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TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
Hundreds sign up for Fly in 4, univ. reports
VOL. 92 ISS. 24
A History of Protest Recent protests in the African American studies department revisit old battles.
After arrests, past attacks come to light Two students reported other attacks similar to the recent string of assaults off-campus.
Close to 400 students eligible for Theobald’s four-year graduation plan have signed up. MARCUS MCCARTHY Assistant News Editor
PATRICIA MADEJ The Temple News
Following lunch every Wednesday, administrators from across the university’s departments meet to discuss implementing President Theobald’s signature initiative, Fly in 4. Jodi Levine Laufgraben, vice provost for academic affairs and assessment, said its routine to sit down and discuss the groundwork needed to support the initiative aimed at reducing student debt. The university reports that 394 students have signed up so far, about 19 percent of those who are eligible. Additionally, Theobald has received positive feedback from the public. Fly in 4 was announced on Feb. 4 as a program that would offer $4,000 scholarships to 500 students in each incoming class beginning this fall. In return, students are required to follow a four-year track to graduation, that if delayed due to scheduling conflicts, the university will cover the cost of the remaining credits. There is no limit on the number of students who can participate in the four-year graduation guarantee. “I am very pleased that a growing number of incoming freshmen are already signing up,” Theobald said in an email. “Since it was announced in early February, Fly in 4 has gotten a positive response from students, parents, high school guidance counselors and state legislators.” Theobald received praise from state legislators in Harrisburg while lobbying for Temple’s state appropriations in a committee hearing on March 11. “What you are doing with Fly in 4 will help to ensure that people will have access to a quality higher education,” Rep. Cherelle Parker, a Phila-
The number of students victimized by a group of teenagers could be as high as seven after two students have come forward in the wake of recent off-campus attacks and police have connected two other incidents to three teens arrested last week. A 21-year-old senior journalism major and a 19-year-old freshman theater major, whose names are being withheld to protect their identities, said they experienced incidents this past fall similar to the ones that occurred west of Main Campus on Friday, March 21, that prompted indignation from the Philadelphia community and a promise from the university to review off-campus patrolling policies. The two students, both female, said they were approached on separate occasions by a group of AfricanAmerican girls who appeared to be between 13-15 years old. One student said she was harassed while walking home west of Main Campus late at night and another said she was beaten by a group of 10-15 attackers at a party on Gratz Street and later had to be hospitalized. A report on that attack was filed to the Philadelphia Police Department in October and three teenagers have been charged. Reached by phone Monday, a detective in the department said police haven’t ruled out the possibility of a connection between that incident and the ones that occurred two weeks ago, where a group of female African-American teenagers assaulted four Temple students in three separate incidents within a half-hour span in the evening. In each of those incidents, students said they were the victims of physical assaults. One student, a
FLY IN 4 PAGE 6
T
JOE BRANDT The Temple News
here’s nothing wrong with protests,” said the smiling Maxwell C. Stanford Jr., an adjunct African American studies professor at Temple. “That’s how this department got here.” Stanford, 72, has been an activist and community organizer since he was 18 years old. During his 52-year-long career he was a friend to Malcolm X and co-founder of the Revolutionary Action Movement, a Black Nationalist student organization. On Nov. 17, 1967, about 4,000 African American students marched on the School District of Philadelphia building to demand better facilities, African American history courses and the right to wear traditional African attire in school. Witnesses quoted Police Commissioner Frank Rizzo as shouting “Get their black asses” when he ordered officers to suppress the protest. Despite Rizzo’s crackdowns on protesters, the movement grew stronger and more determined.
PROTESTS PAGE 6
(Top) Students march down Broad Street in Fall 1990. (Middle) Food workers go on strike in 1971 for higher wages. That year, law students were protesting more inclusive admissions.| TTN FILE PHOTOS
For a capella group, a step into spotlight
A gymnastics history
Beyond the mat The men’s gymnastics team will be cut after 88 years.
Singchronize, Temple’s all-female a capella group, is recording its first full-length album. JOHN MORITZ The Temple News They haven’t even reached the stadium, but the women of Singchronize are already singing. Walking down Pattison Avenue toward the Phillies game where they sang the national anthem this past Friday, Ginny Laskowski, Tricia Kiehner and Veronica Miller hear Paramore’s “I’m Still Into You” drifting from XFINITY Live across the street. The three girls belt the lyrics in a harmony and stop for a selfie before continuing on with the crowds of fans heading to the ballpark.
STEVE BOHNEL NICK TRICOME The Temple News
Singchronize performed the national anthem at the Phillies game last Friday and was joined by the Phillie Phanatic. | ANDREW THAYER TTN Half an hour later, in the underbelly of Citizens Bank Park, the trio are joined by eight other members of the all-female student a cappella group Singchronize, harmonizing together – a chorus of burring lips, “Yayayas” and various scale warm-ups reverberated off the lockers of an empty men’s changing room, which they used to warm up. Despite being the longest continually running a cappella group at Temple since its founding in 2002, Sing-
chronize has not received the same amount of outside student recognition as names often associated with Temple’s growing a cappella community, like OwlCappella and Broad Street Line. In discussing the preparations for its upcoming debut album, however, Laskowski, a senior strategic communications major and president of Singchronize, said the community has been
SINGCHRONIZE PAGE 17
The accomplishments of the men’s gymnastics program are kept in plain sight. The walls of the gym in the back of McGonigle Hall are covered in photos of All-Americans, national champions and Olympians. “It’s kind of mind-boggling,” senior co-captain Scott Haddaway said. “Every day I come into the gym and look at the wall. Sometimes I look at guys I’ve been teammates with up on the wall. Some days I look for a new face and try to think what they went through in their lives. It helps push you to do what you need to do in the gym.” In its 88-year history, the program has been one of the university’s top performing teams earning more conference titles than any other sport.
NEWS - PAGES 2-3, 6
LIVING - PAGES 7-8, 16-18
Water-inspired movement
Monologues benefit students
Residents of the 2100 block of Gratz Street formed a coalition to fight relocation before developers assured a return. PAGE 2
Dance professor Colleen Hooper has choreographed the National Water Dance, which will debut April 12. PAGE 7
Local acting and theater companies help young students during a recent monologue festival. PAGE 9
Confusion leads to activism
OPINION - PAGES 4-5
Talk to strangers, please
ATTACKS PAGE 3
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT - PAGES 9-15
After the Board of Trustees voted to eliminate the men’s gymnastics team, along with four others, the Owls performed in their last ever Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships last weekend in Annapolis, Md.
THE RISE
Introduced in 1926, it took nine seasons for the Owls to get their first taste of victory. With coach Max Younger at the helm, they won the first Eastern Intercollegiate Gymnastics League title in school history during the 1934-5 season. Featuring 1936 Olympian Chet Phillips, the team defended its title in the two seasons that followed. Temple recaptured the league title in its 19389 and 1940-1 seasons. After a nearly eight-year drought, which included a three-year break due to World War II,
GYMNASTICS PAGE 20
SPORTS - PAGES 19-22
Brown says she is transferring
NEWS
PAGE 2
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
Staff Reports | COmmunity
Residents of the 5th District meet at the Women’s Christian Alliance on Cecil B. Moore Avenue to discuss what improvements can be made to the community. | ABI REIMOLD TTN
Housing renovations stir local fears Gratz Street residents organized after being told of temporary relocation. SARAI FLORES The Temple News Columbus Property Management, a nonprofit corporation that is part of Mission First Housing Group, will be conducting renovation on properties on the even side of North Gratz Street from May until September. The properties are a part of the 23 low-income housing units the development corporation owns in the North Central Philadelphia area. The properties, located 12 minutes from Temple’s Main Campus and steps away from the Church of the Advocate on 18th and Diamond streets, are one of the few housing developments still
inhabited by residents of the neighborhood. The scheduled renovation of the properties has left many residents of the neighborhood upset in the belief that, after renovations, they will not be allowed to return and the properties will be rent out to Temple students, which Columbus Property denies. Upon hearing about the scheduled renovation, residents formed the Black Communities United Coalition, a grassroots organization aiming to fight what residents deem a “re-gentrification,” coming out of the purchase of old properties that are rented at higher prices to Temple students. Irvin Odrick, assistant in the youth program at the Church of the Advocate was a former resident on the 2100 block of North Gratz Street in 2009 and left because he could not afford the rent. “What they’re supposed to be doing is fixing them back up…from my
understanding, if they have outstanding bills they’re not going to bring them back,” Odrick said. “We all know they’re going to put students in there.” Kemah Washington, the senior warden at the Church of the Advocate who has been with the church since 1962, has seen the surrounding community change drastically over the years. Washington’s mother Christine created the nonprofit Advocate Community Development Corporation in 1968 and went on to build 300 lowincome housing units throughout North Central Philadelphia for the physically challenged, disabled and elderly before she stepped down in 2011 from being president. “Back in the ‘60s, Temple and my dad had an unwritten pact: The church’s boundaries were from 22nd [Street] to Broad Street and from Lehigh [Avenue] to Montgomery [Avenue],” Kemah Washington said. “Temple didn’t
actually expand past that point.” Michael Washington, co-chair of Advocate Community Development Corporation is also disappointed by the continuous expansion of Main Campus that has pushed many locals out. “I would be the first to say that it really pains me to see that North Central Philadelphia has become a Temple town,” Michael Washington said. “It has really left its indigenous people behind.” The properties on North Gratz Street were taken over by Columbus Property Management in 2012 in order to keep them as low-income housing units. The units are rented out to individuals or families who make $42,600 or below annually. The renovation in the units will be minor and are being done in order to provide upgrades so the units will be what officials call “functional in the long term.” “I think what we probably need
to do is have our property managers reach back out to [the residents],” said Mark Dietcher, director of business development at Columbus Property Management. “It sounds like there are some things not being communicated correctly. But every resident will be allowed to move back into their [unit].” Columbus Property Management will be making paid arrangements for residents during the renovation to prevent them being displaced and as long as residents are in compliance with their lease, they will be allowed to move back. “We’re forbidden to rent to fulltime students. It’s a prohibition,” Dietcher said. Several attempts were made by The Temple News to contact the residents of North Gratz Street, but residents refused to comment.
Sarai Flores can be reached at sarai.abisag.flores@temple.edu.
In plea to pope, Corbett and Nutter visit Temple Rome Pennsylvania delegates travel to foreign campus before meeting pope. MARCUS MCCARTHY Assistant News Editor During a visit to the Vatican last week, Mayor Nutter and Gov. Corbett toured and spoke at Temple’s Rome campus. Additionally, students said they got the opportunity to talk directly with Nutter and Corbett during their Wednesday visit. Nutter and Corbett were in Rome from March 25-27 along with Philadelphia Archbishop Charles Chaput in an effort to convince Pope Francis to attend the Vatican-sponsored World Meeting of Families, scheduled to take place in Philadelphia from Sept. 22-27, 2015. Dean of Temple Rome Hilary Link said in an email that this was her first time meeting the governor and mayor. “[I]t was a pleasure to have the chance to host them even briefly here at Temple Rome,” Link wrote. “We hosted a private gathering for them along with a few faculty and staff in [Temple Rome’s] beautiful ‘fresco room’ overlooking the Tiber River, and I also toured them around the Villa Caproni, recounted the history of our program, the Villa and more.”
NEWS DESK 215-204-7419
Link said that Corbett noted he students and talked to us in a friendly had visited his daughter when she stud- and open-manner. Governor Corbett ied in Chile so he had some basis for [sic] didn’t really seem all that comcomparison. Nutter also noted that he fortable with the students.” had met Temple business students in Rome campus is located in the VilLondon last fall. la Caproni across the Tiber River from Corbett and Nutter spoke to the Vatican City, just north of Piazza del students in Temple Rome’s lounge for Popolo. Temple established the proroughly 20 minutes about how they gram nearly 50 years ago and focuses serve as ambassadors for the university, on studies in architecture, international Pennsylvania and the U.S. They urged business, liberal arts and visual arts. the students to retain the memory of all After initially planning to have a their experiences and private meeting with what they’ve learned Pope Francis at his while studying abroad. residence on TuesFollowing the day, the delegation’s speeches, the audience meeting was moved was then given roughto talking with the ly five minutes to ask pope at the regularly questions. The topics of scheduled public audiscussion ranged from dience on Wednespublic education, frackday in St. Peter’s Square. ing and the Made in After returning America music festival. to Philadelphia, Nut“Many students had questions for the Sarah Thompson / junior ter said on Friday that he feels optimisgovernor and mayor, tic Pope Francis will but because of a time constraint, many questions were left come to Philadelphia for the World unanswered,” Sarah Thompson, a ju- Meeting of Families. He also showed nior theater major studying at Temple off gifts he had received on the trip, inRome, wrote in an email. cluding tokens from students and staff “What I found to be the most inter- at Temple’s Rome campus. esting was how uncomfortable Mayor The World Meeting of Families Nutter, a democrat [sic], and Governor was started by Pope John Paul II in Corbett [sic], a republican [sic], looked 1994 with the goal of strengthening as they stood next to each other. Mayor families and has been held every three Nutter had a great connection with the years with the previous one being held
in Milan, attracting a large number of visitors to the city. Philadelphia will be the first location in the country to hold the event. “I never expected to see Corbett or Nutter in Rome, nonetheless, at Temple University’s Rome campus,” Thompson said. “I enjoyed their visit
for the most part. It was nice to finally meet them and listen to them speak, but it was very short-lived, and I wish that we had more time to speak with them.” Marcus McCarthy can be reached at marcus.mccarthy@temple.edu or on Twitter @marcusmccarthy6.
“I never expected
to see Corbett or Nutter in Rome, nonetheless, Temple University’s Rome campus.
”
NEWS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
Gov. Corbett and Mayor Nutter stand in front of a podium at Temple’s Rome campus. The duo travelled to Italy to encourage Pope Francis to visit Philadelphia. | COURTESY SARAH THOMPSON
NEWS
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
PAGE 3
Staff Reports | Student government
Platforms include reform on security, sustainability
(From left) Members of TU Believe Julia Crusor, Ray Smeriglio and Blair Alston are advocating for audits of campus security and food programs in the upcoming student government elections. Renew TU members Meaghan Guerrera, Ifeoma Ezeugwu and Rachel Applewhite are calling for strengthened lines of communication and environmental sustainability. | ABI REIMOLD TTN
TU Believe and Renew TU are running in April’s TSG elections. JOE GILBRIDE The Temple News The two tickets bidding for office in next year’s Temple Student Government unveiled their platforms this week after being presented to the student body at the General Assembly meeting on March 24. TU Believe states in their platform that they seek to improve new student orientations, extend support for the LGBTQ community on Main Campus, and perform personal audits to monitor campus security and food service. Candidate for student body president Ray Smeriglio said his ticket has had a long time to think about their vi-
sion for Temple’s future since the three of them began contemplating a run a year and a half ago. Renew TU focuses their platform on furthering student awareness and involving students in campaigns ranging from environmental protection to Temple pride. Candidate for student body president Ifeoma Ezeugwu said her involvement with TSG and the Ladies of Elegance step team spurred her to run for election and build a stronger community at the university. “It’s a team function from the top,” she said. Blair Alston, TU Believe’s candidate for vice president of services, said the group’s experience in TSG has prepared them to lead the student body. Alston suggested encouraging more student leaders to ease the challenge of adjusting to a new environ-
ment, as well as forming an academic leaders program, where upperclassmen can meet with the deans of all the schools to discuss improvements to student life. TU Believe’s platform states that as head of TSG they will review and audit services like dining for the quantity and quality of the food, and safety for the effectiveness of campus security and police, in addition to attempting to improve the transition for new students by looking to make freshman and transfer orientations a better experience. TU Believe’s platform also promises to extend the Safe Zone Training program to all students who want to participate. The program trains allies in the LGBT community to provide institutions with a safe environment for equality, inclusion and mental health. As an openly gay man, Smeriglio
said the issue “hits home.” “We need to be a pioneer in that and offer it to all students,” Smeriglio said. Renew TU’s candidate for vice president of external affairs, Meghan Guerrera said she found a perfect opportunity to apply the lessons she learned at Army ROTC to the student body at large. “I was not only motivating other cadets to pass physical fitness tests, but also to be top of the class,” Guerrera said. “I would like to see that from all students.” Renew TU stressed in their platform that students need a more effective way to get information. They said programs like scholarships, commuter services and Temple-organized activities are often under utilized because students are not aware they exist. “Nobody knows,” candidate for
vice president of services Rachel Applewhite said. “If I didn’t go to RA training, I wouldn’t know all the great things we have available for students.” In addition to increased communication, Renew TU’s platform calls for an expansion of cross-school advising, a program that would try to eliminate the sale of plastic water bottles on campus and increase the amount of filling stations, the creation of a Temple homecoming parade and making athletic events more affordable for everyone who wants to attend, not just students. TSG elections will be held online from April 8-9. Last year’s elections, won by Temple United and Student Body President Darin Bartholomew, saw a 20 percent decline in votes cast from the previous year.
Joe Gilbride can be reached at joseph.gilbride@temple.edu.
EXCLUSIVE | OFF-CAMPUS ASSAULTS
Questions on security, neighborhood after assaults Adminstrators to review patrols, alerts after students call for oversight. JOHN MORITZ News Editor In the wake of the off-campus assaults on four Temple students and a delayed response from the university that spurred negative feedback from the student body, the university will review its off-campus patrolling and alert policy, a campus police official said. Campus police officers, acting under the jurisdiction of Campus Safety Services, have established patrolling borders that extend as far as 16th Street to the west, Susquehanna Avenue in the north, Jefferson Street in the south and Ninth Street in the east. The three separate incidents that took place on the evening of March 21 occurred within a half hour of each other and within one to two blocks of CSS’s patrolling borders. Pennsylvania state law allows for campus police forces to patrol, investigate and make arrests within 500 yards of any property owned or controlled by any public or state-related university. While the state law allows campus police to patrol out to 500 yards, it does not require that they do so, nor does it state how campus police must patrol their jurisdiction. CSS’s current patrolling boundaries do not extend the full-length of its allowed jurisdiction in most areas, however campus police have a “priority response zone” extending a few blocks beyond the patrolling zone in which they may respond to an ongoing crime or incident, Acting Executive Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said. In response to the attacks and other instances of requests from students for police response west of campus, Leone said CSS will explore the possibilities of expanding their patrolling
area west of Main Campus out to 17th Street. An online petition asking Temple to work with Philadelphia police to extend its patrol area to 18th Street has gained more than 2,100 supporters since it was posted by Jeffrey Dugan on March 24, three days after the attacks. Leone said increasing the patrol zone to 18th Street would potentially push campus police’s priority response zone to beyond the 500 yard boundary, creating legal issues to any arrests made in that area. CSS first learned of the attacks when the father of the student who was hit by a brick called the CSS substation on Polett Walk around 8 p.m., Leone said. From there, the message was relayed to a Temple detective who confirmed with the 22nd Philadelphia Police Precinct before going to Hahnemann University Hospital around 9 p.m. to interview the victim. The university did not learn of the second attack until Sunday morning, March 23, and did not learn of the third attack until it was reported by the media that Monday, Leone said. Leone said by the time police learned of the incident, they determined the immediate threat from the suspects had passed, and decided not to send out an alert, which is only typically done when officials determine students need to take immediate action. However in the aftermath of the attacks with a negative student reaction to the response by the university, Leone said CSS and the administration would discuss altering the alert system to send out advisory messages with information when officials learn about off-campus incidents, which they are not required to report by state or federal law. Student Body President Darin Bartholomew said the university’s patrol zone, which follows a non-symmetrical path around campus, creates confusion for students who live out-
side its boundaries, likening its shape to a “gerrymandered congressional district.” Bartholomew said he is calling for CSS to extend the patrol zone out further west of campus and create an area that is more congruent to avoid confusion. Yesterday, March 31, CSS held a question and answer session with students following the Temple Student Government general assembly meeting. At the meeting, students voiced reasons for and against the expanding the patrol area. Leone told the students that CSS is looking to combine patrol and priority response area to avoid confusion. In addition to the Pennsylvania law, the Clery Act, a federal statute enacted in 1990, requires that the university report crimes that are reported or investigated to have occurred on property owned or controlled by the university in an annual security report. Because it maintains an active campus police force, Temple is required to publish daily crime logs in addition to its annual report, per the Clery Act. Temple publishes those logs digitally on CSS’s website, including information from all crimes reported in their patrolling zone. In Spring 2013, Temple amended its crime logs after an investigation by The Temple News determined the university failed to meet the Pennsylvania’s 2004 Unified Crime Reporting Act, which requires that campus police publish the names and addresses of suspects arrested for crimes, in the same manner that state and local police are required to do. The crime logs now state that they are published in accordance to the Clery Act and additional information on the names and addresses of offenders is available in hard copy at the CSS office or by request.
