The following crimes occurred on or near campus and were reported to The Triangle by the Drexel University Department of Public Safety between Dec. 26 and July 6. All information included in this report is taken from law enforcement or Division of Public Safety incident reports.

SEX OFFENSE (2)

June 4, 3200 Chestnut Street

(Non-current) A Drexel student reported on they were sexually assaulted in their apartment by a male student known to them.

December 26, 3200 Chestnut Street

(Non-current) A Drexel student reported that, while in their apartment, they were sexually assaulted by a male student known to them.

ROBBERY (1)

July 2, 9:25 p.m., 7000 Lancaster Avenue

Drexel Police arrested a male after he robbed a non-Drexel person at point of knife, taking their credit card. The credit card was recovered from the male and there were no injuries.

ARSON (1)

June 24, 3400 Spring Garden Street

A non-Drexel complainant reported a male known to them started a fire during a domestic dispute and fled the building running east. No injuries reported, but several Drexel students having apartments in the building were displaced.

THEFT (5)

June 19-20, 3200 Chestnut Street

A non-Drexel complainant reported that an unknown person(s) took their 2018 Jeep that was left secured in a parking lot.

June 24, 3300 Market Street

Wawa reported that an unknown male entered the store, took an undetermined amount of candy and fled the store without paying for the items.

March to July 3, 3200 Race Street

A Drexel student reported that an unknown person(s) entered their  room and took items of clothing. There was no sign of force.

July 2-3, 2900 Queen Lane

A non-Drexel complainant reported between that an unknown person(s) entered their auto, no force, ransacked the interior and did not take anything.

July 3-5, 3300 Baring Street

A non-Drexel complainant reported that an unknown person(s) entered their car, no force and took $7 in quarters that were left in view.

VANDALISM (2)

April 27 to June 23, 3300 Market Street

A Drexel employee reported that the door mirrors of a Drexel-owned vehicle were damaged in an unknown manner.

June 29, 3300 Arch Street

A Drexel student reported that their vehicle was scratched and damaged in an unknown manner.

OTHER (2)

June 23, 2:35 p.m., 3500 Market Street

Drexel Police arrested a non-Drexel affiliate for trespassing after she caused a disturbance and refused to leave the building.

June 30, 6:42 p.m., 3300 Market Street

Drexel Police arrested a male inside Wawa for trespassing after he was told on previous occasions he was banned from entering the store.

During the period from June 23 to July 6, there were two Policy Violations for Alcohol. The reports were sent to the Office of Student Conduct for review.

When you talk about craft beer as a whole, the conversation focuses on a few avenues and sticks with them.

What kind of beers do you like? Are you into IPAs — you don’t look like an IPA person — or stouts? What about sours?

What’s your favorite brewery? Who is the best beer distributor in your area? Which beer are you dying to have again?

These questions are all wonderful and can lead to countless hours of conversation — and for some, an ensuing road trip to the nearest or farthest brewery — but that isn’t where the conversation should end.

Picking up where the conversation leaves off, from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is First Sip Brew Box. This craft beer media company is entering the arena of craft beer with an entirely new focus.

First Sip asks questions such as, “What about the brewery gear?” They wonder, “Don’t you want the iconic brewery glasses that make your beer look ten times cooler than it already is?” They think like a winery, and ask, “What foods would go perfectly with this beer?” And, best of all, they think, “What breweries could be highlighted that people might not know about?”

With it comes “a monthly subscription or one-time gift box for the ultimate craft beer enthusiast as a vehicle to showcase craft breweries and highlight craft beer cities around the globe.”

The focus of owners Dennis and Sammie Guy is to “expand your horizons and introduce you to top breweries and small businesses that know their hops.” The box is delivered directly to your door, and every time the box is shipped out on the 15th every month. Instead of the monthly food or makeup subscriptions — or that monthly gym subscription that is collecting far too much dust — you can receive a whole lot more to your door to go along with the beer you have.

This Black-owned, small local business is already making waves, and is flipping the script on what it means to exist in the craft beer industry — sans the alcohol.

This year, First Sip won a nationwide Craft Beer Marketing Award: Best Original Video Storytelling.

First Sip’s video “Fearless” follows CEO and owner Dennis Guy’s path to forging his career with First Sip. He discusses his childhood, his mother’s battle with lung cancer and the lasting impact she has left on him. The two-minute and 37-second video hits home and leaves you wanting to hug your mom a little tighter if you still can.

Not only was First Sip one of the few businesses in Pennsylvania to win an award, but they were the only Black-owned business to win an award. That second fact is something that simply cannot be ignored.

First Sip helps bring the conversation of diversity and inclusion to the table of an industry largely dominated by white-owned breweries, and their collaborations with local businesses and breweries allows them to bring about a larger community of craft beer lovers while representing the minority in the craft.

Speaking of collaborations with local breweries and businesses, First Sip is joining with Couch Brewery in Pittsburgh and Abjuration Brewing in McKees Rocks to help with the Black Is Beautiful initiative that is being spearheaded by Weathered Souls Brewing Company in San Antonio, Texas.

Black is Beautiful is a “craft beer collaborative effort to raise awareness for the injustices people of color face daily and to raise funds for police brutality reform and legal defenses for those who have been wronged.”

The goal of the Black Is Beautiful initiative, beer-wise, is to brew a “moderately high abv. stout to showcase the different shades of Black.” While Weathered Souls is okay with brewers tweaking the recipe to make it their own, they are asking for all of the collaborations they can get.

As of June 24, there are 909 breweries from all 50 states and 17 countries participating in brewing the “Black Is Beautiful” beer. First Sip, Couch and Abjuration are representing some of the breweries in the Pittsburgh community who are joining in.

In terms of Pennsylvania, there are 35 different breweries brewing “Black Is Beautiful,” either individually or in collaboration with others.

As First Sip plans to work together with Couch and Abjuration to create their own flavor of the beer, they hope that they not only show their support and solidarity, but also spread awareness in the process. And, as they said in a press release, “100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to a local charity.”

After chatting with Georgia Lawrence, First Sip’s media contact, The Triangle was able to get an update on when the beer is set to be available.

“As of right now, we don’t have a set release date,” Lawrence explained. “Dennis is meeting with the other breweries in the next two weeks to start brewing. Once completed it should be finished within 30 days or less!”

For Philadelphia’s beer scene, anyone interested in trying a Philly “Black Is Beautiful” brewery should reach out to Two Locals Brewing, Attic Brewing, Evil Genius Brewing or Love City Brewing, and find out when they are set to release their own versions.

And while all the breweries who are fiercely focusing on making their “Black is Beautiful” in these coming weeks, First Sip will be focusing on what local goods, foods and gifts would go perfectly with the beer, and will be ready to ship their boxes to the subscribers on July 15 — and only they know what’s going to be in there until then.

For more information check out First Sip’s website at https://firstsipbrewbox.com.

Major changes are coming for both Drexel and the Philadelphia region, as the university plans for a fall reopening of campus and the area moves to Pennsylvania’s least-restrictive “green phase” Friday.

Philadelphia County and the rest of Pennsylvania’s southeast region is among the last to move out of the aggressive mitigation “yellow phase” after spending four weeks under eased restrictions in the phase.

In the green phase, businesses can operate at 50 to 75 percent occupancy and visitors will be permitted in prisons and hospitals. However, telework should continue when possible, and Pennsylvanians are still required to follow recommendations by the Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The green phase is “not a return to the way things were, but changing behavior for a new normal,” as outlined in Governor Tom Wolf’s reopening plan for Pennsylvania.

Although the southeast region is permitted to move to the green phase Friday, Philadelphia is retaining certain restrictions for another week. Businesses like salons, private swim clubs and parts of the Philadelphia Zoo will reopen Friday; but gyms, malls, libraries, museums and indoor dining at restaurants will remain closed until July 3.

“Philadelphia is unique,” Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said. “We need to be more careful than the other counties.”

Changes are happening on Drexel’s campus, too. The university prepares to reopen campus through a hybrid approach in September, President John Fry announced in a June 10 statement.

“This academic year will feature a hybrid approach to learning, research and student life designed first and foremost to support the health and safety of students, faculty and professional staff, while also fulfilling the University’s mission of teaching, research and service,” Fry said. “Classes will be taught both in person on campus and remotely.”

The decision to pursue a hybrid approach comes after months of deliberations by the Fall 2020 COVID-19 Task Force — co-chaired by Norma Bouchard, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Alan Greenberger, department head of Architecture Design and Urbanism, Westphal College of Media Arts and Design; and Megan Weyler, senior vice president and Chief Human Resources Officer — which submitted a recommendation to Drexel administrators late May.

Fry explained that the Fall 2020 COVID-19 Task Force used guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and public health authorities, input from research studies, news stories, Philadelphia representatives, disease experts and nearly 1,300 survey responses from the Drexel community in its decision-making process.

“The recommendations made by the Fall 2020 COVID-19 Task Force were based upon the team’s charge to protect the health and safety of Drexel’s students, faculty and professional staff, maintain Drexel’s commitment to educate and serve our community and preserve the University’s academic, business and administrative operations in order to best serve the campus community,” Fry said.

The framework for Drexel’s fall reopening plan includes a combination of face-to-face and online instruction methods; gradually increasing research efforts on campus; creating and maintaining procedures to prevent the spread of infection; and limiting the number of students, faculty and staff allowed on campus to comply with social distancing requirements.

After many local colleges and universities announced their planning for the fall academic calendar, Drexel is following suit, asking students who return to campus to depart before the Thanksgiving break. These students will complete their final week of the 10-week term and their final exams online.

Upon Drexel’s reopening, personal protective equipment, like cloth face masks, will be required in all campus buildings, Fry said. Enhanced cleaning procedures of Drexel facilities will continue, and there will be mandatory health and safety training. Reminders to comply with social distancing requirements will be posted throughout campus.

“This extraordinary moment calls for creative and innovative approaches to academic and student life in an environment that fosters a safe and healthy community, founded upon mutual understanding and an appreciation of the uniqueness of each and every individual,” Fry said.

When it comes to the news section here at The Triangle, the goal is to highlight news surrounding the Drexel University community and its surroundings, including successes and accomplishments of the students.

The Triangle focuses on current events with current students, and sometimes we are able to write with objective fondness about former Drexel Dragons making waves in their respective fields as alumni. However, this is a rare opportunity in which The Triangle is interviewing an incoming Drexel student who is making a difference in her world and being recognized for it.

This rare instance is Isabel De Ramos, a Villanova graduate set to be an incoming Drexel Dragon at the Dornsife School of Public Health to study epidemiology this fall.

But what has De Ramos done, you may ask? Well, she was one of the four winners of the Sallie Mae “Funded Futures” contest. The contest recognizes a winner from each of the four categories: high school, college, graduate school and medical school.

De Ramos won the undergraduate college student award, and, along with the prestigious recognition of her efforts, she was awarded $25,000 that will go towards her future.

According to an email from Whitney Webster — The Triangle’s contact from Hill+Knowlton Strategies — the “Funded Futures” applicants are judged on their “academic and personal accomplishments, experiences facing adversity, and how they aspire to make an impact in the future.”

De Ramos’ accomplishments come from not only excelling in a STEM field as a woman but also being a daughter of two Filipino immigrants and representing the first-generation student population. She is also a Philly native, growing up in the Olney neighborhood of northeast Philadelphia before her family recently moved to Willow Grove.

When asked why she chose Drexel, De Ramos said it was a two-step process: “When looking for grad school I knew I wanted to be close to home… and that meant all Philly schools were open. When looking into Epidemiology at Drexel, I visited the Dornsife School of Public Health  — ironically a week before the lockdown — and I was blown away by how close-knit the Dornsife community was.”

De Ramos is excited to be in the city proper for grad school, and, working in a field such as epidemiology, she wants to be able to research and tackle one of Philadelphia’s biggest problems from up close — the City of Brotherly Love’s HIV and AIDS rates.

De Ramos explained that Philadelphia’s HIV infection rate is five times higher than the national average, and to her that is terrifying. “The issue I plan to fight is the HIV/AIDS crisis in Philly. While there is a stigma and prevalence in my home country of the Philippines, I thought to myself ‘why don’t I tackle it in my home city?’”

De Ramos hopes to tackle the many obstacles that stand in the way of Philadelphia overcoming the high infection rates of HIV in its youth and adult populations, starting with the lack of education. She hopes to focus on the stigma and lack of knowledge behind the transmission of HIV, along with getting resources to the neighborhoods that need it the most.

De Ramos described epidemiologists as “people who put together the puzzles” of social health problems. She wants to break down the misconception that there is a “catch-all” solution to this problem, and she is proud to be a Filipino-American woman doing that.

“We need diverse points of view in research,” De Ramos explained. “In terms of using my platform, it’s all about inspiring little brown girls. If this girl that looks like me sees that I can do it, then she thinks she can do it. It helps them retain those confidence levels and their STEM interest to last longer. I want to inspire that next generation.”

De Ramos shared that women make up roughly one-forth of the STEM workforce, and that is largely composed of non-minorities.

And this is why De Ramos is taking a swing for the fences, in more ways than one — not only is she pursuing a career in a male-dominated field that underrepresents women and largely omits minority women, but she is also challenging the cultural Filipino stereotype and her parents’ initial expectations of a career for her.

“I enjoy proving people wrong,” De Ramos said with pride, “My aunts ask me if I’m going to be a nurse and I tell them ‘no, I’m not’ and it is fulfilling.”

But it doesn’t just stop there. De Ramos was on “autopilot,” she explained, as it seemed her future was planned for her already. It wasn’t until college when she took a step back and looked at what she really wanted to be doing with her future.

“I come from a proud family of Filipino immigrants and my parents wanted me to go into a practical profession. It means being a doctor, a nurse, a lawyer or a disappointment. It took to the point where I had to ask myself if I was going to college for me or for my parents?”

Thanks to an impactful course on medical sociology, some helpful professors and a fantastic set of resources at Villanova University’s Center for Access Success and Achievement, De Ramos was able to make the transition to focusing on a path that would get her to epidemiology. “[CASA] was home for me. There were advisors, life coaches, extra tutoring and a lending library — it was a safe space for people with different backgrounds and upbringings.”

Little did De Ramos know, however, was that down the road the CASA office would be the connection to get her the chance to win the “Funded Futures” award. De Ramos couldn’t help but laugh as she explained. “The office sent out an email about Sallie Mae, and I woke up on a Sunday morning to the email and said ‘You know what… I’m gonna give this a try.”’

Sometimes all you need to do is keep trying and to be able to realize when to ask for help when one needs it most. The one thing De Ramos will take with her from her time at Villanova is that “asking for help is always a sign of strength, not weakness.” De Ramos is extremely grateful for the resources that Villanova had, and she honestly believes that they are underutilized by its students.

And yet, De Ramos also understands the balance that exists between work and life. After growing up playing violin, self-teaching herself the piano and singing in orchestras, her love for music has never faded. She still picks up the violin from time to time to remind herself she still can play, and she sings as a canter at her church, Our Lady Help of Christians, in Abington.

And now, as a Villanova graduate with her eyes set on the fall, the incoming Drexel Dragon is excited to get to work and to keep proving people wrong. Hopefully she can inspire more people like her to do the same.

The following crimes occurred on or near campus and were reported to The Triangle by the Drexel University Department of Public Safety between June 6 and June 19. All information included in this report is taken from law enforcement or Division of Public Safety incident reports.

ROBBERY (1)

June 18, 3:48 p.m., 3000 Market Street

A non-Drexel complainant reported that, while on the station platform area, an unknown male pushed them to the ground and took their cell phone. The male fled the subway from 31st Street & Market Street.

ASSAULT (1)

June 19, 9:55 p.m., 3600 Spring Garden Street

A non-Drexel affiliate reported they were assaulted by three or four unknown males. The complainant was taken to Presbyterian Hospital for treatment.

BURGLARY (1)

June 13 to June 17, 400 block N. 35th Street

A non-Drexel affiliate reported an unknown person(s) entered their residence by forcing a basement window and removed a refrigerator from their property.

THEFT (8)

June 6, 3200 Powelton Avenue

A non-Drexel affiliate reported an unknown female entered their store, took items of food and fled the store without paying for the items.

June 7, 12:32 p.m., 3400 Hamilton Street

Drexel Police arrested a male after he entered the complainant’s vehicle by force and took personal items and equipment. The items were recovered at the time of arrest.

June 8 to June 9, 3200 Pearl Street

A Drexel affiliate reported unknown person(s) entered their vehicle by force and took a laptop and headphones that were left in view.

June 11, 3300 Market Street Wawa

An unknown male entered the store, took food items and fled the store without paying.

June 14, 2:31 a.m., 3400 Hamilton Street

Drexel Police arrested a male after he broke into the complainant’s car and removed $40 cash left in view.

June 15, 200 North Broad Street

A non-Drexel affiliate reported unknown person(s) entered their auto by force and took a laptop computer and several cell phones.

June 17 to June 18, 3300 Market Street

A Drexel student reported unknown person(s) cut their lock and took their bicycle that was secured to a bike rack.

June 19 to June 20, 3200 Chestnut Street

A complainant reported that between unknown person(s) took their 2018 Jeep from a parking lot.

VANDALISM (2)

June 10 to June 11, 3200 Market Street

A Drexel affiliate reported that unknown person(s) placed graffiti on the wall of a Drexel property.

June 14, 3300 Hamilton Street

Drexel Police arrested a male after he was observed vandalizing a parked auto.

Policy Violations (0)

During the period from June 6 to June 19, there were no Policy Violations for Alcohol or Policy Violations for Drugs. The reports were sent to the Office of Student Conduct for review.

As the Philadelphia region moves to the “yellow phase” of Governor Tom Wolf’s reopening plan Friday following COVID-19 closures, the easing of local restrictions will begin, including on Drexel’s campus. But this spring’s commencement ceremony will still be held remotely.

According to Philadelphia officials on June 4, the city will meet the Thursday midnight deadline, allowing the move to the “yellow phase” on Friday.

In the “yellow phase,” which Pennsylvania calls the aggressive mitigation step, telework must continue where feasible, childcare can open with restrictions and non-essential businesses (such as retail) can open with restrictions. Large gatherings are still prohibited, schools must remain closed for in-person instruction and entertainment venues (such as gyms, theaters and casinos) must remain closed.

“The purpose of this [yellow] phase is to begin to power back up the economy while keeping a close eye on the public health data to ensure the spread of disease remains contained to the greatest extent possible,” Wolf wrote on his website.

Officials warn that, should the Philadelphia area see an increase in cases, a return to the stay-at-home order “red phase” may be warranted.

“We’ll watch, but I’m hopeful that we don’t see increased spread [amid the] protests,” Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley said.

At Drexel, most activities will remain virtual, including this year’s commencement program.

Drexel’s digital graduation ceremony will be held Thursday, June 11 around 6 p.m. Earlier in the day on Thursday, each college and school will hold individual celebrations digitally. Full details can be found on the Commencement page of Drexel’s website.

Graduates and their families will hear from Bill Marimow, this year’s featured speaker. Marimow has had a long career in news, serving as Editor-in-Chief of The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Baltimore Sun and as Vice President at National Public Radio. He is a two-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize and currently serves as a Senior Advisor at Brian Communications, a strategic communications agency based in Philadelphia.

Although this year’s commencement ceremony looks far different than usual, Drexel assures that each graduate will be honored and celebrated in a special way.

“We’ll be posting some very special remarks from across the entire Drexel community,” Drexel’s website says to graduates. “You’ll find social media posts shared from around the world, celebratory Class of 2020 graduate downloads, traditional Drexel keepsakes and so much more to commemorate you – no matter where you are. Your resilience is an inspiration to us all.”

Despite a digital commencement, restrictions on other facets of Drexel are easing as Philadelphia moves into the “yellow phase” of Pennsylvania’s reopening plan.

This shift to the less-restrictive phase means research activities and clinical training, like those for the College of Nursing and Health Professions, are gradually resuming.

“Although research has been moving ahead remotely since [Drexel’s] campus shutdown in March, we are looking to reopen labs, [field-based] and clinical-based research activities on June 8,” Drexel President John Fry said in an email statement on May 29. “Under a three-stage approach, campus research activities will revolve around critical and prioritized projects and utilize faculty and post-doctoral, graduate and co-op students on a voluntary basis.”

As these and other research initiatives get underway, Fry said that Drexel is committed to following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in regard to personal protective equipment, social distancing and deep cleaning.

As announced in an email statement on April 20, remote learning will continue at Drexel through summer term. Logistics instated for spring term, including the pass-fail grading option, will continue through the summer.

However, Drexel is hoping for big changes come fall term. Administrators, including President Fry, are awaiting a recommendation from the Fall 2020 COVID-19 task force on the best course of action for fall term. Fry will announce Drexel’s plan in the coming days.

In the meantime, researchers from Drexel’s College of Medicine are conducting a study, in partnership with Tower Health and 10 other leading medical institutions, to investigate how the coronavirus has different effects for different patients. The study is funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases within the National Institutes of Health.

Many of Drexel’s other research activities are also being made possible by national funding.

“Our research related to the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a primary and proud focus, utilizing the Rapid Response Research and Development Fund created to support urgent action on health-related research and development,” Fry said.

Full details on Drexel’s response to COVID-19, research activities and plans to reopen campus can be found on the Response to Coronavirus section of their website.

The U.S. National Guard presence on Drexel University’s campus has caused another layer of unrest for those in the area amid the protests in Philadelphia following George Floyd’s death.

Governor Tom Wolf and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency deployed the National Guard to the Armory on Drexel’s campus, which is owned by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a fact not known by most students. The National Guard’s presence was a response to recent protests, President John Fry said in an email statement to the University community June 2.

Drexel students wrote to Fry, many via social media, to express their thoughts on the matter. Among the messages, students shared that they “feel uncomfortable and unsafe” and “do not condone” the hosting of the National Guard on campus.

“Calling in the [National] Guard is a dangerous overreaction to protesting that will likely lead to more brutality and more bloodshed,” one letter read.

“I acknowledge the anger, frustration, pain and, frankly, fear that was caused by seeing National Guard vehicles on or close to our campus,” Fry responded in a clarifying email. “I appreciate that was a shock to our community and has created concern and distrust.”

The Armory at 32nd Street and Lancaster Avenue lies on Drexel’s campus, but Pennsylvania has ultimate, independent control over the use of the space, Fry explained. Since 2008, Drexel has leased a portion of the space, which has become home to the University’s Army ROTC program.

Since the 1920s, the facility has also been home to the National Guard’s 103rd Engineering Battalion, Fry said. Deploying the National Guard to the Armory to support public safety efforts has also occurred in the past.

“In 2015, more than 500 National Guard members were stationed at the facility to provide services for the visit of Pope Francis,” Fry said. “The National Guard is also assisting with the Commonwealth’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”

The arrival of the National Guard on Drexel’s campus was not a decision made by the University, Fry reminded. The use of the Armory for a communications and operations command center comes as a preventative measure made by Philadelphia mayor Jim Kenney, who requested the National Guard be deployed to help protect local government buildings.

“Please know that the University is not condoning violence against peaceful protestors or efforts to silence the voices that have risen up against racism in this country,” Fry added.

Even digitally, students who are in need of support can contact the Office of Counseling and Health Services for a teletherapy appointment. Employees should contact the Employee Assistance Program for counseling via phone or online.

“I want to assure you that Drexel remains committed to addressing the deep-rooted history of pain in the African American community,” Fry wrote. “[And to] exploring how we can be active allies in restoring trust, acceptance and inclusivity for everyone.”

While the United States and Philadelphia are currently following  more prominent news regarding the large-scale protests continuing to occur nation- and city-wide, small changes are being made to Drexel’s restaurant scene.

One of Drexel’s longest standing restaurants on Powelton Avenue — the California Pizza that was never related to the restaurant chain — has seemingly closed its doors for good. Furthermore, there is someone already in the process replacing them.

As seen in the photo above, the new owners of 3231 Powelton Avenue will be Trio’s Fresh Italian, which seems to be expanding to another location on the other side of Philadelphia. Their first location is at 342 West Girard Avenue in Olde Kensington, just a handful of blocks away from the wildly popular restaurant scenes at the heart of Fishtown and Northern Liberties.

