IN THIS ISSUE: PAGE
@PPUGlobe September 5, 2018
4 PAGE 5 PAGE 7 Celebrating over 50 years of covering the world of Point Park University news
Biden shows for Pittsburgh parade
Jared Murphy | For The Globe
Former U.S. Vice President Joe Biden hugs an attende at the annual Labor Day parade Downtown.
This week’s Pioneer Public talks inspiration from Mister Rogers Jordyn Hronec calls out Trump administration in wake of McCain passing John Ashaolu will take over as new Director of Athletics ppuglobe.com Issue 2
New coffee shop opens By Robert Berger Sports Photo Editor
After two semesters of an empty campus coffee shop, students once again have somewhere to grab fresh brews. “Our plans for this space were to turn it into a hub, basically, and I just got a promotion to run this location, so I’m really excited,” Director of Dining Service Zachary Schmidt said. The new store, located in the first floor of Frontier Hall, occupies the space of the former “Hundred Wood” restaurant. The original Starbucks closed May 19, 2017. Original plans called for the new location to open during the 2017 academic year, but due to the amount of nec-
essary construction needed, plans were delayed. “The students have been waiting for this…the Starbucks was a hub for kids to meet before and get coffee in the morning,” Schmidt said. “With it being off campus I feel that it took a toll, but now we’re back and I’m glad everyone is checking us out.” While Point Perk is not an official corporate Starbucks, it is considered a “We Proudly Brew” location. This gives campus food service provider CulinArt full control over menu items while still serving Starbucks beverages. “It’s a huge benefit for us,” Schmidt said. “We are allowed to serve their coffee… but we have more control over the food. We can
COFFEE page 2
Pennsylvania attorney general issues report on campus safety By Mick Stinelli Co-News Editor
State Attorney General Josh Shapiro visited the University of Pittsburgh last week to release a report on campus safety. The report features recommendations to Pennsylvania colleges and universities on how to act on students’ mental health, drug and alcohol abuse and sexual assault. “We want students to be safe, and we want parents not to have to worry,” Shapiro
said at the press conference. The 35-page report features recommendations to be made at the structural level, implementations to be made before students arrive on campus, talking points at orientation, ongoing conversations to have throughout the school year and ways that universities can work with their surrounding communities. Elizabeth Rosemeyer, Title IX coordinator at Point Park, sat in on the attor-
ney general office’s listening tours. “We were giving the message that, as universities, we didn’t want to take steps backward,” Rosemeyer said. She emphasized that if universities are given complete discretion in Title IX matters, they can choose to have as little as one prevention program a year. “We did not see this as a place where we wanted to make less focus,” she said. Shapiro said that what he
Production 3 students prepare films By Carley Bonk Editor-Elect
Though the new school year has just begun, Production 3 students have been working all summer on short films that will screen in a red carpet event this December in the GRW Theater. The class has one less film
than usual this semester, but directors of the five shorts due to show are across the board in themes. Kelly Tran, a junior cinema production major, is directing “American Love,” an eight minute film about an undocumented immigrant, Maria, who was once protected by the administered program Deferred Action
Gracey Evans | For The Globe
Ethan Green, director of the P3 play “Almost Dead,” poses for a photo with his lookbook.
for Childhood Arrivals. “It’s really a human story letting the audience understand a new perspective they may not have had of immigrants who live this kind of lifestyle,” Tran said. “For example, at a diner she gets accused of stealing tips. Although this would just make the average person uncomfortable, for Maria, being undocumented, if the police get involved it could be life threatening for her.” Tran doesn’t intentionally put a political focus in her films, but says it comes naturally when you’re looking at human issues. “I just focus on human stories, conflicts and issues,” Tran said. “If you care about those things, that often leads to politics. For me, that’s caring for human life and making it better for everyone.” As a director, Tran does recognize short-form storytelling to be difficult, but feels comfortable about it for this project. This is her tenth film, and is slated to be the longest so far. “I’m in love with the art of short storytelling,” she said. “It shapes and shreds down to the necessities - the moments you really need.”
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saw most was that universities wanted to help their students as much as possible. “To varying degrees, all universities want to do the right thing,” he said. “What I did not get was hostility from the universities,” he said. Shapiro painted this in stark contrast to ten years ago. “There was a lot of hiding from reality on campus. I don’t get that anymore on general terms.” Though Shapiro said that the focus was on “all cam-
puses across the commonwealth,” the report features a number of “global recommendations” which could be applied to universities across the world. Shapiro also discussed that changes must be made within the minds of students. “We have got to remove the stigma of these issues,” he said, referring the issues of substance abuse, mental health, and sexual assault outlined in the report. He
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SCHOOLOGY ALL IN By Mitchell Drake For the Globe
This fall marks the full integration of Schoology, Point Park’s new online education tool. Schoology is a learning-management-system (LMS). The program has become increasingly prevalent in modern the age of education, and works to connect students with educators and easily manage assignments, submissions and grading. Many students recall the school’s previous LMS, Blackboard. Blackboard (or Blackboard Learn) was utilized by Point Park University for 15 years but, was elbowed out by Schoology during the fall semester of 2017. Both systems offered the same generalized type of services to professors and students. Todd Slater, Instructional Technologist, helped implement Schoology. Slater said he worked on the creation of new courses, the integration of old courses, system maintenance, templating, running efficiency tests and importing Blackboard’s portfolio and student organizational tools to Schoology.
This workload contained the manning of “pilot courses,” where nine select courses were used to prototype and test the system’s malleability towards various types of classes. Slater was also part of a committee that compared different services to find the ideal choice for Point Park. The committee tested systems by organizing tech demos and sandbox courses where LMS vendors would present features and benefits. “We were looking for a system that’s intuitive for students and all users that is also in-tuned with modern social media,” Slater said. This becomes apparent when viewing the update feed page of Schoology, which bears a resemblance to Facebook’s feed page. Slater’s committee knew this layout would be easily recognizable to students and professors with each post featuring a profile picture and the option to directly leave comments under the post. Slater described how the social media layout allows students to directly ask questions to professors, who can respond just as fast. Discussions can be shared
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Weather Forecast Today: Sunny H 93, L 73
Thursday: Storms, H 88, L 68 Friday: Partly Cloudy, H 80, L 64 Saturday: Cloudy, H 77, L 65
Sunday: Storms, H 76, L 66 Monday: Showers, H 77, L 64 Tuesday: Showers, H 80, L 64
Point Park
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NEWS
WEDNESDAY, September 5, 2018 from COFFEE page 1
create our own displays and cases and also rotate the menu.” Point Perk will also serve a number of exclusive menu items. “All of our breakfast sandwiches are exclusive. You won’t find them at another Starbucks or even anywhere else at Point Park,” Schmidt said. Along with exclusive items, Point Perk also sells the sushi that is found at the Point Cafe. Like the former campus Starbucks, students are able to use flex dollars when making purchases. Starbucks gift cards, however, are no longer accepted. “Drinks around Downtown can be super expensive, and Market Square charges so much for anything,” sports, arts and entertainment management sophomore Logan LaMaster said. “It’s nice being able to use my flex dollars from tuition to be able to get Starbucks coffee.” As reported by The Globe last September, Dean of Students Keith Paylo said he intended for the space to be a new spot for students to hang out on campus. To do so, CulinArt is teaming up with students in the sports, arts and entertainment management program and Pioneer Records to hold a number of events. “I created a class called Talent and Booking…and they have been given the charge to create entertainment for the new space,” professor and founder of Pioneer Records Ed Traversari said. During the course, students are segmented into three organizations to handle each aspect of setting up live shows. These groups consist of booking, marketing and production. According to Travaseri, along with Pioneer Records artists, he would like to see touring artists play at Point Perk as well as holding open mic nights and even hosting stand-up comedy. “We are looking at open mic nights… those are very important nights to do at colleges,” Travaseri said. “I think we’ll definitely have
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Shapiro rebukes Education Secretary Devos
Mick Stinelli | The Globe
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro holds a press conference at the William Pitt Union discussing his new campus safety report. The press conference came hours before a New York Times story detailing Title IX rollbacks by Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos.
from REPORT page 1 also stated that there is a need to encourage students to call for help when they need it. The report calls for offering trauma-informed staff, improved Title IX policies and training student leaders on mental health awareness, among other things. The report was sharply juxtaposed hours later by Education secretary Betsy DeVos’s announcement of new sexual misconduct policies on U.S. campuses. As detailed by the New
York Times, the proposed rules “narrow the definition of sexual harassment” for colleges and universities. Hours before the report by the Times, Shapiro criticized DeVos’s stance on campus sexual assault. “The idea that Secretary Betsy DeVos would want to roll back those Title IX regulations does not sit well with me,” Shapiro said at the press conference. He praised strides made by the Obama administration and said that Pennsylvania had a responsibility to protect Title IX provisions.
“It certainly is not perfect, but the idea is not to
Mick Stinelli mfstine@pointpark.edu
what we might call Pioneer records nights which will just be entertainment from artists we’ve worked with on campus.” While Pioneer Records artists will perform at Point Perk, Travaseri would like to see any interested students perform too.
“We are encouraging people that, if you are an entertainer and want to perform, please be in touch with me,” Travseri said. “I want people to know that we want them to perform.” In the coming weeks, a stage will be assembled for these nights of entertain-
ment. Travaseri said he is hopeful they will be able to move the stage outside for artists to perform in both Point Perk and Village Park. “It’s interesting and exciting because I don’t think our campus has anything like that,” Travaseri said. The Point Perk enter-
tainment schedule will be released in the coming weeks. In the meantime, the Campus Activities Board will host an acoustic performance featuring Allissa Logsdon Friday at 7:30 p.m.
STUDENTS HIT JACKPOT
Sydney Smith | The Globe
Joshua Leon celebrates after getting three matching images on the slot machine during Monte Carlo night on Aug. 27.
“[DeVos’] actions threaten to make college campuses less safe, not more safe Josh Shapiro
Pennsylvania Attorney General
throw it all away,” he said. “Her actions threaten to make college campuses less safe, not more safe.” He also said that he has previously corresponded with DeVos and has discussed taking legal action against her department. Rosemeyer said that the university would continue taking steps to preserve the sexual assault provisions Title IX on campus.
Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, September 5, 2018
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Point Park announces new School of Education USG to move to confirm student senator in coming weeks By Mick Stinelli and Sarah Gibson Co-News Editors
Point Park will be formally announcing the introduction of its School of Education Wednesday, Sept. 5, according to multiple sources within the university. The chair of the School of Education, Darlene Marnich, described some of the benefits of transforming the education department into a School of Education in an interview on Aug. 27. “I think one of the big benefits is going to be the ease at which people now see us,” Marnich said. “When they look, there’s a Conservatory [of Performing Arts], there’s a School of Business, there’s a School of Communications, Arts and Sciences and there’s a
School of Education.” Marnich described the School of Education as a transformation for what was known as the Department of Education, which is now made up of more than 500 students. She explained that by changing the Department of Education into a school, it would become more visible to prospective students. Whereas it was once delegated to a department within the School of Arts and Sciences, it is now differentiated as its own separate entity. “It certainly will not cost the school more money to fund a School of Education than the Education Department because we haven’t added more administrative costs to the struc-
ture,” Marnich said. She expressed interest in forming partnerships between the School of Education and several other organizations and foundations to form new programs for students. “We’re hoping to do a student teaching abroad program experience starting maybe as early as this spring, but we’re not sure if we can finalize it by this spring,” Marnich said. Ronald Dufalla, a professor at Point Park for over a decade, said formal discussions for recognizing the School of Education began last spring, though the department had been expanding its programs for several years. “I think we were anticipating this would occur,”
Dufalla said. Dufalla praised Marnich for the foresight she showed in the department’s potential. “We’re fortunate enough to have a department chair who is visionary, who looks to the future,” Dufalla said. A presentation by Marnich showed that education had “a ton of students and a ton of programs” compared to other schools, according to School of Education professor Elisabeth Ehrlich. Once it became clear that student numbers in the department were on par with the other schools in the university, it became clear that it was time to elevate the status of the department’s name to be even with those schools.
Both Ehrlich and Dufalla said that they hoped that the change would help to maintain and sustain enrollments within education. Dean of Students Keith Paylo, in an email statement to The Globe, said, “I am excited about the growth and recognition of a top quality school of education. Point Park University has been producing generations of educators not only in our region but nationally.” The United Student Government is expected to introduce a referendum to install a student senator to the School of Education in the coming weeks.
Mick Stinelli mfstine@pointpark.edu Sarah Gibson sagibso@pointpark.edu
CCO AT POINT PARK CELEBRATES DAY OFF Coalition for Christian Outreach puts on annual picnic
Carrie Reale | The Globe
While Brennan Beyer, freshman mortuary sciences major, tosses a water balloon to another club member at its annual Labor Day picnic, freshman dance major Rosalie Anthony readies herself to make the catch.
