2014 BAR GUIDE: Our annual four-page insert focuses on the city’s dive bars. A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921.
temple-news.com
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
VOL. 92 ISS. 22
VP part of scandal was finalist for top fundraising job Matt Kupec, who resigned from UNC in 2012, interviewed to be senior vice president. JOEY CRANNEY Editor-in-Chief Temple’s search to fill a vacancy of the top job in its fundraising office has drawn out for several weeks after President Theobald removed a controversial finalist from consideration due to internal backlash, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the situation. The defunct finalist, Matt Kupec, is the former vice chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill who resigned in 2012 after it was found that he spent close to $17,000 of school money on personal trips. In late February Kupec dents in the past decade have interviewed to be Temple’s semoved into the blocks surround- nior vice president in charge of ing the once primarily commuter school. This past Saturday was the second official meeting of the Black Communities United Coalition since it formed two weeks ago to combat a new proposed development on the 2100 block of North Gratz Street, Students call for which the coalition said will leave many residents and fami- community service lies displaced. requirement. “It’s quite obvious that there is not ample representaJOE BRANDT tion to address these issues,” The Temple News Chionesu said. “How many meetings will have to occur to Students who protested the address something that has been ousting of African American occurring for 15, 20, 25 years... studies professor Anthony Monthe reality is we will meet for as teiro at the March 10 Board of long as we need to.” Trustees meeting met with Ken Lawrence, senior vice president ADVOCATE PAGE 3
Community finds voice in Advocate Local church holds community meeting to discuss gentrification.
UNC CHAPEL HILL
institutional advancement and was considered to be a top candidate until some involved in
KUPEC PAGE 6
Monteiro protesters meet with senior VP
SARAI FLORES The Temple News Activists in the North Central District of Philadelphia have taken root in the Church of the Advocate to hold weekly meetings on gentrification, for years a hotbed issue that has tensions mounting between students and residents of the once primarily working class community. The displacement of the residents has caused community outrage and has sparked the creation of the Black Communities United Coalition. The organization is being led by Elliot Book-
(Top) Community members meet at the Church of the Advocate (below) to discuss gentrification. | ERIC DAO TTN er, a resident of North Philadelphia, and Phile’ Chionesu, creator of the Million Woman March Movement. The organization will be meeting every Saturday from 4-7 p.m. at the church on 18th
and Diamond streets in an effort to slow the ongoing gentrification process in North Philadelphia and to help assist the displaced residents. Temple has estimated that between 7,000 and 10,000 stu-
A rowing history
‘All guts, no glory’ The women’s rowing team looks to continue building its program after the university reinstated the sport’s varsity status in February. DANIELLE NELSON The Temple News Former Temple rower Claudia Loeber almost didn’t graduate. Two months before Loeber, a photography major, was scheduled to present an image-based senior thesis, her hard drive crashed – as she lost more than two years of photographs she hoped to use for her project about the rowing team. When her rowing teammates found out, they decided to help. “That Saturday, all of my teammates came together and they presented me with this envelope with all of this money in it and a signed card,”
Loeber said. “They donated their own money to help me to find a company to recover the data on that hard drive. I was just sobbing for the rest of the day.” “It is a really big family,” Loeber added. “They are really amazing.” For more than two months, the women’s rowing team believed its “family” was going to be separated after the Board of Trustees approved a plan in December to cut seven sports. But after an unprecedented reversal by the university, the board voted in February to reinstate crew and rowing. Coach Rebecca Grzybowski and her wom-
ROWING PAGE 20
CHEYENNE SHAFFER Chief Copy Editor Three years ago at a diner in Philadelphia, three women, two of whom are parents to children with disabilities, were recalling stories from past decades of individuals they knew who were involved in Pennsylvania’s intellectual disability rights movement. Since many people who were affected by the movement 40 years ago are no longer around to share their experi-
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT - PAGES 9-15
Erin McNulty (right) interacts with another cast member in a play produced by Visionary Voices. | SERGEI BLAIR TTN ences, the group realized much of this information was at risk of being forgotten unless it was written down.
POPPYN gives youth a voice
Dressings target children
The administration says negotiations are ongoing with Elmira Jeffries while students are advised not to book housing in hall. PAGE 2
A Temple-sponsored program called POPPYN allows local high school students to express their views on community issues. PAGE 7
Kevin’s Fresh is now on store shelves in Philly, but got its start by catering to kids’ tastebuds. PAGE 9
OPINION - PAGES 4-5 What goes on in Paley Library?
MONTEIRO PAGE 3
One program within the Institute on Disabilities aims to record a community.
LIVING - PAGES 7-8, 16-18
EJ’s future in question
for government, community and public affairs, on Friday, March 14. After the Board of Trustees meeting on March 10, members of the group Justice for Dr. Anthony Monteiro held a sit-in on the second floor of Sullivan Hall until President Theobald and Trustees Chairman Patrick O’Connor met to discuss Temple’s role in the community. Monteiro’s prospects for rein-
Documenting a movement
NEWS - PAGES 2-3, 6
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Matt Kupec. | COURTESY
One of those women, Temple’s Institute on Disabili-
VOICES PAGE 16
SPORTS - PAGES 19-22
Season ends with loss to UCF
NEWS
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TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
Staff Reports | Student Affairs
Elmira Jeffries apartment complex is in a state of flux after students were sent an email advising them not to book rooms through Temple housing, while the administration said they are still in negotiations with the building’s owners for a new contract. | TAYLOR SPICER TTN
Elmira Jeffries contract still in limbo An email was sent warning students not to book rooms. JESSICA SMITH The Temple News The future of the Elmira Jeffries apartment complex is in a state of uncertainty after student residents were warned not to book future rooms in the complex pending the closure of an agreement between the university and the complex’s owners. Temple officials said they cannot confirm the status of Elmira Jeffries, a privately-owned building located on the corner of 15th and Jefferson streets that is leased to students through University Housing and Residential Life. Owned by the Philadelphia Management Corporation, Elmira Jeffries operates on a contract that, until now,
has been renewed annually in time for sociate Director of Assignments and student housing selection. Billing Sean Killion said in the email. Elmira Jeffries houses 140 upperDespite the email, no final deciclassmen and transfer students. The sion has been made on the future of complex served as a nursing home until the complex, which mainly serves as September 2002. a home to sophomores and upperclassAn email was sent to students men. searching for on-cam“It would be pus housing for next premature for me to year notifying them that speak about this issue Elmira Jeffries would because negotiations not be available for seare ongoing,” Associlection, just one day ate Vice President for before the Student Web Student Affairs – DiSelf-Assign process visional Services Miopened on Feb. 25. chael Scales said in an “ U n f o r t u n a t e l y, email. as of the writing of The university this message, the lease had a similar oneAngela Shelly / sophomore year contract with The agreement between Temple University and Edge at Avenue North, the property managewhich opened in 2006. ment company that owns and operates Temple opted not to renew its contract the Elmira Jeffries apartment complex and severed ties with the complex at has not been completed,” Temple’s As- the end of the Spring 2013 semester.
“[This decision
would] push students to move into new, more expensive housing.
”
University officials said the opening of more than 1,200 new beds inside the new Morgan Hall was the main factor for the decision. There has been no word yet on the reasons for the halted contract renewal for Elmira Jeffries, but current residents said they have been kept in the dark. “I don’t know if it’s supposed to be a secret or what,” sophomore advertising major Michelle Bouh said. “I haven’t heard anything [from the university]. A friend of mine told me [Elmira Jefferies] is going to become its own place next year and it caught me off-guard.” Sophomore exercise science major Angela Shelly said the absence of Elmira Jeffries as a student housing option would be a disadvantage. “I think it’s a bad move,” Shelly said. “EJ is secluded so it’s perfect for peace and quiet. [This decision would] push students to move into the new,
more expensive housing Temple offers.” Bouh said she wouldn’t be surprised if the contract ended due to her perception of Temple overlooking the off-campus complex. “EJ always gets the short end of the stick,” Bouh said. “Even though they’re part of housing, they’re not. You walk into 1940 and Morgan Hall and they feel like dorms. EJ still feels like a nursing home.” Both Bouh and Shelly said Elmira Jeffries would serve as competition to Temple if they lease to students independent of the university. “The setup is ideal,” Bouh said. “The rooms are huge and you get your own bathroom. Everything is so big and so spacious. If these were single rooms, it would be over for Temple housing.” Jessica Smith can be reach at jessicasmith@temple.edu.
Crowdsourcing launches fundraising efforts Student groups are increasingly using Owl Crowd for funds. MARCUS MCCARTHY Assistant News Editor In the quickly evolving world of crowdsourcing, Temple is one of many universities in the country providing the resources for its student organizations to run fundraising campaigns on their own. The third round of these campaigns opened Monday, March 17 and participants said they’re hopeful following the success of the last round. As opposed to the traditionally large goals pursued by Temple that could be in the hundreds of thousands, OwlCrowd aims for smaller goals no more than $5,000. Most privately owned crowdsourcing sites take a percentage of the funds raised to pay for their operating costs. With OwlCrowd however, student organizations are able to receive 100 percent of the money donated due
NEWS DESK 215-204-7419
to no third-party involvement as well as Temple’s tax status as a nonprofit institution. Additionally, those who donate can receive a tax write-off if they choose to. Crowdsourcing – the form of fundraising that draws small donations from many donors typically on the Internet to cut soliciting costs – is a relatively new practice, having been coined in the mid-2000s. Ranging from Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign to startup costs for video game studios, crowdsourcing has continued to evolve in what it can be used for. Some of the most popular crowdsourcing websites that serve general purpose projects, like Indiegogo, GoFundMe and Kickstarter, take off around 5 percent of the proceeds. Associate Director of the Temple Fund and founder of Owl Crowd Alysea McDonald said OwlCrowd benefits student organizations by removing these fees. Temple’s chapter of American Institute of Architecture Students, a student organization with 40 members, are participating in Owl Crowd with a goal of raising $5,000.
Mark Zivi, a representative for Temple’s chapter of AAIS and a senior architecture major, said Owl Crowd was popular with student organizations for this round. “It [Owl Crowd] is a pretty competitive project,” Zivi said. “I remember when we sat down at the interest meeting for this, there were a lot more projects than spots available and we were lucky to have one this time.” The previous two rounds of fundraising were held from Aug. 15 to Sept. 30 then from Nov. 14 to Dec. 31. The first round had six participating organizations that raised a combined $1,712 with 31 participating donors. The second round saw a considerable rise in success with eight organizations raising more than $11,825 from 91 donors. For the first time, two organizations exceeded their goals, the Diamond Marching Band and the Hillel Center having raised $6,285 and $3,122, respectively. For this fundraising period, there are 10 participating organizations who are more ambitiously setting their goals. The combined value of the organizations’ goals is $41,000, a rise of
NEWS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
$900 per organization on average since the program started. The Temple News was one of the organizations selected to participate in the fundraiser, with a goal to raise $5,000. “There’s definitely been a growing interest in it from organizations,” McDonald said. “It’s been a really good collaborative effort with student orgs and other departments in the university. We’ve been able to collaborate more this year because of this website.” McDonald said she got the idea from other schools’ programs such as Middlebury College’s MiddSTART or the University of Delaware’s UDSeed. The University of California raised $1 million by including celebrities in the crowdfunding campaigns. McDonald said that in Spring 2013 she started seriously discussing the implementation of bringing a similar program to Temple. Instead of contracting the development of the OwlCrowd website to an external company, the web communications team in institutional advancement took on the task. “We actually have a pretty ro-
bust communications team within the university,” McDonald said. “When they sat in on the meetings they were like, ‘You know what, we could probably build this ourselves…So the web communications team in institutional advancement has been instrumental in building and designing the site.’” A credit card is required in order to donate. A new “honor roll” page has been implemented on the OwlCrowd website to be able to list the names of those who donated. McDonald added that she plans to continue the program in the future and welcomed any organization interested in participating to contact her office via a link on the OwlCrowd website. All participating organizations must be officially registered with the university. “I definitely want it to become another solid solicitation vehicle [practice] of the Temple fund and annual giving,” McDonald said. Marcus McCarthy can be reached at marcus.mccarthy@temple.edu and on Twitter @marcusmccarthy6.
NEWS
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
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Students for Monteiro meet with top administrator MONTEIRO PAGE 1 statement and the alleged racial motivations the protestors believe dean of the College of Liberal Arts Teresa Soufas had in her decision not to renew Monteiro’s contract. Monteiro, a non-tenure track adjunct professor, had his annual contract renewed for nine years based on recommendations from the department chair to the school’s dean. Soufas, who has the final word on the recommendation, chose not to reinstate Monteiro. “Non-tenured professors get let go every year,” Soufas said. “It has nothing personal to do with [Monteiro].” At the trustees’ meeting, O’Connor said “it would be unfair to comment on a case still in progress” when the crowd shouted words of support for Monteiro. Students and community members in attendance voiced their concerns with the lack of outreach between the administration and community groups, and demanded another meeting be planned, which Lawrence and the students set for Friday. The Friday meeting with Lawrence focused on the group’s other goals, including “an institution-wide plan for service learning in the community” that would give class credit for community service and implement a service graduation requirement, group member Kashara White said. “What that means for the community members is that Temple would not be an antagonist,” White said. “For Temple students, it will make them better people.” “That’s something that would come from the provost,” Lawrence said. “That’s an academic program and I don’t have oversight over academics…Per-
Students protest for Temple to reinstate African American studies professor Anthony Monteiro outside a meeting of the Board of Trustrees in Sullivan Hall on March 10. Students sucessfully argued for a private meeting with the senior vice president of government affairs on Friday. |ALEXIS WRIGHT-WHITLEY TTN sonally, I think it’s a good idea, but that’s just me speaking personally.” Central Penn College, near Harrisburg, is one of the few Pennsylvania schools with service as a graduation requirement. Many other colleges and universities, including Temple, offer optional community service opportunities for students. The protesters said they want Temple to have more intensive service involvement to fix poor relations with the com-
munity. White said that “right now, the community sees Temple as an antagonist, an imperialist.” “I think that there are certainly parts of the community that may have issues with Temple for one reason or another,” Lawrence said. “But I don’t think that as a blanket statement you could say that the community sees Temple as an antagonist.” “For Temple to have its Temple Made campaign and
make it look like it’s cool to be urban for four years and then graduate, it further exploits the community,” White said. White acknowledged Temple’s community efforts, mentioning things such as medical student involvement at Norris Homes, but argued for a largerscale community outreach program. “The community isn’t seeing [Temple’s community work] at-large,” White said. “What they’re seeing is the brand.”
While the two parties disagreed on whether there was a “gap” between Temple and its relationship with the community, both Lawrence and White said the meeting was productive. “I think it was a good first step,” White said. “I think it was an educational experience for both of us,” Lawrence said. “I’m always looking for an exchange of ideas.” Lawrence said the group
may meet with Soufas eventually to discuss their concerns relating to students’ claims about Monteiro’s removal. “I’d be happy to meet with them again once I get some more information on the concerns that they’ve raised,” Lawrence said. “I’m always willing to meet with students and hear ideas.” Joe Brandt can be reached at joseph.brandt@temple.edu or on Twitter @JBrandt_TU.
Staff Reports | Student Affairs
Sodexo releases new dining plans Citing confusion, Sodexo plans to move to simpler, two-tiered dining system. JOE GILBRIDE The Temple News Temple Dining Services is making changes to meal plans for the Fall 2014 semester after receiving feedback from many students who were confused as to what the plans offered. The current three-tiered system, consisting of standard, super value and premium plans, will be replaced next semester with only two categories: basic and premium. Nate Quinn, unit marketing coordinator for Dining Services, said the super value plan will be cut. “Our plans were far too confusing for incoming freshmen and parents,” Quinn said, adding that the super value plan was chosen to be cut because its only advantage over the others was the ability to spend meals on the late-night “fourth meal” period. “It wasn’t delivering on its name: super value.” In the new system, premium plans will include the option to spend meals at any time of the day, so the super value plan became redundant, Quinn said. Additionally, he said, students who signed up for the Carte Blanche plan, which gives unlimited access to the Johnson & Hardwick cafeteria but only one meal per period at restaurants, reported being disappointed after their plan was turned away at retail locations. “We felt the name of the plan was misleading, so we changed it to ‘J&H Unlimited
Plus,’” Quinn said. Students who choose meals on a per-semester basis rather than week-by-week will be able to select more meals in the fall, Quinn said, as dining services will add 75- and 100-meals-persemester plans, now called meal passes. Quinn said the changes were also made to attract commuters and upperclassmen to meal plans. “We’ve had fewer of those groups by virtue of not offering what they wanted,” he said. According to a flier released by Dining Services, the new basic plans will range from $714 to $1,444 per semester, with the latter price being the minimum plan required for residence hall students. Premium plans will range from $837 to $1,886 per semester. Quinn said the prices are not yet final, but are expected to be approved by the Board of Trustees soon. With the changes, Quinn said Dining Services tried to address most student requests, but some popular requests couldn’t be implemented. “Students would prefer their unused meals to roll over week to week,” Quinn said, but the current system of using student ID cards can’t support it. “It’s a complex issue, but we’re hoping to move toward that option.” Joseph Gilbride can be reached at joseph.gilbride@temple.edu.
Community members gather at the Chruch of the Advocate on 18th and Diamond streets to discuss gentrification in the North Central District around Temple, where many students have moved to live off campus in recent years.| ERIC DAO TTN
Advocate holds gentrification talk ADVOCATE PAGE 1 “How can we collectively fight back? There is an immediate situation here. Bottom-line what is our response going to be,” Booker said as he opened the meeting on March 15. State Rep. W. Curtis Thomas, who represents the 181st District including the portion of the North Central District where the church is located, attended the meeting this past Saturday, March 15. “I would want to talk to the people in this area and find out from them what kind of community do they want,” Thomas
said. “I think that there needs to be a conversation and then once we’ve had a conversation and we’re clear about what people want, then I think we’ll need to look at legislative...avenues to help people to achieve this.” The meeting was held amid protests from residents, including Booker, who denounced Curtis as a politician who “had failed the community.” Thomas promised to meet with the Black Communities United Coalition Monday morning, March 17 in his office to discuss how to slow the pro-
cess of gentrification. Thomas said he would be driving by the 2100 block of North Gratz Street and would be working on determining if the properties there are being taken away from residents by the city of Philadelphia using eminent domain. When both Kemah Washington, the senior warden of the Church of the Advocate, and Chionesu went to contact the residents of the 2100 block, the residents declined to comment and did not attend the meeting. On March 10, student and
community activists protested and held a sit-in at a Board of Trustees meeting held in Sullivan Hall. The protestors called for the reinstatement of AfricanAmerican studies professor Anthony Monteiro, as well as a review of issues like gentrification occurring in the community. That group, Justice for Dr. Anthony Monteiro, is scheduled to hold a meeting at the Church of the Advocate Tuesday. Sarai Flores can be reached at sarai.abisag.flores@temple.edu.
EDITORIAL/OP-ED
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TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921. Joey Cranney, Editor-in-Chief Jenelle Janci, Managing Editor Cheyenne Shaffer, Chief Copy Editor John Moritz, News Editor Jerry Iannelli, Opinion Editor Erin Edinger-Turoff, Living Editor Patricia Madej, Arts & Entertainment Editor Avery Maehrer, Sports Editor Marcus McCarthy, Asst. News Editor Evan Cross, Asst. Sports Editor Jessica Smith, Asst. Living Editor Sam Tighe, Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Dustin Wingate, Multimedia Editor Alexandra Snell, Multimedia Editor Chris Montgomery, Web Editor
Patrick McCarthy, Asst. Web Editor Abi Reimold, Photography Editor Andrew Thayer, Asst. Photography Editor Addy Peterson, Design Editor Katherine Kalupson, Designer E.J. Smith Designer Donna Fanelle, Designer Zachary Campbell, Advertising Manager Grayson Holladay, Business Manager Morgan Hutchinson, Marketing Manager
The Temple News is an editorially independent weekly publication serving the Temple University community. Unsigned editorial content represents the opinion of The Temple News. Adjacent commentary is reflective of their authors, not The Temple News. Visit us online at temple-news.com. Send submissions to letters@temple-news.com. The Temple News is located at: Student Center, Room 243 1755 N. 13th St. Philadelphia, PA 19122
EDITORIALS
Dive into Bar Guide We encourage Temple’s ofAttending college in a major city gives one more than just age crowd to focus on drinks public transportation knowledge and company – rather than frills and immunity to midnight si- and glamour – at these establishments. rens. Each bar profiled this year For a young adult over is located out21 years old in side of North Philadelphia, Our 2014 Bar Guide Philadelphia. there’s a wealth focuses on casual dive bars We encourage of nightlife just a SEPTA token throughout Philadelphia. students to explore the city’s away. While we are far from the authority on the culture outside of the “Temple city’s culture, we consider our bubble.” Chat about the local artwork Arts & Entertainment section a student’s guide to Philadelphia – on display at Dirty Frank’s, enand our annual Bar Guide insert joy a Citywide Special at Bob and Barbara’s – which claims to is no different. This year, we’ve kept the have originated the combination modest wallet of a student in – or find your groove on Dolmind by focusing on dive bars. phin’s dance floor. Also, be sure While some establishments to check our additional coverage scoff at being referred to as a online. We encourage students to “dive,” we believe that bars profiled in the proceeding pages enjoy Philadelphia’s bars reshould take the designation with sponsibly. Take advantage of pride: They’re places where public transportation instead of customers can drink and so- risking a buzzed drive home. While readers are welcome cialize without worrying about dressing well or spending too to scour the web for tips- or take much money. Some bars take recommendations from friends, pride in their status as a “dive” – we believe there are no better like South Philadelphia’s Dirty people to take advice from than Frank’s, which proudly displays the young folks that populate hubcaps on the walls and keeps Philadelphia’s bars every Saturday night. drink prices low.
