Thousands filled the streets of Philadelphia this week to protest in support of racial equality. (Photograph courtesy of Rob Bulmahn at Flickr.)
Thousands of masked faces marched through the streets of Philadelphia this weekend, holding signs that read “AmeriKKKa,” “I can’t breathe” and “Keep your knees off our necks.”
Philadelphia is one of many cities across the country participating in Black Lives Matter protests in honor of George Floyd, another unarmed black man dead at the hands of the police.
Protests in Philadelphia began peacefully Friday afternoon, but eventually there were fires set and damages done to businesses by more violent individuals set on disrupting the protests. In response, a curfew was implemented by Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney for the over few nights. On Sunday and Monday, these curfews started as early as 6 p.m.
Here is a quick summary of the events that occurred following Friday’s peaceful protest:
Nearly every store on Walnut Street near Rittenhouse Square was broken into and looted, but members of the community came out to clean up the area early Saturday morning, with the store owners being quite understanding.
In another peaceful protest on Monday, police cornered and trapped protestors blocking traffic on Interstate 676. The police began shooting tear gas canisters into the small group of protestors who had been forced between the Vine Street Expressway and I-676, blocking off any room for an escape.
In West Philadelphia, police cars were set on fire near 52nd and Market Streets. While Philadelphia Police were quick to respond with force to the people on that scene and in the historically black community of Kensington, there was a group of white men with bats and other weapons in Fishtown out past curfew.
On top of curfew violations in large droves by the haphazardly-organized group, Philadelphia Police allowed it to occur peacefully. According to a Philadelphia Inquirer article, Police Capt. William Fisher thanked them and politely instructed the men to go home at 6:30 p.m. — 30 minutes after the city-mandated curfew had begun.
On Monday in southwest Philadelphia, there was a fatal car crash that was completely disconnected from any protest, but it shook up the community nonetheless, as the cars and the injured people were in the middle of a busy street.
Across the street from City Hall, where a statue of former police commissioner and mayor Frank Rizzo stood, the defacement that had been cleared off over the weekend was rendered moot. Rizzo stood until early Wednesday morning, when his statue was removed by city officials.
Rizzo was police commissioner from 1967 to 1971, and then mayor from 1972 to 1980. During that time, he was notorious for his run-ins with black activist groups, many of which resulted in violent arrests. This weekend, protesters across the country have been vandalizing Confederate monuments, and Philadelphia’s equivalent is the historically brutal, aggressive and right-wing Rizzo.
In 1967, during Rizzo’s reign as police commissioner, a student walkout was organized to protest the racially unjust policies of the Philadelphia school system. In response, Rizzo and hundreds of officers clubbed protesting teenagers with nightsticks and arrested almost 60 protesters after students were said to have climbed on top of car hoods.
This incident was only one of Rizzo’s many run-ins with LGBTQ groups and black activist groups. These groups included the Black Panthers, who were often raided and strip-searched, and MOVE, a black liberation and environmentalist group that still exists today. In the ’70s, MOVE had been in conflict with Philadelphia police for years. In 1978, there was a police stand-off in Powelton Village, leading to the death of a police officer and the imprisonment of nine of MOVE’s members.
On May 13, 1985, after Rizzo’s time as mayor, one of the most forgotten and shocking acts of police power — sometimes referred to as “the city that bombed itself” — occurred. Police officers were ordered to remove MOVE members from their home on Osage Avenue, leading to another stand-off. Gunfire was exchanged between police officers on the street and the MOVE members inside the home that had been repurposed into a bunker. After evacuating the rest of the block’s residents the night before, police forces dropped a bomb on the home from a helicopter, killing 11 people, destroying 61 homes and leaving more than 250 citizens homeless.
Since that day in 1985, this extreme has not been used in response to black activist groups. But countless Black Lives Matter, anti-racism and anti-police brutality movements have occurred in Philadelphia since, many of which have occurred in the past 10 years.
There were protests following the deaths of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in 2012, 19-year-old Renisha McBride in 2013 and 18-year-old Michael Brown in 2014. Protests followed the deaths of Brandon Tate-Brown, who was shot after being pulled over, and Freddie Gray, who died in the back of a transport van in 2015. Protests honored the Black Lives Matter movement at the Democratic National Convention in 2016. Protests followed the death of David Jones, who was shot in the back of the head in 2017. Protests followed the arrests of two black men for waiting for a friend without buying anything in Starbucks in 2018.
Many citizens are calling their local elected officials, asking for explanations and reparations against the police. Many bail funds have been set up for those who have been arrested during the various protests.
