The Pitt News
Now delivering!
T h e i n d e p e n d e n t s t ude nt ne w spap e r of t he U niversity of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | September 19, 2019 | Volume 110 | Issue 26
PLRB ORDERS Presidential candidate SECOND GRAD Amy Klobuchar packs Stack’d UNION ELECTION Janine Faust Editor-in-Chief
A Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board official has determined that the University committed unfair labor practices which affected the outcome of April’s graduate student union election. The official has ordered a new union election, according to a Wednesday press release from United Steelworkers. Hearing Examiner Stephen Helmerich said in his ruling that Pitt committed “coercive acts” leading up to the April vote, which was meant to determine whether or not graduate students at Pitt should unionize and join the Academic Workers Association of the United Steelworkers. The outcome of the vote was 675 for and 712 against. Pitt’s anti-union actions included intimidation and misinformation, according to the release. These included creating the impression through emails that the University was keeping specific track of who voted and spreading false information about what the potential union could bargain for. Helmerich said these methods “potentially affected a large enough pool of eligible voters for the effect on the election to be manifest due to the extreme narrowness of the result.”
The crowd to see Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speak spilled out of Stack’d and onto Oakland Avenue Wednesday night. Hannah Heisler senior staff photographer
Rachel Romac
For The Pitt News
Sen. Amy Klobuchar entered Stack’d Burgers and Beer with a strong smile and wave, to chants of “Amy! Amy! Amy!” from the bar area and the sidewalk next to the restaurant. On a warm fall Wednesday night, Pitt students, faculty and members of the public packed the tables and sidewalks — and See Grad Union on page 3 spilled out onto the sidewalk at the corner
of Forbes and Oakland avenues — to hear Klobuchar, D-Minn., make her pitch to become the next president of the United States. Klobuchar is one of 20 Democrats currently running for president. Pitt College Democrats President Grace DuBois, who organized the visit, said she and her organization have worked hard over the past two weeks to bring Klobuchar to Oakland. She received an email from Klobuchar’s
campaign on Sept. 6 about hosting an event for Pitt students. “The process was a little more complicated than we had hoped,” DuBois said. Requests to reserve space for an event on campus must be made at least 21 days in advance — but the College Democrats had only 12 days to put together Klobuchar’s visit, requiring the move to an offcampus location. Though she’s polling at See Klobuchar on page 3
News
ONLINE Senate Council talks international outreach, financial aid programs pittnews.com
Bike to Campus Day sets wheels in motion Natalie Frank
For The Pitt News Samantha Juedemann loves biking to class in the morning — even after the time she got hit by a car while cycling. The car accident led her to work at the Pitt Bike Cave, the student-run co-op bicycle repair shop. On Wednesday, she was out with other employees of the Bike Cave at the Posvar passthrough for Pitt’s fall Bike to Campus Day, encouraging other members of the Pitt community to bike for their commutes. “For me, it’s a nice way to wake up before class,” Juedemann, a senior civil engineering major said. “Walking, you don’t get the full adrenaline rush. And Pitt’s super friendly toward bikes.” The collection of tents, tables and bikes by Posvar Hall Wednesday morning for Bike to Campus Day was evidence of Pitt’s bike-friendliness. Along with the Bike Cave, a number of organizations including Bike Pittsburgh and the bike-sharing company Healthy Ride had tables at the event. Community members who stopped by could test out an electric bike, register their bikes with the Pitt police and generally learn about the biking resources offered around Pitt’s campus. Nick Goodfellow, Pitt’s sustainability coordinator for the department of business and auxiliary services, was in charge of the event. “Bike to Work Day,” a nationally celebrated day, is not until the month of May. But Goodfellow said he found it important to celebrate the cycling culture here at Pitt in the busy months of September and October. And the Posvar pass-through, introduced last year as a cut-through option for cyclists, seemed like the perfect place to center the event. “It’s the center of cycling on campus, so that’s why we wanted to put the event here,” Goodfellow said. The high number of students and general traffic here at Pitt can make for a more intimidating atmosphere for cyclists, Goodfellow said, especially on the busy streets of Forbes and Fifth avenues. “Even for me, an experienced cyclist, it’s pretty intimidating,” Goodfellow said. “[But the passthrough] offers folks biking to and from Oakland and campus a safe alternative to Forbes and Fifth.”
pittnews.com
Bike vendors and organizations from around the Pittsburgh and Oakland area came to Pitt’s first fall Bike to Campus Day. Wu Caiyi staff photographer Goodfellow said more people have used oncampus bike racks in recent years, though the University doesn’t know the exact number of cyclists around campus. The City has installed more bike lanes as well, including recently-completed stretches that connect the Pitt and CMU campuses. “There’s been a huge increase in the number of cyclists,” Goodfellow said. “We have these great separated bike lanes, so people feel confident that they’re not going to be jostling with cars to get to and from campus.” The student-run Bike Cave, a co-op tucked under Posvar Hall, was created several years ago to offer students an on-campus space for bicycle repair. During the event, students stopped by the Bike Cave to get help fixing their bicycles or pick up parts for them. Also at the event was the bike-sharing company Healthy Ride, which has already partnered with Pitt. This year, Healthy Ride offered a free membership to all incoming first-year students,
giving them unlimited 30-minute rides during their first year at Pitt. Healthy Ride also partnered with another vendor at the event, Bike Pittsburgh — a bike and pedestrian advocacy group which started about 20 years ago. Bike Pittsburgh not only offers elaborate online and physical maps of the biking paths in and around Pittsburgh, but also spreads awareness for bike safety on and off campus. Dave Sobal, who works with Bike Pittsburgh, was at the event passing out information about the organization and answering questions about “anything bike-related,” he said. “Our mission is to make Pittsburgh a more bicycle and pedestrian-friendly city,” he said. Bike safety was a major topic at the “Bike to Campus Day” event, with the Pitt police also occupying a spot in the pass-through. Sergeant Mark Villasenor from the Pitt police offered helpful tips to cyclists regarding how to safely cycle around campus. He recommended using a U-lock instead of a chain lock and using safety
September 19, 2019
gadgets like attachable bicycle lights, which Villasenor and his fellow officers were handing out. Another officer demonstrated how Pitt police use the two new battery-powered e-bikes in its fleet, describing them as faster than regular bikes and allowing officers to seem more “approachable” than if they were patrolling in cars. Students could also register their bicycles with Pitt police in case of theft. International development graduate student Juliana Bernardino, who registered her bike at the event, said she wishes to see some changes in the Pittsburgh cycling community. “I wish there were more bicycle lanes,” she said. Bernardino was one of the relatively small number of students who stopped by the event, but Goodfellow said he was glad to hold the event at a busier time of the year. “We really wanted to celebrate biking to campus while students were still biking around,” he said.
2
der the commonwealth’s labor board. A hearing was held in May to hear both organizers’ allegations and Pitt’s defense. [Read: PLRB hears grad student union election objection in downtown hearing] The University stands by its belief that graduate students are not employees and therefore cannot unionize. Pitt’s Office of University Counsel paid
“union-busting” law firm Ballard Spahr $239,061 in fees between the summers of 2016 and 2018 to provide legal support during the separate graduate student and faculty campaigns for unionization, according to University financial disclosure reports obtained by The Pitt News. Pitt spokesperson Kevin Zwick said the University received the ruling and does not believe it violated any laws dur-
ing the election process. “In the strongest possible terms, the University disagrees with any suggestion that we acted inappropriately in the election where Pitt graduate students voted not to be represented by the United Steelworkers,” Zwick said. “We will review this proposed ruling and consider next steps.” USW International President Thomas Conway said in the press release that the University has stood in the way of graduate student unionization efforts “since day one.” “This time around, Pitt must allow these workers to exercise their rights under the law and allow the democratic process to proceed without obstruction,” Conway said. Olivia Enders, a graduate student in the Department of Instruction and Learning in Pitt’s School of Education, said in the press release that graduate students have known for a long time that they need to join together in a union. “We hope Pitt learns from this situation and lets us exercise that voice without more illegal interference,” Enders said. Jon Moss contributed reporting.
many Americans from rural areas support Trump’s agenda. Klobuchar said she’s visiting Oakland and western Pennsylvania, along with cities in Wisconsin and Michigan, to try and rebuild support in the so-called “blue wall” states — those that usually vote for Democrats, but flipped in favor of President Trump for the 2016 election. Klobuchar said her ultimate goal is to win back these states, but also appeal to the states which are swing or consistently Republican. “I don’t want to be president for half of America,” Klobuchar said. “I want to be president for all of America.” Proposed solutions to many of the issues Americans hold dear, such as gun control, international relations, the Affordable Care Act and — most importantly for college students — the student debt crisis, were among the topics Klobuchar discussed. Klobuchar said she hopes to pass a bill to limit magazines, an assault weapons ban and a universal background check bill. She cited how a majority of both hunters and Trump voters support the
background check proposal, according to a Fox News poll. “I look at these proposals in front of us, including the ones at Mitch McConnell’s desk, and I say ‘Does this hurt my Uncle Dick in his deer stand?’” Klobuchar said. “And they don’t.” Under a Klobuchar administration, the United States would move quickly to restore relations with nations that she believes President Trump has snubbed. She wants to restart conversations with other nations about the climate crisis and negotiate the United States back into the Iranian agreement. “We stand with our allies, and we get back into these international agreements, and I would mention the international climate change agreement,” she said, “I would sign that puppy in on day one.” When it comes to health care, Klobuchar is in favor in strengthening and expanding the programs that the government already has under the Affordable Care Act — focusing on lowering health care premiums that stretch Americans’ budgets. The federal government needs to make
college more affordable for new students, according to Klobuchar, like increasing the federal Pell Grant offered to students, along with helping to refinance loans for current students. The crowd whooped and applauded her proposals. “The one- and two-year degrees, I would make [those] free,” Klobuchar said. “Then I would double the Pell Grant … and increase the income level where you are eligible for your family from $50,000 to $100,000.” But in addition to mentioning the financial plight of young people, Klobuchar also placed a spotlight on their potential. She credited young voters with many of the Democrats’ recent electoral successes, in flipping the U. S. House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections and winning back seats in state legislatures. “Parkland and those kids that became icons … those students in your generation, they stood up. They didn’t just march, they voted in record levels,” Klobuchar said. “This is the march that we are on that will end in November 2020, and I would love to meet this march.”
Grad Union, pg. 1 Pitt’s Graduate Student Organizing Committee kicked off its unionization effort in 2016 and filed for a union election in December 2017. Its reasons for wanting a union included higher wages, increased benefits, greater transparency and increased protections against discrimination and harassment. Following the April elections, GSOC members alleged the University participated in voter intimidation through using administrators as poll watchers and implementing unlawful list-keeping practices. In one instance they referred to, Steven Little, the chair of the University’s Chemical and Petroleum Engineering department, sent out an email to the department disclosing the number of workers from their department who participated in the elections. [Read: Pitt attempting to obstruct grad student union election, organizers claim] Organizers claimed that both of these practices are illegal at the national level. But since the University is a staterelated institution, the decisions fell un-
Klobuchar, pg. 1 an average of just 1.4%, Klobuchar’s visit was widely attended — 45 minutes before the event began, every seat in Stack’d was taken, leaving a standing-room only crowd. But Pitt students weren’t the only ones in attendance. Sandra Duncan, 59, and her friend Barbara McNulty, 62, waited excitedly with their Stack’d fried pickles for the event. The two women — both from Wexford, located about 30 minutes north of Oakland — said they were attending to see Klobuchar in person and to hear her stance on health care and the climate crisis. “I like her message … and see her fully capable as President,” Duncan said. “[This country] needs someone who is calm, centered and clear.” Klobuchar made a point of separating herself from the seemingly endless line of Democrats competing for the presidential nomination to take on President Donald Trump in 2020. She embraced her midwestern roots, as a 12th year senator from Plymouth, Minnesota, but said
pittnews.com
TPN File Photo
September 19, 2019
3
Opinions
ONLINE Editorial: Make college tuition free pittnews.com
column
‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast entertains and degrades
Ana Altchek
Staff Columnist The first time I listened to the “Call Her Daddy” podcast, I was utterly appalled by both the profanity and absurdity of the ideas that the show was overtly promoting. And yet, every Wednesday, I find myself eagerly refreshing the app anticipating the source of weekly entertainment. The blunt and provocative nature of vloggers Alexandra Cooper and Sofia Franklyn has given the Barstool podcast a five-star rating with more than 65,000 reviews. Although the audience includes both male and female listeners, the podcast is supposed to be revolutionary for women because it delves into the nitty gritty details of the modern dating scene from a heterosexual female perspective. Through sharing their own personal experiences with men, Cooper and Franklyn provide all the necessary tips and tricks on how to master the “daddy game” — a game of manipulation and winning the power dynamic. While it seems like an inspiring and empowering way to include women in the conversation of casual sex, Cooper and Franklyn seem to do so through a dominantly male perspective. Despite the entertaining and sometimes helpful advice, female listeners should refrain from using the podcast as a golden standard of rules in the dating game. The podcast exposes the manipulative tactics of men and explains to women how to play their game and ultimately win it. One of their recent episodes, “Milf Hunter,” contained the most provocative dialogue yet. This episode featured a guest on the show whose identity remains a secret, but who goes by the moniker “Milf Hunter.” Cooper and Franklyn consistently make references to him as the ultimate player who vivaciously dates, has had more than a hundred sexual partners and has supposedly mastered the “daddy game” — a term used to describe the stereotype of male players who attain emotional control of women and juggle several partners at a time.
pittnews.com
In his guest appearance, he consistently referred to women as “holes” as he educated listeners about his successful strategy of lies and manipulation. Through recounting various sexual experiences, he revealed that he has yet to take a woman on a date and rarely even opens the door for them. He also gloated about the fact that although he has never been in love, he tells women he loves them so he can continue hooking up with them. For a female listener, this behavior sounds degrading — and for most people in general these assertions sound uncommon and irrational. Yet Cooper and Franklyn not only expressed full support of his general apathy and treatment towards his partners, but encouraged the same behavior from women. In fact, Cooper even expressed gratitude to “Milf Hunter” for teaching her how to manipulate men the way he does with women. “Girls, most men are like this so I hope your ears are perking up and I hope you’re feeling like shit about yourself,” Franklyn said. This kind of advice wrongfully shoves all men into a negative category and simultaneously conditions women to normalize and accept this kind of treatment. Cooper and Franklyn routinely remind women that adopting this mindset will make them better off. Yet learning to treat the opposite sex in a worthless manner does not equate to female empowerment. In support of these outlandish notions, Cooper and Franklyn put an emphasis on performance in the bedroom and encourage women to drop everything else that might be included in the realm of a normal relationship. They advise women to remove any expectations from men, and to “brainwash” themselves into believing that they are merely a hole. The conversation about casual dating and open relationships isn’t the problem with the podcast. But constantly re-enforcing that casual sex is all men want and women should cater their own desires and expectations to fit this rigid and extreme standard is worrisome. “You don’t want him calling you babe, you
want him calling you a whore,” Franklyn said. Furthermore, the idea that women need to downgrade their status to the level of a sex object is even more dangerous to the conversation of casual dating. Rather than empower women to pursue the relationships they desire, “Call Her Daddy” teaches self-deprecation and limits their options. Cooper and Franklyn put an emphasis on keeping up exceptional performance in the bedroom, remaining low maintenance, refraining from conversations about the relationship status, abstaining from any expression of emotion and staying noncommittal to anyone. “If your behavior changes, especially if you’re starting to act more needy, he’s going to be terrified of you,” Cooper said. The podcast routinely stresses that any demonstration of emotion or attachment is a turn off and that any progression towards a relationship must derive from the male’s end. For some women, this dynamic works. But for the women who may desire something other than sex, this kind of advice can be toxic and minimizing. Cooper and Franklyn overgeneralize the dating world and normalize an abnormal pattern of treatment to a varied audience of listeners and subscribers. By teaching women to replicate the strategies of certain men and blatantly ignore their own feelings and others, they contribute to a never-ending cycle of this power game. According to Cooper and Franklyn, the game never ends, not even in marriage.
September 19, 2019
“They still hate you and they’re still cheating on you, until they prove otherwise,” Cooper said. This mentality is not only harmful to women, but it places men in an unfair category as well. To assume that all men — or even the majority of men — solely share an interest in sex, is unfair and inaccurate. It morphs the expectations of both genders and creates an endless power dynamic game that results in a toxic cycle for both parties. So while Cooper and Franklyn may have cracked the code of the so-called “daddy game,” women should take this advice with a grain of salt. Not all men solely want sex, and women who want more should not neglect their own desires. Women might benefit more from a game that they create and write their own rules to — one that doesn’t abide by the aloof standards that certain men of the 21st century have regimented into the modern dating culture. Ana writes primarily about scoial issues for The Pitt News.
Elise Lavallee contributing edior
4
Culture
What to do in the fall if you hate football Delilah Bourque and Sarah Connor
plenty of fall-themed music out there to make the perfect playlist. “Grand Theft Autumn” by Fall Out Boy has the name The Pitt News Staff of the season in the title. There’s even For some, the air cooling and people pullplenty of spooky music out there to get ing their fall wardrobes out of storage can only you in the Halloween mood. If it’s the mean one thing — football season. For the rest “Season of the Witch,” then it’s time to of us, the best we can do is try to make the most do the “Monster Mash,” — but beware! of our Sundays until February rolls around. “I Put a Spell on You” and “Heads Will Here are some of the best ways to spend your Roll” this fall. fall if you’re not a football fan.
Eat buffalo chicken dip and drink a beer while you tune out the game on TV
Even if you don’t love football, you likely love buffalo chicken dip and beer or, at least, one of the two. So crack open a cold one, throw up your feet and pretend like you know what your friends are talking about. Even better, have a few snacks. Snacks are, arguably, the best part of any football-watching affair. Offerings range from buffalo chicken dip to wings, and if you’re a vegetarian, you’re in luck! Most wings come with a generous offering of celery and carrot sticks on the side — just for you.
Plan your halloween costume
As we draw closer and closer to October 31st, the only thing that matters is what you’ll be wearing Halloween weekend. Plan one costume — even two! You can always change halfway through your night, or plan on attending multiple Halloween parties. The options are endless. If you have a boo why not be a couple of ghosts? Need a group costume for all your friends? Be the full range of Taco Bell hot sauces, from mild to fire. When you’re walking back home, past fields of girls dressed as black cats and a hundred frat boys in various basketball jerseys, you can take comfort knowing that you took the time they spent watching football and invested it into an original costume.
Visit an apple orchard
Even though you can buy as many apples as your heart desires at the grocery store, it’s always more fun to do all the hard work yourself. Pay someone for access to their orchard, then collect your apples! If you find yourself confused about what you’re doing with all these apples, how you got here and how all of these apples got into your home, don’t fret. Plenty of apple recipes exist for you to turn your abundance of apples into an abundance of meals. From the conventional applesauce to the less-ventured options like adding green apples to a grilled cheese, you’ll soon have more apple-based food than you know what to do with. Share them with your friends at their next stupid tailgate.
for god’s sake. You’d never be caught at home watching a football game when you could be penning the next great American novel while you sip coffee as black as your soul.
Pretend it’s not 80 degrees outside and shop for a new fall wardrobe
While fall weather hasn’t set in yet, it’s bound to eventually. Every year in our increasingly warming climate, it takes longer and longer for the chilly winds of autumn to make their way to Pittsburgh. Don’t worry, though, because they’re coming. Probably. Maybe. Either way, take advantage of some of the great shopping opportunities we have here in the ’Burgh by getting yourself a new sweater or maybe some new boots. There’s plenty of options for open-air
shopping in the still-warm weather, such as the Waterfront and SouthSide Works. Stay far, far, away from the North Shore, the location of many Pitt and Steelers football games. You wouldn’t want the crowds of bright yellow, jersey-wearing football fans to cramp your style.
Decorate with all of the best fall decor
Pick up the pumpkins, carve them into jacko’-lanterns and get the skeleton coffee mugs out while you’re at it, because it’s not really spooky season until your house looks like it could be a part of Halloweentown. Fall scented candles like pumpkin, apple spice and crisp fallen leaves add to the ambience as well. To top off the autumn aesthetic, don’t forget to put up some twinkle lights. They could be in the shape of pumpkins, ghosts or skeletons, in honor of autumn’s spookiest holiday.
Tweet about how pumpkin spice lattes are basic
Everyone knows that pumpkin spice lattes (PSLs) are a basic drink for basic people. Even if you’re not entirely sure what “basic” means — hint: no one does — it’s best to fire off a few tweets about how you’d never be caught dead drinking one. Sip your black, sugar-less coffee and snicker at all the people around you snapping pictures of their latte art to post on Instagram, knowing you’re better than them. While you’re at it, type up a new chapter of your novel on your typewriter while at Starbucks. Sure, everyone else is Create a new fall playlist using a laptop, but you’re not like everyWhat better way to spend your fall one else. You’ve never even tried a PSL, than dancing your blues away? There’s
pittnews.com
September 19, 2019
5
Sports
TAKE 5:FITZPATRICK, FURY, FUTILITY
In this week’s column, our staff weighs in on a couple Pittsburgh-related storylines — one hopeful, one bleak — and also shines a light on the incredible career of heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury. Fitzpatrick and Rudolph rejuvenate depleted Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers announced on Monday morning that star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will miss the remainder of the 2019 season with an elbow injury. Monday night, the Steelers sent their 2020 first-round pick to Miami in exchange for standout defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick. With this trade, Pittsburgh’s front office made one thing abundantly clear — the team still has every intention of winning in 2019. At just 22 years old, 2018’s 11th overall pick has through-the-roof potential. Last year for the Dolphins, the rookie Fitzpatrick recorded 80 total tackles, nine passes defended, two interceptions and one defensive touchdown. In his second season, Fitzpatrick fills a desperate need for Pittsburgh, as there is now a gaping hole in the secondary with the loss of safety Sean Davis to injury. Pittsburgh has had lackluster safety play for years. This was evident on Sunday, when Seattle receiver DK Metcalf toasted Pittsburgh’s Terrell Edmunds to put the Seahawks up 28-20. Also, no defensive player had the awareness to contain Russell Wilson’s scrambling ability on the game’s final drive. Rudolph looked phenomenal in his first NFL action, leading the offense to a 26-point effort. But if the Steelers intend on winning in 2019, they must support Rudolph with playmakers on the other side of the ball that can keep the opposing team’s score down. Many people believed the Fitzpatrick trade was a bad deal for the Steelers. In reality, the team just made its gutsiest trade in recent franchise history. Pitttsburgh’s major problems are on the defensive side, and the Steelers hope to resolve them with this acquisition. Fitzpatrick will be a fan favorite in Pittsburgh and lead the Steelers’ secondary for years to come. Pittsburgh recognized what
pittnews.com
Injured Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger watches as the offensive coordinator talks with backup QB Mason Rudolph on Sunday. Barry Reeger/PennLive they needed to do in order to win and made that move. Now, with a promising young quarterback along with a rejuvenated defense, the Steelers could still be on a postseason trajectory in 2019. — Kyle Saxon, Staff Writer A round of applause for Tyson Fury Tyson Fury should be an icon in the world of sports right now. The lineal heavyweight boxing champion is 31 years old and currently preparing for his massively anticipated rematch against Deontay Wilder on Feb. 22. The fight is sure to attract a lot of attention, with some calling it the biggest heavyweight fight of the century. One can only hope that it gives Fury the international platform that he deserves. At the age of 27 in 2015, Fury defeated Wladimir Klitschko and became the unified world heavyweight champion. Unfortunately, this was just the beginning of his story. What followed Fury’s victory could only be described as a disaster. In the three years after, Fury never stepped foot in the ring again. He was stripped of all his titles for inactivity, and his life fell apart. He fell in deep into alcohol and drug
addiction and ballooned up to about 400 pounds. According to Fury’s own account, he was within seconds of taking his own life in the summer of 2016. In the fall of 2017, after years of struggling with his mental health, Tyson Fury made the unbelievable decision to make a comeback. His goal — to win back his former title belts. Against all odds, Fury successfully regained control over his mental health, kicked the drugs and alcohol and lost about 150 pounds. He returned to the ring in 2018, and just three fights in fought Deontay Wilder for the WBC heavyweight championship — a brawl which ended in a controversial no-decision. Now, less than a year later, Fury is preparing for what is shaping up to be a historic rematch — and another shot at redemption. Fury’s ability to overcome adversity is as inspiring as any of the “Rocky” movies. It’s stories like his that make people love sports, and boxing’s relative obscurity shouldn’t keep him out of the spotlight. — Sean Tierney, For The Pitt News
September 19, 2019
Bumbling Bucs The Pittsburgh Pirates have fallen from their storied history and the future looks grim. There were some expectations for the team this season to play about a .500 record. After some bad luck with injuries and inconsistency, the Pirates pitching staff has been the fourth-worst team by ERA this year. Though the offense certainly has its nights of dominance, it’s still ranked 19th in scoring this season. Add those two together and you get the fifth-worst run differential and a beautiful record of 65 wins and 86 losses. While there are some bright spots in the lineup, the Pirates just aren’t very good. Going into next year, Pittsburgh’s supposed best pitcher won’t even throw a pitch due to Tommy John surgery, a procedure wherein a player’s UCL is reconstructed. Last season, the Pirates made a controversial trade when they sent outfielder Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow to the Tampa Bay Rays for starting pitcher Chris Archer. The trade at the time was viewed as an acquisition of a strong arm in Archer, but in hindsight the trade turned out poorly. Add in the fact that the Pirates jettisoned Gerrit Cole, who will finish with a sub-three ERA and 300 strikeouts this year. To make matters worse, the Pirates — through no fault of their own — will lose one of the most elite closers in the game due to his arrest this past Tuesday. Owner Bob Nutting will need to climb many mountains for Pittsburgh’s baseball team to be competitive again. He has to restock a depleted farm system and find quality major league arms for his pitching staff and reliable bats for the lineup. Whether or not there is a major shake-up in the team’s front office, this offseason will determine whether the upcoming years of Pirates baseball will be worth following at all. — Sami Abu-Obaid, Staff Writer
Find the full story online at
pittnews.com
6
Prediction: Knights to vanquish Pitt at Heinz
John Riskis
For The Pitt News Pitt football (1-2, 0-1 ACC) will try to rebound after a brutal defeat against rival Penn State when it plays the No. 15 Central Florida Knights (3-0) at home this Saturday. In their first road game last week, the Panthers struggled down the stretch offensively and missed a 19-yard field goal after a series of goal-line failures late in the game. Narduzzi came under fire for the decision to kick instead of trying to tie the score, but remained firm in his decision on fourth down. “I have no regrets with the call at all, I really don’t,” Narduzzi said. “My regret is that we didn’t score on one of those three [previous] plays.” Penn State’s defense stifled offensive coordinator Mark Whipple’s offense on three consecutive plays at the goal line after a long Panther drive. Racking up 372 passing yards in the contest, junior quarterback Kenny Pickett set several career highs on Saturday and particularly thrived in the second quarter. Despite standing by his decision-making, Narduzzi apologized to Pitt fans for the team’s failure in execution.
