Point Park Globe Spring 2019 Issue 4

IN THIS ISSUE: PAGE

@PPUGlobe January 30, 2019

4 PAGE 6 PAGE 8

Read about this week’s Pioneer Public profile, Dannys Marrero Columnist Mick Stinelli takes an international look at the border crisis Michelle Burns sets school record for most 3-pointers in a single game ppuglobe.com

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

Issue 4

SAIL SHOWDOWN KICKS OFF WITH Point Closet opens MURAL PAINTING AND ICE CREAM permanent location

By Jordyn Hronec Co-News Editor

Gracey Evans | The Globe

Margaret Hinnebusch, a freshman psychology major, and Cassidy Burke, a freshman theater production major, both members of the Women’s Rugby team, paint their mural during the SAIL Showdown on Monday.

Health Center head nurse resigns from position mid-flu season

By Sara Cronin For The Globe

Student Health nurse, Katie Leslie, resigned from her position at Point Park two weeks before the end of the 2018 fall semester.

“The previous nurse was unable to continue doing the job, but it was nothing job-related,” Stephanie Wertz said, who is the administrative assistant at the Student Health Center. “She had to resign and we’re in the process of going through resumes and interviewing people. We’re filling the position just like any other position.”

Wertz explained that the Student Health Center has had a nurse present since Leslie left. Students

were still able to seek medical help and guidance from the Health Center despite Leslie’s absence.

“Our loss was nothing more than a personal problem,” Michael Gieseke, the Dean of Student Life said The University would not release any further information on her resignation.

Though Leslie resigned from her position two weeks before the winter break, the night nurse, Kristen Lukhaupt, started to fill the position at the Student Center until the end of the 2018 fall semester.

“Right now we have an agency nurse,” said Wertz.

“She’s here until we hire an official university nurse,

and we are fully staffed the same hours.”

The agency nurse is from the STAT agency: a local recruiting firm that provides hire placements for nurses and other professionals in the medical field.

The Student Health Center, located on the second floor of Thayer Hall, can help students by providing over-the-counter medicine and flu shots, and is also available if a student needs a person to talk to.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, flu activity, or flu season, peaks between the months of December and February.

The Health Center has

NURSE page 2

From pop-up thrift shops to fashion shows, Point Closet is an organization that has made itself known on campus.

Now, as of Jan. 22, Point Closet has its own permanent residence in Lawrence Hall.

Yvette Hines, a senior broadcast production major, serves as Point Closet’s co-creative director. She is excited for the new space.

“There’s no more ‘it’s coming’,” Hines said. “It’s here. The store is open to students.”

Hines noted that in the first three days of the store being open, the Point Closet has already been utilized by 10 students.

“I love the Point Closet,” Rosalie Anthony, a freshman dance major who modeled in the Point Closet’s fashion show, said. “I’m very happy that they got a new store, and I’m very happy that they got to expand from the pop-up shops. I really want to go and see what they have.”

The Point Closet is located on the second floor of Lawrence Hall, tucked away in a short hallway near the Point Cafe. The hallway contains the new Center for Inclusive Excellence office and the Interfaith Room. Students wishing to visit the Point Closet must walk to the end of that hallway and through a frosted glass door, behind which there is a set of stairs.

The Point Closet is at the top of those stairs.

It’s a nondescript location that can be hard to find, but the Point Closet is in the process of obtaining signage so that students know where to go.

Obtaining a permanent space for the Point Closet was a process.

“We went through Dean Paylo and Dean Gieseke,” Hines said. “They helped us

out a lot to get the space and renovate it. They come up here often to find out what we need. They’ve donated a lot of clothes. They’ve been amazing.”

With a new location, the Point Closet is hoping to continue helping students in ways that they have since their founding.

“Monae Findley, who is our president, started [Point Closet] because she saw a need to give back,” Hines said.

“We were throwing away so many clothes. A lot of people on campus don’t have enough clothes, and thrifting is something a lot of people do.”

While everything at the new store is free, the Point Closet encourages students to donate and support their cause.

“Students can donate at pop-up shops, in the store, or in our donation bins,” Katie Kelly, a senior journalism major who serves as the Point Closet’s public relations officer, said. “We accept everything except undergarments, swimsuits and socks. We also ask that students wash items before donating.”

The Point Closet is planning events for the near future, including a pop-up shop in Lawrence Hall lobby on Jan. 30 from 2-4 pm. Other events will be advertised on the Point Closet’s Facebook and Instagram pages, as well as their Snapchat account. The Point Closet is also launching their own website soon through Wix. “We’re doing a lot of exciting things that we’re excited for,” Kelly said.

The Point Closet is open to students Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jordyn Hronec jthrone@pointpark.edu

USG meets to allocate club budgets USG

By Mitchell Drake USG Beat Writer

The United Student Government (USG) met in the third floor Lawrence Hall ballroom on Monday to discuss budgeting for its operations and clubs.

Treasurer Kourteney Lampel presented the internal budget of USG on a spreadsheet, noting how various amounts of the $12,060 budget were to be spent for upkeep, such as the $4,000 needed for member stipend and $3,500 on the bike program that USG funds.

She then explained that USG has a $15,540 budget that will be allocated to 20

student clubs and organizations that submitted appeals for access to the budget. The heads of a number of clubs attended the meeting to hear information on the allocation. The voting on which appeals will be approved will take place next Monday, Feb. 4.

One club, previously known as “Good Luck Have Fun” (GLHF) also had its leaders attend as USG voted on allowing the club’s name to change to Wood Street Zombies Esports (WSZE). The Esports Club had recently spoken with members of the Rules Committee to enact the change before the meeting, planning to completely rebrand their club.

When the item approached on the agenda,

the USG quickly agreed to the name change - resulting in sounds of joy from the club’s members in the audience.

New senatorial nominations were also discussed, as four nominees had attended the meeting.

They were summoned to the center of the meeting and introduced themselves.

Among those nominated were freshman advertising and public relations major Emily Sjoberg, sophomore broadcast production major Cole D’Alicandro, sophomore special education major Jade Steele and freshman cinema production major Julius Thomas.

These candidates were chosen for how they would

USG page 3

Jordyn Hronec | The Globe

The Point Closet opens a permanent shop in Lawrence Hall.

Weather Forecast Today: Windy H 10, L -1

Thursday: Mostly Sunny, H 12, L 7 Friday: Cloudy, H 21, L 13 Saturday: Mostly Cloudy, H 35, L 29

Sunday: Showers, H 49, L 42 Monday: Showers, H 52, L 43 Tuesday: Showers, H 45, L 34

Point Park

GLOBE

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

NEWS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Public hearing occupies City-County lobby

By Jordyn Hronec Co-News Editor

On Thursday, Jan. 24 at 6:00 p.m., the lobby of the City-County Building was the host to a public hearing. The hearing was held in regards to gun control legislation that was proposed by council members Corey O’Connor and Erika Strassburger.

Due to the high volume of citizens and speakers that were expected to attend, the hearing was moved to the lobby rather than the Council Chambers. According to KDKA news, before the event began, over 100 speakers had already registered.

The hearing comes after a Second Amendment rally was held in front of the City-County Building on Monday, Jan. 8. The large crowds during this rally were a precursor to the high turnout at the hearing. The hearing also comes after Mayor Bill Peduto, a supporter of the legislation, clashed with the District Attorney, Stephen Zappala, who warned in a letter to Peduto that the proper way to go about this type of legislation is through Harrisburg.

