The Globe Issue 12

IN THIS ISSUE:

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4

Students pledge to not use the “r-word”

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6

Beth Turnbull tackles Islamophobia

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7

Point Park baseball wins three of four games

Issue 12

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

Presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders shares platform at rally with Pittsburghers, students

By Alexander Popichak Editor-Elect

Democratic presidential candidate and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders brought his populist message to Pittsburgh during a rally at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center Thursday, March 31. Sanders, whose campaign against former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton has been an uphill battle, emphasized trade policy and the differences between himself and his opponent.

“Let me begin by introducing myself to the people of Pennsylvania because I think a lot of folks don’t know who Bernie Sanders is,” Sanders said.

Sanders went on to give background on his life, the campaign that has grown in the past several months and the issues with which his campaign most concerns itself. According to the most recent poll conducted by Franklin and Marshall, Clinton has a 25 point lead over Sanders. In his remarks, Sanders honed in on his ‘three crises’ in America: campaign finance laws, a ‘rigged’ economy and income inequality.

The doors opened to the public

at 7:30 a.m., and Sanders was set to speak at 10:30 a.m., but by 5:45 a.m., the line outside the convention center had stretched into the convention center garage. The crowd at the rally primarily consisted of the white, college-aged students who predominantly make up his follower base.

Several Point Park students, including freshman education major and Sanders supporter Alec Ebeling, attended the rally to hear in person what Sanders had to say.

“As a college student, I’m definitely in favor of the free tuition.

That’s something that he’s pushed pretty heavily,” Ebeling said at the Thursday rally. “My major concern would be in the college sector with free education and everything …

[Additionally,] I think there is some reform that needs to be established, in public schools especially. I don’t think the Common Core is working too well, so I’d like to see what he does in the public schools as well.”

While Sanders didn’t speak to his views on the Common Core specifically, he did mention his propos-

RALLY page 3

PCD successful despite poor weather, budget

By Iain Oldman Co-News Editor

In the face of dreary weather and a budget that was short of what was initially expected, United Student Government’s (USG) Pioneer Community Day (PCD) drew more than 60 student volunteers to work on beautification projects throughout Pittsburgh.

PCD is an annual volunteering event hosted by USG, aimed at getting the university’s students, faculty and administration to “give back to the community.”

This year’s installation of the event, the sixth annual, took place on Saturday, April 2, beginning with sign in at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers went out into city, primarily the downtown area, at approximately 9 a.m.

Volunteers worked with several different organizations for their projects. Students worked with Habitat

for Humanity, the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Friends of the Riverfront and Point Park University throughout the day. Sixty-one volunteers showed up for the event, 248 volunteer hours were conducted and 64 shuttle miles were logged throughout the day.

Freshman dance and SAEM double major Chelsea Raymond spent the day installing drywall in housing projects with Habitat for Humanity.

“It was completely new to me and putting the mud in the wall was weird, but cool,” Raymond said. “It took a while to get it right but once you did it was a really great feeling, knowing that you’re helping to build this house.”

Bobby Bertha, chairperson with the PCD planning committee, said that students working with Friends of the Riverfront planted trees.

photo by Julianne Griffith

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), a democratic candidate for president, speaks to a crowd of 8,500 during the “A Future We Can Believe In” rally at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center on Thursday, March 31, 2016.

University police ID suspects wanted in Thayer Hall theft case

By Iain Oldman Co-News Editor

Point Park Police have identified the suspects wanted in the Thayer Hall theft that occurred on Friday, April 1.

The university issued a ‘crime alert’ Monday, April 4 detailing the crime, which is being categorized as a burglary by the Point Park Police. The university’s police force is working in conjunction alongside the City of Pittsburgh Police, Port Authority Police and Pittsburgh School Police on the investigation.

“We were contacted this afternoon and informed the juveniles we were looking for were walking down Wood Street,” said Jeffrey Besong, the Chief of Police, in an email in-

photo by Emily Bennett

Point Park students from the Body Christian Fellowship spent Friday night in an abandoned house on the North Side as part of a L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry outreach.

Read more on page 6.

CRIME page 2

Funds requested by Pilates Club denied USG

PCD page 2

STUDENTS “HOMELESS” FOR A NIGHT

terview Monday. The university’s police force worked with the Pittsburgh City School Police to identify the juvenile suspects, per Besong.

Besong said that there is no evidence that two suspects identified in the investigation are connected to Point Park University in any fashion.

Surveillance photos taken from inside Thayer Hall were attached to the release to assist the identification of the suspects wanted in connection to the crime.

The suspects entered Thayer Hall through the Academic Hall entrance and gained access to the room in which the burglary took place because the room was left unlocked, according to Besong.

By Margaret Davis Staff Writer

A week after failing to make quorum due to a lack of attendance, Point Park University’s United Student Government (USG) got back on schedule with its weekly meeting Monday, April 4.

The agenda for this Monday’s meeting included allocation of funding for the Pilates Club, an event recap of Pioneer Community Day (PCD) and a referendum to add a new position to the communications committee, which would require a change to USG’s Constitution.

Vice President Gabe Dubin called the meeting to order at 3:03 p.m. and Sen. Bobby Bertha kicked things off with a motion to amend the minutes from last week’s rescheduled meeting, which took place on Wed, March 30. The motion was approved and discussion quickly moved on to bud-

get allocation for the Pilates Club.

