Category Archives: News

Temple Rome students witness Papal Conclave

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Amongst the crowd gathered yesterday in St. Peter’s Square to witness the announcement of the next pope, stood several Temple students studying abroad in Rome who were able to witness the historic event first hand.

Several of these students spoke to The Temple News about their experiences, sharing tales of crying, cheering, and sheer excitement after the white smoke began pouring out of the chimney atop the Sistine Chapel.

If Mike Madeja, who is spending his spring semester at Temple Rome could describe the event in one word, it would be “surreal.”

The conclave, which ended on March 13 after just two days and five rounds of voting, elected Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina to become Pope Francis.

The conclave was scheduled following the stunning resignation of Pope Benedict XVI on Feb. 28.

Two Temple students in the square, identified only as Mike and Mark, were interviewed on national television by NBC News.

For the complete story and more student testimonies, check the print copy of The Temple News on Tuesday, March 19.

John Moritz can be reached at john.moritz@temple.edu, or on Twitter @JCMoritzTU.

TSG gears up for Owls on the Hill

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Temple Student Government is preparing to hold it’s third annual Owls on the Hill day in Harrisburg on Tuesday, March 19, along with what it hopes will be a record number of student attendees and the Office of Government, Community and Public Affairs.

TSG Student Body President David Lopez said that he hopes 100 to 150 students will show up for the event, and that 268 have already registered online. Lopez said that last year, about 70 students showed up out of a registration of 158.

To increase turnout, Lopez and TSG reached out to students at the Ambler Campus, as well as recent alumni.

While in Harrisburg students will be split into groups of 10 to 15 and  meet with state representatives or their staffs and share their Temple stories with the hope of encouraging state funding for the university.

To prepare for this year’s event, TSG founded the Owl Advocate Academy to train student leaders for the event. The 45 students who went through the academy this year will help lead the student groups that traverse the state capitol lobbying for higher education funds.

In February, Gov. Tom Corbett proposed to flat fund the university at $139.9 million, for the commonwealth’s 2013-14 fiscal year budget. The budget must still be passed by the State Senate and House of Representatives.

While Lopez said that the flat funding is better than the governor’s previous proposed cuts, TSG is not content with flat funding and will continue to fight for Temple’s funding.

TSG is still accepting registration for the event. Students who wish to do so can at http://www.temple.edu/government/onthehill/. Transportation and lunch are provided by TSG.

Police identify third suspect in robbery, assault of students

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City police today publicly identified the third suspect sought in connection with last week’s robbery and assault of four Temple students as 24-year-old Elijah Washington.

Elijah Wahington is the third suspect believed to have robbed and assaulted four Temple students last week. | COURTESY PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT

Elijah Washington is the third suspect sought in the robbery and assault of four Temple students last week. | COURTESY PHILADELPHIA POLICE DEPARTMENT

The Philadelphia Police Department in a press release asked for public assistance in locating Washington, who may be in the area near the Wilson Park Housing Development, at 25th and Jackson streets, or in Southwest Philadelphia, near 52nd and Pentridge streets.

Last Monday, March 4, three men followed a Temple student to her off-campus apartment around 7:30 p.m. on the 1800 block of North 18th Street.

When she opened the door to her apartment, a man stuck a black revolver to her head and told her to keep walking, authorities said. After they gained entry to the apartment, one man duct taped the student while the other two bound the other three roommates in the front bedroom and took cash, computers, credit cards and cell phones from the students, police said.

Days after the incident, city police identified two other suspects in connection with the robberies: Tyree Johnson, 19, and Malcolm Murray, 18, both of North Philadelphia, were charged with aggravated assault, robbery and false imprisonment and related offenses.

Their bail was set at $800,000 each and they are scheduled to have a preliminary hearing on March 21, Tasha Jamerson, spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office, said.

Anyone with information on Washington’s whereabouts are asked to contact the PPD’s Central Detective Division at 215-686-3093, or dial 911.

Police release names of two arrested in robbery of four students

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Police identified two suspects who were arrested Wednesday in connection with Monday’s robbery of four roommates west of Main Campus.

Tyree Johnson, 19, and Malcolm Murray, 18, of North Philadelphia were charged with aggravated assault, robbery and false imprisonment and related offenses. Their bail was set at $800,000 each and they are scheduled to have a preliminary hearing will be held on March 21, Tasha Jamerson, spokeswoman for the District Attorney’s Office, said.

On Monday, three men followed a Temple student to her off-campus apartment around 7:30 p.m. on 1800 block of North 18th Street. When she opened the door to her apartment, a man stuck a black revolver to her head and told her to keep walking, police said. After they gained entry to the apartment, one man duct taped the student while the other two bound the other three roommates in the front bedroom and took cash, computers, credit cards and cell phones from the students, police said.

A third suspect is still at large, though police said Wednesday that they know who the suspect is.

Car crashes into steps between Anderson and Gladfelter

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This minivan crashed into the steps between Anderson and Gladfelter halls Wednesday. | TYLER SABLICH TTN

This minivan crashed into the steps between Anderson and Gladfelter halls Wednesday. | TYLER SABLICH TTN

The driver of a minivan that swerved off of 11th Street and into the steps on Polett Walk between Anderson and Gladfelter halls Wednesday afternoon will soon be charged with DUI, said Deputy Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone.

The crash occurred at approximately 12:20 p.m. and no students were injured. All three people in the minivan were taken to Temple University Hospital for precautionary evaluations for head and neck injuries, Leone said.

“We are very fortunate no one was walking along Polett Walk at the time of the accident,” Leone said in an email.

The area of the steps was cornered off as of Wednesday evening as Facilities Management cleans up. Leone said minimal damage was caused to Temple property and people walking through the area can utilize the ramp adjacent to the steps.

Pearson & McGonigle Halls outfitted with posters

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The exterior of Pearson & McGonigle halls were recently adorned with several giant posters of Temple student-athletes competing in various sports.

The planning and design staff of university communications worked with facilities management to put up the signs, which contain the likenesses of student-athletes from the basketball teams, the field hockey team and the lacrosse team, among other sports.

The posters, which are displayed on the south side of McGonigle Hall on Montgomery Street and on the west side on 15th Street, were put up as a final touch of the construction on the recreation halls that were completed last year.

Temple student crowned Miss Philadelphia

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Temple student Francesca Ruscio was crowned Miss Philadelphia on Saturday, March 2. The 20-year-old broadcast journalism major was one of out 17 women competing for the title, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Ruscio, according to the Inquirer, has overcome polycysic ovary syndrome, which she was diagnosed with two years ago.

Ruscio will now advance to compete for the title of Miss Pennsylvania.

TTN wins nine 2013 Student Keystone Press Awards

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The Temple News secured nine awards from the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association yesterday, March 4. The Student Keystone Press Awards recognize student journalists throughout Pennsylvania.
TTN’s website won best website of all four-year schools in Pennsylvania. The site was redesigned by TTN Web Editor Chris Montgomery this past summer. Also, TTN took home four other first place awards in the feature story, personality profile, columnist and sports story categories.
In addition, TTN won two second place awards in the feature story and cartoon/graphic illustration categories as well as honorable mention in the column and editorial categories.

First Friday Weekends to begin March 1

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First Friday isn’t just for Fridays anymore.

Old City will extend the Friday fun of exhibit openings to the rest of the weekend in the form of First Friday Weekends. The new events will include Stop-In Saturdays and Brunch & Browse Sundays.

The first First Friday Weekend will begin March 1.

Exhibits involved in March’s First Friday include “The Painterly Pursuits of Brian Keeler” at Rodger LaPelle Galleries, The Betsy Ross House Opening Reception and taxidermist Beth Beverly’s “Life on the Farm at Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” Beverly is an alumna of the Tyler School of Art. Check back with The Temple News in coming weeks for an interview with Beverly on her exhibit.

Edge contract not renewed

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The university will not renew its contract with the Edge Student Village this year, in anticipation of the opening of 1,275 at Mitchell and Hilarie Morgan Hall this fall, Associate Vice President of Student Life Michael Scales said.

The university has renewed a one year contract with the building’s company Campus Living Villages every year since the Edge opened in 2006, Scales said.

The university leased roughly 750 beds from the complex, which sits one block from campus at 1601 N. 15th St.

Students will still have the opportunity to rent from the Edge, but will no longer be able to do so through the university’s Residential Life system.

Check out the full story in The Temple News on Tuesday, March 5.