Editorial: The Pitt News' picks of the week

By Staff Editorial

published: Thu, 15 Oct, 2009

Peddling pedaling
Earlier this month, decked out in bicyclist garb — including spandex pants — Mayor Luke Ravenstahl biked to Lincoln Elementary School in Larimer to spread a healthy message to kids. Yesterday, Ravenstahl said the city Planning Department is looking to develop citywide bicycle routes to connect business districts, cultural areas and recreational hotspots. Good thing the mayor’s pushing for more cycling, because he still can’t seem to get Port Authority’s finances in line.

The green beacon
As if the G-20 Summit weren’t enough, Pittsburgh has now been selected to host the United Nations Environment Program’s World Environment Day in North America in June 2010. Pittsburgh seems the nation’s unofficial green beacon. We’ll take the praise, but this time, please leave the protestors at home.

Whacky weather
In yesterday’s issue of The Pitt News, we committed an egregious gaffe in our meteorological forecast — four days straight of rain and 53-degree highs followed by a cloudy, 80-degree day on Monday. Considering that the actual forecast calls for a mix of snow and rain on Saturday and Sunday and temperatures in the 30s, we wish our faux forecast could still come true.
Let’s call it a Freudian slip.

Poor marks for Pitt
In a series of report cards released by the Sustainable Endowments Institute, Pitt received an overall “C” grade.
The organization evaluates schools across the country on their level of environmental sustainability.
Out of nine categories, Pitt earned an “F” for endowment transparency, an “F” for shareholder engagement and several “C”s. Carnegie Mellon, West Virginia University and Penn State University, however, all earned “B” grades overall. Last year, the organization gave Pitt a “C,” and the year before it received a “D.” Too bad Pitt couldn’t take it pass/fail.

Zombies round two
Last week, the Monroeville Mall hosted the 2009 Zombie Fest and Walk of the Dead.
It was the largest gathering of mindless beings since the more than 1,000 out-of-town police officers came to oversee Pittsburgh for the G-20 Summit.