The Pilates Club requested that the USG allot them a total of $730: $80 for a guest teacher for the master class, $250 for officer training and $400 for a Pilates Certification Scholarship. The Pilates Club currently has only four certified officers, and is seeking further education for those officers, which would take place online.

Dubin asked of the senate how many officers would be returning in the fall. A senator responded that the Pilates Club did not indicate how many of those officers would indeed return for next term. Due to scarcity of funds, only one of the three requests was considered. Ultimately, the USG chose to grant a request for $80, but recommended an allocation of zero dollars for both officer training and the scholarship.

USG also addressed the proposed resolutions to add a new graphic design coordinator position to the

Weather Forecast Today: Mostly Sunny H 60, L 50

Thursday: Rain, H 63, L 40 Friday: Showers, H 51, L 33 Saturday: Partly Cloudy/Wind, H 45, L 31

Sunday: Mostly Sunny, H 55, L 39 Monday: Partly Cloudy, H 65, L 49 Tuesday: Showers, H 70, L 50

USG page 2

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Bertha announces candidacy following event Dubin to vacate vice presidency, provides “Wealth of knowledge” to younger senators, aspiring vice presidential candidate Bertha though Point Park’s Dance Club, Impulse, the Christian-Body Fellow“I think each group of kids, I ship the Pre-Med Club and the fourth want to say they were in group of floor of Thayer Hall all registered as four or five, planted three trees groups to volunteer together. each,” Bertha said. “There were stu“I hope [USG] continues with dents from Pitt and CMU who were that theme of rallying around the also there, completely unrelated to student organizations, to continue our event but just that support,” said happened to be volDean of Students unteering on the Keith Paylo. “If you same day, so there can engage the stu[were] a very large dent organizations number of trees and continue to do planted that day.” that, you’ll see your The volunteers numbers continue working with Pittsto grow. It’s not just burgh Downtown USG giving back and Partnership went USG’s community out and painted day, but the univerover graffiti in the sity’s community downtown area. day.”

On Point Park’s The PCD plancampus, volunteers Bobbie Bertha ning committee was worked to beautify Senator at-large for forced to readjust the area behind the School of Communications, their plans for the Student Center. event due to USG’s USG The PCD planbudget problem, cutning committee ting the cost of event emphasized clubs from $4,000 to just a and organizations little over $2,300. volunteering together to make an “We originally had planned impact on the community this year. a block party, and we had to cut The men’s soccer team was the only that,” Bertha said. “Included in the sports club to register as a group, block party, we had to cut the boun-

from PCD page 1

“I feel like I have a finger on the pulse of the university, and I want to make sure everyone knows that.”

cy houses we wanted to have and a dunk tank, so that was the majority of everything we had to get rid of.”

The block party that was planned on First Avenue between Wood Street and Smithfield Street was moved inside to the fifth floor gym in the Student Center on campus.

Despite the changes, Bertha believes the event turned out as well as it could have gone.

“The event went off without a hitch. It was perfect, way better than expected,” Bertha said. “For all of us, every chairperson on the committee, every person but one, this is their first Pioneer Community Day, so none of us really knew what to expect going into the day, but we knew we wanted a big, amaz-

ing event, and that’s what we did.”

Bertha has intentions to run for the USG vice-president position, soon to be vacated by the incumbent Gabe Dubin.

“We have great leaders in student government, and it is sad to see our current vice president, Gabe Dubin, not running again.” Bertha said. “He has a wealth of knowledge. I’ve learned a lot in just the first year I’ve been here.”

“I feel like I have a finger on the pulse of the University, and I want to make sure everyone knows that.”

Iain Oldman can be reached at idoldma@pointpark.edu.

page 2 photos by Gracey Evans

Shayna Mendez, senior photojournalism major, helps Alexa Neely, sophomore sports, arts and entertainment management and accounting double major, support a wooden beam as they help refurbish a home for Habitat for Humanity as one of the many Pioneer Community Day activities.

USG seeks to create graphic design position from USG page 1

Shelbie O’Hara and Jena Braill, both sophomore pre-med majors, help to prepare drywall to help refurbish a home for Habitat for Humanity as one of the many Pioneer Community Day activities.

Burglary partly due to room left unlocked inside Thayer Hall from CRIME page 1 The first suspect was described as wearing a black and white Puma baseball hat, a white t-shirt and grey pants, in addition to carrying a knapsack. The second suspect was described as wearing a black baseball hat, a black jacket and red pants.

Chief of Police Jeffrey Besong urged students to take basic crime prevention precautions in the release to curb potential crimes in the future.

The release read, “Report suspicious persons and crime incidents promptly; Pay attention to your surroundings, trust your instincts; Be

aware of who you invite to your dormitory; Do not approach suspicious persons or vehicles.”

As of press time, Besong said that the Point Park Police had plans to conduct interviews and continue their investigation on Tuesday, April 5.

Anyone with information related to the crime should contact the Point Park Police at 412-392-3960.

Iain Oldman can be reached at idoldma@pointpark.edu.

communications committee. The proposed amendment would create the position of graphic design coordinator, who would assist the committee chair “on account of the topics regarding graphic design and advertising” and “design a constant stream of marketing content for all social media and marketing campaigns” according to the proposed legislation.

