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August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

THE PITT NEWS

ESTABLISH E D 1910

Harrison Kaminsky Editor-in-Chief editor@pittnews.com

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Editorial Policies Single copies of The Pitt News are free and available at newsstands around campus. Additional copies can be purchased with permission of the editor in chief for $.50 each. Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the students, faculty or University administration. Opinions expressed in columns,- car toons and letters are not necessarily those of The Pitt News. Any letter - in tended for publication must be addressed to the editor, be no more than 250 words and include the writer’s name, phone number and University affiliation, if any. Letters may be sent via e-mail to letters@pittnews.com. The Pitt News reserves the right to edit any and all letters. In the event of multiple replies to an issue, The Pitt News may print one letter that represents the majority of responses. Unsigned editorials are a majority opinion of the Editorial Board, listed to the left. The Pitt News is an independent, student-written and student-managed newspaper for the Oakland campus of the University of Pittsburgh. It is-pub lished Monday through Friday during the regular school year and Wednesdays during the summer. Complaints concerning coverage by The Pitt News, after first being brought to the editors, may be referred to the Community Relations -Com mittee, Pitt News Advisory Board, c/o student media adviser, 435 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260. The editor in chief has the final authority on editorial matters and cannot be censored, according to state and federal law. The editor in chief is selected by the Pitt News Advisory Board, which includes University staff, - fac ulty and students, as well as journalism professionals. The business and edito rial offices of The Pitt News are located at 434 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.

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interview

BIG MAN ON CAMPUS

Settled in, Chancellor Patrick Gallagher sets his sights higher than the cathedral.

A

fter one year of leading from the Cathedral of Learning’s corner office, Chancellor Patrick Gallagher is a man who still speaks with the same measured optimism as he did on his first day last August. Now, he has a sense of what the University’s community can accomplish. He knows what he wants to do for Pitt and — almost — how he’s going to do it. “I feel like I know enough now. It’s not just drinking from a fire hose,” he said in a 40-minute interview. “Now, maybe I know enough to be dangerous and we can start doing some things.” The Pitt community warmly welcomed parts of Gallagher’s plan, including his call to eliminate sexual assault at Pitt and his decision to appoint diversity and inclusion officials. But the first year wasn’t just a honeymoon. On April 16, for example, sociology professor Jackie Smith, political science professor Michael Goodhart and 75 other professors signed a cautionary letter to Gallagher warning of the dangers that could come with commercializing research. In July, professors like Peter Trachtenberg in the English department questioned some of Gallagher’s high-profile administrative hires, while more than 60 percent of Pitt’s faculty are adjunct or part-time. In addition, several LGBT students, including Marcus Robinson, president of Pitt’s Rainbow Alliance, have pointed out the lack of gender-neutral bathrooms on campus. In an interview with The Pitt News on July 24, Gallagher addressed those issues and more, inviting students to see what’s ahead.

Theo Schwarz VISUAL EDITOR

Q

After your first year, you’ve gotten a chance to refine your vision for Pitt. You’ve talked a little about reconnecting and some of the successes we’ve had. What would you say are the two or three biggest challenges you’ve identified this year?

A

Let’s see if I can figure out a way to explain this. The world of higher education is facing a lot of change right now, whether it’s cost, whether it’s technology. And in my view, the correct response to that is to double down on the stuff that we’re really good at, which is a type of experience-based learning. What happens, though, is that happens in a thousand different places and ways, so the challenge is, ‘how do you assemble those things


August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com and create the conditions where we make the maximum use out of that experience?’ And it seems to me the answer to that is to put students first.

Q

So the challenge is that higher education as a whole is moving in one direction and you’re trying to push it in another direction?

A

No, I think that the debate on higher education, when you sift through it, tends to be in the public press about issues of cost and affordability and access and technology disruption. But what all of those things are doing is pushing on the issue of ‘what is the value of higher education?’

sponsibility for the tuition. I don’t think you can budget cut yourself off that list. Then you really start impacting the value of what is so special about Pitt.

Q

Tying with this whole issue of money and your vision, you had that (open letter from professors Smith and Goodhart) back in February about the push to commercialize some of Pitt’s research. But not everyone in the University community has been as excited about that — 76 faculty members signed that open letter. I’m curious to hear why you think they opposed that?

“It could be really cheap to go here. But what if that degree doesn’t do you any good?” Q

-Patrick Gallagher Q

So the challenge is trying to find that balance between us being the most expensive public university in the country and having students feel like that’s worth it?

A

Well it has to be more than just worth it. And the reason we hit that ranking...has more to do with the fact that our state has eroded how much support they provide. It could be really cheap to go here. But what if that degree doesn’t do you any good? And so you really can’t address this on just cost, you have to address this on value.

Q

Let’s say best-case scenario, Governor Wolf gets his ideal budget passed and we get a lot more money back from the state. Would we potentially see a drop in tuition in the next couple of years?

A

Well, we’ll have to see how that goes. Obviously, I’d love to see the public sector pick up more re-

A

Well actually, I read their letter a little differently than just opposing. I took it as a cautionary note, and I would say I share their caution. A university is not a business, that is true, and that was one of the points they made. My argument was that we should have the ability to do it in our toolbox, not that it’s the only tool. And the other thing they were saying was ‘be careful, we’re not a company, don’t lose the fact that we’re a University and our primary mission is to teach and advance the frontiers of knowledge.’ And again, I couldn’t agree more. In my view, the ability to partner is not Pitt becoming a company, but Pitt becoming mature enough that we know how to work with companies without forgetting who we are.

One thing professors Smith and Goodhart said in the letter was that commodifying knowledge kind of misses the entire point of knowledge and research and teaching. Do you disagree with that?

A

No, but I would point out that, look, knowledge is a public good, so in that sense they’re right. But it is also true at a certain point, if you’re going to turn certain types of knowledge into something useful, you have to monetize it. I take [their letter] as a warning that if you are only seeking to commoditize and sell your knowledge, you’re going to miss the boat. But that’s not what we’re here for. But on the other hand, if you don’t allow for some knowledge to get to a point where it can basically be turned into something useful through this innovation process, then you’re also missing the boat. See Gallagher on page 8

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GALLY GRAM

We’ve covered Gallagher’s first picture-worthy moments from his introduction (above) in February 2014 to this summer’s schedule. Here are some highlights: Nicole Gye STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Jeff Ahearn ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

Theo Schwarz VISUAL EDITOR

Top - At Honors College Convocation, February 2015 Middle - Speaking to SGB, February 2015 Bottom - Meeting Chinese Vice Premier Lao Yandong, July 2015


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Gallagher, pg. 7

Q A

Another part of your vision for this year, in another letter you sent out in the winter semester, was about reducing sexual assault on campus. You said that sexual assault has no place here at Pitt. Why do you think this is still happening today? I don’t know. I don’t think this is a case of new behavior just showing up. What’s probably happening is that as a country, as a culture, as a place that is looking at the environment that all of our students are put in, we’re kind of waking up to the realization that we’re not creating an environment where people can feel safe in all circumstances... but the bottom line is, if you’re afraid of being sexually assaulted or experiencing sexual assault and retaliation, we have utterly failed to create the exact environment that is so important to a University, which is an environment where you can take risks, where you can be open, where you can grow as a person and you’re not afraid of harm. [But] you don’t change a culture through a program or training alone, or through a better compliance system, you do it with all of the above. It’s about changing hearts and minds and about really addressing behaviors.

Q A

Do you have a plan in place to address all of these things, like bystander intervention?

Q

There are some students here, especially in the LGBT community, who don’t always feel safe or included because we don’t have a lot of gender neutral bathrooms. I’m wondering if you have any other plans in the works to make our campus more LGBT friendly.

We do. And it’s a plan now and it’s a plan that’s going to keep getting better. Everyone has responsibilities in these circumstances, whether it’s sort of emergency responsibilities under an allegation or an incident or whether it’s ongoing responsibilities in terms of awareness and sensitivity and keeping our eye open and looking at our own behavior. So that’s the way we’re trying to address it is across the board.

A

We’ve been installing gender neutral bathrooms at a very high rate — we have maps on our website that indicate where they’re at. We’re addressing

“The bottom line is, if you’re afraid of being sexually assaulted...we have utterly failed to create the exact environment that is so important to a university.” -Patrick Gallagher and expanding our gender-neutral housing options. We’re doing things to increase awareness... we’re trying to actually work very hard in this area, See Gallagher on page 20


August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

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Wheels in Demise: Keeping your bike safe Alexis Mazzeo Staff Writer

With a new bike share system and more bike lanes planned, Pittsburgh is quickly becoming one of the nation’s bike-friendly cities. Though Pitt doesn’t keep data on how many of its students commute by bike, Pittsburgh has seen a 408 percent increase in its number of cyclists since 2000, now at 2.2 percent of the city’s population, according to U.S. Census data. And starting this fall, Pittsburgh’s Department of City Planning will install new bike lanes to connect Forbes Avenue to Schenley Drive, and lanes along the O’Hara, Bigelow, Bayard corridor. But with more cyclists on the roads, Pitt Police and local bike advocacy groups urge riders to keep their set of wheels safe. Mike Carroll, the event manager at BikePGH, a non-profit organization that advocates active transportation in Pittsburgh, stresses the importance of

He forgot to lock up his bike. Don’t end up like him. Fatima Kizilkaya STAFF CARTOONIST

locking bikes up especially on university campuses.

Carroll and other experts recommend certain locks over others as well as regis-

tering bikes on the national Bike Index, an online service that tracks and recovers stolen bikes. Carroll said people use inadequate locks such as cheap cable locks coated in plastic, which thieves can easily cut. Riders should invest in a U-Lock, which is shaped like a big metal ring. “It’s not impossible to steal [a bike with a U-Lock] but makes it more difficult,” Carroll said, Carroll said riders should lock a bike by its frame and not the wheel. If a rider locks a bike by the wheel, a thief may can walk away with the rest of the bike and leave the wheel and lock behind. As such, Robert Mckinney, owner of Iron City Bikes in Oakland stopped selling cable locks in his shop. He said many people would come buy a new bike and later complain their bike was stolen from the cable lock they bought from them. “Cable locks are terrible and so easy to See Bike on page 24


August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

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Pending legislation could broaden LGBT rights in Pennsylvania der identity or expression” to its protected categories. Staffers for Frankel and other legislators say these bills are now nearing the floors of both the Pennsylvania House and the Senate, though neither body has introduced a bill yet. In Pennsylvania, it is currently legal to make employment decisions, to refuse to rent an apartment or grant a mortgage or to deny service at a hotel, library or hospital based on a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity or expression. According to LGBT advocacy organization Equality Pennsylvania, twenty-one states and Washington, DC have already passed laws to prohibit sexual orientation or gender identity discrimination. “In the Northeast, Pennsylvania remains the only state in which you can be fired or evicted from your apartment for being gay,” Ted Martin, executive director of Equality Pennsylvania, said. “That’s

Mark Pesto

Senior Staff Writer

LGBT rights could soon take another leap forward in Pennsylvania — once state legislators introduce an amendment to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act. Shortly after the Supreme Court’s landmark same-sex marriage ruling in June, Pennsylvania State Representative Dan Frankel (D-Allegheny) told The Pitt News that he and his co-sponsors hoped to reintroduce this legislation within “the next few days.” The legislation would prohibit landlords and employers, among others, from discriminating against an individual on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. Specifically, the soon-to-be-introduced legislation would expand the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, which currently prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, ancestry, age and national origin. If this legislation passes, the act would add “sexual orientation” and “gen-

Names of people in the pict. Theo Schwarz VISUAL EDITOR

See LGBT on page 25


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header

HARDHAT SEASON: A guide to construction on campus

Chidi Nwakpuda Staff Writer

As most students checked out, construction crews checked in this summer, fighting through the heat to begin more than $58 million worth of campus renovations. Pitt’s Board of Trustees granted the money for construction and estimated these projects would create 430 jobs on campus. From new elevators in the Cathedral of Learning to repairing Langley Hall after a construction crane crashed into it, here is a map of all of Pitt’s summer construction projects. Beginning last semester, Pitt is renovating the auditoriums in David Lawrence Hall (1) and will add three new classrooms. The new classrooms, each with more than 50 seats, are located on the second floor above the auditorium and will be ready for the fall term. The newly renovated auditoriums will have

more than 570 seats for larger rooms and 340 seats for smaller rooms. The William Pitt Union (2) is undergoing a porch renovation which will replace the entire foundation — floor slab and railings. For those with physical disabilities, Pitt installed a handicap ramp from the porch to the sidewalk and patio. The Korean Heritage room will open this November in the Cathedral of Learning (3). The newest Nationality Room will be in Room 304. Two new Otis elevators are now running in the Cathedral of Learning. Northside-based Mascaro Construction will continue to renovate the remaining six of the eight total elevators over the next several months. Heinz Memorial Chapel (4) reopened in June after crews finished installing a new climate control system. Pitt replaced part of the Cathedral athletic walk near Forbes Avenue to im-

prove the drainage and also replaced several cracked stones. Over the next two summers, Pitt will repoint the masonry on Ruskin Hall (5) and replace the window lintels. After the Board of Trustees approved a $34 million upgrade to Clapp Hall (6) in March, Pitt will now renovate the building’s ground and first floors. The renovations will install state of the art student labs along with other lab space and offices. Pitt will replace the entire mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems, including the building’s elevator. The auditorium will open in the fall term. Pitt is also cleaning the outside of the building and repointing the masonry to correct parapets which will allow for a new roof. Pitt has already completed work in the electrical and computer engineering department in Benedum Hall (7). There are now new classrooms, offices, and department offices and support spaces.

The tenth floor, the industrial engineering department, is the final part of the renovation. Pitt will complete the project by the end of 2015. Renovations to Parran Hall (8) will upgrade the entire MEP systems and create offices where labs once were located. Pitt will complete this project in summer of 2017. Soon, Pitt will finish renovating the entrance to Craig Hall (9). The entrance will then have new doors and a handicap ramp as well as new exterior soffit lights, a new ceiling and fresh paint on the soffit. Pitt is set to complete the work in August. The University will replace the circular stair leading from the event level to the lawn of the Petersen Events Center (10). Pitt is set to complete the work this summer. Pitt recently completed renovations See Construction on page PB


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With influx of funding, Pitt will amp up alcohol education Amrita Beaudine For The Pitt News

To aid the fight against alcohol abuse on campus, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board has awarded a $34,412 grant to Pitt. The Board awards grants to organizations based on their ability to “provide evidence-informed alcohol education and prevention activities and programs,” according to Paul Supowitz, Pitt’s Vice Chancellor for Community and Governmental Relations. The Board awarded grants to 24 Pennsylvania colleges and universities, including Pitt, which will use the grant to fund Panther Bridge: Campus and Community Connections to Address Dangerous and Underage Drinking. Panther Bridge is a new project where several programs will target prevention of unlawful alcohol consumption and unhealthy drinking habits. Resident Assistants will be a part of the Panther Bridge through new training mod-

ules that Pitt Police, Pitt’s Student Health Service and Pitt’s Office of Community and Governmental Relations formulated. Pitt will base the creation of these modules off the Core Alcohol & Drug Survey results, a survey Pitt will ask undergraduate stu-

hensive agenda of prevention strategies appears to be more effective,” said Marian Vanek, Pitt’s Director of Student Health Services, in an email. In 2013, the most recent year for which data exists, Pitt Police made 153 arrests for

ALCOHOL ON CAMPUS Alcohol arrests 2013

Disciplinary referrals for alcohol 2013

West Virginia: 551 Temple: 14 Pitt: 153

West Virginia: 1501 Temple: 295 Pitt: 290

dents to take this fall. The results of the survey will help the University analyze campus-wide usage rates and student perceptions of alcohol and drugs. “What we have learned, and what the research supports, is that no one program or service addresses all concerns and all students, but rather a varied, yet compre-

liquor law violations and 290 disciplinary referrals, according to the 2014 Campus Crime Statistics report. For comparison in that same year, Temple University took disciplinary action against 295 for liquor law violations and made 14 arrests, according to its security report, and West Virginia University made 551 arrests and

1501 disciplinary referrals. Panther Bridge will focus on alcohol education, engaging students and enforcing alcohol policies, Supowitz said. Unlike Pitt’s previous program, The Tipping Point, Panther Bridge will be wider in breadth. Included in this is increased activity of the Pitt Police Impact Details. Impact officers will monitor parties if any disrupt the neighborhood, said Officer Guy Johnson, Pitt Police Community Relations Officer. “Impact is stepping up patrols throughout Oakland at busy times like weekends,” Johnson said. “Most of them will walk the streets.” Panther Bridge will introduce a campaign known as Buzzkill: Serve Under 21 and the Party’s Over to Pitt’s campus, which the Drug Free Alliance developed. Buzzkill aims to prevent underage drinking by educating the community on the See Liquor on page 24


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SGB UPDATE Emily Brindley

For The Pitt News

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ew President, new school year, same goals — as classes start, Student Government Board pushes ahead — or hits a wall — with their iniatives. Elected president Graeme Meyer resigned for undisclosed reasons in May and was succeeded by former Vice President Nasreen Harun. Although SGB is not technically in session during the summer, Harun said she has been meeting with administrators and members of SGB throughout the summer to prepare for the school year and to work on upcoming projects. These goals include distributing magazine racks for student publications, making it easier to sign guests into residence halls and bringing awareness to mental health resources on campus. But first, the Board needs another member and plans on selecting the new board member through a paper application and then a public interview.

Nasreen Harun President Harun, who will be a senior this fall, is majoring in marketing and human resources management. As SGB is currently transitioning term lengths from one calendar year to one academic year, Harun will serve in her post until the end of the school year. Harun said she spent this summer discussing the board members’ goals. She is continuing work to place

student publication racks — for publications such as the Original Magazine and Pitt Political Review — throughout campus, a project that former president Meyer began. The initiative hit a standstill when talks with one of the suppliers fell through at the end of the school year. Harun said the Board is getting pricing quotes from other suppliers but does not know when the Board will install the racks. “This is something we want to get done soon, because there is a need,” Harun said. “We want to help students get their publications out there.” Harun has also spoken with other board members, such as Natalie Dall, to plan an event in September centering on student safety.

Everett Green

Executive Vice President

Everett Green, a junior finance major, took H a r u n ’s place as Vice President as he received the third-highest number of votes in the election. Green began an initiative in January to streamline the process of signing guests into University housing. Green said he has been in touch with Facilities and Transportation Chair Rohit Anand as well as Julie Bannister, the manager of Panther Central,

to continue working on this initiative. According to Bannister, the largest issue with signing guests in may be a software problem that slows down the sign-in process. “They’re going to install new software in places like Tower B,” Green said. “So they can start to collect data at the beginning of next semester to see if it’s a software problem.” If Panther Central determines that it is not a software problem, Green said it will see if the computers are inefficient, or if the University is not training the guards to run the system as efficiently as possible. Green and Anand hope to have another meeting with Bannister in August to continue this project. Green did not have an estimate for when he could complete the project. “I’m pretty proud of what we’ve all been able to accomplish,” Green said.

Harun said while the event is definite, possible seminars are still in the planning stages but may include reaching out to organizations in Pittsburgh like the Allegheny Health Department and PennDot to offer information on safety within the home, like fire extinguisher use. Harun said these seminars may also provide resources outside of the home, related to personal wellbeing and mental health. “After the past year that we’ve had, there’s definitely been more effort made to let everyone know that there’s a place for them to go if they need help,” Harun said, in reference to the three student suicides at Pitt in the past year.

Jacky Chen Board Member Jacky Chen, a senior neuroscience major, was unavailable to comment on his current or future initiatives, as he was away conducting military training. During his campaign in October, however, Chen told The Pitt News that he would work to get more outlets installed in Hillman Library so that students could more easily charge their laptops and phones. After meeting with University Library Services in March, Chen learned from Jeff Wisniewski, spokesperson for Hillman who was at the meeting, that this initiative may not be plausible, as the library’s circuitry does not allow for the installation of more outlets. In March, Chen said he continued his initiative by looking for alternative ways for students to charge their laptops, such as portable battery packs for students to rent. Chen’s focus has gone beyond Hillman in the past. In February Chen said he would like to reinstate the Multicultural Committee, which would help cultural student organizations develop programs, apply for funding and raise awareness about cultural and diversity issues within the student body.


August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Natalie Dall

Vice President and Chief of the Cabinet

Natalie Dall, a junior studying molecular biology major, began an initiative in January to introduce more gender-neutral housing and bathrooms to Pitt’s campus. “It can be really comforting for students who are apprehensive about living with people they aren’t comfortable with,” Dall said. Pitt currently has gender neutral bathrooms available in the Wellness Center within Nordenberg Hall, and 72 other “single-use” restrooms in buildings around campus. According to Dall, she expects to make progress on this initiative in the coming months, but could not make further comment on the specifics of the project’s progress because it is being handled by the Office of Housing and Residence Life.

Matt Sykes

Dall proposed to reintroduce the Traditions Committee at Pitt, which focused on Pitt pride traditions. The previous SGB President Mike Nites said the 20142015 Board chose not to form the Traditions Committee during its term. Dall said she has a general idea of how she hopes to structure the Traditions Committee by creating four sub-committees, including an alumni relations committee, a marketing committee, and a video production committee that would include Pitt graduates talking about past traditions. Dall, who will be looking for new traditions members at the Fall Activities Fair, said all it takes to restart the committee is the energy. “I’m really passionate about bringing more Pitt pride to the campus,” Dall said. “It’s something I really want to see come back to the Student Government Board.”

Vice President and Chief of Finance

Matt Sykes is a rising senior studying industrial engineering and sociology. When Sykes ran for his board position, he along with board member Natalie Dall planned to open the Student Government Board to initiatives from the student body. “We want to have more of an open-door policy,” Sykes said. “If students have questions or complaints, they can come to me and we can work it out.” To do this, Sykes said students will be able to interact with the Board through its new website, once it is up

and running. The Board will lay out each of its current initiatives on the site, Sykes said, and well as open up an anonymous forum for students to offer feedback on current initiatives and propose new ones. Sykes will also be in charge of reaching out to student leaders on campus and asking for their input on initiatives, he said. As Chief of Finance, Sykes is in charge of increasing the Board’s transparency with the Student Activity Fund and the allocations process. Resultingly, Sykes pushed for the renovation of the Board’s website, which will include weekly online updates on the allocation of funds during the school year. “We’ll be working together with Allocations Chair Nick Reslink to open it up more so there’s no confusion as organizations are going through the allocations process,” Sykes said.

Jack Heidecker Board Member Jack Heidecker, a junior German and political science major, said he was pleased with how the Board meshed during its first semester. Heidecker has been working with SORC to create a new system that will allow students in student groups who receive more than three reimbursements per year, for things like travelling and supplies, the option to get

the money directly deposited into their bank accounts. In the past, Heidecker said students have complained that their funding, in the form of a check, was addressed to the incorrect person, or arrived much later than expected. Another complaint, according to Heidecker, is the University’s lack of organization when it comes to classifying student groups.

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Meghan Murphy Board Member

Meghan Murphy is a rising senior majoring in neuroscience and political science. Along with Matt Sykes, Murphy is working on a mental health awareness initiative. Murphy and Sykes have worked on organizing a partnership with the Jed and Clinton Health Matters Campus Program, a nonprofit organization dedicated to suicide prevention on college campuses. The program aims to set up mental health resources including a campus-wide assessment team and introductory workshops. So far this summer, Murphy said she presented the mental health program to Ed Michaels, the director of the counseling center. Murphy and Sykes will present the program again in the fall to the new Mental Health Task Force, which had its first meeting on Aug.18. Sykes and Murphy are also organizing a mental health awareness week which will incorporate members of the Greek community, in October, which is mental health awareness month.

Lia Petrose Board Member Junior Lia Petrose, a neuroscience and economics major said she plans to increase allocations accessibility, create more informative introductory arts and sciences courses and make it easier for undergraduates to enroll in public health courses. Petrose said that based on surveys put out by the allocations committee last year, student organizations found the allocations process “too complicated.” Petrose said she hopes to clarify the process by hosting additional Allocations 101 information sessions. Petrose is working on organizing a formal course of classes that would essentially lead to an undergraduate certificate in public health, as part of making it easier to enroll in classes within the public health program. “A lot of people are interested in public health, and not knowing that you can take classes here at the graduate school is a hindrance to a lot of people,” Petrose said. “We’re trying to make that more accessible.” Heidecker is working on a Student Organization Classification Task Force, which will keep a digital record of and classify student organizations by type, allowing the Board to reach out to groups effectively. “Right now we don’t have an effective system of classifying organizations,” Heidecker said. “This will allow us to specialize our services for each organization.”


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Gallagher, pg. 8 and I think, again, this is not something you can address overnight, but I think we’re moving in the right direction.

Q A

Q A

Also in this same vein of diversity, I’m curious to hear how you define diversity. When you hear the words diversity and Pitt in the same sentence, what does that mean? I think in the end it means what you think it means, which is that a University has to be a place that embraces everyone — and in some sense reflects the world it is a part of. And so for me, diversity is, I tend to think of it as a value. It has to be baked into our attitudes and our approach and the way we act, even when that’s hard. So do you have a goal? Do you want to do an X, Y and Z here at Pitt as far as diversity goes to get us to points A, B and C? I think we’re developing that right now, I mean, what’s underway now is to take the broader goal of what does it mean to be diverse — the question you asked — and turn that into near term specific actions that we can take.

Q A

Such as?

“For me, diversity is...a value. It has to be baked into our attitudes and our approach and the way we act, even when that’s hard.”

Well they’re under development now, so I don’t want to handicap what they’re going to come up with, but it will certainly involve things we can do to promote inclusiveness. That’s probably going to touch things that we do in our recruiting and hiring practices, it’s probably going to affect things we do in our business interactions, who we contract with, it’s probably going to affect things we do in our student recruiting. So it’s probably going to touch a whole bunch of areas.

Find the full exclusive interview at

pittnews.com

-Patrick Gallagher Go to

for a behind-the-scenes look at the photo shoot with Gallagher at the top of Cathy


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August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Pill problem: UPMC leads antibiotic overuse research Annemarie Carr For The Pitt News

You may want to rethink asking your healthcare provider for an antibiotic at the first sniffle. Launched in June, UPMC, the University of Wisconsin and the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (AMDA) are collaborating to study the overuse of antibiotics in hospitals and doctor’s offices. With UPMC leading, the researchers will conduct a three-year trial studying overuse and overprescription of antibiotics. Researchers say studying antibiotic use is important because antibiotic overuse and bacterium resistance is a pressing problem both nationally and worldwide. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is funding the study for an estimated $1.5 million. The formal launch of the trial is expected to begin in September.

Within the study itself, researchers will the most pressing public health problems decide the groups receiving the control we face.” and experimental conditions randomly, “While most providers understand as the study is a cluster randomized trial. the societal consequences of antibiotic David A. Nace, who is leading the study overuse, these societal concerns have little at UPMC, said pharmaceutical companies influence on decision-making at the indican’t keep pace with bacterium evolution. vidual patient level,” Crnich said. “We are very Only one new quickly running antibiotic was made out of antibiotics between 2010 and to do the job for us, Pittʼs study will require federal 2013, Nace said, and the problem is funding for its broad scope. with only a few only going to grow more coming to the worse,” Nace said. - Three years market since 2013. The trial will in- - $1.5 million from DepartMany doctors, phyvolve 40 long-term ment of Health sician assistants and care facilities across nurse practitioners - 40 facilities in five states Pennsylvania, Texprescribe antibiotas, North Carolina, ics to their patients and Wisconsin. The researchers will use every time they suspect an infection, but 20 facilities as a control and subject the most of the time an infection is not actuadditional 20 facilities to an antibiotic ally occurring, Nace added. prescription. “Providers often think an antibiotic Nace’s co-investigator, Christopher won’t hurt, but that is the wrong assumpCrnich, said antibiotic overuse is “one of tion,” Nace said.

BIG DATA

According to Crnich, the negative side effects of incorrect antibiotic use include an elevated risk of adverse drug reactions, developing Clostridium difficile diarrhea, life-threatening colitis and becoming colonized with resistant bacteria. “While development of new antibiotics is important, the problem of antibiotic resistance will only be solved through changes in how we use antibiotics,” Crnich said. In the first year of the trial, researchers will evaluate and update the current guidelines for antibiotic use. Researchers will then collect data on urinary tract infections, including treatment provided, rate of appropriate treatment, rate of inappropriate treatment and adverse outcomes. In the second year of the trial, researchers will begin coaching long-term care facilities and nursing homes on antibiotic use based on their findings and See UPMC on page 28


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Bike, pg. 10 cut. Use a basic lock or a heavy duty chain,” Mckinney said. Pitt’s Student Government Board, too, has offered advice and made efforts to ensure students’ bikes are safe on campus. Sara Klein, an SGB member, hosted a pedestrian and bike safety day in the fall 2014 semester. At the event, students registered their bikes to the police in case of theft. Klein said 25 students registered their bikes at the event. The registering

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com service is also on Pitt’s Parking, Transportation and Services website. This year, student cyclists will have the option to attend SGB’s Safety Fair on Sept. 25 to learn safety tips on transportation in Pittsburgh. “Obviously registering your bike will

My bike was my main source of transportation. It wasn’t new and it wasn’t fancy but it worked. Samantha Winkelmann

Pitt student

help in the event it’s stolen as well as locking your bike up with the bike racks provided all around campus,” Klein said. Natalie Dall, Vice President and Chief of Cabinet on SGB, said she is working with SGB Facilities and Transportation Chair Rohit Anand as

well as Pitt police officer Guy Johnson to plan the Safety Fair for this Fall. Dall said they are still in the early stages of planning the fair. Their plan, Dall said, is to have tables set up with information and demonstrations on different forms of safety within the main categories of transportation safety and personal safety. According to Johnson, Pitt police received 20 reports of stolen bikes on campus in 2014 — since the start of 2015 there have been 10 reports. See Bike on page 25

Liquor, pg. 16 consequences of hosting a party with alcohol and serving underage guests. The Oakland community itself will be involved in Panther Bridge, as Be a Good Neighbor Block Parties are expanded. These parties “bring together off-campus students with long-term residents from specific Oakland neighborhoods in a casual and fun setting,” Supowitz said. “Connecting community members and students has a positive impact on reducing hazardous alcohol consumption, as well as the disruptions that often coincide with high-risk drinking.” Pitt is hoping to increase usage of PantherTRAC, a text-message based technology created at Pitt’s School of Medicine, which serves as a binge-drinking prevention program. According to Vanek, PantherTRAC “uses technology allowing students to self-monitor their drinking intentions and behaviors and assists in goal-setting.” “Research supports the value of these programs, indicating that they can have a positive impact and will assist us in meeting our goals and objectives,” Vanek said. “We continue to evaluate improvements in technologies and prevention strategies and apply best practice to our initiatives.” Madison Scull, an incoming Pitt freshman who plans to double major in Chinese and philosophy, was skeptical about the overall effectiveness of Panther Bridge. “Many of these programs are a joke in high schools across the country,” Scull said. “That said, it is comforting to know that our University cares about our wellbeing to the extent that they are providing us See Liquor on page 25


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LGBT, pg. 12 shocking, it’s embarrassing and it’s behind the times.” Of those Northeastern states, nearly all protect against sexual orientation and gender identity discrimination, but neither New York nor New Hampshire protect against gender identity discrimination, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. In Pennsylvania, thirty-four municipalities, including Pittsburgh, ban antiLGBT discrimination. Martin applauded Allegheny County and the City of Pittsburgh for protecting LGBT individuals at the local level, but said the state still needs a statewide antidiscrimination law to keep from losing their jobs or being evicted. “If you work in Pittsburgh during the day and drive home to Westmoreland County, or Washington County, or Butler County, the minute you cross the border, those protections disappear. That’s the case in over 70 percent of the state,” Martin said.

Bike, pg. 24 For Pitt student Samantha Winkelmann, bike safety advice came a few weeks too late. Late in July, Winkelmann, a senior communication major, was riding her bicycle back to her house on Bates Street. When she reached her front porch, she locked her bike to a railing with a cable lock and stepped inside. Approximately 20 minutes after she entered her home, an unknown person cut her cable lock and rode off with her bike. Winkelmann was devastated. “My bike was my main source of transportation,” she said. “It wasn’t new and it wasn’t fancy but it worked.”

Liquor, pg. 24 services beyond high schools saying ‘hey guys, drinking is bad for you’.” Scull also feels reassured by the variation of programs provided in Panther Bridge. “I think the University’s efforts in this area will have some degree of impact on every student, if for no other reason than the program being so extensive now,” Scull said.

When exactly state legislators will introduce these bills to prevent discrimination is unclear. On July 16, Frankel’s executive director Gabe Spece said Frankel and his co-sponsors planned to introduce the House bill by the end of July, which did not occur. Vicki Wilken, legislative counsel for Sen. Patrick Browne, estimated that the Senate bill would reach the Senate floor by the end of August or the beginning of September. “I think it’ll be in before the end of the

summer,” Spece said. Frankel and Rep. Chris Ross (R-Chester) will introduce the bill in the House, while Browne (R-Lehigh) and Sen. Lawrence Farnese (D-Philadelphia) will do the same in the Senate. Similar legislation has failed to pass at least five times throughout the past decade. Most recently, the Pennsylvania legislature’s 2013-2014 versions of nondiscrimination legislation had more than 100 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House and

25 the Senate. Furthermore, polls said last year that 72 percent of Pennsylvanians agreed with the bill’s goals, and nine Fortune 500 companies and more than 400 small businesses threw their support behind it. Even so, the bill died in committee without a vote. Even as Pennsylvania’s legislators work to introduce this protection, recently-introduced similar legislation in Congress could potentially make their efforts reSee LGBT on page 26


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LGBT, pg. 25 dundant if passed. Introduced simultaneously in the House and Senate on July 23, The Equality Act, would amend federal civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in matters of education, employment, housing, credit, public accommodations, jury service and federal funding — goals similar to, if broader than, those of the pending Pennsylvania bills. However, LGBT advocates, like Martin from Equality Pennsylvania, said Pennsylvania legislators shouldn’t abandon their efforts to pass state-level legislation in hopes that federal law will accomplish the same goals, pointing out that the Equality Act could be defeated. At least one state legislator has opposed similar legislation on religious grounds in the past. Rep. Tim Krieger (R-Westmoreland) spoke out in a 2013 statement against HB 300, the previous version of this legislation, saying that it would violate religious liberty. “House Bill 300 would force [Christian]

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com are currently tweaking the bill’s language to secure more co-sponsors and build a broader base of support, though she could not elaborate on what language tweaks the Senate is making. According to Spece, 80 of the 203 members of the House and 26 of 50 Senators planned to co-sponsor the legislation, as of Aug. 18. The proposed legislation, Spece said, matches its predecessors, with only a few minor language edits. Making edits and gathering co-sponsors will improve the legislation’s chance at success, he said. “You want to make sure your timing is right,” Spece said.

“In the Northeast, Pennsylvania remains the only state in which you can be fired or evicted from your apartment for being gay. That’s shocking, it’s embarrassing and it’s be- WANT MORE CONTENT? hind the times.” -Ted Martin GO ONLINE TO

believers to leave their convictions at the door, and by doing so, would force them to deny the truth of their religious beliefs,

or face the consequences,” Krieger said in the statement. Wilken said members of the Senate

pittnews.com


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UPMC, pg. 22

Construction, pg. 14

publish their results in the third year. Mary Mulligan, Senior Manager of Clinical Affairs at AMDA, said she expects the study to show that overuse of antibiotics harms patients, rather than heals them. She, Nace and the other researchers will include new interventions and guidelines in a toolkit that they will distribute to nursing homes across the country at the conclusion of the study. “We know antibiotics can save lives and we know antibiotics can kill people and make health worse. We need to use antibiotics appropriately,” Nace said.

on the Salk Pavilion (11), which included building a new research lab building. The commons room connects the Salk Hall fourth floor with the new building’s offices, conference rooms and coffee bar. Pitt also completed the commons room which now contains both the pharmacy and dental labs. The University will close Sutherland Drive (12) this fall to vehicular traffic while it installs security gates on the north end and retractable bollards on the southern end. Only authorized vehicles will enter the turnaround area, adjacent to the special needs dental entrance.

WRITER? PHOTOGRAPHER? GRAPHIC DESIGNER? CODER? WE’RE HIRING. GO ONLINE TO

pittnews.com


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After Year of Sustainability, Pitt stays focused on being green Chidi Nwakpuda Staff Writer

Pitt faculty and campus organizations are calling on its students to go green this year — right down to their tools. Coming off its first-ever Year of Sustainability, a year-long initiative meant to fund and promote sustainability efforts on campus, Pitt’s green focus will continue. This fall, the University store is providing school supplies made from recycled materials, and Pitt faculty and organizations are offering ways for Pitt students to be more sustainable while at school. Alex Jones, researcher in renewable energy at Pitt’s Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation, attributes the growing activity and awareness to the substantial top-down feedback from the chancellor and administrative officers. He said their approving of the major sustainability initiatives, like the Year of Sustainability, propelled Pitt’s efforts.

nitely leaders of sustainability,” Jones, 39, said. Jones said Pitt’s mobilization to become more sustainable

can b e come near-perfect with full participation from Pitt students. Likewise, Ward Allebach, Pitt lecturer for sustainability and management of environ-

I think Pitt is more aware. I think we’re definitely leaders of sustainability. Alex Jones

Pitt researcher

“I think Pitt is more aware. I think we’re defi-

sustainable practices that Pitt students can incorporate into their lives. The list includes things students can do, including turning off lights when you leave a room, setting their laptops to sleep mode, turning off the faucet when brushing their teeth, and taking 10 min-

mental and non-profit organizations, has stressed

the importance of students reconsidering mundane decisions to make Pitt an effectively sustainable environment. “Everything we do over the course of the day has an impact. If you under-

Katelyn Binetti STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

stand this and do not do this, I think you’re really not doing good for the community,” he said. To start, Pitt’s Sustainability webpage includes

utes or less to shower. When on the go, the site says, students can use refillable beverage cups. Pitt students can also try swapping their usual

school supplies for their “greener” counterparts — the University Store sells school supplies made from recycled materials. Renée Galloway, Supplier Diversity and Sustainability Coordinator at Pitt, said options include notebooks made from sugar cane, a line of pens made from plastic bottles and another line of pens made from post-recyclable material. According to University spokesperson John Fedele, 10 to 12 percent of the University Store’s supply are recycled products. Roaring Spring Paper Products produces some of the goods Pitt sells in the University Store and has taken additional measures to become more environmentally conscious. Jim Lucey, vice president of sale and marketing at the company, said using recycled products is particularly important in the U.S. “In the United States, we plant more trees than we harvest. So, [our company is] keeping stuff out of the landfills,” he said. Lucey, who’s been with company for 25 years, had observed that his sales for sustainable and recycled paper products varied across the country — he sells more sustainable products and recycled material in Pennsylvania than in other region of the See Sustainability on page 34


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recurring coverage

“All of these measures are weakening the economy. The more they try to fix things, the more they are making it harder to meet these obligations.”

DESIGNED BY FREEPIK.COM

Editor’s Note:

This is the first in a new series called Around the World, in which The Pitt News breaks down world news with the help of local experts to give you the low down on what’s going on internationally. In this first installment, The Pitt News spoke with Pitt history professors Bernard Hagerty and Irina Livezeanu and Pitt economics professor Steven Husted to take a look at Greece’s debt crisis and what it means for the United States.

Lauren Rosenblatt Assistant News Editor

After 14 years of stability, this summer has pushed Greece into an economic downward spiral. As the crisis unfolds, the chances of a smooth landing seem slight. In 2001, Greece joined the Eurozone, a partnership of European countries that share one form of currency to increase trade and efficiency. In 2008, the Great Recession, a worldwide economic downturn that caused the U.S. stock market to lose 778 points in one day and had after-effects that took years to recover from, hit both the United States and European countries. One year later, the Euro-

zone discovered that Greece had been hiding a tremendous amount of debt, using a falsely circular flow of money to cover up the growing expenses. Now, in 2015, Greece is still struggling to dig its way out. This summer, it became clear to other members of the Eurozone and the Greek government that Greece would not be able to pay its outstanding debts. To convince European allies to grant Greece debt forgiveness, Greece agreed to make reforms to its economic system, including stricter tax regulations and cutting government spending. After two failed attempts to follow through with its promises, Greece is now working on its third try. But how did the economy get to the staggering point

To Husted, Greece is caught in a neverending cycle, where new taxes only hurt economic growth and lower wealth. TNS

it is at now? According to Bernard Hagerty, a history professor at Pitt, it started in the early 2000s, when Greece began borrowing money it couldn’t pay back. In the past, Greece had maintained a frontier similar to a Ponzi scheme, in which it circulated money between new and old investors without ever really paying the entirety of its debt, according to Hagerty. When the worldwide recession hit in 2009, the flow of money slowed, and Greece’s Ponzi scheme came to a screeching

-Steven Husted

halt, revealing just how much debt Greece was in. When Hagerty visited Greece in 2012 he saw firsthand the devastating state of Greece’s economy. While visiting Athens, he stopped into a local coffee shop. Observing the linoleum floors, rickety tables, lack of air conditioning and lack of customers, Hagerty struck up conversation with the store owner. Hagerty said the proprietor told him 20 to 30 people used to come in for a shot of ouzo and a cup of coffee each day. After a while they would only have

Pitt professor

a cup of coffee, and then they stopped coming at all. “By 2012 this was all that was left, three or four people nursing one cup of Greek coffee,” Hagerty said. In attempts to repay the debt, Greece has been in negotiations with the other members of the Eurozone in the hopes of striking a bailout deal. Having agreed to three now, Greece was reluctant to maintain the reforms required by the first two for a deal, which were mainly more austerity measures, inSee Greece on page 34


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Sustainability, pg. 30 products and recycled material in Pennsylvania than in other region of the United States. “It really depends on the campus and their sensitivity to get recycled or sustainable products. We see a wide variation,” he said. Additionally, Matt Walaan, business and personnel manager of Pitt’s Housing Services, said taking small steps to become more environmentally-friendly

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com was a very important, understated strategy in the housing efforts. Walaan said Housing Services has put recycling bins in every Pitt dorm room, replaced the older tissue paper with tissue paper made without the cardboard coil and has had housing staff use “greener” cleaning supplies. Allebach, 49, suggests students who are passionate about sustainability should get involved in or develop their own initiatives for sustainability — he noted it’s not nearly as difficult as it

seems. Allebach sees personal initiative in students as an admirable and overlooked step. “We are trained to live our lives mindlessly. Go about your business mindlessly. Live your life, buy stuff, do stuff, get money, get good grades, buy a nice car,” Allebach said. “You’re presented with these things as if you don’t have a choice. Anything that inspires you, anything that strikes a chord in what you do, you can do.”

Greece, pg. 32 cluding stricter enforcement on taxes and tighter safeguards against corruption. Hagerty doubts Greece will follow through with these reforms, blaming the governing party, which openly announced that it did not agree with the changes. “It’s hard to imagine that [the governing party] will expend the energy and make the decisions necessary to make [these reforms] happen,” Hagerty said. “I don’t think they will live up to their agreement. I don’t think they will reform.” Steven Husted, an economics professor at Pitt, said increasing taxes and other reforms may not be the best solution. “The problem is that you collect more taxes when the economy is strong,” Husted said. “All of these measures are weakening the economy. The more they try to fix things, the more they are making it harder to meet these obligations.” In Husted’s opinion, Greece will have to default on its debt soon, which would lead to a neverending cycle. “For a while they can’t borrow from anybody, and then overtime people forget the past and turn around and start making loans again,” Husted said. “And then they default again.” In addition to the default, Husted said Greece will most likely have to leave the Eurozone and return to its own form of currency, the drachma. If Greece were to leave, the remaining countries in the alliance would remain stable, Husted said. However, catastrophe would strike if other countries followed a similar trajectory, a likely path in Husted’s opinion. Several other countries in the Eurozone, including Spain, Portugal and Ireland, are on the edge of facing similar economic crises. If multiple countries were to default and leave the Eurozone, the European economy would be in shambles as a result of too much instability within the countries making trade and economic activity difficult, and the United States would feel the effects, according to Husted. “The immediate impact [of the dissolution of the Eurozone] is for the economic health of these countries to get even worse,” Husted said. “We do business with these countries so anything that hurts them can come back and hurt us.” See Greece on page 111


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Korean Nationality Room: Hand-carved, shipped and almost ready Amrita Beaudine For The Pitt News

After nearly nine years and $850,000, Pitt is almost ready to unveil its latest Nationality Room. The Korean Heritage Room is the newest addition to the Cathedral of Learning Nationality Rooms, and its designers and carpenters said they strived to build a room that would truly reflect Korean society and the nation’s educational settings. Minah Lee, the Architect-of-Record and designer of the room, said she and the other designers wanted the construction of the room to revolve around Korean pride, or “jajonsim.” She, Myounghee Song, Kim Bong-ryol, and Sang C. Park, the other designers of the facility, worked through the summer on the room, which is scheduled to open on Nov. 15. Instead of a chalkboard, the room will have an 82-inch interactive Samsung LCD. The inclusion of modern technology is the first for any of the Nationality Rooms.

Workers in Korea handcarved the pieces of the room, then shipped it to Pitts for installation. Theo Schwarz VISUAL EDITOR

Designers decided to include the LCD to commemorate South Korea and its role

in the electronic industry. “We are so proud to have the LCD in

the room,” Park said, adding that chalkboards and the like could be very messy and time consuming. Rather than creating a message through a façade, Lee said, the Korean Heritage Classroom “speaks through its special organization and structures”. With the design in hand, workers in Korea individually constructed the pieces, including wooden beams, pillars and ceiling panels with hand carved traditional designs, before shipping them to Pittsburgh, where local workers assembled them in the Cathedral of Learning. The Syria-Lebanon Room and the Japanese Nationality Room are the only other nationality rooms constructed in their countries of origin. According to Bong-ryol, the traditional method of teaching in Korea does not revolve around instruction. Rather, it focuses on students realizing the outcome on their own, through the use of their See Korean on page 42


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TPN’s guide to the candidates A

Mark Pesto Staff Writer

t the close of July, 22 presidential hopefuls — 17 Republicans and five Democrats — had entered the 2016 race. The Pitt News spoke with

Jonathan Woon, a political science professor at Pitt, and Bert Rockman, a political science professor at Purdue University, formerly at Pitt, to see who has a chance of winning their party’s nomination.

DEMOCRATS Hillary

CLINTON

Who is she?

Clinton served as Secretary of State from 2009 to 2013 under Barack Obama. Her tenure was successful, barring some controversy over the terrorist attacks on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Before that, she has also been a Senator from New York, the First Lady of the United States, the First Lady of Arkansas and a practicing lawyer. She also ran unsuccessfully for President in 2008. Currently, the Justice Department is seeking an investigation over her email practices while she was Secretary of State.

What are her chances?

With seven candidates competing for the Democratic nod, experts said only two stand a fighting chance.

Who is he?

Since 2007, Sanders has been the junior Senator from Vermont. He’s one of only two Independents currently in the Senate. Before that, from 1991 to 2007, he held Vermont’s only seat in the House of Representatives, and from 1981 to 1989, he was Mayor of Burlington, Vermont. A self-described democratic socialist, Sanders has focused on economic issues during his campaign

Bernie

SANDERS

What are his chances?

“He has a non-trivial chance,” Woon said, but added that Sanders Clinton’s chances at winning the Democratic nomination are excellent, Rockfaces an uphill battle to overtake Clinton. “I think now he’s getting attention man said, citing her name recognition and her well-funded campaign. “I’d bet on because he’s basically the liberal alternative within the Democratic Party.” Hillary Clinton being the nominee,” he said. According to Rockman, while Sanders is “the only one who can gather Woon agreed, noting “at this point, it’s not a certainty, but it’s very, very likely” enough support to challenge [Clinton],” his campaign’s lack of money that Clinton will become the Democratic candidate. might eventually cripple his chances. “He’s probably got an upper bound,” Rockman said. “He’ll look good The competition: in the early going, and he’ll do a respectable second place, but I doubt Lincoln Chaffee, Martin O’Malley, there’s any state that he’s going to win.” Jim Webb


August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

REPUBLICANS Jeb

BUSH

Who is he? Bush was Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. He’s the brother of former President George W. Bush and the son of former President George H.W. Bush.

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From establishment candidates to dark horses, the GOP field is wide open.

Donald

TRUMP

What are his chances? Bush is “the likely candidate that the party will coalesce around,” Rockman said. “He’s got the money, and many people think he has the chops.” Bush is “one of the leading contenders,” Woon said, along with Marco Rubio and Scott Walker.

Marco

Who is he?

RUBIO

Trump is a businessman and media personality, dealing mostly in real estate, entertainment and hospitality. Notably, he was the host Who is he? and executive producer of reality show “The The son of Cuban immigrants, Apprentice,” the owner of the Miss Universe and Rubio has been the junior Miss USA beauty pageants, and a member of the Senator from Florida since 2011. He was also a member of World Wrestling Entertainment Hall of Fame’s the Florida House of Representatives from 2000 to 2009. Celebrity Wing. He has never before run for From 2005 to 2009, he was the Speaker of the Florida political office. House. Trump has recently characterized many MexiWhat are his chances? can immigrants as rapists and drug dealers, and According to Rockman, although Rubio appeals heavily to John McCain as “not a war hero.” He has advothe Republican Party’s base, that popularity might hurt his cated for building a giant wall along the United chances in the general election if he wins the nomination. States-Mexico border, making Mexico pay for the “He’s the other one [besides Jeb Bush] that’s considered a wall, and deploying Predator drones to combat serious contender,” Rockman said. illegal immigration. In his 2000 book, “The Woon said Rubio is one of three candidates with a realAmerica We Deserve,” he said legal immigrants istic chance to win, along with Jeb Bush and Scott Walker. “do not and should not enter easily. It’s a long, Still, according to Woon, Rubio will face an uphill battle if he costly, draining and often frustrating experience hopes to overtake Bush. — by design.”

The competition: Scott Walker, Ron Paul, Ben Carson, Ted Cruz, Chris Christie, Mike Huckabee, Jon Kasich, Rick Santorum, Bobby Jindal, Rick Perry, Lindsay Graham, George Pataki, Carly Fiorina

Whare are his chances? Although he has great name recognition and is polling surprisingly well — in a mid-July Washington Post poll, Trump was leading the GOP field with nearly twice the support of his nearest challenger — Trump’s chances of actually winning the nomination are “minimal, or less than minimal,” according to Rockman. “He definitely appeals to a certain segment of the Republican Party, and that’s why he’s doing so well in the polls,” Woon said. However, despite his early strong showing, Woon thinks that Trump’s lack of insider support will ruin his bid for the nomination.

Read about all the candidates online at

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Korean, pg. 36 creative thoughts. The teacher’s goal is simply to guide students in the right path. “The spatial organization [of the Korean Heritage Room] helps convey that message,” Bong-ryol said. “Even if the students are in the classroom after lessons, they’ll look at the intricate details, joineries, or just the difficult way in which the structure was built, and get inspiration from that.” The designer’s based the room of the

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com Myung-Ryoon-Dang, or “Hall of Enlightenment,” in the Royal Palace of Seoul’s Joseon Era, where according to Bongryol, “100 students were taught in [the hall], sitting on the cold floor.” The Arumjigi Culture Keepers, a Korean organization, contributed approximately $250,000 to build the Korean Heritage Room, in its first overseas project. A further contribution of $250,000 for the project came from The Korea Foundation, a group that sponsors cultural exchange.

Former Pitt Chancellor John Bowman began the legacy of the Nationality Rooms in 1926, when he asked Ruth Crawford Mitchell, Pitt’s first Nationality Rooms director, to invite different ethnic groups of Pittsburgh to create rooms in the Cathedral to represent the good they brought to the U.S. The rooms were built over the span of thirty years as a way to foster creativity among students, as well as obtain enough funding to complete the Cathedral. At present, approximately 40,000

people visit the nationality rooms each year. Nationality Rooms director E. Maxine Bruhns has now led the formation of 10 of the intricately designed rooms. At the age of 91, carrying on her work for society, she works with each ethnic group to create the best space to represent their culture and show her admiration for their work. “I greet the workers with, ‘saranghaeyo,’ which means, ‘I love you’ in Korean,” Bruhns said.


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Opinions column

The good fight

An increase in the minimum wage is not only right, but well overdue Alyssa Lieberman For The Pitt News

Pittsburgh is often championed as one of the most livable and affordable cities in the United States — but let’s unpack what this statement really means. Whom exactly is Pittsburgh livable for? Although the 11th Annual Demographia International Housing Affordability Survey determined Pittsburgh to be the most affordable city in the country in 2015, it has a higher poverty rate than the national average, with over 27 percent of households falling below the poverty level and only 5 percent of households considered wealthy. Poverty rates are even higher among our city’s minorities — a study by the Workforce Diversity Indicators Initiative reported that last year, “the average monthly income for AfricanAmerican workers was $2,666, or a third less than whites, who earn an average of $4,047 a month.” Currently, minimum wage in Pittsburgh is at the federal standard of $7.25 an hour. Meanwhile, a living wage for a single parent

in Pittsburgh would be $21.07 an hour, according to calculations done by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. This works to fuel the vicious cycle of systemic poverty for those who are forced to work minimum wage jobs. Workers simply cannot

has lost more than 8 percent of its purchasing power, after adjusting for inflation, leaving 3 million hourly wage workers stranded and struggling to make ends meet. When adjusted for inflation and increased worker productivity, the minimum wage in 1968, set

Since 1968, the minimum wage has lost over

eight percent of its purchasing power...

when adjusted for inflation and increased

worker productivity, the minimum wage in

1968, set at $1.60 an hour, would be

about $15 today.

use these jobs as economic stepping stones, as they can barely pay their bills, let alone save enough money to go to school. Raising the minimum wage in Pennsylvania can help to end this cycle — as it has begun to do nationally. Since 1968, the minimum wage

at $1.60 an hour, would be about $15 today. In November 2012, 200 fast food workers in New York City began the now-national “Fight for 15” movement when they went on strike in protest of low wages, See Lieberman on page 112

The Fight for 15 protests brought an important issue to light. Emily Klenk STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER


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column

Non-conformist Sanders doomed to fail

Nick Voutsinos

Assistant Opinions Editor

Bernie Sanders won’t win the Democratic nomination in 2016. Now that I have your attention, I want to follow that up by asking you not to hate me just yet — I #FeelTheBern just as much as the next twenty-something, so I really do hope to be eating those words by the time Election Day rolls around. More likely than not, though, Hillary Clinton will end up being the 2016 Democratic nominee. Yes, Bernie has been chipping away at the Clinton campaign in the polls over the summer, even gaining the lead over Hillary in New Hampshire. But there is a whole lot of time left in the game, and the essential difference between the two candidates is that Hillary is willing to play it. In order for candidates to win elections, our two-party system requires two

things of them: 1. Conformism and 2. to consistently retain voter interest via Big money. paid advertising and community orCandidates need to conform to the ganizing. And these efforts need to be party line so that they can gain endorse- framed around the specific voters they ments from the party elites in their re- are being directed toward. But candispective districts dates can’t know and/or states — this the interests of key is what gives them voter demographics legitimacy, and conwithout paying for a sequently, access to In order for candidates staff that can collect party resources like to win elections, our data and conduct PACs and donors polls — otherwise, who are loyal to the two-party system re- they’ll be shooting party. quires two things of blindfolded. For Which leads instance, a national right into the next them: primary candidate requirement, big 1. Conformism might run an ad money. Candidates on fracking in Alneed as much cash 2. Big money legheny County as they can get in because his or her order to sustain a campaign, simply be- staff found that that’s the issue the most cause the campaign trail is really long people care about here — but it would be and really expensive. A candidate needs pointless to run the same ad in Arizona,

where people care about immigration reform most. The point is, candidates cannot have a narrow platform that only reaches a fraction of the voters. They’ll simply never obtain a majority of votes that way, which, as you probably know, is the only way to win. Rather, candidates must make their platforms as all-encompassing as possible in order to capture as many voter demographics as possible — and, as all successful campaigns have illustrated, that can’t be done without a ridiculous amount of money. When it comes to the party line and big money, though, Bernie rejects both. A self-described socialist, he has consistently referred to the Democratic Party as “ideologically bankrupt.” He takes far-left stances that mainstream Dems won’t dare go near — he supports See Voutsinos on page 65


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Cultural appropriation: Know it to avoid it

Ogechukwu Opaigbeogu For The Pitt News

You walk into a musty South Oakland basement late this October. To your left and right you see your fellow classmates dressed up for Halloween. Amongst the princesses, soccer players and superheroes, you see a few people wearing Native American headdresses with red paint smeared on their faces. Some other students are wearing hijabs. “It’s just for fun,” they’ll say. What they don’t realize, however, is that they’re mocking the cultures in which these traditional headpieces originated. What if the students were wearing the headdress to honor Native Americans or the hijab to honor Muslim women? Well, there is a difference between dressing up as Sacagawea to honor her bravery and just putting on a headdress and some red paint. Likewise, there is a difference between

dressing up as Razia Sultan in honor of her strong leadership and throwing on a hijab and calling it a costume. That difference is cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation is a difficult phrase to universally define. It takes on many different definitions depending on whom you ask. Some see it as a very significant concept while others believe it holds no merit. The confusing thing about cultural appropriation is that anything appears as cultural appropriation if enough people claim that it is. Because the phrase cultural appropriation is a socially constructed word such as “racism,” “oppression” or “justice,” its meaning changes based on the person. By splicing the definitions of culture and appropriation together, we can define cultural appropriation as the action of taking the arts and other manifestations

of human intellectual achievement of another collective group for one’s own use. But this definition seems vague. Who determines the members of a collective group — the member, the government, a paper bag? What counts as intellectual achievement — certain clothes, a certain style of speaking, a specific way of completing a task? If two people of different groups come up with the same intellectual achievement, which group claims the achievement? Because cultural appropriation is so hard to concretely define, many people do not understand what it is and how it can be damaging. Akilah Hughes, also known as SmoothieFreak on YouTube, defines cultural appropriation with a pointed statement. “[Cultural appropriation is] when you hijack part of a culture for personal use, without permission, not out of respect or tribute but because, oh my god, headdresses are so cute,” she says in her You-

Tube video, “White Party - A Lesson in Cultural Appropriation.” In the video, she demonstrates cultural appropriation using the example of a “White Party” — an idea based on theme parties typically held in white culture, but are instead spun to portray stereotypes of white people, and displayed by people of color. But she ultimately trivializes cultural appropriation when she likens it to throwing a themed party like a “fiesta” or “pimps and hoes” party — pimps and hoes do not have a race and can be found in some form in almost every culture. She then invalidates her argument by making a video titled “Common White Girl Tag,” where she essentially mocks white girls and their stereotypes. Although Akilah shined light on the detriments of cultural appropriation, the See Opaigbeogu on page 113


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THE GREAT TRUMP-FECTA What’s dominating today’s politics? A billionare, a border and the upcoming ballot.

D

onald Trump is a presidential candidate — let that thought sink in. Already, Trump has made his mark on the race, by denouncing an entire Mexican immigrant population in that belligerent manner that has come to mark his candidacy. It would be a futile mission to address all of Trump’s ill-conceived sayings, so we have decided to address one that has resonated strongly with us here at The Pitt News — immigration, the immigrant’s place in this country and its politics.

Immigrants can’t pop the nativist bubble

Do not engage the xenophobes, for history proves them wrong Stephen Caruso

Bethel Habte

Contributing Editor

My dad knows how to elicit a response from me better than anyone. Often, as my family chats over dinner, I make an offhand comment about a class I’m taking that just happens to delve into ideological territory. In response, my dad brings up his right wing opinion on Obama or immigrants or taxes, and my chewing will quicken to ready my tongue for a fight. But just as I’m about to throw myself into righteous indignation, my mom looks at me and says, “Remember, do not engage.” When facing the hairbrained presidential campaign of Donald “The Billionaire” Trump, I invite voters to adopt the same soothing sentiment — whatever you do, “do not engage.” This cretin of casinos started his presidential campaign off with some statements on immigration that ruffled many hair pieces, and for good reason. He publicly stated that

Opinions Editor

Mexican immigrants are “bringing drugs … bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people.” As a history nerd, I’ve always found comments like these patently ridiculous. If U.S. history has proven anything about immigration, it is that such nativist instincts are very common. A recent Pew Research Center study found 63 percent of Republicans saw immigrants as more burdensome than helpful to the country. But history has also proven this belief very wrong. Just as immigrants have always assimilated into American culture and given us some of our great American cornerstones — hamburgers, created by a German immigrant, “God Bless America,” written by a Russian immigrant and football, based on an English game — the current generation will be productive and energetic members of society.

As a child, when I first embarked on the path to indecision — namely, beginning to think about what I wanted to do as a career — I decided that I was going to become the future President of the United States of America. My first planned decree: banish all onions. But then the realization that I was not, and would never be a natural born citizen set in. My mother had joked that my brother, born in San Diego shortly after we moved to the U.S., would become president in my place. I looked upon him with skepticism — granted, no four year old is a sign of presidential promise, but my brother, it

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seemed, was set farthest from the path. As time went on, I often reflected on how a few years had set my brother and I on vastly different paths. What started as an incomprehensible sanction to my childhood self inevitably turned into the realization that immigrants have no place in this country. Immigrants have never found support in the U.S. because of the nativist emphasis in politics. While immigrants may be one of the most talked about demographics, we also have the least representation in politics. A presidential candidate can never truly look like us, represent us or live out our experiences. The Constitution’s “natural born citizen clause” acts as an eligibility requirement insisting on natural-born citizenship status to seek the office of the president and vice president. The standard exists to prevent foreign influence — but seems nonsensical considering today’s day and age, in which foreign influence has become increasingly prevalent.


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Late-night eats: Oakland’s culinary wonders Marlo Safi Columnist

Whether you just left Hillman after a grueling night of studying or you’re tired of having ramen for the umpteenth night in a row, you understand the frustration of being hungry at an inconvenient hour of the day. Fortunately for you, Oakland restaurants know that college students are hungry at ungodly hours and they have catered to our insatiable appetites by staying open late. Here are some go-to food options for when you’re looking to grab a quick bite — or two — after bedtime. The Original Hot Dog Shop: Not only is “The O” open until 1:30 a.m. — except on Sunday and Monday nights, when it closes at 9 p.m. — but it’ll satisfy your high-carb craving without completely cleaning out the last dollar you have to your name. “The O” was originally situated in the shadow of Forbes Field, but has remained standing on

Katelyn Binetti STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

the corner of Forbes Avenue and South Bouquet Street as Forbes Field slipped away into

the memories of anyone who called Oakland home 45 years ago. Now, “The O” makes

new memories for the college students that descend upon Pitt’s campus every Fall. McDonald’s: Also on Forbes Avenue, McDonald’s is open 24/7 with a menu that offers economical options for the everbroke college student. If a Big Mac and fries doesn’t sound appetizing, just wait up until 4 a.m., when McDonald’s starts serving its breakfast menu. Forbes Gyro: Open until 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday, Forbes Gyro is one of the healthier options you’ll come across, offering an extensive menu full of salads, kebabs, calzones and gyros. So if you just made some very questionable nutrition decisions at a local bar and your liver is progressively turning into a raisin, pay a visit to Forbes Gyro to feel like you haven’t completely failed the food pyramid as well as your anatomy. Read the rest online at Pittnews.com.


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What you can’t leave home without Cecille Truong Columnist

It’s finally here. After four months of living at home and actually having a curfew, it’s time to get back to school — aka freedom. But first comes the preparation. You’ve raided your local Target and bought the pencils, notebooks, non-perishable snacks and new laptop. And maybe you’ve hit up your local craft store too, DIYing at least 10 different school supply or clothes organizers. Your mom has probably taken you clothes shopping three times to find “weather-appropriate” outfits. Piles of coupons and cardboard boxes clutter your

room. You feel completely prepared and you’ve packed enough to be able to permanently move into your dorm. But by the time September rolls around, you’ll have already been forced to purchase — without your parents’ credit card — several items from Amazon, make multiple Target trips and ask your mom to “please mail me the hoodie I left at home.” So much for feeling like you remembered everything. Every college student goes through the same cycle. Fortunately, this official list of things to remember might make your experience a bit less dramatic next time around. Medicine I’m not sure why, but I assumed I would

never get sick during the school year. But I quickly realized college was a hub for flus and sinus infections that would render me too feverish to leave my bed. So bring cough syrup, throat spray, Pepto-Bismol, Tylenol and allergy medications. Walking to the drug store while coughing your lungs out is never fun. Thermometer Along with medicine, this is something you always take for granted having at home. If you’re feeling sick but not sure if you should actually make an appointment for the health center — or if you need a completely plausible excuse to skip class for the day — a thermometer might help you make a decision. Plastic silverware and cups

Doing dishes in a communal sink can be sketchy. Who knows what your floormates pour down there? Besides, there’s plenty of time for doing dishes once you move off-campus. For freshman year, bring a bulk package of forks, spoons and cups. Forget the knives — you won’t be eating food fancy enough to require that. The forks will come in handy for the Easy Macs and Ramens that you’ll inevitably buy from Quick Zone. The cups will be helpful when you’re splitting drinks with your friends, or you can just use them to rinse your mouth after brushing your teeth. Read the rest online at Pittnews.com.


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column

Lesser-known lessons from a year away

Rebecca Tasker For The Pitt News

When I moved to Pitt freshman year, my parents literally ditched me on a street corner. Thinking back on that day, I hardly recognize the mildly terrified girl hugging both her parents and her brother outside of The Original Hot Dog Shop. I would never have thought I’d belong in a sorority, of all things, but now I’m an officer and have sisters and connections all over the country. I would have never imagined having the audacity to share my poems at a poetry slam, but last semester I emceed two. Pitt seemed so big then, and it still feels big now, but it’s not in the same intimidating way. I have found room to grow here, room to explore. I’ve learned a lot of the usual things — like don’t take an 8 a.m. biology course, and don’t think you can survive on a diet of Market Central fries alone — but there’s also so

here are some things I wish I’d known coming into my freshman year. Your Roommate — Just a Person You Share a Room With: If you’re lucky enough to get stuck living with a complete stranger for the year, make an effort to get to know them. If they don’t make an effort back, don’t immediately write them off. Just count on making other friends. Even if you’re not instant BFF-roomies, there’s a lot you can do to make Fatima Kizilkaya STAFF CARTOONIST living together managemuch that I’ve learned to dive into. I would able. Do your laundry as often as you need hardly call myself an expert on college, but to, and try to coordinate a lights-out time

that works for you both. Compromising is important, but you need to make sure that you still have enough of what you originally wanted when all is said and done. New Friends — Painters on the Fresh Canvas You’ve Become: College is a fresh slate, and you should take it as an opportunity to explore your interests — some of which were previously unknown. I dragged my friends to an open mic night to watch me read poetry that I had never shared with anyone. I also learned to stop fearing networking — that large, uncomfortable adult word that feels like marbles in your mouth. For me, it translated to asking boys in a band if I could write an article about them. But for you, it could mean not being afraid to show up to office hours and chat with your professor about their summer research plans. Read the rest online at Pittnews.com.


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Voutsinos, pg. 46 a single-payer healthcare system, a $15 federal minimum wage, and free universal college education, just to name a few. His motivation is one based solely on liberal principles; he concerns himself with promoting equality, not with making himself more promotable, as most other politicians do. In other words, he is not motivated by the need to garner popularity for the next election — he knows his beliefs, take them or leave them. This is opposed to politicians like Hillary Clinton, whose convictions change along with the tides of public opinion (see her former stance on marriage equality). She has always supported what she perceived to be the majority opinion of the Democratic Party, or the party line. And for her loyalty, she has held many leadership positions within the party itself, granting favors and working with many other Democratic congressmen and women along the way. Consequently, Hillary has more than 300 endorsements from federal, state and local Democratic politicians — all of whom will support her campaign by rallying their own constituencies to her cause. Bernie Sanders, on the other hand, has a little more than 20. At the Socialist Scholars Conference in New York City in April 1990, Bernie asked, “Why should we work within the Democratic Party if we don’t agree with anything the Democratic Party says?” Even if the party is “ideologically bankrupt,” which I have no doubt is true, Bernie can’t win without the support of the Democratic party. As was noted above, without the endorsements, he won’t have the access to party resources and support needed to sustain a national campaign. And, since Hillary is the only other viable Democratic candidate, she has access to all the support the party mainstream has to offer. As Joe Trippi, a former Democratic campaign organizer, noted in the Washington Post, “No one is splitting the party establishment with Hillary. She has it all to herself...Sanders gets to 30 percent and he is still 25 points behind.” There is a ton of energy around Bernie’s campaign, and he has drawn huge crowds to his rallies. But most of his ap-

peal is found in young, educated, white liberals — a vocal, yet relatively small, portion of the Democratic party. That’s not enough to win an election in our system. What’s more concerning is that Bernie refuses PAC money and individual donations more than $1,000 out of principle. It’s extremely admirable, but as it stands, Bernie has raised $15.2 million for his campaign, while Hillary has raised $67.8 million. And this early in the campaign, these figures are much more important

than poll numbers. Bernie has been gaining a lot of attention from the media and activists because he is different from other politicians, but when the novelty wears off, he simply won’t be able to maintain voter interest without the money. It’s extremely unfortunate, but these factors will more likely than not result in Bernie losing out to Hillary in the primaries. But that doesn’t mean that Bernie’s message should die — if anything it

65 should strengthen it. One of his primary platform issues is “money in politics,” arguing that politicians care more about fundraising than representing. If Bernie loses the campaign, it will just go to prove his point about how broken and unrepresentative the system truly is, and how “ideologically bankrupt” the Democrats really are. Nick is the Assistant Opinions Editor of The Pitt News and primarily writes on American and International politics. Write to Nick at njv10@pitt.edu.


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heinz chapel: A photo essay by Theo Schwarz VISUAL EDITOR

L

et the bells ring out -- construction on Pitt’s 77-year-old Heinz Chapel is finished. In May, the University completed installing a climate control system, and our campus landmark will now stay cool in the summer, quiet in the winter and last for another 77 years. Light shines through the chapel’s 23 windows that contain more than 250,000 pieces of glass. Regulated temperatures will help protect the famed stained glass artwork from Pittsburgh’s sometime brutal conditions. The chapel’s other pipes, the climate control system took roughly eight months for workers to install. But without the chapel’s old, noisy radiators, the organ pipes won’t compete with peskier sound waves. Workers had to dissemble and remove the entire 4,272pipe organ, making the renovation a “decade-long funding and logistics puzzle,” according to an University video celebrating the renovation.

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T P N S U D O K U

The Pitt News Crossword, 8/26/2015

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Today's difficulty level: Very Hard

ACROSS 1 Tiny insect 5 Road trip stop 10 Zipped 14 Indigo dye source 15 Solo 16 Fillable bread 17 *Sentry 19 Apple tablet 20 City with Heat and Hurricanes 21 Copter’s forerunner 22 Strike from the text 23 Gulf War journalist Peter 25 Invented, as a word 27 Light on the Vegas strip 29 Made a boo-boo 32 Grocery box amt. 35 Electrician on a film set 39 Academic URL suffix 40 Sushi tuna 41 Caboose locale ... and a hint to what the first word of the answers to starred clues can be 42 Wolfed down 43 Transgress 44 Staten or Manhattan 45 License-issuing agcys. 46 Tennis great Agassi 48 Info 50 Show with clowns 54 Skype need 58 “Come Fly With Me” lyricist Sammy 60 Poker stake 62 Spaghetti topper 63 Copies are made from one: Abbr. 64 *Crafty press agent 66 Street artist in a striped shirt, stereotypically 67 Mombasa’s country 68 Penn Sta.-toSuffolk County train system

Puzzles by Dailysudoku.com

By Janice Luttrell

69 Tapped brew 70 Golf’s Slammin’ Sammy 71 __, meeny ... DOWN 1 Molten rock 2 “... bombs bursting __” 3 Business big shot 4 Periodic table item 5 West of “My Little Chickadee” 6 Couturier Cassini 7 Subject matter 8 Warm month in Chile 9 “Vive __!”: “Long live the king!” 10 Kiddie-lit’s Charlotte, e.g. 11 *Wishful thinking 12 And others, in Lat. 13 20-Across’ former county 18 Toy on a string 24 Frat party robes 26 Unhip sort 28 Finger or toe part 30 1999 Ron Howard satire 31 Association fees 32 Astronaut’s org.

8/31/15 Saturday’s Puzzle Solved

©2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

33 Like wafers 34 *Music-maker activated by a breeze 36 St. Augustine’s state: Abbr. 37 Ward (off) 38 Provide with funds 41 Tall-cake layer 45 Complete failure 47 Pro pretending to be an amateur

8/31/15

49 Tijuana money 51 Winery containers 52 Set free, as pigs 53 “Goosebumps” author R.L. 55 Term of affection 56 Nut under an oak 57 “__ Christmas!” 58 Hair-parting tool 59 Singer India.__ 61 Irish folk singer 65 Family guy


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Arts & Entertainment Turning the tables

This time, we asked the questions of professors — and they answered

Brett Wells, French

Brady Langmann Staff Writer

For those who think it’s never too late to learn a new language, just ask Pitt French professor Brett Wells what his undergraduate degree is in. To the surprise of his students, Wells — the Coordinator of the French Language Program and the Director of Undergraduate Studies in French — studied music theory at Drake University. To fulfill his major’s requirements, Wells had to take an “operatic language,” and ended up taking so many French courses that it stuck with him. Several years later, he earned his Masters and PhD in French at Stanford University. The Pitt News sat down with Wells to talk French, the fruits of mutual respect with students and why taking a foreign language class is important.

Q A

A lot of things that students say about you is that you really care about them, and it’s more about French and less about grades. I hope so. I mean, if I could do away with grades, I’d do away with grades. I want them to come to class and I want them to learn and have fun. I really wish I could do away with grades (laughs). I just had a French club group See Wells on page 107

Photos by Stephen Caruso LAYOUT EDITOR

Matt Maielli

Staff Writer

The first thing you notice entering Pitt Urban Studies professor Michael Glass’ office is the picture of Singapore’s skyline above his desk, where he takes students interested in Southeast Asia to study every other summer. His walls are lined with shelves of books of foreign places, like postcards of his studies. “From Third World to First,” “Megaregions” and “Blank Spots on the Map” are a few provoking titles of Glass’ expertise. Glass, who won the prestigious Bellet Award for Teaching in March, has lectured in the Urban Studies Department at Pitt for seven years. In his office, located in the History Department, he walks barefoot, having just finished brewing a cup of coffee. The well-traveled New Zealand native sat down with The Pitt News to chat about his background in geography, his stint on NPR and his homeland.

Q A

What made you want to study geography? I come from New Zealand. Throughout the commonwealth, geography is a very well-established discipline. It’s a little less common [in the U.S.]. It was always a good way for me to understand the world and get to explore more of it. See Glass on page 108

Micheal Glass, Urban Studies


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Annual race hits Pittsburgh for 20th year Brady Langmann Staff Writer

For Casey Tarasi, the antics of the annual Great Race often overshadow the arduous task of running 6.2 miles. There’s the man who stands on his porch and screams battle cries through a siren, the guy who competes while carrying an 80-foot-tall American flag and the volunteers who dish out free food at the finish line. “Little things like that really help you along the way. You’ll be chuckling over a sign, and little do you realize that you ran a half of a mile, and it’s like you didn’t even feel it,” Tarasi, who’s competed for the past six years, said. The gratifying smiley cookies at the finish line are also a source of pleasure for Tarasi. “Can’t forget those,” Tarasi said. “That’s the best part of the race for some people.” On Sept. 27, the 38th annual Richard

S. Caliguiri City of Pittsburgh Great Race 6:30 to 11:00 a.m. will bring nearly 17,000 runners together For some runners, being able to see for 5K and 10K competitions. Organized Pittsburgh’s skyline from different perby Citiparks — Pittsburgh’s parks and spectives than they normally would is recreation department — the event in- their favorite part of the event. cludes the tenth-largest 10K competiSean Donnelly, who lives in Crafton, tion in the country, ran the Great Race as well as a 5K conthree times when he test that places in was in high school, the top 30. participating in the The 5K and 10K It really feels like the 2008, 2009 and races will span 2010 5K competiparts of Squirrel city’s there — if they’re tions. Now a senior Hill, Oakland and not in the race, they’re at Edinboro UniverDowntown. The sity, Donnelly hopes 10K course starts there cheering you on. to run the 10K this Casey Tarasi year. The course’s at Frick Park, then Runner scenery and the fingoes past the CMU and Pitt campuses ish line commotion and down the Boudrive his desire to levard of the Allies, finishing at Point compete again. State Park. The 5K follows the same path, “I liked when you go past Duquesne but begins on Fifth and Atwood — right [University], and you have a good, high outside Litchfield Towers. Police will view of the city as you come running down block traffic from these sections from Boulevard of the Allies,” he said. “It’s a

real rush compared to doing cross country in high school — you always had ten people max cheering [at the finish line], then all of a sudden you got a couple hundred people at the end.” For Donnelly — who’s also a fan of the cathartic smiley cookies — the Great Race is also an opportunity to see how his race time compares to that of Pittsburgh’s best runners. Last year’s 10K winner, Jim Spisak, finished with a time of 28:42 — about a minute shy of 2012’s Olympic qualifying standard. Although Donnelly doesn’t expect to compete with Spisak’s time, he hopes to at least finish near the top of his age group, as he did in the 2010 competition. “You know that a lot of the best — especially local — runners in Pittsburgh come out to it,” Donnelly said. “When you get to see your ranking and everything, you know that it’s the best of Pittsburgh.” Although the event attracts competiSee Race on page 76


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Cinema city: A guide to Pittsburgh's movie theaters Chris Estes Staff Writer

On behalf of Pittsburgh, we formally invite you to stop scrolling through a disappointing assortment of Netflix movies, put on some pants and go to the theater. The city has become a hub for filmmakers and appreciators alike. For filmmakers, the Commonwealth offers a 25 percent tax break for films that shoot and spend a minimum of 60 percent of their production budget in the state, the likes of which has recently attracted some big names — Aaron Paul, Vin Diesel and Batman. For movie-lovers or indifferent firstdaters, Pittsburgh’s theater list is long and full of incentives. Both The Manor Theatre in Squirrel Hill and Row House Cinema in Lawrenceville boast full bars and screenings of foreign, classic and avant-garde films. The more orthodox sort of local theaters are the SouthSide Works Cinema and mega multiplex AMC Loews Theater at The

Southside Cinema lights up the Works. Nate Smith SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Waterfront. Both offer the usual amenities: commercial blockbuster screenings and jumbo-sized sodas and popcorn.

To get to SouthSide Works Cinema from Oakland, take a 20-minute bus ride on the 75 inbound from Fifth Avenue — which

drops you off right at the SouthSide Works. Or, if you’re in no hurry, enjoy a scenic walk over the Hot Metal Bridge. Evening shows cost students $8.95, while weekday matinees are $6 and weekend matinees are $7. If giant theaters and the latest Dolby sound technology, IMAX and 3D screenings are your thing, take a half hour trip on the 61D outbound from Forbes Avenue to the AMC Loews Theater at The Waterfront. Prices vary between $7.49 for a no-frills afternoon matinee and $12.99 for an evening screening of an IMAX movie during the weekend. The closest theater to campus, offering a variety of blockbusters, independent, foreign and art films is The Manor Theatre, established in 1992 and located in Squirrel Hill. Any of the 61 buses outbound along Forbes Avenue will get you there in 15 minutes. In addition to the flick, you can enjoy a full range of cocktails or craft beers. The Manor was renovated in 2012 to See Cinema on page 76


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Race, pg. 72 tive long-distance runners, Brian Katze — the event’s race director — said the run is ultimately a family-friendly, community occasion. “We bill ourselves as an everyman’s race, with 5K and 10K distances that people of all ability levels can compete in,” Katze said. “Everyone looks forward to it to the point where they mark it on their calendars every year. We’ve got grandparents walking with their grandkids, and parents walking with their kids — it’s part of Pittsburgh culture.” Citiparks will hold a kids-focused event the day before the Great Race, where every child will earn a medal for completing one of the day’s several races at Point State Park. Highmark will also host a free exposition that weekend at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, where competitors can interact with each other before the Great Race. While many runners come for the competition and the community atmosphere, the event also brings a large economic benefit to Pittsburgh.

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com According to Kevin Smith, the owner of Elite Runners & Walkers — a Pittsburgh-area fitness retailer that also provides timing services for races — local businesses and public services benefit from the competition. “We’re doing training programs 10 weeks prior to [The Great Race],” said Smith, who will also sell running equipment as a vendor at Highmark’s exposition. He also mentioned that healthcare providers see an increase in business from overworked runners, and that more police officers are hired to provide safety on race day. As for Tarasi, he gives himself a simple goal every year — beat last race’s time. Even if he doesn’t improve upon his sub42-minute personal 10K record, Tarasi is looking forward to continuing what’s been a family tradition since his dad started running the Great Race in the 1970s. “It really feels like the city’s there — if they’re not in the race, they’re there cheering you on. Rarely do you see dead spots along the course. It’s pretty great involvement from everybody around,” Tarasi said.

Theaters, pg. 74 add a bar to its swanky lobby, and upgrade its digital video and sound technology. In October, The Manor offers “Manor at Midnight,” which plays beloved horror movies like “The Shining” and “The Exorcist.” Matinees cost $6.50, weekday evening showings cost students $7 and weekend evening showings charge students $8. Similarly, Lawrenceville is home to Row House Cinema, where you can watch a movie — or four — while enjoying a taco from Smoke Barbeque Taqueria, located in the same building as the theater. Every week, Row House Cinema screens four films that relate to a common theme. This August kicked off with the theme of teen spirit, and featured films like “Clueless”

and “Bring It On.” To experience all that Row House Cinema has to offer, take a 93 outbound bus from Fifth Avenue. Matinees cost $6, and students only have to pay $8 for an evening screening. The cinema, located on Butler Street in central Lawrenceville, is complete with a bar and food menu that includes 500 different bottled beers, 19 drafts, 40 craft sodas, naturally salted popcorn and kale chips. Whether you want to attend a guilty pleasure rom-com matinee by yourself at the SouthSide Works Cinema, or pass up a weekend party to enjoy a quadruplefeature marathon while drinking at Row House Cinema, Pittsburgh will exceed your movie needs.


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Pitch-burgh: A guide to Pittsburgh summer and fall concerts Marcus Rainii-Dropcho Staff Writer

With its storied jazz history, bringing up the likes of drummer Art Blakey and saxophonist Ahmad Jamal, Pittsburgh has always been connected to music. Its strategic location between Chicago and New York attracts various genres of concerts, from jazz to indie rock. While it may not be privileged and rural enough to hold massive music festivals like Coachella or Bonnaroo, the city does get its fair share of quality music acts at venues like Stage AE, Mr. Smalls and the Altar Bar throughout the year. Before we get to our list of fall shows in the Steel City, here are some of this summer’s acts that are worth remembering. The Antlers - May 11 at Mr. Smalls Funhouse Pittsburgh marked another stop on the victory lap tour following indie pop outfit The Antlers’ successful 2014 al-

Sufjan Stevens is coming to Heinz Hall in November. TNS

bum, “Familiars.” Although the production on “Familiars” is a departure from their simple, forlorn lo-fi recordings found on 2009’s “Hospice,” the band paid homage to their older fans and kept the rotation between the classics and new

material even. One particularly emotional moment came during an extended rendition of “Atrophy” from “Hospice.” Lead singer and guitarist Peter Silberman stretched the seven-minute song into a 10-minute

epic that brought some patrons to tears. Should The Antlers continue their steady rise in popularity, you may have missed your last chance to see the band perform in a small intimate venue. My Morning Jacket - June 4 at Stage AE The members of My Morning Jacket are Pittsburgh veterans. The band has played Pittsburgh three times in the last five years, twice at Stage AE, whose outdoor portion opened in 2010. My Morning Jacket made no exception this summer, stopping in Pittsburgh to play a two-hour set promoting their newest album, “The Waterfall.” My Morning Jacket begs to be seen live. Long jam sessions accompany their famous songs, and you are missing out on the authentic version of “Off the Record” until you actually hear it, off the (vinyl) record. If you haven’t gotten a chance to hear lead singer Jim James’s angelic voice, See Concerts on page 86


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'Southpaw' struggles to stay on its feet Valkyrie Speaker Staff Writer

“Southpaw” is down for the count, and its chance of future success looks poor. The story of “Southpaw,” at its core, is one we have all seen before — a fall,

ʻSOUTHPAWʼ

C+

It may be on the ropes, but “Southpaw” is enjoyably tough. Jake Gykllenhall can’t shoulder Southpaw’s weight. TNS

a climb and a happy ending, but when it comes to boxing, it’s been done better. Movies like “Raging Bull” and “Rocky” set the standard high for boxing films,

and “Southpaw” hits below the belt. It is not as respectable or artistic as its predecessors, and leaves much to be desired. In his latest work, Pittsburgh native

director Antoine Fuqua incorporates the signature grit that formed his earlier films, like “Olympus Has Fallen” and “The Equalizer.” Fuqua also cranks up the

drama in “Southpaw,” which is the rather cliché story of pro boxer “The Great” Billy Hope ( Jake Gyllenhaal) and his fall from light-heavyweight grace. Fuqua returned home to shoot “Southpaw,” utilizing and slightly altering the city to achieve his perfect cinematic vision — the exterior of the Saks Fifth Avenue department store got a makeover to resemble Madison Square Garden, and the film crew added graffiti to businesses on Brownsville Road in Carrick to make the space seem more like New York City. To Billy Hope, his wife Maureen “Mo” (Rachel McAdams) and daughter Leila (Oona Laurence) mean everything. Billy seemingly loses everything after Mo tragically dies, prompting Billy to abandon his World Champ title and settle into depression. Next, an attempted suicide lands him in court, and Leila goes into foster care See Southpaw on page 87


August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Emmy watch:

Streaming services, diverse characters could make this a historic year for awards

Viola Davis could become the first black woman to win Outstanding Actress in a Drama for “How to Get Away With Murder.” TNS

Walter Howard Staff Writer

This year’s Emmy awards could prove to be the most historic in decades. In response to the rising popularity of streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon, The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has knocked down the strict eligibility requirements for this year’s Emmy Awards, giving previously neglected platforms and actors unprecedented attention. Some of the most notable changes include increasing comedy and drama nominations from six to seven, and also mandating that “any series where the average length of an episode is approximately 30 minutes is eligible to enter as a ‘comedy’; any series where the average length of an episode is approximately 60 minutes is eligible to enter as a ‘drama.’” Netflix’s programming leads all other streaming networks with a record 34 nominations. “Orange is the New Black” — nominated as a drama due to each episode’s

hour run time — and “House of Cards” are both nominated for Outstanding Drama. Tina Fey’s “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” is up for Outstanding Comedy. “Orange is the New Black,” Netflix’s most watched show, follows a young woman sentenced to 15 years at a federal prison. It boasts four nominations at this year’s show, but faces stiffer competition as a drama than it would as a comedy, as it was nominated last year before the rule change. “Game of Thrones,” “Better Call Saul,” “Homeland,” “Downton Abbey” and “Mad Men” are also nominated for Best Drama. Amazon’s nominational debut came in the form of 11 nods for the show “Transparent.” Starring Jeffrey Tambor, perhaps best known as George Bluth Sr. on “Arrested Development,” the show follows his character Maura, originally named Mort, a transgender father to a dysfunctional California family. See Emmys on page 84

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Pitt ID key to extracurriculars in city Valkyrie Speaker Staff Writer

College will wring your wallet dry — it is an unfortunate, universal truth. With fees looming around every corner, budgeting and bargain shopping will be vital on your collegiate journey. Luckily, a great weapon exists to combat the rising costs of student living: your University of Pittsburgh ID. This plastic pal will get you student discounts at retailers of all kinds — 15 percent off your entire purchase at Charlotte Russe, for example, or hundreds of dollars off Dell or Apple computers. All it takes is a little research to find brands with a soft spot for young, broke intellectuals. Neat, right? But let’s not forget some of the more basic — and arguably most important — functions of a Pitt ID. If you’re living in an on-campus residence hall, then make sure to keep your

ID with you at all times. Without it, you to transform three neighboring buildings will not be able to access your residence into the home of contemporary masterhall or dorm room — think of your ID as pieces. a slim, rectangular key. Home to both local and internationally With your card, you have access to recognized artists, The Mattress Factoboth your dorm ry’s exhibitions draw room and a pricecoverage from major less night on the publications like The A myriad of places have distown — literally. New York Times and For a “pop” ar- counts with a Pitt ID. Wall Street Journal, tistic revelation, Sports: Pirates, Penguins but is all live and free grab a free bus ride for Pitt students to to the North Shore Art: Matress Factory, The Andy see for themselves. and visit the Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Art Back in Oakland, Warhol Museum. Museum The Carnegie MuHere you can inter- Nature: Phipps Conservatory, seum of Art is home act with the Pitts- Carnegie Natural History to a wide range of burgh native’s work work dating back to Museum and plunge into his the 1600s and shares life and culture. a building with the Carnegie Museum of Only 1.3 miles from The Warhol stands Natural History. Want to see one of the finThe Mattress Factory, an installation art est dinosaur collections in the world? It is museum. Wander through the imagina- only a leisurely stroll from the Cathedral. tion of talented artists, commissioned If your thumb is of a greener shade,

ID ADVENTURES

visit the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for horticulture at its finest. You can find their organic artistic displays blooming across the street from Schenley Park. Your ID will also get you discounted tickets to both cultural and sporting events, such as the Pittsburgh Opera, Ballet, Symphony Orchestra and Public Theatre, as well as Pirates and Penguins games. For those of you who plan on taking advantage of other on-campus services such as the fitness centers, library, free bussing and computer labs, you and your ID will be spending a lot of time together. These services all require a Pitt ID for use. Get to know your ID. Give it a home in your wallet or on your lanyard. The city of Pittsburgh is at your fingertips — you are a free bus ride away from the amazing food, art and sports of Pittsburgh. All it takes is a flash of your Pitt ID.


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Emmys, pg. 81 While the acceptance of streaming sites like Netflix and Amazon poses an unprecedented threat to cable’s longstanding grip of the Emmys, HBO still leads all other networks with a whopping 126 nominations, exactly three times as much as the second most represented network, ABC. History could be made in this year’s Outstanding Actress in a Drama category, where no black woman has ever won. There are two women who could change that this

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com September: Viola Davis for her role in “How to Get Away with Murder,” and Taraji P. Henson of “Empire.” Davis and Henson are only the sixth and seventh black female actresses nominated in the category since its inception in 1953. Davis plays a defense attorney leading a group of young interns through a murder case; Henson plays Cookie Lyon, vindictive ex-wife to series protagonist and hip-hop mogul Lucious Lyon (Terrence Howard). Both are competing against Robin Wright in “House of Cards,” “Mad Men’s” Elisa-

beth Moss, Claire Danes from the HBO drama “Homeland” and Tatiana Maslany of “Orphan Black.” Interestingly enough, four out of six of last year’s nominees in this category were not nominated this year despite their shows’ continued popularity. Danes and Wright are the lone holdovers, and Danes is the only nominee to have won previously (2012 and 2013). Tatiana Maslany feels like a real dark horse as the star of BBC’s Canadian drama “Orphan Black.” She’s built up a strong

fanbase playing a group of clones and an identity thief. It will be interesting to see if Moss, Maslany, Danes or Wright, who all star in non-primetime programs, can win despite playing to a fraction of the audience Davis and Henson have as stars of primetime television. With last year’s Outstanding Drama winner “Breaking Bad” out of the picture, AMC’s other drama juggernaut “Mad Men” seems poised to win this year, nominated in six major categories for its final season. Surprisingly though, “Mad Men” is not the most nominated drama series this year, behind “Game of Thrones’” seven nominations. If “Mad Men” does win its fifth Emmy for Outstanding Drama, however, it will break its tie with “The West Wing,” “L.A Law” and “Hill Street Blues” for most wins ever — an impressive feat in perhaps the most competitive category . Another intriguing story to follow is that of Jon Hamm, who received his eighth nomination in the Most Outstanding Actor in a Drama category for his portrayal of Don Draper in “Mad Men.” Amazingly, Hamm has not won despite the overwhelming acclaim of the show — another streak that could end as “Mad Men” concludes. Like Hamm, Amy Poehler hasn’t won an Emmy either, despite critical acclaim for her role in “Parks and Recreation.” She will face off in the Outstanding Actress in a Comedy category with heavyweight Julia Louis-Dreyfus from “Veep.” With Andy Samberg playing host, this year’s potentially historic Emmys ceremony will air on Fox on Sept. 20.


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Concerts, pg. 78 angelic voice, make sure not to miss My Morning Jacket next time they cruise through town. Jenny Lewis - June 9 at Three Rivers Arts Festival Free concerts make the sweltering summer heat somewhat bearable. Alternative country act Jenny Lewis provided a nice respite from the heat wave. Her style was a perfect fit for the festival, bringing the cutely-quaint appeal of Regina

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com Spektor and mixing it with a voice tinged with Cat Power’s smoky quality and the sweetness of Alison Krauss. Upcoming Shows With the summer season of shows quickly fading with the heat, many of 2015’s fall acts will match the milder temperatures with smooth and downtempo vibes. Here are just a few of the featured acts coming to the ‘Burgh while school is in session. Death Cab for Cutie - Sept. 17 at Stage AE

If your middle school years weren’t spent listening to indie anthems like “Soul Meets Body” or “Marching Bands of Manhattan,” you missed out on a very important piece of indie rock history. For many preteens, 2005’s “Plans” marked a seminal moment in transitioning their musical taste from Kelly Clarkson to something a bit more eccentric. Their September show is a chance to get reacquainted or introduced to the band and their recent synth-heavy material on “Kintsugi,” their newest record.

Godspeed You! Black Emperor Sept. 23 at Carnegie Music Hall If there’s anything that Godspeed has perfected in their musical repertoire, it’s how to build walls of sound around the listener. Their live performance should be more of the same. The focus is not on the eight instrumentalists, who are often shrouded in darkness, but the images of death, destruction and social injustice playing out on a projection screen behind them. For anyone looking for an existential crisis or a reason to fear humanity, you should check out Godspeed in September. Purity Ring - Sept. 24 at Stage AE Purity Ring’s music and live performance has evolved since 2012’s breakout album, Shrines. Four years ago, the band was an experimental electronic opening act for Neon Indian, performing their way into the hearts of chillwave fanatics. Now, Purity Ring heads up their own 50show world tour for their second studio album, “Another Eternity.” Purity Ring’s live show mixes a contemporary art exhibit with a musical style they call “future pop.” While this genre tag can seem a bit pretentious and vague, their pulsating lights and colorful performance are something to behold. Sufjan Stevens - Nov. 3 at Heinz Hall Sufjan Stevens rarely visits Western Pennsylvania, but when he does, he prefers to bypass the regular venues and go straight for the nicest concert hall in the city: Heinz Hall. This tour promises to be one of Stevens’ most emotionally resonant, as his newest album, “Carrie and Lowell,” was inspired by the passing of Stevens’ mother in 2012. Mixing those songs with his already beloved catalogue will deliver a show Pittsburghers won’t see again for years.

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Southpaw, pg. 80 until he can prove himself fit to be a parent. Billy resolves to turn things around and begins work for Tick Willis (Forest Whitaker), a boxing instructor, and eventually resumes training with Tick to take back his World Champion title. Though the concept is strong, the film is somewhat touch-and-go — besides Billy Hope and his family, the characters are flat and predictable. One example is Hoppy (Skylan Brooks), a young man training at Tick’s gym, who dies suddenly from domestic

abuse. The audience cannot mourn him to the same degree as Billy and Tick — we see Hoppy only a few brief times. Chalk this up to the film’s fast pace, which hinders its ability to explore and develop character backgrounds and motivation all in its two-hour run time. Most of the movie’s weight, however, rests on capable shoulders. Gyllenhaal’s ability to completely transform himself for his roles made his performance awe-inspiring. Having first lost substantial weight for his slender fox-

like role in “Nightcrawler”, Gyllenhaal worked tirelessly for six months to obtain his “Southpaw” boxer’s physique — an impressive turnaround. Though very cut-and-paste, “Southpaw” is worthy of some praise. I teared up when the court forced Leila from her father, and I was half-standing when Billy delivered that final uppercut. It may be on the ropes in terms of story and development, but “Southpaw” is enjoyably tough and puts up a heck of a fight.

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Sports

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column

A YEAR IN PREVIEW

Dan Sostek Sports Editor

Change comes in waves, particularly in college athletics. The University of Pittsburgh is not immune to those shifting tides. One year ago, Pitt’s athletic program boasted a third-year head football coach for the first time since 2010 and a men’s basketball team coming off of an appearance in the Round of 32 in the NCAA Tournament. But times have changed. Paul Chryst bolted from the football program to return home to Wisconsin. Men’s basketball sputtered through one of its worst seasons under head coach Jamie Dixon. Perhaps the starkest of transitions was the removal of athletic director Steve Pederson in December and the

insertion of his replacement, Scott Barnes, who officially began his tenure on June 15. Barnes’ new regime will have many questions to answer, and quickly. The biggest of these is the one surrounding the football program, as the team has been the epitome of collegiate instability over the past five years. With the hiring of new head football coach Pat Narduzzi, the Panthers hope they have finally found a stabilizing force on the gridiron. It’s a crucial year on the hardwood, as well. Pitt’s first two seasons in the ACC have seen plenty of promising moments, but Dixon’s Panthers sputtered toward the end of last season and have yet to thrive the way his teams did in the Big East. With a cast of newcomers entering the fray, highlighted by prized recruit Damon Wilson, this upcoming

Seismic changes bring a pivotal year for pitt athletics season will be a tangible indicator of what direction the men’s basketball program is headed in its new conference. It’s not all do-or-die for Pitt athletics. Perhaps the brightest-shining program on campus is the women’s basketball team, led by newly re-upped head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio. The team shocked fans by earning their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2009, and upsetting Chattanooga in the first round before competing valiantly in a loss to the highly-seeded Tennessee Lady Vols. This season the team will be without superstar guard Brianna Kiesel, who graduated and was drafted by the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock. Now, the Panthers’ young nucleus of sophomores Stasha Carey, Yacine Diop and Aysia Bugg will attempt to continue the surprising

success of last season. Plenty of other Pitt sports feature intrigue as well. Can softball repeat its surprising run to the NCAA Tournament under head coach Holly Aprile? Can Pitt wrestling overcome another difficult schedule to continue its extended run of excellence? Will either the men’s or women’s soccer team finally find their footing on the football pitch in the ACC? Can Pitt’s baseball program find some consistency despite losing three pitchers to the MLB draft and slugger Boo Vazquez to graduation? All of these questions are early signs that 2015-2016 is shaping up to be a pivotal year in Pitt athletics, one that will be a strong indicator of the department’s standing compared to the ACC elite.


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season preview

FOOTBALL

Jeremy Tepper Staff Writer

With a New Coach and a new attitude, a whole campus is buzzing with anticipation

For Pitt football, last season told a story of missed opportunities and questions of what could’ve

been. Led by new coach Pat Narduzzi, the Panthers hope to right the wrongs that ailed them last season. “No more ‘we should’ve done this, we could’ve done that.’ No more excuses,” redshirt junior safety Reggie Mitchell said. Capped by a disastrous 35-34 Armed Forces Bowl loss to Houston, Pitt consistently faltered in crunch time. Including the bowl game — when it gave up a 31-6 lead in the fourth quarter — Pitt squandered three fourth quarter leads to finish 6-7 on the year. Mitchell hasn’t forgotten those losses. “We still have a bitter taste in our mouth from last year,” Mitchell said. “A lot of the close games we were in, but a lot of them we just threw away.” The source of Pitt’s inadequacies late in games, Mitchell said, was the inability to make plays when it mattered. Instead of being the aggressor, Pitt was often scrambling to defend. “We would fight sso hard for the first three quarters, and then the fourth quarter Pitt knows what it came and we has in stars Tyler er were standing Boyd and James es there with our Conner. But if Chad ad mouths wide Voytik thrives, the he open,” Mitchell said. Panthers could sport rt There is no the top offense in the he instant solution to ACC. these problems, Narduzzi said, though it starts with building trust with his players. “There’s no quick fixes,” Narduzzi said. “You start with the people you’re involved with and building relationships with your players. Anywhere I’ve ever been, my players are going to play their tail off for me.” Part of the solution, he said, comes with changing the mentality of the players, where everybody looks to make a play instead of waiting around. “You can’t depend on other people to [make a play], because if you do that, the other team’s going to make

Player to watch:

Chad Voytik tik

Reggie Mitchell looks to lead a Pitt defensive corps reenergized by the arrival of former Michigan St. defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi as head coach. Jeff Ahearn ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

a play,” Mitchell said. “A lot of times last year we were looking around for someone else to make a play. Now, when we do seven-on-seven practices, everyone’s in there trying to make a play.” Narduzzi has been able to change that mentality through competition, Mitchell said, See Football on page 110

“We can make a run at the ACC championship and I think we’re going to.” -J.P. Holtz, tight end


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season preview

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Dan Sostek Sports Editor

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new addtions to Reverse course for sputtering program

For junior center Michael Young, every basketball season comes down to three words:

tournament or bust. Last season, the team’s season ended with a whimper, losing in embarrassing fashion to George Washington 60-54 in the first round of the NIT Tournament. The team had failed to reach the NCAA Tournament for the second time ever in head coach Jamie Dixon’s 12-year tenure, leaving a sour taste in players’ mouths. Now, after a tumultuous end of the season and an eventful offseason, the Pitt men’s basketball team, with fresh faces and mainstays alike, know a repeat of the 2014-2015 season won’t be acceptable. “Every loss hurts. That loss hurt,” Young said, referencing the George Washington game. “But not making the tournament hurts even more, because that’s what you work toward all year, and anything else is a disappointment.” To make the NCAA Tournament in 2015-2016, the Panthers are going to need contributions from a quintet of newcomers, as a tidal wave of transfers and graduated players left Pitt with some vacuous gaps on their rosArtis took a significant leap last ter to fill. year, becoming the Panthers’ With guard Cameron Wright signature scorer. In 2015and forward 2016, Artis will have to take Derrick Randall another jump. Returning to his graduating, as natural small forward position, well as forward the Panthers are counting on Durand Johnson, guard Josh Newkirk him to be a premier and big men Joe scorer in the ACC. Uchebo and Tyrone Haughton transferring, Pitt will need contributions from five additions. Pitt will count on that group — freshman guard Damon Wilson, junior college transfer center Rozelle Nix, and a trio of graduate transfers in guard Sterling Smith (Coppin State) and forwards Rafael Maia (Brown University) and Alonzo Nelson-Ododa (Richmond) — early, but their teammates say they’re up to the task. “I’m excited for all the new guys,” senior point guard James Robinson said. “Obviously Rozelle, with his size, he’s gonna be able to impact the game and help our team a

Player to watch:

Jamel Artis

A rough end to last season has left Mike Young and James Robinson hungry for more coming into the 2015-16 season. Jeff Ahearn ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

lot. Damon is very versatile. We’re definitely gonna look for him to bring some of that versatility to the court and be a good guard for us.” Robinson thinks that the additions will be key to the team’s success. “Add those with the other new guys, Alonzo, Ralph, Sterling, and we have a really good team,” Robinson said. While Smith and Wilson are crucial pickups with the losses of See M Hoops on page 105

“I’ve got big goals for this season. I just want to get my team to win” -Jamel Artis, small forward


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season preview

WOMEN’SBASKETBALL

replacing a program Star is tough but a must for Pitt to continue success

Logan Hitchcock At this time last year, the Pitt

women’s basketball team was shrouded by a cloud of mystery. Questions about youth, a short bench and an overwhelming lack of experience swirled around a team hoping to trend upward during Suzie McConnell-Serio’s second year at the helm. Enter present day, and the team is looking to build on a season that ended with a winning record and an NCAA tournament victory. This year’s squad has a lot going for them — the team is returning three of five starting players with a year of experience under their belt, as well as an impressive five-player recruiting class. However, the elephant in the room is what the team lost. It’ll attempt to replace the otherworldly production and vocal leadership of point guard Brianna Kiesel, now a member of the WNBA’s Tulsa Shock, as well as the offensive and defensive presence of Monica Wignot. Filling the hole that has been left with Kiesel’s departure will not be an easy task. “This team is very young, and we are very different,” said McConnell-Serio. “A lot of things will be similar, but a lot of things we did last While Stasha Carey will year were geared likely star for the Pantoward Bri. This thers, Bugg’s contributions year we’ll rely on are more vital, as Pitt will multiple people to pick up the rely on her to shoulder scoring we lost.” much of the production One of those from the guard position people will be that star Brianna Kiesel sophomore guard, provided last year. Aysia Bugg, who knows that without Kiesel, things will be different. “At first I was like, man, I have some big shoes to fill. But after talking to coach, I realized it’s not the same team. It won’t just be me replacing her, but more of a team replacing what she did. Everyone needs to contribute in a big way,” Bugg said. On the court play won’t be the only thing this year’s team is looking to replace. Without the senior leadership of Kiesel, Wignot and Cora McManus, Pitt will rely on experienced players like junior guard Fred Potvin to become a leader.

Staff Writer

Player to watch:

Aysia Bugg

Fred Potvin is one of three juniors on a young Pitt team looking for continued success. PITT NEWS FILE PHOTO

“I know my coaches expect me to be a great leader for the team,” Potvin said. Potvin, along with redshirt juniors Brittany Gordon and Marvadene “Bubbles” Anderson, are the eldest returning players amongst a team full of lowerclassmen. Bugg noted that she and returning sophomore starters Stasha Carey and Yacine Diop will be responsible for becomi n g l e a ders as well. “I think all three of us will need to be

leaders, by not only lead- See W Hoops on page ing vocally, but by exam119 ple,” Bugg said.

“Coach is very competitive and she doesn’t care if the team is young...the goals will stay the same” - Guard Fred Potvin on head coach Susie McConnell-Serio


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season preview

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WOMEN’S SOCCER

PITT HOPes TO FIND ACC FOOTING WITH CONSISTENT, VARIED OFFENSE

Jasper Wilson

Last season, Pitt women’s soccer player Taylor Pryce was afraid to take risks on the field. She wasn’t alone in that regard, and it showed. With a roster consisting of 12 freshmen, the majority of whom, like Pryce, played major roles, the Panthers finished the season 6-12 overall with a 2-8 conference record, good for a second-to last-place finish in the 14-team ACC. A key part of those struggles came from a glaring inability to create consistent offense. Among ACC teams, Pitt ranked second-to-last in shots taken and 11th in goals and goals per game, scoring 17 times over 18 contests. “As a freshman, you are more afraid of making mistakes and taking risks because if we did make a mistake we don’t want that to define us,” Pryce, a forward, said in an email. But with that young core now possessing a year of experience, and new, skilled attacking players joining the team at the start of preseason earlier this month, expectations are high heading toward the season opener against St. Francis (PennsylEverything will go through vania) on Aug. 21. Arvas this year — after Senior Staff Writer

Player to watch:

ROOSA ARVAS

leading the team in goals and assists a season ago, Arvas will once again be Pitt’s playmaker.

“We have nothing to lose. We are a team who will more than likely be considered the underdog, and we should be grinding game in and game out for a result,” Pryce said. “We are a team that is capable of creating upsets and should be considered a threat to others. We just

Taylor Pryce played a large role on the team last year as a freshman, which should only expand her sophomore season. Meghan Sunners SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

all need to grind through together.” Junior goalkeeper Taylor Francis thought her team was capable of filling such a role last fall and saw evidence of progress from her freshman year, when the team failed to win a single ACC contest. However, not many wins followed in 2014 and a familiar pattern continued. Rather than attacking and putting pressure on opposition, she and her teammates ended up getting pressured and playing See W Soccer on page 116

“We have nothing to lose. We are a team who will more than likely be considered the underdog, and we should be grinding game in and game out for a result.” - Taylor Pryce, forward


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MEN’S SOCCER

AFTER TWo FUTILE SEASONS, PITT STILL strives FOR FIRST ACC VICTORY

Joe Rokicki

Every loss takes a toll. Unfortunately for the Pitt men’s soccer team, it’s seen more than its fair share since moving to the ACC two seasons ago, going home winless in all 19 of its in-conference games since the switch. In his 32nd season with Pitt, head coach Joe Luxbacher knows that the path to success is hard. Sporting a career 240-270 record with the Panthers, the coach has not seen a winning record at Pitt since a stellar 13-5 campaign in 2000. “The Big East and the ACC have been the top two conferences in the country over the past 15 years. This is the highest level we’ve played against for sure,” Luxbacher said. Senior goalkeeper Dan Lynd noted a lack of focus as a key factor to the team’s struggles in the ACC. “We played extremely well for 70 minutes throughout the game but there’s always those 20 minutes where we lose focus and that’s where the trouble usually happens,” Lynd said. “We’re right there. It’s just a matter of if we can focus in the final third and get a goal.” Luxbacher also noted a lack of depth hurt the Panthers last year and is something that he feels confident has improved over the offseason. “You need two quality players for every position, and we didn’t have that depth last year at all,” Luxbacher said. “We’re ahead of where we were last year at this point.” Still, with Notre Dame and Virginia — who have

Staff Writer

“A team like us will do the little things right 90 percent of the time, but you can’t make mistakes because good teams will make you pay.”

- Dan Lynd, goalkeeper

Player to watch:

Geneva, Switzerland native Romeo Charron will need to improve to help an anemic Panthers offense. Heather Tennant STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

won the past two NCAA National Championships — on the schedule, as well as a 2014 top-ranked Syracuse team, the odds of improving upon the total 0-15-4 ACC record appears to be a daunting task. For Luxbacher and his team, work isn’t finished at season’s end, particularly if they want to compete in the ACC. The coach regularly sends players to summer leagues to participate in the best sort of offseason conditioning — professional competition. Four Panthers played for the Pittsburgh Riverhounds’ Premier Development League team this summer: Lynd, junior midfielder Romeo Charron, senior midfielder Patrick Dixon and junior defender Stephane Pierre. PDL teams compile rosters with premier college

ROMEO CHARRON

Charron, a junior, is expected to contribute much more on both sides of the ball this season, and any improvement on either side will be of large help to the underdog Panthers.

players around the country, which makes for an elite competition. “Our players know they have to play somewhere in the summer. We want guys to mature. They’re playing at a high level of competition,” Luxbacher said. In his second year with the PDL team, Lynd, a second-year team captain who will start at goalkeeper this year, recognizes the intense style of play within the PDL and its benefits, namely that it will help prepare him for conference competition. “I think it was good for all of us just to get experience at a higher level See M Soccer on page 96 because that’s what


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WRESTLING

team seeks revival following disappointing season

Chris Puzia

Pitt assistant wrestling coach Drew Headlee recognizes that last season was a major disappointment — especially by the team’s self-created standards. “Anyone not standing on that championship podium would say last season was a letdown,” Headlee said of the team’s 8-8 campaign in 2014. “They expect better of themselves. It’s been motivating them for this summer to make sure it doesn’t happen again.” After several seasons of national success, Pitt wrestling took a step backward last year, the first in which it did not win an ACC regular season title. But coaches and players on the team said there is reason for optimism for the future, namely in some of the younger wrestlers the team will lean on. Last season was not without positive results, though. In his senior season, Tyler Wilps reached the National Championship finals at the 174-pound weight class, earning All-American status in a controversial loss to Penn State’s No. 1 Matt Brown. In all, Pitt had five wrestlers record victories at Nationals, including rising redshirt Pitt will rely on many sophomore Ryan underclassmen, but none Solomon. Because more than Forys. With a of roster re17-14 record and NCAA strictions, berth in his freshman Solomon was season, he still has more forced to wresContributing Editor

Player to watch:

Dom Forys

time to improve.

tle up a weight class against larger opponents at the heavyweight class, instead of his more comfortable 197-pound class. Solomon said he learned a lot from wrestling bigger competition, but is looking forward to bumping back down a weight class. “It was a little tough wrestling with the big boys, and

Mikey Racciato is posed to emerge as a leader on a talented Pitt wrestling squad. PITT NEWS FILE PHOTO

hopefully I can be back down at the 197 weight class I want to be at,” Solomon said. “I want to make it to the national tournament and stand on that podium.” While the Panthers will refuse to make excuses this upcoming season, slight regression would be understandable. The team is losing ACC champions in Wilps and Max Thomusseit, who combined to post a 178-58 record in their Pitt careers. For a team with few rising seniors, Headlee said the Panthers may utilize some younger wrestlers, incoming members of the incoming recruiting class. “We only have two se-

niors (Ronnie Garbinsky and Nick Bonaccorsi), and I think they’ll do their See Wrestling on page 117 part,” Headlee said.

“Anyone not standing on that championship podium would say last season was a letdown” -Drew Headlee, assistant coach


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season preview

VOLLEYBALL

Meeting expectations is never easy. But to do so, the Pitt women’s volleyball team will have to overcome a difficult schedule and roster turnover in its upcoming season. The Panthers are coming off a stellar year both overall and in their second season in the ACC. The season saw the team reel off an impressive 25 wins to match up with only six losses, finishing in sole possession of fifth place in the conference at 13-5. Many onlookers thought the Panthers to be postseason snubs for the NCAA Tournament. Their last trip to the NCAA Tournament came in 2004 while still a member of the Big East Conference where Ohio University defeated them in straight sets. This season, Pitt hopes to avoid missing out on the tournament with a litany of returning players, as well as more opportunity to impress the selection committee. Assistant coach Craig Dyer, who is entering into his 21st season as a volleyball coach and third at Pitt, said scheduling tougher teams this season will go a long way in getting over the hump and into the tournament. “We wanted to schedule tougher in the non-conference and we met that goal,” Dyer said. The difficult non-conference slate begins right away for the squad, as its first matches take place in Lincoln, Nebraska for the Nebraska Invite, where it squares off against the likes of Tulsa and Nebraska. Tulsa finished the season 22-9 last year, while Nebraska advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, so both will likely be formidable opponents for Pitt. The team will also make a trip to the Michigan Challenge, facing difficult foes in South Carolina and Michigan before beginning its tough ACC schedule. “We’re playing solid teams, all with high RPI this season,” Dyer said. “That gives us an advantage both on the

STRONG SCHEDULE, CONFERENCE Paves TOUGH path TO TOURNAMENT

Brandon Duerr Staff Writer

“Our ultimate goal is to finish what we started and leave no doubt for the NCAA tournament.” -Jenna Jacobson setter

Player to watch:

A NCAA Tournament snub is inspiring Amanda Orchard and the rest of the Volleyball team to earn a spot in the tourney this year. Jeff Ahearn ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

court competition-wise and in the eyes of the selection committee.” The Panthers will have to deal with losing five players over the offseason to graduation, and will look to continue the winning and competitive culture established by third-year head coach Dan Fisher. Senior middle hitter Amanda Orchard and senior setter Jenna Jacobson lead the Panthers. Orchard is coming off a season where ACC coaches named her a first-

AMANDA ORCHARD As a preseason All-ACC selection, the senior middle hitter is the Panthers’ top player and a leader for a young team.

team All-ACC selection, while the American Volleyball Coaches Association named her an All-America honorable mention and a first-team All-Region honoree. Orchard agreed with Dyer that the increased strength of schedule is a key factor for Pitt. “Our RPI has made a big jump and that’s a good thing, but that just means we are going to have to work harder as a team in order to reach our goals,” Orchard said. Jacobson, a five-foot-eight senior out of Chicago, takes point in the offense from her setter position. She posted a career-high 15 digs in a match against Louisville last See Volleyball on page 120


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SOFTBALL

Surprise NCAA Berth sparks the imagination of a team — and program — on the rise

Jessica Body

The previous record-setting season for Pitt’s softball squad will be a tough one to follow, but the Panthers are ready. Just ask one of the keys to Pitt’s surprise run, Maggie Sevilla. “It was a lot of fun and a great send-off for the seniors, and great for the younger players to get a taste of what we’re trying to do with the program in the future,” the redshirt senior infielder said. Sevilla said the program’s focus now shifts from establishing itself to maintaining success. And with some key returning pieces, that goal seems attainable. Last year, Pitt finished with a record of 33-19 overall and 11-13 in the ACC, including a record-breaking sweep over Syracuse to earn its 400th program win. As the sixth seed in the ACC Tournament, the Panthers upset both third-seeded Notre Dame and second-seeded North Carolina. They ultimately lost in the championship game to Florida State University, but their effort paid off, earning them a selection to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history. Though falling to the Cal Golden Bears initially, the Panthers gained redemption by defeating Oakland to advance to the regional final. There, Michigan — ranked third in the nation — ended Pitt’s NCAA run — but now, the Panthers are as hungry as ever. Sevilla noted how important it was for the Panthers to make it to the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row. “It was a big stepping stone for our program,” Sevilla said. “This past season we did a really good job of making sure we were always stepping forward, not looking back, and learning from our mistakes.” Sevilla also noted that the season was of monumental

Staff Writer

Player to watch:

Jenna Modic McKayla Taylor impressed in her freshman season and will be a key part of a Panther’s infield with high expectations. Meghan Sunners STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

importance for the program, because it not only proved the team could compete in the ACC, but that it could compete nationally. Head coach Holly Aprile said they won’t be able to sneak up on their opponents like last year, but knows her team is in a good position to have another solid season. She noted that goals are always a work in progress, but winning an ACC championship is near the top of the list. Sophomore infielder McKayla Taylor said the most important challenge for the team next season will be to consistently play at a high level.

“We wanted to bring our program into more of a national light to show everybody that we’re ready to compete not only in the ACC but in the whole country.” -Maggie Sevilla, infielder

Modic will be crucial in filling the shoes of departed ace Savannah King, as the coach expects Modiac to take on a core pitching role for the Panthers.

“Because we ended on such a high last year, I think the hardest thing this year will be to keep working just as hard,” Taylor said. “One of our main goals is to stay consistent, but also to acclimate our new freshmen,” Aprile said. “We need to get them up to speed as quickly as possible so we can compete at the same, if not a higher, level as last year.” Sevilla said how she and the other seniors guide the rest of the team in terms of training and commitment, especially the freshman, is crucial leading into the competitive season. “We want to make sure the whole team is on board,” Sevilla said. “We have an email chain going around letting everybody know the See Softball on page 110 standards that


season preview

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

BASEBALL

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With two losing seasons in the rearview mirror, a young squad looks to mature and succeed

Stephen Caruso

Yogi Berra, that old master of the befuddling — but truthful — phrase, once said “baseball is 90 percent mental and the other half is physical.” For Pitt baseball, nothing could sum up the key to the upcoming season better. Competing in the ACC has been hard for Pitt since its transition two years ago. It has yet to make the ACC Tournament or finish above .500 — both overall and in conference. But even with the increase in competition, Pitt’s players don’t feel overmatched. Pitt junior starter T.J. Zeuch would know better than anyone, after beating No. 1 in the country and eventual College World Series champion Virginia 1-0 earlier this year. “I don’t really take it as pressure. You want to face the best teams you can, the best competition,” Zeuch said. Being immune to the pressure is the sort of trait needed in a developing staff ace like Zeuch. But it is also a trait that head coach Joe Jordano hopes to see forming in the whole team. “We had so Moneyball taught us that many leads that you need men on base to we lost late [last score. If Wright keeps his year],” Jordano said. “I think on-base percentage around our team real.400, working counts and izes we have distracting pitchers with his to play cleaner baserunning, then Pitt has baseball, we have the prototypical pest at the to play from the first pitch to the last top of the order to jumpout and finish games.” start the offense. For junior infielder Nick Yarnall, becoming immune means three things: practice, practice and more practice. “I think if we just practice how we’re going to play...we won’t really think about [making plays],” Yarnall said. “If it’s a routine double play, we’ll turn it, because we’ve moved on it so many times in practice, we won’t be thinking ‘oh I need to field this ball and get rid of it,’ we can just field it and get rid of it, it’s part of your nature, instead of overthinking it.” Zeuch agreed. Contributing Editor

Player to watch:

Jacob Wright

T.J. Zeuch pitched well in the Cape Cod League this summer, helping him calmly move into his third year as Pitt’s staff ace. PITT NEWS FILE PHOTO

“We’ve set our goals as Omaha, which is obviously every team’s goal, but I think we’ve put too much pressure on ourselves to do everything so perfectly that we get in our own heads and we need to work on that as whole,” the junior starter said. While improved mentality seems to be of utmost focus, the physical half cannot be overlooked. Jordano didn’t mean to offer it as an excuse, but he said Pitt had an “inordinate amount” of injuries last year.

That included Yarnall, who missed close to half the season with mono, departing senior Boo Vazquez, one of the best hitters in program history and senior Matt Johnson, a starting infielder who missed See Baseball on page 109

“I think if we just practice how we’re going to play... we can just field [the ball] and get rid of it, it’s part of your nature”

-Nick Yarnall, outfielder


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August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

M Hoops, pg. 91 Wright, Newkirk and Johnson, the team’s big men are thrilled for some added depth in the frontcourt. Adding Nix, who is seven-foot, 318 pounds, Maia, six-foot-nine, 245 pounds, and Nelson-Ododa, six-foot-nine, 235 pounds, Pitt will feature a depth of big men it missed last year. Young said the additions, specifically the trio of big men, should help alleviate some of the Panthers’ rebounding woes, as Pitt finished last in the ACC in defensive boards and 12th out of 15 in overall rebounding. “Our defense was kind of hurt [last year] because we couldn’t get stops, but we couldn’t get rebounds either.” Young said. This year once we get the rebounding situated, our defensive percentage will go down, because we’ll be getting those rebounds and the other teams won’t get those extra shots.” It also will allow Young to shift back to playing power forward, and junior Jamel Artis to small forward. “I think that will be great for us,” said Artis. “We don’t have to be banging [in the paint] as much, so we’ve got some big men that can come in and play some good minutes. I know they’re ready to play, I’ve seen them out there. They look hungry, they’re good.” Young shared Artis’ enthusiasm for the added depth. “I’m really excited. I tell those guys all the time I’ve never really been on a team where I’ve had guys that are significantly bigger than me, whether it’s height or weight,” Young said. “So it will be new for me, just like those guys playing with me will be new for them, so I’m excited to see how it works out.” Despite the struggles last season and the roster turnover this summer, the players aren’t afraid to set their aims high for 2015-2016. “I’ve got big goals for this season. I just want to get my team to win,” Artis said. “NCAA Tournament. Final Four. ACC Champions. I’m just trying to help my team. Whatever they want me to do, I’ve got it.” Pitt opens its season Nov. 13 in Okinawa, Japan, as it takes on the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the Armed Forces Classic.

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M Soccer, pg. 96 we’ll be seeing in the ACC,” Lynd said. “Every day is a tryout because you have coaches there from a professional team.” Charron also noted that playing in the PDL helps players prep for the college season. “I was just trying to get ready for the season, work on my conditioning and some weaknesses — finding situations where I can take on a defender and break that line and find my striker and set it up,” Charron said. Goals were few and far between as well for the Panthers last season — the opposition outscored Pitt 27-13 in the fall of 2014. Additionally, their opponents outshot the Panthers 241-203.

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com “That [lack of offense] is a product of our competition and us not being as cohesive as a unit as we could be,” Lynd said. “If we let in a goal, it’s not just our back four and me, it had to go through everybody.” Luxbacher noted his deep roster — which consists of ten freshmen — will eradicate the team’s offensive woes in 2015. He expects freshmen Tobias Heyman of Sweden and Matt Nozedar of Kingston upon Hull, England to have an immediate impact. “We recruited players to improve our attack and score more goals. We’re looking for them to compete right away,” Luxbacher said. ”We have a good class and we have a good core. We’re still young, we only have three seniors.” That total of seniors is a stark con-

trast to last year, when the team had six on the roster. As a center midfielder, Charron expects more from his offensive game. “I must be able to score and take shots from a distance. We cannot be outscored or outshot, that’s also my role: to avoid shots and give Dan [Lynd] less work,” Charron said, who scored one goal for the Riverhounds in six games this summer. Selling the Panthers as legitimate conference contenders has been a tough pitch for some, but from Lynd’s perspective, this is a team on the cusp of impacting the nation’s best conference despite a daunting schedule. “The difference between us and a team like Notre Dame is not that much. They do the little things right every

time,” Lynd said. “A team like us will do the little things right 90 percent of the time, but you can’t make mistakes because good teams will make you pay.” Charron insists the Panthers’ quest for ACC success begins sooner rather than later — the Panthers will play exhibition games versus Saint Francis (PA) on Aug. 19 and California (PA) on Aug. 23 after a matchup against the Pittsburgh Riverhounds on Aug. 18. “As a team we must have a great preseason to build confidence in all our key ACC games and we’re in a position today where we can achieve big things and big firsts in our programs,” he said. The team opens its season Aug. 28 in Easton, Pennsylvania, as it prepares to take on Lafayette.


August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Wells, pg. 70

and it’ll hone cognitive skills. It’s mostly — we met once a week. These are just about helping people think in different students that want more French. So once ways. a week we’d meet just for fun. They did Aside from the course knowlhomework, they did other reading – there’s no grade, there’s no credit. It’s fun, so I edge, what do you hope students bring snacks and stuff (laughs). I mean I leave your classes with? want to have fun too. Just a passion for learning anyThat’s something I’ve always nothing and everything. And to see language learning as a gateway ticed, is that mutual respect in to learning to think in different ways, and classrooms usually brings that result. wanting to learn more, and to push them to I run my class more like an emcee. In French, they call it ‘an animator.’ I taught a business French class – I had students in it that had much more content and expertise than I do. I’m giving them the French, and they know all the business. It’s like a seminar — we work together. I learn as much as they do. It’s all collaborative — that’s the optimum, I think. They gave me homework.

Q

A

Q

A

Q

Is that why you think students react so well to your teaching

style?

A

I hope so — I hope that’s part of what they like. I am very passionate about teaching language — I love it, and I want them to love it, too, and enjoy class. I do have my style, but I do try to adjust to the different learning styles of the class. For example, participation in my class doesn’t just mean ‘participate in class’ – there are ways to have excellent participation and not speak in front of the entire class. Because some people aren’t comfortable, but they can be super participatory in either what they do outside of class or in small groups. Most of my students end up with A’s in participation just because they all participate differently, but in the same amount.

Q

Why should someone take a class in the French Department, even if it’s not their area of interest at all? What can they gain? One thing I’m trying to stress to students that may be a little hesitant — besides I think that they’ll come to class and have a good time — is that learning another language makes you smarter. Even if you go on and you don’t use it, it’ll develop different ways of thinking

A

the point where they don’t need a teacher anymore. I’m trying to do that the best I can – and I’m constantly working at it. I have a lot of failures, things that don’t work. I’ll go into class sometimes and say ‘I’m sorry guys, this lesson was a complete bust, we’re going to redo it tomorrow,’ and they’re really understanding about it. I think the students at Pitt are the best — the absolute best. My students are fantastic. I’ve taught at a number of schools, and this is the absolute best, bar none.

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TPN REDESIGN web. mobile. print.

WE’RE CHANGING A FEW THINGS


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Glass, pg. 70

Q A

way it did?’ or ‘what links Pittsburgh to Pennsylvania ever since. other places?’

Q

Last spring, you were featured Growing up in New Zealand, how on NPR for your research. What did you decide you wanted to go were you researching? The geography I do is broadly to school for geography? Is there a type of geography you specialize in?

Q

known as human geography, so we’re interested in where people I did my Masters degree at the are, how cities develop, the interactions University of Auckland, which is between cities or within the same country. one of New Zealand’s top research So it’s not just memorizing state capitals universities. My advisor had done his Ph.D. — you can use Google for that. It’s under- at Penn State and said it would be a pretty standing ‘why did Pittsburgh develop the good fit. I applied, got in and I’ve been in

A

A

One of the key classes I teach for the Urban Studies Program is Urban Studies 1300, a research skills class, and it’s neighborhood-based. In fall 2014, [my students] had been in the South Side. That got some attention because we were working with the city, looking at the

nighttime economy. We were looking at perceptions of the South Side by visitors and residents and just seeing what the presence of so many bars on the South Side was doing to the different communities that live, work and play there.

Q

What kind of research are you doing now?

A

Every second year I take students to Southeast Asia, and I’m interested in how they understand and learn about different cities. It’s one thing to learn about Singapore on campus, but how do the students interact with that place once they get there? My current book project is looking at where some of Pennsylvania developed, how the city developed over time, kind of a political perspective on that.

Q

Do you have a favorite city that you have studied or visited?

In North America, I’m fairly fond of places like Chicago and Montreal. I’ve just been to a lot of great cities. Munich, Helsinki, Kuala Lumpur. That’s the good thing about studying geography — it gives you an excuse to visit all of these places.

A

Q

Is there anything that you haven’t researched yet that you would like to?

A

I’m doing it. Allegheny County has 130 municipalities. Very often people say that’s just really inefficient and it makes things difficult. Everybody says it’s a problem and I wanted to look at how the problem arose and whether it is a problem.


August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Baseball, pg. 103 all of 2015 with a hand injury sustained before the season’s start. But with both poised for healthy seasons, Pitt’s head coach seemed confident in the offense. “It’s going to be another year for them to develop and be productive,” Jordano said. “The way I look at it is with what we’ve added and what we have returning, I feel very good about where we’re at offensively and looking forward to take another step forward.” That offense will include Yarnall, who hit .330 and slugged a robust .580 in his sickness-shortened season. Players like redshirt junior outfielder Jacob Wright, senior catcher Alex Kowalcyzk and Johnson also look to be contributors. Meanwhile, Zeuch will lead the pitching staff. However, the MLB draft, for the second year in a row, robbed Pitt of pitchers with remaining eligibility, including junior Marc Berube, who started 13 games last year. Senior Aaron Sandefur and junior

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Sam Mersing both seem capable of nailing down a starting job with strong camps. But even with the loss, Jordano seemed confident that the team will be able to compete. “We had a very good game plan put together going into the draft,” Jordano said. “We are going to be relatively young in some areas, especially the mound. But we very much feel good about the quality of player and studentathlete we are attracting and committing.” While Pitt’s schedule has yet to be revealed, it will be sure to include matchups within the Coastal division like Virginia, Miami and North Carolina-Chapel Hill, all three of which finished the year within the RPI top 25. Virginia and Miami participated in the College World Series last season. Such matchups will pose a challenge to a young team like Pitt, but for Zeuch, it only adds to the thrill. “All I can do is go out there, do my job, throw the ball and try and have some fun with it,” Zeuch said. Charles LeBlanc, Pitt’s sophomore shortstop will look to build of a strong freshman year.,PITT NEWS FILE PHOTO


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Softball, pg. 102

to a better degree,” Aprile said. “To play just as well as they did last year and occasionally the seniors have set.” to play better.” Five players make up the incoming freshAprile has high expectations of her core man class for Pitt softball: Sarah Dawson, Ma- infielders, Kaitlin Manuel, Sevilla, Taylor and rissa DeMatteo, Olivia Gray, Taylor Myers, and Shelby Pickett. Similarly, Ashlee Sills is enterAlexis Solak. The coaching staff is optimistic ing her senior year, and Aprile sees her as a about the five making leader and outstanda speedy adjustment to ing performer in the the team. outfield. “I think [the freshJenna Modic is also men] are going to fit We know we’re not go- an important piece on in great,” Aprile said. the field, who will most “They performed re- ing to surprise people likely see more time on ally well this summer next season, and we’re the mound this year. when we went out to She performed well watch them. We’re ready to take on that last year at the plate, very excited about challenge.” batting .538 with eight that.” RBI and two home Holly Aprille runs in the Panthers’ The Panthers lose Pitt softball head coach six seniors this season four-game NCAA run. – outfielders Jordan For Aprile, that run Fannin and Carly Thea, infielders Kaila Ba- means that no one will take the Panthers for latgek and Carissa Throckmorton and pitchers granted next season. The team is prepared Savannah King and Alexa Larkin. But Aprile for that. isn’t fazed about performing well again in “We know we’re not going to surprise 2016. people next season,” Aprile said. “And we’re A strong offensive attack helped lead Pitt softball to it’s first NCAA tournament “I expect all of the returners to play well ready to take on that challenge.” berth, and could propel its second.. Meghan Sunners SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER


August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Greece, pg. 34 For now though, Husted said the United States’ relationship with Greece is small enough that its economic crisis will have little impact on our economy. But there are other concerns to focus on as well. Irina Livezeanu, a history professor at Pitt, said it was important to remember the political effects of this crisis. The strain and disagreement that the situation with Greece’s economy has caused

could easily lead to more strain and disagreement with other issues, making tensions run high and decisions hard to make, Livezeanu said. “It ’s a really important crisis and it does have consequences for the United States

It’s a really important crisis and it does have consequences for the United States. Irina Livezeanu,

Pitt professor

— even though the economic impact is not a great one,’” Livezeanu said. Fo r college students and recent graduates in Greece, the effect can be more pronounced. The rise in unemployment rates makes it hard for youth to find jobs

111 and many are moving to other countries in Europe or the United States to find better opportunities. Hagerty is calling this a “brain drain.” In this scenario, America is one of the lucky spickets to catch the brightest drops. “Every group that comes over brings something, in this case it’s intellect and skills,” Hagerty said. “It’s the way the U.S. was built, the way we still are. We are fortunate enough to get some of the very best people in our country.”


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Lieberman, pg. 44 and in favor of a $15 minimum wage. The movement has been slowly garnering attention and popularity over the past three years. It reached its most visible point this past spring, when over 60,000 workers from a variety of economic sectors united with allies across 236 cities to demand a living wage and a union on April 15. Since then, the nation has been forced to confront the issue of minimum wage head on.

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com Pittsburgh was one of many cities to participate in strikes, rallies and marches on April 15 — and rightfully so. On this day, I was thrilled to be a part of more than 1,500 workers, students, professors and local activists who took to the streets of Oakland to protest the $7.25 minimum wage in Pittsburgh, blocking off more than three blocks of Forbes Avenue as we marched. These protests have inspired wage increases in a number of cities strewn throughout the country. Cities like Se-

attle, San Francisco and Los Angeles have passed legislation to raise their minimum wages to $15 an hour by 2017, 2018 and 2020 respectively. Emeryville, California has passed a law to implement a minimum wage raise to $16, effective 2019. Cities like New York City and Portland have proposed laws to raise the minimum wage to $15 and $10.68 respectively by 2019 and 2017. Pittsburgh, tied to Pennsylvania’s minimum wage laws, has yet to join the legion of cities using the minimum wage

as a tool to become more affordable, and livable, for their residents. The recent New York City victory — in which the New York Wage Board made the decision to incrementally raise New York City’s fast food workers’ wages to $15 per hour — has set off a new wave of debates. At the time, my brother and I had set upon the task of typing away furiously as we attempted to explain to his group chat that $15 per hour would not crash the economy — and no, the money would not all be spent on drugs. The negativity toward this movement has created an opportunity for reflection — is the “Fight for 15” really the right thing for our workers and our economy? The answer is a resounding yes. We need a minimum wage of $15 an hour.

Raising the minimum wage in Pennsylvania can help to end this cycle — as it has begun to do nationally. The proposed increase to $10.10 per hour President Obama made in his 2014 State of the Union address — which was followed by an Executive Order — is far too low and would still leave too many workers in poverty. And workers in poverty is bad for all of us — taxpayers pay for their Medicaid and food stamps. Corporations need to take better care of their workers so taxpayers don’t have to. The age-old argument against minimum wage hikes purports that higher labor costs will destroy our businesses and hurt our economy. This dusty argument has been resurrected by those against the “Fight for 15,” but it is simply not true. In a piece that Forbes contributor Mike Patton wrote in 2014, he concluded that raising the minimum wage “would have very little effect on the U.S. economy.” He went on to state, “Therefore, I think this is more about class envy than anything else. And, like so many arguSee Lieberman on page 115


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Opaigbeogu, pg. 48 mainstream media misrepresents what the issue actually is by being hypocritical. Maisha Johnson, a writer for EverydayFeminism.com, explains cultural appropriation in her article, “What’s Wrong with Cultural Appropriation?,” by describing the way cultural appropriation leads to negative situations. Those who identify with a minority group in America are hurt and disgusted by the use of their culture by others because they are usually not given credit for the ideas that stemmed from their culture. Because of this lack of credit, the minority group will be barred from certain benefits such as money or recognition and their future generations might never know the important impact their people had. For example, Marc Jacobs recently “created” a new trend he termed mini buns — very similar to bantu knots, a popular hairstyle used by Africans and the black community. Whether he realizes it or not, Marc Jacobs is culturally appropriating because he is trying to take credit for a hairstyle that has been used by African

women for many centuries. Many black women, myself included, have been told by other people and the media that when we wear hairstyles such as bantu knots and braids they look unprofessional, dirty and unkempt. So it is very hurtful to see that these styles are deemed high fashion when “created” by a

Accept that you cannot be a part of everything and that some things are off limits to you because of your race or religion. white man and worn by white supermodels. If nobody had brought attention to this, Marc Jacobs might have gone down in history for inventing the “mini bun,” profiting from this appropriated hairstyle. A person is culturally appropriating if

they knowingly use another group’s cultural elements to make a profit or garner recognition without acknowledging the other group — sometimes, this practice comes in the form of comedic commentary and can be falsely attributed as a “social benefit”. If you are profiting by using practices or artifacts specific to another culture — selling clothing or jewelry, producing music, etc. — you should take the time to understand the meaning, ensure that nothing sacred to a culture is being desecrated, and give credit to the people of that culture. An example of what constitutes cultural appropriation is the story of Rachel Dolezal, a biologically white woman who identifies as black, and advocates on behalf of blacks. Race is a social construct that relates to the way that humans identify each other. People of similar races and ethnicities usually develop a sense of solidarity with each other that can sometimes give way to racism. Skin color, hair texture, mannerisms and speech are all indicators of a person’s race and, more often than See Opaigbeogu on page 114

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Opaigbeogu, pg. 113 not, play significant roles in how a person is treated by others. Dolezal knew this. Osamudia James, a professor at the University of Miami School of Law wrote in her article, “Let’s Talk about Rachel Dolezal,” “[Dolezal] appropriated a black identity to gain status and influence in a community that isn’t actually her own.” What Dolezal did is considered cultural appropriation because she used the

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com identity and mannerism of a culture that is not biologically her own in order to gain recognition and influence. Cultural appropriation is all about the intent and credit. Some items such as a hijab or Native American headdress are specific to a certain people and hold special meaning and value. Accept that you cannot be a part of everything and that some things are off limits to you because of your race or religion. Instead of having theme parties centered around a specific culture where

people dress up most likely as exaggerated stereotypes, throw a party in celebration of a culture by highlighting the meaning behind different symbols important to that culture. If you cannot do that, it might be best to just stop throwing theme parties altogether. Finally, use judgment when evaluating whether or not something is offensive, but do not feel the need to limit yourself to your own specific culture to avoid offending people. Cultural ideas, practices and artifacts

should be freely exchanged, and different groups of people should be allowed to partake in cultures that are not expressly their own. When labeling instances as cultural appropriation, it is important to realize that no group can hold a monopoly on an intellectual achievement or art. Take rap music, for example. Yes, rap music stemmed out of black oppression beginning in New York City in the early 1970s and is deeply embedded in black culture — but this does not mean that it must stay there. Other races should not be barred from integrating the styles of rap music into their culture. If every group could only use what other credit their group with discovering, we would all be very deprived and primitive. Only Egyptians would be able to wear eyeliner — eyeliner first appeared in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Only Arabians would be able to drink coffee — the Arabs were the first to cultivate and trade coffee. Only Europeans would be able to fly — Sir George Cayley designed the first fixed winged flying machine. Not everything is cultural appropriation, and not everything should be taken offensively. Instead of trying to segregate cultures and function as separate races of people, let’s share and learn from each other and operate as a single race — the human race.


August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Lieberman, pg. 112 ments today, you can’t overlook the political component.” An economic study conducted at the University of California, Berkeley examined the effects of minimum wage increases in eight large cities and found that “none of the dire predictions…have come to pass.” And when the average fast food corporation pays its CEO $23.8 million a year, I think they can afford to pay their workers a living wage without breaking the bank. Other voices, like that of Nigel Travis, the CEO of Dunkin’ Donuts, enjoy explaining how low-end jobs are stepping stones for teenagers — not jobs for adults. Unfortunately, Travis is sadly mistaken. While low-end jobs might have been intended for teenagers, they are not the ones filling them. More than 70 percent of workers are over the age of 20, and two-thirds of workers are supporting a family. Workers, students and a professor spoke at a panel in the O’Hara Student Center last spring at one of my first

“Fight for 15” events. One fast food worker explained that because she could not afford to provide the life she wanted to give her son, she had given him up for adoption. A security guard explained the stress of trying to help her daughter pay for college. These women are worried parents, not teenagers trying to save up to buy their dream cars. Still, there are those that think fast food workers are “undeserving” of such a high wage — which touches upon an essential component of the “Fight for 15.” Though the “Fight for 15” passes economic tests with flying colors, I’ll let you in on a secret: the heart of the movement is not the intricacies of economic policy, but the undeniable worth of the worker. Workers are human beings who should be able to afford to pay their rent and buy their groceries after a month of hard work. Thankfully, as they stand up and demand that their employers treat and pay them fairly, many agree, uniting to create the largest protests centered on low-wage workers in American history. Write to Alyssa at aal43@pitt.edu.

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W Soccer, pg. 94 defense for long stretches of games. While the team doesn’t record possession statistics that are available to the public, how this nature of play manifested itself is evident in how Francis led the conference with 120 saves. By comparison, the runner-up in that category made 80. “We’ve got to keep the ball,” head coach Greg Miller said. “We’ve got to keep possession of the ball a lot longer and put more pressure on other teams.” To try and remedy the final step of this issue, scoring goals, Miller said that he and the rest of coaching staff spent a lot of time in the offseason working with Pryce, who scored four goals last season, and senior Roosa Arvas, who had a team-high nine goals. He said he improved their shooting by putting them in attacking situations close to the net that they’re likely to find themselves in come fall. Additionally, Miller cited the arrival of talented incoming freshmen, as well as the return of redshirt sophomore Carly Seneca and redshirt freshman Megan

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com Giannopoulos, both forwards who were injured last season, as another way the team hopes to move beyond its past difficulties with the ball. “When you get a lot more attacking personalities together that are capable of scoring goals, that’s exciting,” Miller said. “Hopefully that translates into some more goal-scoring opportunities and more goals for us.” In the spring season, the team didn’t score as much as it would’ve liked, but according to Francis, kept better possession, passed better, and perhaps most crucially underwent a change in attitude. But now the players say they’re ready to bring the program its first winning record since 2009. “We all, I think, decided that we are going to be a winning team next year. We are going to get the wins that we should get and maybe some that we shouldn’t get and we’re gonna pull out the results, regardless of how hard a game is,” Francis said of the shared attitude amongst she and her teammates. “We are going to win, regardless of how, but it’s going to happen.”


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Wrestling, pg. 98 “But right now we’re looking for younger guys to also step up and be leaders on and off the mat.” Headlee pointed to two wrestlers in particular — rising junior Edgar Bright and rising sophomore Dom Forys — to spearhead that charge. Solomon added rising junior Mikey Racciato to Headlee’s list of Panthers to watch. “I love watching Mikey wrestle,” Solomon said. “He’s that kind of funky wrestler, at any point he can get a pin for us, it doesn’t matter if he’s against the No. 1 guy in the country. I definitely say Edgar will break out, but I think Mikey will too.” Racciato pointed to Solomon’s weight class realignment as a major boost for the team, and added that Bright’s return from a medical redshirt last season will help the team. “[Bright] is one of the strongest kids I’ve ever wrestled,” Racciato said. “I’m just glad he’s on my team.” As a true sophomore last season, Racciato won the ACC championship at his 149-pound weight class en route to a 22-10 season. He said everyone on the team has a goal of earning All-American status, and as a team they want to return to the ACC summit. Even wrestlers untested in college competition have a chance to provide major contributions this year. Headlee pointed out that wrestler skill trumps age, saying “if you can make the lineup as a freshman, you’re going to be in there.” On June 23, head coach Jason Peters announced a 2015 signing class of 14 members, with Pittsburgh native TeShan Campbell and Robert Lee highlighting the list. As a 170-pounder in high school, Campbell won the PIAA State Wrestling Championship and boasted an undefeated senior season on top of playing running back for the Penn Hills football team. Lee was a state finalist in each of his four years at Kaukauna high school in Wisconsin, ranking No. 18 nationally at 138 pounds. Despite his high school dominance, Racciato said the transition from high school to starting as a college freshman

can be difficult, a task he experienced firsthand. “Realistically, you’re going to take some losses,” he said. “There was a point where I lost four or five times in a row that season. I didn’t even lose that much in my high school career. Every match is a grind, so I’d tell them to take it one match at a time.” Headlee said that Campbell could move into Wilps’ vacant 174-pound slot and start. “That’s not to say the spot is his,

however. There are guys fighting for the spot,” Headlee said, adding that between one and three freshmen could step into the starting lineup. “It will be a fun little battle in the fall to see which freshmen are rising up and seeing which upperclassmen they’ll be competing with.” Part of last season’s 8-8 disappointing regular season (2-3 in the ACC) resulted from Pitt’s performance against top competition. The Panthers went 1-7 against ranked opponents, with the lone

117 victory coming in its second match of the year on Nov. 6, in which Pitt defeated No. 10 Edinboro, 25-13. In the previous three seasons, Pitt went a combined 36-11, including a perfect 6-0 record against ACC opponents in 2013. Racciato said the team is eager to return to its dominance in its opening year in the ACC. “Everyone wants to win dual meets,” he said. “We’re going to be a pretty young team, but I think we’ll be competitive in the ACC.”


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and seven losses, five of which were on the road. turning sophomores, Pitt has brought in Reaching, or eclipsing the success of redshirt junior Destinie Gibbs via trans- last year’s team will be no small task, but fer from USC and five freshmen to round the players know what lies ahead. out the roster. “Coach is very Regardless of age, competitive and though, the goals she doesn’t care if stay the same. the team is young, “I always have It won’t just be me re- or if the classes high expectations are old. The goals going into every placing [Brianna Kie- will stay the same season,” McCon- sel], but more of a team and we want to do nell-Serio said. “But as much as we can at the same time, replacing what she did. again this year,” those expectations Everyone needs to con- Potvin said. are realistic. The big According to thing going into the tribute in a big way, McConnell-Serio, season early on will returning three Aysia Bugg be game experience. starters while Guard We’re looking for bringing in a talentthe non-conference ed freshman class schedule to help us prepare for the con- will certainly help the team’s chances. ference season.” “We will be young, but we’ll play hard Playing in the middle of one of the best and we’ll be competitive. I’m excited conferences in the country, last year’s about the challenges that lie ahead with Aysia Bugg will help fill a void in leadership with the departure of Brianna team was able to muster up a winning such a young team,” McConnell-Serio Kiesel to the WNBA. Alyson Derrick STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER conference record, recording nine wins said.


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Volleyball, pg. 100 season to go along with 27 assists in that game as well. Jacobson has an all-work, no-play mentality when it comes to the Panthers’ goals this season. The women have been participating in players-only practices this summer to try and instill that rigorous attitude into the incoming players’ minds, and Jacobson hopes the team will be able to build a strong enough résumé that their season

August 24, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com won’t come down to winning one contest. “We have a lot of new girls that we hope are going to make an impact for us right away this year,” Jacobson said. “We want to teach them that work ethic and ideally have that ‘one game’ not matter when it comes to reaching our goal of making the NCAA Tournament.” Orchard hopes her experience can rub off on a slate of younger players this season. “I hope that I can teach the younger girls to live in the moment,” Orchard said.

“It’s important to not get too far ahead of yourself and take it one play at a time, to live in the moment.” Despite the roster turnover and difficult slate of games, the Panthers have not compromised their goals and optimism for the upcoming season. “We want to crack that top four in the ACC and prove we are for real,” Jacobson said. “Our ultimate goal is to finish what we started and leave no doubt for the NCAA Tournament.”


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I Rentals & Sublet N D E X -NORTH OAKLAND -SOUTH OAKLAND -SHADYSIDE -SQUIRREL HILL -SOUTHSIDE -NORTHSIDE -BLOOMFIELD -ROOMMATES -OTHER

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2-3-6 bedroom. Available Now, May & August. Newly remodeled. Air conditioning. Bigelow Blvd, N. Neville St. Call 412-287-5712 Furnished rooms, sharing for two people, walk to Pitt. Available immediately. $475/mo. All utilities included. rentalschool22@gmail.com. 412-953-8820.

Efficiency, quiet building, no partying. Short-term or longterm lease. Laundry, all utilities included. Share bath. $395$425. Available immediately. 412-683-0363

Private parking available on corner of N. Dithridge and Centre Ave. $75/month. Available immediately. Contact 412-682-0711

Large 3 BR apartment available now for 2015-16 school year. $1100+G&E. Dishwasher and 2 bathrooms. Contact Rachel at 412-427-6610.

1 room for rent, shared kitchen and bathroom. For male. $250/month, 412-681-3477. 1-2-3-5-6 bedroom houses, 2 baths. Bouquet, and Atwood Lawn & Ophelia. Available Now & August. Please call 412-287-5712. 3 BR, furnished, sharing for 3 people. Oakland Ave. $1875 ($625 per person), utilities included. Available in August. Contact 412-848-9442. 4-5 bedroom apartments. Central Air. Dishwasher. Available now. 412-302-9616.

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4-BR apartment. Completely remodeled. Hardwood floors. Very convenient location. Less than 5-minute walk to Forbes. 6-BR apartment. New renovations. Must see. Please call 412-352-5755.

Large 3 BR house 3217 Joe Hammer Square. Available 8/1. $1170+Utilities. 412-421-2140, Sachs Management.

Huge 4BR House September $1900. Renovated 2BR Apt. - Now $1200. SHADYSIDE! PETS OK! Call 412-455-5600

Sacred Heart School in Shadyside is looking for volunteer basketball coaches. Clearances will be required. If interested, please contact Michele Cromer at mcromer@gtnlaw.com or 412-9014268.

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Services

-EDUCATIONAL -TRAVEL -HEALTH -PARKING -INSURANCE

Smokers Wanted. The University of Pittsburgh’s Alcohol and Smoking Research Laboratory is looking for people to participate in a threepart research project. To participate, you must: -Currently smoke cigarettes. -Be 18-55 years old, in good health, and speak fluent English. -Be willing to fill out questionnaires, and to not smoke before 2 sessions. Earn $150 for completing this study. For more information, call 412-624-8975.

Security Event Staff needed in the Oakland area. Must have clear criminal background. Able to stand/walk for long periods. Pay rate $10.00 per hour. Apply at www.am-gard. com Servers/Bartenders – SoHo, a full service restaurant & bar located on the North Shore is seeking Servers & Bartenders to join our team. Full and/or part time positions available for both daytime and/or evening shifts. Experience preferred. Please apply in person at 203 Federal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, or via email at manager@sohopittsburgh.com

Announcements -ADOPTION -EVENTS -LOST AND FOUND -STUDENT GROUPS -WANTED -OTHER

Hosts/Food Runners– SoHo, a full service restaurant & bar located on the North Shore is seeking Hosts/Hostesses & Food Runners to join our team. Full and/or part time positions available for both daytime and evening shifts. No experience necessary. Please apply in person at 203 Federal Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 or via email at manager@sohopittsburgh.com RGIS is Now Hiring Inventory Takers Anytime-Day, Evening, & Weekend Shifts Available -Starting Wage $9.00 -Flexible Part-Time Hours -Paid Training- No experience necessary -Regular wage reviews based on performance -Advancement opportunities -Have access to reliable transportation Visit www.rgis.com to apply to job #IINV00646 or call 412-343-0623 for further information EE0/VET/Disabled SWEET! Work one afternoon per week, make $10 an hour. House cleaning and laundry. Shaler, 10 minutes from campus. E-mail: sharonjoyvoas@gmail.com

R INSERTIONS 1X 2X 3X 4X 5X 6X ADDITIONAL A 1-15 WORDS $6.30 $11.90 $17.30 $22.00 $27.00 $30.20 $5.00 T 16-30 WORDS $7.50 $14.20 $20.00 $25.00 $29.10 $32.30 $5.40 E S DEADLINE: TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR BY 3 PM | EMAIL: ADVERTISING@PITTNEWS.COM | PHONE: 412.648.7978 (EACH ADDITIONAL WORD: $0.10)

Counter help wanted. Perfect summer job. Part time or full time. Flexible for students. Openings starting now. Apply to The Original Hot Dog Shop, 3901 Forbes Avenue.

Medical and Heart Care, Students Welcome, Private Oakland Office, Craig Street, Dean Kross, MD, 412-687-7666

Hip Hop Dance Aerobics and Dance Workshops - Fall 2015 Want to boost your workout routine with a fun-filled class that makes you forget you’re exercising? How about learning steps to put together challenging routines, like those on SYTYCD? BaM Choreography LLC is Pittsburgh’s premier sister duo dance/fitness team; they’ve performed at Stage AE, the Cultural Crawl, the Color Me Rad 5k, in local artists’ music videos,

and produced their own dance production in 2014 called ‘Best of the Black & Gold’. BaM offers weekly classes, monthly workshops, and private lessons to kick your fitness regimen up a notch! Hip-hop dance aerobics weekly group classes and monthly hip-hop dance workshops available at Fullbody Fitness Club, in Brentwood, PA. Cost of classes ranges from only $1015, with discounted class packages available. Check the schedule/sign-up at

www.fullbodyfitnessclub.com BaM Choreography also offers private group or individual classes at any location-we travel to you! Contact us for more details: www.bamchoreography.com Follow @BaMChoreography on Twitter, IG, and Facebook for news, events, videos/pics BaM Choreography is a proud member of the Pittsburgh Fitness Council.


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