Temple Women’s Basketball has lost four of its last seven games as its conference tournament nears. Read more on Page 27.
WHAT’S INSIDE NEWS, Page 3
Temple’s College of Education is navigating recent cuts to the Department of Education.
INVESTIGATIONS, Pages 16-17
Temple’s alumni engagement strategy pales in comparison to other universities.
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Temple’s education community contends with the effects of budget cuts to grants and FAFSA.
BY STEVE JEFFRIES
For The Temple News
The students and faculty in Temple’s College of Education and Human Development are navigating how $881 million in cuts of contracts under the Institute of Education Science made by the newly instated Department of Government Efficiency could impact higher education at Temple and beyond.
The cuts, made on Feb. 10, effectively eliminated many of IES’ research and evaluation studies concerning teaching practice, education history and policy, civil rights and education inequality.
The action is the latest in a series of major funding cuts made to national education and research institutions by the Trump administration, and has some concerned that President Donald Trump will follow through on his pledge to dismantle the Department of Education.
The IES functions as a repository of data pertaining to education practice in the United States, including research and data about education standards, teaching strategies and discrimination in school systems, said James Earl Davis, a CEHD professor.
“If you want to know something about education, if you want to know something about teaching and learning, what the most effective strategies, that’s the Department of Education’s role and function, particularly around research,” Davis said. “For some politicians, that information is damning and damaging to their political positions and their political ambitions.”
Advocating to dismantle the ED has been a conservative effort since the department was created in October 1979 by the legislative branch under the administration of former President Jimmy Carter.
Former President Ronald Reagan attempted to abolish it in 1980, stating
that it would save money and ensure the local needs and preferences to determine the education of children. Since Reagan’s presidency, Republican administrations have tried and failed to shut down the department. Trump’s return to the oval office has renewed these efforts, though the barrier of congressional approval remains.
“I think it’s new in this political climate and in the current administration’s willingness, ability and desire to completely gut the US Department of Education because of what it is and what it does,” Davis said.
On Feb. 10, a federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s effort to cut $4 billion of indirect costs accrued by Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics research distributed through the National Institute of Health.
Indirect costs are the non-project specific expenses that are necessary to conduct research. They include the costs of running and maintaining laboratories, paying for utilities, the salaries of maintenance staff and administrators, said Beth Olanoff, an associate professor in CEHD and former policy director and special assistant to the Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
The federal government covers many of the indirect costs at universities that conduct government research like Temple, the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University.
“The Trump administration seems to be ignoring that idea completely and just using the analogy of foundation funding,” Olanoff said. “Which is not part of that implicit agreement that the federal government is largely subsidising, or paying universities to be the research arm of the federal government for the benefit of society.”
For some Temple students, threats to the ED have made them think twice about pursuing a career in education.
“I’ve known people who’ve had their majors in English, intending to be teachers, switch their major to something more STEM-oriented or something that they think in the long run is going to
hold up,” said Rachel Kealey, a freshman English major.
Fifty-one percent of U.S. adults believe public education is heading in the wrong direction, compared to 16% who feel it’s improving, according to an April 2024 study by the Pew Research Center. Similarly, 82% of K-12 public teachers believe that overall public education has gotten worse, and 60% of teachers say the political climate has made teaching public K-12 worse, the study found.
While some students are concerned with how funding cuts and government oversight will affect their future careers as teachers, a dismantling of the ED holds other, more immediate implications as well.
“People are kind of scared because we’re in college right now,” Kealey said. “At the moment, most of us are just more worried about immediate kinds of effects of it, like [Free Application for Federal Student Aid] potentially being taken away, or funding being taken away.”
The latest budget cuts have caused anxiety among the education community due to their severity and lack of transparency or clarity. However, Jada Scott, a senior education major, believes that educators and scientific research have been increasingly undervalued since before the second Trump administration.
“I think definitely what’s going on right now is heightening everything, and making people a little more worried, and bringing out those concerns a little bit,” Scott said. “But I think they have existed for a long time.”
Rachel Kealey has freelanced for The Temple News. She was not involved in the writing, reporting or editing of this article.
stephen.jeffries@temple.edu
CAMPUS As fears of ICE presence grow, the Temple community advocates to inform students.
BY KYLIE SOKOLOFF Assistant News Editor
Temple students and faculty are adjusting to President Donald Trump’s sweeping changes to immigration policy as community advocates step forward to remind both documented and undocumented students of their legal rights.
Temple community members have hosted teach-ins, canvassed and spread the word through social media advocacy while also calling for the university to act further in defense of immigrant students.
During a Feb. 5 Immigrant Rights teach-in, law professor Jaya Ramji-Nogales emphasized that Trump’s executive orders are not absolute, meaning they require congressional approval and cannot override federal law. Attempts by the administration to eliminate rights like birthright citizenship are already being blocked by courts.
The administration’s immediate actions expanded ICE’s ability to deport people on an accelerated timeline, without a hearing before a judge. Future plans promise mass deportations and enabling ICE raids in protected spaces like schools, hospitals and churches.
“The goal is really shock and awe and this politics of exhaustion, right?” Ramji-Nogales said. “The good news is, the immigrant rights community is really organized. We know what’s coming, and we want to build power, not fear.”
Under the new administration, immigration policies will place many immigrants at higher risk of deportation, including those who have outstayed their visas, green card holders, asylees and immigrants on parole.
In response to these policies, a group of students formed Temple Immigration Rights Advocates, which announced its formation in a Jan. 29 social media post. Through community outreach, work-
shops and accessible resources, the group said it pledges to safeguard the rights, safety and wellbeing of immigrants in Philadelphia.
“We were feeling very hopeless; it’s been difficult to see people like us and like our families being attacked,” said Ana Gonzalez, one of the founders and president of TIRA. “We need to further this goal of informing and advocating for immigrants, and giving them the tools to do that themselves.”
Though fear has circulated throughout the city, students have inherent legal protections in place along with resources available at Temple. Here is an overview of students’ rights during interactions with ICE, utilizing information from Temple’s administration and the Know Your Rights Pennsylvania campaign.
Everyone has the right to remain silent under the Fifth Amendment.
Everyone has the right to ask officers to declare their jurisdiction. ICE is legally obligated to identify themselves when asked.
On campus, ICE must receive clearance to enter areas restricted to the general public. This includes any of Temple’s residential, educational and recreational facilities. Temple has the right to refuse entry without a judicial warrant.
Everyone has the right to ask, “Am I under arrest?” If the answer is no, they may walk away.
Every individual is entitled to fair treatment under U.S. law regardless of immigration status.
Everyone has the right to remain silent and does not have to discuss personal immigration or citizenship status with the police or other immigration officials. Anything told to an officer may later be used against the defendant in immigration court.
Everyone has the right to due process, including the right to an attorney.
Individuals do not have to provide their foreign passport.
ICE needs personal consent to
search a person without warrant.
Carry proof of U.S. citizenship and presence at all times. Citizenship documents include birth certificates, passports, IDs and certificates of naturalization. Proof of presence includes mail, property or employment records.
It is legal to record ICE as long as there is no interference with their proceedings. If asked to stop, individuals must comply. ICE cannot seize phones without a warrant.
Write down details immediately after the incident. Record badges, uniforms, license plates and conversations. Verify locations including landmarks, street signs and buildings.
Temple has asked that any sighting of ICE be immediately reported to the Office of University Counsel at 215-2046542.
Temple has received visits from ICE since 2009 and uses the university visitor policy to coordinate such visits, a
university spokesperson told The Temple News in late January.
Despite the university’s assurance of these protections, unverified reports of ICE have been circulating in Temple students’ social media circles, raising concern for the extent of Temple’s safeguarding abilities.
“Our world is very chaotic right now, and even if it’s unintentional, a false report can create lots of fear,” said Lizbeth Lopez-Apolinar, a TIRA founder and vice president. “You see reports and maybe want to repost it to be helpful, but that might be old or inaccurate information. We have to be as careful as we can to differentiate.”
Gonzalez encourages students to continue finding ways to take action and support one another.
“We want students to know how to advocate for themselves,” Gonzalez said. “It is a scary time, but it’s good to shift your focus and see what you can do during these times to help.”
kylie.sokoloff@temple.edu
CAMPUS Estudiantes y la facultad de Temple dirigen a la comunidad migrante a recursos.
BY VALERIA URIBE Co-Chief Copy Editor
Los estudiantes y la facultad de Temple se están ajustando a los cambios a las políticas de migración que el Presidente Donald Trump ha implementado. La comunidad se ha movilizado para asegurarse que los inmigrantes conozcan sus derechos.
Miembros de Temple han organizado eventos informativos, consultado con la comunidad y difundido recursos a través de redes sociales. Al mismo tiempo, han pedido a la universidad un plan claro para defender a los estudiantes inmigrantes en caso de una visita de ICE.
Durante un evento, la profesora de derecho Jaya Ramiji-Nogales enfatizó que las órdenes ejecutivas no son absolutas, ya que requieren aprobación y no pueden anular la ley federal. Los intentos de la administración para eliminar derechos como la ciudadanía por nacimiento ya han sido bloqueados por las cortes.
Las acciones de la administración han expandido la habilidad de ICE para deportar personas rápidamente y sin la necesidad de una audiencia frente a un juez. Los planes de la administración prometen deportaciones masivas y permiten que ICE realice redadas en lugares protegidos como escuelas, hospitales e iglesias.
“El objetivo es generar sorpresa y asombro y estas políticas de agotamiento, cierto?” Ramji-Nogales dijo. “La buena noticia es que la comunidad de los derechos de los inmigrantes está bien organizada. Sabemos lo que viene y sabemos que queremos construir poder, no miedo.”
Las nuevas políticas de inmigración ponen a muchos inmigrantes en peligro de ser deportados, incluyendo personas que han sobrepasado su estadía, personas con Green Cards, refugiados e inmigrantes en libertad condicional.
En respuesta a estas nuevas políticas, estudiantes de Temple formaron la organización Defensores de los Derechos
de Inmigración – Temple Immigration Rights Advocates – y anunciaron su formación en enero 29 a través de una publicación en redes sociales. El grupo ha prometido ayudar a proteger los derechos, la seguridad y el bienestar de los inmigrantes en Filadelfia mediante conversaciones con la comunidad, talleres y recursos.
