The Pitt News
The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | January 25, 2018 | Volume 108 | Issue 97
COMMUNITY CALLS FOR FINANCIAL SAFETY NET
PITT VS. NC STATE, PG.9
Remy Samuels Staff Writer
Valkyrie Speaker was one of several who shed tears while sharing experiences of financial struggle before and during college Wednesday afternoon. “When I applied to Pitt, I was homeless,” Speaker said. “I’m lucky to be here on academic scholarship, but it still feels like I don’t have a home to go home to.” Speaker, a junior studying English writing and film, was one of 50 first-generation students, alumni and faculty who shared stories about homelessness and the struggle to afford college in a fishbowl-style talk Wednesday in the Amy Knapp Room of the Hillman Library Wednesday. The Open Door Project, a new Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences diversity and inclusion initiative, hosted the community conversation event, titled Strengthening Our Safety Net for Students. Attendees gathered to discuss the challenges they faced at Pitt and how their socioeconomic status limited their academic experiences. The first part of the event was a “fishbowl” discussion, in which a small group of speakers talked about a topic while a larger group encircles them and listens in. At this event, though, when someone from outside the circle had an idea they wanted to share, they would tap on a speaker’s shoulder and replace them in the “fishbowl.” The second part consisted of people breaking off into smaller groups to discuss different topics and write their ideas for change on large whiteboards. Michele Lagnese, the director of Student Support Services — an organization funded by the U.S. Department of Education that awards funds to assist college students in meeting basic college See Safety Net on page 7
Senior Marcus Carr (5), first-year Terrell Brown (21) and the rest of Pitt men’s basketball held an early lead Wednesday, but lost to NC State with a final score of 68-72. Chiara Rigaud | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
University Senate avoids union, frat
Janine Faust and Mackenzie Rodrigues The Pitt News Staff
While the Pitt community is buzzing about both the recent suspension of Pitt’s Sigma Chi chapter after a student was hospitalized Jan. 19 and the faculty union organizers’ card-signing campaign kickoff Monday, the University Senate Council did not address either subject during its first meeting of the new semester. When approached for interviews after the meeting regarding those topics, Provost Patricia Beeson was unavailable to discuss the union and Dean of Students Kenyon Bonner left before he could give a comment on the Greek life incident. Pitt spokespeople at the meeting offered to answer questions via email, but a spokesperson did not respond to ques-
tions about the union or fraternity in time for publication. During the Senate Council meeting, however, Chancellor Patrick Gallagher did discuss the recent controversy surrounding the Communication Department. After former Pitt professor Carol Stabile published an article in Ms. Magazine claiming there was widespread harassment and discrimination within the department in the early 2000s, Pitt’s Title IX office began an investigation into Stabile’s claims. “This is completely consistent with how we’ve addressed other things. If people are aware of something that is discriminatory or damaging to others in the Pitt community, there is a place to report that, in this case our IX offices,” Gallagher said.
He had previously addressed the harassment claims in December, saying the University is wholly committed to the safety of its students and employees. And at Wednesday’s meeting, he further explained how vital it is to receive information about this case. “If we’re going to make things better and address problems, the most important thing is that those channels are open,” Gallagher said. Gallagher also thanked the Pitt community for sending “some 6,000 messages to Washington” about the Republican Senate tax bill, which initially proposed a tax on tuition waivers. Such a move would have affected 145,000 graduate students, but after widespread protest, that part of the bill was dropped. “Many of the most adverse provisions that See Senate on page 3