In The Pitt News’ annual “Best Of” survey, students voted Anthony Novosel, a part-time instructor in the history department, best professor.
To senior history and German major Lily Wilson, it’s obvious why Novosel is the best professor.
“He’s so engaging, first of all,” Wilson said. “You’re never bored in his classes, even though he has those 2
1/2 hours, once a week classes.”
Novosel, known to his students as Tony, has taught at Pitt since 1989 when he started graduate school. He worked as a general advisor from 1994 to 2006 after he finished his doctorate and was hired as a faculty member and full time adviser for the history department.
Currently, Novosel only teaches three classes — Professional Development for History Majors and Minors, The Great War: A Cultural History and Northern Ireland: The Troubles: 1969-1994.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Novosel describes his career path as “a long, convoluted story.”
“I did a lot of different things when I was younger,” Novosel said. “I went to trade school after high school, ended up as an auto mechanic by trade, ended up working in factories.”
After an injury caused him to take off work for seven months, Novosel began thinking about college. He started at Pitt in January of 1985 at age 32.
“So that's how I got here, and then I never left,” Novosel said.
Between jobs during the ‘70s, Novosel stumbled upon what would become his primary research interest. After what he described as a “weird series of cir-
cumstances,” Novosel went to Northern Ireland for the first time in 1974.
“When I teach the Northern Ireland classes, I jokingly say, ‘You're not just studying the Northern Ireland conflict, you're studying my adult life,’” Novosel
said. “Because I've been going there since I was 20.”
Novosel’s research focuses on Protestant loyalists who fought against a united Ireland. His work is published in his 2012 book “Northern Ireland’s Lost Opportunity: The Frustrated Promise of Political Loyalism.”
In addition to research, Novosel has worked extensively with communities in Northern Ireland by speaking in loyalist working class communities, running
“It becomes very real,” Novosel said. “They're getting the academic part of it, but they're also talking to people who are involved, or were affected by the conflict.”
A number of his guests, both in his Northern Ireland class and his professional development class, include his former students, some of whom he taught 30 years ago. He considers the “personal connections [he] makes as a result of teaching” a highlight of his career at Pitt.
Students like Wilson have also benefited personally from his connections with former students. Novosel introduced Wilson to the master’s program in public history at Queen's University in Belfast, which she now hopes to attend.
“He’s connected me with a lot of former students that currently do it, that have graduated, that went to the school that I’m planning on going to in Northern
soccer clinics for women and girls and working with a program bringing people from Northern Ireland to America. His voluntary work earned him an honorary Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire appointment.
Through his research and work in Northern Ireland, Novosel made a number of connections that allowed him to bring a number of guest speakers into class, a highlight for students like senior political science and history major Jared Cortazzo.
“We had someone from the UVF [Ulster Volunteer Force] come in and talk to us and someone who was in the IRA,” Cortazzo said. “You can’t get that anywhere else.”
Novosel considers his guest speakers a core part of his Northern Ireland course.
Tony Novosel smiles for photos with his cats.
Ireland,” Wilson said. “It’s all because of Tony.”
Beyond his guest speakers, both Wilson and Cortazzo agree that Novosel is a great teacher.
“You can just tell he has a passion for it,” Cortazzo said. “He’s very knowledgeable. He pushes you.”
They also emphasized the skills and knowledge that they took away from class with Novosel.
“He’s really good at breaking down why things happened and what they mean,” Wilson said. “Those expectations in his classes are high, but they’re very attainable. It makes you feel pretty accomplished when you do attain them.”
When anyone asks Wilson for a history class recommendation, she says, “Tony’s class.”
“You gotta just take his classes to see for yourself,” Cortazzo said.
Patrick Swain Culture Editor
Histrionic spawned from a basement in Highland Park in 2014. Brothers Simon and Jude Sweeney and their friend Isaac Winograd fiddled with instruments, plucking at guitars and banging on drums, their youthful cacophony melding into harmony with each year of practice. A decade later, their band Histrionic is a fixture in Oakland’s music scene — earning them the accolade
Winograd and Simon Sweeney’s friendship goes back to elementary school, when the two budding musicians jammed on their parents’ instruments. After a few name and lineup changes, Jude joined his older brother as a sixth grader, and they adopted the moniker Histrionic, first playing covers and then moving on to originals. With Simon Sweeney on guitar and vocals,
High school seniors had a little extra time to decide if they will attend Pitt this fall.
