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Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967
Issue 3
Professor files 18-count lawsuit against university University denies allegations, will ‘vigorously defend itself’ Dara Collins and Jordyn Hronec Editor-in-Chief and Editor-Elect
A longtime professor claims in a 65-page lawsuit that deep fissions between her and two professors rooted in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, among other differences, resulted in a wide assortment of discrimination and retaliation against her. Chairwoman of the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) department, Dr. Channa Newman, is suing the university on 18 counts. The counts include: ● Discrimination of race/national origin, religion, age and sex ● Retaliation by stripping of duties, removing as Chair, etc. ● Hostile work environment causing Newman to feel unsafe ● Breach of contract and negligent supervision by administration who Newman claims ignored her ● Intentional infliction of emotional distress resulting from university’s actions In a written statement, Point Park University denied all counts in Newman’s complaint.
“The University categorically denies the allegations of wrongdoing contained in the complaint, and will vigorously defend itself in the lawsuit,” university spokesperson Lou Corsaro said. “Point Park is an inclusive community free of discrimination. As a matter of policy, the University welcomes and supports all faculty members regardless of their race, gender, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, physical ability and political affiliation. Point Park embraces and actively pursues a policy of inclusiveness that reflects the diversity of the community it serves.”
OVERVIEW
Newman filed a civil lawsuit in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against Point Park University on Thursday, Jan. 9. Dr. Robert Ross and Dr. J. Dwight Hines are explicitly mentioned in a number of items in the lawsuit. In a written statement to The Globe, Ross argues the statements from the lawsuit. “This lawsuit attempts to use my work in the movement for Palestinian human
rights as a basis to attack my support for students who felt victimized by a professor last academic year,” Ross said via email statement. Newman complained to university administration about national origin and religious discrimination and “suffered materially adverse actions.” Some actions detailed in the lawsuit include cancelling her classes, removing her as Chair of HSS, shunning her in the workplace and accusing her of another Title IX violation without details of accusers or allegations, according to the suit. After the university charged Newman with a Title IX violation in the fall 2018 semester, the complaint says Newman’s reputation was “grievously” harmed following the sanction and ban. The suit says the university’s decision to charge Newman was a “misapplication of the law, an overreaction, an effort to target her, an insult to valid Title IX claims and claimants, and a pretext to remove her.” The punishment of Newman also reflects the “inadequacy and negligence” in Title IX training as well as the
HONORING DR. KING’S LEGACY
anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, age and/or sex discrimination against Newman, according to the lawsuit. Newman claims she “remains prey to unsubstantiated charges, endless investigations, career damage, degradation of her faculty and chair roles, excessive scrutiny and attacks on her academic freedom,” according to the lawsuit. Newman said her concerns were ignored by administration, and discriminatory and hostile treatment by the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) group was “condoned” by administration. “I was ostracized, demonized, defamed and targeted for elimination,” Newman said in a written statement via email. “I remain under constant investigation, although the administration doesn’t tell me the charges or who made them.” Newman allegedly suffered “serious emotional distress, physical manifestation of emotional distress, reputation harm and out of pocket costs” as a result of the university’s actions detailed in the lawsuit. Newman is seeking all remedies
DISCRIMINATION
The lawsuit lists five separate counts of discrimination. There is one count each on the basis of race/national origin, religion, age and two counts on the basis of sex. The complaint claims that Ross promoted “highly anti-Zionist views and activities,” and that he was supported by Hines. The suit alleges that Ross promoted bias against Israel in his courses, specifically in one class that required reading on the BDS and focused on the Israel Palestine conflict (see fact box on page two for information on the Israel/Palestine conflict and Zionism). According to the lawsuit, Ross used his position to foster a version of the BDS movement against Israel that included economic, academic and cultural boycott of Israel and Israelis. “Like my solidarity with the Palestinian people, my commitment to ensuring that students have access to education in an environment
LAWSUIT page 2
Pittsburgh holds fourth annual Women’s March Lauryn Nania For The Globe
Katie Williams | The Globe Claude Flowers of the Youth Enrichment Association speaks on behalf of his organization at “A Life of Service: A MLK Tribute” hosted by Point Park’s Black Student Union. BSU presented the tribute event in the Pittsburgh Playhouse’s PNC Theater on Monday, Jan. 20 in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
permitted under federal and state law.
The weather wasn’t forgiving in the city on Jan. 18th; however, the icy rain didn’t stop hundreds to gather at the Pittsburgh City County building to participate in Pittsburgh’s fourth annual Women’s March. Tracy Baton, founder of the Pittsburgh Women’s march, knew to expand the Women’s March to Pittsburgh, as the Russian interference in the 2016 election unfolded. “I tell people if your vote didn’t matter, the Russians wouldn’t be trying to steal it,” Baton said. The Women’s March originally began in 2017, the day after Trump’s inauguration. Hundreds of cities across the nation continued to take part in their own Women’s March since 2017, including Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh’s Women’s March began at the Pittsburgh City County building and traveled the streets of the city to end in Market Square. The city’s 2020 march was titled “Women’s March Pittsburgh: Hear Our Vote!” The title tied into a cru-
cial, umbrella theme of this year’s march which voiced the importance of voting. The local primary election is April 28 and the general election is Nov. 3. “We feel like where we’ve been the strongest is in collecting power for women to vote, people to vote, for women’s lives,” Baton said. Prior to the march, elected officials spoke to the audience such as State Sen. Pam Iovino and Rep. Conor Lamb. A number of candidates running for the April primary were also present to speak before the crowd such as Sara Innamarto, Emily Kinkead, Aerion Abney, Sharon Guidi, Sarah Heck, Christina Hartman, Michael Lamb, Ed Gainey, Michele Knoll, Garret Wassermann, Marco Attisano and Jay Costa. Baton discussed that nationally women recognize their power by way of more women running for office around the country. However, locally, there are still prevalent issues remaining that need discussion. Many of the candiates
MARCH page 3
Weather Forecast
Today: Cloudy H 39, L 22
Thursday: Cloudy, H 44, L 27 Friday: Rain, H 48, L 32 Saturday: Rain, H 38, L 32
Sunday: Rain, H 38, L 31 Monday: Cloudy, H 39, L 31 Tuesday: Cloudy, H 40, L 32
Point Park
GLOBE
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
NEWS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Lawsuit counts include retaliation, breach of contract from LAWSUIT page 1 free of traumatizing harassment is rooted in the belief that all people—regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, class, age, ability, or orientation—should be treated equitably,” Ross said. “I stand in solidarity with all struggles for equity and liberation, including the Palestinian freedom struggle, the struggle to combat anti-Semitism, and the #MeToo movement. It is necessary to support these movements if we are to fully achieve social justice in our world today.” Newman, who is Jewish, holds American, Israeli and Czech citizenship and, according to the complaint, is the “sole Israeli faculty member” at the university. The complaint alleges Point Park “favored Dr. Ross’s religion and theology” in addition to treating individuals outside of Newman’s protected class “more favorably.” The university also allegedly did not properly follow the Title IX investigation process and procedure because her gender. Younger colleagues of Newman did not receive similar adverse treatment of Newman, according to the official document.
RETALIATION
The suit alleges Newman complained to university administration about Ross and Hines. Specifically, Newman said Ross taught students information that is anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, according to the lawsuit. Ross allegedly “presents Israel as an ‘apartheid’ state,” according to the complaint, and that presentation is “false, deeply offensive and racist.” Newman says this presentation of Israel demonizes and delegitimizes the Jewish state. “The tactics promoted by BDS include no dialogue, no debate, no compromise (not only businesses but also cultural institutions and even individuals who support Israel are subject to boycotts), surprise attacks, humiliation, workplace ostracism, bullying and slander,” Newman said. As for Hines, the lawsuit claims he made sexist comments to students. Hines failed to return multiple requests to comment. Newman went to university administration and complained that “she was a victim of national origin and religious discrimination including in the work environment which became hostile,” according to the complaint. The university allegedly “took materially adverse actions against” Newman after she dual-filed a charge of discrimination on the basis on race, sex, religion, national origin, age and retaliation with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) and Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC). For instance, the suit says Newman was removed as the chair of the department, stripped of her duties and classes, isolated and shunned in the workplace, endured interference in a faculty meeting, restricted from her office and email, and escorted to and from and her office by a
security guard.
HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENT
Newman’s complaint also alleges that a Title IX investigation that resulted in her suspension during the Fall 2018 semester was a “set-up.” She learned via the investigation’s Findings of Fact that the student who filed a complaint against her had allegedly consulted with both Ross and Hines. The complaint made by the student, as previously reported on by The Globe, was that Newman allegedly made insensitive comments regarding the #MeToo movement, both before and after the student expressed their status as a victim of rape. The complaint in the lawsuit filed by Newman disputes this, but also states that like Ross, the student was “active in the BDS movement.” Newman said the BDS movement impacted her removal after the Title IX investigation. “The ideology, attitude, and conduct were used most emphatically in the campaign of the false Title IX charge that led to my removal from campus after 55 years,” Newman said. “As the administration knows, several BDS partisans were active in my ousting.” The student, who remained anonymous in Newman’s complaint due to her alleged status as a victim of rape, did not wish to comment on the lawsuit or on Newman’s claims. Ross and Hines left the HSS department when the Social Justice Studies department was formed by Ross, and the two professors then allegedly “shunned” Newman, according to the lawsuit. Ross and Hines submitted a new version of the social justice program to Provost John Pearson who allegedly backed it without consultation with Newman. On Dec. 2, 2018, an article written by Newman was published on the Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle’s website. The article was titled “Pursuit of ‘social justice’ gives strength to anti-Semitism.” “As someone with 45 years of experience in teaching, I can attest that there are some programs — fashionable in American academic institutions today — where pretty rhetoric is being used to mask the undemocratic aims and obsessions of the directing professors,” Newman wrote. “What these programs — chief among them, ‘Social Justice Studies’ — do is to establish an absolute binary structure based on the irrational worldview that all can be understood in terms of good and evil. The faux liberals promoting this sort of vigilante justice already have the structure nailed down in two fields of social identity: gender and race.” The sentiments expressed in this article align with the complaint, which states that Newman expressed her concern with “Social Justice Studies” to both the university Provost Pearson, as well as President Paul Hennigan after the formation of the program, accorng to the lawsuit. Pearson allegedly responded to Newman’s concerns by saying, “I know, I’m
sorry,” according to the suit. The complaint says Hennigan described Newman’s concerns as “serious.”
BREACH OF CONTRACT
In the complaint, Newman alleges that the university breached its contract in its Title IX investigation against her as the policy was not followed properly. The complaint also states that the university did not complete its Title IX investigation until Dec. 7, 2018, nearly two months after the initial Title IX complaint was filed, citing the university’s “Policy Prohibiting Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence and Stalking,” that allegedly stated that all investigations must be done within thirty days. This policy was included on the complaint as Exhibit A. In the first section under “Investigation Procedures and Protocols,” labeled “Assessment and Timeline,” a timeline of sixty days is given. However, in the section “Time Line of Investigation” under “Investigation Process” a timeline of thirty days, with the possibility of an extension. Newman also claims that the university broke confidentiality following the Title IX investigation, as well as breached its due process policy, anti-discriminatory policy and Academic Freedom policy. This is outlined in the collective bargaining agreement between the university and the faculty union under the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh and the Communication Workers of America. This agreement was also attached as an exhibit on the complaint. The Academic Freedom policy states that faculty members are “entitled to freedom in the classroom or analogous studio or workshop in discussing their subject, but they should be careful not to introduce into their teaching material that does not reasonably promote learning of the subject matter.” Newman is seeking “all damages available under Pennsylvania Law in excess of $75,000” for each count of breach of contract. The complaint details four counts. Newman also stated in her complaint that the university acted “intentionally and recklessly,” and that it failed to prevent “further negative treatment.” The university’s conduct caused Newman emotional distress, specifically mentioning “fright, horror, grief, shame, humiliation, embarrassment, anger, chagrin, disappointment, and worry,” according to the complaint. Newman felt the only course of action available to her is a lawsuit because she is “not professionally safe here.” “My aim also is to draw attention to the personal harm to which I have been subjected unjustly,” Newman said. “The hope is that my case will also shed light on the insidious tactics of the BDS movement so as to prevent Point Park from becoming a beachhead for hate and anti-Semitism and to prevent further injustice and harm to students, faculty and staff and to any innocent individuals and groups.” Dara Collins
dmcolli2@pointpark.edu
Jordyn Hronec
jthrone@pointpark.edu
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT FACT BOX Q: Why are Israelis and Palestinians fighting? A: In its most basic form, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a conflict over land and who gets to control it. Israel is currently the world’s only Jewish state. In the early 20th century, Jewish people fled persecution in Europe and went to Israel to establish a homeland, which was previously controlled by Arab and Muslim people. The United Nations (UN) unsuccessfully tried to divide the land between the two groups, leading to several wars between the Israeli and Palestinian people. Currently, both Israelis and Palestinians occupy different parts of the land, and there are disagreements over who should occupy what. Both Israelis and Palestinians occupy parts of Jerusalem, Israel’s capital city, as the city contains holy sites for both the Jewish and Islamic religions. Q: What is Zionism? A: The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the term zionism as “an international movement originally for the establishment of a Jewish national or religious community in Palestine and later for the support of modern Israel.” Anti-Zionism is the opposition to this belief. It is important to note that anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism mean different things. The definition of anti-Semitism, according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, is “hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group.” Q: What is the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement? A: According to the BDS movement’s official website, the BDS movement is “a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality. BDS upholds the simple principle that Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as the rest of humanity.” The BDS movement is inspired by the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa. “Apartheid” refers to the system of racial segregation that took place in South Africa for much of the second half of the 20th century. There is much disagreement regarding whether or not the BDS movement is anti-Semitic. The movement has many critics. Q: What are the possible endings of this conflict? A: One, is the “two-state” outcome. This involves the Israelis and the Palestinians splitting the land, creating both a Jewish state and a separate Palestine. There is also the possibility that a “one-state” outcome could occur, where one country is created and Arab-Muslim people become the majority population. This could end the existence of the Jewish state. In polls conducted by Israel and Palestine, most citizens preferred the two-state plan.
JAN. 11 2020 - JAN. 21 2020
Saturday, January 11th 11:14 a.m. - Stanwix St./ Third Ave. Assault
Friday, January 17th 1:00 a.m. - Forbes Ave./ Wood St. Harassment
Saturday, January 18th 9:15 p.m. - Wood Street Alcohol
Sunday, January 19th 9:15 p.m. - Conestoga Hall Drug Violation
Alysse Baer | The Globe
NEWS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
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University to offer new M.A. in Environmental Journalism School of Communication will offer 36-credit M.A. starting fall 2020 By Stephanie Kroll For The Globe
A brand new 36-credit master’s degree program will start up at the beginning of the Fall 2020 semester for anybody interested in furthering their communications career in environmental journalism. In years past, Point Park University offered an undergraduate degree in environmental journalism, but not enough students were involved in it, according to Steve Hallock, Ph.D., the director of the School of Communication. But over the course of a year, Hallock along with other faculty members, decided to open it back up again, but this time offering it at the graduate level in hopes that the students know what kind of journalism they want to focus on. As of now, the program is currently only accepting 10 applicants. The small classroom size is due to the
faculties shared, and with the belief that students will do better in a small-class environment. The limited number could potentially increase the demand to get accepted into the program. Because of the recent escalation of climate change coverage on many media platforms, like extinction rates rapidly decreasing, melting glaciers, or the rising of sea temperatures, Hallock said, “I can’t think of a more timely, more needed type of journalism than this. This planet is hurting. We need to tell the story and see what we can do about it.” In order to tell that story, required courses for the program include investigative journalism, economics and the environment, and environmental communication. Some elective choices, ranging from public affairs, reporting, and documentary photography, will also be offered to adequately prepare
students. Students will also be getting out of the classroom experience from conducting their own research by testing streams and wa-
“I can’t think of a more timely, more needed type of journalism than this...We need to tell the story and see what we can do about it.” Steve Hallock, Ph.D. Director of School of Communication Graduate Programs and Journalism Professor
ter in the surrounding area or visiting the county health department. Students involved in the program will also have the opportunity to collaborate and conduct research together to create projects such as books, broadcast reports, or even documentaries of their topic choice to add to their final portfolio at the end of the year. On top of that, some of the students will have the opportunity to work with or even have internships with area newspapers such as The Tribune Review, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette,Pittsburgh City Paper, Pittsburgh Quarterly magazine, and other regional media outlets that Point Park partnered with in past years. Once finished with the program, Hallock is confident that jobs in this field will be in demand because, “there’s always going to be a mountain of environmental work out there to do in
our region,” said Hallock. He also mentioned that because of the mix of students’ writing experience and environmental understanding, the quality of the work each person does, will surely give them an advantage when entering the job field. Students could potentially land a job with a company they interned at or possibly work for any energy company, media company or environmental organization working as a communication specialist or public relations person. None of this could have been possible without the grant and generous advertising budget from the Heinz Endowment that was given to the School of Communications team to help support and nationally recruit students for this new master’s degree program. Stephanie Kroll
skroll@pointpark.edu
Women’s March calls for an end to racism, hate from MARCH page 1 discussed the issue of the poor quality of life for black women in Pittsburgh. According to Public Source, a study released by the University of Pittsburgh, researchers in 2019 found that the infant mortality rate for black babies is six times higher than it is for white babies. The study also revealed that black women and children are more likely to live in poverty in Pittsburgh. Unity principles of the Women’s March were also displayed such as reproductive rights, LGBTQ rights, worker’s rights, civil rights, disability rights, immigrant rights and environmental
justice. Point Park senior global and cultural studies major Drue Glaser attended her third Women’s March on Saturday. “Consistently showing up in numbers across the country every year is a cipher for change. I think it’s important to keep showing up because it shows we won’t be silenced,” Glaser said. “Today was especially encouraging to me because it proved that people are willing to work in the rain or shine to create and enact systems of justice and equity for all in America.” Lauryn Nania
ltnania@pointpark.edu
Despite below freezing temperatures and wintry weather, hundreds gather at the City-County Building downtown for the 2020 Women’s March Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. The theme this year was “Stand with your sisters. End racism and hate.” After a start at the City-County Building the march went down Grant Street and Fifth Avenue to an end at Market Square. Top right: Jared Murphy | 90.5 WESA Middle left: Sara Cronin | The Globe Middle right: Jared Murphy | 90.5 WESA Bottom left: Jared Murphy | 90.5 WESA
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
NEWS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
City announces new homeless shelter project downtown Luke Mongelli Co-News Editor
The city of Pittsburgh has officially announced a project to build a homeless shelter for the less fortunate citizens in and around the downtown area. Mayor Bill Peduto announced that the local corporate and non-profit community has come together to fund an aid to the ever growing homeless crisis that has grown in downtown Pittsburgh over the past years. “It’s going to happen, and it’s going to be a commitment led by our corporate community, our large non-profits with city and the county working together,” Peduto said in an interview with KDKA. “What we need is a place, not only where they can sleep at night, but where they can get services around the clock.” The shelter will not only allow housing for the homeless and unemployed, it will also facilitate the needs for others that are struggling
with a variety of issues. “I would say that to understand that we want to build a downtown for everyone, and that means those who need help, those with mental health issues, those that are fighting addiction, those that are homeless,” Peduto said in an interview with Pittsburgh Action News 4. “That’s where they get their services. That’s where they get their meal. That’s where they get the help that they need and we should be sharing it with all of them.” The shelter will be located on city-owned land, on Second Avenue near the Allegheny County Jail, and the project logistics are still being worked out by the corporations and nonprofits bringing this shelter to the downtown area. “Somewhere in that area that is within walking distance of the services downtown,” Peduto said. “We know what is needed is an all-season, low barrier, meaning anyone can enter that does more than just gives people a place to sleep put gives them the opportu-
nity to go into a recovery program as well.” Mayor Peduto believes that the shelter will help multiple facets in the community. “The city is seeing an economic boom, more visitors, and a drop in crime,” Peduto said. “It is vital that we take care of our neighbors in need.” The city stated that they are unsure of an exact timeline for the shelter, but plan to break ground sometime in 2020. “This is a great idea, and will be very beneficial,” said Lucas Murphy, a freshman graphic design major. “I hope to see a decrease in the number of homeless, financially unstable, and those with addiction, living on the streets,” Murphy said. “It is a huge step in the right direction, and I think this will benefit the community by helping everyone, starting with the extremely underprivileged.” Although it may seem like an idea that has little negatives attached to it, there are
“I don’t want this to be a temporary fix, I want the shelter to be a stepping stone for these less fortunate people.” Josh Langford 37 years old Lifelong resident of Pittsburgh some citizens that are more weary than others about the new shelter plans. “I feel that it is a good idea, but the city needs to utilize this project right, in order to acclimate the less fortunate back into society,” said Josh Langford, a 37 year old lifelong resident of Pittsburgh,
Alexis Wary | The Globe
The Allegheny County Jail located on Second Avenue in Downtown Pittsburgh. The future homeless shelter will be built on cityowned land near the jail.
who frequents the downtown area with his family many times a year. “I don’t want this to be a temporary fix, I want the shelter to be a stepping stone for these less fortunate people.” Langford also believes this could bring on many positives not only for the people utilizing the shelter, but for the city as a whole. “This can be the start to the city becoming a cleaner place, and if these less fortunate people are getting jobs, then in turn the economy of Pittsburgh could see a big boost in the coming years,” Langford said. The shelter is estimated to be able to hold 80 to 100 beds in the facility. “Given the size of our city, I think 80 to 100 beds is a good start, if the shelter space is used appropriately, size shouldn’t be a pressing issue. In addition to the immediate downtown area, this new addition could have lasting effects on the surrounding community “This could help the homeless problem in Oakland,” said Ryan Estatico, an electrical engineering major at the University of Pittsburgh. “The people begging on Forbes could leave the college town at least at night making it safer for the students.” Despite these possible good doings, Estatico still sees some work to be done. “I am sure this will not achieve the ultimate goal of a city for everyone, because there is always unaccounted problems that come up with a large group of homeless people and recovering addicts,” Estatico said. “The homeless population are probably not used to living near 80-100 others and I am sure aggression and problems will occur. Medical services should be provided to help everyone, however I would hate for this project to turn into a hospice and not the temporary shelter it’s meant to be.” Luke Mongelli
lrmonge@pointpark.edu
SisTersPGH relocates after fire scorches previous location Virginia Garner For The Globe
On Jan.11, 2020, Pittsburgh community members gathered for a night of music and giving back at the north Oakland house venue known as “Lavender Town,” for a SisTersPGH benefit show. The show included performances by Pittsburgh local artists Willow Hill Motel, Baseball Dad, Go home, Eddie, Luke McGowan and Skeletons Need T-Shirts. The artists came together to raise funds for SisTers, a black and transgender led organization that provides a safe-space for trans and non-binary people in need, in hopes of aiding in their recovery. Less than ten months after opening its doors, a fire began on the second floor of the facility, forcing SisTers to shut down on Dec. 16, 2019. The only reported injury was a 29-year-old woman who was treated for jumping out of a second story window and landing on a trash truck to escape the flames. The cause of the fire was unknown. “I was genuinely heartbroken when their office burnt down,” Hal Mc-
Donough said. McDonough is a singer and ukulele player of Baseball Dad. “They do such good work for the trans community.”
“It’s often difficult for young trans people to find safe and affordable housing. SisTers provides resources and safe spaces for those individuals.” Hal McDonough Singer and Ukulele player of Baseball Dad Immediately following the disaster, the organization launched an emergency fundraiser via their Face-
book page. McDonough, a member of the non-binary and trans community, performed an emotional set at the benefit show. McDonough has experienced first-hand the difficulties of being trans. “It’s often difficult for young trans people to find safe and affordable housing,” McDonough said. “SisTers provides resources and safe spaces for those individuals.” SisTersPGH, who opened their doors in March 2019, offers shelter, education, and other resources to the transgender and non-binary community in Pittsburgh. According to their mission statement, the non-profit offers transgender-centered drop-ins, along with shelter and other resources transitioned or transitioning people need to thrive. Resume building, transportation to doctor’s appointments, emergency shelter, rental assistance, groceries and cooking lessons are just a few of the specific programs offered. Additionally, request forms have been set up online where individuals can request specific services so that their experience is
uniquely catered to them. Damian Cabrera, singer and guitarist from Willow Hill Motel, also holds SistersPGH close to his heart. “The transgender and non-binary community are very marginalized, and SisTersPGH makes Pittsbrugh so wonderfully diverse in that aspect,” Cabrera said. “These people are oppressed and harassed in ways cisgender people cannot understand. It is so important to care for this community, make them feel safe and validate the fact that they belong here just as much as anyone else.” Locals used their social media platforms to raise awareness about the facility and advertise about the show. Dan Frankel, a democratic representative of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives encouraged his followers on Twitter to donate. “During this season of generosity,” Frankel said in a tweet, “please remember [SisTersPGH]... provides invaluable support to our trans community… the organization is seeking donations to help them prepare for their next steps.” SisTers was able to
raise sufficient funds and announced their new location in Swissvale, approximately a 20-minute drive from the previous location, on Jan. 4, 2020. With help from volunteers, the official move-in to the new location began less than a week before the benefit show, but that did not stop the Pittsburgh music scene from coming together and raising money for extra amenities that the new facility may need. The benefit show raised $500 that all went to SisTers. The organization set up an Amazon wish-list for items they need that were lost in the fire, including toiletries and office equipment. Although the new facility is open and ready for use, individuals are still encouraged to donate to help with recovery efforts, along with funds SisTersPGH needs to continue to provide a safe place for transgender and non-binary people in need within the community. Virginia Garner
vgarne@pointpark.edu
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
FEATURES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
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Award-winning dance writer to speak at GRW By Rosalie Anthony Staff Writer
Brenda Dixon Gottschild is a respected and influential voice in both the dance and academia communities. Gottschild published books, articles and essays, and her written works have earned her numerous awards. Gottschild is currently a retired professor with an honorary title of dance studies at Temple University. Now, she is coming to Point Park to discuss her latest book “Joan Myers Brown and the Audacious Hope of the Black Ballerina: A Biohistory of American Performance.” Gottschild’s roots have always been in the theater. However, her career as a professional performer of modern dance and experimental theater led her to question, research and analyze the sociopolitical dynamics in the dance world, specifically regarding people
PIONEER PUBLIC Christian Carter By Amanda Andrews Co-Features/A&E Editor
“I come as one but stand as 10,000.” — Maya Angelou Maya Angelou, a revered civil rights activist and artist, is one of many black role models freshman BFA acting major Christian Carter looks up to. Now, through his own activism and art, Carter is spearheading the rising social justice movement for intersectional equality in Pittsburgh and beyond. It’s a rough estimate, but Carter is featured in at least 17 articles and blog posts since 2017 from a variety of local and national media outlets, including The New York Times. Locally, he has become one of the most recognized faces of the Antwon Rose protests, his chants catching the eye of many professional photographers in the area. His involvement in the fight for racial equity and justice, however, did not start with Antwon Rose. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Carter has always been highly aware of the systemic and cultural racism prevalent in the city. Carter went to his first protests in eighth and ninth grade. The cause? Local public school students in Oakland demonstrated support of the Black Lives Matter movement. “I think as an artist, it’s really important for us to be engaged in communities... because this is our everyday living truth. For me, activism is—it’s not something I so much want to do, but it’s survival,” Carter said.
Photo courtesy of Ryan Collerd for Pew Center for Arts and Research
of color’s role. Although, she continues to do solo work with her husband, Helmut Gottschild, called “movement theater discourse,” which integrates research and collaboration. In an interview with The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, Gottschild commented on her biggest motivator as an artist. “Sadly, my biggest motivator is the socio-political
oppression of people of color—specifically, people’s of African lineage.” The first work of art she saw that really impacted her was a showing of the original Broadway version of “West Side Story,” which she saw when she was 17 years old. “Nevertheless, it was West Side Story’s contemporary tale of interracial love, an illicit affair, jazz music and dancing that made me
Actively participating in protests was only the beginning. Carter moved from the sidelines to the frontlines, organizing demonstrations when he was just 17 years old. Carter, along with other Pittsburgh COPA students, organized a walkout to protest Betsy DeVos’ appointment as the Secretary of Education on Feb. 8, 2017. This early leadership role in this walkout led to him gaining an internship with Pittsburgh nonprofit organization OnePennsylvania. Through OnePennsylvania, Carter co-founded a student activism group called Youth Power Collective, which participated in the historic March For Our Lives rally in Washington DC. “There are so many tools that we can use to dismantle the system that we live within,” Carter said. The Youth Power Collective has a vested interest in public education, community gun violence, and community gun violence perpetuated by law enforcement, according to Carter. The latter issue made the death of Antwon Rose personal for Carter. He led protests the day after Rose’s funeral. When he was ill, he insisted people donate to the #Justice4Antwon efforts. In 2019, around the time of the Michael Rosfeld trial, he made his voice heard about concerns of media coverage of the trial. When Rosfeld was acquitted of charges posed against him for the death of Antwon Rose, Carter mobilized thousands of students into action. “We asked students to walk out and 1,500 to 2,000 students walked out with us, including Point Park students,” Carter said. “All these students from around the city, from different colleges and universities, walked out of school, and we shut down downtown and made sure that our voices were heard. And [we] said that we’re not
gonna even back down or let this happen again.” While advocating against police brutality is a priority for Carter, it is by no means the only cause he is involved with. Carter has been at climate rallies and protests against President Donald Trump, for instance. As a black queer person, Carter believes the only way forward is to support all progressive movements and to be an intersectional activist. “I think we all live in sort of different intersections. Those are what make us, those different intersections make us up as people. And we cannot organize without having intersectionality. You cannot fight this fight without being intersectional and inclusive and that means for everyone,” Carter said. “When I say black lives matter, I mean trans black lives, nonbinary black lives, disabled black lives, poor black lives, rich black lives. That means all of those identities...and we carry those with us as organizers.” His activism hasn’t come without a cost. Carter has been dismissed by older activists, forcibly led out of meetings, and even has had death threats leveled against him. “During Antwon Rose, it was very very scary to be organizing because there were a lot of white agitators,” Carter said. “We had cars drive through us, we had people get hit by cars. So we faced a lot of violence from outsiders. I mean, I’ve received death threats, I’ve received hate mail.” Even with the danger he’s faced as an organizer, Carter said he’s not discouraged from voicing his opinions. “This doesn’t stop. I think maybe, will I be on the frontlines all the time? No. Will I always be at the forefront? I don’t think so. Because I think everyone has a place in this revolution. Everyone has a place
simultaneously hot and cold: ecstatic to see onstage something that seemed to represent my aspirations and limitations all in one piece,” she said. “This, too, certainly contributed to my ‘performance as a measure of culture’ philosophy.” Gottschild won a variety of awards for her works in 2011. She received a grant from The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through Dance Advance to complete her book on Joan Myers Brown and her legacy. In 2009, she received a Leeway Foundation Transformation Award for Art and Social Change. And, in 2008, she was a recipient of the Congress on Research in Dance Award for Outstanding Leadership in Dance Research. Gottschild was granted an award from the Pew Center for Arts & Heritage through Dance Advance to begin work on Joan Myers Brown and her legacy.
Point Park’s own Colleen Hooper, Ph.D. and assistant professor crossed paths with Gottschild in her studies at Temple University. Dr. Hooper had a hand in inviting Gottschild to come to Point Park University. The lectures are free and will happen on Thursday, Feb. 5, in the GRW Performance Studio at 4:30 p.m. and Friday, Feb. 6 in the Pittsburgh Playhouse PNC Theatre at 7:00 p.m., where Gottschild will discuss “Researching Performance – The (Black) Dancing Body as a Measure of Culture” and “Joan Myers Brown and the Audacious Hope of the Black Ballerina,” respectively. Only the Friday, Feb. 6 lecture, “Joan Myers Brown and the Audacious Hope of the Black Ballerina,” is open to the general public.
Rosalie Anthony rantho@pointpark.edu
Christian Carter | Submitted
in this fight, essentially,” he said. “And I think our roles change as we go through our lives. I think I’m not always gonna be this person who’s fighting for the youth or the face of the youth, but I do think I will continue to make sure that I’m heard and that I am being inclusive.” At the moment, Carter is partnering with a local youth advocacy group, hoping that his art will serve as activism itself. “Right now, I’m a member of the Artivist Academy at 1Hood where I’ll be able to create some artwork and put it out there so people can see that,” Carter said. He is also very interested in the current controversy that led Point Park to canceling two plays last semester and what the university plans to do next. “I’m going to stay involved with the Pittsburgh Playhouse and make sure that we’re staying on top of that. Because I think, yes, we can talk about something for an amount of time,
but we have to hold those people accountable,” he said. “And I want to make sure that I’m staying on top of the university [with] the things that they have promised students.” Ultimately, Carter believes that his activism has become an indispensable part of his life, for his own sake and for others’. “I think so much of my life I have felt disposable, so a form of my activism is allowing...for my inner self to come out and for me to really be comfortable with who I am,” Carter said. “And if that is helping other people and if that is engaging with other people, then I am doing my service. I’m doing my purpose, and my purpose I guess in this life...is to serve people.” WHAT MAKES YOU A PIONEER: “I would say that my resilience makes me a Pioneer.”
Amanda Andrews aaandre@pointpark.edu
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
A&E
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Mac Miller’s ‘Circles’ includes theme of healing By Kylie Thomas Staff Writer/Photographer
Rating: 4/5 Globes Where to listen: Apple Music, Spotify, Google Play Music, Youtube Releasing an album posthumously, after the death of an artist, is seen as a way to give an artist one last composition of their life. It’s a way for the artist to give a final goodbye and for the fans to get closure. This is very true for Mac Miller and his new album “Circles” released on Jan. 17. Miller was a Pittsburgh native hip-hop and rap artist. He started off his career with classic rap and hiphop songs that appealed to a younger generation. His music began to mature though, and this is where his career really took off. He became a record producer for many artists under the name “Larry Fisherman.” Miller created albums which encompassed his true feelings and raw emotion. His albums had much more than just a Soundcloud rapper’s sound and progressed into songs that buried themselves into the listener’s soul. The most defining start to these emotion-filled albums was Miller’s “The Divine Feminine,” where he explored love and what love meant to him. Besides a shift in meaning, the album had a shift in sound as well; it included more singing from Miller and less rapping and more R&B and funk. His music matured entirely and set the basis
for his next albums, leading up to the release of “Swimming” in August of 2018. Unfortunately, Miller passed away from a drug overdose on Sep. 7 2018. However, Jon Brion, who worked as a producer with Miller in the past on “Swimming,” produced a final album for Miller. This new album serves as the second half to “Swimming,” called “Circles” which was released posthumously. “Circles” is a set of songs that each carry a different meaning, but all lead towards the same theme of moving on and leaving the past behind, and looking forward to the better. It’s all about healing in different forms over love, addiction and pain. It’s possibly the best way that Miller could leave his music—with healing. The songs mix many different genres and sounds of music. Some songs lean towards indie music such as “Good News,” but others lean towards Miller’s roots like “Hands.” The album incorporates so many different sides of Miller, giving one whole album that represents him. Miller even plays guitar on “That’s On Me” and bass on “Everybody.” Each song also takes on a different composition of musicality. “Surf” mainly consists of guitar and vocals which gives a very strippeddown, personal feel to the song. It works perfectly along with the lyrics which speak of questioning, searching and not knowing. It’s almost as if Miller is speaking to himself. “Complicated” on the
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons
other hand, has synths, bass, drums and voice cuts filling the sounds behind his voice. It’s a complete sound rather than its strippeddown counterparts. It fills the song with vibrancy and fulfilled sound, creating a different tone than the other songs, making it sound more hopeful. The whole album is a very interesting mix be-
tween the old Miller and his progression as an artist. What stands out the most above all else with the new album are Miller’s lyrics. The whole album very clearly outlines Miller’s thoughts and feelings on his past and future. Lyrics like “Good news, good news, good news / That’s all they wanna hear / No, they don’t like it when
I’m down,” from “Good News” speak about Miller’s inner struggle. It shows how he was falling, but put on a happy face because that’s what people wanted to see, when in reality, all he wanted was help. Other lyrics speak directly to the listener such as “Don’t keep it all in your head / The only place that you know nobody ever can see,” from “Once a Day,” which tells listeners to take care of themselves and to not be afraid to reach out and get help. It’s the perfect ending song to give listeners a sense of solace and care. The songs all have lyrics that cut deep not only for Miller but for listeners as well. It’s a very raw, uncut album which speaks to the soul of the listener. The album overall is the perfect companion to Miller’s “Swimming.” It’s filled with sounds and lyrics that show the maturity of Miller’s music. It provides fans with the perfect end to Miller’s songwriting and gives them something to hang on to. The instruments used give each song the perfect tone to go along with the meaning, and overall it’s a raw, emotional, personal album for Miller. It may not be a perfect album with consistency and development, but that’s what makes this album so great. It isn’t perfect—it’s real and stays true to himself, and that’s what Miller’s music is all about. Rest easy, Mac Miller.
Kylie Thomas kjthoma@pointpark.edu
Halsey’s new album has her fans begging for ‘More,’ artist continues to inspire young girls By Natalie Matvya For The Globe
Rating: 5/5 Globes Where to listen: Apple Music, iHeartRadio, Spotify, Google Play Music, Youtube Halsey has taken the world by storm with her music. She is seen as one of the best upcoming artists in this generation. She is known to speak her truth and tell it like it is. Now, with her new album “Manic,” she continues to speak out regarding the struggles of her youth. “A lot of this album is reconnaissance of things that I never got to work through because I was 19, and I was Halsey,” she told Apple Music. “I didn’t have time for self-care because I had to be composed. And I got too composed, that was part of the problem.” If you think about it, this is true for all artists that start out young in the music industry. Most artists are taught to hide their flaws or issues and make it seem like everything is perfect in their lives when in reality, they are hurting on the inside. She also wanted everyone to know that this album has nothing to do with her breakup with Gerald Earl Gillum, or, as we know him, the rapper G-Eazy. The lyrics of the first single from the album that
she released, “Without Me,” alludes that she was with someone when they were drinking. The lyrics go on to question how someone could live without her when she has helped that person so much. In my opinion, I think this relates to G-Eazy, despite Halsey’s disclaimer. They kept trying to make their relationship work, but it just ended up not working when she just kept falling back underneath his spell while he took steps to sobreity. Throughout the album, Halsey continues to talk about all the challenges she faced as an up-and-coming artist in the public eye. She was 19-years-old when the music industry started to recognize Halsey. One of the titles that really struck me is how the first song on the album is called “Ashley.” Anyone who is a fan of Halsey knows that her real name is Ashley Nicolette Frangipane. She chose to be called Halsey because it is an anagram of her first name, and is also a reference to a street station of a New York City subway in Brooklyn, a place she spent a lot of her time when she was a teenager. “Starting this album with my name is a comfortable entry for the people listening. It’s like saying, ‘Hey, I’m still here, but I’m going to take you down a different journey right now with me.’ A lot of the album is written
as I became aware of my mortality.” When she made this comment, it made me sit, thinking about its meaning. I started to say to myself, this is what most girls think about themselves.
They don’t know who they are, they don’t know their worth, they don’t know why they are even put on this earth. So, in my opinion, this makes Halsey one of the biggest role models of this generation. She figured
Photos courtesy of Creative Commons
out why she is supposed to be here, but also why she is supposed to be a performer. Halsey wants her voice to be heard, which is what she is doing for young girls listening to her music. This song strikes me because the first few words she says is that she stares at herself in the mirror that she built, questioning why the decision wasn’t up to her. That sparked questions that made me wonder what happened, and why the decision wasn’t hers. If you haven’t already listened to this album, you need to go listen to it right now. It is one of the rawest albums that I have listened to since the start of this year. Halsey always stays true to herself. That is one thing that fans really do love about her. This album goes together so well, and she really took the time to assemble, perfect, and release this album. Going back to when she released “Bad at Love” back in 2017, she skyrocketed since then. I don’t know about anyone else, but that is when I truly started to fall in love with Halsey. I like an artist that can speak their truth, but also not be afraid to show who they really are. Who knows what is going to come next in her future? I can’t wait to find out.
Natalie Matvya nrmatvy@pointpark.edu
OPINIONS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
THE
GL BE’S POINT The Great Divide
Our university has got a lot of things going for it. One thing that stands out above the rest, is the wide array of degree programs that are available at Point Park. There are a variety of students here nurturing their different interests. And that’s great...until it causes problems. Within the university, there is a distinct line that has been drawn between COPA and non-COPA, and even deeper within. There are those who perform and engage with the arts, constantly perfecting and honing their craft. There are those who dedicate themselves to academia, studying for long hours into the night; and those who create content day in and day out. Within COPA, there are the performers, the actors and the dancers. But then there are the cinema arts students, or as they tend to call themselves, “nope-a,” paying COPA prices for an entirely different COPA experience. Where do they fit in? Outside of COPA, there’s the rest of the students, paying a cheaper bill, but in programs with fewer students, less rec-
ognition and a lower budget. COPA puts Point Park on the map and on top ten lists. We all know this, and we are all made aware of this, often. COPA and non-COPA is a division that must be bridged. There should not be this notion that COPA students only congregate together, spending every hour in the shiny new Playhouse that no one else may touch, meanwhile everyone else orbits around them. The Playhouse was proposed to us as a space for all to use. The entire campus should be open to all students for use, regardless of major or program. Within the past few months, there has been an effort to increase diversity and inclusion that began with COPA and has expanded outward. These conversations have included the sentiment that a “culture change” is needed at Point Park. That culture change should happen now, and it should begin by uniting students from all courses of study.
Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
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Women’s hockey joins All-Star Weekend By Noah Bienek For The Globe
The National Hockey League (NHL) decided to cut the nonsense and let the women play this year. St. Louis, MO is the home of the 2020 NHL All Star Weekend where they will hold skills competitions and an inter-division 3-on3 tournament awarding prize money to all winners for the competition and tourney team winners. This year, the event will be air on Jan. 24-25 on NBC and will have a new skills competition event that has yet to be announced. The big news is that the NHL’s main goal is to get the women’s national hockey teams of the USA and Canada to take their rivalry to the 3-on-3 format. They’ll play their game somewhere in-between the men’s all-star games. The game between the two countries has not been confirmed yet. In 2017 and 2018 the NHL invited Team USA women hockey stars such as Hilary Knight, Kendall Coyne-Schofield, Meghan Duggan, Amanda Kessel, Hannah Brandt and Brianna Decker to demonstrate drills for the NHL Skills Competition, for the men (and I’ll just reiterate, DEMONSTRATE). The
women demonstrators displayed the same skills as the men competitors with their times and shots recorded with the same technology that was used in the actual competition. In 2018, a highlight for the women was when Coyne-Schofield put on a show displaying her wheels in the Fastest Skater where she demonstrated how to skate in a circle (woah that’s pretty hard to explain). The following year the NHL let her become the first woman to compete against men in any skills competition. She finished with a time of 14.346 seconds and beat out 1-of-the-8 male opponents, Clayton Keller of the Arizona Coyotes. The winner of the competition was the Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid, who finished with a time of 13.378 seconds and is now the three time defending champion in that event. Even though the fastest skater competition is the second most electrifying event behind the hardest shot, it was not the moment where the women shined brightest. Decker crushed the passing challenge. During her trial there was controversy over a slight head start before the tech was ready to record her time in the passing challenge, where she could’ve potential-
ly won the whole thing even though she wasn’t competing. As it stands today, the time she had finished with was at 1:06 minutes and it would’ve beat every male that competed in the challenge. The NHL awarded the prize money of $25,000 to the winner, and also stud from the Oilers, Leon Draisaitl, which sent the internet into a frenzy resulting in #PayDecker trending on twitter. After the event the NHL later proved via recording tape that if the clock functioned properly Draisaitl would’ve edged out Decker. No need to fear though, the CCM equipment manager paid Decker $25,000 out of his own pocket, which was great for the hockey equipment company’s PR. It’s cool that the NHL can bring the women out to the All Star Game weekend festivities but if you’re going to bring the women out, the NHL should let them actually compete or else what is the point? This year that’s the action the NHL chose to take by allowing the women to play each other in what may be the latest edition of the Team USA vs Team Canada rivalry. Needless to say, I’m excited to see what kind of show the women put on this year in St Louis.
Noah Bienek nabieni@pointpark.edu
A Republican weighs in on the upcoming Democratic nomination By Logan Dubil Staff Writer
What is it like watching the Democratic debates as a Republican? I can answer sarcastically, or I can be honest with you. The thing is, both sarcasm and honesty haven’t gotten me far in the past, so I am in a tricky situation. After putting some thought into my approach, I decided that honesty is the best policy, so here it is – a Republican’s opinion about the Democratic debates. How do I feel after watching the debates? The honest answer is simple, yet remarkably complicated. I am amused, I am relieved but at the same time, I am terrified. Even after the impeachment trials, support for our current president is increasing at shocking rates. The stock market (at the time I am writing this article) is on a path in the right direction, due to the signing of the much-anticipated phase one trade deal with China. The proof is there, President Donald J. Trump is doing what must be done to benefit the United States, therefore giving more people reason to have faith in his administration’s ability to govern. In recent events, including the increase of support and the rise of the stock market, I can confidently say that Trump should have no problem winning the 2020 election, giving this
country the two-term-president they need. Is this a realistic viewpoint? Of course not, because every election has two front runners. “Trump versus who?” is the question everyone is dying to find out. Many believe that Elizabeth Warren is the right choice. Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are other popular predictions. Surprisingly, Andrew Yang is still holding on at 3.6 points. Do I want any of these individuals to oversee our country? That’s a no. Do any one of these individuals have to move on to face the “big, bad” Trump – sadly, yes. After keeping up with the Democratic debates, I have multiple predictions on who will represent the Democratic party in the general election. Don’t worry though, I am a man of my word. These predictions are based off research, true events and honesty. From the beginning, it was obvious that only four candidates stood a chance: Warren, Biden, Sanders and Yang. Warren has been my prediction to represent the Democratic Party in the general election for multiple reasons, mainly because she is most qualified. Her policy proposals added to my partial support, as she is attracting younger voters by vowing to cancel student loan debt, and the middle-class by tackling situations
like the opioid crisis and suggesting that she will invest in rural America. She also maintains a professional character while debating on the big stage – well, up until not too long ago. At the most recent Democratic Debate, Warren approached Sanders within seconds of the debate’s conclusion, confronting him for calling her a “liar on national television.” Not only is this bad timing, but completely unprofessional. She got what she deserved, as this video went viral, causing a major decrease in Warren’s and Sanders’s poll numbers. Warren has also been caught in various lies. One lie that appalled the nation was her Native American identification. She lied to the country and took advantage on her college application by saying she was Native American. How low must one go to gain support from voters? But I do still think she still has a chance. I don’t think it will be handed to her like I did before her mistakes. She is going to have to execute major damage control to revive her slowly failing campaign. Sanders, a returning candidate to the 2020 election, also has a strong likelihood of facing head-to-head against Trump. He was unsuccessful last election, but is coming in this year capable of redemption. Unlike the other
candidates on stage, Sanders wants to transform the United States, for better or for worse, into a socialist country. He believes capitalism only benefits the rich – a statement I will never support – and wants to fix it, which allows the middle class to receive more financial help and opportunities. The younger generation is noted to support him due to the fact that he wants to get rid of student debt, similar to Warren. On the other hand, older voters are turned off by Sander’s socialist ways, which makes it difficult for his campaign to thrive. Vice President Biden is the most moderate candidate, and has an opportunity to become the 46th President of the United States. Those who do not support socialism will most likely cast their vote to him. But I cannot say that is enough to get him into office. Biden is a creepy, old man attempting to enter the White House. I do not think he has enough support and ideas for people to trust him, putting him in a poor position. The last candidate I think has a shot, the man who started #YangGang, Andrew Yang. Although the poll numbers show no sign of him winning, with all that is going on right now, I would not be surprised if he is chosen to face Trump. Yang has one main policy that
has gained a lot of attention: Universal Basic Income (UBI). I don’t think this a plausible policy. It may seem like a good idea to give the American people “guaranteed” money, but where will this money come from? The United States is in enough debt already. Therefore, he will raise taxes to come up with the funding for UBI. Surely, no one wants more taxes. Yang, in my opinion, is the most relatable candidate. His usage of social media platforms, particularly Twitter, shows the American people that he is not a politician, but a human being, which in times like this, is what we need. Taking all of this information into consideration, the candidate that will lose to Trump is.....Warren. The Democratic Party keeps saying that they are ready for a female president. Hillary Clinton was a bust, so the next best option they have is Warren herself. Yes, she has lied and deceived U.S. voters, but she has plans for this country, and those who are highly against Trump will turn to her for change. Be sure to vote in the upcoming election. Who do you want in the White House? All I can say is, good luck Democrats, you will need it.
Logan Dubil lmdubil@pointpark.edu
Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967 Editor-in-Chief: Dara Collins Editor-Elect: Jordyn Hronec Business Manager: Nathan Vrablic 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:
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
OPINIONS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Iran and U.S. tensions reach all time high at beginning of 2020 Poor relations between countries dates back to mid-twentieth century By Nardos Haile Copy Editor
For the few first weeks of 2020, the United States and Iran were in the midst of tense and catastrophic conflict. The conflict came to its conclusion on Jan. 8. One Iranian missile fired from a military base in Iraq, accidentally hit Ukrainian International Flight 752, killing all 176 people on board. The Iranian military fired missiles in retaliation to President Trump’s ordered assassination of Iranian Major General Qasem Soleimani. General Soleimani was the commander of the Quds Force, an elite branch of Iran’s Revolutionary Corps that specializes in unconventional war tactics (terrorism). The Quds forces have alleged ties to terror groups in the Middle Eastern region. More or less, the assassination of General Soleimani,
the second in command of Iran, was due to his heinous crimes against Americans and fueling terrorism in the region. While it’s no question that Soleimani held responsibility for turmoil in the region, he was also a respected person in Iran. His death could have led to destabilizing a delicate territory in the world. For a few days, it did. This is why the Trump Administration needs to take responsibility for briefly and recklessly endangering Iran’s civilian population. Let’s be clear here, if we would have gone to war with Iran, the only people that would have deeply felt the consequences of it would have been brown people in the Middle East. The United States is the sole reason the Middle East is constantly in a battle for identity. Western countries only make foreign policy decisions based on their national
interest. That is exactly what America’s done with Iran since the 50s. Americans wonder why Iran and the U.S. have a strained relationship. No, it doesn’t start with the 1970s Iranian Hostage Crisis. In the 50s, the American-British backed the removal of democratically elected Prime Minister, Mohammed Mosaddegh. Mosaddegh wanted to nationalize Iran’s oil industry to return the profits of the industry into the Iranian economy. Of course, the British, who owned Iran’s oil for decades, objected to this progressive and independent decision from Mosaddegh. Thus America, a British ally, teamed up with British Intelligence. MI6 and the CIA overthrew the government and restored power to a corrupt former leader Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran, started implementing western
economic principles which lead to the consequential rejection of western ideology and economics. In 1979, Iran’s youth protests Pahlavi, his policies, and the west. Pahlavi fled Iran and the people looked to another formerly exiled leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. Iran has valid reasons for its hatred towards America. We systematically dismantled their democratically elected government. American and British interests consistently trumped Iranian ones. We still continuously vilify them when we have this huge missing chunk of history absent from people’s perspectives. Our historical demons always have a role in our present-day decisions. Most of all, Trump seems like he has no issue repeating the ugliest actions in American history. American aggression continuously puts non-American civilian life in danger. Millions
of people in the Middle East died due to our interests in combatting terrorism in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are a country that starts endless wars without understanding the unintended and intended consequences. The unintended consequences, in this case, are the 176 people killed as a casualty of America purposefully escalating war-like interactions with Iran. Whatever ego-trip this was, is no longer a justification. These kinds of actions are no longer in favor of American national interest, and maybe their decades’ long justifications for these endless wars were never real. The only people that end up suffering the unintended costs are people that never deserved it.
Nardos Haile nhaile@pointpark.edu
The Oscars nominations: who got snubbed, who deserves the most recognition and what it all means for the award show By Jake Dabkowski Co-News Editor
I used to think that the Oscars were a tragedy, but now I realize that they’re a comedy. A comedy that’s trying way too hard while also trying not hard enough. There were many nominations I disagree with, but I’ll start out with the elephant in the room: “Joker” receiving 11 nominations. This isn’t my first time writing about the “Joker” for The Globe. Last time I wrote about why I disagreed with the director, Todd Philips, saying that it’s impossible to make comedies anymore. In that article I said that I thought that “Joker” was a very good movie and that Joaquin Phoenix was incredible in it. But let’s be honest, ultimately “Joker” is a Martin Scorsese movie for an audience that’s never watched a Martin Scorsese movie. It has a mediocre script that only ever worked because of the stellar performance of the lead actor. Did Phoenix deserve his nomination for Best Actor: absolutely. He, and I cannot emphasize this enough, was incredible. But at the same time “Joker” getting 11 nominations while “Taxi Driver,” the movie that it’s essentially
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ripping off, only received four nominations and “The King of Comedy,” the movie that it’s literally ripping off received zero nominations. This exemplifies what’s wrong with the Oscars: they’re so detached from reality that they might as well be a man on a ten strip of LSD at Bonnaroo. Have you ever seen the movie “How Green Was My Valley?” It’s a movie that’s only ever remembered for winning Best Picture over “Citizen Kane.” Now, I don’t know how much you know about “Citizen Kane,” but a lot of people think that it’s a really good movie. The Oscars is really just a money game, who can play the game gets the nomination. In the past decade, A24 has gone from a modest studio making indie films to creating and producing some of the highest quality and most talked about films released. Since they don’t play the Oscar’s game, no nomination for Adam Sandler, who delivered one of the best performances of the past year. “Uncut Gems” as a whole was snubbed, it at least deserved a nomination for Best Editing, the cuts in that movie perfectly build up the tension as Howard (Sandler) just keeps placing bets. The last film snubbed:
“Knives Out.” Rian Johnson has done nothing but continue to perfect his craft of writing and directing, whether it’s some of the best episodes of “Breaking Bad,” the best looking “Star Wars” movie, or now his take on the stereotypical murder mystery, Johnson always delivers. “Knives Out” received only one nomination: Best Original Screenplay. In my opinion, the film deserved noms for cinematography and directing. Lastly, I have not yet seen “Little Women,” however, based off of how many nominations the film received in other categories, it is surprising to me that Greta Gerwig, someone who’s been nominated for Best Director before, did not receive a nomination this year. In my lifetime, the Oscars have only nominated three women for Best Director, and only one of them have won. Whether that’s a reflection of the Oscars or Hollywood in general, one can come to their own conclusion. Either way, the awards need to find a new solution to celebrate the contributions of female directors, and as a whole celebrate more than just the same eight movies every year.
Jake Dabkowski jcdabko@pointpark.edu
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The ‘Sexy but Ugly’ trend takes over social media By Elizabeth Shaffer For The Globe
We all know the one friend who obsesses over one of the following celebrities: Pete Davidson, Post Malone, Benedict Cumberbatch, Adam Driver, Jeff Goldblum or Rami Malek. They all hold a spot in the “Unattractive but Attractive” club. The “Sexy but Ugly” society. Whatever you want to call it, we all know what it is. It’s the friend who thinks Pete Davidson is the hottest man alive and it makes you stop and think about if you even know what “hot” means. This phenomenon, we’ll call it “Sexy but Ugly,” as this makes the most sense, is somewhat new. It might be the male equivalent to the body positive movement that is mainly happening with women. Those who would never be looked at as attractive ten years ago are praised with crown emojis and “Queen” comments on Instagram. The body positive movement with men is continuing to evolve, as those without killer jawlines are now looked at as hot. We are not just looking for Brad Pitt’s. Unique features are seen as more and more attractive, with model Winnie Harlow becoming a household name despite having vitiligo. Even the Kylie Jenner’s of the world wouldn’t be seen as attractive ten years ago when heroine chic was still prevalent. Even Bill Hader with his not so straight teeth or Rami Malek’s ever clenched jaw are seen as hot. The men mentioned before not only are interesting to
look at, but they are lovable. Who can say that they don’t want to hang out with Post Malone, or think that Adam Driver seems like a great dad (or daddy in this case) or that you wouldn’t want to laugh with Pete Davidson. This level of interaction through social media means we not only see a person’s face, but their personality. We see their entire lives, and we base their sexiness off of them as a person, not just the photo of them in a magazine. I fell in love with Post Malone when I saw him eat Olive Garden breadsticks with Jimmy Fallon and saw him as a teddy bear. This is in contrast to his unkept, tattooed face appearance. The final point that allows those to be “Sexy but Ugly” is thanks to those who are sexy. We can all see a Nick Jonas or Brad Pitt, readily available on Instagram. Tinder is saturated with a million men in the Pittsburgh area that go to the gym and have Ryan Gosling’s haircut, these men are everywhere. We see an over saturation of six pack abs, jawlines that could cut, and the Calvin Klein worth smolders. We never see a teddy-bear face with “always tired” tattooed under the eyelids, or a man with Crohn’s Disease and racially ambiguous features that makes us laugh on SNL. The culture of beauty is evolving, along with who we find attractive. So, if I want to call Bill Hader hot, leave me alone.
Elizabeth Shaffer ecshaff@pointpark.edu
SPORTS
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
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All In with Allison By Allison Schubert Sports Columnist
Breaking Barriers
For anyone that is a sports fan, you have undoubtedly seen the names Alyssa Nakken and Katie Sowers in your newsfeed, on your screen, etc. over this past week, even if you don’t know it. As a young professional woman who has already and continues to pursue careers in professional sports, these two women have been at the forefront of breaking gender barriers in the last few days (and years). Sowers began her barrier-breaking journey in 2016, when she first began her coaching journey in the National Football League. That’s right - a woman. As a coach. In the NFL. A woman coaching men. (Enter shocked gasps and infuriated sports fans.) A little background on Sowers: she began her recent American football career as an athlete in the Women’s Football Alliance. After retirement, she was named a training camp coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2016, becoming the second woman to work as a full-time member of an NFL team’s coaching staff. The following year, the San Francisco 49ers hired her as their offensive assistant coach, a position she has held since. So why do I bring this up in 2020? Well, Sowers is in the headlines again: this time, as the first female coach, and first openly-LGBTQ+ coach, to make it to the SuperBowl. Sowers and her 49ers will head to Miami next
month to take on the Chiefs in SuperBowl LIV. As Sowers travels from San Fran to Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, the Golden City will be receiving another history-making woman in the form of Alyssa Nakken. Nakken was a former softball star at Sacramento State, and was hired as the first female full-time assistant coach on an MLB staff last Thursday by Giant’s Manager Gabe Kapler. Ex-Giant Aubrey Huff was quick to show his opposition to the hire, taking to Twitter to say he “couldn’t imagine taking baseball instruction from an ex female softball player.” Huff also argued that having a full-time female coach could lead to legal implications, saying that “having a female coach running around… has #MeToo and #BelieveAllWomen written all over it.” It is really disheartening that an ex-pro would be so strongly opposed to something like this, especially as openly as he has been. Being a woman in a professional team’s front office is hard enough, let alone on a coaching staff or in operations. Myself and so many others are so unbelievably proud of both of these women, as well as the numerous others that have continued powering through the opposition to open doors to all of the badass women that will follow. Kudos to them.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
Jared Murphy | The Globe Freshman guard Skylar Aitken gets ready to attack the hoop in a conference matchup against IU East at home last Tuesday. Aitken was one of ten Pioneers with points in the in the game.
Women’s basketball improves to 12-8; Burns reaches 1,000 By Allison Schubert Co-Sports Editor
Michelle Burns entered last week’s games needing 31 points to cap off the 1,000-point milestone of her college career. Last Tuesday, Burns had her first chance to chip away at those remaining points with a home River States Conference (RSC) match against IU East. The Pioneers came out ready to get another conference win and help Burns reach that milestone in what was their highest point total from any National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) competition this season. Junior Taylor Rinn and Burns combined for 50 of Point Park’s eventual 85 points, scoring 25 points apiece. The Red Wolves combined to score only nine more points than the RinnBurns duo, giving the Pioneers their fifth win in a row. Rinn grabbed 16 boards to add to her 25 points, giving her eight double-doubles in the past 12 games. Freshman Lexi Petit was
the third and final Pioneer to reach double digits on the scorecard, sinking 11 points. Point Park defense held the Red Wolves to just 33-percent shooting, limiting their two top scorers to a combined 4-for-18 from the field. With another win under their belt, and Burns just six points away from 1,000, the Pioneers traveled to Circleville, Ohio for another RSC matchup against Ohio Christian University (OCU). The anticipation of Burns’ record-breaking points was limited. She scored Point Park’s first seven points of the game in just four possessions, giving the Pioneers a quick 7-5 lead and putting her over 1,000 points in her career. Burns’ effort did not stop once the milestone was achieved, as she continued her scoring efforts to a game-high 22 points. Three Pioneer starters reached double digits, but it was not enough to keep up with OCU’s No. 3-ranked scoring offense in the country, averaging 90.2 points per game. Point Park’s five-game win streak was snapped with an 84-74 loss to the
Trailblazers. Rinn reached another double-double with 14 points and just as many rebounds, freshman Taylor Kirschner tallied 12 points, and senior Baylie Mook and freshman Sierra Seneta each contributed eight. The Pioneers shot 42-percent in the first half, but dropped to just 30-percent in the second half compared to OCU’s 44-percent average for the game. Point Park bounced back from that loss to put up 97 points against non-conference opponent University of Valley Forge (UVF) at home on Sunday. The Pioneers had 13 different athletes contribute to their offensive effort in an overall 58-percent shooting average. Burns was recognized on her home court after the UVF game for her 1,000-point achievement. The Pioneers have almost an entire week off before hosting RSC opponent Brescia at home on Friday and IU Southeast on Sunday.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
Jared Murphy | The Globe Junior guard Bailey Boyd brings the ball up the court in a River States Conference match against IU East at CCAC-Allegheny last Tuesday. Point Park won the game 85-59.
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2020
SPORTS
Emma Federkeil | Point Park Athletics Junior forward Kyle Carrington dribbles the ball around a Salem University defender in a game earlier this season. On the right, junior guard Mark Shehady stands open as an open for Carrington.
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Emma Federkeil | Point Park Athletics Sophomore guard Sherron Schifino goes up for a free throw in a game against Salem University in the first half of the season.
Men’s basketball splits RSC games last week Pioneers remain undefeated at home for beginning of second half of season By Mason Strawn Staff Writer
The Pioneers continued their second half campaign this week, facing off against Indiana University East (IU East) at home last Tuesday, and travelling to Circleville, Ohio to play against Ohio Christian University (OCU) on Saturday. In the first game of the week, the Pioneers defeated the Red Wolves to the score of 85-77 at home. The men came out firing, scoring the first two points of the game and never looking back. During the first half, the Pioneers would out-board the Red Wolves mightily; out-rebounding them 22 to 9
in the first half, and 45 to 31 throughout the entire game. The Pioneers also outshot the visitors, hitting 48-percent of their shots while also hitting 35-percent from three, compared to IU East shooting 45-percent but only 28-percent from behind the arc. Point Park led by as much as 25 points in the second half and kept the pressure on until the last five minutes in the game. “One of the biggest factors from the game was our effort on the defensive end in the first half,” sophomore forward Kameron Shockley said. Shockley led the team in the victory, scoring an even 20 points alongside six
rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks. “My mindset during the game was to be focused and get everyone focused on the offensive and defensive side of the ball,” Shockley said. “We are also undefeated at home, so we all knew we wanted to keep the streak going.” Junior forward Adam Scott would be right behind Shockley, putting up 17 points and 11 rebounds in the game. The win over the Red Wolves maintained the men’s team undefeated streak at home this season at 7-0. In the second game of the week though, the Pioneers were less fortunate on
the road, just barely defeated by OCU 72-68. In a game where OCU led Point Park for almost 20 minutes of play, and only able to muster 23 points in the first half, the men were able to fight back in the second half and take back the lead with 3:30 to go. The Pioneers’ lead was short-lived, as the opposing Trail Blazers tied then retook the lead with 1:57 to go and never gave it back. “During the half coach gave us a plan that would get us back into the game and we executed it well. But in the end, it was too much to come back from,” junior forward RJ Fairrow said. Even though the team had four different players
score in double-digits and shot 43-percent, the team missed all ten three-pointers attempted, and shot only 63-percent from the foul line. After the results of the last two games, the men’s team now has a record of 10-9 overall, with a record of 3-3 in River States Conference (RSC) play. The Pioneers have two more games this week, traveling to Penn State’s Greater Allegheny campus to face off against the Nittany Lions on Tuesday, then coming back home to battle against the Brescia University Bearcats on Friday in RSC play.
Mason Strawn mtstraw@pointpark.edu
Cheer team wins big at home, places on road By Zoey Angelucci Staff Writer
This weekend was a busy one for the competitive cheer team, having two competitions over the course of two days. “I’m really happy with how [this weekend] turned out for us,” senior Keera Frye said. “Getting to compete at home, placing third at Marian and getting good scores altogether made this weekend a success, and I’m excited for the rest of the season.” On Friday, Point Park swept visiting team Mt. Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) in a dual competition in the Student Center gym. The two teams went head-to-head three times in the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) match. The Pioneers won the first round with a score of 89.33 to 62.67. All three judges gave the team a perfect ten in showmanship. They also scored tens for their basket tosses and jumps in round one. Round two was also a success for the Pioneers with a score of 88.83 to 56.55. For the last round, the Pioneers finished out their sweep by scoring a 89.33, compared to MVNU’s score of 66.17. With these three performances, the team improved their season scoring average into the 80s. “It was definitely super exciting because our friends
and families could come watch us compete,” freshman Angie Lucchino said. “Just having people there to support us gets our adrenaline going.” After those wins, the team traveled to the Marian Classic on Saturday. They competed in another NAIA meet that featured seven teams. The Pioneers participated in both meets that were held that day. In the first, the Pioneers scored 72.3, placing fourth. Point Park was the only team in the top five that was not a national qualifier last year. In the second meet of the day, the team moved up to third place with a score of 72.60, despite a .25-point deduction. “This competition was exactly what the team needed. We all bonded and came together both on and off the mat,” junior Riley Norman said. “We encouraged each other when we were down and congratulated when were up. I believe now we are beyond ready for our last regular season competition and on to regionals.” Point Park’s next meet will be on Feb. 2 at the Aquinas Saints Showdown. This will be their final competition before NAIA regionals. After this off week, the dance team competes next Saturday at the Siena Heights Halo Classic.
Zoey Angelucci zaangel@pointpark.edu
Submitted | Lourdes University Athletics ABOVE: The Point Park competitive cheer team in a formation at the Lourdes University meet earlier this year. Lourdes swept Point Park, but only by a few points each round. BELOW: Junior Leah Skowron gives a smile to the judges after the Point Park performance at Lourdes University earlier this year. Point Park tallied scores of 73 and 74 in their two performances, respectively.