“Nos estamos sintiendo muy desesperanzados; ha sido difícil ver a personas como nosotros y como nuestras familias siendo atacados,” dijo Ana Gonzalez, una de las fundadoras y presidenta de TIRA. “Necesitamos continuar con nuestro objetivo de informar y abogar por los inmigrantes y darles las herramientas que necesitan para defenderse ellos mismos.”
A pesar de que el miedo se ha propagado por la ciudad, los estudiantes tienen derechos inherentes y tienen acceso a recursos disponibles en Temple. Aquí está una guía de los derechos que los estudiantes tienen mientras interactúan con ICE, utilizando información de la administración de Temple y la campaña Conoce tus Derechos Pensilvania – Know Your Rights Pennsylvania campaign.
Todos tienen derecho a permanecer en silencio bajo la Quinta Enmienda.
Todos tienen derecho a preguntar a los oficiales cuál es su jurisdicción. ICE está legalmente obligado a identificarse cuando alguien pregunta.
En el campus, ICE tiene que recibir autorización para acceder a áreas restringidas al público general. Esto incluye los dormitorios estudiantiles e instalaciones educativas y recreacionales. Temple tiene derecho de negar acceso si ICE no presenta una orden judicial.
Todos tienen el derecho de preguntar “¿Estoy bajo arresto?” Si la respuesta es no, pueden irse.
SI ES INDOCUMENTADO:
Todas las personas tienen derecho a ser tratados de manera justa, bajo la ley de EE.UU. sin importar su estado migratorio.
Todos tienen el derecho a permanecer en silencio y no tienen que revelar información personal o su estatus migra-
torio a la policía u otros oficiales de migración. Todo lo que se diga enfrente de un agente puede ser utilizado en contra del acusado en una corte de inmigración.
Todos tienen el derecho a ser procesados de manera correcta, esto incluye el derecho a consultar con un abogado.
Las personas no tienen que presentar su pasaporte extranjero.
ICE necesita consentimiento para requisar a una persona sin una orden judicial.
SI TIENE DOCUMENTOS:
Lleva tu prueba de ciudadanía en todo momento. Los documentos de ciudadanía incluyen certificados de nacimiento, pasaportes, ID y certificados de neutralización. Documentos para probar residencia incluye correo, registros de propiedad y prueba de empleo.
REPORTAR LA ACTIVIDAD DE ICE:
Es legal grabar a ICE mientras que no interfiera con sus procesos. Si te piden que pares, tienes que obedecer. ICE no puede confiscar teléfonos sin una orden.
Escribe los detalles inmediatamente luego del incidente. Graba números de placas, uniformes, licencias y conversaciones. Verifica las locaciones incluy-
endo lugares emblemáticos, nombres de calles y edificios.
Temple ha pedido que cualquier avistamiento de ICE sea reportado a la Oficina del Consejo Universitario – Office of University Counsel – llama a 215204-6542.
Temple ha recibido visitas de ICE desde 2009 y la universidad sigue el protocolo de visitas para coordinar ciertos eventos, un representante de la universidad dijo a The Temple News.
La universidad garantiza estas protecciones, pero reportes no verificados de la presencia de ICE han circulado en las redes sociales de los estudiantes de Temple. Esto ha aumentado la preocupación ante una posible visita de ICE.
“Nuestro mundo es muy caótico en este momento y aunque sea de forma involuntaria, un reporte falso puede generar mucho miedo,” dijo Lizbeth Lopez-Apolinar, fundadora y vicepresidenta de TIRA. “Tu ves los reportes y de pronto lo quieres compartir para ayudar a la comunidad, pero puede que sea información desactualizada o incorrecta. Tenemos que ser lo más cuidadosos posible para diferenciar.”
valeria.uribe@temple.edu
Organizations at Temple try to combat food insecurity with free meal swipe vouchers.
BY NURBANU SAHIN Assistant News Editor
Temple Student Government and Temple’s Cherry Pantry distributed 100 free meal swipe vouchers in the Howard Gittis Student Center last week as the organizations continue their goal of creating a permanent donation system for students.
Last week’s voucher distribution program was developed in collaboration with Aramark, Temple’s culinary services provider. Aramark gave TSG and Cherry Pantry a number of meal swipe vouchers to help students dealing with food insecurity.
“I think this should be a very open conversation going forward,” said Chelsea Lubbe, TSG’s director of health and well-being. “Especially because I think that the way that [a] donation drive would work is that people who are already purchasing a meal plan, are going to be doing just that, donating their extra meal swipes.”
Temple has not yet developed a long-term program that allows students to donate leftover meal swipes despite student advocacy. Local universities, like Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania, have dining programs that allow students to donate their unused meal swipes. Drexel’s program allows for guest swipes to be donated through an online program, while Penn’s chapter of Swipe Out Hunger hosts drives on campus that allow students to donate.
In recent years, Temple’s chapter of Swipe Out Hunger, a nationwide non-profit that works on college campuses to end student hunger, attempted to form a swipe exchange program to help students donate extra swipes or get free ones.
However, the organization was told by Aramark that Temple’s meal plan system could not handle a program like this, said Lubbe, who has been in contact with university administration about
the issue.
Aramark did not immediately respond to The Temple News’ requests for further comment on the topic.
Around 41% of Temple students experience food insecurity, according to a 2023-24 survey by The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs, a research and policy center at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine. The survey also reported that 52% of students who take care of dependents experience food insecurity.
Cherry Pantry seeks to ensure no student goes hungry, especially as food prices keep increasing, said Navon Cooper, a Cherry Pantry intern.
Cherry Pantry has a rotating stock of products, like canned foods and fresh produce, that students can take for free. The pantry has also recently collaborated with the Maternity Care Coalition to bring free formula, diapers and wipes for any Temple students in need of those items.
“I think our overall goal is to ensure that the Temple community as a whole, none of the students are suffering from food insecurities,” Cooper said. “I feel like that’s an issue that people don’t talk
about, and we do have a lot of students who come from different backgrounds and different countries.”
In Fall 2019, Aramark and Drexel Campus Dining Program partnered to establish their meal swipe donation program “Feed a Dragon.” Drexel’s meal plans have a mixture of unlimited swipes per term and weekly swipes.
Penn’s dining program has also partnered with its chapter of Swipe Out Hunger to give students the option to donate unused swipes. Penn students purchase a certain amount of meal swipes per semester, while most Temple students have a weekly plan.
In Spring 2024, Aramark reinforced rules at Temple to prohibit meal swipe sharing, as many unlimited meal swipe users were bringing in multiple people to the dining hall. Starting in June 2024, students were able to use meal swipes for guests about three to five times per semester depending on their plan, The Temple News reported.
“So far, we’ve seen a 16% redemption rate, representing 3,675 guest meal swipes,” wrote a Temple Culinary Services spokesperson in a statement to The
Temple News. “These efforts, of course, complement our ongoing food donation to The Cherry Pantry.”
Swipe Out Hunger and TSG have been working with Aramark to bring the same donation programs from neighboring universities to Temple. The effort has been supported by members of Temple administration, like Vice President of Student Affairs Jodi Bailey, Lubbe said.
So far, TSG and Cherry Pantry have been partnering with Aramark to give out vouchers as they work towards their goal.
“No one’s going to be getting anything taken [away] or getting any cost forced upon them to pay for somebody’s extra meal,” Lubbe said. “It’s just about sustainability and making sure students have means to an end and just making sure that they’re taken care of.”
Chelsea Lubbe has previously freelanced for The Temple News. They were not involved in the writing, reporting or editing of this article.
nurbanu@temple.edu @nurbanusahinn
On Jan. 28, Tyler Sabapathy, an 18-year-old Temple student and Toronto native, tragically passed after suffering critical injuries during the Eagles NFC Championship celebration.
Sabapathy was a cherished member of the Temple community. As expressed by those around him, he was a kind, hard-working student-athlete deeply loved by friends, family and coaches.
“Thank you for making me a better person and for the positive ripple effect you have left on the TUMG program,” wrote Jesse Kitzen-Abelson, Sabapathy’s gymnastics coach, in a memorial post on social media. “It was an honor to have you on my team.”
Sabapathy was a well-decorated competitive gymnast who won more than 120 medals at local and national gymnastics competitions before his time at Temple. His dedication to his craft and training continued during his time at Temple under the leadership of men’s gymnastics coaches Kitzen-Abelson and Fred Turoff.
“A son, brother, mentor, role model, a motivator, a giver and so much more,” Kitzen-Abelson wrote. “He was a man of character, he never stopped working and never stopped giving.”
On Jan. 28 President John
Fry expressed his condolences at the sudden loss in a statement to the Temple community announcing Sabapathy’s passing.
“There are no words that can make sense of it, and the entire Temple community mourns his passing,” Fry wrote. “Our hearts go out to Tyler’s family, friends, classmates and all who knew and loved him.”
He was inspired to pursue his degree in exercise and sports science from his passion in injury prevention and the Temple community is deeply saddened by the loss of such a unique talent, Fry wrote.
In his time at Temple, Sabapathy touched the life of his teammates and coaches. His driven and passionate energy will be remembered by those who got the chance to spend time around him.
“It was an honor to have you on my team,” Kitzen-Abelson wrote. “Ask me so I can tell you about the strong legacy of Tyler Sabapathy and how his spirit will live on.”
On Feb. 6, Chase Myles, a sophomore communication studies major, was fatally shot on Carlisle Street near Oxford around 11 p.m.
Whether spending early mornings with his brother or leading his family in prayer before meals, Chase Myles’ family describes him as someone who brought joy to those around him through small acts of kindness and subtle memories shared with loved ones.
“We will miss our debates at the dinner table, I will miss our 4 a.m. gym workouts and the conversation to and from the gym,” Myles’ family wrote in a statement. “We will miss your style for fashion and expensive taste. Mom will miss the Friday Domino’s Pizza run and Saturday morning Dunkin’ Donuts run.”
Myles, a 20-year-old from Bowie, Maryland, was a considerate and thoughtful individual who valued his close relationships with friends and family. In conversations with others, he brought light and positive energy while discussing his favorite topics like fashion or his sense of style.
