9-5-17

The Pitt News

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | September 5, 2017 | Volume 108 | Issue 17

GRAD UNION SUPPORTERS COOK OUT

MEN’S SOCCER SCORES FIRST, SECOND WIN

RECAP PAGE 10

Janine Faust

Assistant News Editor Abby Cartus figured celebrating Labor Day surrounded by fellow union organizers and supporters was a good way to kick off the academic year.

“Everybody’s just here to chill out and reconnect after being away for the summer,” Cartus said. “Then we’ll buckle back down on organizing.”

Cartus — a member of Pitt’s Graduate Student Union Organizing Committee and student in the School of Public Health — spent her Labor Day afternoon munching on watermelon, hot dogs and cake at the Camp David L. Lawrence Pavilion in Schenley Park. She rubbed elbows with members of Pitt’s Faculty Union Organizing Committee, as well as members of United Steelworkers chapter 10-88, which consists of faculty unions from Robert Morris University and Point Javi Perez (6) celebrates with his team after scoring on a penalty kick during Pitt’s 2-0 win Friday.

Thomas Yang STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Park University.

Pitt’s graduate student unionization effort began in October 2015 when the committee voted to affiliate with the United Steelworkers, a national industrial union that has helped faculty at other Pittsburgh schools, such as Point Park and Robert tants gathered at Bakery Square on Sunday, wait- experience, the judges denied her from advancRose Luder Morris, successfully unionize. ing for their chance to audition for “American ing to the next round.

Staff Writer Jason McCune, an adjunct professor of fine “American Idol,” a reality TV show that raises Idol” and prove to the show’s producers that they Kanti Kasa’s mother spent time singing on arts at Point Park and president of 10-88, said have what it takes to make it in the music indus- previously unknown singers to stardom, has prothe purpose of the event was for Pitt’s graduate Broadway and raised Kasa to do the same. duced award-winning singer-songwriters such as try.

But unlike her mom, Kasa — who was born students to mingle with the already-established “When I sung my song to the person, he gave Carrie Underwood, Kelly Clarkson and Adam unions and get advice and encouragement from with the name Deliylah Johnson — doesn’t want me this face, his mouth dropped,” Kasa said. “I Lambert. The show, originally run by Fox, went to be on a stage in New York. Her goal is to take them. off the air last year after running for 15 seasons, could tell I was singing well.” the stage in front of the world.

Kasa, 24, is a professional singer.

Despite her See Union on page 3 See Idol on page 3 Kasa and hundreds of other hopeful contes-

CONTESTANTS COMPETE FOR ‘IDOL’ FAME

News

Interactive crime map online

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ADJUST TO LIFE AT PITT

Shutian Shen, a senior psychology major, came to Pitt from Guangzhou, China.

Courtesy of Shutian Shen

Rose Luder Staff Writer Violet Jiao is no stranger to culture shock.

When she first came to the United States, the openness of the people she met and their willingness to casually converse took her by surprise.

“They were so different from my people. In my country, no one will suddenly talk with a stranger on the street,” Jiao said. “I felt really weird at first, but now I’m used to it.”

Currently a sophomore, Jiao comes from China, and plans to pursue majors in the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences and the College of Business Administration.

While around 64 percent of Pitt students call somewhere within Pennsylvania “home,” four percent of Pitt’s undergraduates come from places as far as China, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia. Pitt educates about 715 international students in its undergraduate programs alone, according to the University’s Office of Institutional Research.

Just like American students, many international students are attracted to Pitt for both its premier academic programs and its urban location.

Shutian Shen came from Guangzhou, China, to study at Pitt, and is now entering her senior year as a psychology major.

“I always wanted to go abroad for school, and I was looking for somewhere where I could do research,” Shen said. “And then Pittsburgh is this big city with lots of

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sports and art and other things to do, so coming to Pitt was kind of perfect.”

Yiqin Ni, a sophomore studying actuarial math, agreed Pitt’s location was a large factor in her decision to attend the University.

“I really liked the setting of Pitt. I’m from Shanghai and [coming] from a really big city, and it’s kind of a small town, city kind of thing,” Ni said. “And it’s also a big University so you still get to experience a lot of culture and diversity.”

Despite all of Pitt’s assets, international students face challenges at Pitt they would not experience at an institution in their own countries. One obvious challenge is the language barrier, which makes already-challenging classes even more difficult.

Jiao expressed concern that, despite living in America for two years, her lack of confidence in English is still holding her back.

“The language barrier is still bothering me,” Jiao said.

“I don’t have courage to choose some classes which I’m interested in since I’m worried that maybe I can’t understand, and I can’t join some clubs for the same reason.”

Shen said issues with language can also have academic consequences, pointing out writing assignments are more difficult for international students than they are for native English speakers.

“I didn’t have a lot of difficulties reading or understanding, but I had some challenges with essays,” Shen said. “Sometimes I’ll fall into this mistake where I keep writing with redundancy, and professors who have taught me have pointed out that I had this problem.”

