09-28-22

Jiri Palayekar | Staff Illustrator

New majors bring new job opportunities

STUDENT DOORDASHERS REFLECT ON ITS PROS AND CONS

Alex Saraff Staff Writer

For many working students on campus, having to deal with an annoying boss can be frustrating. Some students, like Austin Bea sly have avoided that situation entirely by becoming DoorDash gig workers.

“In high school, I worked at fast food and I hated it,” Beasly, a junior psychology and law, criminal justice and society major said. “I hated having a boss. I hated the balance between school and work, and so being able to have a kind of a schedule where I am in complete control is the biggest pro for sure.”

Companies like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub have become useful and com mon ways for Pitt students to earn money on the side. Some students have started “dash ing” as a way of staying afloat financially while keeping up with their schoolwork.

Beasly said dashing is especially flexible with class schedules.

“Typically what I’ll do a lot of the time during the school week, I’ll just go [take or ders] on a Thursday night because I don’t have class on Fridays,” Beasly said. “It makes about 20 bucks an hour, so it’s also nice for that, even though it doesn’t include gas.”

According to Beasly, the majority of his earnings is through tips, instead of the base wage from DoorDash. He said he makes about $100-200 a week through DoorDash.

“The breakdown [of my earnings] of tips to salary is about 60/40,” Beasly said.

Beasly said there are also other factors to take into account such as gas. Given the increase of the price of gas, the kind of work that requires a car is less dependable, ac cording to Beasly. However, Beasly is able to avoid the unstable gas prices through the

use of a hybrid car.

Andrew Klepeis, a junior politics and philosophy major, has worked for Door Dash for only two weeks. Klepeis said he is only able to do this job because of the fuel efficiency of his vehicle.

“I can’t imagine it being worth doing if my car wasn’t gas efficient,” Klepeis said. “It is definitely manageable, but the trade off is the pay being barely enough to make a little extra on top once I reimburse myself for the gas.”

Unlike Beasly, Klepeis said he hasn’t had good luck with tips.

“The vast majority of customers on DoorDash do not tip”, Klepeis said. “The base driver pay is usually higher, so it’s not a big issue, but when I have to drive five and a half miles for a 4.75 order or risk my accep tance rate going down, it’s something you just have to bear.”

Samantha Eckenrod, a junior environ mental engineering major, said the quality of tips depends on the area.

“Tipping is good depending on the area you’re in — rich neighborhoods tend to tip better,” Eckenrod said.

Beasly said he is selective with the or ders he accepts based on the area and price of the order to ensure a good payment for his work. He added that students make up the bulk of the customers, and that they are “surprisingly” good tippers given their fi nancial difficulties.

Klepeis said he has experienced very little customer interaction on the job.

“People usually aren’t friendly or rude, they’re just totally passive,” Klepeis said. “I usually never see or talk to the people I deliver to, and restaurant staff are almost al ways very nice and accommodating.”

Beasly said fast food was the most com mon delivery order, adding that Chipotle is the most popular of the bunch. After fast food, Oishii and Chick’n’ Bubbly also have a high volume of orders, according to Beasly.

Klepeis said he would only recommend dashing as a “last resort”.

“I have a lot of commitments and solid scheduled work just doesn’t fit my schedule,” Klepeis said.

Eckenrod also said there are dangers to the job that people have to consider, includ ing putting your car at risk while dashing.

“If you’re a person that’s adaptable and not easily scared or ready to interact with all types of people, do it!” Eckenrod said. “I would not recommend [it] if you have a nicer car.”

Beasly said an important prerequisite to dashing is knowing how to navigate Pitts burgh by car.

“I know how to drive in the city, if you’re nervous about that, I wouldn’t recommend it. It is a lot [of driving],” Beasly said. “Driv ing for five hours, the odds of you getting cut off are super high. I’m always avoiding accidents.”

The DoorDash app on a smartphone.

AP Photo/File

EXPERTS OFFER STUDENTS ADVICE ON SAVING, INVESTING

Khushi Rai Staff Writer

For Noah Katcher, a junior market ing major, it is difficult to budget his money while in school. He said the Col lege of Business Administration has not yet taught him strategies for saving and investing.

“If I am being honest, I have not yet learned any important tips from the busi ness school about investing or saving,” Katcher said. “I have not learned any realworld values about budgeting so far. I will likely just learn these skills over time with the help of my family.”

Some Pitt students believe that they have not learned financial well ness in classes sufficiently. To fill in the gaps, ex perts at Pitt and Citizens Bank pro vided stu dents with helpful tips on budgeting and saving to set them up for finan cial success.

Avi Patel, a junior neu roscience and business major, said although he took two accounting courses, they related to the professional world and not his personal life. Because of this, he was forced to learn how to save and invest on his own through personal ventures.

“I do not budget my money using a spreadsheet or anything like that,” Patel said. “But, I do budget my money gener ally. I automatically deposit $50 into my savings account with any deposit that I

make into my bank account. I don’t have a job right now, but I work as a barber on the side and I use that money as my spending money.”

Gaurav Kankanhalli, an assistant pro fessor in finance, said he advises that students start saving early and that most investors should keep their portfolio di versified at all times. He said that one should not be overexposed to particular companies, sectors or even asset classes to keep their portfolio diversified.

“Compounding is a powerful force, and especially so in the high-interest rate environment that we are in right now,” Kankanhalli said.

“It is important for young investors to maintain a long horizon. Such a perspective is particularly important in times of greater market volatility, as we are expe riencing right now.”

Learning how to start bud geting can often be intimidating. Andrew Washburn, a clinical assis tant professor of business administration, said it’s important for students to adopt the “early and often” approach to saving. He recommends students treat savings as a primary obligation, rather than some thing to do with money that is left over.

“It is extraordinarily difficult to save while in college, in fact, most students face the opposite problem — how much do I have to borrow?” Washburn said.

“My best advice to students while in

Financial Wellness on

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Culture

LUCAS CONNELL: THE STUDENT BEHIND ELCON THREADS

Serena Garcia Staff Writer

Ranging from 1980s T-shirts with the original Roc the Panther graphic on them to ‘90s snap backs featuring Pitt’s former navy and gold colors and Y2K Pitt hoodies, Lucas Connell’s shop Elcon Threads has a variety of vintage clothing options.

Elcon Threads is a student-run business that sells vintage Pitt gear. Lucas Connell, a sopho more computer engineering major, launched the business in July 2021 on Instagram.

Connell said he started his business before he was a Pitt student, in his hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania. His interest in vintage clothing came from his brother, but his passion continued to grow the year he arrived at Pitt.

“When I started my page, it wasn’t just Pitt clothes, and I started it the summer before I came to Pitt, so like a year ago now,” Connell said. “My brother used to thrift, and he kind of got out of it. And I saw what he had been doing in that, and I liked the clothes, so I was like ‘Oh, I’ll start doing it.’”

Before arriving in Oakland, Connell posted any and all vintage clothing he could find on his business’s Instagram account. However, after see ing the absence of vintage Pitt apparel on campus, Connell said he wanted to switch his business’s focus to target the Pitt student body. The Elcon Threads account has gained more than 4,900 fol lowers on Instagram since starting the business.

