Point Park University Globe Spring 2017 Issue 14

THE

GL BE

@PPUGlobe April 19, 2017

IN THIS ISSUE:

PAGE Point Park University

5 PAGE 6 PAGE SINCE 1967 10

alumna turned Bellevue mayor hopeful Kayla Snyder confronts the topic of fake news and states why it’s a problem Adapting and overcoming: An in-depth look at Point Park’s athletic facilities

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS

Co-Sports Editor and Co-Opinions Editor

Gracey Evans | The Globe

Provost John Pearson shakes hands with the newly appointed dean of the Rowland School of Business, Steve Tanzilli yesterday morning in the Lawrence Hall Multipurpose Room.

Editor-in-Chief

Point Park’s School of Business now has a name and a Dean.

Point Park President Paul Hennigan announced Tuesday morning the university is naming its school of business after

the school’s largest benefactors George and Kathleen White. In addition to naming the school, former school of business cochair Steve Tanzilli has been named the school’s first Dean.

The Rowland School of Business is the first school to be named at Point Park.

“It’s going to be great that

we have a name to the school,” Tanzilli said. “The White family, they’ve not just been great contributing members of the Point Park community but also the Pittsburgh Community, so to be able to acknowledge them is terrific.”

BUSINESS page 2

Hennigan: increased student need drives annual tuition hikes

By Emily Bennett and Alexander Popichak

Editor-Elect and Editor-in-Chief

Tuition set earlier this year for the 2017-2018 school year will increase for all students by 3.9 percent due mostly to an increased need for student financial aid, according to President Paul Hennigan.

“We have been cutting expenditures here at the university for seven years now in an effort to try and reduce the revenue increase necessary to pass on in the form of a tuition increase to our students,” Hennigan said in an interview March 22. “So when we announce a 3.9 percent tuition increase, roughly half of that, and I’m not kidding, goes

straight to financial aid.”

In his role as university president, Hennigan proposes the increase on a yearly basis in the form of a budget to the board of trustees, who approves tuition rates.

The finance group working under the president’s office puts together the budget based on a number of factors, primarily enrollment.

“In the case of the university, the revenue that we receive is 93 percent dependent on enrollment,” Hennigan said. “It’s basically tuition and fees, room and board. Those four categories make up the revenue budget. That is very common for schools in our sector of the market.”

Hennigan defines Point Park’s “sector of the market”

as small, private colleges and universities in the greater Pittsburgh area. He likened the university’s budget to a larger-scale version of a home budget where tuition is the primary source of income whereas financial aid and personnel are the primary expenditures.

“The amount of scholarships that we give to students is the single largest expenditure increase by far – beyond anything else: salaries, personnel, operations,” Hennigan said. “We know, or we have a good educated guess, how much money we have to award in scholarships to make it work for you to come to school.”

TUITION page 3

Issue 14

Proposed cut of Federal Work Study concerns students

By Robert Berger and Jordan Slobodinsky

By Alexander Popichak

ppuglobe.com

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

In President Donald Trump’s most recent budget proposal, the Federal Work Study (FWS) Program is projected to be cut in order to save funds. In the United States, more than half a million students depend on the program, and at Point Park, 240 are enrolled, according to student employment coordinator Joan Dristas.

“I think that it [FWS] helps them [students] in the real world because they can be networking because so many people that come into our office are from the professional world,” school of business FWS Program Supervisor Ashley Dobransky said. “And

having them be the first face that they see, the students can start making that connection with them early.”

Dobransky supervises work-study students at the school of business. Her department hires five students every year and has them help with organizing files and being secretaries in the office.

Due to her hectic class schedule, sophomore Emily Rogers depends on her federal work-study job as a library aid to afford food.

Rogers deals with checking books out, resolving student fines and working with concerns of the students. She depends on her paycheck of roughly $300 per month to assist her with groceries and other necessities.

FWS page 3

Master space plan presented to USG USG

By Alex Grubbs USG Beat Writer

In February, a local architecture company reached out to student government on their collaborative plan to re-landscape the university.

Now, they have an update on what their 10-year renovation plan might entail.

WTW Architects Director of Planning Derek Eversmann spoke to United Student Government (USG) to give an update on where the university’s master plan was headed.

“Now, we’re most away from…data gathering process,” Eversmann said. “We’re also starting to look at some big picture items.”

WTW Architects, which

works with several universities in remastering their campus architecture, began working with the university to create a more consolidated university, in terms of school departments.

When previously meeting with USG, the company was in its “Exploration of Options” plan, where they gathered input from both the university and student government to find out what is wanted on campus.

The advisory committee that WTW met up with listed academic room space, identity, student recreation, meeting rooms and parking as its top five.

The top five for student government was student housing, parking, dining facilities, student activities spaces and student recreation spaces.

USG page 3

Blaine King reflects on time as leader with USG, U-View

By Alex Grubbs USG Beat Writer

Four years ago when he arrived at Point Park, Blaine King stumbled across a recruiting table for the school’s student government and decided to sign up.

That not only catapulted him into the fast world of school politics, including serving two years as the United Student Government (USG) president, but also as a leader in his major, serving a year as campus television station manager for U-View.

With graduation only days away, the broadcast reporting major with minors in broadcast production and public relations/advertising believes the university is headed into a great direction.

Despite being a Philadel-

phia native, King made the decision to come to Pittsburgh during his senior year of high school in 2013. Initially, he looked at local schools such as Temple University, and even Hofstra University in Long Island, N.Y. “I was just looking for schools, and Point Park popped on my screen,” King said. “The fact that it was Downtown was a positive fact as well.”

During his first week as a freshman, he stumbled across the USG table at the Student Activities Fair, an annual showcase of clubs and organizations on campus.

At that moment, King decided to put in an application to become a freshman senator and after getting 10 signatures and being elected into the position,

he started his path in student government.

“I had no clue what my time in USG would become,” King said.

Beginning his sophomore year, he was appointed into former President Julian Singleton’s cabinet as parliamentarian, in which he oversaw the rules committee and the USG constitution.

During his stint as parliamentarian, King pushed for a dress code to create a more formal environment within USG. “There was confusion on how a senator or how USG should dress in the meetings itself,” King said. “That dress code bill was the main bill I worked on as parliamentarian.”

KING page 2

Chloe Jakiela| The Globe

Blaine King, President of USG, prepares for his next chapter in life outside of USG and graduation at the end of April.

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Tanzilli assumes role as dean of Rowland School of Business from BUSINESS page 1 The Whites gave the university a bequest of greater than $15 million starting in 2014, the single largest gift in university history. While not originally from Pittsburgh, the Whites adopted Downtown as their home and served as trustees of the university. The school will now be known as the Rowland School of Business.

“Their generous gift, the $5 million endowment to the Rowland School of Business—will help support our continuing efforts to provide innovative, experiential learning opportunities for our busi-

ness students,” Paul Hennigan, university president, said in a press release. “Indeed, we anticipate that the Rowland School of Business will be a national leader in business education.”

In his role as dean of the Rowland School of Business, Tanzilli will have broad oversight of all academic programs and will head efforts to solidify the school’s connections with the broader business community. He said Tuesday that his goal is to build a “true learning laboratory” within the school.

“As a dean, it’s more externally facing so my responsibilities will be to go out there

and do some fundraising, go out there and build a brand in the marketplace – really try to connect the Pittsburgh marketplace to our school and our students,” Tanzilli said.

A management professional, Tanzilli created the Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management major at Point Park 13 years ago out of the need to legitimize the profession.

“I’m trying to bring to the school of business is a lot of that SAEM model, which is based on practical, hands-on experience,” Tanzilli said Monday. “Engaging our students with guest lecturers and guest speakers. I want an internship

to be something that all school of business students understand the significance of.”

That hands-on approach, Tanzilli believes, is imperative in building a successful business curriculum.

“We’re the first business school in the region to offer a co-operative education program for all school of business majors,” Tanzilli said. “That’s how important I think experience is in making sure our students are employable. Another thing we’ve done is we’ve re-done our entire curriculum in the School of Business.”

Tanzilli said that while the curriculum change does affect

current students, the school has worked to assure that all students will graduate on time.

He said he’s excited to offer a new curriculum to students based primarily on giving experience and matching the needs of businesses in the region.

“For me, honestly, when people think of the West Penn Building, when people think of the Rowland School of Business, I want them to know that that’s where all the new and innovative business activity is coming out of,” Tanzilli said.

Alexander Popichak apopic@pointpark.edu.

In the face of adversity during his presidency, King changes environment of student government from KING page 1 This required all members of USG to wear a business casual attire during all student body meetings.

During that same school year, King was on USG for the 2014 Shanah Hupp scandal when the former recording secretary shared a Facebook post equating sexual assault to a woman’s attire.

USG Vice President-Elect Davion Heron, who currently serves as King’s recording secretary, recalled King’s dedication to his position when Heron first joined USG in 2015.

Graduating senator Shayna Mendez also recalled the fond times with King over the years.

Mendez met him in 2015 when she first became USG senator.

“It doesn’t matter what is going on, he’s going to stop, he’s going to pause and he’s going to ask you how you are doing,” Mendez said as she described her interactions with King since then.

At the end of that school year, King decided to run for the highest position within USG. He attributed a low membership to why he decided to run.

“I had a feeling I would become president,” King said. “I wanted to be president my junior or senior year.”

During King’s first year as president, he oversaw the 2016 Brennen Burke scandal, in which the then-freshman sena-

tor was nearly impeached for racial comments at an off-campus party, but later resigned.

King also kept USG together as it entered a budget crisis towards the end of his first term.

“Handling crises that pop up are always hard to deal with,” King said.

King ultimately decided to run for the presidency again, where he was unopposed for a second time.

“By me running a second time, I decided, ‘Okay, this is another way I can build upon what I wanted to start my junior year – to continue to build USG,’” King said.

