Point Park Globe Fall 2018 Issue 13

IN THIS ISSUE: PAGE

@PPUGlobe November 28, 2018

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Early December graduates discuss anticipating life as non-students Amanda Myers surveys what movies you should see over winter break New LatinX Student Association aims to unite student body ppuglobe.com

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

Issue 13

Shields makes history as nation’s top runner

By Robert Berger Sports Photo Editor

At this time in 2015, Anna Shields had given up on being a successful collegiate athlete and was working at a bank in her hometown of Torrington, Connecticut. Now in her senior year, Shields is a cross country National Champion and a National Athlete of the Year.

“It feels really surreal ...and I can be critical of myself, but sometimes I have to take a step back and look at how far I’ve come,” Shields said. “When I think about that, it’s truly a dream come true and almost impossible to describe.”

After taking first place in the River States Conference (RSC) Championship meet earlier this month, the women’s team qualified for the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Championship in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Shields took a lead out of the opening pack and maintained that lead throughout the first lap, which she com-

Robert Berger | The Globe

By Amanda Andrews USG Beat Writer

United Student Government (USG) held its first Legislative Body Meeting since the end of Thanksgiving Break and has already started planning new objectives for the spring semester.

Senator Sophie Burkholder suggested the popularly-received idea of USG creating and hosting a radio show on WPPJ Radio next semester. A self-described fan of President Franklin Roosevelt’s “fireside chats,” Burkholder proposed calling the USG radio show “Pointside Chats” as a homage and said the concept came to her “spur of the moment” at a Disabilities Accommodations Committee meeting.

Although there are no official plans regarding the development of a USG radio show, Burkholder expressed she ideally wants it to be held on Monday evenings so the events of that particular day’s USG meeting would be fresh in the minds of the senators hosting the show.

Dean of Students Keith Paylo was one of the first to commend Burkholder for her idea, citing that many USG organizations at different colleges had such a system set up to discuss USG topics, and that students could call in with various questions, concerns or com-

Anna Sheilds | NAIA

Competition photos taken of Anna Shields from 2016, 2017 and now 2018. Anna Shields surpassed even her own expectations when she won the NAIA National championship in Iowa. pleted in 5 minutes, 33 seconds. Junior Emily Kearney of SCAD Atlanta followed closely with only 1 second

Rounding out year, USG looks to 2019 USG

Robert Berger | The Globe

plaints directly to senators.

“It just inspired me because I know a lot that was discussed this semester was we want to relate to the students. We want them to see us as representing them; we’re not just something against them. We are for them. We are representing them because they vote for us to represent them,” Burkholder said.

In discussion, some senators agreed the format of the show would be best presented in podcasts instead of a live radio show as initially suggested by President Pro-Tempore Megan Ortego.

Senators brainstormed and envisioned the show could not only recap USG legislative body meetings for students not in attendance, but could also act as a forum for discussion.

USG then moved to unanimously vote to create the Pioneer Community Day Ad-Hoc Committee in preparation for USG’s annual Pioneer Community Day, tentatively scheduled to take place in April.

Community Day is where USG and other Point Park students volunteer in different areas of the Pittsburgh community in coordination with local nonprofits.

“You start in the morning and we try and get as many students to volunteer as we can,” Kearns said.

USG page 2

separating the two at the first marker.

“I got stuck in the pack just at the beginning, but

as soon as I got out of being boxed in I took the lead,” Shields said.

Dealing with tempera-

tures in the low thirties and heavy wind gusts, Shields maintained her pace and furthered the gap by 5 seconds at the end of the second mile with a time of 11 minutes, 5 seconds.

“I tried to leave my jacket and pants on before the start, but standing on the starting line, it was definitely cold. I also wore gloves for the first time in a race,” Shields said.

Using the course to her advantage, she kept her lead during the final lap and finished the race in a course record-breaking time of 17 minutes, 15 seconds, ahead of second place finisher Kearney by four seconds.

“The course was flat and firm so I tried to think of it as a track race and put any doubts out of my mind,” Shields said.

The senior now has six NAIA title wins under her belt. The previous five coming from the track and field NAIA National Championships. This was her first cross country win at the national level.

SHIELDS page 8

Faculty diversity committee moves forward after first active semester

By Mick Stinelli Co-News Editor

The committee for diversity and inclusion began as a fledgling ad-hoc committee in the spring. Now, it’s a standing committee hoping to make teaching styles, course language and faculty more inclusive.

The report outlined a number of findings and recommendations for staff to increase diversity and inclusion in their courses.

Pedagogy - the theories of how education influences students’ growth - is one of the main focuses of the group. Developing an inclusive pedagogical framework was the goal of Jonas Prida, university provost, who helped spearhead the committee. He contributed to the steering committee report, but isn’t a part of the standing committee since he isn’t part of the faculty.

For example, Prida pointed out a hypothetical class about working class literature.

“I might have texts that reflect a working person’s understanding of how America operates,” Prida said. “Then we find somebody who’s a new immigrant to America and we watch a YouTube documentary on what that is like.”

The class could also include exercises to immerse the students in the cultural moment, and recreate the real experience.

“Maybe I don’t allow students to use the washroom. Right? Because if you’re working at a crummy job, you don’t get breaks.”

The point, Prida said, is to expose as many students to as many learning styles as possible.

“It opens up access to different types of students and introduces new material,” Prida said.

In Prida’s opinion, it’s something that colleges and universities have been falling short on.

“Almost every high school already does this.

Higher education is just late to the game,” Prida said.

Sandra Shulz, an assistant professor of psychology, chairs the diversity committee. She served on the steering committee over the summer. She said the committee is starting to collect data on how professors offer diversity in course of-

ferings, and will be looking into the training required to create diverse instruction.

“Diversity needs in NSET will look different than psychology,” Shulz said.

One factor which will affect the committee in the future will be the new Title IX coordinator. Shulz hopes the yet-to-be-named faculty member will help bridge the gap between the faculty and the student experience.

“There’s a lot hinged upon this job,” Shulz said, saying that the new coordinator will balance both traditional Title IX duties and work as a diversity coordinator.

Shulz said the development of the committee shows a notable commitment to diversity trends in higher education.

Some changes start at the smallest level. Prida

DIVERSITY page 2

NOV. 18, 2018 - NOV. 24, 2018

Sunday, November 18 Saturday, November 24 9:40 p.m. - Lawrence Hall Drug Violation

11:10 p.m. - Wood Street Public Intoxication

Monday, November 19 n/a - Lawrence Hall Theft

n/a - Student Center Theft

Weather Forecast Today: Snow H 31, L 25

Thursday: Partly Cloudy, H 36, L 30 Friday: Rain, H 44, L 38 Saturday: Rain, H 49, L47

Sunday: Rain, H 53, L 40 Monday: Rain, H 45, L 40 Tuesday: Rain, H 46, L 36

Point Park

GLOBE

2

WEDNESDAY, November 28, 2018

LOCAL After 28 years, the Beehive Coffeehouse in the South Side will be closing its doors for good. The Beehive opened in 1991, after the owners had toured the country following the Grateful Dead and realized that every city had a coffeehouse except for Pittsburgh.

Now, after years of service, the Beehive will be closing its doors due to a decline in business and a rise in rent. On Saturday, the Beehive hosted its final open mic and story time, where patrons could gather, listen to stories and talk about their own experiences with the Beehive. While the Beehive will close in late December, memories of the coffeehouse will live on at the Heinz History Center, where many items from the coffeehouse will be moved before closing.

---Wednesday evening, a man dressed in all black opened fire with an airsoft pistol outside of the Benedum Center as guests were entering to attend a showing of “Fiddler on the Roof.” No one was injured in the incident. 29-yearold suspect Andre Freeman Jr. attempted to escape, but was tackled by a security guard at the corner of Penn Avenue and Seventh Street. While it was noted that he didn’t speak much after his arrest, the officer who arrested him did share that he didn’t make any anti-semitic remarks. This comes six days after the Benedum Center implemented new security measures which include metal detectors.

---Donations for the victims of the Tree of Life synagogue shooting now total over $6 million. The Jewish Federation of Pittsburgh’s Victims of Terror Fund took in the bulk of the donated money with $4 million.

The money will be used to help pay for the victims’ medical bills, funeral costs, counseling and other long- and shortterm needs. Muslim groups from around the country were among the fundraisers, accumulating hundreds of thousands of dollars. Money was raised from a variety of other sources, including the Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh, and donations from individuals. The shooting was described as the largest anti-semitic attack in U.S. history, and came amidst a rising number of hate crimes.

from USG page 1 “We’re hoping to really get a big group together this year to go out to a handful of different organizations like Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Light of Life, and try to do a little bit of clean up, giving back to the community. And then early afternoon have some sort of food for them to come back to. It’s usually pretty cold, so just having a warm place to kind of gather and hang out right at the end of the semester.”

According to Michael Gieske, Dean of Student Life, and Paylo, Pioneer Community Day has been around at Point Park University for several years.

Paylo made a comment during discussion that this year there needed to be more

NEWS

from DIVERSITY page 1 the diverse student body at the university. pointed out changing the “When I think diversilanguage of course titles to ty and inclusion, I think of be more inclusive. the very broadest brush“The title of a course strokes,” Revilla said, and was ‘Africa: Land in Fer- that includes taking a lookment.’ So it obviously has ing at not only race and a neocolonialist, I think at gender, but also at varying best, overtone,” Prida said. abilities, learning styles and “There was another one identities. where it was, ‘An ExaminaThe report released by tion of Primitive Societies.’ the diversity and inclusion We don’t use that terminol- steering committee found a ogy anymore because it’s significant gap between stumaking an implicit value dent diversity and faculty judgement about what that diversity. society was like.”

More than 71 percent For members of the of the student body is white committee, like Vincenne and over 14 percent is black.

Revilla, professor of educa- However, more than 88 pertion, one main concern is cent of the university’s facthe dissolution of discourse ulty is white. in the classroom.

The committee has only “When I was an under- had a few meetings so far. graduate in the 1970s, those In the future, they plan classrooms were so lively,” to develop mentoring proRevilla, a professor at Point grams for staff, looking into Park for over 40 years, said. different places to recruit “Where are we headed if we faculty and working to recan’t even listen and share tain faculty. with each other?”

She joined the commitMick Stinelli mfstine@pointpark.edu tee because of her love for

A TREE ALL AGLOW

Joie Knouse | The Globe

Skaters make circles around the tree at PPG Place during LightUp Night on November 16. of an “emphasis,” where one had been lacking, on the purpose of Pioneer Community Day lately, which he expanded on later.

“The key to it still is giving back to the Pittsburgh community because this is our campus,” Paylo said. “I remember the first year we all volunteered. Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership - we did a lot of graffiti removal.

We were painting walls and we were doing all kinds of different things. So it’s not as though we’re not still doing that, I think it just needs an influx of enthusiasm again for the purpose of the event.”

President Paul Hennigan also visited USG this week to follow up on concerns regarding his last appearance where he addressed tuition and financial aid for students.

Hennigan said he plans on creating various focus groups starting in January and February to start more conversations on the “pricing structure of the university” and possible alternatives that are being considered, and USG may be involved in this process.

However, senators were also interested in the issue of diversifying the faculty, which involves discrepancies in diversity and inclusion training across the faculty as well as the Faculty Search Committee that hires new faculty.

Hennigan said he hopes once the new university administrator for diversity and inclusion is hired, discrepancies would be eliminated.

Amanda Andrews aaandre@pointpark.edu

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Seniors finishing early taking different paths

By Sarah Gibson Co-News Editor

While the ending of the semester signifies a simple holiday break for most students, for others it’s something much more significant: graduation.

For a select amount of students, graduating early is a relieving way to get the jump on a career path for their major.

Some students know exactly what they’re doing, like Sara Mackulin, a senior broadcast reporting major, whose post-graduation plans are in a familiar place.

Mackulin was offered a job with Point Park’s athletic department just weeks ago.

“I always wanted to work in sports,” Mackulin said.

“When I was presented with the opportunity to be a graduate assistant with Point Park’s athletic department, and they’d pay for me in full to get my masters, it’s kind of like a no-brainer for me.”

Other students, like senior theater performance and practices major Elena Lazaro, are keeping doors open to different opportunities.

“Well, I’ve been going back and forth because I feel like I have a lot of opportunities available to me,” Lazaro said. “But for right now I’m just going to audition locally, try and do some theatre, maybe some film and try and do some creative stuff with my friends who are still here who haven’t graduated before I go off and do my own thing.”

Lazaro said her decision to do this came after she turned down the opportunity to become an intern in the capital of Jordan, where her brother lives.

Cheryl Guyer, internship coordinator with the Center for Career Development, explained that all alumni from Point Park have access to career development services free for life, including services available to all current or part time students at Point Park. These include mock interviews, personality profiles, resume reviews, cover letter reviews and more. While Guyer can see positives and negatives in graduating early, she explained that it all comes down to the student.

“It all depends on the maturity level of the student and it all depends on the job read-

iness of the student, so I guess the answer is that it depends on the type of student who’s graduating early,” Guyer said.

While Point Park offers a lot of resources to students who are graduating early, Mackulin explained the most valuable resources she made at Point Park are the friends she made along the way.

“I think the nice thing about Point Park is that you make lots of friends in your field, and if you’re good enough friends, and if you’re nice enough, they can refer you. A lot of help also came from the faculty on campus, referring me to things that would best suit me.”

Similarly, Lazaro felt like the most useful resources at Point Park for her were the very people who taught her what she knows.

“I think the best resource I have from going here is actually my teachers,” Lazaro said.

“I know for a fact that once I graduate, I’m going to contact my teachers all the time. The teachers in COPA are easy to communicate with and a lot of them really know their stuff and they really care about us.”

Lazaro, who still has friends going to Point Park, noted she will definitely feel a change once she graduates.

“It’s certainly going to be weird,” Lazaro said. “It’ll definitely be strange, especially since I’m still going to be here and I’m still going to see my friends who are still in school.”

For Mackulin, what awaits her after she receives her bachelor’s degree is a complete surprise.

“Coming up in January, I’ll be starting school again, which is not what I expected at all, but it’s an opportunity that I can’t pass up,” Mackulin said.

While Lazaro has high hopes for the coming months, she also feels a little apprehension.

“I’m relieved and excited and very scared, because you don’t realize you’re in the bubble while you’re in it sometimes, until you’re out of it, and I think I’m about to get a cold shock, but hopefully I’m prepared,” Lazaro said.

Sarah Gibson sagibso@pointpark.edu

New Studios.

New Lineup.

THE SOUND OF

POINT PARK UNIVERSITY WPPJRadio.com

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

A&E

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28,

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Upcoming movies wrap up annual box office Biopics to superheroes, 2018’s final films show diversity

By Amanda Myers A & E Editor

The year in movies has kept with formulaic fanfare - superheroes, thrillers, action romps - but has broken that linear mold through diverse, ensemble films like “Black Panther,” “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Ocean’s 8.”

Showcasing minorities in movies and including narratives on the throes of adolescence - “Love, Simon” and “Eighth Grade” - helped audiences not only see themselves up on the screen in 2018, but increase expectations for films following.

From the historical bite of “The Favourite,” to the small-sized heroics of “Welcome to Marwen” to an onthe-noise impression of Dick Cheney in “Vice,” these are the must-see films rounding out 2018.

THE FAVOURITE: LIMITED RELEASE NOV. 23, WIDE RELEASE SOON In what may be the literal favorite of the Oscar race, “The Favourite” tells the tale of Queen Anne, frail and near mad, who discovers her own ambitions within the conflict conjured by two women companions.

Olivia Colman (“The Crown”) looks to have the performance of the year for her off-the-rails and absurd take on the once Queen of Great Britain. She is not to

be out done by her masterful co-stars, though.

Lady Sarah, Queen Anne’s closest friend, is played by Rachel Weisz who is shaken to her core when Emma Stone turns up as Abigail Hill. Sarah’s cousin and albeit royal outcast, latches onto the Queen and forges a tempting friendship, creating inner and outward turmoil for our characters.

Director Yorgos Lanthimos, who worked with Colman on “The Lobster,” is known for his off-brand dark humor, and is sure to have an interesting take with “The Favourite” - a premise that what would normally turn into a dry, period piece in the hands of any other director.

SPIDER-MAN: INTO THE SPIDER-VERSE: DEC. 14 While you may think audiences would be too stuffed from superheroes to digest another Spiderman film, this new animated take on our friendly neighborhood hero proves that theory wrong.

“Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse” is a fully animated venture through the eyes of a young Miles Morales as he navigates his powers. But once he enters the Spider-Verse, he quickly discovers he’s not the only Spiderman.

Morales, played by Shameik Moore, lives a contrasting life to fellow spidey mentor Peter Parker.

His half-Puerto Rican and

half-African-American heritage makes him different, but those differences are set out to be celebrated in the film.

“Showcasing minorities in movies and including narratives on the throes of adoloscence...”

Amanda Myers A&E Editor

With an animation style taken straight from the pages of a comic book, this latest Spiderman entity looks to be the most original superhero movie in years.

THE MULE : DEC 14 If “The Mule” is the last time we get to see Clint Eastwood’s piercing stare or hear his husky voice in theaters, then he leaves a legend at the top of his game.

At age 88, Eastwood plays the role of Earl Stone, a World War II veteran that became a mule for the Sinaloa Cartel and was later caught in a high stakes delivery. After his directing of another true story faltered with “The 15:17 to Paris”

earlier this year, Eastwood’s place in the director’s chair feels snug as evident from multiple trailers.

The film also has a “returning home” feel in a number of ways.

The bleak subject matter of an aging renegade parallels Eastwood’s role in 2008’s “Gran Torino.”

He reunites with “American Sniper” star Bradley Cooper, who plays a headstrong DEA agent out for Stone. And his own daughter, Francesca Eastwood, turns the event into a family affair.

WELCOME TO MARWEN: DEC. 21 For the past few years, it feels as though Steve Carell has been waiting in the wings, at the ready to run for that Oscar. Audiences wouldn’t think that possible when they were seeing Carell in films like “The 40-YearOld Virgin” over a decade ago, but the comedic turned dramatic actor has come to captivate critics with award worthy performances in “Foxcatcher” and “The Big Short” as of recent.

“Welcome to Marwen” may finally get him that trophy, though. The trailer alone brings tears, as audiences see Mark Hogancamp (Carell) suffer both mentally and physically at the hands of a violent assault.

He slowly brings himself out of his shell by creating a town of people he calls Mar-

wencol. The inspiring females in his life are turned into a tough form of Barbie dolls who lift each other up, and give Hogancamp a creative way to channel his pain.

Director Robert Zemeckis returns with a story only he could tell, and ends up giving moviegoers a heartfelt classic for the holiday season.

VICE: DEC. 25 Who wouldn’t want to see an off-the-rails Dick Cheney take over the Vice Presidency this Christmas?

Once you see the trailer, you definitely will.

The Killer’s “The Man” serves as the sound track while we see Christian Bale for the first time, whose settled so unnervingly in the skin of Cheney, negotiate his terms as Vice President.

Director Adam McKay gathers familiar faces like Carell, Amy Adams and Sam Rockwell who also offers a spot on impression in the form of George W. Bush to round out the cast.

McKay, who has a comedy background from films like “Anchorman,” will give an over-the-top portrayal paralleling the real world events of Cheney’s life, and settle for far more than a dry biopic.

Amanda Myers admyers@pointpark.edu

Carey returns with her tightest album in years

“Caution” builds upon the diva’s tried and true formula

By Mick Stinelli News Editor

The end of 2016 found Mariah Carey ringing in the new year under intense scrutiny. A televised performance plagued with technical mishaps led her to walk off stage, declaring, “It just don’t get any better,” as valiant backup dancers attempted to salvage what was left of the show.

The New York Times called it “a debacle of a performance that could be a contender for the Mount Rushmore of live-television moments.” Clips spread over Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, garnering millions of views and thousands of mocking comments.

One year later, Carey returned to Times Square.

Standing in the frigid cold in a white fur coat, Carey sang some of her earliest and most demanding ballads. There were no backup dancers, no props and minimal choreography. Yet she commanded the stage, hitting each iconic run with precision and grace. The only complaint was a meme-worthy comment from Carey herself: “They told me there’d be tea. Oh, it’s a disaster.”

The redemption was a perfect encapsulation of Carey’s career status, now a post-diva OG who refuses to leave, who endures all humiliation, an arbiter

who’s ushered in generations of pop stars, from the breathy Camila Cabello to the belting Ariana Grande.

Her newest release, “Caution,” finds Carey in familiar territory. It’s a series of love stories of varying tumult, from the instant-classic kiss-off of “GTFO” to the swaggering warning of the title track. It runs at a succinct 38 minutes, her shortest album since 1994’s “Merry Christmas.” It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it makes no attempts at such renewal.

Rather, it serves as another phase of sonic rejuvenation, placing the popstar alongside some of the best contemporary producers in hip-hop and pop.

It’s an impressive roster, ranging from veteran beat maker No I.D. to Justin Bieber collaborator Poo Bear.

“Giving Me Life” is the record’s standout collaboration. Featuring the sleek keys and Dilla-inspired drums of Blood Orange, Carey slinks effortlessly through the song before Slick Rick appears for an impossibly smooth eight bars. It’s one of a career-full of curated rap guest spots, from Nas in 2014’s “Dedicated” to Jeezy on 2008’s “Side Effects.”

The song ends with a sizzling outro, with Carey crooning over searing guitars and an atmospheric keyboard.

The undisputed banger of the album is “A No No,” a bouncy stunt produced

by Shea Taylor, whose past productions include Frank Ocean’s “Thinkin Bout You” and Beyonce’s “Countdown.” The track is a hair flip at the haters, the roster of which is too many to accumulate at this point, and offers subtle jabs alongside stylish brags.

“Rockin’ Dior ‘cause it goes with my diamonds, got a pink gown custom by Alaïa,” Carey boasts in a tribute to her late friend, designer Azzedine Alaïa.

The main problem the album suffers from is the stagnation in Carey’s subject matter. After a nearly 30-year career, the songstress still appears unable to sing about anything other than love, heartbreak, sex and shade. She’s at her best when she lets her voice shine, but the lackluster lyrics cause the album to drag in its second half.

“One More Gen” doesn’t have legs to stand on, and “8th Grade” is a forgettable inclusion.

The record picks back up with “Stay Long Love You.” The track’s rubbery 808s keep the drums afloat while Carey turns “You make me, make me wanna touch you right there” into an irresistible earworm.

Up-and-coming rapper Gunna makes an uninspired appearance, and delivers his potential partner

the disturbing promise, “I take care you like a son.”

Altogether, the album’s strength is in both its brevity and its cohesion. “Caution” clocks in at her fifteenth studio album, and with a back catalogue of that breadth, it would be easy for Carey to overstay her welcome. She doesn’t come close, and the album feels like a properly curated project rather than a collection of singles and filler.

It takes one look at the cover art to see how this album fits into Carey’s legacy. There’s no bizarre digital backdrop, no flashy typography. Instead, a simple close-up dawns the record’s cover, showing us that it’s the same Mariah as always, refined and not going anywhere.

Mick Stinelli mfstine@pointpark.edu

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

FEATURES

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Connect Unplugged centers around team building New club plans a phone-free retreat for spring semester

By Lauren Clouser Co-Features Editor

Megan Reiff, a freshman public relations and advertising major, decided to bring Connect Unplugged to break up cliques on campus.

Rieff heard the problem raised at the Pioneer Ambassador panel at her freshman orientation.

“Somebody asked what’s your least favorite thing about Point Park, and one of them said it’s very cliquey,” Reiff said.

“And Connect Unplugged is something that kind of gets rid of all that, because when you’re in that space, it doesn’t matter what you are outside of the space. It’s just who you are there.”

Connect Unplugged is a national organization that puts together retreats filled with games and activities that promote team building and leadership skills.

The program was founded by Diana Weidner at Lock Haven University, and is a part of multi-

ple campuses across the country.

Reiff, who participated in a similar program in high school, reached out to Widner to discuss how to get the organization to Point Park.

“I reached out to her and I was like, ‘Hey I really enjoyed this program at my high school and I was wondering if you could help me bring this to my college,’ and she was like ‘yeah, of course,’” Reiff said. “So we went for lunch and she gave me some information about it.”

The retreat also does not allow participants to use their phones.

Zofina Fink, a freshman undecided major and treasurer of the club, said unplugging from technology allows students to connect better.

“No phones, just kind of depending on each other, communicating, getting to know each other in a really intimate kind of way,” Fink said.

This semester Reiff is currently working on fund-

raising and raising awareness for the club, which was approved by USG on Oct. 15.

“Being in the city, there aren’t many opportunities to get out of the city and go do something like that, something adventerous.”

Lauren Reuther Connect Unplugged member Freshman major

psychology

Reiff hopes to have a

retreat organized for the spring semester at a camp near the Pittsburgh area.

The retreat has a schedule set by Weidner, who provides the itinerary to all participating schools.

Reiff said students don’t have to be members of the club to go on the trip.

Lauren Reuther, a freshman psychology major and member of Connect Unplugged, said the organization was especially important on an urban campus.

“Being in the city, there aren’t many opportunities to get out of the city and go do something like that, something adventurous,” Reuther said.

Fink said the organization was something unique for students to get involved in.

“I think it’s something different,” Fink said. “So far I’ve joined a couple of clubs and it’s definitely something that I think is needed here just across all the different majors and all the different activities. I think

it’s really cool for everyone to get involved in.”

Reiff plans to hold meetings in the spring semester that will center around planning the retreat and will include more team building and bonding activities. The meetings are open to anyone.

Reuther hopes the club will help participants to meet new people.

“It just sounds like a good way for people to meet new people, and it can be kind of hard, especially as a freshman,” Reuther said.

“So I think it’d be a good club for people who want to make new friends and especially if they like camping.”

Reuther said.

Fink hopes to see the club grow more in the future.

“I hope that maybe we can do a couple of excursions and trips a year,” Fink said. “I think that as it grows, get more kids involved, to see it grow.”

Lauren Clouser lclous@pointpark.edu

New club to celebrate Hispanic culture on campus Latinx Student Association to hold salsa night Friday

By Lauren Clouser Co-Features Editor

Over the summer, junior Ailen Videla Ortiz developed an idea for an on-campus club that centered around Hispanic cul-

ture. Ortiz recruited the help of junior dance majors Cecilia Benitez and Stephanie Perez, and together the three began to gather interest for the club.

“We kind of branched out to our other Latina/

Latino friends that we knew about and asked them if they wanted to be part of this new club that we were starting and it was kind of growing from that,” Benitez said.

The Latinx Student

Association was approved

by USG on Oct. 8, and the organization has held one meeting so far. Ortiz said the club is planning to have biweekly meetings on Fridays.

“We really want to bring the Latino and Latina community together and the culture, because I feel like that’s not really represented in this school.”

Ailen Videla Ortiz

Latinx Student Association President

Ortiz said she created the club because of a lack of representation on campus.

“We really want to bring the Latino and Latina community together and the culture, because I feel like that’s not really represented in this school,” Ortiz said. “We don’t have a club, and there’s so many of us and having everyone come together to educate and advocate and celebrate the Hispanic community.”

Benitez said the group is currently brainstorming different ideas for the club, and has several plans for different events and activities.

“We just kind of want to do potlucks later on and gather and talk about our

experiences and maybe have a meeting that we conduct in Spanish and stuff like that,” Benitez said.

Benitez said the group also wants to raise money for Puerto Rico.

“We also wanted to do a drive. We talked about doing a drive for Puerto Rico that was hit by the hurricane pretty bad. We have to organize that,” Benitez said.

The club’s first event is a salsa dance night on Friday, Nov. 30.

“It’s going to be salsa night and we’re going to have one of the students in the club teach salsa and provide some salsa and chips,” Ortiz said.

The club is open to anyone who wants to join. Perez said part of the club’s main purpose is uniting the Latino/a community and to teach others about different Hispanic cultures. “[The goal is] to unite the people on campus who associate with Latino and Latina and then also not just to be exclusive but also share the culture, teach other students on campus who are interested in it and just bringing that spice to campus,” Perez said.

Benitez said she hopes the club will provide a greater understanding of Hispanic culture to the campus.

“For me, the thing is more awareness of what our culture is,” Benitez said.

“There’s a lot of misconceptions and ignorance about it, and it’s just kind of making people aware that there’s a lot of different types of Latinas and Latinos and we’re not all from the same place.

And just because we speak the same language, our cultures are very different, so just kind of educating people about that.”

Lauren Clouser lclous@pointpark.edu

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

5

Point Park and YWCA form partnership

Organization looks to further collaborate with students

By Jordyn Hronec For The Globe

A short walk down Wood Street brings you to Point Park University’s next-doorneighbor, the YWCA. Point Park’s involvement with the YWCA occurs through a multitude of ways, most notably perhaps through Point Park renting space from the YWCA for the Center for Media Innovation.

“On our second and third floors, we’ve offered space for classes,” Co-CEO interim Beth Heeb said. “The Point Park baseball team practices in our gym in the winter.

And in terms of the Center for Media Innovation, Point Park was looking for some space, because they had a really cool, creative idea.”

Both Heeb and other Co-CEO Interim Monique McIntosh cite the CMI’s role in helping the YWCA with a video for the organization’s 150th anniversary as a successful collaboration between the CMI and its landlord, the likes of which they hope to see more of in the future.

“The media has a role in ending racism and empowering women,” McIntosh said. “There’s synergy there.

The media also has a role as it relates to race and gender equity. There may be opportunity for programming around that.”

The YWCA has also been involved with aspects of Point Park’s academics.

This semester, photog-

PIONEER PUBLIC Kris Chandler

By Lauren Clouser Co-features Editor

Senior screenwriting major Kris Chandler said that coming to Point Park was what inspired him to become so involved on campus.

“I’m a person who likes to try out new things, however I’m always really timid about it unless someone pushes me,” Chandler said.

“But ever since going through Point Park and meeting the people that I’ve met…everyone here is involved in something, so just being in that atmosphere kind of forced me to want to be like that too.”

During his time at Point Park, Chandler has had multiple positions within the university. He was a Resident Educator, was involved with United Student Government, is a part of the honors program and is currently a cinema ambassador for the university’s cinema department.

rapher professor Ben Schonberger’s classes used the YWCA’s abandoned swimming pool to conduct a fullfledged photo shoot, titled “The Pool from Hell.”

The photos from the shoot were featured at the Halloween “Decomposium,” hosted in the CMI. Camryn Drabenstadt, a sophomore photography major, was a part of the shoot. Drabenstadt cites the actions of the YWCA staff in clearing space in the abandoned pool as being “very helpful.”

“The YWCA was very accommodating,” Schonberger said. “Most of the programming and organizing was scheduled within one week.”

The YWCA also has opportunities available for students looking to get involved with their mission, be it through volunteer work or simply by speaking up.

“We have some one-time opportunities for volunteering, like the Week Without Violence,” YWCA Development Officer Angelica Perry said. “But we’re really curious to hear from Point Park students...our mission is really broad, and we want to know how our mission is important to you. We want to know which issues you find most important or most pressing on your campus that the YWCA can be involved in with programming.”

The YWCA’s mission is “eliminating racism, empowering women,” a message that is posted proudly on

their Downtown Pittsburgh building.

What the YWCA actually does to fulfill this mission is extensive.

Their current programs include helping people find housing and assisting them in enrolling in benefits and health insurance, as well as providing affordable child care.

In addition, the YWCA also promotes and provides breast-health education to over 300 women, including incarcerated women in the Allegheny County jail, according to Heeb.

“Since freshman year I’ve been in and out of a lot of stuff,” Chandler said.

In addition to his current involvements, Chandler still makes time for his passion for acting.

Chandler said he has been involved with acting since his freshman year of high school and enjoyed it so much he almost came to Point Park to study the craft.

“I was going to come for musical theater so it was still something I was interested in but…because of the stigma of like ‘Oh you shouldn’t do acting as a job,’” Chandler said.

On a whim, Chandler sent in video auditions to a Pittsburgh writer whose script was accepted into the Strawberry One Act Festival in New York City.

The script, titled “Two Lines,” is centered around a couple trying to make the decision of whether or not to get an abortion. Chandler landed the lead role.

“It’s a cool experience,; it’s something I’ve never really done before and it’s something that I totally just did off the whim,” Chandler said.

Chandler said he will go to New York in March for the performances.

“So the initial shows are

March 17th and 18th and then it’s kind of like competition style too, so the one act wins out of those two performances and then you go to a final round of performances on like the 21st and 22nd,” Chandler said.

Chandler had the unique opportunity to be a speaker at the TEDx event held at Point Park in September.

Chandler said he applied to speak, but didn’t expect to get in.

“I was like, ‘Oh, let me apply for it, I’m pretty sure I’m not going to get in because I’m a student, whatever,’ and I sent in my application and they emailed me back to send them some other stuff,” Chandler said.

Chandler knew he wanted to talk about art and mental health.

“Art and mental health, definitely stuff that I suffered through and then transitioning from college to ‘the real world,’” Chandler said.

“I think that’s why I wanted to do more with it because it was definitely a very intimate subject.”

Chandler had to prepare for the talk while still keeping up with schoolwork and other commitments, which he said presented a challenge.

“I didn’t even really have my full TED talk memorized until like five minutes be-

Jordyn Hronec| The Globe The YWCA is a long-standing neighbor of Point Park and has collaborated on several projects with the university over the years.

“We also help prepare taxes for individuals,” Heeb said. “This past year, returns were just shy of $600,000 for people.”

And on the social justice side, the YWCA runs advocacy campaigns for equal pay and voter registration, as well as hosting events such as Stand Against Racism, or the Week Without Violence, which Point Park students always have a hand in, according to Heeb.

This year’s Week Without Violence occurred Oct. 15-19, and was a national event put on by YWCA chap-

ters across the country.

McIntosh said out of all of the YWCA’s programs, empowerment is key.

“We provide access to empowerment through a portfolio of programs,” McIntosh said. “It’s an empowerment continuum through services and advocacy.”

Students interested in any volunteer opportunities through the YWCA can inquire on the YWCA Greater Pittsburgh website.

Jordyn Hronec jthrone@pointpark.edu

Lauren Clouser |The Globe fore going on stage; that was just like how stressed I was,” Chandler said.

Chandler said doing the talk was worth it, despite the stress.

“It was a cool experience, definitely stressful just because there was a lot of other stuff going on, but it was fun,” Chandler said.

In the future, Chandler plans to go to law school for

a career in either international law or international relations.

“My goal was always trying to work with either the state department or some kind of NGO [Non-governmental organization] or something and work with humanitarian rights,” Chandler said.

Lauren Clouser lclous@pointpark.edu

6

WEDNESDAY, November 26, 2018

OPINIONS

THE

GL BE’S POINT

Hang in there; you’re so close Hello and welcome back.

We hope you had a happy holiday full of copious amounts of food and great company. We’re now forced shake off our tryptophan daze and return back to the vicious grind of the rapidly approaching end of the semester. Deep breaths.

With only a few weeks left, there’s still a lot of work to accomplish before we can start packing for the trip back home.

And those lucky few graduating early? You have a big kid job to think about.

Best of luck. Hat’s off to you you’ve got quite the leg up on the job search.

We believe we speak for most everyone in saying that having a week to refresh our bodies and minds was much needed. Believe us when we say we were eyeing this week up on the calendar like our metaphorical grandma’s secret pumpkin pie recipe - salivation and all.

We feel that semester

slump just like everyone else.

But we do want to remind you to keep that energy you replenished over the break to power through. Stick to a solid sleeping schedule, eat breakfast and stay hydrated.

Did you know it was scientifically proven that it’s healthier to eat a donut for breakfast than it is to eat nothing at all? Yeah, think about that.

Sometimes, you just have to live your truth and eat your breakfast donut.

With a relatively unconventional campus and education format, most of us know the pain of finals coming early - with extensive projects and million page papers to write before the last week even hits.

But just in case you needed a little extra convincing to make it through, we know it’s possible to actually make it to that second week of December alive and well.

You got this.

The Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu.

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Vehicles allow ease of access for students Why personal transportation is a gift in the city

By Shannon Hartnett Staff Writer

It’s a Friday night and you’re playing pool with your friends. The night is still young. You all decide to go out and find some holiday festivities in the Pittsburgh suburbs. The only problem is, how are you going to get there?

Some students don’t have the best access to transportation. If you own a car, there’s limited space to put it on campus. It would be better to sell the car you have and use the money for living expenses, because keeping the car is going to be a waste of resources.

While you say that commuter students have cars at home and that works, but what do you do when few people commute?

Let’s say everyone you know lives on campus with no access to anywhere outside of the city. The options left are public transportation: Port Authority Bus lines and the T. While these do get the job done, they are impractical for young adults who are going to be out past the last bus or are too far away from the T stations or bus stops.

Students come from far and wide to find that they

are trapped within the city limits because few students keep a car on or around campus.

“...on those Friday nights...a car sounds like a blessing.”

Shannon Hartnett Staff Writer The Globe

Most colleges are in an area that is all their own.

Most of the campus is covered in students who are exclusive to that university. But here, in Pittsburgh, the city is our campus. We run into pedestrians all day long and we have no idea if they go to Point Park. Is that guy a professor or just a yinzer in a 90’s Steelers coat?

The campus provides students with amazing connections across the city, but the downside is that we deal with living in a city that has very little space.

We don’t have access to parking permits. We can’t get a lease and we don’t have cars. In most moments we don’t mind, we love our campus and the city life.

But on those Friday nights, when the holiday season is calling your name, a car sounds like a blessing.

What is the answer to this struggle? Honestly, I couldn’t tell you. I would tell you to call an Uber if you have the money for it.

Take the bus all the way there if you know you’ll have a ride back. Make friends with the commuter students who could potentially have access to a car.

Or maybe accept the benefits of our beautiful city campus outweigh the “tragic” scenario of being confined to the city on the weekends.

Maybe go explore the city or take the short journey over the Smithfield Street Bridge to the South Side. Embrace the fact that we do pay tuition in order for this city to be our campus.

Shannon Hartnett snhartn@pointpark.edu

A senior’s perspective on how to really survive finals

Survival of the finals: how to crush your exams like a boss and live to tell the tale

By Beth Turnbull Social Media Coordinator

My first finals week I read the entirety of “Memoirs of a Geisha,” visited art museums, went to numerous brunches and spent hours listening to Christmas music. I wanted to spend as much time with my friends as possible before being away from them for a month (our breaks were a month back then, sorry freshman).

The academic hellscape I imagined as finals week didn’t scare me as a first-semester freshman.

All I had to do was turn in a couple of papers and meet with a professor or two? No biggie.

But that was a long time ago. As I look toward my very last finals week, life looks a little different, thankfully.

While some things haven’t changed - like professors assigning everything to be due the week before finals to “lighten your load” while actually just making your stress arrive a week earlier - I’d like to think that after seven semesters I have a pretty good idea of what to expect out of the academic hurdle of

finals week.

So, grab a snack and get ready for these hot tips for a successful and less-stressful finals week.

Getting a B (or even a C) on a test is better than pulling an all-nighter.

Putting your body through extreme physical stress will not help you and you know it. Start studying a little each day at least a week before your exam. We all know by now that cramming never works. If you don’t understand the material by midnight, you won’t at three a.m. I’m sure some of you Red Bull fanatics will disagree with me, but you won’t change my tune. Just go to sleep. And no, coffee won’t save you.

Have a long paper?

Block quotes are your best friend.

Writing a ten-pager this finals week? A 20-pager? Oh God, a dissertation? Block quotes are your best friend. Use as many of those four or more line bad boys as you can get away with and watch your word count rise like nobody’s business. Having a hard time finding sources?

Email or instant message one of our stellar librari-

ans and they’ll send you all the JSTOR links your little heart can handle. This has truly saved me more times than I can count. God bless the library.

Celebrate the little victories and big defeats. I know you don’t care but Joan Baez (queen and music legend) said that, and she was wise in doing so.

Finals week might not be the smoothest journey for you, that’s okay. Finally finished that project? Go out with your friends, I hear there are a few new holiday bars in town. Got a C in your Western Civilization class and know you don’t have to take it again? Give yourself a pat on the back.

You passed. All you can do is your best so be proud of that, even if your best is a C in microeconomics.

Enjoy being in the mecca that is Pittsburgh.

Before you go back to your hometown, which I’m sure is charming in its own special way, enjoy your city surroundings. Go see the Christmas trees.

Ice skate at PPG. See the gingerbread houses at the Wintergarden. See a show at the Benedum. Cheer on

the Penguins. Catch a classic movie at Row House Cinema.

“The academic hell-scape I imagined as finals week didn’t scare me as a firstsemester freshman.”

Beth Turnbull

Social media coordinator The Globe

Visit one of the several museums we get into for free. Revel in the fact that you can walk anywhere you need to go. Take in the culture. Use those student discounts. Go out to that new restaurant. Pittsburgh has a lot to offer, especially this time of year. And I promise you, you won’t get tired of it even as you face graduation.

As I head into my seventh and very final finals week, I can’t help but feel melancholy. My time at Point Park has included the best moments of my young adult life so far. The emotional hills and valleys that come with getting a college education have made me stronger, smarter - more confident. I feel prepared to live a full and engaging life.

I’ve made amazing friends, become a more self-assured professional and learned valuable skills in the realm of life balance.

It’s not all sunshine and roses. College can really test you sometimes, but you should seek to cherish your time here, even finals. Sooner than you can imagine, you’ll be hauling yourself to a nine to five career, paying all your own bills and wishing you could be studying with your friends again.

So enjoy your finals, keep your head up and remember - doing your best is always enough.

Beth Turnbull eturnb@pointpark.edu

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967 Editor-in-Chief: Emily Bennett Editor-Elect: Carley Bonk Business Manager: Carrie Reale Faculty Adviser: Aimee-Marie Dorsten Administrative Adviser: Dean Keith Paylo The Globe board consists of Emily Bennett, Carley Bonk and fellow editors. Opinion articles, letters to the editor, columns and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the position of the newspaper or editorial board. The Globe reserves the right to refuse advertising and edit all submitted articles and letters to the editor. Letters to the editor must be signed and include author’s contact information. The Globe offices are located at the corner of Wood Street and Fort Pitt Boulevard. Writers should address letters to:

The Globe 201 Wood Street, Box 23 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or globe@pointpark.edu

Advertising: Submit advertising related inquiries to globeadvertising@pointpark.edu All ads must be approved by the university.

The deadline for ads is Friday at 5 p.m.

Details: ppuglobe.com/advertising Story Ideas: If you have a story you think The Globe can use, email globe@pointpark.edu Meetings: Mondays at 2:40 p.m. in the CMI Details: ppuglobe.com/contribute

News Editors: Mick Stinelli and Sarah Gibson Photo Editor: Gracey Evans Features Editors: Lauren Clouser and Hattie Charney Photo Editor: Kelsee McHugh Sports Editors: Dara Collins and Allison Schubert Photo Editor: Robert Berger Opinions Editor: Jordan Slobodinsky

Copy Desk: Hannah Walden Nick Horwat Social Media Coordinators: Beth Turnbull Hannah O’Toole Public Relations Coordinator and Business Manager: Carrie Reale

Arts and Entertainment Editor: Amanda Myers

Delivery Assistant: Autumn Barszczowski Kortney Lampel

Online Editors: Nicole Pampena and Sam Fairchild

Graphic Designer: Alysse Baer

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

All in With Allison

By Allison Schubert Sports Columnist

Making History (Again) Anna Shields is the best athlete in Point Park history. Period.

Over fall break, Shields competed in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Cross Country Nationals in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Out of 339 runners, she won by four seconds.

If that is not enough to convince you, Shields ran a time of 17:15, a course record for the venue.

This win was her first national championship for cross country, but it is far from new to the senior standout. She now holds a combined six NAIA national championships and ten NAIA All-American honors between cross country and track and field under her belt.

Believe me now? No? Let me continue.

Shields finished 12th in last year’s national meet, a personal best for her at the time, which was enough to win her NAIA All-American status for the meet.

Just a few days after this honor, Shields was named the NAIA Women’s Cross Country National Athlete of the Year by the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association (USTFCCCA).

This completes what Point Park Sports Information Director Kevin Taylor calls the “triple crown” of national titles from the USTFCCCA - now actively holding the honors for cross country in addition to indoor and outdoor track.

This marks Shields’ fourth national athlete of the year title - most athletes do not even get one.

She has won six meets at various levels: the NAIA level, NCAA Division I level and NCAA Division II level.

The best 5K time in the NAIA this year? 17:03, also belonging to Shields from Louisville earlier this season.

She is the most decorated and celebrated athlete in the history of Point Park athletics, and rightfully so.

It is easy for us to take an athlete like this for granted. It seems that every day she has broken or set another record or won another meet.

We are witnessing history, both at the Point Park level and at the NAIA level, and we should be aware of how lucky we are to see and cover an athlete as special as Anna Shields.

Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

7

Women continue preseason against ranked opponents

By Allison Schubert Co-Sports Editor

The women’s basketball team continued their tough non-conference schedule over Thanksgiving break, taking an “L” from two more nationally ranked teams.

The Pioneers spent the first weekend of break in Marian, Indiana at the Marian Classic, first against No. 14 St. Francis on Friday, and then against the hosting No. 4 Marian University on Saturday.

Friday’s game proved no easy task for the Pioneers in a matchup with the third ranked team they had played in their preseason.

The Pioneers were even with St. Francis through the first quarter, down only 14-12 after the first 10 minutes, but the Cougars started the second quarter with an 8-0 run to put them up by 10. St. Francis kept up the offense and defeated Point Park 70-47.

The Cougars topped Point Park in every aspect on the stat sheet, leading in rebounds 45-39, shooting 10 percent higher than the Pioneers and won the turnover margin plus-6, turning 18 forced turnovers into 22 points.

Sophomore guard Michelle Burns was the only Pioneer in double digits, contributing 11 points and tied the team-high eight rebounds. Junior guard Ariana Sanders matched Burns’ eight rebounds and tallied eight points of her own. Junior guard Tyra James also chipped in seven points.

Looking to bounce back

Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Junior guard Tyra James plays defense in a game against Ave Maria University earlier this year. The team lost two games over Thanksgiving break and began conference play against Carlow University Tuesday night.

from the loss from the day prior, Point Park was back in the Marian gym for a matchup against the hosting team.

Point Park held a 30-27 at the half against the No. 4-ranked team and held their own throughout the remaining 20 minutes.

Senior captain Kaitlyn Smith had a game-high 19 points, followed by Burns and Sanders with 14 and 13 points, respectively.

Point Park outshot the

Knights by two percent and the two teams were tied with 39 rebounds, but Marian forced 19 turnovers compared to Point Park’s 13, which ultimately gave the Knights the game 66-61.

The Pioneers return home on Nov. 27 for the first game of the first double header of the season and to open River States Conference play against Carlow.

Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu

Men come up short in games over break

By Derek Malush For The Globe

The men’s basketball team dropped three straight games over Thanksgiving break as there record falls from 2-1 to 2-4 on the season.

Their first game was against Washington Adventist University (WAU) on Nov. 13, where they lost to the Shock 75-55 and giving WAU their first win of the season.

The Pioneers then traveled to Buffalo, New York last Monday for two non-conference games. Their first was against Bryant & Stratton College (B&S), where they lost 71-56 and then against Villa Maria College the next day, losing 92-78.

Point Park and Washington Adventist were both off to a sluggish start, the score knotted at 15 with less than nine minutes left in the first half.

The Pioneers took their first lead of the night with two minutes remaining in the first half on sophomore guard Mark Shehady’s two made free throws, giving them the lead at 30-29.

Point Park went on a 9-0 run in the last three minutes of the first half to put them ahead 33-29 after the break.

“We played a very good first half against a really tough team,” Shehady said. “We shared the ball well and forced a lot of turnovers early.”

The Pioneers jumped out to an even larger lead coming out of the half, extending their halftime run

to 14 unanswered points on senior guard Justice Cuthbertson’s two-point jumper from the corner. The Pioneers then had their biggest lead of the night up nine points, 38-29.

From there, the Shock went on an 11-2 run of their own that tied the game at 4040 with 15 minutes to play.

Washington Adventist broadened their run to 24-9 midway through the second half, as they led the Pioneers 53-42 with less than 10 minutes to play.

In the second half, the Pioneers shot just 8-24 from the field and committed 10 of their 18 turnovers during the final 20 minutes of play.

Point Park also shot just 5-14 at the foul line in the second half, finishing the game at 52 percent and going 14-27.

The team was led by Cuthbertson, who had 18 points and went 6-9 at the charity stripe.

Sophomore guards Kyle Carrington and Chance Wright added nine points apiece and senior guard Asim Pleas put in seven points and grabbed five boards in his 19 minutes of play.

The Pioneers shot just 33 percent from the floor going 17-51. Seven of those field goals were three-pointers, resulting in 10 field goals scored inside the arc.

They tallied eight total assists on the night and were out-rebounded by the Shock 46-32.

Gracey Evans| The Globe Senior guard Asim Pleas takes the ball in the offensive zone during a 2017 contest. The team dropped three games over Thanksgiving break.

The matchup between Point Park and Bryant & Stratton College was neckand-neck throughout the first half.

The score rested at 36-35 in favor of the Pioneers at the end of the first 20 minutes.

Point Park went 5 for 13 from beyond the arc in the first half and went 13 for 18 at the free throw line.

With a little over 10 minutes to play in the second half, the Pioneers were behind on the scoreboard 51-49.

That is the closest they would come to taking the lead from the Bobcats, as the Pioneers went ice cold from the floor shooting just 21 percent.

“We are still getting

adjusted with each other,” senior guard Daniel King said. “I feel we will get back to playing the right type of basketball these next few games.”

Point Park scored just seven points in the final ten minutes of the game and went 2-8 at the free throw line.

The Pioneers could not stop WAU’s offense as the Bobcats went 13-25 from the field on 52 percent shooting in the second half, while also going 8-10 from the charity stripe.

Point Park shot their worst field goal percentage of the season, going just 16-60 from the field and shooting 26 percent.

The team was led by Pleas, who tallied a double-double scoring 13 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.

King also added to the Pioneer stat line with 12 points, four assists and four steals.

The Pioneers then faced off with Villa Maria College the ensuing day where they were outplayed in the first half, down on the scoreboard 54-30 at the end of the first 20 minutes.

Point Park never led throughout the game and battled a big deficit coming out of the half.

The Pioneers outscored the Vikings 48-38 in the second half on 47 percent shooting and hit eight three-pointers to bring the deficit to just 12 with under a minute to play.

Their comeback attempt was not enough, and Villa Maria’s huge first half lead kept them in the driver’s seat the rest of the way.

The Pioneers went 18-23 at the free throw line and tallied 39 bench points as King finished with 15 points and Cuthbertson added 19 coming off the bench.

Point Park was led by King and Cuthbertson as well as Carrington, who added 12 points of his own.

The Pioneers open up River States Conference play on Tuesday, Nov. 27 at home versus Carlow.

Derek Malush dwmalus@pointpark.edu

8

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 2018

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Shields named NAIA National Champion Star runner wins third of “triple crown” honors Anna Shields from SHIELDS page 1

“I’m very excited I was able to win a cross country championship because I’ve never done it before, even in high school,” Shields said.

“This is my first cross country title and it was a great way to finish off my last cross country season.”

Shields raced in last year’s NAIA National Championships in which she finished 12th place in. This year, Shields was named NAIA Athlete of the Year following the win.

“I tried to go out for the win and really faded in the latter stages of the race last year,” Shields said. “I’m a stronger runner now than last year… my plan was to just go for it and run my own race and think how I can run a good time on this course.”

To achieve these honors, Shields earned six individual race wins this season and claimed four RSC Runner of the Week awards. She also holds the best 5K time completed by an NAIA runner this season which came in Louisville earlier this year after finishing the 5K in 17 minutes, 3 seconds.

The women’s team placed 18th overall at the meet with freshman Alyssa Campbell placing second for Point Park in 18 minutes, 48 seconds and average mile time of 6 minutes, 3 seconds.

Due to the crowded course, the freshman had to avoid tripping over athletes at the beginning of the race while attempting to break free of the opening pack.

“We were right in the middle and when we took off I got boxed in and we saw some girls tumbling and tripping so we were lucky all of us were able to stay safe,” Campbell said.

Out of 341 runners, Campbell finished in 109th place with a time of 18 minutes, 48 seconds.

“I am happy with my time though because I was able to run sub 18 minutes all season which is something I am trying to reflect back on,” Campbell said.

Senior Katie Guarnaccia was the third Pioneer to cross the finish line and did so in 19 minutes, 2 seconds. By competing this year, Guarnaccia

Point Park’s Triple Crown Athlete

6X NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPION Cross Country:

2018 NAIA National Champion, 5K - 17:15 (Course Record)

Outdoor Track & Field:

2018 NAIA National Champion, 1,500m - 4:14.38 (NAIA National Record) 2018 NAIA National Champion, 800m - 2:04.75 2017 NAIA National Champion, 1,500m

Indoor Track & Field:

2017-18 NAIA National Champion, Mile - 4:37.30 Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Anna Shields runs the opening stretch of the 2017 Walsh University meet.

The senior won her first cross country national title recently making her the first Point Park runner to complete the NAIA Triple Crown.

became the first cross country athlete to compete at nationals four times.

Senior Kara Rohlf finished fourth for Point Park and had her best nationals finish of her career in 19 minutes, 15 seconds.

The team received a score of 501 points placing them 18th overall at the meet. The team averaged a time of 18 minutes, 53 seconds. This was Point Park’s second year in a row qualifying for nationals, and the third appearance in program history.

While the men’s team did not qualify for the meet, junior Xavier Stephens competed individually and set a school record for the fastest time in an 8,000 meter race.

“I started off strong and got through the 5k pretty fast,” Stephens said. “My fourth mile I slowed down but my last mile was pretty good and I picked it up.”

Stephens finished in 25 minutes, 59 seconds and became the first Pioneer to finish under 26 minutes.

Stephens broke his previous personal best finish, which

he set earlier this season by 38 seconds.

“Finishing under 26 was definitely my goal,” Stephens said. “It was cool being alone, but it would have been better had the guys been there with me.”

While the athletes were the ones to compete nationally, a number of team members credit the success to head coach Kelly Parsley who was named RSC Coach of the Year.

“He helped me at nationals to believe in myself to get me here and I’m so grateful for that,” Shields said. “He did so much to build up this program and get us here and I think he is very deserving of the coach of the year award.”

This is Parsley’s fourth year as head coach and is responsible for creating the program in 2015.

While the cross country season has wrapped up, many of the athletes have begun training for the indoor track and field season which gets underway Dec. 7, in Youngstown, Ohio.

Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu

2017-18 NAIA National Champion, 1,000m 2:46.22

4X NATIONAL ATHLETE OF THE YEAR 2018 NAIA Cross Country National Athlete of the Year (from USTFCCCA) 2018 NAIA Outdoor Track National Athlete of the Year (from USTFCCCA) 2017-18 NAIA Indoor Track National Athlete of the Year (from USTFCCCA) 2017 NAIA Outdoor Track National Athlete of the Year (from USTFCCCA)

BEST TIMES AS OF FALL 2018 400m 58.09

5000m 16:28.09

600m 1:33.49

3K (XC) 10:49.4

800m 2:04.75

3.1 MILE (XC) 21:34.8

1000m 2:46.22

5K (XC) 16:59.7

1500m 4:14.38

6K (XC) 19:55.6

MILE 4:37.30

3.11 MILE (XC) 17:15.9

3000m 9:58.85 Courtesy of Track & Field Results Reporting System

THANKSGIVING BREAK SCOREBOARD NOV. 13 - NOV. 26 MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.............................................. Nov. 16 Individual qualifier - Stephens (25:59)

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY

NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP.............................................. Nov. 16 18th of 36 Top 5K Finishers: NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPION Shields (17:15), Campbell (18:48), Guarnaccia (19:02)

MEN’S BASKETBALL (2-4) (0-0)

POINT PARK 55, WASHINGTON ADVENTIST 75........................ Nov. 13 POINT PARK 56, BRYANT & STRATTON 71.................................. Nov. 19 POINT PARK 78, VILLA MARIA 92................................................ Nov. 20 Next: Dec. 1 vs. IU Kokomo*, Dec. 8 vs. (13) WVU Tech

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (1-6) (0-0)

POINT PARK 47, (14) SAINT FRANCIS 70..................................... Nov. 16 POINT PARK 61, (4) MARIAN 66................................................... Nov. 17 Next: Nov. 28 @ PSU-Greater Allegheny, Dec. 1 vs. IU Kokomo*

MEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD Next: Dec. 7 @ YSU Icebreaker

WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK & FIELD Next: Dec. 7 @ YSU Icebreaker

Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Junior Xavier Stephens competes in the 2018 Carnegie Mellon University Invite. Stephens was the only men’s athlete to compete at nationals where he set a school record in the 8k event . He finished in 25 minutes, 59 seconds.

COMPETITIVE CHEER AND DANCE Next: Dec. 7 @ Concordia University

*River States Conference