Before the hearing began, two lines stretched from where the City Council was seated all the way to the building’s Ross Street entrance. One line was designated for pre-registered speakers, and another was reserved for non-registered speakers.

Registered speakers were given three minutes to speak, and non-registered speakers were given one minute.

Speakers at the event included psychologists, human rights activists, gun rights enthusiasts, army veterans, children, citizens of the Squirrel Hill neighborhood and members of the Tree of Life Synagogue, where a shooting took place this past October that left 11 people dead.

One speaker, Rob Conroy from Pittsburgh, is a member of an organization called CeaseFirePA, which works throughout the state of Penn-

sylvania to end gun violence.

“We need these laws in Pittsburgh, and we need to continue the fight to push these initiatives both state and nation-wide,” Conroy said in his address to City Council. “I’m proud of the women and men who lead this city - people like Councilwoman Strassburger and Councilman O’Connor, who have led this particular fight - and who, by introducing these ordinances and working to forge a statewide coalition around them, are standing up to the violence at both Tree of Life and in so many neighborhoods on a daily basis.”

Another speaker, Ian Davis, a personal defense instructor from McKees Rocks, opposed the legislation. In his speech, he gave a series of facts that illustrated why banning weapons like the AR-15 may not be effective in lessening gun violence.

“We need these laws in Pittsburgh, and we need to continue the fight to push these initiatives,” Rob Conroy,

CeaseFire PA

“An AR-15 rifle with a 30 round magazine shoots up to 100 rounds per minute,” Davis explained in his speech.

“A 10 pound Civil War rifle shoots up to 30 rounds per minute. And the most rapid-fire massive shooting in the history of the United States since Columbine has achieved only 31 rounds per minute. Conclusion - given what we experienced in the 50 mass shootings since Col-

Jordyn Hronec | The Globe

A concerned citizen addresses the Pittsburgh City-Council during a public hearing regarding proposed gun-control legislation. umbine, given that the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, and all other factors remain the same, it’s unreasonable to conclude that reduction in the 30-round magazine capacity of the AR15 will materially contribute to reducing the casualty or death rate of mass shootings.”

David Lynch, a Pittsburgh resident, was an unregistered speaker at the event.

“I’m here for the same reason as a lot of people,” Lynch said. “I’m pro-gun. I feel like this legislation that’s being passed goes against my rights.”

There was very little room in the building for citizens who were simply looking to observe, which according to City-County Building workers, was the goal, as they were concerned that even the massive lobby wouldn’t be large enough to hold those wishing to address the Council, let alone citizen onlookers.

However, some mem-

Jordyn Hronec | The Globe Two lines of citizens waiting to speak before the Pittsburgh City-Council stretch through the lobby of the City-Council Building.

bers of the public who wished to observe were able to make it in.

“We’re just here to see what’s going on,” Mark Johnson of Pittsburgh said. “We’re curious.”

“I’m pro-gun.

I feel like this legislation that’s being passed goes against my rights,” David Lynch, Pittsburgh resident Johnson and his friend, Eugene Greene of Carrick, were both seated on a bench along the perimeter of the lobby, outside of the lines.

“I’m here seeing that my rights don’t get violated,” Greene said.

Other attendees included Keith Somers of Squirrel Hill, who represented the Pennsylvania chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP supports gun control legislation and views the issue of gun violence as a public health issue.

At the hearing, the Council President Bruce Kraus had to repeatedly remind speakers to keep the noise to a minimum, as the large number of attendants and the acoustics of the lobby made it hard to hear speakers at times. Also, after select speeches, the crowd had a tendency to break out in applause.

“This is not a theater, this is an official hearing of the

Pittsburgh City Council and it will be conducted as such,” Kraus announced at one point in the evening.

This, however, did not stop attendants from letting their voices be heard.

One woman at the hearing carried and held a sign that read “Impeach Peduto Here!”

Others expressed frustration with the process, with one man exclaiming, “They put us in an echo chamber, how are we supposed to hear any damn thing?”

One man brought along a gallon bucket to sit on while he waited in the long line.

The legislation in question proposes bans on certain semi-automatic weapons and accessories within the limits of the City of Pittsburgh.

There is also a proposed bill that would grant authorities the right to remove weapons from any person they deem to be an extreme threat.

According to the Tribune-Review, following the hearing, the City Council is considering amending the proposed legislation in order to make it more clear to citizens which types of guns will be banned.

The City Council is expected to vote on the legislation within the coming weeks. After that, the legislation will move on to a final vote. Then it will come before Mayor Peduto for his approval.

Should the Council pass this legislation, there is expected to be a long legal battle with organizations such as the National Rifle Association and gun advocates in Pennsylvania.

Jordyn Hronec jthrone@pointpark.edu

STAT agency nurse takes over head nurse position from NURSE page 1 already put in an effort to combat the health issues that arrive with the upcoming flu season, as well as with the return of students at the start of a new semester. Since students at Point Park share everything from close living quarters to classrooms, it’s not hard for a virus to spread across the University’s small campus.

“Monday, the first day

back, we were super busy.

Everyone was starting to pass around their germs again. I anticipate it’s going to be like that for a couple months,” Wertz said.

Wertz explained that she put together cold and flu comfort bags last week that were available for students who were visiting the Health Center.

The bags included tissues, cough drops, tea bags, a thermometer and a sheet that provided easy-to-fol-

low advice to help alleviate symptoms that come with the common cold and flu.

“They are doing their job, but they’re doing it in a kind way that makes you feel like you’re welcome and able to come back if you ever have another issue,” Sophie Burkholder said. Burkholder is a freshman political science major who has visited the Health Center twice.

“They let you know that this is the place you can come

to for resources regarding your health.” She said.

If there is a situation that the Health Center decides needs further attention from a doctor, the UPMC doctor’s office on Sixth Avenue works with the Health Center to make appointments for students.

“We have several appointments during the day that they save for us and we send [students] down there. As far as going down and seeing a physician, that

is covered by the student’s health fee,” Wertz said.

While appointments at the UPMC office are important, Gieseke believes that the health center on campus is a vital first step.

“It’s important that students use the Health Center here. They’re able to answer questions, give advice, and steer students in the right direction,” said Gieseke.

Sara Cronin scroni@pointpark.edu

NEWS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

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Campus police implement new training simulation Simulation technology enhances police training on appropriate firearm use Mitchell Drake Staff Writer

The Point Park Police Department has been using an audiovisual simulation to train campus officers on how to react to high-stress situations. The simulations have been in use by officers for at least a year, but are just now being publicly disclosed.

Assistant Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police Jeffrey Besong stated that the simulations and the equipment used to operate them was funded by private donations from eight anonymous donors last year. Besong also claimed that Point Park is one of just a few colleges to host situational simulation training for campus police.

The simulations are performed in a small room where video clips are projected onto a blank wall.

The officer that is in the programmed situation stands towards the projected screen while another officer directs the simulation at a nearby computer, acting as the dispatcher.

The room is additionally equipped with a surround sound system and red and blue police lights to amplify and immerse the officer in

the simulation. An observation room with two windows sits in the back, where other officers or their superiors can watch and rate the training. On the wall sits a black sign that reads: “When you’re under pressure you don’t rise to the occasion, you sink to the level of your training.”