King’s second term met some challenges as seven senators resigned while another senator transferred. His appointed treasurer Amedea Baldoni also resigned a week before the last funding period, and Amber Mole was appointed in her place.

“It’s always a tough position to be in,” King said. “You want to get away from the reason why they left, but you also want to build on keeping the current and incoming members that want to stay.”

King is content with how USG has gained more presence on campus with more communication and one of the largest voter turnouts in recent history for this year’s election.

“An election with multiple people running helps out,”

King said.

He also feels that his time as president allowed people to recognize USG and build trust with the organization.

“They have that trust with me,” King said.

Describing King as an outgoing leader, USG President-Elect Bobby Bertha, who currently serves as vice president, knew King was a great person from their initial interaction.

“Right from the first email, I knew Blaine was a kind-hearted, genuine person,” Bertha said.

As King ends his term, his successor Bertha, who is also King’s roommate, is thankful for King’s leadership and mentorship.

“He is the best of the best when it comes to leadership,” Bertha said. “He has an idea of what he wants to do, but he sees other people’s viewpoints first.”

Student government was not his only endeavor during his time at the university. King quickly became involved with U-View his first week of freshman year as well.

“I went on air…my first week, helped out behind-thescenes, and it progressed from there,” King said.

Since then, he has interchanged between reporting and production over his last four years as he appeared on several shows as well as crewing them.

King also previously hosted the morning show “Daybreak” and now hosts and produces the sports show “Pioneer Sideline.”

Don Ranasinghe, U-View’s programming director, has known King since he transferred to the school his sophomore year. King also hosted the morning show while Ranasinghe was a former co-producer.

“I remember a short person walking in the room, and said, ‘Hi, I’m Blaine,’” Ranasinghe joked about them meeting.

Being friends for years, Ranasinghe recalled interning together in video production for the Washington Wild Things and the Broadcast Education Association trip with King to Las Vegas in 2016.

“We won second place or were being recognized for something,” Ranasinghe said.

“I remember he and I talking about everything we’ve done for U-View.”

Starting in 2016, King became the U-View station manager after a year of being the news/sports director, who is the assistant to the manager.

“Being station manager had a great benefit of seeing people grow and develop even more,” King said.

Working under King, current News/Sports Director Sara Mackulin, who will be station manager next school year, appreciates his leadership and communication skills.

During Mackulin’s freshman year last year, she met King and believes he has helped her tremendously.

“He’s great with people,” Mackulin said. “You rarely see him get stressed out. If there is a problem, he will go talk to someone about it. That’s what I learned from him… be a people’s person.”

As King’s days as a college student wind down, he is satisfied with his experience with USG and U-View and hopes for the organizations to continue to grow.

“My experience at Point Park was amazing,” King said.

“I never knew I was going to be the leader of two campus organizations.”

Saying he cannot believe how fast the time flew by, King advises current and future students to take in every moment they can get while being a Point Park student.

“Get involved from day one,” King said. “You want to get that hands-on experience from day one.”

“The number two thing is to have fun,” he continued. “You want to make sure it is the best four years [of your life].”

King plans to move back to his hometown of Philadelphia in May in hopes to find a job behind-the-scenes.

Alex Grubbs aagrubb@pointpark.edu

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

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Administration: Student tuition does Students would face not go towards new playhouse or CMI financial woes without Federal Work Study from TUITION page 1 ee ($14,000), FoundHennigan then listed other contributing factors to the gap between expenditures and revenues.

“We have personnel costs, health care costs that go up every single year, utility costs that go up every single year, so we try to estimate all of those costs and after we have estimated what we think our enrollment revenue numbers are and what we think our expenditure numbers are, we compare the two,” Hennigan said.

The difference, after cutting expenditures where possible, is then passed on to students in the form of tuition increases.

Tuition for the 2015-2016 school year was a 4.9 percent increase for students in the Conservatory of Performing Arts and a 3.9 percent increase for non-Conservatory students.

Tuition for the 2016-2017 school year was a 2.9 percent increase from the preceding year – the lowest increase in recent years.

The numbers are calculated based on the difference between those enrollment estimates and the existing need for financial aid.

If both tuition and the need for financial aid increase annually, how can an institution expect to balance a budget in this way?

“That’s how it works,” Hennigan said. “That is how the private sector of higher education in America prices tuition.

I’m not saying it’s right, I’m not making any judgment on it, but I’m saying that’s how the entire private sector of higher education prices tuition.”

Financial aid given by the university is broken down into two categories: merit and needbased scholarships.

“For most students, it’s balancing out because what one student might get in a presidential scholarship, another student is probably going to get in a need scholarship and all of that information by law is confidential, so I can’t go into details about how scholarshipping works for individual students,” Hennigan said.

The university offers five scholarships for incoming freshmen only in the schools of arts and sciences, business and communication. Those annual scholarships are the Presidential ($18,000), Vice Presidential ($16,000), Trust-

ers ($13,000) and the Point Park Opportunity Grant ($11,000).

Each award is based upon the awardee’s GPA, SAT and ACT scores and must “meet University’s standard academic progress policy to keep the award.”

Point Park offers three scholarships for students in the Conservatory of Performing Arts: the Artistic Achievement (ranging from $3,000$25,000 annually), Dean’s Academic Nikole Kost | The Globe Freshmen ($5,000) Point Park University President Paul and Dean’s AcademHennigan ic Transfer ($5,000).

These awards are Playhouse and Center for Mebased upon GPA, SAT and ACT dia Innovation (CMI). scores and must demonstrate a “Another thing that needs “high caliber of artistic ability” to be clear to some students is within their artistic audition that they seem to think when process or interview. they see the CMI goes up, is “Surprisingly, it all kind that it’s something they paid of balances out in the end be- for. And they didn’t,” Corsaro cause your circumstances are said. “We received a generous going to be different than his grant for that. These aren’t circumstances, and your merit things that are costing students scholarships might be different money. They don’t go on the but your need usually balances tuition. The playhouse is not a it out,” Hennigan said. factor in that.”

Calling financial aid the Hennigan said that there “biggest expenditure driver,” are no plans for larger capital Hennigan explained the econ- projects and the existing projomy has an impact on stu- ects do not impact the price of dents’ need. tuition.

“Amazingly, the average “Not one dime of tuition income of the middle class money [was spent] in the [Vilhas not increased significant- lage] park,” Hennigan said. ly; we see more need every “It was all grant-funded. We year,” Hennigan said. “Need wouldn’t do that.” goes up every year. So when Hennigan said that while you read about economics in the national average of an unthe newspaper and you read dergraduate student loan in that the middle class is getting the U.S. is $24,000, and the squeezed out, we see it with average undergraduate loan at students coming in the door. Point Park is $16,000.

Students are needier, at least It should be noted that our students are.” without access to individuals’ Hennigan said the uni- accounts, this figure cannot be versity has explored offering a confirmed. “locked in” tuition rate where “The value of a college a student would pay one flat degree is indisputable,” Hentuition rate for their four years nigan said. “With that in mind, at Point Park. He said that I would encourage every stuin order to do so, the percent dent to take full advantage of increase for that initial year every opportunity available at would be too high to justify it, Point Park and through Point guessing that it would increase Park and through the collesomewhere between 16 and 18 giate experience. As far as costs percent. go, the way to feel good about Lou Corsaro, managing di- paying an increase in cost is to rector of university marketing know that you’re getting the and public relations, said in the value that you want.” same Mar. 22 interview that exEmily Bennett penditures for the university do elbenne@pointpark.edu not include larger capital projAlexander Popichak ects such as the new Pittsburgh apopic@pointpark.edu

Newly elected USG president, vice president to be sworn in Monday from USG page 1 This new consolidation includes rearranging offices across campus to a more centralized location based on school department.

For example, the 7th floor of Academic Hall would be transformed to become the hub for the Education department.

New larger classrooms would be available, including a new entrance to the department outside the elevator area.

The new area would eliminate hallway space but create new offices all accessible from the same location.

“Now, [if] somebody is new at school, and you’re like, ‘Oh, I know where the department of education is, it’s the seventh [floor],’” Eversmann said. “All you do is go up the elevator, there’s a front [door] and there’s everything you

need.”

Another big shift will be the School of Communication as the plan is to move the department to West Penn Hall.

The reasoning behind this will be to create new dorm spaces on the 9th and 10th floors of Thayer Hall.

With new space, Eversmann speculated that rooms on each dorm floor or every other dorm floor in Lawrence Hall can be renovated to become laundry areas, instead of the big laundry area on the 8th floor.

He reiterated that no dorm room demolition would take place until the Thayer Hall renovations take place.

With new renovations coming Point Park’s way, USG reflected on the last semester in terms of budgeting.

Despite former Treasurer

Amedea Baldoni’s resignation during the last funding period, Treasurer Amber Mole announced the organization allocated an estimated $52,000 to clubs and organizations throughout the 2016-2017 school year.

The final number is still yet to be finalized by Kate Shipley, the student, activities, involvement and leadership coordinator.

This week also marks USG President Blaine King’s last week in his two-year tenure.

President-Elect Robert Bertha and Vice President-Elect Davion Heron will be sworn in next week.

The inauguration will be held in 701 Student Center next Monday at 3 p.m.

Alex Grubbs aagrubb@pointpark.edu.

from FWS page 1 “The job is showing me how to work in a professional environment with other undergraduates and graduate students,” Rogers said.

Sophomore creative writing major Savannah Kozar would be unable to pay her phone bill or buy groceries if not for her job as a desk attendant the Student Center.

Kozar spends her shifts renting out gym equipment to students, making sure they use equipment safely, and in her spare time works on homework. Without the FWS Program, Kozar fears she may not be able to afford some bare essentials that a young adult needs. Her cell phone and groceries are two items she says would be devastating to lose if she could not afford them.

Without her job from the program, Kozar says she is scared of not having any way to make ends meet.

“I’d be living under a bridge,” Kozar said. “I wouldn’t have any money.”

Kozar enjoys her job and likes being able to study during her down-time, whereas she would not be able if she were employed at a restaurant or retail store.

Freshman animation major and student-athlete Jessica Kavelish would not have any money for food or time to do her homework if it was not for her job as an office attendant in the Career Development Center.

Kavelish is always busy during the school week. Classes, practice and work have her running all over Point Park’s campus, and she says that her work-study is the easiest and least stressful part of her day.

“The work-study is one of the least stressful things in my day, because while I’m at work I can think about what I need to do for homework and organize what I need to do,” Kavelish said.

As a member of the women’s soccer team and a student who is far from home, Kavelish uses her paycheck to pay for food and miscellaneous items she needs. Before she started college, she says she was unaware of how much she would actually need to buy in order to survive away from home.

Point Park has 44 locations on campus for students to work at and four locations off-campus. YMCA, YWCA, American Red Cross and MCG Jazz offer jobs for students to acquire if they wish to work off of campus.

Most students at Point Park are given a maximum of 11 hours a week to work, a number that varies depending on the amount of financial aid that the student receives.

Students are allowed to split their hours between two different departments within a program. According to Dristas, there are currently 38 students who have more than one position at Point Park within either FWS or the apprenticeship program. The apprenticeship program is not in danger of being cut, as it is funded by the schools themselves.

The effects of cutting the FWS Program would be felt campus-wide and would have a massive impact on the staff at Point Park. There would be no student library attendants, office secretaries, equipment assistants or student IT help.

The university would depend on an understaffed force who

would need to handle all of the office work as well as the actual assistance of students.

United States taxpayers currently contribute an average of $1.1 billion each year for the FWS Program to operate. In the United States, an estimated 670,00 students are employed part-time by their university.

While Point Park’s FWS Program students make up less than one percent of that number, their jobs still help them gain experience in a professional setting.

As details are still being speculated, Trump’s initial plan called for “significantly” reducing the program as well as reforming the system. In recent years, the program has gone under fire as critics feel the program is poorly designed.

“I would love to be able to give them more hours because some of them are so hungry to actually work, especially my work-studies because some of them want to learn a little more when we ask them to put together poster or graphics and flyers,” Dobransky said.

The FWS Program provides colleges and universities with funds to pay the checks of students in the program. This means that Point Park University doesn’t actually pay the FWS Program employees, but the federal government does.

“I actually get experience with something I like rather than working somewhere downtown .”

D’aura Ponton

Freshman Cinema Production According to a study done by the Center for Analysis of Post-Secondary Education and Employment, students who held a work study job are more likely to find a job after graduation. Many positions at Point Park offer work in fields students intend to pursue after school.

“I got the job when I was checking out film gear,” freshman cinema production student D’aura Ponton said. “I actually get experience with something I like rather than working somewhere downtown.”

Students can find the FWS Program to be more appealing because of the ability to schedule work shifts around classes and sports. Employers at Point Park work with their students to make sure that they do not have to skip class or rush to work.

With President Trump’s plan under scrutiny and not making much progress in Congress, it is unclear whether or not the program is doomed.

If cut, the lives of college students not only at Point Park, but across the country, could be impacted.

Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu Jordan Slobodinsky jeslobo@pointpark.edu

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

FEATURES

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

University alumna now Bellevue mayoral candidate

By Francesca Dabecco Staff Writer

When alumna Emily Marburger made a Facebook post just a few months after the 2016 presidential election, she was not expecting to receive such overwhelming support.

Dottie from Indiana wrote, “You are our bright and shining future Emily!”

Linda from Florida wrote, “Your town needs you and this country needs you.”

Sherry from Texas wrote, “Way to go Emily! Keep up the momentum.”

These are just a few comments left on a viral Facebook post by Marburger, 29, when she announced that she would be running for mayor in her small town of Bellevue, right outside of Pittsburgh.

There are more than 5,000 comments in similar vein.

Marburger’s post was made on Apr. 1, 2017, on a private Facebook group, Pantsuit Nation, which served as a rally of women’s rights supporters during the 2016 presidential election.

Even though they cannot vote for her, individuals from all over the nation support Marburger and her effort to make a difference in her little corner of the world.

She began her post by writing, “Like the rest of us last November, I woke up to a situation I didn’t know existed.

I knew I had to get involved. I felt driven to help.”

That is when she began talking to the chair of her local democratic committee, Judy Braunlich.

“I was initially looking into running for council and then she told me about the two men who are running for mayor with no other opponents,” Marburger said. “The incum-

bent mayoral candidate [Paul Cusick] is an open Trump supporter. His only opponent [Tom Fodi] is a conservative pastor. They are both running as democrats.”

The borough of Bellevue is 58 percent registered democrats, 27 percent registered republicans and 15 percent independent and other, Marburger said, verified by public records of Allegheny County’s Elections office.

“You can see what the motivation may have been for him to switch. He was a registered Republican in 2012, then switched in 2013 to run for mayor,” Marburger said, referring to public record. Fodi, the other running candidate, has identified himself as a libertarian and also previously registered with the Republican Party.

Braunlich, 56, has been a resident of Bellevue since 1994 and has served as the Bellevue’s Democratic Committee Chairperson for four years.

“The mayor only gets elected if they are a democrat and republicans know this,” Braunlich said. “I told Emily, ‘You have to push that point.

People are being fooled.’”

Marburger saw this and said to herself, “I have to do this. I can’t let this happen after what happened in November.”

She realized that she was more qualified for the position than she originally thought.

“Basically what a mayor does in a small borough like Bellevue is manage police and make a budget,” Marburger said.

Having spent three years in banking, working to financially help people in low to moderate income areas, she gained experience in this field.

She also graduated from Point

Park University in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and mass communication and applied history, then went on to earn her MBA in 2012.

“I was just looking at the responsibilities and I thought, ‘Wow, I can do that,’” Marburger said.

That is when she began the process to run for mayor by collecting signatures of residents within her party. For a person to get their name on the ballot in a small town like Bellevue, they only need 10 signatures, Marburger said.

On Mar. 7, she submitted her petition to the elections office downtown, and she was officially a running candidate.

Since then, she has been taking a grassroots approach to reaching out to the community.

“I meet people for coffee. I do a lot of door knocking. I just had a meet and greet at someone’s house on Sunday. I have been getting a lot of ideas from these people,” Marburger said.

“It’s been really positive.”

If elected mayor, Marburger hopes to create a more engaged and transparent local government.

“Before November, I always considered myself as a part of the Pittsburgh community as opposed to the Bellevue community,” Marburger said.

“I think that one of the things that the election did was make me look more local and more focused on things… not just put my interest on national issues.”

But no matter where she lives, she always considers herself a part of the Point Park community, which she said undoubtedly prepared her for where she is today.

“Point Park has provided me with this wonderful support network,” she said. “I feel like I

Emily Marburger.

Kevin Moran (Class of 2009)| For the Globe

can go back to anyone at any time and still feel supported.”

Journalism professor Bill Moushey was one of the first people to comment on how Marburger running for mayor, she said. “He immediately asked, ‘Where can I donate?’”

Marburger said that Moushey’s passion for truth and justice left an impact on her, especially working in investigative journalism with the former Innocence Institute, directed by Moushey.

“That really put my focus on a broader world,” Marburger said. “Working on that, I think opened me up to different people’s lives and their circumstances. That was really motivating on how I approached life, really.”

Moushey grew up in a pe-

riod of activism and sees young people like Marburger as “a breath of fresh air.”

“I got into journalism because I wanted to seek truth and also use the power of words,” Moushey said. “And to see that rub off on my students is why I do what I do...I support her one hundred percent.”

He supports her just like Dottie from Indiana, Linda from Florida, Sherry from Texas and many others, from her square-mile town of nearly 8,000 to all around the nation.

“They are what is inspiring,” Marburger said. “They are keeping me going.”

Francesca Dabecco fadabec@pointpark.edu.

New work debuts on Playhouse stage for One-Acts Festival

By Nicole Pampena Co-Features Editor

For students enrolled in the conservatory’s advanced directing course, the end of the semester means more than just finals week; it means directing and debuting an entire one-act play or musical in just under two months.

The Raymond Laine Memorial One-Acts Festival showcases entirely student-run productions, where directors develop their show with little supervision from faculty and mentors.

The class was originally taught by Raymond Laine, a founding member of the Pittsburgh Playhouse’s professional equity company, the REP. Laine organized One-Acts as a project in his class that grew in popularity. After his death in 2000, the project continued under a tribute to his name.

This semester, One-Acts will feature all new and original work submitted by Point Park students and local Pittsburgh playwrights.

“We thought it was a great idea for them to have the experience working with a living writer because that is an important skill set to have as a director,” Sheila McKenna said, the theatre department chair and associate professor of advanced directing. “I wanted them to have that experience.”

McKenna and her students solicited work from the university’s playwriting class, faculty members and even the cinema program in addition to the local community, although anyone was welcome to sub-

Nicole Pampena | The Globe

The cast of one-act musical “The Butler Convention” perform at a spacing rehearsal on April 12. mit. After vetting through a considerable number of submissions and discussing personal favorites in class, the directors chose their production and got to work right after spring break.

The full show includes a total of four plays and one musical, two of which written by current students.

Senior acting major Shannon Felletter directs a movement piece titled “Still” by Alexandra Williams.

“I started directing before I came to school,” Felletter said. “I tried to learn as much as I can about theatre, so I have options.”

Felletter began her OneActs career crewing as a freshman, which led to auditioning to perform in it and eventually becoming a director in her final year at Point Park. Aside from students enrolled in advanced directing, participation is on a voluntary basis.

“Directors have their se-

quence of prerequisites for directing and directing studies,” McKenna said, “so they need a year of studying fundamentals. After that, there’s a process of application and interview, in which then a group is selected to go into advanced directing. Those directors are the One-Acts directors.”

Another show, “The Butler Convention,” directed by junior acting major Adam Rossi, hails from New Yorkbased writers David Mahokey and Josh Shapiro. The production is the only musical in the show this semester and only the second musical ever featured in One-Acts.

“I really was looking to do a musical,” Rossi said. “Besides what we have to take as an acting major, I don’t take any music classes…so for the music stage of production I wasn’t much of a help, but I have great team around me.”

McKenna credits the show’s strong sense of team-

work for its minimal problems and challenges.

“All of this comes down to communication,” McKenna said. “No project is perfect, but that’s part of the learning experience. When you have students learning how to make theatre together, that’s very important that they learn the importance of communication.”

Despite already beginning to incorporate playwriting students into OneActs, McKenna hopes to expand even further across multiple theatre majors in the future, eventually going outside of the conservatory and possibly incorporating sports, arts and entertainment management students to establish an entirely student-run theatre company.

Within the theatre department, both Felletter and Rossi noted that their experiences directing have

improved their skills as actors in turn.

“You really learn what it’s like for people on the other side of the table,” Rossi said.

“You learn so much about life in general when you study the opposite and see things from someone else’s point of view.”

“It’s really fulfilling to put out what you want to see and have it happen,” Felletter said.

“And when it successfully happens, it feels really good, even better than your own acting.”

The show runs from Friday, April 21st through Sunday, April 23rd and begin at 8 p.m. at the Playhouse Studio Theater. Two matinée performances will be held on Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets are free and can be reserved at the box office.

Nicole Pampena nmpampe@pointpark.edu

NOW OFFering Piercing

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

5

Pittsburgh celebrates national Record Store Day

Point Park helps students commemorate day’s tenth anniversary

By Carley Bonk Copy Editor

Pittsburgh is celebrating the 10th annual national Record Store Day on Saturday, Apr. 22 , but the event has its roots in San Francisco. Michael Kurtz, co-founder of the tradition, gathered together record store owners in 2007 for releases, live music and giveaways.

“We wanted to create something like free comic day, where comic book stores come together to celebrate,” Kurtz said. “We got together with Rasputin Music and even had Metallica celebrate with us.”

Ericka Thomas, a junior sports, arts and entertainment (SAEM) management major and Warner Michael Kurtz | Submitted Music representative, said Record Store Day gave its co-founder Michael Kurtz the oppoortunity to meet famous musishe plans to celebrate a cians, such as the members of Metallica, including James Hetfield seen here. decade of vinyl recognition with record stores across SAEM department will be and advertising major and weddings and other special Pittsburgh.

“There will be prize sponsoring shuttles to two owner of KW Entertain- events.

“So many people apprewheels, ballot box contests, stores in the city: Dave’s ment, said she was going to Music Mine and Juke Retry to make it to the event. ciate good music and they music and giveaways,” cords.

“I thought the idea was really put their trust into Thomas said. “The first “Students who are into really interesting and I’d DJs,” Walter said. “I love 20 people at Dave’s Music music usually know about love to look into it more,” that feeling of being trusted Mine will receive a premithe event through word of Walter said.

“Pittsburgh’s with music choice and feelum item gift bag; Warner mouth,” Thomas said.

“We music scene is awesome; ing the vibes of an event I’m even provided their Roadspecifically chose these there are so many talented doing.” runner Summer Sampler Record stores are also for a taste of the label and stores because they have a people here, it keeps things great local feel; ones that fresh and I think that’s alessential in providing mugenre.” we would love to give busiways important in music.” sic lovers with choices.

Warner Music is marness to.”

Two years ago, Walter Kurtz said that vinyl, and keting the event at Point Kennedy Walter, a started a DJing business those that create it, deserve Park University and the sophomore public relations that focuses primarily on some recognition. For him,

planning Record Store Day is a full-time job, yearround.

The event caught traction in 2009, where partner events started to pop up across Europe and the United States.

“It’s an old world sound,” Kurtz said. “Creating a vinyl album has a lot of steps: graphics, layouts, pressing tests to make sure it sounds just right; it’s a lot of work, but a lot of fun.”

For Point Park students who want to celebrate and support the industry with other music lovers across the globe, shuttles will leave campus at 11 a.m. and will arrive back around 3 p.m. Students are encouraged to show up early.

“There is usually a line out the door at Dave’s,” Thomas said.

Kurtz said he has faith in this industry surviving in a digital age as, according to Thomas, vinyl is re-gaining popularity with college students.

“People who want to support their favorite artists will continue to buy vinyl,” Kurtz said. “We are always adapting; for Record Day this year we even have a partnership with Sia and Spotify.”

Carley Bonk cmbonk@pointpark.edu

Saddle up for

SPRING FLING

April 21 12pm-4pm Village Park Join us for our last rodeo! free food from Double Wide Grill mechanical bull “Wipe Out” inflatables live music and more!

6

OPINIONS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

THE

GL BE’S POINT

The great tuition increase paradox A few weeks ago we at the Globe wrote an editorial titled “Tuition increase an annual upset.” In the piece, we chronicled student frustration concerning unexplained tuition increases.

Due to the inquisitive nature of the editorial, the Globe received an email an audience with university President Paul Hennigan concerning the piece. Two of our editors met with the public relations director and Hennigan himself. We were then given an invitation to come back with formalized questions that would hopefully provide us with clarity.

As a staff, we anticipated this interview for a long time.

We prepared a list of substantial questions in order to make the increase’s purpose as clear as possible for our readership.

In this week’s edition, we published a story based on the interview we conducted with President Hennigan.

During the meeting, Hennigan chronicled the expanding need for financial aid and expressed that over half of the tuition increase was funneling straight into aid to assist students in their college journey.

Personnel, health care and utility costs were listed as additional contributing factors to the divide between expenditures and revenues. Last year, the increase was 2.9 percent.

This year that number hopped

up to 3.9 percent.

We were left scratching our heads.

Don’t get us wrong, we were grateful for the chance to sit down with two very powerful administration members, and fortunately we were given clarity as to where half of the tuition increase was going.

The interview was warm in nature and we were regarded as professionals and treated competently.

We were still left questioning the paradoxical relationship between the need for increased financial aid and the increase of tuition. If we’re paying more, aren’t we going to need more financial assistance? This was the question at the forefront of our minds.

We weren’t looking for a magical answer that would solve our monetary problems.

We weren’t looking for the secret to reversing inflation.

But we were left longing for a clearer answer than simply “that’s how it is.”

We do take solace in this: at the conclusion of the interview, Hennigan said the value of a college education lies in the experiences students gain from fully engaging with all that college offers. Value is derived from gaining experience, and we couldn’t agree more.

The Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Fighting back against fake news

By Kayla Snyder Co-News editor

Chances are if you’re scrolling through your Facebook page, you’re bound to see something that catches your eye.

When you click on that link, you’re taken to a website that seems credible. You continue reading into this story and you’re convinced that what you just read is real. What are the chances you go and double check your sources? Likely none.

The rise of fake news has been more prevalent than ever. Before the past election season, I personally do not remember an increase in the amount of fake material being spread throughout the internet.

But now, we live in a world consumed by fake news.

The current president, Donald J. Trump, has created an open image of hostility when it comes to the media. If the media reports on something he isn’t a fan of, or agrees with, immediately the information gets labeled as fake news.

As journalists, isn’t it our jobs to tell the truth and be unbiased? Is President Trump unaware that media coverage isn’t always going to be sunshine and rainbows? It isn’t “fake news” if it doesn’t paint you in a positive light. That’s called public relations. This media thing is called journalism. There’s a difference between the two.

I don’t know if President Trump is aware of this fact. Even worse, if the media only shows one side of the story that becomes

something known as propaganda.

You know, like the kind used in North Korea to brainwash its citizens.

Maybe not to that extreme, but the concept is still the same.

My issue here doesn’t directly lie with the current president’s reaction towards the media. Am I upset about it? Yes. But what really enrages me is the fact that society is playing along with the idea of fake news.

What’s the latest meme nowadays? Fake News? Alternative Facts? Something of the sort.

Society is harping on this idea that fake news is a joke. But in reality, fake news is a huge issue.

“The rise of fake news has been more prevalent than ever.”

My assumption is that everyone is under this preconceived notion that just because something exists in the way it does right now, it can’t be changed. To this, I say you’re wrong.

If society stops idolizing “fake news” and starts searching for real, credible sources, then maybe fake news will become a thing of the past.

President Trump is still going to label fake news as such, but that doesn’t mean as a society we have to play into it. Someone should teach Mr. Trump that just because he doesn’t like what he’s reading, that doesn’t mean it’s fake. No one is perfect.

Everyone makes mistakes. But this isn’t a mistake. I’m tired of society playing along with the president’s false claims.

We have the First Amendment for a reason.

Kayla Snyder

Co-News editor The Globe There are tons of fake news website sources out there providing what to the common eye looks like real information.

Some people have jobs based on the idea of spreading fake information. It’s sickening and disgusting and something I’m not okay with as someone who’s aspiring to go into a media-related field in the future.

FAKE NEWS Kayla Snyder klsnyde2@pointpark.edu.

A letter from the editor: “To give the news without fear or favor…”

By Alexander Popichak Editor-in-Chief

I read an editorial in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette over the weekend about how a high school newspaper uncovered the past of their newly-hired principal.

The story goes that a group of high schoolers wanted to introduce their readership to their new principal. When students researched the background of their new principal, they discovered that authorities in Dubai shut down the school she had just come from.

What struck me most about the Post-Gazette’s editorial, though, was the acknowledgement of the crucial, and at times difficult, position school-sponsored papers face when it comes to editorial choice.

