Volume8 8Issue

Volume Issue2 2 Accepted Students Day 2021

A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E D U Q U E S N E U N I V E R S I T Y
S T U D E N T N U R S E S ’ A S S O C I A T I O N

Pictured: Ruben Caluya and Zack Abel

What will you find in The Scope?

The Scope is a newsletter/magazine produced by the Duquesne University Student Nurses Association that
displays unique perspectives from current students and faculty. You’ll find photographs of students collabo-
rating, writing pieces on life-changing nursing experiences, and messages from faculty aiming to inspire.

The Scope is the proud recipient of the 2013, 2014, and 2016 Student Nurses Association of Pennsylvania
Excellent Newsletter Award. Past president Morgan Gruender and Vice President Emily Churchill have cre-
ated such an established piece of work.

As BSN students are incredibly busy with work and with saving lives, please consider writing and giving
your time to keep this newsletter going. Our goal is to make The Scope something that every Duquesne nurs-
ing student can look back on and be proud of.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this year’s newsletter. Please email all suggestions/comments/
inquiries to us at either [email protected] or [email protected]. All letters to the editors must include your
name, contact information, and major.

All views expressed in The Scope are from each individual that contributed their time and work. Views do
not represent the views of Duquesne University or Duquesne University School of Nursing. We look for-
ward to producing something inspiring, collaborative, and memorable and sharing stories from all of our
peers.

Best,

Lauren Bliss & Hadley Mueller

BSN Class of 2021

2
 Table of Contents
Dear Class of 2025 4

Senior and DUSNA President Julia Rose Ciotti shares her encouragement with the incoming class.

Emerging as a Nurse 5

Senior and DUSNA Vice president Lauren Bliss describes her experiences adjusting to college and emerging into the profession of nursing.

Campus Life During COVID-19 6

Sophomore Kayla Davis details what nursing school during COVID-19 has been like for her.

Encouraging Future Nurses 7

Sophomore and DUSNA Publicity Co-Chair Veronica Phillipson shares her Duquesne experiences

Starting College During a Pandemic 8

Freshman Luca Connor speaks about his experience beginning nursing school during COVID-19.

Meet the Advisors! 9

Nursing Organizations on Campus 10-11

Why Do We Love Clinical? 12

DUSNA’s Presence in State and National Conventions 13

DUSNA Legislative Chair Ysabelle Katigbak shares her experiences with nursing conventions

Scrub Top Cookie Recipe 14

Coffee Shop Tour of Pittsburgh 15-16

News and Announcements 17

Living on Campus: An Inside Look 18-19

3
 Dear Class of 2025
Julia Ciotti, DUSNA President, Senior

Welcome to Duquesne University and the School of Nursing family. My name is Julia Ciotti, and I am the 2020-

2021 Duquesne University Student Nurses’ Association (DUSNA) President. Congratulations on your acceptance into

the program! This is an incredible accomplishment in which you should be very proud. I would like to share a little bit

about my experience as a Duquesne Duke with you.

After visiting campus for the first time, I felt an immediate connection and knew it was the school for me. Eve-

ryone welcomed me with open arms and made me feel valued and important. The collegiate atmosphere is unlike any

other. Students are diverse, yet come together as one Duquesne family to support one another. Living in the city allows

you to safely take a step away from home while presenting you with the opportunity to experience Pittsburgh sports,

food, and so much more.

In the classroom, I received an education from talented and dedicated professors who went above and beyond to

ensure their students’ success. They truly care about your total wellbeing and will do anything they can to help you.

Nursing school is by no means an easy task. In fact, it is probably one of the hardest, yet most rewarding things you will

ever do. Having competent and caring instructors makes it much more manageable. When things get tough, lean on the

people you love and remind yourself that you can do anything you set your mind to.

