1-25-17

The Pitt News

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | january 25,2017| Volume 107 | Issue 109

Pitt cancer researchers win award

DANCING THE DAY AWAY

Amanda Reed

Assistant News Editor

years old. A lover of the arts, Raynovich spent her childhood experimenting and creating — mainly focused on combining natural and recycled resources to make eco-art.

“She was pretty nuts about our natural resources. That’s the direction she wanted to go with her art,” Kirkwood said.

When the funeral home couldn’t accommodate any more flowers, guests asked if they

For the first time, two Pitt faculty members have won the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, an international award given to medical researchers who have made significant contributions to immunology, cancer research, microbiology and chemotherapy.

Doctors Yuan Chang and Patrick S. Moore, faculty members of Pitt’s School of Medicine, will receive €120,000 from the Paul Ehrlich Foundation, which sponsors the award, for their work in the field of cancer research.

Their lab — the Chang-Moore Laboratory, which is in the Cancer Virology Program at Pitt — specializes in studying how normal cells become cancerous. But Chang and Moore received the prize for discovering two of seven known human viruses that directly cause cancer.

The duo discovered the Kaposi’s sarcomaassociated herpesvirus, otherwise known as herpesvirus 8, in 1994. The virus causes Kaposi’s sarcoma, which is the most common AIDS-related cancerous tumor and most frequently found in parts of Africa. They also identified Merkel cell polyomavirus — which causes an aggressive skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma — in 2008.

“We hope to use these tumor viruses as models and translate fundamental molecular

See Kirkwood on page 2

See Research on page 2

First-year Jaclyn Hwang dances with senior Andrew Kemp at the Pitt Ballroom Club’s meeting in the William Pitt Union. John Hamilton VISUAL EDITOR

Kirkwood brings eco-art to Center for Creativity

Zoe Pawliczek For The Pitt News

Nancy Kirkwood walked down to the basement of the University Bookstore on Fifth with overflowing bags of art supplies and began stocking a wall full of shelves. She does this every day as part of her job at the Center for Creativity.

Kirkwood — who was previously the administrative coordinator for Pitt’s English department —

now spends her time in the Center managing art supplies and planning the weekly crafting sessions she hosts. Kirkwood helps Pitt community members explore their creativity through activities like jewelry making, painting lessons and knitting circles.

She joined the Center last fall as a way to connect to her daughter, Tess Senay Raynovich, who passed away in 2012. The youngest of her three daughters, Raynovich, was killed in a car accident on October 28, 2012, when she was 20

News Kirkwood, pg. 1

could donate money to the family instead. Kirkwood accepted their offers, soon accumulating enough donations to start the Tess Senay Raynovich Art and Earth Fund, which is used to sponsor multiple camps and projects devoted to getting children involved with eco-arts. The fund also awards a $1,000 yearly scholarship at Quaker Valley High School in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, which Raynovich graduated from in 2010.

“We designed the fund around what she wanted to do rather than what she had done,” Kirkwood said.

With the help of one of Raynovich’s friends from college, Kirkwood created a website for the fund where they could sell prints of Raynovich’s art as a way to honor her memory.

Kirkwood’s work in the arts, however, did not end with setting up the fund. While working in the English department, Jeanne Marie Laskas, the Center’s founding director and Pitt’s Writing Program director, asked Kirkwood to assist her in operating the center.

Laskas had met Raynovich previously and knew of Kirkwood’s experience with the arts through the fund, so she invited Kirkwood to join the still-growing project.

She came up with the idea for the Center in 2011, but it became a reality last March. Laskas and Kit Ayars, the Center’s director for strategy and partnership, received support and funding from Pitt Provost Patricia E. Beeson to set up the space.

Drawn to the Center’s goals of promoting artistic experimentation, Kirkwood received

Research, pg. 1 discoveries into improved clinical outcomes for all patients with cancers,” Chang said in an email.

The Chang-Moore Laboratory was established at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in 1994 when Moore and Chang became assistant professors at the university. The lab moved to the Hillman Cancer Center when the pair, who are married, were recruited to the University of Pitts-

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SGB proposes tobacco-free initiative See Online the English department’s blessing to leave her position there and began working in the Center full-time last September, organizing weekly crafts and supplying materials for students faculty to repurpose into art.

