Point Park Globe Spring 2020 Issue 10

IN THIS ISSUE: PAGE

@PPUGlobe March 18, 2020

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Student-athlete to attend Soccer Management Institute for coaching Jake Dabkowski ranks the best video games to play while self-isolating Baseball wins last game before end of season announcement ppuglobe.com

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

Issue 10

Instruction moves online due to coronavirus concerns

Policies, procedures continuously change as virus spreads across U.S. Dara Collins and Jordyn Hronec Editor-in-Chief and Editor-Elect

The university announced last Thursday that class instruction would move online this week on Wednesday, March 18, after having classes cancelled Friday, March 14 through Tuesday, March 17 due to coronavirus concerns.

This announcement came on Thursday, March 13, a day after other area universities announced the switch to online.

According to University President Paul Hennigan, a university shutdown of this magnitude has never occurred before, but the university is following all guidelines put forth by federal, state and local governments. He also stated that the Pittsburgh Council of Higher Education, made up of the 11 accredited schools in Allegheny County, were working closely together to make decisions.

Hennigan said that he is involved in daily meetings at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. to discuss the situation.

“The number one priority is the students and the delivery of the mission,” Hennigan said.

“So that’s how we start every meeting, with ‘what are we doing with the students, how are the students doing?’ And that usually leads us down a discussion path for the remainder of the meeting.”

Prior to the official an-

Jared Murphy | 90.5 WESA The shelves in aisle A23 of the Robinson Walmart Supercenter were left barren amidst the coronavirus outbreak on Mar. 12, 2020. A Walmart employee was seen handing out rolls of toilet paper to shoppers off a pallet from the back of the store.

nouncement from Hennigan, Student Body President Jake Berlin tweeted from his public account that the university would close as a precaution and an email announcement would be sent “very soon.”

Since then, Berlin has been accused of causing “widespread panic” within the campus community, as well as providing “false information,” and will take part in a student conduct meeting this Thursday, March 19. Berlin denies this accusation.

“It’s not as though we

SGA discusses changes in exec cabinet meeting SGA Sarah Gibson SGA Beat Writer

On Sunday, March 15th, the Student Government Association of Point Park University (SGA) held an emergency executive cabinet meeting to establish how business would operate through the quarantine for the rest of the semester.

“First off, I believe our students need to know that they still have a student government, even in the midst of this event,” President Jake Berlin said at the beginning of the meeting. He proposed that the executive cabinet continue to meet weekly whether at home or in office.

The first talking point at the meeting addressed how legislative body meetings would be held from here on out. Vice President Grace Tyler Frank-Rempel proposed holding legislative body meetings using Zoom, even though they would be limited to 45 minutes. The meeting members general-

ly agreed. Parliamentarian Jess Wrsozek noted that business could be conducted digitally so long as SGA could reach quorum for voting, which is having half plus one of the present number of senators’ votes.

It was agreed upon that legislative body meetings would be on the same day and time as regular meetings, but they will be held on Zoom, a platform that can hold teleconferences and meetings up to 45 minutes long for free.

Former Vice President Alexa Lake, who was present for advisory purposes, suggested that SGA purchase a Zoom account, which is only 15 dollars a month and allows meetings to last longer than 45 minutes and also creates a link for spectators to join the meetings, so Point Park students will have access to the meetings even if they are not an SGA senator. Lake also mentioned that with the purchase of a Zoom account,

SGA page 2

weren’t on top of it,” Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Paylo said. “I do not believe in any way, shape or form that we were behind in any way.

I believe that we were trying to come out after a thoughtful process in the strongest way possible.”

Lou Corsaro, the university’s spokesperson, said that students should only look for official university statements and correspondence regarding updates.

“We have seen some social media that is just clearly wrong, and it’s irresponsible,” Hennigan said.

Facilities, events and operations

On Friday, March 13, Hennigan updated the campus community via email about policy changes effective immediately.

Some campus facilities, dining options and residence halls are still open and operational.

Hennigan announced via email on March 17 that the Student Center and CMI are closed.

In a separate email from the Office of the Provost, the library announced changes in its hours and services last week.

The library will be open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Online assistance is available Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to midnight, Saturday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1

p.m. to 11 p.m.

As for residence halls, students were updated on Monday, March 16 that they are “strongly encouraged to move home as soon as possible.”

Residential students were then sent a second update during the day, informing them that all students must be moved out of the residence halls by April 3, unless they fill out a “Move-Out Exception Request.”

Students were also informed that, according to the date that they moved out, they would be receiving back a portion of their housing fees and meal plans, as well as a refund for unused flex dollars.

Hennigan said that further information as to what could be considered a “move-out exception,” would be communicated to students in the coming days.

“We, quite frankly, have to get legal guidance on it,” Hennigan said. “And that’s why we made the move-out date April 3, so we’ll know in a day or two what the guidance is, but we have to make sure we follow all federal laws and rules.”

On March 17, residents were informed they must vacate residence halls by March 27 and few exceptions would be granted.

As per campus announcement sent via email from Rachel Phillips, Coordinator of Student Involvement in the Student Activities Involvement and Leadership (SAIL) office, all student events, meetings and rehearsals, including off-campus meetings and

PANDEMIC page 2

CAB HOLDS ANNUAL DRAG SHOW

Katie Williams | The Globe Sasha Nolan performs at the annual Drag Show held by Campus Activities Board. The Drag Show was held in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom on Wednesday, March 11, 2020 from 9 to 11 p.m.

Weather Forecast

Today: Rain H 59 L 51

Thursday: Rain H 69, L 64 Friday: Rain, H 69, L 32 Saturday: Partly cloudy, H 40, L 24

Sunday: Mostly sunny, H 47, L 33 Monday: Rain, H 50, L 37 Tuesday: Rain, H 55, L 45

Point Park

GLOBE

2

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

COVID-19 pandemic causes changes to academics, study abroad from PANDEMIC page 1 travel, have been cancelled for the remainder of the semester effective March 16.

The Pittsburgh Playhouse’s “Pippin” had one run on its preview night, Friday, March 13.

According to Dean of Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA) Steven Breese, most Playhouse performance events have been cancelled due to the gathering of individuals in the space. Other shows, including “Pump Up the Volume,” have been delayed, and Breese said the situation for delayed shows is still being determined.

Campus Activities Board and the SAEM club’s spring concert scheduled for Wednesday, March 18, highlighted by a Drake Bell performance, has been postponed to the fall.

The University Counseling Center also cancelled all of its Mindfulness Workshops for the remainder of the semester.

All face-to-face meetings with the Center for Student Success have been cancelled, however Student Success Coordinators are available via email and phone. Tutoring and Disability Services are also in the process of moving to an online format.

“We completely understand that these are extraordinary circumstances,” Hennigan said. “And not everybody is digitally capable and equipped and savvy, we understand all of that. But we can help students get through it. People just need to reach out and get the help they need. And that’s what the Center for Student Success is here to do.”

All student workers are no longer approved to work on campus effective March 17.

There has been no decision made concerning commencement as of March 17.

“No one wants to see that cancelled, but no decisions have been made,” Paylo said.

Jared Murphy | 90.5 WESA The shelves in aisle A23 of the Robinson Walmart Supercenter were left barren amidst the coronavirus outbreak on Mar. 12, 2020.

ble so that when students and faculty get online on Wednesday, everyone hopefully will be ready,” Pearson said.

Pearson said classes will not be monitored any more than a typical class.

“I trust our faculty to do the very best job they can,” Pearson said.

Other alternatives in lieu of online instruction are up to the discretion of professors.

“I know that there are a few classes, for instance, where students are working on projects, and they may be project based classes rather than being in class online every day,” Pearson said. “There are a couple small classes, especially in the graduate programs, where students are essentially going on a version of independent studies with the faculty member.”

As for COPA, Breese said there are many courses that can be transitioned without difficulty, such as History of Theater and courses of that nature. Then, there are the applied and experiential classes including cinema film production classes, dance classes and acting classes.

“First of all, we’re in the creative arts, so we have to find creative solutions to things like this,” Breese said.

The COPA faculty is offering exercises, ideas, online vidAcademics eos, writings and readings.

The University cancelled “Some [dance] faculty are classes on March 13, 16 and 17 using technology, some are before resuming in an online working with different kind or other alternative format on of exercises students can do Wednesday, March 18. at their home, some are doing “The faculty needs time to create those classes and to more intellectual work in addiget ready for Wednesday,” Dr. tion to the physical work, but John H. Pearson, Provost and the idea that you could ever Senior Vice President of Aca- emulate being in class with 45 demic Affairs, said. “Trying to people working on ballet bar, do it overnight when a number we can’t emulate that exactly,” of faculty teaching on ground Breese said.

Breese said the alternative classes may not have done sigassignments for students are to nificant online teaching would create a similar, if not the same, probably have been a disaster.” learning outcome.

Many area schools, includ“Our faculty has been exing University of Pittsburgh traordinary in this crisis sitand Carlow University, extenduation and very creative, and ed spring breaks prior to the I’m very proud of them,” Breswitch to online instruction. ese said.

Point Park possesses a different All students involved in an academic calendar and made internship, co-op and student time for faculty to prepare for teaching should adhere to the changeover. the original schedule at their “We tried to be as efficient In case you need a reminder... placement site per Paylo’s and yet as responsible as possi-

March 12 email.

However, if a placement site shuts down, Pearson said the university will work with the students to find a solution.

“The principal always will be a principal to do what’s in the best interest of the students,” Peasron said. “We are not going to penalize anybody because COVID-19 came to Pittsburgh. We will certainly work with the students to sort that out, but we’re definitely not going to penalize the students over any of this. That would be ridiculous, actually.”

Pearson encourages students to reach out to Paylo with questions or concerns.

“If he’s not the person to address a specific concern, he will direct them to the person who is,” Pearson said.

Pearson echoed Breese’s sentiment that the university is working well given the circumstances.

“I’m incredibly proud of the work that the faculty, the staff and the students have done to address this issue so quickly, and so calmly,” Pearson said. “It’s an extraordinary event. I’ve been in higher education for 40 years, and I’ve never seen anything like this, so I think we are doing a fantastic job, and I think that we are all working hard to do the very best we can in an incredibly difficult situation.”

Study abroad

All university-affiliated domestic and international travel is cancelled until further notice per Hennigan’s email sent on March 13.

According to the Director of Student Life, Amanda Anderson, all but three students have returned from the countries where they were previously studying abroad. There were a total of 11 study abroad students.

“Some I make contact with daily,” Anderson said in regards to the three remaining study abroad students. “Others are more occasional, as I’m not getting responses back to my emails. That just tells me that they are working independently or are comfortable being independent.”

Point Park’s study abroad

destinations, according to the website, include Regent’s University London (England), American University of Rome (Italy), University of Salford (England), CSDMA Madrid (Spain) and University of West London (England). The remaining three study abroad students are all located at Regent’s University in London.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Italy, the United Kingdom and Spain are ranked Level 3 (widespread sustained ongoing transmission), and the CDC recommends avoiding nonessential travel.

On March 10, Hennigan sent an email explaining the university’s three-pronged approach to protect the safety and well-being of Point Park.

“Fortunately, the university has only one student currently impacted and that student has returned to the United States, has no symptoms and is following the CDC guidelines for self-isolation” the email said.

According to Paylo, the student practiced self-isolation off campus.

Athletics

The River States Conference (RSC) announced on March 13 that it would suspend all athletic related activities including all competition, informal or organized practice and participation in National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) championships effective March 13 at noon through March 31.

Just three days later, on March 16, the RSC and NAIA decided to cancel all spring sports seasons for 2020.

The question of eligibility is being asked across all athletic associations, and there has been no determination as to whether student-athletes will be given another year of eligibility due to their season being cut short.

All students are advised to follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines set by the CDC. As of Monday evening at 7:15 p.m., there are 76 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, according to the

Pennsylvania Department of Health.

The counties affected include Allegheny (5), Bucks (5), Chester (2), Cumberland (5), Delaware (7), Lehigh (1), Luzerne (1), Monroe (8), Montgomery (30), Northampton (1), Philadelphia (8), Pike (1), Wayne (1) and Washington (1).

Laura Frost, a natural sciences professor and Engineering and Technology Department Program Coordinator, believes the coronavirus can pose a serious threat if not contained properly.

“This coronavirus is displaying strong, and very high transmissibility from person to person,” Frost said. “It’s probably more transmissible than influenza is right now, and that’s saying something due to the fact that we have a seasonal flu, and we know the flu is highly transmissible.”

Frost also pointed out that there is a discrepancy in the statistics portrayed by the media in correlation with mortality rates.

“It also has a higher fatality rate than influenza,” Frost said. “I saw a report saying that it is 10 times more fatal. My calculations do not quite bear that out, and we can’t technically confirm a fatality rate for an epidemic until it is over, so any numbers you see regarding a fatality rate are factitious. We don’t know the total number of total confirmed cases, and we won’t know how bad it is or what the rate is until we have a death count at the end.”

“Right now the numbers the media are displaying are around a 10 percent difference in fatality between influenza and COVID-19, inherently making the statistic sound worse than it is,” Frost said.

Paylo emphasized the importance of the health and safety of the campus community at this time.

“Even more than ever before, the health and safety of the students is paramount,” Paylo said. “It is the number one concern of us, making sure that students are as healthy and as safe as they can be. Students should know that we’re putting them first. Because it is such an unprecedented time, we are learning and we are doing the best that we can.”

Up-to-date coronavirus information can be found on the official websites of the CDC, World Health Organization (WHO) and Pennsylvania Department of Health. The Point Park University website also has a page dedicated to updates and resources for faculty and students.

Additional reporting for this story was done by CoNews Editors Luke Mongelli and Jake Dabkowski Dara Collins

dmcolli2@pointpark.edu

Jordyn Hronec

jthrone@pointpark.edu

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Alysse Baer | The Globe

meetings could be recorded and posted at a later date.

Prior to the decision made by Point Park to cancel all events for the rest of the semester, the decision was made to cancel Pioneer Community Day, originally scheduled for the end of April.

When discussing when regular legislative body meetings would resume, the executive cabinet decided to hold off on having regular

Monday meetings until next week. Because the university said that classes wouldn’t start until Wednesday, the executive cabinet decided that the first legislative body meeting via Zoom would occur on Wednesday.

Recording Secretary Jordyn Hronec noted that she would like to continue SGA’s monthly town hall series, but instead of holding them in person, she would like to hold them in a Twitter chat format. The stu-

dent concerns committee will also continue to collect concerns from students using their new online student concerns collection form.

For further matters yet to be determined, it was decided that one topic to be discussed in the Wednesday meeting is the possibility of pushing back the elections by one week and setting up the elections board.

Sarah Gibson

sagibso@pointpark.edu

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

3

Annual drag show held before meeting rules enforced Kylie Thomas Staff Writer/Photographer

Despite rising coronavirus panic, Point Park students showed up at the Lawrence Hall Ballroom on March 11 to view the Campus Activities Board’s annual drag show.

The drag show is one of the many events which the CAB Spirits and Traditions Committee has continually put on each year. According to students who attended, the drag show is one of those campus events which has become a staple in their lives and has established a tradition for students to come to each year.

Students gathered outside of the ballroom and were let in to surround a short stage in the middle of the room. Unlike drag show events in the past, the queens didn’t want students just sitting around at tables and watching, they wanted students up close and having fun. Audience members enjoyed the new stage element, saying that it added more fun to the evening as students danced around, cheered and had up close and personal interactions with the queens.

The show featured six queens from the Pittsburgh area. The queens were Bambi Qween, the host of the event, Akasha L. Van-Cartier, Helen Back, Sasha Nolan, Calipso, and Point

PIONEER PUBLIC Niko Roros

By Amanda Andrews Co-Features/A&E Editor

Men’s soccer player Niko Roros had been traveling from a game in Detroit when he got the message that would change his life.

Roros, who had played soccer in Italy in 2018, had caught the eye of the Soccer Management Institute, a leader in training soccer players and coaches.

After an interview process, Roros signed on to get his masters in coaching at the Italy-based school.

“I was the first one to be accepted and sign this year,” Roros said.

Roros, a liberal studies major concentrating in international marketing, is a graduating senior at Point Park.

Ever since joining the university in 2017, he has been a goalkeeper for the men’s team, coached several women’s soccer teams in the area and even served as an influencer for GNC. He has dedicated much of his time to learn more about soccer, which all started when he was four years old. A Bal-

Katie Williams | The Globe Calipso performs at the Campus Activities Board’s annual Drag Show. The event was held in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom on Wednesday, March 11, 2020.

Park’s own Brianna Nicole.

The drag show gave students the chance to forget the coronavirus panic and just have fun together before the mass gathering rules were put in place.

“Despite the coronavirus outbreak, I wanted to try to enjoy my time left here at Point Park, and the drag show was the perfect opportunity. I wanted to

go to events while they are still being offered,” freshman student Sara Waldman said.

Each queen performed two different numbers. The songs they chose ranged from “Don’t Start Now” by Dua Lipa, to a mix of Lizzo songs, to “So What” by P!nk.

The queens covered a number of different song genres.

“Akasha L. Van-Cartier

timore native, Roros had the unique opportunity of being mentored by professional players from a young age, including Adauto Neto and Sagu, who both played for the Baltimore Blast team.

“They used to take me to practices with them when it was kind of closed, and I actually got to go down to the field and grab balls for them and help them set up drills for the goalkeepers,” Roros said. “So that was who I always looked to. I would always go to the games and watch them play.

If they were away I would watch them play. I’m fortunate enough to have them in my life as friends now who I can always go to for advice.”

From there Roros started playing himself, and was picked out by his coach as a goalkeeper. He also became involved in coaching men’s soccer teams in Baltimore before he began coaching women’s teams in the Pittsburgh area.

Notably, he was an assistant women’s soccer coach last year, and he is the head coach for Women’s Club Soccer at the University of Pittsburgh. He also helps out with GK Icon, an organization that helps train goalkeepers, and this year he is the rush ambassador for GNC. Roros admitted his commitments can be time-consuming, but he said he has learned a lot by taking advantage of the opportunities that have come his way.

“As a player, I’ve gotten a lot better since my time here, but it’s also great to be a part

of a great team this season,” Roros said. “We did very well as a team and as a whole unit, going 15-3 and getting the best record in school history so far, so it’s great just to be a part of that as a player. As a coach, I’ve also grown as an individual working with youth teams in the area and college teams. It’s just been great to kind of learn the game a lot more and to a greater extent.”

Roros said his experience in playing and coaching helped in getting him signed onto the Soccer Management Institute.

There, he hopes to get his masters, play professional and get his UEFA license in addition to his USSF D License and GK Levels 1, 2 and 3.

Although his friends and family were initially excited about his news, he said they are concerned about his going to Italy in the midst of the coronavirus outbreak which has put the entirety of Italy under lockdown.

Roros himself said he was not worried because he is leaving at the end of August, but he and officials at the institute are monitoring the situation.

“We’re keeping a close eye on it, and safety is a big thing so if it’s not safe for me to go then they’ll advise me that way and then we’ll postpone till whenever it is safe. In the meantime, I am planning to leave on-time,” Roros said.

In the summer, he is planning on organizing and recruiting for the Baltimore branch of the U-23 Women’s National Soccer team, and they will be going semi-professional.

“When I was growing up

was my favorite,” Waldman said. “This is the second time I’ve seen her now and I just enjoy watching her work a crowd. She always brings it to the table.”

While the queens wowed the crowd, some students made a special appearance on stage as well.

Bambi held a contest where students would come on stage and “lip-sync for their

lives.” The contest featured four contestants who were required to give their all on stage. The contestants even pulled off some signature drag queen moves such as splits and death-drops.

Overall, all contestants won a Bambi shirt and added an extra fun element to the show.“The contest was really fun! It was a great way to keep the crowd involved and to get the crowd more comfortable with interacting with the show,” Waldman said. “After the contest, everyone was more engaged and cheerful.”

Attendants enjoyed the opportunity to have fun at the drag show in the midst of chaos. Students were letting loose and singing along with the queen’s performances. and it took place in the ballroom of a small university. The best part about the show is since it’s a tradition, students will have the opportunity to catch the drag show again next school year.

“I would definitely go see the show again next year! I’m already planning on going and bringing a bunch more friends along.

I would encourage everyone to go see these amazing queens next year or just go support them in general,” Waldman said.

Kylie Thomas kjthoma@pointpark.edu

Niko Roros | Submitted

playing, I had people I could look to as mentors,” Roros said. “So I want to be able to be that person someone looks to for inspiration because for that situation to happen was very life-changing for me.”

Ultimately, Roros wants to play professionally for a time and then be a coach for a professional team.

So far in his career, he has very much enjoyed being a goalkeeper.

“You’re either the hero or the villain,” Roros said. “It’s always fun to be the go-to guy like if you make the big save and you win the game; or if you miss it it’s your fault that you lost. So I kind of like the high pressure.”

Even though he has dedicated much of his life to soccer, even Roros had a moment of doubt if his professional career would continue a few years back.

“There was a rough patch I had when I was in junior college. I had a concussion,

I got in a car accident and then the following year was very tough, so there was a point where I wasn’t sure if I would be playing ever for the level,” Roros said. “I was fortunate enough to be put in a good situation. I was able to meet with Coach Walstra who happened to sign me to come here [at Point Park].”

WHAT MAKES YOU A PIONEER: “[My team goes] out onto the field, and every day, whether it be training or a game, we all fight and play for the same purpose—that’s first to win and represent the school in the best way possible, so kind of that common goal among myself and my teammates and all athletes here, we all fight for the same thing: to win the River States Championship and move onto nationals and win that. That’s what unites us as athletes and as pioneers.”

Amanda Andrews aaandre@pointpark.edu

4

A&E

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

‘Onward’ takes viewers on a magical road trip Hannah Confer For The Globe

Rating: Where to watch: Local theaters (post-quarantine) Disney and Pixar’s newest collaboration, “Onward,” released on March 6. The movie is set in a suburban fantasy world called Mushroomton, where magic has become mostly obsolete. The characters in the film managed to engineer new ways of living relying primarily on technology, as opposed to magic. The film follows two teenage elf brothers as they embark on a quest to discover any magic left in the world.

When I first saw advertising for “Onward,” I knew I wanted to see it as soon as it came out. This tale of brotherhood supported by a star-studded cast caught my eye as something I knew I would enjoy. With Tom Holland as Ian Lightfoot and Chris Pratt as Barley Lightfoot, I was excited to see these familiar faces out of their super-suits and work toward a new goal.

I roped my best friend, El, into coming with me and on March 7 at the 1:00 p.m. show, we entered the Newly Reopened Guthrie Theatre in Grove City. After a man dressed as an elf from the movie greeted us, we made our way up to the balcony and settled into our reclining seats.

The movie took us on a magical adventure by the ce-

lebrity voices of not only Holland and Pratt but also Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Octavia Spencer. The voice actors of this film aren’t even the best part, as the story itself was a magnificent spin on your average road adventure. The twists and turns of the film were not always what the audience expected, but Ian and Barley’s brotherly love led the way. The film itself plays off one overlaying theme that everyone can relate to: what would you do if you had one more day with someone who died?

This theme coupled with the overwhelming amount of family love and Pixar’s stellar attention to detail made this film an absolute win. Pixar’s ability to think and execute some of the most outlandish solutions to Barley and Ian’s problems were some of my favorite moments of the film to watch. So much so, that I forced my lovely sister to accompany me on a second trip to see the film the following day.

This film, although a cartoon “kids” movie, brings a whole new magical value to the word “Onward,” especially in our current state of uncertainty and fear, I can’t think of a better time for a movie with themes of moving forward and loving those around you. “Onward” was a magical road trip that led all of its viewers to a beautiful and emotional ending.

Hannah Confer hjconfe@pointpark.edu

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

COMEDIES Schitt’s Creek

The Office

Parks and Rec

Friends

The Good Place

New Girl

Netflix

Netflix

Netflix

Netflix

to binge while at home

How I Met Your Mother Hulu

Brooklyn 99 Hulu

Netflix

Netflix

That 70s Show

Sex Education

Netflix

Netflix

Alysse Baer | The Globe

‘Invisible Man’ reboot pleases critics Tia Bailey Co-Features/A&E Editor

Rating: Where to watch: Local theaters (post-quarantine) Elizabeth Moss fights her invisible ex-boyfriend in “The Invisible Man.” The film was released to theaters on Feb. 28 and currently has a 91 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

“The Invisible Man” focuses on Cecilia Kass (Elizabeth Moss) and her escape from her abusive boyfriend who works in optics, Adrian Griffin (Oliver Jackson-Cohen). The beginning sequence is a near-silent escape scene, where we see Cecilia drug Adrian and begin to dismantle all the security cam-

eras in the house. This scene also foreshadows how the movie will end. After narrowly escaping to her sister, Cecilia is free—or so she thought.

A few weeks after her escape, Adrian commits suicide, but Cecilia begins to experience many strange happenings that lead her to believe that Adrian staged his death and found a way to make himself invisible to torment her.

Naturally, everyone in her life thinks she is imagining him, and more unexplainable things keep happening to ruin Cecilia’s life.

The movie doesn’t make the audience think Cecilia is going crazy and shows exactly what she sees happening. Her friends and family, however, do not believe what she says. They

Graduating Seniors: 25% TUITION DISCOUNT

tell her that Adrian has found a way to continue to torment her, even in death, but not by being invisible. He got in her head so much that she believes he could turn himself invisible when he really is not.

The sci-fi horror movie shows how manipulation and gaslighting can affect someone, especially what they believe is true.

“The Invisible Man” is a Blumhouse Productions film, with a twist and unexpected ending. The themes of manipulation and revenge make the 2-hour runtime anything but boring. The movie will be playing in theaters after they open post-quarantine.

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OPINIONS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

THE

GL BE’S POINT The Globe stays turning

In a matter of one week, our globe has turned completely upside down. However, this Globe still turns.

As classes go online and businesses shut their doors, the news stops for no one. And so neither will we.

Here’s what you can expect from us for the rest of the semester.

Starting this week, future issues will be shorter than our typical 8-page paper. This is simply due to the fact that athletics and campus events have been cancelled. However, we will continue to bring you COVID-19 and class-related coverage, as well as light-hearted A&E content and thoughtful Op-Eds. We will also be printing fewer physical copies of The Globe since many Pioneers already returned home to finish out their semester online and start their summer.

Never fear though, because we do have a website. And

if you were unaware of this fact, now is the perfect time to get acquainted. Check out our content online at ppuglobe.com, and be sure to keep up with The Globe on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Tik Tok. This is a trying and unprecedented time. Please try to have patience as the entire world navigates this space together. Remember to follow all CDC guidelines, practice social distancing and self-quarantine if you must. As college students, many of us are not at risk of becoming a casualty.

However, there are those amongst us who are immunocompromised and of older ages, so we must all do our part to minimize the outbreak.

We can do this, Pioneers. Stay strong. The Globe is here to answer all of your questions.

Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

5

Trump mishandles COVID-19

By Logan Dubil Staff Writer

As we are all aware, the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic spiraled out of control.

No, not the virus itself, but the way it has been handled over the past week or so.

From Point Park University to the President of the United States, decisions revolving this national emergency have caused panic and uncertainty across the board. Two reactions that should be avoided at all costs.

Focusing on Trump and his administration, his lack of professionalism towards the situation is extremely disappointing (as it is with all currently active politicians).

When the coronavirus first started to spread, no one in the United States, or Point Park University for that matter, was concerned. Then, country after country began to experience infections, lockdowns and restrictions.

This should have been the moment where Trump intervened to make the American people feel safe. Instead, he continued his daily life, which mainly consists of attacking his political opponents on Twitter.

Earth to Donald...to begin, you have the 2020 election in the bag. Do not throw away the victory by failing to do what is

expected of any sitting president: ensuring the safety of your people.

Even if you do have the 2020 election secured, now is not the time to worry about your campaign. Now is the time to worry about your duties and responsibilities. Get your priorities together.

Although Trump’s initial approach is disagreeable, do not join the crowd in blaming him for the coronavirus. This, in my opinion, is unacceptable behavior from the public.

As president, tough decisions must be made when dealing with a sudden situation like this. It is unfair to blame Trump for the spreading of this virus when we already know who is at fault.

He is trying his best to put our interests first; the least we can do is support him during these tough and scary times.

Not until recently did Trump throw on his big boy pants and address the nation as he should have in the first place.

Now that he is taking things seriously, my respect for him slowly replenishes.

To start, Trump donated his quarterly salary to fight the coronavirus. This is extremely presidential of him, as he provides personal contributions to the pandemic at hand.

Vice President Mike

Pence also announced a new step to help the American people fight the virus: Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurances will cover the coronavirus tests, saving U.S. residents time and money.

One of the largest precautions taken is a new travel ban that became effective at midnight on March 13. This specific restriction, according to the White House’s website, “applies to foreign nationals who have been in the Schengen Area, 26 countries in Europe with open borders agreements, in the last 14 days.”

It is hopeful that this action will drastically slow down the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. With Europe’s infected population rapidly increasing, it is important that people stop traveling to and from this region.

At the end of the day, it is important to understand the stress Trump faces. He has over 300 million people to look after. One wrong decision could end up costing the lives of many people. Not having faith in our president’s ability to govern will do anything but help the problem.

Calm down, cover your mouth and wash your hands.

The president will do his job.

You do yours.

Logan Dubil lmdubil@pointpark.edu

Best games to play while practicing social distancing

By Jake Dabkowski Co-News Editor

As someone who’s practiced social distancing since he was 11, I feel qualified to suggest what you do with your time. Without further ado, I present: the best games to play while social distancing.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: When Nintendo began development of a new Zelda game in 2011, they sought to reinvent the series. In a spiritual sense, Breath of the Wild is most similar to the original Legend of Zelda from 1986. Both games feature an emphasis on exploration and a nonlinear story, which can essentially be summed up as “travel the world and then fight Ganon.”

The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic Hyrule, 100

years after Ganon destroyed Hyrule castle and unleashed his forces onto the land. Every situation in this game has a litany of possible solutions, and the gameplay is reflective of the nonlinear nature of the game. If you’re looking to go on an epic adventure during your quarantine, Breath of the Wild has got you covered. Just remember that it’s about the journey, not the destination.

Persona 5: One part dungeon crawler, one part social simulator, in Persona 5 you play as Joker, leader of the Phantom Thieves, who discovers he and his friends, have the ability to enter the Metaverse and change the minds of the bad people of the world, forcing them to confess their crimes. While doing this, you’re forced

to balance all of the things that come with high school, friends, grades, extracurriculars, jobs, and saving the world. Even if you’re not a fan of JRPGs, Persona 5 is an unforgettable experience with an absolutely banging soundtrack. The game can take anywhere from 60 to 200 hours to complete, but you’ll have plenty of time in the coming weeks of quarantine.

Call of Duty: Warzone: Last year Fortnite and PUBG popularized the Battle Royale genre, and dozens of knock-offs followed. However, nothing innovated the genre, it was mostly just the same format and tropes. That is, until Warzone. Warzone implements the classic Call of Duty gunplay while add-

ing some new things to the genre. It’s free to play and it is definitely worth checking out, even if you’re a casual FPS fan.

Mario Odyssey: If you played Mario 64 as a kid, this game is for you. Visually incredible, it looks and feels like I remember Mario 64 looking like a kid, only now realizing that graphically that game has aged well. Odyssey takes Mario on a journey across 17 distinct Kingdoms, making you collect moons to power up your airship along the way. The gameplay has been refined, and you’re accompanied by Cappy, a hat spirit inhabiting Mario’s cap, allowing for unique ways of navigating across the levels. If you’re looking for a 3D platformer, look no further than Mario

Odyssey.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons: Although it isn’t out yet, Animal Crossing: New Horizons seems to be the best possible game for quarantine. The laid back nature of Animal Crossing makes it perfect for people trying to relax in the face of a global pandemic. In New Horizons, you’ll be given your own deserted island to transform into a tropical paradise.

The gameplay is in real-time, and the weather changes as the seasons change. Whether you’re a seasoned Animal Crossing veteran, or this will be your first rodeo, New Horizons shapes up to be the best game in the series.

Jake Dabkowski jcdabko@pointpark.edu

KEEP UP WITH THE GLOBE! FOLLOW US @PPUGLOBE FOR LATEST UPDATES WWW.PPUGLOBE.COM Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967 Editor-in-Chief: Dara Collins Editor-Elect: Jordyn Hronec Business Manager: Nathan Vrablic Faculty Adviser: Aimee-Marie Dorsten Administrative Adviser: Dean Keith Paylo The Globe board consists of Dara Collins, Jordyn Hronec and fellow editors. Opinion articles, letters to the editor, columns and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the position of the newspaper or editorial board. The Globe reserves the right to refuse advertising and edit all submitted articles and letters to the editor. Letters to the editor must be signed and include author’s contact information. The Globe offices are located at the corner of Wood Street and Fort Pitt Boulevard. Writers should address letters to:

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News Editors: Jake Dabkowski, Luke Mongelli Photo Editor: Jared Murphy Features/A&E Editors: Amanda Andrews, Tia Bailey Photo Editor: Emma Federkeil Sports Editor: Allison Schubert Photo Editor: Mallory Neil

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6

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18, 2020

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

All In with Allison

By Allison Schubert Sports Columnist

CNCLD-20 COVID-19, better known as the coronavirus, has taken the entire world by storm.

What started in Wuhan, China has slowly made its way internationally, with countries like Italy and the United States issuing nationally-recognized states of emergency, widespread quarantine and, in Italy, extensive available testing.

(The United States decided to limit each individual state to just 1,000 tests, which are to be given at a doctor’s discretion, but I won’t even get started on the atrocity that is the United States’ healthcare system.)

Everyone has heard enough about the virus, so I will not continue to give background (but knowledge and hygiene are power in this situation, folks!) so let us dive into how this affects our athletic department and athletes.

At the time of publication, all athletic activities, including the entirety of the spring sports season, have been canceled.

The statement from the River States Conference (RSC) stated the following: “For the health and safety of RSC student-athletes, coaches, support staff, and the general public, the RSC Commissioner and Council of Presidents feel this is the best course of action at this time.”

Also, literally while I was writing this column, Point Park’s student leaders got an email that all events and meetings, both on-andoff campus, have been canceled for the remainder of the semester.

With this decision comes the ceasing of all team-related activities, which include games, practices, team meetings and strength and

conditioning sessions.

Some teams on campus held unofficial practices with limited athletes, but others have simply put in work at home or complete at-home workouts in the meantime.

Not all sports are directly impacted by the cancelation obviously, but those that are immediately impacted include the competitive dance team, baseball and softball.

The dance team was set to compete in Nationals this past weekend in Iowa, but turned around after driving over halfway there to come home once the news hit that the entire competition was canceled.

Baseball got through one game at Chatham and were playing as the announcement of the initial suspension went out, but the remainder of their season will be canceled.

As for softball, the athletes did not even get to play one game since returning home from Florida before their season prematurely ended.

Looking ahead, outdoor track and field, golf and men’s and women’s cross country will no longer even get to begin competition for their seasons.

As a senior myself, I can imagine how heartbroken these athletes are. The NCAA is awarding a year of eligibility back to spring athletes, and I would imagine the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) will follow suit, but to lose an entire season due to a situation so out of our control is gut-wrenching.

The quickest way to get back to our regularly scheduled NAIA programming is to self-quarantine. So stay home and wash your hands.

Jared Murphy | The Globe Emille Morillo, 10, slides into 2nd base during Point Park’s 6-3 victory over Chatham on Mar. 11, 2020. The junior outfielder ended the shortened 2020 season with a .286 batting average.

Baseball captures one more win ahead of cancelled season

By Allison Schubert Sports Editor

The baseball team was able to fit one last game in ahead of the remainder of the season being canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

The Pioneers traveled to close-by Chatham in Munhall, Pa. for a non-conference game against the Cougars.

Sophomore Easton Klein started on the mound for the Pioneers, giving up three runs in 4.2 innings pitched.

Point Park entered the top of the third trailing 1-0, but two walks set up the top of the order for the Pioneers. Senior Antonio Carrillo and sophomore Danilo Leon notched back-to-back doubles that put the Pioneers up 3-1.

The Cougars evened things up in the bottom half of the inning.

Junior Jonathan Pacheco came in relief in the fifth inning to pitch 3.1 scoreless innings.

Point Park’s offense lit up the top of the seventh, when the Carrillo-Leon duo went back-to-back yet again: this time, with a pair of triples.

Junior Carlos Sanchez hit Leon home with an RBI base hit right after to make the score 5-3.

Pacheco struck out four and walked one.

The Pioneers tallied one more run in the ninth, and senior Ryan Huber finished the game with his third save of the season.

Carrillo and Leon led the way for Point Park, both going 2-for-5 at the top of the order. The duo combined for four of the team’s five RBI. The Pioneers finished up the 2020 season 10-3 overall and 4-2 in River States Conference play.

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics announced on Monday afternoon that “all student-athletes that participate in a spring sport will not be charged a season of eligibility... and any student-athlete fitting said criteria will be awarded two additional semester terms of attendance or the equivalent.”

Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu

Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu

Jared Murphy | The Globe ABOVE: Ed Pfluger , 17, (left) shared a laugh with Luis Hernandez, 12, during Point Park’s 6-3 win over Chatham University on Mar. 11, 2020.

BELOW: Easton Klein, 46, throws a pitch during Point Park University’s 6-3 victory over Chatham University on Mar. 11, 2020.