While entering the professional world of nursing amidst a global pandemic is a daunting task, I am comforted in

knowing that I am a Duquesne nurse. The skills and knowledge I have gained in the past four years have set me up for

long-term nursing success. I’m confident that you will love your time on the Bluff and will leave with similar feelings of

preparedness and pride. Cherish you Duquesne days because they will fly by in the blink of an eye. I wish you all the

best of luck in nursing school and your future careers!

Respectfully,

Julia Ciotti

BSN Class of 2021

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 Emerging as a Nurse
Lauren Bliss, DUSNA Vice President and Editor of The Scope, Senior

In high school I spent a summer volunteering at a women’s hospital. There I cut the umbilical cord of a new-
born; I also held a 27 week-old stillborn. I experienced joy . . . and sorrow. I saw expectant parents experience the ela-
tion of bringing a life into this world, and I saw an abused mother express relief that her child had died, demanding that
I take “it” away. Ghandi once described humanity as an ocean, stating that “if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the
ocean does not become dirty.” I learned that the best of humanity overshadows the worst, and those experiencing both
are deserving of benevolence. Of grace. It was then that I knew I wanted to be a nurse.

And I knew Duquesne was where I wanted to learn to be a nurse.

In high school, I was involved: cross country, competitive choir, and musicals. I was a good student, consist-
ently earning good grades. But I was nervous about Duquesne (and college, in general). I had been told “nursing
school is brutal,” and that “I wouldn’t have a life outside of studying.” Then I earned a 4.0 GPA my first year of nurs-
ing school, and I felt I had proven those people wrong. I thought to myself, “nursing school isn’t all that hard.”

I was anxious to begin my sophomore clinicals; I woke up at 4:30 am on the first

day excited to begin. I loved everything about my clinical experience, but my on my
first Fundamentals of Nursing exam I earned a 72% (which is not a passing mark). I
panicked. I over-studied for the next exam, memorizing obsessively. Did I improve?
Barely—a 74%. Still not good enough. I saw other students succeeding as I struggled.
My work ethic and study habits had been enough before; why was this happening?

After many sleepless nights I decided to ask Professor Karakachian for help. I
came prepared with a list of questions that she answered patiently, and I left with a dif-
ferent perspective. I needed to understand the concepts, not just memorize lists. She
also built up my confidence, saying these tests “do not define what kind of nurse you are
going to be.” Then I improved, incrementally—I scored an 81%.

Over time, I began to mature as a nursing student. I stopped looking to my left

and right in order to measure my success: I looked inward. I learned to study for under-
standing, to spend time working as hard as possible rather than occupying myself with
worry and self-doubt. My performance improved, my confidence rose, and I emerged excited about my future. A
rocky journey for sure, but I emerged.

Nursing school is NOT easy. At Duquesne it is hard. It has to be. It has to challenge students because when
they are working nurses, the stakes are high. Just because I want to be a nurse is not enough; I need to be an expert.
And I need to be apply to apply that expert knowledge quickly. Duquesne cannot make the program easy for us be-
cause we will not be good nurses if they did.

Marie Curie once said, “You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end
each of us must work for his own improvement and at the same time share a general responsibility for all humanity, our
particular duty being to aid those to whom we think we can be most useful.” She speaks to our role to benefit all of
humanity by first improving ourselves. Nurses contribute to others in meaningful ways. The humanity of the profes-
sion is the essence of the profession, and Duquesne will enable you to contribute in such a way.

5
 Campus Life During COVID-19
Kayla Davis, Sophomore

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed campus life drastically for every student whether it’s not being able
to attend face to face classes, social events or even seeing friends. Although it is difficult to safely interact with
others, Duquesne has done a tremendous job at keeping campus life safe and enjoyable.

Looking back on my freshman year it was always nice being able to attend in person classes where I could
interact with classmates as well as professors. While attending in-person classes, I was able to meet some of my
closest friends. This year has been a bit more challenging to make friends and interact with professors than it has
been in the previous years. Being able to be on campus this semester and have the option to have some in person
classes is much better than being fully remote as some schools have chosen to do.

