The Pitt News T h e in de p e n d e n t st ude nt ne w spap e r of t he University of Pittsburgh
The dark comedy of @NihilistOakland Page 6 February 25, 2016| Issue 113 | Volume 106
Louisville downs Pitt Chris Puzia
Contributing Editor
which Pitt bought for $10 million. Currently, the city of Pittsburgh has zoned the property as Educational Medical Institutional, meaning that Pitt doesn’t have to get any further permits
While Pitt opened both halves of Wednesday’s matchup strong, its opponent heated up when it mattered most — at the end of the game. Despite leading for more than 23 minutes and receiving a career performance from forward Ryan Luther, Pitt men’s basketball dropped a home matchup to No. 11 Louisville Wednesday night, 67-60. Luther finished with a game-high 17, including some key 3-pointers, but Louisville made its final nine baskets to lock up its second win over Pitt (19-8, 8-7 ACC) of the season. Luther said allowing a scoring run that late makes it tough to overcome any opponent. “You can’t win many games when you give up the last nine buckets,” Luther said. Pitt utilized a balanced offense — four players scored in double figures — but could not find the key shots it needed late. Dixon emphasized one point in the game — when Pitt led 48-40 with 9:11 left — where the team began to break down. “When you’ve got an eight-point lead, you’ve got to finish it off, I don’t care who it is,” Dixon said. “Simply put, we didn’t. We
See Trustees on page 2
See Men’s Hoops on page 10
Ya’baso, a student dance group, performed in Market Central Wednesday night as part of Black History month celebrations. Will Miller STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Pitt acquires land behind Athletic Association Dale Shoemaker News Editor
Though it has no formal construction plans yet, the Property and Facilities Committee of Pitt’s Board of Trustees bought a 2.1-acre portion of land in
Oakland Wednesday. The acquisition is the parking lot just behind the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, which is north of Fifth Avenue and between Bigelow Boulevard and Lytton Avenue. UPMC owns the parking lot,
Trustees, pg. 1 or City approvals to begin building on it. Arthur Ramicone, Pitt’s senior vice chancellor, chief financial officer and interim executive vice chancellor for business and operations, said in a release the University conducted several studies prior to purchasing the lot and determined it was good for future use, but has not yet set any plans in motion. Pitt could develop any number of buildings on the site, Ramicone said. “Given its location, the property could potentially support a number of different uses including, among others, the creation of innovative space to support new collaborations among faculty, students and partners inside or outside the region,” Ramicone said in a statement. The University monitors local real estate markets for lots like the one it purchased Wednesday, Ramicone said. The committee does not need further approval from the Board of Trustees to approve the sale. According to Pitt spokesperson Ken Service, the Board of
Trustees has granted the Property and Facilities Committee the right to purchase property, even that in excess of $1 million. The committee will, though, report the sale to the Board’s Budget Committee so it can include the purchase in the University’s capital budget. The Board of Trustees will not use any money from the University’s operating budget to pay for the lot. Rather, the committee will buy the land with money from the University’s property acquisition fund, though Service did not say how much Pitt currently has in the fund. The fund is a part of Pitt’s capital budget and contains unrestricted money that Pitt received in donations. Ramicone said the University will undergo several planning stages and approvals processes, which it hasn’t started yet, before it builds on the lot. Pitt will work with the city and Oakland community to determine the best use of the lot, Ramicone said. “Opportunities such as this, to acquire property of this nature in Oakland,” Ramicone said, “are extremely scarce.”
The Pitt news wins keystone press awards Zoë Hannah
Assistant News Editor The Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association awarded The Pitt News top prizes and honorable mentions for seven stories and design pieces published in 2015 in six categories Wednesday. The PNA’s 2016 Student Keystone Press Awards recognized “high school and college journalism that provides relevance, integrity and initiative in serving readers,” in the state of Pennsylvania, according to its website. The Pitt News competed in the Division 1 bracket of the contest, which included four-year colleges and universities with enrollment of 10,000 or more. In addition to Pitt, judges awarded pieces from newspapers and media organizations at Penn State University, Temple University, Indiana University of Pennsylvania and West Chester University of Pennsylvania. To qualify for the awards, the schools had to
publish their entries between Jan. 1, 2015, and Dec. 31, 2015. Five current and former members of The Pitt News won two first place awards, two second place awards and three honorable mentions, each in separate categories. In the news category, Mark Pesto received an honorable mention for his investigative piece “Communication Breakdown: Finkelstein’s Fury,” which revealed why Pitt disinvited scholar Norman Finkelstein from speaking on campus. Pesto is a former staff writer for The Pitt News and graduated in December. In the feature story category, Pesto also received an honorable mention for his story “Don’t Forget the Answers: A Telefact Retrospective,” for his story about Pitt’s former question-andanswer hotline service.
