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IN THIS ISSUE:
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New coffee shop roasts competition
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Iain Oldman discusses ride sharing regulation
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Women’s basketball wins one, loses one
Wednesday, Februar y 3, 2016
Issue 4
‘Showdown’ aimed to strengthen Condom community for clubs, members carnival Ceremony capped three days worth of SAIL events embraces By Alexander Popichak Co-News Editor
Students packed the Lawrence Hall multi-purpose room on Wednesday, Jan. 27 for an evening of performances by dancers, martial artists and
Point Park’s own improv troupe. The event capped off three days’ worth of club-centric events and competitions organized by the office of Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership (SAIL). The idea for the “SAIL Show-
photo by Cara McLaughlin
Senior education major and treasurer of the Future Educators of America club Stephanie Galbraith paints her club’s mural during the SAIL Club Showdown mural competition on Monday Jan. 25, 2016 in the West Penn Lobby.
Students seek to bring YouTube speaker to campus
down” came from an unlikely source. “The idea actually came from wanting to develop the club community and trying to pinpoint what other types of student communities have great bonds and loyalty and connections between them,” said Kate Shipley, Assistant Coordinator of Student Involvement. “Say what you will about Greek life. Greek life has very strong knit communities between students. I was Greek in college and my boss Brad [Kovalcik] was Greek in college and…from our student experiences, we [feel] a connection with our community that we felt that our students here were lacking.” Shipley said that the showdown was aimed to build a community between clubs and to make students aware of the active student organizations on campus. “This is an entire week that’s meant to advertise our clubs, get out there what it is that they (the clubs) do so that they can gain new members and also showcase their talents because I think what’s really important in community building is that we know what each other is good at and that we can congratulate each other and really work with each other on building up that community,” Shipley said in Lawrence Hall Wednesday. On Monday Jan. 25, clubs creat-
SHOWDOWN page 2
POINT PARK TRACK GOES THE DISTANCE
USG By Sabrina Bodon USG Beat Writer
April Yanko and Rachel Klein spoke to the United Student Government (USG) Monday looking for both monetary support and interest in bringing celebrity YouTuber Laci Green to the university. Green, a sex and body-positive spokesperson, travels around the country to different college and university campuses speaking of topics in the realm of sex education, gender, body positivity, relationships and more. Yanko and Klein of the Feminist Collective were the first pair to try out the newly established Open Forum section of USG’s public legislative body meetings. “[We added] an open forum for students to come in and address us at any point during the meeting,” said USG Vice President Gabe Dubin during the meeting Monday afternoon. “We kind of thought that our meetings are open and that anyone can come in and talk about what they want, but it’s necessary to put this on the agenda.”
USG page 3
photo courtesy of Liz Berie, Point Park Athletics
Freshman sprinter/hurdler Onon Kadima made the finals in the 60-meter hurdle with her time of 9 minutes, .46 seconds at the SPIRE Midwest Indoor Open at the SPIRE Institute on Jan. 30. See story on page 7.
luau motif’s
ambiance By Matt Petras Co-Sports Editor
The twist to this year’s Condom Carnival will be immediately evident upon entering the event on Wednesday, Feb. 10. “Everyone gets ‘leid’ when they walk in,” said Eva Smith, junior marketing major and head of the event this year, via phone interview Jan. 27. The fun-focused event hosted by the Campus Activities Board (CAB) still exists to provide sexual education and promote safe sex, but this time around it will be covered in a luau atmosphere, from leis given at the door to tropical-flavored drinks. “I just thought it would be fun,” Smith said. The Condom Carnival will be held from 9-11 p.m. in the Lawrence Hall Ballroom. Several Point Park groups including Her Campus, Title IX and Student Development are involved in the event. Guests can engage in a variety of games at these booths to claim condoms to take with them. These games mix goofy competition with information about sexual health. Sophomore advertising and public relations major and CAB’s Public Relations Coordinator Nicole Miller discussed the variety of games that will take place at the carnival in a phone interview Jan. 26. Miller said that one game hosted by Student Development tasks students with answering trivia questions while playing limbo. Her Campus is hosting a few games, including a version of Twister that uses spots denoting anatomy instead of colors, Smith said. CAB hopes students learn something about sexual health in their efforts to nab as many condoms as they can. It’s not just groups already invested in safe sex advocacy that participate, but also