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Digital activities replaced Drexel’s annual Memorial Day Primer this year. (Photograph by Jason Sobieski for The Triangle.)
Drexel’s 10th annual Memorial Day Primer would have been held last week. This year, the special tradition was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Drexel has found ways to celebrate remotely.
Assistant Vice President of Student Life, Dr. Rebecca Weidensaul, said that finding a way to honor was so important to many members of the Drexel community, including the student-veteran population.
“I talked with the student-veteran leaders at Drexel and the Veterans Task Force members about what we could do remotely to continue the tradition of the Memorial Day Primer,” Weidensaul said. “We wanted to find a way to ‘be connected’ in our preparation for the three-day weekend.”
Student-veteran leaders even teamed up to create a short video in which the group read the poem “In Flanders Fields,” written by John McCrae during World War I. Reciting this poem has become a special tradition at the annual Memorial Day Primer event.
“This poem, along with the sharing of poppies, has become a hallmark of every Memorial Day Primer as it grounds us in military history and provides patriotic tradition,” Weidensaul reminded.
The poppy, a red flower that has become a national symbol of remembrance, was first inspired by McCrae’s poem. His writing describes the fields in Flanders, or present-day Belgium, which were ravaged from battle but still grew poppies.
Distributing hand-knitted bright red poppies has become a tradition at every Memorial Day Primer, Weidensaul said, but it is happening differently this year.
“Instead of handing out [hand-made] poppies, we offered DIY art projects,” she said. “[These] DIY poppy projects were a way to engage households in Memorial Day tradition and patriotism.”
Hand-knit red poppies were distributed at the 9th Annual Memorial Day Primer (2019), which have become a special tradition and symbol of remembrance. (Photograph by Jason Sobieski for The Triangle.)
In an email to the Drexel veteran community, Weidensaul said she hopes creative expressions, like displaying the DIY poppies and other window art – brought about during the coronavirus pandemic – will become a part of the new normal. She said finding unique ways to celebrate traditions has “pulled us through” the pandemic.
Weidensaul also offered online recordings of previous Memorial Day Primer events for those who wish to watch a full celebration.
“Fortunately, we have recorded most of our veteran and Memorial Day events in the past years, and were happy to share them if anyone wanted to experience a full tribute,” Weidensaul said.
Members of the Drexel community were also invited to participate in this year’s National Moment of Remembrance, held on May 25 at 3 p.m., in honor of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
“This [National Moment of Remembrance] experience is very personal for most,” Weidensaul said. “But, I suspect we all share a common sense of comfort knowing that there is unified prayer or contemplation to honor the great personal sacrifices of our fellow Americans and their loved ones.”
Weidensaul also shared that May is National Military Appreciation Month, celebrated annually “to ensure the nation [is] given the chance to publicly show their appreciation for troops past and present,” according to Military.com.
The U.S. military’s individual and collective efforts have been instrumental in shaping America’s history, Weidensaul said, and National Military Appreciation Month is a reminder to honor and appreciate service members and our history.
“[Our] American patriots have built a culture of service that has sustained our nation and communities on the best of days, the worst of days and every day in between,” she wrote in an email to Drexel’s veteran community. “Unfortunately, many of our student-veterans, colleagues and alumni have lost friends and loved ones because of their exceptional and patriotic call to service. Let us be there for them.”
Although in a physically-distant manner this year, Drexel continues to bring together the veteran community and celebrate military service, which Weidensaul says is a way of life. Those who have chosen to serve our nation through service have made a selfless decision so we can live freely, she said.
Now is our chance to do our duty of recognizing them, especially those who are so special to the Drexel community.
“[Drexel is] a stronger university because of our military-connected students, alumni, professional staff, and those who support them, like the Veterans Task Force and the Drexel Veterans Alumni Network,” Weidensaul said.
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Governor Wolf allows restaurants, like Crunchik’n, a Korean fusion restaurant in Philadelphia, to host outdoor dining in the ‘yellow phase,’ expected to begin June 5 for the Philadelphia region. (Photograph by Tosh Farrell for The Triangle.)
As week 11 of the stay-at-home order is nearing an end, the Philadelphia restaurant scene is still reinventing itself. This is due, in large part, to Pennsylvania’s phased reopening bringing in more changes in real-time.
After House Bill 327 was signed into order by Governor Tom Wolf on May 21 — just in time for Memorial Day Weekend — cocktails-to-go became street legal, opening up a whole new avenue of service for restaurants and bars.
