The Pitt News
The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | november 6, 2018 | Volume 109 | Issue 56
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF STUDENT CANVASSING
STUDENTS STAND TOGETHER
Emily Wolfe Senior Staff Writer Forty-eight hours before election day, Alex Rose rapped on the front door of a house in Penn Hills. Not many people on his list had answered his knocks — Sunday afternoon is time for church and brunch for most people, he joked — but this house seemed promising. The inner door was propped open, and the sounds of conversation and television floated from inside. Sure enough, a few seconds later he heard a yell — “Is that the Latter Day Saints?” — and a man appeared at the door. Rose gave a short, practiced, friendly spiel. He was with the campaign to elect Democrat Conor Lamb to the U.S. House of Representatives, he told the man. The election was this coming Tuesday and Alex and his fellow volunteers were walking around the neighborhood to make sure people knew where and how to vote. “The Steelers game’s on, man!” Rose apologized. “But can we count on your vote?” he asked. “Yes, you can,” the man said, and closed the door. Back on the street, Rose tapped at the screen of his phone, marking the man as a Lamb voter in the canvassing app MiniVAN. Lamb and his Republican opponent, Keith Rothfus, both sitting congressmen from Pennsylvania who were redistricted into the 17th District earlier this year, were nearing the end of the fight — and volunteers for both campaigns were out in droves. “A lot of people just ignore us,” Conor Guiser, public relations director for the Pitt College Republicans, said. “If they’re home, they just suddenly go quiet and wait until we walk away. The
Close to 3,000 people attended the Stronger Than Hate vigil on the Cathedral of Learning Lawn Monday afternoon. Sarah Cutshall | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
PITT STUDENTS GATHER TO SUPPORT JEWISH COMMUNITY Christian Snyder Editor-in-Chief
On the grass between the Cathedral of Learning and Heinz Chapel Monday, nearly 3,000 people gathered to mourn the 11 victims of the Oct. 27 Tree of Life Synagogue massacre. Students and elected officials wearing T-shirts with “Stronger Than Hate” printed on the front spoke to the crowd about their feelings surrounding the past week in Pittsburgh. “I could not be more proud of the people of the City of Pittsburgh,” Mayor Bill Peduto said. “I could not be more proud of our Jewish community. I could not be more proud to be the mayor of this City than I am today. Because we are See Canvassing on page 3 showing the world that we do not have to
fight hatred with hatred.” In the week following the shooting there were several vigils which, like Pitt’s, honored the victims. At the funerals for the deceased last week, thousands from the Pittsburgh community gathered to mourn. A demonstration Tuesday also protested President Donald Trump’s visit to Pittsburgh, which many Pittsburghers thought he should have postponed until after the funerals. “I wish he would’ve let Pittsburgh mourn before he came,” senior biology major Josie Baker said, “because it’s hitting so close to home.” Baker grew up in Greenfield, a suburb about 30 minutes away from Pittsburgh. She and her friend Parker Denz, a senior
microbiology major, attended the vigil to show support — but the issue was closer to home for Denz, who has Jewish family members in his hometown of Buffalo, New York. “My grandmother … lived around the time of the Holocaust, so it definitely hits very hard,” he said. The event, which ran from noon to 1 p.m., also hosted student a cappella groups The Songburghs and C Flat Run, which performed Beyonce’s “I Was There” and Frances’ “Grow,” respectively. Before The Songburghs took the stage, Chancellor Patrick Gallagher shared a few words about what the Pitt community means to him. See Support on page 3
News
Power outage affects multiple buildings on Forbes pittnews.com
MIDTERM SPECIAL ELECTION QUESTION: ALLEGHENY COUNTY CHILDREN’S FUND
Mary Rose O’Donnell For The Pitt News
Today, Americans across the country will vote on representatives for the House, Senate and Governor’s Office. But in Allegheny County, residents will decide on an additional ballot question. In May, a steering committee including United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh and local nonprofit Allies for Children proposed the Allegheny County Children’s Fund, which would support numerous educational initiatives. In June, they began circulating a petition in hopes of getting the initiative on the midterm ballot. By Aug. 7, it received 63,499 signatures, putting it on the Allegheny County ballot for the 2018 midterm elections. If passed, a property tax increase of .25 mills will be implemented on residents of Allegheny County — meaning for every $100,000 of assessed value on all taxable real estate, an additional $25 will be taxed annually. The tax is expected to generate $18 million annually, according to the organization Our Kids. Our Commitment: Allegheny County Children’s Fund Initiative, which will fund early-childhood education, after-school and nutritional-support programs for children in Allegheny County. Steering committee members have discussed the initiative for the past two years, according to Patrick Dowd, the executive director of Allies for Children. Since being placed on the ballot, volunteers held door-knocking and coffee-talk events two to three times per week to discuss what this measure would mean for residents of Allegheny County, according to Dowd. “We aren’t talking to just one side of the political spectrum. When we’re out knocking on doors, we’re targeting people who’ve turned out to vote the most,” Dowd said. “They can be Democrats, independents or Republicans —
