11-17-17 by The Pitt News

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November 17, 2017

The first piece of “furniture” Owen Hipwell got for his new home on Juliet Street was an old wheelchair found in the back of his basement. Photo courtesy of Jaime Weinreb

TREASURES AND TOYS Students find strange objects upon moving in. Drew Colebank discovered a statue of Mary and a painting of Jesus in his house on Parkview Avenue. Photo courtesy of Jaime Weinreb

hen Sawyer Bressler signed the lease to his new home, he was unaware the house came with a dildo mounted to a plaque. Like Bressler, many Pitt students come across strange artifacts left by previous residents when they move into new apartments and houses. And after some initial confusion by these findings, some students make the peculiar objects integral aspects of their homes. Bressler, a sophomore pharmacy student, threw a housewarming party this past August — after only having moved in 10 days prior — to celebrate his new home on Dunseith Street. Guests sipped on their drinks, listened to music and mingled as they walked through Bressler’s new apartment. Alex Miller, a party guest and friend of Bressler’s from undergrad, went to the kitchen to pour himself another drink and began rummaging through the drawers and cupboards looking for a glass. He pulled open the bottom drawer and was perplexed by what he saw. “Hey Sawyer, why do you have a dildo on a plaque in your kitchen drawer?” Miller asked from the next room

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by Joanna Li | Staff Writer

over. The two gathered around the drawer and looked down. The drawer was completely empty except for a brass-colored sex toy suctioned to a wooden plaque. Because he’d never seen the dildo plaque before, Bressler couldn’t provide an answer and laughed with Miller about the bizarre object. “Given some of the items in the house and the nature of Oakland, I wasn’t too surprised to find it,” Bressler said. Bressler’s plaque remains erect on his wall, and can be found at any time in the house — unless he and his roommates decide to spare the landlord when he drops by. “It’s just become a part of the structure of our home for now,” Bressler said. Most people would assume it’s not ordinary for someone to stumble across a dildo in their own home — especially when it doesn’t belong to them. But Shannon Kelly, a senior studying fiction writing, also found one upon moving into her South Oakland home on Louisa Street. A group of senior boys who lived in the house before

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Kelly moved in were generous enough to leave behind a few pieces of furniture — two bedside tables, a coffee table and a couch. While moving one of the bedside tables into another room with her roommate, Kelly was surprised to see a large, flesh-colored dildo when the drawer popped out. The girls couldn’t pin down a reason as to why a group of guys would have this object in their possession, but assumed they used it to prank each other. Amused by their discovery, Kelly and her roommates decided to liven up their home decor and showcased it on their fireplace mantle in the living room. But after about three weeks, the group eventually agreed to throw it out. “It was disturbing to look at and our parents visit. We just didn’t want to explain,” Kelly said. Though Kelly reconsidered her home decor, other students found more meaning in the objects they found, and kept them around for longer. Owen Hipwell, a junior studying communications and film, was the first of his roommates to move into his See Weird Things on page 12

Student renters raise the bar

Garret Heid and a few of his friends built a homemade bar for their apartment, inspired by other college apartment bars they’ve seen. Issi Glatts STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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November 17, 2017

by David Solomon Staff Writer

In his spare time this summer, Garrett Heid got crafty with some IKEA furniture he had lying around, a few pieces of wood and a 22-gauge stainless steel door from a fridge he found during his parttime construction job. “I don’t know if you know what 22-gauge steel is?” Heid said. “It’s basically bulletproof.” Heid combined these materials to make an in-home bar to outfit his Oakland apartment. The junior, who is studying in Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation, began work on the bar with his dad — who works as a carpenter — in late July of this year. Heid would work 12-hour shifts at his Citizens Bank summer job and would come home to work on the bar until he fell asleep. They finished the bar in about three and a half weeks. “For a couple weeks there I kind of just didn’t sleep a whole lot,” Heid said. Amidst the numerous tasks of finding apartments — squaring away leases, dealing with landlords and making timely rental payments — some students are installing bars to make off-campus living a bit more lively. Whether assembled from furniture scraps or decked out in Pitt blue and gold, off-campus residents are making their own places to relax, talk and — of course — drink with friends. Heid said he and his friends use the bar as a recreational area either to eat off of, or just watch TV. They have taken to naming the bar “The Penthouse Pub” as a kind of inside joke. “It’s a jack of all trades. I usually just eat cereal off it,” Heid said. See Decked out on page 5

Decked out, pg. 4 “It’s just a nice centerpiece of the room for people to just hang out.” In another corner of Oakland, Jesse, who chose not to give his last name, also built a bar in his home — but not from scratch. When the film major arrived at his new home in North Oakland this summer, he and his friends found a half-finished bar in the corner of their basement. “There was a frat that owned the place before we did and we think they tried to build a bar, but it was pretty unfinished,” Jesse said. Jesse and some carpentry-inclined friends decided to finish the bar. They used two tables and an air conditioner to create a makeshift bar which carved out a corner of the basement. To make it look presentable, Jesse added some Christmas lights across the finished product. Jesse throws parties at the house where friends stop for drinks throughout the night at the bar. Jesse said he doesn’t enjoy bartending, so he hardly ever does it anymore. “I hate bartending. The only redeeming thing about it was that I used to make people tell me jokes before I gave them drinks, which was funny sometimes,” Jesse said. Senior computer engineering major Abby Wezelis didn’t construct her own bar in her three-bedroom rental on Brackenridge Street, but the one that previous tenants had built was part of what initially drew her to the apartment. The royal blue bar — nestled in its own room on the right side of the first floor and adorned with a bright gold Pitt script logo — stood out as the center of the house and a good place to hang out with friends. “I think just generally our house has

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kind of an open layout, the bar is a central place, so when you walk in it feels like a good place for hosting people,” she said. Wezelis, who moved into the house in August, described the bar as a “selling point” in her decision to reside there. She said the bar came with Steelers barstools with a helmet pattern on the cushions. The ensemble “had already seen its day” when she moved in, but she and her roommates were able to clean it up. A poster portraying helmets of the Steelers, Pirates, Panthers and Penguins, plus a sign that reads, “If you ain’t a Stiller fan, you’re a real jag off,” also came with the house and decorate the walls above the bar. Despite the sports memorabilia adorning the bar, she and her roommates are not big sports fans and view it as a nice place to relax and chat. “[The bar area] probably shouldn’t be a dining room, it has seating,” she said, so that it works “almost like a second kitchen.” Currently, Halloween decorations adorn the bar. Wezelis and her roommates have no plans to take them down since they’re “big on holidays.” “Our Halloween decorations will stay up and we’ll add Christmas to it and by the end of the year it’ll be full of Easter decorations and Valentine decorations and the like,” she said. Wezelis has made the bar her own by adding beer bottle lights that she bought in a town near Niagara Falls. Several Pittsburgh sports-themed drinking glasses are lined up on shelves behind the bar. Wezelis does not host parties often despite the work she’s put into the bar — she said it mainly serves as a conversation piece. “As soon as people walk in, they say, ‘Oh that’s really cool!’ and I think it’s just something that makes our house unique.”

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STUDENTS

scatter TO GREEN spaces

Joanna Li Staff Writer

Although Pitt’s campus has a lot of the amenities a traditional campus would, it doesn’t have a central green space that all the buildings on campus surround. Instead, Pitt has scattered spaces — and while there aren’t many, they still allow for a good balance between urban life and a college campus. And Pitt didn’t always have green spaces. Without even a second glance, passersby were ignorant to the lack of color as they walked past an immense gray asphalt parking lot along Forbes Avenue that stretched from the edge of the Hillman Library to the Carnegie Museums. Up until 2006, that was exactly what Pitt students saw on campus — not the green space students now know as Schenley Plaza. The revitalization of this new open space on Pitt’s campus has provided students and community members with a spacious lawn, food kiosks, a ton of outdoor seating and a large tented area for shade. Abby Yancy, a first year majoring in environmental science, said the convenient location of the plaza is beneficial and opportune, allowing her to fully utilize her study time. “Even though Pitt is a city campus, Schenley provides space for the outdoor activities that I enjoy,” Yancy said. “Studying is easier when I’m there because it’s not as busy and I’m in a space that I love. It’s not too far of a walk from my dorm so I can easily go there any time.” On sunny days, people constantly amble in and out of the Plaza — grabbing Chinese food, dining at The Porch or satisfying a sweet tooth with a waffle. Although seemingly the most popular green space on campus, there are several other spaces that may be overlooked. Schenley Park This one-acre green space is only the opening act of a developed 456-acre park destination for adventurous nature-loving residents. Schenley Park is Oakland’s getaway from the fast-paced City, offering a golf course, hiking trails and a sports complex. Because it’s only a short distance from campus, students are able to take walks and runs on the trails, as well as visit Phipp’s Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. Community Nature Educator at the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy Chastity Bey said the convenient walking distance of the parks is important to have around any college campus. “[Schenley] plaza was a good touch to add. It’s important to have parks around, especially in the middle of the actual City,” Bey said. “You know, one day you might

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Kylie Manuppelli throws a football to Hannah Panzica on the Soldiers and Sailors lawn in February. Anna Bongardino ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR just want to be a kid and unwind — now you can.” Cathedral of Learning Lawn The Cathedral is not only known around campus for its architecture and height, but also for the spacious green lawn that surrounds the building. Throughout the seasons, students study, picnic and play sports such as frisbee and football. The lawn even hosts Panther fans for the Annual Bonfire and Pep Rally every fall. Dayna Sepulveda, a first year studying business, said she enjoys the simple ambience of having convenient green spaces around campus. “I think the green spaces really make Pitt’s campus — they bring a new element into the urban campus feel,” Sepulveda said. “I utilize these spaces by walking past them for a stress relief mechanism.” Soldiers and Sailors Lawn Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum is a well-known building associated with Oakland. It’s marked as the largest memorial dedicated to every branch of the military in the country. A seemingly endless walkway of stairs splits two vast spaces of green

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grass, providing expansive space for war implements. With an available area like this, students often bathe in the sun while reading or conversing with friends when the weather is warm enough. Petersen Events Center Lawn One of the largest green spaces on campus is the lawn at the Petersen Events Center — a perfect location for the athletic atmosphere of upper campus. The open space is ideal for students to practice and exercise as they prepare for games, tryouts or friendly pickup games. The grass and the patio together make the Pete ideal for a variety of outdoor events and picnics. This area also persuades students to take a break from the indoors and to breathe in some fresh air — a beautiful natural reward after a hike up Cardiac Hill. William Pitt Union Front Lawn Though smaller than the other green spaces on campus, the area in front of WPU is extremely convenient and used extensively for student activities. Several school events like the Arts Fest and the Welcome See Green Spaces on page 13

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November 17, 2017

dark, dank and diverse

Students find many functions for Oakland basements. by David Solomon | Staff Writer

Anastasia Eichler, a sophomore majoring in ecology and evolution, sets the finished basement of her South Oakland house as her bedroom. Courtesy of Sarah Connor Mac Clark heard knocking and high-pitched talking coming from his basement about two weekends ago. Following a Halloween party he hosted at his South Oakland residence, the senior mechanical engineering major unlocked the door leading to the basement and cautiously made his way down the creaking stairs to follow the eerie noises. He examined the area at the bottom of the stairs, but there was nothing there. He found himself in the very back of his basement amongst a wallpaper of dust and numerous old washing machines when he heard a quiet, “Hello?” From emitting strange noises to providing extra storage to becoming a party destination, South Oakland basements take on many roles. Whether fully furnished or never finished, basements of Oakland homes have many different functions. And for Clark, the quirk of his basement was a woman dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, knocking and yelling to be let out. “Turns out one of my roommates locked the door as people were leaving the party,” Clark said. “The girl was looking for her friend and ended up in the basement.” Clark said the girl had been in the basement for fewer than five minutes, and that he was planning on checking the basement after the party anyway. “I was going to check mostly just for any trash or cups soon, but the knocking seemed a bit odd,” Clark said. “Very spooky.” Clark said the scene of the action resembled a horror movie — old washing machines, at least six or seven of them, lined a wall in the back of the basement. A rusty

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A traffic light sits in the center of the Mac Clark’s basement. Courtesy of Sarah Connor

trio consisting of a shower, toilet and sink sat in the corner, likely untouched for decades. Worn out furniture like folding chairs and car seats also littered the back of the underground room, covered in tarps. This basement proved to be a great place to store semi-ancient artifacts. Of these objects, the most intriguing was a traffic light sitting in the center of the room. The red, yellow and green of the traffic light shining through the dust and old bricks created an almost supernatural feel in the dingy basement. “My mom found this somewhere back home, so she thought it would really complement the aesthetic of our basement,” Clark said. Getting stuck in an eerie basement with an old traffic light wasn’t the only unusual activity happening in basements on Halloween weekend. With parties happening in houses everywhere, a different type of gathering was happening for fans of music in basements of Oakland houses. In recent years, house shows have become an integral part of the local rock and punk music scenes in Pittsburgh, with the Oakland area concentrating much of this scene. Every weekend, Pitt students and music fans take advantage of the funky environment house shows offer. Thomas Troyan, a sophomore majoring in computer science, is a frequent spectator at these house shows. He said most take place in South Oakland, but some do pop up in North Oakland from time to time. Some of the houses that tend to host these popular

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shows develop names such as the Jelly Fox, Ba Sing Se, Cafe Verona and the Bushnel. Most fans are unsure of how these venues get their interesting names, but many are rumored to come from films, video games and lyrics from popular songs. “You’ve got local bands like Surf Bored and Short Fictions [that perform at house shows], but also bigger bands have come through like Diners or Show Me the Body. Show Me the Body played Coachella,” Troyan said. Troyan said the big Show Me the Body house show was crowded and recalled a great amount of moshing in the basement. “You’ll occasionally have people hanging upstairs, but all the music is in basements,” he said. While some Oakland residents have discovered creative ways to use their basement for mosh pits and traffic light storing, others have found much more traditional uses for the basements of their homes. Anastasia Eichler, a sophomore majoring in ecology and evolution, said the basement of her South Oakland house is her bedroom. The finished basement includes a bed, desk, dresser and closet, but also includes a full bathroom, storage closets and a washer and dryer. “My roommates have to come to my bedroom to do laundry,” Eichler said. “Our house only has three bedrooms, but since the basement is finished and comfortable, we are able to have four girls living here. SplitSee Basements on page 21

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EXTEND LOVE TO HOMELESS IN A CITY THAT DOESN’T

Sarah Shearer Staff Writer

Nichole Cooper didn’t know a simple “How are you?” would lead to such a rich friendship when she met Shaker on the street. “You know, I just saw him and was like, hey, what’s up?” Cooper said. “He offered me a cigarette and I said no and he asked how are you?” Cooper, a woman from Texas who recently moved to Pittsburgh, works as a missionary for L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry — a Christian nonprofit organization. Shaker, who requested his last name be withheld, is an Iraqi immigrant who arrived in the United States in 2002. He has a green card, but he’s homeless. Shaker left Iraq because of “guns, hate and the war.” He’s been living on the

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streets of Pittsburgh with no friends or family since he got to the United States. He struggles daily with the language barrier and suffers from a range of medical issues. The kind of friendship Cooper has with Shaker is unusual in Pittsburgh — but desperately needed. Compassion is sparse among Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and City officials, who have driven the City’s homeless from their camps in the past. This inhospitable attitude throws people into a vicious nomadic cycle and fails to extend a hand the way I saw happen this weekend. I met Cooper at ALIVE, a community celebration with a focus on serving the homeless, on Nov. 11 in the Allegheny Commons Park in the North Side. See Shearer on page 20

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Raka Sakar STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

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November 17, 2017

TRY BEFORE YOU BUY: RENTABLE ITEMS IN OAKLAND Zoe Pawliczek Staff Writer

For Pitt students of all ages, the end of the fall semester is a time for studying, planning vacations and searching for rentals — and not necessarily housing rentals. Students looking to try before they buy can check out a variety of rental services that fit into a college budget. While some services are seasonal — such as kayak rentals and ice skating — others are available year-round, with options to rent everything from musical equipment to bicycles to the top floor of Peter’s Pub. Whether you’re looking for something fun to do during the holidays or just need a break from apartment hunting, renting can be an affordable option — either on campus or just a bus ride away. Ice Skating Every year from late November through late February the MassMutual Pittsburgh Ice Rink

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at PPG Place offers an all-ages seasonal activity with downtown views and holiday events. A common nighttime spot for Pitt students during the winter, the rink — which opens Nov. 17 for this year’s season — drew sophomore microbiology major Maddie Broadbelt and her friends several times last year. “My favorite thing about the ice rink is the convenience and the environment,” Broadbelt said. “It’s super easy to catch a bus to go downtown to the ice rink and skate, and the ambiance is really festive and looks really pretty at night.” Admission to the outdoor ice skating rink is $8 for adults, with skate rentals costing $4 and lockers available for 50 cents. Group rates and skating lessons are also available at the rink. “It’s an affordable way to do something fun and festive with your friends,” Broadbelt said. “It’s also right Downtown so I can go warm up Ian Snyder, a senior political science major, logs into his Zipcar app at the with a cup of hot chocolate after.” Zipcar spot in front of the William Pitt Union on Forbes Avenue. Wenhao Wu See Other Rentals on page 22 ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

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Weird Things, pg. 3 home on Juliet Street this past summer. Upon arrival, the house was completely empty — no couches, no tables and nothing on the walls. He began scanning the rooms upstairs and then went downstairs to explore some more. In the back of the basement, he came across a wheelchair and remembered seeing it when he first toured the house. Intrigued, he lugged the big, bulky metal chair up the stairs, through the nar-

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November 17, 2017

row hallways and finally placed it in his living area. He used it as a basic piece of furniture for the next four weeks. He ate dinner in it, relaxed in it and even wheeled around the house in it for fun. “I would have people over, and it was like, ‘Hi, you can have a lawn chair or you can have the wheelchair,’” Hipwell said. Though he and his roommates bought new furniture once the school year started, the chair still remains in their house today. “It’s actually the perfect height for the new table we finally got, so I do still eat dinner in it a lot,” Hipwell said. Hipwell and his roommates considered “pimping it out” by putting flames on the wheels or bedazzling the back of the chair. He even thought of the idea to place his favorite drink in the oxygen tank holder and attach a long straw to feed himself. But the novelty soon wore off, and the large, cumbersome chair was retired back to where he had found it. Drew Colebank, a senior studying neuroscience, found objects upon moving in which brought him a different kind of functionality. Colebank discovered religious devotionals from the 1700s written in Latin and a sacramental statue of Mary in his house on Parkview Avenue. What struck him most was a painting of Jesus. But this was not a gentle depiction of Jesus and is unlike how he’s most commonly viewed in art, according to Colebank. “If you look at him for too long, you’ll repent in a heartbeat,” Colebank said. Colebank said the painting evokes a sense of fear in the viewer, reminding that Jesus is much more than a gentle shepherd — he has immense power. Colebank said this painting, which can be found in his room along with the other artifacts, makes him want to serve God more and that it brings him a sense of comfort. Each item found served a different purpose for each student and gave their house a unique touch they did not expect it to have. They plan to leave these items for the next person to find. “I’d love to take [the objects] with me, but I believe these items belong in the house,” Colebank said. “They’re a part of the character.”

Green Spaces, pg.6 Back Bash are held on this lawn. Not large enough for tag football or frisbee, this space is more suitable for classic lawn games, such as beanbag toss. It acts as the perfect mediator between the WPU patio and the traffic of Bigelow Boulevard. Posvar Plaza, Benedum Hall Courtyard, Hillman Library Plaza The area between the Hillman Library and Posvar Hall was once empty, gloomy and bare, with only limestone tiles to fill the space. Because of recent renovations, this space is now lively and appealing to the eye with lined up rectangular patches of green grass, several benches and abstract art pieces. This green space allows students’ eyes to rest as they leave the library after hours of studying. Enhancements have been made to the engineering building, Benedum Hall and the first floor outdoor space of Hillman Library. The incorporation of trees and flowers in these unexpected places throughout campus creates a coherent colorful oasis not just for studying, but also for a simple mood booster to students passing by on their way to class. Nordenberg Patio Located on the third floor of Nordenberg Hall is a small patio space for firstyear residents to enjoy. With three hammocks and several picnic tables, the patio is surrounded with indigenous plants and grass, intended to create a naturelike atmosphere for students to relax and hang out with the other residents of their building. “Spaces like this give you a break from studying — you don’t have to be in the library, you don’t have to be in your room,” Bey said. “The outdoors are so nice and people don’t realize it.” Minor adjustments like these around campus, shifting spaces from gray to green, change the way our campus looks and feels. With easy access to green spaces, students are able to experience refreshing air while also enhancing their cognitive knowledge. Going green isn’t just for the environment anymore — it’s also for Pitt students. “As a student, I appreciate having a campus that’s within the City with many resources, but still has an abundance of green space,” Sepulveda said.

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November 17, 2017

When you give a tenant a bad experience... Questions to ask your landlord: -Exactly how much is rent? -Does that price include utilities? -Are any appliances or pieces of furniture included? -Does the building have a security system? What about smoke or carbon monoxide detectors? -What are the requirements to get a refund of my security deposit? -What if I want to terminate my lease before it is up? -What changes can I make to the interior of the house? -How do I renew my lease? -How does parking work here?

When you’re about to sign your first lease… Make sure you know what the lease requires of you and your landlord. Because landlords usually write up the contents of a lease, the requirements of the lease often favor the landlord. If you have questions or concerns about a lease, bring them up before signing. You and your future landlord can discuss parts of the lease you disagree about and come to an agreement. More information about the different components of a lease — including payment of rent, security deposits, utilities and appliances — can be found in Pitt’s OCL apartment lease guide.

When you’re looking for a house… Give yourself plenty of time to look at multiple houses and apartments. The more time you spend researching where to live, the easier it will be for you to identify what you are and aren’t willing to pay for. You can consult Facebook housing groups, Craigslist, the OCL apartment listing page and, of course, The Pitt News’ housing guide. Decide how many roommates you want to live with and remember the rule of three — no more than three unrelated people can live together in one house according to City of Pittsburgh code. Also consider what amenities you are searching for in an apartment or house. Decide if you want a washer and dryer — think about walking to a laundromat during the winter months — and heating or air conditioning.

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When you’re on a budget... Renting a house off campus is notoriously cheaper than staying in the dorms. In K. Leroy Irvis Hall, a common pick for upperclassmen housing, two semesters in a double costs $7,350 for eight months of lodging — which comes down to about $919 dollars a month. The OCL estimates a single bedroom apartment near the University costs about $700 a month, although prices vary based on the location, condition of the rental and included amenities. Going in on an apartment with a couple roommates will usually decrease expenses as well. You might be responsible for some utilities, while your landlord will cover others. It’s good practice to try to conserve resources — such as water, heat, air and electricity — when you can. This could mean taking shorter showers, bumping down the heat and putting on a sweater and turning off lights when you leave a room. Food is another thing to think about when you’re on a budget, and it’s an issue that can be closely intertwined with housing. When students move off campus, they often downgrade or get rid of their meal plans. Cooking at home can be much cheaper than eating out, but your ability to cook might be impacted by housing. Take into account your location — if the house is near or far from a grocery store or if the house is close enough to campus that you can travel home for lunch. These details will impact your daily routine — and your wallet.

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When you don’t know where to begin... Start with Pitt’s Office of Off-Campus Living. The office offers a number of basic resources including apartment listings, a renter’s checklist and roommate matching services. You can visit the website or stop by the office — which is temporarily located within Panther Central in Towers Lobby. Talk to friends who live off campus. Ask them about their experiences with the rental search process and see if they have any advice or recommendations for first timers. Make a list of things that you’re looking for. What is most important to you? You might be most concerned about the size of the bedrooms, the house’s location or whether the rental has central air-conditioning. It’s good to When you rent a house from a landlord... have priorities — because renting is He’s going to want you to sign a lease. often about compromise.

...They’re going to tell their friends... When he wants you to sign a lease...

You should say, ‘lemme read that first, please.’ When you’ve read it front to back... Some things may alarm you, such as the fact that your lease calls for you to deep clean the carpets yourself before you move out. But you might just decide to ignore it because you wanna snatch up a house quick that accommodates you and your besties. When you move into your house... You may discover the last tenant didn’t deep clean the carpets. And your landlord didn’t either. What the heck. When he finally cleans your carpet... You’ll want to feel clean, too, so you’ll take a shower. Only to find that you have to spend 40 minutes showering because of the lack of water pressure. When he tries to fix your water pressure... He’ll change the showerhead. And it still won’t work. And the water will be cold. But he’ll ask if it’ll do. And you’ll begrudgingly agree. When the weather starts to get cold and you finally can’t take the freezing water anymore... You’ll call him again. And he’ll finally call a plumber. When you need And your water pressure and temperature problem will magically be solved. something repaired… Be your own advocate. The End An autobiographical account

Rachel Glasser and Mackenzie Rodrigues pittnews.com

The Pitt News Staff

November 17, 2017

Stay calm. Repairs happen all the time, but make sure you know who is responsible for making the repair. Pitt’s Student Guide to Campus Living says to consult your lease to be sure where that responsibility lies. It also says to report an issue as soon as it happens so it doesn’t turn into a bigger repair.

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To succeed, students should stay on campus

Litchfield Towers A, B and C are located on lower campus between Fifth and Forbes avenues and house approximately 1,800 students. Thomas Yang SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Brian Gentry

For The Pitt News Sophomore Dolan Edinboro knew he wanted to move off campus for his sophomore year. But when he started looking for apartments in the November of his first semester at Pitt, he and one of his roommates, sophomore John Kelly, were shocked to sometimes spend five or six hours a week looking for one. “It was stressful because of the sheer volume of apartments that you find,” he said. “And the low volume of good ones,” Kelly added. After an arduous search, Edinboro finally found a place in North Oakland in February, where he now lives with three roommates. He was lucky to find an apartment so late in the year. For most first-year students who don’t have the same amount of dedication, going through the apartment search in November after everyone else would be too stressful, and efforts to find a place

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would fizzle. While it may be hundreds of dollars more expensive per month, living on campus through sophomore year drastically simplifies life during a time when students are acclimating to a new city, new people and the college environment. All of these benefits are simply unavailable or less easily accessible to their off-campus classmates. Possibly the biggest downside to living on campus through sophomore year is the cost. Upperclassman dorms such as Panther and the recently renamed K. Leroy Irvis Hall cost roughly $3,700 per semester, averaging to a rent of $925 per month. The holy grail of on-campus living is Bouquet Gardens, which has a rent of a whopping $1,075 per month. This is exorbitantly high compared to the average rent in Pittsburgh, where one can typically find comfortable apartments for $600 or less per month. But often not included in that rent are utilities. After adding electricity, gas, water and internet, that $600 apartment can See Gentry on page 17

Gentry, pg. 16 soar up to $750. And Panther Central is a much better landlord than your average South Oakland one. Though on-campus dorms are more expensive, the difference is smaller than it appears at face value, and the extra cost pays for better service. Most first-year students won’t be prepared to live on their own in an apartment in a few months. For many, living on a college campus is their first introduction to real-world chores, and even if they handle the first year well, there’s another adjust-

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ment moving off campus. Some students don’t know how to do laundry when they first arrive on campus — or even how frequently they should do it. Others may not know how to cook. I vividly remember the pungent odor that filled Tower A last year when a student forgot to put water in their cup of mac and cheese before heating it in the microwave. When microwaving mac and cheese is a struggle, moving on to a full kitchen of culinary catastrophes isn’t likely to be a good idea. Life off campus involves learning other fundamentals like buying groceries, do-

ing dishes, cleaning bathrooms, fixing plumbing issues and paying rent. You end up with a responsibility that would overwhelm most students, even after their first year away from home. And if you’ve just learned how to do your laundry, you don’t need the worries of tackling all the other responsibilities of being an adult just yet. Another benefit of living on campus is the convenience. Most first-year students live in Towers, a central location within a seven-minute walk of any academic building. Upperclassman dorms are located farther out, but even Panther Hall is within

November 17, 2017

a 15-minute walk of Frick Fine Arts, the most distant academic building on campus. For students still working out their latenight study habits, living on campus allows them to roll out of bed 10 minutes before class and still make it on time. Meanwhile, those living in South Oakland may have a 20-minute trek ahead of them, and those farther away might have a lengthy bus ride. For attending class, living on campus is most convenient. It may not be convenient, and posSee Gentry on page 23

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November 17, 2017

Hokies terminate Panthers’ bowl hopes

football

Junior running back Darrin Hall has rushed a total of 486 yards and scored eight touchdowns in the past three games. Christian Snyder CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

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There isn’t much optimism surrounding the Pitt football team after the Panthers fell to North Carolina, 34-31, in their last game. That loss, which gave the woeful Tar Heels their first ACC win of the year, brought the Panthers’ season record to 4-6 overall and 2-4 in the ACC. And with a formidable Virginia Tech (7-3 overall, 3-3 ACC) up next on the schedule, Pitt is in serious jeopardy of snapping its bowl streak of nine consecutive seasons. Pitt will travel to Blacksburg, Virginia, Saturday to face the Hokies on their home turf. That already puts the Panthers at a disadvantage — of the team’s four wins, just one has come on the road. The Panthers will face a Virginia Tech

November 17, 2017

team that started the season 7-1 and reached its highest spot at No. 13 in the national rankings, but has since slowed its momentum. Back-to-back losses to Miami and Georgia Tech bounced the Hokies from the top 25 and ended their brief flirtation with national relevance. Virginia Tech may enter this game riding a two-game losing streak, but this is one of the best teams in the ACC. Pitt will have a hard time finding the end zone against the Hokies’ sixth-ranked defense, which limits opponents to just 14.8 points per game. On offense, Virginia Tech boasts a well-balanced attack that ranks in the top half nationally for both passing — 49th with 248.2 yards per See Preview on page 24

Shearer, pg. 9 L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry held its first annual event 13 years ago, and now the North Side Homeless Alliance works with the ministry to put it on. More than 200 volunteers flooded the park Saturday with tables and chairs to set up for the day. Tables of winter clothes and a hot lunch were the main draws for the more than 350 homeless attending the event, as well as job connection opportunities, free haircuts and prayer. But clothing and food were only part of ALIVE’s mission that day — in a city that makes it exceptionally difficult to be homeless, building relationships with and uncovering hope for the homeless was L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry’s real goal for the event. North Side residents littered Mayor Bill Peduto’s property with tents in May 2017 to push him to evict a homeless encampment on Howard Street in Millvale. In a public statement after the event, Peduto blamed City Councilwoman Darlene Harris for “politicizing the plight of the indignant.” Harris, who represents the North Side, said the Howard Street encampment is sanctioned by the City but violates zoning and sanitary laws. North Side residents pushed for their eviction, naming litter, human waste and noise as some of the annoyances they experience living in close proximity to the homeless. Some parents said they felt uncomfortable letting their children play out in their backyards with homeless encampments in view, and they could smell their camps from their houses. While it’s understandable to want a safe environment for children in their neighborhoods, simply evicting these men and women from their tents is not the solution. Eviction from a place of power is only victimizing an already marginalized group of people from a place they’ve deemed safe. Even worse — North Side residents calling for the evictions oftentimes don’t really even know whom they would affect, like Terry Araya, a man who lived at a tent site on Howard Street. “The problem is that most people judge homeless people as bad people,” he

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November 17, 2017

said in an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Araya said the community completely disregarded the homeless, even throwing rocks at him in his campsite. “They also say we’re doing drugs” Araya said. “None of us is doing drugs. The problem is they just don’t know us.” Cooper said the Howard Street encampment isn’t much of a controversy anymore, but that PennDOT will allegedly evict another North Side camp this weekend on Madison Avenue in East Allegheny. This constant fear of picking up and moving on is a harsh reality for those in homelessness, and City officials must stop making eviction a default if they want Pittsburgh to be an inviting, harmonious city. JIm Withers, founder of Operation Safety Net, a local homeless service, agrees that rousting the homeless is too frequent. Withers, who brought his organization’s van to ALIVE Saturday, is an internal medicine physician with a passion to seek out those who had been “excluded from his care.” “Eviction seems to be fairly arbitrary,” Withers said. “When a few people complain that they can see homeless people, [officials] respond and just evict them.” In a City that hasn’t been so kind to those on the streets, ALIVE’s message is even more important — people experiencing homelessness are more than just homeless. They’re as passionate and genuine as anyone else and they deserve to be treated with dignity and respect — to be seen. Maybe the first step in healing broken relationships — and broken perceptions — doesn’t need to be huge or unmanageable. It can be as simple as not looking away, remembering that beneath the superficial differences our desires are largely the same. We must also remember that most homeless people did not wish for homelessness. No child says “homeless” when asked what they hope to be some day. “Life happens, and none of us are safe from the troubles of this life,” Cooper said. “I always say, I’m just a couple paychecks away from being homeless myself. What if I didn’t have family? Where would I be? I would be right with them. See Shearer on page 21

the rent and utilities between four instead of three people made living here vastly more affordable.” Eichler took advantage of the extra space in the large basement by hanging festive holiday lights and three decorative tapestries. “I think the decorations make it feel a little less basement-y in here,” she said. Eichler’s basement has also become a cozy hangout for the house’s residents and their many guests. Eichler’s lifelong friend, sophomore biology student Shannon Connell, even has her own hideaway within the home. “We have this huge storage closet in the basement, and my parents had a spare mattress at home that I had initially just thrown in the closet to help my mom de-clutter,” Eichler said. She said she and Connell would stay up much too late studying in the basement, and she would not want her friend to walk all the way back to her home in Tower C in the early hours of the morn-

Shearer, pg. 20 And would that make me below people?” Certainly not — in fact, almost all of Cooper’s friends in Pittsburgh are homeless, and she considers them to be some of the most generous, real people she’s ever met. “Some of the things I think are awesome to share with people [about my life] kind of don’t amount to anything when I hear their stories,” Cooper said. “They have so much to offer people. I wish people could experience the homeless that way.” Cooper is right. Life does happen — and it’s up to every person to decide if

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ing. To fix this problem, the girls threw some sheets and pillows on the mattress in the massive storage closet and it became Connell’s room for late study nights. They decorated this room with old lamps, soft blankets, holiday lights and a poster advertising the hit Netflix show “Stranger Things,” Connell’s favorite. “I love it — it’s my little Harry Potter closet,” Connell said, referencing the cupboard the famous character was forced to live in throughout his childhood. “We love the basement, it’s a great study spot and a great place to hang out with my best friends,” she added. Connell and Eichler said they have a lot of memories in the basement — eating three Sorrento’s pizzas in one night, cutthroat games of Uno and uncontrollably laughing at the films from the “Fifty Shades” trilogy. “This basement is probably my favorite place in Oakland, if I’m completely honest,” Connell said. “That’s why I never want to leave. The action never leaves the basement.”

their circumstances will control their outlook. They’re “walking miracles,” she says of the homeless she meets on a daily basis. And it’s services like L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry that build them up, both emotionally and practically, to make their lives a little brighter. The way the ministry treats people experiencing homelessness isn’t complicated — it doesn’t even have to be expensive. Sometimes the best thing you can offer is an ear and your time. Sarah primarily writes about social issues and Pittsburgh life for The Pitt News. Write to Sarah at srs165@pitt.edu.

The Pitt news crossword 11/17/17

Basements, pg. 8

November 17, 2017

Other Rentals, pg. 11 Storage Facilities As students move off campus and into apartments, they may sublet or face a gap between leases when they need to store their furniture somewhere safe. One solution students often choose is storage facilities. Senior Morgan O’Donald, an emergency medicine major, has lived throughout South Oakland since her sophomore year. During the summer of 2016 she rented a

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storage unit from the U-Haul Moving and Storage of Oakland. “I chose the U-Haul ... to store my furniture in between leases because it was the closest to my apartment and easy to get to,” O’Donald said. “I would recommend it to Oakland renters who have a lot of furniture and friends to help move things.” For renters with fluctuating numbers of roommates and pieces of furniture, storage units can be a convenient resource — but it is important to get an accessible unit with ample space, O’Donald says. “I’d say for people to get a unit that is

an appropriate size — mine was a little too small and we had to stack things up, which in turn took longer to unload,” O’Donald said. “But the facility gave us carts to use which was nice.” Car rentals for under-25-year-olds Zipcar — an alternative to traditional car rental and ownership — provides a carsharing service to drivers 18 years or older. In exchange for a membership, drivers are able to use a Zipcar-owned car for any amount of time between one hour and seven days, with gas and insurance included. Rates vary depending on location and

November 17, 2017

the type of car a user chooses. As his prize for winning a giant inflatable beanbag toss game before a Pitt football game, Ian Snyder, a senior political science major, won a yearlong Zipcar membership and $50 credit. Snyder says now that his free yearlong membership is over, he will begin paying the student membership, which is $15 a year — a $10 discount for Pitt students. “It benefits me because I have a car at a reasonable rate whenever I need it without having to pay for campus parking, my own gas or insurance,” Snyder. “On a college budget, this advantage is huge.” Peter’s Pub The second floor of this Oakland Avenue pub is a popular venue for Pitt students and Greek life, but mixers and socials aren’t the only parties Peter’s will host. “It’s mainly 80 percent Pitt, but hospital organizations and offices will rent out the room too,” Shane Brennan, the pub’s event coordinator, said. “Just email us and we’ll work with you.” In addition to the pub’s weekly karaoke nights and football Sundays, every Thursday through Saturday night the second floor is available to rent from 7-10 p.m. In addition to food, drinks and staff, Peter’s offers a full sound system, lights, a projector screen and DJs or live music. Partygoers are welcome to bring additional decorations for themed or seasonal parties. “Especially for the holidays we have a lot of Christmas parties with doctors bringing their entire lab or floor, typically,” Brennan said. Bike rentals Healthy Ride is a citywide bike sharing system in Pittsburgh. Cyclists can pick up a bike from one of 50 stations scattered throughout the city, then return their bike to any of these same stations. Those who are 18 years and older can register for the system through an app on any mobile phone, then pay through a credit or debit card — the “pay as you go” option costs $2 for every 30 minutes. Those who are registered for Healthy Ride are eligible to rent up to four bikes at one time, each at the same rate. The entire renting process takes place through the mobile app and a keypad transaction for removing and returning the bike at each of the stations.

Gentry, pg. 17 sibly downright claustrophobic, to cram two people and all their belongings into a 200-square-foot room, when off-campus living provides a more spacious option. But students living on campus can minimize crowding with efficient use of space. Many first-year students would struggle to even find a suitable apartment in the first place. As most upperclassmen will tell you, students should be looking for apartments for next year already, as many of the best locations have already been signed off for the upcoming academic year. For most first-year students, it’s too tall an order to start the search so early. These students not only have the standard burden of writing papers, finishing homework and studying for midterms, but they also have to learn what may be a new city, cope with roommate issues and navigate the college scene. Tacking on a draining apartment search is too much to handle for the average first-year student. There may be other minor downsides to living on campus — if a student truly loves cooking, for example, then it’s annoying to live in a place without a stove or an oven. But there are living spaces on campus equipped with these kitchen essentials, like Ruskin Hall and Bouquet Gardens. Maybe first-year students are sick of having a Resident Assistant, especially after being written up for sundry violations. And it’s definitely annoying to have to sign in a friend to hang out with them in your room. But on the flip side, RAs also serve as a fantastic resource for basic counseling and getting involved on campus — and no Pitt student living on campus ever needs to worry about a random person wandering around on their floor. If you really don’t like the idea of another year of supervision, there are dorms without RAs or security guards, too. It’s much easier to absorb the extra cost and cope with small inconveniences of continuing to live in the dorms than it is to sort through thousands of apartments, tour the interesting ones and settle on one, all the while juggling schoolwork. So to all the first-year students who want to move off campus next year — know what you’re signing up for. Write to Brian at briangentry@pitt.edu.

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November 17, 2017

Preview, pg. 19 game — and rushing — 64th with 164.7 yards per game. The Hokies also possess an impressive receiver in senior Cam Phillips, whose 60 receptions and 801 receiving yards are both top 30 in college football. Expect Phillips to shine on Virginia Tech’s senior day when he faces off against Pitt’s abysmal, 111th-ranked pass defense. Punts aren’t typically an entertaining part of the game, but that may not hold

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November 17, 2017

true for this matchup, which will feature two of the nation’s best return men. Pitt junior receiver Quadree Henderson and VT senior cornerback Greg Stroman have each returned two punts for touchdowns this season, which ties them for second in the nation. While both teams have talent in the return game, their quarterbacks don’t perform at the same level. Virginia Tech has a promising young signal-caller in redshirt freshman Josh Jackson, who has thrown for 2,382 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. Pitt redshirt sophomore quarterback Ben DiNucci has played in fewer games than Jackson, but his current passing stats of 1,037 yards and a mere four touchdowns aren’t exactly impressive. Despite the Panthers’ porous defense and lackluster passing game, there remains one glimmer of hope that Pitt fans can be excited about — junior running back Darrin Hall. In the three games since Hall emerged as the Panthers’ go-to running back in week eight, Pitt’s rushing attack has leapt from 114th at 113.7 yards per game to 73rd at 157.5 yards per game. Hall has racked up eight touchdowns and 486 yards rushing over that span as well. But football is a team sport, and one standout player will not be enough to beat a team as strong as Virginia Tech. If the Panthers get down early, they’ll struggle to mount quick scoring drives behind the arm of DiNucci, who has surpassed 170 yards passing just once this season. If recent history is any indicator, Pitt will at least keep the game close. The last three games in the series have been decided by a combined 12 points. The results have been 21-16 Pitt, 17-13 Pitt and 39-36 Virginia Tech since 2014. PREDICTION: Hall will receive his usual 20-plus carries and look to break off big runs as he did against Duke, when he ran for 254 yards and three touchdowns. The explosive Henderson will also try to make the most of his limited touches, but the Panthers’ efforts will ultimately not be enough. Virginia Tech’s top-notch defense will limit damage control while Jackson torches Pitt through the air for multiple scores en route to a victory, ending the Panthers’ bowl hopes. Virginia Tech: 34, Pitt: 21

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November 17, 2017

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I N D E X

Rentals & Sublet • NORTH OAKLAND • SOUTH OAKLAND • SHADYSIDE • SQUIRREL HILL • SOUTHSIDE • NORTHSIDE • BLOOMFIELD • ROOMMATES • OTHER

For Rent North Oakland 3,4,6 houses available January and August 2018. Lawn St. Ward St. Call 412-287-5712.

4BR house, 2 bath. Newly remodeled, wall-to-wall carpeting, equipped kitchen, on busline, 15 minute walk to campus. $250/ person+ gas/electric. Call 412-548-2214. 6 or 7 BR House on N. Dithridge St. Available beginning in August 2018. 3 full bathrooms. 2 kitchens. 10 rooms total, on 3 levels, with one bathroom on each level. Refrigerators, ranges, ovens, dishwashers included. A/C. Washer and dryer in basement. On Pitt and CMU shuttle routes. $3600/month + gas and electric. Owner pays water, sewer, and city garbage collection charges. Please leave message at 412-372-9185.

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South Oakland **AUGUST 2018: Furnished studios, 1,2,3,4 bedroom apartments. No pets. Non-smokers preferred. 412-621-0457.

1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 Bedrooom Houses. August 2018. Bouquet St, Meyran, Semple, Neville, Chesterfield. 412-287-5712. 2-3-4-5-6-7 bedroom apartments and houses available in May and August 2018. Nice, clean, free laundry, includes exterior maintenance, new appliances, spacious, located on Meyran, Bates, Oakland, Semple, Wellsford, Dawson, Juliet. 412-414-9629. 4 BR Home - Semple Street, located near Louisa. Equipped Kitchen, Full Basement. New central air added. Renting for August 2018. (412) 343-4289 or 412-330-9498.

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South Oakland 4 BR. 2 1/2 bath. New constructed townhouse. Beautiful view of southside and downtown from 3rd floor deck. All house A/C. Garbage disposal, dishwasher, microwave. Ready for August of 2018. $2400/ month. Call Larry at 412-596-8732. Apartments for rent. 2,3,4, and 5 bedroom apartments available. Some available on Dawson street, Atwood street, and Mckee Place. Newly remodeled. Some have laundry on site. Minutes from the University. For more info please call Mike at 412-849-8694 August 2018 rental. 3 BR/1 BA apartment. 2 off-street parking spaces included. Large storage room. Wall-wall carpeting, Kitchen w/dishwasher, Washer/Dryer in laundry room. $1800/ month+ utilities. 724-934-0653. Before signing a lease, be aware that no more than 3 unrelated people can share a single unit. Check property’s compliance

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with codes. Call City’s Permits, Licensing & Inspections. 412-255-2175.

Furnished 6 BR House. 3 bath, a kitchen and living room. Greek-life friendly. Atwood St. Call Helen at 412-461-5709

M.J. Kelly Realty. Studio, 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedroom Apartments, Duplexes and Houses. N. & S. Oakland from $750-$2500. mjkellyrealty@gmail. com. 412-271-5550. www.mjkellyrealty. com

Oakland Ave. - Garden Court Apartments. Charming 2BR, hardwood floors, free heat. Move in May 1 or Aug. 1, 2018. Call 412-361-2695.

Ward & S. Bouquet Streets - Studio, 1, 2 & 3BR apartments. Free parking. Move in May 1 or Aug. 1, 2018. Call 412-361-2695

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A new home for the new year. Highland Plaza in Shadyside has 3 wonderful homes coming open for January 1st 2018. 3 Br 2 bath for $1840. 2 Br 1 1/2 bath for $1450. 1 Br with a den for $1430. Call us today 412-361-4643. Mention this ad and receive half off application fee. www.highlandplazaapartments.com

2-Three Bedroom townhouses-side by side, take one or both (6 Bedrooms total). Renovated bathrooms and kitchens. Fully equipped, dishwasher, free washing machine and dryers, etc. Walk to Pitt, CMU and Carlow, two blocks to Magee Hospital. On Pitt shuttle route. $ 1,500/Mo + g&e each. Available August 2018. (412) 983-0400.

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Squirrel Hill 1655 Shady Avenue, First Floor Apartment: 3 BR, 2 Full Bath, spacious LR, Office, Enclosed Porch. Lovely, large, bright apartment steps from the Squirrel Hill shopping district, an easy bus or bike ride to Pitt. Monthly rent $1750, with about $100 for utilities. Laundry on-site, parking available. Contact Larry Newman @ 412-421-3720 or lsnsss@verizon.net for a tour.

November 17, 2017

Apartment for rent. Highland Park area, 3rd floor, 1BR, private entrance, $700/ month +electric. 412-719-0321. Available now- Student sleeping room, furnished, shared bathroom and kitchen $450 with utilities. call 412-480-4446 Several 1-4 bedroom apartments for rent in Oakland, North Oakland and Friendship available for 2018-19 school year. 1 Year lease, Aug-July, staring at $775. Call 412-586-7575 for more information.

Personal, professional masseuse needed. Long term position. 2X/week. Washington County location. Call 724-223-0939 or 724-229-8868 any time.

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Seeking female/male nanny/babbysitter for a 3yr old boy. Contact me personally for further information ginalucass@outlook. com

Services Services Other Busy? Hate doing laundry? Personal laundry for Shadyside, Oakland, and Squirrel Hill. Call Eva 412-334-1743. Cell Phone & Computer Repair. Atlas. 4753 Liberty Avenue Bloomfield, Pittsburgh PA 15224. 412-681-2092.

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