Point Park Globe Fall 2017 Issue 6

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@PPUGlobe October 4, 2017

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By Hannah Walden USG Beat Writer

In one of four meetings held in the Lawrence Hall multipurpose room, the United Student Government (USG) discussed the state of the new Playhouse along with other campus renovations made over the summer. Chris Hill, Vice President of Operations in the Physical Plant, spoke to the legislative body and shared blueprints of the new Pittsburgh Playhouse. The new Playhouse, located on Forbes Avenue, will be three stories tall and will feature three theaters, multiple rehearsal rooms, dressing rooms, lounges and classrooms. The Playhouse will be directly connected to the University Center. “[The new Playhouse] will have a connection on all of the floors so you can walk from the University Center into the Playhouse,” Hill said. Three historical buildings had to be torn down in order for the Playhouse to be built. In order to preserve the history, the facades were carefully taken off and will be reinstalled on the front of the building. “They felt these buildings had some value, and so did we,” Hill said. Built in 1903, the Stock Exchange building was considered part of the “Wall Street of Pittsburgh.” The university purchased the building around six years ago, according to Hill. After having one floor removed and a second floor

ppuglobe.com

Celebrating 50 years of covering the world of Point Park University news

USG reviews future campus expansion USG

Pioneer Public profiles photography professor Ben Schonberger Dannys Marrero opposes the idea of a war against North Korea Men’s soccer rebounds from conference loss with 8-1 win on the road

added, the space will host a costume shop creating more room for student activity. The new Playhouse will include a black box theater on the third floor as well as an adaptive theater. The adaptive theater seats 200 people and has a large garage door installed, allowing the theater to open to the outdoor courtyard. The main theater is planned to seat up to 500 people and will feature asymmetrical balconies clad in wood. The orchestra pit is also on a raising and lowering platform, giving the director more freedom and creativity to put the orchestra where they wish. Senators Matt Bauman and Megan Ortego expressed concerns about what will happen to Point Park shuttles to Oakland after the Playhouse is built and what will happen to the old Playhouse. While Hill pointed to no definite plans, shuttles will continue running to Oakland for another year after the new Playhouse is built, the only difference being that they will run less frequently. There are also possible plans for the old Playhouse being put up for sale. Additional changes on campus include the library addition created over the summer. The space contains several study rooms in basement of the University Center. Academic Hall also received upgrades to its third floor chemistry lab, fourth floor physics lab and to the sixth floor power lab. West Penn Hall will also see changes taking effect as early as the spring

USG page 2

Issue 6

STUDENTS SET SAIL FOR INTERN-SHIPS

Mary Anne Doggett| The Globe Bryan Partika, junior journalism major, discusses the internship program at Allegheny Intermediate Unit (AIU) with Sarah McCluan, Supervisor of Communication Services. By Sarah Gibson For the Globe

Over 100 different companies and workplace representatives attended Point Park’s Internship and Job Fair on Sept. 28 which offered students the chance to meet with prospective employers and network with others in similar fields. Angela Scaramucci, director of the Career Development Center, said the event is the Center’s way of connecting students to the world outside of Point Park. “Networking is key in

getting an internship or job,” Scaramucci said in the Student Center on Thursday. “So the fact that you can actually meet a recruiter in person, get a business card, connect with them on Linkedin, it really helps your chances because then when they see your resume when you apply for something, they’re going to remember you from our fair.” The Internship and Job Fair has aided Point Park students and alumni for eight years. There are two fairs every year: one in the fall, and another in the

spring. There were 112 different employers in attendance, offering volunteer opportunities and internships for students of all majors. On average, between 250 and 350 students take advantage of this opportunity every time it’s held. Scaramucci encourages students to go to the semi-annual job fair even if they think it is early for an internship. She advises students to start getting involved as early as possible, even as early as freshman

JOB FAIR page 2

Fitness program aimed at clubs provides wide range of workouts By Sarah Pais Copy Editor

Fitness on Demand has returned new and improved and now offers

HISTORICAL HALL OF FAME INDUCTION

Robert Berger| The Globe Point Park’s first men’s basketball coach, Jerry Conboy speaks with Angela Olivieri, the first women’s soccer player to be inducted into the Point Park sports Hall of Fame Saturday. Full story on page 8.

more options for workouts. The program is open to everyone, but according to Parker Werns, the Coordinator of Student Programming, the Student Center is hoping for clubs to take advantage of the space and programs. Werns described in an email blast that “the Fitness on Demand program features free videos of different exercise classes [like yoga, spinning, zumba classes or other cardio classes] to follow along with to have a productive and fun workout.” The program can be found on the second floor of the Student Center where participants work out to videos. One group on campus that has already tried the program is the rugby team. They participated in “broga” which is “yoga for the bros,” according to freshman rugby player Caleb Gretsky. “We were all sore afterwards,” Gretsky said.

“[Jillian Michaels] knows how to work us.” Michaels is a work out instructor. Some of her videos are available in the space. Along with clubs and teams using the facility, there has also been discussion about Resident Educators (REs) possibly planning floor events in the space during the month of October. Similarly, with Breast Cancer Awareness Month approaching, the Honors Program is considering planning an event dealing with Fitness on Demand, according to Werns. Pink Feet, a committee that coincides with breast cancer awareness and fundraises money for the cause, would be at the center of this event. For those who struggle finding time to work out, the program allows students to walk in and work out for as long as they want by either selecting shorter

FITNESS page 2

Weather Forecast

Today: Sunny H 82, L 60

Thursday: PM Showers, H 79, L 59 Friday: AM Showers, H 71, L 58 Saturday: PM Showers, H 74, L 60

Sunday: PM Showers, H 80, L 60 Monday: Showers, H 76, L 58 Tuesday: AM Showers, H 69, L 51

Point Park

GLOBE


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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Student gov’t adopts $10,000 internal budget

LOCAL The stage-rigging system was installed recently in the new Pittsburgh Playhouse on Forbes Ave. A 2014 theatre production alumnus, Philip Irvin took part in the process, who currently works as a technical director for The Little Lake Theatre Company. The theater is expected to open sometime in 2018. ---The Renfrew Center spoke to Point Park dance students during a workshop on body image and eating disorders. The presentation included information on treatment options available through The Renfrew Center. Dance department head Garfield Lemonius worked to bring the Center in for what he believes is the first eating disorder event held by the department according to the university website. Lemonius told the University his dancers’ well-beings are important, and that students need these resources to be successful. Lemonius plans on holding more events on issues that affect the mental health of dancers. ---PodCamp Pittsburgh hosted their annual media workshop at Point Park this past weekend. Saturday, in the University Center, presentation sessions with experts were held where topics such as blogging, web video, social media and podcasting were covered. The first day also included a meet and greet event giving attendees a chance to network with one another. The event continued on Sunday as hands-on workshops and one-on-one sessions with experts were held to let attendees put skills covered on day one to use. Each session was streamed live on the PodCamp Pittsburgh YouTube page for those unable to attend.

a total of $4,000, supplies at $400, the USG Forum budget of $2,000, a team building budget of $750, a printing allowance of $200, the emergency club cushion of $1,200, the PCD starting budget of $500, office supplies for $450 and a marketing budget of $500. Next week’s meeting will return to 701 Student Center.

from USG page 1 semester. Classrooms currently on the ninth and tenth floors will be moved to the third floor, while classrooms on the seventh and eighth floors will be moved to the fourth floor. Senators also deliberated over USG’s internal budget. The $10,000 budget is the year’s worth of student government activities broken down into specific subcategories. The internal budget includes USG stipends at

Hannah Walden hwalde@pointpark.edu

USG Internal Budget

$$$ Stipends

Forum

$4,000

Club Cushion

$2,000

$1,200

Isabelle Opsitos | The Globe

Above are the top three expenses within the USG internal budget adopted Monday. Stipends are given yearly to the President, Vice President, executive cabinet members and the USG Graphic Designer.

Fitness on Demand hopes Job fair beneficial to to invest in future “swag” underclassmen seeking from FITNESS page 1 Center to invest in “swag” career experience such as knee socks and sweatbands in order to promote Fitness on Demand. Rooms specifically for Fitness on Demand can be found on the second floor of the Student Center. Upon walking in the room, there is a box on the wall that has all of the workouts available. Simply tap whatever one you are interested in and start your workout.

or longer videos to follow. Colleen O’Neil, a freshman at Point Park studying broadcast production and media management, is looking forward to trying this program. “I would like to try it because it is a good fitness opportunity that I could utilize to better my workout routine on my own schedule,” O’Neil said. Werns also stated that with the given budget, he is looking for the Student

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Sarah Pais snpais@pointpark.edu.

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from JOB FAIR page 1 year. Scaramucci said that sophomore or junior year is a great time to start pursuing one or even multiple internships. Graham Mulqueen is a community organizer with A+ Schools, an education advocacy group focusing on educational equity. A+ Schools has participated at the fair for several years, and there’s a reason they keep coming back. “We are thankful for the opportunity to engage with students,” Mulqueen said Thursday during the fair. “We think that getting college kids involved with public education advocacy is really important because this is the building block of society.” Tyler-Paige Weiss, a freshman cinema production major, said finding internships on her own hasn’t been easy, since most of the internship positions are for sophomore students or older. Weiss explained why she thought internships were such an important asset for someone like her in an interview on Thursday. “To me, it’s all about experience,” Weiss said. “I think the more personal experience you have,

the better you are off in whatever career that you choose... reading about it is one thing, but when you’re hands on in the field it’s something different.” After Thursday’s fair,

“I think the more personal experience you have, the better you are off in whatever career that you choose.” Tyler-Paige Weiss Freshman cinema production major Weiss was hopeful. “I’m really looking forward to being able to connect with different companies and people and get my name out there,” Weiss said.

Sarah Gibson sagibso@pointpark.edu.


THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017

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New WPPJ radio show injects humor, music Fictional parody show takes new form each week By Dannys Marrero For The Globe

A new WPPJ radio show was founded on a unique idea: it imagines what it would be like if WPPJ frantically gave time slots to random people they have no confidence in. The new show, “Radio Somewhere,” put together by Chris Copen and Krist Muñoz-Malavé, changes each week with new types of music and comedy bits. “We aren’t in any type of creative courses right now,” Copen said. “So this is our creative outlet. It allows us to create and have fun with it.” Copen acts as the host of the program, while Muñoz-Malavé produces it and works on the technical aspect. Occasionally, Muñoz-Malavé will also act as a co-host. The two freshmen cinema majors described the show as half music and half comedy. The show paradies a new kind of radio show each week, bringing in different kinds of music every time. Essentially, it’s a new show each week. Even though these guys may be new to Point Park, they are optimistic when it comes to their radio show producing skills. Since the show is a series of parodies of already existing radio shows across the U.S., it takes them several days to write the show’s script and its many jokes. They also create different “on air” characters each week. A main feature of the

show that has become a stamp is their interesting “callers”. Each week the pair recruit individuals within campus and record bizarre conversations with them; they later edit the soundbite in the software Audacity, which Copen learned to operate on his own through trial and error. The recording sessions take place within their dorm surrounded by a group of friends who cackle at the material and act as judges for the quality of the content.

“We aren’t in any type of creative courses right now, so this is our creative outlet. It allows us to create and have fun with it.” Chris Copen

Host “Radio Somewhere”

They later create time cues for themselves and practice what they’re going to say to allow for the illusion of a “live” caller. “It takes us a whole week to produce actually,” Muñoz-Malavé said. “Even though there’s still a lot to improve, we make sure we

Veronica Rodriguez| The Globe

Allison Hritz | The Globe Chris Copen and Krist Muñoz-Malavé, freshmen cinema majors, recording their show “Radio Somewhere.”

are ready.” Last week Copen and Muñoz-Malavé created the illusion of a failed and outdated radio host who lost his mind. In the most recent episode, they included a caller who’s on top of a tree and is staring at his “true love.” The twist is his “true love” doesn’t even know he’s been watching her for the last few days. During the first “on air” broadcast of the show, the pair made sure everyone on their residential floor knew about “Radio Somewhere,”

and were actually able to get almost everyone to tune in. Samuel Shapiro, freshman broadcast production and media management major, and fellow Thayer floor 8 resident was one of the listeners. “I thought the show was pretty cool,” Shapiro said. “They really made it seem like they knew what they were doing.” Following their first broadcast, many Thayer 8 members complimented them and offered feedback,

something the pair crucially wanted. “I think it’s awesome that the whole floor was listening to it last week,” Muñoz-Malavé said. “I was scared we weren’t going to get any feedback for our hard work. I like feedback, it helps you grow.” Radio Somewhere broadcasts 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday nights on wppjradio.com and WPPJ 670 AM.

