Temple Fest hails diverse turnout

Freshmen and upperclassmen alike celebrated the beginning of the new semester during Temple Fest, an annual meet-and-greet style tabling event.

A large, silver metallic banner reading “Temple Fest” hung above Liacouras Walk, and the buzz of the meet-and-great permeated the air, competing with reggae beats emanating from WHIP, Temple’s student-run radio station.

Designed to make the transition from high school to college a easier, it’s a familiar scene – one that’s played out at the start of each fall semester as Temple opens its doors to another new class. Freshmen are lured to tables set up by a varied and diverse sampling of Temple- and community-run organizations, each group offering information about itself and encouraging the newcomers’ involvement.

Alongside representatives from Campus Safety Services and Student Health Services, were reps from PNC Bank and Verizon Wireless. Fraternities and sororities were stationed next to religious groups and gay and lesbian organizations.

Any freshmen who walked by Ritter Annex were greeted by Vanessa McBride, the market manager of Fresh Food Market, located in Center City. McBride said her company is working with Temple in a community outreach effort to increase access to fresh fruits and vegetables and more available to the community by accepting Access cards and farmers market vouchers.

At the far end of the fest was an organization called InterVarsity. Chris Owens, a staff member, said the goal of Temple’s year-old chapter of InterVarsity, a faith-based, evangelical mission organization for college students, is to engage the campus in the “greater good.”

Lauren Williams can be reached at lauren.williams@temple.edu.