Point Park University Globe Spring 2017 issue 7

THE

GL BE

@PPUGlobe February 22, 2017

IN THIS ISSUE: PAGE

5 PAGE 6 PAGE SINCE 1967 7

New Playhouse production features popular music through the decades Lauren Ortego takes a look at the American Dream Women’s basketball drops must-win games, misses playoffs ppuglobe.com

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

Issue 7

“USG’s FUTURE IS BRIGHT” Alumnus sworn President issues ‘state of USG’ address

By Alex Grubbs

USG Beat Reporter

Chloe Jakiela | The Globe

United Student Government President Blaine King delivers his ‘State of the USG’ speech Monday during USG’s regular meeting.

Director of IT speaks with student government USG

By Alex Grubbs

USG Beat Reporter

Some classrooms lack a projector or a Smartboard at Point Park, but technology services at the university plan to change this.

Costing roughly $25,000 to $30,000, the technology department on campus built an interactive classroom that allows instructors and students to use and write on technology on top of the desks.

“We went out and looked for something we can afford,” Tim Wilson, director of Technology at Point Park, said to student government on Monday.

“It’s been a great success,” Wilson said.

Multiple types of a classes are taught in the classroom, including computer sciences, math and business.

But no new furniture was bought for this new change in technology. “[We] took the existing furniture and turned it around,” Wilson said.

Recording Secretary Davion Heron questioned how quickly new classrooms would be transformed to the interactive classroom.

Wilson hopes to have a classroom renovated during the summer.

Heron also asked how classrooms currently without built-in projectors or smart boards can be modernized while this new change is happening.

“We are wanting to move in that direction,” Wilson

responded citing that it decrease the amount of time workers have to move equipment across campus and that professors have been requesting for these new upgrades.

The interactive classroom is currently in room 307 of Academic Hall.

Sen. Kayla Damazo also asked for more printers being available around campus including Lawrence Hall and the Student Center.

Wilson said that it was the first time receiving that request and it can be an easy adjustment.

Also at the meeting, Sen. Shayna Mendez brought attention to the inconsistent nursing hours on campus.

The head nurse of the department is Coordinator Heather Capo.

“We understand she is the head of the health department,” Mendez said. “It is convenient for students to not know when the nurse is going to be there.”

Mendez hopes that students become more aware of when the nurse will be in the office. The current hours are 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays.

President Blaine King also swore in freshman sports, arts and entertainment management major Nick Hesselbirg as a senator.

USG will not meet next Monday, Feb. 27 due to spring break. The next meeting will be held Monday, March 6 at 3:15 p.m. on the seventh floor of the Student Center.

Alex Grubbs aagrubb@pointpark.edu

The accomplishments, performance and future goals of student government all were included in the first presidential address to students at the university.

“We have seen the highs and lows, but the highs tremendously outweigh the lows,” United Student Government (USG) President Blaine King said in the first State of USG on Monday in the Student Center.

King detailed the progress of the past and current executive cabinet of USG to give an update on what the student government has been doing before and during his two-year tenure.

He triumphed at more student involvement, better communication with several offices and departments on campus and a transformed executive cabinet in terms of their duties -- including the communication of the trea-

USG page 2

in as Pittsburgh’s new police chief

By Josh Croup

Co-Sports Editor

Point Park alum Scott Schubert was sworn in as Pittsburgh’s permanent police chief Thursday after serving as the acting chief since November when his predecessor, Cameron McLay, resigned.

The 24-year-old veteran of the Pittsburgh police force received his bachelor’s degree in law enforcement from Point Park in 2008, and later earned his masters in criminal justice administration from the university in 2010. Schubert has also taught homeland security as an adjunct professor at Point Park since 2013.

“The routine of going to classes, interacting with other students, doing the assignments, and learning from the instructors, it was a great experience,” Schubert said after taking the oath of office. “[Point Park] has helped me with being a police supervisor and with teaching.”

Outside of the classroom, Schubert has provided as-

sistance to Point Park Police Chief Jeffrey Besong and the rest of the Point Park Police Department.

“Anything we ever needed training-wise or polishing a procedure, Scott has always been there to help, as well as the entire Pittsburgh Police Department,” Besong said in a phone interview.

CHIEF page 2

Alexander Popichak | The Globe

City of Pittsburgh Police Chief Scott Schubert

Pay It Forward holds event to gather toiletries for women

By Carley Bonk Copy Editor

Pay It Forward hosted its “Bag It Forward” event Feb. 16 to benefit the local women’s shelter, Womanspace East. Club members set up a table in Lawrence Hall lobby Thursday afternoon for passing students to build a bag for a woman in need.

Patty Sorg, junior criminal justice major and former president of Pay It Forward, said it would be an easy process.

“The table will be set up like an assembly line, similar to our bagged lunches event in the past,” Sorg said. “Students will walk through and put items we have set out in their bag, and at the end we’ll have a bunch of markers that you can write encouraging words to give them some hope.”

Mackenzie Sugrue, junior mass communication major and club president, prepared for the event by picking up necessities for women.

“We have resealable Ziploc bags that people can fill up with tissues, pads, tampons, mouthwash and deodorant,” Sugrue said. “We talked to Womanspace, and they said that women are always in need of these items and they will definitely be used.”

In the past, Pay It Forward

delivered bags to the Wood Street Commons, a temporary safe living space for those who are facing a housing crisis.

This year, they decided to take bags to Womanspace on Fifth Avenue, a safe environment for struggling women and their children.

Pay It Forward has a few more events in mind. Following spring break, they are planning to host a movie screening in the JVH Auditorium to raise money for the Syrian Refugee Crisis.

“We are still deciding what to show, but I’ve been looking into inspirational movies,” Sugrue said. “We are not sure of the specific date yet, but we are hoping to show it in March.”

The club was also looking into building a team to participate in the annual

Walk MS at Point State Park on April 23.

“My mom has MS, so it’s been something I’ve been involved with for a few years,” Sugrue said.

Registration is free and those who are interested can sign up online at Walk MS. Ryan Scott, a freshman psychology major and member of Pay It Forward, said he really enjoys community service and encourages other to check it out.

“I was involved with an event for CORE [Center for Organ Recovery and Education] my senior year because my dad passed away from liver failure,” Scott said. “I really liked helping out and am happy to see other people happy.”

Carley Bonk cmbonk@pointpark.edu

Carley Bonk | The Globe

Sophomore Conor Mendelson and Freshman Haley Marra set up the assembly line for Bag It Forward.

Weather Forecast Today: Showers H 67, L 49

Thursday: Cloudy, H 68, L 52 Friday: Partly Sunny, H 74, L 59 Saturday: Showers, H 59, L 31

Sunday: Partly Sunny, H 45, L 35 Monday: Showers, H 50, L 40 Tuesday: Cloudy, H 56, L 44

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

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Schubert hopes to ‘lead by example’ City on track to have the most officers since 2002 from CHIEF page 1

LOCAL Dozens of Emergency crews responded to a bomb scare Friday at the downtown Amtrak station after officials contacted police about a suspicious vehicle that had been parked overnight.

Lieutenant Daniel Reed told reporters that Amtrak officials contacted police because the SUV had been left in a “no-parking” zone overnight. Police K-9 units were called in to check the area. The bomb-sniffing dogs alerted police to something in the car, prompting them to call in the bomb squad and evacuate the area.

The area was evacuated around noon, and nearby traffic was halted as authorities formed a perimeter around the vehicle. The bomb squad eventually broke the windows of the SUV. The contents of the vehicle included a gas can, an Amazon package and other miscellaneous items. Police deemed the vehicle to be safe, but kept the perimeter closed until they were able to further investigate the area.

The area was cleared at approximately 12:45 p.m., and the surrounding roads and sidewalks were reopened. Officials said that the SUV will be towed.

Pittsburgh Police are still unclear why the vehicle was parked there or who it belongs to.

Zac Seymour For the Globe

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

“I’m sure he’s going to do extremely well, and I’m excited to work with him and to benefit from Point Park University.”

Besong said Schubert has allowed his officers in the past to help Point Park officers with training and has been “instrumental” to the success of Point Park’s department.

Point Park police will also conduct active shooter training with Pittsburgh police officers in May. “We’re really fortunate to have the chief be a close friend of ours,” Besong said. “Pittsburgh is fortunate to have Scott here.”

Mayor Bill Peduto said in the fall that he hoped to appoint Schubert to the permanent position after a 90-day trial. City Council unanimously approved his appointment as the permanent police chief on Feb. 7.

Last Thursday, Peduto was able to officially swear in his new police chief at the City-County Building downtown during a ceremony that included the promotions of eight police, fire and emergency medical services personnel.

“Scott Schubert has a big heart,” Peduto told a packed crowd inside City Council Chambers. “He’s an officer that other officers can look up to. He’s an officer that loves the Police Bureau of Pittsburgh with all of his heart.”

Schubert’s inauguration begins a new era for the Pittsburgh Police Department. He follows McLay, who left the department following a vote of no confidence from the Pittsburgh police union in September, though he said that did not influence his decision to step down. He also received criticism from the union for speaking in uniform at the Democratic National Convention.

McLay was the first outsider hired in more than 150 years for the job in 2014, coming from Wisconsin to reform the department. Schubert said he hopes to carry out McLay’s visions.

Associate Professor Richard Linzer, who taught Schubert through the Criminal Justice Administration Program, said having an insider like Schubert will benefit the city.

“I don’t expect anybody to ever do something that I wouldn’t do myself. I care about the officers and I care about the community… that’s who I am.”

Scott Schubert

Police Chief Pittsburgh Police “Scott is somebody who is well respected by his officers,” Linzer said. “They’ll respect him for his position, for his authority and for his understanding of some of the things here in the city.”

Schubert has worked in the community with the Special Olympics, Big Brothers Big Sisters and

the Boy Scouts of America.

He assured the crowd and the mayor that he would not let them down as chief.

“I like to lead by example,” Schubert told the Globe. “I don’t expect anybody to ever do something that I wouldn’t do myself. I care about the officers and I care about the community…that’s who I am.”

The day after his swearing-in ceremony, the city announced that the department is on track to have more officers in the streets since 2002 when it swore in seven new officers.

The total number of officers will reach 921 upon the graduation of the next 30 recruits.

“Getting more police into our neighborhoods has been a top priority of my administration, and I’m happy to say we’re delivering on my promises,” Peduto said in a statement. “With the leadership of Chief Schubert and his commitment to community policing measures, this is a very proud moment for the Pittsburgh Police Bureau.”

Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu

King reflects on two years as USG President from USG page 1 surer with clubs and organizations and press secretary with more social media outreach.

“Now don’t get me wrong, these improvements are great, but myself and Vice President [Bobby] Bertha know there are things that need to be fixed,” King said.

In addition to his accomplishments as president,

King oversaw the mitigation of several controversies within the legislative body. These included the resignation of former senator Brennan Burke after he made racial remarks at a house party, the resignation of former senator Mario Avila, who accused Treasurer Amedea Baldoni of directly targeting Avila for his conservative beliefs and the recent censure of Baldo-

ni for what was deemed improper conduct.

Other problems that have hit USG include the removal of Aramark as the university’s food provider and the integration of the new food service CulinArt and a funding emergency that left the organization without money.

King hopes to continue to improve on the organization and the university, with

hopes of the State of USG being a new tradition.

“I know there will always need to be improvement made within the organization and with Point Park as a whole, but I will continue to work until the new administration is sworn in,” King said.

Alex Grubbs aagrubb@pointpark.edu

TAKING A STAND

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Trevor Kirby | The Globe

A crowd of roughly 100 people gather at Market Square as speakers voice their opinions about President Trump’s first month in office on Feb. 19.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 11:15 a.m.

Lawrence Hall Theft Cleared

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15 2:15 p.m.

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EcPr Ooss THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16 RT 12:15 p.m.

West Penn Hall Alcohol Violation Cleared

Lawrence Hall SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Theft 10:55 p.m.

Arrest - No campus affliation Lawrence Hall Alcohol Violation 10:27 p.m.

Referred to Student Conduct Lawrence Hall Drug Violation Referred to Student Conduct

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Data compiled by Alex Grubbs Design by Emily Yount

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

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Reflecting on the history of Pittsburgh black media

By Lauren Clouser For The Globe

In the middle of Black History Month, the Center for Media Innovation (CMI) and the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation are coming together to hold a discussion on the black press.

The event will focus on the legacy of the Pittsburgh Courier, which started in 1907 as a community newsletter and went on to become one of America’s most influential African American newspapers.

The discussion, entitled “A Look at the Pittsburgh Courier’s Impact and Evolution of the Black Press,” will be held in the CMI on Thursday, Feb. 23 at 6 p.m. and will feature four journalists.

The panelists were chosen by Tory Parrish, the president of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation, and Letrell Crittenden, the parliamentarian of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation.

Parrish said in a phone interview that she hopes that people will become

more knowledgeable about the role that the black press played, particularly in the Civil Rights Movement.

“I think some people forget that the black press was the head of the Civil Rights Movement, and was there every step of the way,” Parrish said.

According to Louis Corsaro, the managing director of university marketing and public relations who helped to organize the event, the panel will focus on the past and future.

“The goal for this event really is to... talk to some of the prominent black journalists of today about the legacy of the old, original Pittsburgh Courier,” Corsaro said. “To say ‘what can we learn from that?’ and ‘what sort of voices do we need to have going forward?’”

The Pittsburgh Courier was created around 1907 by Edwin Harleston, who was originally from Charleston, S.C. No one was quite sure why he made the move to Pittsburgh, but once he arrived he began publishing something that was, ac-

cording to Samuel Black, the director of African American Programs at the Senator John Heinz History Center, “like a community newsletter.”

The speakers will include Jesse Washington, the senior writer of ESPN.com’s “The Undefeated,” Damon Young, the cofounder of VerySmartBrothas.com, Rod Doss, the editor and publisher of the New Pittsburgh Courier, and Tené Croom, the chair of the National Association of Black Journalists’ Black Press Task Force, board member of the Pittsburgh Black Media Federation and public relations specialist for Alcosan. Andrew Conte, the director for the CMI, will be moderating the discussion.

Croom started her career in her hometown of Knoxville, Tenn. as a DJ at a cable radio station. The station was owned by James Brown, who is often referred to as ‘the Godfather of Soul,’ and was the only African-American-owned station at the time. From there she went on to inter-

CAB’S CANDY AND KISSES

Mary Ann Doggett | For the Globe

Cameron Miller, sophomore business major, and Princess Winder, freshman stage management major, hug a stuffed bear Miller won in a raffle at the Candy and Kisses event hosted by CAB on Valentine’s Day.

view presidents and to report the first post-apartheid vote in South Africa. In a phone interview, Croom pointed out the historical significance and longevity of the black press.

“It’s a special time because this marks 190 years of the black press,” Croom said. “It’s hard to believe that in 1827 that the black press’s first weekly newspaper was formed for black people at that time, and it happened in New York City, Freedom’s Journal.”

Two freed black men were the publishers, John B. Russwurm and Samuel Cornish. Croom expressed amazement and happiness that the black press has been present and strong for so long. She also cited that many of the injustices they wrote about back then are still relevant today.

“I think that the black press will evolve along with new technology,” Croom said, “…that technology is going to bring with it the new ways in which people want to consume the media, or consume their information, rather.”

Tyler Polk, a senior journalism major, is making a short video that will be played at the event, which will cover a bit of the Courier’s history. To learn about the paper’s past, Polk interviewed Black. Polk appreciated getting to learn more about the Courier’s history.

“It’s certainly a great experience to know everything about the Courier,” Polk said. “Considering that I have family that works in the New Pittsburgh Courier, or at least family friends, it’s interesting to figure out the history.”

In a phone interview, Black was able to provide some of the Courier’s 110 year history.

In 1910, Robert Vann, a graduate law student of the University of Pittsburgh, became the co-editor and treasurer of the Courier, and eventually became the majority stockholder and

publisher in the late 1930s.

In the 1930s and 1940s the Courier became more of a national newspaper. There were 14 national editions of the paper, all of which were printed in Pittsburgh on Center Avenue.

After the passing of Vann, the Courier went into bankruptcy. In the mid1960s, John Sengstack, the editor of the Chicago Defender, another prominent African American newspaper, purchased the paper.

Due to tax issues, the paper was renamed the New Pittsburgh Courier.

According to Black, the Courier had strong editorials, sports coverage and investigative reporting, all of which pushed for equality.

Sports writers advocated for the desegregation of Major League Baseball and investigative reporters looked into discriminatory practices in businesses and the government.

The Courier was also one of the first African-American papers to print their comics in color, which Black said gave exposure to African-American illustrators.

The Pittsburgh Courier, along with other black publications, served as an advocate for African-American’s rights and was an outlet for African-American voices to be heard.

Croom recalled her father reading and mentioning the Courier.

“I remember my dad, my late father from Fayetteville, North Carolina talking about the Pittsburgh Courier,” Croom said. “He always talked about the Courier before when talking about civil rights, and then he said, ‘You remember, I love the Courier and all of the great things they would write about, because they always talked about and they always gave me great information about Civil Rights.’”

Lauren Clouser lclous@pointpark.edu

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

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Curbing student homelessness: organizations offer support

By Kimberly Prokurat For the Globe

This is the second installment of a three-part series on student homelessness.

Last week, we profiled Kerianne Chen, a fifth year senior at Pitt who had to put her education on hold to gain financial stability.

Pitt officials told her the only thing they had to offer her was a short- term loan that had to be cleared before graduation.

“Obviously, that wasn’t going to work,” Chen said. “So, with all of this information, I thought I was going to become homeless. At the same time I had this pressure from my roommates to contribute,” Chen said.

When she eventually came clean about her circumstance to her roommates, and something surprising happened. In November and December, they all joined together to pay her portion of the bill, but she was still financially struggling, causing her to suffer in the classroom.

In the days that followed, Chen tried to call her mom again to see how she was doing; but her mom had disappeared.

It would be weeks before she found out her mother was alright.

During her personal chaos and increasing hunger, Chen found a haven to fall back on located in the basement of a church on her very own campus. This hopeful place was the Pitt Pantry.

Her first time using the pantry was a positive experi-

ence. While there are no fresh vegetables or other produce, she could get various dinners and bagels collected from local businesses.

“It’s not necessarily the healthiest, and it doesn’t have everything, but it’s better than having no food,” Chen said.

Chen thinks students rarely self identify because they may be scared or embarrassed to express their issue.

The Pitt Pantry was founded two years ago after a myriad of students qualifying as foodinsecure came out and asked for support.

Chen thinks students rarely self-identify because they may be scared or embarrassed to express their issue.

“The students reported that there were times in their collegiate careers where they had not been able to purchase nutritious food, or when they had to cut back on eating meals in order to afford other bills,” Erika Ninos said, the sustainability program coordinator for PittServes.

Ninos has been working for the University of Pittsburgh since November of 2014 and plays an important role in preserving the success of the Pantry.

The Pantry is largely run by student volunteers, but is sustained primarily through financial support from the Division of Student Affairs. It is also supported through donations from students, staff, faculty and campus and community organizations. In addition to all of these resources, it creatively

partnered up with the campus’s dining service.

“We have access to donated funds through Sodexo’s Dining Dollars donation program, in which students can donate unused Dining Dollars to us at the end of the semester,” Ninos said.

“We are able to use this funding to purchase low cost food items through the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.”

Pitt has a consistent turnout of shoppers throughout the academic year, most of which are graduate students.

“During the fall 2016 semester thus far, we have seen 81 shoppers in August and 106 shoppers in September,” Ninos said.

The Pantry not only serves to students in the fall and spring semesters, but they also keep their doors open in the summer.

The Pitt Pantry also offers health and wellness workshops, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) information, food sampling and recipe ideas, coupons and other related programming, like home winterization workshops to the students who walk through their doors.

“Our partners are the Bellefield Presbyterian Church, where we are located, Collegiate YMCA, 412 Food Rescue, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and the Food Rescue Heroes, a campus organization, and we have many other student organizations who partner with us to provide various levels of support,” Ninos said.

412 Food Rescue is fairly

new, as it was officially up and running in March 2015. The organization works with food retailers like Giant Eagle, Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s and Bruegger’s Bagels to recover food and deliver it to their beneficiaries.

They also get food from small local farms and restaurants as well as companies like Paragon, which operate by bringing bulk deliveries to large restaurants.

“We hope to be picking up and delivering for all of the schools in this region in the future,” says Hana Uman said, the program and special projects manager at 412 Food Rescue.

Uman is a passionate member of the rescue service who started working for the organization in February of 2016.

“I believe food is a right, not a privilege,” Uman said. “I think everyone has a right to eat, so in whatever capacity that I can through working at this organization, I will try to give people that.”

She worked in a program at a local Pittsburgh school where most of the children qualified for free and reduced lunch. Almost all of the food from the lunches had to get thrown out because it had been heated up for lunch and couldn’t be served again.

“That was really troubling to me that we were just throwing all of this food away and people may not have any when they get home,” Uman said.

Using her inspiration, she now deals with all of the special programs that work to reduce food waste they have layered on

top of their main goal of delivering food to those in need.

At 412 Food Rescue, they work directly with the food service provider at any college or university. For Pitt, they partnered with the Food Recovery Heroes. This is an on campus organization that was doing food recovery already, but 412 worked with them to expand so that they were able to rescue food every day from their dining services and local Bruegger’s and then followed by delivering to one of 412’s sites.

At Chatham University, another partner of 412, students go to their food service provider and rescue any frozen food that’s left over. They also stop by at local grocery stores to rescue any of their food then donate it to a family high-rise in Hazelwood.

“More and more people are using the Pitt Pantry, and I’ve heard other schools are looking into this as well because they’re seeing that there is definitely a need,” Uman said.

While these services are still developing, students have yet to be shown the same amount of attention. The research and services are developing for this demographic but there is still work to be done.

“This is a huge problem and we’re not going to solve it but if we can strive towards fixing it and partner with other people in Pittsburgh and beyond, that’s more power to all of us,” Uman said.

Kimberly Prokurat kkproku@pointpark.edu

‘Pittsburgh freak’ holds photography show on 85th birthday

By Gracey Evans

Sports Photo Editor

A sold-out crowd listened to a talk from Duane Michals about his new body of work “Talking Pictures” on Saturday.

Michals is a famed photographer that was born in McKeesport and calls himself a ‘Pittsburgh freak.’ He is most known for his use of photo sequences, which often incorporate text that expresses emotion or explains philosophy.

While talking about his still work, he talked about how he got started with photography, specifically with the photo sequence named “Chance Meeting.”

“Chance Meeting” is a photo sequence of six photographs featuring two men walking past each other while one man looks at the

PRIZES

other man the whole time.

In the last photo of the sequence, the second man finally looks behind him at the other man who is now gone.

“As a photographer, I never went to photography school, and I learned everything by doing,” Michals said. “You see when you go to school, they teach you the rules, and it’s very hard to unlearn the rules.”

Michals is best known for handwriting short narratives for his photographs, in order to “give them a voice.”

According to SilverEye Center for Photography website, his text can be poetic, humorous and tragic all at once.

Michals would write narratives on the bottom of each photograph, such as “Dr. Heisenberg’s Magic Mirror of Uncertainty,” about the

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reflection of the model and how the reflection can become something no one was expecting.

“I began to write with photographs because I got frustrated with the single image,” Michals said.

“I was interested in not what things looked like, but what they feel like.”

A l o n g with showing his previous work, MiGracey Evans | The Globe chals showed Duane Michals talks about one of the series of photographs in “Dr. Heisenberg’’s his new body Magic Mirror of Uncertainty” during his presentation sponsored by SilverEye Center of work titled for Photography on Saturday evening.

“Talking Pictime in terms of identity and look at and you know what’s tures.”

According to the Silver- gender politics,” April Frig- going on. Whereas the vidEye Center for Photography es, an assistant professor of eos you’re sitting there like in a description of the event, photography and photog- ‘What is this’ and ‘Why did Michals created the new body raphy department program he do this?’”

According to Michals, of work with the same spirit coordinator, said. “He’s not should be as his ongoing discoveries in afraid to express who he is, photography the new ways of examining [he] doesn’t care what every- about asking questions and not giving answers. the medium of photography one thinks of him.”

Senior photography maAt the end of the preexpand.

“At 85, I’m doing more jor Olivia Mazzocco is a big sentation and following a work that I have before,” Mi- fan of Michals’ work, citing Q&A session, Michals was him as inspiration for the presented a piece of birthday chals said. cake since the talk landed on In total, there were a doz- work she does.

Mazzocco admitted she his 85th birthday. en short films, some of which “Just to see his ambition included “The Book Crook,” has felt in a rut with her work “The Glove,” “Are You Still but after hearing Michals I think in itself is jaw dropA Faggot” and “The Sorcerer speak, she has found the mo- ping,” Friges said. “Watching Invents the Universe,” each tivation to keep making art him continue at this age and of whichfeatured Michals as that is deeply influenced by make meaningful works that run parallel with everything either an actor, writer or di- his style.

“I think [the videos] left a that he’s been doing for a rector.

Each of the short films lot more things unanswered long period of time. Showing had different genres such than his other work that I that this is his life and this is as comedy or drama while was familiar with,” Mazzocco his legacy.” focusing on themes such as said. “I know that a lot of his gender issues, but left the series [such as], “The Fallen Angel” and “Grandpa Goes to audience with questions.

Gracey Evans “I think he’s ahead of his Heaven,” and all of those you glevans@pointpark.edu

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

5

Tattoo artists break world records at tattoo expo

By Dara Collins Staff Writer

The sound of needles and the smell of disinfectants bombarded guests as they strolled past the 78 artists and vendors inside the ballroom of the Sheraton Hotel.

The Bleed Black and Gold Tattoo Expo hosted by Exposed Temptation’s Greg Piper, Wyld Chyld’s Sarah Miller and Baller Inc. welcomed tattoo artists from all across the globe to showcase their work and tattoo customers. On Feb. 17-19, tickets for the event could be purchased by the public for $25 a day or $55 for a three-day pass.

“I want [the public] to see a different side to tattoo conventions,” Miller said. “We’ve got world records going on here, we’ve got live tattoo-offs, we’ve got audience participation, we’ve got Ink Masters going head to head, we’ve got side shows and we’ve got amazing artists where you can come get a tattoo. It’s not just a typical tattoo convention, and I want to push it further every single year and make it really memorable.”

Small town tattoo artist Robin H.M. broke two Guinness World Records over the

weekend. H.M. broke the first record for the longest tattoo session on one client at 53 hours and 15 minutes. She proceeded to tattoo clients consecutively the last day of the convention to break the other record for the longest tattoo session on multiple people. After 72 hours and 26 minutes, H.M. laid the needle to rest as the crowd applauded her incredible feat.

“You will watch me own it,” H.M. said. “We didn’t come here to break it, we came here to shatter it. I’m doing this for multiple reasons: to motivate, inspire and drive people. This is a male dominated industry, so why the hell not make the toughest tattoo artist a female?”

On Friday night, the expo hosted a live tattoo-off featuring artists from Ink Master.

People in attendance could enter a contest to become a human canvas by proving they were a huge Pittsburgh sports fan and their forearm was a good canvas.

Miller designed the tattoo that the artists were to follow, but the Ink Masters could personalize the design to their specific style, according to contestant Erica Wood. After four hours of tattooing, judges decided which Ink Master cre-

ated the best piece, and Ink Master Jesse Smith won the tattoo-off.

“America’s Favorite Sideshow C o u p l e ” Captain and Maybelle entertained the guests and artists throughout the duration of the convention.

The couple has appeared on America’s Got Talent and Ripley’s Dara Collins | The Globe Believe It or A client sits for the Exposed Live Tattoo Off and receives a “Pittsburgh Sports Fan” Not. They of- piece by a previous contestant of Ink Master. ten express their beliefs laugh,” Maybelle said. “[Cap- to see that side of it and how that the impossible is possible tain] is there for the shock and much effort and time is spent and everyone should do what the awe of it maybe, but I am on one little tattoo was a realthey love and be happy. that balance to try and make it ly cool experience, and to see “I told my mom at 12 years happy and get people to laugh. all those artists there in one old this is what I was going to We’re goofing off, but it’s our building was crazy,” freshman do,” Captain said. “I ran around job.” criminal justice major Joseph the world chasing this silly Point Park students took Perez said. dream of running away and advantage of the event’s short The expo will return around joining the circus, getting cov- walk from campus and enjoyed the same time next year, accordered in tattoos and living the the tattoo culture. ing to multiple artists. life that makes me happy.”

“I had never really seen Dara Collins “I like to make people a tattoo actually happen, so

dmcolli2@pointpark.edu

Playhouse debuts musical featuring popular music

By Victoria Lemon

Playhouse Beat Writer

The Conservatory Theatre Company is presenting its first production of 2017 with “Big Love.” Directed by Reginald Douglas, “Big Love” is a modern take on the Greek playwright Aeschylus’s play, “The Suppliants.”

The story is about fifty women that are told they must marry their cousins; thus, they flee from Greece to Italy in an attempt to escape the men.

This contemporary version of “The Suppliants” focuses on three couples and topics such as gender equality, love and domestic violence.

“It’s about loving yourself, gender equality and being true to who you are,” said Bebe Tab-

ickman, senior musical theatre major who plays role of Bella.

“It’s crazy how this play was written 20 years ago and it’s just so relevant to today.”

The play “Big Love” is an opportunity for students to embrace loving themselves and putting themselves first.

“It’s definitely about finding and loving yourself first,” Markia Smith said. “It’s a lot about making decisions for yourself while also keeping in mind how the decisions you make affect others. It is a journey to finding inner strength,” said sophomore musical theatre major Markia Smith.

Smith is playing the role of Lydia in “Big Love” after having previously performed as the Acid Queen in the Conservatory Theatre Company’s pro-

duction of “The Who’s Tommy” in October. She said that “Big Love” was very similar to a musical in the physicality of the show, but different because there is no definitive lead.

“With ‘Big Love,’ there isn’t one person who you are following the whole time,” Smith said.

“It’s an ensemble piece. No one is ever on stage alone for more than a few seconds. If you took away a character, the story wouldn’t be able to be told. Everyone is equally important.”

Douglas, the director of “Big Love” and artistic producer at Pittsburgh City Theatre, is particularly excited for this production. Douglas learned about Point Park’s conservatory program through Sheila McKenna, the chair of the theatre department.

Douglas has been a guest artist and a guest lecturer in past acting and directing classes, where he interacted with Point Park students.

“I really thought the students were so smart and funny and talented,” Douglas said.

“It’s all student actors, which is really different, but also really inspiring .... I think that the student actors are brave and courageous in ways that professional actors are not. I think the spirit of professionalism and excellence and collaboration is the same [as City Theatre], which is really special about Point Park.”

This show is different from others previously performed at the Playhouse because it features songs by artists such as Beyoncé, Kayne West and the

Beatles.

“It’s kind of a play that has everything,” Douglas said. “It has music, it has romance, it has comedy, it has drama and it has Beyoncé. It feels very current and timely to right now.

It’s a play about acceptance and love and during these divisive times, those are themes we really could use more of.”

The show opens in the Rauh Theatre at the Pittsburgh Playhouse on Feb. 24 and will run until March 12. There will be a preview on Feb. 23.

Tickets range from $10$24 and can be purchased at the Playhouse box office or by calling at (412) 392-8000.

Victoria Lemon vjlemon@pointpark.edu

6

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

OPINIONS

THE

GL BE’S POINT

Food service -- again?

Expired sodas in the cafe. “Green” takeout containers you have to pay for, wash yourself and reuse. Inconsistent and slow service.

What’s left to say about our food service provider? How many times can we continue to yell into the questionably nutritional void?

Last week, we published a story written by one of our editors concerning the state of the food service — a subject that students have regularly voiced their opinions on across university history.

The topic recently came to a head when CulinArt general manager Kristy Weiss spoke to USG last Monday. She promised students expired soda would not enter shelves again.

Okay, great. This news makes us happy, right?

Does anyone else find it incredibly glum that we are excited over the notion that the people in charge of feeding us made a promise to get rid of expired goods?

We renovated the cafe, but there aren’t enough people to work in the shiny, new cafe. Supposedly we have more vegan and vegetarian options, yet students posted photos of a near-empty cafe at 11:45 a.m. in the class of 2019 Facebook page.

We at the Globe were hesitant to write this article.

The student body has been

flooded with negative-leaning pieces on our food service providers for a long time. So what more can we do? Article after article has been written, meeting after meeting has taken place, new menus have been concocted, new staff members have been hired; yet here we are again, writing another article on how legitimately dissatisfied we still are.

All we want is consistency. And quesadillas. And maybe some hope. Is that too much to ask? We at the Globe find this completely reasonable.

Unfortunately, now, we seem to have arrived at an impasse. We made our voices heard, changes were made, and yet we seem to be stuck in a world of lukewarm hamburgers and honeydew-filled fruit cups (the Nicholas Cage of the fruit world).

With such little left for us as students to do, it seems like our concerns haven’t even been truly heard. So the question still remains, what else can we do to make them realize we just want food?

It feels like all we can do now is appreciate the extended hours of the salad bar and remember that Market Square is a five minute walk from campus.

The Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Ranking important issues in your life; It’s all a matter of perspective

By Autumn Barszczowski Business Manager

The other day while sitting in my research class, a fellow student handed out a survey about his client’s brand. One question stood out to me as it asked respondents to rank a number of issues (like animal rights, feminism, etc.).

The idea of ranking the most important human rights or environmental causes in order from one to seven was a strange concept to me. However, since I am an advertising student, I understood that this helped researchers to establish my lifestyle, feelings and personality.

Ranking these issues felt like deciding which wound to try and heal first, at least in my mind. In some ways, it almost makes me feel guilty because in a perfect world, you would not have to decide which was more important to you because you’d be able to dedicate the same amount of time to worrying about each.

But the world isn’t perfect so without consciously knowing it, we begin to rank the issues in our mind.

As a bisexual, cisgender white woman who grew up in an impoverished neighborhood, I have been faced with and witnessed a variety of issues in my life.

I was presented with the grief and stereotypes faced by my black classmates. I was faced with the beauty and lady-like standards

that I was supposed to follow as a woman. I watched as my friends feared for how society would view them due to who they loved or who they were.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, when these issues are constantly in your face, they tend to rank higher.

Putting a numerical value to an issue almost seems silly, but they speak a lot to who you are as a person and what you are faced with in life.

You do not consciously decide that something is less important; it just doesn’t feel as urgent when it is not constantly affecting how you live your life or even the lives of those around you.

values me

I attended a public middle school with a large population of black students in a poor neighborhood.

We did not focus much on

“When these issues are constantly in your face, they tend to rank higher” climate change because we were focusing on diversity, and acceptance was much more relevant to the students.

Immediately following that, climate change and environmental issues grew in importance for me because my high school focused on recycling and emphasizing environmental issues alongside diversity in race, gender and sexual orientation.

Over the course of the past few years, I’ve been able to see how these issues became more or less important as you grow and learn more about the world.

The importance of these issues at that time in your life reflect the world you were faced with and the perspective that you had.

That is perhaps the one upside to examining our own individual rankings.

You can see exactly where you are or were in life just by the issues you fight for, and how you have grown as an individual.

Autumn Barszcowski adbarsz@pointpark.edu

The United States owes the “American Dream” to its citizens America is the land of opportunity for all, and it always will be

By Lauren Ortego Co-copy Desk Chief

The American Dream is a phrase that most Americans who had AP English in eleventh grade recognize as an unattainable green light on the other side of a rich man’s bay in the form of a beautiful, married old flame.

Great Gatsby jokes aside, the American Dream is something that easily every American, and non-Americans, know of, but what is the exact definition?

According to James Truslow Adams, a famous scholar from the ‘20s, the American Dream can be defined as believing that “life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement, regardless of social class or circumstances of birth.”

The term was first popularized in Adams’ book “Epic of America,” and it, in essence, refers to the search for freedoms you may not have had available to you

throughout your life.

That sounds reasonable, doesn’t it? Everyone gets an equal chance at making it in this country - the sentiments of which are rooted in our Constitution, “all men are created equal.”

But does the U.S. owe the American Dream to every immigrant and citizen?

Of course.

Americans have always described the U.S. as the beacon of hope and freedom for poor citizens and immigrants who couldn’t make it in their homeland, who are fleeing a crisis or a war-torn country, for people who long for a fresh, new start.

This sentiment, of course, isn’t exactly true, per se, you can ask Japanese-Americans who were around in the ‘40s, African-Americans from the 1600s to now, Jewish people, Syrians, the LGBT community and Muslims about that.

The point is, if Americans are going to uphold this vision they have of this country, they are going to have to

go through with it, 100 percent. We, as a country, owe it to the thousands of people who came and those who want to come to this land, a land that we’ve hyped up beyond belief.

If you were under the impression that the American Dream came and died with your very Italian great-grandmother’s arrival to America, you’re wrong.

Immigrants who come to America today, in 2017, still have this idea that America is a place of equal opportunity, and some have worked their entire lives just to get a glimpse of it.

So imagine the dismay when they arrive, after being detained, as of recently, at an airport for hours, to a country where we can’t even decide whether or not our people have a right to affordable health care, free higher education or even the right to choose for themselves.

We owe it to these people, who have become the backbone of this country, to become the America that we

flaunt ourselves to be.

The American Dream has gone through some cosmetic changes since it’s origin, but the sentiment still stands beneath the surface everyone in this country deserves to be equal.

As college students, we have been given an incredible power. We hold the future of this country in the palms of our diverse, educated, revolutionary hands.

The American Dream lives in each and every one of us, because it’s not just immigrants who want to obtain it, it’s all Americans.

The youth of America has the ability to make a difference in this country, to sway our politicians, to create massive, media-garnering movements, all from the tapping of fingers on an iPhone. We have, without a doubt, the power to give this dream, this age-old sentiment to the people who long for it.

Of course, we also have the ability to gather for ourselves what we think the

American Dream is, what it really means and who deserves it, but remember -- we have promised for years the means to achieve the “American Dream” to every single person who lives in and crosses our borders, only to hand them a nightmare.

Lauren Ortego leorteg@pointpark.edu.

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Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

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GLOBE

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 the author’s contact information. Offices are located in rooms 710 and 712 Lawrence Hall. Writers should address letters to:

Advertising globeadvertising@pointpark.edu All ads must be approved by the university.

The deadline for ads is Friday at 5 p.m.

The Globe 201 Wood Street, Box 23 Pittsburgh, PA 15222

Story Ideas If you have a news, sports, opinions or feature story that you think the Globe can use, email globe@pointpark.edu.

Alexander Popichak, Editor-in-Chief Emily Bennett, Editor-Elect Autumn Barszczowski, Business Manager Dr. Steven Hallock, Faculty Adviser

Robert Berger, Co-Sports Editor Sabrina Bodon, Online Editor Carley Bonk, Copy Editor Dara Collins, Staff Writer Josh Croup, Co-Sports Editor, Editor Emeritus Jonathan D’Antoni, Delivery Assistant Gracey Evans, Sports Photo Editor Julianne Griffith, Layout Editor Alex Grubbs, USG Beat Writer Matthew Hankinson, Copy Editor Casey Hoolahan, Social Media Coordinator Chloe Jakiela, News Photo Editor James Kail, Copy Editor Arianna Khalil, Graphic Designer Nikole Kost, Features Photo Editor Victoria Lemon, Playhouse Beat Writer Derek Malush, Staff Writer Morgan McCoy, Public Relations Coordinator Jonnah McClintock, Copy Editor

Kayla Novak, Copy Editor Hannah O’Toole, Asst. Social Media Coordinator Iain Oldman, Staff Writer Isabelle Opsitos, Graphic Designer Lauren Ortego, Co-Copy Desk Chief Nicole Pampena, Co-Features Editor Matt Petras, Staff Writer Carrie Reale, Co-Copy Desk Chief Michael Richter, Co-News Editor Allison Schubert, Copy Editor Jordan Slobodinsky, Co-Opinions Editor Kristin Snapp, Editor Emeritus Kayla Snyder, Co-News Editor Eddie Trizzino, Co-Features Editor Mike Turk, Staff Writer Beth Turnbull, Co-Opinions Editor Hannah Walden, Copy Editor Kelsey Wolfe, Copy Editor

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

CROUP’S CORNER

By Josh Croup Sports Columnist

Bitter Grande finale

This isn’t how anybody thought it would end. I’m still in shock, along with everyone else that has followed either basketball team this year.

For the first time since the 2009-10 season, neither the men’s nor women’s basketball teams are in the postseason.

There was so much hope, so much optimism in the beginning weeks of the season.

At full strength, both teams had the potential to make runs at the River States Conference (RSC) championships.

But both teams experienced hardships and were faced with obstacles that were just too challenging to overcome.

But man, did they try.

That’s how I’ll remember these two teams. Grit, determination and persistence carried them each through 2017.

The 2016 portion of the program saw both teams hit their strides, but the new year brought new teams to the court that struggled to get in the win column.

MEN’S BASKETBALL The men jumped out to a 3-0 start in RSC play, turning their season around after dropping the first five contests against mostly ranked teams.

Their biggest challenge had nothing to do with the court, but with the grades.

Point Park lost two of its top three leading scorers in Sa’iid Allen and Kenny Strong due to poor academic performance. Injuries off and on to key players, combined with inconsistent offensive efforts, plagued the Pioneers in 2017.

The final win of the season was historic, and it looked like it was going to propel the Pioneers into a miraculous postseason run.

The Pioneers upset the No. 7 team in the country in IU East on Feb. 3 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

But that upset victory and 3-0 start to the conference schedule will get lost in the rubble.

The debris included a 2-12 finish to the conference schedule, a 1-15 record in games away from the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) South and the fifth 20-loss season in the 49year history of the program.

An 84-71 loss at Rio Grande Friday knocked the Pioneers out of playoff contention.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL The women’s struggles were just beginning when 2016 ended.

Tey started 4-0 in the RSC, but lost star senior forward Carly Forse for the season during the third game of that stretch. That was after losing their leading scorer Sam Weir five games into the season.

They lost two tough non-conference games to end 2016, and gave us a preview of what was ahead. Point Park had to figure out how to score and win without two of its star players.

Ja’Nia McPhatter stepped up during 2017 and was hailed by head coach Tony Grenek as the biggest surprise of the season. McPhatter couldn’t carry Point Park by herself, but did everything she could to try.

The Pioneers needed one win last weekend at either Rio Grande or West Virginia Tech to clinch a playoff spot. There was still a chance.

But Maryssa Agurs, the second-leading scorer behind McPhatter all season with 11 points per game, suffered a hand injury in practice in the week leading up to the biggest weekend series of the season.

Point Park couldn’t make up for 36.3 points per game out of the lineup due to injury in Weir, Agurs and Forse.

A 92-78 loss to Rio Grande and an 89-62 loss to West Virginia Tech capped off a rough season that left its own cloud of dust similar to the men’s rubble.

Point Park went 4-9 in RSC games after winning its first four. The Pioneers lost four of five contests in February that could have put them in the playoffs. Their final overall record of 18-12 represents the most losses in the Grenek era.

I wish there were a better ending for the handful of seniors on both teams that have had significant impacts during their Point Park careers, but I guess this is just how it has to end.

It just wasn’t our season.

It wasn’t our year. Hopefully the 2017 portion of next season will be kinder than the 2017 chapter of this season.

Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu

WEEKLY SCOREBOARD: FEB. 14 - FEB. 20 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (18-12) (8-9 RSC) POINT PARK 78, RIO GRANDE 92*........................................................ Feb. 17 POINT PARK 62, WEST VIRGINIA TECH 89*...................................... Feb. 18

MEN’S BASKETBALL (8-20) (5-12 RSC) POINT PARK 71, RIO GRANDE 84*........................................................ Feb. 17 POINT PARK 92, No. 11 WEST VIRGINIA TECH 103*.......................... Feb. 18

WOMEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD KENT STATE TUNEUP............................................................................. Feb. 18 Mile: Anna Shields...4:49 (No. 1 time in NAIA) 400 Meters: Olukemi Olugbakinro...1:00.14 (School record) Next: March 2-4 @ NAIA Indoor National Championships

MEN’S INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD KENT STATE TUNEUP............................................................................. Feb. 18 Triple jump: Jryi Davis...2nd (13.95 meters) High jump: Michael Morris...5th (2.00 meters) Next: March 2-4 @ NAIA Indoor National Championships *River States Conference game

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

7

Women miss playoffs for first time since 2010-11

By Mike Turk Staff Writer

The Pioneers will miss the River States Conference (RSC) playoffs this year after losing both road games this weekend at Rio Grande and West Virginia Tech.

They went into the weekend needing only one win out to clinch a playoff berth.

“Our goal was to give it our all and hold nothing back,” sophomore guard Kaitlyn Smith said.

The story all season long for the Pioneers has been injuries. It didn’t help when junior guard, Maryssa Agurs, broke her hand in practice earlier last week prior to the must win games. Agurs was second on the team in assists with 61 and was averaging 11 points per game.

On Friday, Point Park took to Ohio to play the Rio Grande RedStorm. After ten minutes, the Pioneers held a 20-13 lead.

The RedStorm responded with a 22-12 run in the second quarter to take the lead into halftime, 41-34.

Rio Grande kept its offense rolling after halftime to pull away from Point Park with a 65-52 lead going into the fourth quarter. The Pioneers could not keep Rio Grande out of the paint, as the RedStorm scored 54 points down low on the night.

With 4:47 to go in the game, Smith hit a jumper to pull the Pioneers within five. That was as close as they would get, as Rio Grande pulled away for a 92-78 victory.

Senior Ja’Nia McPhatter had 20 points and a career-high six 3-point field goals. Smith finished with 10 points and senior Devon Larkin shot seven for nine from the field, finishing with 14 points.

With the loss to Rio Grande, Point Park had no choice but to respond quickly Saturday at West Virginia Tech Saturday for a must-win game.

The winner would get the last spot in the RSC playoffs.

West Virginia Tech set the tone early by opening the game on a 17-0 run. The hot-shooting Golden Bears finished the game shooting 50 percent from the field and 44 percent from behind the arc.

After trailing 41-29 at halftime, Point Park was unable to get any closer in the second half.

The Pioneers lost the must-win game, 89-62. They finished the 2016-17 campaign with an 18-12 overall record and an 8-9 RSC record after starting off 5-1 in conference play.

Larkin was the only Pioneer in double figures Saturday, recording a career-high 18 points to go along with 5 rebounds. Smith was the second-leading scorer with nine points. Senior Celina DiPietro finished her last game as a Pioneer with seven points and two steals.

McPhatter also played her final game as a Pioneer on Saturday. The regular season’s leading scorer only had five points and four assists in the finale, but finished the year leading the Pioneers with 353 total points which ranked 13th in the RSC. She finished her Point Park career with 1,119 points

and averaged 12.9 points per game in three seasons.

It was not the same Pioneer team at the end of the season that started the year.

Injuries overtook a team that was picked to finish fourth in the preseason coaches’ poll.

“We couldn’t avoid some of our big time players getting injured throughout the season,” assistant coach April Austin said.

After the first five games, the Pioneers lost junior forward Sam Weir for the season, who was averaging 14.8 points per game. Smith then missed a few weeks with a foot injury, but eventually returned to the lineup after winter break.

Agurs broke her hand in practice the last week of the regular season to add insult to injury.

Senior forward Carly Forse broke her elbow 14 games into the 2016-17 schedule, and was sidelined for the remainder of her senior season after averaging 10.5 points per game.

Forse said there is a chance to become eligible to play for one more semester, pending a decision from the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The 2016-17 season is officially in the books for Point Park. Head coach Tony Grenek

“Just because you don’t win a championship or make the playoffs doesn’t mean it wasn’t a successful season.”

Tony Grenek Head Coach Women’s Basketball led his squad through adversity and injuries, but came up short of a playoff spot for the first time in his Point Park coaching career that began in 2011-2012.

“Just because you don’t win a championship or make the playoffs doesn’t mean it wasn’t a successful season,” Grenek said. “These young ladies persevered through a lot, and they overcame so many challenges. They never quit fighting until the very end, and that’s all you can ask from them.”

Mike Turk mjturk@pointpark.edu

TRACK FINISHES STRONG

Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics

Jryi Davis placed 2nd in the triple jump at the Kent State Tuneup Saturday. The men’s and women’s track teams combined for 23 school records in the final meet of the regular season.

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2017

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Cheer and dance showcase skills Men finish 8-20,

miss RSC playoffs

By Skylar Ruth For the Globe

The competitive cheer and dance team will compete in a regional qualifier over spring break in Adrian, Mich., but first the team previewed its routines for friends, family and prospective teammates.

The teams combined for a showcase in the Student Center Gym Sunday to perform for an audience one last time before leaving for Michigan.

“We’ve been taking a look at the feedback from the judges at each of the competitions and we’ve made the revisions to our teams as they’ve given us suggestions,” head coach Bettina Herold said. “We’ve been drilling the areas they’ve marked as weaknesses.”

For several years, the cheer and dance teams were classified as clubs at the university. However, this year they were recognized by both the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and the university as a competitive varsity sport.

The transition changed the teams’ dynamic by now allowing them to compete against other schools. Both placed within the top ten during their first competitions. The teams also performed at Point Park basketball games throughout the season.

The weekend showcase featured performances from the cheer and dance teams both individually and as a combined squad.

The cheer squad performed a routine that involved tumbling and stunt groups. The dance team took the floor to show the audience their talents in a performance that was a fusion of complicated turns, kicks and intricate movements.

Together, a combined team debuted a collaborative piece to Sia’s “The Greatest,” which combined traditional and urban dance cultures. The performance was followed by

By Derek Malush Staff Writer

Gracey Evans | The Globe

Members of the competitive cheer team give fans a preview of its routines Sunday in the Student Center Gym ahead of its regional qualifying competition this weekend in Michigan. a reception that included pizza, snacks and beverages for all in attendance.

The team is not only confident in their moves, but also in its chemistry.

“We can come in to practice, laugh and have fun and still get work done,” team captain Darian Leighty said.

The team will travel Saturday to Siena Heights University to compete at the Northeast Region National Qualifier. It will be the fourth year in a row the school has hosted the qualifier.

The Pioneers will compete in the Northeast grouping against 13 other schools, including nearby Robert Morris University.

The Pioneers hope to be one of 12 teams to advance to the national competition in March. The top scoring teams in each of the four regional competitions will automati-

cally qualify, and the remaining eight spots will be derived from the highest overall scoring teams.

“We’ve been working really hard, and we’ve changed up our cheer routine to increase difficulty,” team captain Deanna Harris said.

“We’re hoping to do as good as we can for ourselves since this is our first year.”

In terms of looking forward, the team is looking to continue to expand. Having only become a varsity sport this year, the team has room to grow.

“We’ve been focusing on recruiting for the incoming classes and have been marketing our great performances this year,” Herold said.

Skylar Ruth smruth@pointpark.edu

TV alumni share success stories

By Robert Berger Co-Sports Editor

Three television production alumni spoke to students last Thursday about what working in the industry is like, showing them that they can get there from here.

Briana Harsany and Micky Haney both have degrees in broadcast journalism and currently freelance.

Katie Serevicz has a degree in cinema and digital arts and works full-time for Entertainment Tonight.

The trio spent the afternoon sharing stories and giving advice about working in the production field at “The Power of Point Park Women” event hosted by The Pittsburgh Center for Sports Media and Marketing.

“Today reaffirmed for me that you can get from Point Park to work, and that there are people who have done it,” freshman public relations and advertising major Zac Seymour said.

Each speaker made it clear early on that the most important piece of advice they had to offer was to take advantage of every opportunity.

“Always say yes to new opportunities,” Serevicz said.

“You’re not too good for any type of job, and you should take it when you can.”

While Serevicz works full-time in production, Haney has found success freelancing since graduating in 2012. Haney told students that every job she’s had came through previous connections made from working.

She concluded that it gets easier after you get started.

“Once you start freelancing, it’s not so difficult finding work because your name gets passed around,” Haney said.

Along with leading to jobs, all three speakers agreed that opportunities are what help students figure out what they want to take on as a career.

Tom McMillan, co-director of the Center was in attendance, and chimed in saying that many students don’t realize most production jobs even exist.

“When you watch TV, stuff doesn’t just happen,” McMillan said. “A lot of people do a lot of work to get that silly stat on the screen.”

Harsany agreed, as she works for Root Sports as a graphics operator. Harsany added that production trucks are filled with people doing a number of tasks from graphics, replay and producers communicating information to the broadcasters.

This brought up the point that opportunities can reveal

what jobs a student doesn’t want to do in life.

Harsanay shared that she had always intended to go into on-camera work, until an internship with KDKA changed her mind. She said that was the most important thing that has happened.

“Sometimes people say, ‘I don’t know what I want to do.’ Well just take a step back and figure out what you don’t want to do,” Harsanay said.

The floor was then opened to students for questions regarding topics discussed during the presentation. One student asked about the importance of grad school as each speaker agreed there are no cons in attending. Resume building was also brought up during questioning.

This was the first event of the semester for the Pittsburgh Center for Sports Media and Marketing. The Center works to bring speakers in to talk to students about working in the sports industry. NBC’s Doc Emrick, the PGA’s David Flora and the Cleveland Cavalier’s Fred McLeod were brought in last semester.

Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu

With the pursuit of a playoff run resting on the horizon, the men’s basketball team fought for the last spot in the River State Conference (RSC) playoffs Friday night as the team traveled to the University of Rio Grande (Ohio) for a crucial RSC matchup.

Things got out of hand quickly for the Pioneers, as they saw themselves trailing 26-8 early in the first half.

“We go through scoring droughts sometimes, but no matter what we keep playing” head coach Gabe Bubon said.

However, Point Park began building momentum as the first half came to a close and pulled within seven points of the RedStorm at 44-37.

“It was a very close game,” Bubon said. “I really think that we had a chance to really dig in.”

The Pioneers thrived off of the late energy in the first half and arrived in the second half still in attack mode.

Point Park put together a 7-0 run to begin the second half that knotted the game at 44.

But that was as close as the Pioneers would come to tasting any lead.

The Pioneers’ 7-0 run to begin the second half was quickly sustained by an immediate RedStorm 7-0 run that set the Pioneers back to where they began.

“They were a bit bigger than us,” Bubon said. “The big guys kind of killed us down low.”

The Pioneers were out-rebounded by Rio Grande 42-27 and allowed the RedStorm to shoot over 50 percent from both the field and from beyond the arc.

Point Park eventually fell to Rio Grande, 8471, marking their 19th loss of the season and officially knocking them out of playoff contention.

Point Park was led by junior guard Gavin Rajahpillay who dropped 29 points and four assists in all 40 minutes of floor time. Sophomore guard Asim Pleas added 10 points and three steals.

“I’m on a mission to recruit the right people and turn this around for next season,” Bubon said.

The Pioneers then hit the road again for their season finale against No. 11 West Virginia Tech in the season’s last RSC game for both teams.

With a little over a min-

ute to go in the first half of play, the Pioneers were staring down a barrel all too familiar, as they were down by 23 points, 58-35.

However, like much of this season, the Pioneers came out of halftime with a sense of urgency as they capped off a 15-0 run that stretched back to late in the first half.

“I hate guys that lay down,” Bubon said. “We’re going to finish the right way and play until the very end.”

With less than four minutes left in regulation, the Pioneers were clawing their way back into the game, trailing by only five points at 92-87.

“This was our last game, not just of the season but ever for the seniors,” senior guard Art Christian said. “So we just wanted to get up as many shots as possible down the stretch.”

Despite the late game surge, Point Park was unable to complete the upset as they dropped their last game of the season, 103-92.

The three seniors in forwards Jaylen Mann, Lassana Konate and Christian all played essential roles in their final collegiate game.

Mann tallied a teamhigh 22 points on 47 percent shooting from the field.

18 of those points were from behind the arc.

“It’s bittersweet,” Mann said. “It’s bitter because I’ll never suit up again, but sweet because I felt like everybody played hard and left it out on the floor.”

Konate ended the night and his college career with nine points, eight boards and two blocks.

Christian put up 11 points on 40 percent shooting and hit two 3-pointers to add to his total.

“I just plan to enjoy life, travel and live good,” Christian said.

Bubon is looking forward to getting back on the floor next season with his returning players.

“To the guys who are coming back, I promise this will get better and I am on a mission to do so,” Bubon said.

Point Park finished the 2016-17 season with a record of 8-20, and 5-12 in RSC play. The Pioneers were 7-5 at home, and 1-15 away from CCAC South.

Derek Malush dwmalus@pointpark.edu

SWINGING FOR FLORIDA

Mary Anne Doggett | The Globe

Freshman Andrew Herrera practices batting at the cages in the Student Center. The Point Park baseball team will head to Winter Haven, Fla. during spring break to begin its 2017 campaign.