2-27-20

The Pitt News

UPDATE: Fossil Free continues occupation as vote approaches at pittnews.com

T h e i n d e p e n d e n t s t ude nt ne w spap e r of t he U niversity of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | February 27, 2020 ­| Volume 110 | Issue 230

PITT MEN’S LACROSSE HUNGRY FOR WINS IN 2020

ORANGE CRUSH PANTHERS PG. 9

Marshall Worth Staff Writer

After finishing 7-7 and suffering a firstround playoff defeat in 2019, Pitt men’s lacrosse is hungry for more this season.

So hungry, in fact, that the team recently ate a whopping 990 chicken wings over the course of an hour.

Twenty-eight of the team’s 31 members — an average of 35 wings per person — helped contribute to the feat of jaw-dropping determination and sheer will. The wings came courtesy of William Penn Tavern in Shady- First-year forward Justin Champagnie competes for possession of the ball. Joy Cao | staff photographer side, which head coach Richard Rattner has owned for nearly 20 years.

“That was a grind,” first-year midfielder Phil Tarling said. “But it’s a great example of how strong our bond is off the field. It’s tough to imagine another group of guys who would do something like that. The fact that According to FFPC organizers, 25 stuor stretch of floor of the Cathedral’s comour program emphasizes the importance of Emily Wolfe dents stayed overnight over in the Cathemons room before going to sleep almost brotherhood is great and our closeness defi- Contributing Editor dral last Friday night, the first night of the every night since Friday.

He’s not alone — nitely carries over onto the field.”

Sleeping on the stone floor of the Caoccupation.

That number had nearly doudozens of other students who are pushing So far this season, the team’s chemistry thedral of Learning commons room is bad, bled to 46 by the fifth day on Tuesday night.

Pitt to divest its endowment from fossil has certainly carried over to the field. The Zachary Delaney said, but it’s not as bad as Abhishek Viswanathan, an organizer with fuels have been staying overnight during Panthers are 2-0 and sitting atop the West you might think.

FFPC and a second-year doctoral student the Fossil Free Pitt Coalition’s 24/7 “occudivision of the Continental Lacrosse ConferDelaney, a junior environmental studies pation” of the building ahead of the Friday in information science, said the growing See LAX on page 10 major, has set out his yoga mat on a bench meeting of Pitt’s Board of Trustees.

See Protest on page 2

CATHEDRAL AFTER DARK: DIVESTMENT PROTEST GROWS AS BOARD MEETING NEARS

4/30/20

News Protest, pg. 1

amount of student and community support is one reason the coalition was confident about its ability to hold an effective occupation of the Cathedral.

“We have enough organizing prowess, as well as community support, to be able to escalate to the point where we can do an occupation,” Viswanathan said. “Nothing else seems to be working. We have tried everything else.”

FFPC has held a number of actions over the past few months demanding that Pitt’s Board of Trustees hold a vote on divestment from fossil fuels at its meeting this Friday. After disrupting a September Board of Trustees meeting held at the Johnstown branch campus, the coalition held a series of weekly sit-ins outside Chancellor Patrick Gallagher’s office throughout the fall semester and hosted a rally outside the Cathedral earlier this month.

While the University said the Board of Trustees will take steps related to socially responsible investing at its Friday meeting, it also confirmed it will not vote to divest.

FFPC has not yet been successful in getting the Board to take this vote, an action the coalition says needs to be taken as soon as possible.

Delaney, a program associate in the Student Office of Sustainability, said he places a T-shirt over his eyes to block out the light in order to sleep. He gets a good seven hours of sleep a night, he said.

“The floors are pretty hard. They’re pretty cold. They really will suck all the heat out of your body. They’re also a little bit dirty, there’s no surprise in any of those things,” Delaney said, joking, “It’s just like home.”

During the day, the FFPC sit-in has been receiving a number of curious passersby and supporters, including politicians like State Rep. Sara Innamorato, D-21, and several members of the Allegheny County Council. At night, though, the commons room is less busy, with few visitors stopping to ask about the signs and papers laid out across the floor. Many of the protesters sit at tables marked with small felt orange flags, working quietly. Others set out Board

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Dozens of students who are pushing Pitt to divest its endowment from fossil fuels have been staying overnight during the Fossil Free Pitt Coalition’s 24/7 occupation of the Cathedral of Learning. Sarah Cutshall | visual editor games on the floor.

Those who are staying the night for the first time are asked to attend an information session where organizers review and explain the FFPC’s organizing principles.

“Don’t do something you wouldn’t do at your parents’ house” while at the Cathedral, one organizer told students Tuesday night.

Even at 11 p.m., there’s the regular small group of non-FFPC students working on projects or papers on the other side of the commons room. Their tables aren’t marked by orange flags, but they’re aware of their fellow students protesting just a few feet away.

Evie Miller, a sophomore political science and anthropology double-major, said FFPC’s signs were eye-catching and that she found the group’s form of protest effective.

“Doing this form of peaceful protesting is a way to make your message obvi-

ous and have it be heard, but you’re not really obstructing anything,” Miller said.

“This is a great space for that to happen, because they’re not really interfering with anything.”

As midnight approached on Tuesday, though, the people studying trickled out of the Cathedral and FFPC protesters began laying out blankets or yoga mats on the hard floor. Some stretched out under the long wooden tables of the commons room to shield their eyes, trying to block as much of the bright light as they could.

Delaney said he isn’t an organizer or one of FFPC’s most-involved members, but he participated in the group’s fall sitins and he’s spent almost every night at the Cathedral since the protest began. Even if his role is just to show solidarity and “fill space,” Delaney said, he feels like he’s supporting the movement.

“What brought me to this movement here was recognizing what my role is as a

February 27, 2020

student and as a stakeholder in this University,” Delaney said. “I want to push as much energy as I can into things like this despite not having a specific role in their organization.”

Viswanathan compared FFPC’s occupation to the historic 1969 sit-in staged by Pitt’s nascent Black Action Society, when protesters seized control of the Cathedral’s computer center to demand better treatment for black students. The University celebrated the 50th anniversary of the BAS action last year, but Viswanathan said he found Pitt’s praise of the action hollow and hypocritical when compared to its response to FFPC. “They spoke very eloquently about how these students recognized the injustices of their time and took bold action so that the administrators would just listen,” Viswanathan said.

“Somehow, they failed to see the parallels to today.”

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February 27, 2020

3

Opinions

columns

SOCIAL MEDIA SHOULD RESTICT DIET MARKETING

Peter Kavinsky is cancelled Shruti Talekar staff illustrator

Genna Edwards Staff Columnist

Eli Savage contributing editor

Nina Santucci

people’s mental health and body image, as well as the fact that influencers sometimes credit their unrealistic body types to diet products such as deAs the popularity of social media increases, tox teas, and their followers buy into it with the social media influencers are becoming as wellhopes of achieving the same “ideal” body. known and influential as the biggest celebrities.

Instagram’s updated restrictions are a step Oftentimes, these influencers are lauded and in the right direction for making social media a admired for their conventionally perfect bodbetter environment for its mostly young and imies — bodies usually owed to expensive cosmetic pressionable audience and will hopefully lessen surgery. exposure to the harmful messages often sent by Knowing this, Instagram recently announced diet products. that “tighter restrictions are to be imposed on From ages 18 to 25, the brain is most sussome posts related to diet products and cosmetic ceptible to lifelong changes, making these years surgery.” This change was implemented in revital to healthy development. These ages are also sponse to the impact that content involving diet, See Santucci on page 5 detox and cosmetic surgery can have on young

Staff Columnist

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Editor’s note: This column contains spoilers for “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” and “To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You.” If you’ve been on Netflix lately or talked to anyone who knows anything about pop culture, you’ve likely heard that the sequel to “To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before” hit the internet earlier this month. It’s been a smash hit, not generating exactly the same kind of hype as the first film — because truly, you can’t replicate that — but still being lauded as a solid sequel to a beloved first.

The primary takeaway from the film is its love triangle. Lara Jean, our introverted protagonist who simply loves love, is with new boyfriend Peter Kavinsky at the start of the film. Kavinsky is the athlete she pretended to date in the franchise’s first installment until they, you know, actually fell in love. But now, Lara Jean has run into another one of the boys she wrote a love letter to — John Ambrose, an

February 27, 2020

old flame who’s volunteering at the same old folks’ home as she.

Discourse surrounding this film is of the “which team are you on” variety, pitting Peter against John Ambrose — who should Lara Jean have picked? Spoiler alert — she ends up picking Peter again. Fans are divided based on the outward facts — John Ambrose is kinder than Peter, arguably smarter than Peter, more in touch with his emotions and feelings in an adult-like way.

While I agree with all the above points, we’re ignoring the real issue of how the double standard of slut shaming is handled. Peter didn’t stand up for Lara Jean when an ex-best friend of hers posted a sexual video of Lara online without Lara’s consent — thus he is canceled, y’all.

Peter knew that his ex, Gen, who was also Lara Jean’s former childhood best friend, took and posted the video of him and Lara Jean in the hot tub in the first film. Peter knew this See Edwards on page 5

4

Santucci, pg. 4 the main audiences for Youtube, Instagram and Facebook — the primary platforms diet products are sold on. Keeping these two factors in mind, consider also that people between the ages of 14 to 25 are the most at risk for developing disordered eating habits. The current prevalence of disordered eating among college students ranges from 8 to 17%. These statistics demonstrate why it is so vital that the marketing of diet products on social media is more strictly controlled.

The brands that market these diet products utilize the fact that social media is a breeding ground for insecurities, and they target these vulnerable age groups in order to make a profit.

“Everyone knows by now that these teas are powered by paid promotions, so it’s no surprise that accounts with anywhere from 100k-1 million followers make quite a bit of cash from these sponsorships,” said Thought Catalog, after athlete and YouTuber Arianna Dantone posted the promotion price of nearly $12,000 for endorsing FitTea. “No amount of money is worth promoting unhealthy options to extremely impressionable audiences.”

The endorsement and marketing of these products can cause horrendous side effects. After using a popular diet tea, SkinnyMe Tea, some users experienced unhealthy reactions and even hospitalizations. The Australian Medical Association repeatedly expressed concerns toward the company for portrayal of unrealistic weight loss and the “glorification of self-harm.” These events resulted in the brand’s Instagram page being shut down.

Influencers and celebrities often have paid sponsorships for promoting products like SkinnyMe Tea. After Iggy Azalea posted a photo to her 12-million-follower Instagram showcasing her abs while holding a Flat Tummy Co. meal replacement shake, actress and body acceptance advocate Jameela Jamil responded with fire.

“When will these women who are covered in plastic surgery stop telling their followers to drink a laxative to look like them?” Jamil wrote. “It’s so embarrassing and it’s so encouraging of eating disordered behavior.”

A key reason why these products are so dangerous is because their first ingredient is typically Senna, an extremely powerful laxative. Basically, Senna causes weight loss by increasing the amount one poops, but also it also causes food to move through the body quicker, preventing necessary calories and nutrients from being properly absorbed.

According to the National Institutes of Health, “Senna has insufficient evidence for

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weight loss … but it can cause stomach troubles, cramps and diarrhea.” They also warned that using Senna for more than two weeks can cause unusual bowel functions, changes in electrolyte balance that can lead to severe damage or illness.

Eventually, Senna can cause the intestines to become dependent on it and once stopped can lead to constipation, bloating and weight gain — the opposite of the intended results.

Feedback on such diet products may seem to prove that they work, but truthfully they’re only effective in weight loss because drinking extra water naturally helps the body flush out excess salt to release retained water. Also, drinking more water provides the feeling of being fuller, which can lead to less calorie intake. Detox tea isn’t needed for this to happen, as plain water can cause the same effect with less risk — no need to pay for the unnecessary product.

Considering that nearly 2.7 billion people use social media, it’s an ideal platform to advertise and sell on. Instead of relying on people to search for a product that they want to purchase, social media allows products to appear on people’s feed in ads and posts — basically bringing the product to them. Shopping for beautification products may seem better on social media because the posts and ads are aided by what’s interpreted as reliable pictures showing results of products — such as those used to sell diet products.

Selling these products on their own would be unsuccessful, so diet companies depend on influencers to sell the products by redirecting the focus of the product onto the influencer.

This causes the audience to associate the influencer with the prospective result of the product and overlook the product itself. Because influencers are perceived as trustworthy in the public eye, it’s easier for them to take advantage of their audiences — and it helps that most audiences are impressionable.

By tightening its policies and ensuring a safer platform, Instagram is calling necessary attention to the dangers of toxic body expectations while also contributing to tackling the issue. As one of the most highly accessible and influential media platforms today, Instagram’s new restrictions are setting the tone for what should be expected of any platform with the responsibility of “influence.”

The beauty conveyed on social media and among celebrities has been endorsed, sponsored and paid for. It’s not reality — it’s designed to take advantage of vulnerable and impressionable audiences.

Email Nina at nns16@pitt.edu or follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @ninaboebeana

Edwards, pg. 4 and lied to Lara Jean, saying he didn’t know who took the video, even though he knew Gen took and posted it.

At first glance, the video isn’t too risque — Lara Jean’s back is to the camera, and she’s pretty covered up by the water and her swimsuit. But Lara Jean herself calls it an accidental “sex tape” in the first movie — and really, it doesn’t matter the degree to which it was risque. Even the hint of sexuality there caused widespread school ridicule, with a screenshot from the video printed out and hung on her locker. Someone wrote under it “it’s always the ones you never expect!!”

As Lara Jean’s boyfriend, Peter really dropped the damn ball here. For a guy who claims to care about her, his response and handling of Gen and the video were miserable at best. Things that happen online are serious — posting that video was in no way cool.

But a “sex tape” that could be argued to be revenge child pornography? You, Peter, are just gonna sit back and not call out Gen for that, only saying once in the halls that “nothing happened in the hot tub?” The entire school at this point thinks Lara Jean and Peter had sex and Lara Jean’s being slut shamed about it, and Peter has no more to say on the subject.

Weak sauce. No. No, no no.

When Lara Jean finds out that he lied to her in the second movie, the exchange goes really poorly. Peter admits that he knew Gen posted the video. Laura Jean calls him out for denying it, and he says he didn’t tell her because he didn’t want her beef with Gen to grow.

Peter goes on to say he didn’t tell her to “protect” her. That, my man, is not what protection looks like. Protection would’ve been ratting Gen out. Protection would’ve been not talking to Gen after that. Protection would’ve been standing up for Lara Jean. Sexual videos posted online can ruin lives — especially for young women, as the slutshaming that follows can tear down even the most confident.

Peter was way too blase about this, not thinking for a second about the consequences of his or his ex’s actions.

Slut shaming is now easier than ever, with phones making it possible to put pictures and videos online and incite ridicule with the click of a button. These videos aren’t just pranks that can be ignored, minor trivialities of surviving high school — a double standard exists regarding how online content is received and talked about, especially if that content is

February 27, 2020

of a sexual nature. And it plays out exactly like this in the movie. Lara Jean herself notes that she will receive a negative response, but that guys don’t face the same kind of backlash when it comes to leaked sexual footage.

For many young girls and women, slut shaming can lead to increased psychological distress. This distress can lead to disordered eating and self-harm practices that follow women into adulthood, along with depression and anxiety. The bullying that follows being slut shamed, the continuous cycle of it, the wrongful reputations that begin to form, this can even lead to suicide.

Peter does not step outside himself here — he does not empathize even a tiny bit. As a man, this type of thing doesn’t hurt him. He’ll be lauded for it, given pats on the back. For Lara Jean, that isn’t the case. For Lara Jean, it could have ended way worse than it does. The movies and books don’t go down that route, but the reality of a situation like this is clear.

Peter doesn’t seem to understand, at all, the implications of such a horrible act. Gen put Lara Jean in a position likely to cause her extreme distress, as it does, and Peter still protected Gen’s identity.

While I agree that John Ambrose is far more mature than Peter Kavinsky, that he’s kinder and softer and lovely and plays the piano, oh Lord, that isn’t really what matters here. Peter sided with his ex-girlfriend when she posted a revenge video of Lara intended to harm her. Peter didn’t defend Lara Jean from the slut shaming that the video caused.

Peter did not empathize the way he should’ve.

John is the obvious choice simply because he never — and would never, I’d like to believe — put Lara Jean in a position like that. Peter loses by default. The man is cancelled.

I hold no bad blood against Lara Jean for choosing Peter — in fact, I think her choice really showed her autonomy and ability to stick to her gut, and it’s important for young women to see that. If you’re not attracted to a man, even if he is the better option than your current squeeze, you are never at fault for that.

But at the end of the day, we as viewers need to be smarter. I love comparing the hotness of two dudes as much as the next lad, but let’s not ignore when there are glaring inconsistencies in how fictional men talk and act.

Peter Kavinsky may have great eyes and a great laugh, but he fundamentally misunderstands the impact of slut shaming and how terrible Gen’s actions towards Laura Jean were. Throw the whole man out.

5

Culture

GETTING MORE THAN SPOOKY WITH THE GEORGE A. ROMERO DOCUMENTARY CLASS

Brenden Rearick For The Pitt News

The energy in room 244 of the Cathedral was frantic — people rushed about setting up light fixtures and preparing camera angles.

The students, acting as their own gaffers and grips, were preparing on short notice for an important interview in a location that they had never shot at before.

The interview was with Gary Streiner, a film producer who got his start working on the 1968 George Romero film “Night of the Living Dead.” Streiner visited the class to talk about his early work with Romero, who was both his collaborator and good friend.

All this is part of the film studies course “Making the Documentary: George Romero

and Pittsburgh,” taught by Hollywood screenwriter and Pittsburgh native Carl Kurlander.

Kurlander said that, through the class, students are learning about both the filmography of George Romero — considered the father of independent horror films — and his relationship with the City of Pittsburgh.

“People think about zombies [when they think of Romero] – they don’t realize that he was an artist, that he chose to stay in Pittsburgh as opposed to everyone else who left and went to Hollywood,” he says. “Pittsburgh was his muse.”

According to Kurlander, other members of the George A. Romero Foundation proposed the idea of the course to him. When Hillman Library acquired the Romero film archive, a

celebratory event at the library led Suzanne Romero, George Romero’s wife, and Adam Lowenstein, a film studies professor at Pitt, to approach Kurlander with the idea for a class.

Kurlander said he was hesitant at first because of his fear of horror films, but ultimately agreed upon seeing the artistry involved in Romero’s horror works. “[I said] ‘Oh no, I don’t even like horror movies,’” Kurlander said, “but I watched all of the horror movies that I was scared by and I actually found them very artistic.”

Kurlander said the 15 students enrolled have undertaken the responsibility of studying Romero’s films shot in Pittsburgh — a total of 14 movies. To succeed in the monumental task, most students have selected a single

movie of the filmography to become an expert on, and some have decided to research his history within the City in general.

Kurlander said many people tend to forget about Romero’s place in the pantheon of famous Pittsburghers, and by teaching the course from the angle of his relationship with the City, he has been able to give students an appreciation for his decision to stay local.

Senior and English literature major Molly Goodheart said she is a fanatic of horror films, particularly that of Romero. She said she appreciates travelling around the City and constantly recognizing locations as scenes from Romero’s films.

“He filmed a lot of films here in PittsSee Romero on page 7

review

‘Emma’ is a joyous, low-stakes historical escape Simon Sweeney Staff Writer

Adapting for the screen a novel that’s a solid few years into its third century of existence is far from an easy task. For Jane Austen’s “Emma,” there have been seven miniseries adaptations and two film versions from the mid 1990s, a straightforward telling starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Amy Heckerling’s classic teen-drama twist on the story, “Clueless.”

Director Autumn de Wilde and writer Eleanor Catton face the challenge of bringing something new to Austen’s text while faithfully shifting it to the screen. They don’t twist the book around as some other literary adaptations have, instead having their “Emma” stick to its strong points –– a slate full of great performances, a witty script, top-tier design and cinematography –– to give you a wildly entertaining two hours of fancy dress and snippy Brits.

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“Emma” is de Wilde’s feature film directorial debut, but she holds a remarkable oeuvre of photography and music video direction, having worked with Elliott Smith, The White Stripes, Death Cab for Cutie and most other notable indie rock figures of the past few decades. The skill transference is evident, with shots clearly composed by the confident hand of a stellar photographer. Nearly every frame could stand alone as a gorgeous still photo, blocked and lit to perfection.

More surprisingly, her direction in other areas is almost as assured, pulling pitch-perfect performances out of a cast that’s well-rounded, if not star-studded. Mostly made up of actors known for TV work or minor parts in blockbusters, the ensemble elevates together to feature film. One of these actors delivers the film’s funniest performance, with Tanya Reynolds, best known as Lily on Netflix’s “Sex Education,” taking a big bite out of the scenery as the high-

falutin Mrs. Elton. Bill Nighy, one of the most dependable actors alive –– we’ll not hold “Detective Pikachu” against him –– is the only “big name” in the cast and is delightful as Emma’s elderly father, who’s just about had it with everything.

Emma herself is played by Anya Taylor-Joy, who has enjoyed a few years as an indie darling on the back of Robert Eggers’ “The Witch” and starring in a pair of M. Night Shyamalan successes. She now seems ready for a push to the A-list with “Emma.” She plays the “handsome, clever and rich” heroine of the novel’s opening line with an unbridled charm, pulling Austen’s wicked-sharp sense of humor to the forefront of her portrayal. She spends the film hopping between exasperating others and being exasperated herself, playing off of Nighy, the relentlessly annoying Miss Bates (Miranda Hart), hopeless Mr. Elton (Josh O’Connor) and the rest of the cast, who admirably rise to, and stay at, Taylor-

February 27, 2020

Joy’s level.

Taylor-Joy’s primary supporters are Emma’s best friend –– semi-spoilers, if you live in 1815 –– Harriet Smith (Mia Goth) and Harriet’s romantic interest, the gallant Mr. Knightley (Johnny Flynn), respectively. Goth, who, like TaylorJoy, broke out with doom and gloom roles in indie horror flicks, plays far afield from her previously established type, embodying Harriet with a pure glee in her lighter moments and a timid sadness in her trying times. Harriet’s relationship with Emma, a real friendship that survives the latter’s misguided romantic machinations at the former’s expense, is brought alive by the two actresses, pulling it into the future without even having to change the setting, à la “Clueless.”

“Emma” moves at a healthy clip from one of the titular character’s problems to another, rarely settling in for anything resembling a serene, See Emma on page 7

6

Romero, pg. 6 burgh,” she said. “It’s so fun to walk around and be like, ‘Oh George was here.’”

The students enrolled in the course come from largely different academic backgrounds.

Most of them are not film students, but rather horror fans who were hooked by the idea of a Romero-themed course and some who were unaware of Romero’s impact on the movie industry.

Owen Gambill, an undecided first-year, said he originally did not know of Romero’s legacy in film beyond “Night of the Living Dead.”

“I really had no idea who George Romero was coming into it,” he said, “[but] I was ready to see what happened, and the first day of class I instantly fell in love with it.”

Gambill said the course has been unlike anything he expected and talked about going to another interview earlier in the week at the house of Tony Buba, an acclaimed documentary filmmaker.

“I don’t know what other class you can do that in,” he said.

The students interviewed Romero collaborator and close friend Streiner on Feb. 20 and undertook the responsibility of recording the interview.

According to the students, the vision of Kurlander and the class at large is to compile the interview footage they record and make it into a short documentary on Romero’s life and how he sparked the independent horror film movement by keeping his movies in Pittsburgh. Goodheart said the final for the class will combine their work into a documentary film.

“Since we have all of these interviews, we’re just going to compile them, and we’re going to try to make a little documentary,” she said.

The class has so far interviewed a number of Romero associates including Suzanne Romero, Buba, filmographer Tom Dubensky and Striener, among others. According to Kurlander, the class has also compiled five to six hours of interview footage so far at the halfway point of the semester. He said the class does not have a set schedule of interviews — they will simply continue gathering footage as they come across new interviewees.

This idea for a class centered around documenting a Pittsburgh celebrity is not new — Kurlander says that the 50th anniversary of the invention of the polio vaccine led to a

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class-made documentary about Jonas Salk in 2005. The documentary eventually aired on the Smithsonian Channel, under the title “A Shot to Save the World.” After the success of that course, Kurlander said he knew he would design the Romero class similarly to the Salk course. Lowenstein suggested using the same format when he and Suzanne Romero pitched Kurlander the idea. “[Lowenstein] said, ‘you know, we have this [archive of footage] here, you should do what you did with the polio archives,’” Kurlander said.

Romero and his associates’ preference for Pittsburgh allows the class to access a variety of resources on the famed director, including the George A. Romero Foundation’s Pittsburgh headquarters.

According to Kurlander, the board of the foundation has worked closely with students to help provide access to those close to Romero, as well as to the archives of his work.

The foundation, Kurlander said, was created with the intention of broadening the legacy of George Romero from horror director to Pittsburgh icon and independent film father.

“It is important that George is remembered,” he said, “when George knew he had cancer and that he was dying, [his wife] said he didn’t think people would care.”

According to Kurlander, the documentary the students are working on is their way of preserving the legacy of Romero. The footage that does not go into the classes’ final film will be archived elsewhere. He said his ultimate goal of the class is not just to have students appreciate the work of Romero, but also to realize their potential in creating their own film.

“You’re the first generation who ever grew up with the ability to make a movie in your pocket,” he said. “By looking at George Romero’s life, [students] are going to look at their own lives differently.”

Emma, pg. 6 picturesque portrait of English pastorality. This refusal to settle comfortably into the idyll sets up a perfect dropping of the other shoe about three-quarters of the way through the film, when Emma steps too far over the line of tactlessness and nearly traumatizes a friend. TaylorJoy lets the facade drop in the aftermath, letting the tears fall as her voice rises and breaks. It’s a standout moment in an adaptation that leans almost entirely into the farce of Austen’s text during the rest of its runtime — a draft of cool air that lends the resolution a real beauty.

Elsewhere, de Wilde and Catton shy away from leaving the comfortable realm of snappy dialogue and screwball comedy driven by awkward silences, perhaps over-lightening the load the film could conceivably have borne.

“Emma” manages to succeed, most of the time, by holding back from the line of pure saccharinity, maintaining its air of intentional sweetness without overstaying its welcome. It treads it very carefully, threading every moment with the possibility of a tension-deflating pratfall, but it pulls through, leveraging its own lightness into a floating sense of satisfaction.

The aristocratic silliness of Austen’s novel is

brilliantly rendered in a whimsical set of production values — with costumes that may as well already have designer Alexandra Byrne writing her acceptance speech for next year’s Oscars, a striking score from David Schweitzer and “Fleabag” composer Isobel Waller-Bridge and director of photography Christopher Blauvelt’s stunning cinematography.

De Wilde and Blauvelt frame their comedy of manners with two-shots and close-ups aplenty to offset the prettier wide shots of impeccably decorated interiors. Taylor-Joy is often framed either alone looking straight into the camera and then away again as Emma thinks through her social maneuvers or alongside Nighy, as comfortable as he is clearly not floating amongst the airs of high society.

De Wilde’s “Emma” is a great deal of fun, both an impossibly earnest bit of light storytelling and a skewering satire of a high society that doesn’t really exist anymore –– but that’s where the fun lies. It’s brilliantly low-stakes and detached from the many troubles of the present — a clean breeze through 2019’s cinematic smog of birthday party homicides and world wars, evil clowns and scarlet fevers. “Emma” kicks off 2020 in indie-adjacent cinema with a story that’s just a story, a tale to watch and laugh at and, ultimately, love.

The Invisible Man (R) Fri: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Sat & Sun: 12:00, 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Mon & Tue: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Wed: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 Thu: 2:30, 5:00, 7:30, 10:00 The Call of The Wild (PG) No passes through 3/8/20 Fri: 3:00, 5:05, 7:10, 9:15 Sat & Sun: 12:55, 3:00, 5:05, 7:10, 9:15 Mon & Tue: 3:00, 5:05, 7:10, 9:15 Wed: 3:00, 5:05, 7:10, 9:15 Thu: 3:00, 5:05, 7:10, 9:15 Portrait of a Lady on Fire (R) Fri: 2:10, 4:35, 4:35 7:00, 9:25 Sat & Sun: 11:45 AM, 2:10, 4:35, 7:00, 9:25 Mon & Tue: 2:10, 4:35, 7:00, 9:25 Wed: 2:10, 4:35, 7:00, 9:25 Thu: 2:10, 4:35, 7:00, 9:25 The Lodge (R) Fri - Thu: 2:35 PM Parasite (R) Fri: 4:45, 7:20, 9:55 Sat & Sun: 11:55 AM, 4:45, 7:20, 9:55 Mon & Tue: 4:45, 7:20, 9:55 Wed: 4:45, 7:20, 9:55 Thu: 4:45, 7:20, 9:55

February 27, 2020

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pittnews.com

February 27, 2020

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Sports

Pitt flops against SMUTNY, VORSTER LEAD rival Syracuse on PITT AT DAY 1 OF ACC Senior Night CHAMPIONSHIPS

Stephen Thompson and Tyler Mathes The Pitt News Staff

Pitt basketball entered Wednesday night’s matchup with Syracuse on a fourgame skid, desperate to salvage what has been a disheartening second half of the ACC schedule. But in a game that could have proved to be pivotal not only as the Panthers close out this season, but as they approach the impending off season, they failed to show up.

Pitt (15-14 overall, 6-12 ACC) delivered one of its most lackluster performances of the season in a 72-49 loss to rival Syracuse (16-12 overall, 9-8 ACC) on Wednesday night. On its home floor — on Senior Night and with the potential to redeem an ACC resume that has fallen miles behind its own expectations — Pitt simply flopped.

Both teams opened the game tight, shooting a combined 5-16 from the field through the game’s first 4:20. But redshirt junior forward Elijah Hughes opened up the offensive end for Syracuse. He made consecutive buckets following the under-12 media timeout that breathed life into a flat game.

Hughes carried the Orange offense through an ugly first 20 minutes. His 16 points came in bunches and flummoxed both Pitt’s zone and man defensive looks.

His head coach, Jim Boeheim, spoke with dry sarcasm about his leading scorers’ play when visiting the Steel City.

“We should probably come to Pittsburgh more because that seems to be where he always plays well,” Boeheim said.

“I thought he was really good tonight.”

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Hughes finished with 25 points on 8-15 shooting from the field and added nine rebounds for good measure.

The Orange carried a 16-point lead into halftime off the strength of Hughes’ 16 as well as 13 points off of turnovers.

The Panthers committed a ghastly 12 turnovers and let up 22 points in the paint.

Pitt’s body language added to an already depressing story told by the statistics. Lifeless defense and sloppy offense plagued the Panthers on both ends and kept them solidly in the deep hole they had dug for themselves.

Fouls began to mount. In the first half, 13 Panthers penalties awarded Syracuse 12 points from the charity stripe and kept Pitt’s stars on the bench. Sophomore guard Xavier Johnson, first-year guard Karim Coulibaly, junior forward Terrell Brown and sophomore forward Au’Diese Toney all were forced to sit for extended first half minutes due to foul trouble.

Pitt capitalized from the free throw line when it got there, but with only four trips on five fouls, the Orange played the cleaner first half.

For every attempt at a punch Pitt delivered, the Orange responded with one of their own. Hughes continued his hot shooting in the second half and first-year guard Joseph Girard III added a quartet of 3-pointers to help the Orange push their lead to as much as 27.

Pitt head coach Jeff Capel spoke with increasingly common defeat and disappointment when describing his and his team’s performance on Wednesday night.

See Syracuse on page 11

With 104 team points, Pitt currently sits in eighth place out of 12 teams on the first day of the ACC Championships in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Kaycee Orwig | senior staff writer senior Samy Helmbacher, junior Armin ReHenry Jackson menyi and Smutny finished earned eighth Staff Writer place with a time of 6:21.72. This time it was The Pitt men’s swim team got off to a Vorster who got the Panthers off to a blazing strong start on the first day of the ACC start, swimming the best 200-yard freestyle Championships in Greensboro, North Carotime, 1:34.96, in program history. lina, breaking school records and showing With 104 team points, Pitt currently sits serious overall improvement upon previous in eighth place out of 12 ACC teams. seasons. Although a lot of swimming re“It was a very positive start for the team, mains to be seen, it certainly seems Pitt has and we’re ahead of where we were a year ago wandered into unfamiliar yet welcome terriin the opening session,” head coach John tory — the middle of the pack.

Hargis said. “We’re in a spot to battle for In the two relay events offered Wednesteam placement over the next few days.” day, Pitt seniors Luke Smutny and Eben VorAll things considered, it was a producster shined. tive day for the team. Pitt is unlikely to finPitt’s 200-yard medley relay quartet of ish anywhere near the top of the loaded ACC Smutny, sophomore Cooper Van der Laan, during this year’s championship, but for a junior Blaise Vera and junior Ellis Cannon team used to settling in or near last, progress tied for fifth place with a time of 1:25.03. is progress. The Panthers will see if they can Smutny led off the event with a school record maintain their momentum through the next 21.63-second split in the 50-yard backstroke. three days of competition.

In the 800-yard freestyle relay, Vorster,

February 27, 2020

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LAX, pg. 1 ence after blowout victories over division foe Central Michigan, 20-2, and George Washington, 16-1.

“I think we have a lot of potential,” senior captain Brian McCaffrey said. “The guys are bought in and have a lot of talent. I think we can definitely compete for the conference.”

The players credit Rattner, in his first year at the helm after serving as a defensive assistant for the previous seven years, for promoting a culture of tenacity on the field and camaraderie off it. It helps that he has his own restaurant just 10 minutes from campus, where players often get together on the weekends and holidays.

While senior captain Brian McCaffrey says that Rattner can be old-school and tough, never afraid to let a player know if they’re “doggin’ it,” the connections that the coach builds with his team off the field and his personability make it easy for players to want to work hard for him.

“If you’re gonna feed me ham and club soda on Easter,” McCaffrey said, “then I have no problem with you calling me soft if I deserve it.”

pittnews.com

Playing club sports can provide athletes with the perfect balance between athletics and the more traditional lifestyle of a college student. Steadfast commitment is necessary, but the requirements are not so extreme that the athletes’ lives revolve around their sport.

For Pitt men’s lacrosse, it’s all about finding that happy medium. “[Our program] is a great balance of being competitive and serious about lacrosse but also not letting it take total control of everything that we do,” McCaffery said. “It’s awesome that I can wear a big-name school like Pitt across my chest and be serious about representing [the University] while also not having some of the unattractive things of being a student athlete always attached.”

Don’t get it twisted — the Panthers take their craft seriously. Multi-seasonal practices, winter workout regiments and thousands of miles of travel make playing Pitt men’s lacrosse as meaningful of an investment as most.

At the same time, Pitt practices only three times per week, allowing athletes to have a more standard undergraduate experience and not be burdened by the same levels of pressure and commitment as their varsity counterparts.

“Guys are friendly and lighthearted,” junior attackman David McVey said. “But at the same time everybody knows that when it’s time to get down to business, it’s time to get down to business. People know when to flip the switch.”

Pitt played a 14-game regular season in 2019, weathering a tough slate of opponents to finish .500 and qualify for the CLC playoffs. A playoff appearance was a step in the right direction but Pitt has loftier expectations for the 2020 season.

In order to vie for and ultimately win its desired conference championship, which would lead to an appearance in the Men’s Collegiate Lacrosse Association national tournament, Pitt will have to rely heavily on a myriad of underclassmen. With only five upperclassmen on the roster, 84% of the team are either first- or second-year players.

Team veterans see this as evidence that Pitt’s future is bright, while maintaining the belief that the team has the tools to compete at a high level in 2020.

“A lot of sophomores are really coming into their own and establishing identities for themselves, and we have a solid freshman class,” McVey said.

McVey singled out fellow attackmen Tar-

February 27, 2020

ling and Max Hoadley as particular bright spots in the team’s first-year class. With so much youth and inexperience on this year’s squad, team leadership knew how important the fall would be for setting the right tone.

Pitt played only one fall scrimmage, devoting time to developing chemistry, comradery and rhythm rather than playing in out-of-season exhibitions. McVey added that in a sport like lacrosse, team cohesion and willpower are often as important as talent.

“If we’re not gonna be the better team on the field skill wise, then we’re gonna make up for that with hustle, grit and a desire to win,” he said. “When you step out on the field, even if there’s a talent gap, the team that really wants to win is probably going to win.”

All of Pitt’s defining characteristics will be put to the test over the first couple weeks of April, when the team hosts conference powerhouses Michigan State, New Hampshire and Western Michigan at the Pitt Sports Dome. Those matchups, along with rivalry games at Temple and West Virginia, will serve as indicators for how well Pitt matches up against substantial competition.

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Syracuse, pg. 9 “I didn’t think we had the necessary and required energy to win, especially from a team that’s lost four in a row,” Capel said. “But I don’t think Syracuse had it either, which makes it more disappointing to me … We have to be better … It’s ‘we.’ I am responsible.”

First-year forward Justin Champagnie echoed Capel’s sentiment and attributed Pitt’s lack of intensity to how they take the floor.

“I can only speak for myself,” Champagnie said, “I don’t really know what goes through some of my teammates’ heads and stuff like that. But I think as a team we gotta come out the gates with more energy. It probably starts with warmups. We gotta go through the warmups harder and stop going through the motions so slow, and just pick up our energy.”

Not even Senior Night festivities could provide the proper motivation. Champagnie’s 13 points and 17 rebounds stand out, but Capel said he still expects more from not just his first-year star, but every other Panther as well.

The emotion and positivity of this season’s final game at the Petersen Events Center was quickly marred by a 23-point blowout loss. The Panthers, whose team expectations have tanked with the beginning of ACC play, are sliding at the wrong time and their opportunities to end their season on any semblance of a positive note are thinning.

They will close the regular season on March 4 in Atlanta against Georgia Tech before preparing for the ACC Tournament in Greensboro, North Carolina, which begins on March 10.

Open 7 days a week, between 9AM and 6PM Give us a call to schedule your appointment today!

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February 27, 2020

11

I N D E X

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

For Rent North Oakland 214 N. Craig Street.

Safe, secure build­ ing. 1BR, furnished.

Newly remodeled, no pets. Rent $850 and up, including heat. Mature or Graduate students.

412‑855‑9925 or 724‑940‑0045. Email for pictures: salonre­ na@gmail.com Apartments for rent. 2 and 3 bedroom apart‑ ments available. Some available on Dawson Street, At­wood Street, and Mc­kee Place.

Newly re­modeled.

Some have laundry on site. Min­utes from the Univer­sity. For more info please call Mike at 412‑849‑8694 Available August 2020! Rooms avail­ able in furnished 5 bedroom house in North Oakland. Close walk to University of Pittsburgh and shut­tle.

AC/wash­er/dryer. $600/mo. Contact: rentalschool22@ g­mail.com or 412‑294‑6167.

South Oakland **August 2020,

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

Oak­land Square. We have Studios, 1, 2 & 3BR apartments avail­able. Clean, walking distance to campus. Great location. $600‑$1300 ALL UTILITIES IN­ CLUDED! Off‑street parking available.

No pets, smoking or parties. Call 412‑882‑7568 or email tsciul­li123@ gmail.com 1‑2‑3 bedroom apart­ ments available for August 2020. Owner Managed. 40+ years on campus. Fully fur­ nished or unfur­nished, most units are newly remodeled Kitchens and baths , located on Atwood, Semple, Oakland Ave., Ward, Mckee Place, Juliet.

Call or text Tim @ 412‑491‑1330 www.­ TMKRentals.com 11 Virgila Place, Pittsburgh, PA. Beau­ tiful 3BR, 1 bath.

Fridge, Stove, Dish­ washer, Washer and Dryer. $1550/mo plus utilities. Call Peggy 724‑877‑7761 2BR houses and apart­ ments available in August. Unfur­nished, no pets. At­wood/S. Bouquet. Call 412‑492‑8173 3,5,6 bedroom. All newly renovated, air‑conditioning, dish­washer, washer/ dryer, and parking.

Most units on busline and close to Pitt.

Avail­able Summer 2020. 412‑915‑0856 or email klucca@veri­ zon.net.

Classifieds

For sale

• AUTO • BIKES • BOOKS • MERCHANDISE • FURNITURE • REAL ESTATE • PETS

services

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

322 S. Bouquet.

Huge 2 BR apart­ ments. Available May 1, 2020 or Au­gust 1, 2020. 412‑361‑2695 3232 Dawson St. Available August 1st.

5 BR, 2 Bath. Laundry included. $2600/mo.

Tenants pay all utili‑ ties. Call 412‑401‑5154.

3444 Ward St. We have studios, 2, and 3 bedroom apartments.

Bright and spacious.

Free heating and free parking. Move May 1, 2020 or August 1, 2020. Call 412‑361‑2695 4909 Centre Ave. Great location for this spacious 1BR apart‑ ment located be­tween Pitt and CMU. On buslines, near restau‑ rants, a block from Shady Side hos­pital.

Rent includes heat.

Laundry, stor­age & parking avail­able.

Updated kitchens and hard­wood floors.

Avail­able spring, sum‑ mer and fall. Contact Sue at 412‑720‑4756 daily between 8:00 and 6:00 4BR, 2BA. 311 Oak­ land Avenue $1900/ mo. 412‑337‑9916 call for Bob Before signing a lease, be aware that no more than 3 unre­lated people can share a single unit. Check property’s compliance with codes. Call City’s Per­mits, Licensing & In­spections.

412‑255‑2175.

Dawson Village Apts. near CMU and Pitt.

One bedroom apts.

notices

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

$935 + electric. Avail‑ able for immedi­ate move in. On bus line, close to restau­rants and shops. Contact Jerry at 412‑722‑8546 LARGE, SOL‑ ID‑BUILD HOUSES FOR 2‑3 PEOPLE, Spacious kitchens, living rooms. Roomy backyard, front porch, recently reno­vated.

Available Au­gust 25 or NOW/EARLIER! $365‑$450 per room.

Call 412‑692‑1770 to see.

Now renting for Fall 2020. Apartments and houses of all sizes.

Conveniently located throughout South Oakland. Rents start‑ ing as low as $620.

John C.R. Kelly Realty. Call to­day at 412‑683‑7300 www.jcrkelly.com Pet Friendly!!

Studios ‑ $695‑$705 1Beds ‑ $795‑$815 2beds ‑ $975‑$995 3beds ‑ $1,245 412‑455‑5600 or www.pghnexus.com South Oakland Houses and Apart­ ments with Laundry/ Central Air. Call or Text 412‑38‑Lease. AMO Man­agement.

Spacious 2‑BR apart­ ments on Dawson Street, single/double occupancy. Partially renovated. AUGUST 25 availability or IM­ MEDIATE availabil­ ity. Limited parking spaces available. $460‑$480/room.

Call 412‑692‑1770 to see apartment & park­ ing spaces.

R A T E S

Insertions

1X

2X

3X

4X

5X

1-15 Words

$6.30

$11.90

$17.30

$22.00

$27.00

16-30 Words

$7.50

$14.20

$20.00

$25.00

$29.10

6X $30.20 $32.30

Add. + $5.00 + $5.40

(Each Additional Word: $0.10)

Deadline:

Two business days prior by 3pm | Email: advertising@pittnews.com | Phone: 412.648.7978

Spacious, well‑main­ tained S Oakland 3BR house, $1875/ mo + utilities. Central AC, DW, W/D. Large kitchen, pantry, high ceilings, decorative FP, out­door space.

Close to Pitt & shut‑ tle. Off‑street parking avail. Panther Proper‑ ties, 412‑328‑6236, pan­therproperties2@ g­mail.com. pan‑ ther‑life/oakland Studio, 1, 2, 3, and 4 BD apartments avail­ able in South Oak­land from $800‑$2500 M.J. Kelly Real Estate mjkellyrealty@gmail.­ com. 412‑271‑5550.

Shadyside Brett/Thames Manor Apts. (Ellsworth & S. Negley Ave.) near CMU and Pitt.

Stu­dio, One, Two bed­ room apts. Thames Ef‑ fecency: $790 Thames 1BD: $990 Brett 2BD: $1600 Available for immedi­ate move in.

On bus line, close to restau­rants & shops.

Con­tact Jerry at 412‑722‑8546

Squirrel Hill 3 BD, 1‑1/2 BA town­house on Beacon St. Updated kitchen.

Washer/dryer on premises. Nice back­ yard. On bus line.

Per­fect for Seniors and Grad students.

Call 412‑281‑2700.

Avail­able Now!

February 27, 2020

Rental Other Studios, 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom apartments available August 2020 & sooner. Oak­land, Shadyside, Friend‑ ship, Squirrel Hill, Highland Park, Point Breeze. Photos & current availabil‑ ity online, check out www.forbesmanage­ ment.net, or call 412.441.1211

Employment Employment Other Medical and Heart Care, Students Welcome, 155 N. Craig Street, Dean Kross, MD, 412‑687‑7666

the Pittsburgh area.

Part and full‑time work in spring, sum­ mer, and fall. Train­ing provided. Pay is commission based.

Reliable transporta­ tion necessary.

Contact Jim at 412‑680‑0102

Services Educational The Phlebotomy Training Center www. justphlebotomy.org 2 evening classes weekly, 5 weeks + excellent Clinicals.

Call 412‑521‑7334.

OFFICE INTERN Shadyside Manage­ ment Company seeks person w/ min 2 yrs. college, for upcom­ing spring semester, to interview & pro­cess rental appli­cants, do internet post‑ ings & help staff our action‑central of­fice.

Part time or full time OK starting now; full time over the summer. $14/hour. Perfect job for current sopho­ mores & juniors, graduating seniors set to enter grad school, returning grad stu­ dents, and first year law students!

Mozart Management 412.682.7003 thane@mozartrents.­ com Seeking door‑to‑door paint salespeople for

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