10-27-15

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

October 27, 2015 | Issue 50 | Volume 106

Media professionals give career advice Mark Pesto

Senior Staff Writer

Rocky Horror shadow-cast members practice for tonight’s performance. See page 6. Jeff Ahearn | ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

Pittsburgh inaugurates new citizens Dylan Shaffer

For The Pitt News Without immigrants, there wouldn’t be a Cathedral of Learning. “[Pitt’s neighbors] donated their own scarce resources, their own treasure, and their own sweat to complete the project,” Pitt Chancellor Patrick D. Gallagher said.

On Monday, Oct. 26 in Schenley

Plaza, Pittsburgh welcomed another generation of immigrants into its city limits.

Michael Horvath, field office director of the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services Pittsburgh, granted U.S. citizenship to 20 candidates from 11 different countries, including Bhutan, Brazil and Taiwan. Chancellor Gallagher and Carn-

egie Mellon University President Subra Suresh welcomed the new citizens with words of praise and encouragement.

At noon, Horvath began the ceremony in front of a crowd of about 80 people, including the new citizens, their families and spectators. Betty Cruz, special initiatives manager for See Naturalization on page 2

If you send Sharon Walsh a cover letter addressed, “Dear Sir or Madam,” she will throw your application away.

“If you don’t have the wherewithal to find the name of the editor when it’s right there on the website, I will discard your letter,” Walsh, founding editor of the investigative journalism organization PublicSource, said.

Walsh was one of eight media professionals who doled out advice to more than 100 audience members at a panel discussion titled “Media Internships: Writing on the Job” Monday night in the William Pitt Union ballroom.

David Shribman, executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, moderated the panel, an annual event which Pitt’s English department and The Pitt News sponsors each fall. The panel celebrated its tenth anniversary this year.

Mike Darling, senior editor of Men’s Health magazine, advised students to come prepared and come with ideas.

“Ideas, ideas, ideas! Don’t be afraid to pitch ideas,” Darling, a 2005 Pitt graduate, told students.

According to Darling, one of his friends — who had no prior journalism experience — once applied to a job at a magazine, and the editor asked him to bring five story ideas to his interview. Instead, Darling’s friend brought 100 ideas. Fifteen See Intern on page 3

News

Pitt professor becomes first woman to win polymer prize

Leo Dornan

For The Pitt News As the first woman to win the Polymer Physics Prize, Balazs remembers the women who came before her.

“I look to the women before me and I am so impressed with all the work they have done themselves to move the field forward,” Balazs said.

Balazs, a petroleum and chemical engineering professor at Pitt, will become the first woman to receive the Polymer Physics Prize, an honor the American Physical Society awards annually to any physicist worldwide for excellence of contributions to polymer physics. She will receive the prize in March of next year.

Coming with a check of $10,000, Balazs will be the 56th recipient of the award since its inauguration in 1960.

She joins a list of many distinguished colleagues and past leaders in the field from around the world including Pierre-Gilles de Gennes, Sir Samuel Edwards and Glenn Fredrickson.

The prize recognizes her work with theoretical modeling of polymers — or clusters of repeating molecules — and their relevance to experiments, allowing her and other researchers to better understand polymers’ behavior and create more accurate physical experiments.

Balazs has been at Pitt since 1987 and has emerged as a leader in the polymer physics community. Because many different fields use polymers, her work has engaged people of all scientific backgrounds, who can apply the

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data from her modeling and use it in their own experiments.

“Anna makes [her research] vivid and accessible. She writes out the equations, but also provides pictorial descriptions. She enables those around her to put the research into practice,” Todd Emrick, a frequent collaborator with Balazs, who works at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, said.

Focusing largely on polymers Balazs has pioneered polymer research for the last 15 years, creating polymers that repair themselves and polymers that pick up molecular objects and move them to different locations in a tissue or cell.

“Working with Anna is wonderful.

We have had numerous interesting findings, and she brings such talent and insight into problems,” Emrick, who is also the director of the National Science Foundation’s Materials Research Science and Engineering Center, said.

Currently, Emrick and Balazs are researching polymers that identify objects on a surface, capture them and release them in a different location.

