The Globe Issue 7

IN THIS ISSUE:

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4

Students fundraise for photography project

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6

Johanna Wharran argues the LGBT awards aren’t inclusive enough

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7

Men’s and Women’s basketball teams prepare for playoffs

Wednesday, Februar y 24, 2016

Issue 7

TRACK QUALIFIES THREE FOR NATIONALS

‘Alternative spring break’ to take students to New York City

Networking, volunteering events part of four-day trip itinerary

By Breana Uhl For The Globe

A trip to New York City to examine the Metropolitan Museum of Art, experience a Broadway Show and network with Point Park alumni will top off an alternative spring break trip for students.

The March 2-6 trip, which costs $225, is offered to individuals in the Point Park Honors Student Organization (HSO), as well as the School of Communication.

Sophomore journalism student Jessica Federkeil attended the trip last year.

“I can say it is a wonderful opportunity that is hard to turn down,” Federkeil said. “The price is so affordable -- about $200 for a long weekend in New York City; you can’t beat that.”

2010 was the first year that Point Park took students to New

photo Courtesy of Liz Berie, Point Park Athletics

Sophomore jumper Shaun Berry breaks the school record for the men’s triple jump and qualifies for the NAIA national meet during the Kent State Tune-Up on Sat. Feb. 20. See story page 7.

Pennsylvania debuts ‘It’s On Us’ campaign

Initiative aims to curb sexual violence on college campuses

By Cara McLaughlin Staff Photographer

Governor Tom Wolf announced the “It’s On Us PA” campaign to create resources for victims of sexual assault and help improve awareness and prevention of cases at universities in the state.

Point Park University’s Title IX Coordinator Elizabeth Rosemeyer was a bit curious about the campaign.

“Since Obama introduced it a while ago, it was new to me to hear Wolf was trying to take a statewide approach to it,” Rosemeyer said.

Wolf made the announcement of the campaign at Elizabethtown College. While optimistic, Rosemeyer is a bit skeptical to bring it to Point Park.

“It is certainly a campaign that we have discussed, [but] there are a lot of other campaigns that are either similar or… different [enough] that may fit Point Park’s [situation] better,” she said.

According to Governor Wolf’s website and announcement video, the goals of the campaign will be to “improve awareness, prevention, reporting, and response systems... to remove... barriers that prevent survivors from reporting sexual assault… [and] to demonstrate that we are committed, at all levels, to the task of eradicating this scourge in Pennsylvania.”

Initially introduced by the Obama Administration on Sept. 19, 2014, President Obama said in his press conference for the program “we’re taking a step and joining with people across the country to change our culture and help prevent sexual assault from happening.”

In the release of this campaign, he

CAMPAIGN page 2

York City for an alternative spring break trip. The trip has changed a bit over the years.

HSO Graduate Assistant Emily Kolek attended the alternative spring break two years ago.

“This time, the trip will have more professional visits to agencies for School of Communication students,” Kolek said. “There wasn’t a networking event with alumni in the past, so there are definitely added bonuses this time.”

Students will depart Wednesday morning and will board a bus headed for New York City, where they will enjoy a four-night stay in Hotel Pennsylvania, located across from Madison Square Garden. That night, they will dine with alumni at the Pennsylvania 6.

Thursday afternoon, Point Park students will savor a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (MOMA),

SPRING BREAK page 2

Clubs leave $17,000 unspent of this quarter’s funding allocations USG

By Sabrina Bodon USG Beat Writer

With less than a week left in the spring semester funding period, clubs and organizations have only spent approximately $5,900 of the $22,750 allocated by Point Park’s student government.

Amber Mole, the United Student Government (USG) treasurer, announced the number at Monday’s meeting after a senator asked for the number last week.

When announced, the number raised a few eyebrows.

“We’re expecting over $10,000 back for next funding period?” senator Bobby Bertha asked.

BALLET THEATRE PRESENTS ‘PETER PAN’

photo by Rich Sofranko, courtesy of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre performed a production of Peter Pan Feb. 12-14 and 19-21 at the Benedum Center. See story page 5.

To this, Dean of Students Keith Paylo, advisor to USG, spoke up.

“If you do the quick math, there’s a lot of money being left on the table,” Paylo said. “Please encourage your organizations and clubs to spend the money they are very worthy of having...they went through the process to get this allocated.”

If the money is not spent, the money previously allocated to clubs will roll back into USG’s budget for the next funding period, the last of the school year. Following the final funding period’s allocations, the money will cease to be USG’s and will not be eligible to transfer over into its budget for the 2016-17 school year.

During the meeting, the Rules Committee brought two resolutions to be added to the USG constitution for the legislative body to workshop regarding supplemental funding and the relationship between USG and the Office of Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership (SAIL).

“The basic idea behind this is these are two very important pieces of legislation, so I wanted to bring it to the legislative body to actively workshop it to make it the best it can,” USG Parliamentarian Charles Murria said during the meeting.

The Rules Committee’s discussion focused heavily on the definition of the phrase “supplemental funding.”

“What we decided in Rules Committee is that supplemental funding is more of an emergency fund, should it be necessary that prices change on a club after their budgets have already been approved,” Bertha said.

This amendment, though not yet passed or fully established in USG’s constitution, would create a supplemental emergency fund of $700 $1,500 for clubs to use. The usage of

Weather Forecast Today: Thunderstorms H 57, L 49

Thursday: Mostly Cloudy/Wind, H 52, L 32 Sunday: Sunny, H 57, L 36 Monday: Partly Cloudy, H 58, L 31 Friday: Sunny/Wind, H 42, L 27 Tuesday: Partly Cloudy, H 41, L 30ß Saturday: Sunny, H 47, L 32

USG page 3

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NEWS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Students to sightsee, perform community service on alternative spring break trip from SPRING BREAK page 1 where the museum’s Chief Digital Officer Sree Sreennivasan, will hold a discussion. That evening, students get to take in the talent on Broadway at “Something Rotten.”

Friday is designated as community service day. Students will meet up with the Monroe College Honors Program where they will work on a “Read Across America” program. According to nea.org, “Read Across America” focuses on motivating children and teens to read through events, partnerships and reading resources.

On Saturday, the final day of the trip, Point Park students will visit Central Park.

“We’re going to look at it top to bottom, go on a scavenger hunt, learn about its history and see what’s there,” HSO Director Helen Fallon said. “We may try to do a museum visit - probably the MOMA, or go to the Statue of Liberty or the 9/11 memorial.”

That evening, students will get free time to enjoy their last day in the city.

“I truly feel that offering a spring break trip through the Honors Program is so incredibly beneficial for students of Point Park,” HSO President-Elect Nicolette Jones said. “It gives them the opportunity to go outside the city of Pittsburgh and volunteer, sight see and network at

alumni events and meetings set up by the university.”

Though the deadline has passed to sign up for this year’s trip, students still have an opportunity to contribute. HSO is fundraising by selling notecards with archived photographs of Point Park on them, and students are also encouraged to attend a fundraising event at Wigle Whiskey on March 21.

Breana Uhl can be reached at bnuhl@pointpark.edu.

Next Globe Issue: March 9th

Campus program similar to state’s ‘It’s On Us’ campaign Globe Ad - Pittsburgh Tattoo - 1-15-16.indd 1

from CAMPAIGN page 1 made a note of “stepping up enforcement efforts” and how he “created a task force to protect students from sexual assault [who are] training school officials in how to handle trauma.”

Point Park already has a program in place called “Not On My Campus.” The Not On My Campus program is more direct to Point Park, while the It’s On Us campaign are state—and nation-wide programs aimed for general implementation at universities. In other words, it’s a template to be adapted specifically to each university.

Rosemeyer also said that the “Not On My Campus” program is “working on a campaign they’re hoping to do this spring that, basically, you take a pledge just like you do with ‘It’s On Us,’ and this pledge is a little more specific to

1/15/2016 8:54:47 AM

Point Park, and you’re basically pledging ‘Not On My Campus.’”

Wyatt Cree, a freshman broadcast reporting major at Point Park, said that the campaign “won’t really affect, I think, college students, at least now, until they come up with something.”

Cristin Yoder, a freshman animation major, was unfamiliar with the program. She was also unfamiliar with Point Park’s pledge program “Not On My Campus.”

“I don’t see any difference [between the programs],” Yoder said.

“The information you get out there is better, but you don’t want people duplicating efforts at the same time,” Rosemeyer said.

Cara McLaughlin can be reached at clmclau@pointpark.edu.

photo from the Globe Archives

Wishing you a fun and safe Spring Break from all of us at The Globe!

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NEWS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

USG developing document FLASHBACK to define its financial A Globe Archive Photo from relationship with SAIL from USG page 1

1991

is scheduled for April. The city of Pittsburgh has approved a permit to clear a city block for the event.

The USG election period is also approaching. Campaigns are set to begin in March and voting is scheduled for the third week of April.

Sabrina Bodon can be reached at sbodon@pointpark.edu.

ss o r CRIM c t E no REPO o RT d TUESDAY, FEB. 16th 10:02 am

Student Center Drug Violation: Lack of Leads

11:53 am

West Penn Drug Violation: Referred to Student Conduct

SUNDAY, FEB. 21st 2:11 am

Ft. Pitt Blvd.

Escape- Arrest No campus affiliation

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Data compiled by Alex Grubbs Design by Emily Yount

cr s os

this fund would be on a case-by-case basis and would go toward clubs that have fully exhausted its appeal process, at the discretion of the legislative body.

In the workshopping period, the legislative body made note of the range for the emergency budget. There were several questions offered to the Rules Committee to consider, including pre-planning to set the emergency fund aside and how often the fund will be replenished.

The second resolution in development outlines the relationship between USG and SAIL. A bylaw of this resolution would allow for SAIL to redistribute the already approved USG-allocated budget to fit the need of a club or organization.

“In the past, USG has had it so that organizations would have to come to USG to basically shift money from different accounts, if you will, for different events,” USG Vice President Gabe Dubin said. “That could be problematic.

What this legislation is alluding to is just giving SAIL the power.”

Both resolutions were sent back to committee to be discussed more in depth and with the general discussion the legislative body had to offer in mind.

USG President Blaine King spoke of the various events and plans USG has in store for the final months of the semester.

Referencing past issues and finding solutions, USG is set to release both the Wi-Fi and Trader Joe’s shuttle surveys on social media in the coming weeks to better assess the student body’s needs Forum is scheduled for the end of March while Pioneer Community Day

3

photo from the Globe Archives

Harrison Wofford, Dem, wins the 1991 United States Senate Special election against Dick Thornburgh in an election to replace Senator John Heinz after his death April 4, 1991. Wofford was appointed by Governor Bob Casey to serve until the election could take place.

4

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Students hold fundraiser in Market Street Grocery

Wine bar packed with students for photography fundraiser

will include sculptures molded by Montana.

Their work will depict women in archetypal stages of life such as menstruation, pregnancy, childHannah Altman and Michelle Montana are birth and breastfeeding. The sculptures will be embarking on a new photography project that will accompanied by photos of the same subjects.

“We’re taking these subjects and bringing use sculpture and photography to depict women them into the real world by making sculptures throughout several stages of womanhood.

The two Point Park students held a fund- whose compositions mock the composition of the raiser to get the project off the ground at the photographs,” Altman said. “We want them to be rusting and decaying, because Market Street Grocery wine we’re questioning the root of the bar Feb. 21. feminine identity and if that is “We decided that GoFundlasting or decaying.”

Me [accounts] are impersonal, The two students are in and I’m not a fan,” Altman, a the early stages of making this junior photography major, said project a reality and have not in an interview at the fundyet set a deadline for the finraising event. “We thought we ished project. Once it is fincould get people together here ished, they plan to hold an and talk about art, interact art show to display the final with each other and it’s all for product. Where the show will a good cause.” be held depends on their toThe event was pushed tal donation success. Montana through a Facebook event page, Hannah Altman said she is just now beginning which invited 440 people, with Junior Photography Major to experiment with sculpting a suggested donation of $10. Point Park University and different materials to use The two also said word-offor the project. mouth played a part in making “It’s all going to be a the fundraising event known. learning process,” Montana “I told more people than I even invited on Facebook, but there we had said. “Hannah’s taking the most direction in about 500 people invited,” Montana, a senior the photography, and I’m hoping to take the photography major who also works at the bar, most direction in the sculpture work, so we’re the dynamic duo.” said in an interview at the event.

The fundraiser was held to get the project The project, titled “Framework of Woman,”

By Eddie Trizzino Co-Features Editor

“We’re taking these subjects and bringing them into the the real world by making sculptures.”

up and running. Montana said that the goal for the night was to raise at least $500. Donations could be made directly to the photographers, or patrons could purchase some prints of Altman’s and Montana’s photographs from a booklet they provided. After the event, Montana said they surpassed their original donation goal.

Altman and Montana will use the money they earn to purchase materials and a space to present their final product. They will know more details once they get further into the project.

The bar was packed with people that night, many of which Point Park students and friends of Montana and Altman, including junior photography major Sean Eaton.

“I think it’ll be a really great project,” Eaton said.

Foo Conner, owner of Jekko Magazine, attended the fundraising event and expressed appreciation for the Pittsburgh art community.

“Pittsburgh has a really supportive community and Hannah really moves it forward,” Conner said.

Although it may seem distant, Altman and Montana are anticipating the finished project.

“I can’t wait to show it off; I’m really excited about it,” Altman said “Even in the next couple of years after it’s over, it’ll be cool to see how it evolves, and how much we’ve learned,” Montana said.

Eddie Trizzino can be reached at eatrizz@pointpark.edu.

Ranier Pollard breaks boundaries to create laughs

By Casey Hoolahan For the Globe

The chatter of students in the audience changed to cheers as comedian Raneir Pollard ran onto the stage. But laughter from students was tentative to Pollard’s off-the-wall jokes, as they were unsure of how to respond to the jokes about racial discrimination and LGBTQ+ stereotypes.

Feeling the awkwardness in the room, Pollard turned to a topic that’s a staple in the comedy industry.

“Laughing at a comedy show is like farting when you’re alone. Just let it rip,” Pollard said, eliciting a round of laughter from the crowd.

That was one of the highlights of Campus Activities Board’s first comedy night that took place at 9 p.m. last Monday night in the G.R.W. Theater, where about thirty students gathered to watch Pollard perform.

Pollard was discovered by CAB executive board members last fall at the annual National Conference on College Cost Accounting where he performed.

“He was super into it,” said Justina Cincotti, sophomore global and cultural studies major and leader in CAB’s Special Events Committee.

The idea of hosting a stand up event was born out of student input.

“It was something we saw from surveys that [students] want to see more performers brought to campus,” Cincotti said.

Pollard, who is openly gay, is an advocate for both the African American and LGBTQ+ communities and didn’t shy away from controversial issues such as the #AllLivesMatter trend versus the #BlackLivesMatter trend and the stereotypes surrounding African Americans and LGBTQ+ individuals. Pollard broached these topics in a relatable and humorous way, using stories of his own experiences as a college student.

After recounting a wild spring break adventure, in which Pollard won a series of alcohol-based contest, Pollard said his friends asked him why he acted like a frat boy when he was drunk.

“I’m black and gay all day, straight and white all night!” Pollard said in response, playing off the stereotypical frat boy image.

As the show went on, Pollard’s abrasive and sometimes controversial style was acknowledged and

embraced by the audience.

“He didn’t hold back for us,” Ally Hindman, a freshman sales and entertainment management major, said, referencing Pollards’s taboo subjects.

By touching on these topics, Raneir connected Point Park’s diverse population of students. “[Raneir] did a really good job of relating to Point Park because of our diverse campus,” Hindman said.

However, Pollard’s serious subjects didn’t affect students’ enjoy- Ranier Pollard Comedian ment of the night.

“He made it seem like he was one of our friends, just talking and laughing with us,” Hindman said.

During the show, Pollard fre-

quently poked fun at his own beliefs and at the modern idea of activism.

“I’m a new age activist, I want to see something on Facebook that bothers me and hit share,” Pollard said in reference to the idea that our generation is all talk and no action.

He also took jabs at various stereotypes surrounding the gay community.

“Clothes this tight only come in gay and European,” Pollard said when explaining his style choice for the evening of skinny jeans and a black muscle tee.

Other bits addressing this topic included the lack of gay assassins in spy movies, with Pollard acting out exactly how this assassin would

“Laughing at a comedy show is like farting when you’re alone. Just let it rip.”

trick his way into sneaking past security by jumping around and rolling across the stage.

After the show, Pollard insisted on the audience joining him onstage for a giant group photo, insisting to get a serious and a silly photo saved onto his iPhone.

During a short post-show reception Pollard chatted with the students while drinking a Red Bull and munching on complimentary cookies, discussing his career, inspirations and offering insight into life as an entertainer.

As for advice for aspiring performers, Pollard acknowledged that the industry is tough and full of rejection.

“The thing that will keep you going is performing and feeling that love,” Pollard said.

Casey Hoolahan can be reached at

photo by Cara McLaughlin

“Black and Gay All Day” comedian Raneir Pollard performed for Point Park students and faculty Feb. 15 in the University Center GRW Theater. A meet and greet was available after the show.

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

5

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presents ‘Peter Pan’ Company to premiere ‘Mixed Repertory #2’ at Byham Theater

By Karly Rivera

Co-Features Editor

The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) flew across the Benedum’s stage this past weekend in its production of “Peter Pan.” The company’s performance ran from Feb. 12-14 and Feb. 19-21. The production, featuring choreography by Jorden Morris, told the fairytale story of the characters Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tinkerbell.

“It’s ‘Peter Pan’… a title for over a century.

That is one of the reasons why I did it,” PBT Artistic Director Terrence Orr, said in a phone interview Thursday. “This happens to be a very good production, and I happen to enjoy it.”

Morris, a Canadian choreographer, has set other productions for the company, including “Moulin Rouge – The Ballet,” which PBT performed in 2013. This is the second time the company has performed Morris’ choreography for “Peter Pan.” “He tells a great story,” Orr said. “Jorden is a narrative choreographer, so he’s got a sense of humor.”

All photos by Rich Sofranko, courtesy of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Hannah Carter, a soloist with PBT, danced the part of Wendy in the performance and said The Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre presented Peter Pan at the Benedum Center Feb. 12-14 and Feb. 19-21. Characters knowing the story helped with her portrayal of include Wendy, Peter Pan and Tinkerbell. The show offered a changing rotation of dancers. PBT’s next performance is “Mixed Repertory #2” at the Byham Theater Mar. 10-13. the role.

“Knowing [the story] from such a young age…

Darling’s house, to Neverland and the ship,” Car- a premiere to the Pittsburgh area. you kind of know who Wendy is,” Carter said in a “I think [the audience] will see a lot of new phone interview Friday. “She is just a very caring ter said. “It’s a great production overall.”

The production of Peter Pan has come to an works that are all different from each other,” Orr person; she wants adventure in her life.”

Carter, originally from England, trained at end for this season, but PBT is premiering a new said. “They are going to take away a whole new the Royal Ballet Theatre and previously danced production from Mar. 10-13 at the Byham The- experience of dance.”

“Man in Black” is a piece set to the music of Johnwith the Estonian National Ballet. After two ater that offers a large variety of styles.

The company will present their “Mixed ny Cash, and Orr said it is not a traditional ballet. years, she transitioned to PBT, and this marks Repertory #2,” which consists of four different “This is not pointe shoes and pink tutus,” Orr her third season with the company.

She shared how excited she was for the flying ballets: “A Fellow Feeling,” choreographed by said. “They are wearing cowboy boots.”

Adrienne Reau, a sophomore dance major, experience in the performance, and expressed that Yoshiaki Nakano, a principal dancer at PBT, “Eternal Idol,” “Jardin Aux Lilas” and “Man in said she has not attended one of PBT’s perforthe sets were her favorite part of the production.

“The set is incredible, changing from the Black.” Orr explained that three of the works are mances before and hopes to do so soon, but believes the company offers a good experience for students and dancers in the Pittsburgh area. “[Students] see what kind of companies are in the area…to be exposed to the dance culture in Pittsburgh,” Reau said in a phone interview Monday.

Carter explained one of the main reasons she loves being a part of PBT is their choice of repertoire.

“I love all the rep we do. We get to do such great ballets,” Carter said. “I haven’t even been here for three years, but I have already kicked off many things off my list.”

She also offered up advice for students and dancers about achieving goals.

“Be realistic about what you want, and if it’s really what you want, go head-strong for it,” Carter said.

The “Mixed Repertory #2” will run at the Byham Theater from Mar. 10-13. If interested in more information about PBT’s upcoming performances or for tickets, students are encouraged to visit its website at pbt.org.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT) soloist company member, Gabrielle Thurlow, dances the role of Tinkerbell in “Peter Pan.” PBT premieres its “Mixed Repertory #2” with three new ballets to the Pittsburgh area in March.

Karly Rivera can be reached at kmriver@pointpark.edu.

‘City in a Room’ brings local businesses to campus

By Cara McLaughlin Staff Photographer

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) is offering an event to show students numerous opportunities and organizations available in the city of Pittsburgh.

“City in a Room” will take place in the Lawrence Hall lobby Wed. Feb. 24 from 4-7 p.m.

“It is going to be like a fair,” said CAB’s public relations coordinator, Nicole Miller. “Students will be able to talk to [officials] and learn about things going on at each place.”

Miller said representatives from Zipcar, an alternative transportation system available to students, plans to show students how to rent a car and open a membership. The Port Authority will offer various bus and train routes and ConnectCard opportunities. Officials from the Pittsburgh Park Conservatory will be present to provide information on local parks.

Other organizations attending the event are the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Shadyside Cham-

ber of Commerce and Squirrel Hill While these organizations will be Urban Coalition. The organizations present at the event to provide inforwill bring information on the specif- mation on their specific section of Pittsic neighborhoods that the organiza- burgh, transportation systems for the tions work inside of as well as their city will also be there to inform students own specific eson transportatablishments. tion opportuniLouis Spanos, ties.

CAB’s “Experi“Port Auence Pittsburgh” thority and coordinator, Zipcar are gohopes that all stuing to be great dents will come transportato the event and tion resources learn more about for students the city. for not only “[The event freshmen and is] going to have Louis Spanos sophomores, i n f o r m a t i o n Experience Pittsburgh Coordinator but also rising about their spe- Campus Activity Board juniors and cific organizagraduating setions and about niors,” Spanos the neighborsaid.

“This hood,” Spanos way, they have said. “I also asked they bring infor- somewhere they can make the tranmation about living opportunities sition from college student to young to help freshmen or sophomores professional that much easier.” who want to move off campus or juBlake Doyle, a freshman theater niors and seniors who need to start major from the Pittsburgh area, planning.” still seemed interested in going to

“[The event is] going to have information about their specific organizations about the neighborhood.”

“City in a Room.”

“I think it would be kind of cool because in Pittsburgh, especially when you live here, you know that there are different neighborhoods but there are also different kinds of areas,” Doyle said. “You don’t normally on a regular basis leave your area, so I think it’s kind of interesting to learn how to get there and what’s going on there. Even though I’m from here, there’s so much going on, and I think it’s interesting to see all the different things that are happening.”

Spanos said he considers this one of the most “anticipated” events during his time at CAB. “I just really want students to come and learn,” Spanos said. “As long as it affects someone’s college experience for the better, whether how small or big that impact is, that is what I want to get out of ‘City in a Room.’”

Cara McLaughlin can be reached at clmclau@pointpark.edu.

6

OPINIONS

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

Crime report presents an intriguing crime possibility

’S

POINT

By Laura Byko

Spring break will offer relief, but a week too early to enjoy The tension levels are racketing up at Point Park. Midterms are upon us, which has led to the traditional campus-wide freak-outs, meltdowns and (to use a bit of Pittsburghese) conniption fits.

But that’s just the storm before the calm. Spring break, too, is almost upon us. It will be a relief, absolutely, but it will also be frustration-laden, as virtually all of our college-age friends at other universities will get their breaks a week later.

Point Park’s break is Feb. 27-March 4.

Pitt’s break is March 5-13. Carnegie Mellon’s is March 7-11. Chatham’s is March 6-11. Carlow’s is March 6-11. Robert Morris is off March 7-11.

Only the unfortunate students of Duquesne join us with the too-early break of February 29-March 5.

Spring break is a necessary respite after a half-semester of grinding away academically. We’re all a little exhausted, a little burned out and a little ready to fantasize about dropping out. But we could absolutely stand to wait another week for a break if it meant the opportunity to connect with the majority of students who don’t attend Point Park (or Duquesne).

We don’t want to reenact the movie “Spring Breakers.” The complaint isn’t that we don’t have enough of an opportunity to go to a beach and abuse a wide variety of substances with every other college student in America.

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

For the lucky people who don’t have to work or stay close to home, it’s a chance to catch up with friends we haven’t seen in a while, or to travel with friends to escape the nightmare that is a Pittsburgh winter.

Point Park students are part of the specific culture that is Pittsburgh’s college scene, but we’re unable to fully participate since our schedules are different.

A lot of Point Park students live in Oakland, many of them with Pitt or Carlow students. Putting us on a different schedule from our neighbors and roommates is an unnecessary hassle. It’s also one that’s easily remedied.

If Point Park officials checked with other local schools to see when the majority of them were holding spring break, they could make life more convenient for many of their students.

We’re grateful for the break and excited for all the naps and Netflix binges the week will likely hold. Students will definitely figure out how to make the most of their break, even if it is earlier than some of their peers’.

We’ll travel and sleep and get caught up on homework Feb. 27-March 4.

We just wish we could binge on Netflix and get caught up on homework with most of the other college students in Pittsburgh.

The Globe can be reached at globe@pointpark.edu.

Co-Opinions Editor

“Sunday 2/21/16.

2:11 a.m.

Ft. Pitt Blvd.

Escape Arrest-No campus affiliation” – from this week’s Crime Report, page 2.

Kiko felt his heart pounding. His claws clacked against the sidewalk on Wood Street. He tried not to think the word, afraid he would jinx it, that something would go wrong, but he couldn’t help it: every heartbeat, every time his claw met pavement, he heard it. Free.

Free. Free.

He didn’t hate the zoo, not exactly.

But just being there, after so long, suffocated him. Crocodiles have a lifespan of about 70 years, and he was already 40. The other crocodiles mocked him, said he was having a midlife crisis, compared him to the men who came to the zoo with bad comb overs and expensive sunglasses.

But the longing for freedom, for escape, had always been inside him. He remembered being a hatchling and learning about the world. About how small his world was. About how much was lost to him.

He had been mourning the life he wasn’t living -- the wild life, since he was small. He was done mourning now. He needed to act before he was dead. If he died now, and his whole life began flashing before his eyes, it would be a continuous shot of different humans looking at him. The thought terrified him.

He couldn’t quite believe it had worked. The zookeepers, after 30-odd years of agreeableness from Kiko, had grown complacent. Their keys jangled in plain sight, day after day, and it wasn’t that hard to reach them under the guise of an affectionate nuzzle. After a couple days of attempts, he got the keys into his

mouth and kept them there until the zoo was closed.

All he had to do then was wait. It was late by the time all the other crocodiles were asleep, the stars barely pricking through the night sky. He used the key and scuttled his way out of the zoo.

There was so much to see. Cars.

Houses. Roads. Trees. Everything he had heard humans talk about, all snapping into place in his mind. Kiko had been out of the zoo for ten minutes, and he already felt more alive than he ever had in his life. He did wonder why some of the humans he encountered screamed and ran away, but he was used to people reacting strongly to him and taking pictures of him.

He was headed for Africa, he decided. He wasn’t quite sure where it was, but he thought he’d recognize it if he found it. He imagined encountering the Nile River (that’s where the zookeepers said he was from) and feeling a shift in his bones, settling into the bottom of the river like centuries of sediment had done.

He could do anything. He could go anywhere. He was giddy, felt stupid with giddiness. He was never going back, he decided. He belonged in this world, where things were real and imperfect and unpredictable.

He had made it downtown, where the buildings were taller than he had ever dared to imagine. He was heading for the water, dreaming of Africa, on the Fort Pitt Boulevard at 2:01 a.m. when he saw the flashing lights, heard the sirens.

His heart sank with the weight of what he understood. As he was wrangled and sedated, only one word pulsed in his mind and behind his eyes: escape.

Escape. Escape.

Laura Byko can be reached at lobyko@pointpark.edu.

LGBT Awards a step back for diversity, inclusivity

By Johanna Wharran Co-Opinions Editor

This past weekend #BoycottLGBTAwards was a worldwide trending topic on Twitter. While this seems like it might be a pretty hateful hashtag for so many people to get behind, it is actually well-deserved.

The LGBT Awards in question take place in the United Kingdom and according to their website “[are] designed to showcase individuals and organisations who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the LGBT community. We believe that those who go the extra mile to ensure equality of opportunity and fair treatment for all, regardless of sexuality or gender, deserve to be recognised.” Unfortunately there are a number of cisgender (cis), people whose experiences of their own gender agree with the sex they were assigned at birth, and straight nominees in numerous categories.

Categories like music artist list nominees such as Zayn Malik, while the category for straight allies list undeserving nominees such as Nigella Lawson and Zoe Sugg (a popular content creator on Youtube).

Don’t get me wrong, I am personally a fan of both Sugg and Malik, but the inclusion of those who do not fall

within the LGBT+ community undermines the effect and meaning of these awards.

None of the three aforementioned people belong on the list of nominees for any LGBT+ awards, not only due to their gender and sexuality identification, but because they are not allies worthy of an award.

Nominees were given a short bio expressing who they are and what they have done for the LGBT+ community. According to the award’s website, Malik was questioned about his sexuality in 2014, and said “Just be yourself. If that’s who you are, that’s who you are and don’t be afraid to be the person that you are.” Despite this statement, Malik is not known for being an ally. He is not particularly active or vocal about supporting the LGBT+ community, which I feel should be a minimum requirement for nomination.

Sugg’s “qualifications” for straight ally, according to her bio, include video blogging with a close gay friend and advocate, Tyler Oakley, as well as writing about real teen issues including sexuality in her novel “Girl Online.”

Sugg has a following of over 10 million people on YouTube, and until she uses her massive following as a platform to be an active LGBT+ advocate, I would

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not consider her an ally worthy of international recognition.

Nigella Lawson is a straight, cis supporter of gay rights charity Terrence Higgins Trust. According to Lawson’s bio, she “has joked that she considers herself to be a gay man in a woman’s body and told lesbian magazine DIVA that all women have it in them to fall in love with someone of the same sex.” Bisexuality is a real thing and it’s not a thing all women “magically” are by virtue of being women. Erasing bisexuality makes you the opposite of an ally, much less an ally deserving of award. Also, saying you’re gay but in the wrong body when you’re actually a straight, cis person has never been anything other than transphobic.

Straight, cis celebrities like Malik have asterisks next to their names to indicate how and why they are nominated. The awards made the following statement on the matter.

“As part of our ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, The British LGBT Awards accepted public nominations in this category, regardless of the nominee’s sexuality, gender, ethnicity, disability, age, education, race and religion.”

Straight allies are a huge part of creating positive change for the LGBT+ community; however

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straight people do not need more recognition and praise. The inclusion of straight, cis people as nominees for LGBT+ awards devalues the awards, not because they cannot be influential and positive allies for the community, but because they are not in need of more acceptance, nor are they regularly overlooked for nominations and awards due to their sexuality.

Diversity is also significantly less prominent in the award ceremony than one might think based on the organization’s devotion to both it and inclusion. Out of 80 people nominated, only 10 are people of color (POC), and only six nominees are transgender. However, 23 nominees are straight, meaning there are nearly four times as many straight people nominated for LGBT+ awards than there are trans people.

Making the faces of the LGBT+ movement so overwhelmingly white, straight and cis not only ignores the “T,” it also ignores the intersectional and increased struggle of the LGBT+ community and the POC within it, putting value and focus in all the wrong places.

Johanna Wharran can be reached at jmwharr@pointpark.edu.

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THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

SPORTS CROUP’S CORNER

By Josh Croup Sports Columnist

Brescia – home and away Well, here we are.

Playoffs? Yes, playoffs.

It’s tournament time for the men’s and women’s basketball teams.

What a wild ride these two clubs have taken us on this season.

The two have both dealt with their own injuries, hot streaks, cold streaks and everything in between.

It’s win or go home time. It’s do or die. Insert typical sports playoff cliché here.

Listen, it’s not going to be easy for either of these two just to survive the first round. Even after the first round, the teams have an uphill climb to the national tournament.

The first round of the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) Tournament tips off Wednesday night.

The men (16-10, 9-7 KIAC) have the No. 2 seed in the Capital Division and host Brescia (Ky.) (5-12, 9-7 KIAC), the No. 3 seed in the Capital Division. The women (19-10, 12-5 KIAC) have the No. 3 seed travel to Brescia (18-13, 13-5 KIAC), the No. 2 seed, for the tournament’s first round.

If the women survive their dance with the Bearcats, they’ll face the winner of Alice Lloyd (Ky.) and the bracket’s No. 1 seed, Indiana University East. The IU East Red Wolves have defeated the Pioneers in both meetings this year and have won 10 straight.

The Bearcats traveled from Owensboro, Ky. early in the season for a doubleheader with Point Park.

Point Park was playing its fourth game in five days and held a 5-2 record at the time. The Pioneers shot just 23 percent from the field and trailed by 12 at the end of the first half.

The Pioneers turned things around in the second half, shooting 55 percent en route to a 70-64 victory. Point Park dropped Brescia to 1-5 on the season and handed the Bearcats a loss in their first KIAC game on the season.

Brescia is 13-4 in conference play since losing that game in mid-November to Point Park. The Bearcats are 5-1 in the month of February and are coming off a 112-91 victory over Rio Grande (Oh.), which is ahead of Point Park in the KIAC Colonial standings.

Point Park, on the other hand, has struggled offensively at times and has dealt with injuries recently. The Pioneers are 6-4 in their last 10 games and are just 1-6 when giving up more than 65 points in a game.

Oh, I forgot to mention that Brescia has the leading scorer in all of National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II basketball with 701 points on the year.

Is it obvious that the defense has to show up?

It’s no secret the men’s team doesn’t stress defense. Still, they get to host a playoff game for the second straight year.

Point Park enters the playoffs with a 16-10 overall record, the most wins in the regular season since the 2007-08 season. Point Park lost in the first round of the American Mideast Conference (AMC) Tournament.

The Pioneers are riding a fivegame winning streak, the longest streak in the conference entering the tournament.

Last year, Point Park finished with 16 wins, two of which came in the conference tournament.

The Pioneers lost to IU East in the tournament championship.

In the semi-finals of last year’s tournament, Point Park defeated Brescia, the No. 1 seed from the KIAC Southern Division, 99-84 to advance to the championship. The Bearcats still earned a bid to the NAIA National Tournament as the conference’s top team in the regular season.

Brescia hopes to avenge its loss in last year’s tourney for the second time this season.

In the regular season meeting, Brescia defeated Point Park 70-58.

Brescia has alternated wins and losses in February and is coming off a 74-71 win against Rio Grande.

The Bearcats will have to contain one of the NAIA’s top scoring offenses. Point Park ranks third in NAIA Division II in scoring offense per game averaging nearly 92 points per game.

Before this past weekend when Point Park won both conference road games, it had never won a conference road game this year. In fact, they had lost all five games outside of Pittsburgh. This first round home game is critical to the men advancing in the tournament.

Why? According to Google Maps, the nearly 500-mile trip to Owensboro lasts more than seven and a half hours. That’s a long time on a bus.

Can the women continue to persevere and survive the road game? Can the men continue their hot streak and survive past the first round of the tournament?

Before last year, the men hadn’t won a playoff game since the 2006-07 season. Bob Rager will make his 23rd playoff appearance in his 27 years as head coach at Point Park.

That’s a lot of basketball. Hopefully after Wednesday, both Point Park teams will get to play more.

Josh Croup can be reached at jdcroup@pointpark.edu.

2015-2016 KIAC Men’s Basketball Tournament Feb. 24, 27, March 1, 2016

First Round #1 IU East (18-12,12-4)

Finals

#4 Asbury (15-15, 7-9)

Feb. 24, 27, March 1, 2016

Semifinals

Feb. 24 - 6 PM Richmond, Ind.

Finals Feb. 27

#3 Point Park (19-10, 12-5)

KIAC Championship March 1

Feb. 24 - 7 PM West Mifflin, Pa.

#1 Alice Lloyd (16-11, 11-5)

2015-2016 KIAC Women’s Basketball Tournament

Feb. 24 - 7 PM Owensboro, Ky.

#2 Point Park (16-10, 9-7)

Feb. 24 - 7 PM Pippa Passes, Ky.

page 7 and 8 photos courtesy of Liz Berie, Point Park Athletics Freshman sprinter Onon Kadima dashes ahead of sophomore sprinter Amber Brown at the Kent State Indoor Facility on Sat. Feb. 20.

#2 Brescia (18-13, 13-5)

#3 WVU Tech (16-13, 8-8)

#4 Rio Grande (17-13, 7-9)

“I can’t tell you how much I wanted this day to happen.”

#4 Alice Lloyd (12-17, 6-12)

Feb. 27

Feb. 24 - 7 PM Cincinnati, Ohio

#3 Brescia (15-12, 9-7)

omore mid-distance runner Alexander Vaughn, their hopes to make nationals were over.

Three Point Park sophomores “It’s devastating to do all the hard have qualified for the National Aswork I did and not even qualify for sociation of Intercollegiate Athletics nationals,” Lavender said. “It’s tough (NAIA) national indoor meet. not to think about it, but I’m still goDistance runner Katie Guaring to continue to improve and get naccia, along with jumpers Jryi Dabetter every day.” vis and Shaun Berry are the only “I guess it’s okay, seeing as I Pioneers who qualified for the meet didn’t make nationals,” Vaughn said. after the indoor season ended Satur“So it’s really hard for a taller guy day at the Kent State Tune-Up. like me to do well in indoor so conCoach Kelly Parsley said there sidering that, I did pretty decent for were some good performances across indoor this year.” the board, but it also wasn’t their best Freshman mid-distance runner overall meet of the season.

Desmond Marrow broke the school “This year, we were really forrecord in the 800 with a time of 2 tunate to break every school record minutes, .35 seconds and came in that we established last year, except 17th place. for three,” Parsley said. “It’s looking “I feel great like we are going to about it even have a very strong though I got team for the outboxed in a lot,” door season.”

Marrow said. “I Berry was the started the season highlight of the day, with the record, breaking Davis’ triand I ended the ple jump record. Shaun Berry season with the The record is now Sophomore Jumper record, which was 14.49 meters which Point Park Track and Field my goal.” ranks him ninth in Multiple the nation. He came school and perin third place at Kent State. sonal records were broken on the “I feel so excited that I made nawomen’s side at Kent State. tionals,” Berry said. “I can’t tell you Freshman mid-distance runner how much I wanted this day to hapMadison Przicina broke the previous pen. I wasn’t surprised that I made it records for the 400 and the 800-mebecause I knew that today would be ter races. In the 800, she had a time the day. I had a feeling.” of 2:23.78 and in the 400, she had a Despite his record being broken, time of 1 minute, 1.08 seconds.

Davis doesn’t foster any ill will to“Even though I didn’t qualify for ward Berry. nationals, I guess the second best “I’m glad he was able to qualify thing to that is getting a personal refor nationals,” Davis said. “The way I cord,” Przicina said. “Since my parthink of it, records will be broken. I ents were at the meet, my dad wanted just have to go out there and perform me to win my heat. So winning that to the best of my abilities. But don’t heat for him was very nice.” get me wrong, this will be an ongoing Freshman Onon Kadima has brobattle between Mr. Berry and I until ken numerous records throughout our final jumps as seniors.”

For athletes like sophomore TRACK AND FIELD page 8 sprinter JaQuan Lavender and sophBy Liz Berie

Sports Photo Editor

#1 IU East (20-9, 15-2)

Semifinals

Feb. 27

7

Indoor track and field ends season with three in national meet

First Round

Feb. 24 - 8 PM Richmond, Ind.

#2 Cincinnati Christian (20-8, 11-5)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

#2 Rio Grande (19-9, 12-5)

KIAC Championship March 1

Feb. 24 - 7 PM Rio Grande, Ohio #3 IU Southeast (14-14, 11-7) #4 Carlow (14-13, 7-10)

Feb. 24 - 7 PM Wilmore, Ky. #1 Asbury (20-9, 16-2)

Feb. 27

8

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2016

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Shaun Berry joins fellow record-breakers

out the whole time since they really pushed me through it.” the season. At the final indoor meet, Biggs broke two personal reshe broke the school records in the cords, but both in the same event. It 60-meter hurdles with a time of 9.32 was during the 60-meter dash that he seconds and in the 200-meter dash broke his personal records. The first with a time of 26.20 seconds. time was 7.28 seconds, but his next “I felt like I could’ve done a lot best time was 7.27 seconds. better because “I came out of once I hit the the box really well,” second to the Biggs said. “It honlast hurdle, it estly felt like the caused me to best that I’ve done fall to second in in a while.” my heat,” KadiSherman broke ma said. “I was her personal reEric Biggs even surprised cord in the mile Senior Sprinter at the time that run with a time of Point Park Track and Field I ran because 6 minutes, 10 secmy knee was onds, with a previbothering me for the past week. It’s ous time of 6 minutes, 16 seconds. a pretty good place to end really good “It was really, really painful, but I for my indoor season. So I guess that knew that I would have to stick with I didn’t do so bad my freshman year.” the pack that was in front of me,” Personal records were at a high Sherman said. “I knew that if I kept for this meet. Athletes like freshman my eyes on them, I would be able to distance runner Nick Kasisky, se- run a big personal record. I was really nior sprinter Eric Biggs, sophomore happy that I closed the season with a sprinter Chereese Langley and soph- nice race.” omore distance runner Alexis SherLangley broke her personal reman were some of the many athletes cords in the 60-meter dash and the who broke their own records.

200 meter dash, too.

Kasisky broke two personal re“It felt like a relieving feeling cords during the Kent State Tune-Up. just to know that all the work that His personal records were in the mile I’m doing is paying off and to be with a time of 5 minutes, 17 seconds able to do better at each meet,” said and in the 3K run with a time of 10 Langley. “It’s just a really good feelminutes, 27 seconds. ing to have.”

“I was exhausted when I finished Point Park’s outdoor track and it, but it felt so good because I’m get- field teams will begin their season at ting close to my actual goal, which is Slippery Rock on April 2. to be under five minutes,” Kasisky said. “The 3K killed me since I felt Liz Berie awful, but at the same time, I felt can be reached at great. It was so good seeing all of my erberi@pointpark.edu. teammates cheering me on through-

from TRACK AND FIELD page 7

“It honestly felt like the best that I’ve done in a while.”

Sophomore jumper Shaun Berry jumps over the bar during the men’s high jump event at the Kent State Indoor Facility on Sat. Feb. 20.

Freshman hurdler Bryan Partika attempts to jump over the hurdle during the 60-meter hurdle event at Kent State Tune Up.

Freshman sprinter Tyrone Robinson waits at the starting line for a track event on Sat. Feb. 20 at the Kent State Indoor Facility.

Freshman distance runner Kara Rohlf leads during the women’s 3000-meter run on Sat. Feb. 20 at the Kent State Indoor Facility.

Junior sprinter Revon Davis dashes during the men’s 60-meter dash on Sat. Feb. 20 at the Kent State Indoor Facility.

Sophomore distance runner Alexis Sherman ran a time of 6 minutes, 10 seconds, a personal record for her, in the mile run at the Kent State Indoor Facility on Sat. Feb. 20.