The Pitt News
The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | november 29, 2017 | Volume 108 | Issue 75
MEN’S BASKETBALL PG. 5
SGB promotes safety app
Rose Luder Staff Writer
Freshman guard Marcus Carr scored 19 points and shot 100 percent from the field during the Panthers’ 71-63 victory over High Point Tuesday. Thomas Yang SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
STUDENTS SPAR IN FIRST ‘GREAT THREE-WAY DEBATE’
Madeline Gavatorta Staff Writer
Ben Sheppard, president of Pitt’s Libertarian group Students for Liberty, went after both major political parties in his opening remarks during the first-ever three-way debate with the College Democrats and the College Republicans Tuesday night. “Tonight on stage, there are two other parties — on one hand I have the party of corruption and control, on the other hand I have the party
of big war and big government,” Sheppard, who is a columnist for The Pitt News, said. “And to be honest with you, I can’t tell which one is which.” The debate was held in room 324 the Cathedral of Learning, where three prominent political groups on campus debated current issues including health care, student loans, private prisons and terrorism. Jonathan Merker, president of the Pitt Political Science Student Association, and a junior politics, philosophy and economics major, served as the moderator for the six debaters — two from each group.
Though the debate had three diverse viewpoints, a newer political group, the Pitt Progressives, was absent. According to Merker, the group was not invited since they have been “off [PSSA’s] radar.” PSSA — the debate’s organizing group — was not looking to actively recruit new groups for their programming this year, he said. “That was a miscommunication, I would say,” he said. “I already reached out to their president and we will definitely have them in further events, rest assured.” See Debate on page 2
Student Government Board member Ian Callahan announced at Tuesday’s meeting that the Rave Guardian app — an app created by Rave Mobile Safety that connects users with local security resources — is now available with features for Pitt students. Students who download the “blue light” app will be able to share their location with a friend or guardian when they feel in danger. The app also allows students to call either the Pitt police or 911 with the touch of a button. Other features include an alert system that notifies a student’s set emergency contacts if they don’t make it home within a pre-set time frame. SGB President Max Kneis said finalizing Pitt’s partnership with Rave Guardian took the board about two years. The board received approval for the app, which has Pitt-specific community safety features, after the University updated its emergency notification system. Callahan expressed the importance of the access to safety the app provides to students. “It just gives that next level of safety for all students. It gives peace of mind for people who are walking alone, makes sure that there’s someone always watching out for them,” Callahan said. Students can download the app for free through the Pitt App Store, the Apple App Store or Google Play to access better lines of communication with the Pitt police. See SGB on page 1