The Pitt News
The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | february 28, 2018 | Volume 108 | Issue 121
Religious studies chair,
VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
mentor dies John Hamilton Managing Editor Linda Penkower — the chair of the University’s religious studies department known for supporting students and faculty — died Tuesday night, the department’s undergraduate director said in an email. In the email, which was addressed to religious studies majors and recent graduates, professor Rachel Kranson said Penkower had been fighting cancer for several years. “She engaged in this struggle while working tirelessly for the religious studies department, for her colleagues, and for her students,” Kranson wrote. The department also shared the news on Facebook, sending condolences to her friends and family. “We are sorry to have to share the news of the death of our department chair, beloved colleague, dedicated and inspiring teacher, and noted scholar of early Chinese Buddhism, Linda Penkower,” the post read. Penkower mainly taught courses related to religion in Asia, according to her faculty bio. She spent nine years living in Japan and one in China and has published numerous research papers on Buddhism. She earned her PhD from Columbia University in 1993. She’s received numerous awards and grants — including two Fulbright-Hays faculty research fellowships. See Chair on page 4
Madison Renner, a junior natural sciences major, receives assistance while registering to vote at Planned Parenthood’s My Body is My Own Art installation outside the William Pitt Union Tuesday afternoon. Sarah Cutshall STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SGB CALLS FOR EXPANSION OF MEDICAL AMNESTY LAWS Noah Manalo
Government Board believes adding legal protection to the state criminal code for the perAt Student Government Board’s final pub- son receiving medical attention in an incident lic meeting before spring break, SBG President involving alcohol will create a safer environMax Kneis introduced a resolution calling for ment for college students across the commonthe Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to ex- wealth,” the resolution said. The resolution notes the Pitt policy that pand medical amnesty laws. says the person seeking help for someone and The resolution states that approximately the person experiencing the alcohol emergen1,825 college students in the United States die cy won’t be charged with violating Pitt alcohol each year from alcohol-related injuries. The and drug policies. resolution notes that Pennsylvania’s medical But Kneis mentioned in an interview after amnesty policy does not provide protection the meeting that students can still receive a for the person receiving medical attention for conduct violation from other authorities. alcohol related overdoses, unlike drug over“People don’t want to call for help because doses. they don’t want to get their friend in trouble,” “The University of Pittsburgh Student Staff Writer
he said. “This essentially does not de-incentivize people calling for help.” Kneis said he has been in communication frequently with the presidents of the student government at Penn State and Lehigh University. Lehigh’s student government started the push for the legislation in October. The resolution is also co-sponsored by the presidents of Pitt’s three Greek councils. The resolution is being introduced after Dean Kenyon Bonner placed Pitt fraternity Sigma Chi on suspension in January because of a “serious alcohol incident” involving a Sigma Chi member. All of Pitt Greek Life was also put on social probation because of the See SGB on page 2