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@PPUGlobe February 20, 2019
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Amanda Myers reviews Pittsburgh’s own Jeff Goldblum’s jazz set Editor-Elect Dara Collins wants you to ask for help, not homework answers Women’s and men’s basketball readies themselves for playoffs ppuglobe.com
Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967
Issue 7
Track and field head coach terminated last Friday By Allison Schubert Co-Sports Editor
Kelly Parsley, head coach of the track and field teams for the past five years and head coach of the cross country team for the past four, was relieved of his position at the university on Friday morning. The termination came after Parsley received his ninth and tenth recognitions as River States Conference (RSC) Coach of the Year for both the women’s and men’s teams in the indoor season. Prior to his time at Point Park, Parsley coached at various levels, including the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and high school. Before beginning the program with the Pioneers, he also had a hand in starting programs at NAIA Lindenwood University-Belleville in Missouri and Goldey Beacom College in Delaware. Parsley came to Point Park in January 2014 as the first head coach of the track and field program. He added cross country to his resume the following year, leading the team to the conference championship in his first season as head coach. One anonymous source
told The Globe that an investigation was launched following a mental health incident in which Parsley did not take the proper actions. Point Park released a statement on Monday evening, attributing the sudden relief of Parsley to a simple coaching change. “Point Park University is announcing a coaching change for track and field and cross country,” the statement said. “Jim Spisak will immediately serve as the interim head coach of both track and field and cross country, replacing Kelly Parsley, who was head coach of track and field for the last five years and cross country the last four years. Coach Spisak is in his first year on the Point Park coach staffing for cross country and track and field.” The Globe reached out to former coach Parsley, but he did not return multiple requests for comment on the issue. According to senior Eric Torres, a former athlete of Parsley’s, an initial complaint against Parsley was filed in mid-October. “We had our share of arguments throughout my time on the team for three years,” Torres said in an interview on Monday night. “After this last incident though, I had to take action.
Robert Berger| Point Park Athletics
Former head coach of the track and field and cross country teams, Kelly Parsley, stands on the sidelines during a meet earlier this season. Parsley was named Coach of the Year ten times total throughout his tenure with the teams before his termination on Friday. Enough of my teammates and friends had accusations against Parsley before, but no one ever acted on it.” Torres explained that it was a personal discrepancy between them and Parsley, and that they felt secluded being a member of the team with him as the coach. Other athletes, like senior Anna Shields, took to Facebook following the news being broken to the athletes on Friday to defend Parsley. “Coach Parsley built this team and I think it’s sad he won’t get the chance to
see the team finish out the year,” Shields said. “Many of my teammates and I are informing the athletic department and the school administration that Coach Parsley gave us a wonderful experience in track and cross country. He supported us not only as just athletes, but as students and as people.” Dennis McDermott, United Student Government (USG) senator and athlete on the track and field team, ensured that he and USG were pushing for all coach-
es to be better equipped for dealing with mental health issues in the future, regardless of the reasons for Parsley’s termination. Spisak has already stepped into his role as interim head coach, taking a reduced Point Park team to Kent State to compete in the final meet of the season before nationals, which will be held from Feb. 28 to March 2 in Brookings, South Dakota.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
Wolfie’s Pub opening Downtown, USG debates new bylaws, constitution offering opportunities to students USG By Mitchell Drake USG Beat Writer
The United Student Government (USG) met on Monday to discuss new bylaw resolutions to change how USG presidents are appointed. The rules committee planned on enacting parts of bylaw Resolution 02182019 - making presidential candidates go through an interview process to be valid candidates. Beforehand, the president would nominate fellow USG members to become candidates. Dean of Student Life Michael Gieske commented on the resolution, criticizing the ramifications of putting the constitutional change into effect. “You are now forcing every new president to do it that way,” Gieske said. Senator Grace Tyler Frank-Rempel defended the decision, stating that the resolution was going to be enacted to prevent a future president from choosing friends and possible nepotism.
The resolution would have still left the ability for presidents to choose candidates, but was sent back to the rules committee for further review in their next meeting. Treasurer Kortney Lampel detailed USG and club budgeting, stating that clubs have spent $5,747 of their budgeted funds and that USG has personally spent $1,043. Senator Alexa Lake added that when club heads meet in March to submit their APF funding form for clubs to receive funding, they will receive a guide on how to submit them. The guide will feature a “do’s and don’ts” of what to budget for in a club. Lake stated that the previous methods of teaching club heads how to budget was inconsistent and took too long to fill out for many clubs at once. Lake also stated that the new guide would make the finance committee’s jobs more consistent while bylaws about budgeting would become more transparent.
USG page 3
By Jordyn Hronec Co-News Editor
The closure of Pirata, a bar and grill on Forbes Avenue, came as a surprise to many. “People loved the food, the atmosphere and the drinks, but there just wasn’t enough foot traffic,” Bob Wolfinger, co-owner of Pirata, stated. However, a new restaurant called Wolfie’s Pub, which will also be owned by Wolfinger, is set to take its place next month, and it will have numerous ties to the university. Wolfinger stated that he hopes to transform the restaurant and attract faculty and students of Point Park in his new endeavor. He began by working with Steve Tanzilli of the Rowland School of Business in order to rebrand the restaurant completely. “There’s going to be new lights, new wall decor, new menus and we’re adding outdoor seating,” Wolfinger said. Wolfinger hopes that students are receptive to the change. “I want students in here,” Wolfinger said. “I want this to be a gathering place and for it to feel
Jordyn Hronec | The Globe
Buffalo Chicken Pierogies will be featured on the menu at Wolfie’s Pub near Market Square. Wolfie’s is estimated to open the week of March 11. comfortable. There needs to be great food, great service, great atmosphere, and a great vibe. I want people to walk out of here thinking that it’s about time we have something like this in Downtown Pittsburgh.” Wolfinger is going about achieving this goal in multiple ways. One way that includes the involvement of Point Park is the pub’s involvement in the new “Music City Downtown” program, which
aims to increase live music performances in the downtown area. Wolfinger stated that he is currently working with Ed Traversari of Pioneer Records to host live music in the venue, which he hopes to have booked for at least five nights a week. But the pub also plans to cater to students in other ways, specifically, through food.
WOLFIE’S page 2
Weather Forecast Today: Snow/Rain H 39, L 38
Thursday: Cloudy, H 43, L 27 Friday: Cloudy, H 44, L 24 Saturday: Showers, H 48, L 45
Sunday: Showers, H 56, L 34 Monday: Partly Cloudy, H 43, L 29 Tuesday: Showers, H 46, L 34
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