Editorial: Conscious conservatives must denounce Bannon appointment
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 16, 2016
Filed under Editorials
By now, you’ve probably heard the name Steve Bannon floating around. If not, here’s a primer. As the former executive chairman of the self-described “Trump loudspeaker” site Breitbart.com, Bannon has promoted racist, sexist, transphobic and anti-Semitic writings. That seems like a long list, so...
Gamers should pass on the season pass
By Thomas Wick | For The Pitt News
November 15, 2016
Filed under Columns
As soon as I started playing “Battlefield 1,” I couldn’t stop. The World War I shooter that I and hundreds of others had been anticipating finally came out in late October and has quickly become one of the most immersive and exciting multiplayer games of the year. Still, “Battlefield ...
Editorial: Revive Pitt’s journalism major
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 15, 2016
Filed under Editorials
With a Donald Trump presidency just months away, the media world is fighting to win back the trust readers have abandoned. Which means that in a world full of fake news and unverified fluff masquerading as information, there has never been a larger need for young adults to learn how to most accurat...
Trump presidency could hurt LGBTQ+ rights
By Maggie Koontz | For The Pitt News
November 13, 2016
Filed under Columns
About six years ago, I began to identify privately as bisexual. I kept the revelation to myself because I’m from Kentucky, a state known for being quite conservative. And, as a Catholic, I constantly heard that I was going to hell for being attracted to the same gender. Since Donald Trump was...
Editorial: Fake news on Facebook hinders political discourse
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 13, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Although the election has passed, social media is still a haven for articles, thinkpieces and commentary on the presidential candidates — now focused more squarely on President-elect Donald Trump. In the oversaturated, under-moderated mess that is social media, it’s become increasingly difficult to tel...
Overcome hatred by fighting inequality
By Kirsten Wong | Opinions Editor
November 11, 2016
Filed under Columns
Behind every vote, there’s a story. My story is filled with experiences, relationships, childhood memories, passions, mistakes and successes that shape who I am today — just like anybody else. But there’s two sides to every story: the intangible parts of our identity that define us and the phy...
Mourning in America
By Matt Moret | Assistant Opinions Editor
November 11, 2016
Filed under Columns
It’s mourning again in America. Every generation has a moment defined by the pain left in its wake. Our parents survived the administrations of Richard Nixon and George W. Bush. Most of us grew up as our country went to war twice and went through the worst economic decline since the Great Depression...
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...
Editorial: Pitt’s election day filled with community support
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 9, 2016
Filed under Editorials
With music playing outside the Union and Posvar, food trucks lining Fifth Avenue giving away free food to voters and students eagerly lining up at the polls, Oakland was vibrant on Election Day. After months of ruthless campaigning, rallies, speeches, debates and scandals, Americans finally had the...
Misleading ballot questions hurt voter interests, confuse at polls
By Nick Eustis | For The Pitt News
November 8, 2016
Filed under Columns
When you vote today, there will be a question on your ballot about the retirement age of state judges. In full, it reads: “Shall the Pennsylvania Constitution be amended to require that justices of the Supreme Court, judges and magisterial district judges be retired on the last day of the calendar year ...
Editorial: Pennsylvanians should reject judicial ballot question
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 8, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Today, the biggest decision facing most Americans will be who should lead the free world — no big deal. But Pennsylvanians will have to answer their own question this Election Day: Should state judges be able to serve until they are 75 years old? The Pennsylvania Judicial Retirement Age Ame...
McLay resigned, but his reforms should remain
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 7, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Just two years ago, Pittsburgh Chief of Police Cameron McLay came to the city as a reformer. His predecessor had just been sentenced to a term in prison. Relations between the police force and community had been fraying for years. He had a tough road ahead. But the former Madison, Wisconsin polic...
Pittsburgh must accept more refugees
By Colin Jones | For The Pitt News
November 7, 2016
Filed under Columns
While sitting in a white, under-inflated dinghy with eight other people, it seemed unlikely that up to 20 people could fit in the cramped space. I barely had any room when it was only the nine of us sitting in the boat. But every day, dozens of such boats cross the Mediterranean Sea, full of refu...
