10-30-2018

The Pitt News

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | OCTOBER 30, 2018 | Volume 109 | Issue 51

TREE OF LIFE SHOOTING: HOW STUDENTS CAN OFFER HELP

TRUMP PLANS TUESDAY TRIP TO PITTSBURGH Christian Snyder

Sarah Shearer

Editor-in-Chief

Assistant News Editor

Despite an open letter signed by more than 60,000 people telling President Donald Trump — in plain terms — that he is not welcome in Pittsburgh in the wake of the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre, the White House confirmed today the president and first lady plan to visit the Steel City on Tuesday.

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders began the press conference by denouncing the act of violence that claimed the lives of 11 Jewish Americans in Pittsburgh.

“This atrocity was a chilling act of mass murder, it was an act of hatred and above all, it was an act of evil,” she said.

The president’s flight is scheduled to land at Pittsburgh International Airport at 3:45 p.m. Details about where and when the president will speak in Pittsburgh have not yet been released.

[Trump’s response to the Tree of Life Synagogue massacre shifted through the weekend before the White House announced his plans to visit Pittsburgh.]

The rabbi at Tree of Life Synagogue told CNN reporters he welcomes the president.

“The president of the United States is always welcome,” Rabbi Jeffrey Myers said. “I’m a citizen. He’s my president. He’s certainly welcome.”

In a statement to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh acknowledged the controversy over Trump’s planned visit, saying the organization had to support all of Jewish Pittsburgh.

“There are going to be people in the

and support to those affected by the shooting.

Rabbi Shmuli Rothstein, of Chabad at Pitt, offered insight into how the organization plans to move forward as a community.

“The most important part right now is creating the family atmosphere where everyone can feel united and together,” Rothstein said.

Many students, Jewish or not, have turned to Chabad House seeking comfort or looking for a place to help. Rothstein is encouraging positive energy and action.

“There is a mourning phase that needs to be respected. At the same time there is a strong powerful energy that can be harvested for bringing more light into this world,” Rothstein said.

Hillel Jewish University Center, an organization that encourages students to “pursue tzedek (social justice), Jewish learning, and to support Israel and global Jewish peoplehood,” is offering even more opportunities for action. President of Hillel Jewish University Center, Brian Burke, laid out the events that Hillel JUC has planned in

Pittsburghers woke up this morning to day three of a very different city — a city missing 11 residents who lost their lives in Saturday’s massacre at the Tree of Life Synagogue. The slains’ countless loved ones have only begun to walk through a period of grief and mourning. As members of the Pitt community, we can be active participants in healing this City — whether by donating a few dollars, a pint of blood or simply sitting with a hurting neighbor. Here are a few ways you can help.

Donating money You can give directly to the Tree of Life Synagogue, which is accepting donations on its website. Several other fundraisers on Facebook are also underway for organizations like HIAS — an immigrant aid society known for assisting in Jewish resettlement, which Robert Bowers, the suspected shooter, denounced online via his Gab social media account.

Pitt’s Challah for Hunger, an umbrella organization of Hillel Jewish University Center, is donating all funds from this Friday’s weekly challah bread sale to Tree of Life. On Monday, Challah for Hunger had already raised more than $2,600 — or 900 loaves of challah bread — through its “sponsor a challah” fundraiser. The fundraising form will be open through Thursday, which can be found at the Challah for Hunger - University of Pittsburgh Facebook page.

Donating Blood The American Red Cross will host a blood drive in the William Pitt Union on Friday from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students could register using the code “PITT” on their website for Friday’s

See Response on page 2

See Students on page 2

A Transylvanian performs “Rocky Horror Picture Show’s” opening dance in Bellefield Hall Monday night. Sarah Cutshall | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PITT COMMUNITY RESPONDS TO SYNAGOGUE SHOOTING Emily Drzymalski For The Pitt News

The sounds of sirens and phone alerts informed Pitt students of the active shooter situation happening a few neighborhoods over in Squirrel Hill at the Tree of Life Synagogue Saturday morning. In the wake of Saturday’s shooting, Pitt students and organizations are taking action.

After the shooting that claimed the lives of 11 individuals, Pitt students and organizations are still coming to terms with the tragedy. For many Jewish organizations on campus, this means offering additional support to its members. The Chabad House on Campus and Pitt Hillel are two Jewish groups helping Pitt students and the surrounding communities cope.

Chabad at Pitt is an organization that has been serving the Pitt Jewish community for almost 30 years. Their mission is to create a safe space to talk about Jewish values and ways of life. Since Saturday, the Chabad House has increased its efforts to be a welcoming and safe environment.

See Trump on page 2 They are providing professional counseling

News Trump, pg. 1

P i t t s burgh Jewish community who are very angry Trump is visiting, and there are going to be people who are very happy Trump is visiting. We are in the unusual position of representing all of Jewish Pittsburgh,” the statement read. “This is a moment where we’re all Americans.”

But others in Pittsburgh have already voiced their opposition to the president’s promise on Sunday to visit the City, which came hours after Trump suggested the incident wouldn’t have occurred if the synagogue had “armed guards,” and said at a campaign rally he considered cancelling the appearance due to a “bad hair day” rather than the Tree of Life incident.

“For the past three years your words and your policies have emboldened a growing white nationalist movement,” the open letter, written by the progressive Jewish organization Bend the Arc, read. “You yourself called the murderer evil, but yesterday’s violence is the direct culmination of your influence.”

The letter continued to list the Pittsburgh branch of Bend the Arc’s demands, including that Trump “fully denounce white nationalism,” “stop targeting and endangering all minorities,” “cease [his] assault on immigrants

Students, pg. 1 drive — though, as of Monday, it’s already full of registrants.

Receiving support for you or a friend Pitt’s Office of Human Resources has created several ways for students to receive support in the coming days. Professional from Life Solutions will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday for individual support. They can be found at the following two locations: UPMC MyHealth@Work Center, Medical Arts Building, 3708 Fifth Ave., Suite 505 Scaife Hall, 3550 Terrace St., Suite 401 The University will also hold a group support session for any Pitt faculty and staff from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. in the Good Room at the University Club on Wednesday, Oct. 31.

In a message to students and staff Monday, Chancellor Patrick Gallagher affirmed students’ and community members’ acts of service and

pittnews.com

and refugees” and “commit [himself] to compassionate, democratic policies that recognize the dignity of all of us.”

[Thousands gathered to mourn the 11 victims of the hate crime in one of America’s most deeply rooted Jewish communities.]

Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, who voiced disagreement with the president’s proposal of arming guards in places of worship, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he wants the White House to consult with the families of the victims before coming to Pittsburgh.

A group of Pittsburgh community members organized a protest of Trump’s visit, and

by Monday night more than 4,200 people had marked themselves as interested on Facebook.

Trump tweeted on Monday about the “great anger in our Country,” saying the “Fake News Media” is to blame. Sanders also criticized the media in the press conference, saying media outlets wrongly blamed the president for the events in Pittsburgh.

He then tweeted about an “excellent call” with Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right populist who was elected president of Brazil Monday morning. Bolsonaro is known to be an open supporter of dictatorships and leverages hate speech against the LGBTQ+ community, women and people of color. love to one another, acts that form the core of our University community — one that has, according to Gallagher, proven unshakable in the midst of tragedy. “… Communities under duress tend to react one of two ways. They either tip out or tip in. Communities that tip out are weakened by chaos … communities that tip in band together, bolstering their core and growing even stronger as a result,” Gallagher said. “The last 48 hours have led me to believe that in the aftermath of this horrific act, our community will tip decisively in. We will continue to come together, support one another and collectively reject hatred.”

Gallagher urged students to show up in the face of this tragedy, to offer their sympathy and helping hands in support and to engage in vigils and volunteer opportunities.

“When compounded,” Gallagher said, “these small and simple acts tell a powerful story.”

Response, pg. 1

Mourners placed flowers, notes and the front page of the Pittsburgh PostGazette, which lists each victim’s name outside Tree of Life Synagogue.

Brian Gentry | ONLINE VISUAL EDITOR r e sponse to Saturday’s shooting.

“We have a number of events this week that are being tailored around healing, honoring the memories of the victims, and spreading messages of hope and social justice, including Challah for Hunger baking, Shabbat services and dinner and our annual Hillel Makes A Difference Day of Service,” Burke said.

