This is an unedited clip scheduled to run in the September/October issue of Philadelphia Style.

Want to know exactly what you’re paying for at high-end restaurants? Try the Virtual Kitchen at the Four Seasons’ Fountain Restaurant. An alternative to the chef’s tables at other restaurants across the city, the Virtual Kitchen allows diners to watch chef Martin Hamann prepare their dishes from a 48-inch flat screen TV in a private dining room. Hamann talks to the diners as he cooks, and comments on the dishes during the meal, while diners get an intimate view of the kitchen without the smoke and elevated noise level. This innovative dining experience comes with a $250 fee for the camera and kitchen technician. Parties of eight to 12 people are recommended. Visit FourSeasons.com for dining information and reservations, or call 215-963-1500.

Image courtesy of TravelMall.

This is an unedited clip scheduled to run in the September/October issue of Philadelphia Style.

Lisa M. Reisman et Cie isn’t just about art. The Rittenhouse square store also sells jewelry from big name crafters like Baccarat and Kuwayama. New to Lisa Reisman is the Elements + Alloys collection. Designed by husband and wife architects, Karen and James Moustafellos, the handmade EnA pieces mix art and engineering for a stunning result of gold and sterling silver geometric designs. Elements + Alloys is also available at Wayne Edwards, where we recommend the stylish yet simple cufflinks. The EnA cufflinks are available in silver, gold or a combination, and can easily make the transition from the office to an evening out. Elements + Alloys is available at Lisa M. Reisman, 1714 Rittenhouse Sq. 215-735-2782, and Wayne Edwards, 1525 Locust St, 215-731-0120.

]]> http://shannonmcdonald.net/2008/07/09/elements-of-style/feed/ http://shannonmcdonald.net/2008/06/13/septa-police-strike-made-official/ http://shannonmcdonald.net/2008/06/13/septa-police-strike-made-official/#comments Fri, 13 Jun 2008 23:46:38 +0000 Shannon McDonald http://shannonmcdonald.wordpress.com/?p=24

After a day of negotiations, SEPTA police officers have made good on their promise to strike.

The Fraternal Order of Transit Police has not been able to reach an agreement with SEPTA officials regarding the wages and benefits of FOTP members.

SEPTA released a statement earlier today, which says the tentative agreements monitored by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Mediation were approved by SEPTA officials, but not by the FOTP.

Since negotiations began yesterday, SEPTA, Mayor Michael Nutter and the Philadelphia Police Department have been assuring riders that security will not diminish due to the strike.

SEPTA officials hope to resume discussion with the FOTP soon, as they feel “this strike was totally avoidable.”

Photo courtesy of CBS3.

See this post on Broad & Cecil, the blog of The Temple News.

By Shannon McDonald | May 17, 2008 | The Temple News

Temple tested TU-Alert, its emergency alert system, on Friday, May 9. Students who have registered with the system received a text message, phone call and e-mail explaining that the message was only a test.

On Tuesday, May 13, shots were fired at 15th and Norris streets. No one got a TU-Alert message.

The shooting occurred around 11:30 p.m. A 19-year-old non-Temple female was shot in the chest, and the security kiosk on the corner has bullet holes in it. Marshall Thomas, the 19-year-old suspect, is still on the loose, as the Temple News reported [“Shots fired at 15th and Norris,” Chris Stover and LeAnne Matlach, May 13, 2008].

William Bergman, Temple’s vice president of operations, sent an e-mail to students on May 14 informing them that the incident was believed to be the result of a domestic disagreement and was not a random crime.

Bergman went on to say that neither the victim nor the suspect is believed to have a connection to Temple, and that students did not receive an alert message because the “incident had been contained.”

This was an error in judgment on Temple’s part. The intersection of 15th and Norris is a busy spot: the turf field and Liacouras Center are right there, and many students live nearby. Though the people involved in the shooting are not affiliated with Temple, the crime took place near Temple property and endangered the life of an AlliedBarton security guard who was sitting in a security kiosk marked with a Temple “T” at the time of the shooting.

Police officers declared the incident contained, yet the suspect is still roaming the streets nearly a week later. Although authorities determined that Temple students were not at risk because the shooting was not random, police have labeled Thomas as being armed and dangerous.

An alert message should have been sent out anyway to inform students of the incident. Waiting until the next day to send an e-mail was passive-aggressive and compromises the legitimacy of the alert system.

To make matters worse, Temple may have unknowingly undone its ties with the surrounding community. For all its efforts to be recognized as a neighborhood-friendly university, Temple’s inaction on May 13 sends a conflicting message.

The shooting may not have occurred directly on Temple property, but it happened within campus boundaries, and therefore affects students and community members who live there. If Temple wants to keep up its reputation as community-involved university, then it needs to uphold those standards at all times.

A teenager was shot, but she doesn’t go to Temple, so there was no need for an alert. That’s the image Temple has presented, intended or not.

TU-Alert was set up to warn students about possible dangers on campus. The shooting at 15th and Norris took place near campus property and student residences. An emergency message should have been sent out, even if Temple students were not directly affected. There is no harm in being overly cautious.

The university needs to stop picking and choosing which alerts to send out, because the absence of an alert sends a louder message to students and community members.

See this article on www.temple-news.com here. Photo courtesy of LeAnne Matlach for The Temple News.

]]> http://shannonmcdonald.net/2008/05/17/no-tu-alert-a-louder-message-after-shooting/feed/ http://shannonmcdonald.net/2008/04/29/new-gen-ed-classes-need-world-affairs-requirement/ http://shannonmcdonald.net/2008/04/29/new-gen-ed-classes-need-world-affairs-requirement/#comments Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:41:52 +0000 Shannon McDonald http://shannonmcdonald.wordpress.com/?p=21

By Shannon McDonald | April 29, 2008 | The Temple News

When it comes to the improvement and expansion of Main Campus, students tend to focus on housing and technology. But academics – the real reason you’re paying tuition – often go ignored.

Journalist and professor Ted Gup addressed this in his April 11 article in The Chronicle of Higher Education.

“I find it profoundly discouraging to encounter such ignorance of critical issues,” Gup wrote. “I challenge [students’] right to tune out the world, and I question any system or society that can produce such students and call them educated.”

Gup finds it incomprehensible that students who have almost constant access to technology can know so little about current events and world affairs. He is right in this opinion.

As undergraduates, Temple students are required to take several courses in math, science, race and other areas to broaden their educations. There is no current events requirement.

“Gen Ed will hopefully take us in that direction,” said Peter Jones, vice provost of undergraduate studies.

Beginning in fall 2008, core requirements will disappear, and General Education classes will take over. As Jones explained, core classes were targeted more toward students with those specific majors, whereas Gen Ed classes are designed to teach broad ideas.

While Jones feels that “current affairs should be prevalent in every class,” this idea does not guarantee that students will be completely educated about current events. Even if professors encourage discussion of world affairs in their classes, that is not the main focus. Professors need to stick to the topic at hand, which leaves little time for digression.

Jones assures that with the 36 Gen Ed credits students will be required to take, those students who want to learn about current events can choose to take courses in those areas.

“The university has the responsibility to offer students opportunities,” he said.

Students who are genuinely interested in what’s happening in the world will have the option of taking Gen Ed classes relevant to those issues.

But if Gup’s article proves anything, it is that giving students’ options is not enough. Even though students can easily educate themselves about current events through the Internet and have the option of taking world affairs classes, the motivation doesn’t seem to be there. If students aren’t voluntarily learning about these things, it is up to Temple – and all universities – to step in and take the responsibility.

Students should be required to take at least one course focused on current affairs. The class syllabus can be altered every semester to include the latest events, as well as general issues that have affected people over long periods of time.

Jones admitted that it is too early to tell how the Gen Ed curriculum will affect students and that alterations may need to be made over time.

“It is vitally important that students understand current events,” he said. “It’s critical.”

See this article on www.temple-news.com here.  Photo courtesy of Kathryn A. Lopez for The Temple News.

By Shannon McDonald | April 15, 2008 | The Temple News

It took three attacks and a funeral to increase security on Philadelphia’s sole public transportation system.

The subway attacks of March 26, April 2 and April 4 occurred within blocks of each other – some in broad daylight – and have highlighted the need for increased security on SEPTA’s tracks.

“We’re taking special note of what’s going on,” Mayor Michael Nutter told 6 ABC recently.

