A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921.
temple-news.com
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
VOL. 92 ISS. 14
New library first step in master plan Library will replace Barton Hall in center of campus. JOHN MORITZ News Editor
A After blown chances, a conference win The football team ended its season 2-10 with a 41-21 conference win at Memphis. PAGE 22| HUA ZONG TTN
Eight-year vet returns to classroom Silas Adams began his undergrad after serving and aims to help other veteran students.
meeting between the Board of Trustees and Temple administrators on Nov. 20 to review the Visualize Temple master plan led to the final decision to place a new library in the area of the tobe-demolished Barton Hall, a strategic move in a plan that aims to create an academic center of campus. The site is the final location after more than a year of planning and speculation that moved the library from its original destination on the other side of North Broad Street. Conceived as a “signature building” on North Broad Street and replacement to the aging Paley Library as part of Temple’s 20/20 master plan in 2009, the new library’s original location was planned for the area occupied by the
Student Pavilion. That changed in January when President Neil Theobald took over as head of Temple’s administration. Theobald said last spring that the library design would be moved to the east side of campus to prevent a meshing of the athletics prevalent west of Broad Street and academics on the east side. This fall, despite repeated denials from members of the president’s administration, several media outlets, including the Philadelphia Inquirer, reported that the university was planning to update Paley Library instead of building a replacement. Jim Creedon, senior vice president of construction, facilities and operations, said with the exception of the location of the new library, no plans for Visualize Temple have been formalized. However, he said the university
LIBRARY PAGE 3
Katz pledges $25 M amid fundraising shift Surprise donation comes as university pushes for cash.
CLAIRE SASKO The Temple News
Silas Adams didn’t rest on the day his wisdom teeth were removed. At 18, he continued as if it were any other day in Marine Corps boot camp. “They were removed early in the morning, and I went right back to doing everything everyone else was doing – running, pushups and pullups,” the now 27-year-old veteran and Temple sophomore said. Adams is a finance and risk management major. He’s also one of 690 veterans at Temple who are transitioning from a military to college lifestyle. The process is not easy, Adams said, despite Temple recently ranking tied
SEAN CARLIN The Temple News Without warning last week while he was being honored as the recipient of the 2013 Musser Award for Excellence in Leadership, Trustee Lewis Katz surprised the audience and announced that he is pledging $25 million to Temple, the largest single gift in uniAdams was deployed for an eight-year tour before he began pursuing his versity history. finance and risk management degree.| AJA ESPINOSA TTN Katz’s pledge came as a shock to the university community, as President for No. 24 in U.S. News & World Re- spectrum,” Adams said. “It’s a stark Theobald said, “We had no idea. I have port’s Top 52 “Best Colleges for Vet- change and it’s not like we’re weaned not spoken with anyone who knew he erans.” off the military lifestyle.” was going to do that.” “As far as lifestyle and culture, we As president of the Temple Multiple attempts to reach Katz experience two different ends of the ADAMS PAGE 16 for comment were unsuccessful. It’s
Alter trusteeship safe pending FDIC lawsuit Business school namesake sued after his bank failed. JERRY IANNELLI The Temple News Despite facing a potential $219 million fine from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Dennis Alter’s status as a Temple trustee seems both literally and figuratively set in stone. Alter, 71, had been the chairman and chief financial officer of Advanta Bank Corp. since taking over the business – then known as Teacher’s Service Organization – from his father in 1971. The business began offering credit cards to small businesses after a brief foray into sub-prime mortgage lending around the turn of the new millennium, according to a complaint filed by the
FDIC. In 2007, the bank, based in Spring House, Pa., had more than $420 million in capital and $1.03 billion in liquid assets. Philly.com listed Alter’s total compensation as CEO of Advanta as $4,189,342 in 2006. The FDIC is now seeking to recover more than $219 million from Alter and his associates due to “gross negligence and breach of fiduciary duty” following the bankruptcy of Advanta in 2009, according to a complaint filed by the FDIC in civil court in June. Alter, who holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Temple, donated $15 million to the university in
ALTER PAGE 3
Washington someday. “There’s not much, I don’t think, I can do except apply like everybody else does and wait to hear back,” Brown said when asked how he would get such a job. “Make sure I keep up with the news and everything else goEVAN CROSS ing on.” Assistant Sports Editor As is the case with most majors, students in the criminal justice proMorkeith Brown wants to be a Se- gram are encouraged to intern while in cret Service agent. school in order to gain experience in He’s had a number the field they want to of jobs already, includenter. Brown said his What’s Next? ing U.S. Army mefootball experiences The third of a series examining life after chanic, forklift driver were time-consuming graduation for student-athletes. and Arena Football and he didn’t have League defensive end. the chance to intern. He’s currently trainWhen asked if he thought his time at ing to become a professional wrestler. Temple adequately prepared him for a But the former Temple defensive end, criminal justice career, Brown said it who graduated in 2011 with a degree BROWN PAGE 19 in criminal justice, wants to work in
Morkeith Brown has a criminal justice degree and is pursuing a career in professional wrestling.
LIVING - PAGES 7-8, 16-18
Craft Beer Enthusiast Club approved
Expression through poetry
The Blue Horizon, a legendary boxing arena on North Broad Street, is set to become a hotel and entertainment complex. PAGE 2
A new student club was approved by Student Activities. The group hopes to unite students with a love of craft beer. PAGE 7
Philadelphia youth practice slam and spokenword poetry with Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement. PAGE 9
OPINION - PAGES 4-5 Can schools assess ‘learning?’
KATZ PAGE 3
From the football field to the squared circle
NEWS - PAGES 2-3, 6
New plans for Blue Horizon
unclear what Katz’s donation will be used for. Though the announcement came as a surprise, it underscores a renewed commitment to fundraising at Temple, a trend started in the months before Theobald took office in January. Sparked by the Temple Made campaign and a $100 million initiative for student scholarships last year, Temple raised $65.8 million, the highest total in university history. This year, however, administrators are hoping to break that record and raise at least $73.5 million. As of last week, the university has raised $21.1 million this fiscal year –
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT - PAGES 9-15
Happy Holidays from all of us at The Temple News will return to newsstands Jan. 21
Former defensive end and tight end Morkeith Brown. | PAUL KLEIN TTN FILE PHOTO
SPORTS - PAGES 19-22
Play in The American begins
NEWS
Our news news blog blog Our
NON-STUDENT SHOT ON PARK AVENUE
PROFESSOR STUDIES LIFE BEYOND EARTH
Philadelphia and Temple police repsonded to a shooting outisde a house party early Sunday morning.
Robert Stanley, a professor in the College of Science and Technology, recieved a grant from NASA to research the possibility of extraterrestrial organisms. ONLINE
broadandcecil.temple-news.com TSG DISCUSSES ADVISING IN FINAL MEETING Temple Student Government held its final meeting of the semester in the Student Center on Monday, Dec. 2, discussing academic advising. ONLINE
temple-news.com
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
Developers plan to transform the Blue Horizon from a boxing venue to a hotel, jazz bar and restaurant on North Broad Street. | SKYLER BURKHART TTN / COURTESY SCOTT ORENS
A NEW HORIZON
The Blue Horizon, a historic Broad Street boxing venue, is set to be remodeled into a hotel.
A
SARAI FLORES The Temple News
world-renowned boxing venue once honored by Sports Illustrated as “the last great boxing venue in the country” is slated to be renovated into a $23 million hotel, jazz club, restaurant and event venue just south of Main Campus, estimated by devel-
opers to open in 2015. The Blue Horizon will feature upwards of 90 rooms with murals depicting past boxing events that took place when it was open as a boxing arena, two developers said. The interior will be modeled by Hotel Indigo, a chain of boutique hotels that will manage the hotel and restaurant when it opens. The jazz club will also include a bar with live music and entertainment. The venue, a four-story structure on the 1300 block of North Broad Street, was built in 1865 and hosted fights from 1960 to 2010, featuring names such as Sugar Ray Leonard, Bernard Hopkins and Tim Witherspoon. Formerly owned by Veronica Michael and
Student elected to public office in Delco James Lafferty won borough council seat on Democratic ticket. STEVE BOHNEL The Temple News A senior political science major at Temple will get firsthand experience in politics when he takes office in his Philadelphia suburb next year after being elected on Nov. 5. James Lafferty, a soon-tobe Temple graduate who plans on attending law school, won a seat on the Sharon Hill Borough Council in Delaware County, Pa. On Election Day, Democrats swept all four seats that
were open on the council, including Lafferty, who collected 709 votes in the race – 420 more than his Republican competitor William Benecke. Sharon Hill, a town with almost 5,700 people located about 10 miles southwest of Temple, is known as a historic place because of its long-standing houses, many of which range from 75 to 100 years old. Lafferty said he seeks to make an immediate impact on the community he was born and raised in. “I’ve always had a deep desire to serve,” he said. “I realized that from running in local campaigns, local government is very inefficient. It’s run by individuals who don’t have much experience or education, and most of the time they’re forced
NEWS DESK 215-204-7419
Carol Ray, the venue closed in 2010 due to tax issues. It is now being redeveloped by the Orens Brothers Real Estate Inc. and Mosaic Development Partners. Orens Brothers will have a 49 percent share in the venue and Mosaic Development a 51 percent share. Although they do not officially own the property as of yet, both companies are equitable owners of the Blue Horizon and will be officially closing the purchase of the property soon. Both companies have rights to spend money on the property as if they owned the property and are under an agreement preventing the Blue Horizon from being sold to any other interested parties. The Blue Horizon development experienced
hurdles in the redevelopment process due to trouble obtaining funding because of the housing market crash and being re-zoned. In March 2012, City Council President Darrell Clarke, whose Fifth District encompasses that area of North Broad Street and Main Campus, introduced an amendment to ordinance Bill No. 120015, which changed the zoning regulation of the Blue Horizon lot to allow for restaurants, night clubs, live entertainment and hotel parking. Scott Orens, partner in Orens Brothers Real Estate Inc., said the company estimated construction will create about 400 jobs. Construction is set
HORIZON PAGE 6
Campus Safety Services pays students to test building security A year-long program hires students to review guard practices in halls. James Lafferty was elected to a council seat in Sharon Hill, Pa. | ERIC DAO TTN to just sit in the seat and not do anything, so I really wanted to try and change that by applying some of the things I’ve learned through economics and political science to try and change the community.” The 23-year-old said it’s important for people of his gen-
LAFFERTY PAGE 6
EDWARD BARRENCHEA CINDY STANSBURY The Temple News In an effort to test the consistency of security at Main Campus buildings, Campus Safety Services has run a yearlong program using students’ reports to gauge the effectiveness of security guards. The program consists of a handful of paid students, known as quality assurance representatives, who travel to numerous
NEWS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
security checkpoints around campus and grade their interactions via an online form afterward. “Sometimes stores do it,” Acting Executive Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said. “It’s called secret shopping, where they go around and they’ll purchase and they’ll interact with the staff, and then they make reports whether the people were pleasant.” AlliedBarton Security Services, based in Conshohocken, Pa., is the largest Americanowned security company, with more than 55,000 employees and 120 offices across the country. According to the university’s vendor report for the 2012 fiscal year, Temple spent more than $8 million in professional
fees and contracts to AlliedBarton. Leone said the security guards are aware of the trials CSS runs with select students. The guards who are reviewed poorly receive the appropriate reprimands and incentives have been put in place to reinforce the performance reviews. “We can give them anything from a letter of appreciation to movie tickets – something that will let them know that they’re doing a great job and we appreciate it,” Leone said. Since the program began, there has been a significant decrease in poor performances from the guards, Leone said.
SECURITY PAGE 6
NEWS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
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New library set for Barton location LIBRARY PAGE 1 will develop a reuse of Paley Library in preparation for the opening of the new library. While no formal plans were ever made for the Barton Hall site under the 20/20 initiative, Creedon previously said it was looked at as an area to add more green space. The design of the library, which is being developed by the Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, has yet to be finalized, and Creedon said it is unclear how much of the Barton site will be taken up by the new library. Creedon said Visualize Temple is running in conjunction with a landscape master plan that will look at the area surrounding the new library as the center of campus to add more green space and a possible quad. “Our open space between [Sullivan Hall and Anderson and Gladfelter halls] is actually bigger than Harvard Yard,” Creedon said. “It doesn’t feel like one continuous space because we have 13th Street running in between and we’ve got some distractions along the way.” Following the announcement, students reacted in different ways to the plan to use the site of Barton Hall for a new library. “I think it would be awesome to bring that green element to campus,” said James Pugliese, a junior environmental science major, speaking on the former plans for the site. “[The library] seems a bit of a way to spend more of our tuition money, green space would be better.” “I don’t really see the need for a new library, [Paley Library] is helpful to me,” said Sean Kelly, a senior film and media arts major. “I would like to see more nature on the college campus.” “We could use another TECH Center-like space, but I don’t think we need another
Paley Library will be repurposed following the construction of a new library in the location of Barton Hall. As part of the Visualize Temple master plan, administrators will create a new layout for the center of Main Campus. | TIMOTHY VALSTHEIN TTN FILE PHOTO library,” said Ed Wegemann, a senior media studies and pro-
the second of the year between the two groups, with the first held in August. Creedon said Temple duction major. and SmithGroupJJR, the firm In a statement released Nov. tasked with the development 22, Dean of University Librar- of Visualize Temple, presented ies Joseph Lucia several reiterated plans by other preSnøhetta, which liminary designed libraries ideas to at North Carolina the board, State University none of and Ryerson Uniw h i c h versity in Toronto, were dethat the new lic i d e d brary would utiu p o n lize more space or anfor studying and nounced. social interaction. Jim Creedon / senior vice president of “ T h e r e “The big ful- construction, facilities and operations were some crum of change is options a shift in the emdiscussed, phasis from the library as a re- but none of them are really pository of books to the library ready for prime time,” Creedon as a place for sharing of ideas said. and new knowledge,” Lucia On the night of Nov. 20, the said. day of the board’s meeting on The meeting between ad- Visualize Temple, Trustee Lewministrators and the Board of is Katz announced a $25 million Trustees, held on Nov. 20, was
“Our open space
between [Sullivan and Anderson and Gladfelter halls] is actually bigger than Harvard Yard.
”
donation to the university, the largest in school history. Katz did not specify what the donation was for. In addition to Katz’ surprise announcement, President Theobald told a group of close to 100 alumni at the Loews Hotel in Philadelphia the university is in “serious discussion” on the development of an on-campus football stadium to replace Lincoln Financial Field as the Owls’ home turf. The university’s $1.5 million annual contract with the Linc ends after 2018. Theobald, when asked about a football stadium project, connected it with the Visualize Temple master plan, saying it would “likely include, at some point, a football stadium.” Creedon said the university’s research into the prospect of an on- or near-campus football stadium is being conducted on its own schedule, with the school looking into the future of athletics, planning and finances.
The overall blueprint of the master plan is scheduled to be announced between March and June 2014, Creedon said. “If it is ready in time to be a part of the master plan, it could be – if not, we have done our due diligence,” Creedon said. The university’s plan for Visualize Temple will focus on new development around a segmented campus broken up into different areas of study. SmithGroup’s design format, which was displayed to students at an open meeting in September, targets Main Campus’ north side along Norris Street as the creative section, with the School of Media and Communication, Tyler School of Art and the Boyer College of Music and Dance. Science and technology will be located on the east side along 12th Street, where the Science Education and Research Center will open in Fall 2014. The southern end of campus will feature the university’s professional programs, including the Fox School of Business, Beasley School of Law and the College of Education. The new library, along with the reuse of Paley Library and Tuttleman Learning Center, will represent the campus’ academic core, while the west side along Broad Street will be designated the face of the university, according to SmithGroup and administrators. “Broad Street needs to become our public front porch in a lot of ways,” Creedon said. Construction on the $190 million, 200,000 to 300,000 square-foot library will start following the demolition of Barton Hall, which is scheduled to begin in summer 2015 after class and office space is moved to the CERC and Wachman Hall. John Moritz can be reached at john.moritz@temple.edu or on Twitter @JCMoritzTU.
Trustee Dennis Alter in legal battle with feds over high interest rates from bank failure
Alter and Rosoff filed a countersuit against the FDIC on June 17, alleging that the FDIC is attempting to blame its own mismanagement of Advanta’s finances on Alter and the bank’s organization. Alter’s representatives said Advanta’s re-pricing campaigns were in-line with practices held by most major credit agencies, and that Alter and his team “worked tirelessly” to save the company. Legal representatives for the FDIC filed a motion to dismiss Alter’s suit on Sept. 20. Alter and Rosoff are represented by Philadelphia-based legal firm Dechert LLP, as well as Utah firm Hatch, James and Dodge. Dechert LLP spokeswoman Beth Huffman declined to comment on either of Alter’s suits. Multiple calls and emails sent to Alter’s legal representatives were not returned. Patrick J. O’Connor, chair-
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2004, resulting in the new building for the Fox School of Business being named after him – Alter Hall – upon the structure’s completion. According to the FDIC’s most recent complaint, amended on Nov. 5, Alter and his associate William Rosoff, vice chairman of Advanta’s Board of Directors, are accused of implementing “numerous, massive and unprecedented ‘re-pricing’ campaigns,” including raising the annual percentage rate interest on 60 percent of their customers in 2008 after the stock price of Advanta’s Holding Company dipped in November 2007. The FDIC maintains that many customers were forced to pay yearly interest of more than 30 percent from Jan. 1, 2008 to May 31, 2009. The FDIC also claims that the re-pricing directly caused roughly 400,000 customers to leave the bank, and that Alter and Rosoff allegedly ignored more than 35,000 customer complaints logged over the bank’s final 16 months of existence. FDIC spokesman David Barr said the FDIC does not comment on current litigation, instead choosing to stand by the complaints filed in court. According to an 8-K form filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the FDIC received Advanta’s assets on March 19, 2010 after Advanta Corp. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
AL $1 TER CO 5 MI DON HA NST LLIO ATES LL RU N T . CT O ION BE OF GIN AL TE R
ALTER PAGE 1
ADDY PETERSON TTN
man of Temple’s Board of and Athletics Committee. Trustees, quashed any rumors As a member of the board’s that Alter’s status as a decision- Budget and Finance Commitmaker at the university is in tee, Alter has “oversight over question. matters and “Dennis Alter policies is in no danger of pertaining losing his trusteeto finance, ship,” O’Connor business, said. operating Alter is one and capiof 12 appointed tal budgets, trustees decided insurance, Patrick O’Connor/ chairman of the on by the Comemployee board of trustees monwealth of relations, Pennsylvania and contracts is one of four seand grants, lected by state Speaker of the tuition and fees, and the longHouse Samuel H. Smith. Alter’s range financial planning and four-year term is scheduled to development of the university,” end in 2016. Temple bylaws state. O’Connor has served as University bylaws do not chairman of the Board of Trust- list any criteria or procedures ees since 2009 and personally for the removal of a trustee appointed Alter to serve on the in the event of potential legal board’s Executive Committee, sanctions. Alter was appointBudget and Finance Committee ed to the board by the state in
“Dennis Alter
is in no danger of losing his trusteeship.
”
2012, roughly three years after Advanta’s collapse. He faces no criminal charges. However, Alter’s status as a member of the Fox School of Business’s Dean’s Council may be in question. According to university bylaws, the Fox School’s Dean’s Council – formerly known as the Board of Visitors – advises Temple’s president, provost and Board of Trustees, as well as the Fox School’s own dean, on the school’s strengths and weaknesses and recommends improvements and changes to university officials. The council also serves as a liaison between Temple and visitors to the Fox School. The bylaws state that a member “may be removed by the [Board of Trustees’] Committee on Trustee Affairs at any time for any reason,” including “conduct tending to negatively affect the reputation of the unit or the university.” Richard Fox, namesake of the Fox School of Business, said he “was not aware” of any pending litigation against Alter. Fox, who sits alongside Alter on the Board of Trustees, said the two do not have a close working relationship. A university spokesman declined to comment on the matter, saying, “Temple University does not speculate on hypotheticals.” Jerry Iannelli can be reached at jerryi@temple.edu or on Twitter @
Lewis Katz pledged a record $25 million to Temple. | COURTESY FOX SCHOOL
Katz’s $25 million sets a new record at university KATZ PAGE 1 not counting Katz’s pledge – which is $2.4 million more than this time last year, Tilghman Moyer, interim senior vice president for Institutional Advancement, said in an interview Monday. Moyer cites momentum from last year’s record-setting fundraising year, as well as Temple’s admission into the American Athletic Conference and the president’s inauguration as factors that have contributed to fundraising success this year. Though these factors played a role in driving fundraising, Moyer said initiatives that focus on small donations from a large group of people, like Owl Crowd, which is an online portal that allows people to donate to specific projects that are submitted by departments and registered organizations. “It’s the idea of the whole crowd funding concept,” Moyer said. “It’s not individuals, it’s collective.” Moyer said pledges from trustees like Katz give added impetus to fundraising and said their philanthropic priorities “cannot be understated.” Last year’s fundraising record “was driven by a large increase in the amount of money given to scholarships by the trustees,” Theobald said in an interview Monday. “The trustees led that and people realize that holding down costs so that undergraduates don’t have to borrow money is a huge problem in this country. They have been very responsive when you ask them to do something about it.” The added emphasis on fundraising comes at a time when university leaders are putting affordability at the top of their list of priorities entering 2014. “If we’re going to be affordable then either the state’s going to have to give us a lot more money or we’re going to have to raise a lot more money,” Theobald said. “Well, of those two, the likelihood of the state giving us a lot more money is very small.” As the university moves into the second half of the fiscal year, Moyer said the announcement of Temple’s master plan, which is under development through the Visualize Temple initiative and is likely to be unveiled next year, could spur a spike in fundraising. “Buildings give the opportunity for fundraising,” Moyer said, adding that new construction allows people to see “physical” momentum on campus. “When you have an alum come back to campus and they see that physical growth, it gives them a sense of pride.” The $65.8 million raised last year broke the previous record of $65.4 million, which was raised in fiscal year 2008 that coincided with the Access to Excellence campaign during former President Ann Weaver Hart’s tenure. Sean Carlin can be reached at sean.carlin@temple.edu or follow on Twitter @SeanCarlin84.