The Challah for Hunger bake will take place at the Hillel Center on Forbes Avenue, next to Starbucks, on Thursday. The Hillel Center will also host Hillel Make A Difference Day on Sunday, according to the Hillel Center’s website.

Non-Jewish campus organizations, like Pitt’s Student Government Board, have also offered their sympathy and services in the wake of the shooting.

SGB offered their sympathies with a public statement on Facebook on Saturday. They promoted several resources in a Facebook post, including different opportunities for counseling, which is something that Hillel JUC and Chabad on Campus is also offering.

“We stand with the Jewish community of Pittsburgh and we urge everyone to reach out to their loved ones during this difficult time,” the statement said.

SGB President Maggie Kennedy explained how SGB plans on aiding the affected communities in the future.

“We will continue to connect people to the different resources that Pitt offers, and we will continue to work with and support Student Affairs as they provide extra services for those

October 30, 2018

who need it,” Kennedy said.

SGB is encouraging students to partake in various activities to help those affected by the shooting. Their public statement, which Kennedy pointed to, lists different events and drives where students can show their solidarity.

SBG’s original Facebook post has been reposted with updates on different events and drives including a link for a GoFundMe fundraiser for the Tree of Life Synagogue, a link to a CBS Pittsburgh article with information about donating blood to victims and an update about counselor availability at the William Pitt Union on Monday.

Many non-Jewish students are lending their support and solidarity by taking part in vigils and conversation. Rachel Romac, a first-year English writing and psychology major, took the opportunity to attend the vigil at Soldiers and Sailors on Sunday night. Romac has family from Pittsburgh and grew up in the nearby town of Greensburg. She said she was struck by how high-profile the coverage was.

“I turned my TV on. I just had the local news on. I kept changing the channel just to see who was covering it,” Romac said.

She said it is important for students to be as supportive as possible towards one another during this trying time.

“Remember this is a fragile time for a lot of people and that they have different reactions.

Be respectful, loving, understanding and selfaware,” Romac said.

2

Opinions

column

PERSPECTIVE

HOW THE JEWISH COMMUNITY HOPES TO HEAL

Brian Gentry

Contributing Editor Daylight disappeared on a cold, rainy Saturday in Pittsburgh as thousands gathered outside Sixth Presbyterian Church in Squirrel Hill, only hours after a man took 11 innocent lives.

The Jewish community turned out in large numbers. Many wore yarmulkes and sang traditional prayers that called for healing and unity.

Some attendees lit their havdalah candles. These candles usually mark the end of Shabbat, but this Saturday, they symbolized the end of a tragic day for Jewish Pittsburgh and the hopeful beginning of a new one.

As Sunday arrived, the Jewish community mobilized further, holding another vigil in Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall. The building quickly filled and masses gathered outside for two hours, despite the rain.

The Jewish community has been strong in the face of such a horrific tragedy, a testament to its resilience and virtue. As community members mourn the loss of 11 of their family and friends, they look to heal their wounds.

This hope for healing reveals a dedication to their faith. Rather than shut the doors of their synagogues, closing off their community to the outside world, they’re keeping them wide open to promote acceptance and love.

DaVid Powell, a board member at a synagogue in Detroit, noted his congregation’s commitment to keeping the community open and free in the wake of the Tree of Life shooting.

“We have to go ahead and live our lives,” Powell told the Detroit Free Press.

This isn’t the first time a religious group has responded with the same type of love. When Dylann Roof shot and killed nine black people in the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, black churches in the area continued to be loving and open.

For example, when a white man walked into Campbell Chapel, a black church in Bluffton,

pittnews.com

Roger Day and Abby Resnick of Squirrel Hill join in singing a Hebrew song at the vigil mourning the lives lost in the Squirrel Hill synagogue shooting Saturday morning. Day and Resnick are Jewish but they are not currently affiliated with a synagogue. Anna Bongardino | VISUAL EDITOR Though this move is contentious even within South Carolina, on a Wednesday just a few weeks later, the church attendees were understandably the Jewish community, it would provide some anxious. Yet the chapel’s pastor, Reverend Jon Jewish people additional peace of mind during Black, let him attend the Bible study, despite the religious services. In Pittsburgh, police officers are general unease. In nearly every African Meth- already present at synagogues during the High odist Episcopal service, the church expresses its Holidays, and a similar presence at congregations would ease these fears. litany, “The doors of the Church are open.”

But most importantly, the Jewish community “So how do you do that on Sunday morning and close them on Wednesday night?” Black said. can heal through demonstrations of support and Jewish synagogues will remain as open as care by “bringing light” to the world, as Marcus they can while keeping the safety of congregants calls it. This concept of bringing spiritual light dein mind. Rabbi Shmuel Rothstein, the program rives from Kabbalah, a Jewish tradition, and only director of the Chabad House at Pitt, believes requires the spreading of love.

“Students are saying, ‘What action can I do?’” that healing will come through assurance that his community will be safe. He’s in favor of increased he said.

Rothstein is offering opportunities for stusecurity at places of worship, something synagogues across the country have already imple- dents to get involved. He believes that this action doesn’t have to be something political or somemented.

This is something Dan Marcus, the executive thing world-changing — it just has to be somedirector of Hillel Jewish University Center, agrees thing that brings light to the world. That’s why, with. Even prior to the tragedy, the JUC required in response to the violence, he started the 10,000 visitors to buzz in and sign in at the front desk — Lights program at the Chabad House, where he’ll this didn’t preclude anyone from visiting, but just keep track of 10,000 good deeds done by its members. served as an additional precaution.

“Darkness is only the absence of something “Safety and security of our students is always our priority and of paramount importance,” he positive,” Rothstein said.

And any action — something as small as a said.

October 30, 2018

friendly hello — can help illuminate this darkness.

Marcus has demonstrated his love by providing a place for Jewish people to feel safe. Over the weekend, the JUC became a safe place where dozens of students grieved. At next Friday evening’s Shabbat, he had already planned to have therapy pets — now, he knows they’re necessary.

This is something that Sophie Tannenbaum, a senior social work student at Pitt, is working on as well. She’s organizing Hillel Makes a Difference, an event taking place this Sunday, where students involved will perform direct acts of community service. On her list are the construction of an urban garden, a visit to a senior living facility by Jewish Greek life and the making of blankets for chemo patients at The Children’s Hospital.

This love isn’t limited to the Jewish community. Non-Jewish people can demonstrate their love, support and care for the community through the same types of actions. Marcus called the outpouring of love “a blessing.”

Other communities in Pittsburgh have demonstrated their love for the Jewish community. Some organizations within the MuslimAmerican community in Pittsburgh started an online fundraiser that has raised more than $150,000 for the Tree of Life Synagogue so far.

And at all of the vigils, including an interfaith one at Sixth Presbyterian Church, non-Jewish people turned out in large numbers.

This demonstration of support for the Jewish community is vital to keep Jewish expression open. Fortunately, Rothstein doesn’t think people’s practices of Judaism will be in any way inhibited by this tragedy. On the contrary, he hopes and believes that he’ll see more outward expressions of Judaism.

The Jewish community is still grieving. But its optimism will keep it thriving.

“Eleven lights were snuffed out,” Rothstein said.

And it’s up to all of us to bring more light back.

3

from the editorial board

Pittsburgh doesn’t welcome Trump in shooting aftermath President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump will be in Pittsburgh today following the mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue Saturday, which is likely the deadliest anti-Semitic attack in U.S. history. Trump is coming to perform his duty as consoler-in-chief — the only problem is that the Pittsburgh community doesn’t want him here.

In a strong show of solidarity, Pittsburghers and the Jewish community of Pittsburgh have rejected the idea of the president coming to mourn with them following the shooting. If the president had any respect for the victims and their families, he would stay away and allow them time to mourn without his heavily politicizing presence.

The president’s rhetoric since the shooting has been callous. In a time where unity is key to recovery, he’s taken to Twitter to attack the “Fake News” outlets which have blamed his divisive language for the current culture of violence in the United States and to denounce the caravan of migrants moving through Mexico.

During an interview on Fox News Monday night, the president was asked about his decision to carry on with a rally in Illinois just hours after the shooting. He defended the decision by saying that tragedies shouldn’t prevent events from happening.

“Rallies are meant to be fun,” he said. “Frankly, I think that’s the way it should be. You can’t let these people disrupt any more than they already have.”

