The Temple News

07/01/2024

TSG and SAASA President Ray Epstein launched the Here4U app in collaboration with Maggie Slater, a partner and founder of Here4U who reached out to Epstein hoping to expand sexual assault resources to Temple students.

“When you're looking for some resource or you're even looking for like, where a service is, there are like eight different web pages you have to navigate to try to find the one thing you're looking for,” said Epstein, an English major and sociology minor. “You don't even know how many websites you are gonna have to visit. And so having it all in one place is so important. It's just making sure people know it exists.”

A website and app version is currently offered for students at Arizona State University, the University of Southern California and now Temple. Students can select their university on the website to see resources like counseling and support for their healing process near their campus.

Resources are specifically catered to pupils from each university, such as offering counseling and support near campus.

Student Activists Against Sexual Assault President Ray Epstein launched the app on June 10 after two semesters of partnership with Maggie Slater and other Here4U app coordinators.

06/29/2024

Almost a year after the decision to permanently close down Morgan Dining Hall, the on-campus dining experience for students has been continuously changing each semester.
Temple and Aramark, the university’s catering service, continue to brainstorm ways to upgrade the on-campus dining experience. Meal equivalency will change from $9.75 to $10.50 per swipe, and a new guest policy for swipes will be introduced.

All retail locations will be opening up again, with one restaurant in the Student Center Food Court being replaced with a different concept, said Jonathan Reiter, vice president of business affairs and administration. The new restaurant option has not yet been revealed.

“I think the Aramark team, although [eliminating Morgan Food Court] was a tough decision to make, and it certainly did impact students, they did their best to accommodate student complaints,” Reiter said. “This summer they did a total refresh of Johnson and Hardwick. They did a really good job of just creating a better atmosphere overall in Johnson and Hardwick.”

Since the closing of Morgan Dining Hall, Aramark and the university continue upgrades to its dining services.

06/28/2024

At least one Temple student was arrested on charges of defiant trespass on June 19 for participating in the pro-Palestine encampment on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus on May 10.

The arrests came after the decision was made to add to previous misdemeanor charges for the student’s participation in another protest on Penn’s campus on May 17. The students were released after paying an outstanding $2,500 bail the next day and being processed in Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, an arrested Temple student, who chose to remain anonymous, told The Temple News.

“The pressing of charges, arrests and jailing of Temple and other students at the behest of the University of Pennsylvania is yet another cruel and reckless abuse of power,” wrote Pennsylvania State Rep. Christopher Rabb, in a statement to The Temple News. “The complicity of Penn, Temple and the Philadelphia Police Department in the surveillance, targeting and punishment of nonviolent student protesters further erodes public trust in these institutions.”

Rabb has been in contact with the arrested student, and multiple others, throughout the proceedings.

Communication between Temple and Penn led to students quietly receiving disciplinary action from Temple weeks before their court date in June. At least two Temple students received referrals from the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for three violations of the student code. The violations include failure to comply with law enforcement, disorderly conduct and damage to property, according to the Temple student.

Following the 16-day encampment on Penn campus, Penn, Drexel and Temple students are seeing legal and university-level consequences.

06/28/2024

John A. Fry, the current president of Drexel University, will be named Temple’s 14th president, a source confirmed to The Temple News.

Fry has served as Drexel’s president since March 2010, and was the president of Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania from 2002-10. He also served as the Chief Operation Officer at the University of Pennsylvania from 1995-2007.

Fry is also the Chairman of the Board of Directors at The Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, and a board member of The Wistar Institute, an international leader in biomedical research in the fields of cancer, immunology and infectious diseases.

The university has not confirmed the hire, but a formal announcement is expected to come from Temple's Board of Trustees.

Fry, who is currently the president of Drexel University, will be named Temple’s 14th president, a source confirmed to The Temple News.

06/26/2024

The Netherlands National Women’s Field Hockey team has been a world powerhouse for the last three decades. Despite this, did not have a single Dutch player from 2006-17. In 2018 that finally changed when the program brought in Nienke Orelemans.

In 2019, the program hired Michelle Vittese as an assistant coach, and their international recruiting took off. The Owls landed Netherlands natives Myrthe Schuilenburg and Tess Muller in 2020 and 2021 and now this offseason reeled in three more Dutch recruits. After going so long without a Dutch player, the program has seemingly established a talent pipeline in the country

“I don’t really care where our players come from,” said Vittese, the now-head coach of Temple Field Hockey. “It’s just a matter of doing my best to build the most talented and capable roster and bringing in people that fit the bill of everything we are looking for.”

