January 18, 5-7 p.m. Alumni Hall, Connolly Ballroom. Refreshments will be served. Register NOW to attend and for Pitt swag raffle.
After several semesters of construction, the first and second floors of Hillman Library have opened to the Pitt community. While floors one, two, three and four are open for use, the ground floor is now closed for renovations.
Students can enter on the side of the building using an accessible ramp on Forbes Avenue, since the main entrance on the ground floor is closed. The newly renovated floors feature a muted color scheme of gray and white with a few pops of color including a set of teal sofas on the second floor, as well as a large open study area and some private study spaces.
When students need a caffeine boost while studying, Saxbys Coffee — which has two other shops on campus — is located on the first floor.
Renovations on the first and second floors began in July 2021. When the properties and facilities committee of Pitt’s Board of Trustees approved the project, it came with a $34 million price tag. Renovations for these floors were supposed to start in fall 2020, but the University opted to delay the updates during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kayla Bago, a junior neuroscience major, said she really likes the new renovations.
“It feels very modern and there’s a lot of natural light, so it helps a lot with studying,” Bago said. “I’m glad it feels very open so even when there’s lots of people it doesn’t feel cramped.”
Kaylee Samuel, a junior neuroscience major, said they think the renovations will help promote collaboration between students.
“The renovations are very focused on collaborations because of how many big tables are on the first floor,” Samuel said.
Samuel also said they find the layout confusing and
wish there were more signs.
“I wish there was more color, and that there were more signs to direct people around the new space,” Samuel said.
The final phase of the renovations — which Pitt estimates will finish in December 2024 — will work on the ground floor, elevators and bathrooms. These
renovations will contain 18 reservable rooms for group study, a new space and lab for the Digital Scholarship Commons, a media lab with editing rooms, a video studio, updated elevators and bathrooms, a centrally located information desk and a Pitt IT computer lab.
Pitt closed Hillman Library from March to August 2020 because of the pandemic, and opened during the 2020-21 academic year with limited capacity and hours.
Renovations on the fourth floor started in May 2018, and they finished in August 2018. The third floor opened in August 2020. Pitt announced a fiveyear makeover of the library in 2016.
A team of Pitt librarians also started the Belonging at Pitt Libraries research project in spring 2022 to enlist student perspectives on how to create a sense of belonging in Pitt’s libraries. The findings were displayed in an exhibit titled “Student Voices: Creating a Place of Belonging” at the end of November on an interactive media wall on the third floor of Hillman Library.
A University spokesperson said students can follow the renovations and library updates on the Hillman Library Reinvention website.
“Hillman Library will be the principal hub of intellectual activity on campus providing services, resources and inspiring spaces — from vibrant to serene — that advance academic study, stimulate innovation in knowledge creation, encourage intellectual exploration and creativity, and foster energetic collaborative exchange,” the website said.
The Swanson School of Engineering’s robust legacy extends far beyond the city limits. Named a top 5 metro for STEM professionals for the last 5 years*, Pittsburgh remains at the forefront of the technological future. At Pitt’s Swanson School of Engineering, we are committed to providing a quality academic experience for our students and are ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Top 25 Public Graduate Engineering Programs nationally. With a variety of PhD, Masters (research and professional), and Graduate Certificate Programs available, our students learn from world-renowned faculty and advance the field of engineering through research and collaborative relationships with top industry leaders. Programs are available on campus in Pittsburgh and select programs are available online.
Available graduate areas of study include: • Bioengineering • Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Circular Economy • Civil and Environmental Engineering
Electrical and Computer Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science
Nuclear Engineering
Physical Metallurgy
Safety Engineering
Engineering
Programs including an MBA-MSE
After not receiving tables at the fall activities fair, student leaders needed to find innovative ways to attract new members to their organizations without the help of the event.
More than 400 student organizations vie for spots at the annual activities fair held at the beginning of the fall semester, but as a result of an inability to house every club, student leaders must try to work around the problem. They’ve come up with new tactics over the semester to attract members in the absence of a physical table at the fall fair, using social media and other connections in lieu of the traditional advertising opportunities.
Sam Stainer, a senior economics major and president of the Women in Economics club, talked about the planning that goes into getting a table.
“Our business manager attempted to register as soon as the form opened up,” Stainer said. “We were very meticulous about landing this because we knew it was really important
for us to get a table, and we still didn’t.”
Stainer said student organizations, especially newer ones, heavily depend on the activities fair to spread the word about their group and attract new members.
“Being a pretty new club on campus, and more focused on a smaller group of people, we really depend on those types of events to have good attendance and get new members,” Stainer said.
An unnamed spokesperson for Student Affairs said they organize the process of registering for a table on a first-come, first-served basis. They noted that clubs that were on the waitlist for a spot in the fall were given early registration for the spring activities fair. Early-bird registration opened on Nov. 14 and opened to all organizations on Nov. 21 with a deadline of Dec. 14.
