A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Point Park University | FALL 2013 THE POINT SETTING THE STAGE Behind the Scenes at the Pittsburgh Playhouse Global Perspective Helena Knorr Teaches Students to Become Agents of Change PIONEER ATHLETICS Men’s Golf Team is on Top on the Links Dear alumni and friends, It’s back-to-school season, one of my favorite Allegheny. Recharged by some nosh, we gear times of the year. Point Park’s campus is up, cross the Fort Duquesne Bridge, journey to filled with the energy and excitement that The Point and circle back to the bike rental. our students bring with them as they arrive in, or return to, our Downtown neighborhood. It’s a good ride with iconic Pittsburgh landmarks whispering their history along the For freshman students and their parents, way. The purpose is to introduce our students, this is a time of exhilaration as well as many some from the region and others from far mixed emotions. And as I watch my oldest away, to their new home in a way that captures 12 child graduate from high school and begin their attention. Even natives of the city find TABLE OF CONTENTS college this year, I know just how they feel. the bicycler’s perspective refreshing. It’s as though they’ve had their hands over their eyes 2 Feedback 28 College Counselor As I tell students each and every year, for a decade and are just now ready for the Joell Minford guides high school starting life in college may be a bit unsettling, big reveal. The city’s stoic history and fresh 3 News and Views students and parents through the but it’s also a great opportunity to embrace innovation almost grab the students by the University admissions process a new environment and all of the new shoulders, spin them around and shout, “This is 24 10 Open for Business experiences that come along with it. Here yours now! Don’t take one minute for granted.” A renovated West Penn Hall 30 Alumni Connection at Point Park, one of the best ways to do brightens Wood Street between that is to venture out and explore our urban A cool breeze meandering off of the Mon and First Avenue and Ft. Pitt Boulevard 31 Class Notes neighborhood and nearby riverfronts. onto the river walk. The choppy notes of one lone busker on the Clemente Bridge before a 12 Setting the Stage 34 Pioneer Athletics This August marked the third year that I ballgame. A neon ketchup bottle pouring itself Behind the scenes with the artists, The men’s golf team is on top invited student staff to join me on a bike tour neatly onto the Heinz History Center. This is designers and managers who bring on the links, reaches national of Pittsburgh. There is no better way to see my Pittsburgh. 28 Point Park theatre and dance tournament in 2013 a city than from a bike, especially a city as productions to life great as ours. The ride begins at the Golden Whether you are a student arriving on campus Triangle bike rental downtown, weaving for the first time or a longtime alum, I’ll bet you 22 Oklahoma! and More along the Eliza Furnace Trail to the Hot Metal know that feeling well. Pittsburgh pride is part The 2013 –14 Playhouse season Bridge. From there, we cross the bridge of Point Park pride. Embrace it. features everything from classics and continue on the South Side Trail toward to unconventional productions the Duquesne Incline. The group carefully Warm regards, climbs up to the Fort Pitt Bridge, crosses 24 Global Perspective TALK TO US! the river and heads to Point State Park. We Professor Helena Knorr teaches The Point wants to hear from you. Send your A Magazine for Alumni and Friends of Point Park University | FALL 2013 On the cover: comments and suggestions to: ride over the Fort Duquesne Bridge to the students to become change agents THE POINT Costume design student North Side and journey to Washington’s Kelsey Bower helped bring in their communities Managing Editor Landing, where we break for lunch along the the distinctive characters of Marketing and Communications Point Park University Dr. Paul Hennigan the play Chess to life during 26 From Prague to Pittsburgh the 2012–13 Playhouse 201 Wood Street President Point Park hosts a special gathering Pittsburgh, PA 15222 SETTING THE STAGE season. This unique work of Behind the Scenes at the Pittsburgh Playhouse art features intricate layers of of the internationally known Prague Global Perspective Phone: 412-392-6108 Fax: 412-392-6185 Helena Knorr Teaches Students to Become Agents of Change hand-worked, bronzed leather. Writers’ Festival, Oct. 18 –19 ON TOP, on the Links Email: [email protected] Men’s Golf Team On Top of The Links, Reaches National Photo by Martha Rial. Tournament President Managing Director of Director of Organizational Web Services Administrator Photographers Paul Hennigan, Ed.D. Communications and Identity and Photography Stephen Shanahan Jim Judkis Client Services The Point is published by the Department of Marketing and Communications, Point Park University, 201 Wood Street Pittsburgh, PA 15222. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of published Dalton Good John McKeith information. Please visit our web site at www.pointpark.edu for current information regarding University programs, departments, alumni activities and events. Vice President of Nancy Commella Writers Martha Rial External Affairs Manager of Printing Amanda Dabbs Nondiscrimination, Equal Opportunity and Diversity Initiatives Managing Editor Services Christopher Rolinson This policy affirms Point Park University’s commitment to nondiscrimination, equal opportunity and the pursuit of diversity. Point Park University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national Mariann Geyer Cristina Rouvalis origin, sex, age, religion, ancestry, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, caregiver status or familial status in the administration of any of its educational programs, Cheryl Valyo Don Pastorius Terra McBride activities or with respect to employment or admission to the University’s educational programs and activities. This policy is in accord with local, state and federal laws, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination Act Gina Puppo of 1975 and the Pittsburgh Human Relations Act. Inquiries regarding these regulations, policies or complaints of discrimination should be referred to the human resources officer, telephone number Graphic Designer Managing Director, Online Kevin Taylor 412-392-3952. Inquiries regarding Title IX and the Title IX regulations should also be referred to the senior vice president, academic and student affairs, as the Title IX coordinator, or deputy coordinators, Judy Sporka Communications the human resources officer or the dean of students. Christine Zapinski POINTpaRK.EDU 1 FEEDBACK NEWS AND VIEWS Dear Editor, Dear Editor, Professional Advancement Research Council has awarded 775,000 is currently much conflict. Rolinson pounds toward completion of the Records received more than 1,200 Kodak slides My name is Dennis Iurlano. I am writing regarding the bridge In the “View from the Bridge” photo, that’s Joanie Kendrall P.K. Weston, Ed.D., professor of compo- of Early English Drama project (REED), from a friend, who purchased them at photo in the Spring 2013 issue of The Point. I attended Point (COPA 1978) on the right. I had to go to Marty Schiff (COPA sition and literature and director of the which seeks to publish all references to an estate sale in 1972. The photos were Park beginning in the summer of 1968, graduated in May, 1972 1979) for a little help there. Though I did not graduate from English program, has been elected presi- entertainment in the British Isles before taken in the late 1960s and early 1970s with a bachelor’s degree in accounting, and returned to take a Point Park College, I sure got an education there. I was a 1642. Alexander’s area of research by a couple from Erie, Pa. — Albin and class in the Fall of 1973. freshman and Joanie was a senior. I think the year was 1978. dent of the Rotary Club of Pittsburgh. She The bridge was not there when I started but was erected It was a big year for Point Park because we were opening is only the fourth woman to be elected covers the documents of the Percy Virginia Curtze — who traveled extensively during my years at school. In fact, I remember watching as the the Playhouse that had been closed for a few years. My first president in the organization’s 101-year family, earls of Northumberland since the throughout the world. “I stressed to the bridge was put into place. Due to a physical disability, I have crew was running the light board for Hot L Baltimore. Joanie history. Weston has been involved with 12th century. He will travel to Durham students the historical context of this mobility issues which made it difficult to cross Wood Street to was stage managing and Michael Richie was tech. director. the Rotary Club for more than 10 years, University in the United Kingdom for project, because [the photos were taken get from Lawrence Hall to Academic Hall, in good weather or Both Joanie and Michael took the time and taught me so serving in a variety of positions including the next few summers, starting in 2014. during a period] of relative peace in that bad. Being a Lawrence Hall resident, the bridge made getting much about the Craft Ave.