Students protest after sexual assaults

Crowd of more than 100 gather to call attention to attacks on Pitt campus

A crowd of over 100 protesters gathered outside the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning on Friday to call attention to sexual violence, four days after a student was sexually assaulted inside the building.

Students’ concern began to swell on Wednesday when the university announced a woman had been assaulted in a stairway inside the cathedral that Monday around 4:20 p.m.

There is no suspect in custody at this time. The suspect fled the scene in an unknown direction, according to the university.

It was the third assault reported to Pitt police this semester. Other incidents took place on Sept. 5 and Sept. 17 on streets near the campus.

Katie Gallo, a sophomore business major at Pitt, attended the protest, where around 150-200 people gathered outside the campus tower.

Near the protest, the Pitt marching band was participating in a homecoming weekend event. At one point, some students chanted “We can’t have homecoming if we can’t come home safe.”

Ms. Gallo, however, said the protest was not aimed at disrupting the event.

Ms. Gallo said students stood in a circle and wrote their experiences of sexual assault on Post-it notes, which were read aloud by protest leaders in the center of the demonstration — a move which “acted as as a microphone for women who didn’t want to speak themselves or were uncomfortable doing that,” she said.

Students eventually made their way inside, where they were met by two police officers. Ms. Gallo said the scene got “a little bit heated” when students told the officers about changes they wanted to see happen at the university for women’s safety.

The university is currently investigating the incident and receiving support from the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX, according to Carrie Benson, the senior manager for prevention and education in the Title IX Office.

Policy and security patrols have increased in the cathedral. In addition, the university’s community liaison officers will be added onsite.

“The university does not and will not tolerate sexual assault and misconduct on our campuses, and we will continue to prioritize the important work of fostering a learningenvironment where every member of our university

at Pitt to abide by her wish for a crowd when she passed. The event was full of bright colors, music and traditional attire of the different cultures from people in attendance to honor Ms. Tilman’s welcoming and accepting spirit.

The ceremony also included a processional and African Ceremonial Blessing composed of drums, music and a ceremonial dance to signify the “royalness” and importance of the person who passed.

Ms. Tilman was considered to be a “matriarch” and maternal figure to nearly everyone she encountered. The Rev. Ronald Peters, a friend of Ms. Tilman, said she was a “visionary.”

“Betty Tilman’s unique powers of sight as well as perceiving by clear thinking to imagine positive realities reflected her awareness of and confidence in her oneness with the universe ... her genuine love for people near or far was infectious and improved the quality of life for other people,” Rev. Peters said.

Rev. Peters likened Ms. Tilman to the “greats,” including Harriet Tubman, Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Angela Davis.

“Her visionary perception, clear thinking and actions enabled others to see their oneness with the universe and move beyond life-limiting situations to help change society for the better,” Rev. Peters said. “Her legacy of hope and possibility is our spiritual inheritance and now it’s our turn.”

Rev. McGant said she hopes this celebration and her mother’s work brings awareness to the importance of the Nationality Rooms at Pitt.

“We want to increase the awareness around the scholarships to Pitt students and talk about the importance of the Nationality Rooms to the University of Pittsburgh, especially the African heritage classroom,” Rev. McGant said.

Rev. McGant also said she hopes everyone can learn from her mother’s years of service and heed her mother’s advice.

“My mother always told me this and I hope other people keep this in mind too: Service is the rent we pay for our space on Earth,” Rev. McGant said.