A team from Drexel University’s A.J. Drexel Institute for Energy and the Environment presented their 97-page report on Philadelphia’s greenhouse gas emissions to the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability Nov 4. The report, titled “Options for Achieving Deep Reductions in Carbon Emissions in Philadelphia by 2050” began in June 2014 and completed just prior to the presentation in early November. The researchers who contributed to the report included experts and students from Drexel University College of Engineering as well as the College of Arts and Sciences, and also included research done at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec.

According to Patrick Gurian, one of the leaders of the report and a professor in the College of Engineering, an original meeting between Drexel leaders in environmental research and the MOS led to a proposal that was sent to the Institute for Energy and the Environment. Richard Freeh, the City Energy Project Manager from the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability gave a statement about the report through an email.

“Overall, the report is very helpful for us as we think about pathways and opportunities for emissions reductions toward meeting our long-term climate goals. The scenarios Drexel evaluated will help us identify specific programs and policies that could be implemented to drastically reduce our greenhouse gas emissions both for municipal operations and citywide,” Freeh said.

The proposal sent to the Institute for Energy and the Environment resulted in $50,000 worth of funds given to support student and post-doctoral efforts in the research. The faculty members who contributed to the report did so without any payment. Five of the contributing researchers were undergraduate students, and one graduate student also contributed. Chloe Dye, an undergraduate student in the Engineering Management program, and Abhimanyu Patwa, a graduate student in the same program, both contributed to the research that went into the report, along with four other students that contributed and have now graduated. The contributors who have now graduated include Robert Zolitor, Michael Schickling, Sean-Erik O’Donnell and Eliya Hurd. According to Gurian, these student contributors did the majority of the research leading to the final report.

The report was developed in response to the United Nations’ request that all developed countries and major cities reduce their greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by the year 2050, as compared to the national averages for the respective countries in 1990. According to the report, Philadelphia would only need to decrease their emissions by 66 percent to match the present national averages before 2050. However, the report still aimed to focus on the goal of reducing emissions by a full 80 percent in the next 35 years.

Philadelphia’s Greenworks program, which has been in place since 2009, recently met its initial set of benchmarks, thus creating space for the new report written by the Institute for Energy and the Environment to form new policies, according to Gurian.

Photo courtesy: Drexel University Institute for Energy and the Environment

According to the report, the current highest percentage of greenhouse gas emissions in Philadelphia is accounted for by energy use in buildings, amounting to 60 percent of the emissions in the city. The report outlines what it calls retrofits for buildings that, after installment, would pay for themselves in savings over periods of use. The buildings that would benefit from these retrofits the most are those which experience heavy public traffic, and include hospitals, schools, grocery stores, retail establishments and large office buildings.

Much of the focus on energy use by the city was on switching the suppliers of electrical energy from carbon-based to cleaner sources, outlined in the report as nuclear, solar, wind and carbon capture and sequestration. However, the report noted that even if 100 percent of the electricity was derived from carbon-free sources, the 80 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions goals would be difficult to meet by 2050. Therefore, emissions associated with transportation, which amount currently to 19 percent of the city’s emissions were also investigated.

The report also outlines a plan for creating more efficient, de-carbonized or hybrid-electric public transportation, as well as discussing how to encourage more commuters to walk or use bikes. However, the authors of the report admit that the retrofits to buildings, as well as the switch from carbonized energy sources to non-carbonized sources, would be the most cost-effective changes that the city could make. The report suggests that a switch to non-carbonized energy sources would be cost efficient so long as 30 percent or less of the annual demand each year was based on intermittent sources, including solar power and wind power.

“I was surprised that very ambitious cuts in emissions are not only attainable but in many cases can be achieved at modest costs. It was encouraging to see how advances in renewable power, hybrid vehicles, and demand management … have made dramatic reductions in greenhouse gas emissions a realistic goal,” Gurian said about changes being made in the city.

Photo courtesy: Drexel University Institute for Energy and the Environment

All of these effects are expected to have a large beneficial impact on global greenhouse gas emissions over the next 35 years. The fact that large city centers are acting to implement changes like these makes large change possible. Joseph Hughes, the dean of the College of Engineering, expanded on this concept in a press release for the report. “What makes cities a big part of the problem also makes them a big part of the solution—implementing large-scale de-carbonization strategies in metropolitan areas would have a tremendously beneficial effect on a global scale,” Hughes said.

Freeh also expressed in his email that mayor-elect Kenney will be able to reflect on the report and communicate with the MOS in order to start implementing changes in Philadelphia’s sustainability agenda to improve conditions locally and globally leading up to 2050.

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The Drexel University Charles D. Close School of Entrepreneurship hosted its second annual Drexel Startup Day Nov. 11. The event was held in Behrakis Grand Hall from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and was centralized around this year’s theme: “Doing Difficult Things.”