Collin Myles highlighted his relationship with his brother Chase, noting their close bond and shared interest in sneakers and clothing trends.
“I was proud of the brother that you are and the young man that you were becoming,” Colin Myles wrote. “I thank you Chase for all the joy you brought to my life and everyone that you touched.”
As a communication studies major, Myles brought his uplifting energy to Klein College of Media and Communication, touching the lives of his friends, peers and professors alike.
On Feb. 7, President John Fry expressed his condolences and reemphasized Myles’ impact as a student in a statement to the Temple community.
“The loss of any life is a tragedy, but that is especially true when the loss is that of a bright and engaged student like Chase,” Fry wrote.
Myles will be remembered for providing light to those who needed it and representing an exemplary display of compassion for all around him.
“The love we have for you is unmatched, as a son and a brother it has been a blessing and pleasure watching you grow and mature into this young thoughtful and respectful young man,” Myles’ family wrote. “Watching you grow and change through the 20 years was a blessing that we will keep in our hearts forever.”
A student argues that their peers should partcipate in research across campus.
BY MCCAILLAIGH ROUSE Opinion Editor
On Feb. 9, Temple announced to the univeristy community that the National Institutes of Health issued a direction capping allowable Facilities and Administration cost recovery rates at 15% for existing and future grants for higher education institutions.
Cost recovery rates are the percentage of funds allocated to cover indirect costs like research equipment, laboratory supplies and researcher salaries. Temple’s F&A rates stood at 58% before the limit went into effect on Feb. 10, but now with recent NIH cuts, grant funding will not be enough to sustain research practices at the university level.
Temple holds the prestigious R1 designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, signifying the highest level of research activity. Only 4% of universities in the country meet this ranking, underscoring Temple’s commitment to innovation and discovery. However, this significant reduction in F&A threatens the financial sustainability of research at universities nationwide.
These cuts aren’t just an abstract funding issue — it affects students, faculty and the future of academics. Despite the recent decrease in federal allocations for research and development, students must advocate for and engage in research to ensure the continuation of groundbreaking discoveries and academic excellence — now more than ever.
Temple’s R1 distinction attracts top-tier researchers who are highly accomplished in their fields, creating exceptional opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students to engage in meaningful research. Across all colleges, students can collaborate with leading experts and gain hands-on experience to enhance their academic and professional development.
Sandra Suárez, deputy dean and director of the Liberal Arts Undergraduates Research Awards, believes students should become involved in research and continue to innovate on the subjects that interest them regardless of external factors.
“Research puts you in a zone,” Suárez said. “When you’re learning something new, you’re in a zone that’s completely different from the zone which you are in when you’re listening to music or having lunch with friends.”
Although funding is a large part of how many research groups at Temple function, there’s a need for greater student involvement in research to ensure that innovation at Temple doesn’t stall.
Temple students from all majors have access to research opportunities. Some of the centers and labs Temple students can participate in are the Alzheimer Center at Temple and Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center.
For Liam Kennedy, research has provided invaluable insight beyond the classroom. He first began his cardiovas-
cular and Alzheimer’s research the summer before his senior year as a course requirement, but his involvement soon helped him gain a greater appreciation for the complexities of biology.
“[Research] has helped me understand the time scale of biology and has reinforced my understanding of all these different cellular interactions, and how all of your systems come together and how when one thing goes wrong it has this sort of cascade effect on your other systems,” said Kennedy, a senior neuroscience major.
Temple’s research enterprise deserves participation and protection, especially following recent NIH cuts. With its strong reputation, students should explore research opportunities that do not require federal grants.
All Temple students can apply to get involved in the Honors Senior Project, which allows students to pursue an individual research interest under a faculty member. Undergraduates participating in the Honors Senior Project can choose to do a written thesis, a creative project
or a practical application.
History professor Bryant Simon believes students should take the opportunity to participate in individual research and focus on topics of interest.
“I think undergraduates at a research university like Temple need to get out of their comfort zone and do this research right and see the big picture,” said Simon, the academic chair of the honors program.
Research at Temple goes beyond funded programs. For many, it’s a passion they are drawn to. The recent changes in NIH funding to research at the university level will have substantial effects in the long run, but despite these changes, students must continue to create, research and innovate.
As federal funding declines, student participation in research has never been more critical. Students can make a lasting impact in their fields while advocating for the future of research.
mccaillaigh.rouse@temple.edu
A student reflects on avoiding the Philadelphia plane crash and its effects in their community.
BY BRADLEY MCENTEE Assistant Opinion Editor
I’ve always considered Northeast Philadelphia my home.
I’ve never strayed far from the area, and I even commute to Temple’s campus every day because I can’t stomach the thought of being away from my neighborhood for too long.
The Northeast has the underlying grit of the rest of Philadelphia, all wrapped up in a facade of purity and wealth from its proximity to the suburbs. It’s a region with a rich history in farming and blue-collar work, which defines the identity and culture of the residents.
My neighborhood is no stranger to tragedy and is occupied by diverse communities like Rhawnhurst and immigrants just trying to scrape by. It’s overrun with auto shops, and the street constantly buzzes with trucks carrying lumber or speeding to their next home repair job.
But my beloved neighborhood was recently met with devastation. Earlier this month, a fireball fell from the sky on Cottman Avenue outside the Roosevelt Mall. A medical plane carrying six people slowly disintegrated in the air until it plummeted to the ground, sending debris flying in all directions.
I drove by the site of the crash just five minutes before the accident.
The memory of that drive home from school has been unreliable ever since it happened. I recall a vibration while driving that worked its way from the ground beneath me, through my tires, shaking the entirety of my body. Although I was close enough to feel it, I don’t know whether this is real or
some fabricated memory I’ve conjured to make me feel a little better from narrowly avoiding death.
In the blink of an eye, the place I call home was suffocated by uncertainty. There was a collective scramble across the community as relatives that have long moved away called to ensure their families were safe.
A single instant changed and ended lives, and if I left Temple just five minutes later there’s a chance mine would’ve ended too. To sound a little cliche, lives can change in a moment, or as Joan Didion put it, an “ordinary instant.”
I still dwell on my decision to leave campus that day. I debated staying a little longer or making a pit stop to get a soda for the ride home. As much as I want to say I had a gut feeling to leave as soon as possible, not every narrow avoidance of casualty works that way.
Instead, it was simply by chance that I’m sitting here, writing this today. Luck works in mysterious, sometimes heinous ways, but I’m glad it gave me the opportunity to walk the Earth for longer, even if fate decides it’s my time to go soon.
I’ve grappled with the concept of death for a long time, but the crash reminded me I can’t choose what time God wants me to go. Instead, I’ve learned to make peace in the uncertainty and find the joy and tender love of the present, as much as I can.
After collecting myself from the shock of watching my community in disarray, I went around and hung out with the people I loved most. I needed a distraction to remind myself of the experiences I nearly missed out on.
I went to my sister’s room and let them talk relentlessly about their hermit crab tank because that’s what made them happy. I went to my best friends’ house to have aimless conversations so I could be around the two of the most important people in my life.
The Northeast has a lot of wounds, many healed, many scabbed over and begging to close. The plane crash is the latest gash in the list of traumas that have traipsed through.
I feared my community wouldn’t recover, and that the crash would send ripples of grief through an already vul-
nerable area. What’s left of the plane is a crater in the sidewalk — a stark reminder of the people who died and the injuries that encroached upon a rather quiet area.
Following the crash, a 10-year-old boy was hospitalized after a jagged piece of scrap metal burrowed into his skull. Bystanders wrapped their shirts and socks around the wound, hoping to buy him enough time to survive the emergency transport to the hospital. As of the latest updates, he’s making a miraculous recovery after not being expected to survive the night.
But if the young boy is any indicator of the determination of the Northeast, I am reassured this wound, too, will close.
bradley.mcentee@temple.edu
A student argues for their peers to pay attention to and support local drag artists.
BY BRADLEY MCENTEE Assistant Opinion Editor
After her elimination from season 17 of RuPaul’s Drag Race on Jan. 31, Los Angeles drag queen Joella ruffled the feathers of drag queens nationwide. Before leaving the stage, she uttered her last words to the judges and her fellow queens, “Well, at least I didn’t die a local girl.”
The statement sparked backlash from “local girls,” or drag performers who haven’t been on Drag Race. The line reiterated a long-standing tension in queer nightlife between city performers and Drag Race queens.
Local drag artists often get overlooked in favor of performers with reality television exposure. Philadelphia’s drag scene has a wide array of talent and it’s imperative to give them the recognition they need to thrive. It’s important for Temple students engaged in the queer bar scene to recognize the talent of lesser-known performers, as they often rely on tips and commissions
Local performers often need to purchase their drag supplies, like sewing machines, makeup and hair. These costs add up quickly and can be significant financial burdens if performers cannot get adequate tip money or commissions from venues.
The cost for performers to compete in Drag Race has become increasingly unrealistic. Recently, Season 17’s Lexi Love revealed she took out a second mortgage to get adequate materials and a competitive runway package for the show.
John Brownlee believes supporting local performers is crucial, especially considering the monetary struggles of lesser-known queens.
“Some people don’t realize that [drag] is a big source of income for certain people,” said Brownlee, a senior marketing major. “And especially members of our community that feel extremely isolated from the rest of the
public just for how they want to express themselves.”
After the premiere of the Emmy Award-winning show RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2009, queens in the Seattle area have noticed slimmer crowds and are struggkling to pay for necessities, Real Change reported.
Despite drag’s increased visibility, local nightlife performers are still hidden from the public, according to a 2024 study in the Sexualities journal. It’s important for fans of drag to not allow their adoration for famous queens to overshadow local talent.
Supporting local drag is crucial, as it ensures the success of queer artists. Instead of relying on Drag Race stars, students interested in drag should explore the local scene to discover new and exciting performers that can’t be found anywhere else.
With drag shows and brunches becoming an increasingly popular event for college students, those in attendance should try and tip to the best of their ability if they want to see Philadelphia queens or their hometown artists suc-
ceed.
