9-16-20

The Pitt News

T h e i n d e p e n d e n t s t ude nt ne w spap e r of t he U niversity of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | September 16, 2020 ­| Volume 111 | Issue 24

September 16,2020

Sarah Cutshall | Visual Editor

News

‘A GOOD STEPPING STONE’: STUDENTS, PROFESSORS REVIEW NEW ANTI-RACISM COURSE

Natalie Frank Staff Writer

Leigh Patel, a professor in the School of Education, was one of the committee members who helped develop Pitt’s inaugural Anti-Black Racism: History, Ideology and Resistance class. She said while this class is an important addition to Pitt’s curriculum, being anti-racist is a lifelong journey.

“It also acts as a symbol,” Patel, who is also the school’s former associate dean of equity and justice, said. “It's a very powerful symbol to say your education, not just what you do at Pitt, but your entity, your humanity… is incomplete without understanding anti-Black racism.”

The University announced at the end of August that it would require first-year students to take the one-credit online course on systemic anti-racism and anti-Black racism. The course — created by a 12-person committee of 11 professors and one student — is asynchronous, free of charge and graded on an S/NC basis. Its adoption follows a summer petition from Pitt alumna Sydney Massenberg that gathered more than 7,000 signatures urging Pitt to change its general education requirements to mandate a Black studies course.

Patel, who teaches one of the course’s lectures, said the class covers four major topics. She said these topics include understanding antiBlack racism apart from general racism, covering systemic racism in the United States with a focus on how the country has built its wealth on the foundation of racism and providing an intersectional analysis of how it’s linked to other forms of oppression as well as a comprehensive look at African history. The course includes weekly modules with required readings and recorded lectures that cover the four main topics along with other topics such as social disparities driven by institutionalized racism and Black health disparities.

Students will also be required to attend at least one synchronous activity during the Black Study Intensive from Sept. 28 to Oct. 2. During that week, the Center of African American Po-

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etry and Poetics will host virtual performances and creative sessions.

Massenberg, a 2020 Pitt alumna who is currently enrolled in New York University’s law school, said she thinks the course will provide a good foundation for students and appreciates the University’s response in light of the recent surge in anti-Black racism.

“I think this is definitely going to be helpful

initially confused by the appearance of the class on his schedule, he has enjoyed the material so far.

“I thought that was interesting because that is obviously something that is overlooked in the educational curriculum,” Moser said.

Moser said while the class does not require many hours of work — about one hour a week for him — the readings, lectures and quizzes

Pitt announced at the end of August that it would require first-year students to take a one-credit online course on systemic anti-racism and anti-Black racism. Kaycee Orwig Assistant Visual Editor in certain ways,” Massenberg said. “I think the subject matter that this class is going to cover will definitely help people who have a lot less of a baseline on the issue than others.”

Massenberg said while this semester’s mandatory class is not directly associated with her petition, she thinks the University drew inspiration from it. She said she hopes it will open students’ eyes and push them to educate themselves more on anti-racism. ”If my proposal were to be accepted and sort of crafted into something, then this current class would give people a nice foundation,” Massenberg said. “I think it’s a good stepping stone.”

Boaz Moser, a first-year philosophy major currently enrolled in the class, said while he was

are engaging and have educated him on topics he was previously unfamiliar with, like the precolonial history of Africa.

“It was something I knew bits and pieces about, but not to the extent they covered,” Moser said. “A lot of it was new, so I thought that was really interesting.”

Patel said while the course is providing students with a foundation in understanding antiBlack racism, she hopes students will look further into this issue by enrolling in other Africana Studies department classes.

“We recommend other courses to be followed up on because we don’t pretend to say this is pretty much everything you need to know about anti-Black racism,” Patel said. “That would

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be both naive and a bit arrogant at the same time.”

Patel said she thinks curriculum changes, as well as other campus reforms, often come from students and not administrators.

“It’s usually agitation from outside the administration, often outside of faculty, that universities are guided to correct their past, and are guided to reckon with realities that aren’t in many of the curricula,” Patel said.

While the class is only mandatory for firstyear students, upperclassmen can enroll if they wish.

Joshua Young, a senior chemical engineering major, said he decided to take the course to learn about anti-Black racism, especially since the University offers the class without charge.

Young — who is a first-year mentor for the Pitt band — said he’s also taking the class as a means to connect better with the first-year students in his mentor group.

“I figured it would be good if I had an idea of one of the classes that the freshmen are taking,” Young said. “I just thought it would be a really good opportunity.”

Young said the course supplies supplemental materials for those who want to dive deeper into the information. He said he’s learned a lot of new information about Black history, including the transatlantic slave trade. He said he never talked about this topic in his previous history classes.

“One of the things that I picked up during the last module that I watched was about how, during the transatlantic slave trade, there were four times as many Africans being forcibly shipped to the Americas from Africa than there were Europeans travelling,” Young said.

Young said while he doesn’t know if he will take another Africana Studies course in the future, he is much more informed of that option because of the class.

“It’s more so on my radar now than if I had never taken this class or Pitt had never offered this,” Young said. “I never would have taken an Africana Studies class before Pitt offered this.”

2

AS ELECTION SEASON HEATS UP, CAMPUS POLITICAL GROUPS RALLY VOTERS

Nathan Fitchett Staff Writer

As the historic Nov. 3 election draws nearer, student political groups are getting to work to mobilize voters on campus.

The College Democrats and College Republicans at Pitt have both begun work to energize western Pennsylvania voters for both local and national races, seeking to bolster voter turnout for what is considered to be one of the most important swing regions in the state, which itself is a swing state on the national level. The groups continue to hold virtual events due to COVID-19 restrictions, disrupting their typical in-person electionseason activities.

With poll averages showing the Democratic presidential ticket leading President Donald Trump by just 5% in Pennsylvania, the race for the state’s coveted electoral votes may be tight. Both candidates have been making frequent visits to the state, with Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden visiting Pittsburgh on Aug. 31.

Christian Resch, the president of the College Democrats, said western Pennsylvania is an essential part of the vote on both a local and national level.

“Everybody’s tired of what’s happening at the executive level, and in Congress with the Republican Senate,” Resch, a junior political science major, said. “They’re ready to make something happen and they know that western Pa. is going to be essential to making that difference.”

Corey Barsky, the vice president of the College Republicans, said down-ballot races will likely reflect the results at the top of the ticket.

“What you’re seeing in this area is really important,” Barsky, a senior neuroscience major, said. “You’re going to need to look at people like Sean Parnell. If Sean Parnell wins Congressional District 17, Donald Trump will win Pennsylvania and will be reelected.”

Besides supporting local campaigns, both groups are hosting events with party officials over Zoom. The College Democrats hosted several young Democratic officials to speak Tuesday, including Emily Kinkead, who is

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running for District 20 in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and Allegheny County Councilperson Bethany Hallam, D-At Large. Barsky said the College Republicans are trying to get Richard Grenell, the acting director of national intelligence, to give a talk at some point this semester.

COVID-19 restrictions have gotten in the way of several events planned for both groups this fall. The College Democrats planned to host more rallies for Democratic candidates similar to the ones held before restrictions were put in place, such as when

Both groups plan to keep phone banking for more local party candidates as election season continues.

Both groups typically table on campus to register voters for their respective parties, but due to COVID-19 restrictions, neither group has devoted much of their focus to these activities. Resch said the College Democrats have delegated most of the voter registration initiatives to Pitt for Biden, which has taken the lead on getting voters registered despite quarantine restrictions. The organization created an online form that students can fill out

College Republicans (left) and College Democrats (right) at Pitt have both begun work on energizing western Pa. voters for both local and national elections on Nov. 3.