KATIE HENNESSY TTN
FROM THE ARCHIVES...
Explain Monteiro’s exit Over the last two years, Soufas sent a staff member to College of Liberal Arts Dean check whether he was holding Teresa Soufas has been in- classes on the Jewish holy day volved in three of Yom Kipseparate personpur. He and his College of Liberal Arts nel conflicts at wife – also a Dean Teresa Soufas the university. Temple profesAt the end should elaborate as to why sor at the time Monteiro was let go. of the Spring – resigned, and 2012 members both now teach of Temple’s African American at the University of ConnectiStudies department appointed cut. Kariamu Welsh, then-professor On March 10, students and of dance at Temple, to chair the community members sat-in on a AAS department. Soufas de- public meeting of the Board of nied her appointment, citing the Trustees, protesting the non-refact a department’s chair cannot newal of AAS Professor Anthobe appointed from a different ny Moteiro’s employment conschool. Soufas appointed Jayne tract with the university. While Drake, a white woman formerly Soufas said the firing was due the vice dean of academic af- to the fact that Temple’s AAS fairs, to head the program as department was “moving away an interim chair for one year. from [W.E.B.] Dubois studies,” Nearly a year of debate and pro- Monteiro claims that he was let test ensued, which temporarily go due to his involvement in the ended when Molefi Asante, for- Welsh protests. mer chair and founder of the deWe question why the department’s Ph.D program, was partment is choosing to move named chair after leaving the away from Dubois studies, as position in 1997. well as why Monteiro’s skillOn Oct. 18, 2012, Laura H. set was not deemed necessary Carnell Professor of Religion enough to retain. Lewis Gordon resigned from his Of course, the dean of a professorship at Temple, claim- college must retain control over ing that Soufas directly sent a his or her school, and is often staff member to spy on his class- confronted with tough decies that semester. In a letter to sions when staff members must the Faculty Herald published on be let go. However, in light of April 22, 2013, Gordon claimed the clamor that has surrounded he asked Soufas to avoid sched- many of the College of Liberal uling his classes on Fridays so Arts’ personnel decisions in the he would be able to observe the past few years, we ask that Dean Jewish Sabbath with his family Soufas unambiguously explain in Rhode Island. Among other why the university chose to let complaints, Gordon claims that Monteiro go.
CORRECTIONS The Temple News strives to be a newspaper of record by printing factually correct and balanced articles. Accuracy is our business, so when a mistake is made, we’ll correct it as soon as possible. Anyone with inquiries about content in this newspaper can contact Editor-in-Chief Joey Cranney at editor@temple-news.com or 215.204.6737.
Nov. 1, 2005: A SEPTA strike causes the corner of Broad and Berks streets to crowd as students wait for universitysponsored shuttles. The Transit Workers Union may strike again as the union’s contract with SEPTA expired last week.
With cuts, Olympics lose Americans Cutting Olympic sports will harm the U.S. Olympic effort.
A
round 5 p.m. on Feb. 24, Temple students received an email blast alerting them of vital news. However, instead of the standard warning of danger or the recently popular snow day alert, this message brought joy to the university community. In a brief letter, President Theobald announced the reinstatement of men’s crew and women’s rowing. Sadly, it also reVictoria Szafara a f f i r m e d that men’s gymnastics, baseball, softball and men’s track & field were not so lucky. The news came only a day after the closing ceremonies of the 22nd Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, in which 230 Americans competed and brought home 28 medals, second only to Russia. For almost
two weeks my friends and I watched the Olympics and felt a certain level of pride in cheering on Team USA, which continues to thrive in the international arena. But I seemed to hit a wall when it came to visualizing the future of “Team Temple U.” And I was even more struck at the links between the two. Could the elimination of Olympic sports at the college level spell disaster for future Olympic teams? The elimination of nonrevenue sports is not a phenomenon isolated to Temple. Rutgers made the move in 2007 and the University of Maryland made cuts two years ago. “The decision to reduce the number of Temple’s varsity sports and bring us in line with all other mid-major athletic programs in the U.S. was not an easy one,” Theobald said in the statement. With many schools across the nation either decreasing funding for Olympic sports or
nixing them altogether, our athletes and coaches are largely on their own to shape up to an increasingly competitive national stage. With Temple’s men’s gymnastics team cut, there will only be 16 colleges that sponsor men’s gymnastics teams nationally. These teams feed the U.S. Olympic team, but with shrinking outlets for young athletes to train, it will become more difficult to field a competitive international team every four years. One hundred years ago, the record for the men’s marathon was 2:40:35. Now it stands at 2:03:30, and athletes are getting faster and more skilled every year, due in large part to more intense training. With rivals like China and Russia pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into state-run training programs, it is up to our private universities to provide aspiring athletes with the support they need to become real competitors.
“Could the
elimination of Olympic sports at the college level spell disaster for future Olympic teams?
”
And it certainly is an attainable goal for Owls to become Olympic athletes. This year Arman Serebrakian, a secondyear Temple medical student, qualified for the 2014 Olympic Games in alpine skiing. At the 2008 Olympics, Temple Owl Marcus Mc Elhenney was part of the U.S. rowing team, which took bronze. Former member of the men’s gymnastics team and founder of the College Gymnastics Association Chet Phillips was on the 1936 U.S. Olympics team. I am proud to watch the Olympics as an American, knowing that we will probably bring home a good chunk of the medals. I’m not sure if the games would hold quite the same allure if I didn’t think the U.S. was putting forth real contenders. While we may not see the ramifications of nationwide sports team cuts immediately, we may feel the sting as we cheer on our now-disadvantaged American athletes in upcoming Olympic Games. Victoria Szafara can be reached at victoria.szafara@temple.edu.
COMMENTARY
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
PAGE 5
Was Monteiro tenurable at all?
civic issues in American history to other areas,” Soufas said. “They are not going to hire someone else to teach W.E.B. Dubois, that’s not something they need now. The department doesn’t need his field of teaching.” While Montiero’s field of expertise is considered expendable by department administration, it is hard to believe Dubois studies will be completely dropped from a curriculum. It’s undeniable that Dubois is a cornerstone for the American civil rights movement. Either the AAS studies curriculum is moving in the wrong direction, or the alleged dropping of Dubois studies is innacurate. The main cause of protest and debate during the appeal process has been Monteiro’s tenure. Monteiro left a tenured position to teach at Temple under the pretense that he would be granted the same here as well. However, Norment, the chair who allegedly offered Monteiro tenure, retired before fulfilling his promise. Monteiro’s understanding of the tenure track was that it was personalized and unique in every case. “I don’t think there are any established steps,” he said. “It differs from department from department and almost person to person. It usually has something to do with how the faculty views a certain person.” H o w e v e r, Soufas and Senior Vice Provost Erin Palmer confirmed there are guidelines in place. The process takes more than six years for a tenure-track junior faculty member. In the faculty member’s fifth year, they request tenure by submitting a dossier of written publications and other specialized content required by each of Temple’s departments. The dossier then goes through an extensive review process, which includes various levels of approval. If the portfolio is deemed insufficient at any point, it either gets denied or sent back to the prior tier of approval. No professor can be promised tenure upon his or her hiring, Palmer said. As such, it seems that Norment’s promise to Monteiro can only be considered illegitimate. If Montiero was hired as a non tenure-track employee, it seems that he could not be promised tenure at Temple.
Anthony Monteiro said he was promised tenure when hired.
T
here has been some unrest,” said Teresa Soufas, the Dean of the College of Liberal
“Monteiro’s
JUSTIN SMITH TTN
Porn isn’t odd for Paley Paley employees are confronted with surreal moments every day.
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itting behind the Media Services desk in the basement of Paley Library, I have seen a number of questionable things. This was one of the reasons I wasn’t incredibly surprised on Feb. 24 when one of my favorite patrons came to the desk to tell me of what just occurred upstairs in the main lobby. BreathKevin Stairiker lessly, she told me that a man had been watching pornography on one of the computers and after a student worker confronted him, the man punched the student worker and fled, only to be tazed and escorted by officers to the campus police station. I put on my best “sur-
Arts. In light of the public demand for his salvation, the nonrenewal of African American Studies prof e s s o r Anthony Monteiro’s contract can be seen as yet another blow to the E.J. Smith relationship between Soufas and the African American studies department. Last year, African American Studies chair Nathaniel Norment’s retirement left a vacant position at the university. The AAS department elected Kariamu Welsh, who was then stationed in the dance department, but had AAS experience and was a widely published scholarly author. Soufas saw Welsh as unfit for the position, and vetoed the department’s selection, an action that broke union policy rules. “ [ We l s h ] was from another school and was not an appropriate match,” Soufas said. “I told them to reconsider and find someone in the CLA. They refused and that’s when I asked someone else to act as an interim chair until it was resolved.” The interim chair was thenVice Dean Jayne Drake. Her appointment caused uproar in the AAS department. Monteiro, who considered himself a leader of those protests, believes his letting go had a direct correlation with his outspokenness. “[I was] very active in the protests, in some ways I think I was the face of the protest,” Monteiro said. “I represented the Temple student body as well as the community. I think it had a lot to do with my firing. I challenged the authority of the dean and the way she sees the management of the CLA. It’s difficult for her to deal with criticism or what she would consider insubordination.” Monteiro’s letting-go caused communal uproar, inciting student organizations such as People Using Real Power and Temple Democratic Socialists to stand behind Monteiro. “The department is changing directions, away from
prised” face for her benefit, but anyone from the most casual patron to a complete library nerd like myself has probably at one point seen something crazy at a public library. The nature of a space that lets literally anyone in naturally invites chaos. Just last month, I found myself perusing the Free Library of Philadelphia’s CD collection when, through the shelves, I saw an older man watching not just one large screen of porn, but rather four slightly smaller windows of porn, all showcasing a different facet of the man’s considerable interests in POV filmmaking. I sighed and moved to the pop/rock section. This event happened at the main branch of the Free Library. If that can happen undisturbed at the biggest branch of one of the biggest libraries in the country, what does that say about Paley Library? In my own experience, community patrons and students alike have been known to display outlandish behavior on occasion, almost on an even keel. Before spring break, as I was leaving the bathroom on the bottom floor, I heard the un-
mistakable sounds of someone snapping a tin of chewing tobacco back and forth vigorously. I turn, and there at the urinal was a guy pretending to masturbate with the tin. He then turned around and smiled slightly, never stopping with the chewing tobacco, almost in a joking way but clearly slightly deranged. He later came to the desk and checked out a movie for his Intellectual Heritage class. As for patrons of the community, 96 percent of them couldn’t be any nicer, generally helping my shifts go faster with conversations about all manners of things: life, death, religion, magic, the films of Jack Black and everything in between. One time a woman ran downstairs hysterical, claiming she had been assaulted in the bathroom by a strange man and wanted everyone to know her husband was on the Philadelphia police force. An hour later, an actual member of the Philadelphia police came to say she made the whole thing up. When someone approaches the desk, no matter who it is, I’ve learned to accept both the weird and mundane, because
it’s almost always going to be one or the other. The case of the man watching porn in the library is certainly not the first and might have even qualified for the “mundane” column if he hadn’t hit a student worker and been chased out by the cops. While it might be easy to make him a scapegoat for the largely anonymous percentage of community library users out there, the incident was an anomaly at best. His behavior should not speak for the dozens of people who use the resources of the library that most students don’t even bother with, like the computers, microfilm collection and the thousands of movies in the basement. Paying more security guards or taking away privileges from all community users isn’t the answer, but rather a better understanding and an open pair of eyes will keep incidents like this as rare as they are. Kevin Stairiker can be reached at kevin.stairiker@temple.edu.
understanding of the tenure track was that it was personalized and unique in every case.
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E.J. Smith can be reached at esmith@temple.edu or on Twitter @ejsmitty17.
The old SAT had an equality problem The new SAT redesign should help lower-income students get into college. The College Board, the nation’s premier standardized testing association, recently decided to implement a complete overhaul of the SAT in light of the ACT’s rise in the standardized testing market. The new scholarship program for the Class of 2017, largely Joe Brandt believed to be responsible for attracting a record-breaking class of new students according to Temple, is based on a test that has now been declared a
relatively inferior predictor of college performance. High school grades were admitted to be a much better predictor. “We have become far too disconnected from the work of our high schools,” College Board president David Coleman said at an event in Austin, Texas. By “we,” Coleman meant both the SAT and the ACT, which is administered by ACT Inc. It’s good to sling some mud at your rival when you can. President’s Scholars, the highest honor among Temple’s new scholarships, receive full tuition, three $4,000 summer research stipends and automatic admission into the honors program. These students were required to have a high school grade point average above 3.75 and a traditional SAT score of above 1,400 or ACT score above 32. The main problem is this: Students
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are only allowed a scholarship for which they meet the criteria for grades and test scores. Students that have the GPA needed to be a President’s Scholar but the SAT scores of a Founder’s Scholar will be a Founder’s Scholar. Without supplement, this complaint is easy to rebut: Standards must be met in order to be ranked accordingly. If you don’t get the score, how can the school be sure you’re worth the money? But if the standards are admitted to be less accurate than they should be, that’s a problem. Students with great grades could be left out of money necessary to come to school, all because they didn’t standardize test score requirements. Moreover, this doesn’t even take income inequality into account. With Temple’s commitment to
afforability, it is imperative that the standards for which the future scholarships are administered are open to lower-income students. It’s no secret that the students with the best preparation get the best scores. The problem is that the best preparation is expensive; an online SAT prep course from Kaplan Test Prep costs $300, which is “budgetfriendly,” according to a Fox Business article. SAT prep is a profitable industry: Kaplan’s 2012 revenue from test preparation was about $284 million. College Board’s answer to all this was a partnership with Khan Academy, known for its free educational videos about a variety of topics. “For too long, there’s been a wellknown imbalance between students who could afford test-prep courses and those who couldn’t,” Sal Khan, executive director of Khan Academy, said in
LETTERS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
an interview with Forbes. If the students with the best SAT scores are already generally well-off, then it seems silly to give them the highest scholarships while potentially leaving lower-income students out of the big money. Today’s ninth graders will be the first to take the new SAT. By that time, there should be in place a more flexible set of standards that accounts for the problems with standardized testing. The next few years of students will still be taking today’s inferior and classist test. It would be nice if the lower-income students got the money they deserved.
Joe Brandt can be reached at joseph.brandt@temple.edu or on Twitter @JBrandt_TU.
NEWS
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In The Nation
The first bill directs a state higher education commission to study the possibility of offering free tuition TUFTS WILL PAY STUDENTS TO TAKE to attend any Oregon community college for any high school graduate of the state. A YEAR OFF The second bill creates a $750,000 pilot program to be implemented at one or more community colTufts University in Cambridge, Mass., announced leges that would increase scholarships and advising. plans to launch a program that would pay for students to take a gap year prior to entering the university for -Marcus McCarthy their freshman year. Since gap years incur heavy costs, the practice is mostly out of reach for middle and lower class stu- FATTAH ISSUED SUBPOENA FROM dents. Tufts aims to reverse that trend with its pro- U.S. DISTRICT COURT gram called “1+4” that would offer roughly $30,000 to cover living costs while the student serves with an Rep. Chaka Fattah, who represents Pennsylvania’s approved volunteering organization domestically or 2nd Congressional District, was issued a subpoena by abroad. The program will begin to be implemented to 50 the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennstudents entering the university in Fall 2015 and the sylvania for documents from his congressional office, program will be expanded over time, according to the according to a letter the congressman delivered to Speaker John Boehner on Monday, March 10. university. Fattah is the subject of a seven-year probe by -Marcus McCarthy federal authorities that included a subpoena of tax records on the congressman’s home in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia last fall. In last week’s letter, Fattah told the speaker that OREGON CONSIDERS FREE he believed the most recent subpoena requested items COMMUNITY COLLEGE TUITION which the congressman believes are not relevant to the inquiry and are exempt under house rules. Oregon’s Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber, signed “I intent to move to quash the subpoena to that two bills late February that attempt to make com- extent, but to otherwise comply with the subpoena to munity college more affordable and boost the state’s the extent that it is material and relevant, and to the four-year-college graduate rate to 40 percent of the extent that compliance with the subpoena is consispopulation. tent with the precedents and privileges of the House,”
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day-Thursday classes, makeups can be scheduled on Thursdays. To accommodate class space, most makeups are designated after 5 p.m. Professors also have the option of using the Blackboard system to post online lectures and classes. Classes can also be offered during the Tuesday and Wednesday of study week if teachers need the extra time. The final exam period cannot be used to make up missed classes. This plan will not change the semester schedule, commencement or finals and other planned activities -John Moritz for the semester will occur on time. Makeup classes cannot be scheduled on weekends, nor has the schedule been extended to accommodate the bad weather. -Omari Coleman
Fattah wrote in the letter. Fattah, a Democrat, has represented the 2nd District – which includes the area west of Broad Street where a large number of students live off-campus – since he was first elected to that office in 1995. Fattah told the Inquirer that he had not been informed as to whether or not he was the subject of an investigation. Under house rules, representatives must report to the speaker if they are issued a subpoena.
Campus
NEW SNOW MAKE-UP SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
After a winter that has seen the most snowfall in recent years, Temple announced a plan last week outlining option plans for students and professors to make up class time missed due to the weather. The Office of the Provost sent out an email after receiving many inquiries from the Dean’s Office and faculty about whether the semester schedule would change due to weather. This semester, Temple has had two closed days, two delayed openings and two early closings. One of the two options for professors is to schedule makeup class meetings on weekdays starting in mid-March. For Monday-Wednesday-Friday classes, makeups can be scheduled on Wednesdays. For Tues-
ST. PATRICK’S WEEKEND ARRESTS St. Patrick’s Day weekend, a long-held drinking holiday for students around Main Campus, came with several arrests this weekend as campus police continued with a year-long enforcement on underage drinking. There were 13 arrests or citations for alcohol related offenses in Campus Safety Services catchment area – which extends out to 16th Street – between March 14-16, according to CSS crime logs. During the two-day span, 11 people were cited for underage consumption and two were cited for public drunkenness.
-John Moritz
The nose knows, marketing study says other co-authors were interested in seeing if consumers would want a tasty product more if they were prompted to imagine that product’s smell, a term they coined as “smellizing.” Morrin and the other researchers searched for examples LOGAN BECK of smellizing in media print The Temple News ads and found none. Although they were able to find ads that Participants in a study were delivered an odor or prompted asked to close their eyes and ena consumer to imagine a taste, vision a different reality. More there were no ads that prompted specifically, they were asked to imagining a smell. “smellize” – a combination of Morrin predicted that most visualizing plus advertisers beusing an imaglieve that doing ined sense of so will not be efsmell to conjure fective, but as it up the idea of turns out, it may freshly baked be a valuable chocolate chip marketing methcookies and od for advertischocolate cake. ers. They be“We were gan to salivate, talking about the and marketidea of factory ing professor imagery – which Maureen Moris kind of like rin was able to Maureen Morrin / marketing imagery professor visual prove her theo– you can see ry: that imaginsomething in your mind when ing the smell of a product makes you’re not actually seeing it,” the consumer want to buy the Morrin said. “So we wondered, product more. could you do the same things Morrin is one of three auwith smell and odors?” thors of a new study aiming to Undergraduate students prove this theory. from Temple, the University of There has been little work Michigan and Koç University in done in recent years to prove Istanbul were used as test subthis theory, and there are still not jects in the study and were typimany agreements as to whether cally business students enrolled this phenomena exists, Morrin in a marketing or psycholsaid. ogy course, participating for a Morrin said her and the course credit. The results did
Study shows imagining a product’s smell is effective in advertising.
“Factory
imagery – which is kind of like visual imagery – you can see something in your mind.
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Third-year doctoral student and lab assistant Ryann Reynolds-McIlnay (left) asks participants to eat samples of dessert-like foods to test consumption of foods whose smells were imagined. |ALEXIS WRIGHT-WHITLEY TTN not differ by location and were ultimately the same across the three schools, Morrin said. The team measured the consumer’s desire through the test subjects, telling them they wanted the product, as well as salivation levels. Participants were given images of chocolate chip cookies and chocolate cake to smellize and were later given
an actual product to eat. As a result, the study found that smellizing does increase the desire for a product. It was also found that this method only works when the consumer is both imagining the odor while looking at an image of the product they are imagining. “It is highly dependent on
visual input and someone’s ability to visually imagine the thing at the same time,” Morrin said. “That’s kind of the key finding. I don’t think others have shown that.” As for what is next, Morrin said a few more studies on factory imagery are going to be run to test its impact on people’s ability to remember things.