“Once I got to Pitt, I realized no one was really wearing vintage and there really was not a lot of vintage clothing, especially on campus,” Connell said. “So I was like, ‘Maybe I’ll start selling Pitt stuff,’ and it didn’t take off at first because I didn’t have an audience for it.”

Connell offers an assortment of vintage Pitt items, such as an old-school football jersey, a cozy ‘90s crewneck with vivid graphics and an assort ment of vintage tees featuring rare designs.

Elcon Thread’s shirts can range from $20 to $60, depending on the rarity of the item.

Connell also chooses vibrant backgrounds of

well-known Pitt spots in his posts to promote his finds. Connell said the company’s Instagram is what made Elcon Threads what it is today.

“Elcon Threads became what it was when I started posting Pitt stuff at Pitt locations,” Connell said. “When my page really took off I did a drop where I had 15 really cool Pitt items and I photo graphed them at the Bronze Panther and on the Cathy stone area and in the garden in Schenley Plaza.”

Connell also holds pop-up events for his busi ness. He recently attended the Neighborhood Flea in the Strip District, as well as Slippery Rock University’s VillageFest.

Connell will also partner with one of Pitt’s campus thrift stores, Thriftsburgh, during one of their upcoming events in October, where he will have a pop-up. Connell is also planning to attend a vintage market event, Pittsburgh Pickers, at the Highline.

Logan McKito, a sophomore business stu dent, said he and Connell met on Instagram and their shared passion for all things vintage fostered a friendship between them. McKito runs his own vintage business as well, Mickey’s Vintage. McKi to said he admires Connell and Elcon Threads.

“He really knows what he’s doing. He’s a great marketer. All of his pictures and stuff, he goes very in depth. He really knows what he’s doing. I ad mire him,” McKito said. “He’s always on his game. He’s very hardworking.”

Christian Meskanick, who Connell calls his “mentor,” is the owner of local Bellevue vintage store, The Closet. Meskanick said Connell exhib its a great work ethic for his business.

“Lucas is a great kid, ever since I’ve met him he’s always been nice and polite,” Meskanick said. “He has a great work ethic and is always eager to learn as much as possible.”

Like McKito, Meskanick met Connell through the vintage community on social media and forged a friendship. Meskanick said Elcon Threads provides Pitt students with one-of-akind vintage pieces that people rarely find else where.

“Elcon Threads is a great business and even better if you love vintage Pitt gear,” Meskanick said. “He provides a better and more unique alter native than just some bookstore merch everyone else has.”

Being both a student and business owner is rather time-consuming, according to Connell. Connell not only has to worry about studying for exams, but also preparing for his latest drop or pop-up for Elcon Threads. In order to figure out how to manage his time, Connell said he places school first and works on his business during his breaks and off-time.

“Honestly, I just fill the gaps. The nice thing about having my business is I can fill the gaps whenever I’m not doing other stuff, because you know, you pick when you work,” Connell said.

Connell said he plans on continuing his busi ness during his time at Pitt and hopes to work in the tech industry after college. Connell said he enjoys seeing students wear his pieces around campus. Knowing that unique pieces are going into the hands of Pitt students makes it all worth it, according to Connell.

“Anything that goes into a Pitt student’s hands I feel good, and I love seeing people wear the stuff. It’s pretty often that I’ll walk by someone and see ing them wearing something that I sold them, which is a good feeling,” Connell said. “I know that I’m spreading my mission of getting sustain able and unique fashion on campus.”

Connell advises other students that are inter ested in starting their own business to recognize the importance of school and make it the first priority. He said once they recognize that, the ap preciation for their business will follow.

“I would say go for it, and just realize like school comes first. And if you can focus on school first and get that down, then you’ll appreciate the time you spend with the business more and be more efficient,” Connell said. “Time management is number one if you want to have your own busi ness in college.”

Pitt student attends international med school pittnews.com

Lucas Connell, a sophomore com puter engineering major, sells cloth ing at a vendor event. Image courtesy of Lucas Connell

PROFESSOR’S NEW NOVEL HIGHLIGHTS THE POWER OF STORYTELLING

PITT

Gabriella Garvin Staff Writer

Cara Romero, a middle-aged woman struggling through the Great Recession, is on a mission to reclaim her sense of identity and pay her rent in Angie Cruz’s new fiction novel. Cruz is an associate professor in the English department at Pitt.

“I started working on this book in 2017 when [Donald] Trump was president, and I was feeling all kinds of despair,” Cruz said. “The immigrant crisis continues, but during this time, it was being heavily recorded in the press, and we were seeing children in cages. I was wondering if writing was the best thing to do with my time when the world was in crisis. And when I thought about it, this character came to me.”

Flatiron Books released “How Not To Drown In A Glass of Water” on Sept. 13. The story follows Cara Romero in a series of monologues as she navigates life during her mid-50s through 12 weeks of sessions with a job advisor.

Cruz said the significant impact the Great Recession had on her family and community inspired her to write a novel that takes place during that time.

“I imagined this character going on an interview after losing a job after working 25 years of her life there,” Cruz said. “The reason I was interested in the Great Recession was because many of my family members and

community members lost their jobs during the Great Recession after working in factories and all kinds of jobs for decades. And they had to start over.”

Cruz said it was this idea of losing a job af ter spending decades working there that made her character come to life and on to the page.

“Cara Romero came to me and started tell ing me the story of her life,” Cruz said. “So the book in itself is about a woman who wants to work so she can pay her rent and she’s meeting with a job counselor for 12 weeks, and getting job training.”

Caroline Bleeke, executive editor at Flat iron Books based in New York City, said Cruz’s use of dictation to create the story made the editing process very special.

“Angie worked on the novel herself for a while before sharing pages with me. And the first time she was ready to share a little bit of her work, we went to a bar and she handed me one of her earbuds and we listened to the first chapter that she had recorded,” Bleak said. “It was just a really, really special way to first en counter the novel.”

Amelia Possanza, associate director of publicity at Flatiron Books, said the mes sages of interdependence and community in the novel came to life at one of Cruz’s recent launch events on Sept. 15 at The Strand, an in dependent bookstore in New York City.

“She had a launch event here in New York See Angie Cruz on page 10

Angie Cruz, a Pitt English professor, stands in her office in 2020. Romita Das | Senior Staff Photographer

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Opinions

Lynnette Tibbott Staff Columnist

Discuss your salary with your coworkers

EVERYONE NEEDS TO WORK A CUSTOMER SERVICE JOB

I was 15 years old when I got my first cus tomer service job. I had my interview in the squeaky plastic booths of a small town’s frozen custard shop. I even wore dark pants and a thick blouse despite the 80-degree weather, just be cause I wanted to make a good impression for my first-ever interview.

After a few weeks of working, I experienced my first fiasco.

There was one older gentleman who or dered at the store, claiming to have an online coupon. I explained to him that due to store policy, I could not accept it.

If Marvel was making a new Hulk movie at the time, I would have begged them to cast this man. The vein in his neck began to twitch. His face blushed red. His beady eyes locked on me. And then he started to yell. I don’t even re member what he said to me, but it was along the lines of me being an idiot, that he needed to talk to my boss and that he always used on line coupons before.

