11-28-2016

The Pitt News

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | November 28, 2016 | Volume 107 | Issue 84

NO TIME TO TALK In the recent past, students seeking mental health services at Pitt have experienced waitlists, conflicting information and a lack of psychiatric care. Now the counseling center is changing — will it make a difference? story on page 2

News

On the cover: Top to bottom — Jake Sternberg, Anna Shaw and Tallon Kennedy Photos by Katie Krater, Stephen Caruso and courtesy of Tallon Kennedy Cover design by Elaina Zachos and Stephen Caruso

what’s going on with

Pitt’s Counseling center

by Rachel Glasser and Tristan Dietrick

K

elchis Radziewicz had struggled with underlying anxiety before, but after losing a close friend to suicide just before her first year at Pitt, she realized she couldn’t cope with the grief on her own.

“It was becoming unmanageable,” said Radziewicz, a junior English literature and English writing double major. “I realized that dealing with it on my own was not working.”

Radziewicz decided her best option at Pitt was to go to the University Counseling Center — a service that roughly 10 percent of Pitt students, or about 2,800 students, use per year. She had an overall positive experience at the Center, but, like many others, dealt with long wait times.

And, when she decided to seek psychiatric care this year, her counselor told her that this was no longer an option at Pitt.

“I had to go through the process of finding [an outside] psychiatrist that would accept me and my insurance. I had to wait several weeks [for an appointment], and I’m still waiting,” Radziewicz said. “It would’ve made the process a lot simpler if I’d been able to see someone through the University.”

The loss of both psychiatrists — most recently Dr. John Brooks, who left in October — is just one of several changes that have taken place since Radziewicz’s first visit to the Counseling Center in the fall of 2014.

After years of long wait times — a problem that’s affected counseling centers at schools across the country — the departure of both psychiatrists and the second installment of Pitt’s mental health week, the Counseling Center instituted new policies in the summer of 2016, most of which went into effect this fall.

Students are now permitted a maximum of eight counseling sessions per academic year as

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opposed to the previously unlimited sessions — although group sessions remain unlimited.

This is based on Pitt’s data that shows students utilize an average of four sessions per academic year. Despite the individual counseling session limit, students can now schedule a session once per week, while the previous policy allowed sessions only once every two weeks.

Additionally, four counselors are now available to respond immediately to students who walk-in or call by phone. The Center has also quickened its initial assessment process, transitioning from scheduled appointments to immediate screenings.

The changes are designed to make the Center more accessible to a larger number of students, according to Ed Michaels, who Jake Sternberg, who first visited the Counseling Center in fall 2015, said he was was hired last year as the Center’s director. told his needs would best be met by an outside mental health professional.

Michaels decided on many of the changes in Katie Krater STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER conjunction with Vice Provost and Dean of But the lapse in hiring has shocked both Gender Studies and Women’s Studies triple maStudents Kenyon Bonner. jor has had difficulty finding an affordable op- students and other mental health professionals.

But due to the University’s failure to hire a tion outside of the University to continue their Kenneth Thompson, a psychiatrist in Pittsburgh new psychiatrist and a lack of available informaand the former president of the Pittsburgh Psyprescription. tion on updates to treatment, some students are Marian Vanek, director of Student Health chiatric Society, said he is astonished the Univerwary that the Center isn’t changing for the better.

Service, said all students receiving medications sity has been unable to hire a new psychiatrist in “I don’t think, in any way, that anyone at the have made or can make plans with Student six months.

Counseling Center or anyone in [the] adminis“Often psychiatrists like being in places Health Service and the Counseling Center to tration is doing anything out of bad intent, and I ensure they have access to their prescriptions where they’re at the cutting edge of scientific rethink that they’re working with what they can,” through appointments with medical doctors in search in their field,” Thompson said. “It’s quite said junior psychology and gender, sexuality Student Health or providers in the community. striking that the University of Pittsburgh — and women’s studies double major Anna Shaw.

The University has not officially hired a new which has a very, very, very famous department “But we also have to be critical of what is happsychiatrist yet but has been looking for a re- of psychiatry in it — is unable to find psychiapening and try to do our best.” placement since the first departure of a Counsel- trists. It’s the last thing you’d expect.”

More counselors, no psychiatrists Michaels said the University is working with ing Center psychiatrist — Dr. Patricia PasseltinBefore leaving Pitt, Brooks prescribed junior er — in May. Recently, Vanek said there are at both the department of psychiatry and UPMC, Tallon Kennedy four refills on their medication least two potential candidates who are “showing as well as the Allegheny Health Network, in that would last the until the end of December. some interest to join Student Health, at least for its recruitment efforts. According to Vanek, This means Kennedy now has one refill left. though, the University has had difficulty finda limited basis.”

