Point Park Globe Fall 2017 Issue 2

THE

GL BE

@PPUGlobe September 6, 2017

IN THIS ISSUE: PAGE

3 PAGE 6 PAGE SINCE 1967 8

Black Student Union hosts “BSU Block Party” with new leadership Autumn Barszczowski breaks down the new Taylor Swift Cross country leaps to fastest start in team history ppuglobe.com

Celebrating 50 years of covering the world of Point Park University news

Issue 2

On-campus housing STARBUCKS PLANS STILL BREWING not guaranteed to late applicants

By Victoria Bails For The Globe

Some students will be starting off this term on the waiting list for housing after applying for housing after the due date.

“I am filled to capacity, and we do not guarantee housing after July 15,” Assistant Dean of Student Life Janet Evans said.

Evans still has about six people on the waiting list, which was as high as 20 students at one point. These students applied for housing after the July 15 date, which is why the university has not accommodated them.

“We were fine up until around the first week in August,” Evans said. “Then I started to get some in, and we would have people cancel or totally withdraw, so I was able to fill them in. Then all of the sudden we just got bombarded.”

In her 37 years in the Office of Student Life, Ev-

ans said she has never had this problem where students have waited until the last weeks before the new term to submit their housing contracts.

The university has had to get temporary housing for students in the past before.

“One year we had students living in the hotel down in the Strip,” Evans said. “Another year we had them either in Fidelity or Standard Life because they submitted everything prior to July 15.”

Both the Fidelity and Standard Life buildings are apartments located on Fourth Avenue which house many Point Park students.

While the acceptance of the largest class the university has seen has impacted the housing situation, it is not the only factor that has made housing such an issue this year.

HOUSING page 2

Naomi Torres|The Globe The former Starbucks in Conestoga Hall has been empty since May 19. The new location, 100 Wood Street, is expected to open sometime in October.

By Casey Hoolahan

Social Media Coordinator

As the fall semester begins, there is no official set opening date for the new campus Starbucks location, leaving students without their caffeine fix.

In May, the university announced to students via email that the campus Starbucks would be moving

New dance chair pointes toward success

By Miriah Auth For The Globe

For the first time in university history, the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA) appointed an African-American to serve as the chair of the dance department.

Former dance department head Rubén Graciani’s last day as the department chair was June 30. That is when Garfield Lemonius took over the position fulltime.

Rubén Graciani announced last spring via email that he would be leaving the school to assume the position of director of the School of Theatre and Dance

at James Madison University. The email also disclosed that Lemonius would take over as the chair at Point Park.

According to Point Park’s website, Lemonius formerly served as an associate professor of modern dance and has worked for the university full-time since the fall semester of 2011.

“I was so relieved because Lemonius [has] obviously been with Point Park for years, and the transition will be seamless,” junior dance major John DeNeff said.

Sophomore dance major Theodore Alexander believes having a department head of color will expand the

audition process.

“The change will affect the demographic of who auditions for the conservatory,” Alexander said. “I think more people of color will feel comfortable auditioning.”

Alexander is from Baltimore, Maryland which according to the 2010 US Census has an African-American population of 63.7 percent.

African-Americans make up 14 percent of Point Park, according to the university website.

Alexander also recalled the difficult transition from Baltimore to an institution with a much smaller African-American population.

DANCE page 2

LABOR DAY PARADE WORKS THROUGH CAMPUS

Allison Hritz| The Globe International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) march down the Boulevard of the Allies during the Labor Day Parade on Monday.

locations to 100 Wood St., formerly home to the Hundred Wood restaurant.

The former Starbucks location closed May 19.

“I am really frustrated that there’s no campus Starbucks,” junior broadcast reporting major Wyatt Cree said. “Especially because I’m a commuter, so walking down to campus and not being able to get my caffeine in the morning is kind of a burden.”

The announcement also informed students that the new location would be a “We Proudly Brew” Starbucks. Dean of Students Keith Paylo explained that term. “‘Proudly Brew’ is different than a full-blown Starbucks just for the fact that Starbucks doesn’t have the ultimate control of the other side [food service], so we’ll be able to offer more

than we ever had before in what was our former Starbucks because we can offer real food. So that gives us a lot more freedom.” Paylo said.

Another reason for switching to “We Proudly Brew” over a corporate-run Starbucks is that it gives the university more control over food options and hours.

This also means the typical Starbucks food menu will be unavailable.

CulinArt hopes to work with students to come up with their own new offerings that will be exclusive to the coffee shop.

“We’re going to do some fun things; the menu isn’t 100% set in stone yet,” CulinArt general manager Kristy Weiss said. “We will add in some items you

STARBUCKS page 2

Podcast focuses on in-depth interviews

By Carley Bonk

Co-Features Editor

Steve Cuden wears many hats - screenwriter, lyricist, director, producer, writer, playwright, author, professor - and now, podcaster. “StoryBeat” is Cuden’s most recent endeavor, a weekly podcast series introducing creative professionals in a conversational storytelling package.

“I really focus on the artistic process,” Cuden said in his office Thursday. “I thought of professionals who would be able to explain what they do well; how artists do what they do, not just looking at the end product.”

An artist in his own right, Cuden has accumulated many accolades in the past. He co-created the Broadway hit musical “Jekyll & Hyde, The Musical,” has written 90 teleplays and wrote two books on scriptwriting, “Beating Broadway: How to Create Stories for

Steve Cuden| Submitted

Musicals That Get Standing Ovations” and “Beating Hollywood: Tips for Creating Unforgettable Screenplays.”

Cuden began working on his podcast in December of last year in the Center for Media Innovation (CMI).

“Andy Conte sent out a faculty email about professors taking advantage of the CMI,” Cuden said. “I always wanted to do an interview show; podcasts are becoming increasingly popular with a resurgence in the power of words.”

CUDEN page 3

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Sunday: Sunny, H 71, L 50 Monday: Mostly Sunny, H 73, L 54 Tuesday: Showers, H 70, L 59

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Oakland housing still an option next year

Administration: Shuttles will continue for at least one year from HOUSING page 1

LOCAL Local Pittsburgh’s annual Labor Day Parade passed through campus Monday morning.

According to the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, the event is one of the largest of its kind in the county.

Participants included various labor union members, marching bands, Port Authority buses and emergency and construction vehicles.

The parade is sponsored

by Allegheny County Labor Council and has been an ongoing tradition every year since 1984, according to the Pittsburgh Patch.

---First Lutheran Church and the Downtown Pittsburgh Ministerium selected Point Park as a location to showcase “Stations of Reformation,” a contemporary take on Martin Luther nailing his 95 Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany in 1517.

The display features members of the Pittsburgh community sharing their life changes through interviews and photos.

Point Park’s installation will be mounted on the windows of Boulevard Apartments Sunday, Oct. 29.

