The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News
The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News
The University of Pittsburgh's Daily Student Newspaper

The Pitt News

Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer

Diana Velasquez is a Senior Staff Writer at The Pitt News. A New York native, she will graduate in 2023 with degrees in English Writing, Classics, and a Medieval and Renaissance Studies certificate. She joined the culture staff in October 2019 and was culture editor from May 2021 to April 2022. She now writes for the digital desk.

You can contact her at [email protected].

All content by Diana Velasquez
Fandom-esqe | Star Wars refuses to let the past die

Fandom-esqe | Star Wars refuses to let the past die

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
April 10, 2023
Fandom-esque | Nostalgia rears its head for the Hunger Games fandom

Fandom-esque | Nostalgia rears its head for the Hunger Games fandom

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
March 26, 2023
Fandom-esque | When streaming services die, HBO Max will be the last one standing

Fandom-esque | When streaming services die, HBO Max will be the last one standing

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
February 19, 2023
Fandom-esque | ‘The Last of Us’ is a lesson on canon divergence done right

Fandom-esque | ‘The Last of Us’ is a lesson on canon divergence done right

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
February 6, 2023
Fandom-esque | The ethics of celebrity internet daddies

Fandom-esque | The ethics of celebrity internet daddies

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
January 22, 2023
Streaming services have a prejudice against WLW content

Streaming services have a prejudice against WLW content

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
January 8, 2023
A lesson in social media longevity, from the fandom perspective

A lesson in social media longevity, from the fandom perspective

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
November 27, 2022
Fandom-esque | Let’s define queerbaiting

Fandom-esque | Let’s define queerbaiting

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
November 6, 2022
Fandom-esque | ‘House of the Dragon’ learns from its predecessors, hires intimacy coordinators

Fandom-esque | ‘House of the Dragon’ learns from its predecessors, hires intimacy coordinators

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
October 23, 2022
Fandom’s unhealthy obsession with real-life serial killers

Fandom’s unhealthy obsession with real-life serial killers

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
October 9, 2022
Fandom-esque | The case against J.K. Rowling, and how to enjoy ‘problematic’ media

Fandom-esque | The case against J.K. Rowling, and how to enjoy ‘problematic’ media

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
September 25, 2022
Fandom-esque | Supposed Tolkien fans hide their racism behind “book purity”

Fandom-esque | Supposed Tolkien fans hide their racism behind “book purity”

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
September 11, 2022
Fandom-esque | Keep physical copies of your favorite shows, or risk losing them forever

Fandom-esque | Keep physical copies of your favorite shows, or risk losing them forever

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
August 28, 2022
Study tips for the overworked, exhausted Pitt student

Study tips for the overworked, exhausted Pitt student

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
April 21, 2022
Super Specific | The looming MCU fatigue

Super Specific | The looming MCU fatigue

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
April 17, 2022
Pitt associate professor Christopher Nygren of the Medieval and Renaissance Studies program.

Pitt professor wins prestigious award from Renaissance Society of America

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
April 13, 2022
Colleen Krajewski: The care people deserve

Colleen Krajewski: The care people deserve

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
April 11, 2022
Super Specific | Enough with the superhero femme fatales

Super Specific | Enough with the superhero femme fatales

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
April 3, 2022
‘Why We Have A Body’ contemplates physical, emotional burdens of women

‘Why We Have A Body’ contemplates physical, emotional burdens of women

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
March 31, 2022
Super Specific | Diana’s MCU movie ranking list

Super Specific | Diana’s MCU movie ranking list

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
March 20, 2022
Super Specific | The art of the rated “R” superhero movie

Super Specific | The art of the rated “R” superhero movie

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
March 3, 2022
Barbie Ferreira playing Kat Hernandez, left, and Alex Demie playing Maddy Perez in season 2, episode 7 of “Euphoria.”

Review | ‘Euphoria’ season two: ‘It could be worse. It could be boring.’

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
February 28, 2022
Jennifer Lopez playing Kat Valdez, left, and Owen Wilson playing Charlie Gilbert in “Marry Me.”

Review | ‘Marry Me’ relies too much on Instagram, not enough on romance

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
February 13, 2022
Super Specific | Superhero culture, fandom still show racist roots

Super Specific | Superhero culture, fandom still show racist roots

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
February 13, 2022
A roundup of Black History Month events in Pittsburgh

A roundup of Black History Month events in Pittsburgh

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
February 10, 2022
Actor Eric Dane playing Cal Jacobs in episode 4, season 2 of “Euphoria.”

Ranking current ‘Euphoria’ memes from season 2

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
February 6, 2022
Super Specific | The DCEU is in its final death throes

Super Specific | The DCEU is in its final death throes

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
January 30, 2022
A Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences sign sits in the Cathedral of Learning in 2017.

Navigating humanities gen-eds in the Dietrich school

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
January 18, 2022
A 2021 TikTok video from the US equestrian team highlights several of the team's jumps.

Best TikTok accounts, trends of 2021

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
January 12, 2022
Zendaya, left, playing Michelle “MJ” Jones, jumps with Tom Holland, right, playing Spider-Man in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

Review | ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ is nostalgia at its best

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
January 9, 2022
Super Specific | Managing the multiverse

Super Specific | Managing the multiverse

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
January 9, 2022
Fifth Season’s biodome in Braddock.

Pitt partners with Fifth Season for local, robotically grown greens

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
December 9, 2021
Super Specific | Marvel’s success with disabled superheroes

Super Specific | Marvel’s success with disabled superheroes

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
November 29, 2021
Disney’s new series “Hawkeye” is streaming on Disney+.

Review | ‘Hawkeye’ is better late than never

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
November 29, 2021
Delphie Backs, a junior applied developmental psychology major, adopted her cat Olaf, a 2-year-old white short-hair, from the Beaver Humane Society last year.

Pitt pet owners share advice, love for animal companions

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
November 9, 2021
Super Specific | The importance of a good superhero movie score

Super Specific | The importance of a good superhero movie score

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
November 8, 2021
The cast of “The Eternals” — from left, Kevin Feige, Chloé Zhao, Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani, Lauren Ridloff, Brian Tyree Henry, Salma Hayek, Lia McHugh, Don Lee and Angelina Jolie — speak at the 2019 San Diego Comic Con International at the San Diego Convention Center.

Review | ‘Eternals’ brings the MCU to new personal heights for its characters

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
November 8, 2021
Mad Mex’s Oakland location, located on Atwood Street, closed on Sunday because of short staff but will reopen next spring.

Oakland Mad Mex to close temporarily due to staff shortages

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
November 4, 2021
David Cerda’s “The Drag Seed” will run from Friday to Nov. 13 at Charity Randall Theatre as a Pitt Stages mainstage production.

‘The Drag Seed’ brings satire, killer drag queens to the stage

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
November 4, 2021
As of Sunday, “Squid Game” ranks #3 on Netflix’s Top 10 in the US Today list.

A comprehensive summary of Netflix’s current ‘Top 10’

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
October 31, 2021
Super Specific | How the queer community found solace in Venom

Super Specific | How the queer community found solace in Venom

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
October 24, 2021
Culture editor Diana Velasquez argues that even if “The Last Duel” succeeds in telling a forgotten woman’s story, the movie highlights problematic depictions of sexual assault in Hollywood.

Review | “The Last Duel” tries to find a woman’s justice in medieval France

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
October 17, 2021
Phil Graziadei (bottom), the screenwriter behind Netflix’s hit “Fear Street” trilogy, gave a talk this Saturday with Pitt’s Horror Studies Working Group about his work in horror film and the explicit queer themes of the Netflix movies.

‘Fear Street’ screenwriter explores queer horror with Horror Studies Working Group

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
October 12, 2021
Super Specific | It’s time to revamp Superman

Super Specific | It’s time to revamp Superman

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
October 10, 2021
Super Specific | “The Old Guard” is the queer superhero representation we need

Super Specific | “The Old Guard” is the queer superhero representation we need

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
September 27, 2021
A bronze sculpture of Roberto Clemente at PNC Park, located on Federal street near the Roberto Clemente Bridge.

Events in Pittsburgh to celebrate Latinx Heritage Month

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
September 27, 2021
Pitt Program Council announced that Lauv, an American pop artist, will headline this year’s Fall Fest. Students can attend Fall Fest on Oct. 10 starting at 1 p.m. on Schenley Drive. Pictured is the 2018 Bigelow Bash, the former name of Fall Fest.

Pitt Program Council announces Lauv as Fall Fest headliner

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
September 21, 2021
“Montero” is the newest album by American rapper and singer-songwriter Lil Nas X.

Review | ‘MONTERO’ is a glorious come-to-form for Lil Nas X

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
September 19, 2021
Carla Nappi and David Marshall, co-directors of Pitt’s Humanities Center, are bringing together professors from across dozens of disciplines to talk about their published books, in a new series called “Book Duets,” the first of which aired on Zoom this Thursday.

Book Duet series fosters collaboration between published professors

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
September 16, 2021
Starring Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton and Hailee Steinfield as Kate Bishop, Hawkeye will debut on Disney+ Nov. 24 and will run for six episodes, airing an episode each week.

The best September trailers you might have missed

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
September 16, 2021
Super Specific | Shang-Chi and Disney’s journey with Chinese dragons

Super Specific | Shang-Chi and Disney’s journey with Chinese dragons

By Diana Velasquez, Contributing Editor
September 12, 2021
Pitt celebrated the grand openings of two Saxbys, a Philadelphia-based coffee shop that opened its locations for business on the ground floor of Hillman and the Cathedral of Learning this past Wednesday.

Saxbys locations open at Pitt with business opportunities for students

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
September 2, 2021
Diana Velasquez is the culture editor for the 2021-22 academic year.

Meet the editors: Culture

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
August 26, 2021
Culture Editor Diana Velasquez argues that despite “Black Widow’s” stellar cast and unexpected success in humor, the movie falls flat as an awkwardly constructed prequel.

Review: ‘Black Widow’ is a fun yet fruitless sidequest

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
July 13, 2021
There are fireworks to enjoy right at the heart of Pittsburgh, just a quick car drive away in the neighboring suburbs or further away in about an hour’s commute.

A guide to Pittsburgh area Fourth of July fireworks

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
June 29, 2021
Fish are a popular pet choice among college students.

A Pitt student’s guide to buying the perfect fish

By Diana Velasquez, Culture Editor
June 28, 2021
Disney+'s “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” with Anthony Mackie, left, and Sebastian Stan.

Review: ‘The Falcon and the Winter Soldier’ soars triumphantly into final episode

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
April 22, 2021
“The Pittsburgh Neighborhood Guidebook” is part of an anthology series from Belt Publishing that chronicles the many faces of cities in the Rust Belt.

Local writers create anthology of Pittsburgh neighborhoods

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
April 7, 2021
Soleil Moon Frye’s documentary, “Kid 90,” now streaming on Hulu, is a teenage story 20 years in the making.

Review: ‘Kid 90’ is the all too familiar life of a Hollywood child star

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
March 12, 2021
Lana Condor and Noah Centineo in “To All the Boys: Always and Forever.”

‘To All The Boys: Always And Forever’ makes predictable, if sweet, series conclusion

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
February 15, 2021
Hannah Lempert, sophomore urban studies major and public relations coordinator for the University of Thriftsburgh thrift store, created a TikTok acting out the possibility of a new online store for Thriftsburgh that went viral with almost 300,000 views.

Pitt students share fashion, college experiences and celebrity encounters on TikTok

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
February 2, 2021
Phipps Conservatory has remained open to the public with online timed tickets.

Ring in spring semester with Pittsburgh cultural attractions

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
January 21, 2021
Tina Horn speaks about "SFSX (Safe Sex)” which follows a former sex worker named Avory.

Author Tina Horn discusses representation of sex work in post-apocalyptic fiction

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
November 11, 2020
The Frick family’s Clayton House in Point Breeze.

Steel City architecture: Exploring Pittsburgh’s historic homes

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
October 13, 2020
Danielle Gallaway is senior executive chef for Compass Group, Pitt’s new dining contractor.

New Pitt Dining executive chef breaks culinary glass ceiling

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
September 22, 2020
Pride for a Panther: Pitt remembers Chadwick Boseman

Pride for a Panther: Pitt remembers Chadwick Boseman

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
September 6, 2020
How stories help us during hard times

How stories help us during hard times

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
August 20, 2020
The final community reading of the Poetry Partnership of Pittsburgh streamed last Wednesday.

Poetry Partnership elevates voices of Black poets

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
June 16, 2020
Ivette Spradlin, a professor of photography at Pitt and Carnegie Mellon University, has spent her quarantine taking portraits of Pittsburgers outside their family homes.

Pitt professor captures pandemic through a camera lens

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
June 2, 2020
Ray Nell Jones was featured on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” last Thursday, where she and her family received a Hyundai SantaFe in appreciation for her nonprofit work.

Pitt staff member featured on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” helps single mothers in need

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
May 12, 2020
Last Friday, Nintendo released “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” for the Nintendo Switch.

Running a town in quarantine: ‘Animal Crossing: New Horizons’

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
March 25, 2020
Zozibini Tunzi, winner of Miss Universe 2019, speaks about beauty standards set by the beauty industry during Pitt Program Council’s “An Evening with Miss Universe” on Monday evening.

Miss Universe Zozibini Tunzi shines bright on love and self-worth

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer
February 25, 2020
“Appropriate,” written by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins and directed by Ricardo Vila-Roger, a professor in Pitt’s Department of Theatre Arts, will premiere Thursday at 8 p.m. and continue through March 1.

Pitt Stages production keeps it “Appropriate”

By Diana Velasquez, Staff Writer
February 19, 2020
“To All The Boys I Loved Before: P.S. I Still Love You” release poster.

Review | “P.S I Still Love You” opens its heart to more than romance

By Diana Velasquez, Staff Writer
February 10, 2020
Noodlehead in Shadyside claimed the title of Best Thai in The Pitt News’ “Best Of survey.”

The best of the bunch: Pitt students’ favorite restaurants

By Diana Velasquez, Staff Writer
January 29, 2020
Chef Randolph Russell from Sodexo constructs a model Cathedral of Learning out of gingerbread.

Cathy cookie contest takes the cake

By Diana Velasquez, Staff Writer
January 8, 2020
Mixing mediums with the Creative Arts Ensemble

Mixing mediums with the Creative Arts Ensemble

By Diana Velasquez, Staff Writer
January 5, 2020
Students described their experiences on sticky notes with a mock immigration process based on which country they were assigned in the activity.

Annual Boxes and Walls event hosts eye-opening exhibits on marginalized groups

By Diana Velasquez, Staff Writer
November 20, 2019
Vendors sell Christmas ornaments and other knickknacks in the Cathedral of Learning during the 29th annual Slovak Festival on Sunday.

Slovak heritage festival celebrates 29th anniversary

By Diana Velasquez, Staff Writer
November 4, 2019
Students paint the windows at Hemingway’s Cafe.

Student Alumni Association paints the town blue and gold with new contest

By Diana Velasquez, Staff Writer
October 23, 2019
Albert Tanjaya and Sareena Fayaz are both seniors and the new co-presidents of Humans of Pitt, an organization based off of the famous Humans of New York photoblog.

Humans of Pitt is back and plans to be better than ever

By Diana Velasquez, Staff Writer
October 16, 2019
Participants dance in circles in the O’Hara Student Center ballroom during the Hindu Students Council’s Navaratri celebration.

Hindu Students Council celebrates Navaratri with garba bash

By Diana Velasquez, For the Pitt News
October 7, 2019
Dr. Yusef Salaam brings “When They See Us” to life

Dr. Yusef Salaam brings “When They See Us” to life

By Diana Velasquez, For the Pitt News
October 2, 2019
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