Category Archives: News

SEPTA makes preliminary plan to restore some services Tuesday afternoon

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SEPTA may restore limited service tomorrow, Oct. 30, pending the outcome of an assessment of its facilities, equipment and infrastructure in the early morning.

The transportation authority released a press release today, Oct. 29, indicating its hope of reimplementing some service Tuesday. The Broad Street and Market-Frankford lines would resume first, followed by bus and trolley services, the statement reads.

SEPTA temporarily shut its services down at 12:30 a.m. this morning, in preparation for Hurricane Sandy.

“Other modes of service – Regional Rail, Norristown High Speed Line and Route 101 and 102 Trolleys – which operate in areas prone to flooding and track obstructions, may be slower to return to service,” the statement states.

Based on Amtrak’s notification that its Northeast Corridor service will be disrupted until Wednesday, Oct. 31, the release notes, some Regional Rail Lines will be suspended until further notice. Those lines include: Paoli/ Thorndale Line, Airport Line, Chestnut Hill West Line, Wilmington/Newark Line, Cynwyd Line, and Trenton Line.

SEPTA also said that it is unlikely the Norristown/Manayunk Line will operate tomorrow.

The authority’s review of its services will take approximately 6 hours and be done with the city’s Office of Emergency Management.

Continue to check Broad & Cecil and temple-news.com for Temple-related coverage of the hurricane.

As Sandy approaches, TTN delays print edition

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The Temple News will print its weekly print edition Thursday, Nov. 1.

The paper is delaying the release of the paper two days, ensuring the safety of its staff members until Hurricane Sandy passes.

The university announced yesterday, Oct. 28, that campus buildings would close in preparation for the hurricane dubbed “Frankenstorm.”

In the meantime, TTN encourages those in the Temple community to submit photos of storm damage or news updates from the area to the paper, for redistribution on temple-news.com or in its print edition.

Have something you’d like to share, or for us to look into? Comment below or email editor@temple-news.com.

Continue to check Broad & Cecil and temple-news.com, or follow us on Twitter @TheTempleNews for Temple-related coverage of the hurricane.

Temple closes classes

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Temple will close all classes and activities Monday and Tuesday, according to a TU Alert sent out at 1:52 p.m. Sunday.

Dining Services will remain open, but all campuses will be closed. Essential personnel were advised to report as necessary.

Stay tuned to The Temple News for information on closures and Hurricane Sandy.

Mayor Nutter declares state of emergency

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Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has issued a state of emergency for the city, beginning at 5 p.m. Sunday, and lasting until at least 5 p.m. Tuesday, due to severe weather conditions caused by Hurricane Sandy.

In a press conference Saturday, Nutter issued a simple message to Philadelphia residents, “have a plan, be prepared, and then be prepared to take action.” The mayor added “we are encouraging residents in this city to please stay inside during the height of this storm.”

Nutter said that three emergency shelters would be open in the city at West Philadelphia High School, Roxburough High School, and Samuel Fels High School. The closest shelter to Temple is Fels High School located 6.4 miles away at 5500 Langdon St.

Nutter warned that the storm could cause extensive power outages, as well as flash flooding in certain areas of the city. The city will place robo-calls to residents of the East Germantown area of the city, warning them of the hazards of flash flooding.

Nutter said the city had not closed off any streets, but may do so in response to rising flood waters.

Temple has not cancelled any classes as of Saturday, however officials said they will monitor the weather and remain in talks about canceling classes.

Hurricane Sandy is the first hurricane to reach the East Coast this season. She is expected to make landfall on the Delaware or southern New Jersey shore late Monday or early Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service, which as issued a flood and coastal flood watches along with a high wind watch for Philadelphia County.

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

Campus prepares for Hurricane Sandy

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The National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration has issued a hazardous weather outlook for Philadelphia and surrounding counties in the Delaware Valley region in preparation for Hurricane Sandy, which is projected to make landfall in the Chesapeake Bay area early next week, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Reports from the NHC said that while Sandy weakened slightly over the Bahamas, the storm still has a maximum sustained wind speed of 75 mph, and is moving up the coast at 7 mph.

Beginning on Monday, the National Weather Service predicts tropical storm conditions in Philadelphia, continuing until Tuesday with rain lingering into Wednesday evening. Heavy snow fall is also predicted for more inland areas of the East Coast.

Deputy Director of Campus Safety Services Charlie Leone said that the university has been working to prepare for the storm by cleaning sewers and drainage pipes, securing trash can lids, going over emergency procedures and keeping up to date on the forecast.

Leone also said that while the university is taking steps to ensure a safety, students, especially those living off-campus, need to use the weekend to make sure they are stocked up with proper emergency equipment such as food, water, and batteries, as well as keeping track of the weather reports.

“Keep in mind what would happen if your power were to go out, would you have enough things to sustain you?,” Leone said.

Leone said that CSS will continue to look at weather reports and talk with university officials into next week regarding class and program closures, as well as the use of the TU Alert system.

Students and faculty can contact Temple Emergency Preparedness and Continuity Planning at tuready@temple.edu. Additionally, those in need of help can call CSS at 215-204-1234 or call 911.

The Temple News will continue to monitor and report on the latest campus news regarding Hurricane Sandy.

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

Englert annouces search for permanent provost

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Acting President Richard Englert, on the behalf of future President Neil Theobald, announced Wednesday the start of an internal search process to find a new provost and senior vice president of academic affairs.

Theobald will take over the role of president beginning on Jan. 1. A search committee formed by the Executive Office of the President and the Department of Human Resources will propose a new candidate to Theobald no later than Feb. 1, according to a press release sent by Englert.

Nominees will be chosen from current tenured professors by a search committee composed of tenured and tenure track professors, deans, a university officer, Student Body President David Lopez or someone of his choosing, one graduate student nominated by the Graduate School, and a non-faculty staff member chosen by Englert.

Candidates are expected to have teaching as well as administrative experience, and experience with funded research projects, according to the press release.

Acting Provost Hai-Lung Dai has served as provost of the university since July 1, when Englert left the position to take over as acting president. The press release did not mention Dai.

Englert said the need to to fill interim dean positions as one of the main reasons for begining the search for a new permanent provost. There are currently five interim or acting deans at four colleges and University Libraries.

“The provost is one of the most important roles in the university, after that of the president. The provost provides vision and leadership for and oversight of our academic units and our core mission,” Englert said.

Campaign to update contact information begins

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The university began a campaign Wednesday to update the addresses of all university students.

The campaign was announced by Dean of Students Stephanie Ives in an email Tuesday evening. She said the process should be short and will help the university in planning for the future.

“The entire process should take fewer than two minutes and keeping your contact information current with the University will assist us in planning for the future,” Ives said in the email.

The university is collecting the information through two questions that appear in a “pop-up window” after signing into TUportal. The first question confirms the student’s permanent address and is followed by a question pertaining to the student’s living address during the academic year.

The Temple News reported Tuesday that the process would begin today as part of two recommendations that have been approved from the Community and Student Off Campus Issues and Concerns Task Force’s report.

Trial set for ex-football player

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The trial for Praise Martin-Oguike, a former football player who was arrested and charged with rape and sexual assault in June, was set for March 4, 2013 at a scheduling conference this morning.

Martin-Oguike was not present at the conference. He was suspended from the football team and the university pending the outcome of his criminal proceedings upon his arrest. Whether Martin-Oguike has appeared at a Temple Student Conduct hearing is unclear, but his lawyer said he won’t be in school this year.

Martin-Oguike’s defense presented a forensic report before the court at the scheduling conference. The report, conducted by former Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Jonathan Arden, offers conclusions different from the claims made by the complainant in this case, a 21-year old female who said she was strangled and forcibly raped, Martin-Oguike’s lawyer said.

The prosecution will have 60 days to review the report before having the opportunity to submit a rebuttal at a status report scheduled for Dec. 14. A pre-trial was also scheduled for Feb. 28, 2013.

Kamal Johnson, a defensive tackle for the football team, was arrested on Oct. 5 and charged with kidnapping and assault. He was suspended from the football team, but his status as a student at the university has not changed, the university announced yesterday.

Sorority pledges announced on steps of Bell Tower

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Sorority rushes became pledges tonight after officially receiving their bids during an event held in front of the Bell Tower.

Hundreds of sisters, clad in the pinks, blues, and greens representing their respective sororities crowded in front of the Bell Tower while the pledges, who had been informed whether they received a bid earlier in the afternoon, lined up on the steps of Paley Library dressed mostly in sweatshirts.

As their names were announced through a megaphone above cheering crowds, the new pledges were led around the back of the Bell Tower and onto the steps where they presented their lettered T-shirts before rushing into the awaiting arms of the sisters of their sororities.

Afterwards, each sorority held a different event where pledges were told of the next steps in the process to become sisters.

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.