Temple University grad student strike gets ugly
It’s been a week since Temple graduate students went on strike, and the administration is not backing down on refusal to meet demands.
- Union members are seeing health benefits canceled, and receiving notice that their tuition — usually covered as university employees — will be due in full next month, in amounts upwards of $20,000.
The move drew widespread condemnation from elected officials like Sen. Bob Casey. Is it legal? What are students striking for? Ben Seal has the rundown.

Super Bowl appearance = big bucks on social media
Beyond contracts and traditional endorsements, there’s extra cash on the table for sports celebs these days.
- Really high profile athletes can demand around $10 per 1,000 followers for one social media post, a sports marketing expert told Jordan Levy. Super Bowl appearances juice that potential.
Eagles QB Jalen Hurts has about 1.1 million followers on Instagram, so he “can easily make $50,000 in an hour” with just a photo and a caption.
→ The new trend of “brand-networking”

RECAP: What else happened?
$ = paywalled
- Sen. Fetterman was hospitalized yesterday morning after feeling lightheaded during a Democratic retreat. Doctors believe they’ve ruled out a second stroke, but the senator is still undergoing tests. [Politics PA/AP]
- After what’s being called a domestic terrorist attack on Baltimore’s power grid, PECO is stepping up security in Philadelphia. [WHYY’s PlanPhilly]
- A video that reportedly shows a white Philly teen making racist comments and harassing a Black teen sparked a protest and condemnation from the schools thought to be involved (a Catholic school and a charter school). [Yahoo/6ABC]
- A new “Black Founders” exhibition opens tomorrow at the Museum of the American Revolution, with a dazzling array of Forten family documents and rarities. [Billy Penn]
- City Council’s regular session yesterday was Eagles-themed, with signs of support all over the chamber. Gov. Shapiro and his wife will attend the game in Glendale on Sunday. [@anna_orso/@StephenJ_Caruso]
- As if Eagles fans need more energizing, there’s free coffee to be had this weekend. Wawa is offering free any-size cups all day Sunday, while Dunkin’ is giving out a medium coffee per person all day Saturday and Sunday. [@billy_ penn x 2]
- Why are Philly fans the way they are? WHYY’s Digital Studios has a history of the city’s relationship with sports, told via Glen Macnow, Monty G, and others. [YouTube]
MAYOR WATCH
Mayor Kenney delivers a proclamation at the Kimmel Center honoring Philadelphia Orchestra conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, who just extended his contract through 2030 (4 p.m.). And a brief correction to what we wrote yesterday — his title was already “music director,” now it will be expanded to “music and artistic director.”
ON THE CALENDAR
🦅 Bring a piece of clothing to Yards Brewing on Spring Garden and have it spray-painted with an Eagles design by local artist Nero for just $20. (12 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11)
💐 Shop for love from local women makers at Rex at the Royal’s Galentine’s Day market on South Street West, with vendors offering jewelry, candles, ceramics, tea, and more. (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 11)
Catch up on the previous week
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