2-8-18

The Pitt News

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | February 8, 2018 | Volume 108 | Issue 107

Taking steps for cystic fibrosis

A BLUE DEBUT

Zane Crowell

For The Pitt News Members of the Run to Cure Cystic Fibrosis marathon team trek up more than 700 steps of the Cathedral of Learning every Thursday. Then they take the elevator back down and do it two or three more times.

The western Pennsylvania chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a donorfunded nonprofit working to raise awareness about the disease and money for research, founded The Run to Cure CF 2018 team in an effort to raise funding for its cause. The team began training in early January and meets every Thursday in the Cathedral to train for the annual Pittsburgh Marathon in May. Members Pitt officially unveiled a new feature to the Cathedral of Learning’s victory lights Wednesday — a spotlight shining of the team are required to fundraise for straight up from the top of the 42-story structure. John Hamilton | MANAGING EDITOR the race.

The group began using the Cathedral to train after one of the coaches realized the stairwells could be used to prepare for hills, according to team member Grant Burgman and tential arrival of Amazon’s second headquarters. Pittsburgh.” They gathered to discuss how AmaDebbie Brown.

John Hamilton “Is this an opportunity for growth, or is this zon’s second headquarters could affect the City “One of our coaches’ wife works on The Pitt News Staff just another opportunity to instantiate the dis- — specifically questioning if the company and campus, and he’s very familiar with the Chancellor Patrick Gallagher said Amazon parities that already exist?” asked Jason Beery, the estimated 50,000 jobs it would bring might campus,” Brown said. “I think that’s how coming to Pittsburgh would be “unquestionably increase inequality in Pittsburgh. a senior researcher at the UrbanKind Institute. we got started.” a good thing,” in an article published by GeeThe five panelists — Beery, Rebecca Bagley, The Pitt Human Rights Project, the Urban Anywhere from four to 10 people kwire Wednesday.

Studies Program and the UrbanKind Institute Waverly Duck, William Generett Jr. and Beth gather to walk up the Cathedral stairs But the crowd of 50 people that filled a lec- sponsored the panel titled “Forged for All? Shaaban — brought different perspectives on from the ground floor to the 34th floor, ture in Parran Hall Wednesday afternoon heard Amazon HQ2, Human Rights and the Future of See Amazon on page 2 See Steps on page 2 five panelists discuss different views on the po-

COMMUNITY QUESTIONS AMAZONʼS IMPACT

News Amazon, pg. 1

the issue — with some focusing on the potential positives of Amazon and others presenting concerns. But all agreed that a discussion about the pros and cons was important.

Amazon announced in September that the company was looking for a city to build its second headquarters. Hundreds of cities submitted proposals — many offering the online retail giant tax credits and other financial incentives.

Amazon selected Pittsburgh as one of the 20 finalists in January.

Bagley, the vice chancellor for economic partnerships at Pitt, said most economic development policy takes place completely in private, so conversations about economic development and how it relates to equality are important, even if Amazon chooses another city.

“I think Pittsburgh is poised for growth, whether it’s through Amazon or through others,” she said. “These conversations that we’re having ... [are] a really good thing for the community [and] a really good thing for the University community.”

Duck, the head of the Urban Studies Pro-

Steps, pg. 1 but the marathon team boasts larger numbers. Dale Himmler, 37, of Bethel Park, said he thinks there are more than 100 people signed up to run in the marathon on the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation team.

Each of these team members run for various reasons. Cindy Dulak signed up to encourage a friend already on the team.

“I am training with a friend who signed up, and I really like the cause and wanted to help support that,” Dulak, 46, of West Mifflin, said.

Others are running because people close to them have cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects the respiratory system, getting progressively worse over time. Brown’s 15-year-old granddaughter suffers from cystic fibrosis. Himmler and his wife Jen also participate because their lives have been directly impacted

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gram at Pitt, opened the forum with a statement about the need to protect the interests of the Pittsburgh community in the event Amazon decides to bring its second headquarters to the City. Duck discussed public concerns over the potential for displacement of citizens, increases in the cost of housing and access to jobs that Amazon would provide should it come to Pittsburgh.

“Amazon was very clear about what’s in it for them,” Duck said. “I think that we should start asking what’s in it for us.”

Generett, the vice president of community engagement at Duquesne, said he was concerned about how the Amazon deal would impact the impoverished community of Pittsburgh.

“Depending on the statistics, somewhere between 30 and 40 percent of our population lives at or below the poverty line,” Generett said.

“The question becomes, how are those 40 percent of people going to be impacted by this?”

Shaaban, a Ph.D. student and member of the Graduate Student Organizing Committee, talked about what Amazon might do to student life at Pitt. She referenced students at the University of Washington in Seattle, where Ama-

zon’s main headquarters is located. Students have moved out of the city due to inflated housing prices — which Shaaban said is a warning for what could happen to students at Pitt.

“Local universities and colleges have to be part of any kind of strategic planning about having enough housing,” Shaaban said.

Beery, a former professor at Pitt, was the last to speak. He pointed out the gender inequality of a company like Amazon, which has only one woman among its 18 highest-ranking executives. He also discussed the racial inequality in the tech industry, at Amazon and at Pitt.

“Of the undergraduate enrollment, only five percent is black and African-American, in a City that is 25 percent black and AfricanAmerican,” Beery said. “We need to really think about how the University works if it’s going to work to develop the pipeline of students to take these jobs.”

In an interview after the forum, Bagley said she thought the Amazon headquarters would be a naturally diverse workplace.

“It’s not necessarily just the software engineers and those types of things,” she said. “So I think a lot of those things allow for diversity to be embedded not only at Amazon but in all

the companies we would look to grow or look to create.”

In the question and answer portion of the forum, Jules Lobel, a Pitt law professor, asked about the secrecy of Pittsburgh’s Amazon bid.

Since the public hasn’t seen the incentives, he asked the panelists how they can have an honest discussion about the proposal. Generett said keeping the incentives private is part of the “game” in attracting new companies.

“The idea that keeping [the proposal] secret is part of the rules of the game is wrong,” Lobel said after the event, pointing to Philadelphia, which released a redacted version of its proposal.

Overall, Lobel found the panel to be a great discussion, despite his disagreement with some responses — a sentiment shared by David Ankin, a junior computer science student.

Ankin said the panelists brought up a lot of good points about the potential negative impact Amazon would have on housing and students, as well as on the role of the University as a major player in the City.

“The stats, the numbers they said, completely backed this up,” he said. “But then the responses were all — ‘but jobs.’”

by the disease. Their son was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when he was born in October 2017.

“We found out a week after he was born that he had cystic fibrosis, and we were kind of thrown into this world,” Himmler said.

The proceeds from the team go to increasing awareness of cystic fibrosis and funding research for treatment or a cure.

“It’s great being a part of an organization, just getting involved and meeting other people that have the same passion,” Himmler said. “It’s very personal for my wife and I just knowing that these runs are helping everybody with cystic fibrosis.”

On race day, members of the team will take their positions at the starting line Downtown before winding through 14 Pittsburgh neighborhoods. The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation is one of 37 charities that the marathon foundation allows runners to fundraise for.

“This is my 10th year doing some-

thing with the Pittsburgh Marathon,” Himler said. “I’ve done the full [marathon, and] a number of half-marathons.

I’ve also been a part of the relay.”

Dulak is also an experienced runner.

She ran the half-marathon last year in two hours and 38 minutes and will be competing in it again this year.

Even though this isn’t their first marathon, they still understand the importance of training. The team members utilize the Cathedral stairs because they mimic the Pittsburgh terrain, which requires runners to trudge up and down steep hills. Himmler said the 34-floor climb also helps build endurance.

“The stair climb is really good for building those muscles that, as your body starts to fatigue over the course of a marathon ... can kind of carry you to the end,” Himmler said.

Besides the stairwells, team members run throughout the week, with each session serving a different purpose.

“Typically, the weekends are when

you’re trying to build a long-distance run,” Himmler said. “In my experience, you don’t necessarily go for speed, you’re going to get the mileage.”

Training during the week consists of short, fast sprint intervals and recovery runs to help with the speed the runners will need for the longer distances. Like the marathon, the team trains throughout Pittsburgh’s diverse neighborhoods.

“We run all over the City — last week we ran through Bakery Square,” Brown said. “So we get to see different parts of the City as we’re training ... we’ve had at least 50 people all run together on the weekends.”

With the Pittsburgh Marathon starting May 6, the Run for Cystic Fibrosis team has slightly less than three months to continue training and fundraising.

But for Himmler, it’s going to be a longer road.

“Now it’s a life mission of being an advocate for those with cystic fibrosis,” Himmler said.

February 8, 2018

2

Editor-in-Chief

Managing Editor

The Pitt News

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February 8, 2018

3

Opinions

column

from the editorial board

Military parade an exercise in wastefulness Though he was democratically elected, President Donald Trump seems to relish every opportunity to look like an autocrat.

His first year in office has seen everything from attacks on the free press to a resilient personality cult — soon, he’ll even get a military parade.

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis confirmed at a press conference yesterday that the president, who had previously requested a massive parade of American armed forces routed through downtown Washington, D.C., would be getting his wish. The secretary said Trump called for the march out of reverence for the country’s service members.

“We all know the president of the United States’ affection for the military,” Mattis said.

Another military official, who spoke anonymously to the Washington Post, said the president took inspiration for his massive military drill from the French military’s Bastille Day parade. But France’s tradition comes from a place of pacifism and international goodwill, with French soldiers carrying flags of the European Union and including troops from other countries. The context of Trump’s parade will make it little more than an exercise in authoritarianism and wastefulness.

When the parade takes place, it will be the first such showing of military prowess in the United States since 1991, when the country celebrated victory over Saddam Hussein’s Iraq at the end of the First Gulf War. At the time, the Soviet Union had yet to collapse — although it had begun to crumble — which might help to explain the bizarre, Cold War feel of holding a parade in 2018.

In an era marked by renewed nuclear

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tensions — this time with North Korea — perhaps Trump’s proposed military show shouldn’t come as quite as much of a surprise. The president, who’s entered into size contests with foreign despots before, isn’t acting out of character by asking for a parade bigger than France’s. But it’s a new normal that’s profoundly disturbing.

Beyond the brazen saber rattling, some, including Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-N.Y., raised objections to the parade on financial grounds.

“I say that it’s a fantastic waste of money to amuse the president,” Durbin told MSNBC’s Morning Joe yesterday morning.

Zeldin, who’s on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, pointed out that military spending for the upcoming year is already stretched thin.

“I don’t believe we should have tanks or nuclear weapons going down Pennsylvania Avenue,” Zeldin said. “We need to fund the entire military for the rest of the year.”

While representatives of the Trump administration hid behind the excuse of wanting to spend money on honoring the troops, it’s unclear why we should honor them in this specific way or how soldiers would benefit from a parade. Although it’s too early for cost estimates, it’s not hard to see the whole to-do costing millions of dollars in planning, transportation and security. And that’s money that could be going toward the care of active soldiers, veterans’ services or paying for diplomats to help avoid needless military entanglements.

It shouldn’t require a massive show and dance down Pennsylvania Avenue to honor the military. Trump could start showing his appreciation for our troops by not using them as political pawns.

#MeToo in the streets, not just the tweets

Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, discusses the use of intersectional feminism on social media Tuesday night at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside. Christian Snyder | CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

Alexis Buncich Columnist

Me too. Me too. Me too. It’s been all over the news. It’s been all over your Twitter, Facebook and Instagram feeds.

As sexual assault survivors of all identities continue to speak out about their stories, it’s easy to get caught up in the increasingly visible culture of feminism and girl power. Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, visited Pittsburgh Tuesday to give a speech at the Calvary Episcopal Church in Shadyside about the virality of the movement she helped start.

And she had an abundance of advice for the Pittsburgh community to keep it going.

Burke spoke emphatically about how everyone in the community needed to come together to truly unify over real resistance to structures of oppression. The time for token allegiance to the movement

February 8, 2018

against sexual assault is over.

In the midst of all the hype, there are two important things to remember. First, this movement impacts everyone. And second, it’s more than just a tweet.

Burke emphasized that intersectional feminism is more nuanced than what Twitter users might have you believe. Content claiming to be intersectional appearing on the internet often seems more divisive than inclusive. Understanding privilege and standing up for issues that might not impact oneself are obviously important, but the term has been used to undermine significant movements for women’s rights — including the Women’s March.

Some of the responses to last year’s march seemed to care less about the size of crowds that came out to oppose sexism from President Donald Trump and more about the color composition of the See Buncich on page 5

4

marchers. For some, including Nigerian author and activist Luvvie Ajayi, there were simply too many white people for the event to be a legitimate expression of support for women’s rights.

Intersectional feminism means everyone is welcome, no matter their identity. It relays that we should not ignore the other identities of women when examining their discrimination. Of course, systems of race, class, gender, sexuality and others can all act together, and we should not let this evade us. But no one should be made to feel unwelcome in women’s movements because they aren’t subject to every form of oppression there is. Inclusion is a fundamental pillar, and using the term “intersectional feminism” to divide women is not promoting its true meaning.

This is not to deny that we do need to investigate our own experiences and how they relate to the #MeToo movement and intersectional feminism as a whole. But Burke pointed out Tuesday that many of the problems that continue to face women come from communities that face other forms of oppression.

“We live where all these rich, powerful white men have been taken down, and y’all [are] still stepping to R. Kelly,” Burke said, receiving an enthusiastic round of applause.

R. Kelly, prominent black singer-songwriter, has faced a long list of accusations of sexual misconduct throughout his career. Reports even surfaced last July alleging that he held young women inside his home against their will and controlled them in a cult-like atmosphere. The controversy has largely been avoided by those in the #MeToo movement — and Burke pointed out the hypocrisy of ignoring problematic individuals in certain communities.

The movement is important, and it requires all types of people. It’s time to rediscover how to hear one another — and exactly that began to take place at Tuesday’s talk. During a Q&A session after Burke’s speech, a young community organizer spoke about the difficulties of women of color in gaining access to leadership roles in the community. Burke asked who in the audience would be willing to work with the woman, and several women — of all colors —

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raised their hands before the question even finished.

This speaks as a powerful metaphor for where #MeToo needs to move next.

It is fantastic whenever issues we find important are trendy, but we cannot rely upon a moment in the spotlight alone to grow movements. As Burke advised the audience, we need to use our own ideas, missions, platforms and stories to push the fight forward.

“The solution is not [just] creating a hashtag,” Burke explained to the audience.

There are any number of ways to go beyond the relatively passive resistance of merely jumping on a hashtag bandwagon.

Countless clubs at Pitt promote women’s issues, including the Campus Women’s Organization, Female Empowerment Movement and Strong Women Strong Girls, who were all present at the event.

Some, such as Students Engaging in Conversations about Consent and Sexuality, specifically discuss and work against issues relating to sexual assault.

But while they’ve become a hotbed for sexual assault and the fight against it, college campuses can’t be the extent of the movement. An impressive panel of local organizations present at Tuesday’s event is working to effect change locally, and getting involved with them is a fantastic way to transform Pittsburgh. They include the Women & Girls Foundation, Gwen’s Girls, the Women’s Law Project, and Pittsburgh Action Against Rape.

The groups’ presence last night proves that these organizations are willing to keep working on issues surrounding sexual harassment and assault in the longterm, not just in the moment.

The solution to widespread injustice and intersecting sources of oppression is not simply bringing attention to it over the internet. Perhaps there is no perfect solution, but there are a lot of things we can do to help. Impact individual change.

Join organizations that promote true intersectional feminism. When friends are playing music, request Beyonce, not R. Kelly. Most importantly, take your mission far beyond the hashtag, and never stop expanding your platform.

In Burke’s own words, “It really is going to take everybody.”

Alexis primarily writes about local issues and student life for The Pitt News.

Write to Alexis at alb413@pitt.edu.

The Pitt news crossword 2/8/18

Buncich, pg. 4

February 8, 2018

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Culture Rhodessa Jones brings Joanna Li

art and activism to Pitt

Staff Writer

Since she found theater, San Francisco-based artist Rhodessa Jones said she has always had a place in the world — whether it be to share her ups and downs or to offer other women a chance to speak out.

“Theater has been the one lover that has never let me down — it demands a lot of me, but then the rewards are abundant,” Jones, 69, said.

When Annabelle Clippinger, director of Pitt Arts, first saw Jones at the 2017 Americans for the Arts Conference, she was fascinated by her keynote address. From the audience’s reactions, Clippinger could feel the power of Jones’ dynamic personality — demonstrating Jones’ commitment to using art as a platform for social activism.

“Having seen her there, I was just stunned at what an incredible speaker she was and the story she had behind herself,” said Clippinger. “She makes a safe space for everyone to share their stories, and I think it’s because she shares so much.”

After researching more of Jones’ work, Clippinger knew Jones was the perfect person to be Pitt’s artist-in-residence for February 2018. In this role, Jones will host creative workshops three days a week and work with students from various departments to create an original show that will be performed Feb. 24 in Alumni Hall.

Jones’ work began in 1983 when she met her creative partner, Idris Ackamoor, through the nonprofit organization Cultural Odyssey — a company that organizes group workshops and performances to bring awareness to various social causes. Ackamoor started Cultural Odyssey in 1979 after an eye-opening discovery of the connection between interdisciplinary African artists and the community.

“My goal that I had 40 years ago is the same goal I have today — to support myself and Rhodessa as performing artists with the projects that we do,” said Ackamoor. “We both have gratitude about being able to do this artistic work — we are called upon to do this work.”

Furthering the initial goal of the company, Jones began to pursue an initiative of her own —

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Rhodessa Jones, co-artistic director of San Francisco’s performance company Cultural Odyssey, was chosen to be Pitt’s artist-in-residence for the month of February. Courtesy of Rhodessa Jones encouraging storytelling through physical performance. Her idea grew out of an invitation from the California Arts Council, which had asked her to teach aerobics in the local jails of San Francisco.

Fascinated by the idea of using aerobics to save the lives of incarcerated women, Jones gave the job a chance.

“I thought to myself, ‘Well, I’m not an aerobics teacher, but I’m a dancer and a performer.’ So I went in,” Jones said. “I found that they weren’t even interested in moving. They were depressed, ashamed and angry, because they had been judged by their context, not about their design.”

Building on this experience and her work

with Cultural Odyssey, Jones started The Medea Project: Theater for Incarcerated Women — named after the intelligent sorceress Medea in Greek mythology — in 1989. She began by simply promoting laughter and encouraging the women to engage in physical activity.

By making connections and building trust with the women, Jones said she created an open environment where stories, even her own, could be shared. From asking simple personal questions to the formation of large scale ideas, The Medea Project allows inmates to express their past experiences through theater.

“As an illegitimate mother, I had a kid at 16.

February 8, 2018

I’ve had my own struggles of shame,” Jones said.

“I think in the 21st century, a lot of us are politically driven from day one, and a politically driven artist is an activist and is about social action and social change.”

The Medea Project expanded its initiatives in 2008, when the production joined with University of California San Francisco’s Women’s HIV Program to provide support for women living with HIV. Using theater as an exploration of self, HIV Circle drives women to find support in each other in essentially the same way that the original project does.

The mother company of Jones’ projects is Cultural Odyssey. As a proud mother, founder and theater guru, Ackamoor acknowledges the progressive way Jones has used her artistic talents to empower women.

“Her work with The Medea Project was her calling — it’s such a positive karma that she gives so much and the universe also gives back to her,” said Ackamoor. “Not every artist can do that. Not every artist can go to a jail and work with women who have been cast away from society.”

As co-artistic directors of their shared performance company, Jones and Ackamoor have a partnership filled with admiration for each other’s work. The two artists also sometimes perform together — they will both be on stage with Ackamoor’s jazz ensemble to celebrate Black History Month on Feb. 22 in the Charity Randall Theatre, in a show sponsored by Pitt Arts.

Together, Jones and Ackamoor have been named U.S. Art Ambassadors by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs — granting them trips to present their work in South Africa and Europe.

Jones is currently working on “A Landscape of Desire” — a celebratory one-woman show about the importance of facing the future and letting go of youth. She plans to open the show in April 2018 as part of her series, “Facing 70.”

“I make art rooted in autobiographical theater because therein there’s a place for everybody, each of us are mythical creatures,” said Jones. “And if each one of us is interested in retelling your story, it’s rooted in appreciating the myth of your life.”

6

‘Phantom Thread’ weaves style with strange love Vikram Sundar For The Pitt News

Leading man Daniel Day-Lewis sews his way into our hearts once again in the stylish, yet heartfelt “Phantom Thread.”

Written and directed by filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, “Phantom Thread” is an engrossing portrait of the posh, self-indulgent realm of fashiondriven aristocrats in impoverished postWorld War II London.

Given this setting, the narrative could have easily followed the straightforward three-act structure of most period-piece melodramas centered on insubstantial upper-class conflicts. But unlike the string of similar plotlines before it, “Phantom Thread” unfolded in a way that was impressive and unpredictable.

The plot follows Reynolds Woodcock — a man who exudes the word “perfectionist” — a world-renowned dressmaker in 1950s London, played by Day-Lewis.

He and his sister Cyril, played by Lesley

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He is a man advertently obsessed with method — going so far as to scrutinize anyone who disrupts his work or thought process with minor irritable acts, such as chewing food loudly or putting too much butter on his toast.

Many elegant and beautiful women come and go through Reynolds’ life, until a young, obstinate woman named Alma, played by Vicky Krieps, arrives — becoming his muse and sole object of desire. As his love for Alma grows, Reynolds finds himself deviating from his lifelong dedication to tailorship and is forced to confront his life, dreams and desires.

“Phantom Thread” is Anderson’s ninth film and his most distinctively personal work yet. The film’s theme is one Daniel Day-Lewis stars as Reynolds Woodcock and Vicky Krieps stars as any aging artist can relate to — creative Alma in the film “Phantom Thread.” Laurie Sparham/Focus Features desire breeds a tendency toward hubris, Manville, have built the finest upper- women of society. Reynolds devotes his which in turn presents barriers to emoclass dress shop in all of Europe, suited life to his craft — transfixed by the intri- tional intimacy and stable relationships. for only the most privileged and wealthy cacies of dressmaking.

See Phantom on page 8

February 8, 2018

7

The Pitt News SuDoku 2/8/18 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

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Phantom, pg. 7 After watching “Phantom Thread,” I could not help but think of Federico Fellini’s masterpiece “8½,” which pulls on similar thematic strings of idiosyncratic obsessions and tells the story of a man who becomes lost in his personal creative endeavors.

The subliminal feeling of happiness and satisfaction captivates us and drives us to perfect our crafts, whether it be sewing, writing or swimming. But both films demonstrate the toll this can take on our mental state and overall demeanor.

Reynolds and Alma are both polarizing and eccentric characters, whose dynamic provides for some oddly intense encounters. In a scene near the beginning of the film, Reynolds, Alma and Cyril sit around a table eating breakfast.

Reynolds is eyeing his dress sketches, contemplating flaws in the design, when a brash crunching sound in the background causes a vein to appear on Reynolds’ forehead. Cyril notices this, giving Reynolds a familiar eye roll.

The camera pans to Alma — heartily munching on buttered toast. Reynolds looks at her with a savage glare, telling her to mind her chewing. She tells him jarringly that she is simply eating her breakfast. The exchange continues sourly and eventually results in Reynolds storming off and ignoring Alma for ruining his morning routine.

The sourly punctilious nature of Reynolds and the intrepid, headstrong attitude of Alma are at odds through-

February 8, 2018

out the film, presenting unconventional situations that perpetuate and keep the viewer constantly wondering if their relationship will break apart.

Despite Anderson’s enthralling story, the pacing of the film is dreadfully slow, and certain scenes could have been shortened or completely cut to maintain tension. I found scenes with long, blank staring between the two protagonists to be particularly disengaging — dragging the narrative tension to a halt when used repetitively.

The film was revived by all-around impressive performances. “Phantom Thread” is very much a character study from beginning to end, so it was imperative that all actors capture the essence of their characters.

Day-Lewis delivers a mesmerizing performance as Woodcock — which was correctly recognized with an Oscar nomination. As with every role he takes on, Day-Lewis brings a certain rich complexity to the character he inhabits, identifiable in Woodcock’s thoughts, mannerisms and emotional state from the minutia of his actions.

Assuming that Day-Lewis’s claims of “Phantom Thread” being his last film are true, his performance is a worthy end to the legendary and influential actor’s career.

With “Phantom Thread,” Anderson tailors an elegant love story of creative fidelity and floundering isolation. It’s a masterfully directed film with a quiet and personal story, filled with rich moments and interesting character arcs.

It just doesn’t quite have the emotional punch of his other works.

8

Sports Pitt nabs top recruits

Jordan Mondell

Assistant Sports Editor Pitt football has almost rounded out its squad for the 2018 season after National Signing Day Wednesday.

Some players who signed were expected, including Belle Vernon offensive lineman Blake Zubovic and linebacker Wendell Davis of Richmond, Virginia, who both gave their verbal commitments to Pitt last year.

Still, five brand-new Panthers have signed on to play, adding depth and youth to the team.

Among these new recruits is top prospect Mychale Salahuddin, who picked Pitt over Syracuse in a dramatic reveal.

Regarded as one of the nation’s top allpurpose backs and widely considered the top overall prospect from the Washington, D.C., area, Salahuddin rushed for 1,274 yards and 12 touchdowns as a senior at H.D. Woodson High School.

Graduate transfer tackle Stefano Millin will join Salahuddin on offense. As an undergraduate athlete at Kent State, he played 35 career games — starting 30 of them.

On defense, the Panthers snagged Erick Hallett, a defensive back from Texas who gave his verbal commitment to Pitt just a few days ago. The cornerback — regarded as one of Houston’s top prospects — was reportedly recruited by new defensive coordinator Randy Bates.

Joining Hallett are linemen Kaymar Mimes and Habakkuk Baldonado. At 6-foot-5 and 235 pounds, Mimes is also a three-star commit and compiled 87 tackles, 10 sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries last season.

Baldonado, who hails all the way from Rome, gained serious recruiting interest See Recruits on page 10

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column

Men’s basketball losing streak one for the record books

Brandon Glass Staff Writer

Let’s party like it’s 1993.

Whitney Houston, Janet Jackson and Meat Loaf top the Billboard Hot 100 nationwide.

Michael Jordan is striking out in minor league baseball for the Birmingham Barons after his first three-peat and subsequent retirement from the NBA. Bill Clinton is named the 42nd president of the United States and the internet is born in CERN. Meanwhile, in Pittsburgh, head coach Paul Evans and the Pitt men’s basketball team were busy losing — a then-Panthers record, nine games in row.

The 1993-1994 Panthers got off to a hot 13-4 start before dropping their last eight games of the regular season and the first game of the conference tournament to the Red Storm of St. John’s.

In what amounted to Evans’ last season as Pitt’s head coach, senior center Eric Mobley and junior guard Jerry McCullough lead the way in scoring, averaging 13.7 and 13.3 points, respectively. Those Panthers finished the season with a losing record — 13-14 overall.

The seconds wound down on 1993, time passed and this year’s Panthers likely dream of quite the opposite, winning the rest of their games to finish one game under .500. Heck, before its losing streak began, the team sat at a healthy 8-5.

Pitt is in the midst of a record-setting season, but the Panthers aren’t setting the kind of records they want their names attached to.

The current 11-game losing streak is the longest in program history and likely has further unsavory implications.

At 8-16, Pitt hasn’t won a game in well over a month since a tight 63-59 victory over Towson Dec. 22. The losing streak coincides with the start of conference play — a nice way of

Pitt men’s basketball head coach Kevin Stallings has led the Panthers during an 11-game losing streak. John Hamilton | MANAGING EDITOR saying the Panthers are winless in the ACC at 0-11. The tightest loss in the streak so far was a 72-68 home loss to NC State on Jan. 24.

The Pitt record for conference losses — whether ACC, Big East, EAA, ECBL or EIC — in a season is 14, which was set last year in head coach Kevin Stallings’ first season at the helm. The Panthers have seven regular season games left, all in-conference.

Imagine, if you will, the rest of the season goes the way the past 11 have, and Pitt finds itself with a record of 8-23 — 18 losses in a row.

That hypothetically gives this Panthers team the most losses in University history. The next closest team, futility-wise, is the 1976-1977 Pitt team.

The 1976-1977 Pitt men’s team finished the season with a putrid 6-21 record in Tim Grgurich’s second season as head coach. The team limped to a 1-9 conference record in the Panthers’ lone season in the Eastern Collegiate Basketball League. The 1976-1977 team’s single conference win is the lowest total in school history.

Still, Grgurich went on to coach the Panthers for three more seasons, all of them win-

February 8, 2018

ning ones.