The English literature, English writing and

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ing a replacement in part because the salary it can offer is lower than what the psychiatrists could find in different settings. The salary Pitt is offering is to be determined, according to PittSource.

“It’s the same challenge that I face when I’m hiring one of my physicians,” Vanek said about the University’s budget restrictions. “We cannot offer the same salary structure that exists in private practice or in a hospital setting.”

In Pennsylvania, the average yearly salary for a psychiatrist is $178,440, according to data collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2015. In contrast, the national average was about $15,000 higher at $193,680 a year.

Kennedy, whose insurance doesn’t cover their medication and who is unsure of whether insurance would cover psychiatric services in the community, said their family doesn’t have a lot of disposable income, which makes future treatment uncertain.

“For me to possibly be taken off of that medication in about a month here is pretty scary,” Kennedy said.

How did we get here?

In some ways, the issues at Pitt’s Counseling Center follow trends in mental health care seen at universities across the country. In a 20142015 Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors Annual Survey, which Pitt took part in, 11 percent of directors reported losing professional clinical or psychiatric staff members over the course of the year.

The demand for services at Pitt’s Counseling Center has doubled this fall compared to last, according to its website. The average demand for counseling center services at 93 colleges in the United States grew five times faster than enrollment at those institutions, according to a 2015 study from the Center for Collegiate Men-

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tal Health at Penn State University.

The rising number of students using mental health services has complicated the role of college counseling centers.

When Michaels came to Pitt’s Counseling Center last June, he prepared to meet this dilemma. He started a Mental Health Task Force made up of students and professionals and benchmarked Pitt’s programs against 12 other schools, including Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania.

But complaints from students have persisted, and the high percentage of students seeking treatment is only part of the reason for long wait times and backups in care. Michaels said some students have sought long-term, repeated care when the Center is only intended to provide short-term solutions.

“There are things that we do not do. For example, we do not provide long-term treatment for chronic mental illness,” Michaels said. “If someone needs to be seen for a long period of time, they are connected to appropriate providers in the community.”

The Counseling Center’s services had previously been dominated by a smaller number of individuals who had regular appointments, filling up the staff ’s schedule and creating longer wait times for new patients, Michaels said. With the new session limit, Michaels said a larger pool of students should have access to services.

Almost 50 percent of colleges in the AUCCCD survey have also instituted a session limit.

“We decided … that it was basically clinically irresponsible to turn away so many students and instead have a small handful get an awful lot [of care], where many, many more get nothing,” Michaels said.

Communication breakdown

Anna Shaw started an online petition in October after hearing her psychiatrist at the Counseling Center was leaving. Stephen Caruso ONLINE VISUAL EDITOR According to Michaels, the policy changes, including session limits and an increased number of available appointments, have had an impact.

The average wait time for the month of September was four business days and the wait time in the month of October — the Center’s busiest month — was 4.5 business days. Shawn Ahearn, a University spokesperson, said the average wait time last year was about double that.

But no one would know about this impact, or changes in policy, without pushing from the Pitt community. Even as it has made changes, the Counseling Center has stumbled in maintaining transparency about its policy changes and its psychiatrist search.

Shaw drew attention to problems she saw in Pitt’s mental health services when she created an online petition in mid-October that garnered 591 signatures by Nov. 27.

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Shaw didn’t talk with the Center to verify information before posting the petition. And after it triggered a flood of comments from parents, students and outsiders on social media, Pitt responded by noting that the petition inaccurately claimed that Brooks was leaving a week earlier than he was and that students would have no access to medication. Pitt posted the policies on its website after the petition, but the afterthought hasn’t been enough for many.

Max Kneis, a junior Student Government Board member, said students believe the Center still has the same problems it once had — such as long wait times — because they haven’t heard otherwise.

“I think a lot of people still say, ‘Oh, you have to wait three weeks to get an appointment.’

Well, if you hear that, you’re not going to try to make an appointment,” Kneis said. “That may no longer be true, but it was true two years ago,

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not yet hired a part-time or full-time psychia- ceive some additional counseling sessions with trist. In an email on Nov. 16, Ahearn refused the input of a clinician and with Michaels’ ultito answer any additional follow-up questions, mate approval.

Jake Sternberg, a senior marketing major, including those related to the process of hiring first visited the Center in the fall of 2015. During new psychiatrists.

More than half of the colleges surveyed in his first visit, the Center told him that his mental the annual directors’ survey offer psychiatric health needs — which included treatment for care in some form, but whether that’s their re- depression and anxiety — would be best met by a mental sponsibility is debatable.

If you or a friend is struggling with depression, anxiety, suicidal health professional in “It’s a thoughts or any form of mental illness: tricky situa- Call the Counseling Center: 412-648-7930-, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or the community, outside tion, because 1-888-796-8226 at any time, for any reason. you have to If you need immediate help or counseling, call the Pitt Police: 412- of Pitt.

“As soon decide to 624-2121. what extent To participate in a group counseling session any day of the week, call as I walked they the Univer- or visit the Counseling Center on the second floor of Nordenberg in, pretty much sity has a Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. told me, responsibil- Off-Campus Options: Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic: 412-624-1000 ‘Your probity to its stuRe:solve Crisis Network: 1-888-796-8226 lems are too dents’ menmuch for tal health.

And I think that it is to a large extent,” Shaw what we can supply you with,’” Sternberg said. said. “It would be a different situation if [Pitt “I wish they kind of set things in a way that was wasn’t] very vocal and very proud and kind of more like, ‘We’re going to help you as long as we really out there about their services … If they can. We’re going to help you every step along didn’t say that, I wouldn’t be as disappointed or the way.’”

Michaels said the Center attempts to check scared.”

According to Michaels, students may re- in with a student referred to outside care within

a week of the referral.

Apart from psychiatrists, six additional counselors have been hired at the Center since July. The Center is also hoping to hire four more counselors “as soon as possible,” according to Michaels.

To accommodate for the increasing staff, the Center is expanding its physical size by leasing space in the Medical Arts Building, at 3708 Fifth Ave., where renovations are underway.

Michaels said he expects to take occupancy of the expanded space in January, although the Center’s main location will remain in Nordenberg Hall.

Ultimately, with the University’s multitude of mental health campaigns, many students see the Counseling Center as a vital component of these efforts.

Radziewicz recognizes the strength of oncampus mental health advocacy groups like Talk About It and Active Minds, but said their messages need to be reinforced by University services.

“We can talk all day long about raising awareness for mental illnesses,” Radziewicz said. “But, if we don’t have actual treatment for those students, then all of those campaigns are pretty empty.”

The Pitt news crossword 11/28/16

and the Counseling Center has not done a good enough job of telling people that that’s not true [anymore].”

Despite the inaccuracies, Shaw said she stands by the original message of her petition.

“I’m sure everyone would like to believe that every single student was able to find a place that worked for them, to not be on a long wait list, to accept their insurance, to be able to pay out of pocket, to be able to have the transportation, to have all of the factors that go into having psychiatric services,” Shaw said. “It’s just not the case.”

So what is Pitt doing now?

Kennedy was assigned a case manager — one of two hired by Michaels this summer to connect students with care— after Brooks announced he was leaving, but was said the meeting was “wholly unproductive” because the case manager only relayed the options: to look for a psychiatrist in the area or check with their family care physician.

Pitt is weighing its options in the hiring process and is aiming to hire the equivalent of one full-time and one part-time psychiatrist. In the meantime, Michaels said that the University will shortly have one part-time psychiatrist working one day per week. This psychiatrist will meet the needs of about 60 students per month.

In an interview on Oct. 27, Pitt said it had

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Opinions from the editorial board

Professor watchlist compromises academic dialogue Before you sign up for a class, you check the professor’s Rate My Professor and maybe his or her bio on Pitt’s site.

Now, some students might also see if their professors “liberal biases” have landed them on a watchlist.

With the launch of a new website last week, any of your professors who are “caught” attending a rally for liberal causes, going on a Marxist Twitter rant or lecturing about white privilege, could be put on a watchlist.

Turning Point USA, a national nonprofit that aims to promote fiscal responsibility, free markets and limited government, launched the website professorwatchlist.org last week as a way for students, mainly those who lean conservative, to learn about their professors’ possible biases.

The site allows users to submit anonymous descriptions of college professors who display a discriminatory bias against conservatives using news stories as sources. According to the site, its mission is “to expose and document college professors who discriminate against conservative students and advance leftist propaganda in the classroom.”

Although the stated goal of the organization is to promote free speech, the site’s efforts to single out professors for their liberal ideology is at odds with enhancing political discourse. Instead of letting conservative students be challenged by viewpoints they don’t agree with, the site allows them the opportunity to avoid ideas and opinions they don’t like. And it targets professors, potentially slandering them without notifying them they’ve been written about.

Recently, conservatives love to criticize college campuses for having safe spaces and trigger warnings because they suppress conservative — and sometimes offensive and harmful -— ideas and speech. But a watchlist is simply another form of suppression. If a student is troubled by an idea or professor’s lesson, they should be able to speak up and confront them openly, rather than make the classroom into the same opinion bubble that social media has become.

As of now, the site has targeted a handful of professors in Pennsylvania — most of whom work at the University of Pennsylvania — but none at Pitt.

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Ashley Butcher, president of Pitt’s chapter of Turning Point USA, said Sunday that she was not aware of the site until it became public, but will inform those who wish to use it on campus.

