Wilson Millure

When I first visited Pittsburgh as a 15-year-old, I saw feathers snowing from the sky outside of WPU. I looked it up online and learned that it was likely the work of the Cathedral falcons. Years later, when I transferred to Pitt, I became obsessed with the falcons. I set up my study spot in Hillman for the best viewing, and always had the livecam open as I worked on essays and homework. I made every project I could about the falcons, which wasn't hard as a nonfiction major.

The chicks would hatch every May, around finals season. I was there during the tenure of one of the Cathedral's most controversial birds, Hope. She was the female who ate some of her young. I found her fascinating. Once, I was on the fifth floor presenting a video essay about Hope as her newest clutch hatched.

I always thought Hope to be the perfect bird for such a grand Neo-Gothic building.