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Fox School of Business To Begin Renovation Project

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The project will provide 77,000 square feet of space, including an atrium.

Fox School of Business has received approval to begin renovations on the building across from Fox’s Alter Hall.

The building, which is located at 1810 Liacouras Walk, will undergo renovations beginning in August. The project is expected to be complete by the start of the 2018-19 academic year, which coincides with Fox’s 100th anniversary.

The expansion will provide 77,000 square feet of additional space to meet the needs of Fox’s growing population. The extra space, including an atrium and an additional floor, will be used for classrooms and to improve the accessibility of the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Institute.

“I am pleased that we have received approval to begin this important project,” said Dean of the Fox School of Business, M. Moshe Porat. “The growth of our student body and our faculty is a testament to the momentum of our school and the rankings our academic programs have attained. The space at 1810 Liacouras Walk will support our commitment to several of our academic pillars, and improve the accessibility of services we provide.”

The renovation will feature a skywalk connecting Speakman Hall and 1810 Liacouras Walk.

The outward appearance of 1810 Liacouras Walk will not be altered since it is protected as part of the city’s Park Avenue Historic District. Part of the project includes constructing an enclosed skywalk connecting the third floor of Speakman Hall and the fourth floor of 1810 Liacouras Walk, which will allow for easier travel between buildings.

The expansion of 1810 Liacouras Walk was recently approved by the Temple University Board of Trustees and the Philadelphia Historical Commission. The project is being funded through school and philanthropic contributions.

Cosby Trial Ruled Mistrial After Jury Deadlocks

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Cosby leaves the courthouse after the jury failed to reach a unanimous decision. (Courtesy of AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

On Saturday, Judge Steven O’Neill of the Bill Cosby sexual assault trial declared a mistrial after the jury was deadlocked.

The jury for the Norristown, Pennsylvania trial deliberated for more than 52 hours over 6 days on charges that Cosby drugged and molested a woman over a decade ago. The jury could not reach a unanimous decision on any of the three counts against Cosby, therefore unable to reach a verdict. District Attorney Kevin Steele plans to put him on trial a second time.

“She has shown such courage through this, and we are in awe of what she has done,” Steele said of accuser Andrea Constand. “She’s entitled to a verdict in this case.”

Over two years, 60 women have accused Cosby of sexual assault, with Constand’s accusation being the only to result in criminal charges.

None of the jurors, who were from the Pittsburgh area approximately 300 miles away from the courthouse, commented after the trial. It was not made clear how many jurors wanted to convict or acquit.

Judge Steven O’Neill comforted the jurors by saying their work was “one of the more courageous acts, one of the more selfless acts that I’ve seen in the justice system,” and he reminded prosecutors and the defense that “a mistrial is neither vindication nor victory for anybody.”

Main Campus Prepares for Upcoming Safety Drill

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The simulated active-shooter scenario will take place at Peabody Hall, pictured, on Temple University’s Main Campus.

Campus Safety Services and Emergency Medical Services have announced plans to conduct a simulated active-shooter drill on Temple University’s Main Campus. The drill will begin at approximately 8 a.m. on June 7 at Peabody Hall.

In a mass e-mail sent to students and staff, Charles Leone, Temple’s Executive Director of Public Safety, expressed the importance of being prepared in the event of a campus emergency.

“Preparedness exercises are a critical component of emergency management efforts at any college or university,” Leone says. “Through the training, as well as many other initiatives, we continuously evaluate and optimize our resources and services for the Temple community.”

During the drill, “Actors will pretend to be victims, who will be triaged outside of [Peabody Hall]. The areas reserved for the exercise will be clearly marked.”

Prior to the exercise, Campus Safety Services will send a TUalert, reminding the Temple community of the drill.

NOTE: This exercise is only a simulation. Those who are not directly involved with the event will not be required to take any action.

The Latest 2017-2018 Meal Plan and Dining Information

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Renovation to Student Center Food Court
The Student Center is currently being remodeled to accommodate new vendors such as Chick-fil-A.

As the Howard Gittis Student Center remains under renovation, new dining options through Aramark and meal plan prices for the 2017-2018 school year have been revealed.

In March, it was announced that multiple popular food vendors such as Chick-fil-A, BurgerFi, and Saladworks would be implemented into the Valaida S. Walker Food Court located in the Student Center. A new service called The Break will also be available, where students can order from the Food Court via an iPad and have it delivered.

Outside of the Student Center, there are more new dining options.

Located in Tyler School of Art, The Art of Bread features made-to-order sandwiches, salads, pastries, desserts from Stella’s Bakery & Creamery, and coffee from La Colombe: a local Philadelphia coffee brand. La Colombe coffee can also be found at Diamond General Express locations in James Beasley School of Law and Annenberg Hall, The Nook in Tuttleman Learning Center, and Granium in the Science Education and Research Center, all of which feature grab-n-go style foods and drinks.

Commonly known as “Downstairs Morgan,” the Morgan Hall Food Court will feature a new diner as well as a dessert vendor.

Morgan Hall Food Court will still feature popular Philadelphia cheesesteak joint Tony Luke’s. The only new vendors currently listed are The Night Owl Diner and Stella’s Bakery and Creamery, where the University’s Baker will have his own personal bake shop in addition to Little Baby’s Ice Cream.

Updated meal plan pricing for the new school year has also been made available.

Although prices have increased, there are several new options available all together. What was previously called J&H Unlimited has been changed to just Unlimited, meaning unlimited access to both the Louis J. Esposito Dining Center in J&H and the Morgan Hall Dining Center. Premium 15 Meal Passes, Premium 10 Meal Passes, and Premium 5 Meal Passes are the other new plans.

New students living on campus are required to have at least 10 meals per week. Last year’s Regular 10 Meal Plan cost $1,506.00 while the new 2017-2018 pricing brings it to $1,529.00. Another popular option, Premium 10, rose from $1,760.00 to $1,787.00. Across the board, prices have risen approximately 1%.

More information about meal plan pricing can be found at http://housing.temple.edu/housing-and-dining-costs/meal-plans.

SEPTA Announces Across-the-Board Fare Hikes

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SEPTA’s regional rail, subway system, and buses service Philadelphia and several of its surrounding counties.

Philadelphia’s daily commuters will soon find themselves digging deeper into their pockets, as SEPTA announced its plan to increase fares, starting later this year. The sixth largest transit authority in the U.S., SEPTA averages ridership of over 300,000 people per day.

Beginning July 1, prices for everything from Quick Trip and disabled fares to TransPasses and TrailPasses are expected to increase.

This is not the first fare hike customers have seen in recent years. Typically, SEPTA increases its prices every three years – as was the case in 2007, 2010, and 2013. The 2016 fare increase was pushed back to this year to avoid any conflict with the official launch of SEPTA Key.

Still, with ongoing customer dissatisfaction regarding the punctuality, accessibility, and overall quality of SEPTA, many riders are hoping that the fare hikes will ultimately lead to improvements within the foreseeable future.

For more information on the fare increases and their effects, check out SEPTA’s official release.

 

Temple Hosts Citywide Job Fair

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Temple Director of Community Outreach and Employment Michael Robinson is the fair’s organizer.

Temple University will host the 11th annual Neighborhood Job Fair tomorrow, May 18th, from 9 AM to 1 PM.

The fair, which is to be held at the Student Pavilion, is the longest-running and most successful citywide job fair in Philadelphia. It will feature over 100 employers that are offering full-time and part-time positions.

The fair is free and open to the public with no registration required. Those attending should dress in business-professional attire and bring multiple resumes.

Employers participating include Aqua America, Kimberly-Clark, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, FBI, SEPTA, Temple University Hospital, Allied Universal Security, and more.

State Senator Sharif Street, who is a co-sponsor of the event, will provide welcoming remarks. Additionally, Temple Director of Community Outreach and Employment Michael Robinson, who is the event’s primary organizer, will be available for interviews.

“Our 11th annual Neighborhood Job Fair has over 100 confirmed employers, all hiring, with jobs ranging from entry-level to management-level opportunities,” Robinson said. “If you are a job seeker from the tristate region, this is the job fair you must attend.”

Philadelphia Primary Results: What You Need to Know

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Sun, crisp air, and blue skies made perfect ballot-casting conditions for voters who participated in Philadelphia’s primary elections on Tuesday. Here’s a closer look at the election results and what they mean for the near and distant future:

District Attorney Race

Beth Grossman (R), Nominee for Philadelphia District Attorney.
Lawrence Krasner (D), Nominee for Philadelphia District Attorney.

Civil Rights attorney, Lawrence Krasner, clinched the Democratic nomination for Philadelphia District Attorney, winning 38.19 percent of the vote, approximately 58,200 votes, against six other Democratic opponents. The race drew notable attention when former D.A. Seth Williams announced that he would not seek reelection following his March 2017 indictment on 23 federal fraud and bribery charges. Krasner will face Republican candidate, Beth Grossman, who previously worked as an assistant district attorney and ran unopposed, in the general election on November 7, 2017.

City Controller Race

Michael Tomlinson (R), Nominee for Philadelphia City Controller
Rebecca Rhynhart (D), Nominee for Philadelphia City Controller.

The Democratic race for Philadelphia City Controller was won by Rebecca Rhynhart. In surprise victory, she bested outgoing City Controller, Alan Butkovitz, by garnering 58 percent of the vote against his 40.68 percent. Prior to resigning in order to focus on her campaign, Rhynhart served as the Chief Administrative Officer under Mayor Jim Kenney. Republican Michael Tomlinson, who ran unopposed, won his primary with 99 percent of the vote. Tomlinson previously ran as a Republican candidate for District 173 of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

Municipal Court Race

Matt Wolf (D), Nominee for Philadelphia Municipal Judge.
Marissa Brumbach (D), Nominee for Philadelphia Municipal Judge.

Due to the two vacancies in the Philadelphia Municipal Court, Democrats Marissa Brumbach and Matt Wolf both scored nominations to become Philadelphia Municipal Court Judges. Brumbach is an attorney who has run her own practice for more than 20 years and previously ran for the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas in 2015. Opponent, Matt Wolf, has 24 years of experience as an attorney, most of which was spent as a trial attorney.

More Information

The general election will take place on November 7, 2017. The last day to register for the election is October 10. For more information on voter registration, visit www.pavoterservices.pa.gov.

Tyler School of Art Appoints Dean

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Cahan will come from Yale University to serve as Tyler School of Art’s dean. (Courtesy of Andrew Schmidt)

According to Temple University President Richard M. Englert, Susan E. Cahan has been appointed dean of Tyler School of Art, which will become effective on July 1.

Cahan currently serves as associate dean for the arts at Yale College, Yale University’s undergraduate liberal arts college. She will follow Hester Stinnett, who has been Tyler’s interim dean since September of 2015.

“Hester has served the Tyler School of Art faithfully for more than three decades, including multiple stints as interim or acting dean,” Provost JoAnne A. Epps said. “Tyler would not have established the momentum that has defined the school in recent years without her guiding hand.”

Cahan’s portfolio at Yale College includes academic programs, co-curricular initiatives, fundraising, budgets, facilities, and public programs. Her research focuses on the relationship between artistic and social change.

“Tyler is a school with a purpose,” Cahan said. “I am inspired by Tyler’s bold vision of cultural production as aesthetically and socially transformative action, and I am thrilled to join a creative community in which faculty, students and their collaborative partners pursue this vision with passion and skill.”

Tyler School of Art is ranked No. 15 among American fine arts graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report. Several programs are in the top 10, including glass, printmaking, and painting and drawing. The school’s expanding curriculum was accompanied by a new building in 2009.

“Tyler is also a school with a place,” she continued. “Tyler’s engagement with Philadelphia, one of the world’s most vibrant arts centers—especially its engagement with the North Philadelphia community—puts the school in a unique position of strength. I look forward to experiencing the power of this relationship first hand.”

Student Center Summer Renovation

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Photo Courtesy of Aramark
Renovations include new vendors in the food court. (Courtesy of Aramark)

This summer, the Howard Gittis Student Center will undergo renovations in both its food court and atrium.

Due to this project, services and facilities will operate under different hours.

The main entrance of the building at 13th Street and Montgomery Avenue will close at 8 PM on Friday, May 12, and will remain closed until mid-August. Access will be redirected to the Student Center South entrance on 13th Street.

The bookstore will be open for regular summer hours: 9 AM to 5 PM Monday through Thursday and 9 AM to 4 PM on Fridays. However, the store will be closed June 2 through June 16. Textbooks and other course materials will only be available at the Barnes & Noble on the corner of Broad Street and Cecil B. Moore Avenue, including orders placed online through the Temple bookstore website.

The UPS Store will also be open regular summer hours: 9 AM to 6 PM Monday through Friday. Once again, the exception is June 2 through June 16 when it will be closed.

Philadelphia Federal Credit Union will remain open for its normal hours of 8 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday, and Graphics Media Center will be open 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Friday. The Office of Sustainability and Blackstone LaunchPad will remain open 9 AM to 5 PM with limited closures, which will be posted.

The Student Center Information Desk will temporarily move to the south lobby starting on May 15. All conference rooms and administrative offices will be available throughout the renovation.

Questions about the project can be directed to the Student Center Operations office in 219M. For more information, visit the project website.

Marc Lamont Hill Joins Klein College of Media and Communication

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Dr. Marc Lamont Hill (pictured) previously attended and taught at Temple University.

Klein College students received an email Friday afternoon announcing that political activist and journalist, Dr. Marc Lamont Hill, will be taking on a new role as the first Steve Charles Chair in Media, Cities and Solutions for the Lew Klein School of Media and Communication.

Hill, who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania, attended Temple University as an undergraduate student.

From 2005 to 2009, Hill served a professor of Urban Education and American Studies at Temple University before taking a position as an associate professor at Columbia University, Since 2014, Dr. Hill has taught Africana Studies to students at Morehouse College in Atlanta.

Marc Lamont Hill has authored four bestselling books. In 2014, Ebony Magazine named him one of their ‘Power 100’ list. Hill has frequently appeared as a guest on Fox News, CNN, as well as MSNBC and HuffPost.

In the announcement, Klein College Dean David Boardman called Hill, “perfect for this role.” He continued, calling him, “A superb teacher, an outstanding researcher, and a high-profile, highly respected journalist and public intellectual.”