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April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

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A ‘Mean Girls’ model for college success Page 12

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April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Green is the new brown: Pitt to eliminate toilet paper Lauren Rosenblatt Staff Writer Student Government Board, along with student groups, plan to wipe away the most ruthless enemy of Mother Nature: toilet paper.

At Tuesday night’s SGB public meeting, three environmental organizations said they plan to regulate the amount of toilet paper students can use on University property.

The clubs, which include Free the Planet, Students for Sustainability and the Real Food Coalition, said the removal of toilet paper from campus bathrooms will significantly reduce the amount of paper waste at Pitt.

Ken Arble, president of Free the Planet, said Pitt’s largest obstacle in the way of becoming a more sustainable campus is the excess use of the biodegradable product.

“We’re doing great on recycling and limiting the use of bags and stuff like that, but our amount of paper waste is just absurd,” Arble said. “We figured cutting back toilet paper was the next logical step.”

The system would allow students an allotted amount of toilet paper squares per semester. Once students exceed the amount, which has yet to be determined, they could either provide their own reusable method or purchase more squares at an increased cost from the University.

A system for tracking an individual student’s use has not been determined. Arble said he and the other green-centric student groups have considered student tracking devices.

The alternative to eliminating toilet paper was reducing the number of pages students

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could print each semester, but Arble said that would be unreasonable, and “students would never go for it.”

“No student is going to want to give up their precious 900 pages. I know I wouldn’t make it through the semester without it, but I could survive without so much toilet paper,” Arble said.

The groups recognize the hygienic need for toilet paper but have come up with a few alternative sources, such as leaves and bark — which will “allow students to return to the roots of our ancestors,” Arble said — and reusable handkerchiefs.

“The [Bring Your Own Bag Initiative] was so wildly successful we thought we’d try the same concept to fix a different issue,” Collette Pearson, president of Students for Sustainability, said. “I have high hopes for it.”

Jess McDonald, a Pitt alum and one of the founders of the Real Food Corporation, said she was thrilled after hearing about the new movement and re-enrolled at Pitt as a graduate student for the fall to show her support.

“It’s a great opportunity for Pitt to show how sustainable we are. Pitt is a leader in both academics and sustainability,” McDonald said.

“We’d be the first school in the ACC to start such a movement. We’re setting the bar pretty high.”

McDonald said the groups are looking into a tangential movement limiting the number of times students can flush the toilet each week, but talks with the University are in preliminary stages.

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Jeff Ahearn | Assistant Visual Editor

Search committee to search for committee

Abbey Reighard Assistant News Editor University administrators are currently seeking members to join a search committee that will then search for members for the search committee that will then search for Pitt’s next Dean of Students.

Pitt spokesman Ken Service is calling the

committee the “Dean Search Committee’s Search Committee for Pitt’s Dean of Students.”

The Committee’s Committee’s candidate will replace Kathy Humphrey, former vice provost and dean of students.

“We’re working as swiftly as we can,” Service said. “Like, lightning fast. Like, faster than it takes students to finish a history of jazz exam.”

Provost Patricia Beeson will lead the search for the search committee.

“This search committee business is a lot

of work,” Beeson said. “So we’re thinking a search committee to search for the search committee will expedite the process, leaving time for us to meditate on our upcoming decision.”

As to when the search for the search committee will begin, Beeson said, “We’re not sure, we might be looking into finding another search committee.”

Humphrey, while at a press conference last week, said she was excited to see who would succeed her.

“I’m confident in this search committee and any other search committees in the future,” she said, as Beyoncé’s ‘Irreplaceable’ played somewhere in the background.

Kirsten Jones, a sophomore film studies major, said she is eager to learn who the next dean will be, and even has some initiatives in mind that she hopes the next dean will tackle.

“We need more spoons in market. I’m sicking of spearing soft swerve with a mangled fork. For real,” Jones said. “Why doesn’t Pitt make a search committee for that?”

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

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Nickelback rock anthem to replace ‘Sweet Caroline’ Dan Sostek Assistant Sports Editor Diamonds aren’t forever. At least Neil Diamond’s legacy at Pitt isn’t.

Pitt announced on Tuesday that the singer-songwriter’s hit “Sweet Caroline” will no longer signal the culmination of the third quarter of home football games at Heinz Field.

Replacing Diamond’s swaying tune on gamedays will be a song with more generational appeal: “How You Remind Me” by the Canadian rock group Nickelback.

“We felt that this was the biggest fish to fry at Heinz field,” Chancellor Patrick Gallagher said. “While finding the next athletic director is extremely important, finding a new fourth quarter song was a more pressing need. And what better band to lead Pitt into a new era of athletics than Nickelback?”

The Nickelback hit single was selected by a selection committee that included Gal-

lagher, Pitt chief-of-staff and post-grunge aficionado Kathy Humphrey and an outside consultant — American Idol’s Ryan Seacrest.

The committee selected “How You Remind Me” over other options, such as Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up,” Creed’s “With Arms Wide Open” and Weird Al Yankovic’s “Amish Paradise.”

The artistic credibility of Nickelback trumped the other competitive singles, according to the committee.

“There’s just something about their sound,” Gallagher said. “Their gruffness and grittiness are a perfect match for highoctane football.”

According to Nielsen Soundscan, “How You Remind Me” was the most played song on American radio last decade, being played 1.2 million times from 2001-2009. It was also named the top rock song of the 2000s

by Billboard.

Nickelback lead singer Chad Kroeger, who penned the song in 2001, shared his

enthusiasm about Pitt’s choice.

“I’m just so excited for this opportunity, Panthers,” Kroeger said. “It’s been a tough year. Our newest album No Fixed Address didn’t do as well as we would have liked. But this makes up for that and more.”

Kroeger said the University also offered him the chance to sing the National Anthem for any game of his choice at Heinz Field, but he declined, citing dedication to his homeland of Canada.

Since the announcement, the student reception has been lukewarm, as the majority of Pitt attendees are unsure about the choice.

“Nickelback?” junior finance major Adam Stapp moaned, “What is this, sixth grade?”

Some critics professed allegiance to other gifted rock/metal bands.

“I’m personally more of a Staind fan myself,” sophomore Charles Martin said. “I would have been more in favor of ‘It’s Been Awhile.’”

Still, a small portion of the student popu-

lation has lauded the boldness and bravery of the change.

“I have never been more excited to link arms and sway at a football game,” junior music therapy major Sean Cook said. “I’m proud of Pitt for recognizing lyrical genius yet again, and it’s about time Nickelback returned to the public consciousness in a positive light.”

Surprisingly, a renowned Pitt alum also vocalized his support of the song.

“If I could pick one song to represent my time at Pitt, it would probably be [Nickelback’s hit song] ‘Photograph,’” former Pitt tight end and NFL Hall-of-Famer Mike Ditka said. “But ‘How You Remind Me’ is a more than acceptable alternative. I can’t wait to rock out to it next season.”

While there hasn’t been an official comment from any current Pitt football players or coaches, Kroeger’s single “Hero” could be heard blasting from the UPMC Sports Performance Complex.

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April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Fashionably late on the road to success Ben Morgenstern Columnist College is a time in every student’s life that calls for a lot of sleep. So why not get some?.

Many students think they do not have the time to get a good night’s rest, complaining that they need to stay up late and wake up early to complete their homework and trek to class on time. This concern is baseless. In fact, experts on campus have confirmed that sleeping in and showing up to class 10-20 minutes late can be highly beneficial.

“Honestly, the first 10-20 minutes of any lecture is pointless,” said a professor that requested to remain anonymous. “Everyone knows that you can show up wellrested a little late and still get everything you would need out of a lecture.”

Furthermore, students who are late to

class create a sense of authoritativeness over their peers. While the majority of the class has long been seated and is diligently taking notes, walking in late causes a momentary lapse in their concentration, which can give peers a more admirable impression of the latecomer. Students can enhance this effect by making extra noise while sitting down and getting their notebooks, which is especially effective when enough noise is made so that others cannot hear the professor.

“When a student walks in late, I am definitely more inclined to give him or her a higher final score,” said Pitt political philosophy professor Jonathan Locke.

“Nothing makes me want to give a student a good grade more than them being disruptive when arriving to class.”

More studies demonstrate that coming to class late with food in hand can even further help build a positive image with

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Jeff Ahearn | Assistant Visual Editor

professors.

“A student that comes into class late because they were getting food definitely cares properly fueling his or her body to learn,” Locke said. “The only reason I would ever deduct points from a student is if they don’t give me a bite when they first come in. Seriously, pass me that egg-

and-cheese bagel, stat.”

Once finally settled into class, it is very important to double-check to make sure no important material was covered in the first part of class. Although simply whispering to your neighbor might seem like

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April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Meghan Sunners | Staff Photographer

Here’s how one student group plans to protect jaywalker rights on Forbes Avenue Stephanie Roman Staff Writer

Shawna Rhodes was crossing Forbes Avenue between Litchfield Towers and David Lawrence Hall when a car traveling 30 mph in a 25 mph zone whooshed by her and clipped her backpack at approximately 8:35 p.m. on Tuesday.

“It was so scary,” Rhodes said. “After it happened, I realized someone needed to do something about these drivers.”

That “someone” is Rhodes herself — she founded the STOUT “street outreach” organization two days after her life-changing ordeal.

Together with STOUT vice president Jenna Otto, Rhodes completed the paperwork to form the organization, and it green-lighted with 250 inaugural members. Otto expects the number of active members to grow.

“If you ever mean mugged the 10a driver plowing down that street, this is the group

for you,” Rhodes said.

The group’s mission is to “remove all unnecessary vehicular traffic along Forbes [Avenue] in Oakland.”

“Pitt is a college campus … it’s silly to think that other people get preference over the students,” Rhodes said. “STOUT’s goal is to bring pedestrians awareness about the dangers of distracted drivers and to dismantle the automobile hegemony.”

Some of STOUT’s inductees already protested the unfair superiority of the motor vehicle. Members picketed Sunday afternoon with handmade cardboard signs, with slogans like, “Cars Are From Mars,” “Don’t Hit Me/ I’ll Sue,” “Our Way Or The Highway” and “Pedestrians Always Have The Right Of Way!” Protesters repeatedly chanted, “Distracted driving is a crime/ Hit one of us, and you’ll do the time.”

Otto cites reliable eyeball-estimation that suggests approximately 200 students cross

Forbes between Towers and David Lawrence Hall each day, and this alone creates 200 opportunities for an accident. She said that STOUT’s action is all about prevention.

“Do you know how many accidents there have been? Well, none that we know of, but it’s bound to happen eventually. STOUT’s goal is to prevent that from ever occurring,” Otto said.

STOUT protesters later joined hands and formed a circle. They laid down on the street, forming a barrier of solidarity, despite a serious influx of horn-honking resisters trying to commute to work.

“Drivers just don’t understand sometimes,” Rhodes said. “I was running late to class once, but I had to wait nearly five full minutes before the traffic slowed enough for me to cross. Ludicrous.”

Even in its limited duration, STOUT drew up blueprints to reorganize the street structure on Oakland’s Forbes Avenue between the

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Towers and David Lawrence Hall. STOUT has submitted drafts to PennDOT for approval. If accepted, the University and PennDOT would team up to tear down David Lawrence Hall in order to build a new road for motor vehicle traffic.

Pitt spokesman John Fedele said last April that that the University had made arrangements to reconstruct David Lawrence Hall.

“It is my belief that making Forbes Avenue between the Towers patio and David Lawrence Hall a more hospitable environment to pedestrians will encourage timeliness,” Fedele said.

Policy adjustments to street-crossing protocol, he said, could attract more students to Pitt.

“Students running late to class won’t have to worry about breaking laws or getting held up and fined by law enforcement,” Fedele said. “Without this stress, we expect attendance rates to spike.”

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 2

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TOILET PAPER MORGENSTERN Although SGB is on board, the general student population still seems skeptical.

Lance Hardwood, a sophomore majoring in philosophy, said he doesn’t think he could adjust to such a system.

“I don’t see how I could get used to limiting my use of toilet paper,” Hardwood said. “I have a technique that shouldn’t be disrupted.”

Regina Falange, a junior majoring in urban studies, agrees that the new system may not be ideal.

“What I do in the bathroom is my business.

I shouldn’t have regulations put on what I can or can’t do, or use, in there,” Falange said.

The environmental groups are prepared for criticism, but said that students will eventually warm up to the idea after seeing statistics demonstrating tangible results.

“It will take some getting used to, but I think once students see the results they’ll be very happy they took part in such a project,” Pearson said. “Pitt might get a bit smelly, but I’m confident we will quickly see a streak of results.”

the most effective method, many professors have said they prefer when students ask them to recap the previous 10 minutes. Professors who use PowerPoint presentations during their classes even suggested walking up to the computer and simply going back through the slides to find all of the important notes.

“I’m assuming most of the students that show up to class on time are asleep for the first 10 minutes anyway,” Locke said, adding that, “If a late student goes back a few slides mid-lecture, most of the other students probably find it helpful as well.”

Showing up late can even be beneficial on exam days. Arriving 20 minutes late to exams gives your peers a chance to complete part of the test, so that when you come in you can simply sneak a peek at their Scantron sheets — and

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So, next time your dreaded alarm goes off, don’t hesitate to hit that snooze button. Once you finally do wake up, feel free to take a nice long shower and stop by your local Einstein Bros Bagels before making your grand entrance at that class.

Ben Morgenstern primarily writes about education and social issues for The Pitt News.

Write to Ben at bdm46@pitt.edu.

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April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

You’ll never believe what happened when Tyga crashed the Indoor Show Shawn Cooke A&E Editor

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Halfway into “The Show Goes On,” Tyga took to the Fitzgerald Field House stage at the annual Indoor Show on Saturday and grabbed the mic from Lupe Fiasco.

“What are you doing here? I didn’t offer you a guest spot on this joint — that was ‘Dumb It Down,’” Fiasco said.

Over a sea of boos and Fiasco’s complaints, the Compton rapper broke into his feminist anthem, “Rack City,” anyway. The DJ — unprepared for this jarring shift — kept playing the backing track to Fiasco’s hit song.

Fiasco finally wrestled the mic away from Tyga, said, “no, I’m the motherf*cking star,” and called security to escort the “Faded” and fading star off the stage.

In a post-show press conference, Tyga insisted that reporters shed the acronym and address him by his full name, Thank You God Always. He also explained why he dropped in at Pitt more than a year after his scheduled appearance at the Indoor Hip-Hop Show.

“I got this app on my phone that keeps track of events and sh*t — it’s called Calendar,” Thank You God Always said. “For some reason, that thing turned back a year, and I thought it was 2013 when it was 2014. Until a few minutes ago, I thought it was still 2014.”

Thank You God Always regrets his mistake, and

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Jeff Ahearn | Assistant Visual Editor

l o l Sun sets on Pitt’s playoff push Chris Puzia and Stephen Caruso The Pitt News staff Pitt looks to bounce back after a tough

road loss in unfamiliar waters. The Panthers quickly found themselves up the creek without a paddle after the defense stood tall against an anemic

Pitt offense.

After a hard-fought battle, Pitt lost to Notre Dame on the road by a final tally of 6-4 and will now look to right

the ship in its next game against West Virginia.

Cliches

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April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 8

CLICHES Pitt’s head coach Bob Graham, in his second year at the helm, faced an uphill battle in trying to motivate his team to victory.

“They were a real piece of work on the battlefield,” Graham said, amidst a stormy patch in his tenure. “Clearly this wasn’t their first rodeo.”

A game that looked to be a nailbiter FROM PAGE 8

TYGA

he wondered what other obligations he might have missed out on in the past few years.

“I’ve just been so busy keeping RackCityXXX.com [the rapper’s pornographic website] updated with new content, that it wouldn’t surprise me if I’ve missed an entire North American tour,” Thank You God Always said.

When asked about the future of RackCityXXX.com, the rapper became cagey and tried to divulge as little as possible about the site.

“It’s still a work in progress. I can’t say much, but I will say this — ‘Rack City’ might soundtrack all of my films. They’re all pretty Kubrickian,” Thank You God Always said.

Although student attendees were baffled by Thank You God Always’ surprise appearance, some were pleased with his song selection.

“I was surprised and a little insulted that he crashed Lupe’s set like that,” Christopher Pratt, a freshman anthropology major, said.

“But to be honest, ‘Rack City’ is one of my alltime favorite songs, behind only Nickelback’s ‘Gotta Be Somebody.’”

Thank You God Always stressed that, if the security guards hadn’t taken him away, he would have performed tracks from his recently released collaboration with Chris Brown, Fan of a Fan: The Album. But since Brown was unavailable, the rapper planned to perform both of their parts from the record.

“Working with Chris has truly been a blessing. He’s just the greatest guy,” Thank You God Always said.

After another reporter brought up Brown’s 2009 domestic violence case, Thank You God Always found another technological explanation for his poor character judgment.

“Man, my CNN app must be broken, too,” Thank You God Always said.

quickly turned into a David vs. Goliath bout.

Pitt (17-29-2, undefeated ACC) returns to the friendly confines of the Petersen Fitzgerald Cost Center tomorrow, but it will not be a pleasant bus ride home.

“That’s just the way the cookie crumbles,” Dixon Fuego, a seventhyear senior and emotional leader in the clubhouse, said. “We were looking for a spark from our hot hand, and they just couldn’t deliver in crunch time with

the game on the line.”

The opponent delivered several early body blows that Pitt’s defense couldn’t absorb.

“We just have to take it one day at a time,” junior walk-on Ellis Presador said. “The sun was setting on our tournament hopes, but it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”

It became transparent midway through the game that Pitt just had too many cooks, effectively spoiling its victory broth.

9 Presador also mentioned a number of “factors” that play into road games, making them harder to win.

“The crowd factor, it’s tough to overcome sometimes,” he said. “The wind factor. The experience factor, that’s a big one. Can’t forget the fatigue factor, also the motivation factor.”

On the horizon is West Virginia, which is bound to be a real heavyweight matchup. Graham repeated the word of

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April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Hot damn: Gallagher burns Cathy for insurance money Dale Shoemaker Assistant News Editor

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Chancellor Gallagher, after almost a year spent focusing on Pitt’s financial stability, let his previous financial plans go up in smoke.

Gallagher told sources that his new idea was “fire” and “too hot, hot damn” before purposely starting a grease fire in the Cathedral Café to claim the insurance money.

Police arrested Gallagher on Tuesday night on suspicion of arson in the second degree, destroying a historical landmark, insurance fraud and endangering the lives of countless faculty members and students, following accusations that he burned down the Cathedral of Learning as another stunt to increase revenue for Pitt.

“I was only trying to help the students,” Gallagher said. “The man wasn’t going to give us more money, so I set out to get it myself.”

Gallagher’s arrest came after he hired two new officials, Fannie Mae-Jones and Freddie Mac-Williams, whose jobs are to increase revenue for Pitt.

Despite the new hires, and the fact that Pitt is most expensive public university in the country, his arrest has sparked rumors that Pitt’s balances are in the red. Additionally, the University has been paying all of its expenses, including professor salaries, with a combination of dining dollars, IOU’s and front row tickets to the under-

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Pitt to offer room service to students with meal plans Dale Shoemaker Assistant News Editor Market To-Go? How about “Market To-Go-and-come-to-youwhile-you-rot-away-in-a-twin-XL-bed?”

For students living in on-campus housing, Panther Central will now be on call to deliver room service seven days a week, spokesman John Fedele said in a press release Friday.

Along with the other services it offers to students, Panther Central will now deliver meals and snacks from Market Central

Nate Smith | Staff Photographer

Room Service

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April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 10

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ROOM SERVICE ON FIRE and The Perch to students who, for whatever reason, are unable to make it to Pitt’s two largest dining facilities. The service will begin April 31.

However, some students, such as Barry Willis, are not thrilled about the new branch of campus food.

“What’s the point of this?” Willis, a junior who lives in Ruskin Hall, said. “The whole reason I moved to Ruskin is so I’d have my own kitchen and wouldn’t have to eat dining hall food anymore.”

To use the new service, students must have an active meal plan, according to the release. Panther Central will only deliver food offered at Market Central or The Perch.

“Ew, is it only Market food? Market pizza near my bed?” complained another student, who asked to remain anonymous.

According to the release, the delivery option is meant to encourage students to eat healthy, even if they don’t have time to journey to one of the dining facilities for a full meal.

“But it’s like, do I want to get diarrhea there, or do I want to get diarrhea at home?”

Marion Garner, who lives in Bouquet Gardens, said. “Frankly, I choose neither, so catch me at Chipotle all day, every day. No, seriously, I’ll be waiting in line all day. That place is mobbed.”

Some parents, too, have mixed feelings about the new service.

“I mean, I’m still not totally stoked about shelling out $25,000 a year for tuition, but at least I know my money is being spent well on room service for my son, Kevin,” James Corbin, Kevin’s father, said.

One student’s mother, Rachel Applebee, said she was initially happy that her son, Scott, would learn valuable lessons about taking care of himself at college.

“He used to try to get me to bring him and his friends food when they were high, and I would always tell him, ‘No, you won’t have room service like this once you get to college,’” she said. “Now it looks like I was wrong.”

University spokesman John Fedele, however, said he was “ecstatic” about the new service.

“I’ve been waiting for this for years! I’d order Chick-fil-A right now if the Cathedral wasn’t demolished,” Fedele said in an email.

water basket weaving competition hosted in Trees Hall next month.

Indeed, official documents reveal that the nearly century-old building, now reduced to a pile of ash and rubble, was only insured for 225 dining dollars, unbeknownst to Gallagher.

“I’ll swipe you into Market if you can brush this fire under the rug,” Gallagher re-

portedly told Pitt police chief James Loftus.

Ken Service, vice chancellor for communications, confirmed the dining dollar insurance and said Pitt was forced to change the insurance policy from real money to dining dollars after the recession.

“We didn’t really have a choice,” Service said in an email. “But now the entire ACC conducts business solely with our dining dollars, so we’re really trailblazing on this one.”

One professor who asked to remain anonymous said that, in lieu of a paycheck, Gallagher himself had been stopping by his

11 office in person to deliver a basket of fruit and an apology note every two weeks.

“Are we broke? Yes. And no,” Service said.

“Are we broke in terms of real money? Yes. Are we broke in terms of dining dollars?

Absolutely not!”

Indeed, in an announcement last week, Pa. Gov. Tom Wolf proposed an 11 percent increase in dining dollar funding to Pitt.

“Is Gallagher crazy and burned down Cathy because he’s money hungry? Yes. And no. Well, no, actually yes. He’s actually crazy and money hungry,” Service said.

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April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Mean Girl model for g om college success Who hasn’t seen “Mean Girls”? It’s the iconic coming of “b*tchiness” movie, providing inspiration for every sad, lonely person seeking a magical method for building self-esteem.

That magical method exists outside of the movies, and it’s called tearing others down to make yourself feel better. It may not be kind, or pretty, but it does elevate you to the top of the social food chain in a carb-free fashion. After all, you asked to feel confident, not kind.

Certainly, no movie serves as a better manual to life than “Mean Girls.”

Over the film’s course, the audience watches breathlessly as Cady transforms from an awkward newbie to a “Plastic” socialite. Sure, her path is marked by tarnished friendships, disgusted lovers and loss of self, but scaling the social ladder doesn’t come cost-free.

Yet, to call the high school drama an accurate representation of the college reality is a tame comparison. No self-respecting college “mean girl” would ever be so obvious and naive.

But for the daring college woman hoping to cross over into “mean girl” territory, here’s a guide for achieving success:

1) Sarcasm is a socially acceptable way of telling people how you really feel.

Sarcasm is based in reality, but masked in thin humor.

When you do it well, it can be your greatest asset. Are you just insanely funny, or are you being serious? They’ll never know. The mind games that you can play are infinite.

2) You catch more “friends” with honey and passive-aggression than honesty.

Truthfully, you don’t care about any of these people.

Most of the time, they’re annoying aggravations strewn throughout your day. Who knew people could be so inconsiderate? Seriously, is it that difficult for your roommate to wash a plate?

However, regardless of how angry you may feel, it is absolutely unacceptable to be honest and direct with others when something is bothering you. Instead, take the

Bethel Habte Columnist

reasonable approach and post anonymous notes directed at those who’ve bothered you. After all, you depend on the perception of others for survival. That’s why passive aggression comes in handy. It allows you to maintain a “cool” persona in the midst of boiling internal rage.

3) The ultimate mean girl keeps her “burn book” in her head.

There’s a reason for Regina George’s steep fall from the top — she was foolish enough to put her thoughts in print.

Judgmental thoughts happen, as they should. Judging others for minuscule aspects of their identity allows you to feel like you’re better than them. That belief is important in order to maintain your “mean girl” facade. However, those thoughts are best stored in a mental “burn book.” If you can manage to pair that judgement with a smile, even better. They’ll never suspect a thing.

4) You have two options: be expressionless, or have a signature “b*tchface.”

Expressions depict innate thoughts and feelings. Obviously, you don’t want people to know what you’re really thinking, so a blank, expressionless appearance is the optimal approach. On the other hand, you might want people to be so intimidated by your expression that they automatically acknowledge your power and dominance. As Blair “Queen B” Waldorf from “Gossip Girl” said, “You can’t make people love you, but you can make them fear you.” If you decide to go with the signature “b*tchface” route, feel free to take some creative liberties. Makeup helps — arch those brows, wear all of that eyeliner and paint those pursed lips red.

5) Fake your way to the top.

Fake everything. Fake hair, fake nails, fake smile — the list goes on and on. Like I said before, successfully achieving “mean girl” status is dependent on the perceptions of others. We know you didn’t wake up looking like that, yet as long as you always look polished and put together, nobody will be any the wiser. As the late, great Elizabeth Taylor said, “Pour yourself a drink, put on some lipstick and pull yourself together.” You woke up like dis, or at least, that’s what all your minions will believe.

Bethel Habte primarily writes about social issues and current events for The Pitt News.

Write to Bethel at beh56@pitt.edu.

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

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FROM PAGE 9

CLICHES one legendary alum that rings true about the upcoming tilt: “Finesse.”

Graham also shed some light upon other key cogs about the opposing team’s scouting report.

“If you’re the Mountaineers, you’re afraid of us,” he said. “We’re going to come out and give 110 percent, no question about it. Have to dig deep for the stretch run.”

Another Pitt player, freshman Hannibal Plaxico, gave his two cents.

“Defense wins championships,” he stated. “There’s no ‘I’ in team. We’re taking it one game at a time. The season is a marathon, not a sprint. You take what the defense gives you. It’s going to be a war out there. This one is for all of the marbles.”

If Pitt holds strong, it could find itself in a position to make a deep postseason run. The team’s magic number is eight and is in the driver’s seat as it controls its own destiny. The players seem to sense that it is a do-or-die scenario.

Pitt’s head coach did express concern about one particular opposing player, calling him the “heart and soul of the team.”

“He can take over a game. Kid is a flatout winner,” Graham said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed player and is their floor general. He’s got ice water in his veins.”

Still, despite a recent string of success, Pitt’s players are not satisfied. They want to be firmly in the playoff picture, but that does not yet seem to be the case.

“With some of the good, quality wins that we’ve had, it’s a damn shame that we’re still on the bubble,” Fuego said. “A damn. Shame.”

13

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

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

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

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

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

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14

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Boyd begins change into football cyborg

Wignot to pursue hip-hop career Alex Wise Staff Writer

After a successful five-year athletic career in two collegiate sports, what’s a woman to do? The answer is obvious: Start a rap career.

Monica Wignot announced that she will pursue a career as a hip-hop recording artist as the encore to her athletic career. The former Panther finished her athletic career on the Pitt women’s basketball team, averaging 10 points per game and finishing third in the ACC in blocked shots. Prior to basketball,

The Pitt News file photo

g om

Wignot was a standout on the Pitt volleyball team, amassing more than 800 kills in her four years.

Now, she’s hoping for nothing but net in the rap game.

“Most people don’t realize that I have rhymes for days,” Wignot said. “I just need my chance.”

With her mix of intense personal reflection and piercing punch lines, the graduate student’s skills are undeniable.

“Any other rapper you can meet me on the court, when I break yo’ ankles you’ll be sure to abort,” Wignot rhymes on her hit underground track “Two Sport Rap-lete.”

A local legend who’s made her name battling in Oakland basements during the offseason, Wignot has been building a steady fan section.

“Honestly, she’s the best rapper I’ve seen in Pittsburgh since Mac Miller, and I’ve only seen her freestyle,” claimed bystander Tony Khalifa (no relation to Wiz) after a recent Semple Street rap battle. “She could be the hip-hop version of Christina Aguilera. I can’t wait for her to release some real material.”

Wignot wasn’t about to let her tremendous skill go to waste.

The native of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., said fans should know there’s a project in the works, but it could take months to drop. “Lifechanging” is one way she describes the work, though it’s still unclear whether her release will be an album or a mixtape.

Whatever the medium, Wignot said there will be stylistic elements from a range of hip-hop artists from the past few decades, including Young Jeezy, MC Hammer, Rich Homie Quan, Vanilla Ice, Iggy Azalea, Shad “Bow Wow” Moss and Selena Gomez, among others.

“I really loved Lil’ Bow Wow before he dropped the ‘Lil,’” Wignot said. “‘Basketball’ from the ‘Like Mike’ movie? That was hot.

And it’s something I can relate to.” Wignot

Wignot

15

ky e ge

The Pitt News file photo

Brandon Duerr Staff Writer Pitt’s standout sophomore receiver Tyler Boyd has upped his game tremendously by making the full transition to cyborg mecha-receiver.

Boyd, who has asked the media to refer to him by his new nickname, “Ty-Borg,” had a plethora of new features installed inside a few key body parts. On March 24, alterations came to his eyes, legs and hands, drawing the attention of professional scouts around the country. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound product of Clairton, Pa., had doctors install new advanced rotational eyeballs in place of his old ones, modeled after the robots in the “Terminator” franchise.

The enhancements enable Ty-Borg to look in two different places at once, allowing him not only to find the ball with his right eye but to use the left eye simultaneously to find the

open running room downfield, all while also sniffing out big hits from defenders before they even get close. Boyd’s new eyes are also equipped with high-powered infrared lasers that he can shoot off by simply saying the voice command “Bout Dat” at any given moment.

“I am becoming more than a football player,” he said. “I have more capabilities, more skills — unlimited power.”

The new and improved Ty-Borg also comes with bionic hands and arms to improve catching ability. Doctors installed high-powered magnets in the palms of his hands that are specially made to attract only the material of pigskin, making for some incredible onehanded catches. Teammates have reported that Ty-Borg has begun to eschew common English words in favor of sounds reminiscent of the Star Wars character R2-D2.

Boyd

15

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 14

FROM PAGE 14

BOYD

WIGNOT

Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi also placed Ty-Borg on the special teams hands team, as he reeled in an estimated 98 percent of opponent onside kicks. Ty-Borg’s new extendo-forearms give him an added eight inches of wingspan and the ability to reach around defenders’ bodies in order to reel in passes from quarterback Chad Voytik.

Finally, Ty-Borg has had stainless steel rods installed in both of his legs to improve his running, jumping and footwork capabilities.

The sturdy rods have the ability to bend and expand, making Ty-Borg nearly impossible to be tackled by just one player, while also increasing his vertical jump capacity to 15 feet with the metal springs that connect the rods to the bottoms of his feet.

“I can see everything that is happening or will happen on the field,” Ty-Borg said. “But all that I care about is the football. Throw a football, and it will get caught.”

The rods have also given Ty-Borg superior punting and field goal-kicking strength, entering him into an unexpected battle for the starting place kicking position against incumbent Chris Blewitt. At a recent spring practice, Ty-Borg reportedly kicked a 70-yard field goal on his first attempt.

Blewitt was not present for the rest of the practice.

Because of all the steps Ty-Borg has taken toward becoming a full cyborg, his stock for the 2016 NFL draft is already on the rise.

“Teams can expect a guy that will always be on time and fully charged when he steps on to that football field,” Narduzzi said. “I only wish we had done something sooner.”

With all the new hype surrounding TyBorg, he hasn’t let the idea of his future fame get the best of him.

“I just want to catch footballs. Nothing else matters,” Ty-Borg said in an interview with ESPN’s Jon Gruden on Monday.

If all goes according to plan, Ty-Borg will be the Panthers’ first-ever No. 1 overall NFL draft pick.

He will presumably go to either the Raiders, Jaguars or Browns, who should all be coming off of poor seasons, based on recent trends. When asked if he thinks the NFL — or football in general — is ready for the first-ever cyborg wide receiver, Ty-Borg had a simple response.

“I will destroy them,” he said.

also referenced Aaron Carter’s track “That’s How I Beat Shaq” as a sports-related musical inspiration.

Rumors have emerged online that a remix to 2 Chainz’s “Feds Watching” is also in the mix.

Wignot claims to have two major influences, the first being Tupac Shakur. Suspicions arose among Pitt women’s basketball fans

that Wignot was a Tupac fan when she began wearing a white tied headband during games, as Shakur often donned a white bandana.

Wignot confirmed those suspicions by being as ferocious as Tupac, both on the court and at the mic.

The other major inspiration for her work, though not as obvious to the public, is St. Louis-based rapper Nelly. Famous for his music and for wearing a Band-Aid on his face, the artist inspired Wignot’s clear plastic facemask as a tribute, saying, “I wore the mask instead of those Band-Aids. It’s basically the same thing.”

15 Aside from her muses, Wignot is keeping quiet about her upcoming work. She won’t name producers or collaborators—or even give a title to the project. She hasn’t even decided on a rap name yet, though dozens of possibilities such as “Yung Mo” and “Lil Wiggy” have been tossed around. But regardless of what we don’t know about her music, fans of the underground scene say there’s no reason to doubt her abilities.

“Nicki Minaj and Iggy Azalea should be shaking in their shoes,” Wignot said. “There’s a new queen of hip-hop in town.”

run home run to left field.

FROM PAGE 20

BASEBALL

Two innings later, now with a 3-1 lead, Guerrini hit into a double play, but freshman second baseman Kyle Davis scored on the hit. The big game from Guerrini may have come as a bit of a surprise, as he entered the game batting only .204, with 14 runs batted in — ranking him fifth on the team .

Davis came out strong at the plate, batting 2-for-4, and scoring two runs

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com in the process.

Pitt’s sophomore pitcher Sam Mersing picked up his first loss of the season, and he now has a 2-1. He threw five innings, allowing four runs on six hits, including the three-run home run.

“I thought Sam threw a really solid game today,” Jordano said.

West Virginia’s junior pitcher Blake Smith earned his second save of the season, allowing one hit and striking out one batter in his one inning of work.

After missing 14 games of this season due to illness, Pitt senior outfielder

Boo Vazquez has been transitioning back into everyday baseball. He hit in the designated hitter spot on Tuesday, hitting 2-for-4 with a walk.

He entered the game batting .225 with six runs batted in.

Wright extended his team-high streak of games reaching base to 17 with his one hit on Tuesday.

Pitt has played West Virginia more times than any other team in program history. Tuesday’s game was the 150th matchup between the teams since 1939, and the Mountaineers now hold a 79-71 series advantage.

19 Before the game started, Pitt honored head coach Joe Jordano, as he picked up his 500th career win over Akron the game before.

Next, Pitt hosts Notre Dame (17-10, 3-9 ACC) for a three-game weekend series at Cost Field.

“It’s back to the drawing board,” Jordano said. “We’re going to continue to work hard and try to improve and prepare ourselves for Notre Dame this weekend.”

The first game is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. on Friday.

20

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

SPORTS

Correction: In an article about Elizabeth Dunn in the Silhouettes edition, The Pitt News reported that Dunn was pursuing a degree in adaptive sports. This is incorrect — she is pursuing a coordinated master’s degree in nutrition and dietetics. The Pitt News regrets this error.

BASEBALL

Stranded runners doom Pitt in loss to West Virginia Chris Puzia Sports Editor

Pitcher Sam Mersing picked up his second loss of the season. Emily Klenk | Staff Photograph

Pitt and West Virginia’s backyard brawl continued on the baseball diamond Tuesday night, but the Panthers struggled offensively in the game.

A strong effort from junior Mountaineer pitcher Jeff Hardy helped defeat the Panthers (11-16, 4-8 ACC) at Charles L. Cost Field, as West Virginia won 4-1.

Hardy threw five strong innings, allowing one run on three hits during that time. Pitt’s lone run came in Hardy’s final inning, when junior shortstop Charles LeBlanc grounded out to second base, scoring junior third baseman Ron Sherman on the play.

That would be Pitt’s only run of the inning, as West Virginia redshirt sophomore catcher Ray Guerrini picked off Pitt redshirt sophomore left fielder Jacob Wright at third base, stranding two runners in the inning.

Pitt head coach Joe Jordano said Pitt’s offensive issues came down to missed opportunities.

“It’s just a matter of getting a hit in the opportune time,” Jordano said. “We’ve had that issue here the last couple of weeks, and we have to fix it. We left 12 runners on base today.”

At that point, however, the Mountaineers (16-10, 2-4 Big 12) had already built a three-run lead.

With two outs in the fourth inning, Guerrini blasted a three-

Baseball

19

FOOTBALL

Fitzgerald, Donald named honorary coaches in Spring Game Dan Sostek Assistant Sports Editor

The stars will be out at Highmark Stadium on April 18, as Pitt announced that former Panthers and current NFL stars Larry Fitzgerald and Aaron Donald will serve as honorary head coaches for the program’s annual Blue-Gold Spring Game.

“Larry and Aaron are not only legendary Panthers, but also two of the elite players in the NFL,” Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi said in a University release. “The University of Pittsburgh takes great pride in what they have accomplished as both players and people.”

Fitzgerald has been a dominant wide receiver since arriving at Pitt for the 2002 season. In 2003, he won the Walter Camp

Award, given to the best wide receiver in college football.

He has duplicated that success as an Arizona Cardinal since they selected him third overall in the 2004 NFL Draft, garnering eight Pro Bowl selections and becoming the franchise’s career leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns.

Donald, who played at Pitt from 20102013, was a first-round selection by the Rams with the 13th overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft. He finished his first season in the league with nine sacks, leading all rookies, and earned a Pro Bowl berth.

Donald will lead the Gold squad, while Fitzgerald will direct Blue, as the University will divide the current roster by position between the two teams which will play a full 60

minute game..

Fitzgerald expressed his anticipation regarding his return to Pittsburgh.

“I always love coming back to Pittsburgh, and I’m excited to see firsthand the work Coach Narduzzi is doing with the team,” Fitzgerald said via a press release. “There is a great buzz around the program.”

As the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, Donald has already gained notoriety in the pros, but has still stayed connected to the Pitt, attending the University’s Pro Day and spending some of his offseason in Pittsburgh.

“Coach Narduzzi is already doing great things at Pitt and I’m excited that he asked me to be an honorary head coach,” the current St. Louis Rams defensive lineman said in the

release. “This will be fun because I still know a lot of players on the team.”

In the release, Donald shot out some playful smack talk at Fitzgerald’s Blue squad.

“Larry better have his guys ready because I know our Gold squad will be fired up to play,” Donald said.

Narduzzi thinks the duo will enjoy the event.

“I think they’ll have as much fun as our players and fans will,” he said.

The game’s kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. The University has not announced any roster splits yet.

ous mix tapes but couldn’t hold the FROM PAGE 22

ECONOMOU

attention of any labels. The group split and Miller released two mixtapes, one of which eventually intrigued Rostrum Records — the company with which he signed his first deal.

Eventually, Miller’s dreams and aspirations catapulted him to work with Benjy Grinberg and Wiz Khalifa at ID Labs.

THE PITT NEWS Natalie Daher Editor-in-Chief

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com Clearly, Mac Miller has worked exhaustively to reach the top of the rap world. In fact, Miller’s second album solidifies him as one of the country’s top rappers. Listeners have received his new psychedelic sound extremely positively, showing tremendous growth from his first reputable mixtape, The High Life.

There are many other musical examples that illustrate the importance of looking at artist or band progression. The Beatles played many gigs before Ed Sullivan. They did not just appear and smoothly sing and play

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guitars in perfect unison. In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry, fired Elvis Presley after just one performance, telling him that he wasn’t going anywhere in his career.

If we view artists by single performances, we will make the same mistake Mr. Denny did. There is more to music than one performance or one album. We must appreciate artists for their individual journeys and progression.

Miller’s impressive journey as a rapper is evident in his numerous hits, millions of sales, sold out shows

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

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

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

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

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

21 and more than 612 million YouTube video views. He transformed himself from a high school rapper into a concrete artist, with whom many different people hope to work. He may not be The Beatles or Elvis, but he’s a true artist, one with talent and drive that we should admire and appreciate.

Elias Economou primarily writes about campus issues and economics for The Pitt News.

Write to Elias at epe1@pitt.edu.

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22

EDITORIAL

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

OPINIONS

Prepare students for college with real world simulations

Our country’s K-12 school system is essential for providing young people with an adequate knowledge of the world around them. But how can we balance teaching students academic knowledge as well as tangible skills suitable for our country’s modern economy?

An article in the Washington Post this week examines what the phrases “college ready” and “career ready” really mean to today’s students. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, U.S. students rank the 47th happiest students out of 65 countries. To empower and encourage our K-12 students, we must do more to supplement traditional classroom education with programs that teach students skills and lessons relevant to today’s economy. We must ensure that students see the everyday value of their work in order to booster their confidence.

Schools should partner with local businesses or startups to simulate realworld situations in the classroom. While students need to learn foundational knowledge, ranging from history to mathematics, students should incorporate their knowledge into projects reflective of life outside the school walls.

If students are forced to work together on projects such as stock market, marketing and campaign simu-

lations, they will grow both personally and academically.

Learning academic material without such supplemental activities cannot adequately teach students the responsibility required to show up promptly for meetings, attentively serve on committees or work proactively with others who disagree with them.

Additionally, students and teachers should not use technology in the classroom for its own sake, but rather as a tool that assists students in learning skills such as research and teamwork. For example, if a school gives a student an iPad, the student should use it to practice organization for his or her “real-world” based project simulation, not as a device arbitrarily given to him or her for random usage.

In today’s reform-oriented education environment, we cannot forget that our schools must prepare students for what comes after school lets out. Student participation in simulations and projects dealing with aspects of our modern economy can help keep students interested and engaged with their education, which will lead to a more productive and effective national education system.

Let’s work to implement such programs, and better the education of our country’s youth.

Fatima Kizilkaya | Staff Cartoonist

COLUMN

Look past the number one hits and value an artist’s progression

Listeners often critique mu-

Elias Economou Columnist

sicians on their latest tracks instead of their growth and development.

A major component of creating music lies in progression. Learning from older work and applying the knowledge to new tracks to continue to influence more people is integral to an artist’s musical output. Thus, when we evaluate music, we cannot do so narrowly, solely relying on the latest charts.

We must also look back on how artists have reached

their peak.

One of the best examples of such progression is local rapper, Mac Miller.

His progression from “Easy Mac with the cheesy raps” to a No. 1 Billboard Album in 2011 is showcased throughout his work and his dedication to create influential art, and makes him one of today’s most prominent rappers.

Malcolm McCormick was born in Point Breeze to an architect and a photographer. He was raised Jewish and attended Winchester Thurston School and Taylor Allderdice High School. When

speaking to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2010 about the beginning of his rap career, he said, “Once I hit 15, I got real serious about it and my life changed completely … once I found out hip-hop is almost like a job, that’s all I did.”

Early dedication to his career catapulted him from local shows to a worldwide tour in 2012. He started rapping at age 14 and honed his rudimentary skills alongside Pittsburgh rapper Beedie in the group The Ill Spoken.

Together, they released vari-

Economou

21

April 1, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

23

Correction: In an article about Hsuan Chang published on Monday in the Silhouettes special edition, The Pitt News reported that the character Chang played in Avenue Q has a Chinese accent. This is not correct — the character is meant to have a Japanese accent. The Pitt News also reported that Chang’s elementary school was private. This is not correct — her elementary school was public. The Pitt News also reported that Chang switched schools after fifth grade. This is inaccurate — she switched schools after sixth grade. The Pitt News regrets these errors.

FROM PAGE 24

SGB

In Other Action: Board member Jacky Chen said he learned, after meeting with University Library Services on March 3, that his campaign initiative to increase the number of plug outlets in Hillman Library might not be plausible because of the circuitry of the building.

Instead, Chen and Board member David Evergreen , who also campaigned on an initiative to increase outlets in Hillman, intend to meet with Library Services again next week to discuss alternatives, such as battery packs that students could rent out from the library for their laptops.

Allocations: Pittsburgh Fencing Association requested $2,493.60 to attend its national championship in Bensalem, Pa.

The Board approved $1,890.08 and denied $603.52, which differed from the allocations recommendation because the University will fund part of the group’s fuel costs. The Board members’ decision reflects that change.

Collegiate Distributive Education Clubs of America requested $1,526 to attend the 2015 International DECA Career Development Conference. The Board approved in full, in line with the allocations recommendation.

The Caribbean and Latin American Student Association requested $1470.76 for its Annual Spring Carnival, against the allocations recommendation. Representatives from CLASA did not have the necessary documentation for the request when the allocations committee made its decision, but after CLASA brought the documentation, the Board approved in full.

FROM PAGE 24

RAINBOW hang in the Conney M. Kimbo Gallery in the Union on Wednesday, will “help people see the diversity in the Pitt community,” she said.

Michael O’Brien, vice president of the Rainbow Alliance, hoped each flag would represent how its creator feels in society.

O’Brien said Pitt’s community has become better at accepting lesbian and gay students.

“It’s just about making sure we stay cognizant of the more erased identities,” O’Brien said, referring to anyone who might identify as other than gay or lesbian.

Rainbow Alliance President Allie McCarthy has participated in the Triangle Project for three years, and in the past made humorous flags with phrases like, “Yay! Gay!”

This year, she wanted to express the sincerity of the event and hoped that students without background knowledge about queer identities would understand references.

“A lot of [the flags] are abstract. I know what that one means, but some people might not get it,” McCarthy said, referring to a purple flag with the words, “NOT BROKEN” painted in white. She said the phrase is meant to refute the idea that asexual people are “broken.”

At the end of the night, students stood laughing and talking together as their flags dried in the corner of the room, making it known that Pitt’s campus is a flag woven with a multitude of colors.

Cullen’s completed flag consisted of symbols that she felt define who she is, all surrounding the words, “I exist.”

@thepittnews

Rainbow remembers Holocaust’s impact on LGBT+ community

Vol. 105 Issue 141

Pittnews.com

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

HIT ME WITH YOUR BEST SHOT

Elizabeth Lepro Staff Writer Kate Shindle’s triangle flag emphasized the importance of individual identity.

Shindle crouched over the slice of fabric and painted the words, “All parts of you deserve respect.”

Shindle, an undeclared freshman, was one of about 25 people who gathered in the William Pitt Union on Tuesday night to paint multi-colored triangular flags as part of Pitt Rainbow Alliance’s “Triangle Project.”

The annual artistic endeavor is an effort to reclaim the triangular symbol that gay men were required Rana Zakerzadeh participated in Pitt Police’s self-defense awareness program Tuesday. Meghan Sunners | Staff Photographer to wear during the Holocaust. Students painted slogans and symbols on their flags to commemorate the tragic period and outwardly express their individual identities. the 2015 fall semester. That way, the Erin Cullen, business manager for Abbey Reighard Board can “minimize confusion” durthe Rainbow Alliance, began the night Assistant News Editor ing the transition, as the incoming with a brief history of the pink triangle freshmen will immediately know the that homosexual men were forced to Board by its new name, according to wear under Paragraph 175 of the GerMeyer. man criminal code during the Third Meyer said the transition will also Reich. include a logo change. The current Men who were homosexual and JewSGB logo features a hammer and gavel, ish in Nazi Germany were required which Meyer said “isn’t the most welto wear pink and yellow triangles, coming” image. The Board plans to overlapping each other. Cullen held open up submissions for new logo one in her hand that read, “Dedicated ideas through the SGB website or anto the victims of §175,” referring to other site that the Board has yet to Paragraph 175. determine.

Cullen hoped the flags, which will

SGB to begin referenda to change name

Rainbow

Starting next year, the Student Government Board will not exist as we currently know it.

The Board announced at its public meeting in Nordy’s Place on Tuesday night that it intends to change its name from the Student Government Board to the Student Government Association. The Board will make the change through a referendum that students will vote on from April 16 through April 17.

Board President Graeme Meyer

23 said “student government associa-

tion” is the most common term other universities use to describe their student governing bodies.

“We’re not just a board. We’re an association of students,” Meyer said.

Meyer said he hopes the change will more accurately reflect the student government, which Meyer said includes the Board as well as the committees, task forces and the student assembly.

Meyer said the last Board, of which he was a member, came up with the idea to change the Board’s name.

However, Meyer said the previous Board decided it would be better to change the name at the beginning of

SGB

23