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@PPUGlobe January 8, 2020
This week’s Pioneer Public features Point Park’s own Tik Tok star, Daisy Allebach Editor-in-Chief Dara Collins addresses the student body in a Letter from the Editor Men’s basketball tallies two wins over winter break, improves to 9-7 ppuglobe.com
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Issue 1
Turn of the Decade: Lawrence A NEW YEAR, BETTER YOU Hall turnstiles now operational Luke Mongelli News Editor
The new turnstiles that were installed in Lawrence Hall prior to the end of the fall 2019 semester will be functional and ready for use as Point Park rings in the new year. In an email sent out in the early morning on Friday, Jan. 3, Dean of Students Keith Paylo relayed a message from Chief Besong informing students and faculty that the turnstiles will be fully operational as of Monday, Jan. 16. In addition to a turnstile user guide, the email included information pertaining to larger student mail orders, luggage procedure and new visitor policies. In order for community members to gain access to Lawrence Hall through the first floor entrance, they must place their Point Park Pioneer Card above the keypad located on the turnstile. Once the identification card
has been approved, a green arrow will appear next to the keypad, and the wings will open. If a community member has luggage or any bulky item, they can set it to the side of the of the turnstile or move it in front of them space permitting. When leaving Lawrence Hall through the turnstiles, no Pioneer Card is required. If a student has large packages or mail to send out and needs assistance moving them by cart, they will be unable to use the front doors to Lawrence Hall. Students will be required to use the loading dock area which is located on the Third Avenue side of the building. A card reader for Point Park Pioneer Cards will be outside the doors streetside for all students to use for bringing large items into the building by cart. For students who wish to bring visitors into the building, they will no longer be able to sign visitors in
through the Lawrence Hall lobby. All visitors must go through Academic Hall and check in with the desk attendant. Once signed in, visitors and community members must use the skybridge in order to access Lawrence Hall. Chloe Hoover, a freshman broadcast production major, thinks this addition will bring some needed changes to the campus’ security. “They are a good idea to increase the security and safety of the students, however we may take a while to get used to them,” Hoover said. “Overall, the addition of the turnstiles will definitely improve the safety of Point Parks campus.” Although some students are for the new security measures, some are left with conflicting thoughts. “I have mixed feelings,” Emily Barkhimer, a freshman
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Emma Federkeil | The Globe Members of Campus Activities Board Shelby Armetta (left) and Nicole Lakovic (right) make custom water bottles at CAB’s “New Year, Better You” event in Lawrence Hall Lobby on Monday night.
SGA kicks off spring semester
Two senators sworn in to legislative body Monday SGA By Sarah Gibson SGA Beat Writer
On Monday, January 6, the Student Government Association (SGA) met for the first legislative body meeting of the new semester. Change was in the air right off the bat. Present at the meeting for the first time were five representatives from the Graduate Student Association, who were granted representation on SGA following a referendum sent out to students last semester. During the initial cabinet and senator reports, President Jake Berlin shared that shortly after a letter containing senator signatures showing support for the students of COPA in their fight for equality in regards to the cancelling of “Parade” was sent to administration, it was postponed indefinitely. President Berlin added that while there was no news regarding the Oakland shuttles, he had reached a point of understanding with the administration. That point of understanding was in regards to the purpose of the shuttles, and that if the school introduced commuter shuttles to
Oakland, they’d have to send them to other Pittsburgh neighborhoods where other students live. Recording Secretary Jordyn Hronec reported that President Berlin and herself were looking into hosting a town hall-style forum once a month where no internal business would be conducted, but it would instead serve as a way for SGA to communicate with the student body in a way that would “channel the energy” from the student involvement in the previous year’s election. Vice President Grace Tyler Frank-Rempel took the time to acknowledge that this meeting was her first as Vice President, and now that there was no President Pro-Tempore, one would need to be elected. Senators Dennis McDermott, Bryce Hayzlett and Jade Steele were all nominated. They all gave short speeches addressing the student body explaining why they thought they would want to be President Pro Tempore. Senator Hayzlett cited his presence at almost every cabinet meeting in the last semester as a qualification. Senator McDermott
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Sarah Gibson | The Globe President Jake Berlin swears in Vice President Grace Tyler Frank-Rempel (left) and President Pro-Tempore Bryce Hayzlett (right).
Esports team to become 18th varsity sport in fall semester
Athletics begins recruiting athletes, searching for head coaching staff Dara Collins Editor-in-Chief
As the fall 2019 semester came to a close, Point Park University announced that it will offer a varsity esports team beginning the fall 2020 semester, according to the press release from Dec. 9. “The addition of esports provides another opportunity for the university to offer a quality experience for students who are interested in this,” Kevin Taylor, Associate AD and SID, said. “Esports is a hugely growing industry, and it will be another step toward Point
Park furthering its esports involvement.” The addition of the esports team totals 18 varsity sports team operating in the Pioneer Athletics Department. “The addition of esports will continue to grow our total number of student-athletes as well as add another coach to our staff,” Director of Athletics John Ashaolu said. “Esports adds another element to our department. Adding esports will provide more opportunities for prospective students, and the university’s investment in the addition of esports illustrates the university’s reputation of
being innovative.” Taylor mirrors Ashaolu’s position on the additional growing sport. “Any time that you add a program to your athletic department, there is always a learning process, especially when it is a developing sport such as esports, or prior to that, competitive cheer and dance,” Taylor said. “A lot of schools are learning the ropes of what goes into these types of new sports programs. It is great to jump in and provide these opportunities.”
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Weather Forecast
Today: Cloudy H 33, L 19
Thursday: Cloudy, H 45, L 38 Friday: Rain, H 55, L 53 Saturday: Rain, H 63, L 49
Sunday: Rain, H 53, L 36 Monday: Rain, H 54, L 46 Tuesday: Rain, H 52, L 38
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