A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921.
temple-news.com
Tuesday, august 27, 2013
vol. 92 Iss. 1
University cancels Spring Fling in ‘14 aimed mainly at commuter students to showcase student organizations and performers, but as the campus has become increasingly residential, drinking has become more of a component of the day. Sean Carlin The decision to end the The Temple News event came after a series of meetings after Spring Fling and he third Wednesday of during the summer among highApril will just be an level administrators. ordinary day for most After the most recent Spring students next year. Fling, President Neil Theobald After last April’s Spring commissioned Provost HaiFling was marred by drinking Lung Dai and two vice presiand ended with a 19-year-old dents – Jim Creedon and TheWest Chester University student resa Powell – to look into the falling to her death from the roof future of spring activities, but of an off-campus row house, Theobald said that it’s been clear university administrators have for months that the event would ended the decades-long event, not carry out as usual. citing goals for the day that have “It’s kind of been hijacked been “undermined” by drinking by a group of people that make in recent years. this into a bacchanal, a drinking The newly built Morgan Hall, now the tallest building in North Philadelphia, offers a room with a view, but it also keeps stuIn the past, the event was fest,” Theobald said. “We’re not dents from flooding the surrounding community. PAGE 2.| Abi Reimold TTN involved in that.” While the event has been a mainstay at Temple for years, university officials determined that the day met less of the goals But as he seeks to fill one Preliminary site for it had set for Spring Fling in the more deanship and two interim past and became a detriment to new library to be vice presidencies, the univerthe academic climate. sity is working on its master released this fall. “This used to be an event plan through Visualize Temple that seemed to have a real benSean Carlin Campaign brings which could change the face efit to the college community The Temple News of Main Campus, including the 60 percent increase because it was the only opportupotential of a new library on the nity that all of these commuter in recent alumni Less than two months be- east side of Broad Street and an students came together,” Dean fore his inauguration, President increase in residence halls. donations. of Students Stephanie Ives said. Neil Theobald has been a culti“We spent the summer try“This particular event has reSEAN CARLIN vator for change during his first ing to gather information from ally transformed into something year in office. The Temple News students, from faculty, from where students perceive it as an Four deans have been staff,” Theobald said. “The President Neil Theobald is preparing for the release of a new excuse to drink and a drinking Following last year’s an- named to positions that were goal here is to say ‘what is the Visualize Temple plan. | PAUL KLEIN TTN holiday.” nouncement of a $100 million previously filled by interims, strategy over the next decade Four months ago, Spring a new master plan for the unicould alter Main Campus would campaign for student scholar- a permanent provost was put and how do you operationalize Fling captured the attention of versity, and is receiving input be the addition of a new library ship, increased resources and in place and he has been at the that?” from a Visualize Temple web- that was mentioned in the 20/20 the area after Ali Fausnaught, a a renewed focus on donors led helm for most of the first year Temple has been workfreshman at West Chester Unithe university to set its one-year of a scholarship campaign that ing with SmithGroup, an ar- site where students and faculty plan, which was the basis for a versity, died after she fell from could weigh into the discussion number of construction projects fundraising record, gathering has led to the largest fundraising chitectural and planning firm, the roof of a row house on the with their own ideas. year in the university’s history. throughout the process to design Funding PAGE 3 Theobald PAGE 3 A signature change that Fling PAGE 3
After tragedy struck, officials put an end to tradition turned “drinking fest.”
T
Univ. raises President develops campus plan record total of funds
Opera dept. adds artistic director Ansari headlines for teaching and conducting to his fondness of collaboratively working with other musicians in an enriching environment. “I always loved working with people and making music Shayna Kleinberg with people,” Ryvkin, who is the The Temple News artistic director and cconductor of Temple Opera Theater and asOpera may not be native sociate professor of the departto North Philadelphia, but few ment of voice and opera, said . people realize the prestige of Ryvkin first realized his the voice and opera department love of music when he was a at Temple - a department that very young boy living in St. Penow proudly houses a highly tersburg, Russia. acclaimed conductor behind its “My family wanted the curtains. children to play music. It was One of the many new pro- very traditional,” Ryvkin said. fessors recently added to the “At that point, no one in my staff roster for the 2013-2014 family was ever a professional school year is Russian native musician.” Valéry Ryvkin. He has exerted It wasn’t until Ryvkin was his musical talent all over the a teenager that he started to secountry, attributing his passions riously think about becoming a
welcome week
Famed Russian musician is latest addition to staff.
NEWS - PAGES 2-3, 6
“Parks and Recreation” star jokes about texting, relationships. Kevin Stairiker The Temple News
Valéry Ryvkin offers a wealth of conducting experience to the opera department. | ABI REIMOLD TTN musician. Ryvkin’s drive to study music landed him at Mannes College, a noted music school
in New York City, where he received a degree in music theory
Ryvkin PAGE 20
Temple’s annual Welcome Week festivities came to a conclusion on Saturday night with nearly the exact same sight as years past: kids flooding out of the Liacouras Center, flushed and smiling, being herded away from oncoming traffic by police officers. Unlike years past, however, attendees pre-gamed their Saturday nights with a comedy
Voters to register in dorms
LIVING - PAGES 7-8, 18-20
“One of the Guys” earns emmy nod
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT - PAGES 9-11, 16-17
A s part of a new initiative developed by Temple Student Government and the city’s Commissioner’s Office, students in residence halls will recieve Philly voter forms. PAGE 2
A web series created by Temple students is up for College/ University Production Long-Form Fiction Emmy. The Emmy Awards will air on Sept. 22nd.
Philadelphia weaver Erin Riley depicts unique college culture in her work.
OPINION - PAGES 4-5 Morgan Hall: The fortress of solitude
New look on College Life
PAGE 7
Boyer College of Music and Dance Conwell Dance Theater
show. The Welcome Week guest performer spot, held in previous years by rappers as varied as Wale and Big Sean, was occupied by comedian, actor and soon-to-be author Aziz Ansari. Tickets were distributed four hours before show time and a small drove of students lined up in advance around the block to get free tickets. Ansari, most currently known for his role as Tom Haverford in “Parks and Recreation,” has slowly become a household name (or, at the very least, a dorm room name) since his days as one-third of
Ansari PAGE 11
SPORTS - PAGES 21-24
Football Preview