The Pitt News 10-22-14

Vol. 105 Issue 54

@thepittnews

Pittnews.com

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

DO YOU HEAR THE PEOPLE SING?

Board to help distribute student publications

Members of Campus Women’s Organization, Rainbow Alliance and other groups marched to “Take Back the Night” on Tuesday night. Zach Schaffer | Senior Staff Photographer

Dale Shoemaker Staff Writer The Student Government Board will soon install racks to hold student publications, including the Pittiful News and The Original Magazine, at seven locations on campus.

Board President Mike Nites and Board member Benjamin West introduced a bill tonight to amend the current SGB constitution to fund student publication racks on campus.

According to the bill, student publication racks will allow studentrun publications to “increase their visibility on campus.”

Board member Graeme Meyer said the Board will vote to approve the bill at next week’s meeting.

West said SGB plans to place the racks at various locations within the next week if the bill is approved. SGB will purchase the seven racks from Steel City Corporation. SGB already voted at the meeting tonight to set aside $1,486.70 to pay for the racks.

Kathy Humphrey, vice provost and dean of students, previously annual march to bring attention approved racks at two locations — to sexual violence on campuses the first floor of the O’Hara Student and throughout the world.

Center and the main floor of the William Pitt Union — earlier this week.

4 If the Board approves the bill next March

Students march in protest of sexual violence on campus Kat Prosachik Staff Writer “Sexist, racist, anti-gay, don’t you take our night away.”

Men and women chanted this as they marched through the streets of Oakland last night for Take Back the Night, Pitt’s Campus Women’s Organization

week, each building manager will need to approve the installation of the racks in each of the planned locations.

Publication racks will be available at the following locations: O’Hara Student Center, first floor; Benedum Engineering Hall, ground floor; Petersen Events Center, second floor; Sutherland, Residence Hall, first floor; William Pitt Union, main floor; Litchfield Towers, lobby; Posvar Hall, main lobby.

According to the bill, SGB may allot the same rack space to more than one publication, depending on each publication’s schedule, to ensure there is enough space.

Student organizations that want to display their publications will have to apply for a space in the publication racks.

Publications must be Student Organization Resource Center certified, and members from each publication must submit an application that includes a general overview and description of the publication.

The application must also include a tentative publication schedule, an action plan of how the organization will refill the rack and a copy of a past publication.

SGB

7

2

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

NEWS

Life after a stroke: Pittsburgh man regains mobility Anjana Murali Staff Writer Climbing up all 764 steps of the Cathedral of Learning seems like a difficult and physically draining prospect, but for Steve Gillis, a stroke victim determined to make a full recovery, it’s a way to prove that he can overcome challenges.

Eleven months after his stroke in January 2013, Gillis, 58, started ascending the 40 floors. Four hours after he started, Gillis was at the top. His next goal is to climb up all 94 floors of the John Hancock Center for the Hustle Up the Hancock event on Feb. 22, 2015.

“However long it takes, I’m not in any big hurry like I was at the Cathedral.

I am stronger and I think I can climb up the steps in a reasonable amount of time,” Gillis said. “I’m out there to do all

of it just like I’m going for 100 percent recovery of the stroke.”

Gillis suffered his stroke on Jan. 13, 2013.

“Not many people could have survived it,” Gillis said. “I was given two percent odds of survival because it severely affected the left side of my body.”

Gillis has paralysis in his left arm and leg and suffered traumatic brain damage.

“My frontal lobe was really destroyed.

I was able to read and write, but my short term memory was messed up, and I had anger issues after the stroke,” Gillis said.

Gillis said he has always been a motivated and athletic person. Before the stroke, he would walk to work almost every day and enjoyed running, hiking and swimming. Last month, Gillis’ friends and family created a GoFundMe page

called the Steve Gillis Hope Fund to help pay for Gillis’ expenses to Hustle Up the Hancock and his physical rehabilitation.

Gillis said he has not been able to afford his physical therapy treatments in recent months and is looking for help, but he remains hopeful in his ability after the events at the Cathedral.

“The MRI would say there is no way I could’ve done what I did [at the Cathedral of Learning], but here I am talking about the [Hustle up the Hancock],” Gillis said.

Gillis’ friend, Mark Levenson, said it is inspiring to see Gillis recover from his stroke and accomplish climbing up the Cathedral steps.

“Somebody else might have given up but every day, he seems to be more and more inspired to continue and to improve,” Levenson said.

Determined to recover, Gillis attends physical therapy, does 20-minute brain exercises and reads books about quantum mechanics and Einstein’s theory of relativity every day.

He initially had problems with spatial cognition after the stroke but is improving through sessions with a therapist.

