The Globe Issue 9

IN THIS ISSUE:

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Students develop photo gaming app for iPhone

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Matt Petras doesn’t find Donald Trump funny anymore

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Two track and field athletes are roommates turned rivals

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Issue 9

Point Park to offer new environmental journalism degree

By Josh Croup

Point Park University is introducing a new Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Journalism.

The new program, scheduled to launch in the fall, is made possible through a grant from The Heinz Endowments.

“Point Park has developed a powerful learning opportunity for journalism students, and the Endowments is delighted to partner with the university on this new and exciting program of environmental journalism,” said Grant Oliphant, president of The Heinz Endowments in a press release.

The degree program will integrate basic journalism training with data analysis techniques. The School of Communication and Department of Natural Sciences and Engineering Technology are partnering to provide students with courses in biology, ecology and environmental science.

According to the Society of Envi-

ST. PATTY’S DAY PARADE CROWD BUBBLES OVER

ronmental Journalists, there are only three other universities in the country with similar programs. Today, the Society of Environmental Journalists includes more than 1,200 members.

The program will utilize the new $2.5 million Center for Media Innovation, also scheduled to open this year.

“Point Park University is in a unique position through its Center for Media Innovation to partner with The Heinz Endowments and train a new generation of environmental journalists,” said Point Park President Paul Hennigan in a press release. “Armed with the tools to provide critical, unbiased reporting, these students will gain a heightened awareness and better understanding of practices impacting the environment.”

Each year, Point Park will host a professional journalist-in-residence to collaborate with students on projects.

Simulating the work of existing

DEGREE page 2

USG allocates club and organization funds for final spending period USG

By Sabrina Bodon USG Beat Writer

With a budget of $16,183, clubs and organizations throughout the University requested about $31,300, Point Park’s student government allocated about $14,500 in funds to clubs and organizations for the final spending period of the school year.

The largest budget the United Student Government (USG) allocated went to COPA Theatre Club for COPA Prom and the Theatre Club Banquet,

totaling $2,563.

Following COPA Theatre’s Club budget were Rugby Club with $1,935, Strong Women, Strong Girls with $1,513 and SAEM Club with $946.

Only six clubs and organizations of the 31 that requested budgets received the full amount.

Throughout the funding period, the Finance Committee cut funding for conferences and apparel due to the amount of money USG had to allocate.

“Across the board, the Finance Committee decided to not fund con-

USG page 2

Female war veterans speak on experiences during their service

By Josh Croup Editor-in-Chief

Rosie the Riveter is an iconic image, one that taken on a larger-thanlife feminist quality more symbolic than anything else.

But her origins are grounded in fact, representing real American women who entered the workforce in World War II. Three of those real women, including two World War II veterans, spoke to students Monday following a presentation called “The Wonder Women of World War II.” Todd DePastino is the founder and executive director of the Veterans Breakfast Club in Pittsburgh.

His presentation, co-hosted by the Honors Program and the History Department, took students through the

years leading up to and during World War II for women in America.

Honors Program Director Helen Fallon worked with Assistant Professor of History Jehnie Reis to coordinate the event. Fallon said the opportunity to host the event during women’s history month seemed like a natural fit.

“What I like to do always is try to plan for Point Park University some academic oriented events with speakers,” Fallon said. “I love working with Doctor Reis and with the history department in particular and this opportunity to hear Todd DePastitno was too good to pass up.”

DePastino talked about the significance of Wonder Woman, who was debuted by All Star Comics just

VETERANS page 2

photo by Gracey Evans

In our photo cover contest winner, a St. Patrick’s day parade goer blows bubbles to the students crowded along the Boulevard of the Allies Saturday, Feb. 12.

WPPJ program takes home IBS award for ‘Best Radio Drama’

By Anthony Mendocino Co-News Editor

A class assignment turned into a trip to New York and shiny golden microphone award for “Best Radio Drama”.

Point Park’s Tyler Polk, a junior journalism major, took home the award in the 2016 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s (IBS) College Radio Awards.

“I legitimately just looked up to the sky and just went ‘yes,” Polk said.

Polk’s now award-winning radio drama, “Larceny,” is based on the first scene from the video game “Grand Theft Auto,” with an M. Night Shyamalan-esque twist at the end.

“It’s great for the station and Ty; it has extended our six year consecutive win record at the IBS awards,” said WPPJ’s assistant general manager Trevor Sheets.

According to Sheets it is also the first win for “Best Radio Drama” in WPPJ’s history.

“It creates a larger array of things we’ve been recognized for. Even as a small university we are regularly recognized for putting out good content,” Sheets added.

Like the game, Polk’s production focused on a group of street racers

planning to rob a bank. After fleshing through some of the details, the group, in a constant bicker over the plan, enters the bank.

As the group enters the bank, background noises like gunshots and cries from frightened bank-goers bring the action to life.

Polk enlisted the help of fellow Point Park students to bring his characters to life. Paul Fields, Josh Hutton, Tara Jackson, David Coleman and Julian Ransome, along with Polk himself, voice the characters.

Even with help of his talented friends, Polk remained uncertain about the production.

“Before I got the award and everything, I was sort of doubting my work,” Polk said. “How would they choose this to even get nominated?”

Whatever doubts Polk may have had, after winning the award, there was nothing but dumbstruck delight.

“Now that I’ve won, I sort of look at it like, ‘how did this win?’”

Polk said.

Some of Polk’s former doubts and current disbelief in the success of the drama stem from the fact that “Larceny” was born out of a one-minute class assignment and was the first

Weather Forecast Today: Showers H 66, L 44

Thursday: PM Showers, H 60, L 38 Friday: Partly Cloudy, H 53, L 31 Saturday: PM Showers, H 54, L 37

Sunday: Rain/Snow, H 48, L 33 Monday: Mostly Cloudy, H 47, L 32 Tuesday: Mostly Cloudy, H 50, L 37

AWARD page 3

2

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Ultimate Frisbee Club recognized by USG

USG Budget Allocations

4 7

Spring 2016 - Second Funding Period

Highest Allocations COPA Theatre Club

$2,563

Rugby Club

$1,935

Strong Women, Strong Girls

$1,513

SAEM Club $946

CLUBS

100% of what they requested: received

National Press Photographers Association Slow Clap Improv Squad Student Accounting Association Student Veterans Association

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Black Student Union Dance Club Impulse

received

what they CLUBS50% ofrequested:

LESS THAN

AdFed/PRSSA - Requested: $1,974 Received: $466 (23.6%) All Things Horror - Requested: $1,572 Received: $600 (36.2%) Confluence Psychology - Requested: $1,150 Received: $70 (6.08%) Honors Student Organization - Requested: $4,836 Received: $450 (9.3%) SAEM Club - Requested: $2,994 Received: $946 (31.6%) Table Top Tirade - Requested: $971 Received: $429 (44.2%)

listen to

tune in to

WPPJ

Live!

