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
Editorial | Pitt’s lack of progress, transparency on a Black studies course requirement is unacceptable

Editorial | Pitt’s lack of progress, transparency on a Black studies course requirement is unacceptable

By The Pitt News Editorial Board • April 15, 2021
The stagnation and opaqueness of this process makes it easy to doubt the University’s commitment to the lofty goals they laid out in June.
History professor Alaina Roberts helped create a formal proposal last summer that called for all undergraduates to complete a Black studies course as part of their general education requirements.

Left ‘in the dark’: Status of Black studies course requirement unclear

By Natalie Frank, Senior Staff Writer • April 13, 2021
A proposal for a Black studies course requirement is sitting in the Office of the Provost waiting for further action. Pitt said it doesn’t have a timeline for when it will act on the proposal, and leaders say they’ve been left “in the dark.”
Sydney Massenberg: Building a community to house everyone

Sydney Massenberg: Building a community to house everyone

By Rebecca Johnson, News Editor • April 13, 2021
When Sydney Massenberg graduated from Pitt last spring, she left behind an enduring legacy, including penning a petition urging a Black studies course requirement.
Alaina Roberts: Telling the truth about history

Alaina Roberts: Telling the truth about history

By Diana Velasquez, Senior Staff Writer • April 6, 2021
Alaina Roberts has made a significant impact on the history department and the course diversity for Pitt’s undergraduate students, according to her former students.
Members of the Black Senate and Student Government Board have been meeting regularly with Pitt police to work on issues of accountability and transparency in the Pitt police department.

SGB, Black Senate leaders form student-run Pitt police advisory panel

By Nathan Fitchett, Senior Staff Writer • November 18, 2020
A student-run “police advisory body” became an official subcommittee of the long-standing Chancellor’s Public Safety Advisory Council this week, according to Student Government Board member Kathryn Fleisher.
Chancellor Patrick Gallagher said the University would send out more concrete guidance on the shelter-in-place period “shortly,” during a virtual Senate Council meeting on Thursday.

Students will be asked to shelter in place for two weeks before winter break, head of COVID-19 Medical Response Office says

By Rebecca Johnson, News Editor • October 16, 2020
All students will be asked to shelter in place for 14 days before leaving campus for winter break, according to Dr. John Williams, the head of Pitt’s COVID-19 Medical Response Office.
Pitt’s Student Government Board introduced a resolution demanding the creation of a mandatory three-credit Black studies at Tuesday night’s virtual meeting.

SGB introduces resolution supporting mandatory Black studies class

By Nathan Fitchett, Staff Writer • October 14, 2020
SGB will post the resolution on its website this week for public comment and review and will vote on it at next Tuesday's meeting. Along with announcing the new resolution, SGB also discussed new COVID-19 updates, future meetings with Pitt police, constitutional revisions and upcoming SGB elections.
Pitt’s Faculty Assembly met Wednesday to discuss changes to policy that dictates what material is owned by the University, policies for submitting grievances to the University, and voted to pass the resolution on a required Black studies course and a clarified syllabus statement on religious observances.

Faculty voices support for mandatory Black studies course, allowing students to recognize religious observances

By Thea Barrett, Staff Writer • October 8, 2020
The Faculty Assembly passed a resolution on Wednesday urging the University to create a mandatory three-credit Black studies course.
Black filmmakers Charles Burnett and Julie Dash spoke Friday afternoon about their work and legacy as members of the L.A. Rebellion, a group of Black film students at UCLA in the ’60s and ’70s.

Film as rebellion: Charles Burnett, Julie Dash close week of Black study

By Charlie Taylor, Culture Editor • October 4, 2020
Jones asked Burnett and Dash questions about the Rebellion, their past films and the current state of Black filmmaking.
Zun Lee.

‘The Sweetness that Survives the Slaughter’: Zun Lee and Aracelis Girmay discuss hope, vulnerability

By Sinead McDevitt, Senior Staff Writer • October 2, 2020
Zun Lee and Aracelis Girmay presented works that celebrated the beauty of Black life and moments of quiet tenderness.
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