20.4.09

Times are a'changing

We've published our last issue of the school year (pick up a Finals Week edition at any drop on campus for the next two weeks!), and this year's staff has served our tenure.

Here's who's leading the paper from here on out:


The Pitt News Staff for Summer '09

Editorial Board

Drew Singer, Editor in Chief
editor@pittnews.com

Erik Hinton, Managing Editor
manager@pittnews.com

Liz Navratil, News Editor
news@pittnews.com

Keith Gillogly, Opinions Editor
letters@pittnews.com

Kieran Layton, A&E Editor
aande@pittnews.com

Jay Huerbin, Sports Editor
sports@pittnews.com

Molly Green, Copy Chief
copy@pittnews.com

Shannon McCurdy, Layout Editor
layout@pittnews.com

Vaughn Wallace, Photo Editor
photo@pittnews.com

Noah Levinson, Multimedia Editor
multimedia@pittnews.com

Victor Powell, Online Editor
web@pittnews.com


Editorial Staff
Lindsay Carroll, Assistant News Editor
Estelle Tran, Assistant News Editor
Dave Beitzel, Assistant Opinions Editor
Kelsey Shea , Assistant A&E Editor
Adam Littman, Assistant Sports Editor
Julie Percha, Assistant Copy Chief
Jenna Palmer, Assistant Layout Editor
Colleen Garvin, Assistant Photo Editor
Sarah Vinski, Assistant Photo Editor
Sierra Starks, Assistant Online Editor

Board of Managers

Justin Matase, Business Manager
business@pittnews.com


Louis Raven, Sales Manager
sales@pittnews.com

Leah Klaiber, Inside Sales Manager
advertising@pittnews.com


Business Staff
Colton Neff, Account Executive
Steven Kaczynski, Account Executive
Ashlyn Zellenfrow, Inside Sales
Mike Haley, Account Manager
Teni Jenner, Ad Designer

9.4.09

Thousands gather in Oakland to honor fallen officers

From the top of De Soto Street in Oakland, it was impossible to distinguish exactly how many police cars, trucks and motorcycles were climbing the hill leading to the Petersen Events Center. The silent parade of red and blue lights deliberately ascended the hill as thousands of onlookers watched in silence and awe.

Some were taking pictures, many were crying, but everyone was silent.

The memorial service at the Petersen Events Center today virtually shut down Oakland this morning because of the miles-long procession from the City-County building, where the caskets had been on display yesterday for mourners to pay their respects. The service began at 2:30 this afternoon.

The service is honoring city police officers Paul J. Sciullo II, Eric Kelly and Stephen J. Mayhle, who were killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call Saturday in Stanton Heights, near Lawrenceville.

"It was eerie to have so many people and for it to be so quiet, " Pitt student Cathryn Vasunda said. "It's surreal."

City police spokeswoman Diane Richard estimated that 15,000 to 20,000 people are in attendance at the ceremony.

Patty Mandia watched the procession red-eyed as she grasped an American flag.
Mandia's husband is a lieutenant for Zone 5, the same police bureau that lost the three officers honored today.

Mandia left her job at UPMC Presbyterian's Intensive Care Unit to wait in front of the center for hours, so she could get a good view of the procession.

She said it left her speechless.

"It's just very, very sad," she added.

Kim Shuttleworth, who works with Mandia at UPMC, stood with her into the early afternoon. Shuttleworth's husband is also a Zone 5 police officer.

"It's amazing, their brotherhood," she said. "You hope you never have to tell someone what it's like being here."

Police Sgt. David Ellis felt that brotherhood from as far away as his hometown of Lansing, Mi.

"We're members of an honor guard," he said. "We came to pay tribute to others who sacrificed everything for their city."

Ellis arrived in Pittsburgh at about 1 a.m. Thursday.

Richard Poplawski, 22, is charged with three counts of homicide in the shooting deaths of the officers.

-By Drew Singer, News Editor

7.4.09

Preparations for Thursday

The University and Port Authority are bracing for thousands of mourners visiting Oakland Thursday for the memorial service for three slain city police officers.
The procession from Downtown to Oakland and the 1 p.m. service at the Petersen Events Center will shut down Fifth Avenue beginning at 11 a.m.
The street will be closed between Bellefield Street and Craft avenue until about 4:30 p.m., said the Port Authority.
Outbound buses usually running on Fifth Avenue will use Forbes Avenue. Inbound buses will turn right off Fifth Avenue onto Bellefield Street, then turn down Bayard Street and onto Bigelow Boulevard. Buses will stop for passengers at Bigelow and Fifth by Soldiers & Sailors Memorial.
They then will cross Fifth and Forbes avenues and proceed through Schenley Park, onto the Boulevard of the Allies and into Downtown.
The University will continue to operate normally Thursday, said Renny Clark, Pitt’s vice chancellor of community initiatives.
“We’re asking everyone on campus to be in a spirit of compassion and citizenship and to reach out to the greater community in this time of sorrow,” said Clark.
The Department of Health and Physical Activity has canceled aerobics and fitness classes held at the Petersen before 6 p.m. on Thursday.
The Baierl Recreation Center also will be closed until 6 in the evening that day.
Sodexo, which operates dining services in the Petersen, will not be altering hours of operation, though heavy traffic is expected in the building.
The memorial will honor city police officers Paul J. Sciullo II, Eric Kelly and Stephen J. Mayhle, who were killed while responding to a domestic disturbance call Saturday in Stanton Heights, near Lawrenceville.
Richard Poplawski, 22, is charged with three counts of homicide in the shooting deaths of the officers.
More details on street closings, bus routes and restricted parking lots may be found at www.pitt.edu/memorial.