Moving forward, Pitt’s remaining schedule features two top-25 teams — the two best teams in the ACC, No. 16 Clemson and No. 2 Virginia. The schedule also features four middle-of-the-pack teams in Louisville, Boston College, Florida State and Notre Dame. Louisville and Notre Dame both started the season ranked, and all four have winning records.

Pitt’s best chance to win — realistically — and break the streak will come Feb. 21, against fellow ACC bottom dweller Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons are sitting pretty, relative to the Panthers, already with two conference wins and a 9-14 record overall.

As for now, if the Panthers are able to turn things around, they can still avoid setting some records in futility. With two wins, the Panthers can avoid having the fewest conference wins in program history. With three wins, the Panthers can escape sole possession of the most losses in program history.

The Panthers will look to cut their streak and avoid any more school records with their next game tonight against the No. 16 Clemson tigers.

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Recruits, pg. 9 despite playing just one season of high school football in the United States. Aside from Pitt, he was offered scholarships to Michigan State and UCF. Baldonado played three years of American football in Italy before moving to Florida in 2017, playing defensive end and receiver at Clearwater Academy International.

During his single season there, he accumulated an impressive 30.5 sacks, nine forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries on defense. He averaged 24.4 yards per reception and scored two touchdowns as a receiver.

Today’s signees bring Pitt’s total 2018 recruit class up to 22 after college football’s new early signing day, which occurred in December. The program has also exceeded its limit of 85 scholarships, which means more adjustments to their roster entering the season.

pittnews.com

Take 5

TAKE-BACKS, TRADES AND TANKS

The Pitt News Staff

Remember in elementary school when you would beg your friends to trade what with was in your lunchbox? We can all identify, and apparently so can every coach, owner and player in professional sports this week.

Between hour-long hires and trading between sports, The Pitt News has you covered in this week’s roundup of sports headlines.

No take-backs For the second time in his career, Josh McDaniels went from head coach of an NFL team to New England Patriots offensive coordinator. The first time, he was the head coach of the Denver Broncos for two years from 2009 to 2010, got fired, was the offensive coordinator for the Rams for a year and then returned to New England.

The second time? He was the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts for about eight hours.

At noon Tuesday, the Colts announced McDaniels was accepting the head coaching position. But at 7:30 Tuesday night, ESPN’s Adam Schefter broke the news that McDaniels was staying with the Patriots, reporting that New England had sweetened his

contract, convincing him to stay.

This whole situation is strange and, frankly, laughable. It reflects poorly on McDaniels, and I would be shocked if he received a head coaching offer any time in the near future. How can a team trust someone who reneges so quickly? If I were any NFL team other than the Patriots, I would avoid Josh McDaniels.

— Jon Shaiken, Staff Writer Football is so last week The Texas Rangers traded 2014 Super Bowl champion and Seattle Seahawks starting quarterback Russell Wilson Wednesday. Wilson’s trade likely came as a shock to many Seahawks faithfuls who weren’t aware the Texas Rangers were looking for a trade. Yes, baseball.

Though unlikely, if he so chooses, Wilson’s new home for spring training could be with the New York Yankees. It begs the question — in the modern NFL, could a star player manage even a modicum of success in both, a la Bo Jackson?

— Brandon Glass, Staff Writer Ballin’ on a deadline With the NBA trade deadline today at 3 p.m., it’s time for everyone’s favorite hypothetical deals.

February 8, 2018

Trade season in the NBA is similar to that of the MLB, where teams looking to make a playoff push will give up young and future assets in exchange for the piece they think can help them win now.

The NBA has already had one blockbuster deal this season, as the Los Angeles Clippers traded superstar Blake Griffin to the Detroit Pistons for a bunch of no-names and a first-round pick.

The biggest remaining trade rumor involves the Clippers again, now with center DeAndre Jordan.

Jordan is the type of player that could take a team to the championship with his size, defense and athletic ability.

After beating the Golden State Warriors by 20 points on Tuesday night, the Oklahoma City Thunder will add guard Rodney Hood from the Utah Jazz. Getting Hood shows that Oklahoma City is committed to the playoff push and thinks that it can surprise everyone by winning the Western Conference.

These are just hypotheticals, though.

— Colin Martin, Staff Writer

Find the full story online at

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February 8, 2018

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