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we’re talking to a wide variety of people.” If the measure is passed, the Office of the Allegheny County Children’s Fund would be established within the Allegheny County government. This office would oversee fund distribution, evaluate recipient programs’ work, create an annual report available to the public and create a comprehensive evaluation for every five years of the program. An advisory commission would also be included in the office. According to OKOC, the advisory commission will consist of community volunteers with experience in childcare to provide counsel to the office, but with no decision-making power. Dowd said volunteer advocates for the fund have received largely positive reactions when knocking on doors, making phone calls and attending events about the initiative. “People understand that these programs work. Not everybody understands that the money we currently spend on these programs is almost exclusively coming from state and federal sources. People know the value, they know the need, but they didn’t know that they weren’t paying for it,” Dowd said. According to an email statement from the Office of County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, Fitzgerald is supportive of the fund — but not an increased property tax, which the office said is a “regressive tax” and has the potential to disincentivize improvement and investment. “The County Executive … believes investing in early education is an important goal and that having children ready for school — in all ways — makes them better prepared and ready for other opportunities down the road,” the email said. “That being said, he is not in favor of raising the property tax to do so. He has frequently spoken about his desire to see the county be given other revenue options to support needs and initiatives such as these, but the county’s only option now is property tax.” Other local government officials are ques-
tioning the need for a property tax increase to provide funding. Allegheny County controller Chelsa Wagner is supportive of the concept of the fund, but she has concerns regarding leadership and oversight. “I believe that this proposal is really flawed and should serve as the beginning of this discussion rather than the endgame. I believe that county taxpayers are being asked to essentially pay now and let the details be figured out later,” Wagner said. “I don’t think that’s fair, and I particularly have concerns when I compare this to how other funds have been mismanaged in the county.” Wagner specifically referenced the Clean Air Fund, which takes allocated fines from polluters’ emission violations, according to the Allegheny County Health Department. The fines are used to fund programs that improve air quality, monitor changes in air pollution and educate the public on the air quality in Allegheny County — but according to Wagner, the funds aren’t always used for these causes. “Instead of $5 million dollars going to kids with some of the worst asthma rates in the county, that money is going to [renovate] county offices. That’s the kind of mismanagement that this amendment could allow,” Wagner said. Dowd has heard concerns from county residents about how funds will be allocated if the measure passed, specifically if any organizations on the steering committee would receive monetary benefits. “The overwhelming majority of the organizations on the steering committee consider themselves advocates, not providers. We won’t be getting the money,” Dowd said. He said he cannot confirm or deny that any members of these organizations would sit on the advisory commission or have involvement with the fund going forward. “Our main job will be to be the advocates on the outside, just as we are now, to make sure that this fund operates correctly and in the best
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interest of the kids in the county,” he said. Dowd said he acknowledges the work school districts and educators put in every day to help children. He said he believes the fund would enhance these efforts. “These proposed programs are designed to serve kids before they enroll in kindergarten and after the school day ends. We see them as a perfect compliment to the work our school districts are doing, and particularly what our teachers are doing each and every day,” Dowd said. Several educators in Allegheny County public schools are optimistic about what this fund could mean for their students. Kira Henderson is the principal of Weil Elementary School, a small school serving 186 students in prekindergarten through fifth grade from the Hill District and Oakland areas. Upon hearing about the Allegheny County Children’s Fund initiative, Henderson was excited and hopes that her school could receive funding to create an after-school program. According to Pittsburgh Public Schools, 90 percent of Weil students are economically disadvantaged, meaning they live at or below the poverty line. “I would love to have a program that focuses on students that are struggling or just need homework help, or even a tiered after-school program to support students based on their needs. I’m hoping that if the fund goes through, Weil could be impacted in a positive way,” Henderson said. While many are looking to the future and what the Allegheny County Children’s Fund could mean for them, Dowd is looking to Election Day. “This is a matter of people showing up to vote. We think that if voters come out, read the question and think about what’s good for our county going forward, this will be a really awesome day for the future of our kids in Allegheny County,” Dowd said.
