2-5-20

The Pitt News

T h e i n d e p e n d e n t s t ude nt ne w spap e r of t he U niversity of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | February 5, 2020 ­| Volume110 | Issue 214

SGB PLANS FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH

AN ODE TO THE ODE

Anushay Chaudhry Staff Writer

state officials.

Zwick said the tuition increases in the budget documents are “placeholders” based on this year’s tuition hikes.

When asked to clarify whether the placeholders meant that tuition would eventually go up by a currently unspecified amount, Zwick said it is too early in the budget process to know what the University administration would recommend to the Board of Trustees.

The 14 schools comprising the stateowned Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education, which does not include Pitt, stand to gain from Wolf ’s proposed budget through the new $204 million Nellie Bly Tuition Program. The

Student Government Board began their meeting Tuesday night with an announcement from President Zechariah Brown about events SGB is working to host during Black History Month.

“Myself, board member Cedric Humphrey, as well as representatives from Pitt Dining, Black Action Society, African Students Organization and more organizations are working to create dining events centered around this month,” Brown said during the opening.

Both Brown and Humphrey are working on the specific details of the event, but hope to have more information to share soon, he said.

Last week, Brown met with Student Organization Resource Center coordinator Lynne Miller to discuss SGB’s proposed solutions to new naming guidelines, but declined to elaborate on the content of the meeting.

SORC’s registration guidelines prohibit the names of independent student organizations from including University trademarks or wordmarks like “Pitt” and “Panther,” instead encouraging clubs to use phrases such as “at Pitt” or “at the University of Pittsburgh.”

The board released three possible solutions to the problem at its Nov. 5 meeting, with its preferred solution allowing clubs the use of University trademarks or wordmarks as long as sponsorship is not implied or stated.

As of now, SGB’s proposals have been brought directly to Dean of Students Kenyon

See Budget on page 3

See SGB on page 3

Poet Idris Goodwin (left) reads from his book “Can I Kick It?”alongside poet Kevin Coval during a poetry workshop in the William Pitt Union on Tuesday. Elise Lavallee contributing editor

WOLF ANNOUNCES PROPOSED ACADEMIC BUDGET Jon Moss

News Editor Pitt could receive the same amount of money as it did during fiscal year 2020, despite asking for a 5.5% increase in state funding for fiscal year 2021.

Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf ’s $36.1 billion budget, released Tuesday, includes flat funding for the commonwealth’s four state-related universities. The University received a 2% increase, or around $3.5 million, in funding last year after initially requesting a 6.5% increase, or $9.1 million.

Pitt spokesperson Kevin Zwick said the University appreciates its state support and looks forward to further discussions about the budget in the coming

months.

“Gov. Wolf ’s proposed spending plan is just one of many steps in determining the state’s budget,” Zwick said. “We look forward to engaging with the General Assembly as well as the Governor’s Office as this process evolves.”

Even with the requested 5.5% increase in state funding, students could still see a tuition hike next year.

The University’s budget request includes tuition spikes next year of 3% for in-state students and 5% for out-ofstate students, as well as fee increases of 8 to 10% for graduate students. These increases would together raise an additional $31.1 million, according to budget documents submitted last October to

News

Special Ed researcher speaks at Alumni Breakfast

Natalie Frank Staff Writer

Sarah DeMaria was starting life as a high school social studies teacher in Houston with her husband when she was surprised by an email from Pitt, her alma mater, offering her the Urban Special Education Scholars Grant.

“I immediately replied, ‘Sorry, I have a house in Houston with my husband,’” she said. “‘I don’t know that there’s anyway I could do this.’”

The grant would allow her to study special education in urban areas to help improve the education system for those with special needs. After initially turning it down, the person who would become her current Ph.D. adviser helped her to realize she had to seize the opportunity in front of her, so she headed back to Pitt.

DeMaria was the special guest at the Honors College’s bi-weekly Alumni Breakfast series. The event — which about a dozen people attended — took place on Tuesday morning in the Cathedral of Learning.

DeMaria is currently in the second year of study for her Ph.D. in Special Education and Urban Education. This was not her first time at Pitt — she completed both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University.

She graduated from the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences in 2013 with a double major in history and political science and later completed her master’s of education in 2015 with a focus on grade 7-12 special education and social studies.

DeMaria currently studies issues involving inclusion of students with disabilities in Advanced Placement classes, special education teacher retention and different kinds of interventions for students with disabilities.

Though she is the most familiar with working with middle and high school students, she said she is interested in opportunities to conduct research involving other age groups.