Brad Windhauser, a gender, sexuality and women’s studies professor, believes uplifting Philadelphia performers should extend past monetary contributions. One of the easiest ways to uplift local performers is by online spreading their content, Windhauser said.
“When you give support [on Instagram], your name’s also attached to that so you are a human being that’s putting in your support behind that,” Windhauser said. “Some of that goes a long way, if they see queens that have six-figure followers, then that suggests that there’s a space for that.”
Temple’s Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership office hosts an annual drag show for National Coming Out Week with a roster of local talent. Fortunately, students don’t need to wait for Temple’s yearly event to support local drag due to Philadelphia’s rich and ever-present drag culture.
Bob and Barbara’s, located on South Street near 15th, hosts a drag show every Thursday led by Philadelphia’s Miss Lisa Lisa. Franky Bradley’s located at Chan-
cellor and Juniper streets hosts numerous local performers with several drag shows every week.
For Kealy McCarthy, a Philadelphia drag show highlights a variety of talents that little experiences can replicate.
“They’re not just dressing up, they are the ultimate performer,” said McCarthy, a senior communications major. “I literally was seeing a drag queen with his belly hanging out [performing] a song and I’m like ‘they’re doing the job that you can’t.’”
As RuPaul’s Drag Race continues airing and the art of drag becomes more popular, it’s vital for students and fans of queer nightlife to continue supporting drag talent outside of the show.
Only directing attention towards queens with the Drag Race platform is contradictory to supporting the art form and causes significant adversity for lesser-known performers. The prosperity of Philadelphia drag is dependent on students showing up with their dollars.
bradley.mcentee@temple.edu
A student reflects on aging and what it means to be present in her life as she gets older.
BY WANIA IRFAN
When I was younger, all I could think about was growing up, getting older and getting to experience life independently. My mind was constantly clouded by the desire to be older and live the life I wanted. I longed for the freedom I believed came with age. I looked forward to the idea of independence, meeting new people on my own accord and doing anything I might want to do without the restriction of my parents.
The idea of adulthood felt like a distant, enticing dream – something beyond my reach yet always within my imagination. Every passing year felt like a stepping stone to something greater and more fulfilling, and I could hardly wait to get there.
Now at 19 years old, I’ve realized I took my younger years for granted. All the time I spent yearning for adulthood I could have been enjoying a proper childhood.
I can think back to certain instances, like special occasions or even regular mundane days, and see how these moments that were meant to be special were overshadowed by my desire to grow up.
I remember celebrating my 13th birthday at home with my extended family. From what I can recall, everyone was enjoying their time mingling and catching up with one another, but even though it was my birthday, I felt so disconnected.
Instead of enjoying my party, I was thinking about how my birthday might look at 18 or 21. I was so stuck thinking about what my future might look like that my 13th birthday almost completely passed me by and I’m left with almost no
memory of the day.
The feelings of displacement feel very similar to disassociating. I remember the birthday decorations all over the living room and my younger cousins running around playing games, but I zoned out.
Everything went blurry and I got tunnel vision, hyper fixating on my belief that becoming an adult would bring me the newfound experiences and friends I had been craving.
My family’s conversations turned into background noise as I disassociated. When I think about that day, I question why I couldn’t be present in the moment and enjoy myself.
I was meant to spend those moments fully immersed in the emotions of adolescence, but my head was elsewhere instead. I overlooked the simplicity and fleeting nature of my childhood.
Due to the hardships I’ve faced as a young adult, I’ve started to view my childhood as something I simply took for granted. By the time I got to college, I found myself longing for the innocence of my younger years, like sharing snacks with my childhood friends, the universal parachute in the gym during elementary school and the lack of adult responsibility.
I look back now with a clearer lens and recognize that the only thing I can do now is learn from not appreciating my childhood enough. I have learned that being present and in the moment is more important than one might realize or perceive it to be.
When I’m enjoying myself or doing the things I envisioned my older self doing, I take a moment to be aware and acknowledge that I am in the present. From something as grand as a wedding to something as trivial as just sitting and laughing with my friends, I make sure my head isn’t elsewhere.
Life is something that can pass by
in the blink of an eye; it’s a concept that is not in our control. However, the way that we live our lives is something that is in our control. Life is a trial-and-error circumstance. When I experience something, I analyze the situation and learn from it.
I continue to live my life simply attempting to be better from prior experiences. It’s important to understand that people are not their experiences. They are defined by how they choose to respond to them and what they turn them into.
So now, as I stand on the threshold of early adulthood, I realize the things I might’ve been yearning for in my younger years aren’t worth losing special memories over. I remind myself to be present, to embrace the moments as they come and to understand that life
isn’t just about reaching a destination, it’s about experiencing the journey in its entirety.
wania.irfan@temple.edu
First-gen Temple students navigate financial burdens while pursuing their education.
BY JENNIELEE HILARIO RIVERA
For The Temple News
Temple’s first-generation students have faced financial challenges that threaten their academic journey, from navigating financial difficulties, career uncertainty and the back-and-forth promise of student loan forgiveness.
Susan Mathuram, president of Temple First and a first generation immigrant student, said the pressures of student loan repayment can be especially overwhelming.
“When [former President Joe] Biden’s debt cancellation announcement came through, we were hopeful,” Mathuram said. “But we quickly realized that with political guardrails, most of us weren’t going to be able to access it.”
Temple First, an organization dedicated to supporting first-generation students at the university, consists of students from low-income backgrounds with little access to generational wealth or financial guidance. First-gen students can be burdened with student loans they may not fully understand, often with few resources to navigate the complexities of the financial aid system.
First-generation students also graduate at just 20% compared to 49% for their continuing-generation peers, according to the Center for First Generation Student Success.
The Biden administration’s promise of up to $20,000 in debt cancellation for Pell Grant recipients and $10,000 for other low or middle-income households was seen as a lifeline for many eligible, first-gen students. However, the reality of these promises has not played out as expected.
The student loan forgiveness program, which young progressives initially met with enthusiasm, faced significant pushback from legal challenges like the judicial branch approval, leaving many
first-generation students uncertain about their futures.
First-generation students are 1.5 times more likely to borrow money to attend college than their continuing-generation peers, and they often accumulate more debt during the course of their academic careers, according to the Postsecondary National Policy Institute.
The same report notes that first-gen students are more likely to borrow from federal loans, and they often take longer to pay off their loans after graduation.
Biden’s promises for debt relief were the main reason senior journalism major David Dacosta voted for him in 2020. Dacosta grew up in a family where his father didn’t graduate high school and is now navigating the complex world of student loans.
Despite securing loans, scholarships and working throughout his time at Temple, Dacosta’s financial situation remains precarious.
“There’s no real work-life balance,” Dacosta said. “The work is just surviving.”
For many students like Dacosta, attending college means a constant struggle with finances. Even when students do manage to access scholarships, some do not feel supported enough.
First-generation students are not only more likely to be low-income, but they also carry more debt than their continuing-generation peers. Students typically take on more debt due to their financial circumstances, according to PNPI.
First-gen students also borrow more than their continuing-gen peers and often face more challenges in paying off their loans after graduation. While the average debt for first-gen students at graduation is around $25,000, continuing-generation students graduate with an average of $18,000 in debt.
Alayah Osullivan had a complicated journey following the loss of her mother, who was her primary support system.
Her financial situation remains unstable despite receiving scholarships and working as a research assistant.
“We don’t have the same foundation as someone who’s had parents with bachelor’s or master’s degrees,” said Osullivan, a junior neuroscience major. “We’re building our own foundation.”
Many first-generation students are left to fend for themselves once they begin college.
Sean Andrei Dela Torre, an electrical engineering graduate student, remembers the struggles he faced when navigating his own financial journey.
“It was hard for me because my parents couldn’t teach me about the application process,” Dela Torre said. “I had to rely on others for guidance, and even then, landing internships was difficult.”
Nancy Garcia is paying off her student loans, and like Dela Torre, she also feels the weight of her debt daily.
“[Student loans affect] me every day, and it will definitely affect my future,” said Garcia, a junior psychology major.
“I understand what I signed up for, but I feel like it’s unfair that some students, especially first-gen students, aren’t forgiven for their loans.”
Loan payments often make it harder to save for big milestones, like buying a house. These payments can even delay career choices as the pressure of debt looms for students.
In 2021, more than 550,000 borrowers benefited from the Biden-Harris administration, which made loan forgiveness for public service workers a priority. But such relief has not reached first-generation students at Temple who pursue degrees outside this sector.
Garcia believes that extending forgiveness to all students, regardless of their post-college plans, is critical.
“Every student should be forgiven,” Garcia said. “I feel like they need to take this policy seriously. It really impacts our lives.”
Temple First made it a priority to provide mentorship, professional development resources and hands-on financial guidance to students like Dela Torre. The club also connects students with partners like the Collective Success Network, which helps first-gen students navigate both academic and professional challenges.
Despite securing a well-paying job as a nuclear engineer with a current salary of around six figures, which allows him to cover his loan payments, Dela Torre still has a monthly plan to pay his student loans. Currently, he owes between the range of $20,000-$25,000.
“[Loan forgiveness is] a very good opportunity for [first-gen students] to get higher education, especially for those who don’t have the financial support from their parents,” Dela Torre said.
Temple First provides workshops on professional development and financial literacy to make up for students’ potential gaps in knowledge.
But even with these resources, as students like Dacosta, Garcia and Osullivan struggle to balance their academic goals with the pressure of loan repayment, they wonder if they can ever afford the future they envision.
This disparity is even more apparent when considering the long-term impact of debt. First-gen students often
take longer to pay off their loans and are more likely to experience financial hardship after graduation, according to PNPI.
“It’s disheartening to know that I’ve done everything I was told to do,” Osullivan said. “I’ve worked hard to maintain a good GPA, but the system still seems stacked against us. It’s hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
For Temple’s first-gen students, student loan forgiveness was more than just a political promise – it was a lifeline.
“First-generation students should not have to carry the weight of debt alone,” Garcia said. “We need more advocacy for loan forgiveness, especially for students who don’t have the financial safety net that others do.”
Republicans have generally opposed broad student loan forgiveness initiatives, favoring alternative approaches to address student debt. House Republicans are considering measures like introducing new taxes on college scholarships,
ending certain student loan repayment plans and significantly increasing taxes on university endowments from 1.4% to 14%.
