Temple Together in pictures

Produced by: Hannah Church
Photos by: Melissa Kelly, Ryan S. Brandenberg, Joseph V. Labolito, and Betsy Manning

President Wingard welcomes families on Broad Street to Temple University.

Last week, Temple welcomed more than 5,300 new Owls—including 4,000 residential students—as the Class of 2025 officially moved onto campus. The members of this year’s class are among the most academically strong and diverse in Temple’s history. More than 43% are students of color, marking a 3% increase over last year’s cohort.

Electricity filled the air as students unloaded cars, unpacked boxes and came together to kick off the beginning of the 2021 fall semester at a range of fun-filled programming, building friendships and learning about campus life and university resources along the way.

It was all part of the Temple Together experience.

Move-in day

There is a check-in sign for students moving in.
A student carries their belongings on their back into their dorm.
A family smiles together in front of a packed car during move-in.
A student smiles as they push their cart towards their dorm.
A student waves and their parent pushes a cart as they move in.
A dog is walked on a leash while students move-in.
A person waves excitedly with a smile on their face as they pull a cart to the dorm.
A student poses with her arm up as they push their cart with their belongings.
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A student carries their belongings on their back into their dorm.
A family smiles together in front of a packed car during move-in.
A student smiles as they push their cart towards their dorm.
A student waves and their parent pushes a cart as they move in.
A dog is walked on a leash while students move-in.
A person waves excitedly with a smile on their face as they pull a cart to the dorm.
A student poses with her arm up as they push their cart with their belongings.
A dog pants in the trunk of a fully loaded car, with a woman smiling next to it.
A dog pants in the trunk of a fully loaded car, with a woman smiling next to it.

With the help of families (and some furry friends, too), Move-in day was a resounding success for all!

Welcome, President Wingard!

President Wingard wears a #VaxUpTU t-shirt and speaks to those who are moving in.

During Move-in, President Wingard greeted students and their families as they arrived on campus, and they, in turn, got the chance to welcome our new Owl-in-Chief.

President Wingard high fives a woman.
President Wingard leans on a table to talk to students in a dining hall.
President Wingard stands and talks to a family in the dining hall.
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President Wingard high fives a woman.
President Wingard leans on a table to talk to students in a dining hall.
President Wingard stands and talks to a family in the dining hall.

Convocation

A Temple University 2025 flag flies behind the procession to Convocation.

In keeping with tradition, students were led across campus and into Convocation by the Diamond Marching Band. Convocation is an official ceremony marking the beginning of an incoming student's academic journey.

The Marching Band is in front with a red Temple University 2025 flag in the back.
The snare drum players march across Broad Street,
President Wingard and Joanne Epps pose with their hands out while they walk.
President Wingard stands to the side of the marching band and claps.
Students sit in Geasey Field and listen to President Wingard.
President Wingard stands on stage and holds up three fingers.
Joanne Epps stands and speaks in a microphone at a podium on stage.
Dr. Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon performs a spoken word poem on stage.
The Marching Band is in front with a red Temple University 2025 flag in the back.
The snare drum players march across Broad Street,
President Wingard and Joanne Epps pose with their hands out while they walk.
President Wingard stands to the side of the marching band and claps.
Students sit in Geasey Field and listen to President Wingard.
President Wingard stands on stage and holds up three fingers.
Joanne Epps stands and speaks in a microphone at a podium on stage.
Dr. Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon performs a spoken word poem on stage.

President Wingard and Executive Vice President and Provost JoAnne A. Epps joined the students in the procession.

"You are in the best university in the best city in the country," President Wingard told the students. "And in four years when I talk to you at Commencement, you'll be Temple Made!"

President Wingard held up three fingers to emphasize the three factors that make Temple stand out:

1. Faculty and curriculum

2. Peer diversity

3. World-class facilities

"We are on this journey together," Epps told the Class of 2025. "We believe in you. We want you to succeed."

Those in attendance were treated to a spoken word poem from Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon, an associate professor of Urban Theater and Community Engagement at Temple. This poem was created specifically for Convocation.

Belonging

Gandhi once challenged us

“to be the change we want to see in the world”

But we never

Unpacked that—

Had a chance to chat

About the toll it would take—

The tit for tat

where “that”

was at

& now,

It seems

Divisiveness,

Individualism

& division

Further complicates

What that means.

Dreams of fidelity and fraternity

Have turned nightmare—

Brother against brother

Other against friend;

Neither willing to tend

to one another.

Or defend.

But here

Where we’re

Living example of community—

Commonality…

Affinity.

The diversity University

Where neighbors become friends,

Legacy and first gen’s,

Admins,

Faculty and staff

Stand

For the greater narrative

Grand—

Thought

Leaders,

Inquiry’s draft,

Research;

investigation,.

Discovery & the recovery

to

move humanity forward.

That’s what we do here!

Celebrate variety,

Versatility

Variation

We’re

Where all our uniqueness

Is no, mere, salutation;

But rather, the firm foundation

Of all our individual and intellectual

gifts!

One nation under God—

Valid, valued and affirmed!

 

Whether Asian, Pacific Islander---

Black Lives Matter

Christian, catholic, communist

Democratic, or Descendent-

European;

First Nation Peoples;

Gen X; Gen Z; gay or straight,

Hindu;

Intersectional;

Jews or Gentiles,

Kindred or foe kept in-kind—like would-be kin

Left-wing, or Latinx

Muslim, male-centric or Mexican;

Non-binary, non-conforming, non-traditional

Othered—

Persons with disabilities;

Protestant; politicized Palestinian

Queer;

To the Right-wing Republican—

We all have a right to be here.

Self-styled separatist, sexual orientation separate

Sowing seeds of solidarity

To be a bridge between the “set-apart”.

Trans-national, trans-racial, Trans—

United—not just

Victims taking back their victory over vile viciousness nor

White-Anglo Saxon protestant the only privileged currency here! Rather

Xenophobia no longer tolerated, allowed or ignored!

(We will not live our lives in fear!)

Yes we can expand our definitions of belonging

Zealots for humanity—zero sum gain!

 

Beloved,

Whatever our identities—

Intersectional and inter-sexual—

Ethnic origin,

Political leanings,

Racial markers,

Religious or spiritual dreamings--

Even to the non-believing,

Gendered-positioning,

orientation,

Affiliations,

Age,

Stage—

From nation-hood to neighborhood—

Our investment

In humanity

Is what binds us

& reminds us

That we all belong here!

Gandhi once challenged us, to

“be the change we want to see in this world”

Well…buckle up…

Welcome to Temple

Because change starts here.

© 2021, Kimmika L. H. Williams-Witherspoon

The sousaphone players stand and perform at Convocation.
Seated students clap for the performances at Convocation.
Cheerleaders perform on stage at the end of Convocation.
The sousaphone players stand and perform at Convocation.
Seated students clap for the performances at Convocation.
Cheerleaders perform on stage at the end of Convocation.

The Temple cheerleaders closed the afternoon's event with an enthusiastic sendoff.

TempleFest

The Bell Tower is seen in front of cloudy skies, with red and white balloons in front.

More than 300 student clubs and organizations set up tables and introduced themselves to students who are looking to get involved on campus. It's easy to find your fit at Temple.

Students walk through Templefest together and look at the clubs.
Joanne Epps and others stand at a table to talk about getting vaccinated.
A sign that says "Welcome Temple Owls" hangs on the Bell Tower.
Tables for clubs are set up in front of Charles Library.
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Students walk through Templefest together and look at the clubs.
Joanne Epps and others stand at a table to talk about getting vaccinated.
A sign that says "Welcome Temple Owls" hangs on the Bell Tower.
Tables for clubs are set up in front of Charles Library.

TU Palooza

Students using umbrellas walk in front of the Bell Tower at night.

To cap off the first week's festivities, the Main Campus Program Board planned a fun carnival night. Students enjoyed free food, rides, games and more!

A student squirts water at a clown's face in this game.
A student flips upside down on this carnival ride.
A student sits for a caricature drawing.
A student squirts water at a clown's face in this game.
A student flips upside down on this carnival ride.
A student sits for a caricature drawing.
A logo that says Temple together is shown.
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