Bill Cosby gets away with a slap on the wrist
By Ana Altchek, Staff Columnist
October 10, 2018
Bill Cosby was sentenced to three to ten years in prison for sexual assault. But that's not enough considering his horrific crimes.
Editorial: Trump’s tax fraud should concern Americans
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 9, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
The New York Times' groundbreaking report deserves far more attention than it’s received, and it exposes the president for the hypocrite he is.
Amazon wage increase is not good enough
By Jason Henriquez, For The Pitt News
October 9, 2018
Amazon recently announced an increase in the minimum wage for its hourly workers, but until the company enables unionization efforts, increases benefits to independent contractors and veteran workers and stops avoiding taxes, it shouldn’t receive any kudos.
Editorial: Kavanaugh hearings betrayed America’s trust
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 8, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
The Kavanaugh nomination hearings were the most partisan of any to date. This poses dire consequences for the future legitimacy of the Supreme Court.
Expand, don’t revise, Columbus’ history
By Kelly Loftus, For The Pitt News
October 8, 2018
Current American history education is inadequate and neglects the negative consequences of the actions of historical figures. On Columbus Day, it's important to recognize that our teaching of Columbus' past needs to include a full description of his actions, both positive and negative.
Editorial: Stop treating politics like a game show
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 5, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
For a man who asks questions for a living, Trebek should know how to phrase one without dwelling on information that has no bearing on how the people of Pennsylvania will vote this November.
Respect the pumpkin spice latte as a cultural icon
By Delilah Bourque, Staff Columnist
October 4, 2018
The haters need to back off. Pumpkin spice deserves a spot in our fall landscape. It doesn’t deserve to be loathed so strongly, and neither does the demographic that loves it so much.
Homecoming should build community, scrap outdated traditions
By Angela Koontz, For The Pitt News
October 4, 2018
Homecoming court and football games are fun traditions, but they don’t make the most of what homecoming has to offer. Smaller networking events are better to help students interact with alumni.
Down with the monarchy
By Grace McGinness, Staff Columnist
October 4, 2018
There is no place for homecoming court in 2018. That may sound harsh, but after all it’s just a silly tradition for students who want to have fun.
Last-minute picks for homecoming court
By Brian Gentry, Contributing Editor
October 4, 2018
The nominees for homecoming court are decided, and it’s too late for any last-second additions. But there’s so many contestants who were disqualified just because they’re not students — and many would totally win if they could enter. If I could decide Pitt’s homecoming king and queen, these would be my choices.
Editorial: Amazon sets great example, raises minimum wage
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 3, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Amazon is known for treating its employees poorly — so raising its minimum wage is a welcome decision. It’ll help nearly a quarter million people financially.
Patience, not partisanship, required in Kavanaugh hearings
By Hayden Timmins, Staff Columnist
October 3, 2018
Senators attacked Kavanaugh and failed to ask Ford adequately probing questions — pointing to a hyper-partisan battle that hasn’t yet allowed room for a patient inquiry of the facts.
Editorial: Campus Master Plan requires strong community involvement
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 2, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
The Campus Master Plan, which is projected to take 30 years to complete, is a massive undertaking that requires a continued dialogue between the University and both students and the Oakland community.
Communities play major role in solving environmental issues
By Brian Gentry, Contributing Editor
October 2, 2018
As state and national governments fail to adequately protect residents from industrial emissions and a changing climate, local communities must step up to effect change on their own behalf.
Pay attention to all gun violence, not just mass shootings
By Neena Hagen, Assistant Opinions Editor
October 1, 2018
There are many different types of gun violence in America today, and calling for simple, blanket solutions to such a multifaceted issue won’t solve anything, just exacerbate existing problems.
Editorial: Kavanaugh disqualifies himself
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 1, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Kavanaugh’s combative, evasive behavior during Thursday’s testimony didn’t just bring his innocence into question, it suggests he’s not temperamentally fit to be a Supreme Court Justice.
Rowling’s retconning is unnecessary
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 28, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
In changing her own canon to presumably incorporate more diversity into her writing, she’s not adding meaningful content, nor is she being respectful in how she's introducing this supposed representation.
Eternal Evening
By Emily Pinigis, For The Pitt News
September 27, 2018
As the sky is painted orange and pink, I catch you leaning as if to see it. But your eyes remain shut, and so I think, For however long it takes, I will sit By your side, holding your hand till it’s time For you to leave me. I’ll touch the darkness, Push it far away with all of it...
Blind Devotion
By Emily Pinigis, For The Pitt News
September 27, 2018
With a tongue like a silver blade, He effortlessly entrances and seduces That velvety voice beckons not to be afraid Always a gentleman I am none the wiser I am under his spell of nightshade His precious little puppet I’ll play my part in his charade Captivating sovereign ...
Prisoners deserve to be evacuated too
By Delilah Bourque, Staff Columnist
September 27, 2018
In past storms, prisoners have suffered when they haven’t been evacuated, and during Florence two people in custody died. The issue isn’t one of safety — it’s one of morality.
Editorial: Mattress Factory mishandles sexual assault allegations
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 27, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
The Mattress Factory’s been attracting attention for a recent sexual assault scandal — but the company has not handled it well. It’s just behaving like many other companies who don’t support women.
Voting’s not a pain, it’s a privilege
By Anne Marie Yurik, Staff Columnist
September 26, 2018
Voting the core of America’s foundation. It’s how we distinguish ourselves from the idle subjects of a non-democratic ruler. Many modern Americans view voting as a hassle, but really it’s a privilege.
Editorial: Cosby conviction empowers sexual assault victims
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 25, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Cosby’s conviction is huge for sexual assault victims — he’s the first public figure since the #MeToo movement began to be convicted — proving that victims’ accusations are valid in court.
Exploring the Boot with Grace:
Embrace your inner tourist
By Grace McGinness, Columnist, Blogger
September 25, 2018
Since I have arrived in Florence, the problem of tourists has been a main point of conversation with my professors. Tourists stand in the road and mess up traffic, they don’t know how to speak any Italian or adhere to any of the local customs, they don’t take the time to appreciate anything that they see here.
Editorial: Texas schools to erase important historical figures
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 25, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
The Texas Board of Education is denying students the opportunity to learn about individuals and events that have directly influenced their lives. This ignorance makes them less informed and less able to participate in current politics.
Integrate Haredi Jews with secular society
By Josh Beylinson, For The Pitt News
September 25, 2018
The Haredim must integrate with mainstream Israeli society soon, or else Israel will become a country of two divided Jewish demographics unable to work together for the common good of the nation.
Kaepernick doesn’t give Nike the ethical high ground
By Sandy Fairclough, For The Pitt News
September 24, 2018
The only message that Nike is sending in partnering with Kaepernick is that the company is willing to capitalize on someone else’s humanitarian ideas while ignoring its own inhumane system.
Editorial: New immigration proposal is unnecessarily strict
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 23, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
The new proposal is an unfair and inhumane way to weed out immigrants whom the Trump administration deems unsuitable candidates for American citizenship.
Latest textbook editions put an extra burden on students
By Delilah Bourque, Staff Columnist
September 21, 2018
Filed under Columns, Opinions, Uncategorized
Being a college student is expensive. With average costs of books per academic year already soaring past the $1,000 mark, it only makes sense for professors to do everything they can to supplement information instead of mandating pricier new editions.
Editorial: ‘Sesame Street’ misses educational opportunity
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 21, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Bert and Ernie — the beloved roommates of “Sesame Street” — aren't gay. For a show that has made concerted efforts to portray the kind of diversity that children experience in real life, this is a disappointing revelation.
