The Temple News

THE THETEMPLE TEMPLENEWS NEWS VOL 101 // ISSUE 2

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022

temple-news.com | @thetemplenews

EARNING THE JOB

Sports, Page 19 E.J. Warner’s emergence against Lafayette could signal a potential quarterback battle against D’Wan Mathis.

WHAT’S INSIDE

NEWS, Page 5 Temple University has a series of efforts designed to conserve water amid regional drought concerns.

OPINION, Page 7

A student shares her story and urges Temple to provide students with postpartum accommodations.

PAGE 2

The Temple News

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

Lawrence Ukenye Editor-in-Chief Julia Merola Print Managing Editor Fallon Roth Digital Managing Editor Megan Phillips Chief Print Copy Editor Kayla Maguire Chief Digital Copy Editor Sarah Fresca Opinion Editor Molly Fiske Assistant Opinion Editor Laura Miller Features Editor Mariyum Rizwan Features Editor Nick Gangewere Sports Editor Javon Edmonds Assistant Sports Editor Samuel O’Neal Assistant Sports Editor Devon Russell Assistant News Editor Maggie Fitzgerald Director of Audience Engagement Emily Lewis Public Engagement Coordinator Taylor Hargraves Audience Engagement Editor Sara Wexler Audience Engagement Editor Chris Duong Sports Social Media Manager Earl Kufen Photo Editor Erika Monn Photo Editor Nicole Aquino Multimedia Editor Nate Pullano Multimedia Editor Joelle Pacheco Print Design Editor Allyson Tharp Graphic Design Editor Isabella Medina Web Editor Rachel Townsend Data Editor Olivia Hall Podcast Editor Rose Mastrangelo Advertising Manager Matthew Eaton Advertising Manager Kurt Nolasco Business Manager

The Temple News is an editorially independent biweekly publication serving the Temple University community.

Unsigned editorial content represents the opinion of The Temple News.

Adjacent commentary is reflective of their authors, not The Temple News.

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

ON THE COVER D’Wan Mathis and E.J. Warren play quarterback against Lafayette University on Sept. 10.

ERIKA MONN / THE TEMPLE NEWS

Contacts Visit us online at temple-news.com News Desk 215.204.7419 Email section staff news@temple-news.com letters@temple-news.com features@temple-news.com sports@temple-news.com The Temple News is located at: Student Center, Room 243 1755 N. 13th St. Philadelphia, PA 19122

CORRECTIONS Accuracy is our business, so when a mistake is made, we’ll correct it as soon as possible. Anyone with inquiries about content in this newspaper can contact Editor-in-Chief Lawrence Ukenye at editor@temple-news.com.

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The Temple News

NEWS

PAGE 3

CAMPUS SAFETY

FLIGHT ridership remains stagnant since last Fall Temple will have a better understanding of ridership in the winter when it’s cold.

BY FALLON ROTH and DEVON RUSSELL For The Temple News

F

LIGHT, Temple University’s nighttime shuttle bus service, is experiencing similar ridership comparable to this time last year, after the service was redesigned last month amid concerns about FLIGHT’s efficiency as an on-demand service.

On Sept. 2, FLIGHT completed 119 rides, in comparison to Sept. 3, 2021, which saw 142 rides, according to university data. Similar to last year, FLIGHT completed more than 100 rides per day during weekends.

The university expects to have a better understanding of FLIGHT’s ridership in the winter when students use the service for safety and to avoid cold weather. Mark Gottlieb, associate director of operations and logistics, declined The Temple News’ request for comment about FLIGHT’s current progress.

The university officially reintroduced FLIGHT on Aug. 20 as a fixedroute system, meaning the shuttle picks up and drops off students daily in 15 minutes intervals between 6 p.m. and 2 a.m. at almost every intersection within Campus Safety Service’s patrol zone.

“Fifteen minutes is the longer estimate,” said Stephen Orbanek, a university spokesperson. “So, it could be 10 minutes, but 15 minutes is intended to be kind of the max. So far, they haven’t received a lot of feedback saying that folks are not showing up on time.”

The relaunch came in response to heightened concerns from students about long wait times and limited capacity in FLIGHT’s previous on-demand format, which required students to use an app to request a door-to-door ride.

The university consulted with a national transit company, SEPTA and industrial and systems engineering majors, who based their senior project on improving FLIGHT, before making changes.

EARL KUFEN/ THE TEMPLE NEWS Temple University provides free transportation for students through FLIGHT’s fixed-route shuttle service.

Grace Hurley, a senior secondary education and social studies education major, felt that TransLoc, the app students use for FLIGHT, is useful but not always reliable because the platform does not show the exact location of the bus and the shuttle often stops on Pollet Walk for up to 10 minutes.

“I feel like it’s not as convenient because if it’s not coming right when I want it, I’m not going to take it,” Hurley said.

“And it doesn’t drop me off right at my house, so I have to walk a little bit alone.”

Michaela Guthrie, a sophomore dance major, has typically waited between five to 20 minutes for a shuttle to arrive and nearly half an hour at peak times during weekend evenings.

Students can use TransLoc to see FLIGHT’s stops on both the North and South Loop. The North Loop services Diamond Street, 18th Street, 12th Street

and Cecil B. Moore Avenue. The South Loop has stops within Cecil B. Moore to Master Street between 18th and Broad Street, Oxford and Jefferson Street between Broad and 13th Street and Oxford and Diamond Street between 13th and 12th Street.

For Hurley, who lives outside of the loops, the fixed routes are not as convenient as the previous door-to-door system.

Shuttles run throughout Temple’s patrol zone but some students may need to return home using SEPTA or walk the rest of the way.

“I would say it’s more convenient if you’re going to campus and if you live near a stop,” said Jenna Doran, a senior psychology and English double major. “If you live outside of a stop, it might be less convenient, but there are a lot of stops that it’s pretty easy to get close to a stop.”

However, the fixed route system makes Guthrie feel safe during their commute home because of the consistent pickup times.

Guthrie finds the system to be timely and user-friendly for drivers and students alike, she said.

“I’d say that I’ve seen improvements, like that they definitely listen to Temple students and creating a solid route for the actual system to work better,” Guthrie said. fallon.roth@temple.edu @fallonroth_ devon.russell@temple.edu

PAGE 4

NEWS

The Temple News

COVID-19

Temple scales down COVID-19 mitigation efforts The university plans to phase out asymptomatic testing in October.

BY LAWRENCE UKENYE and DEVON RUSSELL For The Temple News Temple University is progressing towards plans to end its asymptomatic testing program in October and is loosening some of the university’s COVIDera mitigation efforts, said Mark Denys, director of Student Health Services.

“We’ll start reducing the days and then by the end of October the plan is, unless COVID changes, is no to longer have that asymptomatic,” Denys said.

Changes in how students test for the illness have prompted Student Health Services to pivot away from mass testing towards maintaining a system that acknowledges the endemic nature of the virus, while continuing to make some resources available for students and staff, like symptomatic testing.

“COVID is going to be with us for the rest of our lives,” Denys said. “It’s not as important to look at the numbers every single day.”

Asymptomatic COVID-19 testing is currently being administered at Morgan Hall while the Paley building undergoes renovations.

Before testing for those without symptoms is eliminated, Temple plans to rotate the use of its testing sites by offering flu vaccinations on some days and asymptomatic testing on others.

The different offerings will give students and faculty the opportunity to seek both vaccinations and testing throughout the week depending on how frequently they’re on campus, Denys said.

Testing at asymptomatic sites has dropped significantly, dropping from 1,000 people per day to approximately between 40 and 50, Denys said.

Camryn Krumbhaar, a junior neuroscience major, believes the university should keep asymptomatic testing for the duration of the academic year because people are still at risk of catching the virus.

“I definitely think they should have

ERIKA MONN / THE TEMPLE NEWS Temple University currently offers asymptomatic testing at Morgan Hall.

kept it for like, at least until the spring semester is over, Krumbhaar said. “We’re still in a pandemic. People are still sick.”

