The Campus in Brief

Cows don’t get eaten, still can’t spell

Beth Oberleiter, Staff Writer

Chick-fil-A… Cows don’t get eaten, still can’t spell

Beth Oberleiter, Staff Writer

Chick-fil-A gave cows of all sizes a chance to bargain for their survival yesterday at the Cathedral Cafe.

Employees gave out pocket-sized plush cows that donned a banner pleading “Eat Mor Chikin.”

It was all part of a promotional effort called “Cow Day,” designed to get people to sample Chick-fil-A’s new sandwich, the grilled chicken club.

Jennifer Sugden, an employee of Pitt’s dining services, was prepared to hand out free samples of the new sandwich from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m.

She said that many students heard about the event through advertisements and came early to receive their free gift.

“There were actually people lined up here. They were like, ‘We came for our cow,'” Sugden said.

While Sugden and a coworker handed out free samples and miniature cows, a super-sized version of the Chick-fil-A cow attracted attention outside of the Cathedral Cafe, where customers stopped to get their picture taken with the large mascot.

Chic-fil-A’s cow advocate also worked with Pitt’s dining services, and said that he was thankful to have ice packs taped under his spotted outfit to prevent overheating.

“I’m just here to advertise for Chick-fil-A and entertain people,” the cow said.

Students, faculty, staff get flu shots

Lisa Cunningham, For The Pitt News

The line for flu shots at the Health Fair and Flu Shot Clinic in the William Pitt Union Ballroom extended outside of the doors of the room yesterday. The expected turnout was 400 to 500 people.

The Health Fair provided educational information on topics from tobacco to birth control. Pitt students, faculty and staff stood in line to receive flu shots administered by Pitt’s Student Health Services.

Megan Kavanaugh, a Student Health Service worker who organized the event, said, “With students in such close contact, I think it’s important for students and people who work with them to get flu shots.”

She added that students’ immune systems are usually weak because they do not get enough sleep, which makes it easier for them to get the flu.

Another Health Fair and Flu Shot Clinic will be held next Tuesday, Nov. 1, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Kurtzman Room of the William Pitt Union. Flu shots cost $18.

Students spring for a break in vacation traditions

Jennifer Macasek, For the Pitt News

Spring break is a time to get away from campus and do something for yourself, but many Pitt students take it one step further and do something for others as well.

Alternative Break, a Pitt organization that provides service projects for students during spring break, held information sessions this week.

Students can register for projects in 12 rural and urban areas across the country from Tennessee to Washington D.C. Each group meets periodically in January and February to learn about their projects and to get to know each other.

Then, in March, they spend one week at their destination in activities such as tutoring in inner-city schools, working in soup kitchens, building homes and clearing park trails.

The students pay for food, lodging and transportation, and the trip can run between $300 to $500 depending on which trip they take. Registration is due Nov. 23.

Jessica Yannelli, the president of Alternative Break, stressed the importance of extending learning beyond the classroom through service. “It’s a way for you to get out, see what’s going on out there and see what you can do about it,” she said.

Campus Women’s Organization Hosts “Take Back The Night” Rally

Konrad Klinkner, Staff Writer

Pitt students took part in an organized outcry against rape and sexual assault known as “Take Back The Night” held on Tuesday evening in the William Pitt Union’s Assembly Room. The event featured a lecture series and rally arranged by the Campus Women’s Organization.

About 40 to 50 students attended.

“‘Take Back the Night’ is an international organization created to deal with issues of sexual assault and rape,” said Megan Smith, the Secretary of CWO. “The organization was founded in Britain in the 1960’s, and has been in the U.S. for three decades.”

“Take Back The Night” began with addresses from two keynote speakers. The first was Amana Carvalho, a representative from Sexual Assault Services, who discussed her organization’s mission and then gave advice on how to deal with sexual assault and rape cases.

Central to Carvalho’s and Sexual Assault Services’ philosophy is the assertion that victims of sexual assault and rape should never be held at fault.

“It is never the victim’s fault,” Carvalho said. “No one has the right to violate you in any way, shape or form.”

Carvalho also advised the audience to always use compassion when consoling friends or family who have been victimized in a sexual crime.

“If there’s one thing I would like people to remember from this event, it is that you should never judge your friends when they tell you they’ve been assaulted,” Carvalho said.

The second keynote lecture featured a poetry recital from local poet Vanessa German.

After the lecture series, CWO invited the audience to take part in a march through the South Oakland and Bouquet Gardens neighborhoods. CWO provided many large posters with anti-rape slogans such as “No Means No!”

The marchers then returned to the Union’s Assembly Room where music performances were given by the bands Mission Earth, Our Sexiest Machine and School of Athens.

The event ended with a “speak-out,” a customary “Take Back The Night” session held behind closed doors where audience members were encouraged to speak openly about sexual assault experiences.