Three fire trucks pulled in front of Wachmann Hall as the building was evacuated around 1 p.m. The cause of the evacuation, smoke caused by a student microwaving a hamburger wrapped in aluminum foil, according to a Temple Lucky Cup employee.
According to the employee, a student microwaved the hamburger and proceeded to throw it into a garbage can. The can began to smoke, causing the building to evacuate.
The building was empty for less than an hour and normal operations have resumed.
Praise Martin-Oguike, a former linebacker for the football team charged with rape and sexual assault, had his court hearing postponed Thursday morning after signing a waiver to delay his proceedings until July 31.
Martin-Oguike faces charges stemming from a May 26 incident in his 1940 Residence Hall dorm room in which a woman alleges the former football player raped and sexually assaulted her. Martin-Oguike has been suspended from the football team pending the charges.
James Funt, Martin-Oguike’s attorney, maintained his client’s innocence in a press release on June 14.
“Praise Martin-Oguike’s entire life and liberty have been jeopardized by these unfounded accusations,” Funt said. “Pending the final resolution of this matter he has been unjustly expelled from school, his collegiate scholarship funding has been revoked and he has been kicked off the football team based solely on uncorroborated accusations. We look forward to presenting the full story before a jury as soon as possible.”
Martin-Oguike, football coach Steve Addazio and Funt were not available for comment Thursday.
Khalif Wyatt, the men’s basketball team’s second-leading scorer last season, was arrested along with 27 other people in Atlantic City, N.J., Sunday morning.
Wyatt is reportedly facing charges that include soliciting a prostitute and resisting arrest, according to multiple news outlets. Charges assert that a prostitute who was actually an undercover police officer was solicited in the New Jersey town. Others arrested at the time are facing drug charges.
“I apologize to my family, teammates, coaches and Temple University for the embarrassment that I have caused,” Wyatt said in a statement. “I was in Atlantic City this past weekend celebrating my 21st birthday with friends and exercised very poor judgment by allowing myself and my friends to be put in a compromising situation. I intend to cooperate with the authorities during their investigation and the legal process.”
Whether Wyatt will face disciplinary action from the university stemming from the incident is currently unknown.
“We have just become aware of the charges and are still gathering information at this point,” Larry Dougherty, senior associate athletic director for communications, said in a statement.
Check temple-news.com for more information.
[Updated at 11:23 p.m.]
