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Jessica McCort shares varied interests in this week’s Pioneer Public David Shirer explains the need for better options for those living with diabetes Baseball and softball open season in Florida over Spring Break ppuglobe.com
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Issue 8
ALUMNI WEDDING AT Shields and Stephens lead indoor CARNEGIE MUSEUM track and fields teams to success By Robert Berger Co-Sports Editor
Jared Murphy | The Globe
Colten Gill (left) shares a kiss with his husband, Louis Spanos (right) at their wedding on Thursday, Feb. 21. The couple, who both graduated from Point Park University, won a contest to be married at the Carnegie Museum of Art. Gill and Spanos were selected out of 73 couples who submitted their love stories to the museum in hopes of winning the free wedding.
Senior Anna Shields of the indoor track and field team won her seventh and eighth national titles, set a new national record in the 1,000-meter race and helped the women’s team earn fifth place in the country. Members of the team spent last weekend in Brookings, South Dakota to compete in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Championship event. Defending her title in the 1,000 meters, Shields placed first by 11 seconds. She completed the race in 2 minutes, 44.35 seconds which set an NAIA record in the event. The original record was 2 minutes, 45.81 seconds set in 2015 by Hannah Hermansson from Marymount. Two hours prior to the 1,00o meter record breaking race, Shields also claimed the national title in the one mile run by finishing 12 seconds ahead of second place finisher Aminat Olowora of Oklahoma City. The senior’s mile time of 4 minutes, 37.73 seconds was just shy of setting the NAIA record which currently stands at 4 minutes, 37.26 seconds at 30th in
country. Following the 1,000 meter race, Shields ran again alongside the teammates of sophomores Alyssa Boyd, Reba Bartram and senior Taylor Celich in the distance medley relay (DMR). In the final event of the weekend, the women’s team managed a second place finish in the DMR and finished with a time of 11 minutes, 55.93 seconds. The time set a school record in the event and earned NAIA All-American honors. Point Park made it a close race with first place Oklahoma City only finishing the race with a time of 11 minutes, 55.93 seconds. Freshman Alyssa Campbell competed at her first indoor national meet over the weekend racing in the 3,000 meter event. Campbell placed 11th in the country and finished the race in 11 minutes, 1 second. For Campbell, she hopes to return to the national championship meet next year with experience under her belt. “I learned last weekend that it’s anybody’s race no matter if they are seeded faster than you. Everyone is running to get the top 8 for the All-American place-
ment and you have to go in with a different mindset,” she said. On the day, the Pioneers claimed their highest nationals placement of fifth place, the highest placement in program history. “We were really happy and didn’t expect the fifth place finish so it was a bonus to the entire trip,” Campbell said. Distance runner of the men’s team junior Xavier Stephens was the top finisher for the Pioneers competing in the 1,000 meter race. Competing in his first finals event of a national championship, Stephens finished eighth in the country and received NAIA All-American honors. “In prelims I tried to stay second or third and then went out toward the end and took first place,” Stephens said. “I died a little on the last 300 of the finals, but I raced a lot so I think that played a factor. “ Stephens crossed the finish line in 2 minutes, 32.62. “It’s always cool to compete at a national level,” Stephens said. “This year I was stronger, and raced a lot better than last year. I also feel like I just raced a lot smarter this year.”
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USG resolves dress code discrepancies SHOTS FIRED ON LIBERTY USG By Mitchell Drake USG Beat Writer
The United Student Government (USG) met on Monday to discuss dress code, election advertising policy and its relationship
with SAIL. Senator Grace Tyler Frank-Rempel introduced Resolution 03042019.1, which would revise bylaw 206.2 that allowed the president to remove any member of USG after a consultation with the office of SAIL, specifically regarding the position of treasurer.
Treasurer Kortney Lampel supported the new rule, explaining that the currently in-place bylaws regarding how the treasurer position functions have been recently changed. Lampel also stated that it would give SAIL a role
USG page 3
CAB SPONSERS THERAPETS HOUND HANGOUT
Allison Schubert | The Globe By Allison Schubert Co-Sports Editor
Joie Knouse | The Globe
Arya, a 3-year-old therapy dog from Therapets, came to visit students during the CAB sponsered Hound Hangout on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Therapets is a program through Humane Animal Rescue where dogs and their handlers learn how to bring a relaxing environment as a form of therapy for others.
One person was shot on Monday night in front of the Subway restaurant located on the corner of Liberty Avenue and 7th Avenue in Downtown, officials say. Police responded to reports of shots fired at approximately nine in the evening. Parts of Liberty Avenue in front of the scene were closed off in both directions following the report. Upon investigation and approximately an hour af-
ter the initial report, one suspect was apprehended on the far side of the Andy Warhol Bridge. The victim was taken to Mercy Hospital, although his status and the cause of shooting are unknown at the time of publication. Police are continuing to investigate and traffic was redirected. The Globe will post new information as it becomes available on its website.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
Weather Forecast Today: Cloudy H 22, L 17
Thursday: Mostly Cloudy, H 28, L 16 Friday: Rain/Snow Showers, H 37, L 24 Saturday: Mostly Sunny, H 47, L 34
Sunday: Rain, H 54, L 36 Monday: Cloudy, H 42, L 28 Tuesday: Partly Cloudy, H 43, L 31
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Info Technology students, faculty organize ‘Data Jam’ Student teams analyze data and create visuals using Tableau By Mitchell Drake Staff Writer
Information Technology professors and faculty co-organized the Data Jam event with the Information Technology Student Organization (ITSO) in the West Penn lobby on Wednesday, Feb. 20. The Data Jam tasked teams of three to four students to analyze a set of data and create figures and plots using Tableau, a program that allows users to create visualizations of data sets and analytics. Although the contest invited students to use Tableau, they were permitted to use other programs they may have felt more comfortable with, such as Excel, Python or Weka. Information Technology Director and Assistant Professor Mark Voortman explained the students would use Tableau to utilize different attributes to predict attrition or gradual sapping of a company’s ef-
fectiveness when employees leave and are not replaced. Vice President of ITSO and freshman IT major Sabrina Tatalias detailed the teams were given a comma-separated values (CSV) file of data that was pulled from publicly published data from real company polls. Voortman praised how the contest would make students pull various insights and conclusions from the CSV. For example, the students would need to find out how an employee’s age, performance and distance from their job could drive the attrition of a workplace, then create a visual poster of their correlations and conclusions using Tableau or another similar program. In his opening presentation explaining the objectives of the teams, Voortman had also featured a quote from a Harvard Business Review article that named data scientist as the “sexiest” job of the 21st century.
The contest remained open to students of any major, and drew students from diverse fields of study. Senior human resource management major Kristen Blazeyewski had no previous experience working with Tableau or Weka, but is learning how to use them while competing. Blazeyewski found working with the programs intimidating, but appreciates the opportunity to learn the software through a scenario that she may encounter when working in the human resource field. Senior IT major Edwin Obuya, who finished second place in the Growth from Knowledge (GfK) NextGen Hackathon Competition with Tatalias, Alexa Lake and Tanner Campbell, is also competing in the contest without prior knowledge of Tableau. Obuya says the contest is not only helping him learn more software skills that will benefit his future career, it is also enriching his interest in business analytics.
He also stated that the data in the provided CSV appears more manageable than what he worked with in the Hackathon and has been given much more time to prepare the poster presentation with his team. “It’s a real challenge, and I’m definitely looking forward to it,” Obuya said. Sophomore funeral services major Bryanna Madden joined the contest to learn more applicable skills and experience for her future career. Madden originally thought working with the CSV was going to be intimidating, but found the work to be relatively easy to understand. “I’m here because I found out that my major has a lot more to do with marketing than I thought,” Madden said. Tatalias, who helped organize the event and signed in competitors at the front table, stated that she wanted to share her passion for data science with others through an event like a Data Jam. She had previ-
ously competed in a Data Jam with Pittsburgh Data Works while attending Bethel Park High School, which she said kickstarted her interests in big data and predictive data analytics. The contest will continue with another workshop on Wednesday, March 6 to allow teams to reconvene before the presentation of their findings on April 3. The teams will present their conclusions on posters to industry professional judges to attempt to win prizes such as a Data Jam trophy, Barnes & Noble gift cards and Stage AE tickets. Voortman noted that the contest will not give certificates of completion for a specific reason. “If you apply for a job in this field, they won’t be asking for certificates or degrees, they will pose a problem to test your skill sets,” Voortman said.
Mitchell Drake mjdrake@pointpark.edu
Honors Program takes spring break trip to New York City
Over spring break, the Honors Program took their annual trip to New York City. During the trip, students visited with artist, Nick Sider. They also attended the Broadway show “Mean Girls,” visited the New York Botanical Garden with Honors students from Monroe College, participated in a Hamilton walking tour, and had free time to explore the city. Jordyn Hronec | The Globe
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2019
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‘The Vagina Monologues’ to be performed on V-Day about topics that are normally kept in the dark.
By Sara Cronin For The Globe
Written and composed of various women’s voices and stories from across different ages and cultures, The Vagina Monologues is a play that is being put on this upcoming Friday night and is something that students won’t want to miss. The Vagina Monologues were written by playwright Eve Ensler, a feminist and activist for women. Ensler’s play seeks to create conversations on topics that are otherwise ignored or uncomfortable, and boldly tells the reality of some women’s lives through monologues that touch on subjects such as sexuality and violence against women. “Be prepared to laugh and cry and to be on a little bit of a rollercoaster,” Michelle Do, a sophomore screenwriting major, said. Do is performing one of the monologues in the play this Friday. “I think people are thinking that it’s a raunchy show about vaginas, and that’s not the entire purpose of it because there’s so much more to it,” Do said. “Be prepared for that range of emotions that we’re going to throw at you.” The monologues the actors will be performing range from being both humorous and funny, to also being awkward and sad. However, the overall purpose of the monologues is to expose the reality of some women’s experiences and situations and to allow people to think and talk
“I think people are thinking that it’s a raunchy show about vaginas, and that’s not the entire purpose of it because there’s so much more to it.” Michelle Do Sophomore Screenwriting major “People should expect to hear a lot of emotional stories, but also to learn a lot not only about experiences that they may have gone through, but also experiences from other people in different countries across the world that they may not even realize are happening,” Sara Buchdahl said. Buchdahl is a freshman theatre arts performance and practices major, and is the co-stage manager of the play. “I think [people] can expect to laugh and will want to have conversations
about really important topics,” Buchdahl said. Melissa Barnhill, a graduate student who is working toward a doctoral degree in community engagement, applied to receive the script and was able to get the production team together, as well as set up auditions for the play. “I think art is a great way to activate conversations for social change, and the monologues are perfect for that,” Barnhill said. “I just wanted to be able to bring that to Point Park.” In applying for Ensler’s script, Barnhill explained that there is an agreement that all of the money that is raised through attendance must be donated to a local women’s organization. Barnhill presented five local organizations for the cast members to vote on to choose where the donations would go. The organization with the most votes was Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR). PAAR, a local organization that is dedicated to helping victims of sexual abuse in the Pittsburgh area, is also active in working to end sexual violence in the community. “Right now we’re in a weird political time where a lot of nonprofits doing this type of work are not getting funding and so it’s nice [for PAAR] to get a check that’s not grant related and they can do whatever they want with it and it’s there for them to use for whatever they need,” Barnhill said. It’s also important that attendees know that they are not only attending the
show for entertainment, but that their attendance is also going towards a local organization that is making changes in their own community. “It’s a great opportunity for people to not only come and hear stories of people who have been through hard situations, but to also know that they are making a difference watching the show,” Buchdahl said. “It’s about knowing that their money will be going [to PAAR] and hopefully helping people around Pittsburgh who have dealt with [sexual violence].”
“I think art is a great way to activate conversations for social change, and the monologues are perfect for that.” Melissa Barnhill Graduate student Community Engagement
“I know PAAR is really engaged with Point Park and they do work so closely with a lot of our students,” Barnhill said. “I taught last semester and one of my students had to access their resources and the counselor came to her on campus. I’ve heard only good things about them.” The cast of the Vagina Monologues is excited to put on the show this upcoming Friday, and is looking forward to initiating conversations and creating a sense of awareness. “There’s a moment where we’re all going to put on this pink item on each other to create unity among us, and I think the entire show is excited to come together with other strong women and just bring this project to life on stage,” Do said. “It’s really about women, it’s about us, and it’s about our struggles. This [play] is just so powerful and it brings us all together, so I’m really excited to be a part of that sense of unity.” The Vagina Monologues will be held at the George Rowland White Auditorium, located in the University Center from 6 to 9 p.m. this Friday. All student tickets are $5, including students outside of Point Park and high school students, and can be bought online. Regular admission is $20.
PAAR is not only helping those around the Pittsburgh area, but also students here at Point Park as well.
Sara Cronin scroni@pointpark.edu
History made at national USG meets to discuss new process for track and field competition removal of treasurer through SAIL from TRACK page 1 Junior jumper Chance Callahan competed in the triple jump Saturday and jumped a distance of 13.69 meters. Just short of the 14.33 qualifying mark to reach the finals, Callahan’s leap was good enough for 22nd place in the country in the event. Also just short of reaching the finals was the men’s 4x800 relay team. With the top eight teams advancing, the team finished with a
PRIZES
time of 7 minutes, 48.97 seconds in ninth place. The team consisted of senior Andre Bennett, Stephens, and freshmen Jared Thompson and Doug Kostelansky. The National Championship meet ended the indoor track and field season for Point Park, and the outdoor season will begin March 23 at the California University of Pennsylvania.
Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu
All participants will be automatically entered in a random drawing to win:
• 1 of 1 Smart TV (worth $150) • 1 of 30 Flex Dollars certificates (worth $10)
Freshmen and Seniors: You’re invited to participate in…
THE NATIONAL SURVEY OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT (NSSE) WHEN Feb. 12 - March 31, 2019 WHERE Online – check your Point Park email for an invite WHY This national survey helps us understand how students spend time inside and outside of the classroom, which helps guide decisions to benefit Point Park students.
from USG page 1 when the decision of removing a treasurer comes into play, given the treasurer’s relationship with SAIL. “Both parties would have a say,” Lampel said. Coordinator of SAIL and USG advisor Brad Kovalcik found a fault in the rule. Kovalcik claimed the rule allowed for presidents to be the first to initiate the removal, not SAIL. He also expressed concern that the consultation of SAIL in the decision of a treasurer’s removal could be over-simplified when a single member of SAIL could simply veto the president’s decision and called for further collaboration than what was proposed. “I don’t love the wording of this,” Kovalcik said. Kovalcik continued, saying that having the USG treasurer in the SAIL office was purely a beneficial move for USG, allowing them to directly be involved in club funding and this new rule may add an unneeded supervisor-like layer to the relationship - which could possibly undermine the Finance Committee’s plans.
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“...it just seems like a really messy way for things to happen. Having a professional conversation that allows learning and growth to occur versus going through this red tape bureaucracy mechanism to put them on public trial...” Kovalcik said. Senator Jacob Berlin weighed in, stating that “there is really no way to mandate professional communication within the Constitution.” He maintained that the removal of a USG member would still be handled professionally in accordance with bylaws. Berlin also noted that the use of the term “consultation” was intended to give the president more power with their Executive Cabinet than SAIL in the decision. Resolution 03042019 was enacted by the Rules Committee to revise bylaw 101.513 to better clarify the dress code to USG members. The resolution entailed that members must dress professionally at all times to “reflect the organization accurately.” Members were reminded to always wear the latest edition of the USG polo, keep the logo visible at all times and
wear appropriate legwear. When the resolution was discussed in the meeting of the Rules Committee, the members had supposedly come to a unanimous and “smooth” decision on what should and shouldn’t be addressed in the dress code, unlike the two prior discrepancies involving the dress code in previous meetings. The recently sworn-in senators had also just finally received their official polos as they had previously attended the meetings without proper attire, but were not reprimanded due to the long-awaited arrival of the polos. With the final call for APF’s closing that night, Lampel detailed the final budget left unspent by clubs last funding period. She reported that $7,577 will need to be divided to and spent by clubs by Friday. Any unspent money would carry over into the next funding period and the last budget allocations to clubs will take place over the weekend.
Mitchell Drake mjdrake@pointpark.edu
Correction In last week’s USG beat piece, it was reported that the rules committee was planning on enacting parts of bylaw resolution 02182019 to change how presidents are appointed. However, presidents are not appointed but elected by the student body, and the bylaw resolution discussed was 02182019.1.
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2019
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Obituary Pittsburgh cartoonist Rob Rogers visits students Norman Clarence Manuel By Jacob Berlin For The Globe
STK, Embrace Life l Submitted
Norman Clarence Manuel, 37, of Pittsburgh, passed on Monday, February 18, 2019, according to a bereavement notice sent by Keith Paylo, vice president of student affairs and dean of students, on March 1. “It is with great sadness that I inform you of the passing of one of our students, Norman Manuel,” Paylo wrote. “I have received a number of emails sharing how creative and talented Norman was, and the impact that he had on so many people during his life.” Manuel was born on Dec. 8, 1981. He was a junior Public Relations and Advertising major, a published author and recently filled the role of head production assistant on the award winning Production 3 film, “Luna: a Short Film.” The cast and crew expressed their sympathies across social media following the death announcement. “We are shocked and deeply saddened to hear about the death of our head production assistant from Luna, Norman Manuel. Norman was an extremely talented filmmaker, artist, photographer, and author. We are forever grateful for him and may he Rest In Peace,” they wrote. Manuel was also the founder of Hidden Gems Multimedia. A public candlelighting and balloon release took place in front of the August Wilson House in the Hill District on Saturday, Feb. 23. A homegoing service was held at West Funeral Home on Saturday, March 2. Manuel was laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery.
When Rob Rogers was fired from the region’s largest newspaper last June, he didn’t stop sketching. Instead, he drew up a game plan. “It’s not like I can just switch careers,” Rogers says in a post-firing autobiographical cartoon. It is one of many self-aware strips currently on display in an exhibition at Point Park’s Center for Media Innovation through May 10. This is his second event since the original opening of the CMI. Rogers, 59, of Lawrenceville, was edged out of the Post-Gazette by its publisher in 2018. The ownership had taken issue with cartoons that were seen as “anti-Trump”, and began spiking some before removing the position entirely. It was a highly-criticized move that resulted in questions about political speech. It also resulted in what is now a special opportunity for the Point Park community to see all of those buried comics. The two-month engagement kicked off last Friday with a grand opening reception that was attended by 218 members of the public, according to administrative assistant Lisa Knapp. Nick Tommarello, President of Point Park’s Society of Professional Journalists chapter, gave the introduction while Andrew Conte, Director of the CMI, was on hand
as well. Conte estimates that Rogers sold roughly 180 books. The relationship between the school and the artist began about a decade ago. For ten years, Rogers was president of the Toonseum, a Pittsburgh staple dedicated to the art of comics. He said during his tenure, he started working with Point Park University through students in the animation department. Rogers said he is currently doing “freelance work and also planning for what’s next—it may be a graphic novel.” He said that publishers have been reaching out with interest. For now, viewers can find rough sketches and unreleased material at their own leisure. The hallways and walls of the CMI are adorned with original artwork, unpublished political commentary and memories from Rogers. “I’ve been cartooning since I was a baby. I copied comics out of the paper… I spent the next three decades perfecting my craft,” Rogers says in the piece ‘What Now?’ Rogers admits that his art isn’t for everyone, but says that “it has never crossed my mind to do anything other than continue to cartoon.” “About a week after I was fired, I was approached by George Washington University… They wanted to exhibit the 18 cartoons that
Jacob Berlin | The Globe
Rob Rogers’ cartoon exhibit will be on display in the Center for Media Innovation through May 10. had been killed in the three previous months, that I had done under Keith Burris as my editor,” Rogers said. Burris has recently been named executive editor of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in a move questioned by readers. Rogers said it is imperative that supporters of a free press continue to show their support. “This exhibit could be helpful to people,” Rogers said. “We all grow up drawing. The great thing about cartoons is that everyone can relate to them. It is even more accessible than the written word. You may not be interested in politics or journalism, but you can still get something out of this exhibit.” Rogers also offered a message for conservative students who may be hesitant to indulge in his presidential subject matter. “Let down your guard a little bit to come in and explore,” Rogers said. “If
there’s anything you disagree with, ask yourself why.” “It’s cool to see cartoons that never ran,” Conte said. “You can see what the public never got to see before. The way the exhibit is created, you can see how he puts the whole thing together.” Keith Paylo vice president of student affairs and dean of students, encourages all students to visit. “I’ve been a fan of Rob Rogers for years since he was at the Post-Gazette,” Paylo said. “It’s a treasure chest of something you don’t see very often. I used to say when Rob was on vacation, I didn’t even look at the cartoons.” For students who were on vacation over spring break and not able to hear from Rob Rogers himself, there may still be a chance to do so.
Jacob Berlin jberli@pointpark.edu
Mid-Atlantic Emmys hold resume workshop on campus By Andrew Brinker Co-News Editor
Point Park was host to the Mid-Atlantic chapter of The National Academy of Television on Tuesday, February 19 for a workshop entitled “Boost Your Media Resume,” designed to aid broadcast students in the Pittsburgh area with building their resumes, improving their broadcast work, applying for jobs and submitting nominations for Mid-Atlantic Emmy awards. The event was organized by Gina Catanzarite, a broadcast professor at Point Park, and featured a panel of top Pittsburgh media professionals. The panel included Lisa Washington, a reporter at KDKA-TV who hosted the event, Hilary Wavrek Totin, a producer at WTAE-TV, Tim Holoman, a retired WPXI-TV editor, David Solomon, an executive producer at WQED Multimedia, Jonathan Otte, producer of the Pittsburgh Penguins’ show “In The Room,” Carrie Moniot, a student media advisor at Robert
Morris University, Zak Boyle, a digital content producer at WQED and Tara Faccenda, the executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Emmy Awards. Conversation at the workshop began with an initial discussion regarding what producers search for when hiring applicants, which led the panel to a consensus about the importance of an applicant’s resume reel, and storytelling ability. “You can pull a lot of people with those reels,” Solomon said. “But I need to see a story as an accent - start to end of a story. I want to see something with a great beginning, middle, and end, and the visuals to go with it.” Faccenda also emphasized the importance of storytelling, saying that the Emmys tend to place the most value on human stories. “You all are producing a lot of stories that people care to see,” Faccenda said. “Human stories. And it’s really important to keep telling those stories.” The panel then shifted into discussion on the importance of flexibility and reach-
ing into different areas outside of a broadcast student’s niche. Otte told the audience that flexibility in college was responsible for his current job with the Penguins. “I came from this school, this Division I hockey school in Minnesota, where I would shoot a lot of the hockey games,” Otte said. “When I was first interviewed over the phone by the Penguins I showed them my demo reel with all of my sports shooting and stuff like that on it. They were basically like ‘that’s cool but tell us about this documentary that you were a part of that was about beef cattle in Minnesota.’ So, yeah, we need to be flexible.” The event was then opened up to student questions, which led to an indepth conversation on Mid-Atlantic Emmy submissions and what common elements could be found in winning pieces. Each panelist eventually provided the audience with parting words of wisdom to take away from the event, which was followed by a net-
working opportunity for students. In her parting words to students, Catanzarite emphasized the value of awards in media and the potential weight that they can carry. “We’ve talked sort of interchangeably about awards and jobs,” Catanzarite said. “If it’s good enough to get you a job, it’s probably good enough to get you an award. If it’s good enough to get you an award, it’s probably good enough to get you a job.” While Catanzarite spoke about the importance of awards, Washington used her final words to the audience to highlight the importance of resources within the broadcast industry. “Utilize your resources,” said Washington. “You have a wealth of resources; your university, internships, contacts - utilize those. If people see that you are willing and eager to learn, then they don’t mind helping you.”
Andrew Brinker anbrink@pointpark.edu
FEB. 18, 2019 - FEB. 25, 2019
Monday, February 18
Tuesday, February 19
Sunday, February 24
3:37 p.m. - Lawrence Hall Drug Violation
Wednesday, February 20
Monday, February 25
1:03 p.m. - Lawrence Hall Criminal Trespass
4:40 p.m. - Blvd. Apts. Drug Violation
2:03 p.m. - Lawrence Hall Theft
9:04 p.m. - Lawrence Hall Criminal Trespass
1:03 p.m. - Lawrence Hall Criminal Trespass
1:37 a.m. - Lawrence Hall Theft
FEATURES
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2019
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Public wedding held at Carnegie Museum of Art Former students win love story contest for ‘Third Thursday’ By Amanda Myers Co-Features Editor
At the Carnegie Museum of Art on Feb. 21, former Point Park students Colten Gill, 24, and Louis Spanos, 23, said their vows in front of family, friends and paying strangers. The ceremony was held as part of the museum’s Third Thursday events and was centered around a contest that required local couples to submit their relationship story, along with what it would mean to them to get married in the museum. Senior public relations and advertising major Morgan McCoy currently has Spanos as her intern supervisor at WordWrite Communications. McCoy initially found out about the contest and sent her coworkers a link through their group chat saying that someone should apply, which Spanos then did. “Louis was like ‘I’ll never be picked’ and was anxious about it every day,” McCoy said. “[Louis and Colten] don’t see themselves as uber popular people, but they are.” Gill and Spanos have been in a relationship since they were in high school, meeting at the Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter School. During their time at Point Park, they both studied under the same sports, arts and entertainment major (SAEM) and were heavily involved on the Campus Activities Board (CAB). Gill graduated as CAB’s executive director and Spanos graduated as their vice president of programming. The couple’s time at Point Park enriched both their relationship and professional ambitions, according to Gill. “While our downtime was typically spent attending meetings, brainstorming the next big event for
PIONEER PUBLIC Jessica McCort, Ph.D. By Tiara Strong For The Globe
When it comes to what Dr. Jessica McCort can do, there are no limitations. McCort teaches literary arts and rhetoric. She is also a yoga instructor. In addition to earning her Doctorate from Washington University in Philosophy, English and American Literature, McCort puts in
campus or working tables at things like Late Night Bingo, we both got to see each other face challenges and grow as individuals, which made us stronger in our relationship,” Gill said. Current CAB executive director senior Kaitlyn Smith said that she looked up to them when she was just starting out in the organization due to their inspiring work ethic. “It was such a great experience [working] with them weekly,” Smith said. “Their passion for the organization was evident. They put their heart and soul into everything they did.”
“‘Louis was like ‘I’ll never be picked’ and was anxious about it every day,” McCoy said. “[Louis and Colten] don’t see themselves as uber popular people, but they are.’” Morgan McCoy
PR & Advertising Senior It’s no surprise that same passion resulted in them winning the Carnegie Museum of Art contest, which received nearly 75 applications. Those applications were narrowed down to the top three with the winner determined by which couple got the most likes and shares on Face-
work outside of the classroom. On McCort’s list of accomplishments, being an author is another thing she can add. “I am currently finishing up a big project.” McCort said. “I am in the process of putting together a collection of Sylvia Plath interviews.” McCort comes from a blue-collar town and her upbringing gives her the ability to get through anything. As a freshman in college, she initially wanted to major in engineering because math and science are skills she is good at. However, she soon switched her major to English after a realization. “I realized engineering was something that I could not foresee myself doing. I had really great English teachers in high school. I was always the one who re-
Jared Murphy | The Globe Louis Spanos (left) and Colten Gill (right) walk down the “aisle” at the Carnegie Museum of Art.
book. When they found out they won, Gill and Spanos had only three weeks to prepare for the wedding, which involved getting the space ready and sending out invites to family and friends. Since this was part of the museum’s Third Thursday, tickets were available to the public for $10 in advance or $15 at the door. Members of the community came out in droves in their best formal wear to help celebrate the couple’s union: velvet gowns, sparkly shoes and floral blazers were notable fashion highlights. Point Park students were also among those in attendance. Elizabeth Hunter, a senior multimedia graphic design major, heard about the event through a friend of Gill’s, who she has met a few times.
“My friend Ariana used to work with Colten and her friend is also friends with Louis, that’s how I heard about the event,” Hunter said. “I also liked the photo on social media to make sure they won, which they did, which is exciting.” It was exciting for McCoy to experience something special in such a storied space. “It was awesome, it’s so funny because if you’re a Pittsburgh public school student you go on field trips there, and I never would have imagined I would be there for this spectacular wedding,” McCoy said. The ceremony itself began around 8:30 p.m. when Gill and Spanos made their way down a makeshift aisle to Lady Gaga’s cover of “Your Song.” After reading their heartfelt vows and the snif-
Kelsee McHugh | The Globe
ally loved to read,” McCort said. When McCort is not working on campus she is still very much a busy
woman. McCort has two children who are involved in sports and dance. McCort’s children are her inspiration for many
fles ensued, participants could choose to take part in either a guided art tour or a dance party followed by a craft session. The art tour was specifically love themed in regards to classic depictions of love and women. Gill and Spanos did not seem to mind the prospect of strangers at their wedding, and embraced the idea due to their time working with the community on CAB. The ceremony was so memorable that Gill couldn’t have imagined it taking place anywhere else. “During the wedding, the space was beautiful, we got to meet so many wonderful new friends, and there’s no other way I’d want to have gotten married to my best friend,” Gill said.
Amanda Myers admyers@pointpark.edu things. Among those things include McCort’s book titled “Reading in the Dark: Horror in Children’s Literature and Culture.” In this book, McCort examines children’s fascination with frightening and scary things. “Coraline is my favorite book,” McCort said. “Scary things can help children deal with horror.” McCort enjoys fresh air and listening to podcasts on the way to and from work. The podcasts she often listens to are the ones that she feels give great life advice. She takes one lesson in particular with her throughout life. “Instead of setting big goals, set small goals that lead up to the big goal,” McCort said.
Tiara Strong tlstron@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, MARCH 6, 2019
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
‘Vinegar Tom’ captivates Playhouse audience By Kaisha Jantsch For The Globe
Caryl Churchill’s 1976 feminist retelling of England’s 17th century witch hunts, Vinegar Tom, debuted at Point Park University’s Pittsburgh Playhouse, Friday and the production, while slightly flawed, proves nothing short of impressive. The play, which features a band that, in this making, is led by three strong female vocalists (Liron Blumenthal, Elise Dorsey, and Caroline Bachman), tells the story of five women: Alice (Ciera Harding), a struggling single mother who maintains the company of many men she has no desire to marry; Alice’s mother, Joan (Markia Nicole Smith), an unmarried, poor, and aging woman who once lived a life like her daughter’s; Alice’s best friend, Susan (Allison Svagdis), an exhausted mother of three, struggling with motherhood, who continues to get pregnant by her husband, despite her objections and several miscarriages; Betty (Caroline Travers), a young runaway fighting against an arranged marriage; and Ellen (Jamie Rafacz), a cunning woman and herbalist who provides “charms,” primarily to women, some of which prevent and terminate pregnancy. These women exist outside of the patriarchal norm. Thus, when a series of unfortunate events befalls Jack (Daniel Murphy) and Margery (Bridget Murphy), a once-prosperous and seemingly pious couple, two of these women, Alice and Joan, get blamed. Both women cursed or wished damnation upon
the couple at some point— Joan when Margery refused to lend her yeast, and Alice, when she refused Jack, a married man, sex. These damnations come to mind when Jack becomes impotent, Margery’s butter won’t make, and their cattle begin dying. To determine that the mother and daughter are witches, Margery boils her own urine, creating a foul odor that brings Joan, her neighbor, to inquire about the smell. As the smell was meant to draw witches, this inquiry proves, to Margery, Joan’s association with the devil. Alice’s association is solidified when Jack goes to her demanding his penis back, which he is convinced is missing and that Alice has taken. Alice is confused by his demand and unable to return what she doesn’t have. Jack rapes her, and his ability to perform when previously unable to confirms, to Jack, that she, too, is a witch. Once certain that Joan and Alice are witches who have cast spells upon them, Jack and Margery hire an expert witch hunter, Packer (Micah Stanek), and his assistant, Goody (Mary Shay McWeeney), to try and persecute the women. A feminist’s Crucible, Vinegar Tom reflects upon the present through a tale of the past and shows contemporary attitudes toward women as medieval, with many individuals continuing to cast unconventional and untraditional females as witches. Its author sees the age-old impulse to blame women for the downfall of society and for male impotence and infidelity and misfortune, to free men and their unwavering wives from the weight
of their own shortcomings and failures, as active in her modern world. In Harding’s portrayal of Alice, she shines in playing a convincing lover in her exchanges with a character identified only as, “man,” with a crooked smile always playing, flirtatiously at her lips, and easy friend to Susan, casually gossiping about sex, marriage and children, as if unwinding with a cup of coffee on a Sunday afternoon. Ciera Murphy, as Margery, makes thoughtful decisions and acts as an effective antagonist to Joan and Alice. In an exchange with the cunning woman who has advised Margery and Jack to look into a piece of glass she’s given them to see if the face of a witch appears, Margery claims that she sees Joan in the glass and, with her husband hesitating to back her up she exclaims, “It’s Mother Nokes [(Joan)], isn’t it Jack?” With eyes wide, she nods to him, shaking her head ever-so-subtly “yes,” so as to lead him to the correct conclusion. However, she struggles, at times with her Irish accent, as do many in the cast, over- or under-emphasizing it occasionally. Daniel Murphy, as Jack, has the most difficult time finding this dialectic balance. His accent is incredibly thick and lacks diction, bordering almost on cockney—dropping endings and hard consonant sounds from words. Though he gives an admirable, passionate and humorous performance, playing his character as a hyper-masculine dummy by barreling across the stage and speaking with deep, open tones, his di-
New Studios. New Lineup. THE SOUND OF
POINT PARK UNIVERSITY WPPJRadio.com alogue often gets lost and muddies the plot. However, Travers, as Betty, always brings it back. While Betty is not a lead in the play, Travers’ performance as her certainly has a feel of primacy. Her character, diagnosed with hysteria, is sent to the doctor to be bled. In this scene, she is tied to a chair. She asks repeatedly and with earnest why she is tied. She almost hyperventilates as the doctor readies his knife, tearing through her lines at ever-increasing speeds, her voice filled with terror, while she fumbles with her feet nervously until he cuts her. As the doctor pulls a lengthening red string of
yarn from her arm, signifying the bleeding, she shakes and cries, softening her volume to a whimper as her character loses consciousness. For something so difficult to watch, viewers will struggle to tear their eyes away. The opening night performance had a few hiccups, particularly with some on-stage confusion at the end, but these small problems don’t mar an otherwise well-done production of Vinegar Tom that screams Churchill’s feminism. It’s well-worth your time and money.
Kaisha Jantsch kajants@pointpark.edu
Jonas Brothers reunite, release new song ‘Sucker’ Reliving preteens as JoBros end hiatus By Payton Comunale Co-Features Editor
We’re “Burnin’ Up” for the Jonas Brothers’ new single! Nick, Joe and Kevin released their new hit, “Sucker,” on March 1, and it immediately reached the spot of No. 1 single on iTunes. The single was accompanied by a new music video as well, and this one featured all three of the JoBros’ significant others— Priyanka Chopra, Sophie Turner and Danielle Jonas. The boyband, or rather ‘brother band, has made a comeback after a six-year hiatus. From 2005 to 2013, the Jonas Brothers had released four studio albums and sold over 20 million records. They announced their split back in 2013, just before releasing their fifth album and starting a 19-city tour. The hearts of fans everywhere shattered. Each brother felt differently about the direction in which they should take their music, and eventually, they each agreed that delving into their own music careers could do them some good. Joe Jonas tweeted on October 22, 2013 “please
hold while we get our s**t together.” And on February 2, 2019, Joe quoted the tweet saying, “Thank you for holding. S**t = Together,” making the reunion official and mending broken hearts all around the world. The new tune has the same sort of catchiness as some of the band’s younger stuff, but it shows the three young men’s obvious maturation in age. The song exemplifies what love can do to a man, such as “dancin’ on top of cars and stumblin’ out of bars.” The lyrics stick to the theme of love that the band so beautifully portrayed back when they were at their peak. However, each has actually experienced real love at this point in their lives, adding some credibility behind the lyrics. The three band members are ‘suckers’ for their girls, so it only seemed right to feature them in the hit’s music video. The video takes place in what seems to be a rather palatial setting with exquisite shrubbery, pink ladders, and many Corgi dogs. Most elements of the video
are extremely random but fit together in a unique way. With tea parties, lavish headdresses, and rabbits, the video is definitely worth the three-minute watch and is bound to leave viewers wondering. The Jonas Brothers’ music videos have always had a story-telling aspect to them. Their video for “Burnin’ Up” told the story of each brother saving a damsel in distress and winning her as his own in the end, and their video for “Lovebug” told the story of what seemed to be two young girls reliving their grandparents’ love story through photographs in an antique photo album. Ever since 2005, the brothers have been creating interestingly vivid stories to tell their fans through the use of lyrics and videos, and their newest creation totally lives up to this idea. Will the JoBros continue to build this newfound style and stick together as the boyband that we all love and miss? I think we should all stay tuned to find out.
Payton Comunale pbcomun@pointpark.edu
Public Art Run: Downtown -March 9 -10 a.m. - 11 a.m. -Market Square, 1 Market Square
Vinegar Tom
-Feb. 22 - March 10 -Pittsburgh Playhouse’s Rauh Theatre, 350 Forbes Ave.
A Doll’s House Part 2 -March 7 - April 7 -O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave.
Guided Tour: Pittsburgh’s Attic from Glass to Ketchup -March 9 -11 a.m. - 12 p.m. -Heinz History Center, 1212 Smallman St.
WordPlay
-March 8 - March 9 -Bricolage Production Company, 937 Liberty Ave.
OPINIONS
A loss of pride in spaceflight By Mick Stinelli Columnist
Watching a rocket lift off is something that will always spark joy in my heart. The image of a man-made creation lifting our Earthbound bodies beyond the atmosphere is a genuinely awe inspiring feat. 50 years ago, this was an incredible event; now it seems to happen nearly every week. SpaceX, the aerospace manufacturer founded by Elon Musk, made an unmanned flight to the International Space Station just last week. It was the first step to made-in-America spaceflight after years of NASA using Russian rockets. “Today’s successful launch marks a new chapter in American excellence, getting us closer to once again flying American Astronauts on American rockets from American soil,” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote after liftoff. It was a moment of pride for some, especially NASA. Though it can be hard to be proud of something that has happened seemingly independent of our help. NASA was generously funded by taxpayer dollars for years. At its peak in 1966, it received $43.5 billion in today’s money, over four percent of that year’s federal budget. In 2018, funding for NASA accounted for less than one percent of the budget. This cut in funding for space exploration has given rise to companies like SpaceX, who see an opportunity to create public-private partnerships in spaceflight.
Spending fewer of our tax dollars on exploration comes at a cost. When we watch SpaceX rockets lift off, we are awestruck by the ingenuity of these instruments. They are incredible; the Falcon 9 rocket is able to land vertically, a maneuver requiring almost incomprehensible precision. That ingenuity, however, comes at the price of our collective pride. When Americans watched men walk on the moon 50 years ago, they were watching their tax dollars at work. Apollo 11 captured the eyes and minds of the nation, but once it was over, many Americans seemed to think man’s mission to space was complete. By 2004, President George W. Bush announced the coming end of the Space Shuttle program; it officially ended in 2011. Now when we watch American-made spacecraft leave the Earth, it’s likely they are funded by eccentric billionaires rather than the American people. When that is the case, we lose the collective gratification the country shared when Armstrong and Aldrin walked on the lunar surface. What we’re seeing isn’t an American achievement; rather, it’s the achievement of some phenomenally wealthy person willing to lose a few million dollars. More than 72 percent of Americans agree it is essential that the US remains a leader in space exploration, according to a poll conducted last year by the Pew Research Center. However, the current admin-
istration seeks not to explore space as much as they seek to command it. “Over the past 60 years, the United States has assembled the world’s largest, most sophisticated constellation of military and intelligence satellites,” Vice President Mike Pence wrote in the Washington Post last week. “And we have forged the technology to leverage US power in space here on Earth, giving our war-fighters and intelligence community a strategic advantage and increasing the agility, precision and lethality of our military.” The vice president describes space not as a great frontier, but as a conquest, another tool to “leverage” to in the military-industrial complex. Every year, our country spends more and more money on our military. Perhaps it is time to put some of that money aside and spend it on science, research and exploration. In that same Pew Research poll, 42 percent of Americans said they would like to go to space. The top two reasons: to experience something unique and to see the view of Earth from space. That sense of exploration, of trying and seeing something new and exciting, is exactly why we should give NASA more funding. Most likely we’ll learn something new about the universe; at the very least, we should go just for the view.
Mick Stinelli mfstine@pointpark.edu
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2019
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GL BE’S POINT
THE
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Pick back up where you left off Well Pioneers, our week of relaxation came and went, and the seven-week home stretch lays ahead of us. Some of us enjoyed the luxury of spending spring break abroad or laying on a beach while others returned home to spend time with loved ones or remained in their downtown residence. Nonetheless, the lack of classes, assignments and exams for one week certainly proved beneficial to everyone. Stepping back into reality, it’s time to finish the semester on a high note. The back half of the semester serves as a clean slate for students who may not have been pleased with their midterm grades. A plentiful amount of opportunities remain to bring a less than desired grade up. Let’s be physically and mentally present in class the final seven weeks. Let’s take advantage of extra credit opportunities and gather any and all the easy points to cushion the blows of tough quizzes and exams. Aside from academic goals, we must not forget to better the other aspects of our lives as well. Take a mental health day
when needed, call your parents and ask about their days and make decisions that will make you happy and benefit you, because at the end of the day, you will be the one to live with them. Every student is in charge of their own choices that will impact their grades these last few weeks, and most importantly, their happiness. Take a break from the books for one Friday night and see a movie with friends or have dinner with your significant other. Relationships with those closest to you are just as important as relationships with those grading you. Spring break did not have to serve as a trigger to kick start a better half of the semester. We are all capable of changing any aspect of our lives at any moment in time. Maybe spring break opened your eyes to something that needs to change, and summer may be the time to execute this change, or even next semester. It’s never too late to take the changes necessary to receive a fulfilling education and live as joyous young adults.
The Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu
The case for survival: trying to find insulin to live without insurance By David Shirer For The Globe
Insulin, the only treatment for Type 1 Diabetes (T1D), is absolutely necessary. It is like air or water; without it I’d die in as little as 48 hours. There have been too many stories of young adults dying because they resorted to rationing insulin because they can’t afford it. Just imagine trying to live, but only breathing 50 percent of the time… it just doesn’t work. I have now had T1D for over 21 years. When I was diagnosed at 9-years old I didn’t have a full understanding of what it all really meant, I just knew I had to take insulin shots for the rest of my life and count everything I ate. I also had no understanding of health insurance or drug costs. Fast forward to turning 26. I was in a really crappy job, but it had decent enough health insurance. This was the first time I was paying for my own supplies and insulin. At that time, with my insurance, I could get a 90-day supply of Humalog insulin for about $100, plus the cost of other supplies.
I stayed in that job for way too long, because it was convenient, I had health insurance and finding jobs is the worst. This is often the case for T1D’s, we need health insurance and will waste away in meaningless jobs just because of the health benefits. When I eventually got a job in my field I was beyond excited. Finally, I would be doing something I enjoyed. I moved from Pittsburgh to Jackson, Mississippi to work at a small university just outside of the city. I hadn’t even asked about the insurance packages the university offered. I quickly found out the insurance plans were garbage. I needed my insulin, so I went to Walgreens for a 30-day supply - it cost me $250. I was able to get enrolled with a mail-order pharmacy where I could get a 90-day supply, but that still cost me over $200 every three months. I had gone with the insurance package with the lowest premium, but it had a very high deductible. I was stuck with that insurance plan for a year until the open-enrollment/ change of coverage time came around. When it came to that time, I changed to a plan with
a higher premium, but a lower deductible. I honestly don’t remember what I was paying for my supplies at that time. I lost that job just a few months after I changed my insurance plan, and before anything really showed a change in costs for me. I was able to get a 90-day supply of insulin just before my insurance ended, so that was extremely helpful. At that time, a non-profit pharmacy that my dad had worked with through the planning phase, was donated a supply of insulin and supplies. Through those connections, I was able to get that insulin and supplies at no cost, just needed a prescription sent to them. I received my 90-day supply of insulin through my insurance, got this large supply from the non-profit pharmacy, so I didn’t have anything to worry about. During this time, I never got to a point of actually rationing my insulin, but I would skip meals, or eat differently to avoid having to use insulin. And through my four different jobs, church events and good friends, I knew how to live cheaper, find free meals and have people to take care of me. In Feb. 2018 I moved back
home to Pittsburgh from Jackson to save money. I started working part-time at a restaurant to fill my time, but had no insurance. Feb. 2018 I had put the last of the insulin I had left into my pump, which would last me 2-3 days. I immediately put a post on Instagram and Twitter. Within minutes I was getting shares on Twitter and messages on both platforms. I even found a guy in Pittsburgh that dropped one off at my house for me that day. I had insulin to last me a month or so. During this time, I also learned of some pay-itforward groups on Facebook. Diabetics all over would post items that they had surplus of, or people posted what they needed. I was able to make connections there to get all types of supplies and some insulin. In May 2018 I was out of insulin again, and getting ready for vacation in a few weeks, so I posted on social media again. Again, I got shares and messages from complete strangers willing and able to help. I also met a woman (now a good friend, and basically my guardian angel) who had seen my tweet shared by someone in Texas, but she
lives in Pittsburgh, so I was able to connect with her and get supplies. Summer of 2018, I also got connected with a group called T1Yinzers, a group of adults with T1D. We have meet-ups every few months, talk about all kinds of things. This group along with the Diabetic Online Community have been incredibly helpful to me, and so many others. I posted to the T1Yinzers page in Oct. 2018 asking if anyone had insulin, my guardian angel messaged me that day and was able to give me a few months’ worth because her mail-order pharmacy double filled her prescription. I’m still using what she gave me, along with samples I have been able to get from my doctor’s office. It has been a wild few years, but the fact that I’m here to tell the story is even more impressive. No one should have to decide between insulin, and food or rent. We are stuck in a very flawed system that needs change - access to insulin is a human right.
David Shirer dshirer@pointpark.edu
Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967 Editor-in-Chief: Carley Bonk Editor-Elect: Dara Collins Business Manager: Cortnie Phillips Faculty Adviser: Christopher Rolinson Administrative Adviser: Dean Keith Paylo The Globe board consists of Carley Bonk, Dara Collins 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 at the corner of Wood Street and Fort Pitt Boulevard. Writers should address letters to:
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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2019
SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Baseball, softball begin seasons in Florida games
All In with Allison By Allison Schubert
By Robert Berger
Sports Columnist
Co-Sports Editor
After spending spring break in Florida, the baseball team opened conference play taking 2-3 games to West Virginia Tech University (WVU) last Friday and Saturday. Point Park opened the series with a 9-3 win. Staring on the mound was senior Felix Castillo who lasted 6.2 innings only giving up four hits and three runs. Junior Ryan Huber finished the game while only allowing two hits. Point Park took a 1-0 lead in the third inning, but WVU Tech put up three through the fifth and sixth. That was the end of scoring for the Golden Bears and Point Park managed to score eight runs in the final three innings to secure the win. In the second game of the series, Point Park fell to WVU tech 5-4. The Golden Bears took a 2-0 lead in the second inning, but Point Park battled back to tie it up in the fourth. In the next inning, Point Park scored two more to take a 4-2. WVU Tech however responded with two of their own to tie it back up. In the bottom half of the sixth West Virginia managed to score one more run to seal the deal and take the victory. The final game of the series required extra innings, and the Pioneers left the Mountain State victorious 7-4. Trailing 1-0 in the fourth, Point Park left the inning with a 3-1 lead after a three-run homerun off the bat of sophomore Alejandro Pelaez. The team picked up another run in the next inning, but the Golden Bears battled to tie the contest up and force extra innings. It only took one inning however, and Point Park scored three runs in the top of the eighth. During the trip to Lake Wales, Florida, the team left with an even record of 4-4. The Pioneers opened the spring season off with a 13-1 loss to Trinity Baptist College. But rebounded in the second game of the series with a 7-3 win. Point Park took an early 2-0 lead in the first, but Trinity took over scoring in the fourth putting three runs on the board. The Pioneers were able to finish off the game in the fifth inning scoring five. Senior Nick Bucci started on the mound for Point Park, throwing for 4.2 innings. Huber was credited with the win after pitching for 1.1 innings in middle relief. The next day the Pioneers were back in action for another doubleheader against RV Judson University. Point Park claimed the victory in the first matchup 9-6. Judson took a 5-0 lead in the first inning and Point Park responded with one run of their own in the bottom half of the inning. The Pioneers took the lead in the third putting four runs on the scoreboard. Castillo was credited with the win and Junior Ruben Ramirez ended the game earning a save. Senior Jake Forgrave finished the game batting 3-4 including a two-run double and a three-run homerun. He ended the game with six RBIs. In the second game, the score remained 0-0 until Point Park scored three runs in the fifth inning with
Reflection in the Backboard
Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Maddie Horn attempts a slap bunt in a game last season. During the spring season, Horn hit for a .357 average with 10 hits after 28 at bats.
Judson answering back with two in the bottom half of the inning. The Pioneers tallied one more in the sixth, but Judson had a big inning scoring six to secure the win. The following day Point Park squared off against RV Judson University in a rubber match and walked away with a 4-2 win. Huber started on the mound and threw for 6.1 innings to earn the win. Through the 6.1 innings, Huber maintained a shutout into the seventh inning striking out nine batters but was replaced for Ramirez after allowing two runs across the plate. Warner University was the next opponent for the baseball team and Point Park dropped the contest 14-2. Warner was in charge the entire game scoring runs in each inning. Point Park’s only scoring efforts came in the fourth inning on singles from junior Josh Smith and Pelaez. Tuesday, Point Park wrapped up in Florida facing Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The Pioneers walked away victorious 6-1 in the first matchup after senior Christian Negron threw a complete game with zero earned runs. Through the contest, Point Park managed to score their six runs off only four hits and four walks. The team ended their Florida games in another game against Mount Vernon Nazarene dropping it 14-2. The Pioneers held the team to two runs through the first three innings, but Mount Vernon Nazarene came through with a big inning in the bottom of the fourth after having 11 runs cross the plate. The Pioneer softball team also spent their spring break in Florida, only 45 minutes away from the baseball team in Clermont, Florida. The team began their spring training dropping two games to fellow National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school, Southeastern University. Point Park dropped their opening contest 7-3. In the third inning, Point Park opened up scoring with Maddie Horn reaching safely on a single to the third baseman. Two batters later, Amber Cook lined a ball to center field that was dropped by their center fielder allowing Horn to score the first run. Southeastern responded quickly in the bottom half of the inning putting up two run of their own. They added three more in the fifth, and two more run in the sixth inning. Point Park made efforts of a comeback scoring one run in the sixth and seventh, but it wasn’t enough. Horn high-
lighted the game going 4-4 and was just a home run away from completing the cycle. Point Park dropped the second game of the double header to Southeaster 13-1. The only scoring effort for the Pioneers came in the sixth inning when freshman Carissa Scekeres scored after senior Tiffany Edwards lined a ball down the right field line. Southeastern entered the contest ranked 22nd in the NAIA. The next day, Point Park was back in action against in another double-header against the NAIA school Ave Maria. Point Park dropped the first game 6-2, and the second 2-1. With junior Katie Tarr on the mound for Point Park, Ave Maria struck first in the fourth with one run. Point Park answered back with a run of their own in the sixth and forced the game to extra innings. Ave Maria however was able to claim the win in the bottom of the eighth. Monday, Point Park took on Webber International and dropped the first game 13-1. The team claimed their first win in the second contest against a 10-1 victory. Tarr pitched the entirety of the game earning 12 strikeouts through the contest. Seven players scored runs for Point Park and the team tallied nine hits on the scoreboard. After a day off, the softball team earned another win in a match-up against Mount Vernon Nazarene. The Pioneers were trailing 2-1 heading into the sixth inning and they were able to pull off the comeback. Senior Shannon Davis lined a ball to center scoring freshman Hailey Leitner and senior Tiffany Edwards. The game ended with a 3-2 final score. Point Park claimed their final win in their last game in Florida facing Calumet College of St. Joseph. The Pioneers took the victory 3-2 in nine innings. The game remained tied heading into the seventh inning with senior pitcher Ashley Iagnemma on the mound and the game headed into extra innings at a 0-0 tie. St. Joseph put two runs on the board in the eighth inning, but Point Park was able to make the comeback putting up two runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie it up. In the ninth, the Pioneers managed a walk off single off the bat of Seckeres scoring Edwards who was on third base. The softball team will begin regular season conference play next week at home against Gannon University in a doubleheader.
Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu
Well, I was dreading this - my favorite time of the athletic year is over. Both the men’s and women’s basketball teams ended their seasons in the River States Conference (RSC) quarterfinals at IU Kokomo. The women’s team - led by seniors Sam Weir and Kaitlyn Smith - has proven time and time again that it is resilient. Weir was back for her final semester of eligibility after sitting out the first semester and captain Smith was looking to lead the team to a playoff run in her final year in the green and gold. Highlights of the year included the first victory over IU East that Point Park has had in four and a half years, Weir’s milestones of reaching 1,000 career points and setting the school record for most blocks by a player in their career, and a deep bench that gave head coach Tony Grenek a lot of versatility on the court. By the end of the regular season, the Pioneers finished the season 13-15 overall and 9-8 in RSC play. Personally, I thought the women would make a run until at least the semifinals, but a lack of sophomore Michelle Burns in the lineup due to injury and a weak offensive showing in the third quarter really hurt them. I think they could have, and honestly should have, won at IU Kokomo, but we will have to hold on until next season to see how far they go. Speaking of next season, the women will be without Weir and Smith, both of which have been such crucial players for the Pioneers. Smith was playing the best basketball of her career this season, setting a career-high 25 points and grabbing 100 total rebounds. Weir tied her career-high in points with 31 and had a total of 198 rebounds, just two shy of her total last season (reminder that she only played one semester this season). The women are going to hurt without them, but new recruits and talented return-
ers have me optimistic for the future. Burns will be the new Smith, leading the team on offense and being a morale booster for the underclassmen. Sophomore Carly Lutz will have to really step up and show her aggressiveness to step in to Weir’s shoes, but the potential is there. The men’s team started this season with the addition of my old high school basketball coach Joe Lewandowski to the driver’s seat of the men’s program - an addition that I was ecstatic about. The only thing was that he was hired very close to the beginning of the season, making recruiting impossible. The Pioneers did something that I never saw them do at my time at Point Park - competing. They were aggressive and fighting back against teams that they have not stood a chance against in the past. The games were exciting to watch! The absolute highlight of the year for the men was a postseason appearance - their first since a semifinal run in the 2015-16 season. Although it ended in the quarterfinals for them this year, the fact that they even made it there made a statement. Looking ahead at next year, I have no doubt that Lewandowski will stay. He was hired as an interim at the beginning of the seas on, but after their success this year, the only way he will be leaving is by his own accord. On the bright side, should Lewandowski stay, he will actually have a chance to recruit and bring in some of his own players to add to the roster - a process he has already started. I am really interested to see how Lewandowski fills tho holes left by the seven graduating seniors with practically every starter leaving the court. Overall, I was not disappointed in the Pioneers this season, but hopefully next year, we can make it out of the quarterfinals.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Junior pitcher Ryan Huber pitches in a contest last year. Huber left spring training leading the team with three wins and 1.38 era.
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2019
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Men fall to IU Kokomo in quarterfinals
Seven seniors play their final game in postseason appearance By Robert Berger Co-Sports Editor
The Pioneers ended their season two weeks ago dropping their road playoff opener 100-65 facing the Indiana University (IU) Kokomo Cougars. Undefeated all season at home, IU Kokomo entered the game ranked 25th in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) with an overall record of 24-6 and a conference record of 13-5. On the season, Point Park entered the game 1-0 against the Cougars after defeating them at home 67-66 on Dec. 1. The Pioneers took a quick lead with sophomore guard Mark Shehady dropping two field goals in a row to get the Pioneers ahead by 4-0 2 minutes into the game. Point Park added to this after field goals from the hands of Senior guard Asim Pleas and sophomore forward Kyle Carrington tying the game at 14:54. The momentum however didn’t last long as Kokomo battled back quickly taking a 12-0 run to the 11:29 mark making the score to 20-8. Carrington managed to end the run after drawing a shooting foul and draining both baskets from the line. Point Park slowly
chipped away at the lead with a 3-pointer from Pleas and a couple two-point baskets form Carrington. Shehady earned more first half points draining a step-back 2-pointer, followed by another field goal making it a 10 point game of 20-10 at 7:43. Before the half would end, Carrington was issued a technical foul alongside Antoin Clifton of IU Kokomo. The foul was issued at 7:11 and the Pioneers were only trailing 10 at this point. Carrington would not return after the foul. IU Kokomo made their advantage of height known throughout the night. Notably in the final minute of the first half as Senior guard Cortez Allen was blocked on a layup under the rim twice and the play was taken down for a quick dunk from IU Kokomo’s Clifton. The Pioneers left the first half trailing 49-29. Both teams took 31 shots from the field and IU sunk 19 to Point Park’s 10. IU Kokomo also outscored the Pioneers at three pointers shooting 4-8 to Point Park’s 3-14. After the first 20 minutes, Point Park was out-rebounded 4-18 to Point Park’s 4-8.
Emilee Fails | Point Park Athletics Senior guard Daniel King attempts a jump-shot during the regular season. The men’s basketball team fell to IU Kokomo the Tuesday before spring break began. The team ended the season with an overall record of 9-18.
IU Kokomo quickly took the lead at the beginning of the second half completing a three-point play to start things off. McClain continued his hot streak draining his fifth three of the night taking the score to 60-35 at 16:03 causing Point Park to take a timeout. Kokomo continued their dominance taking the lead to 70-41 at 12:48 and
continued to make runs on the Pioneers throughout the half. On the half, Point Park was outscored 51-37. For Point Park, Plead lead the team in points scored totaling 18 at the end of the night going 7-18 from the field and 2-7 from three-point range. Shehady was a close second to Pleas with 14 points after shooting 6-10 for two points and 2-2 from beyond the arc.
Excluding the playoff loss, the Pioneers ended the season a 9-18 overall record and a 5-12 conference record. An improvement to last season’s record of 4-22 and 1-16 in conference play. It was head coach Joe Lewandowski’s first season who joined the program on Oct 1.
Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu
Student team emerges victorious at Hoopla By Jordyn Hronec Co-News Editor
The squeaks of sneakers on hardwood filled the air as Center for Inclusive Excellence Director, Megan Fahey, warmed up on the basketball court. She stood firmly at the three-point line and looked left and right before receiving a pass from Dean of Student Life, Michael Gieseke. She then dribbled up to the hoop before sinking a lay-up and turning around to view her opponents on the other side of the court - a team of students. Fahey was warming up for an event titled Hoopla that took place on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at 6:30 p.m. in the Student Center gym. The main event was a students versus faculty basketball game, organized by the Point Blank Comedy Collective in an effort to raise funds for their upcoming production, Point Blank Live! (Again) (PBLA). Attendance to the event was free, but to play in the game cost $3. At the event, students could acquire free tickets to PBLA. The event also featured a half-time performance
by the cheer and dance team, a half-court shooting competition and a 50/50 raffle. The night kicked off with an introduction made by both of the game’s commentators - Jake Berlin and Pablo Uribasterra, also known as Joshua Barcelona and Gary Patrick Alderson, respectively. Barcelona was able to provide commentary, despite suffering from blindness inflicted by a sun-filled vacation to Key West, Florida. Alderson described himself simply as “61 years old and pissed.” The faculty team consisted of prominent university figures, such as Fahey, Gieseke, Dean of Students Keith Paylo, Director of Athletics John Ashaolu, head women’s soccer coach Maggie Kuhn and Dean of the Rowland School of Business Steve Tanzilli. The student team included the president of the Point Blank Comedy Collective, Chris Copen, Chrissy Dickinson, Matt Whitaker, Johnny Alderman, Noah Marshalek and Tanner Gavlak. The game featured some intense moments early on,
with the student team taking a prominent lead. Early scorers for the student team were Copen and Marshalek, scoring two points each to start things off. The faculty team lagged behind, but the students gave a point up to Fahey on a foul shot after Copen ran through her in an effort to retrieve the ball. While the action during the first quarter was largely one-sided, the crowd did find ways to get involved. This included shouting “Keith!” every time Paylo touched the ball. The first quarter ended 11-5, with the students leading the game. Between quarters, the cheer and dance team threw free T-shirts to the crowd. Barcelona stepped away from the announcers’ table to ask Paylo a few questions, such as who he would call the “Michael Jordan of the faculty team.” (Paylo’s answer was that both Fahey and Kuhn fit the description.) The second quarter kicked off with the student team making two consecutive 3-pointers that set off a long scoring streak. A loud buzzer then alert-
Dara Collins | The Globe Members of the Competitive Cheer and Dance team pose with the students and faculty who competed in the Hoopla basketball game. The students defeated the staff to a score of 58-45.
STUDENTS
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STAFF
45 Dara Collins | The Globe
ed the teams, crowd and the blind Barcelona that it was time for the halftime show. The dance team performed a pyramid stunt for the crowd that involved Harlem Globetrotter-esque basketball spinning skills. The halftime show was followed by a halfcourt shooting contest. Logan LaMaster, PBLA writer and an actor, was in attendance of the game. According to LaMaster, he came to the event to support the Point Blank Comedy Collective. “I am enjoying myself,” LaMaster said during the event. “It’s really funny and the halftime show was great.” LaMaster is looking forward to PBLA. “It’s gonna be a really good show,” LaMaster said. “We’ve got a lot going on. There’s a lot of really exciting sketches.” Other students attended the event because it was simply something to do. “I’m avoiding studies,” Frances Recibe, a sophomore psychology major said. “But I think it’s fun, especially since you know who’s playing.” The second half kicked off with some high points for the faculty team. Fahey sank a trey early into the third quarter, followed by a putback shot picked up by Ashaolu. Gieseke contributed two points late into the quarter. Although the scoring streak continued into the fourth quarter, it still wasn’t enough to overtake the students’ lead. Going into the final quarter, the students took control of the faculty’s streak
and were able to increase their lead. The game ended with a sunken three-point shot by Ashaolu right at the buzzer, but the student team was victorious, 58-45. “I would have liked to have scored 13 more points,” Fahey said at the end of the game. She got involved in the event when Paylo approached Dr. Jonas Prida about joining the faculty team. According to Fahey, she “insisted to be involved.” She said that she had been practicing for the event two weeks in advance, and was happy to have scored four points for her team. Whitaker, a senior sports, arts and entertainment management major, played on the students team and is also working on the PBLA event as a writer. “They said ‘let’s play basketball,’ and I played basketball in high school, so I was in,” Whitaker said. Although he described his performance as “mediocre,” but was satisfied with his game play. “I hit my high school average of three points a game, so not too bad,” Whitaker said. The night ended with an announcement that after conducting a poll of the crowd, it was time to name the “MVB” (Most Valuable Bread). The winner of the poll, announced by Alderson, was banana bread. PBLA is set to take place on March 31 in an “undisclosed location.”
Jordyn Hronec jthrone@pointpark.edu
10
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 6, 2019
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Women fall in first round of postseason Smith, Weir lead Pioneers in last game wearing green and gold By Allison Schubert Co-Sports Editor
The women’s basketball team played their final game of the season on Wednesday, Feb. 20 when the Pioneers traveled to IU Kokomo for the River States Conference (RSC) quarterfinals. Point Park came out hot, shooting 42 percent overall in the first half. The Pioneers’ lead reached as high as 11 points in the first quarter and held a 24-15 lead after the first ten minutes. IU Kokomo fought back in the second quarter, but after 20, Point Park still maintained the lead, 37-31. Point Park had a big first half, but the Cougars came out with an even bigger second half that ultimately sealed the Pioneers’ fate. The third quarter was the turning point for the entire game, as IU Kokomo scored 22 points, the most of any quarter up to that point, and limited Point Park’s offense to just four points. With a 53-41 IU Kokomo lead with ten minutes of play left, the Pioneers tried to fight their way back into it, but the Cougars again out-scored Point Park 2419 in the final quarter. Because of the second
half leaning in favor of the Cougars, Point Park ended their season with a 77-60 road loss. Senior Sam Weir and Kaitlyn Smith led the way in their final career games. Weir came up big with her final double-double, scoring 24 points, grabbing 16 rebounds, and notching seven blocks. Smith tallied 12 points and led all Pioneers with four assists. Junior guards Ariana Sanders, Baylie Mook and Tyra James each contributed seven points apiece, and Sanders grabbed six additional rebounds. Sophomore forward Carly Lutz added nine rebounds to the stat sheet. The Pioneers were without sophomore guard Michelle Burns, who sat out of the final two and a half games due to injury. Overall, Point Park was just one rebound shy of the Cougars’ 46, but committed 17 total turnovers, eight of which came in the crucial third period. IU Kokomo went on to the RSC semifinals, but was defeated by the RSC East No. 1 seed WVU Tech 91-78 three days after their victory against Point Park.
Emilee Fails | Point Park Athletics ABOVE: Senior guard Kaitlyn Smith attempts a layup during her senior night contest against Rio Grande. The Tuesday before Spring break, Smith put up 12 points in the team’s road playoff loss to IU Kokomo. BELOW: Junior guard Baylie Mook makes an offensive push during a game against Ohio Christian this season.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
Cheer ends at regional meet
Dance recognizes seven All-Americans By Dara Collins Editor-Elect
The Pioneers danced to a second-place finish at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Northeast Regional Qualifier on Feb. 23. Point Park finished runner-up to St. Ambrose (Iowa) out of eight teams at the regional competition. The Pioneers scored 87.41 in the preliminary round and improved to 88.91 in the final showing, averaging a score of 88.54 to secure their second-place finish. The weekend ahead of Spring Break proved even more exciting for the team as it was announced Point Park would be returning to the national contest for the second year in a row. The NAIA announced
Point Park received an atlarge bid to the NAIA National Championship this upcoming weekend. This means that Point Park’s overall score was among the top eight teams with the highest scores from the regional competition without an automatic bid. The top four regional champions received automatic bids to the national contest, and Point Park missed the Northeast crown by roughly three points. St. Ambrose earned the automatic bid with a score of 91.71 and will compete against the Pioneers again this weekend. To add to the good news, on Feb. 26, the NAIA announced seven women from Point Park’s competitive dance team earned All-American honors. The Pioneers were the fourth most successful
Emilee Fails | Point Park Athletics Members of the Competitive Cheer team perform during a home basketball game earlier this season at the CCAC Allegheny Campus Gym.
team with All-American accolades following St. Ambrose, Oklahoma City and Morningside with eight members each. Freshman Nicole Kapalko earned a spot on the NAIA All-American team, the lone member of the Pioneers to receive the honor and one of 18 athletes to make the national team. Juniors Emily Kirsch and Kimberly Keagy, sophomores Elena Troia and Victoria Kunelis and freshmen Margaret Hinnebusch and Julia Hester earned NAIA Honorable Mention All-American status. The individual competitors auditioned for the All-American team at the regional qualifier and the best performers with the most advanced skills and precise technique were considered for the team. Judges scored the dancers on leaps, triple pirouettes, turn combinations, an audition combination and dance choreography. Each category was scored from one to five. The competitive cheer team, ranked 18th in NAIA ahead of regionals, also competed at the regional qualifier and placed sixth out of 11 teams in attendance. The Pioneers earned their second-highest score of the season with 79.13 in the finals, but the strong showing could not match up with the equally strong showings from the competition. The competitive dance team will embark on its final contest of the season this weekend at the NAIA National Championship in Davenport, Iowa on March 8-9. The team achieved its feat of returning to the national contest and now looks ahead to improve its No. 4 national ranking from last season.
Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu