6-20-18

The Pitt News

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | june 20, 2018 | Volume 109 | Issue 7

POSTGAZETTE PUSHES BACK AFTER ROB ROGERS’ FIRING

EID AL-FITR 2018 IN SCHENLEY PARK

Grant Burgman News Editor

Women participate in a prayer on Flagstaff Hill in celebration of Eid-al Fitr, a holiday which marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, Friday morning. ANNA BONGARDINO | VISUAL EDITOR

VOODOO BREWERY UNVEILS NEW CAN FOR “H2P” IPA

Grant Burgman

with the school’s trademarked image, font and phrase. Voodoo released the newly designed cans Pennsylvania-based brewery Voodoo re- a few weeks ago and they sold out in a couple of leased a new design for its Pitt-themed IPA “H2P” days.

Voodoo’s chief executive office, Matteo Raafter a legal dispute with Pitt caused the brewery to change the beer’s popular original can design chocki, said that he and others at Voodoo were that included the letters “H2P” in Pitt script and surprised at Pitt’s cease and desist request, since the beer was on the market for three years prior. an image of the Cathedral of Learning.

“We had been invited on campus to pour the The new cans still feature Pitt’s trademark blue and gold color scheme, but that’s where any beer twice, so we had just kind of assumed that we allusions to Pitt end. The cans now read “NON- had their blessing,” Rachocki said.

He said the idea for the new can design came TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT ALMA MAfrom his brother Curt — the brewer of the beer TER IPA” with no other Pitt-related images.

Voodoo started selling H2P in its original and a Pitt alumnus — shortly after the cease and can in 2014. The beer grew in popularity and was desist in October.

“We didn’t want to come out with something twice featured on Pitt’s campus after its release.

Then, in October, Pitt called Voodoo and asked that was just kind of like it,” Rachocki said. “So it to cease and desist distributing the “H2P” IPAs we’re like, ‘Why don’t we take another direction News Editor

with it?’ That’s when Curt came up with that name.”

Rachocki met with Pitt officials Jan. 22 to work out a deal that would allow Voodoo to use Pitt trademarks. Rachocki said the new design for the can labels was on the conference room table when Pitt officials came to meet at the brewery.

He said he presented the cans to make University officials aware of the brewery’s plan for the IPA if they couldn’t secure rights to Pitt’s trademarks.

After an initially encouraging meeting in January, Rachocki said Pitt stopped responding to his emails.

“They had made it sound like they were very motivated and interested in making a deal, but then come January, February, I had two unanswered emails and kind of complete radio silence See Voodoo on page 3

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette fired cartoonist Rob Rogers June 14 for being “unwilling to collaborate on his cartoons” after 25 years of creating editorial cartoons for the paper. Rogers claims that he was fired because his supervising editors thought he was being too harsh to President Donald Trump in his cartoons.

His firing comes just 12 days after Rogers tweeted that he would be taking vacation days until “issues with the PostGazette are resolved.” Rogers has had a contentious three months with the PostGazette, and says 19 of his cartoons were rejected for publication since March.

The Post-Gazette published what Rogers called an “openly racist editorial,” in February, which many of the paper’s readers interpreted as a defense of vulgar remarks Trump reportedly made in a closed-door meeting on immigration.

The piece prompted the paper’s writers to take a four-day byline strike, foregoing credit for the work that filled the paper to protest the editorial.

Most of Rogers’ rejected cartoons were critical of Trump. Rogers said his comics started being rejected after Keith Burris — the vice president and editorial director of Block Communications, which owns the Post-Gazette — took over as his supervising editor in March.

Rogers wrote an op-ed in The New York Times June 15 as his story gained national traction. The Washington Post also See Rob Rogers’ on page 3

News

ISLAMIC COMMUNITY COMES TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE EID AL-FITR

Madeline Gavatorta Staff Writer As the sun rose upon Schenley Park on Friday, the park filled with hundreds ready to pray and celebrate. Children played at the petting zoo and three colorful bounce houses, and got their faces painted while parents bought food from the surrounding food trucks to celebrate Eid al-Fitr — a holiday marking the end of the fasting of Ramadan.

Imam Naeem Abdullah is a Muslim leader similar to a priest or pastor, from Masjid al-Mu’min, a mosque in Larimer, Pittsburgh. He sat on the ground before leading the second prayer of the day called “Eid al-Fitr,” or the “Celebration of the Fast Break.”

“Excited, joyous, festive — this is a time where families get together,” Abdullah said.

Ramadan is the ninth and holy month of the Islamic calendar, in which believers fast from dawn to dusk. Participating Muslims are prohibited from activities such as eating, drinking, smoking and sexual activity. If a Muslim is engaged in sports, on their menstrual cycle or sick, that person is permitted to eat during the fast.

At night, family and friends gather for a fast-breaking meal called iftar, which traditionally begins with the simple sugars found in dates. During the last 10 days of Ramadan, families try to stay the night at their mosque alongside their Islamic community.

Anyone was welcome to attend the event, but there were four primary mosques present — Masjid Mu’min, the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, Amar Islamic Center from Wilkinsburg and Nura Zaman from the North Side.

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Inflatable houses, facepainting, halal food trucks and a petting zoo were included in the Eid Al-Fitr festivities on Flagstaff Hill Friday morning.

Anna Bongardino | VISUAL EDITOR During the celebration of Eid al-Fitr mubarak,” or, “Have a blessed holiday.”

Haniza Yaacob-Ritz, 50, from Malaysia, at Flagstaff Hill, there was a $12 donation box for Zakat al-Fitr, a traditional religious said in the bright sunlight that during fastcustom to help those in need. Historically, ing, she understands what it is like to be people would give food like grain — but without those necessities. It was a “brutal” month, but Yaacob-Ritz is happy to be able now, money is acceptable as well.

“This will be given out today,” Abdul- to eat and visit friends.

“As you see, everyone is gathering lah said. “Most communities have a list of needy people in their community so we and after this we are going to visit Musmake sure it gets dispersed evenly between lim friends and their open house and get together and eat,” Yaacob-Ritz said as she them.”

When people finish the month and watched the children play on the bounce complete their fast, there is a mixed re- houses and get their faces painted.

Lana Shami, 51, from Mount Lebaaction of happy to eat but sad to end. A common phrase at Eid celebrations is, “Eid non, who migrated from Syria at six years

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old, frequents ISCP and Attaweed to pray.

Dressed in bright blue, she said that she missed Ramadan because of the sense of community that came with it.

“I can finally have my coffee after 30 days,” Shami said. “But it is a nice time for reflection and I’m hoping I come out being a better person than I was going into Ramadan.”

Her son, Omar Obeid ll, 11, likes Ramadan because he can see his friends. Shami says he insists on going to the mosque to pray so they can all hangout.

“They love the fact that they can stay up late at the mosque while we’re praying.

Some of them pray with us, they have a rec room,” Shami said.

Shami never has broken Ramadan except for her menstrual cycle or sickness, which is allowed, but she said Muslims who do are very moderate in their eating.

“You should minimize, you shouldn’t flaunt that you’re eating and going crazy.

You’re supposed to still be in the Ramadan mode of minimizing the luxuries and minimizing anything in excess,” Shami said.

Abdullah Aamir, a 25-year-old from Afghanistan, came to the United States to obtain a bachelor’s degree at Carnegie Mellon University and has been here for eight months. He prays at ICP and says there are two parts to Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr for him — spirituality and community.

“The spiritual part makes you really sad when those opportunities are just slipping between your fingers and you can’t really hold on to it anymore because it’s a very spiritual month, Ramadan,” Aamir said. “You do little but the reward is double, triple and quadruple, it’s really good. And the feeling inside is really good.”

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Voodoo, pg. 1

Rob Rogers’, pg. 1

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Eli Savage|STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

ran a story on the strife between Rogers and the P-G June 8, before his firing.

A group of Post-Gazette employees were featured in an ad in Tuesday’s paper in response to Rogers’ firing. In the ad, over 100 Post-Gazette employees are standing for a group picture above the words “We are the Post-Gazette.” In the accompanying text beneath it, the staff reminds the readers that they are “independent, impartial journalists who work without interference or influence to provide our community with news that matters.”

The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, which represents over 150 employees and 15 newsroom managers from the PostVoodoo Brewery released a new design for their Pitt-themed IPA (right) Gazette, purchased the ad space for the May 15, after the University cited trademark image, font and phrase in P-G employees. The newsroom managa cease and desist letter issued in October. The new cans read “NON- ers signed a letter to the readers attached TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT ALMA MATER IPA.” to the ad. The attached letter made no PHOTO COURTESY OF THOMAS NESS mention of Rogers’ firing, and instead re“That’s our number one goal. I think it’d be emphasized the text of the ad stating “the so we decided, ‘Well, let’s move forward with our great if we had some kind of a licensing deal at- editors of the P-G are committed to the idea then,’” Rachocki said.

Rachocki emphasized that his goal is still to tached to that where it went through the athletics independent, impartial, presentation of work out a deal with Pitt to get Pitt imagery back department or some kind of fundraiser or some- the news.”

Post-Gazette, however, addressed thing cool,” Rachocki said. on the cans.

Rogers’ firing in an article about the ad posted on Tuesday. Rogers tweeted a picture of his first cartoon since being fired later in the day on Tuesday.

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Opinions

column

CHINA PHASES OUT ONE-CHILD POLICY FOR WRONG REASONS

Kim Rooney

Contributing Editor The small oval scar on the top of my left arm goes unnoticed by most. They have no reason to look, since the United States stopped administering the smallpox vaccination in 1972. Even I forget it’s there, until news from across the ocean reminds me that it’s the physical marker of China, a country that continued to administer the scarring vaccine, and the country whose one-child policy demanded my first home rejected me before I was born.

When China loosened the policy two years ago, allowing two children instead of one, I didn’t know how to feel. Happy for some progress, hurt that it came too late for so many women and children, including myself. And now that policy might be overturned altogether, allowing people to have as many children as they wish.

On the surface, it’s a good change, one that will help return bodily autonomy to women. But according to China’s State Council, the country is focusing on something more superficial — its image. In doing so, it ignores its own history since the policy’s implementation and stunts chances for improvements in the future.

The policy, implemented in 1979, came on the heels of The Great Famine of the late 1960s and early ’70s, in which up to 45 million people died from starvation. The Famine caused anxiety over resource scarcity, leading to a policy that restricted most families to one child and caused millions of forced abortions and sterilizations.

It also led to a now-infamous gender imbalance, as patriarchal Confucian values mixed with men’s ability to work and take care of their parents, causing men to outnumber women by at least 33 million. The imbalance is often used to prove the failure of the policy that was meant to reduce the population and avoid resource scarcity.

By some measures, it worked. The population growth slowed as fertility rates dropped, and some estimate that China avoided as many as 400 million births since the policy’s implementation.

But other countries in the region, such as

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Demographics of China’s population after the ruling party decided to end the one-child policy, allowing married couples to have two children, in 2016. GRAPHIC VIA TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE Japan and South Korea, experienced similar de- moment of reflection and self-criticism, China is creases in birth rates without the one-child policy concerned with its image.

While disappointing, this isn’t surprising. as they developed and their cultures shifted away from larger families. According to Forbes, declin- China’s concern with its image, particularly about ing fertility rates are a consistent marker of eco- the one-child policy, is nothing new. Its desire to nomic development. Since China has the fastest appear just as good as or better than the West sustained expansion of any major economy in combined with a government that controls and history, it may not have needed the one-child restricts information has led to inflated statistics and dubious success stories. policy at all.

As China expands its global influence, it needs It’s difficult to know the number of women and children affected. The government never en- a good image. But it also needs to recognize that forced the policy consistently, depending on the its image problems go much further than policy.

The one-child policy has created lasting attitudes of local officials as well as a couple’s location, ethnic status and whether both parents were changes in how Chinese people view families and only children. It’s difficult to find comprehensive children. While there was a brief uptick in births, adoption statistics, and while some babies made numbers have already dropped. Many people — their way through welfare centers to new fami- particularly young adults, despite pressure from lies, others were killed or died of exposure when parents — don’t want more than one child, and plenty more don’t want children at all. abandoned.

China’s government needs sustained attenBut China doesn’t want to talk about that.

And I understand — it’s hard to admit mistakes, tiveness to its problems. Just as passing the Fifand the implicit recognition of the policy’s failings teenth Amendment in the United States did not is a small success in itself. But in not fully recog- ensure that black Americans could vote, erasing nizing the damage it’s done to its women, China the one-child policy does not erase the damage it’s done and pain it’s caused. continues to harm them.

It’s difficult to know where to begin. My first In discussions of the policy and its changes, economics take center stage — the impact on instinct is myself and others like me. Every adopChina’s workforce, the shifting market for baby tee has a different experience, but for many, and items, the strain on natural resources. They’re im- for me, abandonment is a process of pain and portant aspects of the policy to consider. They’re anger.

But I’m still alive, which is more than can be also not the full narrative. But instead of taking a

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said for many female infants. Because women’s labor goes toward the family they marry into, rather than their own, poorer families preferred boys. Some of us were abandoned, but as many as 1 million girls were killed during the first years of the policy.

Plenty of others were never born, especially as technology developed to make sex-selective abortions possible. The government released a report in 2013 revealing 336 million abortions and 196 million sterilizations since the early 1970s, 17 million of which were forced. This attack on women’s bodies and psyches places their pain, along with those abandoned by their parents, as a means to an end.

But treating it as a cost that must be paid shows a disregard for women that goes deeper than concerns about image. There have been attempts to tackle manifestations of misogyny in China, from harassment on public transit to danger for women using ride sharing services.

But attempts at solutions — women-only metro cars and limiting women to only using female drivers at night — failed because the government, and much of Chinese society, don’t understand the problem. More than top-down solutions, women need equal respect for their bodies, for their labor, for themselves.

Perhaps China truly cares about its women.

But citing its image as the primary reason to abandon the one-child policy, especially as it expands economically and tries to project that image across the world, doesn’t look good. If public perception is what’s pressuring China to change its policy, it’s best to remain wary of how much progress to truly expect.

Ending the one-child policy is a step in the right direction. But the Chinese government needs to recognize the harm it’s caused in the past, not just for the peace of mind of those affected, but also for the benefit of women in the future. I don’t expect an apology, and even if it gave one, these scars won’t fade. But right now, this is another bandage solution, and underneath, the scars still feel raw.

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from the editorial board

Separating families is unethical no matter how it’s done Reporters were recently permitted to visit to a shelter in Texas housing 1,500 migrant boys who crossed the southern U.S. border illegally.

The children staying in the shelter have been deemed “unaccompanied minors.”

Not all of them arrived that way.

Nearly 2,500 children have been separated from their parents and put in shelters since the Trump administration announced in May that it was adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward immigrants caught crossing into the United States without documentation. Some have argued that the relatively comfortable conditions the children are being kept in means the U.S. government’s policy is not wholly inhumane. In reality, there is no denying the immorality of the U.S. government’s actions in separating families.

The previous U.S. policy was to allow detained undocumented individuals and families to return to Mexico if caught by the border patrol — adults are now being prosecuted by the Department of Justice instead.

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Their children have since been relocated to shelters run by The Office of Refugee Resettlement. Rooms in the shelters are cramped but offer the children beds, classes and games.

But while these facilities’ conditions are livable, they don’t make up for how the zero-tolerance policy is a direct blow to human rights on several levels. Besides directly violating the right to family life, which is recognized in the U.N.’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights, enforcers of the policy are not being honest to migrant parents. Federal defenders are saying parents are not being told where their children were being taken. In some cases agents claimed the children were only being taken away shortly for a bath.

The administration has also made it difficult for parents to find their children after the initial separation — there are no known protocols for keeping track of parents and children concurrently or for how to reunite them. The two parties are not allowed to have

contact while parents are detained. Immigration lawyers and advocates report trying to help parents locate their children with inadequate records.

Parents are being kept in the dark about where their children are taken after they are separated, and then are facing extreme difficulty in finding them again. Everything about this is unethical and none of it is remedied by incarcerating the children in tolerable conditions.

And the trauma this is causing the thousands of young migrants will not be fixed by offering them beds and games. Audio footage and reports of children crying and begging for their parents after separation have already gone public.

And this trauma is likely to have longlasting effects — children separated from their parents can develop toxic stress, causing their brains to develop ineffectively. The likelihood of developing post-traumatic stress disorder as an adult also skyrockets.

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More than 9,300 mental-health professionals and 142 organizations have signed a petition urging Trump to end the policy for these reasons.

Despite all this, the Trump administration is doing as little as possible to reverse its policy, with the Department of Homeland Security Secretary wrongfully blaming Congress for a supposed “loophole” forcing the administration to enforce it as law. And the United States withdrew from the U.N. Human Rights Council Tuesday, one day after the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights described the policy as “unconscionable.”

The Trump administration’s recent actions at the border are indeed abusing the rights of hundreds of families and traumatizing thousands of children. Separating children from their parents violates basic human rights — and it isn’t made any more ethical by keeping them in shelters with clean floors and coloring books.

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Culture

GIRLS WHO ROCK: L ADYFEST 2018

Sarah Connor Culture Editor A Google search for “rock bands” yields a long list of well-known results — Led Zeppelin, The Beatles, Pink Floyd and Guns N’ Roses are the first bands listed. The search results show other examples such as The Who, AC/DC and modern bands like the Arctic Monkeys and Coldplay. Aside from being rock bands, all of these groups have something in common — they’re all comprised only of men.

There is a short list of women in rock music compared to men. From Joan Jett & the Blackhearts to Hayley Williams from Paramore, there aren’t many others who have broken through to the mainstream. For a young girl who wants to pick up a guitar, inspiration could be weak.

However, there is a hope for young rocker

Jacquea Mae, 29, from Wilkinsburg, performed an a capella rendition of Big Mama Thornton’s “Hound Dog” at Ladyfest Sunday evening.

Anna Bongardino | VISUAL EDITOR

girls. The Ladyfest music festival has made its way onto the Pittsburgh music scene for the fifth year in a row. According to the Ladyfest Pittsburgh Facebook page, the festival benefits two different organizations — the Women’s Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh and Girls Rock!

Pittsburgh. Members of Pittsburgh-based bands The Lopez and Brazilian Wax help to organize the event.

Steph Flati — one of the event’s four main organizers — is a vocalist in The Lopez and has been involved with Ladyfest since its first year in Pittsburgh. Flati said planning for this year’s festival began back in January, setting the foundation for the community of female musicians.

“For me, [Ladyfest] is about building community and building relationships,” Flati said.

See Ladyfest on page 8

review

THE INCREDIBLES RETURN WITHOUT SKIPPING A BEAT

Grey Mcgettigan For The Pitt News

After Disney-Pixar introduced international audiences to “The Incredibles” — a family of five superheroes struggling to live a super mundane life — the project’s creative linchpin, Brad Bird, kept busy. Blockbusters “Ratatouille” and “Tomorrowland” demanded most of his time, but the writer and director intermittently assembled pieces for the ’60sinspired superhero sequel during the 14-year hiatus.

“Incredibles 2” picks up right where fans left the band of superheroes, but with improved 3-D computer animation that gives the retro-futuristic world and its characters a fresh look. At the end of the first movie, the family’s attempt to quietly reintegrate themselves into society is thwarted by the rise of the villainous Underminer, forcing the Incredibles to resume their role as crime fight-

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Holly Hunter voices Helen, also known as Elastigirl, in Disney’s “Incredibles 2.” DISNEY/PIXAR

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ers.

The family minimizes the Underminer’s destruction, with help from the ice-powered Frozone — played by Samuel L. Jackson — but their society at large pins blame on superheroes for their continued reckless interventions. Civilization’s previous generation of heroes were sent into hiding after costly lawsuits and negative publicity established grounds for outlawing the vigilantes.

Mr. Incredible, played by Craig Nelson, and Elastigirl, played by Holly Hunter, seem to have no choice but to once again assimilate the family to avoid prosecution — but the founders of global telecommunication company DevTech propose an alternate course of action.

The company aims to document the superheroes’ heroics and launch a carefully constructed public relations campaign in See Incredibles 2 on page 9

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Ladyfest, pg. 7 “I love seeing a meeting happen between two people who didn’t know each other before, but met because of Ladyfest — it’s amazing to me.”

Flati said each year she is inspired by the friendships and musical bonds made through Ladyfest.

“Hearing music from other women and supporting other women with the same interests and passions can help women support each other and form friendships,” she said. “Lots of performers continue to play shows together, and that’s the most important thing [about Ladyfest] to me.”

This year’s Ladyfest kicked off at The Shop in Lawrenceville on Friday, June 15. The lineup featured local solo performers like Britney Chantele and Ayana Sade, and Philadelphia rockers Sheena and the Nosebleeds made an appearance just after Pittsburgh pop-rock duo late. exited the stage.

The crowd was diverse — people of all ages, genders and races cheered on performers and danced to the music. Ladyfest is a prime opportunity for Pittsburgh music fans to explore the diversity of the local music scene.

Lisa Christopher — the keyboardist and lead vocalist in the group late. — has been in-

volved with Ladyfest for the past four years, both performing and helping with social media.

“It’s inclusive in terms of genre and representation on stage,” she said. “There’s no other festival that is as inclusive.”

She described how performers like Iris Creamer — an R&B singer from Rhode Island — and local funk artist Jacquea Mae, who performed on Sunday evening at North Oakland’s Babyland, brought diversity of genre to the typically pop-dominated scene of music festivals.

Age was not a barrier either. Wolfblud — a rock band comprised of all high school girls — performed at the Saturday night Ladyfest show at Spirit.

Guitarist Corrie Anderson, Christopher’s bandmate in late., praised the event for focusing on women’s empowerment.

“The other big festivals in Pittsburgh tend to be very male-dominated,” Anderson said. “If there are females playing, they’re not usually playing on the mainstages, they’ll be on side stages.”

For female music fans, the event reminded them that though women do not have the same representation as men do in music, they can perform just as well. One guest to the Friday night show, Penn State engineering student

Full Bush, a heavy post-punk band based out of Philadelphia, traveled to Pittsburgh to perform at Ladyfest Sunday evening.

Anna Bongardino | VISUAL EDITOR Genna Aldridge, was excited to see an event directed toward women in music.

“Events like this are so fun,” she said. “It’s not that common for women to be in bands, and to have an event just for them is really great.”

Aldridge’s experience in another maledominated field brought the cause for the festival close to her heart.

“As a women in engineering — something that is mostly guys — it’s cool to see an event

like this,” she said.

Performers felt this camaraderie along with the audience, and the women of late. shared their strong belief in allied trust between women in male-dominated fields.

“There’s a lot of bad stuff happening around us, and to have that moment of community,” Christopher said, “you don’t forget about [the bad stuff ] but it helps you remember that you have allies in it.”

The Pitt News SuDoku 6/20/18 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

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Incredibles 2, pg. 7

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While most teens don’t have to worry about the government interfering with their relationships, they will empathize with Violet’s impression that the world is working against her.

The Incredibles are forced to recognize their failings right away in this movie. Watching them confront the difficulties of dayto-day life, it’s refreshing to see all the ways these heroes aren’t super. Elastigirl’s newly restored confidence obscures her judgment as she rides the wave of DevTech’s publicity stunts and the sleep-deprived Mr. Incredible can barely juggle the responsibilities of a stayat-home father now that his wife is bringing home the bread.

Action, comedy and family dynamics take center-stage in this wholesome blockbuster — but the animated film doesn’t shy away from social commentary.

Screenslaver — the film’s cryptic antagonist — is a tech-oriented villain who disseminates contempt for superheroes over the unnamed city’s airwaves. The crook’s assertion is that superheroes encourage the general public to forfeit their autonomy, deferring responsibility to false idols who make life worse.

The abdication of power and the media’s portrayal of events are relevant topics to modern audiences, but few would have expected a Disney-Pixar film to acknowledge such issues, even peripherally. Maybe Bird saw it fit that the superhero adventure mature along with the fans who were around for the first installment.

But don’t strain yourself looking for deeper meaning. At its core the long awaited sequel is best enjoyed like the first — with your favorite snack, friends and family, soaking in the well-timed humor and action that made the original so much fun.

The Pitt news crossword 6/20/18

WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

hopes of flipping society’s negative perception of superheroes. Company founders and siblings Evelyn, played by Catherine Keener, and Winston Deaver, played by Bob Odenkirk, convince the heroes with tactful acumen, reflecting the calculated persuasion practiced by modern business moguls.

The film has something for all audiences — slapstick action for the kids, adolescent struggles for the teens and social commentary for the adults.

The youngest member of the Incredibles tribe, infant Jack-Jack, was last film’s comical anchor, throwing fits for the babysitter as the superparents periodically check in from their actionpacked adventure. While the older Incredibles have powers with narrow, specialized ranges, the family discovers in the second film that Jack-Jack is a “polymorph” — a superhero who displays a wide range of powers yet to be honed.

Jack-Jack leaps into the fray for “Incredibles 2,” taking his mischievous antics to new heights.

From brawling with a racoon to grappling with brainwashed heroes, the tiniest superhero’s shenanigans unfold in hectic fashion. The little wrecking ball travels interdimensionally, shoots lasers and turns into a fireball — and the only thing that reins him in is the sight of a cookie.

All ages are sure to find humor in the haphazard knocking around of Jack-Jack, but there’s more to Bird’s creation than crimefighting in diapers.

Jack-Jack’s sister, the invisibility cloaking Violet, matured through the first film by morphing from an unsure introvert into a self-assured, outgoing teen — but she experiences a setback in the sequel. After Violet’s crush sees her in superhero uniform, the government steps in and wipes all knowledge of Violet from the boy’s mind.

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Sports

WWE women’s ‘Money in the Bank’ results in another generic outcome pittnews.com

5 PANTHERS DRAFTED TO MLB PITT FOOTBALL GAINS 11 RECRUITS

Michael Nitti Staff Writer After finishing the regular season as the 12th seed in the ACC Tournament, the Pitt men’s baseball team pulled off two incredible upsets against 8th seeded Georgia Tech and top overall seed North Carolina. Although the Panthers would go on to lose in the semifinal to Louisville, it was a strong end to an otherwise underwhelming season.

While most of the players set their sights on next season, a select few Panthers got ready for the 2018 MLB draft. Last season, only three Panthers were drafted — pitcher Josh Falk to the Oakland A’s, pitcher Isaac Mattson to the Los Angeles Angels and pitcher Josh Mitchell to the Kansas City Royals. But this year, the number of Panthers drafted climbed to five.

RJ Freure Upon the completion of his sophomore year in April, relief pitcher RJ Freure was selected by the Houston Astros. He was the first Panther to go, overall the 192nd pick in the sixth round June 5.

Prior to coming to Pitt, Freure had promising beginnings — he played on Canada’s junior national under-18 team, where the team placed sixth in the World Championships. During this past season, Freure compiled 95 strikeouts while throwing just 58.2 innings and a 4.30 ERA. His most notable performance was when he struck out 11 batters in 5.2 shutout innings of relief against Georgia Tech April 14. Freure officially reached an agreement June 18 with the Houston Astros, subsequently ending his brief, but successful time as a Panther.

Matt Pidich After completing the academic year as a redshirt senior, pitcher Matt Pidich was chosen by the Cincinnati Reds. He was the 229th overall pick during the eighth round June 5. Having already graduated from Pitt and utilizing all four years of his eligibility, Pidich decided to ink his contract with the Reds, officially beginning his professional career.

Originally from New Jersey, Pidich served as the Panther’s ace in his final season — he threw

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91.1 innings over 15 starts and struck out 99 batters with a 3.05 ERA. Pidich led the way for Pitt in the first round of the ACC Tournament against Georgia Tech, dealing seven innings and allowing just one run on three hits — all while racking up eight strikeouts.

Derek West After missing his first two seasons due to elbow and knee injuries, rising redshirt junior Derek West finally got to prove himself on the mound — and as a result, he was chosen by the Atlanta Braves as the 832nd overall pick in the 28th round June 6.

The Florida native made the long distance from home worth it in his 13 appearances for the Panthers — nine as a starter and four as a reliever.

Overall, he finished with a 3.24 ERA in 50 innings while holding opposing batters to a meager .200 batting average. But despite a promising offer from the Braves, West opted to continue his success from last season and return to the Panthers for another year.

“After some serious thought, I am going to wait to start my professional career,” West said in a tweet. “I will be returning to the University of Pittsburgh to further my degree and develop another year as a player and person. Hail to Pitt!”

Liam Sabino Though he came to Pitt as a transfer, New York City native and infielder Liam Sabino was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals June 6 — the 1053rd overall pick in the 35th round.

Beginning his Pitt career as a redshirt junior from Vanderbilt, Sabino dominated at the plate.

In 55 games, Sabino hit .286 with a .992 OPS, swatting 16 home runs while tallying 44 RBIs and swiping 18 bags. Sabino led the team in HR, RBI, doubles, runs scored, OPS, stolen bases and hits.

Sabino has yet to make a clear decision between signing with the Cardinals or returning to Pitt.

Yaya Chentouf Twelve picks after Sabino, pitcher Yaya Chentouf was selected in the 36th round as the 1065th overall pick by the Detroit Tigers.

After playing as both a position player and a pitcher his first two seasons, Chentouf was just a See MLB Recruits on page 11

Joanna Li Senior Staff Writer Entering June with zero commitments from the 2019 recruiting class, Pitt’s football team found itself stuck with a late start to its recruiting trail. But despite the slow start, the pace suddenly changed as the count rocketed to 11 commits in just one weekend, with nine of those players verbally committing on Father’s Day — and one commit late Tuesday night.

The incoming recruits started with Florida linebacker Leslie Smith’s commitment June 10.

Smith’s commitment to the program stood alone for about a week, until Travis Koontz kicked off a surge of verbal commitments to the Pitt coaching staff June 16.

Following Koontz on Father’s Day were Brandon Hill, Brandon Mack, Bryce Nelms, Deandre Jules, Davis Beville, Vincent Davis, Calijah Kancey, Brandon George and Khadry Jackson — and Bam Brima joined the 2019 class late last night after it seemed like the week’s flurry was over.

With the addition of these 11 threestar prospects, Pitt now sits at No. 8 in 247Sports’ ACC Football Recruiting Composite Team rankings with a score of 193.19.

Leslie Smith The 6-foot linebacker from Miami Northwestern High School accepted Pitt’s offer over 17 others from schools such as Colorado State, Dartmouth and Temple. In his junior season, Smith had 90 total tackles, with 52 solo tackles and 10.5 sacks.

With the addition of Smith, the team has amassed 12 linebackers for the upcoming season.

Travis Koontz A native of Youngstown, Ohio, Koontz spent last season playing at Los Angeles Pierce College before transfering to Ventura College. Last season, the 6-foot-5 tight end caught 11 passes for 106 yards, and he won first-team all-conference honors. Koontz will

June 20, 2018

have two seasons of eligibility to play at Pitt.

Brandon Mack From Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery, Alabama, Mack chose Pitt over offers from Kentucky, Louisville, LSU, Memphis, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Western Kentucky. The three-star recruit, according to 247Sports, played in six games last season, recording 29 tackles and five sacks. The 6-foot-4 player will join the team as the weak-side defensive end.

Brandon Hill The 5-foot-11 safety from Apopka, Florida, drew offers from 23 schools during his recruitment process. Considered a four-star prospect by ESPN and a threestar prospect by Rivals and 247Sports, Hill was a key player in the 12-2 run of the Wekiva Mustangs last season.

Davis Beville The 6-foot-6 quarterback from Greenville joins the 2019 class as the only player from South Carolina. In his senior varsity season, Beville amassed 2,530 passing yards and 38 touchdowns. While completing 60.6 percent of his passes, he also ran 397 yards and five rushing touchdowns.

Beville committed to Pitt over offers from schools including Yale, Northwestern and Cincinnati.

Bryce Nelms As another three-star recruit, Nelms played both offense and defense at West Orange High School in New Jersey. His record of four quarterback hurries, 31 total tackles and one sack, benefits the Pitt defensive line. With offers from 16 schools, Pitt beat out ACC rivals Duke, Boston College, Syracuse, North Carolina and Virginia for Nelms.

Calijah Kancey A third recruit from Florida, the 6-foot2 defensive tackle from Miami Northwestern High School had offers from 18 other schools. As a captain on a high school football team that went 14-3-1, Kancey decided See Football Recruits on page 11

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Football Recruits, pg. 10 to continue his career with his fellow teammate Leslie Smith as Panthers.

Deandre Jules From Germantown, Maryland, defensive lineman Jules comes to Pitt as a threestar recruit according to 247Sports. The 6-foot-3 player received offers from 11 other schools after acting as a top player on the Northwest High School team that had a win-loss record of 9-3.

Khadry Jackson Another Florida native, safety Khadry Jackson, had numerous roles during his time at the Windermere Preparatory School. On a team that went 10-1 Jackson did his part with memorable plays like a 75-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.

On defense as a safety Jackson had 64 tackles, including four for a loss and one sack. As a wide receiver, he racked up 302 yards on 15 receptions. From a choice of 19 schools, Jackson’s pick of Pitt allows for more two-way playing on the field.

Vincent Davis Joining other recruits from Florida, Davis chose Pitt over offers from 17 other schools. The 5-foot-8 running back from Cardinal Gibbons High School amassed

MLB Recruits, pg. 10 pitcher by his junior year. He threw 41 innings right out of the bullpen, striking out 45 batters and adding on eight saves. Despite having one more year of eligibility, Chentouf has officially signed with the Tigers — ending his career as a Panther.

High School Commits Along with the five players drafted from Pitt, two Panther commits were drafted. Pitcher Mason Ronan from Penn Cambria High School in Cresson was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 29th round. Billy Corcoran from Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 36th round.

Ronan announced that he’ll continue his academic and playing career at Pitt.

“I am honored to have been selected in this year’s MLB draft, I want to thank the Boston Red Sox for seeing potential in me,” Ronan said on Twitter. “However, the Pitt coaching staff has an exciting vision for this program that I want to be a part of … With that said, I will be honoring my commitment to Pitt. Hail to Pitt!”

A few days later, Corcoran also announced he will follow through with his commitment.

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The Pitt News

942 total yards and 11 touchdowns during his junior season. Davis’ commitment to Pitt allows him to play alongside former teammate and 2018 Pitt commit Marquis Williams.

Brandon George As the 26th player from a Pennsylvania high school to receive a scholarship offer from Pitt, George decided to accept Pitt’s offer over 17 other schools. Playing varsity for Berks Catholic High School in Reading since his freshman year, the 6-foot-3 two-way player has played in 40 games.

On offense, George has accumulated 1,794 rushing yards and 28 touchdowns.

As a linebacker, he has a total of 239 tackles, five interceptions and six-and-a-half sacks.

Bam Brima Three-star prospect Bambanga Brima of Williamsport committed to Pitt June 19, a few days after his new teammates.

With offers from a total of 15 schools, the 6-foot-7 defensive end comes to Pitt after a successful high school career at Loyalsock Township High School accumulating 77 total tackles and two sacks.

Brima is the second in-state recruit of the 12 new commits next to linebacker Brandon George.

Sophomore relief pitcher RJ Freure accepted an offer with the Houston Astros June 18.

Chiara Rigaud | Staff Photographer

Editor-in-Chief CHRISTIAN SNYDER editor@pittnews.com

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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, cartoons and letters are not necessarily those of The Pitt News. Any letter intended 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 editor@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

“I am very grateful for being selected in this year’s MLB draft, and I want to thank the Texas Rangers for believing in what I can do,” Corcoran said on Twitter. “I believe this is an important time in my development, and with that being said, I will be honoring my commitment to the University of Pittsburgh and Coach [Jerry] Oakes.”

Of the five current Panthers that were drafted, three have signed with their respective clubs, one has opted to return for another season and one has yet to decide. For past, present and future Panthers, the future looks bright.

June 20, 2018

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Complaints concerning coverage by The Pitt News, after first being brought to the editors, may be referred to the Community Relations Committee, 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, faculty and students, as well as journalism professionals. The business and editorial offices of The Pitt News are located at 434 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.

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I N D E X

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Shadyside

Before signing a lease, be aware that no more than 3 unrelated people can share a single unit. Check property’s compliance with codes. Call City’s Permits, Licensing & Inspections.

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1 bedroom luxury apartment. 2 apartments available in a beautiful brick home with private entry, private laundry, off-street parking or garage, newly remodeled throughout. Kitchen w/Dishwasher, Granite countertop & more! Located on Morewood Avenue, 15 minute walk to Pitt/ CMU, Walnut Street.

5 minutes to UPMC Shadyside, West Penn Hospital. One block to Busses, hospital/ Pitt/CMU shuttles and many restaurants.

Available August 1st, 2018. No Pets. $1095+ g/e. Call Jason at 412-922-2141.

Pics/info: tinyurl.com/ morewood1br

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Call 412-361-2695

Available June 2018: House for rent in South Oakland. Large 4 bedroom, 2-story house with basement. 2 bathrooms, fully equipped eat-in kitchen, living room, dining room, front and back porches, full basement w/free washer and dryer.

Near universities, hospitals, and public transportation. Contact: 412-337-3151

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Squirrel Hill Greenfield/Squirrel Hill - Furnished bedroom in house with other Pitt students.

On bus line, laundry, off-street parking, large backyard. Rent: $600 and utilities included. Call Betsy at 412-651-4726

Employment Research Studies Participants needed for a research study of reading and language.

You will be asked to come to the LRDC on multiple occasions to complete tests.

You will be paid $10/ hour for every hour of your time. For more information, please contact Nadait at 412-624-7083 or nig48@pitt.edu.

Volunteering Looking for volunteers to coach basketball and volleyball at Sacred Heart

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Elementary School in Shadyside for 2018-2019 school year. Girls/boys teams grades 5-8.

Clearances required.

Contact Jennifer McPeak at jlmcpeak@ burnswhite.com, 412-310-3816.

Welcome, 155 N. Craig Street, Dean Kross, MD, 412-687-7666

Employment Other

off your student

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card? Only serious

SUMMER WORK Landscape help, wall and patio construction, planting, mulching, and concrete work.

Near 279 Camp Horne Rd exit. Full time and part time. $11-15/hour. Need transportation. Call 412-477-3800.

1X

Services Other Interested in paying loan within a year?

A car loan or credit applicants need reply.

Text or email for free consultation. Rick 412-779-0308 or ral1313@verizon.net

Services Health Medical and Heart Care, Students

June 20, 2018

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