John Moritz can be reached at john.moritz@temple.edu or on Twitter @JCMoritzTU.
Continued from page 1
ATTACKS
19-year-old woman, was hospitalized and required jaw reconstructive surgery after being hit in the face with a brick. Last week, police arrested three teens in connection to the attacks who will be tried as adults. Najee Bilaal, 16, Zaria Estes, 15, and Kanesha Gainey, 15, were charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy, possession of an instrument of crime, terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. Minors over the age of 15 are subject to be tried as adults in the commonwealth of Pennsylvania if they’re charged with one of 10 crimes, including the use of a deadly weapon and aggravated assault, according to the Juvenile Law Center. Detective Ralph Domenic said the girls admitted to not only the attacks from two weeks ago, but also to an attempted robbery of a 20-year-old Temple student on the 1700 block of 15th street on March 24. The three suspects have also been connected to the robbery of a 16-yearold girl on 15th and Market streets on March 17, resulting in a stolen cell phone, Domenic said. Whether or not the suspects are connected to the two other incidents from the fall, Domenic couldn’t say. One of the two incidents was never reported to Philadelphia police. “We haven’t tied [the suspects] into any other old jobs, but now we’re looking into it,” Domenic said. The 21-year-old student said she was walking home alone last September around midnight to her apartment in Kardon/Atlantic when she noticed a group of girls start to follow her, maintaining an approximate 10-foot distance behind her around 16th and Berks streets. “I started feeling my legs get hit by rocks and they were probably about
the size of my palm,” the student said. “I turned around and they had these calm, blank looks on their faces.” The woman said she asked the group of three, who she said were between the ages of 13-15, to stop, to which they responded, “I’m sorry, but you have pretty hair.” She said when she reached Broad Street, she reported the incident to a Temple security guard. Concerned about getting home, the woman left without filing a report, but said she saw the security guard approach the group of girls. The 19-year-old student said she was attacked a month later on the night of Oct. 18 on the 1800 block of North Gratz Street. The woman told The Temple News in October that she was dragged by her hair, punched and beaten by a group of 10-15 attackers, who she said all appeared to be juveniles. The incident sent her to St. Joseph’s Hospital, where she was discharged by 5 a.m. She has been to four court hearings testifying against three teens and is expected to attend another hearing in the upcoming weeks. “I felt like maybe I had more anxiety problems before than I ever had,” she said. “Especially if I went outside.” The woman said she sees similarities between her incident and the four that occurred on March 21. “There were probably 10 to 15 girls that were on me, so I couldn’t identify them all,” she said. “I think it’s a large possibility they’re from the same group.” The student said she believes the March 21 attacks could have been prevented had her story gained more attention. “I don’t want it to be a sympathy thing,” she said. “I want it to be a [question of], ‘Why can’t we help prevent off-campus attacks?’” Patricia Madej can be reached at patricia.madej@temple.edu or on Twitter @PatriciaMadej.
PAGE 4
EDITORIAL/OP-ED
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 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
Gauging response after juvenile assaults
A NOTE ABOUT SAFETY
No matter the situation, we encourage students and faculty to take the necessary precautions to protect themselves around Main Campus. For a detailed map of Temple Police’s Main Campus patrol zone, visit temple.edu/safety/core/files/TUMainpatrolmap. pdf. If walking home late at night, keep in mind that Temple offers two services – the Walking Escort program and TU Door shuttle service – to ensure that students arrive home safely. To request a walking escort, call 215-777-9255. In the event of an emercency, contact Temple Police at 215204-1234.
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.
KATIE HENESSY TTN
Numerous questions about Eighth Street to the east and Temple’s relationship with the 17th Street to the west. North Philadelphia community According to state law, have been raised in the after- campus police are allowed to math of a string of attacks on serve on university grounds Temple students that occurred owned, or within 500 yards of on March 21, in which four stu- a property owned, controlled, dents reported leased or manbeing attacked Increasing security will not aged by a by a group of necessarily protect students given college youths. One or university. and faculty from danger. This does not student reported being hit in necessarily rethe face with a brick. quire cops to patrol the entirety The attacks, which oc- of those 500 yards. curred within five blocks of one However, it’s hard to deanother during the course of 30 termine where Temple’s jurisminutes, were allegedly carried diction ends and Philadelphia out by a group of five juve- Police’s begins. While an inniles from West and Northwest creased patrol presence may Philadelphia, in an area beyond be necessary as the amount of Temple Police’s typical patrol students living near Main Camzone. pus increases, students that Tensions are undoubtedly choose to move into areas mulhigh between the Temple and tiple blocks from Main Campus North Philadelphia communi- need to know that safety can ties. never be guaranteed. In response to the attacks, Administrators estimate James Creedon, senior vice that between 7,000 to 10,000 president for construction, fa- students have moved into the cilities and operations, issued areas surrounding Main Caman email on March 24 warning pus in the past decade. students to “not engage in conWhile Temple police’s paversations with strangers.” trol zone is listed on the agenThis directly contradicts cy’s website, Temple can work the university’s “Good Neigh- to correct the overblown sense bor Initiative,” which encour- of security that many students ages students to foster better feel by making sure the patrol relationships with their residen- map is widely distributed across tial neighbors. While Creedon’s campus. A student moving into comment was made with the an Owl-heavy block near the intent to keep students safe, it intersection of 18th and Berks further demonstrates the di- Streets must be aware that he or vide between students and the she will not live under the dipeople who live in the area sur- rect eye of Temple Police. rounding Main Campus. However, it is also imporThe attacks have inspired tant to note that police do not some students to voice concern believe these attacks were carabout Temple Police’s patrol ried out by North Philadelphia area, including a petition to residents. While gentrification expand the patrol zones north has been a hot-button issue of Susquehannah Avenue and among students in the wake of west of 16th Street. As of Mon- these attacks, the beatings were day evening, the petition boasts allegedly not carried out by lo2,214 supporters. cal residents in the first place. Temple’s primary patrol The group is believed to have zone’s boundaries are Susque- left North Philadelphia on a hanna Avenue to the north, SEPTA bus following the atJefferson Street to the south, tacks. Ninth Street to the east and Short of building a moat 16th Street to the west. There is around Main Campus, there a separate response area where will never be complete safety at Temple Police may respond to a school situated in the middle “priority calls” only, extending of city as large and diverse as to Dauphin Street to the north, Philadelphia. Master Street to the south,
FROM THE ARCHIVES...
April 6, 1976: NCAA men’s gymnastics finals held at McGonigle Hall. Penn State would take home its first championship in 11 years. Last week, Temple’s men’s gymnastics team placed fifth in its final conference championship. The team is slated to be eliminated in July.
OP-ED...
Will class gift raise alumni giving? What can Temple do to increase the amount of graduates that donate to the university? By Darin Bartholomew A few weeks ago, The Temple News’ editorial board wrote a piece about alumni giving at Temple, and more specifically the base of donors. During the last few weeks, there have also been stories about both trustee and administrative plans to help expand the alumni donor base to make Temple more in-line with similar institutions and ultimately provide Temple with the funding needed to continue to compete as we climb in national prestige. One of the first meetings our administration had just under a year ago was with
the Office of Institutional Advancement to discuss permanently instituting an off and on tradition at Temple that is so treasured at other schools. This tradition is the class gift. The class gift is more than just a tradition and a way to better Temple: It is also a way for students to begin to understand and feel the importance of giving to the university. Since the donor participation rate is included in university ranking formulas, this can also help increase the value of our degree after graduation. Students are only asked to give a few dollars – less than $20 – so this may not be seen by some as the massive economic boost that Temple needs to propel itself toward the donation bases of similar institutions. However, it is a cultural shift that is most easily made at the student level. As the alumni office continues to try and re-engage
graduates with the university it is our moral duty as students to find a way to give back to the university that has given us so much. Temple is a very different place than it was even 10 years ago and the pride we have in our campus and our school is better than ever. Through this pride, as well as with a small donation as a student, the class gift will begin to broaden the base that Temple is striving to expand. In a few years, we will hopefully be able to donate more and continue to be engaged and it all can begin for less than $20 as a senior. Not to mention that when we return as alumni, we will always have our gift to point to as the first contribution we made to our campus. Darin Bartholomew is the student body president. He can be reached at darin.bartholomew@temple.edu.
COMMENTARY
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
PAGE 5
THE ESSAYIST...
Talk to strangers, please Breaking up a Don’t blame “locals” for crime in North Philly.
I
Facilities and Operations James Creedon sent out on March 24. In addition, students tend to treat the surrounding area with total disregard, rationalizing their actions with the mindset that North Philly won’t be their home for long. Unfortunately, not everyone who lives here has the privilege or the opportunity to move out to a “nicer” area at their convenience, and are now forced to live alongside students who do not respect their neighborhood as an actual place. Demonizing an entire group of people based on the perpetrators of an isolated incident has never been a productive way to cope in the aftermath of a crime—especially because the perpetrators in question are believed to be from West and Northeast Philadelphia. Instead of creating enemies out of our neighbors, perhaps we could focus on living with them. Scare tactics, boundaries and increased police action will not keep us safer. A city and a university that understand how poverty works will. Disobey Creedon’s email and say hi to your neighbors. Clean up broken bottles after your parties. And when you sign and share petitions online, try keeping North Philadelphia in mind—it’s yours, too. Grace Holleran can be reached at holleran@ temple.edu or on Twitter @coupsdegrace.
‘friend family’
When your friend group falls apart, what’s left? by Chelsea Rovnan It’s close to 6 p.m. on a Tuesday and I can’t help but worry about how this is going to go. Sitting in the kitchen, I wonder what initially caused all of this. As I reread the text Kitty sent out earlier: “Hey ladies! Family meeting today at 6:00. Be there,” I shift my phone nervously from hand to hand, waiting for Crystal and Jenny to join Kitty and I at the table. So, what was it that caused Kitty to call for a “family meeting”? Clearly, it must have something to do with the awkward tension between Crystal and Jenny. Was it because Jenny went to her friend’s apartment without inviting Crystal? No, it couldn’t be that, could it? That happened the second weekend at school. Surely, Crystal would be over it by now. I mean it’s halfway through the first semester for goodness’ sake. Plus, Jenny meant no hard feelings by her actions. Maybe it was because of the way Crystal confronted Jenny after Jenny chose to go to a frat party instead of joining Crystal and I downtown for First Friday in Old City. But, maybe that was simply Crystal’s way of trying to talk things out. She didn’t mean to have the discussion come across as an aggressive attack. When one arrives at college, he or she is forced to create a “family,” in a sense. Moving away from home is challenging in itself, but finding a new group of friends to rely on can be tough as well. Whether it is freshman year or senior year, friendships play a major role in a student’s well-being and can either contribute to or even hinder one’s success. Locating that group of individuals that mesh well together enough to keep you going can often be the biggest roadblock in a college student’s social life. The best way to describe my current living arrangement would be to imagine throwing a tiger and a sheep in the same cage, along with two handlers. Crystal is a brave Bengal and Jenny is the meek sheep. And then there’s Kitty and I, who always seem to find ourselves in the middle. The bickering between Crystal and Jenny was starting to take a toll on Kitty and I, but Kitty had had enough. She
hated seeing two of her closest friends not speak to each other even as they lived in the same apartment. “I’m f--king miserable,” Crystal said as she turned to face Jenny, who was sitting right next to her now. “And there’s no denying this meeting was called because of the two of us.” Yet, Jenny sat there with her knees pulled to her chest with her arms wrapped around them and her eyes facing down. “Jen, isn’t there anything you want to talk about or get off your chest? If so, now’s the time to do it,” I said, worrying that my roommate was going to miss out on the opportunity to say what I already knew she felt inside. “Nope. I don’t have anything to say.” Jenny barely raised her eyes for more than a second. That was months ago. The time between then and now has been filled with nothing but the slamming of doors, dirty looks, frequent arguments and the silent treatment at its best. It really is amazing what a year can do to a friendship. When friends move in together it often puts a strain on the preexisting relationship, one that often doesn’t end well. The final straw broke on a Wednesday in February. Jenny had her head down while walking to class and didn’t see Crystal say hello to her. Sure enough, Crystal took it to heart and too far when she later texted Jenny freaking out at her for not saying “hi” back. Well, that was it. Jenny had finally had enough, packed her bags and went to her friend’s apartment all while threatening to move out. If all things had gone smoothly and the four of us had developed that familial bond, maybe we’d all be living together again next year. However, that oh so desired “family” connection never clicked for us. Plus, with Kitty and I getting an apartment together, Crystal going off to live in a house off-campus with some of her friends and Jenny doing the same with hers, I doubt that “family” connection will ever occur among the four of us. And after a year like this, who could blame us for going our separate ways?
“When one
arrives at college, he or she is forced to create a ‘family’ in a sense.
KEES HOLTERMAN TTN
t would be too easy to chalk up the events of March 21 to a lack of safety, policing or communication from Temple’s administration. While it is encouraging to see collective passion surging throughout Temple’s student body in the aftermath of the brick assault, the direction that passion has taken is not only misguided, but also potentially detrimental to our community as a whole. That weekend, police say a group of several girls targeted four Temple students in a series of unsolicited physical attacks, one of which involved a brick as a weapon. Since then, five teenage girls Grace Holleran have been arrested, and three are set to be tried as adults. Heated debates have sprung up questioning the overall safety of Main Campus. Temple students’ pessimistic-at-best attitude toward North Philadelphia is hardly news. Have you ever walked by Hair, Fashion and Beyond on Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue and commented, “That’s so ghetto”? Ever see caution tape around a crime scene that didn’t involve you, turn to your friend and say, “That’s so North Philly”? Ever seen a group of people that looks different from you on your very block, but refer to them as “locals,” as if they were an exotic body that hasn’t been sharing your neighborhood this whole time? On March 24, @lawrence_jh, a parody Twitter account for an employee of Johnson and Hardwick Cafeteria that has more than 600 followers — an issue I won’t even get into — bluntly tweeted, “Locals vs. Students.” Somehow, trivializing poverty and crime becomes a lot less funny when a Temple student is the victim. And when a Temple student gets hit with a brick, news outlets take notice. What’s brushed under the rug is the safety of the community at large. A group of underaged girls targeting and harassing people is scary and concerning no matter what. The fact that we, as students, are containing our desire for safety to the bubble of Main Campus – save for a petition for Temple police to extend their jurisdiction to more Temple students – only contributes to
the troubles of an already troubled place in the world. The wedge between Temple and the non-students who live in the area exists and has existed for reasons that are largely out of our control as students. It’s not a secret that Temple’s growing campus and housing projects are pushing residents farther north and farther west. In general, city schools have large income gaps. In Philadelphia, 26.2 percent of residents sit below the poverty line. Around Main Campus, that number gets as high as 63 percent. Students with at least enough money to fund their college tuition move in with their iPads and Ugg boots, and there are already some unspoken boundaries. The economic divide between students and longtime North Philly residents becomes our responsibility when we reinforce it. By attaching a negative connotation to poverty, to the point that we actually have a condescending name – “locals” – for a group of people that is different than us, Temple students become somewhat accountable for this tension that has just escalated into full-on hostility. It becomes our responsibility to instill a sense of community when Temple rescinds all notions of being “good neighbors” by sending out emails that explicitly state, “Do not engage in conversations with strangers,” as Vice President for Construction,
”
Chelsea Rovnan can be reached at chelsea.ann.rovnan@temple.edu. To protect the identities of the people involved in this essay, some names have been changed.
Housing costs more, but so does life in Philly The raise in residence hall fees coincides with a raise in cost of living.
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little less than a year ago, the 27-story Morgan Hall opened. Students were astonished: upperclassmen reveled in its grandeur; incoming students came to a pause, their eyes transfixed and reflecting the glass that glimmered. Temple had literally reached a new peak. Now, the university plans to Romsin McQuade reach the top again,
only this time, the top means higher residence hall rates. Last month, the Board of Trustees approved a rise in residence hall prices. The proposal will include an average rate increase of 3.86 percent – more specifically, there will a 2.8 percent increase for Peabody, Johnson and Hardwick halls, as well as a 7.5 percent increase in one-person apartments at 1300 residence hall and Morgan Hall. So the next time you scan your most recent Temple billing statement, don’t shudder when you notice the change in numbers. Within the last few months, various colleges have increased their residence hall rates as well. The University of Iowa recently announced a “modest” 3.5 percent increase. At Washington State University, a 3.2 percent increase.
OPINION DESK 215-204-7416
George Washington University: about 3 percent. California State University, Sacramento is deciding on a nearly 6 percent increase. Although the numbers may seem alarming at first, what must be taken into account is the fact that many of the rooms the university offers, like those in Johnson, Hardwick and Peabody halls, are double bedrooms. Ken Kaiser, Temple’s vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, said a significant number of rooms – more than 1,200 – had an increase of only 2.8 percent; single rooms in complexes like Morgan Hall were the reasons for a higher average. Kaiser noted that the factors that contribute to room rates range from rising utility costs to salaries, among others. The university plans accordingly
and adjusts the rates of rooms based on these numbers, he said. The university also considers the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City 2014 Consumer Price Index in room and board price adjustments. There was a 1.7 percent increase in its housing section from 2013, which includes the average price of shelter, fuels and utilities, and household furnishing and operations in the area. The aforementioned fuels and utilities category, which includes housing essentials like electricity, shows a rise of nearly 3 percent compared to last year. Moreover, while schema such as the Consumer Price Index are not the sole factor analyzed when adjusting room and board rates, they provide a relatively accurate foundation for as-
LETTERS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
sessing financial matters. With these figures in mind, the increases at hand begin to seem more reasonable than previously thought. Dispelling a view some students might hold, Kaiser further added that the university’s housing system is not a “profit-driven business” – rather, it is one that aims to “break even and not take other resources away from the university.” Even if the room rates may shock many students – especially freshmen – these raises are not much to worry about. As the spring semester draws to an end, one can only hope that the rates will eventually find themselves soaring down from the top story. Romsin McQuade can be reached at romsin.mcquade@temple.edu.
NEWS
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CAMPUS SEX ASSAULT REPORTED IN 1300 A sexual assault was reported in 1300 Residence Hall by a resident assistant on Thursday, March 27. According to Campus Safety Services, the assault occured some time between November 2012 and October 2013. The student appeared to have had a former relationship with the alleged offender, but declined to give specifics, police said.
-John Moritz BOMB THREAT REPORTED AT WENDY’S Temple police briefly responded to an automated bomb threat sent to the Wendy’s on Broad Street near Cecil B. Moore Avenue around 6:25 p.m. Sunday, March 30, police said. Acting Executive Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said police escorted patrons out of the restaurant before officers searched the establishment with a K-9 unit. No device was found and the all clear was given in around 20 minutes, Leone said. Police are still investigating to determine the source of the threat. No arrests were made. The incident is the third bomb scare on or near Main Campus in the past two weeks.