Left courtesy of Corey Barsky, right courtesy of Christian Resch multiple presidential primary candidates visited Oakland. The College Republicans also planned to host campus rallies for Parnell and Rep. Guy Reschenthaler, R-14, but these plans had to be cancelled.

Leadership of both organizations said they are focusing their efforts on phone banking, rather than canvassing door to door. The College Democrats phone banked last Friday for Kristy Gnibus, the Democratic candidate for Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District, and made calls two weeks ago for Michele Knoll, the Democratic candidate for District 44 of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The College Republicans have phone banked for Parnell and Rob Mercuri, the Republican candidate for District 28 of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.

if they need help registering to vote and will host office hours to answer any registrationrelated questions.

Resch said most of the challenge with getting college students to register to vote comes from trying to get them motivated.

“Really with young college students it's not the difficulty of registering to vote, it's the tediousness of it,” Resch said. “It's the ‘ugh I have to take 15 mins to fill this form out.’ It's about giving people the motivation to register to vote, that's the hardest part.”

Both leaders said they were unsure what the campus climate would look like leading up to the election. Barsky said some students harassed those tabling for then-candidate Trump in front of Hillman Library four years ago, but said he was unsure whether this type

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of incident would happen again, given limited in-person operations. Resch said he did not expect any issues leading up to the election, but remains cautious about tension depending on the election’s outcome.

“It’ll reflect whatever happens nationally, whatever the rhetoric is,” Resch said. “Say Biden wins and Trump refuses to step down or says that the votes are invalid, then there’s gonna be a lot of tension. If Biden loses and Trump wins, people are definitely gonna be mad, they're definitely gonna protest.”

Sydney Wilhelmy, a College Democrats member, said college students who disagree with each other politically may have more common ground than the average voter. But he said since coming to campus, it has been a mixed bag when it comes to his discussions with peers he disagrees with politically.

“I think at this age, we have more in common now than adults do in a town who don't interact as much, and don't realign each other as much,” Wilhelmy, a first-year international and area studies major, said. “Some of [the conversations] have been very constructive and productive, but some of them there was no conversation and no dialogue.”

Both organizations also reminded students of the importance of voting and the various methods to accomplish this, no matter their preferred candidates.

Barsky said he recommends everyone request a mail-in ballot to ensure they are able to vote.

“Everyone should request a no-excuse mail-in ballot,” Barsky said. “That way if the polls get consolidated, you’ll still be able to get to vote into the county elections office and it’ll still be counted.”

Wilhelmy emphasized that every person’s vote counts, and taking that for granted is disrespectful to those who are most affected by an election’s outcome.

“Your vote has the chance of changing an election in this state,” Wilhelmy said. “You have a lot of responsibility with that vote, and to waste it is a lack of respect towards the millions of people that you are potentially hurting or affecting indirectly by not voting.”

3

STUDENTS OFFER MIXED REVIEWS OF NEW MEAL PLANS, FOOD UNDER COMPASS GROUP

India Krug

For The Pitt News While first-year students have the option to choose new friends, majors and decorations for their dorm room, one choice was already made for them before they ever stepped foot on campus.

Compass Group, Pitt’s new dining contractor, requires all first-year students living on-campus to have unlimited meal plans. The University previously worked with Sodexo for 29 years as its contractor, with its most recent 10-year contract ending this year. Along with new meal plans, students shared their opinions on new food options, dining location changes and safety.

Lien Ferry, a first-year biology major, said this new requirement was an unpleasant surprise because she had previously purchased a limited plan, and the cost increased with no warning. “I didn’t like how we initially got to choose a less expensive dining plan, and then it got switched to a more expensive, unlimited plan,�

Ferry said. “I would like to have more options.�

Joe Beaman, Pitt’s director of dining services, said meal plans are comparable in pricing to last year. Under Sodexo, there were five tiers of meal plans for “resident� students. The top tier included unlimited passes to eat at Market Central or The Perch and cost $2,650, with the bottom tier costing $1,550. But because firstyear students are now required to purchase an unlimited plan under Compass Group, they will now be billed between $2,050 and $2,650.

Beaman added that the decision to require first-year students to purchase unlimited plans was meant to decrease their stress. “Our goal is to provide first-year students with greater dining ease of use and value, eliminating the need to monitor, track or limit meals by providing unlimited access to The Eatery and The Perch,� Beaman said.

Not every student is required to purchase unlimited meal plans, though. Upperclassmen can buy cheaper, limited memberships, such as “The Foodie� and “Eat On The Run.�

Hannah Vorndran, a sophomore molecu-

The Way I See It (PG-13) Fri: 4:50, 7:10, 9:25 Sat & Sun: 2:35, 4:50, 7:10, 9:25 Mon & Tue: 4:50, 7:10, 9:25 Wed: 4:50, 7:10, 9:25 Thu: 4:50, 7:10, 9:25 The Broken Hearts Gallery (PG-13) Fri: 5:00, 7:20, 9:40 Sat & Sun: 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40 Mon & Tue: 5:00, 7:20, 9:40 Wed: 5:00, 7:20, 9:40 Thu: 5:00, 7:20, 9:40 Tenet (PG-13) Tue: 4:45, 6:15, 8:00, 9:20 Wed: 4:45, 6:15, 8:00, 9:20 Thu: 4:45, 6:15, 8:00, 9:20 Tenet (PG-13) No passes through 9/21/20 Fri: 4:45, 6:15, 8:00, 9:20

Sat & Sun: 3:00, 4:45, 6:15, 8:00, 9:20

Mon: 4:45, 6:15, 8:00, 9:20

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lar biology major, purchased one of the “Eat On The Run� plans, which provides her with one meal swipe per day and 750 dining dollars.

She said this plan works well for her because she doesn’t use many meal swipes. “Being online, I find myself not really leaving my room to go get food,� Vorndran said. “I live in Ruskin, so we have a kitchen. A lot of what I’ve been using my meal plan for is going to Forbes Market to get groceries and ingredients to make food in my room.�

These new meal plans also have an hour wait time between using meal swipes on campus dining halls and include one meal exchange per day to use at an on-campus retail location.

Pitt also allocated 25% of each student’s dining dollars toward off-campus dining locations around Oakland. The 27 partners include Fuel and Fuddle, Giant Eagle, Pamela’s and Sorrento’s Pizza Roma.

Vorndran said she likes the flexibility of dining dollars. “I really like the feature that some dining dollars are accepted off campus,� Vorndran said. “Yesterday, I went with my roommates to Fuel and Fuddle and we used dining dollars, so that was really awesome.�

Vorndran added that she also enjoys the variety of locations that participate in meal exchanges along with dining dollars. Meal exchanges, a swap between a meal at The Eatery at Market Central or The Perch and another campus location, allow students to use a meal at retail locations on campus, such as Einstein Bros. Bagels and Chick-fil-A. “The biggest change I’ve seen is that a lot of places that used to only take dining dollars are now accepting meal exchanges,� Vorndran said.

The two on-campus dining halls — The Perch and The Eatery — have undergone modifications as well, the most noticeable being the lack of seating due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Beaman said all meals are currently being offered to go to encourage social distancing. “We are currently serving all meals to go to support the safety of the Pitt community,�

Beaman said. “Takeout containers, silverware, cups and napkins are used at each campus dining location so that students can select their meal and depart.�

Vorndran said the dining halls were “super

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crowded� with people. “I was very overwhelmed. There were huge lines everywhere, so you had to wait in line just to even see what food they had,� Vorndran said. “Last year, they had big TV screens set up that showed which food was being served at this station and this year they did not have that.�

Not every student is impressed by the quality of dining hall food offered by Compass Group. Rika Nallamala, an undecided firstyear, said she thinks the food selections have gotten worse since she came to Pitt for a college visit last year. “To be honest, the food is not the best,�

Nallamala said. “When I came in to visit Pitt and they let us try the dining halls, there was a larger variety. Now, it’s always the same pizza and burgers.�

Ferry said she wasn’t too impressed by the quality of the food, either. She said she considers it “decent overall,� but most of it is “kind of bland.�

Along with more to-go meals, Beaman said new safety protocols were introduced to protect workers and students. He said this includes frequent cleaning and sanitizing, social distancing and mask wearing as well as sanitizer stations available at each dining area. He said Pitt has also put in place “safety concierge stations� outside numerous locations, including the Cathedral of Learning and the William Pitt Union, to check students’ temperatures before they go in to grab a bite.

Another newcomer to campus is the The Hub, a temporary outdoor dining location on the back patio of Posvar Hall, which opened Aug. 17. It offers a variety of menu options, such as the soon-to-open Smokeland BBQ. Beaman said Compass Group opened a number of new locations across campus, including two additions to the Cathedral Cafe — The Roost and Pom & Honey. The Roost is a chicken-based eatery, and Pom & Honey will offer customizable salads, grain bowls and wraps. Schenley Cafe, located on the WPU’s lower level, will see new restaurants as well.

True Burger will provide burgers, fries and milkshakes, and CrEATe will have made-toorder salads.

Beaman added that Pitt has also launched its Tradecraft coffee cart program, where local roasters occupy Pitt’s coffee cart locations.

4

BOARD COMMITTEE INVESTIGATING FOSSIL FUEL DIVESTMENT ANNOUNCES MEMBERSHIP Ashton Crawley

Assistant News Editor The board of trustees’ Ad-Hoc Committee on Fossil Fuels appointed six committee members as well as a team of liaisons last week.

The committee, which the board formed in June, is charged with studying whether the University should divest its $4.3-billion endowment of fossil fuel investments. The committee will provide a report by Jan. 15, 2021, on “options on whether, to what extent and via what methods the University, in its Endowment, should consider divestment from fossil fuels in existing and/or future investments.”

The committee plans to host public forums in September and October to gather public input about divestment.

The panel was formed after pressure from the student body, including from groups such as Fossil Free Pitt Coalition, who staged a sit-in in the Cathedral of Learning last spring. The board of trustees unanimously approved a formal socially responsible investing process and committed to carbon neutrality by 2037 in February.

FFPC said three members presented to the committee on Friday about the moral case for divestment, and the pressing need for community reinvestment.

“While we were happy to provide our perspective, this committee is a stalling tactic; the reasons for divestment are already abundantly clear,” FFPC said. “The University’s commitment to snail-paced bureaucracy is extremely disappointing considering the urgency of the climate crisis.

Students have been demanding divestment since 2014. There is no time to lose.”

The coalition added that the lack of stu-

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dents involved in the committee is a major problem.

“It is unacceptable that there are no student representatives. After all, it is only due to student activism that the Board is considering this issue,” FFPC said. “It is also extremely concerning that Dawne Hickton was appointed as chair of the committee, given her past professional ties to natural resource extraction industries.”

Headed by chairperson Dawne Hickton, an executive vice president at Jacobs Engineering Group, the committee’s members are: Hari Sastry, Pitt’s chief financial officer, will act as a liaison with Aurora Sharrard, the University’s sustainability director, and Natalie Carter, of the Office of Finance, as a support team.

PITT ADDS 22 COVID-19 CASES SINCE THURSDAY Ashton Crawley

Assistant News Editor Pitt added 22 new COVID-19 cases, composed of entirely students, between last Friday and Monday, continuing an upward trend in reported cases, though less than in previous case reports. This follows an increase of 35 new cases, composed entirely of students, between last Monday and Thursday.

This is the first case report since more classes moved in-person Monday. Provost Ann Cudd announced Wednesday that faculty members can apply to teach their classes in person if there is a “definable benefit” to in-person instruction, and if an instructor’s dean or regional campus president approves teaching plans. Pitt has been using the new Flex@Pitt teaching model, which allows students to experience classes “in person, remotely, synchronously or asynchronously.”

The University has had a total of 221 students and 29 employees test positive since June 26, with 152 students and 27 employees recovered thus far. Five of the last seven days have seen double-digit increases in student cases, according to data reported by Pitt.

Pitt’s COVID-19 Medical Response Office said the number of positive cases “remains higher than they would like.”

“While no new positive cases were reported on Sunday and Monday of this week, the positive case count on the Pittsburgh campus remains higher than we would like,” the office said. “We need to bring this number down, and we can, through continued mitigation efforts such as practicing physical distancing and wearing face coverings. If we do not

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continue to engage in safe behaviors, the virus will continue to spread and disrupt our lives.”

There are 69 students currently in isolation housing, which is reserved for those who have either a confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection. Pitt has a capacity of 179 beds, with the ability to add 20 more.

Pitt has implemented a systematic, random testing strategy, where it has said it will test several hundred students each week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Since Friday’s report, no new random tests were administered.

The University has implemented a variety of new policies due to the pandemic, though some community members question whether the safeguards are sufficient. All students were asked to shelter in place for seven days before and after arriving in Oakland, though officials have said Pitt will not track whether or not students have completed the shelter-inplace period. Pitt has also planned testing of students to monitor the virus’s spread, required students, faculty and staff to complete COVID-19 training and imposed strict penalties for violations of health guidelines.

Kenyon Bonner, the vice provost and dean of students, said student organizations that host a party or event can face suspension, and students hosting large parties can be suspended. Students living on campus who attend large parties can have their housing suspended for the semester, and students living off campus can be switched to persona non grata status, preventing them from entering University buildings or property.

5

Elise Roessner

STUDENTS WITH MIXED FEELINGS AS MORE CLASSES MOVE IN PERSON

Staff Writer

For the first time in months, Jillian Werbisky, a junior psychology and administration of justice double major, will attend a class in person this week. Werbisky said she is looking forward to attending her Scene Painting class on Tuesday.

“I’m excited for that class,” Werbisky said. “That was the only one that I really was kind of hoping that I could do in person.”

Provost Ann Cudd announced Wednesday that faculty will begin to offer additional in-person courses over the next few weeks starting Monday, adding to the 8% of classes already being held in person.

The partial transition to in-person classes comes after 35 new COVID-19 cases were identified among Pitt students between Monday and Thursday of last week. There are currently 93 student cases and two faculty cases active out of a total of 199 student and 29 employee cases identified at the University since June 26.

This shifting of some additional classes to in-person teaching arrives three weeks after the University originally planned to start moving more online courses to in person. Cudd said on Aug. 19 that the start of most in-person classes would be delayed to “allow for the completion of staged arrival and shelterin-place procedures.”

Faculty and students who wish to hold and attend classes completely remotely will still have that option as a part of the Flex@Pitt model.

One student choosing to continue attending classes virtually is Katie Richmond, a junior mechanical engineering major and Student Government Board member. Richmond said although two of her lectures will begin meeting in person this week, she feels more comfortable attending synchronous Zoom meetings.

“To me, it's like, I think I'd just got my groove kind of going with online

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classes,” Richmond said. “With the going in person with the risk of then having it canceled again and having to go back to online, I think I'd rather just stay online fully.”

Werbisky said she was glad to learn her class will be in person, mainly because it is more dependent on physical material than a typical lecture or seminar.

“It is a lot more hands-on and it's not something that I've ever done before,” Werbisky said. “I wanted to have that teacher feedback while doing something in person.”

Werbisky said she will attend Scene Painting with half of her class Tuesday, while the other half who wish to go in person will attend Thursday. She added that while most of her class will attend the in-person classes, there are options over Zoom for students who choose to continue to take the class completely online.

Werbisky added that she doesn’t feel disappointed that the rest of her classes are continuing completely online.

“Most of my professors have done a decent job of making sure we're recording and we're doing enough lecture and discussion in all the classes,” Werbisky said. “So it's not too repetitive and so far they've all been good so I don't feel a need to go in person.”

For John Dwyer, a senior architecture and urban studies double major, the shift to additional in-person classes won’t have too much of a personal impact, as he has already been attending his Architecture Design Studio 4 class in a physical classroom. But Dwyer said he is nervous that more classes moving in person will increase the number of COVID-19 cases on campus and cause labs and studios already in person to have to shift to online.

“Classes like English, math, I feel like they could be all online even though I understand the level of education is not the best,” Dwyer said. “I feel like the more that people go back to class, that will jeopardize the students who absolutely need to be in person.”

Dwyer said out of the 13 students in his class, only five have ever been in the physical classroom at the same time.

Each student in the class also attends a Zoom meeting, whether they are in the physical classroom or not.

“Our laptops will be muted and then the professor will be in the front of the room on Zoom as well,” Dwyer said. “So we're watching the lecture through Zoom while we're in person.”

Richmond added she thinks in-person classes starting could be helpful for students who don’t learn as well online.

“I know how difficult this has been for so many people that they just do not find Zoom learning to be a conducive learning environment,” Richmond said. “I do fully understand how some people are really desperate to be able to go in person again, so I think that there's sort of a compromise in it.”

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6

Opinions

I AM ONCE AGAIN ASKING YOU TO MAKE A VOTING PLAN

Devi Ruia

Senior Staff Columnist Remember when you were a kid and you used to get incredibly excited about any piece of mail that was addressed to you, even if it was just a lame card from your dentist’s office?

I get that same feeling of excitement about this time every year when I scour my mailbox for my absentee ballot. I’m fully aware that that makes me a bit insane, but I love the feeling of casting my ballot, even though I am bitter that mail-in ballots don’t come with “I Voted” stickers. This year will be the first time I’m eligible to vote in a presidential election, and I’m more excited than ever to participate in excommunicating the bigoted Cheeto and his cronies from the White House.

That excitement is dampened slightly by my fears surrounding this election.

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed almost everything about how we function as a society, including voting in person on election day. It’s hard to imagine feeling completely safe standing in a long line full of people and then crowding into a school cafeteria or church basement to cast our ballots. Most states are expanding access to vote by mail in the wake of the pandemic, and most Americans will cast their ballots that way in this election.

But even though many states are making it easier to vote by mail, either by proactively mailing ballots to voters or by allowing no-excuse absentee voting, not every state is adapting voting to the pandemic. Between that and delays with the Postal Service further complicating voting by mail, it’s incredibly important that we as voters do everything that we can to vote and ensure that our vote is counted. There is too much at stake in this election for us to allow anything to get in the way of us casting our ballots.

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Ilana Glazer, a comedian and progressive activist, has been focusing on youth voter engagement with her latest project, “Cheat Sheet for the Voting Booth.” In an interview, Glazer laid out some of the steps voters should take leading up to the election.

“Make sure that you vote, and that your vote counts,” Glazer said. “Make

created concerns about mail-in ballots.

Since more Americans than ever will vote this way, it’s imperative that we all request our ballots immediately and return them to a drop-off center or mail them back in as soon as humanly possible. It’s imperative that we all prioritize requesting and returning our ballots not only because voting is always incredibly

Shruti Talekar Senior Staff Illustrator a voting plan. Make sure you are registered to vote. If you can, vote early in person. If you can’t, vote by mail early and call and make sure that your vote was counted.”

Voters must complete these tasks in order to ensure that they minimize their risk of catching COVID-19 but still vote and ensure that vote is counted. Websites such as votesaveamerica.com and vote.org make completing these steps even easier for voters, and we must make sure that we do this ASAP, especially when it comes to our mail-in ballots.

The delays in the Postal Service have

important, but because voting in this election is especially necessary.

With President Donald Trump on the ballot, safety and democracy are at stake. He’s proven our worst fears about him time and time again over the last four years. I don’t know if many of us could handle another four years of his bigotry and incompetence, and, frankly, I don’t want to know how much worse Trump will get when he doesn’t have to worry about reelection.

Trump has stoked civil unrest, fostered and expressed racist ideologies, put children in cages, stacked the courts

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with conservative justices determined to turn back time on matters of civil rights and got thousands of Americans killed by failing to properly respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s ruined America’s world standing, he has no plan to address climate change and he pressured a foreign government to interfere in an American election for his own political gain. And that’s just a fraction of the harm he’s caused in less than four years in office.

If we have to inconvenience ourselves slightly by adding a voting plan to our to-do lists, I think it’s a small sacrifice for the sake of our country’s future. And I know that sometimes it may be hard for people to feel like their own individual vote matters and to prioritize voting in an election where they may not like either candidate all that much. But many elections are won on the margins, so our individual votes do matter and can make a big difference in important elections such as this one.

“Your vote counts as much as Beyonce’s,” Glazer said. “That’s amazing.”

We cannot take anything for granted this election. It is imperative that everyone checks their registration, requests and returns their mail-in ballots immediately if their state allows and calls to confirm their vote was counted. If those actions aren’t possible, or you would simply prefer to vote in person, make sure you have a voting plan and vote early in person or take the precautions to vote on Election Day if you must.

This may be one of the most important elections of our lifetimes, and we have to make our voices heard. No one with that bad of a fake tan should be allowed to occupy the Oval Office.

Devi primarily writes about politics for The Pitt News. Write to her at dvr7@ pitt.edu and follow her on Twitter for more hot takes @DeviRuia.

7

Dalia Maeroff

DEBUNKING THE GREEN ENERGY ILLUSION

Staff Columnist

Climate change is at the center of everyone’s attention nowadays, with California’s sky burning orange. One solution is dominating the conversation of fixing our planet’s climate — green energy. Green energy means to transition away from fossil fuels and rely on cleaner ways of generating energy without releasing greenhouse gases into the air. Solar and wind energy seem to be pioneering the green energy effort, but how green are they really?

We all know fossil fuels are bad. If you lived in Pittsburgh even 20 or 30 years ago, you’ll remember that the buildings were black with soot — steel mills and coke works burned coal and belched the smoke into the air. The lungs of our nation’s industrial cities are still choking on carbon dioxide. Pittsburgh has the eighth worst air particle pollution in the nation with asthma rates nearly three times the national average, and Allegheny county is in the top 2% of all U.S. counties at risk of cancer.

Many alternatives to fossil fuels have been tested and researched. One example is biofuel — the mass deforestation and burning of trees for electricity. The flaw here is evident — beyond cutting down one of our best defenses against a warming planet, it still releases an astronomical amount of carbon dioxide into the air.

Our more popular solutions may not be as green, sustainable or renewable as we might have hoped, either. Solar panels and windmills dominate the clean energy scene and are actually doing much more harm to the environment than we might think. Green energy is not the solution to climate change, and it never was. It does not have the strength to ever completely replace fossil fuels, but nuclear energy does.

As of 2019, 65% of Germany’s energy was powered by renewable energy sources, and 48% of that came from wind turbines. Each wind turbine requires about 230 tons of steel, and steelmaking requires a very large amount of coal. As of numbers from 2016, if the world were to have 25% of its power come completely from wind turbines, we would need 450 million metric tons of steel and the fossil fuel equivalent of 600 million metric tons of coal. Moreover, all of the electricity that wind turbines produce is intermittent, while its production, installation and maintenance all rely heavily on fossil fuels.

Solar panels also have a significant carbon

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footprint. Most solar panels made today are made from quartz, which has to be mined before going through an extensive heating process fueled by coal, then turned into a purer form called polysilicon. This generates up to 4 tons of tetrachloride waste for every 1 ton of polysilicon produced. Tetrachloride is a toxic chemical that when introduced to water can create hydrochloric acid, which is extremely dangerous to both humans and the environment. The inclusion of extremely toxic chemicals is found in almost every step of the production process of solar panels.

vide these numbers has been declining, especially among generic brand companies from China.

A study released in 2014 by Northwestern University and Argonne National Laboratory found that the carbon footprint of a solar panel made in China is twice that of one made in Europe, due to looser environmental restrictions and more coalfired power plants.

So what is the answer? Do we have any hope for saving our planet while still being able to continue our electricity-powered lives? It seems that the solution is nuclear, the only type of en-

Dalia Maeroff Staff Illustrator Today, nearly half of the world photovoltaics are made in China, which has looser laws on the protection of its workers and the environment.

The Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition has been tracking the environmental impacts of the industry since 1982. While it was created to have more transparency in the production industry, it seems to have done the opposite, as it allows companies to self report the amounts of toxins and waste that are expelled. According to the coalition, the amount of companies willing to pro-

ergy with an entirely containable emission. Solar farms require about 17 times more material than nuclear plants do, and nuclear produces four times less carbon emissions than solar panels do. The shift from matter-dense and intermittent fuels, such as fossil fuels, solar and wind, to an energy-dense fuel such as nuclear is what our climate needs to heal, coupled with less consumption. In the long run, it is much cheaper, uses less resources and expels less waste into the environment.

September 16,2020

The issue of intermittence seems to constantly come up when dealing with “green” energy — the sun doesn’t always shine and the wind doesn’t always blow. This means that for solar panels and wind turbines to work optimally, they need to be installed en masse, all together in one place as solar and wind farms. This is the most effective way for us to create renewable energy. But while these energy farms may help the climate, they are not so helpful to our environment, as they cause habitat fragmentation, displacement and destruction.

Deserts, a very necessary biome in our biosphere, are often used for solar farms. Plants and animals are no longer able to inhabit the area and are forced to move or die. Ivanpah, one of California’s biggest solar farms, takes 450 times more land than California's last nuclear plant, Diablo Canyon, to produce the same amount of energy.

Michael Shellenberger, an American author and environmental activist, put it best — “In an effort to try to save the climate, are we destroying our environment?”

The most shocking part of this all is the physics. These “green energy solutions” that we’re being sold do not actually have the energy to be able to ever completely replace fossil fuels. The physics boundary for silicon photovoltaic panels, the Shockley-Queisser Limit, is a maximum conversion of 34% of photons into electrons. The best commercial technology today exceeds 26%.

Wind power technology also has flaws in physics. The boundary for a wind turbine, the Betz Limit, is a maximum capture of 60% of kinetic energy in moving air. Commercial turbines today exceed 40%. But nuclear power ends up being more reliable when it comes to generating power consistently and generating enough of it to be able to completely and efficiently replace fossil fuels while reducing our energy footprint.

We have been living in a world that hasn’t put the climate or environment first in hundreds of years. Our science needs to go toward clean energy that is actually clean, not just branded as such for profit. Soon enough, deserts will be covered in solar panels instead of cacti and tops of mountains with wind turbines instead of trees.

We need change now that is effective almost immediately, not plans to switch to green energy by 2030, which is too late.

Dalia Maeroff writes primarily about issues of psychology, education, culture and environmentalism. Write to her at DAM291@pitt.edu.

8

THE US HAS A PROBLEM — THE VOTERS DON’T CARE. LET’S FIX THAT.

Ethan Tessler Staff Columnist

During every general election cycle, I hear the same discourse about “making sure to vote” and “exercising your right as an American.”

While these sayings get old fast, there is merit to them. Not every country is a democracy, and as Americans, we are fortunate to live in a society that is. But our political system is not as “fair” as one might think.

After all, would a fair political system foster a culture of low voter turnout? As it stands today, the United States is an utter embarrassment when it comes to voter turnout, as compared to other developed countries.

Even Estonia — a country you probably didn’t know existed — has a higher voter turnout than the United States.

American education, media and laws all contribute to the massive, convoluted political machine that helps the wealthy elites and their puppet politicians control the country.

Though this seems like a conspiracy theory, I urge you to research more, as all of this information is public. The thing is, most people know how brazenly corrupt most politicians are in this country, and that’s partly why millions of people don’t vote.

According to the 100 Million Project — a detailed study on the third of Americans who don’t vote — the main reasons people don’t vote are because they think voting doesn’t matter, don’t like the candidates, don’t know the candidates, think the system is corrupt or have no time for voting. There are ways to eliminate these problems and create a culture of informed and caring voters. This is a major issue for our country, as a democracy is only as strong as its populace is informed.

For starters, the electoral college makes it so your vote in the upcoming general election doesn’t even go directly to the candidate you choose. Your vote is merely a suggestion — it goes to a body of electors that is supposed to vote for the candidate who wins a plurality of votes. In this system, the winner of each state’s electors — except for Maine and Nebraska — receive all of the votes in a

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winner-take-all style.

Regardless of how you feel about the electoral college, you cannot deny that the current arrangement is not a direct democracy — otherwise, the winner of the popular vote would win the election every year. This makes some people, such as Republicans in overwhelmingly red states and Democrats in overwhelmingly blue states, feel like they don’t need to vote.

The majority of Americans support amending the Constitution so the winner of the popular vote wins the gen-

but this matter is merely a result of voters not being vigilant enough. Sure, after the primaries are over the party picks the candidate, you may not like them. Yet, at the beginning of each election cycle — when dozens of candidates compete for their party’s nomination — surely there is at least one candidate someone would want to vote for.

An effective way to solve this issue would be to make it mandatory for each party to mail out a pamphlet detailing what each candidate wants to do in office.

This is done in Switzerland — in each

Shruti Talekar Senior Staff Illustrator eral election. This would help to end the illconceived notion that voting doesn’t matter.

Also, instituting a mandatory civics class in all American high schools would greatly help to end this notion. According to the Center for American Progress, it has been proven that states with the highest rates of youth civic engagement prioritize civics courses in their curricula. Making civics a mandatory high school course would create a new, more educated and more engaged generation of voters — not just in state and national elections, but in local elections, too.

Even if voters are more educated, they still may not vote out of disdain for the candidates on the ballot. This is understandable,

election, voters receive a brochure detailing all of the major issues and where the candidates stand on them. This would help to highlight some candidates who aren’t mentioned as much in the media. The practice also creates more opportunity for third parties — such as the Green or Libertarian parties — to get more exposure, since they don’t get a ton of media attention.

Voters use heuristics — predictable shortcuts such as single-issues voting or endorsements — too much in this country, leading to voters mindlessly choosing between the two major parties — Democrats and Republicans — on single issues. Voting for a candidate is much more nuanced

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than one or two issues, and this should be reflected in our society. Sure, you may be a staunch Democrat or Republican, but within each party exists a wide spectrum of ideas and policies that often clash with each other.

The two dominant political parties make it really easy to pick sides and call it a day, but that’s a vast oversimplification of the voting process. More nuanced voting creates a voting culture that is more engaged and active, as opposed to the simple tribalism we see today. There is an exciting candidate out there for everyone, they just may not know it. Simple heuristic voting is a result of our corporate-controlled media, which dictates what the populace can and can’t see. These all-powerful entities control which candidates get the most air time and receive good or bad press.

More often than not, the candidates looked upon favorably by these zilliondollar corporations are in the limelight with nothing but good press. These are the candidates who generally offer nothing new in an effort to keep up the status quo, because that’s what is profitable for these corporations and the other mega-donors these milquetoast candidates represent. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged our nation, the status quo was not good for the majority of Americans.

Is the system corrupt? The founding fathers didn’t design it that way, but putting people in power who blatantly go against the people’s interests makes it so the system might as well be corrupt. In many cases, a politician's rhetoric goes against what their policies actually are. This is why voters must be vigilant when deciding between candidates.

The fact of the matter is that a vast portion of Americans have no faith in the electoral system, politicians or the media that aims to keep the status quo. But educating and informing the populace will be a large step forward in making more people eager to vote.

Ethan Tessler writes about issues that don’t seem to be mentioned enough. Write to him at ezt2@pitt.edu.

9

Culture

GETTING ‘RICO NASTY’ WITH PITT PROGRAM COUNCIL

Julianna Poljak

For The Pitt Newsr Dressed in a bright blue, oversized hoodie from her unreleased merchandise line, Rico Nasty danced across students’ screens during her late-night Saturday performance and Q&A held

by Pitt Program Council.

Nasty, whose given name is Maria-Cecilia Simone Kelly, was set to perform last spring at PPC’s annual Bigelow Bash before the event was cancelled due to COVID-19. PPC knew how important it was for Pitt students to experience “Smack a B----” live and rescheduled Nasty to perform in the University’s first virtual concert and Q&A, which more than 100 Pitt students attended.

Reagan King, PPC’s special events director, said she felt that due to the high level of student interest in Rico Nasty’s performance, it was important to figure out a way to give students what they wanted during a semester full of unknowns.

“Since there was a lot of student interest in her coming, we still figured out how to have her come,” King, a senior communication rhetoric major, said. “Our goal is just to kind of have something for students to do and still have some sort of normalcy during all this.”

Nasty opened the online show with a solo performance of “Aquí Yo Mando,” one of her hit singles with Kali Uchis. With an energetic transition, Nasty followed up with “Trust Issues” from her career-defining mixtape, “Nasty.” From the moment Nasty appeared on screen, the chat exploded with students complimenting her makeup and hyping her up as she performed.

While performing, Nasty bounced on beat with the music in front of a black curtain, only taking a seat once during the night on the shiny, gold, hand-shaped chair behind her. She also performed “iPhone,” her newest single and the first from her debut album “Nightmare Vacation” set to be released sometime this fall.

Similar to most live concerts, students were able to hear Nasty’s softer live voice accompanied by an upbeat and powerful backtrack. The bass thumped loudly throughout the 30 minute performance, and fans continued to “sing along” by sending the lyrics through the open chat.

Although the 23-year-old rap artist couldn’t

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September 16,2020

see her audience, Nasty continuously engaged with the virtual crowd, dancing around her room and responding to viewer comments. She took note of what students requested in the chat and spontaneously performed “Hey Arnold” from one of her oldest mixtapes, “Sugar Trap.”

Chiara Rigaud, a senior urban studies major, said she felt that despite the excitement in the chat, the virtual concert still didn’t compare to the experience of an in-person performance.

“I would have much rather preferred to see her live because on Zoom it’s kind of like listening to her on Spotify or any streaming platform,” Rigaud said. “Overall, I’d much rather in-person concerts because the energy is different, you can connect with people more.”

Regardless, even without any face-to-face interaction, Rigaud said she still felt there was a benefit to having the virtual concert.

“I suppose a benefit is that people were able to ‘see’ Rico, since many of us were excited to see her at Bigelow Bash,” Rigaud said.

During the 20 minute Q&A session facilitated by King, questions ranged from asking about Nasty’s new makeup collaboration with Il Makiage to her experience working with certain producers, as well as general advice. When asked about her fashion inspiration, Nasty gave credit to two other musicians — Sza and Rihanna.

“I like the way Sza dresses, ’cause it’s like ‘cozy tomboy,’” Nasty said. “And I really look to Rihanna for the cut glam, like her gowns and dresses.”

When asked about her new merchandise and its release date, Nasty gave the audience some details about what to expect in the upcoming months.

“Look, y’all are probably the only people I’m ever going to tell this to. The Halloween merch drop — save your money,” Nasty said. “I promise you won’t be disappointed, it's cute.”

Despite the unknown territory of a Zoom concert, the night went on without any technical glitches. King emphasized the work PPC has done to help entertain students safely during a semester of isolation and turmoil.

Find the full story online at

pittnews.com

10

MANOR THEATRE REOPENS WITH NEW RENOVATIONS Annabelle Walter For The Pitt News

Going to the movies used to be a fun weekend pastime, with exciting plots and fresh, buttery popcorn.

But for months, this hasn’t been the case. Instead, people have watched movies on smaller screens at home, without the much-loved camaraderie of going to see a movie in the theater.

Manor Theatre, a popular theater on Squirrel Hill’s Murray Avenue, reopened Aug. 28 after closing in midMarch. According to Rick Stern, the Manor’s owner, that closure was the first in decades for the theater.

“The Manor hasn’t been closed since I first took over in 1992,” Stern said. “It’s been open 365 days a year.”

Guests and patrons are still attending the theater’s showings, though in smaller numbers than before the pandemic.

“People are coming, but business is not as brisk as it used to be,” Stern said.

Still, Stern said because the theater opened so recently, he doesn’t know whether the lull in ticket sales indicates a larger trend.

“We’ve only been open for a little over a week now, so I don’t have a lot of historical attendance records since we reopened after being closed since midMarch,” Stern said.

One returning moviegoer is Jaden McMillian, a senior architecture major who saw the new movie “Tenet” at the Manor on Sept 4. McMillian said he thought “a pretty decent amount of people” were in the theater with him, but not as many as there would have been before COVID-19.

According to McMillian, he decided to go to the Manor because he missed the experience of a movie theater, which he said he tried to make up for over the summer by going to a drive-in.

“I just really wanted to see a new movie for once,” McMillian said.

Moviegoers can now reserve tickets online ahead of time on the Manor's website, forgoing the typical theater ex-

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perience of waiting in lines with other guests and purchasing tickets from employees at the box office.

This allows the theater to implement social distancing protocols — spacing out guests, limiting contact between moviegoers and employees and keeping all theaters under 25% capacity, according to the Manor’s spokesperson, Dan Ayer.

Ayer also said the theater has taken new safety measures since reopening two weeks ago.

were furloughed while the Manor was closed. After reopening, however, many of the employees were asked back.

During the theater’s unplanned hiatus, Stern did a large renovation of the theater, taking advantage of the extra time to beautify the building. The renovations include new carpeting, a redone seating area and bathrooms and the installation of touch-free faucets and dryers to further prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect potential moviegoers and employees.

theater’s reopening have been a chance for patrons to test whether or not they’re comfortable returning to the movies.

“People are sticking their toe in the water and coming back slowly,” he said.

“People that are coming are feeling safe and enjoying being back at the theater and seeing the presentation on the big screen.”

For students interested in going back to the movies safely, the Manor may be an option here in Pittsburgh.

“We have a nice crowd of folks coming into the theater,” Ayer said. “Our goal is that there are no additional spikes or issues.”

