Latest textbook editions put an extra burden on students
By Delilah Bourque, Staff Columnist
September 21, 2018
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...
Student restaurant deals should go beyond Oakland
By Delilah Bourque | Columnist
May 30, 2018
The best part of being a Pitt student is the endless dining options available around campus — and the deals that come with them. Whether it’s late-night, half-price pizzas at The Porch or Stack’d’s half-off appetizers during weeknight happy hours, you’re sure to satisfy your hungry stomach ...
Editorial: ABC prioritized views over values with ‘Roseanne’ revival
By The Pitt News Editorial Staff
May 30, 2018
The revival of working-class sitcom “Roseanne” was cut short Tuesday after two months on ABC — and unlike “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” it probably won’t be picked up by another network after the creator and star of the sitcom, Roseanne Barr, compared black former White House aide Valerie Jarret...
U.S., like Ireland, needs to move forward on abortion laws
By Anne-Marie Yurik | Columnist
May 30, 2018
Ireland overturned the Eighth Amendment of its constitution May 25, effectively ending one of the world’s most restrictive bans on abortion and allowing room for more progressive laws to emerge in Ireland. Meanwhile, the United States seems to be moving backwards. The Supreme Court this week refus...
Pitt should expand artificial intelligence program
By Janine Faust | Opinions Editor
May 23, 2018
Pitt announced Monday morning a new institute that will bring researchers together to utilize computational skills — including artificial intelligence — to take a closer look at and possibly offer solutions to issues like the opioid epidemic and climate change. The announcement came less than two weeks af...
Editorial: A royal wedding does not solve racism
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
May 23, 2018
American actress Meghan Markle’s marriage to the British Prince Harry featured celebrity guests, beautiful decor and a well-dressed, smitten couple — staples of any royal wedding. But when Markle walked herself down the aisle May 19, viewers around the world knew something was different this time. Pe...
Editorial: US made mistake in moving embassy in Israel to Jerusalem
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
May 16, 2018
For the past seven weeks, protesters in and around Palestine have taken to the streets to demand their right to return to areas they were forcibly expelled from when the state of Israel was created. And on Monday, at least 60 protesters were killed by Israeli forces — the same day the United States ...
Pitt needs to pass on dining passes
By Grace McGinness | For The Pitt News
May 16, 2018
When I packed up my bags and headed off to college, I knew it was the end of home-cooked dinners and my all-access pass to the kitchen. No longer would I be able to grab a slice of peanut butter toast on the go — I’d need to spend a whole meal swipe just to use a toaster. But there was one issue I was completely unp...
Don’t let responsibilities ruin your summer
By Brian Gentry | Senior Columnist
April 23, 2018
When I was a kid and it got above 90 degrees, my parents would put out a sprinkler in the lawn and my brother and I would spend hours running back and forth through the water. My parents would work in the garden on weekends, watching us tire ourselves out. When we felt especially daring, my brother a...
Everyone has a right to self-care
By Erica Brandbergh | Columnist
April 23, 2018
It’s all over the media — images of white women pampering themselves in spas or going shopping in the name of self-care. If you were to trust the advertising of places like these, you’d think the only people who ever even need de-stressing were from places like Beverly Hills or the Hamptons. It...
Prepare, don’t despair: Pitt students need reading days
By Neena Hagen, Senior Columnist
April 23, 2018
If you’re a Pitt student, looking at your school’s academic calendar is never fun. Your eyes scan the page filled with dates, head hung in despair as you realize Pitt has perhaps the skimpiest breaks of any university out there — including finals preparation, offering students one measly reading day...
Friday Fight: After April tears, May’s in the clear
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
April 20, 2018
It’s April ― flowers around campus are starting to bloom, the weather is finally warming up and the end of the semester is upon us. Pitt lets out for the summer earlier than most other schools, and while we can’t wait for classes to be over, the early ending can have its downsides. Here’s ...
Friday Fly: Market Central vs. The Perch
By Maggie Koontz | Senior Columnist
April 20, 2018
“Friday Fly” is a recurring column dedicated to a fly on the wall’s perspective on campus spots and daily life here at Pitt. This is the fifth installment. A boy in a Penguins jersey takes a bite out of his cheeseburger, his head tilted as he thoughtfully looks outside. He eats alone, like many of...
Facebook hearing puts double standard on display
By Hayden Timmins | For The Pitt News
April 19, 2018
With more than 2.2 billion users, Facebook is the largest social media platform on the planet. So when news surfaced last month that Facebook was involved in a serious privacy scandal, people were understandably outraged. As many as 87 million people were affected by a significant breach in user pri...
Editorial: Keep the final exams in finals week
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
April 19, 2018
As the end of classes rapidly approaches and the promise of summer begins to peek its head over the horizon, Pitt students have one final demon to deal with before they can breathe a collective sigh of relief — finals week. Stretching in the formless expanse of time between the last sessions of the semes...