As time progressed, I realized how entitled customers can behave. A customer told me that her sundae didn’t have enough hot fudge. An other told me that they wanted their order in a cup instead of a cone. It’s not that they asked me to fix it, I didn’t care about that. It’s how they did it — by disrespecting me. To them, I was not a person — I was a worker. I was someone they could demean.

As a worker, I understand that customers are trying to get what they paid for. As a customer, I understand workers are doing their best. Be cause of my experience as both, I know how to be empathetic in either situation. In a world so focused on money, everyone chooses to spend it and earn it as they see fit. However, the divide between worker and customer keeps growing.

People stigmatize and degrade certain jobs, especially in customer service, food service and janitorial jobs. These jobs are considered unde sirable, but why? They’re necessary positions and we all rely on the services these people offer. Customer service workers aren’t doctors, law yers or other jobs that earn automatic respect, but they’re still just as important in terms of

keeping society functioning.

I believe the basis of job stigmatization stems from our societal need to get ahead of everyone else. We’re taught from a young age that we need to “rise above the rest.” We learn that maybe with hard work, unwavering dedication and “picking ourselves up by our bootstraps,” we will finally get there — but that reality is much less tangible than people realize.

There’s no denying that high-paying jobs are justifiably valued. Higher-paying jobs tend to require more education and specialized training. The difference comes at the level of replaceability of the employee. A skilled brain surgeon is hard to find, whereas a customer service worker comes at a dime a dozen. You’re not special to an employer, but

needs and grievances. Maybe a worker is strug gling with a family issue, yet they’re forced to work through it. Maybe these workers were there for over eight hours with no break, or maybe they’re just experiencing the burn of being a cog in the never-ending machine of working society. You never know what someone is going through — that’s why no one has a right to treat a worker poorly.

As terrible as working customer service is, there is also a sense of happiness and commu nity in working these types of jobs. I’ve talked to some of the kindest people working in customer service. Customers would go out of their way to compliment or ask me questions, or even sympa thize with me during a shift. In turn, I often go out of my way for these types of people. I got to know people, to laugh with them, even if it were just for a few minutes. Sometimes that small but meaningful conversation is enough to brighten both of our days.

that’s all the more reason to work a customer service job.

You might think replaceability is bad, but I think this is a misconception. I learned quickly that my replaceability worked to my benefit. Un less you’re extremely lucky, most employers will take advantage of you and continue to do so un less you stand up for yourself and set boundaries. You can care for your bosses and managers, but understand that telling them no is not a reflection on your personal relationship with them. Don’t let your employers guilt you, because ultimately you’re working for the betterment of an establish ment that doesn’t care for you and will exploit you if given the chance. Replaceability teaches you to stick up for yourself. I learned that so many peo ple were like me — they had the same education, qualifications, skillset and mindset. No one is spe cial or above others in that way.

When you strip a person of their money and their title, you see that they too are made of skin and bone. All people deserve the same respect, and some customers need to stop acting like they’re better or above the workers that are pro viding them with a service.

Customer service workers serve the public, but they’re still individuals with their own wants,

Everyone is a customer, and everyone is a worker. It seems like often we forget what it’s like on the other side when we get to clock out at the end of a shift. You need to know what it’s like walking in someone else’s shoes. If you don’t, how can you ever understand others?

It’s easy enough to say that America has a problem with employee exploitation, but until you’ve actually spent time learning the experi ences and working in these situations, you will never fully understand.

That’s not to say that a customer service job is a permanent career for everyone, though even if it is, they are still worthy of the same amount of respect and dignity as anyone else. All I’m saying is that every American needs to work a customer service job at least once in their life, however fleet ing. It’s the first step in empathy and understand ing in a society so foundationalized in the finan cial and classist divide among all Americans.

Now more than ever, we need compassion. Stop furthering the job hierarchy.

Lynnette Tibbott primarily writes about top ics in the sciences and humanities. Write to her at LMT80@pitt.edu.

Promiti Debi | Senior Staff Illustrator

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL HITS HOMERUN FOR

WORKERS’ RIGHTS WITH NEW UNION REPRESENTATION

Grant Van Robays

Staff Columnist

Players for every minor league team, includ ing fan favorites like the Hartford Yard Goats and Lansing Lugnuts, unfortunately don’t live the lav ish pro athlete lifestyle romanticized on TV. In reality, minor league baseball players are some of the most exploited and underpaid workers in the country.

That may soon change thanks to a landmark victory for organized labor.

Minor leaguers officially joined the Major League Baseball Players Association, also known as the MLBPA, on Sept. 14, after decades of fruitless organizing efforts. This recent success is thanks to the tireless efforts of groups like Ad vocates for Minor Leaguers and veteran minor league players such as Trevor Hildenberger and Joe Hudson. Hildenberger and Hudson spent the summer sharing stories of cockroach-infested apartments and sleeping on air mattresses with fellow players, advocates and lawyers. The MLB PA capitalized on the reinvigorated union talks and sent union authorization cards to about 5,500 minor leaguers in late August. The rest, as they say, is history.

This news is significant for workers’ rights and for the entertainment of the sport. Not only will union representation improve the daily lives of minor leaguers, but it will send an important signal to Major League Baseball owners that play ers will no longer tolerate the misuse and underappreciation of their labor. In doing so, the union marks a key victory for the surging organized la bor movement that has already reached the high est level of public support in decades.

But let’s pause the champagne popping for just a minute. As important as it is that minor league players have representation, it’s imperative to know why Minor League Baseball needed a union so urgently.

Let’s first talk dollars and cents. The average MLB player salary for 2022 clocks in at about $4.4 million per year. Their compatriots in the minors make anywhere from $5,000 to about $15,000 per season. Minor league teams only pay players during the five or six month season at rates below the federal minimum wage. This is legal because of the Save America’s Pastime Act of 2018, which exempts minor league players from standard minimum wage laws and overtime pay.

In fairness, MLB announced a pay raise to minor leaguers in 2021. Players at the lowest level

now make at least $500 per week instead of $290, with the highest level players earning at least $700 weekly instead of $500. This pitifully low wage re mains under the federal minimum wage for fulltime workers. Ideally, with union representation, minor leaguers can press the owners until they get a wage that surpasses that of a bathroom at tendant.

Then there is the matter of housing. Players have long paid for their own housing expenses. This often led to players living in decrepit hotels, team clubhouses, sharing small apartment rooms with multiple teammates on air mattresses and even living in their cars. Much needed change came this year with a new mandate forcing MLB teams to cover housing costs for 90% of minor leaguers in each of their farm systems.

Better living conditions, better nutrition and better offseason training due to guarantees and protections in the future collective bargaining agreement will likely lead to improved athletic performance. Improved performance translates to more ticket sales which translates to more reve nue for the owners in the long run. Therefore, this unionization effort has the potential to become a net positive for each party involved — a rarity in sport.

The argument that MiLB and MLB teams cannot afford to pay higher salaries to players is unfounded. MLB as a whole is worth nearly $10 billion. Nearly all MLB team owners are billion aires. It’s not like there isn’t enough money to pay minor leaguers a minimum wage at the very least. Players should earn more than that, of course, seeing as their play generates those billions of dollars for the owners. But hey, you gotta start somewhere.

