Snow-fueled bitterness ensues

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It appears as though students aren’t yet over the university’s decision to remain open, despite severe weather conditions, last Thursday, Jan. 27.

While a Facebook group and iPetition, calling for the university to reconsider its policies when it comes to weather conditions, were started in response to the university’s decision, a new Facebook group has popped up on the web. Though this one is a little less serious and, presumably, a bit more sarcastic.

A new Facebook group, “If the world ends in 2012, at least Temple University will still be open,” was recently started and already has over 3,000 “likes.” My guess is that it has a tiny bit to do with last Thursday’s events.

At least the university now knows the cyber-unity students are willing to forge in the midst of class during snowfall — or an apocalypse.

Fencing upsets two Top 10 teams

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Temple’s fencing squad, which is currently No. 9 in nation, will see itself rising in the rankings after defeating No. 2 Penn State and No. 8 Penn at the Penn State Multi-Meet on Saturday.

The Owls defeated the host and defending NCAA National Champion Nittany Lions, 14-13, and took down the Quakers, 17-10. The team also defeated North Carolina and Drew with its only loss of the weekend coming to Duke, 16-11.

The team was lead by the individual efforts of junior Kamali Thompson, who went 9-1 in sabre and sophomore Mikayla Varadi and freshman Epiphany Georges each went 8-2 in foil. The team will return to McGonigle Hall on Feb. 27 after spending nearly a month on the road.

Young sledders take to Mt. Temple

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While many students spent the day fussing about the latest installment of Snowmageddon, and the university’s decision to not close the university, other people saw the silver-lining: a snow-clad pile of dirt.

Shortly after 6 p.m., a group of people, who appeared to be local middle- to high-school aged youngsters, were seen taking to the dirt mound adjacent to the Dirt Lot for some good, old-fashioned sledding.

The Dirt Lot, at 11th Street and Montgomery Avenue, is infamously known for its risky, unregulated parking space. Did its neighboring dirt mound become an intermediate alp for the young sledders, or a temporary safety hazard?

Boarding on a snow day

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Feel like snowboarding in the city? Red Bull’s MXT is at the Philadelphia Art Museum riding hand rails right now, but as part of its Blizzard Assault is coming to Main Campus between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Can you guess the most influential college on Twitter? Temple’s No. 8

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According to a ranking system by Klout.com, a website used to measure one’s online significance, Temple’s official twitter account (@templeuniv) is ranked No. 8 when it comes to influential colleges on Twitter.

Each college was ranked on a scale of 1-100, with 100 being more significant. A college’s score was determining 35 different factors, including how many people the twitter account reaches, how often your tweets are retweeted and how influential your followers are.

Temple’s score was 53. Stanford came in No. 1 with a score of 70.

For the full list, visit Klout.com

Stay warm by covering your ears with… hamburgers?

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While some students are choosing skull caps, sweatshirt hoods or even Russian hats to keep their ears warm this winter, others are choosing earmuffs.

But these earmuffs aren’t your typical furry wonders that can double as ear plugs. Seen around campus today: hamburger earmuffs, bunny earmuffs and pink heart earmuffs.

Would you get toasty with a furry creature on both sides of your head?

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Yes, you still have class

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Contrary to what your groggy self might have thought at 6:10 a.m. when checking the TU Alerts, you still have class. Disregard the unnecessary “l” in “canceled” and the fact that “classes” was capitalized and on a new line of its own. That 8 a.m. dangler at the top meant classes were only canceled for the early birds this morning.

See you in the slushy Anderson and Gladfelter walkway three minutes before a class starts, undoubtedly.

Law student stabbed in Northern Liberties

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A 31-year old Temple Law student was stabbed in the neck Monday night in Northern Liberties.  According to Philly.com, the student was taking things out of his car when he was attacked.   A 56-year-old man was stabbed in the chest and died shortly after about a block away earlier that night.

As of last night, the student was in critical condition at Hahnemann University Hospital.

For more information, check out Philly.com’s coverage of what police are calling “random” stabbings.

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/local/20110112_Cops__2_Northern_Liberties_stabbings_appear_random.html

Football team officially announces Wilkerson’s draft decision

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The football team has issued a press release that confirms that junior defensive tackle Muhammad Wilkerson will enter the NFL Draft.

“I enjoyed my time at Temple University,” Wilkerson said in the release. “It was a good experience for me. I’m thankful for the opportunity for a scholarship and for an education. I promise to come back and get my degree. I’m definitely going to miss my teammates and being a student-athlete at Temple.”

Experts vary on where Wilkerson could be drafted. Most have him leaving the board around the third round, but CBSSports’ Rob Rang released a mock draft yesterday that featured Wilkerson being drafted No. 26 overall in the first round by the New Orleans Saints.