The Pitt News T h e in de p e n d e n t st ude nt ne w spap e r of t he University of Pittsburgh
PITT OPENS SEARCH FOR SCHOOL OF EDUCATION DEAN
Triple option
Pitt ready to face GT’s high-power offense pg. 8
October 16, 2015 | Issue 44 | Volume 106
Dale Shoemaker News Editor
The Pitt community — students, faculty, staff, alumni and others — will have a say in who takes over as dean of Pitt’s School of Education. Two and a half months after Alan Lesgold announced he was retiring as dean of Pitt’s School of Education, the Office of the Provost announced Wednesday it would begin its search for the new SOE dean by circulating an online survey to gather community input. The Office of the Provost formed a 12-person search committee to evaluate candidates and the results of the surveys. Alberta Sbragia, the committee’s representative from the provost’s office, said the committee would leave the survey live until March 2016, around the time the committee hopes to find a replacement dean. In the six-question survey, the committee asks community members what traits and types of experience they would like to see in the new dean and includes the option for members to nominate someone for the position. According to Sbragia, the committee met for the first time earlier this month but doesn’t have See Dean on page 5
Pitt Program Council hosted Skulls and Spells Night, inviting students to design their own candy skulls. Nikki Moriello | Visual Editor
OPEN DATA CONNECTS COMMUNITY Together, Pitt, the city and the county have launched the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center, which will publish 50 city and county datasets online. by Elizabeth Lepro and Dale Shoemaker |News Staff Call it a Pittsburgh-sized win for transparency. Pitt Senior Vice Chancellor for Engagement and Chief of Staff Kathy Humphrey, Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald and City of Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto announced Thursday that the three heavyweights had opened the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center. The center will publish 50 city and
county data sets online, including public information from Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh, some of which were previously only available through a Rightto-Know Law request. From the city, the center will publish data sets from the departments for Innovation and Performance, Public Works, Finance, Planning and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Included in the city data sets is in-
formation on 311 customer service calls, a daily police blotter, publicly available properties, geographic information and data on city-owned assets and energy usage. Pitt’s University Center for Social and Urban Research will manage the Center. Included in the county data sets is information on inmate census, overdoses in Allegheny County, housing inspection reports See Hack on page 4
News
PRODUCE PORCH FEEDS STUDENTS Annemarie Carr Staff Writer
Among the chairs and welcome mat on Sarah Kenney’s Dawson Street home, she’s piled boxes of tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. Depending on the day, the porch in front of her brick home and the sidewalk below it is stacked with other boxes of spinach, bananas and apples — but little she plans to eat herself. On most Friday afternoons, Kenney, a senior natural sciences major, saves produce from ending up in the trash and distributes it to Pitt students outside her South Oakland home. Her mission — keep food out of the trash and help Oakland by giving people something healthy to eat. Kenney volunteers and interns with Community Human Services at the Oakland Community Food Pantry, which offers fresh fruits and vegetables to community members on Thursdays and Fridays. Produce leftover on Friday afternoons would typically go to waste because the pantry couldn’t give it out until the following Thursday. For Kenney, that waste is no good. Instead, she loads it into the back of her friend, fifth-year Pitt student John Van Ness’, truck, brings it back to her home, then posts on a Facebook page to let the hungry students know to come. “Everything I give away would have been thrown away,” Kenney said. Kenney has been bringing produce to students since last April. Kenney first notified students of her operation through the “Free and for Sale” Facebook page within Pitt which currently has over 7,900 members. Kenney later started her own Facebook page titled “Free Produce for a Healthy Community” due to so much interest. Her page
pittnews.com
Produce on Sarah Kenney’s front porch in South Oakland. | Photo courtesy of Sarah Kenney currently has more than 500 members. “When I arrived [to load my truck] I couldn’t believe how much there was, we ended up filling the entire pickup bed and stacking it about 2 feet over the rails,” Van Ness said. Van Ness said he helps Kenney because he and Kenney know students need to eat healthy food. Kenney also knows food plays a key role for everyone, and having quality food is important for people, including who they share it with. “It’s important to live a healthy lifestyle now and for people to eat together,” Kenney said. The United States Department of Ag-
riculture recommends two cups of fruit and two and a half cups of vegetables daily for women ages 19-30. For men ages 19-30, the USDA recommends two cups of fruit and three cups of vegetables daily. The Centers for Disease Control released the results of a survey in 2009 that reported only 33 percent of adults meet the recommendation for fruit consumption and only 27 percent meet recommended vegetable consumptions. Meg M. Mayer-Costa, a registered dietician at Pitt’s Student Health Services, said produce is an area she stresses with students looking to add color, variety, and balance to their eating styles.