This sparked a mad dash for restaurants like Good Dog Bar & Grill, which had just reopened its doors a day prior, to capitalize on being both a bar & a grill. Many other Philly restaurants quickly jumped to make boozy concoctions for the pickup customers, including some household names in Triangle Tavern, Vedge, Charlie was a sinner, Wine Dive and more.
As the weeks progress into June and July, the small victories for restaurants are becoming more plentiful. Just last night, Governor Wolf announced that counties in the yellow phase may be allowed outdoor, dine-in seating starting June 5. While there are a whole host of restrictions on how this can be done and there are many hoops that still need to be jumped through, it’s yet another step to alleviate the financial burdens restaurants have been facing.
Thankfully, Philadelphia County and all of the counties in Southeastern Pennsylvania are set to move to the yellow phase on June 5, presuming the progress being made right now to contain COVID-19 continues. Should Philadelphia and its surrounding areas move to yellow next Friday, all of Pennsylvania will be in at least the yellow phase by June 5.
Indoor seating — with heavy restrictions — will be allowed for counties in the green phase, as restaurants will be able to open their doors with limited seating and strict guidelines in place.
For many of Pennsylvania’s northern counties, May 29 and June 5 will mark the transition into the green phase. There will be indoor dining for them very soon. For Philadelphia, the green phase will still be very far away — and that is well understood.
And yet, the switch to the yellow phase will make a giant difference in the livelihood of restaurant owners and their thought processes moving forward in the big metropolitan area of Philadelphia.
Some restaurant owners know they aren’t built for the yellow phase. A Philadelphia Inquirer article written by Jenn Ladd highlighted the sad truth of the dive bars of the city, and how they made their livings off close quarters, social interactions and inside drink specials. Their pricing simply doesn’t compete with other restaurants, but that’s because it never was supposed to.
The dive bars of Philadelphia are going to be closed for a long while longer, and while the owners are happy to know that their employees are getting unemployment checks, they fear their doors will be closed for good.
In terms of other changes during the spring, many restaurants are trying to be as flexible and adaptable as they can. To stay alive, restaurants have to be willing to try whatever can help.
World class restaurants are now doing pick-up and delivery. Wine and small plate corner spots are making sandwiches to-go. Single locations are now taking on many monikers from the same storefront as they desperately try to reach as many types of customers at once.
While all of these changes are making a difference, nothing can compare to the money made from in-person dining. Instead of all the money going to the restaurant and the tip to the waitress or waiter, a 30 percent commission to a third-party food delivery app and a tip to the driver is the new normal.
Without the vital sit-down restaurant experience, many restaurants will see their profits siphoned until their wells are simply dried up. Steps are being made in the right direction, but if at all possible, there are things each and every consumer can do.
Pick up instead of ordering delivery. Order from as many different restaurants as you can afford to. Tip heavily — extremely heavily — and be thankful.
P.S.: Because I am remote in Pittsburgh, I cannot support my favorite places in Philly. Here is a short list of some of my favorite places that are still open in quasi-alphabetical, quasi-categorical order:
Amma’s South Indian Cuisine
Baby Blues BBQ // Mike’s BBQ
(The) Bakeshop on 20th // Essen Bakery
Bart’s Bagels
Beck’s Cajun Cafe
Beiler’s Donuts // Dottie’s Donuts (Dottie’s is vegan!)
Crunchik’n
Di Bruno Bros.
Fiore Fine Foods
Goldie // any of Michael Solomonov’s!
Good Dog Bar & Grill
Han Dynasty
Kalaya
Liberty Kitchen
Middle Child
Pho 75
Pizzeria Beddia / Pizzeria Vetri
Puyero Venezuelan Flavor
Sam’s Morning Glory Diner
Schlesinger’s Deli
South Philly Barbacoa & Mole Poblano
Terakawa Ramen
1-900-ICE-CREAM
The Beiler’s Donuts case at Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia. (Photograph by Ben Ahrens for The Triangle.)
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To the black student community of Drexel University,
As the world has been all too well reminded by the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and now George Floyd, America is not a safe place for black people.
As more murders, incidents and altercations come to surface that show the prevalence of racism through an unadulterated, crystal-clear lens, it is the job of allies to rise up, speak up and do something.
While actions matter more in many aspects, words still hold a large sum of value. This is why newspapers and news media still exist today.
It is with great importance we state that if any injustice is brought upon you during your time at Drexel, there are people at this newspaper who believe you and who will call out those guilty and who deserve punishment.
Your voice will be heard. Your story will matter. Your life will be cared about and fought for. You will be fought for.
You cannot feel wholly safe in a country that has never wholly protected you, but please know that there will be others ready to help in the never-ending battle that you fight.
When you are on Drexel’s campus your education and your happiness should be at the forefront of your mind, not whether or not you will survive to see another day or year.
Your accomplishments and your successes are what the news should be filled with.
Sincerely,
The News Editors
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The following crimes occurred on or near campus and were reported to The Triangle by the Drexel University Department of Public Safety between May 11 and May 25. All information included in this report is taken from law enforcement or Division of Public Safety incident reports.
BURGLARY (1)
May 15, 12:00 p.m. to 12:20 p.m., 3400 Spring Garden Street
A non-Drexel complainant reported an unknown male entered their residence through a rear door and took cash and household items.
THEFT (8)
May 8-11, 2900 Queen Lane
A Drexel staff member reported an unknown person(s) entered their auto by breaking a window and took their wallet containing credit cards and ID.
May 10-11, 3500 Spring Garden Street
A non-Drexel complainant reported unknown person(s) took their 2007 Honda CRV. On May 13, DUPD arrested two males who were observed operating the auto.
May 12, 3500 Baring Street
A non-Drexel complainant reported an unknown male removed a delivered package from their front porch. The incident was captured on video, and on May 14, DUPD arrested the male who admitted to taking the package.
May 12, 12:07 a.m., 3300 Market Street Wawa
DUPD arrested a male after he took two sandwiches from the store and fled without paying for them.
May 13, 12:50 p.m., 3400 Brandywine Street
A non-Drexel complainant reported three unknown juvenile males entered their auto and took medication from his glove compartment. At 1:10 p.m., DUPD arrested the three males.
May 18, 400 block North 34th Street
DUPD arrested a female after she was observed taking a bait package from a porch of a residence after it was placed there by police.
May 24, 7:28 a.m., 3300 Market St. Wawa
Police arrested a male after he took items from the store without paying and fled into the subway.
May 24, 9:19 p.m., 3500 Spring Garden Street
Three unknown males were observed entering a shed at the Dornsife Center and removing several folding chairs.
VANDALISM (1)
May 25, 3100 Chestnut Street
It was reported that unknown person(s) spray-painted graffiti on a wall of the Main Building.
POLICY VIOLATIONS (0)
During the period from May 11 and May 25, there were no Policy Violations for Alcohol and no Policy Violations for Drugs. The reports were sent to the Office of Student Conduct for review.
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The steel structure of the new College of Medicine facility in Wyomissing, Berks County, was finished Monday May 18 with a “topping off” ceremony. (Photograph by Jason Sobieski for The Triangle.)
Drexel University and Tower Health celebrated a significant milestone on May 18 as the final beam was lifted into place, “topping off” a new College of Medicine facility in Wyomissing, Berks County.
Tower Health, a major healthcare system based in Reading, Pennsylvania, is expanding its partnership with Drexel through a 20-year academic affiliation agreement and a new six-story structure for the College of Medicine. A ceremony was held Monday to honor the final 30-foot structural steel beam (of 3,109 total) being lifted into place.
“Tower Health has a growing relationship with Drexel University to advance its academic strategy,” the healthcare system wrote on its website. “[We] are collaborating to build an additional site location for Drexel’s College of Medicine in Wyomissing, less than one mile from Tower Health’s Reading Hospital. When fully operational, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health will have the capacity to train and educate up to 300 medical students.”
The revolutionary College of Medicine at Tower Health will boast classrooms, lecture halls and learning communities. Medical students will also have access to an anatomy laboratory, specially-designed patient rooms and simulation labs in the new state-of-the-art facility.
Renderings of the final building are displayed throughout the construction site. (Photograph by Jason Sobieski for The Triangle.)
Clint Matthews, President and CEO of Tower Health, said the biggest goal in working with Drexel to develop the new facility is to support the education of highly-skilled and trained physicians to serve patients in the region.
“It has been more than two years since we announced our intention to create this additional site location for Drexel’s College of Medicine in Berks County,” Matthews said. “Our innovative collaboration will bring together rigorous medical education from Drexel and a clinically-advanced training environment from Tower Health’s flagship, Reading Hospital, to create a premier destination for physicians of the future.”
The construction project was given a waiver allowing construction to continue during Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order, deemed an essential healthcare project. It is on track to open for the 2021-22 academic year.
