Point Park's The Globe Issue 10

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@PPUGlobe March 21, 2018

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Local restaurants make strides toward more sustainable practices Do students have the resources they need to succeed?

Baseball team remains undefeated in conference play in home opener ppuglobe.com

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

Issue 10

University unveils restored facades USG grants more than as construction nears completion $1,000 in appeals, discusses election

By Alexander Popichak Editor Emeritus

When Elmer Burger, university architect and planner, describes the open plaza on the Forbes Avenue side of the new Pittsburgh Playhouse, the imagery turns to an Italian town square. The centerpieces of the outdoor terrace at the new Playhouse are three historic facades, unveiled Monday, that adorn the second level of the building.

“It’s generally at the same elevation as it was when it was on the street,” Burger said Monday in the University Center.

“And what we’ve done here is create a concept we call ‘atmospheric theater.’ There was an approach to theater design at one time… where the seating was designed to make it look as though you were outside in a small Italian plaza.”

Three crumbling historic buildings were razed to make room for the footprint of the Playhouse, but the beauty of the exterior of those buildings have taken on a new life on the exterior of the second floor.

The Playhouse itself is set to open this fall, and University President Paul Hennigan said the project is on schedule and on budget. Hennigan assured The Globe last March that no tuition money is being spent on the Playhouse and is coming completely through donations and grants.

According to Burger, the buildings that were once 320, 322 and 330 Forbes Avenue were not in good enough condition to be salvaged, but it was important to the designers of the new building to integrate the facades into the de-

By Alexander Popichak USG Beat Writer

Emily Bennett | The Globe

The new Pittsburgh Playhouse features three original historic facades from the old Forbes Avenue corridor. These facades, identified by the names Palace, Goettman and Royal, were unveiled Monday. sign of the Playhouse.

The new Playhouse rises three stories and has entrances from the University Center for students, faculty and staff. The facades are above the patron entrance and second story terrace on Forbes Avenue.

“This is an outdoor space for students to hang out and for patrons to hang out,” Hennigan said on the Playhouse terrace Monday. The historic facades surround the terrace and plaza with the potential of being a performance space.

Tickets on sale for Playhouse “Lights Out”

By Sarah Gibson Copy Editor

Alumni, students, staff and the public will gather at the Pittsburgh Playhouse June 18 to bid the building a final farewell with a “Lights Out” celebration.

The celebration will be held for those who wish to say goodbye to the Pittsburgh Playhouse one last time before the lights are shut off for good at the end of the night. This will be the last chance for members of the public to say their farewells and will be the last public presence inside the old Playhouse location. Tickets will cost $25.

Festivities include an open mic with a provided accompanist, Playhouse memorabilia, snacks and beverages. The public, students and faculty are all welcome to attend.

After 85 years in Oakland, a new, six-story theater facility in Downtown Pittsburgh will open this fall. According to Ron

Lindblom, artistic director of the Conservatory of the Performing Arts, this new edition coming to Downtown Pittsburgh will help many different types of students grow, and not just performers.

“Students would find the opportunity to work with professors, create products, become entrepreneurs and grow technically in this national artistic laboratory,” Lindblom said.

Cassia Crogan, marketing and public relations coordinator of the Pittsburgh Playhouse, agreed that “this is going to be such an amazing facility, not just for theatre students, but for everyone.”

Crogan, while excited for the new facility’s features, is also encouraging everyone to reflect on memories of the old facility.

“This is a great opportunity for patrons and alumni to

LIGHTS OUT page 2

The facades are made of terracotta - a clay-based ceramic material that was common in building ornamentation at the turn of the 20th century.

According to a university news release, Point Park’s decision to salvage and repurpose the terracotta facades is the largest terra cotta salvage and reinstallation in Pittsburgh.

According to the university news release, the salvage operation began with the care-

PLAYHOUSE page 2

United Student Government (USG) spent its Monday meeting discussing club appeals and Wednesday’s debate.

In all, six clubs were allocated additional funds after petitioning the Finance Committee: Advertising Federation/Public Relations Student Society of America, All Things Horror, Her Campus, Phi Beta Lambda and Table Top Tirade all received additional funds.

All funding measures passed unanimously with the exception of the funding recommendation for Phi Beta Lambda. That measure passed 6-2 with President Pro-Tempore Hayley Hoffman and Senator Megan Ortego voting “no.”

Phi Beta Lambda was initially not allocated any funds at last week’s funding meeting.

The business fraternity overspent its allocation at the end of the fall semester resulting in the restriction.

“So Phi Beta Lambda requested for a spring banquet and the amount requested for that was $622,” USG Treasurer Justin Stocklas said Monday. “After speaking with President Bertha, Vice President Kearns as well as the Finance Committee, we decided that Phi Beta Lambda would no longer have anything held against them for what happened the previous semester.”

In all, the legislative body granted an additional $1,090 to the six student organiza-

tions that requested appeals.

USG members also discussed Wednesday’s USG Debate. The debate will be held in the Center for Media Innovation at 8 p.m. and the student body is welcome to attend a watch party or to live stream the event via U-View Television’s YouTube page.

The candidates for USG elections were announced Tuesday.

Vice President Kaylee Kearns and President Pro-Tempore Hayley Hoffman are running for President and Senator Brittany Arp is running for Vice President. Kearns and Hoffman are sophomores in their second year of USG and Arp is a freshman serving in her first.

The broadcast will be hosted by former U-View Daybreak anchors and current producers Alex Grubbs and Jess Paterchak. The student body is invited to submit questions via social media using the #USGDebate. Elections will be held electronically using PointSync from March 26 to 30.

Legislative body members also discussed the upcoming Pioneer Community Day event. The annual event, slated for April 7 this year, offers students the opportunity to volunteer for various organizations across the Pittsburgh area and includes a celebration in the afternoon.

According to event chairman and USG Parliamentarian Matt Bauman, the goal is to get at least 100 students,

USG page 2

PIONEER GREEN AND IRISH GOLD

Nikole Kost | The Globe

Firefighter Greg Hamilton walks with his son down Boulevard of the Allies during Pittsburgh’s annual St. Patrick’s Day parade. The parade is the second largest parade for the holiday in the United States, according to Pittsburgh St. Patrick’s Parade Committee.

Weather Forecast Today: Snow H 41, L 22

Thursday: Cloudy, H 40, L 18 Friday: Mostly Sunny, H 43, L 21 Saturday: PM Snow Showers, H 40, L 31

Sunday: Mostly Cloudy, H 40, L 18 Monday: PM Showers, H 45, L 34 Tuesday: Showers, H 46, L 36

Point Park

GLOBE

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

New Playhouse to be beneficial for all students from PLAYHOUSE page 1

LOCAL The sports, art and entertainment (SAEM) club will host musical duo Mirror Image tonight in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom for a special performance. Originally from Murrysville, the duo was first recognized for their high energy song and dance performances on the twelfth season of “America’s Got Talent.”

Recently, the group released their first single “From Many Men” on iTunes and YouTube. The show begins at 7 p.m. and is free to all Point Park students. Tickets for non-students will cost $5.

---On March 27, the sports, art and entertainment department will hold a seminar featuring management from a number of Pittsburgh sports franchises in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom. “Emerging Trends in the Sports Industry” will begin at 12 p.m. and feature three separate presentations. The first will feature keynote speaker Buffy Filippell speaking on the #MeToo movement in the sports industry. Following Filippell, there will be a presentation on the integration of analytics in sports. Analytic managers from the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins and Pirates will all speak during this portion. The final session of the day will address hot topics in eSports. Co-owners of the Pittsburgh Knights Rob Lee and James O’Connor will discuss bringing eSports to the city of Pittsburgh. Halina Malik of 2k eSports and Derek Dawson of Visit Pittsburgh will also present during the final portion. The event is free for all students to attend.

---The Career Development Center announced the annual etiquette dinner on March 28 at 2:00 p.m. At the dinner, all students have the chance to network with students, faculty and local employers while learning proper dinner etiquette. Students in attendance will also have the chance to win prizes for best networker and best dressed.

Tickets are limited and will cost $5 in the Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership office.

ALMANAC March 21, 1966: Men’s basketball defeats York College of Pennsylvania for the title, according to the Pioneer.

Issue 10, Spring 2009: Black Student Union bars a Globe reporter from a publicly scheduled meeting, prompting United Student Government to work toward closing a loophole in its constitution that does not declare meetings that receive funding to be open.

ful removal and restoration of the 685 individual pieces of the three facades. In all, nearly 95 percent of the original facades were able to be installed with the missing or broken pieces being re-manufactured and replaced.

The original three buildings had these facades from top to bottom, however previous owners of the properties removed the first-level facades years before Point Park purchased the properties in 2007.

WINDOWS TO CULTURE

The facades now adorning the Playhouse are referred to by their original buildings’ names: the Palace, the Goettman and the Royal. According to Burger, all three buildings were a part of Forbes Avenue and dubbed “Diamond Street.”

“Just east of those buildings were several theaters and there was lots of commerce leading into Forbes and into Market Square,” Burger said.

The Palace facade adorned what was once a billiards parlor and small theater. The building eventually housed a jeweler before being acquired by Point Park. The facade now serves as the portal between the Playhouse’s cafe and the outdoor terrace.

Set back from the front of the Playhouse main theater’s exterior, the nearly-white Palace facade rises high above the second-floor terrace and is capped off by two massive terracotta urns. The facade consists of three massive arched windows and will have three glass doors installed to allow entry between the cafe and terrace.

The Goettman facade runs alongside the top of the adaptive theater, adjacent to the Palace facade. According to universi-

ty archivist Phill Harrity, it was built as the Goettman restaurant in 1911 and housed several restaurants and shops before being acquired by Point Park.

The widest of the three facades, the Goettman has three massive frosted windows and is decorated with repeating circles and crown molding.

The Royal building was referred to by longtime Pittsburghers as the “Honus Wagner Building” because its first floor once had the Honus Wagner Co. Sporting Goods Store. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the store closed in 2011 after being in that location for nearly 60 years. The Royal facade, the most intricate of the three, was the latest installation to the outside of the Playhouse.

It consists of five large frosted windows and is adorned with arches, wreaths and lions. The Royal is the facade most visible from Forbes Ave. and directly overlooks the plaza.

HISTORIC ROOTS, MODERN USES

“We’re actually using [the facades] to create this environment, it’s not just like a painting on a wall,” Burger said on the Playhouse terrace. “We’re creating this atmospheric theater by putting the town square back together again.”

All three facades will be illuminated at night, and in the case of the Palace facade, it now takes on life as a functional entryway looking in to the cafe and costume shop. The facades are not the only historic space integrated into the new Playhouse. The historic Stock Exchange building is being used as the costume shop and features stained glass windows dating back to the late 1800s.

According to Hennigan, the adaptive theater will be able to

Emily Bennett | The Globe

The Palace is topped with two terracotta urns, original to the facade. Eventually, three glass doors will be installed below to permit flow between the terrace and the indoor cafe. play to the outside courtyard.

The black-box theater is built with large glass doors that open to the courtyard. Hennigan envisions students, faculty and patrons of the playhouse using the second-floor terrace as a space to have a bite to eat or hang out before a production or during the school day.

All students will have access to the building when it opens next year, and university officials hope that the Playhouse will become a true common space for students to learn and garner a larger sense of community.

SHOWCASING THE MISSION Hennigan said it was important to the university to design the new Playhouse in a way that “showcases the mission.”

In addition to connecting the space with the University Center and adding classroom space, the 550-seat main theater and adaptive theater were designed with

large windows facing Forbes Avenue that allow passersby to look in and watch productions being installed.

“People will be able to look through those windows and across the audience chamber which is below-grade to see what’s going on on stage,” Hennigan said. “All the stuff [set design and installation, lighting design] that people never get to see in a commercial theater setting they will get to see here.”

While not going into specifics, Hennigan said all four of the university’s schools will be integrated into the learning and performance space and said he hopes it becomes a true gathering space for the Point Park community.

Construction will be completed over the summer and the Playhouse will be open in time for the 2018-2019 school year.

Alexander Popichak apopic@pointpark.edu.

Playhouse still accepting USG prepares for memories submissions April community day from LIGHTS OUT page 1 submit a Playhouse memory, because it’s nice to look back on old memories before this next chapter,” Crogan said, referring to the “Share Your Pittsburgh Playhouse Memories” page on the Playhouse website. The project allows anyone to submit a memory of the Pittsburgh Playhouse to be shared with others whom the Playhouse has touched.

Even students who have not yet gotten the chance to perform at the Playhouse understand the opportunity that a new facility would represent.

Gracie Thompson, a sophomore dance major, has watched shows at the Playhouse and worked during the winter

dance performance.

“I’m really excited for it,” Thompson said. “From what I can tell, the Playhouse is hard to get around because it’s so small, and it’ll be a privilege to be the first students to work there.”

While it may be bittersweet for some to see the Playhouse go after so many years, Lindblom explained the importance of having a new facility, citing that many parts of the old facility were still from the original infrastructure of the building in 1939, including the boiler.

“There’s going to be a Pittsburgh Playhouse for another 85 years,” Lindblom said.

from USG page 1 faculty and staff signed up to volunteer. The signup form is available on PointSync at bit. ly/PCD2018. The volunteer portion will take place in the morning and the celebration will be held afterward.

The student concerns committee is actively addressing several concerns brought to them via their email account. USG is working with the Office of Student Life to

address a backlog of laundry on the 8th floor of Lawrence.

Additionally, the committee is meeting this coming Saturday with representatives from food service provider CulinArt to address hours of the Point Cafe.

USG’s next meeting will be held on the first day of elections, March 26.

Alexander Popichak apopic@pointpark.edu.

SIXTH AVENUE ROBBERY

Sarah Gibson sagibso@pointpark.edu.