October 16, 2015
The amount of produce Kenney has to give away depends on how much is leftover at the end of the week. “The more people that are served [at CHS] the less I have, but that’s still a good thing,” Kenney said. On a good day, she will get 30 to 50 pounds of produce to give away. Trevor Smith, director of community programs at CHS, said the pantry serves about 1,500 people every month, reaching close to 200 people a day during the eight days a month CHS is open. “We get enough produce for approximately 80 families for each of our distriSee Produce on page 5
2
pittnews.com
October 16, 2015
3
Hack, pg. 1
Colin Dean, software engineer at IBM Watson, shows off his hacking prowess with Matt Burton, a staff member from ULS at Pitt.
Find the full story online at
pittnews.com
Nikki Moriello | Visual Editor
The Pitt news crossword 10/16/15
and election results. Laura Meixell, the city’s data and analytic manager, said the city will add new data, such as building permits and building violations, to the site within the month. More than 20 community members, including Pitt professors and journalists, gathered at a “Hackathon” Thursday night from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Carnegie Library in East Liberty to experiment with the data. Meixell, who graduated from Pitt in 2008, said people can use the data to learn about their city and communities and build websites for community use. David Walker has already used the limited information that was available last year to create a website called PGH.ST. The website allows users to type in their addresses and find out when the garbage or recycling pickup will be on their street or block. Walker, who’s from Swissvale, got the idea for the site when he attended the Pittsburgh Code Fest last year. He worked with a team of five people to develop the prototype of the site in 24 hours. Since then, he and his colleague Quintin Lovicks have been building and updating the site’s map and making the interface more versatile. “Maybe in a year there will be 10 or 20 new sites
for the City of Pittsburgh,” Walker said. Meixell said PGH.ST is the perfect example of what she calls “community as capital,” Pittsburgh citizens contributing to innovative ways of making the city more efficient for everyone. In the packed room Thursday night, people pinned papers to the walls, detailing their ideas for data sets ranging from “most popular dog names in Pittsburgh,” to “time spent in jail.” Groups of three to four people, with and without background in data analysis and computer programming, sat around each of the seven tables pointing at tables and numbers on their computer screens. Matt Lavin, a professor in Pitt’s English Department, and Alexandra Kanik, the web developer for the Pittsburgh news site, PublicSource, looked at data about how far people overdose from their homes. Lavin said this kind of information could humanize people who die from drug-related overdoses. “It’s numbers, but I’m hoping to create empathy,” Lavin said. Other existing programs that will improve because of the data include Pittsburgh’s 311 system for reporting non-emergency concerns and questions.
pittnews.com
October 16, 2015
4
Produce, pg. 5
Dean, pg. 1
butions. If we have only 40 families use the food pantry that day, there’s leftover produce,” Smith said. Kenney said there are about ten people who come every week as well as several newcomers. Anna Josephson, a junior communication major, said she heard about Kenney’s porch through a friend on Facebook and stopped by over the summer, when Kenney’s porch was on Semple Street. Though she said she was hesitant at first, Josephson said Kenney welcomed her onto her porch. Josephson said she picked up some tomatoes, a head of lettuce and some squash. Josephson said she used the lettuce and tomatoes to make several summer salads, and stuffed the squash for dinner one evening. Though she hasn’t been able to make it back yet this semester, Josephson was pleased with the experience. “It was pretty decent quality and definitely healthy. I was happy it was free for sure,” she said. Kenney hopes to expand her operation and has asked grocery stores to notify her if they are throwing produce away, though she hasn’t received food from anyone in the last few weeks to give it away. Depending on the variety and amount of produce Kenney gets, she sometimes limits how much of each item people can take. “I want to make sure lots of people are able to get some, but also want the people who come to get a good variety,” Kenney said. Kenney hopes students will take her produce and learn to cook with it. “It’s really hard to feed yourself healthfully on a college budget,” Kenney said. Smith said Kenney’s idea to give the produce to students saves him from wasting food. “If we have lots of lettuce left at the end of the week, we could either throw it in the dumpster because it won’t last until our next distribution, or Sarah can give it to people in the community. I much prefer the latter option,” Smith said.
