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@PPUGlobe January 15, 2020
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Meet this week’s Pioneer Public: Australian-American Alex Gill talks bushfires Kendra Summers weighs in on how the military preys upon low-income families Competitive Dance opens season last Friday with a second-place victory ppuglobe.com
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Issue 2
PITTSBURGH DEMANDS CLEANER AIR President holds first open forum meeting Jordyn Hronec Editor-Elect
Jared Murphy | 90.5 WESA Protestors gather outside of the City-County Building in Downtown Pittsburgh demanding cleaner air in Allegheny County on Friday, Jan. 10.
Campus collaborative restaurant fails less than a year after opening
Wolfie’s Pub closes doors, lays off students Jake Berlin Staff Writer
When students returned last week for the Spring semester, some lost their favorite place to eat, while others lost their jobs. Wolfie’s Pub and Molinaro Ristorante, both operated locally by MW Hospitality in the Market Square area of Pittsburgh, shut their doors suddenly over the first weekend of January. The permanent closures came without warning to employees and
fans of the restaurants— many of whom are Point Park students. Managing partner Bob Wolfinger was not available for comment as Pioneers are left searching for answers as to why they may have closed and where they will get their next paycheck. Ty’Anthony Scott is a sophomore Musical Theater major at Point Park and a former server’s assistant at Molinaro. He was employed for less than three months
Jordyn Hronec | The Globe A bartender works behind the bar at Wolfie’s Pub on Forbes Avenue. Wolfie’s Pub permanently closed suddenly in early January.
before being cut with the rest of the staff. “When they hired me, they said ‘we need you.’ They were very short-staffed,” Scott says. “I expected to have the job at least throughout the summer.” But the upscale establishment barely made it into the new year, and Scott believes early problems may have signaled its decline. “When I was hired they had just fired a manager,” he says. “They tried to make things better. We had a meeting where the managers asked how we could make the restaurant thrive.” Nobody from Molinaro’s management contacted Scott to inform him of the closure, he says. He was told by a colleague two days before he was scheduled to return to work. The shuttering caught him by surprise. “They were determined,” Scott says of the staff. Point Park itself was also determined to see another local establishment succeed. Wolfie’s Pub, which closed on the same weekend as Molinaro, was built in collaboration with the University. But Dean of Students Keith Paylo only found out about the closure “within the last few
WOLFIES page 3
As the university transitions from fall to spring, administration, faculty, staff and students are still seeking answers to questions posed at various open forum meetings held at the end of last semester. The previous forums were held in order to rectify a lack of diversity and inclusion within the Conservatory of Performing Arts (COPA). However, President Hennigan’s most recent effort utilizes a university-wide model. On Monday, Jan. 13 at 5 p.m., President Hennigan hosted a “Diversity and Inclusion Forum” in the PNC Theater of the Pittsburgh Playhouse. The forum was announced to students in an email sent out on Wednesday, Jan. 8. “In early December, I met with a group of students primarily from the Theatre program to address concerns related to Diversity and Inclusion at Point Park University,” the email from the Office of the President read. “I realize that there are students outside of this pro-
gram who have also relayed concerns about inclusivity, and would like to ensure that all students, staff, and faculty have an opportunity to express their thoughts about diversity at Point Park.” Monday evening’s forum was in low attendance, as compared to the attendance of previous COPA-related town halls. Present were several faculty and staff members, as well as multiple members of the administration. Few students were present, though the students in attendance included several Student Government Association (SGA) members. Participants in the forum were able to ask questions of President Hennigan, Vice President of Human Resources, Lisa Stefanko, Director of Title IX and Diversity, Vanessa Love, Provost, John Pearson, Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations, Bridget Mancosh and Dean of Students, Keith Paylo. Although overall attendance was low during the forum, several topics were discussed. Students had
TOWN HALL page 2
SAEM Club, CAB announce Spring Concert headliner Drake Bell, Northern Whale to perform on campus in March Dara Collins Editor-in-Chief
Drake Bell from the hit Nickelodeon television series “Drake and Josh” will headline the Spring Concert hosted by Sports, Arts and Entertainment Management (SAEM) Club and Campus Activities Board (CAB). “We wanted to get an artist that we knew that every student would know and would like, and we thought, ‘well, what about Drake Bell,’ because he was on ‘Drake and Josh,’ and this generation of students all grew up watching him, so we just tried and we got it,” Christy Martin, President of SAEM Club, said. Bell will be accompanied by supporting act Northern Whale. The alternative indie pop band from Youngstown, Ohio has played at Point Park before, and Martin says the clubs invited it back for the upcoming concert. The concert will take place on Wednesday, March 18 at 7 p.m. in Point Park’s Lawrence Hall Ballroom. Tickets went on sale at
4 p.m. on Thursday for $5 for students and $10 for the public. Tickets could be purchased on eventbrite.com, and VIP upgrades could be found on veeps.com. Tickets sold out in less than 24 hours for the events. “That’s amazing...the students really responded to it, and the public did as well,” Martin said. “Everybody’s really excited for it to happen.” “We are so happy the show sold out so quickly,” Morgan Sealy, Vice President of Programming for CAB, said. “I think it just shows that students really want something like this, and us and SAEM Club ar really happy that we can give the students what they want.” SAEM Club and CAB began planning for the Spring Concert near the end of October or beginning of November, according to Martin. “We both put on very similar events and both very big events with the students, so we wanted to combine forces to make this spring concert
CONCERT page 4
Weather Forecast
Today: Cloudy H 54, L 34
Thursday: Cloudy, H 38, L 23 Friday: Cloudy, H 31, L 29 Saturday: Snow, H 44, L 25
Sunday: Cloudy, H 30, L 21 Monday: Cloudy, H 29, L 18 Tuesday: Cloudy, H 27, L 14
Point Park
GLOBE
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020
NEWS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
AN ‘AIRING’ OF GRIEVANCES AT CITY-COUNTY BUILDING
Protestors gather at the City-County Building in Downtown Pittsburgh calling for cleaner air in the Pittsburgh area on Jan. 10, 2019. Last month, from Dec. 21 through Dec. 26, Allegheny County ranked in the top five for worst air quality in the country. Top left: Jared Murphy | 90.5 WESA Top right: Sara Cronin | The Globe Middle left: Katie Williams | The Globe Middle right: Jared Murphy | 90.5 WESA Bottom left: Sara Cronin | The Globe Bottom right: Sara Cronin | The Globe
Hennigan discusses university-wide initiative concerns and inquiries regarding disability services, Title IX processes, curriculum and training. Throughout the meeting, President Hennigan continuously referred to his plans to create a “steering committee” in order to address certain issues. According to President Hennigan, he is looking to create a university-wide steering committee, in addition to the theater-related committee that has already begun to meet. “We’re going to have two parallel initiatives,” President
Hennigan said, regarding the theater committee. “I think there were six students in that group. So because those concerns came out in December, and we’re doing shows right now for this term, we wanted to keep that process moving at a pace.” One of the major points of discussion during the forum was the order of operations by which changes should be made. President Hennigan, as well as Stefanko, were adamant that a steering committee would be