Drexel University’s Baiada Institute for Entrepreneurship hosts several competitions every year to highlight the entrepreneurial strides being made by members of Drexel’s student body and to reward those with the best ideas with cash, resources and mentors.

However, according to Baiada Institute Director Charles Sacco, this year’s Startup Day created a more inclusive event for all Drexel students to attend. Sacco has organized the event for the past two years with the desire to incorporate inspiring keynote speakers, as well as networking and advising opportunities, along with other helpful activities for entrepreneurs at Drexel.

“What we wanted to do, and we started it last year, was to make it a broader day about entrepreneurship, not just about the competition,” Sacco said. “We try to make it a much more inclusive day for all students across Drexel about entrepreneurship.”

Ann Haftl: The Triangle

Sacco said that when he was completing his Master of Business Administration degree as a Drexel student in 2006, he was a competitor himself in the Baiada Incubator Competition. “It’s always been a great day,” he said. “We just wanted to make it a little more open not only to all students across Drexel but also to the Close School, since we have many new students, to give them an opportunity to participate more and also to lead today.”

One event held on Startup Day was the Quick Pitch competition, which allowed students to give 60-second pitches about their company or startup ideas, awarding $500 to the top team and $100 to the four runners-up. 19 different pitches were delivered on ideas ranging from new apps to safety mechanisms for schools and recycled plastic clothing.

“It’s very interesting because you will see anyone from a freshman that’s been here from seven weeks pitching, to someone that’s a little bit more seasoned,” Ian Sladen, associate dean of the Close School, spoke of the competition.

This year the winner of the Quick Pitch competition was Greg Donworth, who presented a pitch on how to make wind turbines more accessible. The four runner-ups were Moe Salma, and the start-ups Danish, Paritosh and Abicheck.  

Annie Haftl: The Triangle

One student to deliver a 60-second pitch was Jared Therrien, a product design major. Therrien worked as a volunteer firefighter and was inspired to start a company that can produce signs that can be hung in classroom windows to alert emergency services from the outside which rooms are occupied and which are in need of immediate service. Prototype in hand, Therrien was number 11 in a line of 19 presenters. Speaking about how he felt to have given a quick pitch, he said, “I was nervous. I did it last year and it was an absolute wreck. This year I practiced for a couple of weeks and I’m really excited about the product.”

He continued, “Being in the fire department, I realized there are a lot of inefficiencies. As the newer generation starts to come in things will start to change and I want to be a part of this.” Therrien began working on the ideas behind his product for a project in his junior year of high school, right after the Newtown Massacre occurred in his state, Connecticut. His product, he said, is applicable for really every emergency in a classroom.

The Incubator Competition portion focused on startups that already have most of their business underway, and some are already housed and working out of the Baiada Institute. The winning contestant will be allowed to incubate their startup in the Baiada institute to carry their ideas to fruition. This year, 30 business plans were delivered to a team of 42 judges to review. Of these, nine were selected to present their business plans at the Startup Day festivities, and only three were selected as winners. The winners of the Incubator contest will be accepted into the Baiada Institute in order to receive mentorship, space to develop, advising, money and general assistance in growing their startup company. This year’s winner of the Incubator Competition was AutoGradr, co-founded by Nishtha H. Dalal and Tushar Soni, followed by Kinetic Buildings, founded by Adam Reginier, in second, and VRezzio, co-founded by Jessica Sarkisian and Jenna Slowey, in third.

Two of the Incubator Competition contestants, supporting Tern and ChocoAmo Cookie, were stationed at tables in the day-long “entrepreneur’s expo” located in the second half of the room. Michelle Silberman of ChocoAmo Cookie was displaying her product, the cookie cup, as well as handing out free samples of the coconut macaroon minis, which she was delighted to announce as gluten free. Silberman said that her and a friend came up with the idea of a cookie cup, a molded cookie in a cup form, in the seventh grade. Now, her ideas are becoming reality. “It took years to get the recipe right” she said with a laugh. The idea behind the cookie cup is that you can drink out of them, while also eating the cookie itself. Silberman described ChocoAmo Cookie as an innovative dessert company.

Tern, a company co-founded by Mohamed Zerban and Connor White, also housed a table at the expo, featuring 3-D printed prototypes of their flagship product, the smart faucet. This product connects to an app for the user to monitor water usage, water quality, and other statistics, while also filtering the water coming through. When the filter is almost expired, an alert is sent immediately to Tern headquarters from the app, and a new filter is shipped to the buyer in time for replacement. Zerban expects the product to be on the market in late March of 2016.

Ann Haftl: The Triangle

To make the event about more than just the competitions, keynote speakers Yasmine Mustafa, the CEO of ROAR for Good, and Dhairya Pujara, CEO of Ycenter gave speeches about their lives and how they were led to become entrepreneurs with their own businesses.

In the end, Sacco concluded, “We’re here to help any Drexel student who has an idea. We’re here to help them talk about their idea and help them think through about how they might commercialize it and someday be on stage.” Startup Days will continue to occur in the future.

