12-7-15

James Conner begins own fight after history of helping others

The pitt news

December 7, 2015 | Issue 76 | Volume 106 Cover photo by Jeff Ahearn ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR Dan Sostek Sports Editor

Mike Gallagher, a close family friend of James Conner, arrived at the star’s recovery room just as his anesthesia began to wear off. Conner, a Pitt football running back, underwent a biopsy last Tuesday that would later reveal he had cancer.

Gallagher — or “Pops” as Conner calls him — had returned from a diminishing

appointment regarding his chronic kidney disease and was anxious to see the young man who has always been there for Gallagher and his family.

“The very first thing he said when waking up from the biopsy was, ‘Pops, what did the doctors say about your kidney?’” Gallagher said. “My son and his mom looked at us and I just said, ‘Is this kid for real?’”

After the initial shock, this selfless re-

sponse didn’t surprise Gallagher.

“On the field, he’s a beast,” Gallagher said. “But he’s also the kindest, most gentle human being in the whole world.”

Following his press conference announcing his diagnosis of Hodgkin’s lymphoma on Friday, the star running back was inundated with support, ranging from the likes of hockey legend Mario Lemieux, who also had the disease, to Pennsylvania

Gov. Tom Wolf.

But the twenty-year-old has frequently been on the other end of this exchange, helping others in their times of trouble.

Long before his cancer diagnosis and his legacy on the gridiron at Heinz Field, Conner was a dedicated volunteer at the National Kidney Foundation, the Mel Blount Youth Home and various children’s See Conner on page 8

News Innovation Challenge teams win cash ICYMI

police detonate suitcase in Oakland The Pittsburgh Bomb Squad detonated a suitcase chained to a railing in Oakland Friday afternoon after police received a call for a suspicious package.

Pitt police took the owner of the suitcase in for questioning but released him and did not charge him with a crime. Pitt police said the man had chained his suitcase to a guard rail outside of Heiber’s Pharmacy on the 3500 block of Fifth Avenue because he didn’t want to carry it to the doctor’s office where he had an appointment that day.

Pitt police did not release the man’s name.

Police arrived to find the suitcase between 1:30 and 2 p.m. The bomb squad detonated the suitcase around 3 p.m. No one was injured. The bomb squad’s detonation was audible for several blocks, startling students and pedestrians at the time of the explosion.

Pitt sent out two text messages via its Emergency Notification System to the University community during the incident.

The incident caused police to shut down part of Fifth Avenue and several side streets to traffic for about an hour and a half. A black burned area remains on the sidewalk outside the pharmacy where the bomb squad detonated the package.

The Pittsburgh police are continuing to investigate.

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The Phoenix team, one off three Innovation Challenge finalists. Photo courtesy of Chelsea Stowell of three first-place, $100,000 prizes. Three vessel, Stowell said.

Leo Dornan other teams finished in the second tier and Th is year, the Clinical and Translational Staff Writer each won $25,000. The Innovation Challenge Science Institute, a program at Pitt that works For Chelsea Stowell, an innovation grant this year narrowed 46 teams to the six winto integrate existing programs with innovamay be the push she and her team of bioengining groups of graduate and undergraduate tive new clinical and translational science inineers need to start making prosthetic arteries. students, industry professionals and Pitt protiatives, granted a total of $375,000 to six projStowell, a Pitt graduate student, works as fessors. The competition runs from May to ects competing in the Innovation Challenge. part of the Phoenix team — the name given November each year.

The money comes from the National Instito their prosthetic artery project during the “We’re very excited about working with tutes of Health’s Clinical and Translational third Pitt Innovation Challenge. The team [the Innovation Institute] through the next Science Award grant, that the NIH awarded won $100,000 in late November for its prosteps. Throughout the application process, to CTSI. The CTSI is part of a growing numposed design for a man-made prosthetic arthey were very accommodating. Their advice ber of institutions in the nation that receive tery that human tissue could use as scaffoldhelped us put together a better plan,” Stowell NIH funding.

