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Furries take Pittsburgh page 6

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | July 6, 2016 | Volume 107 | Issue 10

sports Supreme Court ruling sparks PA legislation Alexa Bakalarski News Editor

The U.S. Supreme Court’s biggest abortion ruling in decades might signal changes for the Keystone State.

The Supreme Court ruled 5-3 June 27 that a Texas law requiring abortion clinics to meet the same standards as ambulatory or outpatient surgical centers was medically unnecessary and unconstitutionally limited a woman’s ability to receive an abortion. In light of the Supreme Court’s decision, State Sen. Daylin Leach, D-Montgomery, announced his plans to introduce legislation repealing Pennsylvania Act 122 of 2011, a similar but limited version of the Texas law.

“Amid a nationwide attack on those who seek and provide abortions, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with the Constitution, and for that we should all be thankful. Abortion is a legal, constitutionally protected right that should be available to all women,” Leach said in a statement. “Pennsylvania’s abortion laws are forcing women and their families into desperate, life-threatening situations in which they must choose between the law, their health and their constitutional rights. We should be expanding access to reproductive health services, not closing clinics.”

After Texas passed its law in 2013, the number of abortion clinics in the state dropped from 41 in 2012 to less than 20 in 2015. Pennsylvania — which has less than half as many residents as Texas — has 19 abortion clinics.

Kim Everett, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylva-

Matt Hawley STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Pittsburgh Riverhounds midfielder Mike Green (No. 8) jumps to make a header Monday. See ONLINE for a full gallery.

BI-SAND-TENNIAL Pittsburgh celebrates its 200th birthday with a sand sculpting competition in front of the Carnegie Library in Oakland.

Alexa Bakalarski News Editor

Despite being far from a beach, Pittsburgh is celebrating its bicentennial covered in sand.

For a week, beginning July 2, ten world-renowned sand sculptors are competing in teams of two to build sand sculptures representing Pittsburgh’s history. The Sand City Spectacular, created through a grant from environmental charity organization Colcom Foundation, ends with a festival featuring live music and food July 9 and See Abortion on page 3 10, and the winning team announced Friday. The

competition is located in front of the Carnegie Library in Oakland.

Each day, from about 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., the teams will work on their sculptures. Passersby can watch the sculptors in action throughout the week.

Jonathan Visser, a Lawrenceville resident, heard about the competition through his wife, who works at the Oakland library and saw the sand arrive.

“I was raised on the beach, so I’m used to this,” Visser said. “It kind of feels like home. I’m looking

forward to seeing what they do.”

The sculptors came to Pittsburgh from around the globe: Ireland, the Netherlands, Russia, Canada, Japan and Lithuania, as well as the United States. In total, the competitors have won more than 50 international sculpting competitions.

“Pittsburgh has become a place where sand artists want to perform,” Jill Harris, from sandsculpting company Sandsational, said in a release.

“The people of Pittsburgh have embraced us from See Sand on page 2

News Pitt professors selected for national guidelines Yuanyuan Xiao For The Pitt News

Two of Pitt’s own will play a part in setting the nation on a healthier track.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Mathews Burwell has selected two Pitt professors — John Jakicic and Kirk Erickson — from a pool of 125 nominees to join the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services formed the committee to work on the 2018 edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which provides scientific physical activity recommendations to the public and health providers.

The committee will consist of 17 national exercise and public health experts in total.

Alan Lesgold, dean of Pitt’s School of Education, said Pitt is very proud to have two faculty members involved in writing the new guidelines.

“The Secretary of HHS had access to all the top researchers in the U.S., so her selection of Dr. Jakicic and Dr. Erickson speaks to their reputation as among the best researchers in the country,” Lesgold said. “Erickson and Jakicic are shining examples of the overall excellence of Pitt’s faculty. We are proud of them and we will continue to support their important work.”

According to Jakicic, chair of the Department of Health and Physical Activity in the School of Education, it is a “prestigious” honor to work with well-respected colleagues in his field and make an impact beyond his See Guidelines on page 3

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online

Check pittnews.com for Pitt’s anti-virus updates and the crime map update

Sand, pg. 1 day one and really appreciate the skill involved in doing this kind of art and entertainment. We have told our fellow sculptors how enthusiastic and welcoming the crowds are and they are looking forward to having the same experience.”

The five sculptures will be 13 feet tall and 13 feet wide, each made out of 40 tons of sand.

A first-place team will win $8,000 and secondplace will take home $6,000. There will also be a People’s Choice Award, which will be based on online votes from the public.

Michael Dongilli, the Spectacular’s event manager and president of Vivid Pittsburgh, said each team is approaching the Steel City theme in its own way.

“All the artwork will be themed around Pittsburgh’s 200-year anniversary,” Dongilli said about the competition. “You’ll see a lot of bridges, rivers — not to give too much away. [The teams] all have their own themes.”

