The Pitt News
The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | june 6, 2018 | Volume 109 | Issue 5
FORMER PITT WRESTLING COACH JASON PETERS SUES PITT
THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL, PG. 7
Grant Burgman News Editor Former Pitt wrestling coach Jason Peters has filed a federal lawsuit against the University of Pittsburgh for racial discrimination and termination without just cause after he was fired last January. In the lawsuit, Peters claims Pitt violated his employment contract by firing him “without ‘just cause,’” according to a redacted version of the lawsuit filed Monday. The lawsuit also alleges racial bias, saying Peters, who is black, was “discharged and otherwise discriminated against on the basis of his race.” A University spokesperson said Pitt does not comment on pending litigation. Peters was fired from the position of head coach Jan. 19, 2017, amid controversy surrounding an incident which took place during winter break. While the team was competing in a tournament in Evanston, Illinois, local police responded to a call at a hotel from a 22-year-old man. He said one of his two 19-year-old friends had $100 stolen from him, and law enforcement said the suspects were three women whom the men had met on backpage.com — a now-defunct classified advertisement website popular among sex workers, which federal authorities seized in April as part of a sex trafficking investigation. Law enforcement never released the identities of the three men, who chose not to pursue charges. Pitt suspended Peters and three wrestlers on the team Jan. 13, 2017. Administration
A girl sits at a face painting stand at the Three Rivers Arts Festival Monday afternoon. Anne Amundson|STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
PITT PROTESTERS PRESSURE PEDUTO ON SHELL PLANT Jonathan Kunitsky For The Pitt News
The seven-year-long battle over an ethane cracker plant between Shell Chemical, the petrochemicals arm of Royal Dutch Shell, and clean-climate activists took another turn Friday morning when a group of Pitt alumni and current students took to the Smithfield Street Bridge to drop a banner in protest of the company’s proposed ethane cracker plant being built in Beaver County. The 30-foot-long banner, constructed from donated bed sheets, fell westward at 8 a.m., facing Point State Park. It read, “PEDUTO, STAND WITH PARIS, STAND WITH PGH, STAND AGAINST See Peters Sues on page 4 SHELL CRACKER PLANT.”
The protest came exactly one year after Mayor Bill Peduto assured Pittsburgh in a tweet that the city would “follow the guidelines of the Paris Agreement for our people, our economy & future.” Shell announced its plan to begin building a world-scale ethane cracker in 2011, but plans weren’t finalized until the company received emissions permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection in June 2015. The plant will function as a production facility that “cracks” oil and natural gas to create ethylene, a flammable hydrocarbon widely used in the manufacturing of plastics, antifreeze solutions and solvents. It sits along the Ohio River in Potter Township, Beaver County —
roughly 35 miles northwest of Pittsburgh and one mile from the nearest residential area. Friday’s protest was organized by Free the Planet, a student environmental organization at Pitt that works to educate the public about critical environmental issues both on and off campus. Members from United Students Against Sweatshops and Fossil Free Pitt Coalition were also present at the protest. Maura Deely is a rising senior majoring in Environmental Science and helped organize the banner drop with Pitt graduate Gerard Tessier. She said the cracker plant is a danger to the climate, and Pittsburgh specifically, due to its proximity to See Shell Plant on page 3
CORRECTION: In The Pitt News’ May 23 print edition, Kathy Humphrey was incorrectly called Pitt’s ex-senior vice chancellor for engagement. Humphrey is Pitt’s current senior vice chancellor for engagement. The Pitt News regrets this error.
News
PEDUTO, FITZGERALD FACE QUESTIONS AT TOWN HALL Madeline Gavatorta
Staff Writer Citizens had a chance to address pressing issues like Amazon, small businesses and the ethane plant in Beaver County with some of Pittsburgh’s most important figures — Mayor Bill Peduto and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald — Monday night at Union Project in Highland Park. Peduto, Fitzgerald and mediator Pascale Joseph, sat at the front of the Union Project’s room with an audience of 80 people — a mix of Pittsburgh’s Urban Magnet Project members who got in for free and nonmembers who paid $10 for entry. Joseph sits on the board of directors for PUMP — an organization aimed at increasing diversity and community involvement. Arthur Pang, the chair of PUMP’s board of directors, said that the organization’s 30,000 members wanted to hear about the transit system, sustainability and voter education. “Those topics are important to bring up because the question of how do we attract and attain top talent here, and how do we make this a city for all,” Pang said. “We’ve got a lot of great institutions at the university level, but there are challenges at secondary education.” PUMP organized the event in conjunction with the Urban League Young Professionals of Greater Pittsburgh, a volunteer auxiliary of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh that helps African Americans “secure economic self-reliance, parity and power, and civil rights,” according to its website. Both were asked 10 questions in total, a combination of prepared questions and audience questions from blank cards that were offered at the event. The event was Facebook live-streamed by PUMP and is available on its Facebook page. ULYP President Shenay Jeffrey said African American representation and inclusion is essential, which is why it’s important they were represented at the town hall.
