10-11-2018

The Pitt News

T h e i n d e p e n d e n t s t ude nt ne w spap e r of t he U niversity of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | October 11, 2018 ­| Volume 109 | Issue 39

WEBSTER SHARES POETRY

SENATE COUNCIL TALKS GRAD UNIONS

Madeline Gavatorta Staff Writer

Jonah Mixon Webster, Sawtooth Poetry Prize winner, sheds an emotional tear after discussing his personal hardships at the Center for African American Poetry and Poetics’ “Reading and Q&A with Jonah Mixon-Webster” Wednesday evening. Maria Heines | staff photographer

‘ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW’ TO RETURN Christian Snyder Editor-in-Chief

After a confusing last few days, those involved are confident “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” will see the stage this year despite a surprise cancellation announced on Monday. The show, hosted annually by the Engineering Student Council, encountered funding dilemmas — which some interpreted as a malicious attempt by Pitt’s Student Government Board to deny the group support.

But at what participants called a productive meeting on Tuesday night, SGB presented the

production staff and the executive board of the Engineering Student Council with options to keep one of Pitt’s traditions alive. Here’s how the confusion arose, how it was resolved and what the next steps are for “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” this year.

Drew Maks, the director of the annual production of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” for the past nine years, was optimistic when he emailed the director of activities for the Engineering Student Council on Monday to give an update on the show’s progress.

“Yesterday’s rehearsal went really well,” Maks wrote in an email. “The show is really starting to

come together.”

Just a few hours later, activities director Zachary Dissen replied.

“It is with great sadness that I announce the cancellation of RHPS this year. We encountered several budget problems, along with getting shortchanged by SGB,” Dissen wrote. “I am so sorry it had to end like this.”

Maks couldn’t believe it. Tasked with the “horrible job” of informing the cast, he sent an email that evening and CC’d members of SGB, the Engineering Student Council and the editorin-chief of The Pitt News.

See Rocky Horror on page 2

Graduate students testified for their right to unionize last week during public hearings in front of the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board from Oct. 1 to Oct. 5, arguing against the University over one central question — whether graduate students are students or employees. Representatives from the Graduate Student Organizing Committee brought their questions to Wednesday’s University Senate Council meeting to ask administrators themselves.

Rachel Coombs, president of the Graduate and Professional Student Government, asked the Senate Council about shared governance, a principle in higher education in which graduate students make decisions and the university is held administratively accountable. “[GPSG] wants to ask the Senate Council how the graduate and faculty unionization will alter or impact the shared governance system,” Coombs said.

This question has been central to the hearings — whether student-administration conversations will be negatively affected if a union is formed.

According to Chancellor Gallagher, graduate students are just students. If they were considered employees, Pitt might not be able to offer them as much as it can when they are students, according to Gallagher.

“We think it’s best to look at them as students See Senate Council on page 2

News

Senate Council, pg. 1

because that’s why they are doing this work,” Gallagher said after the meeting. “There’s mechanisms to support them in that context, and there could be unintended consequences if they are viewed at just a pure employment perspective.”

According to Coombs, these hearings don’t actually need to happen in order to vote on the Union — they’re optional. University spokesperson Joe Miksch said Pitt wanted to hold the hearings to challenge the graduate students’ right to unionize since Pitt doesn’t consider them employees.

“The hearing is necessary to determine whether our graduate students are considered employees,” Miksch said.

The first round of hearings were inconclusive and Coombs said there will be extended public hearing days, though dates and times haven’t yet been determined. She’s hoping to see similar results from other union hearings across Pennsylvania universities.

Rocky Horror, pg. 1 “Engineering Student Council has ‘encountered several budget problems,’ which is mostly due to the inability of the Student Government Board to govern with the best interests of students in mind,” he wrote. “In a time when the rights of LGBTQ+ members of the community are being assaulted, Student Government Board has taken away another safe space that welcomed all kinds of people with open arms.”

That email was the first time SGB President Maggie Kennedy heard the group was having funding issues. In a phone call Monday night, she was taken aback by the allegations that SGB wasn’t supporting students and that it disregarded the LGBTQ+ community.

“I’m just shocked by all of this and feeling frustrated,” she said. “I really believe in the mission of the show and creating safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community … I know that I and nobody else from SGB would ever do anything intentionally to shut down anything like this.”

Kennedy didn’t understand why the show was cancelled because Engineering Student Council is a governance group, which means its budget for the 2018-19 school year was approved in spring 2018. The group was denied $1,371.33

pittnews.com

“I am very disappointed that the University is using resources to argue a point that has already been ruled on by the [PLRB],” Coombs said, citing a 2016 Penn State case and a 2001 Temple University case, both in which the PLRB ruled in favor of graduate student unions. “The decision to unionize should be up to the graduate students.”

The Graduate Student Union wasn’t the only item on the agenda this meeting. Senate Council members also discussed the Campus Master Plan, which the University released a first draft of so the public could give input and suggestions.

“From my perspective, the entire value of a master planning process is to collaborate,” Gallagher said. “If we just had to think about ourselves and just do it, we wouldn’t bother, right? But the whole idea is to be, ‘This is what we are thinking about, this is what we think matters.’”

Selected by a committee of University faculty and staff, the Senate Council also presented the University Prize for Strategic, Inclusive and Diverse Excellence — UPSIDE Award — to the Office of Human Resources for its Career Transi-

tion project. Gallagher explained why he thought it deserved the award.

“I thought it was representative of the goals of the [Career Transitions project],” Gallagher said.

“We’re not trying to just celebrate great programs or making a difference but, frankly, we want to hold them up as a model so others can emulate, and I thought this program was both.”

Gallagher also discussed Pitt’s newest Community Engagement Center, which will open Oct. 18 in Homewood.