One could argue that minor league players end up making millions in the majors anyway, so why does it matter how little they make on their way up?

The reality is that only 10% of minor leaguers make it to the major leagues, meaning the other 90% must eventually find another place of work. Around 20% of players enter the minors with only a high school diploma and an estimated 30% are foreign-born. Thus, many athletes may not have the requisite language or trade skills to make an honest living elsewhere.

The next step for minor leaguers is to negoti ate a CBA via their MLBPA representation. This will be a tall order. It’s simply not in the nature of billionaire team owners to pay their sources

of labor a fair salary. CBA disputes between the MLBPA and league owners led to a lockout that delayed the start of the MLB season this year. We can anticipate a similarly contentious CBA pro cess for the minor leagues.

With the shift in public opinion on organized labor and more awareness of the maltreatment of

MiLB players, there is finally hope for a brighter future. It’s been a long time coming, but it’s cer tainly better late than never.

Grant Van Robays writes primarily about in ternational affairs, social issues and basic human rights. Write to him at grv11@pitt.edu.

Altoona Curve coach Salvador Paniagua, left, congratulates Logan Hill on his fourth-inning home run against the Erie SeaWolves during a Double-A baseball game in Erie, Pa. on July 12, 2019. Greg Wohlford/Erie Times-News via AP

Sports

PANTHERS LOOK TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WOUNDED, COACHLESS GEORGIA TECH

Dalton Coppola Sports Editor

Georgia Tech and Pitt aren’t neces sarily historic rivals, nor is the all-time series all that close in the past. The Pan thers have clashed with the Yellow Jackets 14 times and won 11 of those matchups. But ever since Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins ripped his hand away from a postgame handshake with Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi, Pitt fans have taken a disliking to the Yellow Jackets.

Pitt fans need to find a new way to generate that distaste now. Georgia Tech announced it relieved Collins and athlet ic director Todd Stansbury of their duties — the Panthers are playing a team with no leader this weekend. Narduzzi will lead the Panthers (3-1, 0-0 ACC) into their first ACC game against the head coachless Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (1-3, 0-1 ACC) this weekend at Acrisure Stadium.

Since the infamous handshake with Narduzzi in 2020, Collins and the Yel low Jackets are 4-13 and have notori ously played poorly on every phase of the game. While the Yellow Jackets haven’t announced an interim head coach just yet, it’s hard to believe that whoever steps in will be able to right the ship on five days’ notice. Narduzzi said while the change is part of the business, it’s never easy seeing someone lose their job — even if the two have a history.

“Sounds like there’s new leadership down there,” Narduzzi said. “It’s never easy, Geoff Collins is a good guy. I know you guys will talk about the handshake probably, but he’s a good dude… you

never like to see that happen to anybody. I don’t care who it is, I don’t care what the record is. He’s got a family and he’s done a nice job down there in the time he’s been there.”

In terms of how Pitt attacks Georgia Tech, Narduzzi said he thinks whoever takes over the play-calling will take a similar approach as Collins, but doesn’t know exactly what to expect from the Yellow Jackets.

“I would imagine the offense is going to stay pretty similar, the defense is go ing to stay pretty similar, but you never know,” Narduzzi said. “We really don’t know, I’ve never been in that situation. I don’t know what the preparation will be like. I don’t know their kids. I don’t know where the focus will be. But we’re going to prepare for our first ACC game like we’ve got Clemson walking through the door — doesn’t matter who the head coach is they’ve got a lot of talent.”

Narduzzi and the Panthers have had a great deal of success running the football this season, rushing for more than 100 yards in three straight games and com piling eight touchdowns on the ground over those contests. Junior running back Israel Abanikanda has dominated oppos ing defenses thus far, leading the ACC in rushing yards, all purpose yards and touchdowns.

Well, the Panthers’ offensive line and Abanikanda are licking their chops this week because the Yellow Jackets are one of the worst run defenses in all of football this season. Georgia Tech has surrendered 239.7 yards of rushing per game this season — coming in at No. 124 out of the 131 teams in the FBS. Expect the Panthers to run the ball this weekend

See Football Preview on page 10

Zack Gibney Senior Staff Writer

Unrefined honesty is sometimes hard to find in today’s sports world. When athletes put them selves out in front of the media, they often put on a facade, saying what they think everyone wants to hear. Pitt first-year guard Dior Johnson, on the other hand, doesn’t subscribe to that mindset.

Despite being one of the most well-known and talented high school athletes in the country over the last four years, Pitt first-year guard Dior Johnson is as straightforward as they come.

Since he was young, Johnson has dreamed of playing in the NBA. Despite the fact that all signs point to the star guard playing just one year at Pitt, Johnson knows that he has business to take care of at the college level.

“I’ll be real as possible with you — I am trying to get out of this place as fast as possible,” Johnson said. “But how can you do that without making

LOOKS TO USHER IN

HOOPS

that college year a great one? I can’t put my head in the pros until I make this great.”

While the idea that Johnson is so hyper-fo cused on the NBA may not sit well with some fans, it’s the reality of the situation for countless first-year players of John son’s stature. But unlike many of his peers, Johnson feels no need to mince his words.

He’s confident in his abilities, and will let people

know.

Johnson was born in Kingston, NY — a town about 60 miles north of New York City — to a basketball family

who introduced him to the game at a young age. “My grandmothers watched basketball, I had cousins and uncles who played basketball… we come from a sports family,” Johnson said. “I grew up in basketball shoes.”

By the time Dior was 12 years old, he knew that basketball was his passion. He played at the varsity level while in mid dle school and continued to progress through the New York amateur ranks, gradually gaining more and more exposure.

In 7th and 8th grade, Johnson began playing with Saugerties High School, where he became the youngest player in New York state his

tory to score 1,000 points.

Point-Counterpoint: CFP expansion pittnews.com

According to an article by Matthew Gutier rez in The Athletic, Johnson would “...conduct his own dribbling drills on the side of the court. John son had no trainer from whom he learned. He taught himself. He’d dribble in the locker room, trying to perfect ball-handling skills that scouts agree remind them of one star: Kyrie Irving.”

This was all before he was officially in high school. Even at a young age, Johnson had a vivid image of what he wanted his future to look like.

“When I was in fourth grade I thought I was going to the NBA,” Johnson said. “I’m super con fident but not only that, you’ve got to have faith … you’ve got to go after it.”

There was no looking back for Johnson after he got to high school. A mainstay at the top of the ESPN 100 rankings, Johnson quickly made the jump from prodigy to bona fide star at the highFreshman guard Dior Johnson at Pitt men’s basketball’s first practice of the season at the Petersen Events Center on Monday afternoon. Image via Pitt Athletics

See Dior on page 11

Financial Wellness

pg. 3

college is to cut spending, even if only by a little. Cutting spending by $25 per week while in the borrowing mode is just as good as saving $25 while in the earn ing mode. Cutting spending now means a slightly lower loan amount to pay later.”

Sophie Flink, a junior media studies major, said she has additional expenses since she is an out-of-state student. Fink said as an out-of-state student, a lot of her money is budgeted for traveling between home and school. Fink said she’s strug gled to find reasonably priced flights to New York under $150, even when book ing months in advance.