Symptomatic will continue at Morgan Hall indefinitely, Denys said.

Temple unveiled plans to slowly phase out asymptomatic testing in early August and loosened the university’s mask mandate by no longer requiring face coverings in non-healthcare settings.

The university canceled a slew of mitigation efforts in recent months including axing PCR testing in May and ending use of its COVID-19 case dashboard. Temple also no longer requires close contacts of students who contract COVID-19 to quarantine.

After requiring students taking in-person classes and living in residence halls to test during the Spring 2021 semester, only students who were exempt from the university’s Fall 2021 vaccine mandate were required to take scheduled COVID-19 tests during the past academic year.

Anne Alexander, a senior neuroscience major, believes the removal of as-

ymptomatic testing will not affect many students because she trusts that those who are exposed to the virus will protect themselves, she said.

The Philadelphia Health Department reported 1,385 positive tests during the first week of August 2021 and 2,400 positive tests in the first week of this past August.

The number of positive cases on campus during first two weeks of classes has also increased since 2021, rising from 222 last academic year to 298 in the first two weeks of this year’s fall semester. Omicron, a more infectious strain of COVID-19 compared to Delta, is likely responsible for the increase in cases, Denys said.

“In the fall, we were dealing with Delta. Delta was nowhere near as transmissible as Omicron,” Denys said. “So, Omicron being as transmissible as it is, we expected there to be more cases this fall as compared to last fall.”

Temple plans to provide students with free, at-home COVID testing kits in November after the asymptomatic testing is phased out. Students will only

need their Temple ID to receive the tests at various pick-up sites around campus.

The university also plans to distribute the updated COVID-19 booster shot, but Denys recommended that eligible students receive the shot immediately through pharmacies.

Students are still required to submit their test results to the Student Health Portal. Despite Temple rolling back some mitigation efforts, Denys hopes that students still take proactive steps to stay healthy.

“Wearing a mask, being up to date on their boosters, that’s what folks can do to protect themselves right now,” he said.

Fallon Roth contributed reporting. lawrence.ukenye@temple.edu @Lawrence_Ukenye devon.russell@temple.edu

The Temple News

NEWS

PAGE 5

COMMUNITY

Drought highlights Temple water conservation Temple conserves water during the current abnormally dry conditions and all-year-round.

BY FALLON ROTH Digital Managing Editor Philadelphia County is experiencing abnormally dry conditions and last month was the 21st driest August on record in 128 years.

Abnormally dry conditions, which have been recorded in Philadelphia as of Sept. 6, can stunt crop growth, increase fire risk and brown and wilt lawns, according to weekly updates from the National Integrated Drought Information System.

To combat these conditions and conserve water now and all-year-round, Temple University relies on its own sustainability practices, while educating students on what they can do to save water.

Temple’s main three sources of water conservation come from low-flow water fixtures, drought tolerant plants and gray water usage in buildings like Morgan Hall, said Caroline Burkholder, the sustainability manager in Temple’s Office of Sustainability.

The university’s conservation efforts reduce the university’s water usage by about 5 percent, said Joe Monahan, associate vice president of facilities and operations. Temple used slightly more than 432,500 kilogallons of water combined in its Main, Ambler, Health Sciences and Temple University Hospital campuses, during the 2021-22 academic year, according to facilities management data. In July, Temple used slightly more than 16,200 kilogallons of water between the four campuses.

The fixtures have been mostly on Main Campus for 20 years and are found in some of the newer buildings on campus like Charles Library, 1810 Liacouras Walk and the Aramark Student Training and Recreation Complex, Monahan said. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the university installed 400 touchless and low-flow faucets in every campus building to limit the spread of germs.

Golden rain trees, Nikko Deutzias and green roofs have sedums which re-

EARL KUFEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS This past August was the twenty-first driest August on record in 128 years.

quire little watering. The drought-tolerant plants have had a larger presence on campus for between five and seven years and can be found near Gladfelter, Mazur, Sullivan and Ritter Hall.

“We’re not at a point yet to do any campus-wide rationing which is very difficult because it’s a human behavior to use the bathroom, to brush your teeth, to cook with,” Monahan said. “It comes down to that individual level for the most part for us here, there’s not too much that we really can control beyond the plants.”

Morgan Hall uses grey water, which is recycled rainwater that has been stored in buildings to flush its toilets, Burkholder added.

In addition to these resources, Temple utilizes other sustainability practices including green roofs and stormwater management, which harvest rainwater.

The Office of Sustainability also encourages and educates students to individually save water by quickly fixing leaks in their apartments, taking shorter showers, washing full loads of laundry and learning about where the city’s wa-

ter comes from Burkholder said.

Eric Tamulonis, a landscape architecture and horticulture professor, said if Temple’s more than 37,000 undergraduate and graduate students took an eight-minute shower a day — totaling almost 2 million gallons per week — the amount of water would fill Beury Beach with approximately 14 feet of water.

If humans can decrease their carbon footprint, the overall climate can stabilize, leading to less extreme weather events, Burkholder said.

“It’s important to think about design features that promote resiliency, or increase our resiliency,” Burkholder said.

“But also, we have to remember, if we are to tackle this issue of emissions, then we won’t have as many extreme weather emergencies and hazards.”

Temple has committed to reaching carbon neutrality by 2050, according to the university’s 2019 Climate Action Plan.

Besides conserving water, Tamulonis, who contributed to the university’s landscaping master plan, Verdant Temple, suggests students should join

environmental advocacy groups, vote for politicians who support sustainable practices and monitor their own water consumption footprint.

“Longer term, you can reduce your water footprint by considering water-friendly food, clothes and transportation,” Tamulonis said.

He suggests students use websites like Water Calculator, The Water We Eat and Build-a-Plate Visual Calculator to determine which areas of their life use the most water.

While Temple prioritizes managing excess amounts of water through stormwater management systems, Burkholder believes there is room for improvement in how the sustainability movement approaches preparing for dry conditions.

“It’s really so much more about subsurface systems and permeable pavers, so all stormwater management practices versus anything that’s proactively fighting drought,” Burkholder said. “I think it’s a kind of wakeup call.” fallon.roth@temple.edu @fallonroth_

OPINION

PAGE 6

EDITORIAL

The Temple News

STUDENT LIFE

Increase suicide awareness

Students, use Temple’s DRS

Suicide Prevention Day took place Saturday, Sept. 10 as a part of Suicide Prevention Month. More than 700,000 people globally die from suicide each year, and many of them are teenagers and young adults, according to the World Health Organization.

By reaching out and offering resources and support, students can help one another during difficult times. The Editorial Board urges students to remain aware of the signs of suicidal tendencies in others and take time to check in on friends and family.

Initial signs of suicidal thoughts and tendencies include giving away possessions, self-isolation and withdrawal, increased moodiness and sleeping too much or too little, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Although prevention programs aid suicidal patients, family and friends should take the first step in identifying suicidal tendencies and offering support when possible.

“Being able to get people to understand that there are places for them to go, people to talk to buys time for the ability to come up with some solutions that you may not be able to see or think of in the moment,” said Robert Fauber, a psychology and neuroscience professor.

As of July 16, 2022, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, formerly The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, can be reached by calling 988 instead of 1-800-273-8255. The switch was intended to make help more accessible.

However, the older line will always remain in use after the launch of the three-digit lifeline. By texting or calling the 988 lifeline, anyone can connect with a trained counselor in times of crisis. However, at a counselors’ discretion, police may be sent when callers are suspected

A student argues that their peers should apply for Disability Resource Services on Temple’s campus.

to be in imminent danger.

To avoid possible interactions with police, people can reach out to four 24/7 crisis response centers in Philadelphia, included one located at Temple University Hospital – Episcopal Campus at B Street near Lehigh Avenue. Individuals can call 215-707-2577 to reach the crisis response center.

LGBTQ+ students in crisis can call the TrevorLifeline at 1-866488-7386 at any time, while students struggling with the impacts of racism and xenophobia can call the Racial Equity Support Line at 503575-3764.

The Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline is (866) 723-3014 and accepts calls 24/7. If students need someone to discuss general mental health concerns and aren’t experiencing a crisis, they can call the National Alliance on Mental Illness Philadelphia Warmline at (267) 687-4381 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

Philadelphia is also home to a suicide prevention call center, The Network of Care of Behavioral Health, which is a part of the 988 Lifeline network. The center can connect patients with resources in the city, ranging from HIV/AIDS support and substance abuse services to suicide prevention.

The Editorial Board urges students to support others that are struggling with suicidal tendencies because looking out for one other can create a more comfortable atmosphere for discussing mental health and sharing helpful resources, like the ones above.

BY SOPHIA REIS For The Temple News

D

isability Resources and Services, a department in the Division of Student Affairs that offers academic accommodations and resources for students with mental and physical disabilities, has been a great support system since the start of my freshman year. The DRS staff listened to my story about academic struggles with ADHD and offered helpful resources, like Read and Write, a text-to-speech program.

However, not all students know the extent of the accommodations offered.

Academic accommodations are helpful to students with disabilities, but most students aren’t utilizing them. Only 37 percent of students informed their college or university of their disabilities, according to a 2022 press release from the National Center for Education Statistics. It’s likely students downplay struggles because they’re unaware of available programs.

Students should apply for DRS accommodations when struggling with disabilities because the department can help ensure they receive an accessible education. With a support system and personalized accommodations found at DRS, students can thrive and find confidence in their academic abilities.

Approximately 4,000 Temple students identified as having a disability for the 2021-22 academic year, and rates are increasing across disability services for the 2022-23 academic year, wrote Carrie Snyder, director of DRS, in an email to The Temple News.

DRS provides letters explaining accommodations to professors and advocates for students who don’t feel their accommodations are being respected. Professors are required to comply with student accommodations, but when they don’t, students may hesitate to assert the validity of their academic needs because of intimidation, and DRS can communicate with faculty for them.

“DRS is in every syllabus, but not a lot of students realize they could get the help they need,” said Mariem Mohamed, a sophomore

English and psychology major.

Accessing accommodations is a simple process through the DRS portal. Students can log in with their Temple AccessNet account to schedule an appointment with DRS staff. If the accommodations are granted, students can send letters to their professors for each course.

DRS accommodations can be used both short term and long term, meaning resources are always there for students if they want to utilize them. Accommodations don’t impact the quality of education, but rather assist students in reaching their academic potential when they are facing debilitating circumstances.

“Students with a variety of disabilities — medical, physical, psychological, learning and even temporary — are encouraged to register with DRS to have accommodations ready to go, even if they never need them,” Snyder wrote. “It is like carrying an umbrella; you may never need to use it, but if you get caught in a downpour, you’re very glad that you have it.”

DRS provides other resources that students may not be aware of including accessible housing, field education and sign language services. Students Helping Owls Understand Temple, a peer support group within DRS, works with students to build self-advocacy skills, and the program Social Xchanges hosts recreational events for students with communication challenges. These services allow students to develop self-advocacy skills and connect with the Temple community.

“You don’t have to use them right away, it’s not a sign of weakness, but they’re there if you need them,” said Rani Vasudeva, a psychology and neuroscience professor. “It helps students feel more open and comfortable with their situations which can then improve their mental health.”

It’s normal to need accommodations for a disability, and all students are capable of academic achievement and success. DRS educates its members on disability, inclusion and accessibility while empowering students to become self-advocates. DRS accommodations and resources are important because they improve one’s college experience through acceptance, support and comfortability. sophia.reis@temple.edu @sophiareis27

The Temple News

OPINION

PAGE 7

THE ESSAYIST

Postpartum students need more accommodations A student describes her experience after childbirth and advocates for change.

BY WHITNEY FRIDAY For The Temple News I hadn’t realized how uncomfortable the seats in Ritter Hall were until I returned to classes for the Spring 2022 semester after giving birth during winter break. Trying to focus on my courses as a second-semester graduate student studying counseling psychology, I scooted in my chair to find the most comfortable position.

Had I been home, I would’ve been seated on my sofa or on top of a pillow. That wasn’t an option for me because Temple has no specific policy to support postpartum students.

Pregnant students are instructed to communicate with Disability Resources and Services, which provides official accommodation letters for students to give to professors.

These letters granted me extensions on assignments and excused absences for mandatory appointments throughout the duration of my pregnancy. I never asked for a single extension, but knowing I had the support of the university made me feel welcome.

That support vanished immediately following childbirth, when I needed it the most.

While DRS covers pregnancy, students are transferred to the Title IX office after the child is born.

The Title IX office informed my professors of my due date and stated I would likely need additional assistance. While some professors were supportive, one professor’s response left me livid.

She congratulated me, and followed up with, “I am going to double the number of excused absences from one to two.” The first two classes of the semester were held on Zoom, but she expected me back in the classroom soon thereafter. After two years of adjusting to COVID-19, I was frustrated that she expected me to put my own health at risk to attend in-person classes.

I didn’t fight it, but I should’ve. At the time, I didn’t know I had the right to negotiate, so I took what was offered. To future birthing students, I can’t overemphasize the importance of self-advocacy when talking with the Title IX office and professors.

CAL NGUYEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS

I returned to in-person classes just over three weeks after childbirth. I took pain medication to sit in rigid classroom seats, wore fitted clothing to hold together my receding abdomen and double-masked so I wouldn’t bring COVID-19 back to my newborn daughter.

I regret not advocating for myself more and suffering through the weeks after childbirth. I was miserable and angry, but I just wanted to push through. In the counseling psychology program where classes are offered only once or twice a school year, a semester off would have delayed my graduation by an entire year.

Higher education is generally behind the curve in providing pregnant students and faculty with humane postpartum accommodations, but some universities value their birthing students with policies and resources that address their needs.

Rutgers University explicitly affirms the Title IX rights of pregnant students, stating academic programs must reschedule all examinations and excuse all absences related to pregnancy and childbirth. The University of Pennsylvania’s Family Resource Center is a

centralized location on the college’s campus for resources related to birthing students, like Title IX rights and childcare tips.

Temple offers one Mamava lactation pod for private breastfeeding on Main Campus and a Temple Student-Parent Partnership, wrote Stephanie Ives, associate vice president and dean of students, in an email to The Temple News.

There is only one lactation pod on the ground floor of the Student Center and the partnership is only available for undergraduates, so I couldn’t participate. The university relies largely on students to work with professors, and one lactation pod isn‘t enough.

Temple’s inability to support birthing students pushes away promising talent — particularly women and people of color — as 58 percent of Black student parents drop out of college, according to a March 2021 report by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. Without a supportive family, I could have been forced to leave Temple in favor of a program that was more flexible.

Not every student will have a mother and mother-in-law who can temporarily move in, or a partner who works from home to be

a stay-at-home father.

Many university policies are not revolutionary; however, they ensure that birthing students don’t have to choose between their dignity and their academic standing. I chose my academic standing, and I regretted it every day of the semester.

Perhaps my daughter would have found it easier to breastfeed if I’d been home longer. Perhaps my body would have healed better if I hadn’t spent three to six hours a day sitting on hard seats. Perhaps I would’ve emotionally adjusted better to parenthood if I could’ve focused more on my family.

This doesn’t have to be the case for future students. While I maintain that Temple did not support me, I also know I should have advocated for myself.

Temple must create leave policies for birthing students and inform students and professors on those policies. While I had the support system to push through the semester, many won’t, and that doesn’t make them any less worthy of a Temple education. . whitney.skippings@temple.edu

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The Temple News

OPINION

PAGE 9

THE ESSAYIST

Unlearning beauty standards with body neutrality A student describes her journey from struggling to accept her body to embracing it.

BY ROSAMELIA SANCHEZ LARA For The Temple News I first became aware of my body image when I was 11 years old. At that time, I was accustomed to what my family thought were positive comments about my body.

“She’ll have a nice body when she grows up,” my aunts would say, and family friends would advise me to start watching what I ate if I wanted to have a nice figure after puberty.

People commented on my body so freely because they believed I should adhere to my culture’s beauty standard.

I grew up in the Dominican Republic where wide hips and a small waist have always been the ideal body type. I worried that my body wouldn’t meet my family’s expectations of being very curvy because I was only a child.

During the 2010s, I discovered Tumblr, which had gained a reputation for promoting eating disorders.

At first, the Western beauty standards of being very thin appealed to me.

These standards felt like an escape from my culture’s ideals and offered relief because I felt other body types were acceptable for the first time.

However, my relationship with romanticized thinness in the United States turned into more than just an escape — it became an unhealthy obsession.

Attempting to become thinner, I obsessively controlled what I ate, which led to binge eating when I could no longer restrain myself from consuming food. At only 13, I was trapped in a cycle of starvation, binge eating and guilt.

At the same time, my family and I had just moved to the U.S., and the stressful immigration process worsened my habits. I didn’t want to share my struggles with my family in fear of not being understood, so I distanced myself when we needed to support each other as we adjusted to life in the U.S. Leaving my country triggered my insecurities because I didn’t know which

MARIANA VALDEZ / THE TEMPLE NEWS

beauty standards to follow. Both Dominican and American standards were praised by different people in my life, and I didn’t know who was right.

Nevertheless, experiencing the change alongside my family motivated me to get better. I tried to overcome my eating disorder by being more present in family meals and spending less time on the internet to avoid triggers.

At 14, I learned about the body positivity movement. I stumbled across an Instagram account that shared infographics about the importance of selflove. One account led to another, and I slowly learned the meaning behind body positivity.

I initially disregarded the movement because I couldn’t imagine life without controlling what I ate, but with time, I was inspired by the happiness of those practicing body positivity. It meant I didn’t have to be extremely curvy or skinny. I could just be me and love myself for it.

However, loving my body without hesitation wasn’t as easy as the accounts I followed made it appear. Even when I wanted to overcome my eating disorder, intrusive and self-deprecating thoughts were always present, urging me to worry about my weight and appearance.

Eventually, I learned that body positivity wouldn’t always be best for me. I recognized that I would go through moments when I liked and didn’t like my body. My body will never be perfect, and that’s okay.

In the past year, I’ve come across a new, popular term: body neutrality, respecting my body even if I don’t always like how it looks. As an attempt to acknowledge different people’s relationships with body image, the same accounts that taught me about body positivity now educate their followers on body neutrality.

Practicing body neutrality seemed unachievable at first. I didn’t think that not caring about my body image was re-

alistic after obsessively caring for years.

Eventually, I decided to give body neutrality a try as a last resort to be at peace with myself.

I learned that combining body neutrality and body positivity allows me to stop obsessing on my appearance and appreciate the things it lets me do, like writing essays and exercising. I try to be grateful for what my body can do instead of how it looks, but sometimes I find it rewarding to congratulate myself for working out and seeing the results I want.

Even though both loving my body and being neutral about its appearance is difficult to balance, I finally feel inner peace knowing I don’t have to be at war with my body. I’m willing to give myself time to heal because the last eight years of my life have felt like a battle, but also been a journey to self-love. rosamelia.sanchez.lara@temple.edu

PAGE 10

OPINION

The Temple News

STUDENT LIFE

Compensate Greek officers by waving their dues A student argues Greek officers should be excused from dues as compensation for their work.

BY MOLLY FISKE Assistant Opinion Editor On any given day, Angela Daniel, the chapter president of Kappa Phi Gamma and a senior legal studies major, balances meetings among all other student responsibilities. While Daniel is proud of herself when her chapter is recognized by their National Board, being valued and compensated in a leadership role would help dedicated officers feel supported, she said.

Temple University is home to 34 Greek chapters making up the four councils: Multicultural Greek, National Pan-Hellenic, College Panhellenic and Interfraternity. More than 1,800 undergraduate students participate in Greek life on campus, according to Temple Student Activities Greek chapters have a hierarchy of officers involved in managing and growing the chapter. All officer roles are important, but none are compensated. Greek national organizations should compensate chapter leaders by waiving dues to increase officer involvement among members because most officer responsibilities are comparable to those of a full-time job.

All Greek organizations require members to pay dues each semester that help fund formals, socials and chapter building events, among other chapter expenses. Dues can range from $60 to $400 per semester, depending on the chapter.

All officers pay dues, but the work they put into their role should be viewed as compensation toward the chapter itself.

“I do wish that the way the structure was, either that we didn’t have to pay dues or that they were reduced,” Daniel said. “Or that I didn’t have to do as much work as I do, from my position I’m overseeing everyone.”

For chapter presidents, the position isn’t a normal 9-5 workday. Daniel receives calls from officers who are working at 2 a.m. She dedicates 30 to 40 hours per week to running her chapter and sometimes feels overwhelmed because

JULIA McNALLY/ THE TEMPLE NEWS

the work is a lot for one person, she said.

“Recruitment season is probably the hardest time of the semester because there’s so many moving parts” said Neil Chaturvedi Sigma Beta Rho’s chapter president and a junior psychology major.

“Organizing events and recruitment is definitely what takes up most of the time during the first few weeks of every semester.”

During semesters with low member enrollment, chapters struggle to fill key positions. Keeping members engaged and recruiting potential new members is essential to chapter life on campus and without organized leaders, events could become impossible to plan.

“I agree that there is a lot of important work both our council and chapter officers do, and compensation would be a nice benefit,” wrote Mat Greer, the assistant director of student activities, in an email to The Temple News. “Certain chapters have struggled for certain roles

to be filled, but it really is a case-by-case basis and a chapter-by-chapter basis.”

Many positions prepare members for future jobs by working in specific roles like managing a chapter’s social media or member finances, and students can explore skills that they can use in future careers. Being properly compensated by a Greek organization’s nationals would incentivize the position for potential leaders, thus increasing the number of applications.

“If officers did have support, that would make students more interested to go into leadership and be a part of a community”, said Issa Kabeer, the president and vice president of chapter programing for Multicultural Greek Council and president of Psi Sigma Phi, and a senior social work major. “It’s not about just getting paid. It’s about saying, ‘Hey, I honor the work that you put into this.’

You’re being honored for what you’re doing.”

Although service and philanthropy are most important in chapter leadership, officers deserve to feel supported in their role. Greek nationals can recognize an officer’s hard work by waiving dues during their term.

“Sometimes it seems like you put a lot of work in and then you don’t get really the support for all the work that you’re doing,” Kabeer said. “It can make you a little bit jaded and bitter. The best outcome would be to have support for the officers who are doing all the work.”

Many chapter officers put their heart and soul into a role and aren’t adequately compensated for the work.

With the work put forth during an officer’s term they deserve to be relieved of their membership dues. By compensating leaders, they will feel valued by their national office, and chapters will see an increase in eager member applicants. molly.fiske@temple.edu

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LIVE Philly in

EARL KUFEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS A T-shirt shop at the Phila Flea Markets displays T-shirt prices on Sept.10.

Philadelphians gather to sell their vintage goods Attendees gathered to prove that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

BY EARL KUFEN Photo Editor The Phila Flea Markets hosts flea markets every weekend. The event was hosted at Eastern State Penitentiary and is the largest flea market in Center City and travels to different neighborhoods every weekend.

People gathered in Fairmount on

Sept. 10 to sell vintage items or get rid of stuff that they no longer wanted, like jewelry, books, records and old cameras.

The event took place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and people of all ages looked for items to purchase, while others went specifically for one item.

Ian Woods, a South Philadelphia resident, has been shopping at the Philly Flea for six years, he and his wife Jessica Whittington look for only a couple of items when they attend.

“I usually go for old comics and old books,” Woods said. “My wife is trying to find antiques”

Anna Lascurian, a resident of Howell, New Jersey, attends the event to sell different goods like hand jewelry, books and other items. She uses the funds to help with the costs of her publishing company. , “Sterling silver jewelry is my specialty, a mummer’s hat and I’m wearing one and vintage goods,” Lascurian said.

Some sellers use the flea market as a small business to sell their items like Sean Lerro, and Elizabeth Duffy, who have been selling shirts at the event for three years.

Lerro and Duffy started their busi-

ness during the pandemic and have since found great success selling items at the market.

“We source it from Goodwills, Goodwill Outlets, Salvation Army’s, and estate sales around the area,” Lerro, a resident of Springfield, Pennsylvania, said. terry.kufen@temple.edu

MOVING CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP EARL KUFEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS Two attendees look at pottery at Philly Flea on Sept.10.

Sean Lerro posing with his clothing rack and custom tags, his small business at Philly Flea on Sept.10.

A vendor organizes his table of bronze and nickel pieces at Philly Flea on Sept.10.

Ian Woods and Jessica Whittington pose with their dog Lew at Philly Flea on Sept.10.

Anna Lascurain poses with her mummer’s hat at Philly Flea on Sept.10.

A sign at Philly Flea shows a discount on thrift shirts on Sept.10.

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The Temple News

ART

FEATURES

PAGE 15

Tyler alumnus exhibits art on South Asian history Shwarga Bhattacharjee’s exhibition is on display at Da Vinci Art Alliance until Sept. 14.

BY ASHLEY GREEN For The Temple News

S

hwarga Bhattacharjee began drawing at the age of five and was inspired to continue because his mother supported his interest in the arts, he said. Growing up in a South Asian family, he felt pressured by societal expectations to become a doctor or engineer.

“As a kid, I always loved drawing and drew all the time,” said Bhattacharjee, a 2018 master of fine arts in drawing and painting alumnus. “I never considered drawing or art can be a way to live.”

To showcase his experiences and observations as an immigrant, Bhattacharjee curated his exhibition, “When the Subaltern Speaks,” which is open until Sept. 14 at the Da Vinci Art Alliance, a non-profit art organization, located at Seventh Street and Catharine Streets.

The exhibition features abstract paintings, animated illustrations and sculptures. It highlights modern identities in South Asia along with migration, transnationalism, racism and the effects of post-colonial borders.

“These are all huge topics, and I’m a single person and artist and my interests are going from my own experiences,” Bhattacharjee said. “I don’t want that experience to be only a personal experience. I feel like if we think about migration, ancestry and the complexities of a person, we all can relate to these topics.”

After moving from Bangladesh to the United States in 2014, Bhattacharjee began expressing his upbringing and immigration experience by using abstract artwork to highlight his South Asian background.

“When I moved to the states, I always thought of incorporating images or symbols or resources of South Asia,” Bhattacharjee said. “When I moved here, I feel like I wanted to be an artist who is active in the contemporary art conversation.”

After graduating from Temple,

COURTESY / SHWAREGA BHATTECHARJEE

Bhattacharjee explored downtown Philadelphia and he became inspired to include more than just South Asian culture into his artwork, which led to his evolution as an artist by including new places and insight into his work.

In his artwork today, Bhattacharjee embraces how Bangladesh and Philadelphia influence his identity by finding ways to incorporate and merge similarities of geography. For example, at his last solo exhibition, “Excavation Paths,” at Twelve Gates Arts, an art organization in Philadelphia located at Arch and Second Street, he conjoined the Schuylkill River and the Jamuna River, one of the largest rivers in Bangladesh, referencing how land provides water, food and oxygen without discrimination.

“The discrimination I see, I experienced in Bangladesh, or anywhere, it is created by us,” Bhattacharjee said. “But the connection with the land, with a person is so personal. After a while, I felt like Philly was my home”.

The goal of the exhibition is to show the lasting effects of British post-imperialism on India, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and how natives’ ideas get lost within

colonial ones. Bhattacharjee wants his audience to relate to his work by raising awareness on topics like colonization, which still affects people worldwide.

Kara Mshinda, the fellowship director at the Da Vinci Art Alliance, worked with Bhattacharjee while he was developing the initial idea for his project during his fellowship and leading up to his preparation for the exhibition.

“I’m extremely pleased, I think that his exhibition is wonderful,” Mshinda said. “From watching a concept come into reality has been just such a treat.”

Mshinda was astonished by Bhattacharjee’s ability to use his artwork as a mechanism to influence an audience about the effects of colonialism and how it changed the identity of South Asia.

Veronica Knell, the marketing manager at the Da Vinci Art Alliance, sees Bhattacharjee’s work as a reflection of the alliance’s founding by Italian immigrants in 1931, and how they built a community through art when they weren’t accepted by professional art spaces.

“We really take in that mission of building community through art and

uplifting as many voices as possible today, so we’re still trying to do that at Da Vinci, and a part of that is our fellowship program,” Knell said.

Bhattacharjee’s next venture will be a fellowship for the Center for Emerging Visual Artists, an art gallery that provides fellowship opportunities, where he will have an open studio this fall.

He is grateful his exhibition was brought to life and how his artwork was a force that helped bring awareness to South Asian colonialism.

“I knew that I wanted to talk about these topics, and share these thoughts and feelings, and that was what I told them,” Bhattacharjee said. “I was surprised that that happened because my work is very abstract, and I wasn’t sure that my conversations would draw on these topics, but it did, so I feel very fulfilled by that.” ashley.green0005@temple.edu

FEATURES

PAGE 16

The Temple News

ART

Art exhibit portrays first-generation experiences Jova Lynne highlights experience assimilating American culture.

her to

BY LAURA MILLER Features Editor While visiting Philadelphia in 2019 for a solo art presentation at Vox Populi, an art gallery located on 11th and Wood Streets, Jova Lynne walked alongside a bookstore named Giovanni’s Room, the name of one her favorite books written

by James Baldwin.

In the window was his book “Notes of a Native Son,” which inspired the latest exhibition Lynne curated.

“It’s a series of essays where James Baldwin sort of deals with the dichotomy of America, sort of demystifying, specifically from a Black, gay, male, poor perspective, like what it means to be of this country,” said Lynne, director of exhibitions and public programs at Temple Contemporary.

Lynne, a first generation Columbian and Jamaican American, solidified her idea for “With or Without You: America,” an exhibit featuring 11 first-generation American artists depicting moments of their experiences with assimilation, college and race. The exhibition is open until Oct. 29 at Temple Contemporary, an art exhibit at the Tyler School of Art and Architecture.

Lynne saw racial injustices and the public health crisis caused by COVID-19 in 2020 while also reading Baldwin’s book that discussed topics like the American Dream and its flaws.

“I just started thinking of all these intricate connections of the first-generation identity that was inclusive of first-generation immigrant kids, but also thinking about, just genuinely what it means to be a pioneer of America,” Lynne said.

The exhibition’s artwork includes photographs, paintings and video installations from artists who live throughout the United States.

“The work isn’t being like ‘I’m first-generation, here’s what my

ERIKA MONN / THE TEMPLE NEWS

”With or Without You: America,” is on display at Temple Contemporary until Oct. 29.

thoughts are on first-generationhood,’ it’s not that,” Lynne said. “The show is about personhood, it’s about being of a place, and being both within that place and having to develop systems without that place.”

Two featured artists in the exhibition, Antonia Larkin and Valery Jung Estabrook, explore loss and death in their artwork through videos they choreographed and performed in.

Estabrook, a Korean American artist, assimilated into American culture and experienced the loss of her Korean culture. Her feelings of grief are showcased by performing a ritual movement piece inspired by Korean funeral ceremonies.

“The histories and perspectives that are included are incredibly important, of course are still just a slice of the American experience,” Estabrook said. “But as far as an exhibition can go, it is still quite an impressive representation of the diversity and complexity of the different experiences that we as first-generation Americans and the families that we belong to, what those experiences entail.”

Although Estabrook and Larkin are from different backgrounds, they have both encountered loss and grief within

their communities.

Larkin, who was once a first-generation college student, integrates her experiences as a Black woman with her female ancestors, she said. After conducting individual research of her family’s ancestry, she found mainly death records.

In one video, Larkin highlights how the Black community celebrates the death of loved ones, even if they died in non-peaceful ways, like by police brutality, she said. In her artwork, she hopes to honor her ancestors and highlight how Black people have experienced racism and discrimination.

“I got really into the idea of how Black people mourn and how Black people have celebrations of life ceremonies and homegoing’s, and its somber, but it also feels kind of like a party in a way,” Larkin said. “But the lives we live are often not so celebratory, and the way Black people die, thinking of people like Latasha Harlins and Breonna Taylor, the way they came to die was under someone else’s control and it wasn’t with any honor.”

Amy Shindo, a curatorial and program assistant at Temple Contemporary and 2022 master of fine arts in ceramics

alumna, worked with Lynne and the exhibition’s manager, Adam Blumberg, by talking with featured artists and working on the artists’ contracts, she said.

Shindo, a first-generation Japanese American from Canada, felt a connection to the artists because of issues they experienced in the U.S., like finding a voice as a minority.

“Each artist had such a unique vision about their experience, and so what that helped me to do was mine what my own experiences have been and are now,” Shindo said.

Lynne looks forward to hosting and directing upcoming exhibition events throughout the fall semester, including workshops and walk-through tours, to connect Temple and Philadelphia community members with the artwork.

“As this is an exhibition that is about personhood and agency, hearing from the artists directly is just such a powerful experience,” Lynne said. laura.miller0007@temple.edu Miller18Laura

The Temple News

FEATURES

PAGE 17

ALUMNI

Klein alumni launching media resource podcast Ray Boyd and Dan Casarella will release their podcast, “Leaving the Nest” by homecoming.

BY MARIYUM RIZWAN Features Editor Dan Casarella was struggling with his first job at VH1 when he realized that college prepared him for what he wanted to do but not how to go about it.

While working in Los Angeles for “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Casarella reached out to his colleague, Ray Boyd, to pitch “Leaving the Nest,” a podcast focusing on media resources for students.

He wanted to be able to give back to the Temple community and create a space for alumni to help current students.

Boyd, a 2013 journalism alumnus, and Casarella, a 2015 media studies and production alumnus, plan to reduce the gap between Klein alumni and current students with the launch of their new podcast, “Leaving the Nest” in conjunction with the Klein Alumni Association. The podcast is set to be released around Temple’s homecoming and aims to create a platform for Klein alumni who want to give back to the community after graduating.

“Leaving the Nest” will feature interviews conducted by Boyd and Casarella with alumni working in media and communications to discuss gaining experience in the field.

“Temple played such a big role in who we are personally and professionally,” Boyd said. “We met at Temple and for us this was kind of a way to cure the itch for ourselves wanting to do podcasts.”

They both had a passion for podcasts and giving back after graduating from Temple. The idea for “Leaving the Nest” was first conceived in 2017 but did not come to fruition because of Boyd and Casarella’s busy schedules. However, COVID-19 delayed the need for the podcast because so many opportunities for students were put on hold, Boyd said.

“I went back to Dan and was like, this might be the perfect time for this podcast idea because people can’t connect in person, they can’t get that face to face and these students are losing the opportunity to connect with alumni,” Boyd said.

Because Casarella was in Los Angeles and Boyd in Philadelpha, the two wanted to work together to focus on their respective cities.

“The premise was more focused on high-

EARL KUFEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS Dan Casarella and Ray Boyd are starting a podcast to highlight alumni in Klein who have found success in their career.

lighting alumni in Los Angeles and Philly, with me interviewing the ones in LA, and Ray the ones in Philadelphia,” Casarella said.

Once Casarella returned to Philadelphia for a position as a coordinator for the marketing content agency, Lightning Media Partners, there was no longer a specific focus on working with Los Angeles alumni. Boyd and Casarella aimed to work with the university itself to connect with alumni across the country.

By working with the Klein Alumni Board, Casarella and Boyd were able to work with students directly as opposed to marketing and researching on their own.

Erin McGinn, a 2014 media and film studies alumna and Klein’s director of alumni engagement, has helped guide the two creators to apply for the Temple Alumni grant that is funding the

project.

“We applied for a grant through Temple’s Alumni association last year,” McGinn said. “This grant covered all the equipment costs and subscription costs. I basically helped with the logistics and keeping things on track.”

As a Klein alumna, McGinn had a vested interest in the success of “Leaving the Nest.” Her biggest goal is to connect alumni who haven’t been involved with Temple years.

She works as a project manager for the duo and was responsible for reaching out to potential guests, helping with promotion and reaching out to the communications team.

Ultimately, Boyd and Casarella hope to engage with current Temple students as well as prospective students and alumni to create a space for media resources.

“It feels like an opportunity to give back and use our connections in the media to give something to current students and prospective students on what they can look forward to on the other side after they graduate,” Boyd said.

mariyum.rizwan@temple.edu

The Temple News

PAGE 18

ALL IN GOOD FUN HOMECOMING WORD SEARCH

RUTGERS

WINGARD

WHITE

STELLA

BELL TOWER

TAILGATE

FOOTBALL

HOOTER

CHERRY

OWL

ROYAL FAMILY CROSSWORD

1. The longest reigning British Monarch who recently passed on September 8, 2022.

2. The castle where Queen Elizabeth II passed away.

3. The royal palace that is located in the City of Westminster,England.

4. UK’s new monarch which was proclaimed as King following Queen Elizabeth II’s death.

5. King Charles III and Princess Diana of Wales’ eldest son who is now first in line to the throne.

6. How many children do Prince William and Kate Middleton have together?

7. In 1917 the royal family changed their surname from Saxe-Coburg to what?

8. The Westminster ____ church where royal events such as weddings, funerals, or coronations take place.

9. What ingredient isn’t allowed in royal dishes because Queen Elizabeth II hated the smell?

10. Which Princess has a 25 foot-long wedding dress in 1981?

The Temple News

SPORTS

PAGE 19

FOOTBALL

Mathis out as Warner leads Owls to win in debut

With D’Wan Mathis struggling, E.J. Warner was subbed in and led Temple to a win.

BY JAVON EDMONDS Assistant Sports Editor

C

oming out of fall camp, redshirt-junior Quincy Patterson and redshirt-sophomore D’Wan Mathis were the two men battling for Temple’s starting quarterback position for the 2022 season. After two weeks, true freshman E.J. Warner has entered, and possibly taken over, that competition.

After losing his third fumble of the season, Mathis was benched by head coach Stan Drayton in favor of E.J. Warner. The true freshman was listed as the fourth quarterback on the first depth chart of the year, a depth chart that Drayton described as “fluid.”

Drayton said in Saturday’s press conference Warner jumped Patterson, a North Dakota State University transfer, and redshirt-sophomore Mariano Valenti on the depth chart in practice over the week to become Temple’s backup quarterback, leading to him playing his first collegiate game and guiding Temple to a 30-14 victory over Lafayette College.

Warner did not look out of place or afraid while playing against Lafayette.

On his first drive, Temple’s most productive of the afternoon, Warner led the Owls 83 yards down the field for a 15-yard touchdown to redshirt-freshman transfer wide receiver Ian Stewart for the first touchdown of both players’ careers.

“He came up there with a lot of confidence,” graduate left tackle Isaac Moore said of Warner. “He did not look like a true freshman to me.”

Without the fumbles, Mathis was already having a lackluster performance.

Mathis threw for 42 yards on just more than 44 percent against Lafayette before being pulled from the game.

Temple’s passing offense was stagnant yet again with Mathis under center as the Owls tied their FCS opponent 7-7

ERIKA MONN / THE TEMPLE NEWS Freshman quarterback E.J. Warner threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns against Lafayette.

while the second-year starter was in the game. Mathis’ 29-yard pass to graduate wide receiver Jose Barbon set up a threeyard touchdown run by redshirt-sophomore transfer running back Darvon Hubbard for Temple’s first points of the season.

However, Temple’s next drives under Mathis ended in his two lost fumbles, a failed fourth-down conversion, and a three-and-out forced by a sack. After that, Warner was subbed in to start Temple’s sixth drive of the game.

“There’s nothing in a winning formula that says you gotta turn the ball over four times,” Drayton said. “Two balls on the ground was something that probably forced me to that decision.”

As a first-year coach of a rebuilding program, Drayton and his staff have zero ties to the recruits of previous regimes.

It arguably behooves him to give snaps to the younger players that he will be coaching and grooming to play his style of football.

“If you’re going to come into the

program, you’ve gotta compete,” Drayton said during his Aug. 29 media availability. “Regardless of how old or how much experience you have, if you’re the best player here at Temple, we’re going to play the best players.”

Finishing with 173 yards and two touchdowns on 73.6 percent passing, Warner, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, clearly delivered the best performance by a Temple quarterback so far this season.

It is worth noting that Lafayette, an FCS program, isn’t a FBS Power 5 program like Duke. However, Warner’s intangibles were still visible on the field.

The freshman went through his progressions and delivered his passes with accuracy while also displaying courage at his six foot, 190-pound frame by standing in the pocket and absorbing hits from defenders.

“He didn’t flinch,” Drayton said. “He went out there and put the ball where it needed to be put. Took some hits, responded to those hits. Very excited

about what he’s capable of doing moving forward.”

Although Warner played well, he’ll still have to perform at a high level in this week’s practices. Drayton did not name Warner the starter for the homecoming game against Rutgers University, much like he didn’t name Mathis the starter against Lafayette when asked to during the team’s media availability on Sept. 5.

“You may be a starter for three quarters of a football game but every day you have to earn that,” Drayton said.

If Warner impresses during Temple’s homecoming game against Rutgers, he could grab a firm hold of the position and possibly push Mathis to consider re-entering the transfer portal like he did on Nov. 18 of last year. javon.edmonds@temple.edu @javonedmonds45

The Temple News

SPORTS

PAGE 21

VOLLEYBALL

Temple volleyball seeing revival under new coach The Owls began the season 4-4 with new faces looking to bring success to the program.

BY ETHAN BRIDDELL For The Temple News After winning the final two games of the Black Knight Invitational at West Point, Temple University volleyball is evidently seeing progress under new head coach Linda Hampton-Keith.

The former North Carolina State University coach has shifted parts around the lineup, building a solid foundation for her players to build on. Hampton-Keith is not afraid to make changes to the program, and it has helped the Owls get off to a 4-4 record, well on their way to surpassing the poor 7-24 record they finished with last season “My main focus is to focus on developing the culture, developing the expectations and then hopefully helping all of our athletes maximize their potential right now,” Hampton-Keith said. “Our main goal is to keep getting better every weekend, we want to go into November and December being the best team that we can.”

Temple volleyball only won three games in conference play last season.

Since then, they have made changes like bringing in a new coach and new players to help them improve from the previous year. This season, Temple has shown that they have the resilience to pull away with close wins that eluded them last season.

Junior outside hitter Jelena Prolic is a transfer from Coastal Carolina University and has been an important part of this year’s team, leading the team in kills with 19 in the win against the University of Delaware (4-4, 0-0 The Colonial Athletic Association).

“I can help this team in those moments and show how to win and what is necessary to step up in hard situations,” Prolic said. “I definitely see that we can go far and change a lot compared to last season.”

Prolic is second on the team in kills, points and digs with 98 kills, 110.0 points and 73 digs through eight games so far

ISSAC SCHIEN / FOR THE TEMPLE NEWS Temple University volleyball has started the season 4-4 under new head coach Linda Hampton-Keith.

this season. She has already surpassed her total of 57 kills last season at Coastal Carolina and has also made plays in key rallies late in sets, creating point wins in unlikely scenarios.

The Owls have a 4-4 record so far with a key 3-2 victory coming against Delaware a the Cherry and White Challenge. They were also able to pick up wins against Army (4-6, 0-0 The Patriot League) in a 3-1 set victory, St. Francis Brooklyn College (5-6, 0-0 The Northeast Conference) in a 3-2 set victory and Cornell University (2-4, 0-0 The Ivy League) in a 3-2 set win.

The Owls have been challenged early in the season with two of their wins coming in close five-set matches that went down to the wire.

“The Army win was great, but then to turn around and gut out a five-set match against a really gritty and scrappy St. Francis team, it would’ve been easy to lay down and die,” Hampton-Keith said.

“We really showed ourselves that we have what it takes to dig deep and keep going.”

Sophomore middle hitter Taylor Davenport started in 30 of Temple’s 31 matches last season as a middle blocker and finished fourth in the American Athletic Conference in blocks with 126. She also led the Owls last season in blocks per set with 1.14 and tied for third on the team with the most kills during the season with 150.

This year, Davenport is at a new position – middle hitter. She has shined in her first eight games, recording a teamhigh 129 kills during that span. Although she has been a force for the Owls, Davenport is still trying to adapt since switching positions.

“Switching from outside to middle is a whole new world,” Davenport said. “I want to have better ball control and have better shots from out of the system.”

So far, the Owls have improved

their offense and defense at the net, going from 11.8 kills per set in 2021 to 12.0 this season. They’ve also lowered their opponents’ kills per set to 12.6 compared to 14.1 last season.

With a new head coach and changes throughout the team, Temple volleyball is maintaining high expectations going into conference play beginning on Sept.

23 in Kansas against Wichita State University (4-5, 0-0 The American Athletic Conference).

“We’ve showed a lot of fight, we’ve been down a lot of games and came back and won,” Davenport said. “That’s a testament to our character and unrelenting effort and ability to keep going.” ethan.briddell@temple.edu @EthanBriddell

PAGE 22

SPORTS

The Temple News

WOMEN’S SOCCER

Parker sisters strengthen bond through soccer While growing up, twins Aurrianna and Brianna Parker built a relationship on the field.

BY SAMUEL O’NEAL Assistant Sports Editor When freshman midfielder Aurrianna Parker and freshman defender Brianna Parker left their hometown of Las Vegas for Philadelphia to join Temple University’s women’s soccer team, they did not know anyone but each other.

“It has been like bringing a piece of home,” Brianna Parker said. “I definitely felt homesick, and I know that I could not have gotten through that without my sister because it felt like I brought something familiar with me.”

Aurrianna and Brianna Parker have always maintained a close relationship, but their bond has strengthened through their time spent on the field together from youth soccer, all the way to the college level.

In high school, they always liked the idea of playing together in college, but both thought it was unlikely they would be recruited by the same school and did not want to limit potential scholarship offers by being strictly a package deal.

It was not until they met Owls’ head coach Nick Bochette at the Lady Owls Elite Prospect Camp that staying together for college seemed like it could become a reality.

“We wanted to recruit both of them,” Bochette said. “They are two different players, but it just so happened that we were looking to fill both of their roles and they are both just happy, agreeable, coachable and team-oriented workers.”

It has been that coachability and willingness to learn that has allowed Bochette to feel comfortable giving them minutes as freshmen, he said.

Aurrianna Parker has played 151 minutes during five games this season and recorded a shot on goal during her first college appearance against Binghamton University on Aug. 21.

Despite logging just 11 minutes this season, the Owls believe Brianna will still prove to be a vital part of the team’s goals moving forward, Bochette said.

“Forwards and midfielders get sub-

COURTESY/ TEMPLE ATHLETICS

stituted more than defenders,” Bochette added. “That is a big reason as to why Aurrianna has played more minutes at this point, but we are really high on both of them, and we think that they both have a very high ceiling.”

Both sisters credit their time spent at Faith Lutheran Middle and High School, a private boarding school in Las Vegas, as the main reason they are close today.

While at Faith Lutheran, Aurrianna and Brianna needed to learn how to battle through adversity both on and off the field without their mother’s guidance.

They leaned on each other and finished high school closer than they were before, Aurrianna said.

