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The Pitt News

The independent student newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | September 7, 2017 | Volume 108 | Issue 19

ENGLISH PROGRAM OFFERS NEW MAJOR

TAKES TWO TO TANGO

Janine Faust Assistant News Editor Jonathan Frye knew he wanted to write when he came to Pitt, but he also wanted to leave with skills to find a job.

“I always wanted to be an English major, but the ones at Pitt seemed to be more education or storytelling focused,” he said. “I didn’t see how I could apply that to the career I wanted to get.”

Frye, an undecided sophomore, planned on working in nonprofit, marketing or copywriting. He decided he’d start working toward a Public and Professional Writing certificate while figuring out his major. Turns out he didn’t have to wait long.

“I was secretly thinking it would be cool if the PPW certificate had a major to go along with it, and when a friend of mine also taking writing classes told me last spring one was being created, I was really happy,” he said.

The PPW program recently announced the creation of Pitt’s newest major, which allows students to gain writing skills specific to the career path they plan on following.

The PPW program has been at Pitt since 2003, offering an 18-credit certificate and a spread of English composition classes to satisfy general education requirement seekers and simply curious people. The founder and director of the program, Jean Grace, said the idea of a major was discussed within the program for a while.

“We had a very successful certificate program, and people would often come to me and say, ‘why isn’t this a major?’” she said.

The Panther Tango Club holds tango lessons in the William Pitt Union on Wednesday night.

Anna Bongardino ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

SOUTHWESTERN RESTAURANT SPICES UP SCHENLEY PLAZA

Rachel Glasser

News Editor The style of food at Robert Sayre’s new restaurant has confused some passersby.

“We’ve had to convince Pittsburgh that it’s a New Mexican restaurant, not a ‘new’ Mexican restaurant. So that’s been a bit of a struggle at times,” Sayre said with a laugh.

Sayre is the owner and head chef of Mesa, a restaurant that occupies the space in Schenley Plaza where Conflict Kitchen once stood. Mesa opened in mid-June and serves New Mexican food, with lunch and dinner menu items spanning from enchiladas to tamales. Wednesday additionally kicked off the first day of Mesa’s breakfast service, served from 8 to 10 a.m.

Sayre’s parents have lived in New Mexico See PPW on page 3

for several years, and as a young child Sayre recalls visiting his uncle who lived there as well. According to Sayre, New Mexico has distinct characteristics which set the state and its cuisine apart from nearby areas.

“People tend to group it with the southwest, with Arizona, Colorado and Utah and kind of the four corner states, but it’s a very different feel to it,” Sayre said. “It’s a different geography and a different culture and the cuisine is reflective of that culture, which is really a blend of different layers of history as any food is.”

That cultural blend includes Spanish influences, Native American influences and influences from Western settlers, according to Sayre.

“It’s cuisine that’s based around corn, bean and chiles for the most part,” Sayre

said.

The idea for a New Mexican restaurant was rooted in Sayre’s quest to find a type of food that resonates with Pittsburghers but is hard to find in the area. Menu items include green chile stew with pork and potato and tostadas — hard, flat tortilla shells with different toppings. Chiles are a staple in the southwest, and hard tortilla and taco shells, like those used in the tostadas, originated from New Mexico and northern Mexico.

“New Mexican, southwestern kind of Sante Fe style cuisine kind of fits that mold as something that’s familiar, theoretically, to people but there’s not actually a New Mexican restaurant in Pittsburgh,” Sayre said.

See Mesa on page 2

News

STUDENTS RECEIVE ACCESS TO STREAM CABLE TELEVISION Rachel Glasser News Editor

Names of people students stream Xfinity on their laptop.

Wenhao Wu ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR

Mesa, pg. 1 Sayre is no stranger to the location of his new restaurant. As the culinary director at Conflict Kitchen, which occupied the space previously, Sayre devised the menu, ran day-to-day operations, traveled abroad and cooked with and learned from native people in the countries he visited.

Conflict Kitchen offered foods that contrast sharply with the New Mexican cuisine now served in Schenley Plaza, including Cuban and Iranian food. Elise Musser, a first-year biology major at Pitt, said when she toured Pitt she had an opportunity to eat at Conflict Kitchen, but she prefers the flavors at Mesa. She said she’ll definitely be stopping by in the future.

“I have one of my classes over in Frick, so when I come back to my dorm [I’ll eat here],” Musser said.

Carnegie Mellon University oversaw the administration of Conflict Kitchen, which closed in May. Sayre said of his current nine employees, seven worked at Conflict Kitchen, and Mesa has been able to guarantee a base rate of $15 per hour to

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all employed.