Tuesdays 4-5 PM New degree unveiled Tuesday night during journalist’s speech from DEGREE page 1 journalists is one of three primary goals of the program, along with engaging the community and preparing future generations of environmental journalists.

According to the press release, events about environmental issues, a website and newsletter with students’ work will be available to the general public. A priority of the program is to have students’ work picked up by professional media outlets.

“Point Park is in a prime position to offer a needed educational program – at the undergraduate and graduate levels – in a city that has experienced its own environmental renaissance, and is home to more than 30 nonprofit environmental groups working to protect the health of our communities,” said Thom Baggerman, chair of the School of Communication in the press release.

Environmental issues in the news recently include climate change, the Marcellus Shale drilling method known as fracking and the Flint,

Mich., water crisis.

Curt Guyette, an investigative reporter from the American Civil Liberties Union who exposed the dangers of the water in Flint, helped launch the program Tuesday night with his presentation “From Flint to your Facuet.”

Guyette’s presentation, hosted by the Point Park News Service, was followed up by a panel discussion about the environmental aspects of the crisis.

Oliphant said in the press release the importance of training new journalists to tackle environmental issues.

“The need is as critical as ever for skilled and authentic investigative and explanatory journalism,” Oliphant said. “Helping to inform and safeguard the well-being of our citizens is integral to a healthy democracy, and environmental issues, especially, are at the forefront of concerns in many communities across our nation.”

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

from USG page 1 ferences,” Amber Mole, USG treasurer, said. “We didn’t have enough money to really cover all the conferences fairly.”

Clubs affected by this decision were AdFed/PRSSA, Broadcast Education Association and Honor Student Organization.

Last month, April Yanko, president of the Feminist Collective, appeared before USG looking for support and sponsorship in bringing a speaker to campus from the organization. At the time, the speaker in question was YouTuber Laci Green and the legislative body voted unanimously in a show of support.

The Feminist Collective requested a $2,175 budget with $2,000 allocated to the new speaker, an instructor from Ohio State University, for travel, accommodations and a speaker fee. The other $175 would be split between a gift and end of semester send off.

“When I came with my administrative officer here about USG supporting us [the Feminist Collective] having a presenter come, there was a unanimous agreement you would help us fund a speaker,” Yanko said.

“Now that we have a much cheaper speaker, I’m confused as to why that funding is not being supported.”

The reason given to Yanko as to why the funding was not given in full was that the requested budget by the Feminist Collective was an estimate for the fare for the speaker.

After discussion, where it was pointed out everything placed on the budget request forms are merely estimates, and given the amount of money left after all funding was allo-

cated, the Feminist Collective’s budget was sent back to Finance Committee to workshop.

The Rules Committee brought back to the legislative body the workshopped resolution that outlines the relationship between USG and the SAIL Office. The five resolutions highlight the roles both USG and the SAIL Office play when working with budgets of clubs and organizations.

USG will continue to allocate initial funds, but SAIL will be permitted to move funds around within clubs, but not give more than what USG allocated.

The legislative body recognized the Ultimate Frisbee Organization, more commonly known as U.F.O., which is open to students of all majors and years. Though the organization has yet to have an official meeting schedule or place to play, the recognition opens up the door for the next semester.

“It’s a sport anyone can play,” U.F.O. president and USG senator Kris Chandler said. “In the future, we do hope to contact CMU or Duquesne and ask if they have any teams that want to play with us. As of now, it’s just about finding a group of people and a time that works for everybody.”

As the semester nears its end, USG will be holding its two largest events of the year: Forum, an event where students can voice concerns and requests on March 26 with the theme ‘Life’s a Beach’ and Pioneer Community Day the weekend after.

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

WAVES war veterans, Army nurse speak of wartime experiences from VETERANS page 1 before the attacks on Pearl Harbor.

She was the first female superhero and used the Lasso of Truth that forced the wearer to speak only the truth.

The nonviolent female superhero was a new approach for comic books at a time where women were expected to work at home.

“Clever women can conquer the strongest men,” one comic read.

DePastino said strong women like Wonder Woman were needed to support America’s labor force.

“What we don’t remember is how much resistance there was,” he said.

A Gallup poll in 1936 reported that 82 percent of those surveyed believed that women with employed husbands should not work beyond their own homes.

He showed examples of government propaganda used in the attempt to change American’s minds. When women began working, DePastino said scientific studies showed women were patient, cooperative and careful with their work.

Julia Parsons and Ila Cole both joined the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) program created to recruit additional military personnel for the Navy.

The two sat with Kathie Swazuk, an Army nurse that served during Vietnam, in a panel discussion after DePastino’s presentation in the JVH Auditorium.

“I wanted to do what the men were doing, but what they were doing was not that exciting,” Parsons said.

Parsons played a critical role during World War II. The Carnegie Tech graduate was part of an all-women’s German code-breaking team assigned the task of working with one of the first computers to decipher German U-boat codes sent via the ENIGMA machine.

Parsons kept her role a secret until the late 1990s when she and her

family visited a museum in Washington, D.C. when she found out the information about the ENIGMA machine had been declassified.

There was no parade, no celebration and no praise for her top-secret mission when she returned to the states.

“When the war was over, that was it,” Parsons said. “Back to the kitchen. There was no carryover at all. No one was interested. It was sad.”

She said the transition back to civilian life was difficult because she loved her work.

Cole joined the WAVES against her parents’ wishes. She joined after Pearl Harbor for the increased pay and the sharp uniforms.

“I always liked sailors,” she said.

Her military service continued after her time in World War II. She then worked as a secretary for a federal office in San Francisco and later worked as a crewmember on transport planes between California and Honolulu.

“Everything was just perfect,” Cole said about her time with the Navy. “I had no complaints.”

