Request For Apology From
Chancellor Nordenberg

July 5, 2011

To Chancellor Mark Nordenberg
July 5, 2011
Hand-Delivered

A letter was sent to Mayor Luke Ravenstahl concerning serious issues involving the University of Pittsburgh’s dormitory expansion project on Oakland Avenue.

Regardless of the outcome of the legality issues concerning the dumping of dirt and shale, and gravel in our neighborhood, the community of Oakland deserves a written letter of apology from you for what has already transpired.

To perform non-emergency work at daytime, nighttime, and past midnight without giving any notice shows a lack of sensitivity, caring, and respect for residents in our neighborhood.

Numerous trucks sped through Boundary Street for over a week, one nearly striking an elderly resident. Our street should never have been chosen as a site for your construction materials when Pitt and UPMC own numerous properties in Oakland, including two vacant lots on Oakland Avenue.

I am certain that the neighbors on your residential street would not accept such an indignity, and neither would any other neighborhood with pride and self-respect. It is therefore understandable why we, the members of the Oakland community, are not willing to be subjected to this treatment.

We are asking that your letter of apology be addressed to the Oakland community and published in The Pitt News. Such an action will clearly demonstrate to both our community and the University’s students that you have the courage to admit a wrongdoing, and the will to put into practice your principles of responsibility and integrity.

We hope that you will seriously consider our request. If you do decide to write the apology, please inform us as to when the apology will be in publication.

Thank you,
Carlino Giampolo