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“We still have a lot of work to do to make sure [African Americans] are included, to make sure that their voices and their needs are heard on every front, but also to be represented in those spaces,” Jeffrey said. “Making sure they are represented in politics ... in housing, in health, in education all of those things, we want to make sure we’re there making sure we help shape the policy.” Fitzgerald and Peduto both said they support Amazon’s potential arrival in Pittsburgh, but specified they want to ensure the City benefits from the deal. Peduto said he wouldn’t support the bid if it didn’t help Pittsburgh, and Fitzgerald said that Amazon would help pay for the City’s needs, such as its water lines. “The other thing with adding 50,000 jobs, which obviously there is a multiplier effect that would bring more in, allows us to broaden out the tax base and the rate payer race to pay for a lot of the infrastructure needs,” Fitzgerald said. The pair also discussed the Shell Gas ethane cracker plant in Beaver County, which a group of Pitt students protested last week. Fitzgerald supported the plant but said the environment also needs protected according to EPA and DEP regulations. Peduto said air quality was important to him and pointed out that because Beaver County is not within his jurisdiction, his voice on the matter does not have much weight — and could even hurt environmental progress in Pittsburgh. “When I look from help from the federal government in the Department of Energy, a congressman who is upset because I spoke out where he represents is not going to help me,” Peduto said. Both Peduto and Fitzgerald were asked at the end of the town hall about what they’re most excited to be working on. Fitzgerald said he has been excited to see young people coming to Pittsburgh and staying, saying that when he graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in 1981 that was not the case.
Alleghany County Executive Rich Fitzgerald (left) and Mayor Bill Peduto discussed Amazon, small businesses and Beaver County’s cracker plant in a town hall attended by 80 people Monday evening. Jonathan Kunitsky|STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER “It’s really been in the last five to 10 years native and took notes during the event, said she that we’ve seen a resurgence of young people came because she believes it is important to staying and young people coming here, and I know what is going on in the community pothink energy and optimism about Pittsburgh’s litically — especially since she is 25 years old future is what I most get excited about,” Fitzger- and one of the young Pittsburghers Fitzgerald was talking about. ald said. “For me, it was just good to sit and hear In turn, Peduto said he has been proud of how Pittsburgh came out of a 30-year decline the questions that I care about and those be and his opportunity to manage a city on the addressed by Mayor Peduto and Executive Fitzgerald,” Stephens said. “I get that it’s a comrise. “I’m very cognizant, though, that you have munity effort no matter what’s going on in the to manage with one foot on the gas pedal and City, and it just gave me a different perspective one foot on the brake,” Peduto said. “Growth to hear how they address things like energy or is very much like cholesterol, there is good things like early childhood development.” Stephens was inspired by the passion of the growth and there is bad growth, and making decisions on individual and independent community, noting the importance of public projects and programs is absolutely crucial in town halls like Monday’s. “We’re the ones who are going to be makunderstanding that there is no one size fits all and there is no magic tool that can fix all the ing the decisions for our lives, so I think that it’s important to come out and be involved. I saw problems.” Penn State history and political science that other people were involved too and that’s major Cheryl Stephens, who is a Highland Park really motivating,” Stephens said.
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the facility. “It is going to produce a lot of volatile organic compounds,” Deely said. “Some of which are carcinogens, and carbon dioxide, and so it’s going to mitigate the works of Pittsburgh and the climate action plan.” According to the Clean Air Council, the cracker plant is expected to emit 348 tons of nitrogen oxides, 30.4 tons of hazardous air pollutants, 71 tons of filterable particulate matter and over 1,000 tons of carbon monoxide per year. Human exposure to nitrogen oxides and particulate matter has been linked to increase risk of respiratory and cardiovascular symp-
“
Because it’s not just affecting [Peduto], it’s affecting all of us. Maura Deely Senior Environmental Science Major toms and increased mortality rates, as stated in the CAC’s Health Impact Assessment report. The CAC and Environmental Integrity Project filed a lawsuit against Shell in 2015 to appeal the DEP’s decision to award emissions permits. In response, Shell agreed to install four “fenceline” monitors — pollution detectors that will sit along the perimeter of the facility and notify the public when emissions exceed a certain threshold. Shell has also agreed to adhere to strict regulations on flaring, a process used to burn off pollutants. A spokesperson for Mayor Peduto said that the mayor is dedicated to protecting Pittsburgh’s climate after Friday’s protest in a statement emailed to The Pitt News. “The mayor is focused on our commitment to the Climate Action 3.0 Plan, which aims to reduce Pittsburgh’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2030,” the statement said. “[Peduto] cannot speak for the residents and the duly elected officials in Beaver County, just as they do not speak out about the policies Pittsburgh is establishing.”