I particularly appreciated this line: “There are those who think student journalists should be controlled so they don’t say anything upsetting.

But trying to be inoffensive is

not journalism.”

The statement is quite true - journalism is the craft of presenting important, pertinent information to an audience. In presenting the goings on of Point Park, it’s important to approach the news without fear. This is true for both journalists and their readership.

In the 1980s, our masthead had with it the quote from Adolph Ochs, the longtime editor of the New York Times, “To give the news without fear or favor…” I don’t know why we stopped including that in our masthead - it was long before my time at Point Park but I know that that same sentiment rings true in the Globe newsroom.

Crucial to that fear and favor is giving accurate news, and owning up to your errors.

We strive every week to give you exactly that - accurate student news. Have we fallen short? Of course, but every time it’s a factual error, we run a correction both online and in print.

I feel honest, transparent and accurate journalism is

the most critical thing to provide to the public. Every week I am thankful for the editorial freedom this university allows us. Other than our editorial staff and the kind folks at the Tribune-Review printing facility, no one sees the Globe until we’re published on newsstands Wednesday morning.

Along with that, I appreciate the access we’ve been given by administration. Our front page story on the tuition increase is evident of the most extreme case of that. I’m thankful because as I learned two weeks ago, there are some colleges where the president has not spoken to their student press in a decade.

Could it be better? Of course. But having an open dialogue between student media and administration is crucial, because without communication how can we begin to understand one another?

I can’t help but think of the first edition of the Globe and how concise and precise then-editor Susan Trulove was in articulating the place of this newly-established stu-

dent outlet. In a blurb on policy, Trulove writes, “GLOBE is also a faculty and administration ‘voice.’ Trite but true is the belief that a sufficient quantity of correct information quells rumors.”

This semester, among other accomplishments, we celebrated 50 years of covering the world of Point Park news.

We’ve tried new things - briefs in the news section, graphics in our opinions section and a staff of several section editing rookies that have stepped up to the plate and impressed me.

It’s a tradition at the Globe for the editor to write a letter to our readership at the beginning and end of every semester. I look at the class of 2017 and realize just how much I’ve learned from this group of students.

On this staff alone, two current and three former staffers are graduating. Eddie Trizzino started at the online desk and has served as a feature editor for the past three semesters. Julie Griffith works as layout editor for the past three semesters. If you’ve

picked up a copy of the Globe since we went to a standard five-column layout or seen the ripped paper motif that became the look of our 50th anniversary celebration, you’ve seen her handiwork.

Karly Rivera served as a features editor for two semesters and Iain Oldman served as news editor last semester.

Kristin Snapp, who took a chance on me as a freshman to join the news desk, served at the sports desk and as the Globe’s first year-long editor-in-chief in 2015.

I can’t offer much in the way of advice to our graduates other than to keep a healthy dose of skepticism in your everyday life - don’t be afraid to question everything.

Who knows, you could think of something as simple as a Google search that sheds light in the middle of uncertain darkness.

Thanks for reading,

Alexander Popichak apopic@pointpark.edu

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

Point Park

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.

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

The Globe 201 Wood Street, Box 23 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 Alexander Popichak, Editor-in-Chief Emily Bennett, Editor-Elect Autumn Barszczowski, Business Manager Dr. Steven Hallock, Faculty Adviser Dean Keith Paylo, Administrative Adviser

Robert Berger, Co-Sports Editor Sabrina Bodon, Online Editor Carley Bonk, Copy Editor Lauren Clouser, Staff Writer Dara Collins, Staff Writer Josh Croup, Co-Sports Editor, Editor Emeritus Francesca DaBecco, Staff Writer 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

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

OPINIONS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

7

From the sunshine state to the steel city Coming to Point Park causes culture shock for many students

By Mary Anne Doggett Staff Photographer

One of the unique aspects of Point Park is the large diversity among our students, of which admissions staff and professors seem to be very proud. But how do the students feel about it? What is it like for those who aren’t from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or even the United States?

How do students deal with the culture shock of coming here from the outside? Although I came here from Florida versus a different country, entering Pittsburgh felt like an entirely different world.

The first difference I noticed was the environment, the things I missed and the people who call this city home.

I was (and still am) amazed by all the hills and mountains, the tall buildings and the seasons.

Coming from flat Florida, I was never used to seeing land rise into the sky, but here it’s a common thing (weird). Likewise, Florida doesn’t have huge buildings.

The tallest I’ve seen was 20 stories high. Up here, there are buildings that reach far beyond that, which is unbelievable! Also, there are seasons here. To most of you, this is no big deal, but for me it’s like

seeing a unicorn.

Before coming here, I have only read, heard of, seen pictures of or watched movies with the seasons in them. However, to see the change for myself was unreal -- a dream come true!

Although seeing these new natural elements was amazing, after a while, I realized how much I missed parts of Florida. I basically grew up in the water and prefer it to land.

At first I thought three rivers would be close enough to one ocean. I was wrong. In Pittsburgh, the water is a muddy green instead of the clear blue I’m used to. There are no calming waves, and the water is always ice cold even in the summer.

It was not the same, and I started to desperately miss my ocean. But the homesickness didn’t end there; another part of Florida was missing: palm trees. It wasn’t until I went to Phipps Conservatory and saw a dozen plants from my hometown that I realized how long it’s been since I saw a palm tree.

The visit was one of the weirdest experiences I ever had. To see something that feels so familiar yet foreign at the same time is indescribable. It felt so right yet so wrong.

I used to be surrounded by these plants and now

I can only seem them when I go inside a building? That is truly bizarre to me and sad that a part of my home isn’t here with me. Sometimes when I get homesick, I want to go back there and hug a palm tree until I feel better.

Finally, the biggest cultural difference was the people themselves. I come from a medium-sized, upper-middle class beach town in South Florida. The average person in my town was a white, Christian or Jewish republican who had some money to spare and most likely owned some type of watercraft like a boat, paddle board or surfboard.

Point Park and Pittsburgh are the exact opposite; there are people from all over the world, multiple types of classes, races and religion. It was a shock coming here because I have honestly never seen this many African Americans, democrats, LGBT or Muslims before.

To put this concept in perspective, my high school had about 3,000 students, and around 2% of those students were African American, and only 2% of my friends them didn’t act like their stereotype. Out of all my friends, 5 of them were democrats, and I was aware of approximately three or four lesbians.

Also, out of the 3,000 kids, there were only two known to be Muslim. Obviously, Point Park is much different, and at first, this difference was a shock to me. As a straight, white, republican girl I wasn’t used to being the minority and had to learn how to deal with people who were the complete opposite as me.

“Point Park’s diversity opened doors for me I never realized were there.”

Mary Anne Doggett Staff Photographer, The Globe

Similarly, I was shocked and had a hard time getting used to the idea of the transgender community, drag queens and hearing a guy talk about his love life, but not with a girl.

I don’t have anything against gay people, but these concepts were simply unheard of in my town, anyone who was gay either kept it hidden or didn’t express it as openly as everyone does here. Back home, I was never truly

introduced to these ideas before, and at first I had trouble understanding them. It all felt so foreign to me, like being in a new world.

Despite the cultural shock I got from experiencing the seasons, missing the tropical paradise I call home and being introduced to so many new ideas, lifestyles and people, I learned a lot from these changes.

I learned the seasons are a real thing and people can and will build into the sky. I learned not everywhere I go will have palm trees or an ocean nearby, but there are still beautiful sites to see. Most importantly, I realized not everyone I meet is going to be like me; the majority are going to be the opposite, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be friends with them.

After being at this school for a year, I can see why many of the staff members are proud of the diversity here. Regardless of being amazed or shocked at first, I now feel more aware of a variety of cultures, instead of only having my small town’s views as my world.

Point Park’s diversity opened doors for me I never realized were there.

Mary Anne Doggett Mdogge@pointpark.edu

Saying goodbye...a farewell letter from USG President Blaine King

By Blaine King For the Globe

With the end of the semester being right around the corner and with my term as the United Student Government President coming to an end, I wanted to take the time to thank you all for the support and trust you have instilled in me over the past two years. Without this support and trust, USG, the Point Park Community and I would not have seen the growth that has occurred throughout my terms.

When you elected me to become the next president of USG, it was such a tremen-

dous honor of mine not only to be the leader of USG but also to have the opportunity to represent you, the student body. But last year, it was truly an honor and blessing when you elected me to serve for a second straight year.

When I was first elected president, I knew what my ultimate goal had to be. The goal was to rebuild USG to be a bigger force for the student body and the campus as a whole. We both got a start on that and the effort continued into this year with myself and current Vice President, now President-Elect, Bobby Bertha.

To the faculty, staff and

administration that has developed a relationship with myself and the organization, thank you for allowing that relationship to grow. Without your help and support, we would not have been able to develop the improvements needed on campus.

You are in good hands with President-Elect Bobby Bertha. He will continue to represent you to his fullest.

The same can also be said for Vice President-Elect Davion Heron.

To the class of 2018, I remember when you first came to Point Park excited to start the new chapter of your lives.

Now you are all one year away

from ending that chapter and beginning a brand new chapter. Enjoy your senior year and continue to make a positive impact on campus.

To the class of 2019, I started developing a relationship with you all when you first came here during the Pioneer Experience. The growth I’ve seen you all develop over the past two years is tremendous. Continue to strive for greatness.

To the class of 2020, I have seen you all take those positive chances that I told you to take during convocation. You are all in control of you own destiny. Continue to take those chances, because it

will all pay off.

And finally, to my fellow class of 2017 - four years have quickly passed, and we are so close to ending this journey and starting a new one once we walk across that stage at PPG Paints Arena. I want you all to continue the great work wherever your next journey is.

I am very fortunate and blessed to have served as your president. It was a tremendous honor, and I will cherish all the memories. I wish you all the best in the future.

Blaine King baking@pointpark.edu

8

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

CROUP’S CORNER

By Josh Croup Sports Columnist

A year that was...

2016-17

I sat in my dark Boulevard Apartments room on the seventh floor late Sunday night and stared down at the quiet and wet Boulevard of the Allies. There’s a certain calm that comes over this city at the late hours of the night, especially after a gentle winter snowfall.

The calm and quiet city provides good vibes for deep thinking and reflecting. Try it sometime.

All I could think Sunday night was how amazing the past academic year has been, specifically for Point Park athletics. Oh, and of all the todo lists that need checked off during the last week of classes into finals week. That’s beside the point.

There really were some amazing moments over the past year, despite some teams not posting the best records in their histories. I figured for the last Croup’s Corner of the semester, why not put my late-night reflecting and thinking to good use?

THE YEAR OF 1,000

The volleyball team was loaded with talented seniors, none making headlines more than Shiloh Simonson during her Point Park career.

The senior outside hitter registered her 1,000th kill in September to become just the fifth player in Point Park volleyball history since 1991 to reach the milestone. She already tallied 1,000 digs in her career to add icing on the cake.

The women’s basketball team had so much potential entering the year, but was plagued with injuries and misfortune. Two deserving seniors notched 1,000 points during the year to highlight an otherwise forgettable season.

Carly Forse accomplished the feat first, reaching the 1,000 mark just before suffering a season-ending shoulder injury.

Speaking of injuries, Ja’Nia McPhatter bounced back from a second season-ending injury to return to the floor for the Pioneers and amass 1,000 career points.

The duo became the 13th and 14th players in the program’s 37-year history to score 1,000 career points in a Point Park uniform.

YEAR OF TURNAROUNDS

Simonson’s team had a rough start to 2016. The Pioneers started just 1-10 outside of conference play to start what looked like was going to be a long season.

Point Park turned its ship around and raced to a conference-best 15-1 record to secure a bid to the national tournament.

On a similar note, the women’s soccer team dropped its first three home games to begin 2016 0-5-1. But the Pioneers toughened out injuries and ended the regular season on a four-game winning streak to amass a 6-2 conference record.

IT WAS THE YEAR FOR ANOTHER RING That team’s fantastic turnaround led to a magical run in the River States Conference (RSC) Tournament

that resulted in back-to-back championships for the first time in program history.

ALL-AMERICAN YEAR

Point Park’s track and field program is in its third year and has taken giant strides with each passing season.

This year during indoor season, the program secured its first NAIA All-Americans.

Anna Shields, who broke onto the scene in the fall as a cross country national qualifier, claimed second place in the mile and 1,000 meters at the NAIA Indoor Track and Field National Championships. Her top times earned her All-American status and the NAIA Great Lakes Regional Track Athlete of the Year award.

Jryi Davis, in his junior year on the team, also notched All-American honors in the triple jump.

Shields and Davis both have qualified for the NAIA Outdoor National Championships and look to secure All-American nods there as well in May.

THE YEAR OF THE NO-NO

No-hitters are not as common as they may seem after reading consistent headlines in the Globe about baseball and softball players tossing no-hitters.

That’s just the way 2017 has gone.

Nolan Krivijanski threw a perfect game against Cincinnati Christian in mid-March to secure a 1-0 victory for Point Park. He followed that performance with a one-hitter against Asbury the next weekend.

Enter Nick Beardsley.

The sophomore tossed a no-hit Ohio Christian in game two of a doubleheader following weekend. We’re not done.

Ashley Iagnemma has shut down opposing hitters in the softball batters boxes since stepping on Point Park’s campus last year.

She did just that against Waynesburg University on March 29 in a 9-0 mercy-rule no hitter that ended after five innings.

The next time she took the mound, she wasn’t confined to a mercy rule.

She no-hit Asbury in a 5-0 shutout April 1, the same day Beardsley tossed his no-no.

Good luck trying to find the last time a Point Park baseball and softball pitcher both threw no-hitters on the same day.

It was the year of 2016-17.

You know what’s the best part? The year isn’t even over - it just is here at the Globe.

We’re in the home stretch of the spring sports season with conference tournaments yet to be played and championships to be won.

There could be more headlines to come. There will be more headlines to come.

I just won’t have to write columns about those headlines for a couple months.

But in the fall, I’ll be back for one final ride to detail the year that will be 2017-18.

Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Baseball sweeps Midway to maintain first place Point Park wins three one-run road games to improve RSC record to 20-4 in final stretch

By Jordan Slobodinsky Co-Opinions Editor

Point Park University completed a four-game sweep of Midway University this past weekend. The first three games of the series were decided by one run and the Pioneers depended on senior pitcher Nolan Krivijanski to fend off Midway’s offense in the first contest.

Krivijanski pitched 6.1 innings and gave up six hits, half of which came in the first inning. Senior Keenan Smith came in for the last two batters of the game to seal the deal for the Pioneers. Midway had the tying run on second base in the seventh inning with one out when Smith made two batters pop up to end the inning.

The Pioneers ended up putting up only one run for the contest. Junior center fielder Stefan Mrkonja produced the only run of the game when he hit a sacrifice fly that scored one run in the fifth inning.

The second game of Friday’s series began as another pitcher’s duel, with the Pioneers sending sophomore pitcher Nicholas Beardsley to the mound. Beardsley struck out eight and allowed just two hits in the first four innings. The Pioneers were held to only one run through five innings.

Sophomore third baseman Erik Montero hit a twoout RBI single in the fourth inning that followed two singles and a sacrifice bunt earlier in the frame.

Midway came back in the bottom of the fifth, taking a 4-1 lead. Beardsley left the game after going 4.1 innings, giving up three hits.

Midway sent its closer, Jake McCoy, to the mound in the sixth inning, who had not given up an earned run all year. The Pioneers broke that streak as they accumulated two runs in the sixth and seventh innings. Junior right fielder Edberg Dominguez hit

Sam Robinson | Point Park Athletics

Addison Domingo throws to first to try and complete a double play two weeks ago. Domingo played second base at Midway last weekend and also earned a win and two saves on the mound. an RBI double for the first run and later scored after senior left fielder Danny Sanchez hit a fly ball that was dropped.

With Midway leading 4-3 entering the top of the seventh inning, junior catcher Chris Hernandez walked and senior first-baseman Emmanuel Lopez hit an RBI double that scored a runner. Dominguez then hit an infield single to score Lopez.

Junior pitcher Addison Domingo struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a save in the 5-4 victory.

On Saturday Point Park again took both games from Midway, winning the opener 4-3 and the finale of the series 6-3. The sweep of Midway maintained the Pioneers firstplace standing in the River States Conference (RSC).

Midway had a 3-1 lead in the sixth inning of the first game when Mrkonja led off the inning with a single. He later stole second base and scored after junior catcher Richard Perez hit a single.

Freshman outfielder Cole Horew came in to pinch run for Perez and made it to second base on a passed ball and advanced to third base when Lopez grounded out. Horew scored from third after another passed ball, tying the game

at three.

In the top of the seventh inning, Sanchez reached first base on an error and then moved to second after Domingo hit a sacrifice bunt.

Sanchez then scored on another error from the Midway defense. Domingo proceeded to put the Midway offense down in order in the bottom of the seventh.

Sophomore pitcher Amiel Abreu started the game and went 3.1 innings giving up two hits, three runs and struck out four. Only two of the runs Abreu gave up were earned.

In the series finale Point Park had a 5-0 lead after three innings, and the Pioneers’ pitching staff gave up just four hits. The Pioneers accumulated four of those runs in the third inning.

Midway cut the Point Park to 5-3 in the fourth inning. Lopez then hit an insurance solo home run in the top of the seventh to give Point Park a 6-3 lead. Domingo then came in to retire the side and secured another save and victory for the Pioneers.

This weekend the Pioneers host Indiana University Southeast in a four-game series of top RSC contending teams.

Jordan Slobodinsky jdslobo@pointpark.edu

Golf tees off at conferences

By Robert Berger Co-Sports Editor

The Point Park men’s golf team was in second place after day one of the River States Conference (RSC) Men’s Golf Tournament Monday.

Point Park’s Max Kamin-

sky and Gino DiPardo were tied for second place overall after day one at two-over-par. Kaminsky shot a 72 in round one.

DiPardo shot a 73 in the first round and finished even par through the first nine of round two to end Monday.

Asbury led by two strokes through the first 27 holes.

In preparation, the Pioneers teed off against Carlow last Thursday in a dual match where they outshot the Celtics 313-417. Day two results of the RSC Tournament can be found at ppuglobe.com.

Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu

Robert Berger | The Globe

Junior Max Kaminsky finished two-over-par Monday on day one of the RSC Men’s Golf Tournament.

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

9

Track and field teams exceeding expectations

By Robert Berger Co-Sports Editor

Sophomore Anna Shields of the Pioneer track and field team is ranked second in the country in the women’s 1500 meters after two meets this past week.

“The team definitely exceeded my expectations and performed incredibly well last week,” head coach Kelly Parsley said.

The Pioneer track and field team spent last Wednesday afternoon competing in the Geneva Invitational in Beaver Falls, Pa. against six other schools.

Shields first appeared on the track in the women’s 400 meter dash, placing fourth with a time of 1 minute, 1.76 seconds. Also competing in the 400 for the Pioneers was junior Aneia Dutrieuille, who placed second with a time of 1 minute, .82 seconds.

Early on, the Pioneers picked up third and fourth place finishes in the women’s 200 meter dash. Dutrieuille and Olukemi Olugbakinro finished respectively.

In the women’s 400 meter hurdle event, sophomore Lauren Bower set a school record with a second place fin-

ish in 1 minute, 10.61 seconds.

Bower also finished second in the women’s 100 meter hurdle in 16.18 seconds. Junior Jahniah McAllister took first place in the 100 hurdles with a 15.39 second finish.

“The athletes that ran Saturday were saving themselves during the Wednesday meet, and they still performed well,” Parsley said.

On the field for the Pioneer women was Kiana Daley, who picked up her second discus win in a row with a 39.20 meters toss.

“The weather was perfect for once, so because of that, I think the team was really excited to compete this weekend,” Parsley said.

Also on the field, Mackenzie Mangum took second in the javelin with a 35.88 meters throw, which set a new school record.

Overall, the Pioneer women placed second in team standings at the invitational with 102 points on the day.

The women’s team earned a No. 25 ranking in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in the U.S Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCA) top 25 poll last week.

“This was the first time in school history that we earned an outdoor top 25 ranking,” Parsley said. “It’s a great achievement for the team.”

At Geneva, the men’s team was led by junior Aaron Barlow who finished the men’s 100-meter dash in third place with a time of 11.18 seconds. Barlow also placed third in the 200-meter dash, finishing in 22.41 seconds.

Finishing behind Barlow in the 200 meters were sophomores Tory Doby and Tyrone Robinson, who placed fourth and fifth respectively.

Barlow anchored the men’s 4x400 relay alongside the team of freshman Peter King, sophomore Desmond Marrow and freshman Xavier Stephens. With a finish in 3 minutes, 29.76 seconds, the Pioneers took first place by one second to second place finisher, Thiel College.

Stephens also ran in the 1500 meters, where he set a school record with a second-place, 4 minute, 9.27 second finish.

“I was just trying to run smart and pace myself with the people in front of me, but at the same time, not work myself too hard,” Stephens said.

Setting a school record in shot-put was freshman Chance Callahan with an 11.65-meter throw, placing him seventh overall.

“Almost everyone who ran on Saturday performed to a personal best,” Parsley said.

On the same day, the Pioneer men placed first as a team and registered seven event wins and four school records. The Pioneers placed first with 172 points, ahead of second-place Geneva with 169 points.

Continuing the week, the Pioneers competed in Lewisburg, Pa. as part of the Bucknell Outdoor Classic.

On the Women’s side, Shields continued her dominance, finishing second in the women’s 800 meters with a time of 2 minutes, 9.41 seconds. Setting a school record, Shields finished just 1.22 seconds behind the first-place runner from Saginaw Valley.

Shields also competed in the 1500 meters where she placed third with a 4 minute, 22 second finish, setting a new personal and school record. Only two seconds shy of first place, Shields competed against athletes from Penn State, Bucknell and West Virginia. She currently stands

at second in the NAIA in the 1,500m.

The Point Park men’s 4x800 relay team competed against 12 schools to a seventh place, 7 minute, 58 seconds finish. The team of Marrow, Stephens, Bennett and Sophomore Bryan Partika set a school record and was seconds away from reaching the NAIA qualifying standard.

“Stephens is a great athlete and he listens to everything I say,” Parsley said. “I think his best days on the track are ahead of us.”

The men were led in the field by freshman Tyler Carter, who leaped 14.57 meters in the triple jump for a thirdplace finish. Junior Jryi Davis also competed in the triple jump and leaped 14.38 meters to a seventh place finish.

The Pioneers have four athletes heading to NAIA National Championship meet in Gulf Shores, Ala. from May 25-27, including junior Katie Guarnaccia, Shields, Davis and Carter. Point Park will compete at the Slippery Rock Dave Labor Invitational Thursday.

Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu

Center exposes students to sports industry, jobs

By Dara Collins Staff Writer

What began as a mere idea between two Point Park alumni has now closed out its sixth successful year of operation.

Mike Fetchko, owner and managing director of ISMUSA, and Tom McMillan, vice president of communications for the Pittsburgh Penguins, graduated from Point Park in 1978. The duo teamed up years later to give back to their alma mater.

“We both had great experiences at Point Park, and we got great educations there, but we thought, ‘What’s the one thing we didn’t get?’ And that was access to real world professionals,” McMillan said.

The Pittsburgh Center for Sports Media and Marketing provides just that.

Evan Schall, a new media coordinator for the Pittsburgh Penguins, remembers the Center’s earliest stages while sitting on the first Student Advisory Board.

The structure was similar to its present state. The Center included a Student Advisory Board and a graduate assistant that worked alongside Fetchko and McMillan. Members of the Center were required to complete office hours. Schall said the Center was all about helping with internship, job hunting and engaging with industry professionals.

The Center remains focused on professional knowledge about regional, national and international topics and trends in this fast-paced industry, but a few tweaks and additions have been made.

The Student Advisory Board is now made up of subcommittees. In 2016, a Corporate and Alumni Advisory Board was added to the Center. The Center is a blend of students on campus and the world they’re trying to get into, according to McMillan.

The Center has sponsored trips to the Baseball Winter Meetings Jobs Forum since 2014. Students undergo weeks of preparation including re-

Robert Berger | The Globe

Mike “Doc” Emrick of NBC was one of several industry professionals the Center for Sports Media and Marketing brought to Point Park in 2016-17. sume and cover letter reviews as well as mock interviews, according to sports, arts and entertainment management (SAEM) senior and Honors Assistant Dani McSweeney.

Three students attended the Meetings in 2014; two of them accepted offers. Seven students attended the following year, where five accepted offers. In 2016, 11 students attended the Meetings, and 10 accepted offers, according to a Center fact sheet.

Point Park is earning a good reputation at the Meetings, and the Center hopes to bring more students in the future. Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Keith Paylo said the Center strives to land students even more internships and job success.

The young organization is serving as a foundation for many successful students.

Graduate Assistant Kelsey Veydt reflected on her experience with the Center as she prepares to begin a new fulltime career after graduation.

Veydt was a (SAEM) student and graduated in May of 2015 before returning for a master’s degree in business administration with a focus in management.

As the graduate assistant, Veydt engages in every aspect of the Center’s functions, including but not limited to marketing, the planning

of professional and student events and creating and posting content to social media.

Veydt’s graduate internship was with the Pittsburgh Pirates in community relations. There, she helped with anything involving the organization giving back to the community.

As Veydt begins her fulltime career as a marketing and communications associate for Matthew’s International, the search for a new graduate assistant is underway.

Veydt was initially unaware of the Center as an undergraduate, but said it has become much more of a presence at Point Park over the years.

“When I talk about the Center, people aren’t like ‘Oh, what’s that,’” McSweeney said.

“They know what it is. They just aren’t 100% sure what we do.”

Since its creation in 2011, the Center has brought a plethora of sports and entertainment industry professionals to Point Park’s campus.

Play-by-play announcers, vice presidents, CEOs, directors, coordinators and other professionals with skills across the board have educated the student body.

“You’re not going to get that at other colleges or universities,” Paylo said.

“You’re just not. Especially one of our size.”

Schall encourages stu-

dent engagement with speakers to further the experiences.

“Pick their brains and get to know them because you never know who may help you down the road,” Schall said.

The events sponsored by the Center offer real world information that would not get in a classroom. The professionals give their realistic take on the industry rather than a by-the-book description, according to senior public relations and advertising student and Student Advisory Board member Emily Miller.

McMillan explained the educational values behind the speakers.

“When you get to college as a freshman or sophomore, you have a general idea of what you want to do but you can’t possibly know all the things that are involved in that particular business,” McMillan said.

The presentations show students the layers behind a job title, jobs behind the scene and a peek behind the curtain of how a business is run, according to McMillan.

“The students seem to really enjoy it,” McMillan said. “You can come up with an idea and it could even be a great idea if you bring these people to campus, but if the students don’t get anything out of it then it didn’t really work. But I think we’ve seen that both from individual feedback we’ve heard and kids being inspired to learn about careers and that’s why it’s been a success and that’s very pleasing to us.”

Multiple students owe their success to the Center.

Senior SAEM student and Student Advisory Board member Casey McGaw previously interned with the TriCity Valleycats, Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins. McGaw will add “Harrisburg Senators Game Entertainment Intern” to her resume following the summer of 2017.

McSweeney began her success story with Perfect Game USA as an on-site merchandise intern, and she will

return this coming summer as a manager of on-site merchandise. McSweeney also interned for the Pittsburgh Penguins as an inside sales representative, and now works as a guest services intern for the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field.

Miller said if it weren’t for the Center, she probably would not be at Point Park. She will intern with Perfect Game USA as a sales and merchandise intern this upcoming summer.

Schall believed if he had not made the initial connection with McMillan, he would not have his current position.

Veydt expressed her gratitude towards the Center for building her self-confidence.

“The Center gave me a lot of confidence,” Veydt said.

“Coming into it I wanted to make it my own, take it for what it was and do more. It gave me the confidence that you can do anything you set your mind to, and it definitely gave me the confidence to just put myself out there.”

The list goes on.

“The success rates of students involved with the Center has increased, which makes us able to give the students more opportunities,” McGaw said.

“We’re getting more people at events; we’re growing with the types of events we’re bringing on campus.”

Center members agree they have been exposed to more contacts than they could have imagined.

“Tom and Mike alone, those are two of the most influential people in my life I think thus far, especially in regards to my career,” Veydt said. “I learn from them every day without them even knowing.”

Come December, the Center will possess almost an entirely new board. Graduating seniors will make room for new students to get involved, according to McSweeney.

Paylo hopes to see more majors represented in the Center in the years to come.

Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu

10

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 2017

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Weather, facilities create daily challenges for student-athletes

By Josh Croup Co-Sports Editor

Jason Kim transferred to Point Park from Biola University in California for his junior and senior seasons of baseball.

The pitcher didn’t get to see a regular season game played on his new home field until the 38th game of the year on April 17, 2015. The first 37 games of the season were spent on the road and practices were all indoors.

Two years later, Kim serves the baseball team in a different capacity as an assistant coach. But the conditions and hurdles that come with being a student-athlete at a northeastern urban campus are the same.

Athletes at Point Park drive their teammates to games in shuttle vans, travel an hour out of state for practice and constantly battle the unpredictable Pittsburgh weather.

“You get what you put in,” Kim said. “That’s the way I saw it. It’s hard to be indoors, but if you’re having fun indoors and you’re doing what you need to inside, you’re still getting better.”

Student-athletes at the university have the unique challenge of staying competitive within their respective sports while studying on a campus in the middle of a city. Administrators face similar problems as they scout collegiate-level facilities for those athletes to use.

DIAMOND UNDER WATER

The baseball team faced a similar challenge this season as Kim’s 2015 squad.

Point Park practiced on its home field for the first time this season on March 29, a few days removed from game No. 26 on the season.

The games two weekends prior were slated to be the first games at Point Park Field in Green Tree Park. The Pioneers had to forfeit homefield advantage and travel to Cincinnati to play the games due to weather.

Senior pitcher Nolan Krivijanski pitched a no-hitter in game one of the series, as Point Park went on to sweep Cincinnati Christian in the four-game series.

Krivijanski and the rest of the veterans know not to expect a home game until at least the midpoint in the season, but he doesn’t mind the travel.

“That traveling builds a lot of team chemistry,” Krivijanski said. “You’re around the guys a lot more than if you’re at home. It forces you to come together sooner than later.”

The baseball and softball teams hold indoor practices at the Green Tree SportsPlex, the Student Center gym and take swings in the batting cages on the sixth floor of the Stu-

dent Center during the winter months.

There are obvious limitations to practicing consistently in an indoor facility.

The most notable hurdles for Krivijanski are the limited distance players have to throw and the result of a hitter’s swing in a batting cage.

Head coach Loren Torres is no stranger to dealing with Pittsburgh weather and indoor practices, now in his eighth season with the Pioneers.

As he does every game, he joined his players on the field Wednesday to help prepare the batter’s box and infield prior to Point Park’s non-conference game against College of St. Joseph. After the game, Torres started up the riding lawn mower and cut the grass.

“If we haven’t been on our field and we’re doing well, then we have to stay optimistic that we’re going to get even better when we’re out here and working every day,” Torres said.

As the team’s shortstop, Cole Johnson has had success in 2017 in the field and at the plate, currently hitting .361 with 24 RBIs in the ninth slot in the order.

The senior joins the rest of the team in adapting to the consistent struggle of fielding an outdoor practice.

“It’s different, but we get our work done,” Johnson said. “We’ll take hundreds of ground balls, we’ll take swings and we get everything done that we need to get done. That’s just how we stay on top of it. We make it happen. We make it work.”

When Dan Swalga began as Point Park’s athletic director in 2006, the facility situation for Point Park athletics looked vastly different than it would 10 years later.

The baseball team played home games in either Butler or Washington, Pa. when Swalga started at Point Park.

Swalga eventually transitioned the team to Burkett Field in Robinson Township.

Then, Duquesne University cut its baseball program in 2010, leaving a vacancy at the field the school built in Green Tree. Swalga jumped on the opportunity to move into the facility.

“It’s worked out well,” Swalga said. “We went from playing 30 miles away to three miles.”

SHARING IS CARING

As Swalga stood behind the dugout of the newest field at Fairhaven Park, home to the Point Park softball team, he looked at the improvements Point Park’s rent money has gone towards in the recent years.

The field Point Park typically plays home games on wasn’t there when the university began playing games at the Kennedy Township facility.

He pointed to a set of

Josh Croup | The Globe

The baseball team has played home games in Green Tree since 2010.

bleachers beyond the center field fence of Lind Field, the original home field of the Pioneers at Fairhaven Park, now home to two collegiate programs: Point Park and Carlow University.

Softball senior and center fielder Alyssa McMurtrie played high school ball at Montour. She arrived to Point Park as a freshman and went to her first practice with her new team.

“I thought, ‘Wait. I’ve played here before,’” McMurtrie said.

It’s because Lind Field at Fairhaven Park is home not only to Point Park and Carlow, but also to McMurtrie’s high school team.

“It’s a little weird, but at least I know the field,” McMurtrie said.

Even though Point Park shares some of its facilities with other programs, Swalga said being a priority to wherever Point Park plays is a must.

“We have to have a field or court that will adjust to our needs at the drop of a hat,” Swalga said.

ROAD TRIP HOME

One facility where Point Park is and has been a priority for 20 years is at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) South in West Mifflin.

Playing host to the men’s and women’s basketball teams, it’s the farthest home facility from Point Park’s downtown campus. Both teams practice in the Student Center gym along with the volleyball team, which is the only group that has home games on campus.

CCAC South is a collegiate-level facility that has made Point Park a priority since the 1996-97 season.

Swalga said he searches for alternatives for the basketball teams every year, but his options are limited.

No high school gym can offer Point Park the priority scheduling options at a collegiate-level facility that the university demands.

Fousseini and Lassana Konate, twin brothers from Mali who are forwards on the men’s basketball team, signed on two years ago when they arrived to Point Park to work as the team drivers.

The Konate brothers drive their teammates on Point Park shuttle vans to and from every home game during basketball season. International students are typically not permitted to have off-campus jobs, so the extra money was worth it for the twins.

“I said, ‘Why not drive?’

Coach trusts us,” Lassana said.

“He knows we’re responsible and we’ll be on time.”

Practicing on one court and playing home games on another court brings its own challenges.

“I feel like it’s not really our home court,” Lassana said.

“We only get to play there on Fridays and Saturdays. But if it was closer, we’d practice there every day and it would feel more like a home court.”

Fousseini added that the players often get fatigued quicker playing games at CCAC, which is bigger than the Student Center court.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams often share coach buses for their road travels to play conference opponents in Ky., Ind., Pa., W.Va. and Ohio.

The Konates, both 6-foot5, said the travel is taxing.

Sitting on a bus for five hours without stretching or bending

Gracey Evans | The Globe

The men’s and women’s basketball teams have played home games at CCAC South in West Mifflin since the 1996-97 season. their knees takes its toll. The men have posted a 16-9 record at home the past two seasons, opposed to a 7-21 record in road games, including 1-14 on the road last season.

To distract from the crammed feeling on the bus, Fousseini said he now brings his laptop on the road and does homework while on the bus.

Gabe Bubon is the men’s basketball coach at Point Park and also the men’s and women’s golf coach.

He has helped build the programs into annual contenders and recruited high school basketball and golf star Max Kaminsky to Point Park to play golf.

Kaminsky and the golf teams face the same struggles as the baseball and softball teams with practicing indoors during the winter months at the Robert Morris Island Sports Center.

“It’s not the same because you can’t see the ball going that far,” Kaminsky said.

Golf and a Pittsburgh winter don’t mix. But Kaminsky, who grew up in the area, knew the challenges of staying in the city for a collegiate golf.

While other colleges have more golf courses nearby in warmer climates, he still picked Point Park because of the connection he had with his coach.

Kaminsky did know how to stay warm in the winter.

“You just have to somehow keep swinging,” Kaminsky said. “If you take even a week off, your game can get thrown off like that.”

BUILDING A PROGRAM

The group that rarely takes a week off during the academic year faces some of the newer and tougher challenges in the athletic department.

Kelly Parsley was hired in January 2014 to build a track program for the upcoming year. Coming from Lindenwood University-Belleville in St. Louis, Mo., Parsley knew of the challenges ahead of him, but it wasn’t what he expected.

“When I took the position, I thought they had something in place,” Parsley said. “I thought they had a plan. That was not the case.”

Instead, he spent his first few months on the job recruiting and scouting facilities. He eventually developed a relationship with Keystone Oaks High School in Dormont.

“We have keys and can go there pretty much anytime we want,” Parsley said. “They’re 100 percent supportive of us and they’ve been amazing.”

The team practices after the conclusion of the Keystone Oaks school day and has to battle rush hour traffic through the Liberty Tunnel to get to practice, taking upwards of 30 minutes to make the fivemile drive.

He had a facility to prac-

tice and recruited 50 athletes, twice the amount he was asked to bring to the university. Indoor track and field wasn’t in the plans when Parsley signed on, but he approached Swalga with a pitch.

The athletic director agreed to add indoor track and field as well, but the team had to use the same budget designated for outdoor track and field. During indoor season, the teams travel to Youngstown State University to use its indoor track and field facility once a week.

The facility is free to use for Point Park. The university does pay a small rental fee to use Keystone Oaks.

The nearly 70-mile journey for practice is taxing for some athletes, but the facility allows them to do block work, jump work and some speed work for distance runners.

But throwers are at a greater disadvantage.

The indoor facility at Youngstown State does not allow athletes to pole vault or throw every day, giving throwers the toughest obstacles to overcome on the team.

Kiana Daley didn’t have throwing facilities in while at John D. O’Bryant High School in Roxbury, Mass. She applied the practice techniques she learned at her urban high school just outside of Boston to her college career and has found success in the discus, hammer throw and shot put events while at Point Park.

Daley and the rest of the throwers work in the gym and racquetball room as much as possible when not having access to throwing facilities on campus or at Youngstown State.

“We just try to make do with what he have,” Daley said.

The teams in the best position now are the volleyball and soccer teams, playing home games in the Student Center Gym and the newly constructed Highmark Stadium in Station Square.

Before Highmark Stadium though, the soccer teams played home games 19 miles north of Downtown at Founder’s Field in Cheswick.

When Highmark Stadium came on board, Swalga immediately approached the facility to work out a deal.

Now in a better position than the athletic department was 10 years ago in terms of facilities, the current challenge for Swalga is maintaining a positive relationship with the owners.

“We try to do everything we can to keep the people who manage or own the facilities in a good feeling about Point Park,” Swalga said. “I’ll use every resource I have because we have to have them.”

Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu