10-26-15 by The Pitt News

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

Recap: Blue-Gold game Page 8

Activist Bree Newsome speaks at Pitt Page 3

October 26, 2015 | Issue 49 | Volume 106

Students Remembering Susan Hicks pitch in at PMADD

Elli Warsh Staff Writer

Dust, nails and shattered roof shale flew around inside the dingy house in East Liberty as a group of Pitt students worked furiously to rebuild the house for a needy family. The volunteers worked to fix up the old house so someone would be able to buy it in better condition. The home will soon belong to a single mother and her family, who cannot afford the rent of the house in its current state, 22-year-old Taylor Thorp said. Thorp, the development director for the nonprofit called The Best of the Batch Foundation, works with Pittsburgh Urban Leadership Service Experience, which coordinated many of the projects for Pitt Make a Difference Day. About 20 Pitt students from Tower A helped repair the dilapidated house. On Saturday, Oct. 24, 5,071 Pitt students crawled out of bed and boarded more than 70 school buses at 9 a.m., for the ninth annual PMADD. This year, 5,200 students registered for PMADD — the highest number of students since the event began in 2006, according to Rachel Lauver, community outreach chair for Student Government Board. The volunteers spread out around the Pittsburgh area with at least one group in each of the 11 districts to pick up trash, pull weeds, wash buildings and package supplies for organization events. “The purpose of PMADD is that it gives Pitt students the opportunity to give back to the community that they call home,” Lauver said in an email.

Find the full story online at

pittnews.com

Local mourners gather to pay their respects to Susan Hicks, a member of the Pitt faculty and cyclist who died in a bicycle accident Friday. Wenhao Wu STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Elizabeth Lepro

Assistant News Editor Susan Hicks was always learning, often traveling and never limiting her capacity for empathy or her dedication to students. Hicks, 34, was assistant director of academic affairs at Pitt’s Center for Russian and East European Studies. She died Friday after being hit by a car in Oakland while riding her bike home from work. She was an intellectual who moved quickly from graduate school at Pitt to

an administrative position at a young age, according to her colleague Andrew Konitzer. Hicks was also an avid traveller and spent time in Serbia, Russia and Puerto Rico. In Pittsburgh, her friends recall that Hicks loved the outdoors and biking, and was highly involved in social and activist circles. Konitzer, the director of the Center for REES, worked closely with Hicks in their small office with a six-person staff. He saw Hicks’ dedication to her students firsthand, as well as to activism in the community and world.

“She was not the type to sit back and watch things that she was unhappy with unfold,” Konitzer said. Konitzer said Hicks was “always fighting for the little guy.” Hicks and Konitzer went on tours with REES’ visitors to incubators and met people who Konitzer described as “great minds” around Pittsburgh. According to Konitzer, Hicks would always comment, “This is great, but do poor people have access to this?” See Hicks on page 4

News

The Pitt News

Trustees approve pitt plan, ada elevators Zoë Hannah

For The Pitt News Pitt’s Board of Trustees put an end to phase one of Pitt’s strategic plan and said it’s time to begin implementation by making changes through campaigns and committees. At a Board of Trustees meeting Friday at 9:30 a.m. at Pitt Greensburg’s Smith Hall, board members approved the next step of Pitt’s Strategic Plan, the first step of elevator renovations in Sutherland Hall, the construction of the John P. Murtha Center for Public Service at Pitt Johnstown and the election of John A. Swanson and Catherine D. DeAngelis as emeritus trustees. Pitt will update the elevators to meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. The renovation, which the Property and Facilities Committee approved at a public meeting on Sept. 28, will cost $2,635,000 and requires 15 construction jobs and six support jobs. University spokesperson Ken Service could not be reached in time for publication to say when the construction would begin. The board also affirmed its support of Pitt’s Strategic Plan — an outline of initiatives and improvements the University will focus on from 2016 to 2020, encouraging the Chancellor and the community to move forward with the plan through a series of initiatives, including building on interdisciplinary connections, strengthening alumni connections and reinforcing the values of diversity and inclusion. “Now, some of these actions are University-wide initiatives,” Gallagher said. “Others are plans within particular schools and departments, and others are plans for