Nutter and Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey have both promised SEPTA users more safety in the wake of the attacks.

SEPTA has also responded. Immediately following the attacks, the transit agency increased the number of officers on duty by 50 percent during after school hours – the time associated with the recent attacks. Between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m., 90 officers will now police the city’s subway system to deter crime. SEPTA also plans on installing security cameras over the next few years, an investment of more than $50 million.

“These senseless and tragic incidents are unrelated events that occurred in the public pedestrian areas adjacent to our stations. I want to assure you that our transit system is safe,” Joseph M. Casey, general manager of SEPTA, wrote in a message to users on the agency’s Web site.

Immediate action by Nutter, Ramsey and SEPTA is undoubtedly a good thing. To have the mayor, police department and the city’s only mass transportation agency working together – and doing so efficiently – speaks volumes to the progress Nutter is making in Philadelphia.

Of course, there are already some flaws in the system. Had there already been enough officers patrolling the subway – as opposed to the 60 who were patrolling prior to the attacks – fewer, if any, of the attacks would have occurred. The assault that led to the death of Starbucks manager Sean Patrick Conroy took place in the middle of the afternoon near one of the system’s most used stations. Our subways need to be better patrolled if riders are going to feel safe.

Video surveillance is part of that patrol. SEPTA’s plan to install new cameras has a 2012 deadline. Though the three incidents have encouraged the authority to try to push up the deadline, there is still no logical explanation for why there aren’t cameras already.
Community members are also taking action, as The Temple News reported [“Police react to SEPTA violence,” Morgan A. Zalot, April 8, 2008]. The Alliance of Guardian Angels is a group of civilians who have patrolled the subway in the past, and are now making a comeback. Though not exclusive to Philadelphia, the Guardian Angels have worked for years to enhance the safety of the Philadelphia community, doing so without weapons.

In yet another mistake by another police commissioner, it was announced last week that the Guardian Angels will not receive free subway passes for their efforts. Ramsey passed the buck off to SEPTA officials, who maintain that only employees and uniformed police officers and firefighters can hold free passes. This news came just after the Philadelphia Police announced support for the Angels.

City Hall, the Philadelphia Police and SEPTA were wise enough to respond to the attacks quickly and in sync, but they should have been working together, along with the community, to combat crime all along.

See this article on www.temple-news.com here.  Photo courtesy of SEPTA.

By Shannon McDonald | March 27, 2008 | The Temple News

Geraldine Ferraro isn’t as racist as people may think. The 1984 Democratic vice presidential candidate made it back into the political spotlight recently with racially charged and controversial comments.

“If Obama was a white man, he would not be in this position, and if he was a woman of any color he would not be in this position,” she said. “He happens to be very lucky to be who he is, and the country is caught up in the concept.”

The now former Hillary Clinton adviser was right, to an extent. Though saying Obama is “lucky” to be black stretches the point, the presidential candidate’s race is unquestionably beneficial to his campaign.

After spending hundreds of years living in a country run by white men, the United States is due for a change. Enter Obama. Though he is half black, that 50 percent is enough to give Obama an edge in the polls. Ferraro knows this, and isn’t afraid to say so.

Like Obama, Clinton’s candidacy is a first for this country. While some may argue that her strong position in the polls stems from her husband’s popularity, the reality is that it all comes downs to her gender. In terms of politics, Obama and Clinton are minorities, and after centuries of oppressing minorities, and feeling oppressed by sometimes incompetent white male leaders, isn’t the logical solution to give a minority a chance?

That being said, it’s not as though either candidate is in for a smooth ride. Since race and gender are at the forefront of the election, they will also be of concern throughout the elected candidate’s presidency. The social and economic issues at hand will matter less to most voters. As typically happens with presidential candidates, Obama and Clinton will waver in their stances on the various issues until voters are unsure of who is fighting for what. At this point, Americans with unclear opinions will either vote for the black man or the woman. Unfair, yes, but true.

As reported by The Temple News, in his March 18 “A More Perfect Union” speech at the Constitution Center, Obama said that the “nation cannot afford to ignore race.” Don’t worry, Obama, the nation has been and always will be racially conscious. If the nation ignored race, Obama wouldn’t have needed to make his speech his race. Favorable decisions will garner more respect for the “black president,” and his unpopular choices will have been made “because he is black.” Similarly, if Clinton wins the election, she will be judged based on her gender.

Although Ferraro’s statement earned negative attention for the Clinton campaign, nothing was said that most people don’t already know. In a March 11 interview with Fox News, Ferraro defended her comments by saying she was “absolutely offended” at people’s perception of her as being racist. Ferraro added that she believes Democratic Presidential nominee Walter Mondale chose her as his 1984 running mate because she is a woman. While she doesn’t doubt Clinton’s or Obama’s qualifications for office, Ferraro acknowledges their inherit advantages over Republican candidate John McCain.

Right now, the race is down to the black man, the woman and the Republican. Obama and Clinton have the benefit of looking different than the presidential candidate of the past.

That is not racist or sexist. It is fact. Unfortunately for McCain, the 2008 election is the worst time to be an old white guy. He has nothing to separate himself from former white male Republican candidates. Even if his political nature is different from those of similar candidates, his overall image is the same. At this point, his only advantage is being the lone Republican candidate in the race.

As the election draws nearer, and Americans seek change, their votes will be based less on political policy and more on candidate diversity.

See this article on www.temple-news.com here.

By Shannon McDonald | February 25, 2008 | The Temple News

“Treating people right means we believe in respect for the individual and that we owe our teammates a clean, safe work environment.”

That’s one of the values that Loomis, a security company whose employees include guards who transfer cash between banks, boasts on its Web site. What a shame that those values aren’t being upheld.

On Oct. 4, 2007, two Loomis employees were murdered while on the job in Northeast Philadelphia. William Widmaier and Joseph Alullo were gunned down as their partner, Joseph Walczak, was forced to look on from inside the armored vehicle he was driving.

Immediately after, Loomis came under scrutiny. People wanted answers. Do the employees carry weapons? Do they wear bulletproof vests? Are employees trained to handle such an attack?

Ed Lindsey, an operations manager who works out of Loomis’s Northeast Regional Office, said that employees have the option of carrying either a personal or a company firearm. As for bulletproof vests, employees are pretty much on their own.

Evidently, Loomis has put a price on its employees’ lives. You know, the ones to whom they owe a safe work environment. Loomis does not supply its valued employees with vests, which can run up to $800 a piece, depending on size.

“I’m a pretty small guy, and mine was about $550,” Lindsey said.

The best Loomis can do is offer its workers an optional loan. The company will take $100 off the initial price, and subsequently take $25 from the employees’ biweekly paychecks until the vests are paid off.

“Vests are pretty costly,” Lindsey said.

That is exactly why the burden to pay for them shouldn’t fall on the workers. Loomis just doesn’t get it.

As far as training goes, all employees are trained in various areas, including weaponry and driving. Workers are required to watch videos and take tests on the subjects.

However, Loomis has overlooked its standardization of company regulations and conditions. The international company standardizes its training throughout each country. Therefore, every Loomis employee in the United States is trained in exactly the same way, as Lindsey, who works for the Taunton, Mass. branch, explained. Workers handling such large amounts of money in small towns are not nearly as susceptible to crime as those who work in large cities.

Lindsey had no explanation for this. He works in a small town, population 56,781.

“Maybe the other guy should have been looking around more,” Lindsey said, as he wondered out loud how Widmaier and Alullo could have possibly been killed.

Which guy? The one too hurt and scared to leave the safety of the truck? Or the ones who were being fired at, sans expensive bulletproof vests?

Since the murders, Loomis appears to have taken no steps to further ensure the safety of its employees.

When I asked Lindsey why two-person teams have been spotted instead of the usual three-person ones, he told me that it was “privileged information.”

Or, more likely, he didn’t want to make the company look bad by saying that in those cases, only one employee gets out of the truck and handles the money alone. Sounds like a safe work environment to me.

That ought to discourage the murderers.

See this article on www.temple-news.com here. Photo courtesy of International Truck Pictures.

By Shannon McDonald | January 29, 2008 | The Temple News

After years of fighting a reputation of being dangerous, dirty and unattractive, Philadelphia is finally getting positive attention.

Recently, Forbes.com named the Phillie Phanatic as the top mascot in the country. The decision was based on the characters’ appeal, endorsement and trendsetting, among other things. Though there was never any question about this city’s love for the furry, scooter-riding Phanatic, national recognition isn’t something to shy away from. If the Phillies can’t win the World Series, at least local sports fans can be proud of the mascot.

If a loveable mascot wasn’t enough to bulk up Philly’s reputation, the city has also received tons of free publicity from its recent stint on American Idol. The national exposure Philly received as its residents sang their way to fame or shame was worth more than $2 million, as reported in the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Just a few months ago, Travel + Leisure magazine ranked Philadelphia as one of the most unattractive and unfriendly cities in the country. Our high murder rate also drew national attention.

Having a top mascot and getting free advertisement might be a step in the right direction for Philadelphia, but those factors may not have enough weight to counteract people’s negative view of the city. Though the survey done by Travel + Leisure might have been poorly conducted, as sociology professor David Elesh pointed out in an interview with The Temple News, there are enough people out there with negative perceptions of Philadelphia to have an impact on the city.

Affectionately referred to as “Filth-adelphia” by outsiders - and some residents - years of bad publicity, corrupt politicians and enough murders to scare off Charles Manson have created quite an obstacle for Philadelphia to overcome.

Another factor working against Philly is its residents, who are notoriously cynical and self-deprecating. No matter how many advancements the city makes, residents either don’t notice, or they want more. The only thing Philly can count on is that its people are aware of the city’s shortcomings. We might be unattractive, but at least we’ll be the first to point it out.

Philadelphia is definitely improving. In the past few years, the city has initiated various programs devoted to the betterment of several communities. New Mayor Michael Nutter and Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey have already surpassed the former ones simply by speaking proper English. Dropping John F. Street can only bolster the money tourism brings to Philadelphia, some $28 million per day, according to a representative of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation in an interview with The Temple News.

Unfortunately, these small doses of positive recognition aren’t enough to revive the city. Bigger things need to happen in order for Philly to turn itself around in the eyes of others. The Phanatic may be popular, but he’s not a miracle worker.

See this article on www.temple-news.com here.

By Shannon McDonald | December 4, 2007 | The Temple News

Temple announced last month that Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street will become an adjunct professor of political science on Main Campus for the Spring 2008 semester.

Despite being highly criticized during his two terms as mayor, Street is slated to instruct two sections of an urban politics and policy class. My initial reaction to this was one of outrage. Along with the other residents of Philadelphia, I watched Street make one poor decision after another. Now Temple students are supposed to learn about urban policies from him. Maybe his curriculum will include corrupting a city and giving jobs to unqualified friends.

Randall Miller, a political analyst and St. Joseph’s University professor, agrees that Street has made some mistakes along the way, but said the mayor has also done some beneficial things for Philadelphia as well.

“Street doesn’t stand in the way of progress,” Miller said. “But he hasn’t encouraged it.”

He suggested that although Street may have honorable intentions for the city, his lack of enthusiasm makes him appear weaker.

Honorable as he may be, the Temple graduate and former English teacher will have a lot at stake when he takes his position in front of the classroom in January.

“People see Street as being ineffective,” Miller said. If this perception of him as mayor carries over into the classroom - as it should - Street will need to be prepared to defend his actions as head of the city.

In an exclusive interview with The Temple News, Street said he is ready and qualified to teach this course. His background in teaching will surely come in handy, but his approach to running Philadelphia may come into question.

Miller argues that the class should focus on urban policy as a whole, not solely on Street, but as a man with a reputation of being a dishonest and corrupt, some part of the class will need to focus on those shortcomings.

“He needs to be honest and recognize his success and limitations,” Miller said.

Though Street undoubtedly made mistakes along the way, some of his proposals for the city, including the Neighborhood Transformation Initiative and making Philadelphia more tech-savvy, could have been highly beneficial. Another sign that Street might know more than people give him credit for was his announcement that other former Philadelphia mayors will be guest speakers in his class. Miller sees this as a “terrific” idea, as the speakers will be able to give students other perspectives, and allow for more student engagement.

Even if Street proves successful at teaching urban policies, he has proven otherwise when it comes to carrying those policies out. He may win over students, but Street can never redeem himself for his two terms as mayor.

See this article on www.temple-news.com here.