“It’s like an Uber for polymers,” Emrick said.

Balazs and Emrick think other researchers could use their “Uber” to transport cells and enable them to deliver minerals to or demineralize a certain area of the body.

One of her colleagues at Pitt, Professor Chandralekha Singh, who is also the director of the Discipline-Based Science Education Research Center,

frequently collaborates with Balazs, and said Balazs’ drive and passion allow her to succeed . “[Balazs] is very passionate about her research and is always focused on excellence in whatever she is working on,” Singh said.

Balazs’ passion drives her to cover many topics in polymer physics, focusing mainly on theoretical modeling, Singh said. Balazs predicted new phenomena by using polymers, a method others had not considered through her theoretical modeling. She has worked on topics including self-healing materials, polymers that move away and hide from the light like earthworms and polymers that have the ability to move objects from one area to another.

Overall, her colleagues agree that her ability to use theories and experiments in tandem to solve problems distinguishes her as a leader. Every time they work together, Emrick said, he is impressed with the skills that Balazs brings to their work. Balazs, however, is always ready to share the credit with others.

“I have had such great role models to follow, men and women. I’m just humbled to receive this award,” she said.

Balazs said she plans to continue researching polymers, adding to her more than 30 years of work in the field, and to continue leading others through her research.

“It is spectacular that Anna has won this award. Hopefully she is the first of many women to win it,” Emrick said.

October 27, 2015

Naturalization, pg. 1 the Office of Mayor Bill Peduto, greeted the group and told the citizenship candidates that the city of Pittsburgh is grateful to be a part of their road to citizenship.

“The step that you are taking is so meaningful,” Cruz said. “We are so thankful to be sharing the journey with you.”

Smiling, the new citizens left the ceremony with a certificate of naturalization, a pocket-sized American flag on a short wooden pole and an envelope with replicas of historical American documents including the Constitution and Declaration of Independence. Most importantly, the citizens left with the chance of a new life.

Among the country’s new members was Neela Neopaney, an immigrant originally from Bhutan. Neopaney has lived in the Pittsburgh area for 5 1/2 years with her family. For her, citizenship means “a big change in our [family’s] status.”

“I hope I’ll do something for [America],” Neopaney said.

In the past, USCIS has held naturalization ceremonies in the City-County Building, but as part of the Welcome Pittsburgh initiative — a part of a national movement to promote respect and collaboration between native and foreign people in America — Cruz said the city wanted to use the parks and public spaces in Pittsburgh to make the ceremony feel more communal.

Schenley Plaza, once a parking lot between two top universities welcomed those present for the third of five naturalization ceremonies in Pittsburgh this year.

Find the full story online at

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Intern, pg. 1 years later, Darling said, his friend became editorin-chief of a different magazine.

The panelists’ advice emphasized that interns should expect to work hard and be up for any task.

Darling said the qualities past successful interns share are persistence, genuine enthusiasm and “a willingness to take on a lot of work without complaining about it.”

Brian Braiker, executive editor of Digiday, jumped in with his agreement.

“Never say, ‘It’s not my job,’” Braiker said.

Omar Khan, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ director of football and business administration, cautioned potential interns against getting a big head once they’re hired.

“Don’t expect too much,” Khan said. “Wait and pay your dues.”

While the panelists agreed that ideas and other big-picture concepts are vital, they highlighted the little details, like footwear, matter as well.

“We’ve had interns show up on the first day in flip-flops, in spaghetti-strap tees, in short shorts. It just baffles me,” said Jamie Stockwell, a managing editor at San Antonio Express-News.

Cindy Skrzycki, a professor in the English

department, organized the panel. Skrzycki said she established the first media internship panel at Pitt in 2005 after she realized that students weren’t aware of opportunities available outside of Pittsburgh.

“If you want to get a job in the creative industry — writing, television, publishing — it’s really important to have an internship,” Skrzycki said.

In past years, Media executives impart their knowledge to students. Nikki Moriello VISUAL EDITOR Skrzycki said, Pitt stubeen here. Digiday wouldn’t have been here,” sented on the panel. Doan said he appreciated the dents have gotten jobs at media outlets like the Skrzycki said. panelists’ advice to follow up repeatedly on internPittsburgh Post-Gazette, KDKA, and the CleveOther panelists included Hattie Fletcher, ship applications. land Plain Dealer through the connections they managing editor of Creative Nonfiction maga“Persistence was one of the thing they talked made at the panel. zine. Anne Linaberger, news director of KDKA- about,” Doan said. “I thought it might be a little As online media began to rise, Skrzycki said TV/WPCW-TV and Nick Murosky, director weird to be dogging people.” she made sure to include perspectives from non- of public relations services for the media agency Natalie Bono, a sophomore marketing and traditional news outlets like PublicSource and LarsonO’Brien. communications major, said she appreciated the Digiday, a website that covers the media and Audience member Matthew Doan, a market- panelists’ advice “not only [on] how to get an inagency-related news. ing major, said he plans to apply for an internship ternship, but what to do once you’re there.”

“Ten years ago, PublicSource wouldn’t have with the Pittsburgh Steelers, which Khan repre-

The Pitt News SuDoku 10/27/15 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

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October 27, 2015

3

Opinions

column

from the editorial board

Colleges must ensure that all student athletes graduate, injured or not When star running back and ACC Player of the Year James Conner sustained an MCL tear during the first game of the season, Pitt’s football team seemed doomed.

But what about Conner’s career and quality of life after the season-ending game?

Injuries in college sports can often lead to unfortunate outcomes, not as much for the fans, but for the athletes who sustain them.

While stars like Conner tend to return from injuries to scholarships and professional career paths , many lower-profile athletes aren’t always so lucky. An injury can spell the end of a player’s athletic career, but also their academic career, simply because athletic scholarships are in no way a gurantee.

This is not to say that there is no safety net for injured athletes.

Pitt and many other schools do provide insurance for injuries sustained during team pursuits, such as games and practice.

Yet, the NCAA does not mandate that every school pay for comprehensive insurance. And even those that do can still choose not to renew injured athletes’ original scholarships.

Without their scholarships, student athletes may not be

able to afford to continue their schooling if colleges take their scholarships away or if they fizzles out due to injury.

According to a 2014 report from the National College Players Association, 86 percent of college athletes already live below the poverty line, making it difficult for these students to maintain financial security

“

Student athletes ... can lose their whole future over an injury, making their entire investment in their sport no longer worth it. even with scholarships. Without scholarships, athletes would face an impossible financial struggle.

“You’re talking about the health of players, you’re talking about their finances related to medical injuries and even the possibility they lose their educational opportunity because of an injury,” Ramogi Huma, president of the National College Players

Association, a California-based advocacy group for college athletes, told The Pittsburgh PostGazette Monday Student athletes, who most likely have trained their whole lives to earn their scholarships, can lose their whole future over an injury, making their entire investment in their sport no longer worth it.

Yet, the investment colleges put into their athletes is substantially low, despite the fact that they stand to make millions of dollars off of them.

This is completely unjustified. If schools are going to continue to attract student athletes with scholarships, they should not be able to strip them away due to circumstances that are out of the athletes’ control.

To ensure that all student athletes graduate, schools must provide multi-year scholarships .

On top of that, schools should not revoke scholarships for anything besides the violation of academic standards or codes of conduct.

After all, only 2 percent of college athletes go on to play professionally. The rest are dependent on their college education, turning what is meant to be an extracurricular activity into a gamble on their futures.

Stop Stigmatizing, Start Humanizing Mental Illness Kirsten Wong Columnist

As mass shootings and other incomprehensible events happen so frequently, we search for the guilty, the motive and the solution.

On Oct. 1st, Christopher HarperMercer was suspected of killing 10 people in a shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon.

It was the 294th shooting this year in which four or more people were killed or injured, classifying it as the 294th mass shooting.

While presidential candidates like Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders have said mental health problems cause violence, we must not oversimplify this issue as a cause and effect link.

Those who commit mass shootings do tend to have a mental illness of some kind, but the degree to which mental illness negatively affects individuals’ lives is far greater than the harm that mental illness poses to society at large.

Many politicians view gun violence solely through the lens of mental illness, which overlooks the true and accompanying sufferings of depression, victimization and suicide.

Blaming mass shootings on people with severe mental illnesses stigmatizes a marginalized population and fails to See Wong on page 5

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October 27, 2015

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Wong, pg. 4 see the complexity of mental health.

In fact, only 4 percent of violent acts in the United States are committed by people with mental illnesses, according to a 2006 study from Oxford University.

Although mental illness can make individuals more prone to aggression, this possibility is not much different than the general population. Studies suggest that the risk of violent behavior increases with the number of psychiatric disorders. However, if we remove other risk factors from the picture, the risk factor for violent behavior among the mentally ill drops to 2 percent.

Perhaps we should examine these other risk factors — which include substance abuse disorders, poverty, unemployment, social relationships, history of violent victimization, exposure to violence or a combination of these factors — before pinpointing the cause of violence to solely a mental illness.

By taking into consideration the social-environmental context of violent behavior in those who have mental illnesses, we can see the broader implications of the violent act itself.

Circumstances such as substance abuse disorder and financial insecurity are more likely reasons for individuals to be violent, according to a 2011 report in the Psychiatric times by Mark Ilgen, PhD and Felicia Kleinberg, MSW. Certainly people with mental illnesses can commit violent acts. Yet, the statistics representing the mentally ill in mass shootings are exceptions to the rule, rather than a reflection of the behavior of the entire population.

It is crucial to understand the difference and not to lump in all those who have mental illness into a minority of instances. To do this, we must destigmatize mental health issues and stop associating mental illness with gun violence.

Ironically, Americans fail to note that people with severe mental illnesses are more than 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than the gen-

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By the numbers: People with severe mental illnesses are 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime than people within the general population.

ceptions of violent crimes and mental illness is simply the wrong way to look at it. We need to accurately portray the needs and issues of those with mental illnesses.

Instead of thinking of mental illness as a cause of violence in society, it is time to look at the causes behind the violence against the individuals struggling with it. From there we can promote treatment for individuals and strive for recovery.

Kirsten Wong primarily writes on social justice issues and education for The Pitt News Write to her at kew101@pitt.edu.

People with mental illness commit only 4 percent of all violent acts in the United States gun suicides are far more common than gun-related homicides, accounting for 64 percent of all gun deaths in 2012.

Sources: Oxford university study (2006), the national institute of mental health, washington post eral population, according to research from the MentalHealth.gov website.

On top of this, the most common form of violence associated with mental illness is not against o t h ers, but rather against themselves.

The National Institute of Mental Health reported that suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the United States, which is increasing at the same rate that gun-related

homicides are decreasing. While over 41,000 people die by suicide each year in America, 19,000 of those suicides are completed by a gun, accounting for 64 percent of all gun deaths in 2012. One of the biggest factors of suicide is unrecognized and untreated mental illness, which is why treatment and access to mental health care is so important.

But supporting these causes out of the fear of mass shootings and miscon-

It is crucial ... not to lump in all those who have mental illness into a minority of instances.

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Culture

Don’t Dream It, Be It: ‘Rocky Horror’ offers creative outlet ShadowCast members practice their routine of “Rocky Horror Picture Show” Jeff Ahearn ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

Rio Maropis Staff Writer

Carlisle Walker’s performance in Pitt’s 2014 run of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” became an intimate, personal transformation in front of 500 audience members.

“It was one of the reasons I came out as transgender,” Walker said of his portrayal of Brad Majors’ character in Pitt’s annual shadow-cast show. “I’d known for a few years before [I played Brad], but putting on that costume and going onstage like that was really validating for me. It boosted my confidence and gave me the courage to come out to my parents.”

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, “Rocky Horror” encourages audiences to

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be true to themselves — especially regarding sexuality — through crossdressing characters and its recurring theme, “Don’t dream it, be it.” The film emphasizes sexual freedom, as seen through protagonist Dr. Frank N. Furter, whose most prominent characteristic is his sexual identity.

He’s a male scientist who habitually wears a corset, fishnets, pumps and heavy makeup. It serves as an outlet for creativity and expression, and establishes a familial community among fans of all sexual preferences.

“Rocky Horror” shadow-cast shows actively involve audience members by encouraging them to join in on the act.

