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@PPUGlobe September 13, 2017
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A registered sex offender lurking outside of a dance class in Lawrence Hall led to charges of aggravated assault with campus and city authorities on Sept. 7, according to Point Park’s crime report. Tyler Kerbel, a sophomore dance major, recalled one of his friends telling a story about suspect Dalbert Banks, 36, of Knoxville coming into the studio before and watching another class. “I feel like we’ve all seen him around so much that we didn’t really think anything of it,” Kerbel said. “It was definitely a lesson to always speak up if you see something suspicious even if it may not be. It never hurts just to tell someone.” Kerbel, along with sophomore dance majors Victoria Watson and Lexie Knutson, were all in the class Banks was watching. According to Watson,
Kerbel and Knutson, Banks was standing next to the elevator outside of the George Rowland White dance studio in Lawrence Hall during the 4:20 p.m. Dance Composition class. Police approached Banks which led to an altercation resulting in Banks fleeing. Police tasered Banks, who then took off his
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A no-cost supplemental food program provided by the university, dubbed “Pioneer Pantry,” officially opened its doors Sept. 7. The program debuts after a year of discussing and planning from Point Park’s Department of Community Engagement. “Pioneer Pantry is available to anyone with a current and valid Point Park ID,” department chair of Community Engagement Heather Starr-Fiedler said. “You can order twice a month and get ten items at a time.” The Pantry’s mission is to fight back against food insecurity, a quality defined as being financially or envi-
shirt to remove the taser. Banks ran outside through the stairs setting off the emergency alarm, afterwards running into traffic where he was eventually arrested on the sidewalk. According to police, Banks was in possession of a knife during the arrest. “It was nerve wracking and kind of scary,” Watson
said. “Apparently he has been watching all last year and over the summer.” Kerbel and Knutson noticed Banks at the beginning of the class. “I thought he was a student,” Knutson said. Judith Leifer-Bentz, associate professor in the Conservatory of Perform-
ARREST page 2
Kayla Snyder | The Globe Dalbert Banks is apprehended by police outside of the George Rowland White performance space. Banks, a registered sex offender, was arrested after watching a dance class in Lawrence Hall Thursday.
Food insecurity pantry opens near Point Café By Shelby Fink
ppuglobe.com
Celebrating 50 years of covering the world of Point Park University news
Sex offender arrested on campus By Nikole Kost
Carmen Amadio provides a taste of women’s fashion on campus Lauren Ortego explains why the Dreamer Act is important to Americans Volleyball transfer Meg Reineke makes smooth transition to Point Park
ronmentally unable to obtain food for oneself or a household. It began with an inaugural cohort from a group of doctoral students from the 2015-2016 school year and the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (GPCFB). When the group looked at the demographics of the GPCFB, they were surprised at the results which lead to more research of food insecurity. This allowed doctoral student Veronika Panagioutou to present her findings and ideas at the University of Nebraska Omaha last October. While she was there, she saw the university had a food insecurity pantry and inspired her
PANTRY page 2
Issue 3
Board of Trustees sides with President USG By Alexander Popichak Editor-in-Chief
Board of Trustees Chair Joseph Greco told the United Student Government (USG) that the board stands behind its president during the legislative body’s meeting Monday. “The Board finds that the concerns raised in the faculty letter of August 25th do not support the discipline of Paul Hennigan as President of the University,” Greco said in a prepared statement. On Aug. 24, the Faculty Assembly passed a vote of no confidence on University President Paul Hennigan. The Board of Trustees then hired an independent investigator last week to assess the effectiveness of the leadership of Hennigan.
USG page 3
Potential Blackboard replacement “Schoology” launches in trial classes By Nicole Pampena Co-News Editor
Seven pilot courses launched this semester to test Schoology, a potential replacement learning management system (LMS) for Blackboard. Founded in 2008, Executive Director of Point Park Online Nelson Chipman referred to Schoology as the “Facebook of LMSs.” “I say it’s the equivalent of going from an Android to an iPhone,” Chipman said. “You know where things are…but once you dig deeper you kind of have to relearn some systems a little bit.” The search for a new LMS began around two and a half years ago after the cost of Blackboard continued to
increase while its system became more outdated. As the early 2000s came with the release of competition, such as Canvas, D2L Brightspace and Schoology, a small group of people within the university began to review and examine Blackboard. Last semester, the university assembled over 250 students, 50 faculty members and a committee of administration and staff to test the different replacements listed above as well as Blackboard Ultra. “For all that the user data from the committee, from faculty and from students, [it] clearly showed that there were two that rose above, and that was Canvas and Schoology,” Chipman said.
Schoology narrowly ranked higher across the board after a larger review process over the summer that factored in pricing, long-term agreements, support services and data risk management. This led to an “implementation year,” where a committee Chipman helps oversee has placed the seven courses into “full Schoology.” Five of those seven courses are all sections of the MFA program in screenwriting playwriting taught by Matt Pelfrey, the MFA Program Director. According to Pelfrey, his students have been mostly successful so far working with Schoology, especially with its audio and video capabilities
SCHOOLOGY page 2
Students take a paws from stress with Campus Canines By Allison Hritz
Staff Photographer
Students and faculty weren’t the only ones to walk through campus this week. On Thursday, Sept. 9, the College Canines set up shop in the lobby of Lawrence Hall. With them, they brought a variety of dogs. “My heart is so happy...I’m crying tears of joy,” said Tiffany Walker, a freshman stage management major. Walker has two cats and a bird of her own, but has always wanted a dog. She also revealed that she misses her pets.
Walker is one of many students who came to the event in part because they miss their pets back at home. “I miss my dog...she’s my best friend. But petting those dogs today brought back some comfort from home,” said Brittany Arp, a freshman political science major who also attended the event. This very sentiment is a part of the organization’s mission. The organization trains dogs to become therapy animals. Part of their training is being able to handle crowds and heavy social exposure. In training therapy dogs, the organization makes ef-
forts to ensure that college students have an opportunity to have a piece of home on campus as well as providing general relief. They are well experienced with this effort, seeing that they have already paid visits to neighboring students, such as those at Pitt and Duquesne. For those who missed it, the organization - and their canine companions - will soon return to campus. Volunteer Katie Rodella said the dogs will visit campus the first Thursday and middle Wednesday of every month.
Allison Hritz amhritz@pointpark.edu
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