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Aside from academic struggles, some international students feel a cultural divide also makes social interactions more difficult in college. Ali Balubaid, a senior biomedical engineering major from Saudi Arabia, said it takes more effort to make and maintain relationships as an international student.

“The way of life and set of ideals are different in the U.S. than in other areas of the world,” Balubaid said.

“Priorities are different, expectations are different, and with all this it’s hard to interact with people in a ‘normal’ way, which makes the friend-making process tougher.”

With the inevitable challenges resulting from going to school in a new country, students say Pitt adequately provides the resources and environment necessary for international students to succeed.

Some of these resources include a special Global Series within the Office of Career Development and Placement Assistance, as well as the Global Ties program in the Office of Cross Cultural and Leadership Development, which strives to build a community for international students at Pitt.

“The school has been very helpful. They give you a lot of opportunities to meet people. So I’m a minority of people, but I’m involved in a lot of organizations with people like me,” Ni said.

Jiao also said Pitt has offered her all of the resources she needed, and expressed how grateful she was to have the opportunity to study abroad.

“I think when you come and see a different culture it gives you a new perspective,” Jiao said. “That’s so important, for everybody.”

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Idol, pg. 1 but support from fans led ABC to pick the show up.

Though all contestants at Sunday’s auditions were between the age limit requirements of 15 and 28, they came from a range of backgrounds and skill levels and possessed widely varied singing experience. Many of the contestants who auditioned on Sunday have been watching the show since it first premiered in 2001 and are excited for the upcoming season in 2018.

Hannah Jenkins, a 22-year-old from the Southside with a bachelor’s degree in music business, said she had been singing for years before finally deciding to audition for the show.

“I’ve never missed a single episode of ‘American Idol’ since I was in first grade,” Jenkins said. “I was meant to be on this show.”

To get on the show, contestants must either submit a video online or audition before one of the show’s producers, who then decide if the singer moves on to the next round of auditions.

At Sunday’s auditions, five producers — each sitting under their own individual white tent — watched singers perform. Contestants waited their turn in a small green space before approaching the tents. On the sidelines, friends and family of the performers stood behind a line of yellow caution tape just a few hundred feet from the white tent “stages.”

Karlie Marie, a student at the Community College of Allegheny County, said it was her first time auditioning for “American Idol,” although she had previously auditioned and was denied a spot for “The Voice,” another competitive singing show.

“It was really nerve-racking, singing in front

Union, pg. 1 “We want to show them that a union that represents their interests can be created. They shouldn’t lose heart or hope and should keep putting one foot in front of the other until good things happen,” McCune said.

The organizing committee officially announced their campaign to unionize at Pitt in January 2016 at a press conference alongside faculty members’ announcement of their own union campaign. They began collecting union cards last February.

“We’re still in the process of collecting cards and reaching the 30 percent necessary for USW to apply to hold an election here through the PA Labor Board,” Cartus said.

In order to form a union and gain the right to collectively bargain for a labor contract with the University, a simple majority of those eligible to vote must vote in favor of the union. At Pitt, 5,281 faculty members and about 3,000 gradu-

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of all those people, but fun,” Karlie Marie said of the open-air Idol auditions, the first in the city since 2015.

“American Idol” held auditions in Oakland in 2015 and at Heinz Field in 2012. Many contestants who auditioned Sunday were rejected at these past auditions, but returned this year hopeful for the future.

Nekeya Farrington, 27, walked to the auditions from her home in Garfield, accompanied by her two small children, age four and seven.

“This is my second time auditioning. I’ve been waiting for [Idol] to come back, because they say I have a beautiful voice,” Farrington said.

Farrington was rejected once again from the first round of auditions, but remains hopeful that, with a little extra training, she can become Idol material.

“This time he said I just have to work a little harder, that I have a beautiful voice and that I just have to work with a voice coach,” Farrington said.

Although Farrington is only eligible to audition for one more year, she plans to audition again in 2018 if the producer tour bus returns to Pittsburgh. Farrington said she wants to be an American Idol even more now that she has kids who look up to her.

Producers accepted few singers this year for the subsequent competition round, where individuals perform for the show’s executive producers or celebrity judges. In 2015, when auditions came to Oakland, only about 20 people advanced. But morale remained high this year, and contestants vowed to keep trying to achieve their dreams.

“It just depends on if the judge likes you, really,” Jenkins said. “So it makes sense to keep trying.

And it’s just fun auditioning, it’s all about fun.”

ate student employees are eligible to sign interest cards, though the Pennsylvania Labor Board will decide who is eligible to vote in a union election.

McCune said Point Park’s adjunct faculty union ratified its constitution in 2015 and was one of the first unions in the country created for part-time professors. Since then, he said, the organization has made great progress.

“We now have more power to speak on issues concerning academic freedom and job security and are building specific committees for specific issues, like a civil rights committee,” he said.

At Pitt, graduate student employees are likewise calling for more academic freedom and job security, as well as higher pay and increased transparency.

Pitt’s administration came out in opposition of the graduate union in July, saying it would not be in the best interests of students.