In compliance with bylaws passed Monday, the coordinator would be hired through an interview process conducted by the President, Vice President, Secretary of Press and at least one advisor. The coordinator would serve as both a voting member of the communication committee and a non-voting member of the legislative body.

In addition to the special duties of the position, the coordinator would have to serve three office hours during each week that USG is in session, and he or she would be compensated with a $250 stipend taken from USG’s internal budget at the end of each academic term.

The addition of a new position to USG requires an amendment be made to the USG Constitution and must be approved by referendum.

Students will be able to review and vote on the proposed legislation at the referendum station during the USG elections, which take place April 11-15.

Dubin stated that there was “no new business” to be addressed

by the Student Concerns Committee, so the legislators moved on to a discussion about raising student awareness of USG recruitment and the looming elections via social media marketing. Members were urged to acknowledge the importance of sharing social media posts.

One senator suggested a new marketing strategy to get students involved in USG by including a flyer in the information bags left in each dorm during move-in week.

USG recapped and reviewed Pioneer Community Day, which took place Sat, April 2. Sen. Bertha deemed the event a “massive success,” and Sen. Dylan Contrino said that he’d noticed that some of the graffiti on the Roberto Clemente Bridge had been covered.

62 percent of those who registered for the event showed up to volunteer, with 61 non-USG students in participation. Altogether, they logged a total of 248 volunteer hours. A representative for the Office of Alumni Relations acknowledged complaints from some members of the faculty and staff who have been keen PCD participants in the past, claiming they did not receive emails notifying them about the event.

The legislative body also briefly discussed Lobby Day, the Presidential Bike Ride, the Outstanding Student Awards Dinner and the upcoming elections.

Margaret Davis can be reached at madavis2@pointpark.edu.

NEWS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

ss o r CRIMnEotREcP ORT do

Trade deals, campaign funding key talking points during Sanders rally from RALLY page 1

MONDAY, MARCH 28

istered to attend the event prior to the event. Mac Lotze, head of press volunteers for the Sanders rally, said 8,500 people attended the event.

Burghers for Bernie, as well as several students online, reported that the event had reached capacity.

As a result, several people had to be turned away by Secret Service.

Sophomore funeral sciences major Patrick Fischer, a Sanders supporter whose family is primarily Republican, made it into the rally and said that hearing Sanders in person solidified his support for the presidential hopeful. “[Seeing Sanders] has changed how I feel about him,” Fischer said.

“Because there’s a huge difference from watching him on TV than being there and actually drawing the attention from the crowd and feeling the emotion of what he’s trying to say.

You don’t get that when he’s on TV.” Sanders was the first presidential candidate this season to travel to Pittsburgh, and his opponent former Sec. of State Hillary Clinton will be the second. Clinton will speak at an organizing event at Carnegie Mellon University at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 6. The Pennsylvania primary election takes place April 26.

4:52 p.m. West Penn Lot Drug Violation: Under Investigation

FRIDAY, APRIL 1

10:00 p.m. Thayer Hall Burglary: Under Investigation

SATURDAY, APRIL 2

do no

7:02 p.m. Third Ave. Vandalism: Under Investigation

Data compiled by Alex Grubbs Design by Emily Yount

t cr

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al to make all public postsecondary schools tuition free.

Kristopher Chandler, a freshman political science and screenwriting double major, is a supporter of former Sec. Clinton and attended the Sanders rally to understand his platform and get a feel for his campaign.

Chandler said that while Sanders was able to energize the crowd, his main criticism was that Sanders’ speech was a “laundry list of ideas” rather than solidified solutions to major issues impacting voters.

“The biggest thing for me is what issues influence you the most, how it’s going to personally affect your life,” Chandler said in a phone interview Monday. “For me, at the Sanders rally, it was about his ‘free tuition,’ and I’d like to hear more details about how these candidates can execute these plans. Any candidate can go on stage and talk all day about what they’re going to do, but it’s important for people to hear specific details about how they get it done.”

In an attempt to offer a solution to both income inequality and student debt, Sanders said he would propose a tax on Wall Street speculation to pay for the free tuition program. With nearly every talking point, Sanders brought the discussion back to working on fixing the “rigged economy.”

Sanders said he differs from Clinton on three main fronts: the fundraising efforts, their relationship with Wall Street and their records on trade policies. Sanders attacked Clinton for having a campaign funded by large donors through political action committees, or Super PACs. In an ongoing call for economic transparency, Sanders called upon Clinton to release the transcripts of speeches

made to Goldman Sachs.

The primary topic of discussion in a press conference prior to the event was union and trade policies.

Sanders condemned the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and Trans-Pacific Partnership as policies detrimental to union workers.

Sanders was introduced to the press by Michael Smith of the United Steelworkers Union, Scott Slawson of UE Local 506 in Erie and Ryan Gaines of the United Steel Workers International. Smith spoke about how harmful free trade agreements have been to steelworkers, Slawson spoke on how NAFTA in particular impacted locomotive manufacturer GE in Erie and Gaines talked about the impact of free trade and the war on drugs on the minority community.

“We have got to lift up the standard of living of workers in this country and throughout the world,” Sanders said prior to the rally.

“Trade is a good thing, but it has got to be based on fair principles, not unfair regulations.”

Given that one of his examples of positive union industry, the Clairton Coke Works, is charged as being one of the largest polluters in the region, Sanders was asked how his stance on strengthening manufacturing can coexist with his view on helping reverse climate change. Sanders gave a curt answer, pushing the responsibility to the private sector.

“I think you can do both,” Sanders said. “Corporations are going to have to invest in making sure that our kids do not breathe polluted air. We can do that, but we do not have to destroy the manufacturing sector of this country to do that.”

Sanders did not elaborate.

Maddie Whitehill, an organizer with the group “Burghers for Bernie,” said that over 5,000 people had reg-

3

Co-News Editor Iain Oldman contributed additional reporting for this piece.

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Alexander Popichak can be reached at apopic@pointpark.edu.

Iain Oldman can be reached at idoldman@pointpark.edu.

1/15/2016 8:54:47 AM

For additional coverage of the Sanders rally from Globe photographers, go to our website, pointparkglobe.com

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FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Point Park students push to end the ‘r-word’ ‘Spread the Word to End the Word’ allows community to pledge

By Karly Rivera

Co-Features Editor

For Future Educators of America (FEA) members, it is important to inform the Point Park community about the misuse and hurtfulness of the “r-word.”

To help raise awareness, FEA is hosting an event April 13 in Village Park from 11-2 p.m. for the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign. The primary goal is to encourage others to refrain from saying “retarded.”

“The Spread the Word to End the Word event is to show people around campus about not using the ‘r-word…,’” FEA Vice President Cassandra Sader, a pre-kindergarten-fourth grade and special education major, said in a phone interview Sunday afternoon. “We are going to tell them how it feels when people hear it around campus, around everywhere. It will be a nice event just to get the word out there.”

The event will include signing a banner to pledge not to use the “r-word.” Laptops will also be available at the event to officially pledge online at www.r-word.org.

“Spread the Word to End the Word is a campaign that was started by ‘Best Buddies’ and the Special Olympics,” said Dominique Furrowh, a senior education major and FEA president, in a phone interview Thursday afternoon. “People pledge to try and stop using the ‘r-word.’”

A student with autism in the education program at Point Park will be present at the event to speak about his experience, bringing awareness to the misuse of the word

and discussing the alternatives with rowh to have the event. the Point Park community.

“We do have a group of stuJessica Frick, a member of FEA dents here who do have disabilities, and Point Park student, said that the but are high-functioning,” Furrowh Spread the Word to End the Word is a said. “So you might not even know campaign that started from the recent that they have a disability, and they governmental change for the term are just trying to get through the “mental retardation.” day. For them to hear that from “It was causmembers of our ing stereotypes for Point Park commuthese individuals nity shouldn’t be before people even tolerated.” met them, so this is In the special kind of a way to tell education program, people like, ‘Hey, students are taught this isn’t used anyto put the person more,’” Frick said before their disabilin a phone interview ity; this is referred Saturday night. to as “person first The new term to language.”

Frick reference is “intelsaid FEA also hopes lectual disabilities.” to inform Point “It is ‘intelPark about this allectual disability’ ternative when renow, so ‘retarded’ is ferring to anyone not politically corwith a disability. rect,” Furrowh said.

“Instead of “There are so many saying an ‘autistic other words that can person,’ you would be used for it. Some say, ‘a person with people don’t think autism.’ Basically that they are doing you are respecting Dominique Furrowh any harm by it.” the person first and President Sader said oththen saying their Future Educators of America ers do not see how disability,” Frick it can hurt somesaid. “You aren’t one by using the letting their disabil“r-word.” ity determine the “Personally, it really affects me type of person that they are.” because I have a reading disability, FEA is hoping to teach the alternaand I also know a lot of people with tives and to encourage the community disabilities,” Sader said. “It is really to avoid labeling a group of people. close to home for me.”

“I think the biggest thing we are After Sader heard it being used hoping to accomplish is to show that on campus, it inspired her and Fur- there is a better way to say it so that

“We do have a group of students here who do have disabilities, but are high-functioning... For them to hear that from members of our Point Park community shouldn’t be tolerated.”

these people don’t get labeled just because of a term that was made how many years ago by certain people,” Frick said.

Furrowh said FEA also invited other clubs to come be a part of the event, including one on campus called City Connections.

City Connections is a program available for students with a disability on campus. It is located on the seventh floor of Academic Hall in the education department.

“City Connections helps students with disabilities transition to jobs, life skills and just school here,” Furrowh said. “So we have invited them to come down and pledge, but also talk to people.”

Along with making students aware of the issue, FEA would like to inform others about their club on campus as well.

“We are trying really hard to make sure that Future Educators of America is well known on Point Park’s campus, but also this issue that is going on at campus,” Sader said.

This event will be held in Village Park. Weather permitting, the rain location is in the West Penn lobby.

If interested in learning about the campaign, students can go to www.r-word.org. Students can also join in on FEA’s Instagram by using #ppuspreadtheword and can enter to win a prize through the ongoing social media contest.

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FEATURES

5

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Lunch helps commuters stay involved on campus

By Eddie Trizzino Co-Features Editor

Commuter students can often be found hanging out, studying, or sleeping in the second floor lobby of Lawrence Hall, but last Wednesday from 12-2 p.m., some gathered in the multi-purpose room across the floor eating and playing Jeopardy at Campus Activities Board’s (CAB) Commuter Lunch.