The Center, which is open to all Pitt students, staff and faculty, welcomes both newcomers and professionals. Kirkwood’s own past is proof that nobody needs an extensive background in the visual arts to make use of the Center. Michael Campbell, a co-worker in the center, who has a degree in studio art, said it’s actually useful to have an untrained artist as part of their team.

“I don’t always have an amateur eye, so it’s nice to have Nancy. She keeps us grounded and keeps our space open to everybody,” Campbell said.

The Center’s Workshop Manager Erik Schuckers agrees. Schuckers said Kirkwood has an ability to connect with anyone and everyone who comes into the workshop.

“She meets everybody at whatever level they are, whether they’re a complete beginner or someone with a little more experience,” Schuckers said.

With Kirkwood’s minimal prior experience in the visual arts, Laskas and Ayars encouraged her to try new mediums and to contribute her own ideas to the Center, such as the recreative wall she can regularly be seen organizing.

The Center’s recreative wall, designated by the assorted scrap materials forming the word “Recreate” above shelves of recycled and repurposed art supplies, was inspired by Tess’ passion for eco-art. Kirkwood maintains the shelves, keeping them stocked through frequent visits

to the Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse as well as from donations.

“People have gotten to know us and feel at home here, so they bring stuff,” Kirkwood said.

Kirkwood also brought in many of Tess’ art supplies and personal belongings left behind after her death. A green throw blanket which belonged to Tess is draped over a couch, next to a checkerboard scattered with Alaskan beer caps from Tess’ time spent in Alaska.

“There’s lots of things Tess hoped for, for herself and her family, and I think this is one thing that’s happened that she would be happy about,” Kirkwood said.

As their user base ex- Nancy Kirkwood made the switch from the English pands to include a larger Department to the Center for Creativity in 2015. Donvariety of students, Kirk- ny Falk STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER wood said the Center a year’s devotion to being part of the Center for needs to expand to include resources such as a kiln, a dark room, soldering Creativity, Kirkwood has no intention of abanequipment or a gallery space to display visitors’ doning the arts anytime soon.

“I’ve never spent a day creating and then felt creations. really bad about having spent the day that way,” Kirkwood, however, has experience transKirkwood said. “And now, I get to do it for a job, forming a small idea into something larger. so it’ s awesome. ” With four years of running Tess’ fund and over

burgh Cancer Institute in 2002.

Chang, an epidemiologist and virologist, has been a faculty member in Pitt’s School of Medicine since 2002. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biology at Stanford University in 1981 and Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Utah’s College of Medicine in 1987.

Moore became the director of the Cancer Virology Program at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute in 2002 after earning a Bachelor of Science in biology at Westminster College, a master’s degree in chemistry

at Stanford University, a Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Utah and a Master of Public Health degree at the University of California, Berkeley.

The pair of researchers have also received other honors in medicine, infectious disease and cancer research, like the 2012 Marjory Stephenson Prize from the Society of General Microbiology in the United Kingdom, the 2003 Charles S. Mott Award from the General Motors Cancer Research Foundation, the 1998 Robert Koch Prize and the 1997 Meyenburg Prize.

January 25, 2017

“Drs. Chang and Moore’s contributions to cancer research have been significant and lasting, touching the lives of people around the world,” Arthur S. Levine, Pitt’s senior vice chancellor for the health sciences and the John and Gertrude Petersen dean of the School of Medicine, said in a press release.

The pair will receive the award on March 14 in Frankfurt, Germany.

“It is a tremendous honor to have one’s work recognized internationally by esteemed colleagues in the field of medicine,” Chang said.

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Katz, School of Public Health combine for joint grad program Nolan Roosa

tistics, between 2014 and 2024, the health care industry is expected to grow 19 percent — faster than any other occupational track.

Health care will employ more people than any other industry by 2022.

Because of the changing economy, reintroducing the dual degree was one of Pitt medical professor Mark Roberts’ goals when he became chair of the School of Public Health’s Department of Health Policy and Management in 2010. His plan for the relaunch began in 2015.

Health care management at other universities, such as Michigan, Cornell and Ohio State, inspired Roberts, who said he wanted to provide a similar opportunity for students at Pitt.

No new courses have been created for the program, so students will take a combination of existing classes from both schools.

Students will also spend a summer term working full-time under supervision by administrators in the hospital and within the health care industry — an opportunity current MHA students take part in.

