10-25-2023

The Pitt News

T he i nd epen d e n t s t u de n t ne w spap e r of t he Unive rsity of Pittsburgh | PIttnews.com | October 25, 2023 ­| Volume 114 | Issue 48

Pamela Smith | Contributing Editor pittnews.com

Halloween Edition Oc tober 25, 2023

1

‘Really fun, really scary’: Haunted Holland and Nightmare in the Quad presents Halloween themed activities for students

Anna Kuntz Staff Writer

Students huddled together in fearful anticipation as they weaved through the underground tunnels of the Schenley Quad, awaiting jumpscares from Holland Hall RAs and residents dressed in frightening Halloween attire on Friday night.

Haunted Holland and Nightmare in the Quad are Pitt Halloween traditions that have taken place for over 20 years.

The event was sponsored by both the Resident Student Association (RSA) and Pitt Res Life in the Office of Student Affairs.

Students entered this year’s Haunted Holland through Holland Hall’s north entrance and exited out of Bruce Hall. Each year, Haunted Holland is produced by students and set up in the series of underground hallways beneath the five residence halls of the Schenley Quad — Holland, Amos, McCormick, Brackenridge and Bruce halls.

Students also participated in Nightmare in the Quad, which took place on the ground floor of the William Pitt Union due to inclement weather. There, they enjoyed free funnel cake, popcorn, apple cider and doughnuts and participated in activities such as tote bag painting, basketball and mini golf. Students also had the option to participate in tarot card readings or caricature drawings while listening to music courtesy of WPTS Radio.

To enter the haunted house, students filled out a survey and were placed on a waitlist. Students like Calla Siegrist took part in indoor activities through Nightmare in the Quad while waiting to enter Haunted Holland.

In past years, Haunted Holland has incorporated a wide variety of themes including funhouse, graveyard, zombies, exterminator, supernatural, murder house, torture chamber and haunted hospital.

Siegrist, a first-year communication sciences major, said the night’s activities leading up to the haunted house outdid her expectations.

“Honestly, I didn’t expect it to have this much, it was kind of a surprise,” Siegrist said. “I’ve seen all of the performances so far, and they’ve been incredible. Everyone has been serving astronomically. pittnews.com

Oc tober 25, 2023

Holland Hall in the Schenley Quadrangle.

Ethan Shulman | Visual Editor

There’s so much free food, it’s incredible, and now we’re just waiting to get into the haunted house, which we’re so hyped for.”

Isabel Naranjo-Contreras, a first year psychology major, was pleasantly surprised by her experience in Haunted Holland.

“It was so much better than I expected,” Naranjo-Contreras said. “It was like a real haunted house.”

Jaleeah Greene-Reyes, a first-year biology major, said going through Haunted Holland was worthwhile.

“It was really fun, really scary,” GreeneReyes said. “I had a good time.”

Even though the event was organized differently than she had anticipated, Kami Alfieri, a first-year marketing major, said she was still able to find activities that interested her.

“It’s a lot cooler than I anticipated it being, though I was kind of confused because I thought that Nightmare in the Quad was actually going to be in the quad and not in here,” Alfieri said. “That was a little roadblock, but whenever we got in here, there were a lot of fun games. We didn’t do [them], but we did get apple cider and snacks, and the snacks [were] really good. Then I painted [a] tote bag.”

Rhea Slaughter, a first-year undecided major, was surprised to learn that the event featured activities other than the haunted house.

“I thought it was just going to be the haunted hall thing, so I thought it was a pleasant surprise,” Slaughter said. “We played with the basketball a bit, the apple cider was good, and the band sounded pretty good.”

2

‘It’s kind of an investment’:

Kelly McPoyle Staff Writer

Shamus O’Grady is one of many Pitt students shelling out a significant amount of money on Halloween outfits that will only be worn once, but he says it’s simply part of college culture.

“It’s Halloween,” O’Grady, a firstyear nursing major, said. “It’s kind of an investment and you just have to go with it.”

Halloween on college campuses means one thing — costumes for “Halloweekend.” Students often plan out their costumes weeks in advance, but the costs for different parts and accessories can quickly add up.

O’Grady is dressing as Ken from the “Barbie” movie one night and joining in on a group costume of Alvin and the Chipmunks for another. So far, he has spent $60 on two outfits — $30 on his Ken outfit and $10 on a blonde wig. For his Alvin and the Chipmunks costume, he spent $20 on his shirt and shorts.

“I’m really hoping to stay around $60, but I guess I will get myself up to $80 because it’ll be spread out,” O’Grady said. “I still need another costume, but I’ll throw that together when the time comes.”

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, as of 2020, around 40% of full-time undergraduate students balance a job with their classes during the school year. This can make pricey costumes, clothes and accessories a financial burden for many students.

Julia Peffer, a first-year pharmacy student, has three costumes planned for this year. She estimates she spent around $100 on her Halloween costumes altogether and dipped into summer job savings to afford the outfits.

Peffer and O’Grady are friends, and their Alvin and the Chipmunks costume is part of a group costume.

“First, I’m going to be an aerobic Barbie,” Peffer said. “Then another night I’ll be Alvin from Alvin and the Chipmunks and then I’m being pepper from salt and pepper.”