pittnews.com

shared institutional activities like facilities, information technology and computing and institutional plans for their development.” This month, students questioned whether the University has allowed enough room for student input on the Strategic Plan during what Vice Provost David DeJong called its “engagement phase.” The University responded with two open forums sessions where students could voice concerns and provide feedback on the plan. DeJong said at that point, the plan was “light on specifics.” Gallagher stated on Friday that the plan has made “excellent progress” since its inception in 2014. “As an update, I did want to say that we are now in the stage where we have to take that direction and put it to use,” Gallagher said. “And this is where the plan starts to get real.” Gallagher was at the board meeting on Friday to welcome Swanson and DeAngelis to emeritus status — meaning that the retired board members will retain the title of board member status but lose voting privileges. DeAngelis, who was at the meeting, served on Pitt’s Board of Trustees from February 2002 until June 2015. Swanson, who could not make it to Friday’s meeting, served on the board from June 2006 until June 2015. In 2000, DeAngelis became the first female editor-in-chief of The Journal of the American Medical Association—a position she held for over ten years before stepping down in 2011.

Editor-in-Chief DANIELLE FOX

editor@pittnews.com

manager@pittnews.com

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

Katie Krater | Assistant Copy Chief 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

Find the full story online at

pittnews.com

Managing Editor HARRISON KAMINSKY

October 26, 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

Bree Newsome: bringing down the flag Activist visits pitt to Discuss racial injustice, activism and art Zoë Hannah

For The Pitt News For Bree Newsome, the conversation on race violence didn’t end when she descended the South Carolina Statehouse flag pole, clutching a Confederate flag. Newsome is a social justice activist who climbed into the national spotlight when she scaled the flagpole in June to remove the Confederate flag amidst boiling debate over the flag’s space in the public sphere. Newsome recounted this story Friday at “An Evening with Bree Newsome,” hosted by Pitt’s Black Action Society at 6 p.m. in the Chevron Science Center. Newsome, a filmmaker and author, now travels the country to speak about the convergence of racial injustice, activism and art. Newsome is traveling

pittnews.com

to universities across the country while helping to organize sit-ins and speeches in Charlotte, North Carolina. To members of BAS, Newsome is a source of inspiration and empowerment. “[Taking down the flag] was a very loud and clear statement,” said Jade Remar, a sophomore psychology and sociology major and member of BAS. “The fact that she took it down was a big statement, and it spoke for a lot of people.” Newsome told the 100 attendees on Friday that the courage to take down the flag didn’t stem from confidence, but rather from her belief in the powerful effects of small actions. “Courage is not about the absence of fear, but rather the belief in something greater than that fear and the determi-

nation to fight for it,” Newsome said. Gabrielle Wynn, the president of BAS, said the club’s members were ecstatic when they confirmed Newsome’s trip to Pittsburgh a few weeks ago and were eager to hear her story. Student Government Board funded Newsome’s speech at Pitt. Like much of the nation, Newsome said she and her collaborators saw the flag as a racist symbol of white supremacy, and Newsome said she decided to act after she saw photos of Dylann Roof, the man who murdered nine people in a South Carolina church, holding the flag. To retrieve the flag, Newsome collaborated with about 10 other activists to practice scaling a pole using tree climbing equipment, amplify her social media presence and film her climb. A

October 26, 2015

week before she began her ascent, Newsome said she meditated on the scripture of David and Goliath, in which David courageously fought against the giant Goliath. When Newsome reached the top of the flagpole, she revised David’s famous words to say “You come against me with hatred and oppression and violence, I come against you in the name of God. This flag comes down today.” Newsome said she was not always committed to political activism. Despite having told her sister she didn’t want to be a political activist, Newsome became passionate about the voting rights injustices in her home state of North Carolina. In July 2013, Newsome was arrested during a related sit-in at the North See Newsome on page 5