Manor Theatre, a popular movie theater in Squirrel Hill, reopened Aug. 28 after being closed since mid-March. Dalia Maeroff Senior Staff Photographer

“We’ve increased sanitation, added contactless tickets and reduced our capacity. All employees have to get temperature checks,” Ayer said. “We’re asking that no one attend if they or anyone they know has had contact with someone with COVID in the past 14 days or if they have any COVID symptoms.”

McMillian said with reduced ticketing and limited capacity, he felt safe seeing a movie at the theater.

“I felt like the Manor did a good job at making [social distancing] possible,” McMillian said. “I felt pretty secure.”

Stern explained that most employees

All moviegoers must also wear masks inside the theater at all times, unless eating food purchased at the Manor’s concession stand.

Some of those returning to the theaters are college students. Stern said students can purchase discounted tickets any day, paying $8.50 instead of the typical $10 for an adult ticket. But these prices aren’t a product of the COVID-19 pandemic — Stern said student tickets have been discounted for years, and discount Wednesdays have always been popular.

Stern said the first weeks since the

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11

Sports

PANDEMIC PANTHERS: RELIVING PITT’S 1918 NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AMID THE SPANISH FLU

Griffin Floyd Staff Writer

Even in an era where players didn’t wear helmets on the field, fans still had the sense to wear masks off of it. The last time a college football season occurred amid a pandemic, Pitt went on to win the national championship. That storyline has circulated for several weeks, but what actually happened during the 1918 season, when the Spanish flu ran rampant?

Legendary head coach Pop Warner led the Panthers from 1915 to 1923, claiming three national titles. Warner helped create the game as we know it today, innovating how offensive linemen block and creating the single and double wing formations — precursors to the modern day shotgun attack.

Warner did more than change how teams played the sport — he also changed how you couldn’t play it, exploiting loopholes that forced the creation of new penalties and changes to the rulebook.

The Panther offense, powered by three AllAmerican running backs — Tom Davies, Katy Easterday and Skip Gougler — as well as fullback and team captain George McLaren, led the championship run. Davies ranks No. 7 in all-purpose yards (3,931) and No. 19 in points scored (181) in Pitt football history, handling kicking duties, too. McLaren led the team in scoring that year with six touchdowns, adding on two extra points. Both McLaren and Davies would later be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.

Keep in mind, though, the college football landscape looked nothing like it does today.

Only one bowl game existed at the time — the Tournament East-West Football Game — and it had been played just three times. It would become known as the Rose Bowl in 1923. Independent teams such as Harvard, Princeton and Yale dominated. Today’s perennial power Alabama wouldn’t win its first championship until

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1925. The Heisman Trophy wouldn’t be awarded until 1935 and the AP Poll would come into existence a year after.

Davies, a true Swiss army knife, led the 1918 team in passing, rushing and receiving yards, and he gained less than 150 yards in two of those categories.

Interception statistics were based on the number of yards they were returned for, not the number caught. William Harrington, who played on both offense and defense, led the team in that category with 7 yards. On offense,

Panthers only played five.

Pitt kicked off the season with a Nov. 9 game against the Washington and Jefferson Presidents. The Panthers shared Forbes Field with the Pirates — Pitt Stadium wouldn’t open until 1925 — and wouldn’t leave the City until after Thanksgiving for their final game. It had been 11 months since the Panthers played, but that didn’t slow them down, roaring to a 34-0 victory, They blew out the Penn Quakers 37-0 a week later, their largest margin of victory of the season.

Pitt’s 1918 football team won the national championship amid the Spanish flu pandemic. Pitt News Archives Harrington played at the end position, the general term for both tight ends and wide receivers before the forward pass became common.

Schools didn’t play formal schedules in those days, and most teams played about seven in a season that went from late September to Thanksgiving. The 1918 season was postponed for many teams by a month due to the Spanish flu, whose deadly second wave hit the East Coast that fall.

Sports leagues carried out in impromptu fashion much like this year, with teams cancelling games as needed, while others played on.

The Texas Longhorns managed to sneak in nine games by playing through the pandemic — the

The Panthers faced the Georgia Tech Golden Tornado next, who’d be known as either the Tornadoes and Yellow Jackets for the next decade. Fans anticipated the matchup against the reigning champion, in part because Warner had turned down an invitation from Georgia Tech head coach John Heisman to play for the title in 1917. The 1918 game raised money for war charities.

The Panthers would leave no doubts that they were the better team that year, throttling Heisman’s team 32-0. Davies accounted for three touchdowns, throwing one to Easterday before returning a punt and rushing for another, the only points Georgia Tech allowed that

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season.

Their next game came just five days later on Thanksgiving, in a rivalry match against Penn State. The Nittany Lions scored six points, the first points the Panthers surrendered all season, but not nearly enough to win — Pitt dispatched them with ease, winning 28-6.

The Panthers then traveled to Cleveland for their lone road game of the season, playing on just two days of rest. They faced a football team fielded by the Cleveland Naval Reserves, cobbled together by players from other colleges who had wanted to join the war effort.

Warner and many of the reporters covering the game claimed that it was rigged because of the questionable timekeeping methods used by the referees.

What followed would become college football folklore — the referees asserted that the timekeeper’s watch was broken, using this as an excuse to call an end to the first half as the Panthers drove downfield. In the second half, Cleveland scored to go up 10-9, and the referees immediately called the game, giving Warner his first loss in 33 games with Pitt.

Warner refused to accept the loss, and Pitt was retroactively named the national champion by the Helms, Houlgate and National Championship Foundation committees in 1936 when the selection committees, who elect a champion in the absence of an actual title game, were formed. The University of Michigan was recognized by Billingsley and the NCF as a cochampion as well in honor of its 5-0 season, but the Panthers were given the advantage due to their handling of Georgia Tech.

Pitt’s 1918 season is a window in time, a fascinating glimpse into the early days of a beloved sport. And one that’s especially poignant because of its relevance to the pandemic season 2020 has become. Maybe Pitt can finish on top like the Panthers of 102 years ago.

12

PANTHERS TROUNCE GOVERNORS AT EMPTY HEINZ FIELD TO OPEN SEASON

Alex Lehmbeck Sports Editor

Athletic Director Heather Lyke said in April that Pitt wouldn’t play football without fans involved.

“If we’re playing the game, we’ll be playing it in front of fans,” Lyke said. “If there is a concern about human contact, we wouldn’t be playing the game.”

But despite an offseason of doubt, confusion and adjustments due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Pitt indeed played a football game without a single fan in attendance Saturday. The Panthers opened the season with a 55-0 victory over the Austin Peay Governors filled with highlights on both sides of the ball.

After losing star defensive lineman Rashad Weaver to a season-ending injury in training camp last year, Pitt fans looked forward to seeing his return to the field Saturday. But they will have to wait at least another week, as Weaver tweeted Saturday that he’d miss the season opener due to two positive COVID-19 tests.

Weaver expressed his frustration in his tweets, saying different companies provided him with different test results.

“It’s not adding up,” Weaver said.

“Let’s call it spade for spade. Company 1 the common denominator.”

Weaver was not the only player out — Pitt announced 40 minutes before the game that a total of seven players would not attend due to COVID-related protocols. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi refused to give any more details about the missing players and said he anticipates having everybody back for next week.

Austin Peay came into Saturday’s matchup as one of the few programs in the country with a game under its belt.

The Governors played the NCAA’s first college football game of the fall two weeks ago, losing a nail-biter to Central Arkansas.

After missing the team’s first game, the Governors’ preseason All-OVC wide receiver DeAngelo Wilson made his presence known right away, catching a 9-yard pass on the game’s first play from scrimmage. After rushing for the first down on the next play, Pitt’s defense stifled the

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Governors’ next set of downs. A thirddown heave resulted in preseason AllAmerican safety Paris Ford’s first interception of his junior campaign.

Pitt took advantage of the strong field position, with senior quarterback Kenny Pickett and senior running back A.J. Davis marching the Panthers down the field. A 2-yard touchdown rush by redshirt freshman Daniel Carter gave the Panthers their first points of the season.

Jimmy Morrissey, redshirt senior offensive lineman and co-captain, said the team adjusted quickly to the unusual gameday atmosphere, which included ar-

flexed his mobility on the next play, diving for the pylon to put Pitt up 14-0.

The Governors finally got their offense moving on the next possession, but stalled their momentum with a missed 35-yard field goal. The Panthers capitalized immediately with graduate transfer DJ Turner, who joined the team earlier this month, pulling in a 51-yard touchdown pass from Pickett.

Sophomore running back Vincent Davis and redshirt junior Todd Sibley Jr.’s second-quarter goal-line rushes gave the Panthers six touchdowns on their first six possessions of the game. Redshirt se-

The Panthers opened the season with a 55-0 victory over the Austin Peay Governors on Saturday. Sarah Cutshall Visual Editor

tificial crowd noises to mimic a normal environment.

“Once pregame warmups were over, you’re kind of already in the swing of things,” Morrissey said. “Especially when that first ball snaps, it’s game time, so you don’t really pay any attention to it. It felt like Christmas morning, though, playing football for the first time in a long time.”

After the Panthers forced a punt on the ensuing possession, it only took Pitt’s offense two plays to get the ball in the end zone again. Pickett connected with junior wideout Shocky Jacques-Louis on a 68-yard bomb to put the Panthers in scoring position, and the quarterback

nior Alex Kessman missed a 42-yard field goal on the first half ’s final play, and Pitt headed into the break with a 42-0 lead.

Both teams agreed to shorten the third and fourth quarters to 10 minutes each.

Redshirt freshman Davis Beville replaced Pickett as quarterback on the final drive of the first half, after Pickett put together an impressive statline in his brief playing time — completing 14 of 20 passes for 277 yards and a touchdown, adding 23 yards and a touchdown with his feet.

Narduzzi praised Pickett’s leadership in the week leading up to game day.

“He’s the key to our offense. He’s go-

September 16,2020

ing to be a great leader now as a captain and a quarterback,” Narduzzi said. “He did an outstanding job. I don’t know if you could have played any better than Kenny Pickett played today.”

With Beville and redshirt freshman Joey Yellen alternating possessions as signal-callers, Pitt didn’t add to its lead in the third quarter. An interception from Panthers redshirt sophomore defensive back Erick Hallett should’ve given Pitt the ball on the Governors’ 26-yard line, but a personal foul after the play pushed them back to the 41. An ensuing threeand-out gave the ball right back to the struggling Austin Peay offense early in the fourth quarter.

Despite the Panther offense’s slow second half, it didn’t stop Pitt from getting some points on the board in the fourth quarter. Sibley Jr. blocked a punt deep in the Governors’ territory, scooped it up and jogged into the end zone untouched.

A botched snap resulted in a failed extra point attempt for the Panthers on the next play. Pitt blocked the punt on the next Austin Peay possession as well, setting up a 4-yard rushing touchdown from Davis.

Ford relished the opportunity to cheer on his teammates that came off the bench in the second half.

“Those guys, they’re on their feet cheering for me, so I feel like it’s only right that I show them my respect and my energy for them,” Ford said. “I love seeing those guys. Our young guys are definitely gonna be good for the future.”

Pitt received contributions deep into its lineup at the running back position.

Five different Panthers recorded rushing touchdowns on Saturday, the first time since Pitt’s notorious 2016 offensive shootout against Syracuse, Pitt Athletics said.

After All-American defensive tackle Jaylen Twyman opted out of the season in August, last year’s dominant defensive front scrambled for a replacement leading up to the season opener. But Pitt didn’t miss a beat, providing constant pressure on the Governors’ backfield, holding Austin Peay to a measly 3 rushing yards for the entire game.

13

MYLES ALSTON LOOKS TO BRING VERSATILITY FOR PITT RECEIVING CORPS

Camryn Simons Staff Writer

Ocean Lakes wide receiver Myles Alston became the newest addition to Pitt’s 2021 recruiting class when he tweeted his commitment in April. He’s one of three prospects from Virginia currently locked in to play for Pitt next year, joined by running backs Rodney Hammond and Malik Newton.

Rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals, and No. 18 prospect in the state, the 6-foot1 175-pound wide receiver from Virginia Beach chose Pitt over his other final six choices — Virginia, Virginia Tech, Ole Miss, Maryland, Liberty and Appalachian State.

Although offers from strong local programs such as Virginia and Virginia Tech drew his interest, Pitt made the most sense to Alston because of the effort it spent recruiting him. The Panthers’ pursuits made

him feel like they valued his talents more than others.

“The way that I looked at the recruiting process, I wanted a school that recruited me like an artist that made me feel like I belong there,” Alston said. “Pittsburgh stood out.

They made me feel like I was home. They definitely pushed harder than any other

has helped Pitt establish a recruiting pipeline in Virginia, especially with wideouts like Alston.

“I have personal connections [at Pitt].

Coach Beatty, he’s from my area,” Alston said. “I’ve known him since I was 14 so we already had a relationship.”

Alston earned scholarship offers from

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Wide receiver Myles Alston is the newest addition to Pitt’s 2021 recruiting class. Photo Courtesy of Myles Alston

school did.”

Alston’s personal connection with Pitt wide receivers coach Chris Beatty also influenced his decision to become a Panther.

Beatty — a fellow Virginia native — made his way up the Virginia high school prep ranks early in his coaching career, ultimately being named the Virginia 3A Coach of the Year after winning the 2004 state championship. His reputation in the state

four ACC schools in large part thanks to his versatility and athleticism. Listed at the “athlete” position by 247Sports, he presented the opportunity for teams to use him at multiple positions.

“I feel like versatility and being able to play in all three receiver spots, whether it's the outsides or in the slot. I can play wherever,” Alston said. “Just being that guy with the magnetic energy. I’m bringing every-

September 16,2020

body together, playing my hardest, making my teammates better and getting better. I feel like I bring that to the table.”

Making visits to Pitt throughout his recruitment, Alston enjoyed the fast-paced excitement of being in the City. He said he needed to attend a college where he could thrive on and off the football field. Pitt fulfilled these requirements due to its campus life and academics, as he is considering studying kinesiology.

“I like that it's not in the middle of nowhere,” Alston said. “At Pittsburgh, I feel like it's a good spot. I feel like I could see myself starting a life there, being a student in Pittsburgh without football.”

After the Virginia High School League decided to postpone high school football this fall, Alston made the tough decision to forgo his senior season of football. Instead, he’ll spend that time preparing to play at the college level and even plans to get a head start academically by enrolling at Pitt in January.

“It was a shocker at first. Me and all my other senior friends were all disappointed that we weren’t going to have a senior season,” Alston said. “I just made the best of it and took the time to prepare for Pittsburgh and get ready for college.”

Looking ahead at his future in Pittsburgh, Alston has set goals to strive for both on and off the field.

“Of course I want to win. I’m sure everyone shares that motive on Pittsburgh,” Alston said. “Personally, I want to get better.

I want to become a better person outside of football, better student and ultimately a better athlete just to elevate my game as much as I can and embrace every moment.”

Alston can’t wait to get on the field donning blue and gold, but there’s one ACC matchup in particular he’s circled for the future.

“I hope UNC gets on the schedule when I’m up there,” Alston said. “One of my friends from my city, he’s at UNC now.

I’m most looking forward to playing against him.”

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