Find the full story online at

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September 5, 2017

3

Opinions column

from the editorial board

Elephant death tragic, but zoo still does more good than harm With Labor Day signalling the end of the summer season for many Pittsburghers, a number chose to take the day off to visit the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium.

Most came to see the animals. But after the deaths of a three-month-old elephant calf and the zoo’s oldest male tiger in rapid succession last week, some residents are coming to sound off, not to spectate.

A protest planned for later this month the zoo includes the two recent deaths in a list of accusations of animal mishandling.

According to the event page, protesters will demand an end to the zoo’s breeding program that the elephant calf was part of as well as a general release of the park’s animals into wildlife sanctuaries.

The events of the past week were unquestionably tragic, and the zoo should give serious consideration to the future of its elephant breeding program. But demands to essentially shutter the zoo are counterproductive and would likely do more harm than good to the animals and anyone involved.

The elephant calf that died last week was conceived through the process of artificial insemination of one of the zoo’s female elephants. When the calf ’s mother rejected it after its premature, underweight birth, it received care exclusively from zoo employees, who fed it a mixture of formula and milk from another elephant mother.

After teething began, keepers were forced to insert a feeding tube. Zoo officials only made the decision to eutha-

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nize the baby elephant after tube feedings became ineffective and the calf stopped gaining weight consistently.

In a statement given after the death, Pittsburgh Zoo President and CEO Barbara Baker expressed the organization’s sense of bereavement.

“Our hearts are broken,” Baker said.

“It’s just devastating.”

While protesters might disagree with the zoo’s move, it seems unfair to say that the calf ’s keepers acted with anything remotely resembling cruelty.

Elephant breeding via artificial insemination — a practice the Pittsburgh Zoo pioneered in tandem with the Vienna Zoo — is still a very young technique, and the program should go forward with more caution following the mother’s rejection of the calf that died last week. But conservationists in Europe and the United States credit the program with helping to support a rapidly dwindling African elephant population, and demands that it be suspended entirely are counterintuitive.

Beyond simply preserving the African elephant species, the Pittsburgh Zoo contributes significantly to elephants’ overall health and quality of life. Researchers at the city’s zoo developed a treatment for elephants with tuberculosis last year, for example.

Protesters rightfully find recent animal deaths at the zoo objectionable, and they shouldn’t let the deaths go without response. But ignoring the positives that a zoo can give to endangered animals like the African elephant does harm to the future of the species.

ERADICATING RACISM IS ABOUT RESPONSIBILITY, NOT STATUES

Elise Lavallee

Contributing Editor With racial violence gripping Charlottesville, Virginia, last month, the nation’s moral conscience was transfixed.

The full scale of hatred on display from white supremacists and neo-Nazis was enough to persuade communities across the country to reconsider the continuing public position of racially insensitive statues, which were at the center of the violence in Virginia.

But America’s race problem runs far deeper than Confederate statues erected to intimidate people of color during the Jim Crow era. And though removing the statues is a necessary step in helping to eradicate racism, it is not enough on its own.

The United States has a long history of inequality, and our history of misunderstanding racism is equally long. We have allowed for a culture that continues to see racism as more of a character flaw than a systemic problem that needs to be eradicated.

If we want to progress past the ugliness of racism, we must take it into our own hands and hold one another accountable for racist and prejudiced mindsets.

This includes not only removing Confederate memorials from the public sphere, but also updating the way in which we both teach and portray history in schools, in the media and in our everyday lives.

The end of de jure segregation with the civil rights movement of the 1950s and ‘60s left many individuals believing that the problem had been solved and that any remaining racism would fade. Yet white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups, such as the Ku Klux Klan, are alive and

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well due to our inability to confront the problem head on.

The United States currently has 10 military bases, 109 schools and 718 monuments which are dedicated to or named after Confederate icons. But in light of recent racially-driven events, many cities are calling to have these monuments removed.

Some, including President Donald Trump, argue that removing “beautiful” Confederate monuments is akin to erasing history. But these monuments are not historically important in the way these individuals might believe.

Most Confederate statues were not erected in the years following the Civil War, but years later during the Jim Crow era. The people who erected these monuments were motivated by a desire to maintain oppression and racial domination over black people living in the South.

Choosing to build monuments celebrating individuals who supported inequality and systems of oppression creates space for people to see those mentalities as acceptable — a space that shouldn’t exist in modern America.

But more problematic than monuments that were erected to intimidate people of color are historic views which erase their experiences.

The Eurocentric point of view that permeates our history textbooks also plays a major role in perpetuating distorted perspectives of slavery and the black experience. It’s likely these portrayals come from a place of guilt, rather than hate, but that doesn’t make the perpetuation of false narratives any less deadly.

Unlike other countries, including See Lavallee on page 5

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Lavallee, pg. 4 France, Japan and the United Kingdom, the United States does not have a “standard” history curriculum. Our parents’ generation was taught a very narrow perspective of the Civil War. Books placed an emphasis on states’ rights rather than the immorality of slavery, and almost entirely ignored the African-American perspective. One New York textbook from 1957 referred to the KKK’s mission of racial terrorism as “patriotic.”

Our own generation’s Civil War education also varies from state to state.

Though generally improved since the ‘50s, the narrative taught in schools to-

rights and romanticizes slavery.

Of course, the media and education systems of the whole country aren’t going to change overnight. That’s where we come in. Ignoring racism is a privilege — if someone can simply ignore the effects of discrimination, it’s likely that it doesn’t affect them personally. And ignorance of privilege provides a climate desirable for racism to breed in.

If everyone is raised with a factual historical background, in an environment of accountability, racist behaviors won’t have the same opportunity to culminate as they currently do.

There is no comfortable way to confront someone about racist comments, but sometimes simply saying “You

Robert E. Lee

Slave owner, Hero Elise Lavallee CONTRIBUTING EDITOR day still often lacks much of the AfricanAmerican perspective that would help individuals to fully grasp the reality of chattel slavery. Just two years ago, black students in Texas accused publisher McGraw Hill of “erasing slavery” when referring to the Africans brought to America as “workers” instead of slaves.

But the education system is not alone in whitewashing black history. Different forms of media, from films to novels and even to “nonfiction” books, have altered the way in which Americans perceive the history of racism in the United States.

Think of “Gone With the Wind,” which, despite being dramatically entertaining, paints the Civil War as an issue of states’

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shouldn’t say things like that,” or perhaps providing them an example of why they’re mistaken, will encourage them to think before they speak. Clearly, there is a difference in feeling uncomfortable and actually putting yourself in a dangerous position. But individuals who have to deal with racism everyday don’t just get to stop doing so because it makes them uncomfortable, and neither should you.

Unfortunately, there is no way to control a single person’s mentality, but making the collective decision to confront racist mentalities will deter those ideologies from spreading — and might help more than simply removing a statue.

September 5, 2017

5

Culture

Cats cradled in Schenley Plaza for

q

hCaturday

Sarah Morris Staff Writer

OSchenley Memorial

n the grass by the Mary

Fountain, a crowd of several dozen people parted down the middle as a retired show cat, looking remarkably like a small lion, strutted down the path.

The cat who stole everyone’s attention — Snickers — was later passed around gently from person to person as they each took their turn holding him and getting a photo.

Many people brought their feline friends to Schenley Plaza for an event dubbed “First Caturday,” originally scheduled for Saturday, Sept.

2, but postponed until Labor Day due to weather. The event — which spread via Facebook and had a turnout of about a dozen cats — aimed to get people to bring their cats into the great outdoors and to socialize.

The cats organized the event, according to Caturday’s event description on Facebook. Besides advising fellow cats to care responsibly for their humans, the emoji-filled description said the event is for cat-owners to help each other make their pets happier and healthier, and to make friends in the process.

Rebecca Herald and Jon Moore — Snickers’ owners — looked on as their cat made several new human friends.

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Julissa Brown (left) and Claire Hickey hold Snickers, a retired show cat.

Courtesy of Sarah Morris

Wenhao Wu ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR “He was a retired show cat that I rescued,” Herald said. “He won Grand Premiership in 2002 and 2003 at The Cat Fanciers’ Association Cat Show. So we have his awards hanging on the fridge like proud parents.”

Snickers was the most popular cat, but he wasn’t alone — about a dozen other cats scattered across the area. Some were on leashes, others sat in their owners’ arms and a few stayed firmly in their carriers — possibly overwhelmed by the sizable event.

One of these carrier-bound scaredy-cats was Pittsburgh resident Cassandra Morris’

pet Niko, a black and white cat with his moniker printed neatly on a metal tag hanging from his collar. Niko remained in his carrier, observing the excitement around him and sipping water to stay cool in the 80 degree heat.

“He’s two years old and he’s leash trained,” Morris said. “We go on walks in our backyard. I’ve taken him to a park before, but never one with so many people.

He’s a little overwhelmed.”

Morris wasn’t put off by Niko’s slight fear, though, saying that she’s always looking for ways to make him more of an adventure cat.

Other guests included Kimchi, a little gray cat who spent the afternoon hang-

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ing out on people’s shoulders, and, oddly enough, a ferret sporting a bright lime-green leash.

Although the ferret wasn’t a cat, attendees still crowded around it, trying to get a look.

Not all of the people present brought a pet — cat or ferret. Many were there simply to meet the animals and spend some time with them. A lot of these people were students, including Claire Hickey, a sophomore at Pitt majoring in mathematics.

“I actually haven’t had a cat since I was seven because that’s when she died, unfortunately, so I’ve had dogs ever since,” Hickey said. “But I just thought taking a break from something as tedious as calc II and coming to pet a nice, soft, furry kitty would be a great way to spend a day off from school.”

A lot of college students don’t get to spend time with animals, living most of their undergrad years in dorms or See Caturday on page 8

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‘RIck And morty’ fans flourish as millenials Embrace Dark Humor Lexi Kennell Culture Editor

The Pitt News SuDoku 9/5/17 courtesy of dailysudoku.com

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The Pitt news crossword 9/5/17

Liam McFadden | STAFF ILLUSTRATOR

“Nobody exists on purpose, nobody belongs anywhere, everybody’s going to die. Come watch TV.” Morty Smith says this to his sister Summer in season one, episode eight of “Rick and Morty,” referencing the show itself along with its nihilistic and existential premise.

“Rick and Morty” — a television show on Cartoon Network’s “Adult Swim” created by Justin Roiland and Dan Harmon — centers not only around the strange and absurd misadventures of an alcoholic scientist and his mediocre-minded grandson, but

also around the human tendency to seek meaning in life and the frustrating failure to find it.

About one million people between the ages of 18 and 49 watched the April 1 season three premiere. And the absurdist-based writing is what drives millennials to the show.

With dark humor surrounding existential dread and grave apathy, it’s no wonder the show has become a hit among young adults.

But why are young adults seeking a show that mocks sentimentality, explores the arbitrary nature of human social systems and cracks nonsensical and often morbid jokes?

Millennials — the largest generation in U.S. history — account for 92 million Americans. Growing up in the land of opportunity, American millennials believed they would have jobs if they invested all of their time and money into college.

But that simply isn’t the case — according to a Goldman See RIck and Morty on page 8

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Caturday, pg. 6

Rick and Morty, pg. 7

apartments that aren’t pet friendly. A local event like Caturday gives students the opportunity to see some friendly pets and take comfort in their presences — something Julissa Brown, a sophomore and nursing major at Pitt, appreciates.

“I personally have a cat at home — [a] fat, orange guy. Last year one of the hardest parts about college was not having that companionship anymore,” Brown said. “So it’s nice — I didn’t know this existed.”

Hopefully these students — and other members of the community — will continue to show up at these get-togethers.

There is another Caturday event on Oct. 7, so students can spend another Saturday afternoon meeting new felines.

Hickey and Brown both quickly had Snickers the show cat in their arms, finding warm, fuzzy solace in his smushed-in face.

While spending quality time with Snickers, Brown ruminated on the size of the crowd, and her voice took on a level of goodnatured snark.

“This just shows that dog people are not superior, that cat people exist and that cats can be normal and nice and friendly and socialize,” Brown said.

Sachs report on millennials, 23 percent of 18- to 31-year-olds lived in their own household and were married as of 2012, down 33 percent from 1968. The report also shows that there are lower employment levels and less income for younger people compared to previous generations — and student loans eat up much of millennials’ incomes.

If you’ve been watching the news for the past 15 to 20 years, you’ve noticed more aggravated instances of terrorism, social injustice and nuclear warfare threats. And being the first generation raised with the internet literally in our pockets, we can easily watch, read and share traumatic national and even global conflicts 24/7 — which can become taxing on mental health.

So in a time of little financial stability and turbulent foreign relations, millennials are gravitating toward nonsensical, absurd humor and poignantly grim humor — like “Rick and Morty” — to help cope with events largely outside their control.

We see this same silly yet disturbingly dark humor all over the internet — from memes about wanting the “sweet release of death” to self-deprecating posts joking about how insignificant and small one is in the grand scheme of

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the infinite universe.

And if you think this explanation is silly, just look at the Dadaist art movement that blossomed following World War I, and then the Neo-Dadaist movement in the 1950s and ‘60s. The movements — created to combat traditional bourgeois art — expressed people’s disillusionment with the world after a time of political and economic turmoil.

While “Rick and Morty” exhibits traits seen in Neo-Dadaism, the show mainly wrestles with the idea of humans trying to seek their life’s purpose. The show’s dialogue is quite possibly its most nihilistic aspect, often laden with existential realizations or breakdowns.

In season one’s fifth episode, Rick shows the family a Meeseeks Box — a contraption that materializes a blue creature every time the button is pushed. The blue creature — otherwise known as a Meeseeks — exists solely to help a human with a simple task, and then disappears shortly after the task has been completed, almost like a genie.

Beth uses a Meeseeks to become a more “complete woman,” Summer uses one to become more popular at school and Jerry asks one to help him get two strokes off of his golf game. Beth and Summers’ Meeseeks help them achieve their goals, but Jerry’s Meeseeks fails in helping Jerry lower his golf score. This not only

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lengthens his Meeseeks’ existence, but lengthens it so long that the Meeseeks becomes aware of its own existence.

“Existence is pain to a Meeseeks, Jerry, and we will do anything to alleviate that pain,” his Meeseeks says.

Meeseeks are a reflection of our own selfrealization — once we are aware of our own existence, life starts to become more complicated, and some would even say painful. Harmon and Roiland have a way of subtly working these thought-provoking, philosophical concepts in between juvenile and often crude humor to create the perfect show for a millennial to escape into.

And even if not every character on the show believes life is meaningless, they all can agree — as can most people I know — that life is not easy. Jerry, who is content with not knowing his life’s purpose and lives an average life, is depicted as the whiny and naive father. The show juxtaposes nihilistic Rick — Jerry’s fatherin-law — with blissfully unaware Jerry, almost as if Rick took the red pill from “The Matrix” while Jerry took the blue pill.

“Rick and Morty” obviously favors Rick’s outlook on life, but still gives Jerry the opportunity to explain himself, such as in shouted words from episode seven of season one — “Life is effort, and I’ll stop when I die.”

8

Sports

WEEKEND MAX BROWNE BUCKLES IN PANTHERS DEBUT SPORTS RECAPS Later on, with the Panthers’ lead down to seven, Browne again stayed in the pocket too long, taking another third down sack.

As redshirt senior quarterback This time, he fumbled, and the Max Browne hit wide receiver Penguins were set up for their Jester Weah for the game-winning game-tying drive. touchdown this Saturday against If he had hung onto the ball — Youngstown State, Panther fans or even thrown it away and taken saw a flash of what made Browne a an intentional grounding call — five-star recruit coming out of high the Panthers would have been able school. to punt it away and pin the PenBut that wasn’t an accurate guins deep in their own end. This representation of Browne’s Panther would have given the Panthers’ debut. If anything, it was an outlier. defense a better chance to preserve Throughout the game, Browne the lead, and overtime might not looked uncomfortable in the pocket have been necessary. and relied on simple throws to Browne looked nothing like the move the offense. player he was built up to be comHead Coach Pat Narduzzi and ing out of high school. He didn’t Offensive Coordinator Shawn Watdeal with the pass rush well and son didn’t ask Browne to do much couldn’t find receivers down the in the first half other than a 30 yard field. Still, after the game, he and completion to tight end Matt FlaNarduzzi said they were encournagan, since the Panthers relied on aged with the performance. their strong running game to wear “I don’t think it was bad. I down the Penguins’ defense. think he thinks he played pretty Quick, screen passes to the Max Browne completed 17 of 24 passes in Pitt’s good, as I talked to him after the outside dominated the team’s pass28-21 win over Youngstown State. game,” Narduzzi said. “It’s been over ing attack, and Browne got away with Anna Bongardino ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR a year since started a game, so you’re staring down his receivers, escaping going to be a little rusty.” the first half without a turnover.

In the second half, the Penguins Despite Browne’s positive self-assessThis was thanks to the Panthers’ run- began to figure out the Panthers’ rushing ment, his strong overtime performance ning backs, led by redshirt junior Qadree attack, forcing the offense to become doesn’t cover up the glaring flaws in his Ollison. Pitt’s backs ran for a whopping more pass heavy down the stretch. Watfirst game as a Panther. The majority of 146 yards in the first half, and the unit’s son tried to go back to the short passes his completions were screen passes, and success gave Browne and his receivers from the first half, but Youngstown had when forced to air it out, he couldn’t get room along the line of scrimmage for adjusted to that too. the job done. short passes.

The Panthers eventually changed This is the kind of play that someone More than anything, Browne mantheir attack, relying on Browne to make might expect from an average quarteraged the game in the first half, which more complicated throws. From there on, back — not a 5-star recruit. And next allowed the team to exploit the talent he looked very out of sorts. week, the competition gets a lot tougher deficiency of an non-BCS team whose After a blocked punt in the fourth as the Panthers take on No. 6 Penn State. strategy allowed the underneath passes. quarter gave Pitt the ball at the Pitt’s chances likely hinge on Browne’s “[Youngstown State was] sitting with Youngstown 4-yard line, the Panthers ability to carry the passing game, and two high safeties most of the game, so it had an opportunity to grab a threeafter this performance, it doesn’t look was just a simple numbers game, that’s possession lead and put the game out good, no matter how much he wants to one less guy in the box,” Browne said afof reach. Faced with a third and goal, beat his new rival. ter the game. “That’s a factor why we had Browne held onto the ball too long and “I know I’m supposed to hate them,” so much success in the run game early.” took a sack that backed up the Panthers Browne said about Penn State after Still, he didn’t face much pressure and seven yards. Freshman Alex Kessman Saturday’s win. “[So] I guess I do hate wasn’t tested often. In the second half of then came in and missed a 28-yard field them.” the game, he showed his weaknesses. goal.

David Leftwich Staff Writer

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September 5, 2017

It was a busy weekend for Pitt sports, with five teams competing ahead of ACC play. Here’s a rundown of how they fared — read the full recaps at pittnews.com.

FOOTBALL OVERCOMES LATE YSU RALLY IN SEASON OPENER

Pitt 28 Youngstown State 21

WOMENʼS VOLLEYBALL GOES 1-1 AT DAYTON INVITATIONAL

Game 1: Iowa State 3, Pitt 2 Game 2: Pitt 3, Dayton 0 WOMENʼS SOCCER LOSES, ENDING 5 GAME WINNING STREAK

Illinois State 1 Pitt 0

Matt Hawley STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

MENʼS AND WOMENʼS CROSS COUNTRY NAB TOP FINISHES

Women place first overall.

Men take second place.

MENʼS SOCCER WINS SECOND STRAIGHT

See page 10 for full recap.

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MEN’S SOCCER SCORES SECOND WIN

PITT FOOTBALL QUIETS PLAYERS AHEAD OF PSU

Ryan Zimba |Sports Editor Pitt football announced Sunday that Head Coach Pat Narduzzi would be the sole spokesperson for the team this week, shutting down player interviews ahead of the rivalry game against Penn State on Saturday.

The program followed the same policy last year in an attempt to keep the players focused on the important matchup.

It seemed to have paid off last year, as the Panthers stormed out to a 28-7 lead in the first half before hanging on to win 42-39. This year, though, the No. 6 Nittany Lions are the heavy favorites, and it will be a difficult task for Pitt to pull off the upset.

The contest kicks off at 3 p.m. at Beaver Stadium in State College.

Senior defenseman Robby Dambrot fights for a ball during the men’s soccer game Friday night.

Thomas Yang STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER fenseman Robby Dambrot, who kicked it long down the field to Dominic Campbell Dexter. Dexter controlled the ball well with his first touch and blastStaff Writer ed it into the net with his second to give the Panthers the 1-0 lead.

In its last game before conference play next weekend, the Pitt From then on, the half was pretty quiet offensively, as neither men’s soccer team hit the road to take on the Loyola Greyhounds, team could get a shot off. The Panthers earned a corner in the 36th winning by a score of 1-0 to improve to 2-2 on the year. minute, but nothing came of it, and the team went into the locker First-year forward Alexander Dexter was the lone goal scorer room with a one-goal lead. of the night, putting the Panthers up 1-0 in the 30th minute. The Despite having the lead at the break, the Panthers couldn’t have shot was Pitt’s only one on goal, but it was good enough to get past felt too good about their first half. They were outplayed by the Greyfirst-year goalkeeper Chase Vosvick and give the Panthers the win. hounds in major stretches of the half and probably didn’t deserve to But even though the Panthers came out on top, it didn’t look have the lead. great for them early on. In the first 15 minutes of the game, the That all changed in the second half, though, as Pitt’s defense Greyhounds had complete control over the action, pressing forclamped down and filled in the gaps. The Greyhounds still got ward into Pitt’s defensive third. some shots off, but none of them made it through to Outcalt.

Loyola registered the first four shots of the game, but only one The first of those shots came 10 minutes into the half as sophomade it on target — a strike by sophomore midfielder Morgan Lusmore forward Nico Brown fired on the net. The Pitt defense got si in the 12th minute. Pitt redshirt sophomore Mikal Outcalt came in the way, though, blocking the shot before it got to the goal and up with the save, but the Greyhounds continued to apply pressure. putting the Panthers back on the attack.

The Pitt defense held firm, though, not allowing another shot But Pitt couldn’t do much with the ball either, as the offense for 17 minutes. During this time, the team still couldn’t muster anysputtered in the second half. For the majority of the last 45 minutes, thing offensively and registered only one shot, which sailed high the ball went back and forth between the two teams in the middle over the crossbar. of the field.

In the 29th minute, the Greyhounds got back to their attack, After more than 25 minutes without a shot, the Panthers were registering another shot on goal, resulting in another save for Outable to break through in the 82nd minute, getting off two attempts calt. The goalie performed well, but while most of the early action in a span of 2:16. First-year midfielder Marcony Pimentel’s shot took place in Pitt’s end, not much got through to him, and he went flew wide, and Dexter — attempting a second goal — hit one right relatively untested during the game. into a Greyhound defender.

After the save, Outcalt jump-started the Pitt offense and put Now with less than 10 minutes to go, the Greyhounds made one them on the counterattack. Eventually, the ball came to senior de-

pittnews.com

September 5, 2017

LB WIRGINIS OUT FOR YEAR

Ryan Zimba |Sports Editor Pitt linebacker Quintin Wirginis will miss the rest of the season due to injury, Head Coach Pat Narduzzi revealed Monday.

“Quintin Wirginis will be out for the year with a nonfootball related injury,” Narduzzi said at a press conference. “[It’s] disappointing, but it’s something that we deal with. That’s what we do.”

Wirginis — a senior from nearby Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania — was one of three players suspended at the start of August, along with redshirt junior offensive lineman Alex Bookser and junior safety Jordan Whitehead.

He received a three-game ban, and was already going to miss the next two contests against Penn State and Oklahoma State.

Last year, Wirginis totaled 28 tackles and a fumble recovery, playing in all 13 games. He was expected to play a major role in Pitt’s linebacker corps this season. final push in hopes of tying the game and pushing it into overtime.

In the 88th minute, sophomore defenseman Sam Carter threatened to do just that, sending a shot hurdling towards the goal. It sailed above the bar, though, and the Panthers maintained their slim lead coming into the final few minutes.

Then, with a minute remaining, the Greyhounds won a corner.

With this clearly their last opportunity to tie the game, Vosvick left the net and sprinted down to get in the box. He was able to get a head on the ball, but it was a weak one and the Panthers escaped with a win.

The Panthers are now 2-2 on the season and will take on North Carolina next. The game will be a tough test for the Panthers, as UNC comes in ranked No. 3 in the NCAA coaches’ poll.

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I N D E X

Rentals & Sublet • NORTH OAKLAND • SOUTH OAKLAND • SHADYSIDE • SQUIRREL HILL • SOUTHSIDE • NORTHSIDE • BLOOMFIELD • ROOMMATES • OTHER

For Rent North Oakland Offering housing in North Oakland in exchange for working 12-15 hour/week with active senior man needing personal care and assistance with therapy at home and daily pool exercise.

One block from Pitt, very large estate.

Great opportunity for health and rehabilitation science students. Experience not necessary. Day and evening hours, also overnight available. Contact Mike 412-901-4307 or felafelman@gmail. com.

South Oakland 1,2,3,4 BR. Apartments, prices range from $450-$750 per person. Some include utilities, some you have to pay. Call Jarrad 814-403-2798 2 bedroom house available starting September 1st 2017 for $800/month. Five minute walk to Pitt.

No pets. 1 year lease ending July 2018. Call 412-983-5222.

3,4,6 houses Available now. Lawn St. Ward St. and Juliet. Call 412-287-5712.

pittnews.com

Employment • CHILDCARE • FOOD SERVICES • UNIVERSITY • INTERNSHIPS • RESEARCH • VOLUNTEERING • OTHER

South Oakland 3BR house Orpwood St., 2 kitchens, 2 laundries. $900/mo. + utilities. 412-477-1992 5 bedroom house available starting September 1st 2017 for $2000/month. Five minute walk to Pitt.

No pets. 1 year lease ending July 2018. Call 412-983-5222.

7 bedroom house available starting September 1st 2017 for $2800/month. Five minute walk to Pitt.

No pets. 1 year lease ending July 2018. Call 412-983-5222.

House for Rent.

Beautiful 3-BR newly renovated-Allequippa Street. Close to Peterson Center & Pitt Dental School.

Equipped kitchen, new carpeting, washer/dryer, 2 bathrooms, full basement, fenced-in back yard, security system.

Looking for 3 students to share/or single family. Discount on first month’s rent. Security deposit required. Students require adult co-sign. Available September 1st, $1600+ all utilities.

No pets. For more information, please call 412-303-5043.

Email: dtm1003@ comcast.net.

Classifieds

For sale

• AUTO • BIKES • BOOKS • MERCHANDISE • FURNITURE • REAL ESTATE • PETS

notices

services

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

Squirrel Hill 3 BR. house, 1 bathroom, living room, dining room, eat-in kitchen, basement, garage, and porch. All kitchen appliances, washer/dryer, and central air included. $1550 a month plus utilities. Available October 1st. Please call BEFORE 7PM anyday of the week 412-421-7548.

Professors or medical residents only please.

Rental Other 3 bedroom house 3 miles from campus. $1000. 412-225-8723.

Employment Employment Other AAA EAST CENTRAL is looking for energetic, driven, and talented individuals to join our Emergency Road Service team at our East Liberty location, 5900 Baum Boulevard. We are looking for Full Time Phone Counselors.

Candidates must be computer proficient and available to work evenings, weekends and holidays. The salary range is $10.95 to $14.60 based on call center experience.

Link to apply: https://acecareers. taleo.net/careersection/2/jobdetail.ftl?job=16304&lang=en&sns_id=mailto#.

WZ3mx0GNJXs. mailto

• ADOPTION • EVENTS • LOST AND FOUND • STUDENT GROUPS • WANTED • OTHER

R A T E S

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Deadline:

Two business days prior by 3pm | Email: advertising@pittnews.com | Phone: 412.648.7978

Employment Other

For Sale Other

General labor, maintenance, and landscaping for private home in North Oakland. Call 412-901-4307.

Instant cash paid for: baseball cards, sports cards. Game used sports items. Bats. Gloves.

Jerseys. Goudey sports cards. Antiques.

Gold. Silver. Coins.

Diamonds. Watches.

Paper money. Old toys.

Trains. Comic books.

Huge collections. Entire estates. We will pick up and pay CASH! Call Scott at (513) 295-5634.

NOW HIRING Looking for fun, part-time employment with flexible scheduling, working concerts, NFL/NCAA football and other major events in and around Pittsburgh?

Contact Landmark Event Staffing @ 412-321-2707.

Personal, professional masseuse needed.

Long term position.

2X/week. Washington County location.

Call 724-223-0939 or 724-229-8868 any time.

For Sale Furniture FOR SALE: Miscellaneous household items and furniture.

Perfect for college students. Near campus. 412-760-9524

For Sale Other Dorm-sized refrigerator with small ice compartment, two shelves, good condition. $50.00 jdsmith5@verizon.net

Add.

Services Educational Phlebotomy Training Centerwww. justphlebotomy.org 2 evening classes weekly, 5 weeks + excellent Clinicals.

Call 412-521-7334.

Health Medical and Heart Care, Students Welcome, 155 N. Craig Street, Dean Kross, MD, 412-687-7666

Services Other WOMEN – Improve your safety, strength and confidence!

Self-Defense class October 1-22 (four Sundays) 10am – noon at Falk School. $120, financial assistance available.

Registration limited.

LionessMartialArts. com or 412-241-6519

September 5, 2017

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September 5, 2017

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