These proposals aim to offset the cost of tax cuts President Donald Trump introduced in his first term. However, these recommendations are still evolving.
“The future looks uncertain since there seems to be a lot of changes in the governmental structure right now, so honestly I don’t know,” Dela Torre said.
Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman reintroduced the Protecting Taxpayers from Student Loan Bailouts Act. If approved by the Department of Education, this bill would prevent future student loan forgiveness efforts.
While Republicans like New York U.S. Rep. Mike Lawler have proposed reforms to student loan programs, like reducing interest rates, these efforts are not focused on increasing broad debt forgiveness.
Until government plans are re-
solved, many fear the burden of student loans will continue to fall on those who need greater support.
“I was never dead set on just getting forgiveness from Biden,” Dacosta said. “But Biden’s spending did not focus on student loans as he had initially promised, and I’m not confident that student loan forgiveness will be a priority in Trump’s administration.”
jennielee.hilario@temple.edu
Eagles fans celebrated the victory throughout the streets of Philadelphia.
BY JACK LARSON Co-Photo Editor
Last week in Philadelphia was one of historic magnitude.
Ever since the Eagles’ blowout victory against the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl on Feb. 9, the city has been in a flurry of celebration.
From the immediate celebration at City Hall after the victory to the championship parade on Friday, fans brought the vigorous Philadelphia essence into the festivities.
Throughout the playoffs, the Philadelphia skyline lit up green for the team
while the streets echoed with shouts of “Go Birds!” As the passionate diehards donned their midnight to kelly green jerseys, Philadelphian rapper Gillie Da King’s “Blow The Whistle,” which has become the Eagles’ team anthem, could be heard for miles.
Millions of fans lined the streets Valentine’s Day morning, unafraid to profess their love for their team as they rolled by on parade floats. The Temple News’ photographers captured the energy flooding throughout the streets during all the celebrations — from the players to the fans — on both Super Bowl Sunday and during the victory parade.
jack.larson@temple.edu
JARED
more important than
Alumni Temple’s fundraising efforts have fallen significantly behind comparable universities.
“Like I don’t exist”: Why alumni aren’t
BY LEAH DUFFY & SAMUEL O’NEAL
For The Temple News
Every year, Chelsea Thorpe donates to Temple’s chapter of Gamma Iota Sigma, a risk management and actuarial science organization, because it holds a special place in her heart for helping her land internships and an eventual career in the insurance industry.
Thorpe, who now works as the head of broker management for AXA AL, served as the vice president of Gamma Iota Sigma as a student and regularly comes back as a guest speaker to stay connected with the organization and its current members.
“The only people who are giving [to Temple] are the people that feel a connection to something,” said Thorpe, a 2009 actuarial science alumna. “There are a ton of alums who give a lot of money to the actuarial and risk departments because we’re very connected to the program. But if you just graduated and are put on some mass communication list and you’ve struggled to get a job afterwards, you are going to be way less likely to donate.”
Thorpe feels motivated to donate because of the memories and gratitude she has for the organization — but she specifically donates just to Gamma Iota Sigma. A number of other alumni have described their communication and connection with Temple after graduating as feeling like a transaction and not a genuine relationship, according to a series of interviews conducted by The Temple News.
During the 2024 fiscal year, Temple’s total donation numbers paled in comparison to its peers. While the university reeled in more than $100 million for a fifth straight year, it did not meet the goal it set for itself at the beginning of the fiscal year, said Vice President for Institutional Advancement Mary Burke,
in an interview with The Temple News.
In 2023, Temple only had a 3% alumni giving participation rate, a 1% drop from the 2022 year, according to the university’s 2023-24 fact book. When comparing Temple to its peers, more than 11,400 donors contributed $2,466,661 on the University of Pittsburgh’s Day of Giving in 2024, while Penn State’s 2023 GivingTuesday raised $1.4 million. Temple 2024 Giving Days brought together just more than 1,400 donors, contributing roughly $600,000.
Burke and other university officials noticed the inefficiency in their approach to engaging with alumni in recent years and have recently put an end to cold calling as a fundraising tactic. The department is also strategizing other methods besides letters in the mail, she said.
Temple President John Fry also announced in a message to the university community in December that the Office of Institutional Advancement would undergo a comprehensive review, signaling a shift in how the university plans to
strengthen alumni relationships.
“We are just a decade away from Temple’s 150th anniversary, making now the optimal time to lay the groundwork for what will be a comprehensive fundraising campaign,” Fry wrote in the December memo. “To ensure that we have the right resources and structure to launch a significant campaign, we will be conducting a thorough review of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations at Temple next semester. ”
Burke and Fry have been meeting weekly since the memo was sent out, Burke said.
Fry, who previously led Drexel University, has a strong track record of boosting alumni contributions. He spearheaded Drexel’s most ambitious fundraising project from 2017-22 with the “The Future is a Place We Make” campaign, which raised more than $800 million through more than 42,000 alumni and 4,000 “friends” of the university during the five-year span.
Between 80-90% of Temple’s insti-
tutional fundraising comes from large gifts of $50,000 or more, and around 60-65% comes from donations of $1 million or more. With donor participation declining nationwide, the challenge lies in expanding engagement beyond major donors and encouraging smaller, long-term contributions from a broader alumni base, Burke said.
But between still paying off student loans, not immediately landing a lucrative job or not feeling overly connected to the university after graduating, a number of alums are not motivated to give back.
Heidi Stilwell, a 2004 alumna, said that many people in Pennsylvania choose to go to Temple because it’s affordable and don’t have the money to immediately give back after graduation.
“I don’t really feel an affinity to Temple anymore because I don’t feel that they even reach out to me and it’s like I don’t exist, I gotta be honest,” Stilwell said. “I think that once you graduate, you kind of fall off their radar. I occasionally get
these things in the mail to donate back but that’s about it.”
Stilwell said she has donated back to Temple in the past when it has promoted a new building on campus, but was unaware of recent development initiatives, like the renovation of Paley Hall and plans for a new home for the Klein College of Media and Communication.
“I don’t see any of this information so I didn’t even know about any of these things,” Stilwell said. “I can’t contribute and I can’t get excited about it if I don’t know about it.”
Despite Temple publicly celebrating its $100 million in donations during fiscal year 2024, it still fell well short compared to comparable universities like Pitt and Rutgers. One key factor is Pitt’s longer-established institutional advancement program, which benefits from decades of development, Burke said.
Broader instability at the university in recent years has also created a negative public perception, which makes some alumni feel less inspired to give back. High-profile challenges, like constant leadership changes and public safety concerns, have impacted the overall confidence level that some alumni have in the future of the institution as a whole.
Leadership instability, highlighted by the tumultuous tenure of former President Jason Wingard and a number of administrators he hired, has affected donor trust, making it harder to secure long-term commitments, said Aryell Heywood, a 2018 kinesiology alumna.
Heywood’s lack of engagement with Temple’s fundraising efforts also stem from the fact that she feels the university doesn’t offer the same personalized academic and financial support she experienced at smaller institutions, like Carlow University, where she also studied.
“I never donated because I felt disconnected — Temple’s communication methods are just generic letters and emails, and it seems they aren’t sure who they’re trying to reach,” Heywood said.
Temple’s institutional advancement department has still made strides in recent years despite obvious room for improvement. The university saw a rise in social media engagement in 2024, with a 71% increase in followers and more than 1,700 posts aimed at fostering school
pride, Burke said.
Burke added that the university is exploring new strategies to make donating feel like an investment rather than a one-time transaction for recent alumni.
Thorpe believes it will be hard for the university to convince recent graduates to donate because their association of the university is tainted following a series of recent public relation hits.
In 2021, former dean of the Fox School of Business Moshe Porat was found guilty of misreporting data to rankings surveys, like U.S. News & World Report, to improve the appearance and prestige of its graduate programs, The Temple News reported.
In the three years that followed, a Temple student was killed just off campus in a robbery, the university’s graduate student union went on strike and Temple responded by stripping employee benefits, Wingard told reporters he did not know how to keep students safe on campus and a campus police officer was fatally shot when responding to a carjacking.
Wingard resigned in 2023 following mounting pressure from the student body and faculty union, but his presidency left a sour taste in the mouths of students that will take a while to go away, Thorpe said.
“The university’s reputation has taken a lot of hits, and it’s going to be a challenge for that to be rebuilt,” said Thorpe, who contemplated getting an MBA from Fox prior to Porat’s misinformation scheme. “It just keeps dogpiling on with all the stuff going on administration and public safety wise, which just isn’t helping.”
But despite the challenges, Temple remains ambitious and believes it has hired the right president for the job in Fry. The university has set a donation goal of $120 million for 2025, with hopes of increasing that figure to $150 million annually in the years ahead, Burke said.
To achieve those amounts, Temple is looking toward a comprehensive fundraising campaign — a strategy that Fry and institutional advancement leaders have been discussing in their regular meetings. The university has also consulted fundraising expert Albert Checcio, who helped raise more than $700 million at the University of Southern
California, in an effort to refine its approach.
On the athletics front, Temple is yet to fill its vacant institutional advancement director position after parting ways with Ed Stoner in October 2024. The Owl Club, the department’s primary avenue for fundraising, has fallen significantly behind other schools in the American Athletic Conference in recent years since the introduction of Name, Image and Likeness in college athletics.
Previous statistics provided to The Temple News during a 2023 NIL information event showed that the Owl Club had roughly 2,000 members who raised around $2 million in 2022. But a closed club meeting on Feb. 1, attended virtually by The Temple News after obtaining an unlisted YouTube link, showed less than 1,000 members and $1 million dollars.
“Most of my peers are dealing with the same thing,” said Athletic Director Arthur Johnson in an interview with The Temple News in October 2024. “There are some opportunities out there that we’re aware of but everyone else is kind of dealing with some of the same challenges and issues.”
However, the University of Central Florida, who left the AAC for the Big 12 last year, raised more than $43 million through 10,000 donors that same year. Charlotte, who joined the AAC that year and whose recent athletic success is comparable to Temple’s, had 1,500 donors and raised $4.16 million.