“Organizations who submitted a table request before we closed activities fair registration, but after tables filled up, were given the
January is Veganuary month — a monthlong challenge founded in 2014 by an organization with the same name — which seeks to encourage people to take part in a vegan diet. In honor of it, here are some great veganfriendly dining options in Pittsburgh.
One restaurant with plenty of veganfriendly options is Roots Natural Kitchen, which is within walking distance of campus on Forbes Avenue. The prices range from about $9 to $14. Customers can choose between the signature bowls — like the El Jefe and the Apollo — or the “create-your-own” — which invites guests to customize what ingredients they want in their bowl, from brown rice or kale to black beans or chickpeas.
Katie Bergstrom, a sophomore communication sciences and disorders major, said she likes Roots because it provides impressive vegan substitutions.
“The reason I like Roots more than other places on Forbes is because I really do think it’s the best vegan-friendly option,” Bergstrom said. “It’s easy to create your own bowl and they have so many substitution options like getting tofu instead of chicken or instead of cheese, I’ll substitute with more chickpeas or avocado and it won’t cost me extra.”
Bergstrom said she gets her usual when ordering at Roots, but because the menu is so versatile, it’s easy to try new things.
“I usually get the Southern bowl,” Bergstrom said. “If there are other bowls I want to try, I just double-check that the sauces in them are vegan and if there's chicken, I’ll replace it with the barbecue tofu which I really love. It’s really easy for me to make substitutes without having to get rid of the entire meal like at other places.”
Located on Penn Avenue, Apteka is known for having an exclusively vegan menu. As a Central and Eastern European-focused restaurant and bar, Apteka is well-known for its menu items from Silesian potato dumplings to stuffed cabbage.
Brendan Ezvan, a part-time host at Apteka and third-year doctorate student at Pitt, said the most popular dishes during dinner hours are variations of the pierogi and vegan schnitzel.
“The fillings [in the dishes] change periodically, but right now the fried pierogi are a mix
of sauerkraut and mushroom, and celeriac, potato and juniper,” Ezvan said. “The schnitzel also comes with a nice variety of sides like dill slaw, leek and apple salad, and I think it comes with a horseradish sauce as well.”
The restaurant is open for dinner from Friday to Sunday with a select amount of tables set aside for reservations for parties of four or more. The small plates range from $7 to $14, while the large plates are $16 each.
Ezvan also said the menu items change depending on what is available during certain seasons, as well as a special menu during January.
“The menu changes fairly often depending on seasonal produce,” Ezvan said. “Once a year around late January, our normal menu switches to a vegan fast food pop-up, called Crapteka. You’ll find burgers, cabbage kebabs and sunflower milk milkshakes for a few short weeks.”
Although the menu at Apteka is small, Ezvan added that the dishes are distinctive and great for splitting with friends.
“I always recommend newcomers to be adventurous and the advantage of the menu at Apteka is that almost everything is great for sharing,” Ezvan said. “If I had to recommend a dish, I think it would be the kluski śląskie. It’s a regional variety of Polish potato dumpling that we make with roast cauliflower, leek hay and a carrot, mushroom, sauerkraut paste.”
Julia Zeiser, a sophomore psychology and linguistics major, said she heard about Apteka through a friend who is vegan.
“She raved about all the options and atmosphere of the restaurant,” Zeiser said. “When I went, I remember getting the kluski śląskie
which was a dumpling with some other things. Usually, I get dumplings with some kind of meat in them so I wasn’t sure how I would like these, but they ended up being really really good.”
Zeiser said the food was enjoyable enough
for her to consider potentially going vegan, despite preferring non-vegan options.
“Eating at Apteka definitely helped me consider a vegan diet because before, I could never imagine giving up meat,” Zeiser said. “After actually trying the different alternatives and really enjoying them, I could see myself maybe going vegan at some point.”
Bergstrom said there are other veganfriendly options around the city apart from Roots.
“I think Pittsburgh has a decent amount of options for people who might be vegan,” Bergstrom said. “It is sometimes a bit difficult, but I think on Forbes you have a bunch of different restaurants like Piada and Chipotle. Even outside of campus, you have restaurants like Noodlehead, Silk Elephant and cafes like Square Cafe.”
Jermaine Sykes Staff Writer
When the Duke Blue Devils traveled to the Petersen Events Center a year ago to face an 11-18 Pitt team, the contest felt like a foregone conclusion. To nobody's surprise, the Blue Devils won the game soundly en route to a Final Four appearance.
Fast forward to 2023, and the stakes are drastically different — especially for Pitt. The Panthers are 11-5 (4-1 ACC) and look to give the No. 24 Blue Devils a taste of revenge.
The Panthers travel to Durham on Wednesday night after a heartbreaking home loss to Clemson on Saturday. The Panthers held the lead late in the game, but fell to the Tigers 7574. Wednesday night is a significant game for the Panthers, as they have many questions to answer — but a test against one of college basketball’s original blue bloods is exactly what the team needs to see where they must im -
prove going forward.