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The Climate Action 3.0 Plan is a recently approved measure seeking to reduce Pittsburgh’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent within the next decade. Some of its goals include Pittsburgh totally divesting from fossil fuel companies, becoming waste-free and reducing water and energy usage. At a town hall event Monday evening, Peduto echoed his previous statement emailed to The Pitt News on Friday following the banner drop protest. “There is 100 percent support by the Democratic leadership of Beaver County and from the federal officials who are Republican,” Peduto said. “If I were to publicly denounce them, if I were to stand up and say there is no way that this can be built, it won’t stop the plant from being built. It will stop from all the initiatives that we are trying to do in Pittsburgh.” County Executive Rich Fitzgerald was also present at the town hall and openly supported the cracker plant. “For a place like Beaver County, which was flat on its back for 30 years, it’s given them a level of hope and optimism that they haven’t seen. Having said that, we have to make sure that the EPA and DEP hold their feet to the fire to make sure the environmental regulations that are in place … are there to protect the waterways of the Ohio River,” he said. Mark Dixon, 43, is an environmental filmmaker and activist who has lived in Pittsburgh since 2006 and was in attendance at Monday’s town hall. He said he is disappointed in Fitzgerald’s enthusiasm for the plant. “Fitzgerald’s encouragement on setting the region on a path of petrochemical expansion is in sharp contrast to the stated concerns and explicit and powerful warnings by the world’s scientists on climate,” Dixon said. “I think he’s setting up our region for a massive economic pitfall when the consequences of our climate-related actions come home to roost.” Deely shared Dixon’s concerns for the community as a whole, saying the purpose of the protest was to bring it to Peduto’s attention the breadth of people who will be affected by the plant. “We are trying to make him come out against the cracker plant,” Deely said. “Because it’s not just affecting [him], it’s affecting all of us. And all of these things are not going to stay within county lines.”
The Pitt news crossword 6/6/18
Shell Plant, pg. 1
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Peters Sues, pg. 1
Jason Peters worked as Pitt’s assistant wrestling coach for 10 years and head wrestling coach for four years before he and three wrestlers were suspended in January 2017. Peters fired a lawsuit against Pitt in federal court Monday alleging a breach of contract and racial discrimination. TPN FILE PHOTO
fired Peters Jan. 19, 2017, releasing a statement on the incident that same day linking Peters’ firing to the 2016 incident in Illinois.
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“On the morning of January 13, the Pitt Athletic Department became aware of an incident that took place during the wrestling team’s trip to Illinois for a competition on December 29-30,” the statement said. “An investigation was immediately launched and, while the details of that process will remain private, the university was compelled by its findings to make a change in the program’s leadership.” Peters’ lawyer, John Stemper, said that he doesn’t believe that Pitt had just cause to fire Peters. “He had a contract with Pitt that, like [former Pitt basketball head coach Kevin] Stallings’ [contract], it said you can only be fired for just cause and we don’t think there’s just cause. We don’t think he really did anything wrong,” Stemper said. The complaint is heavily redacted because Pitt contends it includes confidential information, according to a supplementary statement regarding the redactions. Peters’ attorneys say he “does not believe there is sufficient … basis to withhold the identified information about the University of Pittsburgh, a public institution, from the public docket.” In order to bring the case to a court,
Peters’ attorneys redacted the supposedly confidential information — but the supplementary statement says Peters will “file an un-redacted on June 15,” unless Pitt obtains a protective order. Information regarding “The Evanston Holiday Tournament,” as it is referred to in the complaint, is nearly all redacted. The complaint confirms that Peters traveled to Evanston in 2016 for the tournament and that he stayed in a room a floor above the team. The rest of the information regarding the tournament is withheld. A section following the tournament, called “Post-Tournament Events,” is also heavily redacted. The only non-redacted point in the section says, “from January 5 through January 13, 2017, neither [thensenior associate athletic director Marcus] Bowman nor anyone else from the Athletic Department contacted Peters nor said anything further about events in Evanston.” It is unclear from the redacted complaint what kind of contact Pitt and Peters had prior to Jan. 5. The complaint says Bowman had given Peters “assurances,” but later “turned against [him],” in a Jan. 17 meeting in which Bowman allegedly said, “Peters had
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not ‘properly responded’ in Evanston.” Two days later, Peters received a termination letter which “alleged that Peters ‘intentionally withheld information’ and that Pitt had ‘just cause’ for termination,” according to the complaint. Peters also alleges racial discrimination in the complaint, which says “Caucasian coaches at Pitt have not faced termination in similar situations …” It goes on to say “Caucasian coaches at Pitt involved in similar situations [redacted] have continued to be paid by the University.” The complaint also provides a redacted alleged instance of a Caucasian Pitt athletics employee who did not face termination in a situation involving “their own alleged misconduct.” According to the complaint, Pitt “deprived Peters of a hearing and chance to respond” to the allegations against him. The complaint seeks for Pitt to reinstate Peters to his position as head coach or award front pay. It also requests “compensatory damages including … amounts for pain, suffering, embarrassment, [and] humiliation.” Peters has not taken a job at another university since his firing. He is demanding a jury trial “on all claims so triable,” according to the complaint.
