Volume 91, Issue 23

Page 1

SPORTS Khalif Wyatt’s 31 points weren’t enough in the Owls’ season-ending loss to Indiana.

temple-news.com VOL. 91 ISS. 23

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2013

Waitlisting among registration changes University introduces numerous changes for registration starting this summer. SEAN CARLIN News Editor Beginning with the upcoming registration period for Summer 2013, students will see changes to registration, elimi-

nating washout and allowing for undergraduate course waitlists. The university announced last week that it will effectively end washout – formally known as registration cancellation – in an effort to alleviate financial stress for students registered for classes and allow more time for students to make minimum tuition payments. Previously, if students didn’t make the minimum payment to the university, they would be automatically

University signs on for labor rights

New major to explore preserving human life

Temple is now part of the Workers’ Rights Consortium.

A bioengineering major will be introduced this fall.

JOHN MORITZ Assistant News Editor

LAURA ORDONEZ The Temple News

The manufacturing of the famed Temple “T” and other Temple logos on apparel and goods is set to be guarded by the watchdog Workers’ Rights Consortium following Temple’s agreement to partner with the group earlier this month. On March 17, Temple officially announced the decision, which will revise the university’s code of conduct in dealing with labor practices for manufactured goods. The Workers’ Rights Consortium is a nonprofit labor organization that reviews and issues reports on factories around the world that produce licensed goods for colleges and universities. The more than 180 schools affiliated with the consortium are expected to react to reviews of unfair labor practices in factories manufacturing their products by contacting those firms and attempting to incite change, according to the consortiums bylaws. The Main Campus student group Temple Coalition of Students Against Sweatshops was formed in August to lobby the university into reviewing its

The College of Engineering will introduce a Bachelor of Science degree in bioengineering in a move to lure students into one of the fastest growing occupations in the country. Beginning Fall 2013, the new undergraduate degree will allow students to explore the involvement of technology in preserving human life, from artificial organs to drug-delivery systems. “This degree will provide students with opportunities for employment and graduate school,” Keyanoush Sadeghipour, dean of the College of Engineering, said. “It is an ideal discipline toward professional fields such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and so forth.” Because of the aging population and the evolution of technology, employment of biomedical engineers is expected to grow by 62 percent between 2010 and 2020 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Omar Fisher, assistant professor of bioengineering, said the new curriculum would offer flexibility for students to choose certain tracks like pre-medicine or biomechanics. The Board of

WORKERS PAGE 2

ENGINEERING PAGE 2

dropped from any classes in which they were enrolled in for the upcoming semester. Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Assessment Jodi Levine Laufgraben said after the washout date, typically 80 percent would re-register for courses and 20 percent wouldn’t. Washout played a role in finding those who had registered for the term but weren’t going to attend the university, Laufgraben said. While it was

effective in finding the group of students who weren’t going to attend the university, it created a major service issue. “It was becoming a real customer service problem in that we noticed significant activity in phone calls, emails and visit volumes to financial aid and to the Bursar’s Office around the washout date, particularly in August,” Laufgraben said. “We really looked what some ways [are] that we can

approach improving financial aid and Bursar customer service. Also, make students aware that if you register for classes, you’re financially responsible.” The end of registration cancellation essentially makes students financially responsible for all courses they register for. In an effort to clear up any confusion about students’ financial obligations when registering for courses, the university is also introducing a Financial Respon-

sibility Agreement, which basically acts as a “terms of use.” “This is just making students a little bit more aware that registration triggers a bill,” Laufgraben said. “We’ll be doing other things, particularly in the summer, to remind students that if you aren’t planning to attend, you need to drop your classes.” Laufgraben said that the

REGISTRATION PAGE 3

ADDY PETERSON TTN

Area braces for AVI The newly approved property tax system, AVI, could impact future off-campus renters. ADDY PETERSON The Temple News

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ue to Mayor Michael Nutter’s new Actual Value Initiative property tax system that City Council put in effect at the end of 2012, both Philadelphia homeowners and tenants could see drastic changes in their taxes and rent in the upcoming year. “I think the [property tax] reassessment is really going to shake the city up,” said City Controller Alan Butkovitz.

Council approved the AVI tax system in 2012. Issues facing the council now are what the new tax rate will be for taxpayers and whether there will be exemptions for senior citizen homeowners, low-income residents and other qualified individuals, Butkovitz said. “The Nutter administration is absolutely committed to this new form of taxation,” he said. According to the city, the purpose of the new tax system] is to “make sure that all values are assessed fairly and in compliance with state laws, statutes and industry standards.” In other words, the city is ensuring that if homeowners have similar houses or if they differ greatly in “size and condition,” they are taxed appropriately. AVI amends Philadelphia’s old property tax system

that has been, Butkovitz said, out of date since 2003. Butkovitz said more than 298,000 properties were looked over and reassessed to match the new AVI system, but objections arose when the new tax rate was off by 30 percent of the properties’ original market prices. “I think there’s a very serious question about the accuracy of these new assessments,” he said. “Under the law, the entire plan is only allowed to be inaccurate up to 15 percent between what the assessed value of what the property is and what the market value is,” Butkovitz added. The most accurate way to assess properties is to make sure that they are all assessed at market value, but from Butkovitz’s analysis of new assessments

under AVI, it is inaccurate by approximately 30 percent to 35 percent. “If that’s true, then the reassessment is invalid,” Butkovitz said. “It would be no more accurate than the system it replaced.” Under AVI, popular areas that house young families and homeowners such as Center City and South Philadelphia will be impacted the most, Butkovitz said. Going from roughly $800 to $1,200 a year in property taxes alone, he said the “positive image” of the city will decrease and could force a large amount of residents to vacate to the suburbs. “Longtime residents are going to face enormous tax increases and effectively be forced

AVI PAGE 3

TSG candidates announced at General Assembly meeting

From left, TSG student body presidential candidates Darin Bartholomew and Anthony Torres address the General Assembly. | IAN THOMAS WATSON TTN

WITCH HUNT, p. 7

The theater department puts on its production of Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.” NEWS DESK 215-204-7419

Diamond Nation and Temple United, the two tickets competing for Temple Student Government executive positions, were introduced during “Meet the Candidates” at the General Assembly meeting yesterday, March 25. Monday marked the first official day of campaigning for the two teams seeking to win the election scheduled for April 9 and 10. Diamond Nation, led by candidate for student body president and junior human resources management major Anthony Torres, has set a platform on three pillars: community, opportunity and diversity.

RETURN OF THE ROXY, p. 9

The Philadelphia Film Society is raising money to restore the historic Roxy movie theater. NEWS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM

According to Diamond Nation’s website, its mission is “to provide all students with viable and accessible opportunities, integrate the Temple and Philadelphia communities, and cultivate dynamic relationships among our diverse student.” Candidate for vice president of services Patricia Boateng and candidate for vice president of external affairs Danube Johnson complete Diamond Nation’s ticket. Diamond Nation will face off against Temple United led by student body president candidate Darin Bartholomew. Bartholomew, a junior management information systems

major, is joined by candidate for vice president of services Cree Moore and candidate for vice president of external affairs Sonia Galiber. Temple United’s mission is to solve the challenges on campus through unifying the student body. “Through making information more easily accessible and representing a diverse student body, we will advocate for the Temple Community,” Temple United’s website states. Temple United and Diamond Nation will debate next Monday, April 1, at the General Assembly meeting.

CLASS CONSCIOUS, p. 5

Steve Newman and Zack Scott expound on the student-professor relationship.

-Laura Detter


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