Point Park Globe Election 2016 Edition

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Point Park

@PPUGlobe November 10, 2016

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

Student filmmakers use Kickstarter to fund film project Johanna Warren blasts Harvard soccer team for sexist comments Cross country qualify two for national championship

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ppuglobe.com Issue 11

DONALD TRUMP DEFIES ODDS

photo by Julianne Griffith

Clinton fails to pick up majority of key swing states

By Iain Oldman and Matt Petras Co-News Editors

Republican Donald Trump completed a comeback in the general election after trailing in the national polls for three months, including as much as 7 points

just three weeks ago, to claim victory against Hillary Clinton in the United States presidential election.

Trump secured his nomination to be the 45th president of the United States with the largest margin of victory of electoral college votes since the 2008 presidential

election between Barack Obama and John McCain, when the Republican Arizona senator lost by 192 electoral college votes.

Clinton was losing by 72 electoral college votes at the time of publication.

“I will be president for all Americans,” Trump said

TRUMP 306 CLINTON 232

in his victory speech, delivered shortly before 3 a.m.

Wednesday morning. “No dream is too big, no challenge is too great. America will no longer settle for anything else but the best.”

Clinton did not give a concession speech early Wednesday morning after the race was called, though Trump began his victory speech by saying that she had called him to congratulate him on the results.

“The silent majority really stepped up tonight,” said Point Park sophomore stage management major Victoria Lemon. Lemon, a resident educator at the university, supported Trump due to his

economic stances, and she believes his social values align with her own.

“This intensely gives me hope for the future,” Lemon said.

Former United Student Government (USG) senator Mario Avila, a lifelong Republican, had an unenthusiastic reaction when the election was called in Trump’s favor.

“This is rough, Trump is not a traditional candidate with anything I can reference,” Avila said. “I’m afraid of what his message is going to be.” Avila nonetheless voted for Trump via absentee ballot in his home state of

TRUMP page 2

Toomey defends Senate seat

By Robert Berger Staff Writer

In the most expensive United States Senate race in history, incumbent Republican Pat Toomey won his re-election bid, defeating Democrat Katie McGinty for the Pennsylvania U.S. Senate position.

McGinty took the lead early on as she won Allegheny, Philadelphia, and Montgomery counties. As polls came to a close, Toomey came from behind, taking sixty out of sixty-seven counties in the state.

Weather Forecast

Toomey took 49 percent of votes, while McGinty took 47 percent. Libertarian candidate Edward Clifford tallied just under 4 percent of the votes across the commonwealth.

Allegheny County voted in favor of McGinty as she won 55.1 percent of votes, receiving more than 350,000.

Toomey won 40.5 percent of the county with a total of nearly 260,000 votes.

Vice President Joe Biden recently spoke in support of McGinty at Chatham University while campaigning for Hillary Clinton. McGinty

was also backed by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, who spoke in support of her this past September at Carnegie Mellon University.

“I think McGinty seems to be more in line with what the citizens of Pennsylvania want, especially when it comes to labor and the working class,” said sophomore secondary education major Alec Ebeling.

Toomey’s largest endorser was former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.

Bloomberg recently spoke in

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Today: Sunny H 58, L 45

CONGRESS page 2

Friday: Mostly cloudy, H 56, L 35 Saturday: Mostly sunny, H 48, L 31 Sunday: Sunny, H 53, L 39 Monday: Partly Cloudy, H 58, L 43 Tuedsay: PM Showers, H 61, L 46 Wednesday: Showers, H 61, L 46

photo by Gracey Evans

Incumbent Republican Senator Pat Toomey successfully defended his seat in Congress, boosted by rural counties and down-ballot voters.

Globe Point Park

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NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Shapiro secures rare Pennsylvania votes red for first time victory for Democrats in since 1988 presidential election from TRUMP page 1 Trump presidency has creat- wrote on Twitter: “CongratuAttorney General race ed great anxiety from inves- lations to the new president

By Kayla Snyder Copy Editor

Democratic candidate Josh Shapiro won Pennsylvania’s attorney general race despite his party losing the coveted presidential and Senate races.

Shapiro beat his opponent, Republican candidate John Rafferty, by just under 3 percent. The attorney general race mirrored how close the rest of the state elections were, with the exceptions of urban centers.

Philadelphia tipped the scale for Shapiro, voting for him by more than 80 percent, and Allegheny County reporting just under 60 percent of votes going to Shapiro, according to poll numbers.

The race was close all night, with the poll numbers either being split in the middle or having Shapiro winning with an overwhelming majority in the majority of counties.

According to poll numbers at the time of publication, Shapiro won by nearly 160,000 votes.

Some voters overlooked the Pennsylvania attorney general race due to the presidential election.

Students from Duquesne University, Daniella Chandler and Andrea Walters, both agreed that their vote for attorney general came solely from their Democratic Party affiliation.

“I voted straight democrat. The only election that mattered the most to me was the presidential election,” Walters said.

Shapiro and Rafferty debated at the Center for Media Innovation (CMI) on Nov. 2.

The debate was moderated

by KDKA’s Jon Delano.

Point Park freshman advertising and public relations major Zachary Seymour followed the attorney general race closely after the debate at the CMI and decided to vote for Shapiro.

“I found out about the race when I researched who would be on my ballot so I could be an informed voter,” Seymour said.

Both Shapiro and Rafferty have in-state political experience. Shapiro began his political career as a con-

photo by Chloe Jakiela

Attorney General-elect Josh Shapiro gressional staffer, and is a former Montgomery County commissioner and an exstate representative. Rafferty’s political experience includes being a state senator and Pennsylvania’s former Deputy Attorney General.

Rafferty said that he wanted to be the attorney general to bring the role back to its original position.

“When you look at me and my opponent, I have the experience,” Rafferty said.

“This isn’t a stepping stone for me… I want to be the attorney general. I’ve dedicated my career to public service and public safety and this is the culmination of this career.”

Shapiro also said that the attorney general position needs turned around.

“I want to be the person who Pennsylvania relies on to protect their rights and to make them safer, “ Shapiro said. Shapiro was endorsed

by Barack Obama.

Chandler said that this race has been overshadowed by the presidential election.

“The attorney general election isn’t well advertised to the general public,” Chandler said. “I have not seen this race on the media as much as the presidential election.”

The attorney general race between Shapiro and Rafferty comes after former attorney general Kathleen Kane’s conviction charges later earlier this month. Kane was convicted on perjury, conspiracy and obstruction of justice charges and sentenced to 10 to 23 months in prison.

Additional reporting

by Josh Croup

Kayla Snyder klsnyde2@pointpark.edu.

ELECTION 2016 Final Poll* Pennsylvania Attorney General: Shapiro vs. Rafferty

RAFFERTY

SHApiro

2,809,240 49% 2,975,987 51%

*Results as of 3am Wednesday, November 9

New Jersey.

Trump’s upset victory came on the backs of several swing states that many expected Clinton to win. Florida was the first swing state called by several national media outlets, establishing the narrative that continued for the rest of the night. Trump ended up claiming Florida by 1.4 percentage points – a margin of less than 150,000 votes.

From there, the states kept going red. Ohio was called shortly after Florida, where Trump won by more than 450,000 votes. North Carolina, a state Mitt Romney won in 2012 but one that was widely considered a battleground state this cycle, was won by Trump by a margin of 4 percentage points.

Pennsylvania, which has voted democratic since the 1992 presidential election, delivered the final nail in the coffin for Clinton. The Keystone State voted for Trump by a margin less than 1 percent, according to number released by the state at the time of publishing.

Trump’s victory has to be considered a massive upset, considering the polls leading up to election night. According to poll tracking site RealClearPolitics, Trump hasn’t led a national poll average since July 31. Clinton led by as much as 7.1 percentage points as recently as Oct. 18, though the gap closed considerably before the election.

