6-3-15

Citing personal reasons, SGB President Graeme Meyer resigns

June 3, 2015 — Issue 5— Volume 106

Page 2

“IT WAS IN EVERYONE’S BEST INTEREST FOR ME TO ”

STEP DOWN

Jeff Ahearn | Assistant Visual Editor

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

SGB PRESIDENT RESIGNS

Meyer hands reins to Harun, citing personal reasons Dale Shoemaker, Elizabeth Lepro and Lauren Rosenblatt The Pitt News Staff

themselves,” Meyer said. “I felt I was no longer able to carry out [that] responsibility at this time, and it was in everyone’s best interest for me to step down.”

Though he would not elaborate, Meyer said no one thing caused him to resign.

“I am not in a place to share details of my personal life... at this time. I can assure you there was no one reason I resigned,” he said Tuesday.

Before Meyer resigned, Harun said he came to her and the two met several times before informing the rest of the Board. As Meyer’s friend, Harun said, those meetings were not easy.

Graeme Meyer has resigned as Student Government Board President, but he’s chosen to keep his reasoning private.

In a release Friday, May 29, SGB said that effective immediately, Meyer was resigning from his post, five months into his term.

Nasreen Harun, then-executive vice president of the Board, has filled his vacancy and will serve as president until the end of next school year.

Harun became executive vice president because she received the highest number of votes in GRAEME MEYER, November’s election. Under Former Student Government Board President SGB’s Governing Code, the executive vice president fills the president’s position in the case of a vacancy.

In the release, Meyer did not make a statement, and SGB did not provide a reason as to why he resigned. According to Meyer, he is also no longer an active member in any other campus organizations, including his academic honors “I wanted to make sure everything was fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, which colonized OK with him, but I also knew what [his reat Pitt in 2013. signing] meant for me,” she said.

In an email Saturday morning, Meyer said Harun said she could not speak to the he resigned for “personal reasons.” nature of Meyer’s personal issues and that Later, during a phone interview Sunday she would not have predicted this outcome night, Meyer declined to elaborate on those when the two ran together in November. reasons.

Meyer said the decision was hard, but “The reason I resigned was 100 percent that it was the right one to make. personal. That is not something that needs “It was one of the most difficult things to be talked about. It’s not news. Frankly, it’s I’ve ever had to do, but it was something gossip,” Meyer said.

I needed to do,” Meyer said on Sunday. “I Meyer declined an offer for a follow-up felt I couldn’t serve the student body in that interview or phone call Tuesday, but said in capacity anymore.” an email Tuesday night that he felt he was no Harun said while she didn’t see Meyer’s longer able to carry out his responsibility to resignation coming, she and the Board are the Pitt student body as president of SGB. confident they will be able to lead without “The number one responsibility for Meyer. someone in my position is to ensure that “I think it did come as a bit of a surprise, they are able to support the needs of the but I think everyone is ready to move forentire student body while also supporting ward. We’re all looking forward to the sum-

mer months and the school year,” Harun said Sunday.

Despite Meyer’s resignation, both current Board members and the administrators who have worked with the Board said SGB will remain strong through this transition.

Though Kenyon Bonner, interim vice provost and dean of students, no longer formally advises SGB, he did meet with Meyer every other week, including before SGB announced Meyer’s decision to resign.

In a statement Tuesday, Bonner said he enjoyed his time with Meyer, but supports his decision to resign and is ready to begin working with Harun.

“I have full confidence in Nasreen’s preparedness and ability to assume the role of SGB President,” Bonner said.

“She is a strong leader with significant experience in student government.”

Steven Anderson, who oversees Residence Life and now SGB, declined to expand further on Bonner’s comments.

Leaving has been hard, Meyer said, but he has full confidence in Harun to fill his role as president.

“I am deeply saddened but deeply confident in [Harun],” Meyer said. “Everyone on the Board is 100 percent behind [Harun].”

The Board, too, supports Meyer’s decision and is confident in its future without him.

“We just want to be there for him and support him,” Board member Jack Heidecker said Tuesday. “We’ve made accomplishments [in the past], and we’ll continue to make accomplishments.”

Harun is excited to take on her new role as SGB president, but said the excitement is bittersweet.

“It’s sad to see [Meyer] go, but I think we’re ready to keep moving forward,” she said.

ICYMI(In case you missed it) John M. Petersen, who is the Petersen Events Center namesake, died Saturday, Pitt spokesperson Ken Service said.

Petersen, known for donating $10 million to fund the construction of the Pete, was an alumnus and benefactor of the University. He passed away after a two-year battle with brain cancer. His funeral will be Saturday. Petersen was 86. “[Petersen] set an example for many others by his steadfast belief in and support of the University of Pittsburgh, which helped Pitt become the outstanding institution it is today,” Chancellor Patrick Gallagher said.

The reason I resigned was 100 percent personal. That is not something that needs to be talked about. It’s not news. Frankly, it’s gossip.

Go online to

youtube.com/ thepittnews to see video of Pitt professor Joel Brady competing on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior.

June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

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After weekend launch, bike share comes to Pittsburgh Alexis Mazzeo and Dale Shoemaker The Pitt News Staff

The Pitt News Crossword, 6/3/2015

Beneath the reflective peaks of the PPG Place Building Downtown in Market Square, Pittsburgh Bike Share launched its new Healthy Ride program Sunday morning.

Roughly 50 people, including David White, executive director of Pittsburgh Bike Share, gathered in the square for a bicycle ride around Downtown. The program includes 50 stations connecting 11 Pittsburgh neighborhoods, including Oakland and Shadyside, each equipped with an abundance of baby blue and silver bicycles ready for renting and riding.

The program launched at the Open Streets Pittsburgh event, which Bike Share helped organize, Open Streets spokesperson Ngani Ndimbie said.

Since former Mayor Luke Ravenstahl announced the bike share program in 2013, she said, the Open Streets and Bike Share have been closely tied.

ACROSS 1 Like some timers?

4 Kids’ rainy day projects 11 Watch kids 14 Piglet bud 15 Boring, facetiously 16 Kyrgyzstan city 17 Self-preparing dessert?

20 Supple 21 Red meat source 22 Red giant 23 37-Down’s concerns 24 Year during Augustus’ reign 26 Val-d’__: French department 27 Dry, powdery dessert?

30 Human __ 31 Big bunch 32 Moisten, as garden cobwebs 35 Shingle wood 39 Biological duct travelers 40 Wagering letters 43 You’d be amazed to stand in it 45 Unlock, to Byron 46 Tries to obtain 48 Dead last, say 50 Hourly-rate alternative 51 Marital concession 52 Anne Frank’s father 53 Belts 55 __ vez: Juan’s “again” 56 Grassy surface 58 Bio, e.g.

59 Indifferent 60 Yes-Bob link 61 One of the Kardashians 62 Sandwich request 63 Blog input 64 Compound suffix 65 Annie of “Designing Women”

Ndimbie said its relationship with Bike Share is mutually supportive because both advocate for neighborhoods

to become more physically active.

“It’s going to be a phenomenal way to experience Pittsburgh and be a part of

Pittsburgh’s bike sharing program has eight stations in Oakland. Alex Ryan | Production Manager

5/29/15

By John Lampkin

DOWN 1 Colgate rival 2 Mascot of the NHL’s Blues 3 Like pointillist works 4 Cultural idea that may go viral 5 Acting legend Hagen 6 Political thaw 7 First coat 8 Nocturnal demonic visitor 9 Corrode 10 Some pic takers 11 Pushover 12 Lands in el mar 13 Pointing remark 18 “And I’m Cleopatra” 19 Wagnerian soprano 24 Needing no Rx 25 Ozonethreatening compound 28 Prune 29 Aspects

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

©2015 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

32 Choreographer with nine Tonys 33 Facetious scapegoat 34 Surreal dessert?

36 Like the desserts in this puzzle, literally?

37 See 23-Across 38 Pulls back 41 Digits displayed on beaches

5/29/15

42 Suds 43 “Whenever” 44 Travails 47 Acorn woodpecker, e.g.

49 “Ditto” 54 Lithographer’s material 57 “L.A. Law” actress 59 Indy initials

something new and bold,” Ndimbie said.

The Healthy Ride bikes are available to rent at the 50 stations, 24 hours a day, all year long, according to White, the director. The bikes will be available for people to rent and return at any station dock. Riders can register at either a Bike Share kiosk or the mobile app, which is hosted through NextBike, a German company that manufactures the bikes.

Riders can also use a monthly membership card to rent the bikes. Memberships cost $12 monthly for unlimited 30 minute rides and $20 monthly for unlimited 60 minute rides.

To start, Pittsburgh Bike Share received $1.6 million from a federal highway grant and additional funding from multiple corporate sponsors, White said.

But Pittsburgh’s Bike Share program has not launched without setbacks, particularly with online payments.

Bikes

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

Two international restaurants coming to Oakland Chidi Nwakpuda For The Pitt News Where two vacant eateries once stood on Atwood Street, two more will fill their spaces.

At 328 Atwood St., where India Garden once operated, Sichuan Gourmet, a new Chinese restaurant, will open, restaurant owner Wei Yu said. Eight doors down, at 346 Atwood St., Bombay Curry House opened on May 29 at the former location of Mi Ranchito, a bar that was popular among students. Sichuan Gourmet does not yet have a set opening date because it is still waiting on a health inspection from the city, Yu said.

Angela Kimmel, a Pitt student who lives at 328 Atwood St. until the end of July, said she didn’t know Sichuan would open in her building until she saw a banner hanging outside two weeks ago.

“I did not have much warning before that,” she said.

Despite opening with little notice, the

owners of the two restaurants say they are bringing something fresh to Atwood Street.

Yu, who was born in China and also owns the original Sichuan Gourmet in Squirrel Hill, said the second location of the restaurant will boast a chef who was born in the province of Sichuan, China, and has almost 30 years of cooking experience.

“My new chef started to learn how to cook Sichuan food in 1988,” he said.

While his original location in Squirrel Hill has both Sichuan and American menus, Yu said his second location in Oakland will only have a Sichuan menu, to set itself apart from other Chinese restaurants in the neighborhood.

“The other restaurants are totally different,” he said. “They are tailored to American [tastes]. If you taste our food and compare to their food, you will find that the taste is not the same.”

The main difference, he said, is that his food will be much spicier.

“People from different parts of China have different tastes,” he said. “In east

China, people eat sweeter foods. The sauce is more spicy in Sichuan.”

Like Yu, Rafiq Shaikh, owner of the Bombay Curry House, said he plans to set his restaurant apart from others on the block by serving only fresh food, like chicken Madras and chicken Mughlai, two popular Indian dishes.

“We have totally different recipes,” Shaikh, 41, said. “We make fresh homemade food. We have a lot of variety in our menu.”

Neither establishment, however, will serve alcohol. Shaikh said Bombay Curry won’t serve alcohol because of his faith.

“I am Muslim,” he said. “I am strictly not allowed to serve alcoholic beverages.”

Pitt student Volodymyr Pyzhov, who lives on Atwood Street across from Sichuan Gourmet’s future location, can’t wait to eat at the new restaurant.

“I try to get Chinese food every month, because I am deeply interested in far eastern culture and its cuisine,” Pyzhov, a sophomore political science major, said.

Search begins for new advising center director Dale Shoemaker News Editor With thousands of schedules hanging in the balance, Pitt is searching for a new director for the advising center at the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences.

Pitt commenced the search after the current director, Mary Beth Favorite, announced her retirement after 23 years in the position.

In an email, Pitt spokesperson John Fedele said John Twyning and Jessica Hatherill, two Pitt administrators, will lead the search. Twyning is the associate dean for undergraduate studies, and Hatherill is the senior administrative officer in the same department.

Director

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 3

BIKES

A week before its launch, several Reddit users, on both the r/Pitt and r/ Pittsburgh pages, posted complaints that Healthy Ride’s website, healthyridepgh.com, was accepting credit card payments for membership on an unsecure server. White acknowledged that he received several complaints but said Bike Share was working to fix the issues.

White confirmed that there were no breaches in security and no payment information had been stolen. He said they did have security measures in place before the complaints.

“We have now taken additional steps with the front end of the website to ensure the integrity of customer information,” he said.

Sara Khalil, a Bike Share field service representative, said since the program’s launch, people of all ages have been renting bikes, and the community seems excited to start riding. The allure of bike share, White said, is in its versatility.

“It’s a great way to see a new city.

You get to go to a new city, jump on a bike, and expand the reach of where you would get to go if you were … on a bus tour or locked up in a car,” White said.

Some pedestrians, though, including retired Oakland resident and member of Oakwatch Hanson Kappelman, are more cautionary about the bike share program.

“Bicycling is a healthy thing to do, if it’s [done] respectfully and knowledgeably,” Kappelman said. “But if cyclists aren’t educated in the rules of the road and how to behave, then we’re all in trouble,” Kappelman said.

But Bike Share is for everyone, White said, including non-cyclists.

Kieran Moyle, a field service representative for Bike Share Pittsburgh, said the program is an opportunity to expose more locals to biking.

“It has the opportunity to bring up these issues with new riders who are not as experienced,” Moyle said. “I think it’s all a matter of education.”

Amanda Burke, one of Healthy Ride’s first customers, who was at the Open

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Streets event Sunday, said biking is a more communal way of transportation.

“I think I’ll visit more stores and shops. You will see more as you ride a bike, as opposed to driving, when you just pass things by,” Burke said.

With the support of riders like Burke and Bike Share’s corporate sponsors, such as Walnut Capital, White said he hopes to expand Healthy Ride to all of Pittsburgh in the next year or two.

“I think we are poised to offer a transportation solution to some of the neighborhoods that have been traditionally underserved by transit, some that have had mobility challenges,” he said.

For White, cycling is personal. Like other people, he said, he remembers the first time he rode a bicycle, and how, after he got over his initial fear, he felt invincible.

“On that first ride I felt a sense of empowerment — I was able to go somewhere on my own,” White said. “And that sense of movement, the sense of freedom that comes with being able to jump on a bicycle and move never really wore off with me.”

T P N S U D O K U

FROM PAGE 4

DIRECTOR Fedele said the two will form a committee of staff from across the University, but will not hire an outside firm. Pitt hopes to fill the position by the end of the summer, Fedele said.

Favorite’s replacement, Fedele said, will be responsible for “refining how Dietrich School students are advised” by working with students and using technology to make the advising process better.

The new director’s main goal, Fedele said, should be making sure students complete their degrees.

“The Director of the Advising Center is responsible for ensuring that students have the best possible advising experience to enable them to achieve their academic, career and life goals,” Fedele said.

Today’s difficulty level: Very Hard Puzzles by Dailysudoku.com

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

EDITORIAL

OPINIONS

Jenner and Gender: Donʼt chastise — explain and educate

It only took three words to electrify social media and news outlets with a red-hot buzz.

“Call me Caitlyn.”

Emblazoned with these three words, Vanity Fair’s July 2015 cover went viral on Monday after the magazine posted a photo of it on Twitter. The cover — featuring a dramatic shot of Caitlyn Jenner in a cream-colored bustier — unveiled her authentic identity, inside and out.

Formerly known as “Bruce Jenner,” Jenner made her metamorphosis final with the bold image, evoking both praise and criticism from a fervent online community.

Online and offline, there is still confusion on how to discuss the 1976 Olympic gold medal winner. With the influx of media attention, there are seismic opportunities to misappropriate not only gender pronoun changes, but Jenner’s identity and what it means to live a trans life. As a result, some trans rights

activists have admonished and scolded those responding inappropriately to Caitlyn’s debut.

As trans rights activists, though, we need to educate — not reprimand — those who err in discussing Jenner’s identity. While the Internet is ablaze with trans dialogue, we need to capitalize on this occasion to teach others about trans culture and how to discuss trans people — rather than point fingers at the politically incorrect.

On Twitter, the viral hashtags #CaitlynJenner and #CallMeCaitlyn are brimming with opportunities to educate others on trans issues.

When former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell tweeted “Sorry...still calling you Bruce,” other Twitter users attacked Bell.

One user tweeted, “For real. Has this kid done anything since his Disney show other than hit puberty? #DrakeBell.”

This tweet, among many others, is

problematic because it adds misguided attention toward Bell’s mistake without correcting it.

In Bell’s apology for his tweet, he still erroneously referred to Jenner as male.

“I’m not dissing him! I just don’t want to forget his legacy! He is the greatest athlete of all time! Chill out!” he tweeted.

If the tweets in response to Bell’s mistake focused on fixing what he said wrong, rather than attacking him, maybe his apology would have included the correct pronouns, proving he’d become educated on the issue. Instead, we’ve bred undue negativity into trans dialogue.

We have the ability to create meaningful discourse even in response to the most ignorant comments.

There’s a great deal to lose if we don’t react with understanding. Showing others the equitable way to approach trans issues transcends Jenner herself — it affects the whole trans commu-

nity. When someone haphazardly calls Caitlyn “Bruce” and we don’t explain why that’s improper, we’re endangering other trans lives.

How can we expect our generation to be fluent in politically correct trans dialogue if we criticize rather than advise?

Trans people have never been so visible — 30 years ago a trans woman never would have made the cover of Vanity Fair. In this time of unprecedented change, we expect people to make mistakes in talking about trans people. What’s more important than calling out these errors is discussing the correct pronouns and the correct name Jenner prefers.

Jenner has already taught us so much about bravery and acceptance. Now, it’s time for us to continue her mission and have enough patience to help others through the learning process.

Rather than chastise someone for their mistake, explain and educate.

COLUMN

Solving America’s infrastructure issue, one rail at a time Stephen Caruso Contributing Editor

Infrastructure isn’t supposed to be sexy.

But, ever since my first trip to New York City ended in the glory of Grand Central Terminal, I’ve thought otherwise — infrastructure is sexy.

It’s expensive, long-term and so politically useless, but bridges, tunnels, highways, airports and rails are all vital to a country’s economy and its citizens.

My dad is a rail traffic controller for New York’s commuter rail system, Metro-North, and so, from my dad’s pride in his work, I was introduced to all the little intricacies of how Metro-North works and the importance of having rail service.

But rail infrastructure has been placed in the spotlight recently for more negative reasons, after a recent accident outside Philadelphia, where a speeding train de-

railed, killing eight, on a stretch of track many Pitt students, including myself, have taken many times on the way home during school breaks.

NPR, CNN and other news organizations have all mentioned the lack of positive train control (PTC) on the tracks where the accident happened. PTC is a system that automatically slows down trains by tracking their position on the tracks, accounting for curves and other hazards. The system is in place on most of the Northeast Corridor — the stretch of Amtrak’s rail from Washington D.C. to Boston — but not all.

The federal government has required the implementation of PTC since the passage of the Rail Safety Improvement Act in 2008. The act offers funds through the Federal Railroad Administration to all railroads to help implement the plan, but it is still very expensive. And railroads always have expensive things to repair.

Just look at the Northeast Corridor — most of the infrastructure was built in the early 1900s, and only has to be updated as time goes on. While Amtrak allows for more than 100-mph travel on many parts of the line, others have 104-year-old bridges or grade-level crossings — like the ones in the Kalimari Desert level of Mario Kart 64 — except the trains are real and won’t flip you harmlessly into the air.

Add in that the Northeast Corridor — which had an operational surplus of $496.7 million in 2014 — is used to cover the expenses of the rest of Amtrak’s long distance service, which lost $507.5 million — and you can start to see the problem.

Infrastructure is a massively expensive field, one that rarely ends in a profit. Initial spending is high for new projects, with expenses that only pile up due to repairs on old projects. According to a study from the American Society of Civil Engineers in

2013, America has an overall grade of a D+ for its total infrastructure — I’m sure any pre-meds reading this article just fainted.

To be fair, America’s rail transportation had a C+ overall. But, that was including freight railroads run by private companies. For Amtrak — run by the U.S. government — and other state-run passenger rail services in the U.S., many challenges exist. Though ridership has been steadily increasing, the swelling of traffic only increases wear and tear. And, as most U.S. passenger service is in public hands — not private — increasing fares is out of the question. What’s the point of running a public utility if it’s too expensive for the public?

The solution, if you asked the rightleaning folks at the Cato Institute, seems to be that well-worn libertarian credo: priva-

Caruso

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 6

CARUSO tize and deregulate. To quote their report, “Let’s take government out of passenger rail, and allow America’s entrepreneurs [to] take another crack at it.”

Deregulate what, exactly? Maybe get rid of the Rail Safety Improvement Act, the law that made the expensive PTC system a requirement? Well, that could save private investors money if it wasn’t made to protect commuters. The law was preempted by a crash in California that killed 25, which positive train control could have prevented. Not to mention, two of the last three deadly train crashes in the US — including the recent one in Philly and one on Metro-North — occurred in areas yet to be equipped with the system.

The solution is simple, and it’s one that even my parsimonious father would agree with. I’ve written about him before. Last January, I wrote “‘Papa Bear’: Or, how I learned to stop hating and respect Bill O’Reilly.” Have a conversation with my father and you’d think he was the inspi-

ration for Ron Swanson. He’s of the “all government is a waste of taxpayer money” school of thought — but ask my dad if the government should be spending more on infrastructure, and he’d enthusiastically agree.

So much for libertarianism.

Spending on infrastructure is more than

with their family.

In this modern eco-conscious age, rail infrastructure is green, highly efficient and low stress — plus, pretty cool. Amtrak beats air and car traffic by 17 percent in energy efficiency, a gap that has only been increasing since the mid 2000s. For freight traffic, it isn’t even close — a train can move a ton of freight 480 miles on a gallon of gasoline, four times better then a truck. If we are striving to be environmentally conscious, rail travel is the most ecofriendly choice and should be treated as such by policy makers.

However, it requires a steep initial cost.

And as Amtrak’s recent fiscal report for 2014 shows, while ridership on the Northeast Corridor has increased 3.3 percent, long-distance routes, such as the Empire

What’s the point of running a public utility if it’s too

expensive for the public? the typical government waste. It improves people’s lives in a concrete way — literally.

Repairing roads, replacing bridges and installing safety systems means people travel more safely and quickly, whether for a business meeting or just to spend time

7 Builder from Chicago to Seattle, have lost 4.5 percent of their ridership.

The solution is simple — relieve Amtrak of its obligations outside of the Northeast U.S. Long range service between Chicago and New Orleans or from New York to Miami. Amtrak can’t compete with cars and planes — declining ridership numbers show this.

Instead, reinvest in the Northeast Corridor. Replace 100-year-old bridges and level crossings, so the whole line can be highspeed. Then, slowly, using future government spending and saved profits, expand new, high-speed tracks across the country.

Encourage states to take on projects of their own, with the promise of connecting them to the grid later on.

If such a plan can be implemented, then maybe the U.S. will have a system worthy of it’s perceived place in the world.

That’s a goal even Ron Swanson could get behind.

Stephen Caruso is a columnist who writes on social and economic issues for The Pitt News. He is also the Layout Editor.

Write to Stephen at stephencaruso23@ gmail.com.

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

ARTS and ENTERTAINMENT

Hundreds of bikers stripped to their drawers for the year’s first Underwear Bike Ride. Theo Schwarz | Visual Editor

CULTURE

Whatʼs the skinny: Yinzers strip for Underwear Bike Ride Nick Mullen Staff Writer As nearly-nude bikers began to fill the sidewalk near John (Baldy) McGrane Memorial Field for the Pittsburgh Underwear Bike Ride, onlooking children shouted, “Put some clothes on!”

Roughly 400 bikers in their drawers gathered near John McGrane Memorial Field in Lawrenceville last Thursday night for the Pittsburgh Underwear Bike Ride. Riders arrived in everything from bathing suits to boxer shorts and briefs, with some bikers sporting lingerie and

other types of underwear, to celebrate the event’s theme of promoting a positive self-body image. Around 9 p.m., the rest of the riders arrived and cycled off for this year’s first ride, a 10-mile route that will take place the last Thursday of every month in the summer, as the event’s founder determined.

In addition to promoting positive self-body image, the Pittsburgh Underwear Bike Ride is about “having fun, and building a stronger bike community in Pittsburgh,” according to the event’s Facebook page.

Four years ago, the bike ride’s found-

er, who wished to remain anonymous because the event does not have official permits to operate, participated in the Milwaukee Underwear Bike Ride. The Milwaukee ride, which served as inspiration for the first Pittsburgh ride in May 2012, began in 2010 and is largely similar to the Pittsburgh’s ride in its promotion of a positive self-image.

“I had never seen such a large group of cyclists having so much fun,” the event’s founder said. “The best part about this ride is the multitude of cyclists that come out for it. It really helps bring the biking community together.”

Before the event began, early arrivers listened to a DJ riding in a pedicab and socialized while waiting for the rest of the riders to arrive at 9 p.m.

Bikers took photos and tuned up bikes before pedaling down Penn Avenue through the Strip District, across the Smithfield Bridge and along East Carson Street through South Side. Then, they snaked back across the 10th Street Bridge to Market Square, where they took a group photo. After going to the North Side across the Roberto Clemente

Ride

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

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CINEMA

Netflix’s ‘Girlhood’ an outdated coming-of-age story Kelechi Urana Staff Writer

Coming-of-age stories about black girls can’t seem to grow up.

Last fall, French director Céline Sciamma, writer and director of nontraditional coming-of-age dramas “Water Lilies” and “Tomboy,” released a teaser for her newest film, “Bande de Filles,” or “Girlhood” in English. The simple teaser went viral — a camera panning down a line of black girls leaning on each other’s shoulders.

The girls laughed to an indecipherable dialogue that viewers couldn’t hear over the electropop score.

Sciamma appeared to have created something new and refreshing by featuring an all-black girl cast. However, “Girlhood,” which Netflix added to its streaming service on May 19, is less atypical than it initially appeared.

The film centers on Marieme (Karidja Touré), a quiet black girl living in the banlieue — low-income housing projects in France.

Marieme is quiet, failing in school and living in fear of her abusive older brother, Djibril (Cyril Mendy). In the first half of the film, she joins a girl gang led by Lady (Assa Sylla), a character who is equal parts bravado and vulnerability. In the second half of the film, Marieme leaves home and her friends to become a drug dealer.

Sciamma visually outdoes her previous films with “Girlhood,” opting for a more stylized and cinematic look than her usual gritty realism. The film is colored

with warm blues and yellows, and her adept camera direction highlights the changes Marieme goes through – from earlier reveals of her sitting outside the frame, almost like wallpaper, to later shots of her front and center, actively driving her scenes forward.

But stunning cinematography does not distract from the film’s content, which takes a sharp turn midway through.

The almost idyllic setup of a girl finding

“Girlhood,” the film did little to step outside the oppression narrative of black girls in the banlieue genre.

“Suburban black girlhood has been the subject of a few films (“La Squale,” “Ain’t Scared”) and all of them reduce their black female characters to their social position,” she wrote for Black Girls Talking.

She added that “Girlhood” is not groundbreaking because it adheres to

film is about a black girl embracing her lesbian identity, and Rees has spoken about the difficulty of finding funding.

“We’d go to pitch meetings and the moment we said ‘black, lesbian, coming-ofage,’ they would turn around, validate our parking and hand us a bottle of water,” she said in an interview with Colorlines magazine.

Zeba Blay, Culture Writer for The Huffington Post, said that films about black girls are rarely made because “we live in a society where black LU ASFAHA girls aren’t seen as Filmaker ‘girls.’” Black girls, Blay said, are not ascribed the same innocence as children of other races, in both film and real life.

“Black girls [are not] afforded the chance to make mistakes, explore or grow during teendom,” Blay said.

To counter this perception, the “Carefree Black Girl” movement has spawned on social media.

People share pictures and videos a preexisting narrative that is only in- of quirky, real and celebrity black girls terested in urban black girls as victims. (think Willow Smith) and show them Toronto filmmaker Lu Asfaha also said without judgment or the burdens of sothis narrative has run its course. ciety. It’s a celebration of innocence and “The more often we see [black girls freedom from this victimhood narrative. as victims], or any stereotype for that Near the end of “Girlhood,” Marieme matter, the harder it is for audiences to and her friends retreat to a hotel room. accept that other characters and stories “Remember that time we went to Disexist,” she said. neyland?” Marieme asks, reminiscing Part of the problem is that studios are about a scene viewers never see. reluctant to produce films about black “I stopped and watched you,” she girls at all. tells them. “You were happy. You were Dee Rees wrote and directed the inde- beautiful.” pendent film “Pariah,” which premiered It’s a shame Sciamma chose not to at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. The make that film instead.

The more often we see [black girls as victims], or any stereotype for that matter, the harder it is for audiences to accept that other characters and stories exist

friendship with a crew no more dangerous than The Cobras from “The Karate Kid,” and falling in love with her neighbor Ismael (Idrissa Diabaté), awkwardly transitions into a story about poverty and abuse. Audiences have seen similar young black girls stripped of their innocence in films like “Save the Last Dance,” which features a teenage mother, and “Yelling to the Sky,” with an abusive parent, gang violence and drug dealing. Infamously, “Precious” is a combination of almost all of these stereotypical tropes.

According to writer Fanta Sylla, one of the few French black women to review

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 8

RIDE

share program.

Healthy Ride, a bike sharing system with 50 different stations spread among 11 neighborhoods, including Downtown, Oakland, South Side and Shadyside, launched May 31. The program allows people to rent bikes by the half hour at 24/7 self-service kiosks. Riders can then return the bikes to any kiosk in the city.

Not only have bikes become more available to Pittsburgh residents, but riding them has become easier too, with more bike lanes being installed throughout the city. According to the Oakland Transportation Management Associa-

Bridge, they ended their ride at Penn Brewery.

As the bicyclists pedaled nearly-nude down the streets of Pittsburgh, onlookers gazed, pointed and usually smiled, while kids laughed loudly. Before the bicyclists began the ride, a police car pulled up next to the park and the officers began taking pictures with the scantily clad cyclists before the event began.

Many of the ride’s participants thought that the bike ride ALLIE WYNANDS, sounded exciting and risUnderwear Bike Ride participant qué, and supported the message of the ride.

Tim Mackie, a firsttime rider and graduate student at Pitt studying biology, said the bike ride seemed like a fresh way to explore the city.

“It seemed like a funky way to do something I’m passionate about,” Mackie said.

After the 10-mile ride ended, the participants relaxed and celebrated with beers at Penn Brewery. While marshals were happy to help and received free beer, tion (OTMA), plans are currently being other participants had to pay. Rather proposed to improve bike infrastructure than storing their wallets in the elas- in Oakland, including the installation of tic bands of their undergarments, most additional bike lanes on Bigelow Bouleriders opted to carry their valuables in vard and Roberto Clemente Drive, and backpacks. sharrows, which are pavement markings Recent initiatives have made it more that direct drivers to share the lane with convenient to be a biker in Pittsburgh, bicyclists on Atwood Street and Meyran including the launch of Pittsburgh’s bike Avenue.

Mayor Bill Peduto announced in a release on April 10 that he adopted a complete streets policy, like in other major cities like New York and Cleveland, which sets up guidelines for urban design. The policy mandates that all forms of transportation, especially bikes, pedestrians and public transit, are properly accommodated when redesigning a street or avenue. In the release, Peduto added that the goal of the policy is to prevent new road design from being too car-oriented and isolating pedestrians and bicyclists.

Pittsburgh’s active biking community is growing and gaining support by the day. Bike to Work Day, sponsored by Bike Pittsburgh, aims to make communities safer and more accessible by bicyclists and pedestrians. At Open Streets Pittsburgh, which is scheduled throughout the summer, stretches of road from Downtown to Lawrenceville are closed to vehicular traffic for events like bike races and other types of exercise.

For rider Allie Wynands of Highland Park, the Underwear Bike Ride marked the beginning of a month full of fun events in Pittsburgh.

“With this, Pride [in the Street] and the Three Rivers Arts Festival, it’s a great time to be in Pittsburgh,” Wynands said.

Many supporters of Pittsburgh’s biking community participated in the underwear ride to support the growing cycling culture, including Carl Bloss, also from Highland Park.

“There’s an awesome and inclusive bike culture in Pittsburgh, and it’s nice to be a part of it.” Bloss said.

With this, Pride [in the Street] and the Three Rivers Arts Festival, it’s a great time to be in Pittsburgh.

THE PITT NEWS

E S T A B L I S HE D 1 9 1 0

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

SPORTS

FOOTBALL

WINNING ON THE HOME TURF

Pat Narduzzi’s energy while recruiting is impressing Western Pa. coaches

Jeremy Tepper Staff Writer As a former player, Eric Kasperowicz keeps close tabs on Pitt’s football team — and for good reason.

Kasperowicz, now Pine-Richland High School’s head football coach, is responsible for helping his top players transition to the college level and therefore has to keep tight relations with college recruiters. He has seen several Pitt coaches come and go since Dave Wannstedt resigned in 2010, with the departures of Mike Haywood, Todd Graham and Paul Chryst. Naturally, it would be understandable for him to be skeptical about Pitt’s first-year head coach, Pat Narduzzi — however he has unmitigated praise for Narduzzi since his arrival in Pittsburgh.

“Coach Narduzzi’s a perfect fit at this point and time for Pitt,” Kasperowicz said. “There hasn’t been this much buzz around the Pitt football program in the past four, five hires, since Coach Wannstedt left.”

Kasperowicz isn’t the only Western Pennsylvania high school coach to hold that opinion. Coaches from all around the area have been floored by Narduzzi’s work while at Pitt.

George Novak, Woodland Hills’ head football coach, praised the efforts on the recruiting trail of the first-time head coach.

“I’m very impressed with [Narduzzi and his staff ], with their demeanor, the way they’re recruiting.

I think they’re going to do very well at Pitt,” Novak said.

Others have highlighted the vigor that Narduzzi and his staff display while recruiting as an impressive trait.

Pete Wagner, Baldwin’s head kids in your own area.” football coach, said “there’s a sinAlong the way of getting cere energy and air of everything in contact with coaches they do.” around Pennsylvania, NarThis level of enthusiasm has duzzi has reached out to been making waves around the area. alumni and fans, which, Bill Cherpak, longtime Thomas along with a strong social Jefferson High School head footERIC KASPEROWICZ, ball coach and Pitt Pitt alum and Pine-Richland High School alum, was succinct head football coach in describing his feelings on NarCoach Narduzzi’s a perfect fit at this duzzi and his staff.

“Exciting. It point and time for Pitt. There hasn’t been really is,” Cherpak said. this much buzz around the Pitt football It’s no surprise that area coaches program in the past four, five hires. are speaking highly of Narduzzi and his staff, as the first-year coach has media presence, has been effective made it a priority to build strong in conjuring up excitement. relations with high school coaches Kasperowicz said that the new immediately after his hiring this coaching staff ’s emphasis on social past December. media and ability to connect with “Within the first few days [of be- fans has impressed him. ing hired] Coach Narduzzi called “They’re just making their pres[me],” Cherpak said. “They were on ence known here in Pittsburgh that it quick, especially with some of the ‘This is our state, and we’re looking coaches that have big time recruits forward to dominating it,’” he said. this year.”

Wagner spoke highly of new Wagner added that Narduzzi linebackers coach Rob Harley, as and his staff have constantly been in the 32-year-old has shown he has contact with him and other coaches the potential to be a dynamo of a and players around the area, con- recruiter. tinuously making stops at school “Coach Harley [recruits] our and inviting them to practices. The school and, quite frankly, he’s been hopeful end result for the staff is to awesome,” Wagner said. “He’s a develop a stronghold on Western young guy with a hell of a lot of enPennsylvania recruits. ergy. He’s confident in what he’s do“They’re trying to cater a bit ing, and I think he relates to young more to the WPIAL schools and Narduzzi 13 build that fortress around the WPIAL overall, and rightly so,” Wagner said. “There’s a lot of talent here, and it starts with building pride with

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Pat Narduzzi has made a name for himself in recruiting circles. Jeff Ahearn | Assistant Visual Editor

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

SUMMER SURVEYS

Ron Sherman

With Summer Surveys, The Pitt News hopes to better familiarize the Pitt community with some top Panther athletes. In this installment, we got to know Pitt baseball senior infielder Ron Sherman.

by Jess Boddy, Staff Writer

QUESTIONS

ANSWERS

What’s a goal you have for the summer?

To learn how to play the piano. I’ve always loved instruments, so it’s time I learn to play one.

Did you play any other sports growing up?

Basketball was the only other sport I played as a young child. Once I got to high school I played football for two years, basketball for two years, and hockey for one.

Favorite workout besides baseball training?

Usually just playing basketball or frisbee with my friends back home.

It’s a fun way to get some cardio in, and the games get surprisingly intense.

What are your pre/post game They’re more like habits, but right before games I change rituals? everything I wore in pregame work and put on different pants, socks, sliders, shirts, and even tape. After the game I just make sure to think about the game for 15 minutes and then let it go. Baseball will drive you crazy if you get too high or too low with your emotions.

What’s your pet peeve?

People who turn without signaling.

Who’s your role model?

My parents.

Surveys

Top Nate Smith | Senior Staff Photographer Background Heather Tennant | Staff Photographer

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June 3, 2015 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 12

SURVEYS What’s been your favorite class at Pitt so far?

A class called Social Perception and Cognition. It’s a class that teaches you the reasons behind our social norms and why we perceive situations the way we do.

What TV show do you watch every week?

First Take on ESPN. Favorite movie?

Hitch with Will Smith.

What’s on your pregame playlist?

A lot of Drake, usually.

What is something you want to do before you graduate?

Make it to the College World Series.

What can’t you leave behind when traveling?

Headphones. I need them to fall asleep in the car or on a plane.

What’s your favorite summer activity?

Cookouts with friends or family.

Who’s the most famous person you’ve met?

Cal Ripken, Hall of Fame shortstop for the Baltimore Orioles.

What superpower would you choose to have?

FROM PAGE 11

NARDUZZI kids well.”

Cherpak noted that Narduzzi’s energy is in stark contrast to Pitt’s previous coach, Paul Chryst, who didn’t quite have the same charisma as Narduzzi.

“I loved Coach Chryst. I thought he was awesome. They’re just totally different people,” Cherpak said. “Coach Chryst was more X’s and O’s, would rather watch film and do football stuff, while coach Narduzzi, he’s aggressive, he’s out recruiting, he’s out doing appearances and stuff like that.”

Cherpak added that Narduzzi’s style will lend itself to success.

“The aggressive recruiting style that they have will benefit them,” Cherpak said.

With this aggressive recruiting, Wagner said Narduzzi and his staff have been able to get to recruits early and “sell their brand and get feet on campus.”

Wagner, too, said Narduzzi’s assertive recruiting style will pay dividends, though he

Flying.

What channel is your TV usually on?

ESPN or HBO. Favorite meal?

Steak with potatoes and vegetables.

What’s some advice you have for younger players?

To really enjoy the game and not put too much pressure on themselves to be perfect all the time. Strive for excellence, not perfection.

Favorite Pittsburgh sports team?

Pittsburgh Penguins. Sidney Crosby has always stood out. He’s a true professional and a great leader.

Favorite Pitt sports team to watch?

Football.

Which athlete (past or present) would you want to watch play in person?

Willie Mays, arguably the best five-tool player of all time.

What’s your dream job?

Professional baseball.

Who would play you in a movie?

Will Smith.

If you were an animal, which one would you be?

A dolphin.

Favorite ACC opponent to compete against?

Competing against Florida State in Tallahassee was my favorite ACC experience. noted that winning will be most important in making a leap in recruiting.

While Pitt has had success in pulling top players in Western Pennsylvania, including Tyler Boyd, Jordan Whitehead and Dorian Johnson, it also lost several highly-touted, local recruits to out-of-state schools, such as Robert Foster choosing Alabama in 2012 or Montae Nicholson opting for Michigan State two Decembers ago. Cherpak said Narduzzi’s aggressiveness on the recruiting trail will befit him toward changing that.

“I think the perception had been, probably rightly so, that they couldn’t get the big players out of the WPIAL,” Cherpak said. “I think that’s going to be the biggest difference, where you start seeing some of the high profile kids, instead of it being Ohio State or Penn State, Pitt will always be in the mix now.”

Some coaches, Cherpak said, would cut their losses and limit their time recruiting a certain player if he was being pursued by perceived big-time schools. Narduzzi, though, will not submit to any school, Cherpak said.

“Narduzzi’s not backing down to anybody,” he said.

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