temple-news.com VOL. 90 ISS. 25
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
Waivering support for NID
PROVOST CALLS FOR RESTRUCTURINGS
As the improvement district pends, some at Temple have spoken out against it.
The second draft of the White Paper calls for the scrutinized restructuring proposals.
SEAN CARLIN Assistant News Editor The North Central Neighborhood Improvement District proposed for the area surrounding Main Campus is supported by Temple, but is not without its fair share of dissenters. One of the most outspoken residents against the improvement district is Vivian VanStory who is the president and founder of the Community Land Trust Corporation, a nonprofit organization in North Philadelphia. While VanStory and her organization oppose the NCNID, William Bergman, vice president and chief of staff at Temple, is listed as a board member of the CLTC. VanStory said when she was gathering support for the organization, she approached Bergman, who said that he’d like to be part of it. Ray Betzner, assistant vice president of university communications, said after a conversation with Bergman that he is not part of the board, which VanStory refutes. “If he didn’t want to be part of the board he would have wrote me a letter,” VanStory said. “I think he’s caught in between now. So, I’m not putting his back against the wall. If he wasn’t on the board, he would have said he didn’t want to be on the board.” Bergman has not responded to multiple requests for an interview by The Temple News. Although confusion has risen from Bergman’s position with the CLTC, other people affiliated with Temple have come out against the NCNID. James White, trustee and former executive vice president, testified against the bill at a city council hearing on March 13. White, the former managing director of Philadelphia, listed numerous reasons for his opposition to the bill, including the supposed improvement of security in the neighborhood, which is allotted $75,000 of the district’s $450,000 initial budget, according to the bill. “There has been absolutely no
BRIAN DZENIS Editor-in-Chief
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rovost Richard Englert’s White Paper laid out numerous possibilities for university restructuring in December 2011 and, in March, after discussions between the provost and faculty, those proposals have begun to become more clear. On March 15, four proposals and one memorandum stemming from the December version of the White Paper were sent out to faculty across the university. Three of them discuss the restructuring of Tyler School of Art, Boyer College of Music and Dance, the School of Communications and Theater and the College of Education. The fourth one deals with policies involving faculty across the university and the memorandum discussed changes involving student feedback forms. In the first restructuring proposal, Tyler, Boyer and the theater and film and media arts departments from SCT would become units under a newly created center for fine and performing arts. Each unit will be represented by a director that would answer to one dean who oversees the center. Each of the units would maintain its existing faculty, departments and academic programs. Instead of combining Tyler and Boyer together, a move that would affect
MEASURING DIVERSITY, p.5 Cary Carr argues that GLBT identification should be an option during the college admissions process.
LIVING SAVING THE EARTH, p.7 Earth Hour, held last weekend, sought to save energy and pay tribute to the planet by encouraging participants to shut off their electricity.
A&E ART AND RELIGION, p.9 The Chabad House for the Arts recently opened its South Street gallery to create a space for Jewish student artists at local art colleges.
SPORTS COMEBACK SEASON, p.20 The softball team learned sign language to better communicate with the Owls’ ace Capri Catalano.
Lewis Katz will head the company that owns the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com. JOEY CRANNEY The Temple News Lewis Katz, a member of the executive committee of the Board of Trustees and chair of the athletics committee, led a team of six investors who purchased the Philadelphia Media Network, the parent company of the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Daily News and Philly.com, yesterday, April 2. The group of six, which includes insurance executive George E. Norcross III and philanthropist H.F. “Gerry” Lenfest, purchased PMN for $55 million, with an additional investment of $10 million in operation costs, from a group of hedge funds that bought out the company from bankruptcy in 2010. The team of investors will own PMN under General Media LLC, though the company will still operate under its current name. Katz and Norcross have been named managing partners, while Lenfest will act as Chairman of the group. “A world-class city needs world-class journalism to tell its story, and that’s what we have at The Inquirer, the Daily News and Philly.com,” Katz said in a press release. “These newspapers have a historic tradition of outstanding journalism in our city, and we want to preserve that tradition and marry it to the exciting digital opportunities that are revolutionizing the news business.” Katz was a part of the discussion of potential buyers of PMN since it was reported at the end of January that the company could be headed for sale. Former Gov. Ed Rendell and Philadelphia Flyers’ owner Ed Snider were reportedly working on a team with Katz, before Rendell asked Lenfest to take over as chairman of the group. On Feb. 17, 300 employees of the Inquirer and Daily News signed a public statement insisting that news coverage will not be compromised or censored under new ownership. “Regardless of who emerges as our new owners, they must guarantee that the integrity of our
“If we can save half a million dollars a year going forward, that’s a major difference.”
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DISTRICT PAGE 2
OPINION
students, creating the center allows the changes coming from restructuring to occur at the administrative level. “Rather than having a college of fine and performing arts, we would have a center with one dean, but we still maintain the integrity of Tyler, Boyer and the departments of film and media arts and theater,” Englert said. The idea for the center came from faculty proposals and from looking at other institutions, such as New York University’s Tisch School of Art, Rutgers and Boston University, which operate in a manner similar to the proposal. The move is also financially motivated. For the past three years, Robert Stroker has served as dean of Boyer and interim dean of Tyler, a move that saved the university $1.3 million during a three-year span, at approximately $450,000 a Richard Englert / year. Creating provost the center allows the savings to continue, Englert said. “If we can save half a million dollars a year going forward, that’s a major difference,” Englert said. “If we can make those reductions, we’ll do it in a second.” Under the proposal, Stroker would become the full-time dean of the center as well as the vice provost for the arts. For the faculty affected by the creation of the center, there are still more questions they have for the provost, but they have acknowledged there could be some benefits from becoming part of the center. Mark Radhert, a law professor and secretary for the Faculty Senate, listed the faculty’s remaining questions concerning
Trustee to own local news orgs.
Illustration Lucas J. Ballasy
NEWSPAPERS PAGE 2
TSG tickets face off before elections Before polls opened, RUN TEMPLE and Temple Advocating Progress debated. AMELIA BRUST The Temple News Temple Advocating for Progress and RUN TEMPLE engaged in the second executive ticket debate yesterday, April 2, in the Student Center atrium. Candidates answered questions on student-administrative relations and restructuring student government, similar to the topics discussed during the first debate on March 26. Responses from each side became more personally defensive throughout the debate.
NEWS DESK 215-204-7419
“We’ve been running Temple before we were RUN TEMPLE, and honestly I will say we were tapping in before they were ‘TAP in,’” Jaimee Swift, RUN TEMPLE candidate for vice president of external affairs, said, referring to TAP’s campaign slogan. “We didn’t just show up a week before campaigning started to Temple Student Government,” Julian Hamer, TAP candidate for vice president of services, said in closing. “Running Temple is not just three people.” TSG Elections Commissioner Shanee Satchell asked questions submitted after last week’s debate and then handed the microphone to audience members. Tickets had three minutes to answer Satchell’s
DEBATE PAGE 3
EDUCATED VOTE • The elections for Temple Student Government executive office will take place today, April 3, and tomorrow, April 4. • To vote, visit uvote.temple. edu. • Use the QR code below for The Temple News’ coverage of the campaigns.
• LUIS FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ TTN
The two teams running for TSG executive office faced off in a heated debate last night in the Student Center atrium.
If you don’t have a smartphone, visit: templenews.com/category/news/ tsg.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
Business and arts rank Feedback forms high in national report to move online PAPER PAGE 1
INDIRA JIMENEZ TTN
(Left) Tyler School of Art’s fine arts graduate program earned a No. 13 ranking in the recent U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges list. (Right) Assistant professor Daniel Cutrone of the glass department at Tyler works on a piece for his class. Along with Tyler, Fox School of Business programs receieved high rankings.
The U.S. News & World Report ranked Tyler and Fox in its Best Colleges list. JOHN DAILEY The Temple News In the latest U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges report, Fox School of Business and Tyler School of Art have secured high rankings. Both Fox’s graduate and undergraduate programs have placed well in the national rankings. Fox’s full-time MBA program rose 11 places since last year, reaching No. 52. Tyler’s fine arts graduate program came in at No. 13 nationally, rising one spot since the U.S. News & World Report last ranked arts programs in 2008. Five of Tyler’s graduate specialties have placed in the Top 20 of their categories this year. Moshe Porat, Ph.D., dean of Fox, said these rankings bolster Temple’s national reputation. “Multiple and consistent rankings across Temple, as we have seen most recently in Fox
School, Temple Law and Tyler School of Art, continue to enhance our collective reputation as one of the nation’s great urban universities,” Porat said. “We constantly strive to make [student’s] degrees increase in value. The continued national recognition we receive shows that we are delivering on that pledge.” Hester Stinnett, vice dean and graduate program director of Tyler, said she hopes that these ranking will benefit the entire Temple community. “What we hope is that this ranking will increase Temple’s overall visibility – that it will shine a light on all of the great programs that Temple offers,” she said. “That is one thing that rankings can do and all of Temple will really benefit.” Stinnett welcomes Tyler’s high placement, but notes the importance of considering other factors as well. “While we are incredibly proud of our recognition, I believe that rankings, such as the U.S. News’ Best Colleges, are just one way of viewing a school,” she said. “I would encourage any student to come and speak with the faculty, staff and current students to see if it’s truly a match for them.”
Porat agreed and further stressed the importance of focusing on objective, studentcentric criteria and cautions against relying too heavily on national rankings. “Rankings are a means of validation, but they are just one aspect of measuring quality,” he said. “The more rankings relate to students, such as measuring input and output data like job placement and salary, the more they accurately reflect quality and performance.” Job placement after graduation is of great concern to many students and Porat points to this as a major contributor to Fox’s success. “In 2010, 91 percent of graduating seniors who utilized the services of our Center for Student Professional Development landed full-time jobs,” Porat said. “Our 2011 placement rate for full-time and international MBA students was just as impressive: 95.3 percent within three months of graduation.” Stinnett attributed Tyler’s success to its renowned faculty members. “All of our faculty have played a major role in helping our students, as well as achieving in their fields. Their exper-
tise and level of accomplishment in their fields are very important to our placement in the rankings,” she said. “Tyler has a history of being ranked high nationally and our faculty are a big part of that.” Porat said this consistency of placement for Temple’s programs in the U.S. News & World Report, year after year, is telling. “Being continuously ranked well has a correlation with improved performance,” he said. “If rankings measure objective criteria, they can further validate your efforts.” Porat echoes this sentiment, telling of how Fox is aiming for the stars. “Bigger and better things can be expected,” he said. “We strive to be a top public-urban business school in the country and among one of the leading business schools in the world.” John Dailey can be reached at john.dailey@temple.edu.
the center. They include questions involving lines of authority under the new dean and director system, how endowment will work in the center and other budgetary questions. Some of the benefits listed include more opportunities to generate funds, such as selling the naming rights to the center, opportunities for collaboration across the arts and reducing operational expenses. For SCT, the proposal concerning it entails dropping the “T” as the school would be renamed the School of Communications on July 1 due to the departures of the theater and film and media arts departments for the center. The other existing departments: advertising, broadcast, telecommunications and mass media, journalism and communications, would remain unchanged. According to the proposal, there was not much financial motivation to drastically restructure the school. “While it is true that combination of the school with other schools or colleges at Temple could achieve some cost avoidance annually…the school already is productive in generating revenues to support expenditures,” the proposal said. “Moreover, it is likely that the opportunities for generating funds for naming the school and for scholarships, professorships, et cetera, would be enhanced by having a more communications focused school.” The school would continue to share equipment with the film and media arts department. A search for a new dean would begin after a new president of the university is hired. The third proposal involves the College of Education being changed to the School of Education, a move that entails more than a name change. Currently, the college has three existing departments and in the school, the departments will be merged into one. This idea started from the college’s move months ago to get rid of three doctoral programs and instead offer a college-wide Ph.D. program. “The reasoning behind it was, this way we have one faculty, not just department faculty,
but the faculty of the college of education all working together for the Ph.D. program, that actually spawned the idea in my head that if we can do it for the doctoral program, why can’t we do it for all the student programs?” Englert said. “Rather than having faculty over here, faculty over there and then faculty in a third department, you have them all together as one faculty, a faculty that serves all students.” “It’s actually more flexible for faculty being able to service more student needs in all programs,” Englert added. “Departments are wonderful, but sometimes they can have barriers and it can be hard for some people to cross departments.” Existing student programs within education would not be affected. For all three restructuring proposals, there will be an extended period of discussion until April 30, and then a final proposal will be given to the president and then the Board of Trustees. Discussion for the fourth proposal will commence April 13. Some of the policies included in the proposal include a new faculty workload policy, conducting analysis of classroom use and finding a new director of student financial services. On the latter item, Temple has already hired a new director of SFS: Craig Fennell, the former executive director of student financial assistance at Arizona State, who will be assuming the job this month. With the memorandum on student feedback forms, all forms will be online beginning in the summer. There was discussion about making the results of the feedback forms available to students, but the idea was put on hold due to concerns about protecting student anonymity. Brian Dzenis can be reached at brian.dzenis@temple.edu.
Opposition to improvement district persists DISTRICT PAGE 1
TIMOTHY VALSHSTEIN TTN
Although the proposed North Central Neighborhood Improvement District calls for increased safety and cleanliness in the area, some have strongly opposed the plan. James White, a trustee and former city official, said he is concerned about privatized security.
justification for the establishment of this neighborhood improvement district to improve security within the [district],” White told The Temple News. “The question that I would raise is: Who is going to provide that additional security that comes out of the nonprofit corporation that is established by this bill? Who is going to supplement the Philadelphia Police Department? And the answer to that is no one.” White, who added he was not speaking on behalf of Temple, said that revenue accumulated to fund the district would not be sufficient to add additional police patrols to the area and said he did not approve of privatizing security in the district. While White listed security as a main source of his opposition to the NCNID, he also said that relations between Temple and the community have been damaged as a result of the NCNID. White said at the March 13
council hearing that the process has been difficult for those on both sides of the issue. “This unforunate situation is not in the best interest, I feel, of any of the parties to this dispute over the proposed establishment of a neighborhood improvement dsitrict in this area,” White said in his testimony. “The resolution of this dispute is one of the most critical challenges, I feel, facing all of us who care dearly about the people who live, work, study, have businesses or visit this neighborhood.” The bill faces one more public hearing on May 3, at 1 p.m., before a 45-day period in which the bill can be voted down by a negative vote of 51 percent of affected property owners. Betzner said Temple still supports the bill and is expected to make a significant contribution to the district, though it has not been announced. VanStory added that she
still continues to gather petitions opposing the bill in order to garner the necessary votes to stop the legislation. “Even though they’re not taxing the residents [the community] is suspicious about what’s going on here,” VanStory said. “The people are alerted here in the community and they’re really up in arms about it.” Sean Carlin can be reached at sean.carlin@temple.edu.
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 Brian Dzenis at editor@templenews.com or 215.204.6737.
NEWS
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
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Dissent teach-in discusses collegiate athletic power
Univ. leases business space
Athletic revenue at colleges was the topic of discussion at the last teach-in.
Increased space will benefit businesses, technologies coming out of Temple.
ALI WATKINS The Temple News The lucrative world of college sports has been dealt its fair share of punches in the past year. Devastating scandals at Penn State and Syracuse have brought the world of big-time university athletics under a microscope. The sobering reveal of power and corruption at the top level of collegiate athletics has led many university officials, fans and alumni alike to ask the question: Has too much power been given to collegiate athletics? And how far will we some go to preserve it? As the sports world celebrates the chaos of NCAA’s cash cow tournament, Temple economics professor Mike Leeds led the latest Dissent in America teach-in discussion by asking students about the madness associated with the month. If these scandals are to be understood, Leeds said, the fundamental piece of the puzzle is the relationship between a university and its sports. During the past half-century, college athletics – namely, football and men’s basketball – have found themselves at a near-professional level, and have become the most valued asset of many big-name schools. The University of Texas, the nation’s largest collegiate football program, forged the way for the football-driven college identity with their “Longhorn Economy,” which includes television networks, apparel, ticket sales and countless other commodities. If privatized, Leeds said, the franchise would sell for close to $130 million dollars – close to the approximate worth of the Phoenix Coyotes of the National Hockey League. A multitude of factors con-
ALI WATKINS TTN
Economics professor Mike Leeds led a teach-in discussing collegiate athletic revenues. The teach-in comes just after the announcement of Temple’s conference upgrade to the Big East. tribute to this net worth of a college team, but one of the most significant, Leeds said, is the salaries paid to coaching staff. One-third of the expenditures in college sports are coach’s salaries. “We have the NCAA making hundreds of millions of dollars for one basketball tournament,” Leeds said. “We have coaches being paid many, many times what the highest faculty members are being paid.” However, while these athletic programs reap an overwhelming amount of money in revenue, the actual contribution to a college’s budget, for most, is non-existant. Often times, the money gained is subsidized into other athletic programs or spent on other improvements. “Very, very rarely does any athletic department make money,” Leeds added. “The average school is subsidized by the university, so basically, you eat what you kill. You make money, you spend money.” This money, Leeds added, makes a small dent in the overall revenue of a university as a whole. In fact, Penn State football – the third most lucrative
program in the nation – revenue, ringing in at $53 million annually, accounts for less than 0.05 percent of the school’s total budget. Looking beyond financial figures, Leeds explained that collegiate sports’ other, and arguably more substantial, contribution to their universities is the sense of pride and identity successful team gives to its school. “[Sports] gave schools, and students, a sense of identity. You needed to give students a sense of belonging, alumni a reason to give,” he said. “This was a way of getting the students to hate the Buckeyes instead of their teachers.” This development of an identity is crucial for big-name programs, and helps to bolster the image of a school and leads to an influx of applicants. In a recent study, men’s football and basketball programs, if ranked in the Top 20 can bolster a school’s applicant pool by anywhere from 2 percent to 8 percent, Leeds said. This contributes to the fragile power dynamic between a university’s administration and its athletic department.
As Temple athletics continue to excel and look towards the Big East conference, these questions are especially prudent. Brian Mele, a senior accounting major, said he believes Temple has done a good job thus far of maintaining athletic dignity. “There’s a lot of good student athletes,” Mele said. “I think we have more integrity than other schools.” This dynamic, if maintained, can only serve to bolster a school’s sense of identity and pride. This unity found through sport, Leeds said, is the most significant contribution of collegiate athletics. “[Sports] is a way of giving [universities] a way of saying, ‘We may not have the same scholars that you have, we may not have the same wealthy students, but damn it, we beat you in football,’” Leeds said. Ali Watkins can be reached at ali.watkins@temple.edu.
year’s Be Your Own Boss Bowl. “There are multiple others that we are talking with,” Towman said. “However, we hope to make this space available to any Temple-based startup or technology that wishes to use this DOMINIQUE JOHNSON facility.” The Temple News With incubator space to hold meetings and conduct busiTemple’s Office of Re- ness, new businesses can fosearch and Business Develop- cus their efforts and resources ment leased incubator space on fundraising and developing at the University City Science technology. These technologies Center in West Philadelphia came out of the laboratories of as part of the Science Center’s the faculty and in many cases Port Business Incubator and will were jointly from the students serve as a launching point for and faculty. new businesses In many and technolocases, the stugies developed dents and facby Temple faculty could work ulty. side by side Temple with the comwas already one pany to develop of the academic their discoverpartners of the ies further. As center and now the company has dedicated grows and genoffice space. erates revenue, The details of Temple receives the agreement a share, which were negotiated is distributed between the to the inventors Anthony Lowman / such as faculty, university and vice provost for research and science center. business development staff, students, “The space the academic will be used units and the by these new companies look- university. ing to develop their programs,” “Temple has an incredible Vice Provost for Research and technology portfolio across all Business Development Antho- of its college and schools,” Towny Lowman said. “This could man said. “This is an opportuniinclude developing proposals, ty for companies based on these meetings with venture capital technologies to develop further firms, potential partners, et ce- and transition the research distera.” covery into societal use.” As more companies develRevenues from these techoped, the university needed a nologies have grown dramatispace off campus for these com- cally during the last two years panies to work. and this effort is aimed at doing Two companies that will this even further. start using the space include one The revenues this year are that is working on a technology expected to be approaching $3 coming from the chemistry de- million. partment and another technol “This revenue allows us ogy coming from the Health to invest in this space and the Sciences Center. growth of our research proPureNANO Technologies, gram,” Towman said. a company out of Fox School of Business is developing nanoDominique Johnson can be technology created by chemisreached at dominique.johnson@temple.edu. try professor Eric Borguet. The company was the winner of last
“This is an opportunity for companies...to develop further and transition research discovery into societal use.”
Katz to co-own Last debate answers final questions media network DEBATE PAGE 1
questions and two minutes each to respond to audience queries, as well as two 60-second rebutNEWSPAPERS PAGE 1 tals per ticket. Audience members asked reporting will never be sacri- eration. candidates for specific examficed to serve their private or “Journalists speak truth to ples of how the tickets planned political interests,” the state- power, hold our leaders accountto restructure TSG and how they ment read. “One thing must be able and keep readers informed would use TSG to help students non-negotiable in any sale: our about the important issues of not affiliated with student orgabond of trust with our readers.” the day,” Katz said. “We depend nizations. Former Temple adjunct upon the news to tell us about When a student asked professor and alumnus Craig the issues that impact the future candidates how they planned McCoy, who works as an in- of our region, and we trust them to change the TSG allocations vestigative reporter with the In- to tell us the truth.” process, Brandon Rey Ramirez, quirer, penned the petition with At a press conference, Katz TSG deputy chief of staff and fellow reporter Joe Tanfani. said, “I will give all of my effort RUN TEMPLE candidate for “Even before any sale, and all of my energy with whatTSG student body president, we’ve seen a pattern here where ever brain power I have left to repeated his team’s platform to stories are being inappropriately try and turn this enterprise into make the process more transparaltered or killed,” McCoy told not only a wonderful journalisent. Ramirez, a former member The Temple News on Feb. 20. tic experience, but also a sound, of the allocations committee, “Our editors have assured us financially successful business.” said he felt in previous years that that won’t happen again, General Media, LLC’s purthe process “was never a central so we hope those are isolated chase was the fourth ownership part of the conversation.” episodes, but it put us on guard change that the network has unIn TAP’s response to the and now, going forward we have dergone in the past six years. question, Hamer asked, “The to make sure our news report is people who have been on the Joey Cranney can be reached at straightforward and is not in any allocations committee for howjoseph.cranney@temple.edu. way biased or reflect the interever long they have, if they’ve ests of our owners, whether it be seen problems, why haven’t political or financial.” those changes been made alKatz, along with the other ready?” five new owners of PMN, has Both tickets promised to agreed to sign a pledge that the make the process more “transownership of the company will parent.” not interfere with newsroom opMalcolm Kenyatta, a senior communications major, asked
tickets how they would work with their opponents after elections. When Kenyatta, who ran for TSG student body president on the Owl Future ticket last year, asked candidates how they intended to “change” the TSG elections process, he cited what he saw as a tendency for candidates to make personal attacks. Ramirez said TSG elections “becomes a popularity contest.” On the subject of student-administrative relations, Ramirez emphasized his ticket’s platform to make TSG more involved with student-advocacy groups, citing it as his motivation for joining student government. TAP spoke on its aim to promote more dialogue between students and administrators, making mention of a protest by Temple Community Against Mountaintop Removal at a Board of Trustees meeting on March 13. “It was not brought to the attention of Temple Student Government first…When you have to come in with tape over your mouth to an event, well, there’s a better way of going about doing it,” David Lopez, TSG chief of staff and TAP candidate for TSG student body president, said. Ramirez, who has partici-
pated in TCAMR events, rebutted the statement, saying the group has previously spoken with TSG directly. The audience’s enthusiasm increased in the latter portion of the debate. In his closing statement, Lopez spoke his loudest as the crowd’s volume increased. “You talk about radical change, but I see no ideas… Your platform has changed non-
stop since this campaign began every week,” Lopez said. “What you don’t understand is the only [thing] you’re going to run is run Temple into the ground.” Voting lasts from midnight today, April 3, until 11:59 p.m. tomorrow, April 4, at www. uvote.temple.edu. Amelia Brust can be reached at abrust@temple.edu.
LUIS FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ TTN
Temple Advocating Progress fielded questions and debated opponent RUN TEMPLE. TSG elections begin today, April 3.
FOR THIS WEEK’S TEMPLE STUDENT GOVERNMENT COVERAGE, VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
OPINION
A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921. Brian Dzenis, Editor-in-Chief Valerie Rubinksy, Managing Editor Angelo Fichera, News Editor Kierra Bussey, Opinion Editor Cara Stefchak, Chief Copy Editor
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TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
DRAWING CONCLUSIONS
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
Unanswered Concerns
A
The Temple News takes issue with the lack of transparency regarding the details of the NCNID.
s The Temple News has covered the proposed North Central Neighborhood Improvement District, we have questioned its proponents’ lack of transparency. The process has left the public and students with a lot of questions, and as Sean Carlin reports in “Waivering support for NID,” p.1, community members aren’t alone in their dissent. The NCNID aims to benefit the area with increased lighting, safety patrols and cleanliness. Lifelong residents of the area have repeatedly rejected the bill since its proposal at meetings because they were excluded in talks about changes for their community and a lack of community representation. Temple is set to give an annual financial contribution to the district, but the amount they will contribute has still not been released. Now, trustee and former executive vice president James White has spoken out against the bill at a city council hearing. White’s complaints include the supposed improvement of security, which is allotted $75,000 of the district’s $450,000 initial budget. White questioned where the security would come from, and who would supplement the Philadelphia Police Depart-
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White Paper
ment, adding that he would be opposed to privatizing security. White is also concerned that the relationship between Temple and the community has been damaged as a result of the NCNID. Although White is not speaking on behalf of Temple, it is clear that not everyone is on board. Additionally, Vivian VanStory, one of the most outspoken residents against the improvement district and president and founder of the Community Land Trust Corporation, has said that William Bergman, vice president and chief of staff at Temple, is a board member of her organization, and that her organization does not support the NCNID. Ray Betzner, assistant vice president of university communications said that Bergman is not part of the board. The Temple News was not permitted to speak directly with Bergman, something we take issue with. Regardless of Bergman’s stance, the entire debate highlights the same issue that concerned The Temple News weeks ago: There is a problem with communication and transparency when it comes to the NCNID.
JULIANA COPPA TTN
PHOTO COMMENT
PAUL KLEIN TTN
The Temple women’s softball team waters down the field in between games.
POLLING PEOPLE The Temple News believes that a lot of questions still need to be answered.
n March 15, Provost Richard Englert issued an updated version of his White Paper, a series of proposals to streamline processes, restructure colleges and cut costs, as Brian Dzenis reports “Provost calls for restructurings,” p. 1. While The Temple News supports moves to save the university money during tough economic times that are defined, at least at Temple, by decreasing state funding, the proposals are being passed along hastily. The Temple News does not support or denounce the plans outlined by the provost’s White Paper, but we are strong in our assertion that more questions need to be asked and answered. Programs in place are expected to remain intact, but more specific details need to be made known so that no one is blindsided by quickly made decisions. Do the graduation requirements of students in their programs change under a new school or college? Will the
specifics of any degrees, which students enrolled at Temple are pursuing, change with a change in school? The Temple News will explore these questions and continue to update its readers with information pertaining to these proposals as it becomes available. The increasing tuition paid by students buys them the right to have a more serious role in the decision-making process at Temple than the one currently in place. The university needs to hold, and advertise for, meeting opportunities for students to ask the provost and individual schools’ leadership about these changes. More importantly, students need to be asking questions, making their concerns known and demanding the results they want to see. As much as the provost claims students will be unaffected, a change in an institution undoubtedly means a change for those who comprise it.
Last week on temple-news.com, we asked: How do you feel about NEXT WEEK’S POLL employers asking for access to your social media accounts? Do you feel like Sodexo price gauges?
90% 2%
It’s a violation of one’s privacy.
I don’t use social media.
7% 1%
I’m fine with it. I don’t have anything to hide from potential employers.
Sure so long as it will help me get the job. *Out of 61 votes
GOT SOMETHING TO SAY?
Visit temple-news.com to take our online poll, or send your comments to letters@ temple-news.com. Letters may regard any current issue but must include your full name, position and location. Students can give year and major. Submissions should be 350 words or fewer.
CITY VIEW
Core vs. gen-ed requirements
The outdated Core curriculum required courses in international studies or language, whereas general education doesn’t require courses in the study of language. See Joel Faltermayer’s “Educational standards need to be held high” regarding his opinion on language requirements, p. 5.
NOTABLE QUOTEABLE “I figured I should reiterate that so no one gets poisoned.”
MEGHAN WHITE Handmeg Page 11
Illustration Ana Tamaccio
COMMENTARY
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
PAGE 5
Sexual identity measures diversity
I
n an attempt to guarantee services are provided for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students, the Academic Senate of the University of California initiated a proposal to ask incoming freshmen to identify their sexual orientation during the admissions process. The University of California, CARY like most other schools, already has CARR a list of questions regarding race, Carr gender and ethnicity on the statements of intent students fill out argues that when accepting their admissions listing sexual offer. Adding sexuality to the list orientation seems natural as another measure during of diversity. And this could start a trend the college among colleges and universities. admission Illinois’ Elmhurt College was early process can lead in taking the step forward, becomto opportunities ing the first college to ask students for GLBT about their sexual orientation last students. year. While ABC News reported that several GLBT students voiced their approval of the proposal to the student newspaper, not everyone is supportive of the initiative. Although the question would likely be optional, some worry that the information could potentially cause more discrimination against or isolation of the GLBT community. Another dilemma is the belief that acceptance into schools should be based solely on merit, not diversity. However relevant these concerns are, the positive outcomes that could rise if the proposal is accepted greatly outweigh any negative outcomes. The fact that this aspect of diversity has been ignored for so long is unsettling and speaks to the level of unfamiliarity or discomfort many people continue to have regarding speaking about, or even understanding GLBT issues. Musu Jackson-Buckner, aca-
demic advisor for the Temple Honors Program, said that the recent attention that GLBT culture has been receiving might have spurred the proposal. And while she said she doesn’t believe that adding a question into the admissions process could solve every problem, it could push universities to further support its GLBT students. “My hope would be if we have that information about our students we could do a better job of knowing how people identify, knowing who is in our community and doing our best to support them,” JacksonBuckner said. Besides being able to provide scholarships based on diversity to GLBT students, schools could also direct their students to on-campus groups or direct them to other helpful resources such as health services, which Jackson-Buckner said may be particularly beneficial for transgender students. Jackson-Buckner, who identifies as bisexual, said that having a supportive campus community can be very helpful in making GLBT students feel more at ease in their environments. “Because I was able to find people that I could talk to, I felt a lot more comfortable,” JacksonBuckner said. “And I was able to find myself in my college community and move forward with embracing my identity, but also kind of living the life that I felt I was supposed to.” It might not be a coincidence that the proposal sprung up at the same time that college student Dharun Ravi from Rutgers University is on trial for allegedly bullying and spying on his roommate while he was having a gay sexual encounter. Ravi’s roommate, Tyler Clementi, committed suicide following
the incident. This type of gay-bullying, while now receiving national attention, isn’t new according to Jackson-Buckner. Labeling it as an “epidemic,” she said that schools should spread awareness in terms of acceptance among campus alumni and faculty members. If the proposal is passed, more than just additional tools and resources could potentially be provided for GLBT students. Learning how to talk about and understand differing sexual orientations is more crucial. Diversity is a significant part of life, and it’s about time that we open ourselves up to differing points of view and create a larger support system for the GLBT community. “Colleges are a really great place and a supportive environment to kind of start broaching that topic and moving forward,” JacksonBuckner said. According to the Daily Bruin, UC’s provost Lawrence Pitts will make the final decision on the proposed policy. “If a student comes to a university,” Jackson-Buckner said, “and the university is going to ask ‘what is your sexual orientation?’ I think that student’s going to have the expectation that if they are a member of one of those protected groups [GLBT], then that univer-
sity is going to provide resources or help find resources to feel happy or supportive or successful on campus.” During the past year, Temple administered its own survey to students, staff and faculty. The survey addressed the needs of the GLBT community on Main Campus, and its results will be used to further inform administrators on the climate of the GLBT community and the effectiveness of outreach programs, Director of the Communications Program Dr. Scott Gratson told The Temple News. The Queer Student Union at Temple will analyze the results when they are released in order to better understand the needs of the GLBT community. As more and more schools address the needs of the GLBT community, hopefully others will follow in their footsteps. The central question here isn’t whether or not adding the question of sexual orientation to the admissions process is good or bad, but rather why it has taken so long to consider this a significant measure of diversity. And why are so many still too uncomfortable to talk about it?
and understanding of cultures other than one’s own…” Despite the drastic tone, this is not a directly culpable issue. No party is acting outside of reasonable interests. On the one hand, students who do not feel that a second language would benefit them are understandably frustrated, and have made claims as paying customers to have the language expectation removed. Faculty administration is simply catering to these complaints, while simultaneously treating any festering wounds incurred by the budget crisis. So far, this seems like a winwin situation. Responses to the general education program, as we have all observed and offered, generally range from “this class sucks” to “this class really sucks,” and are spiced liberally with “how will this get me a job?” Most of the opposition comes from interested parties, marginalized and fiscally-threatened language departments, and is consequently detested as self-interest. Needless to say, it’s a concern fraught with serious financial, academic and ethical implications. It’s clear that if we, the university, and society at large acknowledge students only as customers receiving a product, then the gen-ed curriculum, along with the language requirement, makes up at least half of our investment. Yet when we look deeper into how the American “college experience” has undergone drastic redefinition – both positively and negatively – then little cuts like these are easily bricks in the pathway to a culturally
intolerant, economically depreciated, and all-around dumber society. In one of their many pedagogical studies, the Association of American Colleges and Universities, of which Temple is a member, states that, “many colleges and universities struggle to translate research and expertise into practices that help align gen-ed curricula with expectations for educating students who can thrive in a global economy and become socially responsible and civically engaged leaders at home and abroad.” Yet this kind of support embraces cultural learning from a completely self-destructive angle. Considering the not-so-recent developments in our domestic and international economy, our role as students in an American university is aggrandized to that of a foreign ambassador. In other words, educational success in the modern American university is measured by producing “globally competitive” citizens. Consequently, “Harper’s Magazine” contributing editor Mark Slouka discussed this trend toward
economic competitiveness as a sign of the anti-intellectual times, claiming in 2009 that, “education in America today is almost exclusively about the GDP.” I could easily cite here the exhausted, yet factual claims of how language learning helps with far more than communicative skills in a world linguistically dominated by English, Spanish and Chinese. I could show you the obvious proof that learning a second language, regardless of your level of retention, makes you much more culturally and rationally aware, and therefore more able to succeed professionally – but that’s not my point. We should always jump at any possible opportunity to expand and raise our educational standards, not lower them. To do so, however, does not lend itself at first to economic ventures, but to cultural humility and awareness. This, to me, seems to be the only way to combat the gluttonous, gun-toting, intolerant stereotype of excess that a googling of “amurika” will unearth.
“The fact that this aspect of diversity has been ignored for so long is unsettling and speaks to the level of unfamiliarity or discomfort many people continue to have regarding speaking about, or even understanding GLBT issues.”
Cary Carr can be reached at cary.carr@temple.edu.
Educational standards need to be held high
A
JOEL FALTERMAYER
Faltermayer argues that educational standards should always include ways to maximize a students cultural capital, not economic capital.
s the generation of “Core” students finally pass, “gen-eds” has just emerged from its probationary period with nearly every benefit, obstacle and complaint duly noted by academic and managerial administration alike. Previously, Temple’s “Core” stated to “provide the intellectual skills and the knowledge needed for academic success in college and provide a useful education for one’s career, citizenship and personal life.” The general education program, which “makes connections from academic knowledge to experience,” promises more of the same ambiguity. Yet while the euphemisms suffer constant paraphrasing and reiteration like some enigmatic Da Vinci anagram, the role of such required courses remains the same. They are a university’s way of guaranteeing that your degree signifies legitimate growth and maturity, rather than just the ability to navigate four years of Wikipedia, EHow and SparkNotes pages. Apparently sometime during the shift from Core to gen-ed requirements, the imperative that university graduates should have some knowledge or experience outside of American English, has disappeared. Previously applicable to all undergraduates, the two-semester foreign language requirement now applies only to the Liberal Arts, Communication, Science and Technology and Tyler schools. Consequently, the very institution that places a premium on “diversity” will cease to guarantee that graduates have developed “an awareness
VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
FELIX FLORES
SOPHOMORE
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Do you think foreign language courses are beneficial?
AMANDA SHAFFERN TTN
“[Foreign language courses] are very important for education because they allow you many opportunities. In my field, you find better opportunities if you know specific languages, like Chinese or Arabic, the ones that aren’t common.“
OPINION DESK 215-204-9540
“It’s clear that if we, the university, and society at large acknowledge students only as customers receiving a product, then the gen-ed curriculum, along with the language requirement, makes up at least half of our investment.”
JULI SMALL “Obviously I think language classes are beneficial, given my major. However, I’ve worked in a lot of different places – offices, fast food restaurants. Languages open so many different doors. I find foreign languages like a puzzle, challenging, yet fun.”
Joel Faltermayer can be reached at joel.faltermayer@temple.edu.
SOMEONE ELSE’S OPINION “People want to stay in Philadelphia, but they’re doing nationwide searches [for jobs], just so they can make a living. And what are the republicans in Pennsylvania doing about this? They’re talking about Englishonly. What a good idea. And they’re making it harder for us to vote. That’s sure bringing a lot of jobs.”
Rep. Babette Josephs, philadelphiaweekly.com in “PA House GOP Says Will Finally Focus on Jobs-Monday”
“Romney is losing women for a number of reasons – in his defense, he’s probably taking collateral damage for the GOP’s state-by-state efforts to enact laws meddling in women’s private lives – but this shorthand is surely a contributing factor: Obama favors health reform, while Romney keeps vowing “on day one” to repeal it “root and branch.” This, despite his own track record of signing similar healthreform legislation in Massachusetts.”
Dick Polman, Inquirer
National Political Columnists on philly.com in “Embracing Obamacare”
“Reading used to be the isolated experience of picking up a book, scanning words on the page and thinking a lot of brilliant thoughts about the story without ever voicing them. Now, through the wonders of social media, you can discuss the downfalls of Edward and Bella’s relationship or the brilliant plot arc of “Harry Potter” — regardless of where you live.”
Emma Allison, on
nytimes.com in “Social Media Has Fed the Fever”
“We don’t need religion to be ethical, I thought. And yet, in almost every human society, religion has been intimately tied to ethics. Was that just a coincidence?”
Jonathan Haidt, special to cnn.com in “Why we love to lose ourselves in religion”
SOPHOMORE
BRANDON SLOAN
SPANISH
SENIOR
KINESIOLOGY
“I think they are extremely important and necessary. We live in a global economy, and knowing more than one language makes an employee stronger and able to work with more people.”
LETTERS@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
COMMUNITY
PAGE 6
WORD WEB...
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
on the
temple-news.com
Dear Editor,
Unedited for content.
Michele O’Connell says on “Letter to the editor” on March 28, 2012 at 1:46 p.m. I just looked on here and they have a disclaimer that letter can be edited for style, which is what they did it seems. To me this seems like just a case of this student making a stink over nothing to push HIS agendas, and not have an understanding that most media outlets do follow AP Style. The editor did their job and in no way does that require an apology. And that letter he referenced in here from the PSU student, if it’s the same one I just read the term was used in a quote, in which case it was correct to not switch it. dramadramadrama. So Joe, the editor made such decisions based on what’s the correct procedure, not based on their own bias. You guys are picking a fight with the wrong source..give AP a call. Joe says on “Letter to the editor” on March 27, 2012 at 5:31 a.m. It’s funny how you will condemn Limbaugh but I see no mention of Maher or Olberman who have said equally if not more offensive things. It’s one thing to criticize Limbaugh for his words but if you are going to do so, realize that it occurs on both sides. The least you can do is be unbiased in your criticism. Limbaugh may have called Fluke a “slut” but many would argue that it doesn’t compare to Maher’s reference to Gov. Palin as a certain 4 letter word that starts with the letter C, which I shall refrain from using. The simple fact is that Maher and Olberman profit just as much if not more so than Limbaugh. Let’s hear some outcry about the outspoken left. Connor says on “Occupy Vacant Lots promotes urban farming initiative” on March 27, 2012 at 11:31 a.m. If you’re looking for more places to get involved in like this there is a big garden on my street, Uber, its called the Uber Garden. The people on the street upkeep it, check it out if you haven’t heard of it already. Dear Editor, This past Tuesday, March 27, the Temple College Republicans and the Temple College Democrats held a debate in the Underground and discussed issues affecting the local community and the nation. This event could not have been put together without the great leadership of Temple College Republicans President Erik Jacobs and Temple Democrats President David Lopez. The event was a great forum for both organizations to voice their opinions about different issues to the large audience and it seemed that most people came away viewing it as a positive event. There was, however, one incident that was very disconcerting to me that happened during our debate. A member of the College Democrats expressed an opinion when speaking about a medical policy, alleging that republicans are “raping women.” This kind of speech is used around the country to try and score political points and as future leaders in the public and private sector we should hold ourselves to a higher standard. I feel a need to speak out against this kind of speech in the hope that people see there is no need for that kind of a personal attack in a civilized conversation. There is nothing wrong with people hav-
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
ing different views and solutions when it comes to how to resolve problems that face our nation, but this kind of rhetoric should have no place in political discourse. I love the fact that different people have different views on different issues and having citizens who have different views is what makes this country great. I would hate to imagine how boring and dangerous things would be if everyone agreed on every issue. When someone uses this kind of vile language when disagreeing with someone, it does several negative things. Firstly, it tarnishes an organization that person may represent. Secondly, it diminishes the message that person is trying to convey, and thirdly, it does a serious injustice to the emotional and physical trauma an actual rape victim lives with for the rest of their life, all in the name of scoring political points. I urge all Temple students who may find themselves in a disagreement to act and speak in a civilized way in an attempt to avoid staining the university, themselves and their message. Maybe by doing so we can all work together to solve problems that affect everyone.
There is a growing trend across the nation’s colleges and universities – a movement that promotes student health. Throughout the country, college and university campuses are adopting smokefree or tobacco-free policies. According to the American Lung Association, there are presently 270 colleges and universities that have enacted policies completely prohibiting the use of all tobacco products on campus. The American Non-smokers’ Rights Foundation lists 648 colleges or universities nationwide that currently have 100 percent smoke-free campuses. Philadelphia colleges are more than a step behind this trend. As one of the most prominent universities in Philadelphia, Temple is presented with a unique opportunity to be a leader in supporting student health. The facts about the dangerous health effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke are well known. For the average college student, smoking cigarettes should immediately be associated with horrible things like cancer, heart disease, yellow teeth, and erectile dysfunction. The Centers for Disease Control lists tobacco use as the No. 1 preventable cause of disease, disability, and death in the United States. The seriousness of secondhand smoke is also well known. Aside from its general unpleasantness for the non-smoking bystander, the U.S Department of Health and Human Services states that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke, and any exposure may have harmful health effects. As college students, we are inundated with information about the deadly consequences of tobacco use, yet tobacco use remains a social norm. There is a large body of evidence that shows the Tobacco Industry targeting the college age group. Big Tobacco
understands that 18 to 24 years olds who choose to smoke are not just smoking, but are becoming smokers. This creates an invested interest in college-aged people to keep business booming. There is a significant divide between perceived and actual tobacco use among college students. According to the American Lung Association, 64 percent of college students do not use tobacco, however, the perception of the average college student is that more than 80 percent of their college peers do use tobacco. This division illustrates the need for policy change that will support shifting this social norm. Protecting those on campus from secondhand smoke should be a priority of all college campuses. However, a college that chooses to enact a tobacco-free policy also serves to protect members of this age group from being exploited by the tobacco industry. More importantly, a tobaccofree campus has the potential to halt the cementing of habitual tobacco use among college students. Overall, a tobacco-free policy on the college campus is a powerful contribution to student health and to the health of the nation. For Temple, it is time to put knowledge into action in a way that has not yet been achieved by any other Philadelphia university. Advancing the effort to create a more healthy campus environment, the Student Coalition for the Prevention of Tobacco at Temple is working to raise awareness about the health dangers of tobacco use on campus. Gaining a student voice in this matter is vital for this movement to progress. For more information about SCPT you may send an email to scpt@temple. edu. Sincerely, Justine E. Pileggi Student Coalition for the Prevention of Tobacco
Sincerely, Paul Fritchey Temple College Republicans
COMMUNITY VOICE
Mixed opinions surround the motivation of Florida teen’s death Steve Hodge, a West Philadelphia resident, said the killing of Trayvon Martin was motivated by abuse of authority. KIERRA BUSSEY The Opinion Editor On Feb. 26, the killing of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin at the hands of George Zimmerman, 28, a self-appointed neighborhood watch captain, caught nationwide attention. Many al-
leged that the actions of Zimmerman were an act of racism. To date Zimmerman has not been charged with any crime, and as a result, supporters have formed protests and petitions to call for justice. Steve Hodge, a resident of Philadelphia for more than 25 years, has mixed opinions about the issue. He acknowledges that racism may have played a role in it, but speculates that the issue may be more complex. “At first I was angry because the reports were that this was a guy that was defenseless,” Hodge said. “Later I think that there’s more to the story.”
“Zimmerman probably needed to be arrested, but I think that if there was evidence that he had done something as outlandish as cold blooded murder of that boy, I believe he would have been arrested then.” Hodge said sees the issue not solely based on an act of racism, but misplaced authority. “We know that racism exists,” Hodge said. “I think that Zimmerman pushed some authority that he didn’t have. And [Martin] didn’t respond the way Zimmerman wanted him to and they got into a confrontation.” “I think Zimmerman gave orders that he had no business
giving and provoked the situation,” he added. “I believe he provoked the situation and used his gun.” While there is a lot of speculation regarding what exactly happened the day of Martin’s death, many agree that the local police of Sanford, Fla. did not handle the investigation properly. This prompted the U.S. Justice Department’s investigation into Martin’s murder on March 19. Nonetheless, Martin was found in violation of the Neighborhood Watch manual, which states, “It should be emphasized to members that they do not possess police powers, and they
CHRIS MONTGOMERY TTN
Attendees light candles and gather in LOVE Park for a candelight vigil and open mic to protest the death of Trayvon Martin.
shall not carry weapons or pursue vehicles.” Hodge offers similar guidelines to follow moving forward regarding the authority of neighborhood watch captains. “From now on, there ought to be strict guidelines on town watch people,” Hodge said. “They should be under the auspices of the police as far as what they can do and what they cannot do. They are not to try to provoke situations, they are not to try to move traffic, and they are not supposed to put out fires.” “They are supposed to report what they see and if they
do anything beyond that they should be held liable and accountable for it,” he added. Hodge said that the attention should be shifted to other issues plaguing youth as well. “I believe [the media] is manipulating the people and making it a much larger issue than it is because among our youth they’re a lot more accepting of things that in my youth I didn’t accept,” Hodge said. Kierra Bussey can be reached at kierrajb@temple.edu.
LIVING temple-news.com
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
CLOTH E SLINE
PAGE 7
PROJ ECT
The biannual Clothesline Project kicks off on Main Campus on Wednesday, April 4, in an effort to raise awareness of interpersonal violence.
I
n my three years on Main Campus, I’ve come to notice, and eventually appreciate, how passionate our student body is. Students are at the Bell Tower, ALEXIS SACHDEV on Liacouras Walk, at LOVE Park and in Harrisburg, publicly demonstrating, protecting their beliefs and interests, wearing Temple’s “T”, getting arrested for the causes they believe in and, often, initiating change. The story is no different with the biannual Clothesline Project, hosted by the Health Education and Awareness Resource Team on Main Campus, April 4 and 5.
THE PROJECT
Started approximately 22 years ago in Cape Cod, Mass., the Clothesline Project is now an international movement with a humble vehicle: plain Tshirts. Participants select a T-shirt with the color corresponding to the type of abuse they are representing, and may decorate or destroy it as they please. Coordinators will then display the shirts on a public clothesline. “It acts as an educational tool for those who come to view the clothesline,” according to Clothesline Project’s website. “It becomes a healing tool for anyone who [makes] a shirt – by hanging the shirt on the line, [survivors], friends and family can literally turn their [backs] on some of that pain of their experience and walk away. Finally, it allows those who are still suffering in silence to understand that they are not alone.” “It’s all about honoring, memorializing or supporting victims of innerpersonal violence,” HEART program coordinator Kate Schaeffer said. “That’s any victim, any type of violence.” The color organization serves to identify the popularity of certain types of abuse. White represents someone who died at violent hands, yellow represents battered women, pink, red and orange designate survivors of sexual assault or
rape, blue and green represent survivors of incest and sexual abuse and purple represents GLBT-related violence. Black T-shirts are reserved for victims of political violence or war. HEART will reserve black shirts for men to create shirts to honor a woman or for men who have been abused themselves. Women may decorate black shirts for a man also, Schaeffer said. Main Campus has been participating in the Clothesline Project for several years. In past years, the Sexual Assault Counseling and Education peer program, a part of Tuttleman Counseling Services, hosted the event. HEART has been the main organizer since 2008. “It’s essentially a living piece of art that continues to grow as people make shirts to be hung on [the clothesline],” Schaeffer said.
THE SCOPE
According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, approximately one in every four women is a victim of domestic violence, and approximately 1.3 million women are victims of physical assault each year. Men accounted for 15 percent of the victims of intimate partner violence, according to the Domestic Violence Resource Center. Yet most of these crimes go unreported. According to the Project’s website, an estimated 500 projects are held nationally and internationally, with approximately 60,000 shirts and programs extending as far as Tanzania. Schaeffer said the clothesline on Main Campus has grown so large, it doubles the length of Liacouras Walk, in addition to “mini-clotheslines” hung in offices, residence halls and buildings. All shirts from past projects are hung each semester, but most shirts made during the event will not be hung, in the interest of protecting the designs while they’re wet, Schaeffer added. In the 2010-11 academic year, Schaeffer said approximately 32 participants created shirts for the project, in the two semesters it was held. In Fall 2011, approximately 44 people made shirts. “We surpassed the year prior in one semester,” Schaeffer said. “I feel [like] it’s only going to grow.” HEART has approximately 200 T-
shirts available, and will be providing paint and markers for those interested, however Schaeffer noted that participants may take their T-shirt home to work on it if they want to use their own materials.
THE EXPERIENCE
“It can be a very helpful tool in helping to process experiences of violence for yourself or others,” Schaeffer said. “We don’t conduct art therapy, so I won’t say this is art therapy, but people get to express themselves and get to put words and a visualization to their experience.” “And it also adds to Temple’s understanding of what we all experience collectively, as the line grows larger, as the colors get more diverse,” she added. Schaffer, who has seen participants design shirts and has decorated one herself, said the experience and the shirts are “moving and meaningful.” “I think that students get really passionate about it,” she said. “I think this is a really good opportunity for those students…who know people who have been in these situations and really want to express their own feelings around the anger or the hurt or the sadness that they’ve seen, or that they’ve experienced themselves.” After interviewing Schaeffer in the HEART office, I meekly asked if I could design a T-shirt. Despite the unbiased image I try to maintain, I came to the realization that we are all victims of or friends of victims of abuse, or abusers ourselves. The more people who come forth and speak on this topic, the more aware we become of this phenomenon. I sat down at a large table, surrounded with the physical representations of metaphoric healing. With a gold Puffy Paint bottle in hand, I sketched my story. After unintentionally painting the sleeves of the shirt I was wearing, getting paint in my hair and on my hands and crying several times, I walked out of the office with a new perspective. I literally walked away from pain. The symbolic “getting over,” “closure” or whatever we like to call “moving on” had happened. It was cathartic, it was emotional, it was real. Alexis Sachdev can be reached at asachdev@temple.edu.
STUDENT EXPO
The Temple News looks at the Annual Student Art Expo, and the structure on Tyler’s front lawn.
LIVING DESK 215-204-7418
CLOTHING CONTROVERSY
TTN columnist Brandon Baker discusses the hypocrisy behind the Trayvon Martin shooting.
NEXT WEEK
Illustration Joey Pasko
DESIGNER’S DOCUMENTARY
The Temple News will talk to Paul Sheriff, an associate professor in Tyler who’s making a documentary about his childhood.
LIVING@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
LIVING
PAGE 8
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
Former Occupy tent camps out on Tyler’s front lawn Alternative Knowledge Access, a structure built by junior painting major Amy Borch, sits on Tyler’s lawn. LUIS FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ Multimedia Editor When Alternative Knowledge Access was under construction in front of Tyler School of Art, some students weren’t sure what to make of it. Throughout any day, the space has students inside, sitting around in a circle or in a classroom set-up doing anything from meditating to listening to lectures on fracking. “I noticed [AKA] when they first started building it, and I thought it was going to be a work of art,” said Alex Goodhart, a sophomore music composition major. “When it was first in existence, it started out as a real classroom and I had no idea what was going on with it. I thought then that it was untouchable or that it was only for art students.” Starting out as a tent at Occupy Philadelphia as part of a class assignment, AKA provides an open forum for students to teach classes of their own, have discussions and learn with no limitations. “The assignment we were given was to work with a community that we feel connected with,” junior painting major Amy Borch said. Borch founded the space with classmate Elisa Mosely. “So Occupy Everywhere started and we didn’t really know what it was about, Occupy kind of knew what it was about and we wanted to go there to see why people were there and we wanted to go there to figure out why we were there. We wound up building a space to hold our class in there. We stopped using Tyler to go have class and we went
down to Occupy Philly, met with our professor, and vegetables and metals into fabric pieces, putstarted talking to people there and just started fig- ting the materials in a plastic bag for a month and uring out ways of connecting with people and the then seeing the results. ideas there and collaborating.” The classes and discussions held in AKA also After the end of Occupy Philadelphia’s phys- bring to light bigger concerns students have reical presence, AKA needed a new location. garding their education. “This semester when we were thinking about “Issues that came up are, people aren’t learnanother community to work with, we ing what they want to be learning inwanted to work with the one that we side the institution, inside traditionfelt closest to, so we came to Tyler al schooling models,” Borch said. and said we’re going to build it here, “Another thing was [that] people have this similar idea here,” Borch aren’t learning in ways they want to said. learn. They aren’t having intimate “We thought maybe we should classes, they aren’t connecting with recreate the tent we had at Occupy their teachers the way they want to, Philly, then we were saying, ‘No we they also don’t have any agency can’t rebuild that tent because it’s a over their schedule.” different environment and we have to AKA was only scheduled to adapt to it. So we wound up planning stay up until March 31, but a petiout a structure that didn’t look anytion went up on the outside of the thing [like it does now] when we first building to keep the space up longer. planned it out.” “If they leave it here it will be Built in one day, AKA instantly successful, I think,” junior vocal Sienna Martz / attracted a lot of curiosity. The space performance major Sage Dipalma junior sculpture major has been home to self-defense classsaid. es, meditations, discussions, compost “The structure’s solid, it’s holdand rust printing and jam sessions. ing up and it has the shelter from the Tyler roof “When I sit out here I constantly get asked so I think it should be something that should go by people walking by, ‘What is this? This is so longer than two weeks,” Martz said. “I think the cool,’” junior sculpture major Sienna Martz said. longer it’s up the more people will figure out what “It’s really fun to explain and how this is free it is and take advantage of it.” to the people, free to teach, free to love, free to AKA has support from not only students, but learn.” faculty as well. Martz taught a class on compost and rust “Faculty response has been extremely posiprinting, a form of dying fabric by mashing fruit tive,” Borch said. “It wasn’t just students having
“I think the longer it’s up, the more people will figure out what it is and take advantage of it.”
their own say wanting to do something, it was definitely a collaboration with faculty.” “Everyone who comes into this space builds upon it,” Borch added. “Whether they’re just in here or they contribute to the art or they helped build pieces of it, or they helped teach or even participated in classes.” While the future of AKA may not be guaranteed, like other social movements, the idea may live on. Luis Fernando Rodriguez may be reached at luis.fernando@temple.edu.
Find Multimedia Online
Watch an interview with AKA founder Amy Borch.
Tyler students exhibit sketches, sculptures The Annual Student Art Exposition ended on March 31, which gave students the opportunity to exhibit their creativity and development. JOHN MORITZ The Temple News The paintings on the wall depict friendly faces, multicolored designs and the symbols of social movements from Kony 2012 to the DREAM Act. Tapestries and brightly colored sheets hang from the walls outside the glow of the furnaces in the glass room. Along the ceiling-high windows facing the courtyard, glass boxes encase pieces of jewelry made from glass, metal and ceramics. In one brightly light alcove, stacked crates hold the contents of a student’s life: dozens of jeans, sweaters, books and shampoo bottles. From abstract to realist, these pieces were all part of Tyler School of Art’s Annual Student Art Exposition, held from March 19 to 31, to showcase student creativity and development. This year’s exposition featured dozens of pieces displayed throughout the north hall, as well as multiple site-specific installations. The purpose of the exposition was to display samples from every area within Tyler, which in-
cludes glass, jewelry, fibers, painting, sculpture and art history. Pieces included a glass head that spewed out a length of rope coiled around the floor, a pipe sculpture extending from the wall, paintings done on glass, abstract humanoid sculptures and paintings that reflect both Philadelphia and American culture. “We tried to treat it like a snapshot of Tyler,” said Robert Blackson, director of Exhibitions and Public Programs for Tyler. “We looked at all the student numbers from each of the different areas, and made a proportional quota.” In addition to the pieces displayed on the walls of Tyler, seven site-specific installations were designed and built by students to take advantage of space within Tyler for the purpose of housing larger creative pieces. “This was an initiative of the faculty to try to consider all the various nooks and crannies of the building,” Blackson said. “We are still growing into this building.” Of the site-specific installations, by far the
most popular, has been the AKA, the self-proclaimed “Two-week open forum for an exchange of ideas an knowledge” housed in a plywood structure on Tyler’s front lawn. Other site-specific installations take up space in the halls and back courtyard of Tyler. One of these, titled “TerraForma,” is a large sculpture in the courtyard built out of layers of rebar, pottery, earth and grass. Another is a small-scale sculpture of a mountain rising from the floor of Tyler’s main hallway. The selection of pieces for the exhibition began last spring, when the office of exhibitions began contacting professors to look for pieces to be entered. Blackson said Tyler faculty selected which pieces would go into the show. Professors placed emphasis on student work that had developed with time. “We spoke with the faculty about selecting work coming from their years of students,” Blackson said. For students in Tyler, the annual exposition
offers the chance to get their work seen outside of the classroom. Blackson added that the exposition was meant to connect Tyler students with each other, and to the greater university and city community. “The intention of the exposition is to give a public face to everything that is produced at Tyler,” Blackson said. “It’s about trying to open up the doors to Tyler as wide as possible so that all members of the public...[are] equally valuable to opening the doors and sending invitations to the people of Philadelphia, which we have as part of this exhibition.” Tyler also holds yearlong exhibitions inside the main gallery, as well as in galleries on the lower floors. John Moritz can be reached at john.moritz@temple.edu.
LUIS FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ TTN
(Left) The Alternative Knowledge Access tent was built by Amy Borch during the Occupy movement, but later found a home on Tyler’s lawn.(Right) Borch, junior painting major, sits in AKA.
ARTS&ENTERTAINMENT temple-news.com
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
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Space incorporates art and Judaism The Kugel Collaborative on South Street provides a space for Jewish art students. and offers arts programming, community service opportunities, classes, holiday celebrations and weekly Shabbat meals. “Chabad” is an acronym of three abbi Daniel Grodnitzky noHebrew letters that mean wisdom, underticed that while Jewish stustanding and knowledge. These are three dents who attend Drexel, spiritual spheres that are explained in the Temple and University of Torah and Jewish Pennsylvania had access to mystical teachings. Jewish student centers to keep “We’re just anin touch with their Jewish culother part of that ture and heritage, there was network of reaching no location offered to Jewish out to young Jews students attending art schools. who are studying He noted schools including at college and need University of the Arts and the access to their JewMoore College of Art as lackish heritage,” Groding these resources, and said nitzky said. “For us, he wanted to resolve this issue. we’re happy to be in “For us, it became an exPhiladelphia. There citing opportunity to work are all these art with these young Jewish artists Daniel Grodnitzky / schools that didn’t who are themselves, as artists, rabbi, chabad house of the arts have any Jewish life searching for something with happenings.” meaning already, trying to look In February of this year, Grodnitzthrough the facade of reality and bring out ky and the Chabad House opened an art something deeper through their artwork,” space of their own. The new space that Grodnitzky said. “That’s really the whole opened Feb. 8, now known as the Kugel idea of Judaism.” Collaborative is located at 1544 South St. Grodnitzky runs the Chabad House From the beginning, there were risks of the Arts – a nonprofit that seeks to and a lot of faith, Grodnitzky said. bring art students together through their “I signed the lease two weeks before Jewish faith and their artistic mediums, we moved in, the space wasn’t even fin-
LUIS FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ The Temple News
R
LUIS FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ TTN
A sculpture by University of the Arts student Aimee Goldsmith sits in the Kugel Collaborative, a gallery on South Street.
“As artists, [they’re] searching for something with meaning already, trying to look through the facade of reality.”
ished renovating, and then we were going to have our first reception four days after we moved in, and we didn’t even know if the place was going to be finished being built yet,” Grodnitzky said. “We were just like, it’s going to happen.” The location was chosen because it is close to Grodnitzky’s home, but also because of its central location to Philadelphia’s art schools, especially University of the Arts. “We picked a spot that was centrally located to the art schools but a little closer to University of the Arts because it has the largest [Jewish] student population,” Grodnitzky said. The first floor of the gallery is themed, often connected to the month’s Jewish holiday. This month, the theme is Purim, a Jewish holiday that celebrates the salvation of the Jewish people by Queen Esther. The new theme opening on April 22, will be Passover, which commemorates the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt. “It’s not normal for a gallery to switch exhibitions every month – we want to do everything different than other galleries,” Grodnitzky said. “We’re a nonprofit. We’re not here to make money, we’re not here to gain commission, we’re
KUGEL PAGE 11
CANDLELIGHT VIGIL AND OPEN MIC FOR TRAYVON MARTIN
(Top) Candles were lit at 7:17 p.m., the time that Trayvon Martin was shot on Feb. 26. (Bottom Left) Attendees gather at LOVE park on Monday, March 26 for a candlelight vigil and open mic, and to protest the killing of Trayvon Martin. (Bottom Right) Criminal defense attorney and Temple professor Michael Coard encourages the crowd: “A wise person once said, ‘If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything. Let us stand for something. Let us stand our ground,” he continued, referencing the words of Malcolm X.
DIGITAL SOUNDS
DJ Pixel8ter discusses the developing electronic music scene and what makes his performances distinct.
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Macy’s at 13th and Market streets fills its store with flowers and other plants as part of its Gardens in Paradise show.
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CHRIS MONTGOMERY TTN
RITTENHOUSE HOP The Temple News joins swing dance enthusiasts in Rittenhouse Square for a weekly dance party.
ARTSandENTERTAINMENT@TEMPLE-NEWS.COM
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COLOR PAGE SITE SEEING: REDISCOVER PUBLIC ART THIS SPRING APRIL 5 - 29 VARIOUS TIMES VARIOUS LOCATIONS FREE MUSEUMWITHOUTWALLSAUDIO.ORG Having more public art than any city in the U.S., Philadelphia has pledged its dedication to arts funding and events. This month, the Fairmount Park Art Association hosts a month-long celebration of the many public art installations throughout the city, from the LOVE sculpture in JFK Plaza to the Swann Memorial Fountain in Logan Circle. The celebration kicks off on Thursday, April 5 with An Evening of Tango at the Swann Memorial Fountain at 5:30 p.m. Attendees are invited to join local dancers and musicians for a free and public tango dance party. There will be live music, costume contests, dance lessons and Latininspired food and drinks in the Swann Lounge at the Four Seasons Hotel. The rest of the month consists of events including the Sculpture Flash Mob on April 25 at 8:30 p.m. at the “Iroquois” sculpture near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The Art Association will shut off the sculpture’s lights to encourage flash-mobbers to illuminate the sculpture on their own with flashlights for a new light performance.
Despite not being punk, indie rock or post-hardcore, Cursive’s sweet sound brings organs and pianos into the usual instrumental mix. Though Tim Kasher and his men have been on the scene since 1995 they took a hiatus in 1998, but have been back on since 1999. “I Am Gemini,” Cursive’s most recent album released in February, isn’t by any means the group’s strongest album musically, but tells the story of Cassius and Pollock, twin brothers who were separated at birth. Don’t let this deter you, though. Every Cursive album is arranged by some thematic measure, and are worth a listen. There’s no telling what Kasher and his crew will be playing on Thursday, April 5 but after nearly a decade of not touring, Philly should be happy to have them.
SOME OF MY LIVES: A SCRAPBOOK MEMOIR TUESDAY, APRIL 3 7:30 P.M $7-$15 FREE LIBRARY OF PHILADELPHIA 1901 VINE ST. FREELIBRARY.ORG Philadelphia-native Rosamond Bernier returns home after an illustrious career and glamorous life. After graduating from Sarah Lawrence College, Bernier moved to Mexico, flew planes and maintained a small private zoo. After World War II, she moved to France, where she worked as the Features editor at “VOGUE” magazine, befriended the artists of her era, including Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso, and eventually founded “L’Oeil,” a French art magazine, in 1955. In the 1970s, Bernier moved back to the U.S., where her wellknown role as a lecturer was born and cultivated. After giving more than 200 lectures at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, her influence and importance in the art realm was solidified. She’s a lifetime member of the International Best Dressed List, was named a Fellow for Life by the National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts in 1998 and was named a National Treasure by the Municipal Art Society of New York in 2004. Bernier, 95, presents her book, “Some of My Life: A Scrapbook Memior,” tonight, April 3 at the Free Library of Philadelphia. The book tells in detail her life story, experiences, successes and struggles, culminating with a vivacious and unforgettable legacy. -Alexis Sachdev
Hoot Coture
Project set to boost fashion-based economy
MARK LONGACRE
The Philadelphia Fashion Incubator comes to fruition after two years of planning, as students work beside established designers.
D
CURSIVE THURSDAY, APRIL 5 8 P.M. $15 UNION TRANSFER 1026 SPRING GARDEN ST. UTPHILLY.COM
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
uring the past several years, the Philly fashion scene has blossomed into a thriving organism. With events like Philly Fashion Week, boutiques opening throughout the city, and designers including Carmelita Couture working directly out of Philly, the city is on the road to becoming a fashion destination. With several renowned fashion design schools in the city, and countless others in the surrounding area, Philly needs to foster the talented designers who are educated here. To do so, the city of Philadelphia, Macy’s and several other organizations joined forces to create the Philadelphia Fashion Incubator, which got its start two years ago. “I feel something amazing is happening in the city, and I’m so happy to be [one of] the first,” said Autumn Kietponglert, the Drexel graduate chosen to participate in the Incubator. “[The fashion industry] is emerging, it’s becoming. It’s growing, and the beginning is always the most interesting part.” Essentially, the program is designed to educate recently graduated design students on how to interact with media, mass market their clothing lines and do so using a solid business plan. Each of the three main Philadelphia design schools, Drexel University, Philadelphia University and Moore College of Art and Design nominated a recent graduate. There was also a “wild card” spot available for a designer in the tri-state area, who is given the same opportunity as a college graduate, without the degree requirement. After a rigorous two-month interview process, the president of Macy’s and Mayor Michael Nutter announced Drexel’s Kietponglert, Moore College’s alumna Melissa D’Agostino, Philadelphia University’s nominee Kaitlyn Doherty and wildcards Latifat Obajinmi and Mo-
riamo Johnson as the inaugural Philadelphia Fashion Incubator class of 2013. Doherty said that after graduating, she didn’t feel able to run her own business. “I started a handbag line in the summer, but I’ve never had any business experience,” Doherty said. “I’m hoping to have a business running [after the Incubator].” Doherty, like many other design students, must face the reality of attempting to create a business model while still creating a line for each season, which could prove incredibly difficult without help from experienced people in the industry. Although the class has only been working for a month or so, they’ve already worked with experienced fashion designers. Kietponglert said that the Philadelphia-based label Nicole Miller invited them to visit its retail and wholesale operations. “Normally you have to go to people, but we have people coming to us,” Kietponglert said. In talking to the designers, I was very surprised that so many fashion and industry experts were willing to donate their time to help the program, but I failed to realize the economic impact the fashion incubator will have on the city. Although we have many national clothing brands on Chestnut Street, we don’t have a one-stop shopping area for Philadelphia boutiques because they’re scattered throughout the city. “We took on the idea of marketing Center City to the retail industry,” Philadelphia Fashion Incubator board member and Temple alumna, Michelle Shannon, said. “Our brokers and retailers felt that outside of the immediate area, Philadelphia had an outdated area in the retail industry – people still thought of us as a blue collar market, not sophisticated.” Using the incubator as a catalyst, Shannon plans to re-market the city as a manufacturing and retail destination. Philadelphia has potential to be a great fashion city not only because of its proximity to New York, but also its history of apparel manufacturing. In the 1980s, many clothing manufacturing operations based in Philly moved overseas due to the rising cost of domestic apparel manufacturing. However, rising fuel prices and an increased popularity of the “Made in America” movement is slowly bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. “We’re seeing more things coming back to the U.S. [be-
cause] it’s not as effective to produce [things] overseas as it used to be, and [when manufacturing overseas] the designers lose control,” Shannon said. “I would like to see artisanal manufacturing come back to Philadelphia in the apparel industry. It’s good all around for businesses, jobs, the environment and designers.” When manufacturing overseas, designers must place bulk orders, sometimes ordering more products than necessary. A department store buyer may only order a handful of outfits to place in select stores, which means the designer is stuck with overstock. “[When manufacturing in Philadelphia,] you can almost manufacture to fill orders as they come in,” Shannon said. “Designers lose less because they aren’t eating all this stuff they can’t sell.” Although manufacturing clothing locally benefits the designer because they have more control, there will be a serious trickle-down effect in other industries as well. Each new designer will need a retail space or showroom, a marketing team, a manufacturing team and a host of other employees, all of which would keep money circulating through the city. After considering the extreme economic impact the incubator program could have on the city, I was incredibly excited about how the fashion industry could so positively affect Philly’s economy. Even though the program is set to foster design talent, it could actually grow Philly’s economy as a whole. Mark Longacre can be reached at mark.longacre@temple.edu.
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MARK LONGACRE TTN Designers, city representatives and Macy’s executives gather for the March 1 fashion incubator ribbon cutting.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
PAGE 11
HandMeg
Springtime crafts organize ordinary objects
MEGHAN WHITE
Columnist Meghan White suggests breaking up monotonous spring cleaning with some crafting.
T
he weather is getting nicer and everyone is heading outside, but that is no excuse for not doing some spring cleaning and decorating. While I am all for seasonal or holiday-based décor, I do like things that look nice whatever time of year it is. So I sought out some seasonally appropriate crafts that would not only make your place look rad, but also offer some twists on storage solutions. After all, no one should spend the last bit of the semester in a boring pigsty. The first craft is a dyed mason jar. The process makes an ordinary mason jar look like antique if you opt to dye it a bluegreen, but you can dye it any color you want. Keep in mind that once dyed, you cannot eat or drink out of the jar and it also cannot hold water. The glue that binds the dye to the jar will dissolve, and probably turn into a gross goo. And while I used Matte Mod Podge, I would recommend gloss for the best effect. I personally use this jar to hold quarters for laundry, but it can be used for anything your heart desires – minus food and drink. I figured I should reiterate that so no one gets poisoned.
DYED MASON JAR SUPPLIES:
- Food coloring
- 1 teaspoon Mod Podge - 1 teaspoon water - Mason jar - Wax paper - Baking sheet - Oven
STEPS:
1. Preheat oven to 200 degrees. 2. Mix Mod Podge and water with fives drops of your choice of food coloring in a bowl. Stir well so the color is evenly distributed and there are no clumps of Mod Podge. 3. Pour colored solution into a clean mason jar. 4. Swirl around until the entire inside of the jar is coated, then empty excess into bowl. 5. Place jar upside down on wax paper on a baking sheet, let the excess colored solution drain for 10 minutes. 6. After draining, move the mason jar to a clean piece of wax paper and bake for approximately 10 minutes. 7. Using oven mitts, remove the tray and mason jar from the oven. Set the mason jar upright and continue to bake until the glue has dried and there are no streaks on the jar. Use the finished product to store whatever you like, or hold silk flowers. The second craft is also an organization-based decorative craft. It is a simple way to decorate the charging cable for your
cell phone or iPod, and it is supposed to prevent the cable from becoming tangled. While it requires only three supplies, it is surprisingly time consuming. And frankly, I probably would not do this again. I wound up with a sore and swollen finger, which may or may not result in a blister. But I can tell you one thing, it is making it difficult to type.
do it right. 5. Once you have reached the other end of the cable, knot the rest of the embroidery floss twice to secure. Braid a section of the excess floss so you can secure the cable in a coil. 6. Enjoy the fact that your cable probably will not get tangled anymore and consider icing your finger. And if you do this and your fingers did not get sore, consider telling me your secret. IPOD CABLE CASE The final craft is purely SUPPLIES: decorative, but perfect for the - Charging cable warmer weather or for any fan- Four colors of embroidery cy parties you may be having. I floss made coffee filter pom-poms for - Scissors a friend’s engagement party just STEPS: as a little something that would 1. Cut four colors of em- be pretty and interesting to look broidery floss approximately at. They’re great because they do four times the length of the cable not take that long to make and you plan to wrap. when made with a friend or two, 2. Starting at one end of the you can whip up a bunch of them cable, knot the four lengths of in a short time. embroidery floss to secure. COFFEE FILTER POM-POMS 3. Begin wrapping the floss around the cable, securing the SUPPLIES: - Coffee filters – a lot of extra length from the knot under them the wrapping. Try to keep the - Stiff paper or cardboard – wrap as flat as possible. Make I used index cards but sure you are wrapping the emsomething a bit thicker broidery floss tight or it will start would be preferable to come unraveled. - Staples 4. Continue wrapping for - Scissors the length of the cable. And seri- Hole puncher ously, keep the embroidery floss - Yarn, thread or ribbon as taut as possible for the entire - Glue length of the cable. It may make your fingers sore, but if you are going to do it, you might as well
ters as you can into quarters. 2. Staple each filter to secure, somewhere around the center of the flat part that would be the bottom part if it were holding coffee. 3. Make a few 2-inch diameter circles on your cardboard and cut out. 4. Punch a hole toward the outside of each circle. 5. String yarn or ribbon through the hole so you can hang your pom-pom later. 6. Starting on one side of the circle of cardboard, attach the folded coffee filters with the point facing the center of the circle. 7. Continue attaching coffee filters while working your way toward the center. Eventually they will start poofing out. 8. Wait approximately 30 minutes for the glue to set. 9. Flip the pom-pom over and repeat the process on the opposite side. Be delicate here, you do not want to smush all of the hard work you just did on the first side. 10. Wait at least 30 minutes for the glue to dry before hanging – or, wait as long as you can for the glue to dry. The drier the glue, the less of the risk of the pom-poms falling apart. 11. Fluff if necessary and hang.
STEPS:
Meghan White can be reached at meghan.white@temple.edu.
1. Fold as many coffee fil-
MEGHAN WHITE TTN
Gallery provides space for student artists KUGEL PAGE 9 here to provide Jewish life to our students and help them get their work out there and help promote Jewish teaching in the greater community of Philadelphia.” The basement of the gallery is more of an open forum. A semi-permanent gallery with no theme, it is still just student work, with no necessary connection to Judaism. Throughout the two floors there is a mix of sculptures, paintings, jewelry photography, sketching and other kinds of artwork giving a wide variety of genres to visi-
tors.
“Being an artist myself, I was a musician growing up, before I became religious and a rabbi and took on the whole beard and everything,” Grodnitzky said. “I think it’s exciting – the idea of Jewish arts, it’s an idea that’s been developing the last couple of decades – and art being able to reflect spiritual teachings in Judaism.” Grodnitzky and his wife, Reuvena Grodnitzky, met while attending Oberlin College in Ohio. There, they both became more religious and together
grew closer to their Jewish heritage. “I didn’t grow up religious, I didn’t think it was cool, but now that I’m a rabbi, I think Judaism is really cool and I want to just share that with students, how fun it is to do things in a Jewish way,” Daniel Grodnitzky said. “My wife and I actually grew up in the area, and we heard about these art schools that didn’t have Jewish life,” Grodnitzky said. “There’s no Hillel, there’s no Chabad, there’s no organized Jewish
center for the art students so we came here really just because we felt the void, we felt the need to provide Jewish life to the art students.” “In that sense we would have gone wherever there was a need for Jewish life,” he added. Besides a third child on the way, Grodnitzky has a lot to look forward to. He plans to expand across artistic mediums to reach more Jewish students. Already having had a jazz performance and a fashion show, he hopes to next reach out to theater and film students.
“If you build it they will come, that’s kind of been our philosophy that we just wanted to do it,” Grodnitzky said. “I don’t know if we’re ready for it both in terms of financially or in terms of having developed enough relationships with students. We just have to meet students, they have to get involved
and that takes time.” “We’re just a very small thing happening but we’re connected with about 200 Jewish artists throughout the various schools and based on that we can pull it off,” he added. Luis Fernando Rodriguez can be reached at luis.fernando@temple. edu.
Find Multimedia Online For more from Daniel Grodnitzky and to check out some of the gallery’s art,
LUIS FERNANDO RODRIGUEZ TTN
Rabbi Daniel Grodnitzky stands in front of the Kugel Gallery. The gallery opened on South Street in February.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
Flowers provide backdrop for shoppers
Macy’s Gardens in Paradise flower show fills the store at 13th and Market streets with palm trees and more than 1,000 flowers. DANIELLE MIESS The Temple News Between rows of shoes and jewelry in Center City’s Macy’s department store, at 13th and Market streets, is an unexpected tropical oasis. Thousands of flowers, 25foot palm trees and other foliage, from as far away as Hawaii and South America, are designed to make customers feel as though they have stepped out of the shoe department and into a tropical rainforest in Brazil. Although not as big as the Philadelphia International Flower Show, which followed its own tropical, Hawaiian theme this year, the Macy’s Gardens in Paradise Flower Show stands out in its own way, said Macy’s senior manager Maurice O’Connell. “[People are] coming into this wonderful public space and getting an incredible show,” O’Connell said. “They’re seeing 100 different orchids, and color and materials that are so vibrant.” A 9-foot tall toucan is the centerpiece of the exhibit, decorated with thousands of dyed Brazilian button flowers, leaves and other organic materials. It stands over the plants as visitors pose for pictures. In addition, mannequins
decorated in festive clothing are seen throughout the exhibit. The mannequins are designed in celebration of the Brazilian tradition of Carnival – or a public celebration before Lent – known in America as Mardi Gras. The tradition often involves masquerades and bright colors, and the mannequins follow suit. “Horticulturists will be impressed,” O’Connor said. “But even if you’re not one, you’re not going to see material like this any place else.” “This stuff is brought in all over the world, you’re not going to see a 9-foot tall planted toucan anyplace else, you’re not going to see palm trees in Philadelphia like this,” he added. Although it is the fourth year of the Macy’s flower show, similar flower shows also take place in New York City, Chicago, Minneapolis and San Francisco stores. However, each exhibit is interpreted differently according to the space setup and the landscapers who create it. Planning began in June for this year’s exhibit, and O’Connell said the scale of the Philadelphia show is the biggest yet for the city. “There’s a lot of tradition in doing flower shows in retail,” he said. “We’ve been doing shows for 38 years in Herald Square [in New York City].”
“We want the customer to know its spring and give them a great experience – it’s the same as having Santa Claus and the light show during Christmas,” he added. Shopper Michelle Small said that in addition to enjoying the beauty of the exhibit, the real treasure is in the inspiration the flowers bring. “The show is for people who enjoy color and what flowers have to offer,” Small said. “The exhibit is just beautiful.” The show remains open during store hours until April 7, with 15-minute guided tours available each day. Danielle Miess can be reached at danielle.miess@temple.edu.
MATT FLOCCO TTN
Macy’s at 13th and Market streets hosts an annual flower show each spring. This year’s show is open for viewing during normal store hours through April 7.
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
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LIVING
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Columnist suggests greener grocery shopping practices
W
GREEN SPACE
hen I relinquished t h e comfort of a meal plan, and purchasing and preparing food became my responsibility, I began a strict diet of food packaged in a box or items that could be MARISA STEINBERG thrown on my George Columnist Foreman Grill. Marisa Steinberg The closest I got to “freshly made” discusses more was thawing the thin, eco-friendly ways squashed slices of to shop for food, Richfood wheat bread with a lower from my environmental f r e e z e r, p u r impact. chased during the Fresh Grocer’s last buy one, get one sale. I was aware that my food shopping habits could be greener – having my 99 cent “product of India” cookies shipped to the grocery store probably wasn’t the eco-friendliest choice. But, it seemed such sacrifices had to be made when hitting the market with $10 in your pocket. Recently, while watching the freezer burn melt off a Celeste For One pizza, I decided that Mother Nature and I needed a break from this. Now, ideally to have the smallest impact, I would grow my own food, be completely self-sustaining and eliminate the need for meals to be shipped to me. However, my apartment doesn’t even allow for windowsill flower boxes, let alone a tomato garden in the courtyard, so I knew I’d have to rely on local producers. After doing some research, I realized I could fill up my reusable shopping bag with local and organic goods for just a little more money than I had spent on frozen feasts. Consuming an average of 10 grilled cheese sandwiches a week, I always have bread at the top of my shopping list. As much as I would love to grace my George Foreman with fresh artisan breads, I can’t swing $4 a loaf right now. Fortunately, several local bakers offer substantial discounts on day-old baked goods.
To increase your vegetable intake beyond the slivers of onions on those irresistibly cheap frozen pizzas, pay a visit to local farmers’ markets and community gardens.
TEENS 4 GOOD EIGHTH AND POPLAR STREETS
Teens 4 Good, a local youth engagement program that turns vacant lots into urban farms, will be holding its first farmers’ market on April 26 at the farm on Eighth and Poplar streets. Expect everything from kale to tomatoes at affordable prices.
FAIR FOOD FARMSTAND READING TERMINAL MARKET
For local organic goods all year, the Fair Food Farmstand in Reading Terminal Market is a great choice. Sourcing its produce from more than 90 sustainable farmers from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, this vendor will make you question how you ever convinced your taste buds to be satisfied with anything less than farm fresh. If locally sourced produce is still out of your budget, be sure to only buy what’s in season instead of fruits and vegetables that had to be shipped from different countries and climates. No matter where your food comes from, you can at least enjoy it sustainably by packing your lunch in a reusable bag. Save money on sandwich bags by reusing ones that held mess-free snacks like cereal. You can even reuse an empty cereal bag or snack bag in your cabinet and secure your food with a twisty tie. Keep a reusable water bottle stashed in your book bag and you’ve got yourself a cheap, green meal. If you feel like taking a break from bringing a prepared lunch to Main Campus – even if that means scooping pretzels into a bag – stay eco-friendly by eating out at restaurants looking to decrease their environmental impact. Hit up sustainability standby the Sexy Green Truck for organic and local dishes. Newcomer to the Main Campus truck community, Yumtown also serves up unconventional menu items with ingredients from nearby organic farms. When that shocking day arrives when you can’t rely on Johnson and Hardwick cafeteria for breakfast, lunch and dinner, don’t revert to the dollar aisle of the Fresh Grocer. Although these eating habits won’t completely eliminate your environmental impact in regards to grub, they are little ways to decrease it and maybe save you some money in the process.
“While watching the freezer burn melt off a Celeste For One pizza, I decided that Mother Nature and I needed a break from this.”
THE MARKET BAKERY READING TERMINAL MARKET
The Market Bakery sells yesterday’s loaves for 30 percent off. If you head straight to Fresh Grocer’s bakery section, you’ll find a cart filled with discounted items that popped out of the oven the day before. I’ve scored bags of a dozen bagels, loaves of French bread and bunches of mini baguettes all for 99 cents a package. For the best selection, head there on a weekday afternoon.
Marisa Steinberg can be reached at marisa.steinberg@temple.edu.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
SEAN CARLIN Assistant News Editor Philosophy professor Lewis Gordon, Ph.D. has been an authority on race relations for the better part of the past two decades. After receiving his Ph.D. from Yale University in 1993, Gordon taught at Brown University, Purdue University and Yale, before joining Temple in 2004. In addition to his time as a philosophy professor, Gordon is also the director of both the Center for AfroJewish Studies and the Institute for the Study of Race and Human Thought. Gordon recently spoke out about the controversial killing of Trayvon Martin in Florida, and The Temple News caught up with him to get his opinion on the murder and the significance the incident has for the nation as a whole. The Temple News: What does your research and work focus on? Lewis Gordon: My research work focuses on the complexity of understanding human beings and how that understanding relates to our overall understanding of knowledge.
Courtesy Lehman College
TTN: You talk about understanding how we are as a people, what got you into that field of study? LG: It actually goes all the way back to before I went to graduate school. I created a school in New York for kids nobody wanted to teach and I noticed that the students were supposed to be very difficult. I was told that if my program was 10 percent successful, then it was a successful program. But we were 85 percent successful. One of the reasons we were so successful was that we really respected and enlarged the humanity of our students. So I became interested in the question of human potential and when I went to graduate school I decided to focus on that question.
Are You The Next Editor in Chief of The Temple News?
The Temple News, Temple University’s award-winning student newspaper, is looking for an editor in chief for the 2012-13 academic year. Candidates must be currently enrolled, matriculated Temple University students who, if chosen as editor, will be registered for at least nine (9) hours of undergraduate course work or five (5) hours of graduate work during their entire term of office.
A good candidate should demonstrate strong leadership ability and proven managerial skills with prior experience in publications. A candidate’s experience in the business, editorial and design aspects of newspaper publishing will be a factor in the selection of the editor.
Applications are due Monday, April 16.
TTN: What do you think this incident says about the country as a whole? Is it an isolated incident or something that has happened across the country? LG: What it tells me about the nation as a whole is that [we see it in] the criminal justice system in which a lot of black people are in prison for crimes they didn’t commit or through the [conviction] of many minor crimes that many whites do not get convicted for daily. It’s a reflection of a country that doesn’t value the life of its black citizens, that’s what it tells me. TTN: What can students and people on Main Campus do to bring this incident to light? LG: I think what’s different today is that a lot of the outcry on Facebook and the Internet and in protests, are happening by white and brown and whatever color you would like, citizens and students. The national outcry has been commendable. I think students should continue doing what they’re doing, become informed and articulate their focus about this.
TTN: You recently spoke out about the Trayvon Martin shooting. What are your feelings on the incident? LG: The first thing is that I won’t say they’re feelings, one of the big problems and the trap about how we talk about racism at its face is that we tend to put it in the language of feelings, which oversuggestivizes it. There are times when certain situations are truly racist activities. What it does is undermine the value of the people who are victimized or oppressed by racist activities. When people were lynched, it wasn’t a feeling it was a reality.
DR. LEWIS GORDON
Contact Student Media Program Director John Di Carlo at john.dicarlo@temple.edu to obtain an application. Candidates should submit a completed copy of the proposal packet, two letters of recommendation, a current resume and a number of writing samples to the Office of Student Media in Room 304 of the Student Center
Similarly, this is a lynching. This individual accosted this young man. What’s not often paid attention to is that Trayvon Martin is 17 years old. If you’re 17 years old walking at night and you have a man following you, you don’t know if he’s a molester, a mugger or whatever. So, the only person defending himself was Trayvon Martin. We know the scenario would have been different if those police showed up and there’s a black guy standing over a white teenage boy. One of the things that’s complicated there is that some people don’t understand is the distinction between white supremacy and anti-black racism. One could reject white supremacy and be an anti-black racist. As we know, within other racial groups, for instance, Asian-Americans or Latinos or even the Native Americans, there are antiblack racists.
Sean Carlin can be reached at sean.carlin@temple.edu.
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LIVING
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
PAGE 17
Trayvon Martin case exposes hypocrisy of “free speech”
I
QCHAT
need to stop weari n g hoodies. Famous Fox News talk show host, and quite possibly the only BRANDON BAKER thing (once) Columnist attractive about the Brandon Baker c o n s e r v adiscusses the tive news bigoted mindset network, surrounding the has at last Trayvon Martin s h o v e d his mustacase. chioed head farther up his butt than even republican presidential candidate Rick Santorum can muster. “I think the hoodie is as much responsible for Trayvon Martin’s death as George Zimmerman was,” Geraldo Rivera said on the morning show “Fox and Friends.” To clue in the five people who remain blissfully unaware, Trayvon
Martin was gunned down by George Zimmerman, a self-declared “neighborhood watch officer,” in a Florida community after being spotted holding oh-so-dangerous weapons: an Arizona iced tea and – wait for it – a bag of Skittles. But worse yet, the deviant was wearing a hoodie. You know, that foul, criminal article of clothing we’ve all been forewarned about wearing in public at the risk of being confused for a ghetto criminal about to embark on a shooting spree. Employing such a description, every Temple student trudging to the TECH Center in the middle of the night would – and according to people like Zimmerman and Rivera, should – be considered a thug. Can you imagine if Temple or Philadelphia law enforcement operated under this kind of blind ideology? I understand where Rivera was going with his argument, but I also understand how absolutely absurd the idea is. By such logic, where do we draw the line on blaming others for blatant acts of bias? Is a raped female responsible for her assault because her skirt was a little too short? Is a drag queen responsible for being beaten because
her bloated boobs were a little too obnoxious? The Martin case gets to the core of a fundamental problem that persists all across America, in its urban centers, its rural communities, and yes, even places like Temple. The people of this naïve nation need to wake up and realize one very important thing: This is not a postbigot society. When Michelle Bachmann was approached by the fabulous comedian Kathy Griffin last year and was asked if she was born a bigot, her response was simple: “Hm, I’ll have to think about that one.” Meanwhile, public figures like Sarah Palin, by comparison, outright reject accusations of bigotry by exclaiming the classic and incredibly eyeroll inducing, “But I have gay friends” line. The obvious problem with this is, of course, that Palin probably doesn’t have gay friends. The deeper problem, is that even if she did have gay friends, that doesn’t mean she’s not a bigot. I come from a town where it’s popular to boast Bachmann-ism and to outright say you don’t like gay people. And honestly, I kind of prefer that in-
stead of the veiled bigotry of certain people I’ve encountered in populous cities like Philadelphia. In some neighborhoods of Philly, the proclamation of “I’m not a bigot” in a conversation typically translates to, “I’m extremely bigoted.” And if you dare imply otherwise, you are somehow the bigot for even bringing up the subject. Alas, it’s now impossible to even talk about bigotry and racism without being a part of the problem. Rivera doesn’t want to talk about the obvious. He’d rather talk about how those dog-gone kids these days are wearing those silly hoodies and sporting jeans that rest well below their bottoms. How do you fix a problem if it can’t even be discussed? Think about it, folks. Even here in the safe haven of Main Campus, veiled bias is everywhere you look. My fellow male friends, why do you think you’re charged more to get into a frat party than a girl is? I won’t even get started on the looks received upon entering most frat parties as a gay man. And I can’t recall the last time I observed a class discussion on marriage equality where there wasn’t an awkward silence
– a silence that speaks much louder than any arguments actually put forth. It seems to me that bigotry is falsely promoted by those on the other side of the aisle as “free speech.” But at what point does free speech become hate speech? Is Zimmerman merely expressing his right to speak his mind when he’s holding a gun and whispering a racial profanity? Is Dharun Ravi to be considered a documenter of history by recording Tyler Clementi having sex in his dorm room? The line needs to be drawn somewhere, because the illusion presently existing in a world where society embraces minorities is more hurtful and progress-halting than any direct act of bigotry could ever be. As unfortunate as Martin’s death is, it can at least be said that he – if inadvertently – died as a martyr. I don’t like that he allegedly had his life taken for such hateful reasons, but I do appreciate that the nation finally has a modern example to point to that bigotry is alive and well. Brandon Baker can be reached at brandon.baker@temple.edu.
Main Campus pulls the plug on electricity for Earth Hour On Saturday, March 31, residential life hosted the annual Earth Hour to raise awareness for energy conservation across the world. JAMAL ROBINSON ALEXIS SACHDEV The Temple News Who knew that dancing in the dark could be a sustainable activity? Temple’s residential life staff did, hosting their “Do it in the Dark: Lights out for Earth Hour” event last Saturday, March 31. Earth Hour is an internationally designated time when people across the world turn off their lights for one hour in an effort to reduce their environmental impact, draw attention to environmental issues and bring people together to do something that’s good for the world. Residential life staff got students involved by inviting them out for a night of free food and live music while encouraging sustainable practices. “This is the second year that the residential life green team has observed Earth Hour at Temple,” Sustainability Ambassador Jim Poole said. “Last year, we held an event in the courtyard at 1940 [Residence Hall] that limited participation to students who lived in 1940. This year, we decided to move it out into a more public place, the Founder’s Garden, so more students could participate.” Poole said approximately 50 students attended Earth Hour, at the square adjacent to Speakman Hall. “Do it in the Dark: Lights out for Earth Hour”
took place at the Founder’s Garden on Liacouras the source of light. Walk beginning at 8:30 p.m., and incorporated “Half the world doesn’t have the access to fun and entertaining activities that did not require electricity that we do, and we just kind of take it the use of electricity. for granted,” Gildea said. The food provided, which mainly consisted Mark Singer, a resident assistant and sophoof fruits and vegetables, did not require electri- more speech, language and hearing science macal heating. All performances were jor said he decided to make a greater acoustic and acappella. Students impact by encouraging residents in performed Michael Jackson songs Johnson Hall to come, too. He placed including “Heal the World” and advertisements in the lobby of his “Man in the Mirror” sung by junior building and was able to get more Spanish major D’Juan Lyons. people to join in. Freshman music education ma“I think that taking part in an jor Ian Gildea said he heard about event like Earth Hour is important to Earth Hour from a friend and deremind ourselves that we don’t need cided to come out and perform. His electricity to have fun,” Singer said. set included covers of Bruce SpringSince its launch in 2007, milIan Gildea / lions of people, businesses and govsteen, Andrew Jackson Jihad, Bomb freshman music ernments around the world have the Music Industry! and Sesame education major Street. united each year in support of Earth “I think it’s good to let people Hour. know what’s actually happening in More than 5,200 cities and towns the world, because I think a lot of people – like in 135 countries worldwide switched off their students and people from upper-middle class lights for Earth Hour in 2011, sending a powerful families who happen to go to college – just don’t message for action on climate change. It also inknow and understand world events,” Gildea said. spired members to begin going “beyond the hour” “And they really don’t understand the concept of to commit to lasting action to better the planet. electricity.” The invitation to “switch off’ electricity has Gildea played his guitar and sang in the cen- been extended to everyone across the world, and ter of Founder’s Circle, surrounded by candles as Earth Hour quickly has become an annual global
“Half the world doesn’t have the access to electricity that we do.”
event. It’s scheduled for the last Saturday of every March. And with the power of social networks behind the Earth Hour message, the event attracted even more participation. This year, Earth Hour launched “I Will If You Will” on YouTube to showcase how everyone has the power to change the world. Participants headed to the website to declare what they were willing to do to save the planet or accept one of the challenges received from supporters. Mass power cuts, gas blockades and escalating fuel prices are just a few of the problems that people around the world face as a result of environmental challenges. “Tonight at Earth Hour showed how university housing, residential life and the Office of Sustainability work together and can put on a great event to raise awareness to people on [Main] Campus,” junior legal studies major Ashley Archer said. “An hour out of your day to turn off electronics and be on campus with other individuals who are passionate about sustainability [was a great time.]” Jamal Robinson and Alexis Sachdev can be reached at living@temple-news.com.
Are You The Next Templar Editor? Templar, Temple University’s award-winning yearbook, is looking for its editor for the 2012-13 academic year. Candidates must be currently enrolled, matriculated Temple University students who, if chosen as editor, will be registered for at least nine hours of course work during their entire term of office. A good candidate should demonstrate leadership ability and proven managerial skills, with prior experience in publications. A candidate’s experience in the business, editorial and design aspects of yearbook publishing will be a factor in the selection of the editor. Candidates should submit a completed copy of a proposal packet, two letters of recommendation, a current resume and a number of layout, design and writing samples to John Di Carlo, Student Media Program Director, in Room 304 of the Student Center. Please send an email to john.dicarlo@temple. edu to obtain a proposal packet. Candidates will be interviewed by the Temple University Publications Board. Applications are due Monday, April 16.
CHRIS MONTGOMERY TTN
Students and performers participated in the “Do it in the Dark: Lights out for Earth Hour” event on Saturday, March 31.
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TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
Catalano overcomes disability to lead Owls PITCHER PAGE 20
“He’s able to make most of the games now,” Catalano said. “He’s really happy that he’s able to come to more games.” Catalano has made an impact on and off the field for the Owls (16-11, 4-0 Atlantic Ten Conference). On the mound Catalano’s 4-5 after a slow start recovering from an off-season injury. But in her past two starts she allowed six hits, struck out five and went 2-0 with two shutouts, including taking a no-hitter into the fifth in a win against Wagner on Tuesday, March 27. “She’s a riseball pitcher,” DiPietro said. “When she stays the way she needs to stay, her rise really jumps. Plus she does have good velocity and she’s around the plate a lot, she doesn’t walk a lot of people usually.” “But the thing is she’s had four years of college experience, so she has the experience
factor, which really helps us,” he added. Catalano also has positive work ethic during practice, DiPietro said. “I think in spite of her handicap that she has, she works her butt off, she really does,” DiPietro said. “She spends a lot of hours pitching.” Off the field, she’s developed relationships with her new teammates, who have learned how to sign to their pitcher. “ S h e ’s Joe DiPietro / coach t a u g h t us some things,” Pasquale said. “She’s taught a lot of the girls the alphabet so now they can spell things out to her. It’s cool because you have to learn different ways of speaking without talking.” But there has also been some challenges. Catalano can hear but needs to be facing
“I think in spite of [Catalano’s] handicap that she has, she works her butt off, she really does. She spends a lot of hours pitching.”
ABI REIMOLD TTN
Redshirt-senior Capri Catalano joins the pitching staff.
the person as they’re talking to understand them, or at least to read their lips. She can talk on the phone, but only if she knows the person well enough. “I can hear a lot, but it doesn’t mean I understand what they’re saying,” Catalano said. “If you’re talking behind me I hear something but I don’t know that the voice is coming directly at me.” She also has trouble hearing if she’s surrounded by a lot of loud noise, like cheering teammates. That hasn’t stopped the coach from getting through to her, though. “[Catalano] and I really didn’t have much of an issue communicating, plus I have a big mouth so I’m able to get through to her,” DiPietro said. But Catalano also uses her deafness to an advantage, something that could help in the remainder of the Owl’s A-10 season. “I think it’s an advantage because I don’t hear other teams,” Catalano said. “So I’m more focused.” Jake Adams can be reached at jacob.adams@temple.edu.
Loose mindset aids shortstop at the plate Sophomore shortstop finds an elevated game after poor start. COELI DANELLA The Temple News It all started with coach Joe DiPietro saying, “Here, I got you a new pair of batting gloves.” Sophomore shortstop Sarah Prezioso, who earned backto-back Atlantic Ten Confernence Player of the Week honors for the weeks of March 11 and 18, plans to hold onto those new gloves. “It sometimes makes me nervous that I need to get a hit,” said Prezioso of A-10 Player of the Week honors. “But it’s built my confidence, especially from the beginning of the year, I’m feeling good.” Currently Prezioso leads the Owls in multiple statistics, including batting average, reached base streak, as well as multi-hit games and multi-RBI games. Prior to game two of the doubleheader with Wagner on Tuesday, March 27, Prezioso also led the team with a 14game hitting streak. It seems as though the Bloomfield, N.J. native is only getting started in the batter’s box this season. “[Prezioso] got off to a really slow start but she really turned it on,” DiPietro said. “She is much better, more disciplined at the plate.” The 5-foot 9-inch right hander improved her batting average to .373 after going 4-for-7, adding three RBI and
two runs scored in the Owls’ doubleheader sweep of La Salle on Friday, March 30 at Ambler Campus. But starting the season wasn’t easy for Prezioso, who went a combined 5-for-34 in 12 games before recording her first multi-hit game of the fall against East Tennessee State University on March 10, when she went 2-for-3 with a run scored in the Owls’ 4-3 win. “At the beginning of this year, I came out to a slow start,” Prezioso said. “I was sort of down on myself but I just tried not to think about it and then I just started getting hits and one hit led to another and another and I felt like I was dominating pitchers, good results came from it.” Not only does Prezioso perform well at the plate, she also produces in the field. Throughout the doubleheader on Friday, Prezioso made multiple plays to keep the Explorers’ off the bases. “If you keep them from getting on base, there is no way they can score,” Prezioso said. “We got to continue to keep them off base.” Prezioso’s overall performance helped the Owls win 4-3 in the first game and 8-0 in the second game against the visiting Explorers to keep Temple undefeated in Atlantic Ten Conference play [16-11, 4-0 A-10]. “She’s really turned it on, she’s seeing the ball much better, in the last three weeks she’s been hitting the ball better than anyone,” DiPietro said. Prezioso’s ability to boost morale is an asset to the team
ABI REIMOLD TTN
Sophomore shortstop Sarah Prezioso bats .373 on the season to lead the Owls’ offense. The New Jersey native attributes her hot-streak to self-confidence and routine. well, DiPietro added. “I think her ability to make people laugh, even when she is having a bad day, offensively, defensively, whatever,” DiPietro said. “She doesn’t sulk on the side, she gets right back in there and cheers on the side.” “She is a little on the goofy side, which is good, I try to encourage our players to be like that, I don’t want them to be tight all the time,” DiPietro added. “I want them to try to be as relaxed as they can.” In her first season with the Owls, Prezioso started all 45 games and hit .290, although she admits she was not always so confident in her game. “My freshman year I was extremely nervous, coming
from high school it’s completely different,” Prezioso said. “I came here and it went downhill but it makes you understand the game more, it gives you that one year to let it all out and then gives you the start you need to get better.” DiPietro is excited about the entire squad, which is off to its best conference start since going 4-0 in 2003. Last season the Owls advanced to the A-10 tournament for the first time since 2007, finishing fourth. “We have a good group of girls, it’s a reflection of the whole program,” DiPietro said. “We’re trying to get the program back to where it was in its so-called glory years and we have the players to do it.”
DiPietro is hoping Prezioso will take more of a leadership role in the future. “She’s one of our better players, one of our Top 2 or 3 players,” DiPietro said. “When you’re the kind of caliber of player that she is people listen.” For Prezioso it is all about staying calm and following routine. “Before I get into the batter’s box, I take two swings before I get in just to feel good, and I always jump over the foul line, I never step over, always hop over,” Prezioso said. Coeli Danella can be reached at coeli.danella@temple.edu.
Baseball pitchers fill void in the Owls’ rotation ROTATION PAGE 20
outstanding, so I’m very happy with that.” “I saw [Hockenberry] out of high school and I knew that he had a chance to be very good as well,” Wheeler added. “So, both of them have done a great job and I’m very excited about not only the rest of this season, but the future for us.” Early on, while Temple [12-15, 0-3 Atlantic Ten Conference] hasn’t exactly gotten off to the best start, Hockenberry and Peterson have kept the Owls in games they have started, as the team has a 7-6 record when either pitcher takes
the hill. In those six losses, four were one-run games. Hockenberry attributes his success to pitching coach Brian Pugh and the conditioning regimen. “Pugh has, I wouldn’t say a strict running and conditioning program, but it has gotten us in shape,” Hockenberry said. “I lost a lot of weight coming into the fall and doing all of his conditioning stuff and conditioning without a ball in your hand, when you [do] have the ball in your hand you perform better, you can go longer.” As for Peterson, the Bear, Del. native, is no stranger to
being one of the main men in a rotation. Last year, at Charter School of Wilmington, he threw a perfect game with 16 strikeouts, finishing the 2011 season with a state-record four walks. Peterson continues to display command his rookie season, registering a 0.86 walks and hits per innings pitched, while getting more comfortable with each start. Peterson has a 1.71 earned-run average in his last three starts. “It’s going pretty well right now,” Peterson said. “My numbers are pretty good, which I’m pleased with. Hopefully I can keep that going in conference
games.” Peterson admits being surprised with all the freedom Wheeler has given him in starts as a freshman. “I was kind of surprised, if [Wheeler] would have me on a short leash sometimes being the freshman and going to the bullpen and going to the older guys, but it’s been going pretty well,” Peterson said. Also in the rotation, Moller has been acclimating to the role of starter after coming out of the bullpen to start the year. Despite the duo’s youth, Wheeler hasn’t handled Hockenberry and Peterson with kid gloves.
If the pitch count is reasonable Wheeler said he has no problem letting them go deep into the game. “I feel very comfortable that they’re in great shape, that they can go deep into ballgames and they’re gonna be ready to bounce back for the next start,” Wheeler said. “They’ve got tremendous upside and they work extremely hard,” Wheeler added. “With Pugh sort of guiding them [and] leading them, I really expect big things from them down the road.” Bud Weaver can be reached at bud.weaver@temple.edu.
Women’s track makes season debut The Owls’ expect to finish among leaders this season in A-10. AVERY MAEHRER The Temple News The key to the outdoor season of the women’s track and field team is simple: improvement. “My expectations are that we are going to do way better than we did last year,” senior sprinter Andrea Butler said. “Overall, we have better performances in all the events. So I think we can take Top 3 at [the Atlantic Ten Conference Championships].” Junior hurdler Jade Wilson takes Butler’s hopes a step further – she predicts an A-10 championship victory in the team’s future. “I honestly expect to win A-10’s,” Wilson said. “We have great depth in every event, and having won it my freshman year, it just makes us want it even more since we didn’t get a chance to win it last year. I think everybody is going to show up and do what we have to do.” The women’s team last won the outdoor A-10 Championship in 2010, where Wilson placed third in the 400-meter hurdle, joining then-junior Assata Cowart in the Top 3. In 2011, however, the team fell to a sixth-place overall finish. That said, coach Eric Mobley is already seeing signs of progress based off of the team’s first meet at the Philadelphia Big 5 Invitational at Franklin Field on March 24. “I thought there were some solid performances and some good opening starts,” Mobley said. “They’re starting off very close to how we finished the last outdoor season. With the training we put in, that’s always a good sign.” Wilson had an opening meet to the outdoor season, scoring a first-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles with a time of 1 minute and 1.32 seconds. At the Maryland Invitational on Saturday, March 31, Wilson placed third with a similar time of 1:01.33, which bests the Eastern College Athletic Conference standard [1:02.04]. Wilson said she hopes to make it to NCAA Championships in what is her penultimate season with the team. Freshman thrower Margo Britton and senior thrower Alanna Owens, also placed in the Big-5 meet, as Britton claimed first place in shot put (14.22 meters), while Owens took first in the discus (39.15 meters). Additionally, freshman Jenna Dubrow had a second-place debut in the 5000-meter relay with a time of 17:40.83. Dubrow took silver in the 3000-meter run with a time of 10:01.14 at the Maryland Invite as well. Going forward into the remainder of the season, the team continues to work hard preparing and training through practice. “We’re just trying to build off of what we set out to do at the meet,” Wilson said. “It wasn’t our best, obviously, since it was the first meet. But we have a lot of potential, and we come out here everyday and work really, really hard.” Evidently, this hard work is starting to pay off. “We’ve had a few surprises with some of the athletes,” Mobley said. “Sometimes the coaches see it in them before they see it. Now, they’re finally seeing it too, and we’re excited about that.” Avery Maehrer can be reached at avery.maehrer@temple.edu.
SPORTS
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
Men’s track anticipates payoff After committing to training schedule, the Owls chase A-10 title. AVERY MAEHRER The Temple News The men’s track and field team is coming off a 14th place finish at the Intercollegiate Association of Amateur Athletes of America Championships and is looking to start to reach unprecedented heights this outdoor season. In the Philadelphia Big 5 Invitational held March 24, distance runner Travis Mahoney started his senior season off with a bang, running the 800-meter event in a time of one minute, 53.80 seconds, earning him firstplace. Sophomore hurdler Josh McFrazier also earned a firstplace time of 14.65 seconds in the 110-meter hurdles. Coach Eric Mobley said he is content with the team’s first meet and is eyeing a successful remainder of the year for his athletes. “It was a good beginning to the season,” Mobley said. “We had some solid performances. Before the meet we had a couple of really good weeks of training, and we continue to train at a high level. I see them performing very well going forward.” The team followed up its debut with a second-place finish at the Maryland Invitational on Saturday, March 31. Junior Damian Myers, who is in his first year with the team, sees bright spots in Temple’s program. “Compared to my other teams, this one is definitely stronger,” Myers said. “The training we do here is really tough, but I feel really prepared going to each meet. I’m just excited about what’s happening here.” Some of last year’s team members are pointing out improvements to the group’s newfound sense of unity. Sophomore sprinter Alex McGee, who hopes to qualify for NCAA regionals and nationals, said the team is coming together much stronger than it did last season. “We’re more cohesive as a team,” McGee said. “We have a lot of good team chemistry, and we’re behind each other a lot. We weren’t last year. We have a lot of good, talented people. We have people going to the Olympics. We have people going everywhere. So there’s nothing holding us back this year.” Although the 2011 team established two All-Americans in senior Travis Mahoney and the now graduated Bob Keogh, the Owls failed to improve upon their 2010 program best second-place finish at the A-10 Championship. Many, including senior thrower Brian Littlepage, are looking to finally nab a firstplace victory this season. “Honestly, we all have one goal in common, and that’s to win the [Atlantic Ten Championship],” Littlepage said. “That’s where I see us at – winning it and bringing home the title.” With a grin, Littlepage then added, “I’m trying to get a ring on my finger.” If Mobley’s assessment of the team is correct, a ring for Littlepage might not be out of the question. “It’s a really, really good team,” Mobley said. “We cover a lot of bases. We have some guys that elevated themselves from indoors to a higher level – to an NCAA caliber level. It’s comparable with some of our best teams since we’ve been here.” Avery Maehrer can be reached at avery.maehrer@temple.edu.