“I tend to focus on older students,” she said. “But there’s so many opportunities for even kids that are before the preschool age.”

Clare Stich, manager of constituent re-

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Pitt alum Sarah DeMaria speaks about special education teacher retention at Tuesday morning’s “Breakfast with Disability Researcher Sarah DeMaria” in the Honors College. Romita Das staff photographer lations and the coordinator for this event, focus is on writing thesis statements of esfacilitated the discussion and had DeMaria says, which she feels is a very helpful and imspeak about the research she is conducting portant skill for children to learn.

“My idea behind that is if you can write a in Pittsburgh.

Amongst her five colleagues in this really good thesis sentence, that should give Ph.D. program, DeMaria is participating in you a good framework for the rest of your two studies that she hopes will bring about essay,” she said.

She also highlighted the importance of a positive change to the special education community. Her first study outlines the idea writing intervention in the entire education that general education and special education system across the country.

“Every district has a need for writing inteachers should work together in the same classroom and teach the same kids, regard- tervention,” she said. “Writing is not a very less of disabilities — a process called “co- easy skill for anybody, so there’s always a need for that kind of thing.” teaching.”

With both studies, DeMaria is structur“The idea is that it’s supposed to help inclusion,” she said. “If you are a child in spe- ing it to focus on one of two categories of cial education, you should not be spending disabilities seen in students, including high most of your day in a special education class incidence and low incidence.

DeMaria explained that high-incidence or a separate school.”

She said she hopes this new development students have more commonly seen disof teaching would bring about social and abilities than low-incidence students. Her academic benefits for both students with and research focuses on these students.

“There are a higher number of students without disabilities.

The second study she is participating in with, say, learning disabilities than, say, stufocuses on helping better the writing educa- dents with significant intellectual disabilition in school districts, hoping to implement ties,” she said.

After teaching in school districts in Pittsa writing intervention for students with disabilities. Within this intervention, her main burgh, Houston and Baton Rouge, Louisiana,

February 5, 2020

DeMaria was able to get an understanding of different school climates that have influenced her research.

“Every school has its own different feel to it,” she said.

Among the student attendees at the discussion was Bethany Krupicka, a junior urban studies major, who asked questions regarding how home and social situations influence DeMaria’s research, how that is controlled throughout the project and how disabilities affect situations like this.

In response, DeMaria talked about the social nature of education and how that limits how much control she has over her research.

“Education is a social science, not a hard science,” she said. “So you can’t necessarily control everything like in a perfect laboratory setting.”

DeMaria highlighted how changes can be made to keep the research as controlled as possible, like implementing an outside observer to assist in making sure everything done in the project — such as grading techniques — remains static throughout the entire time.

After the event, Krupicka said she enjoyed the discussion with DeMaria and was fascinated by her research and studies.

“I really enjoyed Sarah’s talk this morning, especially as she shared how she got from studying history and poli sci in undergrad to pursuing a Ph.D. in urban & special education,” she said. “Hearing people’s unconventional paths to where they presently are is super interesting and encouraging for me.”

DeMaria said she is excited about her further research and emphasized how, even if the research doesn’t offer definitive solutions, the endgame of her research can still provide knowledge into what works and doesn’t work in the educational system.

“A cool part of research is it’s great to know what doesn’t work,” she said. “Moving forward, there’s knowledge about what you do in the future to try something new.”

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SGB, pg. 1 Bonner for review, Brown said.

Following Brown’s opening remarks, SGB voted on bill B.B.64, Updating Allocations Budget Submissions Procedures. The now-passed bill allows SGB to enact revisions to the governing code that will allow the Allocations Committee greater flexibility in examining budget submissions more efficiently.

In a second vote, SGB passed resolution B.R.2020.07, Statement of Support for Sami’s Law. The bill is co-sponsored by the Pennsylvania Association of State-Related Students. The resolution was introduced after the passing of New Jersey resident Samantha Josephson, a student at the University of South Carolina, who was kidnapped and murdered by a man who claimed to be her Uber driver.

The legislation aims to require rideshare drivers to have both front and rear license plates and a scannable code on the windows for riders to verify that they are entering the correct vehicle, among other instruments meant to protect riders.

“The University of Pittsburgh Student Government Board, on behalf of the over 100,000 students at the Pennsylvania staterelated institutions represented by the Pennsylvania Association of State-Related Students (PASS), urges Congress to pass [Sami’s Law],” the document reads.

During board reports, Humphrey informed students that registration for Pitt Day in Harrisburg is open. The event will take place on March 17 and more information on registration will be available on the community and governmental relations website.

