Kevin Montgomery, the Executive Director of College Operations and Adjunct Professor at Drexel University’s LeBow College of Business, was arrested after an altercation at the SEPTA concourse at 1500 Market Street on Tuesday, Oct. 15 around 8:20 p.m.

According to court records, Montgomery has been charged on four counts — one count of public drunkenness, and three counts of disorderly conduct, including: unreasonable noise; obscene language/gestures; and creating hazardous or physically offensive conditions.

The Philadelphia Police Department provided a statement to the Triangle, stating Montgomery was involved in a verbal disturbance with another individual at the City Hall SEPTA subway station. Once PPD arrived, Montgomery directed his aggression towards the officers and pushed one of them in an attempt to walk away, which led to his arrest.

According to a post by Reddit user Moist_Series970, before the police arrived, two victims were reportedly physically assaulted by Montgomery with a thorny bouquet. Montgomery also allegedly spewed slurs at both victims, one of which who graduated from Drexel this past June.

“I witnessed a horrifying scene: Montgomery attacking a young Black man in front of the turnstiles. In hopes of entry as well as to diffuse the situation, I told the young [man] to step away and leave the situation,” the anonymous Drexel alumni who was a victim of the event said in a statement sent to the Triangle. 

The university alum with an economics degree continued, “Every single phrase he uttered was laced with racist rhetoric. As the young man attempted to flee, in an instant, Montgomery turned his rage on me…he hit me in the face and head with a thorny bouquet of flowers…He called me the n-word and continued to assault me, both physically and verbally. It wasn’t until I screamed for help that he attempted to flee and evade me.”

The victim, who was previously a Resident Assistant at Drexel, mentioned in their statement that they followed Montgomery up the stairs of the station and were met with a group of PPD officers.

“I explained what had happened, and two officers went down into the station to review the footage. They returned to confirm my story and approached Montgomery, who continued his vile behavior – insulting the officers and even claiming they should ‘focus on the n-words’ since he ‘pays for their salaries.’ He shoved and slapped one of them, leading to his arrest,” the victim stated.

“We are aware of a statement about racial slurs being used during the disturbance which did not occur in the presence of the officers. However, this aspect is being taken seriously and is currently a part of the ongoing investigation with the Central Detective Division,” PPD stated.

The alum was contacted shortly after the incident by PPD, where they revealed Montgomery’s identity.

“My heart literally sank to my feet. In my time at Drexel, I have profoundly poured my energy and dedication into the community, only to find that someone in such a position could harbor so much hate,” the victim shared.

They continued, “To discover that racism [sits] atop the ladder at an institution I so proudly represented and served is devastating. I wept, not just for myself, but for every person of color who has ever walked Drexel’s campus, trusting in the promise of a safe and inclusive environment.”

“Drexel University is aware of the allegations against Kevin Montgomery, an employee in the LeBow College of Business, related to an incident that occurred off campus. Drexel does not comment on personnel matters, however the university takes these allegations very seriously. Reports of this nature are reviewed in accordance with Drexel policies. Violation of these policies may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination,” Drexel University said in a statement to the Triangle.

Their statement continued, “The University is committed to maintaining a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all community members, and does not tolerate bias, discrimination or harassment in any form. Any actions or behavior that is reported on or off-campus that is inconsistent with these expectations and that may contribute to creating a hostile environment will be sanctioned accordingly.”

In an official statement made by the Drexel NAACP Chapter’s and Black Student Union on this incident, it states, “Drexel University’s Black Student Union and NAACP Chapter condemn any actions causing physical or emotional harm, especially those rooted in discrimination, racism, and bigotry. We assert that all members of the university community should be able to express themselves freely and autonomously in a safe and inclusive environment.”

The statement also indicates that the Drexel organizations are currently in communication with Drexel’s Office for Institutional Equity & Inclusive Culture and the Office of Provost.

According to his university biography, Montgomery has “over fifteen years work experience in higher education, [and] extensive knowledge of overall college operations from student intake to course delivery and program development. He also is the information officer for the college and acts as the primary contact for all report generation and oversees accreditation reporting.” 

The victim is pressing charges against Montgomery and stated, “I refuse to be silent. I have already begun the process of seeking justice…This racism must end, and I won’t stop fighting until it does.”

At a town hall held on Wednesday, Oct. 9, Drexel University Interim President Denis P. O’Brien indicated that cost-cutting measures will continue in an effort to stem a $63 million operating deficit. 

Included in the budget cuts will be the suspension or deferment of certain employee benefits, such as employer retirement contributions, medical copays and SEPTA benefits. There will also be a salary reduction among senior staff and a hiring freeze; layoffs are anticipated in November. 

Additionally, on June 17, the first-come, first-serve voluntary retirement incentive plan was announced, including a “salary payout based on age and years of service” with a program cap of $25 million. 

Student organizations have been feeling the effects of the cuts since mid-September, after the Student Activity Fund Allocation Committee instituted a 17.57 percent reduction across the board in student organization funding in response to lower-than-expected enrollment. Clubs at Drexel are funded directly from the student activity fee included in tuition. 

The university is seeking to reduce spending by approximately $150 million by fiscal year 2027 to “achieve sustainable, positive margins,” according to an email from Interim President O’Brien to faculty and staff.

Already, it has announced plans to merge its College of Engineering and College of Computing and Informatics as part of an “academic transformation” initiative aiming for a more streamlined university. 

University administrators attribute some of the decline to headwinds being felt nationwide in higher education. The recent Supreme Court rulings against affirmative action and the Department of Education’s unprecedented fumbling of the FAFSA have left admissions departments scrambling across the country. Above all, college enrollment nationally has been on a steady decline year-over-year, paralleling the birth rate. 

Drexel purports to be especially affected by the problematic FAFSA rollout in light of enrolling a high number of Pell Grant recipients. Without access to financial aid information, many aid-eligible prospective students were deterred from enrolling in college for a year or entirely. 

Tuition remains a glaring issue. Even as Drexel advanced 12 places to #86 in the US News & World Report Best Colleges Rankings, its $62,412 tuition and fees place it narrowly ahead of sticker-price at Princeton, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard. Furthermore, for families earning under $110,000, Drexel’s net cost after aid is higher than what those students would pay at any of the top 20 national universities that often award more scholarships.

Considering the university’s history, issues of low enrollment and poor retention are not new; outgoing president John Fry and his predecessors contended with the same issues, to varying degrees of success. During Drexel’s last period of major financial upheaval in the 1990’s, a time with different demographics and headwinds, the winning strategy was to solicit gifts, invest in student aid and diversify programs. It remains to be seen what vision Drexel’s next permanent president will have for addressing the structural deficit. 

Shortly after the unexpected closure of the University of the Arts in June, leaving students and faculty uncertain about their next steps, Drexel University President John Fry introduced the UArts-Drexel Pathway program, designed to help former UArts students complete their degrees at Drexel with minimal complications. The closure announcement from UArts came without prior warning or a teach-out plan — an outline that institutions facing closure or accreditation issues are expected to provide in advance, offering students a clear path to complete their education. 

Among the 1,300 students affected are Ben Feuerstein, a second-year music industry major, and Ella Best, a second-year dance major. The Dance and Music Industry programs are both hosted in Drexel’s Antoinette Westphal College of Media Arts & Design, the college most UArts students who employed the pathway are studying in. 

Many UArts students learned of the closure through social media via a post from the Philadelphia Inquirer, who published a statement regarding the closure before UArts made an announcement. Since the news did not come directly from the university and there was no warning about the possibility of the institution closing, students had difficulty determining its legitimacy. 

“I was telling my friend from home about how much I was loving [UArts] when my roommate told me to look at the post,” Feuerstein said. ”It totally caught me off guard and it almost seemed like it couldn’t be true.” 

The UArts-Drexel Pathway program offers former UArts students a dedicated admissions counselor, accelerated transfer credit evaluation, preferential university housing assignments and honoring of prior roommate selections. Drexel also promised to match the aid packages offered to first-year admitted UArts students and a 50 percent tuition discount to all UArts students who had already begun their coursework. Throughout the summer, Drexel hosted program-specific information sessions to help UArts students decide if Drexel would be the right fit for them. 

“I didn’t feel pressured by Drexel to come. On Zoom, the director of the dance program was asking me, ‘What do you need and how can I help?’ They were being very helpful and considerate,” said Best, noting Jennifer Morley, Interim Dance Program Director.

Although many programs UArts offered are similar to those at Drexel, Best and Feuerstein both note that Drexel, a research university with a student population about 13 times larger than UArts, offers a distinctly different experience. 

“At UArts, I was automatically placed into different student ensembles. At Drexel, it is a lot more dependent on the individuals. If you want to play music with other students, you have to find a way to do that,” Feuerstein noted. 

“I had never been in a lecture hall before. In my non-performance-based classes [at UArts], we would be sitting in a circle talking. It is new to have someone standing at the front of the class and teaching to me,” Best explained. 

A hallmark of Drexel is the co-op experience, which allows undergraduates to gain hands-on work experience before graduating. Co-op is a required part of almost all undergraduate programs at Drexel. However, it is not required for UArts transfers. 

“I am interested in the idea of co-op, but it would mess up my graduation schedule. I really appreciated that [Morely] said I could choose if I wanted to do a co-op or not. I am interested in doing a co-op but do not want to commit to that schedule yet,” said Best. 

For Feuerstein, co-op was an obvious advantage: “The experience is so valuable. I know the statistics about a likely return offer don’t always apply to music industry students, but it’s part of the Drexel experience,” described Feuerstein. 

Along with UArts students, community members were surprised and disappointed by the closure. 

“What came to my mind when it finally set in that [UArts] was really closing was the faculty — my teachers. What were they going to do? But also, I didn’t get to say goodbye to anyone. When I left, I thought I would be back,” Best expressed her state of shock. 

“Even to this day I still feel they have not fulfilled the promises they made to faculty and staff and I really look down on them as an institution,” Feuerstein said. 

Feuerstein expressed his appreciation for Drexel’s support, noting the direct communication and helpful Zoom information sessions: “I think they handled it really well and really stepped up.”

The sudden closure of UArts disrupted both the lives and academic plans of its former students; however, through the UArts-Drexel Pathway program, students have found new avenues to continue their education. While students like Feuerstein and Best acknowledge the differences between the two institutions, they are beginning to explore their new academic environments, embracing their unique opportunities and challenges.

Ownership of the Summer-Winter Community Garden, located at 33rd and Race Streets, will soon be formally transferred from the city of Philadelphia to the nonprofit Neighborhood Gardens Trust for permanent preservation. At its monthly meeting on Oct. 9, the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority voted to grant the three properties the garden has occupied since 1977 to NGT. The garden has served as a landmark and refuge for generations of Drexel University students, and several Drexel student organizations manage plots in the garden alongside local residents. 

While the land disposition has not yet been finalized, it is expected to be conducted by a 30-year mortgage, toward which no payments will be due. Two other community gardens, the Wiota Street and Hawthorne Community Gardens, were also set to be conveyed to NGT at the October meeting.

The Neighborhood Gardens Trust is a local, nonprofit land trust supported by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society that works to preserve community gardens across the city and provide resources for gardeners. The PHS is best known for arranging the annual Philadelphia Flower Show; on campus, it manages the Gateway Garden along Lancaster Walk and oversees the Maker’s Market and Meet the Brewers popups.

While city ownership might suggest that the garden was protected from development, preservation of the garden was at odds with the mission of the PRA, a city agency established in 1945 to combat blight and urban decline. With a total assessed value of $2.9 million, volunteers and nonprofits have long been concerned for the garden’s future and began to seek a permanent preservation agreement. 

According to Jenny Greenberg, Executive Director of NGT, the land trust has held a year-to-year lease on the site since 2006. However, with no deed restriction or covenant to preserve it as open space, it remained open to redevelopment. The long-term mortgage arrangement with the city will close this loophole.

However, such mortgage arrangements have been criticized by nonprofits. In 2023, the Public Interest Law Center published a letter to the city on behalf of community gardening groups warning that this policy is not best practice and discourages preservation. Cited foremost is the financial risk. While the city issues the mortgage at market value, the value of the land is greatly reduced by the accompanying deed restrictions. This gulf between outstanding mortgage balance and lowered land value is a liability that nonprofits must list on their yearly balance sheets, painting a misleading picture of their health. 

“In the past, NGT acquired land from the Philadelphia Redevelopment Agency which was deed restricted for open space and has a restrictive covenant so that the land would go back into city ownership if it ceased to be cared for as a garden. Those restrictions seemed sufficient, but we’ve been told that PRA is using the mortgage as a ‘belt and suspenders’,” Greenberg stated.

This disparity in value is an even greater risk in the event of default, as the city may collect the full balance of the mortgage in foreclosure — leaving the nonprofit to come up with the difference, or deficiency. Furthermore, vague requirements, such as that gardens must be kept “clean and free of debris,” are potential grounds for foreclosure.

While the mortgage arrangement carries its own risks, it cements the Summer-Winter Garden’s place in Powelton Village for the present. What stands as an urban oasis today is also a tangible reminder of the urban renewal initiatives Philadelphia leaders embraced postwar. 

While Drexel occupies much of the surrounding land, the garden has remained a holdout under PRA ownership since 1967. The PRA has been a presence in West Philly since the 1950’s when it began using city and federal dollars to acquire swathes of housing in low-income neighborhoods and repackage them into large units. These units were turned over to private developers for a nominal price, often $1. Drexel and the University of Pennsylvania acquired much of their present footprints from the PRA. 

The most infamous of these redevelopment projects took place in Unit 3, which encompassed the neighborhood of the Black Bottom, a working-class Black community extending south of Lancaster Avenue to Penn’s campus. A Penn-Drexel consortium began purchasing land while the PRA acquired holdouts through eminent domain. Unit 3’s holdings were transferred to Penn and subsequently demolished almost entirely to become the University City Science Center. Thousands of residents were displaced.
Unit 5, which encompassed southern Powelton Village, was largely granted to Drexel to build new dormitories beginning in the 1960s. The PRA acquired the properties now occupied by the Summer-Winter Garden by 1967. Dozens of homes were demolished as part of the project. While the decades since have seen their share of conflict between residents and encroaching students, the garden stands now as a shared sanctuary.

Six years ago, on r/Drexel, a Reddit forum populated by Drexel University students, user Topher_4811 posed a question: ”Why does Drexel have less school spirit than literally every other school in the nation?”

The thread of replies included answers such as students being away on co-op, the demanding quarter system, and the lack of a football team since 1973. While not officially ranked as the university with the least amount of school spirit, the post and replies reflect many students’ perspectives. Six years later, all of these factors still stand, raising questions about Drexel’s enduring lack of school spirit. Why is this a persistent issue and how can it be fixed? 

One significant factor is the structure of Drexel’s curriculum, including co-op cycles and the quarter system. 

Gina DiStefano, a fourth-year psychology major and president of Campus Activities Board, explained how the co-op system impacts school spirit: “The people in classes and the people on co-op are in two completely different worlds at all times… I don’t think there’s a way for everybody to be prideful.” 

Freshman biomedical engineering major Varun Pandian shared his perspective on the quarter system: “Here, the culture is to get all of your work done in 10 weeks, and that’s about it. It’s like you’re here to study, get your degree, and get out.”

When asked how the university can help shift this mindset, especially when students have multiple exams a week, third year architectural engineering major Andrew Cho replied, “I don’t think you can really help it. Maybe if you schedule [exams] across classes and departments to try to have that not happen, but that’s very unrealistic. There’s so many things going on at once, so many classes going on at once. There’s probably an exam that happens everyday.”

“Maybe turning into a semester school, maybe something big like that would cause people to be more inclined to want to have school spirit,” DiStefano suggested.

Since the main goal of higher education is to learn and obtain a degree, school spirit might not seem like an important part of the student experience. 

However, according to Varsity Brands, students with school spirit “perform better academically,…are more socially and civically engaged,” are 88 percent happier and 73 percent more fulfilled than individuals without any school spirit. 

Despite the challenges of the quarter system, Zoe Simmons, a fourth year sports business major and president of the DAC Pack has tried to attend every athletics game: “I definitely schedule myself a lot tighter which then pushes me to make sure my homework is done on time so I can actually go.”

Simmons described keeping a positive attitude among friends with less school spirit: “I have some friends who are like ‘No I’m not going to basketball games, that’s so lame,’ and I’m like, ‘More for me!’ I try to…not let it get to me or ruin my day.”

Furthermore, MIT researchers studying sense of belonging among college students stated that “having a greater sense of belonging…is protective for mental health in year three of students’ undergraduate trajectory, suggesting that belonging might have a longitudinal effect.” 

DiStefano said that a little more Drexel pride could improve her experience during and after college: “If we had even a little bit more [school spirit], I would enjoy it here more and feel like I was coming out of college with like a sense of pride to be a Drexel student.”

On the other hand, junior film production student Ericka Soles from Pennsylvania
State University explained how the school spirit transcends her time on campus: “It makes me feel like I’m gonna have these people in my life for the rest of my life.”

“Penn State is one of those schools that has a crazy alumni network and a lot of our alumni are really, really proud of where they came from, so that’s really evident with the kind of students that go there because they’re aware of this community,” Soles stated. 

Malissa Pumpuckdee, a freshman civil engineering major, shared her expectations of Drexel school spirit: “Before arriving at Drexel, I was excited to go to basketball games and wear Drexel merch everywhere. Now, I don’t find myself reaching for any of the merch that I bought myself, and I don’t even know about the games until they’ve already happened.”

Now, students still feel like the university needs to promote Drexel Athletics to increase school pride. 

“When there’s a game going on…there’s no one that’s talking about like, ‘Oh, Drexel Basketball is playing some other school’” Cho explained. “I do see that when it’s like a big game, but even then, not really.” 

Drexel tried to increase student turnout at games previously. On Aug. 15, 2015, Drexel Athletics released an app and reward program called Dragon RoarWards to incentivize students to attend university sporting events. By checking in at games, students earned points to win Drexel apparel, an Amazon gift card or Apple products. The last time the program distributed prizes was in the 2017-18 academic year. 

“I feel like they don’t really put a lot of effort into athletics, as the university as a whole…I know that Athletics as a department is putting in a lot of effort, I’ve seen it,” said Simmons. 

Simmons suggested expanding the university’s promotion of Drexel Athletics: “Right now, all I see for promo is just like the boards in the DAC or a little poster up in one of the dining halls. But there’s screens all over this campus and the university can put up… ‘Basketball game tonight’… or literally any other sport: soccer game in the fall, lacrosse in the spring.” 

Several students mentioned that without a football team, the current sports engagement does not promote the same amount of school spirit that other colleges may have. 

“Honestly, we need a field here,” said DiStefano. “I think taking away Buckley was a horrible idea.”

In 2023, demolition on the Buckley Recreational Field began to turn the green space into a new life sciences building, of which only two floors will be available to students. 

“Obviously, we’re going to be different than these major state schools,” Simmons stated. “The reason why is that they have nothing to do there except go to their school and be active and be a part of their school. We’re in a city so there’s so much for people to do here…We’re not a big state school where there’s like 40-50,000 people who are dying to get tickets to a football game.” 

In addition to rallying for a football team, Soles shared how various opportunities to get involved at Penn State can promote school spirit for any student: “There are a lot of organizations to be a part of… and you don’t have to put all of yourself into these organizations, you can kind of pick and choose… So for people who might have a busier schedule, or [are] athletes, or just don’t have the time… they still find ways to get involved because…there’s something for everybody which helps make it more a community.”  

Student organizations on Drexel’s campus make an effort to gather students, especially CAB, whose mission is to “plan and execute a variety of events reflective of the diverse interests and needs of the undergraduate student body,” according to DragonLink. 

As one of the only organizations on campus that hosts large scale events such as Dragonfly and Block Party, they try to plan events based on what has been successful in the past and enjoyed by students.  

“The students that go to numerous CAB events…are really excited to be going and are excited to be at Drexel because of these types of events,” DiStefano said.

However, according to DiStefano, “one organization doing it is not enough and we can’t cover every basis.”

“I definitely think having more organizations do more things that are tailored to the students wants and needs… would definitely create more school spirit and pride,” DiStefano stated. 

Thus, DiStefano recommended increasing funding to other student organizations: “I know that we’re lucky to have good funding but so many other organizations don’t, and they cannot put on  the events that they want to because they don’t have the funding.”

Alongside promoting Drexel Athletics and student organizations, students want the university to place the student experience as the top priority. Even within the classroom, students do not feel proud of their environment. 

“For our hydraulics lab… we don’t have machines that work,” Cho stated. “One group has to go at a time. So I go there, I wait for 50 minutes out of two hours of the lab, just waiting for other people to finish.”

The lack of funding is a persistent issue affecting seemingly every area of Drexel, despite the already high and rising costs of tuition, a concern mentioned by every Drexel student interviewed. Additionally, students do not feel like a priority as millions of dollars are spent on new buildings and existing spaces are leased to external companies, including Spark Therapeutics, Lockheed Martin, and Schuylkill Yards. Meanwhile, some classrooms remain in the dingy basement of various buildings, such as University Crossing and One Drexel Plaza. 

While Drexel may face unique challenges with its co-op cycles, quarter system and missing football team, the issue of abysmal school spirit is not unique to the university. Several universities have reported a lack of school spirit, including the University of Pennsylvania, Emerson College and Harvard University. 

To cultivate a stronger sense of community and pride, multiple approaches are needed. Uplifting different departments and organizations within Drexel and improving students’ day-to-day experiences can help to create a university that students are proud to attend. 

This article is part of a grant awarded to The Triangle from the Solutions Journalism Network investigating student mental health at Drexel University.

From endless homework assignments to nearly every week of the Drexel University term being “midterms week,” STEM students are no stranger to the hustle and rigor of their field. STEM, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, is a field that reinforces critical thinking and problem solving. 

An American Psychological Association survey of graduate students around the United States found “60% of students report academic pressures, financial debt, or overall anxiety as significant stressors.” 

In the past few decades there has been an increasing trend of “burnout as an occupational phenomenon” that society has learned to accept as the nature of the profession. 

As a field, STEM constitutes one of the largest percentages of individuals who go beyond their high school or bachelor’s degree to pursue higher degrees of education. The National Science board describes the Science and Engineering enterprise of the country as being highly constituted by recipients of higher degrees of education. 

A conducted poll of the Drexel STEM student population provided a few key insights into the culture and feelings of students in the field. Views on topics such as Drexel’s unique combination of the co-op program and quarter system were assessed in students across all five undergraduate years with a variety of STEM majors, including but not limited to biomedical engineering, computer science, environmental science, biology and user experience and interaction design. Many of the respondents were on Drexel’s popular five-year, three co-op plan of study, where students alternate between six months of study and full-time work for their last three years of college. Additionally, 58.3 percent of the 60 respondents indicated an interest in pursuing a higher degree after their undergraduate education, with 81 percent of respondents indicating that the higher degree contributed to some sort of negative effect on their mental health. 

Of the polled students, specifically concerning Drexel’s quarter system, 75 percent of respondents indicated the quarter system having a somewhat or very significant negative impact on their mental health. Probing further, respondents were given the opportunity to provide a written response to their rating. Throughout the 60 responses, there were common trends in the reasons that many people seemed to be negatively affected by the quarter system. Keywords included “large workload,” “lack of flexibility” and “fast-paced nature of the quarter system.” 

The vast majority of respondents indicated that their extracurricular workload surpassed that of their already packed class schedule, generally consisting of difficult science and math classes. Students described a general lack of motivation, living in the bubble of their own classes and schedule without many instances to socialize. Students feel rushed or stressed about the impending exams or assignments that inevitably come up every week, another attribute the quarter system provides. 

While these issues are certainly prevalent within the Drexel community, the university has allocated resources such as Counseling Services that offer individual therapy, workshops and referrals. Poll respondents were assessed on their level of awareness of these services. 58.3 percent of respondents indicated that they did not feel like they were made aware of the mental health services offered by the university. Additionally, 78.8 percent of total respondents agreed that the resources provided did not properly support the unique needs of them and their STEM peers. 

Second-year computer science student and current co-op student Lydia Mathew had a few insights into what the university could implement to combat the issues that are prevalent within the STEM population at Drexel. 

Mathew suggested the incorporation of “peer support networks, mental health services specifically within STEM departments, flexible courses to accommodate the busy extracurricular schedules of students, and work-life balance promotion throughout the student’s educational career.” 

The key to the programs she proposed was the implementation of them within the specific STEM departments, whether it be the College of Arts and Sciences or the School of Biomedical Engineering. Tailoring resources specifically to students in plans of study such as pre-med or engineering can allow the university to address unique issues that students in each field may face. 

An example of this is the Biosciences Mental Health Support program that was recently implemented at Stanford University “addressing some of the challenges surrounding Mental Health and Wellness for Biosciences PhD students.” 

The program assists in the funding of mental health care for students, something which poses a significant barrier to many students who seek constant mental health services but may not be able to afford them. 

When implemented properly, these solutions can effectively tackle issues like anxiety, depression and burnout commonly seen in STEM students. 

This article is part of a grant awarded to The Triangle from the Solutions Journalism Network investigating student mental health at Drexel University.

On Feb. 5 and 6, select Drexel University students attended focus groups in which they provided their insights on the university’s potential transition from a quarter system to a semester system. Drexel’s administration has proposed switching to semesters as early as 1999, as reported by the Triangle in a 2013 article titled, “Officials consider semester system.”

Drexel students are aware of challenges associated with the atypical quarter system the university operates on, having experienced its fast-paced nature and frequent course turnovers. However, students have also reaped the benefits in terms of more course selections, co-op opportunities and gaining valuable job experience. The focus groups provided a platform for students to share their opinions, concerns and suggestions for Drexel’s academic calendar, hopefully ensuring that the university administration understands the student body’s position. 

Conducted over Zoom, the session was facilitated by two proctors who posed questions to the participants, allowing them to unmute and speak or share their questions via chat. When the discussion delved into the quarter system, the majority consensus favored keeping it. 

Annette Kroes, a writer for the Triangle and author of an article titled “In defense of the quarter system,” attended the focus group and stated, “I actually don’t remember hearing anyone say they wanted to switch.”

The conversation also explored the idea of a more expansive common core curriculum, which currently consists of courses like CIVC 101 and UNIV 101. Participants emphasized the need for improvements in CIVC classes and advocated for additional UNIV 101 classes tailored to transfer students. However, the discussions revealed divided opinions among students on increasing general education requirements. 

To capture individual experiences, participants were asked to share how the quarter system influenced their decision to enroll at Drexel and how it impacts their academic journey as students. 

Overall, the focus group offered a platform to engage in discourse about Drexel’s academic structure and potential evolution. As the university moves forward in its decision-making process, the input from these focus groups may play an important role in shaping the future academic calendar structure. 

On Feb. 3, the Drexel University chapter of the Society of Asian Engineers and Scientists attended SASE’s national Northeast Regional Conference alongside chapters from Virginia Tech, Stevens Institute of Technology, Binghamton University and other schools. 

“NERC was an awesome experience; everyone was so friendly and down to earth, and [it] taught me so much; everyone who attended with me agrees” said Yi Huan Yang, a second-year UX design major and the Drexel SASE Chapter Cultural Director. 

The conference had a career fair, keynote speech and 12 workshops throughout its runtime from 8 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. 

“The planning team does a really good job at making sure there is stuff for people across majors, [and] it’s really fun for everyone to be together,” said Liz Fujita, SASE National’s director of collegiate events.  

Amy Yip, a career development coach and author, gave the keynote speech, sharing a powerful story of what it means to redefine success.

“We were fortunate to have [Amy], who regularly works with our SASE professional committee, come in and speak to our students to offer some wisdom from her professional experience,” said Matt Diaz, SASE National’s collegiate program manager.

The workshops tapped into many under-explored concepts of being an Asian American in the workforce. 

According to Kiki Lin, a fourth-year computer science major and the Drexel SASE chapter president, “This year’s NERC workshops and panels were really insightful, touching on topics like personal finance and post-grad life.”

These lessons were primarily led by volunteer SASE alums who offered their perspective on a real-life professional career.

Diaz added, “Those who are peers can definitely help you get through whatever you are going through, and those who you can look up to can also be examples of how to overcome certain obstacles and what it might look like to achieve and help shorten that learning curve because they have already been through it.”

Aside from ensuring there were still plenty of concepts to explore among SASE members, the planning committee had to pull out all the stops to secure enough funding to host such a function. 

“We usually get sponsors from alumni connections, you know, companies they work at, is one, they can [also] get like people who work for Asian Employee Resource Groups, and previous companies they’ve worked at,” said Alexander Lap, a second-year computer science major at Worcester Polytechnic Institute and a NERC sponsorship committee member.

This conference was made possible by the mission SASE National has as part of its three pillars/core beliefs: to provide Asian American college students ways to build a community, give back to other communities by volunteering and receive professional development opportunities.

“To me, it’s personally rewarding if I can change the trajectory [of] young future leaders, [get them] to come together, feel like they’re valuable, encourage them, [and] give them the resources to really live up to their full potential, that gives me meaning in my life and that makes a difference in their lives,” said Khanh Vu, CEO and Executive Director of SASE National. “The organization of SASE is really trying to fulfill people’s full potential and leadership [possibilities] and give them opportunities they may not have or learn about.”

The Society of Asian Engineers and Scientists Northeast Regional Conference is a tight-knit event with rich career opportunities and learning experiences waiting to be explored. 

“As someone who helped in planning this event and bringing everyone to Virginia for this conference, I loved hearing that our general body members really enjoyed this conference and left with new knowledge,” said Lin.

This article is part of a column dedicated to supporting underrepresented Asian student organizations on Drexel University’s campus.

Mario’s Market, Drexel University’s community food pantry, is a resource to combat food insecurity among college students in the Philadelphia area, and has been open for just over three years. The Market recently altered their rules for those accessing the variety of products that are offered.  

The pantry is managed by Drexel’s Student Center for Diversity and Inclusion. Located on the second floor of the Rush Building at 30 N 33^rd Street, it is open to students, faculty and staff. Individuals can enter by swiping their DragonCard and are able to select items free of charge in order to maintain and respect individual privacy.

The new rules, which went into effect at the beginning of the winter term for the 2023-24 academic year, state that students can visit the pantry up to twice a week and can take up to 10 items at a time. Prior to this academic quarter, there was no limit to the number of times per week that individuals could access the Market or to the number of items they could take.

“We received feedback from students that there were times when there were limited supplies available in the market,” said Jen Tifone, director of the Student Organization Resource Center. “These new parameters around shopping are being piloted to create a more equitable distribution of food.”

According to Tifone, the number of students utilizing Mario’s Market weekly has not changed since the rules went into effect, and students have reported that the new parameters have created a wider selection of available items in the pantry.

“We have continued to adjust our practices to support the changing needs of students,” said Jennifer Thorndike-Gonzales, associate director of SCDI. “Examples of other changes we’ve made include staffing, hours of access, and types of food available to students. We are always looking for feedback and suggestions in order to serve the students better.”

Mario’s Market can be accessed anytime during the Rush Building’s hours of operation. Currently, the building is open from 2:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. These hours are subject to change due to staff availability.

“The goal of Mario’s Market is to distribute food to students in need,” said Thorndike-Gonzales. “We hope the new shopping parameters will enable more students to access the pantry and share the resources available through the Market.”

In a classroom within Drexel University’s College of Computing & Informatics at 3675 Market Street, a message “glorifying Adolf Hitler” was written on a whiteboard and discovered this past weekend, according to an email from President John Fry sent out on Jan. 16.

“Let me [be] clear: We will never tolerate antisemitism, lslamophobia, racism, or hate of any kind on our campus. It is one thing to engage in honest inquiry and robust debate about complex issues. It is another to traffic in hateful slogans and symbols that have nothing to do with inquiry or debate,” President Fry wrote.

In addition, President Fry paid homage to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his email to the Drexel community: “In the meantime, as we begin this winter quarter, we must rededicate ourselves to the work of following Dr. King’s blueprint for building a beloved community: Let’s strive mindfully to learn, empathize, and grow together across our different backgrounds, perspectives, and viewpoints, and mine our diversity as a source of strength.”

Later that evening, CCI Dean Yi Deng sent a message to all faculty and students regarding the incident. 

“CCI is a community that welcomes everyone and fosters inclusivity and mutual respect. This repugnant behavior is completely unacceptable and is categorically not within the fabric of our College, nor the University as a whole,” Yi Deng wrote. 

When asked to provide a University statement, Vice President of Strategic Communications Niki Gianakaris stated, “Drexel University is committed to ensuring a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all of our students, faculty and professional staff. The University does not tolerate acts of bias, discrimination and harassment. The University condemns discrimination in all its forms, including hate speech and threats of violence, and will continue working to fulfill its commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.” 

Further details of the investigation have not been revealed. At this time, it is unclear who wrote the message or what exactly was written. 

According to Gianakaris, “The University community will be updated once the investigation concludes.”

This incident follows reports of antisemitism in the previous Fall term, as reported on Oct. 20, 2023 by The Triangle.