Author Archives: Sean Carlin

Judge puts injunction on voter ID law

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A judge today temporarily halted Pennsylvania’s voter identification law for the upcoming election, according to media reports.

The judge ruled that voters for the election on Nov. 6, could be asked to provide photo ID, but could still vote even if they didn’t produce the appropriate identification. The law was passed through the legislature and signed by Gov. Tom Corbett in March.

Political groups on Main Campus were split on the issue at the time of the bill’s signing and some students pushed Temple to redesign the Owl Cards to make the IDs a suitable form of voter identification. Temple unveiled a new design for the cards in April, and put the IDs into service this semester.

Pick up The Temple News on Tuesday, Oct. 9, for reaction from the judge’s decision.

Suspect wanted for robberies near 18th and Diamond

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Philadelphia Police are looking for suspects wanted in connection with a series of strong-armed robberies in the area of 18th and Diamond streets between Aug. 23 and Sept 10.

On Aug. 30, at 5:00 p.m., a 21-year-old woman was robbed on the 1800 block of Diamond Street when a man grabbed her wallet which contained her identification and credit cards. About an hour later, a woman was caught on surveillance video using the victim’s credit cards at a grocery store on the 1800 block of Diamond Street

A few days later on Sept. 2, at 12:30 p.m., a man was forced into a doorway by the male suspect who took the victim’s iPhone out of his pocket and fled. 

The suspect is described as a 17 to 20-year-old black man of medium build and medium complexion with a beard. He was seen wearing a green shirt and blue jeans.

Authorities are unclear whether the robberies are connected or if the suspects are working together.

Anyone with information on this is asked to contact the Central Detective Division at 215-686-3093/94.

Off-campus shooting leaves student in the hospital

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One student is in the hospital and one suspect is in custody after a shooting early Sunday morning.

According to a TU Advisory sent out at 5:29 a.m., the student was shot at about 3:30 a.m. on the 1900 block of Gratz Street. The student was taken to Temple Hospital and is expected to be released.

Anyone with information should call the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-3093.

Ambler sees reduction in shuttle bus service

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In a letter to students Tuesday, Executive Director of Temple Ambler William Parshall announced that there will be fewer shuttle services between the Ambler Campus and Main Campus this year.

Parshall said in the letter that because of cuts to services made in order to maintain a level base tuition this year, there will be fewer shuttle buses connecting Main Campus to the Ambler Campus this fall.

Starting Aug. 27, there will be bus service from Ambler to Main Campus from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., with no shuttles at 7:35 p.m., 8:35 p.m. or 10:35 p.m. Also, buses will run from Main Campus to Ambler from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. with no shuttles at 8:30 p.m., 9:15 p.m. or 11:05 p.m.

Parshall said in the email that shuttle service between the Ambler Campus and Ambler Train Station will not be impacted by these changes.

Student robbed on northern end of Main Campus

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A suspect is in custody after allegedly robbing a Temple student on Diamond Street near Broad late Monday morning, according to a TU Advisory.

The TU Advisory was sent out at 12:51 p.m. and said that at 10:45 a.m., a student reported being robbed on Diamond Street and shortly after, police arrested a person matching the description of the offender and a weapon believed to be used by the suspect.

Click here for more on this incident.  

TUHS names president and CEO of TUH

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Temple University Health System announced Friday that John Kastanis, interim chief executive officer of Temple University Hospital, has been appointed president and CEO of the hospital.

Kastanis will also be in charge of the Episcopal and Northeastern campuses, the TUH Bone Marrow Transplant Program located at Jeanes Hospital and the Temple Transport Team, TUHS said.

Kastanis has served as interim CEO of TUH since December.

Theobald set to become university’s 10th president

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Nearly 11 months after former president Ann Weaver Hart announced that she would not be returning to Temple this summer, the Presidential Search Committee announced in an email that it will recommend Neil Theobald, senior vice president and chief financial officer at Indiana University, to become Temple’s next president.

Patrick J. O’Connor, chairman of the Board of Trustees and the Presidential Search Committee said in an email Friday morning that Theobald will be recommended to the Board of Trustees on Aug. 7, and pending the trustees’ vote, will become president on Jan. 1.

“After reviewing…submissions and interviewing dozens of candidates, we came to the unanimous decision that Neil Theobald has the experience, vision and proven track record to lead this great university,” O’Connor said.

O’Connor said that Theobald’s record as a teacher and his dedication for making education affordable and accessible, made him an ideal candidate for president.

“At Indiana, he made the tough decisions demanded by our times, while creating greater opportunities for student scholarship,” O’Connor said. “I can’t think of a better set of values to bring to the Temple presidency.”

Theobald will be on Main Campus Monday and Tuesday to meet with students and faculty and to attend the Board of Trustees meeting.

Check back with temple-news.com for more information on Temple’s new president.

Shots fired west of Main Campus

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A 19-year-old man is in the hospital after suffering a gunshot wound to the head west of Main Campus late Wednesday night, police said.

Deputy Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said that at 11:20 p.m., the man, who is not affiliated with Temple, was shot in the head on Cecil B. Moore Avenue near 17th Street. Leone said that Philadelphia Police took the victim to Temple Hospital, where he is listed in stable condition.

The suspect is described as a black man wearing a black hoody, white t-shirt, blue jeans and a green hat. He was last seen heading south on Bouvier Street from Cecil B. Moore Avenue.

President announces task force to review Freeh report

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In light of former FBI Director Louis Freeh’s scathing report of Penn State’s handling of the Jerry Sandusky child-sex abuse scandal, a task force has been set up at Temple to review the findings of the report.

The task force, chaired by JoAnne Epps, dean of the Beasley School of Law, was created on July 17, and will be charged with reviewing the report and making any recommendations to modify Temple’s policies and procedures.

“I believe every university should take Judge Freeh’s report as an opportunity to review its own policies and procedures,” Acting President Richard Englert said in an email.

Nine other university administrators will join Epps as members of the task force and three others will staff it, according to the email.

The Freeh report alleged that Penn State officials failed to act to protect the children that Sandusky abused. “The most powerful men at Penn State failed to take any steps for 14 years to protect the children who Sandusky victimized,” Freeh said in a press release.

The members of the task force will provide a final report on their findings by September 15. University officials declined to comment on the task force past the press release.

Child shot east of Main Campus

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A 10-year-old is in the hospital after a shooting east of Main Campus Friday night.

Police responded to 11th and Norris streets just after 10 p.m. and found the child shot in the leg, according to a TU Advisory sent out at 11:38 p.m.

The suspect is described as a black male wearing a blue and white sweatsuit. He was last seen heading north on Marvine Street. Anyone with information is asked to call 911 immediately.