Temple University - Templar Yearbook (Philadelphia, PA)

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FIGHT TOW OCOJP

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SHANELL SIMMONS The Cyph In the midst of trying to maintain a competitive GPA, having a stacked “to-do list and running on an inadequate amount of sleep, students still manage to squeeze fun into the equation. Every Friday afternoon at 1, an unofficial event dubbed Temple Freestyle Friday or “The Cyph,” takes place. Groups of students gather together at the Bell Tower all for the name of free-styling. Five years ago, rappers Mike Stuart and Matthew Berman used their talent to form a recognized mini on-campus cypher. As heads bop up and down, bodies sway in unison, and mouths are used as instruments, Omar Roper, a sophomore political science major, catches the beat. “Yeah you know me, I got hundreds of dreads, you know that monster in your closet? I live under his bed. Roper, who goes by the freestyle name “O.H.M, is the official leader of the cypher and has been coming to Freestyle Friday consistently since he was a senior in high school. “We are usually required to think before we speak. With freestyling, I get to see how my mind works when there is no time to actually think. People always say, 'Live in the moment.' Freestyling is exactly that. It requires zero preparation,” Roper said. The cypher is open to anyone who wants to join. Harmonizing and or making a beat to rap over is standard for spectators and other participants waiting their turn. John Fitzhenry, a freshman nursing major, does just that when he comes to “The Cyph.” “I come because it's a cool place to just chill. I like to listen and more than that, I like to harmonize conjointly with those making the beat.” The cypher seems to garner the attention of many Temple students as they pass by the Bell Tower walking to and from class. While the freestylers form an inner circle, an outer-circle of curious, musically-inclined bystanders is also formed. The circle formation of the cypher enforces the idea of equality. Everyone stands shoulder-to-shoulder with no one in the center. “It's a community aspect you get out of it,” said Tiene Drummond, junior political science major. “I come out all the time because it’s a cool, relaxed environment and it’s always cool to hear one of my friends rap in ‘the Cyph’.'’ The cypher has the ability to attract a diverse crowd of people. Over the years it has become increasingly diverse. The loyal participants say they hope to continue to bring out other nationalities that are not represented. Anjolee Jefferson, a sophomore communications major, intends on being one of the first females to participate on a regular basis. She hopes that her involvement will help to increase the number of women that take part. Anybody can come. We want as many people as we can get,” Roper said. As long as everyone follows the unsaid rules of a cypher, it goes smoothly. The rules are simple: be courteous when another person is free-styling, don’t cut others off, follow the order of ‘the Cyph’ to know when it’s your turn, and most importantly, don’t cross through the middle under any circumstances. It’s a live-hip-hop radio station. It’s the place where you can be yourself and just be surrounded by real nitty-gritty and straight to the point rap. It doesn’t get much better than that,” Jefferson said.

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Demands listed within the document included adequate funding for public universities, an end to tuition hikes, a freeze on student loan interest rates, student loan forgiveness, an implementation of measures to make higher education more accessible to communities of color, and programs to address the unemployment crisis that is facing young people. “We cannot afford to keep naturalizing the existence of homelessness, of hunger, of rampant inequality, Iss-er said. “We need to realize that these things are political issues that need to be addressed by government. Not churches, not non profit organizations, not a few wealthy individuals or do-goodery marches. We need to realize that right now our taxes are being used to fund wars that are being fought for profit,” Isser added. Isser identifies herself as a revolutionary socialist, and does not believe that the Occupy movement is a movement of the Democratic Party. Temple College Republicans disagrees with the message that the people of Occupy Philadelphia and similar movements around the world are trying to convey. I am not a fan of the Occupy movement, said Erik Jacobs, a junior political science major and TUCR president. “Many of the things they demand are decidedly anti-Capitalist and border on socialism and communism. Jacobs doesn't believe that anything meaningful will come from the Occupy movement, and that eventually the occupiers will leave City Hall and things in Philadelphia will return to normal. He added that it's difficult for him to support a movement that demands taking from the rich and redistributing wealth. He commented that it was even more difficult to support a movement that demands higher minimum wages, annulment of college debt, and a borderless society.” After learning of Occupy Philadelphia’s plan to demonstrate at PA Senator Pat Toomey’s office on Thursday, Oct. 13, Jacobs and 12 other college republicans met them at demonstration. They believed that they were needed to defend the senator and the country's current economic system. “The system is flawed on essentially every level,” Isser said, explaining that what really needs to happen with the country is significant structural change. “I know that sounds like a hyperbole, but it is important for everyone to think critically about the state of our cities, our country and our planet. When occupiers and media personnel arrived at the office of the senator, police officers formed a protective bicycle blockade around the counter demonstration that separated them from the occupiers. Occupy Philadelphia participants had directly addressed the Republican students in their speeches and invited them to visit the camp at City Hall for a civil discourse on the topic of economic injustice. At the start of the protest, Jacobs instructed members of his group not to engage with the occupiers. Both sides had ex- changed words, but there was no contact between them. “I think they have reasons to be mad, like the bank bailouts, TARR etc., Jacobs said. Other than that, their concerns are misguided, and they should be focused on the policies of Washington, not Wall Street. Occupy Philadelphia protestors marched to main campus during a snowy Saturday on Oct. 29. The purpose was to sit-in at an event featuring former President Bill Clinton. The rally was intended to support Mayor Michael Nutter's re-election campaign, but was canceled due to the inclement weather. The protesters, who had intended to sit-in silently during the rally, went to Mitten Hall, unaware of the cancellation. They then traveled to the Howard Gittis Student Center, only to find that the entrance was blocked by police officers. The group was later told that they had received clearance to enter. Taking to the atrium, the protesters chanted in support of the movement and against student loan debt. After the short meeting, some protestors, including student occupiers, took the dining area of the north side of the first level in attempt to gather more student participation. Social movements take time, Isser said. “Huge changes take time. But I think that, if people keep occupying and coming out to rallies and marches, things in Philadelphia can change.