A symphony of college life

letter from the editor A SYMPHONY OF COLLEGE LIFE

Jon Moss

Editor-in-Chief

After making the all-day voyage from New Jersey to Pittsburgh, I always try to pause and take in my surroundings.

The buzz of people walking down Oakland’s core arteries, Forbes and Fifth avenues? Check.

The sun-like presence of the 42-story, 2,000-plus room and nonagenarian center of our Pitt universe known as Cathy? Check.

A Port Authority bus rolling by and, as one friend likes to joke, its engine “ripping” one? Check, as I laugh quietly to myself.

These are some of the many sights and sounds that make up the urban symphony of Oakland, which you will soon join. After a strange ending to spring break 2020 — essentially putting a “Sorry, we’re closed” sign on campus — followed up by a radically different school year with mostly online classes, this fall has the potential to be the first “normalish” semester in some time. (All together now, knock on wood.)

Starting a personal transition at a time of massive global transition may seem overwhelming. Frankly, it’s daunting. But if I can offer you one piece of advice during this time, it is that your experience at Pitt is ultimately a grand symphony which you will weave together.

You could start adding people to your symphony by saying hi to your floormates — some may have cookies they’re giving out, as conversation starters — and grabbing a meal with one or two or 15 of them at the dining hall to get to know each other better. Boom, you’re off to a great start. You may find yourself like me, where some of my closest friends are from my first-year floor, years after moving out of Sutherland Hall.

If you don’t meet your people in your dorm, try to say hi to people in your classes — the enormous introductory lectures in Lawrence Hall that many first-years take are perfect for this. Sign up for different clubs and go to general body meetings to add more range to your symphony. You may hit a wrong See Letter on page 50

Kaycee Orwig senior staff photographer