Online shopping makes purchasing Halloween costumes easier for busy students who may not have time to go off campus to buy a costume. Amazon and Shein offer cheaper options than pittnews.com

Students share their finances for Halloweekend

Spirit Halloween.

Peffer got her Halloween costumes mainly from Shein, which is known for its low prices. O’Grady also purchased some of his costumes from Shein.

Mia Callaghan, a sophomore urban studies major, plans to be Slack Swan, a spy, and Rachel Berry singing “Hit Me Baby One More Time” in Glee. She ordered all of her costumes from Amazon.

“For all of my costumes, I spent around $50, but I haven’t gotten one of them yet,” Callaghan said. “I’ve found the cheapest options for everything and I’m going to return everything after Halloween.”

Callaghan said she “wants to spend the least amount of money, but have a really good costume,” which is why she plans to return her costumes to AmaNicholas Cassano | Staff Illustrator zon when she is done with them.

Another low-cost option for students “I haven’t pulled the trigger on buying son is rife with opportunities to receive is to reuse costumes or thrift. Riley the costume yet, but it’s probably going money as gifts.

Johnson, a senior emergency medicine to be around $30 from Amazon.”

“It’ll be Christmas soon, so I guess major, spent around $50 on her cosFor students like O’Grady, the finan- we’ll replenish then,” O’Grady said. tumes, which include Harley Quinn, a cial sacrifice is worth it for Halloweekpolice officer and a lamb as part of a end because the upcoming holiday seagroup costume of barnyard animals.

“I’m recycling two of my costumes and my friend had a dress I could borrow,” Johnson said. “I enjoy thrifting, so I thrifted some pieces, but I ordered off Amazon as well. I work two jobs, so www.goodwillswpa.org I was able to spend the $50.”

Jordan Grunfeld, a sophomore film and media studies major, spent around $110 on her Halloween costumes.

“My skeleton costume was around $60, and I spent about $50 on my ‘Men in Black’ costume,” said Grunfeld. “I had some black clothing that I can use for my men in black costume, but I did buy a black bodysuit and a plastic gun.”

Grunfeld started planning her skeleton Halloween costume last year.

“I felt pressure in my mind to get the costume since I had been planning it since last year,” said Grunfeld. “When I * looked it up it was $60, which was a bit out of my price range. But I was determined to wear that costume, so I got it.”

Closest locations to you include: Robin Higgins, a junior biology major, didn’t necessarily feel pressure to South Side Lawrenceville Centre Ave. spend a lot of money, so she opted for a 2700 East Carson St. 160 52nd Street 5993 Center Ave. relatively cheap costume.

Pittsburgh, PA 15206 Pittsburgh, PA 15203 Pittsburgh, PA 15201 “I’m dressing up as Mario and my * Valid on donated goods only. Cannot be combined with other promotions or roommates are going to be Luigi, Yeldiscounts. Must show valid student ID to receive discount. low Toad, and Blue Toad,” Higgins said.

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3

‘You have rights’: Tenant Town Hall educates students about living off campus Spencer Levering Senior Staff Writer

As Liz Gray gave advice on how tenants should deal with bad landlords, she reminded students that they should feel empowered to stand up for their best interests.

“You are the consumer, they are the seller,” Gray, a neighborhood quality consultant with Oakland Planning and Development Corporation, said. “They want you to buy their product.

You have rights as a consumer.”

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community members gathered in the William Pitt Union for the annual Tenant Town Hall, an event that provides students with tips and advice for how to successfully make the move off campus.

The event consisted of a panel of community members answering pre-written questions from students, a Q&A for those in attendance to ask the panelists questions and tabling to get familiar with resources available to students looking to live off-campus.

Raafay Khan-Afridi, chair of the community and governmental relations committee on Pitt’s Student Government Board, moderated the panelist discussion. He said over 15 students helped form the questions and called the process “really collaborative.”

“We really opened it up to make sure that anybody who thought of questions they might have—they consulted with their friends, students they know, to make sure that any questions we were asking were representative,” Khan-Afridi, a sophomore political science and economics double major, said.

Khan-Afridi opened the discussion by asking the panelists to explain some of the rights tenants have when renting.

Adam DiBuo, a managing attorney with

Neighborhood Legal Services, cited the warranty of habitability as a law tenants should be aware of.

“Every case, regardless of whether or not it’s explicitly written into your lease, you have the right to a safe, sanitary, and habitable apartment,” DiBuo said.

Gray emphasized the importance of tenants notifying their landlords of any issues that arise.

“Don’t let it go for a couple of days,” Gray said.

“If something’s wrong, communicate it to your landlord.”

When Khan-Afridi asked about what action tenants can take when their landlord delays repairs, DiBuo suggested contacting city or county agencies.

“They have much more enforcement power to hold your landlord accountable,” DiBuo said.

“You can contact those agencies, go through the inspection, and give your landlord a formal notice that they have to fix whatever issue it is.”

DiBuo also spoke on the importance of giving a landlord a “reasonable” amount of time to fix an issue.

“The timing has to be reasonable, and that depends on a lot of different factors,” DiBuo said.

“If your air conditioning is not working today, reasonable is probably going to be quite a substantial amount of time because it was 40 degrees this morning. If your heat [is] out, it’s probably going to be 24 to 48 hours. So it depends on the context.”