While he enjoyed his time at Conflict Kitchen, Sayre likes the freedom he has to run his new restaurant. “[Conflict Kitchen] was kind of an awkward marriage between a restaurant and a university. You know, previously, bureaucratically they don’t line up well,” Sayre said. “So it’s nice to be able to pivot quickly and make decisions, you know, kind of be more flexible both with what we’re doing and hiring practices and our pay scale and not being locked into any bigger structure.”

Three of Mesa’s employees have lived in New Mexico, including Sheryl Johnston, Mesa’s sous chef. Sayre feels like this adds a certain authenticity to the food.

“I think it’s definitely an awareness of the boundaries of the cuisine and what we’re looking for. You know, it’s good to have other people tasting everything and being like ‘yeah.’”

Monica Abraham, a senior mathematical biology major at Pitt, ate lunch at Mesa a couple of weeks ago. She enjoyed the meal and said the prices were reasonable for people on a college budget.

Campus Television is now portable and pocket-sized.

Comcast Corp. partnered with the University to bring on-campus residents Xfinity on Campus, a service that allows students to watch and record live television and thousands of Xfinity On Demand shows on their laptops, mobile devices or personal televisions with a Roku box.

According to Rachel Yoke, communications coordinator in the department of auxiliary services at Pitt, Xfinity on Campus service has been added in addition to cable television, which was already available in every residence hall.

In addition to watching and recording live television, students are also able to download shows for off-line and off-campus viewing.

That feature — called the DVR feature — is limited to 20 hours of video per person at one

time, according to Yoke. Students can use their Pitt login IDs to access the platform via Xfinity’s website.

Taylor Stein, a first-year accounting and finance major who uses Xfinity on Campus a couple of hours a week, said she has enjoyed the flexibility to record shows around her busy class schedule.

“It makes it really convenient to watch whenever I have time,” Stein said. “It lets you skip through all the commercials and stuff.”

Jenn Chai, a first-year student on a pre-pharmacy track, said she has also used the free Xfinity on Campus feature, although it isn’t without its faults.

“It’s really slow,” Chai said. “The Wi-Fi is terrible.”

But Stein, who lives in Nordenberg Hall, said she’s never had any issues with streaming from the residence hall.

See Xfinity on page 3

Students order food at new restaurant in Schenley Plaza.

Wenhao Wu ASSISTANT VISUAL EDITOR “I like the salad. The dressing is really good,” Abraham said. “But I wish it had meat, because they only have the vegetarian option so far.”

Sayre said Mesa’s menu would be changed up throughout the winter.

“We’ll have a bit more soups and stews and things like that as it gets colder,” Sayre said.

Having grown up in a town with a num-

September 7, 2017

ber of authentic Mexican restaurants, Rachel Sides, a senior biomedical engineering major at Pitt, said she could tell Mesa’s cuisine was distinct from Mexican food.

Particularly, the addition of squash to the dishes was something she enjoyed but had never seen before.

“The flavors are different and the ingredients are different, but it kind of feels like a Pittsburgh spin on it almost,” Sides said.

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PPW, pg. 1

“It’s always super clear and the sound’s always really good quality,” Stein said.

Students looking to catch the latest episode of “Game of Thrones” and other shows airing on premium channels have the opportunity to upgrade with Xfinity on Campus.

“HBO, STARZ, Showtime — they’re not offered as part of the package but students have the option that if they would like to be able to stream those they can add them on themselves,” Yoke said.

First-year Ethan Tessler said with the availability of other streaming platforms such as Netflix and the cable TV provided in the dorm, Names of people in the picture are Xfinity is something that he could probably part bold and black. with.

Photographer’s Name POSITION “It’s nice to have when you’re trying to watch live TV, but it’s not really necessary,” Tessler said.

“We want to make sure that at least half But Stein is already hooked. Xfinity on their time is spent writing, not just making Campus is what will allow her to keep up with phone calls and shredding papers,” Grace her favorite live shows, like “America’s Got Talsaid. ent. ” PPW majors will also be able to special“Everybody that I’ve talked to has liked it ize their major by pursuing a “cluster” of and it’s super user-friendly,” she said. “It’s defirelated courses in a specific area. Available nitely something that Pitt should keep investing course clusters include advertising and pubSee PPW on page 7 in.”

The Pitt news crossword 9/7/17

“People really appreciated what they were learning through the program.”

Students gravitated toward the certificate the moment it was offered at Pitt, according to Grace.

“Most students who get the certificate leave with very compelling writing samples, and we offer everything from classes on using social media in a professional context to courses focus on teaching,” she said. “It really helps them when they leave the University.”

She also said it was not until last year that the department gained enough support and had the time to draft a proposal for a PPW major. It was finally approved by the Provost’s Advisory Committee on Undergraduate Programs last spring “with plenty of support and positive feedback.”

