The Pitt News The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | April 18, 2018 | Volume 108 | Issue 151
BALLIN’ OUT
SGB BIDS FAREWELL IN FINAL MEETING Madeline Gavatorta Staff Writer
stand what values and priorities are important to the community when it comes to the design and artist of the represented African-American historical figure. Lindsay Powell, a policy analyst in Mayor Bill Peduto’s office and member of the task force, opened up the forum with a background information on the project. But most of the community members were unaware about the specifics of the topic being discussed in the meeting. They had not heard much about the City’s new project and came to become more informed about the African-American
Plenty of teary, emotional thank-yous and farewells occured at Tuesday night’s Student Government Board meeting — the last official meeting for the 2017-18 board. During his final report, President Max Kneis took the opportunity to thank everyone who had been with him along the way. “From my first weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in this incredible organization and work with fantastic students, staff, faculty and administrators all across campus,” Kneis said. “I can confidently say that my experience with SGB has been the greatest part of my college career.” During his remarks, Kneis also said SGB’s funding could decrease next year. Instead of receiving two percent — about $55,000 — of the student activity fee, SGB’s Formula Group Task Force has recommended that Dean of Students Kenyon Bonner change it to 1.75 percent, or about $48,000. They also asked that PittServes’ portion be increased from 4.25 percent to 7.75 percent. Kneis said SGB did not use up all of their funds this year and could do with less. He also announced that certain locations in the William Pitt Union, such as Nordy’s Place and several meeting rooms on the fifth and eighth floors, will receive technological upgrades. Some of these upgrades include new projectors, control panels and wireless mic systems. SGB is using part of the student activity reserve fund to help finance the upgrades and equipment. Student Affairs will pay for design, installation, testing and contingency. “I think that it’s important that student organizations have same type of technology in the spaces that they use for their events and meetings as they’re exposed to in their everyday lives, at home, in the classroom, in other areas on campus,” Kneis said.
See Foster on page 2
See SGB on page 3
Students make their own stress balls from balloons and water beads in the Stress Free Zone Tuesday afternoon. Elise Lavallee | CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Public provides input on foster statue replacement
Theresa Dickerson Staff Writer
There is currently no statue in Pittsburgh that represents an African-American woman. But that is going to change in the next month — and it’s happening right on Pitt’s campus. The City confirmed in March that the 10-foot-tall bronze statue of musician Stephen Foster, located on Forbes Avenue across from the Stephen Foster Memorial, would be removed in April. Foster will be replaced with a local, historical, female African-American figure. The City has called for community input
on deciding who the new figure should be. Though the statue is in Oakland, the first of those community meetings took place across the City Tuesday night at the McKinley Recreation Center in Beltzhoover. Only five members of the Pittsburgh community joined the City’s Task Force on Women in Public Art at the first of five chances for community input. “I feel like art should represent everyone,” Beltzhoover resident Margie Thompson said. “This is how we learn about each other.” The goal of these forums is to under-