Clinton dropped by more than a percentage point in the national polls after FBI director James Comey announced that an investigation into the former secretary of state’s emails was to be re-opened.

Comey sent a letter to Congress that stated no new incriminating evidence was found in the emails less than 48 hours before the general election.

Despite Clinton’s loss, her campaign raised and spent roughly double the money the Trump campaign did, according to Bloomberg.

The Clinton campaign raised around $1 billion, whereas the Trump campaign raised around $512 million. The Clinton campaign has spent $897.7 million vs. $429.5 million from the Trump campaign.

Further regarding finances, the prospect of a

tors around the globe.

After learning of Trump’s victory Wednesday night at a watch party sponsored by Student Activity Involvement and Leadership (SAIL), a group of 10 Point Park freshmen, all friends, decided to leave. Eventually they ended up in a circle in the main lobby of Lawrence Hall, looking at their shoes and talking about their fear and disappointment.

“I’m disappointed in a lot of my friends and family,” said Sasha McConnell.

Vincenzo Vitze, a freshman cinema production major, a part of the group, described him and his peers as upset liberals. Vitze voted for Sanders in the primary, but was willing to say he was voting firmly for Clinton rather than just against Trump in the general election.

“She was going to move forward on so many progressive issues,” Vitze said.

For this group, the choice was easy: Clinton must be elected.

“As a bisexual woman and someone who has a lot of black, Mexican, Native American and LGBTQPIA+ friends and family that mean the world to me, it wasn’t a compromise I could ever consider gambling everything on,” McConnell said.

Other Clinton supporters were also distressed after learning about Trump’s victory. Point Park’s Her Campus president Casey McGaw was upset over the amount of votes for third party candidates and other write-ins.

“I hope you enjoyed your protest vote,” McGaw said.

Brennen Burke, a sophomore student, is proud of his vote for Gary Johnson, even though he is receiving pushback from his peers.

“If I had to vote again, I would still vote for Gary Johnson,” Burke said.

As election night dragged into the early morning, the world at large woke up to the news that Trump would be the presumptive president-elect.

Two far-right, anti-immigration European political figures praised Trump and the American people before the race was even called. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Front in France and one of the country’s presidential candidates,

Iain Oldman idoldma@pointpark.edu Matt Petras mapetra@pointpark.edu

Republicans keep control of Congress from CONGRESS page 1 support of Toomey’s stance on gun laws. Toomey pledged to enforce new gun laws that include improved background checks, and continue working to lower healthcare costs.

Point Park sophomore intelligence and national security major Jesse Iellmo voted for Toomey due to his flexibility on Second Amend-

ment issues and his fiscally conservative track record.

“I really like that Toomey’s a businessman and wants to cut back on spending,” Iellmo said.

This was the most expensive U.S. Senate race in history, as candidates spent a combined total of an estimated $140 million, according to the Federal Election Commission. McGinty’s largest contribu-

Final Poll* Pennsylvania Senate: Toomey vs. McGinty Toomey

photo by Chloe Jakiela Josh Shapiro and John Rafferty conduct their final debate at Point Park University’s Center for Media Innovation Nov. 2. Shapiro, a Democrat, defeated Rafferty, a Republican, Tuesday night for Pennsylvania’s Attorney General position.

of the United States, Donald Trump, and to the American People — free!”

The international markets reacted poorly to the news of Trump’s victory. Wall Street futures fell as much as 5 percent and the American dollar fell across the board.

The dollar fell by almost one percent compared to the Euro.

The New York Times reported that the Bank of Japan and the country’s Finance Ministry said that they would hold an emergency meeting to evaluate the plummeting markets.

Many Americans, however, are just happy to have the election come to an end.

In an exit poll conducted by Politico, 85 percent of voters said “they just want it to be over”. Just over half of those polled said that they were “angry,” while 39 percent admitted they felt “depressed” because of the election.

Regardless, the 2016 presidential election drove a record amount of voters to the polls. USA Today reported that voter participation was up 4.7 percent across the country, and a record 46 million Americans participated in early voting across 34 states and the District of Columbia.

There were reports coming from the University of Pittsburgh campus in Oakland in the early morning of students protesting and rioting.

As divisive and ugly as the presidential race has turned over the past six months – Trump called Clinton a “nasty woman,” and Clinton accused half of his supporters of being a “basket of deplorables” (Clinton later expressed regret for the statement) – the president-to-be gathered a composed and reconciliatory tone for his victory speech.

“Now it’s time for America to bind the wounds of division,” he said. “To all Republicans and Democrats and independents across this nation, I say it is time for us to come together as one united people.”

McGinty

2,892,873 48.9% 2,793,078 47.2% *Results as of 3am Wednesday, November 9

tions came from the Senate Majority PAC which donated nearly $19.9 million to his campaign.

On the other side, Toomey’s largest contributor was Sheldon Adelson, who donated $20 million to his campaign this past August.

Prior to this election, the 2014 North Carolina Senate race between Kay Hagan and Thom Tillis held the record at a combined $114 million spent, according to the Federal Election Commission. .

The Republican party remains in control of the U.S. Senate with 51 seats out of 100. Republicans also maintain their majority of the House of Representatives with a total of 235 representatives out of 435.

Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu.

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

NEWS

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

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Resigned senator alleges mistreatment from USG peers

By Alex Grubbs USG Beat Writer

Turmoil hit student government after a former senator accused the treasurer of singling him out for his conservative views, sparking his eventual resignation.

Former senator Mario Avila said United Student Government (USG) Treasurer Amedea Baldoni took screenshots of his Facebook posts and showed USG advisors in hopes of his suspension, disagreeing with the content of the posts.

“They had an unofficial meeting about me to decide what to do, but everything I’ve been active in on social media has been objective,” Avila said. “They just haven’t been approving of it.”

Avila said the range of posts included Bible verses and gender roles based off religious views. He continued saying that in an unofficial meeting, a representative told him how the executive cabinet feels about him.

“It was just more thatthey’re not liking what I’m posting. They think I’m racist and homophobic,” Avila said, “which is really sad because I don’t think I ever posted anything that comes off like that.”

He resigned from USG following Oct. 24’s USG meeting, a week before the second club and organization funding period began.

Gracey Evans, a former senator who resigned within the same week, echoed Avila in his accusation of Baldoni, based off a former confrontation with the treasurer.

Evans is also the sports photo editor at the Globe.

“At first, we thought that it was just stemming from [Baldoni’s] dislike of me onto him,” Evans said. “But then it just kind of started dissipating from me and going on to him.”

Baldoni dismissed the accusation as miscommunication and that the situation was solved.

“We all told [the sena-

New senators sworn in amidst resignations USG

By Alex Grubbs USG Beat Writer

Two new senators were inducted into student government following three senatorial resignations the previous week.

United Student Government (USG) President Blaine King swore in freshmen Zachary Seymour and Brayden Sheridan after Mario Avila, Gracey Evans and Sarah Campbell resigned from USG. After their inductions, USG’s legislative body voted to contribute $500 to Student Conduct’s Mocktail MixOff, an event that gives clubs and organizations a chance to create “mocktails,” non-alcoholic versions of cocktails, to see who can create the best one. This event has been held previously on campus.

The executive cabinet voted to send this request to the legislative body. This money is coming from USG’s internal budget, which is used for its own funding and emergency money in case it’s needed.

Parliamentarian Charles Murria said this event will be beneficial for the student clubs and organizations at the university.

“It does boost morale for the year for organizations on campus,” Murria said. “In addition, they get to bond and meet each other, and it’s a great recruitment event for them.”

Vice President Bobby Bertha clarified that this event will not be hosted by USG. USG also approved The Body Christian Fellowship’s $2,000 budget request for its jubilee event.

At last week’s meeting, The Body voted to send back the organization’s budget recommendation to the financial committee after a dispute of how much money it originally requested.

USG also approved all of undergraduate psychology organization Confluence Psychology Alliance’s budget, totaling $2,995.

A total of $150 will be used for an art therapy event with Jacqueline Reynolds,

an art therapist at Pittsburgh Mercy Health System. The remaining $2,835 will be used for an undergraduate senior research conference that will kick off the organization’s 10 year anniversary at the university.

Treasurer Amedea Baldoni recognized that Confluence’s budget request was not filed late, despite being brought the the floor a week after the second funding meeting.

“There was a misunderstanding in the finance committee,” Baldoni said. “They submitted it online, but they did not do the correct form, so they are on time.”

At the end of the meeting, President Pro-Tempore Shaniece Lawrence announced she is starting a student philanthropy club, coinciding with Alumni Relations.

“What we do is we actually get people to ... donate to us for the good of the university,” Lawrence said.

Donations from postgraduates would, in turn, be used for different clubs and organizations on campus and several alumni events. The club would allow students to reach out to these postgraduates to inform them of how their donations are being used.

Miranda Fagley, Alumni Relations’ annual fund coordinator, spoke to USG in October about getting more involved with students.

She echoed her past presentation while telling student government about how this new club will allow this.

“The real purpose of this organization is to educate students why it’s important to give back, why you want to maintain a relationship with Point Park post-graduation,” Fagley said.

Also on USG’s agenda for Monday’s meeting was discussion regarding Pioneer Community Day, an event sponsored by USG that gets students off-campus and volunteering around the city. Due to King’s absence for a faculty meeting, it did not happen.

USG is pushing this discussion to a later time.

Alex Grubbs aagrubb@pointpark.edu.

tors] to watch their social media presence to make sure that it’s appropriate and not offensive,” Baldoni said. “It wasn’t meant to center him out, but he took it as if he was.”

In terms of showing advisors Deans Keith Paylo and Michael Gieseke, Baldoni said she did not show them any posts, saying that accusation came from rumors amongst the student government.

She added that the accusation also stemmed from an October New York Post article including interviews from USG President Blaine King, Vice President Bobby Bertha and herself.

“He said something about the article in the New York Post wasn’t equal representation of the Republicans on campus,” Baldoni said.

Sabrina Bodon, press secretary for USG and online editor for the Globe, believes that the accusation was unwarranted.

“The idea that the executive cabinet would suspend anyone on their beliefs is completely unethical and not what we stand for,” Bodon said.

She oversees all media pertaining to USG and spoke to Avila regarding his posts.

“Specifically, I made it a point, as I did with the legislative body, that when discussing politics or views to keep USG out of it,” Bodon said.

Parliamentarian Charles Murria claimed that Avila did

not step out-of-line while representing USG on social media.

“I told him that [his views] shouldn’t affect his job, and it didn’t,” Murria said.

But he said there were some questionable instances.

“I was completely fine with what he was posting, to a point,” Murria said. He added that since he is not the press secretary, he did not really monitor Avila’s social media to pinpoint a specific post.

He also countered Avila’s claims, pointing out the culture of the USG legislative body, saying it is comprised of mostly Republicans.

“I think he wasn’t being centered out,” Murria said.

“A number of [senators] are very conservative, and I think if he would have reached out for help, he could have found some support if he was being attacked.”

As parliamentarian, Murria attributed the university’s guidelines to what needs to be upheld with social media presence within USG. According to the 20162017 handbook, some postings “can subject a student to allegations of conduct violations if evidence of policy violations is posted online.

The university does not regularly search for this information but may take action if and when such information is brought to the attention of university officials.”

An instance of USG controversy surrounding social media dates back to a 2014 Facebook post by former recording secretary Shanah

“They think I’m racist and homophobic.”

Mario Avila

Former Senator USG Hupp linked USG with the promotion of rape culture.

Reported by the Globe, Hupp shared a picture on Facebook with the caption, “Before you ask every man in the world to change their fundamental physiology to suit your irresponsible behavior, maybe you can concentrate on something you CAN change, like your slutty outfit!”

She added to the post, “Exactly.” This led to an online petition by then-sophomore Livia Rice to recognize that most of the student body did not agree with clothing as a justification for sexual assault.

USG currently has no formal policy when it comes to social media presence online in its constitution, but the rules committee is currently working on a new policy.

This policy will be sent to the legislative body for approval within the next two weeks.

Baldoni and Murria’s comments do not represent USG’s executive cabinet.

Alex Grubbs aagrubb@pointpark.edu.

Students launch demonstration against student debt in Village Park

By Emily Bennett

Co-Copy Desk Chief

Two anonymous student protestors stood in Village Park Nov. 1, wearing bags over their heads, stating the supposed average amount of Point Park student graduate debt.

The students stood in silence in Village Park for around 20 minutes. Although both agreed to be interviewed, the students wanted to remain anonymous and did not state an explicit reason.

The bags stated: “$32,724: The average amount of debt a Point Park student graduates with, not including room and board or interest.”

This number coincides with an article from collegefactual.com, a college matching website. The site states that 74 percent of undergraduate students at Point Park University utilize student loans to pay for their educations, averaging out to $8,181 per year in loans. Annually borrowing this average results in

$16,362 after two years of college and $32,724 after four.

Fliers were located at the protestors feet for passing students to read. Written on them was information about a march on student debt on University of Pittsburgh’s campus, set to take place at 5 p.m. on Nov. 17 on the front lawn of the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland.

Another flier provided the “why” of the protest, stating the purpose of the demonstration was “to symbolize how our university doesn’t see us as people, but as numbers on a piece of paper, as means to fill their pockets and get rich while we sign ourselves into lifelong debt.”

At the bottom of the flier, students were encouraged to take part in the conversation by joining a Facebook page titled “PPU Against Debt!”

Cheyenne Rychorcewicz was among the group of students sitting in Village Park during the silent demonstration. Rychorcewicz, a history major, saw the protest as rel-

photo by Emily Bennett

Two students stood with bags over their heads in protest of student debt figures and Point Park administration.

evant and effective.

“I think people will definitely stop and look and take pictures,” Rychorcewicz said.

“Hopefully people will join in with them.”

Rychorcewicz, who is pursuing a job in the education field, said that on top of the debt she’s accumulated from acquiring her undergraduate degree at Point Park, she still has to go to graduate school.

“Student debt is relevant to my life,” Rychorcewicz said. “That’s a lot of money, probably money I won’t even make per year. It’s scary.”

When asked to comment on the protest, Lou Corsaro, managing director of university marketing and public relations, said a Point Park education is an “excellent value.”

Corsaro also emphasized that student money does not go towards any new campus building endeavors, referencing the new Center for Media Innovation, which was fully funded through a grant from the Allegheny Foundation, as an example.

“The university works with each student to ensure a quality, affordable education and awards more than $80 million annually in financial aid,” Corsaro said.

“Student tuition does not go toward campus building projects.”

The Globe inquired about the accuracy of the amount indicted on the protestors’ bags. Corsaro did not provide any comment regarding the numbers.

Emily Bennett elbenne@pointpark.edu.

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THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2016

FEATURES

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Film students use crowdfunding to bring short film to life

By Michael Richter Co-Sports Editor

Filmmakers use crowdfunding for a variety of reasons to help them finance their films. For senior cinema students, there is one simple reason.

“We need the money, and we don’t get any money from the school for senior-level productions,” senior cinema production major James Van said.

Van, along with fellow senior cinema production majors Benjamin Jackson and Bischer Barmada, launched a Kickstarter campaign in October for their senior thesis film “The Mackenzie Pine Chronicles,” which is a 12-minute short about a teenage girl detective. The film surpassed its $2,500 donation goal.

“Money is a big deal for us,” Barmada, the movie’s producer, said. “We’re small-time guys, and we will borrow what we can. But at the end of the day, we still need gas in our tanks and food for our guys.”

The short film, directed and co-written by Van, follows teenage detective Mackenzie Pine, played by actress Willa Jane Shaw, as she uncovers a conspiracy in her town with the help of her friend Colin Quinnis, played by actor Chris Cook, and her older sister Allison Pine, who is played by ac-

tress Lauren Albring. “[Van and Jackson] have a very strong idea of how the film is going to look,” Barmada said. “And it’s written in a such a way that their look, their characters and their creative world all combine into this fun mystery.”

Van and Jackson, who have been working on film projects together since their freshman year at Point Park, first brought the Mackenzie Pine character to life during the spring 2016 semester in a two minute video entitled “Mackenzie Pine and the Secret of the Fourth Door.” Van described the short video as “an exercise of imitating an old Nickelodeon show.”

Over the summer, Van and Jackson decided they would expand upon the universe they built in their rudimentary video to create a 12-minute short film for their Production IV class.

While working on the script for “The Mackenzie Pine Chronicles,” Van had trouble progressing the plot, so he would send his work to Jackson for suggestions.

Jackson, who is the film’s co-writer and cinematographer, would respond with ideas to tighten up the script, so the story was free of unnecessary detail.

“I found ways to cut to the chase quicker,” Jackson said.

Van’s strength is in writing characters, and he

knows the characters of “The Mackenzie Pine” universe well, but he required help with structuring the story, which is Jackson’s strong suit.

“During the writing process, I had these [characters], and I couldn’t figure out what I wanted them to do,” Van said. “And Ben was really good at coming up with stuff for them to do.”

Now, after going through a multitude of drafts for their short film, it is difficult for Van and Jackson to recall who came up with many of the ideas for the script.

Van had trouble conjuring up new ideas when they were working on the penultimate draft of the script.

“I hit a complete lull,” Van said.

Luckily, Jackson came through. He sent Van a text message containing a full outline for the new draft, which helped tie up many of the plot’s loose ends.

Ecstatic about Jackson’s breakthrough, Van wrote a full new draft following that outline.

Van and Jackson hope “The Mackenzie Pine Chronicles” pays homage to ‘90s Nickelodeon TV shows.

They studied how those programs were shot and believe those shows possess a unique aesthetic that is not given a sufficient amount of praise.

USG PRESIDENT PIED FOR FUNDRAISER

“I think a lot of people look at those shows and think, ‘Oh, they’re just trashy, throwaway TV,’” Van said. “But the fact is professionals made them, and they had certain aesthetic goals. And it is a well to draw from, creatively.”

While the short film may evoke nostalgic feelings from viewers, Van and Jackson ensure they are not simply cloning a ‘90s Nickelodeon show. They want to deliver a fresh short with a familiar style.

“We are coming at it from a slightly personalized perspective,” Jackson said.

“We’re not trying to copy Nickelodeon, but a lot of our film is inspired by those sorts of shows.”

In “The Mackenzie Pine Chronicles,” the titular character is faced with an arduous challenge, as she attempts to uncover more about her town’s sinister secret. Throughout her adventure, Mackenzie accomplishes amazing feats, yet she still somewhat doubts herself.

“In a way, she’s aspirational,” Van said. “She’s the super smart, super capable, super courageous teenage hero that we’ve all read about and wanted to be. But at the same time, she’s not perfect.”

Van, Jackson and Barmada are surprised by the amount of money their film

Staff Writer

photo by Robert Berger

CHRISTMAS TREE GOES UP IN PPG PLACE

By Josh Croup Editor-in-Chief

Photo by Chloe Jakiela

Nancy Ruttner and Andy Sujdak of Pittsburgh’s Oakwood neighborhood received a one-foot tall blue spruce tree 33 years ago as a wedding gift.

Saturday, the couple watched their tree become part of Pittsburgh.

They parted ways with their now 53-foot tall tree Saturday when they donated it to the City of Pittsburgh to place atop the steps of the City County Building.

“It’s grown just like their children, like their marriage,” said James Hill, the Special Assistant to Mayor Bill Peduto. “It’s always been a thing in their life. It’s a very emotional story this year for it too.”

The tree will be decorated with special bicentennial ornaments with the name of each Pittsburgh neighborhood.

The annual tree-lighting ceremony will be part of Pittsburgh’s annual Light Up Night celebration on Nov. 18.

Michael Richter mwricht@pointpark.edu

Point Park partners with mortuary institute

By Kelsey Wolfe

Anntonietta Borzacchiello, journalism major, throws a pie at USG President Blaine King at “Pie the President” as part of WPPJ’s Rockathon on Nov. 1. All benefits went to the Early Learning Institute.

has raised, and they are also grateful for it.

“It’s very scary to go into a film without a budget, but that concern is just about over,” Jackson said.

The largest donation that the short has received is $200. However, Jackson emphasized that the most shocking donation they have received was $76 from a sophomore student at Point Park.

“I didn’t expect anybody from college to give more than $5,” Jackson said. “Seeing some people really go far with it is super encouraging, because it means they believe in our project too.”

The Kickstarter campaign has also shown Van, Jackson and Barmada that there is an audience who craves their work.

“At the very least, it’s really nice to know there is a minimum of 35 people in the world who want to watch this movie,” Van said.

With production for “The Mackenzie Pine Chronicles” slated to commence next weekend, Van, Jackson and Barmada are eager to see how this project pans out.

“I’m really excited to see how this creative group of goons we put together is going to work,” Barmada said.

What started out as a joke quickly became reality for Patrick Fischer, a junior funeral services major. He is one of the few students enrolled in the program.

“It started out as a joke between me and my mom,” Fischer said. “Her cousin is a funeral director, and I didn’t know what I wanted to do. She made the joke, ‘Why don’t you be a funeral service director?’”

Point Park works in partnership with the Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Sciences (PIMS) as one of the only schools in the country to offer a funeral services major.

According to Matthew Pascal, Associate Professor of Mathematics and faculty advisor for funeral service majors, students often choose Point Park’s program for the same reasons any student would choose one college over another.

“There aren’t many other universities that have partnerships with PIMS,” Pascal said. “The choice to go to PIMS usually precedes the choice to come to Point Park.

We’re the only one also in Pittsburgh, so that’s another reason.”

At Point Park, students majoring in funeral services can specialize their degree in one of two concentrations: biology or business. Students, like Fischer, choose one over another because of personal interest and workload.

“I went with the business concentration because I didn’t want to take the extra biology courses and the anatomy courses,” Fischer said.

Students are unable to completely finish the de-

gree on Point Park ‘s campus and have the choice to either start the degree at Point Park and finish at PIMS or begin at PIMS and finish with the B.S. capstone degree at Point Park. PIMS does not offer a bachelor’s degree, instead offering just an associate’s degrees. In some states, funeral directors are only required to have an associate’s degree to practice.

Michael Burns, administrative coordinator at PIMS, said they instruct around 110 students every year, preparing them to become funeral directors, though some do choose other career paths.

Classes at PIMS, from accounting to business law, are specialized and geared toward the funeral business.

“We’re a mortuary science school, so we are very specialized in that respect,” Burns said. “We are taking a lot of courses you take on campus, and we are specializing them.”

As a mortuary school, PIMS offers more of a wide variety of courses on the subject of funeral services. Students will take courses such as embalming and restorative art before receiving their degree.

Burns, who is an alumni of Point Park’s program, is a fan of how the university trains its students.

“Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science (PIMS) is one of the finest mortuary programs,” Burns said. “It’s a very comprehensive program for funeral directors, and when you can add schools like Point Park onto the tail end of it and get a bachelor’s degree out of it, it makes it ev even better.”

Kelsey Wolfe kjwolfe@pointpark.edu

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FEATURES

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 10, 2016

5

Student’s travels inspire decision to pursue photojournalism

By Courtney Giles For The Globe

Kelsey Mikeska always wanted to travel the world, and when she got the opportunity to work as an Au Pair in Sydney, Australia she knew this would allow her to live out her dreams.

“Within a month, I found a family, booked a ticket, quit my job and moved,” Mikeska said.

Her journey has changed her life in countless ways, and now she’s back in Pittsburgh studying photojournalism and planning her future adventures.

From August 2015 to April 2016, Mikeska of Pittsburgh lived in Sydney. She also took a month long trip to New Zealand and returned to the states this May. An Au Pair is someone who helps with housework or childcare in exchange for room and board. It is a common way for people to travel without paying for it entirely by themselves.

Mikeska can’t remember a time when the idea of traveling didn’t enthrall her.

When she went to Germany for the first time, she knew she had found a passion.

“That was my first taste of going outside the U.S., it was amazing. It changed everything,” she said.

When Mikeska came across the idea of being an Au Pair, she knew this would allow her to travel without paying for it all on her own.

She narrowed her destination down to three locations - London, Paris or Sydney.

Although the furthest choice, she chose Sydney because of its warm weather.

Mikeska admitted that her family was skeptical at first, but said overall everyone was very supportive. She said she had made plans to move after high school, but ended up not going through with it, so it was expected.

Madison Mikeska, Kelsey’s younger sister, said she thought

Kelsey was joking when she first told her she was moving to Australia. “[Kelsey] would always talk about going places, but whenever it was real I was very happy for her because she was finally doing something she wanted to do,” she said.

Mikeska wanted to wait until it was a done deal to tell her friends. Alyssa Stipetich has known Mikeska for about six years, and they have become best friends and travel buddies. She said Mikeska’s story has inspired her and has made both of them want to travel more.

“I would love to travel that far for that long and seeing somebody actually do that makes it seem more possible,” Stipetich said.

She began her journey with a 16-hour flight to Sydney.

She admitted that the first week in Sydney was the hardest for her, as she only met her host family a few times over Skype calls.

“I was basically alone,” Mikeska said. “It’s like being in kindergarten all over again and not knowing anybody and you have to make friends.”

Meeting people from all different places was the most rewarding part of the journey for Mikeska.

“I now have friends from Germany, from Australia, from New Zealand, Holland, England…just from all over the world,” Mikeska said.

Mikeska met Liselotte Willemsen through a Facebook group for Au Pairs working in Sydney. The two decided to meet up because neither of them knew anyone there. Willemsen had a similar story to Mikeska, and they quickly bonded.

“I think Kelsey is so brave and I’m so proud of her,” Willemsen said. “I did the same thing; I left everything at home behind because I needed a change in my life and needed to go somewhere else to figure

photo courtesy of Kelsey Mikeska

Kelsey Mikeska, a photojournalism major, enjoying her travels living as an Au Pair at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Austrailia before starting her first semester at Point Park. out what I was going to do with my life next.”

The two had many adventures together; Willemsen said one trip was a four-week-long road trip through New Zealand. Willemsen said she realized how strong their friendship really was on that trip.

“We share this love of traveling, discovering new places, and Kelsey is truly one of my closest friends,” Willemsen said.

“Even though she lives on the other side of the world now, we still talk often and I feel like this friendship will last for much longer.”

Although Mikeska was always interested in photography, the journey also influenced her decision to come to Point Park as a photojournalism major.

Mikeska always loved documentary photos in newspapers and magazines, and said her dream job is to be a documentary photographer working for National Geographic.

“When I was on my travels, I took pictures of everything, and it just really made me want to do it

even more,” Mikeska said.

Her collection includes photographs from the Figure 8 Pools, Anna Bay Sand Dunes, Lake Marian and more. She shoots with a Canon EOS Rebel T3 and a GoPro Hero 3. Video is also something Mikeska has an interest in, and she made sure she filmed a lot while exploring. She started a YouTube channel called SomewhereWithKelsey where she shares videos of all her adventures.

Mikeska plans to keep up with her interest in video through continuing to document her travels and by adding some cinema classes into her schedule at Point Park.

Mikeska said that her experience overseas changed the way she lives her life now.

“I feel like I’m more open to talk to people,” Mikeska said. “It really opens your mind to the way the rest of the world works.”

For anyone who wants to travel, Mikeska said that being an Au Pair is a great option to look into.

“It’s a good way to see another part of the world, and since you’re there for so long, you really get into the localness of it,” Mikeska said. “You learn how to walk somewhere and not have to look at a map, you know what bus will take you downtown without having to ask somebody and you get to make money.”

Mikeska also suggested living in cheap hotels or even working a normal job while traveling.

“I met a lot of Americans over there that have retail jobs and they are just living there,” Mikeska said.

Mikeska transformed into a world traveler. Her abrupt decision to move across the world shaped her as a person and led her to what she wants to do in life.

“Any time I get the opportunity to go somewhere, I’ll do it,” she said.

Courtney Giles clgiles@pointpark.edu

6

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

OPINIONS

Sexual harassment in athletics should be punished seriously

The

Globe Point Park

By Johanna Wharran Co-Opinions Editor

Point Park getting elevated During the first week of school, an elevator in Lawrence Hall broke. As one of only four elevators in Point Park’s building with the most foot traffic, the broken elevator increased wait times and frustration levels for students who don’t want to walk up as many as 20 flights of stairs.

Ten weeks later, the elevator is finally fixed.

We’re on our way up, Point Park, in ways both physical and metaphorical.

The most obvious reason for our ascension is that the godforsaken, interminable election is finally over. The weight of vitriol and disgust at the concept of democracy has been lifted. Now all of our problems are solved, and we never have to think about politics ever again.

But there are other, less obvious reasons all our metaphorical elevators are operational again.

Thanksgiving break is almost upon us.

In less than three weeks, we will have a week off school, the first break we’ve had since August.

Most students will probably have work obligations during the week, including some who will have to power through Black Friday.

But even with work and the family, a week away

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

from classes and possibly with beloved pets will be therapeutic, another reason we’re on the rise. In the coming weeks, just think of the joyful reunion with your pets your future holds.

Another reason the future is looking up: we are on the precipice of a joyous pop culture explosion.

“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them,” the newest installment in the Harry Potter franchise, will be released Nov. 18. A new season of “Gilmore Girls” premieres on Netflix Nov. 23.

The prospect of reliving some of the most cherished parts of our collective pop culture experience is something unique to the reboot-heavy 2010s, and it’s something worth appreciating.

And, last but not least, on Dec. 16, classes at Point Park are over for the semester. There’s just a little more than a month left, and then the holidays and a much-needed break will be upon us.

So chin up, Point Park.

There’s a lot to look forward to, and all our elevators are working again.

At least until more than eight people get on an elevator in West Penn.

The Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu.

Harvard College has now seen firsthand what “locker room talk” actually entails and has taken measures to ensure that kind of talk doesn’t happen again.

A nine-page document surfaced recently, which includes photos and individual assessments of six freshmen women’s soccer recruits at Harvard. This document was created by Harvard’s 2012 men’s soccer team and is referred to by the team as the “scouting report.” This report has continued through 2016.

The authors of the document rated the women on a scale of 1-10 based on their perceived physical and sexual attractiveness, assigned them theoretical sexual positions and objectified them in detailed, paragraph-long analyses on their bodies and assumed sex lives.

It appears the “scouting report” was an annual tradition for the men’s soccer team at Harvard; the 2012 report compared the new recruits to previous years’ girls and mentioned the previous year’s report having been wrong.

In response, Harvard has canceled the rest of the team’s season, two games before its scheduled end, forcing the team to give up any postseason play in addition to the remaining regular season games. Had the team won their next game, it would have secured an automatic NCAA tournament bid.

Following news of the soccer team’s sexism toward

and harassment of their female peers, Harvard’s men’s cross-country team came forward about past “scouting reports” similar to the soccer team’s. They also had a group message in which they discussed the report and the women in it, in explicit terms.

Unlike the men’s soccer team, the cross-country team has since “changed the culture” of its team and its spreadsheets no longer contain any lewd or sexual comments.

It appears that despite all of the strides we tried to take to end violence, sexual assault and harassment towards women, our society still seems to mostly have two extreme views toward them.

In the first, women are beautiful, majestic creatures, worthy of adoration. In the second, women are not equal to and do not deserve the same respect and human rights as men. Both are wrong.

Women are people - human beings - and they deserve to be treated as such.

A woman’s body belongs to her, much the same as a man’s does to him. Any and every human being has the right to choose who does and does not use their body sexually, whether it be physical assault or the intense violation of privacy these women went through.

We’ve heard the phrase “locker room talk” a lot the past few weeks following tapes of Donald Trump talking about sexually assaulting women. Statements that occur in a locker room or other athletic setting are not

excused from being classified as sexual harassment, yet it seems that’s one of the areas they run most rampant.

These men did not physically assault the six women in the 2012 “report” or the women mentioned in other years, but that does not diminish the seriousness of their actions.

When someone feels they have the right to comment on your body in any way, and expresses the desire to act sexually upon it, it feels terrible. It is uncomfortable and frightening. It is a violation of privacy and there is nothing normal about it.

Calling comments like these “locker room talk” is doing just that: dismissing them as normal.

I am constantly hearing the words “zero tolerance” when I hear about sexual assault, but I don’t often see it being enforced firmly, quickly or at all. Harvard, like most universities, has a zero tolerance policy for sexually discriminatory behavior. What differs in this case is that the university did not hesitate to punish its athletes, canceling a successful season just short of the finish line.

Harvard was able to set a positive example in this case of harassment. By enforcing their zero tolerance policy in this way, it will hopefully set a precedent for future cases of harassment and assault on college campuses. And hopefully, eventually, diminish the number of incidents.

Johanna Wharran jmwharr@pointpark.edu.

A Trump and a Clinton voter review the results

By Laura Byko and Jordan Slobodinsky

Co-Opinions Editor and Copy Editor

PRO-TRUMP: Jordan Slobodinsky

Finally, the election is over. After months and month of campaigning and stressing, Donald Trump is the President of the United States. It’s an unexpected outcome to say the least, and that’s coming from a registered Republican who voted for Trump.

The mindset going into election day was that Hillary Clinton was going to win by a landslide. I suppose that I realized that Trump was going to win after the results from Ohio and Florida.

The American people have spoken by voting Trump in using the electoral vote. By connecting with the American people and bringing up issues that needed to be talked about, Trump has become the Commander in Chief of this great nation.

It was no surprise to see Trump win in the so-called “Bible Belt” section of America. What was surprising was

to see states like the Ohio and Florida go red. Ohio is a state that has been a deciding factor in past elections, and Florida is a constant toss-up between Democrat and Republican.

It’s satisfying to see the country make the right decision in electing Trump, and seeing some non-traditional states turn red makes it all the more sweeter.

This is a victory that the American people needed, and one that will prove to benefit our nation in the years to come. We are about to see the tide of our nation turn, and it is all for the better.

Though some may see this as the end of our nation, this is the beginning of a stronger America. Our military will now have the resources it needs to properly defeat ISIS, and perhaps end the United States involvement in the Middle East.

We are now on the verge of an era that could put an end to illegal immigrants entering our country so easily. As a Republican, I am glad to see the ideas of a utopian society now

be tossed to the side.

Realism is about to take over this country, and that is the mindset we have needed for the last eight years.

Clinton ran a good campaign, and I can respect her for that. However, Trump ran a campaign that was for the people, not the politician.

The election has come to a close, and we can officially say that the best candidate won.

PRO CLINTON: Laura Byko

Donald Trump, the man famous for a lifetime of bankruptcy, sexual assault, xenophobia and racism, the man who is allergic to the truth even when clearly corrected, is our next president of the United States.

This means that life will most likely soon become worse for women, Muslims, Sikhs, black people, Hispanic people, queer people, transgender people, the poor and essentially anyone who is not a reasonably wealthy straight white man.

It’s hard not to feel, right

now, as though a majority of Americans have chosen to regress the country by around fifty years, to when people were less gay, less brown, and less likely to be feminists.

It’s sickening.

Hillary Clinton is a flawed human and a flawed politician. She is overly secretive, and her hawkish foreign policy belies her ostensibly progressive aims. She is a Democrat, which is apparently a disqualifying factor for some people.

But she has never been accused of sexual assault.

She has never proposed a complete ban on Muslims entering the country, even those who are American citizens. She has never called Mexicans rapists. She has never said that women who have miscarriages should be forced to have a funeral for their fetuses, as Trump’s running mate, Mike Pence, has said. She has never stoked hatred for journalists.

So we have turned ourselves into a nation that would rather be led by an overt bigot than by a flawed

woman. It’s a tragedy for our nation. It’s even more of a tragedy for the individuals who will be affected every day: Muslims who will face increased scrutiny, Hispanics here both legally and illegally faced with deportation.

We have elected a candidate endorsed by the Ku Klux Klan and the American Nazi Party. We have elected the poster child for those who hate nonwhite people and women.

I am 22 years old. My personal view of history is mostly short. But I believe that allowing partisan politics to outweigh basic human decency will mark a historically dark chapter in America’s history.

Donald Trump has opened the floodgates for open hatred of minorities in our elected officials. All that’s left to do is fight on, and hope that we survive the next four years.

Laura Byko lobyko@pointpark.edu.

Jordan Slobodinsky jeslobo@pointpark.edu

COVERING THE WORLD OF POINT PARK UNIVERSITY NEWS SINCE 1967

Globe Point Park

The Globe board consists of Josh Croup, Alexander Popichak and fellow editors. Opinion articles, letters to the editor, columns and cartoons do not necessarily reflect the position of the newspaper or editorial board. The Globe reserves the right to refuse advertising and edit all submitted articles and letters to the editor. Letters to the editor must be signed and include the author’s contact information. Offices are located in rooms 710 and 712 Lawrence Hall. Writers should address letters to:

Advertising globeadvertising@pointpark.edu All ads must be approved by the university.

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

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

Story Ideas If you have a news, sports, opinions or feature story that you think The Globe can use, email globe@pointpark.edu.

Josh Croup, Editor-in-Chief Alexander Popichak, Editor-Elect Autumn Barszczowski, Business Manager Dr. Aimee-Marie Dorsten, Faculty Adviser

Emily Bennett, Co-Copy Desk Chief Robert Berger, Staff Writer Sabrina Bodon, Online Editor Laura Byko, Co-Opinions Editor Dara Collins, Staff Writer Gracey Evans, Sports Photo Editor Georgia Fowkes, Delivery Assistant Julianne Griffith, Layout Editor Alex Grubbs, Copy Editor Casey Hoolahan, Co-Social Media Editor Chloe Jakiela, News Photo Editor Arianna Khalil, Graphic Designer Julie Kooser, Features Photo Editor Jane McAnallen, Copy Editor Maggie McCauley, Public Relations Coordinator Jonnah Mcclintock, Copy Editor Kayla Novak, Copy Editor Hannah O’Toole, Copy Editor

Iain Oldman, Co-News Editor Isabelle Opsitos, Copy Editor Lauren Ortego, Copy Editor Nicole Pampena, Copy Editor Matt Petras, Co-News Editor Marissa Rayes, Co-Social Media Editor Carrie Reale, Co-Copy Desk Chief Michael Richter, Co-Sports Editor Karly Rivera, Co-Features Editor Jordan Slobodinsky, Copy Editor Kristin Snapp, Co-Sports Editor Kayla Snyder, Copy Editor Gerri Tipton, Online Editor Eddie Trizzino, Co-Features Editor Beth Turnbull, Copy Editor Johanna Wharran, Co-Opinions Editor Kelsey Wolfe, Staff Writer

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

SPORTS CROUP’S CORNER

By Josh Croup Sports Columnist

A rough finish to a rough season It was a season of heartbreaking losses.

It was a team that deserved better than its 9-8-1 regular season overall record and 3-5 River States Conference (RSC) record.

It was a finish that was just as crushing as its regular season. And man, was it a gut-wrenching finish.

The men’s soccer team saw its season come to an end Saturday when it looked like the Pioneers were about to fight in another overtime contest.

They were literally seconds away from forcing overtime. Two seconds to be exact.

Head coach Jeroen Walstra called it “one of the best goals I have seen in college soccer in quite some time.”

It was a line drive laser; a one-timer from Midway’s Joe Jessop that sent the Pioneers home. His sixth goal of the season came from 30 yards out and went past the Pioneers’ freshman goalkeeper Manuel Pajzer.

It was his fifth goal in four games and only the fourth shot on goal of the game for Midway.

It was the second 1-0 loss against Midway in 2016 for the Pioneers, this one more crushing than the last.

Point Park dropped five regular season conference games, three of which came in overtime. The other two came against now-top 10 National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics

(NAIA) teams.

Rio Grande, the defending national champions and the current No. 3 team in the country, defeated the Pioneers 5-0 in the regular season. West Virginia Tech, the nowNo. 10 team in the NAIA, scored twice in the final 12 minutes to rally past the Pioneers for a 2-1 victory.

The other three losses all came in overtime against Asbury (3-2, Sept. 29), Midway (1-0, Oct. 6) and Brescia (2-1, Oct. 8).

It was a large case of bad luck and misfortune.

Red cards forced some of the team’s top players to sit out in key games. Offensive droughts kept the team off the scoreboard at times.

Lucky goals from opponents put the Pioneers on the wrong end of one-goal losses.

It was a season full of disappointing twists and turns, and its ending was all too fitting.

A pair of 1-0 losses against Midway, including Saturday’s playoff loss, contributed to Point Park’s 4-5 record in one-goal games this year.

This was a team that deserved better. Its record doesn’t reflect the talent on the squad. Defender Paul Carr earned first-team all-conference honors, while Pajzer and forward Alan Ramos both earned second-team honors.

That’s three of the best players in the conference.

They played along a host of

supporting cast members that could have been in the all-conference conversation. It just wasn’t meant to be.

It was going to be tough from the start with two of the top teams in the conference ahead of them.

We knew that going into the season.

But did the soccer gods need to be this tough? Three conference overtime losses, five total one-goal losses and a SportsCenter-worthy game winner with two seconds left on the clock to end their season. It just wasn’t meant to be, I suppose.

As the Chicago Cubs did for 108 seasons, it’s time to look ahead to next year.

Point Park will lose Carr and fellow senior Troy Dolanch, but keep much of its core, including its goalkeeper who will enter his sophomore season and leading scorer who will return for his senior year.

It always seems like an uphill battle for this club.

Next year probably won’t be any different, but the team has a strong group returning that has experienced all of the highs and lows necessary to build a strong team.

In sports and in life, one has to experience the lowest of lows to appreciate the highest of highs.

But hey, even the Cubs eventually won. There’s always next year.

Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

7

NHL on NBC broadcaster gives advice to students

By Robert Berger Staff Writer

When speaking to a standing room only crowd in the JVH last Thursday afternoon, NBC’s Mike “Doc” Emrick explained to students that no matter what their dreams may be, they can be achieved with work and dedication.

“I imagine some of you want to hear stories about Penguins and Pirates... I would rather be of help to you,” Emrick said.

To begin his presentation, Emrick asked students what they have in mind for life after graduation.

Upon hearing responses from fashion photography to ticket sales, Emrick concluded every student in the room was admitted to Point Park for a reason.

“When you get this far in your career one of the things that’s fun is hearing what kids have to say and what they’re interested in and remembering how excited you were that time of your life,” Emrick said. “I hope to add to that excitement.”

Emrick told the crowd he was 14-years-old when he decided he wanted to be a professional sports broadcaster. In 1969, Emrick got his first taste of professional sports while covering the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Beaver County Times newspaper. From there, Emrick went on to his first play-byplay job with the Port Huron Flags of the International Hockey League (IHL).

“Those are magical events [the 2009 Winter Classic] to be around, but it was very helpful to have been on all those bus rides in the minor leagues... it was weathering all of those things that helped me get where I wanted to,” Emrick said.

Then he took his first National Hockey League (NHL) broadcasting job for the New Jersey Devils in 1982. After spending time with a few different NHL teams, Emrick returned to the Devils for 18 years.

In 2011, Emrick obtained his current position as the lead play-by-play announcer for NHL on NBC and NBC Sports.

Emrick emphasized getting real world experience throughout the event

and told stories about his career working in the sport’s industry.

To Emrick, moments like calling the Winter Classic and Olympics are amazing experiences, but stressed that what college students can accomplish can be just as substantial, and he spoke on the importance of being driven and finding success as a college student.

Last year, a Penguins fan and friend of Emrick’s was diagnosed with cancer.

Emrick’s friend told him that his wish was to take his son to a Penguins game.

Emrick then got in touch with Tom McMillan, vice president of communications for the Pittsburgh Penguins and director of the Center for Sports Media and Marketing at Point Park.

McMillan informed previous hockey legend and owner of the Penguins Mario Lemieux, who sent Emrick’s friend an encouraging letter and tickets to a Stanley Cup Final game. Opportunities like these are what has kept Emrick motivated.

“He was someone that got me into hockey when I started watching it,” sophomore broadcast production student Nicholas Kasisky said. “Seeing him in person was amazing, his words are just incredibly inspirational.”

This was Emrick’s second time at Point Park. His last visit was in 2012, and according to Tom McMillan, after the Penguins won the Stanley Cup this past June, Emrick asked when he could come back.

The Pittsburgh Center for Sports Media and Marketing brought guests such as David Flora from PGA, Fred McLeod of the Cavaliers and ESPN’s Chris Eames. Doc Emrick was the third and final speaker event the Center will be hosting this semester.

Emrick spoke to an on-camera class and a sports, arts and entertainment management (SAEM) class in the Center for Media Innovation (CMI). He took questions from students and spoke to students largely about one important message: success doesn’t come overnight.

Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu.

Photo courtesy of Robert Berger, Point Park Athletics

Senior defenseman Ojok Grichang gains possession of the ball during a game against Washington Adventist on Oct. 26.

Photo courtesy of Robert Berger, Point Park Athletics

Freshman midfielder Nathanael Van Der Walt gains possession of the ball with a Washington Adventist defenceman on his heels during their match on Oct. 26.

Photo by Robert Berger

Mike “Doc” Emrick signs autographs and memorabilia after speaking to students for a Pittsburgh Center for Sports Media and Marketing event on Nov. 3.

8

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2016

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Guarnaccia, Shields qualify for National Championships

By Josh Croup Editor-in-Chief

Katie Guarnaccia is no stranger to national championship meets, and Saturday she punched her ticket to her fifth championship.

The junior North Allegheny High School graduate and sophomore Connecticut native Anna Shields will represent Point Park at the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Cross Country National Championship meet after finishing in the top five at the River States Conference (RSC) Championship meet Saturday in Beckley, W.Va. Guarnaccia placed third overall out of 78 finishers and Shields placed fifth in the 5K race with times of 19 minutes, 37 seconds and 19 minutes, 55 seconds, respectively.

Guarnaccia missed much of the 2016 regular season meets due to class commitments, but is returning to the NAIA Cross Country National Championship meet for the third straight year. She also has appeared last season in the indoor and outdoor track and field national championships.

“It was really satisfying

to be running with the team again,” Guarnaccia said. “I think I may have been a little too overconfident because I have high expectations for myself…but I’m really fortunate that I still get to go despite not winning the race.”

Guarnaccia said she talked to Asbury’s Katie Falkenberg, who won the race, about their plans for the National Championship meet.

“I’m really happy for her,” Guarnaccia said.

“We’re going to push each other at nationals. We’re going to try and get All-American together. I know I have a better race in me than what I did at conferences.”

The women finished third as a team, failing to repeat as conference champions.

But Point Park will still be represented well at the National Championship meet Nov. 19 in Elsah, Ill., just outside of St. Louis.

The men did not qualify anybody for nationals and finished sixth as a team of 11 teams. Captain Chris Hunt placed 17th overall as the top Pioneer with his 8K time of 28 minutes, 46 seconds.

Sophomore Sean Hilverd-

ing had the potential to finish in the top five and advance to the National Championships.

Hilverding, the team’s top runner, hurt his ankle during the race and was unable to finish.

“It wasn’t a good day for us, but we’re all so young,” Hunt said. “With our conference being more competitive this year, on top of having a bad day and on top of injuries, it just didn’t come together for us this year.”

Three of the teams’ captains, Hunt, Guarnaccia and McKenzie Wilson, are all returning next season. That has the team looking optimistically to the future.

“We took our places with dignity,” Guarnaccia. “All three of us are incredibly optimistic about next season. We know how we can improve and how we can motivate and strengthen ourselves for next season. We’re ready to come back in top condition and take the top spots again next year.”

Hunt said the team’s spirits after Saturday’s RSC Championship impressed him.

“We’re just looking forward to the future,” Hunt said. “We’re all just ready for next year. We’re looking to the future and not looking

back at the past.”

Runners in the top 30 at the National Championship meet will earn All-American status. At last year’s National Championship in Charlotte, N.C., Guarnaccia came up 11 placements short with her 5K time of 18 minutes, 28 seconds.

The NAIA Cross Country National Championships were moved from Charlotte, N.C. in September due to the state’s HB2 legislation.

“The Council of Presidents emphasized that NAIA National Championships must promote an inclusive atmosphere for all college athletes, coaches, administrators and fans,” the NAIA said in a statement. “The Council of Presidents felt that North Carolina’s HB2 law makes it challenging to guarantee that type of environment if the NAIA Cross Country Championships remained in the state.”

At the RSC Championship, Point Park’s Jenny Murtha finished eighth, just shy of qualifying for nationals. She did earn a spot on the RSC All-Conference Second Team.

Freshman Saydi Lappe

Photo courtesy of Robert Berger, Point Park Athletics Katie Guarnaccia, junior, recently qualified for the NAIA national meet at the RSC Championship and gained position of third overall.

was selected to represent Point Park on the RSC Women’s Cross Country Champions of Character Team, and sophomore Bradley Calleja was selected for the RSC Men’s Cross Country Champions of Character Team.

For now, Guarnaccia and Shields will rest and prepare mentally and physically for their most important meet of the season. The rest of the team will begin to condition for indoor track and field season.

The veteran Guarnaccia plans to guide Shields, who will make her first appearance at the National Championships.

“Even though there are a lot of girls, when the gun goes off, there are so many girls that are running the same pace that you are capable of running,” Guarnaccia said. “The biggest thing is to not get intimidated and to run how you can run. You deserve to be there as much as the girl next to you, the girls in front of you and the girls behind you.”

Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu.

Photo courtesy of Sam Robinson, Point Park Athletics Sophomore Anna Shields recently qualified for the NAIA national meet at the RSC Championship and gained position of fifth overall.

Two sophomores form intramural volleyball club

By Beth Turnbull Copy Editor

Kacie Jo Brown and Emilee Fails, both sophomores on the JV volleyball team, wanted more time on the court than they’re currently getting, so they came together to create the Point Park Intramural Volleyball Club.

The sophomore advertising and public relations majors played volleyball through high school, and were looking for a way for students, athletes and non-athletes alike, to have the opportunity to play and practice together.

Students practice passing and serving for the first hour of the club’s practice, and then they scrimmage with each other for the remaining time.

“It’s not super demanding like a sports team would be,” Hannah Gauntner, a sophomore business management major from McCandless, Pa. said. “[Brown and Fails] are genuinely trying to help you learn the sport. It’s a lot more laid back, but you’re

still actually playing.”

Brown grew up in Hurricane, W.Va., and Fails grew up in Erie, Pa. Both Brown and Fails have been playing volleyball for years.

“I’m on the JV Volleyball team but there aren’t many intramural clubs or organizations or anything like that for other students that want to play but aren’t in athletics here,” Brown said. “I know a lot of kids still want to play or just goof around.”

At the end of her freshman year at Point Park, Brown decided to try-out for the JV team.

“I’ve played sports my whole life, but volleyball has just been my favorite,” Brown said.

“I love everything about it.”

It wasn’t always fun and games for Brown. During her freshman year of high school, she almost quit the game altogether.

“I wanted to quit my freshman year because of the coach, but my dad wouldn’t let me,” Brown

said. “Without him, who knows where I’d be now.”

Now Brown is the one encouraging her fellow club members to work harder and never give up.

Brown and Fails started the process of forming the club at the end of September.

As a senator in United Student Government (USG), Brown was easily able to work through the process of getting the club instated. They had to draft a constitution for the club as well as by-laws, and other set rules. The club was approved in one week.

“Kacie Jo has been great, she’s very proactive,” Kate Shipley, SAIL advisor of the club, said. “She just showed herself to be very forward thinking, very determined and very decisive.”

No one from the athletic department is involved with the club. It is strictly student-run.

“On the JV team, we weren’t getting as much playing time as we liked, and there were a lot of peo-

ple who wanted to play, a lot of guys were upset that they didn’t have the opportunity,” Fails said. “So we were like, let’s start a club team, and we can be in charge and play whenever we want and let anyone who wants to play get that chance.”

Point Park used to have intramural teams but made the decision to cut them in 2015. The volleyball club is the first intramural club to be started since then.

USG Treasurer and now treasurer of the volleyball club, Amedea Baldoni said that was part of the appeal when she became involved with the process.

“The purpose of this club is so everybody can participate in volleyball not based on gender, along with the not having to commit to playing a college sport,” Baldoni, a sophomore political science and legal studies double major from Rome, Italy said.

The club is a laid-back environment where all students, regardless of skill level or gen-

der, are welcome to play.

“I don’t want students to feel like just because they don’t play volleyball, they can’t play,” Brown said. “Emilee and I are very willing to teach people that have not played and all the other kids are very open.

Everyone is always laughing and having a good time. It’s not too serious.”

The club usually practices in the student center gym Monday from 6-8 p.m. but will occasionally practice on Fridays and Sundays depending on the availability of its members.

In the future the club hopes to become more organized, join a local league and play intramural teams from other universities like the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne.

“Definitely come to one of our practices and give it all you’ve got,” Brown said. “We’re not too serious but if you want to learn, we will teach you. It’s all fun, we just want everyone to get involved.”

Beth Turnbull erturnb@pointpark.edu.