The Temple News

THE TEMPLE NEWS

A YEAR IN PHOTOS

The Temple News recaps the year’s top stories through photos.

Read more on Pages 14-15.

VOL 101 // ISSUE 14 TUESDAY, MAY 2, 2023

temple-news.com @thetemplenews

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The Temple News

THE TEMPLE NEWS A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921.

Lawrence Ukenye Editor-in-Chief Julia Merola Print Managing Editor Fallon Roth Digital Managing Editor Megan Phillips Chief Print Copy Editor Kayla Maguire Chief Digital Copy Editor Oliver Sabo News Staff Writer Sarah Frasca Opinion Editor Molly Fiske Assistant Opinion Editor Duay Augustine Assistant Features Editor Nick Gangewere Sports Editor Javon Edmonds Assistant Sports Editor Samuel O’Neal Assistant Sports Editor Maggie Fitzgerald Director of Audience Engagement Emily Lewis Public Engagement Coordinator Taylor Hargraves Audience Engagement Editor Sara Wexler Audience Engagement Editor Chris Duong Sports Social Media Manager Robert Joseph Cruz Assistant Photo Editor Noel Chacko Staff Photographer Earl Kufen Staff Photographer Nate Pullano Multimedia Editor Will Colavito Multimedia Editor Joelle Pacheco Print Design Editor Allyson Tharp Graphic Design Editor Isabella Medina Web Editor Rachel Townsend Data Editor Olivia Hall Podcast Editor Rose Mastrangelo Advertising Manager Matthew Eaton Advertising Manager Kurt Nolasco Business Manager

Follow us @TheTempleNews

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.

The Editorial Board is made up of The Temple News’ Editor-inChief, Managing Editor, Digital Managing Editor, Chief Copy Editors, and Opinion Editors. The views expressed in editorials only reflect those of the Board, and not of the entire Temple News staff.

ON THE COVER A collage of various photos from the 2022-23 academic year.

JOELLE PACHECO / THE TEMPLE NEWS

Contacts Visit us online at temple-news.com Email section staff news@temple-news.com letters@temple-news.com features@temple-news.com sports@temple-news.com The Temple News is located at: Student Center, Room 243 1755 N. 13th St. Philadelphia, PA 19122

CORRECTIONS 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 Lawrence Ukenye at editor@temple-news.com.

The Temple News

NEWS

PAGE 3

COMMENCEMENT

What to know about Temple’s 2023 commencement Graduation ceremonies will begin on May 5 and throughout the following weeks.

BY OLIVER SABO News Staff Writer This month, Temple will be holding its 136th commencement ceremony and more than a dozen individual school and college ceremonies for graduating students.

The university recently announced that Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro will speak at the university-wide commencement ceremony on May 11 at the Liacouras Center.

Graduates can receive a maximum of four guest tickets for the university-wide event, but individual school and college ticket limitations vary.

Temple strongly encourages graduates and their guests to use public transportation or carpool due to traffic and full parking lots. Temple’s Parking Services has designated parking areas for each school and college, and each graduate will receive a complimentary parking pass with their graduation packet.

Guests can also use the Temple’s interactive map for building and parking locations, and to view the campus’ shuttle route that will run from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

With ceremonies beginning in less than a week, here is a list of locations and times for each commencement.

UNIVERSITY COMMENCEMENT Thursday, May 11 at 9:30 a.m.

The Liacouras Center.

LEWIS KATZ SCHOOL OF MEDICINE Friday, May 5 at 8:30 a.m.

The Kimmel Center SCHOOL OF PODIATRIC MEDICINE Monday, May 8 at 12 p.m.

Temple Performing Arts Center COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMS Wednesday, May 10 at 9:30 a.m.

The Liacouras Center

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING Thursday, May 11 at 1 p.m.

McGonigle Hall BOYER COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND DANCE Thursday, May 11 at 1 p.m.

Temple Performing Arts Center KLEIN COLLEGE OF MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION Thursday, May 11 at 1:30 p.m.

The Liacouras Center SCHOOL OF THEATER, FILM AND MEDIA ARTS Thursday, May 11 at 5 p.m.

Temple Performing Arts Center TYLER SCHOOL OF ART AND ARCHITECTURE Thursday, May 11 at 5 p.m.

FOX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT Wednesday, May 10 at 1:30 p.m.

McGonigle Hall The Liacouras Center

COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK Thursday, May 11 at 5:30 p.m.

The Liacouras Center COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT Friday, May 12 at 9:30 a.m.

The Liacouras Center SCHOOL OF SPORT, TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT Friday, May 12 at 9:30 a.m.

Temple Performing Arts Center COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS - GRADUATE PROGRAMS Friday, May 12 at 10 a.m.

Mazur Hall 17 UNIVERSITY COLLEGE Friday, May 12 at 11 a.m Tomlinson Theater

SCHOOL OF PHARMACY Friday, May 12 at 1 p.m.

Temple Performing Arts Center COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Friday, May 12 at 1:30 p.m.

The Liacouras Center KORNBERG SCHOOL OF DENTISTRY Friday, May 19 at 4 p.m.

Academy of Music BEASLEY SCHOOL OF LAW Thursday, May 25 at 4 p.m.

The Liacouras Center

NEWS

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The Temple News

PUBLIC SAFETY

Temple begins to implement audit recommendations

The university received dozens of safety reccomendations from a year-long audit.

result in shorter training periods, according to the audit.

Public Safety is currently working on new hiring and retention bonuses to attract officers and now receives citywide supplemental patrols from Philadelphia Police Department, Griffin said.

BY OLIVER SABO News Staff Writer On April 19, more than a year after its announcement, Temple released a 131-page audit of Temple University’s campus safety efforts, conducted by former Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey and his organization, 21CP Solutions.

The group, which specializes in advising law enforcement, made 68 recommendations and summarized four major areas, including guidance on crime and physical safety, support for and organization of Temple University Police Department, TUPD engagement with other entities and TUPD’s critical interactions.

“It is a long report, and it contains 68 recommendations,” Ramsey said, at a press conference announcing the results.

“Do not believe that that means that we found deficiencies in Temple University in all these areas. There are some areas that need improvement, and they can strengthen some things. There are some areas in which they’ve already begun work, and they’ve already made significant progress.”

Ramsey said all of the recommendations were laid out with both short and long term timelines. He also emphasized that some things look easily fixable on the surface but may take more time, so Temple should not be held to the suggestions strictly.

In response to the audit, Jennifer Griffin, vice president for public safety, has created a strategic plan that includes five pillars: personnel, training and professional development, equipment and technology, strategy and collaboration and communication. Nine of the 68 recommendations have already been addressed by Temple, Griffin said.

Here are some notable recommendations from 21CP Solutions.

EARL KUFEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS The audit listed five pillars that the university could implement to improve safety communication and local engagement.

GUIDANCE ON CRIME AND PHYSICAL SAFETY The audit’s major recommendations include working with community and city stakeholders to establish a Temple-Community Safety Partnership Zone, a collaborative effort that seeks to engage with the community surrounding Temple through deterrence oriented, problem-solving approaches.

The partnership’s goal would be to address the root causes of crime, violence and quality of life from a problem-solving perspective and build upon recommendations from the Violence Reduction Task Force Report, which was released in November 2022.

The audit recommends a Response Resource Task Force which would include the city’s District Attorney’s office and local and state law enforcement agencies. The task force would address short-term staffing needs at Temple and in the surrounding community.

Other suggestions include regular evaluations of the FLIGHT shuttle system, the creation of an annual camera audit plan and an assessment of building

security and access protocols. 21CP Solutions also recommended that the university evaluates the best ways of providing off-campus housing information.

Additionally, the audit recommends that TUPD and Temple should review sexual assault services available to victims and the development of a policy that addresses response and investigation of sexual assaults.

SUPPORT AND ORGANIZATION OF TUPD The audit also suggested organizational management changes that would ensure better cohesion within TUPD, like maintaining a separate role for vice president of public safety and chief of police. The group also recommended housing TUPD in one physical location, as opposed to the current four separate locations.

TUPD should also consider a concrete recruitment plan for TUPD and other security personnel, and should establish immediate hiring incentives for qualified officers from other law enforcement agencies which would

TUPD ENGAGEMENT The third area of the audit covered engagement with outside entities like Allied Security Services, neighboring police departments and other community partnerships.

Griffin said that the establishment of the Safety Partnership Zone will be one of the first efforts that the university will undertake, and that they have already begun to increase community engagement.

TUPD will work during the summer to increase community engagement including Twists, Treats & Talks, a campus police mingle, and other events throughout the summer with students who stay on or near campus.

CRITICAL INTERACTIONS The audit extensively covered critical interactions between TUPD and community members, including use of force policies, fair and impartial policing and mental health response to individuals experiencing mental health crises.

Recommendations included alternative responses to mental or behavioral health challenges, and data that analyzes the prevalence of calls related to these issues.

Ramsey and his team also recommended co-responders for mental health incidents, as well as a review of current resources for survivors and new training for incidents of sexual assault and harrassment.

University leaders also announced that a public health approach could help address gun violence and build partnerships in the North Philadelphia community, including joining forces with leaders at Temple University Hospital. oliver.sabo@temple.edu @oliversabo20

The Temple News

NEWS

PAGE 5

CAMPUS

Temple applies feedback to development plans Boundless Temple will mark the university’s next phase of campus development.

BY OLIVER SABO News Staff Writer Temple University is in the early stages of gathering input from students to inform the next phase of their campus development plan, Boundless Temple.

The process comes as Provost Gregory Mandel and Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Ken Kaiser announced on April 14 that the phased campus planning approach will identify Temple’s development opportunities and challenges.

Temple is partnering with Sasaki Associates, a design firm that specializes in architecture, planning, landscape and design. The firm will conduct a threephase effort, which includes listening to the Temple community and its constituents, testing ideas and defining short and long-term plans for implementation.

The new initiative will use direct student feedback, starting with an interactive survey map, where students can mark spots where they study, live or gather. Students can also recommend which spots are “welcoming,” in need of improvement or hard to reach. The survey period will end on May 5.

The survey also allows students to route their paths to and from campus and specify what form of transportation they use to arrive.

“Our online survey, in addition to listening sessions and community outreach, ensures that we collect information from as many people as we can,” wrote David Duxbury, Sasaki’s senior associate planner and project manager for the Temple plan, in a statement to The Temple News. “It represents our commitment and Temple’s that this effort includes as broad a spectrum of input as possible.”

The survey includes separate maps for Main Campus and its patrol zone and the Health Sciences, Center City and Ambler campuses.

Once the survey period ends, the

EARL KUFEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS Temple University is partnering with Sasaki Associates to create the next stage of campus development.

university’s planning steering committee will make short and long-term recommendations based on the data. From there, listening sessions and forums, which are expected to begin in early fall, will also be held for the community to give feedback on the findings, Kaiser said.

Community feedback on master development plans is nothing new for the university, said Kaiser, who is co-chairing the process with Mandel.

“This is the third master plan that I’ve been involved in, going back to 2009 with Temple 20/20 and then Visualize Temple in 2014,” Kaiser said. “Broad community feedback, including students, faculty, staff and the community is critical to the success of any plan. So it’s part of the playbook.”

Typically, universities engage in a comprehensive planning process every 10 years, Kaiser said. Temple’s new plan will also explore enrollment and safety

issues and identify opportunities for innovation.

Development plans, like Boundless Temple, include major projects that can sometimes take years, Kaiser said.

Charles Library was included in the university’s Temple 20/20 plan from 2009 and the project first broke ground in 2015; the library first opened to the public in September 2019.

Smaller projects, like landscaping and lighting changes, could be seen in the next fiscal year or later in the spring, Kaiser said.

Students are the most fundamental part of the university, so their thoughts are crucial for planning of this magnitude, said former Student Body President Gianni Quattrocchi, who is a member of the university’s steering committee.

“We’re a very ideologically diverse campus so I’m not just providing one side of the argument, so to speak, I’m telling the committee what a wide range

of students are thinking and the range of ideas that they have,” Quattrocchi said.

While Quattrocchi acknowledged that the new initiative is a long-term process, he thinks Sasaki’s survey is a very effective way of sourcing student feedback and pinpointing exactly how students view certain spaces on campus.

“It’s going to provide a lot more comprehensive data, and it’s going to be a lot more navigable than a standard sort of multiple choice survey, if you will,” Quattrocchi said. “I think the interactive nature of it is going to provide a lot of useful data that you couldn’t get otherwise.” oliver.sabo@temple.edu @oliversabo20

NEWS

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The Temple News

CRIME

Public Safety hiring communications position The new role’s objective is to improve digital messaging and engagement with students.

BY OLIVER SABO News Staff Writer Temple University’s Public Safety Department is hiring a director of communications to enhance social media and online messaging around campus safety, said Jennifer Griffin, vice president for public safety.

The new role will be filled before the next semester. Griffin hopes to have the current posting closed in the next three weeks, at which point virtual, and eventually in person, interviews will take place.

Public Safety’s hope is that the new position will allow for increased messaging through social media and on their website, including a media webpage that provides updates on campus safety.

The position, which was originally posted earlier this year, was closed in the wake of the fatal shooting of Sgt. Christopher Fitzgerald on Feb. 18 and reopened with new language emphasizing the use of social media and relationships with news outlets, Griffin said.

The hire’s main responsibility will be to create educational messaging for students, promoting safety on and near campus. For example, Griffin and her team are currently working on medical amnesty education after a spike in alcohol-related incidents around campus.

“We want to make sure that students know, you’ll not be in trouble if you bring a friend or call us because a friend has had too much alcohol even if they’re underage,” Griffin said.

The new hire will also collaborate with Temple University’s Strategic Marketing and Communications team, but will work primarily for Public Safety and emergency management messaging, Griffin said. The position will also be the primary news media contact regarding safety at the university and will aim to ensure accurate reporting, according to the job posting.

The reopening of the posting comes as Temple has dealt with a semester of communication concerns surroundingd-

CARA KISHTER / THE TEMPLE NEWS The director of communications’ main responsibilities will be to create educational messaging for students that promotes safety on and near campus.

campus safety. Social media accounts like Keep Us Safe TU, a student-run group that posts about campus safety issues, have also gained popularity among students.

Colleen Ivkovich, a senior architecture major, thinks that there needs to be a lot more communication from the university around safety, but that those efforts need to be backed up by action and better messaging about what Public Safety is implementing.

“Especially because I have a cousin who is a freshman so she’s gonna be here for a while, so I think kind of acknowledgement, and actual proof that they’re trying to fix or do something, at least in their messaging, I think that would make me feel a lot more comfortable,” Ivkovich said.

Nate Weinberg, a sophomore public relations major, who manages social

media and press for KUSTU, thinks that communication and transparency around resources available to students is a necessity.

“I’m curious to see who it is,” Weinberg said. “I don’t know if it’s going to be an inside hire or an outside hire, but whoever it is, they will be an asset to the department and the communication from the university since safety is our top issue and you have to be communicating about safety issues.”

Weinberg met with Griffin, Director for Emergency Management Nicola Mammes, and Deputy Director of Operations Denise Wilhelm on April 27 to discuss safety communication, improvements to the TU Alert system and student feedback. KUSTU hopes to be involved in ongoing efforts to gain feedback from students, Weinberg said.

The group hopes for ongoing dis-

cussions between students and Public Safety, but Weinberg thinks Griffin and KUSTU ended the semester in a good spot.

The job requirements for the new position include a bachelor’s degree in communications, as well as a minimum of seven years of experience, or a combination of education and experience. The posting also requires skills in public safety and emergency management. Hires will also need to be well-versed in social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. oliver.sabo@temple.edu @oliversabo20

The Temple News

OPINION

PAGE 7

COMMENCEMENT

Protect your digital footprint, protect your future A student urges her peers to have a positive online presence to safeguard their opportunities.

BY VALERIA URIBE For The Temple News

A

s commencement approaches, graduates are preparing or searching for employment opportunities. While many students focus on perfecting their resumes and cover letters, the image created by their digital footprint likely isn’t their top concern when looking for a job.

A digital footprint is a record of a person’s online activity, and it’s becoming more common for companies to perform social media checks before hiring people, Business News Daily reported.

Sometimes students post reckless content, like underage drinking and explicit language, to their social media profiles without considering the potential consequences: they could be creating a damaging digital footprint that may prevent them from getting hired.

As many students have learned throughout their lives, it’s nearly impossible to erase something from social media once it’s been posted. Students should ensure a search for their name doesn’t surface inappropriate content because even one unprofessional post could potentially ruin job opportunities. They should delete and refrain from posting content that contributes to a negative image.

“Something that you post today could be something that an employer two years from now see, and it might present you in a way that the person that you are today, two years later, might not want to share that information, but it’s already out there,” said Sherri Hope Culver, a media studies and production associate professor and the director of the Center for Media and Information Literacy.

Before determining who to hire, 70 percent of companies screen potential applicants and look at their social media, with 18 percent of employees losing their job due to their social media posts,

ALLYSON THARP/ THE TEMPLE NEWS

according to a September 2022 study by CareerBuilder, a company that helps employers hire in the United States.

“Sometimes some people’s social media tell a lot more about somebody than an interview,” said Rithika Mothukuri, a senior media studies and production major.

A 17-year-old lost out on a job opportunity after the company performed a background check and saw her videos on TikTok, Buzzfeed reported. Many of the videos shared overly personal stories, which was enough to cost her a job.

“I never had anything controversial or something that could get me fired from a workplace or school or something, but there are many cases of that happening and we should be learning from their mistakes,” said Kieran McCarney, a junior social work major.

Posting pictures that show students engaging in reckless behavior can im-

pact someone’s chances of getting hired.

Drug and alcohol use, and using explicit language are some of the top social media activities that could deter an employer from hiring someone, according to a 2021 study by The HR Director, a human resources magazine.

Additionally, complaining about previous employers, discussing sexual topics, debating with other users about politics and posting with incorrect grammar and spelling can also discourage employers from hiring.

Social media platforms, like Instagram and TikTok, are outlets for students to express who they are and share their activities. When posting, some students don’t think enough about how it could affect them in the future.

“Many people have a desire to present their full selves on social media, the danger is that there are people out there who might have an influence on your

life who you might not want to see everything, like your employers,” Culver said.

While students shouldn’t stop posting entirely on social media, they could think more critically about what they’d be putting out there and who’d see it.

“It’s important to have a clean digital footprint because it could look bad on you, it could look bad on your friends, and social media can be edited and changed and screenshotted and screen recorded and taken out of context, so I could post something and not have mal intent, but it could be switched to that,” McCarney said.

As students prepare to graduate and enter the workforce they should be mindful of their internet presence as unprofessional content can get in the way of their careers. valeria.uribe@temple.edu

The Temple News

OPINION

PAGE 8

COMMENCEMENT

The Temple News confirmed my love for leadership The Editor-in-Chief discusses the growing pains of navigating how to run the paper.

BY LAWRENCE UKENYE Editor-in-Chief On Aug. 6, 2021, I woke up at 5 a.m. and drove to Philadelphia from my hometown of Bowie, Maryland, excited yet nervous for my first staff orientation as editor-in-chief of The Temple News.

Although it was conducted entirely on Zoom, I traveled to the city hoping to get a sense of what it’d be like to run the paper in person after operating virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I started our call shortly after 9 a.m. and welcomed everyone to the staff, but my internet connection was interrupted nearly halfway into my opening presentation, and my call froze. I raced to restart the meeting and told everyone I had technical difficulties, but I was upset that everything hadn’t gone as I intended I was put in charge of leading people throughout my life, and I’ve always had expectations for how things would go. Every move had to be perfectly choreographed and any deviations from the original plans were undesirable.

Although leadership was something I was familiar with when I joined The Temple News, I thought leaders needed to be perfect, and admitting mistakes was a sign of weakness. Those expectations were drastically shaken during my time leading the paper and helped me realize successful leadership comes from realizing one’s limitations rather than seeking to always make all the right moves.

My initial path to being a leader wasn’t necessarily a choice. I am the oldest of four siblings and my parents often relied on me to look after my younger brothers at night due to their busy work schedules. When I was nine, I’d prepare dinner for them and ensure they’d completed their homework before tucking them away for bed.

I took pride in being a reliable resource for my parents in helping them make decisions as they navigated life as

ALLYSON THARP/ THE TEMPLE NEWS

immigrants in the United States. They always sought my input in planning vacations and were frank with me about the state of their finances.

The values they instilled in me also led me to take leadership roles in other groups at my church and in youth sports; I felt comfortable guiding people and assuming responsibility when things didn’t go as planned. I enjoyed shaping my vision for a group and loved working with other people to help my goals become a reality.

However, The Temple News was an entirely different experience. During my first few weeks of running the paper, I was routinely confronted with situations where I questioned whether or not I was fit to be a leader.

People occasionally missed deadlines or some staff members made mistakes that led me to question whether or not I adequately prepared them for their roles.

Those feelings were amplified when I’d disagree with members of my senior

staff and felt compromising meant I was somehow getting a watered-down version of my goals.

I believed any staff-wide shortcomings were a reflection of who I was as a person to the point where I forgot to use those experiences as an opportunity to learn lessons about journalism or how to lead a team.

Despite the growing pains I encountered during the first few weeks of the job, I learned to enjoy seeing people take constructive criticism and rely on me for guidance. Our former Opinion Editor Julia Merola repeatedly accepted my feedback on ways to improve, and I was inspired by how committed she was to getting better despite how direct I could be at times.

It was refreshing to know my staff was learning alongside me, and producing content was an educational experience for everyone involved.

As I reflect on my two years as editor-in-chief and new additions to our

workflow, like podcasts, newsletters and social media engagement, I take pride in the fact I cultivated an environment where staff felt I was accessible and relatable. It brings me great joy when people listen intently to my feedback and are comfortable acknowledging what I can do better.

Whether it’s pursuing a leadership position in a media organization or in government, my leadership at The Temple News helped me develop personally and professionally, and laid a foundation for how I plan to continue growing after I walk across the stage on graduation day.

lawrence.ukenye@temple.edu @lawrence_ukenye

The Temple News

OPINION

PAGE 9

COMMENCEMENT

Greatness doesn’t quit: How I learned to persevere The Chief Print Copy Editor reflects on her relationship with her competitive nature.

BY MEGAN PHILLIPS Chief Print Copy Editor When I was 7 years old, I quit the local Lower Merion Aquatic Club mini swimming team, the Mighty Mites, simply because it was difficult, and it became a running family joke.

My mom would sing, “Mighty Mite drop out, no mini meet for you,” to the tune of “Beauty School Dropout” from the musical Grease. It was all in good fun, but when I heard that tune, I felt my blood boil as I was reminded again and again of my failure.

I learned early on that when something gets difficult, giving up isn’t always the answer. This childhood memory has motivated me to never quit without a good reason ever again, but my will to persevere was tested throughout my four years at Temple University.

Coming from a family of athletes, I was raised to be competitive. This innate drive brought me to Temple with a spot on the field hockey roster.

As my college journey comes to an end, I’ve realized how my competitive nature has served as both an asset and detriment to myself, and I’ve ultimately learned to embrace it.

When I arrived at Temple in the summer of 2019, I had no idea the physical and mental trials I would face on the field, in the classroom and beyond.

I was quiet, nervous and naive, but full of aspirations. Adjusting to collegiate athletics was no easy feat; the workouts were hard, playing on astroturf was a completely different game, the academics were arduous and I struggled to form strong connections as an introvert.

Ironically, during my freshman year, a billboard across the street from Howarth Field, where my team practiced, read something along the lines of “It’s Time to Quit.” It was likely a public health announcement intended for a different audience, but I interpreted it very differently. I recall gasping for air amid a grueling sprint workout and staring up

ALLYSON THARP/ THE TEMPLE NEWS

at the looming sign, I questioned everything.

There were many times throughout the past four years I felt compelled to quit the things I loved.

When I wasn’t getting many minutes on the hockey field, I wanted to quit the sport I adored. When I became overwhelmed in classes, I wanted to quit trying so hard in the courses I enjoyed.

When I questioned my sense of belonging, I wanted to quit the student organizations I was thrilled to join.

My competitive nature was working against me. Quitting would allow me to regain a sense of control and to avoid the pains of failing. When my hard work didn’t result in desired outcomes, impulsive thoughts like “Why try?” and self-loathing weighed me down.

However, it was also my competitive nature that ultimately pulled me up.

For most of my college experience and life, I wished I could just turn off my in-

tense will to win. I wished I would care less about getting an “A,” how fast I could run or even winning a board game with friends, but I knew there was no switch I could flip.

I often tried to conceal this part of myself, worrying I’d be unlikeable.

In many social settings, from playing games with friends to discussing grades with classmates, I put on a mask feigning nonchalance. At Temple, with time, I learned to instead embrace this side of me to persevere.

Whenever I performed poorly at practice or received difficult feedback, I’d show up the next day ready to work.

When I was lost in class, I set up meetings with professors. When I was given leadership opportunities at student organizations, I took them.

Above all, I didn’t quit. No matter the circumstances these past four years brought me, I kept fighting forward. I’ve accepted my nature, and now I have an

appreciation for my will to compete, rather than just my result.

As graduation swiftly approaches, I’m proud of all I’ve been able to achieve and all the people I’ve met along the way.

I now look forward to taking my ambitious disposition with me into the work world. I’ll take on my next steps with a self-awareness that my nature can be wounding, but ultimately I know I can handle it.

On May 11, when I receive my public relations and communication and social influence degree, there will be no jokes about quitting. I will simply celebrate this victory.

megan.phillips@temple.edu @meganp_ttn

PAGE 10

OPINION

The Temple News

COMMENCEMENT

I honor my grandma’s legacy through print design The Print Design Editor explains how her grandmother catapulted her career goals at a young age.

BY JOELLE PACHECO Print Design Editor Seated at my grandma’s wooden kitchen table at 7 years old, my young and creative brain worked hard to create my own storybook: I was a princess being saved by my brother, who was a dragon.

“You’re going to be my author one day,” my grandma said, beaming at me.

“And your illustrator,” I added, earning a laugh from her and my dad.

Her words became a core childhood memory, knowing how much she believed in me inspired how I would lead the rest of my life. I knew I’d pursue a career path that fulfilled what my grandma told me I could achieve.

My grandma is my biggest inspiration because she gave so much of herself to help others. She was a vessel of kindness, love and wisdom.

She and my grandpa were directors of a Christian drug addiction treatment program called New Life For Girls, and at church services, women gave testimonies explaining how my grandparents saved their lives. Even as a child, I was moved by their willingness to help others.

My world came crashing down on March 12, 2009, when my mom came into my room early in the morning before school, her eyes welled up with tears.

I was only 8 years old when my grandma passed away at age 57 from stage four pancreatic cancer. I’m still struggling to grasp how life would continue when my hero was taken away from me so early.

More than 200 people came to my grandma’s funeral service. Friends, family and loved ones poured out the funeral home door to celebrate the legacy of a life she lived. I wanted to make a difZor my future.

When I was a junior at Temple, I

ALLYSON THARP/ THE TEMPLE NEWS

still had no idea how I was going to make my dream happen. In October 2021, The Temple News was looking to hire a print design editor, so I decided to apply.

I didn’t get the position that year, but the Editor-in-Chief Lawrence Ukenye told me to re-apply for the 202223 school year, and I was hired.

I had previous experience with design in high school as the editor-in-chief of Central York High School’s magazine On the Prowl, but I was extremely nervous about how I’d perform at The Temple News after not working in a newsroom for four years. However, after several print editions, I adapted to The Temple News’ style with consistent practice while expanding my digital illustrating abilities.

Being able to showcase my artistic ability for the Temple community to see helped me gain the footing I needed to push my career goals toward pursuing my creative side.

I gain immense inspiration from the talented staff I get to work with at the paper. The ability to discuss color palettes, fonts, designs and logo ideas makes me feel whole knowing that I’ve found a group in which I finally feel like I belong after feeling alone during the COVID-19 pandemic.

I feel like a young child again designing the stories on each page. I was able to combine my love for writing and illustrating to work toward a potential career in content creation and design.

It was not until getting this opportunity that I felt I gained the confidence to continue with my design journey.

Working for The Temple News has reignited my confidence in the path I chose to take. My new-found courage helps me cope with knowing that even if my grandma isn’t here, I get to carry her wisdom with me everywhere I go.

In February, I won an Honorable Mention 2023 Student Keystone Me-

dia Award for the layout and design of the 2022 Basketball Preview within our sixth issue. This extremely validating moment made me feel like I’m on the right path to making my grandma proud.

She gave me the confidence to pursue the artistic abilities I’ve had since I was young. Now at 22 years old, I think about how my grandma would love to see how my hobby of creating became my career path, just as she predicted.

When I walk across the graduation stage on May 11, I know my grandma will be cheering me on with the same pride and encouragement she had for me when I was a child.

joelle.pacheco@temple.edu

The Temple News

OPINION

PAGE 11

COMMENCEMENT

Bug Milk inadvertently shaped my college career The Podcast Editor explains the role of her rap duo throughout her time at Temple.

BY OLIVIA HALL Podcast Editor In January 2019, before the start of my freshman year at Temple University, I created a rap duo with my partner Cole Hurst called Bug Milk. I named it after my two favorite things: insects and dairy.

Bug Milk started off as a joke. We wrote a social commentary song about vaping in the bathroom, thinking it’d be a one-time thing.

However, after our first song, my mother said, “With what is popular on the radio today, you could make a better song.”

She was right, so we decided to keep Bug Milk going. We released another song in 2019 and started selling yellow T-shirts with our brown logo on them to loosely promote our music.

During my sophomore year, Cole and I both lived in The Edge Student Village. We recorded on a DIY mic and laptop setup on the tiny room-provided desk, which could barely hold all of our supplies.

I was taking a class called Mobile Media, and one of the assignments entailed making a video using only a cell phone. Bug Milk had created a song called “Soup!” earlier that year, so I decided to film a music video to go along with it.

The world was still shut down by the COVID-19 pandemic, and walking around outside to film wasn’t an option.

I created a shot list, borrowed a camera stabilizer, grabbed my roommate to hold the camera and we made an entire music video at The Edge.

I submitted the music video, and something clicked for me: I realized I had a passion for performing and audio.

Later that year, I learned The Temple News was looking for a podcast editor, a brand new position seemingly announced at the perfect time for me.

I was confident I had the skills to create podcasts from my experience in

ALLYSON THARP/ THE TEMPLE NEWS

song-making, so I applied and got the job.

As podcast editor, I created RePrint, a podcast that digs deeper into The Temple News’ biweekly print editions.

I learned how to host my own show, but also how to manage a deadline. The position merged my passion and professional life, and I found my voice.

Even with the addition of RePrint in my life, I was still able to grow with Bug Milk. I developed my audio skills with Bug Milk and honed them to aid my audio career as a whole with RePrint.

One day in junior year, someone asked me if I made the song “Soup!”

“Uh, yeah,” I hesitantly replied.

They explained the Mobile Media professor was using my music video as an example in class. Later on, two more people told me they also saw my video.

For the rest of the year, Bug Milk was a part of my personal brand. We performed at house shows in our matching outfits, selling merch, putting stickers on any street signs we found, meet-

ing people in the music scene and having fun with it.

Last summer, I started applying for internships in Los Angeles because I was moving there for Temple’s fall study away program. I was hesitant about what to include in my resume, as it seemed a bit sparse compared to my peers.

I figured adding Bug Milk was “professional” enough because we’ve distributed music and performed.

I eventually scored an interview with a recruiter from Jam in the Van, a mobile RV recording studio and comedy venue, who asked me about my rap duo of all things.

Later that year, I had another interview for a comedy show internship, named Office Hours Live, with a recruiter who was particularly interested in, again, Bug Milk. They liked how I created a comedic music group on my own and that I was passionate enough to keep doing it for four years.

I ended up working both internships. Throughout the semester, I inter-

viewed musicians, traveled to festivals and worked with comedians. My Bug Milk experience, technically and creatively, helped me connect with them.

As graduation approaches, I’ve been thinking more about what I want to do moving forward. With experiences in RePrint and Bug Milk under my belt, I realized I want to stick with hosting and comedy. Bug Milk and my internships have made me aware of the comedy side of media while RePrint has left me wanting to host my own show again someday.

Something I thought of as just a hobby ended up opening doors to wonderful opportunities. Bug Milk will always be a part of my life, and who knows, maybe it will become a career of its own. My passion for entertainment knows no bounds.

olivia.hall@temple.edu

Lawrence Ukenye Editor-in-Chief

Olivia Hall

Podcast Editor

Kayla Maguire Chief Digital Copy Editor

Javon Edmonds Assistant Sports Editor

Taylor Hargraves

Audience Engagement Editor

Rose Mastrangelo Advertising Manager

Isabella Medina Web Editor

Kurt Nolasco Business Manager

Joelle Pacheco

Print Design Editor

Megan Megan Phillips

Chief Newsletter Print Copy Editor Editor

Sara Wexler

Audience Engagement Editor

A YEAR IN PHOTOS NOEL CHACKO / THE TEMPLE NEWS On Nov. 5, President Joe Biden and former President Barack Obama urged attendees to cast ballots for then-Attorney General Josh Shapiro and thenLt. Gov. John Fetterman.

The Temple News recaps significant events throughout the 2022-23 academic year.

BY ROBERT JOSEPH CRUZ & EARL KUFEN For The Temple News

T

emple’s 2022-23 Academic Year was far from a normal academic year.

In September, our football team struggled to get off to a good start for the second year in a row. With the Owls’ offense struggling, first year head coach Stan Drayton made the decision to bench quarterback D’wan Mathis and play freshman EJ Warner, who would go on to start every game the rest of the season.

In October, Masha Amini died in a hospital after being arrest for not wearing a the hijab. After the arrest, protests and civil unrest against the government of Iran. The Iranian Students of Temple University held a vigil for Mahsa Amini and Iranian protesters. Nearly 100 students attend the event in solidute with the Iranian protesters.

November had some of the most notable politicians in America come to the Liacouras Center. President Joe Biden reunited with former president Barack Obama to endorse Josh Shapiro for governor and John Fetterman for senator.

December was the second month of Temple’s basketball season, and after beginning the season with March Madness expectations, Temple recorded a non-conference record of 6-7, en route to

a disappointing end of their season.

The new year began with the TUGSA negotiations for a new contract going stagnant and them ultimately initiating a strike. TAs across the university stopped working and took to the picket lines to voice their displeasure, specifically calling out President Jason Wingard.

February saw one of the most difficult moments in Temple University’s long history, when officer Christopher Fitzgerald was shot and killed in the line of duty. The Temple community came together to mourn his death, while at the same time scrutiny against Jason Wingard grew even more.

NOEL CHACKO / THE TEMPLE NEWS March marked the end of the Jason After the rally at the Bell Tower on Feb. 15, organizers directed students to pick up signs and march Wingard era at Temple. At the end of the to Broad Street. month, the university announced that he will resign before April and that they will soon begin their search for a new president.

The last full month of the academic year was spearheaded by JoAnne Epps as Acting University President. Following months of turmoil, April finally showed some stability at Temple. robert.cruz@temple.edu terry.kufen@temple.edu

ERIKA MONN / THE TEMPLE NEWS Marissa Fitzgerald arrives at the Bell Tower on Feb. 21 for the vigil remembering her husband, Christopher Fitzgerald.

MOVING CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP EARL KUFEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS Temple students gather at a Bell Tower vigil on Oct. 21 in memory of protesters who died in Iran.

ROBERT JOSEPH CRUZ / THE TEMPLE NEWS Following the departure of Jason Wingard, former dean and provost JoAnne Epps was selected as acting president.

EARL KUFEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS Temple Men’s Basketball allowed 51 second half points on Dec. 10 against Penn.

NOEL CHACKO / THE TEMPLE NEWS Temple University President Jason Wingard resigned on March 31.

ERIKA MONN/ THE TEMPLE NEWS Temple Football freshman quarterback E.J. Warner got his first snaps under center in Temple’s game against Lafayette on Sept. 10.

LIVE Philly in

MOLLY FISKE/ THE TEMPLE NEWS Runners pass City Hall while running towards the finish line in South Philadelphia.

PHILADELPHIA’S BROAD STREET RUN

Runners took part in the delphia Inquirer reported. Runners also Diamond Band and Temple CheerleadIndependence Blue Cross Broad raised money by participating on behalf ing as runners passed the university.

Street Run on April 30. of a charity.

“It’s just a happy event, all the endorBY MOLLY FISKE Assistant Opinion Editor

A

lthough heavy rain persisted, Philadelphia’s Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run went on, beginning at Broad Street and Fisher Avenue and ending at Lot K of the Lincoln Financial Field.

At this year’s race, for the first time, anyone who identified as non-binary could race and receive awards in their own category. Typically, the race takes place during the first weekend in May, but was moved to avoid conflict with the upcoming Phillies game, The Phila-

Megan Christman, a 36-year-old kindergarten teacher ran the race for her 15th consecutive year. In the past, she completed the race rain or shine and while pregnant.

“When I was pregnant with my daughter, I really took my time and I tried not to push myself too much and I wound up finishing,” Chrisman said.

“My husband ran with me that year too, but I was like 26 weeks pregnant with her when I ran and that was awesome.”

William McCormick, a 2022 bioengineering alumnus and a biotechnician at Merck, was supporting his brother, also an alumnus, who was participating.

McCormick cheered alongside Temple’s

phins pumping and everything, like everyone working hard and stuff, and it’s just like a family experience for us really, like my sister, she’s still going to Temple, both my brothers graduated from here too,” McCormick said.

Andrew Berlinski, a 26-year-old home refurbisher and remodeler from Forked River, New Jersey, enjoyed the race course, but seeing the finish line came as a relief.

“It was kind of a relief I didn’t really think it was a finish line until I started seeing everybody start to slow down then I’m like, alright, I’m gonna start slowing down now,” Berlinski said.

Although the rain made the course

difficult, it didn’t dampen the spirits of the runners.

“It’s very different from any other race in Philly because I feel like there’s people all the way from the start all the way through the finish, there’s someone on the sidelines cheering you on,” Christman said. “Like other races they do in Philly, there’s dead spots, you know, where you just don’t see anybody, it’s not like that for Broad Street.” molly.fiske@temple.edu

MOVING CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP MOLLY FISKE / THE TEMPLE NEWS Runners head south down Broad Street, passing Montgomery Avenue near Temple’s campus.

A runner passees his friends and family while running past City Hall.

A runner holds up her finishing medal after completing the Broad Street Run. The Temple Cheer team supports participants while they pass Temple University during the Broad Street Run. Temple students cheer on friends alongside the course.

Despite the rain, runners still continued to participate in the Broad Street Run.

PAGE 18

FEATURES

The Temple News

COMMENCEMENT

Senior takes first steps toward starting nonprofit Mikeiya Bennett will start working at the South East Asia Prayer Center on June 1.

BY DUAY AUGUSTINE Assistant Features Editor

M

ikeiya Bennett first realized she wanted to start a nonprofit in high school while on a tour of historically Black colleges and universities. On the tour, Bennett met a young woman her age who was overwhelmed by the stress of being away from home; seeing her struggle ignited an interest to help others who are dealing with that same issue.

“I just wanted to be able to, you know, help that young woman out that I kind of interacted with in the bathroom and make experiences that are a little more personal and that make traveling and taking that first big leap of faith a lot easier,” said Bennett, a senior political science major.

After graduation, Bennett will be taking the first steps toward accomplishing her goal of starting a nonprofit.

Starting June 1, Bennett will be working at the South East Asia Prayer Center, a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian services, as a missions resident.

Throughout her two-year residency program, Bennett will be able to organize and participate in mission trips and an annual conference. Bennett is already familiar with SEAPC, which is based in her hometown of Pittsburgh, after interning there last summer. She also received a job offer in March, which she was ecstatic to accept.

When searching for a job, Bennett experienced challenges finding a position as a new graduate with limited professional experiences, she said.

“I literally was jumping up and down because the after-college job process, the biggest hurdle I ran into was a lot of people were saying you need to have more experience,” Bennett said.

Through her work at SEAPC she

NOEL CHACKO / THE TEMPLE NEWS Mikeiya Bennett starts her two-year residency program at South East Asia Prayer Center on June 1.

hopes to gain knowledge of how nonprofits function so that she is better equipped to start her own, she said.

Bennett is graduating from Temple after only three years, a plan she has been working on with her academic advisor, Patrice Hicks, since her first semester.

When Hicks first heard of Bennett’s plans to graduate early, she was surprised because most students don’t think about graduation during their first semester, but Bennett was resolute in her decision, Hicks said.

“You don’t encounter a lot of freshmen who are like, ‘I want to graduate a year early,’ but I realized that she was serious, I was shocked, and I said to her, ‘Are you sure, that’s going to require some heavy credit loads?’ and she was like, ‘Yeah, I’m going to do it,’” Hicks said.

While at Temple, Bennett worked as a resident assistant for two years and one year as an executive assistant in the office of the president, which helped her

prepare for her career because of the skills the jobs taught her.

“Being an RA really forces you to get better at your soft skills,” Bennett said.

“Anyone can teach you hard skills, like reading, writing, things of that nature, but soft skills are things that you really only can adopt from experience, so I’ve been learning how to really make interpersonal connections, you know, how to really empathize with people, and I really feel like that’s gonna do me well in my career field.”

Her family has been an integral part of her journey because of the support they have shown her, Bennett said.

“I literally kept a picture of my family, no matter where I was, what dorm, I always kept a picture of my family at my desk, just to remind me like who I was doing it for and how I was able to get here,” Bennett said.

Markisha Kennedy, Bennett’s mother, recognizes Bennett’s caring nature and tendency to help others, which

makes her more confident in the future of the nation.

“I think that Mikeiya is a reflection of all that is good in this world, and I think she is why I don’t worry about our future as a country, because I know that you know, she and her friends and fellow students go out of their way to do what’s right,” Kennedy said.

Bennett looks forward to meeting new people and practicing the skills she has learned while working to get her degree.

“I tell my freshmen girls that I mentor here in Johnson and Hardwick, I always let them know, you’re meant to get your degree so you can actually go and succeed in your profession, so what I’m really excited is now I get to actually implement everything I learned in college with my political science degree,” Bennett said. duay.augustine@temple.edu

The Temple News

FEATURES

PAGE 19

COMMENCEMENT

Senior to conduct Alzheimer’s disease research After graduation, Anne Alexander will analyze brain tissue in the preclinical stages of Alzheimer’s.

BY DUAY AUGUSTINE Assistant Features Editor During high school, Anne Alexander would never have believed she’d embark on a career in neuroscience because she was more interested in subjects like music.

“I was accepted to Temple as a music theory major, and then before the classes even started I switched into journalism because I enjoy writing, but then after the first semester I decided it really wasn’t for me and then I took a foundations of neuroscience class just to kind of explore my other options, and I was fascinated,” said Alexander, a senior neuroscience major.

After graduating, Alexander will be conducting research at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School. She will be studying the pathology and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease, the most common type of dementia, by analyzing brain tissue in the preclinical stages of the disease. This research aims to learn more about the causes of Alzheimer’s to aid in its diagnosis and prevention.