This move by Trio’s makes sense in terms of expanding to both sides of the city for easier delivery and dine-in points for its consumer base. However, one must ask the question — why did California Pizza close, and how did Trio’s get moving so quickly to take over the Powelton Avenue space?

The elephant in the emergency room here is the devastating impact that COVID-19 has had on small businesses around the country. Countless long-standing restaurants have been forced to close due to the lack of revenue that the stay-at-home orders have created. At first glance, California Pizza was a prime candidate for joining that list.

California Pizza was always open till at least midnight, including 2:30 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. It was a restaurant that thrived on the late night and bang-for-their-buck college population, but when their dependable consumer base all went home and the rest of the city shuttered inside, California Pizza found itself with almost no customers.

The other understandable answer could be a rent increase after California Pizza’s lease expired. California Pizza has been a Drexel institution for over a decade, and many restaurants are known for being unable to pay the rising cost of rent for new leases. Drexel University’s steady increase of a neighborhood presence in the Mantua neighborhood has not made rent go down.

Even a prosperous restaurant could be scared by a rent increase, and while Drexel’s unique California Pizza could be taking some time to relocate with a cheaper rent space instead of closing entirely, they will no longer be on Drexel’s campus — a sight that many students may be saddened by when returning to campus in the fall.

The winners of this closure are obvious: the restaurants on Lancaster Avenue’s pizza row.

The back-to-back-to-back restaurant lineup of Savas Brick Oven Pizza, Ed’s Buffalo Wings & Pizza and Mad Greek’s Pizza, Beer and Catering are all breathing a little sigh of relief right now. The three campus favorites are now going to be even more popular with the spillover from California Pizza’s customers needing another place to get their late night eats.

Another winner is the Drexel location of Blaze Pizza, but they are a larger corporation that does not rely as heavily on local customers; nevertheless, they will probably see an uptick in customers in the coming months.

More information regarding California Pizza’s closure and the opening of the University City location of Trio’s Fresh Italian will come soon.

Drexel’s Black Action Committee is a Drexel student organization focused on activism and community service. In the fight against the depersonalization that arises from systemic racism, DrexelBAC has launched a visual campaign titled ‘“What if it was ME?“’ The campaign is designed to ask people to individually submit videos following an answering template, in a wholehearted attempt to strike home the impact that systemic racism can have on your life — and why it looks different based on who you are.

Here is an interview with DrexelBAC discussing the campaign, the thought processes behind the campaign, the work that went into creating the campaign and more.

Ethan Hermann: When coming up with the “‘What if it was ME?“’ campaign, what sparked it to be a visual campaign? 

Drexel’s Black Action Committee: We knew we had share something to do our part in this movement. We felt a visual campaign would really make the impact we wanted because at a time when all information is being shared virtually, seeing a face makes it that much more personal. We wrote in the summary of our campaign that we want to combat the depersonalization and isolation that is used to try and pacify people who are angry at injustice.

You look at the news and they’ll describe it as “an isolated incident” or “the death of a black person,” rather than recognizing that these are connected acts of violence against people. People who are part of communities that have names and loved ones.

EH: Do you feel that seeing people’s emotions when discussing race & systemic racism makes a larger and/or deeper impact?

DrexelBAC: Absolutely. Even though all the posts, whether text, picture or video, may say the same thing and are all helping the movement, you have two different reactions when you see the text reposts on your timeline and when you see the pictures and videos of protesters and celebrities such as Keke Palmer, John Boyega and Kehlani speaking up and taking part. You feel the gravity and severity when you see the moment of silence on Nickelodeon more than when you read their statement online.

EH: There was clearly a lot of thought put into the template for creating your own video submission. How did DBAC reach that final template? 

DrexelBAC: We spent a lot of time as an EBoard coming up with the template. We thought of what message we wanted to give, what the title would be, and the graphic to go with it. We ran the campaign and the wording of the instructions by our peers and other student leaders as well. When we felt comfortable with it, we shared it.

EH: Was there any discussion regarding the wording and/or order of what to say to create a bigger and more powerful impact?

DrexelBAC: We wanted to make sure that the submissions would stay uniform, as unity in campaigns and protest are essential. When the stories of police brutality and racial violence surface, many people will respond with all types of excuses as to why it happened. It’s easier when it’s someone they feel is far removed from them.

But what if it was someone you knew?

The first half of the prompt aims to make people think about that by having people say their name and something that identifies the-m. And the last half outlines why people’s initial way of thinking is so harmful by having the speaker question why the response is different for people of different races.

EH: Do you plan on compiling all of the response videos you receive into one master video? 

DrexelBAC: We do. Part of the campaign will be to share the videos individually on various social media platforms. The plan is to then compile all the videos into one to upload onto our YyouTtube channel to share.

EH: Does DBAC plan on sharing the final amount of submissions with the Drexel University administration?

DrexelBAC: Of course. This campaign is open, as the issue it addresses well surpasses our Drexel community, so anyone can submit. But we intend to bring it to the attention of our Drexel community because it affects us. There are Black and Brown students at Drexel that need the support of their university.

EH: Is there anything you would like to add about your campaign [DBAC’s core values, DBAC’s inherent focus moving forward, etc.]?

DrexelBAC: Drexel’s Black Action Committee hasdid, does, and always will support our Black community at Drexel, in Philadelphia, and worldwide through activism and community service. We’d love for everyone to take part in this campaign and to be sure to follow us to keep current with all of our other actions plans and events.

Stay safe, and Black Lives Matter.

Instagram: @drexelbac

Twitter: @DrexelBAC

Hundreds of protestors have taken to the streets of Philadelphia in days past to demand justice for George Floyd, an African-American man who died in police custody in Minneapolis. The crowd has occupied Fairmount Park and the Ben Franklin Parkway, prompting road closures. Additionally, the protests have instigated tear gassing by the police.

This uproar was motivated by George Floyd’s killing, but the movement targets the greater problem of police brutality and institutionalized racism as a whole. History shows that Philadelphia has been the epicenter of major protests since the city was created. Here’s a look at the history of protests in Philadelphia:

August 1964: Riots on Columbia Avenue

This protest began after two police officers arrested a woman in North Philadelphia for not being able to move her broken-down car. Rumors quickly spread throughout Philadelphia, stating that the officers had beat a pregnant black woman. News of this event led to protests and riots across Philadelphia to fight police brutality and racism. Several businesses were looted, and some were permanently shut down as a result.

July 4, 1965-69: The “Annual Reminders” LGBTQ Protests

Prior to the Stonewall riots in New York City, Philadelphia was the hub of LGBTQ protests. A group of 40 protestors marched outside Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. July 4, 1965 marked the first multi-city gay rights protest in the United States.

October 25, 1997: The Million Woman March

Nearly one million people gathered to promote unity in black communities, specifically among black women. Protestors gathered at the Ben Franklin Parkway, and the march included many speeches, prayers and performances. The event was not instigated by a specific event.

November 30, 2011: Occupy Philadelphia

The Occupy protest was part of a worldwide movement that demanded economic equality. There were around 300 protestors at City Hall, until the police booted them out in order to start renovations. Nearly 50 people were arrested, some who later sued the city for violating their right to assemble.

December 2014-16: Black Lives Matter

The movement began after Trayvon Martin was shot in 2012. Since then, several protests took place to fight for an end to police brutality.

March 24, 2018: March for Our Lives

Nearly 10,000 marchers took to the streets of Philadelphia after the historical shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018. The march began on Market and 5th Streets and ended at Penn’s Landing. The purpose of the march was to honor the 17 victims and call for stricter gun control legislation. There were several politicians and students who gave speeches as well.

July 2018: Immigration and Customs Enforcement Protests

Protestors marched from the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to City Hall, calling for the abolishment of the ICE agency. The protestors brought their concerns directly to Mayor Jim Kenney, hoping to dissaude him from re-signing the yearly contract with ICE.

April 2020: “Pennsylvanians Against Excessive Quarantine”

Protestors across Pennsylvania demanded that Governor Tom Wolf end the statewide shutdown amid the coronavirus pandemic. These residents belonged to a group called “Pennsylvanians Against Excessive Quarantine,” a Facebook group that called the protest “Operation Gridlock Pennsylvania.”