Volume 90, Issue 20

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temple-news.com TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2012

Tensions brewing

VOL. 90 ISS.20

Residents to contest district proposal Some community members plan to oppose the proposed improvement district. AMELIA BRUST The Temple News

rate for workers is $12.65 per hour, Tolbert said. Student workers can’t work more than 25 hours a week, Tolbert added. McGuire looked into the idea of unionizing the workers, but had found out that it was against Sodexo policy for them to join. In the contract obtained by The Temple News, line seven of article one, union recognition of the contracted agreement, “specifically excluded from the bargaining unit are all students.” In addition to students, office clerical employees, professional employees and supervisors are excluded from the bargaining unit. “I was just told that this was how it had always been,” McGuire said. “And that it really wasn’t any of my business.” Jesse Stein, a sophomore anthropology major and employee at the TECH Center Starbucks, said he works at the coffee shop with his sister, whose hours were recently cut to 10 hours a week. “She can’t do anything because she can’t be in the union,” Stein said. “So now she has to

On Feb. 16, block captains of the fifth council district gathered at the Gesu School at 17th and Thompson streets to plan to act on some community members’ opposition to the North Central Improvement District. The Community Land Trust Corporation, or CLCT, a nonprofit Community Housing Development Organization in North Philadelphia, organized the planning meeting to readdress points made at a previous meeting on Jan. 25. “The community has to be sustainable itself in order to have a sustainable lifestyle,” Vivian VanStory, of CLTC, said. VanStory, an opponent of the NID, will testify at a public hearing on March 6 in Ritter Hall on behalf of CLTC and area residents. “We’re presenting not only signatures but also letters of support [against the district],” VanStory said. Elouise Edmonds, a city planner and volunteer for CLTC, suggested block captains give a questionnaire to residents who cannot attend regular meetings, so that they may share their concerns with the rest of the community. “I try to have block meetings but there’s only five or six people that come,” Doris Harris, captain for the 1800 block of Thompson Street, said. “[A questionnaire] is important not just for me but for everybody.” The NID, proposed by City Council President Darrell Clarke, who represents the fifth district, aims to bring cleaning services, public safety measures, and streetscape enhancements to the area in a span of five years, with a proposed first year budget of $450,000, according to the City Council resolution. The NID would answer to the North Central Management

SODEXO PAGE 3

IMPROVEMENT PAGE 2

ABI REIMOLD TTN

Jesse Stein, an employee at the TECH Center’s Sodexo-operated Starbucks, said he can’t unionize, as non-students can, as per the company’s current contract.

A student took his concerns to Sodexo, which does not permit students in its union.

I

DOMINIQUE JOHNSON The Temple News

n September 2011, management at the TECH Center Starbucks began enforcing a policy prohibiting the tipping of baristas, due to policies put in place by Sodexo, Temple’s food-service provider that licenses the store. But one student insisted his tip be accepted, sparking his own exploration into Sodexo’s contract with students. “I had stapled a dollar to a comment card, saying that I insisted they keep the dollar,” Adam McGuire, a senior social work major, said. “In addition to that, I asked what else Sodexo was doing to strip the rights of their workers.” McGuire tried to find answers himself, writing letters to both Starbucks and the university, but said he received little information. He also contacted Sodexo, who promised meetings to discuss the issues.

OPINION PILL PROBLEMS, p.5 Cary Carr argues that sex education should be the focus of recent debate regarding birth control.

“They were supposed to meet with me during winter break, but they kind of blew me off,” McGuire said. “When I got back from break they ignored me again, two weeks passed and they still didn’t get back to me.” In an email, Sodexo General Manager David Tolbert wrote that he and District Manager Bryan Sparks had already spoken with McGuire and are available to speak with him again should he have any additional questions. It is Starbucks’ company policy for workers to accept tips as a way to supplement their income. Employees at the popular coffee shops typically rely on tips from customers to compensate receiving an hourly pay below minimum wage. Sodexo pays at a higher rate than a typical Starbucks and has a policy in place that prohibits its employees from receiving tip money. Sodexo has an existing contract with the Philadelphia Joint Board that requires Sodexo to recognize the Philadelphia Joint Board as the “sole and exclusive bargaining agent with respect to wages, hours, benefits and other employee

A&E VAN GOGH, p.9 An exhibit of works from the second half of Van Gogh’s life is on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art through May 6.

SPORTS ALUM ASSTISTANCE, p.20 Former all-around gymnast Patrick McLaughlin returns to McGonigle Hall as a first-year assistant coach for the team.

“I asked what else Sodexo was doing to strip the rights of their workers.”

Week-long events emphasize engineering Temple’s National Engineers Week will take place throughout this week.

LIVING LOCAL LOVE, p.7 The Temple News meets the owners of Yumtown, a recently added truck on Main Campus that has pledged its dedication to local farmers.

related issues for full and part- ment cards with the name of time food service employees in their server. Every week, one all its dining service operations is chosen and the employee at Temple University.” mentioned in the positive com“Adam McGuire has pre- ment receives a bonus in their sented himself as ‘represent- paycheck. ing and speaking for’ a portion “They actually have not of our student employees at been following through with Temple,” Tolit as much,” bert said. “Under Josh Snyder, a the law, this sets senior history him up as a barmajor and emgaining agent for ployee at the those employTECH Cenees. [McGuire] ter Starbucks, has no affiliation said. “I don’t with the Philathink they delphia Joint implemented Board in any it just to be Adam McGuire / nice to us, it’s capacity, so in senior social work major almost like a accordance with our contract we pacifier just to are not permitted keep us quiet to negotiate with him.” a bit.” McGuire also reached out Another student worker to Mindy Segal, director of op- informed McGuire about a diserations at the Student Center, crepancy in wages between stuwho declined to comment on dent and non-student workers. the situation between McGuire Tolbert said the base rate and Sodexo. for student workers is $8.75 per The TECH Center Star- hour and increases by 25 cents bucks does provide an alterna- each year they work. tive to tipping in the form of an He said non-student workincentive program that relies on ers are hired at a rate of $10.65 customer feedback. Customers an hour and increase incrementhat have a positive experience tally until they are there for two are encouraged to fill out com- years. After two years, the base

MARK STAVER The Temple News Presidents Day for many Americans means a day off work, but for prospective and working engineers, it is anything but. Founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, National Engineers Week recognizes profound impact engineers have had on society, while emphasizing the importance in technical fields of study such as math and science. Four years ago, the College of Engineering sought to establish an engineers week

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on Main Campus that involved students not only from the school, but those in other science- and math-based fields of study. Through informative demonstrations and keynote speakers, National Engineers Week allows the chance for the college to be recognized for their achievements in engineering in conjunction with promoting the field of study for those who are undecided or looking to transfer. “The idea is to showcase our students and our faculty and what they are doing and working on as well as our field of study,” said Steven Lengkeek, assistant dean of the College of Engineering. “[The College of Engineering] has one of the higher transfer rates of other people coming from other degrees and transferring

ENGINEERING PAGE 3

CHARLOTTE JACOBSON TTN

Timothy Boger, a first-year electrical engineering graduate student, attempts to fix the broken parts of a hovercraft during an event for National Engineers Week. Events will take place at the college throughout the week.

NEWS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM


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Volume 90, Issue 20 by The Temple News - Issuu