Find the full story online at
pittnews.com
The Pitt News SuDoku 2/25/16 courtesy of dailysudoku.com
pittnews.com
February 25, 2016
2
The Pitt News Editor-in-Chief DANIELLE FOX
Managing Editor HARRISON KAMINSKY
editor@pittnews.com
manager@pittnews.com
News Editor DALE SHOEMAKER
Opinions Editor MATT MORET
newsdesk.tpn@gmail.com
tpnopinions@pittnews.com
Sports Editor DAN SOSTEK
Culture Editor JACK TRAINOR
tpnsports@gmail.com
aeeditors@gmail.com
Visual Editor KATE KOENIG
Layout Editor EMILY HOWER
pittnewsphoto@gmail.com
tpnlayout@gmail.com
Online Editor STEVEN ROOMBERG
Copy Chief MICHELLE REAGLE
tpnonline@gmail.com
tpncopydesk@gmail.com
ZoĂŤ Hannah | Assistant News Editor Lauren Rosenblatt | Assistant News Editor Marlo Safi | Assistant Opinions Editor Elizabeth Lepro | Assistant Sports Editor Jeff Ahearn | Assistant Visual Editor Danah Bialoruski | Assistant Layout Editor Sydney Harper | Multimedia Editor Amy Beaudine | Social Media Editor
Chris Puzia | Assistant Copy Chief Copy Staff Bridget Montgomery Anjuli Das Sierra Smith Sydney Mengel Sarah Choflet Kelsey Hunter
Matthew Maelli Kyleen Pickaring Casey Talay Corey Forman Alex Stryker Maria Castello
Editorial Policies Single copies of The Pitt News are free and available at newsstands around campus. Additional copies can be purchased with permission of the editor in chief for $.50 each. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the students, faculty or University administration. Opinions expressed in columns, cartoons and letters are not necessarily those of The Pitt News. Any letter in tended for publication must be addressed to the editor, be no more than 250 words and include the writer’s name, phone number and University affiliation, if any. Letters may be sent via e-mail to letters@pittnews.com. The Pitt News reserves the right to edit any and all letters. In the event of multiple replies to an issue, The Pitt News may print one letter that represents the majority of responses. Unsigned editorials are a majority opinion of the Editorial Board, listed to the left. The Pitt News is an independent, student-written and
student-managed newspaper for the Oakland campus of the University of Pittsburgh. It is pub lished Monday through Friday during the regular school year and Wednesdays during the summer. Complaints concerning coverage by The Pitt News, after first being brought to the editors, may be referred to the Community Relations Com mittee, Pitt News Advisory Board, c/o student media adviser, 435 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260. The editor in chief has the final authority on editorial matters and cannot be censored, according to state and federal law. The editor in chief is selected by the Pitt News Advisory Board, which includes University staff, fac ulty and students, as well as journalism professionals. The business and edito rial offices of The Pitt News are located at 434 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.
Business Manager MATT REILLY
advertising@pittnews.com
Sales Manager DAVE BARR
Inside Sales Manager KELSEY MCCONVILLE
Marketing Manager KRISTINE APRILE
University Account Executive ALEX KANNER
Marketing Assistant LARA PETORAK
Digital Manager STEPHEN ELLIS
Graphic Designers Jillian Miller Maya Puskaric
pittnews.com
Account Executives Dave Barrone Steve Bretz Rob Capone Sean Hennessy
Mathew Houck Calvin Reif Allison Soenksen
Inside Sales Executive Marissa Altemus Victoria Hetrick Arianna Taddei
February 25, 2016
3
Opinions
column
from the editorial board
To topple Trump, treat him as a contender, not a comedian Last summer, Donald Trump was a practical joke in a toupee. The real estate mogul’s chances seemed slim enough that in June, he was accused of hiring actors — at $50 a head — to cheer for him at his campaign announcement. Now it’s February 2016, and stumping the Trump has proved a tougher feat than originally thought. He is an impossible reality, a theatrical character — not a presidential candidate. But guess what? This is real. Tuesday, he won the Nevada caucus in a landslide victory, with 45.9 percent of the vote, and has been the primary leader in the polls. Trump has also garnered the support of GOP leadership, who say they will support Trump if he is the nominee, out of respect for the party and the system. Other big names in politics have also backed him, including Sarah Palin and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., who said two days ago he could “get behind Trump.” Very real people are pushing for the very real possibility that Trump is going to be elected. But the entirety of his campaign is hinged on shock, racism, sexism and other bigotries, working to craft his seemingly irrational campaign. As mad and illogical as a Trump presidency sounds, the polls portend a Trump nomination. We need to accept this reality and begin treating him like a potential president — so we can avoid that happening at all. That starts with the media repainting him not as a shock-value comedi-
pittnews.com
an, but as a contender. Opinions headlines from liberal print publications, such as The Washington Post, to conservative ones, such as National Review, have critiqued Trump to the point of exasperation. But, according to Pew Research Center, 65 percent of Americans get their news from cable networks — and this is where Trump has thrived. These outlets aren’t criticizing Trump like the writers at The Washington Post or National Review. They’re not even treating him like a presidential candidate. They’re portraying him as a spectacle and ratingsbooster — and viewers can’t pry their eyes off of him. On the eve of the Trump-less Iowa debate, he appeared on The O’Reilly Factor and made the show the mostwatched on television that night, giving O’Reilly a 16 percent spike in viewers, according to Nielsen estimates. Why wouldn’t networks keep inviting him back? Trump has metamorphosed into such an entertainer and one-man freak show that the Huffington Post decided in July to file all Trump related stories in its entertainment section. Upon criticism and realizing the counterproductive nature of its decision, the outlet reversed course on its categorization of Trump coverage. However, the damage had already been done. Last Tuesday, President Obama gave Trump a word of advice about what it’s like actually being commander in chief
— and, according to the president, it’s not a “talk show or reality show”. But everywhere Trump goes seems to turn into just that. The media can’t continue to capitalize on Trump’s each and every publicity stunt. Not only does this pose a logistical issue due to the innumerable scandals he has wallowed in and the incapability to follow each one, but continuing to paint him as a theatrical stooge is clearly only doing one thing — further rolling out his red carpet. Media outlets — across all mediums — must investigate and critique Trump. We’ve seen it with Hillary and her emails and the Benghazi scandal, and we’ve seen it with Ted Cruz and the false rumors his campaign allegedly spread about Ben Carson dropping out of the race. Now, we need to see it with Trump. He is no longer the candidate sitting on a pedestal with a dunce hat. We need to be having serious conversations about his qualifications as an electable candidate before creating memes likening him to Darth Vader or “Game of Thrones” characters. With the Texas debate today and Super Tuesday in five days, Trump is going to be making appearances in every publication and news channel. It’s up to these outlets to make sure it’s not just free airtime and advertising for the “Make America Great Again” touter. If Trump really means business, he’ll need to be treated like he does.