“I want to try and get out and take advantage of as many of these kinds of events as I can,” Danielle Mahl, senior sports, arts and entertainment management (SAEM) major, said in an interview at the lunch.

Mahl said she lived on campus during her first two years at Point Park, but moved back home to Greensburg to save money. She said that commuting isn’t the easiest routine, but had the benefit of keeping her on schedule and motivated to journey downtown.

“There are a variety of commut-

ers here, and we wanted to have this lunch for them so it’s easy for them to get to and have some free food,” Louis Spanos, junior SAEM major and CAB’s Experience Pittsburgh coordinator, said at the event.

Spanos said the idea came from himself and CAB’s public relations coordinator and sophomore advertising and public relations major Nicole Miller, who are both commuters, thinking that it’s hard to go through the day with limited food options.

“Bringing a lunch every day can be a problem, so bring snacks—lots of snacks,” Spanos said.

As such, the rewards for participating and winning in the lunch’s game of Jeopardy included gift cards to Chipotle and Delicious Raw. A Point Park lanyard was also a reward.

“I came because CAB has fabulous events like this and for the free food,” Topher Williams, a senior theatre major and commuter from Oakland, who

PHOTO STUDENTS BRANCH TO NEW MEDIUMS

photo by Julianne Griffith

Senior Photography majors landed a gallery showing at UnSmoke Systems in Braddock, Pa. last weekend. Installation, video, and performance were among some of the work displayed. Artists exhibited were Globe News Photo Editor Dominique Hildebrand, Ren Rathbone, Michelle Montana, Ryan Maine, Kels Pennell, and Emily Faller. Their work was on display through April 3.

won the lanyard, said.

Another concern that Spanos had for commuters was involving them in campus activities, groups and events, so this lunch was marketed specifically for commuters so they could get involved. Autumn Barszczowski, a freshman advertising and public relations major who commutes from the South Side, said she makes a conscious effort to be active in the university’s community.

“I didn’t want to be someone who just came down for class and not have any friends, so I do as much as I can to stay involved,” she said at the lunch.

To do this, Barszczowski has gotten involved in several school organizations, such as the Honors Student Organization, the Feminist Collective and the Rainbow Club in her time at Point Park. She said she has no future plans to move on campus so she can get out of school as debt-free as possible.

She has lived on the South Side her whole life, so she knows the ins and outs of public transportation.

“It’s not difficult to get downtown, but sometimes the weather can be troubling,” Barszczowski said.

The lunch was catered by Giant Eagle and included a buffet style table set with chicken, macaroni, rolls, cookie cake and pop which were all available for eating.

People started filing in almost right when the doors opened.

The game of Jeopardy, which was designed by CAB member and sophomore SAEM major Kayla Damazo, featured categories with questions about areas around Pittsburgh, such as the Strip District and Oakland. Teams of tables shouted answers in the classic Jeopardy “what is…” format as the questions popped onto the screen.

“If we got just one commuter fed for free and enjoy him or herself, we would have been happy,” Spanos said.

Eddie Trizzino can be reached at eatrizz@pointpark.edu.

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OPINIONS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

Islamophobia a force to be combated in U.S., abroad

’S

POINT

By Beth Turnbull Copy Editor

Burglary reveals breach in communication and security

On Monday, Point Park students received an email from Point Park Police Chief Jeffrey Besong about a burglary that happened Friday. Two men entered Thayer Hall without using force and stole items out of a student’s dorm.

Safety and security is vital on a college campus.

The fact that two men can walk unimpeded into student housing is concerning to say the least. Point Park has recently switched over to a system of card scanning from the previous system of students just physically showing their ID cards to the security guards.

But there was clearly a breakdown in the system somewhere.

The university needs to investigate what happened to gain a clear understanding of what went wrong, and it also needs to inform all students as soon as it has that understanding. As students, we expect to see an email in the near future explaining where the security processes in place failed. That has not yet happened.

It’s important as Point Park goes through this process that university officials and Public Safety realize that the recent events may make students who live on campus feel unsafe.

Knowing that strangers could come in and invade your living space is an unsettling feeling, not one that leads to a comfortable living environment. Students who live on campus should be able to go through their

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

days without worrying about a potential intruder in their rooms. They should be able to stick to stressing out about finals and remembering to eat, not burglaries on their floors.

It’s also important that the university details specific solutions to explain how it will prevent this from happening again, based on what went wrong this time.

That all being said: as students we should not be letting our guard down. The fact of the matter is that these breaches happen. The most students can do in a situation like this is stay vigilant, whether it means reporting incidents to the security desks or directly to the Point Park Police Department, as students we must look after our own, as well as ourselves.

To quote the incredibly cliche warning messages from the Port Authority: if you see something, say something.

Don’t live in fear, but at the same time live with the knowledge that something like this could happen to anyone. Also, lock your doors.

As people who live and work and go to school here, security is a basic day-to-day expectation that we have. When that expectation isn’t met, there’s a problem.

And when there’s a problem, there should be clear communication as well as a solution.

The Globe can be reached at globe@pointpark.edu.

In light of recent and tragic events, hostility towards followers of Islam has become prevalent in the United States. It has become all too common to see an angry Facebook post denouncing all Muslims.