One of my favorite memories from my freshman year was attending the different social events Duquesne offered
throughout the year such as going to Kennywood for Fright Night, ice skating, and Painting with a Twist. Last
semester was extremely difficult not being able to have any or very few social events as they were very limited or
online. Even though there are still limited activities this semester, there is still plenty to do both on and off
campus as well as spending time with roommates, and classmates. Duquesne has done the best they can to have
safe yet fun social gatherings with limited access allowing for social distancing. I think knowing when these
events are going on will allow for students to have a better campus experience and something to look forward to
during the week.

Even though this year has been extremely difficult in many different ways especially for freshman students with
all of the restrictions and different safety precautions put into place due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is not
difficult to get the most out of this year. My suitemates and I have come up with different ways we can safely
have fun over the weekends or destress during the week by having movie nights, game nights or even just
ordering food and relaxing. Going into this year I did not know some of my suitemates, and although the
pandemic has been both mentally and physically exhausting for everyone, it has brought me closer to them and
get to know them better than I think I would have if we were not in a pandemic.

Overall, the Covid-19 pandemic impacted campus life in a big way, however, it can still be made enjoyable. It is
all about perspective and finding creative ways to have fun while remaining safe and following CDC guidelines.
Make the most of your time here, and do the most you can to make it memorable.

6
 Encouraging Future Nurses
Veronica Phillipson, Sophomore Editor of The Scope, DUSNA Publicity Co-chair, Sophomore

I am telling my story with the Duquesne University School of Nursing to encourage future nurses. In 2014
nurses inspired me, and I decided that I was going to be a nurse. Nurses were superheroes to me far before the Covid-
19 pandemic. Nurses displayed compassion towards me during the hardest days of my life. They were more than es-
sential in the moments that I needed them; their presence was crucial. In a short 6 years, the world would recognize
nurses as superheroes.

During my freshman year, I realized that the Duquesne University School of Nursing would be a place for me
to grow and learn how to be the nurse that I was meant to be. I was warmly welcomed into the student nurse communi-
ty from the beginning, and then when joined DUSNA my first semester and ATD, a professional fraternity for nursing
students, the following semester.

After leaving campus in March of my freshman year, when I returned in the fall, I could not have been happier
to be back on campus with my instructors and classmates. As I began preparing for my first clinical, I was worried that
I might miss out due to the pandemic. However, my instructors had been planning for this. Clinical class sizes were
reduced to 1:3 or 1:4 instructor to student ratio per clinical day. The open labs have given me the opportunity to master
my clinical skills in smaller groups of students as well. This allowed for a personal connection with both your instruc-
tors and classmates. My closer relationship with the nurse community at Duquesne has shed a positive light on what
has been a challenging year, and I encourage you to seek out those relationships when you enter nursing school.

I went to my health assessment class at 8 am during the fall semester, and very few students were able to at-
tend in person. I was thinking that Dr. Weideman would be disappointed by the lack of in-person attendance, and I
asked her how that made her feel. However, Dr. Weideman had an optimistic perspective on the situation. She said that
she enjoys teaching her students no matter where they, and she was happy to be there. I commend Dr. Weideman for
sticking through our 8 am class with a small number of in-person students. It was comforting to know that she had
more than the best interest of her students, but she truly cares and is dedicated to setting her student’s up for success.

Lastly, I want to recognize that the past year has been a struggle for many. As future nurses, it is always going
to be a challenge for us.. Witnessing what our current nurses are going through now, may seem daunting to a future
nurse. Although I did not know about Covid-19 going into nursing school, I encourage those of you who desire a nurs-
ing career despite their fears. Nurses have not changed from the way that I knew it 6 years ago; they are compassionate
and resilient. Now, we are all seeing nurses through a different lens than before. Nurses are trained to put their best
forward in times of adversity. As we learn and grow together, the student nurse community at Duquesne will be here
for you through all of the challenges that nursing school may bring.

7
 Starting College During a Pandemic
Luca Connor, Freshman
My name is Luca Connor and I am a freshman nursing student at Duquesne. I am sure we can all agree that 2020 was anything

but normal. The senior year of both high school and college students across the nation began as every other typical year. However, I think

we can also all agree that the ending was anything but normal. In March, as we were looking forward to the culmination of our high

school careers and celebrating the successes in academics and sports, the Covid-19 pandemic hit. From that point forward, our lives were

changed and the impact stood to reach far and wide. As each week passed and another event was cancelled or greatly changed, I began to

try and wrap my head around what effect this would have on our freshman year of college.

Having a brother who is a junior biomedical engineering/nursing student at Duquesne, I had some knowledge of the events that

led up to our freshman year. So, the first indication that things may look a little different was when the FAST (Freshman Advisement

Summer Transition) program was changed to online. This program helps freshmen work out all the details necessary before arriving on

campus (i.e., student id’s, computers). It eased my mind that the online program worked out perfectly and everything went off without a

hitch. This was a pivotal point for me. I began to realize to just “roll with the punches” and it will all work out.

Fast forward to August and my transition to campus was extremely smooth. Move-in was perfectly coordinated. Duquesne

worked diligently to make campus life as normal as possible while keeping us safe as well. As many of my friends at other colleges had

their freshman orientations cancelled, Duquesne found ways to make it work. My classes were hyflex. This meant that we would attend in

-person classes in a rotation alternating with online classes. As the semester proceeded and cases increased, some of my classes ended up

totally online. Although I do not consider myself a computer wizard, navigating the online classes, assignments, and tests was very easy.

The professors were very accommodating to help us in any way possible. With this, I spent a great amount of time under the set-up tents

or inside Mellon studying to give me some change of scenery.

As a manager of the basketball team, my days began early for practice. The basketball coaches also worked extremely hard to

ensure the safety of everyone while maintaining some type of normalcy. Of course, we wore masks/gloves, and had temperature checks

before each practice. We were COVID-19 tested a few times weekly. Over Christmas break, I was even able to fly to St. Louis with the

team for a game. Although there were some bumps in the road, the cooperation from everyone made what looked like an impossible sea-

son very possible.

At this point, it’s the middle of February and the semester is in full swing. The reality is that in two short months, I will be wrap-

ping up a challenging yet successful freshman year of college. Although it is not what I envisioned, all the steps taken by Duquesne to

keep us safe have worked. Students have been very compliant with wearing masks/social distancing, and it has become a part of what we

need to do to “roll with the punches”. This year has been a learning curve on many levels. The biggest lesson has been to accept change

head on, adjust, and move forward with a strong work ethic…Success is possible even in the most challenging of times!

8
 Meet the Advisors!
Dr. DeLuca, Dr. Snyder, Karen Bova, Alena Harteis, and Emily Lottes

Dr. Kate DeLuca EdB, MBA, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs in the School
of Nursing
My name is Dr. Kate DeLuca and I am the Associate Dean of Student Affairs in the
School of Nursing. One of my goals is to help students transition to college, but more
specifically, to help them transition into the School of Nursing. I have always be-
lieved that the best things about Duquesne are the people and the relationships that
students, faculty and staff build. I work to build and strengthen relationships with stu-
dents, faculty, and staff in the School of Nursing and around campus to better serve
our students through programming, support services, and scholarship management. I
encourage all students to reach out and connect with our office, or stop by for candy!

Dr. Torrie Snyder PhD, RN, Clinical Assistant Professor and Chair of Under-
graduate Program
My name is Dr. Torrie Snyder and I am the Undergraduate Programs Chair. I have
been an adult medical-surgical nurse for 20 years and an educator for 10 years. My
goal as the Undergraduate Program Chair is to monitor courses in the program for
quality and consistency. I also ensure that our curriculum aligns with the Duquesne
School of Nursing mission and vision, as well as those of our accrediting bodies. I
also address students’ academic concerns and provide them with academic resources
and support. I am always happy to speak with nursing students, so please feel free to
stop by my office at any time!

The Academic Advisors

Mrs. Karen Bova, Ms. Alana Harteis, and Ms. Emily Lottes make up the Undergraduate Ac-
ademic Advising team for the School of Nursing. Our focus is to develop interpersonal rela-
tionships with each of our students not only to ensure that they meet their academic goals
and become nurses, but also to support them through unexpected challenges that they face.
We also love to celebrate successes that arise throughout their time at Duquesne. Students
are assigned to their Undergraduate Academic Advisor based on their last names: A-F with
Ms. Harteis, G-N with Mrs. Bova, and O-Z with Ms. Lottes. We are all located in the Stu-
dent Affairs Suite – 550 Fisher Hall.

9
 Nursing Organizations on Campus

DUSNA
Looking for a professional organization with lots of leadership opportunities? DUSNA is the place to be.! With eve-
rything from politics to creative writing, DUSNA is the organization that creates the nursing-themed apparel (which
is not available in the bookstore) and travels to conventions in exciting places like Phoenix, Arizona and even Dis-
neyworld. DUSNA is a great way to get involved in the profession of
nursing and make career connections! It’s also fun! Social activities
such as holiday parties and classes at the gym make DUSNA a very well
-rounded organization. There are also plenty of service activities such as
Relay for Life and St. Vincent de Paul. DUSNA is the perfect way to
navigate the School of Nursing during your freshman year and in the
years beyond.

Alpha Tau Delta

Looking for a professional organization with more of a fraternity vibe? Check out
ATD! ATD is one of three fraternities within the School of Nursing. Requirements for
joining include having a GPA of at least 2.5 and completion of one semester of nurs-
ing school. ATD is a wonderful way to get to know fellow nursing students and com-
plete some fantastic service projects. It is also an excellent opportunity for leadership.
Join ATD!

Chi Eta Phi

A recently reactivated organization on campus, CEP is one of three frater-
nities within the School of Nursing. Representing diverse individuals, CEP
continues the history of diversity and acceptance that is a common theme
at Duquesne. CEP is a great organization for networking and advancement
of the profession of nursing. CEP completes many service projects as well
as socials that make this organization very beneficial.

10
 Nursing Organizations on Campus

Sigma Theta Tau

STT is an international organization that includes many faculty as well as
students. Students must have a GPA of at least 3.5 in order to be considered
for acceptance into the organization. STT provides many opportunities for
advancement including research scholarships and free continuing education
units for licensed RNs. This organization is a valuable organization to be a
part of since it is one of the largest nursing fraternities and offers many net-
working opportunities. Students who are in STT are given special cords at
graduation and once accepted, attend a special induction ceremony in the
spring.

Student Representation
Students also have the opportunity to represent their class as Class Representatives and as Student Ambassadors plan-
ning projects and fundraising within the School of Nursing. The School of Nursing also have several Student Govern-
ment Association positions where students can represent the School of Nursing to the whole university. These are just
a few ways that students can get involved and be successful while developing professionally!

Nurses Christian Fellowship

Does your faith play a large impact in who you are? Do you wish to spread the Christian message with likeminded
people? NCF is the home for you! NCF meetings include discussions on pertinent issues within the profession of
nursing and participation in service activities that spread the Good News! A recent project that NCF completed was
the creation of blankets for The Children’s Home, an organization that supports adoption and promotes the health of
the entire family. NCF is a fun organization to be a part of, no matter which type of Christianity you come from. All
are welcome!

