The Pitt News

Class of 2008: Going Pro

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Among the students earning degrees from the University of Pittsburgh this spring, there was one famous honoree: "Dr. Dan."

Dr. Dan, better known as former Miami Dolphin and Pitt quarterback Dan Marino, was the guest speaker at Pitt's commencement ceremony, where 4,317 undergraduate, master's and doctoral students officially became alumni.

NFL teams draft

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

For three former Pitt football players, the sound couldn't have been much sweeter during the NFL Draft.

The Carolina Panthers chose Jeff Otah, a standout at left tackle for the past two years for Pitt, with the 19th overall selection of the 2008 NFL Draft.

Concealed carry groups face off

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

No verbal shots were fired across Bigelow Boulevard at high noon on Tuesday, April 22, even though two opposing student groups were playing with a loaded subject. Pitt's chapter of the national group Students for Concealed Carry on Campus assembled at the base of the Cathedral of Learning for their Empty Holster protest, their camp facing the William Pitt Union.

Poor leadership?

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The 2006 mid-term elections made Democrats the majority in Congress, proving once and for all that Americans were unsatisfied with the Republican leadership and with the Bush administration's handling of the war in Iraq. For many voters, the new Democratic majority was a sign that things were going to change.

Feeling blue? Do some yoga

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Last week was dangerous. Those few days between the end of finals and the start of summer jobs can be viciously hollow, and while many students fill this gap by returning home to do laundry and stock up on summer clothes, I chose the more troublesome path and decided to spend my empty days here in Pittsburgh.

History, responsibility justify the use of steroids

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The scene is Britain, 1889. In search of a chemical to lengthen the human lifespan, neurologist Charles-Edouard Brown-Sequard injects himself with a preparation of dog- and guinea pig-testicle extract. Though the hypodermic injection leads to short-term gains in his vitality and strength, the Brown-Sequard Elixir, as it came to be known, does not achieve its purpose of fending off the inevitable: Brown-Sequard died in 1894.

Web Only: Eating less, conserving water important for the enviorment

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Saving the environment might include stricter governmental regulations, but what can college students do? Ironically, energy and food conservation would be good ways to start. It all started during finals week, when I took a 2 a.m. stroll through the men's restroom at the Cathedral of Learning to discover a bit of scatological poetry.

"Iron Man" is hard as nails

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

To Hollywood, summer is about churning out movies at such a pace that audiences are barely distracted from the beer distributor long enough to see the next big flick. Thankfully, "Iron Man" is worth your cold hard cash in place of a cold brew.

Girl Talk talks pop, Pittsburgh

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

For a successful underground-music act, Girl Talk (aka Gregg Gillis) doesn't write too much music. In fact, he doesn't write any. He leaves that job up to his favorite pop stars, rappers, rockers or pretty much anyone with a hot beat. You see, Pittsburgh-native Gillis is a disc jockey in the most advanced sense of the word - and he's the best at what he does. Girl Talk is a much-buzzed-about master of the mashup, meaning he takes elements of different songs (a guitar line, a beat, a vocal part) and threads them together with others - literally, hundreds of others - to make a new song entirely.

Luca to hit Lawrenceville

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Your Inner Vagabond Coffeehouse will spice things up Saturday with a live performance by Brazilian singer-songwriter Luca Mundaca. Her hit song "Ha Dias" recently won third place in the World Music category in the 2007 International Songwriting Competition and is prominently featured in Thomas McCarthy's latest indie film, "The Visitor."

Pitt falls, looks to regain balance

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

According to Pitt senior Dan Williams, there's nowhere for Pitt baseball to go but up.

And after struggling through the recent part of the season, he might be right.

"We have six conference games left, and we'll just try and make something happen," said Williams.

Pens look to fly past Philly

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Throughout their entire first-round playoff series against the Ottawa Senators, the Pittsburgh Penguins displayed unity and passion in their effort to win four straight games.

After that, they advanced to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, facing off against the New York Rangers and former Penguin captain, Jaromir Jagr.

Panthers end hot, play another day

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

After wrapping up the regular season over the weekend, the Pitt softball team has something to look forward to: more games.

With a school-record 12 Big East wins on the year, the Panthers (31-24, 12-10 Big East) qualified for the Big East tournament for the third straight season.

Web exclusive: Sports in brief

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

The Dallas Stars are going to the Western Conference finals thanks to a power-play goal by Brenden Morrow in the fourth overtime of Sunday's game, which eliminated the San Jose Sharks from the NHL playoffs.

"Robie made a good, heads-up play, faked the defender down and I was there for an easy one," Morrow told ESPN.

Today's Classified Ads 5/7/08

Wed, 07 May 2008 04:00:00 GMT

Today's Classified Ads 5/7/08