Volume 93 Issue 01

A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921.

2013 Region One Winner: Best All-Around Non Daily Student Newspaper temple-news.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

VOL. 93 ISS. 1

exclusive temple news investigation

PAIN

AND THE

GAME

by AVERY MAEHRER and JOEY CRANNEY

In Temple’s degenerate track & field program, the administration for years overlooked an abusive coach and hopeless victims.

Photo Illustration KARA MILSTEIN TTN

T

HE MEETING WAS SCHEDULED FOR A MAY 2013 MORNING in a plain office building above a Wendy’s on North Broad Street. The conference room on the fourth floor has a long table, white walls and black rolling chairs, all emblazoned with the Temple “T” logo.

Outside the room, frames line the hallway of the university’s athletic offices, celebrating Temple’s century-old sports tradition.

This would be the place, the students decided, they would tell their story.

The plan was set days before at a team meeting at the off-campus track & field house. Runners and field athletes alike compiled a list of grievances they had with the track & field program, largely including complaints that dated back years against head coach Eric Mobley, who led both the men’s and women’s teams.

Dozens would go to the office building at 1700 N. Broad St. to voice their concerns to Senior Associate Athletic Director Kristen Foley, the department’s track & field administrator. They would go as a team, because some were afraid of the consequences of speaking out against Mobley individually.

After all, students knew that Mobley had previously reprimanded athletes after they complained

THE COACH who abused More than a dozen athletes accuse former track & field head coach Eric Mobley of verbal abuse, intimidation and dereliction of his coaching duties, among a myriad of other questionable and unethical practices.

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about the program, including revoking their scholarship or kicking them off the team. And students knew of cases where Mobley had abused them or their teammates. But most athletes held their tongues for years, and by last spring, many of them had had enough.

So when the day came to address the issues with Foley, the stakes to some of the student-athletes were clear: They were there to get their coach fired.

Mobley continued to run the team for more than a year after the meeting, despite the claims heard that day by Foley and at least two other cases where track & field athletes made her aware of severe team issues.

A seven-month Temple News investigation uncovered the extent of the mistreatment and neglect.

Interviews with 25 people involved with the track & field teams, including current and former students, coaches and family members – along with a review of more than two dozen pages of emails, medical and legal documents – found a years-long pattern of abuse in the men’s and women’s track & field program that has led to the physical and mental deterioration of several student-athletes.

TRACK & FIELD PAGE 4

INSIDE THE ADMINISTRATOR who knew Students notified Senior Associate Athletic Director Kristen Foley of severe issues in the track & field program at least three times since 2011, but Eric Mobley remained the head coach until his resignation in June 2014.

NEWS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM

THE STUDENTS that suffered Two athletes say they became suicidal because of stress largely related to the track & field teams. In Spring 2012, a top-performing runner suffered a career-ending injury caused by the program’s lack of proper safety equipment.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

STAFF REPORTS | campus unrest

After Welcome Week assault, mixed stories raz said. “We never condone physical action or racism.”

Daraz said she believes that the whole affair has been blown out of proportion and was shocked when a story appeared on Truth Revolt.

CINDY STANSBURY “We thought the issue had stayed between The Temple News my friend and [Vessal] and then I see this article Rose Daraz, 21, president of Students for by this right-wing news place,” Daraz said. “And Justice in Palestine, said she wishes the whole af- they said we said all these slurs and lies and we were just shocked.” fair never happened.

In response to the attack, a Facebook page “We have Jewish members as well so it has been started titled, “Demand the Removal of wouldn’t make sense,” she said. “We are antiSJP from Temple University.” The group initially Zionist, not anti-Semitic.” scheduled a rally to take place at 2:30 p.m. MonLast Wednesday afternoon, during the uniday on Polett Walk to demand “equal rights and versity’s student activities fair, “Temple Fest,” privileges for all students, not just the Palestinian senior management information systems major ones.”

The group postponed the rally to Thursday Daniel Vessal was attacked and allegedly called after President Theobald agreed an anti-Semitic slur. to speak about the attack.

Vessal, a Jewish student and Daraz told The Temple member of the Jewish fraternity News that members of her orgaAlpha Epsilon Pi, told Truth Revolt nization will not counterprotest. that he approached the SJP table at “We told all of our members Temple Fest to discuss about the and allies not to go,” Daraz said. current conflict between Israel and Theobald spoke about the Hamas. attacks Monday at Temple StuThe website, led by editor-indent Government’s meeting. chief Ben Shapiro, was the first Meanwhile, Executive Diwebsite to address the confronta- Charlie Leone /Executive Director rector of Campus Safety Serof Campus Safety Services tion later that day. vices Charles Leone said the After some back and forth, investigation is moving forward Vessal said, a student from the SJP but has encountered a few roadblocks. table punched him in the face.

“Unfortunately, some of the witnesses didn’t “When the police came over and were filing want to talk with us,” he said. the report, the kids at the table were screaming Leone said the student dropped off a state‘You Zionist pig, you racist, that’s what you get,” ment with CSS on Monday.

Leone said the ofVessal told the site. fender and his attorney were preparing a stateTemple News reporters who witnessed the ment for him, expected Monday. incident said the shouting started as soon as Ves“We are trying to figure out if – the kid who sal hit the ground. punched him – if he said [the anti-Semitic slur],” In a statement posted on its website, Jewish Leone explained. campus organization Temple Hillel stood with Following the assault, Vice President of StuVessal in agreement that “blatant anti-Semitic dent Affairs Theresa Powell emailed a letter to verbal abuse” did occur. the Temple community condemning any “dispar“We urge the University administration to reagement or assault of any person based on reliassure the Temple community that students may gion or nationality.” express themselves in peaceful and non-violent Powell told The Temple News on Monday in ways without fear of physical assault and that exan email that “there is no change in the status of pressions of ethnic hatred will not be tolerated on SJP,” and the university will look to create “safe Temple’s campus,” the statement read. places for dialogue.”

The statement also mentioned concern for “I wish it never happened,” Leone said. “It’s the safety of Jewish and pro-Israel students on just really horrible.

You can have debates, just not campus. to the level where someone gets hurt.”

Daraz paints a very different picture of the

The university addresses an alleged assault at activities fair.

“You can have

debates, just not to the level where someone gets hurt.

”

attack.

An SJP statement countered that Vessal was slapped, not punched, after calling its members “terrorists” and that the assailant, who Daraz described as Palestinian-American, was not a member of the organization.

“We definitely did not say ‘baby killer,’” Da-

* cindy.stansbury@temple.edu

University reports new fundraising record set Total dollars raised or pledged rises from previous year but alumni participation lags behind.

LOGAN BECK The Temple News Temple brought in more than $67.9 million during Fiscal Year 2014, which ended June 30, setting a new record for fundraising as well as the record for faculty support.

For Fiscal Year 2013, the university recorded $65.8 million in donations and commitments, a difference of more than $2 million from the most recent results. This marks the second year of record-breaking fundraising dollars raised.

“In terms of fundraising, I think that all of the building blocks are in place to continue this momentum,” said Vice President for Institutional Advancement James Dicker, who was tapped for the position in March and started in June.

Dicker said he believed the increase in donations is a “very positive find.” He said he believes the consecutive records are connected, marking a steady rise for the university.

Dicker attributed the greater funding to an increased alumni base created from the large increase in university enrollment, which started around 2006.

The participation rate for last year was seven percent, which was the same as the prior year.

In a March interview, Tilghman Moyer, then interim senior vice president of institutional advancement, told The Temple News that a university study found this rate to be typical for urban

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and historically commuter colleges.

Other state-related colleges in the commonwealth boast much higher alumni participation rates, with Penn State reaching 30 percent and the University of Pittsburgh recording 35 percent two years ago.

However, during the course of three years, the university has seen a quickly increasing level of faculty support from $1.2 million in 2012, to $6.7 million in 2013 and a record-breaking $7.3 million in 2014, according to a university press release.

Dicker said that the increase in faculty support not only helps the faculty increase in number, but also increases the quality and overall prestige of the faculty as well as the classroom experience for students.

Dicker said before he arrived, Moyer devised a few fundraising strategies for the university as interim vice president.

Dicker said the university has worked more than 3-5 years on finding ways to engage alumni in programming, athletic events, and more. As a result, more alumni are returning to campus based on a trend line of attendance at these events, leading to increased fundraising.

A second strategy is the use of staff who are “external,” and out meeting with alumni and alumni chapters across the country as well as internationally.

“It’s hard to credit one person or even one group, fundraising is really a community effort,” Dicker said.

In March, Moyer told The Temple News that his office aimed to increase alumni dona

ALUMNI PAGE 10

KARA MILSTEIN TTN

Students, local residents and community leaders protested the non-renewal of Monteiro’s contract to no avail.

Monteiro among four professors leaving dept. community.

“Protest is always the mechanism for social change, especially for powerful institutions,” Monteiro told The Temple News in an August interview.

JOE BRANDT Monteiro, 68, joined the Assistant News Editor African American studies deOn a warm May night, partment in 2002, he said, after over the din of rush hour traf- 15 years as a tenured sociolofic, Temple students and North gy professor at the University Philadelphia residents said of the Sciences. Monteiro said their parts for a professor they then-chairman Nathaniel Norsought to defend. After al- ment promised him tenure at most two hours of preceding Temple. Monteiro had been respeeches, it was the profes- hired on short contracts since then. When Norment retired in sor’s turn to speak up.

The sun was setting over 2012, the faculty was tasked the corner of Broad Street and with finding a new chair, and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. Mor- Monteiro did not have tenure.

After protests and tension, gan Hall’s shadow loomed.

Asante was eventually elected Former African American to chair of the department. studies professor AnthoMonteiro said he started ny Monteiro Fall 2013 smiled, tightly often disgrasping a miagreeing crophone. with AsAt the May ante, who 8 rally, he atwould not tributed his dislet him missal, the prochair distest’s catalyst, s e r t a t i on as “retaliatory c o m m i tand revengeful” tees, though and said it “was not just at the Anthony Monteiro / former professor M o n t e i r o said he had hands of [Colbefore. lege of Liberal Asante Arts Dean] Tedid not respond to a request resa Soufas, but a man who I for comment. fought for, [African American Soufas told The Temple studies chairman] Dr. Molefi News in March that per uniAsante.” versity policy, non-tenured A man in the crowd shoutfaculty could serve on dised “Uncle Asante,” while a sertation committees, but not few booed. chair them.

Princeton philosophy In a May 12 post on his professor and activist Cornel Facebook account, Asante said West and CNN commentator the department “had changed Marc Lamont Hill followed. its academic direction” to a After more student speeches more Africological approach. and a demonstration blocking northbound traffic on Broad He also said the department’s name would be changed to AfStreet, the event was over.

A week later, so were final ricology.

Asante is best known for exams and the spring semester. popularizing Afrocentricity, About six weeks after that, on an ideology that shifts Africa June 30, Monteiro’s one-year and its people to center stage contract officially ended and when considering history and has not been renewed despite culture. the months of protest.

In that same post, Asante Protesters began their accused “white leftists” of public efforts at the March 10 “trying to hijack the African Board of Trustees meeting, American agenda” after hearflustering administrators who ing of the protest on May 8. were unaware of Monteiro’s “I think that’s an outradismissal. After a sit-in at the geous mischaracterization of offices, some administrators the event,” senior secondary met with the protesters.

After talks between the education in social studies protesters and the university major and protest leader Walstalled, the coalition of People ter Smolarek said.

Monteiro’s supporters Utilizing Real Power, Temple considered him an expert on Democratic Socialists and sociologist W.E.B. Dubois, other organizations protested though Asante disagreed in weekly, asking for Monteiro’s his Facebook posts, writing reinstatement with tenure, firing Soufas and changing that Monteiro was “neither an Temple’s relationship with the authority on Dubois nor one interested in Dubois from a

Anthony Monteiro’s contract was not renewed before the June 30 deadline.

NEWS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM

“Protest is always

the mechanism for social change, especially for powerful institutions.

”

theoretical perspective.”

Soufas told The Temple News in March that study of Dubois was “not something [they] need now” since “the department is changing directions.”

Additionally, Asante wrote that a contracted professor “serves at the pleasure of the program; he is not tenured and is not even on a tenure track.”

Monteiro said the tenure process was “iffy and prone to corruption.”

In the past few months, the African American studies department has lost four professors: Monteiro, Maxwell Stanford Jr., Heather Ann Thompson and Iyelli Ichile, the undergraduate chairwoman who on August 11 announced she and her fiance found positions at Florida A&M University. She was scheduled to teach two classes at Temple: Introduction to African American Studies and African American Diaspora.

Paul-Winston Cange is concerned. A junior political science major who minors in African American studies, Cange helped lead the protests to reinstate Monteiro.

“I don’t know what’s going on in the department,” he said. “It’s confusing for a professor to leave three weeks before the semester starts.” He signed up for Ichile’s introductory class and needs it to graduate with his minor.

Asante also posted on Facebook that historian Kimani Nehusi agreed to come to Temple and join the department. He told The Temple News in September 2013 that the department needed “another four full-time faculty members, which we don’t have.”

Monteiro has continued with activism and teaching free or low-cost classes at the Church of the Advocate in North Philadelphia. He said he will teach an urban studies course this year at the University of Pennsylvania with professor Andrew Lamas. The course is titled “Liberation and Ownership.”

“My expectation is that co-teaching with Dr. Monteiro will be one of the intellectual highlights of my pedagogical praxis,” Lamas wrote in an email. “And, for my students, I expect that this course will be one of their most memorable experiences at Penn.” * jbrandt@temple.edu ( 215.204.1020 T @JBrandt_TU

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STAFF REPORTS | ADMINISTRATION

‘Fly in 4’ nears benchmark Teacher’s union in planned implementation set to negotiate With 82 percent of eligible students signed up, the university has made plans for increased advising questions.

MARCUS MCCARTHY News Editor One of President Theobald’s largest initiatives since taking office is coming to a major mile marker after seven months of preparation. ‘Fly in 4,’ an initiative focused on raising four-year graduation rates and lowering student debt, is approaching the first cutoff for those looking to sign up for the agreement.

The university reported Monday that 82 percent of eligible students, or 3,962, signed up for the agreement so far with the final deadline being the end of next week.

The initiative was announced on Feb. 3 as a program that would offer $4,000 scholarships to 500 students in each incoming class beginning this semester. Additionally, students who signed the agreement will be provided with eight-semester schedule plans and if they are delayed due to scheduling conflicts, the university will pay the cost of the remaining credits.

University administrators said they aim to have the initiative help raise the four-year graduation rate from its reported 43 percent to 50 percent. According to the U.S. Department of Education, 39 percent of Temple’s 2007 cohort graduated in four years.

The 2007 cohorts of other state-related schools, Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh, had four-year graduation rates of 65 and 64 percent, respectively. At the University of Pennsylvania, 88 percent of the 2007 cohort graduated in 2011.

However, Temple’s four-year and sixyear graduation rates have been on the rise. “[Historically] we outperform our expected graduation rate,” said Jodi Levine Laufgraben, vice provost for academic affairs and assessment. “We’re hoping, because people were hearing about Fly in 4 and Temple, that maybe they think, ‘Wow, Temple’s a place that’s doing things.’”

In order to aid the large amount of students who signed the agreement, university administrators said automated programs are being upgraded. TUportal has already had the “next steps” tool installed, which includes checkpoints for those who signed the agreement to fulfill all their requirements on time.

Additionally, the Degree Audit Reporting System, an automated program run through TUportal that makes personalized

summaries of students’ progress, will be upgraded in the coming months, university administrators said.

The annual undergraduate and graduate bulletin will additionally be upgraded.

As opposed to the old bulletin that was in PDF form, the new version will use more user-friendly software called Course Leaf.

Laufgraben said that as part of Fly in 4, colleges were asked to re-examine their eightsemester schedule plans.

With these upgrades, Laufgraben said, the university can automatically keep students aware of what they need to do to graduate in four years and uphold the agreement.

“I think Fly in 4 gives [students] some guidelines on how to ask and how to think about their own path, their own choices,” said Susan McCaffrey, assistant director of student services at Ambler Campus and advising and disability coordinator.”

However, advisers will still keep tabs on a student. Students who signed the agreement will also be required to consult with an adviser once a semester.

In order to keep up with the large influx

of students expected to be looking for advising, the university has hired 60 new advisers since 2006. A university spokesman said the total number of advisors is between 105 and 110, a ratio of roughly 300 students per advisor.

According to a 2011 national study by the National Academic Advising Association, the national median numbers of students per advisor for a university with similar enrollment to Temple was 600.

However, the report warns that “these survey responses reflect important data, but they do not inform an ideal or recommended case load for advisers.”

Laufgraben added that unlike similar initiatives at other universities and colleges, Fly in 4 does not require students to stick to the same major they had when they signed the agreement, as long as they can still graduate in four years. In this case, students will be able to meet with their advisers to make a new plan, Laufgraben said. * marcus.mccarthy@temple.edu ( 215.204.1020 T @MarcusMcCarthy6

MARCUS MCCARTHY TTN

The initiative is intended to boost four-year graduation and drop student debt.

altered contract TAUP hopes to reach renegotiations by discussion, not demands.

PATRICIA MADEJ Managing Editor

The Temple Association of University Professionals, the university’s teacher’s union, has begun discussing changes for its new contract before the current contract expires Oct. 15.

The union, which represents faculty, librarians and academic professionals, has discussed making negotiations to improve issues concerning non-tenured track faculty, tenure and promotion, discipline and dismissal, library, workload and childcare with administration, said Art Hochner, president of TAUP. The goal of the negotiations is “to achieve a fair economic package and make some improvements in the working lives of the faculty librarians and academic professionals,” Hochner said.

The union, which represents approximately 1,450 professionals, surveyed some of its members to come to a consensus as to which issues were most important to discuss and renegotiate. TAUP views the contract as an “exclusive bargaining agent for all members of the collective bargaining union,” according to the union’s bulletin.

“The hope is to get it done,” said Steve Newman, vice president of TAUP. “Nobody likes working under an expired contract. It’s never the ideal outcome.”

Hochner said proposals haven’t been made yet, but the union and administration, specifically Sharon Boyle, associate vice president of Human Resources, have had discussions on each of the issues that

he calls “fruitful.” Proposals are expected to be formed within the coming weeks.

The discussions on the non-economic issues arose this past June, with economic issues expected to be taken care of within the next few weeks to meet its approaching deadline.

Boyle said she hopes to approach the economic issues in the same way and come to an agreement “cooperatively.”

The union is looking to make improvements to pension, healthcare, vision, dental and tuition support in the near future.

Hochner attributes their headway to their approach of open discussion to avoid “rancour and contentiousness.” He also said it could be related to a developing relationship between the union, President Theobald and Provost HaiLung Dai. “The relationship’s had its ups and downs, but right now, it’s in a good spot in terms of communication,” Hochner said.

Hochner and Newman both said the changes are to provide not only fairness, but better working conditions for the educators protected under the union.

“Generally our position on this is our working conditions are the student’s learning conditions,” Newman said.

“There’s concerns we have about the direction the university is going in,” Hochner said.

“Mostly, in terms of whether there’s enough emphasis on the core missions of teaching and research – whether enough of the resources of the university are devoted to these missions.

And one way the resources are devoted is in terms of our salaries and benefits and how they treat the people that teach the students and do the work of the university.” * patricia.madej@temple.edu T @PatriciaMadej

Dean aims to help public schools The College of Education has created programs in the city’s school district to reach out to the surrounding area.

LOGAN BECK The Temple News The School District of Philadelphia is in the midst of a second year of dire negotiations due to a dramatic budget shortfall. Dean of the College of Education Gregory Anderson said Temple will attempt to assist the cash-strapped district with various partnerships.

In an interview with The Temple News, Anderson said the university will venture into strategic collaborations that cater to the best interests of the students and the district. The College of Education submitted a grant to the Department of Education to enhance pathways for science and math preparation in the district, Anderson said.

“I see a way to play a role is to use our research skills and capacity to support the community and be even more strategic about how we support communities,” Anderson said.

The university is also trying to engage the community by developing a collective impact strategy to provide support programs for disabilities and autism, as well as more preschool experiences for the surrounding communities, Anderson said.

In July, Temple announced a $1 million pledge and vowed to create programs to aid local public schools, which would coincide with the $30 million federal CHOICE neighborhood grant for the Norris Apartments east of Main Campus.

Although Temple plans to intervene and catalyze success for the district, there is only so much the university can do, Anderson said.

“We definitely have a role to play, but I don’t think our role is to take over schools…we’re not going to be able to, on our own, fix what is really a city and a state problem,”

Anderson said.

Anderson attributes the district’s roughly $81 million budget shortfall to the lack of a state funding formula, as well as the dependence on the governor’s budget.

“Without the injection of millions of funding, the district is going to continue to be in disarray,” Anderson said.

The district is counting on state approval for a citywide cigarette tax that is estimated to bring in $49 million if passed. Anderson believes that even if the district gains funds, there will still be a vast amount of instability.

“You can’t just throw money at a problem to solve it,” Anderson said. “They can improve the level of construction, and try to stabilize the curriculum.”

The possibility of school closures is another roadblock for the district, Anderson said.

Last year, 24 schools were permanently closed. When an under-performing school is closed, the neighboring schools can see an influx of students, swelling class sizes in middle and high schools.