Dannys Marrero damarre@pointpark.edu

PIONEER PUBLIC Carley Bonk | For the Globe

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Ben Schonberger is a photography professor on campus, but that’s not all there is to say about him. Recently, Schonberger left his home in the North Side for a five-day trip to Amsterdam where he attended an art exhibit featuring his work, among 19 others’. “I’m still jetlagged,” he said, laughing, in a phone interview Friday. The show, “Foam Talent,” brought together work selected from a pool of 1,790 submissions across 75 countries, according to the Foam website. The exhibit starts at the Foam Museum and tours

throughout Europe. Being a part of such a show was a strongly affecting moment for Schonberger. “It’s one of those milestone moments in your career as an artist,” he said. Throughout his career, Schonberger has put together multiple books containing his photography, such as his most recent, “Detroit Shoreway.” This book incorporates found photos as well as photos he took himself. In 2010, Schonberger graduated from Shepherd University with a BFA in photography and computer imagery, and in 2013 he received an MFA from the Cranbrook Academy of Art. Before teaching at Point Park, Schonberger also

taught for Shepherd as well as the University of Akron. At Point Park he’s had the opportunity to help young photographers hone their own styles. “We have so many students doing so many different things,” he said. Sometimes a student is undecided. Some will approach him, he said, and ask what he or she should take photos of. What he said he tells them gets to the heart of his philosophy regarding photography. “What do you care about?” he said he tells students. “What stories are worth telling?”

Matt Petras mapetra@pointpark.edu

Check out the “Pioneer Public” video online at ppuglobe.com


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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017

FEATURES

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Graduate takes over The Northside Chronicle Managing Editor looks to expand monthly newspaper By Tanner Gavlak For The Globe

Neil Strebig sat between two vacant chairs at the Internship and Job Fair in the Student Center last Thursday. The 29-year-old had his arms folded, with a shirt and tie on and newspapers fanned out in front of him. Relaxing in Village Park after the fair for an interview with the Globe, Strebig removed his tie, folded it on a table beside his phone and small notebook. “Alright man, hit me with it,” he said. Strebig, a 2017 journalism graduate, recently took on the role of managing editor at The Northside Chronicle, a local newspaper in the North Side. “[The Northside Chronicle] basically reached out to me to see if I was interested,” Strebig said, “I was like, ‘Absolutely.’” The Northside Chronicle publishes in print monthly and online daily. As the community’s first and only newspaper since 1985, The Chronicle provides a local look at the people, places and events that span across the North Side’s 18 neighborhoods. Strebig’s position as managing editor entails overseeing and coordinating the publication’s editorial activities, as well as supervising employment and meeting with all section editors before running a particular story. Strebig grew up in Easton, Pennsylvania, graduating from Freedom High School in 2006. He attended LaFayette College in his hometown, majoring in political science with an intent to teach. After two years, Strebig grew bored with his classes and decided he could teach with any degree, so he left school for a year and in that time decided to pursue a career in food service as a chef. As of now, Strebig doesn’t see teaching as an immediate goal, focusing on bringing The Chronicle to a higher

level that young journalists can reach for, and personally establishing his own voice in Pittsburgh. During his year off, Strebig landed an opportunity to cook at a catering hall in Belvidere, New Jersey, and from there moved to Emeril’s Chop House in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. “Next thing I know, six years down the road, I had just become a chef,” he said. “School was an afterthought.” In 2012, Strebig decided he wanted to go back to school again. He started taking journalism classes at a community college for a year, then transferred to Point Park. While attending, Strebig worked as a chef at the Longue Vue Club in Verona as well as Allegheny Country Club in Sewickley. While juggling classes and cooking, Strebig freelanced and eventually found somewhat of a home on an online blog site called “Word of the Nerd,” where he routinely wrote pieces for his blog, “The Drunken Nerd.” “Me being a giant nerd it was kind of like, ‘Alright, well if I’m trying to get my foot in now, I might as well just write whatever I can write in my comfort zone.’” Strebig said. After supplementing his resume with articles in “Word of the Nerd,” Strebig went even further. He created his own blog, “The 86’d Life,” where he wrote about the food service industry and tried to give a peek into the camaraderie of food service, as well as the adrenaline rush and the mob mentality of the kitchen staff. From the fall of 2014 to spring 2015, The Northside Chronicle hired Strebig as an intern under managing editor Justin Criado, who was then replaced by Alyse Horn in summer 2015. Under Horn, Neil worked as a contributor. “I was kind of just a ma-

Mary-Anne Doggett| The Globe Neil Streibig, a Point Park alumnus, hosts a table for the Northside Chronicle at the Job and Internship Fair on Thursday.

niac, though, too. I would just send my resume out to everybody,” Strebig said, “I would send it out to Pittsburgh Magazine, WHIRL Magazine, [Pittsburgh] City Paper.” Continuing to relentlessly send out his credentials wherever he could, Strebig landed an editorial internship with Pittsburgh Magazine in the fall of 2015. At the magazine, Strebig contributed to the online site’s “412 Blog” as well as the “Best of” section. He considered this a huge step in his life, career and experience. Pittsburgh Magazine caught Strebig’s eye when he first moved to Pittsburgh, and he couldn’t have been happier than to have received an internship there. To him, this was a “huge” opportunity. Strebig chuckled when describing the journey The 86’d Life has been on. As he got too busy between school, work, and interning, the blog was put on the back burner and wasn’t updated on a regular basis. When the Center for

Media Innovation (CMI) opened last fall, Strebig said that CMI Director Andrew Conte, also a former professor of Strebig’s, told him nobody was really using the podcast room. Wanting to get back into “The 86’d Life” but not having the time to continue it as a literary blog, Strebig turned it into a podcast and aired the first episode on February 16, 2017. Strebig says Conte was very supportive of his podcast, as well as a crucial mentor in helping hone in Strebig’s long-form and literary-style journalism. “He’s a super creative person,” Conte said. “He’s just really thoughtful and interesting to be around.”

“Me being a giant nerd it was kind of like, ‘Alright, well if I’m trying to get my foot in now, I might as well just write whatever I can write in my comfort zone.’” Neil Strebig

Managing Editor The Northside Chronicle

Veronica Rodriguez| The Globe The North Side Chronicle’s coverage area encompasses several distinct neighborhoods, distinguished above.

Though most of his days are spent working hard on one task or another, Strebig still enjoys the little free time he finds. Last year Strebig had a show with Point Park’s radio station, WPPJ. The show was called “Geek Out,” where Strebig talked about cartoons, comics, video games, and the like. He has another personal blog called “The Nerd In The Burgh,” which complimented his radio

show and had its own written pieces, discussions and Q&A’s. As an avid soccer fan and longtime athlete, Strebig watches matches and plays a bit, but he’s “a giant geek at heart,” he said. Strebig holds many of his old Point Park professors responsible with getting him to where he is today and continuously pushing him to “just go for it,” he said. Among Conte, Strebig credits Professors Chris Girman, Bill Moushey, Thom Baggerman, Robin Cecala and Helen Fallon for his success. “If I hadn’t worked with [Fallon] over the summer to finish my degree and had she not taken me through her strenuous editing processes, I likely wouldn’t have the confidence to enter the position I’m in now,” Strebig said. “Her technique isn’t fun or glamorous by any means, but it is hugely important and valuable for future success in this industry.” Strebig received a call this past August asking him if he wanted to replace Alyse Horn as the managing editor for The Northside Chronicle, and he graciously accepted. Chris Ward, a contributor to The Chronicle as well as a current Point Park senior, enjoys working under Strebig. “He’s great, you know? Very talented writer and editor. He’s very supportive of any ideas I come up with. I knew Neil when he went to Point Park and he’s a good guy,” said Ward. Strebig is ready to see his paper grow and expand into new styles and mediums, such as long-form and literary journalism, an approach he prefers. “It’s exciting to sort of get to sandbox a paper,” Strebig said. “We’ll see what happens.”

Tanner Gavlak tjgavla@pointpark.edu

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OPINIONS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

THE

GL BE’S POINT

What can we do now? If this weekend was any indication, the world has been having a rough time. We could write a thousand stories about it. We could stand on a thousand street corners and hold a myriad of signs. We could send a thousand letters to our representatives. We could promise a thousand prayers. We could send out a thousand tweets expelling our indignation about the frenzy of the world. There’s lots we could “do” – but very little we can actually do, right? With the details streaming in on the senseless Las Vegas attack Sunday and a generally toxic national discourse at the forefront of several Americans’ minds, we wanted to remind everyone to breathe. The attack that took place was insensible and devastating. Consider this editorial our attempt to step in the right direction -- the direction of progressivism, egalitarianism and justice. It is too easy to buy assault weapons in this country. Period. It is too easy to acquire weapons and modify them into something much more dangerous. That’s what the Las Vegas

shooter did. He acquired 17 guns. Let that sink in. A single person was given the ability to massacre over 50 innocent people. At a concert -- an event meant to unite people. So why are we reeling at yet another senseless shooting? This isn’t the first violent attack and it won’t be the last. We as a country need to take a look in the mirror. Part of this problem can be attributed to a lack of mental health care, but an even bigger part is the easy access to firearms. We implore our officials to look into stricter gun policies in order to protect our citizens. We cannot sit by and allow this to happen any longer. Before we begin to take that step, first we need to take a moment -- and breathe. We can’t fix the world, but we can use our collective voices and demand change. This will not be the end of the world nor the end of peace. Decent people still inhabit this world, and as long as they remain we will thrive and push through this tragedy.

The Globe globe@pointpark.edu.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017

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Republican revival fails once more By Amanda Myers For the Globe

“Done, done, on to the next one.” That would be the philosophy for the Republican party if they were actually succeeding in delivering the grand political overhauls promised by President Donald Trump. Republicans finally conceded last Tuesday when they realized they did not have 50 votes to save the remains of their health care agenda: the Graham-Cassidy bill. It was a last-ditch attempt to get rid of Obamacare - something they still have no idea how to successfully do. Turns out Lindsey Graham was just as clueless as we thought he was. In today’s reality TV dystopia, this is just the latest failed attempt for an administration that refuses to waive their agenda, or moral conscious for that matter. Each time a major bill or executive decision rolls around, there is always some sort of nonsense meant to be a distractive precursor. This time, it was Trump’s attack on the NFL for allowing their players to kneel during the national anthem. Previously, it’s been sexist tweets aimed at “Morning Joe’s” Mika Brzezinski to distract attention from health care proposals the first go around. One cannot blame Trump entirely for these diversions; he’s just the Commander-in-Chief with a keyboard. Seriously, though, it is the press that need to assess their agenda. Since the campaign,

everything word-vomited by Trump has been given extensive coverage. The reason: ratings. Whether one praises or despises him, they tune in every time his name appears across their screen. They say no press is bad press, and Trump has certainly given the press a lot to cover. With the recent healthcare debacle, CNN felt compelled to have another debate after the hum drum success of February’s Ted Cruz vs. Bernie Sanders standoff.

“There is always some sort of nonsense meant to be a distractive precursor.” Amanda Myers

to tax reform. He hopes this will be the crowning achievement he has insistently been clamoring for after numerous setbacks and defeats. It is important to note that the last tax reform happened in 1986. If Trump wants his plan noticed, it has to be the biggest and baddest piece of legislation ever created. He is already touting it as a major benefit to the middle class, saying wealthy people like himself will not see any additional benefits. The plan proposes tax cuts that Trump says will boost economic growth, but debt feels imminent if Republican officials go along willy nilly yet again. Addressing a new tax plan is going to be daunting for officials with all eyes of America watching their every move. Don’t worry, Trump will find a way to turn our heads.

