Op-ed: University must follow through with divestment
By Hannah Bailey
November 16, 2018
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
While the creation of a Socially Responsible Investing Committee and its holding of a public forum does show a step in the right direction, whether the University follows through in actually reassessing the ethics of its investments remains to be seen.
Op-ed: Former SGB Presidents voice support for Sodexo, Abdou Cole
November 5, 2018
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Abdou Cole is more than the food service manager to most students. He is a mentor, big brother, uncle and life coach. We are grateful for his encouragement and advice during our time with him on campus.
#CallItWhatItIs: An open letter from Jewish university students in Pittsburgh
November 5, 2018
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
The Pittsburgh and Jewish communities are hurting. But we are strong. In Pittsburgh, in Squirrel Hill, and in Judaism, we honor resilience and connection — we are the City of Bridges after all.
Op-ed: ’87 alumnus, former TPN editor says Pitt football is here to stay
By James S. Urban
September 11, 2018
Filed under Football, Letters to the Editor, Opinions, Sports, Sports Columns
In a rebuttal to former TPN editor and New York Times writer Murray Chass' op-ed, Pitt alumnus and former TPN editor says Pitt football is just a small, but important, part of the school's success.
Op-ed: Pitt alumnus, former New York Times sports writer says time’s up for Pitt football
By Murray Chass
September 9, 2018
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions, Sports, Sports Columns
Former Pitt News editor Murray Chass — also known for contributing to The New York Times and Associated Press — doubles down on his 60-year old stance regarding Pitt football.
Letter to the Editor: Keep the Parran name at Pitt
By John C. Parran and Richard L. Kirkpatrick
April 11, 2018
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
We write as relatives of Dr. Thomas Parran, the continuance of whose name on a building at the University’s Graduate School of Public Health is in question and is the subject of an April 6 open letter that appeared in this publication. That letter supported removal of his name. We oppose its removal. We credit and thank the Univer...
Letter to the Editor: Parran’s name opposes public health values
April 5, 2018
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the entire Pitt and Pittsburgh community: We would like to respond to the Thomas Parran panel. Dr. Susan Reverby argued at the panel that just removing his name from the building allows us to forget what he did and how we might be susceptible to similar ethical violations. However, under the status quo, the forgett...
Letter to the Editor: Pitt Dhirana
April 2, 2018
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor, Thank you for writing an article about Pitt Dhirana. It was exciting to wake up Monday morning and see the event we’ve worked for all year on the front page. That being said, as members of the Dhirana 2018 board, we find it necessary to respond to the article titled, “Dhirana danc...
Letter to the Editor | Is Pitt practicing what it preaches?
March 15, 2018
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Pitt’s investment in immunotherapy cancer treatment is clearly in line with the University’s mission. But a growing number of students and faculty are calling on Pitt Chancellor Patrick Gallagher and the Board of Trustees to address a number of glaring investments and disinvestments that stand i...
Letter to the Editor: Student voters responsible for turnout rate
By Student Government Board
February 21, 2018
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Dear Editor, As the current president and elections chairwoman of the Student Government Board, we feel compelled to respond to Tuesday’s opinion piece titled “Student election interest starts with SGB slates.” While we agree voter turnout should be significantly higher and more students should have their voices heard, the article inclu...
Op-Ed: Chancellor Gallagher: Now’s the time for fossil fuel divestment
By Fossil Free Pitt Coalition
October 26, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions, Top Stories
Dear Chancellor Patrick Gallagher, At the Fall Sustainability Fair this October, Mayor Bill Peduto signed our petition demanding the University of Pittsburgh divest its holdings from fossil fuel companies, expressing his support as an alumnus and as the mayor of our city. This is consistent with ...
Letter to the Editor | There is no third party. We, the students, are the union
By Beth Shaaban / PhD student
July 30, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions, Top Stories
Surprise! I just returned from presenting some of my research at a conference to a union busting email from the provost. One of my personal favorite lines: “The education, not the financial support, is the goal of graduate study.” Buckle up kids, if you can’t afford your medications, rent, food ...