Schoology to “constantly evolve” SCHOOLOGY page 1 between students across different courses. Students could also form their own groups, which allows for student collaboration outside of class. To further facilitate the system, Slater now makes biweekly calls to Schoology’s Client Success Manager with feedback he receives from students and professors. In these calls to the “middle man,” Slater can submit needed feature requests and bug fixes that are later implemented into the system in a move to lead the system by student-input. “The system will constantly be evolving, administration will change, but people will decide how they use it,” Slater said. “We are just trying to give people tools to get their work done, to do the best to make sure we are happy.” Jessica McCort, assistant professor of Rhetoric, Composition and Social Justice has served Point Park for four years. McCort taught in one of the focus test pilot courses planned to
test out Schoology’s different forums. McCort also had what she considers extensive experience using Blackboard in the past. In that experience, she said that while it provided teachers more tools (especially for essay-laden composition courses) and easy organization of grades, Blackboard featured clunky discussion threads and was generally harder to navigate for students. Students without experience in writing blogs or forums would have to be taught how to use it, which “eats up” a teacher’s time with their students, McCort said. McCort said she enjoys using Schoology so far and believes the ease for students to see teacher comments on work and ask questions directly will vastly improve communication, which is “positive for the university”. “It was like going from Mac to PC,” McCort said. Some students have differing opinions on Schoology. Wylie Stephenson, a sophomore majoring in Cultural Studies, stated that her
experience with Schoology in high school was not very favorable, but manageable. “Honestly, it wasn’t always that bad,” Stephenson said. “It could be pretty annoying when trying to find certain things.” Siiri Nikkinen, a sophomore majoring in Psychology, is opposed to the idea of using an LMS due to the external, non-campus presence of Schoology’s administration. While skeptical, Nikkinen said she is enjoying the benefits of the Schoology app. “It’s a business behind these systems,” Nikkinen explained. “They just want our school’s money and control it so we have no say in how it changes.” Responding to similar criticism, Slater assures that use of the system depends on the choice of the professor and that the system will grow to become more user-friendly as it evolves. With time, Slater believes that Point Park will become comfortable with the new
Mitchell Drake mjdrake@pointpark.edu
Carrie Reale | The Globe
Senior biology major Alexandra Levi dumps a bucket of water on junior global cultural studies major Dylan Kersten. The event took place at Point State Park and drew a crowd of about 20 people.
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WEDNESDAY, September 5, 2018
FEATURES
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Cast of Point Blank Live creates campus comedy club By Lauren Clouser Co-Features Editor
Since its debut last semester, the live sketch comedy Point Blank Live has reached over 1,000 views on YouTube. Sophomore cinema major Chris Copen, the creative director and cohead writer for the show, said people were questioning him about what would be next for the comedy troupe. “Since Point Blank Live, it seems like everybody’s been asking: ‘What’s next?’ So the club is kind of the next natural extension of it,” Copen said. “Obviously the show went really well, so all kinds of people were like: ‘How do I get involved?’ And we all liked working with each other so we were like ‘Let’s continue it in a more organized fashion,’” The group took the momentum of the show and created the Point Blank Comedy club. Copen has plans for the club. “We’re planning on bringing in stand-up comedians, doing our own monthly sketch show, doing a monthly improv show, kind of doing short films and stuff within the club too,” Copen said. Vanessa Vivas, the secretary of the club, said the organization grew from Point Blank Live. “We’ve moved from doing a one-time sketch comedy, one night, never again type show to a reoccurring kind of collective that we can use to produce and support student comedy projects,” Vivas said. Becky Brown, a junior BFA acting major, said the club plans to alternate its members for comedy shows. “Since we have so many performances and improv sets and things that each
week we can send out six to 10 people and rotate through people,” Brown said. Brown said the club is not limited to actors and writers. “We just added some marketing managers and stuff like that, so people who aren’t necessarily interested in writing or acting are going to be running an Instagram page and stuff like that,” Brown said. The first official club event took place over the summer. The group submitted a script to the Social Voice Project’s Radio Theater called “Hello Operator.” “It was really; cool there were other troupes who came from Pennsylvania, from the area, and they also did their little sets, so we kind of met them too,” Vivas Said. “It was cool to network.” Now that everyone is back on campus, the club’s next performance is an improv show at the Arcade Comedy Theater on Sept. 7. at 8 p.m. “This is our first event so it’s like we’re back,” Copen said. “And I guess it’s kind of proving that we can do more than Point Blank Live.” The group is opening for another improv show called “Your Life: The Musical.” “They’ll talk to someone about their day and they’ll turn it into a Broadway musical, which is very impressive and also very intimidating to have to go before, because it’s crazy that they can even do that,” Copen said. Brown said that since the show is improv, it will be impossible to predict what will happen. “Anything can happen,” Brown said, “So probably some really wild and ex-
Lauren Clouser|For The Globe The Point Blank Comedy Club will have their first show of the year at the Arcade Comedy Theater on Sept. 7. at 8 p.m.
treme situations, that’s usually how it turns out.” Brown said rehearsing for such a spontaneous show can be difficult, but that it is mostly about team building. “It’s a lot of ensemble building and getting really close as a group of people... Because once you’re a group and you feel almost like one person then things kind of click and everything can happen from there,” Brown said. The group has already performed an improv show at Arcade Comedy once before in order to prepare for Point Blank Live. “For the first month of Point Blank Live, when we were still writing it, obviously we couldn’t rehearse because we had no script,” Cohen said “So we decided to do improv instead and that really built our cast cohesion.” Vivas said the cast for the improv show was large, and that the stage was a bit
crowded. “It was a lot of people on stage,” Vivas said. “That was the one thing we learned was that their stages aren’t huge and they had a big cast.”
“I guess it’s kind of proving that we can do more than Point Blank Live.” Chris Copen
Sophomore Cinema production major
For this upcoming show, Vivas said the cast will be much smaller. “I liked that our show that’s coming up is a lot smaller because it’s manage-
able, it’s not overcrowded, and you can actually listen to each other...So bringing that number down helps a lot,” Vivas said. Copen said that the group has grown much closer since Point Blank Live, which will help with the performance. “We worked so long on that [Point Blank Live] and we were together for so long that we just kind of all became friends,” Copen said. “And that helps when you’re doing something like improv where you have to totally rely on other people.” Copen said he hopes that having a club will expand the tight-knit group. “I think after Point Blank we know each other a lot better,” Copen said. “And that’s kind of what the club is doing, we want more people in that circle.”
Lauren Clouser lclous@pointpark.edu
Trivia, craft sodas at Tuesday’s Pioneer Pub
Office of Student Conduct hosts Point Park related trivia By Hattie Charney Co-Features Editor
Freshmen and seniors alike enjoyed craft soda and battled it out in several rounds of trivia to learn more about personal safety last Tuesday night. The Office of Student Conduct, in conjunction with Title IX, hosted its first event this year during Welcome Week, called Pioneer Pub, which took place in Lawrence Hall room 200 from 7-9 p.m. Pioneer Pub is an annual trivia event where teams answer questions regarding drugs and alcohol usage on campus while enjoying a variety of craft sodas. Vincent Rugani, Coordinator of Student Conduct, explained that the trivia is based on Point Park knowledge as well as drug and alcohol policies on campus. Trivia questions also cover delicate subjects such as sexual assault and sexual health. These topics are covered to make students more aware and knowledgeable. “We have a round of trivia based on alcohol and drugs and some of the university policies that can relate,” Rugani said. “We want to make sure they [students] are educated properly and
have some knowledge on the subjects of alcohol, drugs and sexual health.” Megan Thorpe, a senior sports, arts and entertainment management major, recalls trivia questions during Pioneer Pub in previous years that were more tailored to alcohol and sexual assault. “The trivia questions are related to the Think About It course that all incoming freshmen are required to take,” Thorpe said. She also said that as a Pioneer Ambassador, she encouraged freshmen students during orientation to come out to all events hosted during Welcome Week and to get involved within the Point Park community. Students found 25 different flavors of soda at the craft soda bar, from classic Cherry Cola to the eccentric Zombie Brain Juice. Thorpe remembers previous years when people kept coming up to try various offbeat flavored sodas. “There’s a crazy amount of sodas!” Thorpe said. “There’s a bunch of weird flavors.” Rugani said he purchased about 25 different flavors, but in total, about 300 different bottles of soda were employed. As the event progressed and the stakes for winning
Hattie Charney|For The Globe Junior journalism major Victoria Bails hands off a craft soda to a student at Pioneer Pub Tuesday night.
prizes got higher and higher, so did the energy level in the room. Students were shouting out answers - even wrong ones - and singing along to the music that was playing overhead. Jessie Notarius, a senior scenic design major, said that even though Pioneer Pub is targeted towards freshmen, she has always enjoyed coming for the atmosphere. “It’s still a lot of fun,” Notarius said. “The whole room
just singing terrible karaoke that was a lot of fun.” Senior dance and costume design double major Catherine Huffman believes that Pioneer Pub is good for the entire Point Park community. “Pioneer Pub is one of those classic events where even if you aren’t a freshman, you can enjoy it,” Thorpe said, mirroring Huffman’s belief. Rugani was named the
Coordinator of Student Conduct in July 2018. Pioneer Pub was Rugani’s first event on campus. “I’m excited that it’s a great turnout and I’m excited to host other events for alcohol and drug education as well as with Title IX to keep students aware and educate them more,” Rugani said.
Hattie Charney hecharn@pointpark.edu
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
FEATURES
WEDNESDAY, September 5, 2018
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Five directors and crews entering production stage
Annual Showcase slated to debut projects at end of semester from PRODUCTION page 1 Greg Vogt, senior cinema production major and director of “Orgasma,” another Production 3 film, agrees that short films can be a challenge. “I like to shoot slow burners,” Vogt said. “But with something like this we have to trim off the fat and make sure we get the point across.” “Orgasma” is an eightand-a-half minute film with another hispanic female lead, Nina. She’s struggling to deal with the modern societal pressures that accompany sexuality. “It’s a psychological battle of her trying to break through as a character,” Vogt said. “It pushes the boundary on taboo subjects - where it’s not just a drama or a comedy; it’s real life situations that people deal with.” Vogt chose the script because he wanted to try something new after accumulating a substantial reel in the horror genre. With such a sensitive topic, Vogt made sure he and his crew were on the same page. “The most difficult part is dealing with a difficult subject matter in a way that people don’t get upset about it, and just making sure the crew and actors are comfortable with the topic,” he said. “It has a unique taste that can stand out from the crowd. If we do it right, we can show what great filmmakers we are coming from Pittsburgh.” Another psychologically-focused film entering the showcase is “Luna,” under the direction of Olivia Busby, junior cinema production major. The script features Carter, a boy who suffers from amnesia and becomes obsessed with a mysterious, ethereal woman named Luna. The original script was written by Tyler Morris and adapted by Anthony Yoder. “His obsession takes over every aspect of his life,” Busby said. “It has
PIONEER PUBLIC Cole D’Alicandro By Lauren Clouser Co-Features Editor
When Cole D’Alicandro started researching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood for an introductory broadcast course, he became inspired to pursue a job in children’s television. “I’ve been researching him [Mister Rogers] more than any human should,” D’Alicandro said. “I had to write a couple reports on him last year, and that’s really when I started making the shift from wanting to be news and wanting to be educational television, specifically children’s television.” Originally, the sopho-
a real surreal, David Lynch-inspired vibe to it that we were really into. It’s a glimpse into his mind that shows he is really unstable.” The cast is nearly set, and Busby remembered the moment of the first reading to be a turning point. “I spent my whole summer with these characters,” Busby said. “Getting these incredible actors into a room that are almost exactly how I pictured was one of the most incredible feelings.” Filmmaking with this crew in particular has taught Busby lessons in collaboration and the potential films have for society. “I think what I love about filmmaking is that it is such an immersive artform that combined other artforms into one,” she said. “You can’t do it alone. When you find people that are on the same page as you, it’s a beautiful, collaborative thing.” Ethan Green, junior cinema production major and director of “Almost Dead,” was also drawn to filmmaking for the human connection aspect.
“As a kid, I was always trying to entertain people,” Green said. “My start in filming was making stupid little videos with my
friends, and they were all based around having fun and being goofy. It’s a lot of testing, trial and error and reading the audience.” “Almost Dead” is a comedy about two sisters trying to bring their punk band back into the limelight. The twist? They’re both in their sixties. Green created a “lookbook” over the summer to help his cast and crew better envision the look he was aiming for in this film. Decorative pages filled with costume designs and cast ideas took hours for Green to complete, with help from a cousin. “This was fun to put together,” Green said. “It was the first time I did a lookbook and it’s definitely something I’m hoping to implement. Art was always something I loved so it didn’t feel like work for me.” Green’s brother, Anton, is also helping out with the project. “Music is definitely going to be a huge part of this,” Green said. “For all of my films in school I’ve worked with my younger brother, who produces music for me. He’s producing the theme song for this movie.” Familial collaboration was also a part of “The Magic Words,” under the direction of Domenic Porcari, junior cinema production major. The film focuses on a young, downtrodden J.K. Rowling and how she was inspired to write the “Harry Potter” series. “At the time, I hadn’t actually read Harry Potter - blasphemous, I know,” Porcari said. “My 13-yearold sister had and she loves them all. I was kind of struggling because she hit that age where she definitely wasn’t a little girl anymore. I’ve been praying for a way to reconnect with Sophia.” When the script came up, Porcari jumped at the opportunity to direct the ambitious project. Sophia
more broadcast production major planned on becoming a teacher. “For three years, I figured I wanted to be a high school english or history teacher, and then I just started going around interviewing my teachers,” D’Alicandro said. “And as I kept talking to them I kept realizing: this just sounds miserable.” D’Alicandro said he enjoyed interviewing the teachers, however, he decided on a career in the news industry instead. D’Alicandro had already gained some experience working with children. This past summer, he worked at a summer camp, where he said he enjoyed the conversations he had with the children. “The conversations you have with teenagers and 20-something year olds are much different from the ones you’ll have with a seven year old...I just think it’s really fun and interesting getting to see the world through their eyes from the
questions they ask,” D’Alicandro said. To prepare for his future career, D’Alicandro studied old episodes of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood to better understand why Fred Rogers did what he did. “Recently, I’ve gotten more and more into digging up the old episodes and watching those and just sort of seeing what he does, small things that at first glance don’t make sense,” D’Alicandro said. D’Alicandro said one thing he admires about Mister Rogers is how he addressed his audience. “The thing about Mister Rogers that I like is that he wouldn’t be talking at people,” D’Alicandro said. “He made it seem like he was talking to them through the TV screen...I just sort of like his whole philosophy and approach towards broadcasting in general, and I think that something like that is missing from television.” In the future, D’Alicandro hopes to stay in the area, but said if a job open-
“You can’t do it alone; When you find people that are on the same page as you, it’s a beautiful, collaborative thing.” Olivia Busby
Production 3 Director, “Luna”
Gracey Evans|For The Globe Ethan Green, junior cinema production major and director of “Almost Dead,” created a lookbook for the first time. His illustrations helped the cast and crew better understand his vision for the short film.
has become an integral part of the crew, reading scripts and offering feedback. Though the crew is ahead of schedule, the idea almost didn’t have a chance to happen in the first place. “It’s the most ambitious project anyone at Point Park has ever undertaken,” Porcari said. “There were a lot of production concerns - taking place on a train, the magical effects - things that don’t seem quite practical to film.” The university nearly stopped the project before it started. “As a massive Harry Potter fan, our producer and original screenwriter, Matt Marucci, basically said that if he couldn’t produce the script, he was going to drop out of the program.” With Porcari’s previous intention of pursuing engineering, he has a technical
skill-set that assisted in bringing the magic to life. The hardest part is convincing people we are prepared to do this,” Porcari said. “I think it’s doable and we are well on our way.” All five directors are confident in their cast and crew bringing to life scripts that really mean something to their audience - a common thread between five different themes. “It’s like stepping into another world, cathartic and magical,” Busby said. “Seeing people react to it- particularly when it’s something personal to youis a wonderful form of human connection that I feel grateful I’m able to do.” The Production 3 class, taught by professor Hanjin Park, will hold its annual showcase Dec. 14 at the GRW Theater.
Carley Bonk cmbonk@pointpark.edu
Lauren Clouser| For the Globe
ing for a children’s show opened somewhere else, he would strongly consider moving. “I would really consider and weigh my options,” D’Alicandro said. “And I
probably would go with it, just because I want to get in that field any way I can, and that would be a good start.”
Lauren Clouser lclous@pointpark.edu
6
OPINIONS
WEDNESDAY, September 5, 2018
THE
GL BE’S POINT
Journalism is not a science How many times have School of Communication students heard the phrase “industry standard” or “this is how it’s done in the field?” Probably quite a few by a number of professionals. But is there really an “industry standard” for everything? Journalism isn’t a set equation. Having a solid, unique voice is just as important as following rigid rules. A Wall Street Journal lead may get you a gleaming review from one professor and a failing grade for “being overused” by another. The media internship you had over the summer may have pointed you to social media for story ideas, where the professor you have this fall says that’s not the way to do it. As evolving journalists, we can’t please everyone. We can’t spit out stories with a formula like a computer. And as journalists who are on the verge of entering the “real world,” we need to develop our own voice that stands out from the others. What we’ve tried to utilize here at The Globe is a sense of understanding. Our professors have certainly given us a variety of styles to develop into our own
and methods to add to our “toolbox.” As we enter the world of media upon graduation, it’s time to choose what to exemplify the most from our education to employers and readers. There is more than one way a story can be presented to you, our audience. And we do our best to allow the colorful array of voices to amplify the truth for your reading pleasure. After all, journalists are human beings, not an algorithm-filled machine. In an age of hiding behind cell phones and Facebook timelines, society seems to forget that. Journalists aren’t pious people on pedestals. We are your classmates, your friends and your neighbors. We are here to do our civic duty to present the truth to you all, not to lull you into oblivion or trick you with a hidden agenda. We strive to be honest, always. We want to present our work to you in a personal way. We hope to build up our community, together. And we hope you’ll join us in the good fight.
The Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu.
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
John McCain’s legacy and lessons
Showing reverence in honor of an American war hero By Jordyn Hronec Copy Editor
The U.S. Senate has lost one of its most prominent names. Arizona senator John McCain passed away at 81 after a year-long battle with brain cancer. His death came just one day after it was announced that he had decided to stop medical treatment for his condition. McCain was a huge figurehead for the Republicans, running against former president George W. Bush for the Republican nomination in 2000, and against former president Barack Obama (D) in the 2008 presidential election. Because of these races, McCain had become a house-hold name of sorts. But what the American people may not know is that McCain is largely considered to be a war hero. However, it seems, the courage and valor demonstrated by McCain during the Vietnam War, the very war that current president, Donald Trump, dodged by way of bone spurs, is being dismissed at the hands of those who disagree with McCain’s politics. If you recall, a statement came out of the White House from Kelly Stradler, special assistant to number 45, invalidating McCain on the account that he was irrelevant as he was
“dying anyway.” And while an apology has since been issued for this statement, it definitely left a sour taste in mouths. But the rift between McCain and the current White House administration runs deeper than that. McCain made it clear before his death that President Trump was not to attend his funeral, in any capacity. However, McCain requested that former presidents Bush and Obama, as well as former Vice President Joe Biden, give eulogies. Many are looking at this as a testament to the late Senator’s values, and even see it as a beacon of hope that the two main political parties may learn to overcome their differences and work together for the greater good. During McCain’s 2008 campaign against Obama, McCain famously shut down negative assumptions made about his opponent. It was a presidential election season in stark contrast to our most recent. McCain and Obama chose to duke it out over facts and their simply differing political platforms. The 2016 Trump vs. Hillary showdown saw no shortage of mud-slinging where the two went for blood and attacked each other’s character. It was this election that furthered the divide between parties, and it demonstrated
that in the world of politics, things do get personal. McCain was liked and looked up to by many people. In mourning him, the two parties are presented with an opportunity to remember McCain and to continue his legacy in the Senate. However, the White House continues to obviously discredit McCain in delaying the lowering of the flag to halfmast in his honor, almost as if honoring an American war hero and senator is an afterthought to the Trump administration. Trump’s half-hearted “commemorative” tweet, especially in comparison to extremely heartfelt statements from Obama and McCain’s fellow senators, seems to confirm this sentiment. But with or without Donald Trump, the United States government will and should move forward in mourning this loss, honoring Senator McCain’s heroic actions in the Vietnam War, and rebuilding the Senate, hopefully with Democrats and Republicans a bit closer to a future in which they can work together. It’s what Senator McCain would have wanted.
Jordyn Hronec jthrone@pointpark.edu
The Catholic church is wrong, but I’m still Catholic Student defends her reasoning for remaining strong and rooted in her faith Church has always been a common, consistent theme in my life. From the time I was a young child, I attended church with my mother. As I grew up, I never really fell out of going to church. I went to Catholic school at Our Lady of Fatima in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, up until my graduation in eighth grade, and then moved on to public school. I still attended church through those years and frequently came home during my three years of undergraduate studies at California University of Pennsylvania, to go to church on Sunday. There is hardly a Sunday when I’m not at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in Crescent Township, Pa. I have a strong faith – and an even stronger church family. When the grand jury report on thousands of documented reports of child sexual abuse came out, I was stunned like other members in my church. There have been scattered reports over the years of child sexual abuse, but this was massive. Over 100 priests in the Diocese of Pittsburgh were named on the list, which
was part of a large report done by the grand jury. Luckily, when scanning the lists, neither of my priests’ names were on there, or the priests that I grew up with at Our Lady of Fatima. After years of being told the Catholic Church was a safe place and one of the most reverent religions in the world, the doubts came creeping back. I have struggled with my faith before – and in a spiritual aspect, I still do. I am not your normal Catholic; I believe that people of the same gender should be allowed to love each other. I believe in the death penalty and it’s hard for me to imagine Jesus Christ walking on water when, scientifically, it’s not possible. And if you know me, I hate science. So, that’s saying something. However, I’ve always found faith in the Lord and in knowing that there’s a higher power. Again, I am not your normal Catholic. I do not believe that everything happens for a reason. For me, that’s just an easy way out of taking responsibility. No priest that found their name on the grand
jury list can say that everything happens for a reason. There is no justifying the actions that went on. My heart goes out for the survivors - the people that endured such abuse. But, I am not taking the action of leaving the church. I am a firm believer that one bad apple should not spoil the whole bunch. The Catholic Church has had issues dating back to the founding of the religion. There are questionable people in the church, but there are some good people and leaders. I am a fan of the reverend Pope Francis – born Jorge Mario Bergoglio – and his views on a new, 21st Century church. Because of the grand jury report, I am more cautious of the church and the pastors that take their place at the head of the church. However, I am not leaving the church because of my faith and my church family. However, people need to be held accountable. All of the priests listed in the grand jury report need to be jailed. Bishop David Zubik – whom I met for the first time a few weeks ago when he confirmed one of my
basketball students, Emma, as I served as her sponsor – needs to resign or be removed. Cardinal Donald Wuerl – the man who confirmed me way back in 2011 – needs removed from his position. His name is already being taken off of North Catholic High School in Cranberry Township, Pa. Change needs to happen, but faith shouldn’t be shaken.
“I am a firm
mal Catholic that believes that God has a path for us, and we’re just following it. No, I believe that we make our own path, but God can be a helping hand, guiding us through difficult decisions. We’re making our own path as humans. I call on my fellow Catholics – especially younger Catholics – to not lose faith, but hold people accountable, to help survivors in any way possible and see the signs of abuse.
believer that one bad apple should not spoil the whole bunch. The Catholic Church has had issues dating back to the founding of the
Rachael McKriger rakrige@pointpark.edu
religion...” Rachael McKriger Copy Editor The Point Park Globe That’s what the Lord is there for anyway. When times are tough, we as Catholics turn to God for guidance. I’m not a nor-
Graphic by Alysse Baer
Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967
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wEditor-in-Chief: Emily Bennett Editor-Elect: Carley Bonk Business Manager: Kelsey Wolfe Faculty Adviser: Aimee Dorsten Administrative Adviser: Dean Keith Paylo
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Sports Editors: Dara Collins and Allison Schubert Photo Editor: Robert Berger
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Chichi Anuforo Nicole Pampena Copy Desk: Hannah Walden Nick Horwat
SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
7
University announces All in With new Director of Athletics Allison By Allison Schubert Sports Columnist
Big shoes to fill After just over a decade, Dan Swalga is no longer the athletic director of Point Park University. On May 18th of this year, Swalga announced he was retiring after his 12-year tenure as a Pioneer. In his time with Point Park, Swalga added eight varsity sports to the program, the Pioneers were accepted into their current conference and he had maintained a reputation as leading one of the best athletic departments in the conference. With Swalga’s help, sports like competitive cheer, competitive dance, men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field are now recognized as varsity sports, giving Point Park 17 total. For the first half of Swalga’s tenure, Point Park was a member of the American Mideast Conference (AMC). The AMC disbanded in 2012, leaving the Pioneers without a home. That same year, Swalga lead Point Park to the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC), which is now the River States Conference (RSC). Since joining its new conference, Point Park has won the RSC Commissioner’s All-Sports Cup three times, as well as Swalga being named the KIAC Athletic Director of the Year in 2014-15.
With such a successful and storied past, it is no doubt that the new athletic director will have some big shoes to fill. After a long application and interviewing process, Point Park hired Toronto native John Ashaolu to fill those shoes left by Swalga. Like Swalga, though, Ashaolu has his own storied past in athletics. Ashaolu began at the University of New Orleans, where he played NCAA Division I basketball before finishing his career at Xavier (La.) University. He worked extensively in basketball operations following graduation, and was eventually hired as the Director of Athletics and Student Programs at the Community College of Beaver County in 2014, where he doubled the amount of varsity sports from three to six in his four years at the university. In Jan. 2018, he was brought on by the Community College of Allegheny County as its Athletic Director, overseeing all branch campuses and 16 sports that the university had. His past has led him here, to the corner of real and world, to begin the next chapter of Point Park University athletics. Time to put on those shoes.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
LAST WEEK’S SCOREBOARD AUG. 28 - SEPT. 3 MEN’S SOCCER (2-0) (0-0)
Next: Sept. 7-8 @ LTU Blue Devil Classic
WOMEN’S SOCCER (0-4) (0-0)
POINT PARK 1, (RV) SIENA HEIGHTS 2...................................................... Aug. 28 LOURDES UNIVERSITY 1, POINT PARK 0.................................................. Aug. 31 MADONNA UNIVERSITY 6, POINT PARK 0................................................ Sept. 1 Next: Aug. 31 vs. Lourdes, Sept. 3 vs. Madonna
VOLLEYBALL (4-4) (0-0)
POINT PARK 2, MT. VERNON NAZARENE 3.............................................. Aug. 31 POINT PARK 3 RIO GRANDE 0...................................................................... Aug. 31 POINT PARK 3, BLUEFIELD COLLEGE 0.................................................... Sept. 1 POINT PARK 3, SHAWNEE STATE 2............................................................ Sept. 1 Next: Sept. 5 @ Mercyhurst, Sept. 11 @ Notre Dame and Salem International
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Next: Sept. 8 @ University of Akron Tommy Evans Invitational
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY
Next: Sept. 8 @ University of Akron Tommy Evans Invitational
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John Ashaolu brings 14 years of professional experience to Point Park Athletics Department By Dara Collins Co-Sports Editor
Point Park University announced John Ashaolu was hired as the new Director of Athletics last Thursday. Ashaolu began as a college athlete, became a coach and now holds 14 years of experience in athletics under his belt, including the last seven as an athletic director. “I think I can identify with a student athlete on what their needs are and what they want,” Ashaolu said. “I can identify with the coaches because I’ve been on the sideline before as a coach...and then as an administrator, I’ve learned to look at the athletic program [as a whole]. What’s best for not just one team or one student athlete, [but] what’s best for the athletic department as a whole?” With a desire to work at a four-year institution, Ashaolu kept an eye on Point Park. “When I saw the opportunity, I had to jump at it,” Ashaolu said. “You hear about Point Park, and it’s situated right in the heart of the city, and I kind of kept my eye on the program from afar for the last couple years.” The university’s location stands out to Ashaolu as a bonus. “It’s situated in a sports-crazy region...I think we’re just situated in the right area where we have a lot of resources where we can compete nationally,” Ashaolu said. Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students, Keith Paylo, believes Ashaolu holds the ability to launch Point Park to the next level following the retirement of longtime Athletic Director Dan Swalga. “With any change, I always say there is a couple things that happen,” Paylo said. “One, the slate is clean and you can make it your own...We needed to bring [athletics] to another level and Dan helped to do that. Now it’s taking it to the next level, and I believe John can take it now to the next level without having to worry about filling big shoes, because now it’s his time to take this, our sports program, or yet another successful run.” Ashaolu most recently served as the Director of Athletics at the Community College of Allegheny County, which he began in January 2018. As the Director of Athletics and Student Programs at Community College of Beaver County, Ashaow-
John Ashaolu | Submitted Point Park’s new Director of Athletics, John Ashaolu, pictured during his coaching days. Ashaolu brings both coaching and administrative experience.
lu completed a number of feats from 2014-18. He doubled the number of National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) sports offered, raised the student athlete GPA to 3.13, placed 70 percent of student-athletes on the Dean’s List and oversaw a fitness center renovation. The men’s basketball team was also ranked in the top ten in the NJCAA. Ashaolu also served at the Director of Athletics at Seton-La Salle High School in Pittsburgh from 2011-14 in addition to girls’ basketball head coach and transportation director. Before Ashaolu became an Athletic Director, he held multiple positions in athletics at East Carolina University, Duquesne University and Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College. Ashaolu’s resume also boasts prep level experience. As an athlete, Ashaolu played NCAA Division I basketball at University of New Orleans before transferring to Xavier (La.) University, an NAIA school in the same area, after his sophomore year. Ashaolu graduated with a Master’s Degree in Sports Leadership from Duquesne University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications-Public Relations from Xavier. Ashaolu aims to further his career with a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership-Higher Education from the American College of Education while at Point Park. The fresh Director of Athletics promises a bright future to Point Park Athletics.
“He is going to be the face of athletics, so he needs to be able to work with alums, companies and corporations, parents, student-athletes and coaching staff,” Paylo said. “His personality was just very open, welcoming, very articulate, just everything in a sense of it made me feel like, ‘yes this is the right person.’” Ashaolu expressed he would like to address a variety of topics, including travel conditions and an athletic complex during his time at Point Park. He firmly believes the university can be nationally recognized in all facets. “Under my direction, I want us to be consistently competing nationally in all sports,” Ashaolu said. “I think that with everything that Point Park has - academics, the location, the facilities - I think we have all the ingredients to recruit high-level students and also high-level athletes.” Ashaolu admires the investment the university administration puts into athletics, and he will follow suit. Assistant AD and SID Kevin Taylor looks forward to working closely with Ashaolu as his official start date nears on Sept. 10. “It’s an opportunity to see what comes next for Point Park Athletics, and we’re all excited about it,” Taylor said. Check out PointParkSports.com for Director of Athletics John Ashaolu’s full biography.
Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu
8
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2018
SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Volleyball evens record after three-straight wins By Dara Collins Co-Sports Editor
The women’s volleyball team boasts a three-game winning streak after splitting the first day and finishing undefeated the second day of the Emileigh Cooper Memorial Tournament hosted by Rio Grande (Ohio). The Pioneers finished 1-3 at the University of Michigan-Dearborn Early Bird Challenge to kick off the season almost two weeks ago. The women switched gears to finish 3-1 this past weekend. “From last weekend, we really got to see a good baseline as to where were starting at [and] finally getting the chance to play somebody other than ourselves,” head coach Bridget Bielich said. “The connection between everybody is getting a lot stronger, and I think they’re starting to work better together. I think that was one of the big improvements, as well as a little bit more confidence.” The team’s lone loss of the weekend was a five-set match to Mount Vernon Nazarene University last Friday. The Cougars came out on top after the sets bounced back and forth 25-16, 17-25, 25-14, 21-25, 15-9. “We definitely need to work on our serve receive and once we’re able to do that, we’re able to flow through really well and connect our setters with our hitters,” senior outside hitter Erica Gumz said. “That will
be very beneficial for us.” Point Park returned to the court later that night to sweep host Rio Grande. The RedStorm fell to the Pioneers 4-25 in set one which paved the way to a three-set victory. Scores for the remaining sets were 25-22 and 25-16. Senior right-side hitter Ashley Taylor led the offense with 11 kills while senior libero Morgan Dangelo led the defense with 18 digs. Junior setters Julia Menosky and Brittney Bianco registered 15 and 12 assists, respectively. The team carried the momentum from Friday night’s game into Saturday and finished undefeated against Bluefield (Va.) College and Shawnee State (Ohio) University. The Pioneers completed their second sweep of the weekend against Bluefield, topping the Rams 25-18, 2512, 25-18. Point Park out-killed Bluefield 47 to 24. Taylor led the way once again with 15, senior Jordan Dixon followed with ten and seniors Gumz and Destiny Tucker trailed close behind with eight and seven, respectively. “We have a very diverse set of hitters, so we were able to throw in some shots, and we were smarter about our decisions of where to put the ball and make different plays,” Gumz said. Taylor also commended
the hitters on their variety. “[Other teams] never knew if we were going to tip it, throw it or hit it,” Taylor said. “Messing with the other team’s mind was definitely our biggest asset.” Point Park wrapped up its tournament appearance with a nail-biting fiveset match against Shawnee State. The Pioneers were on their way to yet another sweep when the Bears responded in set three to their 2-0 deficit. Shawnee State took sets three and four, 2520 and 27-25, forcing a fifth set. “I think when we won the first two games, we became a little comfortable,” Taylor said. “We started off strong, but then when they started to push back mid game, we were surprised. Next thing you know, they took two sets from us.” The Pioneers ultimately came out on top, winning set five 15-9. “I think we all played really well together...we were able to take the competitiveness to another level because we wanted to win so bad,” Gumz said. The Pioneer stat sheet boasted high numbers across the board. Taylor finished with a team-high 24 kills, Dixon followed with 17 and Gumz with ten. Dangelo collected 23 digs, and freshman Ashley Castelli recorded 14 of her own. Gumz and Dixon added 13 and 12. Bianco dished out a total of
Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Sophomore Jazlyn Rozier attempts a spike against Carlow in a 2017 road game. The Volleyball team went 3-1 at the Emileigh Cooper Memorial Tournament last weekend and now have a 4-4 record.
52 assists as the lone setter of the match. “Bianco really stepped up, especially in the second day when we had to go into a 5-1,” Bielich said. “I think she really did a nice job.” Point Park hits the road on Wednesday to compete in a non-conference matchup against Mercyhurst University for the lone match of the week. The season continues next Tuesday as the Pioneers travel to Salem, W.
Va., to compete against Notre Dame College and Salem International University. “There’s definitely still lots to improve on in different aspects, but I did love what I saw of the fight that we have and the heart, so I think if we just grow with that, we’re going to be in really good shape,” Bielich said.
Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu
Women’s soccer confident in upcoming road matches After three losses, the pioneers hope to turn record around By Rachael McKriger Copy Editor
Despite opening up the season with three losses, the Point Park women’s soccer team is confident in upcoming play. After Monday’s match against Madonna University, the team will hit the road four times. On the map, the Pioneers will travel to the University of Pikeville, Shawnee State University, Brescia University and Cincinnati Christian University.
The Pioneers’ Head Coach Maggie Kuhn said that no matter who the opponent is -- and where the match is played -- the Pioneers need to show up, ready to compete. “It is sometimes a struggle to travel the distances that we do,” Kuhn said. “Our closest away game is between 3-5 hours away. It’s a grueling travel schedule. But, it doesn’t matter if it’s home or away, we have to show up. These
games coming up, they’re not going to be earlier than the games we’ve already played this season.” Those games to start the season include losses to Spring Arbor University, (RV) Siena Heights University and most recently, Lourdes University. Defender Abby Magilocca said the loss to Lourdes was especially disappointing, due to a late goal in the 90th minute by Karlie O’Keefe.
Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Junior Nikki Polens makes a defensive stop Friday night against Lourdes in a 1-0 hearbreak loss. The Pioneers played Madonna University Monday afternoon and were defeated 6-0.
“We were a bit disappointed with the result,” Magilocca, a senior, said. “They scored in the last few seconds. We’re still growing as a team. We have a lot of new, good players on the team. We’re going to only grow from here. The loss is a growing experience for us.” Kelsee McHugh, a sophomore midfielder, said the match against Lourdes was “one we should’ve won.” “But, instead of dwelling on the score, it’s important to go back and re-watch the match, take what we can from it and learn from the mistakes we made,” McHugh said. “It’s vital to figure it all out now so we’re successful once conference play rolls around.” While the players are growing together on the pitch, younger players, especially freshmen, are getting used to playing at the college level. Part of the learning process includes giving into the season’s grueling schedule. Kuhn said that since her appointment as head coach seven years ago, the schedule has never been easy. “It gets more and more demanding the more competitive we get,” Kuhn said. “Obviously, I would like a different start to our season, but I am confident that these games
are preparing us better for our conference games that we’ll face during the end of the month. Everyday we are getting better, so I am confident things will turn around.” The first stop to turning around the Pioneers’ season comes against Madonna on Monday at 1 p.m. However, the Pioneer players, and coach Kuhn, are looking forward to the upcoming tests on the road before heading back to Highmark Stadium on Sept. 25. “It gives us a chance to play at some different places and gives us a feel for different fields,” Magilocca said. “When we come back, it gets us more excited for the games home. Sometimes, we do well on games coming off long trips on the bus. I’m looking forward to surprising teams.” Meanwhile, all Kuhn wants to see is how her players respond. “I want to see what our compete level is like and how to be more clinical in the final third,” Kuhn said. “We’re creating opportunities, but we’re not finishing them. That’s something that we have to change as we approach our conference games.” Disclosure: Kelsee McHugh is the Feature photo editor for The Globe
Rachael McKriger rmckriger@pointpark.edu