“It’s a great chance for students to network and advocate to legislators on how we

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can increase higher education funding for the university,” Humphrey said.

Community and governmental relations chair Tyler Viljaste announced that his committee will host an Immigrant and Student Resources panel on Feb. 11 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in William Pitt Union Dining Room A. “It’s going to feature a lot of University departments like the Office of International Studies, Pitt police and some representatives from different cultural organizations who are going to talk about different issues in the immigrant community,” Viljaste said.

Diversity and Inclusion Chair Ravi Gandhi reminded students about the Diversity and Inclusion mixer event taking place Feb. 5 from 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the WPU Assembly Room. Gandhi mentioned that there will be grant money offered by Student Affairs to organizations planning on-campus events to promote diversity and inclusion. The event is open to student leaders who are managing a diversity and inclusion-related organization.

Elections chair Nick Bibby notified students about the upcoming Meet the Candidates event which will be held tonight from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the WPU Ballroom, hosted

by Andew Dow from Pitt Tonight. Candidates running for board and committee positions will have the opportunity to discuss and expand on their platform and policy initiatives.

Additionally, Bibby discussed the presidential debate taking place on Feb. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. in Nordy’s Place. Moderators will include Janine Faust from The Pitt News and Savannah Sowell from the Pitt Political Science Student Association.

“Each slate will have the chance to introduce themselves and talk about their platforms and then the presidential candidates will sit down for a formal debate,” Bibby said.

Budget, pg. 1 program will provide need-based assistance to PASSHE students if they agree to stay in-state for the same number of years for which they receive tuition assistance. The program is paid for through the Pennsylvania Race Horse Development Trust Fund, which collects slot machine taxes to benefit the state horse-racing industry.

Next year’s possible tuition hike at Pitt would follow raises of 2.75% for most in-state students and 5% for most out-of-state students enacted for the current academic year. In both the Swanson School of Engineering and the School of Computing and Information, in-state students faced a 4.75% increase, while out-of-state students faced a 7% increase.

Pitt Chief Financial Officer Hari Sastry said in August that a larger tuition increase was necessary for SSOE and SCI this academic year due to a higher cost of providing education in those schools.

February 5, 2020

Chancellor Patrick Gallagher spoke about Pitt’s changing funding sources at the September 2019 Board of Trustees meeting.

He cited that in 1995, the commonwealth covered 56% of in-state tuition, but now only pays for 34%, which has led the University to launch a slate of new financial aid programs in the past year, including the Pitt Success Pell Match, where Pitt will match federal Pell grants.

“We have really not had the historical pattern of providing high levels of financial aid by the institution to support those affected,” Gallagher said. “Simply put, we are caught in a transition of being a highly supported state school, which can offer low tuition for everyone, and a more weakly subsidized one where the institution has to provide more financial aid.”

Gallagher is expected to testify in Harrisburg, the state capital, in the coming months at appropriations hearings, with a final vote on funding this summer, per the annual budget process. Pitt will also host its annual Pitt Day in Harrisburg lobbying event on March 17.

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Opinions

column

from the editorial board

Iowa failure shows lack of FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: concern for voters Andrew Yang’s plan for Monday night had a lot riding on it politically, as it was the night of the first presidential primary election in Iowa. The state is known for its unconventional method of voting on candidates, called caucusing, which involves Iowans gathering to discuss the candidates and vote on them.

The Iowa caucus caused a bit of trouble and confusion this week, however, when results were delayed until later Tuesday evening due to “inconsistencies” found by the state Democratic Party. These inconsistencies were apparently the result of a new app meant to make reporting easier. If this is the case, clearly the app should have had more rigorous stress testing done on it before its use, as this debacle communicates a lack of concern for Iowan voters on behalf of the state Democratic Party.

Iowa has only 41 delegates out of the 1,990 needed to nominate a Democratic candidate, but since the state hosts the first primary of the year, this is often seen as an indication of who will be on the ticket in November. This in and of itself is problematic. Through this system, one state is given significant sway over the election process of the rest of the country. The Iowa caucus became even more controversial Monday for its method of reporting results, which was an app that failed spectacularly.

“This is simply a reporting issue,” Mandy McClure, the state Democratic Party’s communications director, said.

“The app did not go down, and this is not a hack or an intrusion. The underlying data and paper trail is sound and will simply take time to further report

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the results.”

The failure was later called a coding issue by Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price.