The University of Pittsburgh announced on Feb. 23 that it would extend its commitment deadline from May 1 to May 15 due to the U.S. Department of Education’s delay in sending the Free Application for Federal Student Aid data. Pitt joined schools across the country in extending its commitment deadline for this reason, which includes the California State system, Rutgers and Penn State. Colleges use the data that students and their families disclose on their FAFSA forms to determine financial aid packages.
In response to a federal law introduced in 2020, the Department of Education unveiled sweeping changes to the FAFSA and the formula it applies to the data in December. This has resulted in a mass delay of the release of FAFSA data due to technical glitches on the form and last-minute changes to these calcula-
Emmert said, “It was probably one of the most important factors of deciding where to go.”
Emmert remembered her own experience of deciding where to go to college as a high school senior and how an extension to the deadline may help current high school students.
“I think I would feel pretty relieved, just because it seems to create a more flexible timeline for people,” she said, “Since I chose my higher education based on what financial aid I received from different universities, I think extending the deadline would allow me to actually be able to take more time to decide to where I want to go, and then I wouldn't have to hit decline in someplace just because I was unsure of what my aid package would be.”
tions, according to the New York Times.
“This means schools will not have FAFSA data until sometime in March, which will greatly impact the University of Pittsburgh’s ability to send financial aid offers to our first-year admitted students,” Pitt spokesperson Jared Stonesifer said. “Pitt’s financial aid office is working diligently to determine an accurate timeline for these communications.”
Current college students such as Katie Emmert, a junior criminal justice and political science major, have encountered these difficulties on the FAFSA form.
“I think [the process] was definitely difficult just because of the amount of uncertainty,” Emmert said. “Obviously [in] Harrisburg, there was a lot of delays there and a lot of confusion. So there was definitely concern with that.”
The delay in financial packages has caused anxiety for high school seniors, according to Mayar AlSharaa, a senior at Taylor Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh.
“The delay in financial aid packages has caused me to stress over college decisions much more than I thought it would,” AlSharaa said. “I feel like [the extension] gives me more time to view all my options and find the most suitable and affordable school for me.”
AlSharaa said she’s just waiting on her financial aid packages to make her decision. For Emmert, financial aid played a key role in making her college decision.
“I think financial aid was a make or break for me,”
Along with helping schools create financial aid packages, FAFSA also helps the DOE determine who receives Pell Grants — a federal loan for low-income students that, in most cases, students don’t have to repay. Both these types of aid can take thousands of dollars off tuition costs.
“My family is unable to pay full tuition … therefore, being able to get as much financial aid from any school will completely change my life,” AlSharaa said. “I fear that if I don't hear back soon, I won’t know what to do by the time commitment day comes.”
The FAFSA form typically opens on Oct. 1 each year but got delayed in 2023 until the end of December because of the new changes. When it did launch, students and parents could only access the website periodically.
“Continued delays — communicated at the last minute — threaten to harm the very students and families that federal student aid is intended to help,” Justin Draeger, president of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, said in a statement via the New York Times.
To avoid this fate, Pittsburgh-area high schools have taken new measures such as distributing information in newsletters and on social media to make sure students and parents understand why financial aid packages are delayed and that they have two extra weeks to decide on a college, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“[Based on] the discussions I’ve had with my friends, we have all come to an agreement that we will most likely end up going to our cheapest option,” AlSharaa said, “However, at the moment, none of us know what that will be, therefore we are constantly stressing over when FAFSA will come out.”
traveling across the country for tournaments each year, it’s no wonder the team has almost 50 members in its roster.
Despite being a highly competitive and successful club sport, the team doesn’t make any cuts. Regardless of skill level or experience, all are welcome, and the team values the absence of cuts. But with a considerable number of girls on the team, it adds a competitive edge for the 12 starting spots.
“We have travel rosters for some tournaments, but it's like you have such a huge community bigger than a normal 20-person team,” junior defender Shoshana Rosenthal said. “It’s always competitive because the travel rosters change so much, so people are always fighting for those spots. It’s such good competition all of the time.”