seemingly unrelated groups like Point Park’s Rugby Club, which has helped out with the Condom Carnival for years. “I can remember even [during my] freshman year we would go,” said senior multimedia major and Rugby Club Captain Jakob Como via phone interview Feb. 1. The Rugby Club had to be creative in deciding how to incorporate the essence of their club into a game that fits the event, Como said. The result is wrapping a garbage bag over a hula hoop to create something that looks like a giant condom. Attendees are offered the chance to throw rugby balls into the mock condom to score some real ones. “It’s a good chance to interact with students,” Como said. “It’s a light-hearted event.” Como maintains the Rugby Club’s involvement in the event because he sees the event as a good way to bring awareness to the issues involved with safe sex advocacy. “It’s a fun way to have a sex edu-
Weather Forecast Today: Rain H 64, L 43
Thursday: Partly Cloudy, H 48, L 29 Friday: Sunny, H 44, L 29 Saturday: Mostly Sunny, H 48, L 32
Sunday: Sunny, H 50, L 33 Monday: Mostly Sunny, H 50, L 35 Tuesday: AM Showers, H 52, L 33
CARNIVAL page 3
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016
NEWS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Inaugural SAIL showdown touted as success for bringing clubs awareness, showing spirit
SAIL estimates attendance of closing ceremony at more than 200 from SHOWDOWN page 1 ed murals which have been hanging in the entryway to the Student Center. Each mural was to provide a visual representation of what the club’s goal is on campus. Students then voted for their favorite mural. On Tuesday Jan. 26, clubs competed in an online and campus-wide scavenger hunt, reporting their findings via social media. Tuesday also brought the ‘Mark a Member’ competition. “Mark a Member was meant to really get them out there – get them to talk about their club to other people,” Shipley said. “The goal was to gain as many signatures on a blank t-shirt as possible so that they could talk to new people about their club.” The events wrapped up with closing ceremonies, where checks were presented by United Student Government President (USG) Blaine King to the winning clubs for use within their holding accounts. First, second and third place clubs received $175, $100, and $75, respectively. The winners were determined through a point system evaluating participation and performance. Shipley said that the point system was used, but clubs were judged holistically on participation. Funding for the execution of the event came primarily from the SAIL office, however, USG allocated $5,000 during their Jan. 18 meeting specifically for the event to cover the cost of t-shirts, prizes and other unspecified costs related to the showdown. “[USG funding] was used for the Moe’s Bar, which everybody seems to be enjoying. It was used for the photo booth and the DJ. Almost everything you see here was assisted by USG
funding, and that funding was pulled directly from the funds that clubs didn’t use last semester,” Shipley said. This was the inaugural year for the three-day event, and Shipley said she hopes to make it an annual tradition at Point Park. SAIL did have some bumps in executing the festivities, and for at least one event the measure of club performance had to be re-evaluated. “[SAIL] email[ed] every time there was a schedule change, every time there was a bump or fault,” Megan Law, a junior pre-medical major, said in Lawrence Hall Wednesday. “There was a problem with voting with the murals. People were just throwing in all these votes for clubs and [SAIL] were running out of voting slips, and it was really unfair for people because [the voters] were voting more than once for one person, and so they kind of reformed … it was just more efficient and made the contest more fair. They’re very good about feedback.” Law is the founder and current president of the pre-med club, which was awarded first place in the showdown. This is the first year for the club, which has about 30 members. To Law, the victory is not only for her club, but for awareness of her major. “The pre-professional and pre-medical studies major just started two years ago, so not everyone knows about it, and it kind of brings awareness not only to our club but also that the school is broadening its horizons,” Law said. “It’s awesome to know that we’ve created more awareness of what the school has to offer.” The continual adjustment with which SAIL approached the execution of the events seems to have paid off.
Between 10 and 12 clubs participated in the events, and the closing ceremony was attended by upwards of 200 people throughout the evening. “This [closing ceremony] obviously is packed right now – I think [overall this week has had] good attendance,” junior Jess Joseph, the media representative for Impulse, said. Joseph said Impulse, a campus club and dance troupe, participated throughout the week and was excited to perform as a part of the closing ceremony. “I like how all the clubs can kind of showcase – that’s what the whole thing is; it’s like a showcase of all the clubs,” Joseph said. “I like how everyone can kind of show little bits of what they do and get other people involved in their club by doing that.”