EDITORIAL/OP-ED
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921.
‘
Patrick McCarthy, Asst. Web Editor Abi Reimold, Photography Editor Andrew Thayer, Asst. Photography Editor Addy Peterson, Design Editor Susan Dong, Designer Katherine Kalupson, Designer Zachary Campbell, Advertising Manager Kathleen Smith, Business Manager Morgan Hutchinson, Marketing Manager
LAUREN HAHN TTN
Erin Edinger-Turoff, Living Editor Patricia Madej, Arts & Entertainment Editor Avery Maehrer, Sports Editor Marcus McCarthy, Asst. News Editor Evan Cross, Asst. Sports Editor Jessica Smith, Asst. Living Editor Sam Tighe, Asst. Arts & Entertainment Editor Dustin Wingate, Multimedia Editor Alexandra Snell, Multimedia Editor Chris Montgomery, Web Editor
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Joey Cranney, Editor-in-Chief Jenelle Janci, Managing Editor Cheyenne Shaffer, Chief Copy Editor John Moritz, News Editor Jerry Iannelli, Opinion Editor
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
EDITORIALS
Hiding behind the curtain Temple’s Board of Trustees tion process, using its powers – the most powerful governing as a gatekeeper to divert any body at the university – remains messages that are not expressly cloaked from “Temple-relatthe public ed” from ever The Board of Trustees view, often reaching the remains secretive, avoiding com- uncooperative and hidden desk of an acmunication tual trustee. from public view. with the very In the students and event that a families that provide it with the trustee may find him or herself funding it allocates each year. in the news for potentially unWhen faced with multiple scrupulous practices outside requests for information this se- of the boardroom – as Trustee mester, various representatives Dennis J. Alter does after the for the board have been – at best Federal Deposit Insurance Cor– uncooperative and at worst, poration filed a civil suit against downright rude. him in June – “Temple-relatTemple’s 36 trustees, the edness” becomes an easily exmen and women tasked with ploited excuse in order to keep setting Temple’s budgets, mak- the Temple community from ing its land purchases and rais- pertinent information. ing its tuition levels, rarely disThe Temple News was decuss university affairs in public. nied a request to speak to Mr. The trustees, who hold Alter directly, due to the fact public meetings periodically that the current litigation pendthroughout each year, control ing against Alter did not seem most major decisions at “Phila- relevant to the Temple commudelphia’s public university.” nity. The 36 voting members, 12 However, when a man that of which are appointed by the sits on the Budget and Finance Commonwealth of Pennsylva- committee of a state-related nia, are granted the power and university is charged with beprivilege to make sweeping, ing “grossly negligent” in his drastic changes at the university personal business practices, inlevel, be it hand-picking Tem- cluding raising Annual Percentple’s president or approving the age Interest rates on many of his construction of a 27-story dor- credit customers to more than 30 mitory on campus grounds. percent and ignoring more than As it stands, members of 35,000 customer complaints, the board are not directly avail- that is thoroughly and flagrantly able for contact through tradi- a “Temple issue.” tional university means. Unlike However, in the paper’s atevery other high-ranking offi- tempts to both track down Mr. cial at Temple, from President Alter and gather comments Theobald to Athletic Director from high-ranking university Kevin Clark, the trustees do not officials, Patrick O’Connor, the have publicly-listed email ad- chairman of the board, cursed dresses and are not searchable at, berated and insulted a stuin the Cherry and White Direc- dent reporter. tory. “You call the Chairman of Unlike many other univer- the Board asking for a f---ing sities, Temple does not provide phone number?” O’Connor said its community with a list of each in a phone interview on Nov. 15, board subcommittee’s members after a reporter asked if there or the minutes of each subcom- was any way to be put in contact mittee meeting, a glaring lack of with Mr. Alter directly. transparency at a university of “Like I’m your secretary?” its size. O’Connor said. “Would you like Interested parties are in- a sandwich, too?” stead directed to send requests O’Connor, who is tasked for comment or information to with shaking the hand of each the Board’s Office of the Sec- graduate at Temple’s comretary, which serves as a liaison mencement ceremonies each between the trustees and the year, then told the reporter to public. “reexamine his goals as a newsWhile this is common paper man,” and asked him to practice among most publicly think hard about whether refunded universities – Penn State porting on Alter’s litigation will acting as an exception, provid- “help or hurt the Temple coming students with the email ad- munity.” dresses of each voting trustee – We were just happy to get the office exercises far too much him on the phone. discretion over the communica-
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 Joey Cranney at editor@temple-news.com or 215.204.6737.
FROM THE ARCHIVES...
Dec. 5, 1969: The Temple News looks back on the final semester of the 1960s. The Fall 1969 semester included a vigil for Vietnam War casualities and speeches from labor activist Cesar Chavez and linguist Noam Chomsky. The Fall 2013 semester ends on Dec. 14.
Amid lies, Owls still plagiarize A proposed Honor Code would quell student excuses for plagiarism.
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emple is considering implementing an honor code that would explicitly state what constitutes plagiarism and academic honesty in further detail than the Student Code of Conduct. Considering the inconsistency inherent in Temple’s handling of plagiarism, this would be a welcome improvement. Peter Jones, the senior vice provost for undergraduate studies, said faculty and administraJoe Brandt tors from the Fox School of Business requested the plagiarism detecting software SafeAssign be upgraded to something more effective. Starting next year, SafeAssign will be replaced with the alreadypurchased TurnItIn, another plagiarism detector. According to its website, high schools that have had TurnItIn for the past 8 years have seen a 33.4 percent decrease in unoriginal submissions. However, Jones said he hopes that TurnItIn won’t be necessary. When Jones discussed this at a meeting with the deans, the deans suggested that more work should be done to prevent plagiarism from happening instead of just focusing on detection. Thus, the idea of an honor code was born. Jones said Temple
Student Government and the Faculty Senate are considering it, but nothing is set in stone and there is no rush to get an honor code implemented. Jones said the university will create two educational videos that will define plagiarism – one for faculty members and one for students. Honors adviser Musu Davis said a former student in a Temple doctoral program had plagiarized part of the comprehensive exams. “People really think that they won’t get caught,” Davis said. Plagiarism can get that far if not caught early, which Temple seeks to do with the videos and possibly an honor code. The big problem with Temple and plagiarism is that it is easy for injustice to occur. An honor code that explicitly defines a procedure of student conduct can change the nature of discipline for academic dishonesty. Scott Gratson, the director of the communication studies program and a veteran of the university’s disciplinary process, quoted an undisclosed colleague in an email. “[T]he current code has about as strong a bite as a guppy needing dentures,” the colleague said. Students could theoretically claim ignorance of plagiarism when faced with disciplinary consequences, which just wastes more time. “The excuse that a student did not know that cheating or plagiarizing is bad?” Gratson asked. “I have no time for such complete and utter foolishness.” Some students, however, force him and other faculty to
spend time at disciplinary hearings. While one student might face discipline, another’s professor may not feel the need to engage in the bureaucracy of reporting a student. “One professor’s going to say, ‘It’s OK, you did this one time and you’re going to learn,’ and then the next person gets brought before the board and gets expelled from the university,” Davis said. How, then, would an honor code create fairness? Haverford College is a liberal arts college in Lower Merion, Pa., with about 1,200 students and a great example of an extensive honor code. “A culture of mutual respect helps ensure a level of comfort and security you don’t find in many other places,” the Haverford honor code’s website reads. Other universities, such as Princeton University, have honor codes, as do Temple’s professional schools. Jones said that at Haverford there is a council of students that hears cases on the honor code, but that may not work at Temple. Other schools with these councils have had cases where students abused their power to discipline falsely accused students, so that must be taken into account as well. Oberlin College, where honors program director Ruth Ost was an undergraduate student, attached an honor code form to every assignment. Before handing in an assignment, Ost said she had to sign the form, confirming that her work was her own. If she didn’t plagiarize, she had nothing to worry about, other than her duty to confront peers who broke the honor code. “Once you sign that code, if you really buy into it, it puts the onus on you,” Ost said.
At Temple, every professor is required to put the university policy on academic honesty in their syllabus, but this as far as it goes. In the meantime, reducing the temptation to cheat can curb plagiarism to an extent. Ost suggested professors create “cheatproof” assignments. Honors adviser Amanda Neuber said professors could vary their tests each year to reduce the chances of cheating. Neuber said when she was in a sorority at St. Joseph’s University, there was a drawer full of answers to past tests, which her fellow sorority members used from time to time. If she had wanted to – Neuber said she didn’t – she could “go pluck out [her] psychology test, memorize it, and then get an A.” It’s hard to say without evidence that this may happen at Temple, but there isn’t a culture built up that would decry the existence of such a drawer. An honor code could do that. The environment of fairness and accountability that an honor code could create would likely reduce the possibility of cheating and plagiarism. Becoming “Temple Made” ought to include becoming a more dedicated student who produces original work. In his speech at convocation for the Class of 2017, Provost Hai-Lung-Dai advised students: “Don’t cut corners.” It is time to take back the scissors and show where the corners really are. Joe Brandt can be reached at joseph.brandt@temple.edu.
COMMENTARY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
PAGE 5
Feedback system needs clarity Leaving Does Temple’s student feedback database provide students with enough info?
For Rebecca Alpert, free minutes are few and far between. As if life as a professor of religion at Temple wasn’t enough, Alpert is a certified Reconstructionist rabbi, a regular lecturer at Ivy League schools across the Tri-state area, a renowned expert on sexuality in Jewish history and a habitually published author of scholarly articles. She’s written four books, on subjects varying from Jewish lesbianism to African-American Jerry Iannelli baseball players. The latter, “Out of Left Field,” was published by none other than Oxford University Press. She has her own Wikipedia page. When Alpert and I spoke, she scrambled to leave by 5 p.m. in order to host a lecture in Baltimore that night. Despite her relative workload, Alpert said she still takes time to personally grade every assignment the 100 or so students in her Religion and Human Sexuality in the East and West lecture place on her desk, semester-in and semester-out. This, of course, is something the nondescript ratings provided by Temple’s new student feedback database cannot properly convey to anyone. Which begs an interesting question: Is there actually a way to quantify “good” teaching? Temple, like many other schools, collects feedback from students at the end of each semester, asking them to rank how well each of their respective professors handled grading, course mate-
rials, assignment feedback and sensitivity to diversity, among other topics. The university began switching from paper feedback forms, mandatorily filled out in class under the forceful hand of professors university-wide, to identical online questionnaires in 2011, completed at students’ leisure outside of the classroom. Peter Jones, the senior vice provost for undergraduate studies, alerted students via email on Nov. 21 that forms for the Fall 2013 semester were live and online. For the first time in university history, said feedback forms have been compiled into a database for all students – provided they’ve filled out their allotted share of teacher reviews – to view online in order to properly gauge which classes to take from this semester onward. Professors are ranked based on individual courses they’ve taught semester-by-semester in four aspects: feedback, grading, teaching and learning. Instructors are given rankings ranging from one to three in each of the given fields, the ratings displayed in a vertical stack of color-coded squares like some sort of primitive audio spectrum analyzer. While professors privately receive open-ended written responses from students, that information is not provided in the public database. The forms and database are managed by the Student Feedback Forms Committee, a 14-person group chaired by Jones. On the surface, it’s certainly easy to gloss over the database as a positive step toward transparency and improved student decision-making, but a lingering question remains: Are students actually equipped to evaluate their own learning? “Sometimes you don’t know until you get some feedback [long] afterwards,” Deborah Stull, an assistant professor at Temple’s biology department, said during a joint conversation
with Alpert and Faculty Herald Editor Steve Newman. “I teach a writing course where I get the most fabulous emails that say, ‘I really hated that course and everything about it because I hate to write. But boy am I glad I took it, because it was actually really useful, which I didn’t realize at the time until eight months out and I had to do X, Y or Z.’” “The feedback forms assess right as you’re finishing the class,” Newman, also an associate professor of English at Temple, added. “This doesn’t mean that we’re going to throw up our hands and say there’s no way of assessing teaching, but it does suggest that some of the value of what you do as a teacher can’t be known immediately.” This makes sense on a basic logical level, as an “unfair” grader at the end of the Spring 2012 semester may have, in fact, just been mirroring the way a thesis defense panel would act when presented with the same material, but the student may very well not realize this until he or she is three years into a master’s program. Third-party feedback sites like the widely-used RateMyProfessors.com work to bridge this gap via lax time constraints and open, anonymous commenting, but a study published in the peer-reviewed online journal “Practical Assessment, Research and Evaluation” in 2007 maintained that there is no guarantee that information provided on the site is relevant, up-to-date or even accurate, especially in comparison to university-operated feedback programs. The study recommended that universities post their feedback data online. “The question is, how reliable and valid is [Temple’s] information? What’s being lost?” Newman asked rhetorically. “Well, the answer we often get is, ‘It’s better than RateMyProfessors.com.’ Well, that’s true, I suppose, but it’s also
a low bar.” The site’s “easiness” and “hotness” ratings, though useful in their own ways, don’t exactly scream “academic integrity.” Newman said many faculty members are “highly skeptical” of the feedback form process due to fears that students reward “easy graders” as opposed to those that impart the most learning. He also said the Student Feedback Forms Committee is well aware of these potential issues, and that adding some form of qualitative component to the databases would be incredibly resource-heavy and potentially violate student privacy rights. In other words, this was the best the university could do from the get-go. Students relying on the new database to schedule classes for the Spring 2014 semester are merely left with a smattering of tiny cubes that offer no insight as to why or how a professor was given a two-bar teaching rating as opposed to three. To become a truly useful student tool, the database needs a heavier breakdown of professorial criteria and a wider range of potential scores in order to make up for its lack of personal comments or qualitative data. It’s certainly a more useful tool than none at all, but graders who scored “threes” on the scale may have done so for wildly different reasons. “I don’t like my [teaching assistant] grading,” Alpert added during our conversation, explaining why she still takes the time to grade weekly assignments in a massive lecture on her own. “I want to know what they learned!” she exclaimed. Which one of those cubes defines “passion?” Jerry Iannelli can be reached at jerryi@temple.edu or Twitter @JerryIannelli.
JUSTIN SMITH TTN
How do profs define ‘good teaching?’ The best professors help students plan for the future. By Deborah Stull
I think that good teaching is a lot like good parenting. Both require a plan, but both rely on flexibility. Both are set to help people succeed, but both recognize that sometimes people fail and that that is OK. Both require participants to make hard decisions that look past the immediate present to a more distant future. And it is recognizing that all of these elements are equally important to making teaching successful that, in fact, makes teaching successful. What do I mean specifically? Obviously a plan is needed for a class to be successful. Without some sort of plan, and some sort of well-considered plan, there would be chaos – according to the second law of
thermodynamics, everything is moving toward disorder naturally, so a plan is definitely needed. But then things come up— not all classes are the same just like not all students are the same, so good teaching requires some flexibility. Yes, keep the overall goal of the course in mind, but change up the approach or take some extra time to work through a particularly sticky topic or let the class' interest fine tune the direction of the course. Likewise, it is unrealistic to believe that every outcome will be immediately good. Sometimes students, like children, fail. But failure is a part of life too, and, in fact, can be something good. During one of my very first years at Temple, I had to give a graduate student a C, which, because it was her second, meant that she was kicked out of the program. It was one of the toughest decisions that I had to make, but it had a surprisingly
OPINION DESK 215-204-7416
happy ending. The student was forced to come up with plan B, but it turned out that she loved Plan B – teaching middle and high school – and she ended up emailing me to thank me for making that hard decision. I am not trivializing the pain that failure brings or to say that all failure is good, but I am trying to say that not all failure is bad, and it is an important life lesson, as, again, life is full of challenges, obstacles and hard decisions. Good teaching really does involve seeing beyond the hereand-now. It can feel "easier" to give more points or pass all students, and it is easier, but it is not the right decision in the long run. Deborah Stull is an assistant professor of Biology at Temple University. She can be reached at deborah.stull@temple.edu.
It’s essential to make students question their beliefs. By Rebecca Alpert Good teaching demands that instructors ask ourselves this question: “A year – or more – after this course is over, I hope students will _____.” Research tells us that students will retain only a small fraction of the information they learn, so hoping they’ll remember details of what they studied a year before is not a good way to fill in the blank. It’s up to us to make sure we set realistic goals for what we want students to take away from our classes; things we believe will have lasting value. I hope that students remember one particular moment when they encountered the unexpected and it shifted the way they looked at the world: Seeing the wild and beautiful murals at the
LETTERS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
Church of the Advocate might cause them to look at art more closely and encourage their own creativity; participating in a lively – and provocative – classroom debate about female genital cutting might make them realize that there is more than one credible way to view a controversial issue; doing research for an oral presentation on contemporary Hindu pilgrimage holy days might pique their curiosity about another culture and maybe even their desire to travel. But even more important to me is what those moments allow: Students become aware of assumptions they had when they walked into the classroom and reevaluate whether to hold on to or change those assumptions. That's really what I hope students will be inspired to do for years after. Rebecca Alpert is a professor of religion at Temple University. She can be reached at rebecca.alpert@ temple.edu.
students behind “Bad teaching” is a more nuanced problem than “bad teachers” are. By Steve Newman The bad teaching I suffered through as a student and have seen in other teachers – and in my own case – tends to emerge when the teacher forgets the students. A simple enough concept, but the causes are more complex than they may appear. Of course, there are the more obvious causes of bad teaching – the teacher who can’t be bothered to put in the time required for competent, let alone excellent, teaching, because he or she is too consumed with writing the next article or chasing the next grant. This doesn’t happen as often as rumored, but it does happen. Then there are faculty who have just checked out as both scholars and teachers. But the problem is less “bad teachers,” a concept which tends to misrepresent the problem and unhelpfully stigmatize professors, than “bad teaching.” Many teachers put in long hours, but effective teaching, like effective learning, is not a direct effect of time put in. The problem is that in preparing – and I’ve certainly been guilty of this – they forget that students are neither buckets to be filled nor versions of us. Effective teaching typically requires reverse engineering, working backwards from where you want students to go and keeping in mind where they are starting from. Like all metaphors, “reverse engineering” has its limits since the start and finish are often complex and vary somewhat with the individual student, and some attention must be paid to where they want to go. This pedagogical progress, however, is less likely to emerge if teachers in their good-faith preparation do not provide air pockets, to switch metaphors. This is to say we teachers are prone to forget that to gauge whether students are really getting the concepts at hand, they need time to talk, to ask questions, to think through things, aloud and in writing. Being a teacher comes with many temptations, not least of which is the siren song of one’s own voice – again, I’m guilty. And some students, even good ones, can be fooled into thinking they are learning when they witness a powerful performance of this type. But while engaging lectures certainly have their place, lecturing is only one string in a good teacher’s bow. Overused, it makes students passive; and this is a predictable effect of not making students visible in the first place, of keeping them in mind, of keeping them in the center of things – which is where they must be. Steve Newman is the editor of the Faculty Herald, as well as a professor of English at Temple University. He can be reached at snewman@temple.edu.
A NOTE TO OUR READERS In light of changes to Temple’s student feedback system, The Temple News and the Faculty Herald have come together to have a conversation about feedback forms and teaching quality at the university. For more information, visit temple-news.com/opinion and the Facilty Herald’s website, temple.edu/herald.