Letter to the Editor | Grad student: How can I produce my best work if I can hardly afford to eat?
By Andréa Hanna, Graduate Student
July 29, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions, Top Stories
Dear Editor, I read the message from the provost, Patricia Beeson, about the graduate student union yesterday with some interest and reservations. My first concern, and I quote the provost's message here, is when she says, it is "the education, not the financial support, is the goal of graduate study." It is indee...
Letter to the Editor: Hollywood hires on skill, not race
By Oliver Jia | Sophomore
February 20, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Note: The author of this letter has written for The Pitt News in the past. I am writing this letter in response to Mr. Thomas Wick's recent opinion piece on the topic of whitewashing in Hollywood [Feb. 15]. I will preface my response by saying that I am a half-Chinese, half-Lebanese student at Pitt...
Letter to the Editor: Don’t just ignore Yiannopoulos
By John Kennick, Senior
February 6, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Dear Editor, Your editorial “Let Yiannopoulos speak, but don’t engage with him” is troubling. I'm puzzled that a group of journalists could think the way to beat Milo Yiannopoulos is to ignore him. Is that also how the editors recommend addressing systematic gender violence or racism in our co...
Letter to the Editor: Gilman, City welcoming to immigrants
By Janice Vanderneck
January 26, 2017
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Dear Pitt News Editorial Board, This past week, The Pitt News Editorial Board published an editorial titled “Pittsburgh says it’s committed to immigrants, it’s time to show it.” Such an article we feel unfairly represents the legislation put forth by Councilman Dan Gilman and inac...
Letter to the editor
By The Pittsburgh Student Solidarity Coalition
November 20, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor
To the Editor: On the night of Nov. 17, at a non-violent anti-Trump protest, tuition-paying students at the University of Pittsburgh were forced out of the spaces that exist and are maintained solely for their use by brutal force wielded by police who are paid through these students’ tuition. T...
Letter to the Editor: I am an immigrant and I am horrified
By Apara Sharma, Sophomore
November 10, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor
I am an immigrant. I've lived in this country for 17 of my 19 years. I am a student, a friend, a daughter. I have faced racism, and I have had to work hard to build the small safety net I have, and because of the results of this election, I am horrified and fearful for the lives of people that aren't...
Letter to the Editor: As an LGBTQ+ student, I fear for progress
By Anonymous Pitt Sophomore
November 10, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor
For this letter, I would like to remain anonymous. But due to what happened in this country last night, I feel that I cannot remain silent. I try my hardest to stay away from politics, as everyone is entitled to their own opinion — something I must respect. I would not call myself either a liberal...
Letter to the Editor: “Never again means never again.”
By Hannah Lynn, Senior
November 10, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor
My mom forwarded me an email today that my rabbi sent out to the congregation of my temple, reminding everyone that “Jews don’t despair,” that we should always stand up for oppressed people. I’ve never been religious, but I’ve always been Jewish, and I’ve been thinking about that a lot i...
Letter to the Editor: “On Tuesday night, I felt like I was in the wrong country.”
By Jesse Irwin, Senior
November 10, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor
The past 36 hours have sucked. On Tuesday night, I felt like I was in the wrong country. My mom had called me earlier in the day, so excited that — according to the polls — she was finally going to see another mother lead this nation, and that she was going to get to live through it with her...
Letter to the Editor: “Dear Mr. Ditka”
By Ian Buggs
September 29, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Dear Mr. Ditka, You and I have one thing in common: we attended The University of Pittsburgh. That's where our similarities — for the most part — end. You are a heralded football player, coach and TV personality — well-respected for your exploits around the gridiron. I am a corporate guy who l...
