Employment Guide Spring 2015

T H E P I T T N E W S V O L UM E 1 0 5 I S S U E 1 0 8

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ALS: 3

Column, Linder: 10

Heinz Chapel: 3

Cartoon, Kizilkaya: 11

Casual Fridays: 4

Co-ops: 13

Column, Dusky: 4

Student athletes: 17

Men’s Basketball preview: 5

International Panthers: 18

Tattoos in the work place: 6

Lessons from burgers: 20

Mike Shanahan: 7

Saving and spending: 22

Humanities: 8 Cover by Theo Schwarz | Visual Editor

February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

NEWS

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Brain Institute to include ALS research center within five years the press release that he was honored to be a part of this project. “[The Alexanders’] dedication to Pitt plans to open a new center dedicathelping others with this debilitating ed to researching treatments and cures disease is inspirational. We are looking for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also forward to putting the resources and known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, expertise of the University to work on the University announced Thursday. this task, and we are honored that they In 2011, Neil Alexander, an have chosen the University O’Hara Township native, was diof Pittsburgh as the site for agnosed with ALS. On Thursday, this center,” Gallagher said. he and his wife, Suzanne AlexanThe disease causes proder, agreed to raise $2.5 million gressive paralysis and makes over five years to go toward the it difficult for the patient to fund of the Live Like Lou Center breathe or swallow. Only 10 for ALS Research, which will be percent of patients survive part of Pitt’s year-old Brain Insti10 years after diagnosis, actute. The University will match cording to the release. Most this donation. die within two to five years ALS first became a widely of diagnosis. known disease in 1939 when Currently, there are no efbaseball Hall of Famer Lou Gehfective treatments for ALS, rig was diagnosed with and later but supporters of the Cendied from the disease. Recently, ter are confident in future ALS has come back into the spotsuccess. light with the virality of the Ice “Treatments and cures Bucket Challenge last summer, are going to come through a method people used to spread basic research, and that is awareness about the disease and Pitt coach Jamie Dixon, along with current and former Pitt basketball players, took the Ice Bucket Chal- what our Brain Institute lenge this summer. | Courtesy of Pitt Athletics raise money for research. is designed for,” said Peter “It is a great honor to have Strick, Thomas Detre profesthis opportunity to combine the Uni- ments and a cure for the disease, as well of progressive medical research and sor, chair of neurobiology and scientific versity’s vast experience and resources as helping those already diagnosed with discoveries. Among others, the Brain director of the Brain Institute, in the in neuroscience with the Alexanders’ it, according to the press release.

Institute is credited with fostering the press release. commitment and passion,” said Arthur The center outlined six main goals to research behind the polio vaccine, the Strick envisions a successful future Levine, Pitt’s senior vice chancellor for kickstart the projects, including hiring Gamma Knife — used for minimally inva- for the center. the health sciences and the John and an expert in the neurobiology of ALS, sive brain surgery — and a way to detect “The new center’s goals are bold,” Gertrude Petersen Dean of Medicine, developing a non-human primate model Alzheimer’s disease in its early stages.

Strick said. “We haven’t chosen easy in a statement. “Like them, we want to of the disease, creating a prototypical Chancellor Patrick Gallagher said in targets.”

Lauren Rosenblatt Staff Writer

galvanize our scientists to pursue transformative avenues of research to find treatments — and, better yet, a cure — for this devastating disease.”

The partners plan to raise the $10 million required to create the center in the next five years.

The center will work to find treat-

house model to test new technologies, using technology to increase patient independence, supporting clinical trials that may slow the disease’s progression and awarding innovator grants to explore new approaches.

The center will be a part of Pitt’s Brain Institute. The University has a history

Extreme Makeover: Heinz Chapel undergoing preservation process Sabrina Romano Staff Writer Heinz Memorial Chapel is currently undergoing a $600,000 preservation process, according to Pat Gibbons at the Heinz Chapel Office.

SSM Industries, Inc. is installing a climate control system in the chapel,

Gibbons said. The project was started in December 2014 and is expected to be completed in May 2015.

“The objective [is] to achieve humidity and even temperature control,” University spokesman John Fedele said.

Heinz Chapel was built by architect Charles Klauder and was dedicated

by the Heinz family on Nov. 20, 1938.

University organist Robert S. Lord and Chatham College organist Russell G. Wichmann dedicated the current organ on March 21, 1971. The current organ replaced the original organ, which was damaged in the 1960s.

The climate control system will help preserve the organ, stained glass and

interior woodwork, Fedele said, and the University has taken proper precautions to make sure that the organ and stained glass are not damaged during the preservations.

“The organ itself was professionally demounted, crated and stored to prevent any damage and will be remounted at the end of the project,” Fedele said.

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

EDITORIAL

OPINIONS COLUMN

Casual Fridays Bullet-proof bra A woman from Rio de Janeiro got the true value out of her Wonderbra this week. The underwire of Ivete Medeiros’ bra was the only thing standing between her chest and a bullet when she was shot outside a Belem market. A thief holding up a passerby on the street opened fire, and a bullet struck Medeiros under her left breast.

Protected by some extra padding, her bra supported her in her time of need. Authorities say that the thief in question has been bust-ed.

Ear-rational Rodent On Groundhog Day, Wisconsin’s mildly famous groundhog Jimmy was a bit hungry after being stirred from his hibernation for his big moment.

Jimmy was sick of living in Punxsutawney Phil’s shadow, so he gave the press something to remember. This feisty rodent bit the mayor’s ear after his handlers held him too close to the mayor’s head. When asked for comment, the mayor said he had his Phil of groundhog for the year.

Red in the face Voldemort’s got some competition in the nose department. Thirty-seven-year-old Henry Damon, of Venezuela, has had several procedures to make himself look like Red Skull, the villain from Captain America. He has several sub-

dermal implants in his forehead, all-black contacts, silicone implants in his chin and cheeks, his face tattooed red and, now, he has had his nose completely removed. While he may look unusual, a friend that nose him best said he was “an excellent son, husband and father.” In fact, his wife said he looked Marvel-ous.

Peasants on a Plane Paris Hilton isn’t the only one living the “Simple Life” anymore. Her younger brother, Conrad Hilton, was arrested this week for flipping out on an airplane last July. Drugged out on marijuana, sleeping pills and a superiority complex, Hilton punched the bulkhead of the plane, called the passengers peasants and threatened to “f*cking rip through” the staff.

It turned out Hilton was going to California to serf. When asked for comment, Paris Hilton said, “That’s hot.”

Separation of church and taste As an atheist, Trevor McKendrick just doesn’t have faith in religion, but he does have faith in money. Divine inspiration led McKendrick to create a Spanish audio bible app for the iPhone. McKendrick says he believes that what he sells is fiction. Opponents call him a hypocrite, especially the Catholic Church, which McKendrick managed to beat at their own game.

Forget Valentine’s Day, let’s talk about Black History Month Elizabeth Dusky For The Pitt News

February has arrived, and while you are preoccupied considering what to get the “bae” for Valentine’s day, you should also consider a greater predicament. In the wake of the Michael Brown verdict, the failure to indict the police officer in the Eric Garner case, and the emergence of the #BlackLivesMatter campaign, this Black History Month should trump February’s more frivolous celebrations.

February is oftentimes synonymous with Valentine’s Day and, more recently, the Super Bowl. I recently asked a friend about her plans for the next few weeks, thereby starting a conversation about Valentine’s weekend followed by discussion of the controversy that this year’s Super Bowl ads have generated.

Mind you, these are mere one-day events, lasting a few hours — yet our country perceives them as all-important.

Rarely is February associated with the 28-day celebration of Black History Month, a much longer event. Seldom do you come across promotional material for Black History Month events more than a few days away.

Rather, you scroll through pages of outdated information and hope to find a snippet about a Black History Month celebration . In my own research, I found it hard to come across events in a timely man-

ner. Either the time and place were “to be determined,” or the event was “still up in the air.” It is imperative that we educate ourselves on black history through the use of what is available to us — Netflix, the Carnegie Library and our resources here at Pitt. The recent events involving Mike Brown and Eric Garner have sparked national outrage and a call to action.

Activism has been seen not only on Pitt’s campus, but throughout the country. However, it was @_MissBre’s tweet on Dec. 3 that got national attention. She wrote, “My grandmother is in tears. Tears. She said they marched because she didn’t want us to have to. And now look.” Her words sum up the urgency and importance of this month’s celebration. History is repeating itself and it is on us as individuals to break the cycle by seeking information to better understand the ramifications of our past.

Having evolved from Carter G. Woodson’s “Negro History Week,” founded in 1926, Black History Month seems to have become a staple for curricula in many elementary school classrooms, but seldom evolves from there. Black History Month fits into an elementary school’s curriculum far more easily, in fact, than that of a junior high or high school. An elementary school curriculum is much more malleable in the sense that these students are getting the broadest education.

The U.S. Department of

Education plainly states that “there is no national curriculum in the United States.”

There is a standard set within each school district, however.

Still, curriculum is very much reliant on an individual educator’s teaching style. This freedom in style allows for more flexibility in the classroom and ensures that each student learns basic fundamental principles to work toward a higher education. This, in combination with hands-on activities, serves as the perfect introductory course in black history.

The higher you climb the educational ladder, the more specialized curriculum becomes, though. Our fourth-grade social studies class turns into our 10th-grade Western Civilizations class.

This is not to say that schools have completely disregarded the month. However, the events that arise can turn into social gatherings more than anything of true educational value. Communities will make headlines for their involvement with Black History Month — but one event does not characterize an entire month. There is no standard for celebration.

In light of this, we must educate ourselves. The easiest, most entertaining way is through Netflix. Press pause on “Gilmore Girls” and search for more enlightening pieces that shed some light on black history. Netflix has proven to

Dusky

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

MEN’S BASKETBALL

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SPORTS

Memories of Ennis shot in the past for Artis, Panthers Jasper Wilson Senior Staff Writer

Jamel Artis doesn’t seek it out. He saw the replay on SportsCenter once and then immediately turned his TV off. Cameron Wright doesn’t talk about it, even when asked.

“I’m kinda mad you just brought it up,” Wright said.

The last time Pitt’s and Syracuse’s men’s basketball teams met, a year ago this month at the Petersen Events Center, point guard Tyler Ennis preserved the then-No. 1 Orange’s undefeated record by making a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to defeat No. 25 Pitt, 58-56.

“I still haven’t gotten that taste out of my mouth,” Artis said. “That one hurt.”

“It’s not gonna happen this time.”

Ennis has since departed for the pros, and, while Wright wasn’t actually angry about having to revisit the loss — or so he said — that dramatic ending reignited a competitive rivalry between the two programs. Neither squad has won by a double-digit margin the last three times they’ve played. It’s an annual meeting that Wright says is a rivalry game for the Panthers (15-8, 4-5 ACC).

This year’s first of two matchups between the schools, at 4 p.m. on Saturday back at the Petersen Events Center, will likely have a different feel than their last handful, though, with both teams unranked for the first time since 2008.

News came out on Wednesday that Syracuse (15-7, 6-3 ACC) had banned itself from postseason play in advance of the NCAA releasing its findings of an investigation into the school’s men’s basketball program – looking into violations committed before 2012 – to the governing body’s Committee on Infractions.

Artis doesn’t expect the affected players will ease up knowing that they don’t have a tournament, even the conference one, to work towards.

“It’s gotta be motivation for them,” Artis said. “They’ve gotta be coming out and playing hard every possession, even though they’re not gonna make it.”

Wright, who has seen four years of these

Jamel Artis led Pitt with 32 points on Monday. Alyson Derrick | Staff Photographer

games as a redshirt senior, agreed, saying they’ve come to expect a challenge from their former Big East counterpart every year.

And while the current version of Syracuse’s

team has struggled, barely defeating ACC bottom-dwellers Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest, it isn’t without talent. Senior forward Rakeem Christmas averages almost

a double-double every game: 18.3 points and 9.1 rebounds in 33.4 minutes of action.

Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon says containing Christmas will require a mix of approaches.

“It’s amazing what he’s become as far as a low-post threat offensively,” Dixon said. “He looks thinner, he looks quicker, more agile.”

Artis says keeping Christmas away from offensive rebounding opportunities, defending him early inside and having awareness on the weak side of where he is and what he’s doing will be key.

Two of his teammates, Trevor Cooney and Michael Gbinije, also average double-digit scoring.

What makes Syracuse tough collectively on the other side of the floor is its well-known 2-3 zone which relies on athletic, lengthy bodies. It ranks first in steals in the conference, second in blocks and fourth in field goal percentage defense and points allowed.

“Just taking a shot when you’re open, guys knowing when you’ll shoot it, making the right decision, not turning the ball over,” Wright said of the keys to success against it. “Obviously, you have to be patient.”

Pitt has exhibited some of the latter qualities this season, ranking first in assists, second in assist to turnover ratio and fourth in turnover margin.

Artis, coming off a career performance against Bryant when he scored 32 points, has finished with double figures scoring in each of the last seven games. This performance has earned him the nickname “zonebuster”

by Wright for his ability to find space in such schemes and make shots.

The sophomore has a simple explanation for his recent success.

“My teammates, they find me,” Artis said.

“They want me to shoot the basketball, [and] I shoot it.”

He will need to keep up his attacking ways for Pitt to emerge with the result Artis wants: one that will involve less stress this time around.

“I don’t want it to be a close game at all,” Artis said.

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Professional Ink employers, job-seekers talk tats Lauren Wilson Staff Writer

Decorations of love might be sweet, but affection etched into your skin could turn employers sour.

While tattoos are commonplace in American culture, spirits toward skin modification in the workplace aren’t as bright as the hues embellishing inked-up arms. About 76 percent of participants in a 2014 Salary.com survey felt bearing a tattoo during a job interview was a deterrent to getting hired, and 42 percent aren’t in favor of visible tats at work.

Companies can impose dress codes, according to the federal law, but they can’t violate the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits less-favorable treatment based on national origin or religious practices.

Employers also must make exceptions or amend the dress code for employees with disabilities upon request.

Some Pittsburgh locals, many of them with tattoos and others who oppose ink in the workplace, weighed in on whether or not they think employers should allow tattoos beyond the borders of work uniforms.

James Fabrizio, a career consultant at Pitt’s office of Career Development and Placement Assistance, said he expected unfriendly tattoo policies when he decided to get multiple tattoos.

“While my tattoos are occasionally visible while in my office, I have made a point in my career to keep them covered in professional or public settings,” Fabrizio said in an email.

True to his expectations, some of his previous employers have required him to cover tattoos.

“I don’t believe it is discriminatory any more than telling someone to wear a tie is discriminatory; it is a rule that applies to everyone,” Fabrizio said.

An advocacy group in Pittsburgh has made it its mission to end restrictions against people with tattoos and piercings

in the workplace, which they, unlike Fabrizio, view as a form of discrimination.

Support Tattoos and Piercings at Work advocates for reform in hiring and dress code policies through petitions and awareness events. Nathan Madden, STAPAW’s communications director, said professionalism is about attitude, not appearance.

“I’d much rather

have an employee that treats people with respect and honesty. I think that speaks more to professionalism than someone who just looks the part,” Madden said.

At Pitt, there is no tattoo policy for employees, though they must dress in a professional and appropriate manner to perform their job, according to spokesman John Fedele.

“The University of Pittsburgh believes that a person’s physical appearance is not an indicator of talent. As such, the University does not have a specific policy regarding tattoos in the workplace,” Fedele said in an email.

A Pitt English writing professor, Peter

Trachtenberg, currently has 10 tattoos and a memoir, “7 Tattoos: A Memoir in the Flesh,” documenting his body art and the images’ meanings.

The first chapter of his book is about the tattoo on his collarbone, he said, a traditional indigenous design from Borneo. The tattoo represents a trip he took to Borneo in 1991, where he participated i n a death ritual, and also commemorates the death o f his fa-

Mahita Gajanan | Staff Illustrator

ther.

“I guess in certain professions that require interacting with a larger and maybe more socially conservative public, a ban on visible tattoos may make sense,” Trachtenberg said. “On the other hand, I’m not sure what those professions would be. I’ve seen cops and E.R. nurses with full arm sleeves.”

Whether it’s a tattoo sleeve or an ink butterfly, some Pittsburgh companies,

like PNC Bank, forbid all visible tattoos.

“In our bank branches for example, visible body decorations, body piercing other than on the ear and other similar adornments are not permissible except for religious and medical purposes,” Fred Solomon, PNC’s director of external communications, said in an email. “Body tattoos should be covered whenever possible.”

Trachtenberg acknowledges that restrictions like these might be reasonable for some companies but also feels as if some may be going too far with these policies.

“My gut feeling is it’s an unnecessary intrusion,” Trachtenberg said. “And considering that, I think there’s a huge proportion of people under the age of 40 who have tattoos, so why impose these exclusionary rules?”

When Trachtenberg got his first tattoos, there was only a small subculture that had them, which he says were “bikers, convicts, punks and hippies.”

In 2012, a Harris Poll surveyed 2,016 people and found that 21 percent of American adults have tattoos.

However, some of these American adults are looking to shed their tattoos.

Tattoo removal has become a multimillion dollar industry. MarketWatch found that, in 2014, revenue for tattoo removal has risen to an estimated $75.5 million in the past 10 years.

Wesley South, a laser technician at Disappearing Ink in Pittsburgh, said clients, many of them government employees, come to his shop in Penn Hills to remove their tattoos that are visible in uniform.

“A lot of what I do is for the military, and they also changed the laws on the police force. They now have to cover up below the elbow,” South said.

Tattoos

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

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FOOTBALL

Former Pitt receiver returns as graduate assistant

Chris Puzia Sports Editor Former Pitt wide receiver Mike Shanahan has had an active several years since graduating from Pitt in 2013. He went undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, worked out for several NFL teams and was eventually cut from the New York Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now, he finds himself back at his alma mater, working as a graduate assistant for Pat Narduzzi and his staff. The Pitt News recently spoke to Shanahan about his journey back to Pittsburgh.

The Pitt News: So you graduated in 2013, went

undrafted and were doing workouts over the summer for teams. What was that process like?

Mike Shanahan: I signed with the Jets as an undrafted free agent.

I went through all the OTAs [organized team activities] up there, I practiced the first few weeks in camp, then they cut me. Tampa Bay picked me up, then they cut me. Then nothing happened over the next couple months. In January, I signed a contract with the [Canadian Football League team] Montreal Alouettes and went to their camp in May, but it didn’t work out. I thought about

MIKE SHANAHAN PLAYING DURING HIS PITT DAYS. BOBBY MIZIA | SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

what I wanted to do, until eventually Coach [Paul] Chryst let me volunteer with the team. I worked with the receivers then, then coach Narduzzi gave me a graduate assistant spot in January.

TPN: Did you approach Pitt about coming on as a graduate assistant, or did they contact you?

MS: I contacted Chryst — I forgot to add that while I was waiting around, I was at Norwin High School, where I’m from, coached basketball and was the head lacrosse coach in the Spring. That’s when I

figured out I wanted to do coaching, and see if I liked college coaching.

That’s when I reached out to Chryst.

TPN: You’ve then worked under Chryst and current head coach Pat Narduzzi. How do they compare, in their coaching and leadership styles?

MS: I would say Chryst and Narduzzi are different in some cases. Chryst is just a really great guy, an offensive coach, and he really is a great leader. Coach Narduzzi’s the same. I’d say their approach is a little different, obviously with Narduzzi being active on Twitter is

Shanahan

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T P N Today’s difficulty level: Very Hard S U D Puzzles by Dailysudoku.com O K U

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

‘The 20-something-year-old-quarter-life crisis’ A humanities student embraces her uncertain future

F

rom the first rosy day of freshman year, being an art history major has been a challenge.

Even other students, amidst their own “starting-collegeI’m-a-grown-up-now” high, would blurt out, “What are you going to do with that?” This question has clung to me like a bad hangover for the past four years: What am I going to do with an art history degree?

Three years ago, I would have tossed my hair, glared daggers and smiled dangerously as I replied, “I will pursue a postgraduate degree and become a world famous curator, and, like the last curator of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, my pension will outlast me.” Bam. Take that, doubting Thomas!

I marched through the past three years with that mentality. I would be Grace Kelly, famous not because I shared my name with the actress and princess, but on my own accord as a curator of contemporary Latin American art at a top museum. Suave and sexy, future me had it all.

But like many of the sidewalks around Pittsburgh during the spring thaw, the cold ice that had fortified my idea of who I was and what I was doing started to melt, exposing cracks in what I had thought to be a solid foundation.

The Pitt News Crossword, 2/6/2015

Grace Kelly Staff Writer

ACROSS 1 “Invisible Cities” author Calvino 6 “I ran away from you once. I can’t do it again” speaker 10 Ford Field player 14 Surgery acronym 15 It’s a gas 16 “Snow White” character flaw 17 Forgeries that are easy to spot?

20 By way of 21 French pronoun 22 Habituate 23 Dude in the CIA? 28 Essen’s valley 29 Spotted 30 Slug relative 33 Roll 34 Word after clip or pop 37 Trivial blunder?

42 Colorado native 43 “About his head he wears the winner’s __”: “The Two Noble Kinsmen” 44 Guanaco cousin 45 Beantown athlete 47 Peek follower 49 Pancake cook in pinstripes?

54 Some Highlanders 56 U.N. workers’ agcy.

57 Roasting time in Toulon?

58 “My fireplace is defective!”?

63 “Footloose” costar Singer 64 Word after “funny” that clarifies its meaning 65 1995 Stallone title role 66 City NNE of Boston 67 Senate Republican leader before Frist 68 Sources of wisdom DOWN 1 Affectionate text 2 It’s often just inches 3 Syrian leader

My sidewalk towards the good life as a curator began to crumble.

I call this the “20-something-year-old-quarter-life crisis,” the TYOQLC. Bad acronym aside, apparently this is a common panic.

When I studied abroad at University College London, it amazed me that the system in the U.K. dictates that students must essentially pick their career when they apply to attend University. They are then shuffled through three years of ultra-specific tutelage and spat out at the end, expected to go straight into that career. Most of the time they wander around, scared and dazed, as they experience the real world for the first time.

But let’s think about it — we enter college at 18, just becoming legal adults, and we graduate at 22, still babies in the eyes of the world. We, especially humanities majors, are armed and ready to whip out research papers but know nothing about how to input and track data in Excel spreadsheets. Not to toss the humanities aside like a bad date, but has this educational path failed us?

Not necessarily. You Humanities 9 could have a type A per-

2/20/15

By Frank Virzi

4 Full deck Nero wasn’t playing with?

5 Gave a thumbsup 6 Like some soccer games 7 Pope before Benedict III 8 Plant 9 Taylor of fashion 10 Pressure 11 Finish, as a tat 12 Finished 13 Where to see MMM 18 “Toy Story” character who draws 19 County on the Firth of Forth 24 Composer Satie 25 Gag __ 26 Isaac’s eldest 27 Team whose logo involves a “wishbone C” 30 Mustangs’ sch.

31 Trivial objection 32 One-spot 33 Pan for Yan 34 Recipe words 35 Mojito ingredient 36 Not yet determined, in skeds

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

©2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

38 It’s surrounded by white 39 Game ender 40 Morlock prey 41 Bomb 45 He served between Warren and Herbert 46 Bay State motto starter 47 Like most rafts 48 Rorschach image 49 Ache

2/20/15

50 “__ Men Out”: baseball scandal film 51 Pequod co-owner 52 Chopin’s “Winter Wind,” e.g.

53 Orchestra group 54 Fish feature 55 “Hi, sailor!”

59 Vezina Trophy org.

60 Lao Tzu principle 61 Some pop-ups 62 Brother

February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 7

FROM PAGE 8

SHANAHAN

HUMANITIES

a little different. I’m excited to learn from Narduzzi on this staff.

TPN: What have been your duties and responsibilities since then?

MS: These past couple of weeks, I’ve been helping out with recruiting, going on official visits on weekends. They called us “troubleshooters” to make sure that everything goes smoothly. I’ve been watching some film on recruits with coaches and trying to learn what they look for and what they like. Now we’re getting to putting in the offense and having general discussions about what we’re leaning to in games.

TPN: What are your thoughts on the incoming recruiting class? Obviously they’ve signed earlier this week.

MS: I’m excited. I think we have a lot of good guys. Some guys will be great additions to the program. I’m looking forward to getting to know them even more, especially on offense. I’m just excited we have guys that want to be here and are excited about Pitt, which is the biggest thing for me.

TPN: You may be coaching some players that were your teammates for a year or two. Will that be strange for you?

MS: That was one of my concerns coming in last year, I think the players now handle it really well. [Laughs] I’m not the one to be giving out orders or be that type of guy. I just try to stay in my role and be there for them. I like to think, when I played, they respected me as a player. I think I have a good relationship with a lot of the guys, there’s a respect there. They respect that I’m trying to get into coaching.

TPN: Does this mean you want to get into a career in coaching, or is there a different plan for you?

MS: I believe this is what I want to do. I don’t have another plan right now, which might be bad, but I’m invested in this. I know it’s a big commitment, so I’m willing to do it. Who knows what will happen down the road. I could also see myself teaching and coaching at the high school level. But right now, I’m invested in this and excited to have an opportunity here. I definitely want to make a career out of coaching.

sonality, do all your work on time (or even early), have a 4.0 and volunteer on weekends and still graduate sans job. But this time of post-graduation stress, uncertainty and moving back in with your parents does not dictate that you are a failure. The key thing is to shake off any lingering resentment at that History of Art and Architecture diploma you may carry and do something. Apply for

jobs, blog, travel, work and save money — the opportunities are there. I have learned it’s up to you to make the most of them.

As graduation day rolls closer with every passing week, I realized that while the going may be tough, it is still going. My art background, while now perhaps not explicitly what I want to do, has given me some valuable skills that I can apply to a broad range of opportunities. “We are young,” as fun. sings, “So let’s set the world on fire.”

Go forth, fellow TYOQLC-ers — explore and don’t be afraid.

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

COLUMN

Tolerance is key to ending body modification stigma

Courtney Linder Assistant Opinion Editor I have a two-and-a-half-foot-long tattoo running down my side, from my shoulder to below my hip.

My skin is shaded in various pigments, but an earthy orange and striking cerulean dominate the scene — a koi fish swimming upstream through tangles of lotus flowers. The fish is one of my several tattoos, but it is definitely the creme de la creme. I also have 19 piercings as well. Depending on the circumstances in which we meet, you may or may not know this about me.

In a professional setting, there is no reason for anyone to see my tattoos, considering they rest primarily on my ribs or thighs — places no employer has any business looking. However, not everyone schematically designs their personal living canvas as carefully as I have. It is quite common to see men and women

sport visual tattoos and piercings.

While I understand that employers don’t want their employees to look like a biker gang, it seems that associating tattoos and piercings with deviant behavior is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. If

So, I think the best way to combat the stigma of these body modifications in the workplace is to actively work to make them less taboo by making them a familiar part of life.

Examining the media, specifically

Change will come, and successful, tatted role models can throw off their cardigans. the taboo were eliminated, employers wouldn’t need to censor their employees’ bodies as closely. In effect, expensive discrimination and freedom of religion lawsuits could be avoided.

television, it is evident that modified people are misrepresented. While 2010 data from Pew Research Center reports that nearly four in 10 millennials and roughly 32 percent of Gen-Xers have

tattoos, that proportion is not represented on TV. Although many actors and actresses have tattoos, they are covered with makeup for production. Similarly, most news anchors would never dream of exposing their ink.

If the visual media makes it seem that no one is modified, it keeps the stigma alive. Since we only see average people with tattoos and piercings and almost never any successful people, we continue to cover up and continue to believe that body modifications are the province of gangs and garage mechanics.

In an interview with the New York Times, Iman Thomas, an employee at an insurance brokerage firm in Florham Park, N.J., discussed covering her arm tattoos with a cardigan. She is an educated woman, but for fear of losing her job, she covers up.

Hiding tattoos is a common practice,

Linder

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

11 FROM PAGE 4

DUSKY be equally educational and entertaining with its gripping documentaries. Here are a few of my recommendations: “The African-Americans: Many Rivers to Cross” is a series that consists of six, one-hour episodes, documenting different eras of black history from 1500 to 2013.

“Spies of Mississippi” documents a secret agency formed by the state of Mississippi that employed black spies to infiltrate and take apart various civil rights organizations.

“Dark Girls” touches on the more controversial conversation of colorism, which is a phenomenon that occurs within one’s own race.

“30 for 30: Ghosts of Ole Miss” is an ESPN documentary that revisits the integration of Ole Miss during the Civil Rights Movement.

A second resource made readily Fatima Kizilkaya | Staff Cartoonist

Dusky

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12 FROM PAGE 10

LINDER one that I am guilty of as well. While educated people should show their tattoos to help deplete the negative stigma associated with them, it is a risky move. When I go to interviews for internships or jobs, I’m always sure to wear conservative clothing that covers the microdermals on my collar bones. I put clear plastic jewelry in my nose and lip. Although I

February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com may not be dismissed for having my tattoos or piercings visible, there’s a great chance I may never be hired.

While there are no federal laws protecting individuals with tattoos from discrimination, the issue is complex if the tattoos or piercings are religious.

The analysis is different in this scenario because it complicates our First Amendment right to freedom of religion. While Iman Thomas has a tattoo of the Virgin Mary, she still covers it.

Others aren’t as accommodating as

Thomas.

Kimberly Cloutier, an employee at a Massachusetts Costco store, sued the company in 2001 for not allowing her to wear an eyebrow ring under their new dress code. The store deemed all tattoos and facial piercings unprofessional.

Cloutier, though, said the ring was part of her religion as a member of the Church of Body Modification.

The Church of Body Modification represents a collection of members practicing ancient and modern body modifica-

tion rites. They believe these rites are essential to spirituality and strengthen the bond between mind, body and soul.

Cloutier filed a discrimination case as a

result of being unable to practice physical spirituality, but lost. However, in the process, Costco lost a great deal of money. Judy Vadney, Costco’s personnel director, called it “very expensive litigation.”

Linder

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Best of the real world: Co-ops provide cash, experience Elizabeth Lepro Staff Writer While many students gain experience at internships, co-ops are where the cash is at.

Pitt’s co-op program cites a 3.22 average GPA among participants and an average salary $4,000 higher than someone who hadn’t had co-op experience, upon graduation, according to their own numbers. Even with these statistics, Pitt didn’t make the cut when U.S. News and World Report compiled a list last spring of the top 10 schools for co-op and internship programs, which included Northeastern University in Boston and Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Both of these schools offer co-op opportunities to students outside of science, technology, engineering and medicinerelated fields. For instance, Drexel University offers positions for English majors in museums, law firms, radio stations and television agencies, to name a few.

Seth Kahanov, a junior majoring in mechanical engineering, co-ops in Maryland for a general contractor. He recalled that his most rewarding experience was when he was asked by the president of the company to design a system to carry volts back and forth in the water.

“It was similar to the work we did in class. It was like a homework problem,” Kahanov said.

After his project’s completion, the president emailed Kahanov with pictures of the raft in use to inform him that his design had worked. “[Co-ops] let you see how work is applicable to the real world,” Kahanov said.

Because the numbers in the co-op office’s annual report prove engineer co-op participants will make $4,000 more upon graduation after completing three rotations in college, Don Bialostosky, chair of Pitt’s English Department, said he found the prospect “quite exciting,” even though, to his knowledge, there has never been any mention of extending the program to the School of Arts and Sciences.

Caren Dieglio balances a 15-credit

course load, an RA position in Forbes Hall, program coordinator duties for a Forbes Hall Living Learning Community and, for the remaining six months of the year, she’s employed full-time at a defense corporation through Pitt’s co-op program.

Although “it’s common knowledge in the engineering school that you either co-op or you intern,” according to Dieglio, students studying English or social science-related fields are fixed to the internship track — the University currently does not offer co-ops for students in these fields.

The idea has been passed on to Pam O’Brien, Undergraduate Placement Committee chair, who has no knowledge of any progress yet.

What advantages does a cooperative education offer over an internship?

Dieglio, a junior mechanical engineering major, chose the former because she liked the idea of having a secure job for three rotations without having to re-interview or find a new job.

It probably also doesn’t hurt that she’s making roughly $1,500 a week, or $18 to $19 per hour. Few internships pay this much.

According to a 2012 study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, paid college freshman interns make an average of $13.91 hour, which increases to an average hourly wage of $17.57 for college seniors.

Re-established in 1987 after faltering during the Great Depression, Pitt’s co-op program has expanded to extend to engineering, chemistry and computer science students the opportunity to alternate between a semester-long rotation working full-time with a corporation and a semester of classes. While other universities around the country offer similar co-op programs, Pitt’s doesn’t offer the same opportunities to social science or humanities students.

Dieglio is one person out of the 50 percent of engineering students at Pitt who

Co-ops

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

17

Building up resume a challenge for student-athletes Jessica Boddy For The Pitt News Time is a precious commodity when it comes to building up a résumé. College students need to make time for internships, part-time jobs and other work experiences. This time is much harder to find as a student athlete.

Student-athletes are worked hard perpetually throughout their college careers.

Between classes and practice, games and travel, players try to bolster their resume with sporting experience rather than training in the workforce.

As a volleyball player here at Pitt, I know personally that collegiate athletes rarely have time to factor work experiences into their busy schedules. Imagine having to go to meetings with your coach, your dietitian and your academic adviser to ensure your eligibility, health and academics are on track. Then you have weightlifting, conditioning, team practice, individual practice — and you

can’t forget about medical treatment, because god forbid you miss your ankle rehab and tear a ligament next week. According to Business Insider, the average student-athlete spends 40 hours a week practicing.

cleans, RDLs and ladder sprints.

Then, of course, there’s traveling and competition. In-season athletes are traditionally not on campus for half of the week that they travel, making the chances of attending all classes that week slim.

“If we were actually [at Pitt] and having a job, it’d be impossible.”

Morgan Choe It’s not as if these commitments are a light undertaking on a physical level, either. Trudging up the Cathedral steps to the third floor to make it to your philosophy lecture on time can be physically laborious after a tough morning of squats,

There’s hardly any room for a good night’s sleep, much less any work experience. Instead, the skills gained as varsity athlete will have to suffice on my résumé As I’ve never found time to work at a job or internship during my Pitt athletics

career, I got the perspective of someone who did. The softball team’s Morgan Choe worked in the service industry over winter breaks in Kirtland, Ohio . Choe actually continued her job into her offseason, but had to sacrifice her scarce and precious free weekends to return to work — or else she would have lost her job.

Choe, a junior, reiterated that having an extra professional commitment during the academic year would be extremely demanding in addition to athletics.

“If we were actually [at Pitt] and having a job, it’d be impossible,” Choe said.

“We do lack job experience.”

For the majority of athletes, the absent work experience alongside undergraduate studies can be detrimental to landing your dream job after graduation. That being said, the job market isn’t anything collegiate student-athletes can’t handle.

Although, perhaps, lacking an internship or two, an athlete’s resumé can

Athlete

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

PITT GLOBETROTTERS

Former Panthers continuing careers in various countries Chris Puzia and Dan Sostek The Pitt News Staff When Travon Woodall finished his Pitt basketball career in 2013, he may not have known where his professional aspirations would take him.

The answer, apparently, is Estonia.

Woodall, who graduated from Pitt in 2013, has reportedly signed with Estonian team Rakvere Tarvas after playing in two games with Bashkimi Prizren in the Kosovo SuperLeague. Woodall has also spent time playing professionally in Mexico, Greece and Turkey.

Coming out of college, where he averaged 11.5 points per game in his senior season, Woodall’s first professional contract came with Istanbul BSB in the Turkish league. In 16 international games during the 2013-24 season, Woodall averaged 6.3 points per game.

While Woodall most recently made news for continuing his career abroad, other former Pitt players also have had similar career paths. Players who were not taken in the NBA Draft, yet still want to play professional basketball, often sign contracts to play in less-glamorous European leagues. While the fanfare is not always as prevalent, it still provides players an outlet to follow their dream of professional basketball. Here is a rundown on all the former Panthers since 2011 who are currently playing abroad:

averages 10.5 points and 2.1 assists per game for the Turkish team.

Gilbert Brown (Pitt 2006-11): Pistoia Basket 2000 (Italy) Brown was another Pitt player who moved overseas after a long collegiate career. The small forward averaged 11.3 points per game during his senior season at Pitt, but has had several stops on the way to Italy, where he now plays.

After going undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft, Brown signed a one-year deal with s.Oliver Baskets of Germany, but left after just eight games. Shortly after, he signed with the Boston Celt-

Brad Wanamaker (Pitt 2007-11): Brose Baskets (Germany) Wanamaker starts for Brose Baskets in the German Bundesliga, where he averages 14.8 points and 5.2 assists per game. After going undrafted in the 2011 NBA Draft, he spent some time with two clubs in the Italian basketball league before settling in Germany, where he has played since

in January. After the game, Wanamaker took the defensive principles he learned from Pitt head coach Jamie Dixon and said “the

Estonia Travon Woodall

Germany G BBrad Wanamaker

IItaly ta GGilbert ilb Brown

Turkey Lamar Patterson

Lamar Patterson (Pitt 2009-14): Tofas Basketball Club (Turkey)

Patterson, who averaged 17.1 points per game his senior season at Pitt, was selected with the No. 48 pick in the 2014 NBA draft by the Milwaukee Bucks. Milwaukee traded that pick to the Atlanta Hawks, who cut Patterson after playing in six summer league games with the team.

“The Turkish league is extremely competitive and the team also plays in a great international league,” Patterson said in a statement in August. “My goal absolutely remains for me to play for the Hawks, and this is an important step to help me get there.”

Patterson regularly starts for Tofas and

Spain Gary McGhee ics, but was cut less than two weeks later.

After several brief stints with teams in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Turkey and Venezuela, he landed in Italy.

There, he starts and averages 11.8 points and 3.9 rebounds per game.

Left, Brad Wanamaker. Top, Travon Woodall. Bottom, Lamar Patterson | TNS (left and top) and Pitt News File Photo (bottom)

July.

At Pitt, Wanamaker was a 1,000-point career scorer and averaged 11.7 points per game during his senior season.

Wanamaker’s play with Brose Baskets earned him a place in the BBL All-Star Day

key is defense.”

“If our defense stays consistent, we should be all right,” he added.

Gary McGhee (Pitt 2007-2011): CB

Foreign

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

THE PITT NEWS Natalie Daher Editor-in-Chief editor@pittnews.com

Harrison Kaminsky, News Editor news@pittnews.com

Matt Barnes, Opinions Editor letters@pittnews.com

Shawn Cooke, A&E Editor

aeeditors@gmail.com Chris Puzia, Sports Editor sports@pittnews.com

Theo Schwarz, Visual Editor

E S T A B L I S HE D 1 9 1 0

Danielle Fox, Managing Editor manager@pittnews.com

Abbey Reighard, Assistant News Editor Dale Shoemaker, Assistant News Editor Courtney Linder, Assistant Opinions Editor Dan Sostek, Assistant Sports Editor Jeff Ahearn, Assistant Visual Editor Mason Lazarcheff, Multimedia Editor David Gardner, Social Media Editor Sam McGinley, Assistant Copy Chief Emily Hower, Assistant Layout Editor

photos@pittnews.com

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Stephen Caruso, Layout Editor tpnlayout@gmail.com

Copy Staff

Sarah Choflet Anjuli Das Kinley Gillette Johanna Helba Emily Maccia

FROM PAGE 17

ATHLETE include something very unique – intercollegiate sports. Many athletes at Pitt, including myself, have added this section to our resumés to give them the extra punch they needed.

Certainly we have gained significant skills through the process of practicing a sport from childhood, getting recruited and continuing to play that sport at a high level — especially Division I — while balancing other important aspects of life.

During my volleyball career at Pitt, I became more committed and responsible after attending practices, workouts, meetings and other team functions on a regular basis. Quick thinking and decision-making skills are an essential part of the game of volleyball, but these skills are also easily transferred to the workplace. Mentoring younger players allowed me to hone my leadership skills, and obviously working together in a team setting is something that comes naturally after being forced to communicate and perform efficiently under pressure situations during practice and, more importantly, during matches.

Those describing a part-time job or internship also list similar abilities on a resume. Showing these skills gained from athletics is most definitely comparable to what another applicant would list as gained from work experience.

After all, athletes work hard to get and keep their spot on a collegiate team starting at a young age and continuing through the end of their careers. All of the abilities gained along the way are equivalent to those from a job and should be considered as such — let’s hope our future employers think so, too.

Bridget Montgomery Sarah Mejia Michelle Reagle Megan Zagorski

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Editorial Policies Single copies of The Pitt News are free and available at newsstands around campus. Additional copies can be purchased with permission of the editor in chief for $.50 each.

Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the students, faculty or University administration. Opinions expressed in columns,- car toons and letters are not necessarily those of The Pitt News. Any letter - in tended for publication must be addressed to the editor, be no more than 250 words and include the writer’s name, phone number and University affiliation, if any. Letters may be sent via e-mail to letters@pittnews.com. The Pitt News reserves the right to edit any and all letters. In the event of multiple replies to an issue, The Pitt News may print one letter that represents the majority of responses. Unsigned editorials are a majority opinion of the Editorial Board, listed to the left.

The Pitt News is an independent, student-written and student-managed newspaper for the Oakland campus of the University of Pittsburgh. It is-pub lished Monday through Friday during the regular school year and Wednesdays during the summer.

Complaints concerning coverage by The Pitt News, after first being brought to the editors, may be referred to the Community Relations -Com mittee, Pitt News Advisory Board, c/o student media adviser, 435 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.

The editor in chief has the final authority on editorial matters and cannot be censored, according to state and federal law. The editor in chief is selected by the Pitt News Advisory Board, which includes University staff, - fac ulty and students, as well as journalism professionals. The business and edito rial offices of The Pitt News are located at 434 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

COLUMN

BURGER JOINT BIBLE Anna Tomani For The Pitt News

Dress Code pressure coworkers customers

Part-time jobs can be a drag, working long and hard hours for minimal pay, but we can gain more than just a paycheck. I’ve worked at a family-owned and -operated Mexican restaurant, Don Tequila, and several fast food locations, like Wendy’s. If we pay attention to the experiences we have at work, we can learn much about workplace environments and dynamics, life and even ourselves.

Forgetting a nametag or hat results in being sent home for the day, without pay. The same goes for wearing nail polish, too many bracelets or rings, not wearing a belt or having inadequate footwear. The end result? A completely androgynous-looking human being.

Working at the family restaurant carried pressure to perform well and make sure the job was done right. All the crew members — except the bartender and myself — were the owners’ family and friends from Mexico. One server, Jorge, always told me that he works long hours to make money to send to his family in Mexico and saves up money to bring them to the States. Workers like Jorge made me want to do the best job I could.

At the fast food restaurant, I worked with many kids my own age — and we all spoke the same language, too — so I made a few friends. When the drive-thru was slow, my coworker Simon and I would play ring toss with the onions and the condiment bottles. A car once came through the drive-thru with a kangaroo in the backseat, so another coworker took a picture and showed everyone for a week straight No matter whether or not I was at the family or the fast food restaurant, I had customers who were polite, customers who were apathetic, customers who were rude and customers who were grateful. Ultimately, the food service industry is a form of retail, and we are there to give the customers the best quality product possible. In the minds of some customers, it seemed that if we failed to provide the best, then we were deemed incompetent. If we succeeded, then we were merely doing our job. Other customers seemed to realize that employees are people, too, and treated us as such.

February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 6

TATTOOS Sonya Toler, spokeswoman for Pittsburgh’s Department of Public Safety, confirmed that the department typically does not allow tattoos to peek out of employee uniforms.

“For the most part, [tattoos] cannot be exposed while in uniform,” Toler said.

“However, we do have undercover officers and [for them] that policy is relaxed.”

FROM PAGE 13

CO-OPS participate in the cooperative education program, according to Maureen Barcic, Engineering Cooperative Education Program’s director.

Dieglio just finished her second of three, three-month rotations, working for the Curtiss-Wright EMD Corporation in Cheswick, Pa., which specializes in defense, nuclear power and generators.

Dieglio, who has worked one-on-one with experienced mentors and employees, describes with painstaking detail the process of using 3-D color map images and computer software to measure parts during her co-op rotation and challenges, like working with a precise measurement software called Polyworks, which she hasn’t encountered at Pitt.

This out-of-the-classroom experience is why staff members like Barcic encourage engineering majors to visit the co-op office on the first floor of Benedum.

She recalled an engineering student from years ago who wrote her a letter. In the letter, the student wrote he considering dropping his engineering major but didn’t because of he co-op program. He’s now the vice president of a major corporation, Barcic said.

Co-ops can help participants develop a sense of pride in applying their classroom knowledge.

For Dieglio, who has three sisters, two of whom still rely on their parents for money, earning money while developing her expertise has helped her — not to mention the fact that Pitt provided her free room and board while working as

Co-ops

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Regardless of profession, Trachtenberg said people should consider tattoos’ permanence. Although tattoos fade over time as new skin cells grow, according to mayoclinic.org, tattoos are permanent because the needle on the tattoo machine punctures the top layer of skin, so the ink lingers under the skin’s surface.

“The thing is, it is a big deal. It is this thing you’re going to wear for the rest of your life, unless you get laser procedure, which is not necessarily reliable, and it’s expensive,” Trachtenberg said.

FROM PAGE 18

FOREIGN Breogán (Spain) After a brief stint with the Golden State Warriors as an undrafted free agent in the 2013 NBA Summer League, the 6-foot-11 big man trekked across the Atlantic Ocean to begin his European basketball career.

Since 2013, he has played for MHP RIESEN Ludwigsburg (Germany), CSM Oradea (Romania), and Sigal Prishtina

21 (Kosovo), before signing with Breogán this past December.

With Breogán this year, McGhee has been a solid contributor in the post, averaging 8.5 points per game and leading the team with 5.8 rebounds per contest.

While at Pitt, McGhee really blossomed in his senior season in 2011, becoming a premier post defender in the Big East, and helped vault the Panthers to a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament that season.

He averaged 6.9 points and 7.7 rebounds that year.

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Balancing budgets: Students reconcile debt, savings Lauren Wilson Staff Writer Casey Rose was part of the 69 percent of Pitt graduates who left Pitt with degrees and debt in 2013. When he left Pitt and started his first full-time job as a manager trainee at a car rental company, his only savings were in an emergency fund he had saved up with the help of his parents.

Early savings

69 percent of Pitt grads left with debt in 2013

can reduce the burden of student debt.

The average payback of student loans takes 10 years, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The average debt for a Pitt graduate in 2013 was $34,623, according to a report by the Project on Student Debt. On a national level, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau estimates that college debt was worth $1.2 trillion.

To reconcile with these figures and pay off either impending or real debt, students and recent graduates must find a way to set aside money.

Setting goals and carefully planning are the keys to saving, according to Jay Sukits, who teaches a personal financial planning course. Don’t allow debts to build up right out of college, Sukits said.

In his course, students set personal finance goals for one year, three years and five years in the future. The goals become more general reaching the fiveyear horizon. The very first savings goal

is one Rose has already achieved.

“Put money into an emergency fund,” Sukits said.

Beyond that, Rose, who now sells insurance at State Farm and makes about $30,000 per year, which is about what he made at his first job, said he currently doesn’t have any long-term financial goals except to continue working.

Rose was able to save up his emergency fund, he said, because he limited unnecessary costs when he was in school. “[In college] it was about paying the bills. But I didn’t save for anything more long-term for after school,” Rose said.

Though he wasn’t saving for the future, Rose paid his bills and built his emergency fund by limiting his spending at bars while in college. Study Breaks College Media surveyed more than 500 college students and found that 70 percent spend money at bars each month.

“If I was going to do a night out, I’d take out maybe $30. I’d leave my card

at home,” Rose said. “I know too many people that have been surprised with a $150 tab the day after [going out].”

Students looking for immediate savings can do so by keeping record of expenses, according to Sukits.

“Make a list of your bills,” Sukits said. “See where you’re spending your money and eliminate everything that is unnecessary.”

A full-time hourly wage makes it easier to put away cash, Rose said. Since graduation, he has started saving between $10 and $20 a week. At this rate, and assuming Rose left Pitt with the average $34,623 in debt, he would be debt-free in a little more than 33 years.

Eliminating debt early helps savings down the road. In an unsure job market, a paycheck from the first job out of college will not guarantee financial security. In 2013, a Bankrate survey found

Saving

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February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 22

SAVING that 76 percent of Americans were living paycheck-to-paycheck with very little savings. Many recent college graduates exit the University, Sukits has found, without financial goals. The average overall starting salary for college graduates was $45,473 in 2014, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

“They think, ‘I have a job, I have money, now I’m gonna spend it.’

That is a bad ap-

The average debt for a Pitt grad in 2013 was $34,623

proach that invariably is going to get them in trouble.” Sukits said. “You never get ahead of the game when you’re in that situation.”

In a study called “Money Matters on Campus,” EverFi surveyed 40,000 first year college students and found that 80 percent of students were stressed about debt. For current students who worry about paying student loans after graduation, Sukits recommends immediate payoffs as a part of the first-year stage of the plan.

Nationwide Insurance gathered data and found that average student income, through a combination of part-time jobs and parental assistance, is about $1,200 per month. The College Board found that the average non-tuition ninemonth expenses for a college student are $17,410, and the lower budget average is $11,660. Loans are often necessary for simple living expenses because of the low income of the typical college student. Saving is not an easy task, and it means skipping out on expenses and buying only necessities.

To jump the gun on paying off her

debt, India Hunter, an exercise science major at Pitt, works two jobs. Hunter is one of the 71 percent of college undergraduates with a job, according to statistics from the 2011 U.S. Census.

She works at the Pitt University Store and at Rivers Club Athletics, a fitness center Downtown, to pay tuition, rent and utilities.

“It can be stressful at times, but it’s a nice feeling knowing I can do it myself,” Hunter said.

Set to graduate in 2015, Hunter is considering her financial future. She saves about $50 a week, she said, hoping to pay off her substantial student loans from a five-year program as soon as possible. She also keeps a record of her expenses.

“I document every rent check, every utility bill in my name and keep track of other spending such as school supplies, textbooks, clothing purchases,” Hunter said.

On a national level, college debt was worth $1.2 trillion

23

80 percent of students are stressed about debt Whether or not students are saving, most consider it important. A 21st Century Insurance study found that 92 of 100 students surveyed say saving money in college should be a priority.

With long-term goals such as buying a car, taking trips and paying off student loans, Hunter’s finances rely heavily on saving as much as possible. “[Warren Buffett] said ‘Do not save what is left after spending. Spend what is left after saving,’” Hunter said. “That’s what I try to do.”

A 2008 Sallie Mae study found that 84 percent of college students reported that they needed more financial management education. The students surveyed reported that general money management, including budgeting, was a topic that interested them.

Sukits’ efforts are helping to fill this

Saving

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24 FROM PAGE 23

SAVINGS knowledge gap.

Matt Swan, a Pitt finance major and a junior in Sukits’ corporate finance class, does not yet have a personal budget but says he will prepare one as part of the course’s curriculum later this semester.

Swan has a work study job at JumpStart, an early childhood development program and part of PittServes. According to Swan, the work-study job program

February 6, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com has been useful for his finances.

“It’s also convenient for students to be able to get a specific amount of income throughout the year without having to work too many part-time hours,” Swan said.

Swan normally prefers to save most of his income, especially because of student loans.

“My plan after college is just to try and pay off my loans as quickly as possible, because I cannot stand the stress of debt,” Swan said in an email. “Whether or not that all works out, I’ll have to see.”

FROM PAGE 21

CO-OPS an RA. Humanities students could use this boost.

In 2014, the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) released a compilation of data showing the average starting salary for college graduates in the class of 2013. The data showed that humanities and social science majors were still making the least amount of money

post-graduation, at $38,045.

Dieglio, who has a 2.8 GPA, has benefited from her co-op experience more than just monetarily.

Dieglio said that during an interview for one of her co-ops, the interviewer asked her what someone close to Dieglio would say about her. Dieglio said her sister would describe her as “determined and self disciplined.”

“You kind of have to be that way, especially to study engineering,” Dieglio said, hesitating slightly before adding, “And do ... all this other stuff.”