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Protractors, pg. 33 be an art project of sorts. The more he searched and found, the less he felt like there was a grand plan behind the whole thing, and the more it looked like a unique sort of graffiti tag. The slight elevation of the protractors puts a twist on normal graffiti. Unlike a usual tag, the protractors stick out physically. “The protractors have a little bit of relief and color, taking what would be a normal graffiti tag and making it special,” Lidji said. The protractors have enough of an air of mystery to them that they keep people intrigued, and hunting for them even seems to be a hobby for some. For Lidji, he simply said that they’re fun to find. Lidji says that even though he stopped searching for more protractors around 2013 — about four years ago — he still gets calls and emails about them every spring. “It’s clear that people like to explore cit-
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ies,” Lidji said. “And Pittsburgh is a really good city for exploring. It will reward your efforts. And this is a small appetizer to a much larger meal.” As the weather grows warmer, the search for protractors is a great way to get out and move through the city on foot or bike and to potentially find something new. However, the protractors may not be permanent. Even as Lidji was still looking for them, some were disappearing, whether they were taken down with only the outline of glue remaining or were painted over, the protractor’s form still visible underneath the fresh coloring. While Lidji doesn’t seem to have any plans to go hunting for protractors again anytime soon, he talks about what it might be like to go back to the spots where the protractors were found to see what has changed. “It becomes a way of watching the city change,” Lidji said. “You could do it without the protractors, but it’s a lot more fun with them.”
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Xanax, pg. 13 fects allow people with anxiety to feel less worried and anxious throughout the day. Key to its success is following the doctor’s recommendations, though — do not crush the tablet up, take only the recommended dose and do not take extra medication to make up for a missed dose. But abusing the drug recreationally might render it ineffective at delivering its calming benefits, and perhaps even make it worse. “When someone takes [benzodiazepines, like Xanax] to relax, it becomes much more difficult for them to cope with traumatic events without the drug,” said Dr. Jody Glance, a Pitt psychiatry professor and addiction expert. “Interestingly enough, as someone takes more anti-anxiety medication, their level of anxiety increases when they are sober, making them more likely to get addicted to it.” When addiction strikes, it’s frightening. And on campus, it’s even worse — students are more susceptible than adults to become addicted to the substance, and not just because of the increased rates of recreational use. Dr. Erika Forbes, a psychiatry and pediatrics professor who is currently conducting research on substance abuse in young adult brains, notes how and why certain brains are more susceptible to addiction. “Who ends up becoming dependent on substances later in their lives can be attributed to a variety of factors — home environment, location, as well as dependency toward friendship,” she said. “We’ve found that there is a different pattern of brain function when someone is with a close friend. They are actually more likely to do something with that person than without them because the brain rewards them differently.” This is why Xanax is so dangerous for a demographic like students. In an environment where you are in charge of yourself — maybe for the first time — and constantly surrounded by close friends, taking a small pill with your buddy does not seem like a big deal. Your brain rewards you for fitting in and having fun with your friends, but quickly your body begins to crave both highs until they become indistinguishable from one another. That is when the addiction really begins, and you start becoming less and less like the person you were. Xanax has become the bane of many students time here at Pitt. Personally, I know multiple schoolmates who have
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been forced to leave the University because of benzo addictions. It was sad, watching some of my closest friends spiral out of control and lose sight of why they were here. If we want to grow as individuals, we must learn to cope and deal with the negative in the world. Modern medicine has given us so many miracles, but not everything can be solved with a pill and a gulp of liquor. Just try to remember that before you give the sketchy guy at a party $5 for what’s in his hand.
