Category Archives: News

Alumna behind same-sex marriage case heading to Supreme Court

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A federal lawsuit challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act set to be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court was filed by a Temple alumna, the New York Times reports.

Edith Windsor, an 83-year-old alumna, has challenged the federal law, specifically a section that prohibits same-sex spouses from receiving a number of benefits. That section has caused its fair share of costly problems for Windsor, whose wife, Thea Spyer, died in 2009 (because she wasn’t considered a spouse by the IRS, she’s paid more than $600,000 in taxes).

The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case last week.

Experts in the Times report seem to think Windsor’s story – specifically the emphasis on a perhaps-unequal tax level – will resonate with members of the highest court. How do you think the Supreme Court will stand on the issue?

Assembly meeting provides preview for TSG work next semester

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Amid the final days of classes and the stress over approaching final exams, Temple Student Government held their final General Assembly meeting on Monday.

The meeting provided a summation of the work TSG had accomplished during the fall semester and a small preview into spring semester.

Student Body President David Lopez first thanked his administration and all students who served on TSG committees and then provided a summary by the numbers of the work accomplished this semester.

Lopez said that TSG registered over 3,500 students to vote, 1,500 students for Temple Advocates Legislative Outreach Network, completed 990 hours of community service through TSG sponsored events, and started the Adopt-a-block initiative.

Lopez said that he did not want to register more than 2,000 students for TALON, because he wanted to make a push for registration next semester.

“Our goal is 4,500 [students], so according to our timeline we are exactly where we need to be. We didn’t want to register more than 2,000 this semester because it is more important to register them second semester closer to Cherry and White day,” Lopez said.

TSG takes students to the state capital in Harrisburg on Cherry and White Day to both advocate for higher education funding and thank legislators that fight for funding for Temple. Cherry and White Day is scheduled for March 5.

Lopez and TSG also plan to organize a large volunteer initiative on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. On Thursday, Dec. 6, TSG has a meeting with student activities, community relations, and alumni relations.

“[We will] talk about a coordinated effort towards something to do on MLK day. We want to make one coordinated effort to promote locations that are available and then assign student orgs and assign alumni groups to places and do community service on that day,” Lopez said.

The TSG administration is also in the preliminary phases in conjunction with university officials to create a class wait list in the self-service banner.

“We had a meeting with one of the vice-provosts and we talked to them about implanting the class wait list system into banner, so that students rather than registering for a class and trying to green card and finding out it is not available will [instead] be put on a waitlist and be notified when it becomes available, so that they can register,” Lopez said.

Lopez approximated that the wait-list will be implemented during the summer semesters, according to his discussions with university officials.

The TSG general assembly will reconvene in late January to begin work for the Spring 2013 semester.

Laura Detter can be reached at laura.detter@temple.edu.

Swarthmore students attacked on Temple study-abroad trip

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Three Pennsylvania college students were injured while studying abroad in Rome on Nov. 21, according to media reports. The students, who attend Swarthmore College, were in Temple’s study abroad program in Rome when the incident occurred.

Nicholas Burnett, Nick Constantino and Zachary Schaffer were at The Drunken Ship, a bar in Rome’s Campo de’Fiori, when Italian soccer fans allegedly attacked fans of the visiting team, England’s Tottenham, the reports state.

Swarthmore College said Burnett, who was hospitalized with a back wound, remains hospitalized, but is in good condition. Constantino and Schaffer both sustained minor injuries, but did not require hospitalization.

“This terrible episode has been very difficult for those directly affected by it, as well as their close family and friends. We are deeply relieved and grateful that our students are all recovering well and we look forward to welcoming them back to campus next semester,” said Swarthmore Dean Liz Braun.

Police looking for suspect wanted in subway robbery

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Philadelphia Police are looking for a man who they said took a 17-year-old girl’s phone at the Susquehanna-Dauphin stop on the Broad Street Line last week.

On Nov. 5, the girl entered the subway at the Olney stop and, after a short time, the man approached her, took the phone and fled the train, police said. The girl chased the man, but could not catch up to him.

The suspect is described by police as a black male of light complexion, wearing an orange hooded sweatshirt and black pants.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Central Detective Division of the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-3093.

Police investigating series of off campus robberies

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Philadelphia Police are investigating three robberies off campus between Sunday Nov. 11, and Monday Nov. 12, according to a TU Advisory. The robberies, involving students, took place west of Main Campus.

The first robbery was on Sunday at 8:45 a.m., on the 2000 block of North 18th Street. The suspect is described as a 30-year-old, black male, 5 feet 9 inches, wearing a black “beanie” cap, blue puffy coat and blue jeans, the advisory stated.

Nearly 12 hours later the next robbery was committed on the 1600 block of West Edgley Street. The advisory described that suspect as a black male, wearing a red hooded sweatshirt with the hood covering his face.

On Monday at 6 p.m., the third robbery was committed on the 2100 block of North 16th Street by a suspect described as a black male, 6-foot-1-inch, of thin build, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt and black baggy jeans, according to the advisory.

Police have stepped up patrols in the area and anyone with information is asked to contact  Temple Police at 215-204-1234.

Police looking for three suspects in cell phone robbery last month

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Philadelphia Police are investigating a cell phone theft took place on Oct. 9, at 9:10 a.m., on the 1700 block of Diamond Street.

The victim was walking along the block when three males allegedly snuck up behind the victim and snatched the cell phone from his possession. The victim chased the offenders for several blocks before stopping his pursuit around 18th and French streets. Video surveillance has also caught two males believed to be the suspects.

The first suspect is said to be a black male who is 20 to 30 years old, has a mustache, and was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt. The second suspect is described as a black male in dark clothing. No description was provided for the third suspect.

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

-Cindy Stansbury

Officials report an abundance of students using provisional ballots

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At least several hundred first-time voters in Philadelphia and the surrounding area were forced to vote provisionally Tuesday after their names weren’t on register lists in various polling places, a PennPIRG press release indicated.

There have been reports from multiple Temple students who have said they were directed to vote provisionally in polling places off-campus despite registering to vote on time and properly.

At polling places on 10th and Oxford streets and 16th and Berks streets, Temple students were separated into “college lines” and voted provisionally, multiple students said.

One Temple student said he was forced to vote provisionally at the Amos Recreation Center at 16th and Berks streets without giving his name or offering his voter registration card.

Some reports indicate late registration by students has been the cause of the mixup, but the press release warned the city didn’t update its rolls after Philadelphia was redistricted following the 2010 U.S. Census.

Multiple news outlets have projected Barack Obama will carry Pennsylvania in the 2012 Presidential Election.