According to Shipley, that was the point of the whole week – to bring awareness to the active clubs on campus and to build bonds between those clubs. Larger-than-expected attendance at the closing ceremony confirmed for SAIL the viability of the program. “I’m really, really happy to see how happy the clubs seem to be with this event,” Shipley said. “I figured we’d have pretty good participation, and I figured that it’d be something that clubs wanted to do because the Mocktail Mix-Off in the fall was so successful, but the clubs really blew me away.”
Alexander Popichak can be reached at apopic@pointpark.edu.
photo by Julian Kovacs
Justina Cincotti, a work study at the Student Activities, Involvement and Leadership (SAIL), and Kate Shipley, the coordinator of student involvement, provided hot cocoa and coffee for students heading to class during SAIL’s Club Showdown on Wednesday, Jan. 27. Students could choose a club to support and get their sticker. Each sticker counted as a point toward the club’s overall score during the three-day competition.
photos by Julie Kooser
Decorations of bead necklaces, club-themed pins and SAIL official sunglasses at Students from dance club hit the dance floor between club presentations at the th SAIL Club Showdown Awards Ceremony Wednesday Jan. 27, 2016. SAIL Club Showdown Awards Ceremony.
Albert Ho, sophomore criminal justice major, shows off his martial arts moves at the SAIL Club Showdown Awards Ceremony Wednesday Jan. 27, 2016.
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
NEWS
Public safety clarifies ‘stranded student’ policy during meeting from USG page 1
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Condom carnival a s MONDAY, JAN. 25 different 11:12 pm Student Center Theft: Under Investigation approach 11:16 pm Blvd. Apts. Drug Violation: Referred to Student Conduct to sex ed TUESDAY, JAN. 26 11:00 pm Lawrence Hall on campus
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12:47 am Lawrence Hall
Drug Violation: Referred to Student Conduct
SUNDAY, JAN. 31st
4:00 pm Lawrence Hall Drug Violation: Referred to Student Conduct
6:51 pm Lawrence Hall Harassment: Referred to Student Conduct
MONDAY, FEB. 1st 2:16 am
Drug Violation: Referred to Student Conduct
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from CARNIVAL page 1 cation event,” Miller said. The organizers acknowledge the awkward nature of talking about sex, but aren’t shying away from it. “I think if it was a more serious event, they would learn less and honestly not show up,” said Miller. According to the 2015 State Health Report from the National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD and TB Prevention, an estimated 1,419 adults and adolescents were diagnosed with HIV in Pennsylvania in 2013. Among the 50 states, Pennsylvania ranked 10th in the number of HIV diagnoses in 2013. Fifty-three percent of the 115,000 pregnancies in Pennsylvania were unintended in 2010, according to the Guttmacher Institute. “Your sexual health is very important to talk about,” Miller said.
Data compiled by Alex Grubbs Design by Emily Yount
s os
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Sabrina Bodon can be reached at sbodon@pointpark.edu.
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However, the trouble the Feminist Collective has run into is the price to bring Green to Point Park. Working with Dean Keith Paylo, Yanko and Klein are in the process of seeking funds from different organizations and offices around campus, such as Campus Activities Board, the Title IX office and the Office of Student Conduct. After the presentation, the legislative body opted to pledge support to the Feminist Collective in attempts to have Green visit. Monetary funds for the event would be discussed at a further date once more details were established. USG also had Public Safety Lt. Nicholas Black speak and address issues and concerns students have raised regarding their safety on and off campus. A topic of discussion brought up by Sen. Bobby Bertha was the issue of when students are deserted off campus without an option of public transportation. Working with the Office of Student Affairs, Public Safety is able to offer a way for students to get back to campus if they are stranded. “Stranded is the key word,” Dean Michael Gieseke said during the meeting. “We have an agreement with Uber in which if a student cannot get back to campus, then we will send a car out and pick up the student, and that’s picked up on the
university’s tab.” The Uber transportation is fully dependent on the situation at hand and will be reviewed on a case-bycase basis. “But [if it’s] 10 o’clock at night and you don’t want to get on a bus, you are not stranded,” Gieseke said. “If it’s 2:30 in the morning, ‘I got out of a movie, I didn’t realize what time it was, I’m stuck in Oakland’ those kinds of things, when public transportation is no longer available, then the university will pick [you] up.” As of now, USG does not have any graduate representation on the legislative body or within its executive cabinet. Parliamentarian Charles Murria and the Rules Committee are looking into changing this. “In committee, we were talking about a graduate student’s position, and things we threw around were things like how many people would represent the graduate school,” Murria said. “We’re not writing up anything currently because we’re still throwing ideas around, and this will be a really big project for us.” President Paul Hennigan plans to attend the next USG meeting on Monday to discuss the university’s strategic plan.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016
Matt Petras can be reached at mapetra@pointpark.edu.
4
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016
FEATURES
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Café combines rock, coffee to take the edge off By Eddie Trizzino Co-Features Editor
A new café, Rock ‘n’ Joe, has opened in the Cultural District. Here, coffee fanatics can rock out to classic rock songs while drinking coffee. “There are a lot of fun and exciting things here in the Cultural District and we try to create an environment where people would want to hang out,” said Chris Potenza, owner of Pittsburgh’s Rock ’n’ Joe, in an interview in the café last week. Rock ’n’ Joe opened in Pittsburgh on Jan. 7 at 524 Penn Ave., formerly a Vocelli Pizza. The company, previously based in New Jersey, is now headquartered in the Greentree area of Pittsburgh. “We’ve revamped everything for our Pittsburgh opening,” said Shawn Levine, CEO of Rock ‘n’ Joe since May 2015, in a phone interview Jan. 21. “We’re really trying to grow the brand and become a part of the community and a neighborhood store.” When walking into the café, guests are welcomed by the sound of guitar licks and sing-along choruses playing over the radio, as well as a greeting from the baristas. The inside is a wide-open area, with a balcony acting as a second floor where customers can sit and enjoy the rock and the joe. Potenza said they have plans to add more rock memorabilia to decorate the store in due time. “I liked the idea of Rock ‘n’ Joe because I love coffee. I’m kind of a coffee connoisseur, and I like the rock music so it felt like a perfect fit for me,” Potenza said. “We kind of developed our own niché.” Although it is a coffee shop, Potenza said
photo by Shayna Mendez
Full time worker Chloe Saccols, makes a “Caramel Overload” coffee drink, one of the many artisan drinks offered at Rock ‘n’ Joe’s Coffee Bar.
photo by Shayna Mendez
Rock ‘n’ Joe is one of the few coffee shops to involve espresso art in each specialty brew. The drinks are presented without the lids for the customers viewing as shown here. Chloe Saccols, full time worker at Rock ‘n’ Joe’s Coffee Bar, draws an intricate design on Cinnamon Cookie drink, one of the many artisanal drinks offered at the coffee bar. that Rock ‘n’ Joe offers much more than other a South Side resident, said as he was adding sugcafés because many of their drinks can be made ar to his coffee in Rock ‘n’ Joe Jan. 21. to order. For example, the artisan drinks can be “It’s a great selection and has just as much as served hot, iced or frozen, and can be made ei- anywhere else,” Pittsburgh native David Henry said. ther with or without coffee, according to Potenza. Potenza and Levine said that the company’s Potenza also said that the store has just as goal is to open four more Rock ‘n’ Joes around much variety as Starbucks, but is more moder- Pittsburgh within the next three years. ately priced. “The plan is to grow the brand and become Rock ‘n’ Joe’s coffee roaster partner is Dillanos, a Seattle based company, which was named Roast Magazine’s Roaster of the Year in 2011. The store also gets its pastries delivered every morning from the Mediterra Bakehouse, an artisan bakery also located in Pittsburgh. “We try to be very approachable to the average customer, but we do have a different flavor profile, which is great for conphoto by Karly Rivera noisseurs,” Levine said. However, there is Rock ‘n’ Joe is located on 524 Penn Ave. in the Cultural District. This coffee shop more to Rock ‘n’ Joe than opened early January and is located in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. just the coffee and music. “I love the coffee, the culture and the neigh- a neighborhood store, and Chris [Potenza] is borhood, and working with a great team of peo- there to help us do that,” Levine said. ple,” said Bob Beiber, general manager of Rock Rock ‘n’ Joe is open from 5:30 a.m. until 7 ’n’ Joe while working at the cash register. p.m. on weekdays and until 9 p.m. on Friday “I like the artistry, we make our drinks with and Saturday. cream designs like hearts and leaves,” Chloe “We’ve had really great feedback with peoSaccol, barista at Rock ‘n’ Joe, said while pre- ple saying it’s inviting and comfortable, and obparing a drink. “We present drinks without the viously I really hope [Rock ‘n’ Joe] catches on,” lid which nobody around here does anymore.” Potenza said. “I like the atmosphere, the people, and I get to smell coffee all day,” said Brea Carter. Although it is new to Pittsburgh, the store has already attracted regulars. “I’ve been here every day this week, and I Eddie Trizzino can be reached at will say it’s better than Starbucks,” Dan Blough,
eatrizz@pointpark.edu
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
FEATURES
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016
5
Pizza Fiesta voted “Most Popular” at Pizza Palooza By Casey Hoolahan For The Globe
