3-1-18

The Pitt News

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | March 1, 2018 | Volume 108 | Issue 122

BAS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS: PAGE 2

STUDENTS LEARN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID Cassidy Power For The Pitt News

Curtiss E. Porter, a former Penn State Greater Allegheny chancellor, pauses during a discussion about the early history of the Black Action Society at Wednesday’s Total Justice and True Black Freedom event at Hillman Library.

Thomas Yang VISUAL EDITOR

Sorority suspended for alleged hazing John Hamilton, Janine Faust and Christian Snyder

Penn Hills Police Chief Howard Burton said a dozen female Pitt students and The Pitt News Staff one of their mothers walked into the dePolice are investigating an alleged haz- partment and reported hazing Monday ing incident after 12 pledges of Pitt’s Al- afternoon. The students claimed they pha Kappa Alpha sorority chapter went to were brought to a house in the town outthe Penn Hills police department to file a side Pittsburgh twice, Burton said, once report, the department’s police chief said Feb. 21 and again Feb. 23.

Burton said the mother of a student Wednesday. wanted to file a report after she noticed Dean of Students Kenyon Bonner sent bruising on her daughter. He said police an email to Greek organizations Wedneshave not seen any bruising yet, but the day saying Alpha Kappa Alpha has been mother has a photo. A paddle may have placed on suspension pending the results been used in the alleged hazing, Burton of an investigation into the hazing allegaadded. tions by Penn Hills and Pitt police. The This investigation comes less than a rest of Greek life remains on probation month following Bonner’s suspension of from a January incident.

Sigma Chi after a student was hospitalized for drinking to excess at a fraternity event. All Greek organizations were placed under modified social probation — essentially banning them from serving alcohol — until “meaningful progress” is made in improving Greek life safety.

Alpha Kappa Alpha is part of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, one of three councils at Pitt. The communications chairman at the sorority’s national office did not answer a call from The Pitt News.

Pitt’s chapter didn’t respond to an email sent Wednesday afternoon.

The University released a statement regarding the incident, confirming the See Hazing on page 3

“How can I help?” and “How do I start a conversation?” are questions Sean Moundas, a psychologist at the University Counseling Center, gets asked a lot when it comes to mental health.

“Over half of those with mental health challenges go untreated,” Moundas said.

At the Be The Difference: An Intro to Mental Health First Aid event, hosted by the American Medical Students Association and the University of Pittsburgh Student Health Advisory Board, about 50 students listened Wednesday night as Moundas described mental health resources available at Pitt and ways to help family and friends.

Moundas said knowing how to recognize shifts in mental health is an important first step toward preventing more severe problems. He recommended keeping track of any changes in routine and letting friends who aren’t acting normally know that they have someone to rely on. He also emphasized the importance of directing those who are struggling with mental health issues to the proper resources.

“If you’re doing first aid, you’re not prescribing medication, you’re not doing surgery — your role is to help them get connected to professionals,” Moundas said.

Moundas brought up the University Counseling Center as a resource, emphasizing that it is free and available by phone at all times. Students can call or walk into the Counseling Center and receive same-day services for immediate help, while long-term counseling may have a waiting period.

The Counseling Center has faced criticism from some students, who cite long wait times and See Mental Health on page 9

News

BAS CELEBRATES 50 YEARS

Caroline Eddy For The Pitt News

Past and present members of Pitt’s Black Action Society met Wednesday afternoon to commemorate the organization’s founding and fortify its future.

The African American Alumni Council hosted a discussion about the Black Action Society, which was founded 50 years ago.

Approximately 50 people attended the Total Justice and True Black Freedom event to remember the group’s rich history on Pitt’s campus. Held in Hillman Library, the event featured a panel of founding and former BAS members and displayed a collection of original organization documents from the University’s archives.

Attendees came not only to hear the history, but to engage with the speakers.

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Pamela Heywood, 55, of the North Side, said she had heard stories about the founding during her time at BAS in the ‘80s. She came to Total Justice to learn how it happened from those who were there.

“I want to stay abreast of what’s going on [at BAS],” Heywood said.

Curtiss E. Porter, chancellor emeritus at Penn State Greater Allegheny, and Gail Austin, Pitt’s Academic Resource Center director emeritus, represented the “founding mothers and fathers” of BAS on the panel. Marita Garrett, the mayor of Wilkinsburg, and Austin Davis, a recently elected congressman from Pennsylvania’s 35th District, represented the generations that followed.

“It seems I spent my whole life at the University of Pittsburgh,” Austin said.

Austin took classes at Pitt while attending Schenley High School, earning credits she thinks got her admitted. Austin believes two events at Pitt helped with the formation of BAS — Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1966 speech at the William Pitt Union and Stokely Carmichael’s speech six months later.

“More than any other lecture that, I think, black students had heard ... at that time, it had a tremendous impact on us,” Austin said.

Carmichael spoke in front of Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Hall and on the steps of the WPU. According to Austin, he arrived without an entourage to call Pitt students to action and encourage black power.

The result of that call to action was the African American Cultural Society — a forerunner to BAS. The AACS involved

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both students and community members on all Pittsburgh college campuses, with Pitt at its core.

“We literally created a cultural movement in the City of Pittsburgh,” Porter said.

Porter said the AACS brought speakers to Pitt and supported writers across the City of Pittsburgh, and mentioned it was one of the first publishers of Pittsburgh playwright August Wilson.

The AACS also helped Pitt learn it needed resources. When laying out its original constitution, the first things BAS requested were an office, an official budget and “a means of communication” — resources the AACS lacked.

As chairperson, Porter spent long hours making connections with other colleges See BAS on page 3

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Hazing, pg. 1 suspension and investigation.

“The Penn Hills Police Department, in close partnership with University of Pittsburgh Police, is working to investigate a potential hazing incident, which occurred off-campus,” the statement said. “The University rejects hazing and intimidation of any kind — and in all circumstances.”

Pitt police conducted interviews with five of the students who went to the police, Burton said, adding that the departments are cooperating in a “parallel investigation.”

Pitt spokesperson Kevin Zwick said the University began working with students and families when it was were notified, providing resources such as counseling.

“The rest of the student body and parents were notified as soon as it was determined doing so would not interfere with the police department’s investigation,” he said.

Bonner’s letter said student organizations found responsible for hazing could have their University status permanently terminated. Students found responsible for hazing could also be expelled, regardless of the severity of the hazing.

“Based on this incident, the Division of Student Affairs will reevaluate the next steps regarding the future of fraternity and sorority life at Pitt,” Bonner said. “We are better than this, and now is the time for you and your organizations to join me in holding yourselves and each other accountable to effect positive change.”

Bonner also said campus resources are available to help students file reports and manage their self-care, including the University Counseling Center, Title IX Office and the Office of Diversity and Inclusion.

Officials are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the University of Pittsburgh Police Department at (412) 624-2121 or the Penn Hills police department at (412) 798-2035.

Davis said he continues to see the battles of 1968 still fought in 2018 and compg. 2 mented on the role social media plays in across the United States. The information today’s activism. he gathered would be used as the AACS “I think we’re seeing a lot of younger transitioned into the BAS. activists and politicians taking advantage “We looked like we had telephones of [social media]. I know I take advantage coming out of our ears,” he said. “There of it a lot, just in terms of what I’m doing was a number of different prongs of activiin my offices and my activism, and I know ty … and it was all about trying to establish Marita does as well because we’d be crazy a strategic foothold that would move the not to,” he said. movement forward.”

Arif Jamal, liBoth Davis and aison librarian for Garrett spoke about African studies, BAS’ lasting impact Africana studies as a community that and social work, degives students a voice. livered the event’s “BAS, to me, is welcome address. one entity, but so Speaking about a much came from the time when it was organization,” GarMarita Garrett improper for sturett said. “Each of us Mayor of Wilkinsburg dents to question were different, comor make demands ing from different of their University, places, but it felt like a family ... I always he made clear the importance of revisiting knew I could go to a BAS meeting and feel BAS’ 50 years of activism. like you’re at home.”

“Part of that was the establishment of a The program was not just for reflection type of consciousness where students were and celebration — members of the panel saying, ‘This is who we are, this is where we took time to discuss modern student acwant to go and this is how we’re going to do tivism, social media in social change and it,’” Jamal said. diversity at Pitt.

BAS,

“Each of us were different, coming from different places, but it felt like a family.”

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3

Opinions from the editorial board

Conservatives show hypocrisy with Delta tax The aftermath of the Parkland, Florida, high school massacre the past two weeks has been fraught with departures from long-standing political norms.

Republican President Donald Trump called for comprehensive gun control measures at a televised White House meeting yesterday, suggesting the government should “take the guns first, go through due process second.”

