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@PPUGlobe October 18, 2017
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Honors program screens “Children of the Corn” with movie’s director Amanda Myers gives an indepth look at how Harvey Weinstein got caught Men’s Soccer increases winning streak to five games after road trip ppuglobe.com
Celebrating 50 years of covering the world of Point Park University news
Issue 8
“That’s an image that will always be in my head”
Sheykhet’s roommate remembers the night Pitt student was murdered
Nikole Kost | The Globe
Sophomore broadcast reporting major Zach Brandner embraces Bradford School student and Alina Sheykhet’s high school friend Emily Lepore at the balloon release in her memory at Schenley Plaza Oct. 12. By Nikole Kost Photo Editor
As he walked up the stairs with Alina Sheykhet’s parents to see why she wasn’t answering her phone, Zach Brandner thought his roommate left without telling anyone.
After Sheykhet’s father knocked down the locked door, all it took was a quick glance of his roommate’s body lying on the floor to realize she was dead. “There was no question that she was alive or not,” Brandner said. “I didn’t look for a very long time at all because it was just too
graphic for me and that’s not how I wanted to remember her. That’s an image that will always be in my head.” Those were the sentiments of Point Park student Zach Brandner after the discovery of his murdered roommate and best friend. The sophomore
By Hannah Walden USG Beat Writer
Representatives from CulinArt joined members of the United Student Government (USG) to discuss issues that can be changed and improved. To begin the meeting, CulinArt director Kristy Weiss, Director of Dining Terry Chavara, and a staff chef answered questions and concerns from USG senators. President Bobby Bertha brought up the topic of what is and is not considered a meal in the Point Cafe.
According to both Weiss and Chavara, items from the salad station require one protein and four toppings to be considered a meal. Roughly the same concept applies to the sandwich station. If students want more meats or toppings, there is an extra charge. Food served at the Playhouse is also considered a flex dollar purchase instead of a meal. Food options that will be offered at the new Playhouse have not yet been established. Treasurer Josh Croup inquired on what CulinArt could do to help cater events and
USG page 2
Staff Writer
Lawrence Hall’s lobby was transformed into an oasis for self-care Oct. 11 for the annual Health and Wellness Fair. Hosted by the Student Health Center, the Health and Wellness Fair provides the opportunity for students to learn about staying healthy in college, covering topics that range from eating healthy to maintaining positive mental health. Coordinator of the Student Health Center Heather Capo organized the event and was excited to bring
these resources to students. “We really try to get information out regarding resources that are readily available to the students that will improve their well-being in multiple, multifaceted ways,” Capo said in the Student Health Office. “We want to make sure that they’re addressing their own well being medically, emotionally, mental health-wise, spiritually and bring that all together in one place. Getting all of that information is really important.” The fair was originally scheduled for Sept. 27, but had to be moved to Oct. 11
SHEYKHET page 2
Allison Hritz | The Globe
Students gathered to make candied apples with a variety of toppings on Monday in the Lawrence Hall Lobby. The Campus Activities Board hosted the event.
Health and Wellness Fair focuses on mental health, STI awareness By Sarah Gibson
Sheykhet’s parents along with Brandner discovered her body on the floor of her bedroom. “The first thing I thought was Matt Darby killed her,” Brandner said. According to the criminal complaint, “Sheykhet suffered from a fractured skull in two areas, severe trauma to her mouth from a sharp edged weapon, as well as damage from a blunt force weapon that broke her nose and mandible. Additionally, seven of her teeth were knocked out, her tongue had several lacerations and a penetrating blunt force injury to the back of her head that fractured her skull.” Sheykhet was pronounced dead at the scene. “None of us heard anything at all,” Brandner said. “If we would have heard anything we would have been up there trying to help.” The roommates were taken Downtown for questioning and were soon released. They were allowed to go back into the house with a police escort by 6:30 p.m. that night to get the things they needed.
APPLE OF OUR EYE
Food service provider speaks with student gov’t USG
broadcast reporting major has since moved into Lawrence Hall until he figures out his next move. Sheykhet and Brandner met their freshman year in a class called Freshman Seminar at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg. “Basically she wanted to go to Pitt main [campus] and I wanted to go to Point Park,” Brander said. “So we decided to live together.” They moved into 3597 Cable Place on Aug. 1, 2017. “We just always danced it out in our living room when we were stressed,” Brandner said. “We loved taking selfies together; we took pictures all of the time.” Sheykhet and Brandner also enjoyed cooking together. “Just being together and hanging out together was a big part of our lives,” Brander said. Sheykhet, a junior at the University of Pittsburgh, was murdered in their Oakland home on Oct. 8. Sheykhet’s ex-boyfriend, Matthew Darby, is being charged with the murder. “It was something you see in a movie,” Brandner said.
due to a scheduling error involving a conference that Capo was invited to attend. Among the services and information made available at the fair were tables on healthy eating, mental health, STIs and where to be tested for them, free contraception and even a corner with a few massage chairs offering complimentary massages. One group in attendance was Allies for Health and Wellbeing (AHW,) formerly the Pittsburgh AIDS Task Force. AHW offers services for HIV positive people, STI, Hepatitis C and Syphilis test-
FAIR page 2
University enlists team of students for social media By Kayla Snyder
Co-Copy Desk Chief
Nick Koehler and Daniel Kelly posted creative, high quality photographs of Point Park and Downtown Pittsburgh on Instagram. They tagged Point Park University, which allowed Felicia McKinney, the university social media manager to find them. Annie Brewer approached McKinney for advice during one of the freshman orientation sessions and helped coach her with social media engagement by strengthening her personal brand through her newly created Instagram account. Sydney Patton replied to
a casual tweet of McKinney’s asking for an assistant on her personal Twitter account and ended up offering her an apprentice position. The successes in messaging from these four caught the eye of McKinney and she decided to create her very own student team to help her with a constant flow of content. McKinney was hired in 2016 by Point Park after graduating with a degree in Student Affairs from Slippery Rock University. At Slippery Rock, McKinney worked within the enrollment management department doing social media, video and website content.