February 25, 2016
Admiring sky path to selfreflection Mariam Shalaby Columnist
Apparently, my expression is usually pretty vacant. “Your head is always in the clouds,” a friend playfully told me. I wouldn’t say “always,” but there is truth to that statement — literally. I find myself looking at the gloomy Pittsburgh sky quite often, even though it’s far from star filled. I guess my friend was confused. Why would I tilt my head up and stare at the sky, when I can look to the side for a conversation with a friend, or look down toward my phone. You’d be surprised. Even looking at the Pittsburgh sky can give you a dizzying feeling of awe. Regardless of where a person stands, they can develop their thoughts and increase self-awareness by taking time to themselves and admiring their surroundings. It’s actually more beneficial than filling that time with other tasks that may seem more productive at first glance. It helps a person cultivate their own sense of identity and their own opinions, without outside intrusion. Though a place like Sedona, Arizona, has a more traditionally beautiful night sky — filled horizon to horizon with stars — Pittsburgh’s sky offers a clean canvas for thought. Similarly, checking Facebook, texts and email seem like more valuable ways to spend time — but we’re just conditioned to think so. I’ve found that when I take time to myself without my electronics or other stimulating factors, I end up feeling more self-aware and less stressed — even if it’s only been a 10-minute walk from Chevron to Hillman. See Shalaby on page 5
4
Shalaby, pg. 4 The communities we live in are in constant motion. We see a productive person as someone who’s always completing tangible, concrete and visible tasks. In short, physical, instant feedback — like what we receive at the tap of a screen — makes us feel accomplished on a small scale. But the truth is, those taps and swipes and micro-communications with each other aren’t as great as they seem. I’ll admit it. Especially when I have a lot on my plate, I’m one of the students in the crowd walking with their nose buried in their phone screen. I race to finish replying to as many emails and texts as I can. I even try to squeeze in some scrolling through Facebook in the walk to my next class. Constant interaction and bite-sized stimulations govern our current social existences. We live in a world where information is continuously shared. But don’t get me wrong — I love it. The easy access I have to opinions from all over the world and from my own social circles is mindboggling. I like that those opinions are available to shape my own. But I also like to hear my own thoughts by themselves sometimes. When it’s just me, myself and I in my own head, I call it a thought bubble. Yes, kind of like in a comic strip. But don’t laugh — using a thought bubble is good for you, not crazy. I swear. So, what’s the difference between a thought bubble and any other sort of bubble? Aren’t people on their phones in bubbles? Well yes, they are often tuned out to what’s going on around them in physical space. And yes, a thought bubble does that too. But the difference lies in their content. The kind of bubble I’m talking about is a sanctuary. It’s safe from intrusions by outside opinions or thoughts. How does one get into this personal thought bubble? And why would looking at the sky be any better than looking at the pavement to open up that bubble? People have used the night sky as a vehicle for thought since long, long ago. Archeologists have found recordings of constellations all the way from Mesopotamia in 3,000 B.C. The classical Greek constellations and their stories are familiar to many. They’ve fasci-
pittnews.com
nated people and encouraged introspection for generations. The sky is not static. Clouds shift from shape to shape, and stars seem to rotate about us as the earth spins. But the scene moves slowly enough that the brain isn’t itching to see a changing stimulus. Information we glean from the sky is largely interpretative. Rather than expecting anything in particular to stimulate us, we just absorb the expanse around us. In other words, we experience awe. Why is this important? Awe is what lets a person fall into the thought bubble, kind of like the rabbit hole to Wonderland. According to a study published by the journal Cognition and Emotion, two themes are central to awe. The stimulus should be “vast,” and awe requires accommodation. It’s obvious that the sky is vast. But how do we prepare our minds to accommodate awe? Personally, concentrating on the thought of an omniscient God can leave me overwhelmed and small in comparison to the universe I live in. That dizzying feeling is beautiful and is a great gateway to awe, and my thoughts. According to this study, inspiration through awe is possible, probable and beneficial even for those without theistic faith. Spirituality and a natural tendency toward admiring the world is something inherently human. Looking at the sky to inspire awe is a brilliant way to spend time regardless of religious conviction. Looking at the sky, procuring and spending time in our personal mental space allows us to more easily develop our own opinions. It helps us take a rest from the constant influx of information, and also just feel good. We’ve been conditioned to feel productive when we check and re-check our screens for updates on the world around us. But admiring the sky — being in awe of it — gives us a chance to reflect on ourselves and the vastness of the Earth we live on. And that’s regardless of whether the sky is full of stars or not. So the next time you find yourself reaching for your phone — look up. You might learn something new about yourself. Mariam Shalaby primarily writes on social change and foreign culture for The Pitt News. Write to her at mas561@pitt.edu.
February 25, 2016
5
Culture
FINDING MEANING IN OAKLAND LIFE Annabell Hanflig Staff Writer
Forbes Digital Plaza is every bit as mysterious as it is flashy. The square’s meagerly lit screens, oddly placed Top 40 hits coming from nowhere and seemingly defunct, blank screens — despite opening last November — is a target for pointing fingers as a waste of money. The absurdity of the situation is golden material for @NihilistOakland, a Twitter account with more than 1,000 followers and a knack for poking fun at the neighborhood’s quirks: “Differences between u and the screens at Forbes Digital Plaza: they only appear broken most of the time. U, however, are actually broken.” With 62 retweets and 75 favorites, the Jan. 14, post depicts the tragic rhetoric that @NihilistOakland’s followers can’t seem to get enough of.
pittnews.com
While only a circle of close friends know his true identity, @NihilistOakland said in an email that he is a current senior computer science major at Pitt, having ditched a philosophy minor some time along the way. The mysterious tweeter said his darkly comical observations wouldn’t have the same effect if read with his personal account’s voice, which makes his tweets “edgier.” “Anonymity is not something I am trying to hide behind, but I do think associating my identity with the account publicly, on Twitter, would only serve as a distraction from the content,” he said. In a series of attacks against the plaza, @NihilistOakland has tweeted bleak images like, “In the distance, a vagrant urinates under the harsh glare of an ostensibly malfunctioning Forbes Digital Plaza sign.” Under the telling username, the account owner sporadically tweets out 140 characters of
cynical humor at Oakland’s expense. Each dark post garners anywhere from 10 to 61 retweets — and the account, born last August, isn’t even a year old. “The goal of the account is to capture Oakland through a nihilist lens,” he said. “In other words, take a proverbial Snapchat of Oakland with the black and white filter.” Rite Aid, Antoon’s Pizza and Hillman Library have all fallen prey to @NihilistOakland’s unforgiving eyes. Nothing you’d see during a typical day on campus is safe from the observant nihilist — not even his fellow students’ mental health. A 2008 study by the Associated Press and mtvU concluded that “eight in 10 college students say they have sometimes or frequently experienced stress in their daily lives over the past three months.” With so many students stressed out and in need of comfort, @NihilistOakland provides
February 25, 2016
followers with a humorous outlook on their own dilemmas by turning them into comical nuances. Riley Weber, a sophomore biology major and one of @NihilistOakland’s followers, relates to the tweets for their ability to make personal problems appeal to the masses. “I think [the tweets] capture the sense of existential anxiety that a lot of college students are going through,” he said. “It makes me feel like my life isn’t so much of a meaningless pit.” Comparing students’ consistent feelings of hopelessness and despair to any vulnerable Pitt commodity is practically a @NihilistOakland trademark. The account’s quick rise in popularity can also be attributed to how well the content resonates with students. Sophomore psychology and communication major Ana Del Prete said she follows @ NihilistOakland for its party culture parodies. See Nihilist on page 7
6
Nihilist, pg. 6 “@NihilistOakland has a tongue-in-cheek attitude toward college life and the filthy, but fun things we all do,” she said. A tweet from August paints a picture of firstyear students straggling through the streets of South Oakland looking for a place to let loose: “Our search for fulfillment is not unlike a [firstyear’s] search for parties. Wander aimlessly, throw $5 and ultimately be disappointed.” The now-notorious Twitter account actually began as a social experiment, but not one @NihilistOakland could carry out on his own profile. “I started thinking of some dark, Oaklandthemed tweets ... however, I didn’t want to send my friends and followers the wrong message by tweeting them from my personal account,” @NihilistOakland said in an email. It occurred to him that an anonymous Twitter account emitting a consistent stream of dark, absurd material might produce interesting results from his fellow students. From that moment on, in the beginning of this year’s fall semester, @ NihilistOakland became a venture worth noting. What began as a test is now a commodity that has gained the attention of other popular Twitter accounts on campus. @NihilistOakland
lists @CommonPittGirl as another account that has boosted his own fanbase. CPG, a similarly anonymous Twitter handle that a Pitt female student runs, has just under 2,000 followers and lists itself as an @NihilistOakland fan. CPG shares the same love of poking fun at collegiate life, but at the expense of female Pitt students in addition to Oakland jabs. “Eventually, some of the larger Pitt-related accounts like @CommonPittGirl and @Souf_Oaklin threw me a bit of love, which gave the account a nice boost,” @NihilistOakland said. “It grew organically from there.” CPG followed @NihilistOakland soon after it began for its thought-provoking comedy and distinct personality. “I initially followed [@NihilistOakland] because their style isn’t something you see on Twitter very often, especially when it comes to Pitt parody accounts,” CPG said in an email. “It’s a very refreshing yet dark sense of humor that I think requires a lot of creativity.” Like @NihilistOakland, CPG chooses to remain anonymous for the purpose of staying in character. “[Followers] may read [my tweets] as my own words as opposed to the anonymous voice of Common Pitt Girl,” she said. “There’s a mys-
terious component to having a parody account that makes it way more fun for both sides.” The student behind @NihilistOakland often pulls from sources other than his own mind for inspiration. When the ideas for derisive tweets don’t flow, the anonymous creator looks to outside sources like email submissions from his email — nihilist. oakland@gmail.com — and from friends. The owner writes most of the tweets, but cites “verbatim submissions or brilliant suggestions” as the sources behind some of the account’s most popular 140-character posts. As @NihilistOakland’s time as a college student comes to a close, he asks only one favor of the student body — a person to whom he can pass the torch. All aspiring Oakland nihilists have to do is direct message or email @NihilistOakland and plead their case. Until graduation in May, however, the Oakland nihilist will continue to expose Pitt’s inner turmoil the way only he can. “I never anticipated the account getting over 1,000 followers, and I think that is a testament to the fact that people can relate to a lot of the material,” @NihilistOakland said. “Sure, there are plenty of exaggerations, but I think a lot of the tweets ring true to people on some level.”
No backup for “triple 9” Tarun Statish Staff Writer
What happens when you have to kill the only person who has your back? This might be the only intriguing question director John Hillcoat’s “Triple 9” asks as the latest cops-and-robbers flick, but with a slight twist that ends up pitting a police officer against his partner. When executed well — like in Ben Affleck’s “The Town”— it’s an entertaining template, but Hillcoat and writer Matt Cook fail to create compelling characters or a fresh story. Despite strong performances from Casey Affleck and Anthony Mackie, these characters resemble archetypes more than people. The film begins by introducing a swift and organized group of criminals robbing a bank in order to appease the
pittnews.com
Atlanta-based Russian mob blackmailing them. Some of the members are ex-military, while others, like Marcus Belmont (Anthony Mackie) and Jorge Rodriguez (Clifton Collins Jr.), are dirty cops. To pull off a separate heist on a government building, the group cooks up a plan to stage a “nine-nine-nine” — meaning offing a police officer to create a large enough diversion to distract the police from the robbery. Hours after the bank robbery, Belmont meets his new partner, rookie Chris Allen (Casey Affleck). The next day, the criminal group makes Allen the target of the “triple nine,” with Belmont the intended trap setter. It’s a good premise, but the star-filled cast is wasted — the most lamentable being Kate Winslet. Despite an impressive film career, Winslet’s performance
begs to be forgotten. All of her scenes interacting with Atwood (Chiwetel Ejiofor) drag, failing to intrigue. It’s shocking, considering both actors’ immense talents, but the scenes, in addition to being dull, are just cartoonish criminal portrayals of undeveloped characters. Winslet is menacing and ruthless as Vlaslov, but is a one-note character, never getting a chance to show anything but shallow grit. Ejiofor attempts to bring the same redemptive complexity to Atwood’s criminal character as he does in most roles. However his paternal cravings to be near his toddler son aren’t enough to overcome a weak script, handcuffing his character despite Ejiofor’s best efforts.
Find the full story online at
pittnews.com
February 25, 2016
7
pittnews.com
February 25, 2016
8
pittnews.com
February 25, 2016
9
Sports
Michael Young floats a layup over Louisville’s Matz Stockman. Emily Klenk STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Men’s Hoops, pg. 1 didn’t get to the line when we needed to, we didn’t execute and we didn’t get stops.” After that point, the Cardinals outscored the Panthers 27-12 to come back and win. Damion Lee, Louisville’s leading scorer at 16.8 points per game, heated up on offense after a quiet first half, scoring six points and cutting Pitt’s lead back to five with a 3-pointer. Still, Pitt had opportunities late. It trailed by just three points with under two minutes left, but Jamel Artis and James Robinson missed back-to-back shots, and Louisville hit its free throws to seal the victory. “We’ve got to execute better down the stretch,” Dixon said. “We’ve got to guard one-on-one at the end, because that’s really where they beat us.” Still, Pitt started the game hot, seemingly using the energy from the blue and gold shirt-clad Petersen Events Center crowd. Pitt scored on each of its first four possessions. Robin-
son pushed the pace on a missed Louisville shot and hit Artis for a transition three to go up 9-2. Louisville responded with a 6-0 run, with Jaylen Johnson working against Sheldon Jeter in the post. Jeter was the team’s first substitution, but he picked up two quick fouls, forcing Dixon to cut his first-half minutes. Luther ended a 12-1 Cards run by hitting a three to bring Pitt back within one. A couple possessions later, Luther pump faked at the top of the key and drove, drawing a foul and hitting the basket. “Ryan probably had the best performance of anybody out there,” Dixon said. “He played well and gave us pretty good defense.” Robinson broke a 3:33 scoreless stretch for both teams when he drove to the hoop and drew a foul, nailing both free throws. Pitt maintained a narrow lead most of the half, with Robinson’s shots extending it to 29-26. Two last-minute baskets gave Louisville a 33-29 halftime advantage. Pitt shot 13 more free throws than the visitors, but turned the
ball over nine times compared to Louisville’s four. But Pitt regained the lead in the first two minutes of the second half with a Rafael Maia dunk, fastbreak Robinson layup and Artis three. Luther drove the home crowd to its feet and chanting his name, hitting an open three and drawing a foul on back-to-back possessions. His efforts, plus a Chris Jones jumper, helped Pitt open up a 48-40 lead on a 9-0 run. The Cardinals responded with a quick 8-0 run of their own, bookended by Lee and David Levitch threes. After that point, Pitt could not keep up with the surging Louisville offense. Louisville coach Rick Pitino said he was especially proud of his team, considering injuries and foul trouble forced him to reach deeper into his bench than usual. “I don’t think I’ve ever been as proud of a basketball team as I am of this one. I feel like a proud father,” Pitino said. “We have three frontcourt players out, and we’re playing two walk-ons in the first See Men’s Hoops on page 12
unsung heroes levitch, luther shine in pitt-louisville Dan Sostek Sports Editor
In a game featuring star players like Damion Lee, Chinanu Onuaku, Jamel Artis and Michael Young, one would expect the usual suspects to dominate. But in this season’s second meeting between Pitt and Louisville Wednesday, it was a pair of unsung players that came up big for their respective teams.
pittnews.com
In the end, it was Louisville junior guard David Levitch’s performance that pushed his Cardinals over Pitt, despite a valiant effort by reserve forward Ryan Luther. Levitch was a walk-on up until this year, when Louisville head coach Rick Pitino awarded him a full scholarship, citing that he felt he would “help Louisville in tough situations.” That’s precisely what he did on Wednesday night. Due to the team being “under-
manned,” according to Pitino, they needed to rely on the small guard. “David Levitch, he gave us an incredible lift,” Pitino said. “The passing was beautiful.” He played a career-high 16 minutes, and while he finished with only eight points, it was his 3-pointer with 2:34 remaining that gave Louisville its final lead. “I’ll use Bill Raftery’s terms,” Pitino said. “[Levitch] has got the biggest onions of all time. It doesn’t even faze him that this is a
February 25, 2016
big game, and he does it every time I put him in. Tremendous moxie by the young man.” Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon said the guard, who entered the night averaging 6.5 minutes per contest, was on his radar. He recalled that Levitch had hurt Pitt from beyond-the-arc before. “He’s been playing a little bit,” Dixon said. “Obviously, he made shots. Last game See Sidebar on page 11
10
pittnews.com
See Sidebar on page 12
Panthers of the Week James Robinson
Robinson was key last week for the Panthers, playing a pivotal role in picking up two important victories against Wake Forest and Syracuse. Robinson fell an assist short of a tripledouble against the Demon Deacons, tallying 22 points, 11 rebounds and nine assists, while finishing with 13 points and five assists on the road against Syracuse. Wednesday night against Louisville, he racked up 12 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals, all without turning the ball over.Robinson and Pitt return to the Pete on Saturday, when they take on Duke at 2 p.m. for Senior Day.
February 25, 2016
Stasha Carey
Forward|Women’sBasketball
we saw him, he came in and he hit a three. Obviously he was big.” Levitch deflected credit after the game, focusing on the team. “I am just glad I could help my team out,” Levitch said. “People found me ... We just had to stick together.” On Pitt’s side, Luther provided a surge off the bench after Sheldon Jeter, who came in to replace Rafael Maia early in the game, picked up two quick fouls. Dixon said that the Hampton, Pennsylvania, graduate was Pitt’s top player in the loss. “Ryan did a great job for us,” Dixon said. “I thought he had the best performance of anybody out there, and he gave us pretty good defense.” The first time Luther entered, it was to little fanfare, just another substitute taking the court. But after nailing a three and finishing a 3-point play, the former two-star recruit elicited chants of “LUUU” from a raucous Oakland Zoo crowd. Like Levitch, Luther also set a career high
for playing time, while also besting his top marks for points, 17, and free throws made, three, while tying his highmark in field goals made. The sophomore said he’s been comfortable all season, and that his offensive outburst was more related to Louisville’s frontcourt not pressuring him. “I’m pretty much always comfortable on offense,” Luther said. “The bigs just didn’t come out and guard me, so I had open shots.” He made big shots for the Panthers, particularly during a run in which he scored six straight points for Pitt, propelling his team from a 40-39 deficit to a 46-40 lead, capping the run off with a pair of free throws after a tip-in and a 3-pointer. That streak caused the Petersen Events Center crowd to substitute the more low-key “LUUU” incantations for blistering “RY-AN LU-THER” cadences. Even with the loss, Dixon did note that this game was another example of Luther’s development this season, noting that the team was confident enough in him to play
Gaurd | Men’s Basketball
Sidebar, pg. 10
Carey was instrumental in two games for Pitt last week, tallying double-digit rebounds in both games. In its biggest win of the season, a road victory at North Carolina, Carey tallied an impressive 14 points, 15 rebounds, four steals and two assists, while notching nine points, 10 rebounds, four assists, three blocks and a steal against No. 23 Syracuse. Carey and the Panthers are back in action on Thursday, facing Georgia Tech.
11
Men’s Hoops, pg. 10 half, and they didn’t lose anything.” For Dixon, the problems were simple: His team did not execute in areas it usually would call strengths. “We’re a good free throw shooting team, we didn’t shoot well from the line. We’re a good 3-point shooting team, we don’t shoot well from three,” Dixon said. The Panthers shot 67 percent from the stripe and 22 percent from deep. Pitt has now lost all six games it’s played
against ranked opponents, with five of those teams sitting in the top 12 in the country. The Panthers will get another chance, though, when they next face No. 15 Duke at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Petersen Events Center. Dixon said the key to preparing for the next game is moving on from the emotions of Wednesday’s loss. “If you’re as good as we think we are, you need to win one of these games,” Dixon said. “I was telling them in the locker room, ‘This is how you respond from a loss.’”
Sidebar, pg. 11 him at the five to match up with Louisville’s Chinanu Onuaku. “[Luther] is getting better and better,” Dixon said. “He’s finding ways. He’s scoring around the basket and getting tip-ins. He’s playing good defense, so he’s earning his minutes out there.” Luther didn’t think that individually, and brushed off his performance as a catalyst for a hot streak. “I’ve been comfortable pretty much all season,” Luther said. “So I didn’t really need this game to feel more confident.” While Pitino wasn’t necessarily prepared for Luther’s big night, he said that sometimes players, like Levitch, simply show up in important moments. “I was a little surprised [by Luther’s performance],” Pitino said. “But like David Levitch he stepped up. It’s not only the talent, but people stepping up in crucial times with the game on the line, and that’s what’s always impressive.”
pittnews.com
February 25, 2016
12
pittnews.com
February 25, 2016
13
I Rentals & Sublet N D E X -NORTH OAKLAND -SOUTH OAKLAND -SHADYSIDE -SQUIRREL HILL -SOUTHSIDE -NORTHSIDE -BLOOMFIELD -ROOMMATES -OTHER
Available 8/1, 3 BR/1 Bath, less than 1 mile to campus, updated, Dishwasher and AC, starting at $1330+, 412.441.1211
Available 8/1, 4 br/2bath, Less than 1 mile to campus, Split Level, Updated, Central A/C, $2520+, 412.441.1211
** 5 Bedroom/2 full bath; HUGE HOMEduplex style, three stories. 2 living rooms, 2 kitchens, 2 dining rooms, LAUNDRY and a huge yard to enjoy! Huge Bedrooms! Located on Dawson Street. PITT Shuttle stops directly in front of house, only 15 minute level walk to PITT/CMU. $2,795+. Available 8/1/2016. NO PETS. Call Jason at 412-922-2141. Pictures- Info: tinyurl.com/pitthome
pittnews.com
Employment
-CHILDCARE -FOOD SERVICES -UNIVERSITY -INTERNSHIPS -RESEARCH STUDIES -VOLUNTEERING -OTHER
Classifieds
For Sale
-AUTO -BIKES -BOOKS -MERCHANDISE -FURNITURE -REAL ESTATE -TICKETS
**Large efficiences, 1 & 2 bedroom apartments available for August 2016. Clean, walking distance to campus. Great location. $575-$630$900-$1100. Utilities included. No pets/ smoking or parties. 412-882-7568. *1 BEDROOM REMODELED FURNISHED APARTMENTS. Beautiful, clean, large, and spacious. Fullyequipped kitchen and bathroom. Wallto-wall carpeting. $750. Owner pays heat. Available Aug. 2016. Call 412-247-1900, 412-731-4313. +++5 bedroom, 2 full baths, huge house, nicely updated, shuttle across street, washer/dryer, $2795+, August 1, photos www.tinyurl.com/pittnewsad1 coolapartments@gmail.com 724-935-2663
Services
-EDUCATIONAL -TRAVEL -HEALTH -PARKING -INSURANCE
1,2,3,5,6, & 8 bedroom houses. August & May 2016. Bouquet, Atwood, Meyran. Please call 412-287-5712.
2-3 bedroom South Oakland apartments for rent. For more information or to schedule a viewing, please call 412-849-8694. 2-3-4-5 BR units available August: most have laundry, dishwasher, carpeting; newly renovated 4BR house features hardwood and tile flooring, sunroom, deck, off-street parking. Rents start at $950+ utilities; call 412-559-3079. 2529 Allequippa Street Apartment Available For Rent By Trees Hall beginning August 1st--$1200 2 Bedrooms w/ Central air + BHK--Please call 412-721-8888 if interested.
Announcements -ADOPTION -EVENTS -LOST AND FOUND -STUDENT GROUPS -WANTED -OTHER
311 1/2 Semple St. 2BR Unfurnished Apartment. For fall occupancy. Kitchen, bath, living room, basement, front porch, back patio. 2 blocks from Forbes Ave. Dishwasher, disposal. New gas range. New bathroom. Ceramic floor. New vanity and fixtures. Must see. $1200/month+utilities. Call 412-681-3636. PM 412-389-3636.
3444 WARD ST. Studio, 1-2-3 BR apartments available Aug. 1, 2016. Free parking, free heating. 320 S. BOUQUET 2BR, great location, move in May 1, 2016. Call 412-361-2695. No evening calls please. 4 BR house for rent. $1800/month. Available August 1. 412-337-9916.
R INSERTIONS 1X 2X 3X 4X 5X 6X ADDITIONAL A 1-15 WORDS $6.30 $11.90 $17.30 $22.00 $27.00 $30.20 $5.00 T 16-30 WORDS $7.50 $14.20 $20.00 $25.00 $29.10 $32.30 $5.40 E S DEADLINE: TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR BY 3 PM | EMAIL: ADVERTISING@PITTNEWS.COM | PHONE: 412.648.7978 (EACH ADDITIONAL WORD: $0.10)
Available 8/1, 1 BR/1 Bath, 5 min. walk to Cathedral, A/C, hardwood floors, newly renovated, starting at $995+, 412.441.1211 Completely updated 2BR apartment within walking distance to Pitt for $1850 per month. Apartment has A/C, stainless steel appliances, washer/dryer in unit, spacious living room & bedrooms, heated bathroom floor, hardwood floors and more! Call 412.682.7622 or email sarah@robbrealestate.com for more info on this amazing apartment for FALL 2016. Last ones remaining! 1 and 6 BR houses and apartments for rent. Right on Pitt shuttle line. $395 and $515/person. Available August 1, 2016. TMK Properties. Deal directly with the owner. Call Tim 412-491-1330.
February 25, 2016
NIAGARA ST. LARGE 5BR, 2BA APARTMENT. Updated kitchen, dishwasher, laundry, A/C. Across street from bus stop. Available August 2016. Reasonable. 412-445-6117 Spacious 2BR apartments on Dawson St., single or double occupancy. Partially renovated & improved. August 25 availability. Very affordable rent. Limited parking spaces also available. Call 412-692-1770 to see apartment & parking spaces. Spacious 4BR apartment within walking distance to Pitt for $2800 per month. Apartment has central A/C, two full baths, eat-in kitchen, spacious living room & bedrooms. Call 412.682.7622 or email sarah@robbrealestate.com for more info on this amazing apartment for FALL 2016.
Updated 1BR apartment within walking distance to Pitt for $775 per month. Apartment has A/C, plenty of storage, spacious living room, eat-in kitchen, lots of character and more! Call 412.682.7622 or email sarah@robbrealestate.com for more info on this amazing apartment for FALL 2016. M.J. Kelly Realty Studio, 1, 2, 3, & 4 Bedroom Apartments, Duplexes, Houses. $750-$2400. mjkellyrealty@gmail.com. 412-271-5550, mjkellyrealty.com Studio and 1 Bedrooms. 216 Coltart. Heat included. Parking. Available Aug. 2016. Greve RealEstate. 412-261-4620.
3303 Niagara Street 3 Bedroom House Available for Rent for $1400--BHK--no utilities included-Please call 412-721-8888 if interested.
****************** Large 6 bedroom house for rent. Fall occupancy. Atwood Street. Close to campus. Please call Gary at 412-807-8058 **AUGUST 2016: Furnished Studio, 1-2-3-4 Bedroom Apts. No pets. Non-smokers preferred. 412-621-0457 *3 BEDROOM, REMODELED HOUSE -FURNISHED* Beautiful, large, clean and spacious. New fully equipped kitchen. Wall-towall carpeting. Washer/Dryer included. Whole house air-conditioning. Garage Available. $1600+utilities. Aug. 1. Call 412-247-1900, 412-731-4313. 264 Robinson St. 6 bedroom, 3 bath, $2800+utilities. Available August 1st. 412-884-8891.
14
7 BR house AVAILABLE AUG. 1, 2016. NO PETS. One year lease. Meyran Ave. 5 minute walk to University of Pittsburgh. 412-983-5222. ADDITIONAL PARKING SPACE AVAILABLE FOR RENT. 4 BR townhouses, Semple St., available May 1st & August 1st, 2016. Equipped kitchen, full basement. 412-343-4289. Call after 5:00 pm. High quality, newly renovated one, two and three bedroom apartments in Shadyside and surrounding areas. Colebrook Management 412-441-2696 www.colebrook.net 3 & 5 bedroom. May 2016. Sarah St. Large bedroom, new kitchen, air conditioning, washer & dryer, dishwasher, large deck. 412-287-5712. Before signing a lease, be aware that no more than 3 unrelated people can share a single unit. Check property's compliance with codes. Call City's Permits, Licensing & Inspections. 412-255-2175.
pittnews.com
Real estate advertising in The Pitt News is subject to the Fair Housing Act. The Pitt News will not knowingly accept advertising for real estate which violates the law. To complain of discrimination, call HUD at 1-800-6699777 or email fheo_webmanager@hud.gov. For the hearing impaired, please call TTY 1-800-927-9275. Studios, 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom apartments available August 2016 & sooner. Oakland, Shadyside, Friendship, Squirrel Hill, Highland Park, Point Breeze. Photos & current availability online, check out www.forbesmanagement.net, or call 412.441.1211
SMOKERS NEEDED! Researchers at UPMC are looking to enroll healthy adult cigarette smokers ages 18-65. This research is examining the influence of brief uses of FDA-approved nicotine patch or nicotine nasal spray on mood and behavior. The study involves a brief physical exam and five sessions lasting two hours each. Eligible participants who complete all sessions will receive up to $250, or $20 per hour. This is NOT a treatment study. For more information, call 412-2465396 or visit www.SmokingStudies.pitt.edu
A private, prestigious country club in the East Suburbs of Pittsburgh is currently searching for candidates to fill the following positions:Ala Carte Wait Staff,Banquet Wait Staff,Bartenders. The proper candidates are energetic, trustworthy, and able to adapt in any situation. Although no prior experience is required, it is certainly a positive. You must have reliable transportation. Along with competitive wages, the club also provides scholarship opportunities, free meals, uniforms, parking and flexible scheduling to all employees. All interested persons should email their resume to nleitzel@longuevue.org. OFFICE INTERN Shadyside Management Company seeks person w/ min 3 yrs. college, for upcoming spring semester, to interview & process rental applications, do internet postings & help staff in action-central office. Part time or full time OK starting now; full time in summer. $12/hour. Perfect job for graduating seniors set to enter grad school, returning grad students, and first-year law students! Mozart Management 412.682.7003. thane@mozartrents.com
The Pitt news crossword 2/25/16
3104 Niagara Street 6 Bedroom House Available for Rent for $2500--BHK--no utilities but includes central air--Please call 412-721-8888 if interested.
February 25, 2016
15
pittnews.com
February 25, 2016
16