Correction

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Issue 10, Spring 2017: Retiring a total of 21 batters, then-senior pitcher Nolan Krivijanski throws a perfect game to open Point Park baseball’s four-game sweep against Cincinnati Christian University. Krivijanski only allowed 13 ground balls to be fielded by the Pioneersdo no defense. t

‘OPIOID EPIDEMIC CONFRONTED IN PANEL’ Last week’s story covering a documentary feature and panel on the Pittsburgh opioid crisis incorrectly referred to Light of Life Ministries as “Life of Light Ministries” in the lead.

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3/12/18 8:40 p.m.

Harassment Third Avenue 3 Juveniles

by City of Pittsburgh Police

3/17/18

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3/15/18

11:30 a.m.

Criminal Mischief Boulevard Apartments Referred to Student Conduct

3:24 p.m.

Drug Violation Lawrence Hall Under Investigation

4:29 p.m.

Alcohol Violation Lawrence Hall Referred to Student Conduct

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Carley Bonk | The Globe

Pittsburgh Police have a 55-year-old Hill District man in custody for a robbery at KeyBank on Sixth Avenue. Police received a call at approximately 4:11 p.m. on Monday and pursued the Port Authority 48 bus he had boarded in an attempted getaway. The man is charged with one count of robbery and receiving stolen property.

NEWS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018

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USG Election 2018: Presidential and VP candidates Hayley Hoffman says that if she were elected United Student Government (USG) president, she would be the connecting voice between the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA) and the rest of the University.

“I can see students within COPA struggling without that voice; they can sometimes feel cut off from the university,” Hoffman, a sophomore stage management major and current USG president pro-tempore, said before the weekly USG meeting.

Hoffman joined USG in the fall of 2016. She currently serves on the Rules, Communications and Pioneer Community Day committees and previously served on the finance committee.

Hoffman said she would be able to take some of the leadership techniques she’s learned in her program to aid in the position of USG president. She’s also job shadowed with the Pittsburgh CLO and behind the scenes of the Broadway production of “Wicked.”

“Part of being a stage director is leading the production, not just as a liaison, but leading everyone to the end goal,” Hoffman said. “You have to separate your differences to get the job done. You can’t completely shut someone down without trying to understand why they feel a certain way.”

Kaylee Kearns is hoping to utilize the position of USG president to amplify commuter resources for students like her who have to trek longer distances to campus.

“There is so much we could do, but we really have to find out what the commuters want,” Kearns, sophomore sports, arts and entertainment management (SAEM) major and current USG vice president, said following the weekly USG meeting. “I think my first biggest push is going to be for a new commuter lounge.”

Kearns’ experience of participating in student government in high school, USG senator starting in fall 2016 and her current role as vice-president since last fall has given her a well-rounded perspective of student legislation.

“USG was a great way for me to get involved and make friends on campus,” Kearns said. “But it was also a way for me to help other students. We work as a whole, collectively between the four schools and get to hear everyone’s voice, working together toward a common goal.”

Kearns’ pursuit of an SAEM degree has attributed to her leadership skills.

“They try to push you to be a leader, to stand out, volunteer, and to get involved,” Kearns said.

“That helped push me in the direction of wanting to continue to learn more about leadership.”

Photos courtesy of USG

Brittany Arp believes communication is key in running a government for the people and looks forward to using that model as United Student Government vice president.

“I just really want to improve the relationship between USG and the students,” Arp, freshman political science and legal studies double major and current senator representing the School of Arts and Sciences, said in a phone interview on Monday. “USG can do so much for students, but I feel like there is a disconnect there and if we could bridge that gap everyone would be more prosperous.”

Arp said she immediately fell in love with Downtown Pittsburgh and Point Park.

“I just really wanted to be a member of the Point Park family,” Arp said. “As a small university, it feels more like home.”

Taking on the role of vice president would be a defining factor in solidifying that family relationship here for her.

Arp also serves on the rules committee. Looking forward, she hopes to continue into a career of politics, paying homage to role models like U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-PA, and U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-CA. “Whether it be in the spotlight or behind the scenes, I haven’t decided yet, but I definitely want to keep being involved in politics.”

Story by Carley Bonk

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018

FEATURES

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Pittsburgh supports college student budgets

By Dara Collins Co-Sports Editor

An education at Point Park University costs students two things: time and money. As of the 2018-2019 academic year, students of the Arts and Sciences, Business and Communication Schools pay $29,980 per year, and Conservatory of Performing Arts pay $38,220, nearly $10,000 more.

As for time, students juggle classes, rehearsals, homework and plenty of extracurricular activities during their four years or less here. With thousands of dollars spent toward an education, a student may cringe at spending more than $20 in their free time.

Luckily, located in the heart of Downtown Pittsburgh, Point Park University and its surroundings offer many affordable and

free options for students to spend leisure time.

Point Park’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) hosts events for students to enjoy from the comfort of their own campus. CAB events may highlight local events, such as the recent St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast before Pittsburgh’s annual parade, and others recur such as monthly Point Park After Dark events or Late Night Bingo.

“Our theme is we plan the juiciest events on campus, so basically we just want to provide students with the best events possible and give them a reason to come out and participate on campus,” vice president of marketing Megan Thorpe said.

Through the university’s Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership (SAIL) office, Point Park students can purchase dis-

Kelsee McHugh | The Globe PIzza Fiesta is a popular location among students for discounted food.

counted Pittsburgh Pirates tickets at PNC Park and concert tickets for Stage AE, according to Assistant Dean of Students Keith Paylo.

CAB currently offers Pirates tickets for $7 each to two games on Apr. 7, and Apr. 27. Tickets are limited to four per student.

Currently, there are no tickets available for Stage AE concerts. However, the Social Scoop from Mar. 19, detailed other ticket discounts. The Conservatory Theatre Company’s “42nd Street” will be held in the Rockwell Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse on March 22-25. Students can receive free admission with their student ID one hour prior to a performance.

Discount codes are offered on Pittsburgh’s Cultural District’s website for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh CLO, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Opera, Pittsburgh Public Theater and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performances.

South Side’s City Theatre also offers Point Park students and professors discounted rates. Students can use the promo code CITYPPUS for $15 tickets while faculty and staff can use CITYPPUF for $27 tickets.

Additional culture can be found in Pittsburgh’s surrounding neighborhoods as they boast unique contemporary and historical art exhibits. The Andy Warhol Museum, The Carnegie Museums

of Art and Natural History, The Mattress Factory and The Senator John Heinz History Center allow free admission to Point Park students with the flash of an ID. “All students have to do is show their ID and sign in.

It’s free of charge because of the relationships we’ve built with those places” Paylo said. “I always tell students who go to Point Park, ‘When in doubt, show your ID.’” Aside from sculptures, photographs and paintings, flowers and greenery attract students at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens for a discounted rate of $16.95. General adult tickets cost $17.95.

Students also fill sports and music venues due to generous discounts. The GNC Student Rush Mobile Alert Club sends messages to students’ phones, and if a student replies with a specific key word at a certain time, they can win two free tickets to the game or concert the following night at PPG Paints Arena. Tickets that are available for purchase are $29.00 plus additional fees, according to the National Hockey League’s (NHL) official website.