Th is year, 46 teams entered the ing and gradually replace as it degrades in the said. competition, Ryan Dunning, administrative body. Each year, the Pitt Innovation ChalThe competition, first held during the support coordinator for CTSI, said. lenge funds teams who come up with ideas spring of 2014, aims to generate innovative The projects focused on treatments for a and projects to improve health care. solutions to challenging health problems. It is wide range of health problems, including a Now that the Phoenix team has the monsponsored by Pitt’s Office of the Provost, the coating to reduce dental implant infl ammaey, it is gearing up for its first round of clinical CTSI and Pitt’s Innovation Institute, which all tion and a cushion for the foot developed trials, tentatively set for January. came together to create the competition. from the patient’s own fat to minimize pain Since winning the grant, Stowell and her from walking. team planned how to use their prize money Stowell and some of her team members Find the full story online at to develop their idea into a tangible product. have worked on the concept for the last three During surgery, doctors could use the graft to years and entered the competition for the first help dialysis patients and to treat other conditime this year. The Phoenix team won one tions in which they need to replace a blood

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December 7, 2015

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Students, community kick off Hanukkah in Oakland Emily Migdal Staff Writer

In two separate Hanukkah celebrations that spanned Oakland, Pittsburgh’s Jewish community honked, cheered and danced its way into the first night of this year’s Festival of Lights.

Starting at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, a policeescorted motorcade of about 100 cars and 50 bicycles — many adorned with hanukkiahs and banners exclaiming “Happy Hanukkah” — cruised down Fifth Avenue from Squirrel Hill and stopped traffic for several minutes along Forbes Avenue.

Later, students, community members and youth groups gathered in the ballroom of the William Pitt Union to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with latkes and jelly-filled doughnuts. Chabad at Pitt, a Jewish student organization, and Hillel hosted the party to spread the feeling of happiness and charity that the holiday brings.

Chabad started the parade at its syna-

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gogue, the Lubavitch Center, in Squirrel Hill.

The caravan traveled through Shadyside and Oakland before ending in Schenley Plaza, where Chabad members and others in the community gathered to light a giant hanukkiah, the Hanukkah menorah, feast on doughnuts and celebrate with friends and family.

“It’s beautiful to see us all getting together to share such joy and harmony to illuminate the world with kindness,” Rabbi Yisroel Rosenfeld, a rabbi at Chabad for more than 40 years, said. “The message is that one good deed illuminates the world, so by lighting one candle, we illuminated the world.”

According to Rosenfeld, Chabad has been celebrating Hanukkah with a parade and a community gathering for 10 years. This is the fourth year they have observed the holiday in Oakland. Tonight, Chabad will host a similar gathering at the City-County Building where Mayor Peduto, who was traveling back from Paris Sunday night, will light the Hanukkah candles.

County executive Rich Fitzgerald lit the

Students and community members gather in the William Pitt Union to celebrate the first night of Hanukkah. Kate Koenig STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER shamash — the center candle that is used to light the other candles — on Sunday and Rosenfeld lit the first candle of the holiday.

According to Pittsburgh police, about 150 people attended the celebration in Schenley

December 7, 2015

Plaza.

For Chabad member Lieba Dlinn, 19, from Squirrel Hill, the Hanukkah parade has been a family tradition for as long as she can See Hanukkah on page 5

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Hanukkah, pg. 3 remember. Although her brother drives the car that led the parade and her father directs bicyclists, Dlinn missed the parade the past few years while she was living in Israel. While the size of the Jewish community in Pittsburgh is smaller, Dlinn said she felt the same sense of belonging.

“This is a glimpse of what it would look like if the whole Jewish community came together,” Dlinn said. “It’s so much fun, we like sharing the experience with others.”

After the lighting of the hanukkiah, the choir from the Yeshiva School, the Chabad boys’ school, performed Hanukkah-themed songs, and a Chabad congregation member juggled with apples and fire as he told a Hanukkah story. According to Rosenfeld, the performers, DJ and event organizers were volunteers.

At Pitt, the main event of the evening was the lighting of the “Grand Canorah,” a giant hanukkiah made entirely out of cans. A Pitt tradition that began 17 years ago, the lighting of the Canorah is a public hanukkiah lighting intended to bring the community closer together through traditional holiday spirit.

To highlight the importance of giving during the holiday season, Hillel and Chabad collected cans to donate to the Pitt Pantry. Although the collection of cans has been part of the celebration for years, this is the first year that Hillel co-sponsored the event.

After people got plates of food and settled on the floor, Rabbi Shmuel Rothstein began the celebration by talking about the history of Hanukkah and lighting the Canorah.

In addition to the public lighting of the Canorah, Israel King, brother-in-law of Rabbi Rothstein, ran a booth that offered students the opportunity to light a personal hanukkiah. Although the public hanukkiah lighting is a way to connect with the community, the personal candle lighting is just as important, King said.

“A public menorah lighting is a statement that everyone can connect to spiritually,” King said. “Hanukkah, for an individual, is a personal revelation of light.”

For sophomore Ilana McAfoos, this personal hanukkiah lighting allowed her to celebrate and connect to her family and traditions from home.

“It’s something that my family has been do-

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ing forever,” McAfoos said. “Everyone in my family has their own menorah.”

For the first time, Hillel and Chabad accompanied the lighting of the Canorah with a carnival-style party. Jewish organizations set up tables with games and food, such as dreidel, challah, latkes and Hanukkah gelt — chocolate coins. Pitt’s chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu created a game at their booth using a frisbee to knock down stacks of cans in order to draw attention to the charity aspect of the celebration.

“I thought it would be a cool idea to get a lot of the younger kids involved,” sophomore

Brian Ackerman, a brother in Sigma Alpha Mu, said. “We used cans because Hanukkah is about bringing life and light and being happy.”

Using cans as part of the game also highlighted the importance of charity during the holiday season.

“One of the goals was to break the record of most cans donated to Pitt Pantry and that definitely captures the spirit of Hanukkah,” Ackerman said.

According to Meital Rosenberg, a junior and vice president of Hillel, Chabad is counting the cans to determine if Pitt students broke

December 7, 2015

the record tonight but had not completed the counting by the time of publication.

The party gives students a chance to enjoy the holiday and meet new people from other organizations.

Although many groups hold celebrations individually, this year provided a new opportunity for organizations to meet and recognize the holiday together.

“It’s a good opportunity to come together and celebrate, which is kind of beautiful because it’s so rare that we can all be together,” Rosenberg said.

5

Opinions

column

from the editorial board

Obama’s address: Keep guns out of extremists’ hands Fighting terrorism has reached a “new phase” for the United States, President Obama said during his Oval Office address last night.

As we have improved at gathering information on terrorist networks and at foiling their plots, the president said extremists have turned to “less complicated” measures.

Extremists now use mass shootings as a means to achieve their violent ends. The recent San Bernardino, California, attack, which left 14 people dead, is the most recent example — but it is not the only one. In July, Muhammad Youssef Abdulazeez killed four Marines at a recruiting center and a Navy Reserve center in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 2009, Nidal Hasan killed 13 people and injured 30 others at Fort Hood.

Besides extremist motivations, the perpetrators in all three mass shootings had something in common — all were able to accumulate personal arsenals of semi-automatic weapons and ammunition to carry out these attacks.

Mass shootings are an easy way for extremists to attempt to demoralize the American population because, “No matter how effective law enforcement is ... we can’t predict every would-be mass shooter,” Obama said.

While we can snuff out attacks that terrorist networks orchestrate through intelligence gathering and surveillance, individual extremist gunmen are much harder to track. They can have no criminal record, no direct communication with terrorist cells and no outward signs of violence.

If we can’t track the individual extremists, we must then “make it harder for them to kill,” as Obama said.

All Americans, from both sides of the ideological spectrum, have an interest in keeping weapons, like the AR-15 rifles used in San Bernardino, out of the hands of extremists. Such semi-automatic weapons can reload automatically, allowing shooters to take out numerous targets in a relatively short amount of

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time.

Yet, despite their deadly efficiency, extremists continue to obtain semi-automatic weapons through legal means — Tashfeen Malik and Syed Rizwan Farook, the San Bernardino shooters, bought all their weapons legally, according to CBS News.

If we want to end the cycle of extremist mass shootings, we need to stop them where they start — gun distributors. We must limit the number of weapons allowed per household, we must limit the amount of ammunition one can buy and we must increase background checks and waiting periods for semiautomatic weapons.