Something fans should watch for on Wednesday is how graduate student guard Jamarius Burton and junior forward Blake Hinson perform. They have both put together career years and are two of the team’s most prominent leaders.
Hinson and Burton are both posting career highs in points and rebounds this season. Hinson is averaging 16.8 points and 6.9 rebounds, while Burton is impressing with his 16.6 points and 5.1 rebounds per game.
Hinson and Burton’s ability to continue their momentum in front of one of College Basketball’s toughest crowds is crucial to Pitt’s chance of winning. But perhaps the team’s most pressing issue is regarding which player will step up as the third man in the Panthers’ rotation.
Scott Staff Writer
It’s a great time to root for Pitt sports. Nearly every team found success on the field or the court. The fall season ultimately put Pitt on the map as one of the best all-around sports schools in the country. In case you missed some of it, let’s take a look back at each sport’s fall campaigns.
Coming off an ACC Championship win in 2021, expectations were high for the Panthers. The season kicked off with the thrilling win over West Virginia, but it was clear this wasn’t the same team that just won a conference championship.
Pitt football struggled to start the year, playing to a 4-4 record before they finally kicked into gear. Starting with a win over No. 20 Syracuse, the Panthers won four straight to finish the regular season 8-4.
Junior running back Israel Abanikanda shined as the clear MVP of the season, producing high caliber stats every week. His 1,400 yards and 20 touchdowns were the biggest contributing factor to the Panthers’ overall success, but the defense began to lock down toward the end and once again led the nation in sacks.
The 8-4 season was enough to earn Pitt a spot in the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl. Senior quarterback Nick Patti took the reins for his final game as a Panther, leading the team to a 3735 win over No. 18 UCLA with help from an all-time kicking performance from sophomore kicker Ben Sauls.
After the rocky start, the Panthers put together a successful 9-4 campaign and set themselves up well for next season through the transfer portal. The future is bright for Pitt football.
Pitt is a volleyball school, if you haven’t heard. The Panthers impressed in 2021 by going 30-4 and battling their way to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament. How do you improve from that?
How about going 31-4, winning the ACC Title and going back to the Final Four for the second year in a row? At one point the Panthers ran up an 18-game winning streak and earned wins over Louisville and got revenge on Wisconsin, who eliminated them from
the 2021 tournament.
Pitt volleyball solidified themselves as one of the nation’s premier programs, finishing at the top year after year and bringing in high-class recruits. Head coach Dan Fisher has already recruited the fifth best class in the nation and the best in Pitt volleyball history, and recruitment season isn’t over yet.
Pitt volleyball proved they can remain elite for years to come and rightfully earned their recently announced arena.
Hopefully you weren’t satisfied with one Final Four appearance because Pitt men’s soccer made it there too.
After a 12-5-5 season and getting knocked out of the ACC tournament in the quarterfinals, the Panthers went into the NCAA College Cup unseeded. That didn’t matter much to them, as they battled all the way to the semifinals and produced some thrilling victories along the way. But in their second ever College Cup appearance, the Panthers fell 2-0 to No. 13 Indiana, but it was an incredible run for the Panthers.
The success didn’t end after the season, as two Panthers were named AllAmericans and three were selected in the 2023 MLS SuperDraft, setting a program record.
Real Salt Lake selected senior forward Bertin Jacquesson with the No. 16 pick and Austin FC selected All-American senior midfielder Valentin Noel with the No. 20 pick as well as Jackson Walti with the No. 56 pick. Graduate student midfielder Jackson Gilman was also named an All-American, rounding out a massive success for the men’s soccer program.
Pitt women’s soccer had arguably their best season ever in 2022 and boasted appearances in both the ACC and NCAA Tournaments.
The Panthers lost in the opening round of the ACC tournament to Notre Dame, but that didn’t stop them from putting up a fight in the NCAA tournament. They were given a No. 4 seed and made it to the round of 16, where they fell to 2022 ACC champions Florida State.
Women’s soccer finished the year ranked No. 12, an incredible result for the program and a step in the right direction for future success.
FRI, Jan. 13-THURS, jan. 19
A Man Called Otto (PG-13)
Fri - Tue: 2:00, 4:35, 7:10, 9:45
Wed: 2:00, 4:35, 7:10, 9:45
Thu: 2:00, 4:35, 7:10, 9:45
Skinamarink
Fri - Tue: 7:30, 9:40
Wed: 7:30, 9:40
Thu: 7:30, 9:40
M3GAN (PG-13)
Fri: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Sat - Mon: 12:50, 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Tue: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Wed: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Thu: 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30
Broker (R)
Fri - Tue: 1:50, 4:25, 7:00, 9:35
Wed: 1:50, 4:25, 7:00, 9:35
Thu: 1:50, 4:25, 7:00, 9:35
Corsage
Fri: 2:45 PM
Sat - Mon: 12:25, 2:45
Tue - Thu: 2:45 PM
The Whale (R)
Movies
Fri - Thu: 5:05 PM
Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills and former Pitt player, went into cardiac arrest during a game a few weeks ago. Hamlin was in critical condition, but as of Monday, he is awake and on the road to recovery. Fans, players and NFL teams rallied together for Hamlin, tweeting support for the player and even raising $8 million for the charity he backs.