Read more at the link in our bio.

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06/25/2024

Former President Donald Trump’s political hurricane touched down in North Philadelphia Saturday night when he became the first Republican presidential candidate to campaign on Temple’s campus.

The rally brought thousands of his supporters into The Liacouras Center for the chance to hear their candidate campaign within the city limits of Philadelphia for the first time throughout any of his three presidential campaigns.

But everything Trump says at these rallies — to his crowds of loyal supporters — haven’t always always been accurate.

The Temple News reviewed every statement Trump made during his almost hour-and-a-half long speech Saturday night at Liacouras, and identified 41 false claims made by the former president.

The Temple News reviewed every statement Trump made Saturday night and identified 41 false claims by the former president.

06/25/2024

As a student-athlete, Brendan Cunningham was first introduced to the sport of crew in high school, and soon caught the eye of legendary Temple head coach Dr. Gavin White. White spent 37 years guiding the Owls’ ship and led them to become one of the premier programs in the country.

Cunningham raced his final regatta 13 years ago, and he took the reins from former head coach Brian Perkins, whose contract wasn’t renewed last July. Cunningham’s first season was filled with growing pains, like earning his team’s trust and inconsistent showings.

The Owls came together for the last regatta of the season and showed out, with every boat making the podium. The performance provided a glimpse of what might be to come under the new head coach.

“Spots being opened up in that top boat are definitely like something everyone in the Toovey is looking at,” said rower Adam Curran. “It just makes me feel confident for the rest of my time here at Temple; that we can put something together, that we can win.”

Read more at the link in our bio.

06/23/2024

Protesters banded together at Donald Trump’s North Philadelphia rally to reveal frustrations at his permission to speak and hold a rally at The Liacouras Center.

Union workers, Temple students and Philadelphia natives assembled on the mirroring side of Broad Street facing The Liacouras Center at around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday. Their objective was clear: to voice their dissatisfaction and to be uncomplacent with Trump’s North Philadelphia infiltration.

“I don't think he belongs in Philadelphia, nowhere near Temple, that's for sure,” said Sasha Fay, a senior health professions major. “And I think I'm pretty disappointed that he's here, that’s for sure.

Protestors gathered on the opposite side of Broad Street to share their frustrations at Trump’s permission to speak at The Liacouras Center.

06/23/2024

In his third major presidential campaign of the last nine years, Donald Trump finally rallied his supporters within Philadelphia’s city limits. The former president also marked the first Republican rally on Temple’s campus. Despite the new venue, Trump continued to present voters with an alternate vision for the country’s future.

Temple’s decision to rent The Liacouras Center to the all-but-certain Republican nominee drew criticism from a chorus of local Democrats and the Temple Association for University Professionals, the school’s faculty union.

As Trump spoke to the supporters who filled the lower decks and court floor of Temple’s basketball arena, inversions of reality came early, often, and with varying degrees of seriousness. They ranged from the circumstances surrounding his 34 felony convictions to the reasons for his exit from office.

As his supporters filled the lower decks and court floor of Temple’s Liacouras Center, Trump cracked a joke about “very respected pollster” Rasmussen Reports.
“If they come out with a bad poll a month from now, I’ll say Rasmussen is terrible,” Trump said with a grin.

The event on Temple’s Main Campus marked Trump’s first public rally within Philadelphia’s limits.

06/23/2024

A 20-year-old female Temple student was killed in a domestic homicide in the early hours of Saturday morning, according to a statement from the university.

The Philadelphia Police Department said officers responded to a call for medical assistance on Willington Street, just a couple blocks from Temple’s Main Campus, just after 4 a.m. Saturday morning. The student was pronounced dead just minutes later.

A 22-year-old man was arrested at the scene. The identity of both the victim and the suspect have not been released.

The incident happened in the early hours of Saturday morning and the suspect is in custody.

06/21/2024

The University of the Arts’ closure in May sent shockwaves through Philadelphia’s political and education systems. But it also opened the door for area universities to add some of UArts’ orphaned student body to their own — and none have been more proactive than Temple.

While Drexel, Arcadia, St. Joe’s, and other local universities have moved to open their doors for transfers, Temple says it’s actively exploring a merger that would turn the two institutions into one.