I can barely remember a time when I went online and didn’t see at least one post calling all Muslims, or even all refugees, terrorists.

It saddens me to think that people are so afraid of what they don’t know that they are turning to hate.

Private businesses are allowed to close their doors to Muslim customers. Women are verbally abused while walking down the street because they are wearing hijabs. Even scarier is the hateful rhetoric surrounding the recent terror attacks in Belgium and Pakistan.

Presidential candidates like Sen. Ted Cruz have suggested implementing drastic security measures, from patrolling Muslim neighborhoods to closing our borders to the Muslim people.

Sometimes I feel as if I’m witnessing the beginning of the next Civil Rights Movement. Sometimes I even feel as if I’m witnessing the beginning of the next World War. This may sound extreme, but the tensions building toward Islamic people all over the world should not be ignored.

The word Islamophobia is a recent addition to the lexicon, but it stands for a very real issue. It is defined by Google as the “dislike of or prejudice against Islam or Muslims, especially as a political force,” and people are embracing it.

Politicians like Donald Trump have called to ban Muslims from entering the United States, and the scariest part is that people are supporting him.

It is a great injustice toward the fol-

lowers of Islam that we should characterize them as extremists and terrorists.

I’ll admit I do not know much about the teachings of the Qur’an, but the followers of Islam who are committing crimes against humanity are not the majority. According to a June 25, 2015 article in Time Magazine, in the years since 9/11, white extremists have killed nearly twice as many Americans than radical Islamists have. These are people who manipulate the teachings of their religion to back their own agendas.

ISIS is not synonymous with Islam. ISIS is a group of Muslim terrorists who want everyone to follow them and their “true faith.” ISIS does not kill exclusively non-Muslims, but also Muslims who do not conform to their message of hatred and war.

Many of the refugees we marginalize as terrorists are refugees because they are fleeing terrorists.

As Americans, we should not fear what we do not understand.

Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in the world. CNN predicts that there will be nearly nine million Muslims in the world by the year 2050. So, instead of condemning an entire group of people for the terrible acts of violent extremists, we should try to learn and understand the Muslim people. We all need to understand that Muslim is not synonymous with terrorist.

If we do not work to achieve harmony, we cannot truly consider ourselves a united nation. Let us think before condemning and begin to work with the Muslim community to achieve peace. If we do not stand together, we will surely fall.

Beth Turnbull can be reached at erturnb@pointpark.edu.

Homeless people deserve compassion, kindness

By Emily Bennett

Co-Copy Desk Chief

I’m not exactly sure how you’re supposed to break it to your mom that you’re willingly sleeping in an unlocked, abandoned building on the North Side in sandals and without a sleeping bag in an attempt to understand homelessness a little better, but in case anyone wants to know how to do it the wrong way, listen very carefully.

Dial your mother’s phone number. Tell her exactly what you’re going to do. Don’t try to sugarcoat anything, considering all moms practice voodoo mom magic together and always have a way of seeing through these sorts of things. Upon questioning, it might be necessary to repeat the word “willingly” a few times. This next part is imperative.

Say the words, “I love you, bye,” and in that order. You might have to use your outside voice.

Friday night, I did sleep in an unlocked abandoned building with the words “trap house” spray-painted on the door. Organized by L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry, this night was a pre-cursor to the largest homeless camp cleanup in the history of the city of Pittsburgh. I set up sleeping quarters on pieces of mismatched cardboard on the second floor of the building – nothing short of in

shambles and absolutely dilapidated. The window closest to me was broken open. I shared a single blanket with three others.

But this article isn’t about me.

None of it is, really. It’s not really about you, either. It’s not about your classism, your standards or your rules. It’s not about adding some community service experience to your resume. It’s definitely not about “feeling bad” for those that identify as homeless, or even about compassion, really. It’s about logic.

I want to snatch all of the socially constructed ideas about homelessness into my hands and throw them like rocks off every bridge in Pittsburgh. I want to wipe the slate clean when it comes to homelessness and deconstruct every assumption in the world that exists surrounding this “condition” that the world views as so foul. I want to ask why it’s here, and why we see a group of people we know nothing about as absolute refuse, as unnecessary, as incommodious.

Unless things have changed since the last time I checked, millennialism is kind of all about eradicating marginalization. I think it’s accurate to believe that as a generation, we reject ideas of compartmentalization. Continually yelling, “Don’t assume anything about me!” into the void is kind of our thing.

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Why does this precious ideal only apply to our sexuality or gender, religion or spirituality (on some days) and our political affiliation? Why is there a lack of translation when it comes to how much money we have? Why doesn’t this apply to where or how we live? Why is this nonexistent when it comes to how we look?

When we are literally forced to look at homeless people, the words sick, lazy, ill, user, indecent or filthy can be placed in any slew of combinations, and I think that would be a relatively adequate assessment of what we see.

The second you assume something about anyone, you’re wrong.

Even when you feel like you’re not assuming anything, you’re still wrong.

The fact that there are people sleeping on streets who want to be sleeping in beds should make you absolutely furious. This is when it is absolutely necessary to look inside ourselves and ask, “What is wrong here? What is missing?” instead of pointing at them and demanding to know what’s incorrect.