Editorial: Kavanaugh sexual assault investigation necessary
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 20, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Although Ford’s sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh appear credible, Republicans have decided to forego an investigation — but they shouldn't be so dismissive of alleged victims.
Dear Pitt: without waterless urinals, urine trouble
By Joshua Jordan, Staff Columnist
September 20, 2018
Installing waterless urinals is the perfect way to reduce water and energy consumption — which is a huge part of Pitt’s sustainability plan.
Emmys emulate Hollywood’s shortcomings
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 19, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Emmys ratings dropped dramatically this year — proving that Hollywood has lost touch with everyday Americans on all sides of the political spectrum. This becomes more clear with every passing awards season.
New Pa. prison policies only oppress prisoners
By Jason Henriquez, For The Pitt News
September 19, 2018
PA Department of Corrections unveiled a set of bureaucratic policies for prisons designed to prevent recent drug trafficking incidents. But these policies won't protect citizens or inmates.
Focus on science — not profit — when passing laws
By Brian Gentry, Contributing Editor
September 18, 2018
As temperatures rise and extreme weather events become increasingly common, we need to anticipate the expected changes in climate and modify our plans for public and private infrastructure accordingly.
Editorial: Boundaries necessary when billionaires buy newspapers
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 18, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
The trend of billionaires buying newspapers raises the ethical questions of how to prevent them from influencing the content published by their papers, and what kind of relationship the editorial section and the new owner should set up to ensure there is no such influence.
Editorial: Trump plays victim as Hurricane Florence hits Carolinas
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 16, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
To argue over a death toll as a political tool is disrespectful and useless, but to do so in the midst of another deadly hurricane shows that Trump's priorities lie in defending himself and not the American people.
Beyond reform: Abolish ICE
By Jason Henriquez, For The Pitt News
September 16, 2018
Giving the power to deport naturalized citizens to ICE, an undemocratic organization dominated by the executive branch, opens the door to a multitude of injustices.
NRA goes off the rails on Thomas the Tank Engine
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 14, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Comparing “Thomas & Friends” characters to the KKK, as the NRA did, is neither a proper assessment of the TV show nor child-appropriate.
Harvard must end affirmative action policies
By Neena Hagen, Hayden Timmins, The Pitt News Staff
September 14, 2018
Affirmative action programs had good intentions back in the 1960s — and good results for racial minorities — but today they’re just weapons against high-achieving minorities like Asian Americans.
Exploring the Boot with Grace
By Grace McGinness, Blogger
September 14, 2018
Filed under Blogs, Columns, Opinions
During my orientation week as newly arrived first-year at Pitt, I picked up every study abroad flyer offered. I’d spent several years studying American history on U.S. soil already — I figured studying another country’s history on its soil would be a nice change of pace. Now, as a junior double...
Take a gap year before grad school
By Rachel Boward, For The Pitt News
September 12, 2018
Taking a gap year after graduation provides a break for students who’ve spent their lives in academia. It also allows students to discover a purpose outside of education and pursue job opportunities.
Get hired: a guide to your next job interview
By Maggie Koontz, Senior Columnist
September 12, 2018
Interviews aren’t difficult because of questions — but because you can only make one first impression on a potential employer. While resumes are important, so are your appearance and mannerisms.
To go to grad school or not to go to grad school… that is the question
By The Pitt News Staff
September 12, 2018
Our staff weighs in on whether or not they're planning on going to grad school
First days in Florence
By Grace McGinness, Staff Columnist
September 12, 2018
I decided to study abroad when the Italian culture charmed me during mandatory language classes in high school. A land with more than 1,000 years of history and each corner with its own distinct culture, I wanted more than anything to live and learn in Italy.
Editorial: Trump disappoints as consoler-in-chief
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 12, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
The 17th anniversary of 9/11 required a certain decorum and level of sobriety that were conspicuously absent in President Trump’s behavior outside of a prepared speech.
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.
Editorial: Obama’s speech exposes divisive politics
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 11, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Obama’s assessment of today’s polarized political climate in his speech is largely correct. Trump’s election reflects a recent exacerbation of the already vast political divides in our country.
Education, not cameras, will solve student safety issues
By Sandy Fairclough, For The Pitt News
September 11, 2018
Until Pitt starts informing students about general safety in Oakland, cameras, SafeRider and other safety features around campus won’t be effective — so they won’t protect Pitt students.
Serena Williams controversy mars U.S. Open
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 10, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Serena Williams was mistreated by the umpire during the U.S. Open final — but it’s not surprising. These calls are a blatant attempt to stifle Williams’ success in a sport dominated by white men.
Point-Counterpoint: Appoint Kavanaugh
By Hayden Timmins, Staff Columnist
September 10, 2018
Judge Kavanaugh would make an excellent Supreme Court justice. In an era where the legislative branch delegates superfluous amounts of power to the Supreme Court, Kavanaugh strictly opposes this.
Point-Counterpoint: Don’t appoint Kavanaugh
By Delilah Bourque, Staff Columnist
September 10, 2018
Kavanaugh's record as a U.S. circuit judge and his behavior during his confirmation hearings show he is a liar who doesn't follow the precedent of courts before him — which will be disastrous for the American people, especially women.
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.
Editorial: Op-ed reveals fractured democracy
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 6, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
The New York Times' anonymous op-ed reveals a rupture in our democracy by painting those surrounding the president as heroes for running the nation behind the president’s back, rather than taking the responsible measure of removing him from office.
Poetry: Move-in on Meyran
By Maggie Koontz, Senior Columnist
September 6, 2018
cars parallel parked not quite bumper to bumper on residential streets minivans and moving vans packed to capacity trunks and doors slam open and shut people coming and going in and out of apartments carrying a couple chairs up the stairs mattresses held above their...
Poetry: Flash Through Four Years
By Maggie Koontz, Senior Columnist
September 6, 2018
first year here, eyes full of wonder and optimistic at heart. a taste of freedom far from my home. my dorm is not my own. a stranger in this city. sophomore scene isn’t what it seems. I am split be- tween two cities, not houseless, feeling homeless. everything minor is major ...
Breathe easier: More air quality regulations needed
By Brian Gentry, Contributing Editor
September 6, 2018
With the federal government waging a war against the environment, state and local authorities must enforce air quality regulations to protect public health.
Editorial: Kaepernick campaign: great for Nike, a touchdown for equality
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 6, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Nike's 30th anniversary campaign ad featuring Colin Kaepernick has sparked outrage all over social media — but free publicity is great for the sports giant. And sponsoring Kaepernick's cause ensures social justice will get more attention.
Editorial: Pitt’s new surveillance cameras: well-intentioned, but not useful
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 5, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Increased surveillance may seem like a step in the right direction — it could bolster security in Oakland where thousands of Pitt students reside and attend class. But Oakland isn’t in dire need of more security — and installing cameras will hardly combat domestic violence, which is one of the primary reasons they were implemented in the first place.
Pitt’s community action plan won’t improve fraternity conduct
By Hayden Timmins, For The Pitt News
September 5, 2018
The new community action plan — which lifts Pitt's Greek Life probation from January — makes steps toward reforming frat culture at Pitt. It's a great first step, but not nearly enough to eradicate these appalling drug- and alcohol-related “accidents” at fraternities.
Editorial: Remember ongoing efforts of PA labor unions
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 4, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions, Uncategorized
The first Monday in September serves to remind us of the challenges and setbacks labor unions in continue to face today as they work to improve the lives of their members.
Reality TV needs to treat harassment more seriously
By Anne Marie Yurik, Staff Columnist
September 4, 2018
Incidents of misconduct or harassment should be presented in a more serious way on TV since they can impact not only those involved but also viewers and how they might react or respond to similar circumstances.
Reduce use of antibiotics in agriculture
By Delilah Bourque, Staff Columnist
August 31, 2018
It’s unnecessary and harmful to consumers to treat unafflicted creatures with antibiotics, and it’s cruel to inflate the growth of animals on industrial farms.
Harsher hazing law is a step in the right direction
By Maggie Durwald, Opinions Editor
August 30, 2018
Other states should model Tim’s Law to adopt harsher stances against hazing — to do so, they’ll need the help of activists like the Anti-Hazing Coalition as well as universities and Greek life.
Editorial: RMU’s new scholarship: great first step, but not enough
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
August 29, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Since many students eventually settle in the same area where they went to college, keeping talented students in Pennsylvania is important to ensure a flourishing job market. Exorbitant college tuition rates only push students out of the state.
Editorial: Eliminating superdelegates is the best policy for democrats
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
August 29, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
But since superdelegates have never voted against the decisions of primary voters, granting special voting rights to party officials — including elected Democrats — never had any real influence on the election. And if Washington elites did have the audacity to vote against their base, they could throw the Democratic party into a hugely divisive state.
Philippine Nationality Room highlights need for diversity
By Grace McGinness, For The Pitt News
August 29, 2018
The Philippine Nationality room is an important step in diversifying the Nationality Rooms, 20 of which represent white European countries.
Bike lanes are for cyclists only
By Brian Gentry, Contributing Editor
August 27, 2018
Drivers in Pittsburgh should support the development of bike infrastructure in the City, because it will not only make rides safer for cyclists — it will also ensure that bicycles come into less contact with cars, alleviating stress that drivers could face.
Editorial: Boundaries necessary when employing school resource officers
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
August 27, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
To create a safe environment free of brutality, there needs to be an enforced divide between students and school resource officers. Rather than consider them responsible for discipline, it would be better to call them security officers and set their main function as external security.
Catholic Church bears collective responsibility for sex crimes
By Neena Hagen, Assistant Opinions Editor
August 27, 2018
For decades, the Catholic Church has been hammered with sexual abuse allegations in countless dioceses across the globe — and just last week, six Pennsylvania dioceses joined that list in dramatic fashion.
Courses to spice up your fall schedule
By Maggie Durwald, Opinions Editor
August 26, 2018
Whether you want a course to fulfill a gen-ed requirement or decided to tweak your schedule so you can get out of that 8 a.m. lecture, here’s a list of 10 quirky, interesting courses offered this fall semester.
Editorial: McCain deserves respect for continued integrity
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
August 26, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
McCain’s devotion to what he thought was right in spite of party lines show his undeniable commitment to the United States, willingness to work with all sides and a strong belief in fighting for one’s country.
Host families enrich the study abroad experience
By Anna Bongardino, Contributing Editor
August 20, 2018
The most valuable experiences I had in Morocco were those that couldn’t have been more different from life in the United States — and that I would not have experienced had I stayed with other American students instead of my host family.
Pitt’s Public Health building is no longer Parran Hall – now what?
By Delilah Bourque, Staff Writer
August 20, 2018
Pitt’s Board of Trustees unanimously agreed to rename Parran Hall in July. But the question of what the building’s new name should be remains — as well as how Pitt should go about renaming it.
Pittsburgh will have to prepare if Amazon arrives
By Brian Gentry, Senior Columnist
August 20, 2018
Amazon is expected to announce later this year where it will house its HQ2. Regardless of the company’s decision, Pittsburgh’s best course of action is to develop preventative policies.
Point: Plastic straw bans are a beneficial beginning
By Joshua Jordan, For The Pitt News
August 20, 2018
Filed under Columns, Opinions, Welcome Back 2018
The growing trend among cities and corporations of banning plastic straws is an attainable undertaking that will benefit the environment and human health.
Counterpoint: Plastic straw bans are an erroneous endeavor
By Neena Hagen, Senior Columnist
August 20, 2018
Filed under Columns, Opinions, Welcome Back 2018
These policies may be well-intentioned, but one glance at the data reveals they are misguided, unnecessary and even potentially harmful.
Campus ‘Goatscapers’ help the environment, look cute
By Maggie Durwald, Senior Columnist
August 20, 2018
Filed under Columns, Opinions, Welcome Back 2018
While the 12 goats the University employed seems like only one small step in the ambitious Pitt Sustainability Plan, it has had a big effect.
State should step up to address rising tuition
By Janine Faust, Opinions Editor
August 20, 2018
Filed under Columns, Opinions, Welcome Back 2018
Pennsylvania colleges have some of the highest average tuition rates in the country. But instead of taking action to address the roots of the state’s student debt crisis, the state responded by introducing a new program that encourages families to prepare for when they fall victim to it.
5 obsolete jobs we need to bring back
By Kim Rooney, Contributing Editor
July 18, 2018
There’s plenty of best-paying job lists you may feel tempted to pore over. But before you do, consider the careers that fell by the wayside in the past decades or centuries.
City should keep improving bus routes to Downtown for all
By Brian Gentry, Senior Columnist
July 18, 2018
It is vital that the city delivers on its promise to provide quick access to Downtown for the communities that need it most.
Editorial: US caused undue stress over WHO breastfeeding resolution
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
July 11, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
When Ecuadorian delegates introduced a resolution at the World Health Assembly in May imploring governments worldwide to encourage breastfeeding and discourage inappropriate promotion of baby formula as a better choice, it was seen by most other countries as uncontroversial and expected to pass quickly. B...
The ascension of STEM doesn’t mean humanities are sinking
By Neena Hagen, Senior Columnist
July 11, 2018
In a world with an ever-increasing number of tech startups and engineering firms, our economy seems destined to be dominated by STEM specialists — which leaves universities scrambling to reinvent their educational offerings. Colleges are peppering their classrooms with expensive instruments and spending...
US actions toward Venezuela contradict professed concern
By Gabriela Cadahia | For The Pitt News
June 27, 2018
Venezuela, once the richest country in Latin America, is currently in the midst of an economic collapse of unprecedented magnitude. Falling oil prices and political corruption have sent the country into a spiral of hyperinflation and hunger that has forced 1.8 million people to flee in the past two ye...
Editorial: Patience required in Antwon Rose case
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
June 27, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Antwon Rose, a 17-year-old black Woodland Hills student, was shot by a white East Pittsburgh police officer, Michael Rosfeld, on the evening of June 26. Since then, coverage of ensuing protests has been extensive — as has speculation surrounding the two parties involved. What is known to be true is...
China is phasing out its one-child policy for the wrong reasons
By Kim Rooney | Contributing Editor
June 20, 2018
The small oval scar on the top of my left arm goes unnoticed by most. They have no reason to look, since the United States stopped administering the smallpox vaccination in 1972. Even I forget it’s there, until news from across the ocean reminds me that it’s the physical marker of China, a country that...
Editorial: Separating families is unethical no matter how it’s handled
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
June 20, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
Reporters were recently permitted to visit to a shelter in Texas housing 1,500 migrant boys who crossed the southern U.S. border illegally. The children staying in the shelter have been deemed “unaccompanied minors.” Not all of them arrived that way. Nearly 2,500 children have been separated from ...
The Pittsburgh pride of today ignores its roots
By Anaïs Foss | For The Pitt News
June 13, 2018
Filed under Columns, Opinions, Top Stories
As a member of a community under constant attack, attending pride celebrations used to feel like a breath of fresh air for me. Pride was always a space to be out safely and celebrate myself with other queer people. But things have changed. Pittsburgh Pride has been sponsored by natural gas compa...
Editorial: North Korea-United States summit wasn’t worth it
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
June 13, 2018
Filed under Editorials, Opinions
President of the United States Donald Trump and Supreme Leader of North Korea Kim Jong Un met in the first summit meeting between the two countries on Tuesday. It was a historic meeting for that reason — and not much else. The summit was held with the intention of striking a deal for peace and co...
Pittsburgh Zoo should not expand breeding program
By Gabriela Cadahia | For The Pitt News
June 6, 2018
Last summer, the Pittsburgh Zoo euthanized its only elephant calf — Little Bit, a premature three-month-old rejected by her mother who had stopped eating due to painful teething. PETA criticized the zoo for the way it handled Little Bit’s health and death — and this wasn’t the first time. The animal rights organization has criticized the zoo befor...
Editorial: Supreme Court’s decision hurts LGBTQ+ community
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
June 6, 2018
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed “hostility” toward a local baker when it decided he had discriminated against gay couple by refusing to bake a cake for their wedding in 2012. The ruling avoided a larger question the case presented, which is whether Jack Phil...
Poem: stained glass sky
By Anaïs Foss | For The Pitt News
May 30, 2018
Filed under Opinions
i. A lonely hill in Ohiopyle a low lying brick wall in Schenley Park a grass front yard in Batavia Illinois no matter where I am this land provides a platform to view the sky above it so I do not waste my time worshipping under steeples only as tall as donations can build when I could stand in a l...
Poem: things fall apart
By Anaïs Foss | For The Pitt News
May 30, 2018
Filed under Opinions
irregularly but never at a slow burn when the storm hits it is not the anticipation that kills but the novice treatment of destruction which makes it unexpected in the same way a tsunami is always shocking even though we both stood at the shore and watched the water recede at...
Staying single is the best choice when it comes to Pitt dorms
By Neena Hagen, Senior Columnist
May 30, 2018
As a first-year moving into Tower B, my first day of college mirrored everyone else’s — I scampered gleefully into Towers garage to retrieve my housing cart and impatiently waited for the elevator that would take me to meet my roommate. But unlike everyone else, my roommate left campus a couple w...
Respect Las Palmas: Stop purchasing ‘trendy’ ethnic food
By Jeremy Wang | Senior Columnist
May 30, 2018
Nestled away on Atwood Street is an Oakland gem that’s the stuff of legends — Las Palmas. As a big fan of Tex-Mex and home cooking, I do most of my grocery shopping at this small Mexican grocery store, where I can find ingredients such as jicama or prickly pears that conventional stores don’t carry...
Schenley Quad’s parking lot should have stayed
By Joshua Jordan | For The Pitt News
May 30, 2018
Filed under Columns, Opinions, Uncategorized
Not many students actually relied on the parking lot in Schenley Quadrangle for parking — but it served other purposes for carless Quad residents. It was instrumental as a pick-up and drop-off point for Ubers and allowed families to park right by dorms on moving days. But this useful transportat...
Don’t trivialize recreational clubs in college
By Grace McGinness | For The Pitt News
May 30, 2018
Before students even set foot on campus, they’re hit with the same phrase a thousand times — “college will be the best four years of of your life.” While cliche and outdated, that saying accomplishes its intended, albeit dangerous, goal — to cajole us into embracing college with open arms. Yet ...
Summer classes serve several purposes
By Justin Fekete | For The Pitt News
May 30, 2018
After final exams week for the spring term ends, most students feel they will get along fine without looking at a syllabus or opening another textbook until August. Many start preparing for internships, jobs or, for the lucky ones, endless hours of sleep. Taking more classes isn’t always the first...
Not just a sports city: Pittsburgh culture is hidden but vibrant
By Sarah Connor, Contributing Editor
May 30, 2018
Filed under 2. Featured, Columns, Opinions
I grew up in a small town about 25 miles outside of the City — near the Pittsburgh International Airport — called Moon Township. It was common for people from my town to attend schools in and around the City, and I come from a long line of Pitt alumni. But I was independent as a kid and wanted to have new...