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2013 Region One Winner: Best All-Around Non-Daily student newspaper
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temple-news.com
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
VOL. 93 ISS. 13
REACHING HIGHER
SEPTA eyes an abandoned tunnel for use Faster travel could be possible through underground routes. PAIGE GROSS The Temple News
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hiladelphia’s public transportation system features two subway lines, dozens of buses and several regional rail stops. Meanwhile, a two-thirds -mile stretch of space, which includes a half-mile length of underground tunnel, sits empty and unused. Byron Comati, director of strategic planning at SEPTA, said the organization hopes to use this space – which hasn’t been utilized since the mid1980s. Comati said SEPTA ac-
quired the underground space in 1994 from Baldwin Locomotive, a commercial freight company that last used the tunnels to carry ink and paper to the Inquirer. City Branch, which opens to street level at various points, has been sitting vacant for the last 30 years. Comati said SEPTA and the Friends of The Rail Park organization have identified these tunnels as “an asset and a treasure.” The tunnel runs from the east side of Broad Street through the Fairmount neighborhood and up toward the Philadelphia Museum of Art, an area currently lacking in quick underground transportation. “We’re looking at a very different kind of project,” Co-
TUNNEL PAGE 6
a theater’s decline
For the Prince, an unclear future The sudden death of the theater’s chief fundraiser leaves lingering questions. BRIANNA SPAUSE The Temple News A long history of financial struggles has finally condemned the fate of the Prince Music Theater. In May, the sudden death of Herbert Lotman, the chief fundraiser and chairman of the theater’s Board of Directors, left the small theater without a stable source of funding. In July, the Lotman family made a call for donors to support the historic performance venue and attempted to raise $1.6 million to continue programming for the 2014-15 season. Without any offers to take over the cultural institution, the Prince Music Theater will close its doors indefinitely on Nov. 30. The nonprofit American Music Theater Festival, founded in 1984, adopted the Prince as its home in 1999 where the organization began to produce new music theater events. Douglas Wager, former director in residence at the Prince and associate dean of the Center for the Arts at Temple, said a shaky business model has HUA ZONG TTN
Sophomore forward Mark Williams defends American University guard Jesse Reed beneath the basket in Temple’s 40-37 win last Friday. Williams’ 11 points tied redshirt-sophomore Daniel Dingle for the team lead, while he led all players with nine rebounds. After finishing with a 9-22 record last season, the Owls are off to a 2-0 start during a year in which they have higher expectations. PAGE 22
Recruits sign, Dunphy ‘thrilled’ Levan Alston Jr. highlights a trio of early-signing period commits for Fran Dunphy. ANDREW PARENT Assistant Sports Editor Fran Dunphy sat in a tranquil state along the row of red, cushioned pull-out chairs that line the men’s basketball team’s practice facility on the third floor of Pearson Hall. Cross-legged in Temple basketball sweat gear, he stretched his arm atop the neighboring chair to his left, and let out a smile.
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The Owls’ coach had officially penned his three verbal commits from the 2015 recruiting class one day prior, which consisted of two guards and a 6-foot-9-inch power forward. Last Wednesday, the first day of the NCAA’s early signing period, Temple inked its two backcourt additions in high school seniors Levan “Shawn” Alston Jr. and Trey Lowe, along with Ernest Aflakpui, a senior center at Archbishop John Carroll High School in Delaware County. “We’re thrilled to have all three of them,” Dunphy said. “It’s a great grouping of guys to come in [during] one year. I think they’ll have terrific careers here. They all bring a little something different to the
LIFESTYLE - PAGES 7-8, 16-18
table.” Alston stands at a lanky 6-foot-4, 175 pounds, and is a four-star prospect, according to Rivals.com. The site ranks Lowe – 6-foot-5, 165 pounds – and Aflakpui as three-star recruits, while Alston and Lowe have spots in the Rivals150 ranking, the site’s list of the country’s Top 150 high school basketball prospects. All three signees are rated as four-star prospects by ESPN, while Alston sits at No. 86 on the ESPN 100. Though Dunphy declined to compare his newest crop of recruits to his previous classes during his eight-year tenure at Temple, Alston is Dunphy’s first ESPN 100
RECRUITS PAGE 20
PRINCE PAGE 10
“It was a perfect storm. At the precise moment where the Prince needed the most help was the moment where it was harder for anybody to get help in the not-for-profit arts.
”
Douglas Wager / former Prince director in residence
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT - PAGES 9-12, 14
Ed Rendell visits Main Campus
Student writes family’s narrative
Tour benefits a greater cause
The former Governor of Pennsylvania and Mayor of Philadelphia spoke in Gladfelter Hall about voting, education and transportation. PAGE 3
Freshman journalism major Max Buchdahl self-published a book about his family’s escape from Nazi Germany. PAGE 7
Body painter Kitakiya Dennis went to University of the Arts and is gaining more work experience. PAGE 9
OPINION - PAGES 4-5 Is Temple ‘the new Jim Crow?’
BRIANNA SPAUSE TTN
The Prince Music Theater, located on Chestnut Street, is closing indefinitely on Nov. 30.
SPORTS - PAGES 19-22
Walker, offense falters in loss
NEWS
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
STAFF REPORTS | CAMPUS SAFETY
“The experiences you have with your patients,
building your bedside manner, people skills by doing evaluations, seeing how you can help them, how to make them feel better – that, I think, is the most important part for me and it’s something that I think will serve me well in the future.
”
Eric Misthal / junior PAUL KLEIN TTN
Temple EMS began operating in 2008 and handles emergency response usually for patients suffering from over-intoxication, but also allergic reactions and injuries from falls, sports or car accidents.
Student volunteers staff EMS crews EMTs in the organization meet the 16-hours-per-month duty requirement while taking classes. VSEVOLOD LESKIN The Temple News Denise Wilhelm, captain of patrol operations for Campus Safety Services, said taking part in Temple Emergency Medical Service changes her view of students. “I think the biggest thing is that when you’re out there working with them, you don’t look at them as a student any longer,” Wilhelm said. “They’re a professional.” The student-staffed Temple Emergency Medical Service fields two-person EMT crews every night in 4-hour shifts from 7:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. and serves the areas around Main Campus. TUEMS membership consists of about 40 students looking to gain experience in the medical field. Executive Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said the crews mostly respond to over-intoxication, but many other TUEMS patients find themselves victims of sports injuries,
falls, allergic reactions and car accidents. A typical weekend brings an average of 1415 calls per night. Busier weekends, like Homecoming or “Halloweekend,” usually necessitate additional staff members. The crews are state-certified EMTs that have braved an exhaustive selection process. Besides having to take a class at a state-registered EMT facility, the responders must also receive a certification from the International Police Mountain Bike Association, 16 hours of shadowing at Temple Hospital’s Emergency Department and meet the 16-hours-per-month minimum duty requirement while taking classes. Occasionally, they have to deal with trauma. “I’ve seen both ends of the spectrum, where people had minor injuries and we were able to quell their fears and alternately I’ve seen people succumbing to their horrific injuries,” said Zachary Reichenbach, the founder and director of TUEMS, currently in his final year of medical school at Temple. “I’ve learned so much in terms of management and leadership and medicine,” he added. Reichenbach founded the program in 2006. He said he envisioned TUEMS as an “extra layer”
to Temple Police’s existing emergency response plan. “Initially I was thinking, ‘How’s this going to work?’” Leone said. “And it worked out. The relationship’s great, the officers and the EMTs work together well.” Junior kinesiology major Eric Misthal, who serves as an education officer, conducts monthly training sessions to make sure his fellow providers maintain their skill set. Misthal said he benefited from participation in the program. “The experiences you have with your patients, building your bedside manner, people skills by doing evaluations, seeing how you can help them, how to make them feel better – that, I think, is the most important part for me and it’s something that I think will serve me well in the future,” Misthal said. TUEMS has the resources to field up to two bike teams at a time, dispatched through Temple Police’s radio frequency. Upon arriving at the scene and ensuring that it is secure, the EMTs assess patients and provide first aid that ranges from simple bandages to something as invasive as CPR or breathing tubes.
Throughout the response process, the EMTs periodically consult with a team at Temple University Hospital commonly known as Medical Command. If the wounds are too severe to be handled by first responders, a fire rescue ambulance is called. If not, the patient must have the approval of Medical Command and sign a refusal form before he is allowed to leave. Misthal said his first major trauma case was that of Landon Nuss, 19, who was visiting friends last September. Nuss fell down one story from a stairwell at Kardon/Atlantic apartments. He was taken to Hahnemann University Hospital where he was later pronounced dead. “[He] hit his head open pretty well,” Mishtal said.” There was lot of blood, it took me a second to get used to it. But we did what we were supposed to, we held his head, we checked him out.” The TUEMS team wants community members to know that they should not hesitate to call whenever the need arises. “We’re not going to write you up,” Reichenbach said.“We’re not here to get you in trouble.” * vsevolod.leskin@temple.edu
Reflective windows lead to bird deaths Administrators said the front windows of the Tyler building pose a potential threat to birds. MARIAM DEMBELE The Temple News While walking around the Tyler School of Art and Architecture building in September, Karlee Mariel Felger counted about 20 dead birds lying on the sidewalk, near the glass entryway. “They see the reflection and they fly towards it because they don’t understand it’s a window,” said Felger, a 33-year-old glass major. In 2013, The Temple News reported that about 1,000 birds died that way and since then, various offices and people like Felger have been working to get further bird safety provisions in place before the spring migration, when thousands of birds will pass through Main Campus. Felger said she hopes to help find a method which works at Tyler and spread its across Main Campus. She also said she wants to eventually find a building protocol which could be implemented across Philadelphia. Katherine Switala-Elmhurst, program manager for the Office of Sustainability, said that to remedy the situation, her office is looking to make the front of the architecture building more bird-
NEWS DESK 215-204-7419
friendly by using artistic installations by Tyler students. In 2011, students participated in a competition to design a surface-care film, which contained horizontal lines about one inch apart that would serve to warn incoming birds and avoid accidents. The film was placed along the walkway between the Tuttleman Learning Center and Paley Library earlier this year. “As far as I know we haven’t found any casualties,” Switala-Elmhurst said. David Brown, assistant dean of the Boyer College of Music and Dance, said his office is considering the surface film on the front-facing windows of the architecture building, depending on the cost. Brown said his office will meet with the architecture department next week. Switala-Elmhurst said the film will also be installed on the windows of Ritter Hall, where Rad Dish Co-op will be located, in addition to select locations on Gladfelter Hall. Switala-Elmhurst said the reason why so many birds die from collisions at Temple and throughout Philadelphia is because the city lies in the middle of the Atlantic Flyway migration route, traveled by thousands of birds every spring and fall. Glenn Eck, the superintendent of the grounds department, and his crew first discovered the problem in 2004 and since then have been con-
ducting their own research and monitoring large problem locations. Eck said that Morgan Hall was constructed with “fritted” – or porous – glass, which he said has proven to be successful at deterring birds. The Science Education and Research Center, which opened in October, does not have the fritted glass. Instead, Switala-Elmhurst said a system of window shelves is in place, which he hopes will break up the window facade and avoid the deceptive reflections that cause bird deaths. Switala-Elmhurst said it’s too early to tell if this method works. Eck and Switala-Elmhurst said it’s hard to tell if there has been any decrease in overall bird collisions on Main Campus since 2004 because of the additional new buildings and different monitoring procedures they’ve used. For the other buildings, Eck said it’s difficult finding a solution which is efficient, practical and cost-effective for large areas of glass. “We haven’t found the magic bullet yet,” Eck said. “What everyone is trying to find, sort of the holy grail, would be something that is easy to retrofit.” In 2009, the Grounds Department teamed up with the Audubon Society of Pennsylvania and the Office of Sustainability to conduct a campuswide survey and try to find solutions. Eck said they tried using life-like statues of predatory hawks to deter birds from approaching
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buildings. However, that method didn’t have substantial results. Other methods include netting, which was installed up around the glass passageway between the two different sections of Beury Hall. Eck said the netting fell down on one side over the summer, but the department will be remounting it soon. Felger questioned why Temple has continued to construct buildings with glass facades and no safety measures, like the Tyler School of Art Building, and Alter Hall – which opened in 2009. Eck said part of the problem is that it’s hard to predict which buildings will be problem areas. “To some degrees [bird collisions] equate with more glass, but not entirely,” Eck said. “Ritter, for example, doesn’t have a large portion of glass and yet we’ve seen some problems on that too.” Eck said that this is because different birds have different behavioral patterns: some birds seek shelter and collide with smaller inset windows like the ones at Ritter Hall. “It’s just the matter of getting the project, outlining it and getting it done,” Felger said. “Not letting it get caught in red tape.” * mariam.dembele@temple.edu T @Mariam_Dembele
NEWS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
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For cerebral palsy patients, virtual reality The research used 3D images and motion to test patients’ reactions. LIORA ENGEL-SMITH The Temple News
Former Pa. Gov. and Mayor of Philadelphia Ed Rendell spoke in Gladfelter Hall on Nov. 12.
ROB DIRIENZO TTN
Visiting Main Campus, Rendell talks politics The former governor discussed voter turnout, term limits, education and public transportation. CHRISTIAN MATOZZO The Temple News Former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell addressed Temple students and faculty as the Featherman Lecture speaker in Gladfelter Hall on Nov. 12, where he focused on issues facing the “physical and intellectual infrastructure” of the United States. Rendell, who served as Philadelphia District Attorney from 1978-85, Mayor of Philadelphia from 1992-2000 and Governor of Pennsylvania from 2003-11, addressed what he believes needs to be done to keep the country “competitive” with other nations. Rendell also stressed the importance of tax money in order to maintain and improve infrastructure, noting the advanced age of Philadelphia’s sewer system and the inferior U.S. rail line system compared to high speed rail lines in countries like Japan. “Money matters in everything,” Rendell said. Similarly, Rendell warned that the lack of spending on education would have negative results. “Conservatives will tell you that government spending on education does not necessarily lead to results,” Rendell said. “And they’re right. But not spending money absolutely guarantees bad results.” Rendell called for the funding of education for 3- to 7-year-olds, as well as paying teachers salaries that compete with private sector jobs, citing Finland’s highly-touted education system as an example. Rendell also challenged politicians currently holding office. “We’ve elected a bunch of cowards,” Rendell said.
He continued by criticizing Republicans, saying the party’s “Government is the enemy” mantra has worsened the political landscape. “Some government is as necessary to this country as oxygen is to all of us,” Rendell said. Rendell also called for politicians to vote for what they believe in, and felt that elected officials need to be held accountable by their constituents. “I’ve never believed in term limits,” Rendell said. “But maybe we need them.” Rendell then fielded questions from students on a number of issues. One student asked Rendell why he chose to move the Barnes Foundation Art Collection to Philadelphia from Lower Merion, and “break the spirit of Alfred Barnes’ will.” Rendell answered by saying that Barnes’ will allowed the collection to be moved if the Lower Merion location was no longer financially viable. Rendell claimed that neighbors creating limitations on hours of operation and parking at the former location caused financial hardship, and added it was these individuals who “bitched when it moved.” Rendell also said he was surprised that younger citizens don’t participate in elections. “I am stunned that young people don’t vote,” Rendell said. “In this election, almost no one voted between [the ages of] 18 and 35.” Rendell then encouraged millennials to get out and vote, citing Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign, where he said millennials voted 70-30 in favor of him, and cast 16 percent of his votes. Rendell also talked about the School Reform Commission, and said he believes that power should be returned to the mayor for school board appointments. However, Rendell also said he was opposed to the idea of an elected school board, saying that candidates would not be able to raise enough money for a campaign, causing
voters to be misinformed and unable to vote for policy they preferred. Rendell also commented on Mayor Michael Nutter’s rocky relationship with City Council, saying “the burden rests on the executive.” He called for the mayor to solicit City Council’s opinion before making decisions, and noted that because the mayor and Philadelphia City Council are mainly Democrats, it’s not a matter of different ideologies, but rather “personality divides” that cause the strife. In response to his possible candidacy in the 2015 Philadelphia mayoral election, Rendell joked, “If you hear I’ve announced [to run] for mayor, shoot me.” The Featherman Lecture, which started in 1991, gives politicians a chance to talk about both current and everlasting challenges facing the United States. Students and faculty who were in attendance had good things to say about the talk. “Even though I don’t agree with him on most things because he’s a Democrat and I’m not, he had a lot of good things to say,” said Natasha Tax, a sophomore political science major. “I can see why he got as far as he did in politics. He had a lot of charisma. He was like a grandfather, you just wanted to hug him.” “I thoroughly enjoyed it,” said Rachel Rempel, a freshman legal studies major. “I definitely agreed with a lot of things he had to say about education.” Dr. Conrad Weiler, a political science professor, especially agreed with Rendell’s point on voter turnout. “Voting does matter,” Weiler said. “Like [Rendell] said, if everybody voted we’d have a very different government. But people say, ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter,’ and then we end up with a crappy government.”
Though they don’t usually figure into biomedical research, scientists at Temple’s Physical Therapy department have found one “cave” that holds the key to understanding balance in adults with cerebral palsy. The cave – which stands for “cave automatic virtual environment” – located in Pearson Hall’s basement, is a room with three large screens arranged in a “U” shape. Inside, 3D images and a tilting stage allow researchers to study how participants use their eyes, inner ears, feet and joints to maintain balance. Dr. Emily Keshner, the department’s chair who built the cave in 2006, said that setup cost close to half a million dollars. Keshner has already used the cave to study balance in stroke patients and aging women. Now, she has teamed with two other scientists, Dr. Richard Lauer and Dr. Carole Tucker, to determine why adult patients with cerebral palsy are more likely to fall. To test this, the researchers had participants stand harnessed on stage while wearing 3D glasses. Motion markers and muscle-activity electrodes were placed on participants to measure their balance. Then, the stage or the image on the screen was moved while participants tried to keep their balance. Lauer said even though their feet may be telling them otherwise, they’ve found that if the image moves upward, the patient falls backward. If it moves downward, they fall forward. “We know adults with cerebral palsy have a difficult time standing and a lot of times, it's attributed to muscle weakness and spasticity,” Lauer said. “Therefore, they can't stand because they don't have the muscle capacity, but that's a small part of how we stand.” Other systems – the ears, eyes, brain and even the feet – are also involved in balance, Lauer said.
“With the cave, we can give them conflicting visual signals,” he said. “We can give them conflicting signals at their feet. Most people can tune it out, but if you're using that signal differently somehow, you can be fooled by the [tilting of images on the] screen even though the rest of your body is telling you nothing else has changed. These differences can then be captured and analyzed.” The team has screened 30 adults with cerebral palsy from across the country, but participant recruitment has been a challenge. “We’ve had to build it from the ground up because you can't go to one place and find them,” Lauer said. Some participants were also hesitant about the study because of negative experiences they have had with the research community. “It’s taken a long time to build up trust,” he said. While the team is still recruiting, it has begun a preliminary analysis. “People think of cerebral palsy as this pediatric illness and it's not, it’s a life-long disability,” Lauer said. “It's a brain injury that occurs well before anything is developed yet, before structures have formed in the brain.” Perhaps because of this early onset, most cerebral palsy research in the United States focuses on children. Yet, according to the Cerebral Palsy International Research Foundation, there are approximately one million adults and children with Cerebral Palsy in the United States. The team hopes the data it collects will help design better interventions for adults with cerebral palsy. “If somebody is overly dependent on visual information, then maybe during therapy we practice balance and standing with conflicting visual information or maybe with no visual information,” Tucker said. “Or maybe I use a device that can enhance the information from their feet or from their vestibular system so they learn how to use these systems better and not be so reliant on vision,” she added. The team expects to publish its preliminary results in January 2015. * liora.engel-smith@temple.edu
* christian.matozzo@temple.edu LIORA ENGEL-SMITH TTN
Dr. Emily Keshner, chair of the physical therapy department, is the leader of the study.
Local churches give back during Thanksgiving holiday Several area churches are hosting Thanksgiving Day meals and donating food. STEVE BOHNEL Assistant News Editor Several local churches are filling the void for those who won’t be able to make it home for Thanksgiving dinner this year. Among them is Berean Presbyterian Church on the corner of Broad and Diamond Streets, which was established by Reverend Matthew Anderson in 1880. Michael J. Evans, the current pastor for Berean, has led the church since October 2007. He said Berean wasn’t planning on doing anything for the holiday when he initially arrived. “I came to Berean [and] was waiting to see what they do for Thanksgiv-
ing,” Evans said. “It got closer and closer to Thanksgiving and no one was telling me anything. ... I figured a big church like this must do something, and I found out that they had not planned to do anything. I said, ‘We can’t do that.’” Since then, Evans has led a Thanksgiving Day worship service, followed by a Thanksgiving-style meal in the church’s basement. Evans said people don’t have to attend the service to receive a full meal, which Berean offers all day. Evans added that Berean offered services for the holiday in the past, but only when a pastor was leading the church. He said this leadership is vital in order to organize such events that serve the local community. Evans said that Temple has been “very supportive” of Berean in his time serving the church. He said two of the first individuals he met – Special Assistant to the President William Bergman and Captain of Special Services Eileen
Bradley – are a big part of making Berean’s support possible. The Church of the Advocate sits a few blocks west of Berean, on the corner of 18th and Diamond streets. Parish Administrator Lynn Buggage said giving back isn’t restricted to just the holiday season. “We give to the community yearround,” Buggage said. “This time of year is nothing extraordinary for us because we give to the community 365 days a year.” Buggage said some of the main services the Advocate provides on Thanksgiving Day is a full lunch, along with a food drive that consists of donations of food baskets to the local community, which the church has “been doing for the last 20 years.” There is increased traffic during the holiday, Buggage said. “There’s always a need, especially in an area like this,” Buggage said. “So we will see more patrons, but we’ll also
see more folks coming out to help … we see families come out on that day to lend a hand, so it helps us to manage the flow of individuals that will be coming our way.” Buggage added that much of the funding and resources comes from not only the community, but also nearby counties and suburbs. Like Berean and the Advocate, the Newman Center at 2129 N. Broad St. offers a Thanksgiving-style dinner tonight at 6 p.m. Father Shaun Mahoney said the dinner started about 12-15 years ago and is all-inclusive as university students, faculty, staff and police are invited to join. “Our Thanksgiving dinner is always one of the biggest events of the year for us,” Mahoney said. Mahoney added that Bradley leads a program that collects food donations from Temple, which the center packages and delivers to local churches. Another church that gives back
during Thanksgiving week is the Bright Hope Baptist Church on the corner of 12th Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Bright Hope offers a Thanksgiving Day meal from noon to 3 p.m., along with the Surviving to Thriving Program, which offers free meals during the week as well as working with Philabundance, an organization created in 1984 to fight hunger throughout the Delaware Valley. Carolyn Rye, a member of Bright Hope’s Board of Trustees, said giving back during the holiday is personally important. “I just get a joy,” Rye said. “Because at least I know I have prepared food with love, and I can go home and be satisfied because this is what I feel I should be doing.” * steven.bohnel@temple.edu T @Steve_Bohnel
PAGE 4 A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921.
EDITORIAL/OP-ED
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
FROM THE ARCHIVES...
Avery Maehrer, Editor-in-Chief Patricia Madej, Managing Editor Erin Edinger-Turoff, Chief Copy Editor Joe Brandt, News Editor Grace Holleran, Opinion Editor Claire Sasko, Lifestyle Editor Emily Rolen, Arts & Entertainment Editor EJ Smith, Sports Editor Steve Bohnel, Asst. News Editor Andrew Parent, Asst. Sports Editor Alexa Bricker, Asst. Lifestyle Editor Paige Gross, Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Patrick McCarthy, Multimedia Editor Harsh Patel, Web Editor
Kate Reilly, Asst. Web Editor Andrew Thayer, Photography Editor Kara Milstein, Asst. Photography Editor Addy Peterson, Design Editor Donna Fanelle, Asst. Designer Zachary Campbell, Advertising Manager Grayson Holladay, Business Manager Dustin Wingate, 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 FILE PHOTO TTN
Don’t write SFFs off
it’s not worth logging on to do. Every semester, profesWhen hard-copy forms sors broach the subject of were passed out, students conStudent Feedback Forms with sidered participation practitheir students, either pleading cally mandatory – they would with them to actually take the have been harder to avoid than time to complete them or apologizing for the Paper Student Feedback to do. Now, not even all the inconvenience Forms could increase incentives proof their exisparticipation rate and vided by the tence. Adapting the SFFs accuracy of student reviews. university can generate the to be available same success in participation online does make participation online. Whereas Senior Vice more convenient – probably Provost for Undergraduate because students no longer Studies Peter Jones said hardworry about filling them out. copy forms saw a more than It’s one less thing to be con70 percent response rate, in cerned about during finals. September The Temple News Few, if any students, prireported the online versions oritize describing their opinion have seen nearly a 20 percent of a professor when they are decrease. preparing for final exams, preThe same report stated sentations and projects. Just that more than 54 percent of staying on top of schoolwork online responses were highis enough for most students to ranking score numbers for worry about. Completing SFFs professors, indicating that studoesn’t usually make the list of dents who feel strongly about priorities. a professor’s strengths are Though moving the SFFs more likely to take the time online may have been a wellto respond. Since Temple uses intentioned move toward a SFFs to determine a professeemingly more effective, paperless system, bringing sor’s standpoint with the uniback printed forms that teachversity, action should be taken ers hand out in class and then to prevent potentially skewed collect makes students more or misleading data collected accountable for participation. via online forms. A reincarnaAs the system stands, the only tion of the paper system could thing that would likely perreturn the analytical value of suade a student to complete the SFF process. a form is if they feel either strongly negative or positive about a professor. Otherwise,
This Thanksgiving, give back Of all the municipalities Valley, has a Community Food in the U.S., Philadelphia has Center near 6th Street and Lethe highest rate of deep povhigh Avenue that accepts doerty – in other nations. The orwords, the There are numerous ways to ganization also most people donate food or volunteer in has a donation with incomes bin in The View North Philadelphia. below half the at Montgompoverty line. ery apartment According to the Inquirbuilding. More information er, this means that a family about volunteering and donaof three would receive about tions is available at philabun$10,000 annually, since the dance.org. poverty line is $20,000 for a The Church of the Advofamily that size. cate, which sits on 18th and Income statistics for the Diamond streets, is holding a zip codes surrounding Temple food drive in anticipation of its are distorted due to the past Thanksgiving lunch for area decade’s uptick in students livresidents in need. ing near Main Campus, but it Other religious instituis nonetheless clear that there tions in the community are are plenty in the area who can undertaking similar philanmake use of assistance. thropic endeavors, including In the spirit of the upcomBright Hope Baptist Church ing Thanksgiving holiday, that on Cecil B. Moore Avenue, assistance should come from the Newman Center on North some of the most affluent and Broad Street and Berean Presable members of the commubyterian Church on Broad and nity – students. Diamond streets. There are a multitude of You can find more volunvolunteer and donation opporteer opportunities at volunteertunities around the city that match.org. can help benefit those in need The Temple News encourin North Philadelphia. ages its readers to offer some Philabundance, which of their time – or money – to helps provide food for low-inthose in need this holiday seacome residents in the Delaware son.
CORRECTIONS The original headline for last week’s lead editorial, which appeared in print, was “Speak out for sexual assault.” The headline has since been changed online to “Speak out about sexual assault” to clarify its meaning. 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 Avery Maehrer at editor@temple-news.com or 215.204.6737.
Nov. 17, 1994: Levan Alston Sr. joined the owls for the 1994-95 basketball season under John Chaney. His son, Levan Alston Jr., will play for Temple as a guard next season.
commentary | point-counterpoint
IS TEMPLE ‘THE NEW JIM CROW?’ Students’ attitudes are just as damaging to the community as the university’s contributions to gentrification.
I
Gentrification and its associated increase of financial income will actually improve the community’s well-being.
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never thought of “local” as a dirty word until I came to he University of Pennsylvania’s Chad Dion Lassiter took Temple. Now, whenever I hear the word used in casual to the philly.com recently to decry Temple’s role in the conversation around Main Campus, there is usually an gentrification of our region of North Philadelphia. It acrid, almost offensive connotation attached to it, as if it began when Google re-labeled the region around Main is meant to sting those who fit that description. Campus “Temple Town” on its maps application. Community On social media, you can easily find a number of people, leaders took to the local media and voiced their displeasure at what including many Temple students, using the word “local” in this they saw as a hostile rebranding of the neighborhood, known offiway. One recent tweet by @cassaracarly caught my attention. cially as the “Cecil B. Moore Community.” Google Maps dropped It read, “Philly locals need to stop robbing temple students, the name in September, but the debate over Temple’s role in the work for your own s--t and stop being lazy.” local community is still a hot button issue. This is not unusual, and tweets like this one are not the The way Lassiter sees it, the influx of businesses, real estate only comments that can be found on social developers and student residents into the area media that degrade and blame North Philaaround Main Campus is tantamount to institudelphia residents. Conversations like this tional racism. can be overheard all over Main Campus. To I respectfully disagree with his summary. students, the neighboring community is not Change and transition is always painful. It is seen as a part of the Temple family. Instead, unfortunate that communities get displaced, and they are perceived as intruders, simply takthat it is happening here; but the fact that millening up space in what could be a safer, nicer nial students want a quality education in a safe place if they all just disappeared. The word urban environment is not racist. NDIDI OBASI LUKE HARRINGTON and its use around Temple may Temple is bringing resources to seem like nothing serious, but it the community. The student populaactually plays a huge role in the A University of Pennsylvania professor’s tion living off campus stimulates the dangerous mentality that fuels local economy. Cash is flowing from openly critical letter about Temple’s gentrification in the North Philathe tenants, to the landlords, and to relationship with the surrounding delphia community. the city in the form of property taxes. community has incited much debate. Eighty-two percent of TemThose student-tenants are buying ple students live in what is congroceries locally, they’re using SEPsidered off-campus housing, TA, they’re paying city payroll taxes including commuters, according to the U.S. News and World and most of all, they’re going out on the town. Report. As more students arrive and enrollment increases, this It may be a crass argument, but the more people with disposnumber of off-campus students will likely increase as long as able income moving to the city, the better, because that money that the amount of residence halls stays the same. Because of this, people spend locally funnels directly back to the city. The more we there has been a significant rise in the number of off-campus go out to bars and restaurants, the more we go to events, the more apartments that have been created around the community by venues and businesses that open to support our urban lifestyles, the private developers. During my four years here as a student, I more money the city gets in taxes. have seen empty lots and older-looking apartments turned into The phenomenon of “white flight” depleted the city’s tax base fancy, modern, well-lit apartments that have “Student Housto mostly the poorest people in the city. Moreover, the dilapidated ing” and “Temple Town” banners proudly hung from them. But and tax delinquent properties all over North Philadelphia have as these new properties go up, pieces of the local community been a further drain on the tax base, adding $9.5 billion in uncolare taken out. What personally hurt to witness was a new apartlected city tax revenue, according to planphilly.com. In addition, ment property being put up on 16th Street and Montgomery tax delinquent properties lower the values of single-family homes Avenue that covered up a beautiful mural that had been there around them – meaning those homes get taxed less, resulting in long before I became a student. less city revenue. In short, when a few properties don’t pay their In an open letter on philly.com, University of Pennsylvafair share of city taxes and fall into squalor and disrepair, the losses nia faculty member Chad Dion Lassiter shot right at the uniincrease exponentially. versity for being the cause of the gentrification, saying that According to planphilly.com, the national average rate for “Temple University’s encroachments upon North Philadelphia property tax collection – or taxes collected on time – in the U.S. should no longer be shocking for it is real.” What I think Laswas 95 percent in 2011. It was about 85.6 percent that same year in siter could have added, however, is that the culture of students Philadelphia. These are property taxes, the ones that pay for things treating the community members as intruders feeds into this like public schools. gentrification as well. Temple’s gentrification is the opposite of white flight. The milWhen students move into these properties, they take with lennial generation is realizing the limitations of life in the suburbs them this sense of entitlement, as if to say, “This is MY block, and starting to migrate back to urban centers, and they’re bringand you locals just happen to live on it.” Students throw loud ing their skills and their wallets with them. TempleTown Realty parties well into the morning, completely disregarding the loand Temple Villas are buying up those delinquent and abandoned cal families with young children that live around them. Trash properties and turning them into profitable real estate for the city. is aimlessly left on blocks without much consideration of the That is why Temple’s push to gentrify the neighborhood will bencommunity they are expected to share the neighborhood with. efit it more in the end than if Temple had left the neighborhood And little to no interaction is made with anyone who looks “loalone. Many millennials want to spend their lives in cities. The cal” out of the irrational fear that it could become dangerous. only way that will happen is if the economic infrastructure of the Officially, the university does try to encourage students to be city is amenable. This includes living-wage jobs, modern transit more inclusive of the local community with its Good Neighinfrastructure, public safety, affordable public education and a vibor Initiative, but it’s hard to take any of it seriously when the brant nightlife. university and its aggressive plan of expansion is very much at All this being said, what also must happen is that the incoming the heart of this entire problem to begin with. Because of this, millennial population must find a way to strike a respectful social a strong sense of animosity is shown to the local community, balance with the local community at the same time. Just because which is reciprocated by some members of the community who we live here doesn’t mean we can just impose our social footprint are desperate to hold onto their neighborhood that they see dison those who’ve lived here for years. We should look to the neighappearing right in front of their eyes. borhoods along Baltimore Avenue in West Philadelphia, which unUnfortunately, there is no grand or flawless fix to this derwent similar gentrification transitions years ago. growing issue that is affecting our community. What we can The area is filled with University City students, faculty and do, though, is start small. All Temple students, myself included, other urban professionals. The newcomers – if they can still be need to catch ourselves when we use “local” to describe memcalled “new” – found a way to find a positive social interactive bers of the North Philadelphia community. We need to underbalance with the long-term residents West Philadelphia. While we stand the attitude of entitlement we adopt when we use “local” have every right to move into the area around Main Campus, we with such a negative connotation and ask ourselves what we all have to acknowledge that it’s a community of both newcomers can do to be a part of the solution instead of perpetuating the and life-long residents. problem. Instead of alienating the local community, students * luke.harrington@temple.edu need to work harder to embrace them, and losing that one nowT @Duke_Harrington dirty word from our vocabulary isn’t such a bad place to start. * ndidi.obasi@temple.edu T @NdidiObasi
OPINION
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
PAGE 5
commentary | social media
Comments on Yik Yak spur race discussions Posts on the anonymous app questioned the place of black student organizations.
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emple, known to many as “Diversity University,” is ranked No. 493 in ethnic diversity nation wide, with 60.2 percent of the student body being white and only 13.5 percent black, according to collegefactual.com. With this in mind, I was understandably shocked when I read comments on Yik Yak on Oct. 31 that criticized the role of black student organizations on Main Campus. “I’m sick of this ‘white privilege’ s---,” one user wrote. “White people can’t say anything even remotely out of line, without the entire black population making a huge deal about it, while they say whatever they want.” Yik Yak is a phone app that allows users to share short posts, similar to Twitter, except yaks – what the posts are called – are completely anonymous. The app is based on location, so if you use SYDNEY PARSONS it while on Main Campus, many yaks are from students. The Black Student Union reacted angrily on Twitter that morning, sharing photos of the Yaks and tagging other black student organizations to bring further attention to the comments. “Their oppressive ideas show how ignorant they are to the obvious destruction and genocide of black and brown bodies in this country!” the organization tweeted. Another incriminating yak read, “It’s a problem when you have organizations like the NSBE, National Society of Black Engineers. Tell me how that’s not discriminatory.” Just three days before these anonymous Yik Yak users targeted black student organizations, TSG hosted TUnity, an event designed to promote diversity and unity throughout the student body. The event generated a statement that serves a reminder to all students to keep an open mind about the presence of different people and
cultures on campus. Parts of that statement include “welcome those who are different from us to challenge and expand our worldview,” and “there is no place for ignorance or violence on our campus,” according to TSG’s website. Not all students share the opinion that white privilege doesn’t exist and that black student organizations are discriminatory. One brave Yik Yak user came to the defense of black student organizations by simply stating, “We create these clubs to unite our people.” Many students reacted on Facebook and the majority of the people who posted – white and black alike – agreed that white privilege does exist and is a serious problem. One student suggested that the ignorance demonstrated on Yik Yak could be the result of a lack of education and awareness of the topic. In regards to black student organizations, however, Jarred Geis, a senior tourism and hospitality major, said he believes organizations specific to one ethnic or racial group “keeps us from progressing in equality.” While I do see the basis of that point, here’s mine. Black student organizations, as well as other cultural organizations, are not created for the purpose of keeping out people who are not in that ethnic or racial group – they are meant to unite students of the same background and welcome them into a friendly environment where they can be around their own people and flourish. “So why can’t white people have clubs?” asked one Yik Yak user involved in the discussion. In response to that, it’s important to consider the historical presence of racial discrimination as it pertains to today’s society. As recently a half a century ago, racial segregation was still legal. Michelle Alexander’s book “The New Jim Crow,” describes that in this so-called “post-racial” United States, more black adults are behind bars than were enslaved in 1850, a black child today has less of a chance of being raised by both parents than a black child born during slavery, unarmed black men are being slain by the police and more black men are being stopped and pulled over by police on suspicion of drug possession – despite the fact that blacks are no more likely to carry drugs than whites. In a country that is still fundamentally unequal, black student
organizations as well as other cultural organizations should be celebrated, not frowned upon. They should be viewed positively as institutions for minority advancement, not subjected to the ignorant idea that they are discriminatory. At a seminar on Main Campus last Friday, professionals in the field of African American Studies weighed in on the idea of white privilege. “[People who do not believe white privilege exists] have historical amnesia,” said Dr. Reiland Rabaka, a professor in the AAS Department at the University of Colorado at the event. “America didn’t develop in a vacuum.” He added that there is a “cultural capital that goes along with being white,” and that the idea of white privilege being nonexistent is “fiction.” Dr. Molefi Kete Asante, chair of the AAS Department, shared similar views. “White privilege is pervasive,” he said. “Black student organizations are a response to the fact that all students organizations are white for the most part – the culture of those organizations are white.” Being white in this country is the norm – it is the standard we as society use to measure the prosperity for those who are non-white. Even something as simple as equality is unconsciously applied to the white standard. We think people are equal if they are all being treated like whites – that’s white privilege. To achieve real equality, we must focus on people being treated like people. Whites are the dominant racial group on Main Campus and in the country. So if people or students of the same racial or ethnic group want to form an organization uniting themselves there is no harm done. In a white dominated society, it is crucial that minorities have places to unite and thrive. Cultural organizations should be embraced and celebrated not only for the unity of their people, but for the uniqueness and diversity they add to the white society we live in. * sydney.faye.parsons@temple.edu T @sydney_faye96
KASIA PLUTO TTN
LETTER TO THE EDITOR...
Acceptance a priority for many campus fraternities
Greek life at Temple should not be defined by one student’s negative experience.
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ecently, I read a front page article for The Temple News titled “A more ‘progressive’ fraternity.” The story detailed Joshua Decker’s attempts to rush Greek life, and how his encounters with homophobia within certain fraternities led him to begin the founding process on his own. He felt the need to start his own fraternity because the others saw him as too “visibly gay” for their brotherhood. I sympathize greatly with Joshua – everybody should feel comfortable to be themselves in all situations. It is terrible that he felt so judge for simply being himself. However, I want Joshua and all the readers of The Temple News to know that his experiences are not representative of Greek Life on Main Campus. First, it is important to note that almost all of the fraternities must sign agreements with their national headquarters to not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation or any other protected class during their recruitment periods. We reviewed this policy at our National Convention in August, and signed an agreement with national headquarters before we were able to begin recruitment. This is not just an empty policy – almost all of the fraternities
at Temple have gay brothers. One of our brothers is gay, and I can honestly say that when it came time to discuss his candidacy when he came out for recruitment, his sexual orientation was not mentioned once. All that we cared about was that he was a good man and that he embodied the ideals of the fraternity. He did, so we all voted to give him a bid. That is all any fraternity cares about: finding quality men to join them in their endeavors. In fact, as recently as 2012, the Interfraternity Council, which governs the social fraternities on campus, elected a gay man as its president. If all of the fraternities can agree that a gay man should represent them to the University, that he best represents what they all stand for, then they certainly could not also be homophobic. Unfortunately, as the saying goes, it only takes one bad apple to ruin the bunch. If anybody feels discriminated at one of our recruitment events, it is easy to paint all of us with a giant brush as homophobes. That is what makes it so difficult for fraternities today to maintain a good public image – one bad story becomes the narrative for the entire system. So I hope that any fraternity brother reading this, no matter his letters, will recognize how important it is that we all treat each other
“If anybody feels discriminated
at one of our recruitment events, it is easy to paint all of us with a giant brush as homophobes.
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LETTERS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
as equals. If even one among us holds homophobic views, it is one too many and we must teach each other to not discriminate and to be tolerant. I also hope that if Joshua is reading this, that he understands that most of the fraternities on campus do not discriminate, and that I am truly sorry that he had such a bad experience. I wish him the best of luck in founding his own fraternity, and I hope that we will see him and his brothers around campus and getting involved in the community soon. Justin Diaz is a senior media studies and production major and the president of Sigma Alpha Mu. He can be reached at justin.diaz@temple.edu.
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY? Send your comments to letters@temple-news.com. Letters to the editor may regard any current issue but must include your full name, position and location. Students can give year and major. Submissions should be between 200-600 words.
NEWS
PAGE 6
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
LOCAL NEWS CLA STUDENT SUES FOR TUITION
Temple student Caitlyn Ricci won a lawsuit on Thursday after she sued her estranged parents for not paying her tuition. The case was heard in a Camden County court, where Judge Donald J. Stein ruled that Michael Ricci and Maura McGarvey – Ricci’s parents who divorced in 1997 – had to pay $16,000 per year to help with their daughter’s tuition expenses. Ricci, a junior in the College of Liberal Arts, claims her parents kicked her out of the house in February 2013. 6ABC reported that Ricci’s grandparents paid for the lawyer she used in the trial, siding against their own son. A judge ordered in October 2013 that Michael Ricci and McGarvey share the cost of their daughter’s tuition as long as she applied for all available financial aid. The parents refused to pay, arguing that their daughter did not follow her part of the judge’s order. Ricci’s father told The Inquirer he thinks his parents influenced his daughter after Caitlyn moved in with them after leaving home last year. “I have zero respect for my parents for what they’ve done and how they’ve handled the situation,” Michael Ricci said. McGarvey wrote about her displeasure with the case in a blog on Nov. 6. “Anyone who hears this story thinks it’s crazy, and no one can believe that this case saw the inside of a courtroom,” she wrote. “But it did. And I lost.” -Steve Bohnel
CLA student Caitlyn Ricci sued her parents for Temple tuition and won.
CRIME STUDENTS ROBBED OFF CAMPUS
Temple Police responded to the robbery of a student around 11:10 p.m. Friday at the student’s residence near the corner of 11th Street and Susquehanna Avenue, Executive Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said in an email. The student told Temple Police that a 20- to 25-year-old man who was wearing a black hoodie and dark pants pointed a gun at him and demanded his cell phone, which he surrendered before running home.
VIA FACEBOOK
Leone said the student could not recall exactly when or where the robbery occurred and was drinking a beer when an officer came to his house to take the report. The robbery is believed to have occurred on the 2100 block of North 12th Street around 10:40 p.m. A TU Alert was sent out about the incident around 11:50 p.m. which said the incident occurred at 11:15 p.m. and urged anyone with information to call 911. The victim did not want to prosecute and declined to report the incident to Philadelphia police, Leone said. In a separate incident, Philadelphia and Temple police are searching for two male suspects in connection with an armed robbery which occurred on the
1600 block of Berks Street around 10:30 p.m. Sunday, police said. Executive Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said in an email that a non-Temple-affiliated male was turning onto Berks Street from Willington Street to retrieve items from his vehicle when the suspects approached him and brandished weapons. The suspects obtained two iPhones before fleeing north down 16th Street in a red sedan, driven by a third male, Leone said. The victim told police that one suspect wore a blue hoodie and the other was wearing orange running shoes. Detectives from Temple Police are working with Philadelphia police to review security camera footage from the area and search for potential witnesses, Leone said. A TU Alert was sent out about the incident around 11 p.m. which encouraged anyone with information to call 911. The alert said the incident occurred on the 1800 block of Willington Street since the victim was turning off that block onto Berks Street, Leone said. Leone said the suspects may have been involved in a robbery of three students which occurred near 18th and Diamond streets on Nov. 12 around 11:10 p.m. One suspect from the Nov. 12 robbery ran past the students walking east on Diamond Street and turned around and pointed a gun at them. The students dropped their bags and cell phones on the ground, and the suspects fled east towards Broad Street in a dark-colored sedan that was parked, Leone said. -Joe Brandt
TSG visits White House The “It’s On Us” campaign seeks to end sexual assault at colleges nationwide. LIAN PARSONS The Temple News
ANDREW THAYER TTN
SEPTA officials said the City Branch tunnel could allow for buses to go underground and bypass traffic. Baldwin Locomotive sold the tunnel to SEPTA in 1994.
SEPTA considering uses for abandoned tunnel TUNNEL PAGE 1 mati said. “It’s very construction-heavy, it would ing with street level,” and a “cultural corridor” require lots of engineering, but you could get a that would hit many of the institutions that line connection that doesn’t exist, currently.” the parkway. Comati said that many ideas for the tunnels While there is still a great deal of time before have been entertained over the years, including any decisions are made, Comati said work on the a continued use of getting a large amount of re- project would not happen for another five to 10 sources into the city without having to fight traf- years due to a lack of room in the city’s budget. fic. But some new project ideas Comati said another part of centered around tourism transporthe city is being considered for tation are currently at the forefront. the project as well – the Reading One idea would be a collecViaduct, a former railroad that tion of bus routes that would drop now runs through the Callowhill down below street level through neighborhood. SEPTA owns part the tunnels and back up again to of the passage. evade traffic. This would be ideal Experts have compared the for commuters or travelers from space as being similar to New the Fairmount neighborhood to York City’s High Line, except Center City and back, Comati said. wider. Comati said this would alThe city of Pittsburgh currently low for a trail with enough space has a similar function in its Light to accommodate many uses at Byron Comati / SEPTA director of Rail line, also known as “The T.” once, like a mixed-use park and strategic planning “This idea is something rathtransportation space. er unique,” Comati said. “A bus “It is an incredible, flourishcould drop [below street level], shoot along with- ing asset,” he said. “It could unite the Center City out congestion or traffic lights and end up in the District with Callowhill, which would be a very art museum area or in Center City.” powerful, rejuvenating thing to happen to that Comati also said there are advocates for a part of the city.” mixed-use trail, one that could be shared by peThis idea has been in consideration for years. destrians and bikers, as well as a proposed public Comati said about three-fourths of City Branch transit system. He said that there are security con- has been evaluated, which could lead to the concerns with this plan, and a lack of natural light to cept being completed in the near future. allow the proposed foliage and grass to grow, but Comati added that SEPTA has to consider also that it is a popular idea. these spaces as resources, and as projects that Betsy Mastaglio, senior transportation plan- could give momentum to parts of the city that are ner at the Delaware Valley Regional Planning currently lacking attention. Commission, agreed that a balance of a few uses “It’s a very interesting project,” Comati said. is what people prefer when they talk about pos- “It opens up some opportunities for the city, and I sible uses for City Branch. hate to see opportunities not be taken.” While proposals have been made in the past, “Any city would kill to have a passageway the DVRPC is currently completing a comprehen- through their city,” he added. “So to not use it sive planning study of the space and will eventu- begs the question – why not?”” ally be able to decide which of the proposed plans is most likely to work for the future. * paige.gross1@temple.edu Mastaglio described the tunnels as “an in- T @By_paigegross vestment in something that wouldn’t be compet-
“[City Branch]
opens up some opportunities for the city, and I hate to see opportunities not be taken.
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Temple Student Government and student athletics are working to bring the “It’s On Us” campaign to Main Campus, an initiative that the White House launched this September as a public service announcement to prevent sexual assault. “[TSG is] trying to frame it all together and make it make sense to students,” Student Body President Ray Smeriglio said. “We’re figuring out how to make this a university-wide issue.” TSG visited the White House on Oct. 29 to speak with the White House Liaison to Young Americans about the issue of sexual misconduct on campus and talk with other student governments about implementing “It’s On Us.” Other universities represented in the discussions included the University of Delaware, Carnegie Mellon and Penn State. “We stood out at the White House as a university that is doing everything to address the problem head on,” Smeriglio said. Blair Alston, vice president of services, said part of the conversation involved the TUnity statement, which was released Oct. 28, and comments on diversity at Temple. “We brought it to the table as our idea of how we can proADVERTISEMENT
gram and address the issue,” Alston said. Last week, the athletic department filmed a series of PSAs featuring student-athletes, administrators and student body leaders taking the “It’s On Us” pledge. These PSAs are scheduled to debut on the scoreboard at the Nov. 29 football game against Cincinnati. Assistant Director of Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs Kristy Sromovsky said she and Jessica Gray, coordinator of compliance and student-athlete affairs, “felt really passionate about getting student-athletes involved.” “We came across it on social media and did a lot of research into the ‘It’s On Us’ campaign and thought it was a really important cause,” Sromovsky said. “As an athletic department, we thought it was on us to take part in it,” Gray said. The athletic department is planning a major social media campaign to promote the initiative. “I hope that [‘It’s On Us’ is] something our students and our student-athletes will continue to talk about,” said Sherryta Freeman, senior associate athletic director of compliance and student-athlete affairs. “I hope it becomes a mantra, not just for the current moment, but all the time.” Stephanie Ives, the dean of students, said the administration has also been active in implementing new ideas. President Theobald has assembled a task force to make recommendations about how the university can address the problem of sexual misconduct
on campus. Ives said she appreciates the fact that the conversation about sexual misconduct has “risen to a new level.” “It’s On Us” stresses the importance of bystander intervention, calling upon people to speak up when they witness suspect behavior. “[It’s On Us emphasizes] the role of people to intervene when they see something that they know is wrong, or when they see something that they think is heading in the wrong direction,” Ives said. “It’s very empowering and there’s a sense of ownership.” “Being a bystander, you can ultimately have an impact on what happens in a current situation,” Alston said. “It’s recognizing and showing that if you see something wrong, you need to step up and say something.” The Office for Civil Rights visited Temple this past week, since Temple was named last May as one of 55 universities under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for possible violation of Title IX. The OCR led a series of focus groups to gather information about the climate on campus from students, faculty, and staff. “It’s [the students’] climate, it’s our campus and we should take charge and take action,” Alston said. “The only way other things are going to change is if we empower each other to.” * lian.parsons@temple.edu T @Lian_Parsons
lifestyle
owlery.temple-news.com
STAYING FIT
MAKING A MODEL
Senior psychology major Kristine Polizzano, a competitive powerlifter, instructs four fitness classes at the IBC. PAGE 8
Sophomore advertising major and English minor Megan Sawey balances schoolwork with weekend modeling gigs. PAGE 16
temple-news.com
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
SUZANNE PENN TO LECTURE Guest lecturer Suzanne Penn, from the Philadelphia Museum of Art, will be speaking Nov. 18 from 5:30-7 p.m., other news and notes. PAGE 18 PAGE 7
Preserving a family’s experiences
ANDREW THAYER TTN
Freshman journalism major Max Buchdahl stands in Paley library while holding his self-published book, “Return of the Exiled.”
Freshman journalism major Max Buchdahl self-published a book that follows the story of his family’s escape from Nazi Germany. EMILY SCOTT The Temple News
M
ax Buchdahl’s dream job was to play baseball for the Baltimore Orioles, but when he realized he was never going to throw a 95 mph fastball, he decided he would write about sports instead. The freshman journalism major recently self-published a book titled “Return of the Exiled” – but it doesn't involve sports. Instead, it tells the story of his family's escape from Nazi Germany in the late 1930s into the 1940s. “I always thought about being the one to tell my family story,” Buchdahl said. The book weaves in details about his own trip to Germany, which he em-
barked on a few days before his senior year of high school started. He visited the country for two weeks with his parents, grandfather and sister. “Since I was going on the trip, I thought it would be a unique way to look at the story instead of just piling all of these facts,” Buchdahl said. His grandfather, who is almost 80, is the oldest person in his family still alive who came from Germany. His grandfather, Gustav Buchdahl, and his parents left the country in Spring 1938, when Gustav was three years old. Interviewing his grandfather played a key role in telling the family story, he said. “When I was writing a chapter and I knew I was missing details, I went to him,” Max Buchdahl said. Max Buchdahl wanted his younger cousins and his children to have the
BOOK PAGE 8
A meatless way to give thanks
Blog gives women a voice in law
Vegeterian-friendly organizations are sponsoring a meatfree Thanksgiving.
A professor co-founded IntLawGrrls, a blog that empowers female voices in the fields of politics and law.
TIM MULHERN The Temple News
ALEXA BRICKER Assistant Lifestyle Editor It wasn’t until their blog IntLawGrrls took a haitus in 2012 that Jaya Ramji-Nogales and her fellow co-founders, Diane Marie Amann and Melina Sterio, realized the power of what they had created. “We just couldn’t find time to manage it,” said Nogales, a professor for Temple’s Beasley School of Law and co-director of the Institute for International Law and Public Policy. “When we shut it down, there was such a strong reaction.” Now in its seventh year, after being republished, IntLawGrrls has fulfilled its goal of becoming a platform for women interested in law to connect on an international level in a way that had not been possible before, Nogales said. Though the blog’s main contributors
Professor Jaya Ramji-Nogales created IntLawGrrls in 2007.
are from the United States, it has also attracted attention from women in Africa, Latin America, Australia and Europe, Nogales said. “One of the advantages of the Internet is [the blog] has a real connection with women in different parts of the world,” she said. “One of our editors is from Europe.” Nogales said a feature of the blog “prereincarnation” included a map that lit up in areas where women were logging on. “It was amazing to wake up in the morning and see that,” she said. “It’s making the world a smaller place in some ways, and that’s been really rewarding to see.” After attending law discussions where
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COURTESY JAYA RAMJI-NOGALES
the panels were dominated by men, Nogales said she and Amann realized they know plenty of women who would be highly qualified to fill these positions. Though they had to recruit women to participate in the early years of IntLawGrrls, Nogales says women all over the world are now asking to share thoughts on the blog. “[IntLawGrrls] has managed to fulfill its mission and sustain itself,” she said. “Women are doing this because they have something to say. Now people are reaching out to me personally saying, ‘Hey, I want to write about this and that.’”
INTLAWGRRLS PAGE 16
LIFESTYLE@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
There will not be any turkey served at this month’s Thanksgiving-themed Potluck with a Purpose. The Green Council and the Rad Dish Co-op Café are sponsoring a Vegetarian and Vegan Thanksgiving on Nov. 19 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in the Rad Dish Co-op Café in Ritter Hall. “The Potluck with a Purpose was started two years ago and we’ve had one every month during the school year since the beginning,” said Katy Ament, a senior environmental studies major and outreach assistant at the Office of Sustainability. “It’s been the most successful sustainability event ever on
campus. We were hoping for 30 people to come [to our first potluck], and we ended up with 84. Since then, we’ve always had between 50 and 130 people at our events.” The monthly student-run events feature a theme and a guest speaker who relates to issues the organizations within The Green Council focus on. The Green Council partnered with the Rad Dish Coop in an effort to promote the new vegetarian and vegan café, which will be opening its doors at the start of Spring 2015. ‘The Green Council is a coalition of eco-friendly student organizations on campus,” Ament said. “There are about 10 [student organizations] involved at anytime. The purpose is to foster those relationships between student organizations and allow them to have a time designated to promoting events to one another and figuring out
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LIFESTYLE
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Powerlifter teaches four classes at IBC Fitness instructor Kristine Polizzano has competed in powerlifting across the globe. SIENNA VANCE The Temple News Kristine Polizzano discovered her love for powerlifting through trips to the gym with her father. Now a senior psychology major, Polizzano has competed in various competitions across the globe. She has attended world championships in Sweden and Canada and hopes to possibly attend one locally, in Scranton, Pennsylvania this January. Recently, Polizzano has taken on her fourth fitness certification at Campus Recreation – Beach Body Turbo Kick, which Polizzano said is kind of like Zumba, but more intense. “It’s fun and when you keep coming to a class you learn more routines,” Polizzano said. “You don’t think that it’s a hard workout at first, but after 50 minutes you’ll be sweating at the end.” Not only is Polizzano certified in personal training, primary aerobics and kickboxing, she is also the vice president of Temple’s Powerlifting Club. Powerlifting, Polizzano said, is what pushed her to get a job working at the Independence Blue Cross Recreation Center at Temple. Her father, a dedicated powerlifter, inspired her to pursue the sport in high school. “I did sports like field hockey in high school, but once my dad started taking me to the gym with him, I saw that powerlifting was awesome,” Polizzano said. “I learn a lot about myself through it, and I love it because you have control over your own body.” Polizzano said people are often surprised by the fact that she is a female powerlifter. “I like that I’m a girl,” Polizzano said. “It’s funny when I tell someone that I do powerlifting, and they’re like, ‘What?’” Polizzano said that although powerlifting is usually considered a male-dominated sport, it has recently become more popular among women. Anthony Alongi, a Campus Recreation fitness coordinator and Polizzano’s supervisor, said the IBC is grateful to have her. “I really can’t say enough about [Polizzano],” Alongi said. “Her energy is an awesome standard of what a student working
here should be doing. She’s the rock star of the fitness program. She brings so much camaraderie among the staff.” Polizzano currently instructs Tabata, where she teaches bosu boot camp and full-body toning group fitness sessions. She is also a personal trainer for Campus Recreation’s personal training program – a service that aims to help exercisers accomplish a new fitness goal or discover a suitable fitness routine. “I like seeing my clients with personal training take more control over their bodies, but with group fitness sessions I love that I can help like 50 people,” Polizzano said. “I may not have the best day ever, but at the end of the session I feel like, ‘Wow, I really helped a lot of people.’” Dominique McDuffie, a junior legal studies major, is currently shadowing Polizzano’s bosu boot camp fitness session and hopes to one day teach it in the future.
“Whether you can do the hardest circuit or the easiest circuit, [Polizzano] is always making sure you are doing something,” McDuffie said. “With Bosu Boot Camp, she shows many different modifications for each skill level so that we all can be doing something.” McDuffie said Polizzano is her personal role model. Polizzano has even inspired McDuffie to pursue a certification in Primary Fitness to eventually lead group sessions at the IBC, she said. “I think in the classroom, gym and socially [Polizzano] is always willing to find the best in any situation or in any person no matter what,” McDuffie said. “She never gives up and is always looking for a tougher challenge. She will never settle and that’s something that I wish everyone would take away from her." * sienna.vance@temple.edu
Senior psychology major Kristine Polizzano competes in a powerlifting competition in Canada in 2011.
COURTESY KRISTINE POLIZZANO
Student self-publishes book about family BOOK PAGE 7 family’s information. leave without answers,” “I knew I would prob- Max Buchdahl said. ably be the final person with Max Buchdahl also exthe means to get it,” Max perienced “survivors guilt” Buchdahl said. when telling a story about In the book, Max Bu- some family members. It chdahl writes about the trip was difficult to write, he in chronological order, mak- said, because he felt he was ing connections between the telling their “dark secrets to trip and his family’s story the world.” and letting the two narraEven after the trip tives weave together. ended, Max Buchdahl said “I loved [Max]’s ca- he was still unsure of what pacity to blend the often direction he wanted to take competing narratives of our with the book. The story family,” Gustav Buchdahl formulated in the first few said. “The experience has months of his senior year of been very important to his high school as he processed family.” the story, the trip and every“It was the measures thing he learned about his they have family. taken to Throughnot forget out writing, the about the biggest battle Holocaust; Buchdahl faced those were was a “strucbig things tural crisis” his for me,” teacher told Max Buhim. chdahl “He realsaid. ized early on Max that he couldn’t Buchdahl convey consaid he has versations and Max Buchdahl / freshman always felt people exactly a strong as they had connection to the Holocaust been in real time,” Max Bubecause of his family’s es- chdahl’s teacher, Suzanne cape. Being in Germany Supplee said. with descendants of the His teacher told him same people who “kicked to make a list of the stories his family out” was “power- he wanted to write about. ful” for Max Buchdahl. They became vignettes that “When we visited ranged from three to 11 paghis house, synagogue and es. After that, he “hit this schools, standing in the groove” of writing. same place that [my family The finished version of stood] was very powerful,” “Return of the Exiled,” was Max Buchdahl said. published April 25. Max Buchdahl conOn Nov. 10, Max Buchducted some other inter- dahl held a book talk in the views for the text in early Edward H. Rosen Center July 2013. He told them this for Jewish Life, also known would be the “definitive” as the Hillel building. He story of their family, which discussed writing, read exhe learned later, was impos- cerpts and answered quessible. tions. He ran into problems Max Buchdahl said like family members tell- people frequently ask him ing two different stories and not to spoil the ending of his the evasiveness of family book. secrets. Some family mem“I would say, ‘I’m the bers were unsure of what end. We made it.’” information to share. “I wasn’t going to * emily.ivy.scott@temple.edu
“It was the
measures they have taken to not forget about the Holocaust; those were big things for me.
”
Freshman journalism major Max Buchdahl holds his self-published book, “Return of the Exiled.”
ANDREW THAYER TTN
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT GIVING STORYTELLERS A PLATFORM The First Person Arts nonprofit organization held a festival in honor of memoir and documentary from Nov. 4-15. PAGE 11
PLAYWRIGHTS COLLABORATE FOR COMPANY Orbiter 3, a new local playwright company, plans on producing six productions in three years. PAGE 10
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Quirky books recognized for off-beat plots
Using the skin as a canvas
A local independent publisher is in the semifinal round of the Goodreads’ Choice Awards 2014.
Local body painter, Kitakiya Dennis, said body-painting used to be out of her comfort zone. Today, it’s her career.
K
ALBERT HONG The Temple News
A
ALEXA BRICKER Assistant Lifestyle Editor
itakiya Dennis recently painted naked bodies at an all-nude birthday party – and that’s not her craziest experience to date. Philadelphia-born artist Dennis, 27, started her painting career when she arrived at the University of the Arts in 2009. The decision to be a body painter and utilize the body as a medium was not an easy one, she said. “I’ve always been interested in art, but I didn’t know what type because I thought all art was really nice,” Dennis said. “In high school I was all over – I was dancing and acting and everything was fun. When I came to college it was hard to choose one thing.” She decided to pursue a degree in the UArts multimedia program, which still allowed her to experiment with a variety of mediums, she said. Her connection to painting ultimately felt most natural. “I don’t have to think about it very much,” Dennis said. “It’s kind of being risky, but doing what’s comfortable at the same time.” Her shift to painting bodies was slow, she said, and came after a volunteer face-painting experience when people began asking her to paint their arms and shoulders. Dennis said body-painting was out of her comfort zone at first and definitely out of the comfort zone of her subjects. “At first it was really hard to convince people but after a few times they warmed up to it,” she said. “The first person I painted was my friend from college and she was very open to it, but when I first started it was definitely only people that trusted me.” Though the idea of painting someone fully nude took time to adjust to, Dennis said she has always had a fascination with bodies, something that stemmed from her mother’s interest in fitness. Her mother stressed to her the beauty of the human
PAINTER PAGE 14 UArts graduate Kitakiya Dennis, 27, works as a multimedia artist in the city.
App users rate aspiring musicians Temple alumnus Ian Glipsy started Mighty Hip. EAMON DREISBACH The Temple News Nearly hidden between a modest boutique and a small Mexican restaurant, the 7165
Lounge seems like a quiet place to host a small get-together. On Nov. 8, the sound of smooth jazz, granola folk and blues guitar trickled out into the streets of Germantown Avenue, as five musical acts took to the stage for an afternoon performance. Inside the venue, local and out-of-state artists took part in Mighty Virtuoso, a concert organized by Temple alumnus
Ian Glispy at the same time he developed a phone application called Mighty Hip. The app allows artists to upload one-minute audio snippets, which are then rated and ranked by other users. Glispy said he hopes to redefine the way that music is distributed and accessed through
MIGHTY PAGE 12
CC Hill performed at Mighty Hip’s event, Mighty Virtuoso, on Nov. 8. in Germantown.
A&E DESK 215-204-7416
KARA MILSTEIN TTN
MARGO REED TTN
ART
A new look for lit mag
APIARY literary magazine is trying to raise $15,000 to redesign its website. VICTORIA MIER The Temple News The brakes on Steve Burns’ old Jeep Wrangler went out somewhere past Old City Coffee, right in the middle of rush hour traffic. He jumped out at a stop sign to try and halt the vehicle, but the stick-shift Jeep continued to lumber along. Eventually, Burns put his physical well-being at risk to bring the car to a halt with his own body. That was when he realized just how dedicated he was to the Philadelphia literary magazine called APIARY. “It was a crazy day,” Burns, web editor and outreach coordinator at the magazine, said. “Later, I realized I spent most of it nearly dying to distribute the magazine. That’s when I knew how much I really wanted to do this.” The love affair with APIARY started when Burns first spotted a copy in the Italian Market and was immediately drawn to how “alive” the magazine was. Burns is part of the organization of volunteer staff, writers and fans of the magazine trying to raise $15,000 in order to ensure its survival and to print the next issue. “The money will be used for two key things,” said Lillian Dunn, executive editor and co-founder of the
APIARY PAGE 11
ARTSandENTERTAINMENT@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
s an asteroid is set to destroy the earth, one policeman continues his job of solving murders in a world where everyone has abandoned hope. This is the setting in “World of Trouble,” by Ben H. Winters, one of the four books from the independent publisher Quirk Books. Headquartered in Old City, Quirk Books has been nominated in the semifinal round of the online reader-decided Goodreads’ Choice Awards 2014. The final round of voting ALBERT HONG started Nov. 17. Geeking Out Browsing through its diverse catalog of books, it was easy to see that they all strayed from the norm. Whether it’s a parenting book teaching how to turn your child into an internet celebrity or a poetry book resonating with the “bro” community, Quirk caters to all kinds of eccentric readers. Eric Smith, co-founder of Geekadelphia, the blog keeping tabs on all things geeky in the city, became Quirk’s social media and marketing manager in 2010. It was a natural role for him considering how much of a geek he is for books, being the author of “The Geek’s Guide to Dating,” which was suggested to him and published by Quirk. “I'm basically the kind of person Quirk likes to publish for: A geeky person who loves humor, pop culture books, odd fiction and interesting books that have unique projects,” Smith wrote in an email. Smith’s new Young Adult novel, “Inked,” is set to come out in January 2015. Quirk’s reputation goes beyond its Philadelphia location with its writing talent coming from all over the country and world, spanning many genres. Winters, a full-time writer, resides in Indianapolis and his “Last Policeman” series focuses on his passion of mystery and speculative fiction writing, among everything else. “I wanted to first and foremost tell a really compelling series of mystery stories against a dramatic and ever-shifting backdrop,” Winters wrote in an email. “The theme developed as I wrote, and I discovered that what I was really writing about was death, its inevitability and how we live our lives in reaction to, or in willful ignorance of, that inevitability.” Having published a “shelf’s worth” of books with Quirk, Winters also said he has come to appreciate the publisher’s variety of work. “Their books are all insane and fascinating, each in its own special way,” Winters wrote in an email. Ian Doescher, a Portland na-
QUIRK PAGE 14
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Prince to close its doors PRINCE PAGE 1 always troubled the organization. “The financial situation at the Prince when I got there in 2003 was much more dire than they had led me to believe,” Wager said, remembering the crumbling financial state of the Prince when he moved to Philadelphia to direct “It Ain’t Nothin But The Blues.” AMTF launched a capital campaign to raise money to renovate the theater in 1999, but was unable to collect all of the money that had been pledged, Wager said. In order to move forward in operations, a balloon mortgage was taken out to pay off the builder’s loans. “They had been hitting a major stumbling block with the mortgage they took out and were paying a significant amount of their income to debt service,” Wager said. “The shows that were being produced were being financed by a line of BRIANNA SPAUSE TTN The Prince Music Theater filed for bankruptcy in 2010. In 2013, with the help of Herb Lotman, the theater had a successful season. Two Philadelphia credit from the bank against box office potential music organizations secured residences for the 2014-15 season, however with Lotman’s recent death, the future of the theater is unclear. income, which is not a good way to run a theater.” The theater was funded on a “literal show-toshow basis,” which Wagner called an unattainable of it around. The problems that the Prince faced method to sustain financial stability. Co-founder were the problems all not for profit arts organizaof AMTF, Marjorie Samoff, took on full respon- tions were facing, but they had more stable busisibility of running the theater without a managing ness models in place.” Enter Herb Lotman, who breathed life into director – an uncommon practice – because the The Prince Music Theater in 2013 when he ortheater couldn’t afford the payroll. ganized a new ownership panel that would pull Wager left the Prince in October 2004, decrowds back into the empty thespite three successful producater. Under Executive Director tions at the theater, including James E. Hines, the Prince re“The Great Ostrovsky,” for opened with a successful 2013which he was nominated for the 14 season. Barrymore Award for Outstand“Part of the plan was to reing Direction of a Musical. store the business and we suc“The best thing I could do [to cessfully achieved our goals,” help] them was to resign my poHines said. “The critical part sition so that they didn’t have to of the plan moving forward inpay me anymore – they couldn’t volved Mr. Lotman spearheading afford it,” Wager said. a fundraising campaign. UnforSo, Wager worked his last tunately, his death did not allow three weeks at the theater without that to move forward. His busipay. ness relationships were key for The final performances at the Prince Music for Curtis, since we gave the first opera perforAfter the economic crash in BRIANNA SPAUSE TTN the institution’s success as they 2008 and saw the rise of the savThe Prince’s last show on Nov. 23 is a double billed Curtis Opera Theater performance. were integral for completing our ings, loan and mortgage crisis, first year.” the Prince went down with it. The theater’s new success Theater before its era comes to an end will be mances at the Prince after it opened under its new The theater filed for bankruptcy Douglas Wager / associate dean has been attributed to an ex- held from Nov. 20-23. Curtis Opera Theater will name, with ‘Don Giovanni’ in April 1999. We’re in 2010. of the Center for the Arts panded genre in the arts. Hines perform a double bill titled, “La scala di seta/Gi- sad to see this fine theater closing, and its loss “It was a perfect storm,” Wacurated over 200 performances in anni Schicchi.” will certainly be felt among the arts and culture ger said. “At the precise moment his first season, including theater, cabaret, music, “The Prince Music Theater is a wonderful institutions of Philadelphia.” where the Prince needed the most help was the moment where it was harder for anybody to get comedy and film presentations. The Curtis Insti- venue for opera, and has provided a home for help in the not-for-profit arts. Where both get- tute of Music and The Philadelphia Gay Men’s [us] since 1999,” Jennifer Kalland, senior direc- * brianna.spause@temple.edu ting audiences and getting grants and foundation Chorus secured residencies in the theater that ex- tor of public relations and patron engagement for Curtis, said. “The closing is especially poignant money was getting harder because there was less tended into the 2014-15 season.
“The best thing I could do [to help] them was to resign my position so that they didn’t have to pay me anymore - they couldn’t afford it.
”
Philadelphia playwrights work with company to produce more local work Orbiter 3 is a new collective for theater artists in Philly. NEAH MONTEIRO The Temple News James Ijames says that when he writes a play, he does so for his community. Ijames, along with five other emerging Philadelphia theater artists, is launching a new collective committed to producing plays entirely according to the writer’s vision. “We are freeing ourselves to do the most dangerous work that we’d like,” Ijames said. Orbiter 3 is aiming to produce six new plays over three years – each one in agreement with the artistic vision of the playwright. It’s a risky way to produce new work, Ijames said, enabled by a commitment to serve as one another’s production team. He said that risk is one reason new plays by local playwrights aren’t produced more often in Philadelphia. “If you’re producing a playwright that’s new, that’s a risk,” Ijames said. “It could be controversial.” Members of Orbiter 3 have seen an increase in demand for local plays. The work of playwrights Michael Hollinger and Jacqueline Goldfinger have grown Philadelphia’s reputation nationally. Development programs like PlayPenn and The Foundry bring new plays closer to production. Through public readings, audiences get a taste of what local writers have to offer.
Because of that groundwork, Ijames said, others will “make sure the theater is sustainable,” “audiences are interested in plays from people in doing whatever it takes to bring the writer’s vitheir community.” sion to life and ensure the author of the work is Orbiter 3’s members are early in their writing fairly compensated. careers. But they already have Orbiter 3 replicates an extheir fingerprints on producperiment that’s also bolstering tions by Applied Mechanics, playwrights in Washington, Flashpoint, InterAct, Azuka D.C., and Minneapolis. It startand others. The writers include ed with New York City’s 13P, Emily Acker, Emma Goidel, which ran from 2003-12 before Mary Tuomanen, Douglas disbanding. Williams and Ijames himself. “They left behind the comMaura Krause serves as the arplete model of how they did tistic director. it,” Williams said, describing Acker, Goidel and Wilthe open-source documentaliams collaborated this year for tion 13P published – budgets, a Neighborhood Fringe proschedules and stories. 13P wanted other groups to carry duction. It was during this proon the torch, but few have. cess that they decided to join Douglas Williams / Orbiter 3 member “We decided that Philadelforces as Orbiter 3. phia deserved to have a similar Williams, a 2010 film group,” Williams said. graduate, said the city’s playIjames, who holds an acting MFA from Temwrights are determined to present their work. “There is a great DIY sense in Philadelphia,” ple, said he remembers feeling ecstatic to find out there was energy behind a 13P-style collective in he said. “Do it in a house. Or a garage.” But Williams wants Philadelphia to be more Philadelphia. “I get an email while I was backstage,” than a city where playwrights innovate. He said he envisions, “a town where play- Ijames said. “I was like ‘Yes, yes! Someone’s thinking about this in this way.’” wrights stay and can function.” In Summer 2014, Flashpoint Theater Com“To create art, you need actors and directors and designers,” Williams said. “If everything else pany produced Ijames’ play “The Most Lamentable Trial of Miz Martha Washington,” which he’d should be local, playwrights should, too.” “There is power in numbers,” he added. He developed at PlayPenn the previous summer, with said he is excited to be in a group of playwrights a reading at the Wilma Theatre. Despite an excited response to the script rethat are also actors, directors and filmmakers. While one writer takes a turn as lead artist, the gionally and nationally, Ijames had trouble find-
“To create art,
you need actors and directors and designers. If everything else should be local, playwrights should, too.
”
ing a company willing to stage a full production. Casting that required mostly African American actors who sing and move well and the story about Martha Washington being put on trial for her crimes as a slaveholder were factors “fighting against the play,” Ijames said. It took a leap of faith from Thom Weaver at Flashpoint to produce a play that ended up receiving critical acclaim, sold out houses and earned five Barrymore Award nominations. Ijames and Williams said they see Orbiter 3 as an opportunity to create that kind of radical, provocative work – limited only by their imaginations. Doing so could expand the sense of what’s possible in Philadelphia’s theater community, they said. “We could get theaters to take those kinds of risks, say, ‘I’m going to take the gamble on this play,’ and put the full weight of the company behind it,” Ijames said. Writing locally means the playwrights know their audience’s milieu. They know the skills of the actors, designers and directors who will bring their work to life. Six productions down the road, Orbiter 3 plans to disband in 2018. “When I look to other cultures, art-making doesn’t deplete where the art is made, it replenishes where the art is made,” Ijames said. “Orbiter 3 will leave Philadelphia better than how we found it.” * neah.monteiro@temple.edu
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Festival celebrates the individual voice First Person Arts hosted artists to tell their stories across multiple mediums. vehicle for social change,” Jennings said. In August 2013, FPA led “The Heart Beneath the Hood,” First Person Arts was the first of what the organization founded on the belief that every called Philly reACTS. Inspired person has a story worth hearby the death of Trayvon Martin, ing. the event encouraged people in “Our mission is that every the city to look beyond appearperson has a story to tell,” said ances. Becca Jennings, marketing and FPA’s website says that the communications coordinator hope of events like Philly refor First Person Arts. ACTS is that “through artistic Formed in 2000 by Vicki action, we all can further the Solot, First Person Arts gives cause for equality.” storytellers a platform to share Beyond just uniting the their experiences. Multiple community, Jennings said that mediums are used to tell these storytelling “can be used as a stories like the culinary arts, catalyst” for important issues theater, stand-up comedy and any other way that one can tell and ideas that require discussion. a story. She describes the effects of “She had this vision for the FPA as “redefining the hua storytelling organization in man interest story” by “docuPhilly,” Jennings said. menting news but contributed It is the first and only nonby the people it affects.” profit organization in Philadel“By sharing personal stophia that focuses exclusively ries, the on memoir and sense of documentary. community The First just grows,” Person Arts Jennings Festival celsaid. ebrated its 13th F P A annual event has given this year. The former parfestival consistt i c i p a nts Becca Jennings / marketing and ed of multiple communications coordinator some of the events from skills needNov. 4-15. Going beyond the storytelling side ed to launch their own endeavof FPA, the festival included ors in other cities as well. Scott Shrake won an FPA workshops in writing, storytellStorySlam and participated in ing, history and female media the 2013 FPA Festival. He has voices. since gone on to form his own At events like StorySlams, storytelling organization in a competition to tell a five-minWashington, D.C., called Story ute story of a life event or experience, anyone is invited to par- League. Shrake said that the “auditicipate. FPA hosts StorySlams ence favorite” used at FPA Stotwice monthly and they include rySlams is one element of FPA a cash prize for the victor of that he incorporated into Story each competition, as well as an League. opportunity to share the stage He was inspired by more with other victors. than just the features of FPA. Different nights had dif“I always say FPA has the ferent themes, allowing people best vibe of all the storytelling of all walks of life a chance to shows,” Shrake said. share their stories and lives with “We value and uplift the an audience. sharing … of our experiences,” “Our stories can touch an Jennings added. emotional core,” Jennings said. Many D.C. storytellers “There is a definite emotional work with Philadelphia storyresponse.” tellers and vice-versa through In the past, the organizathe connections Shrake made tion has dealt with topics such working with FPA. as sexuality, family, addiction, Shrake also underlined the autism, mental health and civil importance of perseverance and rights. dedication in storytelling. “Storytelling is a direct
VINCE BELLINO The Temple News
“By sharing
personal stories, the sense of community just grows.
”
A compilation of Philip Bailey’s songs were sung as a tribune to him at the First Persons Arts Festival on Nov. 15.
“I competed about five times before winning their [FPA] intercity slam at the Free Library a couple years ago,” Shrake said. “So to newcomers I would say: Keep trying and trying until you win.” Connections are another
valuable resource that FPA offers to new storytellers, as it works with many established figures in various industries. “Whenever possible, we like to put them [established figures and local storytellers] on the same stage,” Jennings said.
The festival featured Kathryn Erbe of “Law and Order: Criminal Intent,” Zach Grenier of “The Good Wife” and Philip Bailey of Earth Wind & Fire, among others. “The programs aren’t over,” Jennings said. “We invite
JENNY KERRIGAN TTN
people to be part of this community, to be part of this family.” * vince.bellino@temple.edu
APIARY staff aims to make connections for writers APIARY PAGE 9 Lillian Dunn, executive editor and co-founder of the magazine. “First, we want to create a beautiful new website. Our current website is outdated and it’s not a strong archiving engine for all the literature we’re collecting.” Different pieces of writing can become “lost in the ether,” Dunn said, and it becomes difficult for visitors to the magazine’s website to search for specific items. Additionally, Dunn said that the current website simply does not “get people exploring.” Dunn hopes to create a website that operates as both an “archive and a reading room” component that Tom Hannigan, the magazine’s event manager, said is integral. Free access to such a large amount of Philadelphia-based literature, Hannigan said, would be an incredible tool. After a donation from the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, APIARY was able to begin a redesign of the website. But there is still a long way to go, Dunn said. “Now we’re looking at collecting the rest of the funding for the second chunk,” Dunn said. That “second chunk” is affording the staff some breathing room by getting ahead on funding. Raising the money to print two issues in advance, Dunn said, would give APIARY the cushion it needed. Without the funding, the magazine would survive in some form, Dunn said, but not the API-
ARY that the Philadelphia literary community can save so many more people. But we don’t want knows today. The magazine is currently in print to sell anything, because those people [who need and available for free – and the staff wants to keep it] might not be able to afford it.” it that way. Though it would ease monetary concerns, Dunn said she wants to create a magazine charging for the print magazine would also comthat Philadelphia deserves. promise APIARY’s mission to “Instead of saying that it’s give everyone a voice – regardreally difficult to do print today less of class, race, economic [and moving online], it felt realstatus, or societal position. ly important to keep that as part “The emphasis is so strongof what we do,” Dunn said. “Bely on generating connections cause print is such an essential between writers,” Burns said. part of it – because it interrupts “And we give a voice to those you, it shows up on a subway who wouldn’t have one otherseat next to you or gets left bewise.” hind by a friend.” Warren Longmire, the poAPIARY’s co-founder and etry editor, recalled a recent co-editor, Tamara Oakman, event that pulled people “from agreed that remaining in print is every corner of the Philly lit a huge part of the magazine. world,” from the successful “I love having a physical Denice Frohman to an eightthing to touch and read through,” year-old poet. Lillian Dunn / executive director and Oakman said. Oakman said that including co-founder Oakman does not want to every type of person is central compromise between staying in print and charg- to APIARY’s mission to serve the Philadelphia ing for the magazine because of her own experi- community. ence with literature as a young woman growing “The point is that we’re all human beings up in a bad neighborhood. and we’re afforded certain gifts, like being able to “Writing and poetry quite literally saved me,” learn from the past and project positivity into the Oakman said. “And if it could save me from be- future,” Oakman said. ing a statistic of the North Philadelphia lifestyle, it This ideology allows APIARY to thrive not
“The emphasis
is so strongly on generating connections between writers. And we give a voice to those who wouldn’t have one otherwise.
”
on competition, but by “bringing Philadelphians together with the power of their own voice,” Dunn said. “Our city is a segregated place – by race, class and age. Writing can offer a way around those barriers.” APIARY’s strength, Dunn said, comes from the community it creates, something Dunn witnessed when she was very young. She recalled going to a summer writing camp as a child where “all you did was write.” When Dunn was trying to decide what path to pursue in life, she said she tried to think back to when she was the happiest. “It was at that camp, making a space where people were writing and collaborating with each other and felt like they belonged,” Dunn said. And with the partnership of Tamara Oakman, that sense of community through writing is exactly what Dunn wanted to create with the magazine. “When you invest in APIARY, you invest in the ability to wander, the ability to be surprised,” Dunn said. “And you invest in the voices of Philly.” * victoria.mier@temple.edu
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You, Me, and Everyone We Know played at Creep Records on Nov. 14. YMAEWK is playing a series of shows as a full band for the first time in three years.
Continued from page 9
MIGHTY Mighty Hip, as a former musician himself. Now, Glispy works as an attorney who manages an academic law library. “I want to help create an avenue for good music to be heard,” Glispy said. “There needs to be a disruptor for what’s wrong with the entertainment machine. I’m down for independent artists having more power.” For Glispy, developing Mighty Hip on his own time while working as an attorney was no easy process. “I was going home and working from midnight to 6 a.m. for a year,” Glispy said. Lamar Redcross, owner of the 7165 Lounge and a longtime friend of Glispy, said he offered his lounge as the venue for Mighty Virtuoso after a discussion with Glispy about the app. “I’m always interested in new music,” Redcross said. “Having this hodge-podge of different artists from a lot of different places; I think that’s the way to go.” Performances at the event came from the current top ranked artists on Mighty Hip so far. Each musician was given a 20-minute window to perform, with roughly five minutes between sets. Near the front door, a local artist sold prints of his work next to a table set up for each artist’s merchandise. Yolanda Wisher, a 2001 graduate, said she has been writing songs and poetry since the age of 8. At the event, Wisher performed poetry over smooth upright bass lines and driving bongos. “I’m a poet who’s influenced by a lot of music,” Wisher said. “Poetry and songwriting have always been interchangeable for me.” Wisher said she holds an
optimistic view on the potential for Mighty Hip. “The app is a great way to connect artists,” Wisher said. “I hope there are more opportunities like this where we can share a space, but show our individual style.” Like Wisher, fellow Temple alumna and pianist/singersongwriter Noel Scales has been interested in music since she started performing at 10. Scales said Prince heavily influences her own music. “My music is like pop, hip-hop and soul all rolled into one,” Scales said. Scales said she is grateful for the opportunity that Glispy is providing for musicians through his app. “It’s amazing,” Scales said. “It’s what every artist dreams of. He’s saving the world, one artist at a time.” Hailing from Baltimore, Maryland, reggae-soul artist Ian Smith, known by his stage persona “Jahiti,” also made an appearance. Performing across the country at venues in Atlanta, New York and Washington D.C., Smith’s blend of acoustic strumming and reggae-influenced vocals have been showcased on three independent albums. For Smith, building relationships with other artists is just as important as creating the music itself. “[I want] to be able to share with some people I’ve met before, and meet some new people as well,” Smith said. A portion of the proceeds from the event was donated to Metro TeenAIDS, a Washington D.C. based organization dedicated to AIDS prevention and education. Glispy said he wants to continue to tie his musical events to charity in the future. “For every show we do, we want to support some kind of social cause,” Glispy said. For Glispy, networking and promotion are an important part
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
KARA MILSTEIN TTN
of bringing the app, as well as events like Mighty Virtuoso, to life. “[I did] a whole lot of contacting people I’ve met over the years,” Glispy said. “What also works well is using people’s social networks. Instagram is the real killer.” Despite a few bugs and some difficulties upgrading the app for newer iPhone operating systems, Glispy looks to the future of Mighty Hip with confidence. “The finished product is great,” he added. “We have the skeleton, and we just have to put the face on it now. The artist’s excitement is like icing on the cake.” * eamon.noah.dreisbach@ temple.edu
KARA MILSTEIN TTN
Noel Scales, a Temple alumna, performed at Mighty Virtuoso, a performance on Nov. 8 at the 7165 Lounge in Germantown for the Top 5 artists on the app.
KARA MILSTEIN TTN
Temple alumna Yolanda Wisher performed at the Mighty Hip event on Nov. 8. Wisher is one of the top five artists on the app.
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
PAGE 13
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 14
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18,
OUT & ABOUT BALLET X RETURN PERFORMANCE Ballet X will kick off its fall series performance on Nov. 19, featuring the work of Jorma Elo, Olivier Wevers and Matthew Neenan at the Wilma Theater. The fall series will showcase Jorma Elo’s anticipated world premiere and his unconventional style that combines hip-hop and ballet, as well as Neenan’s new work, accompanied by a live performance of The Curtis Institute of Music. Showtimes vary by day, and run through Nov. 23 with tickets starting at $22. –Victoria Mier
“BAD JEWS” SHOW EXTENDED
ALBERT HONG TTN
Quirk Books is one of the few independent publishers in Philly. It is nominated for an online reader-decided Goodreads’ Choice Award.
Continued from page 9
QUIRK
tive, dabbled in writing sonnets but had never written a full book until “William Shakespeare's Star Wars,” his series in translating the original Star Wars trilogy into comical Shakespearean writings. Quirk’s dedication to its writers helped him through the whole process, he said. “The people who work at Quirk are some of the friendliest people in the publishing industry, who care about every book they publish and every author they work with,” Doescher wrote in an email. Now, teachers and instructors use Doescher’s books as valuable teaching tools in the
classroom to help students who may be intimidated by Shakespeare’s plays to relate more to the stories. This application, along with the Goodreads nomination, is humbling for him. “Getting nominated by Goodreads, which is such a well-loved reader community, is like being applauded when you walk into your local library,” Doescher said. Suzanne Wallace, associate publicist at Quirk, said the independent publisher is one of few in the city – she said she thinks its openness to new interns and writers makes it stand out. So what are some books these folks are reading? “I'm on the latest volume of ‘Fables’ and loving it,” Smith said. “I'm also working my way through all of Andrew Smith’s excellent books;
subtly beautiful moment while hiking Glen Onoko Falls is what she remembers best. “It was raining that day and body, instilling in her an apprecia- the [woman] I was painting had to tion for the way it moves. This ulti- hold an umbrella so I was paintmately inspired her work. ing her under this umbrella,” she Now, Dennis hopes to pass said. “We had to climb up rocks along her motto of body confidence and we were taking photos and and comfort to those she paints. the higher we got, the more wa“I think seeing what people tell terfalls we could see.” me about how they feel after being “We were climbing this nevexposed and telling me what their er-ending trail and we were tired going through – when I listen to and hungry, but to see her under those experiences and seeing how the waterfall – and at the end she they live and all of their different be- made this warrior pose – to see liefs, it makes me that, it was start to understand very beautidifferent perspecful,” she said. tives,” she said. “It Dennis even encourages said she hopes me to be more free that her work myself.” will evolve as Dennis’ spirishe advances tuality is also a big in her career, influence on the saying that way she views her Kitakiya Dennis / artist while she alwork and her life. ways knew “When we talk about spiritu- she wanted her artwork to move ality, it has a lot to do with doing in some way, she never expected things that you’re afraid of, but it’s it to have come this far. beneficial and it plays a role with “Being an artist is always helping people feel more comfort- hard, so I feel very blessed that able with themselves,” she said. I’m doing something I really en“[Body-painting] is not anything joy,” Dennis said. “I can picture dangerous, but it is kind of out of the myself doing this for a long, long box for people. I’ve seen big differ- time, but I think it will develop in ences with people that have never a way I don’t expect. That’s what done anything nude before.” I’m excited for.” Though she has done work for the Philly Naked Bike Ride and a * alexa.morgan.bricker@temple.edu Fetish for Art event at Cafe 12 in Washington Square, Dennis said one
‘Grasshopper Jungle’ is incredible.” “I always read a mix of things – right now in the middle of ‘A Feast for Crows’ and two British novels because I'm living in the UK temporarily: ‘The Wine of Angels’ by Phil Rickman and ‘Thin Air’ by Ann Cleeves,” Doescher said. “Right now I'm reading ‘The Honourable Schoolboy’ by John Le Carré, and ‘White Butterfly’ by Walter Mosley,” Winters said. “And if anyone ever tells you they’re a writer but they don’t read much, take their MacBook and throw it in the Schuylkill.” * albert.hong@temple.edu
Continued from page 9
PAINTER
CHRISTMAS VILLAGE RETURNS Christmas Village will return to Love Park on Nov. 27 and last through Dec. 28 for a host of holiday events. Created to embody the European markets, Christmas Village will include many opportunities to shop from different vendors, as well as experience traditional European food and drinks to celebrate the season. The Village will officially open at 15th Street and JFK Boulevard with a grand opening celebration featuring live performances and sing-alongs. The village is open for visitors 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and is free to attend. -Victoria Mier
COSBY APPEARANCES CANCELLED Bill Cosby’s appearance on an upcoming episode of The Late Show with David Letterman was cancelled, according to the Associated Press, during a month in which controversy has surrounded the Temple alumnus and comedian in light of past allegations of sexual assault being raised into question. Cosby has faced accusations from several women claiming he assaulted them over the past few decades. The Late Show cancellation follows a cancellation from Queen Latifah’s show for Cosby to make a guest appearance. No reason was given by representatives from both parties for each cancellation. Cosby attended Temple from 1961-62. -Victoria Mier
“[Bodypainting]
is not anything dangerous, but it is kind of out of the box for people.
“DO IT” CLOSES AT MOORE COLLEGE
”
COURTESY KITAKIYA DENNIS
Philadelphia’s first presentation of “Do It,” the longest running exhibition in the world, is closing at the Moore College of Art and Design on Dec. 6. The “exhibition in progress” features over 70 artists ranging from professionals to members of the public have submitted works based on a set of instructions. Each piece shows the artist’s interpretation of the instructions, yielding different results. The conceptual exhibit began over 20 years ago in Paris with artists Christian Boltanski and Bertrand Lavier. Since “Do It” was first curated by Hans Ulrich Obrist in 1993, the conceptual and forever-changing exhibit has reached countries all over the world. –Brianna Spause
Kitakiya Dennis’ work focuses mainly on body-painting nude subjects.
TRENDING IN PHILLY What’s happening this week in Philly– from news and event coverage to shows and restaurant openings. Based on Philly area: food, music, stores, etc. For breaking news and daily updates, follow The Temple News on Twitter @TheTempleNews.
The run of the break-out comedy “Bad Jews” at the Walnut Street Theatre has been extended due to popular demand. The production that has been named, “The best comedy of the season” by the New York Times will now run until Dec. 28. The mature comedy follows “Real Jew” Daphna Feygenbaum and an inter-family war waged upon her grandfather’s cherished Chai necklace. Tickets start at $30. The show runs an hour and 35 minutes. –Brianna Spause
FRANKLIN FLEA MARKET SELLS HOLIDAY VINTAGE
GINGERBREAD EXHIBIT IN FAIRMOUNT
@phillymag tweeted on Nov. 14 the “10 Coolest Things You’ll Find at This Year’s Holiday Franklin Flea Market.” The holiday market will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. every Saturday until Dec. 20. It is located on 801 Market St.
@uwishunu tweeted on Nov. 16 that gingerbread houses are filling the Shops at Liberty Place for the annual Fairmount Park Holiday Gingerbread Display. The display is open from Nov. 10-21. The gingerbread houses are recreations of Fairmount sites like the Laurel Hill Mansion and the Shofuso Japanese Tea House.
CONDUCTOR TO RETURN TO KIMMEL CENTER
FREE PIZZA BRAIN AT THE YACHTSMAN
@TheArtsinPhilly tweeted on Nov. 17 that from Dec. 4-6, Yannick Nézet-Séguin will return to Philly to conduct the Philadelphia Orchestra in Brahms’ Symphony No. 3 and Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C major at the Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall.
@PhillyMagEvents tweeted on Nov. 12 that every Wednesday, there is free Pizza Brain pizza at The Yachtman Tiki Bar. Pizza is brought to the Northern Liberities after 9 p.m. to 1444 Frankford Ave. while supplies last.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
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PAGE 15
LIFESTYLE
PAGE 16
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
PHYLANDRA MCFADDIN TTN
Sophomore advertising major and English minor Megan Sawey poses near Main Campus. Sawey has been interested in modeling since she was 12.
Student finds time for schoolwork, modeling Sophomore Megan Sawey has been modeling since she was 17.
portfolio she felt comfortable presenting to Wil- lege, Sawey said she models on weekends and helmina Models, a local modeling company. frequently attends casting calls for local branches Building on her first shoot with an unknown of famous modeling agencies. photographer, Sawey said she has been featured Despite her success in the modeling industry in Modcloth twice, including a thus far, Sawey said she wants to spot in the company’s 2012 New stay on track to pursue a degree Year’s Eve spread. She’s worn in advertising, a field that might designs from Never Too Spoiled allow her more financial stabiland Tatyana, the latter of which is ity, she said. Sawey initially conbest known for its exclusive vinsidered culinary school, but left tage line Betty Boutique on Walshortly after she realized it wasn’t nut Street near 16th Street. what she wanted to do. Since she was 12, Sawey “Modeling is something that said she has looked upon modelI don’t think I’ll ever be able to ing not just as an art or a hobby, pursue exclusively,” Sawey said. but something that she could fall “I deluded myself with those Megan Sawey / sophomore in love with. She grew up in ruthoughts while I was at culinary ral town in Western Pennsylvania school. Few models make enough and booked her first shoot with a to even feed themselves.” professional photographer when she was 17. An English minor, Sawey said she tutors Sawey enrolled in the Honors Program at athletes at the Donald and Nancy Reznick AcaTemple in the Fall 2013. Now that she’s in col- demic Support Center. She also participates in the
“When I get
LORA STRUM The Temple News After class, it’s not unusual for Megan Sawey to dart off to a photoshoot. Sawey, 20, a sophomore advertising major with an English minor, is balancing a full-time course load while modeling for Institute and Vigor magazines. “When I get a day where I have nothing to do, I don’t know what to do with myself,” Sawey said. “I don’t feel like I’m living up to my potential, so I stay busy everyday.” Sawey said her modeling career wasn’t carved out for her, but something she crafted herself as she joined Model Mayhem – a Facebook -like website for aspiring models – connected with local photographers and started building a
a day where I have nothing to do, I don’t know what to do with myself.
”
Temple WELL program, through which she helps youth and adults obtain the required literacy and math skills and GED to enter post-secondary education and training. “I got into advertising because writing is something I’ve loved since I was little,” Sawey said. “[But it]…was another thing I didn’t think I was good enough at so I talked myself out of it. When I got [to Temple] and started to write for my class, it was a rebirth of my passion.” When Sawey isn’t busy, she said she spends her spare time training for the next Philadelphia marathon. In the future, Sawey plans to dedicate more of her time to modeling. She recently started modeling for Tatyana’s Boutique in Rittenhouse Square. “You definitely feel [the stress of modeling], but you just have to roll with the punches,” she said. * lora.strum@temple.edu
Blog supports women in fields of law and politics INTLAWGRRLS PAGE 7 Though contributors include women who are already working and practicing law, Nogales said the blog is also open to students who are just starting to break into the field. Karen Hoffmann, a second year graduate student at Beasley, has been contributing to the blog as a submissions editor for more than a year and said the experience she has gained is invaluable.
“When this opportunity came up, just getting to know, at least through email, and correspond with some of the leading scholars in international law, I knew I had to take advantage of it,” Hoffmann said. While studying abroad at Temple’s Rome campus last summer, Hoffman said the blog helped her discover an opportunity to participate in a cinema and human rights program at the Irish
Centre for Human Rights in Galway, Ireland. “I wouldn’t have even found out about it if I hadn’t been writing about it for the blog,” she said. “There’s definitely an advantage [there].” Both Hoffmann and Nogales have a career focus on human rights, a main focus of some of the blog’s discussions. This also ties into the blog’s message of helping women feel comfort-
able in the field and beyond, they said. “It goes to show that there is no excuse for not including women in this conversation,” Nogales said. “I think it’s helping tremendously – helping them make connections with other women.” In a field as traditionally maledominated as law, Hoffmann said the blog has become important for her and women all over the world to feel they
have a place to share their thoughts and beliefs. “As a feminist, I think it’s fantastic,” she said. “I think there is definitely a need to have a space for women in the field for their voices to be heard.” * abricke1@temple.edu
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
“What are you
thankful for this Thanksgiving?
”
“I am thankful for a loving family and a warm home.”
BRIANNA SPAUSE TTN
FORREST DAVIS
FRESHMAN | BIOLOGY
“I am fortunate to have my grandparents and their health. They are still alive and well, and have raised me since I was 8.”
LAUREN McDONOUGH JUNIOR | EDUCATION
“My mom. She has sacrificed so much for me to get here. I have to make it.”
MARKEL KEYS
SOPHOMORE | BUSINESS
LIFESTYLE
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
PAGE 17
For Thanksgiving Day dinner, no meat necessary VEGETARIAN PAGE 7 how they can collaborate.” Rachael Voluck, the finance committee head at the Rad Dish Co-op, said the Green Council came to members of the co-op asking to hold the potluck at Rad Dish, since their healthy food missions are compatible. “They asked us if we would like to have it here in the space to promote the café, since we are talking about the importance of this lifestyle,” Voluck said. “Rad Dish is a really nice transition from the topic of the Potluck into reality at Temple.” Some students with dietary restriction feel they are presented with limited vegetarian and vegan options on Main Campus and in the dining halls, which is a void that Rad Dish hopes to fill. “The goal of Rad Dish is to have a menu where no one can go and say there is anything they can’t eat,” Voluck said. “Students will be able to order salads, sandwiches, juice, baked goods and a seasonal stew as well. We are showing an easy connection to vegetarianism at Temple and giving a space where vegetarians can feel welcome.” “I think it’s easier to follow [a vegetarian diet] at home because of the ability to choose exactly what you want, but I also think Temple has pretty awesome vegetarian and vegan selections,” said Sam Quigley, a freshman psychology major.
“I have no problem, because I mainly eat fruits, vegetables and seeds as a raw vegan,” said Morgan McDanel, a freshman drawing major. “If you like to eat more comfort food items or snacks, it can be difficult to find options [on Main Campus] without dairy and eggs. It would be nice to have a completely vegan eatery in one of the food courts on campus.” Ament hopes students leave with a better understanding of what a vegetarian or vegan diet entails and how following an animal-friendly lifestyle is a sustainable and conscious choice. “I think it is all about being a conscious eater and thinking about the impacts of what you are eating, especially given the ecological and environmental impacts of mass-producing meat for consumption,” Ament said. “It’s important to talk about the larger issues, but when it comes to the embodied experience of eating your food, I think that’s a really important aspect of talking about and educating others about different types of diets,” she added. The Potluck with a Purpose is free and open to all students.
MARGO REED TTN
Katy Ament, a member of Green Council, plans the Nov. 19 vegetarian Thanksgiving.
* tim.mulhern@temple.edu
Pete Usilton, (left) Rachael Voluck and Celia Mason, members of Rad Dish Co-op, talk during a recent meeting.
MARGO REED TTN
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LIFESTYLE
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
CLIPPINGS
AROUND CAMPUS
SUZANNE PENN LECTURE TO LECTURE ON CAMPUS
Guest lecturer Suzanne Penn will be speaking on Tuesday from 5:30-7 p.m. in Anderson Hall Room 7 on “Diego Rivera’s Portable Frescoes: Sugar Cane and Liberation of the Peon.” Penn currently serves as the Theodor Siegl Conservator of Modern and Contemporary Paintings at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Penn received an art history degree from the State University of New York, Cooperstown Graduate Program and has published works on various artists, including Barnett Newman, Michelangelo Pistoletto and Edvard Munch. Penn focuses on combining art historical inquiry and technical examination of works of art. Her lecture is sponsored by the Tyler School of Art and is free and open to all. -Jessica Smith
WAGNER HOSTS ‘UNEDITED PHILADELPHIA’ SCREENING
The film collection “Unedited Philadelphia: Girard to Lehigh” will be screening on Tuesday at 6 p.m. in the Wagner Free Institute of Science on 1700 W. Montgomery Ave. In partnership with the Special Collections Research Center with Temple University Libraries, the film features North Philadelphia-related footage from the Urban Archives’ news footage collections. The collection will highlight unedited news footage and documentaries that cover the people, events and places that have contributed to North Philadelphia’s history. Tickets for “Unedited Philadelphia: Girard to Lehigh” are free, but seating for the event is limited to first come, first serve. -Jessica Smith
HAYTHORNTHWAITE LECTURE
MARGO REED TTN
Members of vegetarian- and vegan-friendly Temple organizations, like Rad Dish Co-op, are planning a Nov. 19 Thanksgiving meal for students.
Philly Pretzel opens Main Campus branch The Philly Pretzel Factory opened a franchise location on Liacorous Walk this year. MINA LEZENBY The Temple News If it weren’t for the aroma of freshly baked pretzels, some students might miss the tuckedaway door of the newly-opened Philly Pretzel Factory amidst weekday chaos on Liacouras Walk. Franchise Philly Pretzel Factory recently opened a small branch on Main Campus, located at 3220 N. Broad St. “The Temple [location] just makes a whole lot of sense – it’s in our backyard,” said Marty Ferrill, president of Philly Pretzel Factory. “Peo-
ple eat more pretzels in Philadelphia than anywhere else, basically, than in the world.” According to the Independence Hall Association, Philadelphians consume 12 times more pretzels than the national average. In a franchise that already expands over 100 locations, the team behind the popular pretzel chain aimed to bring the product closer to a campus that Ferrill said is “on the go.” Ferrill said the company has seen success in scaling down its locations to sizes like the one newly-opened branch on Main Campus. The local franchise has received praise from some students for its low product prices. “It’s nice to be on campus – it’s a friendly atmosphere,” said Joe McVeigh, the current franchise owner of the Temple branch. “The students are great. The staff and faculty are great, supporting our business. It’s a positive environment.” Some students express positive feedback
about the shop. “They’re overall really nice and smile when you go in,” said Hayley Wenner, a freshman speech pathology major. “Every time I go in, the staff is always really nice and they’re always really excited to see students.” The company has developed a wide menu that ranges from sandwich bites to a list of dips to accompany pretzel products. The currently featured products are the cheesesteak pretzel and seasonal pumpkin flavored dip. McVeigh said the company wants to create a prizable snack that accompanies a “warm and inviting experience.” * emilie.lezenby@temple.edu
Jonah Erlebacher will be speaking tomorrow from noon to 1 p.m. in Room 126 of the Engineering Building at 1947 N. 12th St. as part of the Robert M. and Mary Haythornthwaite Foundation’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Erlebacher is a Ph. D., chair and professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. He will be discussing “New Nanostructured Materials via Dealloying.” A full abstract can be found on the engineering website at engineering.temple.edu. Sponsored by the College of Engineering, this event is free and open to all. No registration is required.
-Jessica Smith
SHIRLEY TILGHMAN TO LECTURE
The fall Provost Lecture Series continues with featured guest Shirley Tilghman. Tilghman is a Temple alumna and serves as the Princeton University President Emerita. She is a world-renowned scholar and scientist in the field of molecular biology. Tilghman will be discussing the current state of the United States biomedical research ecosystem in her lecture titled, “The Best of Times, the Worst of Times: Life in Biomedical Science.” Tilghman will be speaking from 4-5 p.m. on Thursday night in the Feinstone Lounge of Sullivan Hall. This event is free and open to all, but space is limited. RSVP to provostRSVP@temple.edu by Nov. 17. -Jessica Smith
PALEY LIBRARY OPENS DEDICATED GAMING SPACE Paley Media Services has acquired a collection of tabletop games, including board and card games, as well as some video games and game consoles for student and faculty use. Paley 308 has now been dubbed “The Gaming Den,” where students and staff can utilize games for four-hour, in-library checkouts using flip-top tables, stackable chairs and a wall-mounted television. Students can browse the collection by visiting http:// diamond.temple.edu/ and book The Gaming Den at http://paleystudy.temple.edu/booking/viewing.
-Albert Hong
PALEY TO HOST PANEL DISCUSSION ON “DIGITAL DIVIDE”
CLAIRE SASKO TTN
Pretzels and pretzel bites are among food items displayed in a glass case at the Philly Pretzel Factory branch located on Liacouras Walk.
On Thursday at 3:30 p.m., Paley Library will host “Taking on the Digital Divide: A Philadelphia Perspective”. The event will feature a discussion on how the city’s low-income communities do not readily have access to computers and broadband internet, which in turn leads to lower-quality healthcare, education and career opportunities. Juliana Reyes, staff reporter for Technical.ly Philly, will moderate a panel of individuals working to combat this digital disconnect by providing computer and internet access, information and training -Albert Hong
SPORTS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
PAGE 19
SPORTS BRIEFS
Field hockey finishes season in Top 20 FOOTBALL
OWLS END AT NO. 14
ThefieldhockeyteamwasrankedNo.14toendthe season, as the final Penn Monto/NFHCA Division I National Coaches Poll of 2014 was revealed last Tuesday. The Owls also remained ranked at No. 13 in the NCAA’s Ratings Percentage Index rankings. Temple’s year ended with a 14-7 overall record, with a 3-2 record against Big East opponents during the regular season. Sophomore forward Katie Foran, who scored two goals in the tournament, was named to the Big East All-Tournament team, along with seniors Amber Youtz (forward), Nicole Kroener (midfielder) and Lizzy Millen (goalkeeper). Youtz, Kroener and Millen were also named to the Big East first team, with Youtz also earning the honor of the conference’s Offensive Player of the Year. The senior forward, and Dauphin, Pennsylvania native, scored a career-high and conference leading 27 goals this season. Her career totals of 69 goals and 165 points are each third all-time in the program. Millen finished the season with a .773 save percentage, which stands at eighth in the NCAA. The redshirt senior’s run ended with 413 career saves to rank sixth all-time in the program. Kroener recorded 10 assists for 2014, good for second on the team. Junior forward/midfielder Alyssa Delp, who tallied four goals and two assists this season, also earned a selection to the Big East second team. Coach Amanda Janney, who wrapped up her 10th season at the helm of the team, brought her career win total up to 114 by the end of it. Janney needs one more win with Temple to tie her with Gwen Cheeseman-Alexander (1980-88) for the program’s most career coaching wins. -Nick Tricome
MEN’S SOCCER
TRIO NAMED ALL-CONFERENCE
Senior goalie Dan Scheck, sophomore defender
OWLS ENTER FINAL BYE WEEK
ANDREW THAYER TTN
Coach Amanda Janney coached the field hockey team to a 14-7 record this season.
Robert Sagel and junior midfielder/forward Jared Martinelli all earned Second Team All-Conference honors last Thursday. In a season in which the men’s soccer team finished at 2-14-2 for the year, and an American Athletic Conference-worst 1-6-1 clip in conference play, Martinelli posted two goals and a team-leading four assists for eight points, second-best on the team. His 19 assists rank him at sixth all-time in program history, trailing four former players for a second-place tie by one helper. Earning his second all-conference selection, Sagel played the entirety of Temple’s minutes this season as a first-year captain. Scheck stopped 75 shots in net this season, and posted two shutouts. He will depart the team with the ninth-most career saves in program history with 198, while his 1.03 goals against average ranks third all-time in team history. -Andrew Parent
MEN’S BASKETBALL DUNPHY WELCOMES WALK-ONS
Two walk-ons have joined the men’s basketball program for the duration of the 201415 season, the team announced last Thursday. The two additions, junior Chima Nwakpuda, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound forward, and 6-foot-4, 180-pound sophomore guard Mike Robbins, will be active members of the roster for the rest of the season. Nwakpuda amassed more than 1,000 career points in a four-year career at The Shipley School, and earned all-conference honors in each of his four years. He averaged nearly 15 points per game as a senior. Robbins played on Lower Merion High School’s varsity team for three years, and co-captained the squad to a 28-4 record in his senior season, including an appearance in the state title game. -Andrew Parent
The football team will enter its final bye week of the season before facing off against conferencefoe Cincinnati. “We’ll get healthy and really just get focused,” junior linebacker Tyler Matakevich said. “We can take it day by day and get ready for Cincinnati.” The Bearcats (6-3, 4-1 The American) rank in the Top 10 in passing offense, and have won four straight games, all against conference opponents. The Owls, who have lost two straight games, will continue their pursuit of a sixth win, which would result in the team’s first time being bowl eligible since 2011. “I just watched Cincinatti score 54 points, that’s an outstanding team,” coach Matt Rhule said. “They were picked to finish first in the conference and they might.” -EJ Smith
VOLLEYBALL
SYDLIK NAMED TO HONOR ROLL
For the third time this season, junior setter Sandra Sydlik was named to the American Athletic Conference honor roll. The setter averaged 12 assists per set and 4.62 digs per set in the team’s two victories last week against Connecticut and East Carolina. Sydlik came up big for the Owls, particularly in their five-set victory last Wednesday against UConn with 54 assists and 24 digs. Temple will now travel Tulsa and Southern Methodist during the weekend in an effort to keep its NCAA tournament hopes alive. Temple sits at 60th in the latest NCAA women’s volleyball Ratings Percentage Index, while Tulsa and SMU are 53rd and 46th, respectively. -Greg Frank
Continued from page 22
“After she missed the second one, she got down on herself, but that’s where a leader didn’t get down on myself and came in at and I told her, ‘If you get in my feelings and not being hadn’t gotten that rebound and the leader I needed to be,” Wil- gotten the foul, you wouldn’t liams said. “I remained humble, have gone back to the line, so I remained a teammate to my we would have only been up teammates and thats what I am by two instead of three,’” Wilhere for.” liams said. “So something posi“The freshmen, they don’t tive came out of it regardless of know what to expect and they whether you put the game out look to me to lead them,” she of reach or not that offensive added. “It’s just leadership and rebound counted and it was knowing what to say, when something that we needed.” to say it, how to say it, to get Williams is coming off everybody on board, knowing a season in what needed to UP NEXT which she get done. It got Owls vs. Georgetown posted 9.2 done and we won points per Nov. 21 at 9:30 p.m. the game.” game, good Freshman guard Tanaya for third-best on the team. Now, Atkinson said she had to make after starting all 30 games a some adjustments during the season ago, Williams is looking first half of the game. to lead the Owls on and off the “It was definitely different court this season. from high school to here now,” “Tyonna didn’t shoot the Atkinson said. “I was nervous ball well,” coach Tonya Carin the beginning but after all doza said of Williams’ perforof that and the first half went mance last Friday. “She took through, in the locker room we a lot of shots, but most imporall talked about it, they had my tantly Tyonna led them. We talk back, I had their back. It was about it all the time. It might not like we were a team and we had be your night, but what are you each other so it felt better and going to do to contribute and my nervousness went away.” I felt like [it] wasn’t her night, This mentality proved but she was the best leader on valuable in the second half, as the floor.” Atkinson played a vital role in “She didn’t get down,” the final seconds of the game. Cardoza added. “She could When Atkinson was sent to the have easily quit and her teamline with an opportunity to put mates could have seen that and the game away after a foul, she folded as well. She couldn’t knocked down one of her two make a shot, but she gave confiattempts from the free throw dence to the next guy. Her leadline. ership was awesome.” Afterward, Williams said she saw where she needed to * danielle.nelson@temple.edu step in. T @Dan_Nels
WILLIAMS
Junior forward Mama Traore defends La Salle guard Alicia Cooper during the team’s 75-72 win last Friday.
Continued from page 22
CANADA
feel the most comfortable. I felt like a part of the family, like I belong there.” The now-senior forward is a three-time All-League selection for her high school team. She recorded 14 points and 12 rebounds per game in her junior year to make for a run that brought her an All-Area selection and an All-Central New York Team selection, along with a second-straight year in which she averaged a double-double. Reynolds, meanwhile, averaged 17 points, seven asADVERTISEMENT
sists and five rebounds in her junior year at Imhotep Charter High School. She eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for her high school career in the process, while helping her team to a 22-2 record and the Philadelphia Girls Public City Championship. The title was clinched under the lights of the Liacouras Center, on Reynolds’ future campus. Both she and Canada will be playing in the venue a year from now, but the moment at the time was something Reynolds had to take in. “I was really nervous play-
ing on the floor,” Reynolds said. “[I thought], ‘Wow, I get to play on the college floor that I’m going to before I’m here.’ It was just a ‘wow’ moment.” Reynolds plans to major in physical therapy when she gets to Temple next year, and Canada is looking to work toward a business degree. Both, however, have aspirations to go as far they can with basketball, be it playing professionally overseas or in the WNBA. But for Canada, who also said she would like to become a college coach, these are other possibilities that could soon
JENNY KERRIGAN TTN
turn into reality. “I never imagined that I’d be going to school for free to play,” Canada said. “When you play high school basketball, everybody’s dream is to go to school for free and to play basketball at a college, and then go pro.” “But then, when you actually realize that it’s possible for you, that just makes you so much more hungry to get better and so much more active and aggressive in getting better and developing your craft,” she added. * nick.tricome@temple.edu
SPORTS
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
VOLLEYBALL
Owls continue streak, set sights on tournament the 2014 regular season, they say. “Last year we kind of relaxed a little bit,” junior libero GREG FRANK Alyssa Drachslin said. “We The Temple News weren’t really prepared to go on the road. I think this year Upon his arrival here, Baour schedule has played more keer Ganes had to bottle up his to the strengths of this team so emotions. that we’re able to play away During the season before and home.” he took over, the Owls won just Temple has posted a 10-1 four matches. In the volleyball home record so far this year. coach’s first year at the helm in Should the Owls make it 2011, Temple went 8-20. through the weekend unscathed But now, the Owls sit at after battling with SMU and 22-6 overall and 13-3 in the Tulsa, they’ll get to return American Athletic Conference home next week to wrap up – holding the second-best rethe regular season against Tucord in the American Athletic lane and Houston as their quest Conference. for the NCAA Three years UP NEXT tournament after his 20continues. Owls at Tulsa loss first season, A loss in Nov. 21 at 8 p.m. Ganes said he any of the fiwould be excitnal four matches would damage ed if his team qualified for the Temple’s qualifying chances, NCAA tournament. as the Owls are ahead of three “I don’t know what that of the four teams in the conferwould mean,” Ganes said. “I’d ence standings and would see probably go pretty nuts.” their ratings percentage index But the Owls are trying (RPI) lowered as a result. Lossstay focused on the task at hand, es against Memphis and Conwhich this week entails road necticut earlier this season, two conference matches against other schools trailing Temple Tulsa and Southern Methodist. in the standings, are what keep “I think it’s a very dangerthe Owls on the bubble in the ous position to be in,” Ganes RPI standings, where they are said. “We have to be very careranked 60th. ful, focus and take care of busi“If we get it, that’s great,” ness.” Drachslin said. “If we don’t, we Temple was in a similar know why. We lost to Memphis position a year ago. The Owls and UConn and we shouldn’t got off to a quick start in conhave done that.” ference play during the 2013 Whether Temple is to see season, winning six of their its season extend past the regufirst seven matches. However, lar season finale on Nov. 28 or the team couldn’t maintain the not, for a team that was picked high level of play down the to finish ninth in the American stretch and the Owls finished Athletic Conference preseason 9-9 in conference. coaches poll, the Owls have alIn 2013, the Owls had ready beat the odds. several road matches toward “For them to have us prethe end of the season and lost dicted to finish ninth was kind five of their last seven away of a slap in the face,” senior from home. This season, the middle blocker Jennifer IacobiOwls play six of their last eight ni said. “We knew that we had matches at home. a lot of talent, we just had to Nonetheless, for the more mold it and I think that’s what experienced players on the we’ve done together.” roster, last season’s struggles during the second half of conference play can be used as a * greg.frank@temple.edu lesson in the final matches of T @g_frank6
The squad has won ten straight matches.
Continued from page 22
DEFENSE
been working so hard on defense,” Cummings said. “That’s the big emphasis we’ve been putting on. … Overall, I’m pretty glad how we started the season guarding on defense.” Monday night’s game took on a different form from the outset, though, when Louisiana Tech scored more points in the first half – 38 – than American totaled by the end of Friday’s contest. Temple outlasted its opponent in the second period, topping the Bulldogs, who had received votes in last week’s Associated Press Top 25 poll, 82-75. Last season, Cummings’ squad turned in a defensive performance that included an average of 78.1 points per game allowed, which ranked No. 330 out of 345 Division I teams. Opponents shots 47.4 percent against the Owls, which ranks No. 323 in Division I, while opponents’ 35.9 percent average from 3-point range ranked 267th last season. Temple allowed 80 points or more in 10 of its 19 regulation losses last season, while surrendering point totals of 80 and 81 in overtime losses to Texas and Memphis, respectively. The Owls allowed 94 points in a double-overtime defeat to Central Florida in the conference tournament, icing
Temple’s 9-22 season and effectively sealing team defense as a point of emphasis for the 2014-15 squad. “The reality is it couldn’t have been any worse than we were last year,” Dunphy said. “We just were not very good. … Now I think we’re buying in. We understand it’s part of the game we have to be better at. Even some of the shots that [LA Tech] made [Monday] were pretty well-contested.” On Friday night, combating American’s variation of the zone defense, Temple’s offense struggled en route to shooting 22.9 percent from the floor. The team’s defensive effort needed to be solid as a result, and it did its job, holding American to 37 points on 12-of-39 shooting, a 30.8 percent clip. “Their strategy was to just sit on that 3-point line and play in that zone,” Cummings said. “That was the first time I’ve ever seen a zone like that in my life. We’re not really worried about the offensive end. We have so many people on the team that can score. We’re just glad we came out and played as hard on defense that we did.” In Monday’s contest, the Bulldogs hit 40.3 percent of their shots from the floor on 27of-67 shooting. The Bulldogs went cold in the second half, though, shooting 39.4 percent in the period en route to the Temple victory. “We kind of just locked
6-foot-4 guard Levan Alston is one of three highly-touted freshmen to sign a National Letter of Intent to Temple.
just think he has to get stronger so that he’s able to finish plays. As long as he gets stronger, and is able to absorb contact, he’s going to be competitive at the next level.” With the impending departures of serecruit since redshirt-sophomore Daniel Dingle signed as part of a 2012 class that nior guards Will Cummings and Jesse Moralso included juniors Quenton DeCosey and gan after this season, Dunphy said Alston will be relied on for minutes as a freshman Devontae Watson. “I don’t ever compare them to anybody next year. “He’s got a chance to play immediateelse,” Dunphy said. “They’re just three guys. In an ideal world, you get three guys ly,” Dunphy said of Alston. “He’s a real smart a year and they’d all be at three different basketball player, he’s done a very good job positions. … As a whole right now, we’re in the classroom at Haverford School, and he’s a real really feeling good. We’ve got three good leader guys that are at pretty much three difthere, too.” ferent positions.” A t Dunphy said Alston, a combo 6-foot-5, guard, can handle the duties of point Lowe sports guard along with his natural position the frame of of shooting guard. a swingman, His father, Levan Alston Sr., and can play played for Temple under former at the wing coach John Chaney from 1994-96, position, curwhich helped the younger Alston rently occuget his start in the sport, Haverford pied by the school coach Henry Fairfax said. Ernest Aflakpui/ Temple commit likes of DeFairfax, who also coached the youngCosey and juer Alston in middle school, said he nior Jaylen Bond. saw the guard as a talent from the outset. “He was the first guy who commit“His dad was a player, and usually if you have a dedication like that, your kid’s ted verbally to us,” Dunphy said of Lowe, going to get into it,” Fairfax said. “As a who verbally committed to Temple in June. middle school kid, you could tell he had tal- “He’s got great length, he’s got good athletent. His skill set was high even then. … You icism, he understands the game and I think could see he was going to be a really special he loves the game. I think he really loves his commitment to Temple and what that player.” “He’s a kid that has to build,” Fairfax can do for his career from a lot of different added. “I’ve never been big on bulk, but I ways.” Continued from page 1
RECRUITS
“I have great people
around me and it made it a lot easier for me. Those people helped me make the right decision.
”
HUA ZONG TTN
Aflakpui’s road to collegiate commitment, meanwhile, stemmed from his move to the Philadelphia area from his home country of Ghana, Africa in September 2012. He settled in with a host family in Radnor, and first attended Archbishop Carroll as a sophomore. “I have great people around me and it made it a lot easier for me,” Aflakpui said of the move. “Those people helped me make the right decision.” Aflakpui, who verbally committed to the university last month, will help make up a young Owls frontcourt next season with current freshman Obi Enechionyia, whom ESPN rated as a four-star recruit for the 2014 class. “The team is great and always getting better,” Aflakpui said. “I went to a couple of their practices and the guys work hard. I know what I’m getting into when I leave high school and I look forward to the challenge.” As for Dunphy, he said he felt no additional pressure amid the 2015 recruiting period, despite coming off a 2013-14 season in which the Owls dealt with a shortage of depth and a roster that featured nine active players on athletic scholarship. “You feel pressure every single day to do the best job that you can,” Dunphy said. “We were trying to get at least three people, and we may add a fourth. You never know.” * andrew.parent@temple.edu ( 215.204. 9537 T @Andrew_Parent23
HUA ZONG TTN
Senior guard Will Cummings dribbles past American University redshirt-senior forward Kevin Panzer during the Owls’ 40-37 win last Friday. Cummings is averaging 13.5 points per game in the Owls’ first two wins of the season.
in,” Cummings said. “We hud- habitually on the defensive end last seadled as a group UP NEXT son, the Owls and said we Owls vs. Duke held their first needed to get Nov. 21 at 9 p.m. two opponents stops. They’re of the season a great team. We had to limit to 36.8 percent shooting, and them in what they can do and it 112 points. Temple will face its worked.” toughest task of the season so For a group that struggled
far when it tips off against Duke in a semifinal of the Coaches vs. Cancer tournament at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Friday. “This will be the sixth time in nine years we will have played Duke,” Dunphy said. “We know what we’re in for,
we know how good they are, it’s a wonderful challenge and that’s what we’ll think about as we go about it.” * andrew.parent@temple.edu ( 215.204. 9537 T @Andrew_Parent23
SPORTS
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
PAGE 21
throwing picks. That’s got to stop.” “At some point, you’ve got to say, ‘Enough is enough,’” Rhule added. “The way you come to Beaver Stadium and win is you don’t let the noise Walker said. “[I was] just not being smart with the affect you. … All of a sudden we started doing football. … I felt like I was trying to do too much things you see teams do, we started throwing the in the second half. I threw a lot [of passes] that I ball up and getting penalties … that’s why you shouldn’t have.” lose.” Walker’s turnovers led to 17 points for the The Owls continued their DiviNittany Lions, one touchUP NEXT sion I Football Bowl Subdivisiondown on an interception worst mark on third down converOwls vs. Cincinnati return, one setting up a sions, managing three through their Nov. 29 at Noon one-play, eight-yard touch16 attempts. down run by senior running The team’s 24.8 percent effiback Bill Belton, and another ciency on third down puts it at No. ending in a 21-yard field 125 out of 125 FBS teams, pitting it goal from senior kicker Sam 3.2 percent lower than the next lowFicken. est team. Walker’s numbers con“[The problem is] blocking and tinue to decline from his getting open against man coverage,” freshman campaign, espeRhule said. “We had some pressure, cially when the Owls are P.J. got hit on a bunch of those [aton the road, where he has tempts]. … And we had some that thrown nine of his 14 recordwe dropped. … We have to be able ed interceptions. to catch the football, it’s not a real Walker, who now has Matt Rhule / coach complicated game. You’re open, just thrown eight fewer touchdon’t slip.” down passes and six more interceptions with 58 Now, the Owls will head into their final bye more attempts than last year, has led a team that week of the season before facing a high-powered has managed 14 points per game during its last Cincinnati offense. five matchups. The Bearcats, who rank in the Top 10 in passRhule said his quarterback needs to stop be- ing yards, most recently beat East Carolina 54-46 ing careless with the football, regardless of the en route to their sixth win of the year, moving noise from a crowd of 100,173 at the hostile Bea- them to a 4-1 record against American Athletic ver Stadium. Conference opponents. “It’s time for him to stop doing that,” Rhule said. “I love him, I think he’s going to be a heck * esmith@temple.edu of a player, but he’s got to stop doing that. … ( 215.204. 9537 [Walker] can’t keep throwing the ball up and T @ejsmitty17 Continued from page 22
TURNOVERS
“We have to be
able to catch the football, it’s not a real complicated game, you know, you’re open, just don’t slip.
”
BY THE NUMBERS
18.75
TEMPLE’S THIRD DOWN CONVERSION PERCENTAGE AGAINST PENN STATE
49
TOTAL YARDS AMASSED BY THE OWLS IN THE FIRST HALF
5
ANDREW THAYER TTN
Sophomore quarterback P.J. Walker throws the ball during the Owls’ 36-10 conference win against Connecticut on Sept. 27.
TURNOVERS LOST BY SOPHOMORE QUARTERBACK P.J. WALKER IN THE GAME
Rangel-Friedman takes leadership role in final year Lauren Rangel-Friedman has embraced the added duties of a team captain. MICHAEL GUISE The Temple News Without her older brother, senior sabre Lauren Rangel-Friedman would not be fencing. When Rangel-Friedman was 11 years old, she began attending her brother’s fencing practices and tournaments. There, she developed a passion for the sport, despite an unfavorable first impression. “I thought it was boring,” RangelFriedman said. So Rangel-Friedman switched from foil, her brother’s weapon, to sa-
bre. The weapon appealed to her innerchild, she said, and helped her enjoy the sport. “I thought it was awesome. … I got to hack people’s limbs off,” Rangel-Friedman joked. Now in her final year at Temple, Rangel-Friedman is embarking on a new challenge – being the team and sabre squad captain. When she was voted into the position by her teammates this past summer, Rangel-Friedman said she knew that not only would her role increase, but she would have to embrace the challenge of being the face of the team. “There is a difference in how you engage people as the captain,” RangelFriedman said. “You hold yourself and others to a higher standard.” For Rangel-Friedman, the dual captaincy yields more responsibility
than she has ever taken on as a fencer. what it is like and that definitely helped In previous seasons, she didn’t have to prepare me,” Rangel-Friedman said. be precise with words and actions. But With the example set by Ford and now, being the leader, the team will be previous captains, Rangel-Friedman looking to her for guidance. has seen how she needed to evolve in “But I kind of just looked at it as order to be able to lead. As an undera growing experience, taking on such classman, Rangel-Friedman was quiet a big leadership posiand passive. But now UP NEXT tion,” Rangel-Fried- Owls at Penn State Open as a senior, she is willman said. “Also, there ing to speak her mind. Nov. 22 is a big adjustment “Getting used to being responsible for everyone on the that, maybe you won’t be on friendly team, not just yourself.” terms with everyone on the team, but it Yet, because of previous captains, is part of your responsibility,” RangelRangel-Friedman said she is ready to Friedman said. take on the challenge. Tasia Ford, who Her transition to leadership has not graduated from Temple in May, was the gone unnoticed. Sophomore Fatima team’s captain for the last two seasons Largaespada, who is the foil squad capand now lives with Rangel-Friedman. tain, has observed how much RangelFord has been a source of leadership Friedman has stepped up this year. for the newly-elected captain. “She is a very passive person, but “She has guided me, in terms of when it comes to fencing, I can see how
aggressive she becomes,” Largaespada said. Coach Nikki Franke has also noticed how Rangel-Friedman has changed her nature so she can lead. “Lauren has always been quiet,” Franke said. “That is her personality. But she realizes what kind of changes she needs to make in order to be an effective leader.” “You don’t have to be a ‘rah-rah’ type person,” she added. “You can lead by example, which is what she does. You can also be a vocal leader and you need to have some of that. You can’t be all one or the other.” * michael.guise@temple.edu @MikeG2511
T
VOLLEYBALL
Kennedy, Powell develop familiarity on ice The two forwards have flourished offensively together. STEPHEN GODWIN JR. The Temple News Stephen Kennedy and Joey Powell have trouble describing their harmony on the ice. Midway through the season, the duo represents one of the ice hockey club’s best scoring threats, as Kennedy and Powell have combined for a total of 47 points. “I think we both have good hockey awareness on the ice,” Kennedy said. “We’re good with the systems, but you [have to] be on the ice both offensively and defensively kind of seeing [the same thing]. Kennedy, a senior, has tallied 22 goals, ranked seventh among all American Collegiate Hockey Association Division II scorers. The graduation of forward
Joe Pisko following last season created a void on Kennedy’s line that needed to be addressed. The emergence of Powell is lessening the load for Kennedy, but the sniper said he did not foresee the connection forming during the preseason. “He’s not really the player he started out to be,” Kennedy said. “It’s funny because we actually got into a little bit of an altercation during tryouts, but we ended up hanging out at the rookie party and it ended up being a big joke.” Kennedy said there are distinct differences in the playing styles of Pisko and Powell, despite each contributing to his success. “They’re definitely two different types of players,” Kennedy said. “Joe [Pisko] had more speed. He was the guy that would sacrifice for the team and be the first guy to the corner every time. Joey [Powell] does a more strategic type of thing. He doesn’t have to use his speed, necessarily. He does the little
things, though. He gets faster when he needs to and he’s really good at getting faster on his hips.” Powell approached coach Ryan Frain prior to the season and expressed interest in playing for the Owls. Powell hadn’t played competitive hockey in about a year, but Frain gave him an invitation to tryouts. The move was endorsed by Powell’s former coach and the current hockey director of the Northeast Skate Zone, Chris Baer. Baer coached Powell in the Delaware Valley Hockey League as part of his Wissahickon Warriors team, and remembered him as one of his top scorers. Frain started the season with rookie forward Devon Thomas on Kennedy’s line, but the spot was not secured as the team’s younger players were filtered in and out of the lineup. “[I] was trying different line combinations and really just went with what was hot,” Frain said. “I don’t see myself break-
ing up that line anytime too soon.” The pairing looks smooth now, but Powell said Kennedy has helped him adjust to collegiate hockey. “[Kennedy] has just shown me what you have to do to be good at this level to be successful,” Powell said. “At the practices, we work a lot on our breakouts. We kind of just feel each other out. I know where he is going to be on the breakouts and where I should be to give him the puck. He shows me sometimes and we talk about it, but it’s really just a feeling.” The feeling is helped by Kennedy’s distant shouts across the ice that helps Powell pick out Kennedy amongst the commotion on the ice. “You can pick it up after playing together for a while,” Powell said. “You can pick up certain people, what they say and what they sound like.” * stephen.godwin@temple.edu T @StephenGodwinJr
PAUL KLEIN TTN FILE PHOTO
Senior forward Stephen Kennedy skates during a 2013 game.
SPORTS SEIZING A NEW ROLE
Senior sabre Lauren Rangel-Friedman has embraced her new role as she has recently been named captain of the fencing team. PAGE 21
Our sports blog
thecherry.temple-news.com
TOURNAMENT HOPEFUL
END OF A HISTORICAL YEAR
The volleyball team has won 10 straight games, putting it in position to challenge for a spot in the NCAA tournament. PAGE 20
The field hockey team finished No. 14, the men’s basketball team welcomed two walk-ons, other news and notes. PAGE 19
temple-news.com
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2014
FINDING A WAY The Owls followed a defensive showcase with an 82-point win. ANDREW PARENT Assistant Sports Editor
A
t the postgame press conference following his team’s 40-37 edging of American University on Friday night, Will Cummings had a few reasons to let out a laugh when fielding his first question. For one, the senior guard had just played the entirety of the 40-minute contest in the opening game of the season. To boot, his team had just won a game with 40 points, its lowest point total in a victory since 1947. “It was just something that happened,” Cummings said of his minutes. “I just went with the flow, I guess. I guess coach [Fran Dunphy] felt he needed me on the floor for 40 minutes, so I just played 40 minutes.” Of his team’s 40-point performance on Friday night, though, Cummings said that possibility would not have surprised him prior to tip-off. “I would’ve said, ‘You might be right,’ because we’ve
DEFENSE PAGE 20
HUA ZONG TTN
Freshman power forward Obi Enechionyia fights for position near the basket in Temple’s victory 40-37 against American University last Friday.
FOOTBALL
women’s basketball
After feeling like ‘part of the family,’ recruit signs with Owls Chyanna Canada and Deja Reynolds committed to Temple last weekend and set their sights toward their freshman season. NICK TRICOME The Temple News
CAMERON RESNICK TTN
Sophomore quarterback P.J. Walker carries the ball out of the backfield during the Owls’ 30-13 loss against Penn State last Saturday. Walker had five turnovers, all occurring in the second half.
Turnover problems continue as Owls lose in Beaver Stadium these games, and I’m telling them – I’m like a prophet,” Rhule said. “They don’t believe us yet, and they’ll believe us. You don’t win these games by jumping over, trying to block a field goal when you’re not supposed to.” EJ SMITH “You win these games by playing good, clean, tough football,” Rhule added. “You see the Sports Editor defense and they just play good football, and ofSTATE COLLEGE, Pa. — A hoarse football fensively, we just aren’t there yet.” Rhule’s frustrations manifested after his coach put his head in his hands and rubbed his team’s second-half perbloodshot eyes. formance, one that feaAs he sat at a table clad with tured five turnovers and his alma mater’s colors under24 points allowed. neath a Nittany Lions logo, Matt Sophomore quarRhule’s voice, while hard to hear, terback P.J. Walker, cut through a silent room as he adwho registered 41 passdressed his team’s 30-13 loss to ining yards in the first state rival Penn State, dropping his half, said he overcomOwls to 5-5 on the season. pensated in the second The former Penn State linehalf, committing all five Matt Rhule / coach backer described the process of of the Owls’ turnovers – building a winning culture in a footfour by interception and one by fumbled snap. ball program, and the growth his program has yet “I was just trying to make too many plays,” to make. “They still don’t believe me yet how to win
P.J. Walker’s five second-half turnovers buried the Owls in the 30-13 loss to the Nittany Lions.
“They still don’t
believe me yet how to win these games, and I’m telling them – I’m like a prophet.
”
TURNOVERS PAGE 21
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Chyanna Canada remembers the exact day when reality hit. It was Sept. 1 of last year, the start of her junior year at Nottingham High School, when colleges started reaching out to her via phone or text, along with sending stacks of mail to her Syracuse, New York home. That was the point when a dream of playing college basketball became a strong possibility. “That is when I just realized that, ‘Wow, this is real, this is a reality, that this is your future, that you can do this, you’ve done this for yourself,’”
Canada said. “Playing on my AAU team, I played with a lot of big name players, so I wasn’t really anybody who people were going to see.” It became official when the 6-foot-2-inch forward signed on with Temple for next season, along with Philadelphia local Deja Reynolds, the team announced Wednesday. Like Canada, Reynolds realized that playing Division I basketball was a reality last September, when Iona College in New Rochelle, New York reached out as her first offer. Then a call came from Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck, New Jersey, and then Temple, where both recruits said they felt right at home after each paying their own visits to campus. “I enjoyed the student life, the life of the city,” Canada said. “The people were very diverse when I went around. I liked the class atmosphere that they had, and the team itself is what made me
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Williams’ last opener in the books Tyonna Williams fought back tears before the opener. DANIELLE NELSON The Temple News Before Tyonna Williams stepped on the court last Friday, her eyes turned heavy. “I woke up [Friday] morning and my eyes started watering,” Williams said. “It was really hitting me that this is my last first kiss.” Williams’ “last first kiss,” the season opener, was played last Friday and resulted in a 7572 victory for the Owls against visiting La Salle. The 5-foot6-inch guard began her senior campaign with nine points on 2-of-15 shooting.
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JENNY KERRIGAN TTN
Senior guard Tyonna Williams defends La Salle forward Michaya Owens during the Owls’ 75-72 win last Friday.
Although her shots weren’t falling, she found other ways to contribute. With three freshmen and one transfer on the team this season, the lone senior said she has a new role on the team
aside from scoring. “I am one of our best shooters and [on Friday] my shots weren’t falling, but I
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