Temple Athletics’ performance on the field has arguably been just as underwhelming as its donation efforts. The football team has not won more than three games in a season since 2019 and the basketball team, while knocking off top-notch competition from time to time, has not returned to the NCAA Tournament since the same year.
Despite the shortcomings that have deterred a number of alumni from giving back, others, like Jhae Thompson, still donate whenever they get the chance because it helps support the next generation of students and can enhance their learning experience at Temple.
“I donate to Temple because I feel a deep responsibility to support the next generation of Owls,” said Thompson, a 2002 communications alumna. “For me,
It’s not about writing a check, it’s about mentoring current students, staying engaged with the community and encouraging other alumni to do the same.”
leah.duffy@temple.edu samuel.oneal@temple.edu @samueloneal43
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DOWN
1. The number of Grammys Beyoncé has won
2. English rockstar who wrote the soundtrack for Tarzan (1999)
3. Celine Dion sang the theme song for this famous movie
4. Often referred to as the Queen of Rock
5. The number of members in K-Pop group BTS
10. Lead vocalist of U2
TUESDAY, FEB. 25 | 6 - 9 P.M.
504 Cecil B. Moore Avenue
Take the opportunity to network and establish connections with local Black-owned businesses.
250th Anniversary
TUESDAY, MAR. 18 | 11:30 A.M. - 1:30 P.M.
1400 North American Street
View local art on display while attending several panels highlighting female wellness and entrepreneurs seeking social change through their work.
ACROSS
6. The number of albums Led Zeppelin has released
7. Singer Kelly Clarkson won the first season of American ____
8. Louis Armstrong’s signature instrument
9. This Swedish band’s signature song is “Dancing Queen”
11. The Jonas Brothers consists of Joe, Nick, and ____
12. Name of the Spice Girls’ debut album
SATURDAY, FEB. 22 | 10:30 A.M.
601 West Lehigh Avenue
Attend for some free physical and mental health resources presented by Temple’s Pharmacy Leadership Society.
MONDAY, FEB. 24 | 10 A.M. - 2 P.M.
1755 North 13th Street
Swing by the Howard Gittis Student Center and connect with employers who are interested in diversifying their workplace.
Students interested in government and nonprofit work now say they’re having second thoughts.
BY JADON GEORGE Features Staff Writer
Sinh Taylor’s entire vocation seemed to vanish overnight.
Taylor earned an undergraduate degree from Temple in gender, sexuality and women’s studies to serve transgender youth as an educator and social worker. For years, she eyed a graduate students’ partnership at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia that assigned master’s students to work with transgender kids through its Gender and Sexuality Development program.
In January, an executive order moved to end federal backing for work intertwined with diversity, equity and inclusion. Soon after, the National Institutes of Health and some Veterans Affairs branches began scouring grant applications for language they deemed “woke.”
Since President Donald Trump took office, institutions with missions resembling CHOP’s support center began to worry they sat squarely on the chopping block.
“At first, I was thinking, ‘CHOP has great funders,’” said Taylor, a master’s of social work student. “‘They have a lot of private funders. They’re going to be fine.’”
Nope: The GSD graduate program and others like it recently disappeared with little public explanation.
Many Temple students have wagered their futures on careers in government. They’ve studied in hopes of becoming regulators, litigators and investigators. Now, they’re unsure if they can still find work in Trump’s Washington, D.C. Perhaps more importantly, they’re unsure they want to.
Temporary workers at the Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency are on a tear of sorts through the Potomac: Hectoring career civil servants into unemployment, claiming
unilateral power to shutter agencies and gaining access to some of the American public’s most sensitive financial information, most recently IRS filing data.
Each drastic move has served to push the power of the executive past its legal limits: Trump has already lost challenges in the lower courts, and the Constitution gives Congress alone power over spending.
But many of the briefcase-carrying twentysomethings now roaming Washington cut their professional teeth in the tech industry. In Silicon Valley, the aims of leaders hailed as visionaries often take precedence over norms, ethics and even the law.
Temple Student Government advisor Shawn Aleong came to Temple and excelled despite complications from cerebral palsy. Aelong’s advocacy for the disabled drew the attention of those in power: Former President Joe Biden named Aleong to a council on intellectual disabilities in 2022.
It was a quote from Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall that drew the senior legal studies major to public service.
“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute,” Marshall, the first African American to sit on the high court, once wrote.
Aleong doesn’t want to work in a government he believes lacks respect for human rights. But he remains on the council, he says, as an advocate. “They ain’t fired me yet,” he said with a wry grin.
Weeks after the shock and awe began, Michael Hagen says he remains unsure how to explain to his dozens of students what’s happening or how it might affect their futures.
“Nothing like this has ever happened before, as far as I know,” said Hagen, a political science professor whose introductory lectures tend to house several dozen underclassmen. “Never has there been a squad of non-elected officials mobilized to dig deep into the guts of these agencies and just start letting people go.”
The White House’s “move fast and
break things” ethos affects more than government agencies. VA hospitals span the nation and dot major cities and small towns alike. Disaster relief often arrives through ever-changing medleys of public service organizations and politically-neutral relief agencies like FEMA. Most famously, service organizations around the world work with Washington as what former President George W. Bush called “armies of compassion.”
Service organizations razed by the Trump administration’s onslaught can’t simply resume their work if ever the money starts flowing again, Taylor said. But she also wondered if communities could reclaim the role of care nonprofits had only recently filled.
“I feel like people are going to step back and be more like, ‘I have to take care of my own as opposed to relying
on this organization to take care of me,’” Taylor said.
jadon.george@temple.edu
@JGeorgeScribe
Some fear for the future after President Donald Trump issued orders targeting the community.
BY SUHANA KHAN For The Temple News
Adrian D’Angelo feels stuck in a state of uncertainty. After legally changing his name, he’s still waiting for his passport to study abroad, which he speculates has been delayed due to his self-selected gender marker.
“My current legal personhood is in limbo because of this executive order, which is scary and upsetting for me,” said D’Angelo, a freshman history major. “Especially because that is part of the draw for Temple University for a lot of people, I would like to study abroad. I would also like to have legal documentation by personhood, first and foremost.”
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump rescinded Title IX rules and orders protecting diversity and LGBTQ rights from former President Joe Biden’s administration. Trump also signed a series of executive orders targeting transgender inclusion policies. The orders mandate that the federal government only recognize two genders, male and female, restrict gender affirming care for those younger than 19 and restrict identity-based bathroom access and sports participation.
In response, seven transgender Americans represented by the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal lawsuit against Trump and the U.S. Department of State for refusing to allow passport gender marker changes, arguing it infringes on their constitutional rights.
The series of executive orders impacting transgender Americans has left many Temple students and faculty members concerned for their future and access to gender-affirming care under the Trump administration.
Jasper Ragan is frustrated by the executive orders, believing they disregard the social nuances of gender that are prominent even in cisgender culture.
“I think that it completely invalidates intersex and nonbinary identities,” said
Ragan, a junior liberal studies major. “It [makes it] so that gender isn’t a spectrum anymore when it really is something so, so, so vast and experienced so differently by every single person.”
Catching On Thieves, a film and media studies professor, echoes these sentiments and thinks Trump is weaponizing language to reject countless people’s existence by saying there are only two genders.
“Language shapes how we treat each other,” Thieves said. “It shapes what we can even imagine as possible. It shapes what we decide not to look at. We know cross-culturally, languages that possess the ability to make different connections can treat new emotions in people physiologically.”
One of Trump’s recent executive orders blocks schools from requiring staff to use the names and pronouns that match a transgender student’s gender identity.
Support from faculty and students at Ragan’s school was an important and validating experience for him while he experimented with his identity before
settling on a more permanent name, he said.
“If I didn’t have that experimentation, and if I didn’t have the support to experiment like that, I don’t know what I would have done,” Ragan said. “I worry a lot about kids and them not having support in that way.”
While some students and faculty share a sense of fear and uncertainty about the future, they also feel the need to persevere and fight through adversities by expressing themselves.
Despite recent executive orders and other decisions in Washington, D.C. being difficult for members of the transgender community to process, Ragan is not letting his fear stop him from expressing his identity, especially in places he feels need queer representation, a sentiment Thieves shares.
“You need to find joy in this so that it can balance out the pain,” Thieves said. “And allow yourself a bigger part of this too. I think that’s really important for trans folks.”
On Jan. 29, Temple President John Fry addressed recent orders and the
overall state of uncertainty in a statement to the university community.
“Since our founding in 1884, Temple has focused on providing educational and experiential opportunities to individuals from every walk of life,” Fry wrote. “That mission will not change.”
Some students hope the university collaborates with student-led organizations on campus that allow transgender students to lead conversations about these issues as well as expand gender-neutral bathrooms and provide more medical resources.
“If we have a past, we have a future,” D’Angelo said. “And oh, boy, do we have a past.”
suhana.khan@temple.edu
Students recently established a Luddite Club at Temple to spend less time on their phones.
BY MADELYNNE FERRO & JULIA CAROBRESSI For The Temple News
When Danica Day started her senior year at Temple, she had spent more than a decade of her life with an iPhone. But the past couple of years haven’t exactly been a happy coupling.
When screen time limits and determination didn’t suffice, Day took a radical approach to eliminate her smartphone dependence and switched to a flip phone.
“I’ve been wanting to get off social media for so long, I just didn’t have the self-control,” said Day, a senior journalism major. “I had to take drastic measures.”
Day’s philosophy aligns with the Luddite movement, a term originating from early 19th-century skilled craftsmen who criticized mechanized manufacturers in textile industries. In modern times, a Luddite passively abandons technology and advocates for simple living. The movement has found a new home among Temple students like Day in the university’s own Luddite Club For Meaningful Connections.
Day ditched her smartphone for a “dumbphone” to get offline and be more productive — a typical practice for a new-age Luddite. Dumbphones are what some call any mobile phone lacking the advanced functions that characterize smartphones. Day uses a flip phone, while others use smartphones with user modifications to limit capabilities.
“I was in fifth or sixth grade when I got a smartphone for the first time,” Day said. “I feel like there could have been a happy medium there that just didn’t really exist.”
Some students feel that spending less time on a smartphone helps them to regain control of their time. For Day, this means taking care of her mind through activities like reading or coloring.
The average Gen Z smartphone user spends six hours a day on their phone, according to a December 2024 study by Harmony Healthcare IT.
Tess Davis recently joined Temple’s Luddite Club, aiming to reexamine her relationship with smartphones and spend time with students eager to do the same.
“I feel like you create more of an identity for yourself if you don’t have a smartphone,” said Davis, an undecided freshman. “People aren’t bored anymore. People don’t channel their boredom into anything creative or productive. They just go on Instagram and then they can just scroll forever.”
The average Generation Z smartphone user spends six hours a day on their phone and 56% of them say they feel addicted to their phone, according to a December 2024 study by Harmony Healthcare IT, a data management firm for healthcare organizations.
As a new member, Davis believes fellow Luddite Club members will give insight into understated aspects of social media’s negative effects.
“[Luddite Club members] just want to be more conscious about their use of technology,” Davis said. “The main thing that excites me about the club is the con-
versations and the way that people will be able to talk about their own experiences with technology and what they’re doing.”
While some students believe smartphones are necessary to remain connected, others think they would benefit from going without.
Not all students are inclined to give up their smartphones. Some express that having a smartphone is an important tool for meeting new people and a major pillar of their social lives.
Katana Santiago, a freshman psychology and neuroscience double major, discovered her roommate on social media. She does not believe their paths would have crossed if she used a different method, like a random roommate assignment.
Santiago also believes smartphones can be more useful than their “dumb” counterparts during emergencies.
In January, California experienced wildfires that displaced around 200,000 people. Citizens were evacuated at high speeds as the fires proved to be extremely destructive.
“I have family who lost their home in the fires, and the only form of technology they had was a flip phone,” Santiago said. “They didn’t have any news or anything. It’s really important for us to have news on hand so we don’t have to be at home watching TV.”
Even for dumbphone users, a mobile phone revolution is a distant future, as smartphones have features necessary to modern life.
“It would be super cool if all of my friends sold their phone and could dedicate more time to just talking in person,” Day said. “But I know that’s not realistic for a lot of people. If you’re someone that can be responsible and monitor your screen time, then there’s really no reason to do something as extreme as selling your phone.”
madelynne.ferro@temple.edu
julia.carobressi@temple.edu
EVENTS Temple held its first event, celebrating Black youths who fought for equality, Feb. 3.
BY LALAJ JOHNSON & CONNOR PUGH
For The Temple News
For Zachary Brooks, a graduate student in Temple’s department of Africology, Black History Month is more than a single month of celebration — it’s an institution.
“It’s something that’s used to remind African American people and African people that the Black History Month is supposed to be where you celebrate your yearly celebration, or your yearly research of Black people year-round,” Brooks said.
The month was established by historian and author Carter Woodson in 1976 and serves as a reminder to African Americans and people of African descent to revisit their history and celebrate their identity not only in February, but year-round.
Temple is hosting a series of events throughout February to observe Black
History Month. The department of Africology and African American Studies kicked off the month on Feb. 3 by unveiling a plaque commemorating 13 young Black scholars who fought for Black studies departments to be established in American academia. There are also a number of other events planned for the remainder of the month.
The 13 young scholars were part of a protest of more than 100 students at Harvard University, The Crimson reported. The protest lasted eight days and gained momentum after the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1960s. The students demanded Harvard to include Black studies in its curriculum, employ more Black faculty members and admit a proportional percentage of Black students.
“Especially at Temple University, it was important for us to do something in the memorandum of Black studies,” said Ifetayo Flannery, an Africology professor. “The first ever Ph.D. program in the world in Black studies was established right here at Temple.”
The plaque was designed by Brooks, a long-time student of African studies
O I C E S
What was your favorite moment from
the Eagles parade?
at Temple, who was inspired to create a piece of art that would impart the need to renew the Africology Department’s mission.
“The significance of the piece is to remind other students that come to the Department of Africology to be principled scholars, to be noble scholars, and to really try to use their scholarship and their intellectual skills to advance causes of social justice and to fix problems that plague our communities,” Brooks said.
The plaque reveal served as the introduction to a suite of events by the department throughout the month. Upcoming events include a game night, a “Collage & Sip” and a conference on the Underground Railroad and Black history.
Other organizations at Temple also plan to host Black History Month events. The School of Film and Media Arts will host a presentation by professor Kimmika Willams-Witherspoon discussing the representation of African women in Euripides’ Medea and its contribution to the myths about blackness for Black women on Feb. 18 at the Temple Performing Arts Center.
JULIAN FLICKINGER
Senior Risk Management major | He/Him
“ It was honestly the vibes. Everyone was cool. Usually there can be a decent amount of bad vibes depending on where you’re at, but everybody was happy.
”
YEMI LEWIS
Freshman Dance major | She/Her
“ We were on Market Street and we saw these people walking with the stoplight. That was at least top three. ”
IDEAL is hosting a Legacy of Black and LGBTQIA+ Artists lunch at the Tuttleman Learning Center on Feb. 19 and Charles Library will host a Black Graduate Student Mixer on Feb. 19 on the first floor.
“It’s about not just uplifting our ancestors, the people that have passed away,” said Essence Gaines, a junior Africology and English major who attended the ceremony Feb. 3. “But it’s also about assisting the people who are alive.”
David Brown, assistant dean for community and communications at the Klein College of Media and Communication, believes Black History Month is reflected through Temple’s students and faculty who maintain and carry forward its significance well beyond the month.
“Black history is American history,” Brown said, “I think that Black history needs to be incorporated in everything we do. There are people who have been nameless, and unless we tell their stories, those stories don’t get told.”
connor.pugh@temple.edu
lalaj.johnson@temple.edu
DYLAN STEINBERT
Freshman Journalism major | She/Her
“ My favorite moment of the parade was probably two hours before the parade even started. I witnessed a couple get engaged in front of the “Love Hurts” sign in Love Park. ”
JOHN HANNUM
Sophomore History major | He/Him
“ When I got to my girlfriend – she goes to Drexel and was coming from Market Street and I was coming from Broad. I was walking down with all the Temple kids. ”
Temple is looking to use its run game to have success under K.C. Keeler this season.
BY RYAN MACK Sports Editor
K.C. Keeler was well aware of the challenges that awaited him when he was hired as Temple’s next head coach on Dec. 1. Most importantly, he knew he had to transform an offense that had been stagnant for nearly five years under former head coaches Rod Carey and Stan Drayton.
Last year, the unit ranked 121st in the country in scoring and put up an underwhelming 92.8 rushing yards per game — 126th in the country.
Keeler immediately put together his staff, hoping to bring the offense to life. He settled on someone he had only met in person once — and coached at a program two time zones away.
Montana State offensive coordinator Tyler Walker was tapped as the guy Keeler wanted to lead his offense. Walker had orchestrated a potent rushing attack in Bozeman, Montana, which grabbed Keeler’s attention. The pair met just one time but shared a mutual friend in Oregon head coach Dan Lanning.
Lanning gave Keeler a call to send him in Walker’s direction. The hiring was the first puzzle piece to the 2025 Temple offense. Now that the entire staff is set, Keeler is looking for the offense to set the tone for the culture that Temple is looking for.
“When it’s fourth and half a yard, you can’t put five wide receivers in the field,” Keeler said. “That’s not gonna fly here. I mean, there’s a toughness Temple built on 10th and Diamond. So there’s already a brand here created, I love the brand. I’m not gonna try changing the brand.”
The toughness that Keeler emphasized is expected to be brought through the running attack — the Owls’ main weakness last season. Keeler and Walker plan on reverting to a playstyle where the run comes first which will open up the passing game.
Walker’s offense last season was
spearheaded by its running game. Montana State’s 15-1 record came by the ground game, where it racked up 4,719 yards to go with 53 rushing touchdowns. Both were the most at the FCS level and something the Owls will look to emulate.
Temple may have found its main ball carrier in the transfer portal, with former Sam Houston running back Jay Ducker following his coach to Temple. Ducker gives Temple a power back that will take charge in the running back room. He led the Bearkats in rushing yards last season and had 300 more yards than Temple’s leading rusher Terrez Worthy.
Montana State had three 1,000-yard rushers in 2024 and the coaching staff expects the Owls’ offense to create the same formula. Worthy, a speedy back that can bounce off Ducker’s skillset, is back with the Owls for now but could enter the transfer portal when it reopens after spring practice concludes.
“There’s not one cut-out mold that can be successful in this offense,” Walker
said. “We have guys that are home run hitters, that are speed guys and that can take it the distance. I think the guys in that room have everything they need for our offense to be successful in the run game.”
Sam Houston’s offense played the same way as Montana State’s last year by leaning on rushing the ball. For both teams, the run opened up the passing game and Temple will lean into that philosophy to have success. The Owls’ offense will be without last year’s leading receiver Dante Wright but will be looking to have success by getting their tight ends involved.
Expect the offense to have shades of what the Owls looked like in 2023. Temple was able to use the short and intermediate passing game to dish the ball out. The team had three receivers with 500 yards through the air and tight ends became a focal point.
“We want to be balanced,” said running backs coach Andrew Pierce. “We
also understand that we have to establish the run to allow us to be balanced and throw the ball down the field and be explosive.”
The Owls’ roster might look different by the time the season starts. The quarterback situation is still something to keep an eye out for. While the staff is open to tailoring the offense around Simon, they might also find a quarterback whose skill sets match gave them success at their last pit stops.
“I don’t know what kind of team we have right now, we’re gonna find out,” Walker said. “I think that’s the big thing about that, it’s not like we got to have this, or we got to have that, we got to have this. There’s a lot of different things that will keep this thing going the direction we want to go.”
ryanmack0001@temple.edu @Ryan_mack18
Samantha Nathanson is leading Temple Fencing in wins this season.
BY JONAH ROBINSON For The Temple News FENCING
In third grade, Samantha Nathanson’s world was flipped upside down when her mother decided to sign her up for fencing classes. Ten years later, Nathanson is still reaping the benefits of her mother’s decision.