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Fencing team finishes season at No. 10 in NCAA FENCING PAGE 20
than I did, so it forced me to ed a 5-4 victory over Duke’s work harder,” Thompson said. senior Becca Ward in the pre- “I’m a much better fencer than liminary round. Ward was the I was when I first arrived here, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist and I tried to use that experiand a three-time naence to help tional champion, who the younger was the eventual 2012 fencers this champion in the event year.” competition. The fencThe NCAA ing team gradchampionships was uates four seThompson’s last colniors this year, legiate tournament, but Thompson but throughout her caKamali Thompson / is confident in reer she’s earned quite senior fencer the younger a reputation as one of fencers as well the program’s top fencers. She as coach Nikki Franke to have became the first All-American another successful season next at saber for Temple since 2003. year without her. While fencing is an indi“I think they’ll do well, vidual sport Thompson is quick they have lots of experience to credit many of her coaches coming back and coach [Franand teammates for the success ke] always does a great job she has had at Temple. recruiting,” Thompson said. “I “When I came to Temple I think we’ll still be able to send was working with people that as many people as we can to had so much more experience NCAA’s, and hopefully a Top 5
“I’m a much better fencer than I was when I first arrived here.”
finish in the country.” Thompson’s success is not only in the athletic department but also in the classroom. Last year she was named the “PNC-Temple Female StudentAthlete of the Year.” This is the highest award given out be the athletic department and factors in not only athletics, but academic achievement as well. Thompson will also be continuing her studies after she graduates with a biology degree, as she will be attending Robert Wood Johnson medical school in New Brunswick in the fall. While Thompson’s collegiate fencing career may have come to an end, she said wants to continue playing the sport. Along with attending medical school, Thompson plans to fence with her club team from New York.
PAUL KLEIN TTN
Senior fencers Alyssa Lomuscio, Kamali Thompson, Danielle Anthony Bellino can be reached at Jones and Krystal Jones finish their careers at Temple. anthony.bellino@temple.edu.
All-American fencer juggles senior project and sport All-American Alyssa Lomuscio received the opportunity to make her third appearance at the NCAA Fencing Championships on March 26 to 27 at Ohio State, but the Clinton, N.J. native said her senior season was met with near exhaustion. As a film and media major, Lomuscio had the task of balancing time for her senior film project, while staying in top form on the fencing strips. “It was extremely challenging to find time to film around our heavy tournament schedule,” Lomuscio said in an e-mail. “Honestly it just meant that I would sacrifice sleep a lot to get things done for the film.”
The film is a fictional narrative that she wrote entitled, “A Jaded Life,” which is about a young man named Trevor who suffers from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. Lomuscio said the film looks to change the perception of OCD, while she personally associates with the disorder. “The character isn’t real, but basically the way he behaves and uses the OCD, it’s real in that sense,” Lomuscio said. “[The film] comes from a lot of stuff that I do, stuff that I’ve read, stuff that I’ve seen other people do and I’ve kind of taken that and kind of combined it to make the character.” Last season Lomuscio, who competes in foil, finished
as a second team All-American for the Owls at the national competition. This year has posed a challenge, as the field of 72 competitors at the championships consisted of many unfamiliar faces, as several underclassmen made their debut. Lomuscio finished the second day of competition in 16th place, claiming nine victories. “I was very excited to qualify for championships,” Lomuscio said. “I didn’t necessarily think I would because there is a two person per squad limit and I was ranked third on my squad after season. So I focused all my energy on regionals and was able to qualify.” At the NCAA Mid-At-
lantic/South Regional Tournament on March 10 at Lafayette College, Lomuscio punched her ticket to nationals with a team-best sixth-place finish in her field. But, the week before regionals involved finishing a “rough cut” of shooting her film project and wrapping up a fundraiser, which raised more than $2,250 for her film production. “I feel like, this year more than ever, I found my mind on different things during practice and some competitions,” Lomuscio said. “I wouldn’t say that it horribly affected my performance, however, it was the first time that fencing was not the main priority in my life and seeing as fencing is a very
mental sport it took some getting used too.” In the end, Lomuscio found similarities between her fencing teammates and production crew for her film project. She said the production team hopes to finish the film later this month. “Everyone on the crew had their own function and all of them were very good at what they do,” Lomuscio said. “It made it so I was able to trust that everyone would do their job and do it well, just like on the team how we all trust each other to give our all each and every bout.” -Connor Showalter
Lacrosse looks to adjust after loss The Owls drop their first conference game. MARK MCHUGH The Temple News After starting the season with five straight wins, the women’s lacrosse team has dropped four of its past six games, including its most recent 14-7 loss to a feisty, physical Duquesne squad on Sunday, April 1. Despite the recent slump, senior midfielder Stephanie Markunas is confident that the Owls (7-4, 1-1 Atlantic Ten Conference) can repair the kinks they have recently endured. “We just need to be able to adjust and freelance a little more throughout the game,” Markunas said. “Even if there are turnovers, we just need to work [twice] as hard to get the ball going the other way.” Frustration was evident amongst the throng of Temple fans that sat anxiously on the sidelines, trying to spur their team on to victory and often directing their angst toward the referees. Anticipation would grow momentarily after each
Temple score in the second half, but each stint of excitement was stifled by a quick response by conference rival Duquesne (84, 1-1 A-10). Temple may see the Dukes again, who served the Owls their first A-10 defeat of the year, if both team make the A-10 tournament. Markunas said that if such a meeting does occur, the Owls would be prepared to face them again. “We know what we’re going to be up against and we know what we’re going to change,” Markunas said. The Owls have already proved that they are a resilient, mentally tough team, with a couple come-from-behind wins this season to show for it against Rutgers and Delaware. That tough-minded attitude is spearheaded by the leadership of Markunas and the unwavering confidence she has in herself and her teammates. “I still have no doubt that we’re going to be in the tournament and going to be the ones coming out on top,” Markunas said. “We’re trying not to hang out heads. We need to look at all the positives that can come out of it.”
Markunas contributed two goals and assist in Sunday’s game, boosting her season totals to 17 goals and a teamleading 13 assists. Coach Bonnie Rosen was disappointed but undeterred after Sunday’s loss. She emphasized that each game going forward is simply another step towards the ultimate goal of winning the A-10 championship. “We certainly wanted to come away with the win, but really, it’s more important that we get better and come away with the next win,” Rosen said. “It’s about gaining composure and handling pressure and we’re still working on that. We’ve got the rest of our A-10 season to figure it out and to be better prepared to play under different pressure situations.” The Owls take a break from their conference schedule on Wednesday, April 4 against Princeton, but finish the season off with five pivotal in-conference contests. Mark McHugh can be reached at mark.mchugh@temple.edu.
JAZMYNE ANDERSON TTN
Senior midfielder Stephanie Markunas has 17 goals and a team-leading 13 assists on the season.
Men’s tennis prepares to make a playoff run TENNIS PAGE 20
country, losing to then-senior Houston Barrick and then-junior Sanam Singh of Virginia at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Tennis Championships. In the fall season, the Rams’ brothers fell, 9-7, to Maryland’s No. 9 duo, senior Maros Horny and junior John Collins at the ITA Regional Championship. This season, the Rams brothers have continued to challenge top-ranked opponents.
They are 1-1 versus nationally ranked doubles teams and 1-0 against regionally ranked duos. The Owls were chosen to finish third in the A-10 this season and while they have competed well in conference, (7-7 overall, 3-2 A-10) consistency has been an issue. “I think the biggest thing the team needs to work on is consistency,” Filip Rams said. “We need to be more consistent as a team. We need to play better from rackets one to six.” Scheduling issues haven’t helped the squad regain that
consistency. The team had a fairly tough schedule to begin the season, but regained strength taking down the A-10 defending champion George Washington Colonials only to have the past two matches cancelled due to inclement weather. “The season is going OK. We had a couple of good wins to start the season,” Filip Rams said. “So it’s been tough but it was a great experience for the team.” “As the season goes on we always seem to get better,”
Filip Rams added. “Guys start to play better, we play more matches and train more, which makes us better.” Among some of the talented youth listed on the roster is sophomore Taylor Hairston [97, 2-2 A-10], who was a fouryear letterman at Bullis High School in Oxin Hill, Md. Hairston went 4-2 in singles play in 2010, and accumulated an impressive 4-1 record in singles competition during the fall of 2011. “[Taylor] is doing very well. He is a very, very talented
player and has some great potential,” Filip Rams said. The men’s tennis team has three scheduled matches remaining before the A-10 tournament kicks off on April 13-15 in Mason, Ohio. The Owls hope to claim the league title for the first time since 1985. “Our main goal every single season is to win the Atlantic 10 conference and go to [the NCAA championships],” Filip Rams said. Chase Senior can be reached at chase.senior@temple.edu.
SPORTS temple-news.com
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IMPACT ACE
Redshirt-senior pitcher has helped the Owls get off to a 4-0 A-10 start despite disability. JAKE ADAMS The Temple News
S
ophomore catcher Stephanie Pasquale called timeout and walked out to the mound in the Owls’ doubleheader sweep against La Salle on Friday, March 30. The mound visit was not used to calm down her pitcher, redshirt-senior Capri Catalano, but Pasquale needed to relay a message from coach Joe DiPietro. “When [Catalano’s] on the field I can’t yell from the dugout to her,” DiPietro said. “I have to get our catcher to get her attention to look at me.” That’s because Catalano is almost completely deaf. Just before her fourth birthday she contracted bacterial meningitis and slipped into a coma for three weeks. Her parents were told she had a slim chance of making it. “[My parents] were very upset,” Catalano said. “They didn’t know if I was going to live, but they were happy that I fought it through and it’s bringing me to here, where I am today.” After she came out of her
coma, Catalano spent years relearning how to walk, talk and find her balance. But her hearing didn’t make a full recovery and she was granted one of the first cochlear implants for a child to help her hear. “I had a lot of therapy to help me to be able to walk straight and sit up instead of falling down,” Catalano said. When Catalano was 7 years old she picked up softball, and shortly after that, began pitching. Catalano quickly became one of New Jersey’s most dominant pitchers, graduating high school in 2007 with 1,346 strikeouts, which Joe DiPietro / set a state recoach cord. From there she went to the University of South Florida and posted a 17-1 record as a freshman in 2008. “I really wanted to go to school in Florida,” Catalano said. “I thought it was a good school, but it was far away from home. I was homesick for a while.” But Catalano redshirted her sophomore year due to a shoulder injury. She never regained a foothold in the rotation the next two years and decided to come back closer to home, which was a lot easier on her father.
“But the thing is [Catalano] had four years of college experience, so she has the experience factor.”
ABI REIMOLD TTN
Redshirt-senior Capri Catalano winds up to pitch in her first season with the Owls.
Young pitchers fill starter roles The Owls rely on a pair of underclassmen on the mound to carry their pitching staff. BUD WEAVER The Temple News Take a glance at some pitching staffs at the collegiate level and there is usually a starter who anchors the rotation, a seasoned four-year hurler who is undoubtedly regarded as the ace. If there was one game to win, he’d be the guy toeing the rubber before the leadoff hitter stepped into the batter’s box. Not for the Owls. Sophomore Matt Hockenberry and freshman Pat Peterson are Temple’s unfledged one-two punch for a rotation that also includes two seniors. “We just got to step up,” Hockenberry said. “This isn’t high school baseball anymore. [Peterson’s] a freshman [and] competition is different but you can see statistically that he’s handling it well.” “The biggest thing we have to do on the mound, it’s not about strikeouts [and] it’s not about no-hitters,” he added. “It’s about leaving our team in a posi-
tion to win the game.” After hitting the Garden State Parkway to visit Monmouth, starter and senior Dan Moller began the series with the Hawks in the first of three games Friday, March 30, allowing two runs in five innings in the no-decision. The Owls’ won the game 5-3. Following a rainout in New Jersey on Saturday, March 31, there was the 6-foot 3-inch Hockenberry on the mound at Skip Wilson Field to close out the series as the rotation rolled back to the young arms for the matchup Sunday, April 1. Hockenberry allowed a run in six innings in the Owls’ 7-1 win against the Hawks to get his fourth victory on the season, while Peterson made a rare appearance out of the bullpen due to the rainout, tossing three scoreless frames for his first career save. Coach Ryan Wheeler said he has been more than pleased with the pair of underclassmen starters. “I think they’ve done outstanding,” Wheeler said. “I knew in the fall that [Peterson] had a chance to be something special, just the way he was throwing the ball and the way he came in here and was doing things. I didn’t think he’d be this
ROTATION PAGE 18
p.18 Sophomore shortstop Sarah Prezioso leads the Owls offensively.
SPORTS DESK 215-204-9537
Fencer cracks Top 10 at NCAAs
Senior saber fencer becomes first AllAmerican since 2003. ANTHONY BELLINO The Temple News Through the first three years of Kamali Thompson’s fencing career she was never able crack the Top 10 at the NCAA tournament. That all changed on March 22 to 23 at Ohio State University when Thompson finished sixth out of 24 fencers in the saber competition, leading the Owls to a 10th place overall finish. It was her fourth appearance at the national competition but her first All-American honor as she was named to the second team. Along with Thompson, senior Alyssa Lomuscio and junior Mikayla Varadi competed at nationals, claiming 16th and 21st in the foil competition, respectively. Junior epee Jill Bratton made her first appearance at the national level after taking a year off from fencing and finished 16th in her event. “I did really well, going in I had beat most of the best people there,” Thompson said. “It was nice to be able to beat most of them again especially in such a high pressure competition.” Thompson may have had one of her best victories of her fencing career when she record-
FENCING PAGE 19
Rams brothers vie for title
WALBERT YOUNG TTN
Senior Filip Rams leads the men’s tennis team, along with his brother, junior Kacper Rams, as they receive national attention.
Tennis brothers take advantage of their chemistry in doubles. CHASE SENIOR The Temple News When competing in dou-
SOFTBALL
PITCHER PAGE 18
TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012
bles play in the sport of tennis, feel and communication are key in achieving success. Senior Filip Rams and junior Kacper Rams are brothers as well as doubles partners. The Katowice, Poland natives cracked the Top 80 doubles in the country this season and
TRACK AND FIELD p.18-19 The men and women’s outdoor track and field teams hope to make the podium for this year’s A-10 meet.
hold a 9-6 overall record and a 2-0 Atlantic Ten Conference mark. “I think that chemistry and understanding between both players makes a good doubles duo,” Filip Rams said. “We get along very, very well on the court. We understand each
other and complete one another [on the court].” Last season in doubles play the Rams duet recorded a team-best 16-7 record and came within just a few crucial points from knocking off the No. 4 doubles combo in the
TENNIS PAGE 19 MEN’S GYMNASTICS NEXT WEEK The Owls will host the Eastern College Athletic Conference Championships on April 6 to 7 at McGonigle Hall.
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