“I think that I will be financially se cure after graduation, though I do plan on moving back home to save my own money as well,” Flink said. “I think Pitt plays a role in that by helping me get a job that will support my financial well-being, but, I do not think that Pitt is teaching me how or what it means to be financially secure.”

As an in-state student at Pitt, Katcher said he spends most of his money on rent and groceries throughout the year.

“Some other financial stresses include

eating out at restaurants and paying util ity bills,” Katcher said. “There are accessi ble scholarships, but you still need to take out loans if there are money problems.”

Patel also said the University has not helped him with financial wellness, espe cially for families with two kids in college.

“My brother and I are both in college here and our aid was not adjusted accord ingly,” Patel said. “I will likely not be fi nancially secure after graduation due to the loans that I will be paying off. Pitt has definitely contributed to that with tuition costs. Scholarships are fairly available but are still not emphasized publicly too much.”

Mark Rendulic, Pittsburgh market ex ecutive at Citizens Bank, said they offer student checking accounts with no mini mum balance to maintain, no monthly maintenance fees, zero overdraft fees and 24/7 online and mobile banking.

“The best advice is to start with a plan,” Garbis said. “When you’re young, you should think about what you want to achieve financially in the next five years and then put a plan together to accom plish it. Start saving for retirement on day 1 of your first job out of college; enroll in the 401K plan, max it out, and don’t touch it.”

Washburn said the University should expand its view of financial aid beyond creating packages that cover tuition, fees and living expenses to make sure that ev ery student has an understandable, accu rate and written schedule of their repay ment obligations.

“Pitt’s biggest obligation, given its heavy reliance on loan proceeds to fund its tuition budget, is to make it crystal clear to every borrowing student exactly how much they will owe in total, how much they will have to pay every month, and how long they will be paying,” Wash burn said. “We have traditionally said that only the borrower is responsible for un derstanding the terms and implications of borrowing, but for many people, loan terms are quite opaque and the pressing need for immediate funds seems to negate the relevance of the loan terms.”

Angie

City, which for me was my favorite part be cause after all the time of isolation and virtual events with COVID, it was so wonderful to be together in person to celebrate the book with her family and friends there,” Possanza said. “It was just wonderful because the book is so much about interdependence, and commu nity and to see that in celebration of the novel was really wonderful.”

Bleeke said she wouldn’t change anything about how well the publication process went.

“Honestly, I feel like this was kind of a dream publication … We got to celebrate An gie in person, the book turned out really, re ally well. I think there are always challenges along the way,” Bleeke said. “But I think the past couple of weeks have been so joyful and it’s wonderful to see people really connecting with the book.”

Possanza said she is excited to see what happens with the book moving forward.

“For authors, there’s a lot of pressure on what happens when a book first comes out … I’m more curious about what’s going to hap pen over the next two years or the next five years. Because with a lot of books, and in An gie’s books in particular, they are adopted in schools and read by communities,” Possanza said. “This book still has a long life ahead of it.”

Cruz said her favorite part of writing the novel was working with the constraints and limitations of writing within a monologue.

“The book is written in a series of mono logues and it was the first time I worked in this way where the character is speaking directly to one person. So the constraints and those limitations for what is possible within the monologue of these 30 minute sessions was very fun for me,” Cruz said. “I had so much fun just really getting to know this character.”

Cruz said studying creative writing is a tool that can be useful in every aspect of life, and that partaking in group writing sessions was very beneficial to her writing process for the novel.

“I think everyone should consider taking a creative writing class, that is my message. I feel that part of creative writing and storytelling is learning how to be a better narrator of your own life, and that is really the power in this particular book,” Cruz said. “It is about the power of storytelling, asking good questions, learning how to listen and accepting people for who they are.”

Football Preview

and do it effectively.

Georgia Tech’s sole win this year came against Western Carolina — an FCS team. Georgia Tech has been outscored 110-20 against Power Five opponents this season.

The Yellow Jacket offense is atrocious through four games, to put it bluntly. Two touchdowns in three games against formidable opponents isn’t a recipe for success, let alone when its defense can’t stop a nose-bleed.

On paper, it feels like the Yellow Jack ets should have much more than just two touchdowns in those games. Sophomore quarterback Jeff Sims is completing near ly 60% of his passes and redshirt junior running back Dontae Smith is averaging six-yards per carry.

Getting the yardage they need isn’t the issue, though — it’s finishing off drives with scoring plays. The Yellow Jackets tallied 438 yards against Cen tral Florida last week, but scored just 10 points. Georgia Tech entered the red zone five times against the Golden Knights and scored zero points on those chances. Maybe a coaching change can help change the team’s efficiency in the red zone — don’t expect these issues to correct themselves immediately.

Prediction: Pitt dominates the Yellow Jackets 42-7, kicks off ACC play with a win

This game is less about why Pitt will win and more about why Georgia Tech will not.

The Yellow Jackets are a dysfunctional program without a leader to steer them in the right direction. Meanwhile, Pitt is one of, if not the best, teams in the ACC, with an established head coach and vet eran players to lead the way.

It’s hard for anyone to believe that the Yellow Jackets will have their issues figured out before Saturday. Meanwhile, Pitt is hitting its stride at the right time. The running game is clicking, senior quarterback Kedon Slovis is healthy again and the defense is showing flashes of greatness.

Pitt will take advantage of the floun dering Yellow Jackets and dominate in all three phases of the game on Saturday. The game will kickoff at 8 p.m. at Acri sure Stadium and air on ACC Network.

Dior, pg. 9

school level.

Johnson continued to dominate on the court, but as his career progressed, some began to take issue with Johnson’s actions outside the lines.

When looking at Johnson’s player profile, something that stands out is the extensive list of the high schools that he attended. The list con sists of 10 schools in five different states. Writers, scouts and others docked him in their rankings and cited concerns about whether Johnson would stick around in college.

So why all the movement?

For starters, Johnson hasn’t played a full year of basketball since his sophomore year of high school. Injuries kept him on the sideline for a chunk of his amateur career, and Johnson said he continued to feel as though he was in the wrong situation.

Despite the criticism, he regrets none of it.

“I’m glad how my high school career went. It taught me a lot, I learned a lot at each stop, and I’m a better person today,” Johnson said. “I made it to college. Not many guys can do that… it’s a restart.”

For Johnson, finding the right spot for that restart to take place was a process. After originally committing to play at Syracuse in 2020, Johnson decommitted in just under a year and switched his commitment to Oregon. Earlier this year, Johnson decommitted yet again and unexpect edly signed with Pitt soon after.

According to 247Sports, Johnson is the high est-rated signee under head coach Jeff Capel and 4th highest in program history. While the process of acquiring Johnson was quick, Capel felt as though the two clicked immediately.

“Dior is an outstanding prospect and one of the top guards in the class of 2022,” Capel said. “We were able to develop a quick connection when he reopened his recruitment.”

Johnson also felt the connection soon after his conversation with Capel. He had connected with the Pitt head coach through mutual connections. Johnson didn’t want to draw out the recruiting process again, so he quickly signed with Pitt.

“When it came to picking a school, I wanted to make things simple,” Johnson said. “I only went on about three or four college visits my whole high school career.”

While Pitt has managed to attract high-pro file recruits in the past, there is something about Johnson that makes him different. His extensive influence on social media makes Johnson a rare breed — both on and off the court.

Johnson has more than 500,000 followers on Instagram and is an established name in ama

teur basketball. In the word of NIL, that equates to extensive financial opportunities off the court. However, Johnson noted that due to his preexist ing status, NIL played no role in him choosing Pitt.

“It didn’t [play a role in his decision]. I could’ve gone to other schools for NIL,” Johnson said. “I came to Pitt. I have my own situation with NIL already.”

Despite his success at the high school level, Johnson still feels as though he has something to prove.

“I was the number one point guard in the country since my freshman year of high school and stopped being [number one] my senior year of high school,” Johnson said. “25 guys don’t get better than you in five months. I’m going to just be honest with you. Doesn’t happen.”

Johnson came to Pitt on a mission to prove to others that he can live up to his potential and silence critics who point to that long list of high schools and previous college commitments. Since arriving on campus, Johnson said he has already connected with his new teammates.

“We gel every day,” Johnson said. “We are try ing to build a winning culture, so we don’t have time to not gel every day.”

Johnson’s teammate, fifth-year guard Jamrius Burton, has also noticed a new energy around the young Pitt team.

“I would say the difference with this group is the competitive energy,” Burton said. “Every body’s coming in each and every day looking for ward to not only being there, but winning every drill.”

Johnson specifically noted his connection with fellow newcomer guard Nelly Cummings, who arrived from Colgate after making a name for himself in the NCAA Tournament. Johnson believes he and Cummings can complement each other well in the backcourt, and that the two will work well together.

“I’m a fast, crafty, explosive downhill guard and can create off the dribble … Nelly can really create off the dribble and really shoot the three ball,” Johnson said. “The ball finds what it needs.”

There is no doubt that Johnson wants to hear his name called at the NBA Draft sooner than later. But he is focused on the present and has a drive to win for however long he dons the blue and gold.

“Guys coming to college could be the number one player in the country. Doesn’t mean you’re going to have a great year,” Johnson said. “Know where you stand and make everything make you go hard.”

IN MOTION

STORYTELLING OCT. 7-9

Student

Faculty/Staff

start

Restrictions

Artists: Tommie Lin O’Hanlon and Josiah Kauffman

Photo: Duane Rieder

the

Office.

Carnegie Mellon University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Attention Pitt Seniors!

Apply this year for Tepper Future Business Leaders Deferred MBA Admissions Program

CMU’s deferred admission format is designed for motivated college seniors who are ready to secure a spot in a top-ranked MBA program before embark ing on their professional journey.

Undergraduate seniors who plan to graduate in the current academic year may apply to the Tepper Full-Time MBA program before graduating and delay their enrollment in the program up to four consecutive academic years while they gain professional work experience.

About the Full-Time MBA Program

When you know how to harness data, anything is possible. The Tepper School’s STEM-designated MBA helps you unite the powers of analysis and in sight with emotional intelligence, so you will be ready to lead in the emerging business landscape.

How To Apply

Apply online by April 2, 2023

Your application will include an online application form, undergraduate transcripts, a resume, one professional recommendation, essays (one short answer and one essay), an application fee or fee waiver, and GMAT or GRE test scores or a test waiver. Learn more at tepper.cmu.edu.

Master of Science in Business Analytics

Carnegie Mellon University

Earn Your MSBA in Just Nine Months

The rise of Big Data is driving demand for professionals with advanced analytics skills and business knowledge. Carnegie Mellon’s M.S. in Business Analytics (MSBA) program is a STEM-designated program designed for those who want to deepen their analytical skills and move into sought-after business analyst positions.

You’ll earn an MSBA from the #2 school in Business Analytics (U.S. News & World Report) and be equipped with the analytical skills, business knowl edge and creative problem-solving expertise to transform data into more insightful thinking and better decisions.

Is This Program Right for You?

Our full-time, nine-month program on Carnegie Mellon’s campus in Pittsburgh is designed for recent college graduates with little or no work experience. This professional program is a career accelerator for students with undergraduate degrees in business, economics, engineering, mathematics, information systems and computer science. You’ll gain experiential training in methodology, software engineering, corporate communication and business.

If you master the power of data, you’ll be the person most corporate recruiters want to hire. Employment of data analysts is projected to grow 25% by 2030 (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

To apply:

Applications are currently being accepted for Fall 2023 enrollment. Contact our admissions team at ftmsba-admissions@andrew.cmu.edu and mention this ad for an application fee waiver.

Chatham University Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Chatham offers master’s and doctoral degrees in a wide array of subjects in our areas of excellence: health & sustainability, business & technology, the arts & sciences.

One of the earliest schools of its kind in the country, the Falk School of Sus tainability & Environment (FSSE) is a wellspring for leadership and education to overcome current and future sustainability challenges. FSSE offers master’s degrees in food studies, sustainability and dual-degree programs that blend food studies or sustainability with an MBA. Graduates have gone on to work for organizations including the Pittsburgh mayor’s office, San Francisco Food Systems, H.J. Heinz Corp., Idea Foundry, Evoqua, GTECH and Hertz.

The highly collaborative School of Health Sciences (SHS) at Chatham stands in stark contrast to the “lost in the crowd” health sciences programs at many larger universities. The school’s unique makeup allows for interprofessional education among students in physician assistant studies, psychology, physi cal therapy, occupational therapy, healthcare informatics, nursing and athletic training. Graduates work in a wide range of healthcare settings, such as UPMC, Allegheny General Hospital, Princeton University Medical Center, Kaiser Permanente, The Children’s Institute and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute.

Students come to the School of Arts, Science & Business (SASB) because our programs blend small class sizes with entry into vibrant communities and networks throughout Pittsburgh and across the country. SASB offers advanced degrees in business, communication, science, design, education, creative writ ing and more. Graduates work at organizations including BNY Mellon, H.J. Heinz Corp., Radio Free Asia, Dollar Bank, DuPont Corp., Pittsburgh Pirates, the Andy Warhol Museum and MAGNET Global Network.

Learn more at Chatham.edu.

Explore graduate programs at Chatham University

Chatham University offers convenient online and on-campus graduate programs with an emphasis on experiential, multidisciplinary learning. Sample programs include:

SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

• Doctor of Physical Therapy

• Doctor of Occupational Therapy, Entry-level

• Master of Physician Assistant Studies

• Master of Science in Counseling Psychology

• Master of Science in Healthcare Informatics

SCHOOL OF ARTS, SCIENCE & BUSINESS

• Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing

• Master of Interior Architecture

FALK SCHOOL OF SUSTAINABILITY & ENVIRONMENT

• Master of Arts in Food Studies

• Master of Sustainability

• Dual-degree MBA and Master of Sustainability or MA in Food Studies

• Master of Arts in Biomedical Studies

• Master of Communication

Visit us to learn about our rigorous academics, explore our stunning campuses, and meet our faculty. Schedule your campus visit or a virtual open house at chatham.edu/visit-chatham

To learn more about our programs, visit chatham.edu

SHADYSIDE CAMPUS

EDEN HALL CAMPUS

Slippery Rock University

Contact Info: graduate.admissions@sru.edu. Phone: 724-738-2051.

Application Deadline: rolling admission for most programs. Check online for health science deadlines.

Student to Faculty Ratio: typically, 1:30.

Tuition: in-state, $516 per credit; out-of-state, $774 per credit.

Graduate school can be a critical step in achieving life’s goals. Whether you are looking to enhance your education after completing your undergraduate degree, attaining a promotion, or changing careers, Slippery Rock University (SRU) offers a rock-solid education built on academic excellence and faculty expertise. We offer four doctoral degrees, more than 40 graduate programs, five certifications, five certificates and four endorsements. SRU offers online, campus and blended graduate programs to fit your busy lifestyle.

Experience the difference. Learn more about our programs at www.sru. edu/graduate or contact graduate admissions at 724-738-2051 or graduate. admissions@sru.edu.

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Thiel College Greenville, Pennsylvania

TAKE YOUR FUTURE FURTHER with one of Thiel College’s five graduate degree programs. According to the 2020 Census, only 13% of U.S. adults 25 and older have advanced degrees, and that rare training is rewarded with an annual earnings increase of $13,000 for U.S. adults with graduate degrees. Thiel College has five graduate programs.

“In the last five years, we’ve moved into graduate education. We offer graduate degrees that are in high demand,” President Susan Traverso, Ph.D., said. “We were very intentional in developing our graduate programs in partnership with future employers so that we are fostering relationships and nurturing the workforce that is needed in all of western Pennsylvania.”

Thiel College graduate programs:

• Business Administration

• Clinical Mental Health Counseling

• Communication and Leadership

• Physician Assistant Studies

• Speech-Language Pathology

The MBA and Communication and Leadership programs are designed to con tinue the momentum of recent bachelor’s degree students and can be completed in about a year. New for 2022 is the Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counsel ing and two-year programs for working professionals who would like to complete their MBA or Communication and Leadership master’s degrees. The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and Speech-Language Pathology programs are supported by $7.5 million in renovations of the Rhodehouse Science Building, which includes updated lab and classroom spac¬es and collaborative and lounge areas as well as a new human anatomy lab.

If you are looking for personalized attention, flexibility and a head start in your field or professional career, then you should consider a Thiel College graduate degree. Accelerated degree programs in business and speech-language pathology make it possible to earn a degree in about a year. The Thiel College community provides the support of academic, career and financial aid counseling to help you reach your goal.

“Coming from a big university, I did not experience the closeness with my teachers and was overwhelmed with the size. As such, I believed attending a smaller college like Thiel College would allow me to integrate with the program and build relationships with my peers and staff,” said Gemima Muteba, M.S.’22, a University of Maryland graduate and physician assistant studies student. “That’s why I chose Thiel. I’m thrilled by the staff, who are passionate about their students, and the amount of professional support we’re able to get here at Thiel. I feel like I can reach out for help whenever I need something and know that someone will be there to lend their support.”

Welcoming community

All of Thiel College’s graduate programs have pathways for students who did not get their bachelor’s degree at the college. The MBA and Communication and Leadership programs have been designed to continue the momentum of recently graduated bachelor’s degree students. The year-long programs have an accelerated, cohort-based, experiential and residential learning environment. Specific experien

tial learning experiences will be required of all students in settings that extend the learning environment beyond the classroom. The potential exists for collaboration with a student’s current employer, as do opportunities to get hands-on, real-world experience through partnerships with regional employees.

“The thing that really appealed to me was the community feel of the cam pus,” said Alex Hudson, MBA’21. “It’s a productive program, and it’s everything I thought it would be and more. When I saw how it was going to be a dynamic work environment, and the wide range of students they were pulling in, it interested me. We had students from completely different industries and markets, and we all had different experiences. We had students who came straight out of undergrad into the graduate program. It’s a nice mix of knowledge, which lead to good discussions. It’s a great program.”

Campus improvements

More than $40 million in capital improvements in the campus’s aca¬demic, athletic and residential facilities are either completed, ongoing or scheduled for the year ahead. Among the campus improvements are important renovation projects supporting athletics and wellness. In recent years, the college has been recognized as a top north region col¬lege in Western Pennsylvania and a top college for social mobility in Western Pennsyl vania, according to U.S. News and World Report; an Arbor Day Foundation Tree Campus USA; and as a Grateful Graduates institution by Forbes magazine. The col lege also joins Princeton, Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh as one of just six Dietrich Foundation higher education institutions in the United States.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Speech-Language Pathology and Physi cian Assistant students have access to clinical rotations as well as clinical hours for Speech-Language students in the campus’s Center for Speech-Language Services, which offers free appointments to community members.

“My experience was nothing short of amazing,” speech-language pathology graduate Nicole Plassio, M.S. ’21, said. “I’m so grateful to go to a school that pro vided me with an excellent education as well as the opportunity to gain hands-on experience.”

Communication and Leadership and MBA students have access to graduate as sistantships worth up to $27,500 and to top employers. Thiel alumni are employed by BNY Mellon, Eli Lilly, General Nutrition Centers (GNC), Lockheed Martin, Nationwide, Footlocker, Children’s Hospital, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Steel ers, U.S.A. Football, Walt Disney World, and many more.

Thiel welcomes students from around the globe who are pursuing a world-class graduate degree program in the United States. Thiel College is a private, diverse, inclusive, and co-educational college that specializes in challenging students to achieve their dreams. The college is home to a diverse student population, small class sizes and committed faculty in scenic northwestern Pennsylvania. The campus is near bike and hiking trails, state and local parks, and outdoor amenities.

Contact an admissions counselor today at admissions@thiel.edu.

Thiel College, Office of Admissions, 75 College Ave., Greenville, Pennsylvania, 16125; www.thiel.edu; 800-248-4435.

School of Social Work University of Pittsburgh

New application deadline is May 31st (no priority deadline)

The University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work has been ranked as one of the top schools of social work in the country since the rankings began more than 20 years ago.

The Master of Social Work (MSW) program offers two areas of specializa tion: one in direct practice for students who want to work directly with individuals, families and groups; and community, organization, and social action for those who want to have an impact on communities, organizations and social policies.

The school offers joint degree programs with the School of Business, School of Law, School of Public Health, Graduate School of Public and Internation al Affairs, and the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Certificate programs are offered in the areas of mental health, integrated health, gerontology, home and school visitor, children, youth and families, and human services management.

Students who have received a social work degree within the past seven aca demic calendar years from a CSWE-accredited undergraduate program are eligible for advanced standing. Students with full advanced standing enter with 21 transfer credits and can graduate in as few as 12 months.

Each year the school’s final admissions deadline is May 31, with a series of priority review deadlines throughout the application cycle. All MSW ap plicants who complete their MSW application by the priority admissions deadline, and who have a minimum four-year undergraduate GPA of 3.4, are strongly considered for both admission and scholarship assistance.

For more information about the Pitt School of Social Work please visit our website www.socialwork.pitt.edu

School of Nursing University of Pittsburgh

The University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing changes the face of nurs ing practice by preparing nurses to deliver the highest quality care –care guided by research, intellect and passion.

One of the top schools of nursing in the country, the University of Pittsburgh is:

• Ranked First best Online MSN Program by US News & World Report

• Ranked Seventh best Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program by US News & World Report

• Ranked 15th best Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program by US News & World Report

• Ranked 21st globally by QS World University Rankings by Subject

Graduate degree programs include: Master of Science in Nursing, Doctor of Nursing Prac tice, Doctor of Philosophy and the Doctor of Nursing Practice/Doctor of Philosophy dual degree.

Start a new career by enrolling in the Accelerated Second Degree BSN program. This one-year full-time program is designed for individuals who have already a bachelor’s degree and want to earn their nursing degree.

Contact Information: Phone: 412-624-4586 or 1-888-747-0794.

Email: sao50@pitt.edu. Website: nursing.pitt.edu

School of Communication Point Park University

Point Park University’s School of Communication offers several dynamic graduate programs. Coursework is carefully designed to fit the needs of both working professionals and new college graduates. Gain comprehensive knowledge and advance your skillset with hands-on courses.

Want to specialize? Most programs offer specific concentrations so students can personalize a course of study that fits their interests and needs.

Point Park University offers a rolling admissions process as well as conve nient online and evening classes to fit your busy schedule. Graduate assis tantships and scholarship opportunities are also available.

Have questions or interested in coming to campus? Email Dr. Jenna Lo Cas tro, director of graduate programs, at jlocastro@pointpark.edu,or visit our website, PointPark.edu/ComGradPro

by earning a graduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing.

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Doctor of Nursing Practice/Doctor of Philosophy (DNP/PhD dual degree)

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Certificate Programs

nursing.pitt.edu/degree-programs sao50@pitt.edu 1-888-747-0794

Graduate & Professional Studies

University of Pittsburgh

Pitt graduate programs are highly ranked in U.S. News rankings

By Pittwire

Graduate programs at the University of Pittsburgh placed highly in the U.S. News and World Report’s 2023 Best Graduate Schools rankings, including jumps for business, engineering and health sciences programs.

One of Pitt’s most striking increases came from the School of Medicine, which shot from No. 34 to being tied for 10th nationally in the category of primary care. Another program rising in the rankings was the Joseph M. Katz School of Business Part-Time MBA program, designed for working professionals, which improved five spots to a rank of No. 34.

The Swanson School of Engineering also placed in the top 50 for several specialty areas: biomedical engineering (No. 18), industrial/manufacturing/ systems engineering (No. 21), chemical engineering (No. 34) and computer engineering (No. 47). In the School of Law, tax law (No. 28), health care law (No. 38), international law (No. 42) and property law (No. 45) all ranked in the top 50 as well.

The School of Education’s overall ranking jumped two places to No. 32, and the school also went from being unranked in the category of educational psychology to reaching No. 17.

Pitt programs in the health sciences remained strong, maintaining a rank of 15th in the category of public health, as well as ranking seventh in psychia try, 10th in surgery and fifth in the category of Doctor of Nursing Practice in administration and management.

Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs claimed the No. 8 spot in international/global policy and administration, and the Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences saw rankings rise in three specialties: earth science (No. 62), mathematics (No. 53) and statistics (No. 35).

U.S. News and World Report rankings are compiled by surveying experts and gathering data about the quality of schools’ program offerings. Although it updates rankings annually, not all categories are updated each year.

Duquesne University

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

It’s Time for Bigger Goals.

And we’re ready with 90 future-focused grad uate programs, research opportunities in all disciplines, and individualized experiential learning.

Invest in one of our graduate degree or profes sional certificate programs:

• Business

• Education

• Health Sciences

• Law

• Liberal Arts

• Music

• Natural and Environmental Sciences

• Nursing

• Pharmacy

• Pre-Medical and Health Professions

Day, evening and online courses are available, depending on the program. Visit duq.edu/gradu ate for a complete list of programs.

At Duquesne, you will obtain a first-rate educa tion, an experience that cultivates close relationships with professors and allows you to participate in vital research projects and career-enhancing internships. You’ll learn from –and network with – a group of highly motivated peers from around the world. And when you graduate, you will become one of our more than 100,000 alumni who are making their mark across the globe.

U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review have consistently ranked Duquesne among the top national universities. Individual graduate programs have also earned top national rankings in the latest U.S. News sur veys, including programs in the schools of Law, Nursing, Education and Business. Visit duq.edu/ rankings for more information.

Student research opportunities

Nearly every graduate student at Duquesne becomes engaged in research and academic discovery, with important research and scholar ship taking place in all of our schools. All students are invited to participate in the annual Graduate Research Symposium. Nationwide, Duquesne is one of the 35 universities classified as a doctoral university/higher research activity institution by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. Visit duq.edu/research for more information.

Graduate students have access to a number of resources and services, including:

• Center for Teaching Excellence

• Commuter Center

• Graduate and Professional Student Council

• Graduate resources and assistance at Gum berg Library

• Center for Excellence in Diversity and Stu dent Inclusion

• Career Development Center

• Office of Research—Graduate Student Re search Symposium

• State-of-the-art exercise and recreational facilities in the Power Center

Tuition and financing

Tuition rates vary by each program of study. Re fer to duq.edu/gradtuition for the most up-todate information. Key types of financial assistance include graduate and teaching assistantships, academic-based scholarships, non-need-based loans, employment, outside scholarships and pay ment plans.

Scan to complete our inquiry form:

Contact Info: Office of Graduate Enrollment Services:

Email: gradadmissions@duq.edu Phone: 412.396.6219. Website: duq.edu/graduate

Application Deadline: Varies by program. Student to Faculty Ratio: Varies by program. Tuition: Varies by program; special tuition for select programs

For Rent

South Oakland

2‑3‑4‑5‑6‑7 bedroom apartments and houses available in August 2023. Nice, clean, free laundry, in cludes exterior maintenance, new appli ances, spacious, and located on Semple, Oakland Ave., Meyran Ave., Welsford, Bates, Daw son, Atwood, and Mckee 412‑414‑9629. dourid aboudproperty management. com

Employment

notices

Los Angeles Times Daily Crossword Puzzle

ACROSS

1 Stories often used for storage

Painter or sculptor

Impulseconducting cell

Elton John’s “__ in the Wind”

*“The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas” writer

“Fool Us” judges __ & Teller

Gp. for good drivers?

Fossey subjects

Superfun times

*Folk instrument named for the Greek god of nature

Easy pace 28 Gun, as an engine

Debtor’s note

Pro bono TV ad

Soft leather

Join the club

*Buffing tool for some jewelrymakers

Prius maker

Nourishes

Campaign funding org.

Cal. neighbor

DOD intel arm

“All __ Well”: Taylor Swift song

*“This American Life” host

Punctuation in an email address

Actress Campbell

Industrial-sized

Random __ of kindness

Dismissive response when offered chai in the ends of the answers to the starred clues?

Debated

“I’m not __ it”: “You’ve yet to convince me”

Does some traditional winemaking

Job durations

By Ella Dershowitz

Maya

Fake ID user, maybe

Changes direction

subway line

flower: foulsmelling rare plant

Like a bug in a

pitcher in a team’s

Edited by Patti Varol and Joyce Lewis