Students pursuing the 33-credit PPW major will be required to take an internship their junior or senior year. The program will establish these internships with companies and agencies on the condition that the student spend at least 50 percent of their time on the job writing.

Xfinity, pg. 2

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September 7, 2017

3

Opinions column

TO UNDERSTAND INJUSTICE, LISTEN TO THE LAWYERS

Henry Glitz

the death of a state witness in another murder case, he attributed his horrific experiOpinions Editor ence to a vindictive justice system and the In most American courts of law, a raised impersonal, detached behavior of lawyers voice or an opinion stated too aggressively appointed to help him. will typically earn you the censure of the presiding judge. But that certainly wasn’t the case Tuesday night in the Teplitz Memorial Moot Courtroom, nestled deep within Pitt’s Law School.

A panel of five lawyers — all members and close legal advocates of the black community in Pittsburgh — spoke as part of a Pitt Black Law Students Association event.

They discussed an issue that had strongly affected all of them personally — police brutality and the neglect of the justice system.

Some speakers were angrier than others. Sometimes panelists seemed surprised “The system is corrupt,” he said. “It’s not at each other’s reactions. But the emotion just because I’m a black man from Hazelpalpable in the room showed you don’t wood — it’s corrupt.” have to abandon emotional closeness to isThe 2012 decision reversing Johnson’s sues of injustice to make progress. And for life sentence only came about after Turahn those who don’t have personal experience Jenkins, assistant district attorney of Alwith injustice, listening to those who do is legheny County, took up his case. Jenkins, imperative. who was in the audience Tuesday night, Probably the most memorable personsaid he followed Johnson’s case throughout ality from the evening was Hazelwood nahigh school and the two developed a pertive Terrell Johnson. Johnson described his sonal relationship when Jenkins took the personal experiences with law enforcement case on. and ministers of justice in Pittsburgh. As Johnson directly contrasted the perhe told his story, an attitude emerged that sonal relationship he still has with Jenkins simultaneously communicated a lack of with the impersonal treatment he received faith in the existing justice system and a from court-appointed attorneys that failed steadfast belief in the existence of a bigger, him in 1994. The devotion to the case and higher justice. level of care for its outcome were important “There was something bigger than me in making Jenkins — who is also black — at work,” Johnson said. “I was a pawn in successful. someone else’s game.”

In light of pervasive, institutional racJohnson explained to the group of about ism, having a lawyer who understands 40 students, law professors and community the subjective nature of our justice system members in the courtroom how he ended can make all the difference. While white up spending nearly two decades in jail for a Americans can and often do face difficulcase in which he was eventually found not ties in life, it’s unlikely I — as a white perguilty. Charged in 1994 in connection with son — will ever be framed for a crime I

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didn’t commit simply to satisfy the public’s demands that someone be put away after a murder.

Emotional distance from the negative aspects of the criminal justice system dis-

Liam McFadden| STAFF ILLUSTRATOR torts my default perception of the issue to make it appear less urgent than it actually is. Listening to people speak who have direct experience of it isn’t optional — it’s irreplaceable if I want to hold an informed, legitimate viewpoint.

But there isn’t nearly enough listening happening. A survey from the Pew Research Center last June found wide gaps between white and black respondents’ opinions on issues of race in America today. Whereas three out of four black participants thought treatment in American courts was unequal on the basis of race, less than half of white respondents agreed.

Arnold Perry, another panelist the moderator introduced as a former member of the Black Panther Party, described this tendency with an active outrage that Johnson had avoided.

“They don’t like to talk about justice when it comes to black men,” he said, standing up in indignation from his seat.

“We were told we’ve been fully integrated.

In 2017, it’s still going on.”

Perry’s experience of racism in America differed from Johnson’s in many ways. He

September 7, 2017

explained how he decided to join the black nationalist organization largely because the black experience is suppressed in society.

“We’d come home and see the war in Vietnam on TV, and then see a war in the South against black people,” Perry said.

Like Johnson, Perry was falsely accused of a crime and brought into court to answer for society’s desire to see someone put in jail. On telling the local head of the NAACP that the police who had arrested him had brutalized him, Perry said the response was that he should be grateful they hadn’t done more.

Perry’s experience was one of extreme disillusionment — he even said that he didn’t believe the “American dream” had or would ever extend to black men. But as uncomfortable as some might find it to listen to this viewpoint, it’s nevertheless extremely important to consider. In the same 2016 Pew survey, 43 percent of black respondents said they were dubious the United States would ever actually make the changes necessary to raise blacks to full equality with whites.

Recognition of subjective, emotional experience and honest engagement with others’ experiences is vital to understanding and solving social problems. And especially in the area of abuse of power by law enforcement, such recognition is vital.

Black communities, who bear a statistically overbalanced share of police violence, receive the worst but not the only abusive treatment from a legal and justice system that is far from perfect. Everyone stands to gain from mutual understanding.

