F E A T U R E I N T H I S I S S U E A new dining experience is coming to Schenley Plaza this fall.................2 Technology is useful, but medicine needs to get back to basics, a U N I V E R S I T Y professor of pediatrics says...............5 It’s now the O’Hara Student Center, but vestiges of the Concordia Club remain. See pages 6 & 7. TIMES VOLUME 43 • NUMBER 20 JUNE 9, 2011 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH Pitt teams score well on NCAA report card ll of Pitt’s 19 Division I with an APR below 925 can lose sports teams exceeded scholarships, and scores below 900 Astandards established for can trigger more severe sanctions, academic performance in the latest including restrictions on financial “report card” issued last month by aid, postseason competition and the National Collegiate Athletic practice time. Association (NCAA). On the penalty side, 103 teams Two of Pitt’s teams — gym- at 67 schools have been sanctioned nastics and men’s basketball for poor academic performance, — received special recognition the NCAA reported. Eight teams from the NCAA for being ranked — five men’s basketball and three among the top 10 percent in their football teams — are banned respective sports among all Divi- from competing in the postsea- sion I programs. son in the coming academic year The report measures teams because of poor performance in against the academic progress rate the classroom. Deborah Walker (APR) that the NCAA developed In addition, another seven seven years ago as a way to gauge teams faced a postseason ban but college athletes’ progress toward received a conditional waiver for Walker elected earning their degrees. Scores the coming year. These teams are assigned based on eligibil- remain subject to the postseason SAC president ity, retention rates and degree- ban in future years if they do completion rates. not meet their specific academic he Staff Association Coun- The benchmark score of 925 performance conditions or imple- cil (SAC) announced the out of a possible 1,000 equals ment an NCAA-approved aca- Tresults of officer elections roughly a 60 percent success rate demic improvement plan. at its monthly meeting yesterday, in graduating players within six A total of 55 teams did not June 8. Officers serve two-year years. earn a 925 APR and had a student- terms beginning at the conclusion The NCAA report reflects the athlete leave school ineligible, of SAC’s June meeting. Photos by Mike Drazdzinski/CIDDE four-year average for every team and thus have lost scholarships. Newly elected officers are: Pitt’s gymnastics and men’s basketball teams received special • President — Deborah over the academic years 2006-07 recognition from the NCAA for being ranked among the top 10 Five teams have lost immediate through 2009-10. The average percent in their respective sports among all Division I programs. scholarships and received the first Walker, who had been serving APR for all 6,422 Division I teams penalty (public warning) as well as chair of the newly formed is 970, up three points from last a perfect 1,000 for the gymnastics report. The men’s basketball for posting an APR below 900. staff mentoring committee and year’s average. team. team’s score was 985, compared Another 16 teams under 900 a member of the program and Thirteen of Pitt’s 19 sports The 10 Panthers women’s with the national average for all APR received a public warn- planning committee. She defeated teams improved their scores from programs recorded no score lower 344 Division I men’s basketball ing; 19 teams received practice Libby Hilf, vice president for the 2010 data, with the largest than 970 for the multi-year APR teams’ score of 945. restrictions. marketing and communications. improvement coming in baseball period. The Panthers football team’s The APR breakdown of Pitt’s Walker succeeds Gwen Watkins, (up 25 points) and men’s basketball Men’s basketball and football, score was 949, compared to the 19 Division I teams is available who did not run for re-election. (up 23 points). the two major revenue-generating national average of 946 for all 244 at http://web1.ncaa.org/maps/ • Vice president of steering Pitt teams’ APRs ranged from a sports, both fared well compared Division I football teams. aprRelease.jsp. — incumbent Jon-Paul “J.P.” low of 955 for men’s swimming to to Division I peers in the latest Under NCAA policies, teams —Peter Hart n Matychak, who also serves on the marketing and communications committee. He defeated Rich Colwell, immediate past president of SAC. • Vice president for marketing and communications — Monika Oakland: Planning for 2025 Losagio, who had been serving as ommunity-initiated plan- Social Work affiliates are acting vice chair of the salary and job clas- ning for Oakland’s future as facilitators for the project. The sification committee. She defeated Cis continuing into