‘They wanted to be seen’: African American Alumni Council discusses BAS demands, racial justice efforts
By Punya Bhasin and Rebecca Johnson
October 23, 2020
Nearly 50 years after the Black Action Society’s famous Cathedral of Learning sit-in to demand campus reforms, Nicole Parks said Thursday it’s “sad” that BAS and 17 other Black student organizations were forced to make similar demands this summer.
Swanson receives commitment for a donation that could exceed $10 million to help underrepresented students
By Rebecca Johnson, News Editor
October 21, 2020
The Swanson School of Engineering received received a commitment for a donation that could exceed $10 million on Wednesday from an anonymous Pitt engineering alumnus and his wife to financially support underrepresented undergraduate students in the Pitt EXCEL program.
‘If I just walked out and left, no one would know’: Students detail lax rules, miscommunication in Pitt’s quarantine housing
By Rebecca Johnson and Rashi Ranjan
October 21, 2020
In Pitt’s quarantine housing, students described lax rules and little oversight, allowing them to skirt the University’s physical distancing rules. One student said they went on walks outside, and others in the housing had visitors, even whole families.
Pitt dining worker union alleges ‘direct violation’ of contract by dining contractor, raises safety concerns
By Thea Barrett, Staff Writer
October 21, 2020
By cutting hours for Pitt dining workers, their union argues contractor Compass Group is committing a “direct violation” of its contract. The company said it has “temporarily adjusted hours slightly in order to maintain the working status of all associates.”
Large crowd, few masks at Schenley Park worship service
By Rebecca Johnson and Jon Moss
October 19, 2020
California-based Christian musician Sean Feucht hosted a worship service Sunday evening at Schenley Park’s Flagstaff Hill that drew about 200 people. Few attendees of the “Let Us Worship” outdoor concert wore masks or were socially distanced.
Pitt police town hall addresses transparency, communication with students
By Thea Barrett, Staff Writer
October 19, 2020
Pitt police Chief James Loftus and Commander Eric Holmes, the chief of staff of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, participated in the event along with University administration and Pitt security subcontractor Allied Security. The Student Government Board, Student Affairs and the Black Senate organized the town hall.
Pitt adds 5 new COVID-19 cases since Monday
By Ashton Crawley, Assistant News Editor
October 16, 2020
The test results arrive as Pitt’s Oakland campus prepares to move to the Guarded Risk posture on Monday, if case numbers remain low, University officials announced last week.
Pitt Law adjunct professor resigns over racial slur
By Martha Layne, Assistant News Editor
October 16, 2020
A Pitt Law adjunct professor announced his resignation Wednesday after using a racial slur in class. The professor, who has not been named, used the “n-word” during an in-class discussion regarding a case study containing offensive language.
Students will be asked to shelter in place for two weeks before winter break, head of COVID-19 Medical Response Office says
By Rebecca Johnson, News Editor
October 16, 2020
All students will be asked to shelter in place for 14 days before leaving campus for winter break, according to Dr. John Williams, the head of Pitt’s COVID-19 Medical Response Office.
‘A perpetual state of fear’: International students criticize latest round of proposed student visa changes
By Rebecca Johnson, News Editor
October 14, 2020
The new rules published on Sept. 25 by the Department of Homeland Security — which would affect many of Pitt’s more than 3,100 international students — seek to create fixed terms of up to four years for student visas, as well as new applications for international students to extend their stay in the United States.