Point Park Globe Spring 2019 Issue 5

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IN THIS ISSUE: PAGE

@PPUGlobe February 6, 2019

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Future Educators of America host self-defense to learn Krav Maga Jordan Slobodinsky weighs in on the military’s transgender ban Allison Schubert is The Globe’s first-ever woman sports columnist ppuglobe.com

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

Issue 5

Extreme temperatures blast Pittsburgh, then recede By Hayley Keys For The Globe

Stepping outside of any building in Pittsburgh last week was comparable to a walk through the Arctic. Downtown Pittsburgh is already notoriously windy - the addition of this week’s negative temperatures created weather that could prove to be not just dangerous, but deadly. “Cold is dangerous and exposure to the skin and the effects it has on folks is equally dangerous,” Keith Paylo, Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs said. Paylo is one of the individuals responsible for the decision to cancel classes this past week due to cold temperatures and wind chills. “We all get together and put our heads together, for lack of better words, and make that decision based on faculty and staff,” Paylo said. “And in my world students are the most important.” According to a pamphlet published by the Centers for Disease Control titled “Extreme Cold: A Prevention Guide to Promote Your Personal Health and Safety,” extreme cold is defined by near-freezing temperatures. It goes on to report that weather conditions like these can lead to serious health

problems including hypothermia and frostbite in extreme cases. While there are many precautions that individuals can take such as preparing their car and home or dressing warmly when going outside, Point Park has its own protocols to help keep students safe. Paylo talked with pride about the sidewalks, which are shoveled and taken care of by the housekeeping services. “I consider them the best in the city,” Paylo said. “The director of our housekeeping services and his staff do an amazing job.” Paylo also takes time out of his day to watch the radar and see what weather conditions are in the forecast for the city. He takes his job seriously because a recommendation to close the university ultimately affects each of the thousands of students, faculty, and staff that make up the Point Park community. “You have to be very careful,” Paylo said. “If I would have made a recommendation that we cancel classes because of four inches of snow and dangerous commutes, I would have looked pretty foolish if there was no snow.”

WEATHER page 2

Jared Murphy | The Globe

A sheet of ice and snow formed on the Allegheny River during the Polar Vortex last week. In a matter of days, the temperature with the wind chill was as low as -25 degrees Fahrenheit and on Monday peaked at 58 degrees Fahrenheit.

USG talks maintenance University quietly cuts frequent filth found in stairdesk attendant hours PPU Security USG wells are mostly due to budBy Andrew Brinker Co-News Editor

Point Park has announced a new change in building security, specifically in Lawrence, Thayer and Academic Halls. Over winter break Point Park University administration addressed an email to all students, faculty and staff entitled “Change in After Hour Entry Procedures – Spring 2019.” The email detailed a comprehensive overhaul of nighttime access to three of campus’ highest traffic buildings. Instead of being able to access each of the different halls individually, the email explained that starting in the spring 2019 semester anyone needing into Lawrence, Academic or Thayer Hall after 10 p.m. would be required to go through Lawrence Hall. “Efficiency is a big part of it,” Keith Paylo, Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students said. “Having two locations, when you think about it, became an idea that we talked about as a small group that we believed wasn’t necessary any longer. We could have a better control factor if we did it through one location.” In the name of efficien-

cy, Thayer and Academic Halls will now be locked at 10 p.m., barring student access from the outside. Paylo stressed that this new shift in the University’s security focus was most importantly a move that he felt would benefit the safety of students but acknowledged that finances did play a role in the decision. “Efficiency means a lot of different things,” Paylo said. “Efficiency in a sense of staffing, efficiency as far as security, efficiency as part of the safety of students - it all plays a role in this decision.” However, what the administration did not explicitly mention in their Jan. 3 email was that along with the change in nighttime access to the University came a cut to Lawrence Hall desk attendant hours. Jeffrey Besong, Assistant Vice President and Chief of the Point Park Police Department told The Globe in an email that desk attendant hours in Lawrence Hall for the spring semester were changed from the fall semester’s hours of 6 p.m. through 6 a.m., to 10 p.m. through 6 a.m. – a four-hour cutback

Changes 2018-2019

Jan. 2018

Point Park increases security across campus with more desk attendants and ID card scanners.

Fall 2018

Point Park students notice that security presence across campus is inconsistent.

Dec. 2018

Students express security concerns following the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting.

Jan. 2019

Dean Paylo notifies students via email that desk attendant hours in Lawrence Hall will be cut back from 6 pm - 6 am to 10 pm - 6 am. Attendant hours from 10 pm - 6 am in Academic Hall will be cut altogether..

SECURITY page 3

By Mitchell Drake USG Beat Writer

The United Student Government (USG) met in the JVH Auditorium to discuss safety and maintenance concerns with the Vice President of Operations for Point Park University Physical Plant Chris Hill. Hill visited the legislative body meeting to discuss the various concerns about recent maintenance-related issues, and make notes for improvement, as his department manages the upkeep of facilities, conferences and events and transportation. After explaining the different accomplishments and decisions of Physical Plant (the moving of The Globe office and the WPPJ studios to a new location, the creation process of the Center for Media Innovation building, and the building of the color correction and Da Vinci rooms), Hill addressed concerns previously reported to his department by students, then discussed concerns and issues from USG members. Among the issues reported to Physical Plant were dirty stairwells and expired inspection tags on elevators. Hill explained that the

get cuts in cleaning equipment and personnel. He commented that the Thayer Hall stairwell (which is often plastered in fliers, spills and the occasional chunks of food) is the “dirtiest” stairwell on campus. The topic of elevators spurred a conversation with multiple members of USG. Senator Grace Tyler Frank-Rempel expressed her concerns over the inefficiency of the elevators in the Student Center, claiming the speed of the opening of the elevator doors was aggravatingly slow. President Pro-Tempore Megan Ortego recalled an incident when she had attempted to stop one of the closing elevator doors only to have her arm “smashed.” Hill attempted to explain the causes of these issues by stating the manipulation of the elevator doors are getting increasingly hard to control as they age. He detailed if the speed of one elevator’s doors was changed, the other elevators would be changed as well - possibly causing even more problems with elevators closing too quickly.

USG page 3

Weather Forecast Today: Rain, H 55, L 51

Thursday: Rain, H 60 L 37 Friday: Partly Cloudy, H 42, L 18 Saturday: Partly Cloudy, H 30, L 22

Sunday: Cloudy, H 41, L 34 Monday: Rain/Snow, H 42, L 32 Tuesday: Rain/Snow, H 42, L 29

Point Park

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