a list of specific qualifications. Sbragia said the committee may accept a candidate with a Ph.D. or an Ed.D. for the position. As for experience, Sbragia said deans of education have a “variety” of skills and experiences, so the committee is keeping an open mind. The committee may look at candidates with prior dean, assistant dean, or other education-related experience that it feels could apply to Pitt. Lesgold, the current dean, had all three. “We cast a wide a net because the field of education is a very broad one,” Sbragia said.
pittnews.com
Pitt announced in July that Lesgold would step down from his position next August. Lesgold began his career at Pitt in 1971 as an assistant psychology professor after receiving his Ph.D. at Stanford University. By 1985, Pitt had promoted Lesgold to a fulltime teaching role. The next year, Lesgold began his tenure as the associate director of Pitt’s Learning Research and Development Center, serving in the role from 1986 to 1997. From 1997 to 2000, he served as the LRDC’s executive associate director. Lesgold became dean in 2000. The survey is available at https://pitt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe5/form/SV_5uINniybI2qgZRX.
October 16, 2015
WANT MORE CONTENT? GO ONLINE TO
pittnews.com
5
Opinions column
from the editorial board
Casual Fridays Side hugs only Four years ago, Jennifer Connell’s nephew leapt into her arms during his birthday party, causing her to fall and break her wrist. Last week, Connell took the now 12-year-old child to court to seek $127,000 in damages. We’re sure she could have found a better belated birthday gift. The jury rejected her suit. and this family has one awkward Thanksgiving dinner ahead of them. In hindsight, Connell probably should have drunk more milk to prepare her bones for her nephew’s exuberance. According to Connell, this injury continues to affect her daily life. For example, at a recent party, Connell said it was difficult to hold her hors d’oeuvre plate. Our advice for Connell? Lay off the crab cakes and stick to the puff pastries.
Victor Gonzalez | Staff Illustrator
suspected a DUI charge. When police caught up to Cooper, he insisted that his dog was the one driving. Instead of chasing his tale, the dog was evading the law and not being a very good boy. Cooper is going to have a ruff time proving that in court, however. As it turns out, some dogs prefer leading police on high speed chases to chasing their tail. Obearly excited It’s business as usual in Montana. On Wednesday, a bear walked into a school courtyard and wandered through the hallway looking for snacks before a police officer ushered it out of the building. Instead of hibernating this year, the bear decided to go to school. His classmates were just trying to bear with him, but they’re not too sad to say goodbye to their wild classmate.
Owl attack Mile high birth It’s a scare, it’s a terror, it’s an owl in Bethesda, Maryland that is terrorizing runners on the Capital Crescent Trail, a popular trail in the suburbs. We don’t think this is quite what Alfred Hitchcock had in mind. The owl has already attacked three runner, typically right after nightfall or before dawn, and without a hoot of warning. This owl is certainly no Hedwig, but she does deliver a strong message — running is dangerous, and we should just stay on the couch. Puppy power On Wednesday night, Reliford Cooper III led police on a high speed chase after they caught him speeding and
pittnews.com
On her way back from her honeymoon, Angelica Zen delivered a baby, on the plane. When a fellow passenger on a flight from Taiwan to Los Angeles went into labor on Wednesday, Zen answered the call for a doctor on board that sounded over the speakers. The baby came out healthy at several thousand feet. We’re sure that has to be a record breaker, but America can’t claim it yet. Airport officials don’t know if the plane was within a 12 mile radius of Alaska — where the plane diverted — which would make the baby a U.S. citizen. It appears that tough economic times are leading to an increase in outsourced pregnancies.
PERSERVERE TO OVERCOME REJECTION
Don’t discourage. Behind every rejection is a reasonable explanation. | by Ogechukwu Opaigbeogu | For The Pitt News “We regret to inform you that ... ” “Although your application was very strong ... ” “Regrettably, we had a limited amount of positions open and ... ” These all-too-familiar statements litter the emails and letters we receive at every stage of life. As novices in the arena of competition, we are hit with the brunt of these sentiments. I am well-versed in the art of immediately detecting a letter’s intent, having received a good mix of rejection and acceptance letters during my short college career. Recently, that mix consisted of
October 16, 2015
more rejections and fewer congratulations. As the rejection letters began to pile up, my confidence in my abilities began to sink. Exclusions, brush-offs, turn-downs and dismissals become the guests of a bleak party, a depressing pity party of one. Like pain, rejection demands acknowledgement. Fortunately, we can overcome the feeling of rejection with a determined attitude and a positive outlook. When pondering the fairness of life’s rejections, consider these theorems written by Andrew Gelman, statistics professor at See Opaigbeogu on page 7
6
Opaigbeogu, pg. 6 Columbia University. Theorem 1 — “For any acceptance worth competing for, the probability of a randomly selected applicant being rejected is higher than the probability of being accepted.” The greatest opportunities in life are highly sought and require a high caliber of skill or intelligence. The odds are never in your favor when you apply for a position or award that fits this criteria. But the reach isn’t entirely in vain. Robert Browning, an English poet and playwright, once said, “Ah, but a man’s reach should exceed his grasp, Or what’s a heaven for?” When you challenge yourself and aim above your comfort zone, the probability of success decreases. Consequently, the probability of rejection increases. Theorem 2 — “A local maximum cannot exceed the global maximum (no one can exceed at everything).” No one can exceed at everything, but many of us like to try. My drive to be the best sometimes keeps me from experiencing new opportunities out of fear of seeming like the newbie. Yet, the maxim still stands. Nobody can exceed at everything, because then they would be superhuman and that would not be fair to us mere mortals. Not getting what you initially wanted can turn into a blessing. Rejection from certain positions — Resident Assistant, Pitt Pathfinders, member of a certain fraternity or sorority — is often the result of an incompatibility between you and that position. Many students I know, when asked to reflect upon a previous rejection, have stated that they are now able to see how that position would not have worked out for them, whether it’s due to time, personality or some other conflicts. Theorem 3 — “The probability that you will be accepted for everything you compete for is zero.” This theorem is similar to theorem 1. We cannot succeed at everything, every time. Life does not work that way, and it would not be worth living if it was. John Steinbeck once said, “What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give
pittnews.com
it sweetness.” This was a hard theorem for me to accept. I do not like to do things unless I know that I have at least an 80 percent chance of succeeding. In high school, no one turned me down. I was a big fish in a little pond, who learned college is a whole other ocean. With so many qualified people fighting for the same limited spots, it is impossible for others to accept you for every worthwhile thing you apply for. Grand theorem — “Statistically, you are rejected, and probabilistically, it is fair.” In other words, rejection is both common and necessary. Statistically, we will all face rejection at least once in our lives, provided that we apply for positions or opportunities that are worth competing for and obtaining. Also, rejection does not necessarily mean that you were not qualified for an opportunity, or that you messed up on your application or during your interview. Unfortunately, employers can only select a few individuals for a job, and they must reject everyone else. Do not ever let the feeling of rejection take up residence in your heart and mind, and do not let it drain your confidence. Life is way too short to dwell on past rejections. After a lab rejected me for an undergraduate research mentor position, an employer rejected me for a job and Global Ties did not choose me to be a mentor, I never wanted to apply for anything again. After talking to a few of my friends, however, I realized how many other opportunities of which I could now take advantage. I applied to be a Partners in Progress mentor, and they accepted me for the position. I did not let rejection from those leadership positions prevent me from applying for others. The next time you feel dejected — after an internship, part-time job or leadership position rejects you — give yourself a pat on the back for having the courage to try. Then, eagerly await the next available opportunity, keeping in mind that the probability of success increases with each failed attempt.
The Pitt News Editor-in-Chief DANIELLE FOX
Managing Editor HARRISON KAMINSKY
News Editor DALE SHOEMAKER
Opinions Editor BETHEL HABTE
newsdesk.tpn@gmail.com
tpnopinions@pittnews.com
Sports Editor DAN SOSTEK
Culture Editor JACK TRAINOR
tpnsports@gmail.com
aeeditors@gmail.com
Visual Editor NIKKI MORIELLO
Layout Editor EMILY HOWER
pittnewsphoto@gmail.com
tpnlayout@gmail.com
Online Editor STEVEN ROOMBERG
Copy Chief MICHELLE REAGLE
tpnonline@gmail.com
tpncopydesk@gmail.com
Elizabeth Lepro | Assistant News Editor Lauren Rosenblatt | Assistant News Editor Nick Voutsinos | Assistant Opinions Editor Chris Puzia | Assistant Sports Editor Jeff Ahearn | Assistant Visual Editor Danah Bialoruski | Assistant Layout Editor Sydney Harper | Multimedia Editor Jenna Stearns | Social Media Editor
Katie Krater | Assistant Copy Chief
editor@pittnews.com
manager@pittnews.com
Copy Staff Bridget Montgomery Anjuli Das Sierra Smith Sydney Mengel Sarah Choflet Kelsey Hunter
Matthew Maelli Kyleen Pickaring Casey Talay Corey Forman Alex Stryker Maria Castello
Editorial Policies Single copies of The Pitt News are free and available at newsstands around campus. Additional copies can be purchased with permission of the editor in chief for $.50 each. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the students, faculty or University administration. Opinions expressed in columns, cartoons and letters are not necessarily those of The Pitt News. Any letter in tended for publication must be addressed to the editor, be no more than 250 words and include the writer’s name, phone number and University affiliation, if any. Letters may be sent via e-mail to letters@pittnews.com. The Pitt News reserves the right to edit any and all letters. In the event of multiple replies to an issue, The Pitt News may print one letter that represents the majority of responses. Unsigned editorials are a majority opinion of the Editorial Board, listed to the left. The Pitt News is an independent, student-written and
Email Oge at ogo1@pitt.edu.
October 16, 2015
student-managed newspaper for the Oakland campus of the University of Pittsburgh. It is pub lished Monday through Friday during the regular school year and Wednesdays during the summer. Complaints concerning coverage by The Pitt News, after first being brought to the editors, may be referred to the Community Relations Com mittee, Pitt News Advisory Board, c/o student media adviser, 435 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260. The editor in chief has the final authority on editorial matters and cannot be censored, according to state and federal law. The editor in chief is selected by the Pitt News Advisory Board, which includes University staff, fac ulty and students, as well as journalism professionals. The business and edito rial offices of The Pitt News are located at 434 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.
Business Manager MATT REILLY
advertising@pittnews.com
Sales Manager DAVE BARR
Inside Sales Manager KELSEY MCCONVILLE
Marketing Manager KRISTINE APRILE
University Account Executive ALEX KANNER
Graphic Designers
Account Executives
Inside Sales Executive
Matt Hyre Jillian Miller Maya Puskaric
Dave Barrone Antonio Blundo Rob Capone Calvin Reif Allison Soenksen Frany Tish
Marissa Altemus Victoria Hetrick Annie Seagers
7
Sports NARDUZZI, PITT READY FOR SPEEDY GT OFFENSE Jeremy Tepper
Semior Staff Writer Some harsh words can describe Pitt’s six-turnover, 56-28 loss to Georgia Tech last season — nightmare, disaster, debacle. Wide receiver Tyler Boyd looked at it in grimmer terms. “It was like hell,” Boyd said. “It was like going to hell, and you can’t get out.” On Saturday afternoon at 12:30, Pitt (41, 2-0 ACC) will attempt to avenge that loss when it travels to Bobby Dodd Stadium to face a struggling Georgia Tech (2-4, 0-3 ACC) team. The Yellow Jackets will carry a four-game losing streak into the game, having lost to Notre Dame, Duke, North Carolina and Clemson consecutively. Their record, though, betrays the quality of the team, Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said. “They lost four games to some pretty good football teams, they’re [a combined] 19-3,” Narduzzi said. “So if anyone wants to sit there and think they aren’t a good football team, I would argue with you.” Most prominently, Georgia Tech runs
pittnews.com
Pitt’s defense has prepared for Georgia Tech’s triple option attack. Emily Klenk | Staff Photographer its reputed its triple option offense, which uses three potential runners in a run option formation. The deceptive offense one of the more unique schemes in the country and one that the team’s head coach, Paul Johnson, has showcased for the eight years he’s been with the program. This makes preparing for Georgia Tech’s offense, which ranks ninth in the country in rushing yards, more challenging than overcoming traditional offenses. One of the GT attack’s trademarks is chop blocks, when an offensive player blocks a defender by hitting his knees. Pitt has practiced chop blocks in preparation for the game. “We’re going to have to chop block. We’re going to have to get our guys on the ground,” Narduzzi said. “It’s the only realistic way to get it done ... We have to give the best [look] we possibly can.”
To give that best look, the Panthers must use their scout team to simulate Georgia Tech’s offense. Dane Jackson, a Pitt freshman cornerback, played the role of Georgia Tech’s quarterback, Justin Thomas, in practice. Thomas has a diverse skill set, throwing for nine touchdowns and running for five and 217 yards on the season. Given his running ability, Thomas is a tough player to imitate in practice, Pitt defensive coordinator Josh Conklin said. Another challenge comes in duplicating the speed of the triple option offense during practice. “You’re never going to simulate the speed at which it’s going to happen,” Conklin said. “When they get it rolling, it happens so fast. The blocks are on you so quick that you’ll never simulate that.” No matter how much Pitt rehearses the offense, Narduzzi said his team won’t get a true
October 16, 2015
taste of it until game time. “That first quarter will be the best look we’ll get, and then hopefully we can settle down and figure out what it’s like,” Narduzzi said. Given the nature of the offense, Conklin has stressed to his defense that Georgia Tech will break off some big plays, and regrouping quickly may decide the game’s outcome. “They’re going to get some drives. They’re going to have some four, five, six, seven play drives because that’s just what they do. That’s who they are,” Conklin said. “So you’ve got to be able to be disciplined enough every snap — snap in and snap out — that you make them make a mistake, and you make them earn every yard.” On the defensive end, Georgia Tech ranks 55th in the country in yards per game. Pitt See Georgia Tech on page 10
8
FOR THE KILL
From Estonia to Houston to Pitt, Kadi Kullerkann and her powerful attacking shot are ready for one last collegiate volleyball season. by David Leftwich | Staff Writer
Kadi Kullerkann did not think a recruiting trip to the United States five years ago would involve babysitting a Marquette volleyball coach’s child. She also didn’t think the trip from her native Estonia was the first step on her path to playing at Pitt, a path marked with four seasons playing volleyball for the University of Houston, a major injury and an AllAmerican honor. But now that Kullerkann is here, playing her graduate student season for head coach Dan Fisher, she has completed the journey that began in her hometown of Keila, Estonia. Early in her recruitment from International University Audentes in Estonia, then-Marquette assistant coach Craig Dyer was with his newborn son and Kullerkann in the airport to send her off following her visit. Dyer had to step away to take care of a problem with Kullerkann’s flight, leaving Kullerkann to watch the baby. “She was literally his first babysitter,” Dyer said. Now, Kullerkann still sees Dyer frequently, as he is Pitt’s second-year Kadi Kullerkann has thrived in her time at Pitt. Heather Tennant | Staff Photographer
See Kullerkann on page 10
The Pitt News SuDoku 10/16/15 courtesy of dailysudoku.com
pittnews.com
October 16, 2015
9
Georgia Tech, pg. 8
Kullerkann, pg. 9
quarterback Nathan Peterman singled out the overall talent of the unit as a strength. “[Georgia Tech has] really good defense. They play zone and man. Got fast guys, really athletic guys,” Peterman said. “They’re a talented defense, so it’s going to take our best game to beat them.” Pitt’s offense is still trying to find its footing, ranking 111th in the country in yards per game. It looked as if the unit was going to get on track last week against Virginia, as Peterman played efficiently and the running backs were effective. Pitt scored 26 points in the game, but a few miscues — such as losing two fumbles — held it back from a better outing. The offense still emphasizes ball security as a special playing point, Boyd said. To that end, he has unbridled confidence in his team if they can avoid turnovers. “If we protect the ball, then we’re obviously going to be the winner,” Boyd said. With the importance of ball security on some players’ minds this week — given last season’s game against Georgia Tech — senior tight end JP Holtz prefers to keep his focus off past experience. “I don’t think anybody’s going to look back on that and say ‘is this going to happen again,’” Holtz said. “We’re looking past it. It’s a new team this year.”
assistant volleyball coach, where he recruited Kullerkann for her final volleyball season after four standout years at Houston. Despite her multiple changes in scenery, her new teammates said Kullerkann has provided a calming, veteran presence on the team. “She just brings a lot of maturity to the team,” said redshirt junior middle hitter Jenna Potts. “She’s not up and down emotionally, which is very good to be around on a team.” She has flourished on the court, tallying a team-leading 229 kills and 3.58 per set, helping Pitt jump out to its 14-4 start. Despite her recent accomplishments, Kullerkann has navigated a tough path to success. After her senior high school season in Estonia, Kullerkann sent match footage to different schools around the United States. This was an unorthodox recruitment — coaches typically reach out to recruits — but after establishing herself with U.S. coaches, her recruitment began to intensify. “I got pretty good feedback,” Kullerkann said. “[I] ended up being [contacted by] around 35 schools.” Kullerkann narrowed down her list to five schools with competitive volleyball and academic programs with a strong graphic design program. Kullerkann chose to commit to Houston and its innovative Digital Media program. Living on her own through boarding school helped make the transition from Estonia to Houston rather seamless. Kullerkahn said her 24-year-old sister Liis, who had already been in the United States playing at Ohio University, helped ease her adjustment by having a familiar face and source of advice in the country.
pittnews.com
This quick transition paid off when, as a freshman at Houston, Kullerkann became an early contributor to the team. She found her footing toward the end of the season with a career-high 20 kills against Marshall on Nov. 4, 2011. Kullerkann expected this late success to have naturally been a springboard into a great sophomore season, but a major injury cut it short. One set into the season, she took a medical redshirt when she suffered a season-ending ACL tear in her knee. “I tried to stay positive during the whole rehab process,” Kullerkann said. “My whole goal was coming back stronger than before.” The next two seasons, Kullerkann came back to the court and performed better than ever, putting up historic numbers in her senior season in 2014. She played in all 32 matches, starting in 28 of them, and totaled
Kullerkann’s interest in playing volleyball during graduate school. According to Pitt head coach Dan Fisher, Pitt had interest in her before her senior season — but after her All-American season at Houston, he knew she would be a great fit. For Kullerkann, it was more about finding the best graduate school and then figuring out how she would fit in on the volleyball team. Her decision came down to Kansas and Pitt. Each had similar academic programs, but Kullerkann said there was one main deciding factor. “At that point it came down to being in a city,” said Kullerkann, who is taking marketing classes to earn her MBA. She also liked Fisher and his program. Pitt had a completely different style of play from Houston, which she saw as a great learning opportunity. Kullerkann also appreciated Pitt’s integration of offensive European and scrappy U.S. styles of play. This decision also drastically improved the Panthers’ volleyball program by earning Fisher a nationally renowned recruit. “I would say Kadi was our first big-time recruit,” Fisher said. “That was the first time we had gone headto-head with a known quantity and won.” Fisher said her power arm provides his team with a major advantage on the court. “The single best thing on the floor is her arm. She brings a lot of offense,” Fisher said. “It’s not often you can lose a player like [former Panther Kate Yeazel] and say you are bringing in someone as good or better the following year.” Kullerkann doesn’t just want strong individual performances — her goal is helping Pitt reach its first NCAA Tournament. The Panthers look like a definite contender after analysts said the team narrowly missed the tournament last year. Above all, though, Fisher said Kullerkann’s leadership stands out. “She just brings a lot of maturity,” Fisher said. “For the five freshmen we have, it’s pretty easy to say, ‘Hey, look no further than across the locker-room [at Kadi] if you’re confused what [leadership] should look like.”
She just brings a lot of maturity to the team ... which is very good to be around. -Jenna Potts
644 kills, placing her third in the nation. “It feels powerful,” she said. “I would tell myself to be unstoppable, and that’s pretty much what it felt like.” Besides her volleyball prowess, Kullerkann excelled in the classroom. She was on her conference’s honor roll every year she attended Houston and finished with a 3.82 GPA. Kullerkann started planning for graduate school after her junior season at Houston. She knew after graduation she would have one more year of eligibility for volleyball, and wanted to obtain an MBA at the same time. This time, she didn’t have to find a new home by herself. Houston’s coach sent a letter to every Division I coach in the nation that indicated
October 16, 2015
10
I Rentals & Sublet N D E X -NORTH OAKLAND -SOUTH OAKLAND -SHADYSIDE -SQUIRREL HILL -SOUTHSIDE -NORTHSIDE -BLOOMFIELD -ROOMMATES -OTHER
259/261 N. Dithridge 10 bedroom house. Available August 1,2016. Fraternities,athletic associations, students welcome. 2 fully-equipped kitchens, 2 living rooms, wall-to-wall carpeting, 3 bathrooms, basement w/laundry. Pets permitted. $6800+utilities. 412-682-0711
3 & 4 bedroom apartments. Available immediately. Newly remodeled. Air conditioning. Bigelow Blvd, N. Neville St. Call 412-287-5712
3 BR. Newly updated. 115 Morewood. $1650+ all utilities. Available now. 412551-0094.
1-2-3-4-5 Bedroom Houses & Apartments. 376 Meyran, 343 McKee, & Atwood Street $1,095-$2,000. Call 412-969-2790
2 & 3 bedroom houses, Lawn & Ophelia. Available Now. Please call 412287-5712. August & May 2016 1,2,3,5,6, & 8 bedroom houses. Please call 412-287-5712
4 BR. 3217 Joe Hammer. $1600 a month+ all utilities. Available now. 412-551-0094.
pittnews.com
Employment
-CHILDCARE -FOOD SERVICES -UNIVERSITY -INTERNSHIPS -RESEARCH STUDIES -VOLUNTEERING -OTHER
Classifieds
For Sale
-AUTO -BIKES -BOOKS -MERCHANDISE -FURNITURE -REAL ESTATE -TICKETS
2-3-4-5-6-7 bedroom apartments and houses available in May and August 2016. Nice, clean, free laundry, includes exterior maintenance, new appliances, spacious, located on Meyran, Semple, Wellsford, Dawson, Juliet. 412-414-9629. 4 BR townhouse, Semple St., available May 1st & August 1st 2016. Equipped kitchen, full basement. 412-343-4289. Call after 5:00 pm. Apartment/house for rent. Available immediately. Newly remodeled 2, 3 or 7 BR, utilities included, laundry available. 37 Welsford St. 412726-8056 or email hfarah1964@ yahoo.com 1/2 BR, furnished, sharing for 1/2 people. Oakland Ave. $1250 ($625 per person), utilities included. Available immediately. Contact 412-848-9442.
Personal, professional masseuse needed. Long term position. 2X/week. Washington County location. Call 724-223-0939 or 724229-8868 any time. Pager: 888-200-8220
Services
-EDUCATIONAL -TRAVEL -HEALTH -PARKING -INSURANCE
BioPolish Student Editing Services for English Speaking and ESL Students Writing is key to successful academic performance and impressing future employers. AFFORDABLE STUDENT EDITING SERVICES: Theses, manuscripts, assignments, resumes, cover letters, presentations, applications Contact meghan.delmastro@gmail.com for rates.
SMOKERS NEEDED! Researchers at UPMC are looking to enroll healthy adult cigarette smokers ages 18-65. This research is examining the influence of brief uses of FDA-approved nicotine patch or nicotine nasal spray on mood and behavior. The study involves a brief physical exam and five sessions lasting two hours each. Eligible participants who complete all sessions will receive up to $250, or $20 per hour. This is NOT a treatment study. For more information, call 412-2465396 or visit www.SmokingStudies.pitt.edu
Announcements -ADOPTION -EVENTS -LOST AND FOUND -STUDENT GROUPS -WANTED -OTHER
TRAUMA VICTIMS The University of Pittsburgh Radiology Department is seeking women ages 1825 who experienced sexual violence during or after high school for research studies. The study involves questionnaires, interviews, brain scanning. Subjects will be compensated up to $700 upon completion. For details, call 412-5869888 or visit www.addictionstudies.pitt.edu. The University of Pittsburgh’s support resources for sexual assault and/or sexual harassment including instructions and contact information for reporting can be located at www.SHARE.pitt.edu and www.safety.pitt.edu ATTENTION OCCASIONAL SMOKERS! UPMC seeks healthy adults ages 18-65 who occasionally smoke cigarettes. This research is examining how smokers respond to cigarettes that are low in nicotine. There are up to seven sessions lasting about three hours each. Research participants completing the study will be compensated up to $60 per session, or $20 per hour. For more information, call 412-246-5393 or visit www.SmokingStudies.pitt.edu
R INSERTIONS 1X 2X 3X 4X 5X 6X ADDITIONAL A 1-15 WORDS $6.30 $11.90 $17.30 $22.00 $27.00 $30.20 $5.00 T 16-30 WORDS $7.50 $14.20 $20.00 $25.00 $29.10 $32.30 $5.40 E S DEADLINE: TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR BY 3 PM | EMAIL: ADVERTISING@PITTNEWS.COM | PHONE: 412.648.7978 (EACH ADDITIONAL WORD: $0.10)
Undergrads needed to test tutoring system: 18 or older, native English speaker, adequate academic background as determined by a brief questionnaire. 2-5 hrs; $10/hr., possible $20 bonus. Contact rimac@pitt.edu
Counter help wanted. Perfect student job. Part time or full time. Flexible for students. Openings starting now. Apply to The Original Hot Dog Shop, 3901 Forbes Avenue.
HELP WANTEDTYPIST: Downtown Law Firm. Set your own schedule! Interesting work. Good for your resume. 15-20 hours/week. Typing speed at least 50 wpm. Knowledge of WordPerfect for Windows, Word and basic office equipment helpful. Freshman/sophomore preferred. Fax 412-2816302, e-mail to assist@gislaw.com or mail to Gismondi & Assoc., Ste 700, The Grant Bldg., 310 Grant St, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Looking for people who want to play in a Pittsburgh church band on Sunday mornings. Keyboardist is especially needed, but all other instruments are welcome. Compensation offered and negotiable. Text 412-7802116 if interested.
October 16, 2015
11
pittnews.com
October 16, 2015
12