its third project also has been endorsed by Jesse Nicholson, who chairs the phase, following the recent Oak- the University Senate community newly formed diversity and inclu- land 2025 community action relations committee. sion committee and is a member of forum, part of a year-long effort Among forum attendees were the governance committee. to develop a master plan for the a mix of Oakland residents, busi- • Treasurer — Monica Cost- neighborhood. ness owners, landlords, employees low, who defeated Amy Elliott. The forum was the culmi- of Oakland institutions, students, Both candidates were serving on nation of a five-week series of bicyclists and transit riders. the program and planning com- dialogues in which groups shared Attendees voted on the top mittee, with Costlow serving as their experiences and their vision action ideas to determine priori- committee chair. for making Oakland a better place ties for action teams, Sherry-Tor- Officers are prohibited from to live, work and play. (See April res explained. Those priorities are: chairing any of the standing com- 28 University Times.) • Transportation and mittees, but they can opt to be a The May 12 action forum drew pedestrian safety. member of any SAC committees. more than 200 people, according Recommendations include Results of the election, which to Tara Sherry-Torres, community approaching Oakland-area insti- was held electronically for the first organizer at Oakland Planning tutions and public agencies to pool time, were announced by Barbara and Development Corp. (OPDC), their resources to create a bus loop Mowery, chair of SAC’s elections which is coordinating the project for intra-Oakland travel; improv- committee. SAC members at the with support from neighborhood ing safety with better enforcement June 8 meeting endorsed the elec- institutions and community part- of traffic laws, and raising aware- tion results unanimously. ners, including Pitt. School of CONTINUED ON PAGE 2 —Peter Hart n 1 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES L E T T E R S Fund education with soft drink/bottled water tax To the editor: and contribute to obesity, which Ever since Gov. Corbett in turn contributes to diabetes announced cuts in educational and they also contribute to dental spending, there has been an caries. Tap water is fine to drink, outcry that those cuts should be so bottled water is a luxury and eliminated and funding should people should be able to pay a tax continue as before. for luxury items. Also, if enough There is a simple way to fund legislators back the tax on Marcel- education at all levels in the state lus shale gas, then Gov. Corbett’s of Pennsylvania, which would be veto could be overridden. by imposing a 5 percent or 10 A. Baumhammers percent tax on soft drinks and a 5 Clinical Professor percent tax on bottled water. Soft Department of Periodontics drinks have no nutritional value School of Dental Medicine University Times letters policy Letters should be submitted at least one week prior to publication. Persons criticized in a letter will receive a copy of the letter so that they may prepare a Peter Hart response. If no response is received, the letter will be published alone. Letters can be sent by email to [email protected] or by campus mail to 308 Bellefield Hall. The University Times reserves the right to edit letters for clarity or length. Individuals are limited to two published letters per academic term. Unsigned Oakland: Planning for 2025 letters will not be accepted for publication. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 ness regarding alternative means improve the area’s image. greening initiatives and trail con- of transportation. Sherry-Torres said general nections,” Sherry-Torres said. Sherry-Torres commented recommendations at the May “While these action teams work, Montgomery memorial that transportation concerns have 12 forum included surveying we will also move forward with mounted in the Oakland commu- residents on their preference for the broader Oakland 2025 plan- set for June 20 nity since the elimination of the an online community forum or a ning process.” 84B Oakland Loop bus route as printed newsletter to raise aware- Workshops and strategy ses- A memorial gathering for Edison Montgomery is scheduled for part of the March 27 Port Author- ness of local events, services and sions will be held in the fall, she 4-6 p.m. June 20 in the University Club Gold Room. ity service cuts. initiatives, and engaging Oakland added. Montgomery, who died April 1, 2011, served the University • Housing issues. coalitions and organizations on a By the end of 2011, Sherry- under six chancellors beginning in 1956. (See obituary in the April Recommendations include branding campaign to promote Torres said, the hope is to combine 14 University Times.) reactivating the Oakland code Oakland’s assets.