Letters to the editor

Opinions cartoon in bad taste

I found the Cartoon published above the Opinions… Opinions cartoon in bad taste

I found the Cartoon published above the Opinions section of Tuesday, Oct. 22’s The Pitt News to be in poor taste.

First, the base level of humor was ineffective and childish. Anyone who has ever had any experience with a suicide (a loved one or relative for example) would take great offense at the light-hearted attitude toward a very serious matter. Moreover, the choice to publish the cartoon on the overleaf of a serious article (“Police investigate possible suicide on Melwood Avenue”) made the spot all the more appalling. Whether the two were related at all I do no know, if so it was in very poor taste and if not a poor job on the part of the editor.

Richard Platts

CAS senior

Criticisms of Pederson unwarranted

Almost daily for the last two weeks I have read countless complaints about the student ticket lottery. More disconcerting than the numerous complaints was the unwarranted criticism directed toward athletics director Steve Pederson.

Every true Panther fan should be eternally grateful to Mr. Pederson. In his short tenure, he has had more success and accomplishments than most athletics directors will ever have. He has rebuilt an embarrassing football program, played a major role in getting the Peterson Events Center on Pitt’s campus, and possibly his greatest feat, bringing a little known coach, from an even lesser known college, coach Ben Howland, to Pittsburgh to take over an almost nonexistent basketball program.

Let’s not forget, had athletics director Pederson not brought coach Howland to Pitt, the entire discussion that has consumed the Pitt campus would have been a moot point. Our basketball team would still be floundering with 10 wins, would still be in the Big East cellar and student attendance would be pushing 300 per game. On behalf of all real Pitt athletics fans, I commend athletics director Pederson, and thank him for making Pitt athletics entertaining, and even more importantly, competitive.

Jordan Morgenstern

School of Law student