-John
Moritz
IN THE NATION NORTHWESTERN PLAYERS RECEIVE OK TO UNIONIZE Northwestern University’s football players overcame a large hurdle on March 26 in their mission to unionize. The judging member overseeing the case from the National Labor Relations Board, Peter Ohr, sided with the College Athletes Players Association who argued they qualify as employees and therefore are legally allowed to vote to unionize. The university fought the claim on grounds that the student-athletes were not paid for their duties, therefore are not employees. However, Ohr sided with the players who said that scholarships were a form of monetary compensation. The ruling is expected to be appealed by the university, in which the case would be heard by a five member panel in Washington. -Marcus McCarthy
UNC STUDENT ATHLETES’ EDUCATION FALLS UNDER SKEPTICISM Mary Willingham, a former tutor who worked at UNC for a decade, shared a final paper in a March 25 ESPN interview that was written by a student-athlete of the university, which was 10 sentences long and riddled with typos. The student received an Aminus in the class. Willingham alleged that the university additionally used independent studies classes – which would only require a final paper – as a way to boost student-athletes’ GPAs in order to keep them eligible to compete. In response, players spoke highly of their education at a March 27 UNC Board of Trustees meeting. -Marcus McCarthy
FEDERAL ANTI-HARASSMENT IN HIGHER EDUCATION BILL TO BE RE-INTRODUCED Sen. Patty Murray, a Democrat from Washington state, said she plans to reintroduce legislation that would require all universities and colleges receiving federal funding to make anti-harassment policies. The bill is titled the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harrassment Act, named after the Rutgers student who committed suicide after his roommate secretly recorded Clementi kissing another man for others to view. The legislation was initially introduced by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, a New Jersey Democrat, who died on June 3, 2013. Murray said she wanted to pursue the legislation after hearing a personal story by one of her interns of harassment in college. -Marcus McCarthy
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
Protests focused on faculty, community PROTESTS PAGE 1 Eventually, this movement helped establish the African American studies department at Temple in 1971. “Students from all the high schools and colleges, including Temple, walked out of class,” said Stanford’s friend Walter Palmer, a professor of urban studies at the University of Pennsylvania and curator of BlackBottom, a site which chronicles the history of gentrification in Philadelphia. Palmer helped organize the 1967 protest. The history of student protests at Temple has much in common with many other colleges. The spirit of dissent among youth in the 1960s and early 1970s took hold of many Temple students and Philadelphia residents. There were civil rights and Vietnam War demonstrations at Temple, and students lamented the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy, who had both spoken to crowds of students on Main Campus. Still, Temple’s most unique protests have Students march down Broad Street in Fall 1971 after dormitory cafeterias were forced to close typically involved the university’s relationship following a strike by food workers. | TTN FILE PHOTO with the surrounding community and faculty issues. Recent protests, like the sit-in by the organization Justice for Dr. Anthony Monteiro March ation of the student body. Meanwhile, state leg- insurance. Hundreds of students withdrew dur10 at the Board of Trustees’ meeting, have fo- islators told Anderson to crack down on radical ing the strike. During the 1990 strike, students cused on community issues as well as the profes- dissenters, particularly after he allowed the Black blocked North Broad Street with sit-downs on three separate days, and stormed Sullivan Hall to Panthers conference. sor’s firing. meet with Liacouras on Sept. 11. The year was also marked by one of the largTHE WACHMAN ERA (1973-82) PAUL ANDERSON’S TUMULTUOUS PRESIDENCY est student protests in Temple’s history. In late Vice President for Academic Affairs Marvin (1967-73) April, students from the now-defunct Phi Kappa In his comprehensive account of Temple’s Wachman, the former president of the historically Psi fraternity claimed that African-American stuhistory titled “Temple University: 125 Years black Lincoln University, became Temple’s presi- dents had smashed windows in the fraternity’s of Service to Philadelphia, the Nation, and the dent in 1973 after Anderson’s retirement. One of house. Members chased the alleged perpetrators World,” retired Temple history professor James Wachman’s first goals was to improve community to Johnson and Hardwick halls where a brawl enHilty describes Paul Anderson’s presidency as relations. “[Wachman] was able to soften the effects sued. “one of the most trying and difficult times in “There was plenty of provocation, and there of the charrette’s failure,” said Hilty, a friend of Temple’s history.” is plenty of blame to spread around,” Liacouras In 1954 the trustees made a pledge to grow Wachman’s and author of the foreword to Wach- said in 1990. the campus to 210 acres, which was later funded man’s memoir “The Education of a University At the protest in May, about five hundred by Temple’s influx of state money from becoming President.” students and community members sat down and In Wachman’s first year, Temple founded the a state-related institution in 1965. During this peblocked traffic on Broad Street near Temple, proriod of campus growth leading up to and continu- Office of Community Relations and appointed testing the university’s handling of the incident. ing through Anderson’s presidency, Temple built Thomas Anderson Jr. as its head. Thomas Ander- The students claimed that the university was bithe Student Center as well as Ritter, Speakman son Jr. served in the position until his retirement ased against the African-American students in its and Annenberg halls, and private developers built in 2004. In 1975, Temple began a daycare center discipline of the incident. retail units and apartments around campus. Nolen- for community children. It later closed in 1995. “[Thomas Anderson Jr.] was a pretty decent Swinburne & Associates, the firm Temple hired to guy,” Palmer said. “But it was tough. He had to be THE 2000’S plan the expansion, wrote that the “squeeze of the torn between two loyalties.” From his involvement with the Democratic slum area [was] becoming intolerable.” Wachman set a precedent for infrequent Socialists of America and its Temple chapter, InThis expansion, which led to the demolition building, and during his presidency sought to be tellectual Heritage Director Joseph Schwartz has of residencies claimed by eminent domain, was open with students. During Wachman’s term, stumet his fair share of student activists. a central theme in student protests during Anderdents who had protested Mitten Hall cafeteria’s Schwartz, who has taught at Temple since son’s administration. In Spring 1969, the Steering prices and seating arrangements got what they 1988, notes that Temple’s campus climate has Committee for Black Students pushed for more wanted: food trucks on Main Campus. been arguably less dissent-filled than others, due community voices involved in Temple’s plans “One of my favorite pictures of Marvin is to Temple’s role as a commuter school and the for expansion, as well as an Afro-Asian Institute the one with him standing in front of Leo’s food fact that many students are employed. and special admissions for Hispanic and African“There are always activists on campus. What American students. Many of the SCBS were truck with the students,” Hilty said. “It shows a lot about the kind of president he was.” changes with time is each generation’s organizinvolved in the march on the School District of There were far less large-scale protests uning abilities,” Schwartz said, adding “though I’d Philadelphia in 1967. der Wachman, and he was generally well-liked by imagine lots of students are only concerned about Mounting pressure from SCBS, including community members. getting a degree.” multiple sit-ins, led to Anderson’s cooperation. “I miss Marvin Wachman,” Monteiro said to “In the 1960s, I could call a meeting for an isThe two parties met multiple times each week in reporters after a March 10 meeting with the adsue at midnight and have several hundred people April 1969 to discuss plans. The students wanted ministration. show up for it,” Palmer said. “It’s not like that a deal done before finals week in mid-May, but nowadays.” the administration made no promises. Students in the 2000s have protested everyIn May 1969, Anderson announced a mora- LIACOURAS: GOOD NEIGHBOR POLICY (1982thing from the Iraq War to the labor conditions torium on the site where a building was going up, 2000) of the workers who make the Temple sweatshirts delaying the construction of the nearly $11 milPeter Liacouras’ presidency saw the imple- sold in the bookstore. During the Occupy Philalion humanities building now known as Anderson mentation of the Good Neighbor Policy, a comHall. He promised a charrette, a French term for mitment to address the community’s concerns delphia movement in 2011, students took the suban urban planning steering committee that consid- and be hospitable to it. Compared to Paul Ander- way to City Hall after class. The growing rise of environmentalist sentiers all stakeholders. son, Liacouras had much less community unrest ment has sparked recent protest as well: students The charrette, which first met in December to deal with, even after the construction of the 1969, “quickly descended into a bargaining ses- Liacouras Center and more residence halls like have protested Temple’s involvement with PNC sion over land,” according to Urban Oasis, the 1300 Residence Hall and White Hall. However, Bank since it invests in mountain top removal blog of former Temple history professor LaDale it was under Liacouras that Main Campus was mining, an activity they deemed ethically quesWinling, now a history professor at Virginia Tech. rocked by two large-scale faculty strikes backed tionable. After three weeks, the charrette ended, and by student support in 1986 and 1990. there was no formal agreement between Temple In October 1986, unionized faculty picketed THE FUTURE In his office next to Monteiro’s, Stanford, and the community until Gov. Raymond Shafer for higher wages, urging students not to cross forced one. Temple would limit the height of the picket lines. For the most part, students did whose contract has also not been renewed, sees buildings on the campus perimeter and keep 10 of not come to class that month while the two sides an ending to the conflict between the administrathe 22 disputed acres. Construction on Anderson negotiated a salary raise. On Oct. 27, the sides tion and the protesters if both sides “look for a Hall resumed. agreed to a 13 percent total pay increase. Temple win-win.” “Any wise administration would not want to A year later in September, Temple allowed had set Oct. 27 as the cutoff date before the sehave antagonistic relationships with the surroundthe Black Panthers to hold its national conference mester would be canceled. on Main Campus. The administration reportedly The 1990 faculty strike was the first univer- ing community,” Stanford said. “This is a crossallowed it since they were fearful of more protests sity strike in Pennsylvania to be ended by court roads for Temple.” or even violence should they decline, Hilty said. order. The striking faculty demanded higher pay Joe Brandt can be reached at joseph.brandt@ Throughout his presidency, students criti- again, but also protested against the new provitemple.edu or on Twitter @JBrandt_TU. cized Anderson for a perceived lack of consider- sion that faculty contribute $260 a year to health
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FLY IN 4
delphia Democrat, said. Laufgraben said a website dedicated to Fly in 4 will be available at the end of April. “It’s a more fully developed informational site for multiple audiences, primarily prospective students and admitted freshmen,” Laufgraben said. “It will be the primary source of information for Fly in 4.” To spread the word, the university has held informational sessions for student staff in admissions, financial aid, orientation and the various advising departments across the
colleges. Temple has hired 60 new fulltime advisers since 2006 and 10 were added the previous academic year, Assistant Director of Stewardship Communications Ashwin Verghese said. The Degree Audit Reporting System will be updated in a year to include an academic planner to help students see how they should move through their requirements. Laufgraben said that in creating Fly in 4, administrators looked into similar programs at the University of Minnesota and the University of Buffalo as models. These institutions have four-year graduation
guarantees, established in 1996 and 2012 respectively, but do not offer scholarships as part of their guarantee. Four-year graduation guarantees have been established at a number of other colleges across the country including the University of the Pacific, Midland University, the University of Nebraska, Ashland University and Juniata College. Indiana University – where Theobald was senior vice president prior to arriving at Temple – incentives students by freezing tuition for upperclassmen on track to finish in four years. Indiana’s four-year graduation
rate was 58 percent for the 2007 cohort, the most recent class studied. Temple’s four year graduation rate is 43 percent, according to the most recent university statistics. Incoming freshman have until the end of the drop/add period of the fall semester to sign up for the Fly in 4 program. Information on the program is accessible via TU Portal. In addition, the university is promoting the event to incoming freshman at Experience Temple Days. Marcus McCarthy can be reached at marcus.mccarthy@temple.edu or on Twitter at @marcusmccarthy6.
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‘HAIR’ TAKES STAGE
ARTISTS ABROAD
Temple’s production of “Hair” an iconic ‘60s-themed musical, debuted last Wednesday. Student-actors called it a bonding experience. PAGE 18
Tyler students said they believe studying abroad is particularly influential to their identities as artists. PAGE 8
temple-news.com
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
CRIMINAL JUSTICE EXPERTISE
LaTosha Traylor, an assistant criminal justice professor, feels passionately about educating students about the previously incarcerated community. ONLINE PAGE 7
Dances with water
Alumna Emma MacDonald rehearses for the National Water Dance this past Saturday on Main Campus. The show will be held at the Race Street Pier. | ABI REIMOLD TTN
Faculty and students will participate in the National Water Dance this April. ERIN EDINGER-TUROFF Living Editor
W
hen Colleen Hooper began choreographing the National Wa-
ter Dance, she wanted to incorporate more to the process than just her own direction – each dancer videotaped themselves performing an active movement, which were then melded into a collaborative six minutes of the full performance. Hooper, who teaches Ways of Knowing Dance at Temple while pursuing her Ph.D. in dance, is the choreographer of Philadelphia’s performance of a national event, the National Water Dance. The performance is intended to bring attention to
the fragility of the nation’s waterways and to heighten audience consciousness of the value of water. Various shows will be performed in 70 cities within 30 states on the same day, April 12. Philadelphia’s dance will take place from 10-10:30 a.m. on the Race Street Pier, where audiences will overlook the Delaware River and Ben Franklin Bridge. Hooper said she’s loved the opportunity to create a performance at the venue because of her interest in work “outside the theater.”
The performance will be the first to take place on the Race Street Pier. Hooper hopes that the location’s proximity to a waterway will help to lend impact to the overall message of the National Water Dance. “I think the first thing is getting people to come out and be on the water with us,” Hooper said. “Art can be like a magnetic force to bring people to [awareness of] issues in a way that’s different than just providing them with information.” Emma MacDonald, a dance
alumna who has been working as an administrative assistant to Hooper for the project, said she was originally interested because she enjoys Hooper’s work, but appreciates the underlying message immensely. “I’ve [been] personally very interested in art that is thought-provoking and challenges social norms and different social issues,” MacDonald said. Along with being a dancer in the performance, MacDonald has helped promote the National
Brazil isn’t ready for World Cup
A family recipe for business
One Philadelphia mother-daughter duo opened a dessert food truck.
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CUP PAGE 8
WATER PAGE 17
Food truck
Native Brazilians love soccer, but will foot the bill for the World Cup. he moment I first heard about Brazil being a possible host for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, I thought, “Please, don’t host it.” Most people I talk to are excited and optimistic about it – Brazil, soccer, beaches, parties, samba and the Monique Roos World Cup. Foreign It’s all meant Perspective to be together, isn’t it? Unfortunately, a native Brazilian might tell you otherwise. I do want to make clear that I believe Brazil is a fantastic country to host the World Cup, because Brazil lives and breathes soccer. The only way to compare the passion to an American sporting event is to the Super Bowl, a major event here that has a connection with
Water Dance in Philadelphia and said she’s also working on an informative brochure about water use to be provided for audience members. “I’m really hoping the awareness of water within ourselves and it’s connection to the water we drink in and bathe in,” MacDonald said. Along with the brochure, Hooper said she’s working to create a short list of organizations that are focused on preserving water as part of the pro-
ARIANE PEPSIN The Temple News
One day of class in the Embodying Pluralism course focused on teaching traditional African dance. Magira Ross (center), a guest lecturer, discussed the Middle Passage through dance. | CLAIRE SASKO TTN
Inside the classroom
No shoes, no problem Embodying Pluralism teaches about dance and its cultural impact. CLAIRE SASKO The Temple News In order to enter an Embodying Pluralism class, stu-
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dents have to take off their shoes. At 8 a.m. students slowly drift into the classroom, most of them looking groggy and still half asleep. However, students said the relaxed atmosphere is a nice way to wake up. Everyone in the classroom is barefoot, including the professor. The class is held in a dance studio equipped with a wooden floor
and a wall-length mirror. In Embodying Pluralism, students discuss ways dance has impacted various cultures. The course, which satisfies the race and diversity general education requirement, requires students to enact what they learn through movement and dance. The class incorporates movement as a sort of learning style, like one might incorporate
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audio or visuals. Though Embodying Pluralism is technically a dance course, the majority of students who take the class are not dance majors, professor Julie Johnson said. Johnson said the course at tracts a wide range of majors, most void of any prior professional dance experience, which,
PLURALISM PAGE 8
When Marcy Maldonado and her daughter Brittany lost their jobs in retail at the same time, they went back to work with each other. The mother-daughter duo opened Milk + Sugar, a traveling dessert food truck, in August 2013. The truck stops in front of the Tyler School of Art every Tuesday to sell to the Temple community. The owners said they specialize in cupcakes of a variety of flavors, as well as cookies and pound cakes. Marcy Maldonado said the transition into owning Milk + Sugar has been natural for her since she enjoys working with her daughter. Brittany Maldonado said she believes their mutual love of baking made it an easy change.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
Tyler school of art | studying abroad
Art students travel to seek inspiration Some Tyler students said studying abroad gave them artistic direction for careers. ALEXA BRICKER The Temple News Walking through the vibrant orange archways of the Fushimi Inari shrine, just two hours south of Tokyo by bullet train, Chris Setty realized he was an art photographer at heart. The senior photography major said he has always felt a desire to travel. He’s already been to Ethiopia and Jamaica for other ventures. However, he said his fascination with Japanese culture made the four months he spent studying abroad at Temple’s Japan campus an eye-opening experience unlike any other. Like other Tyler School of Art students with the travel bug, Setty said he was thrilled to see what Temple Japan had to offer from an artistic perspective, but more importantly, from a cultural perspective. “Art was kind of secondhand in my mind – yes, I was going for photo and I was at an art school, but that wasn’t what really interested me,” Setty said. “But as I got over there and started taking classes, it really piqued my interest in art in general.” Prior to his studies in Japan, Setty said he had not really thought of himself as an “artistic” photographer, but with inspiration from a professor, his interests shifted. “It was [in Japan] where I really got into photography as an art form and not just commercial,” he said. Setty is part of a large community of Tyler students who have taken the opportunity to learn more about their chosen field from a foreign perspective. In addition to courses offered at Temple Japan, students can also choose to study at Temple’s Rome campus. Emma Bedlin, who studies at Temple Rome, said she had high expectations for her trip abroad. Now having spent the past few months there, she said despite being nervous at first, she grew accustomed to the new way of life quickly. “A lot of people speak English here and the Italian teachers here are great and teach you all the essentials you need to know,” the senior photography major and art history minor said. As a photography major, Bedlin said there is only one
Expenses of World Cup are a concern CUP PAGE 7 American culture. People get together to watch it and each family has its own Super Bowl tradition – the World Cup is no different in Brazil. The excitement is even more dramatic. The World Cup happens only every four years and lasts about one month. Brazilians wear yellow and green, put flags in their houses and cars, children at school do artwork about the World Cup and companies will either send their employees home to watch games or provide a TV to watch. Yes, companies close during an important match. Brazil stops. However, even though Brazil is the perfect country in terms of passion to host the event, it is not the right country based on its structure. We are not prepared. Between nine airports that should be reformed by the World Cup, seven are not expected to be ready in time. This year, after the start of school, Brazilians also complained about traffic in the cities. The public traffic division replied, saying that during the World Cup it’s going to be different. In 71 days, they intend to finish the work they couldn’t complete in the last year, or the years before. What about public transportation? Brazil tries to test current options during soccer matches to simulate a World Cup game day. Let’s not forget that people took to the streets in Brazil last year because of the increase of the ticket price for already lowquality public transportation. In addition, there are four stadiums which are scheduled to host games that are still under construction. FIFA got desperate and said last year that Brazil needed “a kick up the ass.” Though FIFA apologized afterward, Brazilians haven’t forgotten. FIFA is now celebrating its projection of $4 billion in revenue for this World Cup. This is 110 percent more than the value it got from the World Cup in Germany in 2006. Make no mistake – FIFA receives all of the revenue, not the country the event is hosted in. However, Brazilian people are the ones paying for the stadiums and all the construction through taxes. It is also Brazil
that is going to offer volunteers to work during the event. FIFA gets the revenue while Brazil will pay the bill. Some will argue that through the World Cup, Brazil will get new stadiums and reforms in transportation. It seems, however, that a country with a bigger tax revenue than the United States and Japan shouldn’t need a soccer competition to get things done for its own citizens. A country that has more than 170,000 people waiting for nonemergency surgeries because of the lack of hospitals, equipment and doctors does not need a World Cup. A country that occupies the 85th position in the Human Development Index list and the seventh in homicide rates, according to FLASCO, does not need a World Cup. B r a z i l needs more health services, hospitals, doctors, schools and better salaries for teachers, among other things. Brazilian citizens also need safety. It has become a joke among Brazilians that citizens want schools and hospitals “on FIFA standards.” The little boys from the famous favelas in Brazil won’t attend the games at the stadiums because they don’t have money for the expensive tickets. You will probably see them in an Adidas commercial between the games’ breaks, but the truth is that they have no money for sneakers. They play soccer barefoot. These boys will be so happy about the World Cup being in Brazil, but that’s the saddest part. Of course, I want the event to be a success. I hope people will be safe and I hope Brazil hosts an amazing World Cup. It would be fantastic if people say afterward, “Remember the best World Cup ever in Brazil in 2014?” But I know there will be no samba to pay the bill. There is only the hard work of all the Brazilians who will watch the World Cup on TV in their living rooms. World Cup for who? Not for Brazil.