Team Three — Andrius Petkus from Palanga, Lithuania and Maxim Gazendam from the Netherlands — named their sculpture-in-progress, “Pearl Under the Bridge.”

“It’s not just about the history of Pittsburgh,” Gazendam said. “It’s more about the beauty of the city. The pearl can be seen as the city itself.”

Gazendam, who is sand-sculpting in the United States for the first time during this competition, began sand-sculpting as a hobby in 1998 after attending a workshop. After graduating with a master’s degree in architecture from Technical University in Delft, Gazendam decided to see if he could survive on sand-sculpting professionally for a year. Gazendam, who now has his own company, said “the rest is history.”

“I like [sand-sculpting] because it’s temporary,” Gazendam said. “You can reuse it. You can take this [sculpture] down and rebuild.”

Thomas Koet, who is married to Harris and also a part of Sandsational, began sculpting as a hobby about 18 years ago, after a friend signed him up for an annual sculpting competition at a Dutch beach.. Now, Koet crafts sand sculptures at competitions and festivals worldwide. “[I like] the feeling of it,” Koet said. “It’s very physical. Whatever you’re doing, it’s in your hands. It’s very real.”

Koet — who is on Team One with Fergus

Each statue will be made out of 40 tons of sand. Stephen Caruso CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Mulvaney from Dublin — said his team’s sculpture is named “The Renaissance of Pittsburgh.”

“The Renaissance” incorporates three eras of Pittsburgh history: the British and French pioneers from the 1700s, industrialization and Pittsburgh’s current era, which places a focus on health, science and technology.

“The whole design is about rebirth,” Koet said. “Pittsburgh is always changing. The inspiration for the design was the contrast between then [during the early 20th century] and now.”

Koet has been coming to Pittsburgh to sandsculpt at the Three Rivers Regatta for six years, which he said helped him come up with the theme for “The Renaissance.”

“It’s just a very vibrant, vivid, lively place,” Koet said. “It’s really a city that’s very alive.”

Sculpting will end at 3 p.m. Friday, when

July 6, 2016

judges will inspect the pieces. The winners will be announced at an invitation-only awards ceremony in the Schenley Plaza tent the same evening.

On Saturday and Sunday, Schenley Drive Extension will be closed off for food trucks and live music performances, including Billy Price, Told Ya So, Kenny Blake and 2016 Pittsburgh “Battle of the Bands” winners Blended Reality.

North Hills residents Darla and Jeoff Allerton, who heard about the competition on Facebook, said they found themselves watching the sculptors work longer than they expected.

“Everybody can relate to trying to build a sand castle,” Jeoff Allerton said. “This is it on the ultimate level. [The sculptors] have got something in their mind and on paper, then they’re just able to create it.”

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Guidelines, pg. 2 research.

“These guidelines will have major implications beyond the work we do on a day to day basis,” Jakicic said. “What’s interesting about the guidelines is that what we come up with a general guideline for the whole population.”

The committee first introduced the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans in 2008.

Jakicic said authors of the second edition, which will come out in 2018, will base recommendations on existing data combined with new scientific discoveries from over the past 10 years.

“There might be some areas we haven’t gained in science before,” Jakicic said. “There is literature suggesting that physical activity is around treatment of mental health. In the last 10 years, we’ve gained enough information around how physical activity helps with cognition, thinking and brain health [to provide guidelines regarding mental health]. I think that that’s going to be a new area that we are going to talk about.”

The effects of aging will also play a larger role in the second edition’s guidelines, Jakicic said.

“There’s some new stuff coming out around aging, which we haven’t had before as well,” Jakicic said. “There are some guidelines about

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mental health on aging, but it is going to be expanded and be more precise given what we learned in the last 10 years. This area has gotten a lot attention.”

According to Erickson, a Pitt psychology professor, the 2018 edition guideline is likely to have more detailed information on the amount and types of physical activities that improve public health.

“There’s a number of possibilities and part of it is to see what the data looks like,” Erickson said. “It could be that we have more information about the appropriate dose of physical activities for improving disease conditions. We might have more information about the type of activities that are most effective. We may just be able to support and ... strengthen the previous recommendations with current evidence and then expand them to include other conditions.”

Erickson said making broad statements about how people should get more physical activity doesn’t help as much as providing specific guidelines people can achieve.

“The 2008 guidelines have had enormous influence on providing physicians and the public with something to try to achieve,” Erickson said, “I’m hoping the 2018 guidelines will be able to support those claims and provide similar recommendations.”

Abortion, pg. 1 nia, said while the Supreme Court decision was only about the Texas law, the decision “paves the way” for other states with ambulatory surgical facility requirements to repeal their similar laws.

“This is a first step and the Supreme Court has made it clear that politicians cannot pass laws to block access to safe, legal abortion,” Everett said in an email. “A person’s right to make their own decisions about abortion should not depend on who they are or what state they live in. Any state like Pennsylvania that has a similar law will need to evaluate all options in light of this decision and do everything in their power to fight for women’s access to abortion in their state.”

While both Texas and Pennsylvania law required abortion clinics to maintain the same standards as ambulatory or outpatient surgical centers, Texas’ law required doctors at clinics to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals. Pennsylvania’s does not.

Twenty-two other states require abortion clinics to become certified as ambulatory surgical centers. Ten states require abortion

July 6, 2016

doctors to have admitting privileges at local hospitals.

Mary Lou Gartner, political director of the Dormont, Pennsylvania-based organization People Concerned for the Unborn Child, said Pennsylvania’s and Texas’ laws are about safety.

“Basically, the Texas law is about the safety of women,” Gartner said. “All other ambulatory surgical centers maintain health and safety standards. Why don’t [abortion clinics] have to?”

The Supreme Court ruled the surgicalcenter requirement provided “few, if any, health benefits for women” and instead created a “substantial obstacle” for women seeking abortions, placing an “undue burden” on their right to seek one. The majority of the court argued many of the surgical center requirements — such as regulating air pressure and enforcing a one-way traffic pattern through the facility — were “inappropriate as applied to surgical abortions.”

Susan Frietsche, a senior staff attorney for the Women’s Law Project who wrote a legal brief on the Texas law, said the Pennsylvania and Texas laws “regulate abortion care more heavily than is medically warranted.”

Read the rest online at Pittnews.com.

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Opinions column

from the editorial board

Chesney fans should respect, not wreck city

Kenny Chesney fans took the term “getting trashed” a bit too literally this weekend.

On July 2, Kenny Chesney held a concert in Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field for his Spread The Love tour that attracted an estimated 55,000 people. Chesney concerts have become infamous in the city, due to a 2013 incident that involved brawls, arrests and 30 tons of leftover trash. This year showed some improvement, but not nearly enough.

According to the Pittsburgh TribuneReview, the city cleared about 48 tons of waste from the Heinz Field parking lot.

Almost 100 people underwent treatment by emergency medical personnel and 37 of those people had to visit nearby medical facilities. Thirty-six people received citations for underage drinking and police charged others with ticket robbery, public intoxication, trespassing and simple assault.

Despite the startling aftermath, the Pittsburgh Police Chief Cameron McLay was pleased with the event and claimed that law enforcement was able to “maintain an incredible amount of control.”

No one should be pleased by what happened Sunday. The chaotic nature of the concert has become an inevitable force, with the city shrugging in bewilderment every year.

At the end of the day, we are the ones who pay for the public workers cleaning up the trash, the law enforcement that patrols the event, the hospitals that care for the overly intoxicated concertgoers and the process of putting all the waste into landfills.

After the 2013 concert, the city provided 200 portable toilets, distributed

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free trash bags and turned away visibly intoxicated fans at the gate — all important steps that have reduced damage. Next year, city officials will give littering citations to those who do not pick up after themselves.

While the city has made several policy changes to tame the concert, we have failed to meet our responsibility in making this a safe, enjoyable event for the rest of the community.

The citywide efforts have proven to help lower the excess in waste and casualties, yet we also have a duty to respect our city and property and change the destructive pattern we have caused. It shouldn’t fall on public officials to make people looking for a day of music act civilized — it should fall on the public itself.

Concerts are not an excuse to wreak havoc. Our city won the Stanley Cup last month and everyone was off the streets without violence, but the tailgaters this weekend couldn’t make it through some songs without attacking each other.

The people getting drunk outside were presumably adults, they just decided not to act like it. Picking up after yourself is not a difficult concept. Pittsburgh is better than this, but year after year the chaos surrounding Chesney’s appearances make people question this fact. It’s time for that streak to end.

There have been calls to ban Chesney from performing in the city, but that’s not the solution. It’s time for his fans to treat their community with respect instead of relying on a “someone will deal with it” mind-set.

Next year, our headlines should not highlight the trash strewn across the ground, but the mess we prevented.

AMERICAN PRIDE

What does it mean to be American? A thought provoking conversation and a hot dog

TNS

Stephen Caruso

Contributing Editor The America I love is one of baseball, hot dogs and apple pie.

But the sad truth is that that America doesn’t really exist anymore. Instead of baseball, we soak in football, which, to paraphrase Washington Post columnist George Will, embodies the worst components of modern American life — violence and committee meetings. And in all likelihood, that apple pie is from McDonald’s, not mom’s kitchen.

At least I still don’t know what’s in the hot dogs.

These are realizations I’ve written about before. I’ve pushed for baseball as our national pas-

July 6, 2016

time and recently wrote about why America’s obsession with processed food is unhealthy. All of this is so I can answer two simple questions — what is it that makes me American? More importantly, is it something I can be proud of?

It took a few years and a couple thousand miles of separation, but I think I have the answer now — Americans, old and young, are optimistic, idealistic individuals.

In eighth grade, the former was a much easier question to answer — I was American because I believed in truth, justice, freedom, democracy and fair play. America has always stood up for these values. Look at our

Constitution and our history, look at the gallons of blood we have spilt for those ideals.

That all fell flat from a proper history lesson, of course — Native American removal, Japanese internment, the violence at Selma and Stonewall. Add in the persistent problems of income inequality, mass incarceration, police brutality against people of color, and all my former idealism felt misplaced.

I felt left in the lurch, and have spent the past years figuring out how to get back to that assurance and resolve, that maybe, just maybe, I live in a country worth See Caruso on page 5

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Caruso, pg. 4 fighting for. But it was my time spent away from the United States’ shores that made everything clear.

During my stay in Europe, my old-world peers rejoiced to me over and over again how optimistic Americans were. Europeans always seemed willing to shrug off the worse excesses of politics as just the way things are. They’ve seen Berlusconi, Putin and now Brexit’s turmoil and simply bear it. Apathy reigns supreme.

In contrast, for better or for worse, Americans never let reality limit our ambition.

When our nation was founded 240 years ago, it was, to quote historian Morton Keller in his book “America’s Three Regimes,” founded on a “mix of radical thought and moderate to conservative reaction.” The life, liberty and pursuit of happiness Thomas Jefferson demanded in the Declaration of Independence were but idle fantasies of philosophers from Plato to John Locke. The founders were the first to try and create an entire nation based on these ideals with the Constitution.

But even though the new nation was wrapped in pretty rhetoric, only propertied white men could vote at first. Slavery was still allowed. The slow destruction of the Native Americans was well on its way.

We failed to follow our own advice. But the words of the Constitution were still printed in black ink. Everyone is entitled to the freedoms included in the founding documents. The founders — no matter their biases — gave a clear path forward for those who wanted to change our system. It was just a matter of making society see they deserved it.

This was true in the past, but it is just as true in the present. We all have a right to air our grievances in an open and honest fashion — and we all have a right to put forward a rebuttal. Open dialogue is the most American thing there is.

We are optimistic people because we are a people who have never — and maybe will never — entirely live up to the promise of our rhetoric. But we must continually strive to reach the ideal America where everyone is granted equal life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. Our history is littered with mistakes that we must own up to, that we must own as a solemn reminder.

“

But forward is the only direction forward for America.

It reminds me of a scene in “The West Wing,” where a black civil rights lawyer asks a White House staffer to pull out a dollar bill and explains the pyramid and all-seeing eye on the back.

As the lawyer explains, “The pyramid, it’s unfinished. With the eye of God looking over it and the words ‘annuit coeptis’ — ‘He, God, favors our undertaking.’ The seal is meant to be unfinished, because this country is meant to be unfinished. We are meant to keep doing better, we’re meant to keep discussing and debating.”

The founders recognized this. We can pass amendments for a reason. The elastic clause exists for a reason. The exact society in which the Constitution existed was going to change, and it needed mechanisms to keep it fresh. But its fundamental freedoms of speech, of the press, of assembly, of due process, against cruel and unusual punishment and yes, to bear arms — that’s for you, Dad — must be obeyed until the will of the people says otherwise.

And Americans have not shied away from these fights. We tackle them head-on in society and culture and beat away at each other,in the media, with our friends, in our schools before finally heading into Congress’ chambers. It is a long process, but it’s why we have avoided tyranny for so long, unlike many other countries in the world.

We must keep talking about the issues that plague our nation, because our pyramid is still unfinished. It will likely remain unfinished in my lifetime — and yours. We should challenge without fighting, discuss without anger and respect different viewpoints when solving issues.

As with most issues, this has to start on the individual level. I know I raise my voice more than I should. But if we want America to continue being a place worthy of pride, we have to work together knowing nobody will get everything they want.

We are all American. You are not American by blood, or by tongue, or even by virtue of the land you were born on.

You are American because of what you hold in your heart.

Stephen writes mostly on economic and social issues. He is also the Layout Editor. Email Stephen at stephencaruso23@gmail.com.

We must keep talking about the issues that plague our nation, because our pyramid is still unfinished.

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5

Culture

online

Go to pittnews.com to see a full gallery of Anthrocon

Getting into Character

TPN’s writer navigates unfamiliar terrain of Furry fandom at Pittsburgh’s annual Anthrocon Lexi Kennell Staff Writer

H

Anthrocon is in its 20th year and 11th in Pittsburgh.|ALL PHOTOS BY Kate Koenig VISUAL EDITOR

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July 6, 2016

aving little to no prior knowledge of Furries, I strolled through a personal tour of Anthrocon 2016 with my mind open to the colorful and intricately designed animal suits around me.

Anthrocon is a not-for-profit organization that hosts an annual Furry convention in Pittsburgh. The convention was held in the David L. Lawrence Convention Center June 30 - July 3. Although Anthrocon started in Albany, New York in 1997, it has been in Pittsburgh since 2006. There are many other Furry conventions throughout the world, but with a 2015 attendance of 6,389, Anthrocon is the largest.

When I first arrived at the venue Sunday, John “K.P.” Cole, the Anthrocon programming director, escorted me through the entire layout of the convention, informing me about the event and Furry fandom along the way. As we ambled along, I was introduced to humansized bunnies, wolves and foxes, as well as characters from popular video games

and movies.

“We playfully call them ‘fursuiters’ as opposed to ‘cosplayers’ because most of the time they are all wearing fur and it’s a term we’ve used for 20plus years,” Cole said.

“Anthrocon” is a condensed form of “anthropomorphic convention.” “Anthropomorphic” means “resembling the human form” and refers to objects or animals to which people assign human characteristics. The Furry fandom, the central point of Anthrocon, is a subculture with an interest in anthropomorphic fictional characters.

Dressed as an original otter-like character, Anthony Chase Gullikson identified himself as Bottle Rockett and said this was his third Anthrocon. Rockett, an acting major at Point Park University, said that he was not a Furry when he first attended and only went to see voice actor Jim Cummings, an American voice actor whose credits include “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” “The Lion King” and “Winnie the Pooh.”

“I literally thought it was the weirdest thing and judged everyone,” Bottle Rockett said. “By the time I left the first Anthrocon in 2014, I had made so many friends and loved the atmosphere. That’s when I became a Furry.”

Since joining the Furry fandom, he has built one fursuit and is working on a second. He describes his suit as a “toony style” and a “digigrade,” meaning that the suit is padded to look like animal legs.

“When it comes down to it, we’re all just people who have this kind of strange interest,” Bottle Rockett said. “Anthrocon is an opportunity to be a completely unadulterated version of myself, and after the [convention], I try to continue that freedom I feel during the [convention].”

See Anthrocon on page 7

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Anthrocon, pg. 6

make up their own characters while others take characters from video games or movies and tweak them to make them their own without infringing on copyrighted material. One such person wandered the galleries as a slightly altered version of Max Goof. “[Anthrocon] is about being able to come together in person with a lot more of the community than just online communications,” Tora said, “There is so much freedom to be whatever type of character you want in the Furry community and it’s just so friendly and loving.”

Cole said that he has a few fursuits of his own and that each one is for a different part of his personality. According to him, some Furries use the fandom as a way to truly express who they are or who they want to be.

“There’s so much love here and, for a lot of people, this is one of the few times they feel okay being themselves,” Bottle Rockett said.

Although everyone I met made me feel accepted and welcome, I won’t be joining the fandom any time soon. But who am I to judge someone by the fluffiness of their tail?

The Pitt news crossword 7/6/16

At first, I was skeptical of the whole thing — I found it odd that adults dress up as animals. I was also under the impression that animal costumes were the only attraction of the convention. But as Cole showed me more of the event, I viewed bits of an international dance competition, incredible artwork up for a charity auction, workshops, seminars and more.

Obviously there was more to this community.

The art for sale ranged from acrylic paintings on real feathers to woodcuts and sculptures. It all shared a common — but not exclusive — animal theme.

Some pieces were in a cartoonish style, while others were more realistic, and bids on the pieces ranged from $15 to a few thousand dollars.

There was also an Art Show Mature Gallery and Auction Saturday, which included artwork featuring nude depictions of animals, fursuiters and characters. That section of the convention was only open to visitors 18 years or older

and was all taken down by the following day.

Cole made it a point to mention that Anthrocon is family-friendly and has an “Under 18 Furs” event within the convention, specifically for children to play games and meet other Furry youths.

Anthrocon 2016’s theme was “Roaring Twenties” and there were three guests of honor: illustrator and graphic designer Tracy Butler, voice actor Trevor Devall and Disney animator Joaquin Baldwin.

Baldwin and his husband displayed intricate 3D printing work and had prints featured in the art auction.

Throughout the tour, it became clear that fursuiters are not the only type of talented Furries in the fandom — there are also voice actors, animators, cartoonists, puppeteers, artists, illustrators, writers and even professional sports mascots.

Zia Tora, a 25-year-old dressed in tiger ears and a tail, says she has been a Furry for a while and that all attendees at Anthrocon are Furries.

“It’s not a requirement as a Furry to have a suit — just your own character and your imagination,” Tora said.

Cole informed me that some Furries

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July 6, 2016

7

Sports volleyball

football Courtesy of Pitt Athletics

captAin america Pitt’s Dan Fisher is attempting to lead Team USA to another gold medal at Pan Am Cup Steve Rotstein Sports Editor

Pitt women’s volleyball head coach Dan Fisher has the U.S. Women’s National Team off to a sizzling start at the 2016 Pan American Cup in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.

Team USA swept its opener against Peru 3-0 July 2 and did the same in its match against Trinidad and Tobago the following day. Team USA rallied for a five-set, 3-2 victory July 4 against Cuba to take sole possession of first place in Pool B, then cruised to another sweep against Costa Rico July 5.

The team will finish up pool play against Argentina July 6 at 6 p.m.

The Americans had little trouble dispatching Peru in their opening match,

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winning by scores of 25-20, 25-19 and 27-25. Rhamat Alhassan led the way with 12 points for Team USA. In its second match of the tournament, Team USA cruised to victory against Trinidad and Tobago by scores of 25-11, 25-13 and 25-19. Nikki Taylor scored a match-high 10 points for the team.

The top two teams in Pool B — USA and Cuba — met in a special Independence Day showdown July 4, and the battle for first place lived up to the billing.

After dropping the first set, 19-25, Team USA bounced back to win the second set, 25-20. But the team found itself in a 2-1 hole after losing the third set, 18-25, needing to win the final two sets

to remain undefeated.

Team USA did just that, dominating the fourth and fifth sets by scores of 25-15 and 15-7 to cap off the comefrom-behind victory. Micha Hancock tied a Pan Am Cup record with nine aces and scored 11 points total, while Alex Holston led the team with 16 points.

The team put on its most dominant performance yet against Costa Rico July 5, taking a 3-0 sweep by scores of 25-16, 25-10 and 25-18.

Fisher is attempting to win his second international tournament in as many tries as the Women’s National Team head coach.

In Fisher’s first tournament at the See Fisher on page 9

July 6, 2016

Conner, Blair, Whitehead on preseason award lists

James Conner is on the watch list for the Maxwell Award. Jeff Ahearn SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Steve Rotstein Sports Editor

Three Pitt Panthers are on preseason watch lists for the prestigious Maxwell Football Club awards.

On Tuesday, junior running back James Conner was picked as a preseason candidate for the Maxwell Award, given annually to the College Player of the Year. Senior defensive end Ejuan Price and sophomore defensive back Jordan Whitehead were named candidates for the Chuck Bednarik Award, given to the College Defensive Player of the Year, the same day.

Defensive end Hugh Green was the last Pitt player to win the Maxwell Award back See Award on page 9

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Awards, pg. 8 in 1980, and running back Tony Dorsett — who won it four years earlier, along with the 1976 Heisman Trophy — is the only other Panther to win it.

Former Pitt defensive tackle Aaron Donald is the only Panther to win the Bednarik Award, which was introduced in 1995. Now an NFL All-Pro with the Los Angeles Rams, Donald took home the Bednarik Award in 2013.

Conner was named an NCAA AllAmerican and the ACC Player of the Year after rushing for 1,765 yards and 26 touchdowns as a sophomore in 2014. But just a few months ago, Conner would have certainly been a long shot to appear on any preseason awards watch lists for 2016.

Conner suffered a season-ending knee

Fisher, pg. 8 helm, Team USA brought home the gold medal at the 2015 Pan American Games by sweeping Brazil in the finals.

The 3-0 victory sealed Team USA’s first

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injury in Pitt’s 2015 season opener. Three months later, his recovery was cut short when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma on Thanksgiving Day. His battle just to get back on the field — let alone regain his spot as one of the premier backs in college football — has been unprecedented.

Wearing a protective mask over his face and restricted from any contact because of the port in his chest, Conner continued to participate in team workouts while undergoing chemotherapy.

Less than six months after his diagnosis, he announced that he is cancer-free and on track to meet his goal of returning for Pitt’s Sept. 3 season opener against Villanova.

After leading the ACC in sacks per game last year, Price could be poised to repeat that feat this season while playing

alongside University of Tennessee transfer Dewayne Hendrix.

Price finished his season with 48 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 11.5 sacks, a forced fumble, a 32-yard fumble recovery touchdown and a blocked kick for the Panthers in 2015, earning All-ACC First Team honors.

The first defensive player to win ACC Rookie of the Year in nearly two decades, Whitehead made an immediate impact in his first year at Pitt.

Whitehead’s 109 tackles led the team and were the most by a true freshman in school history. He also added six tackles for loss, six pass breakups, one interception and a 22-yard fumble recovery touchdown.

The sophomore also received playing time on offense in 2015, rushing 12 times for 122 yards and two touchdowns.

Pan Am Games title since 1967.

The Panthers’ head coach has also experienced success with Team USA as an assistant.

As offensive coordinator, Fisher helped lead the team to the gold medal at the 2012 Pan Am Cup — sparking a

run of three gold medals in the last four years at the tournament. He also acted as an assistant coach at the World University Games in 2007.

Fisher owns a 67-29 record for a .698 winning percentage in three seasons as Pitt’s head coach.

July 6, 2016

The Pitt News Editor-in-Chief MATT MORET

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News Editor ALEXA BAKALARSKI

Opinions Editor KIRSTEN WONG

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tpnopinions@pittnews.com

Sports Editor STEVE ROTSTEIN

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I Rentals & Sublet N D E X -NORTH OAKLAND -SOUTH OAKLAND -SHADYSIDE -SQUIRREL HILL -SOUTHSIDE -NORTHSIDE -BLOOMFIELD -ROOMMATES -OTHER

3 bedroom apartment. $1450 (utilities included). 704 Enfield St. Call 412-969-2790.

Craig Street. Safe, secure building. 1bedroom, furnished.

Newly remodeled, wall-to-wall carpeting, no pets. $785 and up. Heat included. Mature or Graduate students.

412-855-9925 or 724-940-0045. Email for pictures: kelly.m317@yahoo.com House for rent. 5 BR 1.5 Bath. Newly renovated - Breckenridge St. For mature or graduate students.

Close to Peterson Events Center, Trees Hall & bus route.

Equipped w kitchen, hardwood floors, washer/dryer, full basement, fenced in backyard & deck.

Looking for 5 students to share. Available Aug. 1st. $450 per student + utilities. No Pets. For information, please call (412) 683-5120 or email bradley3145@comcast.net.

Remodeled 5 BR house on Dunseith, a quiet residential street. 2 Bathrooms and laundry. No pets. $2200+ utilities. 3 to 5 minute walk to medical/dental school. Call Andrea 412-537-0324.

pittnews.com

Employment

-CHILDCARE -FOOD SERVICES -UNIVERSITY -INTERNSHIPS -RESEARCH STUDIES -VOLUNTEERING -OTHER

Classifieds

For Sale

-AUTO -BIKES -BOOKS -MERCHANDISE -FURNITURE -REAL ESTATE -TICKETS

+++5 bedroom, 2 full baths, huge house, nicely updated, shuttle across street, washer/dryer, $2295+, August 1, photos www.tinyurl.com/pittnewsad4 coolapartments@gmail.com 724-935-2663

1,2,3,5,6, & 8 bedroom houses. August & May 2016.

Bouquet, Atwood, Ward & Dawson.

Please call 412-287-5712.

2 Bedroom $750 1 mile from campus & off street parking.

412-225-8723.

2 bedroom available 8/1/16 at $900/month includes all utilities.

3 bedroom available 9/1/16 at $1,350/month includes all utilities. Located on Juliet Street. Security deposit required.

Call 412-608-8581.

3 Bedroom, 2 Bath, Dawson Street. Available 8/16/16. $1500 + electric. Contact (412) 915-0856.

3 BR, furnished, sharing for 3 people.

Oakland Ave. $1905 ($635 per person), utilities included.

Available in August.

Contact 412-848-9442.

3.5 BR, 1.5 BA, Lawn St. Kitchen, living room, appliances. No pets. $1900+ utilities.

412-537-0324

Services

-EDUCATIONAL -TRAVEL -HEALTH -PARKING -INSURANCE

3444 WARD ST. -3 BR 1 Bath apartments available Aug. 1, 2016. Free parking, free heating.

Call 412-361-2695.

No evening calls please.

5 bedroom. May 2016. Sarah St. Large bedroom, new kitchen, air conditioning, washer & dryer, dishwasher, large deck. $2500+utilities. 412-287-5712.

6 Large BR House.

3.5 BA, 3 Kitchens.

Appliances available + laundry. Available immediately. Great view. Small front yard. No pets. $2500+ all utilities.

Call Ingrid 412-537-0324.

Available 8/1, 1 BR/1 Bath, 5 min. walk to Cathedral, A/C, hardwood floors, newly renovated, starting at $995+, 412.441.1211 Available 8/1, 3 BR/1 Bath, less than 1 mile to campus, updated, Dishwasher and AC, starting at $1299+, 412.441.1211

Single 3-room apartment available next to Katz School on South Bouquet Street.

Newly remodeled.

Available immediately. 412-521-4257

Announcements -ADOPTION -EVENTS -LOST AND FOUND -STUDENT GROUPS -WANTED -OTHER

R INSERTIONS A 1-15 WORDS T 16-30 WORDS E S

1X

2X

3X

4X

5X

6X

ADDITIONAL

$6.30

$11.90

$17.30

$22.00

$27.00

$30.20

$5.00

$7.50

$14.20

$20.00

$25.00

$29.10

$32.30

$5.40

(EACH ADDITIONAL WORD: $0.10)

FOR RENT AUGUST 1 2016: Spacious 3BR 1.5 BA remodeled home on treelined residential street. $1695/mo + utilities. Parking available. Panther Properties of PA, pantherproperties2@gmail.com. Photos: https://panther-life.com/properties/oakland/ LARGE, SOLID BUILD HOUSE FOR 3-4 PEOPLE, with spacious kitchen and living room, nice roomy backyard, enjoyable front porch, some recent renovations -- starting August 25. Only $340 per room. Call 412-692-1770 to see house.

