2-20-18

The Pitt News

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | February 20, 2018 | Volume 108 | Issue 115

CHALK THE TOWN

STUDENTS GET BUSINESS AND BANKING ADVICE Kenan Meral

For The Pitt News

Zechariah Brown, a sophomore political science and economics double major running for an SGB board position, chalks the sidewalks Monday night in preparation for today’s election. Issi Glatts | ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

PITT STUDENTS DISCUSS RECLAIMING SLURS

Noah Manalo Staff Writer

Jeanna Sybert was sure to address both sides of the reclamation argument in her presentation — and she didn’t shy away from using shocking language to make those points.

The University of Pittsburgh’s chapter of the American Association of University Women held an event, C U Next Tuesday: Reclaiming Words Through a Feminist Lense, Monday night in room 540 of the William Pitt Union. Sybert, the secretary of the Pitt’s AAUW chap-

ter and a senior studying communication and political science, gave a brief presentation on reclaiming words. Following the presentation, there was a short discussion on the topic.

Sybert began the talk by defining a reclaimed word as a slur or other negative term used to refer to a certain group, which the group then reclaims for its own use. After conducting research on reclaiming words, she gathered that the purpose of this is to reduce the power of a dominant group and to control one’s own — and others’ — views of oneself.

“It also limits the ability of sup-

pressing groups to use the word on the groups,” Sybert said.

Sybert highlighted that many groups, including the black, LGBTQ+ and disabled communities, have worked to reclaim slurs. Now, women are doing so as well. Sybert provided the audience with arguments she found for and against the idea of reclamation.

“Language has power. That’s the takeaway,” Sybert said.

Sybert also presented arguments for reclamation that show how it See Slurs on page 2

As technology and business come together, Emily Hirao is well-versed on how she can use a multifaceted skill set to help her forge a professional future — by focusing on data analytics, the process by which meaning can be derived from information.

Hirao, a senior studying business technology at Carnegie Mellon University, shared her experiences as a paid student intern on Wall Street working her way through 50 to 60 hour weeks last summer. At an event co-hosted by Pitt’s Business Technology Association and CMU’s Business Technology Club, between 15 and 20 students gathered Monday night in room 230 in the Cathedral of Learning to listen to Hirao talk about finding internships in the field of business technology.

As a former Deutsche Bank intern, Hirao gave advice to business and nonbusiness students figuring out their careers and looking for ideal internships.

Hirao advised that students looking for internships should actively seek out opportunities and establish contact with companies hiring interns. She remembered her experience at Deutsche Bank and talked briefly about the cruise she was able to go on while working as an intern along with other benefits, such as free food.

Hirao also mingled with top employees, worked with a mentor and networked See Advice on page 2

News Slurs, pg. 1

Advice, pg. 1

undermines the historical, social and cultural power of slurs. She said it also changes the original meaning and intent, creates a sense of community and empowerment for those in the oppressed group and opens conversations about microaggressions and broader issues related to oppressions.

In addressing the other side of the argument, Sybert said it can appear as a movement in which only privileged members of a group can partake, and it does not erase how words are used in relation to either interpersonal or systemic violence. It can also invalidate experiences or the feelings of those who do not want to reclaim slurs.

“Of course there are other words that can be reclaimed, but there are three big ones we are going to talk about,” Sybert said.

According to Sybert, the “big three” are “slut, bitch and cunt.”

For the first word, the she showed a video that outlined its historical context. She went on to talk about SlutWalk, a transnational protest march that calls for the end of rape culture. She highlighted criticism in an open letter by black feminists, accusing the event of being exclusionary to women of color.

“We don’t have the privilege to play on destructive representations burned in our collective minds, on our bodies and souls for generations,” Black Women’s Blueprint writes.

“The arguments are something to keep in mind while deciding whether or not to reclaim the word,” Sybert said.

The speaker said the second word holds negative connotations for both men and women. Sybert provided descriptions and varying arguments on the word from philosophers such as Mary Daly.

While Gloria Steinem said the response to the word should be “thank you,” Sherryl Kleinman, Matthew B. Ezzell and A. Corey Frost write that the

with other interns. She was even called back for a position at Deutsche Bank but declined the opportunity because she did not like “the hustle and bustle” of New York City.

Hirao’s experience in the business world allowed her to gain insight, which she wanted to share with other students who were just branching out. She made a few course suggestions for first-year business students in particular.

“I would say definitely to take a few very technical courses,” Hirao said.

She also said these courses would be especially helpful for student when applying for internships.

For Hirao, the fast-paced culture of Wall Street and her experiences at Deutsche Bank offered her alternative insights into the ways data analytics are used. Hirao addressed the challenges for students trying to make their way into the professional world.

“The hardest aspect was the sense of competition within the bank, because everyone was trying to further their career,” Hirao said.

David Qin, a senior finance and business information systems major at Pitt, thought Hirao’s talk was especially helpful since he is involved in a field that directly corresponds with data analytics.

He said a better understanding of the topic will help him maximize his career potential.

“Emily mentioned that data analytics is the future and that traditional jobs are being automated,” Qin said. “Decisions are being driven more by data than by people, so in the future, this decisionmaking will impact how businesses make decisions.”

Qin thought it was crucial for students to learn about firsthand experiences like Hirao’s and to understand data analytics in order to get a proper internship.

“I think that it’s important not just for me but for our younger members on how to get internships,” Qin said.

See Advice on page 3

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Jeanna Sybert, president of the American Association of University Women at Pitt, discusses the history of select derogatory and misogynistic words at the group’s event Monday night. Thomas Yang | VISUAL EDITOR word is not part of the feminist movement.

Then the discussion came to the third and final word, first used for a 13th-century London street. The medical community in the 1500s also used the term as the medical word for vagina, but it became taboo in the 1800s, which Sybert joked about during the presentation.

“Victorian societal terms that ruin everything also ruined the word,” Sybert said.

The presenter displayed a tweet from The Onion showing what she believed was a completely wrong usage of the word and a clip from a performance of the Vagina Monologue reclaiming the word correctly.

The event closed with discussions among the event attendees. They shared their own personal ideas on reclamation and expanded the discussion to broader terms, including the idea of women in music reclaiming the words in their

songs and the idea of the reclaimed word “girl.”

Maddie Stackhouse, a first year studying neuroscience, said she came into the discussion knowing it’s a complicated topic and a lot of people have differing opinions on the subject.

“I personally already do reclaim these words with friends of mine in specific contexts and situations,” Stackhouse said. “There’s a time and place for everything.”

Allison Phillips, the organization’s event coordinator and a sophomore studying anthropology, thought the discussion was pretty much what she expected.

“I am not comfortable with the term ‘slut’ due to personal experience with the word. I find the word is associated with a weapon,” she said. “It is used in a negative manner far more than in a positive manner. I cannot think of any positive uses myself, but I am not going to say that no one can reclaim it.”

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Advice, pg. 2 Gabriel Aoki, a junior economics and philosophy major at Pitt, attended the meeting to gain a better understanding of the tools necessary to comprehend the fields he is closing in on.

Aoki said he needs a firm background in economics and an understanding of data analytics to pursue the vision he has for his future.

“I plan on starting businesses, and obviously data analytics is something that is a very big part of it, so definitely it will help me indirectly,” Aoki said.

Kai Gentile-Manigault, a statistics major at Pitt, came to the meeting because he heard someone was giving a talk on data analytics. He was eager to attend and said data analytics is the reason he is a statistics major.

“I’ve always liked math and things with numbers,” Gentile-Manigault said.

While many students were intrigued about the lifestyle of Wall Street, which Hirao was happy to discuss, her talk allowed students like Qin to get a stronger sense of the real-world applications of data analytics.

“I think Emily did a great job talking about her experiences and shedding some wisdom on how other students can use these skills and succeed,” Qin said.

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February 20, 2018

3

Opinions

column

from the editorial board

‘Black Panther’ sets standard for Hollywood inclusion If pop culture in the 2010s is remembered for anything, it’ll have to be superhero movies. Marvel, DC and smaller franchises have populated the silver screen with countless heroes over the past several years, almost all of them white — until last weekend, that is.

“Black Panther,” a Marvel Studios production in the works since at least 2014, saw national and international release last Thursday night after an initial premiere in Los Angeles last month. The movie, which benefited from strong word-of-mouth promotion, brought in an astounding $235 million over the four-day weekend.

While superhero features in the past, notably including 1998’s “Blade” and 2008’s “Hancock,” have starred black actors in the leading role, “Black Panther” has the potential for an impact beyond simply changing the color of the face on the movie’s packaging.

With an almost all-black cast, black production and direction, black heroes and villains, the film heralds real integration of black voices in Hollywood — both in the narratives being told through movies and in the industry itself.

The film at the center of all these social and aesthetic plaudits features a story about an African prince abroad who returns to his home kingdom after his father’s death to take over the responsibilities of the throne while doubling as the movie’s eponymous hero.

Both the protagonist and his enemies are black — a marked distinction from past films with minority leads.

In a number of ways, this dynamic allows the film’s story to focus on its

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black characters without having to look at them in the context of white cultural experiences. Yona Harvey, an assistant professor in Pitt’s English department and contributor to one of the comic book spin-offs of the “Black Panther” series, found that condition for writing about the black experience freeing.

“It’s really exciting writing about a villain,” Harvey said in an August 2016 interview with The Pitt News. “Especially for me, because I feel so clamped down [...] in my normal life, so wellbehaved.”

Harvey’s experience writing the story for the printed version of “Black Panther” was likely mirrored in the experiences of countless individuals of color among the audiences who watched it on the big screen for the first time over the weekend. Actor Terry Crews explained the “satisfying” feeling in an op-ed for USA Today yesterday of seeing “black people onscreen as full-fledged human beings.” “[The film] doesn’t disappoint, tackling action, humor and intense drama that finally, to my relief, wasn’t race-related,” Crews wrote.

It’s not too hard to imagine an attempt at an authentic representation of black people on the screen would benefit from having a group of actors, directors and producers who have that experience in their own personal lives.

That this most recent movie from Marvel was as successful as it was, rooted in diverse experiences as it was, is a powerful sign for where the movie industry should move in the future as the country becomes more comfortable with diversity portrayed on-screen.

Student election interest starts with SGB slates

Anne Marie Yurik Columnist

It wasn’t until Monday of last week that I realized it was election season for Student Government Board.

I, along with all 19,325 of my peers, are responsible today for voting in a new student body president who will be a voice for all undergraduates on campus.

Although I thought the reason I didn’t know it was election season would have a simple explanation, I realized student voter turnout is typically affected by several elements — the students themselves, the slates’ promotion of their own initiatives and the election committee’s promotion of the election in general. The conjunction of these three means it is essential that SGB and slates evaluate their processes to make improvements and potential voters take their role in the election more seriously. While SGB itself does some work to boost participation, it’s obviously not enough.

Regardless of the nuances in the election process, the fraction of students who vote to determine the new student body president each year needs to increase. One of the staples of a democracy is hearing the voice of the people, and the voting process enables that.

Slates, however, cannot take full responsibility. Slates did reach out to some students, and it is now those students’ job to use the information given to ask further questions or look at the resources on the SGB website. As voters, it is students’ job to stay as informed as possible with the intention of eventually casting a vote.

Pitt students’ turnout in previous elec-

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tions doesn’t inspire confidence that more students will go to the polls today. Last year’s elections doubled the voter participation rate to a measly 28.76 percent. The year before, 2016, only had about 2,665 voters, which didn’t leave a very high standard to surpass. In other words, it wouldn’t be abnormal for this year to see SGB elections receive low voter turnout.

Even last year’s relatively high voter turnout for SGB elections wasn’t all that impressive in full context. Pitt’s turnout rate of close to 29 percent is comparatively unimpressive when juxtaposed with 58 percent voter participation at Notre Dame, a fellow ACC school.

To help reduce this margin, every slate needs to demonstrate its willingness to make a difference on campus to as many students as possible. The burden of getting more informed voters involved in the election process is on the slates’ shoulders.

Since SGB does not advertise the initiatives of each slate, it is the slates’ responsibility to adequately promote themselves to the student body.

Even with SGB’s efforts to facilitate the election, their reach among undergraduates is minimal at best. It has a generally low weekly meeting attendance from participants outside the organization and only slightly more than 1,800 followers on Twitter. It’s unlikely many students see attempts to open the slates up to a wider audience. So while SGB goes out of its way to post updates, create stickers and T-shirts, facilitate events to meet the candidates and host debates about the elections, for the most part See Yurik on page 5

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Yurik, pg. 4 each slate is responsible for fostering student interest in its cause and representing issues all students can resonate with.

According to junior politics and philosophy major Anastasia Bodea Crisan, who serves as chair of the SGB Elections Committee, her committee essentially has two phases. The first is during the fall semester, when the committee encourages students to get involved in SGB as an organization.

The second is during the spring, when it focuses specifically on encouraging students to either run in the election or vote for the candidates.

When it comes to overseeing the election, the election committee can’t advertise specifically for any one slate, so it pushes for students to get engaged in the voting process. This is done through tabling in the lobby of Litchfield Towers, sending out emails to students and posting updates to SGB’s social media platforms.

Bodea Crisan says students should learn candidates’ initiatives by visiting the SGB website, attending one of the events put together by SGB or reaching out to the slate

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Raka Sarkar | SENIOR STAFF ILLUSTRATOR personally. She believes once students learn about the different initiatives, they will feel more strongly about voting for a given slate.

But relying on individual students to educate themselves about the candidates and stay involved enough to go out of their way to cast a vote isn’t a realistic option given the various other stresses already in our lives.

Some students — myself included — didn’t even know that elections were happening until now. Some might still not know its going on — and it’s difficult to get involved in something you don’t know exists.

If there’s any hope for improving student participation in elections, it lies in improving how slates interact as an intermediary

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between student voters and student government. Regardless of the election committee, it’s the job of each slate and its members to garner the support and overall interest in their initiatives from students on campus.

The emphasis is on the slates because they decide everything about the campaign, from when and where to do club presentations to general promotion of their initiatives.

While increasing student turnout will take a sustained and continued effort from students, slates and Student Government Board, one solution is for slates to work with other, smaller organizations in ways that get students to care about their representation on campus.

Regardless of how active slates have been in getting their messages out, students who are aware of the election and the different candidates should go out and vote.

Organizations can only do so much to make information available to everyone. It is ultimately up to you to take the information you have and support Pitt’s democratic system.

Anne Marie primarily writes about gender and student issues for The Pitt News.

Write to her at any41@pitt.edu.

5

Culture

Pitt Stage’s

‘Marie Antoinette’ wows with symbolism and decadence Amanda Reed

Contributing Editor Pitt’s production of “Marie Antoinette” has everything needed to recall the history of its title character — chandeliers, a guillotine and plenty of wigs.

But make no mistake — this is not a historical play, but a “meditation on excess,” as director Le’Mil Eiland notes in the program. After watching the performers and seeing actors in structured cotton candy-colored versions of 18thcentury dresses, with televisions on the walls and a catwalk, I couldn’t help but agree.

Pitt’s production of the play, although entertaining, it is not meant to entertain — instead, it is meant to create a dialogue with history using symbols and added elements such as music and media.

Written by David Adjmi and first performed at the Yale Repertory Theatre in 2012, “Marie Antoinette” is a retelling of the story of the last queen of France, who was ultimately convicted of high treason and executed by guillotine in 1793. It follows her marriage to King Louis XVI and her desire to produce an heir, as well as the events leading up to the fall of the French monarchy.

The play attributes her downfall to the vain, monarchical society that valued ex-

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travagance over the needs of the common people using an avant-garde design to bring the 18th century to the aughts.

This particular production brings in parallels to modern government before the show even begins. Photos of famous French paintings and monarchical portraits — graffitied with words like “fake news” and “make France great again” — line the way to the seats. A museum label explaining the context of the picture and the meaning behind the words supplements each photo, helping the audience make a connection between the two.

Videos of champagne being poured into a glass, perfume spraying and high heelclad feet walking show on four television screens, foreshadowing the decadence of what is to come onstage.

In the show, the French monarchy’s use of money for their own self-interests parallels today, when lobbying groups affect how our congresspeople vote despite their constituents’ countless calls to their offices.

Music is a crucial element of the show from the beginning. Sophomore cellist Annalise Shaffer joins junior Kayla Bradley, who plays Yolande De Polignac,

Elise Lavallee | CONTRIBUTING EDITOR to sing “I Did Something Bad” by Taylor Swift from her album, “Reputation.”

The entire song foreshadows Antoinette’s view toward the public — her frivolity and overspending was misguided, but she had a good time doing it. French rap plays between scene changes and onstage costume changes, modernizing and energizing the breaks between scenes.

Costumes designed by KJ Gilmer and junior Sophie Rice, along with junior Kyle Huber’s hair and makeup, add to the artifice — the actors wear cotton candycolored wigs, gaudy makeup, bright dresses, floral corsets paired with short cage skirts and high heels that would make skyscrapers jealous.

The acting is superb from all members of the cast — even the guards and the courtiers, who don’t speak for the first half of the show. Junior Alexis Primus gives a nuanced Antoinette, whose

February 20, 2018

character growth is visible and moving. First year Adam Nie’s Louis XVI channels Tom Hulce’s childish, neurotic Amadeus in the 1984 film of the same name.

Running 110 minutes with a 15-minute intermission, “Marie Antoinette” is not for the antsy, and its avant-garde nature might overwhelm a lay viewer.

But for the seasoned theatergoer, “Marie Antoinette” is a treat that will leave you thinking long after the guillotine falls and the lights come up.

Pitt’s version of the play runs from Feb. 15 to 25 at the Richard E. Rauh Studio Theatre. Tickets for the show can be purchased online or at the department of theatre arts box office on the 16th floor of the Cathedral.

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‘Black Panther’ revitalizes the stagnant superhero genre

Vikram Sundar For The Pitt News

The Pitt news crossword 2/20/18

Director Ryan Coogler enters new territory with “Black Panther,” peeling back old layers of the formulaic superhero narrative to reveal fresh and exciting elements rarely seen in the genre.

Following the enormous box office success of Marvel’s latest entries — “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” and “Thor: Ragnarok” — the company’s newest excursion, “Black Panther,” was gearing up to be another retread of flashy spectacle and overbearing comedy. However, as I walked out of “Black Panther,” I exhaled a long breath of relief.

Released Feb. 16, “Black Panther” imbues a spiritual energy unlike other superhero films, fueled by the incredible visual design of a fictional nation and the projection of its technologically advanced culture, rooted in African heritage.

The film takes place in Wakanda — a utopian, technologically superior country located somewhere in Africa, but hidden from the world and disguised as a poor, de-

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Chadwick Boseman stars in “Black Panther.” Marvel Studios/Walt Disney Studios/TNS veloping nation. The source of its flourishing prosperity is vibranium — the strongest and most efficient metal on Earth — which acts as the centerpiece for all of Wakanda’s infrastructure and technology.

T’Challa — otherwise known as the suring the country’s deposits of vibranium Black Panther, played by Chadwick Bose- don’t fall into the wrong hands.

At T’Challa’s side are his empathetic man — has inherited the throne from his late father, along with the responsibility of mother Ramonda, played by Angela Bassett, protecting the people of Wakanda and enSee Black Panther on page 8

The Pitt News SuDoku 2/20/18 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

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Black Panther, pg. 7 his loyal general Okoye, played by Danai Gurira, and his rebellious love interest Nakia, played by Lupita Nyong’o — who all shift the weight of his responsibility onto their shoulders as well.

Not long after being crowned, T’Challa is usurped by Erik Killmonger — played

by Michael B. Jordan — who believes Wakanda has been unfairly stockpiling vibranium for its own benefit, rather than sharing this technology with oppressed African populations.

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Dethroned by the physically imposing Killmonger, T’Challa struggles with adhering to the tradition and decree of his ancestors versus following his own judgement of what is right. He must channel the spirit of Black Panther to protect his homeland and the world from cataclysmic war.

Despite this narrative structure, “Black Panther” evolves past the triviality of older films in the expanded Marvel universe and grounds the viewer with pertinent, controversial social commentary on racism, xenophobia and gender neutrality — un-

derlying a plot more akin to a coming-ofage story.

Many of the secondary antagonists of the film, such as Ulysses Klaue, played by Andy Serkis, act as the embodiment of racism, referring to Wakandans as savages and disrespecting their culture. This blatant racism is one of the motivations for the primary antagonist of the film, Killmonger — who represents the extreme, rage-induced side of the oppressed freedom fighters — to abandon reasonable judgement for full-on vengeance.

T’Challa must act as the middleman

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between the two radical groups, sympathizing with Killmonger’s plight but also understanding that his approach is more vindictive than liberating.

The depiction of women in “Black Panther” is vibrant — in the sense that all of the female leads steal the show with their unprecedented heroics and loyalty. Okoye and Nakia prove to be more than capable of holding their own in combat — saving T’Challa many times from his occasionally reckless actions.

Danai Gurira displays tenacity with small bouts of wry humor in her performance as Okoye, the general of Wakanda — which stands in contrast to Lupita Nyong’o’s iron-jawed, rebellious portrayal of Nakia.

T’Challa’s genius younger sister Shuri, played by Letitia Wright, captivates with her charm and technological wit, but shines brightest when protecting her older brother from Killmonger. In the face of death, she stands tall and firm, willing to die to protect her brother, her country and her culture. The sacrifices these women make for the foundations of T’Challa’s victory over Killmonger and serve as definitive examples of heroism in the film.

Given the growing division in race, politics and culture in today’s society, it is enjoyable to see a film embrace cultural diversity and dispel xenophobic attitudes through subtle internal character conflict.

The film’s sole downfall may be it’s technical aspects — the CGI in the action sequences was surprisingly disappointing.

The movements of T’Challa and Killmonger feel unnaturally stiff during fighting scenes, and as a result, there are way too many cuts in the middle of the action to hide this underdevelopment in CGI. The cuts have a disorienting effect on the action and, given that most battle sequences are shot in the dark as a part of Black Panther’s stealth tactic, they can be hard to follow. This is unexpected, considering that Coogler recently directed “Creed” — lauded for its realistic fight choreography and framing with heightened grandeur.

Aside from some lapses in CGI, “Black Panther” is a triumphant film, fitting together action, drama, romance, comedy and adventure into a coherent story of heroism and pride in the wake of growing conformist attitudes — all the while redefining the superhero movie genre.

8

Sports

Syracuse stifles pitt, 62-53

Dominic Campbell Staff Writer

The Pitt women’s basketball team was blown out at the Carrier Dome, 70-52, in its first matchup of the season against rival Syracuse Jan. 21. During Monday night’s home stand, the Panthers played much better but still lost to the Orange, 62-53.

The Panthers (10-17 overall, 2-12 ACC) kept the final margin closer than the last game against the Orange (20-7 overall, 8-6 ACC) but had trouble scoring against the Orange’s 2-3 zone defense — a scheme in which the five defenders defend a zone on the court instead of another player.

“I was very proud of our players and their effort tonight, and how hard they played and how they battled and how they learned so much from game one to game two,” Pitt head coach Suzie-McConnell Serio said. “We didn’t compete that well the first time around, and I thought we competed today.”

The game started with both teams struggling with shooting. The Panthers shot 3-9 and the Orange shot 3-13, including 0-6 from the 3-point line before the first media timeout with 2:59 to go in the first quarter.

Syracuse missed its first nine shots of the game before first-year forward Digna Strautmane made a layup with 5:18 remaining in the first quarter. Strautmane had a strong first quarter, getting six points total and leading the Orange to a 12-9 lead. She also was a big factor on the boards, grabbing four rebounds and helping Syracuse to a 24-18 rebounding advantage in the first half.

The Orange took initiative early in the second quarter. McConnell-Serio was forced to take a timeout when Syracuse got two big 3-point shots from sophomore guard Gabrielle Cooper and redshirt junior guard Isis Young, to take

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Yacine Diop (12), redshirt junior and forward for Pitt’s women’s basketball team, scored 16 points in Monday night’s 62-53 loss to Syracuse at home.

Thomas Yang | VISUAL EDITOR an 18-9 lead with 9:05 left in the second quarter.

Though the Panthers fell behind early in the second quarter but clawed their way back to make the game almost level at halftime. Junior center Kalista Walters was a crucial part of the comeback, guiding the Panthers with six points in the quarter and four rebounds in the second

quarter.

Syracuse’s abysmal shooting allowed Pitt to make a comeback. The Orange went only 2-13 from the field, including 1-8 from the 3-point line after taking a nine-point lead early in the second quarter. The only bright spot was redshirt junior forward Miranda Drummond, who scored the last seven points in the quar-

February 20, 2018

ter for the Orange.

The Panthers countered Drummond’s scoring by shooting 6-13 from the field and using a 5-0 run over the last three minutes of the second to only trail 25-23 by halftime.

The game stayed close during the third quarter. Pitt brought the deficit down to one with two foul shots by sophomore guard Jasmine Whitney with 4:12 remaining. Then, Syracuse went on a 10-1 run to close out the quarter, leading 42-34. Strautmane was once again a big factor for the Orange, scoring 10 points on 3-7 shooting in the third quarter.

Pitt sophomore guard Alayna Gribble said Strautmane and Drummond’s aggressiveness made them hard to defend.

“I think they’re just aggressive and they’re very versatile, they can shoot and drive,” Gribble said. “And then if you like help off of them, they always look for the open player.”

In the fourth quarter, Syracuse was able to keep the Panthers from coming back and maintained their lead to get the win.

A 3-point shot from Gribble and a jumper from redshirt junior forward Yacine Diop, who finished with 16, cut the lead to four with 8:21 left in the game.

Syracuse quickly got two 3-pointers of their own to extend the lead to 10.

Sophomore guard Tiana Mangakahia came alive in the fourth quarter. She scored 10 points in the quarter, going 3-4 from the field and shooting 4-4 from the free throw line to put the game away for the Orange.

“All the little things hurt us in the end,” Walters said. “Missed foul shots, turnovers, their points off of our turnovers, offensive rebounds — they all come to play at the end of the game.”

Pitt will take on No. 21 North Carolina State in its final home game of the season Thursday night. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.

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Taysir Mack transfers to become a Panther Alex Lehmbeck Staff Writer

Pitt has a storied history of great college wide receivers, including Larry Fitzgerald, Antonio Bryant and Tyler Boyd. Taysir Mack, a new Pitt transfer from Indiana University, hopes to follow in their footsteps.

“Every time I walk in the door, I look at the Biletnikoff Award, and I’m just like ‘Wow, one day I want to be at that level. That’s something I want to achieve,’” Mack said. “That also keeps me humble and makes me want to work hard. [Pitt legends] motivate the whole receiver group, because everybody has something to look up to.”

Touted as a three-star recruit coming out of high school, Mack was ranked the seventh-best recruit in the state of New York on 247Sports in 2016. The Brooklyn native originally committed to Rutgers University before flipping to Indiana to play for then-Hoosiers head coach Kevin Wilson.

“Mack is a tremendous talent who gets off the line of scrimmage quickly, is fantastic getting into and out of breaks, and he is elusive after the catch with a very good change of direction,” 247Sports’ Brian Dohn wrote. “Mack has good ball skills and can get behind the defense for big plays. He has to get stronger to be able to handle physical defensive backs and also block in the running game.”

Mack has improved the size issue that Dohl mentions since he was recruited in 2016. Listed as 177 pounds by rivals.com in his senior year of high school, Mack is now 200 pounds coming into Pitt.

While at Indiana, Mack played in 10 of the Hoosiers’ 12 games last season, recording 23 receptions for 310 yards and three touchdowns. His numbers were

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good enough to place him at fifth in receiving on the team.

Most of his production came in a 111yard, 2-touchdown performance against Charleston Southern Oct. 7, as well as the season finale against Purdue, where he had 132 yards and a touchdown.

Mack, as a midyear enrollee, has already gotten used to Pitt and its campus.

He said finds a sense of familiarity in Pittsburgh compared to his hometown.

“I like everything about it so far,” Mack said. “It reminds me of being home from New York — the city life is not really much different. I was able to adapt real quickly, and I’ve just been enjoying the process.”

He particularly enjoys Pittsburgh’s many food options. He said it’s a nice change from home. “[I’ve been impressed by] how many food spots we have all around,” Mack said. “Being in New York, sometimes you have to go a little bit out just to get … food, but [here] there’s different varieties of food close by and that’s just what I’ve just been enjoying so far.”

Due to NCAA transfer rules, Mack will sit out the 2018 season. He will hit Heinz Field for the 2019 campaign as a redshirt sophomore. Mack will be joining a receiving core that already lost two playmakers, Jester Weah and Quadree Henderson, last year. He hopes to pick up where they left off.

“I just really hope to adapt to the culture that they’ve already set here,” Mack said. “[I need to be] able to improve certain things, just in terms of my ability to add speed onto the field, like stretch the field vertically and be able to adapt to what the guys already have done here and just add on and bring the team to the next level.”

The Pitt News

Editor-in-Chief ASHWINI SIVAGANESH

Managing Editor JOHN HAMILTON

editor@pittnews.com

manager@pittnews.com

News Editor MACKENZIE RODRIGUES

Opinions Editor HENRY GLITZ

news@pittnews.com

opinions@pittnews.com

Sports Editor GRANT BURGMAN

Culture Editor CAROLINE BOURQUE

sports@pittnews.com

culture@pittnews.com

Visual Editor THOMAS YANG

Layout Editor ELISE LAVALLEE

visuals@pittnews.com

layout@pittnews.com

Online Editor MATT CHOI

Copy Chief KYLEEN PICKERING

tpnonline@gmail.com

copy@pittnews.com

Janine Faust | Assistant News Editor Salina Pressimone | Assistant News Editor Sarah Shearer | Assistant Opinions Editor Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor Issi Glatts | Assistant Visual Editor Christian Snyder | Multimedia Editor Rachel Glasser | Assistant Layout Editor Amanda Reed | Online Engagement Editor

Kim Rooney | Assistant Copy Chief Copy Staff Amanda Sobczak Alexa Marzina Kelsey Hunter Aleeza Furman Brian Murray

Mia DiFelice Kelsey Hunter Bridget Duffy Pooja Krishnan Andrea Michael

Adrianna Moyer

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, cartoons 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

February 20, 2018

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 20, 2018

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I N D E X

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

For Rent North Oakland 3764 Bigelow Blvd, 4 bedrooms, 2 full baths, newly renovated. Equipped kitchen, balcony, washer and dryer provided. Single garage.

Alarm system. Central air-conditioning. $1300+. Available August 2018. Call 412-600-6933.

Awesome and affordable studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments close to campus- renting for Summer 2018 move in. Find your perfect home- call for more info and a tour!

412-441-1400

South Oakland 1 or 2 bedroom apartments available for Fall 2018, one block from Forbes Ave. Washer/dryer onsite. 1 year lease begins Aug 1st. Call 412-621-2742.

3 & 4 Bedroom Apartments on Semple, Bates, & Juliet.

August availability. $1425-$2600. Call John CR Kelly Reality. 412-683-7300 Visit: www.jcrkelly. com

pittnews.com

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

South Oakland 3 Bedroom (duplex) freshly painted with large bonus room, living room, kitchen, dining room, 1 full bath, 1 half bath, plus toilet/shower in basement. Small backyard, front porch. $1,500/ month plus utilities.

2 Bedroom, upper level of duplex, living room, large kitchen, small backyard. 1 full bath. $950 plus utilities.

5 minutes from bus, Panera, Carlow, Pitt.Both available immediately. 412-339-3671 3 Bedroom & 1.5 Bath House for rent. 2 car garage. Full house air conditioning, dish washer, self-cleaning oven, full basement.

Steps from campus shuttle. Back deck over garage with view. $1650+ utilities.

August 2018. Call 412-736-8095.

3, 4, 5 bedroom. Free laundry on premises, separate utilities.

Available August 1st.

412-334-8804.

4 BR HOME - SEMPLE STREET, LOCATED NEAR LOUISA. EQUIPPED KITCHEN, FULL BASEMENT. NEW

Classifieds

For sale

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

services

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

CENTRAL AIR ADDED. RENTING FOR AUGUST 2018.

(412) 343-4289 or 412-330-9498.

Apartment/house for rent. Available immediately. Newly remodeled 2, 3 or 7 BR, utilities included, laundry available.

37 Welsford St. 412-337-5736 or email hfarah1964@ yahoo.com Apartments for rent.

2, 3, and 4 bedroom apartments 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 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.

FOR RENT AUGUST 1, 2018: Remodeled, spacious 3BR, 1.5BA home near Schenley Park. $1725/mo + utilities. Central air, laundry, dishwasher, patio. Parking spot available. Pitt shuttle & bus across street.

Panther Properties of PA, showing: pantherproperties2@

notices

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

R A T E S

Insertions

1X

2X

3X

4X

5X

6X

1-15 Words

$6.30

$11.90

$17.30

$22.00

$27.00

$30.20

+ $5.00

16-30 Words

$7.50

$14.20

$20.00

$25.00

$29.10

$32.30

+ $5.40

(Each Additional Word: $0.10)

Deadline:

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

gmail.com, photos: panther-life.com/ available

Squirrel Hill

M.J. Kelly Realty.

Studio, 1, 2, 3 and 4 Bedroom Apartments, Duplexes and Houses.

N. & S. Oakland from $750-$2500. mjkellyrealty@gmail. com. 412-271-5550. www.mjkellyrealty. com

Stunning 2, 3 and 5 bedroom duplexes on tree lined residential streets. Available Summer 2018. Features may include hardwood, granite, porch, A/C, parking, laundry. Near buses, shopping and restaurants! 412-441-1400

STUDENT HOUSING. Updated 4, 5 & 6 Bedroom Houses w/ multiple baths. Dishwasher, laundry, some w/ air conditioning and/or parking.

August availability.

412-445-6117.

Add.

The best studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartments in town- for the best prices! Close to buses, shopping and great restaurants.

Renting for Summer 2018 move in. Call today! 412-441-1400

Employment

ing, personal care services. Flexible hours available. If interested call 412-363-5500

youth. Summer and

rental applicants, do internet postings & help staff our action-central office.

Part-time or full time. AVAILABLE NOW; full time over summer. $13/hour.

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

Mozart Management 412-682-7003 thane@ mozartrents.com

fall positions with

Seasonal Marketing

bi-weekly stipend and

Assistant

education award. Full

Shadyside property

and part-time. Possi-

management firm es-

ble internship credit.

tablished in 1960

Guardian Angel Ambulance is actively seeking EMTs and Medics. Immediate openings. Flexible schedules. Apply in person 700 Lebanon Road, West Mifflin or email guardianangelambulance@msn. com. 412-462-1400 Join KEYS Service Corps, AmeriCorps.

Mentor, tutor, and inspire Pittsburgh area

Studio & 1 Bedrooms Available Fall 2018. Heat included.

412-261-4620.

Employment Other

Call 412-350-2739.

needs two Seasonal

www.keysser-

Marketing Assistants

vicecorps.org

to work with Excel,

Ward & S. Bouquet Streets - Studio, 1, 2 & 3BR apartments. Free parking.

Move in May 1 or Aug. 1, 2018. Call 412-361-2695

Comfort Keepers, a Post-Gazette Top Workplace, is seeking caring individuals.

Caregivers work alongside seniors to provide companionship, light housekeep-

OFFICE INTERN Shadyside Management Company seeks person w/min 2 yrs. college, for upcoming spring semester to interview & process

Word and the internet from approximately NOW to August;

in days and hours will be considered; most hours will be solitary on the computer with no phone work; 40 words per minute and strong computer skills required; no experience needed & we will train you at our Shadyside office; free parking. $13/hour plus generous season end bonus.

Mozart Management 412-682-7003. thane@mozartrents. com

Services Parking GARAGE PARKING available in the heart of Oakland. Protect your car while parked.

Only $80/month! Call 412-692-1770.

four days/week from 9am-6pm. Saturday and/or Sunday hours a must; some flexibility

Shadyside A variety of beautiful studio, 1 and 2 bedroom apartment homes- available Summer 2018. Features may include granite, hardwood, parking, and laundry.

Close to restaurants and shopping. Call today! 412-441-1400

February 20, 2018

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