Just Ends?

The courts of Philadelphia sent a powerful message last week.

Steven Holmes, a 19-year-old man who lives just east of Main Campus, has been sentenced to 15 to 30 years in prison, followed by 27 years of probation, for the assault of a Temple student in Anderson Hall last year.

The victim, whose identity has been protected, was in Anderson Nov. 1, 2007, when Holmes grabbed her from behind, beat her, choked her and sexually assaulted her. She was in attendance during Holmes’ sentencing.

Common Pleas Judge Karen Shreeves-Johns issued a somewhat surprising sentence to Holmes, who also had a juvenile criminal record. For the victim, no particular term can match the physical and psychological trauma she experienced, but a potential sentence of 57 years is significant in this case.

Philadelphia – and the area surrounding Temple – has seen an increase in violent crimes recently, even though the murder rate is down. Many influences, including the poor economy, can be attributed as causes for this scenario. But with this sentence, the city now faces a double-edged sword.

To create stricter penalties for crimes less than murder and manslaughter would send a powerful message to would-be or repeat offenders. This can also send a positive signal to the city’s inhabitants, who may feel safer on the streets.

Continuation of such strict sentencing, however, would ask for more work from the city. This would include more police on the streets and upkeep – and perhaps construction – of prisons. The city is facing a large deficit right now, and Mayor Michael Nutter is attempting to balance the budget. A redistribution of funds can help the city where it needs it most.

Shreeves-Johns admitted in court she did not know “where [the justice system] failed,” referring to how Holmes remained on the streets with a lengthy criminal past. But her message through his sentencing is a message that should be seen as precedent.

We live in a city where many would-be offenders already have a criminal past. Due to overcrowding in the prisons or being sentenced by a lenient judge, these offenders are released to the streets, where they are likely to commit more crimes.

In order to maintain safety in the streets during an unsure time, more judges in the Philadelphia system should follow the lead of Shreeves-Johns, and the city should do its best to accommodate the changes.

Crimes of all severity should be considered with a careful eye by judges. Keeping criminals off the street would undoubtedly create a safer city and a Philadelphia with a purer reputation.

Women coast in opener

It was a night of firsts for the women’s basketball team Friday.

The first collegiate minutes for two freshmen, the first ever game for junior LaKeisha Eaddy at point guard, the first game as coach for Tonya Cardoza.

But none of those firsts was as important as this one: the first win of the season, a 70-55 victory over visiting Bowling Green.

“I’m going to enjoy this [win] for the next two days,” Cardoza said. “Because it’s the first one, I’m sure tonight when I go to bed, I’m just going to be replaying a lot of things and figuring out ‘Maybe I should’ve done this, maybe I should’ve done that,’ things like that. But I’m sure I won’t be able to rest tonight.”

Cardoza’s team never trailed in the game, jumping out to a 7-0 lead before Bowling Green even scored its first points at the 13:38 mark.

The defensive presence former coach Dawn Staley preached was still there, as the Falcons only scored 18 points in the first half thanks to six blocks and eight steals by the Owls.

But whether it was nerves or just plain rust, Temple only mustered 28 points of its own in those first 20 minutes.

“At shootaround, you could totally tell that they were nervous, too,” Cardoza said. “And I told them, you would be crazy not to be nervous. So, I definitely think so [that nerves affected the first half]. We got a lot of easy shots at the basket we just were missing. Shanea [Cotton] and Shenita [Landry] had really good looks down there, and I just told them in the second half, just take your time because we’re still going to go into you guys.”
That chore fell to Eaddy, who, like her coach, was making her own debut. Outside of practices and scrimmages over the past month, she’d never played a minute at point guard.

In her first game at the position, she finished with a game-high 16 points to go with four steals, two assists and three turnovers.

It was that last ratio that bothered her the most after the game.

“I have to get better at all areas of the point guard because I’m not great at anything,” she said.
Cardoza, though, wasn’t nearly as hard on her rookie point guard.

“It’s a tough situation that Keisha’s put in, but she’s accepted the role,” Cardoza said. “I told her, ‘If I didn’t think you were able to do it, I wouldn’t put you in that position.’ And I think she did a great job tonight. I’m sure there’s going to be times where she’s going to struggle, but I think we’re going to be behind her.”

When Eaddy went out with two fouls for a six-minute span in the first half, it was freshman BJ Williams, rather than sophomore guard Shaqwedia Wallace, who replaced her.

Williams, along with freshman forward Kristen McCarthy, both saw significant minutes for first-year players, especially considering it was only the first game of the season.

“Kristen came in and helped. I don’t how many minutes she played, but I’m sure she probably should’ve played more, as well as BJ,” Cardoza said. “But those guys are definitely going to help us, and we need that bench production.”

McCarthy and Williams finished their first games with a combined total of four points, four assists and two turnovers in 26 minutes of action.

“I just prepare whenever Coach puts me in to go in and play hard. As a freshman, I’m happy with any minutes that I get,” McCarthy said.

And after 40 minutes, senior forward Shenita Landry summed up the night in one simple sentence, quietly uttered after the postgame press conference.

“Congrats, Coach, on your first win.”

Jennifer Reardon can be reached at jennifer.reardon@temple.edu.

Straight-edge sets a fine example

Ian MacKaye, vocalist for the band Minor Threat, coined the term “straight-edge,” but what exactly does it mean? Everyone seems to hold various ideas and stereotypes about what it is to be straight-edge, and though “edge” students sometimes differ in their beliefs, the same underlying themes exist.

“Straight-edge is a rebellion that was started through hardcore,” said Sean Balaban, a sophomore BTMM major. “It’s not just against getting drunk or doing drugs, it’s against having a glass of wine with dinner or a casual drink with friends.”

Balaban claimed “edge” in the beginning of high school.

“I was never into the idea of drinking or drugs or any of that stuff,” he said. “I didn’t want to have my life revolve around all of that like everyone else’s does. I didn’t and still don’t need anything like that to identify myself with.”

Joe Fasano agrees.

“I went to parties and stuff, but I never drank,” the freshman secondary science education major said. “I’ve never drank in my life. I have a problem when people depend on drinking and drugs to have fun. I think that’s ridiculous.”

There are also students who choose to abstain from drugs and alcohol but do not label themselves as “straight-edge.”

Sophomore history major John Mullen used to consider himself part of the straight-edge community. He still lives the same lifestyle but decided to denounce the straight-edge label.

“I made a personal choice for myself,” he said.

Mullen said his decision is based on personal reasons rather than the shared reasons of a community. Though he doesn’t consider himself straight-edge anymore, he appreciates the “camaraderie factor” and the values of the scene.

“It’s awesome, and you keep your body clean,” he said.

Despite a common misconception, most straight-edge students do not dislike other students who do not live their lives the way they do.

“My friends respect the lifestyle I chose to live, and I respect the lifestyle they want to live,” Balaban said. “Being straight-edge has nothing to do with them or getting other people to believe in my ways. That’s not what it’s about. It’s for you and you only if you choose so.”

Fasano has friends who are straight-edge and friends who aren’t. One of his best friends is also edge.
“There’s strength in numbers,” Fasano said.

For people like Mullen, the straight-edge label may be a phase, but they continue to live the same lifestyle. Others decide to “break edge” completely, something many straight-edge students frown upon.

“The way I see it, ‘breaking edge’ involves doing anything that alters the way your mind and body react to the rest of the world,” said Balaban, who plans on staying straight-edge for the rest of his life. “There’s a dumb saying that people say when someone breaks edge – ‘If you’re not now, you never were.’ Which is kind of half true.”

Though breaking edge is looked down upon by those who label themselves as straight-edge, it is completely acceptable to claim edge even after experimenting with drugs and alcohol.

“As long as you’re in it for the right reasons, and [there’s] no going back,” Balaban said.
Fasano shares the same opinion about living a straight-edge lifestyle.

“I absolutely hate when people attempt straight-edge and don’t commit,” he said. “I’m straight edge now, and I will be forever. I have it tattooed on my leg. It’s there for life.”

Natasha Shapiro can be reached at natasha.shapiro0001@temple.edu.

It’s our time to change now

When it comes to race relations in this country, negativity may finally be fading away.

President-elect Barack Obama put it into perspective, reminding us that, “At each and every junction of our history, somebody’s been audacious enough to say we can do something different. And more often than not, it’s been young people who’ve done it.”

Let’s not praise Obama to be more than human. He is simply a man inspiring hope and change. He’s a man with dreams and has the ambition to change the broken ways of America. He can also change the fundamental problems facing America.

But today is a new day, and we’ve become a country that tends to suppress our racist tendencies. Or at least we try to.

“He represents a new age for America,” said Kevin Maggio, former president of Temple Students for Obama. He is “a much-needed shift in direction.”

“We made it known that we are the next generation. A generation that believes America has an enormous potential for good in this world,” Maggio said.

Jane Gordon, a professor of political science, acknowledges the significance of Obama’s victory but also points out something important.

“There are many anti-black racists who can appreciate and even love individual black people who they frame as exceptional,” Gordon said. “It is particularly wonderful that what will be associated with the first black president will be the increase of intelligence, integrity and ability in the highest office.”

Gordon finds that race relations may not improve as a direct result of Obama’s win. However, she sees his position in office will lead us in the right direction.

“It is important to note that the earliest set of appointments that he has made have not been of people of color,” she said. “These moves clearly illustrate that he is not going to be actively pro-black in a way that would at all alienate or cause fear among Americans.”

Gordon’s point is one of realistic optimism, rather than the philosophical revelations people seemed to have during the election process.

Obama does not see two colors in America. Instead, he hopes for a unified country, and his cabinet will be his tool in doing so.

Still, students are excited about this new direction in the course of American history.

“This election was the first time I’ve seen the word ‘change’ visualized,” said senior communications major Shamara Rochester. “I never want to look back.”

Our generation is responsible for a lot of today’s current social stances. We won’t easily entertain people accusing Obama of “paling around with terrorists.” We let our minds make up our thoughts, and we tend to act as stubbornly as we think.

We are in control of our future, and it’s up to us to let the dust settle.

Ignore any feelings of something racist surfacing, and just brush it off. Otherwise, what a waste of time it was to spend months supporting a symbol of “change.”

Let it go because lingering “racism” needs to finally fade away.

Tara Moore can be reached at tara.moore@temple.edu.

Former prof appointed chief medical officer

Temple University Health System has turned to its past to find its new vice president and chief medical officer.

Dr. Calvin B. Johnson, formerly an assistant professor in the pediatrics department in the School of Medicine and attending pediatrician in emergency medicine at the Children’s Medical Center, was appointed to the position, which became effective in October.

Johnson will assume system-wide responsibility for all patients’ safety, infection control and various other initiatives that have an influence on clinical and patient outcomes.

“I was enjoying what I was doing. I wasn’t actively looking for [a new career],” Johnson said. “But when the opportunity came around I [took it], and it made sense to come back home. I’m in an opportunity environment where the rubber meets the road.”

Johnson served as the secretary of the Pennsylvania Health Department since April 2003 before accepting the new position with TUHS. As secretary, he directed the health services and regulatory functions of the state’s health department, an agency with more than 1,500 employees serving Pennsylvania’s 12.5 million residents.

While state health secretary, Johnson distributed more than $350 million to research projects in the fields of vaccine development, regenerative medicine and antibiotic resistance as well as increasing state funding by $3 million for targeted HIV/AIDS prevention and early detection.

“Calvin’s long-term relationship with Temple – as a former attending pediatrician in emergency medicine and a current member of the medical faculty – has provided him with significant insight and understanding about Temple’s mission of providing quality, safe care to the communities it serves,” said Joseph “Chip” Marshall, president and CEO of TUHS.

Johnson’s family has connections to the university as well. His mother, a North Philadelphia native, is a Temple alumna. His father earned his MBA from the Fox School of Business.

“It’s very important that Temple maintain good relationships with the surrounding communities. Temple has a role to grow as a good neighbor,” Johnson said.

“A lot of people don’t realize what Temple is engaged in and what the potential is for Temple to do,” he said. “I feel that any growth is beneficial for the people who have lived in North Philadelphia for many years, and as the school grows, the community is also growing. The two should not be separate.”

A board-certified pediatrician, Johnson graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He earned a medical degree from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and a master’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

TUHS employs approximately 7,500 workers and consists of four provider facilities, including Temple University Hospital, Jeanes Hospital, Northeastern Hospital, TUH-Episcopal Campus and Temple Physicians Inc., a network of community-based physicians.

TUHS hospitals admitted more than 50,000 patients in 2008 and handled nearly 440,000 outpatient visits.

“I learn every day. I learn from my mistakes, and I’m not afraid to make mistakes,” he said. “It’s a coordinated effort to do everything I can to improve the quality of care here.”

Tom Rowan can be reached at thomas.rowan@temple.edu.

Philly’s vice industry suffers but will survive

While it’s not as good and not as often, people still require a regular shot of debauchery in tough economic times.

“Before, when the economy would fluctuate and other industries weren’t doing well, we would just laugh because it never affected us,” said Angel, a DJ at Daydreams adult nightclub and 15-year veteran of the business. “Now, it does.”

In today’s faltering economy, even recession-proof industries like strip clubs, bars and casinos are feeling the pinch. Patrons become increasingly stingy with their disposable incomes and opt to stay home on the weekends in order to pay rent.

That doesn’t mean Philadelphians will soon adopt a Puritan temperance – wearing petticoats and spending their Saturday nights singing hymns. There will always be a market for dubious activities. However, people aren’t throwing their money around the way they did in more prosperous times. It’s a phenomenon of Vice Lite.

“We never used to have a problem making money, but now, we have to really work for it,” said Skylar, an exotic dancer at Daydreams. “Girls used to make tips just because they were naked. Now, for a guy to tip them, girls have to dance to a song they like or be a certain type that they’re into.”

When essential commodities like food and gas skyrocket in price, the party fund becomes depleted. People still want to drink, but many are trading in their microbrews for Natural Ice.

“I haven’t cut back on the amount I drink, but I buy less expensive alcohol,” junior business major Sarah Kim said.

Students may not feel the full effects of the current credit quandary and recession because most aren’t paying their own bills yet. This makes for a discrepancy between establishments frequented by college kids and those that receive most of their business from working professionals.

Pete Borgman, a bartender at Maxi’s, said he hasn’t seen a significant change in the amount of money people spend during the past three years he has worked there.

“There is a slowdown at this point every semester just because of midterms and the fact that people run out of money,” Borgman said. “Up until about mid-October, we see a lot of people using Diamond Dollars. The sly ones find out how to put money on their card without their parents knowing, so they stick around.”

“We’ve always sold mostly Miller High Life, anyway,” Borgman said when asked if customers are downgrading the quality of alcohol.

Those who have to worry about their cable and electric bills are curbing their spending to some extent but still need a reprieve from the daily grind.

“I tend to go out slightly less,” said Katie Stoudt, 23, a research assistant at the University of Pennsylvania. “I may end up staying in on a Saturday night once or twice a month to save money for groceries, which have definitely become more expensive. But when I do go out, I spend just as much on drinks as I ever have.”

People are cutting back on every other slice of consumption while still clinging to their old habits as much as possible.

“I work at Starbucks, and I’ve definitely noticed less people coming in for lattes,” Kim said.
Mike Powers, 30, a bartender on Penn’s campus, pointed out that while the bar side was doing fine, the restaurant side was unusually slow.

Skylar cited several reasons why strip clubs will always have customers. Guys still get married and have bachelor parties, and there will always be a breed of men who are simply addicted to exotic dancing and are happy to blow their money on the salacious pastime.

Even as their bank accounts dwindle, people are reluctant to give up their vices. Although carousing may cut into their Whole Foods Market budget, they need it now more than ever. Tough economic times call for the occasional diversion.

Musician Brandon Jones, 23, said while alcohol is expensive, he still springs for two or three drinks every day.

“But now I go back and forth between going out and buying my own stuff,” he said.
Buddy Slemming, the manager of Daydreams, said it best.

“Sex never sleeps. Sex always sells,” he said. “No matter how bad it gets, there are always going to be people coming in for their happy times.”

Maureen Coulter can be reached at maureen.coulter@temple.edu.

Healthy eating for vegans is essential

Some think of vegetarians as animal rights activists, those who choose not to eat meat to be a silent protest against cruelty to animals.

Jackee Sadicario, a member of the animal rights group Protectors of Animal Welfare, said some people choose to be vegetarian for the “health aspects or the promotion of counter-cultural ideals and a sense of belonging.”

“I became a vegetarian when I was 14,” said Sadicario, a sophomore English and psychology major. “I was mostly influenced by the Gorilla Biscuits and its song ‘Ants and Dogs.’”

Sadicario said she is against cruelty to animals. She said the documentary Stop the Animal Holocaust had a strong impact on her life and her choice to become vegetarian.

Sadicario recently changed her vegetarianism to veganism, a tough but attainable move for those against animal cruelty.

Vegans are more restrictive about their diets than vegetarians because in addition to a restriction on meat, there is a restriction on all products made from animals, including eggs, cheese and butter. Even honey is off-limits for those who identify themselves as vegan. Also, vegans do not use any products that have been tested on animals.

“It’s unfortunate that people who choose to promote animal welfare unknowingly use products that were tested on animals,” biology major Laura Kielbasa said.

Kielbasa said another obstacle difficult for vegans to overcome is illness. Because most medicinal products contain gelatin, a substance made from animal bones, medicines like gel-coated Tylenol are off-limits.

Although North Philadelphia doesn’t provide many options for healthy eating, Center City is just a subway ride away, where there are plenty of restaurants and grocery stores that cater to a growing vegan population. Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe’s offer fresh produce and organic foods.

“Last time my friend had her car, we all drove down to Whole Foods together and stocked up on groceries,” said Manny Green, a freshman economics major and member of PAW.

Whole Foods Markets brand, 365 Organic, is vegan friendly, as it offers cheap organic food and body care products that are not tested on animals.

Whole Foods is not the only shopping option for vegans in Philadelphia. Most store brand products are vegan because manufacturers do not always include specific ingredients in certain foods.

For example, bakeries may leave out eggs when making bread because it costs less not to include them, causing products to be vegan accidentally.

Vegans must assume extra responsibility to investigate ingredients in their foods. The decision to eliminate eating products made from animals can also be costly.

“It’s definitely very hard to be a vegan while living at home,” Sadicario said. “It can definitely get to be pretty expensive.”

Mike Podlogar can be reached at mike.podlogar@temple.edu.

Solid showing at Temple Open

Coming off an impressive 2007-2008 campaign that was highlighted by sweeps of the Penn State Multi Meet and the NIFWA Championships, the fencing team played host to the 29th annual Temple Open at McGonigle Hall last weekend.

The Open is known for having the largest competitive field in the United States, as this year’s Open consisted of 30 schools, making it one of the largest in history. In addition, the Open provides fencers with the opportunity to gain competitive experience.

The results were highlighted by junior Kristin Howell winning the epee competition and freshman Kamali Thompson finishing in a tie for third in the sabre.

In addition, junior Melissa Parker finished fifth in the foil, sophomore Grace Wu finished fifth in the epee, sophomore Alyssa Lombardi finished sixth and senior Kaitlyn Uckert finished seventh.

Meanwhile, sophomore Audrey Barroso and junior Christie Griffith finished in a tie for fifth and eighth, respectively, in the sabre.

“I think this is a very good tournament for us,” coach Nikki Franke said. “It’s the second tournament of the year. [So] especially for those newcomers, they had that first tournament, which is under their belt.”

That first competition, the Penn State Open, helped give the team its own identity.

“This team has their own character. The girls are very pleased with how hard they’re working and how well they’re working together,” Franke added. “It’s a unique team, and we want to be challenged.”

It will be a new squad, as the Owls graduated four seniors last year and are left with three fencers leading things this season. One of them is team captain Uckert, who finished last season 35-11 while qualifying for the NCAA Regionals.

“We have a very new team, and we are trying to keep their spirits up,” she said. “We’re very competitive, and we just want to keep that competition high along with our levels of our enthusiasm and spirit.”

As for the five incoming freshmen, Uckert only has two words of advice for them.

“Stay calm,” she said.

Perhaps being relaxed helped the Owls prepare for the Temple Open, which, Uckert said, isn’t all that pressure-filled, despite being such a large fencing competition.

“The Temple Open is a little bit more relaxed,” she said. “So it’s just a position for us to have fun, to really know that this is our turf, and that this is our first and only home meet of the year.”

Another reason for the relaxation may have been that the Owls already finished the Penn State Open, the other large individual tournament, earlier this month. The Owls entered that competition with nine returning letter-winners, most notably, all-Americans Kristin Howell and Melissa Parker.

Parker, who became Temple’s first second team all-American since Lisa Honig in 1994, finished last season 28-14, while placing second in the NCAA Regionals. She made the foil finals at the Penn State Open, where she finished sixth.

Howell, who became Temple’s first epee all-American, ended last season at 27-10 and finished ninth in the NCAA Championships and second in the U.S. Fencing Junior Olympics. She was ranked No. 8 in the nation and earned the Female Student-Athlete of the Year award.

Lombardi’s qualifying for the NCAA Regionals last season has prompted her and all the other fencers to work extra hard.

“We’ve set the bar high,” she said. “We swept in all the weapons they had there [at the NIFWA Championships] last year, and I hope we can do it again this year.”

The Owls return to action Dec. 6 in the Vassar College Multi-Meet in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

Joe Polinsky can be reached at jpolinsky@temple.edu.

Students cast doubt over their provisional ballots

All Kristina Jones wanted to do on Election Day was vote.

She fulfilled the requirements to register, but after filling out a provisional ballot, the sophomore art education major isn’t sure if her vote counted.

Jones has doubts about the provisional ballot she filled out. Provisional ballots are used to record a vote when there is question regarding a voter’s eligibility.

According to the Philadelphia Voter Registration Administration, as of Nov. 14, only “some” of the city’s provisional ballots were counted.

Under the Help America Vote Act of 2002, provisional ballots are provided to voters under certain circumstances when an individual claims to be registered but does not appear on the district register, an individual cannot provide an approved form of identification when voting for the first time or an election official rules an individual ineligible to vote.

Any voter who fills out a provisional ballot “must be directed to an accessible area within the polling place where he or she may complete the provisional ballot in private.”

“Everyone else got to go into the little thing where no one else could see,” said Jones, who needed to complete a provisional ballot at the AME Union Church, located at 1614 W. Jefferson St. “They didn’t really help me. They just kind of sat me down and said ‘here.’”

“It took a lot for people to actually get me to vote,” she said. “It felt like such a hassle.”

Once the polls closed, provisional ballot envelopes from each polling place were delivered to the County Board of Elections, which determined whether voters were eligible to vote at the time the provisional ballots were completed.

According to state procedures, the ballots for those voters who were eligible “should be opened and counted.”

A 2006 survey conducted by Project Vote, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that helps to “engage low-income and minority voters in the civic process,” showed of the 53,698 provisional ballots completed in Pennsylvania, only 48.6 percent were counted.

Junior finance major Jordan Groff was also required to fill out a provisional ballot because his name could not be found in the district register at the Brown Community Center, located at 1701 N. Eighth St., despite the fact Groff already received his voter registration card.

“I was originally registered to vote at my house in Lancaster,” said Groff, who registered to vote when he turned 18.

He renewed his driver’s license to reflect his off-campus address.

“They automatically updated my registration to [Pennsylvania]. I guess that was the problem,” Groff said.

“It wasn’t private, but I didn’t mind,” Groff said about the space where he completed his provisional ballot. “I was just filling it out on the table with the people working there.”

In compliance with HAVA, voters are required to place their provisional ballots in secrecy envelopes provided by the judge of elections at their polling places. The secrecy envelopes are then placed inside a provisional ballot envelope. On each envelope is a form that must be filled out completely and accurately in blue or black ink.

Jones filled out four voter registration applications in both Pennsylvania and her home state of New York, but she never received a voter registration card.

She registered for the first time in Pennsylvania more than a year ago but “got nothing back,” she said.

After applying for a second time, she said her application was returned through the mail with the word “rejected” stamped on it in red ink.

She then cast an absentee ballot in New York.

As it grew closer to Nov. 4, Jones said she feared an absentee ballot might not be counted. She registered once again in Pennsylvania, just in time for her application to be processed before Election Day.

Jones was told she would be on the polling place’s list of supplemental voters, but once she arrived, her name was not found.

Though she filled out a provisional ballot, she has some doubts about whether it was counted.

Groff said he “didn’t know to” check the status of his ballot because he did not receive a provisional ballot receipt, a slip provided to the voters with their provisional ballot numbers, along with information necessary to determine the status of their ballots.

Jones did not check the status of her ballot, either.

She said she “figured that they only got counted if the vote was close.”

Phil Figueiredo, a junior history major, didn’t expect his provisional ballot to be casted on Election Day.

“My provisional ballot was a complete joke,” said Figueiredo, who had to fill out a provisional ballot at his polling place because his name couldn’t be found on the poll book.

Like Jones, Figueiredo filled out a registration application on the last day Pennsylvania residents could register to vote.

“I was pretty disappointed in the fact that I had to cast a provisional ballot. In a way, I feel like I didn’t even vote,” Figueiredo said. “Election Day was a total downer for me.”

Chelsea Calhoun can be reached at chelsea.calhoun@temple.edu.

Crime Report: Nov. 18

Click here to view this week’s crime map.

Nov. 9
1313 Cecil B. Moore Ave.
An underage student was transported to Temple Hospital by Campus Police for treatment and observation of excessive consumption of alcohol. Referred to UDC.

15th and Norris streets
An underage student was transported to Temple Hospital by Campus Police for treatment and observation of excessive consumption of alcohol. Referred to UDC.

2047 N. Carlisle St.
Student reported being hit in the face by unknown person after a verbal altercation at 1:30 a.m. Nov. 1. Student transported to Temple Hospital by Philadelphia Police for treatment of cut lower lip.

1776 N. Broad St.
Student reported an unknown male drove his vehicle onto the sidewalk and intentionally struck him with his vehicle at 2:35 p.m. Images captured on video surveillance.

IBC Student Recreation Center
Campus Police arrested a Temple student for theft of a wallet in the men’s locker room.

University Village
Student reported being harassed by his roommate at 6 a.m. Nov. 7.

Wachman Hall
Graduate student reported an unknown person removed his unattended IBM Laptop, wallet containing $20, Pennsylvania driver’s license and credit cards, between 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7. No force found.

1541 Cecil B. Moore Ave.
Campus Police arrested a non-Temple affiliated male for theft.

2081 N. 13th St.
Window broken on a 2001 Hyundai, and CD case, 50 CDs and iPod taken between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Nov. 8.

1701 N. 15th St.
Campus Police arrested a non-Temple affiliated male for disorderly conduct.

2114 Camac St.
Student reported two males forcibly demanded his wallet at 7:15 p.m. Nov. 8. Student sustained a small cut and declined medical treatment.

1940 N. Broad St.
An underage student was transported to St. Joseph’s Hospital by paramedics for treatment and observation of excessive consumption of alcohol. Referred to UDC.

1840 N. Watts St.
Campus Police arrested a juvenile male for robbery after a student reported two males forcibly took her purse at 12 p.m. Nov. 9. No injuries reported.

1550 N. Carlisle St.
Window broken on a 2000 Acura, and wallet, debit card and iPod taken between 3 a.m. and 1 p.m. Nov. 9.

1403 Montgomery Ave.
Student reported unknown person removed a motor scooter parked on sidewalk between 6:10 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 9.

Hardwick Hall
Student reported unknown person removed her wallet when left unattended in women’s restroom between 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Nov. 9.

Nov. 10
1300 Norris St.
Student reported an unknown person removed a backpack containing wallet, TU ID, $40, ATM card, visa card and a cell phone when left unattended between 10 a.m. and 10:10 a.m. Nov. 9.

Tuttleman Learning Center
Campus Police arrested a non-Temple affiliated female for disorderly conduct at 3 a.m. Nov. 10.

Student Pavilion
Student reported an unknown person removed a wallet, $26, digital camera, mp3 player and a Blackberry cell phone from her handbag when left unattended between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. Nov. 8.

1424 Diamond St.
A 1991 Jeep was entered by cutting the vinyl top, and Pennsylvania inspection sticker was taken between 9 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Nov. 10.

Barton Hall
Student reported an unknown person removed a white shopping bag containing micro phone, head phone, wires and cables when left unattended between 1:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Nov. 10.

Edberg-Olson Hall
Employee and student reported an unknown person removed two Dell laptop computers, an Apple iPhone, an Apple iPod and $20 from their unsecured offices and locker room between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Nov. 10. No force found.

1365 Diamond St.
Window broken on a 2005 Nissan, nothing taken, between 8:30 a.m. and 8:20 p.m. Nov. 10.

1200 Susquehanna St.
Student reported an unknown male forcibly took her Pennsylvania driver’s license and check book at 5:20 p.m. Nov. 10. No injury.

1101 Montgomery Ave.
Student reported ex-boyfriend was harassing her and following her around campus from 9:30 p.m. to 11 p.m. Nov. 10. Advised PFA.

Nov. 11
1810 Liacouras Walk
Student reported an unknown person removed his secured bike from the bike rack between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Nov. 11.

1345 Norris St.
Student reported an unknown person removed his secured bike from the fence in front of Peabody Hall between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Nov. 11.

Nov. 12
1300 Residence Hall
An underage student was observed with glassy, blood shot eyes and had an odor of alcohol at 12:46 a.m. Nov. 12. Referred to UDC.

Kardon Apartments
An underage student was transported to Temple Hospital by Campus Police for treatment and observation of excessive consumption of alcohol. Referred to UDC.

Student Center
Employee reported an unknown person withdrew $480 from her checking account at 1:30 a.m. Nov. 7.

Student Center Food Court
Student attempted to leave the food court with a bottle of water without making payment at 1:50 p.m. Nov. 12. Referred to UDC.

Bell Building
Student attempted to leave area after removing items from a storage closet at 2:45 p.m. Nov. 12. Referred to UDC.

Student Center
Student reported an unknown person removed an I-pod from her handbag between 3 p.m. and 3:05 p.m. Nov. 12.

2108 N. Broad St.
Campus police arrested a non-Temple affiliated male on an outstanding warrant.

1809 N. 13th St.
Student reported an unknown person took her secured Schwinn bicycle and lock between 11:40 a.m. and 9 p.m. Nov. 12.

2108 N. Broad St.
Student reported a known non-Temple affiliated male took and used her gas card between Nov. 8 and Nov. 12. PCC advised.

White Hall
Campus police arrested a student for possession of marijuana. Referred to UDC.

Nov. 13
University Services Building
Employee reported an unknown person removed eye glasses from her office between 10:10 a.m. and 10:15 a.m. Nov. 13. No force found.

Tuttleman Learning Center
Student reported unknown person removed her Blackberry cell phone when it was left unattended in the lobby between 10 a.m. and 10:25 a.m. Nov. 13.

Johnson & Hardwick Cafeteria
Employee reported an unknown person removed his varsity jacket from the rear kitchen area when it was left unattended between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. on Nov. 13.

Annenberg Hall
Student reported an unknown person removed an unattended Hewlett Packard laptop computer from the classroom between 4:50 p.m. and 5 p.m. Nov. 13. No force found.

McGonigle Hall
Window broken on a 2006 Saturn, and CD case, 40 CD’s, football and exercise device taken between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Nov. 13.

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