M.J. Kelly Realty Studio, 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom Apartments, Duplexes, Houses. $775-$1650. mjkellyrealty@gmail.com. 412-271-5550, mjkellyrealty.com Available August 1st.

3 bedrooms, 1 bath house. Great location.

Renovated. Central air. Equipped kitchen with dishwasher and microwave. Washer/ Dryer. Starting at $1575+/utilities.

Porch/yard. No pets.

Call 412-916-4777.

Studios, 1, 2, & 3 Bedroom apartments available August 2016 & sooner. Oakland, Shadyside, Friendship, Squirrel Hill, Highland Park, Point Breeze. Photos & current availability online, check out www.forbesmanagement.net, or call 412.441.1211 4909 Center Ave. Updated 1 BR with new kitchen, dishwasher & hardwood floors.

Laundry, storage and parking available.

Close to Pitt & shopping district. Available now and for August. 412-720-4756.

Shadyside spacious 2 bedroom, 1 bath.

Hardwood floors.

New kitchen. August 1st move in. Call 412-361-2695.

Shadyside: 2 bedroom. Quiet, clean, well-maintained apt house. Great location.

Fully equipped kitchenette, A/C, laundry, wall-to-wall carpeting. Near busline and shopping. No pets. $1190. Heat included in rent. Lease available for August 1 (If desired, also available to sublet for June/July at reduced rate). 412-628-1686.

July 6, 2016

3 br, bath, storage, W/D, garage, near bus, C/A. $1650 + utilities. Faculty, graduate students preffered. Call BEFORE 7pm (412) 421-7548.

2 BDR, 1 BA, LA, DR, eat-in kit., W/D, A/C. Optional offstreet parking. $1200 + utilities. Avail.

8/1/16 (412) 443-6210.

Bloomfield 2 BD apartment. Avail.

Aug 1st. $1200 (+ gas & electric). Great location- 1 block from West Penn. Call 412-969-2790.

FOR RENT AUGUST 1 2016: Tastefully renovated, bright 3BR 1.5 BA home near Bloomfield Bridge. $1625/mo + utilities. Panther Properties of PA, pantherproperties2@gmail.com. Photos: https://panther-life.com/properties/bloomfield/

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.

412-255-2175.

Sacred Heart Elementary School in Shadyside is looking for volunteer Volleyball Coaches and Basketball Coaches for the Varsity and JV Teams for the 201617 Seasons.

Must be at least 18 years of age and have transportation. If interested, please contact Amy Volpe at jaisvolpe@gmail.com or call 412.295.9260

Caregivers and babysitters needed.

FT/PT. Earn $25/hour. No experience required. Will train. Call now.

888-366-3244 ext. 102.

Come work where it’s Oktoberfest every day. Now hiring for all positions at Hofbrauhaus Pittsburgh.

Apply in person Monday through Friday.

Caregiver/companion for lively young man with cerebral palsy in Squirrel Hill needed Saturday Sunday 4pm-9pm. $15-$18ph. We are looking for someone who is engaging, personable, enthusiastic and responsible.

Must be very strong for lifting and helping with PT. Position requires driving a handicapped van for outside activities, swimming & performing personal care (dressing, toileting, feeding). Call 412-889-8934

Female roommate wanted to share a 4 bedroom house next to Pitt Dental School.

Available 8/1/167/31/17. $560 includes utilities. Call Elizabeth @ 985-288-7142

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Earn $75-$125/day.

Ice-cream truck drivers needed. Independent contractor, clean driving record/criminal check. 412-403-5807.

Everything you ever needed to know, you learned in kindergarten. Put those skills to work in a pleasant, courteous office that appreciates good manners.

The use of the words, “please” and “thank you” are noticed.

Part Time and Full Time Administrative Positions available.

Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Outlook, and Excel but no math) skills required. Must be able to make outbound calls to confirm information. This is a full year position not just summer. Please contact us directly at 412-954-0000 ext.

101 and leave a message so that we can contact you after 5:00 pm.

OWN INSTEAD OF RENTING! House for sale, perfect for student dormitory or faculty. 719 S. Aiken Ave. 5 blocks from Pitt. 3 BR, 2 BA, hardwood floors, kitchen with new appliances, fireplace in living room. 2 private parking spaces on site. Call 412-6839300 or email arpprc@gmail.com for showing.

We buy textbooks, video games, & DVDs!! Atlas - 4753 Liberty Avenue (Bloomfield) (412) 681-2092.

pittnews.com

July 6, 2016

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pittnews.com

July 6, 2016

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