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people are the ones paying for the stadiums and all the construction through taxes. It is also Brazil that is going to offer volunteers to work during the event.
Chris Setty found inspiration for his career while studying abroad at Temple Japan. He said prior to his experience, he was interested in commercial work. | ALEXA BRICKER TTN class directed specifically toward photography, but her minor in art history has allowed her to immerse herself in the curriculum and culture. “One day you meet in class and the next day you meet on site and see what you talked about in person and learn all about the buildings and piazzas in Rome,” Bedlin said. “That happens every week – it’s unreal.” Bedlin said she also appreciates having the ability to travel outside of Italy; an experience unique to studying abroad in Europe since transportation from country to country is easier. “After school is over I will have three weeks to travel to Belgium, Amsterdam, Germany and France,” Bedlin said. “For my spring break I traveled around Morocco and Spain. Traveling is so easy here and not too expensive.” Setty and Bedlin said the time they have spent in Japan
and Rome, respectively, has taught them much more about themselves as artists. “I look at things differently,” Bedlin said. “I feel like I was ignorant of other cultures before I came here. I know I will definitely be coming back. All the art and history around here is almost overwhelming.” Both students also said that while traveling to a different country seems intimidating, after a short time they grew comfortable in their new environments. Neither Setty nor Bedlin knew how to speak the native language, but said that being at a university with a connection to Temple helped them adapt and prepare for a more enriched life after college. “I don’t think I would be the same if I didn’t go [to Japan],” Setty said. “I was more motivated because you kind of have travel goggles on when you go and you take pictures of everything and you think, ‘This is awesome.’ It just pumped me
up to be better, and do better.” Though the experience is something that positively impacted the students’ artistic depth, they said everyone can benefit from the experience. “I would recommend it to anyone in any major to do it, because you will have a completely different experience than what you have [in Philadelphia],” Setty said. Bedlin agreed, adding that for her art history minor in particular, being abroad has added an incredible value to the knowledge she has. “To see something you’ve studied for years and only seen on a computer screen or a book is literally breathtaking, speaking from experience,” Bedlin said. “There is so much to learn about other cultures and their art. It’s a beautiful place, with beautiful people and food. I don’t want to leave.” Alexa Bricker can be reached at alexa.bricker@temple.edu.
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Monique Roos can be reached at monique.roos@temple.edu.
Class focuses on diversity of creative expression is unnecessary, she said, “The class is unique to every student,” Johnson said. “There’s no universal aesthetic to this class. There’s a lot of creative movement that happens in that class, and creative movement is movement that emerges from ideas and imaginations and experiences of every student.” Freedom of creative expression is what Johnson said makes Embodying Pluralism appealing. Referencing the title of the course, she said the class is an “embodiment” of ideas circling diversity and race. “In my experience as a student, a teacher, a dancer, as just a human being, I find that
whole body experiencing really ingrains ideas and concepts, but also provides a deeper method of exploration of ideas,” Johnson said. The class frequently hosts guest speakers who educate students on different types of dance, like salsa or classical Chinese. One guest, Magira Ross, recently attended the class to discuss and demonstrate how African dance has evolved throughout time. Johnson said guest speakers are an important aspect of the class because they illustrate the important connection between movement and diversity. She said the speakers help to address important lessons in
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history, such as the Middle Passage, a term used to describe the colonial passage of enslaved Africans to what would later become America. “[Ross] could have stood there and talked about the Middle Passage, but having us actually stand close together in the middle of the room, close our eyes and sway – we’re listening to her talk, feeling the closeness of the other bodies,” Johnson said. “We are physically moving in such a way that evokes our imaginations, and so it comes a much deeper, fuller, original experience.” Senior music major Jon Snyder said speakers like Ross are just one reason why he en-
joys Embodying Pluralism. “I like that [Johnson] has brought in guest artists to better explain dance, because I feel like it was something I never really knew much about,” Snyder said. “I feel like by connecting dance to human aspects, I’ve found a new way to appreciate humanity.” Students in Embodying Pluralism are required to attend dance performances outside of Temple. Johnson allows students to pick the events they attend. “Philadelphia has such a vibrant dance scene and there’s always something different that’s going on,” Johnson said. Johnson said it’s impor-
tant for students to leave Main Campus to attend such performances. “While the campus offers a lot, there’s a lot to be said about being out,” Johnson said. “It helps to enrich the whole learning process. There are just things that we all encounter that we wouldn’t otherwise if we stuck to our normal routine.” Snyder said he thinks of Embodying Pluralism as a class that’s far from normal. He said it provides him with a unique opportunity to bond with his classmates. “We all come together in this strange atmosphere,” Synder said. “I feel like we’ve all come away feeling that we’ve
grown closer as classmates because we’ve spent so much time being open and watching each other.” Snyder, who said he originally enrolled in Embodying Pluralism simply because it fit his schedule, said the class has a number of surprising benefits. “I never thought this course would have such a positive impact on my life,” Snyder said. “Even though it’s 8 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays [and Fridays], I really look forward to being there because it’s so engaging. Plus, I get a little bit of a workout.” Claire Sasko can be reached at claire.sasko@temple.edu.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT DINNER AND A SHOW
PHILADELPHIA DELIVERS TREASURES
Whole Foods on South Street hosted its first Spaghetti Opera last Friday where guests were served pasta while employees performed opera. PAGE 10
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is displaying “Treasures from Korea” until May. The items on display include modern and classic fashion and feature a pop-up Korean restaurant. PAGE 14
temple-news.com
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
The Language of Leadership Philadelphia Young Playwrights and InterAct Theatre Company collaboratively provide leadership and artistic opportunities for students in regional high schools. EMILY ROLEN The Temple News
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airs of eyes stared back at the audience for no more than 20 minutes at a time. Their voices were sometimes shrill, sometimes pleading, laughing, grieving or daydreaming. But regardless of their action, their eyes took refuge in the silent audience members and told the stories of 18 high school students. Six professional actors rotated on and off the bare stage, each performing monologues written by high school students as part of the 2014 Young Voices Monologue Festival, hosted collaboratively by Philadelphia Young Playwrights and InterAct Theatre Company at the Adrienne Theatre’s Playground.
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The 10-day festival boasted four public performances and 11 student matinees, which ended March 29. The festival began 20 years ago when Philadelphia Young Playwrights and InterAct Theatre first collaborated. The process started in fall when high school students were introduced to monologue writing through workshops and demonstrations at their high schools from all across the region. After the demonstrations, the students were invited to write monologues and submit them to be a part of the festival. Out of about 400 monologues submitted, 18 were chosen. Mindy Early, director of education and program services with Philadelphia Young Playwrights, said the students started working with a director and dramaturge in early February, who quickly became their mentors and support systems throughout the process. “In this program, Actors performed at the Adrienne Theatre’s Playground on these writers have a supMarch 26. | CLAIRE SASKO TTN port network and multiple
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Guitarist Avey Tare dabbles in Slasher Flicks A member of Animal Collective talks about his latest project. DAVID ZISSER The Temple News Last year was bereft of a new Animal Collective record. This year is shaping up to follow suit. However, founder and guitarist David Michael Portner, whose stage name is Avey Tare, has been hard at work. With a six-string in one hand and machete in the other, Portner is prepping to unfurl his latest project on the world. Enter the Slasher. No, really. The Animal Collective frontman’s latest project, Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks, is just about ready to sneak up and grab fans. April 8 will see the release of its debut record,
“Enter the Slasher House.” Its press shot sees Portner and his two bandmates – clad in masks, “Friday the 13th”esque machetes in hand – submerged in a pool of blood. Its Facebook description is a brief yarn, reading, “A group of three hippies on a road trip through the backwaters of 2013’s rural music scene fall prey to a murderous cannibalistic band.” And for anyone who pays the trio’s official website a visit, a sensory overload awaits, as the page features a bold haze of trippy colors, as well as a carnival wheel, which can be spun digitally, that appears to have been lifted from the back-woodsiest fairgrounds on earth. But at the risk of thinking the Animal Collective founder has gone dark, Portner was quick to make the intent of the project clear.
A&E DESK 215-204-7416
music
The Yetis boast cold name, warm sound The band composed of Temple students garner international attention. JESSICA SMITH Asst. Living Editor Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks will play at Johnny Brenda’s on April 24.| COURTESY MOTORmOUTH MEDIA “In terms of putting the whole record together as an album, I just started thinking about old-school haunted house fun rides that you’d do at a fair or something, and how it’s supposed to be really scary,” Portner said, “and maybe for a kid it is, on the one hand, but the effects are so cheap and everything’s like an art project.” In the beginning of 2013, Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks began to take form. The first to come on board was girlfriend and former Dirty Projectors
keyboardist Angel Deradoorian, who contributes vocals and keyboards to the trio. “We’ve improvised before and messed around with sounds, but we’ve never really written anything,” Portner said. “So it’s just been a long time coming. I like her keyboard style and her singing’s great, so it just seemed like that was an obvious thing to do.” The final phase of the recruiting process, described by Portner as “more daunting,” came to be while the couple
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ARTSandENTERTAINMENT@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
Lead singer and rhythm guitarist of The Yetis, Nick Gillespie knew he wanted to play music with his best friends since the fifth grade when they would doodle pictures of guitars on their notebooks. Ten years later, the boys from Allentown, Pa., – Gillespie, Collins Horbowyj and brothers Christian and Stefan Luengen – have been signed to a Brooklyn, N.Y., record label and are about to release their EP, “Little Surfer Girl,” in May. But their biggest accomplishment is more personal. “We once won first-place Entertainer of the Year at Park-
land High School,” sophomore English major Gillespie said. The Yetis have a name that lends itself more to winter, but instead have a lighter, much more surf-rock sound influenced by Arctic Monkeys, The Beatles and The Beach Boys. They have been making music together since middle school, and after coining the name in 2009, have played as The Yetis ever since. “The first time we played a show, I puked I was so nervous,” junior film and media arts major and lead guitarist Christian Luengen said. “I obviously don’t get like that anymore.” Gillespie said that even though the four have been playing for years, they didn’t take the band seriously until last November when they started actively seeking out shows and posting their music to SoundCloud. After landing a gig in New
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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Lesley Berkowitz | ANDREW THAYER TTN
art
Philly celebrates literary birthday Whole Foods on South Street recently held its first-ever Spaghetti Opera, where guests were treated to a night of pasta and a live operatic performance. | BRIANNA SPAUSE TTN
A night of pasta, performance This past Friday, Whole Foods held its Spaghetti Opera.
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ur apologies, café is closed,” read a sign blocking the customer entryway at Whole Foods Market on South Street. The message was an invisible red velvet rope that kept curious customers, grinning coworkers and their collective video cameras at bay. It was a charming little setup. The typically heavily trafficked eating area gave off an exclusive vibe when seats for 21 – no more – were getting decorated for the show. Sparkling water with a dash of lemon Brianna Spause and green, heavy Caught in plastic cutlery were the Act aligned with care, with arrangements of fresh flowers as a finishing touch. Enter “Spaghetti Opera.” “Love, love, love – tonight is all about the love,” 2003 Temple graduate and Whole Foods cashier Jim Gwathney said as he addressed the crowd. And by crowd, I mean the 11 people who chose to make an appearance after the whole place sold out. Talk about exclusive. Operas typically follow a storyline of love, but what says love better than a hearty plate of spaghetti and meatballs on a Friday night? That sort of love sparks a joy in your taste buds and a comfort only found in what I have referred to as warmnoodle-belly for more than a decade. So I ate my vegan meatballs with pride, and all was well. That is, until the incredibly disarming bout of digestive issues overcame my plusone and I shortly after finishing. I may have PTMD – post-traumatic meatball disorder – but I digress. The Spaghetti Opera was a first for the grocery store, a dinner-and-a-show spin on its monthly “Supper Club,” which focuses on healthy eating, and the entertainment was provided by none other than Whole
Foods’ own employees. Gwathney said the planning went a little bit like this: Michelle Snyder, a Whole Foods team leader, said last year, “Hey Jim, you sing opera. I love opera, why don’t you sing some opera? “Of course I said yes, because you’ll agree and it will never happen,” Gwathney said. “So I said yes, and last year it never happened. Oh, what a shame. I was totally going to do it.” This year, Snyder asked Gwathney if he was “ready to sing some opera.” “And because [Snyder] is great at her job, here we are,” Gwathney said. “We” was an impressive band of employees. Gwathney, along with fellow cashier Elise Vetanovets and Whole Body associate team leader Shana Baty, performed famous opera pieces over dinner, including several selections from Georges Bizet’s “Carmen.” “One of the things that I love about working at Whole Foods Market is that stuff like this happens,” Gwathney said. “I’m a cashier, and you guys come around and create this presence. I find that amazing.” The event planning wasn’t all about the entertainment, however. Whole Foods has been investing in lessening poverty for more than 10 years now, and has found several creative ways to raise money. In a six-week period from the middle of February to the end of March every year, the grocery store organizes fundraising efforts to benefit Whole Planet. The charity aims to provide microloans to women aiming to raise themselves out of poverty in areas where Whole Foods sources its products. For a healthy, three-course meal, $15 isn’t so bad to begin with, especially not when it’s directed at community development. All of the money Spaghetti Opera brought in, paired with the $38,000 that has been raised thus far, will go into these communities to be recycled. Here’s a bit of context. A small loan, typically starting around $175, will go to a woman in Peru, where Whole Foods gets products like quinoa, cacao and coffee. Once the loan is repaid, it will continue to
be directed into development of that entrepreneur’s community, with the original woman serving as a leader and mentor. “I think one of my favorite parts of this program is that there is a 98 percent repayment rate on the loans,” Gwathney said. “What that means to me is that people aren’t going into lifelong debt, which is important to me. I like the idea that these women are getting what they need in the short-run and using it for this business that they conceived. And when they are successful, they pay the money back.” As a bit of an organic food junkie, I have always loved Whole Foods and now have all the reason more. The simplicity of Whole Planet is what makes the venture so remarkable. It is small, executable steps that will change the world. And hey, the food is great, too – remember? I digressed. It really tasted great, and the vegan chocolate cake was out of this world. I thank chef Ethan Jarvis who told me, “I made this with love” as he placed that huge hunk of chocolaty heaven in front of me. “It was a fun little evening out for a good cause,” patron Stan Ervin said. “It was fun to see the different personalities of the people we see regularly in the store performing and having a good time.” For Ervin and friend Sarah Petrosky, the Supper Club is a monthly must. “Who would decide to go to the grocery story once a month to eat dinner?” Petrosky said. That really stuck with me. Through the opera librettos and steady beeping of the cash registers in the background, it was obvious that the grocery store isn’t a typical Friday night hotspot. Whole Foods has challenged that notion however, providing a sense of community in Philadelphia with its creative event planning and building that community aspect abroad. “I would say the really good thing about this is using public commercial space for arts and making a grocery store a place where we’re happy to come eat,” Petrosky said. Brianna Spause can be reached at brianna.spause@temple.edu.
Two local organizations team up to host Shakespearerelated events. CHELSEA FINN The Temple News Carmen Khan, executive director and artistic director of the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre, has been planning Shakespeare’s 450th birthday for about two years. “We’ve been thinking about this year since the founding of the company 17 years ago,” Khan said. “A couple of years ago, we started brainstorming ideas about a citywide celebration. We were inspired by the cultural Olympiad in Britain during the 2012 Olympics. All of Shakespeare’s 37 plays, 37 different countries, performed in 37 languages. How could we make something as exciting for Philadelphia?" Naming the event “Year of the Bard: Shakespeare at 450,” the Philadelphia Shakespeare Theatre teamed up with the Free Library of Philadelphia along with other local organizations to create a yearlong event. “We were thinking about a key partnership with an organization that was committed to learning that is accessible to all,” Khan said. “Our mission is to make Shakespeare accessible to all. The Free Library was an obvious choice, with their dedication to the uplifting of all citizens for free.” Alix Gerz, director of communications and brand marketing at The Free Library of Philadelphia and Temple alumnus, wants to do as many Shakespeare-related activities and events as possible. “We’re lucky we have a whole year,” Gerz said. “We want to showcase Shakespeare through traditional ways, but we also wanted to dust him off and show that he is still totally relevant today. Like, we have Shakespeare and hip-hop, Shakespeare and video games. We wanted to create a variety
of entry points so anyone can come.” A lecture involving both Shakespeare and video games will take place on April 16. The lecture is called “Shakespeare and Violence,” and will talk about the video game “Grand Theft Auto.” The lecture will be drawing together similarities between the two. Attendees at the event will discuss the similarities and differences between the violence in Shakespeare’s plays, like cannibalism and gouged eyes, and the violence in virtual gaming. The question at large is, what effects does watching violence to this extent do to the viewers and how does it compare to the violent video games that people of all ages spend hours? "Shakespeare’s plays are incredibly violent, and most people consider them just high art,” Khan said. “But think about ‘Titus Andronicus’ – tongues cut out, hands chopped off, disembowelment, rape, parents eating their children in a pie. And that’s just one play. The lecture explores whether the portrayal of such violence has any artistic purpose.” Gerz is expecting a large turnout for the event. In 2012, the library celebrated Charles Dickens’ 200th birthday, which he said was a huge success. Last year, it celebrated “Pride and Prejudice’s” birthday for one day and it was another success, showing the library that if a birthday party is thrown, people will respond, Gerz said. Events will be taking place all over the city for the remainder of the year for “Year of the Bard.” Khan encouraged students to find something they will be interested in. "Students might be interested in Yards Brewery, who brewed a special ‘Shakesbeer’ just for the 450th celebration,” Khan said. “And what a perfect opportunity – to have a beer for Mr. Shakespeare himself.” Chelsea Finn can be reached at chelsea.finn@temple.edu.
Hear all about it | The Yetis Continued from page 9
YETIS
York in January, The Yetis were contacted by a manager of Dazzleships who saw the group’s flier. The small record label focuses on indie bands and has collaborated with Alden Penner of The Unicorns. “[Dazzleships has] The Unicorns and now The Yetis,” Christian Luengen said. “They’ve got a real mythical theme going.” While its new manager has helped book more venues, the band said it can appreciate the vibe of house shows in the Temple area where it can generate a fan base. “It’s easier to get people to come to a house show,” Gillespie said. “The sound systems at venues are better, but house shows are more fun. We like playing in the cold, too. That’s our climate.” “That’s how we got so good – our hands were just cold,” Christian Luengen said.