“Enough of that, but it’s what it is, and we can debate it for the next 10 years and maybe we will because we probably won’t play them the next 10 years,” he said. “I apologize to Panther Nation because we all wanted to win that game, and there’s nobody that feels worse about that than the guys in this room.” Yet for all the seemingly negative emotions that stemmed from that single play, there were some positives to take away from the game as a whole. Defensively, the Panthers held Penn State’s typically high-scoring offense to only 389 yards and 17 points. Redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman had another impressive outing with six tackles and 1.5 sacks. PSU redshirt sophomore quarterback Sean Clifford had difficulty creating plays from the pocket thanks to the pressure of Pitt’s defense. Time of possession was another highlight for the Panthers, with Pickett leading an 85-yard drive that lasted more than nine minutes but ended with a field goal. Pitt must sustain drives like that this Saturday in order to milk the clock and keep the ball away from UCF’s fast-paced offense. Looking ahead to Saturday, UCF will be the
biggest challenge yet to Pitt’s resilient defense. First-year quarterback Dillon Gabriel has already proved capable of the starting job with nine touchdowns to his name in three games. UCF pummeled Stanford last week, scoring 28 points in the first quarter alone and going on to win 4528. Gabriel is of particular focus for Narduzzi, who said he reminds him of previous UCF standout quarterback McKenzie Milton. “Reminds you of Milton a lot,” Narduzzi said. “He’s a great deep ball thrower.” Narduzzi wasn’t kidding — Gabriel ranks fourth among college quarterbacks in long pass plays, with an average of 11.6 yards per attempt. He threw for four touchdowns against Stanford with three of those coming from at least 28 yards out. UCF’s offensive prowess cannot be understated. The Knights have scored at least 30 points in their last 29 games dating back to 2017 — not to mention that they’ve won 28 of their last 29 matchups. To emerge victorious this weekend, the Panthers need a combined effort from the offense and defense. We know how good the defense has been up to this point, but Pitt will have to slow down
the touchdown-scoring machine that is head coach Josh Heupel’s offensive system. Additionally, forcing turnovers will be important to limit the time spent on the field by the Knights’ offense. Offensively, Pitt will need to find success consistently, not just in the second quarter. The Panthers proved too predictable against Penn State and couldn’t adjust to counterplay in the second half. Pickett will need another breakout game to compete with a team that frequently lights up the scoreboard.
Prediction
UCF: 38, Pitt: 23 The Knights’ offense will prove to be too much for Pitt’s defense, with Gabriel getting off to a hot start in the first quarter once again. With speedy playmakers like junior wide receiver Gabriel Davis and junior running back Greg McCrae, UCF has a breadth of talent that will be difficult to beat. Pickett will pass for more than 400 yards but Pitt will fail to capitalize on drives and stall in the second half. An impressive Panther defense will be outmatched at Heinz Field and fail to stop the passing volley it will face.
Downton Abbey (PG) Fri: 2:10, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 9:25 Sat & Sun: 11:45 am, 2:10, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 9:25 Mon & Tue: 2:10, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 9:25 Wed: 2:10, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 9:25 Thu: 2:10, 4:35, 6:30, 7:00, 9:25 The Goldfinch (R) No passes through 9/29/19 Fri: 3:35, 9:00 Sat & Sun: 12:40, 3:35, 9:30 Mon & Tue: 3:35, 9:00 Wed: 3:35, 9:00 Thu: 3:35, 9:00 Hustlers (R) Fri: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 Sat & Sun: 12:45, 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 Mon & Tue: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 Wed: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 Thu: 3:00, 5:15, 7:30, 9:45 It Chapter Two (R) No passes through 9/22/19 Fri: 3:30, 6:45, 9:55 Sat & Sun: 12:15, 3:30, 6:45, 9:55 Mon & Tue: 3:30, 6:45, 9:55 Wed: 3:30, 6:45, 9:55 Thu: 3:30, 6:45, 9:55
pittnews.com
September 19, 2019
7
I N D E X
Rentals & Sublet • NORTH OAKLAND • SOUTH OAKLAND • SHADYSIDE • SQUIRREL HILL • SOUTHSIDE • NORTHSIDE • BLOOMFIELD • ROOMMATES • OTHER
For Rent North Oakland 4BR, 2 bath house. Newly remodeled, wall‑to‑wall carpet ing, equipped kitchen, deck, onsite laundry available. On busline, 15 minute walk to campus. Available immediately. $990/ mo +gas/electric. Call 412‑548‑2214. Available August 2020! Rooms avail able in furnished 5 bedroom house in North Oakland. Close walk to University of Pittsburgh and shuttle. AC/washer/dryer. $625/mo. Contact: rentalschool22@ gmail.com or 412‑294‑6167. North Craig & Center 1 BD for $795. Air Conditioning, Laundry, Great Loca tion. M.J. Kelly Real Estate mjkellyrealty@gmail. com. 412‑271‑5550.
South Oakland 2‑3‑4‑5‑6‑7 bedroom apartments and houses available in May and August
pittnews.com
Employment • CHILDCARE • FOOD SERVICES • UNIVERSITY • INTERNSHIPS • RESEARCH • VOLUNTEERING • OTHER
Classifieds
For sale
• AUTO • BIKES • BOOKS • MERCHANDISE • FURNITURE • REAL ESTATE • PETS
2020. Nice, clean, free laundry, in cludes exterior main‑ tenance, new appli‑ ances, spacious, and located on Semple, Oakland Ave., Mey‑ ran Ave., Welsford, Bates, Dawson, and Mckee 412‑414‑9629. douridaboud propertymanage ment.com
BNY Mellon Center, 500 Grant Street is accepting applications for Serving Assistants/ Coctkail Servers. We are seeking friendly, organized and reliable applicants to work in an upscale dining environment. Please apply in person Mon‑ day through Friday after 1:30
3 BD apartments available in South Oakland from $1195‑$1600
Research Studies
M.J. Kelly Real Estate mjkellyrealty@gmail. com. 412‑271‑5550. 3408 Parkview Ave. 2 BD for $950 & 3 BD for $1,295. Available immedi ately. Pet Friendly & Parking. CALL NOW! 412‑455‑5600 Before signing a lease, be aware that no more than 3 unrelated people can share a single unit. Check property’s compliance with codes. Call City’s Permits, Licensing & Inspections. 412‑255‑2175.
Employment Food Services THE CARLTON RESTAURANT Located in the One
notices
services
• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE
Alcohol & Smoking Research Lab at The University of Pitts burgh is looking for males to participate in a research project. Must be between 21 and 28 years old and be a social drinker. Must be willing to drink alcohol. Earn $90 for participating in 2 session study. For more information call 412‑624‑8975 or email asrl@pitt.edu
Employment Other
• ADOPTION • EVENTS • LOST AND FOUND • STUDENT GROUPS • WANTED • OTHER
R A T E S
Insertions
1-15 Words
16-30 Words
1X
2X
3X
4X
$6.30
$11.90
$17.30
$22.00
$7.50
$14.20
$20.00
$25.00
5X $27.00 $29.10
6X $30.20 $32.30
Add. + $5.00 + $5.40
(Each Additional Word: $0.10)
Deadline:
Two business days prior by 3pm | Email: advertising@pittnews.com | Phone: 412.648.7978
for 12th grade student studying elementary
statistics. Must have strong mathematics
background. Sessions once a week, with
additional sessions as needed for test prep.
Compensation nego‑ tiable. If interested, please call or text 412‑849‑4209
Medical and Heart Care, Students Welcome, 155 N. Craig Street, Dean Kross, MD, 412‑687‑7666 South Fayette Twp. School District HIGH SCHOOL AS SISTANT PRINCI PAL Complete job descrip tion is available at: www.southfayette.org South Fayette Twp. School District 3680 Old Oakdale Road McDonald, PA 15057 Deadline: September 27, 2019 or Until Po sition is Filled EOE
Drummer needed for a punk rock band. We play original music, no covers. Must have equipment. Seri ous inquiries only. Contact Marty at 412‑400‑5067 In‑home tutor wanted
September 19, 2019
8