Nathanson joined Temple Fencing last summer and was expected to spend most of her time watching and learning from her peers. The Owls entered the year ranked as the No. 11 team in the country and immediate playing time for Nathanson seemed scarce. Instead, Temple began the season with only three active players due to injuries and illnesses. The circumstances allowed Nathanson to step up and push her mental and physical bounds to the limits.
Nathanson has found her footing despite the unexpected start to her college fencing career. She leads the team with a 49-25 record and has played a pivotal role in the team’s successful weekend at the Schiller Duels on Feb. 1 and 2. The freshman finished the weekend going 14-2 including a perfect 10-0 outing on Sunday.
“It started off with a bang,” Nathanson said. “Having to be in for every school and every bout without taking a rest definitely impacted the way I fenced in the first semester, especially towards the beginning.”
Temple head coach Jennie Salmon had Nathanson on her radar since her time at Dynamo Fencing Center in Newton, Massachusetts. Salmon was familiar with the freshman’s childhood club -- making the choice a no-brainer.
Nathanson joined the Owls after finishing her club career with four topthree finishes and a top 110 finish in the Junior Olympics in February 2024. She came to North Broad Street with potential to improve even more on a roster that sent a sabre to Nationals the season prior in Lauren Johnson.
Salmon has loved every single minute of the sabreuse’s journey. Being a strong player who has risen to the occasion in a short time has led Salmon to realize Nathanson’s unlimited potential, she said.
“I’m just really proud of her for staying the course,” Salmon said. “For trusting us as coaches, for learning how to push herself more than she has probably ever pushed herself and through her wonderful personality, helped this team rise.”
The Owls have gotten healthier since the start of the year, but Nathanson has still continued getting action. The increased playing time gave Nathanson a sense of calmness, which allowed her to get comfortable with competing while off of the strip, she said.
In addition,Nathanson has also developed a stronger sense of confidence since she first stepped foot on campus in August. The rest of the team has seen her poise on the strip rise through the course of the season, showing the potential that she possesses.
Fellow sabreuse Arwen Gormley has seen Nathanson’s effort first hand, watching her progress as a player with each practice. Gormley missed the first half of the season after tearing her ACL but she has been able to offer advice to the new addition while recovering on the sidelines.
“I really encourage her to realize that the only thing getting in the way is her own self-doubt,” Gormley said. “If she pushes past that, she’s golden.”
Nathanson has a competitive spirit and eagerness to win and get better that is noticeable to her teammates and coaches. Assistant coach Tasia Ford, who primarily works with the sabre squad, has seen her enthusiasm, especially in recent weeks. Ford is a former Temple sabreuse and she sees that familiar drive in Nathanson.
“I can see how badly she wants it,” Ford said. “She comes in and asks the right questions. She always wants more out of this experience and I was very similar to that too.”
Despite being a freshman, Nathanson has embraced having a new mindset and is eyeing an NCAA win for her team. While Nathanson has kept her head down for much of the season, her record could earn her a bid to NCAA Regionals or Nationals in March.
“I can owe it all to my teammates,” Nathanson said. “Just the positivity and the cheering and the loudness and support from everybody really pushes me
to do better. I’m hoping for an NCAA win for our team, I’m hoping just great things and I know they’ll come.”
jonah.robinson@temple.edu
The former Delaware standout was hired as the Owls’ running backs coach in January.
BY RYAN MACK Sports Editor
Coming out of Cumberland Regional High School in Bridgeton New Jersey, Andrew Pierce was hit with a reality check. The Class of 2010 running back finished his high school career with 4,281 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns, but received just a single Division I offer.
Delaware was the only school that gave Pierce a chance to shine — but it came with a catch. Then Blue Hens’ coach K.C. Keeler traveled up I-95 for a meeting with Pierce to lay out a plan to give him a grayshirt. This meant he wouldn’t play during his first semester so he had time to properly develop as a player. Pierce bought into Keeler’s idea and it gave him a belief that has stayed with him ever since.
“I came from a small school,” Pierce said. “Coach Keeler came down and I still remember this day. He sat in one of the offices, with my head coach and came up with a plan for me. When I saw that he believed in me, I was like, ‘I don’t care what it takes, I’m going there.’”
Pierce took the opportunity Keeler gave him and ran himself into the record books during his time at Delaware. He finished his career as a three-time All-American and the program’s second all-time leading rusher.
More than a decade after Keeler coached Pierce, his former running back joined him on staff as the running backs coach at Temple. Now, it’s Pierce’s job to help revitalize a position group that has struggled for the last half decade and will likely be the bread and butter of the offense for the foreseeable future.
“We’re going to run the football,” said offensive coordinator Tyler Walker. “We are going to dictate the tempo of the football game. We’re going to find different ways to create numbers and leverage.”
After finishing his career as one of the best running backs to touch the field at Delaware, Pierce was drawn to coaching because he wanted to be a role model
for younger players – just like his coaches were to him.
“I think it’s extremely important, I’ve been to the highest level [of college football],” Pierce said. “I know how hard it is to get there and stay there and that’s my job. That’s why I got into coaching; to impact these young men so they can go achieve their dreams and goals.”
In 2017, Pierce traded in his cleats for a clipboard and went back to Cumberland to become the Colts’ running backs coach. After a season at his former high school, he traveled to North Jersey, where he was a quality control coach at Rutgers.
He spent his time coaching Kyle Monangai, the Scarlet Knights’ star running back who had just arrived in Piscataway. Pierce hit his stride coaching Blue Hens’ running back Marcus Yarns during his three seasons as his alma mater’s running backs coach.
Yarns ran for 1,784 yards in his final two seasons with Delaware and was selected to two All-CAA teams for his efforts in 2023 and 2024. Pierce now hopes
his success with previous running backs can help aid a Temple rushing attack that struggled mightily last season. The Owls were one of the worst rushing teams in the country in 2024, with 92.8 rushing yards per game — 126th in the country.
The addition of Pierce gives Temple’s running backs someone who was once in their shoes. Keeler made hires like Pierce and wide receivers coach Roy Roundtree, who were former standouts during their college days, to give Temple’s roster an extra helping hand.
“Putting together a staff is like a jigsaw puzzle,” Keeler said. “It can be a little complicated at times, because there’s a lot of pieces of the puzzle in terms of them as teachers, them as role models, them as recruiters.”
The season is still months away, but Pierce is already laying the groundwork for how he can flip the switch in the Owls’ running back room. For that to happen, he has remembered the confidence his former coach once gave him, he said.
“I tell everybody in this room, it
does not matter if you walk on, it does not matter if you’re the number one player in the country coming out of high school,” Pierce said. “Y’all have the same opportunity. We are gonna compete in this room and we [are] gonna work to try to be the best running back in the country.”
ryanmack0001@temple.edu @Ryan_mack18
Temple has lost four of its last seven games as it prepares for the conference tournament.
BY COLIN SCHOFIELD Assistant Sports Editor WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Early in the fourth quarter of Temple’s game against North Texas on Jan. 29, the Owls held a 10-point lead against the third-ranked team in the American Athletic Conference. Instead of holding on for an important win, Temple squandered the lead by going scoreless for the final two minutes of the game and missed the opportunity to move up in the conference standings.
The same story unfolded in the Owls’ next game against first-place UTSA on Feb. 1. Temple held an 11-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter with a perfect chance to snap its two-game losing streak. Again, Temple was plagued by long scoring droughts in the final 10 minutes and its chance to climb the conference ladder disappeared.
After racing out to a 6-1 start in conference play, the Owls have lost four of their last seven games while struggling to maintain late-game leads. With the AAC tournament kicking off on March 9, Temple will need to resolve its issues and play like it did in its dominant 73-56 win against Tulane on Feb. 15 to achieve the success it envisions.
“We know we are capable of winning those two games,” said guard Kaylah Turner. “So we just used those experiences as motivation.”
Despite the promising performance against the Green Wave, the Owls’ biggest problem has been their late-game execution — which has led to blown leads. Temple led by as many as 19 points in the first half against North Texas. However, they began to lose the lead in the second half before completely collapsing by making just one of their final 13 field goals.
The Owls led by 14 points in the second half against UTSA before having a nearly identical collapse in the fourth quarter. Temple didn’t score for the final three minutes and made just one of its final nine field goals. The Owls were haunted by poor play down the stretch in
both losses that haven’t been solved.
In Temple’s win against Memphis on Feb. 5, it led by as many as 17 points before deja vu nearly began to set in. The Owls struggled in the second half, and while they managed to pull out a win, they nearly let Memphis come back.
Even in its 10-point win against UAB on Feb. 11, Temple showed difficulties closing out the game by turning the ball over multiple times in the final minutes.
“I was trying to let them get out of [press defense] and I knew I had some timeouts, but I was trying to let them get out of it,” said head coach Diane Richardson following the UAB game. “And they didn’t and I had to call the timeout just to calm them down and hopefully we’ll get better at that. It’s just we’re not poised. We have to be poised in those situations.”
The Owls’ late-game issues have gone hand in hand with the offensive struggles they have experienced lately.
On the surface, the Owls’ offense,
which ranks third in the AAC in scoring, seems pretty sound. However, ingame issues have cost the team wins. Throughout the season, Temple typically has had one quarter that it struggles in offensively and that theme has been especially present recently.
In the fourth quarter against North Texas and UTSA, the Owls scored just 12 and 10 points, respectively. While they didn’t lose against UAB, Temple had eight turnovers compared to five made shots in the fourth quarter. Temple didn’t blow a lead to South Florida on Feb. 8 but scored just seven points in the second quarter of its 64-57 loss.
Richardson’s “equal opportunity offense” showed its potential against Memphis when every player on the court scored, but the Owls have to keep that level of consistency to solve the long scoring droughts. The offense again showed how well it can work against Tulane when East and second-leading scorer Tarriyonna Gary combined for
just nine points but four other players scored in double-figures.
Temple still has the makings to be a contender in March, as it showed against the Green Wave, and only sits a halfgame ahead of Tulane for fourth place in the AAC. The issues plaguing the Owls are fixable and will have to be addressed if they want to reach the levels they believe they can get to.
“I want everyone to not be afraid to score the ball and not be afraid to shoot,” Richardson said. “It bodes well for us against the other team because they don’t know who to double team.”
colin.schofield@temple.edu @ColinSchofield9
