6-7-17 by The Pitt News

The Pitt News

Pride march mayhem page 6

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | June 7, 2017 | Volume 108 | Issue 5

UNIVERSITY Photos: Three Rivers ANNOUNCES Arts Festival page 7 NEW UHC DEAN Janine Faust

Senior Staff Writer Pitt announced researcher and medical doctor Brian A. Primack as the new dean of the University Honors College Monday. Primack will succeed Edward Stricker as the third Bernice L. and Morton S. Lerner Chair and dean of the UHC, beginning July 1. Primack’s primary responsibilities as dean will be overseeing the financial and administrative operations of the UHC, which is currently in its 31st year. Pitt provost and senior vice chancellor Patricia E. Beeson said in a press release that she believes Primack will be able to ensure the Honors College persists in being the intellectual core of the Pitt community. “Under Dr. Primack’s leadership, I am confident that the University Honors College will continue to serve as the center of gravity for our most academically engaged and curious undergraduate students and as a hub of intellectual activity for our entire university community,” Beeson said. “His broad and inclusive vision is well-matched to our aspirations for the UHC and the University.” Stricker, who has served as dean since 2011, will be returning to a teaching position in the Department of Neuroscience this fall as he first declared when he announced in June 2016 that he was planning to step down. Students active in the UHC complained in 2012 that he had shifted UHC policies away from the emphasis that the first dean and founder of Pitt’s UHC, G. Alec Stewart, placed on intellectual curiosity. Students wrote a letter to Stricker expressing their concerns. See New Dean on page 3

Several members of 4th River Music Collective, a street folk group, perform in front of the Wyndham Hotel at the Three Rivers Arts Festival. Anna Bongardino VISUAL EDITOR

PITT CONSIDERS CLOSING TITUSVILLE Caroline Bourque Senior Staff Writer

Pitt is considering several options regarding the Titusville campus — including closure — mainly due to a lack of steady enrollment, according to a report released last Thursday. University officials released an analysis listing more problems than possible solutions for Pitt’s Titusville campus, including a fiscal year deficit of $1.7 million in 2016. As stated in the report, the biggest threat to the campus’s success is the spotty enrollment, combined with competition from other higher education providers in the region. Administrators made a push in 2013 to innovate the courses provided at the campus

by offering a petroleum technology course, as well as classes in computer technology, criminal justice, psychology, biological sciences and history. The addition of the degree in petroleum technology, which Titusville offered as an associate’s degree jointly with the Pitt-Bradford campus, made reference to the town’s history with the oil industry. Enrollment numbers for these courses were lower than expected, however, and the petroleum technology course, though successful at Pitt’s Bradford campus, was terminated after just two years. The report mentions that this decline fits into a larger trend occurring throughout Western Pennsylvania. At UPT alone, enroll-

ment has declined 40 percent from the fall semester of 2009 to fall 2016, with its peak in 2007. This decline goes beyond UPT. The analysis cites that enrollment across the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education has decreased by more than 12 percent between the fall semester of 2010 and fall 2016. Republican Kathy Rapp, who represents the district that includes Titusville in the state House of Representatives, noted that the campus plays a central role in the area’s economic well-being. “I would be very concerned if Pitt decided to close the campus,” she told the Pittsburgh See Titusville on page 3

News

PITTSBURGH REACTS TO TRUMP’S CLIMATE REMARKS

Henry Glitz and Kirsten Wong The Pitt News Staff

pittnews.com

last Thursday. “In applauding President Trump’s move today, I stand with Western Pennsylvania manufacturers, boilermakers, power plant workers, railroad workers, truckers and miners in opposition to the Washington and global elites who want to concentrate power in their own hands.” Lorenzo Riboni, vice president of the Pitt College Republicans, suggested that Peduto’s re-

D.C. — called the “Pittsburgh, not Paris” rally — was organized by the Republican Committee of Fairfax County, Virginia. Another, held in Downtown Pittsburgh, was called “March for Truth: Pittsburgh says Yes to Paris,” which Peduto attended. Some local conservatives, including Representative Keith Rothfus, R-Pa., applauded Trump’s decision. “Ending antigrowth obstacles like the Paris Agreement opens the way to a brighter future, with America in the lead,” Rothfus said in a release

sponse to Trump’s withdrawal from the Accords wasn’t representative of residents of the Pittsburgh area at large. “I don’t understand why [Peduto’s] turning his back on the rest of Western Pennsylvania,” Riboni told The Pitt News. “You have people from coal families very happy to see new coal mines opening up across Pennsylvania.” But some others didn’t reflect this view of the city’s needs and Trump’s decision to leave the Paris Agreement as strongly. Gilman suggested that the trajectory of Pitts-

Pitt News File Photo

When President Trump invoked Pittsburgh in his decision to exit the Paris Climate Agreement last Thursday, he left many Pittsburghers baffled. “I’m appalled that the President used my city to justify his unacceptable decision,” Mayor Bill Peduto said in a press release the same day Trump made his announcement. “My city, which has finally bounced back from decades of industrial carnage, will do all it can to promote its own environmental standards.” Peduto fired back at Trump’s decision after the president defended his withdrawal by claiming he “was elected to represent the citizens of Pittsburgh, not Paris.” “As the Mayor of Pittsburgh, I can assure you that we will follow the guidelines of the Paris Agreement for our people, our economy and future,” Peduto tweeted. Peduto followed the tweetstorm by signing an executive order reaffirming the city’s pledge to continue the Paris Agreement’s goals. The order directs all city operations to achieve 100 percent renewable electricity consumption, a citywide Zero Waste Initiative to divert 100 percent of materials from landfills and fifty percent energy consumption reduction. The plan is attempting to achieve these goals by 2023. City Council member Dan Gilman, who represents a district that includes Oakland, voiced approval and support for Peduto’s response to Trump’s decision. “The decision by President Trump to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement is disastrous and his mention of Pittsburgh to justify his decision is wrong,” Gilman told The Pitt News. “I applaud Mayor Peduto for standing up to President Trump and issuing an executive order to reaffirm Pittsburgh’s commitment to fighting climate change.” The Trump Administration doubled down on Trump’s reference to Pittsburgh on Thursday night, saying that his decision to leave the Paris Accords was the result of promises made on the campaign trail. “The people of Pittsburgh, like other hardworking American families across the country,

are the people he is fighting for and who know that in this administration America comes first,” a White House spokesperson told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. The Paris Agreement is a pact made up of 196 nations with the goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and limiting the rise of global temperatures by two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Former president Barack Obama pledged to reduce emissions by at least 26 percent by 2025. Trump cited lost jobs, lower wages and an economic disadvantage for the United States as reasons for pulling out of the agreement. In response, Peduto reminded Trump that Pittsburgh overwhelmingly voted for Hillary Clinton, and that the city is committed to following the guidelines of the agreement. Supporters from both sides of the issue formed demonstrations. One, in Washington

June 7, 2017

burgh’s recent history pointed in an opposite direction from the revival of the coal industry that Trump mentioned numerous times on the campaign trail last year and since assuming the Presidency. “Pittsburgh’s economic and environmental transformation from an industrial city with smoke-filled air to a world leader in green technology, innovation and renewable energy exemplifies the very benefits provided by the Paris Climate Agreement,” he said. Gilman’s comments underlie a fundamental change in the city’s economic makeup since the departure of much of Pittsburgh’s steel industry in the late 1970s and early 1980s. As manufacturing in the region has declined over the past three decades, the size of the health care industry in the city has more than tripled since 1979, according to a 2009 report from the G20 Conference. A 2015 study from the University of Pennsylvania also found that jobs in clean energy industries outnumbered those in coal, gas and oil extraction in the state by almost 20,000. Both Peduto and Gilman mentioned the University of Pittsburgh, along with other regional higher learning institutions, including Carnegie Mellon University, as instrumental in the city’s environmentally friendly rebirth. Charles Jones, a senior lecturer in Pitt’s Department of Geology and Environmental Science, applauded Peduto’s executive order hoping it will be a call for cities, companies and individuals to act on climate change. Jones projects that climate change will eventually have an impact on Pittsburgh’s agriculture and precipitation. “Pittsburgh would get more precipitation — more would be in the winter and less in the summer, which is growing season,” Jones said. “We don’t have these great aquifers like they do in the West so we wouldn’t be able to grow crops as well. The biggest risk is if the summers get hotter and dryer, it would be harder to grow crops for farmers.” Climate change could also affect tourism, he added. “The furries might have to change the time of their convention,” Jones said.

New Dean, pg. 3

Titusville, pg. 3

“For us, the promise of an institution that promotes intellectual curiosity as its core value is what made the choice to come to Pitt so easy,” the letter said. “Nonetheless, we are deeply concerned that the value of intellectual curiosity is being de-emphasized at the service of achievement-oriented principles.” Stricker responded to complaints by claiming that the Honors College was not solely a vehicle for pure intellectual curiosity. “[Intellectual curiosity] is incidental but true,” he told The Pitt News in November 2012. “I wouldn’t say it’s the only thing [the UHC] does or the most important.” According to the position profile for the University Honors College dean, Primack’s other duties will include collaborating with the UHC community to develop and implement new plans, recruiting faculty from across the University to engage with students, and promoting the UHC to current and prospective students and families. The dean is also expected to teach at least one honors course each year. Primack is a Pitt alumnus, having earned a Master of Science in clinical science in 2008 and a Ph.D. in translational science in 2011. Primack also practiced medicine at various medical centers including UPMC hospitals and the student health services centers at both Pitt and Carnegie Mellon. During his time at the University, Primack has founded Pitt’s Center for Research on Media, Technology and Health in 2012 and earned numerous awards for his work. He is currently a professor of medicine, pediatrics and clinical and translational science and the Leo H. Criep Endowed Chair in Patient Care in Pitt’s School of Medicine. He is also an assistant vice chancellor for research on health and society in the School of Health Sciences. Chancellor Patrick Gallagher praised Primack’s appointment in a press release Monday, stating that his diverse academic and professional experiences and dedication made him the right pick for the job. “As dean, Brian’s multidisciplinary dexterity — coupled with his commitment to collaborating and leading — will ensure that our Honors College continues to serve as a defining force in our University’s mission to leverage new knowledge for society’s gain,” Gallagher said.

Post-Gazette Monday. Structural changes related to decreases in student population have primarily affected schools in northwestern Pennsylvania, hitting hard at institutions of higher education like Clarion and Edinboro Universities. It’s also worth noting that flagship public universities have experienced an increase in enrollment in recent years, signifying a shift rather than disappearance of students in the area. Concerns about the Titusville region have played a role in the University’s deliberations about a potential course of action regarding the branch campus, according to Pitt vice provost for special projects Lawrence Feick. “We focused on three criteria: serving the education and training needs of Titusville and the region, the mission of the University of Pittsburgh and financial sustainability,” Feick said in a press release. Officials have come up with five potential solutions to the school’s declining success — continue with the status quo, close the campus down entirely and three variations of revised ownership for the campus that would reduce University involvement with the campus. Of the final three options, the first considers running the campus as commuter-only, while operations remain under control of Pitt. The second of these would still have Pitt own and operate the campus, but with outside academic providers offering additional programs. The last option would be a third party ownership of the campus, with Pitt as one of its tenants. In this arrangement, Pitt would still support academic programs on the campus along with several other tenants. In its official report on the status of the branch campus, the University suggested that an alternative ownership scheme in Titusville could be better suited to the needs of the region. “A separate ownership entity could, for example, sharpen the focus on local needs and be more aggressive, and nimble, in pursuing opportunities,” the report stated. The University will be accepting public comments up until June 15 for consideration in the report’s revision and presentation to the Board of Trustees. This report will be finalized in the fall, followed by implementation over the next several years. Representatives from Pitt will be at the UPT campus June 9 from 9 to 10 a.m. at Henne Auditorium to receive comment and input.

pittnews.com

June 7, 2017

Opinions

column

from the editorial board

New UHC dean has opportunity to refocus college If it weren’t on the 35th floor of the Cathedral of Learning, you might be able to hear the crickets from outside in the University Honors College lounge. But it wasn’t always this way. Founded in 1987 by Dean Alec Stewart, the UHC once was a place where true intellectualism fostered, a place where students with or without pre-professional majors could come debate, discuss and learn outside the classroom. When Pitt hired Edward Stricker in 2011, the UHC took a shift. Stricker’s background was in the sciences, as a renowned neuroscientist. His background showed in the decisions he made — the undergraduate premedical and pre-health professions advising moved under the umbrella of the UHC under his tenure. Students at the time reported feeling dissatisfied with the direction the college was headed, and feeling like there was no longer a place on campus where knowledge was pursued for its own sake rather than for the sake of getting into medical school or law school. Today, the direction of the UHC is up for grabs — and new leadership has the chance to steer it in the right direction. Pitt named Brian Primack the new dean of the UHC on Monday, a professor and doctor who teaches medicine, pediatrics and clinical and translational science in Pitt’s School of Medicine. Primack is now faced with a choice — will he continue Stewart’s vision of the UHC as a place where learning is pursued in and of itself, or will he follow Stricker’s pre-professional vision of high achievement? Hopefully, he does something in between. The University is no longer the

pittnews.com

dry, stuffy place that Stewart may have been a part of when the Honors College was made. But Stricker’s pre-professional approach alienates students who aren’t science-oriented and don’t wish to attend medical school or any other professional school. Primack’s unique path provides him with the ability to strike a balance between Stewart’s and Sticker’s approaches. He studied English and math as an undergraduate at Yale, and continued to work in cutting edge medicine and research throughout his career, working with international programs in places such as Niger. Most recently, Primack has worked on investigating the complex relationships between media exposure and health outcomes. This interdisciplinary approach to one of Pitt’s most successful departments — medicine — could prove to be the bridge that Pitt’s Honors College needs to bring students back to the top two floors of the Cathedral. Only time will tell, of course. But amid rising national and international tensions, interdisciplinary and crosscultural thought may foster the minds that will find solutions. Hopefully, our Honors College will become a hub for connecting the philosophies of the past and the future, while continuing to provide unique and empowering opportunities for students that need it the most. And Primack has the chance to do just that. All he needs to do is use what he’s learned to demonstrate that highlevel academic achievement doesn’t just come from pre-professional programs or from lofty conversation — it’s only by a balance that true success will be found.

WHEN ABORTIONS COULD SAVE LIVES, CATHOLIC HOSPITALS FAIL WOMEN

Jordan Mondell CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Christian Snyder Opinions Editor

When Tamesha Means entered labor with her first child in 2016, she was only 18 weeks pregnant — not even halfway through her pregnancy. So she did the logical thing and rushed to the nearest hospital. When she arrived at the Mercy Health Partners hospital, doctors diagnosed her with preterm premature rupture of membranes, meaning that the amniotic sac surrounding the fetus was ruptured. At 18 weeks, the result can be fatal for both the mother and child. Mercy Health Partners turned Means

June 7, 2017

away three times over the next three days because the only treatments that could save her was abortion, and Mercy is a Catholic hospital. Catholic hospitals in the United States are bound by a set of Ethical and Religious Directives issued by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. Regarding abortion, the Church says that it is never permitted. But sometimes, to provide an adequate and legally required standard of care, abortion is the only possible treatment. Too often, the ERDs prevent Catholic hospitals from providing adequate health care to women like Tamesha Means. Even worse, there See Snyder on page 5

Snyder, pg. 4 sometimes aren’t other providers to turn to. In the United States, 14.5 percent of all acute care hospitals are Catholic-owned or affiliated, with that percentage above 40 percent in some states. There are 46 Catholic hospitals which serve as the sole shortterm acute care centers in their geographic region, meaning that there isn’t a place for women to receive certain emergency reproductive services within 35 miles of it. Sole care centers are eligible for more federal funding — and if they’re Catholic hospitals, they’re failing to fulfill their end of the government’s funding deals. The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act requires that in order for health care providers to receive funding from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, they must treat any individual in an emergency condition presented at their facility regardless of the individual’s ability to pay. Of course, Mercy Health Partners didn’t turn Means away because she couldn’t pay for treatment. The hospital simply refused to treat her because it was following the ERDs. And worse, Means wasn’t even referred

to doctors willing to treat her when she was turned away. In strictly following the ERDs, Catholic doctors must “be concerned about the danger of scandal in association with any health care providers.” So not only are women turned away from receiving lifesaving treatment, they’re also not told where they could go to get it because the Church is wary of scandal by mere association. Abortion isn’t the only service Catholic hospitals fail to provide. The ACLU reports horror stories of women who requested tubal ligations during C-sections, only to find out years later with a positive pregnancy test that the Catholic hospital they’d been transferred to refused to complete the tubal ligation and failed to tell them. In many of these cases, the women requested sterilization because their health would be seriously endangered by becoming pregnant again. This isn’t just a failure to provide care — this is forcing emotional trauma on people who have been through enough of it already. It seems like the struggle has reached a dead end, that either the Church or women in need will have to give something up in order to reach an agreement. The ACLU thinks it’s the Church that must give up federal funding if it wants to continue to not

provide certain women’s health services. The Church thinks its right to religious freedom protects them. And for women who live in areas that have only one hospital, this answer could mean life or death. Right now, courts in the U.S. generally rule in favor of Catholic Hospitals, citing their ability to freely practice their religion. But some state legislatures have tried to address the growing need for reproductive care for women who live in the purview of Catholic hospitals. The Illinois legislature passed a bill that requires Catholic health care providers to recommend abortion providers to women in need, as well as to discuss the benefits of abortion. And in some cities, like Pittsburgh, partnerships pave the way for a mutual respect of beliefs — when UPMC merged with Mercy Hospital in 2007, the Catholic-operated Mercy Hospital was permitted to continue its pursuit of religious ends, provided that it worked in collaboration with UPMC’s secular goals. But women in Pittsburgh are lucky to receive in-network insurance if their primary health care provider is Mercy and they seek an abortion at another UPMC facility. The women truly in danger are those under-

served by Catholic hospitals in rural areas, where there may be no abortion providers within a reasonable distance. To help these women, it’s time that the Catholic church revises the way it approaches abortion. No, the Church doesn’t need to wildly change course and accept abortion as moral — that would be far too much to ask. It would even be immoral to force Catholic doctors to perform abortion. Instead, it’s time that the Catholic church drops the concern regarding scandal and focus on what’s important — the health of women. It’s time for Catholic doctors to refer women seeking abortions to doctors willing to perform them, and if they’re sole care centers, make special accommodations to their hiring process and employ secular doctors willing to perform abortions. It’s a lot to ask, and it’s a heavy moral issue to debate, but one thing is clear — failing to provide life-saving health care is immoral, regardless of how you look at it. Christian is the Opinions Editor for The Pitt News. He primarily writes on social justice and campus issues. Write to him at cjs197@pitt.edu.

The Pitt News SuDoku 6/7/17 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

pittnews.com

June 7, 2017

Culture

MARCH MAYHEM:

DELTA’S PRIDE DRAWS CRITICISM

Madeline Barber Staff Writer

Pittsburgh gears up for its annual Pride celebration every June by filling the streets downtown with dozens upon dozens of rainbow flags and banners that promote equality and stand out against the monochromatic buildings and oft-dreary skies. Pride week finishes the weekend of June 11 with PrideFest — a two-day festival celebrating LGBTQ+ identity and featuring entertainment, vendors and a mobile zip line down Liberty Avenue. For many, Pride offers a way to celebrate identity and unity as a community. And Pride can be found nationwide, its origins stemming from New York City and the 1969 Stonewall Riots, radiating across the country and even the world. Pride in Pittsburgh has not been spared from controversy, and this year especially, there is more division in how the city celebrates Pride. In a press statement released January 12, the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, a nonprofit focused on the needs of the LGBTQ+ community that hosts the Pittsburgh celebration every June, announced that Pittsburgh Pride would have its first title sponsor — the EQT Foundation, a philanthropic organization within the EQT Corporation, which is a petroleum and natural gas company based in Downtown Pittsburgh. “With a new title sponsor, a new starting point at PPG Paints Arena and a new kick-off time of 12:30 p.m., the EQT Equality March will include over 100 contingents of corporations, nonprofit partners and local law enforcement and first responder personnel, making it one of Pittsburgh’s most colorful and diverse marches,” Delta said in a statement. But numerous LGBTQ+ organizations in the region — such as QueerPGH, SisTers PGH and the Pittsburgh Lesbian Correspondents — deride the Delta Foundation’s decision to have the EQT Corporation sponsor Pittsburgh Pride. Further, some organizations on campus — including the Rainbow Alliance — have refused to

pittnews.com

march in the EQT Equality March. SisTers PGH has planned a counter-march — the People’s Pride March 2k17 — in response to the Equality March that aims to serve as a criticism of EQT and Delta. The People’s Pride March is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday, June

profit over environmental protection by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, who sued EQT in 2014 for dumping fracking wastewater into freshwater ponds. The Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board fined EQT more than $1.1 million on May 26.

People march in affiliation with UPMC at last summer’s pride celebration. Matt Hawley STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER 11, Downtown, a half hour after the EQT Equality March plans to start. Kate Shindle, a rising senior majoring in biology, president of Rainbow Alliance — Pitt’s gender and sexuality organization — said this is the second year that Rainbow Alliance will not be marching. “We were especially troubled with Delta giving up the naming rights for the parade to EQT, a fracking company,” Shindle said. “We do not support this, and therefore will not be at Pride this year as an official organization.” EQT’s practices — especially its fracking in the region — have been criticized as favoring

In a statement, the EQT Foundation focused on the positives of their partnership with the Delta Foundation. “[The EQT Foundation’s] mission is to foster an environment for inclusiveness and respect for LGBT employees [...],” EQT’s statement said. “EQT values the importance of celebrating all members of the community, and is looking forward to having a noticeable presence at this year’s Pittsburgh Pride festivities.” When asked about the EQT’s history of donating to the campaigns of politicians Bill Shuster and Tim Murphy — both of whom voted in favor of a ban on same-sex marriage and against

June 7, 2017

prohibiting discrimination based on orientation or identity — both EQT and Delta Foundations did not return requests for comment. In Delta’s press statement, Mayor Bill Peduto was quoted as saying that Pittsburgh Pride emboldens the ideals of the City of Pittsburgh. “Pittsburgh is a welcoming and inclusive city for everyone and its events, such as Pittsburgh Pride, that make it that way,” Peduto said. Meg McGill, a rising sophomore majoring in mathematics, said that although Pride offers a way to celebrate life and unity within a community, that she doesn’t think as many people will attend Pride as in previous years because of the controversy surrounding EQT. “I think [Pride is] a really inspiring thing,” McGill said.“I would see stuff on the news every June about Pride and [think] ‘Look at those people, being themselves, that’s awesome — that’s going to be me one day, living the dream.’” Charlotte Lyn Goldbach, a rising senior majoring in communications and political science, is the president of Pitt College Democrats and said that the organization encourages everyone’s self-expression, no matter where or how. “We hope that everyone is able to celebrate safely and comfortably among other people, whether they identify as LGBTQ+ or as an ally,” Goldbach said. “Though the idea of corporate sponsorship ... takes away from some people’s pride, Pitt Dems members look forward to celebrating and furthering pride and inclusion at both events.” Other groups on campus echo Goldbach’s sentiments — Shindle from Rainbow Alliance stressed that Pride is a season to celebrate, yet also introspect. “The celebration of Pride allows us as LGBTQIA+ people to celebrate, remember, reflect and rejuvenate ourselves,” Shindle said. “It’s a celebration of who we are, how far we have come [and] the struggles we have faced.” Ciora Thomas, founder of SisTers PGH — a grassroots organization focused on improving the lives of transgender and nonbinary people See Pride on page 8

from the visual desk

PITTSBURGH THREE RIVERS ARTS FESTIVAL photos by Anna Bongardino, Visual Editor

A woman hula-hoops to the rhythm of Butch Ross’ folk tunes which he plays on a mountain dulcimer.

Josh Beale and Kate Hasting of The Kate Hasting Band perform on the main stage at Three Rivers Arts Festival on Saturday

The Umbrella Sky Project, developed in Aguenda, Portugal, by the creative agency Sextafiera Produções, is featured in the center of strings of vendors.

Find the full gallery online at

pittnews.com

June 7, 2017

Pride, pg. 6 of color — actively denounced the partnership between Delta and EQT. According to her, in order for Pride to be truly inclusive, its participants need to stand up to corporations like EQT and others that could have an influence on the impact of Pride. Thomas said Delta and its practices at Pride celebrations are exclusionary — especially in regards to groups of color. In 2015 Delta announced that Iggy Azalea would be headlining Pride after widespread criticism that some

pittnews.com

of Azalea’s tweets were homophobic and racist. Local organizations Dreams of Hope and the Three Rivers Community Foundation rebuked Delta’s announcement and Azalea ultimately cancelled her Pride appearance. Delta did not respond to questions about Thomas’ concerns of exclusivity. “[People need to] stop ignoring marginalized groups for money. [Pride] started with black and brown trans people — we don’t exist to Delta,” Thomas said. She remarked that the EQT Foundation’s sponsorship — and the EQT Equality March as a whole — is not representative of what the

history of Pride stands for. And so, along with friends and colleagues at SisTers, the People’s Pride March was born. Thomas said that this is the inaugural People’s Pride March, and that SisTers PGH aims to hold Pride marches like these every year. The goal of the marches is to usher in an inclusive environment in Pittsburgh led by trans people of color. “We recognize the history of Pride as an act of resistance, and therefore we will march to bring attention to and hold Delta accountable for its historical exploitation and negligence towards our black and brown and trans people,”

June 7, 2017

the People’s Pride March event description says. The controversy surrounding EQT Foundation’s sponsorship of Pittsburgh Pride has taken center stage in the months and days leading up to PrideFest and the marches that are scheduled for this weekend. To Shindle, Pride should offer the opportunity to focus on groups that typically feel alienated. “Pride at its best centers the most marginalized of us — LGBTQIA+ people of color, disabled LGBTQIA+ people,” Shindle said. “Pride at its worst continues to ignore these populations.”

Sports

Football gets three verbal commits online

PANTHERS PREPARE FOR NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP Ryan Zimba Sports Editor

Pitt junior thrower Andin Fosam nervously watched the conclusion of the hammer throw last week at the NCAA East Preliminary Round in Lexington, Kentucky, as she clung to one of the last NCAA Championship spots. Her performance earlier in the day wasn’t her best, as she fouled on two of three throws while her distance on the other — 58.84m — was well short of her personal record of

Desmond Palmer, left, and Gillian Schriever are two of seven Pitt runners who have qualified for the NCAA National Championship. Photos courtesy of Pitt Athletics

pittnews.com

61.67m. Even so, she felt she had a good chance to advance because of the small amount of throwers still yet to finish. It all came down to the second-to-last thrower, with Fosam sitting in the 12th and final qualifying position. But she fouled on her attempt, clinching the NCAA Championship berth for Fosam. “The very last girl to throw, she was already ahead of me so I was already jumping around and crying basically by the time she was throwing because I knew that I was 12th,” Fosam said. “It was kind of just a huge relief. I could breathe finally.” Throughout the week, six other Panthers experienced that same feeling, including sophomore distance runner Gillian Schriever, who finished 10th in the 10,000m with a time of 33:55.42 — about one second from the school record — to advance Thursday along with Fosam. “I really didn’t know until after the race that I qualified,” Schriever said. “Coach [Adam] Bray told me I was in 12th, and later when he told me to go around someone I thought he miscounted and I was in a lower place.” Senior sprinter Desmond Palmer had a more stress-free week, advancing in both the 400m hurdles and 110m hurdles — the only Panther to qualify in two events. He’s by far the most accomplished Pitt athlete heading to Eugene, Oregon, now having qualified in each of his four years. But although he’s been to nationals every year, he still views it as something to be enthusiastic about. “Well of course I get excited because it’s nothing I should expect,” Palmer said. “I had the confidence throughout, but I never expect anything because nothing is ever promised.” Although qualifying for nationals has been a constant in his time at Pitt, this is the first time he’s made it to Eugene in two individual events. He said while that is something to be proud of, he wishes one of his relay teams could’ve made it as well so he

June 7, 2017

could travel with and support some of his close friends. “I also like it more when a relay’s involved so I can hang out with my teammates,” Palmer said. “That wasn’t the case this year, but anytime you can have your teammates out there with you supporting you so you can support them, [it’s an] even better experience.” The women’s 4x400m team will have that experience. The team — which consists of first-year Danielle Leaks, senior Desiree Garland and juniors Quadaisha Newkirk and Morgan Harvey — qualified Saturday, finishing third in their heat with a time of 3:35.75. Harvey said even though the team knew they had a chance, they “shocked” themselves by running so well and are looking forward to traveling to Eugene together. “I love relays because you can feed off of everyone else’s energy,” Harvey said. “I feel like for relays people run faster because they know they’re not just running for themselves but they’re running for three other people, and if you don’t do your part than those three other people have to make up whatever you didn’t do.” Now, the qualifiers are preparing for their biggest race of the year. Each of the athletes is taking a unique approach suited to their respective event, with Palmer and Fosam sticking to their routines while Schriever will have an easier week — a common practice in distance running toward the end of the year. For Palmer, qualifying in two events has helped a lot this week by keeping his training consistent with the rest of the season. Even though this is different than his past trips to nationals, he said the training has been about the same. “The preparation is the same [as in past years], you just have to split the practices,” Palmer said. “One day will be a big hurdle day, one day will be a sprint day, [another will be] a rest and recovery day and then a combination of both.” See Track & Field on page 10

Track & Field, pg. 9

Coach Alonzo Webb. “I think I would stay at Pitt, just staying here with Coach Webb,” Palmer said. “He knows what’s good for me and what’s bad for me [so] that’s probably something I would want to do.” If he were to stay to train, he would be the second Panther to do so in recent years,

“They are the best but I also recognize that I am among them,” - Andin Fosam moment as a Panther was qualifying in the 400m hurdles as a first-year. After his time as a Panther ends this weekend, the All-American wants to continue racing and said if he were to run professionally, he would stay at Pitt to train with

joining former All-American and world record holder Brycen Spratling. But before he focuses on his future career, he has one meet left, and wants to make it count. For the others, qualifying for nationals is something they thought was extremely

unlikely coming out of high school, and the experience will be a thrilling one. “No, I didn’t have high expectations for myself,” Schriever said. “I didn’t think I would be able to help out my team this much, but thanks to Coach Bray’s training I’ve been able to achieve so much.” The NCAA Championships start Wednesday and continue through Saturday. Palmer will be the first of the Panthers to compete, running in the semifinals of both his events Wednesday. If he advances to either of the finals, they will take place Friday evening. The women’s 4x400m semifinal will take place Thursday with the finals running Saturday. Schriever and Fosam compete in the finals of their events Thursday, as the 10,000m and hammer throw don’t have semifinals. Harvey agreed the experience will be an exciting one, adding she feels very grateful to have accomplished this feat. “[Competing at championship is] a very important thing that I think every athlete from high school onward would take and really appreciate,” Harvey said. “Everyone dreams of it, but being able to accomplish it is something very few do.”

The Pitt news crossword 6/7/17

The athletes have also taken on a myriad of mindsets heading into the week, with some having certain expectations while others are just hoping to do their best. Schriever — who also qualified for the NCAA Championships in cross country — is part of the latter group, saying she doesn’t usually stress out about finishing in a certain place, instead focusing on her own performance. Fosam joined in, claiming this was the most relaxed she’s been all season. “They are the best but I also recognize that I am among them,” Fosam said. “I can compete against them, I’m not just there to watch ... I’m just going to go and do what I know how to do, so I’m super excited.” Palmer, on the other hand, has plenty of expectations. It’s the last meet of his college career, and he wants to leave Pitt with a strong performance. He said his top goal is to make the finals of the 400m hurdles, adding this race feels more important than others with it being his last chance. “It doesn’t really put pressure on me but it gives me more of a sense of urgency that I really need to maximize this,” Palmer said.

“I don’t want to regret not doing something that I should’ve done or not living up to my full potential.” When looking back on his career, Palmer said he loved his time at Pitt and wouldn’t do anything differently if he could go back. And while qualifying for nationals may seem like a given now, he said his most memorable

pittnews.com

June 7, 2017

I N D E X

Rentals & Sublet

Employment

• NORTH OAKLAND • SOUTH OAKLAND • SHADYSIDE • SQUIRREL HILL • SOUTHSIDE • NORTHSIDE • BLOOMFIELD • ROOMMATES • OTHER

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

1,2,3,4,5,6 BR. Available August 2017. Atwood, Ward, Juliet, and Neville Street. Call 412-287-5712. 2 Bedroom $750 1 mile from campus & off street parking. 412-225-8723. 2 Bedroom unfurnished apartment. For Fall 2017 or earlier. Semple Street, 2 blocks from Forbes Ave. Large rooms/ living room/kitchen/2-bedroom basement/ front porch/ back patio. Clean must see. $1400 per month plus utilities. Call 412-389-3636. 2BR furnished apartment, shared bathroom & kitchen. Available Aug. 1st, 1yr lease. $630/per month, per person including utilities. Call 412-848-9442.

pittnews.com

Classifieds

For Sale

Services

Announcements

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

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

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

3 Bedroom available 8/1/17 at $1,350/month, includes all utilities. Located on Juliet Street, security deposit required. Call 412-608-8581.

R A T E S

Insertions

1-15 Words

$6.30

$11.90

$17.30

$22.00

16-30 Words

$7.50

$14.20

$20.00

$25.00

Studios, 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom apartments available August 2017 & sooner. Oakland, Shadyside, Friendship, Squirrel Hill, Highland Park, Point Breeze. Photos & current availability online, check out www.forbesmanagement.net, or call 412.441.1211

Spacious 2-BR apart-

7 bedroom house available starting August 1st 2017. Five minute walk to Pitt. No pets. 1 year lease. Call 412-983-5222. M.J. Kelly Realty. Studio, 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom Apartments, N. & S. Oakland. $650-$1750. mjkellyrealty@gmail.com. 412-271-5550. www.mjkellyrealty.com

Newly renovated apartments for rent. 3,4 bedrooms available for August/September 2017. Atwood, McKee, Dawson, and Bates. Please call Mike at 412-849-8694 for more information & for viewing.

Shadyside - 5713 El-

$800. 412-225-8723.

Summer sublet. 2

wood Street - 2 bed-

FRICK PARK RE-

rooms. May-August.

room, 1 bath, fully

GENT SQ, Modern

Furnished. Each

equipped galley

1BR, Furnished Apt,

room has private

kitchen, C/A, coin op

Convenient shop,

bathroom, shared

laundry.

transportation, univer-

kitchen. $610 per

Rent - $1,250.00 +

sities, hospitals, must

month including utili-

Gas/Elec.

be seen $700+ elec

ties. Call

412-462-1296.

412-657-2318

412-848-9442.

4 Bedroom 1 Bath House. Large kitchen, new windows and paint. Security System. Available August 16th. Bates and Semple. $1,600 + Utilities. 412-287-5406. Leave a message.

Street, single or double occupancy. Partially renovated & improved. Either AUGUST 25 availability or IMMEDIATE availability. Very affordable rent. Limited parking spaces also available. Call 412-692-1770 to see apartment,

Stylish Duplex Unit. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms plus powder room. Modern fully equipped kitchen with stainless steel appliances. Large living room and dining area. Laminate floors throughout. Ceramic tile bathroom floors. Washer/Dryer. Full Deck. Central Air Conditioning. Nearby Pitt Shuttles. $1595 plus utilities. July 1st. Call Caryn 412-721-5961.

Searching for a female rommate. Available August. Rent $800/ mo. Parking not included. 814-392-8293.

parking spaces.

Additional

$27.00

$30.20

$5.00

$29.10

$32.30

$5.40

(Each Additional Word: $0.10)

Deadline: Two business days prior by 3pm

House for Rent. Beautiful 3-BR newly renovated-Allequippa Street. Close to Peterson Center & Pitt Dental School. Equipped kitchen, new carpeting, washer/dryer, 2 bathrooms, full basement, fenced-in back yard, security system. Looking for 3 students to share/or single family. Discount on first month’s rent. Security deposit required. Students require adult co-sign. Available August 1st, $1700+ all utilities. No pets. For more information, please call 412-303-5043. Email: dtm1003@comcast.net.

ments on Dawson

3 bedroom house 3 miles from campus.

June 7, 2017

Email: advertising@pittnews.com

A Student with some background in research to analyze/collect information on the sustainability in 5 regions of the world. Would like the student to start immediately. The compensation is negotiable. 412-521-4789. mck524@aol.com. We're looking for healthy native English speakers between 18-35 to participate in a research study involving a fMRI scan. You will be paid for your participation. Contact 412-624-7083 or J.tremel@pitt.edu.

WAITER/WAITRESS, DISHWASHER/COOK: 20hr/wk, great working environment. Cafe Sam, 5242 Baum Blvd. Apply Monday-Friday 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Phone: 412.648.7978

Counter staff for Arsenal Bowling Lanes. No bowling experience necessary. Must be available nights and weekends. Apply in person. Arsenal Bowling Lanes, 212 44th St., Pittsburgh, PA. 15201 SOCCER Assistant Coach needed for a girls varsity high school team. City of Pittsburgh, midAug. through Oct. Assistant Coach must be 21 years or older. Pay TBD. Contact lappdaniel@hotmail.com. SOCCER Assistant Coach needed for a boys varsity high school team. City of Pittsburgh, mid-Sept through Oct. Assistant Coach must be 21 years or older. Pay TBD. Contact pantelis.papa@verizon.net

The Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, is seeking clinical investigators. Candidates must have an MD with fellowship training or have a PhD. We are particularly interested in candidates in health services research, clinical epidemiology, health disparities, decision sciences and comparative effectiveness. Academic appointments, tenure status and salary are dependent upon qualifications and experience. Send letter of interest and CV to Wishwa Kapoor, MD, 200 Lothrop Street, 933 west MUH, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (fax 412 692-4825) or e-mail Noskoka@upmc.edu. EO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled

pittnews.com

University of Pittsburgh, Division of General Medicine is seeking a full time Clinician Educator. Position includes both inpatient and outpatient teaching and leadership opportunities in specific areas of medical education depending on the interest and qualifications of the candidate. Academic appointments, tenure status and salary are dependent upon qualifications and experience. Send letter of interest and CV to Wishwa Kapoor, MD, 200 Lothrop Street, 933 West MUH, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 (fax 412 692-4825) or e-mail Noskoka@upmc.edu. EO/AA/M/F/Vets/Disabled

June 7, 2017