And Republicans outside Washington, D.C., are subverting another common stereotype of their party — being probusiness.

Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle of Georgia, a Republican, criticized Atlanta-based Delta Airlines Monday after the company ended discounted rates for its customers who are also members of the National Rifle Association. Cagle said he saw the change in policy as an “attack” on conservatives before going on the offensive himself.

“I will kill any tax legislation that benefits [Delta] unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with [the NRA],” he tweeted.

Cagle’s threat against a privatesector business exercising its freedom of association comes across as oddly dissonant. His move seems to reflect a belief that the government should bully companies into doing what it wants them to do by targeting them with taxes. If conservatives want to make a convincing case against gun control, this surely isn’t the way to do it.

As students from the Parkland High School continue to keep the attack at the forefront of the national news media’s attention, more and more com-

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panies have begun to take action on the issue — if for nothing else but the sake of public relations. Dick’s Sporting Goods announced Wednesday it would immediately discontinue all sales of assault-style rifles at all its stores. It will also no longer sell guns of any kind to customers younger than 21.

It’s unfair for politicians to go after individual companies simply because their political stances differ. If Delta believes its best bet to not lose customers is to end its relationship with the NRA and rescind discounts for the gun rights group’s members, it should be allowed to do so.

When conservatives push the argument that business owners should have the freedom to turn away LGBTQ+ customers from their services, they should remember Cagle’s ultimatum to Delta. Giving business owners the right to deny services to one group they don’t want to associate with while simultaneously attacking them for ending a discount to another group doesn’t make any sense. It doesn’t take a cynic to see that the conservative position on this issue is less about businesses and more about which people they think should be excluded.

Cagle and other elected Republicans don’t work for the NRA — they work for the government. If he wants to defend the rights of NRA members, he should switch careers. But until then, picking favorites and choosing which businesses shouldn’t be allowed to make their own decisions feels uncomfortably similar to extortion. And that’s something everyone — conservative or not — can agree is unacceptable.

Focus on policy to fight climate change Brian Gentry Columnist

Pitt students, alumni and environmental enthusiasts arrived at the William Pitt Union Assembly Room Monday to hear Steven Cohen give a lecture on climate change.

Cohen is an unassuming New York City professional dressed in a black suit, black shoes and a striped tie. And behind his appearance are immense qualifications to discuss climate change. For around 20 years, he worked for the Environmental Protection Agency as a consultant and policy advisor. He’s currently director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University and serves as the academic head of multiple climate-related majors there.

During his talk, Cohen discussed how and why the United States can and should switch from an economy dependent on fossil fuels to one based on renewable energy. Citizens making the switch and installing solar panels on their roofs can only do so much. The only way to make a significant impact on carbon emissions is to transform the entire electric grid — something that necessitates progressive legislative action.

Cohen certainly didn’t mince words when expressing his criticism of the fossil fuel industry.

“They are an industry that needs to die,” he said. “And they will die.”

This switch is necessary — it’s the only way we can hope to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic climate change. After all, 29 percent of the United States’ greenhouse gas emissions in 2015 came from electricity production.

It’s important to understand how deeprooted the issue of energy production is. Our society depends on electricity to function — our

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heating, our lighting and our smart devices all require power. And our dependence on energy is particularly noticeable in the industrial sector, which used roughly one-third of all energy consumed in the United States in 2016.

Pittsburghers should be well aware of industrial dependency’s impact. Since a majority of our electricity is produced through combustion of fossil fuels, which emit carbon when burned, highly industrialized areas will have higher carbon levels. A booming steel industry in the 1940s came at the price of horrific air quality, primarily as a result of the amount of coal burned to power foundries. Even in 2018, Allegheny County continues to have among the worst air quality of any metropolitan area in the country, according to data collected last year by the American Lung Association.

This is why renewable energy is such a hot topic. A reduction of just 29 percent in annual carbon emissions would establish the United States as a pioneer in sustainable energy. Yet despite advances in technology, renewable energy isn’t ready to replace fossil fuels. Challenges like our inability to store energy for extended periods of time and the sheer effort required to overhaul the electrical grid prevent us from switching to renewable sources immediately.

This is where legislation becomes important.

All levels of government can play a pivotal role in encouraging the infrastructural switch to renewable energy.

The first and most simple policy objective governments can adopt is to increase subsidies to consumers and businesses that actively transition to renewable energy. This policy has been effective in the United States when applied to other sustainable efforts thus far, as 45 states and See Climate on page 5

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Climate, pg. 4 Washington, D.C., currently offer incentives to consumers who purchase electric vehicles. This has in part resulted in an increase in electric vehicle stock in the United States from a little less than 4,000 in 2010 to more than 550,000 in 2016. Increasing subsidies for renewable energy will result in a similar increase in production.

Federal, state and local governments also need to invest in scientific research in the energy field. The federal government’s expenditures on research plateaued in 2005. Coupled with technological developments over the last decade, this has resulted in increased competition for grant money. And if researchers are spending their time applying for grant money rather than actually doing research, scientific progress is negatively impacted.

The third policy — arguably the most difficult — is to fund a complete overhaul of the electricity system. Energy advocates consistently argue for a transition to a microgrid system.

This system would operate as a detachable appendage of the main electrical grid, providing energy for a small community.

Microgrids are advantageous for transition-

Steven Cohen, former policy adviser of the Environmental Protection Agency and director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University, spoke to a crowd about climate change and renewable energy in Alumni Hall Monday afternoon. Chiara Rigaud STAFF WRITER ing to renewable resources. Using renewable energy to power an entire city isn’t very feasible in places where there aren’t as many options for renewable resources. But renewable energy generation is well-suited for implementation in

a microgrid system, since the system can rely on renewable energy when it’s available and revert back to the larger grid if necessary.

The major downside of switching to a microgrid system is that it is expensive. With a

population of roughly 165,000, Fort Collins, Colorado, is in the process of switching to a system of microgrids and has received roughly $11 million in funding from public and private sources to do so. A small city like Fort Collins needed millions of dollars in funding to accomplish this goal. To accomplish this nationwide, we would need to invest tens of billions.

But a transition to a microgrid system is the only way to utilize the full potential of renewable resources. The initial cost would be high, but the payoff in the long term would make up for this investment.

It might seem difficult to persuade lawmakers in Congress to spend money on anything but the military, but investing in renewable energy has a large return on investment. Reduced carbon emissions improve the health of the general population, allowing for a more productive workforce and reduced healthcare costs. Cohen noted that for every dollar invested, $15 are returned through either of these avenues. He remained hopeful about the possibility for change.

“I’m optimistic because I see young people passionate about this,” he said.

Brian primarily writes about politics and the environment. Write to Brian at briangentry@ pitt.edu.

The Pitt News SuDoku 3/1/18 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

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5

Culture

Students petition for reproductive rights at “My Body is My Own” exhibition

Marissa Perino Senior Staff Writer

Bright pink flags dot the lawn outside the William Pitt Union on one of the first warm days of spring semester as students kneel to read the stories written on each individual marker — sometimes pausing to add their own to the display.

Emphasizing the importance and intersection of topics such as birth control access, rape culture and bodily autonomy on Pitt’s campus, the installation sparked conversation between students, faculty and staff about reproductive rights. The Pitt Planned Parenthood Club displayed the exhibition — titled “My Body is My Own” — on the William Pitt Union lawn from noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Dighan Kelly — a sophomore urban studies and French double major — serves as copresident of the Pitt Planned Parenthood Club along with senior political science major Mac Cunningham. Spearheading the project organization, Kelly and her co-workers helped make the installation possible.

“If anything, I want students to know they are not alone and their experiences are valid and there is an entire student body organizing behind them,” Kelly said. “Especially for the students on campus who are victims of sexual assault and harassment.”

The exhibit consisted of a multitude of flags, carefully laid out to spell out the words “My Body is My Own.” Written on each flag in black ink, participants responded to prompts asking them to celebrate empowering body choices, reflect on a time when they reclaimed their body or write why access to birth control matters.

“I think this is very cool as a whole exhibit because you don’t have individuals’ names,” Cunningham said. “They’re anonymous and personal, and some of them are pretty raw.”

Kelly specifically mentioned one flag, where a person wrote that they empowered themself by wearing the dress they were raped in two years earlier.

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Madison Renner, a junior natural sciences major, receives assistance while registering to vote at the “My Body is My Own” art installation Tuesday afternoon.

Sarah Cutshall

Serving as an advocacy group for Pitt’s Student Health Service, the Planned Parenthood Club started before Kelly and Cunningham enrolled at Pitt. The club works in collaboration with both the national Planned Parenthood organization — which funded the installation — and the local Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania chapter.

Though the club has maintained a fairly low-profile presence on campus in recent

years, the co-presidents said they have worked hard to re-establish a voice on campus. This effort began with a petition for better access to birth control for students and faculty on campus, which they launched in the fall.

The club drafted a petition — which they intend to present to Chancellor Patrick Gallagher — asking Pitt to affirm it will continue to provide birth control to students and employees. The petition was created in October to ensure that Pitt does not follow schools such as Notre Dame, which ended birth control coverage for students and faculty after the Trump administration weakened the Affordable Care Act’s birth control

STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Pitt students write why they think birth control matters at the art installation, “My Body is My Own,” organized by Planned Parenthood Tuesday afternoon.

Sarah Cutshall STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER mandate. Notre Dame, a Catholic university, reversed the decision five days later.

The club received more than 300 signatures in the first few hours and has since exceeded its short-term goal of 500 signatures — now aiming for 1,000. Both co-presidents talked of wanting to broker a meeting with the Chancellor.

“I’d love to sit down with school administration and share thoughts about it,” Kelly said. “I’d love to be able to combine our thought processes and see real change on campus.”

Kelly commented on how the group’s campus involvement gained momentum following instances of gender-based violence on campus, including the death of Alina Sheykhet and the

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Ms. magazine article regarding sexual assault and harassment allegations within Pitt’s communication department. “[The chancellor] has been very open obviously in the past. After the election he sent an email, with DACA, with state funding,” Cunningham said. “I don’t see why this couldn’t be another.”

Kelly first got involved with Planned Parenthood with her feminist student union at Taylor Allderdice High School. She was even bussed to Washington, D.C., for the Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt Supreme Court case — which deemed a bill in the Texas legislature unconstitutional for imposing an undue burden on women seeking a legal abortion.

Meanwhile, Cunningham started by volunteering at the clinic Downtown, where he now works as their organizing intern. “[I thought] I need to do something besides sit at home and feel like I am complicit about what the administration is doing,” Cunningham said.

Aside from students, other organizations and chapter affiliates were also present at the installation. This included Kenneth Gonzalez, a three-month employee and longtime supporter of Planned Parenthood. He works directly with the Planned Parenthood Action Fund and Generation Action sectors, which team up campus groups such as Pitt’s Planned Parenthood Club to improve social action for reproductive rights. “[The installation] sparks a conversation See Body on page 7

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Pitt film fanatics offer 2018 Oscars predictions

without it feeling too intimidating,” Gonzalez said. “It provides a more accessible way of do- Vikram Sundar ing some introspective thinking.”

For The Pitt News Gonzalez also worked as a liason for the Members of the Academy of Motion Picrelationship with FORCE: Upsetting Rape Culture Arts and Sciences and the film industry ture, another national organization the works will recognize some of the most well-crafted, on issues such as sexual assault. The group impactful films of the year at the Oscars SunNextGen also had representatives there, offerday night. ing voter registration forms to students.

But Hollywood’s biggest night will also “People are changing the space with their likely be consumed by social issues such as hands and then registering to vote or updatthe Time’s Up movement, which Hollywood ing their registration,” Kelly said. “So now they celebrities started in response to the #MeToo are going to change America’s space with their movement and the sexual assault allegations hands by going to a ballot box.” against producer Harvey Weinstein.

The interactive experience on the William Time’s Up displayed a strong presence at Pitt Union lawn was temporary — its pieces the Golden Globes earlier this year, with womwere recycled following its display. According en dressing in black and men wearing pins in to Cunningham, these projects, small or large, solidarity with sexual assault survivors who can “raise hell” — especially on college campublicized their encounters, hoping to motipuses where student groups demand political vate others to come forward with their stories. action.

As expected, this year’s Oscar nominations “Art is meant to be a medium where you’re delivered a plethora of diverse films spanning able to express yourself, not always through multiple genres. Leading with 13 Oscar nomiwords,” Cunningham said. “When you have nations is Guillermo del Toro’s romantic monthis collection of stories put together, it really ster fable, “The Shape of Water,” a contender amplifies all of the voices than if you just had for Best Picture. one person standing.”

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The Pitt News spoke to some campus film fanatics to gather their 2018 Oscars predictions before Jimmy Kimmel takes the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California to host the 90th Academy Awards, which will air on ABC at 8 p.m.

The Pitt News: Who do you predict will win Best Director [from nominees Paul Thomas Anderson, Christopher Nolan, Guillermo del Toro, Greta Gerwig and Jordan Peele]?

Jesse Anderson-Lehman, film graduate student: I think it’s del Toro. I think del Toro has it. “The Shape of Water” is great and there’s also that he’s an auteur that’s recognizable by the Academy.

Sean Gallagher, senior theater arts major: Guillermo del Toro will win for “The Shape of Water” — his direction was lovely, but I’d be so happy to see Gerwig or Peele win for historical reasons — plus, their work is excellent too. Also, it should be noted that Paul Thomas Anderson is a genius, so it’s a very strong category this year.

Delena Obermaier, senior film studies

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major: I think it will go to del Toro. Would I love to see it go to Peele or Gerwig? Yes. But don’t get me wrong, del Toro deserves it too.

His imagination is limitless and “The Shape of Water” proves once again that he’s quite the fantasy auteur.

TPN: Do you feel that any film was snubbed an Oscar nomination?

Anderson-Lehman: Yeah. I mean, it’s kind of cheating, but I loved “I, Tonya.” It was my favorite film of the year and to not get a nomination for Best Picture was a little strange.

Gallagher: Luckily, the film was nominated for Best Picture, but I fear “Call Me By Your Name” won’t win Best Picture. That in itself is a snub, because it’s one of the most beautiful movies ever made.

Obermaier: I think “Good Time” was one of the best films of the year and it’s nowhere to be found. I understand the Oscars aren’t exactly the place for indie films to shine, but I still would have liked to see it somewhere.

Find the full story online at

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7

Sports

PITIFUL PANTHERS: MEN’S BASKETBALL GOES 0-18 IN ACC

Trent Leonard Staff Writer

The Pitt men’s basketball team dropped its final game of the regular season Wednesday night at Notre Dame (18-12 overall, 8-9 ACC), 73-56, giving the Panthers a winless 0-18 record in the ACC and an 8-23 record overall.

The loss gave the Panthers their first ever winless season in conference play, while also casting more doubt around the job security of head coach Kevin Stallings with the ACC Tournament coming next week.

With the Panthers riding a programrecord 17-game losing streak, expectations were low heading into this game. Pitt kept the score close early on, but fell victim to their main weaknesses — poor shooting and rebounding — as the game went on. The Panthers shot just 33 percent from the field and 23 percent from three, while getting outrebounded 51-35.

After scoring just seven points in the

entire first half in against No. 1 Virginia Saturday, the Panthers reached that total in four minutes against the Fighting Irish after a 3-pointer by first year Shamiel Stevenson.

Notre Dame got a boost from senior standout Bonzie Colson, who made his return to action Wednesday night. The preseason ACC player of the year — who averaged 21.4 points and 10.4 rebounds in the 14 games he played this season — missed the previous 15 games with a foot injury.

Colson immediately made his presence known as he accounted for eight of the Fighting Irish’s first 10 points, giving his team a 10-9 lead with 15 minutes left in the first half.

The Panthers looked competitive throughout the opening stretch of the first half, trading baskets at an even clip with their opponent — a welcome sight for a team that was humiliated out of the gate by Virginia this past Saturday. Pitt trailed by just one point, 14-13, after a layup by first-

Shamiel Stevenson (23) was the Panthers’ lead scorer with 10 points in Pitt’s 73-56 loss against Notre Dame Wednesday night. Anna Bongardino SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

year guard Marcus Carr with 11 minutes left in the half.

From there, the game quickly turned ugly for Pitt. The Panthers didn’t score their 14th point — a Stevenson free throw — until there was 5:49 remaining in the half. Notre Dame scored 16 points in that six-minute span, giving the Fighting Irish a hefty 30-14 lead with under six minutes before halftime.

With the game approaching a blowout, the Panthers kept pace with their opponent for the remainder of the half and maintained that 16-point deficit, 39-23, heading into the break.

Stevenson led all Pitt scorers at halftime with 10 points, while no other Panther accounted for more than four. For the Fighting Irish, no player tallied double-digit points in the team’s balanced first-half offense.

The Panthers continued to stay even with the Fighting Irish throughout the opening minutes of the second half, with each team See Panthers on page 9

Demon Deacons send Panthers packing in ACC tournament Dominic Campbell Staff Writer

Riding a seven-game losing streak and with one last chance to turn the season around in the ACC tournament, the Pitt women’s basketball team was blown out in Wednesday’s first round

by Wake Forest, 72-38.

At the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, in Greensboro, North Carolina, the Demon Deacons (15-16 overall, 6-11 ACC) outplayed the Panthers (10-20 overall, 2-15 ACC) in almost all categories, including rebounds, steals, points in the paint and free throws.

The Panthers got off to a typical slow start, having trouble getting anything going on offense. Pitt was down 12-4 with 4:21 to go in the first quarter, shooting 2-for-9 from the field and only seeing results from junior forward Danielle Garvin, who scored all four points.

The end of the first quarter saw Wake Forest

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jump out to a 19-10 lead over Pitt. The Demon Deacons were led by a duo of sophomores in the first quarter as guard Alex Sharp and forward Tyra Whitehead each tallied six points.

The two combined to shoot 5-for-7 from the field and Wake Forest shot 50 percent as a team in the first.

Pitt countered its early struggles by going on a 10-5 run to start the second quarter. Redshirt junior forward Yacine Diop started the game 1-for-4 shooting, but shot 3-for-3 and scored seven points during the second-quarter run to get the Panthers within four points with 4:45 remaining in the quarter.

But the Demon Deacons turned it around quickly. They went on an 8-2 run to end the quarter, again led by Sharp. She scored six points in the quarter and led all scorers with 12 at halftime as Wake Forest led Pitt, 32-22.

Both sophomore guard Jasmine Whitney

and junior center Kalista Walters, two of Pitt’s top contributors on the season, went without a point in the first half. Whitney went 0-for-8 and had only one assist, while Walters shot 0-for-1 from the field and had only one rebound.

The third quarter saw Wake Forest completely take control of the game on both sides of the ball. Two quick buckets off of turnovers by junior forward Elisa Penna and Sharp forced Pitt head coach Suzie McConnell-Serio to call a time-out.

The time-out didn’t change the Panthers’ luck much as the Demon Deacons went on an 11-3 run to lead 47-25 with 5:00 remaining in the third. They finished the quarter on a 14-2 run, leading Pitt 57-27 at the end of the third quarter.

No one player led the team in the quarter, as eight players scored and Wake Forest shot a collective 8-for-13 from the field. The team also shot a perfect 9-for-9 from the free-throw line.

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The leading scorer for the Demon Deacons was senior guard Amber Campbell, who had five points.

Pitt only made two shots in the quarter, giving up eight turnovers and only getting three rebounds to Wake Forest’s two turnovers and nine rebounds. Diop, who was hot in the second quarter, shot 0-for-3 and had no impact in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter was much of the same for the Panthers, as they shot 4-for-16 overall and 1-for-9 from the 3-point range. They also shot 2-for-6 from the free throws in the quarter, which were the only free throws Pitt shot the whole game.

This game marks the end of the season for the Panthers, who finished the season 10 games below .500. The Panthers finished four games worse than last season and won two fewer games in the ACC.

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scoring 10 points in the first five minutes.

Notre Dame began to separate shortly after and took its first 20-point lead of the game when sophomore T.J. Gibbs nailed a three to make the score 54-33 with 13 minutes left.

With the game out of reach, the Panthers fought to keep the deficit from getting too lopsided.

Junior forward Jared Wilson-Frame was essentially the one productive player for the Panthers during this time, as he scored 11 of his team’s next 16 points. But despite his uptick in production, Pitt still trailed 64-48 with four minutes remaining.

The two teams exchanged a few more meaningless buckets, and the game ended the same as the previous 17 — with a Pitt loss, 73-56.

Wilson-Frame finished as the Panthers’ leading scorer with 20 points, while firstyear center Terrell Brown chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Panthers’ season will continue with the ACC Tournament in Brooklyn, New York. Play will begin March 6, with Pitt’s matchup to be determined.

the center going from October 2016 to March 2017 without having a full-time psychiatrist employed. But Pitt says the Counseling Center has made efforts to improve its services.

Sophomore neuroscience major Anjali Kumar said she would have used the Counseling Center as a resource earlier if she had known the extent of its services.

“I honestly didn’t know you could call [the Counseling Center even when school isn’t in session] or if someone you know was having problems,” Kumar said.

At Pitt, the Counseling Center provides three main types of support. Individual therapy is short-term and can be for a specific issue or to help a student identify resources outside of the University system.

Relationship therapy is also available and isn’t limited to couples. It can also help students who are concerned about someone in their life and aren’t sure how to best help. Additionally, the Counseling Center has more than 10 groups that meet weekly and discuss shared experiences or concerns.

Benedicta Olonilua, a sophomore psychology major, said she is grateful for the Counseling

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Center. She thinks the resources are especially important for premed students who may be neglecting their mental health.

“There’s a lot of things going on and a lot of things to juggle, and mental health and self care may not be at the forefront,” she said.

Another resource Moundas mentioned that provides immediate aid is resolve, a crisis helpline not associated with the University that students can call at (888) 796-8226, any hour of the day.

He said advice and counseling can be given over the phone, or someone on staff can provide inperson support without contacting authorities.

Moundas also directed students to Mental Health First Aid — an organization that certifies individuals for responding to mental health challenges — especially if they are concerned about a friend or family member. The certification takes about eight hours, is good for three years and can be taken at numerous times each month.

“Mental Health First Aid seeks to change the number of people who go untreated,” Moundas said.

Moundas wanted students to know they shouldn’t be apprehensive about going to the Counseling Center. Dean of Students Kenyon Bonner said that as of 2016, 2,500 students use the Counseling Center annually.

“A lot of people can be experiencing symp-

March 1, 2018

Sean Moundas, a psychologist at Pitt’s University Counseling Center, speaks to students about skills needed to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis in the Cathedral of Learning Wednesday night.

Issi Glatts ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR toms for the first time — it can be confusing, it can be scary,” Moundas said.

What’s most important, according to Moundas, is to reach out and provide support for those suffering from mental health problems.

“The goal is to convey a sense of hope to those who may feel hopeless,” he said.

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I N D E X

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South Oakland Apartment/house for rent. Available immediately. Newly

Two huge apartments close to universities.

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Contact gbazzi7@ gmail.com

South Oakland 2BR house on Edith Place. Available Summer or Fall 2018. $950+ utilities.

3BR house on Parkview. Available Fall 2018. $1400+ utilities.

5/6BR house on Welsford. Available Fall 2018. $3200+ utilities.

Call 412-559-3079 to schedule a viewing.

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remodeled 2, 3 or 7 BR, utilities included, laundry available.

37 Welsford St.

Classifieds

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

services

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laundry, dishwasher, patio. Parking spot & bus across street.

Panther Properties pantherproperties2@ gmail.com, photos: panther-life.com/ available M.J. Kelly Realty.

Studio, 1, 2, 3 and 4

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Bedroom Apartments,

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

Duplexes and Houses.

spacious 3BR, 1.5BA home near Schenley Park. $1725/mo + utilities. Central air,

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1, 2018: Remodeled,

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412-337-5736 or

FOR RENT AUGUST

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

N. & S. Oakland from $750-$2500. mjkellyrealty@gmail. com. 412-271-5550. www.mjkellyrealty. com Studio & 1 Bedrooms Available Fall 2018. Heat included.

412-261-4620.

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

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

Join KEYS Service Corps, AmeriCorps.

Mentor, tutor, and inspire Pittsburgh area youth. Summer and fall positions with bi-weekly stipend and education award. Full and part-time. Possible internship credit.

Call 412-350-2739. www.keysservicecorps.org OFFICE INTERN Shadyside Management Company seeks person w/min 2 yrs. college, for upcoming spring semester to interview & process 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

R A T E S

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1-15 Words

$6.30

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Deadline:

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

school, returning grad students, and first-year law students!

Mozart Management 412-682-7003 thane@ mozartrents.com Seasonal Marketing Assistant Shadyside property management firm established in 1960 needs two Seasonal Marketing Assistants to work with Excel, Word and the internet from approximately NOW to August; four days/week from 9am-6pm. Saturday and/or Sunday hours a must; some flexibility 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.

March 1, 2018

Mozart Management 412-682-7003. thane@mozartrents. com TAKING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER, Ice company close to campus.

Some weekend work available. Production/ driving/maintenance positions available.

Good pay, part-time/ full time. Contact Mastro Ice Company 412-681-4423. mastroice@aol.com

Services Health Medical and Heart Care, Students Welcome, 155 N. Craig Street, Dean Kross, MD, 412-687-7666

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

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

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pittnews.com

March 1, 2018

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The Pitt news crossword 3/1/18

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March 1, 2018

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