EDITORIAL/OP-ED
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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015
column | main campus A watchdog for the Temple University community since 1921. Emily Rolen, Editor-in-Chief EJ Smith, Managing Editor Joe Brandt, Chief Copy Editor Steve Bohnel, News Editor Paige Gross, Opinion Editor Albert Hong, Lifestyle Editor Harsh Patel, Web Manager Victoria Mier, Arts & Entertainment Editor Tom Dougherty, Web Editor Michael Guise, Sports Editor Jenny Kerrigan, Photography Editor Lian Parsons, Asst. News Editor Margo Reed, Asst. Photography Editor Owen McCue, Asst. Sports Editor Donna Fanelle, Design Editor Michaela Winberg, Asst. Lifestyle Editor Finnian Saylor, Asst. Designer Eamon Dreisbach, Asst. Arts & Entertainment Justin Discigil, Advertising Manager Editor Grayson Holladay, Business Manager Sean Brown, Multimedia Editor Jeanie Davey, Marketing Manager Harrison Brink, Asst. Multimedia Editor
The Temple News is an editorially independent weekly publication serving the Temple University community. Unsigned editorial content represents the opinion of The Temple News. Adjacent commentary is reflective of their authors, not The Temple News. Visit us online at temple-news.com. Send submissions to letters@temple-news.com. The Temple News is located at: Student Center, Room 243 1755 N. 13th St. Philadelphia, PA 19122
EDITORIALS
Misguided priorities The university would be wise to dedicate resources to align with its mission statement instead of a bigtime college football program. Temple’s foundation can’t be seen while walking on campus. It wasn’t a building or a walkway that built this university, it was a principle: the prioritization to serve the Greater Philadelphia area and encourage diversity. These principles can be found in the university’s mission statement, and can also be seen in its early-1900s advertisement—signed by Russell Conwell himself—which was geared toward “working people,” trying to motivate them to attend a university catering to its community. The university’s reported proposal of a $100-million football stadium questions the principles that it was built upon—the same principles that led to the modern ad campaigns boasting of “Powering the City” and “Self-made, Phillymade, Temple made.” Chairman of the Board of Trustees Patrick O’Connor told the Inquirer the money for the stadium would come primarily from donations, stressing that the Board does not want to use student tuition for the stadium. Whether that is achieved or not, a 35,000-person stadium not only defies the servitude of the Greater Philadelphia area by infringing on an already overextended border, but also deprioritizes the low-income students that the university was created to serve. According to 2013 data compiled and compared by ProPublica—a nonprofit, investigative news outlet— Temple ties for last with Villanova among the six largest Philadelphia-area universities in providing for low-income students through Pell Grants, Discount of Total Cost and other measurements. This is a far cry from a university which originally established a night department designated for students getting off work late. In an op-ed submitted to the Inquirer, President Theobald said the $100 mil-
lion raised for funds is not flexible toward other university endeavors. Perhaps it is idealistic to believe Temple could raise a similar amount in the name of providing for low-income Philadelphians, but it would be a much better sign than witnessing a university consumed with bigtime college football. Universities should not be revenue-generating establishments, they should not designed be to line pockets. Temple’s mission statement mentions diversity, community and disregards economic status. Temple’s mission statement more closely aligns with focus on historical sports in Philadelphia like basketball, track & field and rowing. But over the last two years, we’ve seen the university shift from its historical sports, attempting to cut crew and rowing, and successfully cutting men’s indoor and outdoor track & field. The football program once hosted legendary Glenn “Pop” Warner, but has reached the postseason just three times since his departure 76 years ago. Athletic Director Pat Kraft told The Temple News “football is the cream of the crop,” and said he was interested in competing with the top football programs in the country. But the fundamental issue lies within the abandonment of principles, the same ones that built the university. This is a nationwide issue. As student debt continues to grow, colleges and universities continue to raise tuition. We understand football drives revenue, but revenue should never influence the decisions made by institutions developed to serve the community they are rooted in. We want to see colleges and universities stick to the values that created them. This is a university designed for the working person, and we’d like it to stay that way.
CORRECTIONS
In the story “Listening to voices unsung” that ran Nov. 3, Matt Kerr was identified as a Chester County native, but he is actually a native of Philadelphia. In the story “Adjuncts to cast vote in secret ballot” that ran Nov. 3, ballots were said to be sent out Nov. 5, the ballots were actually sent out Nov. 9. 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 Editorin-Chief Emily Rolen at editor@temple-news.com or 215.204.6737.
Moving food trucks hurts business, diversity on campus Many trucks, especially those on 13th Street, will be uprooted and assigned a new permanent spot.
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ain Campus is undergoing a facelift with the demolition of former Barton Hall and the exterior renovation of the Temple Performing Arts Center, among other spots. The food truck scene on campus will also experience changes, caused by a bill that will create a “food vending district” effective next spring. Food trucks will only be allowed in a certain “box” sectioned off by Diamond, 10th, Oxford and 16th Street. No trucks will be allowed GRACE SHALLOW to park or operate on 13th Street. After hearing about this ordinance, I wondered how fair this bill is for the food truck owners on 13th Street whose businesses will be uprooted, like Long Nguyen, owner of the Fresh Smoothie Truck for the last 20 years. “It’s going to affect business. I really don’t know how big [the effect will be],” said Nguyen when asked what he predicts will happen after having to move his truck’s location from 13th street near Norris. He also expressed concern about losing regular customers because he would not be in his normal spot. Adif Goxhaj at Ray’s Lunch Truck on 13th Street near Polett Walk, who has inhabited the spot for six years, expressed similar concerns. “I thought I was going to be okay where I am now,” he said, shrugging in exasperation. “The students… they know me.”
Nothing will fully prepare food truck owners for their relocation, especially considering the poor communication the university had with food truck owners about the migration of their livelihood. “[The university] let us know in the last minute. I was not happy at all,” Nguyen said. Teresa Dinh from Tommy’s Lunch Truck on 13th Street near Norris summing up the relationship: “I do not agree. I have to,” she told me. The university’s reasoning for the new ordinance is mainly safety reasons, as Beverly Coleman, the assistant vice president for Community Relations and Economic Development, told The Temple
but I think their presence has more benefit than cost and is a reflection of the diversity on campus Temple constantly boasts about. “Temple University is committed to building a diverse educational community. … Our policies, practices, and programs exemplify our commitment to civility, non-discrimination and pluralism, encouraging dialogue that builds meaningful and collaborative relationships throughout the university,” reads the university’s diversity commitment statement. “A diverse, international student body” is also one of the six commitments listed by President Theobald on his web-
News in October. This concern was confirmed by Jane Roh, spokeswoman of City Council President Darrel Clarke, who originally sponsored the bill. She told philly.com in June that Clarke supports the school’s “efforts to create a safer, more orderly environment for students and all others on or near Temple’s campus.” Much of this is attributed to location—food trucks are crowded outside of buildings, blocking foot traffics and exits—and their immobility. “What’s frustrating is their business is on wheels and could move, but they just set up camp here,” Jim Creedon, senior vice president for construction, facilities and operations told The Temple News in April 2015. “They become permanent fixtures.” I agree that food trucks being “permanent fixtures” could be inconvenient,
site.
presence has more benefit than cost and “is aTheir reflection of the diversity on campus Temple constantly boasts about.”
I think the administration is overlooking the variety of culture presented by food trucks on campus, like Tabeteki on 13th Street near Norris, which serves Japanese cuisine, and El Guaco Loco on Montgomery Avenue between Broad and 13th Streets, which sells traditional Mexican dishes. By rearranging the trucks, Temple is leaving owners in limbo and shortening the impact of other cultures on campus. The limit on food vendors—50 spots will be available—also deters future food truck owners, who could widen the breadth of diversity in food choices, from making Temple their home. The presence of diversity in food by food trucks needs to be celebrated, not shuffled into a box. * grace.shallow@temple.edu
FINNIAN SAYLOR TTN
FROM THE ARCHIVES
June 24, 1976: The Temple News published a look into the American perception of politicians. Following the Watergate scandal, American students looked for a more down-to-earth leader who better represented the people.