11-17-21

The Pitt News

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 | november 17, 2021 ­| Volume 112 | Issue 45

Hillman archives......see pg. 2 Volleyball outlook...see pg. 6

Cover by Romita Das | Senior Staff Photographer

News

Town hall highlights culture, history of Indigenous nations pittnews.com

Pitt Archives document many areas of western Pennsylvania history

Donata Massimiani Staff Writer

From 18th-century handwritten documents by George Washington to a complete set of John James Audubon’s “Birds of America,” Pitt’s Archives and Special Collections has thousands of valuable items documenting western Pennsylvania history.

“We have somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,200 different archival collections,” Ed Galloway, associate University librarian for Archives and Special Collections, said. “Some of those range from a box, some of those range up to 500 or 1,000 boxes, it all depends on the collection.”

Pitt’s Archives and Special Collections are located on the third floor of Hillman Library and open to Pitt students, researchers and

members of the public as long as they have a valid ID and schedule an appointment. The collections range across a wide variety of topics that document the work of different organizations, individuals and businesses.

Besides its physical Hillman location, the University Library System has a digital collections webpage where some collections can be viewed. Galloway said a very “small percentage” of the collections are available digitally, but ULS is working to upload more. Some documents available digitally include several hundred 19th- and 20th-century theatre programs and photographs from early Pitt theatre.

“We have three full-time technicians who do nothing but scan, do quality control and other related tasks,” Galloway said. “That’s amazing, three full-time, and yet it’s still no-

Students walk by the Hillman Library. Romita Das senior staff photographer where near what we have physically, just because of how long it takes to scan and do that type of work.”

Galloway said the “vast majority” of collections are donated, although ULS has the ability to purchase items or collections that are within its budget. ULS recently acquired the George Romero collection, which Galloway said caused ULS to start collecting “as much as they can” surrounding horror. The August Wilson collection is another recent acquisition ULS has had for a little more than a year.

“They come to us through families, estates, building relationships with people, often businesses that go defunct or organizations that no longer exist,” Galloway said. “In some cases, if we really want a whole collection or just a rare book being sold at an auction, we have to buy it.”

Megan Massanelli, an engagement and outreach librarian with Archives and Special Collections, said archive faculty members work with Pitt professors to determine if there are any materials they have on hand that may aid in class instruction. Massanelli said they work with “anywhere between 30 and 40” classes each semester.

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November 17, 2021

“We recently worked with an English composition class focused on the narratives of doctors, doctoring in history and popular culture,” Massanelli said. “We pulled examples from our popular culture collection of comic books that feature doctors and some old 19th-century medical texts so students could spend time handling those primary sources.”

One of the “main components” of the archives and special collections is the Curtis Theatre Collection, according to William Daw, the collection’s curator. Daw said the collection started in the 1950s by Dr. Ford Curtis and his wife, Harriet, both faculty of Pitt’s English department at the time.

“When they retired they decided to spend their retirement amassing more materials relating to theatre,” Daw said. “They traveled to Europe and put advertisements in the paper asking people to clean out their closets for programs, posters and everything under the sun.

Once they started to arrange that material they donated it to the library and Dr. Curtis became the first curator for the collection.”

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Opinions Skin bleaching products are

What your favorite song from Red (Taylor’s Version) says about you pittnews.com

harmful to the Black community

Ashanti McLaurin Staff Columnist

When I was younger, I saw my first skin whitening cream at my grandmother’s house.

At the time I didn’t know what that cream was or did, but I just remember seeing my grandmother use it daily with a look of satisfaction spread across her face. She praised having and wanting a lighter skin tone, while degrading the skin tone she already had.

Recently, I remembered her using the cream and praising the product. So, I decided to rewatch videos on skin bleaching — why it's popular, the financial expenses and the health dangers of doing this procedure. I’ve always wondered — why aren’t these products banned? Why do these products make a lot of money? What makes people use them? So, I looked deeper into the world of skin whitening that my grandmother had so much praise for.

What is skin whitening?

Skin whitening, also known as skin bleaching, is a cosmetic procedure that aims to lighten dark areas of skin or achieve a generally paler skin tone. For Black people, this industry is not only harmful to us emotionally, physically and financially, but also mentally as it perpetuates colorism by continuing the stereotype that having a dark skin tone is seen as monstrous and unattractive.

Why would someone want to change their skin tone?

In the Black community, terms like lightskin, brownskin and darkskin are used to differentiate skin tones when either describing someone or discriminating against someone.

This is also known as colorism. Colorism is the prejudice or discrimination, especially within a racial or ethnic group, of favoring people with lighter skin over those with darker skin.

Colorism dates back to the beginning of American slavery, when masters would use skin tone to determine whether a Black person was fit to work in the house or on the

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fields. Some instances of colorism include discrimination from job offerings or the infamous Brown Paper Bag Test, which was a practice used to determine acceptability and privileges for Black people by placing it beside one’s face — if one was lighter or the same complexion as the bag, then they would be accepted, and someone darker than the bag would not.

Who uses skin bleaching products?

According to The Conversation, women of color spent $8.6 billion on skin whitening creams and products in 2020, with $2.3 billion spent in the United States alone. Skin whitening is a cosmetic industry that grosses high revenue from its products, promotions and commercials. The Borgen Project explains how in Nigeria, 77% of women use and purchase skin bleaching creams. It's also used in countries like South Korea and India.

The phenomenon of wanting a lighter skin tone is heavily prevalent in countries in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. The Washington Post noted a 2017 survey conducted by the Jamaican government which found that out of the country’s population of 2.8 million, 300,000 people bleach their skin. A Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey from 2018 found that 12.5% of Jamaican men use skin whitening products, compared to 8.8% of women.

As a Jamaican-American, I have been in contact with this industry and these products from a young age. Although I never used or touched any whitening products, the obsession with skin bleaching and wanting a lighter skin tone has been praised by the Jamaican side of my family. I love my Jamaican heritage, and I learned to love my skin tone later in my life, but it’s upsetting seeing others not have that same love for something they cannot control.

Where are skin bleaching products considered illegal?

Although countries like Japan, Australia and Ghana are banning and regulating skin whitening creams because of certain

drugs and chemicals used, they are still largely used and widely bought across the world. The industry is projected to gross around $12.3 billion by 2027.

What are your thoughts about skin bleaching?

Melanin comes in different shades of skin tone and skin bleaching shouldn’t be the answer when dealing with colorism. These products are extremely harmful not only physically and financially, but mentally, perpetuating the notion that dark skin is not beautiful.

People equate skin tone with beauty and say that beauty is subjective, but skin tone shouldn't be a factor when determining that.

Ashanti McLaurin primarily writes about Black culture, human injustices and gives life advice. Write to her at azm18@pitt.edu.

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Culture Wicked Pie, PA Taco Co.

open in WPU to mixed receptions

Staff Writer

After a long wait, two new restaurants in the William Pitt Union replaced the Pizza Hut and Taco Bell locations. They incorporate vegan and vegetarian styling, while keeping with the pizza and taco theme.

Wicked Pie and PA Taco Co. opened in the WPU’s Schenley Cafe food court on Nov. 2. The restaurants are founded on the idea of the “local” concept, according to Mallory Susser, the Pitt Eats restaurants director. This allows the establishments more creativity in their recipes and menu options.

“Sourcing local and using local vendors give us better control over supply chain issues. Local vendors are more flexible and reliable in our fluctuating needs throughout the semester,” Susser said. “We share the campus calendar and provide regular updates, so our farmers and local partners are able to better prepare for and provide an abundance of fresh, delicious ingredients.”

Wicked Pie, a pizza restaurant, provides its customers with a variety of specialty toppings and doughs. The pies are cooked for 90 seconds in a turbo fire, convection style oven, which maintains the convenience of fast food. The pies are individually made and incorporate vegan and vegetarian options, including vegan pepperoni, cauliflower dough and vegan dough.

Susser said a top seller on the menu among students so far has been the Goat & Herb pizza.

“One of our most popular signature pizzas has been the Goat & Herb pizza at Wicked Pie. It features a boursin goat and herb cheese base and topped with our shredded Italian blend, arugula, bruschetta and balsamic glaze,” Susser said.

Anirudh Nangunoori, a first-year biology major, said he was intrigued by the new dining opportunities at Wicked Pie. “It was brand new and I wanted to try it out.

I ordered a plain cheese pizza and water with my meal exchange,” Nangunoori said. “The size of the pizza was pretty good, it was a thinner crust alternative to other pizza places.”

Nangunoori said he felt that because Wicked

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Pie just opened, they still have some kinks to work out with their quality of food.

“The pizza was not bad, it was their first day open. I am a vegetarian, and they had standard options and some pretty good veggie options for me,” Nangunoori said. “However, the dough around the edges was really thick but thin towards the center, it was an uneven chewing experience and kind of soggy.”

As a first-year student on a meal plan, Nangunoori said he was also disappointed by the meal exchange value.

“The meal exchange only comes with a plain cheese pizza. Toppings are extra, and specialty pizzas are all full-priced and on the more expensive side,” Nangunoori said. “At the Perch, you get pizza with one topping and with a choice of sauces. Plus the dough there is the best I’ve ever had.”

Nangunoori said he still has optimism that, in time, these establishments will continue to get better in service and value as they gain more experience in the Schenley Cafe.

“I would like to go back once they’ve been around longer and are more established, to try some specialty options and get a better opinion. I have hope it will turn around,” Nangunoori said.

Next to Wicked Pie is PA Taco Co. The restaurant’s menu utilizes homemade sauces and corn tortillas, with halal-certified beef and vegan options, combined into a cultural street taco. With a meal exchange, students can get two tacos of any type.

“PA Taco Co offers local Jubilee Hilltop proteins, such as barbacoa, which is halal-certified, pollo asado, al pastor and a breaded avocado. All proteins are prepared on a street taco with housemade slaw and sauces,” Susser said. “We will be expanding and adding to the menus next semester, providing even more mouthwatering options to choose from.”

T.J. McCloskey, a sophomore supply chain and marketing major, said the intricate graffiti decoration outside caught his attention.

“What drew me in was the graffiti on the front of the store. Really pops out and catches your eye. I was like, ‘Whoa, that's cool,’" McClo-

skey said.

McCloskey said he was satisfied with his order and size portions of the food, and had a pleasant interaction with the workers.

“I got three tacos, two with chicken and one with pork and pineapples. They were all big and filling too, just how I like it,” McCloskey said.

“Overall, I definitely recommend it. The food was good and the workers were nice.”

Students who choose to use their meal exchange get two tacos.

The Pitt Eats team and Pitt community members developed PA Taco Co. and Wicked Pie in February. According to Susser, the goal of these new locally inspired establishments is to better match the needs and trends of today's college students.

“The development of the concepts began in

February 2021 with a thorough market analysis of pizza and tacos in the area,” Susser said. “The marketing research identified trends in the food categories, such as toppings and ingredients, what is popular among college-aged students and the Pittsburgh area.”

According to Susser, Pitt Eats is content with their opening so far and their impact on the dining on campus, providing students meal plans with multiple food options.

“When it comes to taste, variety and flexibility of offerings on campus, Wicked Pie and PA Taco Co. help to diversify and provide value to students on a meal membership,” Susser said.

“We are pleased with the initial response to both new locations, and look forward to building on their opening success.”

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Sports

ACC Coastal Division scenarios pittnews.com

Pitt volleyball’s roadmap to hosting an NCAA regional Richie Smiechowski Staff Writer

The 2021 NCAA Division I Women’s Volleyball tournament is just around the corner and the No. 3 Panthers (24-2, 13-2 ACC) are still very much in control of their own destiny.

After the conclusion of the regular season, the NCAA uses a rankings committee to determine tournament seedings and the top four ranked teams host one of the four regional rounds. The winner of each region will earn a spot in the tournament semifinals, which is why it is crucial that Pitt stays in the conversation to host one of these regional tournaments.

Unfortunately for Pitt, the ACC championship seems to be out of reach. Although the Panthers haven’t been mathematically eliminated from contention, No. 1 Louisville (24-0, 14-0

ACC) will have the final say in who takes the conference title. They made history last week, becoming the first ACC team in conference history to earn a No. 1 ranking in the AVCA coaches poll.

Assuming that the Cardinals avoid a cataclysmic collapse over their final four games of the regular season, they will most likely win the

would be fatal to the Panthers’ regional host hopes. Not only would they have five losses on the season, but they’d fall to No. 5 in the ACC, behind tournament hopefuls Georgia Tech (214, 12-3 ACC), Miami (21-4, 12-3 ACC) and Florida State (19-6, 11-4 ACC).

While unlikely, losing out isn’t impossible — two of the Panther’s final three games are against

Serena Gray (21) celebrates during the Panther volleyball game vs. UVA at the Fitzgerald Field House on Sept. 29. Hannah Wilson staff photographer

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ACC regular season title and hold their No. 1 ranking going into the NCAA Tournament.

Even with a potential loss on the road against Pitt, one defeat shouldn’t mar their reputation in the eyes of the rankings committee.

The most realistic goal for the Panthers at this point would be to host an NCAA regional tournament. With just three games remaining on their schedule, they’ve put themselves in an outstanding position to finish the season strong and lock themselves into the top four.

Here are each of the hypothetical scenarios the Panthers could experience over the next two weeks.

0-3 | Bumped out of top four Losing their last three games of the season

Georgia Tech and Louisville. Both teams have already dealt Pitt a loss this year and each will be looking to solidify their resume with the committee over the next two weeks.

Luckily for the Panthers, they will also face Clemson (12-15, 3-12 ACC), who they dismantled with ease earlier this year. Pitt has managed to avoid any embarrassing upsets this season but with the pressure on, no game against an ACC opponent will be without drama.

In the event that Pitt does drop all three games, they certainly won’t miss the tournament. But they’ll most likely drop towards the tail end of the committee’s top-10 rankings.

1-2 | Still in the hunt Surprisingly, a win against Clemson then

November 17, 2021

two losses to Georgia Tech and Louisville would still leave the Panthers in a position to host a regional. Each of their losses would come to teams ranked in the top 15, and only four of the other top-10 teams have fewer than four losses.

Realistically, a one-loss BYU team or a three-loss Big Ten Champion Wisconsin are the only teams that could knock a four-loss Pitt team out of the top four. But each of those two teams are on the outside looking in, as BYU’s one loss came to Pitt earlier this season and the Badgers have a very tough schedule to end the season.

Another thing working in Pitt’s favor is their Ratings Performance Index ranking. The ranking takes both performance and strength of schedule into account and has adored not only Pitt, but the entire ACC all season. Pitt held the No. 1 spot in the rankings for much of the season and only just dropped to No. 2 behind Louisville. Georgia Tech finds itself at No. 6 while both Florida State and Miami are ranked in the top 15.

The committee in previous years has relied heavily on the RPI rankings in their decisionmaking. If they continue to do so, the committee will favor Pitt over both BYU and Wisconsin, even with four losses.

2-1 | In the driver’s seat Two wins and one loss to either Georgia Tech or Louisville would all but seal Pitt’s bid to host a regional tournament. Three losses — considering how tough their schedule is — should keep them in the top four, possibly moving up to the No. 3 or No. 2 spot.

Another loss likely won’t hurt the Panthers in the RPI rankings. Who the Panthers play after clinching a top four position doesn’t make much of a difference — they’ve proven this year they can beat top-10 teams this year.

Perhaps the one team outside the top four who would give the Panthers their most challenging test would be conference foe Georgia Tech — who managed to beat Pitt at Fitzgerald Field House earlier this year.

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