Q&A with Vijay Chokal-Ingam: Affirmative action is racist
By Amber Montgomery | Columnist
November 4, 2016
Filed under Columns
Vijay Chokal-Ingam may not be as well-known as his famous sister, actress and comedian Mindy Kaling, but he’s generated a bit of chatter about his book, “Almost Black: The True Story of How I Got into Medical School by Pretending to be Black.” The book details Chokal-Ingam’s experiences as an Indian-Ameri...
Affirmative action: the key to equal opportunity
By Amber Montgomery | Columnist
November 4, 2016
Filed under Columns
It’s a Monday afternoon, and I hustle home after my Democratic theory class. A few minutes past 7 p.m., I call his phone number and ask to speak with Mr. Chokal-Ingam, the man who changed his racial identity in order to go to medical school. A friendly voice answers me back, telling me to call him V...
Top 10 things to do before the election on Tuesday
By The Pitt News Editorial Board and Pitt Tonight
November 3, 2016
Filed under Editorials
We want everyone to be prepared to go out and vote this Nov. 8. No matter what, Nov. 9 is sure to go down in history. But don’t panic just yet, we’ve got your pre-voting plans covered. 1.Double-check your registration. The election is clearly rigged. You never know, your voter registration could ...
Editorial: Pittsburgh police should live in communities they serve
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 3, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Communities work best when residents have a vested interest in each others’ happiness and safety. Pittsburghers seemed to recognize that fact in 2013, when 80 percent of residents voted for a referendum to the Home Rule Charter that would require city employees to live within the city limits. A year later, an arbitration panel ruled that city police officers could live within 25 miles of Downtown,...
Two-party system inhibits third party candidates
By Nick Eustis | For The Pitt News
November 2, 2016
Filed under Columns
With two of the most unfavorable presidential candidates in American history on the ballot, third party candidates have received more press than usual this election cycle. Unfortunately, that press doesn’t translate to the possibility for a third party president. Third party contenders hav...
Editorial: Political discourse requires respect, not aggression
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 2, 2016
Filed under Editorials
With the election less than a week away, we realize tensions are high at Pitt. But none of the presidential candidates will benefit from violence among their supporters. And anti-Trump Pitt students who flipped over a Donald Trump campaigning table and ripped down a Trump banner outside Hillman Library this week made that very clear. While college is meant to be a place where young peopl...
Editorial: Pitt athletes can enroll early. They shouldn’t get the chance.
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 31, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Pitt’s student-athletes are getting a free head start, but instead of racing toward a trophy, they’re filling up classroom seats. According to an email from academic counselors within the athletic department, Pitt’s senior administrators have signed off on early class registration for athlete...
Voice actors on strike deserve more compensation
By Thomas Wick | For The Pitt News
October 30, 2016
Filed under Columns
If it weren’t for voice actress Jennifer Hale and her performance in the Mass Effect video game series, the character of Commander Shepard wouldn’t have been as memorable. Hale, an esteemed voice actress, was responsible for bringing to life the iconic Commander Shepard in a game that has been praised for its strong story and powerful characters. Without her, the game would not have been as successful. But Hale...
Editorial: PA doctors’ fracking ban a call for more research
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 30, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Following the lead of New York, Maryland and Vermont, doctors in Pennsylvania want the state to be the next to initiate a ban on fracking. Last week, the Pennsylvania Medical Society called for a statewide moratorium on new shale gas drilling and hydraulic fracturing after a new Yale study found that ...
Glitz: Give slashers a chance
By Henry Glitz | Columnist
October 27, 2016
Filed under Columns
It was 1 a.m., and my living room looked eerie and unfamiliar, lit only by the light from the television screen. Everyone else in the house was asleep, and after what felt like hours of tossing and turning, I had bleakly ventured downstairs to see if the tube could cure my insomnia. What I found on ...
Top 10 last-minute Halloween costumes
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 27, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Our weekly Top Ten is brought to you by the writers of Pitt Tonight and The Pitt News Editorial Board. Ken Bone All you have to do is buy a red sweater and some glasses — but to really sell it, make sure everyone finds your creepy Reddit posts two weeks from now. The Verizon guy th...
Jill Stein’s platform isn’t worth your vote
By Jaime Viens / Columnist
October 27, 2016
Filed under Columns
“Crooked.” “Idiot.” “Liar.” “Grab them by the pussy.” These compelling phrases have dominated the intellectual rhetoric of the 2016 election season. As profoundly as this debate eloquence and the ringing endorsements of the “lesser of two evils” may inspire you, we are not simply de...