Students played the part of culinary critics this Wednesday during a new Campus Activities Board (CAB) event where local and surrounding Pittsburgh pizzerias competed to be voted No. 1 by Point Park students. “I believe this is the most successful event we’ve had this semester,” said Louis Spanos, CAB’s Experience Pittsburgh coordinator, who revived the idea of Pizza Palooza from a proposal taken up last year within the committee. From the start time of 7 p.m., the Lawrence Hall ballroom was filled to capacity with hungry students swarming around red, white and green colored tables piled with boxes of warm pizza pies. The packed room and wrap-around lines “rivals’ at-
tendance to the Drag Show,” Spanos sticks and the top spot, “Best Overall.” said, referencing another successful While waiting in the packed CAB event that took place last week. lines, students began a sing-along Evidence to back up Spanos’ claim when band A-ha’s hit “Take On Me” was clear by 7:50 p.m., when nearly was blasted through the speakers, all the vendors had run out of slices, courtesy of Point Park’s WPPJ Raleaving behind a few dio Station. boxes of breadsticks When finished, and stacks of marinastudents headed ra and ranch cups. over to the prize ta“It definitely exble to submit their ceeded my expectaballots for count and tions for the event,” to enter or a chance Spanos said. to win one of a variThe restaurants Ally Stacy ety of pizza prizes, featured included Explore Pittsburgh Committee including a pizza R&B’s Pizza Place, Campus Activities Board scarf and pillow. The Pizza Fiesta, Genoa table was headed by Pizza and Bar and CAB member Ally four other local vendors. Each were Hinman, who said was impressed armed with their best pies, ranch and with the events turnout. breadsticks. Students were handed a “I bet it will become an every ballot to indicate which place had the year event,” Hinman said. best cheese, sauce, crust, ranch, breadAt the end of the night, Pizza Fies-
“Doesn’t that inspire you, the bond over free food?”
ta won top spot among students. If the rest of CAB’s semester is anything like this night, it is bound to be a success. “Doesn’t that inspire you, the bond over free food?” Ally Stacy, another member of CAB’s Explore Pittsburgh committee, asked. The next upcoming CAB event is “City in A Room,” taking place in the Lawrence Hall lobby Wed., Feb. 24. Spanos, who will also head the event, said the goal of this upcoming event is to “help upperclassmen find places to live after graduation.” “[City in A Room is] introducing students to local businesses and helping them find places to explore,” Spanos said.
Casey Hoolahan can be reached at cahoola@pointpark.edu.
Class led by Point Park student teacher Senior elementary education and special education double major Stephanie Fairley is currently student teaching in the Seneca Valley School District. Fairly is working in the 5th and 6th grade learning support classroom of special education teacher Erin Dusenberry from Evans City Middle School. Recently, the class teamed up with a restaurant from the North Hills, Frank’s Pizza and Chicken. The restaurant donated pizza boxes for students to complete a “Pizza Fractions” activity. Fairley and the class are shown here with their completed work thanking the local restaurant.
photo courtesy of Erin Dusenberry
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OPINIONS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
’S
POINT
Point Park deserves kudos for creating a progressive campus As a university, Point Park has made a concerted effort to be inclusive, especially in engaging the University’s significant LGBTQ community. It also tries to be generally sex-positive, ensuring that all students have the opportunity to engage in productive conversations about identity and safe sex. The University should be applauded for its efforts to solve problems before they become problems as it actively becomes a progressive-minded space. Student organizations also play a significant role in Point Park’s progressiveness, and they too should be praised for all the work they do. The Condom Carnival is a yearly event put on by the Campus Activities Board. The purpose of the carnival is to give students an easy way to practice safe sex by using condoms in fun games where you have the chance to win even more condoms. Other organizations from around campus are the ones stepping up to provide the games. This is a fun and unique way to get the message of safe sex out to the student population, and it proves to be pretty popular as the event is held annually, with more organizations and students getting involved every year. But there’s only so much a school organization can do to prevent unsafe sex. It’s always a well-attended event, and behind all the giggles and snickers that inevitably accompany sexual references, CAB also provides tools and information that are valuable to the student body.
Additionally, the University has recently decided to establish some on-campus bathrooms designated for transgender students. It’s a small step, but it’s vital to making daily life at Point Park easier for its transgender students. In a time in America when some people are doubling down on their resistance to change and their difficulty in accepting others, Point Park is working to establish safe spaces for its marginalized students. While it’s sad that the standard for trans inclusivity in America is so low, Point Park nonetheless is ahead of the curve with its policies. Having a University that’s on the right side of history on social issues is a comforting thing. It’s great to know that our University acts to stay current by listening to where conversations on inclusivity are headed. It’s also great to know that organizations such as CAB go the extra mile by trying to keep people from doing something they’ll regret in such a simple and interesting way. Like many other aspects of college life, in the end, it is upon the student to practice safe sex and use their own judgment. So far, it seems to be working, as students are organizing entire carnivals dedicated to a little latex device that symbolizes safe sex. So kudos to you! Now get out there and throw some condoms!
The Globe can be reached at globe@pointpark.edu.
Rideshare services should be legalized and regulated By Iain Oldman Staff Writer
Legislation that would certify and authorize ridesharing services is currently being held up in the House Consumer Affairs Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft have exploded in popularity since the two companies began operations in Pittsburgh two years ago. It’s about time that the House recognizes their legitimacy and legality. According to a tribLIVE.com article written last June, Uber alone claimed to have 20,000 drivers operating in Pennsylvania last year, collecting over $100 million in net earnings. Even the traditional taxi service Yellow Cab has created its own ride app, zTrip. Lyft and Uber have operated inside of Pennsylvania on temporary permits for the past two years, and that has come with some legal trouble for both of them. In Oct. 2014, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) proposed a $7 million fine against Lyft for conducting business in defiance of the PUC’s cease-and-desist order. In Nov. 2015, the PUC proposed a $50 million fine against Uber for beginning its operations in Pennsylvania before its permits were granted. Senate Bill 984, sponsored by
Washington County Republican Camera Bartolotta, would replace these ridesharing services’ temporary permits with licenses to operate. Of course, those licenses come with regulations that contain safeguards for driver backgrounds. Safeguards included in the bill state that each driver has to be over 21 years old, must possess a valid driver’s license and an up-to-date state inspection and valid insurance for coverage. Perhaps most importantly to consumers, the bill also requires a criminal background check for all drivers. Any driver that has been convicted Iain Oldman of a sexual offense, Staff Writer, burglary, robbery, The Globe violent crime or a vehicular felony would be prohibited from working as a driver for the rideshare companies. Potential drivers that have been convicted of DUI offences or felonies involving theft, fraud or drugs would be required to have a
“Ridesharing services such as Uber and Lyft have exploded in popularity since the two companies began operations in Pittsburgh two years ago.”
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clean record for seven years before employment. Vehicles would also be subject to regulation under the new bill. Vehicles could be no older than ten years old, with the exception of hybrid vehicles, which may be as old as 12. No car may have more than 350,000 miles on it. While this bill was created in the name of consumer protections, the question has to be asked if these regulations are truly necessary for the ridesharing services’ operating licenses. Services such as Uber and Lyft assert that the two companys’ rating systems, generated by the users, are a self-contained way of weeding out bad drivers. The argument has merit. If drivers have made customers uncomfortable or unsafe in the past, their reviews and ratings make it unlikely they will continue to do business in the future. But a police group in MassaJosh Croup, Editor-in-Chief Anthony Mendicino, Co-News Editor Alexander Popichak, Co-News Editor Karly Rivera, Co-Features Editor Eddie Trizzino, Co-Features Editor Johanna Wharran, Co-Opinions Editor Laura Byko, Co-Opinions Editor Michael Richter, Co-Sports Editor Matt Petras, Co-Sports Editor Dominique Hildebrand, News Photo Editor Chloe Jakiela, Features Photo Editor Liz Berie, Sports Photo Editor Julianne Griffith, Layout Editor Alex Grubbs, Co-Copy Desk Chief Emily Bennett, Co-Copy Desk Chief Kayla Novak, Copy Editor Carrie Reale, Copy Editor Beth Turnbull, Copy Editor Quinn Baumeister, Copy Editor Nicholas Fischer, Copy Editor Isabelle Opsitos, Copy Editor
chusetts thinks that is not enough, and is asking Uber to require fingerprint checks on their drivers to run through criminal databases. Uber is not enthusiastic to concede to the requirement, though, as the fingerprint check would be a hindrance to getting potential drivers in its system. Groups like the NAACP and ACLU are apprehensive about the measure as well, asserting that fingerprints are taken at a disproportionate rate for minorities even though they may have not been convicted of a crime. While it is necessary to enact some safeguard regulations in order for rideshare services to become licensed by the state, invasive procedures like running fingerprints seems unnecessary and partially discriminatory. Rideshare services have squarely cemented themselves as legitimate businesses and are popular enough with consumers to earn their licenses to operate within the state. The licensing is necessary to ensure that rideshare companies can continue to run their business in the state without fear of penalty fees.
Iain Oldman can be reached at idoldma@pointpark.edu. Dana Bohince, Online Editor Gerri Tipton, Online Editor Sabrina Bodon, USG Beat Reporter Brianna Murray, Social Media Editor Alexa Yanyanin, Social Media Editor Emily Yount, Graphic Designer Arianna Khalil, Graphic Designer Kariann Mano, Business Manager Iain Oldman, Staff Writer Dr. Steven Hallock, Faculty Adviser
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SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
CROUP’S CORNER By Josh Croup Sports Columnist
Eight losses The Point Park women’s basketball team has gone 54-10 over the course of the past two seasons. In head coach Tony Grenek’s first year in 2011-12, Point Park went 23-7 and made an appearance in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Division II National Tournament. Since that first season, Point Park returned to the tournament two more times and never lost more than seven games in one season. Last Saturday against National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II opponent Slippery Rock University (SRU), Point Park lost its eighth game of the season, the most in the Grenek era. With six regular season games remaining, Point Park may lose double-digit games for the first time since the 2010-11 season. This season looked like a challenge from the beginning. The Pioneers unexpectedly lost three top players in Kelly Johnson, Sam Weir and Ja’Nia McPhatter. The starting five consisted of both young players and role players. It wasn’t going to be an easy season. Saturday was Point Park’s last non-conference test of the season. The Pioneers have six games left after Saturday’s 84-61 loss at Slippery Rock, including four straight home games starting Tuesday against West Virginia Tech. What is the source of Point Park’s recent struggles? It’s simply not the same dominant women’s team that we’ve seen in the past few seasons. The offense just isn’t there. Against conference opponents last year, Point Park averaged 78.93 points per game. This year, the Pioneers have struggled to put up 60 points consistently, averaging 63.46 points per game. Point Park has scored more than 60 points just once in its last five conference games. The Pioneers did manage to hit the 60-point mark with one minute left
against Slippery Rock last Saturday, but not after allowing more than 80 points against The Rock. SRU’s largest lead of the afternoon was by 27 points. The Rock won by 23 points, but could have easily won by at least 30. SRU shot 50 percent from the field, opposed to Point Park’s 38.2 percent. The Pioneers were outrebounded, couldn’t work the ball inside the paint, committed 16 turnovers and scored just two fast break points opposed to SRU’s 14. SRU just outplayed Point Park. But still, the Pioneers have some positive signs moving forward. They actually moved up in the standings to second place in the Kentucky Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (KIAC) Colonial Division with Indiana University East’s victory over Rio Grande Saturday. IU East has defeated Point Park twice this year, and Rio Grande bested the Pioneers in their first game of 2016. Point Park hosts Rio Grande this Saturday with a one game lead over the Red Storm entering February. Each of Point Park’s remaining six games are against KIAC opponents with less-than-impressive records. Point Park’s final six opponents have a combined overall record of 49-76 (.392) and a combined 23-38 (.377) KIAC record as of Feb. 1 (see graphic below). There is still time to climb in the standings to leapfrog IU East, who holds a one game lead over Point Park. Despite all of Point Park’s struggles, it still has had a positive season with a 15-8 (8-3) record. The Pioneers have held their own, and with a soft schedule ahead of them, there’s no reason why they can’t get a high conference tournament seed to possibly return to the NAIA National Tournament.
Josh Croup can be reached at jdcroup@pointpark.edu.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016
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Newcomers make impact on season’s track and field teams By Liz Berie
Sports Photo Editor
The men’s and women’s indoor track and field teams have broken numerous school records early in the young season. At least two-thirds of the team is made up of freshmen and sophomores. For the men, freshman mid-distance runner Andre Bennett, sophomore jumper Jryi Davis, sophomore mid-distance runner Chris Hunt and freshman mid-distance runner Desmond Marrow have all played important roles on the team so far. Freshman sprinter, hurdler and jumper Onon Kadima and sophomore distance runner Katie Guarnaccia have stepped up on the women’s team. Men’s freshmen mid-distance runner Desmond Marrow was just one athlete who broke a school record during the SPIRE Midwest Indoor Track & Field Open on Saturday, Jan. 30 in Geneva, Ohio. Marrow’s time of 1 minute, 23.69 seconds set the school’s 600-meter dash record. “It was my first time racing it, and it was fun, but I can’t complain about it,” Marrow said. “Even though I ran a good race, I was only one second away from nationals. Last week, I worked really hard on my speed and finish, but this week I want to work on my start because I want to try to go after it again.” On the field, Davis previously broke the triple jump record at the College Invitational on Jan. 22. “It wasn’t just me who broke the record,” Davis said. “All of my jumping teammates that were there, if it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t push myself at practice, which wouldn’t make me better at the meets.” Davis said first-year head coach Kelly Parsley is a great recruiter. “He knows who to get and exactly what we need for the team to make the team better,” Davis said. “He brought in amazing talent this year, especially in the cross country in the distance section.” Freshman mid-distance runner Gary Olson broke the men’s school records in the mile and in the 800-meter run, with times of 4 minutes, 33.73 seconds and 2 minutes, 0.57 seconds, respectively. Hunt was originally ahead of Olson during the mile run, but Olson caught up and beat him by 0.25 seconds. Eight total school records were broken at the first meet after winter
break. Bennett broke the record in the men’s 800-meter run with a time of 2 minutes, 2.38 seconds. Olson broke his record Saturday with his time of 2 minutes, 0.57 seconds. “It was bittersweet that my teammate broke my record,” Bennett said. “He brought it to two minutes flat. I mean, I like the competition because I know that next week I want to try to go faster than two minutes so that I can redeem my record.” Guarnaccia, who is already a national qualifier in the women’s 5,000-meter, broke her own 3,000-meter run record Saturday with a time of 10 minutes, 45 seconds.
Senior shotputter Vanessa Sprando throws the shot put at the SPIRE Institute on Jan. 30. Kadima is one of many new recruits who have made an impact on the women’s team. She placed ninth in the finals of the 60-meter hurdles Saturday and already has four school records to her name. “It took a lot of work to break some of the records I did,” Kadima said. “I’m very proud of myself since I’ve broken four records so far. I guess that’s a really good start to my freshman year, but I know that I can do a lot more, and there’s a lot of work to be done.” Both Point Park track and field teams return to Geneva, Ohio this weekend for the SPIRE Indoor Team Challenge.
Liz Berie can be reached at erberi@pointpark.edu.
Women’s Basketball Remaining Opponents Game Date
Team
Overall Record
KIAC Record
2/2 2/6 2/9 2/11 2/19 2/20
WVU Tech Rio Grande Carlow Midway @ IU Southeast @ IU Kokomo
8-13 13-7 9-10 0-23 10-9 9-14
3-7 6-3 3-7 0-10 7-3 4-8 Records as of 2/1
page 7 photos courtesy of Liz Berie, Point Park Athletics Sophomore sprinter/hurdler Theo Washington is in position during a sprint race on Jan. 30 at the SPIRE Institute in Geneva, Ohio.
Freshman mid-distance runner Gary Olson sets a new school record in the 800 meter race during the SPIRE Midwest Indoor Open at SPIRE Institute.
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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016
SPORTS
THE GLOBE NEWSPAPER POINT PARK UNIVERSITY
Women’s basketball goes 1-1 on road trip Pioneers garners last-second win, loses to Slippery Rock by 23 points
page 8 photos courtesy of Josh Croup, Point Park Athletics Sophomore center Baylee Buleca stands in silence during a 84-61 loss at Slippery Rock University.
Freshmen guard Kaitlyn Smith looks to pass the ball to se- Sophomore center Baylee Buleca tries to pass the ball to nior guard Leah Hurst during an away game at Slippery score during an away game against Slippery Rock University Rock University on Jan. 30. on Jan. 30. Pgh Tattoo Ad - The Globe - week 4.indd 1
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