South Side Works Cinema welcomes young movie buffs for $9 compared to the full adult ticket price of $10.

The Strip District’s Cruze Bar and South Side’s Devil’s and Dolls host College Nights on Thursdays, welcoming students 18 years

old and up. On average, admission costs $5, but special events can cost up to $10.

The savings continue as plenty of local eateries offer discounts to area college students.

Pizza Fiesta and R&B’s Pizza offer “College Specials” that feature a large cheese pizza, one liter of soda and a side of ranch for less than ten dollars. Genoa’s, another pizza shop on Market Street, offers a 10% discount.

Sandwich and sub shops like Bob’s Subs and the Market Square Subway also offer discounts.

“It never hurts to say, ‘I’m a Point Park student,’” Paylo said. “A lot of times [businesses offer you], but the formalized ones, we continue. Even United Student Government has backed this also of reaching out to local businesses to see what kind of discounts they offer.”

As for transportation to and from the multitude of options students can pick from, the “T’ is free and street parking on Sundays is free. On a nice day, walking never costs more than time.

“We’ve [earned student’s discounts] through relationship building…I think it’s more based on the relationships you build that are more willing because they see that this is the future, so they want you to keep coming back,” Paylo said.

Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu

CAB’s annual drag show draws large crowds

By Lauren Ortego Co-Opinions Editor

They wear sparkling leotards, sequined dresses, have extravagantly styled hair and wear six-inch heels - they’re the epitome of showgirls, but they bear a different name drag queens.

Drag queens have been popularized by the rise in support of the LGBT community and the continued success of RuPaul’s Drag Race, a VH1 competition show that searches for the best drag queens in the country.

Point Park’s Campus Activities Board (CAB) brought some local queens to campus for their annual drag show this past Wednesday, featuring some alumni and a current student. Drag is all about en-

tertainment, and these queens entertained.

“It’s my fourth year coming, I’m a senior this year, and honestly [the show] never disappoints,” Juliana Ross, a senior sports, arts and entertainment managment major, said. “It’s a different theme every year. And every single time it amazes me that they can dance like this.”

The host for the evening was former Point Park student, Bambi Deerest, a drag queen known for her work across the Pittsburgh scene, including hosting Open Stage every Wednesday at the Blue Moon Bar in Lawrenceville, where drag queens from all over can participate.

“I hate the word moist,” Bambi declared to the room of excited students. “That, and COPA. Hey, I went

here, I can say that.”

The line-up included local queens such as Phoenix Fatale, Alora Chateaux, Dixie Surewood, Tootsie Snyder and Niona Skyler with a guest appearance from Point Park’s own Alexa Chapman Killer.

The pre-show line trailed out of the Lawrence Hall ballroom, past the elevators and began looping, garnering attention from students of all majors and years. One student, Kayla

McDonald, was very excited at the sight of drag queens and was found taking selfies with them after the show.

“It was absolutely incredible,” McDonald, a freshman criminal justice major, said. “I have no words other than I’m shook. This is my first time.”

McDonald was drawn to the show after meeting Bambi in an elevator earlier and immediately came down to see what the show was all about.

“This needs to come

Get Involved! Be Heard!

Have your own show!

2nd floor of Lawrence Hall near Dining Services

Check out wppjradio.com Megan Bixler | For The Globe Drag queen and Pittsburgh native Bambi Deerest was the host for the annual drag show. This year’s theme was “Sync or Swim.”

back every year,” McDonald said. “I met some of them on my way up, but I did not expect all of this.”

The show featured queens of many backgrounds and the song selection came from every side of the spectrum from “Aura” by Lady Gaga to “Never Enough” from the movie “The Greatest Showman,” the queens showed all of their talent and the crowd’s reactions reflected that.

“It was so fun and really interesting,” Donnie Burney, a freshman business management major, said. “The death drops and jumps off chairs definitely stuck out [to me].

The host was amazing. I didn’t expect it to be this good, honestly, but it was.”

Drag queens use a combination of pop culture and high-energy performances to keep audiences coming back for more.

“I’m gonna need you all to react to what I say,” Bambi said to the audience.

“How about Donald Trump?

Booooooo. That’s right, this is a liberal arts college, he hates all of you.”

It’s an event that continues to draw a crowd, and many of the students in attendance hope that it keeps coming back.

“There is definitely excitement whenever we announce this event, and it was very evident with over 150 people attending,” Matt Spadaccia, vice president of programming for CAB, said. “All the Queens love working with us. It is really exciting to see our committees work really hard on an event, and have it turn out to be a huge success.”

Lauren Ortego leorteg@pointpark.edu

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018

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Local restaurants offer sustainable options

Pittsburgh eateries focus on ethics and giving back to the community

By Kimberly Prokurat For The Globe

Pittsburgh restaurants are making sustainable business easy and delicious by integrating economic, environmental and employee equity practices into each meal.

“We believe in what we’re doing here,” said Edward Lai, owner and chef of Bae Bae’s Kitchen located in the Cultural District as he discussed his sustainability practices.

The eclectic dining-out options available around the city are not uncommon knowledge, but knowing where to get an amazing meal that also contributes to a better Pittsburgh is slightly harder to find.

These sustainable restaurants and cafés are located all around the city with multiple options just blocks away from campus.

Some restaurants are making the move to become officially designated through the Sustainable Pittsburgh Restaurant program by Sustainable Pittsburgh.

One of those restaurants is the Korean-inspired gourmet comfort food hub that is Bae Bae’s kitchen. Having recently

opened on October 9, 2017, this café is fairly new but already creating a positive stamp on the downtown culture.

Bae Bae’s Kitchen is a hip café decorated with beautiful succulents that help improve the air quality, energy efficient lights and equipment and a large window that lets in an abundance of natural light. The menu is seasonal so that the locally sourced and organically grown food used is as nutritious as possible. This all natural approach offers a difference you can taste.

Yet the Korean inspired food and comforting environment is far from the best of its features. At this café, they recycle as much as possible - even with their water. They donate extra food to 412 Food Rescue and donate all of their tips to the local animal shelter and the international Humane Society.

“It is sad to say, but in South Korea it is still a part of their culture to eat dogs and cats,” Lai said. “That’s something we donate money to help curb and promote saving the lives of animals.”

Another great downtown option is Yuzu Kitch-

Kimberly Prokurat | For The Globe Yuzu Kitchen on Wood Street is an East Asian ramen and robata grill that operates completely sustainably.

en, an East Asian ramen and robata grill, located conveniently on Wood Street.

At Yuzu Kitchen, students and staff of Point Park can enjoy a 10 percent discount on consciously crafted food and drinks guilt free.

Yuzu Kitchen is designated as sustainable because it keeps track of water usage, gets the highest quality ingredients from

Kimberly Prokurat | For The Globe Bae Bae’s Kitchen in the Cultural District has recently adopted sustainable practices in their operation.

PIONEER PUBLIC

Reba Bartram

By Lauren Clouser Co-Features Editor

Freshman dance major Reba Bartram recently returned from Kansas, where her track and field relay team competed in a national championship and broke the school’s record. Bartram considers it one of her proudest moments in track at Point Park.

“I just think that being able, as a freshman, to go to nationals for track was really awesome and a really great experience, especially with the people that I went with because we had some seniors, some juniors, we had all across the board. And a few other freshman made it which was really cool to experience,” Bartram said.

In addition to participating in the track team, Bartram is also a dance major and is a part of Dance Club and IMPULSE. Bartram has been dancing ever since she was three years old, and originally started in jazz and hip hop before switching her focus to ballet.

“Well I still do all of it, I just like to focus on ballet which is one of the strongest things that makes you the strongest for dance. But I also just love jazz and I love taking it here,” Bartram said.

Bartram said she had been used to balancing dance with track for a long time.

“I mean I’ve been doing it since I was a kid, I mean I’ve always been running and dancing since I was younger, and it’s definitely hard.

Everybody always asks me like ‘How do you do it?’ But, I mean I just do it because I enjoy doing them both and being a part of both programs here is a great experience I think,” Bartram said.

Bartram’s busy schedule occasionally conflicts, and sometimes results in her

Japanese distributors and local farmers, never uses MSG products, recycles and is efficient with food waste.

“We share sauces, fruits and vinegars between the bar and kitchen and we also pickle unused foods to make things like kimchi,” said Kai Guo, Executive Chef and Co-founder of Yuzu Kitchen.

Yuzu also makes an effort to partner with local businesses and fundraisers to promote growth and community in Pittsburgh.

Just recently, Yuzu Kitchen worked with the charity One Day to Remember which helps children in Pittsburgh spend one dream day with their parent whom suffers from a life-limiting illness. For this event they set up a custom menu and cocktail for the guests of the event.

“The last one we did was in September for a child of a parent with cancer and all of the proceeds from our menu went to the charity,” Guo said.

If Asian inspired foods are not your cup of tea, there are certainly other great sustainable restaurant options in downtown.

Restaurants like Corner Mercantile, located in the energy-efficient PNC Pla-

za Tower, Shab’s Grill for a Mediterranean meal or V3 if you’re in the mood for a fast-casual pizza shop.

These restaurants are

“We believe in what we are doing here.”

Edward Lai

Owner, Bae Bae’s Kitchen

among some of the sustainability pioneers making a great difference in the downtown Pittsburgh food arena. While taste is obviously first when it comes to food, taking a more conscious approach may make your next meal taste a little better.

Next time you’re seeking out a meal, find yourself at one of the most sustainable restaurants in downtown; the Earth, your morals and your stomach will thank you.

Kimberly Prokurat kkproku@pointpark.edu

missing class for meets, or missing practice for class.

“I just make it work, but with the support of both my track coach and my dance teachers it works, and everyone helps me out with that,” Bartram said.

There are some days when Bartram says the physical demands of both activities becomes difficult, although she also stated that track and dance are complementary to each other.

“There’s days where I am sore for like a whole week,” Bartram said. “But I think that they both kind of balance each other very well because my stamina in dance is great and then my strength and core is great for running.

So they work really well together.”

In the future, Bartram hopes to join a broadway show or company before going to Los Angeles for commercial work.

“I kind of want to dip my feet into everything,” Bartram said.

Lauren Clouser lclous@pointpark.edu

Lauren Clouser| The Globe

OPINIONS

GL BE’S POINT

THE

6

WEDNESDAY MARCH 21, 2018

Error 404 printer not found Are campus resources adequate?

Students need resources. This is an undeniable fact. Without them, we may not be able to do the work that is required for our studies. The question we at The Globe are raising is: does Point Park provide us with all the resources necessary?

The answer is a yes, but with some nuances.

We have computer labs, but the printers are very much an entirely different story. Too often we find ourselves struggling with a rogue printer that has decided to put that really important essay you spent hours on last night that’s due today in a queue when you’re already five minutes late to class.

Just today, The Globe printer stopped working due to a lack of ink (that’s admittedly our fault), but when trying to use the second-floor Thayer computer lab, we ran into a problem that only the experienced lab user could solve.

When printing to the black and white printer, instead of printing it directly, you must first send the document to the color printer, which also doesn’t often work, and then click

‘Yes’ when it asks if you’d rather just send it to the black and white printer.

Let’s not even talk about the two days that the web print option was down. R.I.P. One shouldn’t need to act out their own Nicolas Cage-inspired adventure of clue finding to print a document.

The library introduced study rooms in their newly renovated basement, and while the idea has been wonderful, and students certainly appear to be using the rooms to their advantage, the walls have proved to be incredibly thin.

When studying for a test or working on an eight-page paper you may find yourself suddenly surrounded by the screams and laughter of a group not working on their project next to you.

Don’t get us wrong, Point Park has done an excellent job at making sure students have access to the tools needed to complete homework, but with every solution built, another problem is uncovered.

The Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu.

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Why the conversation must continue Mental health continues to plague students

By Alex Grubbs For The Globe

I needed to write to get this off my chest because I’m overwhelmed. This is the best way I can do it right now. Last week, my friend committed suicide.

We don’t have a reason.

Chris is just gone. He was the kid with the brightest smile and the kindest heart.

We were all supposed to graduate next month. I’m sad, angry and confused.

Should I have reached out for lunch? Should I have contacted him to hang out more often? Would any of that have affected his decision? What was even happening that I didn’t know about?

The last time I saw him was right before spring break this semester at the Oakland bar Hemmingway’s, and he seemed a bit off, but I assumed it was the same for all of us as we’re all graduating seniors, so I thought nothing of it.

When I found out, I was lost for words. I ran from school to my apartment to comfort my roommate who was crying and trying to find out more information. Some of my friends had known him since high school, so I couldn’t imagine how much worse this felt for them. But then we found out how he did it, and my mind went crazy. I tried putting myself in that

position where I was “deciding” to do it myself, and it was overwhelming.

I don’t know the reason why he killed himself, and I might never know. But did he just need a break?

Did he need to relax? Was there something deeper? I don’t know.

But what I realized in this process is how mental health is treated poorly all across the board.

Mental health on Point Park’s campus hasn’t been taken seriously. Director of Counseling Services Taffi Bucci resigned last month despite requests to the university for more staff since January 2016, as covered in a recent Globe issue.

And although my friend went to the University of Pittsburgh and Point Park services may not have affected him, this could have been any of us – this could have been any friend on this campus. We should have the proper resources to speak on this.

If I have problems, I should speak on them with the right people. And yeah, there’s also stigma talking to a professional, so most of us end up reaching to our friends – if we even decide to speak on it at all.

The hardest problem I’ve had with this grieving process is hearing,“I’m sorry, I’m here for you” from everyone. It’s a respectful phrase to say, but it’s not

helping. Just listen, please.

I want to talk about it, but every conversation is feeling cliché. “Just think of the good times,” and, “It’ll get easier.”

There were great times, but how does that justify for him killing himself? I know it will get easier eventually, but it’s still hard. I’m thankful for the support, but how can I talk about it if they don’t understand how I’m feeling?

I also feel I’m dampening the mood if I do speak of it. I want to talk about my friend’s suicide as candid as possible. I’m feeling these range of emotions.

I don’t want apologies. I don’t want meaningless phrases. Just let me speak and feel.

And with my grieving friends, this topic is becoming taboo – no one wants to talk about it. It’s still incredibly hard to even talk about, so I understand. But ignoring problems and not talking about them could’ve been what killed him. This is why I want us to talk and continue the conversation going forward.

I just wish we, collectively, had cared more. And I hope we realize we need to reach out for help or be there for each other when needed. Chris could still be alive if any of us, including him, did.

Alex Grubbs aagrubb@pointpark.edu

SENIORS: RECEIVE $80 OFF PER CREDIT WHEN YOU EARN YOUR GRADUATE DEGREE AT POINT PARK! DAYS • EVENINGS • SATURDAYS • ONLINE DOCTORATES

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M.A. and M.B.A. concurrently Note: Alumni discount is not applicable for online degrees or doctorates.

Learn more and apply:

PointPark.edu/GradDegrees Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967 Editor-in-Chief: Emily Bennett Editor-Elect: Carley Bonk Business Manager: Autumn Barszczowski Faculty Adviser: Dr. Steven Hallock Administrative Adviser: Dean Keith Paylo The Globe board consists of Emily Bennett, Carley Bonk and fellow editors. Opinion articles, letters to the editor, columns and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the position of the newspaper or editorial board. The Globe reserves the right to refuse advertising and edit all submitted articles and letters to the editor. Letters to the editor must be signed and include author’s contact information. The Globe offices are located in rooms 710 and 712 Lawrence Hall.

Writers should address letters to:

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Carmen Amadio, Staff Photographer Robert Berger, Co-News Editor, Delivery Assistant Sabrina Bodon, Online Editor Lauren Clouser, Co-Features Editor Dara Collins, Co-Sports Editor Josh Croup, Co-Sports Editor, Editor Emeritus Francesca Dabecco, Staff Writer Raffaele DiLullo, Staff Photographer Gracey Evans, Sports Photo Editor Sarah Gibson, Copy Editor Casey Hoolahan, Social Media Coordinator Nick Horwat, Co-A&E Editor, Copy Editor Eva Humphreys, Copy Editor Chloe Jakiela, Staff Photographer Nick Kardos, Political Cartoonist Katie Kelly, Staff Writer Nikole Kost, News Photo Editor Carley Lutz, Staff Photographer Derek Malush, Staff Writer

Dannys Marerro, PR Director, Staff Writer Josh McCann, Staff Writer Amanda Myers, Staff Writer Kayla Novak, Copy Editor Patrick Nucci, Staff Writer Danielle Nuttridge, Staff Writer, Copy Editor Hannah O’Toole, Social Media Coordinator Isabelle Opsitos, Graphic Designer Lauren Ortego, Co-Opinions Editor Nicole Pampena, Co-News Editor Alexander Popichak, Layout Editor, Editor Emeritus Veronica Rodriguez, Graphic Designer Sienna Rodriguez-Truley, Staff Writer, Delivery Assistant Allison Schubert, Co-Features Editor Jordan Slobodinsky, Copy Editor Kayla Snyder, Co-Copy Desk Chief, Co-Online Editor Michael Stinelli, Co-A&E Editor Beth Turnbull, Co-Opinions Editor Hannah Walden, Co-Copy Desk Chief

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

CROUP’S CORNER

By Josh Croup

Sports Columnist

Never working for milestones Growing up in Puerto Rico, baseball was woven into the fabric of daily life for Point Park baseball coach Loren Torres.

He compared baseball in his home country to soccer in Central and South America and Europe. It only made sense for him to pursue a career in the sport.

Now, after 14 seasons as a head baseball coach, Torres has accumulated more than 400 wins with more than 300 of them coming out of Point Park.

He earned his 400th career win during the conference opening series against Indiana University Kokomo this season. He picked up his 300th win as the skipper of the Pioneers last weekend against Cincinnati Christian.

Torres spent the first five years at Judson University in Illinois before coming to Point Park to turn the program back into a national powerhouse.

He set a program record with 53 wins in 2012, taking the Pioneers to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) World Series that year for the fifth time in program history.

He’s won the regular season conference championship five times during his Point Park tenure and has been named conference coach of the year on five separate occasions, including last year.

The head coach was honored before Sunday’s doubleheader with a ball from the 300th win commemorating his milestones that are all part of the bigger picture for head of the baseball program.

“Baseball has given me everything I have,” Torres said. “I feel like I’ve never worked a day in my life because I like baseball so much.”

He hasn’t been alone for the last nine years. Associate head coach Rocky Capobianco and assistant and pitching coach Bryan Neal have been

by his side for all 300 wins throughout his journey in Pittsburgh.

The coach got the Point Park baseball program back to the national stage. The Pioneers went unranked in the NAIA Top 25 from 1999 until 2011, his second year as the head coach.

Now, Point Park is 9-0 in the River States Conference and ended Sunday with an 18-game winning streak, only dropping its season opener in a 1-0 final in Florida.

From his assistant coaches, to his players, to his co-workers; the milestones put his career into perspective.

“I’m happy, but the ultimate goal is to have the team move forward, develop relationships, make sure these guys graduate and are successful in life, and that they grow as people as much as they grow as athletes,” Torres said.

He has averaged 36 wins per year at Point Park. Some programs struggle to pick up 36 total wins across multiple seasons. Point Park certainly did before he arrived.

It’s a program that had a reputation before he arrived, but a reputation that needed a face lift. He gave it that and then some.

His 2018 team is poised to be his best yet. The Pioneers will inevitably see their long winning streak end. How they work through adversity mentally will prove a lot about a team that has dominated most opponents throughout the season.

He preaches hard work and mental toughness.

They’re traits that any good baseball club needs to succeed. Preaching is one thing, getting players to buy into a system is another.

So far, he has done that - and he still hasn’t worked a day in his life.

Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu

LAST WEEK’S SCOREBOARD MARCH 13 - 19 BASEBALL (19-2) (9-0) CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN 1, POINT PARK 10*....................................March 17 CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN 1, POINT PARK 5*......................................March 17 CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN 0, POINT PARK 10*....................................March 18 CINCINNATI CHRISTIAN 2, POINT PARK 5*......................................March 18 FISHER COLLEGE 5, POINT PARK 1.....................................................March 19 FISHER COLLEGE 2, POINT PARK 5....................................................March 19

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018

Pitching staff leads baseball to 9-0 RSC

By Robert Berger Co-News Editor

The Pioneer baseball team played their home opening series this past weekend as they swept conference opponent Cincinnati Christian to improve their conference record to 9-0.

“We are really happy with how the series went, it was a good weekend and we put everything together,” head coach Loren Torres said. “The pitching, the defense and the hitting.”

With snow falling at first pitch, junior Nicholas Beardsley started for the Pioneers in game one. Throwing six innings, Beardsley allowed only two hits and one unearned run through his appearance.

“We didn’t even think the field would be ready to play on for today but it was great being back out here,” Beardsley said following the game.

Keenan Smith threw two shutout innings in relief of Beardsley, allowing only one hit. Closing out the game in his second pitching appearance this year was sophomore Robelin Bautista.

“We need to keep going out and playing our normal baseball from here on out and keep doing what we need to do,” Beardsley said.

The only run for the Eagles came in the sixth inning.

Beardsley gave up a walk to Cincinnati’s Micah McCray, who advanced to second and eventually crossed the plate on a throwing error from Point Park senior David Barefoot.

Offensively, game one was Point Park’s best of the 2018 season. Through nine innings, the Pioneers tallied a total of twenty hits, tying a season high.

Four came off the bat of senior Richard Perez, who went 4-5 with one RBI. Senior Reynaldo Adames went 2-4 with a double and a triple. The Pioneers won the game 10-1.

“We’ve been going since fall, so the weather wasn’t too big of a factor today. It’s challenging but we went out and fought and still had a good day,” Torres said.

Junior Felix Castillo started game two on Friday while making his fourth appearance of the season. Through six innings, Castillo faced 23 batters and gave up one run on three hits. Sophomore Daryl Pino pitched in relief for the last inning and allowed just one hit while picking up one strikeout.

In the second game, the Pioneers broke scoring open in the third inning. Sophomore Cole Horew led off the inning by singling to left field.

He advanced to second after his brother Jake Horew was hit by a pitch. The Horew brothers

Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Senior pitcher Keenan Smith pitches in the snow during Point Park’s home opener Saturday against Cincinnati Christian.

came in to score as senior Ben Herstine lined a single to centerfield scoring both.

Cole Horew scored another run in the fourth inning after hitting a two-run home run to left field. In total, Point Park tallied five runs in the seven inning contest, earning them a 5-1 victory.

The final two games of the four game series were played Sunday afternoon.

Junior Nick Bucci took the mound in the first contest as he held the Eagles to no hits through the first six innings.

Bucci gave up just three hits and earned seven strikeouts on the day.

“It felt good to be throwing in nice weather,” Bucci said. “It wasn’t snowing like yesterday which was also nice.”

Junior Ryan Huber took over to close out the game and struck out two of three batters he faced.

Offensively, Point Park scored two runs in the first inning as J. Horew and senior Andres Herrera both crossed the plate on a single to right from Perez. The Pioneers notched four more runs in the fourth inning on just two hits.

In total, the Eagles gave up 10 walks to Point Park. To conclude scoring on the day, Point Park scored four more times in the fifth inning, completing the 10-0 final score.

With the fourth-and-final game of the series not counting towards the team’s conference record, junior Christian Negron took the mound in the final contest.

Negron threw for six innings and only gave up two hits while taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning. He registered eight strikeouts on the day and

Next: March 20 vs. (RV) Seton Hill, March 23 vs. Asbury*

SOFTBALL (3-9) (0-0) POINT PARK 1, (11) LINDSEY WILSON 3..............................................March 15 POINT PARK 3, (11) LINDSEY WILSON 5.............................................March 15 POINT PARK 0, (4) CAMPBELLSVILLE 2.............................................March 16 POINT PARK 1, (4) CAMPBELLSVILLE 9..............................................March 16 Next: March 20 vs. Waynesburg, March 23 @ Cincinnati Christian*

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S GOLF Next: March 22, Carnegie Mellon Spring Invitational

WOMEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD Next: March 24, Cal U Early Bird Invitational

MEN’S OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD Next: March 24, Cal U Early Bird Invitational *River States Conference Game

7

225 Ross St.

411 7th Ave.

414 Smithfield St.

412-281-8822

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picked up the win.

Offensive efforts began in the first inning as the Pioneers tacked four runs on the board.

C. Horew first scored on single to left from junior Eric Montero. After J. Horew and Herstine reached base to follow, Billy Kidd came to the plate and hit a three-run homerun to right field.

Point Park added another run to the board in the second inning. Adames lead off the inning with a triple to center. Two batters late, J. Horew hit a sacrifice fly to left scoring Adames.

Point Park also played a pair of non-conference games Monday afternoon facing Fisher College at home. The Pioneers dropped game one 5-1 as starter C. Horew tossed 4.1 innings and gave up four runs. Junior Addison Domingo pitched in relief giving up the other run.

Point Park answered back in game two and came out with a 5-1 victory. Junior Jake Forgrave pitched 3.1 innings in the winning effort while Domingo closed the final 3.2 innings giving up two hits and one earned run.

“Fischer will give us an opportunity to be battle tested,” Torres said after Saturday’s games. “I think we need more of that, better battles to see exactly where we are.”

The Pioneers’ 18-game winning streak came to an end in game one of a non-conference doubleheader with a 5-1 loss at home to Fisher College.

Point Park continues conference play this weekend at Green Tree Park, facing off against Asbury University in a three-game series.

Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu

8

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2018

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

National champion Shields leaving legacy, making most of second chance

By Dara Collins Co-Sports Editor

Anna Shields finished the indoor track and field season with a number of accomplishments. From being named the conference Indoor Track Athlete of the Week five times to being named the NAIA Women’s Indoor Track National Athlete of the Year, Shields racked up every honor in between.

Shields highlighted the women’s team at the indoor national competition when she claimed two NAIA national titles in the 1,000 meters and mile, recording new personal bests and almost breaking the meet records by 0.41 and 0.4 seconds respectively.

Last year, decorated Nigerian runner Aminat Olowora beat Shields in the mile event. This year, Shields took home the gold. The Oklahoma City University athlete had never lost an NAIA championship race before.

“I am not surprised she won,” Olowora said. “She deserved it. She’s a very competitive athlete. We ran together in cross country, and she was beside me the first mile before I left her. I won’t say because I’m tired she beat me. No, she beat me. That deserves it. She’s a hard-working athlete, so she beat me this time. So that is running, some will win and some will lose.”

Shields is all too familiar with losing.

During middle school, the Torrington, Conn. native began running well and noticed she was already competing on the national scale.

A number of state championships, state records and offers from Division I schools later, Shields’s ability began to decline.

“In my mind it was all going to work out, but during my senior year I started running worse every race, and I wasn’t really sure why,” Shields said. “Now I would say there were probably some nutritional deficiencies…I didn’t have someone to give me advice on that aspect of training which is just as important as actual workouts.”

Shields’s Division I offers were rescinded. She originally committed to University of North Carolina, but the coach retracted their interest due to Shields not “running at a high enough level.”

Scrambling to find a school, Shields reached out to Central Connecticut State University to find a coach who would give her a chance.

“I ran even worse,” Shields said.

Shields admitted she would give her best effort, but she continued to run worse.

The coach who signed her left after her freshman year, and the new coach suggested she think about quitting.

So she did.

Shields finished two full years of school, but only one full year of athletic eligibility.

Losing the athletic scholar-

Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Junior Anna Shields races ahead of the pack in an outdoor meet last season. The team begins the 2018 outdoor season this Saturday at the Cal U Early Bird Invitational.

ship forced Shields to find a full-time job.

“It became more important to me to be independent, so I got my own place and was living on my own working a few different jobs to try and support that,” Shields said.

Shields realized that

Softball comes up empty at crossover tournament

By Jordan Slobodinsky Copy Editor

Despite a strong outing from the Pioneers softball team last week against nationally ranked opponents, the team was unable to come up with a win at the Lindsey Wilson/Campbellsville University crossover tournament.

The Pioneers (3-9) took to Columbia, Ky. to take on NAIA No. 11-ranked Lindsey Wilson Thursday and No. 4-ranked Campbellsville (18-3) (Ky.) Friday.

In the first contest against Lindsey Wilson, the Pioneers tallied one run in the top of the second after a two-out double by senior Alyssa McMurtrie. Sophomore Amber Cook followed McMurtrie’s efforts with a double of her own to bring McMurtrie home and give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.

The Blue Raiders came back in the bottom of the fourth inning, scoring three runs.

Amber Hancock hit a solo home run to start the scoring rally and the inning continued to go downhill for the Pioneers from there. A hit by pitch, sacrifice bunt and a double allowed for Lindsey Wilson to take a 3-1 lead. The Blue Raiders held that lead until the end of the game.

Junior pitcher Ashley Iagnemma took the loss in the contest, tossing four innings, allowing five hits and three walks. Junior relief pitcher Tiffany Edwards finished the game, going two innings and

allowing one hit and one walk.

In the nightcap, the Pioneers again came out strong, but failed to finish the game.

Senior Kim Corcoran hit a triple to right field in the first inning. Corcoran came home quickly as senior Jess Beitler hit a two-run home run over the fence to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead after the first inning.

However, the Blue Raiders did not take long to come back. After a scoreless top of the second, the Blue raiders made their presence known.

After loading the bases in the bottom of the fourth, Callum Pilgrim hit a two-out grand slam to suddenly put the Blue Raiders up 4-2 after two innings.

The Pioneers fought back in the third inning as senior Lily Pruneda reached first on a walk and was brought home after Corcoran hit a double and cut the lead to 4-3. However in the bottom of the third, the Blue Raiders added another run en route to a 5-3 win over the Pioneers.

Sophomore pitcher Katie Tarr went four innings, giving up five hits and five runs, as well as three walks. Edwards again went in for relief, going two innings and allowing no runs or walks.

The second series of last week was more of the same for the Pioneers as they faced off against Campbellsville Friday.

The Pioneers dropped both games despite a well contested first game.

The Tigers took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the second

inning after an error at third base allowed two runners to score on one play. Cook made the error, but no more damage was done as those were the only runs the Tigers were able to muster against the Pioneers.

Point Park was unable to get a run the entire game.

Freshman Maddie Horn was 2-3 at the plate and Iagnemma pitched the entire game. Iagnemma went six innings, allowing six hits, two unearned runs and striking out four batters.

Though this game was a close loss, the second game of Friday’s double-header was not similar. Campbellsville rocked the Pioneers pitching staff for nine runs in the contest.

Junior Shannon Davis was 2-2 and scored a run, but that was the end of the Pioneers offense. In the top of the fourth inning Davis hit a single and McMurtrie reached on an error. Cook made it to first base on a fielder’s choice and Davis made it to third base. Junior Brittany Zeigler hit a single that brought Davis home for the Pioneers only run of the game.

After the Tigers put up nine runs after only five innings, the game was called due to the mercy-rule.

Point Park travels to Cincinnati Christian and Ohio Christian this weekend to open River States Conference (RSC) play.

Jordan Slobodinsky jeslobo@pointpark.edu

finding a job without a college degree is frustrating and depressing.

“People act like you’re stupid if you don’t have a degree which, of course, isn’t true,” Shields said. “I think that is a real shame because I got lucky to be able to run and go back to school, but there’s so many people out there that don’t have that opportunity.”

Shields continued to stay active minimally after work following her withdrawal from Central Connecticut.

“It was ridiculous,” Shields said. “I didn’t even own a pair of running shoes.

I would get out of working at the bank, and I’d be wearing loafers. I’d go jog for 15 minutes in work pants.”

At 25 years old, Shields decided she wanted to start training again.

“I would run for even two hours at night, alone on a bike path,” Shields said. “I felt the love for it again and got stronger and stronger.”

Training inspired Shields to return to competing.

“The highlight of my life at that time was looking forward to road races,” Shields said. “It didn’t even matter if it was a goofy local 5K. That was the most exciting thing. I was running again, and I was competing. I was running a 20-minute 5K, but I won a race again, and it just got the fire back in my blood to compete. It was never really gone, but it was something I didn’t think I could do.”

Shields could not have been more wrong.

The junior cross country and track athlete has piled on the accolades since her first season at Point Park.

“It’s a good and bad thing sometimes, but running is her primary focus,” Parsley said. “It’s really what drives her.”

Parsley acknowledges Shields doesn’t love cross country, but she appreciates and values it. On the other hand, track is a “whole other animal” for Shields.

Shields finished the in-

door season with the top times in the NAIA in the 800 meters, 1,000 meters and mile and the second best time in the 600 meters. Shields’s college-bests are 2 minutes, 7 seconds; 2 minutes, 47 seconds; 4 minutes, 37 seconds; and 1 minute, 33 seconds, respectively.

Of these first-place events, Shields also runs the best times in all three compared to women’s track and field teams of local Pittsburgh schools University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, Carlow University and Robert Morris University.

Shields has started to create in Point Park athletics. She was named to the All-River States Conference (RSC) First Team and qualified for nationals in her past two cross country seasons. Shields placed twelfth at the national meet this past season with a time of 17 minutes, 50 seconds, a national meet record for the Pioneers.

The track star has qualified for nationals in multiple events in her past two indoor seasons and last year’s outdoor season. She was named NAIA Outdoor National Track Athlete of the Year during the 2017 season and gained the honor once again this past indoor season.

Shields has won seven NAIA All-American honors since her debut and claimed conference and national track athlete of the week 12 times across cross country and track.

“I think that sometimes people think it comes easily to me but it definitely doesn’t and it hasn’t.,” Shields said.

“It’s been a long struggle to get here.”

At 27 years old, she’s only just scratched the surface.

“She’s getting [awards] so fast and so many, there’s a chance we might miss a few,” Parsley said.

The smallest victory means everything to Shields.

“I don’t take any win for granted against anybody,” Shields said. “Every moment, I appreciate it. It will never become stale, and I think that that’s something people don’t know. I still feel anxiety before every time I race.”

Shields represents Point Park as a better athlete than she’s ever been.

“I’m better now than I would’ve been if I pushed through it,” Shields said.

“I would have wasted my college eligibility running poorly.”

Shields joins the women’s squad this Saturday as the outdoor season kicks off with the California University of Pennsylvania Early Bird Invitational. She aims to drop her outdoor personal bests and run times that will allow her to run in top-level races over the summer.

“I hope I will be able to establish myself as someone who can compete at a high level and set up the pieces for possibly having a pro career post-graduation,” Shields said.

Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu