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@PPUGlobe November 20, 2019
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19 student choreographers participated in annual conservatory showcase Amara Phillips creates Thanksgiving survival guide for vegetarians Six volleyball Pioneers take home RSC honors at RSC Championship ppuglobe.com
Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967
Issue 13
CITY CELEBRATES KINDNESS DAY All-female team will
compete at state level of America250PA Hayley Keys Co-News Editor
Jared Murphy | The Globe
Royal Rodriguez of the Hosanna House sits in front of a mixed media portrait of Mr. Rogers during Cardigan Day at WQED as a part of World Kindness Day.
The past, future of the historic Oakland Pittsburgh Playhouse
Magee Women’s Research Institute and Foundation enter payment agreement Amanda Andrews Co-News Editor
The old Pittsburgh Playhouse location in Oakland has potentially found a tentative buyer. Magee Womens Research Institute and Foundation has entered into a payment agreement with the university to purchase the space as of Nov. 1. Lou Cosaro, a managing director of University Marketing and Public Relations, spoke very positively of the deal in the official press release, “Statement on sale of old Pittsburgh Playhouse site”, released on Nov. 4. “Point Park University entered into a Purchase Agreement with the Magee-Womens Institute and Foundation for the Oakland Pittsburgh Playhouse site,” Cosaro said. “Point Park is very pleased to be able to work with the Magee-Womens Institute and Foundation and local foundations to help the Magee-Womens Institute and Foundation advance its critically important mission. The terms of the Purchase Agreement are confidential.” While Magee Womens Research Institute and Foundation is a partner with UPMC Magee Womens Hospital, the hospital is not associated with the deal in any capacity, according to University President Paul Hennigan. “We have signed a pur-
chase agreement,” Hennigan said. “They are in a 90-day due diligence period right now which is part of the purchase agreement, so the transaction has not closed.” Essentially, Magee Womens Research and Foundation’s agreement with the university is not legally binding and they can withdraw from it at any time. “If they get through their 90-day due diligence period, then they have the right to say, ‘we want to close on the transaction.’ And the terms of the purchase agreement are confidential, which is pretty typical,” Hennigan said. Magee Womens Research Institute and Foundation is situated right next to the 25,000 square foot property currently undergoing demolition. The old Playhouse, located at 222 Craft Avenue, was made up of three different buildings, and Point Park University purchased it in 1968. The decision to build the new Pittsburgh Playhouse, now located on Forbes Avenue, was made seven years ago. The old Playhouse had a rich history. It started out in 1934 as the Pittsburgh Civic Playhouse, and the space was not exclusive to just Point Park University for some time. In fact, the old Tree of Life synagogue was located
there until moving to their Squirrel Hill location in 1952. That building then became the Rockwell Theatre. During the demolition process of the old Playhouse, a time capsule which was hidden in the cornerstone of a building was discovered. The capsule dated back to 1906 and contained documents, letters, newspapers and other belonging of the Tree of Life congregation, unveiling virtually a treasure trove of local Jewish history. The Oakland location was their second synagogue, their first synagogue having been located in downtown Pittsburgh on Fourth and Ross Streets. Hennigan was present at the official retrieval of the capsule on Nov. 4. “We were very pleased as I say to be able to work with them. We’ve been doing that now for a couple of years as we anticipated the deconstruction of this building,” Hennigan said. “And for them, I just think it’s a truly special day to share in their joy and their history.” The new Playhouse has been open since the Fall 2018 semester. Magee Womens Institute and Foundation officials did not respond to requests to comment. Amanda Andrews
aaandre@pointpark.edu
Point Park is sending an all-girl team to compete at the state level of America250PA. The team of Brianna Farrand, Kayla Snyder, Divine Kennedy and Sabrina Tatalias worked together to create a marketing plan for the Direct Effect Innovation Challenge (DEIC). The DEIC is a competition where college students work to design and launch an integrated marketing campaign strategy. Point Park’s team is competing with other colleges and universities from Pennsylvania to be part of a state-wide campaign to celebrate America’s 250th birthday in 2026. The University created their team by bringing together students from both the School of Communication and the Rowland School of Business. Farrand, a senior multimedia major, designed the logo and the direct mail piece, Snyder, a senior public relations and advertising major, worked to research the team’s target audience and how to effectively communicate their message, Tatalias, a sophomore information technology major, created the tech pieces for the team including a fully functioning website and Kennedy, a sophomore marketing and sales major, helped the team understand how to present their idea and how to encourage participation through sales tactics. Snyder said she felt the teamwork was exceptional, especially since they had no history working together. “We have such an interesting dynamic because we all care so much about this project and it’s not a regular group project for school,” Snyder said. “We have a great dynamic and that really shines through.” Farrand also said she enjoyed working with students
who had different backgrounds because it helped her be a better designer. “It’s a really cool experience to work with people in different disciplines and trying to come up with a campaign that reaches so many people,” Farrand said. Every team was required to create a potential direct mail piece that would be sent out to PA residents to bring awareness to the overall initiative. Direct mail is a marketing effort that reaches a target audience through the postal service. It can be in the form of a traditional sale letter or even a brochure or newsletter. Snyder explained that the competition wanted to focus on this technique in order to educate students. “They’re trying to push direct mail into college curriculum because it’s such an important piece that people are really hitting on because no one really knows about it,” Snyder said. Point Park’s team created a campaign entitled, PArt of Us. Farrand said their goal was to showcase different parts of the state and encourage residents to participate in the initiative. “We are trying to shed a positive light on Pennsylvania and really highlight what we love about it,” Farrand said. “We want all people to be able to be involved you know; their ideas and their stories are really a good representation of our values and all together help show that everyone is a part of us.” The PArt of Us campaign features a direct mail piece that has a die cut pop up of the team’s logo, an interactive augmented reality element, QR barcodes and links to the team’s website. The augmented reality will allow for recipients to drive an animated car along a road to learn about different
AMERICA page 2
Brianna Farrand | Submitted
The PArt of Us logo was designed for the competition by Brianna Farrand. Older verions featured the Liberty Bell and a cow.
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