Native American author talks race, poverty, reading
By Sid Lingala | For The Pitt News
October 16, 2017
Sherman Alexie entertained an audience of fans Sunday as he talked about growing up with hydrocephalus, a condition where fluid builds up in the brain and swells the head. “My head is enormous and hypnotizing. I couldn’t wear a little league hat as a coach because my head's too big,” Alexie said. ...
Food deserts require action, not shame
By Alyssa Lieberman / Columnist
October 29, 2015
As Pitt students fill out the lines at Chipotle and Einstein’s, they might fail to realize that access to food is an issue playing out in our own backyards. Pittsburgh is riddled with food deserts — areas where residents struggle to purchase affordable or good quality fresh food. According to a 2012 federal report, a...
Editorial: Fund public defenders more, or pay for unnecessary prison sentences
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 15, 2015
According to the Social Science Research Center, more than 80 percent of people charged with felonies are indigent — or poor. These people cannot afford attorneys, and therefore, must rely on public defenders. However, since Pennsylvania is charging indigent people at such a high rate, 73 percent ...