At this year’s University of Pittsburgh Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 22 to Oct. 25, the Pitt African American Alumni Council celebrated the 40th Anniversary of a “sit-in” that eventually led to the many strides towards diversity the university has taken over the years.

A weekend that boasted the largest reunion of African-American alumni in the university’s history, saw the return of many of Pitt’s former civil rights leaders. Among them was Anthony Fountain, who was the founding member and first chairperson of the Political Action Committee of the Black Action Society at the time of the “sit-in.”

EXHIBIT UNVEILING— Pitt alumni join family and friends at the Hillman Library for an unveiling of an exhibit chronicling 40 years of African-American accomplishments at the university.

Fountain was there on Jan. 15, 1969 when approximately 50 students took over the university’s computer center. They called for an increase in Black faculty, enrollment, and overall representation, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Department of Black Studies later that year.

While the mayoral race in Pittsburgh features one African-American candidate, the Wilkinsburg’s race features three. Incumbent John Thompson, who defeated former mayor Wilbert Young in 2005 is facing a rematch against Young and another independent, Ronald Garland Sr.

JOHN THOMPSON, HOWARD ORGAN

“Yeah, I hear it’s a three-way race,” said Thompson. “Wilbert is running as a write-in candidate because he was removed from the primary ballot for not disclosing some tax issues. Ron’s running as an independent,” he said. “We have nine new businesses in the commercial corridor. We’ve updated all the police computer equipment and got new vehicles. We have increased our housing stock and the Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp., which I’m president of, has applied for federal Mainstreet Program grants. So I’m happy with the progress. We’re poised for the future.”

PITTSBURGH (AP)—The son of an ex-convict and the son of a Super Bowl Hall of Famer are challenging Pittsburgh’s mayor in next month’s general election. And with all three men between the ages of 29 and 33, the race has the perfect ingredients for a robust, engaging political contest.

Or maybe not.

LUKE RAVENSTAHL, FRANCO 'DOK' HARRIS, and  KEVIN ACKLIN

The race between incumbent Democrat Luke Ravenstahl, 29, and challengers Kevin Acklin, 33, and Franco “Dok” Harris, 30, both independents, has been marked by little visible campaigning and virtually no interest from the public. Even the relatively youthful age and appearance of the candidates in a city with one of the oldest populations in the country is doing little to generate excitement.