a suitable first step. Stefanko also mentioned that during the following day, President Hennigan, as well as other members of the administration, would undergo diversity training, though she mentioned that ”a training event is not going to change the culture,” but would rather be a component of change. President Hennigan stated that following the forum scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 15 from 2-4 p.m. in the PNC Theater, an email would be sent out to the entire uni-
versity with a form for individuals who wish to participate in the steering committee. President Hennigan shared in an interview with The Globe that the theater committee has started work on a new show selection process for the Playhouse season, as well as putting together more diverse creative teams for shows and hiring a “diversity, inclusion and equity facilitator” to work with students. He also stated that steps were being taken to update the COPA Student Hand-
book to allow students to not audition for a show if they so choose. President Hennigan also stated that two new members to the Board of Trustees, both people of color, would be up for election within the next month. “There’s no guarantees until it actually takes place, but typically, we’ve never had the Board reject a candidate,” President Hennigan said. Jordyn Hronec
jthrone@pointpark.edu
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
NEWS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020
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State experiences unusually long flu season
Nurse explains sickness prevention, control on campus By Diana Navarrete Staff Writer
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the Pennsylvania flu season is in the midst of an extended flu season. The season began in September and is expected to run until mid-May. “Cold weather and your body being cold lowers your immune system, so there’s germs going around, and it’s easier to get sick in the cold,” Point Park University Nurse Lauren Hogan said. “Be mindful of infection prevention and the spread of germs.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “flu season” peaks between December and February. “If the flu starts going around somewhere like a college campus, it is a lot more likely than maybe somewhere else, that it’s going to get passed around,” Hogan said. “Because of the structuring of the classes and the closeness of the dorms and the lack of keeping things clean.” CDC recommends flu vaccinations around the end of October, but it is beneficial to receive the vaccinations when possible to lessen the chances of getting sick with the flu. “It’s more beneficial for [a] higher risk population, which typically includes younger children,
older adults [and] seniors,” Hogan said. “They’re more susceptible, and they tend to have complications of the flu, which is the biggest worry of getting the flu.” Hogan said that flu vaccinations can be received from a doctor, a family doctor or other places that still offer them, such as CVS or Rite-Aid. “But by this time, most people that want to get it have gotten it,” Hogan said. “I don’t think it should be forced on anyone.” Hogan said that common mistakes students make include a lack caution involving of the spread of germs. She said that it is important for students to wash their hands, be mindful when sneezing and coughing and when touching their face and other people. Hogan said that the close proximity between people in a college environment facilitates the spread of germs and advises students to protect themselves and others from those germs, like wearing a face mask to class when actively sneezing and coughing. Senior English literature major Lorie Simonian agrees with Hogan, stating that students need to take care of themselves and others to stay healthy. Be careful, get your flu shot and wash your hands,” Simonian said. “Try not to spend too much time with
Emma Federkeil | The Globe
A poster hangs outside the Health Services Center explaining how the campus community can prevent the common cold and the flu. people that you know are sick.” Simonian said that she attempts to stop the spread of germs with simple practices, such as coughing into her arm and washing her hands. “I feel like it should be
Confusion surrounds Wolfie’s closure from WOLFIES page 1 days,” he says. “I have not talked to Bob Wolfinger yet,” Paylo says. Asked about a reason for the Wolfie’s closure, he says “I have heard that a big impact was the construction of the street and the sidewalk.” The expanded outdoor seating on Forbes Avenue outside of Wolfie’s was completed in the past year and eliminated a lane of parking as well as a delivery truck loading zone. Wolfinger was among local business leaders who advocated for the project. “I know Bob was looking forward to that,” Paylo says. The untimely work, which was hoped to be a selling point of the property, may have contributed to its downfall. For now, a lack of clarity clouds any estimation of why it may have closed. “I thought the restaurant was doing well,” Paylo says. Designed with alumni in mind, the pub sought input from students for decor, menu choices and theming. COPA posters and WPPJ memorabilia hung on the walls. Students were given a 15% discount. For the countless hours of planning and work contributed by students and staff, Wolfie’s may as well have been campus dining. “We spent a lot of time and effort trying to brand that place. It was such a great collaboration between Point Park and Bob Wolfinger,” says Steve Tanzilli, Dean of the Rowland School of Business. “I’ll miss walking in and seeing our students working there. Students from the School of Comm designed the logo. Pioneer Records did week-
ly bands there. We had students who interned there.” Like Paylo, Tanzilli was only told about the closure when it happened. He adds that he spent “many mornings awake at 6am” when it was being developed. Before Wolfie’s, Wolfinger operated Pirata in the same space. Like Wolfie’s, “the closure of Pirata came as a surprise to many,” writes Jordyn Hronec in a February 19 edition of The Globe. In that same article, Wolfinger discusses adding outdoor seating and working with students from SAEM and graphic design departments. “I’ve known Bob Wolfinger for a long time. When Pirata went out of business, he asked if I had any ideas for something that would resonate,” Tanzilli says. He came up with a Point Park concept as a place for people to hang out, and worked on securing school relics from the library archives which later appeared in the restaurant. “I grabbed all of that stuff on Saturday,” Tanzilli says. “It’s back in the library.” Asked if Point Park should have been notified of the closure after all of the work that went into opening Wolfie’s, Tanzilli says “I don’t know. I don’t know what the breaking point was… things happen. It’s business. Let’s look at the next opportunity for us.” “This didn’t cost us anything but time,” Paylo says. “We were there from the beginning to the end.” However, interviews with both Deans indicate that Point Park wasn’t there for the decision to close, or even a decision to notify anyone in
advance. “Not knowing the dynamics of all that, I can’t answer that,” Paylo says of whether or not people should have been told. “Maybe Bob Wolfinger didn’t know… He probably had a lot more to worry about than whether or not Point Park knew this was going to happen.” “The beauty of this relationship was there was such a nice trust level,” Paylo says. “We trusted them; they trusted us.” The school’s strong relationship with Wolfie’s, including the conception of its theme and content curation, raises questions as to why nobody on campus was involved in the decision to close. A few years ago Point Park saw the closure of Hundred Wood, another restaurant that was a favorite for students on campus. “We collaborated on a lot of different things. We made recommendations to Hundred Wood,” Paylo says. As far as Wolfie’s, he says “I really thought Bob Wolfinger had a solid business model.” For now there may be no solid answers as to why Point Park restaurants are closing even as students spend time and money at the establishments. Point Perk, the coffee shop which is operated by on-campus food service provider Culinart, is the only remaining destination that is University-centered and open to the public. Point Park’s Procurement Department was not immediately available for comment on any written agreements between the University and Wolfie’s Pub. Jake Berlin
jberli@pointpark.edu
one of those things where it is second hand nature, where you should immediately upon instinct bring your arm up,” freshman journalism major James Barchetti said. “You don’t want to cough in someone’s face.” Barchetti said that students could also use the available disinfectant wipes on campus to clean surfaces that students come into contact with to remove germs. “I just sanitize things on a regular rotation., always use hand sanitizer,” Hogan
said. “Four or five times and then soap and water the next time.” Moreover, Hogan said that whether students have received the flu vaccinations or not, routine illness prevention practices are important to prevent students from getting sick. “There are ways that if you get good at it, you’re much less likely to catch it,” Hogan said. “Don’t do things to spread it and try to avoid getting it.” Diana Navarete
dnavar@pointpark.edu
2 SGA senators turn in resignation letters SGA By Sarah Gibson SGA Beat Writer
The Student Government Association (SGA) received two letters of resignation this past Monday, one from Senator Mya Jackson and another from Vice Chair of Student Concerns Committee, Cole D’Alicandro. Both senators cited scheduling conflicts as to why they were unable to continue being a part of SGA. During open floor, Senator Dennis McDermott announced that there was a 19 page letter written by a member of Carnegie Mellon University’s SGA supporting the upholding of student workers’ unions in response to the National Labor Relations Board considering a move to remove student workers’ unions from college campuses. McDermott acknowledged that most senators probably didn’t wish to read the whole letter, but could choose to support it later if they did wish to read it. Instead, President Berlin suggested that he move for SGA to support it at the current meeting during new business, seeing as Senator McDermott noted that the issue was time-sensitive. McDermott agreed. The
motion passed with all but four abstentions from the Graduate Student Association (GSA) representatives, who wished to read the letter first, in agreement. President Pro-Tempore Bryce Hayzlett announced that as the new President Pro-Tempore, he needed everyone’s schedules so he could make a work hours schedule. He noted that at the time of the meeting, he had only received a single email response. He noted to senators that if they wanted their schedules to be the same as last semester, they just had to tell him so he could copy and paste them. All senators who do not respond by Wednesday will be given a random set of hours. Recording Secretary Jordyn Hronec announced that the dates for the new monthly town hall for SGA members to listen to their constituents had been chosen. The first meeting is scheduled to be Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 6-7 p.m. in the JVH. Treasurer Laura Draguichu announced that funding for clubs was now open and will be open until next Tuesday at 8 a.m.
Sarah Gibson
sagibso@pointpark.edu
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020
NEWS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Pioneer Records announces new Pioneer Stars Luke Mongelli Co-News Editor
Pioneer records named Elias Khouri and Dejah Monea as Point Parks’ 2019-20 Pioneer Stars. According to Point Park University’s official website, Monea, a 20-year-old junior that majors in sports, art and entertainment Management (SAEM) from the Pittsburgh area, and Khouri, an 18-yearold freshman SAEM major from Emsworth, Pa. were the students selected to be the seventh and eighth artists to represent Point Park University and Pioneer Records as their stars of the year. Monea is a Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts High School graduate, who started her music career at the age of nine, and mostly focuses her attention to R&B. Khouri is a Nazareth Prep graduate who concentrates his time on mainly rock, blues and soul genres. Amee Renninger, a 20-year-old SAEM major, is the Director of Operations at Pioneer Records. Renninger revealed that making this decision was difficult. “There is an incredible amount of talent at Point Park, and we had more submissions for the Pioneer Star than ever before, which definitely made the decision a dif-
ficult one,” Renninger said. Renninger further explained the criteria for deciding the Pioneer Star. “Everyone who submitted music had a lot of talent, so much so we ended up picking two stars,” Renniger said. “Dejah had such a strong voice in her music she submitted to us, she also had original music which shows she has great song writing skills. Elias’s submission showed his great guitar skills. He has strong musicianship which we loved. Most of the decision from the Pioneer Star comes from listening to the music they send in. But we also look for artists who are really trying to get themselves out there and artists who are willing to work hard.” Since 2015, Pioneer Records has chosen one musician through contest to select these stars. Becoming a Pioneer Star gives students the opportunity to record songs, music videos and publish CD’s to distribute. “The Pioneer Star comes with some great opportunities,” Renninger said. “They get an EP recorded at Red Caiman Studios. This year because we have two stars they are each getting their own physical CD with a single on it. They also get an EP Release show over at The
Hannah Johnston | Point Park University official website Students participate in CAB’s flag football game last Wednesday in the Student Center Gym.
Club at Stage AE.” The Pioneer Stars are not the only students to get hands on experience in the music industry. “The Pioneer Star also gets a music video created by a class of Point Park students, half cinema students and half SAEM students,” Renninger said. “Pioneer
Records also helps support them through social media, booking shows, PR, and anything else we can help the artist with.” Pioneer Records is already on the hunt for their next two stars for the 202021 year. “Artists who want to be the Pioneer Star can look
into starting on our Talent Agency, this way Pioneer Records is aware of who they are,” Renninger said. “We want to help as many artists as we can, and want to hear from all the wonderful artists we have on campus.” Luke Mongelli
lrmonge@pointpark.edu
Clubs begin preparing for spring show Students excited to gain real world experience from CONCERT page 1
Photo courtesy of Campus Activities Board & SAEM Club The poster announcing Drake Bell’s Spring Concert performance.
the best one ever...Alone, we can only do so much, but together, we can make it really good.” Martin said. Sealy explained the benefits to CAB from collaborating with SAEM Club. “While we do large events for the student body like Halloween Dance, Ice Cream Social and others, we don’t normally bring in a large entertainer like Drake Bell, so this has been a new and exciting experience for us.” Martin generally explained the pitch SAEM Club gives to artists’ agents when booking a show for the university. “We explain that we are a small school and that the
SAEM program is meant to give our members real world experience, so this concert would benefit the students in a real world experience scenario,” Martin said. Now that SAEM booked and announced the act, Martin thinks of the work ahead. “So much has happened already because we already have to book the venue, which is going to be in Lawrence Hall Ballroom, and then we have to go over all the safety precautions and how many volunteers we need, the staging, the lighting, the sound, and then contracts...the whole process is very in depth, and it’s a lot more than you would think,” Martin said. “It’s going to happen all the way up
until the show.” Although months of preparation are needed for a show that will only last a few hours, Martin is excited for the reaction of the student body when the day of the event arrives. “I’m excited to see everyone else so excited because this year we wanted to take SAEM club to new heights,” Martin said. “Each year we want to get bigger and better, and this is the biggest thing that we’ve ever done, so I’m just really excited to see all the students so happy that we could bring in someone that they like and enjoy.” Dara Collins
dmcolli2@pointpark.edu
WHAT THE DUCK? SQUAD OF FEATHERED FRIENDS VISITS CAMPUS
Jordyn Hronec | The Globe Logan LaMaster, Megan Ortego, Danielle Bain and Tiffany Walker play with ducks as a part of CAB’s Just Ducky Day event on Monday, Jan. 13. Monday was National Duck Day.
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
FEATURES
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020
5
CAB encourages positivity at start of new year Lauryn Nania For The Globe
On Jan. 6, the Campus Activities Board (CAB) held an event in the Lawrence Hall lobby titled “New Year, Better You” with numerous activities to welcome students to the new year filled with positivity. “The event is essentially to leave negatives in 2019, bring in good vibes for 2020, you know, kind of have a fresh start for the new semester,” Shelby Armetta, sophomore business management major and CAB Special Events Coordinator, said. The Lawrence Hall lobby was filled with tables that held different interactive stations, all of which tied into the theme of positivity. “I really just want students to come here and have a good refresh, and feel good
for the rest of the semester,” junior sports, arts and entertainment management (SAEM) major and CAB Spirit and Traditions Coordinator Nicole Lakovic said. Students had the opportunity to decorate reusable water bottles and travel mugs with upbeat themed stickers and create custom-message bead bracelets. One activity encouraged students to write something they wish to leave in 2019 and tear the paper into shreds to symbolize it will remain in the past. Bullet journaling was another activity that allowed students to transform a blank piece of journal paper into something vibrant and positive to keep for themselves or give to others. Lakovic explained how each activity was supposed to be reminiscent of new year goals.
The Globe is hiring!
Are you interested in writing, photography, videography, graphic design, social media and more? Contact Editor-in-Chief Dara Collins at dmcolli2@pointpark.edu for more information!
PIONEER PUBLIC Alex Gill Amanda Andrews Co-Features/A&E Editor
The latest in social media outrage has been over the Australian bushfires, with posts praying for the estimated one billion animals and 28 people killed in the raging flames that have swept the country and continent. For dual American and Australian citizen and Point Park student Alex Gill, the fires are even more personal. “It’s heartbreaking. It’s just, what people don’t realize too is that it’s actually been going on since September,” Gill said. “It really started to take off around then, and it feels like it really only got attention about two weeks ago.” Gilll, a senior sports, arts
and entertainment mangagement (SAEM) major, has most of his roots in Australia. He was born in the capital Sydney, near South Wales, and all of his extended family lives in the country. Both his mother and father come from Australia. His parents made the decision to move him and his older brothers to Wexford, Pa. when he was 2.5 years old. Growing up, Gill and his family would go back every year for a couple of months to visit family. His mother’s family lives mostly in north Australia near Queensland, and his father’s family lives in southern Australia in Tasmania. It became more difficult to coordinate visits as he grew older due to a variety of factors, including the costs of travel involved and having to take breaks from school. By the time he was 12 years old, the visits stopped altogether for 10 years. He eventually returned to Australia by himself in the summer of 2018 for around a month to visit his aging grandmother as well as his cousins. “My mom always wanted
“We have the bullet journaling where with that we wanted it to be like creating a schedule or planner— really get your head right for the semester,” Lakovic said. “Then for the water bottles, it can be inspo for going to the gym.” Students took a brief intermission on the first day of the new semester by immersing themselves into the activities of “New Year, Better You,” they discussed how they plan to better themselves in 2020. “I think just putting more focus on myself, focusing on my own problems, trying to put in a more positive attitude on everything that I do, and not put myself
down,” sophomore performances and practices major Emily Stofan said. Sophomore marketing and sales major Divine Kennedy discussed her 15 minute addition to her morning routine to positively impact her new year. “It’s five minutes of praying, five minutes of reading the Word and then five minutes of writing,” Kennedy said. “I’m also trying to notice positive words about myself, like saying them constantly about myself, so I just like to document that down.” Armetta explained that during CAB’s spring training, the members discussed goals for 2020 to help better
the organization. Armetta said that a large goal for CAB is to work with other student organizations. Since CAB is one of the largest student organizations at Point Park, she said that working with other groups could possibly give them more exposure. “I personally, for one of my events, would want to partner with another student organization, like, focusing more on those niche groups and smaller clubs, and getting them more recognition or maybe more members,” Armetta said. Lauryn Nania ltnania@pointpark.edu
Looking ahead to the Grammys Chandni Shah Staff Writer
The highly anticipated 62nd Annual Grammy Awards is coming up soon. On Jan. 26, it will be decided whose songs and albums stood out among the rest. Among the 84 categories, there are several nominees that gained massive followings, including Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish and Lizzo. All of these artists have been nominated in more than one category and had many hits that defined 2019. There is one group that stands out among these other artists: Bon Iver. Compared to the other artists, statistics suggest they are less popular on music streaming services. Bon Iver has 5.8 million monthly listeners on Spotify, while Ariana Grande and Billie Eilish both have over 50 million and Lizzo has 25 million. However, all of these artists were nominated for the category Record Of the Year as well as Album Of the Year. Bon Iver’s record “Hey, to go back; my dad, he wanted to stay,” Gill said of the lapses in vacation. Luckily, Gill’s extended family has been spared from the fires as most of them live in north Australia, where the fires haven’t spread. He said he wasn’t surprised that climate change had played a role in the current crisis. “Australia has been in a drought for years, and it quickly gets ended. And then it starts up again. So it’s just Australia is incredibly dry,” he said. “It’s just out of control at this point.” The bushfires are not stopping Gill from visiting again, however. “I’m thinking about once I graduate I might go back for a bit. Because I’m a citizen still there, and I am a citizen here as well. So the option of going back is pretty easy.” It’s more than just about holding citizenship there. Australia is something of a second home to Gill. His fondest memories of the place mostly consist of different times he’s been able to visit his relatives over the years. “I know it’s pretty generic, but...growing up here, all
Ma” is very different compared to the other nominated records. With its nostalgic and folky sound, it may cause a few tears. Pitchfork, an online music reviewer, said that it was “rousing and explicitly sentimental” as well as “one of the best songs in the Bon Iver catalog.” Other nominated songs, “7 Rings,” “Bad Guy,” and “Truth Hurts” all possess a pop style that “Hey, Ma” seems to lack. I recommend that everyone give that song a listen as well as the other nominated songs before you see who wins the title. Album Of The Year nominations went to “i,i,” “Norman F***ing Rockwell!,” ‘’When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?,” ‘’thank u, next,” ‘’I Used to Know Her,’’7,’’ “Cuz I Love You,” and “Father of the Bride.” Once again we see some of the same artists from the previous category, but one of the stand-outs is definitely “Norman F***ing Rockwell!” In this album, Lana Del Rey deconstructs the American dream that captures all of her past albums as America
itself changes. With songs like “Happiness Is a Butterfly” and “California,” it is hard not to feel her pain and empathize with her words. As the world continues to change, so does the music it produces and it is interesting to see the differences between them. All of the artists and groups who were nominated are very well deserving, but there are some like Lana Del Rey and Bon Iver that are unique in more ways than one. Both sound nostalgic, and they have created their own distinctive voices that anyone recognizes immediately in their music. Only a great artist is able to accomplish this endeavor. We all enjoy different types of music, but it is important that we open our ears to everything and give other music a chance. I don’t believe that anyone just likes one genre or one singer, and the artists that are out there right now are writing the anthems of our generation. Chandni Shah crshah@pointpark.edu
Alex Gill | Submitted
my friends talk about how they go see their grandparents and their cousins,” he said. “I never really grew up with that. So it’s definitely a pretty cool memory when I go back.” He’s also traveled to Barcelona, Spain six years ago and, after getting some work under his belt, would like to expand on his travels after graduation.
“I kind of want to travel and find the next place I want to move to. And an option is Australia [that] I’ve thought about going back to,” Gill said. “Because there’s a few family and friends who have offered for me to come back there and stay with them.”
Amanda Andrews aaandre@pointpark.edu
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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020
A&E
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
‘Underwater’ parallels old-school space movie ‘Alien’ Jared Murphy News Photo Editor
20th Century Fox’s new blockbuster “Underwater” did not dazzle critics or moviegoers, but its protagonist makes watching the subaquatic adventure worth it. “Underwater” is a horror movie that takes place on a drilling rig seven miles beneath the ocean’s surface in the Marina Trench. Starring Kristen Stewart as protagonist Norah Price and T.J. Miller as the male lead Paul. The film starts as an earthquake hits an underwater laboratory, which starts to destroy the station. The crew springs into action trying to save themselves and escape, only to find out they’re not alone down there. The crew thinks only an earthquake hits the trench but soon finds out there’s more than just themselves in the trench. Deep-sea creatures slowly start picking off the crew one by one. In the beginning of the movie, the rig the
crew is on is destroyed, and they’re forced to make it to the Roebuck Station. As they try to travel from one drilling rig to the Roebuck Station, the crew has to travel across the desolate, pitch-black trench floor, something none of them dared to do before. “Underwater” has uncanny parallels to “Alien” (1979). More or less, this movie is a modern version of “Alien,” with the exception that “Underwater” takes place in the ocean instead of outer space. Both films feature a strong female lead, and Stewart as Price does a phenomenal job in “Underwater.” Norah Price is the strongwilled, quick-thinking female lead often seen in horror movies, such as Erin in “You’re Next” (2011) or Clarice Starling in “Silence of the Lambs” (1991). Norah’s smart decision-making helps her make it to the end of the movie, almost. “Underwater” does a great job of keeping monster mov-
Photo courtesy of Creative Commons Kristen Stewart speaks at a press conference. Stewart is the lead role in “Underwater.”
ies alive. Up until the ending of the movie, the audience only catches glimpses of the creatures terrorizing the crew, which forces us to use our imagination, making the creatures even scarier. From the rare sightings of the creatures throughout the film, I was ex-
pecting all of them to closely resemble the alien from “Alien,” and I was pleasantly surprised when the big monster was revealed and had an original concept. The most interesting part of “Underwater” was its underlying environmental mes-
sage. When things start to go astray, the crew starts to wonder if this is all happening because of the drilling. The crew starts to wonder if Mother Nature is fighting back against the drilling. There’s also mention of the water temperature rising, a subtle nod to the effects of climate change. “Underwater” flopped at the box office. On opening weekend, the movie did $14 million worldwide, which seems pretty good for a horror movie—until it’s noted that “Underwater” had a $50 million dollar budget and only made around $7 million in its opening weekend. “Underwater” doesn’t do anything groundbreaking, but has enough action to keep an audience entertained. The homage to “Alien” and the strong female lead by Stewart is enough for any science fiction or horror fan to enjoy.
Jared Murphy jgmurph@pointpark.edu
Spring semester survival playlist Kylie Thomas Staff Writer/Photographer
Dick Clark said, “Music is the soundtrack of your life.” Therefore, everyone needs a playlist to get them through this new semester! Whether it’s the highs or lows, good times or the hard weeks, whatever it is, it should be set to music. So here’s a playlist that anyone can use to make it through this semester year with a bit of background about each song.
When you need a pick-me-up for midterms/finals week-
Photo by James Pond on Unsplash Stormtrooper toys stand in a line. The figure to the right is Finn from ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ and the center figure is Phasma. Merchandise for “Baby Yoda” was not available until after the holiday season.
‘The Mandalorian’ allows ‘Star Wars’ fans to enjoy series outside movies Jake Dabkowski Co-News Editor
I’m someone who’s been a Star Wars fan for as long as I can remember. As “Rogue One’s” Cassian Andor would say, “I’ve been in this fight since I was six years old.” I’ve seen all of the movies hundreds of times, even the bad ones. Usually, when new Star Wars content comes out, I’m still a fan, because of how much Star Wars means to me. But “The Mandalorian” is different because it is genuinely incredible. The titular character of “The Mandalorian” takes on the classic character archetype of the lone gunman. He fulfills the role of “the man with no name.” He’s called the Mandalorian. He has a name, and we ultimately do learn it, but even then it’s glossed over. His name has no meaning in this story. He’s simply the Mandalorian. Pedro Pascal portrays the Mandalorian, however, Pascal himself is not always in the suit. This is extremely common for shows with masked characters and also is not new to Star Wars. In the original trilogy Darth Vader, is voiced by James Earl Jones, but it’s David Prowse in the suit. While
Pascal is in the suit for parts of the show, Mondo is also portrayed by Brendan Wayne and Lateef Crowder. Despite this, each actor nails the character’s body language and movement. It is impossible to distinguish them, making Mando a believable character. It’s a problem they’ve had with Darth Vader appearing in things outside of the Original Trilogy, such as in “Rogue One” and “Revenge of the Sith.” The actors have a tough time nailing David Prowse’s body language as Vader. Luckily, this isn’t an issue in “The Mandalorian.” Now it’s time to address the elephant in the room. “The Child” or as he’s colloquially known on the internet, “Baby Yoda.” I’ve seen a lot of people criticize the Child as being “there just to sell toys” but I disagree with that belief. The Child fulfills another important part of the classic western formula; something for the stoic, but tough, gunman to grow attached to and ultimately realize that there’s more to life, an iconic trope featured in almost every western movie. Not only does the Child do this, but he also works because the audience is able to grow attached to him. He’s taken the internet
by storm and he is already selling tons of merchandise. It’s safe to say that people love the Child. Ultimately, “The Mandalorian” accomplishes what Star Wars has always done best: tell a fun space adventure while reinventing classic film tropes. The show features two characters who will, in my opinion, be solidified with some of the most popular characters in the franchise. At its worst, the show feels like a live action version of a really good episode of “Star Wars: The Clone Wars,” and at its best, is some of the highest quality television I’ve seen in recent years. Jon Favreau and Dave Filoni have created something genuinely wonderful here, and Taika Wattiti did an incredible job directing the finale, taking the show from being a fun romp to an emotionally charged epic on a cinematic scale. Disney did not mess around with this one, and I’m excited to see what’s next for both “The Mandalorian” when it returns this fall, and the other live-action Star Wars Disney Plus shows in development.
Jake Dabkowski jcdabko@pointpark.edu
“Watermelon Sugar” — Harry Styles: This latest Styles song rose to popularity as soon as its release. With its upbeat rhythm and melody, the song just makes people dance. It’s a perfect pick-meup for when you’re stressed since it’s easy to just let go and get lost in the song. “High Hopes” — Panic! At The Disco: Yes, the song is very overplayed, but everyone seems to still sing along to it. It’s a song that not only is energetic, but also has a good meaning behind it to keep going and never give up. Which may be the perfect motto for midterms and/or finals week. “I’m Still Standing” — Elton John: Another song that has a great meaning behind it, plus, who doesn’t love some older hits? Some people may only know this song from the cover that played in the movie “Sing,” but the original is so much better. It’s another upbeat song and after the music video and Tiktok trend, it now even has its own dance trend. “Do It All The Time” — I Don’t Know How But They Found Me: This song is just an absolute bop. Most people have no clue what the song is at all, but be assured it has this ‘80s beat mixed with modern music, and it makes for a new sound. It’s another song you can dance around to, and it just lifts your mood immediately.
For the party nights-
“Bud Like You” — AJR: A song all about hanging with friends and just being thankful for the people around you, perfect for a party night with friends. Not to mention AJR songs are addicting and get everyone to sing along.
“Bailando” — Enrique Iglesias, Descemer Bueno, and Gente De Zona: Granted, it’s a song that’s mostly in Spanish but this is probably one of the most danceable songs out there. It’s a perfect party song due to the classic Latin beat. “Better Now” — Post Malone: This is one of the songs Malone blew up with. He’s one of the most popular artists out there right now, so it’ll be a song that everyone knows for sure. Not to mention, they seem to play it at every homecoming and prom ever and people always get hyped. “Red Solo Cup” — Toby Keith: This one’s pretty self-explanatory. It’s literally considered the definitive party song. While it is a country song, it can at least get a laugh out of people while others might actually enjoy the song. Either way, it’s an experience for everyone.
For the mental breakdowns-
“Happier” — Marshmello and Bastille: While a title called “Happier” sounds happy, this song is far from that. It’s all about wanting to change and be happier when you’re at your low. Plus the music video is cry-worthy, so it’ll just put you through all the feelings. “Learn To Let Go” —Welshly Arms: This is my personal favorite mental breakdown song. It’s all about letting go and moving on, and it’s a song you can scream from the rooftops. The song hits you right in the heart and allows you to go through all the motions. “Never Bloom Again” — Waterparks: This sad song will let you soak in all the problems in your life. While it mostly deals with lost love, it still is a hard-hitting one with relatable lyrics. Its soft vibes will let you sulk even further, which is sometimes what you need. “the broken hearts club” — gnash: Another sad love song. It’s perfect for if your mental breakdown has to do with love. No joke, this is the ideal sad love song. The vocals are outstanding and will let you rest your head. Read the full story online at ppuglobe.com
Kylie Thomas kjthoma@pointpark.edu
OPINIONS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
THE
GL BE’S POINT A problem we can’t ignore
Within the past few months, the university and campus culture shifted. There are voices speaking and students working in ways that the administration can no longer ignore. Now change is happening, or so we are inclined to believe. Aside from all of the town hall meetings, steering committees and replacement COPA shows, there is another problem that has already been identified and is left without answers. There is a noticeable lacking in faculty diversity. Students of color have endured class after class with very few professors with whom they can identify. When the campus-wide conversation shifts to equality and inclusion, the lack of diversity within the faculty should be a more prominent issue. At President Hennigan’s first town hall meeting, hosted right after the cancellation of “Adding Machine,” students asked if diversifying the faculty would be
possible. However, very little answers were provided. In short, students were told that this process would take quite a while, which may be true. Since this meeting, there has been relative silence on this issue. Committees are being formed and Playhouse seasons are being changed, but diversity still remains an issue. Students brought up another problem, saying that it would be unfair for the university to add faculty of color in an environment that is not supportive of people of color. This creates a circular issue - more faculty of color are needed for the well-being of students, and yet, adding faculty of color may be harmful to those individuals. There is much to consider when working to solve this problem, but we aren’t going to get anywhere unless we begin to solve it in the first place.
Point Park Globe globe@pointpark.edu
The world is burning By Zoey Angelucci Staff Writer
For those unaware, since late July, wildfires in Australia took over. These are the worst fires seen in decades. Nationwide, 24 people died and over 2,000 homes underwent damage or destruction. They are struggling beyond belief to even attempt to contain these fires. Australia suffers through wildfires every summer because of the hot, dry weather. Experts say climate change does nothing but make the severity and impact of the fires worse. However, while climate change is a large reason for these tragic fires, it is not the sole reason. Police in New South Wales took legal action against 183 people for starting and provoking wildfires in Australia. Of those, 53 have received criminal charges and 47 have been accused for not following the fire ban. 18 million acres of charred land covers Australia. Roughly half a billion animals reap the consequences of the fires. This number includes birds, reptiles and mammals. Almost a third of koalas died with a third of their habitat destroyed. For months, Australia’s government worked tirelessly to fight these fires. State of
emergencies have been called in the affected states. More than 2,000 firefighters work on the ground awaiting support from military assistance and the U.S., Canada and New Zealand. Australia is now entering their summer season so the fires are likely to go on for quite a while. As these devasting, unnatural tragedies continue, people need to wake up and realize what is becoming of this Earth. Yes, wildfires are a natural thing but not to this extreme. Yes, some people started wildfires, which is a problem in itself. However, these human-started fires would never have become so extreme if Australia’s conditions were not so unusually severe. Between record-breaking heatwaves and one of the worst droughts in history, Australia’s unusual weather severities have made conditions and situations worse. There is no doubt in my mind that this is because of climate change. Everything dangerous has been intensified, increasing the odds of destruction. Read the full story online at www.ppuglobe.com.
Zoey Angelucci zaangel@pointpark.edu
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020
7
Land of the free and home of the prey By Kendra Summers For The Globe
In America, we’re taught every word to the Pledge of Allegiance before we can write our names properly. We’re told to be proud of our stars and stripes before we know what the flag really stands for. We’re trained to have pride in our country and to put that pride above all else. Sometimes, that blind patriotism drowns out the voice in your head telling you to address the flaws within the system. When you’re brought up to believe you’re living in the best country in the world, it becomes extremely difficult to criticize it. The United States military preys on poverty-stricken individuals and people of color because they know the benefits they offer outweigh the reality of combat. That might be hard to swallow, and it probably leaves a bad taste if you manage to get it down. It’s not easy to recognize fault within a system you’re so closely tied to. As uncomfortable as it may be, it’s a reality for many marginalized people in America, and it’s necessary that we acknowledge it. Picture this: You didn’t do as well as you could have your senior year, and it’s really starting to weigh on you. All your friends are headed out of state, but it doesn’t look like college is in the cards for you. Even if you got fantastic grades, you know you couldn’t afford it. You were supposed to be the one that makes it, the one that pulls your family out of debt and buys your mom that house in Florida she’s always wanted. You tried your best, but you failed a lot of classes this semester and you’re starting to lose hope. Just when you’ve accepted that you’re out of options, you’re given a glimpse
of hope. A recruiter, complete with his uniform, sitting in your high school lobby tells you the military needs you (yes, you!) to enlist. All your problems are solved! Except they aren’t solved at all, and you didn’t meet that recruiter by some miraculous stroke of luck. Army recruiters frequently visit lower income areas, specifically non-metropolitan areas where economic growth is limited. This is where they get the bulk of their recruitments, places where the people don’t have other options to consider. The lower the school’s income is, the higher the recruitments are. They take a high-schooler who feels like he’s losing his balance, and they offer him stability. A steady amount of money, a house and car for his family, fully paid tuition when (and if) he makes it back. In these cases, the need for financial stability outweighs any other concerns that may linger in the student’s minds. There isn’t much freedom of choice in their situation. During the Civil War, the well-off used their wealth to get themselves out of the draft. Whether they paid someone to go in their place or simply gave the government enough money to excuse them, those that could afford not to enlist didn’t. The less fortunate did not have that opportunity, and were sent off to serve. The draft may not be as prominent of a concern as it was in the 1800’s, but wealth certainly still affects the demographic that enlists in the military. For those living below the poverty line, the military is the only feasible way out. If you look between the stitches, you’ll see the classism woven into your star-spangled banner. This flawed system affects more than impoverished citizens. For those struggling
with citizenship issues, the U.S. military offers naturalization in exchange for military service. The military does not delegate citizenship directly, but has the authority to fast track applications for those enlisted in the forces. The hostility towards immigrants in our current political climate makes this offer even more desirable, subsequently influencing those seeking citizenship to enlist. Whether it’s out of internal obligation, or the promise of receiving something practically unachievable without assistance. It is indisputable that people of color have been disproportionately pushed to align with the armed forces. For some people, enlisting in the military was a personal decision. These factors don’t influence them, it was simply a career choice that felt right to them. You can want to enlist in the military while also acknowledging they should avoid targeting specific demographics during recruitments. There’s a wide array of options besides college and the military, and it’s important that it isn’t promoted as one or the other. Choice shouldn’t be an illusion, regardless of an individual’s tax bracket or immigration status. Being an American citizen doesn’t mean you have to turn a blind eye to the shortcomings of the nation. You can exist in a system and still criticize that system; society wouldn’t function if we weren’t capable of self-analysis. Promoting the growth of your country should make you feel like more of an American, not less. You can acknowledge systemic imperfection without compromising your patriotism, and you should be proud to.
Kendra Summers kasumme@pointpark.edu
Separation of politics and entertainment By Logan Dubil Staff Writer
What a year it has been! Looking back at what has happened so far, it is difficult to believe that these past events all took place within such a short period of time. Wait a minute – do you think I am addressing 2019? Not even close! 2020 is one of the craziest rollercoaster rides yet. “That’s impossible!” “It hasn’t even been a month.” Trust me, I am in denial, too. But you cannot deny the facts. Lego Star Wars profile pictures have taken over social media. The United States and Iran scared the nation, causing many people to expect war to break out. Then, just five days into the year, the Golden Globes experienced one of the most controversial, political airings in its history. On Jan. 5th, the 77th annual Golden Globes kicked off
on an aggressive foot – and I do not use that term lightly. In my opinion, and most likely the opinion of many other Golden Globe viewers, this event should focus on celebrating the achievements of the entertainment industry over the past year. I am not saying that celebrating did not take place, because many awards were given to well-deserving people, including one of our political suspects, Joaquin Phoenix. Before we jump into his story, let’s start from the beginning, shall we? Ricky Gervais, a familiar face to the Golden Globes, took the early stage, and chose not to hold back. The main purpose of his opening speech was to roast Hollywood and its stars for their poor behavior over the years, especially regarding the political speeches given at events like the Golden Globes. He made it clear that he was
tired of celebrities getting away with acts like so, causing him to state, “If you do win an award tonight, don’t use it as a platform to make a political speech. You’re in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg. So if you win, come up, accept your little award, thank your agent, and your God and f*** off, OK?” Although his statement was political itself, it was a needed statement, allowing the celebrities and viewers to get a grasp at what Hollywood has become over the years. Did it work? Absolutely....not. Read the full story online at www.ppuglobe.com.
Logan Dubil lmdubil@pointpark.edu
Covering the world of Point Park University news since 1967 Editor-in-Chief: Dara Collins Editor-Elect: Jordyn Hronec Business Manager: Nathan Vrablic 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:
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News Editors: Jake Dabkowski, Luke Mongelli Photo Editor: Jared Murphy Features/A&E Editors: Amanda Andrews, Tia Bailey Photo Editor: Emma Federkeil Sports Editors: Allison Schubert, Austin Alkire Photo Editor: Mallory Neil
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8
SPORTS
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 2020
All In with Allison By Allison Schubert Sports Columnist
Formidable Fresh Faces
Every athletic team has their standout player. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, it is captain Sidney Crosby; for all of the NBA, it is LeBron James. For the Point Park Pioneers, a few names come to mind: veterans that led both basketball teams to numerous victories over the years. This year for the green and gold, each team has a name that stands out from the pack in an elevated manner. Not only are they lighting up the stat sheet, but they are also new to the corner of real and world. The men’s latest headliner comes in the form of sophomore transfer Kameron Shockley. The forward from Hiram College has started all 16 games for the Pioneers so far, averaging 10.8 points per game (173 points total) and 5.6 rebounds per game (89 rebounds total: 19 offensive, 70 defensive). Shockley also boasts a 44.7-percent field goal percentage and shoots 30.7-percent from beyond the arc. Before coming to Point Park, Shockley missed a majority of his freshman season with the Terriers due to injury. Fortunately for the Pioneers, Shockley’s play does not seem to have been affected in the healing process. On the opposite side of the court, the women’s team has a hard hitter of their own that made her debut this season: freshman guard Taylor Kirschner. Like Shockley, Kirschner
is a sharp shooter for the Pioneers. In her 16 games played this season, she is averaging 12 points per game (192 total points) and 3.3 rebounds per game (52 total: 13 offensive and 39 defensive). Kirschner sports a 34.2-percent overall shooting percentage, is 29.6-percent from 3-point range and has an impressive 87-percent from the charity stripe. On the national front, Kirschner is currently ranked 37th in all of the National Association for Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) DII women’s basketball athletes in average 3-pointers made per game with 2.5. It is hard enough for a student to transfer schools or to go to college for the first time and adjust in the classroom, but it is even harder for a student-athlete to do so and adjust in both the classroom and the court. Shockley and Kirschner are both forces to be reckoned with on the court and are, without a doubt, names that come up in opponents’ locker rooms while watching tape. Both players have shown great potential in just their first years at Point Park, and both have made quite an impact with their teams. Things are looking up for these formidable fresh faces, and I cannot wait to read all about their even more impressive returning seasons as they improve their skills.
Allison Schubert alschub@pointpark.edu
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Pioneers split games with Midway in double header By Mason Strawn Staff Writer
The Point Park basketball teams split a double header against Midway University on Thursday in Kentucky. In the men’s game, both teams led for almost an entire half each, but the Eagles would just barely edge out the Pioneers in the final two minutes of the game and defeat Point Park 84-82. The stats book could not look any weirder: Point Park almost doubled Midway’s rebounding numbers and shot a higher percent from the field at 52-percent, versus Midway’s 49-percent. At the same time, the Pioneers shot a harsh 14-percent from behind the arc, compared to the Eagles’ 47-percent. “I believe we have some great bigs and we like to play through them so that’s really our first looks,” junior guard Juwan Willis said. “Once Midway took that option away it was hard for us to get back into our rhythm.” Midway led for 18 of the 20-minute first half, scoring first at 19:26 off free throws. The Eagles held that lead and extended it by as much as 11 points. The Pioneers were persistent, and kept the Eagles on their heels until the final minute of the first half. Guard Xavier Prince tied the game at 35, putting the Pioneers ahead 37-35 with one second to go. Point Park almost mirrored what Midway did in the first half. The Pioneers led for the first 17 minutes of the second half and extended their lead by as much as 13. With ten minutes left in the game, Midway started to chip away at the Pioneers’ lead, eventually tying the game and finally taking the lead with two minutes to go. The Eagles hit four free throws in the final 30 seconds to put it out of arm’s reach, as the Pioneers missed the last-second three that was put back with no time left by Garret McHenry.
Emma Federkeil | Point Park Athletics Junior forward R.J. Fairrow puts in an easy layup against Salem University at CCAC-Allegheny in a game earlier this season.
McHenry, a junior forward, led the team in points with 15 and 8 rebounds off the bench. He was one of five different players to score in double digits for Point Park. Three of those five players also came off the bench. “We need real good defense and ball pressure if we want to win games like that,” sophomore guard Sherron Schifino said. “With every loss exposes what you need to work on and with us it’s definitely our shooting as we’ve been in a shooting slump and our ball screen defense,” Willis said. In the women’s game, Point Park held off the Eagles to win it 73-70. The Pioneers scored first and never trailed throughout the entire contest, though Midway would not go away. The Eagles consistently nipped at the heels of Point Park, but the Pioneers held firm till the end. On the stat sheet, freshman forward Taylor Rinn dominated, leading the game with a double-double, putting up 26 points and 15 rebounds on 67-percent shooting. Junior guard Michelle Burns was right behind her, scoring 16 points and tied for
the most assists with three. The team as a whole shot 41-percent from the field compared to Midway’s 36-percent. Midway shot the exact same from behind the arc, while Point Park shot a much harsher 22-percent. Of course, the biggest difference maker came from the second chance points: Point Park lost out on 17 points from missed shots, compared to the Eagles’ eight points from their misses. It was ultimately the reason why the Pioneers were able to stay ahead throughout the entire game. Between these two games, the men now fall to 9-8 on the season, now going 2-2 in River State Conference (RSC) play. The women, on the other hand, improve to 10-7 on the year, and get their first win in conference play to improve to 1-3. Both teams will play back-to-back games once again for their next two games, facing RSC rivals IU East at home on Tuesday before traveling to Ohio Christian University on Saturday.
Mason Strawn mtstraw@pointpark.edu
Cheer and dance open season By Dara Collins Editor-in-Chief
The Pioneer Competitive Cheer and Dance teams began their seasons last weekend with dance at the Concordia (Mich.) Cardinal Invite and cheer at Lourdes (Ohio) University for a dual meet. The dance team participated in an exhibition match last semester on Dec. 7 in Michigan, but the invite was the first of four competitive meets prior to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) meet in Montgomery, Ala. at the end of the month. Aquinas (Mich.) posted a score of 67.5 to secure first place, and the Pioneers were less than a point shy of the leaders. Point Park finished with a score of 66.9 to land in second place with 0.5 points deducted from its routine. The Pioneers received a score of four out of five from all three judges for musicality, team turn and team leap. The team scored lowest in overall technical skills and executive with scores of three from all three judges.
Mallory Neil | Point Park Athletics A cheerleader gets the crowd hyped up during a time out. The cheer team performs at every home basketball game.
Concordia finished in third place with 51.8, and Spring Arbor (Mich.) finished last with 24.5. The cheer team competed most recently on Sunday in Sylvania, Ohio. The Pioneers suffered two losses to the Gray Wolves, 73.05 to 76.5 and 74.15 to 79.1. The cheer squad will
compete in the Student Center Gym this Friday, hosting Mount Vernon Nazarene University and will hit the road the day after to participate in the Marian Classic Dual Meet. The dance team is back in action on Jan. 25 at the Siena Heights (Mich.) Halo Classic.
Dara Collins dmcolli2@pointpark.edu