“My therapist drew a couple of figures on the paper, and I wouldn’t remember them, and I couldn’t draw lines to connect them,” Gills said. “Today I passed the test 100 percent, so that’s a good thing.”

Joseph Tersak started working with Gillis as his personal trainer after his stroke. Tersak helped him gain his balance, get out of his wheelchair and

Gillis

5

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

3

4 FROM PAGE 1

MARCH

Alecia Caballero said she joined the march because she believes she shouldn’t have to feel unsafe on campus.

“I should be able to walk from the Cathedral to upper campus by myself and feel safe doing so,” said Caballero, a sophomore history major. “I should be able to walk to class without being catcalled. And when I’ve tried to explain that to friends, they either didn’t understand or made a comment along the lines of “you dress really conservatively though.”

According to Pitt’s 2013 Jeanne Clery Act Statistics Report, between 2013 and 2014, there were 10 instances of rape reported on campus, and seven reports of forcible fondling — touching a person sexually against their will. This is up from the five reported instances of rape and one report of forcible fondling between 2012 and 2013.

Anne Pride, a late National Organization for Women (NOW) activist, used the name “Take Back the Night,” during a speech in 1977 at an anti-violence rally in Pittsburgh, and so coined the term that eventually became the name for the worldwide anti-violence organization.

According to Take Back The Night’s website, anti-sexual violence rallies began when people started marching down the streets across Europe to discuss women’s safety. Later in San Francisco in 1973, people gathered to protest the serial murders of women and pornography. And then in 1975, when a female microbiologist was brutally murdered, people marched down the streets of Philadelphia in protest.

Thirty student leaders began the rally at the stage of the William Pitt Union Assembly Room, representing various student groups on campus that support the fight against sexual violence, including the Rainbow Alliance, Black Action Society and the Brazil Nuts Club, a Portuguese language club at Pitt. Club leaders

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

A BRIEF HISTORY OF TAKE BACK THE NIGHT A group of women protested violence against women occurs in Philadelphia after the murder of Susan Speeth, who was killed while walking home by herself.

1975

2,000 women protest the International Tribunal for Crimes Against Women in Belgium, holding a candlelight vigil.

1976

told the crowd why they were participating in the march, which more than 100 people joined.

Allie McCarthy, a junior and the president of the Rainbow Alliance, said Take Back the Night is especially important to the LGBTQIA community.

“Gender nonconforming individuals are often victims of sexual violence because people think they can be changed, we’re here to show that that is not okay,” McCarthy said.

The students marched down Forbes Avenue, where police waited to escort the students through South Oakland. They proceeded down Bouquet Street, across Bates Street, up Atwood Street and finally across Fifth Avenue, where they then entered Tower’s lobby. Many passers-by stopped to ob-

Anne Pride names a memorial she wrote for a Pittsburgh antiviolence rally “Take Back the Night”, coining the phrase for future marches.

Vancouver Rape Relief holds its first of 5 annual marches against sexual violence

Take Back the Night officially becomes a not-for-profit organization to fight violence against women.

1980

2001

1977 serve the march and listen to the group’s chanted demands.

After the march, the group gathered outside the Union and Brackenridge Hall to shout the purpose of the march: “What

intervention seminar after the march.They spoke about being an active bystander and intervening in situations that need attention, such as witnessing sexual violence.

Kerrie Kauer, a visiting scholar and lecturer in the Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies department, said the march is about the idea that campus should always be a safe place for students.

“The idea is that students should feel safe and free from violence and harassment on their college campuses, including sexual violence, domestic violence, rape, intimate partner abuse, etc.,” Kauer said.

Sherdina Harper, CWO’s faculty advisor, watched the march from her car and cheered on her organizations event.

“Take Back the Night is needed to bring awareness to sexual abuse of both men and women at Pitt,” Harper said.

“I should be able to walk from the Cathedral to upper campus by myself and feel safe doing so.”

Alecia Caballero do we want? To end rape. When do we want it? Now,” they shouted.

CWO President Eleanora Kaloyeropoulou, a junior Africana studies and history major, and Sydney Garlick, CWO’s business manager, who are both certified peer counselors with SHARE, gave a bystander

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 2

GILLIS

The Pitt News Crossword, 10/22/2014

stretch his muscles.

“Anyone in that situation deserves to be a little frustrated and a little negative, and for him to be as hardworking and as optimistic as he is, despite the setbacks, is truly inspiring to me,” Tersak said.

Tersak said he wanted to help Gillis achieve his goals because Gillis’ determination to get better, in turn, also motivated him.

Gillis said his family and friends have helped him through the recovery process at every turn, and said his son was one of his biggest supporters.

Gillis can now walk around with assistance.

“I kept working toward getting stronger, more mobile, and I just never gave up,” Gillis said. “I wanted to be an inspiration for other survivors. Pretty soon, God-willing, I will be able to walk with no device.”

He suffered the stroke during his 20th year working for PNC Bank. Gillis, ACROSS 1 Common telenovela theme 5 Travel needs for many 10 Lose, in a Vegas game 14 Amplify, in a way 15 Not available 16 Fit 17 *Media member with a curly tail?

19 Word with barn or storm 20 Sorceress jilted

by Jason 21 “Not interested” 23 Seahawks’ org.

25 *With 50-Across, travel guide that touts Oranjestad’s worst hotels and restaurants?

26 “Time to split!”

30 Ore. setting 31 José __: frozen Mexican food brand 32 Sitar selections 34 Santa __ Mountains: coastal California range 38 *“Whatever you say, wise goddess!”?

42 In-land link?

43 Henie on the ice 44 Grammy-winning “We Are Young” band 45 Cybernotes 48 Six, for many 50 See 25-Across 54 “King Kong” studio 55 Franklin’s note 56 “Cheers,” e.g.

60 Qatari potentate 61 *Refrigerator on the front lines?

65 In __ parentis 66 What a shin guard protects 67 Legendary galley 68 __ school 69 How-to units 70 Actor Gosling DOWN 1 Digital clock toggle 2 Squishy area

Gillis’ friend, Mark Levenson, helped him up the 36 flights of stairs. | Photo courtesy of Steve Gillis.

10/31/14

By Doug Peterson

3 Didn’t deny 4 Feel offended by 5 Itinerary word 6 India __ 7 Fashion designer Anna 8 Buzzing with activity 9 Close securely 10 Run of lousy luck 11 Threat to a WWII destroyer 12 Splash clumsily 13 Clipped 18 Trip to see the big game?

22 Birth announcement abbr.

24 Climbing challenge 25 Subject for da Vinci 26 One may go into an empty net 27 Earthenware pot 28 Bluff betrayer 29 Words of disgust 33 Holiday song closer 35 S&L offering for homeowners 36 Word on the Great Seal of the United States

Thursday’s Puzzle Solved

©2014 Tribune Content Agency, LLC

37 Novelist Grey 39 Shower harbinger 40 Cracked open 41 Have words with 46 Dept. head 47 Workout garb 49 Beyond reasonable limits 50 Young wolf 51 One may be going around 52 Ready if required 53 Not turn away

10/31/14

57 Not right 58 Multigenerational tale 59 Suffix with Jumbo 62 Mount Rushmore figure, familiarly 63 Tang 64 Smallish batteries, and a hint to how the answers to starred clues are formed

5 a consultant retail service specialist, had more awards than anybody else in the corporate headquarters and was trying to get another one. Gillis hasn’t been able to return to work after the stroke.

“I was very motivated mentally which carried over physically,” Gillis said.

Levenson accompanied Gillis on his climb up the Cathedral stairs. When Gillis switched from one flight to the next, he had to rely on the help of his friend to get him to the rail. Levenson’s job was to provide emotional support and to carry Gillis’ wheelchair up every flight.

“When we first started, after he walked two flights, it was so hard for him, at least it looked that way to me,” Levenson said. “I thought to myself for sure that maybe at the most he would make it up five or 10 flights, which would be fine, he made a great effort.”

Gillis ended up not needing the wheelchair and climbed every flight within four hours.

“If I do this [Hustle up the Hancock], I’m going to set my next goal even higher,” Gillis said. “Who knows what will be next?”

6

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

ALLOCATIONS

FROM PAGE 1

SGB

Nites will designate an SGB member to determine which publications receive space at the beginning of each semester.

Each rack has five shelves, and according to the bill, SGB will favor the publications that receive allocations funding to those who don’t.

Otherwise, SGB will remain neutral when deciding which publications receive rack space, the bill said.

West said it is not the Board’s role to judge the merit of each publication.

“We can’t say that this one has better content that this one,” he said.

Student groups will be able to access the application, which West drafted, on SGB’s website, West said.

Nites said the idea for distribution racks came up because several student organizations, including The Original Magazine, requested racks last year, but were denied.

Meyer said it wasn’t fiscally responsible to approve individual racks for each group.

“It’s not a wise use of our money when there are so many student publications,” Meyer said.

In other action: Hours for Schenley Cafe and Market Central will be extended beginning Nov. 7.

Taco Bell and Pizza Hut will be open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and Taco Bell hours will be extended from 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday.

SubConnection will now be open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Nicola’s Garden will all be open from 4 to 9 p.m. on Sunday.

Market Central Friday and Saturday night hours will be extended from 10 to 11 p.m.

Tutto Fresco will be open until 11 p.m. seven days a week.

Budget Modifications Asian Students Alliance: $2000.00 Rainbow Alliance: $14900.00 Student Government Board: $1486.70

7

Slutciety: $8811.00

Pi Alpha Delta: $1614.50

Football Club: $2008.26

Russian and Eastern European Studies: $1225.00

Club Cross Country: $1650.34

Hindu Student Council: $2574.00

Steel City Bhangra: $2109.44

Original Magazine: $4780.00

Quidditch Club: $730.22

Pittsburgh Club Baseball: $1983.72

Pittsburgh Intercollegiate Snowboard Team: $6700.00

Panther Women’s Rugby

8

EDITORIAL

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

OPINIONS

Disabled people deserve more on-screen Movies and television shows have a way of connecting the characters they portray with their audiences.

The more relatable the characters, the more appealing the storyline — but what about characters with physical or mental disabilities? Can American audiences relate to them as easily?

The short answer: Yes, of course — disabled people are not any different from anyone else.

They have friends, family, jobs and lives, just like those without disabilities.

Mental or physical disabilities do not make a person inherently different. So yes, definitely, characters in film and television with disabilities can be just as relatable as characters without — but that’s not what is at issue. Rather, the question should be, does Hollywood adequately portray said characters in such a light?

Today, Pittsburgh’s second annual ReelAbilities Film Festival commences. The festival, running through Oct. 30, aims to “promote awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with different disabilities,” according to their website. This year’s festival will begin with an address from Angela Rockwood — the star of the progressive reality show, “Push Girls,” — an exhibit of fashion photography featuring models with disabilities and a screening of the acclaimed documentary “CinemAbility.”

“CinemAbility,” released in July 2013, examines the portrayals of those with disabilities in films and television shows.

Keeping a critical eye on such portrayals and storylines about dis-

abled people is especially pertinent because films and television shows have the ability to form public perception.

“There’s no denying that people are influenced by what they see in media,” actor Gary Sinese says in “CinemAbility.”

Unfortunately, media storylines often showcase disabled people as characters that are, somehow, unnatural — thus, separating such characters into a less relatable category.

In movies like “Gigli,” or “The Ringer,” mentally disabled characters are used for comic relief, as a means to provide a few cheap laughs. In shows like “Family Guy,” the character Joe Swanson is in a wheelchair, something that all too often ends up as a mere punch line. Other television shows, like “American Horror Story,” play on physical and mental disabilities in order to invoke fear.

Either way, using disabled characters to draw laughs or screams is extremely insensitive to those who actually have mental and physical disabilities. And seeing what all the disabled community actually does, it is a shame that the reality isn’t portrayed more in the media than the damning stereotypes.

Festivals like the ReelAbilities Film Festival are important. They highlight that groups outside of the declared norm exist, and celebrate their lives, stories and capabilities.

So, like the Lesbian and Gay Film Festival that was recently in Pittsburgh, ReelAbilities can overcome the stereotypes and popular representations of the disabled community and highlight the real people within it.

MCT Campus

THE TALBERT REPORT

Why condemning ISIS is offensive Eli Talbert Columnist

A disturbing trend has emerged out of radical Islam. No, I am not talking about ISIS itself — though that might also be a concern — I am referring to the assumption that moderate Muslims condemn groups like ISIS. Obama addressed the U.N. General Assembly on Sept. 24 and said, “It is time for the world — especially Muslim communities —to explicitly, forcefully and consistently reject the ideology of al Qaeda and ISIS,” This is highly problematic for a number of reasons, not to mention that it probably stems from Islamophobia. Expecting and even asking moderate Muslims to condemn groups like ISIS is an affront to all that is good and American.

Of course, with all such important cultural issues, there are those who would write this problem off

as trivial, even denouncing it as whining. Some would claim that the harm caused by ISIS, which includes beheadings, forced marriages and honor killings, makes the discomfort of moderate Muslims irrelevant.

These people need to remember a cardinal truth: Just because there are worse things happening in the world, doesn’t mean we can’t complain about things that are wrong here. Sure, it would be kind of obnoxious if you told a man who was bleeding to death that you couldn’t help him because you had a paper cut, but this is an entirely different situation. The discomfort that moderate Muslims might feel in being asked to condemn radical Islam is almost comparable to the discomfort of living under draconian sharia law where any infraction may be punishable by death.

Besides, it is not simply about being uncomfortable — the recent

call from world leaders like Obama, for moderate Muslims to condemn radical organizations, such as ISIS, is thinly disguised Islamophobia.

Why else would people ask Muslims to condemn other Muslims?

Groups like ISIS probably weigh criticism from other Muslims exactly the same as way as they do from “disbelievers” that they have authorized to kill, “in any manner or way however it may be,” according to a statement from ISIS spokesperson, Abu Muhammad al-Adnani.

If ISIS were to treat condemnation from fellow Muslims as special, then that would be an act of cultural insensitivity and maybe even religious bigotry.

The public and Obama’s blatant hostility toward Islam is especially evident when one examines the treatment of other groups. After all, we don’t call on Christians,

Talbert

9

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 8

TALBERT Democrats or Republicans to disavow radical members of their group. That is, unless one of them makes a statement that is seriously nonsensical and in bad taste, such as Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” comment that drew condemnation from all across the Republican party — including from the Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and the Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell.

It is sad when a religious decree, like ISIS’s

THE PITT NEWS Natalie Daher Editor-in-Chief editor@pittnews.com

Cristina Holtzer, News Editor news@pittnews.com

Nick Voutsinos, Opinions Editor letters@pittnews.com

Shawn Cooke, A&E Editor

aande@pittnews.com Chris Puzia, Sports Editor sports@pittnews.com

Theo Schwarz, Visual Editor photos@pittnews.com

Ellie Petrosky, Copy Chief tpncopydesk@gmail.com

Stephen Caruso, Layout Editor tpnlayout@gmail.com

fatwah declaring it is okay to kill or steal from any citizen of the west, is expected to be strongly condemned as a horrible misogynistic comment like Akin’s. Where is our religious tolerance?

Why can’t Muslims feel free to refuse to condemn ISIS? I’m sure that, even given the horrible nature of Todd Akin’s comments, a Republican could have refused to condemn him based on the fact that Akin doesn’t represent all Republicans. Similarly, I bet the Pope could refuse to condemn pedophiliac priests because that would imply that pedophilia is the norm for the priesthood. Why are people

E S T A B L I S HE D 1 9 1 0

Mahita Gajanan, Managing Editor manager@pittnews.com

Danielle Fox, Assistant News Editor Harrison Kaminsky, Assistant News Editor Matt Barnes, Assistant Opinions Editor Dan Sostek, Assistant Sports Editor Jeff Ahearn, Assistant Visual Editor Zheru Liu, Multimedia Editor Joelle Smith, Social Media Editor Becca Nagy, Assistant Copy Chief Emily Hower, Assistant Layout Editor

Copy Staff

Sarah Choflet Anjuli Das Kinley Gillette Johanna Helba Emily Maccia Sam McGinley

Bridget Montgomery Sarah Mejia Shivani Pandit Michelle Reagle Michael Wilson Megan Zagorski

9

singling out Islam?

As an American, I am sickened by the hypocrisy that would make it OK for me to refuse to condemn a male serial rapist because I am a man and not all men are rapists, and yet Muslims cannot do the equivalent.

Such hypocrisy is indicative of the intolerant society we live in. How will Muslims ever feel welcome in this country when the President himself calls on them to, “explicitly, forcefully and consistently reject the ideology” of radical groups like ISIS? Such statements are a dog whistle for Islamophobia, and it’s a further testament to

Editorial Policies Single copies of The Pitt News are free and available at newsstands around campus. Additional copies can be purchased with permission of the editor in chief for $.50 each.

Opinions expressed herein are not necessarily those of the students, faculty or University administration. Opinions expressed in columns,- car toons and letters are not necessarily those of The Pitt News. Any letter - in tended for publication must be addressed to the editor, be no more than 250 words and include the writer’s name, phone number and University affiliation, if any. Letters may be sent via e-mail to letters@pittnews.com. The Pitt News reserves the right to edit any and all letters. In the event of multiple replies to an issue, The Pitt News may print one letter that represents the majority of responses. Unsigned editorials are a majority opinion of the Editorial Board, listed to the left.

The Pitt News is an independent, student-written and student-managed newspaper for the Oakland campus of the University of Pittsburgh. It is-pub lished Monday through Friday during the regular school year and Wednesdays during the summer.

Complaints concerning coverage by The Pitt News, after first being brought to the editors, may be referred to the Community Relations -Com mittee, Pitt News Advisory Board, c/o student media adviser, 435 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.

The editor in chief has the final authority on editorial matters and cannot be censored, according to state and federal law. The editor in chief is selected by the Pitt News Advisory Board, which includes University staff, - fac ulty and students, as well as journalism professionals. The business and edito rial offices of The Pitt News are located at 434 William Pitt Union, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pa. 15260.

T P N S U D O K U

how deeply rooted the problem is that it is not recognized as such.

The solution is clear. We have to stop asking moderate Muslims to criticize radical Islam. If we don’t, we risk the feelings and emotional well-being of thousands of our citizens and a total collapse of religious freedom.

Only together can we reverse the plague of intolerance and hate that is threatening to engulf America. Remember, though ISIS might have “Islamic State” in its name, it’s not really Islamic. Stand strong and fight the darkness.

Email Eli at ejt26@pitt.edu advertising@pittnews.com

Kevin Vanover, Business Manager Advertising@pittnews.com

Kelsey McConville, Inside Sales Manager

David Barr, Sales Manager

advertising@pittnews.com

advertising@pittnews.com

Account Executives Maxwell Hine Jordan Bullock Robert Capone Rosalyn Nye Antonio Blundo Joe Leone Joe Kloecker Mackenzie Walsh Sean Leone Jordyn Aungst

Matt Reilly

Inside Sales Nicole Barrett Victoria Hetrick Julia McKay

Digital Manager Stephen Ellis

Marketing Manager Kristine Aprile

Senior Universal Account Executive

Marketing Assistant

Ad Designer

Rachael Hoge

Mark Janavel

Today’s difficulty level: Hard Puzzles by Dailysodoku.com

10

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

GYMNASTICS

11

SPORTS

Tiara Chadran talks upcoming season, life as gymnast Joey Niklas For The Pitt News When Tiara Chadran came to Pitt to continue her gymnastics career, she didn’t know a high school rival would follow her to the team a year later.

She and sophomore teammate Kelly Burak competed against each other for years before they became teammates on a collegiate level.

“I was [a member of] Pittsburgh Northstars and she [was a member of] Arcadia,” said Chadran, a junior and captain of Pitt’s gymnastics team. “That was more of a healthy rivalry. We also did high school gymnastics ... and it was like college, in a sense, because we’re fighting for our hometowns.”

Although Chadran began gymnastics at age three for fun, her inspiration to continue comes from star gymnast Nastia Liukin.

“She was like the big shot [of gymnastics] whenever I was really young,”

The Pitt Gymnastics team prepares to open their season. | Courtesy of Pitt Athletics

Chadran said. “I try to kind of mimic her, as far as her poses and stuff. But she has her own style.”

Chadran competes in the vault, uneven bars and floor exercise, but she has not done so in two years because of a knee injury. Although the season doesn’t begin until December with the Blue-Gold exhibition, Chadran has been working to recover and fully prepare herself for the season

for a while now.

Chadran spoke with The Pitt News about her goals for the season, her favorite events to compete in and pre-meet rituals.

The Pitt News: What are your personal and team goals for this upcoming season?

Tiara Chadran: I think our team this year is super talented. We have so much potential, despite a couple of injuries knocking us down a little bit. The attitude

on our team, compared to last year, has completely transformed. We’re all rooting for the same thing, we’re moving in a positive direction this year, and I’m really excited to see where it takes us, if we just keep it up.

TPN: At what age did you begin training in gymnastics?

TC: I was three. I did gymnastics for fun until I was a freshman in high school.

When I made it to nationals, then it became serious, because they looked at me differently. I still enjoyed it, but it was different.

TPN: Out of the three events you compete in — uneven bars, floor exercise or vault — which is your favorite?

TC: I like uneven bars the best!

TPN: What’s your best strategy for managing your academic life, social life, family life and training and competing?

TC: It took me a while to figure out how to manage everything as far as my social life, my family life, my sports, my academ-

Chadran

14

MEN’S SOCCER

Overtime goal by Murray lifts Panthers over High Point Mark Powell Staff Writer

Kevin Murray scored early in overtime and keeper Dan Lynd had a career high in saves as Pitt men’s soccer won its first game in October against Big South conference-leader High Point.

“It was a good win. We battled, and there were some rough spots near the end of the game, but at the end of the day, you get a result and that’s all we needed,” head coach Joe Luxbacher said.

The win was Pitt’s first against a team with a winning record this late in the season since a 2004 game against Georgetown.

Despite the absence of leading scorer

Mamadee Nyepon because of a red card suspension, High Point established its presence early, playing most of the first 20 minutes inside Pitt’s defensive half, coming close to beating goalkeeper Dan Lynd multiple times on his short side.

High Point’s team passed mostly via long balls through the air, an observation Pitt noticed when scouting its Big South opponent.

It appeared the Panthers were struggling to get into their offense — a common theme over the last several games.

Pitt made a coordinated effort to keep possession after a High Point free kick went astray in the 23rd minute.

Instead of playing through balls from the midfield, the Panthers attempted

to build from the back, passing in their own half and attempting to build a substantial attack.

The possession seemed to help the Panthers, as they nearly scored on a header off a free kick from roughly 30 yards out. The shot was Pitt’s first legitimate chance in the game at goal, and it came in the 30th minute.

The Panthers had an even better chance at scoring their first goal in three games when Hamish Law raced past the defense and shot a long shot from just inside the right-hand corner of the box. The shot rose quickly and went out of the reach of High Point goalkeeper Kody Palmer, hitting the top right corner of the crossbar.

Despite Pitt’s surge to end the first half, High Point outshot the Panthers 6-5. The teams played an even 45 minutes, with neither team able to convert the opportunities it had.

The Panthers began the second half similarly to the start of the first: stagnant. High Point put together two successful offensive possessions to begin the second 45 to bring its shot total to nine through the 60th minute.

High Point nearly scored again in the 61st minute, when Renato Punyed forced Lynd to dive to his right and make a sprawling save on a well-struck ball.

Soccer

12

12

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com

CLUB SPORTS

FROM PAGE 11

Brooms and oars: Club teams set sights on finals SOCCER

The Pitt Quidditch team hopes to earn a berth in this year’s World Cup. Jeff Ahearn | Assistant Visual Editor

Ashley Drwal For The Pitt News With their seasons drawing to a close as the weather gets colder, Pitt’s club sports teams are ramping up their games in preparation for their final tournaments.

Pitt Quidditch “Qualifying for world cup gets harder every year since the sport is rapidly growing internationally,” Kimaya Padgaonkar, a chaser on the Pitt Quidditch team, said.

Once a fictional sport occurring within the pages of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Quidditch has been adapted to fit the needs of non-magically inclined muggles. Seven players — three chasers, two beaters, one keeper and one seeker — run around on a field with broomsticks between their legs using quaffles (deflated volleyballs) to score points through hoops and bludgers (dodgeballs) to knock members of the opposing team out of play until they touch one of their goals. The keepers stand guard near the hoops to deflect any oncoming quaffles. While this is going on, the seeker tries to catch the snitch, a tennis ball attached to the snitch runner’s shorts. Capturing the snitch nets the team 30 points and ends the game.

Last year, Pitt Quidditch made it to nationals — referred to as the World Cup

among players — but didn’t make it past group play. This year, regionals are Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, and the top 10 finishers earn a trip to the World Cup. The Panthers expect to make a run at another World Cup appearance.

The team practices Friday evenings from 5 to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. They participate in beater drills and chaser drills, which are followed by a team scrimmage, during which they go through game strategies.

“Everyone is really competitive and we all give 100 percent effort every match,” Tyler Norton, captain and chaser of the Pitt Quidditch team, said. “We have a lot of new players this year, but hope that the veterans can lead the team toward qualifying for the World Cup.” Pitt Rowing Pitt Rowing Club decided to jump three years ago from race fours (4+), which consist of four rowers and a coxswain, to race eights (8+) because it is considered the more prestigious type of racing. Because of the switch, it took the team some time to get back up to the competing level.

Last year, the women’s team first entry in the 8+ category advanced all the way to the Grand Finals for the American Collegiate Rowing Association (ACRA) spring championship regatta.

The Varsity Men’s 4+ team took eighth place at the Head of the Charles Regatta, the largest rowing event where teams from all over the world come to compete.

“We believe that this will be our most competitive year thus far,” Chris Garver, a rower for the Pitt Rowing Club, said.

This year, both teams will be entering the 8+ category when they make their way back to the Head of the Charles competition.

To prepare for the tournaments, the club team practices Monday through Saturday, with varsity starting at 5:30 a.m. and freshmen at 5:30 p.m. Varsity and freshmen rowers practice together on Saturdays at 7 a.m.

“New varsity [rowers] always rise to the challenge and do an excellent job filling the shoes of those who graduate,” D.J. Civiletti, another rower, said. “We are excited to see what their raw potential can do when paired with the experience of the upperclassmen.”

The Panthers didn’t register their first shot of the second half until the 64th minute, when Patrick Dixon shot a bouncing cross above the bar, despite being only a few feet from goal. The pass to Dixon appeared to deflect off a High Point defender, which made it tough for the Australian winger to control with his right foot.

Neither team separated themselves from the other in 90 minutes, so the game headed to overtime. However, High Point had more opportunities at goal in regulation time, outshooting Pitt 17-8.

Murray netted the game winner just over two minutes into overtime after Cory Werth was able to separate himself from the defense on the right-hand side to make a perfect cross to the eventual game-winning scorer.

Pitt has made a habit of heading into

Soccer

14

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com RECRUITING

Pitt Recruiting Rundown Jeremy Tepper Staff Writer

P

itt’s newest commit, Jordan Whitehead, scored three touchdowns in three different ways. Here’s how he and the rest of Pitt’s commits fared last weekend.

Jordan Whitehead (cornerback) — Central Valley High School, Pa. Central Valley remained undefeated at 8-0, defeating Hopewell 57-7. Whitehead scored three ways, returning a punt for 60 yards, an interception for 38 yards and catching a pass for 29 yards.

Kevin Givens (linebacker) — Altoona High School, Pa. Givens ran in a 49-yard touchdown in a 35-12 victory over Hempfield.

Darrin Hall (running back) — Austintown Fitch High School, Ohio Austintown Fitch did not play this weekend.

Tre Tipton (wide receiver) — ApolloRidge High School, Pa. Apollo-Ridge defeated Deer Lakes 4921, improving to 7-1. Tipton ran three times for 105 yards and caught a 32-yard touchdown.

Dane Jackson (cornerback) — Quaker Valley High School, Pa. Jackson completed 13 of 21 passes for 308 yards and four touchdowns and ran for a rushing touchdown as Quaker Valley romped East Allegheny 59-23.

Nick Bowers (tight end) — Kittanning High School, Pa.

Bowers sat out with a leg injury as Shady Side Academy defeated Kittanning 28-14.

Quadree Henderson (wide receiver) — Alexis I. duPont High School, Del. Henderson caught a 73-yard touchdown in a 56-34 loss to Middletown.

DaVon Hamilton (defensive tackle) — Pickerington Central High School, Ohio Pickerington Central defeated Newark 27-3, improving to 8-0.

Malik Henderson (cornerback) — Hallandale High School, Fla. Hallandale beat Dillard 30-14, improving to 7-0.

Kraig Howe (defensive tackle) — Archbishop Alter High School, Ohio Archbishop Alter shut out Archbishop McNicholas 49-0.

Sekai Lindsay (running back) — Palm Bay High School, Fla. Palm Bay shut out Astronaut 35-0, as Lindsay ran for a 13-yard touchdown.

Alex Paulina (offensive guard) — Canon-McMillan High School, Pa. Canon-McMillan was defeated by Baldwin 28-21, falling to 0-8.

Tony Pilato (offensive tackle) — Hempfield Area High School, Pa. Hempfield lost to Altoona 35-12, moving to 2-6.

Rob Dowdy (offensive tackle) — Westerville South High School, Ohio Westerville South fell to Westerville Central 45-32.

13

14

October 22, 2014 | The Pitt News | www.pittnews.com FROM PAGE 12

SOCCER extra time this season, having needed more than 90 minutes to decide a winner six times this season. Five of the games took place at Ambrose Urbanic Field.

“To get over that hump, it just shows that we actually can battle and grind to get the last goal,” Murray said.

Murray’s game-winner provides the Panthers with much-needed life as they

re-enter ACC play with a bout in Durham against the Duke Blue Devils.

After his nine-save performance, Lynd realized how crucial the win could be in the strange script that has been Pitt’s season.

“If we can beat Duke we’re still in the hunt, so the win was huge for our confidence,” he said.

The Panthers will travel down to Durham later this week to take on the Blue Devils, with the contest scheduled to start at 7 p.m. on Friday.

FROM PAGE 11

CHADRAN

Chadran has been practicing gymnastics since age three. | Courtesy of Pitt Athletics

ics. The best thing I could do is make lists, and I have to make a schedule for each day.

I have most of my classes in the morning, I have practice in the afternoon. I’ll either have night classes or tutoring, then after that I go to the library to get my class work done.

TPN: Do you have any pre-meet/preevent rituals that help pump you up or calm you down?

TC: I have a playlist that I listen to, and we go up early, stand on the equipment and just visualize to get your mind right. I just try to stay calm, and I’ll pray. Then we have our team huddle to get pumped up.

TPN: Gymnastics is not only a team sport, it’s also an individual sport. Are there any internal rivalries between your fellow gymnasts that help compete to become a better team?

TC: There’s lineups for each event, and only six could compete at every meet, and there’s obviously more than six of us on the team. So there’s that internal competitiveness, but that motivates each of us to do the best that we can. But obviously we’re supportive of each other at the same time through that. If she gets in the lineup and you don’t, you don’t hate her for it. That’s motivation I have to have to get into the lineup and that pushes other girls harder to hold their positions.