As a generation that vehemently believes in the idea of leveling the playing field and creating opportunity for everyone, we do a pretty poor job when it comes to homelessness. In a world of social justice warriors, we fail to address the soJosh Croup, Editor-in-Chief Alexander Popichak, Editor-Elect Anthony Mendicino, Co-News Editor Iain Oldman, Co-News Editor Karly Rivera, Co-Features Editor Eddie Trizzino, Co-Features Editor Johanna Wharran, Co-Opinions Editor Laura Byko, Co-Opinions Editor Michael Richter, Co-Sports Editor Matt Petras, Co-Sports Editor Dominique Hildebrand, News Photo Editor Chloe Jakiela, Features Photo Editor Liz Berie, Sports Photo Editor Julianne Griffith, Layout Editor Alex Grubbs, Co-Copy Desk Chief Emily Bennett, Co-Copy Desk Chief Kayla Novak, Copy Editor Hannah O’Toole, Copy Editor Carrie Reale, Copy Editor Beth Turnbull, Copy Editor Quinn Baumeister, Copy Editor Isabelle Opsitos, Copy Editor Dana Bohince, Online Editor

cial issues that are at the roots of understanding forms of homelessness – poverty, affordable housing and disabilities, to name a few.

Concurrently, there are some people who identify as homeless who do not want what we think they want. Too often, we indulge in the idea of giving homeless people the things that make us contented. Too often we decide that they need all of the things we need.

We say, “Here, homeless person -- have a job, a suit and tie, a house and a car payment.” But isn’t life about meeting people where they are? Why is it so hard to reject these suppositions and accept these humans as simply that – humans.

They are people with stories, and sometimes they want to be listened to and thought of, and other times they want to be left alone, just like you and me.

Why are we so repulsed by people who sleep outside? Why is it so hard to reject our suppositions and expectations? Let’s listen to each other’s stories. Let’s try to make those stories better.

Perhaps in a perfect world.

Emily Bennet can be reached at elbenne@pointpark.edu.

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SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

7

CROUP’S CORNER

By Josh Croup Sports Columnist

Baseball buts I’ve had some teachers and professors over the years with big buts.

That’s buts with one ‘t,’ not two as in butts.

“That was good, but this could be better.”

I can think of three or four right away that constantly attached a ‘but’ to their compliments. I learned so much from each one of those mentors who almost never seemed satisfied. It wasn’t because my work wasn’t good, it was because they wanted to bring the best out of me.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from these teachers, it’s to always look for the ‘but’ in life. It’s not a quest to become a chronic pessimist; it’s the pursuit of perfection.

A poster in one of my high school classrooms hits the nail on the head with this: “Amateurs practice until they get it right. Professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong.”

I’m told people are attracted to baseball butts. The buts I look for in baseball have one ‘t,’ not two.

The Point Park baseball team took three of four games from the West Virginia Tech Golden Bears this weekend, but they could have easily lost or swept the series.

Games one and four of the weekend with the Golden Bears ended in 3-2 walk-off victories. Point Park won game two 6-1 and lost game three 5-4.

The only decisive win was a 6-1 victory in game two. They won three of four, but only squeaked out wins in two of them.

The 5-4 loss in game three could have been a victory. It should have been a victory. The Pioneers gave up three preventable runs on three separate occasions with two outs.

A wild pitch from starter Anthony Garafalo allowed the first WVU Tech run to score in the first.

A second run scored in the next inning when third basemen Philimon Perez botched a groundball that

would have been the final out. It was his 14th error on the year.

After two quick outs in the top of the fifth, the Golden Bears put the go-ahead on base after an error by first baseman Andy Chacon. He scored when the next batter doubled to left field.

The Pioneers won three of four, but they could have swept the Golden Bears and moved into a tie for second place in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC).

Instead, the Pioneers sit two games out of first in the KIAC and only have a one game lead over West Virginia Tech in a conference where every game matters. One or two losses could make the difference between first and fifth place in this conference.

Thank goodness the Pioneers walked off the first and last games of the series. Thank goodness the costly errors and miscues all happened during the same game.

If they lost just one of those games, they would sit behind WVU Tech in the standings. If they lost both, they would have entered the week in fifth place.

They won three of four, but were dangerously close to having a miserable weekend.

In a game of inches, where one error, one loss or one injury can determine the outcome of a season, this team has to focus on buts to improve.

They won three of four, but what else can they do to improve?

Again, it’s not pessimistic thinking.

It’s the pursuit of a championship.

The baseball team has a winning reputation to uphold.

“Amateurs practice until they get it right. Professionals practice until they can’t get it wrong.”

photo courtesy of Sam Robinson, Point Park Athletics Senior left fielder Shane Conley helped the Pioneers to two wins over West Virginia Tech on Friday at Point Park Field in Green Tree. Conley scored the winning run in Point Park’s 3-2 victory in game one of the doubleheader.

Josh Croup can be reached at jdcroup@pointpark.edu.

photo by Gracey Evans Senior center fielder Demetrius Moorer dives for a fly ball during Point Park’s first game of Friday’s doubleheader against West Virginia Tech.

photo courtesy of Sam Robinson, Point Park Athletics Junior Jake Horew high-fives senior Andy Chacon after tying game two of Saturday’s doubleheader in the fifth inning against West Virginia Tech at Green Tree Park. The Pioneers defeated the Golden Bears 3-2 in eight innings.

8

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 6, 2016

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Jared Bender hooked on golf at Point Park

By Phil Poupore For The Globe

Most athletes begin playing their respective sports at the same time they take their first steps.

Whether it’s swinging a plastic club or kicking a ball, a majority of athletes have grown up mastering their craft; however, that wasn’t the case for Jared Bender.

Bender grew up playing baseball and basketball, but it was the summer before his freshman year of high school that he first picked up a golf club.

“I was always a pretty decent athlete, so I thought I wouldn’t have a problem with golf, but I was wrong,” said Bender, 19 in an interview at Point Park’s library.

At 14 years old, Bender was looking to enjoy the summer before his freshman year at Warrior Run High School in Watsontown, Pa. Baseball season had just ended, and he was looking for something new to keep him busy during the summer.

“At the time, a friend of mine and my older brother played golf, so I tried that and got hooked,” Bender said.

There was something special about this sport.

“Growing up, we were always pretty close and doing things together,” Bender’s brother Steven said via phone Sunday. “But golf was something we both became addicted to, and it was another sport we could be competitive against each other in.”

Growing up Bender spent his winters playing basketball and his springs playing baseball, but he wanted something else in the fall.

Golf would be the perfect fit.

Bender didn’t waste any time, either, as he joined the school team early that summer.

“It was tough, but I did have an

easier time because of baseball and the similar swing,” Bender said.

Bender found it hard to adjust without a coach and adequate practice time.

“The disadvantage would be that I had to figure out a lot more on my own,” Bender said. “I had nothing to base my thoughts on.

There was a lot of trial and error. I just had to read up and watch what others were doing, and try things.”

Despite the disadvantages, Bender believes that doing it on his own also had its upsides.

“The advantages are that you know you can try a lot of different things, and you quickly find out what you can and can’t do,” Bender said.

After his freshman year, Bender continued to play golf, baseball and basketball. For Bender, the sports had their similarities and differences, but there was one glaring difference.

“Other sports are faster paced and you can play on reaction,” Bender said. “Golf, you’re all alone with your thoughts and have more time to think.”

In high school, Bender’s greatest accomplishment came in baseball.

During his senior year, Bender and his teammates came one playoff win away from having the opportunity to play in a minor league stadium.

This was a disappointing end to his high school career, but he decided to use this as an opportunity to focus on golf. At the time, Bender wasn’t sure whether or not he would play a sport in college. He knew the level of competition would be much higher, which is why he signed up for a North Central Pennsylvania Golf Association (NCPGA) junior tournament.

This was the first time Bender had ever participated in an individual event, so he didn’t have high expectations. His goal was simply to see how he stacked up against the competition. He went out and ex-

ceeded his expectations.

In his first event on the NCPGA Junior Tour at the Dennis C. Lienhard Memorial Tournament, Bender claimed the Division I advanced and overall title with a score of 78, which was two strokes lower than the runner-up.

Bender wouldn’t have long to savor the victory, though, as a week later the Junior Tour stopped at his home course, the White Deer Golf Course. Now that he had his first victory under his belt, the only question now was whether or not he could do it again.

Those questions were answered early on. Bender clearly rode the momentum from his previous victory, as he fired the lowest 9-hole score of the day with a 2-under 34.

He kept up the strong play through the back nine with a 2-over 38. This was good enough for an even-par 72 on the day, and another tournament victory. This time, he took first place by four strokes.

Bender became the first tour player that summer to notch backto-back victories.

“I never played in real tournaments like those,” Bender said. “Not knowing the pressure and winning gave me the confidence to go out and beat other skilled players, and it made me decide to play golf at college.”

Now, he just needed to decide on a school. That decision ended up being easier than he thought.

“My mom’s side of the family are from Pittsburgh and are huge sports fans,” Bender said. “I saw that Point Park University had a team here, and I called the coach.

I saw it was the level of golf I’d be interested in playing.”

Once he visited the school and spoke with head coach Gabe Bubon, he was sold. Not only did he like the school and the program, but

he would be playing alongside his brother, Steven.

Bender felt very confident entering the season after a successful summer of junior golf; however, there were still some questions about how good the college competition would be.

With so many new members on the team this year, Bender hasn’t gotten a lot of experience yet.

He did participate in the Carnegie Mellon Fall Invitational at the Longue Vue Golf Club last October.

Out of the ten Point Park golfers who participated in the one-day tournament, Bender shot the seventh best score with a 94.

Even though Bender sees room for improvement, he has made an impression on some of his teammates.

“Jared pushes you to keep your foot on the gas the whole way through your round,” teammate Nick Finoli said via phone interview Sunday. “Right when you think you have Jared beat, he will go on a birdie and par streak and leave you wondering, ‘What just happened?’”

The sports, arts and entertainment (SAEM) major is now in his second semester at Point Park, and he has one goal entering the spring.

“My goal for the rest of the spring season is that I want to be there and compete in every tournament,” Bender said. “Overall, I just want to get better every year.”

Bender knows that he will never be perfect, and that’s what keeps him going.

“It’s the chase for perfection,” Bender said. “It’s that you can never be perfect at it, but you keep trying to be, and you’ll never get there, but you work for it.”

Phil Poupore can be reached at pjpoupo@pointpark.edu.