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Support, pg. 1
Canvassing, pg. 1
Students write their names in marker on a banner at the Stronger Than Hate event hosted on the Cathedral of Learning Lawn. Sarah Cutshall | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER “Today, right now, let us all resolve student Harry Lebovitz and alumnus that our commitment to stand together Konstantine Deyev — Wasiullah Mowill endure,” he said. “Let us show the hamed, the executive director of the Isworld that is what we mean when we lamic Center of Pittsburgh, spoke. “A couple days ago … there was an insay ‘Pittsburgh strong.’” Before the event, SGB President terfaith vigil [at Soldiers and Sailors] and Maggie Kennedy said her organiza- they asked me to speak and what I chose tion had distributed more than 10,000 to share was a verse from the Quran that “Stronger Than Hate” shirts. Each had kind of called us, the 41st chapter, the a familiar Jewish symbol printed on the 34th verse. What it said was, ‘When you chest, which many mistakenly refer to see evil, when you are faced with evil, you as the Star of David, according to Rabbi must respond with goodness,’” he said. Mohamed, a 2016 Pitt alum, pleaded Daniel Schiff of the Jewish Federation with the audience to keep their energy up of Greater Pittsburgh. “It’s not a star. In Hebrew it’s called and keep the words of all the speakers in the Magen David. What’s a magen? A mind moving forward. “If before the last tear drops … you magen is a shield. It’s the Shield of David,” he said. “Look at that shield and re- have not changed one thing in your life, solve that in the weeks and months and then you have failed [the victims],” he years ahead, you will respond to this evil said. “The question is, are you gonna by being a shield … a shield for those show up tomorrow? Or the next day? Or the next week or the next year? Because who need you.” Before the a cappella groups joined [anti-Semitism] will not go away shortforces to sing an original song called ly … you must commit yourself person“Stronger Than Hate” — co-written by ally to fighting this.”
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people who do answer are generally very nice. Usually they just answer our questions with a smile, but some people really want to talk to us about politics.” PCR has sent groups of 10 or so people out to knock on doors almost every Saturday for the last few months, Guiser said. They’ve campaigned for various Republican candidates in the area, but like the Pitt Democrats, they’ve focused on the race between Lamb and Rothfus, the most competitive congressional race in the Pittsburgh area. The formula doesn’t vary much from party to party. The volunteer, whether a Lamb or a Rothfus supporter, is given a list of doors to knock on, told to be friendly and polite and sent out across the City to convince voters to go to the polls on Tuesday. By the Sunday before the election, Rose explained, the goal of knocking on doors wasn’t to try and convert Rothfus supporters or undecided voters that they should vote for Lamb. Instead, the Lamb campaign had identified, through various means, a list of voters who were likely to be Lamb supporters and they sent canvassers out to try and ensure they would actually vote. And most of the Penn Hills residents who answered Rose’s knocks Sunday — about three or four out of 10 — assured him that they had already planned on voting for his candidate. One voter, whose yard featured signs for U.S. Sen. Bob Casey and Gov. Tom Wolf as well as Rep. Lamb, waved Rose away as soon as he opened the door and saw the Lamb sticker on his jacket. “We’re good,” he said. As president of the Pitt Dems, Rose has plenty of experience as a canvasser. He’s been involved with politics since working with Hillary Clinton’s campaign as a first-year, and he spent last summer working full-time for an education super PAC, canvassing “eight hours a day.” But for others, the experience was newer. Dr. Eric Nolley, a pulmonary care physician who lives in Squirrel Hill, said he enjoyed knocking on doors for Lamb Sunday, his first time canvassing — although one family’s German shepherd nearly bit him. “But they’re voting for Conor, so that’s what matters,” he said with a laugh. Jared Landis, a junior media and communication major, said he had canvassed three times since transferring to Pitt from Penn State University. “At Penn State, I didn’t feel like there were
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Pitt College Democrats President Alex Rose canvasses for Conor Lamb — the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania’s 18th Congressional District — in Penn Hills Sunday afternoon. Emily Wolfe | CONTRIBUTING WRITER a lot of opportunities,” Landis said. “As soon as I got to Pitt, the doors were open. I feel more like I’m doing something. As a hardcore Dem, it’s great to have an impact on my community.” Landis, Nolley and Rose were part of a group of 15 or so volunteers that gathered in a small room in the Panera on Forbes before scattering around Penn Hills to knock on doors. After hearing from a special visitor — Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who stopped by to give them a quick motivational speech — each volunteer received a packet from Adrienne Godish, the Pitt sophomore leading the canvassing event. The packets contained a map, a list of addresses and a short script for talking to voters who answered the door. “Field work like this is how you actually get people elected,” Godish said. “It’s really imperative.” Lydia Green, a “canvass captain” with the Lamb campaign, agreed. Green started working with the Lamb campaign in winter 2018, during the special election Lamb won by a few hundred votes in a Republican district. She stayed on after her graduation from Carnegie Mellon University last spring. Now she recruits and trains volunteers, helps Godish organize canvassing events and occasionally — when she’s not needed elsewhere — knocks on doors herself. “Knocking on doors is even more important than voting, because you’re convincing other people to vote,” Green said. “When I first started, I was really anxious about talking to strangers, but it feels like something where you really make a difference.”
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Opinions
Column: Bolsonaro: fascist dictator masquerading as president pittnews.com
The Pitt News
from the editorial board
Why TPN didn’t endorse candidates for midterm elections Today is the most important day in American politics since President Donald Trump was elected in 2016. In midterm elections, Americans nationwide vote for all-important House and Senate seats, governorships and local representatives — all telltale signs of the president’s performance in his first two years in office. Naturally, every media outlet wants a piece of the action — that’s why many publications, in addition to working overtime on election news coverage, also endorse candidates. But here at The Pitt News, we don’t believe in endorsing electoral candidates — it’s wholly unnecessary and it tarnishes our image as an honest, objective newspaper. And the American populace agrees. According to a 2017 Huffington Post poll, 51 percent of Americans believe newspapers should not endorse political candidates, while only 24 percent believe media outlets should. And this probably isn’t a coincidence — Americans’ aversion to newspaper’s political endorsements probably has something to do with their distrust of newspapers themselves. According to Gallup, trust in the press hit a new low in 2017 — only 13 percent of Americans trust their primary news source “a lot.” That percentage isn’t likely to improve when a newspaper divides its readership by endorsing a candidate — especially an unpopular one. For the 17th District, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette endorsed Republican Keith Rothfus over Democrat Conor Lamb. According to fivethirtyeight.com, Lamb has a 93-percent chance of winning that race and would require a systematic polling error to lose. Whether Americans’ skepticism of the press is justified or not, certainly support-
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ing an unpopular candidate is unwise, simply from a marketing perspective. This is because Americans don’t trust a newspaper that endorses a political candidate, especially an unpopular one, to cover the election in an unbiased manner. “A person or organization announces who they support, with the implication everyone else should follow suit,” The Martinsville Bulletin, a small newspaper based in Virginia, said about endorsements in 2017. “We see that as tricky for a news organization, where the goal is to be objective. If we do a piece on candidate X, but we’ve endorsed candidate Y, how can you be expected to trust it?” The purpose of a newspaper is to cover news stories fairly and accurately — that should hold for political stories too, regardless of which political direction the paper’s employees lean. Editorials are separate from general news coverage — but endorsements put a myopic focus on a preferred candidate, which is not the purpose of a newspaper. Sadly, while most conventional logic points against newspaper endorsements, it’s a tradition that will be difficult to eradicate. More than three-quarters of newspapers nationwide have made a habit of endorsing political candidates every year since 1986 — but the tradition goes as far back as 1860 when The New York Times famously endorsed Abraham Lincoln for president of the United States. Still, it’s a tradition that’s clearly 158 years out of date. Endorsing political candidates doesn’t make sense for the American populace or the well-being of newspapers. The Pitt News is taking the first step toward eradicating this antiquated tradition — hopefully other newspapers will follow suit.
Editor-in-Chief CHRISTIAN SNYDER
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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 intended 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 editor@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
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student-managed newspaper for the Oakland campus of the University of Pittsburgh. It is published 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 Committee, 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, faculty and students, as well as journalism professionals. The business and editorial offices of The Pitt News are located at 434 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.
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Culture
STRONGER THAN HATE CONCERT WITH KESHA Prachi Patel Senior Staff Writer A cold Saturday evening didn’t stop the crowd of hundreds of people, faces painted with glitter and hands clutching frozen margaritas, from gathering on Liberty Avenue between 9th and 10th streets to wait for Kesha to arrive onstage for the outdoor Stronger Than Hate concert. One of those people was Ethan McElhinny, a Pitt alum who first saw Kesha live in 2011 at Bigelow Bash. “It was a life-changing concert, to say the least,” McElhinny, a Squirrel Hill resident, said. “You know when you’re going to a [Kesha] concert that everybody’s just going to be able to feel comfortable and safe and have a good time.” The concert on Saturday night was put together by the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ organization that brought Kesha to Pittsburgh two years earlier for Pittsburgh Pride. Saturday’s event was originally titled “Countdown to Vote” to energize concert-goers to vote in the midterm elections today, but the Delta Foundation changed the name to “Stronger Than Hate” on Oct. 30 in light of of the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue in Squirrel Hill on Oct. 27. “When the tragic events of Saturday happened, we immediately contacted Kesha’s folks,” Christine Bryan, the director of marketing and development for the Delta Foundation, said. “Kesha was 100 percent all for it, and I think tonight’s going to be a great night.” According to Bryan, the Delta Foundation and its partners for the concert were inspired by the Pittsburgh Muslim community’s fundraising more than $200,000 for the 11 victims’ families. The Delta Foundation announced they would donate funds from the concert to the Jewish Federation’s Our Victims of Terror Fund. Bryan referred to the intertwined history of persecution among Jewish and LGBT communities, pointing out the pink triangles LGBT individuals were forced to wear during the Holocaust. “Both communities are used to being mar-
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ginalized,” Bryan said. “We wanted to take this opportunity to do a couple things — bring all the LGBT community this [event], and really start a healing process for Pittsburgh.” Kelly Peters, of Greensburg, had been interested in coming to the Kesha concert with her daughter, but the Delta Foundation’s support of the Tree of Life Synagogue was what convinced her to buy tickets. “Kesha’s one of our favorite performers,” she said, while holding a Captain and Coke from the concession stand and smiling at her 9-yearold daughter Makayla. “And we love what she stands for. And the tragedy that happened recently, I think it’s very important for the community to come together and support it.” As for Makayla, she was most excited to hear her favorite Kesha song — “Tik Tok.” Michael Lawson, a third-year pharmacy student at the University of West Virginia, bought tickets months earlier as a present for his friend Alex Castracane, who had been asking to go to a Kesha concert since the two became friends three years ago in pharmacy school. Lawson also expressed his support of the victims of the Tree of Life tragedy. “Everybody has their own freedom to practice whatever religion, whatever sexual orientation,” Lawson said. “Everyone has the right to do their own thing, so that’s a big thing Kesha supports, so that’s why we’re here tonight.” Around 7:30 pm, as concert-goers eagerly waited for the concert to begin, a man in a red beanie, sweatshirt and jeans walked onto stage. He introduced himself as Zachary Quinto — a producer, actor and Pittsburgh native perhaps best known for his role as Spock in the “Star Trek” reboot series — and addressed the Tree of Life tragedy. “Pittsburgh is a city of bridges. We are a place that builds connections, and hopefully, after such a deeply wounding strategy, that’s the kind of growth we can all push for,” Quinto said. “One of the most effective ways we can push for that is to get out and vote,” he said, as the audience cheered. After an opening performance, survivors of the February 2018 school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Sarah Chad-
wick and Sofie Whitney, took the stage for a speech. The two are activists within the March For Our Lives movement. “First of all, we love Kesha. Second of all, we are two bad-a-- queer girls,” Chadwick said. “After what happened last week here in Pittsburgh, it’s just so much more important to us that we were here today. We are so glad that we could be here to support your community, because something like that, it really ruins a community.” Chadwick and Whitney both reminded concert-goers of the impact of their vote, and urged the audience to head to the polls on Tuesday. And then finally, Kesha arrived. “I woke up this morning, feelin’ like P-Diddy” she said, as she walked on stage in a white leotard, fog colored purple by stage lights swirling around her. “I grabbed my glasses, I’m out the door, about to hit this motherf------ city!” she shouted, as the audience cheered. The crowd bopped up and down, shouting the lyrics with her, as she played mostly her older hits, like “Tik Tok” and “Timber,” with a few newer songs off her 2017 album, “Rainbow.” “This is the part of the show where I tell you to take your clothes off,” she said, after performing “Your Love Is My Drug.” “But first, I’m going to need some clothes,” she said, as the crowd threw bras, shirts and a pair of boxer shorts, all of which she grabbed and dangled off her mic stand. “Can I get some duct tape here?” she asked, glancing off-stage to her right, before fastening a pride flag to the mic stand and launching into her song “Take It Off.” Slowing it down a notch, the audience came together for Kesha’s powerful soulful performance of “Praying,” the entire crowd singing along with her. “I just want to say I appreciate you being here and celebrating tonight with me. I’m so f------ lucky to have each and everyone of you, so I just want to say thank you,” the singer said after finishing the song. “You’ve been such f----- amazing fans and animals and people. Thank you for everything.”
November 6, 2018
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SHULAMIT BASTACKY: HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR SHARES HER STORY
Sarah Connor and Maya Best
The Pitt News Staff For Shulamit Bastacky, coming to Pittsburgh was a life-changing event. The Lithuanian Holocaust survivor spent time in Poland and Israel before settling in the United States — precisely 55 years ago. “Today is an interesting day for me, because exactly on this day in 1963, I discovered America,” Bastacky said on Sunday. Bastacky, 77, immigrated to the United States in her early 20s. She returned to Pitt — where she earned a degree in social work — Sunday evening to share her story at the William Pitt Union for an event hosted by Alpha Epsilon Pi, one of Pitt’s Jewish fraternities. This is the third year this fraternity has brought Holocaust speakers to Pitt to share their stories, but this year was the biggest event they have hosted. Bastacky, now a retired social worker, began by discussing the recent tragedy in Pittsburgh. Bastacky currently lives in an apartment complex in Squirrel Hill for senior citizens. When she heard the sirens on the Saturday morning of the Tree of Life shooting, she assumed that one of her neighbors was being taken to the hospital. “I never expected it to occur in Pittsburgh, or even the U.S.,” she said. “I was literally in a state of shock. I couldn’t eat all day, not until [the] next day.” Bastacky said she immediately thought of her relatives she lost during the Holocaust — many in horrific, unspeakable ways. Other relatives were lost in ways she is not aware of to this day. She said her family chose not to tell her some details of what truly happened during that time. Bastacky was born on Aug. 25, 1941, in Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania — home to a sizeable Jewish community, with an estimated 100,000 Jews in the city. She was one of the “Hidden Children” of the Holocaust, hidden and saved by non-Jews. She was taken in by a Polish Roman Catholic nun just a few weeks after she was born and spent the first years of her life isolated, provided no more than the very basic, necessary human touch.
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Shulamit Bastacky — a Lithuanian Holocaust survivor — spoke to a crowded room of Pitt community members in the William Pitt Union Sunday evening. Bader Abdulmajeed | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER “I was lucky to be alive,” she said. “My fam- pened [at Tree of Life],” Ward said. “Although ily, my parents were lucky to be alive. I am a it was a negative thing, we need to turn it into something positive. Luckily, a lot of people desurvivor and the child of survivors.” Her parents worked in the local labor cided to come out to this, because it’s an imcamps and miraculously survived. She was re- portant thing. It’s a really important thing for united with them in 1945 when the war ended. all of us right now.” One student who came to experience Her father found her in the orphanage and recognized her when he saw her birthmark. Bastacky’s story was senior computer science She was taken to a rehabilitation facility for major Carly Hoffman, who is also involved Holocaust survivors to be exposed to sunlight in Pitt’s Jewish community. She felt the stoand fresh air. As a child, she was easily scared ries Bastacky had to tell were important, even by unexpected loud noises like phones ringing though they were heartbreaking, especially and she admits that this affects her even to this with the horrors that took place less than two weeks ago. day. ”I think it’s super important to learn about At 17, Bastacky moved to Israel to escape the anti-Semitism in Europe. While in Israel, [the Holocaust], especially in light of recent she served in the army there. Four years later, events. It’s super important to be reminded of, in 1963, she and her family moved to Ameri- like, the worst-case scenario,” Hoffman said. ca. She made her way into Pittsburgh via New “You want to be able to prevent anything like York City and settled in Squirrel Hill. Bastacky that from happening in the future.” Bastacky emphasized the topic of the fuhas been a proud member of the Squirrel Hill ture in her time on stage. She shared her exJewish community ever since. The brothers of Alpha Epsilon Pi shared periences of hope, love and friendship that that planning for Bastacky’s visit to campus have helped her get through the recent hard began over the summer — making the timing times. When one student asked Bastacky of the event unfortunately and eerily fitting. during a Q&A session how non-Jewish Dan Ward, a sophomore accounting major, is people can be good allies with their Jewish the Jewish identity chair of the fraternity, and neighbors, she had a simple, but effective most of the event-planning fell on his shoul- answer. “Simply showing love and care, because ders. “Obviously, it’s a terrible situation that hap- this is what happened to me,” Bastacky
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said. “Simple gestures of kindness, even by phone.” She spoke very fondly of her international friends who all showed love and support after the shooting — many called her from places like Germany, Italy, Egypt, Israel and Japan after hearing the news of last Saturday’s tragedy. She was amazed by the acts of kindness, receiving food from neighbors and phone calls from friends across the globe. She even said that someone left a teddy bear in front of her door. All of these small acts showed her an “example of what is the very best in human beings.” Aaron Black, a senior biology major and the recruitment chair for the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity, was pleased by the turnout for this year’s event and all of the students who were eager to show their love and care for the Jewish community. “It’s our favorite event to hold because a lot of people don’t get to experience a lot of things we had growing up,” Black said. “At the age of 5, I was being taught things like this that most other people in this room might not have heard. So just having people who are not Jewish come here is really meaningful not only to the chapter, but to me specifically.” Bastacky was also thrilled with the turnout, stating that she was proud of the way the many young people were determined to make a difference and bring light to important situations like this. “It’s nice to see young people here taking the lead,” she said. “You are the future of the world. The future is up to all of us who are sitting here.” Bastacky now regularly visits schools to speak about her experiences. Because she never had a favorite toy to hug and hold for comfort as a child, she is making up for this by collecting teddy bears for children with troubled childhoods and residents of local women’s shelters. She is currently collecting teddy bears at her senior citizen apartment complex for refugee children. “Reach the people who came from another background,” Bastacky said. “It’s wonderful to be different. It would be rather boring if we were all alike, don’t you think?”
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Sports
Waiver Wire Weekly: Cleveland Browns look promising pittnews.com
TAKEAWAYS: PITT RUNS INTO ACC CHAMPIONSHIP CONTENTION Michael Nitti Staff Writer In what were some of the worst field conditions this year, the Panthers took care of business down in Charlottesville with a convincing win over Virginia, giving themselves sole possession of first place in the ACC Coastal division. Pitt (5-4, 4-1 ACC) finds itself in the driver’s seat on a potential path to the ACC Championship game after a 23-13 road victory on Friday against No. 25 Virginia (6-3, 4-2 ACC). Once again, the Panthers kept the ball on the ground against a stout Cavalier defense, accumulating 42 carries for 254 yards. On the flip side, the Panthers’ defense had one of its best games of the year, allowing only 13 points while limiting UVA’s offense to just 249 total yards. Here are three takeaways from the Panthers’ astronomical win against Virginia. Ground and Pound After senior RB Qadree Ollison started limping with what appeared to be a hamstring injury toward the end of last week’s win against Duke, fans questioned how effective he would be against Virginia. Although Ollison carried the ball just seven times for 24 yards, fellow senior RB Darrin Hall stepped up, totaling 229 yards for 19 carries and three touchdowns. Hall’s performance earned him National Offensive Player of the Week honors. Over the last few seasons, head coach Pat Narduzzi’s offenses have favored the run, regardless of who the offensive coordinator is. In the Panthers’ last three ACC games, they’ve run the ball an astounding 141 times to amass 1,003 yards. In those games, Pitt went 3-0 and outscored its opponents 121-95. By comparison, in the Panthers’ first two ACC games — in which they went 1-1 — they ran the ball 67 times
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First-year defensive back and wide receiver V’Lique Carter rushes the ball during the Panthers’ 54-45 victory over Duke Oct. 27. Kaycee Orwig | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER A Roaring Defense for 366 yards, narrowly outscoring the Although Virginia does not possess a competition 59-57. In those first two ACC matchups, the stellar offense, the Panther defense still Panthers averaged 183 rushing yards per had an impressive showing, holding the game. In the next three ACC matchups, Cavaliers to just 13 points — their lowest the Panthers upped that number to 334 output all season. This was also the least rushing yards per game. As a result, soph- number of points Pitt has allowed since omore QB Kenny Pickett has been throw- the opening game against Albany, when ing the ball less, going from 56 attempts in they held the Great Danes to seven points. The Panthers racked up five sacks on the first two ACC games to 53 attempts in Friday, led by senior DL Dewayne Henthe last three games combined. With Ollison ranked third in the ACC drix who had 2.5 of his own. Senior LB in rushing yards and Hall ranked ninth, Seun Idowu and junior DB Damar Hamthe Panthers have one of the best RB tan- lin led Pitt with nine tackles each. Hamdems in the conference. If the Panthers lin also got credit for a pass defended. Virginia QB Bryce Perkins has been want to punch their ticket to the ACC Championship in Charlotte, North Caro- considered one of the best running QBs lina, they’ll have to continue their attack in the country this year, rushing for 575 yards entering last Friday. Having on the ground.
November 6, 2018
rushed more than 100 yards in three seperate games this season, Narduzzi has called him “the fastest quarterback we’ve faced this year.” Despite that, Perkins lost a total of seven yards on 15 carries, his lowest rushing output of the season. After allowing 619 yards against Duke last week, the Panthers cut that number down to just 249 against UVA. Of those 249 yards, only 44 were on the ground, an encouraging sign as the Cavaliers’ rushing attack has averaged an impressive 170 rush yards per game. With an upcoming matchup against a strong Virginia Tech offense, it’ll be crucial for the Panthers to shut down the run game and control time of possession. Hailing away from Heinz Entering Friday’s game, Pitt was winless on the road, dropping games to UNC, Notre Dame and UCF. In those three games, the Panthers averaged just 21 points on offense while averaging 32.4 points in five games at home. On the defensive end, Pitt had allowed 34 points per game away from Heinz Field and 31.8 points per game at home. Although the offensive mustered just 23 points in awful weather conditions, the defense kept its footing. In their past two road games, both against nationally ranked opponents, the Panthers have allowed just 32 points. After a trip back to Heinz to play Virginia Tech, Pitt will hit the road for the final two games of the regular season against Wake Forest and Miami. If the Panthers want to solidify themselves as not only the number-one team in the Coastal Division, but as serious contenders for a high-level bowl game, they’ll have to do it on the road to close out the season.
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Oakland (central air, dish washer, washer dryer included) 412‑551‑0094 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 BR apartments available May & August 2019. South Oakland, North Oakland, and South side on Bouqet St., Meyran Ave., Atwood St., North Neville St., and Sarah St. Call 412‑287‑5712 2‑3‑4‑5‑6‑7 bedroom apartments and houses available in May and August 2019. Nice, clean, free laundry, in cludes exterior main‑ tenance, new appli‑ ances, spacious, and located on Semple, Oakland Ave., Mey‑ ran Ave., Welsford, Bates, Dawson, and Mckee 412‑414‑9629. douridaboud propertymanage ment.com 2BR apt South Oak land. $1,095/mo + electric. New kitchen, balcony, and A/C. Call 412‑661‑6622 3436 Ward. Spacious 2‑Bedroom, 1 bath, equipped kitchen, $1,195 + electric, Heat included. 412‑271‑5550 4 BR HOME ‑ SEM PLE STREET, LO CATED NEAR LOU‑ ISA. EQUIPPED KITCHEN, FULL BASEMENT. NEW CENTRAL AIR ADDED. AVAIL ABLE IMMEDI ATELY AND RENTING FOR MAY AND AUGUST 2019.
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laundry in apartment. $1500 + utilities. 412‑683‑0363 Newly remodeled second and third floor, 5 BR, 2 BA apartment with laundry room in side apartment. $3000 + utilities. Has a sky‑ light. 412‑683‑0363 North / South O Houses and Apart ments with Laundry and Central Air Call 412‑38‑Lease Oakland ‑ various South Oakland loca tions. Oakland Ave ‑ 2 BD/1 BA, hardwood floors, free heat, avail‑ able August 1, 2019. S. Bouquet ‑ 2 BD/1 BA available May 1. Ward St. ‑ studio, 1, 2, 3 BD. Free parking, free heat, available August 1, 2019. Call 412‑361‑2695 Oakland house spa cious two and a half story, living room, dining room, eating equipped kitchen, 5 bedrooms two baths, front and rear porch, yard. $2,000 +utilities 412‑321‑6282 South Oakland off‑campus housing. 2‑6 BR apartments/ houses for rent. Updated kitchens and Bathrooms. A/C, laundry, and some with parking. Avaial able August of 2019. 412‑445‑6117
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The Pitt news crossword 11/6/18
I N D E X
Rentals & Sublet
November 6, 2018
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