For the Globe

New Healthcare Bill While coverage is essential, the sensationalism that surrounds these events can be bigger than the actual story. This latest health care bill was doomed from the start when they knew they were not going to earn the necessary votes. Still, Trump is trying to prove they have the power of imaginary numbers to get this thing of the ground. He said last Wednesday that they need to wait a “few months” before another vote. Until then, Trump is turning his attention

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Amanda Myers admyers@pointpark.edu

Exploring the lives of young mothers and the sacrifices they make

How celebrity pregnancies like Kylie Jenner’s distort the narrative of motherhood By Gracey Evans Photo Editor

Kylie Jenner’s rumored pregnancy news with Travis Scott nearly broke the internet two weeks ago. Jenner’s going to have it easy. She has a plethora of money and the father of the baby, Travis Scott, will more than likely stay in their lives with even more money. Jenner is joining the ranks of young mothers, but she is very different than the majority of girls who find themselves unexpectedly pregnant early in life. Let’s look into this. Will she actually face any of the problems that come with taking care of a child at the age of 20? More than likely not. If you are a young mother and are not a wealthy makeup mogul with a constant influx of cash and fame, you will likely be shunned, told you are too young to take care of a child,

too immature. Now that we’ve established all of the privileges that Jenner will enjoy, let’s take a step back and look at a more likely scenario. According to Teen Pregnancy Statistics, more than half of teen pregnancies occur in older teens, aged 18 or 19. You are 19 years old and you text your best friend that you may be pregnant, and you don’t know what to do. After a while, you decide to keep the baby. At this point, you think everything will be fine when that baby boy is born until you find out your son’s father will not be participating in his life. You will also find out that your son’s father will not tell people that he has a son, leaving you completely alone. You only have a few people to turn to because some people decide to go behind your back during

your pregnancy. You work your butt off for your son yet it never seems to be enough. You struggle and worry.

“I am an advocate of all young mothers who are struggling.” Gracey Evans Photo Editor The Globe

This isn’t just a scenario created for the purpose of

this article, it’s someone’s reality. My best friend is a great mother at the age of 20 with an eight-month-old baby who is learning to crawl. She loves him and would die for her son. The father of her son has seen him only a handful of times and only pays child support. I know how hard it is on her and always wish I could give her money and a break. My best friend believes that being a young mother is the biggest blessing in the world and that she gets to experience more with him and, according to Healthy Futures, she’ll have the ability to relate to her child better. Even though I am not a mother and don’t plan on being one for a long time, I know the happiness my best friend feels every time she comes home after a long day at work and sees her son.

Since she is also a single parent, she knows that once she gets home, she has someone to snuggle up with and love. I know that I can’t fully relate to my best friend, but I can understand enough about what she has been going through for the past year or so. I am an advocate of all young mothers who are struggling. I am also very proud of my best friend for all she has accomplished, despite not having all the amenities that the rich and famous enjoy. As for Jenner, we all know she will have a great life, and hopefully she will love the child as much as any other mother would and, hopefully, Travis Scott will stay in her life as well as the baby’s life too. But money? No need to worry about that because they have plenty.

Gracey Evans glevans@pointpark.edu.

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

THE

GL BE SINCE 1967

The Globe board consists of Alexander Popichak, Emily Bennett 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 in rooms 710 and 712 Lawrence Hall. Writers should address letters to:

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017

OPINIONS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Adding your two cents can cost you

A response to former fire chief Paul Smith of Cecil Township

“There is no need for apology as what has been said cannot be taken back.” Levi Brown For the Globe

Whatever another American does, as long as they aren’t breaking the law or causing others harm, should not affect another individual in any way, shape or form. When it comes to politics, go for it. Let your voice be heard. After all, it is one of our duties as Americans to vote, and it is our First Amendment right to speak freely, however that does not make us free from consequences as evident by Smith being dismissed from his position.

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This mass kneeling protest taking place is not meant to signify that one is disrespecting the country, flag or the armed forces that protect us, but it is trying to state that people from all walks of life will not tolerate racial inequality and injustice which seems to be going over several heads. There is no need for apology as what has been said cannot be taken back or erased. His action has been archived, a screen shot has been taken and shared amongst multiple social media platforms. If Smith truly regretted what he said, he never would have said it in the first place. If Smith has this type of animosity toward African-Americans, how does he feel about other minority groups? Smith’s action has made me question if he is fit to be in charge of a group of first responders. If he used this term to describe Coach Tomlin, how would he treat another minority in a time of danger? It’s great knowing that someone like this is no longer in charge of public servants that are trained to save civilians in times they are desperately needed, especially in a country that takes pride in being diverse and inclusive. In a country that does just that, there should be no space for hate of any kind.

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In the midst of the mass kneeling protests going on in the world of professional sports, it seems like everyone is adding their two cents, including volunteer Fire Chief Paul Smith of Cecil Township. Paul Smith was once the fire chief of Cecil Township, before he took to social media to express his feelings toward the Pittsburgh Steelers decision to not go out on the field against the Chicago Bears in week three of the NFL schedule. In a short post to Facebook, Smith stated “Tomlin just added himself to the list of no good n******. Yes I said it.” Smith did indeed call Head Coach Mike Tomlin the n-word in his short outburst to Facebook. Upon realizing his mistake, Smith issued a statement to multiple news agency for his actions. In a statement regarding the post, Smith said: “I am embarrassed at this. I want to apologize. I was frustrated and angry at the Steelers not standing for the anthem. I am on vacation. This had nothing to do with my fire department. I regret what I said.” Before I continue, I would like to ask some questions. How and why was he embarrassed at their action? Why is he apologizing? Could he have handled his frustration and anger in a different way? Is he sure this has nothing to do with

his fire department? Does he truly regret what he stated? Smith said he was frustrated that the Steelers did not stand for the national anthem. The keyword there is stand. How do we know that they did not stand? There weren’t cameras recording the team in the locker room. Sure some may have stood, while others may have sat, but why does that matter? The answer is, it doesn’t.

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By Levi Brown For the Globe

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SOCIAL MEDIA

Get Involved! Be Heard! Have your own show! 2nd floor of Lawrence Hall near Dining Services

Check out wppjradio.com

Levi Brown lrdonal@pointpark.edu

Let’s not become involved in another war, thank you By Dannys Marrero For the Globe

With the humanitarian crisis going on in the southern states and Puerto Rico at the hands of Mother Nature, war is the very last thing the U.S. needs at this moment; especially against an enemy whose nickname has become “rocket man.” Unfortunately for us, the current President of the United States is well-known for his incapability of keeping his mouth shut when he needs to, and staying off Twitter. Usually these two factors make for an entertaining combination on the 6 p.m. news; however this time around, thanks to Mr. Cheetos’ poor choices, North Korea is under the delusion that we’ve declared war. Thanks to news outlets and the power of social media, those of us who weren’t present at the United Nations General Assembly were still able to see what our idiotic leader had to say about the situation that is North Korea. “The United States has great strength and patience, but if it is forced to defend itself or its allies, we will have no choice but to totally destroy North Korea,” Donald Trump said, directly in front of North Korea’s delegation, which, according to USA Today, had obtained front row seats through a U.N. lottery system.

From the political science courses I’ve taken here at Point Park, I’ve learned that there is no uncomplicated way to deal with North Korea. However, it is common knowledge that threatening the life of a world leader, and the rest of the population of North Korea, which by the way is 25.3 million, is by no means the correct thing to do. But unfortunately, here we are. “The whole world should clearly remember it was the U.S. who first declared war on our country,” Ri Young, Foreign Minister of North Korea said to reporters as he was leaving New York. According to USA Today, Young also said that Trump’s insults against North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-Un make it “inevitable” that the country’s rockets will strike the U.S. mainland. Now, one might think: “Oh, they’re just exaggerating! Donald Trump didn’t say that!” Well, when the words “totally destroy” come out of the mouth of the leader of the nation capable of carrying out such a task, as the U.S. unarguably has the strongest military in the world, it is only natural to feel threatened; and it’s extremely concerning when the Department of Defense supports such actions. Pentagon spokesman Col. Robert Manning reacted by saying, “If North

Korea does not stop their provocative actions, you know, we will make sure that we provide options to the president to deal with North Korea.” Now, I’m in no way taking North Korea’s side. Both of my parents are in the military and I respect the government and the position that is the President of the United States. I do think Kim Jong-Un and his regime are insane and I do believe there needs to be some type of western intervention. However, the units my parents are currently stationed in would be the one of the first to respond to any military mobilization, and I’m not in any mood to lose my parents in meaningless war. They’ve been deployed and taken away from me because of both Operation Desert Storm and the War on Terror. That is something I cannot, and will, not support. And I know I’m not the only one who thinks so. There are thousands of military kids that don’t want to lose their parents again and many diplomats who don’t want a war; as both the U.N. and China have come forth and commented on this tension. “We want things to calm down,” Liu Jieyi, China’s ambassador to the UN, said to reporters after the Assembly. “It’s getting too dangerous and it’s in nobody’s interest.”

Stéphane Dujarric, a spokesman for UN Secretary General António Guterres, told reporters “Fiery talk can lead to fatal misunderstandings. The only solution for this is a political solution.”

“When the words ‘totally destroy’ come out of the mouth of the leader of the nation capable of carrying out such a task... it is only natural to feel threatened.” Dannys Marrero For the Globe

Furthermore, imagine whatever superior deity you believe in popping up at the 6 o’clock KDKA-TV News. Well, that is what the people of North Korea experienced when for the first time in the country’s history, their leader, their deity, stepped forth and commented on live television. “I will make the man holding the prerogative of the supreme command in the U.S. pay dearly for his speech calling for totally destroying [North Korea],”

Kim said to his people. This is not what this country needs right now. We now have a mad man who has taken a step he is not able to come down from. To the people of North Korea, their god has spoken personally to them, and “assured” them that the U.S. would be punished. The biggest problem is that because he has personally “assured” his people, he will lose his power and credibility if he doesn’t deliver. I’m scared because I’m sure that if these tensions continue, this man is going to lose it one day and press that red button. However, if the missiles are not being pointed at us, they will most likely be pointed at South Korea. So if Donald Trump has any sanity and selflessness, he will do the right thing and stop his verbal assaults. I’ve always said actions speak louder than words, and I believe that the actions he will take and the sanctions he will uphold against North Korea will allow for the world to not get involved in another great war. I’ve been separated from the ones I loved because of such wars, and the last thing I want for anyone in the world to lose someone they love because of the actions of a mad man.

Dannys Marrero damarre@pointpark.edu


SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

CROUP’S CORNER By Josh Croup

Sports Columnist

Turn page on tough weekend finale The volleyball team played eight sets over the weekend, winning their first five. They only should have played six. Point Park earned a three-set sweep of Midway University Friday night, winning 25-16, 25-11 and 25-17. It was a quick win that saw the Pioneers win their third River States Conference (RSC) contest in a row. That same night, Asbury University swept nearby Carlow University to set up Saturday’s battle of the winning streaks. Asbury’s win over Carlow was its third in a row as the Eagles remained undefeated in RSC play. One team was walking out of the Student Center gym Saturday with their winning streak in tact. That team was not Point Park. The Pioneers won the first set 25-17 and was cruising in the second set, leading 21-17. Then the conference-leader in kills, Ashley Taylor, landed wrong on her left ankle while coming down from a block attempt. It wasn’t necessarily unfamiliar territory for Point Park when Taylor left the game. She injured that same left ankle in practice recently and missed two games leading up to the weekend. The Pioneers hung on to win set two and was on track to win set three. It was almost a six-set weekend. They held a 22-18 lead in the set, but Asbury rallied with seven unanswered points to take the set. Point Park exchanged blows with Asbury during the fourth set and needed one point to win the game. The Pioneers had a match point in

the set, up 24-23, but Asbury came up with three straight points to force a fifth set. The Eagles carried their momentum to win the fifth set 15-8. The games were part of Point Park’s alumni weekend. Several recent alumni of the team were in attendance to watch the Pioneers host Asbury after playing in the annual alumni game that morning. The recent grads showed their support of the current players, with several extending words of encouragement post game. One of those was Lindsey Oberacker, who was in town for her Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony. “Those girls are talented,” Oberacker said. “I was just talking to Morgan [Dangelo] and I said ‘Just stay strong, don’t forget there’s two bids and you guys will have one.’ I think they’ll be fine.” The season is young, with Point Park’s record in conference play standing at 3-3 after the weekend. The bids Oberacker referred to are for the national tournament. Point Park has earned one of the two bids, awarded to the conference tournament champion and regular season champion, each of the last three years. There are 10 conference games left on Point Park’s schedule after Saturday. If they can turn the page on this weekend and use it as a learning opportunity, the new Hall of Fame inductee’s words will reign true. They’ll be fine.

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017

7

Men’s soccer loses late, piles on 8 goals next game By Nick Horwat Copy Editor

The men’s soccer team opened up River States Conference (RSC) play last Thursday after a nine-day break in games. The Pioneers traveled to Asbury University first, where they took a 2-1 loss. Then last Saturday the men exploded for an 8-1 victory over Cincinnati Christian University (CCU), six of those goals coming in the second half. Coming off of a nineday break is never easy for a team. “Long breaks definitely have an effect on the way our team plays,” senior Giovoni Lebrun said. “With such a long break we tend to fall out of our rhythm of playing both mentally and physically in a game.” In the game against Asbury, sophomore Roberto Whitley opened up the scoring in the 22nd minute with his third goal of the season. It was the only goal for either team until Asbury put one past goalie Ryan Daniels in the 74th minute. Two minutes later, Asbury struck again to take the lead and the win with a 2-1 final. This was the Pioneers first loss after a five-game winning streak, giving them a 5-3 (0-1) record. The Pioneers were back

on the road to CCU, where they tallied eight goals in an 8-1 victory. Whitley again found himself on the score street, this time with four goals in the match. “As an attacker, scoring goals is what we want to do,” Whitley said. “So when we score so many in a game I feel like I am doing my job well.” The scoring was opened up with Whitley’s first goal in the early minutes of the game. He followed with his second tally in the 27th minute. CCU got a shot past goalie Juan Somoza, making the score 2-1 at the half. In the first 11 minutes of the second half, the Pioneers put up five more goals, taking full control of the game.

“It was great for us to get on the first minute of the second half. We just didn’t let our foot off the gas from there.”

Sophomore Marc Bentley scored one minute into the second half, followed closely by fellow sophomore Wessel Rietveld, who scored two goals in two minutes. Whitley completed his first career hat trick by scoring two more times in the 53rd and 56th minute. The scoring halted for 20 minutes until junior Nawfel Bichiba netted the eighthand-final goal of the game in the 77th minute. “It was great for us to get on the first minute of the second half,” Bentley said. “We just didn’t let our foot off the gas from there.” Throughout the game the Pioneers took 44 total shots with 31 shots on goal, with 27 of the total shots coming in the second half. Somoza played all 90 minutes of the game and was able to make five saves for the win. The Pioneers return home Friday at 1:30 p.m. against Midway University. Point Park stays home Sunday to host Brescia University at 11 a.m.

Marc Bentley

Sophomore Defender Men’s Soccer Team

Nick Horwat njhorwa@pointpark.edu

Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu

RUGBY DROPS RIVALRY GAME Sam Robinson| Point Park Athletics Sophomore defender Marc Bentley advances the ball towards midfield in a game against Pikeville on Sept. 16. Bentley collected a goal and an assist in the team’s latest 8-1 victory against Cincinnati Christian.

Women split first RSC games By Allison Schubert Copy Editor

Gracey Evans | The Globe The Point Park Rugby Club fell to rival Carnegie Mellon University 55-0 on Saturday. The rivalry between the two goes back to 2010 when Point Park connected with Carnegie Mellon as its brother club. Head to PPUGlobe.com for the full story on the history of the Point Park Carnegie Mellon rivalry and for a recap of Saturday’s game.

The women’s soccer team kicked off River States Conference (RSC) play this weekend on the road at Asbury University and Cincinnati Christian University. The Pioneers only needed three minutes to take game one at Asbury University on Thursday 2-1. The first half ended scoreless for both sides, but junior midfielder Lauren Bower was finally able to get one past the Eagles’ goalkeeper off a pass from sophomore midfielder Nikki Polens in the 57th minute. Just two minutes later, Polens added the team’s second goal to solidify its lead. Shortly before the Pioneers got to celebrate, the Eagles’ Emily Hubbuch got one

past starting goalkeeper Ashtyn Webb in the 89th minute to prevent the shutout. Webb made three saves prior to the Hubbuch goal. Eagles’ goalkeeper Brooke Perkins had only two saves on the night. This game is the eighth consecutive game between Asbury and Point Park that has been decided by one goal. Two days after their victory, the Pioneers headed to Cincinnati Christian University (CCU) for another conference game. In goal for the Pioneers were both Webb and Morgan Willis, who each made one save. CCU’s Maren Hence scored just 24 seconds into the game to give the Eagles an early lead. Freshman midfielder Morgan French answered

that goal in the 10th minute with one of her own. CCU did not let up, however, and scored three more times before the end of the half. Coming out of the locker room, CCU kept with the momentum and scored their final goal of the night in the 59th minute. Point Park was not done battling back though, with Gabby Widman and freshman Bailey Boyd each scoring within a minute of each other. Despite outscoring the Eagles 26-12, they still ended up with a tough 5-3 loss. The Pioneers come back to Highmark Stadium for their first home conference game on Oct. 6 against Midway University.

Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu


8

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2017

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Hall of Fame class defined programs

First women’s soccer player, volleyball star enshrined By Josh Croup and Allison Schubert

Co-Sports Editor and Copy Editor

Angela Olivieri went out on a limb when she committed to play women’s soccer at Point Park, a program only in its second season when she began her career in 2006 that finished 2-14 the prior year. Lindsey Oberacker signed with a Point Park volleyball program that never won a conference championship in its 18-year history leading up to her freshman year in 2009. Since then, both programs have experienced successes and growth that may not have been possible without the addition of the two athletes, and they’re now the newest additions to the Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame. Olivieri and Oberacker were inducted into the Hall of Fame to join 56 other individuals and one team already enshrined as some of Point

Allison Schubert | The Globe Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Paylo, former women’s volleyball player Lindsey Oberacker, former women’s soccer player Angela Olivieri and Athletic Director Dan Swalga pose for a photo after the Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom.

Park’s best. The new inductees were joined by past and present athletes, coaches, friends and family on Saturday in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom for the induction ceremony hon-

oring their time as Pioneers. Athletic Director Dan Swalga watched Olivieri and Oberacker rise through the ranks of their programs from recruit to hall of famer. “Every time we have

XC runners thrive at Louisville Classic meet By Emily MacIntyre For the Globe

The cross country team ran in the Louisville Classic last weekend, one of the team’s further races away from home in Kentucky, but the distance did not deter anyone. Especially not Anna Shields, having run 16 minutes, 59 seconds for 5k, landing her in 19th place out of 378 runners, being amongst the top National College Athletic Association (NCAA) DI runners in the gold race. She’s dropped 20 seconds off her time this season, breaking 17 minutes and setting new school records. “She is definitely a once in a lifetime kind of athlete,” head coach Kelly Parsley said Shields won her first three races of the season, earning

National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Runner of the Week honors in each of her first three weeks. “This was the best field of competition I’ve ever faced,” Shields said. “What’s exciting is that I feel I’m far from my ceiling of ability, so each race reveals more of what is ultimately possible to achieve.” It has been a great season so far for the women Pioneers. The women’s team as a whole placed fifth out of 38 schools that morning in the silver race without Shields, their top runner, who ran in the gold race. Kayla Roberts led the Pioneers, coming in 11th out of 268 runner with her time of 19 minutes, 30 seconds. She was the only Pioneer in her division to break 20 minutes. “We have been getting better each week,” Parsley said. “This is the best result

for the women in this race historically.” Senior captain Alexis Sherman was saddened by her last trip to Louisville with her team. She said she has loved the travel time together. “Being able to say I raced in the Greater Louisville Classic is a big deal because some of the best runners in the world race here every year,” Sherman said. The men’s team also came out near the top with 12th out of 46 also in the silver race. Sophomore Xavier Stephens emerged as the top runner placing 35th of 304 runners with a time of 27 minutes, 20 seconds in the 8K race. Point Park will compete next at the Carnegie Mellon University Invitational this Saturday.

Emily MacIntyre emacin@pointpark.edu

these things there’s a couple things that I observe,” Swalga said. “The passion that they had for their sport and the love they had for Point Park, their teammates, etc. It’s great to see that, and in this case, I saw both of them for four years straight, and now I see them grown up. They’re young women ready to explode into the world.” Olivieri was an immediate producer for the Pioneers, notching a program-record 22 goals in her freshman season. Throughout her time in a Point Park jersey, she tallied 45 career goals and over 100 career points. She is the program’s only player named to the all-conference team all four years of her career and is the first women’s soccer player in the Hall of Fame. Olivieri chose her father Claudio to present her Hall of Fame induction. “He was my high school coach,” Olivieri said in her speech. “When I got recruited to come play out here, he actually retired from coaching high school to come to all of my games. In my four years, I can’t think of many games that my parents missed - that being both home and away.” Had Olivieri listened to some of her other past coaches, she may not have received her Hall of Fame honor. “When I was in middle school, oddly enough, I had

RSC loss snaps 4-game winning streak By Dara Collins Co-Sports Editor

The Pioneers hit the road for a rematch against last season’s only conference loss, University of Rio Grande, and returned home for a pair of conference matches as a part of Point Park University Athletics Alumni Weekend. Rio Grande was the only blemish on Point Park volleyball’s conference record last year. This season, the Pioneers only needed four matches to close out the RedStorm. “We were our own competition last year against Rio, so coming out this game and beating Rio, it was such an uplifting moment for our team,” libero Morgan Dangelo said. Point Park led the match 2-0 before Rio Grande took set three 25-22 to remain alive for one more set. Set four was all Point Park as the Pioneers closed out the RedStorm 25-11. Dangelo returned from

her ankle injury and led the defense with 19 digs. Junior Erica Gumz recorded the team-high for kills at 12 while fellow junior Meg Reineke followed with 10. The duo collected over half the total kills for the match. Next up, the Pioneers hosted Midway University for the first match of Athletics Alumni Weekend last Friday. The weekend began on a high note as power hitter Ashley Taylor returned to the court, and Point Park completed the sweep on Midway. “I think we just stuck very well together and we just stayed as a team,” Taylor said. “We didn’t really get let down or anything, and I just think as one we definitely stick together and that’s something we’ve definitely been struggling with.” Taylor and middle hitter Jazlyn Rozier tied for the match-high in kills with eight. Dangelo once again led the defense with 11 digs, and

the Pioneers collected seven service aces. The Pioneers continued Alumni Weekend festivities last Saturday with a friendly contest between volleyball alumni and the junior varsity squad prior to the conference match-up against the Asbury University Eagles. Point Park burst out of the locker rooms with energy and stole set one 25-17. Taylor collapsed on the court halfway through the second set after a bad landing on her previously sprained ankle. “Honestly, I think it had zero impact because she was just coming back from an injury, and we trained with Savannah (Dishman) on the right pin, so we were fully prepared with that lineup,” head coach Mike Bruno said. The Pioneers came out on top in set two, but the Eagles bounced back to win three consecutive sets and departed with the victory. “We had the first two

games,” Taylor said. “We played great. Everyone was together, everyone was talking, everyone was loud, everyone was having fun.” Asbury remains undefeated in conference play with a 4-0 record. “They’re relentless, they’re tough,” Bruno said. “They had some great kids that do some good things.” The Eagles out-killed the Pioneers 55 to 49 despite Point Park putting up more attacks. “It was a lack of mental discipline and execution is what it comes down to,” Bruno said. The Pioneers even their River States Championship (RSC) record at 3-3 and now stand at 13-9 overall. The team will play another pair of conference matches against West Virginia Tech and Rio Grande for Family Weekend on Friday and Saturday.

Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu

a coach tell me that I wasn’t good, that I should just quit now basically,” Olivieri said in her speech. “I used to get so anxious to go to those soccer practices that I would actually throw up before practice because I just thought that I wasn’t any good.” Oberacker also wasted no time becoming an impact player for the volleyball team, leading them to a 32-8 season and the American Mideast Conference Tournament Finals in her freshman season. She led the team to its first conference championship and first appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) National Tournament during her junior season. Point Park has since returned to the national tournament three more times. The volleyball team had a combined 127-34 record when Oberacker played for the green and gold. Putting a heavy emphasis on how much her teammates meant to her, Oberacker chose former teammate and fellow captain Margaret Gillooly to present her honor Saturday. “[Gillooly] was my roommate, my friend, pretty much the yin to my yang,” Oberacker said. “Our team was a unit; we were a group. We were people who hung out outside of the court. We got to know each other’s quirks, how we work as people, what we like, what we dislike and how we function as human beings. That’s how you really develop a successful team, and those are the teams that win championships.” Director of Athletic Communications Kevin Taylor also had the chance to watch Olivieri and Oberacker suit up as Pioneers. “It really takes a lot, as others have said, to really take your program to the next level,” Taylor said. “It takes a special kind of person to do that. It takes a special kind of character for that.”

Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu

RSC VOLLEYBALL RESULTS (As of Oct. 2) 1-3 0-3 3-1 3-1 0-3 3-2


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