Students and residents set to protest new Temple stadium plans

North Philadelphia residents and Temple students will protest a university board of trustees meeting in response to the university’s plan to build a new stadium in a residential area.

Various student and neighborhood groups have organized a protest in response to Temple University President Neil Theobald moving forward on the $100 million football stadium without consulting with lifelong community members and current students, claimed the “Stadium Stompers,” a collection of area individuals who oppose the new facility.

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“Our Board of Trustees is made up of multi-million dollar corporations. The people representing them do not reach out to the community when making decisions,” said Becky Cave, a student and organizer of 15 Now, an organization dedicated to raising the minimum wage, which is taking part in the protest.

A broad coalition of student and neighborhood groups is joining the likes of 15 Now and will be protesting, including Temple Students for Justice in Palestine, Temple Socialists, Feminist Majority Leadership Alliance and the People’s Power Coalition at Temple, protest organizers stated.

“Despite Temple being under investigation for violating Title IX and mishandling sexual assault reports, we still don’t see a sexual assault crisis center. A football stadium should be the last thing on a list of priorities,” 15 Now Temple organizer and Temple student Anna Barnett explained.

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Last Monday, Temple students protested a stadium Q&A due to the event’s policy of only admitting students, presenting only the university’s point of view and preventing community members from making their voices heard, according to the Stadium Stompers.