In June, the district approved the $15 million sale of the shuttered William Penn High School property to the university and the Laborers’ District Council. Temple and LDC will use part of the property for a vocational school for adults hoping to learn skills like running a small business and managing finances.

“You would think that [LDC is] interested in an enhancement of their technical skills for the members, but they’re equally interested in general education,” Anderson said.

In July, a community organization filed an injunction with the state Supreme Court, halting the sale of the property.

Last week, the court denied the request for injunctive relief. * logan.beck@temple.edu

MARCUS MCCARTHY TTN

The construction stretches from Spring Garden Street to Glenwood Avenue.

For North Broad, a new lighting project The installations come as part of an effort to boost the corridor’s economy.

BOB STEWART The Temple News New traffic islands on North Broad Street are some of the first additions students and staff have seen on Main Campus this fall. The islands make up the foundation for a project to add lighting stretching from Spring

Garden Street to Glenwood Avenue.

The work represents a continuation of the North Broad Lighting Project. However, the intentions of the project include more than just lighting.

“It is streetscape enhancement to help improve the public realm,” said Jeremy Thomas, Philadelphia’s deputy director of development services.

The idea is to make the corridor itself more inviting, Thomas added.

“Sometimes North Broad can divide neighborhoods,” Thomas said.

LIGHTING PAGE 10

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Pain AND the game | TEMPLE NEWS INVESTIGATION

For athletes, neglect and anguish TRACK & FIELD PAGE 1 THE INVESTIGATION FOUND: •

Mobley, 43, who coached from 2008 until this past June, is accused of verbal abuse, intimidation and dereliction of his coaching duties, among a myriad of other questionable and unethical practices, according to interviews with more than a dozen current or former track & field athletes.

•

The track & field teams held practices without proper safety equipment, leading to at least one serious injury. A star runner was accidentally struck in the back by a flying discus during a practice in 2012, ending her career.

•

A student claims she was sexually harassed by one of her coaches. She says she reported the abuse to Mobley and was told to “handle your business.” According to interviews, there is no evidence that the claim was investigated by the university, which would be in violation of federal law.

•

Two students who competed under Mobley told The Temple News they considered suicide because of stress caused largely by the team. In a striking case, a former standout thrower was found in her dorm room during what appeared to be a suicide attempt after Mobley singled her out on the track.

Another student-athlete, who is still on the women’s track & field team, said she had suicidal thoughts and has lived with depression because of her experience.

•

Emails obtained by The Temple News show that Temple’s former Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw and former President Ann Weaver Hart were sent notification in 2011 of a student’s claims of abuse and sexual harassment. And at least three times since then, Foley, 50, the track & field administrator, was formally notified of the mistreatment in meetings with students, but Mobley was allowed to continue through this past season.

•

Ebony Moore, who competed from 200911 and set a school discus record in her first season, had her scholarship revoked after complaining about the program in a meeting with Foley and Mobley in May 2011.

In June 2013, Moore filed a civil-action lawsuit against the university, Mobley and Foley, seeking $10 million in damages on claims of harassment, sexual harassment and gender-based discrimination.

A federal judge in May denied Temple’s motion to dismiss those claims, likely ensuring trial or settlement in the case. The athletic department announced Mobley’s resignation a month later.

Repeated attempts to interview Mobley were unsuccessful. After not returning several phone calls, he emailed a reporter declining to comment, citing unspecified student privacy laws.

Mobley answered a follow-up phone call and declined to speak further, referring the reporter only to his email.

It’s unclear if President Theobald, who took office in January 2013, was notified of the abuse that students reported, but the athletic department has been scrutinized during his tenure.

Athletic Director Kevin Clark conducted a yearlong review of the department last year that led to Clark recommending that the university eliminate seven of its 24 Division I sports in December, citing budget concerns.

Five of those sports were cut on July 1, including men’s track & field, but the women’s team remains.

Clark took office in November 2013 after Bradshaw, the former athletic director, retired last May. Whether Bradshaw’s exit had anything to do with the derelict track & field program, Temple won’t say. Theobald, Clark and Foley all declined to be interviewed for this article.

Reached by phone, Bradshaw declined to comment on specific cases, citing the university’s pending litigation, but said, “Any kind of information that comes in, whether it’s spoken, written, or whether it’s at a reception and someone came up to me … all of those accusations and innuendos are taken seriously and have to be.”

Hart, who is now president of the University of Arizona, declined to comment through her secretary, citing Temple’s pending lawsuit.

In August 2011, a former distance runner on the track & field team, Roswell Friend, committed suicide. In a relatively high-profile case, Friend ventured out alone for a run one Thursday evening and jumped off the Benjamin Franklin Bridge.

As part of this story, The Temple News investigated Friend’s death, but according to interviews with two of his friends and roommates, a former neighbor and multiple interviews with Friend’s mother, his suicide is believed to be unrelated to Temple track & field.

Moore said she reported the harassment to head coach Eric Mobley, but his response was

“handle your business.”

Moore says Mobley repeated this response, even as the abuse she reported progressed into groping.

EDWARD BARRENECHEA TTN | COURTESY EBONY MOORE

Former thrower Ebony Moore (below) filed a $10 million lawsuit against former track & field head coach Eric Mobley (top), Senior Associate Athletic Director Kristen Foley and the university. A month after the case moved to the discovery phase this past May, Mobley resigned.

Moore chose to attend Jacksonville State University in Alabama for her freshman year, but she said later she always intended to end up at Temple.

Moore had her life plan laid out. After leaving college, she hoped to compete in the Diamond League, a series of track meets hosted by the International Association of Athletics Federations. She had a timeline of marks that she wanted to make at Temple before she graduated.

But once Moore began competing here, her plan was derailed.

Moore’s story, revealed in a 14-page complaint filed in civil court last June and reiterated to The Temple News during more than three hours of interviews, details two years of bullying and harassment that Moore suffered from her coaches and teammates.

A PLAN DERAILED Moore said the mistreatment began soon afBONY MOORE ARRIVED AT TEMPLE ter she and her sister joined the team in 2009.

IN 2009, a transplant of Missouri, Georgia In separate interviews, the sisters said they were and Alabama. She grew up in St. Louis in what teased about their southern accents and harassed she describes as an easygoing, liberal family. by their teammates.

When she was in the third grade, Moore In her civil complaint, Moore claims she began practicing meditation. She and her famexperienced an “endless ily would go into a back amount” of ridicule. room in their house to sit “I was called ‘fat and think. Moore recalls bitch,’ ‘ghetto bitch’ and the sessions as times when many other insulting epishe would focus on somethets on a daily basis,” thing she really wanted.

Moore wrote in an addenAnd soon enough, dum to the complaint. she knew what that was.

Other student-athMoore began comEmmanuel Freeland / former sprinter letes recalled the namepeting in track & field in calling, including memninth grade at Winder-Barrow High School in bers of Moore’s events group.

Georgia. She won the Class AAA state cham“She would laugh it off, but you can tell pionship in the discus throw in 2006 and began on the inside that after a while it all boils,” said getting looks from Division I colleges across the Emmanuel Freeland, a former sprinter who comcountry. peted from 2009-11.

It was only natural that Moore excelled at “Ebony was bullied,” said Eric Brittingham, track & field. Her mother is in the all-time record a former javelin thrower who said he experibooks at Wichita State University as a shot-put enced his own mistreatment. thrower.

In an interview, former thrower Grant West “I did it because she did it,” Moore said. denied there was bullying.

Moore was called “And I ended up being really good at it.” lazy “a million times,” West said.

And he stands She was recruited to come to Temple by by it. the Owls’ former coach, Stefanie Scalessa, who “There was no bullying,” West said. “The led the men’s and women’s teams from 2004-8.

The Temple News investigation comes during a time when activists are lobbying for the rights of student-athletes in Division I athletics, as the industry becomes more financially bloated. And problems like coaching abuse and administrative scandal seem to have increasingly become part of the college sports lexicon.

There is also a growing concern here about how the administration has handled student abuse cases. In May, it was announced that Temple is one of 55 universities nationwide under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for possible violations to Title IX requirements regarding sexual assault and harassment cases.

With Moore’s case, however, harassment was only the beginning.

E

“She would laugh it off,

but you can tell on the inside that after a while it all boils.

”

kids that worked hard called out the kids that didn’t work hard.”

Moore’s high school coach Isaiah Berry, however, challenged the complaint about her work ethic. Berry said Moore was always one of the first athletes at practice and one of the last to leave. He called Moore “smart,” “polite,” and a “good person.”

And Moore went on to break Temple’s alltime discus throwing record in her first season with the Owls.

“With technical events in track & field, you don’t become champion by slacking off,” Berry said. “She didn’t do that.”

Moore insists that whatever issues her teammates had with her work ethic were caused by the toxic relationship she had with one of her coaches, who Moore says tried to pursue a sexual relationship with her.

During a ride in the team van in her first season, Moore said, a student asked the coach which of the athletes they would most want to have sex with.

It would have to be Ebony, the coach said, according to Moore’s account.

Moore said the coach asked her to come up to the coach’s hotel room during the conference championship weekend in Rhode Island in February 2010. When Moore denied sexual advances, her relationship with her coach soured, she said. Moore said that by the end of her first season, the coach ignored her almost completely.

“I would say the best word to describe my experience on the two years I spent on the Temple track & field team is ‘inappropriate,’” Moore said. “It was just completely inappropriate.”

Moore said she reported the harassment to head coach Eric Mobley, but, according to her complaint and multiple interviews, his response was “handle your business.” Moore says Mobley repeated this response, even as the abuse she reported progressed into groping.

The Temple News was unable to corroborate Moore’s specific claims of sexual harassment with any of her former teammates. Reached by phone, the accused coach, who has since left the team, declined to comment. The coach will not be named in this story.

NEWS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

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Pain AND the game | TEMPLE NEWS INVESTIGATION

ANDREW THAYER TTN

Victoria Gocht suffered a career-ending injury during a Spring 2012 practice, when she was hit in the back by a discus. Through last season, Temple did not utilize a protective cage for its throwers.

Still, universities are required by federal law to investigate claims of sexual harassment reported by a student. Interviews with Moore indicate there is no evidence that such a process took place at Temple in this case.

Also a victim of name-calling, Moore’s sister left the team during her first year. Moore wanted to stay.

“I thought [the second season] would go much easier than my first one, that I would be treated better, that something would change,” Moore said. Track & field was her “livelihood.”

But after returning to Georgia for the summer, she began having panic attacks during workouts. She said she was later prescribed antianxiety medicine.

Moore recalls telling Mobley upon returning to Temple that she was on medication. She said the coach laughed about it.

man year to qualify for the NCAA regionals.

Brittingham said he suffered a torn ligament in his elbow during his sophomore year and planned to redshirt and return to competition This investigation was conducted from January to July with Moore’s sister, mother and uncle. the following season. Brittingham says Mobley 2014. It involved interviews with 25 members of the track & field Additional interviews with student-athletes were conpushed him to return to competition too early, program, including current and former students, coaches and ducted mostly by phone. and a year later he was removed from the roster family members, and a review of more than two dozen pages of Often in the story, direct quotes are not used when because he was told that his “attitude was bringemails, legal and medical documents. describing something said in a meeting. While subjects recalled ing down the team.”

Ebony Moore was interviewed separately via Skype by two the nature of what was said, the exact wording was sometimes “When he saw that I wasn’t producing redifferent groups of reporters. The first interview lasted an hour unclear. We paraphrase to avoid misquoting. sults and he wanted me to come back – and I said and 15 minutes on Jan. 22 and the second interview was two This investigation was conducted entirely by student I physically can’t yet, I will be ready to next year hours long on Feb. 19. We also conducted multiple interviews reporters.

– his opinion differed from mine, which is why he kicked me off the team,” Brittingham said.

Even for athletes who achieved under Mobley, the program’s limitations were obvious.

“If I could sum up the program in one word, it would be ‘neglect,’” said Travis Mahoney, a three-time All-American who competed from 2008-12 and is largely considered to be the top distance runner in school history.

THE FALLEN STAR A few days after she was struck by the SCREAM PIERCED THE AIR at the Temdiscus, Gocht walked into Mobley’s office in ple track & field complex during an afterMcGonigle Hall to address her concerns about noon practice on March 30, 2012. competing that weekend in the Florida Relays.

Victoria Gocht, the 2010 Atlantic 10 ConGocht sat down across from Mobley, but before ference Rookie of the Year, had collapsed to the she could get a word out, he spoke first. ground near the southeast corner of the track. An You’re going, Mobley said, according to athletic trainer rushed to her aid.

Gocht’s account.

For at least a minute, Gocht couldn’t move Wanting to help her team, Gocht didn’t arher legs. She thought she was paralyzed. gue. Temple’s athletic trainers had cleared Gocht Practicing nearby, the team’s throwers were to compete, so days later, she boarded a plane. among the first to realize what happened: One of Upon arriving at the track & field comthem had over rotated while launching a discus, plex at the University of Florida, Gocht noticed which sent it flying in the wrong direction. something flying overhead.

It was a typical mistake for a field athlete, Panicking, she flinched. However, the soarone that teams are supposed to account for with ing figure was not a discus. It was a bird.

AVERY MAEHRER TTN proper safety equipment. Division I track & field Gocht’s eyes moved toward the throwing Temple ranked last by far in track & field operating expenses in its conference last year. teams are required by the NCAA to utilize a procage adjacent to the track, where she was schedtective cage for throwers during competition and Gocht is merely one of a number of studentsecond-guess yourself,” Davis said. “Does anyuled to run later that day. Suffering from what are advised to use them in practice. athletes who were victims of what students deone really care if I achieve anything other than she calls “severe anxiety,” Gocht left the meet But Temple didn’t have a cage. A partial scribe as a grossly mismanaged track & field my parents? I felt like, at Temple, I was just and hid behind a set of bleachers. With a piece of throwing net, sometimes set up during practice, program. Interviews with more than a dozen worthless and nobody really cared.”

Kinesio tape attached to her still-healing back, sometimes not, wasn’t erected that day. As a remembers of the program indicate that students Otherwise, athletes said the team lacked Gocht stood alone, trembling and crying. sult, the four-and-a-half pound projectile struck were neglected or unfairly treated by their coach, coaching leadership and organization. Some stuGocht eventually returned to the track that Gocht, practicing in lane three, squarely in the Eric Mobley, and not properly accommodated by dents hardly ever received coaching from Mobday to compete in the women’s 800-meter run – back. the athletic department. ley, who worked primarily with sprinters during an event in which she held the A-10 record. She Gocht said it was the most severe pain she’s Among other practices, athletes say Mobley practices. The team’s resources, too, were scant. finished in last place with a time of 2 minutes, ever experienced. She was later taken to Temple often singled people out in front of the rest of the Temple ranked last by far in operating ex22.19 seconds – one of the worst University Hospital and diagnosed team, including individual stupenses among the track & field properformances of her collegiate with a back contusion. dents or event groups. Athletes grams in its conference last year, career.

On the other side of the track, recalled instances in which Moaccording to data from the U.S. “I still have pain and it inthen-assistant coach Jeff Pflaumbley told students they “f---ing Department of Education. Overall terferes with my ability to run,” baum looked on feeling devassuck.” Some also remembered in 2013, Temple had the secondGocht said. “It interferes with tated. It was his first year as the the head coach separating memsmallest athletic budget in its conmy ability to do anything athteam’s throwing coach, but Pflabers of the team based on perforference, but sponsored the largest letic. My life has drastically umbaum understood the implicamance level and belittling them. number of sports. changed because of that. There’s tions of the program’s lack of a Former distance runner CulIt was that discrepancy, along the fact that I never got to see protective cage. len Davis, who transferred to the with concerns about the program’s my potential for this … I felt Pflaumbaum called the first Travis Mahoney / former runner University of Pittsburgh after his Victoria Gocht / former runner facilities, that the administration like it was stolen from me.” days of the 2012 outdoor season sophomore year in 2012-13, said said was the reason for the men’s After the weekend, Gocht the “most stressful week of coaching” he has he felt powerless and abused as a Temple athtrack & field team’s inclusion in last December’s was placed on medical leave, she said, and stayed ever experienced. After Gocht was struck by the lete. He recalls a bus ride after the 2013 indoor sports cuts. off the track for most of the next two years. discus, he considered resigning from the team conference championships where Mobley told The lack of resources from the top down She never competed at the collegiate level due to fear of legal ramifications. students that he would have “punched you guys materialized in ways as serious as not having again.

“With a good cage, it would have stopped in the face” if he was one of their teammates. a throwing cage or pole-vaulting pit to other that,” Pflaumbaum said of Gocht’s injury.

“I think [Mobley] was just angry,” Davis glitches like athletes not being supplied with the Before the incident, Gocht had a promising A CALL FOR HELP said. “He would say, ‘You suck,’ out of anger. I proper footwear. future in track & field. She won a gold medal BONY MOORE LIVED TEMPLE TRACK don’t think he was trying to motivate us.”

As a result, the low-budget team sometimes in the 800-meter race at the 2011 A-10 outdoor & FIELD. Davis said his mental health suffered due to put the safety of students in jeopardy. championships and was named the top freshman Every day, she woke up at 6:30 a.m. for the mistreatment, which led to a decline in his Eric Brittingham was a Temple thrower in the conference in 2010. But her injury put her grades. from 2008-11. He threw the javelin more than 60 TRACK & FIELD PAGE 6 career at a halt.

“If you’re a track & field runner, you can meters at the A-10 championships in his fresh-

About this Investigation

Low budget, limited resources

A

“If I could sum up the program in one word, it would be ‘neglect.’

”

“I never got to

see my potential for this ... I felt like it was stolen from me.

”

E

NEWS

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Pain AND the game | TEMPLE NEWS INVESTIGATION

As administration stood behind abusive coach, athletes suffered TRACK & FIELD PAGE 5 morning lift. After about a 90-minute workout, Amber Moore was becoming worried. She had there was a break for class and lunch, then back plans to meet her sister that afternoon to partake to the track for afternoon practice. When Moore in Spring Fling activities together, but Ebony got home at night, she did event-specific stretchwasn’t showing. ing in her dorm.

When Amber got her sister on the phone, “Track dictated every aspect of my life,” Ebony sounded hysterical. Amber said Ebony Moore said. “My friends. My social life. The had grown detached and moody throughout her route that I took in academics. Even from what second season with the team, but from the way you eat to the clothes that you wear, it’s predomher voice sounded on the phone, Amber could inately dictated by your sport.” tell her sister needed help.

But after a troubled first season, she said her “He f---ing hates me,” Amber recalled her second season was “even worse,” largely due to sister saying. “It’s not fair.” the neglect she felt from her events coach and Amber rushed to the fifth floor of her dormiher fractured relationship with head coach Eric tory at 1300 residence hall and knocked on her Mobley. sister’s door. Ebony answered, changed from her On Wednesdays at 3 p.m., Mobley would dress at practice, red-faced with tears in her eyes. run team meetings in McGonigle Hall, where Amber said Ebony’s dorm was a mess of students say he would often single them out or clothes and other items thrown throughout the curse at the team. one-bedroom apartment – like a “tornado had “I knew somebody was going to get the ax,” come through.”

Moore said. “And I used to be so scared … I At the end of the mess was an open winwould be shaking.” dow, the screen for which was lying on the floor.

To be sure, coaches of all sports at colleges Amber said she envisioned what could have hapacross the country verbally reprimand athletes pened – her twin sister, born six minutes earlier at team meetings. And high school and college than her, had been contemplating an imminent coaches, including others at Temple, commonly attempt to end her life. use profanity.

Amber called an ambulance and Moore was But students say the yelling wasn’t coupled taken to a local hospital. Jeanine Moore, Ebony’s with the typical guidance that athletes want out mother, took an emergency flight from Georgia of their head coach. And whether one would to the city. She said she was informed that her question the severity of the verbal abuse that studaughter had been transferred to Fairmount Bedents claim against Mobley, it would be difficult havioral Health System – a hospital specializing to dispute the effects that it had on Moore. in depression, suicidal thoughts and other menMoore said Mobley’s behavior caused her tal-health problems. to constantly live with fear. Fear of being yelled The Moore family said the hospital adat. Fear of being singled out. Fear of not being vised that Ebony remain under its care due to good enough. her condition, but Jeanine Moore arranged for And the neglect Moore felt from other track her daughter to be released to her. She says she & field officials, like the athletic administration didn’t recognize Ebony when she first saw her in and her events coach, caused further damage to the hospital. her mental health, she said.

“She didn’t even look like my kid,” Jeanine Moore said her events coach for the 2010Moore said.

11 season, Aaron Ross, hardly ever worked with Four days after her hospitalization, Ebony her. According to Moore’s complaint and mulMoore drafted a long list of grievances that detiple interviews, Ross would favor the men’s scribed in detail the abuse she claimed to have throwing team over the women’s team and she been experiencing. Later, Moore would submit rarely received coaching from him. the same list as an addendum to her civil com“Event after event I would show up to pracplaint. tice and I would be treated very poorly,” Moore “To cry out for help and to be ignored is said about her second season. “I would do the perhaps the most destitute feeling to encounconditioning that everyone else was asked to do, ter while living the human experience,” Moore but I would get picked on and bullied.” wrote. “I have sat in a crowd of my peers with Moore said she attempted to notify Mobley my head down, hair covering my face and tears of these and other complaints that year, but was moistening my shirt and my coach has still overrebuffed. And the thought of looked me.” notifying an administrator “Coach Mobley is seemed fruitless to Moore aware of how far I am from due to Mobley’s behavior. home, my mental health After a group of situation and my dearth of Moore’s teammates atsupport. He just does not tempted to contact the athcare. After two seasons of letic director with a question attempting to ‘handle my about summer aid, accordbusiness’ and ‘stop bitching to Moore’s complaint Ebony Moore / former thrower ing’ I am convinced that and interviews, Mobley told this is what being a Temple students to “never contact my f---ing boss” and Owl is all about.” threatened to kick them off the team if they did so.

WE’RE NOT GOING TO FIRE HIM My boss is in full support of everything I do, HE STUDENT-ATHLETE WAS SKIPMobley said, according to multiple interviews PING CLASSES, missing assignments and with Moore. flunking her finals. She had already decided her Almost none of the former athletes interfuture midway through the Spring 2014 semesviewed said they would have felt comfortable ter, and her GPA was of little importance to fulgoing to Mobley with a team or personal issue. filling it.

It all came to a head at the end of Moore’s She was planning her suicide. The studentsecond season when, after being singled out by athlete knew when she was going to kill herself Mobley on the track, she finally broke down. and how she was going to do it.

At practice on April 20, 2011, Moore didn’t The student is an upperclassman on the see her name on the roster to compete that weekwomen’s track & field team. She requested to reend for the Widener Invitational in Chester, Pa. main anonymous to discuss sensitive issues due Moore says she confronted Mobley and he “went to the fact that she’s still on the roster. off” on her.

The student said the pressure to succeed in “I was trying to plead my case,” Moore track & field coupled with the lack of support said. “I was like, ‘Please don’t take me off the she felt from the program significantly contribitinerary. I’ve been trying my hardest.’ He just uted to the decline of her mental health. As redismissed me and embarrassed me in front of evcently as the end of this past season, she said, erybody and kicked me off the track. So I left.” the mistreatment contributed to her living with Moore said she doesn’t remember much of “major depression.” what occurred after practice that day.

A year ago, she sought to have the problems Meanwhile, hanging out on Liacouras Walk, resolved. She went with teammates to confront

“I knew somebody was

going to get the ax. And I used to be so scared ...

I would be shaking.

”

T

VOICING COMPLAINTS

AVERY MAEHRER TTN

Senior Associate Athletic Director Kristen Foley (left) held at least three meetings since 2011 where student-athletes complained about severe issues within the track & field program, but former head coach Eric Mobley remained with the university through this past season.

EDWARD BARRENECHEA TTN | COURTESY TEMPLE ATHLETICS

Former track & field head coach Eric Mobley (left) and former thrower Ebony Moore.

Kristen Foley at the university’s athletic offices with the hope that the health of the program would improve.

Once they arrived at 1700 N. Broad St., there were too many students to fit inside the lobby’s elevator, so some took the stairs to the fourth floor. Multiple students said Foley was visibly surprised at how many had showed up.

Foley led the team to a conference room down the hall and sat near the end of the table closest to the door.

Dozens of members of the 2012-13 men’s and women’s track & field roster filled the seats around her.

Foley, who previously served as the women’s basketball head coach and has worked for the university for 19 years, oversees the administration of 12 Temple sports teams, including track & field, according to her profile on the athletics website.

At least three times since 2011, a member or members of the track & field teams have met with Foley to formally address issues they were having with the program. Ebony Moore met with Foley after she nearly attempted suicide in April 2011. Victoria Gocht met with Foley last year after she was hit with a discus in practice. And a group of track & field athletes gathered outside Foley’s office in May 2013.

Students said the majority of the complaints discussed during the team meeting with Foley involved Mobley’s coaching style, including verbal abuse and general mismanagement of the teams. The athletes also said how the teams’ resources, including the program’s lack of a throwing cage and pole-vaulting pit, were limiting them.

After the meeting, Foley acknowledged that some of the issues were her fault. She told the students she would address the problems.

But she also made one aspect of the team’s situation clear.

We’re not going to fire Mobley, three students recall Foley saying.

Temple hired three events coaches and promoted a volunteer to full-time assistant before the Fall 2013 season, but it’s unclear if the additions were related to student complaints.

It wasn’t until this summer that Mobley left his position. In a brief press release on the Temple athletics website, the university announced his resignation on June 6, 2014.

“Temple Athletics thanks him for his service to the program and wishes him well in his future endeavors,” the release read, noting that Mobley was named conference coach of the year in 2010.

At best, the lack of resolution stemming from the Foley-run meetings demonstrates a failure in the athletic department to properly remediate student complaints. At worst, the meetings implicate Foley as an administrator who neglected to suppress the abuse that occurred in the program she oversaw.

Either way, the outcomes of the meetings are clear; Mobley was allowed to continue, and in each case, the problems went largely unsolved.

The student whose mental health had suffered said her experience didn’t get any better after the team met with Foley in 2013. Midway through the following season, she said, she began entering a “dark place.” She lost her appetite and began having suicidal thoughts.

“I felt like I wasn’t given the support I needed,” she said. “I felt alone and that there was no one I could talk to.”

Bradshaw, the former athletic director, said he doesn’t recall a track & field team issue other than Moore’s that “was considered serious.” In an interview, he defended Foley, but declined to discuss specific cases.

“I trust her judgment and her fairness and her honesty and her accuracy,” Bradshaw, who worked with Foley for 11 years, said. “No other administrator goes above and beyond for the

Consulting an Expert: The Problem with One-Year Scholarships

W

hen Temple chose not to renew Ebony Moore’s athletic scholarship after the 2010-11 season, the university was acting in line with what many say is a troubling reality for student-athletes seeking financial aid.

From 1973 until recently, athletic scholarships at Division I colleges were only awarded for a one-year term. Though there are some rules governing mid-year revocations, coaches can choose to not renew a student’s scholarship at the end of term for essentially any reason.

It’s a subject that has caused a great deal of national debate as groups have recently lobbied for the rights of student-athletes in college sports. In 2012, the NCAA adopted a

policy that would allow schools to grant athletes four-year scholarships. But a report in the Chronicle of Higher Education last year revealed that schools still prefer to hand out one-year scholarships with regulations that are less strict.

Ellen Staurowsky, the program director of sports management at Drexel University, said in an interview that the issue of one-year scholarships raises questions about whether student-athletes have proper representation for their interests.

“The athlete really does not have an advocate within the system,” Staurowsky said.

“There is no one in the system that is really designated to serve as an interpreter or a guide in terms of the interests of the athletes. They’re pretty much on their own in terms of how

the system works.”

The NCAA requires that schools have a system in place that allows a student to appeal if his/her scholarship is revoked. But the schools get to designate their own processes.

Staurowsky said that can be problematic.

“Everybody else in the system’s positions are compromised because of significant conflicts of interest,” Staurowsky said. “An athlete’s going up against all of them when they challenge something like this.”

-Joey Cranney

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

PAGE 7

Pain AND the game | TEMPLE NEWS INVESTIGATION

Kevin Clark Athletic Director

Neil Theobald President

Bill Bradshaw Athletic Director, 2002-13

Clark was hired in November 2013 after conducting a near-yearlong review of the university’s athletic department. Theobald took office in January 2013. It’s unclear whether Senior Associate Athletic Director Kristen Foley notified either administrator of the several claims of abuse she heard from students. Clark and Theobald declined to be interviewed for this story. welfare of athletes like Kristen Foley. If there was anything that was serious and egregious, I have confidence that she would have passed that on.”

It’s unclear if Foley notified Theobald or Clark of the complaints she heard. After an interview with the administrators was denied, a Temple spokesman said only in a statement that the university is “committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all of our students, including our student-athletes.”

“As we became aware of student concerns in track & field, we pursued a course of action that included meeting with the students and meeting with the coaching staff,” said Ray Betzner, associate vice president for executive communications. “In addition, university staff from several offices on campus worked together to take appropriate steps in responding to these concerns.”

Just two months before dozens of athletes gathered in her office, Foley held a separate meeting with Gocht. It had been nearly a year since she suffered a career-ending injury, but Gocht scheduled her own personal meeting with Foley to discuss her discomfort in returning to practice without a protective cage.

Gocht said Foley ensured her in the meeting that a cage had been purchased and would be installed. Gocht and members of the team say they saw the cage being delivered – the throwers helped unload it from a truck.

Athletes say they were told it wasn’t installed due to a fear of community residents climbing on top of it and endangering themselves.

Both the current and former athletic director wouldn’t comment on the cage, but students say practice techniques were adjusted after the incident with Gocht. As recently as the end of this past season, the cage was not used.

“I feel like she was just trying to tell me whatever was necessary in order to satisfy me,” Gocht said of Foley. “She just told me what she thought I wanted to hear. I don’t think she actually cared. She had the meeting with me because that’s her job.”

Outgoing senior Gabe Pickett said Foley scheduled individual meetings with him and other athletes in May 2014. Pickett says he was asked about Mobley’s temperament toward the team, how the head coach handled himself and the communication between the staff and students.

The next month, Mobley was out. Elvis Forde, who coached at Illinois State University for 12 years, was hired as Mobley’s replacement last week.

The student who had been considering suicide says she eventually sought treatment at Tuttleman Counseling Services. She said her mental health is improving; she is seeing a psychologist and taking antidepressants.

She said she was going to transfer next season, but she’s returning to the track & field team now that Mobley has resigned.

“I just felt like for my own sanity I would have to leave,” she said. “Now I’m kind of hopeful about what will happen next year.”

“I’m going to give it all that I have.”

THE ENDGAME

S

TOP THIS FOOLISHNESS before it goes too far, the uncle implored.

Othello Mahone, a Maryland real estate contract developer and Ebony Moore’s relative, was writing an email to former President Ann Weaver Hart in May 2011. Following her stay at the Fairmount Behavioral Health System, Moore was notified that her athletic scholarship was not being renewed for the following year, Mahone’s email said.

“How do you think this will play in front of a jury?” Mahone wrote.

In a previous email to both Hart and former Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw, Mahone sought to formally notify top officials of Moore’s claims of abuse. In an attachment to Mahone’s email, under subheads titled “verbal abuse,” “intimidation,” “gender-based discrimination” and “sexual misconduct,” Moore detailed her allegations against the teammates who bullied her, a coach who harassed her and the head coach who ignored her.

Bradshaw wouldn’t say in an interview if he recalled receiving the email.

“It wouldn’t be the only email that I got from relatives of the 600 student-athletes that I had,” Bradshaw said.

Mahone received no response from Hart or

Emails obtained by The Temple News show that Bradshaw and Hart were sent notification in 2011 of Ebony Moore’s claims of abuse and sexual harassment. Bradshaw said he doesn’t recall a track & field team issue other than Moore’s that “was considered serious.”

In an interview, he defended Kristen Foley, the track & field administrator, but declined to comment on specific cases. Hart declined to comment.

ANDREW THAYER TTN

Victoria Gocht said she still experiences pain caused by her 2012 back injury at a Temple practice.

“[Kristen Foley] just told me what she thought I wanted to hear. I don’t think she actually cared. She had the meeting with me because that’s her job.

”

Victoria Gocht / former runner

Bradshaw. Instead, he scheduled a meeting with Kristen Foley, the athletic administrator of the track & field program, along with Moore, assistant coach Shameeka Marshall, throwing coach Aaron Ross and head coach Eric Mobley.

The group met on May 4, 2011, in the fourth-floor conference room of the university’s athletic offices. Moore reiterated to Foley and her coaches the issues she was having, including her near-suicide attempt, according to her account.

Moore said Foley was an active participant in the meeting, asking her if she was satisfied with the team’s facilities and other accommodations.

Moore and her uncle left the meeting with the understanding that the issues were formally addressed and that both parties would attempt to have a better relationship next season, despite Mobley’s behavior at the meeting.

According to Moore’s complaint and interviews, Mobley said during the meeting that he is “not responsible for the well-being” of his student-athletes.

Did Phil Jackson have to motivate Michael Jordan? Mobley said during the meeting, according to separate interviews with Moore.

Mahone said he talked one-on-one with Foley after the meeting to discuss Moore’s future.

The conversation was “positive,” Mahone said.

“I thought she was going to be more helpful,” Mahone said later. “I don’t know if she possesses the authority to be more helpful or not.

What I thought was going to happen did not.”

Less than three weeks after the meeting, Moore received an email from Student Financial Services saying that, upon the recommendation of the athletic department, her athletic scholarship for the upcoming season was not being renewed.

Moore appealed her non-renewal and a

Ann Weaver Hart President, 2006-12

hearing was scheduled with the university’s Financial Aid Appeal committee, which typically consists of the director of Student Financial Services and at least three other faculty members outside of the athletic department.

Moore, the committee and other officials met on July 28, 2011 at Barrack Hall. Moore was flanked by her mother, sister and uncle, but only she was allowed to speak on her behalf. Mobley and Foley were both present at the meeting, according to the Moore family.

Both sides were given a chance to present their case to the committee – the athletic department for why Moore’s scholarship was not renewed and Moore for why she found it unjust.

In its presentation, the athletic department submitted a false account of Moore’s academic status, according to Moore’s complaint and interviews with the family.

Moore rebutted by telling her story, including her near-suicide attempt. After roughly a half-hour of conversation, the family said, at least one of the committee members was in tears.

“In my opinion, I don’t think the panel was prepared to see the track & field staff was so blatantly wrong,” Moore said later.

Like before, the family said, Mobley became irate at the meeting. According to multiple interviews with Moore, one of the committee members even snapped back at Mobley.

You can’t talk to me like that; we’re not on the track, a member said.

However, the committee denied Moore’s appeal. The committee, according to the family, found Mobley and the track & field program to be at fault, but considered the relationship “too toxic” for Moore to continue.

The committee ruled to grant Moore nonathletic aid for the 2011-12 year that equaled her

aid for the 2010-11 year. For Moore, this wasn’t good enough.

“I expressed: If [Mobley] is wrong, why is he allowed to coach?” Moore said. “I was told that’s not in their hands or that they couldn’t give me a definitive answer.”

The chair of the committee was John F. Morris, Temple’s former director of Student Financial Services. A letter sent to Moore that submitted the committee’s ruling in writing indicates that the other committee members at the time were Marylouise Esten, associate dean of students in the Beasley School of Law, Johanne Johnston, assistant dean for admissions and financial aid in the law school and Jeffrey Montague, assistant dean in the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management.

When interviewed, Moore couldn’t recall all of the names of the committee members, but she confirmed them after viewing the letter. Morris, Esten, Johnston and Montague all declined to be interviewed for this article, citing student privacy laws.

The committee had the power to not renew Moore’s athletic scholarship, but it’s unclear if they had any authority to take further action against the track & field program. Members wouldn’t say if they made any other formal recommendation to the athletic department regarding Moore’s case.

In an email sent through a spokesman, Sherryta Freeman, senior associate athletic director in charge of compliance and student-athlete affairs, said Temple’s appeals committee can rule on the side of the university, the student or come to an alternative decision, but Freeman declined to discuss specifics.

“If a coach recommends nonrenewal of a scholarship, he or she meets with a senior athletics department administrator to discuss the situation, and appropriate athletics staff also review the circumstances and associated documentation before a nonrenewal decision is made,” Freeman said.

It’s possible Moore could have still competed for the team that year without athletic aid, but she said she took the committee’s ruling as Temple’s final say on the matter. She didn’t feel as though she would have been welcomed back, though, despite all she had been through, she said she was still willing to compete.

“I had done nothing wrong,” Moore said.

“This is my sport. My life, really.”

Bradshaw, the former athletic director, said he thought Moore’s case was “fairly adjudicated” by the committee, but declined to discuss specifics.

Moore’s lawsuit against the university, Mobley and Foley is now in the discovery phase.

“My end goal is to have people know that if somebody is doing something wrong to you, the burden shouldn’t be on you to be quiet and make that institution comfortable while you suffer,” Moore, who is representing herself in the case, said.

“When I look at my case and I go online and go through the documents, there’s always a certain button for related cases,” Moore said. “And if you click on mine there are no related cases.

I’m sure people have suffered from things like this or had these things done to them and they didn’t say anything. If you look at my case, the statute of limitations is almost over, but I decided I could not let this pass and send the signal that this is OK.” Moore completed her studies at Temple after her athletic scholarship was revoked. She received weekly counseling and said she was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder by a Temple doctor.

Moore, living at home in Georgia, said she still needs weekly counseling, but can’t always afford the appointments. She goes twice a month if she’s lucky, she said. She continues to take daily anti-anxiety medicine.

In May 2012, Moore graduated from Temple with a degree in neuroscience. She says she wants to be a psychiatrist. * editor@temple-news.com ( 215.204.6737 T @AveryMaehrer, @Joey_Cranney

Evan Cross and John Moritz contributed reporting.

NEED HELP?

Students, including student-athletes, who feel they are in need of mental health support can contact Tuttleman Counseling Services at 215-204-7276.

The Suicide/Crisis Intervention Hotline for Philadelphia is 215-686-4420.

PAGE 8

EDITORIAL/OP-ED

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921.

Avery Maehrer, Editor-in-Chief Patricia Madej, Managing Editor Erin Edinger-Turoff, Chief Copy Editor Marcus McCarthy, News Editor Grace Holleran, Opinion Editor Claire Sasko, Lifestyle Editor Emily Rolen, Arts & Entertainment Editor EJ Smith, Sports Editor Joe Brandt, Asst. News Editor Andrew Parent, Asst. Sports Editor Alexa Bricker, Asst. Lifestyle Editor Paige Gross, Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Alexandra Snell, Multimedia Editor Patrick McCarthy, Multimedia Editor

Chris Montgomery, Web Editor Kate Reilly, Asst. Web Editor Andrew Thayer, Photography Editor Kara Milstein, Asst. Photography Editor Addy Peterson, Design Editor Donna Fanelle, Asst. Designer Zachary Campbell, Advertising Manager Grayson Holladay, Business Manager Dustin Wingate, Marketing Manager

The Temple News is an editorially independent weekly publication serving the Temple University community. Unsigned editorial content represents the opinion of The Temple News. Adjacent commentary is reflective of their authors, not The Temple News.

Visit us online at temple-news.com.

Send submissions to letters@temple-news.com.

The Temple News is located at: Student Center, Room 243 1755 N. 13th St. Philadelphia, PA 19122

EDITORIAL

A Mission Failed On a snow-filled January Foley. During that time, The evening, as tears dripped from Temple News has learned, a Ebony Moore’s face, our inves- member of the women’s team tigation began. considered killing herself During an interview with largely due to stress the team The Temple News earlier this caused. year, Moore became emotional In June 2014, the universiwhile providty announced ing reporters Issues with the university’s Mobley’s reswith specific track & field program reveal ignation and details of the a dire need for reform in its thanked the bullying, sexhead coach athletic department. ual harassment for his service and neglect she to the prosaid she suffered while com- gram. The department wished peting for the university from him well.

2009-11.

It’s unclear whether Foley As we soon realized, Ebo- notified President Theobald ny Moore was not alone. Other and Athletic Director Kevin athletes have deteriorated in Clark, both of whom took ofsimilar ways – physically and fice last year, of the troubling mentally – as a result of com- complaints she heard from peting for the university’s track track & field athletes during re& field program. cent years. Interview requests During our investigation for Foley, Clark and Theobald of the teams, more than a doz- were denied, but a spokesperen athletes made troubling ac- son for the university said “apcusations about Eric Mobley’s propriate steps” were taken in coaching style, including his responding to student concerns verbal abuse toward students about the track & field proand general recklessness in gram.

But the administration managing the team.

Moore, who said she be- cannot hide behind the fact that came suicidal due to her expe- Mobley is gone. The effects rience with the program, filed of his carelessness, along with a $10 million lawsuit last year the administration’s oversight against the university, Mobley and inaction, linger. Theobald and Senior Associate Athletic needs – and should feel obligated – to address the athletes, Director Kristen Foley.

Before our investigation parents, alumni and commubegan, some of the students we nity with how the university interviewed had already voiced plans to ensure such maltreattheir concerns regarding Mo- ment never happens again.

For guidance, the departbley and the program – not to their university’s student news- ment may benefit from taking a look at its mission statement. In paper, but to Foley.

Perhaps the most unset- it, the university vows to maintling find of our investigation tain an environment where its is that Mobley was allowed to students can “maximize their continue coaching, even after athletic, academic and life-skill the Temple administrator was potential” through the presence of “high level coaches and adinformed of his behavior.

Since 2011, Foley has held ministrators” with a goal to multiple meetings where ath- “instill a winning attitude on letes voiced concerns regard- and off the field.”

But for Temple, which ing the derelict track & field spent less money on its track program.

During one of these meet- & field program last year than ings, held in May 2013, athletes any other school in its confersay dozens of team members ence, such a vow was bound gathered in Temple’s athletic for failure when its lackluster offices at 1700 N. Broad St. budget was coupled with an The students were there to for- abusive coach and a neglectful mally address and inform Fol- administration that failed to adey of Mobley’s temperamental equately suppress the mistreatcoaching style, among other ment.

The Temple News urges problems like the program’s lack of proper safety equip- the university to take appropriment, which led to a career- ate action against anyone withending injury for former star in the athletics department who failed to protect the lives and runner Victoria Gocht.

Athletes said Foley was careers of its student-athletes. presented with several com- The glaring issues that our replaints about Mobley and the porters found with this invesprogram, some of which were tigation should be addressed extremely concerning, but Fol- with transparency and immediey informed the group that the ate reformatory action, rather than downplayed. head coach was here to stay.

Until then, Temple’s athThe administrator kept her letic department will continue word.

Mobley remained in his to operate under an empty position for another year after promise. the team-initiated meeting with

CORRECTIONS The Temple News strives to be a newspaper of record by printing factually correct and balanced articles. Accuracy is our business, so when a mistake is made, we’ll correct it as soon as possible. Anyone with inquiries about content in this newspaper can contact Editor-in-Chief Avery Maehrer at editor@temple-news.com or 215.204.6737.

KATIE KALUPSON TTN

FROM THE ARCHIVES...

FILE PHOTO TTN

September 10-17, 1954: Former Temple University president Robert L. Johnson greeted incoming freshmen 60 years ago in an exclusive statement to The Temple News. He presided at the university from 1941-1959.

COMMENTARY | Student Affairs

Optional SAT requirement increases student opportunity The “Temple Option” will open the university’s doors to a larger variety of students.

T

emple is now one of the largest universities in the country to ax the standardized testing requirement for prospective students.

The new policy fully recognizes that while some students perform well on standardized tests, others do not. And both of these types of students’ abilities and strengths are taken into account.

Aptly titled the “Temple Option,” the program will begin next fall with the Class of 2019.

In order to the assuage the fears of doubtful applicants, students can opt out of submitting their SAT or ACT scores and instead answer several short-answer essay questions.

Temple’s recent buoyancy in announceROMSIN MCQUADE ments is nothing short of astounding. Coupled with the “Fly in 4” initiative, which is predicated on the notion of increasing four-year graduation rates and reducing financial stress on a number of students by awarding them $4,000 grants, the Temple Option marks another turning point in the administration’s efforts towards stimulating innovation and making progress.

Incidentally, the announcement arrived in the midst of the university’s academic renaissance, boasting some of the highest SAT scores and lowest admission rates in its history. According to the 2013 Fall Student Profile (FSP), Temple’s average incoming math/verbal score combination was 1129, well above the national average of 1010. Additionally, the 2013 acceptance rate of 63.9 percent declined from 2012, where it stood at 67.2 percent.

The appeal of the Temple Option draws from the fact that it is not an erasure of the current application; instead, it merely replaces the test score submission with another task, as opposed to the extreme policy of making test score submissions completely optional, which Hampton College in Massachusetts chose to do.

Sticking to Russell Conwell’s mission of cultivating an acre of diamonds, the Temple Option keeps in mind a particular demographic: disadvantaged students from the embattled Philadelphia School District.

Major standardized tests like the SAT and ACT have inadvertently capitalized on exacerbating the fears of applicants from low-income or impoverished backgrounds. In many circumstances, these students are unable to afford test prep services which have become almost customary in the field. In addition, these students may not have been taught the formulaic test-taking skills that arguably have little do with applicable academic knowledge.

Opponents of the Temple Option must understand that the decision is not premature, either. Despite the College Board’s recent proposal to revamp the SAT by scaling back the maximum score from 2400 to 1600, the associated changes will not have a significant effect on remedying the socio-economic inequities deeply ingrained in the fabric of the test. Just because yet another change is underway does not mean that the core problem has been solved; in fact, the test has undergone more than a handful of changes in its 88-year history, none of which have properly addressed why certain students fail to perform well.

Karin Mormando, the director of undergraduate admissions, said that the Temple Option is the result of studies from both within and without the university. In the past, Temple has even employed a much more informal version of the Temple Option by admitting students with lower SAT/ACT scores and high GPAs. “When we look at [students accepted with low SAT/ACT scores and high GPAs], we can see that they’ve done very well here at Temple,” Mormando said.

Just like Fly in 4, the Temple Option is an investment – an investment in students who must decide between working and classes, an investment in students who might be turned away from applying because they feel their scores are inadequate.

Spearheading this movement in the northeast, Mormando said she believes “we’re opening the door for our institution.

We’re blazing a little bit of a trail. If you look at our history and our mission, it makes complete sense for us.”

And while the war of words between opponents and supporters of test optional policies rages on, one thing is for sure: The Temple Option benefits students who would otherwise have been left behind – and even the university itself, as it will welcome high-potential students that could have been brushed aside. * romsin.mcquade@temple.edu

OPINION

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

PAGE 9

COMMENTARY | Community

COMMENTARY | Student Affairs

Rethink North Philly renovations ‘Fly in 4’ falls short

North Philadelphia needs more than wealth to restore it to its former glory.

C

ontrary to widely held student beliefs, North Philadelphia was once a place of economic and cultural flourish.

I learned this firsthand in 2012, when I toured what would eventually become my first off-campus apartment. The landlord, a squirmy middle-aged fellow, gestured a clammy hand at 2252 N. Carlisle St., an-

It’s seen as a blight to some and a work of art to others. The building has stood since 1894, but in 2006, it was completely gutted. Now, the Divine Lorraine serves as a venue for graffiti artists around the city.

Eric Blumenfeld, the current owner of the Divine Lorraine, wants to change this. In June, scaffolding appeared by the entrance of the hotel, and the graffiti began to disappear.

He has voiced several plans to several Philadelphia publications, but according to his most recent testimonial to the Inquirer, he’d like to see the space converted to luxury condominiums – and 21,000 square feet of retail space.

If Blumenfeld’s plan for the Divine Lorraine is any indication of the direction Philadelphia wants to take, I am skeptical as to how much “restoring” North Broad is actually going to do for the community.

Driving poverty out of an area

This was enough for us.

The significance of Miss Pearl was not necessarily bragging rights or a cool party story. Throughout our two years at 2252 N. Carlisle, we felt like we were living somewhere important, a place where things had happened.

Recently, it seems the owners of North Philadelphia properties want things to happen there again.

In the past few months, several renovation projects for the northern stretch of “The Avenue of the Arts” were announced. The Uptown Theater is one of these projects.

Although its plan has not yet been finalized, the action being taken elsewhere in North Philadelphia isn’t exactly reassuring me.

The Divine Lorraine Hotel, although it is several blocks south of Main Campus at Fairmount Avenue, is still a part of North Philly.

does not solve the issue of poverty. Bringing in a surge of people who enjoy their expensive condos, but despise the run-down parts of Philadelphia will do nothing but make the owner of the Lorraine richer and the tensions in Philadelphia grow stronger.

Father Divine, a previous owner of the hotel, prided it on being one of the first racially integrated hotels in the city.

Making luxury condos that are unaffordable for the poor will lead in a very specific – and probably mostly white – group of clientele.

Why not instead make the Divine Lorraine a public housing project or something that can benefit the whole community, like a public library or museum?

North Philadelphia needs more financial support, but it is not lacking in a rich culture. Vacated buildings like the Uptown and the Divine Lorraine should be used to foster this culture – not eliminate it.

GRACE HOLLERAN

nouncing that this rowhouse was once the home of a “Miss Pearl.”

KEES HOLTERMAN TTN

Miss Pearl, he explained, hosted after-parties for stars like James Brown and the Supremes, both frequent performers at the now-abandoned Uptown Theater on Broad and Dauphin streets.

Naturally, my future roommates and I scoffed at his vague story – but we signed the lease anyway. And, when we found a yellowing menu for a party featuring “Miss Pearl’s gumbo” in our basement, we began to take our stammering landlord a bit more seriously.

The most valid source we could find to confirm the Miss Pearl story was Wikipedia, which claims that “many of the [Uptown’s] performers would eat at Miss Pearl’s house, which was located right behind the venue on Carlisle Street.”

* holleran@temple.edu T @coupsdegrace

A new approach to tuition may come at the cost of students’ well-being.

I

didn’t know it at the time, but I met one of my best friends at my freshman orientation. As fate would have it, we ended up on the same floor, living four doors down from one another. We quickly bonded over a lot of things, but our relationship grew stronger through the connection we shared as fellow media studies majors.

NDIDI OBASI We struggled together through the same classes, freaked out over assignment deadlines and looked to one another for support academically.

But that changed when he decided to switch majors.

Although we remained close on a personal level, our academic paths took different twists and turns. As he explored different majors and worked hard to find one that really fit, I advanced further into my major.

Had the opportunity been available to me back in Fall 2011, I would have participated in Fly in 4, a new program instituted by the university to ensure that incoming freshmen finish their chosen degree in eight semesters.

According to Temple’s admissions website, students who sign the Fly in 4 contract, fulfill its requirements but still need more than four years to complete their degree will have their additional time at Temple reimbursed.

These requirements include semesterly meetings with an academic advisor, registering as early as possible for classes that fit with a specific academic plan, remaining in good academic standing and completing at least 30 credits a year, according to the program’s website.

Fly in 4 is perfect for students like me who have the extremely good fortune of coming to college knowing exactly what they want to do with their lives and what major they feel they need to pursue to get closer to achieving their dreams.

However, many students enter college and have no idea what they want to do with the

rest of their lives – or they start their major, absolutely hate it and come to the realization that their passions are better suited for something else.

Choosing a major is a serious decision that can impact the rest of your life. Some students, like my friend, take advantage of this moment in their lives to academically explore and choose a major that brings out their best qualities, giving them the skills they need to excel.

However, Fly in 4 becomes a bit less direct when a student attempts to change or add a major or minor under the agreement. According to the program’s frequently asked questions, “Those things may be possible, if you plan carefully.” Temple recommends that students work closely with their academic advisors to attempt to fulfill more complicated educational routes.

Despite this supposed encouragement, it doesn’t appear that the university actually supports academic exploration. Fly in 4’s website asserts that in order to “avoid the long route,” students typically “enter college with a major in mind” and “pursue a single program of study.”

Students that know exactly what they want to study should be incentivized through this program.

But where does this leave students like my friend?

Students should not be financially penalized for taking the time now to really think and test out what they plan on spending the rest of their lives doing. Instead of forcing students into finishing college in four years or paying a huge sum if they cannot, the university should replace its monotonous general education course and freshman seminars with more creative ways to help students discover what it is they want to spend their four years doing. It’s much better to take a little time to be confident in this huge decision than to rush through it in order to meet societal and financial expectations.

Now my friend and I are preparing for our senior year, and after changing his major five times, we will graduate in May with the same major we started with. Only now, he feels confident that after taking the time to explore his passions, he has made the right decision.

And he did it all without Fly in 4. * ndidi.obasi@temple.com

COMMENTARY | activism

‘15 Now’ campaign fights to raise minimum wage After Seattle successfully raised its minimum wage to $15 an hour, Philadelphia is making efforts to follow suit.

I

n June, the Seattle City Council unanimously passed a resolution to raise its minimum wage to $15 an hour. This is more than double Pennsylvania’s $7.25, and it seems huge by comparison.

But a person who works full time at $15 an hour would make about $31,200 per year before taxes, which is still well under the national median household income of $51,017, according to the 2012 census.

Five months before the resolution passed, Seattle elected Kshama Sawant, third party candidate and open socialist, to city council. Sawant, SARAH GISKIN an economics professor at Seattle University and Seattle Central Community College, was involved with the Occupy movement and campaigned on the promise to fight for the $15 an hour minimum wage.

Sawant’s platform eventually became the 15 Now campaign, which has been catching on in

OPINION DESK 215-204-7416

many cities nationwide – including Philadelphia.

The campaign’s goal is “to empower working people and activate them into fighting movement,” asserting that “people organizing from below can challenge the 1 percent’s domination of economic and political system[s] and change the balance of power in our society,” according to its website.

In March, I joined the Philadelphia chapter of 15 Now in an action for International Women’s Day. Activists, workers and supporters all met at 10th and Market streets.

We held up signs, gave out flyers, got petition signatures and talked to people passing by.

We split up into groups and marched into various workplaces in the area that pay low wages, including Burger King, McDonald’s and CVS to deliver messages about why women specifically need a raise.

The 15 Now website states, “Low-wage jobs are disproportionately held by people of color, women and immigrants so the fight for 15 is also a question of racial, gender and social equality.”

One Temple student who attended, Anna Barnett, agrees.

“Women are overrepresented in low-wage work. I think we need to reevaluate what we consider women’s issues,” the sophomore undeclared major said.

15 Now activists in Philadelphia have already

collected more than 2,000 signatures on their petition from all corners of the city and received the support of city councilperson Jannie Blackwell, who represents a large part of West Philadelphia and University City.

Blackwell signed an endorsement letter for the cause, which said, “We fight for working class people because we are working class people. A raise in the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour will create new jobs and empower us to transform our city and our lives for the better.”

The councilwoman promised in the same letter that she would attend and “publicly endorse” at least one West Philadelphia rally, connect activists with City Council members and organize a council-wide information session about 15 Now. Seattle raised its minimum wage from $9.19 an hour to $15, meaning that for every hour on the job, $5.81 more is going into the pockets of each worker. Instead of being deposited into the bank accounts of wealthy CEOs and big business owners, this money will now be used to pay for the rent, bills, child care and groceries of the Seattle working class.

What would a change like this mean for Philadelphians, who work for a meager minimum wage of $7.25 an hour? Another student and 15 Now activist, Andrew Mattei, thinks a higher minimum wage would better the lives of many. “[It would] allow you to have time for family,

LETTERS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM

to devote yourself to your children, to enjoy life and not be at work all the time,” the sophomore psychology major said.

“We call it a living wage to emphasize that this is what is needed in order for people to actually live and to not just survive.”

Sawant does not credit herself for convincing the other eight members of Seattle’s city council to support such a bold raise for the poor. She told Democracy Now! she owes the resolution’s success to the tens of thousands of activists and residents who signed petitions, made phone calls, came out to protests and otherwise put pressure on elected officials.

“The moral of the story is we won a huge victory for the working class. But if we want to fight against corporations, then the only way to do it is to build mass movements,” she said in an interview for the show.

“Every gain that we can get has to be wrenched from the hands of the ruling elite, from the corporate politicians, and the businesses that they represent,” she added.

In Philadelphia, a city that struggles with poverty, the fight will perhaps be even harder. * sarah.giskin@temple.edu T @SarahBGisky

NEWS

PAGE 10

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

CAMPUS

-Joe Brandt

THEOBALD’S SALARY LAST YEAR BEHIND NATIONAL AVERAGE

President Theobald has a salary well below many other public university leaders, ranking No. 173 among all public college executives, according to a Chronicle of Higher Education survey published earlier this summer.

The Chronicle’s survey, published May 16, ranked the salaries of 255 chief executives at 227 public universities or systems nationwide.

With total compensation at $352,021 in the 2013 fiscal year, Theobald made nearly $127,000 less than the middle of the pack. In the current fiscal year, Theobald will receive a significant bump in salary.

Slated to earn $450,000 and an additional $200,000 in deferred compensation as part of his contract, Theobald would move up 67 spots in the rankings, assuming no other salaries change.

A university spokesman said Theobald is also provided with a residence for personal and university use and a car and driver for university business.

With the exception of head executives who served for less than a whole fiscal year, Theobald’s compensation only trumped Michael Driscoll of Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Theobald earned nearly $25,000 more than Driscoll.

Not one active Pennsylvania state college executive was ranked in the Top 20.

-Paul Klein

MCPB OPENS UP DESIGN PROCESS

Main Campus Program Board’s new plans include utilizing Snapchat and calling for submissions from students for homecoming T-shirts.

On March 31, MCPB launched a T-shirt design contest to include students in the planning process for Homecoming weekend, which is set for Oct. 1012. The contest deadline is Sept. 8.

“Our slogan is ‘Get with the program,’ and we want students to feel involved,” said MCPB’s president Amira Moore.

This is the first year the design process is open to the student body. The winning design’s artist will receive two tickets to homecoming and four shirts.

Continued from page 2

LIGHTING “This could change that.”

Funding for the project comes from a mix of public sources with most of the dollars from the city and the commonwealth and a small amount from federal appropriations.

Avenue of the Arts Inc., a nonprofit organization focused on Broad Street’s economic growth, provides the vision and leads the implementation of the project.

“It is designed to unify the neighborhood,” said Paul Beidemen, president and CEO of Avenue of the Arts.

“It’s about improving the entire area.”

The project plans erect new lights in the middle of North Broad Street and plant new trees along the avenue’s sidewalks.

“There will be 46 new light masts and something like 300 trees,” Beidemen said. “Several masts will be installed by the end of the year but I don’t know if they’ll be in the Temple vicinity by then or not.”

Tony Depaul & Son, a highway construction company from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, is the construction contractor for the project. Project manager Kyle Stump, who oversees the work, said he considers the Temple schedule when planning jobs.

“We will do work on other parts of Broad Street when heavy student traffic is expected,” Stump said.

“Move-in day [was] one of those times. Ultimately we have to consider that [students] are often walking while looking down at their iPhones and not paying attention.”

However, the sidewalk landscaping portion of the project is scheduled to be completed during the school year.

“Planting season is from midOctober through November,” Stump said. “There will be another time in the spring as well.”

Stump said the landscaping will be installed on both the street-side and the building-side of the sidewalks.

Street-side work should allow for a fenced-off walk-by path. The building-side work will require the walk to be closed.

“Moving the materials from the

FOR ADJUNCTS, CHANGED TITLES

EJ SMITH TTN

At some American universities, adjunct professors are being given new job titles, according to an Aug. 11 story in the Chronicle of Higher Education.

At Grossmont College, a community college in California, part-time faculty can rise through ranks from adjunct assistant professor to adjunct associate professor and finally to adjunct professor. These three distinctions did not exist until this year.

Previously, they were only known as adjuncts, The Chronicle reported.

One Boston University faculty member quoted in the article has been called an adjunct professor, a part-time faculty member and a lecturer, each title depending on where he taught.

-Joe Brandt

President Theobald assumed office last year with additional compensation expected in the future.

Citing financial considerations and unforeseen circumstances, MCPB canceled last year’s homecoming concert, which was scheduled to feature B.o.B. and Far East Movement.

“We have to plan events ahead of time due to dealing with contracts, but made sure to leave room for student feedback and opinions in order to make sure the events are a great success,” Moore said.

Moore said that of the T-shirt submissions entered thus far, Temple pride icons have been the theme. Many of the designs incorporate owls, the Bell Tower and Temple’s cherry and white colors.

-Jared Whalen

IN THE NATION KATZ CRASH PROMPTS WARNING

The plane crash that killed Temple trustee and Philadelphia Inquirer owner Lewis Katz on May 31 may have been caused by an override of the jet’s failsafe system, according to the Inquirer.

The Inquirer obtained a copy of a letter dated Aug. 18 which Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. sent to pilots and owners of its jets.

building to the street presents a danger [for passerby],” Stump said. “But we will not be doing work on both sides of the street at the same time.”

In those cases, pedestrians will be required to cross the street or walk around the corner.

Students interviewed said they are generally not bothered by the planned work itself. But some wonder why the city and state are spending the money on the project.

“It takes a lot more than lighting to bring the community together,” said Sofiya Sydoryak, a junior kinesiology major. “Spend that money on public schools. There are a million things in Philadelphia and North Philly in particular to spend money on.”

Sydoryak does not see any safety benefit either.

“I never feel like I’m in any danger here,” Sydoryak said. “There are plenty of police around and it’s already well lit.”

Morgan Brokenborough, a fresh-

The letter cautioned that Gulfstream fail-safe systems, which normally limit the plane to taxi speed while the gust lock is engaged, can be overridden if “proper [tail flap] unlock procedures are not followed.”

The movable tail and wing flaps are a crucial part of a plane’s takeoff, providing lift, but many planes have gust-lock systems to hold the flaps in place and protect them from potentially damaging wind while the plane is parked.

In June, investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board found through analysis of the flight data recorder in Katz’s plane that no pre-flight control check was performed and that “[tail and wing flap] position during the taxi and takeoff was consistent with its position if the gust lock was engaged,” according to an NTSB report.

The Inquirer article, posted online Aug. 20, quoted Massachusetts Institute of Technology aeronautics and astronautics professor John Hansman Jr. Hansman said the pilots should have turned off the gust-lock and then started the engines, but instead started the engines before disengaging the lock, overriding the fail-safe system and allowing the plane to reach greater speeds. The plane reached about 190 mph before it crashed.

man anthropology major, said she finds the idea of new lighting strange.

“Does it really need more light?”

Brokenborough said. “We were told [Main Campus] was one of the brightest spots around already.”

But Dave Gerson, a senior business marketing major, said he sees the positives of the project. Gerson, who describes himself as “the biggest Temple fan you’ll ever meet,” is excited for the end result.

“It’s better safety for the university,” Gerson said. “Especially for intoxicated people late at night [and] other people not paying attention. It will help drivers too.”

Work on the project is scheduled to continue through the school year and to be completed next summer. * robert.stewart@temple.edu

AMANDA SHAFFERN TTN

Traffic islands sit under construction along North Broad Street.

SCHOLARS CANCEL SPEAKING GIGS AFTER PROFESSOR’S OUSTING

Two scholars scheduled to speak at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign have canceled their engagements after a professor’s job offer was revoked following tweets about Israel, according to articles published by the Chronicle of Higher Education on Aug. 7 and Aug 23.

The school’s chancellor and another administrator declined to submit Steven G. Salaita’s tenure proposal to the Board of Trustees.

Salaita, who was the subject of an article in the conservative Daily Caller, tweeted: “By eagerly conflating Jewishness and Israel, Zionists are partly responsible when people say [anti-Semitic] s--- in response to Israeli terror.”

The denial of employment to the professor sparked accusations that the university lacked academic freedom.

University officials did not return the Chronicle’s request for comment, but the school’s chancellor Phyllis M. Wise said in a statement the school was “absolutely committed to academic freedom.”

-Joe Brandt

Additionally, the influential annual U.S. News & World Report factors alumni participation into their rankings. According to the report’s tions and commitments to $70 milwebsite, approximately 5 percent of lion. They were $2.1 the decision comes million shy of their from the alumni pargoal. ticipation rate.

The university Looking toward increased funding for the future, Dicker said Institutional Advancehe believes the univerment by $1.3 million sity can be a Top 40 for the last fiscal year. school based on fundHowever, for the curraising, as well as posrent fiscal year, the ofsibly being at the top fice will see a drop of of the American Athnearly $1 million in letic Conference.

James Dicker / Vice President for funding.

“In the near fuInstitutional Advancement ture, I believe that For Temple students, the increase Temple will be a $100 in alumni donations million fundraising means an increase in capital projects operation,” Dicker said. like labs, classrooms, and athletics, as well as increases in need-based finan* logan.beck@temple.edu cial aid and scholarships.

Continued from page 3

ALUMNI

“In the near

future, I believe that Temple will be a $100 million fundraising operation.

”

MARCUS MCCARTHY TTN

The university broke a fundraising record for the second consecutive year.

lifestyle

owlery.temple-news.com

BACK TO SCHOOL DRIVE

SCHOOL TAKES SECOND

The CLA Alumni Association is currently collecting school supplies for Tanner G. Duckrey Elementary School.

PAGE 12

Students from George Washington Carver High School recently took second place at the National MESA competition.

PAGE 20

CSC RECEIVES FUNDING

The Center for Sustainable Communities recently received a $25,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

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COURTESY BRIAN OSBORNE

Brian Osborne, a 2011 Temple graduate was recently featured on ABC’s “The Bachelorette.”

Alumnus rose to the occasion

Temple grad Brian Osborne didn’t get the girl on “The Bachelorette,” but captured support of his community.

ERIN EDINGER-TUROFF Chief Copy Editor Brian Osborne never applied to appear on “The Bachelorette.”

Now of reality TV fame, the Temple alum

was surprised by a call from ABC after his graduation in 2011. Without his knowledge, two of Osborne’s female friends nominated him to compete for a rose while they were still in school, and eventually he caught the network’s attention.

Osborne described his reaction as nonchalant when he was approached about undergoing an initial contestant interview for “The Bachelorette.”

“I didn’t really prep for it,” he said. “I didn’t prepare myself. I just went in being the normal Brian and next thing I knew, I was headed for the mansion in Malibu.”

Osborne’s full-time job and part-time coach-

ing position for the boy’s basketball team at Trinity High School in Harrisburg went on hold while he competed for bachelorette Andi Dorfman’s affections. When he was eliminated in Belgium on June 30, many viewers expressed their disappointment.

Though he never expected to be dubbed “the most normal guy on the show” by fans and media alike, Osborne’s popularity was notable. He insisted that all of his actions came from a purely genuine place – he wasn’t trying to win anyone over except Dorfman.

“I really didn’t change one bit,” Osborne

said. “There were a couple guys who did, like it was an acting gig. I was just trying to be me. I tried to be the best guy I possibly could.”

Many of Osborne’s fans – including his high school basketball players and a large fan following at Temple – seemed to think he was. His former boss at Temple’s Campus Recreation office, Intramural Coordinator Ray Destephanis, was among them. He said he strongly feels that Osborne “should have been in the final four where they meet the family.”

“It was fun watching him,” Destephanis

OSBORNE PAGE 21

Health

Vegetarian co-op comes to Main Campus this fall The Rad Dish coop café will give students healthier food options.

SIENNA VANCE The Temple News

COURTESY RYAN BRANDENBERG

Female Temple students work with girls in grades five through eight to help build their confidence in mathematics.

For summer math camp, no boys allowed Mathematics professor Irina Mitrea runs a summer-camp for girls only.

CLAIRE SASKO Lifestyle Editor To give girls a chance in a male-dominated field, Irina Mitrea removed boys from the equation.

The Temple mathematics professor created a week-long mathematics-intensive summer camp for girls only.

“Girls early on see that mathematics is

hard, that, you know, somehow this is not something appropriate for them to do,” Mitrea said. “You see it in sitcoms. It’s everywhere out there.”

The Girls and Mathematics Program at Temple University is open to girls enrolled between fifth and eighth grade. Mitrea said this age is precisely when girls “face pressure” to turn away from mathematics.

“We try to give them a strong mathematics background,” Mitrea said. “Mathematics is like a pyramid. If you have gaps in understanding, this will create bigger gaps later on.”

The research mathematician took 10

LIFESTYLE DESK 215-204-7416

years to develop the program before bringing it to Temple in 2012. Mitrea said she wants the program to be “challenging but elegant and fun.”

“We want to give a fair advantage to everyone,” Mitrea said. “All these small, maybe not necessarily intended actions that the girls face, they do accumulate over time, and by the time they get to middle school or high school they have gotten away from math.”

Mitrea recruits female Temple undergraduate and graduate students to teach and mentor the girls. Because Mitrea

MATH PAGE 21

LIFESTYLE@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM

The Ritter Hall Annex will be a little bit greener this fall with the debut of a vegetarian co-op café called The Rad Dish.

The co-op is the product of a years worth of work from a group of students from the Office of Sustainability, the Green Council, The Sustainable Business Network of Philadelphia and the Geography & Urban Studies Department.

The Rad Dish is a food distribution outlet that is aimed to cooperate with the needs of the surrounding community. Maxwell Cohen, a senior geography and urban studies major, had the idea to start The Rad Dish after visiting the Down to Earth co-op at the University of Delaware.

The Down to Earth co-op aims to provide students with healthy meals made with local and organic ingredients and the resources to develop valuable

skills like cooking, farming and leadership.

“The idea of taking control of both your food system and dollar intrigued me,” Cohen said. “Coming back to Temple after having multiple conversations with people, I realized I wasn’t the only one with this interest in mind.”

Cohen sought assistance from the Office of Sustainability and like-minded Temple students in order to define his vision. Though he is not a vegetarian, Cohen said he does not always crave meat with every meal. He said he also finds vegetarian food options to be much more expensive.

“Most places around Temple, as well as America in general, are very meat-centric,” Cohen said. “I get very confused how it’s also simultaneously the cheapest option.”

Senior Rachael Voluck entered the project shortly after hearing about the idea from Alex Epstein, co-founder of Philadelphia Urban Creators, who was formerly involved with the project. Voluck said she saw Rad Dish as an opportunity to get involved with an issue that personally affected

RAD DISH PAGE 12

LIFESTYLE

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

campus events

CLA Alumni association donates school supplies Students and faculty can donate supplies to Tanner Duckrey Elementary School until Aug. 29.

KARLINA JONES The Temple News Kristin Grubb is calling for change – and school supplies.

The Manager of Operations for the Office of the Provost recently participated in an educational leadership project with Tanner G. Duckrey Elementary school.

“I was saddened by how many students did not have supplies,” Grubb said. “The teachers would ask the students to take out a piece of paper and a pencil. I was shocked by how many did not have it.”

After seeing a need for supplies, Grubb decided to run a drive for school supply donations throughout Temple’s campus. Alongside Grubb is the College of Liberal Arts Alumni Association and its new president, Director of Administration Dawn Ramos from the School of Media and Communication.

“I am sincerely grateful,” Grubb said. “I never organized a drive before, but I know from what is in my office that it’s successful and that folks care and want to connect with the community.”

Ramos said she hopes students will produce an influx of donations as they arrive for the semester.

“Hopefully students know what they need by the end of the first week of the semester and drop off the extras in the boxes,” Ramos said. “The students coming back is the reason why we are running the drive through Aug. 29.”

Ramos and Grubb have come up with many different ways to get the students attention and motivation to donate supplies as the new academic year begins. Some of these methods include social media, with the hashtag #CLAschooldrive to be entered in drawings for Temple giveaways or, Ramos’ favorite, taking pictures with the already donated supplies.

“They can take a selfie,” Ramos said, chuckling. “I think it would be cute.”

The two have also implemented advertisements around Main Campus in locations like Saxbys and the 7-Eleven on Liacouras Walk. The ads include directions on when and how to donate and how to enter the contests on social media. They also let students and faculty know of the current dropoff locations: the 12th floor of Anderson Hall and the Academic Advising Center.

Plans for future drives to reach out to other schools in Philadelphia are in the works.

“We are planning to run another [drive] in the spring,” Grubb said. “It will give enough teachers time to realize what they need in the classroom.”

For the drive they are planning for this spring, Grubb and Ramos hope to launch a website that allows teachers from schools to be able to request items they need for their classrooms.

“It could be anything,” Grubb said.

“It could be books, calculators – any items needed for that class. It helps us focus on what we need to get instead of just all general supplies that might not be needed.”

While they are focused on collecting supplies at the moment, Grubb and Ramos’ say they are more focused on making the lives of the people in the surrounding community better.

“The greater goal is to just help our neighborhood and community in any way that we can,” Grubb said. “School supplies is just one attempt to do so.”

Ramos and Grubb intend to deliver all of the school supplies from Sept.

2-6 to ensure timeliness for the start of school on Sept. 8.

“We appreciate all the support we received so far,” Grubb said. “There is still time to donate.” * karlina.jones@temple.edu

AARON WINDHORST TTN

The CLA Back to School suppy drive began July 7.

VOICE OF THE PEOPLE

“How was comedian

Craig Robinson’s performance during Welcome Week?

”

CLAIRE SASKO TTN

“It wasn’t like I expected, but it wasn’t that bad. I wasn’t completely bored.”

“It was good.

The trumpet and sax players were really good. I was blown away.”

EMMY FARINA

DANIEL TURNER

FRESHMAN | BIOCHEMISTRY

FRESHMAN | UNDECLARED SCIENCE

ADVERTISEMENT

COURTESY RACHAEL VOLOCK

Rad Dish Co-op will offer students expanded food choices, including vegan and vegetarian dishes.

After seeking healthier dining options, students create co-op RAD DISH PAGE 11 her and decided to take an independent study course along with other members of the original steering committee to strategize their business plan.

“I was inspired to join the steering committee because of my frustrations with the food offerings here at Temple,” Voluck said. “I am a pescatarian, although mostly vegetarian, and have a very hard time finding good food to eat on campus. I am very interested in sustainability – the cooperative movement and ethical business – so Rad Dish was a great opportunity to apply my interests.”

After many meetings with university officials, professors and the Office of Sustainability, the Rad Dish steering committee was able to acquire a space for the co-op in the Ritter Hall Annex. The promotion of the co-op’s menu began in April during a “Potluck with a Purpose” event sponsored by the Green Council.

“It was really interesting at the potluck to see how people changed their views on vegan food once they realized that it’s not just lettuce,” said Katherine Ament, an outreach assistant at the Office of Sustainability, and member of Rad Dish’s steering committee. “Rad Dish’s menu will hopefully consist of all vegetarian and some vegan items, with the option to add meat if someone prefers it.”

Nicole Apsche, a vegetarian and junior studying medicine at Temple, said that a vegetarian café on campus would be very attractive to students—particularly freshmen.

“Temple is definitely the hardest place to be a vegetarian, especially when I was a fresh-

man and living off meal plans,” she said. “It was really hard to eat the same single vegetarian option that all the places at the SAC offered, and I would usually be stuck eating salad that had been sitting out all day. I’m sure that all Temple vegetarians appreciate it if there was a café for them on campus.”

Savannah Fitzpatrick, another vegetarian and a junior criminal justice major, agreed.

“I think that now since there are a lot of meat substitutes that have become popular, a café on campus could offer full dishes that feature them, which would be great,” Fitzpatrick said. “I think there would be more than enough people who would be interested in eating there.”

Cohen and Voluck believe that Rad Dish’s emphasis on community and cooperation will differentiate it from other food establishments on campus.

“I think we’ll become a space that people come not only to eat, but also to connect to the community,” Voluck said. “Luckily we’ve acquired an area that fulfills our whole vision – an inclusive space where students can spend time and relax and access healthy food options in Ritter Hall.”

“To me, a Rad Dish success story means connecting people with their food and bringing community members knowledge about where their food comes from,” Cohen said. “I’m excited for others to join us in this feeling of solidarity.” * sienna.vance@temple.edu

“It was more music than actual jokes.

It was pretty boring. The people that went before him were better.”

URWA SIDDIQUI

FRESHMAN | BIOLOGY

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT LET THE PHORCE BE WITH YOU

MONTHLY MUSIC VIDEOS

Star Wars characters stormed Citizens Bank Park at a Phillies game on Aug. 22. Darth Vadar threw the first pitch.

PAGE 16

Honah Lee, a punk band from New Jersey, decided eight months ago to make a music video every month for a year.

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temple-news.com

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

PAGE 13

Bringing music back to schools Nonprofit music organization, Musicopia, fuels in-school music programs across the city.

C

EMILY ROLEN A&E Editor

arrie Lessene, 55, always tells her choir students where she lives.

“They always say to me, ‘Ms. Carrie, you’re gonna leave us next year,’ and I always tell them, ‘I live right near here,’” she said. “‘My church is right around the corner. I’m not gonna leave, don’t y’all know that by now?’”

Lessene, a teaching artist, grew up in Philadelphia, just like the kids that she instructs in her choir and piano classes with Musicopia, a nonprofit music educational organization that provides in-school music residences, workshops, assemblies, music education and instrument donations to schools in the city.

“I bring that urban connection,” Lessene, going on her eighth year with the organization, said. “I grew up here. There’s a lot of things that I’ve done.

Sometimes the ones that don’t know me, they ask me where I live like I’m not from here and I’m like, nuhuh, I live right here. So I say, if I can do that, you can do that. I’m here.”

Patti Stewart, Musicopia program director, said that North Philadelphia schools like George G. Meade Elementary and Tanner G. Duckrey Elementary aren’t getting enough funding from the school district to build an adequate art program and they’re not alone.

As a former administrator at Arise Academy Charter High School, Stewart said that there are problems with the school district and the state that aren’t improving art programs in schools all across the city.

“Philadelphia is in major trouble and people don’t realize it,” Stewart said. “I have had the unfortunate experience of working in the schools. I have the experience of knowing what difference Musicopia made inside, rather than outside.”

Stewart said that during her time at Arise Academy, the first charter school in the country for foster children, sometimes the only qualified teachers coming in to the school were Musicopia teachers.

“Not only did I get to experience how bad these kids plight was, but I saw what a total wreck the school district was,” Stewart said. “A total wreck.”

Stewart said that the situation in the schools has only gotten worse since 2005, but with Musicopia’s 40th anniversary coming up this year, the long-term benefits of the non-profit continue to have an impact on the schools and neighborhoods. Lessene, having grown up in the North Philly neighborhoods, knows just how impactful the arts can be for these kids.

“Because of the Philadelphia school system, I learned a lot of music,” Lessene said. “I had excellent teachers, but that was back when music mattered in the school system. For them to now take out music I don’t think they realize it’s not just learning a C from a D it touches so many other avenues of a child.

Because of the music I learned as a child, I was able to travel, to experience things. And they’re taking it

Scientists and gamers collaborated to put real chemicals back on the shelves.

B

COURTESY MUSICOPIA

Musicopia teaching artist Carrie Lessene has been teaching kids at George G. Meade school and Tanner G. Duckery Elementary for the past eight years.

away from the kids.”

Roger Lee, another Musicopia teaching artist who recently completed his first 10-week residency inside Meade, Duckrey and Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, brought hip-

hop dance into the organization’s repertoire.

“I thought it would resonate with this community, especially in North Philly,” Lee said. “I saw it

MUSICOPIA PAGE 18

Live show gives statistics a voice German artist collective Rimini Protokoll will bring their signature performance to TPAC. PAIGE GROSS Assistant A&E Editor Erica Atwood is a self-proclaimed cat-lover, wine-drinker and educated Gen-Xer. She represents one percent of Philadelphia, according to German artist collective Rimini Protokoll, whose members plan to give life to statistics this September with “100% Philadelphia,” a FringeArts project and continuation of their series featured in cities across the world. Atwood, the external affairs and community engagement specialist for the city of Philadelphia, was the first “non-actor” chosen for this performance following the same guidelines that are practiced in each city the show is performed in.

“We chose Atwood as our first ‘non-actor’ because we knew that she was comfortable with public speaking, reliable and would have the connec-

A&E DESK 215-204-7416

Smart phone apps and science: it’s chemistry

tions needed to get the chain going,” Sarah Bishop-Stone, programming manager for FringeArts, said.

To be a part of the performance, Atwood is required to know one other person on the stage and they also must represent one percent of the most recent census from Philadelphia. The performance will consist of 100 people who, together, represent 100 percent of the city.

“We look at gender, age, race, neighborhood, family situation and we build this chain of people who are somehow connected,” Bishop-Stone said. “When it’s all said and done, everyone should know somebody else on the stage.”

So far, the recruiting process, which began in January, has brought the total number of participants to 75.

All of them are connected in some way or another and represent all different races, cultures and hobbies within Philadelphia. FringeArts worked with many community organizations to recruit the “non-actors” to represent the city.

Bishop-Stone said that while it was surprisingly easy to find people

FRINGE PAGE 16

ARTSandENTERTAINMENT@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM

DONNA FANELLE TTN

elieve it or not, science, particularly chemistry, was incredibly popular with American teenage boys around the 1950s, so much so that kids started wanting chemistry sets that contained real chemicals.

Some even contained uranium and due to concerns about safety, chemistry sets fell as fast as they ALBERT HONG had risen during the Geeking Out ‘60s and ‘70s.

With laws like the Toxic Substances Control Act, chemsets these days are lacking the most important materials needed: actual chemicals.

The Chemical Heritage Foundation, an organization trying to incorporate dialougue about science and technology in society, has brought the vintage chemset back with their new iPad game, ChemCrafter, developed by local design studio Bluecadet Interactive.

CHF, a local museum/library focused on the history of chemical sciences and more, held their second Game Night on First Friday of this month. The museum floor was open to visitors who wanted to see the history of chemistry and its applications today, including some actual vintage chemistry sets from companies like the Porter Chemical Company and A.C. Gilbert.

Amanda Shields, Curator of Fine Arts and Registrar at CHF, detailed the importance that these vintage chemsets had on influencing past and present chemists.

“We actually have quotes from famous chemists that were inspired by their experiences with chemsets to go into the field,” Shields said. “That was the heyday of the chemistry set.”

Shelley Wilks Geehr, director of the Roy T. Eddleman Institute of CHF, discussed with Eddleman the possibility of bringing back the chemistry set, this time through an iPad app.

“The reason that chemistry sets aren’t fun anymore is because they don’t have chemicals, but in the digital environment, you can have all the chemicals you want because nobody gets hurt,” Geehr said. “You can’t poison the cat.”

However, with no technical expertise, Geehr had to look elsewhere for a group to be able to develop something for teenagers to enjoy. Luckily, Bluecadet was just the technical talent she was looking for, recently having worked on the interactive screens for the PMA’s Treasures from Korea exhibition and the redesigned website for Tyler School of Art. Rebecca Smith, Kathryn Stracquatanio and Aaron Richardson were the core team behind ChemCrafter, which was developed in the Unity 3D engine.

In ChemCrafter, you have a chemistry lab laid out in front of you where you can experiment with water, acids and salts, all displayed in a ‘50s cartoon style with accompanying music. You create various chemical reactions through touchscreen tasks like mixing, shaking beakers and turning on burners.

It was a challenge for the team

CHEMISTRY PAGE 18

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Uncle/Father Oscar

JARED WHALEN TTN

Members of the five-piece band, Uncle/Father Oscar, are entering the emo-punk band scene in Philadelphia with a new split with A Day Without Love.

The emo-punk band released a split with Philly band A Day Without Love on Aug. 19.

JARED WHALEN The Temple News When a band douses itself in pop-culture obscurity, it can either light up in clever wit or crash and burn like a bad joke. The former is the case for emo-punk band, Uncle/Father Oscar. Borrowing its name from “Arrested Development” and including Men in Black voice-overs in its songs, the band does not take itself too seriously. Comedy driven lyrics, quirky guitar hooks and catchy vocal lines characterize the band’s music.

The Delaware County band formed in the summer of 2013. Later that year, the band’s first EP, “Whami Guam Brad” was released. Uncle/ Father Oscar released a split with Philly band, A Day Without Love on Aug.19. The album, “A Day Without Oscar,” was recorded with Jake Detwiler of Fresh Produce Studios.

Uncle/Father Oscar features Dallas Scott, a senior film and media production major, on guitar and vocals, Kyle Bosler on bass, Keith Rogers on drums and vocals, Kevin Rogers on guitar and Tom Conran on tenor guitar.

The Temple News: How did everyone in the band meet and start playing together?

Tom Conran: I have been playing music

with Dallas since ninth grade. The next two to meet were Dallas and Kevin, I was at school when that happened. But yeah, we came together and recorded the first EP at different places that we had access to. Some of it was the best of places in terms of fidelity wise. I then had to run off to college and finish up my degree, so we agreed upon Kyle rocking out the bass. Since coming back it’s been playing catch up with learning and crafting parts for the older and newer songs, but now here we are!

Dallas Scott: I’ve played in bands with Tom forever. Then he went to Michigan and I asked Kevin to play. So we did. Then Tom came back and now we’re unstoppable forever.

TTN: What are some bands that have influenced your music?

Kevin Rogers: Dallas is the indie-rock guy.

Keith is the pop-star. Kyle is the radio rock guy.

I’m the punk guy and Tom just likes weird s---.

Kyle Bosler: As far as a band, we come from many different influences. I enjoy many genres.

Some bands that inspire me are Circa Survive, The Fall of Troy, Incubus, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Goo Goo Dolls, Queens of the Stone Age and many more.

DS: Without Green Day I never would’ve picked up a guitar, but without my uncle I never would’ve kept playing. So it’s always been a really personally evolving thing. In a contemporary sense, bands like Joyce Manor, Hop Along, Glocca Morra and Dikembe are a big deal to me. But then Say Anything, Modest Mouse, Brand New and Vampire Weekend have some of my favorite

albums. So yeah, it’s all over the map.

Keith Rogers: Snowing, Algernon Cadwallader, This Town Needs Guns, American Football.

TC: Mars Volta, This Town Needs Guns, Radiohead, Supertramp – I’ve been on a big “Crime of the Century” kick right now.

Kevin R: The Beatles, The Clash, Fugazi, Dinosaur Jr., Weezer, Cap’n Jazz and of course beer and weed.

DS: Put Dinosaur Jr. for me too. J Mascis gives me life.

Kevin R: No man, it’s too late man.

TTN: Tell me a bit about your upcoming split with A Day Without Love.

DS: We personally think it has really shown how our songwriting keeps evolving. It was a quick weekend, but it meant a lot for us to get these songs on a split with our friends. Plus, Fresh Produce is cool and Jake is just so handsome.

TTN: Describe your experience as a band in the Philadelphia music scene.

KB: It’s an awesome feeling. Having people that care about us that aren’t from our area. It’s an honor to play with so many good bands. It’s a great way to make new friends.

DS: Philly is a charming crust punk who likes hip-hop and scares you a little but will buy you a soda if you’re short 50 cents. Work a little hard and it’ll have a basement for you somewhere.

TC: It’s really awesome, for me, coming from a town where 10,000 make up a huge town.

I always was around the scene and never could jump into it because of school, but now that I am back I am loving it.

Keith R: It’s been really cool playing basement shows and getting to hang out with other people who are as driven to make music as us.

Kevin R: Everyone has been really nice to us and seems to like us and I like everybody as well.

It’s a really nice community in Philly. Best city in the world.

TTN: Outside of listening to music, what have been some experiences that influence your writing?

KB: With Uncle/Father Oscar, they inspire me to become a better musician. I think we all feed off each other. As far as my other projects go, experience inspires me.

DS: I love comedy too much. Our name is from one of the greatest scripted sitcoms of our generation. So I think it translates into music.

Keep it tight, catchy, goofy, sporadic, chaotic and sad.

Keith R: Batman, Mike Barbs, human experience, Adrien Brody.

Kevin R: Just people around me, where I’m from and life in general. I feel like when I write lyrics I usually don’t write about myself, but about people I know or people around me or people I used to know.

TC: Literature, of all sorts, really helps me find some of the parts I play. I really like to read with my instrument in order to seek inspiration for some parts that I am having trouble working in. * jared.michael.whalen@temple.edu

FASHION

Brothers capture Philly spirit on T-shirts Nick and Vincent Sannuti created a clothing brand to capture the Philadelphia spirit.

CAITLIN O’CONNELL The Temple News Nick and Vincent Sannuti each attended colleges with different goals in mind – neither of which was business.

Nick took off for St. Joseph’s University as a food and marketing major while Vincent went to Temple to pursue legal studies. What neither of them knew at the time was that their shared interest in capturing the spirit of Philadelphia would bring about their biggest endeavor to date.

In 2010, the Sannuti brothers founded Aphillyated Apparel, a Philadelphia-inspired clothing brand.

The brand began when the brothers took on jobs in college marketing for different companies using social media.

One project they took on was building a page for the Chuck Norris Facts about eight years ago.

It became one of the top 10 most viewed pages on Facebook. Their success with the Chuck Norris Facts Facebook page led other companies to advertise on the page, in hopes of being noticed.

“We got good at it quick,” Nick Sannuti said.

“There was no competition at the time and people started offering us money to market for them.”

This success led the brothers to the conclusion that they could start their own brand and use social media as a tool. “[We thought] we’re killing it with social media, let’s just do our own thing,” Vincent Sannuti said.

In 2009, the No. 1 licensed T-shirt retailer for the Chuck Norris brand reached out to the Sannuti brothers to advertise on their page, which led to a marketing collaboration with CrazyDog Tshirts.com out of Rochester, New York.

This collaboration experience gave the

brothers the motivation to produce and market their own product.

“We said, ‘Hey, if we’re able to do this for not just the Chuck Norris brand but for the Rochester, N.Y. T-shirts, we can do that for Philadelphia and do it ourselves,” Nick Sannuti said.

Fed up with the unoriginal Philadelphia-inspired T-shirts they saw all over the city, the Sannuti brothers decided to take matters into their own hands. The brothers created various designs for apparel displaying Philadelphia pride in eyecatching ways.

Nick Sannuti said he believes their integrity and passion for creating a quality and marketable product is what separates them from other brands.

The brothers wanted to create apparel that would last all year, as opposed to the Philadelphia sports apparel that is more popular during a sports season.

“We have timeless designs, lasting designs,” Nick Sannuti said.

In 2011, Aphillyated Apparel began to get noticed by various celebrities from Philadelphia, which substantially increased citywide awareness of the brand.

Vincent Sannuti’s Entertainment Law professor from Temple represented Philadelphia Phillie Jimmy Rollins at the time, which led to a merchandising relationship between the player and Aphillyated.

Also around this time rapper Meek Mill garnered world-wide exposure for the brand when he wore an Aphillyated T-shirt during one of his music videos.

“It helped put our brand on the map,” Nick Sanutti said. “It’s nice to say that we’ve shipped to over 60 different countries.”

The brand has co-signed with various celebrities like the Philadelphia Eagles, the Phillies, the Sixers and the Flyers, as well as the band Boyz II Men. One of their most popular designs features the “LOVE” logo of LOVE Park fame made up of the names of the various neighborhoods that make up Philadelphia. Another popular design

courtesy aphillyated apparel

Nick (left) and Vincent Sannuti started Aphillyated Apparel in 2010.

that gain significant attention is simply the words “Cheesesteaks & Hoagies & Soft Pretzels & Wooder Ice,” four foods considered specialties of Philadelphia.

After starting out with only 200 T-shirts and one table of inventory, the company now has three storage rooms filled with their apparel and sells “tens of thousands” of those “Wooder Ice” T-shirts a year.

“We want to make T-shirts where people walk up to you and say, ‘Where did you get that?

I love it, I want to buy that shirt,’” Nick Sannuti said.

Both brothers credit the influence and advertising partnerships of Slam Magazine and Tony Luke’s management team with their recent success.

“It’s about making those connections early and figuring out where you want your brand to be and how you’re gonna get it there,” Nick San-

nuti said.

In order to take their brand and business to the next level the Sannuti brothers decided to open up a full service creative agency called The Blake Anthony Group, which has become the parent company of Aphillyated. The nature of this agency includes graphic design work, web development and social media marketing.

The Sannuti brothers said they are happy with where their brand has gone and plan to continue to grow and expand Aphillyated one Phillyinspired design at a time.

“You do have to be a little crazy to start a clothing business when you have all those other opportunities, but this has turned out to be a great decisions for us,” Nick Sanutti said. “Sometimes you have to take a risk.” * caitlin.oconnell@temple.edu

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 15

ART

Mission trip helps writer discover ‘her story’ MJ Moyer-Fittipaldi hopes to benefit a young girl she met in Costa Rica with her poetry.

VICTORIA MIER The Temple News MJ Moyer-Fittipaldi had been thinking hard about sponsoring a child through Pura Vida Missions for quite some time.

She was inspired by her experiences volunteering in Costa Rica and was just waiting on the right moment.

“I had been praying a lot about sponsoring,” Moyer-Fittipaldi, a double major in media studies and production and journalism, said before departing on a nine-week internship with Pura Vida, an organization that prepares and sends teams on mission trips.

One hot, tropical morning this summer, she had her chance.

Moyer-Fittipaldi walked into a loud, frenzied conversation in the Pura Vida sponsorship office on her morning off. After a few minutes, she discerned the commotion was about a miscommunication which had left a child without a sponsor.

That child was Jessica, a 16 year old who loves Adele, Bruno Mars and One Direction.

Jessica has four older siblings who she no longer lives with, as they were taken away due to her mother’s inability to care for them.

“It was crazy – that moment, that coincidence,” Moyer-Fittipaldi said. “I thought, let’s do it.”

The two quickly discovered that music is an incredibly important aspect to each of their lives when Jessica brought her guitar to dinner and played it for Moyer-Fittipaldi. Their original connection over music proved deeper when

Jessica opened up to Moyer-Fittipaldi about her home life.

“Talking to her about her struggles brings me to my own story, I guess,” Moyer-Fittipaldi said. “I’ve been through a lot, and most people don’t know, just because I put it behind me.”

The price tag for trying to better Jessica’s life, both financially and spiritually, is about $360 a year. Though that’s about a dollar a day, Moyer-Fittipaldi admits that as a college student, she is concerned she simply will not be able to make enough.

She plans on supplementing her small student income with prize winnings from poetry slam competitions in order to pay for the sponsorship. Moyer-Fittipaldi said she recognizes she is a new player in a competitive game, but hopes that her reasons for performing will be enough to take her to the top.

There is a healthy catharsis in performing, as well, Moyer-Fittipaldi said. It allows her to

Moyer-Fittipaldi took a trip to Costa Rica with Pura Vida, an organization that send teams on mission trips.

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deal with her own struggles, but also provides a tool with which she can help others to come to terms with the rough patches in their lives.

“I’ve basically been writing nonstop,” Moyer-Fittipaldi said, calling her experiences in Costa Rica a good source for material. She hopes that her long background in writing poetry since childhood will help make her poetry slam debut a bit easier.

Though she said she recognizes a Christian slam-poet competing in the hopes of raising money for a young girl in Costa Rica is a little unorthodox, Moyer-Fittipaldi simply smiles, shrugs and quotes her favorite Christian rapper, Lecrae.

“If you live by other people’s approval, you’ll die by their rejection.” * victoria.mier@temple.edu

PHYLANDRA MCFADDIN TTN | COURTESY MJ MOYER-FITTIPALDI

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

FringeArts puts nonactors on the stage FRINGE PAGE 13 of Vietnamese and Native American descent as part of the chain, they are having trouble finding white men in the Northeast to connect in the chain.

Atwood, who has never performed in Philadelphia before, will kick off the show as number one. “‘100% Philadelphia’ seems like a very cool way to represent the city I love and call home,” Atwood said of her decision to join the project.

The performance, which will be held at Temple Performing Arts Center Sept. 19-21, will be pay as you wish. The performance space was chosen for its proximity to public transportation and availability to the community.

“We wanted someone who has never been to a theater production before to feel comfortable walking in the doors and taking in the show,” Bishop-Stone said.

The show will consist of many parts, including reenactments of the performers’ days, as well as question and answer sessions in which the performers will be forced to identify certain traits by stating “me” or “not me.”

“This is an opportunity for us as Philadelphians to tell our narrative directly and authentically,” Atwood said. “For generations, our stories get told on stages or in headlines that have no real context of who we really are and what’s really important to us.”

Rimini Protokoll has organized and shown this production all across the world in cities like London, Melbourne and Krakow, with scripts customized to the city in which it is performed.

The artists will come to Main Campus Sept.

15 for an Artist Talk about the performance at Paley Library.

“You will see the difference between the mothers and children getting ready for their day at work and school early in the morning and the bike messenger who wakes up at noon and parties into the night,” Bishop-Stone said. “You will watch the life of the city in 24 hours.”

ANDREW THAYER TTN

Characters from the Star Wars saga roamed the concourse during the Aug. 22 Phillies Game. Darth Vadar threw the ceremonial first pitch.

* paige.gross1@temple.edu T @By_paigegross

MUSIC

Punk band releases monthly music videos After a hiatus, Honah Lee is trying a new tactic to gain a larger fanbase.

BRIANNA SPAUSE The Temple News

with their collective motto to “Put the fun back in rock and roll.”

Releases have explored several concepts, including “Party Goggles,” the tale of Ricky the hand puppet as he became the life of a house-partygone-wild, and “I Should Go,” a how-to on tough punk videos.

“On [the] record, there’s this energy that you don’t get

from most bands,” guitarist Dim said, describing Honah Lee’s attitude. “Whether you like us, know us, or hate us you’re still going to watch. You’re going to watch to see, are they tight?

Will they fall apart? Will they break bones? Are they going to throw stuff?”

“Are they going to shoot us in the eye with tequila?” Hoh Jr. said. “Because all of those

things have happened.”

In the middle of all of the fun that has been had filming the past eight videos, August’s edition “Time Flies” has been the most surreal experience, Hoh said.

The band partnered with the Sage Coalition to transform a space in downtown Trenton’s Ghandi Garden with a mural of the Honah Lee boys. Artists

from the inner-city beautification project Wil Kasso and Lank were filmed in the process of creating the graffiti artwork on July 13, while the band members hung out with fans.

“We have been able to include a lot of fans. We shot a video in North Jersey, we shot one on an off day on tour in Michigan,” Hoh said. “We’re trying to get as many of our fans

Tim, Jim, Dim and Tony just got tired of waiting around.

“Right when we got to backing vocals in the studio last year, Jim got sick and was in the hospital for a little while,” lead singer Tim Hoh Jr. said of bassist Jim Graz’s bad case of meningitis. “We wanted to stay proactive, so we said if we could get a couple of songs done, and exploit Tony’s talents, we could be doing something to stay in front of everyone’s eyes.”

Honah Lee, the four-piece punk band from Trenton took the new opportunity 2014 brought after last year’s unplanned hiatus and have been releasing a new music video every month for the entire year.

Honah Lee has kept the video production of its upcoming album, “33 on 45” DIY style, and put its drummer to work. Tony Goggles has been the director, editor and driving creative force behind the monthly music video releases.

“Oh, it’s been great,” Goggles said sarcastically, running his hand through a greying head of hair. “I had pitch black hair when we started.”

Goggle’s light humor is matched by the rest of the band’s, which translates heavily into its music videos, along Band members Tim Hoh Jr., Jim, Dim and Tony Goggles started making one music video a month for a year.

BRIANNA SPAUSE TTN

involved in the videos as we can because that gets them excited to see it. They’ll share it with their friends and that’s a lot of people getting involved.”

Last year’s down time prepared the members of Honah Lee to be thrown into the spotlight, especially from the videos that were filmed on a whim, Goggles said.

“We have four more videos to shoot, and when it’s done I think I’m really going to miss how fun it’s been,” Hoh said.

“We’ve gotten to do some things that people don’t get to do in their entire lives.

The entire collection of music videos for “33 on 45” will be released as a DVD on Nov. 26, at Honah Lee’s Thanksgiving’s Eve record release party at Trenton’s Mill Hill venue. The DVD will feature all 13 songs in visual format, as well as a pop-up single, “I Hate My Job” with behind the scenes footage.

Until then, Honah Lee will be making their rounds in Philadelphia with a show at The Fire on Sept. 16, and Kung Fu Necktie on Sept. 21 – all the while, on the lookout for new ideas.

“We basically have been able to get everything we have ever wanted, except for a Mariachi Band,” Goggles said. “There’s one walking the streets of Trenton all the time, except for the day I need them, they’re no where to be found.” * brianna.spause@temple.edu

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 18

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

App puts chemicals back on shelf CHEMISTRY PAGE 13

to find a balance between holding the players’ hands too much through overly-detailed experiments and giving too much freedom, which would likely cause players to only produce one successful reaction out of 100 different possibilites.

“There’s so much science and there are so many ways that we can play,” Stracquatanio, a user experience developer at Bluecadet, said. “How do we organize all this data and all these formulas into a gameplay that continually ramps up for the user?”

As the player advances through each experiment in three books, they are given new materials to play with and more energy earned after each successful experiment, netting the player special badges to show off to friends. There are even five hidden reactions to compel more experimentation.

In order to immerse itself with its clients and the world of chemistry, the team at Bluecadet did a lot of research on their own as well as got their hands on some vintage chemsets through eBay to stay ahead of the game in terms of development.

“We really pride ourselves on finding the best interactive experience for the client and really understanding what that is,” Smith said. “We really try to evolve with the audiences and the tech environment.”

You can download the game for free on the iPad now. For Android tablet users, talks are already in place for a compatible version, as well as a sequel in which three more books would be added.

OUT & ABOUT SHEPARD FAIREY MURAL TAGGED

The fresh paint on Shepard Fairey’s new mural in Fishtown had barely dried before being tagged, because of the scaffolding left next to the finished piece. Executive Director of Mural Arts, Jane S. Golden, who worked with Fairey to create the mural at 1228 Frankford Avenue, released a brief statement on Twitter.

This particular mural, “Lotus Diamond,” was completed on Aug. 8 and a dedication ceremony was held the same day. Fairey is schedule to complete two other pieces in Philadelphia this year.

-Victoria Mier

FIRST-EVER COMEDY WEEK

ALBERT HONG TTN

The Chemical Heritage Foundation and Bluecadet Interactive collaborate to give a fun alternative to playing with real chemicals free on the iPad.

Starting Aug. 25, the Shubin Theater in Queens Village, will host $5 Comedy Week. The Comedy Week is the first in Philly and will run until Sunday. There are more than 30 shows planned for the week, so wrist bands with unlimited access are available for $25.

-Emily Rolen

* albert.hong@temple.edu

FRINGEARTS RETURNS TO PHILLY

Philadelphia’s famous FringeArts is boasting a full September of events for its 2014 Fringe Festival.

The series of events will run from Sept. 5-21.

“The Adults,” a piece of physical theatre presented

by New Paradise Laboratories and influenced by Anton Chekhov, will make make its world debut at the festival. The successful and heavily praised Pig Iron Theatre Company will also participate in the Festival with performances of “99 Breakups” at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

-Victoria Mier

FARM 51 OPEN THURSDAYS

Farm 51, a small-scale educational urban farm located in Southwest Philly, is open Thursdays from 4:30 to 7 p.m. The farmstand is located adjacent to 5107 Chester Ave. The farm is committted to healthy, fresh food and educating the surrounding neighborhood.

-Emily Rolen

HIGH STREET ON MARKET NO.2

Musicopia, a nonprofit that teaches kids musical appreciation, has been brining instruments and instruction into schools for 40 years.

courtesy musicopia

Nonprofit celebrates 40th anniversary MUSICOPIA PAGE 13 as a really educational program for the kids.”

With 15 years of teaching experience, Lee said that the “transformations make it all worthwhile” because he is not only teaching dance routines, he is striving to teach the kids life skills.

“You could be at an F and go to a D-, and that’s great for me,” he said.

“It doesn’t have to be an A with me. I just want to see some growth.”

Meredith Haines, Musicopia program manager and 2012 Temple graduate in dance and sociology, said her experience living in North Philadelphia was a “wake up call.”

“It made me more aware of the populations in Philadelphia that weren’t being reached,” Haines said.

Stewart said the question is not whether Musicopia programs are impacting lives in schools – it’s whether or not they graduate eighth grade and never have the same opportunities to stay connected to the arts.

“Education has become a business, as it must,” Stewart said. “And that’s fine, but you’re not turning out a tire, a wing nut or a pencil and the stakes are much, much higher. In terms of the arts, they are the only thing in the world that makes a difference.”

Lee agreed, saying that programs like Musicopia in these schools are critical because sometimes they are some of the only ways for kids to develop skills outside of the classroom like respect, leadership, confidence and

manners.

It’s just as necessary as hospitals and other things that we give money to,” Lee said. “It’s not curing cancer, but it’s curing other things that we don’t talk about, that you don’t see on a regular basis.”

Lee had an experience with a young girl with body image issues during his residency this past spring. He said at the beginning of the 10 weeks she couldn’t walk down the hallway with her head held high, let alone put on a costume and dance on stage. However, by the end of the residency, her growth was palatable.

“People who were creating the budget got to see that girl who had no self-confidence, who was finally OK with her body by the end of the residency,” Lee said. “That makes a difference. They saw how kids are building confidence and leadership skills here. This program makes it possible. Without us and other programs like us, there would be no arts.”

High Street on Market, was rated as the No. 2 Best New Restaurant in America by Bon Apetit magazine. The restaurant is located in the Old City, at 308 Market St. The menu includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, and is especially known for its bread. The magazine calls it “Philly’s gluten-worshipping all-day cafe.”

-Emily Rolen

SOUTH PHILLY GARDEN TOUR

On Saturday, Sept. 6, South Philly will host its fourth annual South Philly Garden Tour. The tours are self-guided and explore 16 gardens in the neighborhood. Some of the gardens include Isaiah Zagar murals – better known as the artist behind the Magic Gardens – a Japanese tea garden, gardens that have been in families for generations and an herb garden with a wishing well. Tickets can be purchased for $20 online and $25 at the door. The event is a fundraiser for the South Philly Food Co-op. The tours begin from Gold Star Park, at 613 Wharton St.

-Emily Rolen

* emily.rolen@temple.edu T @Emily_Rolen

TRENDING IN PHILLY What’s happening this week in Philly from news and store openings, to music events and restaurant openings. For breaking news and daily updates, follow The Temple News on Twitter @TheTempleNews.

DILWORTH PARK SET TO OPEN SEPT. 4

NUTTER SUPPORTS LOCAL LITTLE LEAGUE

@uwishunu tweeted on Aug. 20 that Dilworth Park will open on Sept. 4. The green space will feature trees, a fountain, a café and a winter ice rink. Center City welcomes this space with three days of grand opening festivities.

@Michael_Nutter tweeted congratulations to the Pennsylvania Little League champions, the Taney Dragons, on Aug. 23.

Nutter met the team at Love Park for a celebration with the players and their families on Aug. 24.

HARBOR PARK CLOSING AUG. 31

FREE COMIC DAY TO BE HELD MAY 3

@visitphilly tweeted Aug. 21 a link to a dozen things to do at Spruce Street Harbor Park before the season closing on Aug. 31. The pop-up park features outdoor games and hammocks to watch the sunset or to take a picture in the giant VisitPhilly chair.

@Philamuseum tweeted a link on Aug. 19 to arteverywhereus.org, and a movement to show off the “largest outdoor art show ever conceived” that can be seen across the country until the end of the month.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

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PAGE 19

Congratulations

to our excellent student organizations!

These organizations and many others are listed in the Organization Director y on on owlconnect.temple.edu.

Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Pi Rho Chapter Alpha Sigma Rho Sorority, Inc. American Medical Student Association Asociacion de Estudiantes Latinos Babel Poetry Collective Black Student Union Cherry Crusade Chinese Students & Scholars Associaton D2D: Dare To Dance Delta Phi Epsilon Delta Zeta Sorority Exercise Science Association of Temple University Haitian Student Organization Having Ambition N' Devotion for Service Hoot Paranormal HootaThon InMotion Dance Insomnia Theater International Student Association Iota Nu Delta Fraternity Inc. Low Key: The Show Choir Experience Model UN

Muslim Students Association National Council of Negro Women, Inc. Temple Section National Society of Collegiate Scholars Owl Exercise and Sport Psychology Research and Consultation Society Phi Sigma Sigma Pi Lambda Phi Fraternity PA Alpha Delta Chapter Psi Chi Queer Student Union South Asian Students Society of Temple University Student Organization for Caribbean Awareness Students for Environmental Action Temple Ad Club Temple Arab Student Society Temple College Democrats Temple Pre-Physical Therapy Association Temple University Asian Students Association Temple University Gamers Guild Temple University Operation Smile Temple University Philippine American Council Temple Vietnamese Student Association

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

Local high school proves power of science education Students at a local high school took second place at the 2014 National MESA competition.

ALEXA BRICKER Assistant Lifestyle Editor After more than 150 hours of brainstorming and building, the George Washington Carver High School of Engineering and Science robotics team could breathe a sigh of relief.

The group, consisting of sophomores Kai Tinsley, Jesus Davaloz, Marcus Seawright Jr. and George Baidoo Jr. had the opportunity to take their fully functioning robotic arm to the 2014 National MESA competition in Portland this past June, where they came in second place.

The journey was a long road for the students, who had been working since last year to design, plan and construct the arm. It was also the first time that a robotics team from the school, built in 1979 in partnership with Temple, had competed at the National MESA’s.

“It was something that the kids were really building up towards and we felt very confident and ready for ADVERTISEMENTS

the competition,” said Ted Domers, the school’s prinicpal.

In April, the team received first place at the Pennsylvania MESA competition held at Temple’s College of Engineering, qualifying them to represent Temple and the Pennsylvania MESA at nationals.

Domers said that the project was entirely extracurricular, with the students sometimes staying at school until 6 p.m. The students also had full responsibility for the design plan and what materials to use in the construction.

“So much of what [the students] did was completely intuitive – coming from their own creativity,” Domers said. “It wasn’t something that they did over one weekend. They spent time on it, they collaborated on it.”

Some of the group members had to balance additional after school activities, as well as a full course load, which Domers said often includes multiple AP courses for students.

Baidoo, who joined the team last year as a replacement for a former member, said that understanding how difficult the competition would be at every stage is what helped keep him going.

“I knew it would only get tougher after [the Pennsylvania MESA

COURTESY GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER HIGH SCHOOL FOR ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE

Students at George Washington Carver celebrate their second place win.

competition], so I kept my game face on,” Baidoo said.

At the national competition, students were expected to complete a series of tasks using the robotic arm.

Baidoo said that creating prototypes for each scenario was the most time consuming part of the project, taking up 76 of the 150 total hours.

Although they spent an enormous amount of time and energy on preparing for every situation the judges could throw at them, Baidoo said that an idea from Davaloz, the team’s leader, is what put the group over the edge.

“I think one thing the judges saw in us was the revolutionary idea that our leader [Davaloz] came up with: to add the blood pressure cuff,” Baidoo said. “This was new because you [have] an item that can now be made to adjust to numerous sizes of arms.

That was just phenomenal.”

For Domers and other faculty members at the school, the win has been particularly meaningful because of the difficulties that the Philadelphia school district has faced in recent years and the tendency to overlook students from the city at competitions like this.

“There are many programs like ours throughout the city that deserve recognition, especially in light of the financial turmoil in the district now,” John Ciccarelli, a science teacher at George Washington Carver, said.

“These are powerful success stories that demonstrate what our kids can do and how great and deserving they are.” * alexa.bricker@temple.edu T @Alexa_Bricker17

LIFESTYLE

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

PAGE 21

Professor aims to add more girls to mathematics equation by hosting an annual summer program MATH PAGE 11

and mentor the girls. Because Mitrea wants to “She was definitely enthusiastic about the bring “a variety of interests” to the program, way things were formatted with the games,” the students’ majors also include chemistry, Neah said. “She did have some difficulty bioengineering, chemical engineering and last school year, so I feel like she defiphysics. nitely got a refresher “It is a chance for the on issues that were middle school girls to become passed over by her close with someone who is teacher.” very passionate and knowlSarah said she edgeable about the field,” Mienjoyed the alltrea said. “If you have good girls aspect of the female instructors and good program. female teachers, this makes a “I think it huge difference for the girls.” made a difference Jennifer Hartman, a 2013 because girls can alum and secondary math edurelate better than cation major, was a mentor in boys,” Sarah said. the program in 2012 and 2013.

“Boys won’t be there Hartman said she initially bothering you and bejoined the program because it Irina Mitrea / professor ing a distraction.” provided experience in teachThe Girls and ing mathematics.

Mathematics Pro“I hadn’t done anything like that before,” gram at Temple University takes place Hartman said. “I think it gave them a sense of in Room 220 and 223 of the Howard community being around each other and get- Gittis Student Center. This past summer ting involved in all of these activities and see- the program ran from July 7-11, for five ing what math is really about.” hours each day.

Sarah El, a a seventh-grade student at AlIn 2014, Mitrea collected 400 more bert M. Greenfield School, participated in the applications than the program was able program this past summer. to accommodate. She said the program Sarah’s mother, Neah El, said the program receives “very humbling and overwhelmnoticeably enhanced Sarah’s mathematic skills. ing” feedback.

“It is a chance

for the middle school girls to become close with someone who is very passionate and knowledgeable about the field.

”

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. Mitrea said the girls come from different types of schooling, and many of the girls come from North Philadelphia and areas outside of the city and New Jersey.

“We’ve had a very diverse group that comes to the program,” Mitrea said. “I’ve never worked with such a diverse group before, which I think is a tremendous asset – to be able to teach kids that have all kinds of different backgrounds. [Temple] is the perfect home for the program.”

Hartman said the week was “empowering” and helped to build confidence in the girls, especially in those who seemed shy in the beginning of the program. If boys were allowed to enroll in the program, Hartman said she doesn’t think girls would make the same amount of progress.

“I don’t think the girls would be as active and participating as much as they were,” Hartman said. “I think they felt more comfortable being around each

other only.”

Mitrea said the Girls and Mathematics Program at Temple University has received national recognition. She was recently invited to teach a similar course over the summer at Brown University.

“What we offer is unique. The professionals are highly qualified to teach mathematics,” Mitrea said. “It makes this experience, we hope, a life-changing one for many girls. Many of our students, if they can still come the next year, they do.”

This year, a 37-year-old Iranian female mathematician named Maryam Mirzakhani will be the first ever female to be awarded the Fields Medal, widely considered the Nobel Prize of math by those in the field.

“We’re on the right track,” Mitrea said.

“Over the years we’ve gotten more and more attention. Our goal is to be able to create a professional network that will support these girls throughout the years, no matter what they chose to do.” * claire.sasko@temple.edu T @clairesasko

COURTESY RYAN BRANDENBERG

Grad a loser on show, winner at home OSBORNE PAGE 11 said, adding that he’s never previously watched the show but DVR’d it just to see Osborne on television. “When he’d need to be a leader, he’d be a leader, like the day of the basketball [tournament] he was a leader. He was right on the money on the show.”

And his presence on reality TV wasn’t a far cry from his days working for Campus Recreation. Destephanis called him a “top notch” employee who worked himself up from student official to supervisor for a number of different intramural sports.

Osborne, who called his time at Campus Recreation majorly influential on his character, also recalled his senior capstone class for tourism and hospitality management.

“It was really about business and we had to carry ourselves in the best way possible,

professionally and socially,” Osborne said.

“I thought it had a big impact on my maturity level after I graduated. A lot of things that I needed to think about on camera were [taught] in that class.”

Those experiences during his college education helped him to conduct himself in the collected, respectful manner that drew viewer support, Osborne said.

His time at “The Bachelorette’s” “Malibu mansion,” where contestants live during filming, was comparable to being in a fraternity, Osborne said. He said relationships with costars weren’t at all strained due to competition. In fact, he believes he’s established lifelong friendships with some of the other men on the show.

When it comes to Dorfman, Osborne is

just happy she’s happy – if he didn’t win, he said he wanted her to “end up with the best guy.”

Rumors circling the status of his own romantic future, namely that he was in the running to be the bachelor in the upcoming season, are something Osborne said he takes day by day. While he did confirm that he won’t be returning as the new bachelor, Osborne has been using his current fan following to support some charitable events, including a 2014 Central PA Hydrocephalus Association Walk that he attended on Aug. 2 in honor of a family friend.

“If there’s a good cause, if there’s a way I can help out of course I try,” Osborne said. “If I’m available I’m always going to do something. I have to give back. The love and sup-

port I got from the central Pennsylvania area, and Temple and Philadelphia – I can’t complain.”

Though he said he’s ready to get back to just being “Coach Osborne,” the experience was “one of the coolest” he’s had, Osborne said.

“You learn so much about yourself and who you want to end up with eventually,” Osborne said. “The way I carried myself, there are little aspects that made me who I was on the show. Temple did, being a basketball coach did. I have no regrets.” * tue51444@temple.edu T @erinJustineET

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

CLIPPINGS

COURTESY RYAN BRANDENBERG

The Girls and Mathematics program at Temple University aims to propel women in a male-dominated field.

Additional grant funds new capstone The CSC received $25,000 to fund Community and Regional planning class.

SIENNA VANCE The Temple News

The Center for Sustainable Communities at Ambler Campus recently received a $25,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation to support a new capstone class in the Department of Community and Regional Planning. The class will be servicelearning based and is aimed to benefit low-income neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

The new capstone class will expand on the efforts to help promote green communities while the Wells Fargo grant will provide funding for “Green Neighborhood Toolkits,” a project targeted at providing community-based organizations with tools to educate residents about green living.

“This spring is the first time that we are offering Community and Development workshops,” Dr. Lynn Mandarano, associate professor of Community and Regional Planning, said. “I thought to make this an effective project. It helps to support the work of New Kensington.”

The New Kensington Communi-

ty Development Corporation’s ‘Sustainable 19125’ program will serve as a basis for the capstone. The corporation trained outreach volunteers called “Green Guides” to go door-to-door in the neighborhood to provide education in the field of sustainability, Mandarano said.

“The students should be really excited,” Dr. Mandarano said. “The project will give the students firsthand experience talking with and working with community leaders and residents to understand how they envision making their neighborhoods more sustainable and why. The students also will learn that achieving sustainability is a complex, challenging and long-term process as they review the multiple plans and projects that the city has created.”

This is the third grant that the Center for Sustainable Communities has received in the past six months, behind a $60,000 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant and a $1.235 million grant from the William Penn Foundation, both aimed toward watershed restoration in Philadelphia and the greater Philadelphia area.

Dr. Jeffrey Featherstone, the Director of the Center of Sustainable Communities, said that the water restoration grants are some of the largest grants that the center received this year.

“Philadelphia has not done a very good job of taking care of their water-

sheds,” Dr. Featherstone said. “Bulldozing and roads that were paved over the streams, for example, created unsanitary sewers. Now we’re trying to figure out how to restore them.”

Dr. Featherstone said that the hope is to begin at the upstream cluster of Philadelphia and turn storm water basins into infiltration facilities.

“Getting enough of them built may be difficult, but we are hoping that others may help us along the way,” he said. “Though work needs to be done, Philadelphia has become a national leader, doing more to implement green storm water management and sanitary sewers.”

The Center for Sustainable Communities is continuing to research green architecture to find solutions to the problem.

“If you can get the first inch of run-off in the ground, you’re handling 85 percent of the precipitation,” Dr. Featherstone said. “We’re working with private and public properties in Philadelphia communities, trying to implement tree trenches, green streets, green roofs and rain gardens to prevent sewer overflow.”

Trevor Klein, a graduate student in earth and environmental science who is assisting with the watershed research, said he supports the community-oriented projects funded by the recent grants.

"The most crucial aspect of sustainability is indeed that a project is

sustainable and that the funding and interest have to be in place to ensure that the project is completed and adequately assessed,” Klein said.

“I am very grateful to have this opportunity to continue building my knowledge of restoration practices and I feel that this experience will serve me very well in the future,” Klein said.

Ted Mullen, also a graduate student in the department of environmental design, said that he thinks the recent grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation will continue to provide the funds for hands-on, service-based education in the same way that the EPA and William Penn Foundation grants have.

“I think I’ve started to gain a better understanding of sustainability as a marketing or buzz word versus sustainability as a goal or an objective,” Mullen said.“There is the need to understand what the public really needs, and effectively relate and give information to them. It’s really where all these things come together that interests me, so this project has really become the perfect way for me to dip my feet in the planning field.” * sienna.vance@temple.edu

AROUND CAMPUS NEUROLOGY SERIES

On Friday, Temple University School of Medicine will host a series for the Department of Neurology. The event, Neurology’s Summer Neurologic Emergencies Series, will help attendees gain an understanding of various areas of neurologic emergencies and introduce them to the recognition and treatment of common neurologic diagnoses. Speaker Elizabeth Haberfeld will discuss movement disorders. The event starts at 8 a.m. in the Health Sciences Center in the Rock Pavilion of the Erny Auditorium. It is open to all.

A GLOBAL SHOWCASE

A global dance and music showcase will take place on Friday from 7:30-8 p.m. in the Conwell Dance Theatre, located on the fifth floor of Conwell Hall. Featured musicians and dancers will perform selected works showcasing their diverse and artistic community. The event is sponsored by the Boyer College of Music and Dance and the Rose Vernick Fund. The showcase is free and open to the public.

URBAN RIDING

On Wednesday, Sept. 8 from 5-6 p.m., an Urban Riding Basics course will be available for Temple community members who are wary of riding bicycles in the Philadelphia urban area. The course description lists the basics of safety, laws of the road and how to properly check equipment before riding. Sponsored by Bike Temple, the Office of Sustainability and Campus Safety, the course will take place in the conference room of Morgan Hall South. The course is free and open to students, faculty and staff.

Members of the CSC are currently involved in a number of sustainability projects.

COURTESY OF JEFF FEATHERSTONE

–Jessica Smith

SPORTS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

PAGE 23

SPORTS BRIEFS

McKie newest addition to coaching staff FORMER TEMPLE STANDOUT MCKIE JOINS OWLS AS ASSISTANT Athletic communications confirmed the hiring of former men’s basketball standout and 13-year NBA veteran Aaron McKie Thursday has accepted an assistant coaching position with the team.

McKie will be working under Owls coach Fran Dunphy alongside returning assistants Dwayne Killings and Shawn Trice. Dave Duke, who has spent the last eight seasons as an Owls assistant, has been moved to a new role as director of player development in order to make room for McKie. The job was initially reported to be former Temple guard Rick Brunson’s in June, before reports emerged of Brunson’s alleged involvement in an Illinois sexual assault case in early July.

McKie, 41, played in 92 games for Temple across three seasons spanning from 1991-94, averaging 17.9 points per game.

McKie spent 13 seasons in the NBA, parts of eight of which he spent with the Philadelphia 76ers,.

Since his retirement in 2007, McKie spent six seasons with the Sixers as an assistant coach from 2008 until former Sixers coach Doug Collins resigned in 2013.

-Andrew Parent

ICE HOCKEY TWO SENIORS, A PAIR OF JUNIORS HEADLINE OWLS’ DEFENSIVE UNIT The ice hockey club’s defensive unit held opponents to three goals or less 13 times last year.

That same blue-line core will return to the team in 2014-15. A host of underclassmen will compete for minutes on the defensive side after showing significant improvement last season, coach Ryan Frain said.

von Young on the far side.

Robey started every game for the Owls last season, and ranked fifth on the team with 35 solo tackles.

Freshmen Sean Chandler and Anthony Davis sit behind Robey and Young on the Owls’ depth chart for Week One, and could see time this weekend while Robey expects to see his first dose of game action since November.

-Andrew Parent

CROSS COUNTRY TRAVEL-HEAVY SEASON LOOMING FOR CROSS COUNTRY

Defenseman Sean Ermigiotti leads a veteran group on defense.

“It’s going to be tough on the coaching staff as to who we keep, who we let go after tryouts and who we potentially try to develop into a forward,” Frain said.

Juniors Jason Lombardi and Patrick Hanrahan will return after breakout seasons in 2013-14, while three-year starters Chris Carnivale and Sean Ermigiotti return as the core’s senior leaders.

Temple will feature a new face in net, after two-year starter Chris Mullen gradated in May. Mullen played 20 games for the Owls last season, averaging four goals allowed per game and saving 88 percent of his shots faced.

Senior goalie Eric Semborski has a chance to take Mullen’s place between the pipes, after having spent the previous two seasons as Mullen’s backup.

Potential additions to the team may push Semborski for the starting spot, but he said he’s confident about his chances.

“I feel more comfortable playing in bigger games,” Semborski said. “I got the opportunity to

have cost the team, as Temple lost six games by one goal last season. Yet, Lafferty said she feels her team is prepared Junior defenseman Erin to catch up to the rest of the Lafferty, who tied for the team league. lead in points last season, feels “The biggest strength for improved conditioning will be our team this year would be important for the team’s ability our experience and depth as a to compete. team,” Lafferty said. “We are “The biggest thing we fo- no longer a young team and cused on improving to prepare know what to expect as well for this season would be our as have the depth as a team to fitness level,” Lafcompete in this UP NEXT ferty said. “We conference.”

Owls at St. Joe’s know this is one With one Aug. 29 at 5 p.m. thing we can eassenior on the ily control to be able to already roster in defenseman Alyssa have an advantage on other Kirk, the team will rely heavteams.” ily on Lafferty and her fellow Along with the physical juniors. This class includes challenges presented by the ath- goalkeeper Shauni Kerkhoff letes in The American, the Owls and forward Kelly Farrell, who also faced mental obstacles as were both named to the prethey adjusted to the new confer- season All-Conference team. ence. O’Connor said sometimes Farrell tied Lafferty for the he felt they were intimated team lead in points last season by playing teams with bigger with three goals and two assists names as opposed to A-10 op- and was an important part of the ponents. offense.

This led to a more cautious Kerkhoff, who posted style of play instead of attack- seven shutouts last season, was ing and playing their “own the last line of a solid defensive game,” O’Connor said. unit last year. The Westerville, Playing on its heels may

Continued from page 26

SOCCER

Ohio native credits her defensive teammates for her success in goal last year and said she’s excited at the prospect of a more rewarding season in 2014.

“As a goalkeeper, this recognition [preseason all conference] was great to receive, but I also have my defensive unit to thank because they kept the ball from getting to me,” Kerkhoff said. “We can definitely build on this success, though, I would love to get even more shutouts this season with the help of my defense and my team.”

In preparation for the season, O’Connor said he has been impressed not just with his team’s play, but by the exceptional attitude and character of his team, as well.

“People would be surprised how nice these kids are,” O’Connor said. “They are grateful for the opportunity to represent this university. They want to show students that Temple University has a great women’s soccer program.” * owen.mccue@temple.edu T @ItsBigO

DAN PELLIGRINE TTN FILE PHOTO

play against teams like Penn State last season and I think I can take on other big opponents.”

Scoring was not a problem last season, as the Owls scored three goals or more 18 times, but the offense will lose some experience and firepower with the loss of forwards Joe Pisko, Nick McManhon and Kurt Noce.

-Stephen Godwin

FOOTBALL ROBEY CLEARED FOR VANDERBILT After a trying offseason in which senior cornerback Anthony Robey underwent a sports hernia surgery, the Norristown, Pennsylvania native told The Temple News he’ll be cleared to play Thursday in the Owls’ senior opener at Vanderbilt.

Barring any further complications with his health, Robey is slated to start, opposite junior Ta-

The men’s and women’s cross country teams are will begin their seasons next week when the Owls compete at the Appalachian State University-hosted Covered Bridge Open in Boone, North Carolina on Aug. 29.

The teams’ following meet will be the Big 5 Invitational on familiar grounds in Philadelphia’s Belmont Plateau.

The Owls will run in four meets before the American Athletic Conference Championships, hosted by Tulsa University on Oct. 31, followed by the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Regional at Penn State on Nov. 14, for any who qualify.

This year’s eight-man men’s team is compiled of five juniors, one sophomore and two freshmen.

The women’s team has more depth, featuring 11 runners including seniors Kiersten Brown, Jenna Dubrow and Andrea Mathis. The women’s team also features four true freshmen.

-Ed LeFurge

PAUL KLINE TTN FILE PHOTO

Evan Galbreath (left), Mike Amole and Evan Notaro watch graduate Russell Hartung’s drive.

Matthews and teammates seeking fall turnaround The golf team is looking ahead after a disappointing year.

MICHAEL GUISE The Temple News Given the luxury of a fresh start, the golf team plans to waste no time looking back.

Coming off a spring season in which the Owls placed no higher than seventh overall in a tournament, the team is ready to move on.

“Golf is a game of shortterm memory loss, whether it is a bad tournament or a bad shot, you can’t dwell on the past,” senior Matt Teesdale said. “You just have to keep moving forward and staying positive.”

Working toward a better season starts in the summer and Teesdale and junior Brandon Matthews are leading the way.

Teesdale, who has competed in four tournaments this summer, including the U.S. Amateur Championship, has had a change of mentality. During the summer, Teesdale has put more emphasis on golf,

which he said he failed to do in previous years.

“I really didn’t focus much on golf, which was a mistake,” Teesdale said.

That change in philosophy may have played a part in Teesdale’s placing first at the Philadelphia Open Championship and third at the Patterson Cup. The surge of success has the Horsham, Pennsylvania native ready for the upcoming season.

“I’m feeling a lot more confident and I feel like I can compete with the best of them,” Teesdale said.

Matthews, on the other hand, competed in six tournaments, including the U.S. Amateur Championship and The Amateur Championship in Ireland.

“It’s been kind of a disappointing summer,” Matthews said. “It can change with one tournament.”

The team finished winless in all of the 2013-14 season and is looking to win its first tournament since April 2013.

With a strong incoming recruiting class, including senior Patrick Ross, who redshirted

last season and nearly qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championships this summer, Teesdale sees a bright future.

“I feel that for Temple’s program, the sky is the limit,” Teesdale said. “We have great golfers on the team.”

“We have a team that is very talented and we have a lot of players that actually care every day,” Matthews said. “Every day they want to go out and play golf. I think this team can do something really, really big.”

Despite strong feelings regarding a turnaround, Teesdale and Matthews said they realize they cannot look too far ahead.

The duo feels looking toward the future can cause a distraction, and currently their sole focus lies with the season opener.

“I never get ahead of myself,” Matthews said. “You have to stay in the present. You can’t be thinking about your next tournament.”

“I like to play it one shot at a time and whatever happens, happens,” Teesdale said. * michaelguise@temple.edu T @MikeG2511

SPORTS

PAGE 24

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

ANDREW THAYER TTN

Running back Kenneth Harper runs during a special teams drill at a recent practice at Chodoff Field.

Walker embracing starting role FOOTBALL PAGE 26 leading by example.

Following a season with 20 touchdown passes, an additional three rushing touchdowns with only eight interceptions while completing 61 percent of his passes, Walker’s expectations heading into Vanderbilt are high.

The biggest step for Walker, Rhule said, is mastering the art of winning close games.

“Games are lost before they’re won, I think Walker learned that the hard way last year,” Rhule said. “He threw that pick against Connecticut and they ran it back for a touchdown and won the game. I think that was a step for him.”

Walker finished third in passing efficiency rating in The American last year (150.8), trailing first-round NFL draft picks Blake Bortles and Teddy Bridgewater, as well as ranking sixth in yards per game (231.6).

After a summer of film study, practice and participation in the Manning Passing Academy alongside national superstars like Florida State’s Heisman winner Jameis Winston and Oregon’s dual-threat signal caller Marcus Mariota, Walker will look to build on those numbers to compile more wins. “[This offseason] I’ve gotten stronger, gotten faster and really just became a student of the game as well,” Walker said during summer practices. “I feel much more comfortable, I’ve learned a lot.”

Walker believes his studies will help give those around him more opportunities to make plays.

“I’ve learned the playbook pretty well,” Walker said during the Owls’ inaugural media day. “Knowing the playbook makes your instincts much faster. Now, instead of being late on that one pass, I’m a second early, leading the receiver. Instead of getting tackled for a five-yard gain, now he has an opportunity to make the guy miss and go.”

2013 BY THE NUMBERS

150.8

P.J. WALKER’S PASSING EFFICIENCY RATING

613

RUSHING YARDS FOR KENNY HARPER

137

TOTAL TACKLES BY DEFENSIVE LEADER TYLER MATAKEVICH

5.3

YARDS PER CARRY BY BACKUP RUNNING BACK JAMIE GILMORE

“Knowing where you want to go with the ball is very important, and that’s something I’ve worked on this summer,” Walker added.

Walker is backed by a group of running backs who are looking to improve from what was a lackluster 2013 season.

Incumbent tailbacks Kenneth Harper and Zaire Williams respectively ranked eighth and 10th in rushing yards last year.

Williams, who tied for second-most yards per carry among the top ten rushers in The American last year, came into camp trying to take carries away from penciled-in starter Harper and Jamie Gilmore.

At wide receiver, the Owls have depth with 18 wideouts on the roster. The competition, while tight, features a few frontrunners, including the undersized redshirt sophomore Khalif Herbin, a player Rhule

and Walker spoke highly of numerous times throughout camp. “[Khalif] is an explosive player,” Rhule said. “What he’s done is he’s bought into attention to detail. He’s bought into playing when he’s tired, he’s bought into all those other things when the ball isn’t in his hands.

That makes it a lot easier to get the ball into his hands because he’s doing all the little things.”

Also heading the conversation at the receiver position is senior Jalen Fitzpatrick, coming off a 2013 season where he caught 38 passes for 429 yards and three touchdowns. “[Jalen] has been doing some great work inside as well as outside.” Rhule said, “I expect him to be a leader and a dynamic threat. I challenge our staff to get him the ball where he can be a dynamic threat.”

Despite the depth at the offensive skill positions, Rhule has shifted his focus to identifying five reliable offensive linemen.

Returning only one starter, offensive captain and starting center Kyle Friend, the offensive front will count on partial contributors in redshirt junior Eric Lofton and sophomore Dion Dawkins.

As the anchor of the offensive line, many of the younger linemen look to Friend as a leader and mentor.

“I’ve been shadowing Kyle Friend,” Lofton said. “He’s taught me that you have to know more than just what you’re doing.”

Lofton, who finds himself in a position battle approaching the Owls’ first test, said he understands the importance of making every repetition count.

“Right now everybody just has to work every day,” Lofton said. “Coach [Rhule] always says that there are only five steaks on the table, only five people can eat, so you’ve got to go out here and play your hardest.” * esmith@temple.edu ( 215.204. 9537 T @ejsmitty17.

DONNA FANELLE TTN

Entering second season, Rhule looks for team growth RHULE PAGE 26 As we keep recruiting, the older son in tailbacks Kenny Harper guys will teach them our brand and Zaire Williams, along and it evolves from there.” with sophomore quarterback Yet, Rhule understands his P.J. Walker, but only Harper team is still fighting an uphill eclipsed the 50 yards-per-game battle in a conference that, de- mark on the ground (51.1) en spite the departures of Louis- route to finishing 137th in the ville and Rutgers, remains com- nation in that category. petitive.

The offense struggled with Te m p l e inconsistency UP NEXT ranks ninth in last season, Owls vs. Navy particularly The AmeriSept. 6 at 3 p.m. early in the can’s preseason poll released last month, year, but shows glimpses of one spot behind last year’s cel- promise with a young signallar-dwellers in Memphis, and caller in Walker and options at ahead of Connecticut as well as the running back and wide renew American tenants Tulane ceiver positions.

“I know it’s still a young and Tulsa.

Temple’s defense allowed team,” Rhule said, “but they un473.6 yards per game last sea- derstand who and what we are. son, as well as an eye-popping There are areas of concern. I’m 298.6 ypg. averaged through a coach. I’m always worrying the air, ranking fifth lowest in about something.”

But, it is still August. No the nation.

The team returns its three player or coach knows where leading rushers from last sea- the 2014 squad will end up

come December, and how much or how little respect for the program and its “brand” will have gained by that point.

And yet, Rhule said he’s happy with where his team sits in late August 2014, as opposed to this month last year.

“I just feel really good about where [the players] are physically and mentally, and how far they’ve come with their development,” Rhule said. “It’s our job to keep pushing them and developing them, keep recruiting kids, let the old guys teach the young guys and to turn it into a culture, a way of life.”

“We’re ahead of where we were last year and I’m excited to see what we’ve done.” * andrew.parent@temple.edu ( 215.204. 9537

T

@daParent93

ANDREW THAYER TTN

Entering his second season, Rhule is looking to improve on last season’s 1-9 conference record.

SPORTS

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

PAGE 25

player spotlight | katie foran

New season, new goals for Foran Sophomore forward Katie Foran looks to become a leader.

NICK TRICOME The Temple News Katie Foran was reserved during her freshman year. Now, she’s eyeing a larger role.

“I just want to try and be more of a leader,” Foran, who is entering her sophomore season, said. “Last year I was pretty quiet out on the field, but hopefully I can become more of a leader this year and really help out.

Help out the freshmen and just play a bigger part.”

The forward admitted she was nervous during her first summer as an Owl. This time, however, she is heading into the season more comfortable and focused.

“I think this summer I was more relaxed,” Foran said. “But I’ve still been trying to work just as hard as I did last summer. I think I just know more specifically what I need to work on, and last summer was kind of broad.”

“I mean I still get nervous for preseason and everything, but nothing compares to how nervous I was last year,” Foran added. “I already know how nice the girls are on my team and how welcoming it is, so I’m more comfortable.”

With forward Lauren Hunt being one of three players to HUA ZONG TTN graduate from last year’s roster, Sophomore forward Katie Foran during a scrimmage against Villanova on Saturday. Foran started 10 games and scored five goals and five assists in 2013. coach Amanda Janney said that the team would have to find anhigh level,” Foran said. “I got to ran said. “Our season opening with the team, Foran said she When Youtz missed four East Player of the Week honor. other goal scorer. Foran could games after suffering an injured Foran also made Penn- meet a lot of new girls and ev- tournament last year I thought wants to see the Owls’ season very well fill in, complementing forearm last fall, Foran stepped sylvania’s High Performance eryone was just so good that I we really came out strong, so go further this time around. senior forward Amber Youtz, up with three goals and an assist Training Squad, joining nine learned so much.”

“I really want us to be able I hope we come out with that Temple’s leadto make it into the [NCAA tourother Temple players along with Foran hopes to better her much intensity again.” during that span.

UP NEXT ing scorer in Although the Owls finished nament] this year,” Foran said.

She record- two more on the New Jersey pedigree with a stronger season 2013 with 16 Owls vs. Northwestern ed the deciding squad, and earned the chance in 2014, and after coming off an to a 14-6 record (4-3 The Amer- “And we get into our Big East Aug. 29 at 7 p.m. goals and 39 goals in back- to play in the 2014 Women’s inaugural season in the Big East ican) in the regular season, they Conference Tournament also, points, up front. to-back games when Temple National Championship in Lan- in which the Owls finished No. fell just short of qualifying for and maybe even win that this Foran played in all 20 of earned a 2-1 win against confer- caster’s Spooky Nook com- 17 in the country, she hopes the the NCAA Tournament after be- year. That would be really nice.”

Temple’s games last season ence rival Rutgers on Sept. 27, plex, playing alongside Youtz team can, as well. ing knocked out via a 3-0 shutand started in 10 of them, net- and again in a 3-0 blanking of for USA Courage earlier in the “I think we did really well out in the semifinals of the Big * nick.tricome@temple.edu ting five goals, dishing out five Sacred Heart on Sept. 29. Fo- summer. against the higher up teams like East Tournament by eventual T @itssnick215 assists and finishing with 15 ran’s performance that weekend “I think that really helped Penn State, so I really hope that national champion Connecticut. points.

Entering her second trial led to her receiving her first Big me a lot playing with such a we come out strong again,” Fo-

DEFENSIVE SPOTLIGHT | MEN’S SOCCER

Mahoney and Sagel highlight strong defensive unit from his starters if Temple is to exceed loftier expectations this time around.

Sophomores Matt Mahoney and Robert Sagel are two returning members of the back line.

Mahoney said that past experience STEVE BOHNEL with Stefan Mueller, another sophoThe Temple News more defender, will be significant in Temple wasn’t supposed to be in establishing vital chemistry.

“I played with [Mueller] on the this position. club level,” Mahoney said. “I feel like Before the start of last season, the the connection is strong, we’re all on Owls were picked to finish last out of the same page, we play similar, so I nine teams in the American Athletic think it just works when we play toConference in a preseason poll. Temgether.” ple exceeded those expectations, finMahoney and Saishing 10-4-4 en route gel also contributed on to a fourth-place conferthe offensive side of ence finish. the ball last year, comIn coach David bining for four goals MacWilliams’ eyes, deand an assist. Sagel fense was a large part of led the team in goal his team’s success last conversion last season, fall. netting his three goals “We worked on on eight shots (38 perthat [defense] from day cent). one,” MacWilliams Sagel said that alsaid. “When we come though defenders have into camp, the first fewer chances, those thing we work on is our chances tend to be betdefense.”

TTN FILE PHOTO ter than some shots The hard work paid Dan Scheck eyes an errant shot during a game last fall.

Scheck, a senior, will return as the team’s starter in net.

David MacWilliams/ coach that midfielders and off, as Temple finished of the ball, implement a more attacking Combined with a recruiting class defense.” strikers create. tied for ninth in the In terms of other places for imstyle, while maintaining our organiza“You have to capi- that MacWilliams said focused on addcountry with South Florida in goals alprovement, MacWilliams said bettertion and our shape defensively,” Sagel ing attacking players, the team looks lowed per game (0.67). For this year, talize on [those chances],” Sagel said. ing a defense that finished in the top ten said. “And we’re hoping we take that to improve on the offensive side this MacWilliams noted it will be important “I was fortunate last year, and am hopin the nation last season will be tough. one more step, get over the hump, and season. to have a complete team effort in front ing to continue that good streak this But he added that preventing early and get to the NCAA tournament.”

“We definitely enUP NEXT fall.” of senior goalkeeper Dan Scheck. late goals in each half can help pave the courage our backs to Although the deOwls vs. Drexel “It’s important that not just our get forward,” MacWil- way for future success. * steve.bohnel@temple.edu fense’s primary job is to August 29 at 4:00 p.m. backs defend,” MacWilliams said.

This idea, which is achieved in- T @SteveSportsGuy1 liams said. “We’ve got keep the ball out of its “We stress that all our players need to net, MacWilliams allows his back line guys who get forward and we feel can part through a hard-working, organized defend.” have an impact on the game. That’s backline, has MacWilliams’ squad MacWilliams also indicated the to push forward if opportunities prespart of the strength of our team and our seeking a better finish this fall. importance of continued improvement ent themselves.

“We’re looking to maintain more

Owls exceeded expecations in 2013 after promising defensive play.

“We’re looking

to maintain more of the ball, implement a more attacking style, while maintaining our organization.

”

SPORTS FRESH START FOR GOLF

After struggling through the spring season, Brandon Matthews and his teammates look to start strong. PAGE 23

Our sports blog

thecherry.temple-news.com

FORAN’S NEW ROLE

MCKIE JOINS DUNPHY’S STAFF

Coaches are expecting forward Katie Foran to assume a larger role in her sophomore season. PAGE 25

Former standout Owl will join the men’s basketball team as an assistant coach, Anthony Robey cleared to play, other news and notes. PAGE 23

temple-news.com

PAGE 26

TUESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2014

‘Never Again’ On the heels of a losing season, the Owls have eagerly awaited for a chance at redemtion.

HUA ZONG TTN

Sophomore quarterback P.J. Walker returns to the team after a rookie season in which he started six games and threw 20 touchdown passes after being promoted to a starting role.

S

EJ SMITH Sports Editor

ince early last year, Temple has lived by a simple vow: to never suffer through a season as disappointing as the 2-10 struggle the team endured the year before.

After closing out the season, the Owls returned to the practice field on a Monday morning in early December, and showed coach Matt Rhule how committed they were to 2014.

Their demonstration consisted of 1,000 yards of plate pushes at 6 a.m.

“We’re going to get ready for 2014 right now,” Rhule said at a news conference following that practice.

As Temple awaits its first game against Vanderbilt on Thurs-

day, it is evident that 2014 is finally upon them.

“As a program, we’re light years ahead of where we were,” Rhule said before the start of camp. “Our kids know what to expect, they know how we do things. All the things that I’ve come in and changed, now they not only have learned to expect them, but they understand why. They recognize that not only are some things expected, but also that these things work.”

Junior linebacker Tyler Matakevich said he has also noticed a sharper learning curve on the defensive side. “[Defensive coordinator Phil Snow] told us when he put the defense in it was going to take about a year and a half to fully understand the defense,” Matakevich said. “Each day we’re really learning from him and taking all of the stuff he’s saying and [executing] it on the field.”

Matakevich, who recorded 137 total tackles in the 2013 sea-

Rhule, Owls face uphill battle in coming season Coach Matt Rhule expects more in a new-look conference.

ANDREW PARENT Assistant Sports Editor Matt Rhule’s metaphorical door remains open around the clock.

It’s unlocked and free to all who wish for a few minutes with the second-year coach, from a light, friendly chat, to a man-to-man sit-down with the father figure of Temple’s football program.

The constant invites for conversation, critique and banter, when appropriate, are all part of Rhule’s multi-layered, twoway street type of coaching style, both on the field and off.

“I think everybody on this team has an open door with coach if you want to talk about anything,” junior center Kyle Friend said. “He’s a really good person to talk to. But when he

gets serious, everybody gets serious and you know it’s time to go.”

Rhule established his open and honest, yet demanding style when he first filled the vacancy after the 2012 season.

His offensive and defensive systems and training camp routine, along with his newlyformed relationship with his players as head coach, though, took time to gain traction amid a 2-10 season in 2013, Temple’s worst s i n c e former coach Al Golden’s first year as coach in 2006. “ I t was a Matt Rhule / coach younger team [last year] and it was hard at first for them because they might not have understood expectations,” Rhule said. “It took a while to get everyone on the same page and that’s the first step of being successful.”

“Everything’s

easier this year. We have our brand and everyone understands what our brand is.

SPORTS DESK 215-204-9537

”

Fast-forward to August 2014, a month consisting of training camp, preparation, strengthening and hope for a squad seeking a few more wins and newfound respect in the American Athletic Conference.

Black Temple football Tshirts with the motto “never again” were a common sight in camp, another earmark of the overarching story.

Rhule and his staff have the tall task of establishing a new, respected culture identified with Temple football.

“I think one thing we’re really focused on right now is we’re really trying to build our brand,” Friend said. “That’s something Rhule’s been preaching a lot lately in camp. When you think building your brand, you think about what you’re known for. Right now with practice and everything, we want to be known as a smart, disciplined and tough team.”

“Everything’s easier this year,” Rhule said. “We have our brand and everyone understands what our brand is. Last year it was just trying to survive the day and get to the next day.

RHULE PAGE 24

son, leads a defense that struggled immensely last year, as it ranked 108th among Division I Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total yards allowed per game with 473.6.

Arguably the biggest question for the defense heading into the opener lies in the secondary, only returning cornerback Anthony Robey from last year. Robey, who missed time during training camp while recovering from a sports hernia injury, said he finds the open battle has boosted the competitive nature of the defensive backs.

“We’re all out there working together helping each other compete. I definitely see more competition during practice.” Robey said.

“It’s a good thing to see that they’ve amped up the play of the unit.”

On the offensive side of the ball, returning starter P.J. Walker has taken on the role of team leader by becoming more vocal and

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Women’s Soccer

ANDREW THAYER TTN

Forward/Midfielder Morgan Evans (right) controls the ball during a drill in practice.

For O’Connor, a changed method Returning Owls feel ready for a second shot at American.

OWEN MCCUE The Temple News Heading into its 2013 campaign, the women’s soccer team’s lack of experience showed.

Temple started the season with a first-year head coach and a roster full of young players in the team’s first year in the new-

SPORTS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM

ly formed American Athletic Conference.

The Owls’ pressing need for growth contributed to the team’s 6-12 overall record and a 1-8 showing in The American last season. Returning all but seven players from that squad, coach Seamus O’Connor said his team will benefit from its struggles last season. “[We will be] learning by mistake and learning as we go along, building on what we did last year,” O’Connor said. “We have so few positions to replace,

there is such a familiarity.”

One of the toughest parts of switching from the Atlantic 10 Conference to The American for the team was the size and athleticism of the athletes from the other schools.

O’Connor has countered this by putting more emphasis on his team’s strength and conditioning programs, something the coach said the team has not done in years past. Players said they have bought into their coach’s philosophy.

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