The band posts information about upcoming shows on its Facebook page for followers. A recent post showed its unofficial banner, designed by a friend Gillespie made when studying in Germany. He shared the band’s music on YouTube and helped garner international fans. “We’re real big in Europe,” Horbowyj said. “No, really. In Munich, Germany, we’re huge.” While the band said booking shows is easy, it’s harder to get together since only Gillespie and Christian Luengen are Temple students. Drummer Horbowyj is a junior at Bloomsburg University and bass guitarist Stefan Luengen is a sophomore at East Stroudsburg University. “In a way, it’s better for us,” Christian Luengen said. “If Stefan and [Horbowyj] went here, we’d just play music all the time. We would never get any schoolwork or anything else done.” The group said the commute hasn’t hindered the songwriting process. All members contribute original
songs and collaborate on the music and lyrics. “We’re constantly writing and seeing what works,” Gillespie said. “We have more than 40 original songs now. Sometimes you write about nothing or sometimes a girl’s got you down. It’s all about the deep feeling.” The band also incorporates covers into its set list, from Vampire Weekend’s “Oxford Comma” to ‘50s and ‘60s rock. Christian Luengen said he once ventured past the two genres by covering “Womanizer” by Britney Spears. Band members said it helps people “dance and go crazy” when audience members recognize the music. But the band said it was a more gratifying and humbling experience when the crowd reacted similarly to its original songs. “The last show we played, people were singing along to our songs,” Gillespie said. “They knew our music, our lyrics. It was so cool.” Gillespie and Christian Luengen described their fan base as a “cult fol-
lowing” and that the small group was fame, getting signed to a record label continuing to grow. Despite this, the and touring the East Coast. But all band denied having groupies. four said “it’s just about having fun.” “I mean, being in a band definite“We’re just playing music with ly helps us with girls,” our friends and hoping Gillespie said. “That’s The last show people like it,” Stefan who we play our acousLuengen said. tic stuff for. But really we played, people That’s all that a just [Horbowyj] gets the were singing along group of kids from girls. We don’t.” Parkland High School “I’m still waiting to our songs. They could have hoped for on the girls,” Stefan Luknew our music, when deciding on a engen said. “I think it’s band name five years our lyrics. It was ago. because I’m the bass player.” “You know it took so cool. Band members them 60 years to dissaid they’re still prone cover the existence Nick Gillespie / musician to nerves before perof the panda bear – it forming, but that it gets makes me think there easier with every show. Gillespie said could be a real yeti out there,” Chriswaiting to get on stage is always the tian Luengen said. “Did you know the worst part. word ‘yeti’ in Tibetan means ‘rock “Once you’re out there, though, thing?’” it’s amazing,” Gillespie said. “Playing “It doesn’t matter where the name rock ‘n’ roll is the most badass thing came from,” Gillespie said. “What it you can do, in my opinion.” really means is us.” The Yetis have a list of long-term Jessica Smith can be reached at goals including achieving worldwide
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jessicasmith@temple.edu.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014 while he was fighting a nasty bout of illnesses, including bronchitis, throat infections and several types of fevers. He said that in order to combat the was living in Baltimore. Jerillnesses, he hashed out some emy Hyman, an old friend of music. Deradoorian’s, was a drummer “I thought a lot about how who Portner watched perform the mind and the body work fairly often. The former Potogether, and a lot about stress nytail member’s work behind and pressure,” Portner said. the kit caught Portner’s atten“Playing these songs and writtion, and as the songs began to ing songs was just one way, finalize, Portner said he knew besides my friends that were he needed to be a part of the around me, it was the one way project. I had to get through it and be Sonically, Slasher Flicks positive. I feel like last year falls somewhere in the realm was a crucial turning point for of psych-pop. Utilizing me in my life. Where I feel like tripped-out, skuzzy vocals, the 2010 era of writing ‘Down fluttering synth, There,’ my last and booming, was I’d almost call record grooving drums, about dwelling the songs were de- it psychologically on this place scribed by Portner was stuck manipulative art. that as “maybe a bit in my head. more traditionally It really has the And I’ve had rock than anything most emotional athelot lastof time I do with Animal few Collective.” And effect on me. years to work although Portner through that. gives films such as David Michael Portner / musician It’s been a long “The Texas Chainprocess and I saw Massacre” a feel like this [record] is sort of nod with the project’s name, a real changer for me.” he gives no credence to the Despite the band’s name film’s darkness. and the grindhouse aesthetic, “I’d almost call it psychoif there’s one all-encompasslogically manipulative art,” ing motif of “Enter the Slasher Portner said. “It really has the House,” it’s positivity. most emotional effect on me. I “Songs like ‘Outlaw’ or don’t necessarily feel like I’m maybe ‘Duplex Tripper’ are in trying to relate the negativity some ways a little bit darker, that goes into something like because they also come from ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massaa bit more of a sinister kind cre.’ It’s never been a side of of, ‘Life’s gonna get you’ kind it that’s really interested me. of way, which is where ‘Enter But just the visual aesthetic, the Slasher House,’ the title, the kind of rough edges and comes from,” Portner said. the blurry lens shots. There’s “But they’re also just the ends just nothing else like that. And of what I’m trying to get out of of course there’s a lot of psymy system, too, to create posichedelic music that’s like that, tivity.” too, especially a lot of early psychedelic music.” David Zisser can be reached at zisserd@temple.edu. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Portner said the material for “Enter the Slasher Flicks” began to manifest
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Reminiscing on ‘WrestleMania’ “WrestleMania” supplies more than just entertainment.
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hoa, whoa, ‘WrestleMania,’ yeah this is our life…” “WrestleMania IX” is for the birds, but at least it left us that catchy theme song. I’ve been pumping it up all week as “WrestleMania XXX” arrives this Sunday from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans. But before I cram my three amigos into my dented 2003 Chevy Cavalier for the Snapchat-filled road trip, let me reminisce on my favorite “Mania” memories since I’ve been following this piledriving melodrama. F l i p p i n g through the channels John Corrigan on my grandparCheesesteaks ents’ bedroom TV, I and Chairshots stumbled across the “Sunday Night Heat” before “Royal Rumble 2000.” The commentators stressed the importance of winning the battle royal and main eventing the greatest spectacle in sports-entertainment: “WrestleMania.” Ah, such a magical word. My 8-yearold mind envisioned Disney World, Christmas and “Celebrity Deathmatch” all blended into one celebration. I had to watch it. Convincing my dad to splurge $50 for pay-per-view wasn’t difficult since he was an old-school wrasslin’ fan himself. But my mom, well, she could rattle off plenty of ways to spend that money and T&A vs. Head Cheese wasn’t one of them. We compromised that I could order “WrestleMania 2000,” but I would go to bed by 10 p.m. and tape the rest of the show. Within five minutes of Ice-T serenading The Godfather and D’Lo Brown down the aisle for the opener – because contrary to popular belief, pimpin’ ain’t easy – I realized “WrestleMania’s” hype was not hyperbole. The “Showcase of the Immortals” attracts mainstream media, celebrities and plebeians outside the WWE Universe, inviting them to sip professional wrestling’s cocktail of athleticism, theatrics and passion. If they get addicted, that’s wonderful. ADVERTISEMENT
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If they cringe at the taste, we’ve got two words for them. When I woke up the next day, I barged into the bathroom asking dad who won the fatal four-way between Big Show, Mick Foley, The Rock and WWE Champion Triple H. Dad claimed Vince McMahon swung a chair at Rocky, leaving The Game to retain the title. But that didn’t make sense because Vince was in The Rock’s corner. So I kept pestering him, “Do you mean Shane McMahon, Vince’s son? It couldn’t have been Vince – he loves The People’s Champ!” I didn’t have time to watch the match before school, so I chuckled all day about my dad’s confusion, finally settling on the theory that Father Time and Budweiser double teamed his vision. When I finally got home and viewed the footage, my jaw dropped. Dad was right. The WWE chairman screwed The Rock, and now I was the laughingstock – another naïve boy hooked to the never-ending saga of pro wrestling. One year later, I was hanging from the proverbial rafters in my basement as Stone Cold challenged The Rock for the WWE Championship. With the two biggest heroes of the Attitude Era clashing in the main event of “WrestleMania X7,” I figured there was “no chance in hell” of McMahon interference souring the outcome. After 13 years, I still get goosebumps hearing Jim Ross segue “and the time is upon us, Paul” to Heyman, his broadcast partner for the universally recognized best “Mania” ever. Go YouTube the pre-match video package set to Limp Bizkit’s “My Way.” You know you want to. Although the legends tore down the Houston Astrodome with an epic encounter, the appalling conclusion lingers over the bout’s quality. Somehow, someway, Vinnie Mac emerged and aided his arch nemesis as Austin pounded The Rock unconscious with a blood-stained steel chair. While the story of Stone Cold craving the gold to the point of selling his soul to the devil made sense, fans simply didn’t want to root against his character. And since Austin never truly catered to the crowd like Hulk Hogan or John Cena, the people had no reason to feel betrayed. We knowingly rallied behind the Texas Rat-
tlesnake at our own risk. But I was only 9 years old at the time of the handshake and by God, McMahon duped me again. Over the next several years I clung to the screen as Hulkamania ran wild once more in Toronto, Brock Lesnar defied gravity with a Shooting Star Press, Edge speared Foley through a flaming table, Donald Trump ate a Stunner, and Trish Stratus triggered my blast into puberty with a slap to Chris Jericho and subsequent makeout sesh with his best friend Christian. And the tears will always trickle as Shawn Michaels mouths, “I’m sorry, I love you” before superkicking Ric Flair into WWE retirement. The night after “WrestleMania XXVII” compelled me to make every wrestling fan’s dream come true. As John Cena and now Hollywood superstar The Rock agreed to battle in one year’s time at “WrestleMania XXVIII,” something stirred inside my soul as I watched from the small monitor in KYW NewsRadio’s Business Center. I had been earning enough money to afford weekly random keggers, and I had never seen my childhood hero compete live. And even though my friends couldn’t coordinate for spring break, I bucked conventional wisdom and spearheaded a trip to Miami to lose our “WrestleMania” virginity. It was the greatest time of my life. We witnessed The Undertaker’s streak reach 20-0, unabashedly pranced in the stands to “Sexy Boy” and drunkenly scolded the Iron Sheik to “humble” Brian Blair up the Killer Beehive. Oh yeah, and The Rock finally won. Luckily, I won free tickets to last year’s “WrestleMania” at the Meadowlands and was able to bring my family. While I’m glad my little brothers experienced the “Granddady of Em All” at such a young age, I was more proud to take my dad to see his childhood hero, Bruno Sammartino, in person. After all, I wouldn’t be packing for New Orleans right now if it wasn’t for him making that $50 investment 14 years ago. You all have the “Heartbreak Kid,” but to me, “Mr. WrestleMania” will always be my dad. John Corrigan can be reached at john.corrigan@temple.edu.
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Philadelphia-based band Mo Lowda & the Humble, comprised of current Temple students, played for a packed crowd at MilkBoy in Center City last Friday. | ANDREW THAYER TTN
Monologue program develops high school writers people saying, ‘We are here for you and your words and your work. We think you are important. We believe in you and your voice,’” Early said. One of the goals of the program was to give the students confidence in both their writing and their voices. “I think something clicks where they realize, ‘I am impactful, I have something to say to say to the world, it will listen and the world will respond and I can start a dialogue in my community,’” Early said. High school junior and one of the 18 monologue winners, Angela Bey of Friends Select School, said the process of revision was a new experience for her in her own writing. “I’m more confident in ADVERTISEMENT
drafting my work now,” Bey said. “Typically, when I write a piece, I’m really defensive about people critiquing my work. But it’s not a bad thing to redo your work or look over your pieces. Now I’ll know exactly how to approach the process and I’ll welcome it in the future.” For most of the professional actors responsible for conveying the vision of the students, the artistic setting of the program was unusual from what they’re accustomed to. “We either look for actors who are comfortable working with students, because it is a very collaborative process with students, or we look for actors involved with new play development,” Early said. “It’s a very different experience to work with a young playwright.
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It takes a different vocabulary and analytical skill and an ability to communicate with a writer who is actually in the room with you.” Tasha Milkman, an actress in the festival and a past teaching artist apprentice, said the experience posed new challenges that aren’t always present for professional performers. “The writing was so personal to some students, so I felt a bigger responsibility to do it justice,” she said. “When the actor is sitting in the front row of the audience, you really want to make it as best as it can be.” Bey said she almost didn’t submit her monologue, “Pedestals,” because of how personal the writing is to her life. “The biggest thing I was
afraid of was having people not understand it,” Bey said. “But my director and dramaturge both related to the piece in such a way that was unbelievable for me. It was great having them because they could relate in their own personal experiences to my work.” The high school students were not present for all of the shows, but they were able to walk through rehearsals with the actors once a week until the show was ready for performances. “We want them to know that if the actor is interpreting things far from what they want, the student knows and feels empowered to be a part of the dialogue and process of revision,” Early said. For Bey, the experience went beyond just drafting a
The Philadelphia Young Playwrights showcase featured multiple monologues. | CLAIRE SASKO TTN monologue and working with professionals. “They really encouraged you to look at your piece,” Bey said. “It speaks to how much they believe in your talent, your potential as an artist and
your writing.” Emily Rolen can be reached at emily.rolen@temple.edu.
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exhibit spotlight: “Treasures from korea”
Exhibit highlights more than the basic
OUT & ABOUT ARTISTIC CONVERSATIONS On Monday at 7 p.m., the Arts Garage, located at 1533 Ridge Ave., will host an open mic night for poets called “The Art of Conversation.” This interactive night of poetry focuses on audience engagement. Open mics take place on the first Monday of every month at the Garage. Admission is $10 and sign-ups for open mic spots start at 7 p.m. –Emily Rolen
PETRUCE ET. AL NOW OPEN (Left) Models show off Korean-inspired dresses created by students of the Art Institute of Philadelphia as a part of the Museum of “Art’s Art After Five” events this past Friday. (Right) Selection of artifacts from Korea dating back to the 14th century. | ALEX UDOWENKO TTN
FASHION Along with conventional showings, “Treasures from Korea” has a fashion show. CAITLIN O’CONNELL The Temple News K-pop and Korean fashion is a treasure. At least, that’s what curators at the Philadelphia Museum of Art think. The event was part of “Treasures from Korea: Arts and Culture of the Joseon Dynasty, 1392-1910,” which will run until May 26. The exhibit focuses on how the Joseon Dynasty shaped Korean culture. The exhibition features various items that have recently made their way out of Korea. From various forms of traditional Korean robes to works of pottery and paintings, this exhibit brings a new experience to visitors. Taking on an interactive form, it allows visitors to listen through audio tapes and recordings as they make their way through the exhibit. The exhibit also allows visitors to learn the Korean form of their name through computers. A gift shop has also been set up so visitors can take home a piece of the culture. “This is an exhibition that we commissioned as a culture exchange between Korea and the U.S,” said Hyunsoo Woo, the Maxine and Howard Lewis associate curator of Korean art at The Philadelphia Museum of Art. Woo is also the curator and organizer of the exhibit. “It’s one of the longest dynasties in the world and it remains on the map today with K-pop, Korean movies and Korean food,” Woo said. “These are wonderful materials that you can use as a window to the Korean culture.” The exhibition has various events celebrating Korean culture scheduled throughout the time it will run at the museum. This past Friday, a fashion show was held, which was inspired by the “Treasures from Korea” exhibit and designed by students from the Art Institute of Philadelphia. The six students constructed designs inspired by the collection of artifacts being featured in the exhibit. Sarah Moyn, who runs the “Art After 5” series at the museum and acted as the organizer for the fashion show, said the clothing featured in the exhibit inspired her to reach out to the Art Institute and its student-designers to have them create Joseon Dynastyinspired pieces. The students were assigned this as a school project to create a modern
and inspired version of the clothing. Each student had various time frames to create their pieces for the show and were given a model or models from Wilhelmina Models to display their designs at the show. Lashae White, 23, is a senior at the Art Institute and constructed her design in 11 weeks. White created a dress with vibrant orange and green silk fabrics, along with a headpiece inspired by two traditional headpieces of the time period. “I was definitely inspired by functional items,” White said. White said a picture of a porcelain brush holder that had flower petals on it inspired her to construct an exaggerated bubble skirt for her garment. “I took it to heart, any inspiration you can take it and make it yours,” White said. Nawal Remiki, 19, is in her third year at the Art Institute and created her design in five weeks. Remiki’s garment is a pale orange and purple highlow silk dress with a small silk jacket. Remiki was inspired by a painting of a Korean woman who wore a similar dress from 1700-1800. “I kind of blended the modern with the traditional,” Remiki said. “I’m a really big fan of Korean culture so I really knew this kind of stuff beforehand.” Alma Alfarisi, 21, created her four designs as her senior collection. Alfarisi created four separate pieces – two female garments and two male garments – in 10 weeks. Each of Alfarisi’s designs features various shades of blue with pieces of white mixed in. To create the pieces, Alfarisi said she read a lot about the shift of women’s rights during Confucianism and Neo-Confucianism, which inspired her to create unisex garments with silhouettes that both men and women could wear. Alfarisi said the pottery featured in the exhibit inspired the color palette for her designs. “It reflected modesty and simplicity, which Confucianism really is about,” Alfarisi said. The other main component of this event was K-pop, which Moyn said was a major factor they wanted to incorporate into the show. Throughout the night, popular K-pop music played during lulls between events. “People don’t know a lot about it and to just get a fresh interpretation through clothing and music,” Moyn said. “I think those are real access points for people to explore the exhibition and culture.” Caitling O’Connell can be reached at caitlin.oconnell@temple.edu.
Wales, Pa., Drummond has been immersed in the world of Korean food to refine the menu’s authenticity. Granite Hill, a museum “If you’re going to do something, you have to be able to know what restaurant, is offering a you’re talking about but also underKorean pop-up menu. stand the complex flavors that are there,” Drummond said. “If it’s calling for kochujang [red pepper paste], ALBERT HONG if it’s calling for a certain soy, it’s The Temple News there 100 percent.” During an earlier sold-out event Chef Gerald Drummond is showin part with the exhibition, Druming Philadelphia that Korean food is mond had Marja Vongerichten as a more than kimchi. special guest chef for one of Granite Starting with lunch and dinner Hill’s monthly interactive chef demon Friday and going through lunch onstrations. The event is scheduled to on Sunday, Granite Hill, located inair on WHYY on May 2. side the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Vongerichten, a mixed-Korean is having a Korean pop-up restaurant adoptee, is a chef who created the to coincide with its exhibit, “Korean show “Kimchi Chronicles” where Treasures.” The restaurant will feashe was able to go back to Korea and ture a Korean menu rediscover her early highlighting a number If you’re going childhood in the form of traditional Korean of the food and cookfoods with modern into do something, ing there. fluences. Her arrival helped you have to be Drummond, who spur the enthusiasm for has been at Granite able to know what what Korean food and Hill for more than two ingredients could offer you’re talking years, said the Korean to the kitchen, not only exhibition has offered about but also for Drummond, but for him the first opportuthe entire Granite Hill understand the nity to collaborate with staff. the rest of the museum complex flavors “They use the staff. word, ‘intense’ – it’s that are there. “In my two-plus flavorful, it’s bold and years here, I’ve had If it’s calling for it’s very different flamore interaction with vors,” Drummond said. for kochujang, the museum’s educaThe process for tional department and if it’s calling for determining what the curators than I’ve will be on the Korean a certain soy, ever had,” Drummond menu and how it will said. “There just seems it’s there 100 be presented has been to be a nice synergy percent. arduous but neceswith us working tosary, Drummond said. gether.” Working in collaboraAlthough GranGerald Drummond / chef tion with other chefs ite Hill is primarily a in the company, DrumFrench bistro, most of mond refers to it as the “developDrummond’s cooking experience is ment” of the menu, where they will with Asian cuisine. Having worked often redo a food’s presentation or at numerous Asian restaurants in the what will be included on the plate. area like Morimoto and Pod, as well As busy as he is, Drummond said as in New York, San Francisco and he’d be bored if he wasn’t. Plus, his cities in Mexico, he said he apprecimove to catering for Granite Hill has ates being able to go back to that style given him time to be at home with his of cooking. 8-year-old daughter. In fact, he will be “I haven’t been using [my backserving her entire third-grade class on ground in Asian foods] tremendously their field trip to the Korean exhibisince I left Morimoto,” Drummond tion. said. “Working here opens up a lot of Drummond hopes to do the same doors with the different exhibitions for the other visitors as well, introducthat come in, which helps me keep the ing them to Korean food they may not food constantly changing.” be familiar with. However, this is Drummond’s “I know there are people out first time working exclusively with there when they think Korean, they Korean food and ingredients, so he think kimchi and there’s so much said he’s making sure to get everymore than kimchi,” Drummond said. thing perfect by learning and experi“That’s what we’re going to do this menting. week – show people that there’s so Whether it’s picking up a couple much more beyond kimchi.” of Korean cookbooks or visiting some
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of the big Asian markets in the Delaware Valley, like Assi Plaza in North
TRENDING IN PHILLY
What people MOSQUITO CURBS VANDALISM are talking @KYWNewsRadio tweeted on March 29 that several playgrounds and parks in Northeast Philadelphia have installed a about in electronic sound device called “the Mosquito” in order to curb Philly – vandalism and after-dark loitering. It emits a harmless highfrom news frequency sound that is found to be irritating to teenagers and young adults, driving them away. and store openings, to music events and restaurant opening. For breaking COUNCILWOMAN AIMS FOR CHANGE news and daily updates, follow The @NewsWorksWHYY tweeted on March 30 that Councilwoman Blondell Reynolds Brown is lobbying for a change in the city’s Temple News on Twitter @Thecharter in order to establish a permanent Commission for WomTempleNews.
en. Mayor Bill Green was the last mayor to have such a commission, which would deal with some of the issues facing women. The council has yet to vote on the change.
Chefs Justin and Jonathan Petruce recently opened their new restaurant, Petruce et al., located at 1121 Walnut St. After working for David Katz under the now closed restaurant Meme, the two are venturing into the restaurant business for the first time. The restaurant’s main feature is a wood-fire oven and Argentinestyle grill, which are being used for items like albacore, skate and chicken. The restaurant will be open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday 5-11 p.m., and Friday through Sunday 5-12 p.m. –Albert Hong
SPECIAL CONCRETE Lasting through April 6, three Shake Shack locations in Center City, University City and King of Prussia are serving a special concrete using vanilla frozen custard blended with a slice of Magpie’s lemon curd pie and fresh raspberries. The prices will range from $4.25 for a single scoop and $6.50 for a double scoop. –Albert Hong
FLOWERS IN BLOOM From April 4-6, the Landmark building, owned by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, will have a full flower showcase featuring a variety of floral arrangements. Called “PAFA in Bloom,” the event will offer more than 60 designs created by 15 garden clubs and 45 flower designers through Shaffer Designs. There will be events correlating with the project all weekend, including a preview reception, flower workshops and floral presentations. –Chelsea Finn
This Sunday, stop by the Philadelphia Museum of Art and pay what you wish. Save the regular student admission pricing of $14 by visiting the museum on the first Sunday of each month, or every Wednesday after 5 p.m. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and open later on Wednesdays and Fridays until 8:45 p.m.
Albert Hong can be reached at albert.hong@temple.edu.
–Kerri Ann Raimo
POETRY POP-UP FESTIVAL @PhillydotcomENT tweeted on March 28 that April is poetry month and Philadelphia will host its own Poetry Day. This pop-up festival will feature readings from poets in venues across the city. To participate, or for listed events, check out phillypoetryday.com.
FREE YOGA AT RACE STREET PIER @uwishunu tweeted on March 30 that, beginning on April 5, Race Street Pier is hosting free morning yoga sessions every day, except for Wednesdays, taking place from 9-10 a.m. A yoga mat is needed. Schuylkill Banks is also hosting free yoga beginning on April 5, every Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 a.m. It is located on 25th and Locust Streets.
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New dorm campaign advertises unification Residential Life is heading a campaign about acceptance. ALEXA BRICKER The Temple News
(From left) Brittany and Marcy Maldonado are a mother and daughter business team.| ALEXIS WRIGHT-WHITLEY TTN
Business partnership a family affair “My mom and I both come from a retail background, but we started selling cupcakes on the side after trying to recreate some of our favorite treats from New York cupcake bakeries,” Brittany Maldonado said. “We really enjoyed baking, so we decided to just go for it as two untrained bakers.” Milk + Sugar also stops at Drexel, 10th and South streets, and Third and Spring Garden streets. Like other traveling truck owners, the Maldonados said they don’t believe that sticking to a permanent location would positively benefit their business. “We really love the idea of being able to reach Philadelphians all over, and that each location has a different kind of customer and whole new group of people,” Brittany Maldonado said. “We want to appeal to the masses and satisfy people all over the city.” Being mother and daughter as well as business partners is sometimes a challenge for the Maldonados, but the two agreed ADVERTISEMENT
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that they see eye-to-eye on most issues that come up with the truck. Marcy Maldonado said she believes their relationship gives them a competitive advantage. “Working together has made us closer and makes me more present,” Marcy Maldonado said. “I feel like when moms work full-time, they miss out on important moments that I’m now getting with all of the time spent together. Being mother and daughter allows us to debate over issues and easily come to an agreement, and we have an edge because even when we’re not working, we’re still thinking of new flavors and ideas.” The truck has some standard cupcake classics, but it also specializes in creative treats. Some popular recent options have been the pineapple upside down cupcake – a vanilla cake topped with caramelized pineapple compote, vanilla cream cheese frosting and a cherry – and the Beyoncé-themed “Drunk In Love” cupcake – a
pink Moscato cupcake topped with strawberry Moscato cream cheese frosting and a fondant surfboard. “Our goal is to make every cupcake moist, light and fluffy, no matter the flavor,” Brittany Maldonado said. “But we’re trying to separate ourselves from the pack by serving more than just cupcakes, and we hope to include even more treats this spring.” When the truck is commissioned for large events, the Maldonados said it would be challenging to manage their usual baking process between two people. Being a family owned and operated business, Marcy Maldonado said she usually calls on her two other children, Brandon and Shannon, to help out. “Brandon and Shannon are both very supportive of the business,” Marcy Maldonado said. “Both have helped with large vending events, and Shannon has become an investor in the business because she believes in us.”
With a few other treat-serving spots already on campus, such as Insomnia Cookies and Undrgrnd Donuts, the Maldonados said that Milk + Sugar needs to be competitive. “When it comes down to it, we’re all serving some kind of sweet treat, unlike most trucks at Temple that are serving breakfast and lunch items,” Brittany Maldonado said. “We’re all more of an impulse purchase in comparison to buying a salad or sandwich. Additionally, Milk + Sugar is not the first cupcake truck in Philadelphia and probably not the last.” Marcy Maldonado said Main Campus is one of their favorite places to park Milk + Sugar. “We’ve had nothing but positive reactions to our truck and are always excited to sell at Temple,” Marcy Maldonado said.
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Ariane Pepsin can be reached at ariane.pepsin@temple.edu.
A new organization at Temple is working to ensure that residential life remains an enjoyable element of the college experience. The Owl Stand Up program, started by Assistant Director of Residential Life Steve Dexter, intends to promote the core values of respect and responsibility the rest of the university expects from students inside the classroom. “We are trying to be an organization that clearly defines our values, and those values are responsibility, integrity, respect, support and the other big piece of the campaign, which is leadership,” Dexter said. “We work with a bunch of school leaders, and this campaign is an effort to let students know what we are about.” Whether or not bullying is an obvious problem, Dexter said it is something Residential Life must address and handle properly by letting students know what is and is not acceptable. “Across the nation, bullying is an issue in high school, which often leads into college,” Dexter said. “We have had a few incidents of bias [at Temple], so we are working to help teach our residents about respect and responsibility.” One of the most recognizable aspects of the campaign involves posters around each of the residence halls. The posters show students with painted messages on their arms such as “stop hate” and “start educating,” and are designed to raise awareness and inspire students. Since launching the campaign about a year ago, Dexter
said Residential Life has focused on the work of resident assistants. “When I was thinking about this program and this campaign, I really wanted to highlight and capitalize on the RAs and student workers in our department,” Dexter said. “I wanted to use them as an outlet to let students know what we will and will not tolerate.” Owl Stand Up also holds RA-led programs each month to promote its message. Nadia Ouazzi, an RA in Morgan Hall, said the program is addressing an issue that she and other students experience all of the time. “I think the idea of spreading kindness is always a good idea,” the junior communications major said. “As students, we see and hear so many stories of bullying and being mean to one another, which is so disheartening. I believe anything that encourages acceptance and kindness is a campaign worth supporting.” Dexter said students can also use Twitter to interact with members of the program. On each poster, students will see the hashtag “#owlstandup,” which provides another outlet for students to ask questions and get involved. By providing these outlets to students via their RAs and other aspects of residential life, Dexter said he hopes the program will provide encouragement to speak up against disrespect in the residence halls. “My ultimate goal and wish would be that all students, regardless of skin color, sexual orientation [or] ethnicity can come into one of our residence halls and live and thrive feeling safe, welcomed and encouraged to be who they are,” Dexter said. Alexa Bricker can be reached at alexa.bricker@temple.edu.
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(Left) Colleen Hooper leads a rehearsal for the National Water Dance in a Temple studio. Hooper choreographed the performance to be fluid to resemble water. | ABI REIMOLD TTN
Fluidity of water conveyed with dance WATER PAGE 7 gram. “If you are interested in water issues, I wanted to provide a very short, to the point list of places that people could become involved, just to start the dialog,” Hooper said. The show has brought together a diverse group of dancers from the Temple community, from award-winning faculty member Merian Soto to undergraduate students like Carolina Caban, a freshman neuroscience major. Caban, who’s been dancing for 14 years, signed up to receive emails from the dance department and said she was immediately drawn to the project. “Dancing for me is always rewarding, but I feel like the movement [Hooper] is creating with us is very inspiring,” Caban said. “I like to show people that art can be something that helps the world too. [The dance is] something that has to do with our planet and I thought it was amazing to
mix it with the thing I love – dance.” Caban said she needs to be “on top of her game” as she works with highly experienced dancers like Soto, or another alumna Jimena Alivar, who received her Master’s of Fine Arts in dance in 2010 and returned to the country for the semester from her native Colombia after hearing of the National Water Dance. Hooper said Soto’s involvement was a “big vote of confidence” for the performance. “To have one of my mentors expressing her support for us by being part of this was a really big deal,” Hooper said. Alivar said she enjoys working with the other dancers in the National Water Dance. “It was a great opportunity to reconnect and be part of the Temple community,” Alivar said. “I think that we’re always learning from each other so it’s a great experience, just to take a moment
and be part of the group, not necessarily, ‘Oh, you can do this or you can’t do that,’ we’re being a team right now. And that is very satisfying, actually.” MacDonald said she doesn’t see “any inconsistency” because the dancers work very well together. They all came together for the same reason, she said. Jonathon Katz, a 2008 music education and jazz performance graduate, was brought on by MacDonald as a composer to create the live music that will be performed at the National Water Dance. Much like Hooper used input from all the dancers to create choreography, Katz said he watched videos of the dancers in order to create the musical score. “I can kind of get the feel through what [Hooper’s] portraying just because she’s so talented,” Katz said. “I don’t even need to know Continued from page 1
SINGCHRONIZE
Singchronize, an all-female a cappella group, formed in 2009. The group of student-singers is recording their first album, to be released this spring. | ANDREW THAYER TTN
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supportive of the group’s efforts to heighten its profile. Kiehner, the musical director and a senior music education major, agreed that Main Campus is a positive atmosphere for the group. “We’re all really involved with the a cappella community – we all have pretty strong bonds with the groups,” Kiehner said. “People are dating, people are best friends with each other, it’s really cool.” Singchronize has 17 active members, seven of whom joined in the past year. Each semester, members vote on 12 to 13 new songs to learn. Kiehner said Singchronize has a number of women who can sing from deeper vocal ranges, allowing for more musical variety in what they sing. In the past, the group has performed music by artists like The Beatles, Sara Bareilles, Regina Spektor and Adele. Singchornize’s performance at Friday night’s Phillies game was the second time Laskowski and fellow senior and criminal justice major Meredith Moga stood in front of the crowd at Citizen’s Bank Park to sing the national anthem. The two students have had four-year a cappella careers with Singchronize. “We were really anxious, it was a get-back-together type thing [over the summer],” Moga said of her first time singing at the stadium. “This time it’s a completely different group of girls. They have three years to continue and hopefully it becomes a tradition.” For the first-timers, singing in front of the audience at the Phillies first home exhibition game on March 28 was an experience to remember. “I wasn’t nervous until we got [on the field] and then it was like, ‘Gasp,’” Elena Sanchez, a sophomore music education major, said. “I don’t think a lot of people can say they’ve sung the na-
what the event is going to be, because she does such a good a job portraying that. We can speak to people without words.” He said he’s tried to be true to the waterthemed performance with “soft sounds and nice long notes,” that correspond with what he called the “natural flow” or Hooper’s choreography. Hooper said her use of fluidity is an intentional nod to water’s constant presence. “Something I’ve been talking about is the water within our bodies, because we are mostly water,” Hooper said. “Some of the movement is to connect with the liquid and the water nature of our own bodies.” Erin Edinger-Turoff can be reached at erin.edingerturoff@temple.edu or on Twitter @erinJustineET.
tional anthem at a Major League Baseball game, so that’s pretty cool,” Steph Hirsch, a freshman journalism major, said. The arrangement of “The Star-Spangled Banner” performed by Singchronize has been in the group’s repertoire for years and is tailored to its uniquely wide vocal range, Kiehner said, adding that the group has been practicing the song for a few weeks to prefect the different vocal parts. “It’s not a hard arrangement, we all know the song, it’s just learning the harmonies,” Kiehner said. Though Singchronize had been invited to perform at Phillies games in the past, its most recent appearance was more a stroke of luck, Kiehner said. Since the group was stuck on a two-to-three-year waiting list, Laskowski said she was completely surprised when she got a call from the ball club last week saying that a spot had opened for the preseason home opener. In addition to performing at sporting events, Singchronize traveled to the White House during winter break to perform in the hallways during the annual holiday tour, a trip also taken by Broad Street Line, a well-known all-male a cappella group from Temple. While the singers of Singchronize agreed that there is a common bond between the groups at Temple,
there is also a level of friendly competition. The same day Singchronize was at the White House, Broad Street Line was given the audience of Barack and Michelle Obama. Earlier this month, Singchronize performed in the current group’s first competition, a fundraiser at West Chester University for Camp Dreamcatcher, a nonprofit dedicated toward children affected by HIV/AIDS. “We went into it like, ‘This will just be a fun performance opportunity,’” Laskowski said. “Once we got there we were like, ‘We gotta win, we gotta win.’” Singchronize won first place, a prize of $600, at the fundraiser for their performances of “Because” by The Beatles and Carole King’s “A Natural Woman,” which will appear on its upcoming album. Through an Indiegogo campaign and private fundraising this summer, the group raised $4,000 toward recording its new album. It is currently recording the album at Drexel University and expects to release it this spring. John Moritz can be reached at john.moritz@temple.edu or on Twitter at @JCMoritzTU.
Singchronize performed the national anthem at the Phillies game this past Friday. | ANDREW THAYER TTN
LIVING
PAGE 18
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
CLIPPINGS
AROUND CAMPUS UPCOMING SEAL GALA
LaTosha Traylor is a newly hired assistant professor in the criminal justice department. She is particularly interested in instructing students about the lives of previously incarcerated women, some of whom she’s personally shadowed for research. ONLINE. | SASH SCHAEFFER TTN
‘Hair’ leaves actors inspired to change Temple Theater debuted “Hair” on March 26 to an almost full house. DARRAGH DANDURAND FRIEDMAN The Temple News A tribe of flower children ran rampant all over Tomlinson Theater’s main stage, singing “Let the Sunshine In.” The actors went up and down the aisles, shaking their messy hair and professing their sincere belief in the powers of peace, love and hippie-dom. Temple’s spring production of “Hair: The American Tribal LoveRock Musical” debuted on March 26 to an almost full house. The audience clapped, sang and swayed along to the psychedelic tunes of the 1960s musical. Director Brandon McShaffrey said it was not as simple as just recreating the Broadway hit. McShaffrey, a freelance director and choreographer based in Phila-
delphia, has directed various shows in the area. He said directing “Hair” was “unlike any other musical [he has] directed,” because when rehearsals began, his script was almost blank. This was part of an effort to build the show from the ground up with the ensemble, known as the “tribe” in this production, he said. For McShaffrey, it was important that the full cast work together to create a show that represented not only the traits of the free-spirited characters, but the personalities of the actors as well. “It fell into my responsibility to assemble a tribe of young people who not only held the talents to perform the show, but were equally politically and socially minded,” McShaffrey said. He added that he made it clear being in “Hair” was about more than what he called “archetypal hippie behavior.” Cameron Scot Slusser, a senior theater major, plays the character Claude. Having spent a bit of time working in both college and professional plays, Slusser said he was excited to be part of what he considers to be a show that changed his life.
“I feel as though I can speak for everyone [in the cast] when I say that ‘Hair’ has been more than memorizing lines and choreography,” Slusser said. “I left every rehearsal feeling refreshed, more alive and feeling that I needed to make a change in the world.” Slusser and senior theater major Rachel Quinn, who plays the character Crissy, said the experimental and funky aesthetic attracted them to the show. “There is magic in musical theater that is hard to find anywhere else,” Quinn said. Quinn credited McShaffrey for giving the production a sense of community that encouraged a bond between the play and the studentactors. “I believed in his vision for the show before the audition and I continue to believe in him and this vision every day,” Quinn. “Our entire tribe does.” McShaffrey said he knew he wanted his cast to be as open as possible with one another. During rehearsals he would encourage meditation and paint-ins, as well as
have regular group discussions about controversial topics. Matters ranging from race, gender, sexuality and religion were on the table, prompting the students to address their personal opinions as well as consider the perspectives of their radical counterparts from decades past. One societal debate discussed was hair modification. “[We discussed] all of our hair – head, armpits, pubic, legs, nose, et cetera - [and] what hair means in our various cultures and America’s war of hair,” McShaffrey said. The messages of “Hair” go beyond sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll, McShaffrey said. The primary message is the need for a more loving world. He said the show stands the test of time after 46 years because the performance itself has a deeper significance. Temple’s production of “Hair” will run until April 6.
The Society of Emerging African Leaders, a studentrun organization created in 2009, will host its second annual award gala on Friday at 8 p.m. in Room 200C of the Student Center. The theme of the gala will be “Africa Rising,” celebrating entrepreneurial efforts of African immigrants in America. Two African business founders will be honored for their achievements along with one current student, Chima Onukwuru. The keynote speaker of the gala will be Yetunde Odugbesan, the founder of Yetunde Global Consulting LLC, a management consulting firm, and the founder and executive director of Young Woman’s Guide. Ventures Magazine Africa recognized Odugbesan as an “entrepreneur to watch” in 2013. The two professional awardees are Farai Gundan and Semhar Araia. Gundan is the co-founder and CEO of FaraiMedia LLC, a networking agency for companies that strive to reach African audiences. Araia is the founder and executive director of Diaspora African Women’s Network and won the White House Champion of Change award in 2012. Onukwuru will be featured to showcase his own work in the community of African entrepreneurs, the creation of his website “Africans Can Gossip.” The site acts as a networking tool for African students, created for the sole purpose of advertising and promoting the events hosted by African organizations at universities. When school is not in session, the website aims to keep users updated on current events, providing information on the latest in entertainment. The event will be hosted by Ebun Olaloye, an alumnus who created the organization Live Breathe Futbol. The event will provide dinner and refreshments and is free to students. -Erin Edinger-Turoff
ARTISTS HONOR BICYCLING
In honor of the growing community of bicyclists in Philadelphia, the city’s Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy will be holding an art reception on April 9. The reception is being held to highlight the work of winners from last summer’s competition, which was held by the department. The competition challenged artists all over the world to create intricate and creative bike racks. After the winners were selected, artists from the greater Philadelphia area were also encouraged to submit their own pieces to help represent the bike culture of the city and sustainability. Two of the artists chosen from Philadelphia include alums Donnell Powell and Eric Mozes, whose mixed media sculpture “Boundaries Therefore We Brake” will be on display on the second floor of City Hall for the next four months. The reception on April 9 will take place from 5-7 p.m. on the first and second floors, as part of the Art Gallery at City Hall. Doors will officially open to the public starting at 6 p.m. but guests who arrive early may sign in at the northeast corner of the building, near the office of the mayor. -Alexa Bricker
Darragh Dandurand Friedman can be reached at darragh.friedman@temple.edu.
DOLLAR DOG NIGHT Starting Wednesday, the Student Center will be selling discount tickets for the Phillies Dollar Dog Night game against the Atlanta Braves on April 14 at 7:05 p.m. Tickets are $10 with student ID and include a $10 food voucher. Tickets can be purchased at The Reel box office, open Wednesday through Friday from noon-6 p.m. Only two tickets can be purchased per ID. -Jessica Smith
URBAN RIDING LESSONS
The Office of Sustainability is sponsoring an Urban Riding Basics course for students, faculty and staff who are anxious about bike riding in the city. The course lasts 30-45 minutes and teaches the “basics of safety, laws of the road and how to conduct a pre-ride equipment check.” The course will take place on Thursday in Room 102 of the Engineering Building from 2:30-3:30 p.m. The event is free and open to all. Each attendee will receive a biodegradable Bike Temple water bottle. -Jessica Smith
Student-actors who performed “Hair” said participating in the show left them feeling motivated to promote social change in today’s world. The title of the musical reflects the styles of ‘60s era hair, particularly that of the hippie community. | COURTESY JOSEPH LABOLITO
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
“What do you think
needs to change in attitudes between Temple students and citizens in the surrounding community?
”
JANE BABIAN TTN
“Maximize control of student behavior. Educate them on how to carry themselves in the surrounding communities.”
MAX STAHL
SOPHOMORE | COMMUNICATION STUDIES
“Hold students accountable for their actions. Police [aren’t] necessarily good, but extra wouldn’t hurt.”
“There is no boundary set between the school and the community. If you weren’t from the neighborhood, you’d think Temple stretched on forever.”
SHAWN NAPIER
JONNY DAVILA
SENIOR | COMMUNICATION STUDIES
JUNIOR | MEDIA STUDIES & PRODUCTION
SPORTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
PAGE 19
SPORTS BRIEFS
Dingle granted another year of eligibility after injury WAIVER APPROVED, DINGLE TO PLAY AS REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE Temple announced that sophomore forward Daniel Dingle has received a medical hardship waiver, meaning he will be a redshirt sophomore next year. Dingle played in 10 games before tearing his right meniscus, starting two and averaging 6.8 points per game. He needed the waiver because he played in more than 30 percent of games in 2013-14. Coach Fran Dunphy said the Owls’ lone postseason game, a double-overtime 94-90 loss to South Florida, was a deciding factor in the NCAA’s decision to grant the waiver, although the extra game didn’t bump Dingle below the 30 percent mark. Dingle suffered the injury in a Dec. 29 practice. Forward Daniel Dingle (left) shoots over a Texas defender during a 2013 loss at the Wells Fargo – Evan Cross Center. The NCAA granted Dingle’s medical waiver last week. | HUA ZONG TTN
FOOTBALL PROGRAM HIRES WIESEHAN AS OFFENSIVE LINE COACH Former University of Hawaii running backs coach Chris Wiesehan has been named the offensive line coach. Wiesehan, who has been coaching for 20 years, coached alongside Matt Rhule at the University of Buffalo from 1999-2000.
“Chris is a very intense coach,” Rhule said in a statement. “He brings a great football mind to Temple. I’ve known him a long time and have always paid attention to the teams where he has coached and how tough he is to recruit against. He knows how to develop tough players.” Wiesehan played wide receiver and returned kicks at Division III Wabash College from 1990-93. Wiesehan replaces Allen Mogridge, who went to Central Florida to become the defensive ends coach. -Evan Cross
has five rowing programs – Central Florida, Southern Methodist, Tulsa, Connecticut and Temple. Adding two more programs to The American means that winning the conference championship will automatically qualify a team for the NCAA championship. This could only be granted to a conference with a minimum of six teams. -Danielle Nelson
GOLF OWLS EARN TENTH AT FURMAN INTERCOLLEGIATE TOURNAMENT
The golf team placed 10th in the 17-team field at the Furman Intercollegiate Tournament in Greenville, South Carolina over the weekend. Sophomore Brandon Matthews tied for fourth place overall among the 111- player field. “It always helps getting a couple of tournaments under your belt when you’re coming right out of winter,” Matthews said. “That first tournament is tough. “ SACRAMENTO STATE, SAN DIEGO “Obviously you’re never really satisfied,” senior STATE TO JOIN THE AMERICAN Matt Crescenzo said after finishing in 26th place. “For Beginning in the 2014-2015 season, the women’snot being able to practice that much, I guess we’re rowing programs of Sacramento State and San Diego doing pretty good.” Temple fell in the standings early in the tournaState will join the American Athletic Conference. ment, only to rise back up a few spots and earn the Women’s rowing coach Rebecca Grzybowski said it only benefits the conference with both teams 10th-place finish. -Chase Senior coming into The American. The conference currently
ROWING
softball spotlight | sarah prezioso
DiPietro: Prezioso is most athletic player I ever coached The senior shortstop is closing in on more program records. DON MCDERMOTT The Temple News When Sarah Prezioso was 12 years old, she didn’t want to play softball. Her father tried to convince her to join a softball team, but she was reluctant. She didn’t want to stop playing with her little league baseball team. “I was playing with all boys,” the senior shortstop said. “I was the only girl on an allboys little league team. My dad was my coach.” Prezioso eventually realized that she had outgrown little league, and picked up a softball for the first time in her life. Now, a decade later, her teammates at Temple say they are glad she did. “I think Sarah has put the program in a different league than it would have been without
her,” junior Julia Kastner said. “She’s an athlete. She could have excelled in any sport she picked. When she came to Temple, we all got really lucky.” Prezioso has been one of the team’s most consistent performers during her four-year career with the Owls. She is in threeway ties for the single-season records for games played and home runs, and holds the singleseason records for runs scored and stolen bases. She also holds the career records for hits, home runs and total bases. Prezioso has 51 career steals, which ties her with the career record. She needs to score seven more runs to take over the career record for runs scored. “Phenomenal is probably one word I would use for her,” coach Joe DiPietro said. “She can do it all. She’s the fastest runner on our team. She’s a leader. She has all the things you would look for in a player. Like they say, those five-tool players. I’ve been doing this a long time. She is without question the most athletic player I’ve
Sarah Prezioso waits for a pitch in the batter’s box. Prezioso leads the team in hits and runs scored. | TTN FILE PHOTO ever coached.” Prezioso is a team leader, but she stayed in the background during her freshman campaign in 2011. “I think it was more of a learning experience for me, because college is obviously completely different than high school and summer ball,” Prezioso said. “I just wanted to see what college softball was all about.”
“She was very quiet, just went about her business,” DiPietro said. “As she got more accustomed to the college game, she’s taken on the leadership role and she’s been awesome.” DiPietro and Kastner both said that Prezioso is not a leader who feels compelled to talk constantly to get a point across. “As a leader, she definitely leads by example more than [she] voices it,” Kastner said.
“And I think everybody responds to that way better.” But if the occasion demands something vocal, Prezioso can step up in that regard as well. “She does have moments where she’s like, ‘No, that’s enough of this, I’ve got to say something,’” DiPietro said. “And she will. There have been times where I’ve gone out to say something and she beats me to it.” Prezioso’s athletic skills have sometimes caused the team to take her talent for granted, DiPietro said. He recalled an instance last season, when Prezioso made two spectacular plays against Monmouth. Watching her, DiPietro realized that he just assumes Prezioso will make great plays. “She’s made so many outstanding plays, that for us it becomes almost commonplace,” DiPietro said. After this season, the multifaceted Prezioso is hoping to join the National Pro Fastpitch league. Her teammates say they will miss her leadership, her
Entering The American, tennis budgets and facilities don’t stand up to the competition TENNIS PAGE 22 “They cut a lot of programs around the country so everybody’s a little bit leery about that,” Mauro said. “I just tried to remain optimistic.” The administration cited facilities as one of the primary reasons for its decision to terminate men’s gymnastics, men’s track & field, softball, baseball. Athletic Director Kevin Clark said the decision was made “to give our student-athletes remaining a chance to compete and give them the experience they deserve.” A university spokesman said in December that the tennis programs were spared from elimination due to their low budgets and cost-effectiveness. Memphis is one of the seven schools in The American that funds two tennis teams, but the Tigers operate on more than
three times the expenses Temple does. In 2009, the Racquet Club of Memphis became the home for the Memphis tennis teams. The Racquet Club of Memphis is a 186,000-square foot facility located on 12 acres of land in East Memphis and is an annual stop for the Association of Tennis Professionals and Women’s Tennis Association world tours. It will also serve as the host site for The American tournament April 18-20. Memphis tennis stands above each other school in the conference in terms of funding, but even programs with lower operating expenses than the Tigers have efficient facilities. Cincinnati, which only sponsors a women’s program, spends less on tennis than Temple but has the on-campus Trabert-Talbert Tennis Center, which has light-
ing and grandstand seating for spokesperson said the adminis500 people. Rutgers has six tration is still deciding how to all-weather courts with an adja- best reallocate the newly availcent tennis house with space for able funds. game-film viewing, team meetMarquart said the team ings and classroom instruction. doesn’t get a lot of crowd supThe Owls’ six tennis courts port at its home matches and on Main that he hopes stuCampus dents soon underwere resurstand the program’s faced ahead situation. Even if the of the 2013Owls don’t have a 14 season, state-of-the-art-facilbut there is ity, he said, it would no seating still be nice to have a option in crowd come out and place that show support. could hold Marquart said he a sizable is looking forward to Steve Mauro / coach audience. heading to Memphis T h e later this month for administration estimates the the conference tournament to cuts to five sports will save the compete in a premier facility. athletic department $2 million Temple has played matches to $2.5 million. An athletics this spring at the Legacy Youth
“They cut a
lot of programs around the country so everybody’s a little bit leery.
”
Tennis complex and has its last three homes matches of the regular season at the Student Pavilion on Main Campus. But Legacy is not operated by the university, which presents obstacles when Mauro schedules home matches. “We’re at the mercy of the public,” Mauro said. Sophomore Nicolas Paulus said the team doesn’t pay too much attention to its facilities or budget. “We can’t change anything right now on the court,” Paulus said. “We just have to win.” Greg Frank and Avery Maehrer can be reached at sports@temple-news.com.
great plays – and her sense of humor. “She’s hilarious,” Kastner said. “If someone’s having a bad mood, she can easily come over to you and kind of say something silly, nothing about softball, but just kind of make your day better. Everyone loves her on our team.” Prezioso has a life outside of softball, but she described it as “pretty boring.” “I watch a lot of Netflix,” Prezioso said. “I just try and really stay relaxed, because when I play softball, I’m always busy. On the weekend I usually just hang out with people on our team.” Her teammates have little objections to hanging out with Prezioso. “Her teammates think she’s awesome,” DiPietro said. “She treats them all like they’re her sisters. Fantastic person, great player. She’s got the whole package.” Don McDermott can be reached at donald.mcdermott@temple.edu.
Continued from page 22
FOOTBALL
the secondary a lot, but plans on having multiple packages ready to go. The rain put a bit of a damper on Alumni Day. The team was expecting about 40 former Owls to come to practice, but only 25 showed up, including former running back Paul Palmer. Dixon is the third member of his family to play for the Owls. His brother, Raheem Brock, was a defensive end from 1998-2001. Their father, Zachary Dixon, played from 1977-78. Hassan Dixon said his father originally didn’t want him to go to Temple, since Hassan Dixon was recruited by “a lot” of other schools. “It was a great feeling to uphold tradition and come here to Temple,” Hassan Dixon said. “It was the only place I wanted to go. My father actually didn’t want me to come here, but I was adamant about coming here. I feel like I made a great decision.” Evan Cross can be reached at evan.cross@temple.edu or on Twitter @EvanCross.
SPORTS
PAGE 20
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
Thirty-eighth-year head coach Fred Turoff (left) stands beside his son Evan Eigner, a sophomore gymnast, at the program’s final appearence in the ECAC championships in Annapolis, Md. Volunteer coach Tom Gibbs (right), who competed at Temple with Turoff in the 1960s, looks up during the program’s final home meet in history on Feb. 15. | HUA ZONG TTN
After 88 years, gymnastics comes to an end GYMNASTICS PAGE 1 an Owls squad featuring NCAA National Champions Bob Stout – a 1952 Olympian – and Joe Bareneto won the first and only NCAA Championship in team history in 1949. Younger’s run as coach ended in 1955 after 28 years. Alumnus Carl Patterson came in as the program’s third head coach. Patterson became linked with one of Temple’s most famous alumni and eventually trained the team’s current head coach, Fred Turoff, when he came to Temple in 1966. “[Patterson] made a very favorable impression on Bill Cosby,” Turoff said. “Because when I spoke with Cosby, he had mentioned Patterson’s name several times in conversations. I know that Patterson told him how to do a handspring off a vaulting horse, among other things.” The Owls went on to win two more EIGL championships in 1963-4 and 1967-8. Shortly after the 1968 NCAA Championship, where Temple finished fourth, Patterson died of a stroke, leaving the head coaching job open for Bill Coco, who coached the Owls from 196873. During Coco’s time as coach, Temple became successful in the regular season (46-11), but failed to claim an EIGL Championship. Coco also had the responsibility of coaching one of the most successful youth women’s gymnastics teams in the country, the Mannettes Girls’ Team in Philadelphia, a team that he founded in 1958. Because of this, he stepped down from Temple’s team after the 1973 season. At that point, Turoff was asked to be the head coach for Temple. He declined the offer because he was still training for international competition, allowing Dave Thor, one of Turoff’s U.S. national teammates, to take the position. Thor, a Michigan State alum, coached from 1973-6 before his father died in 1976, causing him to move back to California with his family. Thus, the position opened up for Turoff. He’s held the position ever since, coaching the team to 18 conference titles – half of which came during the program’s most successful era.
THE GOLDEN DECADE
The 1990s were good to the Owls. Temple won nine consecutive conference championships, produced 11 All-Americans, four national champions and seven U.S. national team members. “That was a terrific period for us,” Turoff said. “I was able to attract some very good gymnasts that helped the program.” “That was a time I had full scholarships to give out,” Turoff, who now has four scholarships to divide up, added. Gymnasts like two-time
Olympian Dominick Minicucci and All-Americans Bill Roth, Kenny Sykes and Dave Frank were among the ranks. “I felt really blessed to be there at the time that I was,” Sykes said. “I knew it was a special time in Temple gymnastics history. Not only because I was there living it, but also because I could still talk directly to the alumni that contributed to the longstanding legacy of the gymnastics program, and then at the same time, use that wisdom to continue that tradition.” Frank didn’t know it at the time, but looking back, he says that the ‘90s were something special. “It was amazing to be a part of a successful team,” Frank said. “We were almost like a family, a great group of guys, and we all got along. And part of the reason I think we were so good and strong is because we were a close-knit team. We really helped and pushed each other to be even better.” At the 1990 USA Championships, Bill Roth scored a perfect 10.0 on the horizontal bar – becoming the first Owl to ever do so. “[Fred and I] started talking about ‘this was off a little bit, and this was off a little bit,’” Roth said. “And when they showed the score I looked at Fred and smirked. I said, ‘Well, it couldn’t have been that bad.’” But even with all the success through the decade, there was a point where it could have all been taken away.
BY THE NUMBERS
26
TITLES WON IN THE EIGL AND ECAC
22
NCAA ALL-AMERICANS (SINCE 1965)
12
NCAA CHAMPIONS (SINCE 1965)
3
OLYMPIC PERFORMERS
1
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE
SURVIVING
The men’s gymnastics team is no stranger to the prospect of elimination. In December 1994, R.C. Johnson, who was in his first year as Temple’s athletic director, proposed the elimination of men’s gymnastics, along with the women’s gymnastics team and baseball. Former gymnasts said they weren’t going to let that happen. “We survived it,” former
assistant and current volunteer that his athletes were to meet coach Tom Gibbs, who compet- in the Pavilion, while he had ed with Turoff during the early to meet with Clark 40 minutes days of the program, said. before. The announcement of “I was worried somebody Johnson’s proposal was made had gone to a party and trashed 11 days before the Board of the place,” Turoff said. “Or there Trustees had to take a vote. The was a disease going around the team took advantage of that department, drugs were being time. used, things “Of course like that.” in the time beWith the tween then and program comthe board meeting off backing, the newsto-back ECAC papers and TV titles and acgot a hold of cumulating the it,” Turoff said. best grade point “Alumni got a average out of hold of it, and all the teams there was such in the school Dave Frank / former gymnast an uproar that the during the past board invited us three years, into make presentations to them, cluding the best GPA out of any which we did.” college gymnastics team in the Turoff’s team, as well as country in 2011, Turoff never the women’s team, also took ac- expected to hear that his team tion. The Owls gathered in front was being cut. of Johnson’s office at 1900 N. But the team is in danger Broad St., looking to get a word once again. with him. It worked, despite not In a February vote, the getting the opportunity right board reinstated the crew and away. rowing teams but reaffirmed It was the team’s own deci- that men’s gymnastics, men’s sion to do that, not Turoff’s, but track & field, baseball and softit helped the Owls plead their ball will remain cut. In 1994, case. the cuts were nothing more than “[Johnson] later did have a proposal, as no decision had us come in,” Turoff said. “I was been reached. Now, they are a there with a couple of my ath- reality. letes and he explained his reaStill, the team said it hasn’t sons. [My guys] weren’t going lost all hope. to have that, and I wasn’t either. “We’re doing everything But that enabled us to gather a good head of steam.” “We were able to mount hundreds of signatures on petitions and Fred was able to do a presentation in front of the trustees and there were some alternatives they were willing to accept,” Gibbs said. “Since that time, he’s been able to raise a lot through fundraising to be more sustainable.” The proposal of the cuts came in the middle of the team’s run of success in the ‘90s, having won five conference titles before Johnson announced his plan. Once the team was in the clear and returned to competition, the Owls didn’t miss a beat. “I looked at the particular team that he wanted to drop that year,” Turoff said. “[That team] had a national champion and three All-Americans on it, which eventually spawned 11 national champions. [Johnson] picked on a team that was really quite talented. Plus it was a good academic team way back then.”
“Twenty years
later, these are guys that I talk to every week. We’re still great friends.
”
we can to influence public opinion and the opinion of the administration,” Turoff said. Like in ‘94, the team created a petition in support of preserving the program, but brought modern day strategies into the fold. Alumni created Tshirts utilizing the “Keep Calm” meme with “Keep Calm and Save Gymnastics,” and sent letters to President Theobald and board members. There is also the Perfect 10 Campaign, which aims to help raise funds via donations of $10 or more for reinstatement. The proceeds are expected go to another Division I gymnastics program if the campaign fails.
A BROKEN FAMILY
When Turoff took over as head coach 38 years ago, there were 138 collegiate men’s gymnastics programs across the country. Now there are 17. Collegiate gymnastics has been dwindling for years and Minicucci said he believes that the universities themselves aren’t solely to blame. “It’s a lack of supervision from the NCAA at the top,” Minicucci said. “They’re supposed to promote amateur athletics and I don’t know how they’re doing it.” “It’s their job to supervise the athletic directors around the country, and it’s not appropriate to just cut all these smaller
programs to boost up and spend money on just a select few,” Minicucci added. If nothing changes by July 1, the number goes down to 16. But the Owls view themselves as more than just a number. “It’s our own fraternity, and the fraternity is pretty tight,” Minicucci said. “It doesn’t end when college ends. We trained as kids, many of us knew each other before college and it is a great bunch of people that are important to our lives.” There is a possibility that the team could stick around as a club sport. But as of July 1, Temple’s men’s gymnastics will end at the varsity level – just short of its 90th anniversary. “Twenty years later, these are guys that I talk to every week,” Frank said. “We’re still great friends. The nice thing is we always have that bond – the gymnastics, the camaraderie, the teammates we can always look back on.” “One of the things that’s really upsetting, that really gets to me,” Frank added. “Is that these guys that want to do gymnastics at a college level, if they go to Temple, they’re never going to have that opportunity, that experience my teammates and myself got to experience.” Steve Bohnel and Nick Tricome can be reached at sports@temple-news.com.
THE FALL
In 1994, the men’s gymnastics program was in danger of elimination when a first-year athletic director proposed that they needed to go. Twenty years later, the team is in nearly the exact same position. On Dec 6, 2013, Turoff had a meeting with Athletic Director Kevin Clark. Turoff had received an email the day before
Sophomore Evan Eigner earned a bronze medal at the ECAC Championships last weekend. The team is set to be eliminated, along with three other sports, in July. | HUA ZONG TTN
SPORTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
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Coaching spotlight | rebecca grzybowski
After cuts reversal, Grzybowski honored Rebecca Grzybowski is looking to build the revived program. DANIELLE NELSON The Temple News These days, coach Rebecca Grzybowski can rarely be found rowing on the water. Instead, when she is not in a rowing coach launch or in an ergometer room guiding her team, Grzybowski can often be spotted running road races on land. One of her fondest memories growing up, Grzybowski said, was jogging alongside her dad and brothers around her neighborhood. The rowing coach has always been an athlete, whether it be soccer, basketball or rowing, where she has had the most success. After the crew and rowing programs were reinstated in February, reversing the university’s December decision to cut the teams, Grzybowski and longtime crew coach Gavin White were named the 2013 Schuylkill Navy Coaches of the Year.
“This year we wanted to embrace the Temple rowing community as a whole and also the two coaches who have led that community,” Schuylkill Navy Commodore Margaret Meigs said. After the rowing team’s reinstatement, Grzybowski will have the opportunity to continue her head coaching career past her second season this year. Grzbowski was first introduced to the sport of rowing by her pediatrician and later competed herself when she joined the rowing team at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass., as a novice her freshman year. During her four years on the team, Grzybowski helped lead the program to achieving several accolades, including a gold medal for the Varsity 8 at the 2002 Avaya Collegiate Rowing Championships her senior year as team captain. Although the Crusader graduated from Holy Cross in 2002, Grzybowski stayed and became an assistant coach. “Learning how to coach, it was a bit of a whirlwind,” Grzybowski said. “It was like getting
Second-year head coach Rebecca Grzybwoski talks to one of her rowers in McGonigle Hall. | ABI REIMOLD TTN tossed in completely. I knew what good rowing felt like from the inside of a boat but it was a totally different story trying to tell other people from the outside how to make [the boat] go fast.” After two years of coaching at her alma mater, Grzybowski moved to Philadelphia in 2004 to pursue her growing rowing aspirations. Grzybowski dedicated seven years of her life to training full-time, twice a day, six days a week – and sometimes on Sunday – at the Vesper
Boat Club on Boathouse Row, while working a nine-to-five job in commercial real estate. Her biggest contribution to the Philadelphia rowing community came in 2008, when Grzybowski qualified for the women’s national team. Rowing in seat three, Grzybowski helped her lightweight quad boat to a bronze medal performance, finishing behind Poland and Australia at the World Rowing National Championship in Austria. “The Philadelphia rowing
community takes a lot of pride in putting local athletes on the national team,” Grzybowski said. “It is definitely a source of pride and something we strive for every day, so to feel that support, it was awesome.” Since then, Grzybowski has returned to the coaching scene where she served as the assistant coach at Bucknell from 2009-11. During that time, Grzybowski got engaged, which led her back to Philadelphia with another coaching job in mind. In 2011, Grzybowski applied for the women’s coaching position at Temple and didn’t get the job. Instead, Grzybowski became the team’s assistant coach. “I actually consider, in retrospect, probably that was the best thing to happen,” Grzybowski said. “I got to know the team, the culture, the people at Temple and really understood what I was getting myself into.” A year later, Grzybowski rose to the head coaching position after Jason Read left to pursue other opportunities. Now into her second sea-
son, many rowers on the team said they value the positive reinforcement Grzybowski incorporates into her coaching style. Junior Susan O’Neil Coye said Grzybowski runs upbeat practices, which makes workouts easier. One instance during competition, Coye said, was when the team was competing this past fall in Boston at the Head of the Charles Regatta. “We were in a category that was really difficult,” Coye said. “The U.S. national team was racing in the same category and we had a really solid race for the level we were rowing at. And even though we didn’t place well within that group, instead of saying, ‘We should have won,’ Rebecca was like, ‘For us that was a really good place to be in a category of such great rowers,’ – which is a really good way to look at things.” Danielle Nelson can be reached at danielle.nelson@temple.edu or on Twitter @Dan_Nels.
Adding to a list of recent depatures, Brown says she and three others will leave team BROWN PAGE 22
Gabe Pickett returned to action in March after an injury kept him out of the indoor season. Pickett placed first in the long jump last weekend. | COURTESY TEMPLE ATHLETICS Continued from page 22
JUMPERS
door season. I was inching closer and closer [to 40 inches] and it wasn’t exactly there. Breaking the record was wonderful. It was awesome. I was so excited I jumped up and down.” The meet was highlighted by a jumper on the men’s squad too, as senior Gabe Pickett put together two days of strong performances. In his second meet back from injury, Pickett took second in the triple jump and secured his second Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America-qualifying mark of the season. A day later, Pickett placed first in the long jump among a field of more than 30 competitors. Pickett tore his meniscus in August and had knee surgery shortly after. The recovery was a five-month process, but coach Eric Mobley said Pickett is getting closer to where he left off last spring. “I put forth a lot of effort to put myself back into track & field shape,” Pickett said. “I’m trying to get better. A lot can be attributed to my teammates – they never gave up on me.” Pickett’s mark of 6.98 meters on Saturday was just shy of a personal-best. During his first eight days as an active competitor this spring, Pickett has placed in the Top 3 in each of the events he participated in. Janneh said Pickett has
been among the biggest role models on either squad. One of Pickett’s favorite moments of the weekend occurred when Janneh set the school record with her performance on Friday. “I was overjoyed,” Pickett said. “I was like a little kid when I heard. We high-fived and hugged. It motivated me to do well.” Mobley said former Owl and current indoor triple jump record holder Edith Lewis stopped by the track & field facilities last week for a visit. The six-year coach informed Lewis that one of his student-athletes was closing in on her record. Janneh was less than four inches short of Lewis’ indoor mark, but she has more than two season of eligibility left to attempt to get there. “Jamila is putting everything out there and landing her jumps – letting the performance come to her,” Mobley said. Janneh said breaking the school record was the best moment of her track & field career with the Owls, having spent her entire sophomore campaign working toward achieving her goal of reaching the 40-feet mark. Looking toward the rest of the season, however, Janneh has a new objective in mind. “I’m looking forward to breaking my record,” she said. Avery Maehrer can be reached at avery.maehrer@temple.edu or on Twitter @AveryMaehrer.
this past season, 10 expected returnees have left the team. Now, Brown is saying three other players, including sophomore forward Jacquilyn Jackson, will also transfer. Brown outlined a locker room with inconsistent and uneven treatment by the coaching staff during her three-year tenure with the team. Brown said she felt unwanted by some of her coaches and teammates after serving a suspension in 2013 for a violation of team rules, causing her to miss about two months of playing time. Both Brown and Jackson served the suspension, and returned in a game against St. Joseph’s University in November, but Jackson’s return was short-lived, as she was released in the weeks that followed. Brown, Jackson and the team declined to specify the nature of the violation. “I just thought it was going to be a fair season next year where everyone gets to work hard,” Brown said, referring to what she perceives as preferential treatment by the Owls’ coaching staff. “Whoever is the best at it gets to start, but I had doubts about next year. I had doubts that I was even going to come back, which I’m not.” Despite Brown’s prolonged suspension, the Owls’ threepoint shooter redeemed herself on the court by being a valuable sixth player, competing in 24 games, averaging 7.8 points and 2.3 rebounds en route to earning the American Athletic Conference’s Sixth Player of the Year award. From the outside looking in, Brown was fullyexpected to return as an impact performer for the Owls next season, but Brown said she felt animosity from Cardoza. “I did what I had to do,” Brown said. “I had to do endless hours of community service. I did my time, and when I got back I felt like if I didn’t do my time and there were still grudges, then maybe you should tell me why am I still here. I just didn’t see my purpose in being here when I came back.” Even with those feelings, Brown’s decision to transfer wasn’t cemented until after the March 17 meeting with Cardoza. According to Brown, Cardoza said the recruitment of
Guard Rateska Brown was the team’s leading scorer off the bench during the 2013-14 season. | ANDREW THAYER TTN three freshmen guards – Tanaya was under the impression that Atkinson, Khadijah Berger and she was no longer on the team, Alliya Butts – would have lim- Brown said she continued to ited Brown’s minutes next sea- be contacted to participate in physicals. son, her senior year. There has been no an“So, I was told that I should transfer because I’m probably nouncement of Brown’s potennot going to be happy,” Brown tial move, or the move of the said. “I looked at it like, ‘I’m two other Owls, whose names going to be your senior.’ So, Brown would not disclose. In a statement, Cardoza you’re going to tell me that three other freshmen – you’re declined to comment, citing a policy not to bringing other discuss internal people in – bateam matters. sically saying, The team con‘Hey, they’re firmed it has better than granted Brown’s you. I don’t request to contact want you,’ even other schools, but though I’m gowouldn’t discuss ing to be a seother potential nior.” transfers. “I was like, The Owls ‘I’m definitely flourished early leaving, even in Cardoza’s tenif I had doubts, ure, but in the because I’m last two seasons, about to be a seRateska Brown / junior guard nior and you’re the team has been telling me this marred by losing as if I just came in,’” Brown seasons and a number of transadded. “It’s not like I haven’t ferring athletes. Brown said the been here for three years.” departure of some players was Following her meeting with due to unhappiness with the culCardoza, where Brown said she ture of the program.
“I’ve wanted
to transfer since [freshman year] because I heard about so many things that I’m going through now.
”
In Cardoza’s first four seasons at the helm for Temple, the Owls enjoyed four consecutive 20-plus win seasons, including three NCAA tournament berths. Whether because of transferring or other reasons, in that span, seven players – Alesha Harris, Lindsay Kimmel, Reese Fields, Satoria Bell, Ryia Newsome, Brittany Lewis and Nikki Works – did not complete their eligibility with Temple. In the last two seasons, both ending in 14-win losing years, four freshmen – Sally Kabengano, Jaquilyn Jackson, May Dayan and Leah Horton – did not return to Temple to finish their careers with the Owls. While players like Dayan left for personal reasons, Brown said others like Jackson and Horton were dismissed from the team. Brown said she believes even the dismissed players weren’t happy with the Owls before their release. “If [the coaching staff] were to ask me if I wanted to come back, I would’ve said, ‘No,’” Jackson said. “I just can’t be a part of it anymore. Mentally and emotionally, it’s just too much to deal with.” Following her dismissal earlier this year, Jackson said she will look to transfer from Temple and play basketball elsewhere. Brown said her own decision to transfer is long overdue. “I’ve wanted to transfer since [freshman year] because I heard about so many things that I’m going through now,” Brown said. “I heard so many stories from the upperclassmen.” Brown declined to elaborate on the content of those stories or say who the upperclassmen were. “[Cardoza] said she would help me look for some schools, but I’m not really banking on that,” Brown said. “I just didn’t feel like people were going to put that good of a word for me or help my career. As far as transferring, I think she made a good decision in telling me rather than dragging me along, but I didn’t really get why she wanted me to transfer. I just felt like it was something personal. Like she had a vendetta against me since I got here.” Brien Edwards can be reached at brien.erick.edwards@temple.edu or on Twitter @BErick1123
SPORTS
Our sports sports blog blog Our
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‘SHE CAN DO IT ALL’
COACH OF THE YEAR
MEDICAL WAIVER APPROVED
In a year of athletic cuts, Sarah Prezioso continues to be a leader of the softball team – both on the field and off. PAGE 19
Second-year rowing coach Rebecca Grzybowski was recently honored by the Schuylkill Navy. PAGE 21
Dingle regains a year of eligibility, the football team hired an offensive line coach, other news and notes. PAGE 19
temple-news.com
PAGE 22
TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2014
EXCLUSIVE REPORT
Four Owls to transfer, Brown says Rateska Brown says Cardoza advised her to leave the program. BRIEN EDWARDS The Temple News
F
ollowing a string of recent departures from the women’s basketball team, junior guard Rateska Brown is planning to transfer from the university and says at least three other players will follow. In an exclusive interview with The Temple News last week, Brown – the team’s leading returning scorer before this season – said she decided to leave after a meeting with coach Tonya Cardoza on March 17, in which Brown said she was told that she should transfer. From Fall 2008 until before
A Tearful Goodbye Coach Fred Turoff wipes a tear from sophomore Jon Rydzefski’s face during the men’s gymnastics team’s final conference championship. | HUA ZONG TTN
BROWN PAGE 21
BUDGET WOES
Tennis funding remains low, Mauro pulls double duty Despite refurbished courts, facilities lag behind competitors. GREG FRANK AVERY MAEHRER The Temple News
Sophomore Jamila Janneh runs around the track on Main Campus during a Fall 2012 practice. Janneh is the new school record holder in the outdoor triple jump. | ANDREW THAYER TTN
track & field
Janneh breaks school record, Pickett nears return to form Jumpers highlighted the track program’s most recent meet. AVERY MAEHRER Sports Editor As Jamila Janneh stumbled down the steps of her dorm building last Thursday, her freshly prepared chicken Alfre-
do fell to the ground with her. “I was having a rough week,” the sophomore jumper said. Shortly after Janneh dropped her lunch, she boarded a bus with the rest of the track & field team and embarked for the Fred Harvey Invitational in Richmond, Va. When Janneh returned to Main Campus a few days later, she was the
new school record holder in the outdoor triple jump – having broken the 28-year-old mark set by Carla Daniels in 1986 – with a 12.30 meter performance last Friday. “The record was in sight, and that was my goal by the end of the season,” Janneh said. “I was so frustrated after the in-
JUMPERS PAGE 21
grams receive less funding than any other sport at the university. Mauro said everyone is aware of the low budget the team is operating on and that it remains important for the group to continue making the most out of what is a less-than-ideal financial situation. “We do the best that we can and we’re appreciative that we have a program,” Mauro said. Mauro is in his ninth season as the men’s tennis coach and his sixth of leading both teams. He took over the women’s program after the departure of Traci Green in 2007. Frederika Girsang – the lone assistant
coach – and graduate assistant Andrey Morozov work with both the men’s and women’s team. “I think [Mauro is] balancing it really well,” junior cocaptain Kristian Marquart said. “I know it’s hard for him to be responsible for two teams.” Mauro said he was mindful of the team’s situation when the athletic cuts were announced in December, but that he kept his head up. In 2012, Maryland cut it’s men’s tennis program. Robert Morris also cut its tennis teams last fall, three days before Temple’s cuts were made.
When the men’s tennis team faced Philadelphia University at the Legacy Tennis Center on March 6, its head coach was halfway across the country. With the women’s tennis team opening its conference schedule with road matches TENNIS PAGE 19 against Houston and Southern Methodist, Steve Mauro took the trip with the Owls. There are seven schools in the American Athletic Conference that have both a men’s and a women’s tennis team. Of these seven, Mauro is the only one to coach both teams. With its comparatively smaller coaching staff, Temple also differs from the rest of the conference in its budget. The men’s and women’s tennis teams’ operating expenses are by far the lowest in The American – even falling below Houston, a school that funds only Athletics spends less on each of its tennis teams than every one tennis team. The tennis pro- other school in The American. | AVERY MAEHRER TTN
football notebook
Alumni Day brings rain, former players to Cedarbrook Spring practice is continuing at offcampus locations. EVAN CROSS Assistant Sports Editor Due to the ongoing resurfacing of Chodoff Field, the football team will be bouncing around the Philadelphia area in the next few weeks, using vari-
ous fields for spring practice. After holding the first three at Camden High School, Enon Tabernacle Church in Cedarbrook – the site of the old Temple Stadium – hosted practice on the morning of March 29. It’s not a location the team is used to. In fact, Marcus Satterfield was late. “Our offensive coordinator got lost,” coach Matt Rhule said. “He missed stretches this morning on the way here. That’s
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a little bit of a challenge.” But Rhule said ultimately the location doesn’t matter to his players. “We show up, we say, ‘Hey guys. That’s Diamond, that’s Edberg-Olsen, that’s 11th, that’s Susquehanna,’” Rhule said. “The guys get it. That’s the kind of team you want to have where they show up.” The practice at Enon was challenging due to pouring rain that caused some sloppy play.
Freshman Jim Cooper missed the majority of his attempted field goals and there were more incomplete passes than complete ones. Rhule said the lower quality of play was also due to the fact that it was the first week of spring practice. “This is actually the best day we’ve had this week,” redshirt-junior running back Hassan Dixon said. “It’s been about 10, 15, 20 degrees.”
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The area of the team that has experienced the most turnover is the secondary. Abdul Smith and Zamel Johnson have completed their eligibility and redshirt-sophomore Stephaun Marshall has moved from safety to outside linebacker. Rhule said that decision stemmed from Marshall’s performance in the 2013 season finale at Memphis, when Marshall made a lot of plays in the box. “We don’t need a big,
230-pound outside linebacker in this league,” Rhule said. “We’re going to put him out there. He’s 195 pounds flying around and that’s what we need. We need speed on defense.” Rhule also credited junior safety Alex Wells for his play in the spring. Wells transferred from ASA College, a junior college in Brooklyn, N.Y., for the spring semester. Rhule said he doesn’t plan on substituting in
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