Perry concluded his part of the discussion with the direction to keep the experience of marginalized groups close to your mind when acting to do something about the issue.

“When you see a miscarriage of justice, stand up, because it could be you next,” he said.

4

ANALYSIS: HOW A 1999 NATO OPERATION TURNED RUSSIA AGAINST THE WEST

Chief among these is the stability in the international situation. We want to do away Assistant Opinions Editor the past mistrust and animosity … We will The name Boris Yeltsin should ring a have enough of both patience and decisivebell, whether it brings to mind images of ness.” ness.” him leaping upon a tank during a coup in So whatt 1991 Moscow or standing drunk in his unh a p derpants in Washington, D.C. in 1995.

Yeltsin, the first president of the Russian Federation, may be remembered for his drinking habits, but he was a massively important political figure throughout the 1990s. Understanding Yeltsin is just the first step toward realizing that a 1999 North Atlantic Treaty Organization bombing of Yugoslavia served as the turning point in Russo-American relations and set the power of President Vladimir Putin against the pened?

United States.

What led But the story starts at the beginning of Russia to pass a n e w the decade. After the dissolution of the Sonational security concept just three years viet Union and final resignation of Mikhail later in 2000 that affirmed Russia’s commitGorbachev in 1991, serious change swept ment to dealing with “domination by develacross what is now the Russian Federation. oped Western countries?”

Gorbachev, heralded in the West for helpThe answer lies in Yugoslavia. After ing to end the Cold War, experienced deWorld War II, six nations joined the Socialclining popularity at home while receiving ist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, or FRY praise from world leaders.

— Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, MaceHe won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991 donia, Montenegro, Serbia and Slovenia. for helping to end the Cold War, while at But Serbia, then-home to the autonomous home his approval rating dropped to 21 province of Kosovo, became a battlefield of percent. In the final years of the Soviet Russo-American relations.

Union, economic crisis struck the country, Kosovo is one of two geographic homeand the ruble reached historic lows by 1988. lands for Albanians, an ethnic group native The post-Soviet ruble opened official tradto Albania and Kosovo that speaks Albaing at a rate of 1.8 rubles per dollar in 1991, nian and is Sunni Muslim in majority. A and by the end of Gorbachev’s last year in census in 1981 revealed that 77 percent of power the value had plummeted, trading at the population in Kosovo was Albanian, a rate above 160 rubles per dollar. while only 13 percent was Serbian.

Gorbachev was overthrown during a But the autonomous region was in Sercoup in August 1991, and Boris Yeltsin bia, where the official language was Serbian was elected president, a man whose comand the official religion was Eastern Orthomitment to Western economic radicalism dox Christianity — 85 percent of the popuwould eventually be his demise. lation were Serbs, and only 1 percent were In contrast to Gorbachev, Yeltsin was Albanian. viewed by Soviets and Americans alike as Through the 1990s, this ethnic disparity a fresh face for the Russian Federation — escalated to all-out war — the Kosovo War and throughout the 1990s, he was. In fact, began in March 1998, and ended on June even by 1997 Russo-American relations 11, 1999. A group of rebels banded together were productive and cordial. Regarding as the Kosovo Liberation Army — or KLA his 11th meeting with President Clinton, — to fight against Yugoslavia for discrimiPresident Yeltsin said, “[America and Rusnating against Kosovo Albanians. sia] have a vast area of congruent interests.

Christian Snyder

pittnews.com

But things turned ugly in January of 1999. In the ssmall sm all town of security Racak, Serbian security forces vo Albanians, killed 45 Kosomost and of the slain were and women and children.

I n rresponse esponse to the Racak massacre, NATO did s om ome- thing un-

precedented. The coalition wanted to end the massacres of Kosovo Albanians, but were told by Russian and Chinese UN delegates that their nations would oppose any use of force. So, Elise Lavallee|CONTRIBUTING EDITOR without the authorization of the United Nations Security Council, NATO military forces launched a bombing campaign against Yugoslavia that lasted 78 days. Operation Allied Force — the official NATO code name for the attacks — resulted in the deaths of over 500 civilians.

When Russia was later ostracized by the Western world for its annexation of Crimea and actions in Syria, a journalist asked Putin if the decline of Russo-American relations was due to Crimea or Syria.

“You are mistaken,” Putin said. “Think about Yugoslavia. This is when it started.”

NATO’s bombing of Yugoslavia represented a drastic use of military force that Putin saw as contrary to international law — which it probably was. And for people like Putin, who reminisce over the powerful Soviet Union that they grew up in, an attack on Serbia was an attack on a close ally.

So for the first few years of his presidency, during which he launched the nation into a new war in Chechnya, Putin focused on bringing dignity back to Russia. Even today, he’s still on this quest in places like Georgia, Chechnya and Crimea. Putin continues to reference Operation Allied Force when discussing international politics.

“Our Western partners, led by the United States of America, prefer not to be

September 7, 2017

guided by international law … but by the rule of the gun,” he said in a 2014 speech defending his effort to annex Crimea. “They have come to believe … they can decide the destinies of the world. This happened in Yugoslavia; we remember 1999 very well.”

The wounds of 1999 still run deep, and Putin harnesses this Russian perception of American exceptionalism in order to play the victim card, turning his people against the West. In the same speech, Putin accused the West of lying to Russia, making decisions behind their backs and pursuing an “infamous policy of containment.”

Of course, this rhetoric works in a country where 88 percent of people get their news from primarily state-controlled television. Putin uses the media to convince his people of the West’s exceptionalism, but he doesn’t show the atrocities Russia commits to warrant political action like sanctions.

This why his people don’t blame him for the declining price of the ruble or increasing food prices — they blame the Western world.

Understanding Putin’s vengeance against NATO —the United States included — for its bombing of Yugoslavia can provide a key lens into how Putin operates as a world leader. With him, things are personal — his quest to restore power to the Soviet Union is rooted in his feeling that the world turned against him and his people in 1999.

And as for solutions? There are few in sight. Even if you had the power to flip a switch and give the country the freedom of press, which has often served as the catalyst for revolutions, would you? Doing so could ignite a civil war and result in the deaths of millions — but the result might be a freer Eastern Europe.

If America truly is the nexus of democracy that the world perceives it to be, we must work on problems from their roots rather than attacking their victims. Bombing capital cities and starting proxy wars will get the world nowhere. Putin’s nondemocratic expansion doesn’t follow the rules of political logic because much of it is rooted in a personal grudge — and understanding the cause of the grudge could prove vital in ending it.

5

Culture

ASIAN-AMERICAN FILM FESTIVAL RETURNS TO PGH The 12th annual Silk Screen Asian American Film Festival will screen a medley of internationally acclaimed films in various theaters around Pittsburgh from Sept. 16 to 24. Pitt students get into the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium venue for free, and only have to pay $5 — half the price of a normal ticket — to attend a screening at any of the other venues.

The festival screens 30 feature-length films from many different countries including Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, South Korea, India and Japan to both celebrate and increase awareness of Asian arts in the Pittsburgh area.

And don’t worry if you’re monolingual or don’t know Tamil, Mandarin, Japanese or any other language spoken in the films — each movie includes subtitles in English to bridge the gap between cultures.

Here’s a selection of what will be screening at Frick Fine Arts Building and other venues around Pittsburgh starting next Friday.

Close-Knit

Released in 2017, this Japanese drama directed by Naoko Ogigami tells the story of a forsaken girl who finds solace in her uncle and his transgender partner. The 127-minute film features Japanese actors Toma Ikuta, Eiko Koike and Kenta Kiritan and won the Teddy Jury award at the Berlin International Film Festival. “Close-Knit” will screen at Melwood Screening Room on Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. and again on Sept. 22 at 8 p.m. in the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium.

Old Stone Directed by Johnny Ma and released in 2016, this 80-minute thriller/crime uncovers a myriad of social injustices in modern day China. The Chinese film — screened at the Denver International Film Festival — features actors Chen Gang, Nai An and Wang Hongwei and tells the tale of a taxi driver who hit a motorcyclist and loses almost everything he has in order to pay for the man’s hospital bills. This story about survival as a poor man in today’s China will screen at the Harris Theater Sept. 19 at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sept. 23 in the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium.

Blanka

This 2015 film — directed by Kohki Hasei — won two awards at the Venice Film Festival and will screen exclusively at the Harris Theater during its time in Pittsburgh. The 75-minute drama opens up a dialogue about neglected children in the Philippines with a story of a destitute child and her search for a Blossom (Sigai) mother. The film will screen on both Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. and Sept.

After its debut in India in 2016, the 23 at 2 p.m.

97-minute thriller was shown at both the All India International Film Festival A Death in the Gunj of Hyderabad and the 2017 New York This 110-minute thriller from India will be the opening Indian Film Festival. The film — di- night film, screening at the Harris Theater on Sept. 16 at 7 p.m. rected by Jagadeesan Subu — starts with Award-winning actor Konkona Sen Sharma both directed and a pimp investigating the disappearance starred in the film, which debuted in 2016 and won the Masterof his most popular prostitute, and then Card Best Indian Female Filmmaker award at the Busan InterSwara Bhaskar ilead actress in A Death in the Gunj. switches to the story of a transgender national Festival the same year. The coming-of-age film takes WIKIMEDIA COMMONS woman coming out to a lifelong friend for place in 1979 in the Indian town of McCluskieganj and tells the the first time. The two story lines — told story of a young male dealing with the concept of masculinity Lexi Kennell in Tamil — converge into a compelling tale that explores — exploring both the struggle of finding one’s own personal Culture Editor prostitution as well as problems plaguing members of the identity as well as post-colonial societies finding their identities In an age when the United States prides itself on diversity LGBTQ+ community. The film will screen Sept. 17 at 6:45 as a whole. but is plagued with racism, it’s important to support arts from p.m. in the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium and again at MelSynopses for the rest of the films that will be screened, as well all different cultures. Opportunities to do just this are every- wood Screening Room on Sept. 23 at 4:15 p.m. as the festival schedule, can be found on the festival’s website. where, as long as we keep an eye out for them.

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September 7, 2017

6

PPW, pg. 3 lic relations writing, writing for government and preparing for graduate school.

Grace said professors in the PPW program have already created new courses for the major, including Writing for the Sciences and Languages in Medicine. A course cluster specifically for people interested in medical writing is also being drawn up.

“We get people who also study and want to work in English writing, literature, communications, political science, psychology and prelaw,” she said. “We even get the occasional engineer, so we know people in diverse areas of study are interested in this.”

According to Grace, when the major was created, the people involved tried to make the major as simple as possible so that it could appeal to people in other fields.

“We wanted to keep it compact at only 33 credits,” she said. “We wanted to make sure that people could pair it with other majors, since this seems like

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a good major to double up with something else.”

Frye said he plans on declaring as a PPW major with a specialization in either government writing or advertising and public relations. He also wishes to pair it with a major in digital media.

“I think that the kind of writing PPW prepares you for is more business-oriented, and since I’m interested in marketing, I think anybody looking for creative writing abilities is most likely also looking for visual creativity as well,” he said.

According to Frye, the PPW major will be able to satisfy both his creative needs and his worries about finding a career after college.

“A lot of people who are English majors are afraid, I think, wondering if they can get a job with what they’re studying,” he said. “[PPW] lets students study skills that are applicable to a job market and appeal to a wide array of employers.”

Grace said Pitt alumni who graduated with a PPW certificate were able to get positions in law, medicine, communications and other fields. Grads were able to obtain careers such as press secretary at

the office of Governor Tom Wolf, health unit coordinator at UPMC and events manager at the National Aviary.

“We have plenty of alumni who got jobs because this certificate enables them to present themselves better when applying for jobs, and because employers like the skills that comes with it,” she said.

Edyn Herbert, a senior communications and rhetoric major and intern for the PPW program, said she wishes that she had been able to make a major out of the PPW certificate she pursued.

“I was actually talking to some people I work with at the writing center recently, and a lot of us wish it was a thing when we had started out,” she said.

Herbert works as a tutor as the writing center, and it’s where she discovered more about the PPW certificate earlier in her academic career.

“Initially my adviser warned me against it because they didn’t think it was worth pursuing, but I learned more about it when I started tutoring,” she said. “I figured it’d be valuable for me to get it to support my nonfiction writing degree.”

September 7, 2017

Herbert said her PPW certificate taught her valuable skills such as how to write grant applications, design professional documents and market herself to an employer. When Jean Grace asked her to get involved with helping create and promote the major, she jumped at the chance.

“I talked with her and others about the major, how it should be able to be customized especially towards different fields,” she said. “Right now I’m just trying to get the word out, get more people to hear about this major and improve its visibility. Force freshmen to see it.”

Plenty of students have come to her asking about the major as the word gets out, and people not even at the University yet have shown interest, according to Grace.

“Just last week I talked to a father whose daughter is excited about the major and he wanted to know more about it,” she said.

Frye said with the announcement of the PPW major, he won’t be undecided anymore come spring.

“Oh, I’ll definitely be declaring as soon as I’m able to,” he said.

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September 7, 2017

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Sports

The Pitt News

POWER RANKINGS

After week one of the college football season, there’s already a shake-up at the top of our standings: top-ranked Florida State lost to No.1 Alabama and lost quarterback Deondre Francois for the season.

As for Pitt, it moved down one spot after their nail-biting overtime win against the Youngstown Penguins Saturday afternoon. In total, 10 of the ACC’s 14 teams won their opening week game and look to build on that momentum moving forward.

with a 35-28 win. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson was superb, throwing for 378 yards and two touchdowns.

Next Up: North Carolina

5. Virginia Tech (1-0) - 78 points (Even) In one of the more exciting games of college football’s opening weekend, the Hokies beat the West Virginia Mountaineers in a 31-24 thriller. With less than 30 seconds remaining, West Virginia had a chance to tie the game from the Hokies’ 15-yard line. Instead, two straight incom1. Clemson (1-0) - 98 points (Up 1) The Tigers started the national title de- pletions gave the Hokies their first win of fense with a 56-3 demolition of Kent State. the season.

Next Up: Delaware Sure, the win came against a non-Power Five opponent, but new quarterback Kelly Bryant looked strong despite throwing an 6. Georgia Tech (0-1) - 59 points (Up 2) The Yellow Jackets came up just short interception in the second quarter. in their opening-week clash against No. Next Up: No. 13 Auburn 25 Tennessee, losing 42-41 in double over2. Florida State (0-1) - 83 points (Down 1) time. Quarterback TaQuon Marshall was Losing to Alabama is nothing to be outstanding for the team, though, rushing ashamed of, but the season-ending injury for 249 yards and five touchdowns.

Next Up: Jacksonville State for Francois definitely casts uncertainty on the rest of the season. Coach Jimbo 7. North Carolina State (0-1) - 54 points Fisher will now turn to freshman quarter(Down 1) back James Blackman in the hope that the In one of three ACC-SEC matchups of team can work its way back into playoff the weekend, the Wolfpack was beaten by contention. rival South Carolina to start the year 0-1.

Next Up: Louisiana Monroe NC State’s competition lets up the next few weeks, so the group should be able to 3. Miami (1-0) - 82 points (Up 1) The Hurricanes got off to a success- recover in time for conference play.

Next Up: Marshall ful start in week one, easily handling Bethune-Cookman 41-13. They’ll have another easy game this week before com- 8. Pitt (1-0) - 50 points (Down 1) After jumping out to a 21-0 lead at the petition takes a step up in week three half, Pitt was forced to hang on in overwhen the team takes on Florida State. time against Youngstown State, winning Next Up: Arkansas State 28-21. Quarterback Max Browne was competent, but he’ll need to be much 4. Louisville (1-0) - 79 points (Down 1) The Cardinals fell behind early in the better going forward if the team hopes to opening-week matchup against Purdue, compete in the Coastal Division.

Next Up: No. 4 Penn State but they were able to rally late and escape

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9. Syracuse (1-0) - 35 points (Up 1) The Orange, on the other hand, dominated the FCS competition Friday night, cruising to a 50-7 win over Central Connecticut State. The group faces two more non-Power Five teams in the next two weeks before competition takes a drastic step up in week four.

Next Up: Middle Tennessee 10. Duke (1-0) - 34 points (Up 1) The Blue Devils also took care of business against a lesser opponent, beating North Carolina Central 60-7. Quarterback Daniel Jones threw for 213 yards and two touchdowns and looked the part in the opener.

Next Up: Northwestern 11. North Carolina (0-1) - 33 points (Down 2) North Carolina slides down a few spots in our rankings after coming up short against California, 35-30. The team’s defense, a strong point last year, was the main factor in the loss, allowing 469 yards on the day.

Next Up: No. 17 Louisville 12. Wake Forest (1-0) - 24 points (Down 1) Wake Forest crushed Presbyterian Thursday night, cruising to a 51-7 victory.

ACC play starts next week, providing the Demon Deacons with their first true test of the season.

Next Up: Boston College 13. Boston College (1-0) - 14 points (Even) The Eagles hung on over the weekend to claim their first win of the year against Northern Illinois, 23-20. The offense seemed to be a problem in the win — quarterback Anthony Brown completed just 26 of 42 passes — but it was good enough to get by this week.

Next Up: Wake Forest 14. Virginia (1-0) - 12 points (Even) Coming off a 2-10 season, the Cavaliers opened the 2017 season with a win, beating William and Mary 28-10. The team’s defense shined in the win, allowing just 63 yards through the air.

Next Up: Indiana

September 7, 2017

column

PITT VS. PSU: UNREQUITED RIVALRY

Mackenzie Rodrigues Assistant Sports Editor

When you’re in the stands at a Pitt football game, there are a handful of cheers you’re bound to hear: “Hail to Pitt,” “P-IT-T: Let’s Go Pitt,” and the infamous antiPenn State chant. Regardless of whether or not Penn State is the opponent on the field, that chant will echo throughout the student section.

Even though the teams’ first game of the renewed rivalry was only last year, I’ve heard the anti-PSU chant since the first game I attended in my first year at Pitt.

Twitter is easily the most used platform for antagonizing rival schools. The Pitt Football account tweeted, “It’s Pitt vs. Penn State. Welcome to Rivalry Week. #H2P #TAKEIT,” on Sept. 3, accompanied by a photo of the teams’ mascots arm wrestling on the ground.

While the tweet itself isn’t overwhelmingly exciting or negative, the replies to the tweet are. A majority of the responses say the teams are not rivals, and some stoop to throwing insults about topics which are neither relevant to nor appropriate for this particular game — I’m talking to you, Twitter users mocking serious Penn State scandals.

The way the Pitt and Penn State football teams approach the game elicits the responses seen on Twitter and influences how fans look at the game.

For Penn State football, this is just another game. Head Coach James Franklin repeatedly pushes this belief.

“The last thing I’ll say is I want to make sure people understand what I’m saying,” Franklin said in a press release. “People kind of keep asking me about this game and I understand the significance of this game, and I understand the importance of this See Rivalry on page 10

9

Rivalry, pg. 9 game, but I’m also a huge believer that this is the most important game on our schedule because it’s the one we play this week.”

This tactic, though, is nothing new for Franklin. He took the same approach to last year’s game as well. In doing so, he genuinely downplays the upcoming football game.

Even though he says each week’s game is a “Super Bowl” for his team, he manages to minimize the connotation of that phrase.

For football fans, the Super Bowl is a big deal because it’s the end result of a full season of play. It’s what people expect after dedicating months to watching game after game after game.

If Franklin wants to continue using the analogy, the effect is going to wear off.

Eventually fans and even opponents will wonder when the Nittany Lions are going to play a team worth being treated as something different.

For now, PSU fans look at the game against Pitt as nothing out of the ordinary.

Pitt is just another football team, from another school, meant to be trash-talked and defeated. Even though some Penn State fans might not be open to admitting it, something sets the Pitt-Penn State game apart from others: both schools are in Pennsyl-

pittnews.com

Nathan Peterman runs ball against PSU’s defense in last year’s game.

John Hamilton | Managing Editor vania and both compete at the ACC level.

So, maybe Pitt doesn’t stand a chance against the No. 4 Nittany Lions, but there is something to be said about this game’s importance to Pennsylvania college football fans — a specific, yet dedicated group.

Seemingly taking advantage of this dedication, Pitt Head Coach Pat Narduzzi’s approach to the competition against Penn State is the polar opposite of Franklin’s.

“Penn State is a big game because it’s an in-state rivalry game,” Narduzzi said in a

press conference. “It’s important not only to the guys that sit in this room but the community out there, the state of Pennsylvania, to the city of Pittsburgh. It’s a pride thing and that’s why it’s big.”

Narduzzi views the game as something to be played up. This could be why he’s sticking with an overdramatic tactic: a media blackout. In the week leading up to the game, Pitt’s head coach decided to keep everyone except himself away from the media.

September 7, 2017

His reason for doing so is to keep his players focused on their goal — preparing to beat the Nittany Lions. Narduzzi took the same approach last year, and while the Panthers scraped by with a 42-39 win, can a media blackout truly be credited for that success?

I don’t think so. There are too many other factors in the equation. Unless Narduzzi is also strictly prohibiting his players from using social media, reading newspapers or talking to anyone, there are still chances for distraction.

Maybe it’s the two teams’ disagreement about the weight of the game that continues to fuel animosity between Pitt and Penn State fans. While Penn State fans follow Franklin’s lead and insist the game is just like every other game, Pitt fans approach the game as if it’s the biggest of the season.

The most interesting outcome of this game will be how the tone shifts depending on which team wins. If Pitt wins again, will the Lions finally think of the Panthers as their rival? And if Penn State wins, will that end the debate?

Whichever way the game ends, one thing is for sure: the animosity will not, and Pitt fans will continue chanting against the Nittany Lions even when they’re not on the field.

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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.

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

South Oakland 3 BR. House, with one and a half baths. Available immediately. $1700/ mo. Completely remodeled. geonjr@ gmail.com.

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

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

Classifieds

For sale

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

services

• EDUCATIONAL • TRAVEL • HEALTH • PARKING • INSURANCE

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.

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

notices

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

R A T E S

Insertions

1X

2X

3X

4X

5X

6X

1-15 Words

$6.30

$11.90

$17.30

$22.00

$27.00

$30.20

+ $5.00

16-30 Words

$7.50

$14.20

$20.00

$25.00

$29.10

$32.30

+ $5.40

(Each Additional Word: $0.10)

Deadline:

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

Employment For Sale 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

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

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

HOUSE for rent Mt. Washington. 4BR, 2BA, newly renovated, A/C, carpet, tile, and hardwood floors. Appliances including washer/ dryer. Front/back porches. Garage.

Near bus. Great location. $1100+ utilities.

412-882-3845.

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.

Add.

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 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.

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

Notices Events Dr. Morris E. Turner Medical Scholarship For Minority Students $1,500. Deadline date for submission: October 15, 2017.

Sponsored by the Highland Park Tennis Club (HPTC).

Please go to www. hptc.info, look under “Events” for details.

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

Call 412-521-7334.

September 7, 2017

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September 7, 2017

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