SOCIAL page 4
Weather Forecast Today: Sunny H 71, L 46
Thursday: Sunny, H 71, L 48 Friday: Sunny, H 72, L 49 Saturday: Partly Cloudy, H 75, L 53
Sunday: Partly Cloudy, H 76, L 57 Monday: PM Showers, H 72, L 54 Tuesday: Partly Cloudy, H 62, L 51
Point Park
GLOBE
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NEWS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Roommate speaks on behalf of Sheykhet’s family from SHEYKHET page 1 “When I went back into the house the other day to pick up my stuff it just felt really, really bad,” Brandner said. “There were things I noticed on the kitchen wall that I didn’t notice that morning and evidence they had found that’s still there because they can’t take it down.” Brandner and his roommates will not return to their Oakland home. “It’s just not possible for me to live there any longer,” Brandner said. Darby had previously broken into their residence on Sept. 20 when Sheykhet was able to scream for help. “When we called the police she said, ‘I hope I didn’t ruin his life,’” Brandner said. “Her mindset was that all of this was her fault.” Darby was charged with criminal trespassing and was released on bond the same day. According to the criminal complaint, as a condition
of the bond, Darby was ordered to not have any contact with Sheykhet. On the day of Sheyket’s murder, she had five missed calls from Darby. “Because he had broke into our house two weeks prior to this, now looking back we look at it as a failed attempt of killing her,” Brandner said. After police suggestion, Sheykhet filed an emergency Protection From Abuse (PFA) form that night that was effective immediately. Sheykhet filed a formal PFA soon after. A PFA order from a court gives protective relief for a victim and describes certain things the abuser must do or is forbidden to do in regards to a victim, according to Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Abuse. A PFA can last up to three years and can result in criminal charges if the abuser does not follow the order. “She always said, ‘He didn’t want to hurt me, he just wanted to talk to me,’” Brandner said.
The PFA was not served to Darby until Oct. 5, according to the criminal complaint. “Police said they lost it in the crazy mess of things,” Brandner said. “There was a pretty sizable gap of time where he could have come over and technically he could have gotten off because he could have said that he didn’t receive the PFA yet.” Brandner and his roommates have not had the chance to sit with their landlord to discuss the rental agreement. “I’m assuming considering the severity of the situation that we will be released from the rental agreement,” Brandner said. “Point Park has very graciously offered me housing in Lawrence Hall and I am going to take them up on that offer until at least the end of the semester until I get things figured out,” Brandner said. “I emailed the dean right after this happened and said that I was going to be missing some classes. He
was very understanding and emailed my professors for me and they have been very understanding as well.” Dean of Student Life Michael Gieseke notified Brandner’s professors. “There is no set protocol other than we reach out to the student, see how they are doing and find out what they need,” Gieseke said. “Every situation is different which is why I say there is no set protocol.” Pitt has offered housing for Brandner’s other roommates who are students there. Brandner began seeing a counselor on Oct. 13. “My friend Marissa has seen a counselor in the past and he has invited us to come along,” Brandner said. “I have good moments and bad moments. The past couple days have been extremely hectic.” Sheykhet’s viewing Wednesday had over 200 people in attendance. The viewing was closed casket. “There was no way that
it could possibly be open,” Brander said. “I didn’t have to see her like that and it helped in a way.” Taylor Celich, a sophomore broadcast reporting major at Point Park, was good friends with Sheykhet from high school. Celich last spoke to Sheykhet a month before the murder. “They said her face was unrecognizable,” Celich said. “We all knew it was him. It was so obvious who did it.” Sheykhet’s close friends held a memorial balloon release in Schenley Plaza Thursday evening. “She deserved better...a lot better,” Brandner said. “I applaud her for always loving people even though they necessarily don’t deserved to be loved. She’s my best friend and she’s someone I will always call my best friend no matter what. I will never forget her.”
Nikole Kost nkost@pointpark.edu
Wellness fair offered free Culinart addresses health code concerns massages and information Legislative body adds new business school senator from FAIR page 1 ing and a program that provides a daily pill that, when taken, is meant to safeguard those who take it against getting HIV. “Recently there was a statistic from the CDC that for people ages 14-24, STI rates are on the rise, so it’s really important that people come in for testing and it’s really important that young people specifically get access to services,” Leatra Tate, a health advocate for AHW, said. “So they can come into our testing facility and get tested for free, they can get tested anonymously, and they can get tested confidentially.” Morgan Strathmeyer, a senior dance and education double major, talked about what drew her in the most regarding the Health and Wellness Fair. “Health is very important and learning new things about... what to eat, and that
there are also organizations around Pittsburgh that can help if you have a problem, like physically or mentally,” Strathmeyer said. When asked about any specific booth that stood out to her, Strathmeyer said, “Massages, 100 percent. Then the different ones about mental health and physical eating disorders.” Students who missed the fair will have the opportunity to go next fall. Those looking for a specific service or information can visit the Student Health Office on the second floor of Thayer Hall. Resources available include first aid and initial assessment, doctor’s appointments, athletic trainers and mental health services on the fifth floor of Lawrence Hall.
Sarah Gibson sagibso@pointpark.edu
from USG page 1 meetings for clubs. While USG does not fully fund clubs to cater meetings, CulinArt does have options based on the budget and amount of students participating. Students have expressed concerns about the cleanliness and freshness of the food being served on campus, including chicken dishes potentially causing students to develop a bout of food poisoning and fruit that is past expiration date. Currently, CulinArt has been informing cashiers to check and dispose of food that is past expiration. Senators had questions for what happens to food products that don’t sell right away before they reach an expiration date. According to Chavara, they try to pull food a week before expiration from both the Cafe and dining hall and donate it to 412 Food Rescue, whose mission is to “prevent perfectly good food from entering the waste stream.” CulinArt stated that they
Allison Hritz | The Globe
Kristy Weiss.
passed the past two health inspections despite health code violations caught Sept. 21, including the cooling of food, plumbing, handwashing facilities and pest management, according to the Allegheny County Health Department Food Safety Program. While the Cafe fixed the issues and passed inspection Oct. 3, there currently is no report of progress made in the dining hall, as no follow-up inspection has been scheduled. CulinArt has an open door
policy, meaning students can go to workers or management with any questions or concerns. Offices are located in the Cafe. After the speakers, Croup reminded senators that submissions for the second budget period for clubs is due Oct. 24; funds will be distributed on Oct. 30. President Bertha also swore in freshman human resources management major Samantha Weber into USG to represent the Rowland School of Business, raising the total number of senators to 25. “I wanted to join USG because I didn’t feel that the School of Business was very well represented,” Weber said. “I wanted to be a voice for those students, to help them be heard.” Disclosure: USG Treasurer Josh Croup is co-sports editor for the Globe.