Senior defender Lauren Lindsey also likes the large team size, as she said it contributes to the team’s success.
“There’s so many girls that can make you better and push you to be better,” Lindsey said. “So, when you go against other teams, you already have a step-up on them because you’re playing against these girls that are so good.”
Lindsey explains that having large numbers at practice greatly contributes to the growth of a successful club.
“Because we have so many people, we can do full scrimmages in practice and full field scrimmages,” Lindsey said. “We have a lot of depth and a lot of variety. And I think that definitely contributes to our success on the field.”
Besides having a large roster, the team has many other areas of interest as well. The team spends its weekends during the spring semester traveling to different tournaments across the country.
This year, they have already traveled to Arizona. The team will also travel to Virginia for a competition at James Madison and finish up the season with regionals at Virginia Tech and nationals in Wichita, Kansas.
Due to the high costs associated with travel, the team collaborates on fundraising efforts to cover ex-
generates around $15,000. Each team member emails people they know to attract donors. Additionally, the team organizes fundraisers at Chipotle and Piada to supplement its efforts.
In addition to fundraising together, the team also builds strong teamwork on and off the field. Senior goalie and captain Ana Youngblut has spent all four years of college with the team. She keeps returning because of the strong bond among her teammates.
“I think we all just really mesh together really well,” Youngblut said. “Whenever we play, we know how the other people on our team play. Just having that dynamic is so important on a lacrosse field, because if everybody just plays differently and for themselves, it’s just not as effective as playing together as a whole team.”
Youngblut also emphasized that the team's chemistry sets them apart from other club lacrosse teams.
“We just hype each other up so much,” Youngblut said “My sophomore year at nationals, we won an award that was basically a team spirit award. We were all just having fun on the sidelines. All the refs love having our team because we’re just really friendly players.”
She elaborated that her team maintains a positive attitude toward lacrosse, regardless of the situation.
“If we’re not doing well, we never get aggressive or frustrated,” Youngblut said.
Lindsey echoed this sentiment and said that it's the people that make her keep coming back to play.
“At the end of the day, it’s not the lacrosse you remember,” Lindsey said “It’s the hotel stays, the car rides and the practices. I’ve definitely met my best friends on the team.”
As well as helping to develop players overall, the club lacrosse team also contributes to players’ personal growth as college students and people.
Both Rosenthal and Youngblut hold leadership positions within the team and attribute their growth as leaders to their roles in club lacrosse. Youngblut, who serves as team captain, highlighted how her leadership responsibilities have contributed to her personal growth.
“It’s definitely helped me learn how to effectively
Two years ago, on March 8, 2022, Pitt men’s basketball finished yet another atrocious season under head coach Jeff Capel, posting an 11-22 record. Capel went to the post-game press conference after getting routed by Boston College and decided to let everyone know the truth of his current roster.
“We have to get better players. I mean, that’s the reality of it,” Capel said. “It’s nothing against — it’s not anything personal. We have to continue to add better players. We have to recruit better … We have to continue to develop guys. We have to continue to help them reach their potential as players.”
Capel made due on this comment. He added Nelly Cummings, Greg Ellliot and Blake Hinson via the transfer portal. He recruited Federiko Federiko and two lanky Spaniards in the Diaz Graham twins. He also developed Jamarius Burton and Nike Sibande into ACC award winners.
In the 2022-23 season, Capel’s newly constructed roster returned the Panthers to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2016 and gave Pitt basketball fans something to cheer for in March.
But there were doubts about Capel’s philosophy entering the 2023 off-season. He lost three starters, and many wondered if Capel obtaining all of these upperclassmen was just a “flash in the pan.” The 2023-24 season was a testing ground for Pitt fans to see if the 2022-23 was just a brief season of success.
The 2023-24 season started off looking like Capel’s philosophy was a one-hit wonder. The first-year guards, Carlton “Bub” Carrington and Jaland Lowe, along with junior transfer guard Ishmael Leggett, were not making the difference that the newcomers did the prior season.
Pitt was struggling and couldn’t win key games early in the non conference. This included a 71-62 loss to Missouri. The first-years struggled against the Tigers, shooting 5-15 from the field and had only four assists to the five turnovers they committed.
But Hinson didn’t see this game as a struggle for the first-years.
“They’re not struggling, they’re learning,” Hinson said. “They’re learning. They’re better than me at handling the ball, let me tell you that. They’re going to be
communicate with people,” Youngblut said, “And just how to stay organized and manage the business side
March 15, 2024,
fine. They’re just going to get these learning lessons and become the best freshmen in the conference.”
The first-years did just as Hinson said. During the latter half of the season, they were dominant and showed how talented they are in the ACC Tournament on a national stage.
In the ACC Tournament, Carrington was the only first-year in the conference to earn an All-Tournament Team honor, in large part due to his 24-point performance against North Carolina.
Lowe, however, didn’t earn an All-Tournament team honor — but came very close. The Missouri City, Texas, native averaged 14 points, 4.5 assists and did not commit a turnover in the ACC Tournament.
Like the two first-years, Leggett struggled at the beginning of the year but learned how to play Power Six basketball in the final two months of the season.
The guard from Prince George's County, Maryland — just 30 minutes from Capital One Arena — showed his best in the ACC Tournament. Leggett had a season-high 30 points, eight rebounds and five steals against Wake Forest, earning himself a spot on the AllTournament team alongside Carrington.
During Leggett’s stellar performance against Wake Forest, Lowe saw something he sees every day from the junior guard.
“I saw a dog, I saw a leader,” Lowe said. “I saw one of the best players in the country. That’s what I saw tonight. That’s what we see day in and day out from him.”
Sophomore center Guillermo Diaz Graham im-
of the team with the social and athletic aspect as well.”
pressed in the ACC Tournament as well. He completed the tournament shooting 4-7 from beyond the arc, scoring 17 points and grabbing nine rebounds. Diaz Graham also finished a layup that closed out the Panthers’ 8169 victory over Wake Forest.
Even with the Panthers' impressive showing in Washington, D.C., they didn’t earn a bid to March Madness in 2024 like they did in 2023.
Pitt's failure to earn a bid to March Madness is disappointing for Panthers fans, but in 2023-24, the program showed that it was growing with Capel at the helm.
Pitt has two first-year guards looking to return for next season. Carrington believes he and Lowe are one of the best duos in the country and that Pitt should have made the NCAA Tournament in 2024.
“I feel like me and Jaland are one of the best backcourts in the country,” Carrington said. “We showed that we belong on the big stage.”
Although their name wasn’t called during this season’s Selection Sunday, Carrington believes the Panthers will do some damage next season.
“We [will] come back stronger, better,” Carrington said. “I feel like we can definitely make some real noise next year for sure.”
Panthers fans can have their reasons to take caution with Carrington’s remarks. Pitt is losing an AllACC First-Team player in Hinson, who was the most important player to the 2023-24 squad with his unwavering confidence.
Pitt, however, is most likely returning two firstyears who went toe-to-toe with a team that earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, a guard who scored 30 against a top-five seed in the ACC Tournament, a center that can get hot from deep and many other key pieces.
The program has come a long way since March 8, 2022. Capel has obtained his “better players,” and other ACC coaches are taking notice.
“Coach Capel does a fantastic job,” North Carolina head coach Hubert Davis said. “The players that they have there, not only are they big-time college players, they've got future NBA players over there.”
The ACC Tournament may not have earned Pitt a bid to March Madness, but its efforts gave Panthers fans reason for optimism in the coming seasons.
Overall, all three players have enjoyed their time as players on the club lacrosse team and are extremely optimistic for the remainder of the season. Lindsey believes that her team can take home another championship this season.
“We’ve got some pretty good girls on the team that I think could stand a chance at that national championship,” Lindsey said. “I think we all have that mentality that we could do it.”
Fri, Mar. 22-thu, mar. 28
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (PG - 13)
Fri: 2:25, 4:45, 7:10, 9:30
Sat & Sun: 12:05, 2:25, 4:45, 7:10, 9:30
Mon, Tues, Wed & Thu: 2:25, 4:45, 7:10, 9:30
Love Lies Bleeding (R)
Fri: 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40
Sat & Sun: 1:00, 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40
Mon, Tues, Wed & Thu: 3:10, 5:20, 7:30, 9:40
Dune: Part Two (PG - 13)
Fri: 3:15, 6:30, 9:45
Sat & Sun: 12:00, 3:15, 6:30, 9:45
Mon, Tues, Wed & Thu: 3:15, 6:30, 9:45
One Life (PG)
Fri: 2:35, 7:00
Sat & Sun: 2:35, 7:00
Mon, Tues, Wed & Thu: 2:35, 7:00
Perfect Days (PG)
Fri: 9:15
Sat & Sun: 9:15
Mon, Tues, Wed & Thu: 9:15
The Zone of Interest (PG - 13)
Fri: 4:50
Sat & Sun: 12:25, 4:50
Mon, Tues, Wed & Thu: 4:50
ITALIAN
OISHII BENTO
JAPANESE
ASIA TEA HOUSE
CHINESE
OISHII BENTO
KOREAN
NOODLEHEAD
THAI
PRINCE OF INDIA
IDIAN
SHAH’S
MIDDLE EASTERN
RAISING CANE’S
CHICKEN
REDHAWK
COFFEE
OAKMOUNT BAKERY
BAKERY
ROOTS
VEGAN/VEGETARIAN
PIZZA ROMANO
PIZZA
DAVE AND ANDY’S
PAMELA’S DINER
BREAKDAST
LATE NIGHT MENU
PITT
PITT
SUTHERLAND
RESIDENCE HALL
BAR
THRIFT
TATTOO
Jude on bass and Winograd on drums, the trio has performed at venues around Pittsburgh.
Histrionic’s energetic rock evokes a blend of the music they absorbed growing up, like the Beatles and Nirvana, and the gritty sound of local acts they heard in Oakland as they reached adulthood. Simon Sweeney said he found inspiration in underground concerts he attended in Oakland spaces like Rothko House and The Deli. They hosted acts like feeble little horse and Tough Cuffs, but like many other DIY venues, they came and went.
“The first thing I went to after things opened up a little bit … was a show at Rothko very early in junior year where feeble little horse opened … Tough Cuffs played at that show, and Water Trash,” Sweeney said. “I was just like, ‘I need to be playing music.’ It literally felt
like you were in an oven in the center of that room — I would not have been surprised if it was 200 degrees. You couldn’t put your hand out, it was painful. I have a pair of shoes that was completely ruined by that. It was the best.”
Simon Sweeney, who graduated from Pitt last year, said the band has latched onto that DIY ethos and continued the underground tradition at venues like West Egg and the Black Lodge.
“I love playing the true basement show, the true DIY. The dirtier the basement, the better. The more packed, the more hot, the better,” Sweeney said. “We’re not making a ton of money, we’re not playing to a thousand people … we’d be playing if we were playing to five people — and we’ve done that, too.”
The young, low-budget crowd of Oakland’s DIY community makes it distinct from more formal scenes with longer-lasting musical institutions. Winograd, who
attended Pitt for one year, said the DIY spaces where Histrionic flourishes, like the defunct Deli and contemporary basement venues, foster a sense of creative liberation.
“[The Deli] had a good balance of letting artists get weird if they wanted to, but not too far. And that’s a really fine line to walk,” Winograd said. “I remember one time I went to a show and there was a toilet as a prop, and I think it got destroyed. And I was like, ‘That’s pretty cool.’ That’s something that seems OK, as opposed to getting naked or something on stage.”
The bedrock of the band is their fraternal synergy. Winograd said the trio’s dynamic comes from a sense of mutual respect, years of jamming and Simon Sweeney’s creative direction. For Jude Sweeney, a junior English literature and film and media studies major, playing with his older brother and one of his oldest friends creates a fruitful shared context.
“I always say I’ve known him for 21 years now. It makes it pretty easy — we’ve had a rapport forever because we’re brothers, and we’ve been working on music together forever. We play with our dad,” Jude Sweeney said. “It really helps to have that connection, to be able to work together. I can kinda read his mind sometimes.”
Histrionic is a family affair — the fathers of the Sweeneys and Winograd are also musicians. Simon agreed with his brother, saying they owe their musicality to their dad’s encouragement.
“Me and Jude have a lot of very similar instincts because so much of how we started playing music came from our dad, who is a very good guitar player … even when we were little kids and didn’t really play instruments, we would just be banging on the drums as he played Beatles songs on guitar,” Sweeney said. “We came away from that with a lot of the same baked-in way of thinking about how to make music.”
With scarce time and money, developing a band’s profile in the DIY community is an elaborate task. Though Histrionic got a head start from the knowledge and resources of their supportive musical upbringing, Winograd said growing the band means embracing its scene.
“A lot of that is networking — it depends who’s at your DIY show. We’ve been lucky enough to have a couple moments where we meet a guy from a different venue. There was someone who was involved with Bottle Rocket … they came and played at a show, and we got that connection. We had an old friend who we gigged with way back in the day who got us on at Mr. Smalls. A lot of it’s who you know, which can be hard at first,” Winograd said. “Push yourself to be social at these shows … you just gotta keep putting yourself out there, and eventually it gets easier.”
In their spare moments between shows, the band is recording its first album. Simon Sweeney said crafting the LP has proven arduous, but fans should expect it soon.
“I was recording a little bit today, just this evening. We’re moving slowly but surely — me and Isaac work, and Jude’s in school still, so we can’t go in and spend two weeks just every day in the studio for eight hours, so it’s a little bit slow-going,” Sweeney said. “But it’ll be released — unless something goes horribly wrong — this year.”
As performers and listeners, Histrionic has witnessed DIY music in Pittsburgh evolve over the past decade. Simon Sweeney looks ahead to what Oakland music will look like after they’re gone.
“We want three people to come to our shows a couple times and start a band, like I had when I went to that Tough Cuffs show and I said, ‘Wow, I need to be doing this,’” Sweeney said. “Even if it’s not our music specifically that makes it happen, just if we can get people to start bands, get venues started — those are the two things the scene needs, venues and bands, or it’s nothing.”
With spring just around the corner, Pittsburgh has seen an increasing number of pleasant, sunny days. When the warmth hits Oakland, you can find students lounging outside, filling up every green space available on campus. In fact, on the sunny days before spring break, every available green space was filled up, providing challenges for many students looking for space to lounge in the sunshine.
“I ended up sitting on the pavement in Schenley Plaza,” said Allie Resler. “It hurt.”
In recent years, Pitt’s Campus Master Plan has identified and began construction on key spots on campus to construct new buildings. Places like the grassy bowl near the Pete and that parklet on Fifth Avenue have already faced their doom in the face of Oakland’s improvement endeavors. The changes have also affected the campus ecosystem, with the loss of grass in the latter location displacing campus celebrities, the Fifth Avenue pigeons.
Despite certain annoyances, some members of the Pitt community have expressed preference for the construction over green space.
“It gives me such hope to see a gray, sludgy construction site on campus,” said Samantha Clifton. “It’s just so great to see our school improving things.”
Despite Clifton’s affinity for the construction, she also enjoyed the sunshine in the grass a few weeks ago, claiming she very easily found a place to situate outside.
“If you’re inventive, you can really find space anywhere,” Clifton said. “My friends and I managed to play spike ball over some peoples’ heads in Schenley Plaza. And they left after a few minutes, so really, it wasn’t that bad. Sometimes you just gotta stick it out until it clears up.”
2015 alum Nick Daniels was also in town during those lucky few days and found himself lamenting what
he missed out on, having graduated nearly a decade ago.
“When I come back and I see the sidewalks blocked off, that’s when I get jealous,” Daniels said. “That’s when I know I’m missing out.”
Daniels spent his time with a few other Pitt alumni navigating through students settled on the Cathedral lawn, until they gave up on finding a place to sit and ventured up to the Pete walkway to admire the construction in the green space formerly known as the bowl. The bowl has had its lawn overturned and razed in order to accommodate for Pitt’s Victory Heights project.
Daniels says he did not understand the concern about losing green space on campus.
“I mean, I saw green space everywhere, just like in my day,” Daniels said. “No one was out lounging on that little patch of grass right in front of the Pete. Why not there, huh?”
Resler, however, finds no inspiration in the idea of construction, calling it “exhausting.”
“I’ve been trying my hardest to find enjoyment in the handfuls of grass that have popped up from the mulch behind Hillman, but it does very little for me,” Resler said.
Resler, like many students, chose to attend Pitt because of its pleasant mix of urban living and nature on campus. She and her parents found the campus a charming place that met Resler’s needs of both a good education and a connection to nature. But as a student here, Resler has realized it just hasn’t been enough.
“When nice days happen, it really just goes to show that there isn’t enough green space for everyone,” Resler said on the subject of Schenley Plaza being too crowded. “And the University is not making attempts to accommodate us all.”
Resler has found the increasing lack of green space in Oakland, including the UPMC construction project on Fifth Avenue and De Soto Street, has negatively affected her mental health. She laments the lack of opportunities
The winners of The Pitt News’ “Best Of” survey are in, but there’s always more love to share. Fortunately, the opinions staff are here to advocate for the underdogs who fell just short — or incredibly short — of winning our paper’s prestigious award. It may not seem like it, but you will someday tire of Cane’s or Redhawk or Hillman Library. When that day comes, you’ll thank your lucky stars you have a handy B-list of underappreciated Pittsburgh attractions.
Layne’s Chicken Fingers // Thomas Riley, Opinions Editor
Yes, I am a Layne’s apologist. Everyone loves Cane’s, and I doubt anyone is surprised they won Best Chicken this year, but I would hate to see Layne’s left in the dust.
Layne’s was there for us for the 1 1/2 months leading up to Cane’s grand opening. Is their breading not quite as crispy as Cane’s? Yes. Is their astronaut-chicken mascot a little strange? Certainly. Did their app not work for half
See Underdogs on page 10
to look at nature on the way to class everyday.
However, Clifton and Daniels did not express the same concerns about the connection between mental health and green space.
Daniels expressed sympathy for the sports teams whose primary practice facilities will be located in the new Victory Heights building upon its completion.
“Has anyone thought about the mental health of stu-
dents who have to walk all the way to the Fitzgerald to practice?” Daniels said. “I just think we need to think about how we’re helping athletes. Because no one wants to think about them, but someone’s gotta.”
Clifton justified the University’s construction.
“I mean, it’s about progress. Maybe we’re losing mental health, but in the end, we’re balancing it out with progress. That’s improvement.”
Daniels also expressed concerns about students’ physical health. “I mean, some people are actually allergic to grass, so… I think it’s probably good that there’s less.”
Anna would like to remind everyone that Schenley Plaza was a parking lot once in Pittsburgh’s not-too-distant history. It’s never too late to reinstall green space. You can reach her at ane45@pitt.edu.
a year, causing me to miss out on two free meal rewards? Sure.
But their fries are better than Cane’s! And they have a clock on the wall labeled “Somewhere” that’s always set to 5 p.m., which made me nudge my friend and say, “Heh, look at that.” It’s also worth mentioning they did come before Cane’s — and not just to Pittsburgh. Cane’s was founded in 1996, but Layne’s was born in 1994. It really doesn’t matter that much, but sometimes people say Layne’s is a knock-off of Cane’s, and I simply can’t bear witness to this blatant historical revisionism.
If I can’t get you to try their chicken, at least grab a milkshake. The prices are reasonable, and the salted caramel flavor is a banger. And to the manager of Layne’s, if you’re reading this, please give me a free three-piece
meal. What’s the point of having a birthday if I can’t celebrate by using my in-app reward?
Frick Fine Arts and Cathedral of Learning // Irene Moran, Staff Columnist
I’m admitting it, I do not enjoy studying in Hillman. I have been in Hillman a solid three times to do my work since starting university. Those three times I was there, I only went because my friend wanted me to go with her, not because I wanted to.
I’m not a fan of the lighting in Hillman. It reminds me of a hospital, something I obviously don’t want to be reminded of. I prefer a dim setting to study and do my work in, not bright fluorescent bulbs. This is why I prefer to go to Frick or the Cathedral of Learning to do my work. Frick Library may be small, but every time I have been there, I was able to get a seat and do my work.
Now, when it comes to the Cathedral, you can go
almost anywhere. When I see that a nationality room is open, I go in there. When I see that a little corner table is open, I go there. Some people might think that the Cathedral gets too loud at times, but there are so many different floors that you can go to. All you have to do is pick a spot, put your headphones on, do your work and let the ambiance fuel you.
When I’m in Frick or the Cathedral, I always do my work. I tend to not get distracted as much as I do in Hillman. I get distracted pretty easily, but I will lock in and do my homework when I’m in a good study space like Frick or the Cathedral.
Clay Coast // Livia LaMarca, Assistant Opinions Editor
Around this time last year, I had the privilege of going to vote at the Pitt Factor competition on behalf of The Pitt News — an event that chose the opening act to Carlie Rae Jepsen’s concert at the Bigelow Bash. Everyone there was outstanding. There were multiple dance groups, bands and artists showcasing the unbelievable talent that exists on Pitt’s campus. However, one group stood out among the rest and took home the win. And while that one group may not have won TPN’s Best Of competition this year, they are always a winner in my heart.
Clay Coast is a local band here in Pittsburgh with a sound that resonates with fans of Lawrence, Owl City and the Beatles. I watched them perform a year ago now
museum, an 18th century house called Clayton, a car and carriage museum and gardens. Art, however, is my forte, so I will be advocating for the art museum facet of The Frick Pittsburgh.
The Frick offers an art collection featuring Renaissance and other European art as well as Chinese porcelain, finely crafted furniture and antique clothing, many of which were collected by Henry Clay Frick and his daughter Helen. The galleries at the Frick feature richly decorated walls and warm lighting that makes the gold frames of the art shimmer. While I appreciate the merits of all-white walls when presenting art, there’s something truly enchanting about the effects that deep, richly colored walls have on the color schemes of artworks. If you like old buildings as much as me, you’ll truly get a kick out of the creaky floors and bespoke wood paneling. The vibe — dark academia meets Pittsburgh philanthropists with money to burn and a serious appreciation for jewel tones.
The permanent collection of the Frick Art Museum, as well as the grounds and the Car and Carriage museum, has free entry. If you’re willing to pay, special exhibition tickets are priced at $20 per student. While I consider that to be somewhat pricey, I was impressed by the curatorial expertise when I bought the ticket myself to see the special exhibition. I hate to say it, but art is expensive. If you know you’d enjoy the exhibit, the ticket is worth the price. So go catch that 69 bus and explore a
but have been stalking their Instagram page since, and their success is palpable. From what I recall from the Pitt Factor event, their stage presence was unmatched and their talent extreme. They brought down the house particularly with a groovy cover of Owl City’s “Fireflies,” a song that resonates with all us Gen Zers. As a longtime singer and musician myself, along with being a huge fan of funk music, I remember absolutely adoring the group for their unique use of the trumpet — an instrument not necessarily seen in the underground Pittsburgh music scene. They are fun, vivacious and, in their own words, “vibey.” With original songs and unorthodox covers of hits we all know and love, Clay Coast stands as a perfect addition to the vibrant Pittsburgh and Oakland music scenes.
Since their opening act for Jepsen, Clay Coast has had a steady performance schedule and played a little over a month ago at the inaugural Post Genre show. Along with that, they have released a slew of original music, including an EP titled “Clocked Out.” Definitely check them out if you are looking for a groovy, funky band in the Pittsburgh area.
The Frick Pittsburgh // Anna Ehlers, Contributing Editor
Out in the Point Breeze neighborhood, The Frick Pittsburgh features a plethora of interests — an art
hidden corner of your city!
Clay Coast performs at “Live from Oakland: Genesis” in Atwood Church on Feb. 3.
Ethan Shulman | Visual EditorPA Taco Co. // Delaney Rauscher Adams, Staff Columnist
My strong yet shockingly unpopular opinion is that PA Taco Co. is the best Pitt Eats meal swap location. I have been consistently surprised at people’s distaste for the taco place, as I often find myself frequenting the WPU for a bowl or chips and salsa.
The Union food court is the easiest and most central location for meal swaps, and out of the options available, I typically gravitate towards PA Taco Co. when choosing where to order from. The wait for mobile orders is almost never as long as Create or Wicked Pie, but the quality is just as good. From a chips and dip snack to a more filling meal, there is a good variety of options to choose from with the ingredients they offer. The bowls that come with the meal plan combo are yummy and are even better if you add on a side of chips. I can’t say they have the best guacamole in town, but I am a fan of the queso and love to add it on. Even if you aren’t into tacos, grabbing a fresh lemonade is always another great option.
We all know that Pitt dining locations aren’t always the most budget friendly, but PA Taco Co. always feels like enough food and is my favorite way to treat myself to a little break from the Eatery.