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Opinions
ELEPHANT SANCTUARIES: BETTER, SAFER HOMES THAN ZOOS
from the editorial board
Supreme Court decision hurts LGBTQ+ rights The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed “hostility” toward a local baker when it decided he had discriminated against gay couple by refusing to bake a cake for their wedding in 2012. The ruling avoided a larger question the case presented, which is whether Jack Phillips, the baker in question, had a First Amendment right to refuse his services to David Mullins and his fiance Charlie Craig. The Supreme Court’s ultimate 7-2 ruling was decidedly narrow — it held that “religious and philosophical objections to gay marriage are protected views,” but also reinforced that business owners cannot otherwise deny equal access to goods and services. The Court stated in its ruling that it may face this constitutional question in the future, implying that Monday’s decision was not the final say in the matter — but if the Court had ruled differently, it could have been a needed legal victory for LGBTQ+ people in the United States. One of the main arguments presented in the case was that Phillips’ refusal to sell Mullins and Craig a cake was protected by his religious rights. But the cake the couple requested would not actually have been infringing upon Phillips’ rights — it was to be an ordinary confection, free of any sayings or images. As Justice Elena Kagan noted in her separate concurring opinion, Philips was refusing to sell a cake that was “suitable for use at same-sex and opposite-sex weddings.” Instead, Phillips’ issue was with the two men engaged to be married. He denied them a specific type of cake he would have willingly made for hetero-
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sexual couples, determining that creating the product would be offensive to his religion based on the identity of those requesting it. The ruling comes at a time when LGBTQ+ individuals still face discrimination in the public and private sectors. Several states still do not expressly bar discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Some, such as Virginia and Michigan, have laws permitting private foster care and adoption agencies to discriminate against children and potential parents based on the providers’ moral or religious objections. Mental health professionals in Tennessee can legally turn away clients who violate their “principles.” The ruling may also galvanize more discriminatory cases and laws. Despite the Court’s recognition that religious exemptions from anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination are inconsistent with equality for LGBTQ+ people, other courts may use the case as a benchmark in other arguments about civil rights. And several are being argued right now — a Washington state parent is suing her employer for refusing to provide insurance coverage for her transgender son, and a North Carolina substitute teacher is suing a Catholic school for firing him after he married his partner. The Supreme Court’s ruling did not deny that LGBTQ+ individuals should be afforded the same dignity in society as anyone else. But it still supported the notion that business owners can discriminate and select who they can make their services available to based on individual preference — a decision that could have costly consequences for the future of American civil liberties.
Gabriella Cadahia For The Pitt News Last summer, the Pittsburgh Zoo euthanized its only elephant calf — Little Bit, a premature three-month-old rejected by her mother who had stopped eating due to painful teething. PETA criticized the zoo for the way it handled Little Bit’s health and death — and this wasn’t the first time. The animal rights organization has criticized the zoo before, including in 2014 when the U.S. Department of Agriculture investigated it for using dogs to herd its elephants. The Pittsburgh Zoo has been criticized several times for its treatment of elephants and has earned the rank of the second-worst place for elephants in America. But despite this title, the zoo has decided to expand its elephant population further, applying to import elephant semen from Canada for breeding purposes. Barbara Baker, president and CEO of the zoo, said this move will introduce new genetics into the zoo’s elephant population to help ensure its growth in the future. But the zoo elephant population shouldn’t grow, not in Pittsburgh and not anywhere else. Elephants born into captivity will be forced to lead a life full of physical and psychological health risks, being raised to make a profit. Better options exist to help save elephants besides placing them in zoos that don’t care about their well-being. Elephants face extreme risks to their health if kept in zoos. Obesity, injury, stress and disease are parts of daily life for many of these animals. According to a Seattle Times analysis of elephant fatalities in zoos across the United States, the majority of deaths resulted from injury or disease linked to captivity, which could explain why wild elephants live on average at least 20 years more than their captive counterparts. Elephant calves born in captivity are born into lives of health problems and a likely premature death. A less-visible suffering also exists for these animals behind a zoo’s bars. Elephants often display “zoochosis”— repetitive behavior ranging from
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head-bobbing to self-mutilation — that suggests depression and distress from a lack of stimulation. This atypical behavior isn’t seen in wild elephants, and is a product of zoos’ failure to account for the size and complexity of elephants’ social constructs and ecosystems. The weight of scientific evidence regarding elephants’ inability to thrive in captivity, along with pressure from animal activists, has led at least 22 zoos to close or plan to close their elephant exhibits. Yet the economic power of these creatures continues to outweigh the costs in many zoos across America, where approximately 230 elephants still live in captivity. John Lewis, director of the Los Angeles Zoo, rejected the idea of a zoo-run sanctuary, fretting that visitor numbers would decrease because some would not “appreciate large enclosures with animals far away.” But suburban families and their cash should not be the main priority of zoo owners and directors. If people charged with the safekeeping of endangered animals really did care, then they would start considering alternatives to exploiting them for the viewing pleasure of tourists and schoolchildren. Some argue animals need zoos because there is no other alternative for protecting endangered creatures such as elephants. Robert Hoage, former public affairs director at the National Zoo, described zoos as, “not great places for elephants, but they are better [there] than dead.” Of course, the dangers that elephants currently face in the wild are very real. Poaching continues unabated, with estimates of 55 slain elephants every day. The demand for ivory remains strong in countries like China, which is responsible for 70 percent of worldwide ivory demand. But there is an alternative to zoos — sanctuaries. Elephant sanctuaries are large facilities that care for elephants from zoos and circuses, and See Cadahia on page 6
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Cadahia, pg. 6
The Pitt News SuDoku 6/6/18 courtesy of dailysudoku.com
Willie Theison, elephant program manager at the Pittsburgh Zoo, stands between Zuri and her sister Victoria. NATE GUIDRY/PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE/MCT provide them with natural habitats that allow for protection, space and autonomy. They are funded by private donations and, unlike zoos, prioritize the elephants’ well-being by meeting their physical and social needs, and employing minimal human contact. The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, which has provided refuge to 27 elephants, is certified by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums for demonstrating a commitment to exemplary animal care and welfare. Some may fear that fewer elephants in zoos means that fewer people will become invested in their well-being and not care about their plight in the wild. But the opposite is true. Zoos create the idea that the elephants there are safe from harm and happy to entertain people. A global survey from World Association of Zoos & Aquariums found that zoo visits actually make people 17 percent less committed to take action on habitat protection and creation. Zoos ultimately do little to convince ordinary folks that they should care about wild
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elephants’ plight. And zoos themselves aren’t proving they are a help to the endangered elephant population through breeding and raising the species in captivity — very few calves survive in the first place. The overall infant-mortality rate for elephants in zoos is 40 percent — nearly triple the rate of those in the wild — an indication that elephants’ failure to thrive in this environment may begin as early as conception. Captivity is a terrible existence for any intelligent, self-aware species like elephants. By capturing and breeding these animals for public display, zoos are propagating a cycle of suffering that goes against their most basic proclaimed values. Zoos are not the paradises of conservation and education they claim to be, and better alternatives to them exist. If the Pittsburgh Zoo really wants to help elephants, it needs to do so in ways other than trying to breed more elephants that could suffer in circumstances similar to Little Bit’s.
