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Fans of Mister Rogers Neighborhood talk about lasting impact of show The puppets from the Neighborhood of MakeBelieve are ranked The women’s basketball team is on a three-game winning streak ppuglobe.com
Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967
Issue 14
USG Senator accused LASTING LEGACY OF MISTER ROGERS of forging signatures Johnson impeachment trial set for next week Amanda Andrews Co-News Editor
An impeachment trial is slated for United Student Government (USG) Senator Mathew Johnson for next week’s meeting. Johnson is accused of forging an unknown number of student sign-up signatures on a club application form. The club, Turning Point USA, was unanimously rejected by USG on Nov. 13. The official charge against Johnson is a “Breach of the United Student Government Code of Ethics: Forging an Unknowing Student’s Signature on the Application of the Club Turning Point USA.” Johnson said the first he had heard any news of the impeachment charges was in Monday’s meeting. “I’m a little bit in shock, honestly. I don’t even know what to think,” Johnson said. “I’m a little bit hurt by it, but I mean I guess I could expect it to be coming, especially from who it came from.” Senator Bryce Hayzlett brought the charge against Johnson at Monday’s legislative body meeting. Hayzlett had previously mounted a notable objection to Turning Point USA being accepted by USG with two pages worth of research to back his claims.
“I don’t want this to be seen as an attack due to him trying to start Turning Point,” Hayzlett said. “Because I am afraid that that’s how it’s going to come off, but it’s not at all [that]. It’s the fact that these people did not give consent and yet were still put on the application.” Hayzlett said he discovered Johnson’s alleged misconduct after discussing the club with a few people listed on the application. “I was on the Rules Committee when we approved Turning Point to be proposed here [at USG],” Hayzlett said. “And, whenever you have the application, they have to have a list of 10 students that want to be a part of this club as proof that they have members. And I went down it and I noticed one of the emails, and this was after [Turning Point] got shot down,...and I mentioned Turning Point to this person and they had no idea what it was.” Senator Dennis McDermott seconded Hayzlett’s motion to impeach, which set the trial process in motion. “I have thoughts about that,” Johnson said. “I mean, just because someone seconded something doesn’t really
Jared Murphy | The Globe
A mixed media portrait of Mister Rogers displayed on a wall at WQED’s Cardigan Day events, hosted on Wednesday, November 13.
Vice President plays ukulele during meeting, avoids censure USG
IMPEACH page 2
OH, CHRISTMAS TREE
Joie Knouse | The Globe
The tree at the MassMutual PPG Ice Rink was lit as part of the annual Comcast Light Up Night was held on Friday. Nov. 22 in Downtown Pittsburgh.
By Sarah Gibson USG Beat Writer
While Monday’s USG meeting ran shorter than most others held this semester, it did not fall short in terms of eventfulness. An open floor was held for senators and students to voice opinions or to make motions. Senator Bryce Hayzlett called for the impeachment of Senator Mathew Johnson. After Vice President Alexa Lake affirmed that a motion for impeachment had to be sent in with an official letter, Senator Hayzlett suggested everyone look at their emails, where he had sent the notice of impeachment. In the notice, Hayzlett alleges that Senator Johnson breached the USG Code of Ethics by forging the signatures of unknowing students on the club application for Turning Point USA, a student organization that was previously rejected by USG. The announcement was made that the impeachment trial would be held at next week’s meeting. While The Globe does not publish in print next week, coverage
of this event will be available online at ppuglobe.com. While this week’s meeting did not include the impeachment trial, a censure trial was held against Vice President Lake. Lake was accused of violating Article 2 Section 2 subsection E of the USG constitution, which states that the Vice President must post a tentative agenda in a public place 24 hours prior to the next USG meeting. Lake, finding herself unfit to oversee the matter, excused herself from the podium so the trial could be chaired by the President Pro-Tempore Grace Tyler Frank-Rempel. When Lake was given five minutes to defend herself, she pulled a ukulele out from behind the podium and sang a rendition of “Wanna-Be Angel” by Foxy Shazam. At the end of her performance, the legislative body applauded. Frank-Rempel commended her performance and then asked if there were any more comments, Parliamentarian Jess Wrzosek mentioned that while sending out the agenda was originally a job for the Vice President, in recent years, the sending of the agenda has
fallen into the duties of the position of the Communications Director. Senator Dennis McDermott asked Vice President Lake if anyone had come forward to talk to her directly on this issue before bringing it to censure. When Lake answered that they did not, Senator McDermott likened this with activity from last year, in which senators would censure others without trying to resolve the problem in person first. McDermott said that the entire censure was “extremely petty.” President Jake Berlin shared similar sentiments regarding the issue. “If you are in this organization so you can run around with a magnifying glass waiting for a ‘gotcha’ moment to censure someone, you are here for the wrong reasons,” Berlin said. “We had a censure earlier this semester because somebody felt violated. We have an impeachment on the floor because somebody feels violated. That is much different than you receiving the agenda a day before back in September and wait-
UKULELE page 3
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019
NEWS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
CARDIGAN DAY HOSTED BY WQED TO PROMOTE KINDNESS
WQED hosted Cardigan Day in honor of the late Fred Rogers on November 13, 2019. Visitors were invited to WQED studios in Oakland to celebrate Mister Rogers with commemorative items. Refreshments were also provided. Top left: Jared Murphy | The Globe Top right: Jared Murphy | The Globe Bottom left: Jared Murphy | The Globe
Students unaware of own names on Turning Point USA proposal from IMPEACH page 1 mean that they support it either way. It could just be them trying to say ‘oh let’s look into this.’ I mean that’s kind of like...the impeachment hearing for Trump is going on right now. Like a lot of people support it, not because they want to impeach Trump, but because they want the information that’s going to be gained from the investigation.” Johnson said that he got a name of another student from fellow conservative student, Logan Dubil, but that he was solely responsible for gathering the signatures on the application. When asked about how confident he felt about the upcoming trial, Johnson was unsure. “I mean if I’m being honest, not very,” Johnson said. “I don’t feel like with the history that has started with this semester, I feel as if I will not be found innocent just because of different confrontational topics I’ve brought up. I mean, I feel like I’m being looked at as I’m just this horrible, bad person, and I’m not.” Johnson also felt that it was unfair that no one brought the impeachment charges to his attention before the meeting. During the legislative body meeting, an unknown USG member brought a censure charge against Vice President Alexa Lake for not sending meeting agendas ontime. The censure charge was criticized by senators as petty and unprofessional, partially because whoever submitted it did not speak to her about it
beforehand. “I mean they all just kind of laughed at that, about censuring her. But then here they are not even censuring me, [but] impeaching me, which is a whole new level,” Johnson said. “I don’t even know the last time someone was impeached in USG.” “I don’t feel like anybody should have to tell him that is a bad thing to put people’s signatures down on a very controversial club,” Hayzlett said. “He shouldn’t need to be informed that is bad. And this was not going to turn into a little ‘slap on the wrists don’t do it again’ kind of thing.” Hayzlett said that he discussed motioning for impeachment against Johnson with multiple senators and the executive cabinet. All of the senators he spoke with were in agreement about moving forward with impeachment. Two-thirds of senators will need to be present for impeachment proceedings to begin. According to Hayzlett, it was originally supposed to begin Nov. 18, but a lack of attendance pushed back Hayzlett’s plans to bring up the impeachment charge. “This was not supposed to be right at the end of the semester. It was supposed to be at the last meeting, but then barely anyone showed up,” Hayzlett said. “And he [Johnson] didn’t even show up until the end, and I didn’t want to do it without him there because I thought that would have been disrespectful.” Vice President Alexa Lake said that she would be impartial during the impeachment proceedings next week. “I don’t have any thoughts
on it. Obviously, the investigation has to be conducted by the Parliamentarian. And I think in the same way that we had a censure that passed, two censures that didn’t this semester...we just have to see what sticks. And we’ll have to wait until the meeting to see whether or not the legislature decides that it’s significant or not,” Lake said. “But during the whole process, I can’t treat it as anything. My personal opinion doesn’t matter. I won’t be chairing it. It’s the President Pro-Tempore’s job to do that in the constitution.” Amanda Andrews
aaandre@pointpark.edu
NOV. 20, 2019 - DEC. 3, 2019
Wednesday, November 20th 12:02 p.m. - Blvd. Apts. Drug Violation
Alysse Baer | The Globe
CHOPPED! PIONEER PANTRY EDITION
Alexis Wary | The Globe
Owen Lewis, left, and Stella Dickinson, right, partook in a cooking competition put on by ADFED and PRSSA on November 19 in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom. They were tasked with preparing a meal using only ingredients from the Pioneer Pantry.
NEWS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019
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Turnstiles installed in Lawrence Hall over break Students, staff criticize communication before installation Diana Navarrete For The Globe
Students returned to Lawrence Hall after Thanksgiving Break to find four sets of security turnstiles in place at each entrance. The main purpose for installing the turnstiles in Lawrence Hall was to address concerns about unauthorized people entering the building behind other students and for extra security. “So, when students are swiping their cards, people that are not affiliated with the university can walk into the building behind them, and then have free reign to be in and about the building,” Sergeant Angela Mariani said. It was deemed necessary to install turnstiles in Lawrence Hall because of the constant activity. The next planned building that has similar issues is West Penn, although the date of when the turnstiles will be installed is unclear. It will not be this semester or the next, but it will be installed, according to Mariani. “We’re looking at mainly the buildings that have a lot of activity in and out of the front door, where the door is open. More times than not, so the problem with the chance of somebody coming in is higher in those buildings,” Mariani said. Some students and staff in Lawrence Hall were unaware that the two sets of 3-foot turnstiles would be installed in front of the inner doors on both sides of Lawrence Hall over Thanksgiving Break. The installation was planned four months ago and is estimated to take each person 1.5 seconds to get through, wrote Assistant Vice President and Chief of Police Jeffrey Besong in an email. The email was sent Oct. 1 alerting students that the turn-
Tia Bailey | The Globe
Turnstiles were installed at the Lawrence Hall entrances over Thanksgiving break. stiles would be installed. “I wanted to alert you to some changes coming to Lawrence Hall to better control access and assist our guests. In the coming weeks, turnstiles will be installed in Lawrence Hall to help stop unwanted persons from entering the building. In the future, turnstiles will be added to other University buildings,” wrote Besong. No other update or notification was sent out or received by students since that email. “I don’t check my emails. I haven’t seen anything,” said Trina Jaustene Guajardo, a freshman Public Relations and Advertising major and resident of Lawrence Hall. “Not many people check their emails, so I don’t get why they resort to that.” Lawrence Hall mail clerk Lisa Kasper was not notified of the security changes. “There were no emails, no nothing,” Kasper said. “There was a rumor mill saying they were going to do it.” Both students and Kasper acknowledged the lack of com-
munication to everyone about when, why and if the turnstiles would actually be installed. “You would think they would be telling, keeping everybody up to date to what’s going on and asking for opinions and their thoughts and everything on it before they did it,” Kasper said. Freshman Jaustene Guajardo said that the email that Besong sent on Oct. 1 left her with questions. “Like, they just said, its ‘unwanted persons.’ I think it’s way too vague, and a lot of persons like who?” Guajardo said. “I don’t know how many people actually entered. Did it happen once? Did it happen twice, three times, how many, how did they get in?” Two freshmen residents of Lawrence Hall believed that the turnstiles were unnecessary and not worth spending money, specifically tuition money if that was the case. Mariani said that she expected people to have mixed emotions about the turnstiles, but that safety is important and soon would become a
daily routine to get into the building. “You can’t complicate it with the why’s and the where’s, and you just have to look at it as like we have people getting into the building that aren’t supposed to,” Mariani said. “How do we keep them out and then come up with a solution.” Point Park Police had to take many factors in account when implementing the turnstiles and did not want to make access more difficult for students, faculty and staff. “So, the only thing we can do is just try and keep Point Park, people in our buildings, and the rest. We don’t want to discourage people from coming into our buildings, if they are authorized to come in,” Mariani said. Yet, some students were not satisfied with the school’s reason for the turnstiles. “I feel like either way there’s still going to be people who can get in the building, no matter what you do. So, I feel like turnstiles [are] not really going to make that [much of] a
difference,” cinema major Izzy Ervin said. “It just takes away money from other things in the school.” Lauren Reuther, a psychology major, also remained unconvinced with the school’s reason for installing the turnstiles. “I feel like it creates more problems than it fixes,” Reuther said. Reuther said that the turnstiles were “out of place” and “pointless.” In her opinion, it would have been better and served the same purpose of extra security with a desk attendant. “Students would be more comfortable if there is just a security guard there at all times, like with my building,” Reuther said. “That makes people feel safe number one. Number two, there wouldn’t be long lines outside. People just waiting to get in the building.” Freshman student Guajardo was frustrated with not knowing about the turnstiles in Lawrence Hall and predicted it to be chaotic. “We really should [know] since we’re going to be the ones that have to scan in every single day, but none of us know that’s going to happen. So, when we come back from break [and] try to get back into our dorms after coming back home, we’re going to be like... how do I get in?” Guajardo said. “It’s going to be chaotic, that first day we come back.” So far, students do not have to scan in to get into Lawrence Hall as the turnstiles have not been activated. According to maintenance workers, the turnstiles will not be activated until either finals week or the Spring 2020 semester. Diana Navarrete
dnavar@pointpark.edu
App helps students with financial plan Hayley Keys Co-News Editor
On Nov. 18, George Santucci, the Director of Financial Aid, sent out a mass email to all students explaining that the university had begun a partnership with the app WhichWay. In the email, Santucci said that the app would “give students direction” when it came to budgeting, financial literacy, setting goals, applying for financial aid and other money related goals or questions. According to their website, WhichWay is a free app that helps students make the most out of their college experience when it comes to money. The app is a series of modules that help college students become more educated on money and how finances work, both for college and their future after school. When opening the app, students must login and create an account before working to complete the lessons. It can be accessed both through phone or computer. Natalie Wright, a sophomore childhood psychology major, said she was excited about the app and felt that it would be useful for the student body. “I know a lot of people
don’t know how to do certain financial things and it’s something everyone is going to have to know and learn as they get older,” Wright said. “It’s best to start learning while you’re young and still in school.” Lindsay Carson, a senior broadcast reporting major, said she felt overwhelmed by her attempts at budgeting and thought an app would be beneficial. “I do not feel great about my ability to budget,” Carson said. “I struggle because I forget about bills sometimes until the day they are due. I’m at the point where I have $5 left in my savings because I messed up budgeting so much this semester.” According to Carson, an app would work well because she uses her phone for almost all aspects of her life. “I’m always on my phone for both work and entertainment, so it would make my life a lot easier,” Carson said. WhichWay is currently available on the app store, and there is login information provided in the mass email. Santucci gave no comment on why the email was sent out or why the university partnered with WhichWay. Hayley Keys
hekeys@pointpark.edu
Amanda Andrews | The Globe
USG Vice President Alexa Lake plays the ukulele during her censure trial at Monday’s meeting.
VP Lake announces departure from UKULELEpage 1 ing until December to bring it up. It’s pathetic.” He went on to say that whoever had called in the censure should be ashamed of themselves for wasting everybody’s time. He also acknowledged that if it hadn’t been for Lake’s ukulele performance, everyone in the legislative body would be more angry about the matter. Senator Jade Steele spoke in defense of Vice President Lake, saying that she was sure that Lake sent the agenda to Communications Director Dettorre well before the 24 hour mark from her own personal experience with wanting to add some-
thing to the agenda, where Lake had stated that this was not possible as she already sent it to Dettorre. Communications Director Dettorre spoke up, noting that the problem was not with Lake but with herself. She acknowledged that she had problems with keeping track of time and apologized to anyone that may have been inconvenienced by the agenda not being released 24 hours in advance. Dettorre also added that if it were an issue, it wasn’t brought to her attention either. The censure trial was then brought to a secret ballot vote. Once counted, the motion to censure Vice President Lake had 1 aye, 20 no’s and zero abstentions. Needless to say, the motion failed.
At the end of the meeting, Vice President Alexa Lake addressed the legislative body first by congratulating them on doing so much for the school this semester. She reminded them that the next meeting would be the last meeting of the year, and that it would also be her last meeting as chair, because after this semester, she would no longer be attending Point Park University. “To my Colleagues and Constituents: Farewell in the treachery. I will miss it, and I will not miss it,” Vice President Lake said. The meeting was then adjourned. Sarah Gibson
sagibso@pointpark.edu
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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019
FEATURES
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Community puts together gifts for children worldwide Pittsburgh residents use shoeboxes to wrap and send gifts By Shannon Hartnett Co-Opinions Editor
Rather than spending his day at work as an engineer on the Class 1 railroads, Richard Scott took time off to help Operation Christmas Child (OCC) during the holiday season. “It’s the best time of the year for me,” Scott said. The OCC is a ministry organization whose goal is to provide children in underdeveloped countries with toys for Christmas. The communication guide says that OCC - the world’s largest Christmas project of its kind - hopes to collect enough shoebox gifts to reach another 11 million children in more than 100 countries. Scott wrestled with alcohol and drugs before becoming sober. With his new outlook on life he intends to give back to others as much as he can. “Having [a] real feeling of salvation and being rescued, given that second chance, being saved from the grip of drugs and alcohol,” Scott said. “I see such a high in this ministry and in helping and serving because I’ve seen the lows and I’ve seen some really ugly things. But that’s changed.” Scott started by going to stores like Target and K-Mart and getting shoe boxes in the hundreds. “I understood what the ministry accomplished and what it did,” Scott said. “I saw the spirit of giving in people. That’s always attracted me, people just giving selflessly, children giving selflessly, and that was an immediate attraction to me. In this big ministry, the end result is that the children receive the opportunity to understand the love of Jesus. I love that about OCC.” According to the OCC communication guide, over 10.6 million shoebox gifts were collected worldwide in 2018, 8.8 million of which came from the U.S. Scott contributes to that number every year. “I try to beat my goal every year, so I’m up to 50 box-
PIONEER PUBLIC Lauren Reuther By Diana Navarrete For The Globe
Lauren Reuther, sophomore psychology major, was able to create Point Park Cares and spread kindness to those who need it with the help of Dr. Sera Mathew as their club advisor. The idea to create the club came to her while she was volunteering at the Wood Street Commons in in her Community Engage-
es,” Scott said. “I look all year for supplies. I had the opportunity to talk to someone who received a box when he was a child and I asked him what was in the box and he said a truck. I said, ‘I love trucks’ and we just smiled. I shook his hand and I’ve been putting nice toy trucks in the boxes ever since.” When looking for gifts and supplies for the boxes, Scott said he gravitates toward girls ages 2-4. When he discovered that boys ages 10-14 were the least contributed group, he started contributing to them more. Throughout the year, Scott said he gets ideas for what sort of gifts to give, and when he comes across a deal, he buys it and stores it in his shed. One of the most common items Scott collects for the kids is pens. “I grab pens everywhere I go, that’s school supplies,” Scott said. “It sticks with me that the children will have an opportunity to go to school and they might only need that pen, so that’s another key focus.” While toys are “clearly essential,” school supplies and toiletries are essential as well. “You can be handed a bible and not have shoes on your feet, but you might be better served if you have shoes, socks, pens, pencils and then a bible,” Scott said. The OCC communication guide says that more than 100,000 volunteers serve in the U.S. during National Collection Week and processing season. Alyssa Campbell, a sophomore public relations and advertising major, brought the project to Point Park after participating since she was young with her church, with plans to make it bigger. The drop off dates for the boxes were November 18 and 20 on Point Park’s campus, just before Thanksgiving break. “For next year I want OCC to be even bigger,” Campbell said. “Last year I ordered a bunch of stuff online and I unfortunately lost a lot of it, but ment class. “After our class ended, I didn’t want people to stop going there,” Reuther said. “So I thought, ‘I think it’s about time that we work together with them to do something.’” Although Reuther just started the club last semester, she said that it has helped her discover her career path. Reuther said that she was always interested in the psychology field, but with the volunteering that she has done, she now wants to work in community psychology. “It helps me as much as it helps other people, because now I feel like I have a good grasp on what I want to actually do,” Reuther said. She said that she has also learned of the endless volunteer opportunities that students can take part in that some might not know of. “I didn’t really realize there were so many differ-
Shannon Hartnett | The Globe Some packed boxes of gifts from the members of Homestead Park Methodist Church on Nov. 24.
next year we are going to get more supplies.” To start, Cambell explained that volunteers like Scott have a shoebox and they pick an age range and gender themselves, and fill that box and ship it off to a child somewhere. The stuff that goes in the box can range from personal hygiene items such as bars of soap to toys such as coloring books, crayons and small balls. However, there are limits to some of the things that you put in the boxes. Liquids, war related toys and food are typically not allowed to go into the boxes. According to Campbell, a table is set up on Wednesday nights outside of The U before the OCC had their service advertised. “Alyssa really headed up the whole thing,” Sara Pais, president of The U and senior mass communication major, said. “[She] told me she ordered 50 boxes and that she would be happy with giving away 10, but we gave out all the boxes, so I’m excited about that.” The U is a student organization on campus that allows Christian students to gather together and attend a weekly service and fellowship.
With Pais graduating next spring, she hopes that the next leader of The U welcomes Campbell and helps her do this project again. “There are so many little kids who are going to be blessed by this and it’s so cool to see college students doing it,” Pais said. According to Campbell, they received 25 boxes total, which exceeded expectations. “We all know the folks who have struggled and succumbed to [drugs and alcohol], and there’s a lot of reasons why I could have ended up that way, thousands of times, but I was spared so I’ll continue to serve to give back for the second chance I’ve been given,” Scott said. Scott, like others, finds satisfaction and comfort in doing their part to give back and help a child in need. “This one time this woman came in looking pretty frail with her husband, gave the box and thanked us. She said a small prayer and left, and then her husband came back in and gave us the money donation,” Scott said. “I asked ‘Is your wife okay? She looks a little tired.’ He said she had stage four lung cancer. Despite her sickness she made it to
the church with a completely packed box to give, with whatever time she had left.” “You’ll always find a positive upshot out of me, every time, because there is no reason to be otherwise,” Scott said. Scott said he doesn’t like “to get caught up with the numbers” when it comes to how many boxes were donated. “I’ll hear people say we had a bad year, we didn’t get as many boxes, but I have to stop them, because I will not attach any negative aspect to this ministry,” Scott said. “We get as many boxes as we were intended to get, not less than last year, there’s no negative, positive all the time.” Keeping negatives out of this aspect, Scott is proud of the work and effort he and the members of his ministry do for the OCC, but is humbled by their personal reasons to give back. “I’m just another cog on the wheel,” Scott said. “I strive to hear the words one day, ‘Well done my good and faithful servant.’ I consider it a privilege and an honor to serve in this ministry.”
Shannon Hartnett snhartn@pointpark.edu
ent places you could volunteer at Downtown and stuff like that,” Reuther said. “I just want my club to be a way for people to find volunteer opportunities that they actually want to do.” She said that she hopes to find more volunteers for future projects and events. “But I will say though it has been kind of challenging to find students who are interested in doing volunteer work, and that which is understandable,” Reuther said. Reuther said that she is satisfied with knowing that her actions are making a big difference. “I’m just happy to put a smile on anybody’s face, especially people who, you know, are going through a rough time in their life,” Reuther said.
Diana Navarrete dnavar@pointpark.edu
Lauren Reuther | Submitted
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THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019
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Fred Rogers leaves lasting impact on fans of TV series By Jake Dabkowski For The Globe
“Fame is a four-letter word; and like tape, zoom, face, pain, life or love, what ultimately matters is what we do with it.” Mister Rogers said this during his acceptance speech to the Television Hall of Fame in 1999. Rogers knew that his platform could be used to do good, a decision which would go on to impact people of all different backgrounds, generations, religious beliefs and careers. I realized this when I started asking around for people who had been impacted by Rogers for this article. Noah Neal is a cinema major at Point Park, who feels that as a child he was “subjected to a lot of television that, looking back, feels
like a disingenuous product.” Unlike most shows, however, Mister Rogers “had nothing but respect and admiration for his audience. He fully understood the wonder of childhood and presented his show in such a respectful, educational, and genuine way… that’s what impacted me the most when I was a kid while watching the show.” Adam Chaplin is a sophomore at the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown, studying chemical engineering. When Chaplin was assigned a speech for a public speaking class on who his hero was and why, he chose Mister Rogers. “Instead of using his gift of being on television for popularity and stardom, Mister Rogers used his gift for the greater good, teaching kids’
lessons in life that will impact them forever,” Chaplin wrote in his speech. “He taught us how to embrace love. He taught us that there are many ways to tell someone that you love them from just hanging up a coat before being asked to do so, to reminding someone to take an umbrella because it’s raining outside.” Maggie English is a hairstylist at Philip Pelusi in the South Hills. She felt that “Mister Rogers softened the hearts of countless children, especially the ones who didn’t have a strong moral influence in their childhood.” She also was the first person I talked to who acknowledged his influence on their faith. “It isn’t shocking to know that he prayed before every broadcast, ‘let some word that is heard be thine.’ Although he did not explicitly teach his faith on the show, his actions did,” English said. Joseph McNamara is the drummer for the metal band “The Shape of Black Phillip.” “He instilled in my brain
from a very young age that treating your ‘neighbor’ with respect is the only option if you wanted to be successful in life.” McNamara, who grew up in Pittsburgh, acknowledged how Rogers was “able to become one of the most well known faces of Pittsburgh and the wholesome icon he is today, even years after his passing.” Dave Barr is a pastor at Peters Creek Baptist Church in South Park, Pa. Barr started watching the show when it first began airing in the late sixties and early seventies. Barr feels that Mister Rogers’ “commitment to love people exactly the way they are spoke to my generation and continues to echo long after his death,” and that “he truly lived an example of Christ’s love.” Dr. Francois Clemmons is an American actor, singer, university lecturer and playwright. Fans of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood know him as Officer Clemmons, a role he played on the show from 1968 to 1993. Clemmons first met Rogers in 1968 on Good
Friday after Clemmons sang during the Stations of the Cross. Rogers invited Clemmons to lunch. “I was suspicious of him because he seemed to be so kind and he seemed to instinctively know what I needed,” Clemmons recalled to me over email. He considered Mister Rogers a “surrogate father.” What made Clemmons realized how generous and genuine Mister Rogers was people who would “confide to Fred about things… he always seemed to have time to hear what they had to say!” Across five decades and four generations, Mister Rogers taught important lessons, provided hundreds of hours of entertainment and impacted countless lives. Nothing sums Mister Rogers’ influence better than something that Dr. Clemmons told me: “Fred’s love healed me, I would not be the person I am today had it not been for his unconditional love and kindness.”
By Dara Collins Editor-In-Chief
is what makes a happy, feelgood day for them.” For DeBiase, an episode of Mr. Rogers marks a good day. “Mr. Rogers has just had a wonderful impact on my life,” DeBiase said. “When I was in high school, when I was going through a tough time, I would just watch an old episode, and I still do every now and then.” DeBiase appreciates the opportunities he’s been given from ‘Live Like Fred’ and the Inspiring Neighbors, but he doesn’t want to take all the credit. “‘Live Like Fred’ has just led me to endless possibilities,” DeBiase said. “It kind of bothers me saying that because I never want ‘Live Like Fred’ to necessarily be about me because it’s about all our Inspiring Neighbors and the work they do. I’m just the person that’s there to ask them the questions about it.” DeBiase was even able to use “Live Like Fred” as a talking point when applying for an open casting call for “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood,” and he was called on the last day of filming in Pittsburgh. “I actually interviewed one of the set designers on set of the [Mr. Rogers] movie when I met her that night...I was telling a few people about [Live Like Fred], and she loved what I did,” DeBiase said. Aside from the networking, DeBiase remembers a memorable moment on set with actor Tom Hanks. “This is one of my favorite memories of it: When we wrapped for the night, [Hanks] started singing “It’s Such a
Good Feeling,” and I think about that a lot because that was just awesome,” DeBiase said. “It was really moving... and it made me realize how much ‘Live Like Fred’ could have an impact on people.” DeBiase hopes his viewers follow in the footsteps of Mr. Rogers after watching one of his videos. “[I hope people] go out into the world and make it a better place,” DeBiase said. “Another thing is simply just be kind to somebody because I think that was the core message that Mr. Rogers was trying to send out over the 30 years that he did Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood.” “One of the quotes that I always like to say is that even if you’re kind to one person, you’re already making the world a better place,” he said. When asked how long “Live Like Fred” will continue, DeBiase says it’s a mystery. “I guess as long as it can go,” DeBiase said. “I love what we do right now, and I feel like Mr. Rogers’ philosophies are so important right now in today’s world, and I just think that ‘Live Like Fred’ can really be something that people can turn to for positivity on social media. That’s our goal, to spread positivity on social media, and knowing that if someone’s having a bad day or if anyone’s going through a tough time, just come to us, watch our videos and, hopefully, it can put a smile on your face.”
Jake Dabkowski jcdabko@pointpark.edu
Student inspired by Mr. Rogers, finds those who ‘Live Like Fred’
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons Fred Rogers rehearses the opening of his PBS show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” during a taping in this June 28, 1989 file photo, in Pittsburgh.
‘A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood’ evokes feelings of comfort, nostalgia By Tia Bailey Co-Features/A&E Editor
On Nov. 22, the movie “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” was released to theaters. The movie is about the beloved childhood show host Mr. Fred Rogers, with Tom Hanks taking on the role of the man himself. “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is set up -in a way-- as if it were an episode of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” It starts off on the set of Mr. Rogers, and the iconic theme song plays as Rogers comes into the house and puts on his cardigan. He then uses one of his bits to introduce the main character of the movie, Lloyd Vogel, who is an award-winning journalist that works for Esquire. Audiences get a feel for Vogel’s character as he is chided for his reputation as a journalist-- he exposes the people he interviews. This leads to him interviewing Mr. Rogers, who happened to be the only one who agreed to speak to Vogel, given his reputation. Vogel meets and speaks with Mr. Rogers on multiple occasions, and the more he speaks to the beloved host, the more character development we see from him. The movie showcases Mr. Rogers’ kindness and love for people throughout the whole film. Audiences see Mr. Rogers as he interacts with children, makes a habit of praying for people
by name, sings along to his theme song with a community on a subway and more. The film is based loosely off of a true story, about an Esquire journalist named Tum Junod who was given the assignment to profile Mr. Rogers. While “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” tackles somewhat dark, real-life issues, it still remains positive thanks to Mr. Rogers’ mindset and lessons. Even while talking about death, he remains hopeful and explains, “to die is human and anything human is mentionable. Anything mentionable is manageable.” This is one of the many inspirational and reassuring quotes by Mr. Rogers in the movie. Although the events of the movie are heavy, it’s still upbeat and is an overall feel-good movie. It has themes of forgiveness, friendship and kindness. Hanks captures Mr. Rogers’ essence and personality brilliantly in the movie. No one else could have taken on this role like Hanks, who was coincidentally Mr. Rogers’ favorite actor (as well as his distant cousin). “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” is comforting and nostalgic, especially for those who grew up watching “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.”
Tia Bailey tbaile@pointpark.edu
Fred Rogers inspired a young Colton DeBiase from the television screen at his babysitter’s house. Now, DeBiase finds the spirit of Mr. Rogers in those around him and shares them through his project, “Live Like Fred.” “It’s a campaign where we express the philosophies of kindness and love as Mr. Rogers did everyday,” DeBiase said. During a visit to Point Park in February 2018, DeBiase recalls a conversation with professor Robin Cecala that birthed the idea of “Live Like Fred.” “Robin told me that you’re always welcome to use our equipment for any stuff that you would want to do outside the classroom,” DeBiase said. “My mom and I were brainstorming on the way home, and I was thinking I want to do something with Mr. Rogers. Then my mom thought of the name ‘Live Like Fred,’ and it just went from there.” Caught up in the chaos of the end of senior year, DeBiase and his mother put the idea on hold and asked others for their input. “We actually got in contact with Tonia Caruso,” DeBiase said. “She was a former anchor for WQED, and we told her about this thing that we had, we just didn’t know what to do with it. She was the one who suggested, ‘Why don’t you interview people who are living like Fred?’” The first interview took place just five months later in July. “It just grew from there,” DeBiase said. The “Live Like Fred” YouTube channel now has 65 videos, as of Nov. 24, and 52 subscribers. The project also can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The interview subjects, dubbed Inspiring Neighbors, are picked primarily through word of mouth, according to DeBiase. “We always ask them what they do and then we ask them some questions about Mr. Rogers,” DeBiase said. “The question that we always ask our Inspiring Neighbors
Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu
Screenshot | “Live Like Fred” YouTube Channel A screeshot from DeBiase’s “Live Like Fred” YouTube channel of his latest video with David Newell, also known as Mr. McFeely.
6
OPINIONS
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019
THE
GL BE’S POINT Equality for COPA students of color
The week before Thanksgiving break, the Dean of the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA), Steven Breese, held a “town hall” meeting to discuss the show “Adding Machine: A Musical.” During the meeting, many students of color courageously stood and explained their reasoning for being opposed to the musical, revealing their personal history and experiences with racism. The students involved were not in support of performing the show, displaying their own trauma with having to deal with the content during the rehearsal process. The meeting was humbling. It was powerful. The students who fought against injustice were extremely graceful. We at The Globe support you. The bottom line is, the meeting should not have had to happen. Students of color should not have had to stand and lay their trauma on the line for hours in front of hundreds of people in order for change to occur. As several students present pointed out, individual students had been meeting with COPA staff and faculty throughout the semester and previous semesters to discuss their concerns
with the content of shows put on in the Playhouse. Evidently, their voices were not heard, as up until this point, change had not occurred. Last Thursday’s meeting was productive and ushered in a new era of change for not only COPA students, but the entirety of the university. Students of color deserve equality. They should not be subjected to hearing racial slurs and insensitive content for the sake of “art,” if it can be called that. The university-wide change starts with the unwavering strength of the COPA students of color. These students are continuing and winning the fight to be included in the selection of Playhouse seasons and the deletion of the COPA handbook requirements that force students on scholarship to accept roles, no matter how uncomfortable those roles or the show’s content may be. Students, this is our university. We pay mass amounts of money to be here and receive an education. We must fight for what is right, and apparently, this includes fighting for the right to not have to fight.
Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Cherry, problematic hockey icon, ‘should’ve been fired long ago’ By Austin Alkire Co-Sports Editor
Mr. Rogers once said “To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is, right here and now.” We are in the 21st century. Acceptance should be common sense. As Brodie would say in the Jay and Silent Bob Reboot, cue the music. Hockey icon Don Cherry decide to drop a xenophobic bomb on Sportsnet’s Hockey Night in Canada’s viewers. Cherry said, on air, “You people… you love our way of life, you love our milk and honey, at least you can pay a couple bucks for a poppy or something like that.” Don Cherry was venting his frustrations with immigrants not wearing poppies on the weekend before Veteran’s Day (or Remembrance Day in Canada.) Did Don Cherry have the right to be upset with people who did not wear poppies? Yes. Did Don Cherry have the right to call out immigrants (“you people”) and only immigrants, for this? No. Cherry claims that he meant everything and happened to choose the wrong words when he spoke on pre-recorded TV. That brings up a whole other issue that nobody in Sportsnet decided “Hey, maybe ole’ Don said something he shouldn’t have.”
Part of the issue arises from the fact that Don could not agree on an apology with Sportsnet, and from Cherry’s past xenophobic remarks. To fully understand why Cherry deserved to be fired, one must look at his past and answer the simple question of “who is Don Cherry?” Don Cherry was, and still is to some, a hockey icon. The native Ontarian played for the Boston Bruins in one game in 1955 before becoming the Bruins’ head coach in 1974. While Cherry never won a Stanley Cup, he was known for how he coached his teams. Cherry’s Bruins teams were known as the lunch-pail gang for their tough style of play. Filling the ice with enforcers and grinders, Boston would make the game physically tough. This was a style that everyone seemed to love back in the day. The gritty, hardnosed teams of the 70s and 80s were much more fun for the - cough, cough- boomers, who watched their beloved game grow. Don Cherry went on to become a Canadian television star. Hockey Night in Canada and Coach’s Corner is where fans could see Cherry express his love for the game, or hate for it if it was deemed too “soft.” Cherry helped his icon status by wearing vibrant, and oftentimes crazy suits. To simply put it, he was
an icon for young fans back in his coaching and early-TV days. With the game growing “softer” and faster, Cherry and his fans grew to hate the game, or at least parts of it. With players like Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews and Nathan MacKinnon dominating the game with their speed and skill, the game lost its grittiness with the lack of grinders and enforcers, who were replaced by the young players. With rule changes over time and fighting slowly disappearing, the game saw less acts of toughness and less grit-and-grind. After all of that, the game slowly lost Don Cherry and his fans. With Cherry losing his way, he sought pride in his home country of Canada. Hockey is naturally dominated by Canadians. However, the past few decades have seen an increase in Americans and Europeans. This is when Cherry’s true, xenophobic character came out. This is why Don Cherry, a hockey icon, should have been fired a long time ago. Read the full story online at ppuglobe.com
Austin Alkire apalkir@pointpark.edu
Puppets from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe By Hannah Walden Co-Features/A&E Editor
Growing up watching Mister Rogers Neighborhood is equal parts learning and growing into the person Fred knew we could become. Watching him do different segments with a number of puppets eases the child into understanding the topics Mister Rogers was teaching us. But who was the best puppet from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe? Like most ranking lists, I will start with the worst, and work my way up to the best.
#7 Lady Elaine Fairchilde
Need I say more? Her name is a mouth-full and super pretentious, and she is usually an antagonist when the story needs one. Although she isn’t an evil protagonist, she usually challenges King Friday XIII’s authority and has the worst catch-phrase I’ve ever heard. Who would ever say “Okay, toots” on a children’s show? And while looks should never be counted against a person, Lady Elaine is the scariest looking puppet I’ve ever seen on this show or on other shows. As if her large red nose with matching dark red cheeks isn’t scary enough, her loud, scratchy, angry voice seals her fate in
being the worst puppet from the Neighborhood.
#6 X the Owl
As a child, I loved X because I thought that his knowledge on many things was interesting and made him a smart character. However, I also liked him because I was a hard-headed kid that would rather dig my heels in rather than admit I was wrong or change my mind about something. As I got a little older I found his know-it-all personality and hard-headedness to be a bit pretentious. One of X’s best qualities was his humor towards the other puppets and live actors.
#5 King Friday XIII
A fitting stereotype of a king, King Friday can easily be described as egocentric, irrational, temperamental and resistant to change, however he is open-minded enough to listen to the actors when he is wrong. Naturally he has a fondness for giving long-winded speeches and using big words. While his personality traits feel very much like a caricature, King Friday is a very interesting and quirky character that it’s hard not to enjoy him. He even addresses people kingly by stating “Henrietta Pussycat, I presume.”
#4 Henrietta Pussycat
This sharply dressed cat with kind and gentle mannerisms won her over in the hearts of anxious and quiet kids. She has a habit of randomly inserting “meow” into sentences, as she is a cat, but she will add more “meows” and speak in shorter sentences when she is nervous or anxious. She also appreciates beautiful things which is shown through her beautiful clothes and her lovely house in the tree next to X the Owl. Henrietta always felt like a very kind and genuine character that is very in-touch with her feelings and, as a very emotional child myself, I could see myself and the way I felt about situations that would make me feel anxious or sad in her.
#3 Prince Tuesday
While he may be a part of the royal family, Prince Tuesday is a very down to earth and kind character. As one of the two characters to age in the show, albeit from a newborn to elementary aged kid, Tuesday is so kind and understanding of situations it can be difficult to see how he is King Friday’s son at times. Maybe it is because he is young and can represent the newer royals that aren’t as arrogant and single minded as the royals of
old, such as his father. Prince Tuesday is an overall relatable character, even if he is royalty.
#2 The Neighborhood Trolley
Bet you didn’t think that the Trolley counts as a character from the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, but it does. This small, red sentient electric trolley travels back and forth between the Neighborhood of Make-Believe and Mister Rogers’ home, taking the viewers along with it. Trolley communicates through a whistle and bell, and moves back and forth along the track to get characters’ attention. For a Trolley, it sure was sassy and even had a personality, or as much as a small electric trolley can have. Trolley is also the only character that can travel between both of the worlds on the show, making it the segway from segment to segment, world to world. The Trolley was such an interesting way to explain some subject matter to kids and transition throughout the episodes, and a nice little tie for the city’s T-lines.
#1 Daniel Striped Tiger
I know it might feel like an obvious choice to put Daniel at the top of this list, but he deserves it. He was one of the most used characters when it
came to difficult subject matter, like Kennedy’s assassination in 1968, or dealing with issues of feeling like a mistake. Daniel is a very kind, gentle and child-like character that many kids, including myself, really resonated with. Daniel would ask questions that I would have while watching the episode; he felt like another kid that felt and thought just like all of the other kids. He was able to articulate the fears and anxieties many kids have in such a way that the issue could be addressed properly and the viewer would know how to handle the situation thanks to Daniel and his questions. If you don’t already love Daniel, Mister Rogers and his wife Joanne have even discussed how Daniel is a part of Fred and was his way of articulating his fears without having to outright say them himself. While these aren’t all of the puppet friends that you can meet while visiting the Neighborhood of Make-Believe, these are the most memorable, the most used and the ones that really have deep personalities that kids can resonate with in different situations. Except Lady Elaine, she’s mean and scary.
Hannah Walden hwalde@pointpark.edu
Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967 Editor-in-Chief: Dara Collins Editor-Elect: Jordyn Hronec Business Manager: Cortnie Phillips Faculty Adviser: Aimee-Marie Dorsten Administrative Adviser: Dean Keith Paylo The Globe board consists of Dara Collins, Jordyn Hronec 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 at the corner of Wood Street and Fort Pitt Boulevard. Writers should address letters to:
The Globe 201 Wood Street, Box 23 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 or globe@pointpark.edu
Advertising: Submit advertising related inquiries to globeadvertising@pointpark.edu All ads must be approved by the university. The deadline for ads is Friday at 5 p.m. Details: ppuglobe.com/advertising Story Ideas: If you have a story you think The Globe can use, email globe@pointpark.edu Meetings: Mondays at 2:40 p.m. in the CMI Details: ppuglobe.com/contribute
News Editors: Amanda Andrews, Hayley Keys Photo Editor: Jared Murphy Features/A&E Editors: Hannah Walden, Tia Bailey Photo Editor: Julia Cavataio Sports Editors: Allison Schubert, Austin Alkire Photo Editor: Hannah Johnston
Public Relations Coordinator: Diego Febres-Cordero Graphic Design: Alysse Baer Staff Photographers: Emma Federkeil, Siena Ciancia, Katie Williams Staff Writers: Rosalie Anthony, Jake Berlin, Rachael McKriger, Ben Reinke, Luke Mongelli, Mason Strawn, Chandni Shah
Opinions Editors: Sarah Gibson, Shannon Copy Editors: Mya Burns, Amara Phillips Hartnett Delivery Assistant: Mya Burns Online Editor: Nicole Pampena Copy Desk: Sara Cronin, Nathan Vrablic Social Media Coordinator: Hannah Johnston
SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
All In with Allison By Allison Schubert Sports Columnist
#1BigTeam As you may know from the front page of this fine newspaper, this week we are doing a Mister Rogers-themed issue to celebrate “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” coming out in theaters (to celebrate one of Pittsburgh’s most beloved celebrities). For those of you that do not know, Mister Rogers was a children’s television star that taught everyone to love their neighbors despite any and all differences you may have with them. Basically, he epitomized (and still epitomizes) all that is good and pure and precious in this world. It was really hard to think of a way to tie the themes of Mister Rogers into the sports section, but then I remembered something that is being done within our athletic department this year: #1BigTeam. It is no surprise to anyone when I say that the athletics department is put on the back burner of the university. Pioneer Pride is sorely lacking around campus. To combat the lack of attendance and boost the pride within the athletes, the athletic department started a program of sorts that they have been utilizing throughout the entire semester. So the basis of this program is to get athletes from various teams to go to each other’s games, matches, etc.
The athletes then get points for their team based on how many other sporting events they go to. I have heard some people call it “juvenile,” but I think it is a great idea; not only does it boost the attendance of the sporting events, but they also bring their friends and their friends’ friends and eventually more and more people start to become actual fans of the Pioneers. What a weird concept: we have to almost coax our students to be fans of our school’s athletic teams. The sportsmanship aspect of the #1BigTeam program is what will eventually circle back around to Mister Rogers. It may not be loving each other or helping a friend in need, but sportsmanship and supporting each other is also a message of Mister Rogers, and you cannot tell me that it is against what he would have wanted. I do not know how long the #1BigTeam program/ idea will last beyond this school year, but I hope that it is something that will be a mainstay at Point Park, at least until our students take it upon themselves to support our teams. Everyone at Point Park is a family, despite how cliche it sounds; we are all #1BigTeam.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019
7
Men fall to 4-4 overall after 0-2 run over break road trip By Mason Strawn Staff Writer
The men’s basketball team faced off against Salem University and Malone University over the last two weekends, losing to both 9386 and 79-76, respectively. The team’s record is now at 4-4 overall and 2-4 on the road this season. The Pioneers will have a two-game home stand starting this Saturday before the semester ends on Friday. Point Park faced off against NCAA Division II opponent Salem University to start off break on Nov. 23. The men held a lead for most of the first half, but went into the second half down by only three. The Pioneers did not see a lead for the rest of the game, bringing the game within a bucket with a little over two minutes to go. They were not able to capitalize though, and ended up falling to Salem by seven. Sophomore Sherron Schifino was a bright spot on the stat sheet, scoring 27 points to compliment three rebounds and an assist coming off the bench. Point Park dominated the stat sheet again, out-rebounding and outshooting Salem, but gave up almost double the turnovers. “Overall, I think we have a team that’s going to compete and play with energy every game,” junior guard Mark Shehady said. “If we’re able to eliminate turnovers and mental errors, I think we can compete with a lot of teams regardless of how much bigger or athletic they are in comparison to us.” The Pioneers then faced another NCAA Division II
Mallory Neil | Point Park Athletics Sophomore guard Sherron Schifino goes up for an uncontested layup in a game against Bryant & Stratton-Buffalo last week.
team in Malone University on Saturday, Nov. 30. Malone scored first and never looked back, never giving up the lead, though Point Park tried to keep it close with three minutes remaining. The Pioneers could not close it out and fell to 4-4 overall after starting the season 2-0. Point Park outshot Malone, but both sides shot for less than 50% from the field. Malone out-rebounded the Pioneers quite handily, and kept the turnovers close to the same. Sophomore Kameron Shockley led the team with 16 points and seven rebounds, alongside two as-
sists and two steals. “Last week’s loss was still fresh in my mind,” Shockley said. “My team also helped on a lot of my scoring by finding me in the right spots at the right times.” Even with the team’s .500 record, the Pioneers are still undefeated at home this season. The men will look to start off the month of December and River States Conference play by facing off at fellow Pittsburgh school Carlow University on Saturday, then will face off against Salem once again at home next Tuesday.
Mason Strawn mtstraw@pointpark.edu
NAIA CROSS COUNTRY NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
POINT PARK TEAM HONORS: Women’s Cross Country 27th in NAIA
INDIVIDUAL HONORS: Alyssa Campbell NAIA All-American
Xavier Stephens 84th of 335
Brody Carlin 239th of 335
8
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2019
SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Grad student finishes tenure with The Globe, looks ahead to future in the sports industry By Austin Alkire Co-Sports Editor
After over a year at The Globe, graduate student Rachael McKriger will be leaving the student paper to focus on finishing her degree. McKriger began writing for The Globe in her first semester of graduate school, last year. “I was tasked to cover the women’s soccer team as my beat,” McKriger said. “I wanted to keep writing for a college newspaper when I got to graduate school. Back in my undergrad studies at California Univ. of Pennsylvania, I was the editor-in-chief of the paper two out of my three years in college. So, going back to being a writer was a cool experience.” For McKriger, getting into journalism was originally a diversion from the typical subjects in high school. “I’m not good at math. I hate science. I loved writing and I loved history in school. Then I discovered sports journalism and it was like a whole new world was open,” McKriger said. “A lot of kids don’t know what they’re going to do with their lives in their junior and senior years of high school, but I was cemented in being a journalist.” McKriger decided to become a graduate student in order to pursue her dream job. “Eventually, I want to work as the communication director for a club in the NWSL or MLS,” McKriger said. “Plus, to be completely frank, I would have never gone back if I didn’t go immediately after graduating from Cal U.” Before she joined The
Rachael McKriger | Submitted Graduate student Rachael McKriger has been a member of The Globe since first coming to Point Park. McKriger is pictured above taking photos for the U.S. Women’s National soccer team in Columbus, Ohio.
Globe, McKriger’s expectations were raised for Point Park’s student run newspaper. “Everyone was so nice and welcoming when I got here and I made really fast friendships with Allison Schubert and Dara Collins, two people I worked with closely since they were sports editors,” McKriger said. Gracey Evans, who graduated last year from undergrad, met McKriger at Point Park’s orientation, which McKriger attended as she almost initially chose Point Park to pursue her undergrad degree. Evans was the biggest influence on McKriger’s decision to join The Globe. “She always talked about The Globe and I always talk-
ed about our paper at Cal U, the Cal Times,” McKriger said. “I knew that it was a really good paper and she had to do very little convincing in getting me to join when I came here in 2018.” Balancing being a grad student, writing for The Globe, and working other jobs has been a challenge for McKriger. “There are times where it can be completely overwhelming,” McKriger said. “Add in the fact that I’m working a full-time job at DICK’S and I coach basketball two-to-three days a week, and it’s a lot to deal with. Having a calendar is the best thing that I could ever have to keep me sane. It’s all about finding time,
too, to decompress. Her family also plays a big role in helping McKriger maintain her composure. “I live with my parents still — and note, don’t be in such a hurry to move out, kids. Living with your folks has major perks and I’m glad mine like me enough to keep me around,” McKriger said. “So spending time with them helps relieve any stress. I’m still working on how to keep everything balanced. To be honest, I don’t think my life, with the 10 million things I’m constantly doing, will ever be balanced.” After leaving The Globe, McKriger will be focusing on graduating, then she will have to make a decision for her career, or po-
tential careers. “Right now, my journey is in God’s hands,” McKriger said. “I want to work in the NWSL or MLS after graduation, but at the same time, if the better choice is for me to stay at DICK’S for the time being, I’m completely OK with that. I work with a great team. I work at a great company with a lot of respect for its workers. I’m really content where I’m at now, but obviously I want that dream job down the road.” McKriger does have advice for anyone looking to make a life out of journalism. “You have to join The Globe,” McKriger said. “When I was at Cal U, I had a wonderful adviser who sat me down and said, ‘Listen, if you’re in journalism, you’re going to write for the newspaper.’ He was surprised when I told him, ‘Yeah, hey, already doing that.’ But you have to if you want a career. Getting good grades is great and all, but you need clippings.” Patience is also important, according to McKriger. “Like I said, journalism isn’t my full-time job. It’s a lot of different part-time jobs,” McKriger said. “Your dream job isn’t falling into your lap, no matter where you go to school or what student publication you write for. You need to work. You need to put in long hours. Sometimes, you might even need to do some unpaid writing to get your name out there. Just remember that if you work hard, you will reap the reward.”
Austin Alkire apalkir@pointpark.edu
Women pick up big victories over Thanksgiving break
Burns shows up big in late-game offense against Washington Adventist By Allison Schubert Co-Sports Editor
While the rest of the students on Point Park’s campus were home for Thanksgiving break, the women’s basketball team was traveling around the area for three non-conference matchups. The first of their three wins came on Nov. 20 at Washington Adventist University thanks to sophomore guard Michelle Burns. Burns led all scorers with 25 points in the game but went into the final push of the game with just 21 points and the Pioneers down 66-63. She drove the ball down the court and sank a game-tying 3-pointer with just six seconds left to tie the game at 66. The Shock then called a time out that they did not have, resulting in a technical foul and sending Burns to the free throw line to score the eventual game-winning point and giving Point Park the victory, 67-66. The Pioneers had two other players in double digits: Baylie Mook with 13 points and Ariana Sanders with 11. Junior Carly Lutz and freshman Taylor Rinn each grabbed ten rebounds, assisting the offensive effort. Four days after the bat-
tle against Washington Adventist, Point Park found itself on the good side of a blowout against Penn State-York (PSU-York). The Pioneers asserted their dominance early on, taking a 28-6 lead after the first ten minutes and a 5723 lead by the half. Freshman guard Taylor Kirschner scored 17 of her team-leading 19 points in the first twenty minutes. Sanders sank 12 of her 14 in the first half as well. Point Park shot 48% overall and out-rebounded PSU-York 36-25 to give them their second-straight victory of the break, 94-58. To round out the three games of Thanksgiving break, Point Park traveled to Bryant & Stratton-Rochester. In what was another back-and-forth battle for the Pioneers, Burns and Kirschner led the offense to a 78-72 victory to complete the trifecta of Point Park women’s basketball over the break. The Pioneers open River States Conference play this weekend, traveling across the city to Carlow University on Saturday before a rematch of non-conference Washington Adventist, but this time on Point Park’s home turf at CCAC-Allegheny.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
Mallory Neil | Point Park Athletics ABOVE: Freshman guard Sierra Seneta dribbles around a defender at CCAC-Allegheny. BELOW: Another freshman guard, Taylor Kirschner, attempts to drive the ball to the hoop in a game hosting Bryant & Stratton-Buffalo last week.