All of which, of course, is extremely controversial politically. Such suggestions seem to be an attack on Americans’ Second Amendment right to bear arms — but this is a matter of national security. Sacrificing the ability of some Americans to accumulate personal armories — so to prevent others from being killed — is a necessary, but ultimately small price to pay.

Of course, countries with tough gun control policies also experience terrorist attacks. On Saturday, for instance, the United Kingdom experienced an attack in an east London Tube station. The perpetrator used a knife to stab three Londoners before authorities subdued him. No one was killed, but if the perpetrator had access to a semi-automatic weapon, would that have been the case?

In order to prevent extremists from committing mass violence here in the United States, “We have to work together to address the challenge,” Obama said.

But working together requires both parties to first recognize that we need to do a better job at keeping high-powered weapons out of the hands of extremists.

Until we do this, the cycle will continue to repeat itself, and extremism will continue to have its day on American soil.

December 7, 2015

True life: I’m in a committed relationship with English transportation Courtney Linder Senior Columnist

“The Hot Tea” is a weekly column dedicated to unearthing the intricacies of London’s social, political and millennial issues in the context of Pittsburgh’s own complex culture.

LONDON- There it is — the blue and red beacon of hope that chaperones you through the sodden, forlorn London darkness. It’s akin to the Cathedral of Learning on your drunken trek home, a tried-and-true compass when your phone’s gone kaput. It’s a cordial embrace on a bleak autumn night, after an evening at the pub that didn’t warm your insides quite properly. It’s a London Underground roundel — the iconic, eye-catching marker of the Tube system. And you’re “well happy” to see it.

As much as the English and expatriates, like me, live to complain about public transportation at nearly every given opportunity, I must admit that I’m in a committed relationship with London’s double-decker buses and trains. No doubt, when I return to the drudgery of Pittsburgh’s Port Authority buses — which are about as reliable as Pitt’s Wi-Fi connection — I’ll never take the Underground’s name in vain again.

The United Kingdom’s public transit culture is one every country should strive for, especially the United States.

At the outset, Americans use public transport far less than Europeans.

According to National Geographic Society’s 2009 Greendex report, just 5 percent of Americans reported using public transportation once a day or more. Conversely, English travelers hovered around 16 percent. Far more astounding though, the report reveals that 61 percent of Americans never use public transportation, compared to just 13 percent of Britons.

Yet if American families chose public transportation over driving, they would save more than $800 each month, and more than $9,700 in gas money and car maintenance annually, according to the American Public Transportation Association. Those figures don’t include how much they would save in parking, which costs, on average, about $1,995 annually for commuters to park in downtown city areas.

With the increasing cost of living in U.S. cities, along with relatively stagnant wages in many industries, it doesn’t make sense that Americans don’t use public transportation more often — what’s different between the United States and the United Kingdom? As it turns out, the United Kingdom’s public transit is simply more encouraging and more mindful of its would-be riders.

Transport for London, or “sweet See Linder on page 7

6

Linder, pg. 6 baby angel sent from God,” is the governing body responsible for this feat in mass transit.

TFL is brilliant not only because it funnels all fare revenue back into the maintenance of its buses, subways and other vehicles, but because it also makes traveling smooth and straightforward for even the most clueless people — like me.

Seriously — TFL even sends you emails when one of the Tube lines is delayed or if conductors go on strike. In Pittsburgh, tardy buses are more of a way of life, nowhere near noteworthy enough to justify Port Authority sending out a message. If they did, those emails might be filed as spam because of their frequency. Port Authority does offer a bus-tracker app, which gives riders the chance to see how their bus is doing on time. However, when The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette conducted 200 separate tests of the system at bus stops in Downtown, Oakland and East Liberty in August, it found that “39 bus arrivals, or nearly 20 percent, did not show up on the TrueTime system because the GPS units on the buses were turned off, weren’t working properly or weren’t on the bus at all.”

TFL’s “Baby on Board” badges take the cake, though. It’s awkward to wonder if someone really is pregnant, but of course you want to give up your seat for soon-to-be mums. TFL fixed that miscommunication in etiquette by providing free pins to denote your dual ridership.

Not only are the pins darling, but they promote good manners. Now that’s proper English.

Speaking of English manners, if there’s one thing I’ll miss dearly when I leave here, it will be the crisp, female voice politely reminding me to, “Please mind the gap between the train and the platform” at every Underground station. Although, on a Port Authority bus, the code of courtesy is almost as polite. There’s nothing I love more than packing onto a 71C in the morning and hearing the bus driver yell at everyone to, “Move ahtta the way,” for people getting off at the next stop — delightful.

London’s Tube system isn’t stand-alone though — it’s complemented by the National Rail network. National Rail is the passenger train system that runs throughout Great Britain, connecting sparser areas. It’s quick and efficient for trips from London to neighboring towns. I visit my boyfriend in Essex on the weekends, and it only takes me about an hour and a half

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to travel the 45 miles to his town from London.

When I used to commute from Pitt to my hometown in Plum, Pennsylvania, it took me up to two hours to travel just 13 miles due to infrequent buses and indirect routes. I don’t blame Americans for avoiding this conundrum and opting out of public transport.

If trains and buses aren’t your thing, England is huge on biking, or “cycling” as they call it. According to the BBC, the number of cyclists in London reached a record high this summer.

The total number of cycling journeys rose by 5 percent to 610,000 a day — roughly 23 million a year.

This figure will only grow, though, as the mayor of London’s 2013 Vision for Cycling program has invested £913 million into four segregated superhighways and a Quietway network of backstreet cycle routes. Not to mention, bikes are easily accessible thanks to Santander Cycles, London’s self-service bike sharing scheme for short journeys. It’s the cousin of Pittsburgh’s Healthy Ride bike share initiative.

Biking is the one area where we yinzers don’t lag behind Londoners. According to Bike Pittsburgh, the city saw a 408 percent jump in bike commuting since 2000 — the largest increase in the nation.

I have a less positive relationship with this two-wheeled mode of transport. While in London, I pulled the ultimate stunt — getting run over by a bicyclist. Thump, thump — right over my back. It was definitely the most creative way I have ever cracked my phone screen. But if you’re savvier to all things on wheels than I am, London is probably your city. Me? I’m sticking to the Tube.

This time next week, I’ll be back home in Pittsburgh, likely bawling and holding a candlelight vigil over my Oyster Card — aka my Tube pass — and National Rail tickets, singing “God Save the Queen” in a feigned British accent.

But for now, I’m going to enjoy my last few opportunities to get scoffed at on the Tube. I’m going to look up to the gray sky and breathe in the fumes from a double-decker with a cheeky grin on my face.

Hell, I might even pretend I’m lost and stand in front of a Tube map like a tourist.

Courtney Linder is a senior columnist at The Pitt News, primarily focusing on social issues and technology. Write to her at CNL13@ pitt.edu.

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7

Sports

Go online for men’s and women’s basketball recaps

James Conner at the Boys and Girls Club in Shadyside in September to accept an award for his community service.

Anh Vu STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Conner, pg. 1 hospitals throughout Pittsburgh. His service warranted him recognition as an American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team member this September.

Before all of this, Conner started helping others through his relationship with Gallagher’s son Sean, who has been best friends with Conner “since they could walk” growing up in Erie, Pennsylvania. Gallagher recalled how important Conner was in helping his daughter Meghan, who was diagnosed with kidney disease in high school when Conner was a senior, make it through her extended hospital stays.

Gallagher said Conner would join Sean Gallagher and travel to Hamot Medical Center and see Meghan, who loved to visit Lake Erie and take videos of the sunset before she got sick. Her hospital room didn’t face the lake, but Conner approached this problem with open arms.

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“He would carry her to the other end of the hospital and sit and watch the sunset with her,” Gallagher said. “And then he’d carry her back.

I always think about that. Meghan will always bring it up.”

With kidney disease affecting his close family friends, Conner made it a point to work for the cause.

“It really broadened his perspective,” Sean Gallagher said. “How he could affect people not only in Erie, but all over the world.”

According to National Kidney Foundation Development Director Melissa Sidick, who met Conner at the 2009 Erie Kidney Walk, he exhibited an enthusiasm for the volunteer work that was rare for a person his age. “[Conner] would be that one teenager that would come behind the booth and say, ‘What can I help you with? What can I do?’” Sidick said. “He always had such a respectfulness about him, he was always so friendly and so nice, al-

ways ready to throw his hands in and help.”

Conner continued to help others throughout his college career, finding time between classes and practices to make his way back to Erie, where Sidick said Conner’s ability and zeal for volunteering was unmatched. The foundation honored him in 2015 with the “Small Hands, Big Heart” award, recognizing his contributions to the cause.

“Oh my gosh, he was unbelievable,” Sidick said. “At the end of the day, [young people] are worried more about going out and having fun.

But not James. He’s a gentle soul, he’s quiet, but he does really wonderful things.”

According to Sidick, the running back continued to participate in the walk up through 2014, well after he had become a star at Pitt.

“It’s important to him to make sure that he continues to be a good role model for others,” Sidick said. “That he’s not just known for being able to catch a ball, run a ball, throw a ball, but

December 7, 2015

that he’s known in the community to do good things.”

Some of Conner’s most impactful work has been on a person-to-person basis, including his presence in Liann Tsoukas’ African American History course last spring.

At the start of that term, doctors found that Tsoukas’ daughter, then-14-year-old Diana Beasley, had non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

During one of her lectures after the diagnosis, she locked eyes with Conner in the 80-student lecture. She had taught him in his freshman year and asked to talk to him after class.

“He waited there in Posvar [Hall] for me and I just lost it,” Tsoukas said. “I told him, ‘My daughter has cancer.’ And he was incredible.”

Tsoukas said Conner’s presence in class bolstered her spirits, as she was frequently tired by long stays in the hospital.

“He was just incredibly engaged with me on a level that was extraordinarily mature and beyond helpful,” Tsoukas said. “I honestly can say that I got through that hour every day in that class because he saved me.”

But Conner surpassed expectations, as his help extended beyond the classroom. He wanted to reach out to Beasley.

Conner brought something into class one day, asking Tsoukas if she would deliver it to her daughter.

Inside of the parcel was an autographed photo of Conner and a handwritten letter.

While Beasley said she wishes to keep the letter personal — she’s only shown it to a select number of people — she said Conner shared a story about a hometown friend who had cancer, inspiring confidence.

“It meant a lot because I had been getting a lot of cards that said, ‘Get well,’” Beasley said.

“But to get an actual letter, just talking about how someone really relates and that they’re thinking of me is really cool and really nice.”

Conner’s words wowed Tsoukas.

“The letter was the most careful piece of writing. Every word counted,” Tsoukas said. “It was beautiful.”

See Conner on page 10

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December 7, 2015

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Conner, pg. 8 Beasley, who is now cancer free at age 15, tweeted at Conner after news of his Hodgkin’s lymphoma broke, saying she’ll write a letter of her own to Conner now.

“It’s going to be hard at times, but in the end it all goes back to normal so quickly,” Beasley said later. “You can’t give up. You have to keep smiling.”

Throughout his life, Conner has been there for those in trying circumstances, whether for close friends like the Gallaghers or strangers like Beasley. What goes around comes around, and Conner will have an army of supporters throughout his fight.

Gallagher said he knows this setback will all work itself out. Prior to his diagnosis, Gallagher said Conner had been struggling with his decision regarding whether or not to enter the NFL Draft.

He was worried about letting down Pitt fans by leaving. But now, Conner said he will beat cancer and return to Heinz Field next season. “[The prospect of disappointing fans] really concerned him,” Gallagher said. “So I actually think this is some greater plan. It’s going to be a hell of a comeback. It’s going to be one heck of a story.”

Pitt to face Reynolds, No. 21 Navy in Military Bowl Chris Puzia

Assistant Sports Editor The Pitt football team will play No. 21 U.S. Naval Academy in the Military Bowl in Annapolis, Maryland, on Dec. 28.

The Panthers (8-4, 6-2 ACC) will compete in a bowl game for the eighth straight year after gaining eligibility with at least six wins and will face off against the 9-2 Midshipmen.

Navy lost its last game Nov. 27, to No. 14 Houston, which beat Pitt 35-34 in last season’s Armed Forces Bowl.

The Midshipmen rely heavily on the ground attack and rank second in the country with 330 rushing yards per game. They rank 16th in the country with 37 points per game.

Pitt leads the all-time series against Navy 22-14-1.

Navy runs its offense through Heisman contender Keenan Reynolds. The quarterback has 19 rushing touchdowns and more than

1,000 yards on the ground this season to tack on to his six passing scores.

After losing to Notre Dame Oct. 10, Navy rattled off five straight wins, including a 45-20 victory over then-No. 13 Memphis.

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said in a release that he and the team are excited to play a nationally ranked opponent in the bowl game.

“Given our close proximity to Annapolis, we are looking for a great contingent of Pitt fans to make the short trek and see us play one more time this year,” Narduzzi said.

Some Pitt players, however, expressed mixed feelings on social media about the selection, as Pitt was at one point a contender

for tier-one bowl games.

“I’m patiently waiting for them to say ‘sike naw’,” Pitt defensive back Jevonte Pitts tweeted.

Linebacker Bam Bradley added, “A tier 2 bowl at 8-4. Wow!” Shortly after, defensive back Reggie Mitchell and others posted that they were still thankful for the opportunity to play another game.

“Gonna be a great bowl experience,” Mitchell tweeted. “[Playing] vs a great team & spending time in MD/DC area will be fun!”

The bowl game will kick off 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.

The Pitt News SuDoku 12/7/15 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

pittnews.com

December 7, 2015

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I Rentals & Sublet N D E X -NORTH OAKLAND -SOUTH OAKLAND -SHADYSIDE -SQUIRREL HILL -SOUTHSIDE -NORTHSIDE -BLOOMFIELD -ROOMMATES -OTHER

3 & 4 bedroom apartments. Available immediately. Newly remodeled. Air conditioning. Bigelow Blvd., N. Neville St. Call 412-287-5712 **AUGUST 2016: Furnished Studio, 1-2-3-4 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 1,2,3,5,6,7, & 8 bedroom houses. August & May 2016.

Bouquet, Atwood, Meyran, Ward. Call 412-287-5712.

2 & 3 bedroom houses, Lawn & Ophelia. Available Now. Please call 412287-5712.

2-3-4 bedroom South Oakland apartments for rent. For more information or to schedule a viewing, please call 412-849-8694.

3BR apartment available for Spring semester. Central air, dishwasher, great location and discounted price.

412-915-0856

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Employment

-CHILDCARE -FOOD SERVICES -UNIVERSITY -INTERNSHIPS -RESEARCH STUDIES -VOLUNTEERING -OTHER

Classifieds

For Sale

-AUTO -BIKES -BOOKS -MERCHANDISE -FURNITURE -REAL ESTATE -TICKETS

2-3-4-5-6-7 bedroom apartments and houses available in May and August 2016. Nice, clean, free laundry, includes exterior maintenance, new appliances, spacious, located on Meyran, Semple, Wellsford, Dawson, Juliet. 412-414-9629.

3444 WARD ST. Studio, 1-2-3 BR apartments available Aug. 1, 2016. Free parking, free heating.

320 S. BOUQUET 2BR, great location, move in May 1, 2016.

416 OAKLAND AVE. - 2BR, hardwood floors. Move in May 1 or Aug. 1, 2016. Call 412-361-2695. No evening calls please.

4 BR townhouse, Semple St., available May 1st & August 1st, 2016. Equipped kitchen, full basement. 412-343-4289.

Call after 5:00 pm.

6, 7, or 8-bedroom house. Washer & dryer available. NO PETS. Available August 1, 2016. One year lease. Meyran Ave. 5 minute walk to University of Pittsburgh. 412-983-5222.

Apartments for rent beginning August 2016. A/C, dishwasher, washer/dryer.

412-915-0856

Services

-EDUCATIONAL -TRAVEL -HEALTH -PARKING -INSURANCE

Brand new, completely renovated 5 BR, 2 full bath house.

All appliances including washer and dryer are brand new and included. Too many features to list. Close to Magee Women’s Hospital. On Pitt shuttle and PAT bus lines. 10 minute walk to Univ. of Pittsburgh. $2500/mo.

412-983-0400

Clean, Newly Remodeled Houses and Apartments.

1-9 Bedrooms. Call 412-680-4244 or email s.cusick@comcast.net www.superiorpropertiesgroup.com.

House for RentJuliet Street.

Available January 2016.

Big 3-bedroom, 2story house 1.5 bath, fully-equipped eatin kitchen/appliances/new refrigerator, living, dining room, 2 porches, full basement, laundry/ storage, parking on premises, super clean, move-in condition. Near universities/hospitals/bus. $1700+.

412-337-3151

John CR Kelly Realty has 1-2-3-4 bedroom studio apartments available for rent for Fall 2016. Call 412683-7300 to make an appointment today!

Announcements -ADOPTION -EVENTS -LOST AND FOUND -STUDENT GROUPS -WANTED -OTHER

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

Free parking. Minutes to campus. Cat friendly. Call 412977-0111.

Looking for male sublet for spring semester. 367 Atwood St. Apt 1. $600/month. Washer/Dryer. Parking spot available. Clean and quiet roommate.

Please call Patrick at 412-780-6777.

Nice 6BR house available Aug. 1, 2016.

Laundry on site. To make an appointment call 412-812-9382.

Renovated Large Three Bedroom Townhome for Rent.

Available January 2016. The kitchen features frost free refrigerator with automatic ice maker, fullsize range, self-cleaning oven, dishwasher, garbage disposal and microwave. The bath has been completely updated. All floor coverings and window treatments are brand new. Your own washer and dryer are included. On University of Pittsburgh shuttle and PAT bus lines. Two blocks to Magee Women’s Hospital. $1,275/mo, contact 724-422-2250.

R INSERTIONS 1X 2X 3X 4X 5X 6X ADDITIONAL A 1-15 WORDS $6.30 $11.90 $17.30 $22.00 $27.00 $30.20 $5.00 T 16-30 WORDS $7.50 $14.20 $20.00 $25.00 $29.10 $32.30 $5.40 E S DEADLINE: TWO BUSINESS DAYS PRIOR BY 3 PM | EMAIL: ADVERTISING@PITTNEWS.COM | PHONE: 412.648.7978 (EACH ADDITIONAL WORD: $0.10)

Various 1-bedroom apartments on Meyran, Pier & Ward Streets. Starting from $675-$795. Available August 2016. Call John CR Kelly Realty. 412-682-7300 Various 2-bedroom apartments on Meyran, Halket, Fifth, Ward & Bates Streets. Starting from $995-$1,675. Available in August 2016.

Call John CR Kelly Realty. 412-683-7300.

Various 3&4 bedroom apartments on Bates, Atwood, Semple & Meyran Streets. Starting from $1,675- $2,600. Now renting for Fall 2016.

Call John CR Kelly Realty. 412-683-7300.

3 & 5 bedroom. May 2016. Sarah St. Large bedroom, new kitchen, air conditioning, washer & dryer, dishwasher, large deck. 412-287-5712.

December 7, 2015

SEASONAL MARKETING ASSISTANT Shadyside property management firm established in 1960 neeeds two Seasonal Marketing Assistants to work with Word, internet, & spreadsheet files from approximately December 15th to July 15th, four days/week from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Saturday and/or Sunday hours a must; some flexibility on days and hours will be considered; most hours will be solitary on the computer with no phone work; 40 WPM 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 www.mozartrents .com 412-682-7003

OFFFICE INTERN Shadyside Management Company seeks person w/ min 3 yrs. college, for upcoming spring semester, to interview & process rental applications, do internet postings & help staff our action-central office. Part time or full time OK starting January 2; full time in summer. $12/hour.

Perfect job for graduating seniors set to enter grad school, returning grad students, and first-year law students!

Mozart Management 412.682.7003. thane@mozartrents.com College or graduate school students needed to work with elementary school children in a fun, structured after school program in the South Hills. $11-$13 per hour, flexible hours, must have own transportation. Email resume or letter of interest to jhroberts66@comcast.net

SMOKERS NEEDED! Researchers at UPMC are looking to enroll healthy adult cigarette smokers ages 18-65. This research is examining the influence of brief uses of FDA-approved nicotine patch or nicotine nasal spray on mood and behavior. The study involves a brief physical exam and five sessions lasting two hours each. Eligible participants who complete all sessions will receive up to $250, or $20 per hour. This is NOT a treatment study. For more information, call 412-2465396 or visit www.SmokingStudies.pitt.edu

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pittnews.com

December 7, 2015

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