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Culture
ANNUAL THR EE R IVER S ARTS FESTIV AL KICKS OFF DOW NTOW N
Zachary Donovan Staff Writer
The City of Pittsburgh’s North Side was filled with the sound of country music and the sight of about 25 tons of trash this past weekend as the Kenny Chesney concert took over Heinz Field and the surrounding parking lots for tailgates. But across the river from the hard-partying country fans, a different crowd was celebrating music, arts and food. This annual celebration, the Three Rivers Arts Festival, fills Point State Park and the Cultural District with artists of all genres and media types, as well as patrons eagerly shopping for handmade art. It is a 10-day free event sponsored by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, and it attracts thousands of guests each year. Having amassed over 86,000 followers during his nine years on Twitter, photographer Dave DiCello has become known by Pittsburgh natives and new residents alike for capturing cityscapes framed by fantastic sunsets, dramatic lightning strikes and the lush nature that Pittsburgh has to offer. While DiCello can normally be found around the City trying to secure photos of perfect moments with his camera, his office for the week is a crowded booth at the Three Rivers Arts Festival. For artists like DiCello, whose main form of promotion has been his social media presence and his gallery on the first floor of the Highmark Building — Fifth Avenue Place — the festival provides a unique opportunity to share his work in person and interact with his patrons. “It’s a long week, but it’s fun and I look forward to it every year,” DiCello said. Unlike artists working in other media, DiCello’s work demands great amounts of observation and luck to get the best product. Whether it’s chasing storms, rainbows, sunrises or sunsets, DiCello attempts to
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calculate the right moment for the perfect shot. “For every double rainbow you see, I’ll have gone into the City 20 times and missed it,” DiCello said. “When you’re up early and you’re out late, you see a lot of cool things.” For some Pittsburghers, one of DiCello’s cityscape photographs can be the perfect souvenir to remind them of home. For others, a souvenir can come in the form of a vivid painting of a Primanti Bros. sandwich. This is the specialty of Pittsburgh painter Katie Koenig, a graduate of the illustration program at the esteemed Savannah College of Art and Design. After graduating and moving back to Pittsburgh, her hometown, Koenig worked as a freelance illustrator before deciding to focus on food. “I did a painting-a-day challenge, and the challenge of the day was a peanut butter and jelly sandwich,” Koenig said. “As I started to do things like that, people really reacted to it and the sense of humor behind it.” The walls of Koenig’s Arts Fest booth are decked with still-life paintings depicting food and drink, which feel right at home in the City of Pittsburgh. Her own adaptation of a Warhol-esque Campbell’s Soup can, a glass bottle of Heinz Ketchup amid the agonizing pouring process and an ice cold bottle of Iron City Beer call Pittsburghers in to look at her welcoming art. Like DiCello, Koenig’s experience at the Arts Fest is a perfect way to interact with patrons. For her, these interactions grant her valuable feedback on her work. “I really enjoy talking to people,” Koenig said. “I think if a sale is going to happen, it’s because someone is really connecting with a piece of merchandise that I have and getting to know what it is that they connect to and what memories they have. It’s a lot of fun for me.” For festival-goers looking for uncon-
A variety of musical groups, including folk and soul performers, take to the main stage during Three Rivers Arts Festival, Pittsburgh’s annual free 10-day arts festival. Anne Amundson|STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER ventional items, artists like Adam Waddell deliver. Among Waddell’s creations are necklaces containing preserved wasps and seahorses and ceramic works depicting everything from cats to cacti. “I mainly focus on ceramics in the winter and jewelry in the summer,” Waddell said while absentmindedly twisting a piece of metal into a necklace. With the help of his girlfriend, Waddell takes his work to festivals in the Pittsburgh area and runs an Etsy shop. As an artist who creates affordable and trendy products, Waddell feels that the Arts Fest is a perfect opportunity for sales. “It’s a great crowd, so we usually end up doing pretty well. The money that we generate through the show, we put back into the business.” The festival has something for fans of every realm of the arts. In addition to the artist vendors, guests can check out live music ranging from local artists like roots-folk sensations Buffalo Rose to national acts like soul singer Valerie June.