While the support from everyone — the NFL and its players especially — is heartwarming to see, player safety comes into question after an incident like Hamlin’s injury. Despite calls to make the sport safer, the NFL seems to care more about maintaining its ratings rather than player safety.
According to ESPN, the NFL initially intended to continue game play after Hamlin’s injury. While the NFL denied this report, and eventually decided to cancel the game due to “extraordinary circumstances,” their
initial willingness to continue a sporting event after such a traumatic incident shows the organization’s lack of priority for player safety.
While it’s unclear why Hamlin went into cardiac arrest, some cardiologists predict that the collision with the opposing team’s player caused his heart to go into an arrhythmia. While this particular incident was a somewhat freak accident, injuries are common in the NFL, and are sometimes brushed over.
Concussions especially are far too regular in football. Despite this, the NFL didn’t fully disclose concussions of players from 1996 to 2001, and just this year experts criticized the organization’s concussion protocol after Miami Dolphins’ quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered back-to-back game head injuries. The NFL is under scrutiny for these actions and rightfully so.
Typically, the NFL just puts out a simple statement regarding a player’s injury. However, after the extremely public and scary medical response to Hamlin, the organization was candid in its approach to reporting the incident, constantly giving updates to the public. Overall the NFL needs to be more upfront about the injuries that the sport can cause, despite potential bad press. While medical personnel responded quickly to Hamlin’s unprecedented injury — potentially saving his life — it’s still important that the NFL implement strong safety rules that reduce the risk of injury, such as emergency-action plans and concussion protocols. While players understand the many risks that come with playing a sport as physically aggressive as football, they shouldn’t have to worry about potentially fatal injuries every time they step on the field.
January 18, 5-7 p.m.
Alumni Hall, Connolly Ballroom
Refreshments will be served. Register NOW to attend and for Pitt swag raffle.
We know your Pitt education has prepared you for the next level—obtaining a graduate degree or certificate from the University of Pittsburgh. With the Pitt2Pitt Scholarship, graduating Pitt undergraduates and alumni can receive up to $7,500 in tuition scholarship.
Learn more about 80+ participating Pitt2Pitt graduate or professional programs in areas such as Business, Education, Engineering, Government, Health Sciences, Law, Natural and Social Sciences, and Technology at the Pitt2Pitt Graduate Education Fair. Many flexible, part-time, online, and hybrid options are also available.
For all the details on the Pitt2Pitt Scholarship, visit gradstudies.pitt.edu/pitt2pitt
Graduating Pitt undergraduates and alumni can receive up to a $7,500 tuition scholarship per year when they enroll in a participating Pitt graduate or professional program.
Nancy Pelosi’s approval skewed heavily into both extremes by the end of her tenure in December 2022 — 41% rated her somewhat or very favorable while 48% rated her somewhat or very unfavorable. Though this may just represent the partisan divide that has engulfed American politics, it’s clear that Pelosi is one of the most controversial politicians in America. After 20 years of leading the Democratic Party, Pelosi has finally stepped down to let a new generation take hold.
Opposition from the right and even the left may see Pelosi as another cog in the machine of politics — which is a valid critique — but her legacy is far more. Pelosi’s accomplishments in the legislature and beyond, including her social justice work, solidifies her place as one of the greatest speakers of the modern era.
Pelosi has represented numerous California districts covering the San Francisco area for 35 years. She rose quickly and became the Democratic Whip, eventually becoming the face of the Democratic Party after 9/11. In 2007, she became the first female Speaker of the House, and returned in 2019. The notion of “breaking the glass ceiling” is what makes Pelosi so important — her presence as a strong female leader in a predominantly male governing body will always go understated.
When Pelosi first became speaker, Democrats had elected 52 women to the House. As she leaves, there are 91. In the same time, Republicans have only elected about six more women to the House. Through Pelosi’s strong leadership and commitment to female politicians across the nation, representation seems stronger than ever.
Her achievements as a legislator are often credited to the men of the time. Even though Obamacare is touted as the namesake’s accomplishment, Pelosi was paramount to its success. Contentiously, she caved on pro-
tecting abortion rights in the bill to convince her more conservative Democratic colleagues. Though this is a clear point of criticism, the Affordable Care Act would not exist today had this deal not occurred. This monumental piece of legislation is still the closest America has gotten to universal healthcare. Through countless other bills that led the American people through the Great Recession, the Iraq War and the presidencies of Trump and Biden, Pelosi has cemented herself as the key piece to the puzzle.
Separately from legislative leadership, Pelosi is one of the strongest, most daring American supporters of human rights abroad, even risking her own life. In summer
2022, she embarked on one of the most dangerous trips a speaker has ever taken, flying into Taiwan to protest the brutal treatment of the island. Despite threats to shoot down her plane by the Chinese military, Pelosi landed safely and met with Taiwanese leaders, to overwhelming praise. The 82-year-old woman from America had just committed the largest ideological blow to China in recent history.
In 1991, two years after the massacre at Tiananmen Square, she and other Democratic colleagues held banners in the square honoring the victims and everyone in China fighting for freedom. Pelosi is a great example of the ageist critique failing, too. Her age has never been a
barrier to her humanitarian and legislative goals.
Finally, Pelosi is one of the most driven politicians in talking about the Jan. 6 insurrection. As a key leader in protecting every member of Congress and former Vice President Mike Pence on the day of the attack, Pelosi found herself as the one rational figure in the room at all times. Hilariously, she will always stand up to Trump, stating then, “I want to punch him out.” She also led the charge on impeaching him twice — important despite its mostly symbolic outcome.
It seems now that she is one of the few people left who want to keep talking about Jan. 6. In the lead up to the Speaker of the House vote under the new Republican majority, Pelosi rebutted McCarthy for calling the recent omnibus bill “one of the most shameful acts,” reminding him about the Jan. 6 insurrection. With the wrap-up of the Congressional hearings on the matter, Pelosi will continue to remind us as often as we need to hear it, what exactly happened that day.
Critiques and criticisms of Pelosi are fervent, and many will always remain valid. Some of these may be toward her role as a legislator, when Pelosi had frequently caved to the more moderate members of her party to keep legislation moving. And despite being a champion for abortion rights, she and every Democrat failed to protect it before the Supreme Court’s overruling of Roe v. Wade. Also, Pelosi and her husband Paul are accused of insider stock trading. These shady deals and oversights are very much worthy of criticism.
No politician is perfect, and none will ever be, but Pelosi is one of the most effective Speakers of the House in modern history.
Paul Beer writes about political affairs and reads too many album reviews. Write back to him (or send music recommendations) at pjb82@pitt.edu.
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After jingling bells to conclude the fall semester and celebrate the winter holiday, the University Handbell Ensemble rings in the new year with their first rehearsal of the semester.
Students may recognize the ensemble from their free shows held in the William Pitt Union throughout the year, or perhaps from their performance in the lobby of the Petersen Events Center before the Pentatonix concert.
According to Jesse Kimball, the director of the Handbell Ensemble and a junior neuroscience major, the group held a Halloween and winter concert last semester, with both shows limited to music centered on those holidays. Kimball said the spring semester offers the group more flexibility to perform “fun music” in their shows.
“We do stuff from movies and songs that everybody would know,” Kimball said. “One of the things I’m trying to do this semester is a Beatles medley.”
As the ensemble prepares for their first rehearsal of the semester, Kimball said the group has goals to push their limits and take on more challenging pieces. According to The Handbell Musicians of America, handbell music is ranked on levels of difficulty from 1-6, with 6 being the highest. Last semester, the handbell ensemble performed pieces with a 4 ranking. This year, Kimball hopes the ensemble will play a piece with a 5 ranking.
The Handbell Ensemble is unlike other musical groups because handbells can produce several different pitches, but an individual handbell can only play that one single note. This means members work together to
create the sound of one collaborative instrument. According to Kimball, this is why handbells are “unique.”
“One of my other officers, Ben, says that with a normal instrument, one person can play a lot of notes, but with bells, you have a lot of people that can only play one or two notes,” Kimball said. “So it’s very collaborative.”
There are currently 18 ringers in the ensemble, including Beck Barrett. Barrett, a junior political science major, said they are excited to return to the ensemble because they love the “unique musical experience” the club
provides.
“We’re unlike other musical ensembles where you can go home and practice because you can’t take the bells home,” Barrett said. “You have to be really attentive in rehearsal to learn your music.”
According to Barrett, rehearsals take place Thursdays for two and a half hours, with each practice requiring commitment and focus to one’s personal role. As the director, Kimball sets up weekly rehearsals, plans for concerts, directs and conducts the music.
Members also have to focus on the performance of their fellow ensemble members to
properly collaborate with one another.
While rehearsals require an extreme amount of focus, group members are also excited to practice and be with fellow ensemble members. Barrett said the club is fun because it is filled with “great people.”
“It’s a great group of people. We have a lot of fun just joking around in rehearsal,” Barrett said.
After a fall semester of diligent practice, Kimball said the ensemble is entering the spring performing better than ever before.
“Honestly, I'm really happy with where we’re at right now,” Kimball said. “I think our ensemble is the best it’s ever been.”
Barrett said they are able to “drift around” in the club and play different notes as needed. As a musician themself, Barrett said they love the opportunity to play multiple roles in the ensemble because it allows them to grow in their craft.
“I’ve been a musician my whole life, and getting the chance to really focus on specific skills and learning these really complex pieces is something I really love,” Barrett said.
Like Kimball, Barrett’s new year goal for the group is to play harder pieces. They said the fast pace and the key changes make the performance look more impressive.
“I think it not only looks cool when we do it, but it really helps us grow as musicians because, as I said, you can’t go home and practice,” Barrett said.
Although a date is set for their spring concert, Kimball said students can follow their Instagram page to stay up to date on events within the ensemble.
Maya
Here are six plants that can survive the winter in a dorm room, along with some plant care tips to keep them alive.
You can often find these plants at local plant shops like Ruby Flora in Bethel Park, Synthesis in Shadyside, or a plant vendor from pop-ups like The Neighborhood Flea. Home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Costco also occasionally sell succulents, cacti and bamboo.
1. Lucky Bamboo
low-light and infrequent watering. Lucky bamboo can grow in twisted and sculpted stalks that add vivid decoration to a dorm or apartment.
The plant has Chinese roots — and Chinese people often give it as a gift because it contains meanings that coincide with the number of stalks. For example, two stalks represent the Chinese belief that all good things come in pairs, so couples often receive a two-stalk bamboo as a gift. Two stalks broadly represent love.
Four stalks are bad luck — the Chinese word for four is close to the word for death, so they are considered a death wish. Five stalks represent the balance of the five areas of health — emotional, spiritual, mental, intuitive and physical. The culture considers seven stalks as lucky and believe them to bring good health.
Lucky bamboo grows best in welldrained, moist — but not soaked — soil.
See Dorm Plants on page 18Hot starts, promising outlooks and second-year programs all highlight Pitt athletics’ 2023 spring slates. While the football, soccer and volleyball seasons might be over, there’s still plenty for Pitt fans to look forward to over the next few months.
Here’s a quick guide of players, coaches and storylines to keep an eye on for each of the respective second-semester seasons.
For the past few seasons, Pitt baseball has shown flashes of talent — most notably in 2021, when they seemed destined for a regional berth but collapsed late in the season. Even last year, the Panthers gave fans a glimpse of their potential with series wins against highly ranked opponents like Louisville and Clemson.
This offseason, the Panthers took a number of blows to their lineup, losing players mostly to graduation. But head coach Mike Bell and
the coaching staff reloaded this offseason with a 24-player class, headlined by former Florida State junior right handed pitcher Dylan Simmons. The two-way player earned Freshman All-American honors from Collegiate baseball in 2020 and showed promise both on the mound and at the plate in 60 appearances with FSU.
For a successful 2023 season, the Panthers must find two arms capable of replacing the production of former All-ACC pitchers Matt Gilbetrson and Billy Corcoran. Still, fresh off
of a contract extension and loaded with new and returning talent, Bell’s team will look to once again exceed preseason expectations.
It’s no mystery that the softball program has struggled over the past few years. In the years following their impressive 2018 campaign, which saw the Panthers fall one run short of an ACC Championship, the program took a turn for the worse and haven’t shown
Pitt’s Felix Wolter jumps over hurdles in the ACC Indoor Championships at Virginia Tech on Feb. 26. Image via Matt Hawley, Pitt Athletics
See
option to be placed on a waitlist,” the spokesperson said. “We did our best to place as many of these waitlisted organizations the day of the event with tables from organizations that did not show up.”
Guru Ram, the co-captain of First Class Bhangra, said student leaders whose organizations didn’t get a table noticed a clear decrease in new member interest. Ram, a sophomore applied developmental psychology major, said it was harder to attract people overall in the weeks after the fair.
“We usually do have a table at the fair, so it was clear to see the huge decrease in awareness and interest this year compared to other years,” Ram said. “We usually have a lot of interest from first years, but this year there was definitely a lot less.”
Sofia Palacios, a senior economics major and president of the Undergraduate Economics Society, said the race for a slot in the fair is competitive and detailed how spots are unlikely to open up later.
“We signed up for the wait list, but obviously groups aren’t going to drop out of the activities fair,” Palacio said. “Then they told us that if we had another group that had a table and would be willing to share, we could share,
but no groups I talked to were willing to.”
Kristen Diehl, a fifth-year pharmacy student and president of Ice Cream Sundays, said the Activities Fair also helps to connect interested students in a more streamlined process.
“I still get emails from people interested, but it’s harder to file through them without a table because they ask questions that we would typically answer in-person at the fair,” Diehl said. “It’s harder to make sure we’re responding to every individual email, and it would be nicer to just talk in-person at the fair.”
Leaders of clubs that were unable to get tables at the fair have started to utilize new ways to spread information and interest to students.
Zoe Frantz, a senior marketing major and vice president of marketing for Empower, spent a significant time building a recognizable brand that would attract students without a table.
“Since we didn’t get a spot at the fair, we stood right by it and ran around and handed out flyers to students who were there,” Frantz said. “I worked to establish our brand on campus, so when people saw our president handing out flyers they recognized the club and were really excited to join. We just had to work around the setback of not having a real table or spot.”
Some clubs looked for different opportunities outside of Pitt-sponsored events to get the word out. Ram said First Class Bhangra benefited from the help of the South Asian Student Association’s own activities fair.
Palacios said the Undergraduate Economics Society was fortunate to have the economics department as a space to advertise and talk about their club.
“We reached out to several professors of intro classes and booked ourselves five minutes before their class to talk about the club, put up a flier, and provide our social media and Google form,” Palacios said.
Some groups, such as Women in Economics, created new board positions to make up for the loss in interest experienced by not getting a table.
“We ended up developing a new position at the club this year whose only goal was to attract new members, which is something we really didn’t need in the past and maybe wouldn’t have needed if we got a spot,” Stainer said.
Leaders point to the upcoming spring semester activities fair as another potential opportunity to advertise as they continue to grow interest in their clubs, though they hope
to see changes to the fall fair going forward. The spring fair will take place this Wednesday from 1-3 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. on the main floor of the William Pitt Union.
“It would be nice if there was a bigger space to accommodate more groups,” Palacios said. “If we could have it spread out somewhere else, hopefully all organizations will be able to get a spot next time.”
Time and time again this season, the Panthers are usually propelled by a two-man show on offense. For success down the stretch — and especially on Wednesday — the Panthers need to find a third scoring option.
Graduate student guard Nelly Cummings is Pitt’s point guard and facilitator but isn’t an efficient scorer. Cummings averages 8.1 assists while shooting just 40% from the field and 33% from three.
Graduate student guard Greg Elliott averages 10.4 points per game and has had a few big performances but lacks consistency. Still, he’s one of the Panthers’ most efficient shooters from beyond the arc and is a differencemaker if he gets hot.
Sophomore center Federiko Federiko has impressed in his first season with the Panthers, averaging 5.8 points and 5.4 rebounds as one of the youngest Panthers on the roster. But to become the Panthers' third guy, Federiko would have to make a giant leap down the stretch.
The Panthers have felt the absence of junior forward John Hugley, as he was their leading scorer and rebounder in 2021-22. While Hugley takes the time he needs to return to basketball, other players need to step up. For the most part, the rest of the team have contributed with plenty of production in his absence. But in order to beat the Blue Devils on Wednesday, Cummings, Elliott and Federiko must essentially match the production of Hinson and Burton.
For Pitt, one of Wednesday’s biggest question marks is its ability to play strong defense against Duke’s scoring front. The Panthers come into Wednesday with the No. 100 ranked defense in terms of efficiency while the Blue Devils are the No. 35 ranked offense in terms of efficiency. A shootout — which is common for Pitt this year — is not a favorable outcome for the Panthers.
The player-on-player matchups aren’t favorable for the team, either. First-year center Kyle Filipowski leads the way for the Blue Devils, averaging 13.8 points per game. Federiko will have his hands full in that matchup. One player the Panthers might not have to worry about, though, is Duke’s star junior guard Jeremy Roach, who’s nursing a day-to-day injury.
The final question comes for head coach Jeff Capel and how he will fare against his alma mater and former employer. Capel has only defeated the Blue Devils once since becoming the Panthers’ head coach.
Despite an offseason full of turnover and questions about his job security, Capel has the Panthers on the verge of their first winning season of his five-year tender. Pitt’s start to
this season is eerily similar to when they also started 11-4 in Capel’s first season. The Panthers finished that season 14-19, squandering their optimistic beginning. Still, something about this season feels different, and their strength in ACC play proves that.
Conference matchups like Wednesday are where coaches show their worth and where programs are built. Capel must make sure the Panthers are ready in order to preserve their hot start.
Tipoff is at 7 p.m in Durham, North Carolina, and fans can tune in on ACC network.
It can also thrive in water as long as you change it weekly and completely cover the roots. The plant is sensitive to chemicals, so it is best to water it with bottled or distilled water.
Succulents come in many varieties and are a cheap, small option for students. Any plant with thick, fleshy leaves that store water is technically a succulent. They grow in a variety of shapes, including paddle leaves, rosettes and trailing teardrop leaves. These robust plants enjoy direct sunlight but are perfect for people who forget to water their plants. You can water succulents once a month in the winter. Succulents are extremely common and are often found in any store that sells plants.
When buying any plant, it’s better to purchase a smaller plant rather than a large one. A tiny plant can establish itself better in its new home and have a larger ratio of roots to top growth.
This plant is a branch of succulent that produces a soothing gel that people use to treat sunburns. If you have pets, avoid this plant — its leaves are toxic for animals. During spring and summer, aloe vera requires regular watering whenever the soil goes completely dry. During the winter, the plant goes dormant and requires watering only about once a month.
Less is more when watering any plant. A common misconception that new plant owners have is that they’re not watering their plants enough. Many of these plants come from dryer climates and are susceptible to root rot, a fatal disease where the plant’s root system deteriorates. Watering too much will kill a plant faster than forgetting to water it.
Use pots with drainage holes. These are little holes in the bottom of the pot that let excess water drain, which allows the roots to breathe and helps prevent roots from getting waterlogged.
These prickly plants are very popu -
lar house plants. They come in many fun shapes and sizes, some even grow flower blooms. Cacti need well-draining soil and a pot with drainage holes to avoid waterlogged roots. They benefit from watering every week during the summer as long as the soil completely dries in between sessions. During the winter, they become dormant and require less frequent watering.
Avoid putting your plants in drafty rooms. Most plants enjoy humidity and will experience stress if placed by the air conditioner or windows.
Air plants don’t require soil, so they’re often sold in glass terrariums, geometric cases or decorative driftwood that make for an interesting house decoration. Rather than taking nutrients from the soil, they absorb them from the air. They are usually small, fitting in the palm of a hand and thrive best in bright, indirect light. Water air plants about once a week, either by soaking them in a glass of water for an hour or misting them regularly.
Be sure to consider light exposure when picking a spot for a plant. Many houseplants will burn if kept in direct light, but providing adequate indirect light is crucial, especially during the winter. Rotating your plant is also beneficial to evenly distribute light.
It’s also always useful to give your plant a haircut. Snipping off dead growth will help the plant grow healthy stems.
This plant features stiff, sword-like leaves and can range anywhere from six inches to eight feet tall. It is slowgrowing but extremely hard to kill. Snake plants don’t require much water, going two months between waterings in the winter, but are susceptible to overwatering and root rot. They prefer steady, indirect light but are adaptable to all light conditions.
any forward progress since — most notably finishing an abysmal 2-20 in conference last season.
The team got off to a very shaky start in their fall games this offseason, punctuated by a double-header sweep against St. Francis. Still, the Panthers demonstrated areas of strength, especially on the mound with sophomore pitchers Adriana Romano and Dani Drogemuller.
Where the team appears to fall short is on defense — often squandering good pitching performances with costly errors at the worst possible times. If they can manage to limit their mistakes on defenses while continually getting production from bats like All-ACC graduate student infielder Yvonne Whaley, they have a clear opportunity to make forward progress from last season. It’s a long road ahead, but the Panthers have pieces that will allow them to compete with just about any team in the conference.
For a first year program, head coach Emily Boissonneault and Pitt women’s lacrosse showed the ACC that the potential is there — and it might not take as much time to develop as many might think.
For starters, in just a single season, Boissonneault gave the team an identity and tangible culture that the players have fully bought into. They had an impressive amount of transfer talent last year and this year added two more transfers in former Syracuse graduate student goalie Hannah Van Middelem and former San Diego senior attacker Camdyn O’Donnell. The team relied heavily on their transfer experience last year and will likely do the same this year, though now almost the entire team has a year of Division I experience under their belt.
As a conference, the ACC is almost indisputably the toughest in the country. Sure, the Panthers went 1-7 against ACC teams during the regular season, but even notching one win is huge. Plus, Pitt won its first conference tournament game and kept games close against highly ranked teams like Duke.
Captains graduate student Molly Carter and junior Abby Thorne will likely lead the Panthers on the field alongside O’Donnell this season. Carter sat out all of last season with an injury but was productive in her time at Syracuse. Thorne made her presence known in the Panther defense last season, tallying 28 ground balls and 16 forced turnovers.
All signs point toward Pitt lacrosse taking another step forward in 2023 — and as the team continues to mature and gain experience, it won’t be long before they’re true ACC contenders.
Pitt gymnastics is already off to a stellar start in 2023, winning their sole competition of the season against Penn, Temple and Penn State on Friday. Ranked No. 20, the Panthers are the class of the East Atlantic Gymnastic League and looked poised to build on their 10-10 2022 campaign.
Talented youth is their biggest strength this season, with many of the team’s standout performances coming from first-year athletes at the Keystone Classic. First-year Reyna Garvey and sophomore Sidney Washington both had spectacular season debuts, setting personal records and leading the field in both vault and beam.
Despite their strong start, the Panthers are set for a much more challenging test at the Wasatch Classic, where they’ll face off against No. 3 California, No. 16 Iowa and No. 26 Oregon State.
Pitt track & field has a clear headliner for the 2023 indoor and outdoor seasons — graduate student decathlete Felix Wolter is heading into his third season with the Panthers as one of the most decorated athletes in the program’s history. He’s a two-time All-American and former ACC champion, and has high expectations surrounding him in his last season.
As a team, the Panthers are off to a good start to their indoor season, posting solid performances at their first meet on Dec. 2. Junior Ilse Steigenga put on a fantastic performance in long jump, with her 6.55 meter jump taking second on Pitt’s all-time list. It was just 0.02 meters behind last year’s indoor NCAA championship winning length.
A number of other Panthers notched top scores and times at the meet including a first place 60m dash run from sophomore Stephon Brown and a first place weight throw from junior Foluke Olujide-Ajibade.
The Panthers next meet is against rival Penn State at the Nittany Lion challenge on Saturday, where they’ll look to build off of their strong start.
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