But life has been irrevocably disrupted for victims, their families and community members, and this

pittnews.com

is something Trump should recognize. It’s this insensitive tone set by the president over the past couple of years that have prompted many to oppose a visit from him on Tuesday.

Members of Pittsburgh’s branch of Bend the Arc, a national Jewish organization for progressive Jews, released an open letter to the president on their website Sunday, which states that he will not be welcome in Pittsburgh in the wake of the shooting.

“President Trump,” the letter reads, “you are not welcome in Pittsburgh until you fully denounce white nationalism.”

This is in reference to the president’s refusal to denounce the antiSemitic and white supremacist ideals of those who marched on Charlottesville, Virginia, last year. The letter goes on to accuse him of targeting “people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities” with hateful speech.

More than 50,000 people have signed the letter — there seems to be a united front in Pittsburgh against the kind of rhetoric the president has spewed for years.

It’s typical for the president to visit communities in mourning following tragedies to foster feelings of national unity. However, this particular president’s presence in Pittsburgh has political implications that make a visit inappropriate under the circumstances.

Out of respect for the victims, their families and the City of Pittsburgh, the president should have kept his distance. We don’t need someone with his level of insensitivity to help us mourn.

The Pitt News SuDoku 10/30/18 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

October 30, 2018

4

Culture

Pitt service puppies smile on the runway pittnews.com

‘Rocky Horror’ survives cancellation scare pittnews.com

COMMUNITY RALLIES TOGETHER IN RESPONSE TO TREE OF LIFE TRAGEDY

Caroline Bourque Contributing Editor

Gabriel Kaufman has always worn his Judaism proudly — walking Pitt’s campus dressed in traditional clothing such as a kippah and tzitzit, and sometimes even a “Don’t Worry Be Jewish” T-shirt. In the wake of this weekend’s tragedy at the Tree of Life Synagogue, he doesn’t intend to change that.

“Just because one deranged man went into a synagogue and started shooting doesn’t mean I have to be afraid to be who I am,” he said. “If anything, I have to be a representative for the Jewish people and I have to show the outside world how great our culture really is.”

Kaufman — a senior finance and marketing major and former president of the Jewish student organization Chabad at Pitt — spent the hours following the shooting at candlelight vigils and emergency prayer sessions throughout campus.

As students and community members gathered to grieve and cope with the events of the past weekend, support for those affected by the shooting at Tree of Life has come mainly in the form of community action, which began in Pittsburgh and soon stretched across the globe.

Beginning in the hours directly following the shooting, blood donors showed up to donation centers at such high volume that providers had to turn individuals away at the door. According to Kristin Lane, the marketing lead for the community blood donation provider Vitalant, there was simply not enough space or resources to process each person for donation.

“We had so many generous people literally lined up outside the door to our donor centers, we simply did not have any way to accommodate them all,” Lane said. “But the most important part about that was we asked them to please, please come back and donate in the coming days and weeks.”

As a result of the high donor turnout, the Pittsburgh Penguins — for whom Vitalant is an official blood center partner — offered their ac-

pittnews.com

Pittsburgh community members leave flowers and notes outside the Tree of Life Synagogue, including a sign that says “praying” in Hebrew.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ROSALYN YANG

comodations at the PPG Paints Arena in downtown Pittsburgh for a “Pittsburgh Penguins Stronger Than Hate Blood Drive” on Monday, garnering more than 150 donors.

Back at Pitt, Emma Rose Shapiro — a senior chemistry major and GSWS minor and president of student group Challah For Hunger — spent the hours following the tragedy coordinating with her fellow club members to craft an initiative that would benefit those affected by the tragedy.

Pitt’s branch of Challah For Hunger, an international collegiate organization, meets on Thursday evenings to bake and braid the traditionally Jewish bread known as challah — often served on religious holidays and at Shabbat dinners. The group typically sells the bread every Friday in support of local hunger relief organizations, but created a new initiative this week to help support the victims of the shooting at Tree of Life.

Through social media, fellow student leaders and even camp friends across the country, Shapiro and fellow club members sent out an order form for customers to “Sponsor a Challah” to be sent to the Tree of Life Synagogue for its Shabbat dinners in the coming weeks. As of Monday evening, the group received orders for 1,191 loaves, raising $3,500 in sales and another $3,000 in donations for the Tree of Life Synagogue.

“It has a lot of symbolism,” Shapiro said.

“Joining the community like the different strands of the braids all coming together and just combining the tradition of Judaism with what we stand for is basically the essence of Challah For Hunger.”

As the order form made its way throughout the national Jewish community, another online campaign was taking a similar route — this one titled #Mitzvah4Pittsburgh, sponsored by the national Chabad on Campus organization.

October 30, 2018

As Kaufman explained it, there are 613 Mitzvahs, or moral deeds performed out of religious duty that outline the central tenants of the Jewish faith. On the page for the #Mitzvah4Pittsburgh campaign, individuals can pledge to do a good deed in honor of those who lost their lives at Tree of Life. The page now lists upwards of 2,500 Mitzvahs as of Monday evening — including everything from “Go to a Torah class” to “Call your parents.”

“When a situation like this happens, our goal is to make sure that people fight hate with acts of love and kindness,” Kaufman said.

“We’re big proponents of the idea that a little bit of light can dispel a lot of hate,” In a public Facebook post, Wasi Mohamed, the executive director of the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, shared a similar sentiment.

“As the Quran and Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) teach us, we will respond to evil with good,” Mohamed said in the post.

Mohamed expressed condemnation of the shooting on behalf of the Pittsburgh Muslim community, and extended condolences and support by sharing a fundraising campaign that has quickly gone viral online — raising more than $150,000 so far.

While the local community continues to grieve in Pittsburgh, vigils have cropped up in numerous cities across the nation. On social media, stories of tributes around the globe have made their way back to Pittsburgh — reaching as far as Paris, where the lights of the Eiffel Tower were turned off in tribute.

One particularly personal Facebook post referenced Jerry Rabinowitz, a late victim of the shooting and a former physician. Michael Kerr, the author of the post, said Rabinowitz treated him in a caring and indiscriminate manner for HIV during the height of the AIDS crisis.

“You will be remembered by me always,” Kerr said in the post.

5

Sports

Waiver Wire Weekly: Filling in the holes of Week 9 pittnews.com

TAKEAWAYS: PITT REMAINS CONSISTENTLY INCONSISTENT

Nick Carlisano Staff Writer

Pitt (4-4, 3-1 ACC) prevailed 54-45 over the Duke Blue Devils (5-3, 1-3 ACC) Saturday at Heinz Field. The win kept the Panthers in the running to win the ACC Coastal Division, despite an extremely difficult out-of-conference schedule and a loss to cellar-dweller North Carolina.

The most consistent thing about Pitt football this season is that the team is mostly inconsistent. A new addition to the offense, a sputtering defense that failed to match last week’s effort and a typical Kenny Pickett performance highlighted Saturday’s matchup.

Here are three takeaways from Pitt’s big win against the Blue Devils.

V’Lique Carter has a larger offensive role than expected First-year V’Lique Carter was a surprising standout Saturday in his first appearance this season. Carter rushed seven times for 137 yards and two scores, including a long gain of 62.

Carter, listed as a defensive back, has gotten practice reps as a scout-team running back. The first-year has been so impressive that he earned a role in the starting offense, which paid dividends for Pitt in its shoot-out against Duke.

Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson deserves credit for putting Carter’s blazing speed to use with play calls that got him in space. Both of Carter’s touchdowns and his 62-yard pickup came on plays to the outside of the field. Oftentimes coordinators try and utilize players in the wrong way, such as running a speedier, more agile player up the middle. But in this case, Watson gave Carter the perfect opportunities for his skill set, which was key for an offense that sometimes struggles to produce.

Carter certainly filled up the stat sheet, but he also passed the eye test with flying colors. The first-year routinely juked out defenders, shook off weak attempts at tackles and read his blocks perfectly to make big plays.

Head coach Pat Narduzzi kept it short and

pittnews.com

Junior receiver Maurice Ffrench completed two passes from sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett. Kaycee Orwig| STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER sweet in describing Carter’s sudden role in the should not be hanging 38 and 45 points on this defense. The majority of the points the defense offense.

“He’s fast,” Narduzzi said in the press confer- gave up in those two games came as a result of ence. “Obviously, he’ll get a few more carries next missed tackles, blown coverages and poor alignment. week.”

If the Panthers fix these bad habits, the dePitt’s defense has the chance to be good It looked as if the Panthers’ defense might fense will be one to be reckoned with. The unit have finally found its stride after last week’s loss to has shown it can make big plays, notching seven Notre Dame. Defensive coordinator Randy Bates interceptions and six recoveries on 12 forced and his squad halted the Notre Dame offense and fumbles so far. These plays have often come at key did essentially all they could to keep Pitt in the times in games. Senior safety and captain Dennis game. After this week’s display against Duke, last Briggs forced a fumble at Pitt’s own 11-yard line this past week, which kept Duke from putting week is looking more like the outlier.

However, each poor defensive performance more points on the board at the end of the first continually shows that Pitt’s leaky defense just half and ultimately might have been the difference in the game. needs to plug up a few small holes.

If the offense thrives like it did Saturday, it will Every week, Pitt’s defense commits mistakes that are usually quite fixable. Missed tackles and be up to the defense to make or break this season. blown coverages are common occurrences that With Virginia and Virginia Tech — the two teams result in long scores or in long gains that set up ahead of Pitt in the ACC Coastal Division — on easy scores. All these defensive troubles contrib- deck the next two weeks, the true test for Bates uted to Duke’s monstrous offensive output Satur- and his squad’s spirit still lies ahead.

Pickett still might not be the answer, but he day.

The major takeaway is that the defense isn’t could be an answer Sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett’s unalways getting burnt because they’re athletically outmatched. Sure, Penn State and UCF were inspiring season mostly continued against Duke. superior teams, but teams like UNC and Duke Pickett passed for only 150 yards on eight out of

October 30, 2018

18 attempts, with half his production coming on two completions to junior receiver Maurice Ffrench.

This has been a trend for him, as Pickett still hasn’t topped 200 yards and his weekly output usually comes on a big play or two.

Against Duke, the plays Pickett did make were spectacular. He read the defense perfectly on his 30-yard touchdown, a run-pass option where the defensive end committed to the tailback. Both of Pickett’s TD connections to Ffrench were perfect balls, especially the game-winner.

While Pickett has had a mostly slow year, the sophomore has made big plays at times. He has three rushing TDs this year and has shown a knack for getting it going on the ground when he has nothing through the air.

And while he might not be the gun-slinging savior fans hoped for, that doesn’t mean he can’t contribute to an offense that thrived on creativity this week. The Panthers could attempt to recruit a better passing quarterback while still utilizing Pickett in a smaller role to throw off defenses.

Essentially all of the Panthers’ running game will be gone after this year with the departure of Qadree Ollison and Darrin Hall. Carter looked good this week, but one good game doesn’t prove much. What better way to add some flair to the offense than to use Pickett as a wildcat QB of sorts?

Now, there’s a slim chance this would ever happen. Most quarterbacks don’t take kindly to being relegated to a smaller role. Ben DiNucci sure didn’t. Pitt also doesn’t seem like the type to use a dual-QB approach.

But there’s no denying it could be successful.

Defenses would have to respect both aspects of Pickett’s game. Run him a few times, and opponents assume that’s what his role is. Then, when they overplay the run, he is still a good enough passer that he can make plays with his arm.

For now, we’ll just have to endure Pickett’s hohum, 145-yard games. Next year, though, they may be a lot less bearable without Ollison and Hall to keep the offense afloat.

6

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

For Rent South Oakland **2, 3, 4, 5, 6 Bed­room Houses/ Apart­ments in South Oak­land. Available for rent August 2019.

Very clean with dif­ferent amenities (dishwasher, A/C, washer and dryer, 1‑3 baths, off‑street parking, newer ap­ pliances & sofas).

Check out my Face­ book page: https:­// www.facebook.­com/ KenEckenrode­ RealEstate/. Call Ken at 412‑287‑4438 for more informa­ tion and showings or email name, phone number, desired number of bed­ rooms, and anything else you want in housing to kenshous­ ing@gmail.com. **AUGUST 2019: Furnished studios, 1,2,3,4 bedroom apartments. No pets.

Non‑smokers pre­ ferred. 412‑621‑0457.

1,2,3 and larger bed­ room available 2019 Central, and South Oakland (central air, dish­ washer, washer dryer included) 412‑551‑0094 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 BR apartments available May & August 2019.

South Oakland, North Oakland, and South­

pittnews.com

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

side on Bouqet St., Meyran Ave., At­wood St., North Neville St., and Sarah St. Call 412‑287‑5712 2 br apt South Oak­ land. $1,095/mo + electric.

New kitchen, bal­cony, and A/C Call 412‑6661‑6622 2‑3‑4‑5‑6‑7 bedroom apartments and houses available in May and August 2019. 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 3‑bed room available immediatley $1,495 central air dishwasher laundry 256 N Craig street 412‑271‑5550 3436 Ward Spacious 2‑Bed room, 1 bath equipped kitchen $1,195 + electric, heat included 412‑271‑5550 4 BR HOME ‑ SEM­ PLE STREET, LO­ CATED NEAR LOU­ ISA. EQUIPPED KITCHEN, FULL BASEMENT. NEW CENTRAL AIR ADDED. AVAIL­ ABLE IMMEDI­ ATELY AND RENT­ING FOR MAY AND AUGUST 2019.

(412) 343‑4289 or 412‑330‑9498.

6,7&8 bedroom hous­ es available start­ing

Classifieds

For sale

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

services

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

August 1st 2019. Five minute walk to Pitt.

Call 412‑983‑5222.

Apartments for rent.

2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments avail­ able. Some available on Dawson Street, At­wood Street, and Mc­kee Place. Newly re­modeled. Some have laundry on site.

Min­utes from the Univer­sity. For more info please call Mike at 412‑849‑8694 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.

Huge 5BR apartment in Panther Hollow.

Close to universi­ ties. Laundry and dish­washer. Large deck. $1,900/mo. plus utili­ties. Contact gbazz­i7@gmail.com North / South O Houses and Apart­ ments with Laundry and Central Air Call 412‑38‑Lease Oakland ‑ various South Oakland loca­ tions. Oakland Ave ‑ 2 BD/1 BA, hard­wood floors, free heat, avail­ able Au­gust 1, 2019.

S. Bou­quet ‑ 2 BD/1 BA available May 1.

Ward St. ‑ studio, 1, 2, 3 BD. Free park­ing, free heat, avail­able August 1, 2019. Call 412‑361‑2695 Oakland house spa­ cious two and a half story, living room, dining room, eating

notices

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

equipped kitchen, 5 bedrooms two baths, front and rear porch, yard. $2,000 +utili­ties 412‑321‑6282

Shadyside Shadyside: 1Bed­ room‑available now.

EXCELLENT LOCA­ TION ‑ Summerlea St. Fully equipped kitchen, A/C, wall‑to‑wall carpeting.

Near Pitt shuttle bus stop. Between Walnut Street and Ellsworth shopping districts.

No pets, no smoking. $840. Rent includes heat. 412‑628‑1686.

Southside August 2019 avail­able 3 and 5 bedroom house. New kitchen, AC, 2 new bath­ rooms, washer and dryer, and dish­washer.

1508 Sarah St. Call 412‑287‑5712

Employment Employment Other Part‑Time Job: Earn up to $200 a day driv­ ing and hanging out with senior citizens.

Apply here: https:­// www.fountain.com/­ papa‑technologies/ ap­ply/pittsburgh‑pa­ pa‑pal Receptionist wanted

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

‑ Fox Chapel Golf Club. Perfect for stu­dents! Part‑time posi­tion evenings and weekends. Excellent communication skills and proficiency in MS Office. $10/hr.

Please contact Jenna at jschmidt@fox­ chapelgolfclub.com

accept­ing applications

THE CARLTON

Friday after 1:30

for Serving Assis­

tants. We are seeking friendly, organized

and reliable appli­cants to work in an upscale dining envi­ronment.

Please ap­ply in person Monday through

RESTAURANT

Lo­cated in the One

BNY Mellon Center, 500 Grant Street is

The Pitt news crossword 10/30/18

I N D E X

Rentals & Sublet

October 30, 2018

7

pittnews.com

October 30, 2018

8