Point Park Globe Spring 2020 Issue 12

IN THIS ISSUE: PAGE

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@PPUGlobe April 1, 2020

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

Adjust your Netflix watchlist based on what’s coming and going this month Co-News Editor Jake Dabkowski explains why Joe Biden will lose Co-Opinions Editor Sarah Gibson ranks River States Conference mascots ppuglobe.com Issue 12

COPA exercises SOUTH SIDE JOINS THE BEAR HUNT creativity online nuity and creative drive.”

However, students in the dance program have faced their own challenges and upsets with the transition.

“Some of my classes have not changed greatly,” Cecilia Alves, a sophomore dance major said. “Academics and certain dance classes, like composition, are both manageable and easy to transition to an online format. Other classes, like ballet, modern and jazz have not been easy to adjust to. [Due to] the video assignments, I don’t feel I have the time to dance everyday like I normally would, because I am consumed with online work.

Also, there is an issue of space.

I was slightly disappointed to receive emails from the COPA department, including themes and responses that our classes ‘still exemplified the standard of excellence we pay to receive at Point Park.’ I feel not only robbed of my money, but of my training, because I am missing out on critical in-studio time that cannot be replaced.”

A lack of access to suitable facilities is also causing concern amongst COPA theater students.

“Like every student here, the pandemic has impacted the fact that I am not able to use the facilities at the school any longer, which is detrimental to the training that we are all receiving,” Gill Vaughn-Spencer, a senior musical theater major, said. “Try as we might, there is simply no way to fully recreate the same training.”

Vaughn-Spencer also described what his COPA-related classes now consist of.

“Every dance class has

Jordyn Hronec and Rosalie Anthony Editor-Elect and Staff Writer

As the entire university continues the rest of the Spring 2020 semester via remote online learning, both students and faculty in the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA) are having to adapt to an online-only world while still engaging in the arts.

Steven Breese, the Artistic Director and Dean of COPA, said that he is particularly impressed with the response to the change from the COPA faculty.

“The COPA faculty have been outstanding,” Breese said. “I am in awe of all that they have done and are doing to activate and facilitate this important change...They care deeply about the students and have taken on this important and necessary task with energy, ingenuity and creativity.”

The dance program, specifically, has had to undergo significant changes to move in-person classes to an online format. In a letter to dance students, Breese expressed his optimism that the dance program would be able to continue to operate to the best of its ability.

“The Dance Faculty and Staff have been outstanding, working closely with you to discover and/or invent new ways to teach and learn,” Breese wrote. “I encourage you to continue to rely on your faculty and mentors. They are wellequipped to support you and, as you know, they care deeply about you and your success.

This is a unique time to be a student of dance and of the arts, and I continue to be impressed by your energy, inge-

COPA page 2

COVID-19 Updates for the Point Park Community as of 3/30

Notable

President Donald Trump ordered social distancing guidelines are extended until April 30.

Individuals who need access to campus for any reason must call security and gain approval. Following approval, they will only be permitted on campus for a 2-hour period of time.

Health & Counseling

Health Center & Counseling Services are CLOSED to walk ins for the remainder of the semester but are available for consultations or referral support via phone or email.

Lauren Hogan lhogan@pointpark.edu 412-392-3800

Counseling Center Contact counseling@pointpark.edu 412-392-3977

Student Workers

Student workers (including apprentices, federal work study workers and honors assistants) will continue to be paid according to the average weekly wage from their Spring semester earnings times the number of weeks remaining in the semester as of March 18.

Jessica Ureste jureste@pointpark.edu Alysse Baer | The Globe

Jared Murphy | The Globe South Side residents started to put stuffed bears and other animals in their windows for children and families walking or driving by to enjoy. Communities all over the country are participating in these “bear hunts” based off of the children’s book “We’re Going on a Bear Hunt” by Michael Rosen.

Students look to Pittsburgh virtual tip jar for assistance Dara Collins Editor-in-Chief

Danielle Wenner started the Pittsburgh Virtual Tip Jar the day after Governor Tom Wolf’s announcement of non-essential business closures.

Wenner, Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Associate Director of the Center for Ethics and Policy at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), wanted to help Pittsburgh’s service industry workers continue to receive tips from their customers and other community members.

“My goal was to find the quickest and easiest way to get something online fast Monday morning to fill what I saw as a gap,” Wenner said.

Wolf ordered all non-essential businesses to close on the evening of March 15, and the tip jar went live on March 16 as businesses began to shut their doors or switch to take-out and delivery only options.

“After casting about on social media for suggestions about how to do it, I saw a virtual tip jar in Washington D.C. and largely tried to duplicate their effort,” Wenner said.

This is an independent project hosted on CMU’s Center for Ethics and Policy website and it is accessible to the public 24/7.

Workplaces affected include bars, restaurants,

salons, beauty lounges, valet services and nightclubs.

Pittsburgh service workers from Crazy Mocha to Hofbrauhaus to Sport Clips and everything in between have added their names to the list in hopes of gaining extra funds.

The list currently boasts almost 7,000 entries, but some entries are repeated. If an individual is looking for a specific service industry worker, they can use “ctrl+f” to find the specific individual.

Anthony Ausburn, a senior multimedia major and host at downtown’s Ten Penny, is named on the list.

Ausburn has been employed at Ten Penny since September 2019 and faces an indefinite recall date due to the COVID-19 crisis, which impacts his funds toward living essentials.

“I live off-campus, so I spend $95 a month on a bus pass to get to and from campus and work, I rely on my paychecks to pay my rent and other bills,” Ausburn said.

“With no income and bills not being frozen or delayed, it’s definitely been pretty stressful.”

Once Ausburn saw a shared link to the virtual tip jar, he immediately sent it to everyone he knows in the service industry.

“I saw two of my co-workers share the link to the tip jar on Facebook and thought

Weather Forecast

Today: Mostly cloudy H 52 L 34

Thursday: Mostly sunny H 55, L 35 Friday: Mostly sunny, H 62, L 39 Saturday: Mostly sunny, H 67, L 47

Sunday: Rain, H 66, L 48 Monday: Rain, H 65, L 51 Tuesday: Showers, H 68, L 51

this was such an interesting and thoughtful idea,” Ausburn said.

Since joining the tip jar community, Ausburn has received two virtual tips. He also awaits approval for unemployment.

Senior intelligence and national security major Kaetlyn Bowser also sits on the virtual list awaiting tips in addition to unemployment.

Bowser is a server and bartender at Primanti Brothers and Lincoln Avenue Brewery.

Also unsure of a definite recall date, Bowser is worried about her current financial situation.

“I have no money coming in,” Bowser said. “I am stressed because I cannot finish my senior year at my school. I have not received unemployment yet, so I am trying to be very cautious with the money I was trying to save. The money I was making at my jobs were used for living essentials to help get me through college.”

The listing sheet includes information on the worker’s name, where they work and whether the worker’s hours have been cut or the establishment has been closed.

The last column includes PayPal or Venmo information for the worker.

If a service industry worker is not already listed,

TIPS page 2

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

SOUTH SIDE RESIDENTS PARTAKE IN NATIONWIDE BEAR HUNT

Pittsburgh’s South Side residents started placing stuffed bears in their windows for families and children to enjoy while walking or driving by.

South Side is only one of many communities across the country participating in “bear hunts,” scavenger hunt-esque activities to entertain community members during the coronavirus pandemic.

All photos taken by Jared Murphy for The Globe

COPA proves inventive with transition to online learning environment from COPA page 1 had to move to much more of a strength building and conditioning class because of the limited amount of space,” Vaughn-Spencer said. “Instead of across the floors and combinations, many teachers have had to do workout regimes and technique specific exercises to have us film and send to them. All of my acting/ musical theatre classes have switched over to “self-tapes,” a crucial, but very different, aspect to our careers. Instead of connecting with a real, physical scene partner who can alter the scene at any moment, we are purely working solo with our own imaginary partners.”

Catie Newell, a freshman performance and practices major, is taking the time spent at home to focus on her art.

“I really like many aspects of art, so I’ve been trying to be more in touch with other art forms that I haven’t been able to spend time on in a while,” Newell said. “Like drawing, guitar, painting, etc. It is really fulfilling and something I’m happy to spend time on.”

Newell, like others, says that while the current situation is unlike any that the university has seen before, there are some areas where the response could be better.

“I believe that the school handled the situation in the way that any one of us would have handled it, with a lack of protocol and communication,” Newell said. “This is a situation that could not have

been predicted in regards to how fast it happened. However, Point Park is not a new university which means that in my opinion, there should have been protocol in place to take care of situations like this.

That being said, I found that through my experience, none of the departments had clear communication with each other at all. It seemed like they were all reading different instructions on how to talk to the students about what is going on and what they were doing.”

“I wish that there was a more beneficial way for us to create instead of having to do all of these assignments that I don’t have time or storage for,” Alves said. “Part of me feels like we should just call the semester, or be given a personal assignment that we can work on and present at the end of the semester instead of all of these separate projects.

I think if we were given the freedom to delve into our art and the things that interest us during this time, it could be a way for us to take things to another level.”

Cara Friez, the Chair of the Cinema Arts Department in COPA, said that her department is also working hard to transition to online courses.

“The Cinema Arts faculty have been incredible [in] coming up with flexible and creative solutions to move our courses online at the last minute,” Friez said. “None of us want to be operating our courses in this fashion, as we love the face-to-face interac-

tions we have with our students, but we understand the situation and want to do the best we can right now. Many companies have stepped up to provide the software our students need at home. We also created multiple streaming accounts for our students to access the films they need to watch for their classes.”

According to Friez, the Cinema Arts Department is specifically using a service called “Frame.io” to allow students to view and give feedback on each other’s films. She also described the importance of online forums and Facebook groups, such as “Shifting Film, Media, Screenwriting & Production Online for COVID-19,” that cinema faculty across the world have been using to communicate and share ideas.

“COPA’s responsibility has not changed,” Breese said.

“Our mission and responsibility is to do all that we can to teach, mentor and prepare our students so they can become their artistic best, and to help them successfully enter the creative economy. Going online does not change our focus or our responsibility.

Yes, the current environment has forced us to use different tools to better manage time and distance, but we are moving forward and continue to challenge and support our students every day.”

Jordyn Hronec

jthrone@pointpark.edu

Rosalie Anthony

rantho@pointpark.edu

TIPS Alysse Baer | The Globe

Individuals with secure income encouraged to help from TIPS page 1 they are able to submit an entry by filling out a form that answers the four questions above.

Although the list exists through CMU’s Center for Ethics and Policy website, the Center does not monitor the entries on the sheet and encourages those sending “tips” to check the authenticity of the recipient.

Wenner says because no money passes through her hands, it’s difficult to gauge the impact the tip jar is having on the community.

“What we do know is that a lot of people signed up, indicating that they are in need, about 6,800 last I checked,” Wenner said. “My hope is that people in the Pittsburgh area who have secure employment and income during this crisis will make it a regular part of their routine to consult the tip jar and send money that they might other-

wise be spending on a night out or a trip to the salon to the workers who have been displaced by this disruption in everyday business.”

To end this disruption, Bowser advises everyone to do their part in making communities safe again.

“This is a stressful time, and it is important for everyone to stay at home so everyone can get back to their normal lives,” Bowser said.

According to the Center for Ethics and Policy website, there are 10 other communities offering virtual tip jars to their service industry workers. The locations include Annapolis, Md., Birmingham, Ala., Cambridge, Mass., Cincinnati, Ohio, Ithaca, N.Y., Madison, Wis., Moore, Okla., Rehoboth Beach, Del., St. Louis, Mo. and Washington D.C. Dara Collins

dmcolli2@pointpark.edu

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

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Professionals, students offer advice on working from home Emma Christley For The Globe

With the recent precautions aimed at “flattening the curve” surrounding the spread of COVID-19, many schools and non-essential businesses have temporarily closed their doors, causing students and workers to adopt an online, “work from home” format.

For many, this is the first time they are having to work from their homes digitally. For work that was once done collaboratively, with the feedback of peers is now completed in isolation at home. With this shift, comes the struggle to find a new normal in separating home lives from work lives, which can be stressful and overwhelming.

Students have been attempting online courses in addition to moving off-campus in the last few weeks.

The additional workload assigned by professors and the emotional toll of the pandemic are a few concerns of the student body.

“When I’m at home, I’m in a mentality that I’m on break so it’s extremely hard to be able to sit down and stay focused to complete my assignments,” Megan Benfer, a sophomore creative writing major, said.

Rhianna Davis, a junior business management major, also cited an inability

Alysse Baer | The Globe

to concentrate, new responsibilities at home, having family members around as a distraction and a lack of proper workspace as struggles in her transition to online courses.

Another Point Park student, junior education major Maddie Corcoran, is struggling without the social element while completing her work.

“It’s difficult to collaborate with other students, and without any drive to do my work, it’s even more difficult when I don’t even get the social interaction I heavily rely on to help push myself,” Corcoran said in a Facebook post.

For some professionals, particularly those who work in digital or social media, working from home has been a practice long before the coronavirus hit. Local bloggers have taken to social media to share some of their tips for working from home, tried and true from their own experiences.

Tiffany Schmoyer, owner of Breakfast at Tiffany Marie’s, began her lifestyle, travel and style blog in 2016 when she needed a creative outlet outside of her schoolwork. Since then, she has been working as a content manager at Love Your Social Media since she graduated from Seton Hill University

in December 2019.

In a blog post she wrote in March 2020, Schmoyer gives tips such as, “Wake up with a plan for your workday!” and “Schedule a time for you to stop working and eat lunch each day.” She acknowledges that working from home is hard, but it’s important to find what works for each individual.

“The best tip I can give is to build a schedule that works for you, but also holds you accountable,” Schmoyer said. “While getting dressed and looking presentable is great, don’t feel bad if you are in your sweats and getting things done. Get comfortable with the situation

and then start building better habits.”

Pamela Butler, the owner of Hello Portobellos!, is focused on holistic health, lifestyle and plant-based recipes on her blog. Following her diagnosis with a chronic autoimmune disease and in an effort to find her new normal, Butler became a certified wellness coach and began her blog to try to help others dealing with the same conditions she was in.

Outside of her blog, she is also a photographer at Top Hat, one of Pittsburgh’s boutique advertising agencies which is owned by her husband, Ben Butler.

As a result of the work she does with both her blog and Top Hat, her current working situation hasn’t changed drastically, but she knows that isn’t the case for millions of people who are suffering as a result of social distancing.

She emphasized the need for physicality in the workday, but also the necessity of breathing.

“It’s important that you add equal amounts of physical activity and rest to your schedule,” Butler said.

“Movement helps you stay awake and gets those creative juices flowing while rest stops you from feeling stressed and low.”

Emma Christley

eechris@pointpark.edu

CITY PRESENCE SPOTTY ON SUNNY DAY AMID CORONAVIRUS

Pittsburgh boasted temperatures above 60 degrees Fahrenheit with sunshine on Thursday, March 26. The city would typically be crawling with pedestrians and bustling with activity, but presence across the city appeared spotty due to COVID-19 and social distancing recommendations.

All photos taken by Dara Collins for The Globe

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FEATURES/A&E

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

What’s coming, leaving Netflix

What to watch before the end of April Tia Bailey Co-Features/A&E Editor

It’s that time of the month again — when Netflix takes movies and shows away and puts some new ones in. Here are some of the best that are coming (and going) in April.

Coming:

Killer Klowns from Outer Space: This 80’s horror film may be cheesy, but it’s also a classic. The movie will appear on Netflix on April 1, which is fitting for April Fool’s Day. The Girl With All the Gifts: Although I haven’t personally seen this one, it has been on my list for a while. The movie has an 85-percent on Rotten Tomatoes and looks promising. It will also appear on April 1.

The Hangover: This 2009 comedy is exactly what we need to keep us entertained during the quarantine. “The Hangover” will be on Netflix on April 1.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: Who doesn’t love Ezra Miller? The movie based on the YA novel by Steven Chbosky will be available to stream on April 1.

The Circle France: “The Circle” on Netflix is the one reality show I’ve watched and loved. The French version will be released to Netflix starting on April 9.

Going:

All of the following leave Netflix on April 30, so watch while you still can!

A Cinderella Story: The best installment, with Hillary Duff, will be leaving Netflix at the end of the month. Go watch Sam tell off Austin Ames one more time.

A Nightmare on Elm Street: The horror classic will no longer be available to stream. Even though it’s technically not spooky season, this one still hurts.

The Craft: The witchy cult classic “The Craft” was recently readded, but will be

Short Fictions plays at house venue Ba Sing Se on April 12, 2019.

leaving again at the end of April. But who knows? It may be back on again sometime soon.

Friday the 13th: Again, it’s not anywhere near Halloween, so I understand, but if you want to get some scares in, do so before April 30.

The Hangover: It seems kind of rude for them to take off a movie the same month they put it in, but “The Hangover” will be leaving at the end of the month.

Step Brothers: Another classic comedy will no longer be available to stream on the service.

The Shawshank Redemption: The Stephen King movie starring Morgan Freeman will leave Netflix at the end of the month. Watch for that twist ending a few more times before it goes.

Space Jam: This one hurts. “Space Jam” will only be available for another month.

Tia Bailey tbaile@pointpark.edu

Jared Murphy | The Globe

Music recommendations to get through COVID-19 quarantine Jared Murphy News Photo Editor

With 30 more days added to quarantine, cabin fever will start setting in (if it hasn’t already). The days feel longer and most times I don’t even know what day of the week it is. Helping to keep me sane, here are some of my favorite bands that have made my quarantine bearable.

Idles- Anyone who says punk is dead hasn’t heard of Idles. Idles are a great example of what a modern-day punk band should be; politically driven and partnered with heavy guitar riffs that’ll make anyone get up and move around. Every time I put on “Joy as an Act of Resistance” I can’t help myself from dancing around my apartment.

Skeggs- Skeggs is the perfect band to listen to driving down the road on a warm day with all the windows down. Skeggs is an Australian surf rock and punk band that’ll have every song stuck in your head after one listen.

With the weather warming up and every one confined to their homes, this band will

lift your spirits and leave you with a smile on your face.

Short Fictions- Short Fictions is a local Pittsburgh emo band. Their debut album, “Fates Worse Than Death,” released late last year and has heavy emo revival influence while combating issues such as climate change and the gentrification of the city.

Short Fictions is constantly playing local shows, and there’s no better place to hear the album than in a packed Pittsburgh basement.

Elvis Depressedly- Elvis Depressedly is an experimental pop lo-fi project from Mathew Lee Cothran of Asheville, N.C. This project has a very unique sound that Cothran has fine-tuned over the years.

Elvis Depressedly is a true example of an indie project.

Cothran records almost all of his own music out of his home. For his latest release, “Jane Don’t You Know Me?” Cothran recorded it using the same Korg multi track-recording machine he’d been using since he was a teenager.

Cothran isn’t afraid to ex-

periment and try new sounds that can be heard throughout his discography. Elvis Depressedly is a must for anyone looking for something different, or to expand their listening catalog.

Willow Hill MotelWillow Hill Motel is a psychedelic emo band from Pittsburgh, PA. Their ep “Friends & Family” is another great example of local Pittsburgh emo.

Willow Hill Motel writes some of the catchiest songs I’ve heard in a while. The opening riff in “Family & Friends” has been stuck in my head since the first time I heard it. Cabrera’s lyrics are vulnerable and written in the midst of heartbreak. Between the unique guitar riffs and the brutally honest lyrics, Willow Hill Motel is an essential check out for those who’re feeling down and needing something relatable.

Frequently playing house shows in the area, this band is another must-see in a Pittsburgh basement.

Jared Murphy jgmurph@pointpark.edu

Image courtesy of KindPNG Tom Nook, a main character from Animal Crossing

‘Animal Crossing’ opens new horizons within game series Mya Burns Online Editor

The moment we’ve all been waiting for finally came: the new “Animal Crossing” game for the Nintendo Switch was released on March 20.

The new game, “Animal Crossing New Horizons,” takes place on a deserted island. You arrive on the island and put up your tent, and begin your island life under the guidance of Tom Nook and his associates, Timmy and Tommy Nook. There are a lot of new additions in this game that did not appear in previous games and a lot of classics that were brought back from previous renditions.

One of the major improvements from the previous games is, of course, the graphics. The sunsets are amazing and the water looks incredibly realistic. You can even see the texture of Tom Nook and the rest of the villagers. This new game did a great job of keeping design specs from older games while improving other qualities.

Speaking of older games, this game brought back a lot of great features and incorporated them seamlessly into the new island format. Some of those things include the museum, the shop and special visitors like Gulliver and Sahara.

The museum is one of the most fulfilling and enjoyable parts of the “Animal Crossing” games. You get to donate fish, flowers and fossils (oh my!) that you collect in your adventures. The new graphics combined with the design of the museum are gorgeous. All of the exhibits are beautifully created and it makes you want to donate to see the installations expand. The museum curator, Blathers, has been a constant in the franchise, and it’s no different in this game. He’s known for his long speeches about the specimens you donate and he definitely lives up to his name. In “New Horizons,” you have the ability to skip past his information about whatever you’re donating. It’s hard to actually choose that option, though, because when you do, Blathers has a hard time hiding his disappointment.

There are also new additions that are welcomed with open arms by the community.

Since you’re on an island, one of the biggest changes is you’re able to redeem “Nook Miles”

for tickets to other islands.

The ability to visit friends isn’t a new feature, but in “New Horizons” you’re able to buy a ticket to a neighboring deserted island. Here, you’re able to collect more materials in order to craft items or things like fish and fruit to sell back home.

This feature comes in handy when you’re trying to collect wood, stone, iron or another material to craft with when you’ve depleted your island’s supply for the day.

Speaking of crafting, that’s a feature that’s both new and returning. In “New Leaf,” the version for the Nintendo DS, characters named Reese and Cyrus have a store where you can customize and craft new furniture. This feature also shows up in the mobile game “Pocket Camp.” However, crafting has never been integrated into the gameplay of an “Animal Crossing” game as much as it is in “New Horizons.” You craft all of your tools, as well as furniture and other useful items. One thing that gets irritating about the new tool crafting system is the tools you craft eventually break. This can become frustrating when you’re trying to gather a lot of materials at the same time and you have to keep crafting new tools. It also gets frustrating when you head to a deserted island and a tool breaks, causing you to have to buy or craft a new one.

There’s no way to know when your tool is going to break and carrying a backup takes valuable pocket space.

There are some new tools that show up in “New Horizons” that alter the gameplay.

You can use a vaulting pole to jump over rivers and a ladder to climb up cliffs. These are items that might shock longtime players. Rivers and cliffs used to be insurmountable obstacles, and these changes in the new game are refreshing.

Overall, this new game definitely lives up to the hype that ascended over the past few months. It’s different enough from previous games to keep the player engaged, but still maintains the nostalgia associated with “Animal Crossing.”

This game has provided lots of people with an escape during these weird times and a distraction from it all while we’re stuck inside.

Mya Burns

mnburns@pointpark.edu

OPINIONS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

THE

GL BE’S POINT Welcome to Zoom University

Hello Pioneers!

You’ve done it, you’ve made it through the first few weeks of online classes. We know that there’s definitely been some trials and some tribulations, some highs and some lows. But you’re still standing, and that’s what matters!

We are also here to discuss some of the evident shortcomings of your brief enrollment at Zoom University. Zoom, in case you have not been subjected to it yet, is an online video conferencing platform that is currently being utilized across the world by professors and students alike. While it, and other platforms like it, have proven their worth as useful tools, they have also proven to be no true stand-ins for real, in-person classes.

First of all, there’s an array of technical issues with video classes that are difficult to overcome and can be potentially time-wasting. Not everyone has the strongest Wi-Fi connection or the most technical knowledge. By the time every class member has figured out how to mute and unmute themselves, 20 min-

utes of precious class time has flown by. For those of you that are frustrated, we see you. You are valid.

Additionally, when you’re in a Zoom class, there is nothing stopping you from giving in to the distractions around you. While a professor has the in-person authority to demand a phone-free environment, when you are snuggled up on the couch at home listening to a lecture, you could be doing anything.

It is much harder to pay attention and much more difficult to take notes in a virtual classroom.

These are only a sampling of the problems you are facing. If you are in COPA, where you’re used to physically demanding dance classes or in-person acting exercises, this transition has been monstrous. We see you too.

All we ask, Pioneers, is that you keep up the perseverance and power through.

The school year is not over, and there is still plenty of work to be done.

Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

5

Why Joe Biden will lose the election

By Jake Dabkowski Co-News Editor

Joe Biden will be the worst Democratic nominee for president in the history of the party.

He will lose to Donald Trump in the most embarrassing electoral defeat in the history of this country. He was already a horrible candidate before Tara Reade’s accusations, but now I cannot in good conscience vote for him.

I do not want to go into the details about Reade’s accusations. The Intercept broke the story, and you can read the details by them.

What I would like to talk about is the sheer hypocrisy of liberals on this subject.

It is absurd to me, that after the country melted down over Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, that these accusations have gotten almost no coverage by the mainstream media. If you Google Tara Reade, the first article that comes up is from The Guardian, it’s an opinion called “Why has the media ignored sexual assault and misbehaviour allegations against Biden?”

It is absurd to me that a former Democratic governor and former presidential candidate would tweet deliberate misinformation about The Intercept, claiming that they are “often not credible” and that their founder, Glenn Greenwald, helped Putin under-

mine the 2016 election. He then goes on to claim that he “tends to believe survivors, but is skeptical about sources like this,” which is an absolutely ridiculous thing to say when The Intercept is the publication that broke the Kavanaugh accusations in the first place.

This hypocrisy is shared by pretty much the entire Democratic establishment. A writer who rose to fame for writing about the Kavanaugh hearings and feminism deleted all of her tweets about Kavanaugh. A senior adviser to Joe Biden has also deleted all of her tweets about Kavanaugh. Yet, the most disgusting take I saw, which solidifies everything wrong with “Vote Blue No Matter Who” and the two-party system, came in the form of a tweet from a prominent media figure: “For the sake of argument, say Biden is a rapist.

Trump is also a rapist. So why not vote for the rapist with the better policies?”

The absolute tone-deafness of this statement shocked me. I had to reread it multiple times to make sure I was reading it correctly. A part of me still cannot believe that someone with “feminist” in their bio would tweet that.

Then I remembered the sad truth of American politics, it’s all about who’s on your side. Had this accusation come out about Mitch McConnell, there would be wall-to-wall

coverage by MSNBC and CNN, and there would likely be an impeachment effort against him. The fact that the establishment has politicized rape and sexual assault means that they don’t care about the people or their constituents whatsoever. They will flash a smile, make a tweet, do a photo-op, but the minute that something comes out that hurts them, the minute they’re asked to actually practice what they preach, nothing. Their ideology is so hollow, so non-existent, so purely aesthetical to protect the status quo, that the minute you would expect one of them to have some sort of conviction, they’ll come out and say “why not vote for the rapist with the better policies?” every single time.

According to ABC/WaPo, only 24-percent of his supporters feel a “strong sense of enthusiasm” for Biden. The Democratic Party convinced everyone to nominate someone who can beat Trump, and in the process nominated the weakest candidate in the history of the party. A candidate who literally said to donors that “nothing would fundamentally change.” I only hope his defeat in November is so brutal that it will spell the end of the Democratic Party forever, a death the party deserved on November 9, 2016.

Jake Dabkowski jcdabko@pointpark.edu

The world is a mess: how to survive and thrive in the chaos

By Shannon Hartnett Co-Opinions Editor

Obviously the world is going absolutely bonkers trying to figure out what needs to be done during quarantine.

I’ve read different articles that range from the idea that we will be quarantined until June, the economy will crash and we will all die. On the other hand, there’s also the “rational” thought that this entire pandemic is a hoax and we shouldn’t be in isolation right now; the large majority of people lie somewhere in between. No matter where your thoughts lie, I think we can come to an understanding that some people are downright losing their minds.

For instance, some of these people are the spring breakers who want to congregate in masses outside to continue

partying without consideration for others, or the people who bought 24 packs of toilet paper and left many to fend for themselves. These outrageous actions are not helping anyone and are simply careless. With a global pandemic, people should take more consideration of what they do and how it may affect others. This might be the event that shapes the next generation. I’ve even heard people saying the next generation will be called Gen C in honor of the COVID-19.

Could we be living through a historical moment that defines the next 20 years?

It sounds crazy to assume so, yet here my younger sister is, writing the Diaries of the COVID-19 quarantine for her eighth-grade class as they gear up to learn about “The Diary of Anne Frank.” Could these next couple weeks really define the

next generation as 9/11 defined ours?

Amidst the chaos, there are real and sad realities that many of us will face. One large group being affected is both high school and college graduating classes of 2020. High schoolers are going to start the next journey of their lives, possibly without ever really finishing the journey they left behind. Things like SAT/AP tests, college tours and senior seasons of sports are all stripped from these high schoolers and now they must continue on without possibly having them. Of course, there’s our college seniors who are being thrown into the workforce early, without those last couple weeks of preparation. Missing out on graduation ceremonies, interviews they had set up, maybe even career counseling, all gone.

Another group of people

that comes to mind, is anyone who works in the industry of excess. Of course jobs will eventually resume, but the people who make their wages off of others who are willing to spend extra will suffer. This ranges anywhere from small restaurants, tattoo shops, amusement park employees; basically anyone who’s job is not essential to daily living. This is not because they are out of work for however many weeks this lasts, but because at the end of this people may be hesitant to spend their excess money on things they don’t need. They instead might choose to catch up on their bills and payments that suffered during this time of quarantine.

Through all of this messy unknown, it’s really hard to see any pros. I’ve really only listed two cons that jump into my head out of the thousands

of concerns and health problems people are dealing with.

How can we focus on the good amidst the horrible? Well, my friends, I don’t have the answer but let’s all start by trying to think of one good thing a day to motivate us. Start by thinking of one thing you have to look forward to when the world resumes. Think of things you can do now that you have extra time. Enjoy the extra time you might have with your family. Appreciate your health and try not to take your daily routine for granted in the future. Clearly, a majority of us have a lot of time on our hands, and I think one of the best ways to come out of this craziness is with a positive mindset on how to make life better in the future.

Shannon Hartnett snhartn@pointpark.edu

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6

SPORTS

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 1, 2020

All In with Allison

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

How to stay active while at home and practicing social distancing Advice from Tony Grenek Women’s Basketball Coach

Allison Schubert Sports Columnist

On a rotating day basis, my son and I are doing 100 push-ups one day (usually 4 sets of 25) and four sets of one-minute planks the other day. My wife and I do a daily half-hour walk around our neighborhood (but we've always done that). As a family, we have started hiking in the woods (keeping social distance of course with other people). Also, I have been bike riding in the neighborhood with my kids. I haven't rode a bike in like 5 years until this week. The hardest part is getting my old bones on and off the bike.

The New (Temporary) Norm This is all so surreal.

I do not remember a time when I went this long without getting overly invested in a game or a match or a meet.

I miss silently disagreeing with the (wrong) sports opinions on Twitter.

I miss turning on the Buccos to play in the background while doing homework.

I miss seeing fans get in lighthearted fights in the streets when a fan from the opposing team proudly sported their team’s colors in the Steel City.

Most importantly, though, I miss going to see my peers compete at the collegiate level in the fields of Greentree and Fairhaven Park.

Unfortunately for my dear friends that should be competing right now, there is not much we can do.

NASCAR recently began an alternative to their normal 36-race season, which came skidding to a halt after just four of those 36.

For drivers interested, NASCAR has iRacing, which according to United Press International, is when “drivers… use a computer connected to the Internet, a monitor, steering wheel, driver’s seat and pedals to compete against others in virtual races.” iRacing has been around for years already, with its own athletes (like Timmy Hill, who tallied his 674th iRacing win on Sunday) to compete.

The difference now is that standard NASCAR racers now turn to iRacing as an alternative to keep their skills up to par in this downtime.

With professional leagues around the world canceling and postponing seasons, athletes have been turning to alternatives (similarly to NASCAR and iRacing) that have kept them busy.

Obviously, video games like FIFA or 2K do not actually compare to the skills required to actually play soccer or basketball, but athletes have been streaming them-

selves playing the digital version of their respective sports since the postponement of their in-person competitions.

Athletes around the nation have also taken to social media to show their athome workouts.

One that stands out to me is Pirates pitcher Joe Musgrove, who has been very active on his social media platforms, sharing his tips and tricks to stay in shape despite the lack of access to a gym. (As an added perk, he is roommates with other athletes, so there is also a plethora of baseball content!)

MLB Network has also hosted various interviews, but not the kind we have been used to for the past few decades that feature a broadcaster and an athlete. These interviews are more entertaining, with one athlete taking over the MLB Network social media platforms and another athlete (usually a friend of the first one) being the subject of the interview.

The point of this whole ramble is that we athletic-subject-inclined people have options during this quarantine!

We can go outside and practice those sports that bring us the most joy, watch reruns of our favorite games, keep up with athletes - both loved and hated - on social media and play virtual versions of our sport of choice.

While this sports-less world is a sad one, there are ways to make it infinitely less sad because of how connected everyone is these days.

This loops back to last week’s column in that we are all together; we are all linked in this struggle of fighting boredom while lacking something we are so passionate about.

While we get used to this new, yet temporary, norm in our lives, it is important to not lose that sense of connectedness.

Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu

Lastly, my entire family has been stretching in the evening. Staying busy and active is not only great for your physical health, but it may be even more important with your mental health during these crazy times.

Alysse Baer | The Globe

RSC mascots: best and worst Sarah Gibson

Co-Opinions Editor

11.

Shammie the Shamrock from Carlow University- I understand that Shammie means well, but I hate him. I hate that he reminds me of gumby, in that it looks like he’s rubbery enough to contort into some other form, or at least to have some other face, but THAT is what he decides to look like. It’s reminiscent of those plastic dolls from the ‘80s with hard faces. I would hate to see this guy in any setting, but especially at night. I feel like Shammie has the capacity to be a sleep paralysis demon. Bad. Bad Bad. I really do not like him.

10. RedStorm from Rio Grande- So when I was trying to find the mascot for Rio Grande, all I could find was one drawing of a little greek god looking guy that they used for a digital RSC mascot championship a few years ago. I don’t know anything about RedStorm.

His lightning bolt is… cool?

I don’t think I can give Rio Grande a good rating if only because there isn’t much of a mascot to rate here. They don’t even have a costume to bring their mascot to games.

9. Gus the Grenadier from Indiana University Southeast- No. Just, no. If you’ve seen my other work on mascots, you know that I simply cannot stand a mascot that is a person but is still made into a mascot costume. They never look right and are consistently disappointing. I don’t even know what a Grenadier is, but the mascot looks so weird that I don’t want to look it up.

8. The Midway EagleAn eagle. That’s about it. He doesn’t even have a name, which dulls his character. Eagles are a very basic kind of mascot, and this guy seems pretty cookie cutter.

I like the expression on his face, though. Good, mean expression.

7. Isaiah the Asbury Eagle- When I was first doing my research on Asbury, I couldn’t find the name of the mascot. This isn’t uncommon, as many schools have mascots where it forgoes having a real name just to be “The University Noun.”

(Just like the Midway Eagle.) I thought I was going to have two nameless eagle

mascots on this list. I’m not a big fan of that because I think it makes the mascot devoid of personality and it results in the school only using them as an icon or logo. However, after more digging, I found out that Asbury University’s mascot’s name is Isaiah. Isaiah is a name with Christian origins meaning “Yahweh (or God) is salvation.” I’m not going to speak on religion, but I will say that I think there are cooler sounding bible names for your mascot. What about Solomon, like the one who was one of Israel’s youngest and greatest kings? Or Samson, who drew strength from his hair? The bible is full of stories of strength and power, and naming your mascot “Isaiah” makes him sound like a white belt at my brother’s taekwondo classes. Like I said, eagles are also pretty basic, and there’s not much that separates Isaiah from the rest.

6. Talon the Eagle from Alice Lloyd CollegeTalon is an eagle, and that’s about it. Like Isaiah the Eagle from Asbury University, there’s not much separating him from the plethora of other eagle mascots out there.

He even looks like Isaiah.

He does get bonus points for having a name like Talon. If you’re going to name your eagle mascot, that’s the way to go. Talon is a good, strong name for your eagle.

5. Monty the Golden Bear of WVU Tech- Monty is a solid mascot. His costume is soft and friendly, but his dimensions and identity as a bear make up for that when it comes to the intimidation category. He’s a big softie, but if he was barreling towards you, you would fear for your life, no doubt.

The logo is also pretty well designed. Overall, solid mascot. I like Monty.

4. Barney the Brescia Bearcat- In concept, Barney terrifies me. Like, in the way mascots are supposed to. The logo is intimidating.

The concept of a Bear-Cat strikes fear into my heart, as bears and big cats are both dangerous creatures.

He is drawn with big teeth.

These are all good things in regards to the purpose of the mascot. Bearcats could also be done in a more playful manner for purposes such as an Admitted Students Day. I do have some notes. First

of all, his name is Barney.

Not a great name for your intimidating mascot, but it’s not the worst. The bipedal Barney costume is not bad, but it does kind of look like he’s just constantly looking up. Overall, Barney is a great idea for a mascot, and Brescia should feel proud.

3. Rufus the Red Wolf from Indiana University East- Rufus is terrifying in everything but his name. His drawing in the logo is fierce.

His costume, pardon my language, is simply feral, and I am LIVING for it. Very rarely do mascot makers include teeth on a mascot in order to make them seem more friendly to parents and children, but Rufus does NOT CARE. Rufus looks like he was made to do the exact job that a mascot was designed to do. I commend Indiana University East for their mascot design and I commend Rufus on the fine job he’s doing.

2. Kingston Cougar from Indiana University Kokomo- Kingston is… intimidating alright. I think that his costume needs some work. His neck is really long and he doesn’t really shut his mouth ever, and while I know this is done for the ease of the wearer, it doesn’t make for an intimidating or friendly mascot. It more so makes him look very confusing and panicked. His eyes are also just painfully wide open constantly. He never blinks. He’s a better mascot than Shammie, but he also holds the same capacity for being a sleep paralysis demon. Kingston is a good name, though.

1. Black Diamond II from Point Park- Tough, powerful, headstrong and kind, Black Diamond does not just exemplify what a good mascot should be, but what we should all strive to be as people. Black Diamond is historic, soft, and full of personality; and I’m not just saying this because I’m a Pioneer, folks, and if I don’t put Black Diamond at the top of the list he will come to my house in the middle of the night and eat my houseplants. That’s not it at all. I truly believe from the bottom of my heart that Black Diamond is a mascot unlike no other.

Sarah Gibson sagibso@pointpark.edu