NEWS
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
In The Nation
FEDERAL BILL PROPOSED TO MAKE COLLEGE TEXTBOOKS FREE
AMAZON ANNOUNCES DELIVERY DRONES FOR THE FUTURE Amazon announced on Sunday a bold new strategy to improve its delivery time, especially for busy shipping times of the year like the holiday season. The company said it plans to implement a fleet of drones to deliver small packages to customers’ door step. Amazon officials said the drones would launch from one of Amazon’s 96 large warehouses and arrive at the customer’s doorstep a half hour after ordering the product. The weight limit for the packages would be 5 pounds, roughly 86 percent of the items Amazon delivers. The project, called “Prime Air,” still needs to go through further safety testing and receive FAA apTemple professor Tonia Hsieh gives a talk on her research in the subject of animal location at the provals. -Marcus McCarthy Wagner Free Institue of Science on Nov. 21. | ALEX UDOWENKO TTN College President Lee Pelton said Burgundy “understands the power of media, as well as hairspray, firsthand.” Ferrell, in character, will speak to students about his path to success as well as introducing a screening Students at Emerson College majoring in media related fields will soon be attending the Ron of the movie at the college. Burgundy School of Communication. -Marcus McCarthy For one day, Dec. 4, the college in Boston will rename their communication school after the fictitious character of the upcoming comedy movie, “An- NATIONAL STUDENT LOAN GIANT chorman 2: The Legend Continues.” FACING ETHICAL CHARGES, Burgundy is a fake news anchor played by co- FEDERAL CONTRACT RENEWED median Will Ferrell. The federally contracted student loan company
EMERSON COLLEGE NAMES COMMUNICATIONS SCHOOL AFTER RON BURGUNDY
Sallie Mae is facing a slew of charges from regulators on the grounds of unethical practices. The accusations include cheating students on active duty, engaging in discriminatory lending, forcing borrowers into delinquency by improperly processing their monthly payments and disregarding aid to distressed borrowers. As of Sept. 30 of last year, the lending giant reported more than $184 billion in total assets and nearly $180 billion in liabilities. Additionally, the Department of Education recently renewed its contract with Sallie Mae – a move that has sparked national criticism. -Marcus McCarthy
A bill was introduced into Congress which would drastically alter the business model of college textbooks. By publicly publishing textbooks online, textbooks would be free for all students. The bill, introduced by Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Al Franken, D-Minn., is named the “Affordable College Textbook Act” and proposes grants for participating universities to make the program possible. Proponents of the bill cite the additional advantage of being able to update the book for free. The concept is based upon existing programs at the University of Illinois and University of CaliforniaDavis. -Marcus McCarthy
Crime ONE INJURED IN SHOOTING ON PARK AVENUE An 18-year-old man was injured in a partybrawl turned shooting on the 2300 block of Park Avenue in the early morning hours of Sunday, Dec. 1. Philadelphia police responed to the scene, a house party that included both Temple students and non-students, Acting Executive Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said. Several shots were fired, Leone said, after a fight spilled onto the street. One struck the victim in the shoulder and others hit unattended parked cars. The man was taken to Temple University Hospital in stable condition. Leone said six males were observed driving away in two cars. -John Moritz
CSS hires students to report security guard effectiveness in campus halls SECURITY PAGE 2
The entrance to the Blue Horizon remains closed after its former owners were forced to shut down for tax issues. A new plan will turn the venue into a hotel, to be completed in 2015.| SKYLER BURKHART TTN
Old boxing venue preps for transformation HORIZON PAGE 2 to begin in spring 2014, Orens said, with a $6 million redevelopment assistance capital program grant from the commonwealth being administered by the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation and funds split between the two companies. The Conwell Inn on Polett Walk is currently the only North Philadelphia hotel serving the Temple community, with 22 rooms. “We think it’s a market that needs to be addressed,” Orens said. “It’s a market we think we can tap into.” Because of the close proximity to Main Campus, the Blue Horizon will be working with the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management to create student internships. “There’s more of a training and educational place for them
so they will have something where they can come and get real-life experience with running and operating a hotel,” said Greg Reaves, the principal manager of Mosaic Development Partners. The redevelopment is part of the Avenue of the Arts North expansion along Broad Street north of City Hall from the Avenue of the Arts South. “We’re working to create a gathering place where students can come every day, where people in the community can come and just enjoy the venue,” Reaves said. “It’s something that we really believe will make a statement in North Philadelphia and on Broad Street, that folks will want to come and be there even if they’re not residing there overnight.” Mark Hannigan, a senior mathematics major, said he is
sad to see the Blue Horizon no longer open as a boxing venue. “I like the idea of redeveloping Broad Street, the new restaurants opening up, it’s good to see redevelopment along this [street],” Hannigan said. “But I kind of like the idea of the Blue Horizon. It has sort of a homespun Philadelphia feel to it. I’m from Ireland and I know people in Ireland who have heard about it and were interested in it.” North Philadelphia residents Gregory Bonaparte, a general mechanic for Temple’s housing department for 20 years and Fred Ali, also a mechanic at Temple, said they’re opposed to the redevelopment of the Blue Horizon. “There’s so much development happening in North Philly, they’re not even considering us at all,” Ali said. “We get housekeeping jobs, clean-up jobs af-
ter they do their jobs. That’s not fair to us, so we don’t want that crap in our neighborhood unless they consider us building it.” “It should be more geared toward the neighborhood to benefit ... not only for a developer to profit, but for the neighborhood to be healthy,” Bonaparte said. Orens Brothers and Mosaic Development Partners also recently completed Diamond Green Apartments, an off-campus site catered to Temple students on the corner of 10th and Diamond streets. The venue will also feature onsite parking, three conference rooms, an outdoor open garden area and fitness center. Sarai Flores can be reached at sarai.flores@temple.edu.
“The recent report was great, except we had one instance where they heard the officer speaking and they cursed,” Leone said. “It is not a major infraction, but it’s something we address.” A student who worked for CSS and helped report on building security said he saw similar issues inside the halls. “The most common things I see are guards on their cell phones and guards allowing students to enter buildings without showing IDs,” the student, who asked to remain anonymous said. “Anderson [Hall] has done well in my reports, but I think we should look at how security is done.” On Oct. 29, an 81-year-old Temple professor was assaulted inside his office on the second floor of Anderson Hall. He reported being punched twice and held at knife point when the suspect demanded his wallet. The professor was taken to Temple University Hospital with injuries to his face and brain. Police arrested 45-yearold Darryl Moon on Oct. 31 in North Philadelphia. Police remain unsure how the suspect, who is not affiliated with the university, was able to gain entrance to Anderson Hall, which is guarded by a security officer at the front entrance. “We need to make sure that
IDs are checked efficiently,” Student Body President Darin Bartholomew said. “It is an incredibly tough job.” Temple Student Government suggested a plan earlier this month to improve safety across Main Campus. In a written proposal to the university, TSG called for a uniform distribution of the TU Alert system, a web page that provides updated information and logs previous alerts, and changes to building security measures. The proposal also requested a review of roving AlliedBarton security guards at the Student Center. “All security employees work very hard, and there are procedures in place to ensure the highest quality [performance],” Bartholomew said. “TSG is focused on procedures and operational efficiency.” Leone said the program would result in a positive outcome to the issue with security. “It’s just a good way for us to see things besides having a supervisor go by who may or may not see something, or getting a complaint from somebody,” he said. “We want to know about the complaints before they develop.” Edward Barrenechea and Cindy Stansbury can be reached at news@ temple-news.com.
In Delco town of 5,000, senior James Lafferty wins election on Democratic ticket with calls for transparency in local government eration to get involved in politics. “What I kept hearing on the campaign trail was that they wanted our generation to get more involved,” Lafferty said. “It was great that we’re taking the reins to try and take over local government, because the issues that are coming up in the next decade or so, it’s going to be us who are going to have to address those.”
Helping Lafferty during his campaign was Derek Sinclair, an electrical engineering major and childhood friend from Sharon Hill. “I would help him when he was handing out flyers, going door to door and staying up-todate with everything,” Sinclair said. “It was kind of a no-brainer [that he won], but for how young he was, it was a big step.” Sinclair praised Lafferty’s
LAFFERTY PAGE 2
mission to make local government more transparent and accessible to the community. “He wants to videotape Borough Council meetings so people know what the truth is, because transparency today is a big issue, and I guess sometimes the news and media aren’t getting an unbiased opinion,” Sinclair said. “You’re either going to agree with him on a fact or he’s just going to butt your
head because you’re spitting out nonsense.” Lafferty said that while attending college and serving in local government will keep his schedule busy, managing it all won’t be a problem. “It can be tough to juggle,” he said. “But when you’re in local government in my borough, which is only a population of about 5,000 people, it’s not like a full-time job. You get what
you put into it, as they say. It doesn’t require you to [work] eight, nine hours a day and five days a week.” Lafferty and his fellow council members – Sharon Booker, Terrence Oliver and ToniAnne Martinez – will take office in January. Booker and Oliver are both Temple graduates who majored in communications and accounting, respectively.
Lafferty said his main focus is on being prepared once January rolls around. “The essentials now are just getting a budget together, filling vacancies,” Lafferty said. “Then we’ll focus on the other activities.” Steve Bohnel can be reached at steven.bohnel@temple.edu or on Twitter @SteveSportsGuy1.
LIVING
owlery.temple-news.com
THE FIBERS OF FASHION
TRUCKS ON HOLIDAY
Pazia Manella’s fibers elective class serves as an opportunity for students interested in fashion to delve into the world of clothing construction. PAGE 18
Food truck owners on Main Campus weigh in on traditional holiday dishes from their heritage, explaining how they tie into truck menus. PAGE 17
temple-news.com
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
MOVING ON
Melissa Meade, a graduate student, suffered three strokes at the age of 30. Despite the physical setbacks, she has found success in her work. ONLINE PAGE 7
Student-run show steps up fundraising Theater students are reviving “Shoes” to raise money for the department. GRACE HOLLERAN The Temple News Students have stepped up to revive a completely student-run production about footwear this December. “Shoes,” which premieres on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 7 p.m., features an array of original pieces performed and directed by students in the theater department. Additional performances will take place on Monday, Dec. 9, at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. All
performances are in Tomlinson Theater and cost $10 to attend. All proceeds go to the theater department. This year will mark the third non-consecutive year that “Shoes” will be performed at Temple. The first productions were in 2009 and 2010 and were directed by the creator of the production, Steff Kryor, a theater major who graduated in 2010. After she left, the charitable performance ceased its annual production. Participating students said they are happy to restart efforts to raise money for their department while providing students with an opportunity to get involved with writing and direct-
ing.
“It all ties in,” freshman theater major Kara Bowen said of the show’s benefits for students. She is one of roughly 20 cast members in “Shoes,” which is Temple Theaters’ latest production. The show has many shoe-related puns, she said. “After [Kryor] graduated, we didn’t have anything,” said Bridget Reynolds, a senior theater major and one of the two directors of the production. “Josh [Kachnycz, the other director] and I got together this year and we were like, ‘Why don’t we bring back ‘Shoes?’” The cast members, all the-
SHOES PAGE 18
Theater students revived “Shoes,” created by Steff Kryor, a theater major who graduated in 2010. All proceeds go to the department. | CHARLOTTE JACOBSON TTN
Brewing new ideas A new student club celebrates students’ appreciation for craft beer brewing.
Hector Postigo teaches a class on video games and culture. | ERIC DAO TTN
Students game for education A class on video games gives student a chance to evaluate the media culture. JOHN CORRIGAN The Temple News Hector Postigo spent his childhood experimenting with the cutting-edge genre of video games, since the days of INSIDE THE CLASSROOM “Joust,” an arcade game popular in the ‘80s. Three decades later, Postigo is teaching a media studies and production course known as The Video Game Industry and Game Culture. “I got my degree in science, but then I decided that Internet and digital media were way too interesting to be spending the rest of my life in a lab testing mice,” Postigo said. “This happened around 1999 when video games became part of the entertainment menu. Nintendo was ruling the roost, but I was heavily
GAMING PAGE 8
PATRICK MCCARTHY The Temple News
O
ne of Temple’s newest clubs expects prospective members to bring their membership dues, their driver’s license, an open attitude and, most importantly, a six pack. The Craft Beer Enthusiast Club’s mission is to change the identity of beer drinkers by giving respect to the craft of brewing. The group was officially recognized by the university as a student organization in early November after months of applying. To the relief of club organizers, administrators were open to the club despite its focus on alcohol-centric endeavors. Members are now hopeful for the future of the organization. “It gives us a lot of credibility,” said Doug Friese, a senior marketing major and active member. “We want to start building alumni and have people coming back, so it’s exciting to have an official recognition.”
Two years ago, Michael McCloskey, a risk management professor, said he was approached by a few students who were interested in starting the club. The homebrewed idea began with a group of about 20 students, most of them from the risk management program. Unlike a typical club,
club’s strict 21-and-older policy. In addition, advertising on campus is not possible because Temple is a dry campus. However, McCloskey sees the advertising limitations as a positive trait that sets Craft Beer Enthusiast Club apart from other student organizations. “There’s something kind of cool about not being
COURTESY CRAFT BEER ENTHUSIAST CLUB the Craft able Beer Enthuto advertise siast Club is unable to adin the same way,” vertise in the traditional manner McCloskey said. “It gives us of student organizations due the that underground feel.”
Joining the club is not entirely about drinking beer, members said. The group’s mission is to promote sharing a passion for craftsmanship and the complex flavors of homebrewed beer. In addition, it aims to increase awareness in students of different styles of beer and provide instruction on how to drink them. “It’s about finding what style is yours,” McCloskey said. “It’s the same thing as wine. When someone says, ‘Oh, I don’t like beer,’ I just respond, ‘Well, what have you tried?’ because there are a lot of different beers for a lot of different palates.” President Alyssa Montg o m e r y, a fifthy e a r senior and risk managem e n t major, said the ideal candidate for the club is not an avid binge drinker. “There is opportunity to educate and make this not about binge drinking.” Montgomery said. “Everyone who enjoys craft beer already drinks just to enjoy the good beer, not just to get drunk.” Friese said the typical college-aged beer drinker may struggle to find value in the club since the objective is not to par-
BEER PAGE 8
Confronting global crises on campus Student organizations present opportunities to battle global warming.
C
limate change is the most pressing environmental crisis of today’s world, yet we seem to move further into denial. As predicted by author, educator, environmentalist and co-founder of 350.org Bill McKibben, 400 parts per million of carbon dioxToby Forstater ide is the “point Green Living of no return.” Students shouldn’t disregard the issue during their college years – now is the time to make a difference. A new student organization started by senior Donnie Irvine called Temple Justice is pressing the university to adopt greener policies and support environmentally friendly companies. There are many other environmentally-focused clubs that allow students to contribute their efforts to the defense of our planet. The reasons for concern should be obvious. “We are the first humans to ever breathe air with more than 400 parts per million of carbon dioxide,” the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said in opening remarks at the fifth U.N. Climate Change Conference in Warsaw, Poland on Nov. 19. Simply put, sunlight can be reflected or absorbed. The earth then reemits that energy – only when greenhouse gases such as
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Greek students confront website-fueled stereotypes Websites that make a mockery of Greek life create student misconceptions. LORA STRUM The Temple News Since 1906, Temple’s Greek life has garnered more than 1,000 participants and 107 years of parties, philanthropy and pledges. Despite 30 Greek
organizations on campus representing six Greek councils, not all students understand the pretense of joining, participating students said. Students involved in Greek life said they confront numerous misconceptions from students who are not involved in a sorority or fraternity. “It’s not an organization, it’s a lifestyle,” said Temple University Greek Association President Cori Shearer, who is also a senior strategic commu-
LIVING DESK 215-204-7416
nications major. This lifestyle is often perpetuated through stereotypes spread by the media and other students, whether it’s buying into the presentation of Greeks in “Animal House” and “The House Bunny,” or observations around campus. Greek students acknowledged that these stereotypes exist, but said they are not the status quo. “People perceive Greek members as stuck up, cocky,” said freshman engineering ma-
jor Anthony Vu. “They show off their Greek attire and want everyone to know they are Greek, [but] the members I’ve seen do not perpetuate these stereotypes.” Freshman Shelby Guercio said she disagreed. “TotalFratMove.com exists and that’s all I have to say about Greek life,” Guercio said. The website perpetuates stereotypes of nonstop partying, drinking and casual sex within Greek life across college cam-
LIVING@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
puses. “Some [girls] live up to the image of a sorority sister and some boys live up to the ‘sloppy, drunken frat boy,’” said sophomore journalism major and Phi Sigma Sigma rush candidate Jeseamy Muentes. TotalFratMove.com is an anonymous forum that focuses on stereotypical party-centric Greek behavior. Pages include “Rush Boobs,” which contains links to pictures of girls who’ve written “Rush” followed by a
fraternity across their chests. It also has a wall to post comments about life in a fraternity or sorority. “ To t a l F r a t M o v e . c o m makes [Greeks] look bad to outsiders who don’t know better,” Shearer said. “There has to be a shift in the way society views us.” That shift may come in the desire to join Greek organizations for community and friend-
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
New student organization unites with love of beer
The Video Game Industry and Game Culture examines the reasons for success of certain video games. Students write a 15-page paper about a game they analyze. | ERIC DAO TTN
Gaming culture examined GAMING PAGE 7 into games for the PC market.” When he proposed a course to investigate and teach the multimedia skills required to create such electronic entertainment, Postigo said the university was more understanding than other employers. “When it was time for redesigning the media studies and production curriculum a few years ago, I developed the class as an alternative media,” Postigo said. “Anyone attending higher education should sample a wide selection of what’s out there, such as video game jobs producing sounds, scores, camera angles, visuals or even the narratives. There was no skepticism from the faculty, but it was tough pitching myself as a video game scholar on the job market. At that point, it was all about effects research rather than media studies.” Devaun Brown, a senior media studies and production major, said he took the class because it complements his concentration in emerging media. Students choose a specific game to focus on throughout the semester, he said. “I chose to play ‘League of Legends’ for the semester,” Brown said. “It is a PC game and since I don’t own a console, it was more convenient to play a game accessible on the computer platform. I’m constantly learning about the billion-dollar industry and its consumers.” Postigo said he knows some students might consider the class an opportunity to pass off hours of gaming as curriculum material, but he strongly advises against taking the class just to play “Call of Duty” for homework. “I don’t believe in exams, but I am rigorous,” Postigo said. “Students work on a semester-
long journal based on the video game of their choice, which turns out to be some 60, 70 pages of content. Plus, they write a 15-page paper, which dives into one or two of the topics touched upon in the journal. And they maintain a weekly blog where they find new and happening information on their product.” Patrick McGuire, a junior media studies and production major, said he doesn’t mind the written demands of the curriculum because he has been a gaming fan since his youth. He said he believes the video game industry should be considered more than just casual recreation. “Students should take this class if they seriously think about the video games they play,” McGuire said. “There is much more to video games than just a way to waste some time. On the other hand, students should not take the class if they can’t handle a heavy writing workload because, as Dr. Postigo said to us on our first day of class, ‘the bar is very, very, very high.’” Since the course is intended to train students for traditional media enterprises via new-age experiences, Postigo said adapting to the intense environment is crucial for surviving in the field. The subject matter should be taken seriously, in his view. “My bar is high because I believe we’re all capable of excellence as long as we’re called to it,” Postigo said. “I have years of practice and knowledge, but once students play the games quite a bit, visit the online communities, and learn the history of the game they’ve chosen, they have adopted the excellence.” It isn’t unusual for Postigo to be inspired by the success
and hard work of his students, he said. “I cite my students in papers and presentations because they bring new knowledge,” Postigo said. “I also tell them if they take some of their journal ideas to market, they’re going to make some money, and I want 10 percent.” McGuire explained what he has learned after a semester of dissecting the indie sandbox game “Minecraft.” “It’s such a culturally significant game to our generation,” McGuire said. “The game is so simple, but at the same time so complex. It can be picked up by anyone, and in a few hours they can have a strong understanding of how to play. At the same time, only hardcore gamers who devote a good amount of time to the game can appreciate the complicated aspects.” Postigo hopes to instill progressive perceptions of the gaming industry among his students. Though he said the video game industry has advanced quite a bit in terms of social awareness, some people still have misconceptions about the nature of the gaming aspect of the media world. He said he has no problem setting the record straight, however, when confronted with stereotypes about gaming. “The L.A. Times called me recently to ask if Candy Crush was designed specifically for women,” Postigo said. “While women are grossly underrepresented in the video game industry to the business’ detriment, I think a question like that assumes something about gender identity. I’ve gotten owned 100 times on ‘Call of Duty’ by a girl. It means nothing.”
ty or seek intoxication. “It’s less of ‘let’s get drunk’ and more about sharing experiences, much like we do with foods,” Friese said. “People who are genuinely interested in it will know a little bit about brews, but now they want to try something new. They typically aren’t people who want to get wasted.” Club leaders hope to bring together students of different identities who can relate to each other through one shared passion. “It’s simply a social gathering of people who enjoy really good beer,” Montgomery said. “Everyone brings their own piece to the puzzle, but we all have that commonality.”
BEER PAGE 7
As membership increases, Montgomery wants to become connected to the Philadelphia craft brewing scene. Troegs, Yards and Brooklyn Brewery are all breweries that have expressed interest in bringing the club for tours and workshops. Montgomery is also developing plans for the club to give back to the community. Teaming up with the North Kensington Coalition, the club will help clean up a Philadelphia neighborhood during spring. Participators will then enjoy a barbeque and brew tour of Philadelphia Brewing Company. “Not only are we enjoying the really good beer brewed here in Philadelphia, but we’re also helping clean up a neigh-
borhood, which is really awesome,” Montgomery said. The next club meeting will host Philadelphia Daily News’ beer columnist Don Russell at its annual bottle swap on Wednesday at Rybrew, located at 2816 W. Girard Ave. McClosky hopes that bringing in local celebrities will spark interest for the club. “I want to see it grow and talk to art majors, fashion majors or even Shakespeare majors,” McClosky said. “We might not have the same educational interests in common, but we have the same beer interests and that’s really what it is all about.” Patrick McCarthy can be reached at patrick.mccarthy@temple.edu.
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Earn extra credits this Winter online. Introducing our New Winter Session December 18–January 11
Fight the cold and stay indoors. Take advantage of your winter break to earn additional credits to catch up or get ahead on your degree. Our credits transfer seamlessly to most schools (check with your home institution) and our tuition rates are hard to beat. We make registration simple, click on Guest Student at www.mc3.edu/winter Check out our list of classes: Intro to Cultural Anthropology (ANT104) Microsoft Word 1 (CAO111) Medical Terminology (CAO/HCP 224) Introduction to Criminal Justice (CJS100) Working with Special Needs Children (EDU213) English Composition 101 (ENG101) English Composition 102 (ENG102) Basic Nutrition (ESW206) Personal Health and Wellness Education (ESW235) Safety and First Aid (ESW245) *hybrid World Regional Geography (GEO110) History of Western Civilization 1 (HIS101)
History of Western Civilization 2 (HIS102) History of the U.S. – from 1877 (HIS 205) Introduction to Business (MGT110) Principles of Management (MGT111) Introduction to Logic (PHI110) American National Government (POL124) Intro to Psychology (PSY101) Personality (PSY136) Human Development/Lifespan (PSY206) Strategies for College Success (SCS 101) Intro to Sociology (SOC101) Social Problems (SOC 103)
www.mc3.edu Winter session courses are intended to fully immerse you in the subject matter. To achieve the greatest success the College restricts student enrollment to 1 course. Online courses allow for flexibility in where and when you connect to the course, however students who take a course should be motivated, disciplined, able to handle college level coursework and study independently. Students must be in good academic standing to enroll in this accelerated session. These courses require 6-8 hours of work daily for the session duration.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT CREATIVE COLLABORATIONS
PULLING FOR JUSTICE
BodyFields Performance Collective prepares for its Holiday Hearsay, where artists and musicians come together to celebrate creativity. PAGE 10
Temple alumnus Jon Kaufman advocates awareness of the injustices in the prison system with the upcoming release of his newest film, “Pull of Gravity.” PAGE 10
temple-news.com
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
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Slamming expressions Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement provides mentoring and a sense of community. ERIN EDINGER-TUROFF Living Editor
N
ot even a stint of homelessness stopped Gregory Corbin from encouraging self-expression in young
people. He’d taken a group of teenage
poets to San Jose, Calif., in 2007 to compete in an international youth poetry competition called Brave New Voices, paying all expenses himself. Despite the financial hardship that ensued, his team finished No. 1 in the world. Corbin founded Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement in 2006 at a time when there were no poetry or spoken word organizations available to teens in Philadelphia. The 501(c)3 organization now mentors high school students ages 13 to 19. Staffed by five full-time volunteers, PYPM involves local students in poetry and spoken word competitions while coaching them weekly in creative writing. Corbin aimed for PYPM to provide guidance for teenagers in Phila-
delphia “before the world tells them to be afraid of who they’re becoming,” he said. Today, 23-year-old PYPM alumna Noel Scales is working her dream job after graduating from Temple in May 2013. She works at The Philadelphia Record Company under the direction of Rick Friedrich, a music producer for The Roots, Kanye West and Jill Scott. Experiencing direction and positivity through PYPM at a young age is what allowed her to find success so quickly after graduation, Scales said. Corbin serves on the Philadelphia Poet Laureate Governing Committee and is a member of spoken word poetry collective Spoken Soul
POETRY PAGE 15
PATRICIA MADEJ TTN
Song Dogs fall back on Americana roots Wrestlers Local band gains national recognition after its release of its first LP. PATRICIA MADEJ A&E Editor Stopping into drummer Dan Cooper’s house for a Song Dogs practice is an experience in itself. After being greeted by Cooper’s own song dog, Rilo, a guest might be offered a beer or water, seeing that they are only two drinks in Cooper’s house, while the bandmates joke about the day’s triumphs and tribulations. Or maybe they’ll talk about the sports memorabilia lined against the walls and Mariama O’Brien, the band’s percussionist, will relay tales of her oneand-a-half-year-old daughter and Cooper, a 2013 Temple law graduate, will discuss his law job – but briefly, because each case is confidential.
Upon organist Emily when I was in school into the stuff as they possibly could, and lot of life is about that exploraSoutherton’s return from Los ‘scenes’ I guess,” said vocalist I think that after a while there tion, but if you’re able to bring Angeles, she might fill the band and guitarist Mike Southerton. was something kind of disin- it back to a place where you in on her experience promoting “That’s when everybody had a genuous about that. You lost a started and you’re able to make the Poet Warriors Project she first- or second-generation iPod sense of roots or your own perSONG PAGE 13 founded as a part of Teach for and stacked it with as much sonal purpose in doing that. A America. But eventually, they’ll start practice. Song Dogs is a Philadelphia-based band gaining recognition. After starting in 2008, the band has since produced one EP and a full-length, entitled “Wild Country,” that was fully funded by Kickstarter and produced by Bill Moriarity, who also produced albums by Dr. Dog and Man Man. However, Song Dogs isn’t one of the typical grungy, inyour-face bands that seem to be pouring into Philadelphia. Instead, members go back to their roots. Listing Neil Young, The Band, Jackson Browne and other iconic folk musicians as its inspirations, the band ties together the twangy, bluesy sound associated with it into its Americana-rock feel. Ryan McCloskey (right), on guitar, vocals and harmonica practices with his band Song Dogs “I really immersed myself for an upcoming show on Thursday at Underground Arts.| ANDREW THAYER TTN
Local running club hydrates with unlikely drink The Fishtown Beer Runners stop for beer after their runs every Thursday night. EMILY ROLEN The Temple News It’s all for the sake of science. At least that’s what David April, co-founder of the Fishtown Beer Runners, said about the No. 1 running club of 2013 named by Philadelphia magazine. The destination of the Fishtown Beer Runners on Nov. 14 was Kelliann’s Bar & Grill on 1549 Spring Garden St. The bar was flooded with runners, drink in hand, toasting to their three-mile run that night. April stood on a stool among the sweaty chatter, looking down at the sweatbands and tightlylaced tennis shoes, and raised his glass – all in the name of science.
Started in Fall 2007, the Beer Runners meet every Thursday at 7 p.m. in Fishtown to start their three-to-five-mile run, ranging from about 65 to 100 runners, depending on the weather. After the run, members stop at one of Philadelphia’s
bars for a beer. “I decided to try to train for a 5K when my friend told me about a professor that did research about hydrating with beer,” April said. “We tried it and realized the study left questions unanswered.”
After their discovery, the men tested the study by stopping for a beer each time they ran together. “Finally, I said to him, ‘This is bigger than us – we have to tell people about this,’” April added.
Members of the Fishtown Beer Runners celebrated a successful five-kilometer run at Kelliann’s Bar & Grill on 16th and Spring Garden Streets on Nov. 14.| JACOB COLON TTN
A&E DESK 215-204-7416
Enjoying a post-run beer is not just about a reward after a job well done or even motivation to get off the couch on a Thursday night. April said it’s about the science of beer and running, and that’s what makes it special for the Fishtown Beer Runners and for him. The original study was conducted by Manuel J. Castillo at the University of Granada in Spain, in which he tested hydration levels using beer and water in 16 healthy male runners. After having the males run on the treadmill for an hour, the results between hydration with beer and hydration with water showed – well – nothing. Small quantities of beer neither helped nor hurt a runner when consumed with some water. But the Fishtown Beer Runners still put this theory to the test. “The beer is really the hook that pulls people in,” April said. Working on his 11th mara-
ARTSandENTERTAINMENT@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
BEER PAGE 14
get start at factory Larry Sharpe’s Monster Factory in New Jersey trains the wrestling pros.
A
t some point in our lives, many of us have dreamt of becoming a professional wrestler. Splashing off ladders, hoisting the World Heavyweight Championship belt in the air, flexing your pythons to the tune of 20,000 fans chanting your name – what’s not to love? We l l , there are inJohn Corrigan juries, nonCheesesteaks stop travel, and Chairshots p o l i t i c s , drug and alcohol addictions and early deaths of those that came before you and those you worked with just last weekend. But men and women still endure the sacrifice to pursue that dream by attending wrestling school. If you’re a Temple student interested in learning the ropes, perhaps you should drive the roughly 15-mile route to Paulsboro, N.J., for Larry Sharpe’s Monster Factory. Competing all over the globe throughout the ‘70s and early ‘80s, “Pretty Boy” Larry Sharpe partnered with “Nature Boy” Buddy Rogers to open the training school in 1983. Nowadays Sharpe co-owns the school with Danny Cage, a Monster Factory graduate. “I watched wrestling at the Spectrum on PRISM and saw The Iron Sheik vs. Sgt. Slaughter,” Cage said. “I was addicted, studied it and my whole life goal was to become a pro wrestler. The Headbangers put me through my first tryout in 1994, and then I officially joined the Factory in 1998. I suffered a herniated disc in my back, and
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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
Musicians, artists collaborate in living room performances Collaborative group BFPC will host a Holiday Hearsay on Saturday. CHELSEA FINN The Temple News
Performing any talent can come with a lot of pressure, so a good place to start might be in a living room. BodyFields Performance Collective, a collaborative group of musicians and artists, puts on monthly hearsays ART in living rooms around Philadelphia. Andrew Malanowicz, a musician in the group, has been a part of the collective since the beginning. As a classical piano graduate from Temple, he said he’s been able to bring his own uniqueness to the collective. BFPC started in spring 2008, but even before then, Malanowicz had been creatively collaborating with Nikki Roberts and Briel Driscoll, both Temple alumni who have become the collective’s cofounders, choreographers and dancers. Later, they began collaborating with Temple graduate Robert Szafranski. Malanowicz, Szafranski and another artist, Jonathon Childs, became the main musicians. The five core members aimed to create a group that would allow them to collaborate with other artists. “It’s been a very long process from the beginning, experimenting and figuring out who we are as people and what we have become now,” Malanowicz said. “It was all very experimental. Now, the way we communicate has really grown. We are better at this dynamic of
creating together. Now we create things that are greater than any of us individually.” The collective encourages other artists to work with them to put on shows around the city. This is a networking tool as well as a way to allow creative energy to flow into something that more people can enjoy, members said. “It’s been a creative outlet for my music and kind of allowed me to do whatever I wanted to do musically,” Szafranski, who studied marketing at Temple, said. “In college, I was surrounded by the business world, and this let me spread my wings and do whatever I wanted.” Once the group started to notice that a lot of people were interested in their shows, they wanted to do something that could help them create relationships with other artists. Approximately eight months ago, BFPC began hosting monthly performances called “hearsays.” These meetings let other artists collaborate in their own way. Whether it’s vocal or visual, any artist could come to show off their talents in an intimate setting. “It’s so amazing to have a space where people feel like they can share their ideas,” Roberts said. “It’s totally enriching and humbling to have someone share something that they’re maybe nervous to share. We like to create a safe space.” In order to prevent a stressful performance atmosphere, BFPC strives to make the space friendly, so attendees can relax and enjoy food and drink while watching performances. “I would say to expect a wide variety,” Malanowicz said. “You can expect to see anything
from a very personal heartfelt story from somebody who is just up there telling a story, or you can also see something that is very fun and flamboyant and makes you laugh. There are very interesting and cool talents that people have.” The performances don’t include just paintings and music. Malanowicz said an artist once did a fire building presentation and showed techniques of how to create fire without a lighter or matches. “It was very thought-provoking,” Malanowicz said. Despite the friendly atmosphere of hearsays, BFPC puts on many shows throughout the year, BodyFields Collective members Andy Malanowicz, Bobby Szafranski, Jonathan Childs, Briel which involve intense practices. Driscoll, and Nikki Roberts rehearse a future performance.| ALEX UDOWENKO TTN “It’s not always as pleasant, ADVERTISEMENT even when everyone’s so pleasant,” Roberts said. “Sometimes we spend a lot of time arguing, but at the end of the day we acSPRING GARDEN INDOOR ANTIQUE complished what we wanted to & VINTAGE FLEA MARKET do. That’s what’s satisfying.” __________________________________________ Malanowicz said the support and honesty he found from the group has helped his stamiCenter City Philadelphia's Only Winter Indoor na as an artist. At the end of the Vintage Marketplace day, he added, it’s encouraging to have a group of people that may have been in the same Former Fed-Ex Warehouse / 9th & Spring Garden tough spots he may be facing. This month’s special Holiday Hearsay will be held at 702 8AM til 4PM - But Early Birds Welcome! Reed St. on Saturday from 8-10 p.m. Szafranski said he encourages artists to show up to the Antiques, Collectibles, Vintage Furniture, hearsay, even if they want to Estate Jewelry, Pottery, Primitives, Artwork, come at the last minute. There is G reat Food and Much More! no table charge for artists interested in selling their work at the Holiday Hearsay. “You can show up right Saturdays at 8 p.m. and sell your stuff,” Szafranski said. “We also want to encourage bartering between Nov 2nd & 16th / Dec 7th & 21st artists.”
Jan 4th & 18th
Alum’s documentary shows journey of formerly jailed “Pull of Gravity” documents details of men’s transition from prison. NATHAN LANDIS FUNK The Temple News Jon Kaufman’s life would have been different if he had never taken that Community Media class. Kaufman wasn’t even a film major. He transferred to Temple in 2007 to take Latin American studies, but because of one class taught by Eugene Martin, Kaufman gained more than a degree when he flipped the tassel in 2009 – having discovered his love for filmmaking there, he immediately stepped into a full-time film teaching job with the Village of Arts and Humanities on Germantown Avenue. Now, he’s preparing to release his biggest film project yet. “We’ve had an unbelievable response,” Kaufman said. His documentary, “Pull of Gravity,” co-directed with Aaron “El” Sawyer, outlines three inmates in their transition from prison into everyday life. This is especially close to the filmmakers’ hearts since Sawyer was incarcerated for eight years. “The whole idea of the film is to put a face to this population of individuals who go through the prison system,” Kaufman said. “It’s a tool for [prosecutors and gatekeepers] to learn about the population they’re dealing with. You’re generally not taught to take into account where that person has come from.” The documentary was filmed near Main Campus in the neighborhoods Fairhill and Hartranft – or, as they’ve been dubbed in the film, Beirut and the Badlands. “The impact of Temple’s
expansion has been both positive and negative – it’s provided good employment and healthcare, but it’s also buying people out, driving up rent and causing [unjust] community policing,” Kaufman said. “Pull of Gravity” may be the biggest film Kaufman has done regarding social issues, but it isn’t the first. Part of his work nowadays is through the U.S. Attorneys’ Office, teaching at-risk youth the skills of video production as a way of violence intervention and prevention. The youth learn to act, direct and shoot while making a film that tells a story about youth violence. “It’s youth making impactful films for other youth,” Kaufman said. Kaufman has also made corporate videos, music videos and other projects in places such as Mexico, Brazil and Nigeria. This is especially notable considering his lack of formal training – his only exposure was getting connected to the Village through the Community Media class. “I never took any film classes, I just started doing it,” Kaufman said. “I got exposed to it through [the Village] and fell in love with it. I borrowed cameras, shot things for free, got involved any way that I could … I just volunteered my time and got to know the kids and all the neighborhood, and it became like a second home for me.” He also cited the help of Professor Ron Webb from the Latin American studies department and Jose Oyola, an AV service manager in the College of Liberal Arts, who was his boss in work study, as people from Temple who have pushed him forward in his work. “Pull of Gravity” is showing in advance screenings across the nation and is being submitted to film festivals for next year with hopes of distribution for
then as well. If Mayor Nutter’s response to the film was any indication, this may happen. “[We could] maybe have a showing at City Hall,” Nutter said in a video interview with Kaufman. “I want more and more people to see … what’s going on. We want to get rid of that other term … ex-offenders. I talk about returned citizens. Let’s get people to be returned citizens and be responsible for themselves and the community. That’s really what I want to do, and this film is going to be very helpful [in that].” Actor Michael K. Williams, known for his performances in TV shows “The Wire” and “Boardwalk Empire,” also voiced support for the film. “Everybody out there, if you’re from any type of pain, any type of poverty and type of struggle, there is a voice in this documentary that will speak to you,” Williams said in a video review of the film. While Kaufman is happy with the response the film has gotten so far, he said he is far from wanting to simply ride the wave of success. “I want to make bigger and better projects that have an impact, that awaken people’s perceptions and reach people’s souls about social issues that are lying under the surface – trying to make a difference and empower people through art and film,” Kaufman said. “[‘Pull of Gravity’] is necessary, it’s important, people need to have this discussion and this provides a venue for it. [But] it’s just the beginning.” Nathan Landis Funk can be reached at landis.funk@temple.edu.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
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Bleeding Fractals The Philadelphiabased band talks collaborating, future plans and more. BRIANNA SPAUSE The Temple News Lifetime, Grown Ups, Animal Collective, The Beach Boys and the Beatles. Inspiration from all corners of the music spectrum is strung together into a West Phillybased project called the Bleeding Fractals. “Everything is kind of Beatles-esque if it came after the ‘60s when you think about it,” front-man Joe Hoban said. The punk emo band is composed of brothers Joe and Matt Hoban on guitar and bass, as well as Bryan Antell on guitar and bass, respectively, and Tom Anthony on drums. The three-year-old band’s last record, “The Dim Orange Lights,” debuted in 2012, leaving many fans awaiting its next release. THE TEMPLE NEWS: Can you describe the collaboration process for when you guys write songs? JOE HOBAN: Usually one person just comes up with an idea or an old song, and then we’ll just flush it out. We don’t usually start a song until some-
one has a complete idea, and then we just fill everything in around it. BRYAN ANTELL: [Anthony] usually writes every part for our songs. TOM ANTHONY: I don’t write the drum parts. We all usually write. It works out that we all usually write songs and think, ‘Oh yeah, that’s going to be a Bleeding Fractals song.’ TTN: What struggles you have faced as a band? BA: Being in too many other bands. MATT HOBAN: That’s probably our biggest problem. JH: We were actually just talking the other day about trying to play a show on New Year’s Eve, but then Matt told us he was going to be on tour, and I’m actually going to be playing a festival with my other band. We’re all in other bands or other projects. TM: Most of them are with each other, though. We have another band that is me, Joe and [Antell] and some other kid playing the drums. So we’re all able to switch between instruments. I’m actually trying to get Matt to join that band, so it will be the Bleeding Fractals plus some other kid. TTN: How about the name, the Bleeding Fractals – where did that come from? JH: Fireworks. In 2010 on the Fourth of July, our friend
was just looking at the fireworks and rambling. He started talking about how it looked like the sky was bleeding fractals and we all laughed about it. ‘Haha, that would be a funny name for the new band,’ and then we couldn’t think of anything better, so we stuck with it. TTN: Tell us a little bit about your favorite show experience. JH: We played at Penn State about two years ago. It was supposed to be a part of a tour, but the whole thing fell apart so we just played one show. It was at this place called House of Swords, which is a co-op kind of living situation. The gist that I got from it was that it was the one place in State College where the weirdoes, all the punks and hippies and all that stuff go. So we were playing there, and I guess when they have bands play, they always have a party theme that goes along with it. This theme was drag, so all of the guys there were dressed up in dresses. BA: They went so hard. We knew about it too, but we just didn’t dress up. The other band we played with was pretty into it. Their bassist wore women’s underwear under his dress. JH: And he kept doing a lot of kicks while he was playing, so you knew. But it was really fun. There were probably about 150 to 200 people there. None
of them had heard of us before, but they still went crazy. TM: I usually play with my head down, but at this show I looked up. You could see the entire crowd just swaying in one gigantic motion. It was really cool to play a floor of that many people. TTN: Playing a basement show is a different kind of experience than playing an open venue. Can you describe that difference? JH: I think it’s a lot more personal. There was one time we played a bar show at Millcreek Tavern, down southwest [Philly]. When we played, I guess we played first. My girlfriend at the time, our very good friend Theresa and our friend Brett, who was our roommate, sat in chairs in front of us. They were the only people there. There were people at the bar in the back, but that was pretty much it. TM: It would be hard for us to fill a room at a venue at this point, and I think that’s just because our audience enjoys basement shows. JH: I think we’ve committed ourselves to playing underground for eternity. MH: I feel like our audience wants to drink and enjoy themselves at the show. BA: And not all of them want to do that at a bar. JH: I guess there was a
ABI REIMOLD TTN time where I thought that you start playing basements for a while, then move onto bigger venues, but for us it’s just that we play basements all the time. People care more there anyway. TM: Especially for music like ours, I don’t feel like we have a bar culture. A lot of the places around here that a band like us can book are places like North Star Bar. And that’s a place where not a lot of people want to hear loud music. They don’t like feelings and stuff, and that’s fine. That just means we shouldn’t play at those kinds of places. JH: You either play basements or Union Transfer. BA: We’ll settle for nothing else. TTN: What are your plans for the future? Do you want to move the Bleeding Fractals to eventually play venues or stick to the basement scene? BA: My plan is to mostly just not die. JH: We’re going to record this record, and hopefully really do something with it. If it got to the point where someone was like, ‘Hey, you should play venues,’ I wouldn’t say no. But I don’t really think we need to set that as a goal for ourselves because it’s never been what we do, so playing basements is still a really good show. You can still play to hundreds of people.
MH: I think I prefer to play not on a stage anyway. When you play on the stage, everyone’s eyes are on you, so it’s a lot different. JH: In a basement, everyone is the same height as you and they’re in your face. BA: And I can just hide in the corner. TM: The downfall is being the tall kid, and everyone gets mad at you for standing in the front. TTN: Is it more about the music or the audience? TM: Music. Especially right now it is, because we’re finishing up a new batch of songs. So definitely right now, the answer to that is music. But once the songs are there and we can put our stuff out and play a whole ton of shows, then it will be more about the audience. As of right now though, we’re focusing on the music until we’re done with this stuff. JH: We give our music out to the people and hope they like it. One of my favorite things about this band is that we’ve never had a conversation where someone asked, ‘What’s the market we’re going for?’ or ‘What are the people going to like?’ We just play whatever we want and if people like it, that’s cool. Brianna Spause can be reached at brianna.spause@temple.edu.
Americana-rock band gets national fame those connections, then you’ve really who helped “Wild Country” come into done something good for yourself.” fruition by donating to its Kickstarter. After a write-up by music blog“[The Kickstarter] was probably ger Val Haller published in the New the most humbling experience I’ve York Times and a nod from WXPN’s had with the band, even aside from the blog The Key, band members said they New York Times – that’s awesome, but have seen a rise in popularity that has the people that came out of the photo added more credibility to album of your life to its name. support you, it was “[Haller’s write-up] incredible,” Mike provides a legitimacy facSoutherton said. tor,” said Sam Conver, “It’s very humthe band’s bassist and vobling to see the difcalist. “Which is annoyferent feelings, how ing, but at the same time, much [money] we is absolutely true. Everywere going to get, body on Facebook, at the if this is going to time I put this out there, if work,” O’Brien said. any of my college friends “It’s also like, how had never listened to me many people believe play music and they saw in us and are able to it, they’d be like, ‘Oh, stick with us and bemaybe I should actually Mariama O’Brien / percussionist lieve that we can do check this out.’” this and support us all The band said the series of write- the way through.” ups, radio plays and more have attractIn addition to its sound, Song ed some familiar faces at its shows. Ev- Dogs said its stage presence is to thank ery now and then, band members said in part for its success. they peer into the crowd and find an old Ryan McCloskey, on vocals, guitar high school or college friend who just and harmonica, said the band strategistopped by to hear what Song Dogs is cally puts O’Brien in the middle for her all about. dynamic stage presence. From her, he It’s those same people, and others, said, the band and audience are able to
“When you
write a song, you believe in it or else it doesn’t work, and I think all the songs we write, we really take to heart.
”
SONG PAGE 9
feel a special kind of energy. “Sometimes I’ll find the next day that we’ve headbanged so much that I can’t move my neck, and I feel so stupid a lot of the times because I feel like every time it happens, I say it’ll never happen again, and then we go out on stage and we just lose it, and then I’m like, ‘Man, I’ve never learned anything from any of those times,’” McCloskey said. O’Brien’s dedication to the band is admirable. It’s apparent in her stage presence, but also in the fact that just nine days before giving birth, she was onstage playing with the band at the Mike Southerton practices “Wild Country” for an upcoming show with his band, Song North Star Bar. Dogs, at drummer Dan Cooper’s home. | ANDREW THAYER TTN “I also think it’s the been my idol for stage performance, band can finally say it’s on the upswing. authentic-ness of the songs – we have that’s kind of what I’m always trying “We can go to all the people that passion for the songs,” O’Brien said. to make the show visually. I want it to have supported us and say ‘thank you,’ “When you write a song, you believe be a visual show as much as an audio and we can go to all the people that in it or else it doesn’t work, and I think show. But it’s kind of difficult for me doubted us, and say ‘look now,’” Cooall the songs we write, we really take since I’m trapped on a stool.” per said. to heart.” The band said that now as a group “We’re always, always working Patricia Madej can be reached at of established adults with 9-to-5 jobs, on being more expressive onstage,” patricia.madej@temple.edu. they have received some doubt in reCooper said. “We played a Talking gards to their success. However, the Heads set recently, and they’ve always
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
Sleigh Bells performed at Union Transfer on Nov. 20 with Doldrums as the band’s opening act. Sleigh Bells, a noise-pop band, has just finished a national tour promoting its newest album, “Bitter Rivals,” released on Oct. 8 of this year. The band’s last performance was on Nov. 23 at Terminal 5 in New York. | ALEX UDOWENKO TTN
Monster Factory trains the pros Club earns honor SCHOOL PAGE 9
by 2005 I could barely walk, so Celebrating its 30-year an[Sharpe] brought me on to train niversary, the Monster Factory and now I’m part-owner.” offers a 50 percent discount With alumni such as Shea- on tuition and tryout fees until mus, The Big Show and Bam Jan. 1, 2014. Enrollment is $50, Bam Bigelow, the Monster Fac- and tuition for wrestling traintory has established credibility ing costs $3,000, while trainfor churning out World Wres- ing for referee, management, tling Entertainpromotion or ment Superstars. announcement “Bam Bam positions is was the one $2,000. who put it on C a g e the map because warns potential he was the next students about big thing,” Cage walking in and said. “[Sharpe] expecting the gave Vince [Mcfantasy lifeMahon] a call style purported about signing Danny Cage / wrestler through TV. The Big Show, “Every but [he] passed. Then [Sharpe] bump you take is a mini car called WCW and [Hulk] Hogan crash,” Cage said. “Check your flew the Big Show right out. attitude at the door. Wrestling When [Sharpe] called [McMa- is built on respect, especially hon] up to offer him another nowadays. WWE will let somegiant, [he] signed Giant Silva one go because of an attitude right away. And Sheamus was problem. Don’t come in with a very quiet and respectful guy a preconceived notion of what who moved all the way from you’re going to be. We get that Ireland just to train here be- all the time where guys come in cause he bumped into Bret Hart and say, ‘My gimmick is going and asked how to become a pro to be –.’ Listen, you don’t even wrestler. Hart said, ‘Go to ‘Pret- know how to wrestle yet.” ty Boy’ Larry Sharpe’s Monster While college athletes may Factory,’ which is pretty damn have an easier time adapting to cool.” the squared circle, Cage said he
“[Wrestling] is
going to be hard work and it’s going to be unlike anything you’ve ever done.
”
believes physicality is only one part of grasping sports entertainment. “It’s going to be hard work and it’s going to be unlike anything you’ve ever done,” Cage said. “It trains your mind, body, everything. You have to be an athlete, actor and public speaker. If you’re a football or basketball player, you can make a living as long as you play well. If you’re a wrestler, you can’t make a living unless you can also act, look the part and cut a good promo.” As WWE encourages aspiring grapplers to train in its new Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., Cage said Monster Factory enrollment won’t be hindered. “I love what they’re doing with the Performance Center,” Cage said. “When Gerald Brisco came to our place, he suggested we discuss with Triple H and check the center out. We run a very similar program to WWE developmental because they’re also looking for the basics rather than the high spots. But there are only so many people they can train at once and people can’t always move to Florida to train. It would be great if they sent people over to us to check out. I can’t ever see
there being a problem with us finding students because it’s for the better of the business.” Despite the seven rings, strength and conditioning program, and video editing and production facilities, there is one thing WWE’s Performance Center lacks: birthday parties. “The Monster Factory gives these kids a memorable birthday party,” Cage said. “They get in the ring, we show them how to closeline or whip a wrestler into the ropes, we’ll bump for them and they get to pin the wrestlers. The wrestlers also put on a match, we order pizza. It’s like an hour and a half and it’s a blast.” While Sharpe and Cage deserve credit for shaping rosters for three decades, I admire their efforts in allowing young wrestling fans to live out their dreams for just a few minutes, to capture that innocence before we realized the often heartbreaking reality of our fake sport. Breaking adults into the business and fostering children’s imaginations. The Monster Factory sure sounds like a magical place. John Corrigan can be reached at john.corrigan@temple.edu.
Learn what to say and do to land your dream job!
BEER PAGE 9
thon, April said people are usually skeptical when they first hear about the group. “They think we’re not real runners at first,” April said. “But they soon realize we are not only serious about running, but we’re serious about beer. It’s about quality over quantity, and we appreciate that.” The runners who join April and the Thursday night regulars are usually experienced runners, although the group attracts people for various reasons. “I started running after a bad breakup,” said veteran runner Jenn Leung. “Philly wasn’t fun until this. It was always work and boyfriend. Now it’s Beer Runners – and sometimes work.” Keith Tomaselli, who has been with the Fishtown Beer Runners for four years, said his running has vastly improved since joining the group. “Running Broad Street seemed like a daunting challenge,” Tomaselli said. “And now it’s something I do every Thursday with the Beer Runners. I am a way better runner now. And a way better drinker now, too.” Most of the runners in the bar that night said they were interested in the social aspect of running. “It’s about the phenomenon of social running, too,” April said. He said he believes the intimidation factor for beginners is lower when running is discussed across the bar. “When you have a beer with an experienced runner, you form a bond.” Liz Pagonis, a seasoned runner and member of the Fishtown Beer Runners for more than three years, said she joined in hopes of finding friends in fellow runners. “Running can be an isolated thing, which isn’t bad, but
this adds to your social life,” Pagonis said. Matt Stanley, Pagonis’s boyfriend, said he was there because Pagonis convinced him to start running. “I like the drinking part, really,” Stanley said. “And it’s much cheaper than calling a cab to get to the bar anyways.” “He’s the drinker and she’s the runner,” April joked. “It’s all about the balance.” The group isn’t hard to miss, either. “They all stopped at a red light and it was hard not to notice them,” said marathon runner and member Rachael Harr. “You can’t miss them. I had to ask what it was all about.” Harr recently ran in the Philadelphia Marathon, completing the 26.2 miles in less than four hours. “Before, I hated running with other people, but the community here is amazing, especially with the big races,” Harr said. “Everyone is there cheering you on.” In her efforts to reach a new personal best, Harr said she wants to make sure running is still a hobby rather than a lifestyle. “I love running, but I don’t want to be so set on a goal that it takes the fun out of it,” Harr said. In the group’s pursuit of conquering new distances and trying new beers around Philadelphia, April said the Fishtown Beer Runners have volunteered with organizations such as Philabundance and Back On My Feet. “Word has spread so quickly about us,” April said. “It’s like we have brought a spotlight to Philly and to Fishtown.” Emily Rolen can be reached at emily.rolen@temple.edu.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
Pizza Brain combines with Federal Donuts Two small businesses join to present a chili garlic chicken honey pizza. SARAE GDOVIN The Temple News Federal Donuts and Pizza Brain have come together to form a creation that would make Homer Simpson’s mouth water. Initially introduced on November’s First Friday, customers can catch the two businesses’ creFOOD ation during December’s First Friday: the chili garlic chicken honey donut pie. But what draws together pizza, donuts and fried chicken? A love for local food. “The best part has been experimenting, which is fun for me as a chef,” said Chef Matthew Fein of Federal Donuts. “It is a great thing for two small businesses to get in the spotlight and gain a following on the Philly food scene.” Federal Donuts came into the Philadelphia food scene with an unusual combination of fried chicken
and donuts at its first location in the Pennsport neighborhood. It became so popular that a second location was opened on Sansom Street in Center City, followed by a stand at Citizen’s Bank Park. Pizza Brain, which is a little more than a year old, has reveled in being known for its quirkiness. It has been recognized in press for its pizza, as well as for being the world’s first pizza museum. Now, their worlds have come together for what was meant to be a one-time event for First Friday. The event was so well-received that it has become a monthly tradition. For November’s event, Little Baby’s Ice Cream joined in the collaboration, creating a new ice cream flavor with Federal Donuts’ pumpkin spice latte donut. “We call it ‘Federal Frydays,’” said Brian Dwyer, one of the founders of Pizza Brain. “We’re going to keep it going as long as people keep asking for it. Hell, even if they don’t, we’ll probably keep doing it because it’s too damn fun not to.” The specialty pizza, sold by the slice, features chili garlic fried chicken with Federal Donuts’ traditional
honey donut, a spicy and sweet combination. Both Federal Donuts and Pizza Brain said they were willing to go in on this new venture. “One morning at the shop we all sat at a table, knocked around a few ideas, tasted a few things, and within probably 30 minutes, this food baby came out,” Dwyer said. “Once we all tasted it, it was unanimous that it ruled. As far as we know, there’s never been a pizza, donut, chicken creation in the history of pizza, donuts or chicken like this before. We’re proud to start that conversation.” “We worked together for choosing flavors for the pizza,” Fein said. “We worked with existing flavors and eventually decided on the chili glaze with the honey donut on top. It gives customers the full experience with the chicken and donut and pizza.” In addition to the First Friday pie, Pizza Brain sells slices of pies off its menu, rotating each week. Each pie has its own name and toppings. Some of these include the Charlie Mayfer, a pie with mozzarella, sweet potato, honey crisp apple, honey goat cheese, brown sugar, pecan and pie
spice and the Bob Schieldsmoose, a pie with bleu cheese, beef brisket, garlic, horseradish, mozzarella and rosemary. Both white and red pies are available, in addition to vegetarian and vegan options. Along with the Federal Donuts crew, Pizza Brain teamed up with Crime and Punishment Brewpub to preview its new craft brews before it plans to open a location in Brewerytown. Featured brews have included Truancy, a peanut butter and jelly ale, and a farmhouse ale. All of this collaboration has sparked interest in both Federal Donuts and Pizza Brain to continue working with other restaurants throughout the city. “We are looking to do collaborations more often when we open our next stores,” Fein said. “We hope to have more space and will actively seek out businesses to work with.” “Coming in 2014, every month we plan on teaming up with another small business that we think rules,” Dwyer said. “So far a lot of amazing restaurants have signed on. Faces will melt. Everybody wins.” Sarae Gdovin can be reached at sarae.gdovin@temple.edu.
Philadelphia youth find their voice 215. He is also a high school math and science teacher. “What I realized about a lot of the young people I was working with – they didn’t like the curriculum we were working with,” Corbin said. “I would use hip-hop and poetry as a way to get through to them. The kids were really engaged. They paid attention a lot more because they were really connected to it.” PYPM was immensely successful in garnering responses from youth, particularly due to Brave New Voices, which was featured in an HBO 60-minute special in 2010. “We really believe in what we’re doing because we’re about life here,” Corbin said. “We’re giving young people an outlet – and the biggest foundation of it all is the mentorship and the direct attention they may not be getting in school.” On Nov. 16, PYPM members gathered at The Rotunda at 4014 Walnut St. A DJ booth played loud, energetic hip-hop music from the small stage, but at the forefront stood a single microphone awaiting the voices of 25 youth poets. Winners have the opportunity to be part of the six-person team that competes in Brave New Voices, which will take place in Philadelphia this spring. The teenage poets confronted topics ranging from disinterested schoolteachers to post-traumatic stress disorder in soldiers, gang violence among youth and rape. Sixteen-year-old Ainy’e Claulee performed a poem about her love for her hometown of Philadelphia. She confronted negativity toward the city, from arrogant attitudes of university students to outsiders who judge the cleanliness of streets. “I won’t apologize for all the ‘jawn’ in my diction,” she said in one line of her well-received piece. Her last words, forcefully delivered into the microphone, were met with thunderous applause and shouts of approval from the audience. In any moment when a performer faltered, cheers and support ensued immediately from friends and family offstage. PYPM focuses on more than just competition. Every Saturday, students attend free and open PYPM from noon to 3 p.m. at The Painted Bride, a performing arts center located at 230 Vine St. in Old City.
POETRY PAGE 9
Educational Director Cait Miner, who has been with the organization since 2010, led a session on Nov. 9 focusing on haiku-style poetry. Though she and the other staff members lead workshops, members of the community are encouraged to teach as well. “It’s mainly artists in the community,” Miner said. “Some [PYPM students] age out, and then they can teach workshops, too.” An aspiring mentor must submit a proposal and résumé based on the topic they wish to cover. From there, Miner said PYPM staff review the proposal and work with the prospective mentor to finalize the lesson plan, provided that it is up to PYPM standards. Miner said the demand for the structure of a weekly meeting is clear. Some of her own students from Palumbo High School, where she teaches English, are regulars at the sessions. “We started with six kids, so to go from six to [sometimes] 60 kids has been tremendous,” Miner said, further explaining that closer to Brave New Voices, attendance of local students tends to double in number. Grant funding now allows PYPM to pay volunteers while still providing a free service to the attending youth, Miner said. In the past, guest mentors volunteered their time for no pay. Corbin said PYPM needs more funding to be able to fulfill its potential. It teaches life skills along with poetry, he said. “Some of these kids lack the confidence to look somebody in the face, so to make eye contact, to learn about body language, [learn] about posture, things that are going to help you get a good job with an interview, things like that – the confidence alone, to speak articulately and believe in yourself, those are life skills that students are not getting in a lot of places,” Corbin said. “We don’t just have these kids performing to become the best poet, we have them performing to become the best person they can be.” Kai Davis, a sophomore English major at Temple, is an alumna of PYPM who now leads some mentoring sessions. She echoed Corbin’s sentiments about PYPM’s ability to give direction to local youth. “I think one thing that poetry does is it helps you navigate through
your life because you become more self-aware, because you’re constantly writing about yourself, and you can make better choices,” Davis said. Members and staff agreed that PYPM’s most important characteristic is the sense of unity it provides. Davis, who is now involved in Temple’s spoken word and poetry organization Babel, said PYPM gave her the confidence to perform in front of others. “I think it’s life changing,” Davis said. “It opened me up, because I was really guarded. [PYPM helps] you tap into your vulnerability and express yourself, along with pushing you as a writer. It just made me a better person, teacher and writer.” Scales said many students are involved with PYPM because it provides an outlet for them to effectively express themselves rather than turning to more destructive reactions to their emotions. “I needed a way to release my anger and feelings,” Scales said of
her initial involvement with PYPM. “I felt better when I wrote them down. [PYPM] definitely teaches how to build community. It teaches kids to step outside of themselves.” The comfortable environment is no coincidence – it’s Corbin’s ultimate goal. “One kid said the other day, ‘When I first came around, y’all were saying ‘I love you’ so freely that it made me feel weird,’” Corbin said. “And she was like, ‘Now I have no problem saying it.’ I [thought], ‘Wow, we’re changing the way they view the world.’” Though Miner said it’s exciting for her to see students gain poise and use more complex prose, she agreed with Corbin that the most important aspect of PYPM isn’t literary skill. “The biggest takeaway they get is a sense of family,” Miner said. Erin Edinger-Turoff can be reached at erin.edinger-turoff@temple.edu or on Twitter @erinJustineET.
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OUT & ABOUT HOLIDAY LIGHT SHOW Holiday festivities have begun at Franklin Square. Each night, the “Franklin Square Electrical Spectacle: A Holiday Light Show” will play every 30 minutes from 4:30-8 p.m. with two different shows alternating throughout the evening. The mini golf course and carousel will also be open in Franklin Square. In addition to the many activities, visitors can try foods from a variety of food trucks that rotate nightly. Some of the featured trucks include The Cow and the Curd, The Tot Cart and The Grill Cheese. The event runs now through New Year’s Eve. – Sarae Gdovin
PUNK ROCK FLEA MARKET The biannual Punk Rock Flea Market will have its two-day event on Dec. 13-14 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the former Fed-Ex dome on 9th and Spring Garden streets. Lovers of all things black and spikey should be wary – vendors at the flea market sell more than just punk-related merchandise. The market will have 250 vendors each day. Since there will be no repeats of tables, attendees will have 500 sellers to shop from. Merchandise for sale will include clothes, food – with many vegan options – jewelry, posters, records and more. The PRFM is hosted by R5 Productions. The flea market has been in Philadelphia for 10 nonconsecutive years. The concept was borrowed from the punk rock markets that were held in Washington during the ‘80s. There is a $3 entry fee that covers both days of the event. Shoppers are encouraged to bring their own bags. For more information, go to R5Productions.com. – Danielle Hagerty
KELLY POOLS OPEN AS VENUE The Kelly Pools, an underground swimming pool beneath the Waterworks plaza, has been brought to Philadelphia’s attention once again. Built in the ‘60s, the Kelly Pools were shut down due to flooding after Hurricane Agnes in 1972. Since then, the underground rooms have stood forgotten and still bearing water damage. This year, Hidden City Philadelphia used the Kelly Pools as a location for one of their venues, inviting Will and Brooke Blair, two muscian brothers, to create an art installation. The soundscape, which focuses on water moving through various filters and objects, has not been seen by many since the pools are still closed to the public. On Dec. 14, the Blair Brothers, with Craig Hendrix of the Agave Opera Company will stage an original opera within the pools, “Tributaries.” It will involve an eight-piece orchestra and three singers. The main characters within the opera will be major rivers around the city. –Samantha Tighe
DREAM GARDEN LIGHTS UP All year long, Philadelphia dwellers get the opportunity to see the Dream Garden located in Washington Square. Made up of more than 100,000 pieces of fravrile glass, the 15-by-49-foot mosaic is full of both color and light made by Louis Comfort Tiffany studios. The piece of art is made up of 24 panels and was sold in 1998 to Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and took six months to install. Located inside, the artwork was commissioned by Cyrus Curtis, most known for being the publisher of the Saturday Evening Post. The Dream Garden is open for viewing Monday through Saturday every week. –Chelsea Finn Eighteen-year-old Jovan McKoy performs a poem during Philadelphia Youth Poetry Movement’s event on Nov. 16 at The Rotunda, located at 4014 Walnut St. | PATRICIA MADEJ TTN
TRENDING IN PHILLY What people are talking about 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.
MURAL ARTS STARTS ANNUAL FUNDRAISER @muralarts tweeted on Nov. 30 that Dec. 3 is the Mural Arts Program’s second annual “Giving Tuesday.” The organization will be in the streets collecting money in hopes of raising $5,000 to support its art education program. It encourages anyone willing to give $10 to $20.
FRANKLIN SQUARE PRESENTS HOLIDAY FESTIVAL
@MetroPhilly tweeted on Dec. 1 that the Human Movement Management’s “Ugly Sweater Run” will take place this Saturday. The 5K will start at Fairmount Park. Runners are encouraged to bring donations for Toys for Tots.
MACY’S DICKENS VILLAGE AND LIGHT SHOW OPEN
@PHLVisitorCntr tweeted on Nov. 29 that Macy’s has started its annual in-store holiday light show. The Wanamaker Light Show and Dickens Village, “A Christmas Carol” recreation that decorates the third floor of the store can be seen at varying hours until New Year’s Eve.
FREE PARKING
@VisitPhilly tweeted on Nov. 29 that every Saturday until Christmas after 11 a.m., metered parking within Center City is free.
LIVING
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
Adams leads group for fellow student vets ADAMS PAGE 1
Silas Adams serves as the president of the Veteran’s Association available to Temple studentveterans, where he helps fellow students adjust to life at college. | CLAIRE SASKO TTN Veterans Association, Adams reaches out to other Temple veterans in an attempt to smooth the process, which he compares to “being thrown from warm to icy cold water.”
Established in September 2010, the Temple Veterans Association aims to integrate veterans not just professionally, but socially. “I’ve found that it’s hard to
identify with the student culture, so we reach out to each other to establish that missing connection,” Adams said. “We’ve all served to some extent, so that alone gives us a sense of cama-
raderie or brotherhood.” Since a young age, Adams said he has been passionate about people coming together for a common reason, regardless of their backgrounds. Growing up in the small town of Bristol, Pa., Adams said he was not always exposed to this type of unity. “There was a lot of tension in Bristol between people of different backgrounds,” Adams said. “I noticed disparities and how people weighed differences in others.” Despite this lack of community, several hardships throughout Adams’ youth inspired neighbors to put aside differences, he said. One of those events was 9/11. “It came [as] a tragedy that made everything else superficial,” he said. “It was the first time in my life that I saw these little differences dissolve and our nation come together to stand for one thing. It was compelling.” It wasn’t the first time Adams had seen people mature in the face of tragedy. When he was 13, his mother died of a heart attack. Family, friends and teachers flooded his house the night she died. “A lot of people showed up to console us,” Adams said. “I realized that a family has a lot of gravity in a community, especially a small one.” Her death left Adams in shock, he said. He recalled returning to school the next day, unable to absorb the surreal situation. “As a kid, I was always doing things,” Adams said. “Having something to do put me at ease.” Frances O’Donnell, a friend of Adams’ mother and the woman who became his guardian, said Adams has always pushed himself. “He was always an overachiever, always wanting to do something,” O’Donnell said. Adams and O’Donnell
formed a close bond. A veteran what Adams said forced him to herself, she recalled the mo- “grow up” in the Marine Corps. ment after he turned 18 and told The maturity he gained from her wanted to join the Marine those eight years made him Corps. Her stomach dropped at feel slightly disconnected from that moment, she students in said. his classes “I was conat Temple, stantly a nerthough he vous wreck,” said he O’Donnell said. “could never “I told him I was look down a veteran and I on anyone.” knew what he Adams was up against.” said he hopes Still, that did the Temple not deter him. Veterans AsAdams spent sociation will eight years in the better the soMarine Corps. cial aspects Silas Adams / sophomore of Adams was college constantly on life for vetthe move during erans, as well those years, whether he was as help them adjust socially and training in Twentynine Palms, professionally. Calif., or deployed near FalluHe expressed concern jah, Iraq on a nine-month rota- about Temple’s lack of a Vettion. At one point, Adams was eran Affairs office on Main part of the embassy program Campus. through which he guarded Con“We need that outlet,” he doleezza Rice and President said. “It’s a pivotal piece of George W. Bush in conjunction communication and attracting with the Secret Service. more veterans.” “They herded us like sheep Still, the Temple Veterans to different locations,” he said Association has been crucial to of his time in the Marine Corps. the transition of many veterans, “At first, I was on edge. While including sophomore finance I wasn’t completely comfort- major Donald Grant. able, I was comfortable to a “Being able to network point where I wasn’t completely through the Veterans Associadrained constantly.” tion is a profound tool,” Grant The challenges faced in said. “And through socials and combat make it difficult to happy hours, it’s a way for vetadapt to the different challenges erans to reminisce about life in of college life, Adams said. The uniform.” perspective he has as a veteran Adams said he wants to makes certain aspects of college keep attracting veterans to the seem trivial. He vividly remem- organization. bered the day his armored ve“At first, I struggled socialhicle was blown up in Iraq. ly to find people I could relate “It felt like someone picked to,” Adams said. “I want to let up the back of the truck and other veterans know they aren’t flipped it, and all we could do alone.” was make sure everyone was Claire Sasko can be reached at OK and look for the cause,” Adclaire.sasko@temple.edu. ams said. Eventually, Adams worked his way up to sergeant ranking. Experiences along the way, such as the vehicle explosion, are
“I’ve found that it
is hard to identify with the student culture, so we reach out to each other to establish that missing connection.
”
For students, environmental groups valuable in fighting climate change CLIMATE PAGE 7 carbon dioxide, water vapor and methane absorb that energy do we feel heat. This is known as the greenhouse effect. As greenhouse gases increase, the earth’s capacity to absorb heat grows. Additionally, the magnitude of future storms grows. “The impacts of global warming are accelerating – there is more fuel for extreme weather, such as last October’s Hurricane Sandy and even more damaging, [last] month’s Typhoon Haiyan in the Pacific,” said Dan DeRosa, the field organizer for Environment New Jersey. “These events are a frightening reminder of why we must do everything we can to cut the dangerous carbon pollution that is fueling global warming and lessen the threat of even worse extreme weather in the future.” Typhoon Haiyan ripped through the Philippines last month, devastating the lives of millions of citizens. A typhoon is a hurricane with a different name due to its hemisphere location. In an unfortunate twist of irony, Haiyan hit just days before the Warsaw Climate Change Conference. Naderev Sano, the Philippines’ negotiator at the conference, made headlines when the panel began on Nov. 11 after he pledged to fast in respect to all of the homeless and starving Filipino people affected by the storm. Haiyan was such a large storm that it surpassed the Saffir-Simpson scale usually used to measure typhoons and hur-
ricanes. Unfortunately, Sano and every other representative failed to make a mark. Representatives from 132 developing countries left the talks early. They blamed America for many of the world’s environmental issues – and rightfully so. The United States produces the second-most carbon dioxide and one of the most per capita, according to The World Bank. When the talks came to a close on Nov. 22, I felt the conference was a failure, just as in years past. As carbon dioxide levels and potential global temperatures continue to spike, glaciers are melting. Glacial ice reflects sun rays, causing even more light to be absorbed. In turn, a vicious heating cycle is created. It should be noted that much of the glacial ice on Earth has already melted, which has led to rising sea levels. The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum in Delaware County documented sea levels rising more than a foot within the last 100 years. Sea level is expected to rise 3 feet over the next 100 years, according to a report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Almost 5 million Americans live in an area less than 4 feet from high tide, according to Climate Central. It seems unbelievable that some still doubt global climate change when the National Climatic Data Center reported on Nov. 23 that October’s weather
set record heat levels above the 20th century average. The newest report by the IPCC, called “Climate Change 2013: The Physical Science Basis” said, with conclusive evidence, that global climate change is worsened by anthropogenic factors – in other words, because of burning fossil fuels. The use of these fuels emits more carbon dioxide than any natural process. I’m pleased to say many Temple students are taking a stand. PNC, the university’s official bank, is one of the major investors in mountaintop removal for coal. Temple Justice wants PNC to remove any investments in the harmful coal mining process. Some in Temple’s William C. Dunkelburg Owl Fund said they’d like to use their shareholder rights to prompt places such as Lincoln Financial and PNC to release sustainability reports. Temple’s Green Council has been striving to reduce emissions collectively. The council is a coalition of sustainability clubs, including Temple Community Garden, Students for Environmental Action, Philly Eco Kids and Temple Student Government. Even the smallest commitment to an environmentally conscious group can make a significant difference. Toby Forstater can be reached at toby.mark.forstater@temple.edu.
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FOOD TRUCK
For truck owners, holidays are family affair Food truck owners shared the traditional dishes of their cultural backgrounds. ARIANE PEPSIN The Temple News The holidays aren’t overlooked by on-campus businesses. Around Thanksgiving, Adzij Kovevic from Adriatic Grill at the 12th Street Food Pad said he likes to mix traditional American holiday food with dishes from his Albanian heritage. Kovevic, who is from Montenegro, said he feels that celebrating the holiday with added Albanian flair is important in order to represent his culture. “[We had] turkey and one of our traditional dishes as well,” Kovevic said. “It’s made with filo dough, cheeses and meat. On some holidays, we’ll have roasted lamb, too.” From a business standpoint, Kovevic expressed interest in selling some of his traditional fare at Adriatic during the holidays. “I think some of our heritage-fueled dishes may sell, but I need to find a cook to do it,” Kovevic said. “That’s my only problem.”
For Debbie Dasani, the owner of Samosa Deb’s, taking part in Thanksgiving and Christmas has always been a part of her family life, though she and her husband come from different backgrounds. Dasani is Indian, from Guyana and grew up Catholic, while her husband is Hindu. She said it’s important for her to serve Indian dishes alongside American holiday foods. “I usually make a roast or chicken on Christmas or turkey on Thanksgiving, but I also make some of my specialties,” Dasani said. “Chicken tikka masala and a chickpea dish are regulars. I take a break from the samosas, though.” Jo Ciallella, the owner of Bagel Hut on Liacouras Walk, said her business doesn’t have the means to offer holiday food, though she wishes it did. Her Italian heritage calls for a “dinner of seven fishes,” including shrimp, cod and crab cakes. Christmas dinner consists of various Italian staples – ravioli, chicken marsala and meatballs, among others. But, she added, being with family and friends is what’s most important. “During the holidays I like to bake with my daughters using my mom’s recipes, visit Center City to take in the holiday sights, decorate my home with my family and visit family and
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“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; They will not see prosperity when it comes. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, In a salt land where no one lives. “but Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? I the Lord search for the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.”
friends,” Ciallella said. “And, of course, preparing and cooking Christmas dinner for our 22 guests.” Ciallella said she believes that if the Bagel Hut had adequate space and equipment to cook and sell Italian food during holidays, it would be wellreceived by customers. On holidays, Herbert Mena doesn’t bring specialty foods to his truck, but he does take some of his business’ menu home. The owner of Temple’s Best Authentic Mexican on Norris Street, Mena said he believes the holidays are reserved for gatherings and family. “We definitely go all out on Christmas and celebrate big – pork, prime rib, special dishes like that,” Mena said. “We make some of the things that are on the truck’s menu for family dinners, but holidays are important, so we like to do more than usual.” The Chinese New Year is important to Juno Park, the owner of Burger and Cheese Busz, as well as Sushi Busz. Park said he enjoys carrying out traditions that have been in his family for a long while. “On Chinese New Year’s Day, Korean people usually eat rice cake soup,” Park said. “It’s made with round rice cake in fish broth and has egg and green onion as topping.”
Adzij Kovevic, the owner of Adriatic Grill at the 12th Street Food Pad, said he intends to making at least one special dish for the upcoming holiday season.| JACOB COLON TTN On Chinese New Year, customs vary. It is traditional for families to “cleanse” their homes by sweeping away bad fortune and making room for good luck to come. Decorations with themes of good fortune, happiness and wealth are put up around the house, along with many other activities. In Park’s family, it is common to wish good fortune upon others. “Koreans usually bow to their elders and wish them a long and healthy life on New
Year’s Day,” Park said. “After that, the elders will usually give their children or grandchildren an envelope with money inside, ranging from $10 to $100.” As for selling the foods he and his family have on holidays, Park said he has not considered it due to the fact that neither of his trucks serve strictly Korean fare. “I think it would be successful in a Korean restaurant or a Korean food truck, but it is probably too foreign for any
American to find it interesting,” Park said. Although many food truck owners don’t sell the food they usually make on holidays at their respective establishments, they all said they take pride in what they serve to their families and friends during the holiday season. Ariane Pepsin can be reached at ariane.pepsin@temple.edu.
Students express their perceptions of Greeks ship, members said. Greek organizations intend to bring together individuals who share values and interests. These include moral values, such as friendship and justice, or a bond of similar backgrounds in historically diverse organizations such as Omega Psi Phi. “The foundation is community,” freshman entrepreneurship major David Yastremsky said of Greek life. “It’s a commitment to something.” Some organizations, such as honors Greek chapters, stress academic success as a qualification for members. Many organizations have mandatory study hours and GPA requirements. “The study hours I had to attend definitely helped me in class,” Muentes said. Despite the benefits of academic, social and charitable commitments, pledgers said they can be a deterring factor because of the pressures of meeting requirements. Muentes described her rushing experience as “overwhelming” due to the various meetings, events and other requirements that can make it difficult for busy students. This time-consuming
STEREOTYPE PAGE 7
aspect manifests in various can shakes, fundraisers, volunteer events and chapter initiatives requiring member donations. In return for their time and financial investment, events are meant to provide networking, social and philanthropic opportunities. “In life, nothing is free,” Shearer said. “Even if you aren’t in a sorority or fraternity, you’re in another organization and you’re paying dues. I feel like [Greek life is] an investment in my future.” The future Shearer referred to includes the lifelong commitment to one’s Greek organization. Taking the pledge means continued kinship after graduation. This sense of togetherness is key when deciding whether to rush, pay dues for membership and commit to the lifetime of Greek events and responsibilities. Some students said they feel constant togetherness can be polarizing to non-Greeks. “I tend to feel excluded when I don’t participate in Greek life [events],” Yastremsky said. Other Greeks said they see
the value in kinship, despite the cost of maintaining it. “Joining Greek life, you definitely gain a bunch of new friends who already love you despite not even knowing you,” Muentes said. “It’s also a very expensive lifestyle. Sometimes the dues seem like a way to pay for friends, but you’re not bound by contract to every girl in the sorority, and more often than not, you won’t like a lot of them.” In terms of getting along with every sister or brother in one’s organization, Greeks said the idea is impossible simply due to numbers. As the amount of student interest rises, the selection process for who qualifies for each Greek organization must also adapt. TotalFratMove.com and GreekRank.com both address the controversial issue of hazing on campus. Temple has a zerotolerance policy for hazing and refuses to recognize any Greek organization that hazes potential members. “[Hazing] happened a lot previously because organizations forgot why they were here,” Shearer said. “Greek life
is trying to find itself again, but in a very good way.” Shearer’s fellow Greeks agreed that hazing should not define the idea of being a fraternity brother or sorority sister. “The farthest hazing gets is learning a bunch of pointless information about the sorority itself, packets and packets of information,” Muentes said. “The fraternities, on the other hand, don’t follow the same rules and I can’t say I’ve ever seen the hazing happening, but there are definitely rumors that aren’t hard to believe.” Though students remain divided on what it means to be Greek due to stereotypes, members said one thing remains constant: Greek numbers are rising and the Greek persona must continue to evolve. “[Greek life is] supposed to be about a sisterhood, and for someone like me, it just seems like an outdated idea,” Muentes said. “There are some people who live for the sorority and that’s awesome, but it’s not everyone.” Lora Strum can be reached at lora.strum@temple.edu.
Lofts @ Allegheny One and two bedrooms spacious loft apartments 900-1100 sq. ft. Stainless steel appliances hardwood floors spa bathrooms free parking
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
AROUND CAMPUS FINALS WEEK SCHEDULE Dec. 2 - 4 Regular weekly class schedule Dec. 5 - 6 Study Days Dec. 9 -14 Finals Schedules may vary.
MINI MASSAGE NIGHT
Abby Potts examines her fibers project for Bodywear Construction. The class brings art majors of many interests together to consider the use of fibers in the fashion world through creating wearable art. | KARA MILSTEIN TTN
TYLER
Students learn the fibers of fashion Bodywear Construction offers students a class to examine fashion. ALEXA BRICKER The Temple News
Tiffany Monahan’s passion lies in fashion and its role in art, but she’d never had the ability to enroll in a class focusing on the subject until this semester when Tyler School of Art established a course entitled Bodywear Construction. “I have a strong passion for fashion design, and it is the only class at Tyler that offers something that seemed satisfying to me,” Monahan, a junior visual studies major, said. Though listed as a typical fibers elective, Bodywear Construction is unique to Tyler in that no other course allows students to create wearable art, let alone explore concepts of using the human body and art. Bodywear Construction, taught by fibers and material studies interim program head Pazia Mannella, is designed to allow students to explore
the cultural meaning behind fashion and the body’s role in that process. It also provides an opportunity for art students who are interested in fashion, but not necessarily in studying it full-time, to learn more about the topic. “We discuss fashion in relation to its relationship to social and political history,” Liza Buzytsky, a fibers MFA student and teaching assistant for the course, said. “I think this class is a slightly subversive stab at poststructuralist theory, semiotics and critical theory, introducing these ideas without overwhelming students with heavy terminology.” Tyler does not have a fashion major or any fashion-specific courses. Students taking Bodywear Construction said having the ability to tie art and fashion design together is important. “I love discussing elements of fashion in this class because most of my peers are conceptual artists rather than fashion-minded, and hearing their perspective is very beneficial,” Monahan said. “The course has definitely caused me to be more resourceful and think of bodywear as something that can be created from
anything, like sculpture.” Though art is already highly interconnected with fashion, Buzytsky said discussing greater concepts and interpretation is one of the more important aspects of the class. “In addition to introducing me to several artists and pioneer industry leaders I was not aware of, the class has widened my perspective on creative methods,” Buzytsky said. “It is not a traditional fashion class that focuses on technique and construction. It encourages alternative and creative approaches to making something, very much in a sculptural vein, which is my background.” While both Mannella and students said the class expands upon fashion and its relation to the body, they said it is not simply a course about fashion design. “The wearables we make are not for setting trends or creating things a specific group would want to buy, but we do discuss the role of fashion,” Monahan said. “We touch on many aspects of art: photography, performance, body architecture, all dealing with the body. The focus is more about the effect different textiles, designs and materials have on
the body and how they can be used to convey a deeper message.” Mannella said her reason for proposing the course to the department was so Tyler could offer a class that opens students’ minds to the creation of wearable art and how that industry will change over time. “Bodywear has the ability to change the wearer into another being,” Mannella said. “It expresses bold emotion and explosive creativity. Students will be encouraged to break from the trend of universal uniformity and think beyond the idea that only fabric can be used to make garments.” The class is only offered as an elective, but students said they hope for expansion of the course foundations offered at Tyler. “Tyler should offer a major or a minor based on this class, or at the very least more levels,” Monahan said. “I love my interest in fashion, but the thought of conceptual bodywear is much more fascinating and I would love to have a deeper understanding of it.” Alexa Bricker can be reached at alexa.bricker@temple.edu.
Theater department puts on shoe-based show ater majors, were told to base their performances on a specific theme. “‘Shoes’ is a Temple Theaters fundraiser that uses the talents of the students here to raise money,” Reynolds said. “It’s a variety show that we’ve created as an ensemble based around the idea of getting to know someone through walking in their shoes.” Because “Shoes” revolves around the concept of taking a walk in someone else’s shoes, the performers involve each other in the creative process of their pieces rather than focus on showcasing their individual talents. “There’s a dance piece that tells a story,” Bowen said. “There’s a movement piece that relates back to the discovery of shoes, there’s a few original songs being performed.” Since “Shoes” has always been student-run, Reynolds and Kachnycz said they did not have much trouble propositioning this idea to the theater department. “We got together over the summer and started talking about it,” Reynolds said. “Then we got back
SHOES PAGE 7
to school, we talked to the chair of the department and he said, ‘Yeah, that’s fine.’ It’s been pretty easy since then.” Peter Reynolds, the head the of musical theater department, said he knows little about the details of “Shoes.” It is truly run by the students, for the students, he said. “The entrepreneurship of the theater students truly impresses me,” he said. “With the use of departmental space and their own imaginations, they create powerful and fulfilling evenings of theater. The theater department greatly appreciates [the] benefit [of ‘Shoes’] and the commitment of our outstanding students.” Bridget Reynolds said that rehearsals, which took place on Sundays for five-hour blocks throughout the semester, were less about perfecting the performance and more about creating a safe environment. “Our first few rehearsals were getting to know each other,” Bowen said. “It was a lot of bonding and brainstorming without actually having guidelines. The main thing is we need to create a place where you feel
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
“What has your
experience been with staying on campus during the holiday breaks?
”
CHARLOTTE JACOBSON TTN
“It was weird, seeing no one on campus rather than the clusters of people. And it was nice not having people trying to pass things out to you as you walk.”
WES AKERS
JUNIOR | ENGLISH
safe to talk about yourself.” One of the first rehearsals involved a discussion about the symbolic meaning of shoes, Bowen said. “One of the performers mentioned that both [Kachnycz] and I had both taken off our shoes at the beginning of the rehearsal and why that was,” Reynolds said. “We both came to the consensus that when you feel at home in a place, that’s when you know you’re OK to take off your shoes. You feel comfortable.” Creating this open environment ended up achieving results that many productions don’t even begin to touch on, students said. “There are a lot of people in [‘Shoes’] who we’ve only seen one side of,” Reynolds said. “A lot of people are bringing out new sides of themselves that you don’t normally get to see.” The piece Bowen directed deals with her personal vulnerability as a performer. She will perform an original song starting without any shoes on, but will put them on before the finale. “By putting on my shoes, I’m
putting on the things that make me stronger,” Bowen said. “It’s taking a walk in my shoes performancewise.” Although the pieces range from solo monologues to group movement performances, they all revolve around the same central idea. While the production raises money for the department, it also delivers a cohesive message. “At first when everyone was giving their ideas, it wasn’t seeming like it would fit together,” Bowen said. “But the more that we’ve been working on it and the closer we get, it’s become like a storyline.” Because of this collaboration effort, students said “Shoes” has become more than a benefit performance. “It’s got some valuable lessons and some cool ideas and things to leave people thinking about,” Bowen said. Grace Holleran can be reached at grace.elizabeth.holleran@temple.edu
“I came up here last winter break for a week, and it was really kind of weird.”
DEVIN MCDONNELL
JUNIOR | MEDIA STUDIES & PRODUCTION
Finals week will aim to provide stress release options for hardworking students this semester. In anticipation of finals week, students may receive a free five-minute massage at the IBC Student Recreation Center on Thursday, Dec. 5. Though the massages are available at no charge to students, they are offered on a first come, first serve basis from 7-11 p.m. in the IBC lobby. Students must sign in with their Temple ID as they normally would to enter the gym for recreational purposes. The IBC is located at 1701 N. 15th St. Certified massage therapists will be on hand to provide the relaxation service to attendees. All students are encouraged to attend. -Erin Edinger-Turoff
KEEP CALM AND UNWIND Main Campus Program Board will offer students a day of typical spa services in an event called “Keep Calm and Unwind.” It will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. this Wednesday, Dec. 4 in Mitten Hall. Students should arrive between 10-10:30 a.m. in order to sign up to receive the service of their choice from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., or between noon and 12:30 p.m. to sign up for a service from 1-3 p.m. The services are available on a first come, first serve basis. Spa options include manicures, full-body massages, arm massages and facial treatments. The event will also offer a fragrance and cologne station, an air hockey Neon Ninja photobooth and a “make your own stress ball” station. Light refreshments will be served for attendees. -Erin Edinger-Turoff
DOGS RELIEVE STRESS During this semester’s finals week, Therapy Dogs International will be coming to Paley Library, where students can cuddle up with dogs as a stress reliever. The canine friends will be available for visits on Dec. 9 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Dec. 10 from 2-5 p.m. and Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Room 0021 of Paley Library. There will be three or four dogs at each of the sessions, accompanied by their owners and handlers. Faculty, staff, students and guests are all welcome to participate. Students will not be required to fill out any documentation as the Office of Risk Management has already signed off on the event. “Think of your typical final day – you might have two or three [finals] back-to-back,” Kathy Lehman, supervisor at the Paley Library Circulation Desk and Reserve, said. “Imagine taking a break between two of them and just rolling on the floor with a big fluffy dog and feeling sort of happy and relaxed and positive. I think it probably generates a lot of positive feeling and makes people think about their families and their pets and going home.” Lehman, an event organizer, was inspired to bring Therapy Dogs International to Main Campus after her neighbor, an undergraduate engineering senior, told her about the company. After doing research about the past events the company has held, Lehman decided to give it a try. She said she believes it is a fail-safe solution for high stress levels during finals week. “St. Joseph’s and Drexel University have both done this before and are continuing to do it and I think that’s what will happen here,” Lehman said. “The idea will be people can just come in and play with the dogs or cuddle with the dogs, whatever they want to.” This event marks Temple’s first year working with Therapy Dogs International. If it is popular enough among students, the university plans to continue it annually during finals. “People are really happy to go to these events and take their dogs to these events,” Lehman said. “I would imagine it’s pretty fantastic to take your dog to a children’s hospital or a library and just make people happy. I think it will be really popular and I think we’ll end up doing it every semester – that’s my hope.” -Sarai Flores
“It’s like a ghost zone, it’s terrifying. It’s much sketchier. I like to have more people around me because I feel safer.”
SARAH THOMPSON
JUNIOR | PYSCHOLOGY
SPORTS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
PAGE 19
SPORTS BRIEFS
In Big East debut season, Youtz named All-American ACCOLADES CONTINUE FOR YOUTZ
Junior forward Amber Youtz was named to the Big East First Team, All-Tournament Team, Preseason Team and NFHCA Division I All-Region First Team over the course of the 2013 season. Youtz can add All-American to the list. Youtz was named to the Longstreth/NFHCA Division I All-American Second Team, becoming Temple’s second All-American in the past three years, with Bridget Settles earning third team honors back in 2011. Youtz was also named to Synapse Sports’ AllAmerican Second Team. She was named Big East Offensive Player of the Week twice this season, scoring 16 goals and seven assists for 39 points to lead the Owls in scoring, despite missing three games due to an arm injury she suffered in a game against Villanova on Sept. 20 that lingered into a 3-2 double overtime win against Longwood a couple days later. Youtz also led the Big East with a goal per game The Owls grew mustaches to raise awareness for men’s health issues. | PAUL KLEIN TTN average and a 2.44 points per game average. -Nick Tricome biggest one we’re doing, as far as feeding the most people, I’m proud of it,” Rhule said. “I think Cathy Bongiovi has done a great job of leading it and OWLS VOLUNTEER AT SHELTERS I’m proud of our players for enabling us to buy the TEAM RAISES AWARENESS FOR turkeys.” On Nov. 21, the football team hosted its eighth MEN’S HEALTH ISSUES The football team also volunteered on Nov. annual Thanksgiving food drive. Members of the ice hockey club decided to grow 27, continuing a tradition started by former Eagles Each fall, members of the football team go off out their mustaches last month during “Mustache quarterback Donovan McNabb in providing Thankscampus to donate food to those less fortunate. This Movember” to raise awareness for men’s health issues year some players, mostly seniors, distributed food to giving meals to the nearly 250 residents at Stenton such as prostate cancer. Family Manor. the Bethesda Project and St. John’s Hospice. In their first year in taking part in this, the Owls -Andrew Vanech “We’re all very blessed, and blessed to have what did not try to raise any money for these issues but we have here, and the guys here are fortunate to go aimed to promote awareness. The team plans on here for their academics and play football,” coach putting up a page about it on their website to start Matt Rhule said. “This is our opportunity to give back raising money for the cause next year. to those who are in need of our help. I hope today, Those who were able to grow a mustache did, BURKERT NAMED TO HONOR ROLL the players realize how lucky they really are, and be but there were many players who couldn’t. thankful for what they have. Senior Elyse Burkert was recently named to the “We tried to get the whole team to grow facial “If anything, gratitude is the main focus today American Athletic Conference Weekly Honor Roll for hair for the month,” coach Ryan Frain said. “But some here on our head,” Rhule added. “Again, it’s another strong performances against Rutgers and Connectiof the guys have baby faces so it didn’t really work.” reason to be thankful for what we have, and to apcut. Out of all those who participated, team captain preciate it in the best way they can. After all, giving is Burkert wrapped up her Temple career last week Greg Malinowski said he thought his coach grew the the ultimate form of living.” as the Owls fell in home matches to Central Florida best mustache. Individuals at both shelters also received a free and South Florida. Although she sat out due to injury “The best mustache is probably coach Frain’s,” ticket to the football team’s conference match-up early in the season, Burkert finished her 2013 season Malinowski said. “All natural, and he looks like a cast against Connecticut. with 185 kills, third on the team. member for ‘Anchorman.’” “I’ve been here for a long time, and we’ve been -Avery Maehrer -Samuel Matthews doing this for seven years, and for this one to be the
ICE HOCKEY
FOOTBALL
VOLLEYBALL
SOCCER
TEAMS RECEIVE ACADEMIC HONOR The men’s and women’s soccer teams were recently awarded the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for the 2012-13 academic year. The awards are given to the collegiate programs who post a team grade point average of 3.0 or higher. The men’s team posted an average GPA of 3.14, and the women’s team had an average GPA of 3.30. The women’s program has received the award nine times since 1999. Temple is one of 189 schools that had both the men’s and women’s teams recognized for the award. -Avery Maehrer
MEN’S BASKETBALL PEPPER NAMED BIG 5 PLAYER OF THE WEEK Redshirt-senior guard Dalton Pepper was named the Big 5 Player of the Week for the second time this season. The award was for the week ending on Nov. 24. Pepper put up 18.3 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. He shot .538 from the field. He also set a career high in points twice, scoring 22 against Georgia and then 24 versus Alabama-Birmingham. -Evan Cross
LACROSSE OWLS SIGN SEVEN RECRUITS FOR 2014-15 SEASON The Owls have signed seven Class of 2014 recruits. Nicole Barretta from Exton, Pa., Kaitlin Suzuki from Hatfield, Pa., Toni Yuko from Lititz, Pa., Kira Gensler from Royersford, Pa., Haile Houck from Hampstead, Md., Nicole Latgis from Jarrettsville, Md., and Tori Hawk from Phoenix, Ariz., will join the Owls in the 2014-15 season. -Evan Cross
Cardoza signs four recruits Brown chooses pro wrestling Top 100 ranked player highlights new group of recruits. ANDREW PARENT The Temple News Even in wake of her team’s defeat to Michigan State last Tuesday, Tonya Cardoza couldn’t fight off a grin when asked about her newly acquired “fireball.” The sixth-year Temple coach saw four recruiting prospects ofWOMEN’S BASKETBALL f i c i a l l y put pen to paper last month upon signing their national letters of intent to join Temple’s women’s basketball squad. Edgewater Park, N.J., native Alliya Butts, heads Temple’s four-player recruiting class of 2014 despite her 5-foot-4inch frame. A four-star recruit, Butts checks in at No. 87 on the ESPNU Hoopgurlz 100, a ranking of the Top 100 players in the country. “Alliya is an explosive little fireball at the point position who can really change the tempo of the game,” Cardoza said. “She’s a lot like [freshman guard Feyonda Fitzgerald], who can really push the tempo on the floor, and that’s something special. Her and [Feyonda] are really going to complement each other when they’re on the floor.” “I’m a fast-burst point guard,” Butts said. “I have the ability to score the ball despite my height. I can shoot from outside-range when I need to and I can attack the rim and finish through contact … I think I have more to show than my frame. People look at me sometimes like I’m too small and I can surprise some people with
my quickness and my abilities.” In addition to Butts, who was given an ESPN “scout’s grade” of 94, Cardoza signed a trio of three-star recruits in forward Wendion Bibbins and guards Tanaya Atkinson and Khadijah Berger. Atkinson and Berger were both given scouting grades of 90, while Bibbins received mark of 89. In these three recruits, Cardoza said she pulled in a rebounder, a do-it-all athlete and an intangible-heavy hard worker at the guard position. Bibbins, a 6-foot-1 forward out of Helen Cox High School in Louisiana, will be brought in to help supplement the loss next year of current Temple senior forward Natasha Thames. “[Bibbins is] someone that we’re looking for to come in here and rebound on both ends o the floor and play defense.” “I love rebounding,” Bibbins said. “I feel like I can help with a blocked shot or a rebound, mainly my hustle, too. I put some heart into it.” Bibbins, who hails from Harvey, La., and aspires to land a career as a detective after her playing days, said her ultimate motivation lies beyond a mere game. “My dream is to be successful for my sisters and my brothers at home,” Bibbins said. “Whether it’s go to the pros or play overseas, or fall back on my degree in criminal justice, that way I can just come back and help them out. That’s all I want to do.” Atkinson, a 5-foot-9 guard from Hill Regional High School in New Haven, Conn. with well-documented athletic ability, figures to help add depth to the guard position off the bench next year particularly with the loss of Temple graduate-senior Shi-Heria Shipp.
“Tanaya is an athletic wing who’s going to benefit playing with Alliya because she likes to run the floor and get to the basket,” Cardoza said. “She likes to get to the hole. She’s really athletic and can rebound the basketball and score around the paint.” Atkinson is a reigning allconference and all-state selection and averaged 20.4 points per game for Hill Regional in her junior year. Berger was a USA Today Honorable Mention selection last year in a junior season in which she averaged 17.1 PPG at Hampton High School in Virginia. “Kadijya is just a hard worker who can shoot the ball, but she does a lot of the intangible things that go unnoticed,” Cardoza said. “She’s going to guard the best player, she boxes out, she’s going to come up with a lot of loose balls, she does a lot of the things that don’t show up on the stat sheet.” Temple’s class of four nationally rated players figures to stack up as one of their better classes in recent years. With the Butts signing, Temple joined Connecticut, Louisville and Rutgers as the only American Athletic Conference schools to sign a Top 100 player. “Right now Feyonda’s class has been our best because of the way she’s playing as a freshman, but as a whole, I would say this 2014 class is probably the best overall class that we’ve had in my time here,” Cardoza said. “You never know how it pans out until they’re junior or senior year, but as of right now this is probably the best overall class we’ve had.” Andrew Parent can be reached at andrew.parent@temple.edu or on Twitter @daParent93.
BROWN PAGE 1
didn’t. “You’re focused on getting good grades, but you’re also focused on getting yourself prepared for football,” Brown said. “With that, you don’t have the opportunity to get the work experience. I didn’t anyway. I didn’t get to study abroad or do internships due to lack of time, [let] alone being able to do an internship in D.C. at any kind of firm or anything. Any agency, anything with the Secret Service or anything like that would have definitely helped me take that path in my career.” Although Brown graduated in four years, he said balancing classes and football was a challenge. “You have assistance when needed with football,” Brown said. “You have access to study hall and stuff like that. Any sport when you go to school is hard. It’s a very demanding job. So long as you’re playing the sport, it is your job. They brought you here for a reason – to help them win.” Brown played with the Owls from 2008 to 2011. After bouncing back and forth between offense and defense, he broke out in his senior year, playing defensive end and amassing 40 tackles and 4.0 sacks. After the season, he trained with now-Baltimore Ravens running back Bernard Pierce in Atlanta. Brown went undrafted, but had short stints with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Cleveland Browns. After workouts with various teams, including multiple sessions with the Philadelphia Eagles, he joined the AFL’s Philadelphia Soul for the 2013 season. While he was playing with the Soul, World Wrestling En-
After finishing a season with the Philadelphia Soul, Morkeith Brown went to Orlando to train at the WWE Performance Center. | PAUL KLEIN TTN FILE PHOTO tertainment flew him to Tampa, Fla. for a four-day workout, during which Brown met WWE Superstar John Cena. Shortly after the Soul lost to the Arizona Rattlers 48-39 in ArenaBowl XXVI, Brown signed a developmental contract with WWE, choosing that over going to an NFL training camp. “It’s a lot more stable than football,” Brown said. “The careers last a lot longer as well.” After about a month and a half at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, Fla., Brown’s shoulder was bothering him. It turned out he had a torn rotator cuff and he needed surgery. He’s been doing rehab in New Jersey and will be going back to Orlando in about five weeks. “Right now, that’s my No. 1 objective,” Brown said. “Obviously there are other windows that I am able to walk through, but right now it’s wrestling. Somehow, if football comes up and presents me with a great opportunity, I may do that as well.” Brown said he did not have much trouble getting into ring
shape when he first got to Orlando, only being limited because of his shoulder. “I was in great shape,” Brown said. “I was strong. I was in cardiovascular shape. I didn’t ... get deep into it because my shoulder was bothering me.” Brown said his favorite wrestlers growing up were Stone Cold Steve Austin and The Rock. In recent years, WWE has looked for former college athletes to develop into pro wrestlers. Current Superstars Roman Reigns, Titus O’Neil and Big E Langston are all former Division I football players. “The hardest part for me is the acting part of it,” Brown added. “Having a character, being able to stay in character.” Brown said he is still in the process of developing his character and that the process normally takes about six months. He said he will likely go back to Orlando sometime in January to continue training. Evan Cross can be reached at evan.cross@temple.edu or on Twitter @EvanCross.
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
Defensive struggles force change Carnivale and Lombardi have emerged as defensive leaders. SAMUEL MATTHEWS The Temple News
The Cherry Crusade is Temple’s student-run fan organization. The group has implemented changes as the university transitions to a new conference. | TIMOTHY VALSHTEIN TTN
Breaking tradition in The American ten, Temple University is bigger than the Big 5,’ and that’s something that stuck to me,” Feinstein said. “That’s when it clicked for me, like, ‘OK that’s fine. If you guys think we’re bigger than the NICK TRICOME Big 5, then we’re bigger than the The Temple News Big 5. Let’s do it.’” “The alumni of the CruThe move to the American sade, they’re a great group of Athletic Conference wasn’t just people,” Feinstein added. “They a change for Temple athletics, it are the most excited to go to also extended to student-run fan games, but we have had some organization the Cherry Cru- heat from them just from rollsade. outs and things like that, but we “It’s kind of a blank slate,” take it in stride because … this Crusade President Connor Page is what we’re doing now and said. this is what the athletic departThat blank slate gave room ment wants us to do.” to try something different. Although the athletic de“We want to bring some- partment came to the Cherry thing new to The American be- Crusade, pushing them to do cause it’s a new conference,” the rollouts at home games, the Page said. “We want to make relationship between the two sure that we develop a tradition is close-knit, with the Crusade that we can carry on throughout serving as the “liaison” between The American conference and students and the athletic departrepresent Temple.” ment. To bring on a new tradi“There is some stuff where tion, the Crusade didn’t start we go to them and say, ‘This is from scratch, but instead looked what you’re doing,’ and there is to bring an already established some stuff where they come to tradition onto the national stage. us and say, ‘We want to do this, The Crusade often uses rollouts, can you support us?’” Crusade or large paper banners with adviser and athletics departphrases pertaining to the match- ment marketing manager Denise up at hand. The rollouts, which Fitzpatrick said. “I think we all have previously been reserved know each other’s boundaries exclusively for Big 5 basketball fairly well, and we as a departmatch-ups in the past, are now ment want to be supportive of present at every home game. them and them to be successful, The idea, which came from and we know that we need their the athletic department, has cre- support to be successful.” ated negative feedback from “We have the freedom to do alumni that can be found on so- our own thing for the most part,” cial media. Vice President of Operations “It’s difHendrik Herz ferent, it’s very said. “We work different,” Vice directly with President for [Fitzpatrick] Marketing Evan and we also Feinstein said. get input from “We’re going to other people in take some heat the athletics offor it because, fice, and there’s already against many times, Kent State, we especially now did rollouts and that basketball former Crusade Connor Page / Crusade president started, that they members and want us to do an other Temple fans have put some initiative with this or that, or that pressure on us to say, ‘Why are we want to do an initiative that you guys doing this? This is a we’ll present to them. It’s more Big 5 tradition,’ and things like of generating ideas back and that.” forth or trying to get the money It even raised some ques- between them or the ideas from tions from the inside. us and vice versa.” “[At] one of the more reAs both sides share ideas cent meetings we had a discus- with each other, it all goes into sion about these rollouts and a getting Temple into the national lot of [executive board mem- spotlight. bers] were against moving to“Indiana started the big ward rollouts,” Feinstein said. heads and now they’re every“But the fact of the matter is, where across the nation,” Feinthe more we talked about it, the stein said. “Every school has more we thought it through, we them and other schools have understood where the athletic started other things with it, like department was coming from.” the huge cutouts of people [and] “We understand that it’s things like that, things that roll one of the better things for the down the student section.” Crusade,” Feinstein added. “We “Other schools are going can bring rollouts to the nation to be copycats, it’s what they over bringing them to Philadel- do,” Feinstein added. “But if we phia because The American is have that one thing that’s unique bigger than just this group of to our university, where people Philly schools, and if we can start copying us, I think that’s show the Louisvilles, the UCo- where we become accomplished nns, Memphis, them and their as a student group.” fans what we’re doing with that, I think that’s significant.” Nick Tricome can be reached at The changes the athletic nick.tricome@temple.edu or on Twitter @itssnick215. department recently underwent gave way to a new mentality that helped sell the idea. “[The athletics department] brought it down to us, like, ‘Lis-
Rollouts have drawn negative feedback from alumni.
“We want to
bring something new to The American because it’s a new conference.
”
The Owls’ defense has struggled this year. Temple has given up 76 goals in 19 games for an average of four goals ICE HOCKEY a game, despite strong performances by senior goaltender Chris Mullen. However, junior defenseman Chris Carnivale and sophomore defenseman Jason Lombardi have stepped up recently and emerged as the team’s No. 1 defensive unit, solidifying the blue line. “When the other team’s top line is out there, [Lombardi’s] usually the one out there as well as his ‘D’ partner [Carnivale],” coach Ryan Frain said Frain said the two have been his best defensive line so
far this season. “It means a lot,” Lombardi said. “He puts a lot on us and he expects a lot, and it feels good that he trusts in us and that he puts us out to defend in a tough situation.” As a defensive pair, Carnivale and Lombardi are similar players. They both play with high energy and physicality, but also have the ability to put points up on the board and contribute offensively. Frain has implemented a high-energy, fast-paced style of play from his team this year. Having offensive defensemen such as Carnivale and Lombardi that can get the puck out of the zone quickly and start an attack is something Frain said he appreciates. “Both of them like to rush the puck out,” Frain said. “I like to stress ‘no hesitation’ when we are in deep in our own defensive zone. As soon as they get the puck on their stick, they get their heads up and just start moving the team out of our
zone. And a lot of the time they take it upon themselves to get to that red line and get that puck in deep and let the forwards do the work, which is what I want and what I expect.” Frain said he stresses getting the puck back to his defensemen and firing shots in from the blue line for the team to crash the net and look for the rebounds. “As soon as the forwards get the puck back to them at the point, they’ve done a really good job of not taking a lot of time when winding up for a slap shot, but just picking their heads up, taking a quick wrist shot on net,” Frain said. “Those are the more effective ones, and obviously it gives their defense less time to react.” Through this style of play, Carnivale and Lombardi have helped out the offensive attack and put up some points for themselves. Carnivale has three goals and seven assists for 10 points this season, while Lombardi has five goals and six as-
sists for 11 points. “I think the other defensemen kind of take their cues from them,” Frain said. “From game to game, one of those guys steps up and helps us out when need be.” As goalie, Mullen said he has benefited from defensive improvements. “Without a doubt I think they’re our top ‘D’ men,” Mullen said. “I’m always confident in [Carnivale’s] ability to get the puck out of the zone when we need to. He’s one of our best and fastest skaters and doesn’t get knocked off the puck easily.” “Lombardi has stepped up for sure,” Mullen added. “We knew he was going to have an impact the moment he made the team and he has. He’s stepped up contributing offensively and has bailed me out blocking numerous shots in the ‘D’ zone.” Samuel Matthews can be reached at samuel.matthews@temple.edu or on Twitter @SJMatthews13.