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Fashion, pg. 61 magazines and TV shows like “Mad Men.” “Once I started getting involved with the more custom end of things, I got a lot more creative,” Connor said. “My style became much more of what I think is cool as opposed to whatever GQ tells you to wear.” Connor said that although he works for a suit shop, he never wants anyone to think that his look is corporate. On his suit, Connor wears crazy colors and details, like his sky-blue suit with brown stitching. “There’s obviously some trends that I like or follow, but I think for the most part, I’m doing me,” Connor said.
ing a spot in Connor’s wardrobe, there’s little to none. “I have like one Pitt hoodie. Sometimes I wear it when it’s cold in my house or something,” Connor said. Despite those that choose to wear Pitt gear elsewhere, or only when it’s cold, there is no shortage of school spirit at school. Donnie Moses, a Market Central chef, said that while he sees a bit of every style, nothing is as common as Pitt gear. In fact, Moses confirmed he would know he was at Pitt’s campus just from all of the clothing. “I get excited seeing all of the para-
phernalia,” Moses said. “Every time I’m interacting with a student, it’s a Pitt hat or T-shirt — a lot of people support it. I see it every day all day.” Our Single Similarity I remember the days when I used to pick out my outfit the night before. I suppose I still do, if you count purposely sleeping in the next day’s outfit to save time in the morning. I remember the days when I put my hair in curlers before bed instead of befriending good old dry shampoo. Or my favorite — the days trying on double digit amount
of outfits before leaving the house wearing one that I’m only partially satisfied with. Such distant memories. There’s not much to say — cleary, college has changed me. As my wardrobe is fit to me, others’ wardrobes are fit to themselves. Even as I see someone wearing strictly thrift store clothing, a Plain Jane with a grey romper or a guy in a bright blue suit — we’re students all the same. When it comes to fashion at Pitt, I fit in without matching a single person. Compare any two Pitt students, and the single similarity is diversity. Talk about style.
Go Panthers! At Pitt, you’re likely to see more than a few shirts and baseball caps donning the school’s logo on campus. Some students wear their Pitt gear to class — like me. Some wear their gear outside of the Burgh’. Others, well, they just don’t wear any at all. Steele isn’t likely to be seen wearing the Pitt label on campus. Despite owning numerous Pitt tees, Steele said that she tends to only wear them to represent the University when she’s off-campus. And when it comes to Pitt gear secur-
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Roommates, pg. 38 As with any tepid relationship, there were tensions when I began branching out. But eventually, my roommate followed suit, and we were content with just being cordial roommates. And that was another thing I needed to realize — the best way to approach the situation was to enter with an open mind. I learned that rigid expectations set you up for failure, and when it comes to roommates, you shouldn’t expect that you’ll be best friends. You can and should hope for the best, but there’s no need to be disappointed if there’s no spark. Compromise is key not only in reconciling the quality of your relationship, but also in menial, day to day tasks. To achieve this type of compromise, you’ll want to have some crucial conversations early on into your relationship to make certain there are no major problems. This starts with the obvious telling each other of your sleeping, eating and cleaning habits, and making a loose schedule for how often you will clean the room and what parts of the room each of you are responsible for. You’ll want to figure out a system for a “lights out” time if one of you goes to bed earlier than the other. If one of you still needs to stay up to study, the dorms have study spaces and lounges that can be used at any time. Like I experienced, there will inevitably be things about your roommate that bother you. As with any relationship, communicating these issues openly allows you to better mitigate arguments and disagreements. Though it may be difficult, the best way to deal with problems is to talk them out before they are magnified by unspoken disatisfaction. Bringing up these tensions is awkward, just like everything else about college life at first. The campus, the room organization, the coursework — dealing with all of it is sometimes awkward at best, and anxiety-inducing at worst. Intimate guests in the room will become another awkward subject if you don’t discuss them. My roommate and I followed a system of texting each other in advance if a guest was over. Systems sometimes fail though, and you must remember that in situations like these, everyone’s embarrassed — just forgive and try to forget.
