Producer and Pitt lecturer Carl Kurlander worked with Pittsburgh-based filmmakers Tjardus Greidanus and Laura Davis to create a documentary about Dr. Thomas Starzl and his groundbreaking work on liver transplantation. The documentary, called “Burden of Genius,” has been playing at venues around the country, but held its Pittsburgh premiere at the Carnegie Science Center last week. Many of the screenings also included post-show discussions with local experts, some of whom appeared in the film.

Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders visited Pittsburgh on Sunday. He was there as part of a whistle-stop tour of key battleground states like Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. Sanders also rallied the crowd in support of the Pitt Grad Student Union election, which will be held at Posvar Hall and the O’Hara Student Center beginning on April 15. Graduate Student Researcher Kimberly Garrett kicked off the procession of speakers prior to Sanders’ speech, which included Bernie 2020 national co-chairs Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz and former Ohio state senator Nina Turner.

As part of national sexual assault awareness month, Pitt’s Title IX office, SHARE and Agents of Cultural Change hosted a candlelight vigil in support of victims of sexual assault. The event included several speakers and an acapella performance. Attendees as well as the University community at large were encouraged to wear teal and ribbons were provided at the event. The teal ribbon is the symbol for sexual violence prevention and teal is the official color of SAAM.

This year, Pitt’s Rainbow Alliance's third annual drag show is just one of a slate of activities collectively known as Pitt PRIDE. The drag show was hosted by Point Park University Student Alexa Chapman Killer and featured performances from several Pittsburgh-based drag queens and kings, including some students like Chapman Killer. Events will run throughout April and include performance events like the drag show and upcoming fashion show in addition to formal discussions and an LGBTQ+ networking event on April 10.

On March 31, Pitt Tonight and UPTV hosted the third annual episode of Women’s Empowerment in the WPU Assembly Room. This 2 hour long sketch consisted of various acts and speeches including jokes, stand up comedy sessions, interviews with the mayor of Wilkinsburg, Marita Garrett, founder of Pitt Unmuted, Krithika Pennathur, as well as a musical performance by Clara Kent. The overall goal for this show is to bring attention to current women’s issues from the campus to the world, while providing an entertaining and interactive show.

To remember the death of Antwon Rose II, Pitt’s Black Action Society organized a die-in protest on the front steps of the William Pitt Union on Wednesday. About 120 people, mostly Pitt students, joined in sitting or standing near by. The group remained there, silent, for 40 minutes — 10 minutes for every day of the trial of former University and East Pittsburgh police officer Michael Rosfeld, who shot Rose in June 2018. This event marks the sixth day of “Justice for Antwon” protests since the jury acquitted Rosfeld of all charges.

Following the announcement on March 22 of a not guilty verdict in the trial of former Pitt police officer Micheal Rosfeld, protestors took to the streets of the Oakland campus showing their disagreement with the jury’s decision. The march began in Schenley Plaza at about 5pm and shut down numerous intersections as it paraded along Bigelow Boulevard and Atwood Street, as well as Fifth and Forbes Avenues. Beginning with a group of almost 50 people, the protest grew in number as it went.

On the penultimate day of the 2019 Women’s Empowerment Week at the University of Pittsburgh, students took to the streets for the annual Take Back the Night march. This event has taken place at Pitt since the 1990s. Prior to the march, students participated in a sign making event where they also practiced the chants they would use once they hit the pavement. This year, the march was hosted by Asian Students Alliance, Female Empowerment Movement and Student Government Board.

Pitt Program Council, Rainbow Alliance and Black Action Society put together an event during Women’s Week called “Intersectionality: Behind the Buzzword.” This event featured a few fun activities as well as opportunity for serious discussion. Students learned about each other’s lives and experiences — how they were affected by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation and other factors — in order to help build a strong, diverse and safe community at Pitt.

CMU's annual Lunar Gala was held on Mar. 2, and featured many inventive fashion choices.