“As part of our investigation, we determined with certainty that the underlying data collected via the app was sound,” Price said. “While the app was recording data accurately, it was reporting out only partial data. We have determined that this was due to a coding issue in the reporting system. This issue was identified and fixed.”

There were concerns about the new app weeks ahead of the caucus, when the public didn’t know who developed the app or whether it had undergone an independent security test. Security experts were concerned by the fact that the app was downloaded onto the personal phones of caucus managers, which could be “breached in a heartbeat,” according to Kiersten Todt, managing director of the Cyber Readiness Institute.

In the aftermath of the entire Iowa fiasco, it has become clear that the new app wasn’t sufficiently tested and there wasn’t enough transparency in the process of adopting the new technology.

This is especially concerning at a time when interference in elections through technology is a looming issue.

The whole ordeal was sloppy and showed a lack of respect or recognition on the part of those who organized the caucus for just how important and influential the Iowa election is. Where technology and voting are concerned, extreme precautions and total transparency are absolutely vital.

univer$al basic income

Ethan Tessler

For The Pitt News For those who don’t know, there is a guy running for president that wants to give you money. Yes, you. This isn’t in the form of some tax break, welfare or anything like that. This is real money, deposited right into your bank account every month.

Those who have been keeping up with the Democratic debates may be familiar with him. His name is Andrew Yang — also known as “an Asian man who likes math.” He is the son of Taiwanese immigrants, a graduate of Brown and Columbia and founder of Venture For America, a two-year fellowship program for recent grads “who want to work at a startup and create jobs in American cities,” according to its website.

He’s also running for president — and you need to vote for him.

Though you may know he is running, you are probably not familiar with why he is running. Yang wants to help solve the problems that got Donald Trump elected, specifically the fact that millions of jobs were lost due to automation.

We are in the midst of the fourth industrial revolution, yet this is unlike any industrial revolution we have seen before — it will be much more expeditious than the previous three revolutions.

Many entry-level jobs have already been taken over by machines, and many more will be taken over in the very near future. If you go to the Dunkin’ on Forbes Avenue, there are two large black moni-

February 5, 2020

tors that are highly capable at taking customer orders. Roaming around campus are 2-foot-tall white food delivery robots that are 98% autonomous.

The most alarming part of this revolution is how ill-prepared our nation is to handle such a change — the United States Congress doesn’t even know how the internet works. Technology is decades ahead of our current legislation and will continue to be until there is a commander-in-chief that understands how to navigate the current technological landscape.

Cue Andrew Yang — the only Democratic candidate that has planned for this sudden shift in industry. He understands how to maneuver our government through the next industrial revolution.

In his book “The War on Normal People,” Yang goes into great depth about job displacement, automation and the solution — universal basic income. Though it seems like a relatively new idea, the concept of a universal basic income has been championed by many in the past — including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Richard Nixon. Yang’s version of UBI is called the freedom dividend and consists of a monthly allowance of $1,000 for every American who is older than 18 and not in prison.

Many have questions surrounding UBI, and rightly so. Skeptics are worried about its practicality in the real world, but UBI has been supported by many economists who, like Yang, beSee Tessler on page 5

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Tessler, pg. 4 lieve now is the best time to implement such a change into our society. On his website, Yang estimates the freedom dividend will permanently bolster the economy by about 12.56 to 13.1% — or about $2.5 trillion by 2025. He also adds that it would increase the labor force by about 4.5 to 4.7 million people. Others are worried about how our government will pay for such a piece of legislation.

Yang proposes a value-added tax of 10%.

A value-added tax is a tax on the production of goods or services a business produces. It is a much fairer tax than how corporations are currently being taxed, as it is much harder to loophole your way out of. Already 160 out of 193 countries employ a VAT — including all of Europe which has an average VAT of 20%. Companies such as Amazon, Netflix and IBM got away with paying $0 in taxes, while reaping billions of dollars in profits. Once these companies are forced to pay their fair share, the government will have much more spending money.

Perhaps one of the more interesting policies of Yang’s is his proposal for the Department of Technology — a brand new federal government department with a cabinet-level secretary.

Though it’s true that many presidents never really get to do the things they planned on doing when they were running, it is encouraging and refreshing to see a candidate who is thinking differently. Yang is not a politician — he is a problem-solver focused on fixing the issues that got Trump elected.

Though he has a strong grass-roots following that is growing by the minute, many Democratic voters are scared to vote for him because they don’t believe he can win the election against Trump.

Yet that’s not what the data says. A poll conducted by YouGov shows that 10% of former Donald Trump voters would vote for Yang if he were to be the Democratic nominee — the second-highest number, next to Bernie Sanders at 14%. This is because he understands how Trump persuaded many of these individuals into voting for him.