“I think it’s really a unique experience because you get a lot of opportunities to always be learning and to potentially develop things that can be really beneficial for communities and the world around us,” Alexander said.

Alexander knew she wanted to conduct research related to the disease because of its high prevalence and mortality rate, she said.

“I wanted to make sure I could do something that was beneficial and like for not only my career and for my learning and my ability to learn, but also something that would be beneficial for the lab, and I could make a positive im-

ROBERT JOSEPH CRUZ / THE TEMPLE NEWS Anne Alexander will be conducting research at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging at Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School.

pact in the lab,” Alexander said.

Alexander’s family was not surprised by her major changes early on because she has always been willing and interested in trying new things.

“As soon as she had freedom to be able to do those kinds of things, whether it was, you know, getting a license or whether it was starting to work, you know, she’d always just took that on, head on, and dove right in,” said Robert Alexander, Alexander’s father.

Friends of Alexander, like Liana Hoffman, have also seen her work ethic and have been impressed by Alexander’s ability to balance her work and social life.

“I could go out with her and we

would have fun, we would go to like a gala or something, and then the next day we’d both be in the library or the TECH Center for six hours doing work,” said Hoffman, a junior health professions major.

While at Temple, Alexander worked in the Howard Gittis Student Center as a building manager for two years. During her time working there, Alexander’s supervisor also noticed her work ethic and ability to adapt to situations she would face.

“I always say I’m not going to be the one to change the world but I supervise students because they are going to be the ones that change the world, and Anne

I think moving forward in her career has the opportunity to really be a large person in the world,” said Rebecca Trotman, the associate director of Student Center operations.

Alexander is excited for the move to Boston and new opportunities her work at the Athinoula A. Martinos Center will provide her.

“I am really looking forward to having the opportunity to handle actual human brains because that’s not really something you get to do in college,” Alexander said. duay.augustine@temple.edu

PAGE 20

FEATURES

The Temple News

COMMENCEMENT

Student will learn and teach language in Taiwan

Robert Bryant will be traveling to Taiwan to continue learning Mandarin and teaching English.

BY DUAY AUGUSTINE Assistant Features Editor Robert Bryant has always been interested in other languages because he grew up surrounded by both Japanese and Italian culture. He started to learn Spanish in middle school and he enjoyed studying the language and wanted to continue learning.

“I took the opportunity to learn Spanish and I continued that all the way till college and I knew one, that I was really curious about other languages, not just Spanish, and two, if I wanted to be competitive in this international field, I would have to know more than just Spanish,” said Bryant, a senior Spanish and communication studies major.

Bryant began learning Mandarin Chinese during his freshman year of college and he will be traveling to Taiwan to continue his journey after graduation.

This summer, Bryant will be participating in the Critical Language Scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. After the six- to eight-week program, Bryant will be staying in Taiwan as a part of the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program where he will be placed in a local school.

He was first accepted to CLS, an immersive program for American students learning other languages, in the last spring but did not initially pursue it because the program was virtual. Instead, he spent the summer studying at the National Taiwan University as a part of an in-person exchange program through Temple.

When applying last fall, Bryant did not expect to receive both the CLS and Fulbright ETA scholarships but he applied to both to increase his chances of winning one.

“I was like, ‘No, I’m going to try to see how many possibilities, to see how many chances I have, and I’ll apply to all of them, and if I get one, that’s great, if I

ROBERT JOSEPH CRUZ / THE TEMPLE NEWS Robert Bryant won both the Critical Language Scholarship and Fulbright English Teaching Assistant Award.

get two, that’s crazy,’” Bryant said.

When Bryant heard he was a semifinalist for both awards, he was thrilled and shocked because he assumed there would be a bias against him for denying the award the first time around.

Bryant’s friends, however, were not surprised that he received both awards because of his driven nature.

“This is not surprising that he won this, you know, based on his character and how hard he works, so he’s very humble, but I’m not surprised at all,” said Celia Bolinger, a 2022 communication studies alumna.

However, Bryant is struggling to secure his travel visas due to the overlap of the programs as each program requires a different visa. He is currently working to resolve them, which has been delayed because of the difference in time zones.

“It feels like sending a letter in the mail because I have to send an email and then they email me back, like either that night at 3 a.m. or the next, following

night at 3 a.m.,” Bryant said.

Despite these challenges, Bryant is looking forward to the immersive learning experience he will receive in Taiwan, which he feels his study abroad experiences have prepared him for.

“I’m actually really excited because I think it is a very effective way to learn a language,” Bryant said. “When you have to use the words, only the words that you know, to form sentences, it really makes you think in a creative way.”

Throughout his time at Temple, Bryant has often helped support other students, like his friend Hadley Driscoll during her law school application process.

“He really helped me with my applications, looking at my personal statement, making sure that I presented myself the best that I could, and then but never once did he put down my work as I was going so I really admire that,” said Driscoll, a senior communication studies and entrepreneurship and innovation

management major.

After the Fulbright program concludes, Bryant hopes to pursue a career as a foreign service officer, which would allow him to utilize the languages he learned.

Bryant plans to continue learning new languages, although he is unsure which he wants to learn next because it is difficult for him to apply languages practically while living in the United States. ​”I think it’s amazing learning languages, but it’s hard to learn them if you don’t use them in your lifestyle, and I’m finding it hard to use both Spanish and Mandarin and my lifestyle already at the same time, so I’m scared of learning one, and then losing those skills,” Bryant said. “So I would have to really think about what language I would want to learn next, but I absolutely would love to learn more languages.” duay.augustine@temple.edu

The Temple News

ALL IN GOOD FUN

GRADUATION WORD SEARCH

PAGE 21

FAMOUS TEMPLE ALUMNI CROSSWORD

Find all the words hidden in the across, down, diagonally and backwards.

CAP GOWN DIPLOMA HONORS GRADUATE

CONGRATS STOLE CORDS ALUMNI COMMENCEMENT

ACROSS:

3. This person is in a famous rock and soul duo with Daryl Hall and is in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

4. This DJ and music producer has collaborated with many artists and is in a music duo with Skrillex.

5. This person anchors ESPN’s SportsCenter and ABC’s ESPN College Football.

8. This athlete played Temple Football and is now a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles.

10. This person was known as America’s dad and was the original host of America’s Funniest Home Videos.

DOWN:

1. This person plays for the Chicago Bears and is Temple’s all-time leader in wins by a starting quarterback.

2. This actor, director, producer and activist was in the TV Show Grey’s Anatomy for 13 years.

6. This broadcast journalist has won a Daytime Emmy Award and has worked for NBC and MSNBC. 7. This person was a main character in the Big Bang Theory and appeared in an Ice Age film.

9. This Emmy Award-winner and Tony and Olivier Award nominee plays Ali on HBO’s Euphoria.

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FREELANCER SHOUT OUT The Temple News thanks all the freelance writers, designers, photographers and videographers who worked at our publication this year. We wouldn’t be able to inform our readers and cover Temple University without your help!

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The Divison of Student Affairs is proud to present the

2023 DIAMOND AWARD WINNERS Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at 5:30 p.m. at The Great Court in Mitten Hall Akshitha Ag

Emilie R. Cochrane

Mason Dofflemyer

School/College: College of Science

School/College: Klein College of Media

School/College: College of Liberal Arts

and Technology

and Communication

Major: Environmental Studies

Major: Biology

Major: Journalism

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Hometown: Glen Mills, PA

Hometown: Langhorne, PA

Kubarah N. Ghias

Anthony E. Glass

Megha R. Gongalla

School/College: College of Liberal Arts

School/College: College of Liberal Arts

School/College: College of Liberal Arts

Major: Psychology &

Major: Political Science

Major: Sociology

Neuroscience: Behavior/Plasticity

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Hometown: Princeton, NJ

Yesh Khanna

Natalie T. Kimmerlein

Ryan Klingensmith

School/College: College of Liberal Arts

School/College: College of Public Health

School/College: College of Public Health

Major: Global Studies

Major: Public Health

Major: Speech Language & Hearing Science

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Hometown: Wakefield, RI

Hometown: Hummelstown, PA

Emma C. Lamoreaux

Salma Mami

Gibreel Mami

School/College: College of Public Health

School/College: College of Liberal Arts,

School/College: College of Science and Technology

Major: Health Information Management

College of Science and Technology

Major: Cell and Molecular Neuroscience

Hometown: Hershey, PA

Major: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience

Hometown: Narberth, PA

Hometown: Warminster, PA

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Hometown: Narberth, PA

Maanvi Nagireddy

Varsha Palagiri

Megan M. Phillips

School/College: College of Science and Technology

School/College: College of Science and Technology

School/College: Klein College of Media and

Major: Biology and Environmental Science

Major: Biology

Communication

Hometown: Plainsboro, NJ

Hometown: Robbinsville, NJ

Major: Public Relations and Communication & Social Influence Hometown: Collegeville, PA

Stephanie R. Scoma

Hannah E. Seewald

Hometown: Blue Bell, PA

School/College: College of Liberal Arts, College of Public Health, Klein College of Media and Communication Major: Communication and Social Influence Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Diana Tiburcio

Kim-Leigh Tursi

School/College: College of Education and Human Development, College of Public Health Major: Nursing

School/College: College of Engineering, College of Science and Technology Major: Mechanical Engineering

School/College: College of Liberal Arts Major: Global Studies Hometown: Hatfield, PA

Hometown: Malvern, PA

Ignacio A. Vasconsellos School/College: College of Liberal Arts Major: History & Latin American Studies Hometown: Philadelphia PA

Kendall Stephens School/College: College of Public Health Major: Social Work Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

Lawrence C. Ukenye School/College: Klein College of Media and Communication Major: Journalism Hometown: Bowie, MD

Karlee E. Whitpan School/College: College of Liberal Arts Major: English, Criminal Justice Hometown: West Chester, PA

Congratulations to the 2023 Diamond Award Winners!

Each year the Division of Student Affairs presents a select group of students with the Diamond Award. It is the highest recognition given by the Division to deserving juniors and seniors who exhibit leadership, academic excellence, service, and impact on the campus, community, and the world.

DIAMOND

AWARD

SUMMER COVERAGE

We’re Not Going Away!

Follow The Temple News on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated on our coverage this summer! You can find us online temple-news.com.

The Temple News

SPORTS

PAGE 25

FOOTBALL

Ruiz searches for redemption after hip surgery Former Temple cornerback Cameron Ruiz has found hope while battling injuries.

BY RYMIR VAUGHN For The Temple News Being compared to former Heisman Trophy-winning running back Bo Jackson is usually high praise. However, for former Temple cornerback Cameron Ruiz, it was for a reason that no football player would want.

While playing for the Los Angeles Raiders in a January 1991 NFL playoff game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Jackson’s femur popped out of place and he fractured his hip bone. In February 2022, Ruiz suffered a muscle contraction so forceful that the unique injury fractured his pelvis in two spots, causing trainers to give him the nickname “Baby Bo.” In 2021 under former Temple head coach Rod Carey, Ruiz was Temple’s top cornerback, recording 34 tackles and five pass break-ups. Ruiz’s injury stripped him of the chance to prove himself to Stan Drayton’s staff during offseason training that took place in the spring and summer of 2022.

When he finally recovered from the injury, the team found other cornerbacks to rely on and Ruiz was moved to certain coverage packages. With the injury behind him, Ruiz is now preparing for the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft.

Ruiz suffered his injury while working out at Edberg-Olson Football Complex. Temple strength and conditioning coach Chris Fenelon put Ruiz through sandbag races to simulate “awkward” movements, and in one of those races, Ruiz went down in pain. After falling to the ground, Ruiz originally thought he pulled his hamstring before realizing the injury was more severe.

“I can’t get up,” Ruiz said. “‘I can’t walk or do anything. So, I got really scared but I was like, ‘I’ll be fine. It’s just a pull, like really bad hamstring.’”

Fenelon described the mood on the field as “nothing crazy” because no one knew the severity of the injury at the

ALLIE IPPOLITO / THE TEMPLE NEWS Cameron Ruiz, redshirt junior cornerback, blocks a player from the University of Memphis an at Owls’ game at Lincoln Financial Field on Oct. 2.

time. Despite the lack of worry, Ruiz’s teammates still helped him off the field and supported him.

After being examined at the hospital, doctors told Ruiz his hamstring pulled his pelvis apart during the non-contact drill because his hamstrings were too strong for his own good. His injury was very rare because it requires an unusual amount of leg trauma to trigger a pelvis to break.

“When we got the diagnosis, you’re like, that doesn’t make a lot of sense,” said Terrence McHugh, Ruiz’s physical therapist at Temple. “Normally, you see something like that in a car accident.”

Originally, Ruiz was only supposed to undergo a surgery that would screw his pelvis back into place. However, due to the position of his hamstring, he opted to get open hip surgery that took four to six hours to complete.

Ruiz’s surgery was performed by Dr. Chip Routt of Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, who also repaired Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s hip when he injured it at Alabama. Tagovailoa’s injury shed light on

how Ruiz should handle his own.

“I would have been lost if he didn’t have the injury,” Ruiz said. “I’ve never heard of anybody else having that same injury.”

Ruiz described his rehab process as “hard and slow.” Due to a pinched nerve in his hip, he was unable to perform any physical movement for nearly eight weeks and used a walker to move around while relearning how to run and jump.

He started rebuilding strength and movement in his lower body. Then, he began to do more strength training to regain the muscle he had lost. Rebuilding muscle allowed him to begin performing more power-based activities, like sharp cuts and explosive start-and-stop movements.

When he returned to football activities for the 2022 season, Ruiz struggled to accept his new reality. Once the top cornerback on Temple’s roster, he was suddenly buried at the bottom of the depth chart for reasons beyond his control.

“I thought I was going to come back and be even better,” Ruiz said “It’s very

hard [to go] from being that guy on the team to being a guy in the shadows.”

After talking with some former players about his situation, Ruiz began to view his journey differently. Instead of harping on the opportunities he lost, he began to focus on being a role model for his teammates.

He became a leader for the young guys, specifically cornerback Jalen McMurray. Ruiz gave the redshirt-freshman advice when he needed it, building a strong relationship with him in the process of McMurray earning a single-digit.

“Cam’s definitely my old head,” McMurray said. “I can always go to him for advice, for stuff on and off the field. Our relationship is really, really good.”

Ruiz was healthy enough to play in 2022 and appeared in every game, just not as a starter. He recorded 12 tackles and one pass breakup.

“I always say never be satisfied,” Ruiz said. “Satisfaction is the first step to failure with anything you do.” rymir.vaughn@temple.edu @_MirMir1500

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The Temple News

COMMENCEMENT

Oerlemans looks to guide international players The former captain plans to move to Europe and help players transition to the U.S.

BY CHRIS DUONG Sports Social Media Manager For former Temple Field Hockey center back Nienke Oerlemans, coming to the United States to play field hockey and receive an education was something she always wanted to pursue. After her mother Maaike van der Zee played for the Dutch National Field Hockey Team, Oerlemans knew she wanted to follow in her footsteps of playing the sport.

However, after spending five years at Temple, Oerlemans plans to move back home to the Netherlands to help other international players play collegiately in the U.S. Oerlemans is a 2022 sport and recreation management alumna and also earned a master’s degree in management.

She already started her virtual full-time job with Scholarbook, an agency based in Germany that helps student-athletes pursue collegiate athletics in the U.S. Oerlemans is excited about her new role, which will allow her to combine her leadership skills with her love of the game.

“It’s like being in that manager role,” Oerlemans said. “I’m getting my master’s in management right now and being a three-year captain on a field hockey team is like being a manager. It’s making sure everyone has the same goals.”

Oerlemans’ position will include being a field hockey expert, where she will be in contact with American coaches and her European players. She will also help students create tapes to send to coaches, sales pitching and creating events like field hockey showcases.

The position is virtual, so Oerlemans will be able to move home to Apeldoorn, Netherlands, for the first couple of months to get settled in Europe. However, she hopes to move to Germany in the fall.

COURTESY / TEMPLE ATHLETICS

As a five-year player for the Owls, Oerlemans started in 78 of her 81 games during her collegiate career, anchoring Temple’s defense in all five seasons.

Although she needed to adjust to new coaching staffs, her teammates helped her overcome the challenge.

“I think the main [reason why I stayed at Temple for five years] was my teammates,” Oerlemans said. “I could not imagine leaving them behind here.

We haven’t had an easy journey here with different coaching changes. So, my teammates really got me through that.”

Leaving the team will be hard for her teammates too as her passion for the game, leadership skills and caring personality will be missed next season.

“She’s such a strong leader on and off the field by being a captain and in a leadership position,” said senior goalkeeper Molly Frey. “She does so much for

our team and helps build the culture. As a friend, she is one that you can always lean on or go grab food with and if you have any serious issues she’s the one to go to.”

Oerlemans’ communication and skill helped the Owls give up only 24 goals during the 2022 season, ranking third in goals against amongst the Big East Conference. The center back also helped the team secure six shutouts during her senior season.

While her playing career is over in the U.S., Oerlemans plans to return during recruitment tournaments, like NFHCA Winter Escape in Florida, to help European players gain American college recruitment attention.

“There’s always a big tournament down in Florida,” Oerlemans said. “So, girls that might not get any initial feedback from the videos they submit. I’d be

taking most likely 11 to 13 girls to play during that tournament. I might visit some of the players that I place at American schools, so I hope I place one at Temple.”

With most players returning next season, Oerlemans’ presence on the Owls’ back line will be missed. However, her passion to lead other international players will allow the next generation of collegiate talent to gain exposure to different programs in the U.S. “She is kind of a Temple field hockey pioneer,” said head coach Michelle Vittese. “She was a part of the program through the last five years, which saw a lot of turnover and coaching changes.” christopher.duong0001@temple.edu @duongest

The Temple News

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COMMENCEMENT

Loyalty led Klein to becoming Temple mainstay Former offensive lineman Adam Klein remained loyal to the Owls despite facing hardships.

BY NICK GANGEWERE Sports Editor As much as Adam Klein loves the game of football, he enjoys the camaraderie that comes with the sport even more. Whether it’s 10 p.m. film sessions with younger teammates or a phone call from a fellow offensive lineman early in the morning, Klein is the epitome of a team player.

The graduate offensive lineman has spent five seasons as a varsity player and four seasons as a full-time starter on Temple’s line. The 2022 single-digit recipient has faced more than his fair share of adversity throughout his life, but it was this family that helped him through the struggles to find success.

For Klein, there is no team more important than his inner circle, which is made up of teammates and family members alike.

“A big thing of mine was commitment and loyalty,” Klein said. “I made a commitment to Temple five years ago that I was gonna stay and no matter if it got bad or how great it was, I wasn’t

CONTINUED FROM 28 TEMPLE ATHLETICS LACROSSE Head coach Bonnie Rosen entered the 2023 season with high expectations after finishing last season 11-6 and losing in the first round of the American Athletic Conference tournament to Vanderbilt.

Vanderbilt ended the Owls’ latest season as well, with the Commodores defeating the Owls 12-11 on April 29, preventing Temple from reaching the 2023 AAC tournament.

Temple Lacrosse began the season 3-1 with wins against Vermont, George Washington and Delaware to go along with a narrow 10-9 loss to Ohio State on Feb. 12. However, a 11-10 loss to UMBC sparked a six-game losing streak in the middle of the season.

gonna leave. I was really a big fan of the relationships I had built at Temple with my friends, and still being close to home.”

As a 13-year-old football player, Klein bonded with his father through the game as they enjoyed watching games on television or playing outside together.

His dad, Kurt, passed away in 2013, but Klein remained driven, knowing football kept him connected with his father.

Kurt taught him dedication, which is the characteristic that kept Klein at Temple all five years despite receiving interest from Power-5 programs like Virginia.

“It was a strong bond between his dad and football,” said Klein’s mom, Patti. “I think losing his dad, football keeps him close to him. It gives him the drive to try to achieve the best that he can in football.”

Klein received a mini-camp invite with the NFL’s Washington Commanders and remains motivated to utilize his experience and keep working towards his dream of playing or working in professional football.

The two-year captain was a mainstay offensive tackle ever since he received the starting nod on Sept. 20, 2018, against Tulsa. However, he moved to

center to fill a hole in Temple’s offensive line in 2022 for new head coach Stan Drayton.

The transition from offensive tackle to the interior offensive line was not easy, but Klein knew he wanted the team to win. Despite Drayton being Klein’s third coach at Temple, his passion never waivered.

“He was the guy that stepped up during the transition of having a new coach,” said senior offensive lineman Wisdom Quarshie. “He helped bring the team together and commanded leadership in a way that many people can’t do.”

Quarshie saw the importance of friendship to Klein firsthand, who remained committed to connecting with his teammates through losing seasons, injuries and the COVID-19 pandemic.

When people slowly began to lose contact with one another, Klein tried to keep everyone together.

The main way he was able to keep the team united was through the game.

Klein walked several blocks to Edberg-Olson Hall to watch game tape with his teammates late at night, one of which was then-freshman quarterback E.J. Warner. Klein utilized his experience to help the young quarterback learn some intricacies of the game.

Although the Owls finished 3-9 in 2022, Klein found excitement in close games, win or lose. He remembers a narrow loss to No. 19 Cincinnati and a victory against Maryland in 2019 like they happened yesterday, pointing to key defensive stops and offensive drives as some of his favorite collegiate memories.

“It was a lot of fun just being in those close games,” Klein said. “Even some of those games that are really close in my career that we ended up losing, those are the games you love to play in.”

Although Klein’s Temple Football career is over, he’ll remain at the university to pursue his master’s degree in sports business and is preparing for a life beyond football. He hopes his versatility translates to endeavors off the field too, with training or coaching potentially on the horizon.

The same 13-year-old kid who was taught how to love the game continues to make football his dream.

“He had hard-nosed leadership, committing to everything,” Quarshie said. “He had a ‘put the team first’ mindset.”

Despite losing all four of their ranked games, several players stood out in big moments for the Owls, most notably Belle Mastropietro.

The senior midfielder finished the season with 39 goals, 20 assists and 94 draw controls, good for fifth in goals per game and second in draw controls per game in the AAC. Seniors Mackenzie Roth, Julie Schickling and Maeve Tobin each finished with 20 or more goals as well.

Temple enters next season looking to bounce back and reach the AAC tournament once again.

Ethan Whitney, Graham Chase and Conor McGrath still made history this past season with 2022-23 marking the first year a Temple team had three players with stroke averages of 73 or less.

Individual talent was never an issue with his 2023 squad, but they never seemed to find their footing throughout the course of the season. Golfers like Whitney, Chase or McGrath stepped up at various moments, but their successes on the greens were inconsistent.

In Belleair, Florida, for the AAC championship, it was Whitney who put on an all-time performance. With the Owls finishing in last place at 35-over, Whitney personally shot a two-under 208 to finish fifth overall at the tournament.

Whitney joined PGA golfer Brandon Matthews as the only Owl to finish below par at the AAC Championship

as Matthews finished in fifth as well in 2016.

GOLF Head coach Brian Quinn has been successful in conference play during the past several seasons, with a few players reaching high levels of golf beyond their Temple careers.

nicholas.gangewere@temple.edu @nick_gang16

OTHER UPDATES Temple Women’s Track will run at the AAC championships from May 12-14 prior to their potential NCAA East regional bid on May 27.

Men’s Crew and Women’s Rowing each will race at the Dad Vail Regatta on the Cooper River in New Jersey from May 12-13 to conclude the regular season.

Rowing will compete at the NCAA Championships from May 26-28 while Crew will race at the IRA National Championships at Mercer Lake from June 2-4 if either team advances that far. nicholas.gangewere@temple.edu @nick_gang16

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T

BY NICK GANGEWERE Sports Editor

hree of Temple’s non-revenue sports concluded their 2023 seasons at the American Athletic Conference Championships last weekend.

Despite stellar individual performances from several athletes, Temple Men’s Tennis, Women’s Tennis and Golf each fell short of a victory at their respective tournaments.

The teams’ respective paths to Florida saw varying degrees of success, but in the end none were able to pull off an upset after seasons that were better than years past.

Here is how each fared at the AAC championship.

MEN’S TENNIS Head coach Steve Mauro and assistant coach Bruce Myers’ team shocked opponents all season long. With a 19-5 record heading into the tournament, and a 16-game win streak in the middle of their season, Men’s Tennis had a season to remember.

Led by the doubles pair of graduate Thibault Frumholz and junior Leo Raquin, the No. 8 Owls entered the April 21 matchup with No. 1 Memphis intending to upset the AAC’s favorite to win it all.

While Frumholz and Raquin did their job in defeating Memphis’ top doubles team, Temple fell short in singles play, leading to a 4-2 loss on the day. Frumholz and Raquin finished the season with an 11-0 record at the top doubles spot.

Memphis, led by No.

69-ranked Pablo Alemany, nearly swept Temple in singles action with Raquin securing the Owls’ only victory at the position.

In the next round, Memphis lost to eventual tournament winners No. 4 SMU after the Mustangs defeated the Tigers in the final singles match.

The Temple News

WRAPPING UP AAC PLAY Men’s and Women’s Tennis, Lacrosse and Golf each lost in their respective AAC tournaments.

WOMEN’S TENNIS Mauro and assistant coach Frederika Girsang led Temple Women’s Tennis to an alltime season with two doubles pairs becoming ranked at one point in the season. However, nothing seemed to go right for the Owls on April 20 in Orlando.

The No. 19 pair of Maiko Uchijima and Jamie Wei jumped out to a 5-1 lead yet failed to secure another point in their doubles loss. No. 4 SMU then swept Temple in singles play, but the Owls’ 4-0 loss overall was not reflective of their season as a whole.

Temple finished the season with a 17-5 record and secured a 4-2 victory against No. 8 Tulane in the opening round of AAC championship play. A strong singles performance on April 19 gave Temple the win as four Owls captured individual victories from the Green Wave.

With Wei and Uchijima projected to reach nationals this season, the Owls will likely be represented through May. TEMPLE ATHLETICS | 28

JOSHUA CRELLIN / THE TEMPLE NEWS Temple Lacrosse had four players score 20 goals this season.