Editorial: Hip-hop’s presence in Pulitzer Prize long overdue
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
April 18, 2018
When perusing a list of past Pulitzer Prize for Music award winners and their compositions, it’s not hard to spot Kendrick Lamar’s presence. His 2017 album, “DAMN.,” dropped onto the list with a thud, breaking up the delicate musical embroidery and lace of symphonies, concertos and operas. For the first time since the aw...
Don’t exploit sex and sexuality for the sake of learning
By Anne Marie Yurik | Columnist
April 18, 2018
When I came to Pitt as a first-year student last fall, I was excited to take a class called Sexuality and Representation. I had never been able to take anything like it in high school, and it seemed like a great opportunity to analyze gender and sexuality through different books, short essays and speeche...
Parran legacy undermines mission of Pitt Public Health
By Delilah Bourque | Columnist
April 17, 2018
Since members of the Pitt Graduate School of Public Health and of the Graduate Student Union announced they were petitioning the University to rename Parran Hall — one of the two main public health buildings on campus — the legacy of Thomas Parran Jr. has been in question. Those opposed to renaming the building argue Parran’s contributions to the field of public health were great, including being a founding...
Editorial: Comey’s media blitz detracts from Trump probe
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
April 17, 2018
If James Comey’s recent return to the public eye looks to you like a publicity campaign, you probably aren’t wrong — the former FBI chief’s book comes out today. Comey’s foray into nonfiction writing has all the signs of a dramatic release. Even the book’s title, “A Higher Loyalty,” makes a ...
Love can thrive, no matter the distance
By Erica Brandbergh | Columnist
April 16, 2018
The first thing I do when I wake up every day is send my boyfriend a good-morning text. When he gets my message, his day is winding down — he’ll be going to bed in just a few hours. There are 11,371 miles separating us. He lives in Perth, a city on the coast of Western Australia, while I’m ...
Editorial: Address landslides in local infrastructure plans
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
April 16, 2018
More than 70 landslides have hit Pittsburgh this year — but the one on Route 30 last week was possibly the worst. The collapsed roadway severely damaged four residences and raised the City’s landslide cost to an estimated $12 million in 2018 so far. But funding for repair efforts remains slim...
Point: Going out in Oakland gives a feeling of home
By Henry Glitz | Opinions Editor
April 13, 2018
Read Assistant Opinions Editor Sarah Shearer's counterpoint column here. Like most Pitt students of age, I only really have a hazy recollection — at best —of going to Peter’s Pub on my 21st birthday last summer. It was late May, and the usually jammed upper dance floor was a fraction les...
Counterpoint: Going out in Oakland isn’t worth the time
By Sarah Shearer | Assistant Opinions Editor
April 13, 2018
Read Opinions Editor Henry Glitz's point column here. I was flipping through last year’s journal and found a pie chart I drew on one of the pages. I had divided it into two sections — the smaller third read “I like wine this much,” and the larger two-thirds, “and tea this much.” Be...
Treat being under 21 like the disease it is
By Delilah Bourque | For The Pitt News
April 13, 2018
We’ve all seen them before — the people sitting almost alone at a typical restaurant and bar, interacting with a large group of people seated at a table while sitting at their own, just out of arm’s reach of their friends. They don’t have any kind of disease — not a contagious one, at least ...
Column: Anime’s growth in America encourages diverse viewpoints
By Thomas Wick | Columnist
April 12, 2018
As I stepped into the mysterious pod, ready to pilot a giant robot and fight squadrons of other giant robots, my life felt complete. My recent gaming experience at Tekko 2018, the 16th annual Pittsburgh Japanese cultural convention, probably wouldn’t have been possible without anime’s current impact on ...
Letter to the Editor: Keep the Parran name at Pitt
By John C. Parran and Richard L. Kirkpatrick
April 12, 2018
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...
Editorial: Zuckerberg testimony tells us nothing new about privacy
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
April 12, 2018
Nearly two-thirds of adults in America use social media today — and for good reason. It provides us with news and information, connects us to our friends and gives us a platform to share tidbits of our lives — but access to such open sites puts our privacy at risk. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg ...
#MeToo in the office: pay attention to women
By Anne Marie Yurik | Columnist
April 11, 2018
My family often sits down together on holidays or birthdays to have dinner — served by the women — at my grandmother's house. After dinner, the table is crowded with leftovers, dirty dishes and empty glasses. The women all stand up from the table to walk around, pick up the dirty dishes and go to t...
Editorial: Pa. abortion law will fail to catch fallout
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
April 11, 2018
Even though the Supreme Court declared abortion a constitutional right 45 years ago with Roe v. Wade, Pennsylvania House of Representatives Speaker Mike Turzai seemingly pushed against that decision Monday. The Republican lawmaker unveiled a controversial bill in front of the Health Committee that wo...