University of the Arts boasted one of the most unique curricula in the country, an arts-based study program increasingly rare as colleges gravitate towards job preparation as a North Star — and students are concerned they won’t get that experience anywhere else.

“First of all, we’re a private school, so we have more flexibility to make the curriculum how we see fit for artists,” said Marshall O’Neill, a graduate student in museum studies at UArts. “Everybody here really likes the professors, the community is great, and the uniqueness of our school is amazing.”

Students and faculty wonder if their fallen school’s uniqueness can exist at other institutions like Temple.

06/14/2024

Temple is exploring the possibility of merging with the University of the Arts in an effort to save the 150-year old university, a Temple spokesperson told The Temple News Tuesday.
The University of the Arts announced on May 31 that it would be closing its doors on June 7 after the university had its accreditation withdrawn by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

“This is a fluid situation,” the spokesperson said. “We are committed to continuing conversations with UArts representatives to explore all options and possible solutions to preserve the arts and the rich legacy of this 150-year old institution.”

The former president will be on Temple’s campus on June 22 to campaign in North Philadelphia.

06/13/2024

Students will be allowed to use their meal plan swipes for guests up to three to five times per semester, depending on their meal plan, and meal equivalencies will be raised from $9.75 to $10.50 starting this fall, Temple Student Government told The Temple News Wednesday.

Aramark, Temple’s food catering company, reinforced their policy that meal swipes were only for the holder in February, to the disappointment of many students who wanted to use their swipes on friends and family. Aramark reported an increase of students with unlimited meal plans allowing multiple people into the dining hall at the time.

“The goal was to find a more efficient way to donate [meal swipes] to students,” said Chelsea Lubbe, TSG’s director of health and wellbeing. “We knew there was a need for it, and we knew it was important for people to get what they’re paying for and to avoid leftover [meal swipes.]”

However, alongside the value increase of the meal equivalency, students will no longer be able to use more than two meal equivalencies at a time.

Read more at the link in our bio.

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📸: The Temple News, File

05/31/2024

Former President Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony charges on Thursday. He is the first ex-president to be convicted of a crime. Stemming from a hush money incident before the 2016 election, Trump has been charged with multiple counts of falsifying business records.

The Temple community shares similar sentiments in reacting to the news.

“Honestly, it just makes me mad too, that he's probably still gonna be able to run for president like, regardless of all of this,” said Jules Bernardo, a junior media studies and production major. “But I don't know. I mean, I'm happy he was convicted.”

Trump’s sentencing will be held on July 11, where the legal consequences of his charges will be determined. Each felony charge has a sentence of 0-4 years in prison.

With only five months until the 2024 presidential election, the presumptive Republican nominee was convicted on May 30 on 34 felony charges related to a hush money case and falsifying business records.

05/29/2024

More than 500 nurses and technical specialists at Fox Chase Cancer Center ratified their first union contract Tuesday.

The workers voted to unionize last June to address concerns about quality of care indicators such as safe staffing, recruitment, retention and recognition of concerns of nurses and technical professionals. 

“A lot of the nurses in my department are very seasoned and one of our main goals was to push for better working conditions and safer staffing for RNs who come after us or are just now starting their careers,” wrote Rossana Caputo, a Fox Chase phone triage nurse, in a press release Tuesday.

Read more at the link in our bio.

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05/28/2024

Temple bookstores will temporarily close as they transition from Barnes & Noble to Follett Higher Education this summer, wrote Provost Gregory Mandel in a message to Temple students Tuesday.

The Follett bookstores will fully open on June 24, after a closing between June 8-23. All online service will cease on June 2, and both the Main Campus and Health Sciences bookstores will physically close on June 7.

“While there will be temporary inconveniences, we believe this will ultimately allow us to bring a higher-quality service to our students, faculty and staff that is better in line with our world-class institution,” Mandel wrote.

Temple will end its partnership with Barnes and Nobles on June 7, and Follett will take over operations starting June 24

05/27/2024

Two women are suing current Commanders and former kicker Brandon McManus of sexual assault, Michael DiRocco of ESPN reported Monday afternoon. The incident happened while McManus was on an overseas flight to London last season while he was on the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The women accused the kicker of grinding on them while they were providing meals to the team during the flight. The lawsuit was brought to Duval County Civil Circuit Court Friday night, and is seeking an excess of $1 million.