Audience members dress up like the film’s characters, bring props — such as rubber gloves, squirt guns and flash lights — sing

along to the musical numbers and collectively shout unscripted responses to the film’s dialogue, called callback lines.

This year, Pitt’s 10 member shadowcast will perform on Oct. 27 at 9 p.m. in the William Pitt Union assembly room.

The Engineering Student Council performs one “Rocky Horror” shadow-cast show a year, where the cast acts out the film in front of an audience while the film itself plays on a large screen behind them. “[It’s] a creative outlet. [It’s] also a good outlet to express yourself,” Walker, a fifth year urban studies major, said.

Walker will play Riff Raff this year, an assistant to the protagonist, Dr. Frank n Furter.

Dana Och, a lecturer in Pitt’s department of English and film studies, teaches

October 27, 2015

a course exploring cult films, including “Rocky Horror” for its “staying power” in youth culture.

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” was filmed in 1975. It’s a science fiction, musical, horror and satire that morphed out of Richard O’Brien’s small stage production in London. According to Och, the audience’s behavior defines the film more than the actual content.

“Cult films that offer audiences the chance to be the ones in control of meaning, to declare themselves in opposition to adult and/or mainstream values, and to create a sense of exclusionary community have traditionally appealed to youth audiences,” Och said.

See Rocky Horror on page 8

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Q&A

Guthrie talks ‘glee,’ music career

TNS

Alessandra Roberto For The Pitt News

What do you get when you mix the careers of Ryan Adams with Justin Bieber? Noah Guthrie.

Earning his initial fame from a cover of LMFAO’s “Sexy and I Know It,” which went viral on YouTube, Guthrie is the definition of a 21st century artist. Hailing from the small town of Greer, S.C., Guthrie is on his way to international success.

After his Internet success and sultry, soulful voice landed him the leading role of Roderick Meeks in the last season of Glee, Guthrie appeared on “Dancing With The Stars” and released his first studio album in 2013, “Amongst The Wildest Things.” He visits Pittsburgh on Nov. 1 to perform at Club Cafe.

Guthrie talked to The Pitt News about his start and rise to fame, what sets him apart from other contemporary artists and his next big dreams.

The Pitt News: What kind of upbringing did you have?

Noah Guthrie: Growing up I was always

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surrounded by music. I was always in the studio with my dad. My dad and my stepmom always sang and played music, and me and my brother were always around them and always around really good musicians. I just kind of tried to surround myself with it as much as I could throughout my life, and then I picked up a guitar at 14 or 15 and just started writing music and fell in love with it ... Of course, I went through phases. I wanted to be a football player, then a baseball player, and then I went through this weird magician phase, but it always came back to music.

TPN: Is this what you want to do with your life? Do you have a plan for what you want to do from here on out?

NG: Honestly, I’ve been a very fortunate case in this industry. It’s not every day that people my age can actually do this and make a living. I’ve just been super blessed. I’m kind of already doing what I want to do with my life. Songwriting and my music have always been my passions and dreams. It’s always a building process, but I play music, I write songs, record. It’s great. I’ve got a really good team working for me, and

hopefully, the next couple of years are going to be pretty big for me. I’d really like to progress as much as I can. But really, I’m already living my dream, just on a smaller scale.

TPN: How would you define success?

NG: That’s always a good question. I mean, honestly, just being able to play the music that you want to play and also, having a pretty good following for it. Fame is not something that is first on my mind, I want to be known for my music. I guess that would be more the success for me, to be a household name for my music.

That would be pretty nice.

TPN: Based on that definition, would you consider yourself to be on the path towards success? What is one final goal or the one thing you want to reach or accomplish?

NG: Yes and no. I would say I’m successful now on a smaller scale. I’m definitely not a household name, and I still have my target audience that I’m trying to hone in and craft and define. But, I’m happy and I’m doing what I love, so yeah. I would definitely love a Grammy some day, or any kind of songwriting award of something like that.

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TPN: So, how did you get started on YouTube?

NG: I’ve been mainly posting cover videos on there and that’s kind of how I got started. It’s a very weird platform these days, but it’s a very efficient one. You can get your music from your bedroom to across the world in 30 seconds.

So, yeah, it’s pretty weird, but I’m very thankful for it. It’s really gotten me into a lot of cool places. Some cool people have seen my music because of YouTube ... I posted a cover of one of my favorite songs, “Where the Streets Have No Name” by U2, and I made my own little spin on it. It was pretty different from the original, and I just posted it without any intention. It was just one of those things that got more attention than I thought it would, so I just decided to keep doing it, and it’s paid off.

TPN: Talking about your originality, one of your songs that gained the most popularity is your cover of “Sexy and I Know It” by LMFAO because of the big difference between your version and the original. Is that a style of yours? Do See Q&A on page 8

7

Q&A, pg. 7 you enjoy changing it up and making your own arrangement?

NG: Definitely, I like changing the song around. I think that’s kind of what set my channel apart. I try my hardest to make the song different than it was because I just don’t feel like anyone wants to hear the same song over and over. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t. Sometimes I find a song where just putting my voice on it changes it. It’s always a guessing game, but there is also a little bit of method to it. It’s better when I find a big pop song that I’m not a huge fan of, where I like one part of it, and then maybe I can take that part and run with it, and tweak it and make it my own. Then it becomes a whole new process and really fun.

TPN: What do you consider your music style?

Is it related to the kind of music you listen to?

NG: I would say it’s very singer/songwriter Americana, kind of soulful or rock sometimes. I don’t know, it’s really hard to say, but I would say like Americana/soul.

I would say it’s related. I grew up listening to a lot of soul records and older music, but really all types of music, so I say I draw from everything.

But I’ve always been drawn to more soulful voices, and honestly, ever since I could sing, that has just been the way I sing. That’s just how it happens. A lot of people ask me if I smoke a lot or something, and I don’t, it’s just how my voice happens, but I mean, I’m very thankful for it.

I listen to everything and I really do try to draw inspiration from everyone, but I guess I would say, as far as voice, my inspiration would be John Legend, Ray Lamontagne, just tons of people.

TPN: So, YouTube led you to playing the role of Roderick Meeks in the sixth season of Glee.

How was it in terms of casting, the experience, recording in relation to your YouTube channel?

And what was most challenging?

NG: Yeah, it was very random. I was playing my music on the road and doing what I’m doing now and never thought about acting at all. Then I got a phone call from the casting department at Glee and they said they had seen my videos and heard my music and thought I would fit this role they were trying to cast, and I told them that I’d never acted and that I’d audition. I sent in a tape and a couple of weeks later, I got the part. It doesn’t really happen like that, but it’s thanks to YouTube ... I tell people that Glee was basically acting school for me. I’ve never done anything like that, where I

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completely switch gears and have to learn how TV works. I had a lot of really cool people with me, and I just learned a ton from all of those people.

I could add my flare here and there, but not too much. When doing Glee, they have a very set arrangement that they follow. But I got to put my voice on it and play the role in my way. They’re both very different in terms of recording, but for YouTube, it’s all live when I record on camera, there are no overdubs or anything like that. With Glee, you record the song and then have to lip sync it later. I really enjoyed both, but I would say the Glee way is really cool just because you have to use a bunch of different parts of your brain, and dance and lip sync at the same time.

The most challenging part of Glee was probably the dancing. It wasn’t that I didn’t like it, it was just very different.

TPN: Going off of that, Glee is known to combat certain social issues at school like bullying and trying to fit in. There were a couple of episodes that focused on your character and your body type. In the past Glee has done all different types of bullying, but only briefly mentioned bullying towards bigger people. What did you think about being a part of that?

NG: That’s part of why I signed on to do it.

I was that kid in high school, I was picked on because of my weight, and I know a lot of high school kids deal with that. It is something, no matter what people tell you, that sticks with you for the rest of your life. Anything that the show could do to back up the point of not picking on people is really good because [bullying] doesn’t help anybody. And it’s the one time in my life that I could use my weight as an advantage and on a TV show to bring awareness to that kind of thing.

TPN: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Do you see any international performances in the future?

NG: Hopefully still playing music, still writing, still recording. Absolutely. I’m actually going to Germany in February, and I also have some dates in England and the Netherlands, as well.

TPN: What advice would you give to any new and upcoming musicians?

NG: Practice as much as you can, and really hone your craft. Try to be the best you possibly can at what you’re doing, then really just get yourself out there. Play shows, start YouTube or any other social media out there. I really think playing shows is such an important thing and, really, having that live aspect is really good. If you have something good, then don’t be afraid to share it.

Rocky Horror, pg. 6 Any Pitt student may audition to officially join the show. Cast members aren’t all engineers, although the ESC organizes and hosts the event every year.

Billy Epting, a mechanical engineering major who graduated from Pitt in 2009, joined the cast in 2006 and participated for four years.

His first year, Epting played both Eddie and Dr. Scott, two supporting roles whose paths never cross onscreen. He went on to play Riff Raff and, finally, Frank.

Epting enjoyed “Rocky Horror” for its “goofy fun,” as well as how seriously and personally it connects with students.

“Our society is still quite prudish,” he said. “[Rocky Horror] brings out a lot of people who are usually pretty normal. Even the squarest square can muster the courage to wear a corset and make sex jokes all night, and I think that’s a good thing,” he said.

Drew Maksymowych, who has directed Pitt’s “Rocky Horror” show since before he graduated in 2012, said college students, in particular, identify with the film’s positivity toward the unconventional.

“It’s generally countercultural. So are young people. [They] don’t want to do what everybody else does,” he said. “It’s that whole acceptance thing. Do what you want, be who you are.”

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Sports

PITT FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: WEEK EIGHT Jeremy Tepper Staff Writer

With a primetime Thursday night matchup against North Carolina this week, Pat Narduzzi and his No. 23 Panthers hope to cement themselves as ACC Coastal Division contenders against the Tar Heels.

In order to keep his team fresh, he wants to decrease his team’s workload — especially his playmakers — as star wideout Tyler Boyd had six carries, 12 receptions and even threw the ball once Saturday against Syracuse.

Narduzzi touched on this topic Monday, along with the team’s recent decrease in sacks, at his weekly press conference.

Preparing in a Short Week Coming off a 23-20 win Saturday against Syracuse, Pitt had little time to focus on the victory. Usually, the coaches and players would arduously analyze their previous performance on Sunday. But this week, they don’t have the necessary time allotted for that.

“Usually we would come in on a Sunday and watch the game with the kids because I think it’s an unbelievable learning tool. But, we had to pick out certain plays,” Narduzzi said.

Narduzzi said he sat in with the defense on Sunday to analyze their play, while offensive coordinator Jim Chaney worked with the offense. The rest of the staff was busy preparing the game plan for North Carolina.

With that preparation, Narduzzi posits his game plan will be thorough enough, despite limited time.

“I think we’ve got it crossed and dotted on both sides of the ball and special teams,” Narduzzi said.

For what Pitt doesn’t give up in time preparing the game plan, the team limits their time and physicality in practice this week, Narduzzi said.

“Usually we practice Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. We’re going to have practice all three

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of those days, but we’re cutting down on each one of those practices,” Narduzzi said.

Otherwise, a normal practice load could tire some of his players come game time.

“We can know what to do, but if we go out there and we have dead legs, we’ve got issues,” Narduzzi said.

Though a short week, in theory, might sharpen the team’s focus, Narduzzi says the players should be focused on preparation regardless of Tyler Boyd caught 12 passes for 93 yards against Syracuse. Jeff Ahearn ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR practice time. What “[It was] embarrassing, to be honest with yards, and completed one pass for 38 yards, does sharpen a team’s focus, Narduzzi said, is you,” Narduzzi said. “We weren’t a very good Narduzzi said the staff will give him a break in success. tackling team. Not only on the tailback, but on practices this week.

“I hope they’re focused if they’ve got three “I think Coach Chaney might have kept the quarterback.” weeks till the next game or five days,” Narduzzi Pitt’s last opponents also affected the per- him a little bit. We’ll probably not run him said. “I think winning changes their focus. formance. Against Georgia Tech, there was less quite so hard,” Narduzzi said.

They kind of get those big eyes like ‘Wow, let’s That decision to limit him in practice, of a focus on getting to the quarterback, as the go.’”

Yellow Jackets are predominantly a running though, is something Boyd didn’t advocate to Decrease in Sacks the coaches. team.

Though Pitt is still 16th in the country in “He’s a workhorse. He wants more. I asked It also hurt that both team’s quarterbacks sacks, the team has fallen off in that departwere highly athletic, especially Justin Thomas him today, ‘How you feel?’ He said ‘Coach, I ment recently. Narduzzi said his players were for Georgia Tech, but also Syracuse’s Eric feel great,’” Narduzzi said. in position to make the plays, but they just Regardless of how much he practices, come Dungey. didn’t execute.

“He made a ton of plays with his feet. We game time, there will be no constraints put on “We’ve missed a few of them the last two had guys there, but we didn’t make it,” Nar- Boyd, due to his importance to the offense. weeks,” Narduzzi said.

“He’s a playmaker, so we’ve got to run him,” duzzi said.

That lack of execution predominantly lies Narduzzi said. “He’s done it all. I don’t know Resting Boyd in not finishing tackles. Narduzzi sharply critiComing off a performance where he caught why people aren’t talking about him for the cized his team’s tackling performance last week 12 balls for 93 yards, rushed six times for 24 Heisman.” against Syracuse.

October 27, 2015

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The Pitt News

Pitt to honor former star Ruben Brown at Thursday’s game Dan Sostek Sports Editor

T he watchful eyes of a legend will oversee Pitt’s Thursday evening matchup against the University of North Carolina.

The University of Pittsburgh will honor former offensive lineman and 2015 College Football Hall of Fame inductee Ruben Brown at halftime against the Tar Heels. Brown played at Pitt from 1991-1994, earning three first team all-Big East selections and a first team All-American spot as a senior.

The Buffalo Bills selected him 14th overall in the 1995 NFL Draft, and merited eight consecutive Pro Bowl appearances as a guard from 1996-2003.

He earned his ninth trip to the Pro Bowl in 2006 as a member of the Chicago Bears, tying him with quarterback Dan Marino for the most Pro Bowl selections by a Pitt alum.

Brown will become the 24th Pitt football player inducted into the Col-

lege Football Hall of Fame on Dec. 8, joining the likes of Pitt stars like Marino, Tony Dorsett and Mike Ditka.

“We are thrilled to bring Ruben back to Pittsburgh and celebrate his well-deserved induction into the College Football Hall of Fame,” Pitt athletic director Scott Barnes said via a University release. “Ruben is an all-timer both as a player and as a person. It will be a truly special moment when he hears the cheers of Pitt fans once again this Thursday night.”

Brown will also serve as an honorary captain for the game, an appointment made by Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi.

“Ruben’s pride in the University of Pittsburgh is obvious,” Narduzzi said in the release. “He is a true Pitt Man and I know everyone is extremely proud of him.”

Thursday’s game against UNC kicks off at 7 p.m., and ESPN will air the game to a national audience.

News and notes Dan Sostek Sports Editor

MOVIN’ ON UP Following their 23-20 win over Syracuse on Saturday, the Pitt football team jumped in the Associated Press Top 25 and also appeared in the USA Today Coaches’ Poll Top 25 for the first time. On Sunday, the Panthers leapt from No. 25 to No. 23 in the AP poll, while claiming the No. 24 spot in the Coaches’ poll. They will aim to climb the ranks on Thursday, when they take on the UNC Tar Heels at 7 p.m. at Heinz Field.

NOTRE DAME AT NOON The ACC announced Monday

pittnews.com

morning that Pitt’s matchup next Saturday, Nov. 7 against Notre Dame will kickoff at noon. This came after speculation from fans that the game could garner a primetime slot, perhaps even meriting a visit from ESPN’s College Gameday show. ESPN, ESPN2 or ABC will air the game.

TRIO OF TOP PERFORMERS For the second time this season, Pitt had three players score ACC Weekly Honors in a single week. For their performances at Syracuse, junior Tyler Boyd earned receiver of the week, junior Matt Galambos earned linebacker of the week, and freshman running back Qadree Ollison earned running back of the week.

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