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@PPUGlobe September 4, 2019
Could your zodiac sign translate to your major? Lilly Hinckley finds out Student shares opinion on why shuttles should go to Oakland Volleyball goes undefeated in annual Emileigh Cooper Memorial Classic ppuglobe.com
Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967
Issue 2
LABOR DAY PARADE MARCHES DOWNTOWN WPPJ rebounds after system failure Hayley Keys Co-News Editor
This past Thursday, Aug. 29, WPPJ General Manager Bie Teal announced on Facebook that Point Park’s student-run radio station was back on air. The announcement came after the web streaming computer in the studio suffered a hardware failure, preventing students from broadcasting their shows both to campus and on WPPJ’s website. “The problem was not hard to fix,” Dr. Tim Wilson, Assistant Vice President of Information Technology, said. “All we needed was to find another streaming device.” Professor David Fabilli, the advisor for WPPJ, said he was happy with the turnaround on the problem. “We went from being considerably worried to being quite pleased in just a matter of days,” he said. “It was excellent work on the part of our IT team and the support from
Dean Paylo. We couldn’t be happier with their quick and effective team response.” WPPJ is one of the main student media platforms on Point Park’s campus and offers students the chance to get hands-on experience in multimedia from day one. Freshman journalism major Jasmine Schulte said she chose to go to Point Park because it was recommended to her by her mentors after she expressed an interest in broadcast reporting. “Obviously broadcast reporting is something I’m deadset on, that’s what I want to study and that’s what I want to pursue,” Schulte said. “I knew I wanted to go to Point Park because it was close to my house but also because it had such a well-known journalism program.” Schulte also expressed a desire to work for WPPJ after learning that the university had a campus radio station. “I am really excited to get
WPPJ page 2
Katie Williams | The Globe
A veteran at the Labor Day parade sells American flags and American flag-printed apparel.
Artists supported by the federal government
Dr. Hooper gives presentation on past and future of arts funding Amanda Andrews Co-News Editor
Dozens of students sat packed together in the GRW Performance Space on Aug. 28. Instructions were given to make space for others pouring through the doors, and many still had to make do with the floor. All were there anticipating Dr. Colleen Hooper’s presentation on the past and future of their careers. Hooper, assistant professor in the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA), has researched the topic of funding for artists since 2014 when she began her dissertation. Her interest led to her publishing an academic article entitled “‘Ballerinas on the Dole:’ Dance and the U.S. Comprehensive Employment Training Act (CETA), 1974–1982” in the Dance Research Journal in December 2017 and participating in a podcast about that article in October 2018. Most recently, she is working on a book proposal on the subject and presented a full history of how artists once gained, and lost lucrative arts funding from the government. Hooper started her talk by explaining the roots of public funding for the arts during the Great Depression. The Federal Theatre Project (FTP) employed actors, dancers and artists and gave them stable work throughout the period of economic turmoil, though it would only last until 1939. The foundations of FTP
made possible 1970s formation of CETA, the main theme of Hooper’s lecture and research. “It was basically a work program,” Hooper said. “So anybody who was unemployed during this time period was eligible to get a job through the government. Dancers and theatre artists were not supposed to be part of it, but somebody had the idea to include them, and then it became a movement all over the country.” According to Hooper’s presentation, the government employed between 10,000 and 16,000 visual and performing artists. The employees worked standard hours of 35 hours per week, and their
yearly salary was $10,000, which given inflation rates, roughly amounts to $40,000 in today’s currency. When Hooper asked how many students pursuing the arts would take that job offer, a significant number raised their hands. Assistant Professor of English and coordinator of the literature program in the Department of Literary Arts and Social Justice Barbara Barrow helped coordinate the event with Hooper. To her, this event was important not only for students in the Conservatory but any member of the student body, faculty and staff. “Currently we’re seeing dramatic cuts in funding and support to the arts and
Amanda Andrews | The Globe
Dr. Collen Hooper speaks about the history of arts funding to the student body in the GRW Performance Space in the Dance Complex.
humanities, which is deeply troubling,” Barrow said. “Even if we are not professional artists ourselves, we all benefit from the arts and the kind of creative and flexible thinking they promote.” While the duration of the presentation was around an hour, much time and effort went into scheduling Hooper’s talk. One of Hooper’s own students, senior dance major Chezney Douglas, introduced Hooper to the audience. Hooper was Douglas’ instructor for Dance History, and Douglas was adamant about Hooper’s ability to communicate about social justice issues and how they relate to artists. “[Hooper] does a really good job of presenting it in a way that you know dancers and younger students who maybe aren’t as involved or... we just weren’t raised to have the respect for what’s going on in the nation because we don’t quite understand how it affects us because it does two-fold,” Douglas said. “Everything that happens there comes back at us. But she does such a good job at not dumbing it down but just making it more presentable for us. An easier pill to swallow for us to kind of understand it. Like hey, these things are happening, we have a role to play, like we can easily use our voice to help. She does a great job at informing us.” Setting up the event also included thorough coordination with the Provost’s office. “I received a course re-
lease last fall from the Provost’s office to do research, and from talking with the Provost John Pearson, he suggested that I do some type of public event to share my research with the community,” Hooper said. “And I worked with literary arts, school justice Professor Barbara Barrow, and we put this together and luckily we were able to get support from the Dance Department and from the theatre personnel because it’s a lot of work. But that was kind of the impetus for it, is that now faculty do receive some course release to do research.” Barrow advised Hooper in how best to spread the word about the event and helped secure light refreshments via Barrow’s former position in the 2018-2019 academic year as a co-chair of the Campus Academic Resources Committee. According to Barrow, the committee “works to support and promote faculty research on campus.” “This was a great opportunity for faculty and students to come together around a topic of shared interest and to engage in a rigorous and collegial discussion,” Barrow said. “I hope that we’ll see more of these events where faculty get the chance to share their research with students and to hear from students about issues that are important to them, both in and beyond the classroom.” Amanda Andrews
aaandre@pointpark.edu
Weather Forecast Today: Scattered Thunderstorms H 77, L 52
Thursday: Mostly Sunny, H 73, L 54 Friday: Sunny, H 76, L 55 Saturday: Partly Cloudy, H 73, L 55
Sunday: Partly Cloudy, H 71, L 53 Monday: Partly Cloudy, H 75, L 59 Tuesday: Partly Cloudy, H 78, L 61
Point Park
GLOBE
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NEWS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
YINZERS CELEBRATE WORKING CLASS AT LABOR DAY PARADE
Katie Williams | The Globe
Pittsburghers march in the annual Labor Day Parade on Monday, Sept. 2. Various organizations including the Pittsburgh Firefighters Memorial Pipe Band marched downtown.
IT resolves brief student radio woes from WPPJ page 1 to work at the radio station,” she said. “That was something I had never had the chance to do before, and it interests me.” When she learned the station was down due to technical difficulties, she knew the school would step in and help. “If [the school’s] goal is to allow us to be successful, they need to be on top of every aspect of the station, especially on the technical side,” Schulte said. “That way we are able to broadcast our shows and our hard work.” Wilson and Fabilli also noted how valuable the radio station is to students and credited Fred Angiolieri, Senior Director of Media Services, with the quick solution. “WPPJ is one of the main media outlets for students. It is very important.” Wilson said. “Mr. Fred Angiolieri
worked to find a solution and then worked to bring the players together on the technical side to get the appliance up and running.” “[He] researched, tested, ordered and installed a new industry-standard webcasting unit,” Fabilli said. “It will quadruple the capacity for same-time listening and provide better quality sound reception too.” Schulte said she was happy to be part of a program that worked hard to help its students. “That’s definitely part of the education I signed up for. I’m proud of our staff,” she said. Teal made no comment on the problems faced by WPPJ or the new equipment when contacted. Hayley Keys
hekeys@pointpark.edu
Pressure to find future jobs bears down on students Amanda Andrews Co-News Editor
Point Park University boasts of more than 100 undergraduate, masters and doctoral degrees. More than 4,000 full-time and part-time students are enrolled, according to data from Fall 2018. With five schools to choose from, and possibilities of selecting multiple majors and minors, each student has their own individual path they’re creating for themselves. And yet, every single student has a single ambition upon graduating: find a job. A well-paying one with benefits, if it can be helped. Maintain a steady job, keep up a high GPA, make enough auditions and pad the resume with enough practicums and internships: these are just a few of the concerns weighing on Point Park students in their four-year collegiate experience. In a study done in spring 2018 by the American College Health Association, 53.4 percent of college students reported feeling
hopeless sometime within the last 12 months, and 87.4 percent said they felt overwhelmed by all the responsibilities in their lives. 75% of Point Park alumni have full-time jobs in their industry one year after graduation, but the uncertainty lies within that 25%. The Career Development Center at the university has a career counselor for every school. Career counselor Erin Howard for the Schools of Arts and Sciences as well as Education, concurred with many students’ feelings that there is pressure to find successful careers during their collegiate experience. “I find that students get really scared, especially [with] that student loan debt coming in at the end,” Howard said. “The fear of moving back in with their parents after four years of independence, that kind of thought looming is also very scary, not only for the parents but the students. So there’s definitely a ton of pressure out
JOBS page 3
Emma Federkeil | The Globe
WPPJ is back up and running after a technical difficulties at the beginning of the semester.
New journalism program receives positive feedback Hayley Keys Co-News Editor
In fall 2017, Point Park’s School of Communication announced they were switching out broadcast reporting, environmental journalism, journalism, mass communication and photojournalism majors for a collective bachelor of arts in journalism. “When I originally changed my major, I never realized it could be a journalism degree,” freshman journalism major Frank Smith said. “Then I saw that it was more broad, so I felt like I could do more with my degree.” This change to the program combined specific classes with general requirements to create a new major that would allow students to learn multiple skills. Fall 2019 is the first semester of the new major and the first time students are unable to pick their particular branch of journalism to pursue upon entry to the university. So far, there has been positive feedback from both students and faculty. Thom Baggerman, associate professor and chair of the School of Communication, said the change came about in an effort to prepare students for the difference in the culture of journalism and media. “For instance, let’s say you were a traditional journalism major,” Baggerman
said. “Well, part of your job is most likely going to be taking pictures because pure photojournalists don’t exist anymore. Our previous major didn’t give [the students] any training but now [a student] will leave our school more prepared for their career.” Baggerman mentioned that the plan was met with some skepticism but, after giving an explanation, students felt more confident for their first semester. “There were lots of questions and maybe even a little anxiety from the incoming students about why we did it,” Baggerman said. “But we talked through it and explained that it is really setting them up for the job market and helping to make them multifaceted.” Smith said he was nervous when he first saw the announcement on the website, but he felt better after speaking with the school. “I remember I did it over a phone call,” Smith said. “They told me it was an experimental program that was going to grow. But what made me comfortable was how they talked to me about it. They knew what they were doing.” Dr. Timothy Hudson, professor of communications at Point Park, was involved with the switch and created the new program along with other faculty members. “The Point Park Commu-
nication faculty never stops reviewing and improving our courses and curriculum,” Hudson said. “The 2017 journalism revision was one of several steps we’ve taken over the past 10 years to bring our journalism curriculum up to the highest, most current professional and academic standards.” Even though the fall semester only just started, Baggerman is encouraged by the reception from the students. “As far as I know, everything is going well,” Baggerman said. “I haven’t heard any bad things, and there has been no course of major changes.” Smith even mentioned that the new program attracted one of his friends who wasn’t sure what she wanted to pursue as a degree. “One of my friends was considering just doing journalism as a minor, then she really thought about it, looked at the program and she decided to change,” Smith said. He said his first week has been busy but good, and he is excited for his future career in journalism. “It’s a heavy workload, but I expected that,” Smith said. “I feel good so far though, I think my professors are good, and it’s been pretty awesome.” Hayley Keys
hekeys@pointpark.edu
NEWS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
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Incoming freshmen reflect on service projects
Students volunteer their time and give back to local community Luke Mongelli For The Globe
In the waning days of the Pioneer Experience, the freshmen class of 2023 were given various service project assignments aimed at giving back to Point Park and the surrounding community. What started as a day of students milling around campus quickly turned into an eye-opening day filled with volunteer work. On Saturday, Aug. 24, freshmen from every major went to their predetermined meeting points and learned about the task they would be completing. One of the projects had students working with the local Christian organization The L.I.V.I.N.G. or Love Initiated Ventures Investing In Neglected Groups Ministry. L.I.V.I.NG. travels to different homeless settlements in Pittsburgh and serves disadvantaged communities. Emily Barkhimer, a freshman journalism major, was one of many chosen for this project. “The project was not what I expected,” Barkhimer said. “I thought we were maybe going to a homeless shelter and serving food or cleaning up there. Whenever we got to the actual camp though, I was completely caught off guard, because I have never seen anything
like that before.” The camp that Barkhimer worked at is located in the South Side of Pittsburgh. Barkhimer stated that one of L.I.V.I.N.G.’s priorities is the safety of their volunteers. She also described the general terrain of the area where she and the other volunteers worked: “It was on a hill, so we walked down with a rope, and it was right next to a set of train tracks,” Birkhimer said. “There was not a lot of people there, or at least I didn’t see any.” For the next two hours, Birkhimer and her group removed trash and other hazards out of the camp. “There were all sorts of things, like bottles of urine, there were some heroin needles, and whole tents that people had thrown away. There was anything that these people used to survive out there,” said Birkhimer. She also added that some were hesitant to start cleaning, even herself. “It was a huge culture shock to everyone,” Birkhimer said. “None of us have seen anything like this, but I told myself that I was here to help people so I’m going to do it.” After the campsite was cleaned up, students were met with presentations from L.I.V.I.N.G. Ministry on what
else they do to help out the less fortunate in the local community. “As shocking as it was, I’m really glad I did it because I didn’t realize how severe this situation was in Pittsburgh. But now that I understand how it is, I realize that there is a problem, and these people need help. I’m really glad I got the chance to make a difference in these people’s lives,” Birkhimer said. While some students’ experiences were more handson, others’ service projects were more centered around indirect community aid. Freshman Graphic Design major Lucas Murphy was given the assignment to report to the Student Center early in the morning for Campus Cursive. Their objective: give students and faculty small pieces of anonymous encouragement to get them through the day. “We sat down, they told us to write on small index cards. It could be anything we wanted, whether it was a simple ‘you can do this’ or a longer message,” Murphy said. They were also given instructions to write to an organization or service on campus. Murphy and the rest of the students then proceeded to leave these little notes all around campus. “I chose to write to the
Campus Police Department, thanking them for their service to us, and for keeping us safe,” said Murphy. “I had a great time and made some pretty awesome friends throughout this service project. Even though we can’t see the impact first-hand, I still feel as if I did a great service to my campus and community. Overall a very rewarding process.”
“Even though we can’t see the impact first-hand, I still feel as if I did a great service to my campus and community. Overall, a very rewarding process.” Lucas Murphy Freshman Graphic Design Major These community service projects would not have gone as smoothly as they
did if it wasn’t for the help from the many Pioneer Ambassadors that led the way. PA Kyle Anderson oversaw transport for a service project in Oakland. “So I was the leader for the Thriftsburgh Service Project,” Anderson said. “The freshman groups that I led throughout the day had incredible energy and seemed to be enjoying helping out the community.” The University of Thriftsburgh is a student-run thrift store on The University of Pittsburgh’s Campus in Oakland. Anderson said he was grateful to his team of fellow ambassadors who made the event possible and felt very positive about the event’s ultimate impact on incoming students. “The entire experience for me was eye-opening. To see how many people we had was incredible,” Anderson said. “We had freshman and Pioneer Ambassadors all over Pittsburgh to help create a better environment for the city and building a greater knowledge on how much of a community Pittsburgh truly is. This is a great way to show incoming freshmen how small and connected our big city can be.” Luke Mongelli
lrmonge@pointpark.edu
Career counselors advise on finding careers from JOBS page 2 there.” If a student is just looking for stress relief, Howard recommends to learn techniques for managing stress, something else she helps students with. One of her personal favorites at the moment is art therapy. In her experience of advising students, the School of Education has more “straightforward” guidelines for how to shape teaching careers compared to the School of Arts and Sciences; their process that can “really [be] more flexible,” according to Howard. While Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA) career counselor Monica Ritter is specialized in that field, she assists COPA students with standard career preparation by giving resume and cover letter advice, preparing students for interviews, helping with job search planning and discussing career development resources in classes. Ritter acknowledged that COPA students have a unique experience in feeling pressure to be successful after graduation. “COPA students often talk to me about their post-graduation goals using the term ‘dream’ in front of ‘job’,” Ritter said. “They tell me the stories of how they discovered their fields and the inspiration to create that has stayed with them from that moment. Whether in dance, musical theatre, cinema, animation... we are often talking together about an internal drive to get to that place where their work can be seen and appreciated. What remains constant is the drive for the dream, and that can sometimes feel very much like ‘pressure’. It’s an internal desire, wanting to
FIVE SCHOOLS AT POINT PARK UNIVERSITY. MORE THAN 100 DEGREES ACROSS ALL PROGRAMS.
MORE THAN 4,000 STUDENTS ENROLLED AT POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
7 5 % o f P o i n t Pa r k alumni have full-time jobs in their industry 1 year after graduation do well, wanting to succeed, wanting to make the most of their training. Some students may feel a pressure to show everyone that they have been speaking to about their dream, how they are succeeding. The amount of pressure or type of pressure depends on the student.” Despite this pressure, Ritter said that COPA offers many opportunities for students to succeed. “COPA programs are active and hands-on offering so many opportunities to collaborate and create,” Ritter said. “The experiences in and out of class require discipline and practice and an openness and desire to learn and master new techniques and skills. Master classes, classroom speakers, auditions and workshops enable students to meet professionals who can offer advice and connect them to outside opportunities. As a COPA student, your faculty is working so closely with you, helping you develop your unique style and approach. They know and understand where your pres-
sure points are and can talk you through them.” Ritter has ties to other organizations such as Women in Film and Media (WIFM), and the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) that assist her in providing both opportunities for students and relevant research that will help students find successful careers. COPA is not the only school in the university that offers unique opportunities for students. The Rowland School of Business ran its first trial run of the Cooperative Education (co-op) Program, and in 2017 it was officially integrated into the school. A co-op allows applicable undergraduate juniors or seniors to be a paid fulltime employee with a company while earning six credits per co-op placement. Jessica Hobson is the university’s Cooperative Education Specialist. After majoring in Human Resources Management and Technology in her undergraduate education and obtaining a Mas-
ter’s degree in Organizational Leadership, Hobson has been able to coordinate co-ops for students through her professional experience in student engagement, leadership development and recruitment. “I became a Cooperative Education Specialist in order to help connect Point Park students to competitive employment experiences as early as junior or senior year,” Hobson said. “Since [the] program’s inception, we have placed over 50 students, providing connectivity to real-world, hands-on, degree related experience.” The list of companies that Point Park students can complete a co-op with include the Allegheny County Department of Human Services, BNY Mellon, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, the Pittsburgh Playhouse, Northwestern Mutual and the U.S. Military, among many others. According to Hobson, the advantages of completing a co-op are numerous. Being paid a full-time wage can help students toward paying
their tuition and other living expenses, not to mention working in a professional environment bolsters students’ confidence and allows them to network with other working professionals. One of the biggest benefits of doing a co-op, Hobson said, is that when a co-op is successful, there is a high chance that the student will continue to work at that company or in a similar industry. “I do believe that all students would benefit from participation in co-op,” Hobson said. “As a form of experiential learning, co-op provides an opportunity for students to jump-start their career while still connected to the safety net of a university setting.” As much as the university is present to, in Hobson’s words, provide a “safety net” for students, Hobson believes that an active cooperation between the Career Development Center and students is the path for students to develop successful careers. “A flower doesn’t grow overnight and you won’t get a job overnight, even if you graduated yesterday,” Hobson said. “It takes time. Let [the career office] help you while you have time to spend. By working with career counselors upon arrival to the university, students provide themselves with time for networking, job shadowing, interview preparation, and may even have the opportunity to participate in one or more experiential learning opportunities. Students must realize that they are responsible for leading their career journey. The more they put into it, the more they will get out of it.” Amanda Andrews
aaandre@pointpark.edu
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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
FEATURES
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
University welcomes new students with week of events By Kenneth Foran For The Globe
From Aug. 26 through 29, several student organizations put on events all around campus to welcome a new class of freshmen and returning students alike to another year at Point Park University. The week kicked off in Lawrence Hall Ballroom with Monte Carlo night on Aug. 26. Upon entry, students received a free t-shirt and keychain as well as 40,000 “dollars,” which students could trade in for raffle tickets. One ticket cost 1,000 “dollars.” To increase their chances of winning a raffle drawing, students could play games such as Texas Hold’em Poker, Roulette and Blackjack among many others. Freshman broadcast production and media management major Zoe Vitelli had plenty of fun, but was a bit surprised that everything was taking place on school grounds. “I don’t know any other college campuses that allow their students to fake gamble,” Vitelli said. Some students barely broke even, while others had the luck of the draw and earned hundreds of thou-
Siena Ciancia | The Globe Junior Dylan Tyler Allen breaks it down in Village Park during Campus Activities Board’s (CAB) Welcome to the Jungle event on Thursday, Aug. 29.
sands of “dollars.” Those who weren’t as savvy with card games participated in karaoke in a separate room, where hits like “Dream On” by Aerosmith and “Honey, Honey” by ABBA were sung magnificently by brave souls part of the student body. Next was Pioneer Pub, which was held in Lawrence Hall 200 on Aug. 27. The event was presented by the Office of Student Development, who
Alexis Wary | The Globe Grace Routon and friends participate in Trivia Night held in Lawrence Hall 200 on Tuesday, Aug. 27.
PIONEER PUBLIC Kenny Sickles By Hannah Walden Co-Features/A&E Editor
The typical story of dance competitions for young kids starts with hard work and determination, followed by performing in front of a panel of judges, an award ceremony and everyone going home and preparing for the next competition without really learning and growing from the level that they are at that moment. A Point Park alum wants to change the way young kids go through competitions.
Kenny Sickles, 25, an early childhood education major who graduated from Point Park in May 2018 with a degree in instructional studies’ wants to help young dancers grow and learn while making connections with other dancers and instructors. “Usually kids just come and compete and don’t get anything out of that [experience] except titles and trophies,” Sickles said in a phone interview. “I wanted to make it so the kids grow and learn things that they will use as they further [their] dance [careers.] I want to enforce that students know how to make connections. Everyone I know and work with I met through dance, and they know the importance of making connections.” Sickles came up with the idea to start his own dance competition in August of 2018 with his sister, Renee Watterson. As time went on, they decided to launch the
managed to raffle off a total of six tickets to the musical “The Lion King,” coming to the Benedum in September. Two of these were part of a raffle that everyone in attendance entered and were awarded at the end of the night to freshman dance major Segren Rollin. “I didn’t think I had a chance,” Rollin said, shocked to have won. “It’s my dream to be on Broadway, and I have never seen ‘The Lion King.’ I literally called my mom and started crying.” However, the remaining four tickets required some mighty knowledge of all things Point Park. Students competed in teams of various sizes during a “Kahoot!” style trivia game based on Point Park’s policies, athletics and academics. By the end of the night, students in Team 17 came home with the prize. Freshman English major Robert Hawley-Potter said he liked Pioneer Pub the most because “it brought a lot of people together to learn about the school.” Trivia was not the only draw to Pioneer Pub, as the name suggests the event had around 20 oddly-named, yet simply savory sodas to sample. From Bug Barf to Butter Cake, LLC on July 26, 2019. It was then this brother-sister duo started All Out Dance Competition and started the process of creating events for the upcoming dance season, which typically lasts from February to June. However, this isn’t the typical dance competition, as it will feature a convention before the rounds of judging. Setting up these events has been the most stressful part, as a lot of planning, networking, communication with venues and the staff hired to work the event, designing and ordering merchandise and more has taken the most amount of time. Once everything is in order for the convention and competition starts, Sickles is able to have some fun. “When that weekend comes up, it’s a lot of fun,” he said. “I get to travel, I’m emceeing and [getting] involved with the crowd and the kids. Everything up to that part is stressful and
a favorite among attendees, there was a flavor to satisfy everyone’s taste buds. Things went primal on Wednesday night as the SAIL Office presented “Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom” for outdoor movie night in Pioneer Lot. Volunteers from the Campus Activities Board (CAB) made things sweet by providing free popcorn and ice cream for all those in attendance. CAB rounded the first week off with ‘Welcome to the Jungle’ in Village Park on Aug. 29. The event saw host to a henna tattoo artist, casual cornhole, free specialty mocktails, chocolate covered pretzel rods and a DJ. It didn’t take long for a mild moshpit to form right in front of the DJ booth as hits from Migos, Drake and other pop artists pierced the soundwaves of the university. “It was so fun to be with all of my friends out on the dance floor,” Rollin said. Overall, the week’s events had an outstanding turnout, mostly due to the enthusiasm of the incoming freshman class and their eagerness to get involved. “[It] was a great way to start the year,” Vitelli said. “It
gave the freshmen an opportunity to see more than just other freshmen at the school.” Vitelli wasn’t the only freshman to give the experience high praise. “It really allowed for us to meet other people from many different majors and create connections,” freshman journalism major Frank Smith said. “I still say ‘Hi’ and talk to many people I met through Welcome Week activities.” This hasn’t gone unnoticed by organizations such as CAB who plan these events. “I’m definitely noticing a lot more outgoing freshmen this year,” CAB member Emily Rockwell, a junior sports, arts entertainment management (SAEM) major, said. “There’s definitely a lot of people that don’t know each other talking to each other, and I love that.” Some students have noticed how active student organizations and school personnel are with the student body. “I came from a school with a very negative and fake attitude, so hearing everything Point Park said it felt so genuine,” Smith said. “I mean come on, the president has been so active with us. Some of my friends at different universities don’t even know their president.” Welcome Week ends with the Student Organization Showcase on Sept. 3, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Lawrence Hall Lobby. Here student organizations that signed up will set up tables and showcase their organization with the opportunity for students to sign up and join their organization. There will also be a ‘Get to know the Office of Alumni Engagement and Giving’ in the Lawrence Hall Lobby from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and ‘Connect with CAB’ in Village Park from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. all on Sept. 4.
Kenneth Foran kaforan@pointpark.edu
Submitted | Kenny Sickles
anything can happen. I’ve learned a lot in the past year and in this month [especially]. It’s a daily learning experience.”
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THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
A&E
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
5
A guide to COPA explained by conservatory students Conservatory students break down a day in the life of arts students By Zoey Angelucci For The Globe
Understanding and comprehending the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA) life seems to be a struggle for the average Point Park University (PPU) student. For all non-COPA students who have a limited understanding of what COPA is and the process these students had to complete to even get in the program, the answers have been found and the mystery is solved. Across the board, all COPA kids have to get accepted academically just like everyone else. The real difference comes when it is time to be accepted artistically. All students involved in dance, theatre and cinema arts must display their artistic abilities to become fully admitted. “They had several auditions you could choose from,” freshman dance major Aniela Marcin explained. “There were four or five you
could choose from, and they went until February.” “(You) pick a time or make other arrangements for your audition,” freshman dance major Megan Nasche added. “Point Park also does auditions through online videos or at different performing arts schools.” Both of the girls auditioned for the dance program in December 2018. As for the realm of cinema production, sophomore Nick Capezio described putting together a portfolio for his artistic application, as the university recommended students list all film projects they’ve done before. “But I [also] added in songs I’ve worked on and writings I have done,” Capezio said. “Then they ask you what experience you’ve had, but if you don’t have any experiences that’s fine too. I also had to write an essay on why I should be considered for the cinema program.” Likewise, the theater majors also go through a
strict auditioning held twice a year that usually requires three prepared monologues, according to senior acting major, Naomi Allen. As many of you know, this year PPU decided to try something new for freshman orientation. During the Pioneer experience, freshmen in COPA majors dipped out for something a little more important than introductions and icebreakers. They had to audition for class placement. “They accepted 100 or so freshman for dance, so obviously 100 people can’t fit in the same class at the same time,” Nasche explains. “They basically have auditions to figure out where you best fit in with your peers, in what class and with what teachers.” Meanwhile, freshmen Zoe Gonzalez and her fellow musical theater majors had vocal placement audition that “was just to place us with a voice teacher for private voice lessons.” Once placed into their
specific classes, COPA students started classes just like the rest of the PPUstudents. Obviously they have many major-related classes, but they also are required to take academic core classes like any other student. In addition, each of the COPA majors are given the opportunity to display their work in a showcase type of setting. Allen explains that acting majors don’t always share their work, “but if the professors want to showcase work then they inform the head of the department to put a showcase together. [Usually,] three classes at most share their work.” Likewise, the cinema production crew holds a showcase at the end of the semester. According to Capezio, professors pick a film to showcase and then the students vote on two more and show them in the Student Center auditorium.” Dance majors have many more options to show off their talents. They have
five to six productions a year, which includes a fall show, a student choreography show, a winter show, a guest show and a few others. According to Marcin, it is normal for everyone to audition. “If you are a student with a scholarship, you have to audition,” Marcin said. There is no guarantee everyone will be in the show, but those not picked will have an opportunity to work as a crew member. Showing off their skills and talents is an enriching, beneficial part of the education. Between their artistic classes and academic workload, there is no doubt COPA students are always busy. So next time you see them running across Boulevard of the Allies, desperately trying to get to their next class, you’ll have a deeper understanding of what it actually means to be in COPA.
Zoey Angelucci zaangel@pointpark.edu
Students relate zodiac traits to their major, career paths Is there a relation between signs and majors? By Lilly Hinckley For The Globe
I encourage you to dive deeper and decide if you possess any of these qualities, and if so, how do they show up in your own work ethic?
Aries (March 21 to April 19) Aries, you are the first sign in the zodiac, making you a natural born leader. Independent, ambitious and passionate, you find power in doing what you love and succeed most when you are in an executive position. “Being an Aries [and having] personality traits like [being] passionate, motivated and a strong leader really did reflect who I was in high school and who I want to be in the future with business,” freshman business management major Ben Brewster said. Aries, do you also possess these strong qualities of leadership? Take a moment to think about how they assist you in work and in your studies.
Taurus (April 20 to May 20)
Taurus, stubborn and extremely determined. Some may see your stubbornness as something that could hold you back, or prevent you from working towards your goals. Your defiant nature makes you ambitious. Dedication to yourself and your beliefs manifests into your work through certainty and a strive for excellence. “I think the fact that I’m stubborn most of the time helps with my major because I want to get my point across and I won’t stop until the person I am talking to understands it,” freshman public relations and advertising major Gianna DiPaolo said. Spoken like a true Taurean, she shows certainty in her beliefs and that she will stop
at nothing until she feels she has been heard. DiPaolo goes onto say “I feel that my major is pretty ambitious, because I can do anything I want with it so my ambition bar is set high, I’m also extremely determined to do well in my classes so I feel that accompanies it.” Taurus, how does being stubborn and ambitious help you succeed in your work and studies?
Gemini (May 21 to June 20)
Gemini, you are a social butterfly, and this compliments your sense of curiosity. The development of these two things allow for you to thrive in areas of work where networking is key. You’re always looking for change, as you may get bored easily. Perhaps you are seeking a career where the subject of your field is always changing. Journalism would be a great career field for Geminis, as today’s media is always changing. Grace LeMieux, a freshman, dance major and Gemini, said that while she identifies with some of the Gemini traits, as a dancer, she tends to identify with her feelings as she is dancing rather than how she is supposed to act. LeMieux mentioned that she is interested in a minor in Journalism and believes that being a Gemini could help her as she would be able to constantly look at two opposite perspectives. Gemini, think about how your curiosity encourages you to strive for greatness.
Cancer (June 21 to July 22)
Cancer, you are sensitive and imaginative. Your sensitive side may be exasperating at times, however, your imagination allows you to offer a different perspective. You may catch yourself daydreaming at times
when maybe you shouldn’t, but some of your best ideas come from this level of creativity that others may not be able to access. Your sensitivity helps you better understand other people as you are very empathetic, and have a deeper recognition of what others are feeling. “When Cancers aren’t being emotional, they’re actually pretty creative, driven and have a big imagination,” freshman public relations and advertising major Brisa Bastida said about a Cancer’s work ethic. “Coincidentally, I decided to major in public relations and advertising because I get to use my ideas and imagination to be creative in a way that will hopefully start my career with a big company in the near future.” Cancer, how does being sensitive and imaginative help you in your area of study?
Leo (July 23 to August 22)
Leo, you love to perform and entertain. You also hold very high standards for yourself and tend to be outgoing. You are big dreamers and have the intent to make your dreams a reality and, quite honestly, will stop at nothing until you’ve achieved your goals to your standards. “Leo’s are ambitious and tend to be leaders,” freshman dance major Aniela Marcin said. “I feel like they also tend to be performers and have jobs in leadership.” Leo, whether you’re a performer or not, think about how your outgoing and high spirited personality helps you in your work and studies. Check out the full story at ppuglobe.com
Lilly Hinckley lrhinck@pointpark.edu
Alysse Baer | The Globe
‘It Chapter Two’ hits theaters on Friday By Dara Collins Editor-in-Chief
You know what they say about Derry - no one that dies there ever really dies. At least, that’s how Pennywise’s latest disguise put it. I do not think I am alone when I say Stephen King’s “It” ruined the idea of a goofy, harmless clown. I sat on my nana’s living room floor as I watched “It” for the first time, and I have not been fond of clowns since. Now, at 21 years old, nothing has changed. It’s hard to believe Warner Bros. Pictures released the “It” remake two years ago. By this Friday, “It Chapter Two,” sometimes stylized as “It Ends: Chapter Two,” will hit theaters. The Losers are back in Derry to end It - for good. Warner Bros. Pictures released the final trailer on July 18. By the end of the less than three-minute video, your heart will be racing out of your chest, and It’s cackle will echo in the back of your mind. The flashes of red: the
blood, the balloons, It’s hair and even Beverly’s hair pop from an otherwise dark and grotesque trailer of the returning horror that terrorized the members of the Loser’s Club during their childhood. Pennywise the Dancing Clown’s modern look horrified viewers when the remastered movie hit theaters in 2017. This could be due to It’s lifeless yet glowing eyes and three rows of dagger-like teeth that tore Georgie’s arm off. Or maybe it’s because now, after watching the official teaser trailer from Warner’s YouTube channel released in May, we assume Pennywise can take the form of a seemingly innocent elderly woman. “For 27 years, I dreamt of you, I craved you, I missed you,” It says in the final trailer. While Pennywise dreams of this week’s long-awaited rematch with the Losers, “It Chapter Two” seems nothing short of a nightmare.
Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu
6
OPINIONS
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
THE
GL BE’S POINT Staring down the gauntlet with style
It’s official, the Point Park student body and faculty have successfully made it through the first week of classes. As a member of this community, you may be feeling energized and prepared to take on the rest of the year. Or, you may already be feeling wiped out and ready to throw in the towel. If you are the latter, then read this piece closely. We, at The Globe, are not going to act as if a few encouraging words are enough to get through a year of college because that’s simply not the case. The truth of the matter is that college is difficult. In fact, it is extremely difficult, it’s why a college degree is so valuable and they don’t just give them away. It can be easy to get swallowed up by all of the work and 8 a.m. classes that lie ahead of you. It can be easy to cower in fear, and it’s normal to do so. It’s also normal to constantly
contemplate dropping out. The next time you consider giving up, remember that you can do one of two things. You can let the fear beat you down, or you can stand tall and stare down the challenges to come like a pro. So, the next time your professor in that one class ups the ante and assigns something that seems impossible, consider rising to the occasion. Once you experience one victory, you hunger for more and can start your winning streak. Also remember that college, especially the academic part, can be a battle, but you are not alone in the fight. You can always look to some successful alumni to prove to yourself that the battle can and will be won. So, get out there and put ‘em up, Pioneers.
Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu
Kusnetsov and cocaine: Questions arise of consistent responsibility By Taylor Spirito For The Globe
In the world of sports, testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs is a pretty black and white concept. If it’s found in an athlete’s system, action is taken both in the league and in the community. That player is normally suspended and shamed while begging for forgiveness from all. It’s a situation that is taken pretty seriously, especially more recently. The case of Evgeny Kuznetsov is one that’s completely in a gray area. He tested positive for cocaine in the past few weeks and was subsequently banned from playing for his home country of Russia in the International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) for four years. However, Kuznetsov plays for the Washington Capitals and ultimately for the National Hockey League, which has turned a blind eye to his positive drug test and is allowing him to continue playing for the nation’s capital. This isn’t the first time a cocaine-using athlete has been severely punished for their actions, as the drug does appear on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WAPA) Prohibited Substances list (section S6.a on stimulants, to be precise). British tennis player Dan Evans was banned from playing for a year after he tested positive for cocaine, and Castleford rugby league player Zak
Hardaker was banned for 14 months. The NHL treats its drug tests a little differently. Instead of banning positive-testing athletes from playing, the league and the player’s teams seek help from the team doctor and other medical professionals so that the player has access to as many resources as possible to turn everything around. It’s like a redemption arc, and suddenly the player’s substance abuse is a distant memory as they continue to play on the national stage. The thing about Kuznetsov is that the allegations involving his drug use surfaced around May of this past year, where videos were found of the Russian near a white powdery substance. These videos picked up so much traction on social media that the NHL, Capitals, and Kuznetsov himself addressed them in formal statement. Kuznetsov said, “While I have never taken illegal drugs in my life and career, I would like to publicly apologize to the Capitals, my teammates, our fans and everyone else, for putting myself in a bad situation. This was a hard lesson for me to learn,” (NHL.com). It’s no coincidence that in August, he tested positive for cocaine. Check out the full story on ppuglobe.com
Taylor Spirito trspiri@pointpark.edu
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Student asks for Oakland route By Hannah Johnston Features/A&E Photo Editor
Twelve days before classes started, students living in Oakland received an email stating that shuttle services would no longer be available. Twelve days before classes started, we learned that we would have to pay $97.50 a month to pay for buses to and from school. Yes, there were rumors during the 2017-2018 academic year that the Oakland route of the shuttles would be discontinued. However, the problem is that the commuters did not know the details of this until 12 days before school. Students who reside in Oakland have been depending on this shuttle service for reliable transportation to and from school for years. I have been using the shuttles as my transportation to and from school since fall 2017. Many people may be thinking, “Why don’t you just live closer to campus?” The rent of a studio or one-bedroom apartment in downtown is nearly double the cost of a similar apartment in Oakland. In my case, I had already resigned my lease in October of 2018. My lease for an apartment located in, you guessed it, Oakland. When I first transferred to Point Park, one of the selling points for me was the shuttle service since I knew I would be living off-campus. I chose my apartment based on the shuttles running between Oakland and campus. It is to my understanding that the original intent of the shuttle route to Oakland was to bring COPA students to
and from the Playhouse, which until last year was located in Oakland. While this was the original intent of the Oakland route, many commuters also took advantage of this shuttle as transportation to campus. In addition to that, the administrators of Point Park are aware that a large number of commuters live in Oakland. If you look on Point Park’s website under Commuter Resources, and look at the Renter’s Guide section, it lists places where students can look for housing. Next to Oakland it states, “where many Point Park Students live.” In fact, during my tour of campus in 2017, I was advised to live in Oakland by my tour guide because of the convenience of the Oakland shuttle route. In an article published in the first issue of The Globe titled, “New shuttles receive mixed reception,” Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs Keith Paylo was questioned in regard to this issue. Judging by some of his responses, it seems to me that he does not understand the number of students this change is affecting. Dean Paylo and the administration of Point Park seem to be turning a blind eye to the commuters living in Oakland. As discussed in the article, there was a Change.org petition created titled, “Get Point Park’s shuttles back,” which at the time of publication had garnered the support and signatures of approx. 2,300 people. These are all people who are being affected by the Oakland route of the shuttle service be-
ing discontinued. Paylo also stated that the new routes were to “assist the students in their daily lives.” I can say definitively that this change has negatively affected the daily lives of thousands of commuters. One example of these negative effects is that it has forced me to work more hours at my part-time job to cover the cost of transportation to and from school. I believe I speak on behalf of many of my peers that the transportation services Point Park provides are extremely lacking. There is no parking lot owned by Point Park for commuters to park as many other colleges have. We only get discounted bus passes after 7 p.m., even though the school day is essentially over by that time. When compared to other schools, Point Park is failing in this regard. For a school that, according to the 2018-2019 Point Park Fact Book, has a total of 3,058 commuters out of 4,099 total students, they seem to be caring very little for their largest population of students. Dean Paylo and any other administration of Point Park who make decisions on transportation, I’m not asking for a U-Pass this semester. I’m just asking to get a shuttle route back to Oakland until there is an alternate transportation option for commuters living there. If you can have shuttles running every day to and from South Side in 30-minute intervals why can’t you just have those shuttles stop in Oakland?
Hannah Johnston hmjohns@pointpark.edu
Pro athletes are human beings, too By Mason Strawn For The Globe
Rest in peace to all the Fantasy Football teams that had Andrew Luck as their starting quarterback this year. The Colts Pro-Bowl gunslinger officially retired on August 24, at the age of 29, in one of the most shocking moments in the football world since All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions retired in 2016 at the age of 30. Luck pointed out his injuries as his reason for retiring, stating that he “still had a life to live with his wife and children.” Several other NFL athletes have done this in the past, but none this popular or beloved. Luck was a Pro-Bowler four times in his career and won Comeback Player of the Year just last season, after coming back from a brutal shoulder surgery that sat him down for the entire 2017 season. As someone who once owned an Andrew Luck jersey as a kid and watched him make the greatest comeback in NFL history against the Kansas City Chiefs in 2014, I was upset to see him retire.
He was on track to become a hall of famer, and gave the Colts the chance at a deep playoff run and a dark horse for a trip to the Super Bowl. It leaves a disappointing taste in my mouth, as well as in the citizens of Indianapolis - disappointing enough that things have started to get ugly in the Circle City. News broke during the Colts’ Preseason game in Indianapolis on Saturday, as Luck was walking into the tunnel toward the locker room, fans started to rain down boos on their former QB after hearing their season may be going down the drain. I understand the feelings these people have, especially those that were calling for refunds to their season tickets after realizing Luck would not be with the team now, lessening the Colts chances of a playoff push. But for some of these fans to have the audacity to boo someone that has taken on multiple injuries and sacrificed so much for their team, it has baffled me. It’s understandable why a lot of fans would be upset; the Colts are a team that had re-
lied on him for the last seven years, and now had their best chance at Super Bowl since 2014 when they were put down by the New England Patriots. Many want to finally see another ring come to Indy, and now their chances have slimmed down a bit, with Jacoby Brissett, who started in place of Luck during the 2017 season, at the helm of a still strong Colts team. What many need to understand is that Andrew Luck is human. He believed his body couldn’t take anymore punishment in his career, and if you have seen some of the injuries this guy has sustained (such as a lacerated kidney, yes, you read that correctly, he was tackled so hard he injured his kidney) you’d understand why he’s stepping away. Several of his teammates have backed him up on his retirement, and even if it does slim down the Colts’ championship chances, fans need to understand that he’s doing what he thinks is best for him. That’s what matters most.
Mason Strawn mtstraw@pointpark.edu
Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967 Editor-in-Chief: Dara Collins Editor-Elect: Jordyn Hronec Business Manager: Cortnie Phillips Faculty Adviser: Aimee-Marie Dorsten Administrative Adviser: Dean Keith Paylo The Globe board consists of Dara Collins, Jordyn Hronec and fellow editors. Opinion articles, letters to the editor, columns and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the position of the newspaper or editorial board. The Globe reserves the right to refuse advertising and edit all submitted articles and letters to the editor. Letters to the editor must be signed and include author’s contact information. The Globe offices are located at the corner of Wood Street and Fort Pitt Boulevard. Writers should address letters to:
The Globe 201 Wood Street, Box 23 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or globe@pointpark.edu
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News Editors: Amanda Andrews, Hayley Keys Photo Editor: Jared Murphy Features/A&E Editors: Hannah Walden, Tia Bailey Photo Editor: Julia Cavataio Sports Editors: Allison Schubert, Austin Alkire Photo Editor: Hannah Johnston
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Opinions Editors: Sarah Gibson, Shannon Copy Editors: Mya Burns, Justine Quach, Amara Phillips Hartnett Online Editor: Nicole Pampena Copy Desk: Sara Cronin, Nathan Vrablic Social Media Coordinator: Hannah Johnston
Delivery Assistant: Mya Burns, Veronica Marinelli
SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
All In with Allison By Allison Schubert Sports Columnist
Stampeding Competition The volleyball team is already off to one of the best starts they have ever had, and we are only eight matches into the season. I will admit, I was questioning the team this year with big names like Ashley Taylor, Jordan Dixon, Morgan Dangelo, Destiny Tucker and Erica Gumz being lost to graduation. They could not be proving me more wrong. They started off 2-0 after the first day of the Michigan-Dearborn Early Bird tournament, but dropped one of two during the second day. The Pioneers then went to the annual Emileigh Cooper Memorial Classic, a tournament in which they have participated in for years. This time, they achieved a feat which they had never done before: they went undefeated. This, of course, led to a tournament win for the green and gold. (To read more in depth about the ongoings of their win, you can read our Editor-in-Chief Dara Collins’ piece on it to the right.) Last year, I mentioned how the underclassmen - the
current roster - would need to really step things up if they wanted to get out of the quarterfinal loss rut that they had been stuck in for the past few seasons, and so far I am pleasantly surprised. Seniors Julia Menosky and Brittney Bianco have led the charge of this young team, with juniors Jazlyn Rozier and Jada Jones helping to round out the core of leaders. A strong group of newcomers has helped deepen the bench behind head coach Bridget Bielich and new assistant coach (and one of those names we’ll be missing on the court this year) Destiny Tucker. One highlight of the newbies is Maria Ferragonio, a senior transfer student from Eastern Kentucky University, who has already proven her spot on the court. I do not want to jump the gun, but I think there is a talented group of women on our student center gym court this year, and I can not wait to see how they perform in the conference.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
Katie Williams | Globe Archives Graduates Erica Gumz and Destiny Tucker block a ball last year.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
7
Volleyball adds to trophy case
Solid chemistry influences tournament win By Dara Collins Editor-in-Chief
The Pioneers bumped their record up to 7-1 after the Emileigh Cooper Memorial Classic last weekend. This is the third season the Pioneers have made an appearance at the tournament hosted by University of Rio Grande. Point Park went 1-3 in 2017 and 3-1 in 2018. This year, the Pioneers finished undefeated. “We aren’t an easy team, and [other teams] need to understand that when they see Point Park volleyball on their schedule, it is going to be a fight to win or even take a set from us,” freshman Taylor Small said. The attending teams saw a new venue this season as the tournament moved to the namesake’s alma mater, Jackson High School. Rio Grande volleyball assistant coach Emileigh Cooper passed away in 2016 in a car accident, and the university holds the event in her honor. On day one, the Pioneers went from playing the minimum amount of sets to the maximum. Point Park swept host Rio Grande, and followed with a win against Shawnee State University. The matches between the Pioneers and the Red Storm were close, but working together toward one goal came naturally for the team. “This year we have great team chemistry on the court with one another, and we work very well together, which I think is a big part of why we are doing so well,” sophomore defensive specialist Ashley Castelli said. Outside hitters Haley English and Small dominated the Pioneers’ side of the net with eight kills each, and middle hitter Jazlyn Rozier and right-side Maria Ferragonio put down seven apiece. Setters Julia Menosky and Brittney Bianco almost evenly
Emilee Fails | Globe Archives Ashley Castelli, now a sophomore, prepares to pass a ball in the breast cancer awareness match last season in the Student Center.
split the match with 18 and 17 assists, respectively. Shawnee State outkilled Point Park, but the Pioneers boasted a higher hitting percentage to lead the way to the 3-2 victory, conquering the 2-1 deficit they faced. Leading the Pioneer offense was Small with 17 kills. English followed closely behind with 16 kills, and Ferragonio and Rozier chipped in 12 kills each. “I go into every game excited to see what I can give the team across the net the game they came here for,” Small said, referring to her performance at the net. English led the defense with 23 digs, and Ferragonio picked up 16 of her own, securing double-doubles for both athletes. Castelli played a large role in the back row picking up the team-high 18 digs. Menosky and Bianco both put hands on the ball recording 31 and 16 assists, respectively. The statistics sheet reveals Rozier claimed half of the team’s total aces in her season debut. Day two nearly mirrored day one as Point Park opened the day with a sweep against Bluefield College and finished with a back-and-forth five-set match against West Virginia
Tech. The latter match saw scores of 25-13, 19-25, 25-22, 19-25 and 15-13. “We did really well this weekend, but I think we just need to work on staying more constant throughout the game so we don’t have as many up-and-down moments,” Castelli said. Every Pioneer that attempted to attack the ball recorded a kill. Small once again dominated the net with 20 kills, and English collected 11. English finished with another double-double with the addition of 26 digs, and Menosky double-doubled with 40 assists and 12 digs. The Pioneers will spend the next week prepping for a non-conference match-up against Washington and Jefferson on Sept. 10. Point Park will play its home opener a week after and host Salem International University. “After these past two weeks of playing, I’m really excited to see what the season holds,” Ferragonio said. “I think it’s especially cool because, for being a fairly new team, we have great team chemistry, and I think it will really help us this season.”
Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu
Sophomore spreads positive energy on track
Campbell talks beginnings of her running career, advice to aspiring runners By Ben Reinke For The Globe
Though she is best known for her ability to run, sophomore track and field athlete Alyssa Campbell’s abilities off the course are just as impressive. Balancing cross country with schoolwork as well as a variety of groups and clubs seems difficult enough, but
according to her coach and teammates, Campbell manages to do it all with a positive attitude. Campbell began running in middle school when she joined her school’s track team. Participating in short-distance running at the time, Campbell would not discover her love for cross country until the ninth grade.
Urged by her father, who also happened to be the cross country coach, Campbell decided to join the team once she reached high school. As soon as she began long-distance running, her true talents were revealed. Now at Point Park, Campbell is known to be an extremely positive presence on the cross-country team. “She’s just genuinely a
Gracey Evans | Globe Archives Sophomore cross country standout Alyssa Campbell runs in a race last season when she was just a freshman. Campbell finished last year as one of the Top 20 freshmen runners in the NAIA.
positive person to have on our team,” new cross country coach Jim Spisak said. This sentiment is shared by other members of the team as well. “I remember [Campbell] as being an open book,” teammate Brody Mihalyo said. “Her personality is so awesome… I consider her one of my best friends on campus.” Other than cross country, Campbell is also involved in a variety of groups on campus. Campbell has spent her summer as a Pioneer Ambassador, works with the Campus Activities Board (CAB) and is part of the executive board of the UNO club, to name a few. Despite how hectic Campbell’s schedule may seem, she always manages to persevere. “It’s really important to me to stay healthy,” Campbell said. “I’m someone that really values my health, because I’m a firm believer in ‘if you don’t have your health, then what do you have?’ I just really live off of that. I also just like the look of being fit, that’s the physique that I’m striving for. I have a certain look that I
want to obtain by the end of this season, so that’s what keeps me going.” To those who are interested in running, Campbell offers some words of advice. “If you’re running just on your own, trying to get in shape, I definitely would say just find ways to stay motivated,” Campbell said. “Obviously, at first, you’re going to have cramps, and it’s going to be hard, but, just go to the store, pick out some cute clothes that make you feel good, and then just keep going and push through it because it’s gonna be hard. Once you get into the swing of things, you’ll definitely feel a lot better and you’ll feel better about yourself. Just set goals for yourself. Once you hit them, there’s no better feeling in the world.” Continuing to push through difficult times appears to be a continuing theme with Campbell, and it comes as no surprise that her unbreakable spirit has caused her to be one of the strongest athletes Point Park has to offer.
Ben Reinke btreink@pointpark.edu
8
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2019
SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Men open season with split results By Rachael McKriger Staff Writer
The long days of preseason are gone. Now, for the Point Park men’s soccer team, it’s all about finding results and earning wins. Opening up regular-season play this weekend, the Pioneers produced one win and one loss. Friday’s contest against Culver-Stockton College showed off the scoring prowess of sophomore Lorenzo Diaz. The Puerto Rico native opened up scoring just eight minutes into the match. Fellow sophomore Conner Kelly said that opening the season with a win was a great way to begin the year. “We were able to get the game started quick and establish possession from the first minute,” Kelly said. “It’s common for a first game to come out sluggish, but we weathered a good defensive battle after our early goal, and I think the boys played well and were all happy with the total team performance and the result. There’s more work to do.” However, the Pioneers did not earn a victory on Sunday. Staying in Canton, Missouri, the Pioneers took on Lincoln College. However, the Lynx were too much for the Pioneers, who ended up losing 3-2. Lincoln took the opening goal, but the Pioneers opened up the second half with a header from freshman Sam Truchot. As the match wore on, Lincoln took back the lead, but Point
Gracey Evans | Globe Archives Now-senior Wessel Rietveld advances the ball down the field with now-junior forward Mitchell Roell close behind.
Park equalized once again in the 87th minute, with a one-touch goal from junior Kay In’t Ven. Disaster struck for Point Park a minute later, as the lead fell with a game-winning goal from Adrian Roman, who notched the first goal. Despite the loss, Point Park has high hopes heading into a third-straight match on the road. Wessel Rietveld, a senior, said that it’s his job to help players adjust and pick themselves up after a loss. “The group this year is really willing to learn and work hard,” Rietveld said. “This helps a lot for us. We’ve all been in the younger players’ shoes and we try to make them feel at home in our team.” Meanwhile, Kelly said that continuing to have matches on the road doesn’t bother him or his teammates.
“While we enjoy the comfortability of playing at Highmark on a familiar ground, we enjoy traveling and experiencing new places, teams and fields,” Kelly said. “Starting the season away will strengthen us and prepare us for not only returning home, but for our conference games that we also have to play away from Pittsburgh.” Another player that’s no stranger to being on the road for a long period of time is junior Jon Hanks. “[We have to] maintain a positive mindset,” Hanks said. Point Park will take on Penn State Greater Allegheny in White Oak on Wednesday. Then, the team will gear up for their first home match of the season at Highmark Stadium. Point Park will host Penn State Beaver on Sept. 10.
Rachael McKriger rakrige@pointpark.edu
Women’s soccer struggles to record win in first games By Austin Alkire Co-Sports Editor
The women’s soccer team began their season losing their first two games on the road against Spring Arbor University and Lourdes University, respectively. The Pioneers were shutout by both opposing teams at the start of their season. The Pioneers and new head coach Bethanie Moreschi first traveled to Michigan to play Spring Arbor Universi-
ty. The host Cougars came into the season ranked No. 4 in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA). Spring Arbor has not been ranked outside of the top four to start a season since 2015 when they were ranked No. 8. Despite the Cougars’ ranking, Point Park was not caught up in the numbers, according to senior captain Chloe Bowser. “We were aware of their ranking, but going in we wanted to focus more on our game
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and how we play,” Bowser said . “We knew we would have to work hard and smart but we wanted to make them adjust to our style and give them some good competition.” The Pioneers held Spring Arbor to one goal until Alicia Hall gave the Cougars a 2-0 lead. That lead quickly grew again when Kaley Buck scored her second goal of the game three minutes later to close the half. This began the change in momentum, and in the second half, Spring Arbor proceeded to bury five more goals. Point Park went into Michigan shorthanded. Nagging quad pulls and health insurance issues kept six players off the sheet for Point Park. Moreschi planned to use the situation to give starting chances to typical subs. “Our approach for the game was to utilize the players that were available and give everyone an opportunity to show us what they could do against a high level team,” Moreschi said. “We really wanted the focus to be on our shape and being able to modify our system based off the team we have in front of us. With that approach we should be able to plug and place certain players into positions, where they might not usually play, but still be successful.” On top of an incomplete lineup, the team’s fitness was not where it needed to be, according to junior Bailey Boyd. “I believe since our fitness is not where it should be yet that we need to work on our mental game more and making better decisions on and off the ball when fatigued to help minimize mistakes,” Boyd said.
Robert Berger | Globe Archives Nikki Polens, now a senior, attacks the ball in a game versus Lourdes University last season.
With the Pioneers being outshot 31-1, Point Park found it hard to respond when the Cougars scored. “After we got scored on the first couple of times, I think we lost our confidence and we didn’t bounce back,” Bowser said. The young team proceeded to visit Lourdes University in Ohio to play the Gray Wolves. The game was scoreless until the 74th minute when Lourdes’ Erin Caldwell one touched the ball to the right of senior goalkeeper Ashtyn Webb, who stopped 11 of 12 shots in total. Sophomore Tia Horew launched a header in an attempt to tie the game with under six minutes left, however Lourdes’ goalkeeper Kerstyn Williams had other plans, stopping the scoring chance and effectively sealing the game for the Gray Wolves. While the Pioneers improved their shot output against Lourdes, Moreschi still felt like her team needed to work on their urgency. “We played really well and have improved every game thus far but we need to have a high tempo and keep control over the game for 90
minutes,” Moreschi said. Despite the two losses, the team was able to keep bonding. “Having our new coaching staff, she’s been great for us,” senior Nikki Polens said. “The team has been happy and we are also playing together better. Preparing to play a highly ranked national team, we knew the challenge ahead of us. We focused on our defensive shape but also our urge to forward and wide when we win the ball back.” The women’s soccer team continues their season on Sunday against Lawrence Tech in Michigan. The last time the Pioneers were in Michigan, they learned a valuable lesson. “The game against Spring Arbor was our first real challenge that we faced, and I think it showed that we are capable of competing at the level Spring Arbor typically plays at, and that there is a lot of potential for growth and improvement throughout the season,” Bowser said. “Not everyone is used to playing with each other yet. We’re a young team.”
Austin Alkire apalkir@pointpark.edu