Lindsey Myers, a sophomore business student, said she wants the new program to help her understand a complicated and everchanging industry. As a supply chain marketing and global management major, she’s looking into the degree.

“Cross-functional education is extremely important in this day and age, creating wellrounded and dynamic students who are versatile and can work in many different areas and industries,” Meyers said.

Rabikar Chatterjee, associate dean at Katz, said that the broader set of state-ofthe-art business management skills gained from an MBA, combined with domain-specific, content-based expertise provided by the MHA, will produce the type of graduates with the talent and skills needed to succeed in today’s highly dynamic and complex health care environment.

“The pool of such programs nationally is relatively small, and we intend to be considered among the leading programs in this market within the next five years,” Rohrer said.

The Pitt news crossword 1/25/17

According to Wesley Rohrer, director of the MHA program, this dual degree will recFor The Pitt News reate and improve on a program that once A new collaboration between two Pitt existed in the mid-1980s through the late graduate schools lets students save 39 credits 1990s. Pitt cut that program in the 90s due and a year of school while walking away with to a lack of funding and support from Pitt two degrees. administration.

Pitt announced the dual degree program But Pitt is reviving the program now beon Jan. 17. Beginning in the fall, students can cause of a rising demand for health care adearn a Master of Health Administration and ministrators. a Master of Business Administration from Health care accounted for nearly 9.9 perthe School of Public Health and the Katz cent of the world’s gross domestic product in School of Business at the same time.

2014, according to The World Bank. Add on The Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of reforms to the industry such as the AffordBusiness currently offers seven other dual able Care Act, and health care companies are degree programs. Students at Katz can enroll struggling to keep up with the growth of dein programs that include degrees in everymand and regulations. thing from engineering to law.

“The job market for graduates is robust, The proposed MHA/MBA includes a and long-term career opportunities should curriculum of 78 credits over three academic be attractive,” Rohrer said. He continued that years, split between the degrees. Until now, students must apply and get into both the Pitt graduate students who wanted to get a Graduate School of Public Health and the two-year MBA and two-year MHA degree Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business would have to complete a total of 117 credits before applying for this program. in four years.

According to the Bureau of Labor Sta-

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January 25, 2017

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Up to states to make progressive change in Trump’s America Before Donald Trump had even been sworn in as the next President of the United States, Pennsylvania Sen. Daylin Leach began a push to oppose the new administration’s influence through the democratic channels of the state Senate.

Sen. Leach released a memorandum just hours before then-President-elect Trump was to take his inaugural oath on Friday. The five-sentence-long note urged fellow senators to support a future legislation that would require any presidential candidate to release their tax returns in order to be listed on Pennsylvania’s ballot.

The senator’s plans are well-intentioned and an astute illustration of how lowerlevel governments can effect change in Trump’s America, but they are also a measure that could be extended to Pennsylvania’s ballots in all elections, not just the presidential one.

The Democratic senator specifically cited the 2016 presidential election and Trump’s refusal to release his tax returns as the catalyst for why such legislation is needed. Steve Hoenstine, spokesperson for the senator, told The Pitt News that the unprecedented power and responsibility of the President make the extra regulations necessary. His influence on foreign affairs and control of the military makes it imperative that the American people and the intelligence community be aware of any potential conflicts of interest.

Although Leach’s proposal may have been more helpful months ago, it still holds legitimacy both symbolically and practically.

“This is not barring people from voting for specific people, but there is a certain amount of sanctity to a ballot,” said Hoenstine, recognizing that though the

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bill may not influence presidential elections drastically, it will set a precedent for laws that hold presidential candidates accountable.

In any administration, especially one like Trump’s, big changes like these have to come from the state level first before we can expect them to be implemented nationally.

But Leach could potentially go one step further by demanding the same transparency from anyone running for elected office throughout the state. On a local level, where elections and candidates are less well-known, not having your name on the ballot could damage the final tallies by significant margins.

Hoenstine said that this specific bill doesn’t include parameters that would extend the ballot stipulation to the state level, but that Leach wouldn’t oppose a different bill that did propose such changes.

While releasing tax information is a long-held tradition when running for public office, requiring it in order to appear on the ballot is a way for Pennsylvania to officially declare the tradition as law on all levels. With this legislation, the state could prevent future debacles, like Trump’s refusal to release his returns, from happening again.