Team utilizes new training regimen to get our athletes to believe in that and recognize the different level of competition in the conference. In our previous conference, you would get four, five or six kids to the NCAA from the conference on a yearly basis. Our new conference, every [school] on multiple basis, are sending their teams to NCAA. Four from every team are going to the NCAA and have a shot at being All-Americans.” Last season, Central Florida’s women’s team was consistently ranked within the Top 25 in the nation. Olympic legend Carl Lewis joined the University of Houston as a volunteer coach for this upcoming season. Last summer, individual athletes from the University of Louisville and Southern Methodist University competed in the International Association of Athletics Federations Track & Field World Championships in Moscow. Along with new coaches came a new training regime ahead of the teams’ inaugural season in The American. “We have sheets this year, and we can actually write down what we did and how much we did from the big exercises to the little exercises and the abs afterwards,” senior jumper Dylan Pensyl said. “It’s a little personal push, and then you have to show it to the weightlifting coach and they will see if you were slacking for the day.” “We have to do strategic workouts every single day,” freshman sprinter Simone Brownlee said. “We have been doing a lot of workouts outside, even though it’s cold.” The Owls will begin the indoor season with a young roster on both sides. On the women’s
TRACK PAGE 22
Even in cold weather, the track & field teams are practicing in prepeartion for the upcoming indoor season. | EDWARD BARRENECHEA TTN team, 21 out of the 37 student- sia Iwugo. Last year, she ran the athletes are freshmen and soph- closest to all of Temple’s sprint omores. There are 32 student- records. She was seven hunathletes on the men’s side, and dredths of a second from break21 of those athletes are freshmen ing the 60-meter dash record. and sophomores. Junior Margo Britton is com“The expectations for the ing off a record-setting season, seniors are extremely high,” as she holds Temple’s shot put Mobley said. record. Brit“You have ton, along with Jack Pyrah Invitational been here for junior sprinter/ Dec. 7 at Haverford College four years, you thrower Kierknow what the sten LaRoche, coaches’ expectations are for is expected to compete at a highyou, so hopefully your goals are er level in the new conference. close to where ours as coaches On the men’s side, Pensyl are. Sometimes you even wish and junior Matthew Kacyon, they were higher, that they have along with others, are expected goals of winning conference to be team leaders. Pensyl is rechampionships and moving on turning from injury. Kacyon, a to NCAAs.” distance runner, is returning this The coaching staffs are season after a stellar year that looking for steady improve- ended at the NCAA regionals. ments from some athletes, in- However, there are a couple of cluding senior sprinter Ambro- events in which the Owls could
use some more help. “On the throws, we definitely need a lot more depth for the women,” Mobley said. “In the men, maybe, in the distances we can use a lot more depth.” “Hopefully some people can fill in and step up in their position,” Mobley added. “Those are the great surprises that you would like to have as a coach, but overall we have a really solid team and really good individuals in some events.” The men’s and women’s teams will start their indoor season at the annual Jack Pyrah Invitational on Saturday. Danielle Nelson can be reached at danielle.nelson@temple.edu or on Twitter @Dan_Nels.
Owls pick up first conference win in season finale match-up at Memphis half leads in six of its 10 losses. The team held leads within the final two minutes of regulation in three of those games – against Fordham, Rutgers and then-No. 15 Central Florida. Despite some tough losses, Rhule remained positive when addressing the team’s performance this season. “I felt like this year, seeing how easy it is to lose a game, seeing how small the margin is for error was really good for our team and the program moving forward,” Rhule said. “I think we now have a sense of urgency – a mentality that this program didn’t have before. It’s a hard lesson to learn, but I think we
FOOTBALL PAGE 22
did it and we can’t lose that.” “What we have to do now is recruit and develop and we have to find some players who can help us win those tight ball games,” Rhule added. The recruiting process is well underway. Finding help at kicker will be one aspect of recruiting Rhule said his staff needs to focus on, as the Owls missed five extra points and six field goals this season. Another area Temple needs help in is pass rushing, as Rhule said the team needs players that can step in and contribute immediately. With the Owls preparing to welcome in a new group of freshmen, the Memphis win
was the collegiate finales for the seniors on this year’s squad – including Chris Coyer, Ryan Alderman and Paul Layton. Coyer, who was Temple’s starting quarterback last season, was moved to tight end this year and embraced the role while still serving as one of the team’s leaders. Coyer was the Offensive MVP in Temple’s victory against Wyoming in the 2011 New Mexico Bowl, the program’s first bowl win in more than three decades. After the loss to Connecticut, Coyer emphasized a desire to end the season on a winning note to give the returning players momentum going into the
offseason. Rhule said Coyer probably shouldn’t have played because of an ongoing ankle injury, but the fifth-year ended his Temple career with a careerhigh 129 yards including a 75yard touchdown pass. “I want to leave behind a group of guys that have learned how to win and are set and ready to go win a championship,” Coyer said. “With all of the seniors that we did have and all of the seniors we do have, it’s still a very young team – and a team that’s got a lot left to learn.” Avery Maehrer can be reached at avery.maehrer@temple.edu or on Twitter @AveryMaehrer.
SPORTS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
PAGE 21
Award-winning coaches prepare squads Turoff said coaching a young team will be challenging. STEVE BOHNEL The Temple News
The women’s team is practicing ahead of its 2014 season opening event on Jan. 12 – the George Washington Invite in Washington, D.C.| ERIC DAO TTN
Fred Turoff is a gymnastics legend. Inducted into the United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2009, Turoff is heading into his 38th year as GYMNASTICS head coach of the Temple men’s gymnastics team. Coming off of back-to-back titles in the Eastern College Athletic Conference, he boasts a career lifetime coaching record of 432-184. He will be coaching a younger team than usual in 2014. “We graduated eight last year and six before, so we lost most of the regular guys who led us to those two [ECAC] titles,” Turoff said. “This year is going to be a lot more difficult. Some of our opponents have gotten considerably stronger, and I think the team to beat this year is William and Mary, so we're going to do our best, put a good product out there and hopefully be the cleanest team on the floor.” Even though the team is
young, Turoff said he wouldn’t necessarily call 2014 a rebuilding year. “We have a younger team, and the guys have to learn a lot of skills and get up to the level that the previous championship teams were at,” Turoff said. Leading Turoff’s squad are co-captains John Leonard and Scott Haddaway. Despite the lack of championship experience on the team, both said they’re confident the team will be competitive. “Obviously we've lost a lot of guys,” Leonard said. “But there's a lot of potential with the younger guys, so hopefully we can win the ECAC for a third time.” Leonard said he leads through his work ethic rather than being vocal. “I like leading better by example,” Leonard said. “I think if the younger guys see what I do in the gym and then copy me, that's better than just telling them what to do.” Even though Haddaway tends to be more outspoken, he said he agreed with his fellow captain. “I guess I tend to be a little more vocal than John is,” Haddaway said. “But I don't think that works unless you can back
that up with leading by example.” One of the younger guys on the team this year is sophomore Evan Eigner, who also is the coach’s only son. “Coaching Evan is no problem because I've coached him for many years,” Turoff said. “He's responded well to the team situation and I let other coaches talk to him. I don't monopolize his time because he has a lot to hear from a variety of opinions.” On the women’s side, coach Aaron Murphy leads a squad that finished fourth at the ECAC Championships last season. He said he’s optimistic about what his team can accomplish in 2014. “We're just hoping to be consistent and clean, just try and hit our routines at that point,” Murphy said. “And then from January leading into March, just kind of building off of every single meet. If we can get a little bit better from each competition leading into the conference championships, which we're hosting, I would love to put on a good showing. If we can get that No. 1 spot, I'd love it.” Murphy won the ECAC Coach of the Year award last season, the second time he’s
won the award in his career. Murphy said he feels that he’s been lucky to have such hardworking athletes under his wing. “I just tell them, ‘If you're in here, I want you to give me 100 percent every day,’” Murphy said. “If you can do that, myself and my assistant [Deirdre Mattocks Bertotti] are going to make you a better gymnast. But after receiving all these awards, I don't feel that they come from me truly, it comes from the great teams that I've had.” One of Murphy’s captains is fifth-year senior Jean Alban, who looks to end her college gymnastics career on a high note. “I just want to go out there and give it my all,” Alban said. “I really hope the team does as well also, and as long as we go for it giving 100 percent, we'll be successful.” Both the men’s and women’s teams open their season in January. The men will compete in the West Point Open Jan. 1718. The women will start at the George Washington Invite on Jan. 12. Steve Bohnel can be reached at steven.bohnel@temple.edu or on Twitter @SteveSportsGuy1.
Weak finish ends playoff hopes The Owls started the season strong, but struggled late. DON MCDERMOTT The Temple News Coach Bakeer Ganes had specific goals for the Owls’ first season in the American Athletic Conference. “We wanted to be at least .500 in the conference,” Ganes said. “And we wanted to at least have 19 wins beVOLLEYBALL cause we had 19 wins last year, and we wanted to see if we could get the same number.” The Owls did accomplish one of those goals – the team finished the season with a conference record of 9-9. However, a loss to Central Florida in the last game of the season left Temple with a final record of 18-12. “We were hoping we could do a little bit better than [our goals],” Ganes said. “But overall, for this team to compete in the first year in this conference, it’s still a good, good season for us. We made some good progress with the team, and we had some freshmen playing and getting some playing experience.” Temple was swept in its first non-conference match at Buffalo, but then picked up seven straight wins. After returning home, the Owls took two out of three at the Temple Invitational. They finished non-conference play with a 9-3 record, and looked strong heading into
their first games in The American, where they had been picked to finish seventh in a preseason coaches’ poll. The Owls split the first two road games and then won five straight at home, sweeping Memphis, Connecticut and Rutgers. But in the final stretch, playing mostly on the road, Temple went 3-8. The Owls’ overall road record was 5-8. “I think we did really well at the beginning of the season,” sophomore setter Sandra Sydlik said, “And unfortunately we were losing most of the games in the second part, especially when we were away. So I think we have to work on that, just stay focused over the whole season, keep playing smart, even if teams are adjusting on our plays. But in general I think we can be proud of us. It’s a big conference, huge teams, and still we were winning a lot of games.” Despite late season struggles, Temple finished sixth in The American with the fourth best overall record. Senior rightside hitter Gabriella Matautia attributed the Owls’ success this year to hard work. “I think we knew what we wanted to do this season, and we pushed each other and worked together to achieve our goals,” Matautia said. “I think we have a lot of talent,” senior outside hitter Elyse Burkert added. “And sometimes it just makes winning seem easy when we’re doing it right. It just flows and it works really well because we have a lot of very
good players on this team.” But with Burkert and Matautia graduating, the program will be losing two crucial players. Burkert had more than 1,000 kills and 900 digs in her Temple career, and Matautia achieved more than 1,200 kills and nearly 900 digs. Even so, Ganes is optimistic about the future. “We’ve got some good recruits coming,” Ganes said. “That’s going to increase the talent level on this team. And with the experience the freshmen gained from this season, hopefully we’ve got some good things coming.” The Owls had four freshmen on the roster this year, and nearly all of them saw significant playing time. Freshman outside hitter Tyler Davis, who played in 22 of the Owls’ 30 games this year, said she was impressed with the season and confident about next
year. “I think it was a really good season to come in on,” Davis said. “It was really fun to play with the girls, and it was a really good experience. I think just with time and playing together, we’ll all learn how to play with each other and just be mentally stronger.” Junior middle blocker Jennifer Iacobini also said hard work and the progress of the freshmen are important to the team’s success. “We’re a really young team,” Iacobini said. “So we’re going to build a lot and get a lot of new girls, and I think we’ll be a lot stronger. The freshmen that started are going to get a lot more experience, and hopefully we’ll finish higher next year.” Don McDermott can be reached at donald.mcdermott@temple.edu.
The Owls ended their first season in the American Athletic Conference with a sixth-place finish, as the team went 9-9 in conference play. | ANDREW THAYER TTN
ROSTER PAGE 22 Among those newcomers, and do what I got to do.” who are benefiting the most With the emergence of from the loss of veteran players, Fitzgerald, Williams has been is Temple’s starting freshman forced to depend on an inexpepoint guard and leading scorer rienced guard for heavy producFeyonda Fitzgerald. Along with tion as opposed to the several Williams and fellow new addi- players she was accustomed to tion fifth-year last year. But for senior guard Owls vs. St. Joe’s Williams, the Shi-Heria Shipp, Dec. 4 at 5:30 p.m. change has been Fitzgerald is part an enjoyable one of Temple’s trio so far. of players averaging more than “Me and [Fitzgerald’s] thirty minutes played per game. chemistry right now is great,” “I love the guard rotation,” Williams said. “A lot of the Fitzgerald said. “It is a lot of mistakes she makes, I made a pressure because I know they thousand times last year. I know expect me to do [well], but at when she’s getting frustrated. the same time it’s basketball. I Both me and Fitz are very comjust have to focus, bear down, petitive people and we want to
Owls to host Big 5 rival St. Joe’s in ‘critical week,’ Dunphy says BASKETBALL PAGE 22
Team meshes despite roster losses 154, but in the second half, Temple has outscored those opponents 202-156. “We come out in the second half and it’s kind of like a new life we have,” junior guard Tyonna Williams said. “Not to say that it’s a good thing that we don’t have some of the returners but we took it and ran with it. We’ve been put in this situation so what are we going to do?” “I think up to this point, we’ve done a great job,” Williams added. “We mesh extremely well. Our team chemistry is off the charts. We enjoy being around each other on and off the court, so it shows on the court. We love the newcomers.”
Junior Will Cummings (left) leads the Owls in points and assists per game with 18.2 and 4.2 respectively.| HUA ZONG TTN
be on the floor. We love playing heavy minutes.” “Yes, a lot of veteran players aren’t returning or haven’t returned yet [and] as a freshman, it is tough,” Williams added. “I didn’t play a lot of minutes my freshman year and I came into my sophomore year and I was the starting point guard. It was a lot of pressure. I understand it is a lot of pressure for her but she has me in her corner.” Brien Edwards can be reached at brien.erick.edwards@temple.edu or on Twitter @BErick1123.
which they held it. non-conference matchup be“We have to work on just tween the two teams in years. closing out the second half,” Texas and its 6-1 record will Cummings said. “All the games await on Dec. 7 at noon at the that we lost, we had a big lead in Wells Fargo Center. the second half that we let slip “If we were 6-0 it would be away. We’re just a critical week, Owls vs. St. Joe’s making sure that if we were 0-6 it Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. we play for 40 would be a critiminutes and pay cal week,” Dunattention to detail on that aspect phy said. “These seasons are so and close out our games.” long that you kind of break them Although the team’s strug- up in weeks, and I don’t know gles with playing consistent bas- how much more of a test we ketball for the entire 40 minutes would want in St. Joe’s at [the in the early going have been Liacouras Center] and Texas at well-documented, coach Fran Wells Fargo, so it’s a big week Dunphy has no trouble finding for us and I hope we can play acthe silver lining. cordingly.” “So far “We know we’ve done a all of the guys good enough job on [St. Joe’s],” to get the lead,” Pepper said. “We Dunphy said. play with them “I’m encourover the summer aged that we’ve and this game gotten leads in is about bragthe second half. ging rights, reAgainst UAB, ally. Just going we got a lead out and playing and actually as hard as you broadened it in can and giving the second half it your all. At the … We’re playend of the game ing well enough you want to be to get a lead the winner and to and our 30- to be able to say we Will Cummings / junior guard 35-minute game beat St. Joe’s and has been good. talk crap.” Now we have to finish games.” Andrew Parent can be reached The UAB victory brought at andrew.parent@temple.edu or on the Owls to the .500 mark with Twitter @daParent93. a crucial week lying ahead, starting with a Big 5 bout with St. Joseph’s at home Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. in what will be the first
“We have to
work on just closing out the second half. All the games that we lost, we had a big lead in the second half that we let slip away.
”
SPORTS CRUSADERS CHANGE
The Cherry Crusade, Temple’s studentrun fan organization, has drawn ire from alumni due to different in-game support tactics. PAGE 20
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SEASON ENDS
OWLS GIVE BACK
The volleyball team finished its season with a pair of home losses as the careers of Elyse Burkert and Gabriella Matautia came to a close. PAGE 21
Teams give back at local shelters, Dalton Pepper receives Big 5 honor, other news and notes. PAGE 19
temple-news.com
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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2013
Freshman quarterback P.J. Walker (right) posted a 60.8 completion percentage. He emerged as the starter after redshirt-junior Connor Reilly suffered from an injury. | HUA ZONG TTN
After conference win, Owls look to 2014 The team ended its inaugural season in The American with a 1-7 conference record.
T
AVERY MAEHRER Sports Editor
he sound of a whistle from Edberg-Olson Hall pierced the cold autumn air. Despite Temple’s season coming to a close with last Saturday’s 41-21 win at Memphis, the team returned to practice on Monday morning. The Owls were doing a drill that Matt Rhule said is a way for his players to say, “I’m in.” “They were out there at 6 a.m. doing 1,000 yards of plate pushes to set the tone for what we’re going to do next year,” the first-year head
coach said at a news conference Monday. “We’re going to get ready for 2014 right now,” Rhule added. Temple’s first season in the American Athletic Conference ended on a positive note, as the Owls posted a season high in points and their second highest yard total of the year with 534 against the Tigers. In the process, Temple picked up its first conference win of the season – one that Rhule said was “long overdue.” “This year, we found out a lot about this team,” sophomore linebacker Tyler Matakevich said. “We never gave up. We have playmakers all over the field, whether it’s on offense or de-
The Owls left Charleston with back-to-back wins. ANDREW PARENT The Temple News
Temple holds nine active players on this year’s roster.
Before answering the question, coach Tonya Cardoza began to knock on the wooden table in front of her. “[Injuries are] something every team has to worry about but there’s no way you can prevent that,” Cardoza said. “Things happen.” With a number of expected returners missing in action, the deWOMEN’S BASKETBALL c r e a s e d depth of Temple’s roster has pressured the coaching staff and players into making various adjustments this season. Since the end of the 2012-13 season, Temple has been without four of its veteran players who were expected to be a part of the 2013-14 rotation. As a freshman, Sally Kabengano started 28 of 31 games
22 that was set in the 1979 season. Coming off a breakout rookie campaign, Matakevich led the nation with 106 solo tackles. But for all of the aforementioned success Temple achieved, the team has a 2-10 record to show for it – equating to a last-place finish for the Owls in The American standings. Part of the problem can be attributed to poor defensive play. Temple allowed an average of 474.3 yards per game, the worst in the conference and one of the worst in the country. Another fault of this Owls squad was an inability to close out games, as Temple held second
FOOTBALL PAGE 20
Late-game woes halted
Roster depletion continues BRIEN EDWARDS The Temple News
fense. It just took some time for all of us to come together and start the game flying and finish the game flying.” But as the team looks toward next season, statistics show that the Owls had an opportunity to achieve more than they did this fall. Temple scored 42 touchdowns in 2013, equal to the amount given up to its opponents. The Owls tallied 2,996 passing yards which breaks a school record previously set in 1994. Freshman quarterback P.J. Walker, who replaced redshirt-junior Connor Reilly as the starter in a road game at Cincinnati, finished with 20 passing touchdowns – two shy of Brian Broomell’s school record of
Tonya Cardoza is without four eligible student-athletes from last season, including would-be sophomore Sally Kabengano, who is no longer enrolled at Temple. | HUA ZONG TTN last season, but decided not to return to the team during the offseason. She is no longer enrolled at Temple. Junior guard Rateska Brown, Temple’s leading returning scorer, and sophomore forward Jacquilyn Jackson have both been suspended indefinitely for an undisclosed violation of team rules. Most recently, the team announced Nov. 29 that sophomore guard May Dayan decided to leave Temple and return to her home in Israel due to personal issues. With the loss of those four players from the Owls’ roster, Temple now holds nine active players moving forward this season. In regards to players’ fatigue and injury, the decrease of Temple players has forced Cardoza and the coaching staff
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to adjust. “We just have to make sure we’re careful with what we do in practice,” Cardoza said. “Make sure that in game situation, we’re giving people breaks. Sometimes I’m watching the game and I forget that [Natasha Thames] has been out there or [Tyonna Williams] has been out there the whole half. Just pay attention and not wear people out. Right now with what we have, it’s been working for us.” Despite the relatively small roster, fatigue has not been a factor for the Owls, as most of Temple’s success in its first five games has come in the second period. In the first period, the Owls outscored their first five opponents by a combined 157-
ROSTER PAGE 21
When Dalton Pepper assesses his teammates these days, the senior forward sees something he likes. MEN’S BASKETBALL “ I think we have a lot of potential,” Pepper
said. Still, it’s been trying at times. Blowing double-digit leads in five of six games – three of them ending in defeat – in a three-week span tends to dampen the mood. And yet, any lowered spirits among the Owls were given a boost last week as junior guard Will Cummings secured an 8381 win against Georgia with a game-winning jump shot and a subsequent 21-point thrashing of the University of AlabamaBirmingham in the Charleston
Classic. “The first couple games, here and there we could’ve won all three of those losses we had,” Pepper said. “We picked it up in the last two games and against UAB, we had a 20-point win and that really helped us out and gave us a lot of confidence.” While the 87-66 defeat of UAB continued the Owls’ (33, 0-0 American Athletic Conference) season-long streak of racking up a double-digit lead, it was only the second time in
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Mobley grows coaching staff plate,” Mobley said. “In previous years, we had two full-time coaches and a football-size program. So I am every thankful to Kevin Clark and the administration.” DANIELLE NELSON The full-time assistant The Temple News coaching staff now includes For the first time in five James Snyder, Tamara Burns, years, coach Eric Mobley will Aaron Watson, Shameka Maropen up the track & field indoor shall, Marquise Stancil and Mark season with six full-time coach- Johnson. Snyder and Watson oversee the cross country and es. “It has been phenom- distance athletes. Burns, who enal to have all now manages the throws, was TRACK & FIELD these additional hired over the summer, as were coaches, and it Snyder and Watson. Stancil, an pulls a lot of stress off of my alumnus of the program, was
Track teams are gearing up for the indoor season.
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promoted to full-time status after working as a volunteer coach for three years in the sprints and hurdles. Marshall and Johnson have been longtime assistants in the program. The additional coaches came at a pivotal point in Mobley’s tenure as both teams look to make the transition from the Atlantic 10 Conference to the American Athletic Conference. “This new conference is tough,” Mobley said. “My expectations are always high. I always think we can be Top 5 in the conference. We just have
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