Welcome Back

Some things about this newspaper might lead you to think that it’s actually a reprint of… Some things about this newspaper might lead you to think that it’s actually a reprint of last year’s Welcome Back issue. I assure you, that’s not true.

For example, the story about tuition going up: There’s an important thing to remember, and that’s that, this time, Pitt raised tuition after the state gave it more money than last year. And it’s only a measley 6 percent — what’s $1,500 here or there? So that’s different. And the story about the Greek adviser — namely, that we have a new one — that’s a lot like last year, when we reported the same thing. But the new adviser, Chris Meaner, is a home-grown Pitt product, which means the Greek system might actually have some stable advising for a while. Student Government Board is still bickering over our relationship with the United States Student Association, which had a major conference here this summer. If you don’t understand it, that’s OK, because all the SGB members will be glad to explain it to you during their (re)election campaigns. And there’s me. I’m still here, which I’m told is a little odd, but my last name was just too long for them to fire me.

But some things are very different.

One of those is this newspaper, namely what will be in it. In the fifth year of our case against the state, The Pitt News and the American Civil Liberties Union finally got the student press awarded the same rights as everyone else. Now you’ll see alcohol-related ads in the paper, which some legislators think will lead to a rash of underage drinking. I, knowing that Pitt students don’t like the taste of beer, respectfully disagree.

And our football team will be different. Like the fact that some of it might be in jail. Four of Pitt’s football players, including projected starting linebacker Clint Session, were charged with assault about four months after the original incident, which occurred at a Pi Kappa Alpha house party in the spring. The alleged incident involved several Pika brothers getting beat up, including one whose orbital bone was allegedly broken and allegedly required facial reconstructive surgery, and the alleged hearing’s allegedly set for September 8. No dismissals have been made — after all, we’ve only got allegations.

So you see, there’s been plenty of news to keep us busy, and, no doubt, there will be plenty more for the rest of the year. After all, we’ve got the aforementioned SGB elections, a trial and another basketball team that could vie for the national championship. Don’t forget; the athletics department will once again try to sell us tickets for that team, and this time they promise the system will work.

And that’s just what we know about. Plus, I understand there’s some sort of national politics event thing that’s going to happen in November … something about a president.

But it is important to note one thing that is the same: We’re still here for you.

Last year, I promised to listen to any complaints, comments or questions that any reader might have. That promise still holds. We, The Pitt News, are here for you. Whether you are a student, professor, custodian, food service worker, Oakland resident, business owner, alum or anything else, your opinion is absolutely important to me. I and the 125 or so other people who work here are working to make this paper the best that it can be. We need your input to do that, so fire away. How, you ask? Here’re three ways:

EDITOR@PITTNEWS.COM

(412) 648-7985

434 WILLIAM PITT UNION

There. Now you have no excuse. Talk to me, let me know what you love/hate/really hate about The Pitt News. We pride ourselves on being one of America’s great student newspapers, and we’ve done that for close to 100 years by caring about what our readers think. Being a part of that process has been a distinct pleasure of mine, and, most of the time, I’m just happy I have a chance to be involved.

On a final, more somber note, it’s important to point out that Pitt is a smaller community since you left. Janet Rothenberg, a Pitt cheerleader, died suddenly of a brain tumor on July 18. She was 19 years old. Xu Zhen, a doctoral student on exchange from China, died in his Squirrel Hill apartment on July 28. He was 26. Matthew Barr was killed riding his motorcycle on August 2. He was 20. And Frank Ogiri-Little was taking a walk in Squirrel Hill early on the morning of August 4 when he was shot and killed. He was 27.

That’s four students gone from a community of tens of thousands, but their connections, contributions and value to that community are inestimable, and now will never be known. I, like most Pitt students, never knew them, and now I’ll never get to. If for no other reason, I hope every person who reads this will contact me at some point this year, just so I never again have to say that about anyone.

We’re a large community, but every person in it is a world unto him- or herself, and no person here gets by alone. With the help of every member of Pitt’s community, I’d like to believe that we made this place better than last year. Together, I think we can keep it up.

Hail to Pitt, and welcome back. We missed you.

Greg Heller-LaBelle 2004-2005 editor in chief