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Thrifting, pg. 72 science and urban studies, explained the multidisciplinary approach that the Pitt Pantry uses to reduce food insecurity on campus. “We try to supply students with aid beyond just giving them food,” Smith said. “We’ll also hold home-winterizing workshops and do stuff like send them information about stores holding sales.” The Pitt Pantry also pushes students to coupon for themselves. Minimalist living can reduce costs, but there are also some items — mainly items concerning personal hygiene — that are necessities. It’s great to have coupons for things like soap or toothpaste in order to save a few bucks. When students can’t use the pantry, campus has numerous opportunities to stock up on free food. College is one of the few places where it’s possible to score a free lunch every once in awhile. Smart students often choose to have Tupperware handy too, so that at any given moment, they can snag some free sandwiches leftover from an event in the Union. Once again, there’s a Facebook group for this — find free food on “Pitt FoodShare.” Unfortunately, free food alone can’t sustain students, and, at some point, buying food is necessary. Grocery shopping on a limited budget is possible if the shopper makes smart food decisions. Just because a food item is generic doesn’t mean it’s any less filling than the more expensive name brands. Money-concerned students are much happier after acquiring a taste for the beverages and foods that their wallets can afford. Aldi, a German-born grocery store, is a particularly good place to find cheap storebrand food items with easily accessible locations in East Liberty and the South Side. Although spending money is against the thrifting way, the cheapest spending vehicle is through cash. When going out, frugal students only take cash that they’re willing to spend and leave credit cards at home. Spending $150 at Hem’s or buying five Antoon’s pizzas in one night won’t look great to parents, the bank or a credit score. Thankfully, the Pittsburgh community often aids thrifty living by offering student discounts. Entrance to the Andy Warhol Museum, the Carnegie Museum of Art and Natural History, the Carnegie Science Center, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Senator John Heinz History Center and Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and Museum are all free with a Pitt ID during the academic year. It also never hurts to ask retail stores if they offer a discount to students — Q’doba, Goodwill and the Pittsburgh Opera are just a few examples of businesses that offer reduced prices to students. A Pitt ID is additionally useful for cheap transportation. Uber, Lyft, Sidecar, Curb and Hailo are not necessary apps for Pitt students
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since transportation cost is included in tuition. Smart spenders take advantage of the free bus fare that comes with a Pitt ID — many of the busiest bus lines in Pittsburgh, including all the 61 and 71 lines, pass through Oakland. However, sometimes it can be hard to avoid hopping in an Uber late at night after the busses stop running. Economical living opens up a world of possibilities to students who feel restricted by their empty bank accounts. Living a cost-effective day-to-day ensures that Pitt students can have spending money that is necessary to fully appreciate both Pittsburgh and the Pitt community.
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Tower C, pg. 63 These lounges are on every third floor, a benefit that all of the Towers have but the residents of Tower C might appreciate the most. I was able to communicate, bond and interact with my floormates while watching movies, playing video games or laughing our heads off during rounds of our favorite satire card game, Cards Against Humanity. It may sound silly, but the mantra “open doors means happy floors” holds true — by keeping your door open, you’re inviting friendship and giving yourself the opportunity to meet new people. And living in a single makes this even easier — you alone get to decide whether the door’s open or not. This puts you more in control than living with a roommate ever could. As for not having a roommate, I ended up appreciating it more and more as the year went on. I am someone who tends to be distracted very easily, so usually I would need to find an area where I can study in peace and quiet. For some students with noisy roommates or roommates whose sleep schedules don’t line up, this often exiles the studier to a communal lounge. It was far easier to sit down and be productive knowing I had a place that was all mine. Of course, life in Tower C wasn’t perfect by any stretch of the imagination. But in reality, none of the Towers are when compared to the University’s newer dorms. There are some less-than-ideal aspects of Tower C. Sometimes only one elevator will be active and you might end up with a noisy floormate — but I’ve learned to appreciate what doing a few flights of stairs every day can do for my cardio, and the only thing worse than a noisy floormate is a noisy roommate. Despite these inconveniences, living in Tower C is far from the lonely depressing lifestyle that students may think about when they consider living in a single dorm. If you simply stay in your room all day, doing nothing but studying or watching Netflix, then of course you will lead a lonely life. But if you keep your doors open — literally and figuratively — you’ll make friends, find out what interests you and have a positive experience. And hopefully in the end you, like me, will reflect and realize that Tower C is what made it all possible. Thomas primarily writes about visual media and gaming for the Pitt News. Write to Thomas at tmw79@pitt.edu.