Editorial: Proposed City Council rule punishes transparency
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 27, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Politicians have enough incentive to hide behind closed doors. They shouldn’t have to pay for offering a glimpse at the internal discussions that drive our city. Council President Bruce Kraus introduced legislation Tuesday that would penalize council members who publicly discuss closed-door executive sessions. Offenders would have to pay $500 if a ...
Opposing language should never be categorized as violence
By Tim Nerozzi | Columnist
October 26, 2016
Filed under Columns
Words and swords are not the same weapon — at least they’re not supposed to be. But the rise of politically correct, sensitive policy-making in recent years has contributed to the decline of academic freedom and intellectual discourse. In the most extreme cases, this trend has led to violent co...
Editorial: Kane’s light sentence calls for more accountability
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 26, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Kathleen Kane, Pennsylvania’s former Attorney General, committed a crime. She was arrested, tried before a jury of her peers and convicted. And this week, she was sentenced to prison. But justice was not served. On Monday, Kane was sentenced to 10 to 23 months in jail after she was convicted of...
NFL management is to blame for ratings drop
By Bayard Miller / Columnist
October 25, 2016
Filed under Columns
The National Football League, long the juggernaut of the network television world, seems to have lost its ability to consume Americans’ weekends. The Super Bowl has had the highest Nielsen ratings of any TV program every year in recent memory. Last year’s viewership topped 110 million, making...
Editorial: Trump’s response to Jessica Drake’s accusations devalues consent
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 25, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Another day, another woman coming forward with stories about Donald Trump’s sexual advances. But the response to this one came with an added dash of deplorability: slut-shaming. After videos of Trump referring to times he’s grabbed and kissed women without their consent because he was “a star” emerged earlier this month, scrutiny of his misogynistic language has intensified. During the ensuing weeks, 10 women have come forward to accuse...
New Nintendo Switch shows promise for Nintendo
By For The Pitt News | Thomas Wick
October 23, 2016
Filed under Columns
After months of speculations, nonstop rumors and a couple of press conferences on the launch with barely any information, Nintendo has finally revealed its brand new console: The Nintendo Switch. Set to release in March 2017, the home-and-mobile console is Nintendo’s successor to its previous consol...
Editorial: The Times should be more transparent about McGinty endorsement
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 23, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Around this time in a presidential election, readers begin turning to the opinion pages of their newspapers to see who the paper’s editorial board choose to endorse. While some publications choose to remain impartial, most begin handing down endorsements to one candidate or another. This year, thos...
MESS Movie Night offers a valuable alternative
By Maggie Koontz | For The Pitt News
October 21, 2016
Filed under Columns
I was sitting next to a table full of snacks, hunkered down to watch a movie last Friday night, but I wasn’t necessarily relaxing. Instead, myself and a group of other students were gathered on the 35th floor of the Cathedral of Learning, our eyes fixated on the projector screen in front of us, ...
Top 10 questions Chris Wallace should’ve asked at the debate
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 21, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Our weekly Top Ten is brought to you by the writers of Pitt Tonight and The Pitt News Editorial Board. In last night’s third and final presidential debate, we saw some interruptions and slight jabs, but overall, a strong and surprisingly composed performance from Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. ...
Final debate shows mutual growth, persistent weaknesses
By Matt Moret / Assistant Opinions Editor
October 20, 2016
Filed under Columns
Well, it’s over. While we haven’t heard the last of either candidate, the final presidential debate of 2016 is behind us. Here’s a breakdown of how we got here. Donald Trump learned the value of preparation. While the first debate was a perfect encapsulation of every argumentative, hostile...
Ignore the hate: All majors are created equal
By Emily Schoenberger / Columnist
October 20, 2016
Filed under Columns
Raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by a Pitt engineering or pre-med major. It’s safe to assume most students pursuing liberal arts degrees have both hands and a leg in the air. Our students, like so many other college students across the nation, constantly argue with one another ...
Editorial: Liberty University’s censorship betrays conservativism
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 20, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Despite its name, Liberty University seems to think freedom of speech is only worth protecting when students aren’t being “redundant” in how they criticize his chosen presidential candidate. According to the school’s student-run newspaper, The Liberty Champion, an opinion column critical of Republi...
Breast cancer donations need transparency
By Julia Aldrich | Columnist
October 19, 2016
Filed under Columns
Growing up, I never thought too much about breast cancer. My classmates wore “I love boobies” bracelets that made me giggle, my sister dyed a strand of her hair pink one October and I owned one or two T-shirts with a pink ribbon on it. I was aware of the significance, but it felt like more o...
Editorial: Pa. state faculty strike highlights need for support
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 19, 2016
Filed under Editorials
After months of disagreement and failed negotiations, the faculty of Pennsylvania’s 14 state-supported universities will go on strike starting today. The Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties President Kenneth Mash confirmed the unprecedented strike will likely go on afte...
Trump loses to Clinton in any test of character
By Henry Glitz / Columnist
October 18, 2016
Filed under Columns, Uncategorized
Words used in a decade-old audio recording have had a profound impact on the trajectory of the presidential race — so much so that without my even spelling them out, you probably already know what I’m referring to. The audio tape The Washington Post released on Oct. 8 revealed Republican presid...
Editorial: The Pitt News endorses Hillary Clinton for President
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 18, 2016
Filed under Editorials, Top Stories
At the risk of accusations that we’ve misquoted him, we’ve let the candidate we’re not endorsing speak for himself. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best ... They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringin...
It’s time for the U.S. to pass a carbon tax
By Jaime Viens | Columnist
October 14, 2016
Filed under Columns
He may have missed out on the presidency, but when it comes to climate change, Sen. Bernie Sanders had it right. In a 2014 contributing piece to The Huffington Post, Sanders implored Congress to pursue a tax on carbon consumption, writing, “A carbon tax must be a central part of our strategy for dramatically reduci...
10 inventions that weren’t mentioned at The White House Frontiers Conference
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 14, 2016
Filed under Editorials
In lieu of our Casual Fridays, The Pitt News Editorial Board is collaborating with Pitt Tonight host Jesse Irwin and Pitt Tonight writers to bring to you our very first Top 10 List. President Barack Obama and tech giants from around the country took Oakland by storm on Thursday for the White House...
Give Pittsburgh’s infrastructure a makeover
By Bayard Miller / For The Pitt News
October 13, 2016
Filed under Columns
Along with countless others, I drove across the Liberty Bridge on the morning of Sept. 3. Beyond the construction covering the bridge, made of steel and concrete — not especially flammable building materials — it was a normal day. But later, a blowtorch-wielding-construction worker made a mista...
Editorial: Costumed fun not an excuse for ignorance
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 13, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Halloween approaches, as does the inevitable flood of offensive, uninspired costumes that’ll fill house parties everywhere. While perusing thrift and novelty shops for a makeshift getup, it’s easy to fall into the trappings of ready-made costumes like Native American chiefs and drunk Mexican b...
Point-Counterpoint: We should embrace gender differences, not deconstruct them
By Jordan Drischler | Columnist
October 12, 2016
Filed under Columns
In September, Duke University’s Women’s Center began a nine-week program for men — called the Duke Men’s Project — to discuss masculinity, feminism and intersectionality. The program touches on several topics, including male privilege, sexuality, gender diversity, intersectional femini...
Point-Counterpoint: What does Duke’s masculinity program mean for gender roles?
By Amber Montgomery | Columnist
October 12, 2016
Filed under Columns
In September, Duke University’s Women’s Center began a nine-week program for men — called the Duke Men’s Project — to discuss masculinity, feminism and intersectionality. The program touches on several topics, including male privilege, sexuality, gender diversity, intersectional femini...
Editorial: University of Maryland should fund sexual assault services, not students
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 12, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Sexual assault services are a necessary component to most colleges, but if you ask the University of Maryland, they’re a luxury. Since the university’s Title IX office — which provides the services — in underfunded and sexual assault reports have increased within recent years, Catherine C...
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra’s reputation must remain intact
By Mariam Shalaby / Columnist
October 11, 2016
Filed under Columns
The lights dim inside the performance hall, and the orchestra members begin to softly tune their instruments. The musicians close their eyes, concentrating to match their tones with their colleagues seated around them. Finally, the conductor raises his arms and makes a quick motion. The 99 musicia...
