The Pitt News T h e in de p e n d e n t st ude nt ne w spap e r of t he University of Pittsburgh
October 7, 2015 | Issue 37 | Volume 106
SGB STUDENTS QUESTION PITT’S PLAN SWEARS IN NINTH MEMBER
Lauren Wilson Staff Writer
Four months after the position became available — and one month into the school year — Robert Tessier has filled the empty seat at Pitt Student Government Board’s table. Deferring most individual board member and committee reports for a week, SGB spent a majority of Tuesday’s weekly meeting filling its empty seat. After two rounds of public interviews and private deliberations, the Board voted unanimously to fill its open position. The Board swore in Tessier, a senior neuroscience and sociology major, after its vote. “We think you’ll be a great asset,” Board President Nasreen Harun said. Tessier will start working on the Board effective immediately. Before the Board’s announcement, the five candidates endured public interviews in front of the eight sitting Board members, about 20 other students and SGB committee members in the William Pitt Union’s Nordy’s Place. The Board interviewed each of the five applicants — Tessier, Kaitlyn Pendrak, Harry O’Byrne, See SGB on page 1
Pitt administrators speak at Tuesday’s forum. Meghan Sunners| Senior Staff Photographer
Lauren Rosenblatt Assistant News Editor
Students said they came for answers and received a sales pitch at the University’s open student forum Tuesday. On Tuesday, Oct. 6, Pitt hosted an Open Student Forum from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the William Pitt Union Ballroom as an opportunity for students to express concerns about the University’s “Plan for Pitt” for 2016-2020. Approximately 60 students suggested changes and asked questions to a panel of team members the Chancellor organized to enact the plan. Although Raghav Sharma had a chance to
speak, he didn’t feel that University heard his voice. “It seemed to me that this was an attempt by the University to say they addressed our concerns,” Sharma said. “But in reality, it was a place for us to talk at the University and not be heard.” David DeJong, vice provost for academic planning and resources management, spent the first half-hour summarizing the plan for students before opening the floor to student questions. DeJong outlined the five main goals in the plan of advancing educational excellence, engaging in research of impact, strengthening
communities, building foundational strengths and embracing diversity and inclusion. DeJong said the plan has been a work in progress since last year. Last February, the planning team started engaging with students, administration, alumni and local community leaders to decide on which points of concern the plan should focus. “We are never going to say, ‘Here is the final plan.’ We are never going to etch it in stone,” DeJong said. “We want [the plan] to [change] in response to the input we receive and the landscape as it changes.” The planning team held the forum in See Forum on page 2