The Pitt News
The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | october 11, 2017 | Volume 108 | Issue 44
DEAN SPEAKS ON STUDENT DEATH AT SGB Madeline Gavatorta Staff Writer While it’s common at Student Government Board meetings to hear from students, Associate Dean of Students Steve Anderson took the opportunity to address the recent death of Pitt junior Alina Sheykhet at Tuesday night’s meeting. “I just wanted to obviously take a short minute here to acknowledge what happened this weekend, the tragic passing of Alina,” Anderson said. “If you see something, say something. Speak up. Don’t hesitate to reach out.” SGB did not make a statement at the meeting after consulting with the dean prior to the start of Tuesday’s meeting. “I just didn’t feel comfortable with an ongoing investigation to kind of bring it up,” SGB President Max Kneis said in an interview after the meeting. “[Anderson] and I agreed that he would be the best person in the room to speak upon it.” The board also announced an initiative where they will give students a slice of pizza if they call lawmakers to pressure them to pass a state budget and approve Pitt’s state funding. SGB President Max Kneis said Pitt was promised $150 million by the state government back in June. But the Pennsylvania House has yet to pass a revenue package, which the government must pass before funding Pitt. Kneis said a phone banking event will be held this week on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in front of the WilSee SGB on page 3
Heather Marlowe performs an autobiographical, one-woman play about the story of her sexual assault at Frick Fine Arts auditorium for Pitt’s Mental Health Awareness Month. Isabelle Glatts STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
ex-boyfriend charged with homicide, still missing John Hamilton Managing Editor The attorney representing Matthew Darby — a 21-year-old for whom the police have charged with homicide in connection to the death of a Pitt student — called for his client to turn himself in during a press conference Tuesday. David Shrager spoke to his client through members of the media gathered in his office, reading a statement from Darby’s parents telling their son to cooperate with the
police. Shrager said Darby doesn’t have the resources or education to evade law enforcement and asked him to turn himself in “before something bad happens.” “Please turn yourself in before this escalates,” Shrager said. “Your family is behind you and will help you.” Darby’s ex-girlfriend, Pitt junior Alina Sheykhet, was found dead in what authorities called a homicide. Police charged Darby Tuesday with homicide, burglary, flight to avoid apprehension, and possession of instruments of crime and theft, according to
Allegheny County court records. Sheykhet had a protection from abuse order against Darby, filed after he was charged with breaking into her apartment Sept. 21. Shrager said there is an arrest warrant out for Darby for violating that restraining order. Shrager said neither he nor Darby’s parents know his whereabouts or what condition he is in. Shrager read a statement from Darby’s parents to open the 12-minute press conference. See Press Conference on page 3