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Mavis Staples kicked off the festival’s music section Friday evening with a performance at the Dollar Bank Mainstage at Point State Park. Other popular musicians have performed at the mainstage since Staples’ performance, including British pop band Everything Everything and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. One student at Pitt’s School of Dental Medicine, Diana Truong, originally from Houston, enjoyed having the opportunity to take part in the Pittsburgh tradition. “The City is beautiful and the musicians are great,” she said. “This is the perfect summer event.” The Three Rivers Arts Festival will run through this week and conclude on Sunday, June 10. Artist booths and live music can be found at Point State Park, Gateway Center and the Pittsburgh Cultural District. This week, the Dollar Bank Mainstage will feature musical guests Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real on Wednesday, Sidewalk Chalk on Thursday and Valerie June on Friday.
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review
R OYA L BLO O D AT STA G E A E: H O W CA N T W O PE O PLE M A K E SO M U CH N OISE?
Sarah Connor Culture Editor
Two men from Brighton, England, stood on the indoor stage at Stage AE in Pittsburgh’s North Side on the evening of May 31. One of them had a broken foot and the other couldn’t move from the stool he was sitting on. But these two people managed to get a crowd of hundreds of people jumping, screaming and singing — bassist Mike Kerr and drummer Ben Thatcher, who together make up the Brit Awardwinning rock group Royal Blood. Kerr — who doubles as the band’s lead vocalist — broke his foot in an on-stage accident while performing at the Boston Calling festival May 26. Kerr left a statement on Royal Blood’s social media promising fans that he will finish out the summer tour after the serious injury. “The X-ray revealed that I have fractured my metatarsal which has left me fairly debilitated as a result. Despite the injury I have decided to continue with the upcoming shows,” he said. “I am doing everything within my super powers to make this work but regrettably I will not be dancing on stage for while.” But the lack of dance moves didn’t seem to harm the band’s performance at Stage AE last week. After an exciting set from the opening act, Turbowolf — another U.K.-based hard rock band — the two men of Royal Blood made a modest entrance to the stage. Thatcher led the way dressed in all black, from his snapback hat to his shoes, and sat behind his drum set. Kerr hobbled behind his bandmate to the microphone at center stage. The bassist had swapped his medical boot for a pair of stylish skinny jeans and Vans sneakers. Without any introduction, Thacher took his usual seat at his drum set — elevated at the corner of the stage — and Kerr picked up his signature custom-made orange Fender bass. The pair held nothing back as they opened the show with a hit single called “Figure It Out” from their 2014
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self-titled debut album. Two more songs went by before Kerr addressed the crowd. The third song of the show was the band’s first single from their most recent album, 2017’s “How Did We Get So Dark?” After the song “Lights Out” — a spectacle of hard guitar riffs and vocals to show off Kerr’s extensive vocal range — Kerr took a much-needed breath. “My foot is fucking broken, so you guys are going to have to do the dancing for me today,” Kerr said through a thick British accent, eliciting a roar of excited screams from the packed standing-room-only audience. The most impressive part of Royal Blood’s live performance was the simplicity of it all. One bassist and one drummer was all the pair needed to create enough energy to leave the fans at Stage AE in awe. There was no rhythm guitar or lead guitar, just the four-stringed bass. Kerr utilizes multiple amplifiers and a shortscale bass guitar to create Royal Blood’s signature hard rock sound and classic rock-inspired riffs. When most people hear Royal Blood for the first time, they often comment on the strong lead guitar sound — not even knowing it’s a bass. Though Kerr’s unusual method of playing the bass guitar is fascinating, it does not outshine the exceptional drum skills of Thatcher. He unleashed an intense drum solo mid-way through the show during the song “Little Monster,” and Kerr limped off stage so all eyes could be on his bandmate. At this point in the show, the audience took Kerr’s request to dance very seriously. The crowds’ dance moves ranged from jumping to head-banging, and by the end of the song, crowd surfing made an appearance in the center of the audience. Since most Royal Blood songs are relatively short — clocking in at fewer than three and a half minutes — the pair managed to play through the majority of the songs off their two albums. Including a two-song encore, Kerr and Thatcher had played 16 songs out of the 20 featured on
Mike Kerr, lead vocalist and bassist of the British rock group, Royal Blood, performs at Pittsburgh’s Stage AE May 31. Jane Millard|STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER “How Did We Get So Dark?” and “Royal Blood.” is rare to see two people command a stage and After the two left the stage, the crowd still stimulate so much excitement in a rock perforwanted more. Dozens of fans chanted the band’s mance, especially when they have to remain in name, calling them back on stage. After a min- the same spot. Royal Blood lets their music speak for itself ute or two, the musicians gave in and resumed their positions on stage with Kerr wobbling his during shows without any gimmicks. Their commitment to the music is clear on stage — way across the floor once again. The encore brought two of the band’s most there are no pyrotechnics, crazy lighting tricks popular songs. Starting with the title song of or background dancers to make their set more their second album, “How Did We Get So engaging. All it took to get the audience excited Dark,” the pair of musicians then excited their was two musicians, a bass, a microphone and a fans as they played their last song, one of their drum set. first hits — “Out Of The Black.” A tweet from BBC Radio One in May 2017 Not a single audience member was standing sums up the whole experience of attending a still as both musicians extended the ending of Royal Blood concert well — “How can two peothe song, showing off their musical stamina. It ple make so much noise?!?!”
June 6, 2018
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Sports
Former Pitt athletes nominated for College Football Hall of Fame pittnews.com
column
GROUP-BY-GROUP WORLD CUP PREVIEW Stephen Cuddy
minating in the title game July 15 at 11 a.m. in Moscow. All of the top teams are filled with star players who are experienced on the world stage. For the most part, the groups will play out as expected — but star players doesn’t always mean star teams. Group A Group A consists of host nation Russia, as well as Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Uruguay. This group has a lot of firepower between three world-class strikers. Mo Salah is a promising star for Egypt — he set the record for most goals in a 38game season with 32 last season, and won both the PFA and FWA Player of the Year.
Staff Writer The 2018 World Cup isn’t a priority for most Americans since the United States failed to qualify for the competition, but this year’s games have the potential to be one of the most entertaining tournaments in years. The tournament — hosted in Russia this year — kicks off June 14 at 11 a.m. with the first game between Russia and Saudi Arabia. The tournament starts with 32 teams divided into eight groups. The teams play a series of games against each other, with two teams from each group advancing. The remaining 16 teams play in a single elimination tournament, cul-
Eli Savage|STAFF ILLUSTRATOR
See World Cup on page 11
column
LEBRON JAMES STANDS NO CHANCE AGAINST THE WARRIORS Trent Leonard Senior Staff Writer The Golden State Warriors followed up their thrilling overtime victory in game one of the NBA Finals with a more dominant result in game two Sunday night, trouncing the Cleveland Cavaliers 122-103 with help from a record-setting performance by two-time MVP point guard Stephen Curry. The basket seemed to be as wide as an ocean for Curry, who routinely made deep, acrobatic shots throughout the night en route to an NBA Finals-record nine three-pointers. Those makes accounted for 27 of Curry’s game-leading 33 points. Now with the series at 2-0 in favor of Golden State, the Warriors are just two wins away from solidifying their modern NBA dynasty. A series win would be the team’s third title in four years — a feat that could finally overshadow the individual
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greatness of LeBron James. If the Cavaliers want to pull off the upset, James’ supporting cast needs to step up in games three and four. The inability and ineptitude of his much-maligned teammates was on full display in game one of the finals, when George Hill missed a go-ahead free throw with four seconds left and J.R. Smith dribbled the clock out after the ensuing rebound. James’ jittery teammates will certainly benefit from playing in front of a supportive home crowd, making it plausible that Cleveland steals at least one game at home. But other than that, it’s hard to envision a situation in which Golden State doesn’t take home the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy. After all, this is a Warriors team that topped the Cavaliers in 2015 and set the record for most regular-season wins in 2016 — all before the addition of perennial All-Star forward Kevin Durant. Since his addition, Golden State became a
force that has not yet been stopped, and it would take a team with far more starpower to slow them down. At this juncture, the Cavaliers just don’t have that sort of starpower. Sure, James will go down as one of the greatest players to ever play. But he’s never won a championship without at least two all-stars. And after the Kyrie Irving trade, his next best sidekick has been Kevin Love — a five-time NBA All-Star whose injuries have relegated him to the role of three-point shooter and defensive liability. Teams who have taken a 2-0 series lead in the NBA playoffs have a 282-20 record, or 93.5 percent win percentage, meaning the Warriors can all but smell statistical victory in their future. But 0-2 deficits involving James have been a different story. James has faced eight such deficits throughout his career and managed to emerge victorious in three of those series, giving his team far better odds than history would otherwise sug-
June 6, 2018
gest. Within those three comebacks lies a matchup precedent — the Cavaliers beat the Warriors in the 2016 NBA Finals after losing the first two games. But there’s also a recency precedent — the Cavs overcame an 0-2 deficit to the Boston Celtics just two weeks ago in the Eastern Conference Finals. And with the series heading back to Cleveland, it should be noted that the Cavaliers play far better at home than away. They’ve averaged 105.8 points per game playing in front of their home fans this playoff season, compared to 98.7 on the road. James especially has shown a willingness to concede road games in order to show up in a big way at home, where he averages almost seven more points per game. But the Warriors are as dominant as a team as we have ever seen, and their success lies not just See Lebron on page 11
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World Cup, pg. 10 But Uruguay has two star players on its side — Edison Cavani and Luis Suarez. Cavani had a prolific season with Paris Saint Germain, leading Ligue 1 in goals with 28 goals in the league and 40 in all competitions. Suarez saw success with Barcelona, scoring 33 goals in all competitions. Russia will be backed by the support of the home fans, but it will not be enough, seeing it lacks the quality. Saudi Arabia also lacks the talent to compete with the intensity of Uruguay and the skill of Egypt. Faced with Uruguay’s stout defense, led by Atletico Madrid and Diego Godin, Egypt will have to put up a fight to win — and even still, Uruguay is more likely to end up on top. Group B Group B holds two European heavyweights — Portugal and Spain. This group has the potential to be explosive, since Portugal boasts a few star players and Spain has a well-rounded squad of dynamic players. It’s easy to put faith in Portugal — it
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has players like forward Cristiano Ronaldo, a player who scored 45 goals in all competition. But its team is still a step down from Spain, which has world-class talent on all areas of the field. The other two teams in the group — Iran and Morocco — just don’t have the talent to compete with the European powers. Spain will likely edge out Portugal and top the group. Group C France is a favorite to win Group C, but the second spot is up for grabs between Peru, Denmark and Australia. France’s roster contains talented players like forwards Antoine Griezmann, Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar, and midfielders Paul Pogba and N’Golo Kante — this lineup will help the team win the group with ease. Peru will put up a fight for — and likely take — the No. 2 spot. Its captain and best player, striker Paolo Guerrero, just had his suspension lifted, and the team is a hard one to beat when performing well.
Find the full story online at
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Lebron, pg. 10
Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James (23) dunks against Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (30) in the fourth quarter of Game 2 of the NBA Finals Sunday, June 3, in Oakland, CA. NHAT V. MEYER/BAY AREA NEWS GROUP/TNS
June 6, 2018
in having four all-stars, but rather in the team system that head coach Steve Kerr implemented. They ranked among the top five in nearly every statistic that emphasizes team basketball during the regular season, including fifth in screen assists per game, fourth in passes made per game and first in assists per game. Winning three championships in four years is no small accomplishment — for comparison, the Kobe Bryant-and-Shaquille O’Neal-era Lakers were the most recent team to accomplish that feat in the early 2000s. The mid-2000s Spurs, led by the trifecta of Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, came close, earning three titles in five years. As long as Stephen Curry continues to play at an MVP-level, Draymond Green stuffs the box score, Klay Thompson drains threepointers on command and Kevin Durant hoists shots over defenders like they’re not even there — none of which are without precedent — the Warriors will win, regardless of James’ most Herculean efforts. Assuming that happens, Golden State’s core trio of Curry, Green and Thompson will then have three championship rings — matching James’ total and shifting the spotlight from James as an all-time great player to the Warriors as an all-time great team.
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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 Craig Street. Safe, secure building. 1-bedroom, furnished. Newly remodeled, no pets. Mature or Graduate students. 412-855-9925 or 724-940-0045. Email for pictures: salonrena@gmail.com Oakland - 264 Melwood - 4 bedrooms, 2 bath, equipped kitchen, c/a, coin op laundry in basement, close to Universities and hospitals on bus line and campus shuttle routes. Rent $1,750.00 + G/E. 412-462-1296 Oakland - 335 N. Craig - 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, equipped kitchen, coin op laundry in basement, close to Universities and hospitals, on busline and campus shtulle routes. Rent $1,675.00 + G/E. 412-462-1296
South Oakland August 1: Large, modern, renovated 2BR/2BA Apt. Equipped kitchen, Porch. $950+. Call Jeff 412-445-7681 Available June 2018: House for rent in
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South Oakland. Large 4 bedroom, 2-story house with basement. 2 bathrooms, fully equipped eat-in kitchen, living room, dining room, front and back porches, full basement w/free washer and dryer. Near universities, hospitals, and public transportation. Contact: 412-337-3151
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Available August 1st, 2018. No Pets. $1095+ g/e. Call Jason at 412-922-2141. Pics/info: tinyurl.com/ morewood1br Perfect location, spacious two bedroom apartment, free heat, move-in August 1st. Call 412-361-2695
Squirrel Hill
Huge 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment. Free heat, free parking, great location, move-in August 1st. Call 412-361-2695
August 1: Large 2BR apt. Yard with Deck, Washer/Dryer, near shopping and bus line. $950+. Call Jeff 412-445-7681
Various sized apartments available in
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parking, yard, near
Fall 2018! All walking
busline and shopping.
distance to campus!
$600+. Call Jeff
Call John CR Kelly
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Realty for details:
June 1st - Large 2 bedroom apartment/ parking, yard, near busline and shopping. $695+. 412-445-7681
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work. Near 279 Camp
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time and part time. Looking for volunteers to coach basketball and volleyball at Sacred Heart Elementary School in Shadyside for 2018-2019 school year. Girls/boys teams grades 5-8. Clearances required. Contact Jennifer McPeak at jlmcpeak@ burnswhite.com, 412-310-3816.
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Interested in paying off your student loan within a year? A car loan or credit card? Only serious applicants need reply. Text or email for free consultation. Rick 412-779-0308 or ral1313@verizon.net
Medical and Heart Care, Students Welcome, 155 N. Craig Street,
Employment Other LIVE OUT HOUSEKEEPER/ HOUSE CLEANER NEEDED: This will be a part time, live-out posi-
1 bedroom luxury apartment. 2 apartments available in a beautiful brick home with private entry, private laundry, off-street parking or garage, newly remodeled throughout. Kitchen w/Dishwasher, Granite countertop & more! Located on Morewood Avenue, 15 minute walk to Pitt/ CMU, Walnut Street. 5 minutes to UPMC Shadyside, West Penn Hospital. One block to Busses, hospital/ Pitt/CMU shuttles and many restaurants.
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tion from Tuesday to Friday. The position
Research Studies Participants needed for a research study of reading and language. You will be asked to come to the LRDC on multiple occasions to complete tests. You will be paid $10/
includes childcare and light housekeeping. Must be able to interact with kids, speak english, and non-smoker. $750 weekly. MUST HAVE REFERENCES. Contact claudiapredacoop1960@gmail.com
hour for every hour
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June 6, 2018
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