As President Trump continues to ignore social movements, marches and protests, perhaps taking a legislative approach to voicing opinion can add to the ever-growing noise. If the legislation were to pass, it would set a precedent not only about the transparency of elected officials but also serve as inspiration for how other local and state governments can counter presidential power.

DeVos brings little to future of education

Liz Stahl STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

Elise Lavallee

For The Pitt News The United States is in major need of an educational revamp.

More than a few presidential administrations have come and gone without making significant or impactful changes in education reform. And if last week’s Senate hearing is at all indicative, it doesn’t seem that the Trump administration will be making positive, or wise, changes either.

Betsy DeVos, Trump’s Cabinet pick for Secretary of Education and the future of education in America for the next four years, has dedicated much of her time and money working to implement educational change by promoting school choice in our country.

But following her hearing — in which she refused to answer Sen. Tim Kaine’s questions on standards of accountability and proposed that schools should be allowed to have guns in case of grizzly bears — it is clear that she

January 25, 2017

is blatantly underqualified for the position.

DeVos has never had a degree in education and has never worked in or attended public schools. Former secretaries haven’t always had degrees with ties to education, but many of them have spent time teaching or working as administrators or in local and state education departments. Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education under Barack Obama, was the superintendent of Chicago Public Schools before occupying the position, and Margaret Stallings, who held the position under George W. Bush’s second term, previously worked as a director for the Texas Association of School Boards.

Since DeVos has neither education experience nor experience in political office, her supposed qualifications for the position must come from the policy work she has done for educational advocacy groups. But that work raises questions about her ideological comSee Lavallee on page 7

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column

Support irreligious representation in politics Nick Eustis

of

Columnist

Though the U.S. is a secular nation, if you want to be a politician in America, you have to believe in something.

A full 51 percent of Americans say they would be less likely to support an openly atheist candidate for president, and 45 percent say that belief in God is necessary to have good values, according to Pew Research Center surveys taken in 2014 and 2015 respectively. At his confirmation hearing earlier this month, Donald Trump’s nominee for attorney general Jeff Sessions said he wasn’t sure when asked if a secular person could claim to know the truth just as well as someone who practices religion.

The prevalence of these views has ultimately discouraged the irreligious from engaging in our political system.

“I do feel as though the secular population is more cynical than extremists on either side, liberal or conservative. They are more likely to feel that their vote and their voice doesn’t matter. They’re just more skeptical of the system, just as they are skeptical of things in everyday life,” said Quinn Wolter, former president of the Pitt Secular Alliance, a nonreligious student association on campus. Irreligious representation is impeded further by the fact that the irreligious tend to be young, and that youth have a notoriously low turnout rate in elections.

So it should come as no surprise that the recently elected 115th Congress has only one religiously unaffiliated member: Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, a Democrat from Arizona. Moreover, the dominant religion in America, Christianity, is overrepresented, with 93 percent of our representatives in Congress identifying as Christian, though only 70 percent of the population does.

What is surprising is that the religiously unaffiliatedarenosmallminority.Justunder23percent

Lavallee, pg. 6 mitments and qualifications to lead the nation’s education department.

DeVos is chairperson of the American Federation for Children, a non-profit organization that donates money and resources to programs that give parents more control over where their children go to school.

DeVos and the organization are also well

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John Hamilton VISUAL EDITOR Americans do not identify with any religion, making them the second-largest religious group in the country and counting, increasing from 16.1 percent of the population in 2007.

The minimal representation of these over 70 million people in American politics is heightened by the fact that the Christian-dominated legislatures in America often pursue policies rooted in religious doctrine. The most blatant of these policies require legislators to believe in a higher power. According to Wolter, “some states still have a requirement of faith to join office.”

Seven states in America — Arkansas, Maryland, Mississippi, North and South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas — still have language in their constitutions prohibiting atheists from holding public office.

Religion also sneaks into policy debate in more subtle, insidious ways. A full 34 percent of our representatives in Congress are climate change deniers. While there are other reasons representatives choose to deny the existence of climate change, like lobbying from the fossil fuel industry, some object due to their belief that God controls the climate.

The most prominent of these is Sen. Jim Inhofe, a Republican from Oklahoma, who was the chair of the Senate Environment Committee for the past two years — the same man who

brought a snowball to the floor of the Senate as evidence that climate change wasn’t real. In his book, “The Greatest Hoax: How the Global Warming Conspiracy Threatens Your Future,” Inhofe wrote, “God’s still up there. The arrogance of people to think that we, human beings, would be able to change what He is doing in the climate is, to me, outrageous.”

But what’s outrageous to me is the chair of the Senate Environment Committee standing in the way of solutions to the largest environmental crisis of our time because “God’s still up there.”

Religion was never meant to have this much influence over politics. Patrick Hughes, a professor of history at Pitt, said the government shouldn’t take a stance on religious issues or make laws specifically dealing with religion.

“The U.S. government is not atheistic, it’s not supposed to be Christian — it’s supposed to be completely neutral,” he said. These ideals are enshrined in the First Amendment to the Constitution, which, according to Thomas Jefferson, built “a wall of separation between Church and State.”

The overwhelming religiosity of America’s legislating bodies erodes that wall of separation, while the wall of public opinion blocks all but the best few of America’s irreligious from public office and leaves the rest feeling voiceless.

This religious barrier must be brought down,

known for helping parochial and charter schools receive vouchers, which increase access to private schools for people of all classes. Vouchers can be a healthy way to maximize the return of educational taxes, but they use public money on private schools.

Due to misappropriation, these vouchers are often used deceitfully to fund religious education with taxpayer money.

Although it is not a requirement that voucher-receiving schools be Christian,

DeVos’ history of commitment to religious groups raises questions about her intentions. In the past fifteen years, DeVos and her husband’s tax returns show they have committed over $50 million to Christian organizations — $8.6 million of which was donated exclusively to private Christian schools. In addition to her monetary donations to Christian foundations, DeVos’ commitment to her faith and the ways it informs her policy work are not secrets to the public.

January 25, 2017

not just for the sake of irreligious representation but as a part of the progressive movement. Studies show that the religiously unaffiliated tend to lean politically liberal, with strong majorities supporting same-sex marriage and a woman’s right to choose. The irreligious are also more likely to look to science for guidance, which is imperative for meaningful legislative that can slow climate change.

Bringing down that wall of public opinion is the key to accessing the political power of America’s irreligious, but it won’t be brought down from the top. Part of the solution for Hughes involves secularists playing an active role in combating stereotypes and misconceptions about atheism, agnosticism and unbelief in order to change them and sway public opinion.

Another part of the solution is engaging more nonbelievers in the system. The only way to do this, however, is for the irreligious to come together as a larger and more impactful force.

The nonreligious are a diverse group on many levels, meaning they lack specific ideology to unite them like many denominations of Christianity. If nonbelievers can put aside the differences between their many subgroups, they can gain access to the power that comes with being a group of over 70 million.

As the unaffiliated population in America continues to grow, so does hope for more irreligious representation in the future. But low political engagement and a dismal view in the public eye threatens to relegate America’s second-largest religious group to the sidelines while our legislative bodies argue over whether God controls the weather.

God — if he’s up there — hasn’t sent us quality leaders. Let’s send our own.

Nick primarily writes on politics and American culture for The Pitt News.

Write to Nick at npe3@pitt.edu.

Considering the First Amendment of the Constitution calls for the separation of church and state, those who hold political office should be expected to recognize and facilitate this convention. Based upon her record, DeVos has given no indication that she is willing or capable of maintaining the separation of religion from education.

To further the issue, when asked if public See Lavallee on page 9

7

Sports Record-setting loss marks new low for Pitt basketball Steve Rotstein Sports Editor

If you thought things couldn’t get any worse for the Pitt men’s basketball team, think again.

Last time the Panthers played at home, they suffered their worst loss in the 14year history of the Petersen Events Center: a 72-46 pounding against Miami.

They more than doubled that 26-point defeat in a humiliating 106-51 blowout loss against the No. 13 Louisville Cardinals Tuesday night.

“That’s about as disappointing of a performance as I could possibly imagine,” Pitt head coach Kevin Stallings said after the game.

No kidding. Let’s count the ways in which the Panthers were historically bad Tuesday night: Pitt suffered its most lopsided loss in 111 years and second-most lopsided defeat in school history, behind only a 10613 thrashing against Westminster back in 1906.