Hannah Walden hwalde@pointpark.edu
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FEATURES
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017
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Student Choreography Projects headline weekend Dance projects from Composition III class form SCP By Dannys Marrero For The Globe
Every year, certain Point Park University dancers cast and choreograph pieces by themselves, and this year was no exception. “[The Student Choreography Project] has happened every fall semester since I began school at Point Park in 2014,” Jennifer Romano, senior dance major and one of the choreographers, said. “I believe it existed long before that as well.” This past weekend the Student Choreography Project (SCP) took place, featuring 38 pieces choreographed by 38 different choreographers, spread into four shows. In each piece, choreographers are allowed to cast between two and eight dancers, with the number varying depending on what the choreographer envisions on stage. To cast these open spots in each piece, the choreographers divided themselves into three rooms and taught the auditionees different combinations. Those three rooms focused on either contemporary, jazz or improv work, with three to six choreographers per room. The SCP is actually a series of performances
from students enrolled in Composition III, a required class for Point Park BFA dance majors. Each student enrolled in this course is a choreographer of a piece and each student also chooses a mentor, a fellow dancer who has already completed the course, to help them through the process and to provide insight.
“We want to show our individuality and character as we dance. Basically, bring the story or character to life.” Chezney Douglas Dance Major Point Park University In order to audition to be part of the SCP, one must be at least a sophomore and majoring in dance. Before the auditions started, dancers did a warm up and then proceeded to teach the routines. During the audition,
’
Jordan Slobodinsky | The Globe Dancers on stage perform in the Student Choreography Project at the George Rowland White performance space Saturday afternoon.
Robert Clores, a junior dance major with a concentration in modern, was looking for people who took the movements he set and made them look good for their own bodies. “I also wanted to cast a diverse group of people who would complement each other rather than move similarly,” Clores said. Chezney Douglas, sophomore dance major, was one of the many auditioners. This was her first-year auditioning for the SCP.
“The most important thing is to keep a calm, open mind,” Douglas said. “We want to show our individuality and character as we dance. Basically, bring the story or character to life.” With all the different choreographers, there is a wide variety of numbers. Clores’ piece was about Japanese Internment Camps during World War II, entitled “Limited Civility.” “Because the world was at war, it must’ve felt like
HOCUS POCUS
civility was limited and far between,” Clores said. Romano’s piece was entitled “Impetus.” “Impetus is the force that makes something happen quickly,” Romano said. “In my piece there is a moment when my two dancers connect for the first time and the entire piece shifts. My female dancer is acting as the impetus in that moment.”
Dannys Marrero damerre@pointpark.edu
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017
FEATURES
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Students hired separately, now work as team
Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat updated regularly from SOCIAL page 1 “I knew that I wanted and needed [a small student team],” McKinney said. “It’s definitely been easier now that I have this solid team because every week I have steady content coming in from them, but we’re always looking for people in the community.” McKinney’s philosophy is to focus heavily on student content that is real and authentic to Point Park. “If one person is the only person creating content, it’s going to look like that specific art style,” Kelly said. “When a group of students, who are all talented can come together and build that profile, it works out for everyone. You see Point Park from different eyes, rather than just one.” Point Park uses four social networking websites: Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat. Three of the four are updated on a daily basis with new, different content. Snapchat, being the fourth, is updated less frequently. At the time of publication, the largest audience is found on Facebook. Point Park’s Facebook page has around 15,800 likes. The second largest audience with a total of around 8,900 followers is Twitter. Instagram, the third and most coveted according to McKinney currently has nearly 6,100 followers. Snapchat is up to about 1,200 views on stories, according to McKinney. “When I first got here, Instagram was kind of the thorn in my side that I was super stressed out about,” McKinney said. “I wasn’t sure if I was doing [Instagram] justice, but we did win a Gold Award for our account last December, so I knew were on the right path.”
ASSEMBLING THE TEAM
Kelly, a sophomore cinema production major, was the first addition to the team. Prior to the first day of school, McKinney reached
out to Kelly because she found moody photos of Pittsburgh that he took on Instagram and said she had to figure out a way to hire him. “I like to joke around and say Point Park slid into the DMs,” Kelly said. Similar to Kelly’s story, McKinney found Koehler, a freshman photojournalism major because he posted bright photos of Pittsburgh on Instagram.
“I like to joke around and say Point Park slid into the DMs.” Daniel Kelly Apprentice Point Park Social Media Koehler was transferring to Point Park and decided to tag the university in the photographs he was taking. McKinney saw his posts featuring Downtown and interviewed him to be an apprentice. Patton, a junior sports, arts and entertainment management major, originally applied for an apprenticeship position but was turned down the summer of her freshman year. McKinney tweeted indirectly asking for a personal assistant, Patton reached out via direct message and asked if that was an offer that was plausible, and then McKinney offered her an official position on the student team where she helps McKinney create content. Out of the four, Brewer, a junior cinema production major, was the only student team member who was not discovered via social media. Over the summer, Brewer, an orientation leader, reached out to McKinney for advice about branding her photography which features pictures of Point Park students, but also dogs around Downtown. “I honestly thought it would be a consultation of how to get more people’s attention with my pho-
tos and just how to brand my work,” Brewer said. “I thought she was joking at first about it. I thought it was an overreaction of ‘oh, I would hire you’ but she called HR while I was still in her office.”
CREATING SPECIALTIES
Although the students are considered a team, they rarely work in a setting together. All four create different content for social media, and they each have their own tasks within their apprenticeships. Kelly’s content ranges from taking photo or video of Pittsburgh for social media to covering different events. One of the reasons McKinney was able to find Kelly is because of a video he compiled of the freshman boat ride during Welcome Week which showcased his talents. Brewer exclusively does photography for social media. She attends different Point Park related events, takes photographs around Pittsburgh and sends her work in. One of her most notable photos featured a pair of students wearing red, white and blue attire facing the Wyndham hotel in honor of the events on September 11, 2001. Koehler’s apprenticeship focuses on photos for social media, but focuses a lot more on Point Park’s website. His work is featured within news stories on the university’s website. Examples of his work include photos from Family Weekend and an educational session on eating disorders for dancers. Patton is what McKinney describes as the “one who does it all for me.” Every Monday she’s in charge of coming up with the Motivation Monday
Gracey Evans| The Globe (Back to front: Left to right:) Nick Koehler, Daniel Kelly, Sydney Patton, and Annie Brewer are all part of the Point Park social media team under Felicia McKinney.
quotes, which are featured on Point Park’s Instagram Story. She also has her own monthly Snapchat takeover featuring different places around the city. In addition, she also writes and interviews for a series called #PittsburghMe, which profiles students on campus. Outside her team, McKinney actively searches for ways to feature current students on social media. To aid in that, McKinney focuses heavily on student involvement, whether it be from her team or featuring students in Photo Friday or Snapchat Takeover Tuesdays. Photo Friday allows students outside of the social media to be featured through Point Park’s Instagram Story. Snapchat Takeovers allow one candidate to be the ‘face of Point Park’ for a day showing off their routine as a student. These
students take questions from prospective students and show off what it’s like to be a Point Park student. McKinney’s goal becoming social media manager was to strengthen Point Park’s social media accounts, but also to change the strategy, tone and direction of the social media accounts. “[The students] are the voice of the school,” Patton said. “Students know what’s up and happening with social media. We’re the first ones to interact with trends and see it. Point Park’s social media is for the students. What better way to relate to them than getting student input? That’s her philosophy.”
Kayla Snyder klsnyde2@pointpark.edu
PIONEER PUBLIC
Edward Strimlan By Matt Petras
Co-Features Editor
Before Edward Strimlan was a professor on campus, he was the chief forensics investigator for the Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner. “I’ve seen a lot of death,” Strimlan said in a phone interview. The 58-year-old professor from Bethel Park has been teaching full-time for years, but his past experience still finds itself in his current work. He enjoys telling stories from his old job, and has students complete assignments based on cases he was actually involved in, he said. “You never know each
day if you were going to have a homicide, a suicide, an accident, a natural death,” Strimlan said. “You didn’t know if you were going to deal with family members or strange, unusual places you’ve never been in the county.” The job involved taking pictures, collecting the body, collecting evidence and contacting the families. “Once you get past the actual aspect of the tragedy, you become numb to the bodies, but you never become numb to the families,” Strimlan said. There would be some feeling of accomplishment after a job well done, but sorrow always lingered. “You realize backwards
Carley Bonk | The Globe
that somebody passed away still and there was a family that still lost their loved ones,” he said. Strimlan teaches a variety of classes, some of which implement the crime scene lab, a room in Academic Hall used for crafting mock crime scene investigations. This room regularly provides hands-on experience, according to Strimlan. It’s also something he notices students take a liking to. In fact, he often sees students taking a liking to their education. “I’ve been very lucky with the students at Point Park University,” he said. “They are really interested in the field.”
Matt Petras mapetra@pointpark.edu
Check out the “Pioneer Public” video online at ppuglobe.com
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
FEATURES
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017
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Honors Program screens “Children of the Corn”
The film’s director hangs out for talk with student audience By Madison Kelkis For The Globe
During a screening of “Children of the Corn” on campus, some students whipped out their phones, waiting for university local Fritz Kiersch’s name to appear on screen. When he did, they began recording. After some cheering, the film began, and the audience laughed, cracked jokes and yelled at the characters throughout. The screening last Thursday night in the George Rowland White (GRW) Theater in the University Center, hosted by the Honors Program, featured a talk from Kiersch, assistant vice president of Student Affairs and director of the classic 1984 horror film. “Children of the Corn” is based on Stephen King’s short story of the same name. The story follows a young couple as they find themselves in a remote town where a dangerous religious cult of children believe everyone over the age of 18 must be killed, starring Linda Hamilton and Peter Horton. The Honors Program does one big event every month. This month, the group decided to embrace the Halloween spirit with a horror film and make the event campus-wide. Alexa Newbrough, the student coordinator of the event, talked with Kiersch about the idea. “Fritz is very active in the Honors Program, so I thought it would be great to do an event with him,” Newbrough said. “We are lucky that he is such a good friend of the Honors Program.” Organizers provided students with food like popcorn,
corn dogs, candy corn and even canned corn. “Students today love a good pun,” Newbrough said. “So of course we needed to have corn-themed foods.” Following the film, there was a discussion among Kiersch and the students. Jimmy Elinski, cinema production major and assistant at the event, handed Kiersch a microphone on stage so he could talk. Kiersch looked at it then put it down and came to talk to the students in the seats. He sat on the back of a chair with his feet on the seat ready to talk. Kiersch shared anecdotes with the students. “My favorite part is in the beginning when we hit that kid with a car,” Kiersch said. “I actually had people strap me to the hood of the car so I could watch the actors’ reactions.” Newbrough was elated with how the showing and discussion went. “The discussion was very real and honest,” Newbrough said. “It did not feel like a big director talking to students. It felt like colleagues from different generations sharing tips and tricks.” Students who attended love to hear Kiersch speak. Some cinema students have heard him speak before. “Fritz makes you feel like you can do this,” cinema production major Megan Ortego said. “He once said if you’re in the room, you are good enough. It sent chills down my spine.” Kiersch didn’t always know he was going to be a director, he said in an interview in his office before the screening. Growing up, he was strongly encouraged by
his parents to be a banker. He headed to New York City to try his hand at economics. “I headed to Wall Street in my suit and noticed everyone else was in the same suit,” Kiersch said. “I had to get out of there.” He then headed to film school and Los Angeles. Kiersch started out working odd jobs for a company that produced commercials. After gaining the company’s trust, he was offered a job to direct a commercial. The connection he made while making commercials got him the opportunity to create “Children of the Corn.” “It took eight years for me to develop as a filmmaker and get this job,” Kiersch said. “Careers are made from films like these.” When the idea of filming “Children of the Corn” was proposed to Kiersch, it did not take long to get to work. “It started with a 40 min-
ute conversation over some coffee,” Kiersch said. “Then we started working right away.” With the low budget of under $1 million, Kiersch was feeling pressure to create the film. “We decided that if we don’t eat or shower for a month or so we could do this,” Kiersch said. Kiersch began scouting for a location and found one in a small town in west Iowa. With permission to take over the town, they filmed for four weeks from 5:30 a.m.-to-9:00 p.m. and edited at night. “The company producing the movie was right down the street from where I made commercials,” Kiersch said. “I would edit the movie and during lunch breaks I would walk over to work on commercials.” Kiersch has worked in camera, production and other technical departments as well
as directing for over 30 years. Most recently he has worked on “Tuff Turf” starring James Spader and Robert Downey Jr., “Surveillance” starring Armand Assante and “The Hunt,” which he wrote and directed. Kiersch previously taught for The University of Oklahoma and at Oklahoma City Community College where he established the film production program. “I had a great time at the showing,” Kiersch said after the event. “Anytime I can help benefit a student, I’m all in.” The event was an overall success, according to Newbrough. “We are so lucky to have a man like Fritz at our school,” Newbrough said. “He is so humble and respectable with all around great character.”
Madison Kelkis mkelki@pointpark.edu.
Honors Program I Submitted Fritz Kiersch speaks with students about his experience directing “Children of the Corn” at a showing hosted by the Honors Program last Thursday.
Students swipe right on worthwhile partners By Nikole Kost
Online Photo Editor
When Leah Lake learned that her Tinder match was engaged, she messaged her match’s fiancee on Facebook. Kayla Damazo signed up for Tinder to mock her ex; however, she ended up finding an unexpected relationship. Cierra Barefoot was studying abroad in Rome when she signed up for Tinder and found more than a casual date. Tinder, a popular social network, has become a modern dating success tool rath-
er than just for a weekend hookup. “I’ve met about 20 people on tinder,” Lake said. “I’ve had my fair share of Tinder successes and, obviously, not-successes.” Tinder is an online dating app with headquarters based out of Los Angeles, CA. Tinder started in 2012 with intentions for online chatting. Swiping right on someone means you want to match with them. Swiping left means you are not interested. There are 1.6 billion swipes, 26 million matches per day, 20+ billion matches,
190+ countries and 1.5 million dates per week, according to Tinder’s website. Lake, a senior sports, arts and entertainment (SAEM) major, signed up for Tinder in high school. “I signed up when I was actually 17, so I wasn’t allowed on it yet,” Lake said. The age minimum to sign up for Tinder is 18. “I signed up because a lot of my older friends were on it,” Lake said. “I matched with a lot of people who were engaged, who had fiancees.” Once, Lake thought she found someone engaged on Tinder but was mistak-
Leah Lake I Submitted Leah Lake and her boyfriend, Bryce Baburich met on Tinder. The couple has been together for a year and are now apartment hunting.
en. Lake decided to scroll through one of her match’s Instagram, where she found the match with another girl. “He had pictures of him with a girl and she had a ring so I messaged her,” Lake said. “They aren’t engaged anymore.” Lake and the ex-fiance of her match are friends on Facebook and still occasionally talk. Lake then swiped right on her now-boyfriend. His bio said, “Only on here for a serious relationship.” Lake’s boyfriend is a fulltime tattoo artist at Nice Ink in Canonsburg. “He sent me an Obama gif and I sent him a Michelle gif and the rest is history,” Lake said. Next month will be their one year anniversary. They are currently apartment hunting. Damazo, a junior SAEM major, was on Tinder for about a month before swiping left on her now-boyfriend. “It was just to joke around with my friends and to point out the not so attractive people and to find all of our exes on there and kinda laugh about it,” Damazo said. Damazo did not meet with anyone on Tinder until she started talking to her boyfriend. “Funny story is he swiped right on me and I actually swiped left on him but I had all of my social media in my profile and he started following my Snapchat and that’s
how we started talking,” Damazo said. He messaged her on Snapchat after her story showed her younger brother dancing to Just Dance Revolution. They have been together for over two years. Barefoot, junior SAEM major, who is currently studying abroad this semester, has been off and on Tinder for the past couple years. “I signed up again the first week in Rome one night because I thought it was a good outlet to meet Italian guys,” Barefoot said. Barefoot’s Tinder bio said she wanted to find good places to eat. “I got some perverted comments about it, just the usual,” Barefoot said. Barefoot swiped right on a guy whose bio was similar to hers. “He wasn’t my usual type but, nonetheless, I thought he was still very attractive,” Barefoot said. Barefoot decided to message him first and they ended up going out to eat. The ensuing date ended up being a perfect encapsulation of a successful Tinder story. “I thought it was going to be more of a casual date, but it ended up being the best day of my life,” Barefoot said. “We have now been talking for a month and I couldn’t be happier.”
Nikole Kost nkost@pointpark.edu
6
OPINIONS
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017
THE
GL BE’S POINT
Support your local college student Finally, fall is vaguely in the air. Holidays are approaching. The spirit of giving is set to infest the hearts of humans everywhere. People are baking those little cookies that have miniature pictures of ghosts on them. As you’re reading this, your heartbeat is hastening. Don’t fret, reader. Gift-giving season has yet to arrive at your doorstep (or dorm-step.) You have time. As college students, we live in a sort of dissonant piece of life. We’re not really adults and we’re not really kids. We’re a sort of child-people who spend time doing things adult professionals do without the traditional pay or recognition. We lack the ethos to earn the affection of the majority of most adult professionals, yet we’re relatively disconnected to our adolescence. So what is it that we have? Who can we appeal to? Who appreciates us? Is there one move that’s more likely to win a game of rock-paper-scissors? In a bleak world full of people who hand deliver you scowls based on the piercings you do or do not have, or the
majors you do or do not declare, we have one thing we can cling to in this trying season of life: each other. That’s right -- as coy and aloof as students may attempt to remain, we all need and desire positive support from each other within our individualized college communities. We’re standing outside Aldi ringing the metaphorical bells of life, asking you with our eyes to drop your spare pocket change into our self-esteem buckets. Do you know what this means? We should stand by one another in support for this weird season we’re enduring and poorly attempting to navigate. So you should go to your friend’s gallery, no matter how low key it may be. You should stand in as an extra in your friend’s P3 film. In fact, maybe we should all feel a little obligated to support each other. Somebody has to do it. Go full Jack and Rose this semester. We recommend it.
The Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu.
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
A guide to the Point Park bathrooms Handy tips on keeping it clean for your fellow students By Jordan Slobodinsky Co-Opinions Editor
If you have had to go bathroom in the middle of class this semester, you may have noticed a distinct lack of cleanliness. Of all the things I expected from college, disgusting public restrooms was not one of them. Now, I’m not saying that the custodial staff at Point Park aren’t good, in fact I don’t even blame them for this. I’m blaming the students and faculty of Point Park for not keeping the restrooms clean. How hard is it to make sure your paper towels go in the trash can? How do you miss the toilet? And for the love of all that is holy, please flush the toilet. The public restrooms around campus (at least the men’s rooms) are disgusting and I find myself plugging my nose when I go into them. Students, I understand that this isn’t your bathroom at home but why can’t we keep it clean? Stuffing toilet paper in the urinals and spitting in sinks is atrocious. Quite honestly, it disturbs me
that some people are okay leaving the restrooms this gross. I’ll give you a prime example. About two weeks ago I was at my work study job in West Penn and I went to use the restroom on the fifth floor. Although my course abruptly changed as I discovered that parts of the bathroom had been closed for the day.
“How hard is it to make sure your paper towels go in the trash can? How do you miss the toilet?” Jordan Slobodinsky Co-Opinions Editor
The explanation you may ask, the toilet had been stuffed with toilet paper and caused it to flood. Sometimes I think that we may go to a preschool. The conditions of the bathrooms on campus need to
change and fast. People need to stop abusing the bathrooms. The university is also partially to blame for this. The toilet and sinks look like they haven’t been updated in twenty years. This makes me wonder if the university actually pays attention to the quality of their buildings. The bottom line is that the custodial staff at Point Park does a great job of making sure our university is clean, although they can only do so much and it falls on us as students to keep the restrooms clean. My advice to you as a student body is to keep it clean and don’t be a jerk in the bathroom. Use the toilets correctly, and flush them. Use the correct amount of paper towels and then proceed to throw them in the toilet. Use the soap ONLY on your hands, and don’t throw it around the restroom. This is not rocket science people. We are all young adults who should act that way in the bathroom.
Jordan Slobodinsky jeslobo@pointpark.edu.
Hollywood hotshot Weinstein goes down in flames
Movie mogul faces a scandal that might end his once prestigious reputation By Amanda Myers For the Globe
The mecca of media moguls, Harvey Weinstein, found his career and reputation tarnished after a scathing article was published by the New York Times Oct. 5, which detailed numerous allegations of sexual assault and rape against him over a period of 30 years. Weinstein has become a mythical figurehead in the land of entertainment: being called a “God” by Meryl Streep when she accepted an award at the 2012 Golden Globes, getting chummy with the Clintons and Obamas at fancy parties. He was the man with the golden ticket who could make an aspiring actor or actresses’s dreams come true. Weinstein however, took more notice, rather advantage of the latter. Men of power are intimidating, especially when they have a hand in controlling organizations through the power of their presence. There are multiple reasons why it took so long for these allegations to fully come to light. Many women have now come forward with accusations against Weinstein (including actresses Rose Mc-
Gowan and Angelina Jolie). They all resemble each other with the similar setting of a private screening that would turn into a bathrobe affair. His fame was an excuse to lure women into a vulnerable and frightening situation. He would also use his large stature to his advantage to assault women. Many felt helpless and gave in out of exhaustion and desperation. Why didn’t these women speak sooner you may ask? The world, not just the entertainment industry, still isn’t fully accepting of women coming forward against abuse. This is evident from McGowan’s recent lock on her Twitter account after multiple tweets attacking Weinstein. And if they did try to come forward to the media, they were met with private legal settlements to pay them off and keep them quiet. Weinstein’s reputation wasn’t all that secretive, though. His questionable behavior was a well-kept secret of Hollywood that many kept quiet out of respect to a man that gave
them their first job or the potential next one. Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Quentin Tarantino are just several names that have been ousted to accept responsibility and apologize for Weinstein’s actions. Many claim they knew about his actions but never came public due to a relationship that helped bring films like “Good Will Hunting” and “Pulp Fiction” to theaters. Then there is the media that needs to be called into question. Days after the story broke, reporter Ronan Farrow debuted a New Yorker piece that he researched for over a course of 10 months. He went to multiple outlets with his report that detailed the experiences of 13 women who made accusations against Weinstein. NBC turned him down, he says, because they lacked the “courage” to tell the story. It is important to note that Farrow is the son of Woody Allen, another creepy white man who used his position of power to seduce Farrow’s adopted sister and allegedly his other sister, as well. Knowing what abuse looks like
firsthand, it is understandable why Farrow was particularly persistent about unveiling Weinstein’s true character. Hollywood has never been a community of helping hands, however. Weinstein was making young stars to sell movie tickets and sell a false sense
of fame for years. Without him, the industry would surely fall into turmoil. It seems now it is for not doing what it should have done years ago: speak up.
Amanda Myers admyers@pointpark.edu.
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Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967 Editor-in-Chief: Alexander Popichak Editor-Elect: Emily Bennett Business Manager: Autumn Barszczowski Faculty Adviser: Dr. Steven Hallock Administrative Adviser: Dean Keith Paylo 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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Robert Berger, Co-News Editor Sabrina Bodon, Online Editor Carley Bonk, Co-Features Editor Lauren Clouser, Copy Editor Dara Collins, Co-Sports Editor Rania Draklellis, Layout Editor Josh Croup, Co-Sports Editor, Editor Emeritus Gracey Evans, Photo Editor Shelby Fink, Copy Editor Sarah Gibson, Staff Writer Casey Hoolahan, Social Media Coordinator Nick Horwat, Copy Editor Allison Hritz, Staff Photographer Eva Humphreys, Copy Editor Chloe Jakiela, Staff Photographer Nikole Kost, Photo Editor Casey McGaw, Asst. Social Media Coordinator Mary Moses, Copy Editor Kayla Novak, Copy Editor
Hannah O’Toole, Social Media Coordinator Isabelle Opsitos, Graphic Designer Lauren Ortego, Co-Copy Desk Chief Sarah Pais, Copy Editor Nicole Pampena, Co-News Editor Heather Peloza, Copy Editor, Delivery Assistant Matt Petras, Co-Features Editor Michael Richter, Co-A&E Editor Veronica Rodriguez, Graphic Designer Allison Schubert, Copy Editor Zac Seymour, PR and Marketing Coordinator Jordan Slobodinsky, Co-Opinions Editor Kayla Snyder, Co-Copy Desk Chief Michael Stinelli, Co-A&E Editor Mike Turk, Staff Writer Beth Turnbull, Co-Opinions Editor Hannah Walden, Copy Editor, USG Beat Writer Kelsey Wolfe, Copy Editor Alexa Yanyanin, Public Relations Coordinator
SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
CROUP’S CORNER By Josh Croup
Home court advantage... Finally What is home to you? At this point in your college career, do you call your dorm your home, especially if you never leave it during the day? Do you still call your parents’ place your home, or have you been removed from there for so long that it’s just your parents’ place now? In sports, a home venue is supposed to be welcoming. It’s supposed to be accessible and give a team the sense that it at least has a mild advantage. The home venue for Point Park basketball for the last 20 years was in West Mifflin, a small borough southeast of Downtown. It was at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) South campus gym. The gym in the Student Center hosts home Point Park volleyball games is too small for the basketball teams to play home games, but it suffices for practices. The drive to CCAC South was usually unpleasant, especially during construction season (which is all seasons) or rush hour. The 11.2-mile journey lasted anywhere from 30 to 45 minutes on a good day. Players had to leave campus with plenty of time just to make sure there wouldn’t be a chance of them arriving late to their own home gym. The long drive home after a loss certainly wasn’t fun. And the fans. Oh, the fans. They had to hope that the shuttle driver that day took a route that wasn’t backed up for miles on end, and cross their fingers that they made it to the gym in time for tipoff. A simple night of supporting some
fellow Pioneers turned into an entire evening’s commitment that wasn’t worth it to many students. All of that changes this year. A new home venue was announced for the Point Park men’s and women’s basketball teams. The Pioneers will play home games this year at the CCAC Allegheny campus gym on the North Side. No more 45-minute commutes for home games, no more painfully long bus rides home after a tough loss and no more waiting for the shuttle driver if you want to leave early. The new venue is an easy five-minute drive across the Allegheny River. It’s also easily accessible by taking the T to the Allegheny station followed by a short walk up the hill and around the corner. Gabe Bubon, the new men’s basketball coach, will save a lot of gas milage this year on commutes to the gym. His walking commute to CCAC Allegheny totals 10 minutes. “If you ever want to make me smile, just mention that we’re over at CCAC on the North Side,” Bubon said. “It has just made all of our lives a lot easier.” The move is poised to bring more fans to Point Park home games. The excuse that the venue is just too far away won’t work this year. It’s on Point Park now to seize the opportunity to grow its fan base by getting fans to pack the CCAC Allegheny gym.
Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu
7
Lone sophomore sets example volleyball team By Megan Bixler
Sports Columnist
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017
For the Globe
Julia Menosky has always been a welcoming person with a positive attitude, but her tenacity was tested this fall season when she discovered she was the only one from her class on the Point Park University volleyball team that also featured thirteen newcomers. But as the season progressed, she turned that role as the only sophomore on the team into her starting position as varsity team’s setter that later brought some rewarding accomplishments to her and the team. “It definitely gives a little edge to be the only one, but I don’t mind,” Menosky said of her role as “the lone wolf” second-year player. Her hard work and determination to lead by example has shown why there has been so many accomplishments for the team and herself. Entering this week, Menosky has earned 946 assists along with 230 digs. That has given her an average 10.75 assists and 2.61 digs per game. Head coach Mike Bruno, now in his 13th season with the team, has noticed the athlete’s hard work and skills as a setter. He also noticed Menosky’s strong leadership, devotion and confident upbringing to the team. “She brings a positive element to the team and is always working hard,” Bruno said. “She is very confident, calm and collective on the court.” Bridget Bielich, who is in her third season as assistant coach, agreed with Bruno’s comments. “She has a great, positive attitude, takes the game seriously and always wants to improve,” Bielich said. Menosky has been a hard-working athlete even before she came to Point Park. Along with volleyball, she has played softball and
basketball from kindergarten to seventh grade, and even began bowling in high school. She’s earned some major accomplishments that she is proud to reminisce on, such as winning a high school state title in volleyball. The presented success from her hard work and athletic skills did not stop in high school. Next to becoming setter for the team, Menosky was surprised to find that she had earned the River States Conference “Setter of the Week” title for her third time on Oct. 9. “I couldn’t have gotten that award without them,” Mensoky said of her teammates on earning the title. “I was shocked the first time, but the third time has shown how far we have come as a team.” Being the setter of the team is often referred to as being the “quarterback.” With that, leading the team is crucial, and Menosky knows the pressure can become very overwhelming. She also knows that being a younger player means for plenty of time for improvements. While Coach Bruno hopes to work on Menosky’s quick decision-making and increasing her tempo speed, Menosky has some of her own personal goals to achieve. “I definitely need to become more vocal on the court,” she said. “But I also hope to become a better leader for the girls to look up to and hopefully lead the team to the championships.” Menosky’s teammates all seem to admire her positivity and willpower to help lead the team to victory. Meg Reineke, Menosky’s friend and the team’s outside hitter, said that Menosky has helped her out on and off the court. Reineke, 21, from New Knoxville, Ohio, transferred to Point Park and said Menosky spoke highly of the university, making Reineke feel more at
Megan Bixler| Point Park Athletics Sophomore setter Julia Menosky sets her attackers. Menosky has been named the RSC Setter of the Week three times this season.
ease when she arrived. “She is very welcoming, smart and focused, and she is always bringing people up on the court,” Reineke said. “She’s a great friend and is always there in times of need.” Reineke and Menosky are even serious about helping each other through the tougher times during games. “When people get in our heads, we work together through it,” Reineke said. Her coaches and teammates hope to see Menosky go far in the future, from leading the team to the championship as the setter, to commencement and future alumni games. Menosky is currently majoring in business and hopes to stick around sports with her major, although she is undecided at the moment. During her spare time, she enjoys relaxing, listening to music and even coaches in the off-season. While there is time to make decisions with her major, Menosky, for now, wants to stay focused and do well in school, all while maintaining a balance with sports.
Megan Bixler mlbixle@pointpark.edu
8
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 2017
SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Volleyball survives 5-set RSC match By Dara Collins Co-Sports Editor
The Pioneer volleyball team maintained its spot atop the River States Conference (RSC) East Division after a five-set victory over Cincinnati Christian University (CCU) last Saturday. “We struggled a little bit, but for the most part we just had to stay focused on the main goal and not sweat it,” junior Erica Gumz said. The Pioneers spent the week before traveling to Cincinnati practicing for the lone match of the week. CCU kicked off set one with a 25-21 victory before Point Park turned the table and stole the following two sets 25-13 and 25-20. The Eagles answered with a 25-18 win in the fourth set to tie the match and force a fifth set. “We were really inconsistent this weekend,” setter Julia Menosky said. “We would be up one minute, then they would get a couple of points and we would dig ourselves into a hole.” CCU held the upper hand
at three match points, but the Pioneers pushed through to take set five 19-17. “The fifth set we really wanted to win,” Menosky said. “It got really nerve wracking but everyone did a good job focusing on the little things and giving it all every point.” Heading into the match, the Pioneers boasted two players to watch: Menosky and Gumz. Menosky received her third honor as RSC Setter of the Week, and Gumz earned her first title of RSC Attacker of the Week Oct. 9. “I’ve never really experienced something like this, and it’s just a good feeling,” Gumz said. “Having one of our other attackers out just kind of motivated me to step up to the plate for my team and knowing it paid off feels great. I couldn’t have done it without Julia.” Menosky also credits the honor to her teammates. “It’s an honor and it makes me want to work harder every practice and every game because I want to get it more, but I owe all of it to my team,” Menosky said. “I could not have gotten it without them.” The duo did not fail to
produce. Menosky totaled a career-high 61 assists, and Gumz recorded the second-highest number of kills with 16. The rest of the Pioneers put up points across the board. The team tallied a season-high 63 kills. Outside hitter Meg Reineke led the way with 18 kills. Right-side hitter Savannah Dishman and middle hitters Jazlyn Rozier and Destiny Tucker chipped in nine kills each. Libero Morgan Dangelo captained the defense with 14 digs, and Reineke completed her double-double with 12 digs. Junior defensive specialist Morgan Dixon and Menosky added nine digs apiece. The team expanded its winning streak to four straight matches and has won eight of its last nine. The Pioneers improved their overall record to 17-9 and 7-3 in conference play. They enter the week tied with Indiana University East for the top record in the RSC East. Point Park will play a non-conference match on
Sam Robinson | Point Park Athletics Junior outside hitter Meg Reineke anticipates the opposing team’s next serve. Reineke led the Pioneers with 18 kills against CCU last Saturday.
Thursday at Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The Pioneers previously lost to the Cougars at the Emileigh Cooper Memorial Tournament hosted by the University of Rio Grande on Sept. 1. “I think we’ve improved
a lot with [team chemistry],” Rozier said. “We used to individualize a lot, but we don’t anymore, so I don’t think that will be an issue.”
Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu
Men’s soccer enters key conference weekend 5-1 By Nick Horwat Copy Editor
The successes for the men’s soccer team continued yet again last weekend with two more conference wins against Indiana University (IU) East and Ohio Christian University (OCU). Now boasting an overall record of 10-3, with a 5-1 conference record. The Pioneers started their weekend last Thursday with a 4-1 win at IU East. Senior Alan Ramos and sophomore Roberto Whitley each walked away with a pair of goals. Whitley started the scoring in the 11th minute and Ramos followed in the 20th. Whitley netted his second of the match at the 35th minute, ending the first half 3-0. IU East was able to break through for its only goal a little over 10 minutes into the
second half. Ramos scored his second and final of the game in the 63rd minute giving Point Park the 4-1 victory. Goalkeeper Ryan Daniels made three saves on four shots. Heading to OCU, the Pioneers knew that the competition was only getting tougher. They were also without Whitley, who served a onegame suspension for tallying his eighth red card of the year against IU East. “We want to focus on our own tasks and talents,” sophomore Wessel Rietveld said. “Soccer is a game of moments.” Juan Somoza took the goaltending duties for the squad, making only two stops for a shutout victory. Ramos scored the lone goal of the game on a penalty kick in the first half, giving the Pioneers a 1-0 win. The hardest challenges
Sam Robinson| Point Park Athletics Sophomore midfielder Matheus Lira maintains control of the ball while advancing up the field. The men’s soccer team improved its winning streak to five after a 1-0 victory over Ohio Christian.
are yet to come for the men, however. They play host to West Virginia Tech and No. 5-ranked University of Rio Grande this Friday and Sunday. “I believe that a fivegame win streak going into the hardest weekend of our season has brought out the best in our team,” Daniels said. “We are a tight group and support each other as we face adversity head on.” The penalty kick goal was also Ramos’ 10th goal of the season, leading the team. “Of course I hope to keep scoring,” Ramos said. “These next two games are going to be a great challenge for our team, but I am feeling fit and confident which is really important when it comes to scoring.” Going forward, the common consensus between the players is that this weekend is the toughest one of the season. Luckily the men are able to say they lead the River States Conference (RSC) in conference wins with five. They are also in a virtual tie for the top spot in the RSC with Rio Grande. “We have nothing but respect for our next opponents; they are strong and fit,” Rietveld said. “But I think we have earned their respect in the meantime.” The players are confident they can get the job done and finish the season strong. After this weekend, the last regular season match for the Pioneers comes the following week against a struggling Carlow University team. “Our team spirit is really good,” said Rietveld. “We are helping each other and fighting for each other.” The Pioneers have three games left in the regular season and all three are being played at Highmark Stadium. They start their challenge Friday against West Virginia Tech then host Rio Grande on Sunday.
Nick Horwat njhorwa@pointpark.edu
Sam Robinson | Point Park Athletics Senior midfielder Izzy Hunter controls the ball up the field. Hunter scored the first goal of the game against OCU last Saturday.
Women’s soccer falls flat on road By Allison Schubert Copy Editor
Sophomore Gabby Widman was able to score for the women’s soccer team in each of their two conference games this weekend, but despite her efforts, the team could not put a tally in the win column. The first of the Pioneers’ matchups this weekend came on Thursday at Indiana University (IU) East. The Red Wolves, who are in their first season competing as a varsity sport, limited Point Park to just one goal. That goal came from Widman in the 40th minute, sending the Pioneers to the locker room ahead by one. IU East answered Widman’s goal in the 79th minute to tie up the match and ultimately send the game into double overtime. Two overtimes were not enough to determine the outcome, and after 110 minutes of play, the game ended in a 1-1 tie. The Pioneers then headed to Ohio Christian University (OCU) on Saturday for another River States Conference (RSC) competition.
Senior Izzy Hunter got the scoring started for the Pioneers in the 16th minute of play. OCU responded right before halftime with a goal in the 38th minute. After halftime, both teams seemed to struggle getting the ball to the net, but OCU broke through with back-to-back goals in the 74th and 75th minutes. Widman was able to rally another goal in the 87th minute, but it was not enough to put Point Park ahead, sending the Pioneers home with a 3-2 loss. Sophomore starting goalkeeper Ashtyn Webb played the entirety of both games this weekend, blocking three shots in the IU East match and four shots against OCU. Point Park currently sits at fifth place in RSC standings going into the last stretch of games in the regular season. The Pioneers will be back at Highmark Stadium for Rio Tech weekend on Friday against West Virginia Tech and Sunday against the University of Rio Grande.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu