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

Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer

Neena is a senior staff writer at The Pitt News who has covered Pitt’s graduate student and faculty union campaigns since January 2019. Originally from West Philadelphia, Neena plans to graduate in 2022 with an interdisciplinary major in data science and writing. She has freelanced for several publications and has an interest in data and investigative reporting.

Write to Neena at [email protected].

 

All content by Neena Hagen
Phil Wion: A labor of love

Phil Wion: A labor of love

By Neena Hagen
April 18, 2022
A Pitt student wears a mask.

Pitt faculty union, administration clash over lifting mask mandate

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
March 26, 2022
The Cathedral of Learning seen from Schenley Plaza.

Pitt faculty union elects bargaining committee, begins negotiating with administration

By Neena Hagen and Jack Troy
March 1, 2022
The Panther Report | Pittsburgh Bridges

The Panther Report | Pittsburgh Bridges

By Jon Moss and Neena Hagen
February 20, 2022
The underside of the Charles Anderson Bridge.

‘Concerning’: Anderson Bridge in Oakland plagued by ‘poor’ ratings for nearly a decade

By Neena Hagen and Jon Moss
February 1, 2022
Two technology glitches occurred after Pitt disbursed financial aid on Jan. 1, leaving more than 2,400 students with incorrect financial aid packages at the beginning of the semester.

‘The money just disappeared’: Financial aid glitches leave thousands of students scrambling

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
January 21, 2022
Pitt administration poured large sums of money into a “union avoidance” law firm, according to financial disclosures.

Pitt’s spending on ‘union avoidance’ law firm nears $3M

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
January 11, 2022
Pitt faculty voted to unionize, creating the largest new union in the country. Chris Deluzio, an adjunct law school professor, said he’s “ecstatic” about the “huge win.”

‘A long time coming’: Pitt faculty celebrate union victory

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
October 22, 2021
The new data science major is within the School of Computing and Information and pulls courses from four different departments — computer science, information science, math and statistics — giving students a strong foundation in programming and quantitative disciplines.

Pitt unveils new data science major

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
August 24, 2021
Tyler Bickford, a professor in the English department, drops one of the first union cards at a kickoff event held by Pitt faculty union organizers in the William Pitt Union Ballroom in January 2018.

Explainer: How to vote in Pitt’s faculty union election

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
August 24, 2021
Proposed legislation by Pennsylvania House Democrats addresses unions and taxpayer dollars.

Pa. House Democrats introduce pro-union bill, unlikely to impact Pitt

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
June 15, 2021
A multi-year attempt to unionize more than 2,000 graduate students at Pitt appeared to have fallen through earlier this month when the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board upheld graduate students’ April 2019 vote against unionization. But United Steelworkers, the union aiding Pitt graduate students’ and faculty’s unionization efforts, filed an exception to that ruling last Thursday.

Grad union organizers appeal PLRB decision, continue campaigning despite setbacks

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
March 26, 2021
Faculty union organizers have had to turn to Zoom calls and emails to rally support.

Pitt faculty prepare for union election, adjust campaigning amid pandemic

By Nathan Fitchett and Neena Hagen
February 16, 2021
Pitt’s Office of University Counsel paid Philadelphia-based Ballard Spahr $881,069 in fees between July 1, 2019 and June 30, 2020 to contest simultaneous but separate unionization attempts by faculty and graduate students.

Pitt spends additional $881K on ‘union avoidance’ law firm, pushing total over $2M

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
January 29, 2021
Faculty union organizers are still hopeful they’ll be able to hold a vote.

PLRB rules Pitt faculty union eligibility list was ‘factually and legally inaccurate’

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
June 26, 2020
Sodexo laid off a majority of its workers without pay over spring break, when Pitt adjusted its dining services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Market Central and The Perch, the two dining halls on campus, remain closed.

Pitt dining workers struggling with no pay after mass layoffs

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
March 30, 2020
Grad union organizers "urge" Pitt administrators to grant one-year funding extension.

Labor board to hold hearing on proposed grad union ruling

By Neena Hagen and Jon Moss
February 18, 2020
Chancellor Gallagher announced in January that the University will take several measures to address sexual misconduct issues on campus.

Inside the 7 “innovative solutions” for sexual assault on campus

By Neena Hagen and Elise Roessner
February 10, 2020
Grad union organizers "urge" Pitt administrators to grant one-year funding extension.

Grad union organizers planning second election for this semester

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
February 3, 2020
Pitt’s annual payments to the legal firm Ballard Spahr began to increase in 2016, coinciding with the launch of the graduate and faculty union campaigns.