---“The Scottsboro Boys” will make its Pittsburgh debut at the Playhouse’s Rauh Theatre Friday.

The production follows nine African-American teenagers accused of raping a woman in 1931 and travels through the case’s neverending court hearings, lynching threats and the injustice that concludes this true story.

The show will run from Sept. 8-24 at 8 p.m. with weekend matinee performances at 2 p.m. A preview will be held Sept. 7.

“We continue to maintain a good returning student percentage, so the last two years, we have had a higher percentage of students who were here in the spring stay in the resident halls in the fall,” Dean of Student Life Michael Gieseke said. “We’re already starting with more students than we’ve had in the past before we even get to the freshman class and the transfers.”

The completion of the Pittsburgh Playhouse also brings additional housing into question.

“With the Playhouse coming Downtown next year, we are looking at our resident population and space and looking to see if there is an opportunity for us to add more space in and around the area,” Gieseke said.

Evans also commented on the possibility of students moving from Oakland to Downtown, saying that she believes Point Park will see more students moving closer to campus when the Playhouse relocates.

For those choosing to continue living in Oakland, the fate of the shuttle service has come into question.

“If the shuttles were to stop running, I guess I would be forced to use the bus, but that would not be ideal,” junior cinema production

major and Oakland resident Triston Murphy said.

“The university administration has said that, for at least one year, they will keep the shuttles running to and from Oakland,” Gieseke said.

During that year, the administration will discuss

“When I came here, it was really different,” Alexander said. “I found it hard to get used to the attitudes and things people say and get away with.”

For Lemonious, after attending two years of school at York University for environmental science, he told the Globe in 2011 that he realized his passion was in dance. After earning degrees in dance and education from York University, he joined the Dallas Black Dance Theatre company and toured the world.

Before coming to Point Park, Lemonius “served on

Victoria Bails vbails@pointpark.edu

Gracey Evans| The Globe The Office of Student Life is housed in the first floor of Pioneer Hall. The office handles all housing affairs and provides resources for commuting students.

Students able to utilize 100 Wood Starbucks

High hopes for campus clubs and organizations to host events from STARBUCKS page 1 wouldn’t normally see; what those are, we’re still determining.”

Students like sophomore biology major Paula Ambrose are confused as to why the move had to occur in the first place.

“It’s going to be two different worlds in the same space, but one that all students can share and hopefully they call it a ‘home,’” Paylo said.

“The university is working to do this as quickly as possible.”

Keith Paylo

Dean of Students Point Park University

Dean Paylo also said he hopes to work with university organizations such as The Office of Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership and the Campus Activity Board to set up events in the new space such as open mic nights.

“We want the students to have a lot of input into this new space,” Paylo said.

The space will require construction, but Dean Paylo said he’s confident the space will be open with-

New chair bases dance philosophy around “rigor, relationship and relevance” from DANCE page 1

whether the shuttles will continue running to Oakland, if other stops in different neighborhoods will be added or if it cuts off completely.

various boards such as the The Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts, North Texas Dance Council and on panels at the Annual International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference [IABD],” according to his faculty profile on the Point Park website.

According to the IABD’s website, the association’s mission is to “preserve and promote dance by people of African ancestry or origin.”

Lemonious has also taught a handful of master-level classes around the globe in places such as The University of Oklahoma, York University of Toronto, The Pittsburgh Youth Bal-

CR do IME notR

let Company and the Newton Performing Arts High School in Sydney, Australia.

Lemonius is known for bringing his unique teaching philosophy to Point Park, a philosophy that revolves around what he calls “The 3 R’s”: rigor, relationship and relevance. The three R’s are practices Lemonious feels must be present in the classroom.

“The classroom is a matrix of the real world,” Lemonious told the Globe in 2011. “Whatever you do has to relate to the real world.”

in this academic year.

“The university is working to do this as quickly as possible,” Paylo said.

While there are ideas for inhabiting the old Starbucks location, no official plans have been made.

“Our emphasis is on the 100 Wood [location] right now and then we can move on from there,” Paylo said.

Casey Hoolahan cahoola@pointpark.edu.

Correction

ü

In last week’s no confidence vote story, we noted 32 Board of Trustee members, there are 30. Also, the article incorrectly calculated the percentages of the no-confidence vote. The vote was 57 for, 39 against and 3 abstaining. The total vote was 99, not 89 as originally reported.

---A photograph of CulinArt’s Pop-Up Cafe incorrectly reported the event would be weekly. This is not the case and the Pop-Up cafe will take place periodically.

Miriah Auth msauth@pointpark.edu.

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THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

FEATURES

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

3

“Storybeat” brings audience closer to creators from CUDEN page 1 Andy Conte, director of the CMI, is encouraged that people are utilizing the facility.

“Steve was one of the pioneers of the CMI,” Conte said in a phone interview Monday.

“He started working with my grad assistant, Ashley Murray, and eventually was able to work the equipment on his own after a few shows.”

There has certainly not been any shortage of creative geniuses for Cuden to interview. His show has already highlighted acclaimed professionals such as TLC’s host of “Trading Spaces” Paige Davis, award-winning Broadway producer Ken Davenport and artist, producer, writer and director Scott Christian Sava.

“When I sat down to come up with a list, I collected over 100 names of people I’ve known throughout my life in some way, shape or form who would be able to explain what they do well,” Cuden said. “Going to [University of California in Los Angeles] and spending time

in Hollywood and on Broadway helped me make these connections.”

Looking ahead, Cuden is looking forward to revealing his interviews with Amy Aniobi, a staff writer on HBO’s “Insecure,” Emmy-Award winners Cheri and Bill Steinkellner, executive producers of “Cheers” and David Newell, who plays Mr. McFeely on “Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.”

Cuden keeps his definition of “storytellers” broad; willing to interview talents across the entertainment and creative fields. He asks them questions that focus on their unique process.

“I will interview actors, directors, producers, photographers, musicians or even painters if I found one I could interview,” Cuden said. “I want people who are listening and are looking for inspiration to see successful people; I try to really go into the details.”

Mina Hoffman, senior cinema production student, has found inspiration in Cuden himself.

“It is evident in both his

Cara Freiz-LeWinter | Submitted Steve Cuden records his new podcast, “StoryBeat” in the Center for Media Innovation podcast studio.

podcast and his books that he has storytelling down pat,” Hoffman said in a phone interview Sunday. “He helps us see things from a fresh perspective.”

Hoffman is completing an independent study with Cuden this semester.

“He is really an excel-

STUDENTS PACK PARK FOR PICNIC

Hannah Walden | The Globe Students grab food at the Campus Activity Board’s Pioneer Picnic on Monday. The picnic marks one of CAB’s first events of the semester, highlighted by food and live music in Village Park.

lent professor, an excellent resource and fun to have in class,” Hoffman said.

Cuden drives the importance of fundamentals to his students, but admits that this podcast series has provided him with more resources for his teaching.

“As people give me information, how could it not percolate up through my teaching?” Cuden said. “ There was a bit of a learning curve in creating this show, but constantly learning and growing is always a plus.”

Despite his busy schedule - podcasting, finishing up a new website, advising and teaching 11 classes - Cuden has even tossed around the idea of sharing his knowledge with students through a proposed podcast class.

Conte agrees that this could be a great chance for students to familiarize themselves with the studios.

“We’ve tossed around the idea of creating a series of workshops but in terms of curriculum we are moving in that direction,” Conte said.

“It is evident in both his podcast and his books that he has storytelling down pat.”

Mina Hoffman Cinema Production On Friday, September 15 the CMI is hosting a training workshop for anyone interested in learning more, according to Conte. Students and staff who plan on attending can contact Chelsea Pompeani to sign-up.

“You have to make a decision on what you would like to say and find a way to say it,” Cuden said. “For me, I want to talk with people who are known and respected and who can lend listeners help to further their lives and their careers.”

Carley Bonk cmbonk@pointpark.edu

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

FEATURES

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Black Student Union returns with “BSU Block Party” BSU President hopes to bring in new members with party

By Matt Petras

Co-Features Editor

Aniya Thomas, a senior acting major with a minor in broadcasting, was a member of the Black Student Union (BSU) when she was a freshman and then worked up the ranks to treasurer, then vice president, and now president.

“I have a big passion for communities and for growing a community that may not be as strong as others,” Thomas said in a phone interview Saturday. “I always like to see what kind of input, or what kind of positive impact I can make in things like that.”

Now under her leadership, BSU is welcoming new members with the BSU Block Party event from 3-7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 9 in Village Park, complete with student performances, food, raffle prizes and more.

The club has been around for decades (though sometimes named differently), according to Christian Moore, a spring, 2016 business management graduate and 201516 school year BSU president in a phone interview Sunday.

BSU fosters both activism and community engagement.

“As minorities, we’re al-

ways pushing to rise,” Thomas said. “[BSU is] always pushing to stand stronger and to have a stronger community, and to receive the rights that we deserve within our school and even within the world.”

“I think [Aniya Thomas] is going to do an amazing job as president.”

Christian Moore Former President Black Student Union Thomas plans to move the club away from weekly meetings and to instead do one meeting a month in addition to one or two (probably two) events each month, “just as we’re trying to gauge the participation and passion and involvement of our community,” she said.

The first event on deck is the BSU Block Party.

“I want everyone to come out and see that we have open doors and to see that we are

here,” Thomas said. She also said she wants people to become more informed about the club and future events.

There will be several students performing at the event, collectively giving the audience tastes of monologues, singing, rapping, dancing and more. One student set to perform is Deanna Ashford, a freshman psychology student.

The BSU Facebook page advertised that those who wanted to perform could call or text Thomas, and Ashford decided to do so. She is going to be singing “For Once in My Life” by Stevie Wonder.

“Hopefully I can rock it out, because that’s a very passionate song,” Ashford said with some laughing.

Despite saying “some of our involvement fell down last year,” Thomas explained that she feels the club has good days ahead of it.

“I think that this is definitely going to be a new year,” Thomas said. “Already, we have so many people who have asked how to be involved, how to join before even coming to the general meeting.”

Moore has graduated, but he’s still leaving his mark on

Allison Hritz | The Globe Deanna Ashford will perform at the Black Student Union’s Block Party Sept. 9.

the club. “I’ve been more behind the scenes since I graduated,” he said. He plans to attend the block party, and he has kind words for Thomas.

“I think she’s going to do an amazing job as president,” he said.

Even Ashford, who is still learning about the club,

is confident it’s going to offer something worthwhile for students.

“They haven’t really started anything yet, but when they do, it’s going to be really really cool,” Ashford said.

Matt Petras mapetra@pointpark.edu

Harrity helps move university past into the future Alum archivist trains next generation in art of preservation

By Colleen O’Neil For the Globe

Many college students apply for work study positions at their university with the intention of gaining job experience, not expecting a lifelong career to come of it. However, 2008 Point Park University graduate Phillip Harrity received a full-time job from his work study position.

“The more that I was here, the more I realized that history wasn’t a hobby anymore,” Harrity said.

“If I ever have questions about the school or classes or even just day-to-day life, I feel like his ears are always open to hear me.”

Patty Sorg Archive Assistant After a nine year career, Harrity is currently leading the moving of the Point Park University Archive from the library to the Boulevard Apartment residence hall.

Currently, Harrity actually has three job titles: Access Services, Archival Coordinator and Data Management. The Access Services portion of his job involves checking items in and out of the library, working with student workers and ensuring that the day-to-day operations of the library run correctly.

His duties as the Archival Coordinator include preserving the school’s his-

tory through images, documents, yearbooks, photos, newspapers or any historical content that relates to Point Park or downtown Pittsburgh. He then makes it available to anyone who is doing research and needs to access information. In addition, Harrity manages data for the marketing department.

While studying as a sports, arts and entertainment management major, Harrity worked in the library as a work-study employee where he learned from the library’s archivist, gathering information and depositing it into a central location. Upon arrival at Point Park University, Harrity planned to pursue a career in entertainment management and marketing, but he discovered a strong passion for history while working in the library.

“History was something that I wanted to pursue, so I started looking into museums, libraries and things like that.”

When it came time for Harrity to graduate in 2008, the library staff did not know if it could operate properly without him.

“We did not want to lose him,” Library Director Elizabeth Evans said. “Phil had proven himself to be the amazingly talented person that he is, so we asked him to become a full-time employee with us.”

Senior criminal justice major Patty Sorg works as an archive assistant under the direction of Harrity.

“He is so personable and knows so much about the university,” Sorg said.

“I feel like he takes extra steps with his work study students and really knows who they are.”

Sorg appreciates Harrity for even deeper reasons.

“He feels like a mentor,” Sorg said. “If I ever have questions about the school or classes or even just dayto-day life, I feel like his ears are always open to hear me.”

Since the archive is continuously growing, the size of the library’s archival storage area was not able to suffice. Harrity and Evans were in need of a larger area with improved conditions to better preserve

the items in the archive.

As a result, the archive was recently relocated to the basement of the Boulevard Apartments residence hall, where there is four times the size of the library’s storage space. Harrity and Evans are pleased with the new location and its features of temperature and humidity control that will better preserve the items.

Harrity and the library staff plan to continue their

efforts to preserve the historical elements of the Point Park community.

“These are pieces of our school’s history,” Harrity said. “It’s important to not only see where our school has been, but you can actually follow trends almost to see where the school will be.”

Colleen O’Neil cjoneil@pointpark.edu

PIONEER PUBLIC

Ian Brady Written by Matt Petras Co-Features Editor It’s clear that in an age of increased divisiveness, in which the discourse is harder than ever to navigate, sophomore mass communication major Ian Brady isn’t discouraged from adding to the conversation. In fact, he’s energized.

“Both of my parents, in different ways, are both lovers and such givers and I think my primary skill is in language and in communicating,” Brady said Monday. “And so my intention, with their influence, is to use rhetoric to influence people positively, in whatever way that may be.”

His dad works in occupational therapy and his mom is a preschool teacher. “They’re

Katie Van Why | Submitted

basically doing the same job, except that my dad’s clients are dying,” he said, laughing.

It’s his passion for communicating that drives just about everything Brady does and everything he is most interested in. He considered studying theater or English, but at the end of the day, he came to love the idea of mass communication as a major.

“I feel confident at the end of four years I will have the opportunity to walk into a job with a degree in mass communication because it’s so broad, and I’m learning so, so much from various different professionals,” Brady said.

He feels he can still do English and theater on the side, and he feels like they’re not so different anyway.

“At its base, all of those

things are communication,” Brady said.

Over the summer, he worked at “Scallywags” in Erie, Pennsylvania, a pirate-themed cruise filled with in-character swashbucklers like “No Beard McNugget,” Brady’s alter ego.

As strange as it may sound, Brady does feel that even his adventures as Mr. McNugget were helpful for his professional endeavors.

“More than anything, I learned to just be passionate there,” Brady said.

Reporting contributed by Carley Bonk, Co-Features Editor.

Matt Petras mapetra@pointpark.edu

Check out the “Pioneer Public” video online at ppuglobe.com

OPINIONS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

THE

GL BE’S POINT

Un-becoming a bystander When any facet of society condones injustice of any variety, we are faced with two options: stand up or stand by.

You have the choice to take the Robert Frost roadless-traveled-by, or you can select the opportunity of comfort and ease -- that of a bystander.

If you’re a sentient, living person, then you know that part of being alive means experiencing difficulties in all their vastness. It’s no secret that this nation is teeming with distressing examples of hardship at the moment.

As a result of Hurricane Harvey, 30,000 people remain in shelters in Houston.

The city of Charlottesville is still in the wake of the deadly Unite the Right rally.

Last week, Public Safety refused to respond to the aid of a Point Park professor who collapsed in the crosswalk at Boulevard of the Allies.

Bystanding comes in all shapes and sizes.

Famous televangelist Joel Osteen failed to open the doors to his Houston-based mega church for displaced residents. President Trump took a two-day pause post-Charlottesville to issue a competent remark on the tragedy.

There are a lot of pieces of life that have the potential to be harrowing or intimidat-

ing, and it seems as though there are endless amounts of situations that can produce anxiety. For some, it may be easier to reside in your comfortable state of being – we would argue that it’s not easier to live a life like this.

It’s not about heroism.

It’s not about having a cool, properly exposed picture of you at a protest to set as your Facebook cover photo.

It’s about putting yourself in someone else’s shoes, if just for a moment. It’s especially not about feeling bad for someone – that misses the point entirely. Instead, it’s about realizing our humanness, despite background or beliefs, and finding a place of common ground in the name of compassion.

An impressive outpouring of people are stepping up to stand beside complete strangers who are on the receiving end of dogmatism, bias and adversity in this country. It’s a proactive step in the right direction, and it’s quite beautiful. As members of the student body and student media, we encourage you to search your life for the places you are standing by.

We challenge you to identify these areas and fight against them with everything inside you. We need it.

The Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

5

Bernie Sanders is changing the game How the senator is making democrats more progressive

By Matt Petras Co-Features Editor

I went to a Bernie Sanders rally right before the April Pennsylvania primaries on the University of Pittsburgh’s campus. At that point, Sanders had already lost the New York primary to Hillary Clinton and was almost certainly going to lose the Pennsylvania primary.

He asked the crowd if Pennsylvania has same-day registration for voting (he seemed to think it did), and when we told him no, he looked discouraged.

My friend told me he thought Sanders looked defeated that day, though I’m not sure I’d go that far. It wasn’t a big crowd either way.

Even in that atmosphere, with trace amounts of dread, the rally had a certain hopeful whimsy to it. Before Sanders gave his speech, a man with an acoustic guitar played some songs for us, including a rendition of “This Land is Your Land.” When I remember that joyful moment, when all of us strangers found ourselves singing this goofy, blissful song together, I feel like I might cry.

Donald Trump is president now.

It’s become a common refrain for Sanders supporters to shout “Bernie would have won” from the rooftops, and while I believe that’s true, the meme has become tiresome. I prefer to think that the democratic socialist who rose from obscurity to becoming the most popular politician in the country did, in fact, win.

Sanders has been an essential voice in politics since

the immediate aftermath of Trump’s victory - in a viscerally satisfying tweet at the time, he said: “If Donald Trump takes people’s anger and turns it against Muslims, Hispanics, African-Americans and women, we will be his worst nightmare.”

Beyond offering no-nonsense rhetoric on every relevant political discussion in America, such as the repeal and replace fiasco, the proposed military ban on transgender people and the Charlottesville terrorism attack, Sanders is maneuvering the Democratic Party to the left on policy in very critical ways.

While just a few years, ago the notion of mainstream Democrats backing single-payer healthcare was completely farcical, it’s become an expectation thanks to Sanders.

Some on the left argue that pursuing single-payer is a bad idea merely because there’s no way it will ever pass. In an Aug. 31 interview on CNN from Chris Cuomo, Sanders said the following: “It is certainly not going to happen when you have a president like Donald Trump and Republican leadership that wanted to throw up to 32 million people off of health insurance, I understand that, but you gotta start this fight somewhere.”

This gets to the heart of why Sanders is so appealing to people like me who would like to see the country move in a boldly progressive direction.

While politicians like former president Barack Obama insist upon starting negotiations with a compromise, Sanders starts

the fight with what we actually want. And if Democrats look to their voters for support, they’ll receive it: 52 percent of Democrats support a single-payer system, according to a June Pew Research Center poll.

Republicans will surely fight tooth and nail against a single-payer system, but Republicans will fight tooth and nail against any effort to move healthcare policy to the left, evidenced by the continuous, failed fight against Obamacare.

We as progressives might as well push something we fully support.

Kamala Harris, a United States Senator from California and a rising star (potential 2020 favorite) in the Democratic Party, just recently backed his Medicare-For-All proposal. Sanders may not be the Democrats’ nominee in 2020, but at this point, it appears more likely than not that whoever that candidate is will be one who supports socialized healthcare.

That’s amazing.

While conventional wisdom told us Sanders’ progressive views were too radically left-wing for America, today he is the only politician people actually like. A poll from Harvard-Harris shows 54 percent like Sanders – the next most popular politician is Mike Pence, with just 44 percent.

Sanders lost the primary to Clinton, but it’s hard to look at that polling and the amount of influence he has on politics and not also see victory.

Matt Petras mapetra@pointpark.edu

Trump’s lift on military gear for police: is it the best option?

By Allison Hritz For The Globe

In his recent endeavors, President Donald Trump has considered lifting limits on military gear for police.

The decision is being made in response to increased domestic violence, mostly that of terrorism, shootings and violent protests.

By lifting these limits, police would be able to use old military gear, including bayonets, armed aircraft and tear gas.

In Trump’s eyes, the action would repurpose old military materials, thus avoiding waste, and would also increase public safety in general.

However, the consideration has instead raised many public concerns. Some citizens and politicians representing civil rights groups equally believe that the action would only further instigate extremist groups on all sides of the spectrum. For example, the use of certain military gear in Virginia was believed to have further provoked Antifa to inflict damage on both people and property.

With tensions so high, it certainly begs the question if such action is necessary. After all, doesn’t the possession of high caliber ammunition, armored vehicles, and the access to weaponized aircraft seem a bit extensive on domestic soil?

Such an action is especially concerning, considering the events that have been occurring rapidly and in increased numbers in recent years. In the instance of Ferguson and later occurrences, the NAACP legal defense fund (LDF) made the case that the increase of police militarization led to numerous casualties, especially in regards to minorities.

The extensive nature of such an action seems a bit ironic. In what case would a bayonet or grenade launcher need to be used by a public officer, a defender of the peace?

Yet, it is undeniable that the rates and gravity of violence in the United States have heightened, especially over the past five years.

Anyone can turn on the news and see a shooting or violent act, whether of protest or terrorism, being committed daily.

The current situation is in some ways similar to that of Shays’ Rebellion, a rebellion led

by Revolutionary War veteran, Daniel Shays, from 1786 to 1787.

The conflict occurred due to a perceived violation of the weak Articles of the Confederation in the ways of economic and civil rights.

At the time, the United States lacked the numbers and equipment needed to quell the violent actions conducted by Shay and his 4,000 men. Ultimately, the government decided to take drastic legislative steps in order to allow the federal military to take action when state conflicts occurred and reconfigure the Articles of the Confederation to ensure state rights.

Such action later led to the ease of their violence against citizens and property.

This past issue relates to now in many ways. Firstly, in order to resolve conflicts conducted by small groups, similar to modern terrorists and violent protesters, the government had to increase military action and change what was originally constitutional law.

Secondly, such action eventually resolved the issue at hand.

It would only seem natural then, in the cyclical pattern of history, to take similar action with modern technology to hopefully have the same outcome. After all, with the ability of individuals to use violent gear in protests and acts of terror, it would make sense for police to have access to military gear in order to effectively protect themselves and the public.

However, due to such violence, easy provocation, public fear and the gravity of the situation, this action is most likely not the best option at this time.

Instead, it would be in the best interest of the Trump administration to consider all options before taking this action. In a perfect world, the best option would be to eliminate all violence and pursue peace on a federal and state level. Yet, due to human nature, it would be impossible to eliminate violence and protest from society.

Therefore, instead of taking such a drastic measure to increase police militarization, the adminis-

tration should first consider other legislative options. This could include reviewing reasonable demands of protesters and creating laws or social programs to help ease their tensions.

In regards to terrorism, legislative action would not work, considering the radical beliefs and mindsets of said individuals.

As of now, then, the administration should stick to current policy to combat terrorist acts instead of adding new policies that would only provoke violent parties further.

Perhaps these solutions will work. In such case, the United States may see a gradual shift in violent acts committed in our country towards peace.

On the other hand, if these legislative actions do not work, perhaps further arming policemen would be proven valid.

Regardless, the best thing the Trump administration could do at this time is to heavily consider all options before rushing into action.

Allison Hritz amhritz@pointpark.edu

Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967

THE

GL BE SINCE 1967

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

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Robert Berger, Co-News Editor Sha’Ronda Brookins, Delivery Assistant Sabrina Bodon, Online Editor Carley Bonk, Co-Features Editor Lauren Clouser, Copy Editor Dara Collins, Co-Sports Editor Rania Draklellis, Layout Editor Josh Croup, Co-Sports Editor, Editor Emeritus Gracey Evans, Photo Editor Emilee Fails, Photo Editor Shelby Fink, Copy Editor Casey Hoolahan, Social Media Coordinator Nick Horwat, Copy Editor Eva Humphreys, Copy Editor Chloe Jakiela, Staff Photographer Nikole Kost, Photo Editor Casey McGaw, Asst. Social Media Coordinator Mary Moses, Copy Editor Kayla Novak, Copy Editor

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6

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

OPINIONS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Denouncing politcal extremism, violence

A conservative student speaks out against Trump and Antifa

By Jordan Slobodinsky Co-Opinions Editor

If you have followed the political scene over the last year and read the Globe on a consistent basis, you probably have seen some of my articles in this section. It’s no secret that I’m a God-fearing Republican who has trouble agreeing with any form of socialist idealism and the agenda that many Democrats have.

I lost myself last year in the midst of the Trump campaign, and allowed myself to become subject to the ideas of the incredibly far right. I was an avid Trump supporter - you can ask my roommates how extreme it was. I actually implore you to ask Tyler Richey because our debates were something else.

I was blind to the idea that the Republicans might possibly have made a mistake, but they did. However, there’s a myriad of reasons why things in the political scene go the way they do. Trump is not entirely to blame; though I won’t lie, the man seems like a spray tanned, wig wearing

version of Kim Jong Un. I’ve taken the heat for the opinions I once had, but I cannot stand by anymore and watch as Antifa groups harass fellow young Republicans.

Did some of us make the mistake of voting for a bigot? Yes, and I think the vast majority (minus the extremely right-wing minority) sorely regret it. That doesn’t mean we are not going to stand by our beliefs as conservatives. We do not believe in a utopian society that is often associated with the Democrats, and we acknowledge that too much government leads to too many issues. Antifa groups, however, have made it a point to attack young Republicans and shame them for their beliefs. If Antifa is so against hate and violence, why do they condone lashing out at college students and shaming them for having a different view?

Just this past weekend thousands of Antifa members and supporters attended a rally in Berkeley, Ca. What I suppose they intended to be a peaceful protest, quickly turned vi-

“Newsflash: Antifa is committing the same acts of violence that alt-right groups do, but they wear black hoods instead of white ones.”

Jordan Slobodinsky Co-Opinions Editor olent as 100 masked members of Antifa attacked a group of Trump supporters. This group used a hose to spray conservatives with pepper spray. I am not saying that some of the people there were not of the altright, but that does not give you the right to dress up in masks and black hoods and call yourself peaceful protesters.

Newsflash: Antifa is committing the same acts of violence that alt-right groups do, but they wear black hoods instead of white ones.

It appears to me that the Antifa groups are nothing more than cowards who want to do nothing but create a scene because they are upset that things don’t go exactly their way.

Now, I’m not saying they shouldn’t protest the aggressive acts of Nazism that we saw in Charlottesville, but they have no right or just reason to attack college students. If these people wanted to get their message across, then they should be out protesting more of the Nazi gatherings we are seeing, not college students.

An African-American man who wore a Young America Foundation hat was assaulted by these thugs at a vigil after the Charlottesville riots. They pushed this man into the street simply because he was at the event trying to prove that Republicans can be peaceful.

These groups of con-

servative-hating trash are no different than that of the KKK, though I can’t condemn them like Nazi groups because they haven’t exactly slaughtered entire groups of people.

Hating somebody for their political views is absolutely unacceptable. It is no different than hating somebody for their skin color or religious beliefs. I pray and hope that Point Park will do their best to defend the conservative students on this campus if one of these groups were to come to Pittsburgh.

Hate is hate. Whether we’re talking about Nazis, the KKK, Antifa or just a racist in general. It’s wrong, and we need to defend our peers. Our student body is incredibly diverse in so many ways. Don’t be tempted by Trump, don’t be tempted by the KKK, don’t be tempted by Antifa.

Our campus should be a place of political, social, racial and gender growth and acceptance.

Jordan Slobodinsky jeslobo@pointpark.edu.

The old Taylor is dead, but she still has a place in this world Exploring what we made Taylor Swift do and why it’s important

By Autumn Barszczowski Business Manager

That’s right. The old Taylor Swift is dead. At least, that’s the narrative that Swift is selling in her new single, “Look What You Made Me Do.” But what exactly does that mean?

Since 2006, we have witnessed Swift present a new version of herself with every album. She’s come all the way from America’s Sweetheart to… Well, however you see her now. Because in 2017, you either have an undying love or never-ending hatred for Taylor Swift.

Or at least, your feelings are based on how authentic or inauthentic you believe her to be. Many see this new Swift as a snake, who is money-crazed and does nothing but play the victim.

The only problem with that view is: Do we actually know who she is? We only see what she presents and, eventually, how the media and other celebrities discuss their own perspective of her well-woven narrative.

We have built up this idea of who she is, and with every new piece of information, we have re-defined what we know about her until the version we see is nothing like the one presented.

The problem with this?

We still do not know who Swift really is. We only know what she is selling us, and frankly, no matter how she presents herself, people are no longer willing to buy it.

Over the years, we have

seen her reinvent herself enough times that we no longer know who she truly is and, for a while, we didn’t care. She shielded herself from the world and we went along with it.

“‘Look What You Made Me Do’ is Swift’s way of showing people that she can no longer be America’s Sweetheart.”

Autumn Barszczowski Business Manager

In her self-titled album “Taylor Swift,” she established her image as America’s Sweetheart. She went from “Tim McGraw” to “Picture to Burn,” where she exposed what it felt like to be in love and to be heartbroken. In “A Place in this World,” she discussed the thoughts we all face regarding growing up and searching for where we belong. It was littered with innocence and uncertainty at what was to come.

Fast forward to her album “1989.” At this point, she has grown up significantly. She found her place in the world through her

music. Unfortunately, this is also the moment in time where people were more focused on the drama related to her lyrics than the shared experiences she sang about.

People were analyzing every lyric to see if they could find a story to sell.

We began to lose the real Swift as she embraced the fact that she had to fight for her reputation in an effort to keep a hold of the title of America’s Sweetheart.

What many have yet to understand is that, we have taken away her ability to grow. Swift can no longer freely express her anger without people questioning the motives behind every lyric and action.

“Look What You Made Me Do” is Swift’s way of showing people that she can no longer be America’s Sweetheart. That after years of ridiculing her for her breakup songs and the way she handles conflict, she is finally accepting her role as the snake because we will not let her live in any other way.

We have this idea of who she is in our heads, that she has been given no other choice. No matter the effort to keep her music upbeat and innocent, she can no longer maintain it when that isn’t what sells.

Her place in the world is in the music industry and, unfortunately, she will do anything she can to hold onto it.

Autumn Barszczowski adbarsz@pointpark.edu.

Nicole Pampena | The Globe

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

CROUP’S CORNER

By Josh Croup

Sports Columnist

Scary good Shields The men’s and women’s cross country teams could be at their best yet this season.

Their recruiting class for both teams have been touted by head coach Kelly Parsley, now in his fourth year at the school and third year as the head cross country coach, as the best he’s ever had at Point Park.

Last weekend, we got our first look at this year’s squad.

There are several storylines to watch out for from the program that arguably made the difference in Point Park’s two-straight River States Conference (RSC) Commissioner’s All-Sports Cup victories during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.

Robert Berger detailed several of those storylines in his recap of the team’s first meet last weekend at NCAA Division-II Walsh University. In sum, both sides improved dramatically from last year and some newcomers are going to make substantial additions to the squads.

Of all the headlines and storylines that came out of last weekend, Anna Shields stands out ahead of the rest.

Nobody was ahead of her at the end of Saturday’s meet.

Shields broke out onto the scene last year during her first season with the Pioneers cross country and track and field teams.

She had success during cross country season and

eventually became the program’s first National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) All-American and national champion in track and field.

Shields tied the school record in the women’s 5K at last year’s NAIA National Championship meet with Katie Guarnaccia, who is not returning this season, with times of 18 minutes, 20 seconds.

She shattered that time in the season’s first meet.

Shattered. Destroyed.

Her meet-winning time of 17 minutes, 19 seconds on Saturday would have placed her at fourth in the nation at last year’s national championship.

It was only the first meet of the season. She ran a time of 19 minutes, 59 seconds at last year’s Walsh Invitational.

Shields has a realistic chance of winning the NAIA National Championship meet this year in Vancouver, Wash, or at least coming in the top five. The top 30 runners at the national championship receive NAIA All-American honors.

She had a statement first race of the year and set a remarkable tone for the 2017 cross country season.

If the rest continue to follow her lead, these squads really could be something special.

Josh Croup jdcroup@pointpark.edu

Copy Editor

The women’s soccer team opened regular season play last Friday at the Cougar Classic in Michigan, but failed to get on the scoreboard in each of the team’s first two games.

Point Park opened the weekend against the hostschool, No. 2 Spring Arbor University on Friday.

With last year’s starting goalkeeper Rebecca Cohen redshirting this season as she recovers from ACL surgery, sophomore Ashtyn Webb was head coach Maggie Kuhn’s pick to start in net against Spring Arbor. “[Webb’s] play in net definitely provided our team in front of her with confidence when we needed it the most,” Kuhn said. “I can’t say enough about her play this weekend. When you have a keeper playing the way that Ashtyn did and keeping the score line low, we have to rely on our attack to produce. We did not execute on the chances we created.”

Despite Webb’s efforts, the Pioneers found themselves down after junior Bethany Balcer scored in the 18th minute off a corner kick.

Balcer would score again be-

fore the half, sending Point Park to the locker room down 2-0.

“Coach always says that 2-0 is always a risky lead because then we’re just one goal away from changing the pace of the game,” sophomore midfielder Nikki Polens said. “That was our intention going back out. If we could just score one goal, we could change the pace of the game.

It would change our intensity.”

Balcer solidified the Spring Arbor victory by completing her fourth career hat trick in the 62nd minute.

As a freshman, Balcer was named the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Women’s Soccer National Player of the Year in 2015. She also claimed the NAIA National Championship Most Valuable Player title that same year. The hat trick she scored against Point Park over the weekend allowed her to break the career goal scoring record for Spring Arbor.

“We focused on our defense and we tried to man mark [Balcer],” Webb said.

“She’s just an outstanding player so it is difficult. I think we contained her pretty well.”

Spring Arbor has appeared in each of the last two

7

Confidence boost needed after weak home start

By Nick Horwat Copy Editor

The men’s soccer team started the season with a 0-2 record, only scoring a single goal between the first two games last week.

In the first game last Wednesday, the Pioneers squared off against the No. 2 ranked team in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association (USCAA), the Florida National University (FNU) Conquistadors.

After the first half of the season opener at Highmark Stadium, the Pioneers were down to FNU 3-0.

Newly-recruited Point Park goalkeeper sophomore Juan Somoza was key to keeping the game’s final score 4-0.

Somoza was able to make a total of 10 saves in his debut match at Point Park.

“I’m looking forward to having a great future here and have a great season,” Somoza said.

Somoza’s goalkeeping highlighted the first game for the Pioneers last week, as FNU controlled most of the match. The second half did look to have more promise for the Pioneers as the team was able to develop more chances and have better defense, but they were unable to capitalize for a goal. FNU outshot Point Park 14-8.

The Pioneers looked to bounce back in the second game of the year against the Lawrence Tech Blue Devils Saturday, who were coming into Pittsburgh with a 2-0 record without allowing a goal.

Things started to look promising early in the game when six minutes in, sophomore transfer Wessel Reit-

Women’s soccer blanked in Michigan season opener

By Allison Schubert

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

NAIA National Championships, winning the title two years ago and falling in the title game last year.

The Pioneers played their second game of the Cougar Classic on Saturday against Mount Vernon Nazarene University. The Cougars tallied goals in the 17th, 47th and 65th minutes, giving Point Park its second 3-0 loss of the weekend.

“We still have some growing to do as a team,” Polens said. “But that’s just a part of the process.”

The Pioneers are no strangers to starting off the year in a deficit. They started last season with a 2-5-2 record. The team’s record did not start to improve until they began conference play last season.

“All in all, even though I hate starting a season 0-2, there were lots of lessons learned this weekend,” Kuhn said. “We just have to get back on track this week in training.”

The Pioneers play next on Monday, Sept.11 at Madonna University and will host Pikeville College on Friday, Sept. 16 at Highmark Stadium for their home opener.

Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu

Megan Bixler | The Globe Sophomore defender/midfielder Andre Bennett and sophomore defender Yuki Takeda run alongside a Florida National University midfielder during last Wednesday’s home opener at Highmark Stadium.

veid was able to slip one past the Lawrence Tech goalie to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead.

Reitveid not only scored the team’s first goal all season, but ended the Blue Devils’ shutout streak.

Shortly after that, the Blue Devils struck back and did not let off the gas pedal.

Lawrence Tech would go on to score seven goals, leading to a 7-1 victory. The last three goals came in rapid fire during a span of just over eight minutes.

Point Park head coach Jeroen Walstra is beginning his 11th season at the helm and was not impressed by the play in the first two games.

“We were not successful attacking, defending, midfield play…no confidence,” Walstra said.

Walstra said he does know the team can improve after playing two tough teams to start the year. FNU is one of the top teams in its affili-

ation, while Lawrence Tech boasted a two-game shutout streak.

“It will take time [to improve]; you never know when it’s going to happen,” Walstra said. “We also have to play some teams that are a little weaker than the teams we’ve played so far, then you can win and get some confidence.”

Taking two losses is not the ideal way to start off a season, but there is plenty of time for the squad to build and improve as the season progresses.

“I know that we did not step off with the right foot, but I’m pretty sure we are going to give our best to improve it,” Somoza said.

The Pioneers’ next battle will be Saturday at 10 a.m. against Siena Heights University at Highmark Stadium.

Nick Horwat njhorwa@pointpark.edu

Briana Walton | The Globe Junior forward Nawfel Bichiba attempts to score last Wednesday in Point Park’s match against Florida National University. The Pioneers lost 4-0 in their season opener.

Briana Walton | The Globe Sophomore goalkeeper Juan Somoza and sophomore defender/midfielder Andre Bennett make a last effort to save the ball from entering the goal last Wednesday against Florida National University at Highmark Stadium.

8

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

SPORTS

THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY

Shields wins, leads fast return to course Cross country teams have best-ever start to season

By Robert Berger Co-News Editor

Junior Anna Shields won the Walsh University Women’s Cross Country Invitational Saturday, breaking a school and personal record.

Freshman Alyssa Boyd recorded the fastest time of any Point Park freshman making their cross country debut.

Junior captain Sean Hilverding of the men’s team finished 15th overall to start the season with his own personal record.

The Point Park cross country teams are both off to the fastest starts in program history.

“We’re pretty stacked from top to bottom and we’ve never been this deep on either side,” head coach Kelly Parsley said.

Led by Shields, four Pioneer women finished in the top 25 out of 77 finishers. Shields maintained an early lead and finished in 17 minutes, 19 seconds, which was six seconds ahead of Walsh University’s Sarah Berger. Shields broke her shared school record by 1 minute, 2 seconds.

“I’ve been doing the stuff pro runners do to be their best,” Shields said.

“I’ve been eating better, doing core, lifting and other things that pro runners do to be their best.”

Placing behind Shields for the Pioneers was Boyd.

Making her debut as a Pioneer, Boyd finished seventh overall with a time of 18 minutes, 39 seconds. According to Parsley, it was

Robert Berger| Point Park Athletics Junior Anna Shields runs ahead of the pack at Saturday’s Walsh Invitational in North Canton, Ohio. Shields won the women’s 5K race and broke her shared school record with a time of 17 minutes, 19 seconds.

the best freshman debut in program history. She also ran for the sixth-fastest 5k in program history.

“This is the fastest team Point Park has ever had, and I’m excited to see us improve this year,” Shields said. “It’s only the first meet and we’re better than ever.”

Also finishing in the top 25 for the Pioneers was junior Kara Rohlf who ranked 17th overall with a time of 19 minutes, 32 seconds. Behind Rohlf was freshman Kayla Roberts who made her debut as a Pioneer.

Roberts finished in 19th place with 19 minutes, 51 seconds.

“This is the best start we’ve ever had,” Parsley

told his team after the meet.

“I’ve said you are exceeding my expectations during preseason, and again, you’ve exceeded my expectations.”

On the day, the women’s top-five finishers averaged a course time of 19 minutes, 5 seconds, which was the best in program history.

Each returning member ran at least one minute faster than their time put up at last year’s meet.

It was Hilverding who led the men’s team to its fourth-place finish out of six competing schools.

“I didn’t know what to expect coming into today,” Hilverding said. “But I felt really good and I did better than how I expected myself to per-

form, so I can’t complain.”

Hilverding’s personal record time of 26 minutes, 14 seconds was 1 minute, 20 seconds better than his time from last year’s Walsh Invitational, where he finished 27th overall.

He said high-milage runs prepared him for the start of the season. According to Hilverding, there were weeks in the offseason where he put up nearly 80 miles while also working on speed and hill training.

Sophomore Xavier Stephens also finished in the top-30 with a time of 27 minutes, 8 seconds, which placed him at 30th overall.

Stephens beat his time ran last year on the course by 2 minutes, 1 second.

“I put in a lot of miles this offseason and I feel a lot stronger than I did last season,” Stephens said.

Overall, the men’s top five earned an average time of 27 minutes, 14 seconds which is the second best in program history. The Pioneers also had 15 men break the 30-minute mark. They had just four men under 30 minutes last year.

Freshman Brody Mihalyo was one of those 15 who made his Point Park debut and ran the course in 29 minutes, 26 seconds.

“I started out a little fast but felt calm, cool and collected once I went through it,” Mihalyo said. “I broke 30 my first race, so I feel like I accomplished a lot.”

On the day, each returning member of the men’s team beat their time ran on the course at last year’s meet by at least 15 seconds.

Point Park travels to the Lebanon Valley Dutchmen Invitational this Friday for the second meet of the season.

Robert Berger raberge@pointpark.edu

Early winning streak cut short

By Dara Collins Co-Sports Editor

The volleyball team traveled to Ohio last weekend for the Emileigh Cooper Memorial Tournament hosted by the University of Rio Grande.

Entering the tournament on a four-game winning streak, a rocky first few matches set the Pioneers back in regular season standings.

Point Park opened up against Mount Vernon Nazarene University (MVNU) for the first of two matches Friday. The Pioneers dropped set one 18-25 but came back to win set two 25-21, tying the match. The victory bounced back to the Cougars as they took set three 25-17.

Point Park was two points away from forcing a fourth set when MVNU took control to win 27-25.

MVNU totaled 59 kills while Point Park followed close behind with 55. Ashley Taylor and Erica Gumz collectively claimed over half of the Pioneers’ kills with 21 and 16 kills. Setter Julia Menosky recorded the team high of 17 digs and 45 assists.

“I think the hitters did a really good job adjusting to my sets,” Menosky said.

The team played a second match against Marian University, which received votes in the national preseason coaches’ poll. The Knights stole sets one and two, 25-

14 and 25-16. The Pioneers fought back to take set three 25-23. The comeback was short-lived as Marian finished victorious in the fourth set with a score of 25-23.

Although Point Park totaled 143 attacks to Marian’s 134, the Pioneers trailed in kills. Meg Reineke led the Pioneers offense in this match with 14 kills, and Taylor followed with 12. In terms of defense, Taylor finished the match with the team-high of 17 digs and Reineke followed with 15.

A second pair of matches followed on Saturday.

The Pioneers began day two with an early match against the University of Northwestern Ohio. The Racers took set one 25-16 due to Point Park’s struggling serve receive. Point Park trailed by five points in set two before making a comeback to win 27-25 and carried the momentum to win set three 2523. The Racers 25-20 victory in set four kept the match alive to force a fifth set.

Northwestern Ohio’s team proved victorious as it closed out set five 15-10.

Taylor led the team in kills with 18 and digs with 16. Menosky had 39 assists and 12 digs.

After three straight losses, the Pioneers needed to change their game.

“We need to come out strong right from the beginning,” Taylor said. “We can’t play lackadaisical when we first come out onto the court.

We need to assert our presence right off the bat so people know who we are.”

Menosky furthered Taylor’s game plan for future matches.

“We definitely need to work on being more consistent, just forgetting about the mistakes we make and moving on,” Menosky said. “We need to focus on being more aggressive from the start coming out ready to play.”

The Pioneers finished the tournament on an upswing.

Point Park only needed three sets to seal a 3-0 victory over Shawnee State University. The Pioneers swept the Bears 25-12, 25-19 and 25-17.

Taylor once again held the team-high with 13 kills while Savannah Dishman also climbed to double digits with 10 kills. Libero Morgan Dangelo picked up 14 digs, and Menosky recorded 39 assists.

“We all came together when the games were tight and close, and we all fought back and really worked as a team and communicated,” Reineke said. “Not that the outcome was what we wanted, but we learned from each game.”

With an improved record of 5-4, the Pioneers return to the road this weekend for another tournament hosted by Shawnee State University (Ohio).

Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu

Robert Berger | Point Park Athletics Junior Sean Hilverding led the Point Park men Saturday at Walsh University, finishing the 8K race in 15th overall with a time of 26 minutes, 14 seconds.

LAST WEEK’S SCOREBOARD AUG. 29 - SEPT. 4 MEN’S SOCCER (0-2) (0-0) FLORIDA NATIONAL 4, POINT PARK 0.............................................Aug. 30 LAWRENCE TECH 7, POINT PARK 1 ..................................................Sept. 2 Goal: Rietveld (1) Next: Sept. 9 vs. Siena Heights, Sept. 11 vs. Saint Vincent

WOMEN’S SOCCER (0-2) (0-0)

POINT PARK 0, SPRING ARBOR 3.......................................................Sept. 1 POINT PARK 0, MOUNT VERNON NAZARENE 3.............................Sept. 2 Next: Sept. 11 @ Madonna, Sept. 16 vs. Pikeville

VOLLEYBALL (5-4) (0-0)

POINT PARK 1, MOUNT VERNON NAZARNENE 3...........................Sept. 1 POINT PARK 1, (RV) MARIAN 3............................................................Sept. 1 POINT PARK 2, NORTHWESTERN OHIO 3........................................Sept. 2 POINT PARK 3, SHAWNEE STATE 0....................................................Sept. 2 Next: Sept. 8-9 Shawnee State Tournament

MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY WALSH INVITATIONAL.........................................................................Sept. 1 Top 8K finishers: Hilverding (26:14) Stephens (27:08), Hunt (27:21) Next: Sept. 9 @ Lebanon Valley Dutchmen Invitational

WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY WALSH INVITATIONAL.........................................................................Sept. 1 Top 5K finishers: Shields (17:19), Boyd (18:39) Rohlf (19:32) Next: Sept. 9 @ Lebanon Valley Dutchman Invitational