“Now we’re looking at the effect on memory,” Morrin said. “Can you remember things where you tried to remember its odor and seeing if you can remember those things better.” Logan Beck can be reached at logan.beck@temple.edu.
Kupec backlash forces appointment delay KUPEC PAGE 1 the university’s decision making learned about his malpractice at UNC and voiced their concern, according to two sources who requested to remain anonymous to discuss the situation. It’s unclear where specifically the backlash came from – faculty, the administration, trustees or elsewhere – but Kupec’s history is easily accessible. The first result of a Google search of his name is a news report on his resignation. According to a UNC audit, Kupec took 14 personal trips between December 2008 and September 2012, often spending university money with his girlfriend, Tamara Hansbrough. Hansbrough, who worked as a major gifts officer in the UNC Student Affairs office, is the mother of former UNC basketball player Tyler Hans-
brough and former Notre Dame basketball player Ben Hansbrough. The News & Observer in Raleigh, N.C., reported in 2012 that some of the couple’s trips coincided with Ben Hansbrough’s basketball schedule. Both Kupec and Tamara Hansbrough resigned in September 2012. Kupec worked at UNC for more than 20 years and helped raise more than $4 billion, according to a 2012 UNC press release announcing his resignation. Tilghman Moyer has been Temple’s interim senior vice president of institutional advancement since former vice president David Unruh resigned in December 2012. Temple hired the executive search firm Witt/Kieffer to find Unruh’s replacement. Typically for vice presidential positions, Temple hires an outside firm
to conduct a search for a large pool of candidates. The university has its own search committee, usually made up of trustees, administrators and faculty, to narrow the field. Representatives from Witt/Kieffer declined to comment and attempts to contact Kupec were unsuccessful. An interview request with Theobald was not granted. Student Body President Darin Bartholomew declined to comment specifically on Kupec, but lauded other administrative hires Theobald has made. “I’m sure [Theobald] will make the right decision for the Temple community,” Bartholomew said. Temple’s initial interest in Kupec could be taken as a pragmatic approach to university operations or a lapse in judgment during a search to fill one of
the university’s most public executive positions. Either way, it demonstrates the administration’s willingness to mobilize its fundraising office, which is moving forward with major projects this year despite a scant alumni giving rate. In its operating budget for Fiscal Year 2014, Temple proposed an increase in its advancement budget of $1.3 million. The new money is to allow for a “substantial increase” in the university’s number of gift officers, according to Witt/Kieffer. Last year, Temple raised a university record $65.8 million in new gifts and pledges. The advancement budget has increased 17 percent since 2008. A $290 million library will be a part of the university’s next master plan, expected to be released sometime
before June. Theobald has also indicated that the plan could include an oncampus football stadium. Temple’s alumni giving rate last year was 7 percent, compared to the University of Pittsburgh’s 35 percent and Penn State’s 30 percent. Temple’s goal for 2014 is to increase its participation rate and raise $4 million more than last year, Moyer told The Temple News earlier this month. This past November, trustee Lewis Katz pledged to donate $25 million, which would be a university record, but hasn’t specified what it would be used for or when it will be offered. Joey Cranney can be reached at joey.cranney@temple.edu or on Twitter @joey_cranney.
LIVING CLEAVING THE WAY
‘MUD CAKES’ SHINES
Tyler student Morgan Gilbreath recently had an article published in Cleaver Magazine. She uses broken glass from the street to make art. PAGE 7
English professor Jason Schossler’s first collection of short stories and poems, titled “Mud Cakes,” has been called a “masterpiece.” PAGE 7
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TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
owlery.temple-news.com ‘PLEDGE’ AN ARCHAIC TERM
Eric White and Megan Shambaugh give insight into the modern pledging experience for Main Campus Greek life. ONLINE PAGE 7
POPPYN boosts positive image for youth A program sponsored by Temple helps local students create a positive broadcast.
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DAVID ZIEGLER The Temple News
n fall of 2013, local news media reported on a disturbing trend called the “knockout game,” which consisted of Philadelphia youths sucker-punching unsuspecting victims at random. As a response to negative media coverage of youth, one group took action. In an effort to encourage local high school students to produce positive messages in news, Temple sponsored Presenting on Perspective on Philly Youth News.
The youth-centered broadcast program attempts to minimize and counteract the stigmas surrounding the youth culture in Philadelphia through multimedia storytelling. POPPYN produces four 30-minute episodes every year, and each episode focuses on a topic that affects youth within the city. “Our mission is twofold,” Nuala Cabral, the coordinator of POPPYN, said. “First, we highlight the positive things that youth are doing in the city, and then we try and present the youth perspective on a range of different issues – and we’re not saying that every kid in Philly is perfect, but they’re not all violent, lazy or dangerous. Young people in our city are leaders and they’re doers, and they’re trying to improve themselves. This is the side we are trying to
show.” POPPYN was initially conceived by Temple as a youth engagement program during the wave of flash mobs that happened in Philadelphia in 2011. These flash mobs seemed to be covered by news organizations on a daily basis, POPPYN leaders said, and the media coverage diverted people’s attention from the value of local youth. Marvin DeVose, a leader at POPPYN, said he believes the mainstream media tends to demonize youth culture. He recognized the tendency to focus on the unfavorable side of youth culture is enabled by violent outbreaks, like those associated with the “knockout game,” but urged consideration of positive youth contributions.
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Martin DeVose (right) is a leader at POPPYN. He helps local high school students create TV broadcasts. He believes Philadelphia youth shouldn’t be stereotyped. | DAVID ZIEGLER TTN
A grocery list of odd new rules Alcohol restrictions are ironic, considering the accessiblity of cigarettes.
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t seems contradictory to health standards for a pharmacy to sell cigarettes, yet it’s expected for convenience stores and pharmacies to do so in America. However, a search for any kind of alcoholic beverage at the grocery store will leave a shopper disappointed. It must be so common here in Philadelphia that people Monique Roos don’t think Foreign much about Perspective this, but I can say that for a foreign student – or at least for a Brazilian one – it has been surprising. In general, pharmacies in Brazil sell only medicine and cosmetics – no cookies, chips, candies or soda. Cigarettes won’t be found there either, because pharmacies in Brazil are focused on health. The convenience of having so many products at one place in America, like at Rite Aid is helpful, though. The surprises don’t stop at pharmacies – grocery stores here are an equally foreign concept. The difference is in where alcoholic beverages are sold in Philadelphia, because they can’t be found at the Fresh Grocer. It’s a Pennsylvania law that only places with special licenses can sell it, like liquor stores and bars. In Brazil, alcohol is sold at any grocery store, whether big or small. Even the food trucks in the streets have at least beer to sell. It’s odd to someone who didn’t grow up here that alcohol can only be bought by people 21 and older – people can’t even get into most clubs and bars if they’re too young. In Brazil, people are allowed by buy it at 18 years old. The idea is if a
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Andrew Karpinski (left) has taught Workings of the Mind for six years. He believes the subject matter of the class can cause some students to feel discomforted because they are asked to question the purpose of their own existence. He advises the use of on-campus counseling services. | CLAIRE SASKO TTN
Introspective class tests comfort levels Workings of the Mind challenges students to examine their purpose. CLAIRE SASKO The Temple News
In the syllabus for the course Workings of the Mind, there is a secINSIDE THE tion devoted to CLASSROOM students who might need to seek psychological help after class discussions. Included are two phone numbers: Tuttleman Counseling Services and the Psychological Services Center. The syllabus reads, “This course will change the way you think about the mind, and it may even change your life. As you struggle with the course material, you may find that your sense of self and your understanding of your experiences also
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change.” Andrew Karpinski has taught Workings of the Mind for six years. The professor said he includes this “warning” to students in all of his syllabi for different classes he teaches as a safety precaution, but he said he is concerned about Workings of the Mind in particular. “It’s more applicable in this class – we do things like question the nature of our own existence,” Karpinski said. “That could be troubling to some people.” During the course of the semester, students in Workings of the Mind are asked to rethink reality and study the nature of both conscious and unconscious mental processes. Karpinski said the course is perplexing because of how much is scientifically unknown about the topics covered. Karpinski places a heavy emphasis on contemplation. He said he thinks of the course as
an “intersection between psy- on how to define yourself.” The course assignments chology, neuroscience and phican push students’ boundaries, losophy.” The course fulfills the gen- such as examining the work of eral education human behav- neurologist Oliver Sacks. Sacks attempted to unior requirement, but freshman Stephanie Deschamps said it’s derstand blindness through his study of one unlike any other man’s experigen-ed course ences. Karshe’s taken. Depinski said schamps said many people Workings of the who went Mind forces stublind wrote to dents to think Sacks and arabout what is norgued that their mally outside their own processes comfort zones. of vision loss “ Yo u ’ r e and resulting learning about perceptions of your unconscious the world were mind,” the adverAndrew Karpinski / professor different from tising major and leadership minor what his study said. “Most people have no idea found. how much it controls our behavAfter his students read the ior. You think about the reasons study, Karpinski instructs them why you make decisions, like to wear blindfolds for an hour. why you choose this over that. “[Students] have to do So this class gives you insight something where they’re not
“We do things
like question the nature of our own existence. That could be troubling to some people.
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just watching TV, but where they’re interacting with people and notice those experiences of what happens when you’re without vision,” Karpinski said. Ironically, Karpinski called this an “eye-opening” experience. “There are multiple ways of seeing things – there are multiple ways of going blind,” Karpinski said. “Other senses become acute.” Freshman nursing major Kaitlyn Friedman said some course assignments have led her to other self-discoveries. “We test our own prejudices about racism and gender roles,” Friedman said. “We learn to understand that even though you constantly try to not have these prejudices, your unconscious has already made them and you can’t turn that off. It kind of sucks to know that, even though we don’t want to.” Karpinski said topics like
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Gilbreath’s art shows beauty in city trash A senior at Tyler School of Art wrote for Cleaver Magazine about her artwork. ALEXA BRICKER The Temple News Morgan Gilbreath spends the majority of the walk from her home to Main CamTYLER pus looking down, but not out of shyness – she’s looking at the sidewalk from an artist’s perspective. The senior, who is doublemajoring in glass and art history and receiving a certification in community arts practices, said she is fascinated by her community, especially the way in which public and private space meets at the sidewalk. This was the inspiration behind some of her artwork, and also the focus of an article she wrote for a recent issue of Cleaver Magazine. Gilbreath was first approached by her friend in the glass department, fellow student Madeline Rile-Smith, to write about her work for Cleaver Magazine. Smith’s mother, a creative writing professor at the University of Pennsylvania, founded the magazine, which chooses three artists a month to
showcase and write about their work. Gilbreath said she’s had practice writing, as a lot of her pieces are accompanied by artist statements. She said she felt ready to take on the contribution to Cleaver Magazine “I really love writing and I’ve done tons of creative writing,” Gilbreath said. “If you were to look at a piece I made, it might not be as significant unless you read about it as well, so I think literature and writing and words are very integral to my art practice.” Her article, entitled “The Ground Beneath My Feet,” discusses three of her works that were inspired by her walks to campus and the objects she acquired along the way. One of Gilbreath’s pieces was comprised of hundreds of small plastic bags – which she said she assumes are typically used to carry drugs – which she discovered around the city. She said while they are small and most people would never think twice about them, they represent a larger problem, and that is the kind of message she aims to send through her art. “Writing about [these pieces] helped me realize for the first time how they related
to things like trash and things that people choose to reject,” Gilbreath said. “A lot of people see that as a bad aspect – which I guess it is. At the same time, it’s a huge source of inspiration for me.” While she said her own work may not be making a tangible difference in the community at this point in her career, Gilbreath makes a point in her article to emphasize the responsibility she believes she and other artists have to better their communities. “[My work] is sort of raising awareness to things, or hopefully teaching people to find beauty in things or look at things a different way,” Gilbreath said. “I try to focus on little details that have larger implications, to make a larger comment on society through a smaller lens.” By bringing objects that represent negative aspects of the city into an artistic light, Gilbreath said people are able to better understand their significance and accept their presence in a community. “It’s really important for art to show the value that things have in everyday life,” Gilbreath said. “Some people look at art like it’s a painting on the
wall and it’s for the wealthy, but I want it to be more accessible.” She said part of the reason she loves working with glass is because it is a universal material that indicates the social environment of an area, depending on how it is used. “How glass is used by someone is kind of an indicator of class,” she said. “If you’re in a place with broken bottles all over the ground, that’s different than if you’re in a place drinking out of a goblet.” Gilbreath has put this idea into action, scouring the city for small pieces of glass to use in her work. All of the glass she collects is then cleaned and fired in a kiln to make art using trash. Although this project and many others she has worked on require time and cooperative effort, Gilbreath said she enjoys taking advantage of all the opportunities that come her way and is making a slight Morgan Gilbreath created art using pieces of glass and plastic transition from community- bags she found on sidewalks. | ANDREW THAYER TTN oriented work to art that is more labor-intensive. to do what I love, because there not just the city around me.” “The idea of labor is very are so many people in the world important to me – art is very that don’t have the privilege to Alexa Bricker can be reached hard work, but I love it,” Gilat abricke1@temple.edu. pursue what they love. All my breath said. “Sometimes I feel work is about society, but a lot a little bit guilty for being able of it is about labor now, too, and
For professor, telling stories is a life passion English professor Jason Schossler published the book “Mud Cakes.” PAIGE GROSS The Temple News
Workings of the Mind challenges every student in the class to confront their own preconceived notions of other people they meet in their everyday lives. | CLAIRE SASKO TTN
Mindful of subject matter MINDS PAGE 7 this make Workings of the Mind a unique class. “It’s different from other classes that have a fixed body of knowledge,” Karpinski said. “There’s no right or wrong answer. We could debate whether or not we have free will – we don’t know the answers to those things.” Such open-ended concepts can overwhelm students, Karpinski said. While Deschamps said she first recommended the class to all her friends, she is hesitant to recommend it to everyone. “You have to be open to things that don’t make sense and not having an answer,” Deschamps said. “This was difficult for me, but at some point you have to let go of what you previously knew and be open to all these ideas. You question theories that we find so basic to human nature. You need to be ready to experience something completely new about life that you didn’t know before and maybe some people don’t have the capacity to become blank slates.” Karpinski said many students come to the class with previously fixed opinions on topics like the nature of the mind and the body and warned that class can aggravate some religious beliefs. “There can be some resistance to change, but I always
say I don’t have to change your mind, I just have to let you understand why someone might believe something different from you,” Karpinski said. Despite the potential for confusion, Karpinski said he believes students benefit from Workings of the Mind when they confront the perspectives of their peers. Deschamps said the course changed the way she thinks about herself. “I’m able to talk to people about really interesting topics,” Deschamps said. “I’m able to have psychological debates about existence and that makes me feel really empowered.” Karpinski said this is what he hopes the course accomplishes.
“The whole goal is to understand ourselves better,” Karpinski said. “It becomes reasonable to say that we don’t know ourselves that well. I tell students that at the end of the semester they will be more confused than they are at the beginning of the semester. I want students to be confused, but to understand why they’re confused and recognize that that itself is progress. That’s learning.” Claire Sasko can be reached at claire.sasko@temple.edu.
Students in Workings of the Mind said the class is interesting, but an open mind is key.| CLAIRE SASKO TTN
American children’s novelist Jerry Spinelli has called English professor FACULTY Jason Schossler’s collection of poems and short stories, titled “Mud Cakes,” “a masterpiece.” The collection earned him a first-place Melissa Lanitis Gregory Poetry Prize in 2010. The same year, he was also recognized for the runner-up position for the Paterson Poetry Prize. “I’m grateful for all of [those recognitions],” Schossler said. “I think the hardest is to make time to celebrate that. And that is what I try and tell students.” Schossler said it was a change in career direction after he was an undergraduate student at Kutztown University majoring in English and professional writing that has enabled his success so far. One of his undergraduate professors, Harry Humes, encouraged him to attend graduate school to expand his career opportunities. Schossler said he knew he wanted to tell stories since before he was 6 years old and recalled his grandfather encouraging him to use his creativity. This remained his goal after graduating from college. After he received his degree in English and professional writing, which included magazine writing and public relations, he said he realized he “didn’t want to be a corporation mouthpiece.” This became clear to him, Schossler said, when he worked as a legal journalist for Andrews Publications in Wayne, Pa., for two years and said he “had it all, but was miserable.” Hoping to realize his dream of being a creative writer, he quit his job and began a master’s program at Temple where he studied under Joan Mellon, whom Schossler said he considers his “Yoda.” Reflecting on his educational experience inspired
Schossler to share his passion with others, he said. “I want to give [my students] my heart and soul, if they want it,” Schossler said. Now, Schossler splits his time between freelance journalism, teaching at Temple and working on short stories and poetry. While “Mud Cakes” is a collection consisting mostly of poems, Schossler said he wants to be known as a storyteller. He said his poems are narrative. “There is a lot of fiction in ‘Mud Cakes,’” Schossler said, “I will never say what is true and what is not. I felt a need to put my creative energy into trying to figure [adolescence] out.” Schossler said the moment he learned his book was going to be published was “immensely exciting.” He visited nine states on his book tour, but the one that resonated the most with him, he said, was his hometown of Ashtabula, Ohio, where he signed books, read an excerpt and gave an interview on National Public Radio. In his Technical Writing class this semester, he focuses on many of the authors he has been inspired by, including John Steinbeck, Raymond Carver and Gary Soto. He said his class features an open dialogue style that gets students talking and learning about each other’s works.
“I like to get everybody talking,” Schossler said, and added jokingly that he will “try to slip in a lesson in every now and then.” Schossler’s wife Nicole Banas also works at Temple in the English department, teaching international students. The couple, who married in May 2013, brainstormed and co-wrote a screenplay together. Though they enjoy co-writing, they recognize each other’s style differences, Banas said. “It’s helpful in that you can read each other’s work and are there for encouragement,” Banas said. “I feel like not a lot of people would understand coming home from work and wanting to start working on something else.” While writing is his first love, Schossler said teaching is a close second, especially if he can help someone else discover his or her passion. “I really do believe in following your dreams,” Schossler said, “You have one shot, one life, but that does not mean to just drift around. Find your passion. Whatever it is, live it, eat it and become it.” Paige Gross can be reached at paige.gross1@temple.edu.
Jason Schossler teaches Technical Writing. He’s also taught English and Creative Acts.| COURTESY JASON SCHOSSLER
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT MUMBLR RETURNS FROM SXSW
CELEBRATING FEMININITY
Philadelphia band Mumblr has gone from playing basement shows in the area to performing at South by Southwest Music festival in Austin, Texas. PAGE 10
Comedic actress Jennifer Blaine is hosting “5,000 Women,” a show that aims to share stories of everyday women through a series of various entertainment on March 29. PAGE 11
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Buskers play for chance audience Gospel Shouters make others stop and listen at Market East Station.
A
OX Coffee is the second business to be featured in Philly Makers started by Cory Popp earlier this year. Philly Makers’ main goal is to promote up-and-coming small businesses by creating specialty videos for them. PAGE 11 | COURTESY CORY POPP
Sarah Van Aken redesigns career One fashion designer is helping build brands and empower women. CAITLIN O’CONNELL The Temple News For Sarah Van Aken, the death of her best friend came after she earned a FASHION bachelor’s degree in fine arts at the University of Delaware. Upon graduation, she had no choice but to move back to her hometown near Philadelphia where she waited tables and bartended, trying to figure out where she was going to go with her life.
Van Aken said the devastation made her realize that life is fleeting, and if it was any time to start her own design business, it was then. Today, Van Aken is a social entrepreneur, designer and speaker based out of Philadelphia. In 2009, Van Aken started her own retail and wholesale ready-to-wear clothing line for women called SA VA and opened her store in the city. “I wanted to develop something that I really felt was easy, effortless fashion for a woman who really just has her own sense of style, dynamic and is engaged in life,” Van Aken said. Van Aken said she wanted to make clothes for women that
VAN AKEN PAGE 12
Uniting women through collaboration, stories “5,000 Women” will be at the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia. EMILY ROLEN The Temple News From the stage, Danny catcalls to women in offensive flirtation. He wants them to fight back. But Danny isn’t a man, he’s a role played by Jennifer Blaine, the woman behind “5,000 Women,” a collaborative show uniting women artists in honor of National Women’s History Month at the Ethical Human-
ist Society of Philadelphia on March 29. Blaine’s vision for the show reflects this idea of celebrating women by artistically collaborating and sharing stories while providing opportunities for artists to expand their audiences, evident in the acts she put together for the show. “What happens is, by me being this guy, women get the opportunity to talk back at catcalling,” Blaine said. “Even though all my stuff is comedy, it’s all pushing boundaries about social roles. And that is who Danny is. Even though he has these great and very offensive
A&E DESK 215-204-7416
WOMEN PAGE 11
Designer Sarah Van Aken went from waiting tables after graduation to opening, SA VA, her own women’s clothing line. | SERGEI BLAIR TTN
mong the steady clacking of wheels on tile and the howling battle between the wind and the side doors, a melody floated through The Gallery. It was something soft in the distance. Winding through the halls to Market East Station, the rhythmic guitar rifts became audible between breaks in loudspeaker announcements. The source was just around a corner, smiling up at me as I pulled a dollar from my wallet. I stood back at first, admiring the gentle muBrianna Spause sic the man Caught in busking for the Act change in front of me was creating. “Excuse me sir, may I sit with you?” I asked the man peacefully serenading the halls of the train station. “Sit down, I have some friends coming soon,” he said, never distracted from his strumming. This man was Darrel Clark, the strings component of the three-piece ensemble Gospel Shouters. As 6 p.m. rolled around and the Friday night hustle began to pick up, the rest of the trio formed. Songbirds John King and George Biddings arrived shortly thereafter to compose a soulful three-part harmony to anyone who might lend an ear. These musicians and longtime friends perform at City Hall and Market East Station regularly. “I love it, the music is great,” said Robert Sobolewski, who frequents the train. “I [see them] every time I come down here, four or five times a week.” I never hung around to listen for more than a song or
BUSK PAGE 11
Getting the kids to eat their vegetables Kevin’s Fresh makes healthy salad dressings that appeal to children. ALBERT HONG The Temple News Kevin and Robin Feeney’s 5-year-old son, Bo, didn’t want to eat his salad. Still, they went on with dinner. Kevin Feeney began to pour some lemon vinaigrette on his salad, while his son’s FOOD eyes, ears and nose perked up with curiosity. He tried a bite, and surprisingly, liked it. So much so, that he cleaned two platefuls. Finding success in their own family, the Feeney team created a business out of making healthy salad dressings. Kevin’s Fresh, a line of all-natural fruit
DRESSING PAGE 11
Kevin’s Fresh is sold in stores throughout Pennsylvania. | ALBERT HONG TTN
ARTSandENTERTAINMENT@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
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Philadelphia-based fuzz-punk band Mumblr plays at The Main Squeeze, a punk house in Little Rock, Ark., on its way back from performing at the nine-day South by Southwest Music Festival held in Austin, Texas, from March 7-16. | ABI REIMOLD TTN ADVERTISEMENT
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Dressings made by adults, for kids
Stopping to take a listen BUSK PAGE 9 two when I have stumbled into street performers. That’s the unspoken stopand-go culture of busking itself. And I’ve certainly never sat on the cold tile floor of a busy train station with said musicians in search of a new point of view. What I found was that passersby donate an important element to street art. Not everyone hung around for the show. Over-the-shoulder smiles, snaps and steps to the beat paid a brief moment of acknowledgement to the art unfolding in front of them. Granted, some pedestrians couldn’t be bothered. They made their way through with eyes fixed firmly on the ground and stiff arms jammed in their pockets. However, it was the crowd that stopped and stared whose reactions seemed to speak the loudest. The audience began with one man. “I love this song,” he said as he dropped a dollar into Clark’s lunch bag. Intrigued, he stepped back, arms folded. The man watched with a steady nod of the head as King and Biddings sang classics like “Moon River” and Sam Cooke’s “Cupid.” One man quickly turned into five men, then to a crowd. At least 20 sets of eyes gazed on as Gospel Shouter’s songs echoed through the halls. There was dancing and signing, and looking on in what faces and video cameras described to me as awe. “I loved it, I think the performance was awesome,” freshman kinesiology major Christine Abbott said as she stood in the station with two fellow Temple students. “They’re so good, that’s what stopped us. [Breanna Fars] heard it, and she was like ‘Can we go watch?’ So we did, and they’re fun to watch.” “I just love when I see people [busk]. It just intrigues me, and makes me smile,” said Fars, a freshman public relations major. “I stood here smiling the whole time.” The donations came at a steady pace from the crowd that held 20-25 people captivated from start to finish. Faces constantly changed, only to be replaced with more curious ears. For Biddings however, performing is all about the music. “Oh, we aren’t just down here trying to make a hustle,” Biddings said. “The donations just help get us where we’re trying to go. We look at donations as a blessing for down the line. We’re here getting exposure, and this is what we love to do.” The musicians became more engrossed in their soulful music as the crowd buzzed. King, the friendliest of the bunch, responded to the crowd’s energy directly. “Come on over here sister. I wont hurt you, I got my rabies shot!” King joked, reaching for a woman’s hand. Reluctant and blushing, she laughed in refusal. A voice called out from the audience, “Come on sister!” that found an echo in several onlookers. So she came. King twirled her gracefully while vocalizing a reprise of “Cupid,” to which she bashfully joined in. “I love to come down here, and enjoy what I do,” King said after returning the woman to her friends. “I’m an old man, and the audience can see us getting old, but we can still make the people jump.” Jumping and dancing to music in a public place is a bold statement of enjoyment, but that’s the power of music. Every musical experience is unique to the individual and every reaction a story. Closed eyes accompanied relaxed faces, ear-to-ear smiles and the occasional dancer. From the tile floor, behind the scenes of the performance it was a spectacular experience to watch the way music reaches it’s listeners. Let’s face it – everyone has a soft spot for good music. “I believe that our goal is to sing to the people’s souls who pass by,” Clark said. “Maybe the individuals are having a bad day or whatever they have to go through, but the songs that we sing offer out some kind of hope.”
DRESSING PAGE 9
A still from Popp’s video of OX Coffee, the second of the Philly Makers series. | COURTESY CORY POPP
Filmmaker Cory Popp recognizes small, but ‘passionate’ businesses Local videographer aims to spread word of new, independent shops. SIOBHAN REDDING The Temple News The owners of OX Coffee said they have an “emotional connection” to the coffee they make – a connection many of its customers may not have known about until three weeks ago, when Philadelphia filmmaker Cory Popp contacted the shop. Popp has found an interest in sharing a positive light on small businesses in the city to raise attention and attract potential customers. He does this through a short video where the owners explain the work they are doing and the passion they have for it. “I find businesses that are visual and interesting,” Popp said. “I want my videos to show how passionate they are about their work.” One business he thought would fit the series was OX Coffee, a coffee shop in South Philadelphia owned by Will Gross and Max Cudworth.
“We were looking to have something out there that would present coffee in a refreshing way,” Gross said. “[Popp] approached us and told us about the series he was starting to work on. We were super excited to be involved.” OX Coffee was the second video to be featured in series since its start in February, and it has already gained attention for the coffee shop. “There are a lot of people coming in and saying how much they liked [Popp’s] work,” Gross said. Popp, along with his Philly Makers partners Ben Sibley and Andrew J. Mead, have had success from the video series. Instead of seeking potential businesses, some are now coming to them. “I think people are realizing that they can get a cool video about their work out to their customers for free,” Popp said. Philly Makers is Popp’s way of giving back to Philadelphia. As a Temple graduate, this is the place where he studied and now lives. Popp said he believes businesses can prosper here. “I think that Philadelphia is a great
place to start a business as opposed to somewhere like New York,” Popp said. “It is a lot more affordable to get started. You also really get to know passionate and committed customers.” Small businesses weren’t always the vision Popp had in mind when creating Philly Makers, he said. He was looking for anything happening with social value but then found his focus, which made it easier to develop stories for the series – something he said is a lot of work goes into. Although some might argue that this is not the time to start a business, Popp has a different view. “I really love that in 2014, if you love something, you can make it into a business,” Popp said. “Because of the Internet, you don’t need to be a big corporation to be successful. Anyone who wants to do something should go out and do it.” Siobhan Redding can be reached at siobhan.redding@temple.edu. *Editor’s note: Cory Popp was a designer at The Temple News in Fall 2011. He played no role in the editing process of this article.
THEATER
Comedic actress Jennifer Blaine hosts variety show celebrating womanhood WOMEN PAGE 9
one-liners, he is really an opportunity for women to put him in his place.” After graduating from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., with a degree in women’s studies, Blaine got her start in theater in New York City, where she discovered the beauty of the one-woman show and began writing her own material for the multiple characters she plays throughout the course of one performance. “Through the process of being out there on my own, I want to save people some wasted energy and get them attention now,” Blaine said. “I feel like there is something about being on the solitary journey that makes it a test that is not necessarily rewarded. I want them to build the audience they’re reaching.” Deemed “Woprah,” or “white Oprah” by comedian and self-proclaimed “blacktress” Naomi Ekperigin, who is in the performance, Blaine wants to show the importance in women telling their own stories artistically and building a community of conversation through that. “I love listening to women,” Blaine said. “I want to give a lot of space to it because I learn so much. I learn through stories. I also feel like with entertainment, I like it to teach me something and move me in some way.” When naming the show, Blaine took inspiration from the fact that 5,000 women are giving birth every moment around the world. For her, that is one kind of creativity that can also Brianna Spause can be reached at relate to art. brianna.spause@temple.edu. “To create an entirely new human
being – wow,” Blaine said. “And I feel that way about our art. What if we give that much attention to our ability to create things out of joining our artistic ideas, our intellect?” Ekperigin, also an alumna of Wesleyan, kept in touch with Blaine over the years and jumped at the chance to perform outside of her home in New York City because of the opportunity to get in front of a fresh audience in Philadelphia. “What I like about this show is it isn’t just a show for more stage time,” Ekperigin said. “I’m not from the area, so it will be really fun Jennifer Blaine / actress to see who these other women in the Philly area are. Who’s performing, what they’re doing and what a Saturday night crowd at the Ethical Society is into. I can pretend I’m into politics for a night, you know.” Including women like Ekperigin, who use their art as a means to connect women in conversation, was intentional for Blaine in choosing which artists would be included in the show. “Art is transformative, so the women I’m choosing for this show, what they’re doing with their art is transformative,” Blaine said. “There’s just something about women on a solitary walk that, as we go deeply inward and share something that is so personal
“Art is
transformative, so the women I’m choosing for this show, what they’re doing with their art is transformative.
”
to us, it actually resonates, because that is how we get to what is universal.” The show is a comedy-based variety show with standup comedian Ekperigin, a singer-songwriter, a duo of improvisational actresses, a dancer and a poet, as well as performance artist Joy Mariama Smith, who is based in Philly and may be the oddest performer of the night. “For me, it is important to not have to compromise the integrity of my work,” Smith said. “I don’t really believe in the idea of avant-garde. If I’m making art now, it might be the audience that needs to catch up. I’m not before anything.” Smith plays with active art, which differs from audience participation. Her art relies on the active audience and engagement. For “5,000 Women,” her performance involves line dancing, voicemails, the audience and Smith talking to herself. “You shouldn’t expect anything, really,” Smith said. “I tend to be the type of person that tries to weasel my way out of being categorized or put into a box.” Going along with the theme of the show in the celebration of women and artists, Smith said she thinks it is impossible to be an artist and not participate in that conversation. “Just by being a part of it I’m supporting making art and performing and being willing to share and engage in this dialogue,” Smith said. “This setting and framing around my work is kind of unusual, so I’m excited to be in there.” Emily Rolen can be reached at emily.rolen@temple.edu.
dressings, consists of lemon vinaigrette, cranberry vinaigrette and roasted peach vinaigrette flavors. The business officially opened in 2011 with Robin Feeney as the owner of the company and Kevin Feeney as chief operating officer. “We were making salad dressing, my wife and I, probably 20 years before we started selling to the public,” Kevin Feeney said. “It was just a way to get our kids to eat more salad.” Their four kids love the lemon and cranberry vinaigrettes the most, he said. Now, Kevin Feeney and his wife have been selling their dressings in local grocery stores across Pennsylvania, like Essene Market & Café on South Fourth Street and various Whole Foods locations. Understanding how difficult it can be to feed kids natural and healthy dinners, Kevin Feeney said he has placed a lot of importance on making the dressings all-natural and gluten-free, with no preservatives and low salt and sugar. He said he tries to put as much of the fruit as he can into the dressing, especially with the lemon vinaigrette’s lemon juice. Kevin Feeney handles the making of all the dressings that end up on store shelves, since only he and his wife run the business. While he had left the financial services industry to devote his time to Kevin’s Fresh, his wife still works as a litigation attorney, so virtually everything is left up to him. Kevin Feeney handles the dressing, from making it in small batches in an Elkins Park, Pa. kitchen to when it’s handed off to grocery store employees. “From picking up the bottles to filling the bottles to delivering the bottles to selling the dressings, doing demos at stores for customer exposure, I do pretty much everything from start to finish,” Kevin Feeney said. This start-to-finish work ethic often leaves a personable impression when he talks to store managers about his dressings. This carries over into the demos and showcases he holds in each store to meet new customers and inform them of what a cranberry or peach vinaigrette is. Not surprisingly, children seem to be the common audience when Kevin’s Fresh offers samples. The business’ reception is what drives the point home to Kevin Feeney that he and his wife have got a good product. “They try it once and tell their mom or dad they really like it, and then I see them five minutes later and they’re coming back to the demo table,” Kevin Feeney said. “That’s a good sign we’re onto something with kids.” The next biggest showcase to the public for Kevin’s Fresh takes place at the third annual Philly Farm & Food Fest on April 13 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. As with any business, the struggles of growing sales and gaining exposure can be tricky. With Kevin’s Fresh fruit dressings, they have to overcome the dressings’ unfamiliarity to many shoppers. “It’s a little different flavor profile than most people are used to,” Kevin Feeney said. “When people think of dressing, they think of Ranch and Italian and our flavors are a little different.” It’s the different flavors, however, that enable Kevin Feeney to recommend the vinaigrettes for uses beyond salad dressings. It could be used for marinating chicken, sautéing green beans and asparagus or brushing onto meat as a light barbeque sauce with the cranberry vinaigrette. In this respect, Kevin and Robin Feeney’s kids help in the creation of new recipes and applications for their dressings. To them, their children’s opinions are what come first. “Having four kids as kind of a test kitchen works for us,” Kevin Feeney said. “We can try different things with them and get their reactions to it. Albert Hong can be reached at albert.hong@temple.edu.
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Local designer moves her career toward empowerment VAN AKEN PAGE 9 were versatile but “special.” SA VA eventually expanded beyond Philadelphia to 50 locations around the country. Van Aken said she loves to explore new and different things in the design world, having worked with everyone, from musicians to chefs, designing custom uniforms for wellknown restaurants. Van Aken said she feels that designing can be more than just about clothing and has explored this through creating a line of room diffusers and fragrances. “Designing can be gardening – it’s not necessarily the act
of one single thing,” Van Aken personal life in the next three said. years, I just didn’t think it was In the fall, after a meeting possible,” Van Aken said. “I to raise money sort of proved for SA VA and to myself that dealing with inI could do it, vestor challenges there wasn’t a as well as taklot of ego ating her life and tached for me future goals into anymore and consideration, the next thing Van Aken dethat I did, I cided to close SA wanted it to be VA. heavily Sarah Van Aken / entrepreneur very “As I was focused on just looking at the building brands challenges of raising money and and much less focused on the what that would mean for my business operations and the
“If you aren’t
failing enough, then you aren’t working hard enough.
”
manufacturing.” She decided to refocus her career and desired to have a family. She said she felt it would not have been possible if she continued on with SA VA. Van Aken also said that she felt she owed herself the success. One thing Van Aken said she loves to do is build brands, describing this as more esoteric than designing. “It takes into consideration who the person is that’s using it and how it is going to be presented and things that are beyond the scope of the actual product,” Van Aken said.
Sarah Van Aken refocuses her career from fashion design to public speaking and building brands. | CHARLES FRENETTE TTN
Throughout her time in the fashion scene, Van Aken said she had always been called upon to consult with other people and that made her transition from designing to building brands much easier. “I want to help build great brands and that leaves the door open to socially-driven businesses to consumer products to supporting entrepreneurs that have businesses I believe in,” Van Aken said. Being described by many as “a trailblazer for women entrepreneurs,” Van Aken also devotes her time to speaking with women about entrepreneurship and becoming leaders in businesses. “Where I see that going for me is really supporting women entrepreneurs and building a stronger community around the idea that if you aren’t failing enough, then you aren’t working hard enough,” Van Aken said. Van Aken said she feels failures are often more important than successes. During a keynote speech at the Alliance of Women Entrepreneurs Gala in the fall, Van Aken said the re-
action she received from the audience made her realize this subject is not talked about enough, especially among women. “It’s important, and it’s such a great thing, and we can learn so much from each other and it’s something that connects us in a way,” Van Aken said. While Van Aken is moving more toward consultation, she said she doesn’t feel as though she is completely letting go of designing. “Design is something that is inherent in everything I do, and I just don’t think it lives in a box,” Van Aken said. “Designing a business strategy or designing a business product, it is always going to be part of what I do.” Cailtin O’Connell can be reached at caitlin.oconnell@temple.edu.
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
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TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
A Top 10 of Philly wrestling PPVs This list anaylzes the Top 10 greatest Philly matches on PPV.
I
n honor of WWE Network providing a colossal library of World Wrestling Entertainment, World Championship Wrestling and Extreme Championship Wrestling pay-per-views as well as streaming upcoming pay-per-views as part of the $10 a month subscription, I’ve John Corrigan watched every Cheesesteaks PPV that took and Chairshots place in Philadelphia and ranked the Top 10 greatest matches. Forewarning, Ring of Honor fans: Only events which you could purchase by remote or by calling your local cable provider were counted, so exit out of that BuzzFeed tab and type my address in your inevitable hostile response email, because the countdown begins now.
10. BRIAN PILLMAN VS. LEX LUGERHALLOWEEN HAVOC 1989
The arrogant “Total Package” defended the U.S. Championship against Flyin’ Brian in perhaps the best match of Luger’s career. A classic battle between strength and speed, the herculean titleholder struggled to keep the scrappy challenger grounded. Luger’s offense is limited, but his heat is so strong, the crowd reacts to every pec flex. It’s funny seeing Luger jaw-jack with the fans while trapped in a wristlock.
9. TEAM 3D VS. BEER MONEY – LOCKDOWN 2009
I see you, Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. A street fight inside a steel cage seems contradictory, but this is where families are made up and the rules don’t matter. Team 3D entered through the crowd, portraying hometown heroes from their ECW days,
so they brawled with beer money up and down the bleachers. The blood, the tables, the historical impact – Team 3D became the only team to win ECW, WCW, WWE, NWA, IWGP and TNA Tag Team Championships thanks to this match. And yes, I’m biased because it happened at the Liacouras Center.
8. BRIAN PILLMAN VS. RICKY STEAMBOAT – HALLOWEEN HAVOC 1992
Pillman’s life was cut short in 1997, but luckily, he left this gem. Three years later after No. 10, he assumes the cocky villain role against perennial fan favorite Steamboat. I’m not sure why WWE skipped this match for Pillman’s “Loose Cannon” DVD – it’s fast-paced and tells a great story of “The Dragon” fending off every dirty trick Pillman pulls. That story made all the better due to Jim Ross and Jesse Ventura narrating the action in legitimate sports fashion, which is sorely missed today.
quent smirk by Punk. Although they would raise the bar even higher with a TLC match the next month, this traditional bout sent fans home happy as the “Rainbow Haired Warrior” delivered a Swanton Bomb to recapture his title.
leaves fans wondering how humans can absorb such physicality without a gurney ride home. Everyone except for Michinoku was virtually unknown to me, but the ECW faithfuls remained vocal, so I trusted their instincts. If all you remember about Michinoku was his comedic stint in Kaientai, you’ll be shocked at his performance. Shocked, indeed.
year absence, RVD gained cheers sharing a ring with Punk and Bryan. Unfortunately, everybody ganged up on him once the bell rang. In a goosebump moment for ROH fans, Punk and Bryan cleared the ring for a brief face off. This wasn’t just a human demolition derby – the company’s top two storylines for the rest of the year sprung amid the wreckage: Paul Heyman betrayed his client Punk by slamming a ladder into his skull and Orton retrieved the magical briefcase, leading him to become The Authority’s chosen champion.
able to enjoy a Chris Benoit match. I realize we should separate the person from the performer, but my conscience won’t let me celebrate his entering at No. 1 and winning the whole match. I attended that show, too, but the memory will always be tainted, like a good song that reminds you of your ex. If you can stomach his presence, this “Rumble” deserves acclaim for featuring Goldberg, Kurt Angle, RVD, John Cena, Scott Steiner, Chris Jericho and a couple surprises.
6. JEFF HARDY VS. CM PUNK – NIGHT OF CHAMPIONS 2009
One of the most underrated feuds in wrestling history, the beloved daredevil and the “Straight Edge Superstar” competed for the World Heavyweight Championship. The chemistry between these two atypical headliners never failed to entertain as the crowd rallied behind Hardy with every strike and subse-
CHERRY BLOSSOMS TO BLOOM
The Subaru Cherry Blossom Festival will return to Philadelphia on Wednesday, running from April 2-13. The festival will welcome spring with karaoke, sushi-making classes, film showcases, discounted dinners and more events celebrating Japanese culture. The festival was started as an initiative to plant 5. CHRISTIAN VS. RANDY ORTON VS. 1,000 cherry trees in Fairmount Park, which was acDANIEL BRYAN VS. SHEAMUS VS. CM complished in 2007. Since then, the initiative has PUNK VS. ROB VAN DAM – MONEY expanded to include other regions in the area in the 2. 2004 ROYAL RUMBLE IN THE BANK 2013 This would have landed No. 1, tree-planting project and over 50 events during the Returning to WWE after a six- but I’m one of those people still un- four-week festival.
7. TERRY FUNK & GREAT MUTA VS. RIC FLAIR AND STING – HALLOWEEN 4. STONE COLD STEVE AUSTIN VS. HAVOC 1989 A tag team match of such epic THE ROCK – WRESTLEMANIA XV proportions could only be contained inside the electrified cage known as the Thunderdome. The only way to win is if Flair and Sting’s corner man Ole Anderson or Funk and Muta’s corner man Gary Hart throws in the towel. Oh, and Bruno Sammartino is the referee. If you ever wanted to see Sting and Funk swing like Tarzan, check out what the Punjabi Prison should have been.
OUT & ABOUT
In the first match of their “Mania” trilogy, the two biggest stars of the Attitude Era pounded each other in the arena, even colliding into the giant “WrestleMania” entrance sign. The match included three referees knocked out, run-ins by Vince McMahon and Mankind, countless chair shots, but did the people love it. If good ole J.R. overcame his second spell of Bell’s palsy to commentate this war, you know it’s must-see. Plus, nobody sells a Stunner like The Rock.
3. THE GREAT SASUKE, GRAN HAMADA, AND MASATO YAKUSHIJI VS. TAKA MICHINOKU, TERRY BOY AND DICK TOGO – BARELY LEGAL 1997.
PYT EXPANDS LOCATIONS
Northern Liberties’ inventive burger joint and bar, PYT, has been announced it will be opening locations in New York City and Washington D.C. According to Zagat, the restaurant signed a deal with Fransmart, a franchise consulting firm, to expand outside of Philadelphia. Fransmart has been in charge of chains like Elevation Burger and CaliBurger. In addition to the two cities, there are more locations planned for Philadelphia. Dan Rowe of Fransmart has said that 1. HARDCORE HOLLY VS. BROCK people from Boston, Portland, Ore., and Florida have already showed interest in branching out there. LESNAR – ROYAL RUMBLE 2004 PYT gained national attention themselves with Kidding. their wacky burger creations through their recent spotlight on Good Morning America. Such creations 1. SHAWN MICHAELS VS. MANKIND– have included the deep-fried Twinkie burger, deepIN YOUR HOUSE: MIND GAMES 1996 fried Eliio’s burger and burgers replacing the buns Mick Foley claimed this as the with their “bacon buns.” best match of his career until “Backlash 2004,” and it’s easy to see why. The deranged Mankind fought the “Heartbreak Kid,” utilizing every part of the ringside area with some innovative yet sickening moves. This match has it all: brawling, submissions, high flying, psychology. Michaels even snaps out of character at one point for a missed spot, but Mankind takes him down with a variation of the Tazmission turned into a Mandible Claw. Despite Michaels retaining the WWE Championship due to disqualification, the surprise ending only adds to the spectacle.
Don’t blink. This nonstop melee featuring the best of Japan’s Michinoku Pro Wrestling organization
John Corrigan can be reached at john.corrigan@temple.edu.
- Albert Hong
NOLIBS STORYTELLING The Philadelphia History Museum is running an exhibit on the past and present of the Northern Liberties from now until Aug. 31. On March 24, there will be an event called “Tell Your Northern Liberties Story” where attendees have the chance to tell their own stories of the area using voice, writing, photos or any other media. The shared stories have the chance to be written about in the book “Stories of Northern Liberties” that will be available both at the library and exhibit. The event will be held at 6 p.m. at the Rodriguez Neighborhood Library at 6th Street and Girard Avenue.
Saunter aims to be ‘Yelp for music’ This startup creates a domain for people to share musical reviews, recommend artists. NODYIA FEDRICK The Temple News Saunter is putting a digital spin on the most classic form of recommendation: word of mouth. The newly launched music blog is built upon the foundation of democracy and community, describing itself as “Yelp for music.” Saunter is a growing community-based website that focuses on putting a vast amount of music at fans’ fingertips, while founders Adam Kearney, 25, and Dave Harbage, 24, leverage the copious amount of information available on the Internet to expand users’ music knowledge. “What we’re trying to do is help people filter through the noise,” Kearney said. “Word of mouth was how
I always discovered my favorite artists, however, it is incredibly inefficient to do this all the time. I want people to search word of mouth to discover artists like Yelp helped me discover new restaurants.” The interactive website has 2,400 genres ranging from punk-jazz to folk-metal, 2.3 million artists and 6.5 million free songs to stream – all of which are still growing. While researching new artists on the website, there’s also the option to read or write reviews on concert-going experiences and albums. “Yelp wasn’t a site that people originally [visited] to check out ratings,” Harbage said. “People went to just write about their experience. That’s what stage we’re in. It’s called the single-player mode.” Harbage said the website is up and fully functioning, but once it surpasses the single-player mode and any minor kinks, it will be free to step out of the beta version. Neither creator has what most perceive as a typical background for
a tech startup. Kearney has a bachelor of arts in political studies and psychology. Harbage has a bachelor of arts in mathematics and is considering going back to school to earn his Ph.D. Despite this seemingly unviable match, it resulted in serendipity. Kearney described himself as the “humanist” contributor of Saunter. “I was completely non-technical trying to start a tech company,” Kearney said. “I met [Harbage] in August 2012 through a mutual friend. At the time, [he] was the [chief technology officer] of another company. We would meet and discuss Saunter. Soon it dominated our conversations.” As the “humanist,” Kearney manages everything dealing with the public, including arranging the March 1 launch party in Philadelphia where more than 100 music bloggers showed up, contacting each new person who signs up with a personal email and now heading out to Cali-
fornia to network with approximately 200 music bloggers. Harbage takes care of the technical work, like building a massive database from online sources to create a mesh of artists that have connections for users to filter through. However, despite their opposing positions in the maintenance of Saunter, it is counterbalanced by their passion for music. “It is very difficult to express my relationship with music – it has given me a lot throughout the years,” Kearney said via email. “It’s fun to work with someone who has the same level of intensity,” Harbage said. Within three to six months, they hope to have an app available for consumers. “We are focused on building a great product,” Kearney said. “I am not spending too much time or effort meeting with investors.”
TRENDING IN PHILLY What people are talking about in Philly – from news and store openings, to music events and restaurant opening. For breaking news and daily updates, follow The Temple News on Twitter @TheTempleNews.
- Emily Rolen
Nodyia Fedrick can be reached at nodyia.fedrick@temple.edu.
- Chelsea Finn
RUNNING TOWARD A CAUSE Philadelphia’s 5th World Water Day 5K Run/ Walk is starting again on March 22. The walk is sponsored by Keiyo Soy Ministries, an organization that raises funds to provide for “clean water, sanitations facilities, and hygiene education in the Kerio Valley in the Rift Valley Province of northern Kenya.” Catch the discounted student entry fee of $20, normally $25 on race day. The event starts on Martin Luther King Drive at 9 a.m. Registration begins at 7:30 a.m. - Kerri Ann Ramio
FUTURE OF GIOVANNI’S ROOM STILL UNCERTAIN
MT. AIRY GETS ITS OWN RESTAURANT WEEK
@KYWNewsradio tweeted on March 15 that during its 40th anniversary celebration, owner Ed Hermance gave an update to the future of the LGBTQ bookstore Giovanni’s Room. Although no sales have been made, Hermance said a group of people have shown interest. Hermance announced back in September the historic store would close.
@PhillydotcomENT tweeted on March 14 that following in the footsteps of several other Philadelphia neighborhoods, Mt. Airy will be launching its own restaurant week in April, focusing instead on brunch. Running from April 5-6, the meals are fixed at $16 and include a starter, entree, a side and coffee or tea.
CRACK-DOWN ON JURORS
CITY CAN’T AFFORD DEMOS OF ‘DANGEROUS’ BUILDINGS
@PhillyInquirer tweeted on March 16 that the Philadelphia court system is cracking down on those not responding to jury duty summons. Starting this spring, those who ignore their summons could be fined as much as $500, held in contempt of court and sentenced up to 10 days in jail.
@Phillydotcom tweeted on March 16 that due to budget constraints, the city’s Department of Licenses and Inspections cannot afford to demolish most of the almost 600 buildings on its “imminently dangerous” list. Although these houses are mostly abandoned, some are still inhabited and pose a risk to the people living near and beside them.
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
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PAGE 15
BAR GUIDE
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
PAGE B1 ANDREW THAYER TTN
College students like to drink. Philadelphia is home to more than 20,000 bars, making the choice to toss a few back a difficult one for the 21-and-over crowd. There’s something about a dive bar – a place where it’s less about the elaborate mixed drinks and freshness of a celery stick atop a Bloody Mary, and more about the company and homey atmosphere. But take it as you will. Some may look down upon dive bars, which have sometimes gained a reputation for being “grimy” or “unglamorous.” However, it’s more than that. Inside this issue, you’ll find a few of the dive bars that make up the city’s nightlife scene. They’re places where nurses relax after a long shift, artists display their work in unlikely galleries, people dance with DJs and drag queens, groove to house bands or just get wished a “Happy Birthday,” whether it’s actually their birthdays or not. They’re known as neighborhood watering holes and maybe it’s time we toss the pink cocktail umbrella to the side and lean in for a whiskey-tainted sip. Patricia Madej Arts & Entertainment Editor
Defying the Ordinary From ‘liquor-drinking’ music to go-go dancers, these dives keep communal tradition with unconventional aspects. Dolphin Tavern has seen major changes but has maintained its popular dance floor. JERRY IANNELLI The Temple News It’s roughly 11:30 p.m. on a Friday, and the neon squares that line the rear end of the Dolphin Tavern are throbbing and pulsating around an empty dance floor. The first DJ act of the evening – the tag-team of Brooklynite JDH and native Philadelphian Dave P. – is SOUTH PHILLY nearing the end of its set, and there has yet to be a single soul at the South Philadelphia bar to wander within 12 feet of their elevated booth at the very rear of the establishment. Granted, the clientele that surround the bar – a double-sided behemoth topped with cheap-looking, cream-colored granite that takes up half the room – are beginning to run out of space, packing together against the front edge of the dance floor like bubbles in a well-shaken soda can. “Well, the go-go dancers don’t usually start until 12,” Kevin Campbell, a bearded patron from Kennett Square, Pa., said, taking a swig of some sort of brown liquor from a clear plastic cup. “But I think we’re going to get up soon and get out there.” Campbell is here with a group of three other patrons, each casually dressed and seated around a brown wooden table. “It’s just a great dive where you can actual-
ly dance,” Campbell said. “It’s my second time here. We really dig The Twelves, the band playing later tonight.” Minutes later, one of Campbell’s friends – a denim-shirted man with flowing blonde locks – drags a woman out under the disco ball and the floor bubbles over. A staple on the corner of Broad and Tasker Streets since the 1950s, the tavern stood for the better part of six decades as a grimy institution where South Philadelphia’s most calloused drunkards could throw back shots of rye surrounded by semi-nude go-go dancers and inexpensive wooden paneling. Teetering on the brink of foreclosure in 2012, a management team led by R5 Productions founder and Union Transfer owner Sean Agnew purchased the bar, renovating the place in time for a reopening a year ago on March 20, 2013. Agnew’s team added a state-of-the-art DJ booth and dance floor, as well as an updated list of custom cocktails courtesy of local distillery Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction. From there, the group leveraged the booking power of R5 Productions to bring in DJ sets from acts like Animal Collective, Neon Indian and Seth Troxler in an attempt to appeal to a younger set of patrons. General Manager K. “Murph” Murphy, has made cocktails behind the bar since the tavern’s reopening and has witnessed the clientele’s demographic shift firsthand. “In the year that I've been here, not a week has gone by where someone hasn't walked in and said to me, ‘I used to come here 20 years ago!’ and proceed to tell me some wacky story about
DOLPHIN PAGE B4
Bob and Barbara’s claims to be the creator of the $3.50 Citywide Special. ERIN EDINGER-TUROFF Living Editor Bob and Barbara’s Lounge is the last of the Hammond B3 houses in Philadelphia. The assistant manager, Bob Dix, who SOUTH-CENTRAL was a patron PHILLY at the lounge for many years prior, said many bars in Philadelphia used to feature the Hammond B3 Organ Combo, an electric organ marketed originally to churches as a cheaper alternative to pipe organs and was eventually adopted by jazz musicians. South Street bars in particular were known for the organs, Dix said, when the neighborhood was predominately African-American. Bob and Barbara’s Hammond B3 is still played by two house bands – every Friday by the Crowd Pleasers and every
Saturday by the Three Notes. Nate Wiley, the original leader of the Crowd Pleasers who started the band 35 years ago, willed the organ to the bar. “It’s not about jazz, it’s not about oldies, it’s not about a certain style or about what’s popular,” Dix said. “It’s about liquor-drinking music. It’s about having a good time and selling alcohol – selling a good time to people.” Though the organ has historical significance, Bob and Barbara’s, located at 1509 South St., is best known as the home of the Citywide Special – a can of Pabst Blue Ribbon and a shot of Jim Beam bourbon. Jack Prince has owned Bob and Barbara’s for the past 20 years. The Citywide Special was established under his ownership by Rick Dobrowolski, who booked local music for Tuesday and Wednesday nights. Dobrowolski first suggested pairing PBR and Jim Beam for $3 about 18 years ago to accompany a proposed music night. Since then, the price has risen to $3.50. Prince said he isn’t bothered if other bars question the validity of Bob and Barbara’s claim to the Citywide Special. “It’s not like we invented
a pacemaker,” Prince said. “It just so happens that it’s super popular now.” So popular, that is, that the bar can’t place a number on how many they sell, Dix said. “If somebody else wants to claim the special, then go right ahead,” Dix said. “We just know how [much] we sell. And we sell a lot of [Citywide Specials] here.” Dix said local lore is that Bob and Barbara’s, along with two other nearby bars, once sold so much PBR that it was “as much, if not more” than the amount of the beer sold across the East Coast. Though the bar has no advertorial relationship with PBR as a company, Dix said the company’s president has visited Bob and Barbara’s, along with PBR tour buses. The bar’s walls are plastered with vintage signs and PBR-themed paraphernalia, illuminated by dim, colored lights that leave the interior with an old-fashioned atmosphere. Even the cash registers, electro-mechanical models from the 1950s, add to the eclectic feel. Prince said this adds personality to his business.
BOB’S PAGE B4
BAR GUIDE
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TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
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12 Steps Down Specialty Drink:
The Mimosa - Champagne & orange juice served in a tall, flute glass
Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar
$3
Specialty Drink: Birthday Drink
Specialty Drink:
FREE (when it’s your birthday)
The Bloody Mary - 2 oz. vodka, 4 oz. tomato juice served with stalk of celery in regular drinking glass
- One shot of UV cake vodka served in cup with a candle attached
$3
.
For more coverage on Bar Guide, visit us online at temple-news.com Fiume, a bar located above the Ethiopian restaurant Abyssinia in University City, is known for its wide selection of craft beers and musical events.
“We want to offer a good product. Conversation and personalities tend to follow suit with that. The people here tend to care about the world, even if they are cynical, they still find it beautiful.
”
Dirty Frank’s bar located on 347 South 13th St. is known not only for its communal hub, but array of art and memorabilia including the mural outside of the establishment by David McShane and the Mural Arts Program with a “special thanks” to previous owner Jay McConnell. | JENELLE JANCI TTN
Kevin James Holland / co-owner of Fiume
Dirty Frank’s makes its mark with own art gallery This bar has landed on many “best-of ” lists for its atmosphere, patrons and collection of art. JENELLE JANCI Managing Editor A clump of memorabilia including a cowboy hat, a piñata and award ribbons hovers over a horseshoe-shaped bar. While the hand-cut snowflakes, balloons and buoys seem to be arbitrarily placed, there seems to be a story behind everything in Dirty Frank’s, a corner bar located at 347 S. 13th St. The bar’s history is rich, CENTER CITY having four previous PHILLY owners before its current leadership, Brad Pierce and Jody Sweitzer – and the history of the eclectic decorations inside is no different. “However many years ago, there was a pothole on Pine Street,” Pierce said. “So a person would come down Pine Street, hit the pothole, and just from the dynamics of the intersection the hubcaps would roll off and land in front of the door. So [previous owner Jay McConnell], when he came in in the morning would pick the hubcap up
and stick it on the ledge …Things end up here for many different reasons.” Pierce, who started at Dirty Frank’s in 1980 as a bartender, took over for McConnell with Sweitzer, who began in 1992. The bar is said to have started in 1933 around the time prohibition was repealed. A self-proclaimed dive bar, Dirty Frank’s has landed itself on numerous “best-of” lists for its friendly atmosphere, casual vibe and affordable, yet varying beer selection. Dirty Frank’s has a $2 can of rotating cheap beer on its “Shelf of Shame.” The bar’s most popular special is a 7-ounce beer with a Kamikase shot for $2.50. Despite the bar’s age, Pierce said he is willing to change with the trends of drinkers. “If we have a custom-
er that comes in and requests something, and they are a regular customer and they keep asking for it, then we’ll get it,” Pierce said. Pierce and Sweitzer took over in 2012. Sweitzer said McConnell knew whom he wanted as his successors. “He wanted to retire two years ago, and he’s been telling me for five years that he wanted me to take over,” Sweitzer said, who called on Pierce to be her partner. W h i l e Sweitzer said
the crowd’s makeup varies depending on the night of the week, she said there’s an undeniable quality that all Dirty Frank’s patrons possess. “Their ability to talk to a stranger and make them feel completely welcome – it’s just across the board,” Sweitzer said. “When I was behind the bar, [author] Pete Dexter would be here at every happy hour…sitting next to a mailman, sitting next to a Supreme Court judge, and they’d all have a discourse,” Pierce said. “It was pretty amazing.” It’s not just patrons that are noteworthy at Dirty Frank’s – one of the bar’s doormen, Frank Sherlock, is the poet laureate of Philadelphia. In addition to a community hub, Dirty Frank’s has a longstanding history of being an art bar. The left wall is completely dedicated to showing the work of local artists. The wall’s plain white paint and brightly lit lights are a stark contrast to the rest of the establishment, which is crowded with neon signs and photographs. Sweitzer is in charge of the gallery, whose show changes every two months. The gallery was started in 1979 by McConnell with help from
Mary Liz, Bunky Devichios and Phil Sumpter. The bar also hosts an open call for artists biannually to be displayed in the gallery. Sweitzer said the gallery makes art accessible to the bar’s patrons. “In finding out about the art, they realize it’s accessible in a sense of price range, and slowly they become collectors and it’s really great,” Sweitzer said. “It gives them an access point where they never really had the ability to appreciate art and say, ‘OK, I can own that now.’” The bar hosts various other events throughout the year, including parties for the Mummers’ New Year’s Day Parade, a Kentucky Derby party and a Comfort Food Fest. Dirty Frank’s will host a Chili Cook-Off on March 22. For $10, attendees will get to taste multiple types of chili and vote for their favorite. For a bar that does more than serve drinks, Pierce still isn’t put off by being labeled as a “dive bar.” “Well, look around,” Pierce said. “What else could we be?” Jenelle Janci can be reached at jenelle. janci@temple.edu or on Twitter @jenelley.
BAR GUIDE
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
PAGE B3
The Dolphin Tavern
Bob and Barbara’s Lounge
Specialty Drink: The Sageside
$7.50
Specialty Drink:
The Citywide Special
- Gin, “Art of the Age” Sage liquor, freshsqueezed lime juice and housemade simple syrup served in a martini glass
$3.50
- One 12 oz. can of Pabst Blue Ribbon & one Jim Beam bourbon shot
ILLUSTRATIONS ADDY PETERSON TTN
12 Steps Down finds own place by Italian Market This bar is famous for its wide selection of bottled beers and den-like atmosphere. PAIGE GROSS The Temple News The “12 steps” of 12 Steps Down in South Philadelphia includes two important rules: The bartender is always right, and if the bartender is wrong, see No. 1. Labels peeled off of beer bottles line the ceiling and the upper interior of the ovalshaped bar. Mismatched green stools crowd around the copper bar, which stands at the center of the room, as it has since the bar’s origin 11 years ago. A skeleton wearing a Santa hat leans next to a retro jukebox in a corner that glows neon through the smoky air. Naked, golden light bulbs hang from the ceiling, casting a filtered glow over the room, and the music changes from SOUTH PHILLY ‘80s hip-hip to contemporary alternative music, finally landing on the theme song from “Wayne’s World” which plays on the television near the bar’s entrance. The interior, like 12 Steps Down’s themed events, is varied but fits the role this bar holds, as well as the people it draws in. Behind the bar are rows of liquor, but draft and bottled beers seem to be the popular choice, with more than 50 choices categorized into groups like blondes, Belgians and Dogfish Head’s Pumpkin Ale. Dan King, a bartender, said a beer from Bell’s Brewery Inc. is the most popular. The name of the bar comes from the 12 steps that lead to the basement bar, but Jonathan Conaway, bartender at 12 Steps Down for the past two years, said there is also a little “tongue-in-cheek humor” at play, regarding Alchoholics Anonymous’ 12 Step Program. The themed nights offer activities for the varied ages of patrons who frequent the bar. Monday nights feature free pool and the occasional “Motown Monday,” while Tuesday karaoke draws in the youngest crowd, bringing people from all over the city. Wednesday attracts the “Quizzo” crowd, people skilled in trivia for gift cards and other prizes. On Thursdays, visitors can treat themselves
to $2 tacos, made by cook James Gaffield, who has worked at 12 Steps Down for two years. The bar hosts “Walking Dead” viewing parties on Sunday nights since the show’s return on Feb. 9, which typically draws a large crowd. “It’s usually fans of the show and some of the people in the neighborhood that don’t have cable,” Conaway said. “It’s a fun night.” “At some point, there was pizza made here,” Gaffield said, mentioning the old-school setup in the kitchen. “There’s still an oven back there, but we couldn’t get it out.” The kitchen opens at 4 p.m. with rotating food specials, using ingredients from the nearby Italian Market, America’s oldest and largest outdoor market. “Every once in a while for an event or something we will roast a whole pig,” Gaffield said. A standout for 12 Steps Down is its “Liquid Brunch,” referring to the $3 mimosas and Bloody Marys served from the bar’s opening at 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and happy hours Monday through Friday from 5-7 p.m., featuring halfpriced drafts. Both play in 12 Steps Down’s self-titled house band, with Conaway on bass and Gaffield on guitar. The band played a second time for an audience on Feb. 28 after it considered the first performance a success. The bar fits in with the surrounding neighborhood, which has several family-owned businesses that hold true to their roots. “I try and buy as much as possible from the market upstairs,” Gaffield said, motioning to the street-level store that shares the same address. Other businesses on the block include Isgro Pastries, Anthony’s Chocolate House, Michael Anastasio Produce Inc. and Grassia’s Italian Market Spice Company. Conaway and Gaffield said while they both come from outside of Philadelphia and have lived in many other places, they consider this area of the city their home. “South Philly really has the neighborhood niche,” Conaway said. “Sometimes when I leave, I think, ‘Wait, there are other people outside of here?’” Paige Gross can be reached at paige.gross1@temple.edu.
12 Steps Down is found in South Philly by the Italian Market.| CHARLES FRENETTE TTN
Lou Capozzoli named Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar at 1200 E. Passyunk Ave. after his father’s habit of wishing all the customers a “happy birthday.”| ALEX UDOWENKO TTN
Celebrating birthdays, family Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar has a rich history with its patrons after celebrating its 75th anniversary. KERRI ANN RAIMO The Temple News Before 74-year-old Lou Capozzoli became the owner of Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar, he was sitting at the bar eating cornflakes and milk. “I was about 4 years old,” Capozzoli said. “I remember waking up and I was afraid because I was by myself on the third floor. I ran down and my mother was minding the bar.” Living a few floors above Ray’s as a child, Capozzoli said he was born and raised at the bar. He made himself comfortable by SOUTH PHILLY hoisting himself onto the bar to eat his breakfast – the same spot where customers used to, and still do, pull up their stools and drink. Capozzoli’s father, Anthony “Ray” Capozzoli, bought the South Philadelphia establishment in 1938 and when Ray was drafted into the army in World War II, his wife Rose ran the bar. It was formerly known solely as “Ray’s,” but when Capozzoli took over after his father’s passing in 1997, he decided to add the “Happy Birthday” tag in his honor. “When his father used to greet people, instead of saying ‘Hello,’ he’d say, ‘Hey! Happy birthday!” said Tony Coccerino, longtime friend of Lou Capozzoli and a full-time bartender since 1994. To Ray Capozzoli, any day could be a customer’s birthday and birthdays are still celebrated almost every day at the bar. It is up the street from two of Philadelphia’s most well-known tourist attractions, Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks. Now, decades later, instead of Lou Capozzoli sitting on the bar to eat breakfast, newcomers and tourists sometimes come in and sit back with a cheesesteak. But like any beloved dive bar, it has its regulars. “The area has become more and more gentrified,” said Jeffrey Tull, a South Philadelphia local and a patron at Ray’s since Ray Capozzoli was alive. “You’ll see the gelato place and the place that sells handcrafted single-malt scotch from the isle of wherever. It’s nice that there are still places like this, because this is a part of what neighborhood character is about. If there weren’t places
like this, South Philly would be a strip mall.” Ray’s Happy Birthday Bar houses a crowd for comedy nights, open mic nights and karaoke with DJ Lars. Or even at the crack of dawn, considering the bar opens at 7 a.m., Monday through Saturday, almost making Sunday’s opening time of 9 a.m. sound like happy hour. “One time it was 7:30 a.m., I had 25 people – it was a birthday party,” Capozzoli said. “I thought my neighbors were going to kill me.” Capozzoli and Coccerino said the early birds are usually local nurses that are unwinding after an all-night shift, when a Monday morning may feel more like a Friday night. Tull said he remembers how packed the place was several years ago on New Year’s Day while performers in the Mummers Parade crowded in right as the doors opened at 7 a.m. But regardless of the hour, those celebrating their special day at Ray’s get a free birthday cake-flavored shot with a candle attached, their photograph taken in a birthday hat and a shoutout posted on a sign outside of the bar. Once a birthday is known at Ray’s, Coccerino will transfer it to the new calendar each passing year. Coccerino said he writes all birthdays on the calendar, whether it’s a regular’s or first-timer’s special day. But for the regulars, the bar is like home. “You can smoke, you can have a few laughs,” Tull said. “You come in and it’s like a South Philly ‘Cheers’ in a kind of dive-y environment.” Of course, with the establishment’s smoking permit in mind, the place has the pungent smell of cigarettes. The “Cheers” reference is inevitable, as some friendships within the establishment span decades. Capozzoli and Coccerino have been friends since they were 7 years old, when Coccerino lived half of a block away from Ray’s on Passyunk Avenue and the two would play stickball. Through it all, Capozzoli said he no longer has any qualms over the “dive bar” title. His wife is quick to mention that it recently was mentioned on the “12 Dives You Must Visit Before You Die” list on BuzzFeed. “I used to be so ashamed when people would say it’s a dive bar – to me, it was an insult,” Capozzoli said. “Now it’s such a compliment.” Kerri Ann Raimo can be reached at kerriann.raimo@temple.edu.
BAR GUIDE
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TUESDAY, MARCH 14, 2014
Bar has vibes of ‘old-school’ disco DOLPHIN PAGE B1 what an insane dive it used to be,” Murphy said. “It's sort of charming, really.” For traveling DJs like JDH – known legally as Josh Houtkin – the Dolphin is a sanctuary where Philadelphians can dance without coating themselves in glitter beforehand. “I really like the spot,” Houtkin, 37, said. “It’ a great alternative to a gigantic club where you have to pay $20 to get in and you’re in crowds the whole time. In fact, it’s pretty much the opposite of that.” Houtkin, a Brooklyn, N.Y., resident, has been a DJ for more than 20 years, and runs the FIXED dance party – a touring series of DJ events based in New York City for the last nine years – with friend and Philadelphia native Dave P. His Feb. 28 appearance opening for Brazilian act The Twelves marked his second appearance at The
Dolphin. “It’s exactly the right size,” Houtkin said. “You walk in and it feels like a totally normal dive bar at first. Then you cross a few feet and you’re in an old-school disco. The people are great, because Philly crowds are typically pretty unpretentious and just want to dance all night.” Houtkin said his only issue with the tavern is that the parties don’t extend long enough into the night. “The only bad thing is that the place closes at [2 a.m.], which is sort of early,” he added. “But it’s pretty much full-on until that point.” For now, it’s half past midnight and the pulsating throng of dancers blocks Houtkin’s view to the bar. Jerry Iannelli can be reached at jerri@temple.edu or on Twitter @ jerryiannelli.
Bob and Barbara’s on 1509 South St. features live drag shows every Thursday as entertainment.| ABI REIMOLD TTN
Bar home to Hammond B3 organ and live drag shows BOB’S B1 “[A lot] of the young adults now have most exactly the same. There’s a comfort grown up in the age of technology, and ev- to it.” Prince said his favorite aspect of Bob erything’s done in cyberspace,” Prince said. and Barbara’s is the “diversity of “Well, this is like the people and the entertainment,” the opposite of that. noting that the bar is welcoming to We have live music patrons of all ages, races and sexual and it’s the opposite orientations. Under Prince’s ownof high-tech.” ership, several themed nights were Dix said amid established. all of the recent deEach Thursday the longest-runvelopment on South ning drag show in Philadelphia is Street, Bob and Barhosted by Miss Lisa Lisa, who has bara’s offers consisdone it for 20 years. Along with the tency to its customB3 Hammond-playing bands on ers – something he Friday and Saturday, Sunday is kathinks keeps people raoke night. Tuesday and Wednescoming back. day bring varying events, including “It’s real,” Dix country music nights, a comedic said. “[While] evBob Dix / assistant manager “late-night talk show” night, open erything changes outside, it changes it in here – it just chang- mic nights and more. es a lot slower. [Customers] can leave, be Alexi Papadopoulos, the bassist for away for years, and come back and it’s al- Dina Miranda and the Mellotones, said
“[Customers]
can leave, be away for years, and come back and it’s almost exactly the same. There’s a comfort to it.
”
his band plays at Bob and Barbara’s about once a month. Its lounge-style sound fits in with the environment of what he called “the classiest bar in Philadelphia.” “It’s very open-minded for every kind of person in Philadelphia,” Papadopoulos said. Though Prince said Bob and Barbara’s doesn’t advertise, he’s confident about the bar’s continued success for that very reason – it attracts many different people, from regulars to tourists. “This is the first place you come to and the last place you come to,” Dix said. “You come here when you want to get a cheap, inexpensive drink to start your night off, and then you come back when you’ve got $3.50 left.” Erin Edinger-Turoff can be reached at erin.edinger-turoff@temple.edu or on Twitter @erinJustineET.
Dolphin Tavern,1539 S. Broad St. | ANDREW THAYER TTN
Bar Guide 2014 Locations
ILLUSTRATION ADDY PETERSON TTN
LIVING
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TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
Celebrating stories of disabled citizens with art and theater VOICES PAGE 1 co-executive director Celia a collection of documents that Feinstein, came up with the idea relate to civil rights reforms for for a program called Visionary the disability community. Voices, as a method of preservBesides the program’s main ing the movement’s history. goal of keeping the movement’s “Pennsylvania has a unique past intact, it also aims to spread role in the history of the intel- awareness about the challenges lectual disability movement na- and rewarding experiences that tionwide,” said Lisa Sonneborn, have accompanied increasing producer of Visionary Voices. opportunities for the disabled “We were the first state to open community. Sonneborn said it schools to people with disabili- also has been a way for affected ties and the rest of the country families to bond and appreciate followed suit. We have this rich each other. history, but some of the stories “Children are looking at the were being lost as people got interviews given by their parolder and passed away, so we ents and saying, ‘I didn’t know wanted to capture as much of you did that,’ or, ‘I didn’t know that history as we could.” how much you had to sacrifice An advisory committee, to support your child,’” Soncomprised of people with dis- neborn said. “So to have those abilities, their family members conversations within families and advocates at the local and has been incredible.” state level, generated a list of For the past two years, Vi150 people who were leaders of sionary Voices has presented the movement these stories usor were diing public perforrectly affected mance in hopes by institutionthat it will draw alization. So people with disfar, 60 of them abilities and their have been infamilies to their terviewed, history. The play, many of whom produced by Viare featured sionary Voices in a documentitled “A Fierce tary produced Kind of Love,” by Visionary has a cast of five Voices that foactors with and without intelleccuses on shartual disabilities, ing their expethough Sonneborn riences. said it may soon “What include four more. we discovered Each time the is that while cast participates [documentary in a workshop to presentation] practice the work, is a format Sonneborn said, that’s used for the script expands. other topics “The play such as Holocaust victims Lisa Sonneborn / producer is told in word, movement and or people who were in the Civil Rights Move- song,” Sonneborn said. “So ment, not a lot has been done on when we do these workshops, disability – certainly on an edu- we bring stories and have our cational level, but not on indi- actors work through them, and viduals directly involved with a what we generate in those workmovement like this – educators, shops will find its way into the policymakers and individuals word and movement sections of with disabilities themselves,” the piece.” However, the play, which said Susan Fullam, the institute’s director of Information has had a few public performances so far, isn’t intended Dissemination. Visionary Voices also col- solely for audiences in the dislaborates with historians, librar- ability community and their adians and technicians to maintain vocates.
“During a
talkback after one public reading, this woman stood up – she was not a member of the disability community and didn’t know anyone from the community – and said, ‘Why are we not being taught this history?’
”
“When we had the first public reading of our play, nearly half of the audience came to the performance because they were interested in compelling theater, not because they identify with the disability movement,” Sonneborn said. “During a talkback after one public reading, this woman stood up – she was not a member of the disability community and didn’t know anyone from the community – and said, ‘Why are we not being taught this history?’ We hope the project will encourage questions like this.” David Bradley, director of “A Fierce Kind of Love,” said he believes the play highlights commonalities among individuals in and outside of the disability community. Although the program aims to fully develop the work by the Fall 2016, he said he hopes others continue contributing to the narrative afterward. “‘A Fierce Kind of Love’ is unique in that the play is actually about the people who are telling these stories,” Bradley said. “I hope it lives on and new stories get added to it, even after we’re finished.” Sonneborn said through Visionary Voices’ efforts to spark conversation that has sometimes been suppressed or taboo, she hopes it will incite enthusiasm in young people with disabilities and their families, as well as advocates. “The community today is in a place where it needs to feel empowered,” Sonneborn said. “It has seen significant cutbacks over the last few years at the state and federal level, which has direct impact on people with disabilities and families. The feeling is that people are gearing up for the second phase of advocacy, and it’s nice that they can have a connection with their roots and empower the next generation of advocacy. Cheyenne Shaffer can be reached at cheyenne.shaffer@temple.edu.
(Above) Director David Bradley talks with Suli Holum, a playwright, performer and choreographer. (Left) Members of Visionary Voices discuss options for the program’s play. Visionary Voices aims to document the intellectual disability movement. | SERGEI BLAIR TTN
LIVING
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
PAGE 17
Working the wardrobe A new club wants to help compensate for the lack of a fashion merchandising major. KARLINA JONES The Temple News In November 2012, junior marketing major Lauren Snyder started a club to give students the opportunity to experience the fashion industry, since Temple does not offer a major in fashion merchandising. After a year as an organization, Temple Fashion and Business Club has expanded as far as members, media, networking and progress. Starting with five members, FAB now has 60 members and plans to add more, Snyder said. FAB public relations director and junior marketing major Jakaila Mustafa has been with the club since its beginning. “I am very happy to be a part of everything that has happened in the past year,” Mustafa said. “I hope to see more come out of it.” FAB members said they’ve been trying to put out the word about their club. They have a blog online at WordPress and a magazine titled The Style Book, which features students with various styles, Main Campus style and fashion advice from the club. “We like to get the student’s inputs as well to try to get something new with styles,” Snyder said. FAB has helped the Fox School of Business promote a segment called “Work Your Wardrobe,” which advised on professional dress and helped the sorority Delta Phi Epsilon produce “Confidence Show,” a fashion show intended to build
girls’ confidence with their wardrobe. “There is so much fashion in Philly,” Mustafa said. She called Temple “Philly’s college,” and said the fashion on Main Campus is worth commending. Club members have gained experience and knowledge around campus by working to promote FAB. Mustafa said many guest speakers have appeared at their biweekly meetings, including a Temple alumna. Members recalled being inspired by a recent guest speaker, 1999 graduate Angela Evans, who shared stories with the club of how she used to have fashion shows at the Liacouras Center. Snyder said those events ended after Evans graduated, but Snyder would like to revitalize those shows. “She has done some awesome work,” Snyder said. “I would like to bring the fashion shows back because I think they would be fun and a learning experience.” Mustafa intends to bring FAB members and Tyler School of Art students together for
fashion that corresponds with art. Her theme for this project would be recycling, she said. The idea came when she saw a viral video of a woman who made clothes out of paper. “I want to be able to do something like the woman did,” Mustafa said. Mustafa said she believes working with Tyler students would lead to discovering new fashion ideas. Snyder called the networking possibility a “future goal.” Snyder said she wants to increase the diversity of membership as FAB gains more interest. “People think it is just female-oriented, but it’s not,” Snyder said. “We would like to see guys join. Also, we’re open to all majors.” Snyder and Mustafa said they are excited to see what is in store for the future of FAB as they get their feet in the door of the fashion industry. Karlina Jones can be reached at karlina.jones@temple.edu.
High school students broadcast positivity POPPYN PAGE 7
Members of Temple FAB helped create “Work Your Wardrobe.” Jakaila Mustafa (third from right) said they’ve had several guest speakers. | ERIC DAO TTN
*
– Peter Travers,
Local students crowd around a computer where they edit video footage to be aired on their local network television show, POPPYN. It can be watched on YouTube as well as on public access channel Philadelphia Community Access Media. | DAVID ZIEGLER TTN
“A TOUR DE FORCE of comic wickedness.”
“Things are not that black for the students, providing enand white,” DeVose said. “We’re couragement and leadership to here to provide people with an supplement school curriculums alternative. You don’t have to and familial support. For high turn on the TV and endure the school students like Garlandnegativity you see every day.” Harding, Tiffani Hall and DarOne goal of POPPYN is to ren Wyse-Nuenez, POPPYN offer the youth perspective not has helped them get out of their only by covering issues that im- comfort zones and improve their pact them, but by giving high critical thinking skills. school students responsibilities “Since I joined POPPYN during each of the show’s pro- I’ve become more confident, duction processwhich has es. The students helped me belearn reporting come a better and video editing reader and pubskills. DeVose lic speaker,” said their positivHall said. ity is reflected in “I enjoy each episode. just being a Nasir Garpart of someland-Harding is thing positive,” one student inWyse-Nuenez Nasir Garland-Harding/ high volved in the TV said. “Every school student show who said he day I seem to appreciates POPlearn something PYN’s mission. new.” “I can bring the respect and One of the challenges the the love I receive here back to program faces is that it can be my neighborhood – [it’s] some- hard to keep episodes timely, thing positive that will spread,” since one airs every two or three Garland-Harding said. “And if I months. can change my neighborhood, To resolve the issue, Cabral then I can do that any place, at and the core leaders decided if any time.” there are any important current The organization also events throughout the year that serves as a support network impact youth, POPPYN pro-
“I can bring
the respect and love I receive here back to my neighborhood.
”
duces a short segment about it and publishes the video on YouTube. This allows the students to center the 30-minute episodes around more general themes. The most recent episode aired in fall. It examined the criminal justice system and the school-to-prison pipeline by illustrating certain laws that discriminate against youth. Past episodes have also looked at media literacy, sex education and employment opportunities. POPPYN is one of six programs involved in the University Community Collaborative, an organization started by Temple political science professor Barbara Ferman. The other five programs in the UCC try to develop internships for high school students and teach leadership development. POPPYN’s 30-minute episodes air on Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. on the public access channel Philadelphia Community Access Media. The shorter current events segments can be found on YouTube under “whatsPOPPYN.” David Ziegler can be reached at david.ziegler@temple.edu.
Bad Words is FANTASTIC.”
“
– Joanna Robinson,
.com
Jason Bateman makes a
“
KILLER DIRECTING DEBUT.”*
In Select Theaters March 21 • Everywhere March 28 21272 BAD WORDS COLLEGE NEWSPAPERS 5.17" x 10"
YO Bus Temple Ad.indd 1
2/18/14 3:06 PM
LIVING
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TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
CLIPPINGS
AROUND CAMPUS 5K FUN RUN
Temple’s chapter of Tau Kappa Epsilon will be registering students in the Student Center atrium for the 5K Fun Run. Students can sign up between 11 a.m. and noon on March 19, 21, 24, 28, 31 or April 2 and 4. The run will be held on April 12, when runners will meet at noon at the Bell Tower. The cost of participation is $20 per runner. All of the proceeds collected by Tau Kappa Epsilon for the run will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, part of the Greek organization’s charitable initiative for the spring semester. A 20 percent discount is available to participating student organizations with at least 20 runners. In addition, the student organization with the most runners will receive a custom banner and trophy with the name of the organiztion. All runners will receive refreshments and a complimentary T-shirt. -Lora Strum
WOMEN BIKE WITH KATIE MONROE
Peter Shin bought both the Burger and Cheese Busz and Busz Sushi and Dim Sum from Juno Park. Though Shin said the menu will remain the same, he plans to rewrap the exterior of Burger and Cheese Busz truck using Brands Imaging. | ALISA MILLER TTN
FOOD TRUCK
For new truck owner, successful semester After purchasing two trucks from Juno Park, Peter Shin feels settled. ARIANE PEPSIN The Temple News For Peter Shin, the new owner of both the Burger and Cheese Busz and Busz Sushi and Dim Sum, undertaking a previously owned business was a stroke of good luck. The Burger and Cheese Busz, located on Norris Street, arrived at Temple in March 2011 when it was opened by Juno Park, the previous owner of Noshery Gourmet Café in the Avenue North complex. Busz Sushi and Dim Sum was introduced to Norris Street when Park took advantage of an empty street spot. Park decided to sell the two businesses through a broker, and Shin made the purchase at the end of December. “I’m happy that I was able to stumble upon it,” Shin said. “I grew up in the food industry. My last busi-
ness was a breakfast restaurant on Broad [Street] and Girard [Avenue].” Although the truck is under new ownership, Shin said he realizes that the truck owes most of its success to its fresh menu items. He insisted nothing on the menu will be discontinued. “There are going to be a few additions to the menu, but for the most part it will stay the same,” Shin said. “It’s perfectly fine, so not a lot needs to be changed.” Change is coming in another form, though: a new, flashier design, Shin said. Brands Imaging, a Fishtown-based company, is known for dressing up some of the food trucks on Main Campus. The company’s first Temple-based client was Park. Shin said he’ll continue the tradition while putting his “own spin on things.” “[Park] has been helping me design a truck that will correct all of the flaws in the two prior trucks that he’s created,” Shin said. “Brands Imaging will be doing the wrap, and the
truck is going to be brand new. It’s time for a little makeover.” As a former restaurant owner, Shin said he isn’t used to the small amount of space the truck offers. He said he was thankful for this semester’s onslaught of snow and rain. “The first few weeks [of business were] slower due to the weather and I think it’s helped me adjust more easily,” Shin said. “It’s a challenge to build a food truck up while also learning a new business and operating it at the same time.” Nearby trucks like the Creperie, Wingo Taco and Temple’s Best Authentic Mexican create tough competition, but Shin said he admires the camaraderie that is prevalent among the businesses and hopes to contribute to it. “I’ve found that Nam [Kim] and the owners of the Creperie are very decent people who are just trying to make a living, like myself,” Shin said. “We will help each other when we need to, and all of the food options will benefit everyone.”
Alex Nazzaro, a senior graphic design major, said he has always been a fan of the Burger and Cheese Busz, calling the French fries and burgers “the best on campus.” He also said he enjoys the current truck wrap from a designer’s perspective, but is interested by the idea of a new one. “It’s a tasteful, modern and consistent design from the menu to the truck itself, and I’m sure the new design will be great,” Nazzaro said. “I wasn’t aware that there was a new owner, but my advice for him is to keep pumping out the same great burgers.” Shin said he has enjoyed his time as a truck owner so far. “The atmosphere is the best part about the business because it’s always nice to see the younger generations getting into the food scene,” Shin said.
Ariane Pepsin can be reached at ariane.pepsin@temple.edu.
Alcohol sales seem stricter in America GROCERY PAGE 7 person can drive and smoke, they should be allowed to drink, too. The law seems to imply that alcohol is something more special than it really is. Other countries don’t create such an illusion that alcohol is always a serious thing. When people under 21 have a chance to drink, many tend to overdo it. These dramatic results often happen at college parties. Just observing spring break for American students shows that the law is not really helping to avoid drinking problems. I believe it is creating an
entirely different meaning of drinking alcohol, like it is some kind of prize to be sought after. In Brazil, teenagers probably have their first drink earlier, which might make the United States look better in international surveys about teenage drinking. But what should be considered instead is the fascination young adults have with alcohol, the mysterious liquid that grocery stores cannot stock on their shelves. Despite this contradictory rule,
“I need to go to
a different store to buy alcohol, which I need to bring home in a black back as if I’m carrying something illicit.
”
American grocery stores, restaurants and pharmacies have advantages, such as reward cards. For a college student, that’s extremely useful because we return to those stores to buy everyday necessities. This kind of card is not common in Brazil, only to be found in a few places. I discovered another phenomenon when I bought hot chocolate powder here – on the front of the package, there was a coupon for the next package. That never happened to me in Brazil, with any product. Convenience isn’t the name of the game in Brazil, with stores open 24/7 like in Philly. Even convenience stores or gas stations in Brazil close at certain times, mostly because of risk of assaults. Between the advantages and disadvantages, I still prefer Brazil-
ian grocery stores and pharmacies. There, I get my bread still hot from the grocer oven while buying my alcohol at the same place, and if I want, I can open it in the middle of the street and drink it during my walk home. Here, I buy mass-produced bread and I need to go to a different store to buy alcohol, which I need to bring home in a black bag, as if I’m carrying something illicit. The final cruel irony for someone who’s been legally drinking for years is that I have to show my ID beforehand – nobody believes I am older than 21 years old. Monique Roos can be reached at monique.roos@temple.edu.
Bike Temple, Office of Sustainability and Wellness Resource Center are sponsoring an event during which activist biker Katie Monroe will discuss her experiences riding from New York City to Washington. Her biking trip was part of an effort to advocate for women’s input in the national transportation infrastructure. She presented about the issue at the 2014 National Bike Summit. The event will take place from no9on - 1 p.m. Tuesday and is open to students, faculty and alumni. Free pizza will be provided to those who attend. -Erin Edinger-Turoff
POETS & WRITERS SERIES This Wednesday in Room 222 of the Center City campus, the ongoing Poets and Writers Series will present an event featuring the poet-in-residence, Craig Dworkin. Dworkin has written five books of poetry, including “The Perverse Library.” Dworkin teaches literature and literature theory at the University of Utah and is also the senior editor at Eclipse, an online publication. He will present his work to the audience, including reading some poems and taking audience questions. The free event is open to the public and is sponsored by the Temple University graduate English program. It will begin at 8 p.m. and is expected to last for two hours. -Erin Edinger-Turoff
INTACT ABSTRACT In honor of National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, the nonprofit organization SpArc Philadelphia will host an art exhibition called “Intact Abstract.” The exhibition will feature new work by artists of the Eleanor Elkin and Richard Elkin Cultural Arts Center at the Philadelphia Developmental Disabilities Corporation. The exhibition runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until March 27 in the Temple Administrative Services Building at 2450 West Hunting Park Ave. The event is open to all. -Jessica Smith
TUF CARICATURE PORTRAITS Campus Recreation is sponsoring an event on Thursday in the Temple University Fitness lobby during which students can receive free caricature drawings of themselves. Professional artists will be present to draw caricature portraits from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. The event is open to all students and faculty. -Jessica Smith
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
“Do you think classes do
enough to discuss current events and contemporary issues?
”
ANDREW THAYER TTN
“Yeah, I think so, especially in [general education classes].”
CAROLYN BIANCO
SENIOR | PSYCHOLOGY
“I think it’s hand-in-hand. I took an education class that focused on segregation and funding currently in public schools.”
“I think most of my classes focus on a little of both – history and contemporary – but they mainly focus on history.
ANTHONY SCIARRA
NICHOLAS HELLER
JUNIOR | CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
FRESHMAN | UNDECLARED
SPORTS
TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2014
PAGE 19
SPORTS BRIEFS
13 NFL teams represented at university’s annual Pro Day 16 FORMER OWLS SHOWCASE ABILITIES AT ON-CAMPUS EVENT
Basketball Scholar Athlete of the year. The award is $2,000 to be applied to graduate or professional studies. McDonnell, who majors in civil engineering, has a 3.63 grade point average. He plans to continue his studies in graduate school, studying either civil engineering or engineering management. He is now a finalist for the American Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which is awarded to one male and one female studentathlete among all sports in the conference. McDonnell averaged 1.8 points and 1.6 rebounds a game in the 2013-14 season. – Evan Cross
Representatives of 13 NFL teams were on hand as Temple hosted its annual Pro Day on March 11. Sixteen former Owls, 12 of whom were seniors last year, worked out. They were running back Montel Harris, wide receivers Clinton Granger, Tyron Harris and Deon Miller, tight ends Chris Coyer and Chris Parthemore, offensive linemen Cody Booth, Pat Boyle and Pete White, defensive linemen Levi Brown and Kamal Johnson, linebackers Blaze Caponegro and Gary Onuekwusi, defensive backs Zamel Johnson and Abdul Smith and punter Paul Layton. There were also three players who participated who have never attended Temple – Bucknell running back Travis Friend, Cheyney running back Nahum Purdie and St. Francis (Pa.) wide receiver A.J. Alexander. Friend is the brother of Temple center Kyle Friend. NFL.com reported there were defensive line scouts from the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins at the workouts, likely to look at Brown. Brown did 33 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press, the highest number of the day. He is considered a possible lateround draft pick. Despite being listed as almost 100 pounds lighter than Brown, Smith came close to his mark at the bench press, doing 27 reps of 225 pounds. Smith touched 29 inches on the vertical jump. None of the players that worked out at Temple’s Pro Day are considered likely to be drafted, although many of them could get training camp invites. –Evan Cross
FULL 2014 SCHEDULE RELEASED, PENN STATE GAME SET FOR NOV. 15 A few weeks after the opponents were made known, the 2014 football schedule was released on March 11. The Owls will play eight American Athletic Conference games, including match-ups with all three newcomers: Tulsa, Tulane and East Carolina. The schedule includes a trip to State College,
SOFTBALL MARCOPOLUS INVITED TO GREEK NATIONAL TEAM
Sixteen former Owls attended Temple’s annual Pro Day. | TIMOTHY VALSHTEIN TTN
BASKETBALL
Pa., to take on Penn State on Nov. 15. The other nonconference opponents are Vanderbilt, Navy and Delaware State. MCDONNELL HONORED BY Eight of the 12 teams Temple is slated to play CONFERENCE FOR ACADEMICS had winning records last season. – Evan Cross Redshirt-junior forward Jimmy McDonnell was named the American Athletic Conference Men’s
Wheeler’s recruiting pays off
Snyder: Kellar ‘keeps everything together’ KELLAR PAGE 22
AMARO PAGE 22 While Wheeler was an assistant coach at Richmond in 2009, the Spiders were one of many programs seeking Robert Amaro’s services. “I felt back then he was a good player and certainly coming from Penn Charter he fit the academic profile of the University of Richmond,” Wheeler said. “He made a great choice in Virginia and decided to go there. Lo and behold, we wind up having the chance to coach him anyway a few years down the road.” With a team that’s being cut at the end of the season, the seniors have been relied on to guide the younger players and help them get through the year as they look for future playing opportunities – even Robert Amaro, who is in his first year with the squad. “He’s kind of a quiet guy, he’s not a big talker,” Wheeler said. “But when I do have a chance to talk to him, his level of maturity is impressive. He’s done a tremendous job with the younger guys just using his experience to help them make decisions and learn the game, whatever it may be, he’s always available to talk to.” “He’s usually the first guy to show up for practice and he’s one of the last guys to leave,” Wheeler added. “He’s a really hardworking kid and I know he’s got a bright future in baseball beyond his playing days.”
Sophomore outfielder Annie Marcopolus has been asked to play on the Greek National Softball Team for the IV European Championship Under-22 Tournament. The tournament will be held from July 6-12 in Bulgaria, and other participating countries will include Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Ukraine, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Sweden and Croatia. The Greek National team will spend a week together in Greece before the tournament starts. “I’m thrilled for Annie,” coach Joe DiPietro said. “I think this is going to be an incredible experience for her. Whenever you get an opportunity to represent a country playing the sport you love is amazing. I know Annie will bring a lot to the Greek National Team this summer. I’m extremely proud of her and I know she’ll do great.” Marcopolus, a native of Newtown, Pa., is batting .293 on the season for Temple. She has started 16 of the Owls’ 18 games and has three triples and five RBIs. -Don McDermott
Sophomore guard Quenton DeCosey drives to the hoop during a home loss to Louisville. DeCosey averaged 15.4 points per game. | HUA ZONG TTN
After loss, Owls look to future
A pair of losses was soon followed by a pair of wins against Georgia and the University of Alabama at Birmingham in the Charleston Classic. A victory against St. Joseph’s University on Dec. 4, followed by two one-point losses to Texas and Texas Southern, led to a match-up against LIU Brooklyn. The Owls blew out the Blackbirds, but it was the last time they would taste victory for more than a month. Temple kicked off its conference schedule with a New Year’s Day game at Rutgers, which began an eight-game losing streak. The streak was broken with a home win against the Scarlet Knights on Jan. 29, but another four-game losing streak was right around the corner – the Owls lost to nationally ranked Jeff Neiburg can be reached at jeffrey.neiburg@temple.edu or on Villanova, SMU, Houston and Twitter @Jeff_Neiburg. Louisville. A February home win against then-No. 23 SMU was one of the high points of the year for Temple, and the team finished the regular season
DUNPHY PAGE 22
strong with its first winning streak – back-to-back games against UCF and South Florida – before the conference tournament last week. While the Owls failed to achieve double-digit wins this season, the sophomore class of Dingle, guard Quenton DeCosey and forward/center Devontae Watson all gained experience with drastically increased minutes from their freshmen years. As freshmen, Williams and Brown averaged 21.2 and 18.8 minutes per game, respectively. Senior Dalton Pepper went out on a high note, averaging team-highs in minutes and points per game with 37.8 and 17.5, respectively. Cummings missed a handful of games due to a concussion, but led the team in assists and was second behind Pepper in points per game with 16.8. Dunphy has one commit for next season in forward Obi Enechionyia. The team will also gain forward Jaylen Bond for the full season, who sat out
this season due to NCAA transfer rules. Guards Jesse Morgan and Devin Coleman are also on the roster, but the amount of eligibility they will have for next year has not been determined. The American will lose Louisville and Rutgers after this year, but will gain East Carolina, Tulane and Tulsa next season. The “showcases every night” will remain. Whether the Owls can take advantage of such showcases with consistent victories remains to be seen. “We are going to use what we learned this year – that sometimes we struggle – to get better as a group,” Cummings said. “We’re going to get better and start working when we get back to campus,” Cummings added. Avery Maehrer can be reached at avery.maehrer@temple.edu or on Twitter @AveryMaehrer.
jogged together when he was over the distance program. Kelyoung, but Kellar did not have lar said Snyder is the best coach a real passion for the sport until he has ever had. he began going to West Chester “Since I have been here I Henderson High School. have gotten to know Will not After receiving a scholar- just as an athlete, but also as a ship offer from Temple, Kellar person,” Snyder said. “Will is chose to continue his running the leader of our team, there career with the Owls. Temple is no doubt about it. He keeps was not his first choice, but the everything together in times of school grew on him. crisis.” UP NEXT “I came for a Kellar ’s N.C. Invitational mindset to racing visit and really liked March 21-22 it,” Kellar said. has also evolved, “West Chester is nice and cheap as he no longer focuses so much and close to home, but I wanted on the competition. When he a different experience.” was getting ready for the races Kellar found track to be dif- at the American Athletic chamferent at Temple than at his high pionships two weeks ago, he school. The roster was smaller, noticed a quote on the wall that the practices were stricter and said, “You are your own worst the runners were faster. The enemy.” recruiters and veterans helped “You should never worry him adjust to the team, but his about your competition or who underclassmen seasons were is the fastest, so you’re just racmarred with injury. ing against yourself,” Kellar Part of the problem, Kellar said. said, was his former coach Matt As the final months wind Jelley pushing him too hard. down for Kellar before he crossBut Jelley helped Kellar gain es the finish line for the last time confidence that would remain as an Owl, he is doing his best throughout the rest of his ten- to savor the advantages of beure at the university, the senior ing a student-athlete – the strucsaid. When faced with mono- ture, the small consequences in nucleosis during his freshman a mixed up schedule, sharing a season, Kellar was forced to room with one of his peers and sit out more than a month. Jel- the unlimited amount of food in ley got Kellar back into running the cafeteria. shape to finish the season with “There is a lot more freeone of his best runs at Temple. dom at college and it helps deAs a sophomore, Kellar broke fine you as a person,” Kellar a 28-year-old school record in said. “You can really establish the Penn State National Open’s yourself as a professional per1,000-meter relay with a time of son and make use of your time 2:28.94. or you can just blow it and cost After Jelley’s resignation yourself a good opportunity.” in 2012, Adam Bray took over Stephen Godwin the helm. While Kellar found Jr. can be reached at Bray’s new training techniques stephen.godwin@temple.edu. helpful, Bray only stuck around for four months. This year, track & field coach Eric Mobley brought in James Snyder to take
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The first varsity rowing team (top) competes during a 1987 event. (Bottom) The Owls row during the Spring 2013 season. | COURTESY LISA MARSH/ABI REIMOLD TTN
Following reversal, ‘the sky is the limit’ ROWING PAGE 1 en’s rowing team are set to return to a renovated East Park Canoe House within the next 18 months following a $2.5 million donation from the city and a $3 million donation from trustee H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest’s foundation. “It’s a relief,” Grzybowski said. “I’m optimistic about what the future holds and that we can continue what we’re building.” Based in the rowing capital of America, the women’s rowing program has contributed to Philadelphia’s rowing history since it began more than 25 years ago.
TWO WOODEN BOATS
After two years of competing as a club team, the women’s rowing team rose to varsity status in 1987. Former California-Santa Barbara coach Debbie Rilling Bronder became the first person to lead the program on the water. The sport was beneficial to the university because, with a large roster, it helped evenly distribute the athletic department’s male-to-female studentathlete ratio. Title IX, a federal mandate that requires universities to maintain such a ratio, was used as one of the primary reasons for cutting the teams in December. During Fall 1987, Bronder spent two months recruiting rowers for what was Temple’s newest sports program. Flyers were posted throughout campus, yielding 24 committed women comprised of past club team members and walk-ons – a far cry from Bronder’s 150-member rowing team on the West Coast. The rowing team has continued its walk-on recruitment efforts, as the team held an information session to join the squad as recently as this past fall. Bronder quickly realized that the team lacked experience. In a 1988 interview with the Inquirer, Bronder said “the girls weren’t nearly as proficient as I’d expected.” “Even my novices at Santa Barbara were more advanced than the girls here,” Bronder added. As a result, Bronder and thenassistant coach Joe Sullivan invested a lot of time in developing her new team’s rowing fundamentals and techniques throughout the fall. “I remember one time we had a week of intense workouts and I remember literally walking up the stairs to my apartment at Temple Towers and being acutely aware of every muscle in my leg and back,” Lisa Marsh, one of the first rowers in the program, said. “I remember thinking, I am in pain but
this is fantastic. This is the most amazing thing ever because I was so aware of how I was working and how it was improving my body.” With only two wooden boats, Bronder divided the teams’ daily practice throughout the day as the varsity 8 and the junior varsity 8 boats would sometimes row in the morning, while the novice 8 trekked to the Schuylkill in the afternoon. Despite having boats with mostly novices, the varsity 8, JV 8 and novice/ freshman 8, all qualified for the Dad Vail Regatta – the largest intercollegiate rowing event in the country – in the program’s first year of existence. Temple’s JV and varsity 8 boats both made it to the finals of the Dad Vail, which feature more than 30,000 competitors. In 1988, the varsity 8 boat finished in fifth place behind the University of Minnesota, Trinity College of Hartford and the Naval Academy. “It was the atmosphere, the expectations was that Temple was going to win the Dad Vail every year because we were on a roll and the women were just an off shoot of the men,” Marsh said. The next few years saw a series of changes. During the 1988-9 season, the rowing team received its first uniforms, practice clothes and strength and conditioning coaches. The program saw four coaching changes in the next four seasons, from 1988-91. In the spring of 1990, with Tony Neczypor at the helm, the varsity 8 placed fifth in the finals of the Dad Vail for the second time in the program’s short history. That same year, the JV squad finished second behind one of the premier rowing college teams in America – Navy.
‘ALL GUTS AND NO GLORY’
In 1991, the women’s varsity 8 boat from Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, N.J., won its third consecutive high school national championship. Jerry Flood, who became the fourth head coach in as many seasons for the Owls, took notice. “I offered almost the whole eight a scholarship,” Flood said. “Five out of the seven seniors came to Temple, which the next year was a huge help.” Flood, a former Temple rower, and his coaching staff also did on-campus recruiting. They hauled a varsity 8 boat onto the middle of campus near the Fox School of Business in an effort to recruit walk-ons. “They just had a bunch of bro-
chures and said, ‘You look like an athlete, why don’t you come out to a meeting about rowing and you can try a practice?” Michelle Busza Fencl, a former Temple rower, said. That was how Fencl started her rowing career at Temple. A few Canadian rowers and recruits from Holy Spirit also joined the program that year. Now with a team, Flood continued his second-year stint as coach in 1992 alongside Vince Fitzpatrick and Rob Plotnick as his assistants. For the next couple of years, the Owls secured medals at regattas and continued to build the program. With more rowers came intense training. In the fall and spring, the student-athletes were on the Schuylkill as early as 5 a.m. and then back on the river in the evening for nearly two hours. During that time, the women’s team shared 9,000 square feet with the men’s team and high school teams at the East Park Canoe House. “The women’s space was the foyer to the men’s locker room,” Fitzpatrick said. “The men were gracious enough before they came out of their locker room to knock, saying ‘I am coming out’ and the girls would say, ‘Wait.’ So there wasn’t much space at all. It wasn’t as bad as it is today, rowing out of tents, but [it] wasn’t much better. It only had one toilet for every rower in the locker room.” Three times a week in the afternoon, the women were in the weight room, which was then called Thomas Hall, but was later renovated and renamed Shusterman Hall. “The first two years I call them all guts and no glory in a sense,” Athina Ginis, a walk-on, said. “We are working out in an abandoned church. It was really bare. We have ergs there. There were 30-40 plus people in and out, working out. It was grouchy, but honestly everything that we need to train like our ergs, we had weight and bears, we had. We spent hours there. We spent half of our lives in that erg room.”
TASTE OF VICTORY
In the 1994 Cherry Blossom Regatta, Temple faced schools like Navy, Georgetown, Delaware and George Washington. Temple’s varsity 8 was trailing Navy in second place with less than 500 meters to go, when the water got choppy. The Owls lowered their stroke rate and maneuvered through the race with a gold medal performance, beating Navy in a close finish for the first time in program history. “I don’t think any of us expected
us to win,” Ginis said. “I don’t think our coach expected us to win. I don’t think any other school or coach there expected us to win. They were basically like, ‘Who are they? Where did they come from?’” The medals were not the only thing the women won in Washington that day, however. They also took home the opponents’ shirts. “To get the shirt off the back of the team that you just beat, it was almost like a trophy,” Fencl said. “So I was rowing the five seat. The five seat from that boat would hand you their shirt. So I have a ton of shirts in my closet.” The rowing team continued its success when it outraced cross-city rival University of Pennsylvania in the Petite Finals of the San Diego Crew Classic, one of the nation’s largest rowing competitions. After establishing themselves as a dominant team throughout the spring, the 56th anniversary of the Dad Vail Regatta arrived in 1994. With both sides of Kelly Drive closed, people began tailgating as more than 30,000 people converged on the banks of the river. “When we got to the finals, we felt even more confident that ‘Yes, we can do this,” Ginis said. “Not only did we want it for ourselves, we wanted to be the first because no other women’s team before us had done it. We had this chance to be the first.” With 2,000 meters separating the women’s varsity 8 boat from the finish line, the Owls out-rowed all of their competitors, becoming the first women’s team in program history to win the Dad Vail Regatta. The women’s team also shared the victory that year with the men’s crew team. “They were always so good and in their own league,” Stacy Schott, the coxswain of the 1994 women’s team, said. “We felt like we were up to par with them now. I think we got a lot of respect from the men’s crew at that point.” The following year, Temple received new boats and moved their indoor training to Pearson-McGonigle Hall. The Owls continued their success on the water, winning regattas and qualifying for the Dad Vail again, which was televised. The varsity 8 boat, however, could not out stroke the University of Michigan in the finals, as the Owls finished in second place. Despite going through coaching changes mid-season, the Owls captured their second Dad Vail title in 1996, beating Purdue and Delaware. Later that summer, the varsity
8 boat was selected to row in Great Britain’s prestigious Henley Royal Regatta. As opposed to a multi-lane race, the Owls rowed in head-to-head races in the heats throughout the semifinals, winning each of their competitions. In the finals, Temple faced off against the University of Dublin, but the Owls came up just short. Since then, the Owls have had four coaching changes since Jamie Gordon left after the 2001 spring season. The Owls have won the Kelly Cup in 2006 and the Bergen Cup in 2007. In 2013, for the first time since 1992, Temple had three varsity 8 boats in the finals of the Dad Vail – although the team has not won the regatta since 1996.
THE FUTURE
After serving as an assistant coach under Jason Read, Grzybowski took to the helm in August of 2012. Without much time to grow the program, Grzybowski said she focused on preparing the more experienced rowers. Now in her second season, Grzybowski is leading a Temple women’s rowing team of close to 60 student-athletes – which consist of mostly freshmen and sophomores. “This past year we had enough time to do an on campus push so we did flyers, emails, post cards everywhere,” Grzybowski said. “We were at TempleFest for three days with boats in the middle of campus just sort of grabbing anybody that looked tall and athletic and just sharing the energy.” The Owls received new boats ahead of their season and are set to have a renovated boathouse within the next year-and-a-half. So now after months of training and competitions, the women’s rowing team will have its first race of the spring season on March 22, which Grzybowski said is just the start of a very promising future. “The sky is the limit, I feel,” Grzybowski said. “Our goal this year is to get everyone in the finals of Vails. To win a conference championship in the next two years and then from there we have to get to NCAA. If we win our conference championship we’ll get a bid and then from there the level of competition steps up big time. So I think first is get there. Win your conference championships.” Danielle Nelson can be reached at danielle.nelson@temple.edu or on Twitter @ Dan_Nels.
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Four fencers aim for title Owls will finish their season at the national championship.
Jasmine Johnson finishes a routine on the mat in McGonigle Hall during a recent practice. | KELSEY DUBINSKY TTN
Overcoming injury, Johnson returns Senior gymnast looks to finish her career with an ECAC win. STEVE BOHNEL The Temple News On Feb. 1, Jasmine Johnson stood at the edge of the floor mat at McGonigle Hall. The women’s gymnastics team was competing in the Ken Anderson Invite, and the floor exercise was an WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS area the O w l s had been struggling with up to that point. But moments later, Johnson stuck a tricky dismount known as the Arabian double front – a back handspring with half-aturn and two front flips in the air. The crowd exploded in applause as the senior continued through a routine that earned her a team-high score of 9.8. The effort led the way for Temple’s turnaround in the event and season, as the team won the Ken Anderson Invite against four other teams and went on to win its next two invites as well. Johnson’s highest individu-
al score of the year was a culmi- said. “So I count up to two secnation of determination after in- onds to know when to open up juries to her shoulder and wrist out of the double front flip to prevented her from competing land.” Johnson’s success is part of her junior season. Rehab was long, and she still has occasion- her overall development, coach al pain, but one teammate said Aaron Murphy said. “That’s what myself and the bigger obstacle may have been the mental battle she had [assistant coach Deirdre Mattocks Bertotti] expect from to overcome. “Specifically, the thing this point,” Murphy said. “Our you injure yourself on, there’s seniors have the experience, always going to be that men- and she’s been doing that floor tal block to climb over,” senior routine since her freshman year. Sylvie Borschel said. “And When we put her out there, when you come back, you think that’s what she wants as an athlete obvithat every event UP NEXT you do is going ECAC Championship ously, and that’s what Deirdre to affect that March 22 at Noon and I want as a one thing.” Johnson has not let the in- coaching staff.” “And we feel confident jury affect her performance this season, as she has excelled in and comfortable putting her out the floor routine – the one that there,” Murphy added. “Being earned her season-best score at the showman that she is with her dance and then also have the Ken Anderson Invite. The routine is unconven- explosive tumbling.” Gymnastics is normally a tional, as it combines modern dance moves with difficult sport associated with grace and dismounts and is designed to beauty as much as it is power engage the crowd as much as and flawless execution. But possible. When executed, it Johnson says she’s isn’t one of showcases Johnson’s athletic those gymnasts. “You have different types abilities. “It’s kind of a blind land- of gymnasts – they can be ing, so I have to know when graceful, or you can engage to open up in the air,” Johnson people with different types of
dance moves,” Johnson said. “So since I’m not that graceful, I figured what’s a better way to bring in the crowd than with different types of moves that people might know and even do with their friends.” Johnson said she places team success over her individual triumphs. Temple hosts the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference championships on March 22, and the senior hopes to go out on top. “I would love for us to win the all-around as a team, that is my dream,” Johnson said. “I think we can definitely do it with the team this year. They’re very driven and hard-working, and I think we actually have a shot.” Either way, Johnson’s consistency throughout her entire Temple career has impressed her head coach. “Just being able to see that from 18 years of age in her freshman year until now, she’s remained constant,” Murphy said. “And that’s what we need at the college level, make sure they stay constant.” Steve Bohnel can be reached at steven.bohnel@temple.edu or on Twitter @SteveSportsGuy1.
ones I really like how I felt and I try to convince myself to feel that way again.” The advice given by Ferdman of going in and expecting failure changed the mindset of MICHAEL GUISE Clark and Montrose, who will The Temple News be fencing with a chip of their shoulder. Assistant coach Anastasia “I feel like the underdog but Ferdman, a four-time NCAA that is when I fence my best,” championship competitor with Clark said. “I feel confident that Penn State, has a I’ve prepared myself the best I FENCING message for the four can.” Owls the fencing team “I think I fence my best will send to the national event when I think of myself as an this week. underdog and really fight for ev“You are going to lose,” erything,” Montrose said. Ferdman said she told the team. The four have faced many “Accept that and move on… of the qualifiers UP NEXT If you come prethroughout the pared… you will NCAA Championship season and they March 20-23 be on top.” said they know Freshman what they are épée Rachael Clark, senior épée capable of. Chantal Montrose, junior sa“I’ve fenced all those girls bre Tiki Kastor and sophomore before and I know I can do it… foil Fatima Largaespada will in the end it is more about how represent Temple at the NCAA mentally prepared you are,” championships March 20-23 in Largaespada said. Columbus, Ohio. Montrose, who will be Clark said she didn’t even fencing in her last meet for expect to be fencing into March. Temple, said she doesn’t want Clark, the lone freshman to to get caught up in the moment qualify for the Owls, said she because it could only hurt her has overachieved this season performance. due to the coaching staff and its “I don’t like to think about constant work with her. the big picture when it comes to “We’ve worked really hard fencing,” Montrose said. “I feel so I think it is showing in the re- like I fence better when I focus sults,” Clark said. on each touch at a time.” The NCAA championship, But she understands the which hosts the Top 24 fencers four fencers are all Temple has in each weapon, is nothing new left. to Montrose, Kastor and Lar“Ultimately it is down to gaespada. Each are participating us four to represent this team,” for the second time. Montrose said. “We’ve done so “Now I know what to ex- well this year so we have to keep pect,” Montrose said. “Now that it up and make them proud.” I’ve been able to mentally be in Ferdman said she knows the place that I need to be in… what her fencers can do and that I’m confident that I can do better they can make the team proud. this year.” “My hope for them is that Largaespada, who qualified they show the things they have last year as a freshman, didn’t been doing every day in practice know what to expect during her and give everything they got,” first championship. But she said Ferdman said. “I want them to she is now confident that she can show everyone else that they are fence her best. there and they are not people to “There were times I had no take for granted and they can idea what was going on,” Lar- beat everyone.” gaespada said. “Other times I was fencing so well. Other times Michael Guise can be reached I was completely not doing what at michaelguise@temple.edu or on Twitter @MikeG2511. I had to do. Now I remember all of those feelings and I pick the
Rosen enlists help of mental conditioning coach Kat Longshore began working with the team in the fall. NICK TRICOME The Temple News Kat Longshore remembers reading a particular Sports Illustrated article in seventh grade. She played baseball and softball growing up, and knew that she needed to do something in sports. In the stoLACROSSE ry, the words “sports psychologist” caught her eye. “I went ‘sports psychologist? What’s that?’” Longshore, the lacrosse team’s mental conditioner, said. “Because I was also the friend that everybody came and talked to and would give advice and talk through problems and that sort of thing so psychology always interested me as well. I was like, ‘Huh, if there’s a way I could fuse though two things together.’” By the time she figured it out, she was already looking to get a jumpstart. When Longshore began high school, she went looking for chances to coach and try and hone the mental aspect of sports. She went to Lafayette for an undergraduate in psychology and played softball along the way. Then, after graduating in 2007, she spent the next four
years in England to earn a mas- is happy that there are opportuter’s degree in sports psychol- nities to work with teams – even ogy. It was something she never in a research-heavy program. would have imagined back in “I wanted to keep my the seventh grade. skills up in the consulting side “Even up until junior year of things,” Longshore said. of college, I wouldn’t have “[Coach Bonnie Rosen] talked guessed that would be where I to one of my professors about ended up,” Longshore said. sports psychology things and But after completing a six- they knew that I worked with week internship that allowed England Lacrosse.” her to work with someone in her Rosen first heard of Longfield, she said she fell in love shore after taking part in a study with the United Kingdom and on coaches and wanted her to wanted an excuse meet with the team. UP NEXT to go back. Rosen always wantA master’s Owls vs. Hofstra ed to have someMarch 19 at 3 p.m. degree gave her one help out with just that. Another mental conditioning reason she returned was the since taking over at Temple, but British Association of Sport and couldn’t until this year. Exercise Sciences (BASES), “We just haven’t had the rewhich provides accreditation for sources up to this point.” Rosen sports psychologists. Through said. “To have someone who that, she had the opportunity to can educate our team and prowork with different teams and vide them the skills, and then athletes, including Great Britain more specifically with indiSoftball and England Women’s vidual players, to our team is a Lacrosse. tremendous asset.” “That’s kind of where I Longshore got in touch and got my start in lacrosse and the began working with the team in mental side of the game,” Long- the fall. Lacrosse was the secshore said. ond team she worked with since It wouldn’t be her last en- coming to Temple, after workcounter with the sport either, as ing with softball the year before. “It’s been fantastic,” Longshe would go on to take a mental condition role with Temple’s shore said. “Bonnie is extremelacrosse team. Longshore re- ly open to sports psychology, turned to the states in 2012, and which makes it a nice environgot accepted into Temple’s PhD ment to work in,” Longshore program. Now into her second said. She allows me whatever year in the program, Longshore access I want to have.”
From practices, to meetings and time with individual athletes – Longshore has been working with the team at least once a week. “There are a lot of opportunities to see the team in a lot of different arenas,” Longshore said. “That really allows me to understand what are some of the things that from a mental side, the team maybe is really good at and needs to be reinforced, but also some of the challenges that they have that I could maybe helpful in, helping them see ways to overcome those chal-
lenges.” The team has welcomed the help. “In the beginning it was a little slow coming,” graduate defender Nina Falcone said. “It was like, ‘Oh, we’re going to have a mental conditioning coach.’ And we didn’t know how to feel about it. But as time went on, you could tell we’ve gotten a lot closer to her. We feel comfortable saying things and I think that has opened us up a lot to each other and to her. It’s definitely brought us closer together as a whole.”
“Now I think we’re just more aware of the mental side of the game,” senior midfielder Lea Britton said. “It plays a huge role. It’s critical to staying focused and winning big games. A team can be great, but to take it to another level and be consistent you need the mental side too.” Nick Tricome can be reached at nick.tricome@temple.edu or on Twitter @itssnick215.
Kat Longshore (right) talks to members of the lacrosse team during one of her sessions with the Owls. Longshore said she meets with the team at least once per week.| ANDREW THAYER TTN
SPORTS MENTAL GAME
Lacrosse coach Bonnie Rosen brought in a mental conditioning specialist to help her team throughout the season. PAGE 21
Our sports sports blog blog Our
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GYMNAST RETURNS
FOOTBALL HOLDS PRO DAY
After recovering from injury, Jasmine Johnson returned to the mat and is regularly competing for the Owls. PAGE 21
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Sixteen former Owls participate in Pro Day, 2014 football schedule announced, other news and notes. PAGE 19
MISSING THE
Coach Fran Dunphy’s squad finished its season with the most losses in program history. | HUA ZONG TTN
MADNESS
Owls finish with their third-worst winning percentage in history. AVERY MAEHRER Sports Editor
A
week before Temple’s season opener against the University of Pennsylvania, the Owls talked with excitement about their inaugural season in the American Athletic Conference. Junior guard Will Cummings called the team’s upcoming season “a showcase every night.” Redshirt-junior forward Anthony Lee said while the team will face hardships, he thought they could “respond in a good way.” The American provided the program with increased exposure through several nationally televised games against numerous elite opponents – including Louisville, Memphis, Cincinnati and Connecticut. Coach Fran Dunphy tempered expectations. “There’s a little bit of fear as to how we’re going to handle all of that,” Dunphy said. Temple’s season ended last Wednesday night in the first round of The American tournament in Memphis, Tenn., as the team fell to Central Florida 94-90 in double overtime. Af-
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ter four months in which the Owls gathered a 9-22 record – the program’s third worst winning percentage in its 118-year history – Dunphy’s preseason warning appears to have been justified. The eighth-year coach, however, continues to emphasize the pride he holds in his team. “There was never any quit in them,” Dunphy said. “I thought their attitude throughout a very trying and challenging season was very good. Was there frustration and disappointment on occasion? Yeah, there sure was. But I thought they fought through it as much as they possibly could do.” Their possibilities were limited this season in part by a recruiting class that consisted of two eligible players – freshman guard Josh Brown and freshman forward Mark Williams – to replace the roster spots vacated by last year’s departing class of T.J. DiLeo, Scootie Randall, Rahlir Hollis-Jefferson, Jake O’Brien and Khalif Wyatt. The result was a roster that consisted of 10 student-athletes – the smallest in the conference. The group shrunk to nine when sophomore forward Daniel Dingle had season-ending surgery to repair a meniscus tear in his right knee after suffering an injury during a Dec. 29 practice. The Owls were also
Racing to the finish Will Kellar will soon wrap up his four-year career with the Owls. STEPHEN GODWIN, JR. The Temple News
plagued this season by an underperforming defense. Out of 345 teams in the country, Temple ranked 330th in points allowed per game with 78.1. In The American, the team ranked last in blocked shots and second-to-last in defensive rebounding. “We’ve talked about it, certainly as a team, and I’ve mentioned it many, many times,” Dunphy said about the defense. “It’s the one thing that I think we need to spend so much time on during the offseason and get to better spots. I don’t think it’s an effort thing, I think it’s just an anticipation thing. And we need to be better at it. We need a lot of work on our defensive play.” Temple began its season with a Big 5 match-up against Penn at the Palestra on Nov. 9 – a game in which the Owls blew a second-half lead but escaped with a 78-73 victory.
Sitting in the Student Pavilion on Dec. 6, distance runner Will Kellar was surrounded by a shocked audiTRACK & FIELD ence of studentathletes. A lot of them were angry. Many were crying. But Kellar could only shake his head in disbelief. “I was just like, ‘Wow, this is just icing on the cake,’” Kellar said. “They screwed us over this many times and now it’s just like the ultimate cut.” Athletic Director Kevin Clark’s announcement that day sealed the fate of men’s indoor and outdoor track & field as two of the initial seven sports that were set to be eliminated on July 1. Facing adversity is nothing new for the distance squad, however. Kellar has competed for three distance coaches during his running career at Temple and has seen multiple players transfer out because of it. But Kellar stayed – and became a leader while others were jumping ship. “I think a leader is someone who can make a mistake and quickly find out he has and find a way to correct it,” Kellar said. Kellar said he credits his dad, a former track star at Upper Darby High School, for getting him into the sport. The two
DUNPHY PAGE 22
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In Philly return, first baseman Amaro leading Owls Robert Amaro is playing as a graduate student in his final season of eligibility. JEFF NEIBURG The Temple News First baseman Robert Amaro is always interested in seeing what moves his uncle is making down the street. Most recently, those moves have been some of the most highly criticized of any PhilaBASEBALL delphia institution. Amaro, a Phillies fan from Bensalem, Pa., hears much of the criticism directed toward his uncle Rubén Amaro Jr. – the general manager of the Phillies. “It’s frustrating, but it’s always good to see that the Phillies fans care,” Robert Amaro said. “That’s what you want to have for a sports franchise. Obviously this city is a big sports city so when you’re doing well he’s getting praise, when you’re not doing well he’s getting criticism. It’s tough now, but a couple years ago it was great. I can’t really complain.” Robert Amaro is playing in his first season at Temple, where he is a graduate student majoring in sports business, after spending his first three years of eligibility at the University of Virginia.
Robert Amaro (left) slides into home plate during Temple’s comeback victory against Saint Peter’s College. Amaro is batting .292 and leading the Owls with 13 RBIs after a three-year career at the University of Virginia. | ANDREW THAYER TTN Baseball is a tradition in the Amaro family. They’ve been playing and coaching in the game for the better part of the last century. Robert Amaro’s greatgrandfather, Santos Amaro, played professional baseball in his home country Cuba and in Mexico. His grandfather, Rubén Amaro Sr., played for four major league teams – including five seasons in Philadelphia – during
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the course of his 12-year professional career. Robert Amaro’s father, David Amaro, played at Duke before becoming a coach in the Philadelphia area. Rubén Amaro Jr. played in the big leagues for eight seasons, the last three for the Phillies. Knowing his past and present, Robert Amaro has a deep appreciation for the sport. “I just try to play the game
the right way and just respect Being able to learn the the game,” Robert Amaro said. game from his family has al“Go out there every day, have ways been a valuable experifun and enjoy it. Obviously my ence, he said. family is in baseball, so I “My dad’s alUP NEXT just try to stay focused ways been a and play the game the Owls vs. Lehigh coach of mine,” right way.” Robert Amaro March 18 at 3 p.m. The hulking said. “It’s super 6-foot-2-inch first basemen special, he’s been coaching me is off to a quick start with the since I was 6. Any time I wanted Owls, batting .292 and leading to go hit, get my work in, he’s the team with 13 RBIs. always there willing to come
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help me out. I can’t thank him enough for that.” After a successful high school career, he was drafted in the 40th round of the 2009 draft by the Phillies. Robert Amaro said former Phillies outfielder Eric Valent, now a scout, was the man behind bringing him into the organization. Like many players who are drafted in the later rounds, Robert Amaro chose to go to college. He picked Virginia. “I knew at that point I was going to school unless I was taken really high, which I wasn’t,” Robert Amaro said of the draft. “It was just a great experience to be connected to the Phillies before going off to college.” While at Virginia, Robert Amaro dealt with injuries – labrum issues that required surgery, derailing his junior and senior seasons. He played in nine games during his sophomore season and one game during his junior year before graduating last May. With one year of eligibility remaining and a need for a new school, Robert Amaro chose to return to Philadelphia and play for Temple, citing the sports business program and the desire to be close to home as a combination that he couldn’t pass up. Robert Amaro’s new coach at Temple, Ryan Wheeler, once recruited him out of high school.
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