Briefs

Broiler Causes Dorm Room Fire

A fire started in an oven on the fourth floor of Temple Towers residence hall Sunday night.

Jaimie Giglio, one of the students who lives in the six-person apartment on the east side of the dorm, said one of her roommates pre-heated the oven, and left the kitchen. Less than five minutes later, she said, the broiler was in flames.

The students used a fire extinguisher on the flames and alerted security, who pulled the fire alarm to evacuate students.

“The entire kitchen was full of smoke,” Amanda Morell, another student who lives in the apartment, said.

No one was injured, and only minor kitchen damages were reported.

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Students may get refunds for interrupted service during septa strike

SEPTA is offering students who are holding partially used semester transpasses a refund of $15.25 for the time service was interrupted during the SEPTA strike in October.

Students who were unable to use their semester transpass should mail their pass and a brief letter containing their permanent mailing address and an explanation of how their pass was unusable during the service interruption.

Students who were in possession of zoned university trailpasses and were unable to use the service during the time when service was interrupted should mail their original university semester trailpass and a more detailed letter explaining why they were unable to use the pass.

All letters should be sent to:

Service Interruption Refunds
P.O. Box 58609
Philadelphia, PA 19107

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Health system reports loss

The Temple University Health System lost more than $20 million between July and September.

The $23.5 million loss was over three times the reported loss during the same time period a year ago. The university told the Philadelphia Inquirer the shortfall came from several sectors, including fewer inpatients, lower revenue from outpatients and insurance contracts.

The university has launched two investigations into what may have caused the sudden financial shortfall. An internal review is slated to examine hospitals that performed below expectations.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers is also monitoring the system and operation.

-Emily Catalano and Chris Reber