Recent CMU graduate found guilty of sexual assault against female Pitt student
By Jon Moss, News Editor
May 1, 2019
A recent CMU graduate was found guilty of a second degree sexual assault felony against a female Pitt student Tuesday morning.
Pitt Unmuted talks sexual violence
By Maureen Hartwell, Staff Writer
February 27, 2019
Pitt Unmuted, a student group that helps facilitate environments where survivors of sexual assault can share their stories, began in 2017 with a focus on collecting written and visual submissions from its members. But the group also looks for ways to actively prevent sexual violence.
Opinion | Virginia needs to get it together
By Devi Ruia, For The Pitt News
February 10, 2019
For these men to keep their positions would not only be an insult to the people of Virginia, but a terrible stain on the entire Democratic Party. All of them men should either resign or be removed from office.
Pa. group offers legal help to sexual assault victims
By Mary Rose O'Donnell, Staff Writer
January 28, 2019
Legal expenses for sexual assault cases can often exceed $10,000, a prohibitively high cost for segments of the population that live paycheck-to-paycheck. One group is making it possible for Pennsylvanian survivors of sexual assault to get free legal help — particularly those who couldn’t otherwise afford it.
DeVos’ proposal hurts survivors of sexual assault
By Anne Marie Yurik, Senior Staff Columnist
November 26, 2018
Even though Title IX is usually meant to protect the victims of sexual assault, DeVos' new plan, which tries to protect those accused over the victims, is a step backward.
More tricks than treats: Halloween’s sexual assault problem
By Anne Marie Yurik, Staff Columnist
November 1, 2018
Halloween is a scary time, but not because of cobwebs and skeletons — for women, the dangers of sexual assault are very real.
Bill Cosby gets away with a slap on the wrist
By Ana Altchek, Staff Columnist
October 10, 2018
Bill Cosby was sentenced to three to ten years in prison for sexual assault. But that's not enough considering his horrific crimes.
Editorial: Kavanaugh disqualifies himself
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 1, 2018
Kavanaugh’s combative, evasive behavior during Thursday’s testimony didn’t just bring his innocence into question, it suggests he’s not temperamentally fit to be a Supreme Court Justice.
Editorial: Mattress Factory mishandles sexual assault allegations
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 27, 2018
The Mattress Factory’s been attracting attention for a recent sexual assault scandal — but the company has not handled it well. It’s just behaving like many other companies who don’t support women.
Editorial: Kavanaugh sexual assault investigation necessary
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 20, 2018
Although Ford’s sexual assault allegations against Kavanaugh appear credible, Republicans have decided to forego an investigation — but they shouldn't be so dismissive of alleged victims.
Panelists discuss intersectionality in sexual assault
By Zane Crowell | Staff Writer
April 10, 2018
Students gathered Monday night to listen as six panelists discussed how intersectionality plays a role in sexual assault. The panel consisted of Krithika Pennathur, president of Pitt Unmuted; Rose Barone — who prefers to go by Sawyer — executive assistant of Rainbow Alliance; Albert Tanjaya, ad...
Krithika Pennathur: Giving a voice, lending an ear
By Sarah Shearer & Sarah Cutshall
March 30, 2018
Krithika Pennathur has a story to tell, but it’s not about her. Pennathur, a Pitt junior, may spend her days speaking at events or leading advocacy workshops in clubs on campus — but over coffee you’ll have her undivided attention and the feeling that she has all the time in the world. ...
#YouToo: Bosses, Take Action for Your Employees
By Alexis Buncich | Columnist
February 21, 2018
You’re a young person, freshly starting your career and beginning to make a name for yourself. You are entrusted with big tasks, like handling confidential material, managing the business’ account and leading the new public relations campaign. Now, imagine that, like an unfortunate mirror of your own accomp...
Interactive graphic: Sexual assault and college sports
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
February 14, 2018
In Aziz Ansari’s wake, don’t get confused about consent
By Anne Marie Yurik | For The Pitt News
February 1, 2018
“It was sexual harassment.” “It was just bad sex.” “She should share her experiences.” “She’s a weak woman.” “Speaking out about this was anti-feminist.” “Something like this shouldn’t ruin his career.” Reactions varied wildly after feminist website babe.net published a story in mid...
Pitt spotlights safety
By Christian Snyder | Multimedia Editor
January 31, 2018
Dogs on campus usually attract dozens of students, nearly all of whom have their iPhones ready to capture brief interactions with the stress-relieving pets. But Sam, a 3-year-old German shorthaired pointer trained to detect explosives, didn’t draw that kind of attention at the annual Safety Fair Tuesday...
Fraternities not lone sexual assault perpetrators
By Charlotte Couch | For The Pitt News
January 12, 2018
Imagine opening your email and seeing a new message — it contains a complex how-to guide for navigating parties and getting girls, and even a handy list of “the seven E’s of Hooking Up.” Though the message explicitly says “no raping” — thank goodness — the email’s subject line is d...
Women in Hollywood won’t solve sexism alone
By Henry Glitz | Opinions Editor
January 9, 2018
Hating on Hollywood — the home of the unattainably beautiful and fabulously wealthy — has always been easy for those of us living in Pittsburgh’s somewhat colder climate. But with last weekend’s Golden Globe Awards marking the end of a year full of scandals and sexual misconduct in the entert...
College athletes shouldn’t get a free pass for sexual assault
By Jordan Mondell | Assistant Sports Editor
January 8, 2018
When Tampa Bay Buccaneers starting quarterback Jameis Winston takes the field, the crowd is focused on one thing — the game. Winston, at only 24 years old, is one of the best in the league. A former Florida State Seminole, he has had a stellar professional career so far — 12,149 all-purpose ya...
Editorial: Franken shows need to unite against sexual assault, regardless of party
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
December 7, 2017
Twitter’s time stamps proved just how planned politics can be yesterday. Over the course of an hour, 11 female Democratic senators made coordinated statements calling for Sen. Al Franken of Minnesota to resign from office amid mounting allegations of sexual harassment. As of now, eight women have...
Editorial: In cases of sexual misconduct, no story is too small
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 30, 2017
To bring down Harvey Weinstein, it took the accounts of thirteen women. It took five to bring down Louis C.K. And yesterday, it took just one woman’s account of sexual misconduct to bring down ex-NBC “Today” host Matt Lauer. After The New York Times released the story, NBC took swift actio...
When talking assault, recognize the limitations of the #MeToo movement
By Ana Altchek | Columnist
November 29, 2017
The infamous words of pre-college advice for girls at my high school graduation party were “never leave your drink unattended,” and, if you ignored that, “don’t drink the punch” — warnings against the dangers of college parties, particularly when alcohol is involved. These are valid ti...
Rep. John Conyers quits House committee post amid sexual harassment probe
By Tracy Wilkinson | Tribune Washington Bureau (TNS)
November 27, 2017
Sexual abuse allegations continued to roil U.S. politics Sunday, with Democrat Rep. John Conyers Jr. stepping down from a powerful House post and President Donald Trump again voicing support for Republican Alabama Senate candidate Roy Moore. Conyers announced he was stepping down as ranking member...
Club hosts series on dating violence
By Remy Samuels | Staff Writer
November 14, 2017
A Pitt student’s death is still leaving a mark on campus, more than a month after her passing. In light of Alina Sheykhet’s death, Pitt Unmuted — a club created for survivors of sexual assault to share their stories — held a series of three events discussing the topic of intimate partner viol...
Editorial: GOP establishment enables Moore’s misconduct
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 13, 2017
The party of “family values” spent the weekend in a peculiar position — defending a man accused of child molestation. The Washington Post reported last week that four women had accused Roy Moore of making sexual advances on them while they were in their teens. Moore is the Republican nominee for Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ old seat in the U.S. Senate. At the time of the alleged advances, Moore was in his early thirties. One...
GOP’s Roy Moore pushed to quit Senate race after accusation he molested 14-year-old girl
By Michael Finnegan | Los Angeles Times (TNS)
November 10, 2017
Republicans' lock on an Alabama seat in the U.S. Senate was thrown into doubt Thursday when the party's religious-right candidate was accused of initiating a sexual encounter with a 14-year-old girl when he was 32. The explosive allegation, in a Washington Post report, led Senate GOP leader Mitch...
Editorial: Responding to sexual misconduct, NPR succeeds where Dartmouth fails
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
November 2, 2017
Sprawled across Dartmouth College’s campus last week were posters that read “Where is Prof. Paul Whalen?” and “Where is Prof. Bill Kelley?” The signs refer to two of the three professors at Dartmouth who had been absent from campus for quite some time — as it turns out, the three profess...
Editorial: Spacey’s coming out wrongly reinforces negative stereotypes
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
October 31, 2017
The wave of sexual assault allegations that have roiled Hollywood in the wake of revelations earlier this month about producer Harvey Weinstein dragged down another celebrity this weekend, but this time the accusation came with a twist. According to actor Anthony Rapp, Kevin Spacey, the actor famous for his roles in...
Taking back the night: students share stories of abusive relationships
By Bailey Frisco | Staff Writer
October 18, 2017
Dana Good held a handmade sign above her head that read “I’m not ovary-acting” as she marched through the streets of Oakland Tuesday night. More Pitt students walked alongside her, waving posters saying “reclaim the streets” and “I march for those who can’t,” while being escorted by Pitt Po...
Editorial: Recognize the consequences of comedy
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 17, 2017
On the sidelines at the football game between Pitt and Oklahoma State this weekend, a female Pitt fan likely had little idea she would be one of the highlights from the game on social media. But that’s exactly what happened. A clip of Gianna Rockoff, a sophomore psychology major at Pitt, taking part in a ra...
Local leaders address sexual assault
By Luke Stambaugh / Staff Writer
September 12, 2017
When Alexandra Hope Erickson took her own life during her senior year of high school, her friend Maggie Kennedy couldn’t comprehend it. “I felt like I couldn't breathe. Numb and empty, I shook and I wept and I clung to my family and friends,” Kennedy said. “How could she be gone?” Er...
DeVos takes backward step on sexual assault
By Erica Brandbergh | Columnist
September 11, 2017
For a cabinet member who’s already one of the most controversial in the Trump administration, it would have seemed difficult for U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos to become even more divisive. Then she started to talk about rape on campus. DeVos gave a speech on Sept. 7 at George Mason University...
Lawmakers add legislation to “It’s On Us PA” campaign to combat sexual assault
By John Hamilton / Managing Editor
September 7, 2017
Gov. Tom Wolf expanded the “It’s on Us PA” campaign Wednesday, announcing legislation aimed at ending sexual assault in schools across Pennsylvania. Joined by college students in the Capitol Building in Harrisburg, Wolf and state lawmakers announced six new bills focused on improving reporting for s...
Students make safety pocket-sized
By Jaime Weinreb | For The Pitt News
September 6, 2017
Knowing to call 911 for help is common knowledge, but it was an impossible task for senior Annmarie Stockinger when she was sexually assaulted in Tower C during her first year at Pitt. Fear rendered her powerless. She could not even try to dial three simple numbers. “I was holding my phone t...
Sexual assault survivors heal through storytelling
By Dan Day and John Hamilton / The Pitt News Staff
April 12, 2017
At the Sexual Violence Open Mic Tuesday night, no one actually used a microphone. Instead, 13 students pushed two tables together inside the William Pitt Union for an intimate discussion on the effects of rape culture and sexual violence. Pitt’s chapter of the American Association of University Women...
15 percent of female undergraduates at UT have been raped, survey says
By Lauren McGaughy | The Dallas Morning News (TNS)
March 23, 2017
AUSTIN, Texas — Fifteen percent of undergraduate female students surveyed at the University of Texas, Austin said they’ve been raped, according to a statewide study that the UT system will soon release. “The first injustice committed in every assault or inappropriate behavior is the act itself, ...
Promote intersectionality and inclusivity for a safer campus
By Amber Montgomery | Opinions Editor
March 22, 2017
Sexual assault prevention and inclusion are undoubtedly two of the most important issues on college campuses, but it’s time to revamp the way we address them. While administration and dedicated students often push for policy and awareness on both of those topics, they usually tackle each proble...
Teach Consent: Better sexual education in high school will lead to safer college campuses
By Kirsten Wong / Columnist
November 12, 2015
Do college students know the meaning of consent? Did they learn this vocabulary lesson in sexual conduct in high school? Studies have revealed that college students do not know what constitutes consent and what does not. According to a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation survey on college students...
Editorial: Transparency needed to curb sexual assault
By The Pitt News Editorial Board
September 21, 2015
The White House is right. It’s on us — all of us — to solve the issue of sexual assault. Pitt voluntarily joined the national movement against rape culture last spring, when it and 27 other universities participated in a survey of student attitudes and experiences regarding sexual violence and har...
US NEWS CMP-BERKELEY-SEXASSAULT 1 OX
By Courtesy of MCT Campus
September 15, 2014
From left, University of California, Berkeley student Shannon Thomas, 21, former student Nicoletta Commins, 22, and student Aryle Butler, 20, prepare to speak during a press conference at the Graduate School of Journalism in Berkeley, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014. Thirty-one female students h...
US NEWS CMP-BERKELEY-SEXASSAULT 1 OX
By MCT Campus
September 14, 2014
Sixty-five percent of women and 25 percent of men experience some type of street harassment at some point in their lives.