Swazuk said the Vietnam veterans remain the most troubled because of how they were treated when they returned home from the unpopular war, but she said we are now treating veterans with the respect they deserve.

“We’ve finally learned to treat them with patriotism, and welcoming them home, and taking care of them when they get home,” Swazuk said.

Fallon said she was happy with the event and invited DePastino back to host a veteran’s breakfast in November.

“We’re very pleased with the program today,” Fallon said. “It went as planed. It was interesting, engaging and enlightening.”

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

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

NEWS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Award-winning radio drama was inspired by ‘Grand Theft Auto’

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ss o r CRIM c t E no REPO o RT d

WPPJ wins IBS award for sixth year in a row

MONDAY, MARCH 7

“I think it has made me appreciate the fact that if you try your best to do good content and put a good effort into it, at the very least, you get something out of it.”

Thanks to the success of “Larceny,” Polk said he plans on producing more radio dramas in the future.

“Hopefully this will equate to more great work in the future because I plan on making more radio dramas and applying for the awards again.”

8:45 pm West Penn Institutional Vandalism: Under Investigation

THURSDAY, MARCH 10 4:37 pm

Lawrence Hall Theft: Under Investigation

FRIDAY, MARCH 11 Lawrence Hall Harassment: Referred to Student Conduct

Anthony Mendicino can be reached at awmendi@pointpark.edu.

SATURDAY, MARCH 12 8:56 pm Boulevard Apartments Defiant Trespassing: Arrest

photo by Chloe Jakiela

Tyler Polk, a junior journalism major, just received the 2016 Intercollegiate Broadcasting System’s College Radio Award for his radio drama “Larceny.” This is the 6th time WPPJ has won an award from IBS.

from AWARD page 1

3:06 am Boulevard Apartments Drug Violation: Arrest- No Campus Affiliation

9:00 am Thayer Hall Simple Assault: Referred to Student Conduct

11:06 pm Lawrence Hall Drug Violation: Referred to Student Conduct

do t

no

time Polk had ever produced a radio piece longer than a minute.

“I’ve done promos for WPPJ, and my first two were awful…granted they were produced by another person, but from here on out, I’ve done my own production,” Polk said.

“It was my first time using extended production on things that were past a minute or so,” Polk added. “It was the ultimate validation for all the hard work that I

put in that semester, trying to learn Adobe, trying to become the best producer I could be.”

Even when expressing that feeling of validation, Polk insists that he was pulling for his friends.

“I felt good about my prospects of winning, but I was pulling for everyone else really,” Polk said.

“Whenever I was up there, I just felt like if I win, it’s awesome, but if I’m just a finalist, then I’m happy to be here.”

However, the award did have a considerable impact on Polk.

SUNDAY, MARCH 13

Data compiled by Alex Grubbs Design by Emily Yount

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

FEATURES

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Point Park students develop iPhone game app “Thickit’s” gameplay is similar to tag, and played within a group, or A team of six Point Park students “camp,” of five to ten friends, known created a new social media and gam- as “campers.” Players earn ten points for each picture of a fellow camper ing app called “Thickit.”

The current development team they snap and post, and the caught is comprised of Mike Cooknick, camper loses ten points.

Catches can be up-voted or Maggie McCauley, Dan Helbling, down-voted by other members of the Nico Vescio, Mark Gazica and Haicamp, with one point being added to ley Turek. The developers are not all the uploader’s score for an up-vote, programmers; each had something or added to the caught camper’s different to contribute to the project. score for a down-vote.

This brings in Cooknick, “Thickit’s” primary the community aspect of the game, programmer, began writing the code because campers can be involved in in November of last year. The inspiother people’s captures. ration came from a game between The app was approved under his friends.

Apple Review, putting the game in “Nico Vescio, my roommate, its beta-testing phase. started taking pictures of people “Where we’re at right now is seewhile they were walking down the ing how people use it, what different street and posting them on Facefeatures people take to, so we can book,” Cooknick said in an interview add things and expand things and Thursday at the Starbucks on Wood take things away,” Cooknick said.

Street. “And we all said, ‘Hey, wouldn’t “The current users are going to see that be cool if it was an iPhone game?’” some new, hopefully better things The app is “a competitive photo game between your friends, with we’re trying out in the next build. the objective to catch them before Maybe a new scoring system, bethey catch you,” as described on its cause we acknowledge that has been confusing for people.” website, thickitapp.com.

The development of “Thicket” from here is determined entirely by user feedback.

“I really like that people are interested in it and the feedback is that it’s fun. I like what the users like. Whatever people give feedback for, that’s what the app will become,” Cooknick said.

“It’s almost as if this is your app. In the beta phase, we are looking at the testers as people who are creating the app along with us.”

The developers hope to have the beta-testing phase complete within photo courtesy of Maggie McCauley a month or two, but the This is the official logo for “Thickit,” the competitive time frame for “Thickphoto app. it’s” official release is

By Margaret Davis For the Globe

photo courtesy of Mike Cooknick

“Thickit” is an interactive gaming app with the goal of “tagging” friends in a competive photo game. The team of Point Park students created the app and planned a launch party on Mar. 20 from 5-7 p.m. in the Lawrence Hall Multipurpose Room. determined by the number of testers and amount of feedback they give during the beta phase.

“They’re as much a part of it as we are at this point. They are giving us the feedback that we are turning into actions. It’s definitely a large group effort. It takes all of us to make this into something that’s going to be worthwhile,” Maggie McCauley, Thickit’s public relations and external marketing manager, said in an interview on Thursday at the Starbucks on Wood Street.

“We’re putting together a Facebook group to moderate feedback so that everyone is aware of what this is and that it’s not yet a public, casual-using app. We’re looking for feedback, for people who can tell us what they like about it, what they don’t, where it should go.”

Senior cinema major Colt Guthrie is a beta-tester for the app.

“I think ‘Thickit’ is a lot of fun and I love the simplicity of it,” Guthrie said in a phone interview Friday.

“One thing I think would improve it is if the app opened to the camera instead of to the feed -- that way, when

you see someone in your camp and you watch to catch them, you can snap the picture more quickly.”

The “Thickit” launch party will be held Mar. 20 from 5-7 p.m. in The Lawrence Hall Multipurpose Room for students to come learn about the app.

“We play it, and it still makes me mad when someone catches me,” McCauley said. “It’s funny to hear people say things like, ‘We’re going to have a rule that we can’t play this in our apartment because it’s going to get too out-of-hand.’ It’s great to hear that kind of chatter and that it’s already becoming a buzz on campus when we’ve only just started talking about it.”

In the meantime, anyone interested in getting involved can like “Thickit’s” Facebook page for updates and sign up to be a beta-tester by applying on thickitapp.com.

Margaret Davis can be reached at madavis@pointpark.edu.

University sponsors monologue competition High school students compete in honor of August Wilson

By Morgan McCoy For the Globe

The annual August Wilson Monologue Competition gives high school students the opportunity to breath life into the famous Pittsburgh playwright’s legacy. Point Park University, The Pittsburgh Foundation and The Heinz Endowment sponsored the competition.

Pittsburgh’s competition, headed by the Bill Nunn Theater Outreach Project, celebrated its 8th year of participation on Mar. 14 at

7 p.m., at the August Wilson Center for African-American Culture. The winners of the competition received cash prizes, scholarships and a trip to the national competition in New York City.

“He is the reason I went to school and without him touching a part of my life, I don’t know where I’d be right now,” head acting coach for the Pittsburgh competition, Meleana Felton said. “The competition has brought me a family...August Wilson, to me, is home.”

August Wilson was an African-American, Pulitzer Prize winning playwright from Pittsburgh.

Wilson primarily wrote about the African-American experience during the 20th century. His works includes a series of ten plays often called “The Pittsburgh Cycle” or “Century Cycle.” Each work takes place in a different decade throughout the 1900s, all set in Pittsburgh, except for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom.”

High school students from the Pittsburgh area were invited to work with facilitators in their schools or come to weekly Saturday workshops held at Point Park University. The students selected their monologues from a

compendium of Wilson’s works approved by the competition’s auditors.

Next, the students memorized the monologues and practiced for Pittsburgh’s regional competition.

Four judges, often seasoned actors or local personalities, score students’ performances. At the end of the night, winners are announced and rewarded with cash prizes and a pass to the national competition in New York City.

Students performed a variety of Wilson’s characters throughout the night, from the hard-headed king in “King Hedley II,” to the strong, compassionate Rose in “Fences.” The night was nothing short of emotional, as the gravity of Wilson’s words were laid on the audience by young people from all different backgrounds.

The competition is fierce, but it is more about carrying Wilson’s words through generations. Winning is just a bonus for many of the students.

“Participating in the competition every year was just as rewarding when I didn’t win,” Pittsburgh’s 2015 second place winner, Alona Williams, said. “The fulfillment is in knowing you did his words justice and gave the audience an experience.”

Bill Nunn Theater Outreach Project was founded by veteran actor Bill Nunn, popularly known by his role as “Radio Raheem” in Spike Lee’s, “Do the Right Thing.”

Nunn has performed in several of Wilson’s plays and is committed to getting students to feel his words.

Nunn hopes Wilson’s work will live on for many generations.

“It brings us such joy to witness our young people celebrate the legacy of August through this competi-

tion,” managing director of the Bill Nunn Theater Outreach Project, Demeatria Boccella, said.

Students from Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Greensboro, Los Angeles, New York, Portland and Seattle also participate in regional competitions in hopes of competing at the national level.

Students can keep up with information on the Pittsburgh competition through The Bill Nunn Theater Outreach Facebook page.

Morgan McCoy can be reached at mpmccoy@pointpark.edu.

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

FEATURES

5

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Slow Clap improv club gears up for comedy jam

By Eddie Trizzino Co-Features Editor

It may be hard for some people to find ways to relieve the stress that comes with being in the middle of a college semester. For others, all they need is a laugh which they can get with one simple ingredient: jam.

Point Park University’s premier improv squad, Slow Clap, will host an improv jam on March 20 from 6-7 p.m. in the JVH auditorium, no peanut butter required.

Daymon Long, a sophomore cinema production major, has been president of Slow Clap since the beginning of this semester. “[Improv] is just one way to artistically express myself, it’s so much fun and it helps me get in a really good mood,” Long said in an interview in Lawrence Hall Thursday.

Improv is short for improvisational comedy, which is all about creating and reacting to new situations.

An improv show involves actors getting into new situations along with the audience, which can also be very involved in the show.

“In improv, everything is off top… the thing to it is always accepting and going along with what your team is doing and focusing on right here and right now,” Long said, describing an improv show.

“It keeps me out of my comfort zone, but I end up really proud of what I did,” Maia Gilmour, a sophomore psychology major and future president of Slow Clap, said in an interview in Lawrence Hall Friday.

“The sense of love and community that comes with improv is so incredible, we create an atmosphere of play, which makes everyone feel at ease,” Jillian Bradshaw, sophomore acting major and treasurer of Slow Clap, said in an email interview.

The March 20th jam is the second on campus improv show Slow Clap has held this semester, the first being a show the group did at the Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership (SAIL) Showdown, which took place Jan. 27.

“I was really surprised at how well it went, we had everyone in the room laughing, which was a great feeling,” Gilmour said.

The jam will consist of several short-form improv games, and the dialogue and scenarios will all be made up on the spot. Anyone can attend, and anyone can be involved in the performance.

Slow Clap has been around for several years, but has been through a rise and fall in member participation and University activity since that time.

“It was down to around three

people at one point,” said Long, who joined the club in his first semester at PPU in 2014.

As president of Slow Clap, Long said that he made it his goal to “build it back up” and make it a more involved student organization. He has done so by recruiting more members, and also using money from the group’s United Student Government (USG) budget to get a coach to teach the members the basics of improv, techniques and also other improv skills.

“The great thing about it is that we have new people coming in every week and we get them right into it from scratch,” Woody Drennan, the coach for Slow Clap, who also owns Unplanned Comedy, a comedy ‘school’ and performance venue in Lawrenceville, said in a phone interview Monday.

Drennan said that he has three rules that he uses to teach improv.

Information gifted is never personal, information gifted is always in the realm of your knowledge and information gifted is never challenged. These rules just serve to reinforce the idea that improv is free-flowing, and any situation is attainable on the stage.

Long also said that he is trying to get as many improv shows sched-

uled as possible.

According to Long, Slow Clap now has about 12 members who consistently attend meetings. He encourages anyone who would like to try improv to attend a practice meeting, which happen every Sunday from 5-7 p.m. in the JVH auditorium.

“It’s a pretty great way to end your weekend and energize you for the upcoming week,” Bradshaw said.

“It’s definitely a bonding experience, I feel really close to [the members] and it really helps us work better as a team,” Sarah Cox, freshman theatre major and member of Slow Clap since Sept. last year, said in a phone interview Saturday.

Gilmour, Bradshaw and Cox each have a background in performing, which they each said helped them in improv, but Long said he had no prior experience before joining the group. Still, he feels that it is something everyone who is interested should try at least once, as the group will help them develop their skills.

“Please come try it once, we’d love to have you,” said Long, addressing potential improvisers.

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

Rainbow Club fosters new community on campus New LGBTQ student group offers safe, educational space for students

By Ren Finkel For the Globe

Point Park students Silmari Muñoz and Heather Leasure were shocked last year when they found out that Point Park didn’t have any LGBTQ groups on campus.

The two took it upon themselves to form the Rainbow Club last semester, in hopes that it would be a means of educating the student body.

“I think that a lot of Point Park students are very open minded and liberal, but they don’t seem to know about trans and bisexual issues.

There’s always more of a focus on gay males,” said Muñoz, the club’s current president.

According to Muñoz, a junior education major, members discuss current events and issues relevant to the LGBTQ community during their weekly meetings. The club held a

voter registration event on last Monday in response to the recent presidential primary debates.

While the club wasn’t directly involved in the recent creation of the new SafeZone program, they have become a resource for faculty and professors all across campus.

According to Sarah Shulz, assistant professor of behavioral science and advisor to the Rainbow Club, SafeZone is a training program that the university administration began for faculty and staff members.

The program was created so that LGBTQ students seeking assistance can reach out to trained faculty knowing that they have a more nuanced and empathetic understanding of the students’ needs.

Anyone who participates in the SafeZone project is given information about the Rainbow Club.

“They provide [staff and faculty] with ways to contact us in case they want to ask us any questions or come visit a meeting,” Muñoz said.

In addition to being a source of education, the club has also created a close-knit community for its members.

“The club has been a highlight of my time at Point Park; the members are very near and dear to my heart and I am so grateful for the opportunity to take on a leadership role,” said the club’s treasurer and junior English major, Enrico Caparelli, in an email interview last Monday.

“One of the first things that students want to know when they start a new college is, ‘how can I find my tribe?’” Schulz, who was also a member of her own university’s LGBTQ club, said.

The club has given some mem-

bers a place in which they feel safe to be open about their gender and sexual orientation.

“If I had had something like the Rainbow Club in high school, I would have been a lot better off,” said junior photography major and Rainbow Club member Kirsten Heagy. “Having a club on campus that supports this community is really important.”

People who are not part of the LGBTQ community are encouraged to attend meetings.

“As long as you’re nice, you’re welcome to come,” Muñoz said.

The Rainbow Club meets every Monday at 5 p.m. in 301 Academic Hall.

Ren Finkel can be reached at lkfinke@pointpark.edu.

THE STORY OF DRACULA ON STAGE Taso Stavrakis (Dracula) and Garrett McKechnie (Harker) act in the City Theatre’s Dracula performance Fall of 1997.

Dracula performances ran from Oct. 10-Nov. 9. photo by Suellen Fitzsimmons

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Correctionfor a NEW @pointparkglobe week, The Globe printed a story about issue every The Globe Last Point Park students who created a Snapple campaign. This is separate from the Wednesday! @ppuglobe advertising “generationOn” campaign focused on bringing

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young people in to volunteer in local animal shelters that was presented March 10 in the GRW Theater. The Globe apologizes for any confusion.

6

OPINIONS

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

Donald Trump more dangerous than funny

’S

POINT

By Matt Petras Co-Sports Editor

New environmental journalism program a prudent investment Point Park University announced this week that it is launching a new Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Journalism this fall. The new program will utilize the Center for Media Innovation also set to open this fall.

At the Globe, we welcome writers from all backgrounds in continuing the tradition of informing the public on the issues that matter most to the public.

We believe that an informed public is paramount to a progressive society, and, as journalists, we recognize the importance of being informed ourselves on those issues so as to explain those best to our readers.

We applaud Point Park in investing in the future of journalism. In a media landscape increasingly dominated by broadcast and videography, it’s important to still invest in and teach journalism basics. It’s heartening to see that Point Park still believes that journalism – and by extension its journalism students – is worth investing in.

Further, we appreciate that the University recognizes that the future of journalism lies in creating a truly diverse base of knowledge. As journalism becomes more and more competitive, what will set journalists apart is their backing general knowledge in a specific field.

By rooting that focused, diverse education in the principles of journalism, we feel that students entering this program will benefit from having a targeted background in a topic of emerging importance.

Regardless of politics, it would be irresponsible to not recognize that environmental issues have joined the national – and international – conversation. Climate change will be one of the critical issues of the next few decades.

It will affect nearly every facet of human life.

By adding this targeted discipline to Point Park’s offering of classes, the university is acknowledging how important it is to have well-informed and scientifically-educated journalism professionals informing the public on, complex world-altering matters.

After all, if journalists are not well-informed on the topics they cover, are they not failing their readership?

We believe also that while environmental journalism is a critical step in offering targeted journalism programs, it must not be the end of it. The degree is the careful marriage of a journalism degree with a concentration on scientific thought and awareness, and we believe that moving forward similar concentrations should be considered.

We believe journalists should have a broad base of knowledge to be effective and knowledgeable about what they do. The starting point for a responsible, informed public full of responsible, informed citizens is a strong press.

Kudos to Point Park, and let’s hope this pattern continues.

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

1967- The Globe board consists of Josh Croup, Alexander Popichak and fellow 2016 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 the author’s contact information. Offices are located in rooms 710 and 712 Lawrence Hall. Writers should address letters to:

The Globe 201 Wood Street, Box 23 Pittsburgh, PA 15222

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

I haven’t been a Catholic for years, but as I write this, I feel as if I’m sitting in a confessional, ashamedly looking at my hands as I try to find the words to express the wrong I’ve done.

Yes, I have a confession to make: I used to get giddily excited to watch Donald Trump insult his opponents and talk up the size of his body parts.

I would even talk like the blathering billionaire throughout the day with friends because the way he talked was just so amusing to me.

Look, I used to think his humor was tremendous. I was a mess. A mess! A total mess. It’s not politically correct to say but it’s true!

While I’ve been what I like to think qualifies as a strong progressive for years, proudly leaning more toward socialism than capitalism any day of the week, I found Trump much more amusing than dangerous. It seemed crystal clear to me that he would keep making hilarious and/or horrible remarks that appeal only to a sizable chunk - though still a clear minority - of the Republican party, America would wholly reject him, the Republican party would spend the next few years doing damage control and then Hillary or Bernie would make everything better.

The ugly and grave truth of the matter, I have come to recognize, is that Trump could actually be the next president, and even if that doesn’t happen, he has already damaged the country.

The Donald has been making headlines recently because of the anti-Trump protests that led the campaign to cancel a rally in Chicago. The Republican front-runner couldn’t have responded worse, going as far as to consider financially supporting the potential lawsuit of one of his supporters who sucker-punched a protester in the face, when asked about the issue in an interview with Chuck Todd on “Meet the Press.”

“I do want to see what that young man was doing, because he was very taunting, he was very loud, very disruptive, and from what I understand he was sticking a certain finger up in the air, which is a terrible thing to do in front of someone who, frankly, wants to see America be great again,” Trump told Todd.

The fact that Trump has been so clearly ahead of his competition more or less the whole race because of the people who fervently support him is enough to consider him a serious threat. The New York Times recently analyzed polling data from Public Policy Polling and YouGov, as well as South Carolina exit-poll data, coming to several alarming conclusions about Trump’s supporters.

“Nationally, further analyses of the YouGov data show a… trend,” Lynn Vavrek of The Times wrote.

“Nearly 20 percent of Mr. Trump’s supporters disagreed with Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which freed slaves in the Southern states during the Civil War.” Think about that; if you pull five random Trump supporters, it’s likely one of them doesn’t take issue with it being legal to treat black people as property. Without the passionate support of those who feel strongly about the most disJosh Croup, Editor-in-Chief Alexander Popichak, Editor-Elect Anthony Mendicino, Co-News Editor Iain Oldman, Co-News Editor Karly Rivera, Co-Features Editor Eddie Trizzino, Co-Features Editor Johanna Wharran, Co-Opinions Editor Laura Byko, Co-Opinions Editor Michael Richter, Co-Sports Editor Matt Petras, Co-Sports Editor Dominique Hildebrand, News Photo Editor Chloe Jakiela, Features Photo Editor Liz Berie, Sports Photo Editor Julianne Griffith, Layout Editor Alex Grubbs, Co-Copy Desk Chief Emily Bennett, Co-Copy Desk Chief Kayla Novak, Copy Editor Hannah O’Toole, Copy Editor Carrie Reale, Copy Editor Beth Turnbull, Copy Editor Quinn Baumeister, Copy Editor

turbing ideas in the country, Trump wouldn’t be winning.

Sure, the candidate hasn’t actually said that he supports slavery, but the two most prominent pieces of legislation he is running on are building a wall to keep out Mexican immigrants who are largely “criminals and rapists,” he infamously claimed when he announced his presidential run, and temporarily banning all Muslims from entering the country “until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on,” according to an official press release available on the Trump campaign’s website.

It’s surely true that a significant number of Trump’s supporters are simply sick and tired of the establishment, but the most complete explanation of Trump’s success is that he appears, to many voters, willing to go against establishment politics to help out white people, preferably men, at the expense of minorities who are dangerous anyway.

The fact that Trump may very well be running against Clinton, a more or less perfect example of an establishment politician regardless of how much one likes her, in the general election is perhaps what makes his presidential bid most scary.

I understand the problems with Clinton; it has been shown time and time again that she will throw away integrity for the sake of political gain even if it means standing against civil rights, she has received large amounts of money from big banks, and she is irresponsible enough to potentially find herself in an FBI investigation. However, the idea that a fascist like Trump is better than Clinton, a candidate running on a platform of more affordable college education, expansion of the Affordable Care Act, an increase to the minimum wage and more, is a joke.

It’s cute that former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney decided to give a speech decrying Trump, but one of the points Romney gave against voting for Trump is that he may not be able to beat Clinton, who is somehow worse than a fascist. Romney pleaded with voters to support one of the other candidates running, whether it be John Kasich, who used his role as governor to sign a bill defunding Planned Parenthood in his state of Ohio, or Ted Cruz, who thought reading “Green Eggs and Ham” in a self-serving filibuster against the already-passed Affordable Care Act was worth shutting the government down, but ultimately, he makes it crystal clear that a fascist is still better than a rather moderate Democrat.

No matter what phonies like Romney say, one of the two major political parties in the United States of America doesn’t have that much of a problem with electing a fascist running on legislative prejudice. Trump has already done a phenomenal job of ginning up hatred against minorities to a politically relevant degree, and if America doesn’t take the threat he poses seriously, he could become the most powerful man in the world.

Matt Petras can be reached at mapetra@pointpark.edu.

Isabelle Opsitos, Copy Editor Dana Bohince, Online Editor Gerri Tipton, Online Editor Sabrina Bodon, USG Beat Reporter Brianna Murray, Social Media Editor Alexa Yanyanin, Social Media Editor Emily Yount, Graphic Designer Arianna Khalil, Graphic Designer Maggie McCauley, Public Relations Coordinator Kariann Mano, Business Manager Dr. Steven Hallock, Faculty Adviser

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The deadline for ads is Friday at 5 p.m.

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THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

SPORTS CROUP’S CORNER

By Josh Croup Sports Columnist

Conference #ReSpeCt The Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) is on its way to gaining respect throughout the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

Point Park’s athletic conference is in a huge era of change and growth.

It has added five new schools in the past four years and includes 13 member schools across five states.

Next year, the conference will undergo a name change to better represent its reach. The River States Conference will take over the name of the 100-year old conference beginning in July.

The KIAC social media accounts promoted the name change announcement with the hashtag “ReSpeCt.” KIAC Commissioner Scott McClure said during a conference call after the announcement that he wants more respect nationally for his conference, and that it is headed in the right direction.

“We want our conference to be respected, certainly in terms of being competitive, but we want our conference to be respected for all of the other great things that they do for our student athletes as well,” McClure said.

The name change only helps the KIAC’s credibility, but the teams in the conference are certainly helping as well – especially on the men’s side.

First of all, the conference is growing in size. No, size does not matter when it comes to conference respectability, but it sure does help. The more teams in the conference, the more chances there are to get teams in the national tournament.

Let’s look at how the men’s soccer season went.

KIAC newcomer West Virginia Tech went 15-1 in the regular season, defeated Point Park in the KIAC Tournament Semifinals and lost to No. 1 Rio Grande in the KIAC Tournament Championship.

The Golden Bears earned the first at-large bid from the KIAC to the NAIA National Soccer Tour-

nament. Rio Grande, a team with three NAIA All-Americans, won the national championship.

So that helped the KIAC’s #ReSpeCt. There were two teams from the KIAC in the national tournament and the eventual champion representing the KIAC. Let’s take a look at NAIA basketball tournaments.

Cincinnati Christian University and Indiana University East represented the KIAC in the NAIA Division II Men’s Basketball Tournament.

Cincinnati Christian lost in the first round, but IU East pulled off upsets over the No. 1 and 2 seeds in its bracket and advanced to the final four.

McClure was excited as he took to Twitter to celebrate IU East advancing to the final four.

“That just happened!!! Congratulations @iueredwolves ... Final Four!!! #ReSpeCt @KIACSports #KIACPride” IU East and Asbury both represented the conference in the women’s tournament.

The KIAC is on the right path.

It doesn’t have the respect nationally yet that it would like. The name change certainly helps, but its teams competing and winning on the national level helps even more.

Point Park is going to have to step up its game across the board not only to compete within the conference, but among top national competition. Point Park has won the KIAC Commissioner’s Cup in two of the last three years as the top athletic department in the conference.

The conference is improving and is on the right track.

In the next few years, the River States Conference could earn the #ReSpeCt it is striving for.

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

all sports photos courtesy of Liz Berie, Point Park Athletics Freshmen guard Kaitlyn Smith dribbles the ball up the court during the women’s Senior Night game against Midway on Feb. 11. Smith averaged 8.2 points per game and led the team in assists during her freshman season.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

7

Freshman Smith adjusting to life in college basketball

After graduating high school, there wasn’t a doubt in Smith’s mind that she Going back as far as seventh grade, would continue to play basketball.

“I couldn’t imagine never putting Point Park women’s basketball player Kaitlyn Smith has focused on succeed- on my uniform again and being on the ing on and off the basketball court. The court alongside my team,” Smith said.

Baden, Pa. native laments she has al- “There’s a real thrill out there.”

With juggling basketball and acways fallen a bit short, whether it was a close brush with a championship on a ademics her senior year, Smith had a grade school team or later in high school limited amount of time to find a college on a team that didn’t receive much clout that could cater to both her academic and athletic needs. from the community.

“The process of becoming a col“I can still remember how horrible I felt when I looked up at the clock and lege athlete was easily one of the most saw that we had the lower score,” Smith stressful situations of my life,” Smith said of that loss. “That was the moment said. “Firstly, I had to get seen by college when I made a promise to myself that coaches, which wasn’t going to happen I would do all that I could to make it to being at such a small high school. I had to travel all summer for several years so the top.”

Now a starting point guard at Point that college coaches would be able to Park as a freshman, Smith still has the see me play, and then if they liked me, I same drive to win a championship, and had to see what they had to offer and if she is working harder everyday to make it was the right program for me. It was that childhood dream become a reality. by no means a quick or easy process, “Throughout my past, I have been and it caused a lot of stress in my senior so close many times to the finish, but year since I didn’t make a decision until have ended up just a bit short and late April about where I wanted to go.”

While going to college in a city I want to be able to go all the way,” wasn’t ideal for her, Smith decided that Smith said.

Smith has been playing basket- Point Park would be where she would ball since the second grade. In her study business management and conchildhood, she participated in other tinue her basketball career.

“I came to this university because activities such as girl scouts, soccer, dance and ballet, but basketball is I got a great scholarship; I knew the the sport that inspired her more than coach was great, and the program was a winning one, so I really couldn’t pass up anything else.

Because Smith’s parents both the opportunity,” said Smith.

She averaged 8.2 points and 2.3 asplayed basketball in their college years, she grew up in a house where retired sists per game in her first season.

As a point guard, Smith is responsijerseys hung on walls and trophies were ble for calling all the plays and overseeplaced on desks.

“It was almost inevitable that I ing where everyone should be.

“The most important thing about would learn to love and play basketball,” Smith said. “It was very import- being a point guard is seeing the entire ant in my house, which is why I would floor and being a leader on the court,” put in 300-plus hours of work every Smith said.

“Everyone on the team depends summer to improve my ball-handling, on Kaitlyn to set the tempo of the game, shooting and speed.”

At first, Smith hated these “sinister which can be a ton of pressure, especially as a freshman,” said junior point sessions” as she called them.

“I would literally have to drag my- guard Carly Corcoran.

Since winning is the ultimate goal self out of bed, but ultimately I realized that these rigorous training sessions of any game, pressure is a feeling that is have definitely improved my talent and most prominent amongst players.

“In the game, I have to set a good allowed me to advance in my basketball example and stay career,” Smith said. positive because the Smith’s first team feeds off my coach was her faenergy and looks to ther, who played me for guidance.” basketball for WestSmith said. “I have minster College to make on the spot from 1975-79. decisions because in “My dad was the heat of the moeasily the biggest ment, there isn’t time influence in my life to look at my coach when it came to and figure out what basketball,” Smith he or she thinks. On said. “Even though the floor, I have to be he played in college, the coach and I have he never forced me to do what needs to play. Once I deto be done to make cided when I was sure the team’s suceight years old that cessful.”

I wanted to play “I’ve never for my elementary seen her give up in school, he has been a game, and that there every step speaks volumes of the way. He has Kaitlyn Smith about her as a playcoached me from Starting Point Guard er and a person,” the beginning and Point Park University Women’s Basketball said junior point is the reason I am guard Leah Hurst. playing college basSmith recalled ketball today.” times throughSince committing to basketball a decade ago, Smith has learned how to out her basketball career when she manage her time wisely, especially in faced hardships.

“There were, and still are, times high school.

“It [playing basketball] was harder when my team loses a game or faces a than I expected it would be coming in as setback that I wonder if it’s all worth it, but it’s in those moments that I look a freshman,” Smith said.

Smith attended Quigley Catholic back at how far I’ve come and it pushes High School in Baden, Pa., where she me to move forward and keep trying.”

“Looking back, basketball is what was the point guard for the girls’ basketball team that had a record of 20-6 has made me who I am today,” said Smith, “I have become a leader and in the 2014-15 season.

In her senior year, Smith’s team learned what it means to not accept failplayed against Vincentian Acade- ure, but to keep fighting to be better.”

“Kaitlyn is the definition of a true my, the former WPIAL champions, teammate because she’s great to play in the semifinals.

“We had lost to this team in the with, but aside from basketball, I could semifinals for the past two years,” go to her for other things because she’s Smith said. “This game was huge and always optimistic,” said sophomore even though most people were stack- point guard Angelina Starr. ing against us, everyone knew it was going to be a close game. We were neck-and-neck the entire time, but as Shamira Bailey the end neared, we just couldn’t pull can be reached at sbaile@pointpark.edu. out the win.”

By Shamira Bailey For The Globe

“I would literally have to drag myself out of bed, but ultimately, I realized that these rigorous training sessions have definitely improved my talent and allowed me to advance in my basketball career,”

8

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 2016

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Athletes Berry and Davis share intense rivalry The two athletes constantly push each other to improve tertainment management major Jryi Davis.

Davis arrived at Point Park after Even though Shaun Berry and a successful track and football career Jryi Davis are best friends, the two at Bangor Area Senior High, where track and field athletes have a com- he placed second in the Colonial mitted rivalry between them.

League Championships.

“It’s more of a friendly compeDavis says that his decision to tition, we might say things, but we join track his freshman year of high know with each other that it’s just a school was “one of the greatest decijoke,” Davis said. sions of my life.”

Throughout the season, Berry Davis was drawn to the Point and Davis continually fought to hold Park program because of the fresh the Point Park triple-jump record, out slate a new program would offer him. jumping each other by single digits.

“I was nervous about choosing “Competing back and forth for the right college for me,” Davis said. “I who has the school record has always thought if everything was new that it been a battle between them,” Coach will be easy for me to adapt to a new sysKelly Parsley said. tem instead of jumping into a system.”

Berry, a Pittsburgh native and During his freshman year at Shadyside Academy graduate, began Point Park University, Davis compethis track career in middle school, ed alongside Berry in the triple-jump having been inspired by watching his event. This year, Davis is captain of cousins and sisters run on a summer the team. track team.

“We made him captain because During his senior year of high of his leadership qualities. He’s posschool, Berry placed second in the itive, he’s a hard worker and he’s a high jump in the 2014 Western Penn- great teammate,” Parsley said. sylvania Interscholastic Athletic Berry and Davis serve as trailblazLeague and sixth place in the triple ers for their freshmen teammates. jump in the 2014 “The track Pennsylvania Inteam is so young terscholastic Aththat our sopholetic Association. more class is our Berry was upper-class,” said drawn to Point Park teammate and because the univerfreshman electrical sity was able to give engineering major him an affordable Tony Reina. college education.

As for the fuDuring his ture, Davis hopes freshman year at to make nationals Point Park, the every year from first year for the Jryi Davis now on and wants track and field Track and Field Jumper to become a jumps program itself, Point Park University coach at the colleBerry became the giate level. university’s re“Maybe I’ll cord holder in the even start a brand long, triple and new program at a high jump. school,” Davis said.

“He came in mostly as a Ultimately, Davis hopes to reprehigh-jumper more so than a tri- sent the country through the sport. ple-jumper, but he has really evolved “I want to work my way up to as one of the best triple-jumpers in being an official in the Olympics,” the country,” said Parsley, who has Davis said. worked with Berry for his entire caBoth athletes are looking forreer at Point Park. ward to taking on the outdoor seaIt was during his freshman year son together, which starts April 2 at that Berry met sports, art and en- Slippery Rock.

By Casey Hoolahan Staff Writer

“Shaun has won more [“athlete of the week” awards] than me so far, so I’m trying to get another one”

Sophomore jumper Shaun Berry was one of four Point Park athletes who competed at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championship at the David E. Walker Track at Gentry Field, Johnson City, Tenn. from March 3-5.

Berry is focused on the upcoming National Association of Intercolleoutdoor season. giate Athletics (NAIA) Indoor Na“I’ve been out every day, and I tional Championship. Davis qualidefinitely want to make All American fied before Berry during the SPIRE in outdoors,” Berry said.

Indoor Team Challenge with a jump According to Parsley, although of 14.03 meters, making him the Berry and Davis are technically first Point Park men’s track and field rivals, their close friendship has member ever to qualify. Berry qualiturned rivalry fied after his 14.49 into motivation. meter jump at “They both Kent State, during push each oththe last meet of the er to be better,” regular season.

Parsley said.

“It didn’t feel Both sophotoo real,” Berry mores have been said of qualifying. named “Athlete During the of the Week” sevNAIA Championeral times by the ship, Berry jumped Kentucky Inter14.11 meters, putcollegiate Athting him in 12th letic Conference place nationally (KIAC).

Even out of 21 jumpers, awards are a comjust four spots shy petition between of NAIA All-Amerthe two friends. ican status – a title “Shaun has awarded to the top won more [‘Ath- Kelly Parsley eight finishers. lete of the Week’ Head Track and Field Coach Davis placed awards] than me Point Park University 19th with a jump of so far, so I’m try13.54 meters. ing to get another Proving there one,” Davis said. are no hard feelThe two athings, Davis had letes say they have been dreaming only positive remarks on his friend about nationals since the beginning and teammate. of their Point Park careers, and both “He’s always there next to me, cite the day they found out they always trying to help me out, rootwould both be going to nationals ing for me even though we compete together as their favorite memory against each other.” Davis said. from the season.

The Point Park men’s and wom“The day he [Berry] made it, I en’s track and field teams return to had the biggest smile on my face,” action this Saturday, March 19 for the Davis said. “It was a great feeling Juniata College Invitational. knowing we would both be going to nationals together.”

Casey Hoolahan Berry and Davis were two of four can be reached at Point Park athletes to qualify for the

“He came in mostly as a high jumper more so than a triple jumper, but he has really evolved as one of the best triple jumpers in the country.”

all sports photos courtesy of Liz Berie, Point Park Athletics Sophomore jumper Jryi Davis competed at the NAIA Indoor Track & Field National Championship in the men’s triple jump against fellow jumper Shaun Berry.

cahoola@pointpark.edu.