Blue and Gold Society members paint the town in City Council chamber

Pittsburgh City Council consistently puts on one of the most colorful shows in town, but a… Pittsburgh City Council consistently puts on one of the most colorful shows in town, but a few Pitt students brought some color of their own to the council chambers yesterday morning.

Councilman Jim Motznik declared yesterday to be “Blue and Gold Society Day” in the City of Pittsburgh, in honor of the student organization at Pitt. The Blue and Gold Society was founded in 1991 to act as a liaison between Pitt undergraduates and Pitt’s alumni community.

Blue and Gold Society President Peter Stopp, Internal Vice President Jill Albrecht and President-Elect Heather Harmon represented the organization, which was recognized at the beginning of yesterday’s weekly council meeting. Maryjean Lovett, Blue and Gold Society’s adviser, was also present.

“Far too often, we don’t hear the good things the universities do in the City of Pittsburgh,” Motznik said at the meeting. “We need to recognize what the Blue and Gold Society does.”

Albrecht is an intern in the office of Councilman Motznik. Motznik, upon learning about what the Blue and Gold Society does on campus, raised the idea of acknowledging the group’s successes with the ceremonial honor.

“He is a big supporter of the University of Pittsburgh,” Albrecht said of Motznik.

Albrecht said that the Blue and Gold Society participates in a wide range of activities at Pitt, which includes charity work, like the group’s holiday toy drive, as well as more official duties, like representing students at University functions.

“We are present at all of the alumni events, and we are present at on-campus events for the chancellor,” she said.

Students are selected early every spring from a large applicant pool, to keep the Blue and Gold Society at about 30 members. Qualities such as scholastic achievement, community service and campus leadership are considered in the selection process.