Like Trump, Yang knows that most voters vote with their hearts, not with their heads. But instead of attacking Trump like other Democratic candi-

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dates, Yang talks about issues like store closures and mass layoffs, offering a solution in the form of the UBI. He understands that most people do not care about the big issues, they just want to put food on the table.

In addition to disaffected Trump voters, Yang is also mobilizing young voters, immigrants and even libertarians. It is worth noting that more than 40% of Andrew Yang supporters refuse to vote for another Democratic nominee that isn’t him. The same poll, conducted by Emerson College, shows that supporters

of Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren or Buttigieg would not refuse to back another nominee. It is because of this that he is the best candidate for the Democrats to take back the White House.

To those who still believe he is a longshot candidate, the website canandrewyangwin.com provides detailed analysis with statistical evidence comparing him to other “longshots” like Jimmy Carter, who was polling at 0.5% in 1975 and Bill Clinton, who was polling at 7.4% in 1991. Barack Obama trailed Hillary Clinton by more than 20 points in 2008.

February 5, 2020

More recently, Donald Trump was polling at 6.5% in 2015. Trump, and the rest of the names mentioned, all went on to win their respective party primaries.

Regardless of whether or not Andrew Yang wins the primary or the election, it is refreshing to see someone in politics as transparent and humanistic as him.

His common sense problem-solving approach to politics has energized many disengaged voters and brings a rejuvenating sense of honesty and genuity.

As he says, “Not left, not right, but forward.”

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Sports

Upcoming stretch CHANGE CONSTANT IN COULIBALY’S vital to Pitt season outcome BASKETBALL JOURNEY Stephen Thompson Assistant Sports Editor

Sophomore Xavier Johnson (1) during Pitt’s 73-68 loss to Louisville in January. Carolyn Pallof staff photographer

Alex Lehmbeck Senior Staff Writer

Pitt basketball is on the rise. There’s no denying that.

Less than two years ago, a Kevin Stallings-led Pitt team finished the season 8-24, going winless in its 19 ACC matchups. In head coach Jeff Capel’s inaugural season, despite three key players transferring, the Panthers showed signs of life through Capel’s first freshman class. The team went 14-19, 3-15 in the conference, with a few marquees’ wins and an ad-

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ditional postseason victory in the ACC tournament.

No matter how this season ends for the Panthers, it will be considered a success in the grand scheme of rebuilding a program from rock bottom. With a 14-8 overall record and 5-6 in the ACC, the Panthers seem to be destined for an NIT appearance at worst. These next couple of weeks, however, give Pitt a chance to take its program to an even higher level — the NCAA Tournament.

See Season on page 7

First-year forward Abdoul Karim Coulibaly remembers the exact date he started playing basketball.

Oct. 26, 2013. It was a life-changing moment.

That day, on pickup courts in his home city of Bamako, Mali, the soft-spoken teenager began to grow a style of play that fit his personality. In the post, lyrical footwork tells of a background playing his home nation’s favorite sport — soccer.

Further from the basket, Coulibaly’s handle is remarkably fluid and his soft touch around the rim elicits the same surprised reactions that the 6-foot-9 gentle giant’s words do. Physically and stylistically, he is a striking juxtaposition to the thunderous athletes that surround him on the Pitt men’s basketball roster.

In a short span of three years, Coulibaly has already gained impressive experience representing Mali at international tournaments before earning minutes in the ACC. Coaches and teammates rave about his skill and instinct, but his late introduction to basketball and the United States has left Coulibaly with some catching up to do.

Raised in Mali’s capital city, Coulibaly took the road less traveled and hasn’t looked back.

He started playing when he was 13 and one year later was attending high school on scholarship in the United States, starting for one of the nation’s premier prep teams at the Scotland Performance Institute in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.

He was far from home for the first time, dealing with not just the regular stressors of being a talented, teenage athlete in high school, but a new culture and language as well. Coulibaly didn’t imagine he would leave his home country so soon, or so lightly accompanied.

“It’s probably my fifth year [in the U.S.],” Coulibaly said. “I never thought I would leave without

February 5, 2020

my family, without my friends. And it was hard, I was young. About age 14 when I came here, so I’m kind of used to it … It’s hard, but it’s part of life.”

Coulibaly’s basketball journey was unorthodox. He started basketball at 13 years old but was a star as soon as he stepped on the court. And his talent meant he rarely stepped off during games.