Alana Mastrangelo, the regional director for Ohio at Turning Point USA who helped create the initial list of professors, says it’s a tool for students to learn about professors who have shown extreme behavior in their biases.

The professors on the watchlist are added for acts ranging from cursing at a conservative guest speaker on campus, tweeting a political opinion or teaching “critical race theory” in class.

“The definition for discrimination varies. There has to be a news article on them that Turning Point USA then has to approve. The criteria involve anything that censors free speech,” Mastrangelo told The Pitt News Sunday.

In such a politically divisive time, it’s important now more than ever to engage in dialogue and seek to understand each other’s differences. If right-leaning or libertarian students view these professors as radical and refuse to take a class because of it, then it is just as dangerous as the safe spaces they are known to denounce.

Furthermore, it’s not fair for professors — who are pretty free to decide what they say to a class, with certain exceptions — to be unknowingly targeted for supposed biased behavior without notice. Like all of us, they have personal lives and contribute to the community in other ways besides teaching. This watchlist could justify harassment, endanger their safety and their reputations.

Liberal professors aren’t a threat to free speech, just as conservative professors and students aren’t. Any watchlist, whether for liberal or conservative professors, only minimizes open discussion and contributes to the already expanding political polarization on college campuses. We shouldn’t be condoning this.

If you find your professor to be biased in a way that endangers your right to free speech, talk to him or her about it. Don’t hide behind a screen and avoid the discussion.

November 28, 2016

COUNSEL-LESS

Without a psychiatrist in the Counseling Center, many students are left untreated Erica Brandbergh For The Pitt News

A few weeks ago, I tried to make an appointment at Pitt’s Counseling Center only to be told that the counselors were so busy that it could be over a month before I could get an appointment.

I know Pitt is a large university with increasing mental health service demands, but I didn’t expect the wait to be so long.

When I called, the person I spoke with also told me that due to a new eight session limit on counseling appointments, the Center could not offer me enough appointments for the help I was seeking.

Instead, I was recommended an offcampus therapist and emailed a list of references.

I initially made the call to the on-campus counseling center to find a therapist in a convenient location, at least for the time being.

But luckily, reconnecting with a previous therapist was easy for me — a privilege that not all students have the money, time or insurance to take advantage of.

I found out I was not alone in my concern about a lack of psychiatric services at Pitt when I heard about a petition started by junior Anna Shaw. Last month, she said she had similar worries in a petition informing students that the only remaining psychiatrist at Pitt’s Counseling Center was leaving without a replacement. There are two positions currently open at the Counseling Center.

Shaw started the petition because Pitt currently has no licensed psychiatrists on staff who can treat students and fill prescriptions for mental health medications. The Counseling Center is planning, in accordance with recommendations from Pitt’s Mental Health Task Force, to offer 20 counselors, but none of them can prescribe medications.

Pitt’s Counseling Center has made recent changes in its services in order to accommodate more students. Beginning this semester, changes to the Counseling Center allow for each student to have up to eight sessions per academic year as a way for counselors to assist more people.

For a full explanation of the changes to Pitt’s Counseling Center, see page 2.

This semester, Pitt has a student population of 28,617, including graduate and professional schools.

And according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in four college students is diagnosed with a mental illness, meaning more than 7,100 students at Pitt may suffer from a mental illness. About 10 percent of students use the counseling center every year, according to Pitt spokespeople.

It is impossible for a staff this small to meet the mental health needs of a student body this large.

Pitt’s Counseling Center is hiring additional staff to accommoSee Brandbergh on page 7

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Brandbergh, pg. 6 date the increasing demand, but it might not be enough.

Although the Counseling Center is helping direct those who need medication to local services, not everyone has the ability to afford an off-campus psychiatrist. Students are rightfully upset by the fact that the University does not seem to be taking this seriously.

When our staff is overworked and fully booked, it reduces the time and quality of the treatment available for students. Due to the increasing need for services with fewer resources to accommodate these challenges, everyone suffers from the lack of proper treatment available. To set off-campus appointments, students, with Pitt’s help, must search for a therapist that specializes in what they need counseling in, and they must also have insurance and money for a co-pay.

I thought of students with anxiety and other conditions who would be told that the Counseling Center was too busy, but decide not to call one of the references.

What were the chances that these stu-

Editor-in-Chief

28,617 students go to Pitt.

1 in 10 Pitt students use the Counseling Center.

That means about

2,800 students use the facilities.

Vector by Karthik Srinivas via Noun Project Graphic by Stephen Caruso

dents were going to do so? Receiving an email with a list of therapists and phone numbers felt like I was being shooed away.

At the very least, if the Counseling Center is going to deny students, it should take the initiative to make sure that the student seeking help gets that help they need. If the Center has to deny students or give them a long waiting period, it should check in with the student and make sure they are getting assistance in the meantime.

Once a counselor from Student Health

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Service emailed me references, there was no follow-up. This was concerning for other students who need help, are denied and then left to fend for themselves.

Students should not have to wait a month or more to receive help at their University nor should their treatment be limited to what they can afford off campus.

Student Affairs spokesperson Shawn Ahearn said the first psychiatrist left in May, and the second one just retired recently. Pitt has been searching to fill this position since the first left, but has yet to

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find a qualified candidate for the job.

Yet while the University has said it’s working to fill the two positions, the issue was not announced publicly until students complained about it and Shaw’s petition circulated around social media.

I’ve asked friends whether or not they had similar experiences with the Counseling Center, and was told by a few people that they were also dissatisfied with the time it took to make an appointment and the newly-instituted eight session limit.

These conversations left me unsettled because I realized I was not the only one with concerns. I thought of all the students in need that were being denied help because the Counseling Center was overbooked.

If Pitt is a university that supports and cares about students with mental health issues, it should be showing that this issue is a priority by making hiring a psychiatrist a priority, or at the very least, making its plans to hire someone more clear.

Otherwise, students are the ones bearing the burden of untreated mental illness.

Email Emily at elb116@pitt.edu

Editorial Policies

Single copies of The Pitt News are free and available at newsstands around campus.

Additional copies can be purchased with permission of the editor in chief for $.50 each.

Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the students, faculty or University administration. Opinions expressed in columns, cartoons and letters are not necessarily those of The Pitt News.

Any letter in tended for publication must be addressed to the editor, be no more than 250 words and include the writer’s name, phone number and University affiliation, if any. Letters may be sent via e-mail to let-

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Complaints concerning coverage by The Pitt News, after first being brought to the

editors, may be referred to the Community Relations Committee, Pitt News Advisory Board, c/o student media adviser, 435 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.

The editor in chief has the final authority on editorial matters and cannot be censored, according to state and federal law.

The editor in chief is selected by the Pitt News Advisory Board, which includes University staff, faculty and students, as well as journalism professionals. The business and editorial offices of The Pitt News are located at 434 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.

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November 28, 2016

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Sports football

Pitt ranked No. 24 in country

FOOTBALL

Syracuse 61 Pittsburgh 76

VOLLEYBALL

Pittsburgh 3 Virginia 1

WOMENʼS BASKETBALL

Cornell 44 Pittsburgh 56

online

Find coverage of Pitt sports you missed over break

football

LANGMANN: THE SEASON IN ONE GAME

Steve Rotstein Sports Editor

After toiling just outside the rankings for most of the season, the Pitt football team came in at No. 24 in the Associated Press Top 25 Sunday.

The ranking is Pitt’s highest mark since Pat Narduzzi took over the squad last year.

The Panthers (8-4 overall, 5-3 ACC) finished the regular season on a three-game winning streak after a record-setting 76-61 victory over the Syracuse Orange at Heinz Field Saturday.

The win followed a 56-14 home blowout over the Duke Blue Devils on Nov. 19, and a 43-42 road upset win over the then-No. 2 Clemson Tigers on Nov. 12.

This is Pitt’s first time being ranked in the AP poll since October 2015, when a 23-20 win over Syracuse propelled the Panthers to a 6-1 record and the No. 25 ranking.

Pitt holds a pair of wins this season over teams ranked inside the current top 10 in the AP poll — No. 3 Clemson and No. 8 Penn State. Meanwhile, all four of the Panthers’ losses have come against teams from Power 5 conferences with at least eight wins, three of which have come by a combined total of 11 points.

Two of those losses were to teams ranked inside the current top 25 — a 45-38 loss at No. 11 Oklahoma State and a 39-36 home loss to No. 19 Virginia Tech. The other two teams to beat Pitt — North Carolina and Miami — both spent multiple weeks inside the top 25 during the season.

The Panthers finished the regular season with eight wins for the second year in a row, their first time accomplishing that since the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. The team will have a chance to make it to nine wins by winning its bowl game, which will be announced Sunday, Dec. 4.

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James Conner (24) and Nathan Peterman (4) celebrate victory against Syracuse . Steve Rotstein CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Brady Langmann Contributing Editor

If you were to combine every story of Pitt football’s season so far — James Conner’s return to stardom, Quadree Henderson’s emergence as a do-it-all scoring threat, the leaky pass defense, an inability to put teams away — you would get Saturday’s game versus Syracuse.

In a football game that saw 165 total offensive plays, 20 touchdowns and 1,312 combined yards, Pitt’s 76-61 win over Syracuse embodied the Panthers’ season in just about every way.

Star running back James Conner, possibly playing his last game at Heinz Field, had a near-perfect send-off with 115 rushing yards that sent him over the 1,000-yard mark for

the season. Like the Pitt legends who came before him, Conner now shares a piece of history alongside the likes of Tony Dorsett, LeSean McCoy and other Panthers with multiple 1,000-yard years.

And Pitt’s pass defense — falling short of covering yet another NFL-ready wide receiver in Syracuse’s Amba Etta-Tawo — gave up five touchdowns and 178 yards to the wideout, even with the Orange’s backup quarterback Zack Mahoney throwing him passes.

With chaos on both sides of the ball, Pitt and Syracuse earned one of the most bittersweet achievements in the record book — the highest-scoring contest in major college football history.

Even head coach Pat Narduzzi seemed conflicted at the postgame press conference, somewhere between fulfillment and frustra-

November 28, 2016

tion, “puppy” and “rottweiler.”

“I’ve never been in a game like that. I don’t ever want to be in a game like that again,” Narduzzi said. “Half of me is jumping for joy for what our offense did out there today. The other half makes me sick.”

And almost as soon as the game ended, the Conner question was raised: After Pitt’s to-be-announced bowl game this season, would the redshirt junior with NFL prospects go pro?

“I’m not sure yet,” Conner said. “I’m a redshirt junior right now. I’m going to finish out strong with this bowl game and then make a decision after that. Right after the bowl game, I’ll make a decision.”

Quiet and looking pensive after the game, Conner’s performance Saturday left little See Sidebar on page 10

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volleyball

Panthers make NCAA Tournament after weekend wins David Leftwich Staff Writer

The Pitt volleyball team finished its regular season with a flourish, recording two big wins in its final two games and claiming a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

With most of Pitt’s students home for Thanksgiving break, the Panthers (24-8 overall, 14-5 ACC) first swept the Virginia Tech Hokies (13-18 overall, 8-12 ACC) Wednesday on senior night at the Fitzgerald Field House.

Pitt then went on the road to Charlottesville, Virginia, for the regular season finale against the Virginia Cavaliers (7-25 overall, 4-16 ACC), winning the match 3-1.

Putting on one of their strongest offensive performances of the season, the Panthers came out Wednesday and took an early 8-6 lead against the Hokies. Responding and taking the lead, Virginia Tech won six out of the next seven points to take a 12-9 lead.

Continuing in the set, the Hokies maintained their three point advantage at 20-17.

From there, Pitt turned the set around and won eight out of the next 11 points to take the first set, 25-23. During this run, first-year Nika Markovic put on a show hitting four kills.

Keeping this momentum, the Panthers burst out to a 10-3 lead to open the second set. With Pitt keeping the lead throughout, the Hokies only managed to bring the score within three points for a brief period.

The Hokies hit four more errors in the second set than the first while the Panthers hit one fewer error than the first set, which helped explain the lopsided score.

Eventually, Pitt took the second set, 25-18,

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Stephanie Williams (13) made 25 kills for the Panthers over the weekend.

Meghan Sunners SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER taking a 2-0 lead in the match.

Pitt kept up strong play in the third set, leading from start to finish. After capturing a 7-3 lead in the set, the Panthers never looked back. Senior middle blocker Jenna Potts hit five of her seven total kills in the third set to help Pitt keep up the offensive intensity.

After playing their most efficient set in the third at a .371 attack percentage, the Panthers pulled out a 25-19 set win to take the match, 3-0.

Everyone on the Pitt side had a very efficient game offensively, but redshirt freshman Stephanie Williams shined — hitting 15 kills at

November 28, 2016

a whopping .444 attack percentage.

The Panthers then traveled to Charlottesville on Saturday night to end to the regular season against Virginia.

Pitt and Virginia played evenly to start the match, reaching a 10-10 tie in the first set. The Panthers then hit their stride offensively and at the service line, winning 10 of the next 13 points while hitting three aces during that stretch to take a 20-13 lead.

WIth such a large lead, the Panthers coasted and won the first set, 25-17.

But the Cavaliers rebounded in the second set and jumped out to an early 8-3 lead. Virginia maintained the advantage through the rest of the set and eventually won it by a score of 25-18. The key factor in this set was the offensive output from Virginia. The Cavaliers hit 15 kills in the set compared to only nine in the first set, while posting an efficient .433 attack percentage.

The Panthers retook the lead in the match by coming out with their best offensive performance in the third set.

Grabbing an early 6-2 lead, Pitt made it clear it would dictate play. The Panthers kept the Cavaliers on the defensive by slamming home 17 kills to go with only one error. This forced Virginia into hitting six errors, the most the Cavaliers hit in any set against Pitt.

The early lead only grew for the Panthers as they won the third set, 25-17, and took a 2-1 match lead.

Then, the Panthers came out and throttled Virginia in the fourth set to finish off the season with a convincing victory.

See Volleyball on page 10

9

Sidebar, pg. 8 question to his legacy at Pitt — if anyone doubted that his story would carry on past his tenure as a Panther. That’s what Conner said his aim was after his Pitt career — to be remembered as someone who made an impact on the University.

“That’s my job is to run the football and they gave me a scholarship to score touchdowns,” he said. “So, when [the University talks] about someone who has made a positive impact, I hope they mention my name.

That’s my main goal.”

Out on the field, kicker Chris Blewitt, perpetually either hero or scapegoat, made nine straight extra point attempts, before ricocheting one off the crossbar in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Henderson, slippery as ever, had a career-high 257 all-purpose yards, even with Syracuse avoiding kicking to him late in the matchup. Potential AllAmerican defensive end Ejuan Price added six tackles and a sack to his resumé.

And with only one of the Orange’s touchdown drives lasting over 10 plays, Pitt’s defense often gave up yards quickly, and with little fight — putting pressure on quarterback

Nathan Peterman’s offense to make plays on nearly every drive, even as the Panthers neared 70 points.

The dizzying score aside, the chilly, sparsely-attended event saw a few other bizarre moments.

Three of Pitt’s touchdowns came on the first play of a possession. Syracuse sent three free kicks out of bounds, replacing its kicker

“

My job is to run the football and they gave me a scholarship to score touchdowns.

James Conner

Running back

midway through the game. And Narduzzi tasked offensive lineman Brian O’Neill — he of the two rushing touchdowns on two career attempts — with a passing play, but he couldn’t find anyone open and tossed it away.

“The instructions were very clear. If

he wasn’t wide open, throw the ball away,” O’Neill said. “He wasn’t wide open, so I threw it away.”

Still, Narduzzi and several Pitt players made similar statements after the game — a win’s a win. Especially on Senior Day, when Pitt fans watched mainstays such as Peterman, Blewitt, Price and tight end Scott Orndoff play their last regular season contest at home.

“It was a good way to go out on Senior Day,” Peterman said. “To score that many points, with a great offense and a great team effort, it was pretty crazy. I’m just kind of at a loss for words because I’m just so thankful for my teammates and the opportunities God has given me here at Pitt. It’s a little sentimental.”

Despite a three-touchdown effort, Conner wasn’t smiling after the game. The redshirt junior was likely already looking ahead to the bowl matchup — and the decision looming afterward.

“I don’t know what everyone else is doing, but I’m not celebrating,” Conner said.

“I’m happy we won, but we have to keep it going, we have to get better. Offense has to get better. Defense has to get better. Everyone has to get better.”

Volleyball, pg. 9 The teams pulled even at a 5-5 tie early on, then Pitt got rolling. Going on a run similar to that in the first set, the Panthers won 12 of the next 14 points to take a huge lead at 17-7.

Holding a 20-11 lead, Pitt then won the next five points to finish off the match in style, 2511.

The Panthers clinched their final regular season match in commanding fashion. Williams, Markovic and Mariah Bell each tallied at least 10 kills with an attack percentage over .300.

“This was one of our stronger serving games of the season, but the thing we were most pleased with was the offense,” Pitt head coach Dan Fisher said in a press release after the game. “One of the priorities going into the season was to be a very balanced team, so it’s fitting that in our last game of the season we had so many players contributing.”

Finishing their season at 24-8, the Panthers found out on Sunday night that they will take part in the NCAA Tournament. Their first round match will be at 5 p.m. against the University of Dayton on Dec. 2 at University Park, Pennsylvania.

The Pitt News SuDoku 11/28/16 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

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November 28, 2016

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I N D E X

Rentals & Sublet

Employment

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

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

1,2,3,4,6 BR. Available August 2017.

Bigelow Boulvd, Truro Place, Craig, and Neville Street.

Call 412-287-5712.

3BR house, 2 bath.

Newly remodeled, wall-to-wall carpeting, equipped kitchen, on busline, 15 minute walk to campus. $250/person+ gas/electric.

Call 412-548-2214.

4 or 5BR house available May or August 2017. N. Oakland.

Laundry on site. To make an appointment call 412-812-9382. **AUGUST 2017: Furnished Studio, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 Bedroom Apts. No pets.

Non-smokers preferred. 412-621-0457 1-2-3-4-5 Bedroom Houses & Apartments. 376 Meyran, 343 McKee, & Atwood, St. James, Bates St. $1,095-$2,000. Call 412-969-2790.

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 bedroom apartments and houses available in May and August 2017. Nice, clean, free laundry, includes exterior maintenance, new appliances, spacious, located on Meyran, Bates, Oakland, Semple, Wellsford, Dawson, Juliet. 412-414-9629.

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• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

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

1-6 Bdr Apt./Houses.

Updated kitchen, air conditioning, laundry. Some w/ parking.Summer 2017.

412-445-6117.

2-3-4 bedroom houses. Available now or January 1st.

At corner of Parkview and the Boulevard. Free laundry. Central air. Really nice.

412-414-9629.

2,3,5 BR houses.

Available now.

Bouquet, Atwood, & Dawson. Please call 412-287-5712.

3247 Juliet St. 2 BR. On street parking.

1100 plus gas & electric. 412-596-8732.

3316 Juliet St. 4 BR. Washer, dryer. 2 full baths. 2140 + gas and electric.

412-596-8732 3722 Parkview Ave. 3 BR. Washer, dryer.

1800 + gas and electric. 412-596-8732 4 BR Home - Semple Street. Equipped Kitchen, Full Basement. New central air added. Available immediately. Also renting for May and August 2017.

(412) 343-4289.

5,6,7 bedroom houses available. Located on Niagra, Chesterfield, Lawn, and Ophelia.

Contact Brent 412-680-6209.

6,7&8 bedroom houses available starting August 1st 2017.

Five minute walk to Pitt. No pets. 1 year lease. Call 412-983-5222.

Large 1-2-3 BR apartments available August 1st. 3450 Ward Street. 312 and 314 South Bouquet Street.

Free parking. Cat friendly. Call 412-977-0111.

Newly renovated apartments for rent.

2,3,4 bedrooms available for August/September 2017.

Atwood, McKee, Dawson, and Bates.

Please call Mike at 412-849-8694 for more information & for viewing.

South Oakland-Studio 1, 2, & 3 bedroom apartments available May 1, 2017 and Aug 1, 2017. Various Oakland locations. Free parking. Free heating.

Call 412-361-2695.

3,4,5 BR. Sarah Street and Wrights

Way. Close to Pitt and Duquesne University. Call 412-287-5712.

AVAILABLE NOWSHADYSIDE/FRIENDSHIP Holden St. 2BR – Roof Deck! $1450 Maryland 3Br $1545 New SS Appliances!

South Negley 1BR – Renovated! Spacious! $825 South Fairmount 1BR Private Entrance – $795 All Apartments are Pet Friendly!

Call 412-455-5600 for a showing.

AVAILABLE NOW – SQUIRREL HILL LUXURY RENOVATIONS! MODERN! GRANITE! SS APPLIANCES! ALL NEW! Eldridge St. – 1Br $895 Studio $750 Shady Ave – 1BR $1150 2BR $1295 Murray Ave – 3BR $1695 4BR $1750 All Apartments are Pet Friendly Call 412-455-5600 for a showing.

1-6 bedroom. All newly renovated, airconditioning, dish-

washer, washer/dryer, and parking. Available Summer 2017.

412-915-0856.

R A T E S

Insertions

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1-15 Words

$6.30

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16-30 Words

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Deadline: Two business days prior by 3pm

2, 3, 4 and 5 bedroom houses available ASAP. Call 412-385-3273.

Phlebotomy Training Centerwww. justphlebotomy.org 2 evening classes weekly, 5 weeks + excellent Clinicals.

Call 412-521-7334.

SEASONAL MARKETING ASSISTANT Shadyside property management firm established in 1960 needs a Seasonal Marketing Assistant to work with Excel, Word, the internet from approximately NOW until July 15th; three days/week, Thursday through Saturday, from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM; most hours will be solitary on the computer with no phone work; 40 words per minute and strong computer skills required; no experience needed & we will train you at our Shadyside office; free parking. $12/hour plus generous season end bonus.

Mozart Management.

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November 28, 2016

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Interested individuals should contact Ms. Jessica Manculich at mancjf@upmc.edu.

Please provide your resume, a brief statement of your background & goals, and current availability.

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Email: advertising@pittnews.com

RESEARCH STATISTICAL INTERNSHIP (unpaid) available immediately in the Biobehavioral Oncology Program of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). We are seeking a student to volunteer up to 10 hours/week, continuing through the spring semester, to help with analysis of data from studies of psychological, behavioral, and brain influences in cancer.

Candidates should possess good computer skills, attention to detail, good organizational skills, strong work ethic, and the ability to work autonomously.

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Phone: 412.648.7978

South Fayette Twp. School District. Substitute Teacher Positions. Substitute Paraeducator Positions. Positions available for all grade levels and areas of content.

Complete job descriptions are available at: www.southfayette.org South Fayette Twp. School District 3680 Old Oakdale Road McDonald, PA 15057 EOE.

alexseastendfloral.com Shadyside. also alexsflowers.com 412-687-4128 Delivery available.

Alex’s East End Floral Shoppe for all occasions.

Waiter/Waitress, Dishwasher/Cook: 20 hours/week, great working environment. Cafe Sam, 5242 Baum Blvd.

Apply Monday-Friday 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.

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