Lt. Nicholas Black and Officer Matthew Mays demonstrated the simulation, with Black engaging with the screen and Mays as the dispatcher.

In the simulation, Black was equipped with a fake handgun loaded with a CO2 air cartridge to give the handgun the weight of a real gun. Black noted that officers will never use live ammunition in the simulations, and instead use a system similar to a light gun arcade game to shoot virtual targets. Officers also use other equipment they would use in the field during a simulation such as flashlights, tasers and assault rifles depending on the simulation.

Mays, acting as the dispatcher, described the situation that Black was about to experience. As the simulation began, a video clip of a man attempting to steal a bicycle from a bike rack was

shown on the screen. Black began to ask the bike thief questions before demanding that he drop his bolt cutters and back away from the rack.

Then, Mays would select a clip that would respond to how Black approached the thief. In the first attempt, Black remained firm and attempted to verbally diffuse the thief with success as the thief dropped his bolt cutters and complied. In the second attempt, Mays had the thief react violently to Black’s assertive approach - prompting Black to draw his weapon before the thief could attack.

Mays detailed that the simulations are based on real-life scenarios that officers have experienced. Ti Training, a company that markets training simulations and equipment to the police and military, sends Point Park Police updated scenarios every three months. He also stated that amount of variables shown by officer approaches and the swath of new simulations allows for “unlimited scenarios”.

Black maintained that the simulations are not for firearm practice, but to heighten the trainee’s situational awareness and re-

duce officer complacency.

The simulations are solely used to improve officer decision-making and de-escalation techniques through either verbal, hands-on or presence-based situations.

“Any authority figure holding a gun should have situational training.”

Ariel Squire, Juinor Acting Major “It teaches you when to meet the force with a force,” Black said.

The new simulation training has been met with a hearty response; not only from Point Park Police, but from students as well.

Junior acting major Ariel Squire believes the simulation is a good step in improving how officers interact and deal with situations and supports the use of mindset training.

“Any authority figure holding a gun should have situational training,”

Squire said.

Senior transfer and business management major Josh Lepish stated that the simulations would help students fully rely on the police when prompted with scary situations.

Lepish, who has only recently become acclimated to city life, was rattled when he first experienced Pittsburgh and the importance of inner-city public safety.

“Buffing up safety will always be an improvement,” Lepish said.

Freshman broadcast production and media management major Ruben Roldan says that the simulations would help students especially.

Roldan expressed the importance of officers being able to “trust their gut” and how mindset training simulations would greatly improve their ability to do so. He also believed that people who criticize the ability of the police force and it’s actions should experience the simulations to understand the stress and snap-decisions that officers endure.

Mitchell Drake mjdrake@pointpark.edu

SEP. 14, 2018 - SEP. 20, 2018

Friday, January 4

Thursday, January 10

Tuesday, January 15

Sunday, January 6

Saturday, January 12

Tuesday, January 22

2:58 p.m. - Lawrence Hall Drug Violation

12:53 p.m. - Lawrence Hall Harassment

10:34 p.m. - Blvd. Apts.

Drug Violation

8:05 p.m. - Wood Street Criminal Trespass

10:34 p.m. - Blvd. Apts.

Drug and Weapons Violations

Thursday, January 24 2:00 p.m. - Lawrence Hall Theft

4:00 p.m. - 1st Avenue Warrant

USG swears in four new senators to conclude from USG page 1 best represent different schools and organizations that make up campus. The selection process attempted to recruit a diverse array of students that would apply their unique views to allow for discussions and decisions to appeal to the concerns of a larger range of the student public (WPPJ members, sports team members, commuters etc.).

Shortly after they were introduced, the four were sworn in as full members of USG. The Communications Committee has reported success with their drafted media posts that were discussed at the last legislative body meeting to increase activity on their social media accounts on Instagram and Twitter. They also unveiled new designs for hot cards to advertise information about USG in key public spaces around campus.

To further improve their outreach with the public, Parliamentarian Matthew Spadaccia presented a proposal to adjust the treasurer position. The proposal included increas-

ing accessibility for club leaders by allowing them to easily meet with the treasurer in the SAIL office.

He also stated how adjusting the bylaws with how treasurers are appointed would allow for greater versatility and harder work from treasurers. Spadaccia claims the proposal would not make the qualifications for treasurer higher, but would be adjusted only “to get the right people in the position.”

USG also made attempts to improve internal communications by instituting Slack, a team-messaging service that many clubs and organizations are beginning to use for its ability to provide a business-oriented hub for communication and idea-sharing.

Further discussions on information shared at legislative body meetings, student concerns and rule consultation now have their own easily accessible message boards online.

On the topic of rule consultations, a clothing debacle unfolded when Senator Jacob Berlin pointed out that President Kaylee Kearns was wearing business casual attire during the

meeting, as she had just attended another meeting before the legislative body meeting, and was not abiding by the Constitution’s bylaws dealing with the dress code.

Ex-CAB and legislative body Liaison Megan Ortego defended Kearns by stating that the issue would be discussed privately to avoid stopping the meeting’s procession and “making President Kearns uncomfortable.”

Spadaccia stepped into the argument by consulting the dress code bylaws, stating that Berlin was wearing dark denim jeans that also did not abide by the dress code. Berlin refuted by standing on his chair and presenting his pants to the legislative body and the audience, explaining that the darkness of his denim would make his pants appear to not be jeans.

When the argument was diffused, no violations or reprimands were handed out to either of the dress code violators.

Mitchell Drake mjdrake@pointpark.edu

Jared Murphy | The Globe

Vice President Brittany Arp, Parlimentarian Matthew Spadaccia and Recording Secretary Sophie Burkholder address USG.

4

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

FEATURES

CAB gives back with lunches

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

New Studios.

New Lineup.

THE SOUND OF

POINT PARK UNIVERSITY Amanda Myers | The Globe

Sophomore Madison Corcoran helps make bagged lunches for those in need at Feed The Many.

By Amanda Myers Co-Features Editor

Last Thursday on Jan. 24, in light of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Campus Activities Board (CAB) held an event to provide bagged lunches for the needy.

Kate Smith, senior business management major and Executive Director of CAB, says the campus community likes to honor the holiday while giving back to those less fortunate. This year’s event held in West Penn was no exception.

“Well, every year we like to do something for Martin Luther King [Jr.] Day and last year we did a brunch for all the student leaders on campus, but we wanted to give back to the community in a more in-depth way this

PIONEER PUBLIC Dannys Marrero

By Payton Comunale Co-Features Editor

When asked how he would leave his mark on Point Park University, Dannys Marrero replied, “I’m a military-student-athlete-drag queen, just saying.”

Marrero, a 20-year-old political science major, has quite the all-encompassing co-curricular life.

“You can do whatever you want to do,” Marrero said. “That’s basically what I feel like I’ve been demonstrating at Point Park.”

Marrero was raised in Puerto Rico by his military family. His mother was eventually assigned the task of moving around

year,” Smith said.

This year, CAB partnered with the SAIL office and reached out to Operation Safety Net (OSN), a medical and social outreach program in Pittsburgh that works with shelters for women, and those homeless and in need on the street. They decided that a good way to give back would be by making bagged lunches that the organization could then distribute to their partners.

“We thought this would be the best way to give back, use that money that we would’ve put toward a brunch and buy all these materials and make over 350 bagged lunches,” Smith said.

The materials were assembled on tables in West

Penn for students to come and participate in the process. Each lunch had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a granola bar and a bottle of water. Allison Hritz, a sophomore secondary education social studies major with a dual in special education, felt moved by the idea.

“I heard about the event via the Social Scoop and posters around campus,” Hritz said. “I love campus initiatives that take part in community engagement and I just really wanted to give back since this is an event honoring Martin Luther King Jr., too.”

She was joined by her friend Madison Corcoran, also a sophomore secondary education social studies major. She and Hritz are both

the states, and Marrero had no choice but to travel with her starting at the age of 10.

He has tattooed up his leg a list of all the places he has lived since Puerto Rico, including Kentucky, Florida and New York City.

“Point Park is like, thirteenth on the lineup,” Marrero said in regard to this list.

In his early years, he never contemplated choosing colleges because he never thought he would be granted the chance to go to one. However, he ran his way straight into scholarship money.

Marrero began running track and cross country his sophomore year of high school in New York City.

Queens quickly became his favorite place he had lived thus far.

“That’s where a lot of things were set in motion to allow me to become myself,” Marrero said.

Running was one of these “things,” and as he moved from New York to Tampa, Fl., Marrero started facing some tough competition.

“When I moved to Florida, I thought I was hot stuff, but I was wrong,” Marrero

said. He had shortened his five-minute mile down to just 4 minutes, 30 seconds.

Moving around as much as he did, Marrero faced other challenges as well.

“Coming here, I had to learn English in about a year,” Marrero said. “I could have either learned English in one year, or I was going to be held back a year or two.”

He believes minoring in broadcast at Point Park helped him with his broken English and fixed his pronunciation.

While studying broadcast, Marrero helped create ‘On Point with Politics.’ He became the first freshman to create his own show at the university.

Point Park was also the birth place of Marrero’s drag persona, ‘Alexa Killer.’ She is 2 years old and thriving. Marrero did not initially think he could pull off the art of drag, but Point Park led him to this newfound creativity.

“After I came here and saw my first show, I was like, ‘I can do that!’” Marrero said.

Marrero also signed a contract with the Army after his first year at Point

WPPJRadio.com in the club Campus Cursive.

“CAB is awesome for putting this event together,” Corcoran said. “If there are more similar events in the future, I would definitely love to support.”

Smith said she hopes to put on more events like this in the future. CAB chose OSN because they were familiar with the organization and the work they do in the community. “[OSN] is one we worked with in the past,” Smith said. “We’ve heard really great things about how they give back to the community and the outreach programs that they have so we wanted to work and partner with an organization who would be

Payton Comunale | The Globe

Park. He became the only student at the university with an ROTC contract and followed in his parents’ footsteps.

After completing basic training a few years ago, Marrero made the journey back to Point Park.

“For now, I’m just focusing on my Army contract and finishing my degree so that I can commission for the ROTC,” Marrero said.

But he wishes to someday get into policy-making.

In his time at Point Park, he has learned a lot about himself.

“As a person, I became more artistic and more

able to get these lunches to those most in need of them.”

Sabrina Bivins of OSN said that it’s great when people can see the kind of situations people are in of those less fortunate and see it in their heart to give back, especially during this time of the year.

“We get most of our donations in the winter, probably half of our donations occur during the winter months,” Bivins said.

The bagged lunches that students at Point Park prepared will be distributed to multiple centers, Bivins said, with each organization typically taking a box.

Amanda Myers admyers@pointpark.edu

Dannys Marrero | Submitted

open to other things,” Marrero said.

“I like Point Park,” Marrero said. “I get to meet new people, and that’s more meaningful to me than anything else.”

He suggests that other students get out of their shells and spend their time at school productively.

“I’ve proven that you can come to Point Park and do whatever, and then obviously you have to work hard on it,” Marrero said.

“You’ll enjoy college more that way.”

Payton Comunale pbcomun@pointpark.edu

Send suggestions to admyers@pointpark.edu or pbcomun@pointpark.edu or reach out to the Globe on our social media pages.

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A&E

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

5

‘The Final Wish’ grants horrifying reaction Director of ‘Final Destination’ films finds new fear

By Jared Murphy

Staff Photographer

Be careful what you wish for because you might just get it. “The Final Wish” is a horror film written

by Jeffery Reddick, most widely known for creating the “Final Destination” franchise. The film was screened during Screamfest in October of 2018, and was released in select theaters for one night only on January 24th.

The premise of the film follows Aaron (Michael Welch) a struggling lawyer who is forced to return home to help his mother grieve over the loss of his father. While rummaging through the house Aaron finds a mysterious item of his father’s that is more than meets the eye.

He slowly starts to realize that this mysterious urn

is granting all his wishes, but in the most grotesque way possible. Aaron wishes the dog outside his window would shut up. The next day he is awoken to find the dog was not only shut up, but also disemboweled. Like I said before, be careful what you wish for because you might just get exactly that.

The film was lined with a cast not shy to the big screen. Aaron’s mother was played phenomenally by none other than Lin Shaye (Insidious, A Nightmare on Elm Street). The early part of the film Shaye does an excellent job of playing a grieving mother. I genuinely felt bad for her, as she mentions that Aaron never visits and left his parents alone. She is devastated by the loss of her husband, and this pulled at my heart-

strings. Partway through the movie, Shaye’s character starts to go insane - no thanks to the urn. She does an utterly convincing job of going from a sweet, saddened mother, to snapping in a heartbeat. I still have her creepy smiles implanted in my brain.

“Like I said before, be careful what you wish for because you might just get exactly that.”

Jared Murphy Junior

Staff Photographer The Globe

For most of the film the audience is only given hints and clues about the urn and everything surrounding it. Like in ‘The Final Destination’ series, Reddick gives us a character that is there to explain it all. Collin (Tony Todd) appears before the big ending, explaining to the main characters everything they need to know about the urn.

Giving Tony Todd a quick appearance was the icing on the cake for me.

Every horror fan should know who Todd is, and having him play the same role as he did in the ‘Final Destination’ movies was a nod to genre fans.

The ending did a great job of taking the film full circle. Early on audiences learn that Aaron is arrogant and selfish. During the ending, Aaron makes “the final

wish,” doing the most selfless act he could, given the situation.

The “monkey’s paw” idea that the film follows has been done quite a few times before. Film and television alike have been making adaptations of the cursed relic that grants wishes for multiple decades. Director Timothy Woodward Jr. does an excellent job of putting his own spin on it, making it stand out from past projects that took a swing at this idea.

‘The Final Wish’ is set for a DVD and Blu-Ray release on March 19th. Since the film was only shown for two nights, I highly recommend horror fans picking up a copy.

Jared Murphy jgmurph@pointpark.edu

New songs make for busy week across genres Vampire Weekend, Weezer, Dua Lipa release new music

By Amanda Myers Co-Features Editor

Last week brought an abundance of new music in a month that’s typically barren when it comes to exciting releases.

There was the long awaited return of Vampire Weekend. Florence + the Machine and Dua Lipa came forth with powerful work that transcended multiple genres. Weezer nearly broke the internet with a covers record - dividing their most dedicated fans.

These are the top songs among the lot.

VAMPIRE WEEKEND - “HARMONY HALL” With their first new

track in six years, singer Ezra Koenig contemplates his own mortality as he looks back to his days of boyhood (Harmony Hall is a building at Koenig’s former Columbia University).

While reminiscing over his old stomping grounds, Koenig bounces to a conflicted moral compass. No more singing of sweaters and Cape Cod, Vampire Weekend look to be in full form as they head into this new chapter of their career.

Their fourth album “Father of the Bride” is due out this spring. The title looks to be a reference to Koenig’s new role as father to his son with actress Rashida Jones.

Or perhaps, it’s an ode to her pops, legendary produc-

Art And... With Leah Mehran -Jan. 31 -6-8 p.m.

-Mattress Factory

Nathan Zoob -Feb. 1 -6:30 p.m.

-Club Cafe

The Prince Project -Feb. 2 -10 p.m.

-Hard Rock Cafe

Bebopper at the Sock Hop- Murder Mystery Dinner -Feb. 2 -7-10 p.m.

-Gaetano’s Banquet Center and Restaurant

CNC Vinyl Cutting -Feb. 3 -12-2 p.m.

-Prototype PGH

er Quincy Jones? Let’s hope Quincy approves of him both personally and musically.

DUA LIPA - “SWAN SONG” Pop songstress Lipa rises from the ashes on this song written for the upcoming movie “Alita: Battle Angel” (in theaters Feb. 14).

With the accompanying music video, Lipa appears in battle armor while fighting against her oppressors in the throes of a dystopian universe. Lipa’s vocals take a dip in the chorus, but certainly not a “swan dive” as she remains in control of her destiny. When she hits those marks, she unleashes her inner heroine.

The song is surprisingly fresh for your typical pop, action movie crossover number.

RIVAL SONS - “FERAL ROOTS” On the title track to their sixth album, Rival Sons embrace a softer side in contrast to their typical wailing rock. “Feral Roots” calls the band back home to a place away from the lighted stage.

The Californians have had to deal with Led Zeppelin comparisons for years, but they seem to embrace the fairy tale mysticism of the group with this track, referencing mountains and elders. The album itself is of equal interest and signifies Rival Sons as a band in a constant search for their next peak.

JENNY LEWIS - “RED BULL AND HENNESSY” Lewis’ debut single from her upcoming album “On The Line” offers a more delicate take from the colorful indie country artist. She sounds as if she was transported to a different time, her vocals adopting the twang of Cyndi Lauper while evoking the witchy identity of Stevie Nicks.

She sings of beautifully gothic factors that Nicks would love: “Don’t you wanna even try? And devour the moon.” After the critical and commercial success of 2014’s “The Voyager,” Lewis shifts her idgaf mentality to

include a little soul.

RYAN ADAMS - “F*** THE RAIN” Adams is one of those rock stars people love to hate, like Jack White or Rivers Cuomo (we’ll get to him shortly.) With this track, Adams is at odds with himself as his setting bars him from escaping his mental state. He literally tries to get out of the rain, or the bleakness, to avoid these hurtful realities and embrace “flowers for brains and permanent sunshine,” instead.

In an effort to make the song even more mid 2000s, Adams enlists the help of John Mayer for a blissful guitar solo. It’s nice to see these artists - who once helmed the rock revival of their generation - joining forces.

“F*** the Rain” will be on Adams’ next album “Big Colors,” one of three albums he’s poised to release this year.

“With their first new track in six years, singer Ezra Koenig contemplates his own mortality as he looks back to his days of boyhood.”

Amanda Myers

Co-Features Editor The Globe

FLORENCE + THE MACHINE “MODERATION” Florence Welch comes out on all cylinders, regardless of the recommended “Moderation,” and finds her home among pounding piano chords on this new single.

Her lover wants her affection in moderation, but she questions if they even know what

they’re asking. How can someone control the amount of love they give?

Welch comes to the conclusion that no one wins in this game: “And I’m still tryna figure out if it always, always, always has to hurt.”

She sings the title line with an adoring abundance her lover clearly doesn’t deserve.

FOALS - “EXITS” Foals, an indie band from the ever prestigious Oxford, England, often come off as pretentious, rather unintentionally on their behalf. One may liken them to a poor man’s Vampire Weekend. They had a big hit with “My Number” in 2013 and haven’t really been able to recapture that status since.

“Exits” offers a new point of entry.

Singer Yannis Philippakis croons his way into this new wave inspired earworm, making it all too easy to let him off the hook when he begs for forgiveness. He finds himself in a tight spot, however, when he realizes “they got exits covered, all the exits underground.”

Philippakis himself related “Exits” to the state of our current society, telling NME there “isn’t any privacy.”

WEEZER “SWEET DREAMS (ARE MADE OF THIS)” The surprise “Teal Album” has become the internet’s favorite point of contention in the week since its release. You either love the band’s white boy take on “Scrubs” or disown their play at punk on “Paranoid” there’s no in-between.

The album of covers is really just Cuomo and co. having fun in the studio when it comes down to it.

“Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)” is a great example.

Cuomo finds his nerdy niche when he sings of being abused and used, bringing an insecurity absent from the Eurythmics version.

Fuzzy guitar reels that 80s nostalgia back in full force.

Amanda Myers admyers@pointpark.edu

OPINIONS

Extremely charming, yet shockingly devious

By Gracey Evans News Photo Editor

I have watched media about crime my whole life.

I’ve watched all of the “CSI” series, I’ve watched “Law and Order,” I’ve watched all the “NCISs” and the list goes on.

But over the past year, I have really dove into crime films. I’m not sure why, but I have been watching crime movies so much that I am having a hard time finding more to watch. I would rather watch a crime movie like Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman’s “Seven.” With all of these movies on the first time watch, I see if I can solve the crimes before the characters.

There is one main theme that is the same throughout these movies and TV shows. Most of them are creepy-looking men that usually are bald. Very few are portrayed as handsome.

Ted Bundy is one of those “handsome men” that committed extremely devious crimes. He used charm to lure in his victims. What is different about Bundy, too, is that he’s smart. He was studying law for a while.

If you think about it, how would he have possibly killed 36 women in five different states if he wasn’t handsome or smart? Not to mention he was smart enough to break out of the Aspen jail twice.

I recently watched the

whole Netflix series “Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes”, and I was wowed. I had heard of what he had done but I never realized that it was to that caliber. I found it intriguing.

He first killed in February 1974 and he wasn’t caught for good until February 1978. He was sentenced to death by electric chair 30 years ago. Up until two days before his execution, he never confessed to killing any of the girls. To this day, he is the one that really started what we now call serial killers.

Therefore, I conclude that there is nothing wrong with Zac Efron portraying Ted Bundy in the upcoming movie, “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile.”

In fact, Zac Efron is perfect for the role as Ted Bundy and is practically made to be identical! Especially with those blue eyes because Ted Bundy also had blue eyes that supposedly turned black when he’d talk about the murders.

This morning, I saw a tweet that said: “Can we not sexualize Ted Bundy? He raped, murdered, and decapitated women and had sex with their dead bodies.

Not here for this hyper-sexualized Zac Efron film. I know the youth of Twitter will obsess over him, and I’d prefer not to read their tweets about a serial murderer.”

While this makes sense, I

feel that the reason they may be “over-sexualizing” Zac Efron is indeed because of his natural charm and good looks. As I stated earlier, Ted Bundy was both smart and charming. He could lure any woman he wanted by persuasion.

Ted Bundy was unique in the sense that he never once cracked that he committed all of those devious murders of all of those young women despite the fact that he also did rape and decapitate his victims.

It wasn’t until 1980 when journalists Stephen Michaud and Hugh Aynesworth, went to get Bundy’s story while on death row and he gave sense of how the murders were committed. Instead of just talking - because Bundy would not say a thing about the murders - they came up with the idea of Bundy talking in the third person to detail the murders and it worked. Just listening to the Ted Bundy tapes really gives you a sense of the denial that he had and his strong opinions including why he thought he was innocent.

People have mixed opinions about the upcoming “Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile” film. I personally think that this film is going to be a great twist on Ted Bundy and who he was.

Gracey Evans glevans@pointpark.edu

There is more than one border crisis

By Mick Stinelli Columnist

Passing through the border was almost unnoticeable.

I only recognized a difference because of a few signs along the road pronouncing a change in currency. Euros would be no good here; in Northern Ireland, they only accepted British sterling.

I visited the Republic of Ireland in 2016, not long after the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union (EU). A debate immediately ignited over what was, for so long, an issue of the past: the border between Ireland, part of the EU, and Northern Ireland, which belongs to the United Kingdom (U.K.).

Recent years have seen the debate about the border between the U.S. and Mexico reach a fever pitch. But now a debate which was thought to be over is bubbling hundreds of miles across the ocean.

Memories of a “hard border” are still fresh in Ireland.

Hardly more than 20 years ago, the military checked identification at border crossings. Unrest between Catholics and Protestants led to violence and fear.

“The Troubles,” as this time was called, led to the

deaths of thousands. Irish nationalists and British loyalists radicalized. There were bombings in pubs and city centers which killed dozens and injured hundreds. The Bloody Sunday massacre led to the shooting over a dozen peaceful protesters. Some might be aware of the drink known as the Irish Car Bomb. It’s made by dropping a shot of whiskey and Irish cream into a Guinness stout. It derived its name from the car bombing which were so frequent in Ireland in the late 20th century that they became near ubiquitous.

A series of back-to-back car bombings in 1974 in Dublin killed 26 in one day. “It’s like having a drink called the ‘9/11’,” an Irish-American friend once told me, half-joking. For years, these atrocities were a not-so-distant memory. Now they threaten to become a future. Britain’s withdrawal from the EU would mean that the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland would now become a border between an EU country and a non-EU country.

This could lead to high tariffs, political unrest and, as some conservatives in the U.K. desire, a hard border.

It’s hard for Americans to understand. The conflict be-

tween Protestants and Catholics in Ireland have deep roots. But from an onlooker, one sees only an island; it almost feels silly to divide such a small land mass into different parts.

But looking at this Irish past provides a mirror for the American present. For decades, the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland was a symbol of fear.

Fear for the military who guarded it and harassed those who wished to cross.

Fear that extremists would slip through and hurt those on the other side. Fear that a proud nation may never again be unified. When British citizens voted to leave the EU, many liberal commentators considered it a warning sign for America’s impending presidential election.

Brexit was an unprecedented maneuver by the British nationalists. There was no play book on how to leave the EU. But there is a long, storied history on how to treat the Irish border, and there are many lessons to be learned from the pain that it caused.

It’s one we should all look toward.

Mick Stinelli mfstine@pointpark.edu

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

’S GL BE POINT

THE

6

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

Cartoons playing catch-up The Globe dedicated last week’s issue to the intelligent and powerful women of Point Park University and the Downtown Pittsburgh community. Just three days after women took to the streets of countless cities across the country, a number of offensive cartoons caught our attention.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette published four editorial cartoons on Jan. 13, Jan. 14, Jan. 17 and Jan. 20, all created

by Steve Kelley. The cartoons depicted multiple situations shaming women, one of which displays a man and a woman on a dinner date, and the woman says, “As a modern woman, I’m all for eliminating traditional gender roles, at least until the waiter brings the dinner tab.”

Kelley must be the type of man who switched his razor after the Gillette advertisement.

The Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh wrote a letter to the editor describing the cartoons as “misogynistic,” and the cartoons “display a contempt for women and an obvious deep-seated prejudice against them.” The Post-Gazette refused to publish the letter.

On behalf of the 18 women who make up a majority of this newspaper staff, as well as the men who work by our side, as equals, we are ashamed this would be published in our very

own backyard. As women, we are appalled. As journalists, we are infuriated.

It’s more important today than ever before to defend women in the journalistic field.

According to Poynter, between 1999 and 2015, female journalists have remained between 36.3 and 37.7 percent of total journalists. And even though women are enrolling in journalism schools more than ever, their share of leadership roles in the field are slim.

The women of The Globe undergo the same staff selection process as men would.

The women of The Globe can string together thoughts, words and sentences into a story just as men can. The women of The Globe prove just as capable, creative and courageous as men.

A number of local outlets share The Globe’s view, and if there is one thing we would like The Post-Gazette to know, it’s that Kelley’s cartoons do not reflect the entire community, and the cartoonist should get with the times.

While The Post-Gazette allows Kelley to continue to defame women, know The Globe will continuously treat all in our community with dignity and respect.

The Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu.

Resolutions have no time limit

By Shannon Hartnett Staff Writer

It’s that time of year again, folks. Weight Watchers gains a bunch of new subscribers, Planet Fitness memberships increase, people buy new planners with fancy pens and everyone decides that this will be their year. If this is you, I truly wish you the best of luck. Lose those 20 pounds, be more organized, spend less money at Market Square, actually do the reading for class.

It’s never a bad thing to start fresh and try new things, but hear me out first. I was never one who understood New Year resolutions.

You don’t have to meet strict deadlines, and it is OK to go at your own pace. I realize the New Year brings in a new start for people, but you can choose a fresh start anytime you want. Routines can be nice, but if you are in a slump, try something new. And guess what? People will so easily start something in the beginning of January and then quit by February saying “I might as well try again next year.” What’s wrong with trying something new on Jan. 23? Or Feb. 12, or March 7, or even May 30. You get what I’m saying? Every day you wake up and put your feet on the floor is a new day for

you to do something radical in your life. There’s no need to wait until the ball drops again.

My other problem that rolls on in at the start of the new year is the immediate negativity.

I see posts all over social media about how he or she hasn’t had a good year since 2015, or even pushing it back to 2005, or some who are even more daring claim they haven’t had a good year since they were a fetus.

Come on guys and gals, let’s have a little positivity. You can make 2019 your year. In fact, you can make any year your year. Try to focus on the good, choose happiness, and push the negativity under the rug. Now, this is different from all the posts we see on Twitter claiming that 2019 is all about self-improvement.

Call your mom every Friday, eat at a new place downtown, read that book that’s been collecting dust, go for a run (or a walk), go to the Carnegie Museum (did you know we get in for free?).

Let’s make 2019 a year to remember because it was the year you finally started to choose happiness, instead of waiting for the happiness to find you.

Shannon Hartnett shartn@pointpark.edu

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967 News Editors: Jordyn Hronec, Andrew Brinker Photo Editor: Gracey Evans

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SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

All In with Allison

By Allison Schubert Sports Columnist

X Marks the (Top) Spot Anna Shields is a name we have all heard over and over again, and for a very good reason - she is the best athlete to come through Point Park since the school’s founding.

Like the women’s team, the men’s team has one name that seems to stick out above all of the rest: Xavier Stephens.

Stephens has been a force on the team since he first arrived in the fall of 2016, but his school records started accumulating just one semester later.

It started during the indoor track and field season, setting a school record in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2: 34.56 seconds, placing ninth in the event at the meet.

When his first outdoor season in the green and gold began, he never cooled down. Stephens set two different school records at the second meet of the season, one as a part of the 4x400 relay, and the other in the form of a second-place finish in the 800 meters, running a time of 1:56.23.

His performance in that meet gained conference-wide attention, winning him recognition as the River States Conference (RSC) Men’s Outdoor Track Athlete of the Week.

Now, I think I have proven my point about how Stephens has been producing as a Pioneer since his freshman year. He started setting school records and running personal records since he stepped foot on campus, but he is running

the best times of his career this year, so let’s jump forward two years.

This past cross country season saw a ton of success

by Stephens, winning the RSC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Week title three times.

The icing on the cake, however, was the school record that he set while competing at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Men’s Cross Country National Championship.

Stephens claimed the unofficial title of fastest man in Point Park men’s cross country history, breaking the 26 minute mark in the 8,000 meters with a time of 25:59. This feat was the second time he posted a personal record at a national meet.

So far during this indoor track and field season, Stephens was a part of two top-ten NAIA times at the PSU Nittany Lion Challenge, securing him his first RSC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Week of the season for the week of January 7-13.

I am optimistic for more success this season, as Stephens was also named the RSC Men’s Indoor Track Athlete of the Year last year as a sophomore.

Like Shields, Stephens shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon on or off the track, so it is up to us to keep up.

Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

7

Men split close conference games, sit third in RSC East

By Robert Berger Co-Sports Editor

After dropping a game to Asbury University 66-63, last Thursday night, the men’s basketball team came back two days later with an 81-73 victory against Alice Lloyd.

“The season goes on and you start figuring out the puzzle a bit more and it becomes clear and guys filter into their roles,” Head coach Joe Lewand0wski said. “You find that you have some gritty and tough kids and you say, “hey, we’re going to win same games by playing great defensively.”

Lead by senior guard Asim Pleas with 21 points, the Pioneers ended the game shooting 27-59 from two and 13-30 behind the arc. From the free throw line, the team went 14-20.

“I give the credit to my teammates,” Pleas said. “A majority of the looks I got were all wide open looks that my teammates recognized.”

Also scoring double digit points for Point Park was senior guard Daniel King with 18 and sophomore guard Chance Wright with 15.

Junior forward Cortez Allen made his presence known on both sides of the court finishing the contest with nine points, a team high eight rebounds and three assists. The Pioneers totaled 13 assists all night.

“The four senior leaders were big time. Look at the rebounds and charges Cortez took. Phenomenal. Asim and King are awesome and just keep making plays,” Lewandowski said. “When you have your seniors making those plays, it’s refreshing to see for the program that they’re coming through for you.”

After a high scoring first half, the Pioneers went into the break with a lead of 4238. Through the second, Point Park maintained the lead until the halfway point. It was a back and forth battle with six lead changes throughout the contest.

Emilee Fails | Point Park Athletics Senior guard Daniel King makes a layup last weekend against Alice Lloyd Saturday. King put up 18 points in the 81-73 victory.

With Wright draining two threes and a 3-point play from King, the Pioneers were leading with five minutes to go.

“I’ve been taking extra reps at practice and the guys have been telling me to keep shooting and it will come.”

Wright said. “Tonight they kept feeding me the ball and they believe in me so it wasn’t for that I wouldn’t have scored anything.”

From the get go, Alice Lloyd found themselves in foul trouble totaling 21 on the game. This worked in Point Park’s favor in the final minutes after Allen drew a charge in the final minutes to help Point Park secure a 75-71 lead.

Thursday, Asbury took a quick 6-0 lead, and Point Park was never able to catch up. While the Pioneers won in most categories of the stat sheet, the scoreboard told a different story.

Over the course of the game, Point Park totaled 43 rebounds, 13 assists and went 21-54 on field goals. They shot 9-23 3-pointers. King lead the team with 14 points and Pleas followed him with 11. Junior forward Kyle Carrington, senior Tramell Perry, and Pleas all totaled eight points.

Point Park went into the second half trailing 24-19.

Throughout the half, the Pi-

oneers chipped away at the lead. With 4:45 left, Allen knocked down a 2-pointer and sophomore guard Tudor Shelton followed it with a 3-pointer to make the deficit 56-49.

Carrington and King came back with a two-point and three-point basket respectively. King then cut the lead to two points after a 3-pointer at 1:58. After drawing a foul, sophomore Mark Shehady tied the game up at 56 with 1:08 left.

However, with under a minute, Allen committed a foul on Trenton Thompson of Alice Lloyd which he followed up with two successful free throws which killing Point Park’s chances of making a comeback.

Following the weekend the team stands at 4-8 in the conference and 7-13 overall. Pioneers are now in third place in the River States Conference (RSC).

Above them is Indiana University East and West Virginia Tech. Just behind Point Park is Rio Grande with a 3-9 record.

Point Park continues their season Friday at Wilberforce for a non-conference match-up.

Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu

Cheer and dance end hiatus

By Dara Collins Editor-Elect

Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Junior Xavier Stephens competing at the Youngstown Invitational. Stephens was recently named men’s RSC Indoor Track and Field Athlete of the Week.

Emilee Fails | Point Park Athletics The competitive cheer team performs at the Pioneer Preview showcase earlier this month at Gateway High School.

The competitive cheer and dance teams launched back into action after a two-week hiatus from competitions.

The teams competed at the Siena Heights Halo Classic this past Sunday, Jan. 27, in Adrian, Mich.

This was the first meet since the cheer squad competed at the Concordia (Mich.)

Tri-Meet on Jan. 11, and the dance team performed at the Pioneer Preview on Jan. 13 in the program’s in-

augural local contest.

In preparation for the meet, the dance team performed their competition routine for the crowd during halftime at the women’s basketball game last Saturday.

The two weeks of practice and halftime performance paid off for the dance team as they scored 85.96 to earn a gold plaque and place first of six teams.

The Pioneers’ score was their second highest of the season and one of the highest in National Association

of Intercollegiate Athletics this season. Point Park’s highest score of the season, 92, came from a contest at Concordia (Mich.) on Dec. 7.

Both groups will pack the buses and head to Grand Rapids, Mich., to compete at the Aquinas Saints Showdown on Super Bowl Sunday. The teams will dual twice at the meeting with the routines beginning at 9 a.m. for the first round and 1 p.m. for the second.

Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu

Emilee Fails | Point Park Athletics The competitive dance team competes against Aquinas at their first home meet earlier this month.

Last weekend, the team ended the day with a score of 85.96 and placed first out of six teams.

8

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2019

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Two big RSC victories put women in third

By Allison Schubert Co-Sports Editor

It was a weekend full of career highs and school records for the women’s basketball team.

It all started on Thursday when the Pioneers hosted Asbury University for the first River States Conference (RSC) of the weekend.

Sophomore forward Carly Lutz collected a career-high 17 rebounds, 10 defensively and seven on the attack. Junior guards Tyra James and Baylie Mook notched 15 and 12 points, respectively, and senior captain Kaitlyn Smith collected 16 points.

Most notably amongst the Pioneers’ successes was sophomore guard Michelle Burns’ career-high 33 points on the night, which was over one-third of the Pioneers’ total points.

“In warm-ups, I was feeling pretty good,” Burns said after the game. “I made my first shot and it was just a good game for me.”

27 of her 33 points came in the form of 3-pointers. Those nine treys were the most in one game in school history, breaking the record of eight previously held by former assistant coach April Austin.

Senior forward Sam Weir missed her second game in a row due to an ankle injury.

Overall, Point Park had one of the best offensive games of the season, shooting 55 percent overall, 50 percent from

Emilee Fails | Point Park Athletics Sophomore guard Michelle Burns beats an Alice Lloyd defender last Saturday. Burns set the school record for 3-pointers in a game Friday against Asbury while scoring a career-high 33 points.

beyond the arc, and out-rebounding the Eagles 52 to 26.

After all of the records set, Point Park took the victory 91-62.

“This win was huge,” head coach Tony Grenek said. “We always say that wins at this point in the season are the most important and this was a huge step in the right direction for us heading into the rest of the season.”

The same names showed up all over that stat sheet two days later for a cross-division match-up against Alice Lloyd College.

Alice Lloyd knocked Point Park out of the RSC Tournament last year after an overtime victory in the quarterfinals.

This year, the match-up was on the Pioneers’ home turf.

Alice Lloyd came ready to play, shooting 52 percent in the first half and had the edge over Point Park in rebounds.

“We came in here knowing it was going to be a tough game,” Smith said post-game.

“Every time we play them, they are very well-coached.”

At the half, the Pioneers trailed 39-32.

The second half fell in Point Park’s favor. The Pioneers held the Eagles to 30 percent in the final 20 minutes, forcing 20 turnovers and 10 steals.

James gave Point Park its first lead of the night when she sunk two free throws early in the fourth quarter.

After a small run by Alice Lloyd, Burns tied things up at 71 before Weir tallied an old-fashioned 3-pointer for a late 74-72 lead. A steal by the Eagles with 24 seconds left would tie things up once again as regulation time expired.

“We were lacking confidence a little bit in the first half, but we knew if we stayed positive and capitalized on our strengths, we could pull out the win,” Smith said.

With a fresh five minutes on the clock, Point Park went on a 14-6 run for an 88-80 lead. The Eagles hit one more trey, but the Pioneers ultimately took the win 88-83.

Weir did not start, but returned after missing two games to her injury. Both her

and Smith tied their career highs in the game with 31 and 25 points, respectively.

“To be honest, I really did not think that I was going to contribute that much,” Weir said. “I was just trying to get good minutes. My ankle has really been bothering me, but I just kept going with it.”

Weir also notched another double-double with 16 rebounds to add to her 31 points.

Burns returned from her school record performance to add 16 points to the scoreboard, and James rounded out the Pioneers in double digits with 12 points.

Smith tallied half of Point Park’s 14 overtime points to solidify the win.

“We were wearing them down the whole time,” Weir said. “The game should have been ours after the fourth, but things happen and we had a lot of girls step up to give us the win.”

Point Park currently sits third in the RSC East Division and has five games left in the regular season, two of which are home games but three of which are in Pittsburgh.

They will tip off next at home hosting Rio Grande next Tuesday after a trip to Carlow, and finish off the season with games against RSC opponents West Virginia Tech, IU East, and Ohio Christian.

Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu

4x800 men claim No. 1 in NAIA Multiple qualify for national meet

By Nick Kasisky For The Globe

Last weekend, five indoor track and field runners secured a spot for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Championship in Brookings, S.D. The men’s 4x800 meter team qualified for Nationals on the first day of the two day SPIRE Midwest Open in Geneva, Ohio. The team completed in the 4x800 event in 7 minutes, 50.50 seconds.

The team consisted of freshmen Jared Thompson, Doug Kostelansky and seniors Andre Bennett and Xavier Stephens. It was a school record for the team with their previous time being eight minutes flat when the same group raced at Penn State on Jan. 12.

“After three seasons of trying, it really felt good to qualify for nationals and to be able to compete at the highest stage of NAIA,” Bennett said. “It felt rewarding to have the top time so far in the season”.

For Thompson and Kostelansky, this is their first season of indoor track and excited and prepared for the event at Nationals.

“It doesn’t feel real to be honest,” Thompson stated as he described what the moment felt like after qualifying.

When looking ahead at Nationals, Thompson said he looks forward to run his best race and said the team knew they had talent to qualify.

Kostelansky is also looking forward to Nationals stating, “It was great to get a big accomplishment like this and to do it with this group of guys makes it even more special.”

Stephens described the feeling of qualifying as “hype.”

“It felt rewarding to have the top time so far in the season.”

Andre Bennett

4x800 team member, Point Park Track Team The 4x800 team was the order of Thompson, Bennett, Kostelansky, and Stephens.

The group explained that they maintain communicate daily and have a texting group chat. They discuss their goals and what times they each are aiming to hit that week. Bennett said it is important they all stay on the same page and talk about their expectations.

“At conferences we are going to being spread thin, so this SPIRE meet was our last real shot at qualifying,” Bennett said.

The group will continue their mileage and speed training as they continue on their journey to nationals.

Freshman Alyssa Campbell also qualified for nationals, but on day two of the meet.

“In the 3,000 I went in with a differnt mindset than I normally do,” Campbell said.

“I don’t usually take off as fast in the 3K because I don’t want to waste my energy in the first mile.”

Campbell took 19 seconds off her personal record in the 3,000 meter with a time of 10 minutes, 29 seconds.

“I went off faster and I hit

my even splits and it was awesome. I ended up with a 19 second PR and hit the qualifying standard so it was really exciting,” Campbell said.

Campbell also ran the mile that day, achieving another personal record when she finished with a time of 5 minutes, 15 seconds.

The women’s team also had athletes compete in the 4x800 event with the team of senior Taylor Celich, sophomores Alyssa Boyd, and Selena Canello and Campbell.

The team set a school record in the event by finishing in 10 minutes, 13 seconds. It was the first time the team competed in the event this season, and Campbell’s first time competing in an indoor 4x800.

Competing at a separate meet last weekend was senior Anna Shields at the Dr. Sander Invite in New York. Shields ran the mile in 4 minutes, 39 seconds.

Shields currently has the best mile time in the NAIA. A number of NAIA and NCAA Division I schools competed over the weekend offering the team a look at upcoming opponents and a chance to compete against top collegiate runners.

“I’m happy about the NAIA schools because they are the main competition in my eyes, and everyone else is just bonus,” Campbell said.

The Pioneers will being traveling back to Youngstown State this week to compete on Feb. 1 for the YSU National Mid-Major Invitational.

Additional reporting contributed by Robert Berger

Nicholas Kasisky nkasis@pointpark.edu

Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Freshman Alyssa Campbell competes at the Youngstown College Invitational.

Last weekend, Campbell qualified for nationals in the 3,000 meter event.