10-21-20

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 21, 2020 ­| Volume 111 | Issue 39

HOMECOMING GUIDE

Promiti Debi | Senior Staff Illustrator

News

‘STAY AT HOME-COMING’: PANTHERS FIND NEW WAY TO SHOW PITT SPIRIT

Elizabeth Primrose For The Pitt News

Many students, such as Ann Kozak, will celebrate their first Pitt homecoming this year without any in-person programming. Kozak said she was looking forward to homecoming activities such as Paint the Town, which will no longer take place this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“It stinks because I was really looking forward to painting the town,” Kozak, a first-year pre-pharmacy major, said. “I know that it is a really big tradition.”

Homecoming looks different this year, since students and alumni cannot celebrate in person due to COVID-19 restrictions. Despite this, programming has not diminished, but only changed forms. With the lack of in-person events, both students and alumni must celebrate in other ways, such as showing their Pitt spirit by decorating their residence hall or home, participating in virtual events and utilizing social media.

Alexandra Waltemeyer, the director of campus and constituent relations for the Pitt Alumni Association, said last year’s homecoming entailed 50 to 60 in-person events. Waltemeyer said there are more than 40 virtual events planned for “Stay at Home-coming.”

Pitt’s 16 schools and colleges are hosting virtual programming. Along with the schools and colleges, Waltemeyer said the Pitt Alumni Association is offering six Zoom events, which PAA will stream to YouTube and record in order to make it more accessible to people.

While students can participate in this new virtual programming, they are missing out on traditional homecoming events. Abby Dean, a sophomore biological science major, said her favorite homecoming event to participate in last year was Paint the Town, where students paint storefronts around Oakland to celebrate homecoming. She said she met close friends during this experience, which made her feel connected to the homecoming celebration.

“I met a whole bunch of people that I am still close friends with to this day during Paint the

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Town,” Dean said. “It made me feel like I was a part of everything that was going on.”

Students may not be able to Paint the Town, but they can still show their spirit in other ways.

Students can purchase a special Game Day Pack called “Game Day Pack Homecoming Edition,” either online or in store from The University

are having people do it on their own.”

Kozak said she and her friends plan to purchase a Game Day Pack to participate in the homecoming festivities.

“Me and my suitemates … are going to go down to the University Store to purchase one of the spirit bags that the Student Alumni Associa-

Pitt is encouraging students to celebrate homecoming at home and has cancelled traditional homecoming activities like Paint the Town, pictured here last year. Ally Hansen |Senior Staff Photographer Store on Fifth and The Pitt Shop. These Game Day Packs include various spirit items such as window markers, face paint and a pompom.

Ashumi Rokadia, the student director for the Student Alumni Association and a Blue and Gold Society ambassador, said students can use the markers in their Game Day Packs to decorate their windows and show their spirit in a safe manner.

“They have towels, face paint, different window markers that you can use to ‘paint the town’ in your residence hall or your South Oakland apartment,” Rokadia, a senior information science major, said. “Instead of having huddles of people painting windows and congregating, we

tion is doing,” Kozak said. “We are going to paint our windows and decorate them.”

Just as students have the option to purchase Game Day Packs, alumni have the similar option to purchase Panther Tailgate Boxes — which include items such as a window sign, buttons, tumblers and other items.

Waltemeyer said the Panther Tailgate Box allows for people to feel connected to Pitt while they hail from home. She said people can purchase a box that best meets their needs, as there is an option to choose between a box catered toward alumni adults or a box catered toward alumni with families.

“This was our way to get some new Pitt swag

October 21, 2020

into people’s hands and keep them feeling connected to the University,” Waltemeyer said. “We did two boxes. One geared toward alumni and one geared toward alumni who might have family. We tried to do something that would meet the needs of everyone.”

Along with virtual events, Waltemeyer said PAA has pooled a list of asynchronous ways for people to connect with Pitt over the next week.

This includes activities such as wearing blue and gold, taking a virtual Nationality Room tour and taking a virtual Heinz Chapel tour.

“This year, we put together a page of resources that we call our ‘Hailing from Home’ page,” Waltemeyer said. “It gives a list of some asynchronous ways to help people to engage in homecoming or just connect to the University over the next week.”

Pitt community members can also engage with homecoming celebrations by participating in the spirit contest. Waltemeyer said the spirit contest has shifted to be completely social media-focused this year, with each day having a different prompt. She said PAA is encouraging people to share their photos so that it can then share those photos back through Instagram and Facebook stories.

Homecoming “Spirit of Pitt” candidates also use social media to promote themselves. Rokadia said SAA is using social media to keep students engaged with candidates promoting themselves with videos online. While Rokadia said candidates did this last year, she said these videos now provide one of the only ways that candidates can campaign.

“We are relying very heavily on social media to keep students engaged. Homecoming candidates that are running can promote themselves with a video, which we also did last year,” Rokadia said. “But this year, they are not allowed a table or to do anything in person, so they are only allowed to post on social media.”

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PITT HONORS ALUMNI THROUGH PRESTIGIOUS AWARDS

Millicent Watt

For The Pitt News One of the major events of homecoming is honoring Pitt alumni and recognizing their dedication to the University and the Pitt community. This is done through five different honors — the Roc Spirit Award, the Ivan and Mary Novick Award for Young Alumni Leadership, the Bill Baierl Distinguished Alumni Service Award, the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award and being named a Distinguished Alumni Fellow.

Nancy Merritt, the vice chancellor for alumni relations, said these awards are not only to recognize Pitt alumni, but they also show Pitt students what they can achieve with their Pitt experience.

“With the Alumni Awards, we do this to show appreciation for alumni, volunteers, people who have done a lot of great things for Pitt as a whole, or even in a certain area,” Merritt said.

“We like to recognize them for their achievements. We want to be able to show the entire Pitt community what a Pitt education enables.”

The awards recognize Pitt alumni for various accomplishments, from school spirit with the Roc Spirit Award to short-term Pitt commitment with the Ivan and Mary Novick Award to long-term Pitt commitment with the Bill Baierl Distinguished Alumni Service Award. Merritt said the awards are reflective of Pitt’s ability to prepare students for their future.

“The other thing that’s great about the Alumni Awards is just that you see the variety of people and what they have chosen to do in their careers,” Merritt said. “There are so many different ways people can have a really great influence in their own communities, on Pitt and globally.”

John Obeid John Obeid, commonly known as “Johnny O” during his years at Pitt, is the definition of Pitt pride, leading him to receive the 2020 Roc Spirit Award, which recognizes a Pitt alum for their spirit, loyalty and pride toward the University.

A Pittsburgh native, Obeid graduated in 2013 with a bachelor’s in chemical engineering and a minor in petroleum engineering. Obeid also graduated from Pitt with an MBA in technology, innovation and entrepreneurship in 2017.

While at Pitt, Obeid was involved in a multitude of clubs and jobs, including the Pitt band,

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Blue and Gold Society, Student Alumni Association and engineering peer advising in addition to running the front desk in Benedum Hall and being an engineering ambassador for the University.

Because of his involvement, Obeid became a well-known face around campus. His local fame caused his friends to push him to run for homecoming. Looking back on it, Obeid said being crowned homecoming king in 2012 is his best memory from his years at Pitt.

“It was the best feeling in the world, we were so out of our minds,” Obeid said. “All of our

the 2020 Ivan and Mary Novick Award for Young Alumni Leadership, which celebrates young alumni and their contributions to the University.

Finley graduated from Pitt in 2011 with a bachelor’s in Spanish and Africana studies. She then graduated from Pitt’s School of Education with her master’s in 2012. During her years at Pitt, Finley was involved as the graduate chair of the Latino Affairs Committee, the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society and as a First Year Mentor.

Finley and her co-founders helped create

Sarah Cutshall | Visual Editor friends were hugging us, running to us, you could hear the entire Pitt band, all 300 people screaming for us.”

Now a project manager in North Carolina, Obeid still wears his Pitt pride on his sleeve. He said his apartment is decorated with Pitt memorabilia and merchandise.

“I have a wonderful Pitt blankie, and a Pitt mug, my little Pitt glass cup,” Obeid said. “I got the cutest little mug that I still use to this day.”

Obeid said even though he’s away from his hometown, he still manages to bring a bit of Pittsburgh with him.

“People hear the word ‘Pittsburgh’ out of my mouth too much down in the South,” Obeid said. “It’s just a big part of who I am.”

Shannon Finley Shannon Finley, one of the founders of the Young Alumni Association, has been awarded

and develop the Young Alumni Association to bridge the gap between older alumni and students.

Finley said she wants to provide Pitt students and soon-to-be alumni the guidance and support she received as a Pitt student.

“I’m always trying to find what I can get out of my Pitt experience, even as an alumni, and how can I give back in a way,” Finley said, “so that a girl like me who’s looking for help can find that help so much more easily than I did, especially being a Black woman in these times and facing obstacles.”

Merritt said she believes Finley is doing a great job pushing the Young Alumni Association forward.

“She’s super energetic, she bleeds blue and gold and I think she’s really inspiring this particular group of young alumni to do more to en-

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gage fellow young alumni, which is very worthy of recognition,” Merritt said.

Coming to Pitt, Finley didn’t know what path she wanted to take in her future. She turned to Oronde Sharif, an Africana studies professor and adviser, for guidance. His advice was simple — “do what you like.” She said having a support system is what made her experience at Pitt special.

“Because of people like Oronde, because of the professors at school, it helped me in ways that I wouldn’t have thought that they would be helpful,” Finley said. “I really want to have that experience or I want to see that experience happen for other students.”

Along with being part of the Young Alumni Association advisory team, Finley is also a mentor for Panthers Forward — an organization that matches Pitt seniors with alumni — and is currently in the Black Student Union club, where she teaches Spanish at Fox Chapel Area School District.

Finley said she carries Pitt with her wherever she goes.

“I really hope I can take everything I learned at Pitt and bring it here,” Finley said. “I want my students to have an experience that gives them the education they need.”

Doug Browning As a high school student, Doug Browning applied to Pitt to appease his physics teacher, a Pitt alum. Years later, after he graduated from Pitt, he received the 2020 Bill Baierl Distinguished Alumni Service Award, which recognizes the honoree’s long-term commitment to Pitt and its mission.

Browning graduated from Pitt in 1972 with a bachelor’s in political science. After graduation, Browning pursued his law degree at Hofstra University in 1976.

Browning has an extensive background, from working for multiple law firms to being deputy commissioner for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, assistant commissioner for the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs and a global customs counsel for General Motors.

In addition to the Baierl Award, Browning is also part of the board of trustees and the board of visitors for the Dietrich School of Arts and See Awards on page 6

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STUDENTS DETAIL LAX RULES, MISCOMMUNICATION IN PITT’S QUARANTINE HOUSING Rebecca Johnson and Rashi Ranjan The Pitt News Staff

When J. lived in Pitt’s quarantine housing, they and a friend in the housing went on walks together outside, a violation of the University’s physical distancing rules.

J. asked to remain anonymous, due to fears of retaliation from the University.

“Since we tested negative, we decided we could go on walks at night since no one’s out on a Wednesday night,” the student said. “Even though we’re not technically allowed to do it, I figured if we tested negative, put on our masks and went at night at eight when no one's out, we’d be fine.”

But J. said the violations didn’t stop there.

They said while students in the housing were only allowed to leave to take out the trash, many other people had visitors, even whole families.

They said most of the people visiting wore masks, though.

“I don’t know if we’re allowed to have people sit on the porch and talk to you, but Saturday during the day, pretty much everyone in isolation housing had someone on their porch talking to them,” they said. “I saw someone with their entire family — their parents and siblings talking to them outside.”

J. is just one of the dozens who have entered Pitt’s quarantine and isolation housing, where some of them described lax rules and little oversight that allowed them to skirt the University’s rules.

While the University doesn’t disclose the location of the housing, both the quarantine and isolation housing are at the same facility on campus. They are differentiated based on Pitt’s definition of “quarantine” and “isolation.”

Quarantine is for a student who was exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, whereas isolation is for a student who has tested positive.

Students who test positive for COVID-19 are required to enter isolation housing for 10 to 14 days or return home to isolate. Students who are directly exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 have the option of entering University quarantine housing for 10 to 14 days or remaining in their residence halls. According to University data, Pitt has

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14 students in isolation housing as of Tuesday.

Students in quarantine are not included in this total.

J. said while they aren’t sure if visitors are technically allowed, they hope it continues so students in quarantine housing get human interaction.

