The Pitt News T h e in de p e n d e n t st ude nt ne w spap e r of t he University of Pittsburgh
Students take home prizes in app challenge Page 3 April 8, 2016 | Issue 139 | Volume 106
Kevin Stallings talks team, ACC Dan Sostek Sports Editor
New Pitt basketball head coach Kevin Stallings knows how to get to three places in Oakland. He knows how to get to the Wyndham Hotel. He knows how to get to his office. And, recently, he learned how to get to the Panera Bread on Forbes Avenue. Stallings, along with longtime assistant coach Tom Richardson, ventured down to campus — although Stallings was under the impression that he was Downtown — to eat at the bistro chain. After parking, the out-
of-town duo spotted a young woman and struck up a conversation, asking for the best way to get to the restaurant from their spot. As the woman directed the coaches to the restaurant on the chilly night, Stallings noticed that their guide had a Pitt sweatshirt on. “I didn’t even notice that in the beginning,” Stallings said. Stallings went on to ask if she was a student at Pitt, if she liked it here and if she was a sports fan. She answered yes on all three accounts. He then got more specific, asking See Stallings on page 8
Curtis Smith: Officer, teacher, mentor Andrew O’Brien Staff Writer
Soundarya Bhaskar performs a dance at the eighth annual Cultural Kaboom hosted by Zeta Sigma Chi Thursday night in the William Pitt Union. Jordan Mondell STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
An arsenal of weapons lies across six tables in Curtis Smith’s self-defense class — not that you’d know it if you looked. At first glance, a cell phone, some pens and other everyday items sit on the table, all seemingly harmless. But when Smith starts talking, everything comes together. The cell phone is a taser. The pens: blades that bring a whole new meaning to their “fine point” classification.
“This crucifix has a blade within,” Smith said, picking up the Christian symbol and flicking out a knife. “Praise the lord.” Around 4:15 p.m. every Wednesday, Smith, a Pitt police officer for 36 years and a self-defense instructor at Pitt, instructs his students on selfdefense strikes, blocks and other maneuvers. At this week’s class, he called his students over to lecture on concealed weaponry. Before he summoned them to the weaponfilled tables to inspect the dangerous facades, See Curtis Smith on page 2