That’s made his transition to college difficult. So far, Coulibaly has appeared in only 15 of Pitt’s 22 games and logged only 9.6 minutes per appearance.

Riding the pine is frustrating, especially for a player who knows nothing but action, and Coulibaly is still learning how to channel that frustration.

“It’s really tough,” he said. “Because when I first started playing, I would always start the game and I would always play more than 30, 40 minutes. So it’s difficult coming here … But anytime you have change you have to do your best and enjoy it.”

In his relatively short spurts of action in games, the aforementioned smooth footwork and ball skills are evident. But after being recruited to Pitt out of high school, Coulibaly has had to make changes in order to carve out a role.

“Coming in he had never played the five like that, he played the four,” junior forward Terrell Brown said. “So he was more facing up and stuff.

But he adjusted from not doing that to how we want our fives to be. Screen and roll, rim run, rebound and be okay with going from touching the ball once or twice a possession, to maybe not touching the ball at all.”

As the season has progressed, Coulibaly seems to play at his best when the stakes are high. When Pitt went on the road to face future NBA lottery pick center Vernon Carey Jr. and his No. 9 Duke See Coulibaluy on page 7

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Season, pg. 6 Though the Panthers’ record hasn’t earned them a lot of attention in these conversations yet, they have remained above water during the most dangerous segment of their schedule.

In a particularly subpar year for the conference, three teams — Louisville, Duke and Florida State — have emerged as leaders of the pack, with a huge gap between them and the other 12 squads.

Pitt has already completed four of its five matchups against these opponents, leaving the rest of its schedule ripe with potential.

Before their Feb. 18 rematch with No. 8 Florida State, the Panthers play four similarly skilled ACC teams: Notre Dame (4-6 ACC), Georgia Tech (5-7 ACC), Clemson (5-6 ACC) and Virginia Tech (5-7 ACC). This stretch presents an opportunity for the Panthers to rise above the pit of mediocrity that so many teams in the conference have fallen into this year.

If there’s one thing Pitt has taught us this season, it’s that a win is a win. Over and over again the Panthers have barely scraped by some weak opponents, but those close calls have helped Pitt’s record stay afloat nonetheless.

In Sunday’s home game against the Miami Hurricanes, who are now tied for last in the ACC at 3-8, the Panthers were gifted a chance for an easy win with two of the Hurricanes’ three leading scorers out with injuries. Instead, it took some late-game heroics and strong defensive stands for Pitt to escape with a five-point victory. Regardless, the Panthers can appreciate the streak column reading W1.

A nail-biter against Boston College a few weeks ago gave Pitt its first twogame conference win streak in nearly three years. A road bout against Notre Dame this Wednesday could allow them

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to do it again.

The Fighting Irish have more talent than their record suggests. They have a go-to senior star in forward John Mooney, a dark-horse candidate for ACC player of the year. Their primary ball-handler, sophomore guard Prentiss Hubb, creates points for himself and his teammates without turning the ball over.

Notre Dame’s weakness has been its mediocre defense, which allows more than 68 points per game. The Fighting Irish have repeatedly been torched from deep this year, as their 3-point percentage allowed (34.2) ranks last in the ACC. It is vital that Pitt, a team that has struggled all season behind the arc, can convert its clean looks.

The Panthers will need to do something they did perfectly in their win over the Hurricanes — rebound the basketball. Pitt outrebounded Miami 40-31, racking up 17 offensive rebounds to Miami’s seven. Sophomore guard Au’Diese Toney and first-year forward Justin Champagnie had 10 and 9 rebounds each, respectively.

“I thought we dominated the glass, especially on the offensive end,” Capel said after the Miami win. “We felt coming into this game that that was something we could exploit. Our guys did a good job of doing that.”

Pitt’s main challenge will be keeping Mooney, the ACC’s leading rebounder, off of the boards. Mooney, averaging a team-high 16.5 points and 13.2 rebounds per game, will make the Panthers pay if they cannot put a body on him.

If the Panthers can rebound, make open shots and slow down a streaky Notre Dame offense, they will leave South Bend, Illinois, with an impressive victory. If they can string together three or four in a row, the NCAA Tournament selection committee will have no choice but to add the Panthers to its considerations.

First-year forward Abdoul Karim Coulibaly at Sunday’s 62-57 victory over Miami. Kaycee Orwig senior staff photographer

Coulibaly, pg. 6 Blue Devils, Coulibaly tallied eight points, four rebounds and an assist while defending Carey Jr. on the other end in a career-high 22 minutes.

Coulibaly looked surprisingly comfortable in one of the sport’s most ancient and hostile venues against a player bound for professional basketball’s upper echelon. His confidence in the face of daunting circumstances comes from experience.

It wasn’t Coulibaly’s first run-in with America’s best.

He began competing on an international stage at 18 years old, representing Mali in the 2018 U18 FIBA African Championship. This past summer, Coulibaly again competed for his home country in the U19 FIBA World Cup. His numbers against some of the world’s best young talent in 2019 were solid — 13.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 blocks and 2.4 assists per game.

What was most impressive in that tournament was Mali’s unanticipated run at the gold medal game. They were overpowered by the United States’ treasure trove of blue-chip high school talent, but in the loss, Coulibaly played his best game of the tournament.

Against the loaded American roster, Coulibaly — rated as a three-star prospect by 247 Sports — scored 17 points and blocked three shots against the United States’ lineup of fivestar players.

From African all-stars to American bluechippers to the Duke Blue Devils, Coulibaly said he never wants to show fear. Pitt head coach Jeff Capel noticed that fearlessness when Coulibaly played in the 2019 gold medal game.

In that game, the United States made a switch to zone defense and Coulibaly occupied

February 5, 2020

a spot in the middle of that zone on offense.

That position requires height to reel in passes from the perimeter, skill to attack and distribute as well as the poise to not panic in the face of a suffocating scheme.

After watching Coulibaly pick apart the Americans from that position, Capel knew that Coulibaly had the right temperament and skillset to occupy that spot and vocalized that confidence following this season’s win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

“I noticed it with Coulibaly in the gold medal game,” Capel said. “U.S.A. went to a zone and I think he did a heck of a job attacking it in the middle. I made a note right then to myself that if we ever play against zone, he’s the one I want in the middle. Coulibaly has a very good feel for how to play basketball.”

Coulibaly clearly has all the necessary tools, so why does he still receive so few minutes? Youth is one reason, but he is also still working to overcome a significant language barrier. Coming from French-speaking Mali, Coulibaly said he is still learning to communicate with his teammates more efficiently.

He faces a problem that cannot be solved by extra shots or film room study. It’s a different kind of challenge for a player who is used to solving problems with time in the gym. But Coulibaly’s odyssey through one of America’s premier basketball conferences continues with unbound confidence in whatever the next step requires. The competition, whether it’s a dominating opponent or a foreign language, does not phase him.

“I’ve played against a lot of great players,” Coulibaly said. “It’s not nothing, but I’m not scared. You just go out there and compete and do your best. That’s it. That’s my game.”

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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 Apartments for rent. 2 and 3 bedroom apart‑ ments 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 North Oakland. Up to 5 bedroom available.

Bus line and walking distance. Multiple properties, all east side of Pittsburgh!

More info at www. na­tionalbuilderspitts­ burgh.com

South Oakland **August 2020, Oak­land Square. We have Studios, 1, 2 & 3BR apartments avail­able. Clean, walking distance to campus. Great location. $600‑$1300 ALL UTILITIES IN­ CLUDED! Off‑street parking available.

No pets, smoking or parties. Call 412‑882‑7568 or email tsciul­li123@ gmail.com

pittnews.com

Employment • CHILDCARE • FOOD SERVICES • UNIVERSITY • INTERNSHIPS • RESEARCH • VOLUNTEERING • OTHER

1‑2‑3 bedroom apart­ ments available for August 2020. Owner Managed. 40+ years on campus. Fully fur­ nished or unfur­nished, most units are newly remodeled Kitchens and baths , located on Atwood, Semple, Oakland Ave., Ward, Mckee Place, Juliet.

Call or text Tim @ 412‑491‑1330 www.­ TMKRentals.com 115 Chesterfield Road ‑ nice 3‑bed­ room house. 1.5 bathrooms. Laundry in unit. Recently re­modeled. Good loca­tion, close to Cathe­dral of Learn‑ ing. Rent $1350/ month + utilities.

Available February 10th. 412‑881‑0550 2 BR apartment, newly painted, hard­ wood floors, appli­ ances. Private home ‑ 2 & 3rd floor. 2,000 sq. ft. Rent in­cludes all utilities. $790/mo.

412‑498‑7355.

264 Robinson St. 2 BR, 3 bath, $1000+utilities.

Available August 1st.

412‑884‑8891.

2BR houses and apart­ ments available in August. Unfur­nished, no pets. At­wood/S. Bouquet. Call

Classifieds

For sale

• AUTO • BIKES • BOOKS • MERCHANDISE • FURNITURE • REAL ESTATE • PETS

services

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

412‑492‑8173 322 S. Bouquet.

Huge 2 BR apart­ ments. Available May 1, 2020 or Au­gust 1, 2020. 412‑361‑2695 3322 Hardie Way. 2 BR, 1 bath. $1100/mo. w/s incl. Call/Text 412‑953‑3295 3444 Ward St. We have studios, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments.

Bright and spacious.

Free heating and free parking. Move May 1, 2020 or August 1, 2020. Call 412‑361‑2695 3BR house, South Oakland Niagara St. Central Air, Dish­ washer. $1350+ utili­ ties. Available Au­gust 2020. 412‑276‑6974.

Apartments for rent on Semple ‑one bed­room ‑ availabil‑ ity Aug 1 recently reno­vated and great loca­tion. $795/mo..

In­cludes heat, electric is metered sepa­ rately. Call or text 412‑720‑5023.

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.

notices

• ADOPTION • EVENTS • LOST AND FOUND • STUDENT GROUPS • WANTED • OTHER

Dawson Village Apts. near CMU and Pitt.

One bedroom apts. $935 + electric. Avail‑ able for immedi­ate move in. On bus line, close to restau­rants and shops. Contact Jerry at 412‑722‑8546 Now renting for Fall 2020. Apartments and houses of all sizes.

Conveniently located throughout South Oakland. Rents start‑ ing as low as $620.

John C.R. Kelly Realty. Call to­day at 412‑683‑7300 www.jcrkelly.com Oakland Court‑ 2 bedroom house, 1.5 bathrooms. Air con­ ditioning. Laundry in unit. Newly remo­ dled. Good location, close to Hillman Li­ brary. Rent is $800/ month + utili­ties.

Call 412‑881‑0550 Parkview Ave and Blv of the Allies. Nice.

3BD 2.5 BA. Rent 1500+ utilities. Laun‑ dry in Unit. Available Aug 10th 2020. Call 412‑881‑0550 Pet Friendly!!

Studios ‑ $695‑$705 1Beds ‑ $795‑$815 2beds ‑ $975‑$995 3beds ‑ $1,245 412‑455‑5600 or www.pghnexus.com Spacious, well‑main­

R A T E S

Insertions

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1-15 Words

$6.30

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$7.50

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6X $30.20 $32.30

Add. + $5.00 + $5.40

(Each Additional Word: $0.10)

Deadline:

Two business days prior by 3pm | Email: advertising@pittnews.com | Phone: 412.648.7978

tained S Oakland 3BR house, $1875/ mo + utilities. Central AC, DW, W/D. Large kitchen, pantry, high ceilings, decorative FP, out­door space.

Close to Pitt & shut‑ tle. Off‑street parking avail. Panther Proper‑ ties, 412‑328‑6236, pan­therproperties2@ g­mail.com. pan‑ ther‑life/oakland Studio, 1, 2, 3, and 4 BD apartments avail­ able in South Oak­land from $800‑$2500 M.J. Kelly Real Estate mjkellyrealty@gmail.­ com. 412‑271‑5550.

Shadyside Brett/Thames Manor Apts. (Ellsworth & S. Negley Ave.) near CMU and Pitt.

Stu­dio, One, Two bed­ room apts. Thames Ef‑ fecency: $790 Thames 1BD: $990 Brett 2BD: $1600 Available for immedi­ate move in.

On bus line, close to restau­rants & shops.

Con­tact Jerry at 412‑722‑8546

Rental Other Studios, 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom apartments available August 2020 & sooner. Oak­land, Shadyside, Friend‑

February 5, 2020

ship, Squirrel Hill, Highland Park, Point Breeze. Photos & current availabil‑ ity online, check out www.forbesmanage­ ment.net, or call 412.441.1211

Employment Employment Other OFFICE INTERN Shadyside Manage­ ment Company seeks person w/ min 2 yrs. college, for upcom­ing spring semester, to interview & pro­cess rental appli­cants, do internet post‑ ings & help staff our action‑central of­fice.

Part time or full time OK starting now; full time over the summer. $13/hour. Perfect job for current sopho­ mores & juniors, graduating seniors set to enter grad school, returning grad stu­ dents, and first year law students!

Mozart Management 412.682.7003 thane@mozartrents.­ com

For Sale

TPN

Pets FREE TO GOOD HOME,2 YORKIE PUPPIES RE‑HOM­ ING, AKC REG, CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL FOR MORE DETAILS ON:lwrnc­ marc01@gmail.com .

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