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April 1, 2010

Pitt goes to Harrisburg

state capitol

Close to 200 staff, faculty, students and alumni descended on the state capitol March 23 for the annual Pitt Day in Harrisburg.

Sponsored by the Alumni Legislative Network and the Pitt Advocacy Network, which includes faculty, staff and students, Pitt Day in Harrisburg aims to get Pitt’s concerns about the challenges facing higher education directly to legislators, while learning firsthand about the legislative process.

According to Nicole Urti, a Governmental Relations staff member who helped organize the trip, teams of three Pitt community members attempted to meet with each of their own representatives from both legislative houses and with others as time allowed. “We had easily 500 legislative visits,” more than double the number from the previous year, Urti said.

Pitt sent two full buses from Pittsburgh to the state capitol. A separate group of 55 School of Social Work faculty and students also attended the event. Other groups participating included the Student Government Board, the University Honors College and the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly. Pitt exhibits in the Capitol Rotunda were provided by researchers from the Center for Neuroscience and the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and staff from the Office of Veteran Services.

More than 25 representatives from Pitt’s regional campuses also joined in the mix, Urti noted.

One of the buses broke down on the return trip to Pittsburgh, causing a nearly three-hour delay at a rest stop on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. “That was such a small glitch in a very successful day of getting Pitt’s message out to the legislators,” Urti said.

Chancellor Mark Nordenberg

Chancellor Mark Nordenberg

State Senator Pat Vance, R-31st District, talks with Pitt student Ali Noorbakah as Pitt Pathfinders Laura Paiewonsky, left, and Emily Hoover, listen.

State Senator Pat Vance, R-31st District, talks with Pitt student Ali Noorbakah as Pitt Pathfinders Laura Paiewonsky, left, and Emily Hoover, listen.

Tracy Soska, continuing education director in the School of Social Work and co-director of the Community Outreach Partnership Center, reviews some legislative talking points.

Tracy Soska, continuing education director in the School of Social Work and co-director of the Community Outreach Partnership Center, reviews some legislative talking points.

John Wilds, assistant vice chancellor for Community Relations, boards the bus for Harrisburg.

John Wilds, assistant vice chancellor for Community Relations, boards the bus for Harrisburg.


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