“What you are talking about is almost a permanent, physical infrastructure in that community,” Gallagher said. “You wouldn’t want to do that if you weren’t doing a lot in those areas.”

The center will act as a community hub for a variety of activities, including job fairs and discussion groups. Pitt already has a relationship with the Homewood community thanks to programs like Swanson School of Engineering’s Manufacturing Assistance Center.

“But it is also a platform to do more,” Gallagher said. “From the faculty and student side, this is like built-in expertise on how to work with that

community. From the community side, it’s builtin expertise on how to work with the University.”

University Senate President Chris Bonneau discussed an issue SBG addressed at recent meetings — making Pitt a tobacco-free campus.

“Universities have obligations to our students and to our people to prevent harm whenever possible,” Bonneau said. “We want to create an environment where the educational environment is foremost, and we know a lot about the dangers in engaging in the use of tobacco.”

Student Government Board President Maggie Kennedy also mentioned annual festivities for Mental Health Awareness Month. Kennedy encouraged faculty and administrator engagement during the month of mental health, which, she said, is just as important as physical health.

“Many people are silently struggling with different aspects of their mental health and we want to help break down that stigma and open up conversations of awareness,” Kennedy said. “Increasing awareness can help people feel less alone and can help us all connect each other to resources and networks for self-care.”

of its request for $2,661.33, which Dissen said was expected. SGB typically denies some funding for items that are non-reusable, including paper hats, a popcorn machine and gift bags for attendees. It wasn’t an issue at the time.

The license for the movie, which the production requires to project the 1975 comedy-horror, usually costs about $750. But when Dissen inquired, he found out it cost $1,000 this year. He was able to negotiate the price down, but just a little bit. This alone wasn’t a big deal.

Then when Dissen tried to reserve the William Pitt Union Assembly Room, he discovered Pitt Program Council had already booked the room for the dates needed for the show. The next best option, he said, was Bellefield Hall — but Dissen said Bellefield Hall cost at least $1,000 more.

Moreover, while in other years the SGB denial for funding for non-reusable items wouldn’t have been an issue, the group’s collection of props and costumes — valued at nearly $600 and consistently denied by SGB for being non-reusable — went missing.

Faced with dilemma after dilemma, Dissen and the executive board couldn’t see a way out — so he sent the email announcing the cancellation to Maks, which attributed the funding dilemmas

in part to underfunding from SGB. Maks’ email took it one step further — thinking Dissen meant SGB was to blame for the cancellation, his email accused the board of eliminating a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community.

“I am so sorry the University of Pittsburgh has failed you in this way,” it said.

In response, Kennedy called a meeting for Tuesday night after SGB’s weekly public meeting and invited the Engineering Student Council, the show’s cast and crew and members of SGB. The private meeting, attended by more than a dozen people, clarified what happened with this year’s production and outlined the multiple unexpected increases in price that led Dissen and the Engineering Student Council to cancel the show.

The meeting also addressed what SGB called a “misplacement of blame” about why the event was slated to be cancelled.

“I realize that I was not clear and [my email] implicated SGB as having some sort of malice toward this event,” Dissen said after the meeting.

“I take responsibility for that miscommunication, and I think that’s what caused a lot of the conflict.”

After listening to the Engineering Student Council and cast’s concerns, SGB outlined some possible solutions — including the budget

modification process, which allows groups to reallocate money in their own budgets to fund other events, finding a student organization to co-sponsor the event, crowdfunding the production with Pitt’s proprietary Pitt Engage platform and applying for various supplementary grants. “[SGB] is basically the reason why we’re going to be able to have the event after all because of their immediate support, working with us and realizing this is an extenuating circumstance,” Dissen said. “They’re using all the knowledge they have to help us have the event because they realize how important it is to so many people.”

A new venue has not yet been determined, but the show will go on. Alex Rangel, a fourthyear neuroscience major who will play Eddie in this year’s show — his fourth time with “Rocky Horror” — can’t wait.

“I’m not a theater major, it’s just a hobby for me,” he said. “But this takes up my whole fall semester. This is the biggest entertainment for me, in a part where I feel I can put something back into the Pitt community.”

The show is still scheduled for its original date and time, Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.

“I’m confident, I’m happy now,” Rangel said.

“I’m ready.”

October 11, 2018

2

Opinions

OP-ED:

from the editorial board

Victory for Democrats: Racist committee member resigns Democrats are well-known for championing anti-racist causes — but until Tuesday, Allegheny County employed a racist Democrat within its own Committee. Mark Salvas, recently hired as the Allegheny County Democratic Committee’s executive director, resigned yesterday for his numerous Facebook posts that contained “racist undertones.”

Thankfully Salvas is no longer with the party, as he resigned yesterday. The senior members of the committee who pushed him out demonstrated that society is moving in the right direction on racial issues — but they should screen their new hires more carefully in the future.

“Because diversity is the backbone of the Democratic party and African-Americans are a strong voting block in the party, we should have an executive director who’s committed to inclusivity and represents all people,” Pennsylvania Rep. Austin Davis said. “It was clear there were a lot of questions whether the now former executive director would be able to do that.”

Among Salvas’ controversial posts was one in protest of Colin Kaepernick.

“I stand for the flag. I kneel at the cross,” Salvas said.

Another post, which Salvas shared on his Facebook page, showed his support for the Confederate flag in response to 21-year-old white supremacist Dylann Roof shooting 12 African-Americans at a Charleston church in 2015.

“A crazy guy shoots up a church and you ban a flag?” the post read.

Not only are these posts racially insensitive, but they oppose the Democratic party’s political platform — three-quarters of Democrats supported Kaepernick’s kneeling during the national anthem and 83 percent oppose the Confederate flag.

pittnews.com

Considering that Salvas made these posts several years ago and they were publicly accessible on the internet, he shouldn’t have been hired in the first place.

“We have a zero-tolerance for racism within the party platform and these allegations were serious, and I think the chairwoman handled it appropriately,” Pennsylvania Democratic Committee Chair Nancy Patton Mills said.

But County Committee Chair Eileen Kelly failed to comment on Salvas’ resignation even though he was hired under her leadership. Salvas isn’t the first committee member under Kelly who’s displayed problematic, non-progressive tendencies, either.

Kevin Quigley was elected to a committee leadership post earlier this year, even though he was charged with assaulting his girlfriend in 2014 — but Kelly seemingly brushed it off.

“There is no procedure to remove someone who holds an elected position,” Kelly told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette when the charges were dismissed in 2014.

Even though Kelly couldn’t forcibly remove Quigley from office — he remains an Allegheny County committee member — a Democratic committee leader should still denounce his actions, as domestic violence certainly isn’t in line with progressive values. Doing so would set a more aggressive precedent against those who oppose progressive values and basic decency.

Salvas’ resignation is a huge victory for Allegheny County Democrats. It shows that Pittsburgh is making progress toward healing racial divisiveness. But the point remains — people like Salvas and Quigley should never have been hired in the first place.

COMING OUT CAN SET YOU FREE

The phrase “coming out” has a sense of finality to it — the single announcement that changes everything. Nothing could be further from the truth. In light of National Coming Out Day on Oct. 11, I’d like to discuss coming out as the lengthy process it is and give tips from some painfully awkward experiences I’ve had.

The process starts with coming out to the most difficult and stubborn person — yourself. There’s a limited range of outcomes when coming out to other people, from broken relationships to celebration, but coming out to yourself requires a change in perception and how you view normalcy.

For several years I knew I liked guys, but I was still under the impression that I would get married to a girl and live a “normal” life. It’s difficult to understand feelings that are often suppressed by a society that shies away from differences it can’t understand. Depending on one’s background, it can be easier or harder, but most people breaking from heteronormativity elaborate extensively on who they are, constantly reassuring themselves that their feelings are perfectly normal. This brings me to my first tip for allies — don’t question someone’s identity when they come out, because believe me, they’ve done enough questioning already.

Once you’ve become more comfortable with your identity, you gradually come out to people who are close to you. Oftentimes it’s a very disappointing, anticlimactic moment, unless you’re really good at acting. I remember spending two months contemplating whether I should come out to one of my friends and when I finally did, it was over text, at night, sweating in my basement in the middle of winter. In retrospect, I find it funny I was so worried considering he was gay and out himself.

He even responded, saying, “I knew since the day we met.” This brings me to my second suggestion for allies — if you have a flamboyant

October 11, 2018

friend or one whose identity may seem more obvious, refrain from saying “I know” or “it’s about time” the moment they tell you. It gets a little annoying realizing other people knew who you were before you did.

And then there’s that official, public announcement. Some people choose to do it over social media, reaching all their friends and family with a single post, while others choose to do it at big gatherings and outings. Everyone’s style is different, but the deliberation and planning that goes into it is pretty much the same. It’s stressful, nerve-racking and exciting.

National Coming Out Day provides a time to do it since there will always be a countless stream of reasons of why you should wait and why the time isn’t right. It serves as a great conversation starter — although I remember asking my parents if they knew what day it was last Oct. 11 and all they said was, “Wednesday?”

If you plan on coming out, make sure you’re ready. Don’t rush into it. You get the rest of your life to come out, every single day. That being said, coming out gets easier and way more fun.

There’s a reason the LGBTQ+ community identifies so strongly with the word “pride” — you become proud of you are. I love being gay and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Now that I’m really comfortable with my identity, I find creative, funny ways of coming out to new people I meet — I have so many cringe-worthy jokes waiting to be triggered by something someone says.

My point is, coming out isn’t always a joyous single moment like people make it seem.

It starts with a lot of confusion, contemplation and seriousness, but it can turn into something fun that you look forward to. The public announcement is just a small part in an extensive process.

Ravi Gandhi is a senior, a bioengineering and electrical engineering major and a guest contributor to The Pitt News. You can reach him at rmg88@pitt.edu.

3

Kavanaugh FBI investigation inadequate Allison Dantinne

One week was certainly not enough time to gather all relevant information — the FBI only interviewed a fraction of eligible witnesses.

For the first time in America’s history, the Senate But this isn’t the first time the FBI has conducted confirmed a justice to the Supreme Court with only an incomplete investigation. When Anita Hill levied a 38 percent of the nation’s support. Even as the vote sexual assault allegations against Justice Clarence happened, throngs of protesters could be heard yellThomas in 1991 during his confirmation process, the ing “shame, shame, shame!” from the public galleries, FBI never talked to the four witnesses who could correferencing Christine Blasey Ford’s sexual assault alroborate Hill’s accusations, according to Jane Mayer legations against Justice Kavanaugh. and Jill Abramson, who wrote the book “Strange JusMany senators — especially Republicans like tice” about Hill’s case.

Mitch McConnell — beAccording to Hill, lieved Ford’s allegations FBI agents even miswere too vague and inquoted her in their final conclusive to disqualify report — a report that Kavanaugh from the Suwas cobbled together preme Court. after a meager 72 hours “The American peoof investigation. The ple know that sexual report was clearly a misconduct is gravely tool for Republicans to serious,” McConnell, smear Hill and secure R-Ky., said in a floor Thomas’ confirmation. speech Tuesday. “But It seems the FBI used the American people Hill’s inadequate invesalso insist that vague, tigation as a model for unsubstantiated and unFord’s — a slap in the corroborated allegations face to not only those of 30-plus-year-old mistwo women, but every conduct … is nowhere sexual assault survivor. near the grounds to nulThese lackluster investilify someone’s career gations tell women their or destroy their good concerns are less imname.” portant than the politiMcConnell’s right in cal motivations behind some ways — many of confirming a Supreme the alleged witnesses Court justice. who could have corThe FBI investigation roborated Ford’s case Brett Kavanaugh, associate justice of the Supreme Court, speaks during a ceremonial swearing-in event in was nothing more than a weren’t interviewed, nor the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Monday. Olivier Douliery | ABACA PRESS | TNS pacifier for Democratic were Kavanaugh’s other senators and the Ameriaccusers. But that’s not who claimed he was a violent drunk while in school. can public, something to point to in order to legitiFord’s failing — it’s the failing of the lackluster, “limAbove all else, Dr. Ford and Justice Kavanaugh mize Justice Kavanaugh’s seat on the Supreme Court. ited-in-scope” FBI investigation that President Donthemselves were not interviewed by the FBI. This It was clear from the moment Trump approved only ald J. Trump approved last week. matters because the Senate testimonies were mud- a one-week investigation that he never intended for The investigation initially seemed like a victory dled by partisanship and politics — but the FBI uses any real evidence to be uncovered. for those who opposed Kavanaugh’s nomination, but The interviews concerning Ford’s sexual assault scientifically proven interview techniques, examinfrom the start, it was clearly designed to favor Kavaing the interviewee’s body language and vocal tech- allegations were rushed and lacked depth. There’s no naugh’s version of events. The FBI interviewed only benefit to being quick rather than thorough when niques along with the words they utter. nine people, most of whom were Kavanaugh’s high Interviewing all witnesses could have consider- considering a position of this magnitude. school friends — Patrick “P.J.” Smyth, Timothy GaudWe can never allow ourselves to be this complaably helped the credibility of the testimony — espeette, Christopher “Squi” Garrett and Mark Judge. But cially Ford’s. But instead, the FBI seemed to target cent when investigating any sexual assault investigathe FBI already knew Kavanaugh’s friends would supinterviewees whom they knew would side with Kava- tion — especially when it’ll potentially influence the port him because they all released statements denycountry’s political scene for decades. naugh — which doesn’t tell the whole story. ing that the party happened in the first place.

For The Pitt News

pittnews.com

The FBI did interview Deborah Ramirez, the second woman who accused Justice Kavanaugh of sexual assault, but conveniently ignored the 20 witnesses Ramirez and her legal team provided. It never interviewed Julie Swetnik, Kavanaugh’s third accuser, either. This suggests the FBI didn’t take subsequent allegations of sexual assault against Kavanaugh seriously.

The FBI didn’t delve into Ford’s evidence either, glossing over several witnesses suggested by Dr. Ford’s lawyers and Kavanaugh’s roommate at Yale,

October 11, 2018

4

Sponsored Content

A compendium of scary attractions and all things Halloween around Pittsburgh

Fright Farm Fright Farm is open and horror has never been so much fun.

Ride the hay wagon through abandoned remains of old times.

Dare to enter Frightmare Mansion. Tread lightly through hallowed grounds. Fright Farm in Smithfield, Pa. It’s shrieking awesome. Visit frightfarm.com.

Trax Farms Join Trax Farms for our 49th annual fall festival every weekend in October. Enjoy hayrides, a pumpkin patch, a three-acre corn maze, great food, live music and more. On Wednesday and Friday nights, enjoy a hayride up the hill with our hops & hayrides and evening hayrides. For details, visit traxfarms.com.

The Manor This October, The Manor will be showing Halloween classics beginning with Tom Holland’s vampire horror Fright Night (1985), followed by the mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows (2014), Stanley Kubrick’s widely renowned The Shining (1980) starring Jack Nicholson, and finally John Carpenter’s Halloween (1978), the story of serial killer Michael Myers. pittnews.com

October 11, 2018

5

Culture

MERANTE’S MAKES LATE-NIGHT MEATBALLS A MUST

Frances Tirado For The Pitt News

“Local Apple Cider,” “Butternut Squash,” “Squash Ravioli,” “Local Pumpkins,” read the orange- and green-colored signs that cover the storefront of Groceria Merante, a popular Italian deli located in South Oakland.

Pumpkins and squash clutter the sidewalk during the day and the smell of meatballs and hot sausage waft from the boulevard to Mad Mex on weekend nights, signaling the start of fall at the local grocery.

While the colorful signs may be visible year-round, the pumpkins and gourds are seasonal — just like Merante’s weekend meatball stand. The stand offers a homemade option for late-night cuisine in Oakland and is a way for the store to connect with one of its biggest consumers — stu-

dents in Oakland.

On Saturday nights through November, a tent and pop-up table filled with hot and ready-to-eat goodies replace the outdoor produce and floral section of the store. The telltale signs advertise hot apple cider, meatball sandwiches and homemade sausages.

The student population in Oakland has been growing rapidly in the past few years, partially due to Pitt’s recent expansions into the area. A few years ago, some of the employees began to brainstorm new ways to appeal to the multitude of students living in South Oakland — thus, the meatball stand was created. After the meatball stand was put on a hiatus last year for the reopening of Merante Bros. Italian-American Market in Uptown, it’s back to warm up hungry Pitt students traveling to and from parties.

Nick Merante, an employee, said the idea

to sell late-night meatballs began two years ago with his older brother Lenny Merante and his cousin Santino Merante.

“They sold out a majority of the time unless it was raining or too cold. I don’t think they did apple cider, though,” Nick Merante said.

Nick Merante explained exactly how the meatball stand caters to the student demographic, such as staying open for longer hours during the Penn State game.

“The first Saturday we started was the Pitt-Penn State game. That was the only time we did it throughout the day and the night.

We sold that day probably 400 hot sandwiches. It was pretty crazy,” Nick Merante said.

Lenny Merante echoed the ways that the grocery store — and its fall late-night meatballs, apple cider and other treats — inter-

acts with the student demographic.

“I pretty much recommend anyone of age that they should get our apple cider and mix it with whiskey,” he said. “You can add cinnamon, too.”

Nick Merante added to this by talking about the in-store experience at Groceria Merante — a store of only 900 square feet but more produce per square inch than Walmart, according to his mother.

The grocery offers the basics — milk, eggs, bread, fruit, veggies — as well as freshbaked Italian bread, homemade deli sandwiches and pasta. Merante also has what Nick Merante calls a “lazy freezer” — a freezer stocked with ready-made food for students and other customers that prefer onthe-go convenience.

However, some students do go there for See Merante’s on page 7

‘Pitt Tonight’ hosts ‘Collegiates & Comedians’ show Siddhi Shockey

former host of the event Phil Forrence. As he finished his opening remarks, DiSilvio Staff Writer swiftly introduced Nate Nulph, a 2016 Pitt Lorenzo DiSilvio took the stage in Nordy’s graduate. Nulph’s bits were filled with obPlace last night with the lights turned low in servational takes on the depressing motifs front of an audience ready to listen. of adulthood, drawing inspiration from co“You know, riding the bus really gives you medians like John Mulaney and Mike Birbia chance to look around like you’re in a glass glia. menagerie covered in fingerprints — big, “I like to compare myself to Brad Pitt,” greasy fingerprints, just everywhere,” DiSNulph says to the audience. “But you know, ilvio said with a deadpan look. The crowd like Brad Pitt if they sold him at Aldi.” roared with laughter as DiSilvio began his He continued by talking about his love introductory remarks. of Chinese food — or rather, the most quesThis laughter was thanks to the stand-up tionable Chinese food he can find from the show “Collegiates and Comedians,” a monthrestaurants along Oakland Avenue. Nulph ly event hosted by “Pitt Tonight.” Performreminisced about memories from his childers for the evening included Pitt alum Nate hood, especially the day he finally got his Nulph, “Pitt Tonight” host Andrew Dow, visfirst sex talk in the middle of a Dairy Queen. iting comedian from New York City Pranav Guest comedian Pranav Behari delivers a joke at Wednesday night’s His humor traversed between themes of Behari and local comedian Derek Minto as “Collegiates and Comedians.”

Sarah Cutshall | staff photographer anxiety, ex-girlfriends and the general disthe headliner. appointment of becoming an adult. other venues like the Burning Bridges Comedy Club This month’s event was hosted by DiSilvio, As a graduate of Pitt, Nulph hopes to introduce a junior English writing major. He has performed in Lawrenceville. DiSilvio became involved with See Comedians on page 8 stand-up for five years and has opened for acts at “Collegiates and Comedians” through an old friend,

pittnews.com

October 11, 2018

6

Groceria Merante on the corner of Bates Street and McKee Place.

Thomas Yang | assistant visual editor

Merante’s, pg. 6 authentic produce to cook their own meals.

Lenny Merante was surprised at the recent shift in student chefs. He also offers his Alfredo recipe, which he says is “better than his mom’s.” He declined to let it into print, however.

“Students cook now, definitely more than before, and I’ve been here since I was 13. I’d say it’s gone from one-third of students to two-thirds of students,” Lenny Merante said.

Nick Merante chimed in and added that the amount of recipes his mother and aunt — the two women that run the store — give out could be responsible for that increase.

Junior Clara Grantier, who studies environmental studies and sociology, reflected on the hospitality of the store and why she has become a regular customer.

“I go there often enough that they feel like neighbors, or like extended Italian family. They are always ready to chat and help you find what you want,” Grantier said.

That atmosphere pervades the late-night meatball stand as well. Last weekend, Italian music played from the stand and students walked by exclaiming their love for Merante between surprisingly well-crafted jokes about sausages. Grantier is also a fan of the relatively new late-night addition.

“I think it’s great that they’re out there — they are friendly faces to say hi to on the way home. Also, I know their food is sig-

pittnews.com

nificantly higher quality than what else you could get in the area late-night,” Grantier said.

While some, preferring the satisfaction of greasy fries over homemade hot sausages, may beg to differ, the meatball stand is more than just a gourmet option for drunk cravings. The deli has been an Oakland staple since the early ‘90s and is part of the sometimes overlooked Pittsburgh tradition of high-quality cuisine.

One of Oakland’s best qualities is its convergence of different communities. From the “then” of authentic Italian residents to the “now” of students, UPMC employees and the like, Groceria Merante has always been welcoming and adapting to all.

Adapting during the school year can mean several things, from anticipating students’ cravings for hot cider or cookies — which have been periodically included on the late-night menu — to anticipating their less virtuous inclinations. Nick Merante explained this on Saturday as a group of about 20 students walked past the stand for the fourth time that night.

Nick Merante is pleased with the fusion of the traditional Italian food the restaurant is known for and the quick, late-night style the busy college kids love.

“It’s actually like the crossover is something we’ve been attempting to figure out — trying to keep the authenticity of Italian food alive, but also having [it] on-the-go because that’s what students want,” he said.

October 11, 2018

7

Comedians, pg. 6 college students to stand-up through his routines.

With the comedy scene in Pittsburgh growing, he thinks there’s a lot of potential for it to become a positive outlet for people.

“I think this is a good way to show college students what comedy is before they even get out of school,” Nulph said. “I don’t think people understand how great the Pittsburgh comedy scene is, and this is a good way to highlight people that do comedy.”

The audience was still laughing from Nulph’s segment when Andrew Dow, a junior sociology and communication major, arrived on stage. He opened by commenting on his own clothing style, referring to his loose-fitting white T-shirt and black pants as a “gentrified wiccan.”

Dow continued by commenting on his life as a member of the LGBTQ+ community and the hilarity of his interactions with men in his life. The audience laughed as Dow told stories about dinners with his friends’ families and his time working at TJ Maxx.

For a while, Dow was unsure about his role in comedy, but through events like “Collegiates and Comedians” he has felt inspired to give stand-up a try.

“I’m the host of ‘Pitt Tonight,’ but before that, this kind of inspired me to do stand-up more because I saw a lot of my friends, like Lorenzo, and I thought

pittnews.com

that it was cool,” Dow said.

After Dow wrapped up his routine, the audience took a moment to settle down, but not before Pranav Behari — who headlined the Milwaukee Comedy Festival — commanded everyone to keep the applause going for all of the performers.

As Behari demanded the applause continue, he gave different members of the audience characters — “Wiccan girl” and “Wednesday Addams-looking girl” — and lead the audience in a five-minute round of applause. He continues with jokes about his uncomfortable sexual encounters with women and relationships.

The night’s headlining act featured Derek Minto.

He sent the audience into a final reel of laughter with stories about bullies calling him fat, his ability to sweat through an entire show and his drunken adventures as an RA at Duquesne University.

After the show was over, the audience applauded, still giggling. For DiSilvio, these shows are about creating a sense of togetherness in a fun and dynamic way. He hopes that in the future, the program can continue growing and spreading laughter through stand-up.

“Comedy is happening at this university and it’s good comedy,” DiSilvio said. “There are people here and we’re growing and if you want to get involved, college is a good time to start. It’s a good opening and we’re fun people.”

October 11, 2018

8

Sports

PANTHER SPOTLIGHT:

EDWARD KIZZA, AMAIA PENA, KAYLA LUND

Tessa Sayers

thers have earned all four of their wins with Pena as the goalkeeper.

Staff Writer The Panthers are currently 4-8-1 The 2018 season so far has been full on the season and remain winless in of many highs and lows for Pitt athletthe ACC. While it can be difficult to ics so far. The men’s soccer team beat see any positives in the midst of the reClemson 2-1 in overtime and then fell build under first-year head coach Ranto Cleveland State 4-3. The women’s dy Waldrum, Pena can be a source of soccer team remains winless in the hope for all Pitt fans that the best is yet ACC but has already won more games to come for this young women’s soccer than all of 2017. Meanwhile, the volteam. The Panthers will look to snap leyball team is making history with the a six-game losing streak in their next best start to a season in program hisgame against No. 6 Virginia on Sunday. tory. The Panthers are one of two unVolleyball: Kayla Lund defeated teams in the NCAA, having Pitt volleyball is in the midst of a just moved up two spots in the AVCA historic season. The Panthers are curCoaches Poll and ranking No. 6 overall. rently 18-0 — the best start in program While all three teams have yielded history. The team’s success wouldn’t different levels of success, there are Sophomore Kayla Lund has completed 249 kills this be possible without a few key players, athletes Pitt fans can look to for hope season, ranking her second in the ACC. including sophomore outside hitter as the year progresses. Edward Kizza, Thomas Yang | ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR Kayla Lund.

Amaia Pena and Kayla Lund are all Lund leads the Panthers and ranks having standout seasons on the field game on average. He also ranks third in the ACC second in the ACC with 282.5 points, and on the court, leading their teams to improve- in shots taken with 32. averaging 4.71 points per set. ment in some cases and hopefully championships The numbers aren’t surprising, considering With 13 games left in the regular season, in others.

Kizza has had a shot on goal in 11 of Pitt’s 12 Lund has already notched 249 kills in 2018, surMen’s soccer: Edward Kizza games this season, earning a .667 shot on goal passing her 2017 total by 19. She also sits at secThe men’s soccer team is currently 6-6 over- percentage. He’s played in and started all of Pitt’s ond in the ACC for total kills. Lund’s season-high all and 2-3 in the ACC. While five of its six losses games this season, recording 1,027 total minutes.

23 kills came in Pitt’s 3-1 win against Charleston were against ranked opponents, Pitt’s overall re- Kizza will look to shoulder the team’s offensive on Sept. 14. cord still leaves a lot to be desired. Luckily for the load once again when the Panthers play Virginia Lund is also dominating from the service line.

Panthers, they have a bright future in sophomore Tech on the road Friday.

She is tied for first in the ACC in service aces with forward Edward Kizza.

Women’s soccer: Amaia Pena 24. She earned a season-high four aces against Kizza earned his second hat trick of the seaRedshirt sophomore goalkeeper Amaia Pena High Point on Sept. 15. son on Monday in the Panthers’ 4-3 loss against had a career day Sunday against Clemson. She reOn defense, Lund is second on the team with Cleveland State. Kizza has scored in six of Pitt’s corded 10 saves in Pitt’s 2-0 loss. After appearing 153 digs, including a season-high 13 against Flor12 games this season, including three multi-goal in seven games as a redshirt freshman in 2017, ida State. games. His first hat trick came in the fourth game Pena is seeing most of the time in goal in the 2018 Lund is just one of five players who has apof the season against the University of Delaware. season — and she’s proving why. peared in every set this season for the Panthers, Ten games later, on Friday, Kizza was the hero Pena is ranked second in the ACC with 56 and it makes sense as she leads Pitt in four categoagainst Clemson, scoring the Panthers’ only goals saves and 4.67 saves per game on average. She ries — total kills, kills per set, total aces and aces in the 2-1 overtime win. faced a career-high 18 shots against Louisville ear- per set.

Of Pitt’s 19 goals this season, Kizza is responsi- lier this season, only allowing the Cardinals two As the Panthers go up in the rankings and get ble for 11 of them. His 11 total goals lead not only goals in the match. Pena also has two shutouts this closer to making a run in the NCAA tournament, the Panthers, but the entire ACC. Kizza also leads season against Morehead State and Duquesne. keep an eye on Lund. She is one of the youngthe team in points, shots and shots on goal. Out Starting nine games and seeing playing time est hitters on the court, but also one of the most of those categories, Kizza is ranked second in the in 12 of Pitt’s 13 games this season, Pena has given dominating. Next up for Pitt is a Friday-night ACC for points with 22, earning 1.83 points per up 19 of Pitt’s 29 goals in 908 minutes. The Panroad matchup with North Carolina.

pittnews.com

October 11, 2018

TAKE 5:

Fultz, Futility, Finance The Pitt News Staff

We’re just one week away from the beginning of the NBA regular season, at which point professional basketball, football and baseball will all officially overlap. It’s a special time on the calendar, and The Pitt News staff has a take for each sports season.

Markelle, new and improved The beginning of a new NBA season means it’s time to start making predictions for the upcoming year, including preseason projections for some of the individual awards. There is no honor more difficult to predict than the Most Improved Player Award, given annually to a player who shows significant improvement from the season prior.

This year is no different, as there are numerous players in different cities and systems who are expected to make a leap in their play this season. Still, with loads of untapped talent and nowhere to go but up, there is one player who has the best opportunity to be the NBA’s most improved — Philadelphia 76ers point guard Markelle Fultz.

Fultz was the first overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft but his first season was, frankly, terrible. He only played in 14 games for the Sixers last season, averaging just 7.1 points per game on 40.5 percent shooting. Fultz also shot an abysmal 47.6 percent from the free-throw line. His poor shooting was a combination of a few factors, most notably a strange shoulder ailment that resulted in a complete loss of confidence in his own shooting ability.

Now Fultz is back for his second season and he is set up to succeed. With a fully healed shoulder and a reworked jump shot, he should be able to shoot the ball much better with his See Take 5 on page 10

9

The Pitt News SuDoku 10/11/18

The Pitt news crossword 10/11/18

courtesy of dailysudoku.com

pittnews.com

Take 5, pg. 9 confidence restored. Fultz will also slide right into a role where he should shine, as a quality ball handler and second or third scoring option.

Fultz is back. He’s healthy, he’s motivated and he’s angry.

— Cale Berger, Staff Writer Paper Tigers Once again, the Cincinnati Bengals are off to a hot start — but in typical Bengals fashion, they haven’t proven much. Cincinnati is 4-1 with wins over the Colts, Ravens, Falcons and Dolphins — not exactly murderers’ row, and the rest of the Bengals’ schedule isn’t very daunting either. They’ll get their first real test when they host the Steelers on Sunday.

It’s like clockwork for the Bengals almost every year. They start hot and talk about how different this Bengals team is and how great a head coach Marvin Jones is, only to go .500 for the rest of the season and lose in the wild-card game — again, like they’ve done for Jones’ entire tenure as head coach.

Honestly, it’s inexplicable. There is so much talent on that team, particularly on the offensive side of the ball. Joe Mixon, A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and Giovani Bernard should be enough for Andy Dalton to work with, but his inconsistent play combined with poor defensive coaching yield the same, disappointing results every year.

My advice — don’t trust the Bengals. Not until they prove they can compete with the league contenders or make some drastic changes. A coaching change is the obvious answer, but I think a quarterback change may be necessary as well.

— Stephen Thompson, Staff Writer Show me the money One of MLB’s distinct approaches to professional sports is the lack of a salary cap. The lack of a cap often benefits big-market teams, which can bring in more money and in turn spend more to assemble a winning team. While there have been low-spending teams that find sporadic success in the regular season and playoffs, the high spenders usually win more.

Out of the past seven World Series winners, only two teams were below the league average for total payroll — one of which was the 2017 Houston Astros. The other team was the Kansas City Royals, and their story still proves that money wins. The Royals had the 18th-highest payroll at around $98 million in 2014, and unfortunately lost in the World Series. After that loss, they bumped their payroll to the 13thhighest and managed to best the New York Mets

October 11, 2018

for the championship the next year. Unsurprisingly, the other five championship teams were all in the top 10 for total spending.

Regarding this year’s teams, the biggest surprise was the Oakland Athletics grabbing a wild-card slot with the 28th-highest total payroll. However, they got rocked in the elimination game by the New York Yankees, who spent just short of $100 million more than the Athletics this year. The only remaining playoff team that’s below league-average payroll is the Milwaukee Brewers, who are spending roughly $54 million less than the next-highest remaining playoff team.

Without a spending cap, the MLB heavily favors those whose pockets run deep. While the smaller-spending teams can earn minor victories, it’s unlikely they’ll ever win big.

— Sami Abu-Obaid, Staff Writer It ain’t easy being Brees-y New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees broke the all-time passing yardage record for the NFL on Monday night, surpassing the great Peyton Manning and Brett Favre. This event begs the question — who is the best quarterback of all time? Now, most people would throw out names like Manning or Favre, as well as Dan Marino (Hail to Pitt), Joe Montana and, of course, the great Tom Brady. In my opinion, Brees deserves to have his name mentioned among those legends.

With 363 passing yards Monday night in a blowout victory against the Washington Redskins, Brees stands at 72,103 yards for his career.

Not only is he number one in that category, but he also ranks first in career completion percentage (67.1), most completions of all time (6,344) and most seasons leading the NFL in passing yards (7), as well as fourth all-time in passing touchdowns (499) and many more statistics. Keeping in mind that he is still active and doesn’t appear to be slowing down at all, Brees has a real chance to widen the gaps in categories he leads in and close the gap in ones he doesn’t.

Highlighted by a Super Bowl victory in 2009, a time when the city of New Orleans was still recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and needed something to be happy about, Brees has had an illustrious career.

That’s why I’ve always been confused as to why most people don’t consider him in the debate for GOAT status. But until they do, he will remain the most underrated player to ever throw a football.

— Jack Clay, For the Pitt News

Find the full story online at

pittnews.com

10

I N D E X

Rentals & Sublet • NORTH OAKLAND • SOUTH OAKLAND • SHADYSIDE • SQUIRREL HILL • SOUTHSIDE • NORTHSIDE • BLOOMFIELD • ROOMMATES • OTHER

For Rent South Oakland **2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Bed­room Houses/ Apart­ments in South Oak­land. Available for rent August 2019.

Very clean with dif­ferent amenities (dishwasher, A/C, washer and dryer, 1‑3 baths, off‑street parking, newer ap­ pliances & sofas).

Check out my Face­ book page: https:­// www.facebook.­com/ KenEckenrode­ RealEstate/. Call Ken at 412‑287‑4438 for more informa­ tion and showings or email name, phone number, desired number of bed­ rooms, and anything else you want in housing to kenshous­ ing@gmail.com. **AUGUST 2019:

Furnished studios, 1,2,3,4 bedroom

apartments. No pets.

Non‑smokers pre­

ferred. 412‑621‑0457.

2 br apt South Oak­ land. $1,095/mo + electric.

New kitchen, bal­cony, and A/C Call 412‑6661‑6622 2‑3‑4‑5‑6‑7 bedroom apartments and houses available in

pittnews.com

Employment • CHILDCARE • FOOD SERVICES • UNIVERSITY • INTERNSHIPS • RESEARCH • VOLUNTEERING • OTHER

May and August 2019. Nice, clean, free laundry, in­ cludes exterior main‑ tenance, new appli‑ ances, spa­cious, and located on Semple, Oak­land Ave., Mey‑ ran Ave., Welsford, Bates, Dawson, and Mckee 412‑414‑9629. douridaboud­ propertymanage­ ment.com 3‑bed room available immediatley $1,495 central air dishwasher laundry 256 N Craig street 412‑271‑5550 3436 Ward Spacious 2‑Bed room, 1 bath equipped kitchen $1,195 + electric, heat included 412‑271‑5550 4 BR HOME ‑ SEM­ PLE STREET, LO­ CATED NEAR LOU­ ISA. EQUIPPED KITCHEN, FULL BASEMENT. NEW CENTRAL AIR ADDED. AVAIL­ ABLE IMMEDI­ ATELY AND RENT­ING FOR MAY AND AUGUST 2019.

(412) 343‑4289 or 412‑330‑9498.

Before signing a lease, be aware that no more than 3 unre­lated people can share a single unit. Check property’s compliance with codes. Call City’s Per­mits, Licensing & In­spections.

Classifieds

For sale

• AUTO • BIKES • BOOKS • MERCHANDISE • FURNITURE • REAL ESTATE • PETS

services

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

412‑255‑2175.

North / South O Houses and Apart­ ments with Laundry and Central Air Call 412‑38‑Lease

notices

• ADOPTION • EVENTS • LOST AND FOUND • STUDENT GROUPS • WANTED • OTHER

St., North Neville St., 412‑287‑5712

Office Help Wanted

Research Studies Participants needed for a research study of reading and lan­guage.

You will be asked to come to the LRDC on multiple oc­casions to complete tests.

You will be paid $10/ hour for ev­ery hour of your time. For more infor­mation, please con­tact Nadait at 412‑624‑7083 or nig48@pitt.edu.

Employment Other 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 BR

apartments available

May & August 2019.

South Oakland, North Oakland, and South­ side on Bouqet St.,

Meyran Ave., At­wood and Sarah St. Call

Hiring After‑School, Evening, and Week­ end Sitters. Great pay.

Flexible sched­ules and fulfilling work with a wide va­riety of families. Must

Insertions

1-15 Words

16-30 Words

1X

2X

3X

4X

$6.30

$11.90

$17.30

$22.00

$7.50

$14.20

$20.00

$25.00

5X $27.00 $29.10

6X $30.20 $32.30

Add. + $5.00 + $5.40

(Each Additional Word: $0.10)

Deadline:

Two business days prior by 3pm | Email: advertising@pittnews.com | Phone: 412.648.7978

have a car and insur­ ance. Contact Fran, College Nan­nies and Tutors, 440‑520‑4430, arlington­varecruiter@ college­nannies.com.

MAD MEX SHADY­ SIDE IS HIRING BUSSERS! The BUSSER per­ forms an important role in ensuring the best experience for our guests. Responsi­ bilities include: · removing used tableware between courses · clearing and re­setting tables · delivering food to guests The BUSSER posi­tion requires NO PRIOR EXPERI­ENCE and is a great way to learn the ropes with poten­ tial for growth. We offer a FLEXIBLE SCHED­ULE to work around class times and BEN­EFITS and PAID TIME OFF for full time employees.

Apply in person (220 S. Highland Ave., Pittsburgh 15206), by email (shadyside@­ madmex.com) or on­ line (www.bigburrito.­ com/jobs). We are an equal opportunity em­ployer.

Employment

R A T E S

Mon‑Sat 8am‑5pm. $12/hour

Craig Distributing Co. 313 N. Craig St. Pittsburgh 15213

October 11, 2018

11

pittnews.com

October 11, 2018

12