Gray also advised that tenants read their lease agreement “several times” before signing it.

“If you have a problem with any of the clauses in your lease, before you sign it, go back to the landlord and say, ‘Wait a second, what is this about,’” Gray said.

Rachel Shepherd, interim director for the Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, added that tenants with disabilities can take recourse if a landlord fails to accommodate them properly.

“If you have a disability…they cannot delay the process,” Shepherd said. “To just deny an accommodation is illegal. They can’t just deny it outright, they have to have a conversation with you. So please be mindful to, if you do need something, communicate with them.”

When Khan-Afridi asked the panelists to name “red flags when looking around for leases,” panelists listed practices such as asking for rent in cash, charging international students more in rent, and not paying for extermination or cleaning services.

Gray said students should film their apartment before they move in and make sure windows and doors can all open, close and lock.

“When you’re moving in, take your phone Oc tober 25, 2023

Halket Street in South Oakland.

TPN File Photo

before you even bring in the first piece of furniture…video the whole place,” Gray said. “Document your move-in, just like you will document your move-out. That just helps protect you against surprises.”

DiBuo added that when tenants move out, they should ensure their landlord returns their security deposit within 30 days. If the landlord does not comply, DiBuo said the tenant can get “twice [their] security deposit back” through legal recourse.

After the town hall, Kylie Baker, a first year international and area studies dual major, said she attended the event to learn and to help spread awareness for renter’s rights among other first year students.

“It’s really important for people to know their rights as renters, especially with certain landlords in the area being predatory towards first years,” Baker said. “So I think just getting the word out there, knowing this for other people in my life is really important.”

Of the topics discussed at the town hall, Baker called tenants keeping records of correspondence with their landlords “the most overall important thing.”

“Document every single thing that you do,” Baker said. “Every single interaction with your landlord, every website he or she sends you.

Don’t do phone calls, do emails. Everything that you do must be over something you can document or screenshot. In order to keep yourself and your landlord accountable, document every single thing that you do.”

Marley Pinsky, a first year urban planning and geographic analysis and politics and philosophy double major who attended the town hall, said learning about occupancy laws, landlord red flags and the payment responsibilities between the landlord and tenant were some of her takeaways from the event.

Pinsky also emphasized the importance of tenants using their rights before they sign a lease.

“You have the right to change or add terms in your lease before you sign it, so really read through it carefully,” Pinsky said. “Look for those potential red flags and know that you have the right to have your voice be heard before you make any big decision.”

4

The most anticipated Halloween costumes of 2023 Briana Bindus Staff Writer

As Halloween lurks around the corner, students across campus are preparing their outfits for the one night a year people can dress in quirky, expressive costumes.

“I think that our campus is pretty unique in the sense that everybody is doing their own thing,” Selam Mekbeb-Gillett, a senior studying psychology and sociology, said. “In the general scope of what’s been popping right now, there definitely will be a Barbie/Oppenheimer crew.”

This year was a huge success for plenty of movies and TV shows, including “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” “The Bear” and “One Piece.” Students expect that there will be a range of well-known pop culture costumes this year, particularly Barbieinspired outfits.

“I know we’ll see a lot of Barbie, because that was a really big movie,” John Mcgaughey, a junior math major, said.

“Or maybe even Taylor Swift-themed stuff, because she is trending more than ever.”

Mcgaughey is being Bojack Horseman — from the television series “Bojack Horseman” — with his friend Elise Fiorita, who is dressing up as Sarah Lynn — another character from “Bojack.” As people plan their Halloween costumes, many are planning to do cohesive costumes with their friends.

“It’s definitely a group thing, it always has been,” Mcgaughey said. “For college students, it’s all about going out together.

Or, even as a trick-or-treater, I always wanted to trick-or-treat with my friends.

Whether you’re partying or getting candy, you’re still getting a treat with people you know.”

Ivy Fox-Hays, a first-year biology major, and her friend Brooklyn Seitler, a first-year majoring in molecular biology, have multiple costumes planned for “Halloweekend.” They are planning on being a cowgirl, Britney Spears and Magic Mike, while also doing a group costume as Care

Bears.

“People are going to have multiple costumes,” Fox-Hays said, “A group costume is always in the plans for a good friend group, but then you also want time to pull out an individual costume.”

“If you’re a gorgeous group of people, a group costume is needed,” Seitler said, “Every year we see Disney princesses, and it’s so good.”

Whether it’s deciding which trends to follow or budgeting your costumes, there is a lot that goes into developing the perfect costume ideas. Still, Mekbeb-Gillett prioritizes matching with friends rather than spending a lot of money.

“You don’t have to be really extravagant,” Mekbeb-Gillett said. “It’s more about the connection you’re making with your friends instead of the singular outfit that you’re having.”

Mekbeb-Gillett is planning on doing one group costume, one single costume

and possibly a couples costume. Although they haven’t all been solidified, she is sure that her friend group will be dressing up as Destiny’s Child this holiday.

“I think Halloween is a beautiful holiday for people to be themselves,” Mekbeb-Gillett said. “It’s the one time out of the year where we can’t be judged for what we look like. It’s a great thing to take advantage of.”

Sara Hussain, a junior political science and economics major, planned four different costumes for this Halloween — Barbie, a cat, Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly with a friend plus Raven and Starfire from “Teen Titans.”