Analysis: Comparing Pitt’s current Ballard Spahr spending with pre-unionization

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
January 21, 2020
Review | Cat(s) fight: The scariest horror movie of 2019

Review | Cat(s) fight: The scariest horror movie of 2019

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
January 8, 2020
The Pitt faculty union organizers will have another chance to prove interest in a union election in four months.

Faculty union organizers earn second chance to prompt union election

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
December 6, 2019
Pitt removes administrators, retirees from faculty union eligibility

Pitt removes administrators, retirees from faculty union eligibility

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
December 3, 2019
Paul Johnson, a faculty union organizer and Pitt communications professor, gives information about the union’s progress to about 50 people in the William Pitt Union Ballroom in January 2018.

Part 3 | Faculty union organizers’ next steps

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
October 17, 2019
University of Pittsburgh faculty unionizers at the People’s Pride parade in June 2018.

Part 2 | A look at the back-and-forth between Pitt, faculty union organizers

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
October 17, 2019
Faculty union organizers challenged hundreds of the names Pitt included in its list of faculty eligible for a bargaining unit.

Part 1 | Who did Pitt include on its list of union-eligible faculty?

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
October 15, 2019
Tyler Bickford, a professor in the English department, drops one of the first union cards at a kick-off event held by Pitt faculty union organizers in the William Pitt Union Ballroom in January 2018.

Series | Pitt included retirees, administrators in faculty union bargaining unit

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
October 15, 2019
Faculty union organizers challenged hundreds of the names Pitt included in its list of faculty eligible for a bargaining unit.

Faculty union organizers up in arms after Pitt’s administration rejects Labor Board subpoena

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
July 19, 2019
Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer congratulate each other after their historic singles championship match at Wimbledon on Sunday. Djokovic prevailed, 7-6, 1-6, 7-6, 4-6, 13-12, to win his fifth championship.

Federer falls short in Wimbledon epic

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
July 16, 2019
Alison Riske of the United States plays a backhand in her Ladies' Singles fourth round match against Ashleigh Barty of Australia during day seven of Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 8 in London.

Pittsburgher beats world no. 1 at Wimbledon, falls to Serena Williams

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
July 9, 2019
Jay Darr is the current Counseling Center director at Pitt.

Oakland news roundup

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
July 1, 2019
Rafael Nadal of Spain in action against Dominic Thiem of Austria during their final match on Sunday, June 10, 2018, at the French Open tennis tournament at Roland Garros Stadium in Paris.

No, Nadal won’t beat Federer at Wimbledon

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
June 25, 2019
Carli Lloyd of the USA in action during the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup France group F match between USA and Chile at Parc des Princes on June 16 in Paris, France.

Point-Counterpoint: Pay for U.S. women’s team is already fair

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
June 19, 2019
Faculty union organizers challenged hundreds of the names Pitt included in its list of faculty eligible for a bargaining unit.

PLRB orders hearing on faculty union complaint

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
June 18, 2019
Australia's Casey Dellacqua returns the ball to USA's Venus Williams during the Sony Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Florida, on Sunday, March 23, 2014.

Women’s tennis leads the field on coming out

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
June 11, 2019
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carries the University of Pittsburgh NSF SHREC’s STP-H6-SSIVP supercomputer to the International Space Station at Cape Canaveral on May 4.

Pitt supercomputer flies high in space

By Neena Hagen and Maggie Young
May 28, 2019
The municipal elections occurred across the state on Tuesday during the Pennsylvania primary elections.

Incumbents win big in Tuesday primary elections

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
May 21, 2019
The Pitt graduate student union election results were announced on April 26.

Grad students vote against unionization, organizers reissue call for new election

By Jon Moss and Neena Hagen
May 3, 2019
The Pitt graduate student union election results were announced on April 26.

Grad union organizers call for new election, accuse Pitt of “unfair labor practices”

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
May 2, 2019
The Pitt graduate student union election results were announced on April 26.

Grad student unionization vote declared inconclusive

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 26, 2019
University of Pittsburgh faculty unionizers at the People’s Pride parade in June 2018.

Faculty union organizers appeal PLRB decision

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 25, 2019
The Pitt graduate student union election results were announced on April 26.

After years-long campaign, grad students await outcome of union vote

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 18, 2019
First-year Lauren Kaseman performs at Alpha Tau Omega’s annual charity concert.

ATO charity concert rocks Bellefield Hall

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 15, 2019
Grad students will vote on whether or not to establish a union between April 15 and 18.

Grad students to vote on unionization this week

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 14, 2019

Performers death drop at Rainbow Alliance drag show

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 8, 2019
Pitt Pride banner outside of the William Pitt Union.

Campus organizations host first Pride month

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 8, 2019
Faculty braces for Pitt’s union “stalling tactics”

Faculty braces for Pitt’s union “stalling tactics”

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 3, 2019

‘Pitt Tonight’ celebrates women with annual empowerment episode

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 1, 2019
Students who attended Pitt Day in Harrisburg were treated to tours of the capitol, sit-down conversations with elected officials and a career-advice panel with Pitt alumni who work in the state government.

Pitt students visit State Capitol

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
March 26, 2019
Prayer rugs laid out at Sunday evening’s “Rehumanize: A Vigil for Muslims in New Zealand” memorial.

Pittsburgh responds to New Zealand massacre

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
March 25, 2019
Protesters marched from Freedom Corner in the Hill District to Market Square, where they continued their demonstration.

Downtown protests against Rosfeld verdict focus on change, solidarity

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
March 24, 2019
Counseling Center Director Jay Darr responds to students' concerns about the center at Thursday evening’s “Mental Health Mixer and Town Hall.”

Darr hears students’ counseling center concerns

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
March 22, 2019
Al Primack currently teaches rhetorical process and mass communication process classes at Pitt.

Al Primack celebrates pi year-round

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
March 18, 2019
Terrell Thomas of the American Civil Liberties Union speaks about the impact finances have on the bail process at Wednesday evening's "Community Perspectives on Criminal Justice" event.

Students, experts discuss criminal justice reform

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
February 28, 2019
Former congressman Charles Dent speaks about his time in the House of Representatives at Monday evening’s “American Politics in the New World Order” event.

Career politician shares experiences from the Capitol

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
February 26, 2019
Michael Campbell is a workshop assistant in the Center for Creativity and chair of Pitt Queer Professionals.

PQP offers community, safe space to LGBTQ+ staff

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
February 14, 2019
SGB presidential candidates Albert Tanjaya (left) and Zechariah Brown (right) discuss the funding process for Pitt’s clubs at Monday evening’s SGB Presidential Debate.

Brown, Tanjaya debate for SGB presidency

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
February 12, 2019
Pitt faculty see future in union

Pitt faculty see future in union

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
February 6, 2019
Pitt College Republicans' Corey Barsky (far left) and Phil Saggese (center left) listen as Pitt College Democrats' Mackenzie Coat (center right) and Maureen Hartwell (far right) speak during Monday evening’s health-care debate.

Democrats, Republicans face off on health care

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
February 5, 2019
Brad Orsini, director of Jewish Community Security at the Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh and ex-FBI employee of 28 years, shows a bag of birdseed with a packet of KKK propaganda inside. The birdseed is used so they can throw them from vehicles onto the street without them blowing away.

FBI explores the roots of hate crimes at Lawrenceville meeting

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
January 29, 2019
Fuel and Fuddle offers discounted meals after 11 p.m., helping it earn best of half price and best of late-night menu. Fuel and Fuddle also won best of beer.

Delectable dishes at the best restaurants, according to the experts

By Neena Hagen, Staff Writer
January 23, 2019
During the interfaith service praising Martin Luther King Jr. on Tuesday night, art, music and poetry were used to bridge different faiths.

Interfaith musical service pays tribute to MLK

By Neena Hagen, Staff Writer
January 23, 2019
The theme of this year's march is "Building Bridges: Stronger than Hate."

Pittsburgh hosts third annual Women’s March

By Stefan Bordeianu and Neena Hagen
January 19, 2019
Two marchers cheer while passing through downtown Pittsburgh during the 2018 Women’s March.

Pittsburgh prepares for “Stronger Than Hate” Women’s March

By Neena Hagen, Staff Writer
January 17, 2019
Nicole E. W. Parks, African American Alumni Council President, welcomes guests at “Say It Loud.”

Black student organizations celebrate 50 years of pride, progress

By Neena Hagen, Staff Writer
January 16, 2019
Ben Shapiro speaking at the 2018 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland.

Report evaluates colleges’ free speech rules

By Neena Hagen, Staff Writer
January 10, 2019
In a brief Tuesday night meeting, the Student Government Board discussed their goals for the semester ahead.

SGB looks ahead to elections, empowerment

By Neena Hagen, Staff Writer
January 9, 2019
Lothrop Hall houses the 14 students in Pitt’s Gender and Sexuality LLC.

LGBTQ+ students, allies find home in LLC

By Neena Hagen, Staff Writer
January 7, 2019
Ben Shapiro speaks at the 2018 Young Women's Leadership Summit hosted by Turning Point USA in Dallas.

Ben Shapiro brings much-needed political diversity to Pitt

By Neena Hagen, Assistant Opinions Editor
November 20, 2018
The Gab logo.

Gab: a dangerous haven for white supremacists

By Neena Hagen, Assistant Opinions Editor
October 31, 2018
Point-Counterpoint: Wonderful Wawa

Point-Counterpoint: Wonderful Wawa

By Neena Hagen, Assistant Opinions Editor
October 25, 2018
Junior English writing major Jack Habib discusses suicide statistics at Wednesday night’s “Let’s Talk Gun Violence” event in the William Pitt Union. (Photo by Brian Gentry | Contributing Editor)

Pay attention to all gun violence, not just mass shootings

By Neena Hagen, Assistant Opinions Editor
October 1, 2018
Harvard must end affirmative action policies

Harvard must end affirmative action policies

By Neena Hagen, Hayden Timmins, The Pitt News Staff
September 14, 2018
Ronald Gainer, a bishop at Harrisburg’s Cathedral Church of Saint Patrick, will hold a Service of Repentance after he was named in the Pennsylvania grand jury report on sexual abuse. (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

Catholic Church bears collective responsibility for sex crimes

By Neena Hagen, Assistant Opinions Editor
August 26, 2018
(Illustration by Maria Heines | Staff Illustrator)

Counterpoint: Plastic straw bans are an erroneous endeavor

By Neena Hagen, Senior Columnist
August 20, 2018
TPN file illustration

The ascension of STEM doesn’t mean humanities are sinking

By Neena Hagen, Senior Columnist
July 11, 2018
(Illustration by Sylvia Freeman | For The Pitt News)

Staying single is the best choice when it comes to Pitt dorms

By Neena Hagen, Senior Columnist
May 30, 2018
(Image by Thomas Yang | Visual Editor)

Prepare, don’t despair: Pitt students need reading days

By Neena Hagen, Senior Columnist
April 22, 2018
The mural “Mary, Queen of Croatians” is one of many created by Croatian artist Maxo Vanka in the nineteenth century. (Photo courtesy of Rob Long)

Maxo Vanka’s legacy lives on in Millvale Murals

By Neena Hagen, Senior Staff Writer
April 10, 2018
(Illustration by Jordan Mondell | Contributing Editor)

Church needs more than the Bible to convince an atheist

By Neena Hagen, Senior Columnist
April 2, 2018
(Illustration by Abigail Katz | Staff Illustrator)

Women in STEM initiatives push flawed focus

By Neena Hagen, Senior Columnist
March 27, 2018
Pitt’s Students for Liberty club president Ben Sheppard delivers a presentation featuring potential changes that could be made to Pennsylvania’s liquor laws. (Photo by Neena Hagen | Staff Columnist)

PA liquor laws leave students, citizens to dry

By Neena Hagen, Columnist
March 19, 2018
(Illustration by Abigail Katz | Staff Illustrator)

It’s Pi Day, again. And no one cares, again — except some.

By Neena Hagen, Columnist
March 13, 2018
Paul Cox and Becca Tasker, members of Pitt Progressives, respond to an argument made by the Pitt Libertarians at a debate hosted by “The Bully PulPitt” Wednesday. (Photo by Issi Glatts | Assistant Visual Editor)

Progressives: stick to debating issues, not insults

By Neena Hagen, Columnist
February 26, 2018
(Illustration by Liam McFadden | Staff Illustrator)

Hold Greek Life to a higher standard

By Neena Hagen, Columnist
January 30, 2018
Republican candidates for Pennsylvania governor debate at Carnegie Mellon University Saturday. (Photo by Madeline Gavatorta | Staff Writer)

Republican debate should disappoint conservatives

By Neena Hagen, Columnist
January 21, 2018
Ben Sheppard, a senior libertarian, debates at PSSA's three-way debate Tuesday evening. (Photo by Sarah Cutshall | Staff Photographer)

A productive, yet misrepresentative three-way debate

By Neena Hagen, For The Pitt News
November 30, 2017
(Illustration by Garrett Aguilar | Staff Illustrator)

Volunteer, but not on Thanksgiving

By Neena Hagen, For The Pitt News
November 20, 2017
(Illustration by Liam McFadden | Staff Illustrator)

Sticks and stones may break our bones, but memes should never hurt us

By Neena Hagen, For The Pitt News
November 9, 2017
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