brought his children after reading about the event in The Philadelphia Inquirer. Santiago and his family planned to explore the route, taking advantage of the day’s festivities.
“We love the season,” Santiago said. “We love the time of year. We love the dressing up and the candy.”
noel.chacko@temple.edu
NOEL CHACKO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Participants were able to decorate mini-pumpkins at the start of the route.
Philadelphia’s Historic District transformed into a festive Halloween hub on Saturday.
Participants
Participants were given a map of the
that showed participating establishments.
From top to bottom:
A stop outside the Independence Visitor Center with candy and information.
were able to decorate mini-pumpkins at the start of the route.
Vaughn Tempesta, Visitor Experience Manager at the Science History Institute, sits at a table along the route giving out candy and hosting activities.
From top to bottom:
A stop outside the Independence Visitor Center with candy.
Michael Carver, a historical reenactor, at one of the stops along the route for “Halloween in the Historic District.”
district
NOEL CHACKO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Election
ALL IN GOOD FUN President Fun Facts
Word Search
Crossword
DOWN
2. This president was an avid golfer and added a putting green on the White House lawn
3. Andrew Johnson was buried with his head resting on a copy of this document
4. Reagan appeared in how many Hollywood movies?
7. Warren Harding was the first president to visit this state
9. This president held the first Easter egg roll at the White House
11. Martin Van Buren owned two ___ cubs as pets
ACROSS
1. Lyndon B. Johnson graduated highschool at age ___
5. James Madison assisted in writing The ___ Papers
6. Franklin D. Roosevelt was the first president to ride in a ___
8. How many terms did Washington serve?
10. William McKinley was the first president to use campaign ___
12. Political scandal involving the administration of President Nixon which ultimately led to his resignantion
FEATURES
AROUND CAMPUS
Marching band goes viral for Chappell Roan set
After posting their cover to YouTube, the video reached 151,000 views in less than one month.
BY BAYLEH ALEXANDER Features Editor
In Matthew Brunner’s nearly two-decade career as director of Temple’s Diamond Marching Band, there have been few times he’s witnessed the band receive viral attention.
One of these occasions was just three weeks ago when TUDMB’s cover of Chappell Roan obtained more than 151,000 views on their YouTube channel.
“It’s fun because I want everyone to look at [the band] as successful and enjoy what they do,” Brunner said. “And I would tell them, ‘I don’t ever want anyone to think anything bad about you.’ So I will give you good music to play, so people look up to you and say, ‘Wow, that’s awesome.’”
Clad in cherry-red uniforms and adorned with various instruments, the TUDMB featured four of Chappell Roan’s top hits during halftime of Temple Football’s matchup against Utah State on Sept. 21. Their performance alluded to key lyrics in her music as they shuffled their bodies to display the letters of her name and formed the shape of a rabbit — a nod to the singer’s viral hit “Red Wine Supernova.”
After uploading a video of the performance to their TempleBands YouTube account, public support skyrocketed.
Brunner partially credits their rise to fame to their decision to feature Chappell Roan, but delivers the rest of his praises to TUDMB for their unwavering grit and tenacity. The band’s motivation does not rely on the low-ranked football team’s performance or audience turnout, but rather the devotion that unites them.
“I would put this band up against anybody because of their personality,”
Brunner said. “And that’s what makes the biggest difference, I think, in how they play. Because somebody could play that music and just play it really, really straight and clean and everything, but it doesn’t have heart to it.”
Band member Madalyn Dingman, a senior film and media arts major, works on TUDMB’s social media and video creation team. Her passion for media production granted her a role in editing the viral YouTube video, a process that felt more like a fun activity for her than an obligation.
Dingman echoes Brunner’s sentiments that the band’s energy is paramount to their success.
“The music plays a big part in it, but it really is the band,” Dingman said. “We bring so much character to [our performances], and you can really tell from the music. It’s not just us standing there playing. There’s so much energy and
so much love that goes into all of our shows.”
TUDMB regularly uploads band content to YouTube, including their performances and interviews, to encapsulate the years of talent performed by current and former marching band members. They’ve published 504 videos and accumulated nearly 16,000 subscribers since the channel was first established 13 years ago.
Along with the thousands of views and comments on their YouTube, TUDMB’s Instagram recruits prospective band members.
Olivia Gomez, a junior media studies and production major, joined the band their freshman year after learning about TUDMB during their junior year in high school through the band’s social media.
Four years later, Gomez is an active member of the band and their social
media team and assisted with the video production by cultivating creative concepts, editing the footage and setting up GoPros on the instruments.
After TUDMB’s Panic! At the Disco performance during Temple’s 2016 football matchup against SMU accumulated nearly 3 million views, Gomez never could have imagined they would have a chance for their content to reach viral status again.
“We put so much into our shows,” Gomez said. “Being able to share all the songs I think we all know and love, and being able to put that in our medium is just so fun and so cool to bring it all to life and stuff, and even to get other people to notice it. I mean, the fact that it has over 100k views, just like it’s so unreal to think about that number.”
bayleh.alexander@temple.edu
LILLIAN PIETRO / THE TEMPLE NEWS
The Diamond marching band rehearses their Chappell Roan halftime show set at the Geasey Field Complex.
AROUND CAMPUS
The tribulations of Philadelphia’s Mets fanbase
Students and faculty shared their thoughts on what it’s like to be a Mets fan in Philadelphia.
BY JARED TATZ Assistant Photo Editor
For Temple journalism professor David Mindich, being a Mets fan in Philadelphia has become a source of secrecy. Representing his favorite team is not a source of pride in a place like Philadelphia, where intense sports fans instead make him fear for his safety.
“There’s cities where, if I went to a baseball game, I would wear a Mets hat,” Mindich said. “Philly is not one of those cities.”
The Mets saw their 2024 season come to an end at the hands of the Los Angeles Dodgers Sunday night, losing the National League Championship Series in six games. But to get even that far, they had to go through the Phillies, ejecting them from Major League Baseball’s playoffs in four games in the divisional round.
The Phillies and Mets are longtime division rivals, with emotions intensifying in the 2006 season when the Mets beat out the Phillies for the division win. The following year the Phillies won the championship, breaking the Mets’ seven-game win streak on the last day of the season.
The teams face off more than a dozen times each regular season, allowing ample time for bad blood between their fanbases to fester. Last week’s divisional series was the first time South Philly and Queens dueled in the playoffs. Never before had I-95’s NL East beef held such enormous stakes.
When Hayden Bandel walks Temple’s campus in Mets gear, passersby yell at him. They flip him off. Once, a passing Phillies fan gave Bandel a thumbs down and blew him a raspberry.
“Honestly I’m not fazed by fans anymore,” said Bandel, a senior media studies and production major.
Philadelphians are known for their intense passion for their sports teams – a
passion not always expressed peacefully. City officials slather streetlights in Crisco whenever the NFL’s Eagles near a Super Bowl berth to stop postgame revelers from shimmying skyward in excitement. On the baseball front, Phillies fans rioted in West Chester after the 2008 World Series. And that was when they won.
Oftentimes, the excitement threatens the uninitiated.
“If people are a fan, that’s not a Phillies sports team fan, then you kind of hide it,” said Hannah Devanny, a senior journalism major.
overcome, stunning players and spectators alike.
Devanny last saw men in mourning when the Mets felled the Phillies in the NLDS. Not a funeral — a baseball game.
“It was funny, because this is a sport,” Devanny said. “It’s not that serious.”
It wasn’t the first time Devanny saw Phillies fandom get out of hand up close. She’d gone to a game with her father two years ago that put this phenomenon on full display.
“We were at the Phillies stadium, and we were in a section of all Phillies fans,” Devanny said about going to the game with her dad. “He thought he was gonna get beat up.”
He had chosen not to wear Mets gear out of fear of being attacked. Devanny still wore hers and spent the whole game being ridiculed by fans.
The Phillies — and their fans — had reason to be confident heading into the Mets matchup. Eight players from their roster appeared in July’s All-Star Game, and the team tallied the second-best win-loss record in baseball. Yet the Mets’ offensive firepower proved too much to
“It was a surprise,” Mindich said. “But you know, being a Mets fan, by definition, you are rooting for an underdog.”
In contrast to this, Bandel’s passion burns orange and blue whether the Mets are favored to win or not. He even plans his schedule to maximize the games he’s able to see. He even took a train to New York last Wednesday to watch his team from Queens play against the Dodgers. Still, he hoped this year’s team would surprise him.
They delivered and then some.
“I think they can beat anyone,” Bandel said prior to the Mets’ elimination in the NLCS. “They’ve been the hottest team in baseball since the end of May, and that’s the beauty, really, of this postseason.”
For Mindich, the decisive Dodgers series was a little more complicated. He wasn’t just thinking about his own team’s stars — Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso. His mind kept drifting back to LA’s two-way pitching ace, Shohei Ohtani.
“If the Dodgers wind up beating the Mets, I wouldn’t be too upset,” Mindich said before the series ended.
Even for Devanny, the question wasn’t whether one of the big leagues’ most tortured teams could beat any opponent. It was whether they would.
“I feel like the Mets are one of those teams that they’ll go far, and then they kind of choke at the end,” she said.
jared.tatz@temple.edu
JARED TATZ / THE TEMPLE NEWS Hayden Bandel has learned to tune out the haters when he wears his Mets apparel around Temple’s campus.
ALUMNI
Alumni collaborate to make Temple-themed beer
BY MIKE NONNEMAKER Assistant Features Editor
Mike Beresky had his eyes on one goal while studying at Temple: to make delicious craft beer. This vision didn’t align with his accounting degree, but Beresky’s passion didn’t dissipate. His childhood friends Jake Howell and Phil Harris shared his aspirations and in college they set a long-term plan of opening a brewery.
“At the time, I was discussing how it might be cool to open a bar because we were all interested in beer,” said Beresky, a 2010 alumnus. “We were home brewing at that time, and it was a way for us to keep in touch during college. We’ve been friends since middle school, the three of us, so it gave us something to do when we were home on breaks and whatnot.”
The trio opened Second Sin Brewing Company five years ago in Bristol, Pennsylvania, located about 20 miles from Temple’s Main Campus. Despite its small size, the brewery attracts the attention of craft beer enthusiasts and is known for their highly-rated hazy IPAs and sours.
In May, the group created a Penn State-themed beer to celebrate Howell and Harris’ alma mater. They used white chocolate and blueberry to produce a smooth balance of sweet and sour. Beresky decided to follow suit and honor Temple with a special beer.
“I thought, ‘Hey, it’d be great if we could do the same thing but with a little Temple twist to it,’” Beresky said. “Cherries and white chocolate, it’s just a natural pairing. So, I got on the phone with Alex at Humble Parlor, and we set up this collaboration.”
As an ode to the school’s colors, the beer’s cherry and white chocolate flavoring is their unique way of honoring Temple’s spirit. With help from alumni Alex Howell and Maria Caldarise at Humble
Parlor Brewing Company in Fishtown, they created the new Temple-themed beer: the Back to School Sour.
“Cherry is basically the front-runner profile of this beer,” said Alex Howell, a 2016 accounting alumnus. “The tartness really balances well with the sweetness from the cherry and the white chocolate to represent the white part of the ‘cherry and white’. It’s a really nice richness that makes you want to come back for more.”
Temple played a significant role in preparing these alumni to balance running a business with their professional careers, making this tribute even more meaningful, Beresky said.
Second Sin Brewing Co. noted on Untappd, a social media platform for beer aficionados, that their time at Temple helped spark their love of beer. Upon learning that Howell and Caldarise were also Temple alumni, they felt it was the perfect opportunity to celebrate their shared background with a collaborative brew.
Howell and Caldarise met during
their junior year at Temple and opened their Fishtown location in January 2023.
With Caldarise’s passion for business and Howell’s love for brewing, the pair established a bustling brewery in the same city they met.
“I always wanted to own my own business and before getting into the beer industry, we went to different breweries and kind of just explored, tried to make a list and see all of them, and we thought that was really fun,” Caldarise said. “And then my husband was brewing all the time in our kitchen, and he introduced me to different styles of beer.”
Caldarise’s initial curiosity turned into a shared passion for craft beer as she and her husband dove deeper into the brewing world. What started as a hobby of visiting breweries and experimenting with different styles at home eventually laid the foundation for their own venture.
When Second Sin approached the couple to collaborate on the beer, Caldarise and Howell couldn’t pass up the
opportunity to celebrate the institution that led to their relationship, and, eventually, Humble Parlor.
The two businesses stayed connected to their roots during the collaboration to honor the university with the Back to School Sour — a nod to the innovative drive they developed during their years at Temple.
Despite the risks and uncertainty of running a business while maintaining their 9 to 5s, these alumni have managed to pursue their interests in brewing alongside their professional roles.
“It’s always a risk doing something you like instead of something that you’re told you’re supposed to do,” Howell said. “But I like to see it as choosing a passion instead of settling for a career.”
mike.nonnemaker@temple.edu
Second Sin and Humble Parlor breweries created a cherry and white chocolate brew.
JARED TATZ / THE TEMPLE NEWS
Second Sin and Humble Parlor brewing companies blended cherry with white chocolate flavors to create a new Temple-branded beer.
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FIELD HOCKEY
Ospitale sparking Owls’ midseason turnaround
Temple Field Hockey’s keeper has become one of the best goalies in the country.
BY COLIN SCHOFIELD Assistant Sports Editor
Growing up, Isabella Ospitale loved watching ice hockey with her dad. They specifically watched the New Jersey Devils together and Ospitale became fascinated with one player in particular; goalkeeper Martin Brodeur.
When Ospitale entered third grade, she was introduced to the world of field hockey and was unsure of what position to play. Her team needed someone to play goalie during her first league season and Ospitale volunteered, largely because she wanted to be like Brodeur. She proved to be a natural in the cage and her coaches kept her there.
Fast forward a decade later and Ospitale has become a mainstay in goal for Temple. She has not only grabbed the starting role but has quickly become a top goalie in the entire country. More importantly, she has become the driving force behind the Owls’ historic midseason turnaround.
“I have been really proud of myself,” Ospitale said. “It feels really nice knowing that I have worked for it for so long and now I am finally seeing what I worked for.”
Ospitale spent her high school days as a brick wall in the net at Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, New York. She committed to Temple before the 2022 season hoping to continue her success but was quickly met with a roadblock. The Owls already had standout goalkeeper Molly Frey defending the net, meaning Ospitale had to wait for her chance.
That opportunity never came during her first t wo years on campus, appearing in just one game to begin her collegiate career. Frey graduated after the 2023 season, leaving the starting goalkeeper spot open for 2024.
Despite patiently waiting for two years, Ospitale was not named the starter to open the season. She split time with freshman Alex Lepore and almost exclusively played in the second half. Ospitale could have sulked about not earning the starting job after camp, but she instead stayed prepared for any opportunities she got.
“I just always had the mindset that if you go in, prove yourself,” Ospitale said. “Take that shot and put all you got out there on the field and leave it all out there.”
Ospitale turned heads as soon as her number was called. She made three key saves in the second half against Richmond on Sept. 8 and made three more saves the next game against Penn. After that, head coach Michelle Vittese handed her the keys to the starting job in a 2-0 loss against then-No. 14 UConn.
Temple won seven straight games following the skid, with three coming against nationally ranked opponents. Ospitale has become the backbone of the newfound success, making at least three saves during each win in the streak and not allowing more than two goals in any game.
Her performance in a Big East showdown against No. 19 Liberty on Oct. 4 highlighted her success. Ospitale made eight saves and stopped a penalty stroke in the 5-1 thumping.
Those outings helped Ospitale earn
back-to-back Big East Defensive Player of the Week honors. She currently ranks seventh in the country in goals-against average and sixth in save percentage, going from splitting time to one of the best goalkeepers in the country.
“She’s been integral,” Vittese said. She’s been playing very well. Early on, all of the goalkeepers lacked experience. So that’s been exciting for us to create the opportunities for them to really figure out who is in the best possible position. They all have been performing well in training, and Bella has put herself in the best possible position.”
Frey, the player Ospitale replaced, has helped Ospitale more than anyone. Frey texts Ospitale during and after games to give her advice.
“I really think of her, in my eyes, as a younger sister and someone I’ve taken in,” Frey said. “I just want to help her be her best self, in the cage and off the field.”
Ospitale had big shoes to fill, but she
stepped in and made the transition as smooth as possible. Despite hardly playing her first two seasons, and not starting this season, Ospitale never stopped working towards her goal. Now the hard work has paid off and made the wait worth it.
“Freshman and sophomore me would be very proud,” Ospitale said. “It was hard freshman and sophomore year. And I think if they could see me now, it would just give me a lot of hope that hard work does pay off.”
colin.schofeild@temple.edu @ColinSchofield9f
JEREMY SHOVER / THE TEMPLE NEWS Ospitale cemented her starting goalie status after saving five shots against UConn.
FOOTBALL
Temple Football might not actually be… that bad?
The Owls are 2-5, but three of those losses have come to nationally-ranked teams.
BY RYAN MACK Sports Editor
About a month ago, Temple had its best offensive performance by scoring six touchdowns in a 45-21 thumping of Utah State on Sept. 21. The Owls were on a roll during quarterback Evan Simon’s second start, with six different players finding the endzone to secure their first win of the season.
Temple’s success largely stemmed from its ability to get multiple players involved in offensive coordinator Danny Langsdorf’s offense. Simon connected with nine different players on the field and Langsdorf sent flurries of new schemes of reserve players to give Temple a boost against the Aggies.
Temple (2-5, 1-2 American Athletic Conference) dropped the two ensuing games. The Owls were unable to replicate that same output, scoring just 21 offensive points.
The Owls reverted back to the plan of attack ahead of its homecoming game against Tulsa (2-5, 0-3 AAC) and the tactics proved to be fruitful. Temple scored 17 points in the first half, showing it has the potential to get the ball moving in the 20-10 win. Temple now sits at 2-5 and its hopes of making it to a bowl game are barely alive. But a deeper look at the schedule shows Temple might not be as bad as its record indicates.
“I could obviously tell you our record does not define us,” said linebacker Tyquan King. “You can tell by our play. The back end of the season is just like the beginning. We still got to go 1-0 every week from here on up. That’s our objective.”
The Owls have played difficult opponents for most of the season — Temple has only lost by more than one possession to opponents that were either nationally ranked when they played them or became ranked later in the season. The Owls lost to ranked conference foes Army and Navy, while Oklahoma was in
the top 25 during their matchup on Aug. 30.
Temple has played every other game tightly outside of those matchups.
The Owls’ defense has made strides and has forced five turnovers in the last two games after having just one through five games. If a couple small things went accordingly against Coastal Carolina and UConn, the Owls could be looking at a 3-4 or 4-3 record with a bowl game in closer reach.
If Simon was the signal caller against UConn on Oct. 5, the Owls might have walked away with a victory. Temple started season-opening starter Forrest Brock, who orchestrated a potential game-winning drive before a last-second blunder spoiled the chances.
Simon was also close to forcing overtime against Coastal Carolina on Sept. 14. His final pass was off the mark resulting in a loss, but the offense looks completely different when he is under center.
Against Tulsa, Simon threw for 297 yards while sprinkling in 13 different players into the action and getting a touchdown out of it. Temple used key reserves like John Adams and Kajiya Hollawayne to kick-start the offense.
Despite being forced to punt on the first drive of the game, Temple clicked on the next three drives with a 29-yard
field goal from kicker Maddux Trujillo and two straight touchdowns. Tight end Landon Morris, who was expected to have a breakout season but has been buried in the depth chart, also provided a spark with 97 receiving yards.
“For us to move forward as an offense [spreading the ball around] is exactly what needed to happen,” said head coach Stan Drayton. “[Dante Wright] is not the only playmaker in that room on that side of the ball. It’s time for those other guys to be exposed.”
The Owls’ next opponent is AAC foe ECU, who just fired its head coach Mike Houston Sunday following a 17-point loss to Army. If Temple can replicate its first-half showing when Simon is on the field, then the Owls might be able to show signs of life to keep its bowl hopes alive another week.
“We feel like we’re better than what the record shows, but it’s in the rearview mirror,” Drayton said. “I think we’ve
learned some lessons from those games and win or loss that’s what you need to do. You got to be able to flush it and get to the next play, the next game. That’s our mindset.”
ryanmack0001@temple.edu @Ryan_mack18
LILLIAN PIETRO / THE TEMPLE NEWS Temple is now 2-5 following their 20-10 win against Tulsa Saturday on homecoming.
VOLLEYBALL
Banks’ newfound confidence helping fuel Temple
Temple Volleyball middle blocker
Chelci Banks has become a force during her senior season.
BY SIENNA CONAGHAN Assistant Sports Editor
When Chelci Banks first stepped into McGonigle Hall in 2021, she did her job quietly but didn’t get the recognition star teammates like outside hitters Taylor Davenport and Olivia Vance would often receive.
Banks has spent the last four seasons in the shadows despite playing at a high level. There have been times when she feels she’s gone unnoticed, but she has learned to accept that during her college career.
“I might not be the face of the team, but I’m still contributing in a way that’s very beneficial to the team, so I take a lot of pride in that,” Banks said. “That’s what keeps me going, because I know that I have a bigger role that I’m contributing to on the team that doesn’t necessarily come with all the accolades overall.”
Banks is one of the few lingering players from former head coach Bakeer Ganesharatnam’s roster. She initially struggled when Linda Hampton-Keith took the role in 2022, but after making some quick adjustments under Hampton-Keith’s guidance she was ready to take the next step.
Now, Banks has gained confidence and constantly improved during her three years training with Hampton-Keith. She has even become one of the team’s main leaders and is finally getting the recognition she deserves.
“Chelci has probably had the most growth as a person probably out of a lot of people that I’ve coached, ever,” Hampton-Keith said. “She has really worked hard on herself and evolved as a leader and has gone from really struggling and had some confidence issues and now she’s truly one of our most vocal leaders and energy leaders that we have on the team.”
Banks finally began to turn heads during her fourth season on North Broad Street, receiving American Athletic Conference honors twice in less
than a month. Her work on the defensive end of the court garnered her AAC Defensive Player of the Week for the weeks of Sept. 16 and Oct. 7.
While her defensive skills have gained praise, Banks also became a vital two-way player. She leads the team in blocks and has the fifth most kills. She is also in the top 10 in blocks and hitting percentage in the AAC in conference matches this season.
As one of the most experienced hitters on the roster, Banks has also turned herself into the spark plug that lifts up the spirits when the team needs a boost.
“That’s one thing you can always count on Chelci for, is to just be completely bought in the entire time,” said setter Lexi Yoza. “She always brings energy up on the court. But also just having someone, if you need a point, just to toss the ball to and she can put the ball away.”
Banks turned into one of the most vocal players on the court despite her
tendency to fly under the radar. The demeanor rubs off on the rest of the team and pushes Temple to play to the best of its ability.
The moment Banks steps into the gym, there’s an energy radiating through everyone. The confidence she lacked during her first season was upended by the intensity that drives her to play as hard as she does on the court.
“The hardest part about Chelci is that she’s only on for three rotations because of her position. We wish she could be out there all the time because the energy that it brings when she does get a kill or get a block and score points and then yell and scream, all those things are great,” Hampton-Keith said. “We wish she could impact the game more by being out there six rotations but unfortunately with her position that’s not possible.”
Banks entered the year knowing 2024 would be her final season in Cherry and White. She went into the season wanting to increase her intensity to
compete at the highest level and push her team to succeed.
There’s a little more than a month remaining in Banks’ final season. She is focused on doing all she can during that time to end the year — and her career — on a high note.
“I know what I can accomplish and what this team can accomplish and we’re gonna do it this year,” Banks said. “I want to leave here just being the best I can be for my team and knowing that we all gave our all.”
Sienna.conaghan@temple.edu @Sienna_Paige2
LILLIAN PIETRO / THE TEMPLE NEWS Middle blocker Chelci Banks has been named American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Week twice.
FOOTBALL
King making the most of starting opportunities
The Temple linebacker became a starter and one of the better players on the Owls’ defense.
BY RYAN MACK Sports Editor
During the offseason, Temple football players met with mental coaches to help them prepare for the challenges they will face in the upcoming season. One of the exercises required each player to come up with their main goals for the season.
Each player in the locker room quickly thought of a goal for themselves — everybody except for one.
Tyquan King was the only player who didn’t think of a goal, instead, he made an “expectation” to be the best player he could be to help the team. The linebacker wanted to focus on aiding the team he just transferred to a few months prior.
“[I’m] just doing whatever I need to do to help the team,” King said. “I never set a goal for myself. I just want to be the best individual I can be.”
King had to wait for his number to be called as he watched from the sidelines as a reserve for much of the first two games. He suffered an injury that left him in street clothes in Temple’s week three loss to Coastal Carolina on Sept. 14.
King returned the following week against Utah State and was part of the starting lineup after linebacker Eric Stuart suffered an injury. King finished the game with a team-high 13 tackles and has not only become the backbone of a much-improved Owls defense, but he’s also solidified himself as one of the best linebackers in the American Athletic Conference.
“[Tyquan is] just a guy doing exactly what we preach as coaches, just to be ready when your number is called,” said linebackers coach Chris Woods. “You really never know when it’s going to happen. When it happens it’s incumbent on you to go in there and execute the defense. If you stink it up, then chances are you’re going to lose your opportunity.”
On-field production has never been an issue for King, who was a tackling machine during his two seasons at North Carolina A&T by notching 93 tackles in 2022.
King transferred to ECU the following year but re-entered the portal after just three games with the Pirates. There, he was discovered by Temple’s coaching staff, who roped him into the culture head coach Stan Drayton had cultivated at Edberg-Olson Hall the past two seasons.
But there was still a learning curve King needed to navigate. The Owls brought in more than 40 new players during the offseason, leaving King with competition to carve a spot in the starting linebacker room. King tested out a few different positions but found himself on the outside looking in of the starting 11.
“When I first got here in the spring, I was put through three different spots,” King said. “Coach Woods just wanted
to get a feel for me and see how I get acclimated into the system. Once I was able to hone in on one spot it allowed me to flourish, because I could focus on my job description.”
While he wasn’t in the starting lineup, King made a lasting impression on the coaches and his teammates. Everybody around the building knew it was only a matter of time before King earned his shot and when he did, he never let it leave his grasp.
King finds himself first on the team in tackles and has formed a strong duo with single-digit linebacker D.J. Woodbury Sr. The two have become a tandem in the Owls’ second level and have become closer friends off the field. When King started to come into his own this season, it left Woodbury Sr. unphased despite it being a shock to those on the outside looking in.
“Things that I expected to see all year,” Woodbury Sr. said. “When he first came here, he was raised just to buy into
what we had going on here. And he’s a born leader. He’s someone that man him. We go to that all the time. How much we want to win.”
King’s impact has helped lift the Owls’ defense and now they show signs of improvement this season. His playing skills gave an extra boost and he has helped aid Temple despite its 2-5 record. He has also helped continue the cycle of linebacker play that has been a constant factor for the previous decade.
King is aware of the trend and is glad to be a part of it and hopes that it continues past him into future generations of Temple players.
“It feels great,” King said. “There’s people who have come way before me and there’s people that will come way after. I just want to leave a grateful impact.”
ryanmack0001@temple.edu @Ryan_mack18
LILLIAN PIETRO / THE TEMPLE NEWS Linebacker Tyquan King is first on the team in tackles after honing in on the position.