“I don’t know if that’s technically allowed, but I definitely think they should continue to do that,” they said. “I don’t know how you can do this and not see humans, it’s so hard with just FaceTime.”

that students practice safe behaviors and quarantine successfully in the residence halls,” McMahon said. “Communicating guidelines and expectations related to the pandemic is an ongoing process.”

Jessica Salerno is the project coordinator for the MIDAS Coordination Center in Pittsburgh, a group that uses models to study infectious diseases, including the coronavirus. Salerno — who’s been working on the COVID-19 pandemic response since January, by studying the transmission and incubation period of the virus

Pitt has not disclosed the specific location of student quarantine and isolation housing. Wu Caiyi |Senior Staff Photographer University spokesperson Pat McMahon said leaving the quarantine housing to go on walks or inviting visitors is not permitted behavior and that Pitt is reviewing data from Pitt ID entry swipes to work to ensure that this isn’t happening.

He said Pitt prioritizes student health, so breaking a quarantine or isolation guideline could result in a Student Code of Conduct violation. He said such violations could lead to a student being barred from campus facilities or suspended for the semester. McMahon didn’t directly answer questions on if or how many students have received conduct violations for breaking these guidelines.

“Our residential staff are helping to ensure

alongside the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — said there are serious impacts if someone breaks quarantine or isolation.

“The main potential consequence is they’ll expose it to someone else, especially someone in isolation,” Salerno said. “Talking to someone for even 10 to 15 minutes is enough to spread the virus because it’s largely airborne.”

Students said they were forced to potentially expose others before they even stepped foot in the housing. Emma Krapels, a first-year nursing major, said the University provided no transportation or moving carts when she moved into quarantine housing, so she had to carry all her belongings down Forbes and Fifth avenues.

“People were there eating dinner at Stack’d

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and there we were walking past with all of our luggage,” Krapels said. “If you can imagine carrying everything you might need for 14 days, things were falling.”

J. also said the University didn’t transport them to the housing, leaving them to carry two weeks of clothing, toiletries, school supplies, a pillow and a blanket in a laundry basket across campus.

“They don’t pick you up, so wherever you live, you have to carry all your stuff to the housing,” they said. “If I actually had corona and we had to walk down the street where Stack’d is and everything — where people are outside eating dinner — and I’m moving all my stuff down, like what is happening? It looked weird because everyone was staring at us.”

McMahon didn’t respond to specific questions about how students are transported to the housing.

Students, including Krapels, also detailed ignored dietary restrictions in the quarantine housing.

Even though the University gave her the option, Krapels said she chose to not quarantine in her residence hall because she was worried about sharing a bathroom with so many of her floormates.

Each room in the isolation and quarantine housing, on the other hand, contains its own bathroom, kitchen, a bedroom and two extra rooms. McMahon said students are also given medical supplies — such as a thermometer, throat lozenges and face coverings — as well as snacks and other supplies. “[I] felt so uncomfortable sharing a bathroom with everyone on our floor just because if we did test positive, it’s so easy to transmit through the bathrooms,” Krapels said. “Even if you wear a mask, obviously you take it off to brush your teeth or take a shower.”

Krapels said she was exposed to someone with COVID-19 on Sept. 10, entered quarantine housing on Sept. 12 and left on Sept. 24.

She did not test positive for COVID-19 during her stay.

Even if someone is quarantining, Salerno said it is still important they don’t have any

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Awards, pg. 4 Sciences and has been named a Legacy Laureate at Pitt. He said these roles are the proudest honors Pitt has bestowed upon him, next to being a Pitt legacy and his daughter and nephew also being Pitt alumni.

“If I can help make it possible for someone else to have the experience I had, and perhaps change their life the way Pitt has changed my life, then I consider that to be just a small investment that I’d be making back to the institution in terms of what they’ve given me,” Browning said.

Merritt said Browning is extremely humble and deserving of the award.

“He is a genuinely good guy, super humble, super gracious and he’s such an amazing example to all of our students and other alumni,” Merritt said.

Browning said he is extremely proud of how Pitt is developing and growing as a school. He emphasized that everything done for the University is for its constituents to have the best experiences and resources as possible and that he will continue to honor and support the students to the best of his ability.

“We exist for one reason and one reason only and that is to serve our constituency,” Browning said. “When we make investments, those invest-

ments have to be about making your environment, your life better and making this experience for you better.”

David Frederick David Frederick, an appellate lawyer at Kellogg Hansen Todd Figel & Frederick, is a Pitt alum and a Distinguished Alumni Fellow, one of the highest honors Pitt has to give.

Frederick graduated from Pitt in 1983 with a bachelor’s in political science and history, where he then moved onto the University of Oxford to earn his doctorate in philosophy and a JD from the University of Texas. While at Pitt, Frederick was involved with the William Pitt Debating Union, the Pittsburgh Undergraduate Review, intramural basketball and other student activities.

Frederick began his career by clerking for Justice Byron White then moved to having his own private practice. Frederick worked in the Office of the Solicitor General within the U.S. Department of Justice before establishing his own law firm.

During his years at Pitt, Frederick said his professors became mentors to him and taught him the necessary skills and life lessons he utilized during his time as a lawyer.

“At Pitt, several political science professors were very influential, like William Keefe and Richard Cottam. History professor William

Stanton taught me a lot about writing, and Honors College Dean Alec Stewart was a great model for interdisciplinary thinking,” Frederick said.

Frederick said he stays connected to Pitt through his position on the board of visitors for the Honors College.

“My belief is that excellence in the Honors College can propel the quality of the University as a whole,” Frederick said. “I have established scholarships, public service internships and a writing prize in the history department to help advance that objective.”

Frederick discussed engagement and the importance of using involvement and passion to face our country’s problems with Audrey Murrell, the Honors College acting dean, on Tuesday as part of the homecoming events.

Sundaa Bridgett-Jones Sundaa Bridgett-Jones, the managing director and policy and coalitions leader for the Rockefeller Foundation, has been named the other Distinguished Alumni Fellow.

Bridgett-Jones graduated from Pitt’s Graduate School of Public and International Affairs with her master’s in 1995 after graduating from Georgetown University with her bachelor’s in international affairs and Africana studies. During her graduate years at Pitt, she was involved in Generation Together, an organization that connected undergraduate students with adults

in the Pittsburgh community.

Bridgett-Jones has been part of the Rockefeller Foundation for eight years to help resolve global issues, including green energy and economic development. Prior to working at the foundation, Bridgett-Jones worked at the State Department Bureau for Democracy and Human Rights and Labor under the Obama administration.

After graduation, Bridgett-Jones reconnected with Pitt when GSPIA began reaching out to alumni. From there, she was appointed to the school’s board of visitors and also became part of Pitt’s board of trustees.

Bridgett-Jones will give a presentation with GSPIA Dean Carissa Slotterback on “Finding Purpose” as a homecoming event Wednesday.

She said the goal of the event is to explore the understanding of purpose and “how we show up in the world and the difference we can make.”

She said she is incredibly honored to have been awarded as a Distinguished Alumni Fellow.

“This award means more than words can express,” Bridgett-Jones said. “At the heart of it, I am a girl from west Philadelphia who was raised to make a difference for my family and my community. I could not have fathomed this award in my earliest thoughts and achievements.”

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Opinions

PWI HOMECOMING HAS NOTHING ON HBCU HOMECOMINGS

Ajani Powell

For The Pitt News HBCUs’ homecomings are so eventful and iconic that attending a Predominantly White Institution makes homecoming feel like a welcome-home gathering — dull and stringent.

When I look at Historically Black Colleges and Universities’ homecomings, it feels as if everything here at Pitt is watered down. Water is nice, and you need to drink it to stay hydrated, but it is bland. The rich culture and history celebrated at HBCUs’ homecomings ignite the passion and significance of those participating. They are celebrating Black scholars, Black success and Black Excellence because there was a time when Black people could not advance their education.

Homecoming welcomes back those who have completed their ancestors' wildest dreams and gives motivation to those still on their journey. It is more than just a welcomehome party right before midterms — it is a family reunion. That is why PWIs have nothing on HBCU homecomings.

As some say, “there’s no HoCo like an HBCU HoCo cuz a HBCU HoCo don’t stop.”

Although HBCU homecomings happen once a year, their impact does not stop. Homecoming at HBCUs is about developing a love for your university and taking the time to embrace its culture. Students can evolve their pride and unity for their HBCU by exploring its rich history, different styles and fresh ideas.

Homecoming holds a great significance to HBCUs, as schools focus on connections with alumni and learn more about their school’s history. They take the effort to advertise their homecomings so that everyone knows what events there are and who they’ll have performing.

HBCUs work hard to make homecoming memorable, meanwhile, at Pitt, I can’t recall any University-organized homecoming events last year because they weren’t that notewor-

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thy. I remember some events that Black Action Society and Black Pitt put on, but that has more to do with my involvement with them and the traditions that align more with an HBCU. For instance, BAS hosts an annual

Simone Williams, a 2017 Miss Hampton contestant, loves homecoming because it creates a sense of pride for her university.

“My favorite part of homecoming is seeing the alumni come back,” Williams said. “It

Shruti Talekar |Senior Staff Illustrator pageant called Mr. and Mrs. Black Pitt. In this pageant, you must serve us your best representation of you — showcasing your talents and expressing your beliefs. We want to see dignity and grace. We want to uplift Black Excellence.

Homecoming pageants are popular at HBCUs. One of the more known is the Miss Hampton pageant held at Hampton University’s homecoming each year. This pageant isn’t about the prettiest faces with the best talents winning and getting a crown. The woman who wins this pageant becomes the face of the University. They must exhibit poise and passion among dignity and respect. It is a longstanding tradition that the school embraces and alumni return to see — it demonstrates the significance of homecoming at HBCUs.

makes me take pride in my university. It’s like a family reunion — especially with the food and music!”

For HBCUs, homecoming is more than a football game and some concerts. It is an uplifting environment to connect with your alma mater and enjoy the experiences you share.

We see this in Black Pitt collaborations with the African American Alumni Council. Last year Black Action Society, African American Alumni Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council came together to organize a Stroll Competition — an event that displays stepping of Greek Organizations.

Stroll competitions are legendary. The Divine Nine Greek organizations, the nine historically Black Greek-lettered fraternities and

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sororities that compose NPHC, came together to showcase African American dance styles of stepping, a percussive dance where performers use their whole body to produce rhythm.

Stepping originated from African and Carribean culture, just as these Greek organizations established by HBCU alums derived from Black scholarship and service. By hosting the strolling competition, these organizations are preserving tradition and history. Black Pitt hosts this event in Alumni Hall to kindle the relationship between Black alum and current students so that there is an institution of family that recognizes the rich history that conjures legacy.

I think it is also obvious that the cultural impact of an HBCU homecoming is greater than that of PWIs. At an HBCU, Greek life is extremely involved and hosts events that connect alumni with current students. They may host job fairs and perform different acts of service, some of which may include holding competitions to raise money for different organizations. Greek organizations including the Divine Nine will host performances that may involve dancing or stepping. These are traditional acts that have a foundation and significance in the Black community.

Greek life at PWIs doesn’t have the same involvement with homecoming. Black organizations may decide to host events, but these are not normally promoted or hosted by the University. I don’t think Pitt’s Greek life has to present performances as those at HBCUs, but I do believe that it would be better to host events that represent diverse cultures and uplift the entire Pitt community. This will create more unity and appreciation for traditions and cultures beyond our own.

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GENDER-INCLUSIVE HOMECOMING AWARDS ARE A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Julia Kreutzer

Senior Staff Columnist In a global pandemic, coming or going anywhere is difficult. But that isn’t stopping Pitt’s Alumni Association from planning a new and inventive homecoming that has been modernized for 2020, in every way possible.

This year’s Stay at Home-Coming will be held entirely virtually, featuring a series of online concerts, lectures, award ceremonies, at-home tailgates, pregame shows and spirit contests. Beyond transforming the nature of homecoming itself, the Alumni Association has also modernized one long-standing tradition — the titles of homecoming king and queen. Beginning this year, Pitt will instead crown two gender-inclusive “Spirit of Pitt” winners.

These decisions make homecoming increasingly accessible — from a safety perspective, but also by including all members of the Pitt community in a more tangible way. By aiming to make homecoming a safe and welcoming environment to gender non-conforming members of the Pitt community, the Alumni Association allows all students and alumni to appreciate homecoming for all it is — an opportunity to take pride in your Alma Mater, connect with your community and remember why you chose to “Hail to Pitt.”

I’ll be the first to admit it — this semester really sucks. Spending my junior year sheltered in my bedroom — a converted laundry room that now serves as my home office, place of rest, yoga studio, plant sanctuary and music practice room — was definitely not “the plan.” At this moment, I am clinging to any sense of normalcy I can get.

Despite this push for consistency and familiarity, the changes to homecoming are a welcome

adaptation in 2020. The need for safety has never been greater. By inviting those who don’t fit into the gender binary to this — let’s face it — oftenoverlooked and seemingly irrelevant tradition, Pitt makes a distinct assertion that everyone is entitled to feel safe and included in our campus community.

Nancy Merritt, vice chancellor for alumni relations, explained that the tradition of crowning a king and queen had become “antiquated”

has become antiquated and was overshadowing what we were actually trying to recognize as part of this process.”

Throughout the past several years, Pitt has made other strides in including students who do not fit the gender binary. They’ve added singleoccupancy restrooms so individuals can use the bathroom that best fits their gender identity. In 2016, Ruskin Hall became the first gender-neutral housing accommodation, and the University

Shruti Talekar |Senior Staff Illustrator and took away from the goal of the homecoming celebrations.

“Traditions are valuable in alumni relations in that they create a shared experience across generations and they also tend to reflect the values of an organization,” Merritt said. “But this concept of homecoming king and queen, I think,

has since expanded their accommodations to include apartment-style suites. Pitt also uses the term “first-year students” instead of “freshmen” as a gesture of inclusivity. JOIN US FOR Data from the Pew Research Center suggests this modernization is not only necessary, but should be well-received. A survey conducted in

fall 2018 found that roughly one in five adults in the United States knows someone who uses pronouns other than “she/her” or “he/him.” Moreover, 61% of respondents aged 18 to 29 said they would be somewhat or very comfortable using gender-neutral pronouns when asked to do so.

In a similar study, 53% of 18- to 29-year-olds said forms should include gender options other than “man” and “woman” and, as of 2020, Pennsylvania began offering third gender options on drivers’ licenses.

The proof is in the pudding — genderneutral language is becoming a well-accepted, prominent and important part of American life, especially for young adults like those at Pitt.

Beyond gender inclusivity, the Alumni Association has made other amendments to the criteria for homecoming court, opening the opportunity to more students. Candidates no longer must be sponsored by a student organization and can instead be sponsored by a group of any 10 students, faculty or staff. The Student Alumni Association, of which candidates must be a member, has also eliminated membership fees, further opening doors to students who otherwise did not have the means to participate.

Truthfully, in my two and a half years at the University, I have not attended homecoming. I haven’t voted for homecoming king or queen.

I haven’t even been able to attend the football game. Homecoming has always seemed a rather antiquated tradition, seemingly removed from other aspects of student life. And maybe it still is.

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‘A RENEWAL OF GRIEF’: NEW BOOK SHARES LOCAL REFLECTIONS ON TREE OF LIFE MASSACRE

Siddhi Shockey Senior Staff Writer

“In Squirrel Hill, you are always someone’s granddaughter or grandson, son or daughter, mother or father, cousin, coworker, doctor, neighbor or friend,� Eric Lidji reads to the audience. “If New York bestows the gift of loneliness, Squirrel Hill wards against it. To live here requires participation, whether you like it or not.

New Yorkers are created every day. We require a lifetime.�

This excerpt comes from “Bound in the Bond of Life: Pittsburgh Writers Reflect on the Tree of Life Tragedy,� an anthology co-edited by Lidji, an archivist from the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives, and author Beth Kissileff.

The two spent Tuesday evening answering questions and sharing excerpts like this one — from an essay by freelance writer Molly Pascal titled “Here is Squirrel Hill,� a play off of E.B. White’s “Here Is New York� — at a livestreamed event held by City of Asylum.

The Tree of Life massacre, which took the lives of 11 Jewish worshipers, occurred on Oct. 27, 2018, in Pittsburgh’s Squirrel Hill neighborhood. The worshipers belonged to the congregations of Dor Hadash, New Light and Tree of Life*Or L’Simcha, which all used the Tree of Life building. The massacre remains the worst antiSemitic attack in the nation’s history.

Lidji and Kissileff took turns reading excerpts from each of the book’s three sections. Though the essays all tell their own story, the co-editors said together they take the reader through Squirrel Hill, the immediate impact of the massacre and the beginning of the healing process for community members.

According to Lidji, the anthology — which releases Oct. 27, two years after the Tree of Life massacre — features a number of essays and poems that commemorate the lives of those lost during the massacre and helps to amplify the voices of Pittsburgh writers as they examine the effects of what happened. “Part of the point of doing it is to say to people, in relation to this event, if you feel like you have a story to tell, it’s OK to speak that story and to talk about it, and you should feel that you have permission to talk about it if that’s helpful for you,� Lidji said.

Kissileff, a member of the New Light con-

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gregation, said she first had the idea to write the book after she travelled to the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, alongside members of New Light and East Liberty’s Rodman Street Baptist Church congregation. Nine Black worshippers were killed in 2015 at the Charleston church by a white supremacist. “I asked people to write something about the trip,� Kissileff said. “I was thinking about how valuable it was for people to put their experiences into writing, and thought that it would be interesting to have an anthology.�

Kissileff said she approached Lidji, who was working on cataloguing artifacts from the massacre, about creating a small work that combined the texts and objects. But Lidji said he felt that highlighting the voices of people who had intimate connections to the massacre would help amplify local experiences and stories. “There are journalists who covered it, people who were members of those congregations, people who had intense emotional experiences which gave them a unique perspective or people who have their own life experiences or through their professional responsibilities have become involved [in the book] in some way,� Lidji said.

Kissileff said she thought focusing on local voices was a crucial aspect of their work, because much of the national media coverage surrounding the massacre missed the nuances of what the experience was like for community members and victims. “The thing is that when a national media person comes in, there can be reporters that are fantastic and talk to a lot of people,� Kissileff said. “But there are still certain things they’re going to miss, and also, often they try to shape the story in a particular way.�

Lidji said he hopes that by regaining control over the local narrative, the anthology can discuss the raw emotions felt by the community, while also encompassing larger discussions around gun control and combating white supremacy. “Those big conversations are still happening about what this means and what are our responsibilities,� Lidji said. “But there’s also another conversation, which is personal, and that personal conversation is very different for different people.�

The first section, titled “Here is Squirrel Hill,�

opens with Pascal’s essay describing the neighborhood, or as she calls it, the “urban shtetl� of Squirrel Hill. She describes the bustling streets, various eateries and the strong community she grew up in.

Kissileff followed by reading an excerpt from journalist Ann Belser’s essay titled “The News Next Door.� Unlike Pascal, Belser — who was walking her dog past the synagogue when the first shots rang out — reflects on the way Squirrel Hill changed that day.

The second section, called “Finding the Vessel,� features stories about finding objects to anchor oneself to through the grieving process.

Lidji read an excerpt from Adam Shear, an associate professor of religious studies at Pitt, in which Shear struggled to balance vulnerability and the rigidity of his academic work. Kissileff followed with a reading of an essay and poems by Arlene Weiner, a poet and playwright, that confronted her emotions on the day of the massacre. “I marked myself ‘safe’ on Facebook when

the alert came — active shooter in my neighborhood,� Kissileff read Weiner’s words aloud. “Is ‘safe’ a lie if you want to believe it?�

The final section, “You Will Get Through It,� was named after a line in an essay by Linda Hurwitz. Hurwitz’s daughter, Karen Hurwitz, was murdered in 1989 at their home in Squirrel Hill. The Tree of Life massacre occurred 29 years after her death, to the date. Hurwitz reflects on the emotions she felt, both about her daughters death and the events of Oct. 27, 2018. “Always, certain dates, anniversaries, associations trigger a renewal of grief,� Kissileff read Hurwitz’ words aloud. “However, as my wise mother and father said, ‘You will get through it.’�

The book features essays on similar topics as these while highlighting the nuance of local voices. Chloe Wertz, a publicist for the Univer-

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HOCO SELF-PROMO: ‘SPIRIT OF PITT’ CANDIDATES PROMOTE THEMSELVES ONLINE

Julianna Poljak For The Pitt News

It’s not often that you see South Oakland’s very own Frenchi’s Deli posting about Pitt’s homecoming candidates on their Instagram. But with “#StayatHomecoming” as this year’s motto, candidates have used every virtual advantage they can to spread their campaigns.

With a semester as “unprecedented” as this one, some of this year's 20 homecoming candidates had to be more creative in promoting themselves to students. With the University only recently announcing the Monday switch to Guarded Risk posture, candidates have utilized primarily online resources and social media to gain votes. This is also the first year when Pitt has removed the gendered titles of homecoming king/ queen and will instead have two genderinclusive “Spirit of Pitt” winners.

Due to the nature of #StayatHome-

coming this year and lack of in-person campaigning, candidates are relying on their sponsorships — which are endorsements from student organizations — to help spread the word.

Ashumi Rokadia, a senior and “Spirit of Pitt” candidate, explained that those who run are allowed both primary and secondary sponsorships. To be eligible to run for homecoming, each candidate must have at least one primary sponsor and organizations are only allowed to primarily sponsor two candidates. A secondary sponsor can sponsor as many candidates as they choose.

“Every candidate who’s running gets one or two primary sponsors and we have unlimited secondary sponsors,” Rokadia, an information science major and student director of the Student Alumni Association, said. “Those organizations can just put us on their feed and on their stories too. Then every candidate gets one post on the SAA In-

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Cameron Clarke, another “Spirit of Pitt” candidate, said he felt there was a measurable difference in how past homecoming candidates have campaigned compared to this year.

“Something that’s been a bit difficult for people who are running is that we aren't really able to meet others in person,” Clarke, a senior anthropology major and Carribean and Latin American Student Association president, said. “So it's really been talking to our different sponsors, different communities.”

Regardless of being restricted to online resources, many candidates have taken their campaigns in different directions. Some created a separate Instagram account to share their slogans and answer questions, while others decided to spread the word through their personal accounts. One candidate even shared their video on r/Pitt, a Reddit page dedicated to the University community.

Rokadia and her running mate, Erin Casey, opted to use their own personal Instagram accounts for the campaign, and said they were trying their best to keep a balance between promotion and their typical content.

“I'm trying not to spam my account and annoy the people that follow me,” Casey, a senior rehabilitation sciences major, said.

“But also I know Ashumi and I really are

passionate about the campaigns and want to do well.”

Specific to a semester via Zoom, Stana Topich said her running mate Ryan Ferrante, a senior biological sciences major, was trying out a new technique to reach students in his classes.

“Ryan has been promoting us in his class Zoom chats and never would I ever have thought to do it,” Topich, a senior psychology major, said. “It went so well. We’re lucky that we have a creative side to it and we’ve been having fun with it too.”

Another candidate, Bea Fadrigon, made an Instagram account specifically for the campaign. Fadrigon, who is running alongside Clarke, said the account is her favorite way so far to connect and interact with students.

“Right now I think my favorite part is we’re doing Instagram day takeovers, to get a glimpse of what our day is like. I've been putting a lot of interactive polls or open questions,” Fadrigon, a senior psychology major, said. “I think people are gonna decide what I have for lunch.”

Despite the limitations set on campaigners this year, most candidates said they felt there were plenty of benefits to virtual campaigning. According to Fadrigon, online promotion helps her reach a wider audience.

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Sports Griffin Floyd

TWO PITT ATHLETES PLAY FOR THE STEEL CITY THAT RAISED THEM

Staff Writer

Homecoming presents an opportunity for most people to return to their high school or college and see old friends at a variety of formal and sporting events.

But for redshirt sophomore Curtis Aiken Jr., it means something different. Aiken graduated from North Allegheny High School in Wexford and continued a family tradition upon committing to Pitt’s men’s basketball team to play guard.

“Both my parents went here, and I started to fall in love with Pitt during the recruiting process,” Aiken said.

Aiken’s father, Curtis Aiken Sr., played for the Panthers from 1983-87 and ranks 27th on the team’s all-time scoring leaderboard. The elder Aiken has stayed close with his alma mater, and calls his son’s games for KDKA. That family tie gave Aiken Jr. a lifelong connection to the University.

“I grew up a Pitt fan,” Aiken Jr. said.

“When I was little we had season tickets and I went to all the games. Pitt has always had a place in my heart.”

Despite that fandom, Aiken Jr. didn’t always plan on going to Pitt. He originally thought he might have a future in Knoxville.

“My first offer was from Tennessee my sophomore year,” Aiken Jr. said. “But I grew distant from them as I got older.”

The prospect of playing for his hometown alone wasn’t enough to sell Aiken Jr. on Pitt. But when he received a chance to play for vaunted coach Mike Krzyzewski’s top assistant in Oakland, he couldn’t resist the opportunity. Aiken Jr. and Pitt head coach Jeff Capel both started their Pitt careers in 2018.

“The coaching change was the big rea-

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son I came here — Coach Capel is a really down-to-earth guy and he knows the game very well,” Aiken Jr. said.

Like Aiken Jr., women’s soccer senior midfielder Dixon Veltri hails from the Pittsburgh area and grew up a fan of the Pan-

ing coach Randy Waldrum, the two-time coach of the year and national championship winner at Notre Dame, did the trick.

“Pitt hired coach Randy, and I knew that the program would turn around,” Veltri said. “I wanted to be closer to home. Play-

Dixon Veltri moved back to her hometown of Pittsburgh and joined Pitt’s women’s soccer team after transferring from University of North Carolina Wilmington. Thomas Yang | Senior Staff Photographer thers. But unlike Aiken Jr., Veltri didn’t stay in her hometown when she started college in 2017.

“I wasn’t looking at Pitt,” Veltri said.

“The women’s soccer team wasn’t well established at that time, and I wanted to go elsewhere for school, just to get out of Pittsburgh and explore.”

That wanderlust led her to the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she started seven games as a first-year athlete. It didn’t last long, though. Veltri chose to transfer back to her hometown in 2018 as Pitt’s chances at competing improved. Hir-

ing in the ACC has always been my dream, so it was perfect.”

Both teams have undergone a renaissance with talented coaches at the helm, and while the basketball team’s season hasn’t started, Veltri is already reaping the rewards.

Veltri said last year’s game against Boston College stood out as one of her favorite moments at Pitt. The Panthers hadn’t won a conference game in more than three years prior to that victory, and now have four ACC wins since, a step in the right direction for the long-maligned program.

October 21, 2020

As the team’s culture has changed, Veltri said she has seen herself take on a bigger role within it.

“We’re a very young team. I’m the only senior,” Veltri said. “I’m leading by example and showing [the younger players] what it takes to win, and it’s definitely important to be a role model for everyone.”

The basketball team has reached an upward path as well in what will soon be its third year under Capel, who has recruited top talent across the roster — talent the Panthers will need in the loaded ACC. Aiken Jr. said home games at the Petersen Events Center have special meaning to him, knowing he’s playing in the place that raised him.

“It’s a little different for me than for my teammates,” Aiken Jr. said. “I know a lot of the fans, some of them might have seen me play in high school, so it’s a different feeling for me.”

For Aiken Jr., the love the people of Pittsburgh have for their sports teams is a huge part of what the City means to him.

“During Steelers games, and sporting events in general in Pittsburgh, everyone goes crazy,” Aiken Jr. said. “Growing up in that environment, people from Pittsburgh love sports, and it’s probably my favorite thing about the City.”

Veltri, on the other hand, said she sees playing for her City in a different light. She said she wants to grow the game of soccer not just for the City, but for all the young fans who support the Panthers in the stands.

“For the little girls around here, we’re now role models for them,” Veltri said.

“Growing up, I always looked up to UNC because they were the best in the country, but now I think in Pittsburgh little girls can look up to us and think, ‘I want to be like them one day.’”

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OAKLAND TO OREGON: PITT FANS REPLICATE TAILGATES FROM HOME

Camryn Simons Staff Writer

On a typical game day, it's hard to miss the masses of people congregating in the various parking lots of Heinz Field all throughout the game. Donning their blue and gold attire, socializing, grilling, listening to music and playing games are a staple for Pitt fans before cheering on the Panthers.

Andrew Hill, a senior computer engineering major, reminisces on what a typical tailgate looked like for him and his friends in seasons prior. Hill and his fraternity used to host tailgates in the parking lots on the North Shore, complete with plenty of amenities.

“We would always have stuff like cornhole, a lot of different games and music,” he said. “We would sometimes bring a TV out so we could stay out a little bit after kickoff and we could catch the beginning of the game before heading in.”

But this isn’t a normal season.

Due to social distancing guidelines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pitt announced earlier this season that fans would not be permitted inside of the stadium to watch home games, at least for the month of September.

While Pitt is now beginning to let in a small number of fans, Heinz Field strictly prohibits tailgating in their lots this season.

Many of the lots that once hosted thousands of football fans on game day are completely closed for the time being.

Although Pitt fans cannot spend time pre-game outside of Heinz Field, that doesn’t mean game day festivities aren’t happening at all this season. Fans are just getting creative with their game day experience at home.

Unable to watch the games from the stands so far this season, fans keep up-todate with the game and score in a variety of

ways. People watch the game on the television and streaming websites, listen to live updates on the radio and check social media for scores and play-by-play updates.

Everything that one used to do during tailgates — grilling, listening to music, playing games like cornhole — can still be done on game days, just on a much smaller scale at home.

Like many other Pitt fans this season, Hill created a new game day routine in the absence of tailgating on the North Side.

With social distancing guidelines, he found a way to watch the game and enjoy time with his friends on a much smaller scale.

“The way we’ve been doing it is obviously in much smaller groups. So I'll have my roommates, some of the neighbors, and a couple of friends over,” Hill said. “We bring our TV out to the front porch and that kind of gives us a way to get involved with the street as well. People will walk by and see the

TV and ask what the score is — that type of stuff. We’ll play music and still have some beers out there.”

Long-distance Pitt fans are getting creative with their tailgates, too. Pitt class of 2015 graduate Joshua Loepig now lives in Portland, Oregon, but found a way to show his spirit for his alma mater across the country during an unusual season.

“Last year I started getting Pitt people together here in Portland and actually a good amount of the people in my bubble that are also Pitt graduates out here,” Loepig said.

“We get together on Saturdays and had to get YouTube TV to watch the ACC network.

We have some themed food and watch the game together.”

After Gov. Tom Wolf lifted restrictions on the number of spectators allowed for events, Heinz Field will welcome fans into

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Even though Pitt will allow some fans to watch football at Heinz Field, it’s strictly prohibiting tailgating in its lots for the rest of the season.

Carolyn Pallof |Senior Staff Photographer

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PITT BOASTS DECORATED MOUNT RUSHMORE OF HOMETOWN HEROES

Kyle Saxon Staff Writer

Throughout its decorated athletic history, Pitt has produced numerous phenomenal athletes. The greater Pittsburgh area has also been home to some of the greatest high school athletes of all time. While it is always fulfilling to see former Panther athletes succeed at the professional level, it is perhaps even more special to see homegrown talent shine at Pitt.

It is no coincidence that Pitt’s greatest hometown heroes have played for its most high-profile programs. The following is the “Mount Rushmore” of athletes who are not only Panther greats, but also Pittsburgh natives.

Tony Dorsett (Aliquippa) The most decorated athlete to ever wear the blue and gold is a clear-cut choice for any list of Pitt’s greatest athletes.

Dorsett grew up in Aliquippa and attended Hopewell High School, where he stood out as one of the best running backs in the country.

As a first-year, he exploded onto the scene at Pitt, setting the first-year rushing record with 1,686 yards in 1973. And just three games into his sophomore season — his 15th overall collegiate game — Dorsett broke the school’s all-time rushing record.

While his first three years at Pitt would have been enough to cement him as the greatest running back in school history, Dorsett’s

senior season solidified him as perhaps the greatest college running back ever. In 1976, he rushed for 2,150 yards and 22 touchdowns, winning the Heisman Trophy and leading Pitt to a national championship.

Quite frankly, it is borderline impossible to have a more impressive season than Dorsett had as a senior at Pitt. The college and professional Hall of Famer will forever be considered one of the greatest athletes to ever hail from the City of Pittsburgh and to ever wear a Pitt Panther uniform.

Dan Marino (Pittsburgh) The term “hometown hero” may not even accurately encapsulate what Dan Marino means to Pitt.

Marino grew up in South Oakland, a neighborhood many current Pitt students call home. He was a high school standout at Central Catholic, just a few blocks down Fifth Avenue from Pitt’s campus. He played at Pitt from 1979-82, and while he does not have a national championship to show for it, he played on some of the greatest Pitt teams of all time.

Behind an offensive line featuring Russ Grimm and Mark May, and with the help of a defense headlined by Hugh Green and Rickey Jackson, Marino was the signal-caller for an astounding collection of talent. He was great in his first two seasons, but due to inconsistent playing time because of injuries, Marino’s statistics from his first-year and sophomore sea-

sons are not exceptional.

But his junior season was absolutely unforgettable. The gunslinger threw for 2,876 yards, 37 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. Marino had emerged as a top NFL prospect but decided to stay at Pitt for his senior season. His struggles in his fourth season caused him to fall in the NFL draft, but his Hall of Fame professional career has teams who passed on him still losing sleep.

Marino is one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play football, and certainly one of the greatest athletes to ever play at Pitt.

DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh) Despite spending just two years at Pitt, DeJuan Blair left a legacy large enough to solidify himself as a Panther legend.

Blair grew up in the Hill District and attended Schenley High School, a short ride from the Petersen Events Center. He joined Jamie Dixon’s team at an opportune time, as Pitt had been on the cusp of greatness for years

Tony Dorsett walks onto Heinz Field with Pitt Football in 2016. TPN File Photo

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October 21, 2020

before Blair’s arrival.

His talent was enough to make Pitt one of the most feared teams in the country. As a first-year, Blair averaged 11.6 points and 9.1 rebounds in 26 minutes per game, earning him Freshman All-America and Big East Rookie of the Year honors while also leading Pitt to a Big East tournament championship.

In Blair’s sophomore season, he led the best team in program history to a 31-5 record, a season that included Pitt’s first No. 1 overall national ranking in school history and an Elite Eight appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

Blair averaged 15.7 points and a national-best 12.3 rebounds per game. He earned Big East player of the year, as well as Consensus AllAmerica honors.

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Blair’s time at Pitt may have been relatively short, but it was enough to establish himself as the greatest Pitt basketball player of all time.

Mike Ditka (Aliquippa) I Am Greta (PG) Mike Ditka, put, 9:20 is an icon of the Fri:simply 5:00, 7:10, Sat & Sun: 2:50, 5:00, 7:10, 9:20 sports world.

While he is on Mon & Tue: 5:00, 7:10,this 9:20list for his 5:00, 9:20more widely contributionsWed: to Pitt, he7:10, is much Thu: 5:00, 7:10, 9:20 beloved for his contributions to the sport of The Empty Man (R) football as No a whole. passes through 11/8/20 Fri - Tue: 4:10, 7:00, 9:50School and Ditka attended Aliquippa High Wed: 4:10, 7:00, 9:50 Thu:at4:10, 9:50 spent three years Pitt. 7:00, His receiving stats appear to be lackluster, but this is simply because Honest Thief (PG-13) Fri: 5:20, 7:30, 9:40 of how the game when Ditka atSat & Sun:was 3:10,played 5:20, 7:30, 9:40 Mon & Tue: 5:20, 7:30, 9:40he played tended Pitt from 1958-60, where Wed: 5:20, 7:30, 9:40 tight end and Thu: defensive 5:20, line.

7:30, 9:40 While he only accumulated On the Rocks (R) 45 receptions Fri - Tue: 7:20 PM for 730 yards across three seasons — albeit in Wed: 7:20 PM Thu: was 7:20considered PM an era where passing a last resort — Ditka led Tenet the team in receiving all three (PG-13) Fri - Tue: 9:30 PM seasons. He was a feared tight end Wed: 9:30 blocking PM Thu:sixth in 9:30 PM Heisman voting as well, and finished his junior season despite just Hocus Pocus accumulating (PG) Fri: 4:30 PM 11 receptions on Sat: the season, 2:35 PMalso earning AllSun: 2:35, 4:30 America honors.

Mon - Thu: 4:30 PM His talent with the ball in his hands was evident in his limited opportunities, as he averaged 16.2 yards per reception in his career, and was selected fifth overall in the NFL draft by

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October 21, 2020

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You can register to vote now using your campus address.

You can vote early.

You can vote by mail.

You can vote

on Election Day. Go to voteamerica.com/students

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