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COLLEGE MAGNIFIES EATING DISORDERS, LEARN TO SEE THE SIGNS Elise Lavalle Columnist
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it’s easy to group all eating disorders into a single category. But in reality, unhealthy attitudes toward food can vary drastically, and recognizing the signs and symptoms of the various kinds of eating disorders can be challenging. Anorexia nervosa is characterized by inadequate food intake to maintain or lose weight, the result of an intense, irrational fear of weight gain. Individuals with anorexia will sometimes skip meals and intensively monitor their calorie intake, and the fear of weight gain often drives strenuous exercise, which can be irreversibly damaging to someone’s undernourished body. Bulimia nervosa affects one to three percent of young women. It’s characterized by purging habits including vomiting, laxative and diuretic abuse, which can lead to adverse side effects like tooth decay and dehydration. Because purging See Eating Disorders on page 84
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Liam McFadden STAFF ILLUSTRATOR
$0.93. That’s the value of all the research done per person on eating disorders in 2011, compared to the $44 per individual on autism or $81 per person on schizophrenia. Yet the Academy for Eating Disorders reports the risk of death for those with anorexia nervosa is three times higher than it is for someone suffering from depression, schizophrenia or alcoholism — putting it 12 times higher than that of the general population. Recent efforts to spread awareness about eating disorders as serious mental health conditions have made an impact, but still only one in 10 of nearly 30 million individuals affected by an eating disorder in the United States will receive treatment. So the conversation needs to change. It’s time for students — the demographic most susceptible to eating disorders — to
recognize the signs and symptoms of eating disorders, and it’s on Pitt to provide people with the information they need to get the help they deserve. Full-blown eating disorders frequently develop between the ages of 18 to 21, because individuals at this age are often separated from their home environments. Away from home for the first time, they may not realize how detrimental their actions are for their health, have the courage to seek help or know where to go to find it. The root cause of eating disorders varies for each individual. For some, it’s due to a pre-existing psychiatric illness — for others, it might be genetics. But there are common social, psychological and interpersonal stressors that can worsen an individual’s symptoms, such as low levels of self-esteem, anger, stress or loneliness. Among these social stressors is a cultural association that thin means beautiful. And because they have similar causes,
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Eating Disorders, pg. 83 happens in secrecy, bulimia can be harder to spot than anorexia. But some signs are clear — if someone is frequenting the bathroom after eating or has a persistently sore throat, these could be signs of bulimia nervosa. If someone has abnormal attitudes toward eating that don’t directly point to anorexia or bulimia, they have an eating disorder not otherwise specified. The Academy for Eating Disorders adds that despite professional guidelines for diag-
nosing eating disorders, unhealthy eating behaviors can exist on a spectrum, and are capable of causing damaging mental and physical distress. If you think you recognize the signs or symptoms of an eating disorder in yourself or someone you know, it’s important to understand that eating disorders are not a choice. When encouraging someone to seek help for an eating disorder, do not ask them why they are “making” themselves sick or refusing to eat. Do not make it seem as if they are at fault for their eating disorder — this can make them more skeptical to get help. Here at Pitt, counseling center employees and on campus nutritionist are trained to recognize eating disorders and connect students to the help that they need. But this is reactionary aid to people struggling with real mental health issues — if someone doesn’t seek treatment, there’s no way that they’re connected with it. And treatment is often the only option for people with severe eating disorders. The Academy for Eating Disorders states that early detection is associated with a better chance of recovery, and treatment is more than 50 percent effective in leading to a full recovery. In addition to the counseling services Pitt offers, there should be much more visible information regarding available treatment options or referral services. The Student Health Center website currently includes a brief section to assist parents who think their child may have an eating disorder, but there’s no page dedicated to providing information to students. And things like these are easy fixes — information like this can be life-saving. Educating people about the dangers surrounding the serious mental illness that are eating disorders will give people the best shot at recognizing and treating them. Editor’s note: If you feel as though you may be at risk of having an eating disorder, the NEDA helpline (800) 931-2237 is available daily from 9AM to 9PM on weekdays and 9 AM to 5PM on weekends. If your symptoms are coupled with suicidal thoughts please seek help immediately. Elise primarily writes about education and environmental issues for The Pitt News. Write to Elise at eml94@pitt.edu.
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When hitting the sheets, communication makes it easy Christian Snyder Opinions Editor
If there’s one thing that movies get right about college, it’s that people have sex. In fact, in one study published in the Review of General Psychology, over 60 percent of college students in North America reported having some kind of sexual “hookup” experience. But of course, there’s the other 40 percent. For any number of reasons, like religious commitments, sexual orientations or medical circumstances, many people choose not to have sex, or to simply wait. But for those of you who choose to be sexually active, you’ll find yourself sooner or later in the heat of the moment — and hopefully your parents prepared you for it with a
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typical “birds and the bees” conversation. Or maybe you’ve had open conversations with more knowledgeable friends or even sought out resources about safe sex from sources such as Go Ask Alice, a Columbia University online portal for health education with a comprehensive section on sexual health. But if you’re like any of the 23 percent of students that received an abstinence-only sex education in public high school, you might simply not know what to do. At a time when the culture around sex is progressing — in the early 1970s, only 29 percent of adult Americans approved of premarital sex, compared to the 58 percent in 2012 that said it was “not wrong at all” — the conversation around sex must progress too. The first place to start is way
before the bedroom, whether that means discussing contraceptive options with your doctor or becoming familiar with yourself and your sexuality. When you find yourself with a partner, however, the theme of every encounter needs to be consent. Everyone’s preferences and boundaries must be respected, and consent must be present throughout the entire encounter. Whether it’s with a long-term partner or someone you met just hours earlier, if the answer is no, then the answer is no. But this conversation must include more than a simple yes or no question. After first establishing consent, both parties must agree on the types of protection used — a conversation that ensures a safe and pleasurable experience for all See Sex on page 89
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Sex, pg. 88 parties. And protection goes far beyond reducing the risk of pregnancy — all sexual encounters run the risk of transmitting sexually transmitted infections. Male condoms, female condoms and latex dental dams all reduce the risk of transmitting STIs between sexual partners. If you’ve decided to use condoms to reduce the risk of pregnancy — which you should, given that they’re 98 percent effective in reducing both the risk of pregnancy and STIs if used properly — you can get some for free at Pitt’s Student Health Center, located in Nordenberg Hall. But condoms aren’t for everyone, and in reality, not everyone uses them. Only 60 percent of teenagers report using condoms regularly, and one of the primary reasons is due to a reduction in pleasure. Other people simply prefer alternative forms of protection. What’s most important is to have clear communication with potential sexual partners about the type of contraception you will use. All partners are equally responsible for considering and acquiring contraception. Condoms and dental dams, which are the only methods of protection that reduce the risk of sexually transmitted infections, should always be used with new sexual partners if you’re unsure if they’ve been tested for STIs. But there are many other forms of pregnancy prevention available for women, ranging from the 91 percent effective birth control pill to the 99 percent effective intrauterine device. Planned Parenthood even has an online quiz available that tells you what kind of birth control is best for you. Once you’ve covered your contraceptive bases and know that the encounter will be safe and consensual, it’s time to hit the sheets. This is where the fun can begin — since you’ve established a norm of open communication, you have the chance to explain and explore your and your partner’s preferences. While exploring, it’s absolutely necessary that consent is continually obtained and each party’s boundaries are respected. But remember — the entire experience should be enjoyable for all parties, whether it’s your first or umpteenth time in bed. And if it’s not, having open communication allows you to put an end to anything you’re not comfortable with. It may seem awkward at first, but asserting boundaries of respect for each other will
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make conversations about preferences seem like a natural progression. Since you’re at Pitt now, there are plenty of resources available to you to facilitate healthy sexual experiences. The Student Health Center has much more than just condoms available, including everything from birth control and IUD prescriptions to testing for common STIs and HIV. But many don’t have positive sexual experiences in college, particularly women. Approximately one in five women report being sexually assaulted while See Sex on page 90
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Sex, pg. 89 at college, compared to one in 20 men. If you or someone you know is sexually assaulted, Student Health Services provides assessments for the various risks associated, as well as referrals to mental health specialists to help survivors deal with this trauma. Thankfully, these resources are at every Pitt student’s disposal. In tandem with open channels of communication with your partners, taking advantage of them allows you to direct your sexual experience positively. And by making
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open communication the norm, you can do your part to change the conversation around sex to better educate and empower our generation.
Christian primarily writes on social justice and campus issues for The Pitt News. Write to Christian at cjs197@pitt.edu.
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