“I wanted to be Barbie because I saw it on TikTok and knew it was in trend,” Hussain said. “It’s going to be easy, because honestly I just need a pink dress and a ‘B’ necklace. It’s quick and then everyone will know what I am. I’m just excited to see my friends.”

Fikayomi Olagbami | Senior Staff Illustrator

pittnews.com

Oc tober 25, 2023

5

Monster Pumpkin Festival turns the Strip District into a sea of orange Daniella Levick Staff Writer

When attendees came face-to-face with the massive pumpkins at the Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Festival, only one word came to mind — colossal.

Over the weekend, the Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Festival turned a city block in the Strip District into a sea of orange.

The family-oriented festival was free to the public. Saturday, Oct. 21 and Sunday, Oct. 22, were jam-packed with a multitude of autumnal events running from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with activities from blowing glass to a kids’ pedal tractor pull and horse-drawn carriage rides.

A crowd favorite was the pie-eating contest, where contestants had 90 seconds to eat a nine-inch pie with only their face.

The result? Pie-filled beards and a plethora of sympathetic grimaces from the audience. Austin Tielarowski, the winner of the contest, said he just wanted to give the contest a shot.

“I’ve won pumpkin pie eating contests before, so I figured I’d try my hand,” Tielarowski said after cleaning the pumpkin from his shirt.

Tielarowski wasn’t the only winner on

Saturday, because a few hours later, the Project Bundle Up Pumpkin Drop turned charity work into good-natured competition.

Project Bundle Up is a joint program with WTAE Channel 4 and the Salvation Army. Project Bundle Up works to provide children and seniors from low-income households in western Pennsylvania with new winter clothing. Officials placed a numbered ping pong ball inside an inflatable pool for every $10 donation to the project, and dropped a 2,000 pound pumpkin from a crane over 200 feet tall into the pool. When the force of the drop exploded the pumpkin and sent the balls flying in all directions, the contestant whose ball traveled the furthest won a new grill.

Brendan Conaway, a master pumpkin carver who describes himself as “The Pittsburgh Pumpkin Guy,” said pumpkin grower Dave Stelts started the festival six years ago.

“The man who runs the event, his name is Dave Stelts, he started out as a pumpkin grower and tried to think of ways he could capitalize on growing giant pumpkins,” Conaway said. “So he came up with this idea for the Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Festival.”

Spectators film while a giant pumpkin is raised by crane to be dropped at the Monster Pumpkin Festival in Pittsburgh’s Strip District on Saturday.

Pamela Smith | Contributing Editor

Conaway did live pumpkin carving demos throughout the weekend. He said carving a large pumpkin like the one in his live demo would usually take him more than eight hours.

“It’s my first time. I’m a local guy, they did not know that there was a pumpkin artist that lived nearby so I reached out to them at the end of summer, let them know that I exist and see if there was a place for me here,” Conaway said. “[Carving takes] over eight hours typically… anywhere between eight hours and 20 hours, I imagine.”

The show-stopping giant pumpkins displayed at the festival have roots in Pittsburgh. The Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Festival and the Pennsylvania Giant Pumpkin Growers Association partnered to bring the event to life. Members of the PGPGA grew the majority of the pumpkins featured in the festival.

Conaway shed more light on the sourcing of the giant pumpkins. He said the pumpkin he carved in his live demo and other pumpkins at the festival came from across Pennsylvania and beyond.

“These giant pumpkins are grown all Festivalgoers photograph a pumpkin art piece on display at the Monster Pumpkin over. A lot of the ones you see here are from Pennsylvania… they bring them in Festival in Pittsburgh’s Strip District on Saturday. Pamela Smith | Contributing Editor

pittnews.com

Oc tober 25, 2023

on trucks from Michigan and Ohio,” Conaway said. “This corner of the world is best known for a place where a giant pumpkin will grow, so they’re not very far away.”

The relentless wind off the riverfront did not stop Pittsburgh pumpkin enthusiasts from supporting this homegrown festival. Even as daylight waned, families continued to walk the hay-strewn streets and gathered to see the big pumpkin drop.

When the sheer size of the pumpkins almost shocked viewers into silence, Halloween music like Ray Parker Jr.’s “Ghostbusters” did the talking.

While the vibrant festival showcased the glamorous side of gargantuan gourds, it took a lot of time and dedication to get them to their immense size. Justin Lint, one of the PGPGA’s pumpkin growers who grew a 1,594 pound pumpkin, said growing the giant pumpkins was a lengthy process.

“It takes roughly 130 days,” Lint said.

“That’s from starting the seed ‘til the finished product.”

With events for the whole family, roots in charitable work and, of course, colossal pumpkins, the Pittsburgh Monster Pumpkin Festival helped bring the fall spirit to the Pittsburgh community.

6

Pitt Stages production ‘John Proctor is the Villain’ questions classroom narratives with feminism and friendship Tanya Babbar Staff Writer

Some students might remember witch trials and hysteria from their high school English class discussions about Arthur Miller’s play “The Crucible.” But Pitt Stages’ production “John Proctor is the Villain” offers a new narrative — one filled with feminism, female friendship and pop music, casting the familiar tale in a new light.

From Wednesday Oct. 25 to Sunday Oct. 29, audiences can come to the Charity Randall Theater next to the Cathedral of Learning to watch the Pitt Stages production. From writer Kimberly Belflower, “John Proctor is the Villain” follows the lives of four high school girls in a small rural town in Georgia in 2019 who read “The Crucible” in their high school English class. As the girls grapple with relationships, sex education, abuse and feminism, they begin to question what they learn in the classroom about men in power — both in literary classics and in their own lives.

Kelly Trumbull, the director of the play, said she chose the play because of her love for coming-of-age stories and relevant social themes. In touching on sensitive topics like sexual assault, relationship abuse and power dynamics, Trumbull said she feels the play gives a voice to her skepticism about the protagonist of “The Crucible,” John Proctor — a skepticism she hopes audiences will share after seeing the play.

“Historically, ‘The Crucible’ is taught

The cast of “John Proctor is the Villain” takes their final bows after dress rehearsal on Oct. 18. Ethan Shulman | Visual Editor

in a very specific way that empowers miliar with — it’s not some distant past,” certain characters and villainizes cer- Gaines said. “When it comes to growth in tain characters,” Trumbull said. “I think this show in particular, I feel like we don't anyone who's read ‘The Crucible’ will acknowledge enough how, even within a leave the play questioning what they were short time span, your opinions and your taught and how they were taught.” thoughts about things can change, espeFor Trumbull, audiences do not need cially when you're in high school.” to be familiar with “The Crucible” to enHannah Graziani, a sophomore biojoy the play — in fact, she thinks the play’s logical sciences major who saw the play themes can compel audiences to reexam- on Sunday afternoon, said it reflected her ine the popular narrative in other literary own experience attending high school in classics about highly praised men. a small town in Ohio, where she said her “I think that this play is exciting be- community did not properly discuss sexcause it challenges people to rethink not ual assault or support victims. just “The Crucible,” but other, other sto“I'm from more of a conservative town ries that we have been taught,” Trumbull in Ohio, and you just don't talk about it,” said. “This play really has the power to Graziani said. “There would be rumors, invite people to look at things they have and it was never discussed. It was always examined in high school and college ‘he’s innocent,’ which I saw a lot of that where they’re taught a certain narrative is in the play, which is just like what I expethe narrative.” rienced in my time in high school.”

Miya Gaines, a senior linguistics and “Not believing the victim, defending theater arts major and Pitt Stages actor the man, and the man is always the one who plays Nell, one of the four protago- who gets away with it — it’s a pattern in nists, said the lessons the characters learn society that I feel like a lot of people, escan help students in the audience reflect pecially men, do not talk about,” Graziani Pitt students perform “John Proctor is the on their growth. said. “So I think it’s a really good thing Villain” in a final dress rehearsal at the “I think the show is important because that they perform a play that really disCharity Randall Theatre on Oct. 18. it speaks to a very recent time that a lot of cusses issues women go through that they Ethan Shulman | Visual Editor us, especially in our age group, are so fa- feel like they have to be silent about.”

Oc tober 25, 2023 pittnews.com

While the characters of “John Proctor is the Villain” navigate sensitive subjects related to sexual assault and abuse, audience member Lena Ruther, a senior english literature major, said she appreciated how the play dealt with these topics in a responsible and effective way.

“The playwright did a really good job presenting stuff that might be super triggering to an audience,” Ruther said.

“There were things left unsaid, which I think was good because we don’t need to know the details, but they also didn’t stray from saying straight up: ‘This is sexual assault. This is rape.’ But it was done very carefully, and I appreciated that.”

The young female characters in the play pore over their love for pop culture and music, using it to guide their discussions on feminism and express themselves despite their difficult circumstances. Pop songs from artists like Taylor Swift and Megan Thee Stallion filled the transitions between scenes, and the play closed with a final dance number to Lorde's “Green Light.” Graziani said the play tastefully addressed issues that young women face without discounting their joy.

“I really like how they put it in more of a theatrical form through song and dance. It’s a really unique thing because it’s not just them sitting down discussing it — it’s like women showing they’re almost free through each other,” Graziani said. “It’s women seeing each other and seeing themselves and realizing there’s more to life than being scared.”

Pitt students perform “John Proctor is the Villain” in a final dress rehearsal at the Charity Randall Theatre on Oct. 18.

Ethan Shulman | Visual Editor

7

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Pitt football has five games remaining in the season. The remainder of their season is truly frightening as they face several competitive, ranked ACC teams — all with top-tier quarterbacks. With Halloween just around the corner, here are the three most frightening quarterbacks Pitt has to face in upcoming games.

Duke junior Riley Leonard Riley Leonard, a 6-foot-4 junior, is the quarterback for No. 20 Duke football. Leonard has started 19 games in his career at Duke, posting a 13-6 record over three seasons. He is 4-1 as the starting quarterback this season. Leonard has also completed 79 out of 126 passes for 912 yards, with three touchdowns and just two interceptions in 2023.

While Leonard is usually dangerous, he is currently dealing with a lingering ankle injury, creating many questions about whether he’ll find his groove in 2023. His ankle was already sprained coming into last Saturday’s game against Florida State, but he still played. Leonard ultimately reinjured the same ankle later in the game.

Despite these recent injuries, Leonard and the Blue Devils host the Panthers Nov. 25. By then, his condition is likely to improve. Even towards the end of the Florida State matchup, following his injury, he asked Duke head coach Mike Elko to return to the game.

If Leonard is able to play against Pitt, the Panthers’ defense will have their hands full with one of the scariest signal callers in the ACC. With Pitt squeaking by against the Blue Devils 28-26 in last year’s matchup, this is an exciting game this season, especially with Leonard's return.

Leonard is great in the run game, as he posted a 13-yard run against a notably impressive Florida State defense on Saturday. So far in the 2023 season, he has 48 carries for 339 yards, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. The run game he employs is so fierce that many defenses are unable to contain it.

Although Leonard ushered his team to a first-half lead over Florida State, leading 2017, he had a flawed performance in the passing game. He completed just three out of 11 throws for 37 yards in the first half of his last gamePitt must stop Leonard and his run game and capitalize on the issues presented with the pass game from Duke. If Pitt’s secondary can prevent Leonard from making completions down the field, the Panthers will have the upper hand during their matchup on Nov. 25.

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The three scariest quarterbacks remaining on Pitt football’s schedule

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Florida State quarterback Jordan Travis warms up for a game against Southern Mississippi on Saturday, Sept. 9, in Tallahassee, Fla. AP Photo/Phil Sears

Notre Dame redshirt senior Sam Hartman Sam Hartman, a 6-foot-1 redshirt senior, is the quarterback for No. 14 Notre Dame football. He is in his sixth and final year of college.

Other than his three-interception performance in the loss to Louisville, he plays dominant overall. He has tossed 16 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the other six games. He even defeated USC and top NFL prospect quarterback Caleb Williams 48-20.

He has completed 131 out of 203 passing attempts for a 64.5% completion rate. Hartman has amazed viewers by his elite deep passing abilities, having 10 deep passing touchdowns in the last eight games. He leads a precise offense with rhythm, which includes anticipating where wide receivers are to fit passes into tight spaces.

The NFL’s website currently ranks the Notre Dame signal caller ninth for the 2024 NFL quarterback draft class.

Hartman’s only major flaw comes when he is put under pressure. He has a 34.1 grade and only a 41% completion rating when the defensive front line closes in on him. Hartman also has an 11% turnover rate when under pressure.

When he drops back from the pocket, he has completed just 10 passes on 43 dropbacks.

If Pitt wants to put up a fight against this elite quarterback, the defensive line needs to pressure Hartman as much as possible to expose his flaws and not allow him to throw deep balls.

Pitt plays Notre Dame and Hartman this Saturday in South Bend, Indiana. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.

Oc tober 25, 2023

Florida State redshirt senior Jordan Travis Jordan Travis, a 6-foot-1 redshirt senior, is the quarterback for No. 4 Florida State football.

He is a sixth-year quarterback. Florida State is undefeated under Travis this 2023 football season, going 7-0 so far. On the season, Travis has 15 touchdowns with a 65.1% completion rating.

He has just two interceptions, with 1,750 passing yards and 176 rushing yards.

Travis is scary, in particular with the run game. Last weekend, he and Florida State took on Duke. Travis led his offense to a dominant win, with 62 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He was named ACC Co-Quarterback of The Week due to his phenomenal performance this weekend.

Along with Hartman, Travis is also ranked in the 2024 NFL quarterback class draft on the NFL’s site, placing him fourth on the list.

Travis’ major flaw comes from converting third downs. Florida State’s offense lacks efficiency in converting third downs and short fourth downs. At Saturday’s game, Duke managed to stop Travis on the first two drives when he was put into a fourth and short situation.

If Pitt football wants to bring down Travis, they have to contain him from his run game.

Pitt needs to contain Travis from converting third downs and short fourth downs, exposing his flaw. By not allowing Travis to extend drives, Pitt will have a much better chance of preventing him from scoring on both his dominant run game and pass game.

The Panthers take on the Seminoles on Nov. 4 at Acrisure Stadium.

8

Satire

Comparing Pitt football players to their monster counterparts

Eli Smith Staff Writer

With Halloween upon us, I thought some Pitt football players might need costume advice. What follows are my suggestions, seeing as how each of these players are somewhat reminiscent of their respective monsters.

The Werewolf — M.J. Devonshire Just like the mythical creature that prowls the night, senior defensive back M.J. Devonshire has a knack for transforming. When the full moon is out and the lights are their brightest, Devonshire becomes an entirely different animal on the football field. His ability to get his hands on the ball is impressive, but like the mighty werewolf, his speed is what's truly to marvel at. In what feels like four strides, he can find his way to the open field, and then no one has a chance at catching him. His pick six against West Virginia last year and again against Louisville this year are both examples of his ferocity under the moonlight.

Frankenstein’s Monster — Gavin Bartholomew After dealing with injuries in 2022, junior tight end Gavin Bartholomew was rebuilt this season.

He was put back together piece by piece and revived in time for 2023. So far this season, he has excelled, but that is nothing new for the star tight end. He works most effectively in the pass game and is continuously improving his blocking capabilities. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, he even has a build similar to the hulking monster. If Bartholomew can stay healthy, he’s looking at the best year of his career by far and growing into Pitt’s top playmaker on offense.

The Mummy — Devin Danielson The ancient mummy has existed for thousands of years, guarding his station with vigilance — and so has senior defensive lineman Devin Danielson.

With 57 career games under his belt, Danielson is cemented as a stalwart of the Panthers’ defense.

His intensity is as strong as ever as he continues to play with fervor and passion. Danielson was with the team during some of its most memorable games, such as winning the ACC Championship in 2021 and winning the Backyard Brawl and the Sun Bowl in 2022. The Panthers will certainly miss Danielson when his collegiate career comes to an end.

The Invisible Man — Braylan Lovelace The Invisible Man may go unseen, but his impact is there nonetheless. This rings true for firstyear linebacker Braylan Lovelace. He does not receive praise from the media or fans quite like some of his teammates, but Lovelace surely deserves appreciation. Against Virginia Tech this year, he recorded a tackle for loss, a fumble recovery and eight total tackles. Hopefully that game can serve pittnews.com

as a jumping-off point, setting up the first-year for a successful and prolific college career. If his play continues to improve, this invisible man won’t have to wait long before he’s very visible.

Michael Myers — Dayon Hayes Michael Myers is known for his unrelenting and unwavering pursuit of whoever gets in his way, and senior defensive lineman Dayon Hayes is playing the same way in 2023. He is second on the team with 5.5 tackles for loss and has two sacks on the year. Add to that five quarterback hits and

two pass breakups, and you have a defender that opposing offenses can’t ignore. Standing at 6-foot3 and 265 pounds, Hayes is as physically intimidating as the masked slasher. With Myers, it seems like a foregone conclusion that he is going to get his victim, and with Hayes, he is going to get the quarterback.

Freddy Krueger — Kenny Pickett Why am I comparing Kenny Pickett to Freddy Krueger? Because Pickett lives in my dreams, that's why. Unfortunately, they both also haunt

my dreams. Gone are the days of Pickett to Jordan Addison for touchdown after touchdown. Pitt’s offense has struggled since Pickett was drafted, and that is putting it very, very lightly. Sophomore quarterback Christian Veilleux looked promising in his first two starts, however. Hopefully he can continue to improve and bring Pitt’s offense back.

Until then, I’ll continue to dream of Kenny Pickett and the Heisman he should have won.

Well, those are my picks. Happy Halloween and Hail to Pitt!

Preserving Democracy Protecting Voter Choice in the 2024 Presidential Election Founded in 2020, Keep Our Republic is a non-partisan civic education organization dedicated to protecting a republic of laws and strengthening the checks and balances of our democratic electoral system. Its civic creed is: Let all eligible voters vote. Let the votes be counted. Let the vote count stand.

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| Pitt Cyber | David C. Frederick Honors College Oc tober 25, 2023

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Satire

No more sexy costumes, only chaotic nightmare fuel

Anna Fischer

most importantly, most upsetting costume that you can. For those of you who are a little stuck, here are some ideas that my friends and I came up with, but decided not to execute.

2. A three-person horse costume, but the middle person must be held horizontally in between the first two for the whole night and the entire costume is made out of homemade papier mache.3. All of us dress as young versions of our mothers but we’re only allowed to hook up with people who look like young versions of our fathers (dubbed “the Oedipus complex”) If none of these speak to you, feel free to reach out to me, and I will provide you with a perfectly curated, unhinged nightmare-fuel costume tailored to you.

Happy Halloween — may the worst crime against nature prevail.

Anna Fischer writes about female empowerment, literature and art. She’s really into bagels. Write to her at ajf132@ pitt.edu.

Senior Staff Columnist

Have you ever seen a TikTok — or, if you’re less cool, sexy and fun, an Instagram reel — that you know will haunt you for the rest of your life? I recently fell victim to such an experience, and every night before I go to bed, I see this image plastered onto the back of my eyelids.

That’s right, ladies, gentlemen and nonbinary friends, my newest sleep paralysis demon is that one girl who dressed up like anthropomorphic Perry the Platypus.

Watch at your own risk.

But my newfound abject horror at such a chaotic Halloween costume got my gears turning. Infamous Lindsay Lohan character Cady Heron once said, “In girl world, Halloween is the one day a year when a girl can dress up like a total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” But I urge us to ask, what happens when we forgo our yearly slutification for something more… memorable? Because this year, I’m going for memorial longevity, and sexy is not going to get me there.

Don’t get me wrong, I love dressing to impress for Halloween, but I think we need a better balance between sexy and the most horrific, scarring costumes of all time. Now, I’m not talking horrific as in spooky blood and gore costumes, though I respect that grind too. I’m talking unhinged Gen Z chaos, crimes against nature — see aforementioned Perry. I’m talking about wanting to walk in a sorority house, and every single girl there is dressed like Shrek. I’m talking about a friend group where everyone is a different bald celebrity. I’m talking about dressing up as your grandfather’s urn and handing out unpackaged Fun Dip as ashes — dark, but that’s what we’re going for, people! Scar your friends and family!

Make sure they’ll never forget you! Assert dominance!

Not only will the most unhinged costume make you the most interesting person at the party, but it also displays a level of confidence that you can use to frighten your peers into respecting you. Sure, it takes confidence in oneself to be hot and sexy and strut your stuff, but it takes an almost delusional level of confidence to pittnews.com

Izzy Poth | Staff Illustrator

dress up like President Joe Biden’s Dark son or your dad but hot. And to all my Brandon campaign mug and shake your men out there, Halloween is not just slut ass to “Gasolina” on the dance floor. Don’t era in Girl World, but in the Kendom too. you want friends and strangers to hold If you have the urge to wear any costume deep reverence, fear and respect for you? that justifies having your shirt off like Then you know what you have to do… the classic Greek god or WWE fighter, I Now, here’s where the nuance comes appeal to you to join us in our costume in. Frequently, sexiness can be utilized revolution. If you want to take your shirt to curate a traumatizing costume. Let off, fine, but I expect you to glue googly us return to our ever-reliable Perry the eyes on your nipples and be Mr. Potato Platypus example. No one can deny that Head, okay? her skin-tight blue leotard and her 2016 This year, Halloween is for the unKylie Jenner blue hair moment is sexy. hinged, the chronically online and the And that’s what makes the platypus bill, straight-up weird. Whether it’s your sepainted face and fedora so deeply uncom- nior year and this is your last-ditch effortable. The sexiness is a key component fort to get yourself a Pitt Missed Connecfor amplifying the uncanny valley of the tion, or you’re a first-year and you want costume. So, if you’re looking for the best to make a lasting impression on all your of both worlds, your costume may lie in new, hip college friends, the key to it all is the realm of yassified Neil deGrasse Ty- whipping out the strangest, funniest and, Oc tober 25, 2023

10

Opinion

It’s a shame adults can’t go trick-or-treating

Delaney Rauscher Adams Staff Columnist

As a child, Halloween was probably my favorite day of the year. I would plan my costume for months, always wanting to top that of the previous year. My friends and I would map out the neighborhood, marking the houses that gave out the best candy and those that were unnecessarily stingy. I thrived when running in between houses and observing the chaos of every kid in my vicinity out and about.

The best part of Halloween night by far was trading candy with my friends. I loved Nerds and Reese’s, and all of us hated Almond Joys. After an extensive counting and sorting process, we would debate, bribe and offer until we were all happy with our stashes. I always slipped my dad some Skittles and Kit Kats at the end of the night.

Halloween in college is a completely different experience. With the collective last-minute scramble for costumes and the multi-day phenomenon known as “Halloweekend,” the festivities differ significantly from the childhood Halloween we know and love. Now, don’t get me wrong. I

pittnews.com

love a good party, but Halloweekend in college is essentially like any other weekend, but with crazy outfits. I miss the decorations, the handmade costumes, the knocking on doors and the candy haggling that previously indicated a successful Halloween.

While adults certainly have a responsibility to create a fun holiday experience for children, we should not be deprived of the magic of trick-or-treating. Particularly, South Oakland seems like a prime trick-ortreating neighborhood, and we are not recognizing this opportunity and using it to its full potential.

Many questions arise when considering the dilemma of adult trick-or-treating.

Who would give out the candy if all the adults were out of the house? We could adopt the classic strategy of leaving a bowl out with a sign that says “take one,” but we all know that one kid who would dump the entire thing into their bag and leave the bowl empty for all future trick-or-treaters.

Maybe children could be tasked to hand out candy. After all, it’s pretty spooky to think about leaving a bunch of kids unattended all night.

Unfortunately, these solutions seem fairly ineffective and potentially very dangerous. Perhaps we could all assign shifts and rotate the role of trick-or-treaters and candy giver-outers. The logistics of this option are a bit too complicated to pull off though.

I assume that with our current technology, we could develop a Halloween candy dispensing device to sit in front of everyone’s door, but would every household then have to pay for their dispenser? Capitalism has already tainted holidays enough.

I cannot seem to solve the lack of adult trick-or-treating, but what I do know is that we have not made Halloween enough of a priority for adults. The anticipation of Halloween night was essential in curating the atmosphere of the entire season and should be replicated for anybody that wants to participate. Holidays are not designed for adults to have as much fun as children, but the excitement and fun should not end just because we arbitrarily age people out of trick or treating in high school.

When people can’t participate in Halloween traditions for a majority of their lives, we underestimate how much fun they are being deprived of. We still like sweets

Oc tober 25, 2023

Fikayomi Olagbami | Senior Staff Illustrator

and dressing up as adults. Of course, we can buy our own candy now, but what’s the fun if we aren’t earning it by going door to door?

The inability to pull off adult trick-ortreating is a tragedy and something the greatest minds of our generation will continue to ponder for years to come.

Delaney Rauscher Adams doesn’t like Kit Kats. Reach out to her at dgr17@pitt.edu.

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ACROSS 1 Poaching targets 5 Afghanistan’s capital 10 “Rumor __ it ... ” 13 Alpaca product 1X 2X 3X 4X 5X 6X Add. R Insertions 14 “One more 1-15 Words $6.30 $11.90 $17.30 $22.00 $27.00 $30.20 + $5.00 A song!”

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Syracuse head 3 Mouth, Chunk, or 37 High-level HS 55 Have buyer’s Data, in a 1985 remorse, say courses film 38 Vacillates 56 Significant 4 2002 Winter 41 Dude period Games host, 57 Vegetable plot 42 Worn out initially 5 Pretzel shapes ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE: 6 Throb 7 __ constrictor 8 Caterer’s coffee container 9 Some Best Buy buys, briefly 10 “Absolutely not” 11 IN place?

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