Pitt’s 33-point halftime deficit tied for the largest in program history and was the team’s largest halftime deficit in a home game and conference game.

Pitt’s 55-point margin of defeat was the largest in ACC history for a home team.

Pitt’s four made field goals in the first half tied for the team’s fewest made field goals since the NCAA’s introduction of the shot clock in 1985.

Pitt’s .160 first-half field goal percentage was third-worst in program history.

Read the rest online at Pittnews.com. pittnews.com

Cardinals crush Pitt Panthers, 106-51

team has fallen to Louisville.

“That’s embarrassing. It’s unacceptable,” Pitt head coach Kevin Stallings said. “It’s my responsibility to have them prepared to play better than that, harder than that, smarter than that, and we weren’t, so ultimately at the end of the day, it’s my responsibility.”

Stallings struggled to cope with his team’s poor performance and drew a double-technical foul for arguing a call, leading officials to eject him from the game with 14:24 left in the second half. Stallings refused to comment on why he was ejected after the game, citing his unfamiliarity with league policy.

“I don’t know what league policy is [in the ACC], so I better Chris Jones scores a rare basket for the Panthers as just refrain from saythe team is blown out by the Louisville Cardinals, ing too much so that I 106-51. Evan Meng STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER don’t violate anything,” Stallings said.

Ryan Zimba His anger is underStaff Writer standable, as the Panthers (12-8 overall, The Pitt men’s basketball team is mak- 1-6 ACC) looked uninspired throughout ing history for all the wrong reasons. the game, shooting a measly 25.5 percent Just 10 days after suffering the worst from the field. The defense was equally loss in Petersen Events Center history — lackluster, as Rick Pitino’s Cardinals (17a 26-point defeat against the Miami Hur- 5 overall, 5-3 ACC) reached a season high ricanes — the Panthers shattered their in points tonight in a 106-51 blowout. own record in a 55-point home loss to the After the game, Stallings called out his No. 13 Louisville Cardinals. Tuesday’s re- players’ lack of fortitude in the loss. sult is Pitt’s second-most lopsided loss in “I think one thing that this team has program history, fifth straight defeat this consistently shown is the inability to deal season and the tenth consecutive time the with adversity,” Stallings said. “I quite

January 25, 2017

frankly don’t understand that. I don’t understand how you don’t dig in and compete harder.”

Pitt senior Jamel Artis scored the night’s first points with a jumper, but the Panthers struggled to score for the remainder of the game. Louisville quickly took advantage and jumped out to a 10-3 lead by the first media timeout.

The Cardinals continued to stretch their lead after the break, outscoring the Panthers 7-2 and taking a 17-5 lead. But after a layup by Pitt sophomore guard Cameron Johnson, Louisville’s offense stalled and did not score over the next 3:05.

The Panthers couldn’t take advantage, and Pitt was shooting an abysmal 21.4 percent midway through the first half.

The Cardinals’ offensive lull inevitably ended, and they scored seven straight points over the next 1:04 to take a 24-7 lead.

The two teams traded buckets as Louisville’s advantage grew to 31-13, but the Cardinals kept piling on, going on a 6-0 run to stretch their lead to 24 with 3:30 to go in the half.

Senior guard Chris Jones ended the Panthers’ 0-for-13 shooting drought with 24 seconds left in the half with a layup, only the fourth field goal of the half, and a foul shot. But Louisville didn’t coast into the break, draining another threepointer just before the buzzer to end the half with a whopping 33-point lead.

The first half was a one-sided affair, as the Cardinals shot a blistering 71.4 percent overall and 77.8 percent from threepoint range. Conversely, the Panthers shot a measly 16 percent from the field and went 0-for-12 from beyond the arc.

Louisville guard Donovan Mitchell and center Anas Mahmoud led the Cardinals’ attack in the first half, chipping in 16 and 12 points, respectively. The 7-foot See Basketball on page 9

8

2017 football schedule The Atlantic Coast Conference released the finalized 2017 schedules of its member football teams, including the University of Pittsburgh, on Tuesday afternoon.

Next fall, the Panthers will face eight teams that made bowl games this season, four of which finished the season in the Top 25 rankings.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said his team was excited to find out their opponents in the upcoming season.

“There is always great anticipation from players, coaches and certainly fans when it comes to seeing the new schedule,” Narduzzi said in a press release.

With the schedule officially announced, Narduzzi said he plans on using the competitive lineup as a motivational tool for his team.

“With the games finally announced, I can promise you it will be highly visible throughout our practice facility this offseason. We want it to be a constant reminder of the 12 challenges and opportunities we have this fall,” he said.

The game times and TV listings have not yet been announced.

Lavallee, pg. 7 schools should be required to adhere to the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act — legislation that allows students with disabilities to have equal access to and quality of education services — DeVos said it should be “up to the states.”

State mandating of this issue may seem logical — local governments have a much closer connection with their constituents and thus are better able to represent their needs. But disability services are inconsistent, and the standards set forth by the ADA and all subsequent bills involving public disability accommodations are barely met, if at all, in certain states.

Only 19 states, including Pennsylvania, have been placed on the DOE list as “meeting requirements” set forth by these disabilities laws.

State compliance with these requirements falls at 38 percent. If states are currently indifferent to meeting the standards set forth by the federal government, they cannot be trusted to effectively legislate their own requirements.

Mandated disability services in publicly

pittnews.com

YOUNGSTOWN STATE PENGUINS AT PITT SEPT. 2

RICE UNIVERSITY OWLS AT PITT SEPT. 30

VIRGINIA CAVALIERS AT PITT OCT. 28

PENN STATE NITTANY LIONS AT STATE COLLEGE SEPT. 9

SYRACUSE ORANGE AT SYRACUSE OCT. 7

NORTH CAROLINA TAR HEELS AT PITT NOV. 9

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS AT PITT SEPT. 16

NORTH CAROLINA STATE WOLFPACK AT PITT OCT. 14

VIRGINIA TECH HOKIES AT BLACKSBURG NOV. 18

GEORGIA TECH YELLOW JACKETS AT ATLANTA SEPT. 23

DUKE BLUE DEVILS AT DURHAM OCT. 21

MIAMI HURRICANES AT PITT NOV. 24

funded institutions are not limited to K-12 education. Pitt’s Office of Disability Resources and Services uses federal funding to provide services for our students that ensure they have an equal opportunity at success on campus. If the standards for these services are left to the state, as DeVos proposed, and Pennsylvania — a state already facing a $500 million and growing budget deficit — were to reduce funding to these services, access to resources for students with disabilities could become restricted or even non-existent.

Public education in the United States is crumbling, and DeVos, it seems, is not going to change that with her closed-minded ideals.

If teachers are required to hold both degrees and licences to be in a classroom, we should expect some form of education experience, administration or otherwise, from those placed in charge of its coordination. Leaving the DOE under the control of a woman who appears to be more interested in her conservative agenda than the promise of equal opportunity will do nothing to help our nation’s education system — the foundation from which all of society springs from.

Basketball, pg. 8 Mahmoud shot 6-for-6 from the field in the first half, as Pitt had no answer for his post moves in the paint.

Pitt’s leading first-half scorer was Jones with only six points.

The second half was more of the same as the Cardinals extended their lead to 39 on a three-point play by guard Deng Adel with 15:46 left. Pitt forward Sheldon Jeter fouled out 12 seconds later and finished the night with only two points.

Louisville continued its onslaught despite the Panthers doubling their first half shooting percentage. Over the next 10 minutes, the Cardinals outscored Pitt 31-16.

The sole source of excitement for Panthers fans in the second half was the insertion of reserve center Rozelle Nix, who entered the game late in the half.

Nix, who often comes in at the end of hopeless games/, tallied four points and seven rebounds to the delight of the

January 25, 2017

small remaining crowd over the final nine minutes of play.

The Cardinals cruised the rest of the way, as Pitt was simply no match, winning by a final score of 106-51. Louisville’s Hall of Fame coach said he’s seen games like this before, though not often at the college level.

“Well, this was one of those nights — I’ve experienced a lot of them in professional basketball — where everything goes right for one team and everything goes wrong for another team,” Pitino said.

This loss effectively ends any chance the Panthers had to earn an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The team will have to play near-flawless basketball the rest of the season to have any hope of making the cut. It appears their only hope now is to make an improbable run to the ACC Tournament championship.

Pitt will remain at home to take on its fellow ACC basement dweller, the Clemson Tigers — who also sit at 1-6 in the conference — this Saturday at noon.

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