Editorial: Remember, today is your last chance for Pa. voter registration
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 11, 2016
Filed under Editorials
In case you haven’t heard it enough times from the people lining just about every corner in Oakland: You have to vote for your opinion to matter on Election Day. And in order to do that, you have to register. Today, Oct. 11, is the final day for Pennsylvania residents to register to vote in the...
Pitch us an editorial topic about your student group
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 11, 2016
Filed under Editorials
We think the space typically reserved for cracking punny jokes in our Casual Fridays series can go to a better cause — so we’re offering it to you. Until now, The Pitt News has published daily editorials based on what we internally deem to be the most important story of the day. But a campus dialogue ...
Accessibility: a language we can all learn
By Isabelle Ouyang | Columnist
October 10, 2016
Filed under Columns
Accessibility is a broad term that, societally, we aspire to cultivate, but rarely do we use the word as individuals when it doesn’t apply to us. University of Toronto psychology professor Jordan Peterson posted a video Sept. 27 in which he said he would refuse to accommodate students who wanted...
Editorial: Trump’s video release fuels his public downfall
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 10, 2016
Filed under Editorials
In case you haven’t heard, the Washington Post released a video from 2005 of behind-the-scenes footage of Donald Trump and Billy Bush on Access Hollywood. The audio — recorded while Trump and Bush were wearing mics — revealed a series of vile comments made by the Republican presidential candidate toward women. T...
Make Pitt bright again
By Bayard Mille | For The Pitt News
October 6, 2016
Filed under Columns
This Saturday, the Pitt Panthers will take the field with a new look that isn’t as new as you might think. Just in time for Homecoming, the football team will sport the royal blue and mustard yellow throwback jerseys worn by some of Pitt’s greatest players from the later half of the last centur...
Short-term binge drinking has long-term effects
By Amber Montgomery | Columnist
October 6, 2016
Filed under Columns
Beer pong, flip cup, shotgunning, house parties and bar crawls — all staples of college culture. When I first started college, I thought these were only movie tropes meant to perpetuate the theatrical idea of college as four years of non-stop partying. But then I actually got here and walked th...
Cable’s wrong, Mike Pence lost the vice presidential debate
By Matt Moret / Assistant Opinions Editor
October 6, 2016
Filed under Columns
Mike Pence lost Tuesday night’s debate. This shouldn’t even be a question. Since the end of the vice presidential debate, the internet’s political corner has grown bloated with articles about how Indiana Gov. Pence beat Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine — in terms of delivery and confidence — wh...
Opioid task force overlooks some addiction complexities
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 6, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Pennsylvania finally has a plan to fight the opioid crisis, and Pitt has its fingerprints on it — for better or worse. A 64-page report on fighting the opioid crisis came out Wednesday after two years of work by a task force of legal and health care experts, including former Pitt chancellor Mark Nordenberg, who is currently the chair of Pitt’s Institute of Pol...
Take it from Michelle, vote for progress
By Saket Rajprohat | Columnist
October 5, 2016
Filed under Columns
Looking at the television monitor of the crowd, I was nervous. A crowd of some 3,000 people awaited my less-than-important two minute speech. In a constant sequence of rehearsing my speech, pacing the floor and sitting down to catch my breath, she came backstage again. As my name was called, she ...
Editorial: Look past campaign spending in PA Senate race
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 5, 2016
Filed under Editorials
In Pennsylvania’s contentious Senate battle this year, the race seems be about which candidate can outspend the other instead of the issues. On Tuesday, the Center for Responsive Politics disclosed that spending on Pennsylvania’s U.S. Senate race has amounted to $88.9 million thus far. The race is the...
Libertarianism is coming to a movie theater near you
By Jordan Drischler / For The Pitt News
October 4, 2016
Filed under Columns
The late blogger and media personality Andrew Breitbart once claimed that politics is downstream from culture. A look at the current political climate on college campuses side-by-side with the latest round of Hollywood award shows indicates that this adage still holds true. Whether it’s Le...
Editorial: Pa.’s delayed medical marijuana research hinders rollout
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 4, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Pennsylvania’s legislature will soon deliver medical marijuana research opportunities, and Pitt has the munchies. Last week, Pitt’s School of Medicine sent out letters announcing its plan to search for research partnerships with companies to study the effects of marijuana on treating serious medical conditions. Gov....
Voting: Don’t squander the privilege
By Bethel Habte | Senior Columnist
October 2, 2016
Filed under Columns
An immigrant and a Puerto Rican watch the first presidential debate together and — actually, nevermind, that statement is enough of a joke on its own. Let me explain. Neither can vote in the election, although both belong to the United States. It’s funny, like the setup to a cheesy punchl...
Editorial: In light of Trump’s tax revelations, don’t forget about sexist comments
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 2, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Like a scared dog cornered in an alley, Donald Trump furiously lashed out after Hillary Clinton mentioned Alicia Machado’s name. For Clinton, it was the perfect attack — all she had to do was bring up the former Miss Universe, who’s originally from Venezuela, at last week’s presidential debat...
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...
Giving up smartphones saved my sanity
By Bayard Miller / For The Pitt News
September 29, 2016
Filed under Columns
When I went to the Verizon store last August, the salesperson thought I was crazy. “You know, you’re the first person I’ve ever seen do this. I’ve gotta tell you, I think you’re making a mistake.” My friends’ opinions were no different: “You’re just making your life more in...
Editorial: Pittsburgh Tribune-Review’s digital shift more than “tough” for 106 laid off
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 29, 2016
Filed under Editorials
In most cases, reporters becoming the center of a story is a sign something's gone wrong. Sometimes, though, it’s worth acknowledging the people behind the curtain. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, one of the city’s flagship newspapers, announced Wednesday it would cease publication of a print ...
Arming Kurds in Syria will cause more violence
By Julia Aldrich | For The Pitt News
September 28, 2016
Filed under Columns
The civil war in Syria and occupation of Iraq seems to be never-ending as the Islamic State gains ranks in both areas and the number of civilian casualties increase. We often hear U.S. leaders — presidential candidates included — advocating their plans for combating the Islamic State since the r...
Editorial: Civic education requirements need reform and funding
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 28, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Pennsylvania wants to promote civic education but apparently doesn’t want to invest the money to enforce it. This week, State Rep. Karen Boback, R-Lackawanna/Luzerne/Wyo., and Rep. Bill Kortz, D-Allegheny, called for better civic education by introducing House Bill 1858, which would require eve...
Michael Brown Sr.’s speech: A lesson on accountability
By Jamie Viens / Staff Writer
September 27, 2016
Just before my first year of college, my biggest concern was that my classes would be too early in the morning. Aug. 9, 2014 — exactly one week before I left for school — I can’t recall what I was doing because it didn’t matter. I was in no immediate danger, had no target on my back and had no...
Editorial: First Clinton-Trump debate offers nothing new
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 27, 2016
Filed under Editorials, Election Coverage 2016
After the first general election debate of 2016, most of The Pitt News’ office had nothing to say. There were shrugs and analogies to petulant children. Most brushed off the question of who won by giving a name followed by “I guess.” The general consensus was that Clinton won, just barely, but...
What you need to know about Debate Moderator Lester Holt
By Matt Moret / Assistant Opinions Editor
September 26, 2016
Filed under Columns, Election Coverage 2016, Top Stories
No matter who wins the first general election debate of 2016 tonight, one person’s face is certain to blanket news coverage roundups, and you may have never even heard of him before. He’s Lester Holt, and he will be your moderator. Holt has been the anchor of the NBC Nightly News since June 2015, when ...
Daily activism can dismantle rape culture
By Erica Brandbergh | For The Pitt News
September 25, 2016
Filed under Columns
“May we have your attention please / We’re looking for the fun ones / And say f**k off to a tease.” Those were the words of OZ, an off-campus fraternity at the University of Pennsylvania, in an email in late August inviting women to a party at the beginning of the school year. The email contained numerous offensive remarks — including the e...
Editorial: Yahoo breach should lead to stronger regulations
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 25, 2016
Filed under Editorials
When a multinational company experiences a massive security breach that affects hundreds of millions of people, don’t its users deserve to know? Yahoo, the multinational digital company, announced last week that in 2014, a state-sponsored actor, or a hacker supported by a foreign government, hacked the accoun...
Trump’s economic platform is a guise for the rich
By Saket Rajprohat | For The Pitt News
September 22, 2016
Filed under Columns, Election Coverage 2016
“Trumponomics” sounds like a helping hand for the little guy but is actually a pedestal for the wealthy. Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump announced his economic plan during a speech at the Economic Club of New York last Thursday, calling for 4 percent economic growth if he becomes president. The candidate plans to increase the ...
Editorial: Casual Fridays
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 22, 2016
Filed under Editorials
RIP Brangelina Hollywood’s biggest heartthrob is back on the market — and so is Brad Pitt. On Tuesday, after two years of marriage, Angelina Jolie filed for divorce from husband Pitt, meaning our favorite power couple has officially shattered any hope we had left for the existence of true love. Fingers crossed th...
It’s time for employers to accommodate periods
By Amber Montgomery / Columnist
September 22, 2016
Filed under Columns
You know it’s coming. Most of you never want it to be late, but a few days early can be a nasty surprise. If you hadn’t guessed it, I’m talking about the “special friends” that greet women in tampon commercials while real women are doubled over in pain. In other words, periods. Hopefu...
Editorial: Pennsylvania must remember students in fight against hunger
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 22, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Pennsylvania health officials are dedicating themselves to take a bite out of hunger — or so they say. On Wednesday, the state’s secretaries of Human Services, Agriculture and Aging announced a plan at the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to expand public hunger relief programs. Included in the strategy is an increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program,...
Pipelines harm long-term jobs
By Isabelle Ouyang | Columnist
September 21, 2016
Filed under Columns
Whether workers support them or not, the protests against the Dakota Access Pipeline are a rallying call not only for environmental justice, but for labor justice as well. The controversial $3.8 billion dollar pipeline, spearheaded by Energy Transfer Partners LP, will harm the environment and the Stan...
Editorial: Self-driving regulations provides little reassurance
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 21, 2016
Filed under Editorials
As of Monday, the United States government is officially betting on self-driving cars to be a success. Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Transportation released its first set of federal regulations on the autonomous vehicle industry. The 15-point guideline creates safety standards for driverless cars, such as uniform polic...
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 ...
McGinty’s CMU rally creates hope for Democratic unity
By Henry Glitz / Columnist
September 20, 2016
Filed under Columns, Election Coverage 2016
Three unlikely Democratic allies gathered together Friday afternoon in Carnegie Mellon University’s Wiegand Gymnasium to speak, one after another, despite the fact that they wouldn’t have dared standing shoulder to shoulder in April. The three politicians standing on stage were Pennsylvania Senate ...
Editorial: Jeffrey Tambor’s Emmy speech shows need for transgender representation
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 20, 2016
Filed under Editorials
While accepting his Emmy for outstanding lead actor in a comedy series Sunday night, Jeffrey Tambor — who plays a transgender woman in the Amazon series “Transparent” — decided to take a stand for the community he represents on television. "To you people out there, you producers and network owners, and agents and you creative sparks: please give transgender talent a chance," Tambor said. "G...
The Odyssey dilutes journalism
By Emily Schoenberger | Columnist
September 19, 2016
Filed under Columns
When you see a popular article online titled “Why Girls Love the Dad Bod,” you have to read it. Or do you? This is the headline on the most shared article from the Odyssey Online, an online blog-style platform where about 14,000 college-aged writers publish stories and get paid based on the number of sh...
Editorial: Manhattan explosion coverage misleads readers
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 19, 2016
Filed under Editorials
When news breaks of a bombing or explosion in a U.S. city, one word stands out in Americans’ minds: Terrorism. So Saturday night, when 29 people were injured in an explosion in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York, that one word quickly jumped into national headlines. Thankfully, the victims of the explosion Saturday are out of the hospital alr...
Jobs aren’t the only source of happiness
By Matt Moret | Assistant Opinions Editor
September 15, 2016
Filed under Columns
In high school, I spent four years working at a gas station and auto repair shop. I had to sell gas, wipe windshields and clean motor oil off of the floor. There was nothing glamorous about it. Most of the people I worked alongside were older than me — three of them were grown men with families, and...
Hillary Clinton less transparent than Obama claims
By Matt Moret / Assistant Opinions Editor
September 15, 2016
Filed under Columns
Of all the negative assessments people have made about Hillary Clinton’s campaign this election season, one label holds up: secretive. During a campaign rally for Clinton Tuesday, President Barack Obama took the time to “vent” about the media’s presentation of Clinton and her Republican rival D...
Editorial: University of Chicago’s faculty letter shows how to support free speech
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 15, 2016
Filed under Editorials
On Aug. 25, the University of Chicago sent all incoming students a letter declaring the institution’s dedication to free thought — by telling them which thoughts aren’t acceptable. In the letter, the university claimed that by denouncing trigger warnings and safe spaces, it is offering a defense o...
Music festival culture needs more music, less corporatization
By Julia Aldrich | For The Pitt News
September 14, 2016
Filed under Columns
Whenever you hear about music festivals, an image of a beautiful sunset over a mountainous valley, a horizon speckled with lights, a ferris wheel and happy people dancing around to Daft Punk comes to mind. And to fulfill those visions, popular music festivals like Coachella, Bonnaroo and Firefly ...
Editorial: Port Authority’s funding cuts emphasize need for alternatives
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 14, 2016
Filed under Columns
Our journeys on the Port Authority buses may soon come to a halt. In an audit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission last week, State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale noted that the Port Authority of Allegheny County could lose much of its funding in just six years because the Turnpike Commission...
NCAA’s North Carolina protest an overdue sign of support
By Elizabeth Lepro / Editor-in-Chief
September 13, 2016
Filed under Columns
As expected, North Carolina’s ludicrous anti-LGBTQ+ legislation has brought more negative consequences to the Republican-controlled state. The National Collegiate Athletic Association announced Monday night that it is relocating all seven championship games — some of which are the first few baske...
Editorial: Officer fired for not shooting Pittsburgh man deserves better
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 13, 2016
Filed under Editorials
While no shooting is worthy of praise, some are unfortunately understandable given the circumstances. Even in such cases, there are often victims of injustice. On May 6 in Weirton, W. Va. police officer Stephen Mader — a former Marine — confronted a 23-year-old Pittsburgher named Ronald D. “R....
Eid al-Adha highlights need for recognition of lesser known religious holidays
By Amber Montgomery | Columnist
September 11, 2016
Filed under Columns
Today is not just another Monday. Today, I can’t wait to see pictures on Facebook, stories on Snapchat and to send WhatsApp messages to my friends celebrating the major Muslim holiday, Eid al-Adha, all around the world. Eid al-Adha, known as the Greater Eid, literally translates to “festival of the s...
Editorial: 9/11 coverage fails to commemorate victims
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 11, 2016
Filed under Editorials
After 15 years, we still cannot escape the harrowing aftermath of 9/11. On September 11, 2001, the United States lost 2,977 men, women and children in the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon and Shanksville, Pennsylvania. The terrorist attack forever changed our country a...
Sandusky saga has no place in Pitt-Penn State rivalry
By Dan Sostek / Senior Staff Writer
September 9, 2016
Filed under Columns, Football, GameDay, Opinions
‘Ped State!’ ‘Joe Knew!’ “Hilarious. I’ve got to get that on a T-shirt. Or a sign. Or something.” This is the unhinged thought process that select members of the Pitt fan base will likely go through, or have already gone through, prior to the Panthers’ long-awaited clash with t...
Editorial: Casual Fridays
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 8, 2016
Filed under Editorials
Extra Espresso, please A new heavy-duty coffee drink is making its (g)rounds in the caffeine world. Much to Starbucks’ dismay, Australian cafe owner Steve Benington crafted a new coffee which he claims to be 80 times stronger than espresso called “The A**kicker.” The Aussie barista says it ca...
Harambe and Trump: partners in outrage fatigue
By Henry Glitz / Columnist
September 7, 2016
Filed under Columns
Of all the stories shaping the cultural landscape this summer, two events from May have consistently broken the internet. One involves an unpredictable creature with primate ancestry — the other is Harambe. On May 26, reality TV personality Donald Trump received his 1,237th delegate to the Repub...
Editorial: Zika victims lose in GOP war with Planned Parenthood
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 7, 2016
Filed under Editorials
For the third time, Congress has failed to approve funding for Zika virus research. And for the third time, the reason is a willful misunderstanding of how to effectively address women’s health. In May, the U.S. Senate approved a $1.1 billion compromise bill, which was later shot down once it reach...