“Our mom has always been our biggest supporter,” Brianna Parker said.

“She has done everything for us and sacrifices a lot so that we can live the life that we live, so when we lived independently without her, we were learning and maturing, and we became closer through that.”

In the Owls’ matchup against Binghamton on Aug. 21, the sisters shared the field together at the college level for the first time. It was a moment that reminded them that their hard work had paid off.

Despite being more than 2,000 miles from their hometown, Aurrianna and Brianna Parker knew from the minute they stepped on campus that Temple was the place they were supposed to be, and when times get tough, they both know exactly who to turn to.

“I don’t think I would be able to play without my sister,” Aurrianna Parker said. “When I have difficult times on the field or I feel like I’m not playing well, I can hear her voice and I can hear her guiding me and it really helps.” samuel.oneal@temple.edu @samueloneal43

The Temple News

SPORTS

PAGE 23

FIELD HOCKEY

Kopec helps lead Temple field hockey by example thing Kopec has looked forward to for

cord. However, her stats do not tell the whole story of her impact on the field as she is the main facilitator of the attack for the Owls.

Kopec comes into her sophomore year looking to build on her successes from last season, where she led the team in goals with six as a freshman. She stepped up when the team needed her, but she still hasn’t fully found her voice, Vittese said.

“She’s not the most vocal leader which I think is really awesome,” Vittese said. “Just because you are the loudest voice in the room does not mean you’re the best leader.”

Athletes with Kopec’s talent are often looked to for leadership in their respective locker rooms. As Kopec has grown within the Temple field hockey

program, she has carved out a role that does not require her to always be vocal.

She trains and plays in a positive manner, a trait that has rubbed off on many teammates.

Being a young player thrusted into a leadership role can be difficult, but that’s another reason why Kopec used her hard work and determination to speak for her.

“She does a great job of leading by example,” said teammate sophomore midfielder Devin Kinzel. “She comes to practice ready to go and is always focused during film. It’s great when I have someone like that around, it pushes me to be better myself.”

Kopec is also preparing for USA Field Hockey’s upcoming selection camp. This winter she will be evaluated

by USA Field Hockey’s coaches and potentially selected to join the 2023 U-21 and Development Squad.

After being awarded a spot on the development squad, the team will prepare for the Junior Pan American Championships with hopes to qualify for the women’s FIH Hockey Junior World Cup

in December of 2023 in Chile.

Vittese herself was a member of the USA Field Hockey team for eight years, appearing in the 2012 London and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and she has been helpful during Kopec’s preparation for the selection camp, Kopec said.

For now, Kopec and the Owls will continue to focus on this season and work towards improving last year’s 8-11 overall record and 4-3 record in the Big East Conference, with Kopec serving as one of the driving forces behind their improved performance.

“She is able to come up with the results because of how hard she works,” Kinzel said. “It is just really great to have a teammate like that, someone that you can rely on to help the team win.”

about Temple’s wellness resources, too, and Edward Darrah, Temple Athletics’ director of mental health counseling, serves as the chapter’s adult advisor.

While each athlete has their own mental journey, Morgan’s Message at Temple University has helped find common ground in the issues all student athletes face.

“I think athletes relate in a lot of different ways,” Henderson said. “We all go to practice, we all lift and we all do this other stuff, but we don’t all talk about mental health, and I want that to be accessible when someone wants to do it.”

Morgan’s Message has bi-weekly meetings where they invite athletes from each team to attend. While conversations about mental health can’t be forced, the board hopes that more student athletes eventually tell their stories, Demasi said.

Whether it is the pressure to succeed on the field or on social media, student athletes face a constant battle with their own identity and emotional balance, Henderson said.

“I just want everyone to make sure that they know that they’re not alone,” Demasi said. “Before I knew of my resources I felt so alone, I wanted to make sure that everyone knows we have resources like TUWell and a group of athletes that want to make sure everyone is okay.”

The mental health of male athletes is a topic that the group focuses on as well.

Male student athletes have not attended the meetings as often as female athletes but are now receiving more exposure to the group.

With Trey Blair serving as a board member, Morgan’s Message is already taking steps in the right direction in supporting all athletes.

Blair believes that as a Black male football player, he can hold a prominent role in promoting the club to a newer demographic on campus. By understanding the aspects of mental health that men face daily, his message could start bringing more male student athletes to the meetings.

“Being a male athlete, you’re kind of

expected to be tough and go about your business a certain way,” redshirt-freshman football player Blair said. “But tough to me is about being courageous enough to speak up about your personal issues.”

While the stigma surrounding the mental health of athletes is still a problem, Temple athletes like Demasi, Henderson and Blair are hoping to fast-track mental support through Morgan’s Message at Temple University, Blair said.

“With competing at this high of level it comes with changes in starting lineups and lots of people struggle with the anxiety of wanting to be a starter,” Demasi said. “A lot of us struggle with nutrition and body image, too, but we just want everyone to be educated on how to de-stress.”

Owls sophomore forward years.

Julianne Kopec makes her “It has always been a goal of mine impact felt more than heard. ever since I was little, so it’s just really special to be selected for it,” Kopec said.

BY JOHNNY ZAWISLAK Kopec has three goals and has Field Hockey Beat Reporter helped guide the Owls to their 5-1 reTemple University field hockey is 5-1 heading into conference play under head coach Michelle Vittese. The second-year coach has helped create an open environment driven by leaders on and off the field.

This year, one of the quieter players has stepped into an unofficial leadership position on the team, becoming a role model through example rather than her voice. Temple sophomore forward Julianne Kopec is a constant source of energy that is relentless on the field.

Kopec was invited to the 2023 USA Field Hockey U-21 Developmental Squad Selection Camp based on her performance in July at the 2022 Senior Nexus Championship. The camp, which invited only 57 players, has been some-

CONTINUED FROM 24 MENTAL HEALTH Reese Henderson, the organization’s treasurer, has been an advocate for mental health awareness by sharing promotional posts on social media. When Demasi offered her the chance to join the board, she jumped at the opportunity.

“I was already pretty public about my own struggles,” Henderson, a sophomore women’s soccer player, said. “I was passionate about mental health beforehand, so when Nat asked to join this club, I said ‘Yes, for sure.’”

Morgan’s Message provides a safe space for student athletes to express their personal battles with mental health, as well as uniting the different Temple teams to the common goal of spreading awareness for the issue.

Meetings at various Main Campus locations and consistent outreach on Instagram has allowed the club to grow to more than 50 people since April. The athletes are given additional information

john.zawislak@temple.edu @JZawisBTB

nicholas.gangewere@temple.edu @nick_gang16

SPORTS Athletes come together around mental health

PAGE 24

The Temple News

MENTAL HEALTH

Morgan’s Message is a non-profit organization designed to de-stigmatize mental health amongst college athletes.

BY NICK GANGEWERE Sports Editor

S

ept. 4 through Sept.

10 was National Suicide Prevention Week across the country, allowing for organizations to speak out on the struggles people with mental illness face. One organization at Temple University was able to use the week to spread positive messages about mental health awareness for student athletes in Temple Athletics.

Morgan’s Message is a non-profit organization that provides resources and expertise to those battling mental health issues. Temple University began its own chapter in April 2022, bringing awareness to daily mental stressors, like balancing academics with sports, to the student athlete community on campus.

to Temple by the president of Morgan’s Message at Temple University, Natalie Demasi, who created the partnership with Morgan’s Message after she contacted them directly, and currently sits on the board alongside six other athletes.

“I have representatives from each team on the board,” Demasi, a sophomore women’s soccer player, said. “The people who are really passionate about it on their team, they are the ones responsible for getting the word out.”

Morgan’s Message currently has 674 high school and college campuses representing their organization through peer-to-peer ambassador work at each school.

The program was brought

MENTAL HEALTH | 23 EARL KUFEN / THE TEMPLE NEWS President of Morgans Message Natalie Demasi (Right) and Vice President Peyton Rieger (Left) fight to defeat the stigma around athlete mental health.