The Best People

Best SGB Member: Shady Henien

During his year-long tenure as SGB president, Shady Henien has… Best SGB Member: Shady Henien

During his year-long tenure as SGB president, Shady Henien has created many new opportunities for Pitt students. Some of his accomplishments include establishing a Giant Eagle shuttle route, casting the deciding vote to begin the much anticipated panther statue project, making pepper spray more easily available to students and bringing the USA Today Readership Program to campus. The second place vote-getter for Best Board Member was not a board member at all: Among other achievements, Academic Affairs Committee chairwoman Nila Devanath oversaw the passing of a resolution declaring that no student should have more than two finals in one day.

Runner up: Nila Devanath – Drew Singer

Best Pitt Sports Star: Levance Fields Has anyone else noticed the similarity in Pitt athletes’ names? LeSean McCoy, Levance Fields, Levon Kendall? All of them are great, but for whatever reason Pitt students seem to love the last two the most. Despite his off-court issues, Levance Fields’ consistently stellar and versatile performances on the basketball court have earned him your respect and the honor of being named this year’s Best Pitt sports star. The junior point guard started in all 37 games last year and was a prominent force on the team his freshman year as well. The other Le, former basketball player Levon Kendall, earned runner up, though he’s no longer a Pitt student, let alone a Pitt sports star. Somehow I think the ladies were behind that vote.

Runner up: Levon Kendall – Emily Steiner

Best Campus Celebrity: Ramesh C. Reddy

Ramesh C. Reddy, the perky guy with the ubiquitous smile who works in the Schenley Cafe, has been voted campus celebrity. Reddy is very involved in campus life and can be seen showing his Pitt pride at football games, basketball games and even SGB meetings. Who knows what’s written on that clipboard he’s always carrying around when at work in the Union. It probably says, simply, “Hail to Pitt!” – J.D. Thrasher

Best Administrator: Dean of Students Kathy Humphrey Humphrey, known as being friendly, accessible and always concerned with student affairs, holds frequent gatherings in the Union, called “dean of students hours” to encourage interaction with students. She lures them in with promises of free food and drink, but students are quick to learn of Humphrey’s desire to interact with students, willingness to help and encouraging attitude. So next time Humphrey holds a “dean of students hours” event, make sure to swing by and meet Pitt’s most popular administrator.

Runner up: Chancellor Mark Nordenberg – Annie Tubbs

Best Pitt Police Officer: Timothy Brickner

In the dorms or in the streets, the Pitt police are the law in these parts. Students would do well to respect the authority of their favorite Pitt lawman, Timothy Brickner. Brickner is tough but fair – an iron fist in a velvet glove. He respects those he has sworn to protect and serve, but when his hand is forced, his justice is swift. Brickner toes the thin blue line that separates the lawless from the lawful with courage and distinction. So next time you see Officer Brickner patrolling the streets of Oakland, tip your cap. Doubtless, he will do the same.

Runners up: Curtis Smith, Ron Bennett – Doug Denison

Best WPTS DJ: Isaac Goldszer

“All I do is music and brains,” said Isaac Goldszer – voted Pitt’s best DJ. This junior neuroscience major became serious with his music this summer and has been scratching his way to the top ever since. Isaac is best known by his DJ pseudonym Bloody Fingers – or if you ask his friends, DJ B-Tips. You may have seen B-Tips spinning up his fraternity Zeta Beta Tau or at a local venue. His music style fuses rap, hip-hop, dance, mash-ups, reggae/ dancehall with a bit of reggaeton. Issac can be heard by tuning into his show 92.1 FM every Thursday 7 to 9 p.m. Coming in second place to Issac is DJ Sam Floyd, who suspiciously now attends Temple University.

Runner up: Sam Floyd – Emily Lyons

Best Columnist: Justin Jacobs

As with many of my columns, this paragraph I am writing while sitting in class. Sure, Buddhism, anthropology or organic chemistry (yeah, right) are interesting, but very little gets me captivated like scribbling down my often slanted views of music, pop culture and Nickelback, who I hate. So, thank you, readers, for by reading and voting me best columnist, you have encouraged me that it is all right, nay, downright appropriate to pretend to be taking detailed notes in class while actually writing sarcastic and hopefully humorous columns for The Pitt News. And thank you to my professors for not seeming to mind. Now go buy the new Band of Horses record, because it is awesome. P.S. – SLJABOYSUX4EVA

– Justin Jacbos Runner Up: Lewis Lehe

When Lewis came of age, he sought the advice of his Uncle Forrest, named for the triumphant Confederate general. Taking a sip from his enormous jug of sweet tea, Uncle Forrest advised Lewis that since Birmingham, Ala. is the “Pittsburgh of the South,” Pittsburgh might be the “Birmingham of the North.” Thus, Lewis packed everything he owned into a small carpet bag, a point of irony not lost on fellow riders, and hopped on the back of a train bound for the jewel of the Rust Belt. How lucky are we Pittsburghers that Lewis mounted that fateful coalcar. He caries a unique and underrepresented voice to The Pitt News – that of the southern, upper-middle class, white male. Every other week, I find myself downright counting the hours until I read his personal interest column, just as I find myself yawning when I read his economy pieces in intervening weeks. “Racist,” “Xenophobic” and “Communist” are all praises lavished on this rising star of print, but I’m proud and grateful to be able to call him just one simple word: “friend.”

– Emanuel Lasker Lewis’ favorite chess champion of the early 20th century

Best Local News Personality: Ken Rice

Ken Rice might have been voted best local news personality in part because he’s the most visible. In addition to hosting the 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts and the 10 p.m. news on Pittsburgh’s CW, Rice moderates debates including the recent mayoral debates and hosts “The KD/PG Sunday Edition” in conjunction with the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which deals with public affairs. He also hosts “Hometown High-Q” where he can be found palling around with runner-up Jon Burnett on commercial breaks. Rice is also involved with charities such as Pittsburgh Cares and The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank. Rice was formerly a part of KDKA’s investigative teams who discovered Pittsburgh’s “recyclables” were being thrown in with the trash and that local companies were scamming Medicare out of millions of dollars.

Runner up: Jon Burnett – Lauren Mylo

Best Bartender: Fred

Without disclosing too much about The Pitt News’ business and editorial staffs, even we have no freaking clue who Fred is. We are regulars on the Oakland bar scene. After an office survey of Pitt News employees over the age of 21, we still can’t figure out who this Fred guy is. So basically what it’s come down to is this: If we don’t know who Fred is, who does? Fred: This is an impassioned plea. Come forward. Let us know of your bartending glory. Or at least come pick up your plaque in room 434 of the William Pitt Union.

Runner up (tie): Gene of Gene’s Place and Tony/Tommy Hudzik – Annie Tubbs

Best Professor: Brett Wells

Students voted French professor Brett Wells the best at Pitt. Wells, who began teaching at Pitt last year, now teaches French 1 and French Conversation. He says he loves sharing his passion for the French language with students and he has found Pitt students to be open to his style of teaching. In the classroom, he imagines himself as the emcee of a game show in which he aims to engage students and make learning enjoyable. Wells received his Ph.D. in French from Stanford University and has lived in France and Quebec. His favorite place is Trois-Rivi