Drexel and Tower Health broke ground on the project in June 2019. The physical structure is being constructed using over 2.6 million pounds of steel, 6,000 cubic yards of concrete and 41 tons of reinforcing steel bar.
Officials from Drexel and Tower Health left their signatures on the final steel beam May 18 before it was lifted into place. (Photograph by Jason Sobieski for The Triangle.)
“[It was] certainly a history-making occasion,” Drexel President John Fry said of the “topping off” ceremony May 18. “[It was] a major milestone in building this impressive medical school campus. Our new home for medical education is the bricks-and-mortar evidence of the success in creating groundbreaking academic affiliation between our two great institutions … it could not have come at a better time.”
Currently, Drexel and Tower Health are partners in North Philadelphia’s St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.
The Wyomissing facility is scheduled to welcome up to 300 students beginning in the 2020-21 academic year.
The new College of Medicine facility can be seen high over Reading. (Photograph by Jason Sobieski for The Triangle.)
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The steel structure of the new College of Medicine facility in Wyomissing, Berks County, was finished Monday May 18 with a “topping off” ceremony. (Photograph by Jason Sobieski for The Triangle.)
Drexel University and Tower Health celebrated a significant milestone on May 18 as the final beam was lifted into place, “topping off” a new College of Medicine facility in Wyomissing, Berks County.
Tower Health, a major healthcare system based in Reading, Pennsylvania, is expanding its partnership with Drexel through a 20-year academic affiliation agreement and a new six-story structure for the College of Medicine. A ceremony was held Monday to honor the final 30-foot structural steel beam (of 3,109 total) being lifted into place.
“Tower Health has a growing relationship with Drexel University to advance its academic strategy,” the healthcare system wrote on its website. “[We] are collaborating to build an additional site location for Drexel’s College of Medicine in Wyomissing, less than one mile from Tower Health’s Reading Hospital. When fully operational, Drexel University College of Medicine at Tower Health will have the capacity to train and educate up to 300 medical students.”
The revolutionary College of Medicine at Tower Health will boast classrooms, lecture halls and learning communities. Medical students will also have access to an anatomy laboratory, specially-designed patient rooms and simulation labs in the new state-of-the-art facility.
Renderings of the final building are displayed throughout the construction site. (Photograph by Jason Sobieski for The Triangle.)
Clint Matthews, President and CEO of Tower Health, said the biggest goal in working with Drexel to develop the new facility is to support the education of highly-skilled and trained physicians to serve patients in the region.
“It has been more than two years since we announced our intention to create this additional site location for Drexel’s College of Medicine in Berks County,” Matthews said. “Our innovative collaboration will bring together rigorous medical education from Drexel and a clinically-advanced training environment from Tower Health’s flagship, Reading Hospital, to create a premier destination for physicians of the future.”
The construction project was given a waiver allowing construction to continue during Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order, deemed an essential healthcare project. It is on track to open for the 2021-22 academic year.
Drexel and Tower Health broke ground on the project in June 2019. The physical structure is being constructed using over 2.6 million pounds of steel, 6,000 cubic yards of concrete and 41 tons of reinforcing steel bar.
Officials from Drexel and Tower Health left their signatures on the final steel beam May 18 before it was lifted into place. (Photograph by Jason Sobieski for The Triangle.)
“[It was] certainly a history-making occasion,” Drexel President John Fry said of the “topping off” ceremony May 18. “[It was] a major milestone in building this impressive medical school campus. Our new home for medical education is the bricks-and-mortar evidence of the success in creating groundbreaking academic affiliation between our two great institutions … it could not have come at a better time.”
Currently, Drexel and Tower Health are partners in North Philadelphia’s St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children.
The Wyomissing facility is scheduled to welcome up to 300 students beginning in the 2021-22 academic year.
The new College of Medicine facility can be seen high over Reading. (Photograph by Jason Sobieski for The Triangle.)
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Drexel student Hannah Beier will be known as the photographer of the generation pandemic, as her work is featured on the front cover of TIME Magazine’s current issue. (Photograph courtesy of Hannah Beier and TIME Magazine.)
As the new cover of TIME Magazine makes its rounds in paper distribution and gains popularity on social media, one familiar with the photography majors at Drexel University would notice the name of the photographer — Hannah Beier.
Beier is a 23-year-old photography major at Drexel and is set to graduate in June and go off into the real world. TIME was reaching out to “photo professors across the country, looking for a student who has been documenting these extraordinary times,” and Beier’s work blew every other portfolio out of the water, as explained in TIME’s article about Beier.
Beier’s photographs and their ability to “provide an intimate look at how her friends and classmates are marking milestones and attempting to navigate their new normal” made her the right candidate for TIME’s Generation Pandemic issue, and with that she’s gained national recognition for her still frames.
As explained in TIME’s article about Beier, she was working on a “senior thesis that focused on the vulnerability of the relationships and friendships in her life.” What this meant for Beier and her photography was that each individual photo was going to be intimate, and that same method was able to translate into her pandemic series.
Beier took photos of her friends via FaceTime, directing her friends and their spaces until she had the framing just perfect and would take photo after photo until it was perfect.
One of Meier’s friends — and one of the two subjects on the cover of TIME — Melissa Nesta helped Beier come up with an apt title for her series: “Time Apart.” As a friend, fellow senior and photography major, Nesta was not just a willing participant but an enthusiastic helper in Beier’s photo series.
She and Beier decided together on the location and time of day for the soon-to-be cover shot, and based on the looks of it, it is a living room space in late morning. At this time, college campuses would be bustling, the world would be busy and bright, breakfast would be finished and just about anything could be happening on a nice weekend morning.
Instead, the stay-at-home order is in effect, and the world of screens has taken over the daily routines of those inside. With Nesta’s boyfriend, Daniel Mosley, on his computer and Nesta seemingly looking at the camera — which is, in this case, her phone, positioned where a television would be in the living room — she too is looking at a screen. Both seem to have lower energy, their 2020 decorations hung up above their couch, and an air of restlessness hangs palpably.
All of this is understandable, and yet you can almost see yourself in the room with them, discussing the current state of affairs and hoping to have some positivity for the future. It is as intimate as it is a sign of the times, and there is without a doubt no surprise that Beier’s laborious efforts on perfecting her photos has paid off.
Beier has her entire series up on her website, hannahbeier.com. As she graduates in June from the comforts of her home, she will be known as the “photographer of the generation pandemic” for a long time to come.
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Drexel student Hannah Beier will be known as the photographer of the generation pandemic, as her work is featured on the front cover of TIME Magazine’s current issue. (Photograph courtesy of Hannah Beier and TIME Magazine.)
As the new cover of TIME Magazine makes its rounds in paper distribution and gains popularity on social media, one familiar with the photography majors at Drexel University would notice the name of the photographer — Hannah Beier.
Beier is a 23-year-old photography major at Drexel and is set to graduate in June and go off into the real world. TIME was reaching out to “photo professors across the country, looking for a student who has been documenting these extraordinary times,” and Beier’s work blew every other portfolio out of the water, as explained in TIME’s article about Beier.
Beier’s photographs and their ability to “provide an intimate look at how her friends and classmates are marking milestones and attempting to navigate their new normal” made her the right candidate for TIME’s Generation Pandemic issue, and with that she’s gained national recognition for her still frames.
As explained in TIME’s article about Beier, she was working on a “senior thesis that focused on the vulnerability of the relationships and friendships in her life.” What this meant for Beier and her photography was that each individual photo was going to be intimate, and that same method was able to translate into her pandemic series.
Beier took photos of her friends via FaceTime, directing her friends and their spaces until she had the framing just perfect and would take photo after photo until it was perfect.
One of Meier’s friends — and one of the two subjects on the cover of TIME — Melissa Nesta helped Beier come up with an apt title for her series: “Time Apart.” As a friend, fellow senior and photography major, Nesta was not just a willing participant but an enthusiastic helper in Beier’s photo series.
She and Beier decided together on the location and time of day for the soon-to-be cover shot, and based on the looks of it, it is a living room space in late morning. At this time, college campuses would be bustling, the world would be busy and bright, breakfast would be finished and just about anything could be happening on a nice weekend morning.
Instead, the stay-at-home order is in effect, and the world of screens has taken over the daily routines of those inside. With Nesta’s boyfriend, Daniel Mosley, on his computer and Nesta seemingly looking at the camera — which is, in this case, her phone, positioned where a television would be in the living room — she too is looking at a screen. Both seem to have lower energy, their 2020 decorations hung up above their couch, and an air of restlessness hangs palpably.
All of this is understandable, and yet you can almost see yourself in the room with them, discussing the current state of affairs and hoping to have some positivity for the future. It is as intimate as it is a sign of the times, and there is without a doubt no surprise that Beier’s laborious efforts on perfecting her photos has paid off.
Beier has her entire series up on her website, hannahbeier.com. As she graduates in June from the comforts of her home, she will be known as the “photographer of the generation pandemic” for a long time to come.
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Pennsylvania’s primary election was rescheduled and will be held June 2. (Photograph courtesy of Kelley Minars at Flickr.)
Despite the circumstances, the state of Pennsylvania will still be holding a primary election on Tuesday, June 2. The election, originally meant to be on April 28, was pushed back by Gov. Tom Wolf as the COVID crisis ramped up, along with voter registration deadlines. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, state and city leaders have made various decisions to cut back on polling places and staff while ramping up mail-in ballot efforts.
According to the Inquirer, The Philadelphia Board of City Commissioners released a plan that would cut up to 77 percent of polling locations in the city, with a total of 190 locations. The decision to severely cut polling places was partially made because fewer people are willing to risk their health as poll-workers.
In elections across the country, cities are having trouble filling working positions and finding locations that are able to fulfill social distancing requirements.
However, the consolidation of polling sites poses greater health risks as large amounts of voters will be crammed into fewer locations. It can be presumed that the polling location changes will create further confusion and disenfranchise voters who can no longer simply walk to their local site. As per usual, people will be able to vote from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
At the same time, the state’s new mail-in ballot initiative has become a solution for many Pennsylvanians who want their voices heard but also do not want to risk their health. This election is the first time where all voters are eligible to request an absentee ballot and will serve as a test run for the general election in November.
As of Wednesday, over 145,000 people in Philadelphia have requested a mail-in ballot, and it seems that the numbers will continue to grow rapidly. While the date to register to vote has passed, people who are already registered can request an absentee or mail-in ballot up until May 26 through an online application.
Ballots must be received by the 8 p.m. deadline on June 2, so it is imperative that voters mail their ballots with plenty of time to spare. It is also important to note that Pennsylvania holds closed primaries, meaning you can only vote for the party you are registered with.
With that being said, here’s a quick voter guide to what will be on the ballot:
Ballot Questions:
Philly voters will have the opportunity to vote on two proposed changes to the city’s charter.
Question 1: Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to revise rules pertaining to prohibited activities of appointed City officers and employees, to generally allow such officers and employees to volunteer for state and federal political campaigns outside of work time and without using City resources; to continue to prohibit participation in any political campaign for a City office or Philadelphia-based state office; and to revise penalty provisions pertaining to such restrictions and prohibited activities generally?
As of now, City employees cannot volunteer for any partisan political campaigns, whether that be on the local, state or federal levels, a decision made back in the 1950s when Philly officials were dealing with various corruption scandals. Philadelphia is one of few municipalities to have such stringent rules on employee political activity. While employees are able to outwardly express support for their favored candidate, they are unable to take paid positions on political campaigns.
This number of employees includes over 25,000 people. Should the vote be passed, most City employees would be allowed to campaign for federal and various state campaigns but would still be restricted from participating in local campaigns or for state representatives that Philadelphians would see on the ballot.
Question 2: Shall the Philadelphia Home Rule Charter be amended to create a Department of Labor, headed by a Cabinet-level Director, to enforce City laws that protect Philadelphia workers; to oversee labor relations, such as collective bargaining, with the City’s unionized workforce; to investigate compliance with worker protections set forth in City contracts; and to manage programs concerning City employees; and to create a Board of Labor Standards to review and adjudicate matters arising from such work?
During his administration, Mayor Kenney created a Department of Labor which has served as an organization tool for enforcing worker laws as well as protecting their rights. However, the office stands to be easily eliminated in 2023 once Kenney leaves office. Voting yes would mean, in turn, that Philly’s Home Rule Charter would be modified to permanently include the Department of Labor and expand its power with a seven-person board and a director.
President of the United States:
The race for the President of the United States has essentially narrowed down to incumbent Donald Trump and former vice president Joe Biden. Many of the following names remain on the ballot regardless of the candidates having dropped out. However, one of the candidates who still has a stake in the election is Vermont senator Bernie Sanders, who is encouraging his supporters to still vote for him. The more Sanders racks up his delegate count, the more sway he will have over Biden’s platform at the Democratic convention.
Democratic Primary
Joe Biden: Former Vice President during the Obama administration, former Delaware senator
Bernie Sanders: current Senator of Vermont, former Mayor of Burlington
Tulsi Gabbard: current state representative from Hawaii, veteran
Republican Primary
Donald Trump: (incumbent) current President of the United States
Roque de la Fuente: former Democratic candidate for president in 2016, dropped out
Bill Weld: former Governor of Massachusetts, dropped out
Delegates to the National Conventions:
Voters will be able to select delegates to attend the Democratic or Republican convention. Based on your party registration, you will be able to choose several of the delegates to go represent your preferred candidate in the race. Democrats will be able to vote for up to 14 delegates out of 25, and Republicans will be able to vote for four delegates (who are all committed to voting for Trump.) The Democratic delegates are either committed to Sanders or Biden.
PA Attorney General:
The state’s Attorney General is tasked with handling the legal matters of the state, split up into four main divisions — handling civil, public protection, criminal cases, among other responsibilities. Serving as the largest prosecutor in Pennsylvania, the Attorney General position is a powerful role in the state government.
Josh Shapiro is the current PA Attorney General and seeks to keep his position in the upcoming election. Shapiro is best known for prosecuting the case against the sex abuse scandals occurring within the Catholic Church. The attorney general exposed the 300 priests involved in abusing around 1,000 victims, blaming the archdiocese for a lack of action. Shapiro is also known for a scandal involving The Philadelphia Inquirer back in late 2019, in which he encouraged the local paper to be more critical of Philly District Attorney Larry Krasner. Of course, this scandal represents a challenging power dynamic between the two leaders as Krasner has advocated against mass incarceration, much to the behest of Shapiro.
Heather Heidelbaugh, his Republican competitor, has called Shapiro a “show dog” only willing to take on cases that would raise his profile. As a Pittsburgh attorney and former council member, Heidelbaugh is Shapiro’s sole competitor in the race.
The Auditor General of the state generally serves as the fiscal, government spending watchdog. As a seat for the position has opened up, plenty of Democrats and Republicans are vying for the spot.
Tracey Fountain: Drexel alum, currently serves as the Audit Bureau Director for the auditor general’s office
Republican Primary
Timothy DeFoor: Recently elected to second term as Dauphin County Controller.
Pennsylvania Senate
For the PA Senate, there are four senators up for re-election, only one of whom is being challenged in the 1st District. Progressive Nikil Saval is challenging incumbent Larry Farnese in what seems to be a tight race. Saval is a champion of progressive politics, having co-founded Reclaim Philly and organized for the Sanders campaign in the past. Running on policies like a Green New Deal for PA, rent control and affordable housing, Saval’s platform represents a breath of fresh air in Philly politics. Incumbent Larry Farnese has been in office since 2009, having been successful in advocating for affordable housing, a PA run on renewable energy and advocacy for women and LGBTQ groups.
There are more open seats in the House of Representatives as these positions are up for reelection every two years. Philly has 26 districts that are represented in the House, and there are too many candidates running for office to list, so here are some election highlights:
182nd District
This district faces a three-way race as incumbent Democrat Brian Sims battles Marisa Shaaban and Drew Murray. Sims is currently seeking a fifth term, having a long history of being outspoken on LGBTQ rights but also being involved in a viral scandal last year. Shaaban, also a Democrat, has focused her platform around issues of public education and healthcare. Republican Drew Murray is running on anti-Kenney policies, such as repealing Philadelphia’s position as a sanctuary city and preventing the implementation of safe injection sites.
184th District Republican Lou Menna IV is running against incumbent Democrat Elizabeth Fielder in the South Philly district. Fielder is a former WHYY reporter and has also embraced progressive positions in her previous term, introducing the Fair Workweek Bill to give workers predictable schedules and pays. No information is out about Fielder’s competitor, Lou Menna.
188th District The 188th District represents West Philly and University City, where Drexel is located in particular. The district faces a competitive race as three people are running to push out Democratic incumbent James Roebuck.
Among the contenders are Democrats Gregory R. Benjamin, Rick Krajewski and Karen Dunn. Congressman Roebuck has represented the district since 1985, becoming one of the longest serving Congress members in the city. Roebuck can be considered as part of the state’s Democratic establishment, being propped up financially by many fellow leaders. Benjamin has been involved in community affairs at the West Philadelphia Mennonite Church and promises to address issues of community safety, mental health and economic improvements.
Rick Krajewski, like Nikil Saval, has roots in the 2016 Sanders movement in Philadelphia, where he organized with Reclaim Philly. His platform consists of criminal justice reform, a Green New Deal for PA and addressing the city’s opioid crisis. Karen Dunn has been involved in her district through incumbent Roebuck’s office for the past 20 years and supports housing reforms, prison reforms and a Green New Deal as well.
For more information on the many other candidates running for office, check out the Committee of Seventy’s website for an expanded voter guide.
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