11
 Why Do We Love Clinical?

Fundamentals (Sophomore): Women’s Health (Junior):

During this clinical, it is likely that you will give your first medi- This class and clinical involve the
cation pass and learn the basics of taking vitals, giving bed care of women and reproductive
baths, and charting. Other things you might get experience in health. During this clinical, you will
are injections and inserting catheters. be able to have the opportunity to
see a birth in the labor and deliv-
Adult Health and Illness Pediatrics ery unit and take care of the mom
(Sophomore): (Junior): and baby in the post-partum unit.
Clinical sites include McGee
Both the class and clinical primarily You will learn about Women’s Hospital and West Penn
involve medical-surgical nursing. It is various health prob- Hospital.
a vital area of nursing to have experi- lems and their treat-
ence in and you will learn a vast ments specifically Community Health (Junior):
number of skills. Some clinical sites geared towards chil-
This clinical focuses on the health
are UPMC Mercy, UPMC Shadyside, dren. This clinical will
of the community. You will find
Allegheny, and UPMC Passavant. draw on a lot of
yourself at various clinical sites
Growth and Develop-
throughout Pittsburgh such as
ment processes. A
Gerontological Nursing Prac- PAAR in Southside, soup kitch-
common clinical site
tice (Junior): ens, nursing homes, wastewater
is The Children’s
treatment plants, and outpatient
Hospital.
Your spring semester will bring you clinics.
back to Medical-Surgical nursing and
caring for the older adult. You will be
Behavioral Health
Critically Ill Adult (Senior):
introduced to illnesses and health (Junior):
problems specific to the older adult In this class and clinical, you will
During this class and
population and gain experience car- learn about caring for patients who
clinical component,
ing for chest tubes, trach tubes, giv- are seriously ill in acute settings.
you will learn about
ing oxygen and suctioning. Some During this clinical, you will learn
the various psychiat-
clinical sites are UPMC Mercy, about ventilators and how to re-
ric illnesses and how
UPMC East, and Allegheny General spond to a code, among many oth-
to promote mental
Hospital. er acute-care needs. You will most
health in patients. A
likely be placed in an intensive care
common clinical site
unit (ICU) or a step-down unit.
is Western Psychiat-
ric Institute and Clinic
and the VA Medical
Center.

12
 DUSNA’s Presence in State and National Conventions
Ysabelle Katigbak, DUSNA Legislative Chair, Junior

The Duquesne University Student Nurses Association (DUSNA) has been attending the annual Student Nurses Associa-

tion of Pennsylvania (SNAP) and the National Student Nurses Association (NSNA) conventions for many years. These conventions

bring student nurses and leaders across the state and nation together to network, and enhance their academic and clinical skills be-

yond the classroom. General seminars, workshops, poster presentations, and exhibition halls are available for students to engage in

and make lifelong friends from all over the state and country.

Seminars and workshops promote professional development. They can aid a student in deciding what path in nursing that

they want to take. For example, one can learn about the role of a military flight nurse, a nurse’s role as a coroner, or a nurse’s role

in emergency and disaster preparedness. Sometimes, there are duplicate sessions at different times. If more than one session piques

your interest, you would be able to attend both! Students who are able to participate are encouraged to share what they learned dur-

ing the seminars and workshops to their peers in DUSNA.

In the exhibit hall, numerous recruiters from potential employers and graduate schools, as well as NCLEX study prepa-

ration companies, are available to speak with attendees. This is a good time to start asking questions and putting yourself out there

to form connections with potential employers. In addition to valuable information about opportunities, they usually have some

goodies to take home too! There is also a space for poster presentations, in which students are able to showcase and present their

research on a larger scale.

Our participation as attendees goes beyond networking and socializing. Duquesne University has a high presence in the

House of Delegates, which meets each day of the convention. At the beginning of the convention, the House reviews the Board of

Directors actions as well as the financial report from the previous year. Each school’s legislative coordinator and legislative com-

mittee present a resolution that they feel strongly affects the nursing profession and the care of its patients. DUSNA’s resolution

this year focuses on the care of military families with members suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Since being

an advocate is a huge part of being a nurse, it is good to be educated on improvements that we can make in patient care. The House

votes to reject or adopt the resolutions into SNAP or NSNA policy. Our votes go a long way as it impacts our profession and our

nursing curricula for future generations to come. The House also votes for the upcoming board of directors; delegates must attend

sessions to meet the candidates and listen to prepared speeches. Voting for who will represent the entire membership is a big re-

sponsibility.

13
 Scrub Top Cookie Recipe
Sara Andrews, DUSNA Treasurer, Senior

Classic Cut out Cookies Recipe: Cookie Instructions

In a large bowl or mixer, beat the butter until soft and fluffy, 1-2 min
1 ½ sticks of unsalted butter, softened Add the soften cream cheese and continue to beat for 1 min, until well
incorporated
4oz of cream cheese, softened
Add the sugar and beat until fluffy
1 ½ cups of granulated sugar
Add the egg, vanilla and almond extract. Beat well, scrape the sides and
1 egg bottom of the bowl with a spatula
1tsp. of vanilla Add salt and flour, beat until just barely combined
1 ¾ tsp. of almond extract Scrape the dough onto a sheet of plastic wrap, cover and wrap tightly,
place in fridge for at least 3 hours or over night
1 tsp. salt
When the dough is chilled preheat oven to 350 degrees and roll dough out
3 cups of four
Use a shirt shaped cookie cutter and make your cookies
Royal Icing:
Bake the cookies at 350 degrees F for about 9-12 min, watching to see
1 ½ cups of confectioners (powdered)
them turn a slight golden brown
sugar

1 ½ tbs water

2 tsp light corn syrup or meringue

powder (helps the icing harden for
decorating)

½ tsp vanilla or almond extract

Icing instruction:
@sweets_bysara
Combine all ingredients into a mixer and mix until smooth

Add more water for thinner consistency and more sugar for thicker consistency

Decorating Tips:

Use a piping bag with no tip, start off my cutting the tip small and work bigger if necessary!

Outline the cookie and preform a flood method, of pouring thinner consistency icing within the border,.

Give the icing 30 min to start hardening and go back and pipe on top of the original icing to create layers!

Trace the outline of the shirt and go back in with small details like pockets and neckline.

Add a stethoscope for FUN!

14
 Coffee Shop Tour of PGH
Olivia Sayers & Katrina Taliani, Sophomores

After a long week stuck in Gumberg Library, glued to your computer studying, the most needed medicine is coffee. You

could just walk to Starbucks and spend $5 in flex, or you could get a change of scenery and check out a local Pittsburgh coffee

shop. We went into the heart of downtown Pittsburgh and to the Strip District in search of the perfect cup of coffee with the best

study environment.

Redhawk Coffee

536 Smithfield St

This quaint café serves up delicious hot mochas and

jazzy music creating the perfect study environment.
With ample seating for all your friends and study part-
ners, Redhawk caters to all of your studying needs

21st Street Coffee and Tea

225 Fifth Ave

There’s more to 21st Street Coffee and Tea than what

meets the eye…. Literally. The most serene shop we
stumbled upon, made the prettiest coffee to match the
trendy interior. Quiet, with a hint of instrumental study
sounds, this café is the ideal getaway to hit the books
and bliss out on coffee.

Allegheny Coffee and Tea Exchange

2005 Penn Avenue

Amidst the business of the Strip District, this tradition-

al café offers a wide variety of blends and flavors.
While this may not be a place to crack down on your
studies, the high-top tables give the perfect view for
people-watching and Pittsburgh culture. Everyone
needs a break, and Allegheny Coffee provides exactly
that with its calm interior away from the crowded
street.

15
 Coffee Shop Tour– Continued

Prestogeorge Coffee and Tea

1719 Penn Avenue

Prestogeorge is not your typical hole-in-the-wall café.

You open the door to the smell of brewing coffee and
the sounds of local Pittsburgh chatter. The rejuvenat-
ing taste of this coffee is the perfect pick-me-up after
hours spent walking up and down the Strip District.

Nicholas Coffee

23 Market Square Unit 1

You can’t score a better cup of coffee at a cheaper price

than at Nicholas Coffee. It is one of the oldest coffee shops
we visited, and it provides every blend imaginable. No
seating was available inside, but as the weather turns
around, Market Square will be the best place to enjoy the
sunshine with a textbook in hand.

16
Interested in writing for The Scope?

We are always looking for new writers.

Contact Hadley Mueller for more details!

[email protected]

FOLLOW US ON
DUSNA BOARD OF
Instagram DIRECTORS (2020-2021)
•President– Julia Ciotti

•Vice President– Lauren Bliss

•Secretary– Jordan Howell

•Treasurer– Sara Andrews

•Social– Kacie Flickinger & Tara Butler

•Service– Katie Anne Kocsis

: •Fundraising– Ally Dongarra and Nina Sarcone

•Legislative Coordinator:- Ysabelle Katigbak

•Recruitment– Alli Sherbondy

•Publicity–Hadley Mueller & Veronica Phillipson

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 Living on Campus: An Inside Look
Brianna Gavin, BSN Class of 2019

St. Ann’s Hall

St. Ann’s is one of the freshman living learning centers and it is a very fun first dorm! You enter the building on the sec-

ond floor; here there is a nice lounge with couches and tables and as well as one or

two vending machines and a bathroom. After you swipe your I.D. at the desk, the

doors are unlocked for you; the left side is girls side and the right side is the boys

side. There are 6 floors total. This dorm has free laundry machines (just like every

other dorm) and study rooms! Each floor has a large common room that is a great

place to hang with friends and study together. The bathrooms are located in the

center of the hallway and on either side there are 3 bathroom stalls and three sinks.

Along the back there are 6 private showers, each with their own drain and cur-

tained area where you can dry off and get changed. St. Ann’s is a really calm dorm and it makes for a great first home

away from home!

St. Martin’s

St. Martin’s is one of the freshman living learning centers and it has a lot of exciting perks. As you enter the building on

the ground floor there is a printing room located to your left. You swipe your card and then use the elevators or take the

stairs if you need to get those steps in. There are three elevators and a total of 14 floors, however the 14 th floor does not

have elevator access so you get off at 13 and walk the last flight. Located on the 1st

floor is a common lounge with some couches, a TV, a pool table, some vending ma-

chines, and a small gym. All of your friends in other dorms will become jealous in the

winter when you only have to take an elevator to the gym while they have to walk

through the blizzard to get to the Power Center! Usually the floors are separated by

gender. On each floor is a nice lounge with a TV and couches, a laundry room on each

floor with one washer and dryer, and a nice study room in the back. The building is the

square one with all the dorm rooms on the outside and the bathrooms in the center. The bathroom has lockers on both

sides, 8 bathroom stalls, 6 sinks and 6 large showers in the back. St. Martin’s is a really fun dorm and you will have fun

getting to know everyone on your floor.

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 Living on Campus: An Inside Look

Assumption Hall

Assumption Hall is set up in an L shape. Each side of the dorm has its own RA and

there are elevators located in the center. On the ground floor there is a laundry room

for the whole building. Assumption is the honors college and generally there are main-

ly freshman living here with the occasional upper classmen. Guys and girls are located

on alternating floors. There are lounges on each floor where you can hang out with

your friends. A great perk of living here is that each room is actually bigger than the

rooms in the other living learning centers.

Towers

Towers is the biggest of the living learning centers. It is also where Hogan Dining Cen-

ter and The Campus Market are located. This is a great perk when it is cold outside and

you do not have to leave the dorm for food. In addition to just food, in Towers there is

also the mail center, the swimming pool, and a computer lab for printing. There are 3

wings total in towers A, B, C. On each wing there are multiple bathrooms and a small

kitchen that has a sink, some cabinets, a table and a refrigerator. Each wing has a small

lounge with tables and chairs where you are able to do homework, study and hang with

friends. Washer and dryer units are also located on each wing. In addition to these units, there is also a room on the 17th

floor that has about 6 washer and dryer units. Towers is a great living learning center that has everything you could need

without walking outside.

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