Letter to the Editor
By The Pitt Odyssey Team
September 20, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor
It hurt to read Emily Schoenberger’s column, The Odyssey dilutes journalism, on Monday. Yes, she’s not wrong — we cringe every time we see articles like “Why I’m Voting for Trump” or “Why I’m Not a Feminist” as much as you do. For every piece of fluff, however, there are three pieces ...
Letter to the Editor
August 28, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor
You're moved into your dorm or apartment, and you just about have your class schedule nailed down, but there's one thing you haven't done yet: registered to vote near campus. Millennials are now the largest voting bloc. Think about that for a second. If we vote in the same proportions as older generat...
Letter to the Editor
By Andrew Zentgraf
July 19, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor
To the Editor: A recently published column asserted many inaccurate claims about Hillary Clinton and the status of her email scandal. First and foremost, let’s put to rest the erroneous notion that, “none of [the emails were] labeled classified at the time she sent [them],” as this is categ...
Letter to the Editor
April 22, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor
Dearest The Pitt News, This is my breakup letter. I know it’s tough to hear, but after five years, it’s time for me to graduate, move on to pastures bereft of my beloved daily school newspaper. I think back to the first time I picked you up — you helped me, day one, to learn about clubs and bus...
Letter to the Editor
By Jordan Drischler
April 10, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor: A recent editorial entitled “GOP Candidates Should Attack Sexism, Not Wives,” discussed the social media war between Donald Trump and the SuperPAC Make America Awesome Again. While we can have a conversation about the merits of attacking the appearance of candidates’ spouses, th...
Letter to the Editor
By J.J. Abbott
March 27, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor: As both a proud Pitt alumnus and someone who has long followed our state funding, I was disappointed by The Pitt News editorial regarding Gov. Tom Wolf’s decision to let the budget and Pitt’s appropriation become law. The editorial completely ignores the fight Pitt advocates have bee...
Letter to the Editor
By Ilya Yashin
March 22, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor: Milo Yiannopoulos’ event at Pitt left me agitated and baffled — but not for the reasons one would imagine. The litany of claims and accusations is familiar by now: racism, misogyny, disparagement of sexual assault victims, hate speech. Some people felt appalled, disgusted, threatened,...
Letter to the Editor
By Eric R. Andrae
March 3, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
This is a guest column by Pastor Eric R. Andrae. Pastor Andrae serves as campus chaplain on behalf of Lutheran Student Fellowship and represents First Trinity Lutheran Church as a member of the University of Pittsburgh Association of Chaplains (UPAC). He has served as a full-time campus pastor at Pitt fo...
Letter to the Editor
By Estizer Smith
March 3, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor: As a queer woman of color, survivor of sexual assault and student at Pitt, I have been deeply disturbed by the events of the last 48 hours. That a speaker as vitriolic as Milo Yiannopoulos was brought to this campus under the guise of inducing productive conversation regarding free spe...
Letter to the editor
By Marcus Robinson / President of Rainbow Alliance
February 9, 2016
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions, Top Stories
One of the biggest issues that we face currently is the inability to have honest, real discussions about privilege. Monday’s column, “Privilege is not enough to end all discussions,” illustrates that. Privilege is a part of everyone’s life, affecting every interaction and experience that one has. S...
Letter to the Editor, 12/7/2015
By Hannah Weintraub
December 6, 2015
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
On Nov. 17, The Pitt News published a column by Timothy Nerozzi asking why the demand for higher education is so great when the price is increasingly unaffordable for many students. First, a university degree has become an economic necessity. As Nerozzi pointed out, our economy places less value on degree...
Letter to the Editor, 10/12/2015
By Brieanna Shawver / Senior Emergency Medicine Major at Pitt
October 11, 2015
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
I have been proud to call myself a member of the University of Pittsburgh community since I accepted my admission in November of 2011. Ever since, I have been hailing to Pitt every chance I get. Thursday, however, I was extremely disappointed and embarrassed by my fellow classmates. During the educational display held by Choos...
Letter to the Editor: 9/17/2015
September 16, 2015
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Dear Pitt News: In reply to the September 16 editorial “We Have The Right to Know”, Ms. Lieberman very misleadingly states that the Right-to-Know Law “allows state-related institutions, like Pitt, to not disclose financial records.” As I explained to Ms. Lieberman, there are requirements o...
Letter to the Editor: 11/10/2014
By Taryn Haas
November 10, 2014
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Dear Editor,While I appreciate the author of the “basics” article in trying to lessen the girl-on-girl hate that frequently happens, I do not think the author is correct in her assessment of the problem. While I have never heard, or used, the term “basic” in reference to a woman who wears UGG b...
Letter to the editor: October 27th, 2014
By Taryn Hass
October 26, 2014
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Dear Editor,While I think the editorial on Gamergate makes some very valuable points, I think the editorial ignores more important and critical issues within the movement. As a girl gamer myself (I play mostly Dota 2), I experience sexism on a nearly daily basis. Thus, I felt the need to comment and ho...
Letter to the editor: September 11, 2014
By Matt Singer
September 10, 2014
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the editorial staff of The Pitt News,I would like to commend the editorial staff of The Pitt News for using their platform to address an issue that’s incredibly pertinent to much of college-aged students’ social interactions: male entitlement. Unfortunately, 20-something-year-olds typically don’t r...
Letter to the Editor: September 5, 2014
By Steven Finkel, Burcu Savun and Andrew Lotz / Pitt Political Science
September 4, 2014
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
Dear Editor, The Department of Political Science wanted to write and thank you for your interest in covering the various majors including ours (“Welcome Back: Studying Politics ... ” by Matt Barnes, dated August 19). We were surprised, however, at The Pitt News’ decision to have the article a...
Letter to the Editor: May 28, 2014
By Adam Shear
May 27, 2014
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the editor of The Pitt News:While I certainly agree that Pitt students should learn about cultures, races, genders and religions different from their own, I think your May 14 editorial “Diversity Class Requirement has value in higher education” could leave a misleading impression. A course on Muslims or African-Americans or Jews or women never focus...
Letter To The Editor: April 10, 2014
By Jonathan Wyatt Koma
April 9, 2014
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor,While walking through Towers Lobby yesterday, I was caught off guard by a small, though alarming, flyer that was littering the ground. Delivering information regarding the Health Fair at the School of Pharmacy, this flyer had a great list of topics ranging from cancer to dementia to dia...
Letter to the Editor: February 12, 2014
February 11, 2014
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor,This past Friday the Global Studies Center hosted a lecture titled, “The Settler Movement: History, Impacts, and Perceptions” by Luke Peterson. According to the announcement distributed from the Global Studies Center, “The lecture [examined]e the politics, history and impact of this mov...
Letter to the Editor: Monday, January 27, 2014
By Ben Koch
January 26, 2014
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor,As an early career teacher, collaboration with veteran educators is a key element in my work and a contributing factor to my students’ success. As a result, reading Simon Brown’s recent column about Teach For America seemed like a great chance to address misconceptions. The mischar...
Letter to the Editor: November 6, 2013
November 6, 2013
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor, Thank you for your continued efforts with the chancellor search process. I agree that the student voice is important, and I am grateful for Pitt’s dedication in making sure that all faces of Pitt are represented on the Chancellor Search Committee. I have been at Pitt for seven yea...
Letter to the Editor: October 10, 2013
October 9, 2013
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor,After reading Julia Carpey’s column on the Syrian crisis published on Monday, Oct. 7, I’m disappointed by the ahistorical viewpoint expressed by the columnist. The crisis in Syria has been going on for about two years now, yet it has only prompted military action when President Bashar...
Letter to the Editor: October 9, 2013
October 8, 2013
Filed under Letters to the Editor, Opinions
To the Editor, There is no doubt gun violence is a serious public-health problem impacting the health and well-being of men, women and children living in the United States. What we know less about is how to effectively prevent the increasing number of related deaths and injuries. Fortunately, the re...