The Globe Fall 2016 Issue 1

Page 1

IN THIS ISSUE: PAGE

Globe

4 PAGE 6 PAGE 8

Point Park

@PPUGlobe August 31, 2016

No union contract yet for full-time faculty

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

Issue 1

Point Park police don body cams Editor-Elect

photo by Chloe Jakeila

Point Park police officers assisted with freshman move-in day Thursday and talked to parents about the latest addition to their uniform -- body cameras. The officers began wearing the cameras Aug. 1.

Fall semester begins with new provost By Iain Oldman Co-News Editor

Equipped with a philosophy geared toward student preparedness, Dr. John Pearson will oversee his first semester as the university’s new provost this fall. “John’s experience clearly shows a commitment to the same values that have allowed Point Park to thrive as a student-centered university with an eye toward innovation and community engagement,” Point Park University President Paul Hennigan said in a release. Pearson comes from Stetson University in DeLand, Fla. where he served various roles for the past 26 years. Most recently, Pearson worked as the associate vice president of academic affairs at Stetson. During his time at Stetson, Pearson created and curated multiple programs for the university, including an initiative designed to help students with undecided majors, as well as Stetson’s General Studies Program, which was

created “to improve the performance and retention of academically at-risk students.” The new provost pointed to Point Park’s faculty and student body as the main reasons he left Stetson University. “I was drawn here by the philosophy,” Pearson said. “I’ve always believed that student learning should be experiential.” Pearson expects to spend his first week of the fall semester walking around campus and observing the atmosphere. Beyond this first week, though, Pearson and his office are looking to asses the future of Point Park. “Do our programs provide our students the opportunity to learn all the things we want them to know and do? We have to assess that every year,” Pearson said. “We’re poised to really take off in some areas. Part of it is, we need to chart that course. We have to actually plan and think really strategically to work on and promote our existing programs.”

G

photo by Chloe Jakeila

Point Park faculty and staff moved the herd on Thursday, Aug. 25 for freshman student move in day.

Weather Forecast

ppuglobe.com

By Alexander Popichak

Editor-in-Chief

UNION page 3

G

POLICE, STUDENTS PREPARE FOR FALL

By Josh Croup

Point Park University’s full-time faculty members begin the 2016-17 school year without a contract after making little progress with the university in about 10 negotiating sessions since March 17. Full-time faculty members voted in June 2004 to unionize and join the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh/ Communications Workers of America. The university initially refused to bargain with the faculty, saying they are viewed as managerial employees and therefore ineligible for unionization. After more than 11 years of legal battles, the university announced in July 2015 it was dropping its legal appeals that went through the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the U.S. Court of Appeals and would begin the collective bargaining process. Michael A. Fuoco, president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, said contract negotiations with representatives from the university have moved slower than he expected. “The progress has been glacial,” Fuoco said. “We are starting from a blank piece of paper, but our view is that it should not be taking this long and that they’re doing a disservice to the faculty, which has shown them extraordinary patience and good will during these 11 years. “We think that should be repaid in some way in faster and more on-point negotiations. We’re not looking for anything excessive. We’re looking for a fair contract that will be beneficial to both parties.”

Incoming freshman already has his own business Josh Croup pens welcome letter to new students Pioneer Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2016 announced

Today: Mostly Sunny H 86, L 64

Thursday: Partly cloudy, H 79, L 58 Friday: Mostly sunny, H 77, L 57 Saturday: Sunny, H 81, L 58 Sunday: Sunny, H 85, L 62 Monday: Sunny, H 88, L 64 Tuesday: Sunny, H 90, L 67

Part of that will include maximizing the potential of Point Park’s newest and largest initiatives, the Center for Media Innovation (CMI) and the $74 million Pittsburgh Playhouse. “We feel incredibly confident that these things will be successful,” Pearson said. “We need to decide what does success look like and then look at if we’re on track to meet those goals. I think all of Pittsburgh knows the playhouse has great potential and will sort of be the heart of downtown.” The CMI, a new facility headed by school of communication professor Andrew Conte, will begin housing classes as early as the first week of the semester, but will host an official opening gala on Sep. 13. According to Pearson, the university has hopes that the facility will attract students from across the world. “I think it has the potential to be nationally and even internationally known for journalism,” Pearson said. “Success there will be the number of people who work there and where they come from. It helps with the reputation of the university, which in turn helps the reputation of the students.” Banking on investments such as the CMI and the Pittsburgh Playhouse will be important to the future of the university, according to Pearson, though he also points to coordinating with the faculty to craft innovative programs. “Our job right now is to make the Point Park of the future,” Pearson said. “We need to be creating the Point Park that will exist in five years, 25 years. Universities need to be at the forefront, not following trends.”

PROVOST page 2

Globe Point Park

The Point Park Police Department has used bodyworn cameras about the size of a deck of cards since the beginning of August. The Point Park Police Department is one of the first university police departments in the state of Pennsylvania to use body-worn cameras and was the first to equip all sworn officers with them. The goal, according to Vice President of Public Safety and Chief of Police Jeffrey Besong, is to provide another tool for police officers and add another layer of accountability to the federally-accredited police department. “We wanted to use the technology to assist the officers in their report writing, being specific, as well as we can monitor our officers following procedures properly,” Besong said. “One of the most important aspects [of implementing body-worn cameras] is that it will de-escalate a situation.

POLICE page 3

CulinArt takes over as new food provider By Josh Croup Editor-in-Chief

When students left Point Park’s campus for the summer, Aramark, the university’s now-former food service provider, was not far behind. Students have now returned to campus for the fall semester, leaving Aramark in their rearview mirror. CulinArt Group began as the new official food service provider of Point Park University in May, replacing Aramark, who served as Point Park’s food service provider since 2001. CulinArt had the chance to transition to the university during the summer months when it made upgrades to the Point Café and renovations to the Lawrence Hall Dining Room. CulinArt also provided catering for multiple summer events, including the Pioneer Experience orientations. Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Keith Paylo said a change was “necessary and appropriate” for Point Park’s food service provider. “I’m excited and I believe the university is very excited to be engaged with a new food service company,” Paylo said.

FOOD page 2


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.