Hicks, pg. 1

and Washington, D.C. “She could see all parts of the problem all the time,” Konitzer said. “She was really empathetic, you know? She felt it.” Courtney Weaver, a student who worked closely with Hicks, said Hicks connected with her students beyond her basic duties as an adviser. Weaver, a senior political science and international area studies major, said when she was working three jobs last semester, “[Hicks] was the only person who noticed or cared that I was really burned out.” Their conversations would last over an hour, as they talked about everything from capstone courses to Weaver’s adventures in Ukraine. “She was so interesting to talk to. Pretty much everything you talked to her about, she would have something to add to the conversation,” Weaver said. “She was extra passionate about her work. She just wanted to share that passion.” Hicks once took the time to help Weaver step-by-step after her computer froze and deleted a 20-page paper due the next day.

“She had better things to do than sit there and troubleshoot with a student,” Weaver said. “She just wanted her students to succeed and do well.” At a candlelight vigil on Saturday, Oct. 24, more than 200 people gathered in front of the Carnegie Music Hall in remembrance of Hicks. Across the street, at the site of the accident, Hicks’ friends and family left candles and flowers near a white bike chained to a telephone pole in her honor. Similar “ghost bikes” have appeared around the country as a way to remember those killed while cycling. Erica Hom, who had Hicks as her adviser for the past three years, said the turnout for the vigil visualized Hicks’ impact in Pittsburgh. “I see people from all of my classes that I had with this department. People loved her so much,” Hom, a senior studying linguistics and Russian and east European studies, said. During a second memorial in Hicks’ honor Sunday night at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Schenley Park, her See Hicks on page 5

The Pitt news crossword 10/26/15

“On a scale between dogmatic and pragmatic, I think Susan was right in the middle,” Konitzer said. “She came into something with ideas, of course, everyone does, but she would allow her ideas to

change as reality changed.” Hicks taught a global energy program, where she travelled with students to visit drilling companies in Washington County, anti-drilling non-governmental organizations in Pittsburgh and multinational companies and lawmakers in Moscow, Bulgaria

pittnews.com

October 26, 2015

Newsome, pg. 3

Hicks, pg. 4

Carolina State Capitol. During the same month, George Zimmerman was acquitted of murder charges related to the shooting and subsequent death of Trayvon Martin. For Newsome, the summer of 2013 — a time when “the past continued to rise, and not in good ways” — was when she began to discover the relationship between her activism and her art. “I was deeply disturbed by the facts and circumstances surrounding Trayvon’s death,” Newsome said on Friday. “The case sparked a new movement led by black and brown youth who saw themselves in Trayvon, and I was no different.” Newsome said Martin’s death was the beginning of a modern-day civil rights movement, but also the beginning of a new era of race violence. “It is the pervasive threat of such violence that made the Confederate flag in Columbia, South Carolina, seemingly untouchable,” Newsome said. “Tragically, it took the blood of nine more innocent people to finally shake the conscience of the nation surrounding that symbol of slavery, hatred and terrorism that is the Confederate flag.” When Newsome climbed the pole, she understood the danger she was undertaking. “I understood the risk involved with what I was doing, and I understood there was reason to fear what might happen. Yet I also understood that as a human being, the measure of my humanity was linked to my ability to recognize the humanity of others,” Newsome said. “And I knew that I had become part of something much greater than myself. ” Wynn said Newsome’s dedication to action echoed BAS’ own mission. “For her to make the move to actually get it down herself and not wait on anybody else kind of shows that, in all of our lives, if we want to make change, we have to be the ones to do it,” Wynn said. “We can’t wait on someone else to make it. We have to make the change.”

friend Dan Warner played accompaniment on his acoustic guitar as he and the congregants sang, “No Rain,” by Blind Melon. Hicks’ friends and family held each other as they swayed with the song that used to make Hicks dance and sing. Some people wiped tears off of their cheeks, while others smiled — it was the first day without rain all weekend.

pittnews.com

“It’s also very representative of her,” Warner said. “It’s about a person sitting around reading books.” Warner, who travelled to Puerto Rico with Hicks this past summer, said Hicks was a “really deep person.” She knew how to speak several languages including Russian, Sakha — a Turkic language — and most recently had started learning Turkish. “She just wanted to learn,” Warner said. Konitzer will return to the office without Hicks on Monday. He said one of the

October 26, 2015

most difficult things will be seeing her door with her name plaque, knowing she’s not inside. “I’ve been thinking about it in terms of a mosaic,” Konitzer said. “The mosaic changes its image because of its parts. If one of those parts is gone, it completely changes the entire picture.” Members of the Pitt community will host a memorial for Hicks 9 a.m. Oct. 26, in Posvar Hall. Due to a booking complication, Konitzer said they haven’t determined the room number yet.

Opinions

column

from the editorial board

Standardized testing perpetuates educational inequality For years, students have suffered the brunt of standardized testing, and the Obama administration wants to put an end to that anguish. On Saturday, the White House posted a video to Facebook pledging to take steps to reduce testing overload. The Obama administration is recommending states cap standardized test taking to 2 percent of class time. Reducing time spent on testing frees up resources that schools can allocate to more effective educational initiatives. But while we’re assessing the value of standardized testing, we should also examine how we can improve the public school evaluation process. There are better methods of evaluating students’ performance — and a school’s ability to prepare students for success following high school — than standardized testing. Standardized testing focuses primarily on preparing students to enter college — a career path that does not suit everyone. This sets off a chain reaction. Aligning resources with the potential for college success creates a gap in marketable skills between students of different economic backgrounds. Since the mid-1970s, the income achievement gap in standardized test scores between low-income and highincome students has increased by 40 percent, according to the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. In “The Widening Academic Achievement Gap between the Rich and

pittnews.com

the Poor: New Evidence and Possible Explanations,” Sean Reardon, a professor of education and sociology at Stanford, writes, “The income-achievement gap is now more than twice as large as the black-white achievement gap.” This makes socioeconomic status a larger determiner of academic achievement than race. Failing to address educational inequalities costs us in the long run. According to a report conducted by the McKinsey’s Social Sector Office, which serves school systems in the United States and around the world, closing the income achievement gap between 1983 and 1998 would have raised the GDP in 2008 from $400 billion to $670 billion. Countries that have already lightened the pressure of standardized testing — especially those that consistently outperform the United States, including Scandinavian countries like Finland and Norway — provide examples of alternative systems of evaluation and resource allocation. Rather than focusing on standardized tests, Finland emphasizes giving all students the same opportunity to learn by working to reduce inequalities in education across the country. Finland’s objective has proved effective. According to the most recent 2012 PISA — Programme for International Student Assessment — results, Finland ranked 12th in mathematics, fifth in science and sixth in reading. In comparison, the United States ranked 36th in

mathematics, 28th in science and 24th in reading. In Finland, there are no standardized tests outside of the National Matriculation Exam, which students take at the end of a voluntary upper-secondary school. Periodically, the Ministry of Education tests sample groups across a range of different schools. Finland doesn’t only focus on levelling the educational field. Finland schools have diversified the education of their students — assigning less homework and engaging students in more creative play. Norway follows a similar system of diversification of education — and like Finland, it outperforms the United States, ranking 30th in mathematics, 31st in science and 22nd in reading. American schools could benefit from broadening their scope beyond college prospects to areas like vocational training. If the United States evaluated public schools based on the careers and incomes their graduates acquire — both holistically and statistically — schools would change how they allocate resources. Resources would go toward teaching students skills that can prepare them for the work force after high school, rather than teaching them standardized testing material that only prepares them for college. We should evaluate schools by the students they produce and the opportunities they have to succeed, and cut the cord between standardized testing and the public education system.

October 26, 2015

Grant refugees safe, affordable transportation Courtney Linder Senior Columnist

“The Hot Tea” is a weekly column dedicated to unearthing the intricacies of London’s social, political and millennial issues in context of Pittsburgh’s own complex culture. LONDON — A refugee’s experience with transportation — deadly conditions, seeminglyendless perseverance, dimming light at the end of a metaphorical tunnel — is a travesty. But to officials at St. Pancras International Railway Station, that’s nothing compared to the “inconvenience” of the delay their passage inflicts on passengers. Last week, my friends boarded a high speed Eurostar train bound for France — a trip I had made a month ago. It took just two hours for me to get from London to Paris thanks to the Channel Tunnel — colloquially known as the Chunnel — which snakes beneath the waters of the Atlantic

Ocean. During my friends’ ride, the station delayed theirs by three hours while a brigade of Syrian refugees attempted to escape Calais, a port city in northern France known as the “Jungle.” These refugees braved a perilous journey through the Chunnel on foot, blocking up the railways and risking their lives. Eurostar representatives offered my friends compensation for their wait while police officers dispersed the refugees. The rail company wanted to give each customer an extra train ticket as reimbursement for their wait. My friends had a surefire privilege check that day. Refugees often make dangerous treks between their home country and their asylum state, typically by foot or boat. Both Europe and the United States have a duty to reconcile this travesty and help refugees find a safer route of transportation, specifically by loosening See Linder on page 7

Linder, pg. 6 the airline restrictions. According to World Vision, the crisis in Syria has displaced more than 12 million Syrians from their homes, half of which are children. In early September, German Prime Minister Angela Merkel opened the country’s borders to refugees. Later that month, the European Union agreed to a quota system to reallocate about 120,000 Syrian, Iraqi and Eritrean refugees across border states. Considering the fact that conflict has displaced millions of refugees, this effort is not enough. Europe faces great pressure to accept Syrian refugees due to its relative proximity. The United States may not feel the same proximal obligation, but it should accept a greater number of refugees, nonetheless. In a Newsweek article, writer Lucy Westcott called the United States’ efforts lackluster. “Historically, the U.S. has been a leader in refugee resettlement, and sadly it has not been leading in the Syria crisis,” Westcott writes. While the overall United States effort to accommodate refugees is scant, Pittsburgh — along with other national cities — are working to change the United States’ limitations on aid. In late September, Mayor Bill Peduto signed a letter encouraging the president to increase the number of Syrian refugees the United States will welcome in 2016, citing his willingness to accept Syrian refugees in Pittsburgh. To accommodate more refugees, the EU and United States must break down the financial and legislative barriers preventing these migrants from utilizing airline travel. A flight from Ethiopia to Sweden is only €400, from Lebanon to the United Kingdom is also €400 and from Egypt to Italy is only €320, according to the Foundation for Economic Education. The EU doesn’t exactly make it simple for airlines to accept refugees into

pittnews.com

their client base. EU Directive 2001/51/ EC, which the Council of the European Union created to curb illegal immigration, places a “carrier liability” on airlines transporting asylum seekers. If, for some reason, a refugee used that airline to cross national borders but did not have legitimate paperwork, it becomes

parts of Europe through illegal smuggling on ships or by foot through the Chunnel. The United States and Europe must implement legislation to provide safe transportation for refugees. While it would take grandiose EU and United States effort to pass any type of legisla-

Nikki Moriello VISUAL EDITOR that company’s responsibility to pay all the costs in returning the refugee from where he or she came. So, even if a refugee is legal to fly into another country, an airline can turn him or her away for simply fearing their status and doubting the legitimacy of their p ap e rwork. According to Alexander Betts, a columnist for the New York Times, it’s imperative the EU set up a form of working “humanitarian visas” for refugees. A working document, such as this legal endorsement, would incentivize airlines to take on more refugees. This would prevent travelers from attempting passage to other

tion, there are simple ways people have aided asylum seekers. In Seattle, the International Rescue Committee — a foundation that responds to the world’s most pressing humanitarian crises — rolled out a new procedure called the Metro Transit Incentives P r o grams. Under the new program, citizens who renew their license plate tabs receive eight free bus tickets from the government. The program asks residents to donate these bus tickets to their centers so they can redistribute them to refugees who need transportation to health centers, appointments, interviews and more.

Refugee Air — an airline set up by two Swedes who felt asylum seekers had been wrongly turned away from commercial carriers — aims to open up routes to refugees by carrying out pre-departure checks at camps in Turkey and Jordan to ensure everyone with a ticket is a refugee, according to The Guardian. I don’t want to see more images of refugee families huddled together in clumps, dragging their belongings through dark tunnels. Nor do I want us to simply share images of dead children washed up on shore after a frightful boat journey gone wrong. I want to know these refugees have adequate transportation to help them escape the surrounding terror. This is basic human decency — something the United States and Europe certainly need to brush up on. The migrant crisis is escalating — we should escalate our aid efforts to match. Courtney Linder is a senior columnist at The Pitt News, primarily focusing on social issues and technology. Write to her at CNL13@pitt.edu.

Refugees often make dangerous treks between their home country and their asylum state, typically by foot or boat

October 26, 2015

Sports

go online for recap of Men’s Soccer’s loss to duke

Narduzzi new faces debut in blue-gold game dominant in fourth Jeremy Tepper

Senior Staff Writer

Despite the practice run, both head coaches, Suzie McConnell-Serio and Jamie Dixon, said their rotations are far from complete. The women’s team, with its five new freshmen, competed first in two 10-minute halves, starting at 2 p.m. McConnell-Serio said she wanted to try several different rotations because she has not settled on a final starting squad.

On fourth and seven at his own 48-yard line, Pitt football head coach Pat Narduzzi didn’t think twice about calling the gutsiest available play. After two late fourth down conversions against Georgia Tech last week, he was going for the fake punt against his next opponent. “I said, ‘Hey, run the fake.’ There wasn’t much to talk about,” Narduzzi said. “I did a good job acting, looking like ‘Son of a gun, how could we not get a first down?’ Then, there we go.” The snap went to punter Ryan Winslow, who rolled right and then dropped in a pass to Matt Galambos for a 12-yard gain. That completion represented a seminal play in an 89-yard, 9:20 drive that ended with a field goal as time expired to give No. 23 Pitt a 23-20 victory over Syracuse. If Winslow hadn’t made that play, though, Syracuse would have had good field position against a deflated Pitt team on its heels. The Orange could have knocked Pitt out of the rankings after one week. “Our kids executed it to perfection,” Narduzzi said. “We had three options — Ryan can run the ball, hit George Aston or hit Galambos on the flat route. He did a heck of a job executing.” With so many moving parts, any number of things could have gone wrong. Winslow could have mishandled the snap or missed the throw, or Galambos could have been out of position. “I had confidence in that play and did it in practice, so I knew I was going to execute it, honestly,” Winslow said.

See Basketball on page 10

See Football on page 9

Yacine Diop and Damon Wilson drive to the hoop at the Blue-Gold Scrimmage. Wenhao Wu STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Chris Puzia

Assistant Sports Editor Though he hasn’t appeared in an official contest yet for the Pitt men’s basketball team, Alonzo Nelson-Adoda can check one accomplishment off his season list: make a gamewinning shot. With seconds left in Pitt’s Blue-Gold Scrimmage event on Sunday, Nelson-Adoda’s side trailed by one point as he tried to find

pittnews.com

an open teammate for the win. Senior point guard James Robinson started to slip, before he snuck a pass deep to Nelson-Adoda, who laid the ball in as time expired to give the gold squad a 57-56 win. Sunday’s Fan Fest and Blue-Gold Scrimmage at the Petersen Events Center featured Pitt women’s and men’s basketball teams playing intrasquad exhibition games to showcase the teams to fans and test out the hardwood.

October 26, 2015

Football, pg. 8 The play, though, also represented the qualities that have led to Pitt’s 6-1 record. There was no specter of doubt about going for the conversion — just sheer confidence and resilience. That mentality starts with Narduzzi and the rest of the coaching staff, who have taught players how to embrace challenges instead of folding like past Pitt teams. Some of that change comes in a new team tradition before the game’s final plunge. Before every fourth quarter this season, the players pump themselves up, jumping around together in preparation for the rest of the game. Offensive lineman Alex Bookser does push-ups in the middle of the jumping huddle to keep his and the team’s energy up. “You can see the party they have out there before the fourth quarter, you can see they believe,” Narduzzi said. “The kids believe, and if you continue to coach them all the way through the game positively, you’re going to get good results.” Running back Qadree Ollison said they know the importance the fourth quarter holds and can finish out games with confidence.

pittnews.com

“We believe that the fourth quarter is our quarter. If you watch the start of that fourth quarter, you see us all jumping around, having a lot of fun,” Ollison said. “That’s our quarter. That’s where games are won, that’s where championships are won.” Prior to this contest, Pitt had lost 32 consecutive games when trailing at any point in the fourth quarter. In five of its seven losses last year alone, Pitt held a lead during the fourth quarter or overtime. Throughout the final drive, Ollison had several key runs, twice converting on third and one. Ollison, like the rest of his teammates, just seems to make plays when it matters. “That just shows our offense is being resilient. We trust the guy next to us to go get it on fourth and one, third and one,” Ollison said. “You just got to have the mindset that no man’s going to stop us from getting a yard.” Over the previous three games, it was Pitt’s defense that was on the field at the end of the game, presented with the opportunity to secure the win. This time it was the offense’s turn, much to quarterback Nathan Peterman’s pleasure. “We want to have the ball in our hands at the end of games,” Peterman said. “All that hard work

Tyler Boyd had 12 catches for 93 yards on Saturday. Courtesy of Bryan Cereijo THE DAILY ORANGE we’ve put in, we’re just not going to give it up.” Just one game past the halfway point of the season, Pitt is now bowl eligible — a milestone it didn’t achieve until its 12th and final game last season against Miami on Nov. 29. At 4-0 in conference play, the Panthers sit atop the ACC Coastal Division and are in good shape to win it all, pending the results of upcom-

October 26, 2015

ing games against major competitors like No. 22 Duke. On Thursday, Pitt will face off against another 6-1 team, North Carolina, which will provide a better barometer on this Pitt team’s quality. No matter the result, Rowell is already convinced. “If you don’t know, now you know. This team is real,” Rowell said.

Basketball, pg. 8 “I haven’t fallen in love with one lineup yet,” McConnell-Serio said. “At this point in the season, it’s unusual.” For the women’s blue team, sophomores Stasha Carey and Aysia Bugg started, along with junior Fred Potvin, freshman Kauai Bradley and redshirt junior Destinie Gibbs. Freshmen Cassidy Walsh, Kalista Walters and Brenna Wise started for gold, along with sophomore Yacine Diop and redshirt junior

pittnews.com

Brittany Gordon. McConnell-Serio said the freshmen all played well, but pointed to Wise specifically for her Sunday performance. “She’s going to be really good,” McConnellSerio said. “Brenna was a force inside. She makes plays and makes things happen.” With no seniors on the team, McConnellSerio said the young group will have to rely on each other. “We’re still at a stage where players can earn the opportunity to play in an eight or nineperson rotation,” McConnell-Serio said. “On a

different day, a different player steps up. We’re working on our combinations.” The gold team won the first half of play, 1613, before McConnell-Serio switched the lineups for the second half, which the gold team also won, 17-14. “The toughest team that you play against should be your own,” she said. “There’s no better team to scout and know like your own teammates. The players know each other and their strengths and weaknesses.” The men’s team laced up next at 3 p.m. for its scrimmage, made up of two 16-minute halves.

October 26, 2015

Robinson led the gold team, which consisted of graduate student transfers Sterling Smith and Nelson-Adoda, junior Michael Young and redshirt freshman Cameron Johnson. Freshman Damon Wilson took the point for blue, along with sophomore Ryan Luther and juniors Jamel Artis, Sheldon Jeter and Jonathan Milligan. The men’s game featured fast-paced, uptempo offense, as both teams raced up and down the court on transition to start. Johnson hit two quick 3-pointers and Young put in a couple of transition layups. A combined 545 pounds matched up in the post when Rafael Maia and Rozelle Nix briefly faced off. Each only played 15 of the game’s 32 total minutes. Dixon said the rotation of big men played well, especially in the transition style of the game. “Those six guys all did some good things,” Dixon said. “Rozelle has shown some improvement, he didn’t seem to suffer in transition today, didn’t seem to hurt us in transition defense.” Nelson-Adoda said the variation will help the team mix and match lineups during games. “The good thing about having so many big men is the versatility,” Nelson-Adoda said. “With big Rozelle, you have size and strength, same with Rafael. With Mike Young and Sheldon, they’re really quick. With me, it’s athleticism and versatility.” The blue team finished the first half leading 37-32. Milligan led all players in scoring with 14 points in the half, including three 3-point baskets. “[Milligan] has a knack of getting to the basket and getting fouls,” Dixon said. “But he’s one of those guys that has to show he can guard and guard at a high level.” Young made his biggest play of the day with a post-up spin move that he turned into a dunk late in the game. He turned around and grinned at assistant coach Brandin Knight, who coached the opposing team. “Mike obviously got going in the second half,” Dixon said. “He had some nice baskets.” Young paced the scoring with 18 points, followed by Robinson with 17. The women’s team opens up its schedule at home on Nov. 13 against Wagner. The men’s team will travel to Okinawa, Japan, for a Nov. 13, season opener against Gonzaga.

I Rentals & Sublet N D E X -NORTH OAKLAND -SOUTH OAKLAND -SHADYSIDE -SQUIRREL HILL -SOUTHSIDE -NORTHSIDE -BLOOMFIELD -ROOMMATES -OTHER

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. **AUGUST 2016: Furnished Studio, 1-2-3-4 Bedroom Apts. No pets. Non-smokers preferred. 412-621-0457 1-2-3-4-5 Bedroom Houses & Apartments. 376 Meyran, 343 McKee, & Atwood Street $1,095-$2,000. Call 412-969-2790 4 BR townhouse, Semple St., available May 1st & August 1st 2016. Equipped kitchen, full basement. 412-343-4289. Call after 5:00 pm. 2,3,4,5,6 bedroom houses in South Oakland. Available for rent August 2016. Very clean with different amenities (dishwasher, laundry, AC, washer and dryer, 1-3 baths, parking, newer appliances & sofas) Contact Ken at 412-287-4438.

pittnews.com

Employment

-CHILDCARE -FOOD SERVICES -UNIVERSITY -INTERNSHIPS -RESEARCH STUDIES -VOLUNTEERING -OTHER

Classifieds

For Sale

-AUTO -BIKES -BOOKS -MERCHANDISE -FURNITURE -REAL ESTATE -TICKETS

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 2 & 3 bedroom houses, Lawn & Ophelia. Available Now. Please call 412-287-5712. 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. 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.

Services

-EDUCATIONAL -TRAVEL -HEALTH -PARKING -INSURANCE

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

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 Pittsburghâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;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

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)

The Pitt News SuDoku 10/26/15 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

Just remodeled, carpeted, large 2 bedroom, with equipped kitchen. No pets. $750 plus. Call 412-600-1383.

October 26, 2015

pittnews.com

October 26, 2015