“Earlier today, we were made aware of the civil lawsuit filed on May 24 against Brandon McManus,” a Commanders spokesperson wrote in a statement to The Temple News. “We take allegations of this nature very seriously and are looking into the matter. We have been in communication with the League Office and Brandon’s representation, and will reserve further comment at this time.”

Read more at the link in our bio.

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05/22/2024

Former Jordan Riley will transfer to East Carolina, CBS Sports reported Wednesday afternoon. All three of Temple’s leading scorers have now committed elsewhere this offseason.

Riley transferred to Temple last offseason following two seasons at Georgetown. He spent one season in the Cherry and White where he was second on the team in scoring, averaging nearly 12 points per game. Riley will have one year of eligibility remaining.

Read more at the link in our bio.

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05/12/2024

Former guard Jahlil will transfer to La Salle, he announced on his social media Sunday evening. White is now the second Owl to find a new home after Hysier Miller transferred to Virginia Tech on April 24.

White was one of the Owls’ best defenders and rebounders during his time on North Broad. He finished third for Temple in points last season, averaging 10 points per game while helping thr Owls advance to the American Athletic Conference Tournament championship.

Read more at the link in our bio.

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05/08/2024

Temple held its 137th commencement ceremony at The Liacouras Center Wednesday morning, marking the first college graduating class that experienced a COVID-19-related shutdown in high school.

The ceremony included speeches from President Richard Englert, Provost Gregory Mandel, Board of Trustees Chair Mitch Morgan, student speaker Journee Lutz and former Temple student and Abbott Elementary star Quinta Brunson.

“This is a special campus,” Brunson said. “This is a special place. The TECH Center, man I used to be in there until 4 a.m. Not doing work, just talking and having fun. But all of this reminded me that I was an Owl at heart. This campus is very special and there’s no place like it in the world.”

Read more at the link in our bio.

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05/07/2024

ESSAY: Opinion Editor Claire Zeffer and Bradley McEntee, a sophomore English major, urge students to stop turning to social media influencers for political advocacy and instead seek to take action in their own life for more effective results.

“Social media and influencers can be a valuable resource, but they accomplish little if not also met with individual action. Despite the measurable influence popular social media users have, they may not be the most effective way to support vulnerable groups or causes.”

A student urges their peers to resist seeking political insight from social media influencers and instead make a difference through engaging in personal advocacy and action.

05/06/2024

ESSAY: During Sexual Assault Awareness Month and beyond, Chelsea Lubbe, a sophomore journalism major, reflects on learning to cope with sexual assault and how finding a space at Temple served as a healing tool.

“Ignoring it without speaking about it is just as painful as moving through it. I now understand that my voice is an important one. Because this issue is so intertwined with my life and how I experience it, I owe it to myself to take up space and speak up about my assault.”

A student reflects on her experience coping with sexual assault and how becoming comfortable at Temple served as a healing tool.

05/05/2024

Graduation is only a few days away... hear from some of our Spring 2024 & Fall 2024 seniors about their favorite newsroom memories from the past four years.

The Temple News' 2024 Commencement Issue is out now! Read more at the link in our bio and in newsstands around campus.

05/04/2024

EDITORIAL: The Editorial Board congratulates the Class of 2024 on their graduation and the great successes they have achieved despite unconventional circumstances.

Years of determination and unwavering perseverance have culminated in this moment, where students will walk across the stage to accept their diplomas and revel in the product of their hard work.

This year's seniors undoubtedly had a far-from-typical college journey, navigating online schooling, masks and social distancing all while trying to make the best of their social and academic lives at Temple. The Class of 2024 has weathered first-hand some of the greatest university-wide challenges Temple has faced, but despite it all, persisted with radiance and grace, emerging stronger than ever.

Now is the time to recognize the accomplishments and reflect on the successes achieved during this time. In the face of adversity, students made tremendous strides academically and in their extracurriculars, and they should be proud of themselves for contributing to the greater success of the Temple community.

“The Class of 2024 may have reached the end of their journey at Temple, but the positive impact they’ve had on the university and the world around them will never be forgotten. Temple may become just a memory, but it will forever be a home in the hearts of each student who has shared in their journey here.”

Class of 2024, congratulations! Years of determination and unwavering perseverance have culminated in this moment, where students will walk across the stage to accept their diplomas and revel in the product of their hard work. For many 2024 graduates, whose high school graduation was heavily impacte...

05/04/2024

s Temple closes out the 10th year of its Fly in 4 Graduation Partnership this May, the program’s sixth cohort, the Class of 2024, is preparing to walk for graduation.

Since 2014, nearly 40,000 students have enrolled in the partnership, and students in the most recent cohort graduated at a rate of 20% higher than students who did not participate.

Fly in 4 is an agreement between the university and students that keeps students on track with a four-year plan to reduce financial burden. Students agree to meet annual checkpoints, including meetings with an advisor every semester, registering for classes during priority registration and completing 30 credits each year.

Emma Halpin, a senior geology major who was removed from the program after failing to attend the required advising meetings, believes that the school fails to stress the importance of Fly in 4, leaving students like herself feeling disconnected.

“I started in the Fly in 4 program, and it's just really easy to fall out of it, and like we were saying, they don't put a lot of emphasis on it,” Halpin said. “I would never go to advising appointments because I forgot about them.”

As the Fly in 4 Graduation Partnership closes its 10th year, The Temple News reviewed the program’s progress and reputation among students.

05/03/2024

ESSAY: Public Engagement Coordinator Emily Lewis reflects on finding her most cherished communities at Temple by getting involved outside of her business major.

“Getting involved outside of Fox was the best thing that ever happened to me. It allowed me to explore more of who I was, outside of my degree. It’s important that I love my field of study in business, but I’ve learned that what’s on my diploma doesn’t have to define me.”

Public Engagement Coordinator Emily Lewis reflects on her experience at Temple and how her involvement in activities outside her major helped her grow as a person.

05/03/2024

Megan Fortier will intern for Pennsylvania State Sen. Sharif Street as a criminal justice legislative intern following graduation.

In her position at Street’s office, Fortier does hands-on criminal justice work, including developing a database for helping incarcerated constituents with transfers and appeals. She especially enjoys this kind of work because of its gratifying nature.

“It is so rewarding seeing people who might not have those resources and might not know where to go or who to talk to about the problems that they're having,” Fortier said. “Seeing them come in and leave happier than they were before saying, ‘Oh, I didn't even know about this, or, ‘I went to this place and they couldn't help me but I came here and you guys immediately turned my life around.’”

Megan Fortier will intern for the senator as a criminal justice legislative intern.

05/03/2024

SENIOR ESSAY: Assistant News Editor Oliver Sabo reflects on finding his passion through his experience in Temple’s journalism program and various student media outlets.

“Throughout my time at Temple, I committed to trying everything I could. All my experiences ultimately helped me find what I was passionate about, shaping the path I wanted to take after college.”

The greatest part about being a Klein student is being immersed in a culture of getting involved in extracurriculars. Our professors and mentors push us to get involved in everything we can. I would argue the hands-on experience gained in student media organizations is just as, if not more important than coursework for their major.

After working on my journalism degree and gaining experience in student media, I am so grateful for every endeavor I was involved in. I learned from some of the industry’s best mentors and made great friends who have such bright futures in journalism. I’m thankful that every experience was a necessary stop on the journey towards finding my passion.

Read more at the link in our bio.

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05/03/2024

SENIOR ESSAY: Director of Engagement Maggie Fitzgerald reflects on how her younger brother’s cancer diagnosis sparked the beginning of a life-long passion for storytelling.

“I can remember looking around the set at the CBS station in Spring Garden during our first year of being involved with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation. I was mesmerized by the lights, the cameras, the anchors. It was the first time I could picture my future. I didn’t fully realize it then, but I learned about the power of storytelling in real-time.”

Director of Audience Engagement Maggie Fitzgerald shares how her brother's cancer diagnosis fostered a love for journalism throughout her life.

05/03/2024

When former head coach Josh Nilson took over , he wanted to reimagine the program, but he needed the perfect athlete to do so. That athlete ended up being floor and beam specialist Brooke Donabedian.

Nilson hoped she would be the face of a redefined program, and she exceeded his expectations.

During Donabeidan’s four-year career, she broke records, qualified for several NCAA Regionals competitions and turned herself into a leader on the mat. Though Nilson left in 2023, Donabedian stayed put, hoping to finish what she was brought here to do: revitalize the program.

“She has raised the standard,” Nilson said. “We did things that no other program had ever done, but now they can look at what Brooke has done and realize, ‘You know what, it is possible here at Temple, and I can do it because it has been done.’”

Read more at the link in our bio.

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