The post Drexel Startup Day 2015 appeared first on The Triangle.

Beginning in winter term of 2015, from Dec. 5 to Dec. 20, Drexel University students will have the opportunity to participate in a two-week intensive course in Old Havana, Cuba. The course, titled “Drexel Winter Break in Cuba: Documentary Film Production” under FMVD 280, will garner participating students three academic credits and is open for applications until Oct. 30.

Gerard Hooper, a professor of film and video in the Westphal College of Media Arts and Design, will be co-teaching the course along with a professor from the Cuban school, Escuela Internacional de Cine y Television, hosting the program. Applicants are required to have completed the course prerequisite FMVD 220 (Documentary Production), but this requirement may be waived for students whom Hooper would approve due to extenuating circumstances.

Plans for the course began to form nine months ago, shortly after the United States and Cuba announced that their diplomatic relationships would be re-established. A friend of Hooper’s, originally from Columbia, had some connections to the powerful film institutes and schools in Cuba and put him in contact with the leaders there. Hooper himself has filmed documentaries in Havana and is familiar with life in Cuba. “It’s a really interesting culture, a really vibrant culture. When I shot there I really liked the people there and I know that it has a vibrant, rich film history,” Hooper said.

Upon learning that the EICTV has already established some two to three-week study abroad courses for several other international universities in Toronto and London, Hooper decided that EICTV was the best place to hold the course. “There was some template in place … usually [EICTV] workshops are three weeks, we wanted to do it two weeks, so it required some adjustments,” Hooper said.

In addition to finding a study abroad course template already set up at EICTV, Hooper also noted that the school is one of the best in Cuba.

“[It] is considered by many the preeminent film institute for all of Latin America,” Hooper said.

EICTV was privately founded by the Nobel Prize Winner Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and remains privately funded today. The EICTV student body is a diverse collection of international students, and is not new to the idea of international exchanges. According to Hooper, several of the students and faculty at EICTV are bilingual in Spanish and English.

Ann Haftl: The Triangle

The course in December will be the first example of American and Cuban film schools partnering in a course since diplomatic relations were restored between the nations. “I thought the time was right to do it, because it was going to be possible to do it. I thought we could be the first film school with a formal affiliation with a film school in Cuba, which we are,” Hooper said.

He continued, “I think it’s a good opportunity for the University to establish itself in Cuba.”

During the two-week course, Drexel students will be spending about half their time at EICTV attending lectures, seminars and doing location scouting in Old Havana (about 15 minutes away from the school). During this time, students will live in apartments on the campus of EICTV. Afterward, the students will live in Old Havana, where they will be filming with the help of crews from EICTV. After filming, the footage will be taken back to EICTV for three to four days for initial post-production.

The students will be filming documentaries on Cuban life and culture. During the first week, all students will come up with story ideas for the films. Then, before filming, students will propose their ideas and have them voted on by their classmates and the faculty involved. Two or three stories will be chosen for filming and production. Each film team will be comprised of about three students. Hooper plans to take nine students, but can take up to 16.

Current students who have applied and are being considered for the course include a graduate student from the television management program, seven undergraduate film and video students and one business major from the Lebow College of Business.

The trip costs $1900 per student. This includes food and travel, but not airfare. Hooper expects the total costs to sum up close to $2600 total, which is much less money than other 10-week courses offered in other countries, according to the Study Abroad office.

Studying abroad in Cuba will conflict with the Fall Term finals week, but Hooper expressed that he is confident students will be able to work this out with their professors individually to ensure that all their course materials are completed.

Hooper is very excited about the kinds of experience participating students will gain from this course.

“When you go and work in another culture with another language, it stretches you in a terrific way,” Hooper said.

He continued, “When you get to shoot documentary in different countries it’s such a rare, wonderful opportunity. You get to be in a culture in a very privileged way.”

Hooper also noted that filming a documentary in another country is a fantastic professional experience for those interested in professional documentary. “To step inside a culture like that, to work with professional personnel from Cuba, to spend time in Old Havana… I think it’s an incredible opportunity for our students,” he added.

Hooper also commented on the types of challenges documenting another culture may come across. “It’s a tremendous professional experience to step into another culture to try and find a story… and to attempt to penetrate it and understand it and make a film about it is often the kind of challenge that you have when you are working professionally, when you go to another culture.”

Before leaving for the trip, students will meet twice with Hooper, and he will also go down to visit EICTV and the other faculty helping to teach the course between these meetings.

“When you learn about different narrative traditions, different documentary traditions, socioeconomic traditions, you have a greater understanding of the complexity of life and it just enhances your own sense of what the world is about and who you are,” Hooper concluded.

For further information, visit the Drexel University Study Abroad website and search “Cuba.”

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After recent events which called for heightened public security, including the papal visit and the FBI alert to Philadelphia campuses, Drexel University Department of Public Safety has begun a task force under direction of President John A. Fry to reevaluate emergency situation plans. Headed by Fry and the Executive Vice President of the President’s Office Helen Bowman, the taskforces will begin to review both the public safety department and Drexel’s preparedness to handle emergency situations as a whole.

Though these taskforces have been assigned to the department of public safety, they are not entirely due to the recent threat of violence, as suggested by Eileen Behr, the Interim Vice President of Public Safety and also the Director of Police Operations.

“I think that it made us all stop and pause for a minute,” Behr spoke of the recent FBI alert. She continued, “Is it a wake-up call? No, I think we’re always aware of it, but I think it’s a good time [for review] in society.”

With respect to the increased security measures on campus after the Oct. 6 threat including students requiring ID to access buildings, Behr said that she was impressed.

“Monday and Tuesday there were some setbacks and some glitches, [but] I really was impressed with the demeanor of the students. There was stress and there was tension, but they went to class, they did what they were asked, people were helping each other,” she said. “I think it showed the quality and integrity of the students we have here at Drexel.”

The Triangle: David Klein

While buildings are no longer on lockdown from the threat and students do not need ID to access all areas of campus, Behr noted that there is still an increased presence of security on campus including more foot patrols, bike patrols and indoor security. The security was lessened gradually as per President Fry’s requests. Now, the taskforces will be introduced to look at improving security holistically across campus. “This is a very open campus, and people come here for that, but there’s always the risk of crime,” Behr added.

“President Fry and the cabinet, after discussions, feel that it’s time for us to take a step back and do an assessment,” Behr said. This assessment, embodied in the new taskforces, will consist of two committees that will collect information independently before combining resources to create a new and improved emergency plan. One committee will focus on building security, while the other will examine how personnel and public safety officers can be distributed effectively throughout campus.

The committee that will examine building security will be investigating on a case-by-case basis to examine how to improve security in each building. The committee will work with the deans of the various schools that utilize the buildings being reviewed, as well as students, staff and faculty members to assess the needs of the building’s most common visitors.

The personnel taskforce will be led by Behr, Bowman, and Executive Director of Federal Affairs Gregory Montanaro.

“We’re going to start looking at public safety, what we have—personnel, staffing, hours—to see if we can better use our staffing, allocate staffing and personnel, and see if we need more,” Behr explained. “I think the hope is to create a balance here…You don’t want to make it feel like you’re living in a prison environment, but they want you to feel safe.”

Photo courtesy: Lt. Dave Caristo

Behr added that the department of public safety is always looking for student feedback about how secure they feel on campus. They wants students to reach out if they feel like they are lacking information about how to proceed in given emergency situations. She also mentioned that Public Safety leaders often use Facebook, Twitter and blogs to get in touch with how students are feeling about public safety on campus.

Another recent development within the department of public safety is the Campus Resilience program, introduced in 2013 by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. The program looks not at the emergency plans of campuses, buildings, companies and the like, but rather at the recovery plans. “When the immediate disaster is over, and there are resiliency plans, how do you recover, are you prepared to recover?” Behr said.

Since 2013, Drexel’s public safety has been working on creating a campus resiliency program to prepare for what happens after a crisis situation of any kind. Drexel is not the only university doing this, however. Seven of America’s leading schools in security were selected by Napolitano to develop these plans and ideas. Just under a month ago on Sept. 28, all seven schools sent representatives from their public safety departments to Virginia for a week-long course to work on campus resiliency programs.

The week of collaboration gave rise to a new campus resiliency “template” that will soon be used to develop a model for resiliency that will be available to all universities across the country. The Drexel leaders behind the campus resiliency program include Senior Vice President of the President’s Office, James Tucker, and former Vice President Domenic Ceccanecchio.

“You survive in a city like this because of the partnerships you build,” Behr expressed.

Behr feels that all of the reorganization that’s been done at Drexel since Fry began his time as president has made building strong relationships and forming partnerships between the various leaders in public safety and in administration a key factor.

The post Public safety speaks on new policy appeared first on The Triangle.

The following crimes occurred on or near campus and were reported to The Triangle by the Drexel University Department of Public Safety between Sept. 24 and Oct. 7. All information included in this report is taken from law enforcement or Division of Public Safety incident reports.

BURGLARY (1)

Sept. 24 to Sept. 25, 3000 block of Ludlow Street

A non-Drexel affiliate reported that (an) unknown person(s) entered his construction trailer by cutting a lock and removed electronic equipment and power tools.

DISORDERLY CONDUCT (1)

Oct. 3, 11:04 p.m. 3300 block of Race Street

A Drexel student was arrested for Disorderly Conduct after he was observed intoxicated in a public area and became combative with responding officers.

THEFT (10)

Sept. 27 to Sept. 28, apartment unit of North 33rd Street

A Drexel affiliate reported that (an) unknown person(s) took an athletic banner that was secured to a gate with a rope.

Sept. 29, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 3200 block of Powelton Avenue

A Drexel student reported that (an) unknown person(s) took his bicycle that was left unattended and unsecured in his backyard.

Sept. 30, 6:15 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. 100 block of North 34th Street

A Drexel student reported that an unknown person(s) took her purse, which contained her cellphone and credit cards that was left unattended.

Sept. 30, 6:15 p.m. and 6:55 p.m. 3300 block of Market Street

A Drexel student reported that (an) unknown person(s) took his wallet that contained cash and credit cards that was left unattended in a common area.

Sept. 30, 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. 200 block of North Broad Street

A non-Drexel affiliate reported that (an) unknown person(s) took his bicycle that was secured to a bike rack with a U-Lock.

Oct. 30, 4:30 p.m. 3400 block of Chestnut Street

A non-Drexel affiliate reported that an unknown male took several iPhone cases and fled the store without paying for the items.

Oct. 5, 7:45 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. 200 block of North 34th Street

A Drexel student reported that (an) unknown person(s) took his skateboard that was left unattended in a common area.

Oct. 3, 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. 3000 block of Market Street

A non-Drexel affiliate reported that (an) unknown person(s) took his auto that was parked and secured.

Oct. 6, 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. 3300 block of Market Street

A Drexel student reported that (an) unknown person(s) took his wallet containing ID and credit cards that was left unattended in an unsecured locker.

Oct. 6, 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. 3400 block of Warren Street

A non-Drexel affiliate reported that (an) unknown person(s) entered his auto by forcing a window and took personal items that were left in view.

POLICY VIOLATIONS (3)

During the period covered in this report, there were three policy violations for alcohol. The cases were sent to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards for review.

The post Crime Report for Sept. 24 to Oct. 7 appeared first on The Triangle.

Opened in September 2015, the Drexel University Urban Eatery dining center showcases six food stations, food made fresh in-house and the longest daily operating hours of any campus dining location. Located under The Summit at University City, Drexel’s newest campus-affiliated housing unit, the Urban Eatery is within a few blocks of freshmen and upper-classmen student housing.

Photo courtesy Ann Haftl, The Triangle

Operating as a retail-friendly location, Urban Eatery is not exclusive to students with meal plans. Anyone may dine at the center and pay with credit or cash. Those with meal plans may use their dining dollars on distinctive items, or engage in Meal Exchange—a program that gives students a specified entree, drink and dessert in exchange for one meal swipe. The payment flexibility found at the Urban Eatery correlates to a more customizable set-up for meal plans. According to the facility’s lead brand ambassador, Jack Bradley, this makes meal plans more practical. Bradley had worked for Drexel Campus Dining during the spring-summer co-op cycle and has continued to work part-time while resuming his studies as a finance junior this fall.

The hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays and proximity of the Urban Eatery to many residence halls have contributed to its popularity as a breakfast and dinner or late night snack locale, Bradley said. In addition to this, a back entrance with an elevator gives students direct access to the Urban Eatery from The Summit.

The stations open until 1 a.m. include Downtown Grounds, Greene St., Vespa, and Ignite, while Street Fare and SoLa Deli close at 8 p.m.. These stations offer late night treats after 10 p.m., including breakfast items, according to Resident District Manager Bill Cunningham. By night, Greene St. transforms into Greene St. Creamery, where Bassett’s ice cream is served. Bassett’s, a local Philadelphia icon, is the oldest running ice cream company in America.

During the day, the various stations offer different selections. Greene St. is a salad station offering specialty salads and smoothies. Downtown Grounds is the cafe of the dining center, offering hot tea and coffee as well as bakery items. The coffee is sourced from Sun Coffee Roasters.

“Sun Roasters is very eco-friendly socially responsible. A lot of their machinery and their products are recyclable or made from recycled materials,” Bradley said.

Walking into the lower level, one first finds Vespa, a Mediterranean and pizza station. An assortment of lasagna, meatball sandwiches and extremely popular cannoli are offered as well. Customizable pizza is also available. Vespa also sports a working brick oven in which all the pizzas and hot meals are cooked.

Photo courtesy Ann Haftl The Triangle

Photo courtesy Ann Haftl, The Triangle

SoLa Deli, hidden around a corner offers custom made and personalized sandwiches as well as an array of pre-made and ready-to-eat sandwiches and wraps, including gluten-free and vegan options. “There’s something for everyone here,” Bradley said. He also pointed out that each station offers at least one vegetarian option every day.

Walking over to Ignite, you can find a standard grill station that offers a specialty “Ignite Burger” with a Sriracha aioli, as well as seasoned fries and other on-the-grill options. Lastly, Street Fare offers a variety of world cuisines.

“When we were developing this, and we came up first with the name Street Fare, we said, ‘Well, what are some of the great international type of cuisines you might see in an urban setting?’” Cunningham explained.

Soon, in addition to a standard menu, Street Fare will be offering specials that are only available for week at a time. Some of the standards there include curry chicken, basmati rice and an Asian-brined rotisserie chicken.

Urban Eatery cooks all of its food fresh in house, including pizza dough made from scratch at Vespa, and the overnight-brined rotisserie chickens at Street Fare, but it also reaches out to entrepreneurial companies based in West Philadelphia to support them and their food products.

Drexel Campus Dining has also created a partnership with The Enterprise Center.

“The Enterprise Center is a local, non-profit agency; and their sole mission is to develop young west Philadelphia entrepreneurs in hospitality,” Cunningham said. Six times a year, Drexel representatives from the dining program make trips to The Enterprise Center where they mentor the students and entrepreneurs there. There is also a purchasing agreement that stands between the two entities.

“We set a certain goal every year to purchase food from those entrepreneurs,” Cunningham continued. “We just added our ninth entrepreneur from the enterprise center.”

Photo courtesy Ann Haftl, The Triangle

One of these entrepreneurs produces “Happy Hippy” foods, a company that makes and sells gluten free and vegan food. These products are displayed, ready to eat and on sale at SoLa Deli.

In general, the concept behind Urban Eatery is to create an urban environment for various unique cuisines to find a place.

“Everything here is not necessarily Philadelphia[n], it’s urban,” Cunningham explained. “We’re matching the urban campus to an urban concept,” he said.

Cunningham went on to state that when plans for the Urban Eatery began the idea was to make it “second-to-none in quality and offerings” on Drexel’s campus.

When Urban Eatery first opened, a total of about 65 new employees were hired as staff, including many from a non-profit organization in West Philadelphia called University City District. Cunningham expressed his desires for Urban Eatery to be a place where the community of West Philadelphia could connect.

The post Urban Eatery offers fresh food choices appeared first on The Triangle.

A new partnership between Drexel University’s College of Engineering and the Korean Advanced Institute of Technology will allow students from both schools to participate in research co-op positions. Titled as the “Fusion for Innovation R&D Service and Training Nano-materials-based Nano-fabrication Co-operation & Collaboration Center” or the “FIRST Nano Co-op Center,” the new collaboration will take place via an exchange program between America and Korea. The partnership will utilize the National NanoFab Center on the KAIST campus as well as Drexel research labs such as those run by professors Yury Gogotsi and MinJun Kim, the co-founders of the partnership.

The discussions to start this global effort began in November 2014, when Kim brought a delegation from the NNFC to Drexel. In the next few months, faculty members, including Gogotsi, will visit the NNFC to explore opportunities for collaboration. Gogotsi also met with a principal researcher at the NNFC, Chi Won Ahn. Through their meeting, the institutions involved with the planning started to find common ground.

Photo courtesy Danielle Kopicko

“After identifying common research interests and understanding that there is a common interest in creating a unique international co-op program that would serve as an example to follow for other institutions, we started to work on the proposal,” Gogotsi wrote in an email. The proposal that was produced by the Drexel/KAIST team was chosen by the Korean National Research Foundation as one of the top 12 proposals. These 12 proposals were then presented by their respective teams live in Seoul to the KNRF. Four teams, including the Drexel and KAIST team, were chosen for funding.

According to Gogotsi, the KNRF proposals introduced heavy competition.

“Some of our competitors came from the best known universities in the world. So, the road to success was not easy, but we are delighted to receive funding and create new opportunities for Drexel students,” Gogotsi wrote.

That funding amounts to $900,000 per year for up to six years. After the first two years, the program will be re-evaluated by the KNRF, who will then decide whether or not to continue funding.

Both institutions will continue to plan what kinds of joint research activities they will be introducing for students both here and in Korea, as well as strengthen the existing exchange program between the schools. Gogotsi expects the program to send and receive the first cohort of exchange students in 2016. The first few years of the program will only involve graduate students in the exchange.

Photo courtesy Danielle Kopicko

“Once the Center is approved for renewal in four years, we will be able to expand the research co-op program to Drexel undergraduate students in STEM fields,” Danielle Kopicko, the associate director of the Nanomaterials Institute at Drexel, said. Kopicko added that she felt the partnership will create a unique and exceptional global program.

Korean graduate students from KAIST will be working in the A.J. Drexel Nanomaterials Institute while their American counterparts will be working in the NNFC with KAIST professors and researchers to aid them.

“We can make unbelievably small gadgets using instruments available at NNFC and this will provide invaluable experience to Drexel students,” Gogotsi expressed. He also stated that he has hosted Korean students from KAIST in his own research group, and that both students enjoyed their time here, and also published papers on the research they conducted in Gogotsi’s lab.

“The fact that KAIST, ranked as [the third best] university in Asia and being one of the best in the world, is interested in sending students to Drexel clearly shows that we perform world-class research in the field of nanomaterials and provide excellent education and training at Drexel,” Gogotsi said.

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Allison Frick, the Director of Outreach and Education at the Hacktory, taught a class of 13 local women how to pickle and preserve produce at the Department of Making and Doing on Market Street Sept. 29.. This event, titled “In a Pickle,” was one of many hosted in the past year by the Women’s and Gender Studies program of Drexel University and co-sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences. These events have been led and organized by Jessica Kratzer, the program coordinator for interdisciplinary programs, which includes women’s and gender studies as well as international area studies. 

Photo courtesy Ann Haftl, The Triangle

The program, which ran from 5-7 p.m., introduced the class to basic pickling methods as well as hot-water bath canning methods. If done correctly, food can be safely stored outside of a refrigerator for up to two years after being canned. Frick said she learned about canning methods after moving to an apartment in the city with an unreliable refrigerator and no freezer. “I didn’t have a lot of food storage options,” she said. Because of this, Frick spent a year learning her way around canning, making several mistakes at first. She was quick to share these mistakes with the class so that they could learn from her.

During the class, the participants worked in pairs. Each pair was given radishes, ginger, jalapenos and carrots. First, each team made two jars of gingered pickled radishes. Next, they made two jars of pickled jalapenos with carrots. The jalapenos were made using a hot water bath canning method, which meant they could be stored outside of the refrigerator until opened. During the preparation, partners worked together as well as shared stories about their families and grandmothers who had canned before them. Frick also shared several stories about times when her canning hobbies helped her out in unique situations.

One participant, Marjorie Boone, attended to learn how to preserve her food so that she could continue her ambitious gardening without wasting the excess produce. “I need to learn how to preserve my harvest… so I’m excited about that!” Boone shared that she had attended up to five events before the “In a Pickle” workshop, and that she had also got her friends to start joining her. “I just started spreading the news and sharing the information so everybody could make it,” Boone said. “I have fun trying to do it. It’s like going back home to do what mom and grandma do.”

Frick is involved in more than just canning, as she works at a library. In the past she has volunteered at two libraries

Photo courtesy Ann Haftl, The Triangle

as well as at a homeless shelter in Philadelphia. She also works with the Hacktory, a program for making and doing that engages kids and adults with several programs. There, she worked with afterschool programming and outreach for a year, which is how she got involved with the DMD in the first place. A non-profit organization, the DMD hosts several after-school programs along with events such as those connected to the Hacktory and various Drexel affiliated groups. The DMD plans on leaving their current location at the end of November.

The women’s and gender studies program will continue to host events. The next event to be planned, according to Kratzer, is a workshop on salary negotiation.

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Drexel University released a geo-location app called Dragon RoarWards Aug. 15 in hopes of boosting student attendance at university athletic events. This program operates by rewarding attendees who “check-in” to events with points that may later be exchanged for merchandise. The app utilizes the user’s smartphone geo-location to verify their attendance.

Photo courtesy: DrexelNow

The idea for the Roarwards program was developed by Drexel University’s Athletic Department marketing team during the summer of 2015, according to Kristin Segers, Coordinator of Tickets and Marketing. The team was interested in finding “different ways to engage students on campus” which led to the development of the program idea.

“We wanted to keep with the times and figure out how to reach students in a way that was easy and consistent with their lifestyle already,” Segers said. After talking to leaders at the University of Pennsylvania, where a similar rewards program is implemented for student attendance to athletics events, the Drexel team decided to give it a try..

Sophomore biological sciences major Nicole Buleza expressed interests in the app and suggested it might change how students approach Drexel athletics.

“Drexel sports have never really been a priority for me to go watch,” Buleza said. “[The app makes me] more inclined to go to the games,” she continued. Buleza thought her interest in the app would extend to Drexel’s student body.

“[I think that the app] will get more people to actually go to [sports events],” she said.

Sergers also spoke on the Athletic Department’s hopes for student usage of the program.

“We really want the student body to be a part of [sporting events] because they are the reason that we’re here and why we do what we do,” Sergers explained. “So, we really want them to be involved with us as an Athletic Department and as a school to increase Drexel pride,” she continued.

The app is available for a free download on both the Apple store and Google play. It has two options for account creation. Users may sign in by connecting the app to their Facebook account, or they may create a username and password with an email account. Once signed in, users have some control over the personalization of their accounts, including the feature of adding a profile picture. Students may also “connect” with their friends by inviting them to download the app or by having friends scan their personalized quick response code, accessible in the account page.

The app also features an event calendar listing Drexel’s sporting events. These listings are accompanied by game times, information on admission prices (free or unlisted), the opposing team and the location. This calendar extends to April 2016, giving students plenty of time to plan ahead if they wish to attend an event.

Each attended event garners the user 10 points on the app. Points are accumulated until the student wishes to exchange them for merchandise available through the app’s “store.” Currently, the store boasts three pieces of merchandise available for varying point values: a Drexel lanyard, a Drexel silicone card sleeve and a Drexel themed memo board. The app also hosts a “fan cam” as well as a social media section and a leader board where those with the most points appear.

After learning of the new program, Virginia Tanner, a biomedical engineering sophomore, spoke in favor of the new app.

“We’re there because we want to be but it’s nice to get some stuff out of going to each game,” Tanner stated. “Games are time away from school so it’s a nice reward,” she continued.

Will this new program change how students approach Drexel athletics? Buleza said that the program makes her feel “more inclined to go to the games.” Before hearing about the program, Buleza said that “Drexel sports have never really been a priority for me to go watch.” In a conversation about the new program, she said that the new app is “a good thing” and that she thinks “it will get more people to actually go to [sports events].”

Segers expressed her wishes that the new app would be successful in increasing student body attendance to Drexel sporting events. Over the next few weeks, the marketing team behind the app’s release will be at different locations on Drexel’s campus to spread the news of the RoarWards program and answer any questions students may have regarding the app. Questions may also be directed at the team through Twitter @Drexeldragons.

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Photo courtesy: Jeon Han

Accounting for the estimated 1.5 to 2 million visitors that Pope Francis’ visit is estimated to bring to Philadelphia, Drexel University announced that a modified schedule will be in place from Sept. 24 to 28.

Drexel’s University City Campus, as well as affiliated colleges and schools have announced modified class schedules beginning Sept. 24 at 5 p.m., resuming the morning of Sept. 29. Classes missed on Thursday or Friday will be made up online or will be rescheduled to Nov. 24. Classes missed on Sept. 28 may be rescheduled to Dec. 7. The College of Medicine (applicable to medical students only) will be open and operating normally on Sept. 24 and 28. All other schools and colleges operate on a no face-to-face class schedule from Sept. 24 to the morning of Sept. 29. Drexel is not the only university making schedule alterations for the week of Pope Francis’ visit. The University of Pennsylvania and Temple University will have no classes on Friday Sept. 25. Temple, however, is expected to keep certain buildings and offices open.

In addition to the University’s altered academic schedule, Drexel Campus Dining will be operating on modified hours during the Papal visit. The only locations that will be open between Sept. 25 and Sept. 29 will be the Urban Eatery, Market 16 & Noodle Bar, Northside Market and Subway. University officials advised that students with meal plans should plan accordingly and stock up on food before traffic restrictions go into place on the night of Sept. 24. These traffic zone restrictions will begin at 6 p.m. for Center City and 10 p.m. for areas west of the Schuylkill River. The traffic zone borders are to be extended in University City to run from University Avenue to Powelton Avenue and from the Schuylkill River to 38th Street. Private vehicles may leave this area after the appointed time, but may not return until the end of the long weekend.

The secure vehicle borders in center city are much larger than those west of the Schuylkill River, and encompass the territory spanning from 3rd Street to the Philadelphia Art Museum and from Spruce Street to Fairmount Avenue. Within this border, only authorized vehicles may be parked and all other private vehicles must be moved. The traffic zone in center city extends from Columbus Boulevard to the river and from South Street to Girard Avenue at the widest sections.

Roads and highways being closed entirely include the Ben Franklin Bridge and Route 76, as well as Route 676. Several roads around the event spaces are being kept clear for emergency vehicle passage and quick response, including sections of Market Street that extend into University City.

Pedestrian access on bridges between University and Center City will also be restricted during this time. The Spring Garden Street, JFK Boulevard and Market Street bridges will all be shut down during the weekend, and travelers will have to use the Chestnut Street, Walnut Street or South Street bridges.

SEPTA will be running on a highly reduced schedule during Sept. 25 and Sept. 26. The Market Frankford Line will only be operating at six of the 28 stops, these being the 69th Street, 52nd Street, 30th Street, 2nd Street, Girard Avenue, and Frankford Avenue stops. SEPTA users during Sept. 25 and 26 will need to purchase a special “Three-Day” pass for the use of all services except Regional Rail. Regional Rail users are expected to purchase special “One-Day” passes for explicit locations that must be clearly printed on the pass. Only 18 Regional Rail stations will be open, and the schedules will be run on “weekend hours” for Sept. 24 and Sept. 27. Delays are expected.

The pope’s official itinerary has been published. His first event will be on the morning of Sept. 26, when he will give Mass at Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, located on 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The Mother Church of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, this Cathedral has an important history as the largest brownstone structure in Philadelphia and the largest Catholic Church in all of Pennsylvania. This event is open to the public and expected to attract millions.

After Mass, Pope Francis will travel to St. Martin’s Chapel, St. Charles Borromeo Seminary to meet with the Bishops there. This event is closed to the public. Later Saturday afternoon, the Pope will visit Independence Hall, where he will give a talk on freedom and immigration to any citizens who would like to attend. The University has set up a committee to deal with questions and concerns and organize information regarding the Papal Visit. Headed by Vice Provost Janet Fleetwood and Associate Vice President of the Office of Government and Community Relations Greg Montanaro, the committee will be posting updated information about the visit, and will also be available to answer questions by email. They may be reached at papalvisit@drexel.edu.

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