The Merciad September 8 Issue

News ................2-5 Features...........6-9 A&E ............. 10-11 Opinion........ 12-13 Sports ......... 14-15 Laker Living.......16 MERCYHURST UNIVERSIT Y

|

WEDNE SDAY, SEP TEMBER 8 , 2021

|

VOL. 95 NO. 1

To reduce the spread of germs, please take this copy with you or recycle after reading.

Season homeopener win for Hurst football PAGE 14

Online poll results

We asked: What’s your

Photo Credits: Mercyhurst Football

ideal temperature?

75-80 70-75 65-70 60-65

3: Good Today, Better Tomorrow– Mercyhurst welcomes Dr. Getz

10: The 814: Andora’s Bubble Tea has something for everyone 15: Start of a season for Men’s soccer

PAGE 2 This week’s

POLL

What is your favorite thing about fall?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

PAGE 2

NEWS

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

MU Recreation Center revamped

By Elphena Elsar Staff writer

Out with the old, in with the new. This Fall semester 2021, the Mercyhurst Recreation Center (Rec Center) welcomed students to a new and improved workout space.

The revamping of the Rec Center has met some, if not all of the expectations of patrons.

The atmosphere and appearance of the Rec Center has greatly improved since last school year.

Before the renovations, the Rec Center was equipped with a few weights, and some workable, out- of-date machines such as the treadmills and the ellipticals.

It was evident that the Rec Cen-

ter was not well-maintained along with the lack of adequate space.

Unfortunately, it was one of the facilities on campus that Mercyhurst administration neglected over the years.

To recall, the last renovation of the Rec Center was completed sometime in the 2000s.

Now students can benefit from multiple new services as a result of the 2021 renovation.

The Rec Center is cleaner, fresher and better organized. The lighting has also improved along with some new equipment such as the ski ergs.

There are some amazing changes to the Rec Center, first and foremost, is the Vagaro app.

Unlike last semester, the Vagaro

app is not required to make appointments to use the equipment at the center; one can walk-in anytime within the hours of operation with no time restrictions.

The app is, however, needed for fitness classes like spin classes.

That being said, masks are still required in the facility to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

As redundant as it sounds, masks are worn over the nose and mouth at all times in the gym, not on the bottom of your chin or in your pockets.

It is understandable that when exercising it becomes harder to breathe with the mask on. However, we must do what is best to put a stop on the spread of the virus.

Elphena Elsar photo

The spin bikes have once again been returned to their rightful place.

Consider wearing cloth masks made of polyester with two layers, and maybe keeping a spare mask to replace in case your mask becomes damp while exercising.

Finally, take lots of water breaks or breaks in general, especially if you start to feel significant shortness of breath or dizziness.

In addition to the Vagaro app change, there has been a new set of weights and other equipment introduced into the Rec Center.

As an accessory to the new weights and equipment, a new organization system has been put in place.

For instance, the weight racks have all been labeled with different sizes of weights. This makes it easy for users to know where each

weight is and to guide users as to where the weights go when putting them back.

Aside from the new weights organization system, students can borrow some behind-the-desk equipment, like basketballs and mats. However, a student ID is required to borrow an item, and the ID will be kept until the borrowed item is returned.

As you indulge in the newly enhanced atmosphere of the Rec Center, here is a friendly reminder to work smart and stay safe while respecting the policies of the space.

Elphena Elsar photo

The new and improved weight room has new flooring, multiple weight racks and new benches amongst other things.

Elphena Elsar photo

New matts line the far wall of the Rec repleacing the old wooden stretching bars.

The divider wall was also torn down to provde more space for workout machines.

Elphena Elsar photo

Last semesters’ wall of exercise bikes is no more. Students can once again enjoy the studio space for classes and individual workouts.

Elphena Elsar photo

The new lighting shines over the newly organized Recreation Center along with some new machines.

Elphena Elsar photo

The new layout of the workout machines has provided a larger area for more machines as well as a dedicated zone for lifting.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

NEWS

PAGE 3

The Roost Express is now open

By Bella Lee Staff writer

If you’ve been to the bottom of the Student Union lately, you might have noticed that the once-beloved Laker Inn now ceases to exist. The Cinco Cantina had already moved to the Anchor Express this past semester, but the closure of the Laker Inn and Crimson Cup was something that saddened students. However, this turned out to be a blessing in disguise with the introduction of the Roost Express.

The Roost Express is open Monday-Friday from 9 am to 3 p.m., to provide students with breakfast and lunch options

they otherwise wouldn’t be able to try out.

Some popular menu items include stuffed French toast, the cinnamon roll breakfast sandwich and Reuben sliders.

The spirit of the Crimson Cup lives on in the Roost Express, where you can order smoothies in strawberry, strawberry banana, very berry, or mango peach flavors.

An element of the Laker Inn also remains in the Roost Express, where students can order bottled beverages, packaged snacks, and sandwiches. All of these items (except for the Grab and Go options) must be ordered through the GET app, and can be purchased using

dining dollars or bonus bucks.

The addition of the Roost Express came as dining options have been changing in recent years.

“As we added dining venues across campus and expanded hours of operations at other units the foot traffic and participation at the Laker Inn decreased significantly,” said Katie Boyd, general manager of Parkhurst.

“In an effort to shift with dining trends, we wanted to create a mobile only venue on campus to help satisfy the student’s need for speed during the day. We are hoping that this model helps in participation, and it is already starting to

show!”

Students can also check out the Roost Express menu through the Food U app if they need an idea of what they might want to order. There is a variety of tasty breakfast options, including breakfast sandwiches and French toast, as well as appetizers, including pretzel sticks and pizza logs, that students can have as a snack in between classes if they wish.

There are also many lunch options including the Rooster (chicken tenders on a brioche bun) and the Brazen burger (a beef or veggie burger topped with pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and brazen sauce).

For a sweet treat, students

can choose between a Bailey’s chocolate chip cookie sandwich or a warm homemade cinnamon bun for a tasty dessert.

While the Laker Inn is dearly missed, the Roost Express gives students a fresh experience. Since the Roost is generally only open for dinner, the Roost Express gives students a chance to try out options straight from their kitchen.

Be sure to order something on the GET app and stop by the Roost Express to check out what they have!

If you’re ever experiencing any difficulty with the GET app, please stop by the OneCard office, don’t suffer in silence!

Good Today, Better Tomorrow — Mercyhurst welcomes Dr. Getz as the 13th President

By Gillian Mazur Editor-in-chief As of May 11, 2021, Mercyhurst University announced Dr. Kathleen Getz, Ph.D., as the university’s 13th president. Shattering the glass ceiling, Getz will be the first female President of the University since that of Sr. Carolyn Herrmann in the 1960s, but she is also the first laywoman to ever lead the school at such capacity.

Although she is new to Mercyhurst and its community, Getz is not new to Erie, PA. In her past, she studied, lived, and eventually taught at the Erie Business Center for a few years.

Wanting to teach at a better institution, she moved away from her husband for a short time to go to Pittsburgh to earn her Ph.D. at the University of Pittsburgh.

Throughout her career, she taught at American University in Washington, D.C. and worked as a dean for Loyola University Chicago and Loyola University Maryland. At Loyola University Maryland, Getz acted as the Dean of the Business school for over ten years where she learned a lot about leadership.

Using her past knowledge and skills, she was able to pass every step of the application process— all of this leading up to the moment when Interim President, Joe NeCastro, called to tell her the position was hers.

With a rich history and legacy, Mercyhurst was founded as an all-girls school by the Sisters of Mercy back in 1926. It is only fitting that the University’s centennial in 2026 is celebrated with a woman at the forefront.

Getz’s inauguration is to be celebrated on Oct. 2 at 1:30 p.m. in

the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

Getz is to be inaugurated with the theme of “Enriching the Circle of Mercy: Good Today, Better Tomorrow.”

Getz looks toward the future of the school with hope and optimism as well as reflecting on the past. A unique aspect of this theme is that it incorporates the direct words from the late Venerable Catherine McAuley, the founder of the Sisters of Mercy.

McAuley once said, “Let us take one day only in hands at a time.

Resolve to do good today and better tomorrow.”

With the University’s centennial coming up in five years, Getz said that it’s a good point for reflection.

“Reflecting on the past is a really good thing to do. We’ve got lots of wonderful traditions and we should reflect on them and be proud of them, but we can’t rest on our laurels. We must understand that the world is constantly changing and it’s changing at an ever-faster pace.”

With strong roots, traditions and values, Getz remains optimistic about the success of the school’s future.

“Finding our place in that future in a way that can build from the past successes and build on the values that we hold dear is an opportunity for us,” Getz said.

One of the aspects of the Mercyhurst community that echoes the spirit of the founding sisters is the willingness of the faculty, staff, and students to do the hard work.

“We can be successful because of our foundation,” Getz said, “[Amongst the Mercyhurst community] we have people who are very willing to do the work that needs to be done.”

Mercyhurst has a culture of strong work ethics and a sense of purpose, said Getz.

“You hear in some places people say, ‘That’s not my job,’ or ‘You should talk to somebody else.’ Here people say, ‘What needs to be done, we will do.’”

Although Getz does not know in what ways Mercyhurst will be better in the future exactly, she hopes to improve in all areas.

From academics to student engagement, Getz recognizes that there is room for improvement throughout campus.

One specific thing Getz wants to focus on for the time being is Mercyhurst’s engagement and collaboration with the Erie community.

“Erie is a community that needs to be rebuilt and it’s in the process of being rebuilt, and I think Mercyhurst should be part of that. We have so much to offer.

There’s good reason to be hopeful— to build on the good today and plan to be better tomorrow.”

Another area that Getz seeks to improve upon is the school’s diversity. Historically, Mercyhurst has been and remains a predominantly white campus. Starting with inclusion, it is important to Getz that everyone feel and be comfortable on campus. While there are clear steps that can be taken to diversify newly hired staff and faculty members, she recognizes that it is not so easy to do the same with students.

“I want to learn more… we have work to do on that [diversity]. The good news is that people want to do it [the steps to furthering inclusion and diversity] but the bad news is not all of us know how to do it,” said Getz.

A new board Getz plans on starting is a President’s Advisory Council on Diversity, Equity, In-

clusion and Justice who will help her develop a strategic plan so that Mercyhurst as a community stops talking and starts doing.

“My goal is to redouble our efforts and come up with a concrete plan, a strategic plan, for making Mercyhurst all that it should be.

We’re very welcoming here, we have to not only invite others into the Mercyhurst culture but expand Mercyhurst’s culture to include others and their experiences.”

According to old diversity reports, Mercyhurst has not been welcoming to those of minority status.

“Having the Summer of 2020 made it impossible for people to say this [racial injustice] isn’t really an issue. People are on all different areas of a learning curve and we have to take people where they are… We have to have a general level of impatience and recognize that we know this is a problem and not just sit back and say we’re committed to changewe have to do something.”

“In all aspects of diversity whether racial, ethinic, gender, sex, political opinion, socioeconomic background, religion- all of those areas of diversity- we’ve got to think carefully about how we really do fufill our vision to be welcoming to everyone. I really believe in this and it’s going to be a hallmark of my presidency.

That’s part of the hope and optimism- there’s plenty of room to be better and we’re going to figure it out.”

Although Getz has not gotten to interact with the student body too much so far, she hopes students see her as a person, not an authority. Similar to other administrators, many return to the realm of higher education because of their love to teach and

the interaction with the students.

“I want people to see me as a human being. I don’t want to be a figurehead. I like to think that Joe [NeCastro] found what he was looking for. I’m saying it to as many students as I can, but I want to be accessible. If you see me on campus, please say hello.

If you want to stop and chat, you can walk in my direction and I may not have time, but I really do want students to see me as approachable.”

“As I drive through campus in the early morning, I wave at students. They’re barely awake when I drive in, but if you see a woman in a little red Hyundai that’s waving- that’s the president.”

The Merciad asked Getz a few “lightning round” questions to get to know Getz better as a fellow Laker.

Sport Most Looking Forward to: Men’s and Women’s ice hockey MU Green or MU Blue: Mercyhurst Green Anchor or Shamrock: Shamrock Favorite Food: Strawberry or any fruit-flavored ice cream Genre of Books: Spy novels Instrument: Piano Lastly, Getz shared what students really want to know— Hurst Day 2021 is happening!

Getz instantly recognized the energy of Hurst Day and even talked with the now-retired president about the day. “Yes, we are planning Hurst Day, rain dates and all. If COVID gets too bad, we’ll figure out a way to do it in the Spring. We don’t want our students going two years without Hurst Day.” The Mercyhurst community is excited for the future with President Getz leading them in the right direction.

NEWS

PAGE 4

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Study Abroad program to resume Merciad IN A MINUTE Report your vaccination Have you received your COVID-19 vaccine?

Make sure to report it to the school by visiting tinyurl.com/MUvaccine.

This form still needs to be completed even if you participated in the campus clinic.

Remember to still abide

by CDC and campus guidelines about mask wearing, social distancing and limiting contact, even if you are fully vaccinated.

Humanities lounge open The Humanities lounge, located on the second floor of Preston Hall, is now open.

Students can go there to study, do homework and meet other students.

The humanities lounge is also a great place to just sit and relax in between classes.

Be sure to stop by if you are in a humanities major and are interested in a new study space!

Hurst Day Scavenger Hunt Sign-Ups Hurst Day is coming soon and sign-ups for the scavenger hunt close today, Wednesday, Sept.

8.

Form your team of four in order to compete for the chance to win prizes such as iPads, Apple Watches, Bose Speakers and more!

Hurst Day is coming soon - don’t miss out on this fun, friendly competition!

On-Campus Parking Reminders Be sure to get your oncampus vehicle registered if you haven’t already.

Once your vehicle is registered, it is important that you pick up your sticker so that you don’t get a ticket.

Be mindful of the parking lots that are reserved for staff and administration, as well as those reserved for certain permits only.

Have a tip for Merciad in a Minute? Want to tell others about your club’s events?

Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

By Bella Lee

live in university-leased accommodations and study as they travel throughout Ireland as part A new academic year means a of the program. Ireland offers lots of REACH courses, so every new slate of study abroad trips. student can go.

Besides the ever-popular trip to Those who wish to go on Dungarvan, Ireland, Mercyhurst the Dungarvan trip can choose also announced that the spring between three Mini 4 courses trips would be in Costa Rica and in the spring: Psychology and Greece.

Religious Experience (R in The Dungarvan trip is schedREACH or major/minor credit uled to occur during Mini 4 of in Psychology), Comparative the spring semester, between Leadership (C in REACH or Mar. 7 and May 7, 2022, while the Costa Rica and Greece trips major/minor credit in Political are due scheduled for May after Science or Intelligence Studies) or Comparative Social Issues the end of the spring semester.

(H in REACH or major/minor The Mercyhurst in Ireland credit in Social Work).

Program is an experience that Those who wish to go on the takes students and faculty memCosta Rica trip can choose bebers to the Mercyhurst Universitween two Mini 4 courses in the ty Ireland facility in Dungarvan, spring: Digital Photography and County Waterford, Ireland for 8 Video Narrative (E in REACH weeks. or major/minor credit in If accepted, students will take Graphic Design) or The Science 2-3 courses on site in Ireland, Staff writer

of Adventure (A in REACH or major/minor credit in Natural Sciences).

Those who wish to go on the Greece trip can choose between three Mini 4 courses in the spring: Classical Roots of Philosophy (R in REACH or major/ minor credit in Philosophy), Threshold of Democracy: Ancient Athens (C in REACH or major/minor credit in History) or Human Trafficking in Greece (H in REACH or major/minor credit in Criminal Justice).

No matter what class you choose to take in order to go on a study abroad trip, you have the opportunity to fulfill any of your REACH requirements or a credit towards your major or minor.

Courses will be taught by Dr. Gerald Tobin, Dr. Randy Clemons, Dr. Laura Lewis, Peter Stadtmueller, Dr. Joseph Johnson, Katie Kilmer, Dr. James

Snyder, Dr. Averill Earls and Dr. Emmaleigh Kirchner.

These classes are all happening thanks to FSAT, who has been consistently working alongside Mercyhurst to give students the study abroad experience of a lifetime.

All of these trips are loaded with fantastic itineraries. Students can attend Irish festivals in Dungarvan, go whitewater rafting in Costa Rica or visit the site of the original Olympics in Greece.

Deadlines are coming quickly, so if you are interested in attending a study abroad trip this year, be sure to come to the Study Abroad Fair in the Student Union Great Room on Sept. 15 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Study abroad trips are a once in a lifetime experience.

STUDY ABROAD coming back

STUDY ABROAD FAIR PLANNED FOR

Wednesday, September 15, 2021 – Student Union Great Room Stop by to learn more about our SPRING 2022 Programs in

Ireland, Greece and Costa Rica Information also available on Semester/Summer programs abroad

Pizza, Refreshments, Prizes SPRING 2022 – MERCYHURST IN DUNGARVAN, IRELAND • Full term study abroad - 8 Weeks in Ireland • Numerous excursions and activities including independent travel - Weekend trips to Dublin and Galway

SPRING 2022 Faculty Student Academic Travel (FSAT) Programs in GREECE and COSTA RICA For more information and an application visit our website:

STUDENT HUB – ACADEMICS – STUDY ABROAD Questions? Email studyabroad@meryhurst.edu Office of Global Programs – Preston 101/105

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

NEWS

Mercyhurst opens new multipurpose field

By Sydney Dietz Sports editor

Mercyhurst University and Mercyhurst Prep High School opened a new multipurpose field on Aug. 27, for both schools to utilize. The field was originally going to be built over a year ago, but was delayed as a result of COVID-19.

The new field has Mercyhurst athletes and coaches very excited for future events.

The Director of Athletics, Brad Davis said, “Mercyhurst is very excited to unveil this new facility.

It is a game-changer for both the high school and the university.”

This new field will be the home base for both schools’ softball programs along with Mercyhurst Prep’s boys and girls soccer teams.

“It allows us to provide more opportunities for both students and student-athletes and will undoubtedly make Mercyhurst attractive to future students,” Davis said.

Students from both the university and high school are excited to start putting the field to use.

“I am so grateful to be playing on such a beautiful field,” said sophomore softball player Marisa Cartellone.

“I love that the field is making so many teams as happy as we are!

To have a field on campus will hopefully encourage more fans to attend some of our home games!”

Cartellone said. She is thankful to everyone that made that field possible since it was a long and complicated process.

Cartellone, along with oth-

PAGE 5

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

This weekend’s campus events

er students and coaches are very grateful for the generosity and hard work that has been put into this field.

“Words cannot describe the excitement we have towards our new field. We can finally use our locker room and the beautiful field each day. It helps the team feel a part of the Mercyhurst community by being able to play on campus,” said Mercyhurst softball coach Leanne Baker.

The multipurpose field is a symbol of the mission being shared by both schools and will be part of Mercyhurst history.

The field was donated by the Vorsheck family and Mercyhurst is very grateful for that donation.

Without them, this field would not have been possible. Now both schools are more connected.

Women’s basketball hosts kids camps

By Ashley Barletta News editor

One of the things we are taught at Mercyhurst from the beginning of our time here is that it is important to be involved in the community.

It is vital that we make connections with other people, especially the children. The women’s basketball team is doing just that by hosting a kids camp.

The kids camp will take place on Sept. 10 in the Athletic Center for both boys and girls grades kindergarten through eighth grade.

The camp begins at 5 p.m. and will include basketball drills and games, followed by a movie.

The movie is set to end around 10 p.m., which makes the basketball camp a total of five hours long.

The cost is $20 per camper and Mercyhurst alumni can register their children for the camp at a discounted price of $15 per camper. One can also register three children for a total of $50.

Brenna Heise, Assistant Women’s basketball coach, said, “It will be a fun atmosphere with basketball instruction in both drills and games. The first half of camp will involve various basketball activities and the second half will be a movie showing.”

Kids who register for this camp will receive dinner, a T-shirt and a

gift from Mercyhurst.

“We marketed it as an opportunity for parents to have a night away from their kids without having to worry about finding a babysitter! Members of our current team are helping at camp and will be interacting with the kids throughout,” Heise said.

Not only do players get to serve as an inspiration for younger generations who aspire to play college sports, but the camp can also help serve as a reflection point. Not many make it to the level of college athletics, the camp will help serve as a reminder of where they [the players] came from and how far they have gotten in their athletic career.

The following morning, Sept.

11, the women’s basketball team will be hosting an elite camp. This is for kids in ninth grade through twelfth grade.

The camp will run for seven hours, beginning at nine in the morning and ending at four in the afternoon. Registration will include a T-shirt, lunch and a special gift from Mercyhurst.

The cost for the Elite Skills Camp was originally $65 for the early bird rate. However, this price will increase to $75 per camper after the early bird window closed on Sept. 1.

It is important that all of us, as students here at Mercyhurst, involve ourselves in service for oth-

ers.

A kids camp is a great way for players to connect with younger people in the Erie community and have fun doing it.

“We believe it is extremely important for Mercyhurst to host camps to get our name in the community as well as students on our campus”, said Heise.

“Especially with us being a newer staff, we [want to] make it a priority to host camps and meet as many student-athletes and coaches as possible!”

With the Athletic Center being renovated, now is as good a time as ever to check out the Laker for Life Campaign. Anyone can give a donation or volunteer their time and efforts to help our student athletes here at Mercyhurst. It is never too late to get involved.

Students are always told that we need to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, even if it doesn’t seem like we can make an impact.

The Mercyhurst women’s basketball team should be inspiring all of us to put ourselves out there and build connections with those around us in our local communities.

Any questions regarding the kids camp can be sent to Brenna Heise at bheise@mercyhurst.edu.

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG Aug 26: Unwanted Guest in Lewis Aug 28: Harassment in Briggs Sept 2: Extortion in Wayne

FEATURES

PAGE 6

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Mercyhurst welcomes HURST CLASS the class of 2025 CATALOG

Contributed photo Mercyhurst University photo

By Bella Lee Staff writer

Mercyhurst Day of Service 2021- the class of 2025 ventures out into the Erie community.

By Libby Bullinger This year, Mercyhurst welcomed an impressive 27 faculty members as new Lakers. Among them is Lauren Esper, who joins the Department of Marketing and Brand Management as a full-time graphic designer.

Esper is no stranger to the Erie area; she is a graduate of Girard High School and just graduated this past May from Edinboro University with her Bachelors in Fine Arts with a concentration in graphic and interactive design.

She is now pursuing her Masters’s in Organizational Leadership through Mercyhurst while also working fulltime.

“I actually accepted this position the day before I graduated!” Esper said.

Although she is an alum of Edinboro, Esper has her reasons for calling Mercyhurst home. “I chose to come to Mercyhurst because when looking for employment after college I wanted to stay local to the Erie area,” Esper said.

“I worked as an intern at Edinboro University’s marketing department my senior year and really liked the design work I was producing for the university. So when I saw this job posted for doing design work in a university setting and it being local for me it was a win-win!”

Even though she’s only been here for a few months, Esper couldn’t be any happier. “I love the department I work in and the work I am producing, all my coworkers in it, and how welcoming everyone is not only in my department but in others too,” she said.

Esper is incredibly passionate about her career as a graphic designer. She has an extensive portfolio ranging from postcard designs and various logos and signage for various projects at Edinboro University.

“I love making art and having my products not only represent the place I am assisting with but, my work also represents me and my personality, and I love being apart of something bigger than myself” said Esper.

As a graphic designer, Esper will be helping to make Mercyhurst look as fresh and fantastical as ever. If you happen to come across her, be sure to say hello and give her a warm Mercyhurst welcome.

Copy editor

After a year of virtual events and COVID restrictions, Mercyhurst was able to welcome the Class of 2025 in a more traditional manner.

This year, students were able to experience in-person events that typically occur annually such as MAC/SAC programming, the anticipated Hypnotic Intoxication Performance, and New Student Convocation.

New Student Welcome began on Friday with students from around the globe making their way through the gates and to the residence halls which they call home for the academic year. The students were met by Resident Assistants, Laker Leaders and of course Luke the Laker. In addition, groups such as the football team and the ROTC cadets were stationed in the residence halls to help families move their student’s suitcases and mini fridges into their rooms.

Joey Franz, a junior Communications major and co-chair of MAC/SAC, oversaw events that new students attend for their first weekend at the Hurst.

On Friday night, students gathered outside the Student Union for a glow in the dark mini golf night. The nine-hole course was the first night of programming for this year’s MAC/SAC events and also served as a kick-off event for new students after a long day of

moving into their campus residencies.

Saturday night was Casino night, which Franz referred to as a “Mercyhurst tradition.” Students were able to earn chips in casino games run by student Ambassadors and Laker Leaders, and turn their profits into tickets for raffles at the end of the night. Some of the raffle prizes featured were a TV, several Amazon Echoes, and a $100 gift card to the Mercyhurst bookstore.

The return of many of these campus traditions has been long awaited after last year’s virtual setup. Although there are still some precautions being taken on campus, there is so much more freedom than there was last year.

“The only difference from previous years was the mask, which in reality isn’t even that much of a difference. We were grateful to be able to hold the events in person rather than on a virtual platform,” said Franz.

Another Mercyhurst tradition that returned for the first time since 2019 was the in-person Day of Service. Deriving from the mission of the Sisters of Mercy and their dedication to service work, this event allows new students to experience a day of volunteering outside of the gates. New students are bussed into the community where they perform service work for the day in areas across Erie.

Volunteer sites differ every year, but usually include a wide range

of different areas and types of work for students to engage in.

Throughout the week, students gathered together in the Grotto Commons for meals, met with their Resident Assistants, and worked in teams with their iMU classes and Laker Leaders. Allowing new students to arrive on campus several days before starting class gives them an opportunity to meet new friends and get acclimated before they dive into the full college experience.

New Student Welcome concluded with the New Student Convocation in the Performing Arts Center on Tuesday. This event formally welcomes students into the university and secures their status as Lakers. Following the ceremony, students scattered across campus to meet with faculty and advisors from their respective majors, giving them a chance to connect before the first day of classes on Wednesday.

With COVID limiting numerous new student welcome activities the university has come to know and love, it is wonderful to see some normalcy yet again after so long.

It was wonderful to see the return of so many campus traditions this year. To the Class of 2025 and all the new students on campus, welcome to Mercyhurst!

Hurst will be your home for the next four years, carpe diem.

Interested in advertising in the Merciad? Or do you have article suggestions? We offer half-price ad rates for Mercyhurst events/promotions, and competitive rates for anyone in the Erie community. Reach out to Gillian Mazur at merciad@mercyhurst.edu for rates or questions.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

FEATURES

PAGE 7

New student orientation rebrands to Laker Launch Days

By Gillian Mazur

Editor-in-chief

The year 2021 has brought many changes to Mercyhurst, one of these changes being Laker Launch Days. For the first time in two years, new student orientation was able to be held in-person. This year orientation was re-branded as Laker Launch Days.

While all new students had to attend a mandatory summer-long Virtual Orientation experience, new students and their families were also given the option to attend a series of optional Laker Launch Day sessions.

Seven in-person Laker Launch Days were offered for students to register on a first-come, first-serve basis. International Student students were also given an option in late August to attend a Laker Launch Day closer to the start of freshman move-in.

The virtual orientation consisted of online meetings, discussions, videos, and activities that could be completed at one’s leisure throughout the summer.

On Laker Launch Days, starting from 9 a.m., events for the new students and their families lasted all day until 4:30 p.m. The launch days eventually led up to freshman Move-In Day on Aug. 20 and Aug. 21.

Many Mercyhurst offices and departments played a role in helping make the Laker Launch Days a success including the Enrollment team, Marketing office, Academic Support, Parkhurst Dining, Aramark and individual faculty and staff.

Contributed photo

The 2021-2022 Laker Leader staff who played a major role in welcoming the incoming class of 2025.

Executive Director of Campus Involvement, now Assistant VP for Student Life, Sarah Allen, was one of the staff members able to help coordinate, organize and implement the several Laker Launch Days.

“We offered seven Laker Launch Days this past summer and limited attendance for each one. Incoming students and their families all raved about the small size and individualized attention given to each day and its attendees,” said Allen.

Although the Launch Days mostly consisted of incoming

freshmen, all students from traditional, 2-year associate, adult and transfer students were invited to partake in the days.

“We had many associate and transfer students also take part in Laker Launch Days,” said Allen.

At Laker Launch Days, new students were able to learn more about their academic career, meet with counselors and advisors to review their fall course schedule and ask questions.

In addition, students were able to get their student ID, set up their student bank account and pre-order textbooks. New stu-

dents were also able to meet some of their future peers, current students, faculty, staff and administrators to discuss college life and Mercyhurst’s campus community.

Intelligence Studies and Criminal Justice junior, Samantha Strom was one of the Laker Leaders who helped guide incoming students through their transition into college throughout New Student Welcome and Laker Launch Days.

“I welcomed students into their dorm halls, attended presentations with them, conducted small group sessions to discuss some

of what they learned and mingled with them [the incoming students] at the fun MAC/SAC events,” said Strom of her experience with New Student Welcome.

“I also got to attend the Day of Service with my small group doing community service as the Bethesda Trinity Center.”

Catherine Segada, sophomore Anthropology major, is another Laker Leader who helped acclimate the incoming students to Mercyhurst.

“It’s extremely important for them [the incoming freshmen] to have these orientation days so they can see campus before life gets too hectic. My role was to make sure the incoming class could gain an understanding of what Mercyhurst life is like and show them that Hurst is home,” said Segada.

By the end of orientation, students had their first academic advising session, learned about academic services and support, connected with other students, and were introduced to the world of Mercyhurst among other things.

“The Laker Launch Days were a little hectic but extremely fun. I loved being able to show the freshmen around campus, show them the best places to eat and answer any questions they had,” said Segada.

“Being a part of Laker Launch Days really makes me feel like Hurst is home, and I am so excited to share that with the new students this year,” said Strom.

FEATURES

PAGE 8

HURST CLASS CATALOG

RSCO Feature: Black Students for Unity

By Bella Lee Staff writer

Mercyhurst University photo

Photo is of ART 320 professor and alumni Anna Baker.

By Sarah Beck

Contributing writer

Are you a graphic design major or have ever been interested in graphic design? Maybe you are interested in a career as an art director, graphic designer, multimedia artist, industrial product designer or marketing manager? ART 320 might just be a class that is right for you.

ART 320 is a Type and Publication graphic design course that has been a part of the graphic design curriculum here at Mercyhurst University for many years.

Like many art courses, this one is no different when it comes to its diverse content as laid out in the syllabus. The syllabus gives one a bit of insight into all the designs and layouts that students will learn throughout the semester and will be able to produce once they have completed this course. The Merciad is a great example of what Type and Publication is all about.

In this course, you will learn how to layout multiple pages in an efficient manner and with pleasing aesthetics. Throughout the class, you will use tools such as differing styles, grids and columns to produce a great layout and beautiful product.

The primary outcome of this class however, is to teach the students all about the elements of design and art by using the software InDesign with Photoshop and Illustrator as supporting software systems. Type and Publication is taught by Mercyhurst alumni from the class of 2015, Anna Baker.

This academic year marks Baker’s first year as a professor on campus and she is enthused to be back at the Hurst. “I am excited to be back in the buildings I went to classes in not too long ago. I love getting to revisit my favorite spots on campus, it is truly surreal,” said Baker.

If you are interested in any form of graphic design this class is a great addition to your schedule in future semesters. By the end of your experience with ART 320, you will have a start to your own portfolio of material and the many properties of InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator software systems.

Through taking this class, you will have the opportunity to meet professors and possible future colleagues in your field which gives you a leg up to the start of your career in graphic design.

Lastly, you will have a better overall understanding of communications and design which will help you to be more successful in future jobs and projects.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Are you passionate about Black Lives Matter and similar movements? Do you want to make your voice heard on these matters? Do you want to help change the world? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then Black Students for Unity, or BSU, is the perfect club for you.

Anyone on campus, regardless of race, can join this club. If they consider themselves an ally of the movement, they are more than welcome to join.

“BSU provides a safe space for students to discuss issues concerning race and other areas of social justice,” said Vydalia Weatherly, sophomore Political Science and Criminal Justice double major and treasurer of the club.

BSU has made its impact on campus in recent years. Last year, the club organized their first Mercy March, with speakers, signs, and moments of silence to remember those lost to police brutality.

This event got a tremendous

turnout, with over 400 students and staff in attendance, and BSU plans on doing it again.

“BSU has a busy year planned,” said Weatherly. “On Sept. 9th, BSU will kick off the year with our first meeting. Anyone who attends will have the opportunity to make an inspiration board.

Later on in the month, on Monday, Sept. 20 will we have our second annual Mercy March.

We plan to have several speakers take part in this worthwhile event. The club was excited to see the large turnout of students and faculty that took part in last year’s march. BSU hopes to have even more people take part in this incredible event this year.”

BSU is already planning ahead on what they want to do not only this semester, but next semester as well.

“Additionally, throughout the year, BSU will put on many educational presentations including the topics of Juneteenth and various music genres,” said Weatherly.

“During the spring semester, we will be hosting our annual game of Family Feud as well, which al-

ways brings out a large crowd.”

The first meeting of BSU will be held on Sept. 9 for anyone that is interested. “BSU is planning on meeting in Hirt 212,” said Weatherly.

“We will send out an email in advance if the meeting location does change. Our club will be meeting every other Thursday this year. If we are planning a special event, BSU will meet on alternative Thursdays, to ensure the event is a success.”

The popularity of BSU has increased exponentially in recent years, thanks to events like the Mercy March that raise awareness of important issues in the country.

Be sure to reach out if you are interested in joining BSU, and keep Sept. 20 marked on your calendars for the second annual Mercy March!

Mercyhurst University photo

BSU hosted the first annual Mercy March on Sept 20, 2020.

JOIN THE MERCIAD Do you like the content you are seeing in the Merciad? Would you like to help us out with articles or photographs and earn money for your work? We are still looking for writers and photographers!

Join our Teams page by emailing merciad@mercyhurst.edu to take part in our 7 p.m. Monday meetings.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

FEATURES

PAGE 9

Mercyhurst welcomes new staff members

By Sarah Beck

Contributing writer

The academic 2021-2022 school year has brought about a lot of new faces to the Mercyhurst campus. Not only are we welcoming the incoming class of freshman students, but also our wonderful University President Kathleen Getz and twenty-seven new faculty members. The new faculty members spread wide across the various colleges and disciplines here at Mercyhurst University. It is very exciting to welcome these professors, some of whom you may know through classes that you are taking this semester.

The Intelligence Program in particular has gained quite a few members including Dalene Duvenage and Brooke Shannon who are both Assistant Professors of Intelligence Studies. Peter Correa—oftentimes referred to as The Colonel—is also an Assistant Professor of Intelligence Studies.

This is Correa’s first year teaching full-time within Ridge College, but this marks his third year teaching at Mercyhurst. “I love teaching at Mercyhurst because of the quality of our students and because we are a university delivering cutting edge programs facilitated by professors with both real-world and academic credentials,” said Correa.

The Colonel is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, NY where he received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Leadership. He continued his education at The Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA where he received his Master of Science in Financial Management. Correa served in uniform for twenty-four years until he retired from active duty in 1996 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

Correa is a very active professor, “I believe in making education hands-on and interactive rather than a total ‘Death By PowerPoint’ experience. I am a strong advocate for experiential learning levered by technology,” said Correa. One of Correa’s favorite classes to teach is Business Intelligence as it, “Allows students to peel the onion of organizations,” said Correa. Mercyhurst is very fortunate to

have an educator like Correa who believes in blending together hands-on learning with also technical learning skills and styles.

The newly-instated Nursing Department is also very fortunate to have gained Professors Sara Finchio and Carolyn Zaffino who are both Instructors of Nursing, as well as Professor Colleen Miller who is not only an Instructor of Nursing, but also a Clinical Simulation Coordinator.

There were a few additions to the political science world here at Mercyhurst, as well. These include Abolghasem Bayyenat, who is an Assistant Professor of Political Science, and Eric T. Wagner, an Instructor of Political Science. Alethea Gaarden is also an Instructor of not only Political Science but also an Instructor of English. Gaarden, who is a Mercyhurst alumna, is thrilled to be back on campus.

When Gaarden was a Mercyhurst student she double majored in political science and English. She ended up focusing on English and received her Master’s at Ohio University where she focused on Old and Medieval English. A little-known fact about Gaarden is that she worked with the Flagship Niagara League down on the bayfront where she got interested in maritime studies and literature of the sea. Gaarden worked as a mariner and carpenter for the Flagship Niagara League for a couple of years, “It was nice to have that balance between academics and being engaged in the community in a different way,” said Gaarden. She worked at Mercyhurst part-time for a while, but was eventually drawn to become full-time here at Mercyhurst University.

Gaarden says that her favorite part of working at Mercyhurst is the students, “Mercyhurst students are consistently so engaged. With everything that we have experienced over the last year and a half to two years, the effort that people put in and the work that they have done to still be present in their classes and in their departments has been amazing to see,” said Gaarden.

Some of the classes that Gaarden teaches are a few American Government courses, Intro to Technical Writing as

well as Research and Writing. Gaarden is such a wonderful addition to our campus as she truly cares for her students and being a part of their journey through education.

Within applied forensic sciences, the University is pleased to welcome Kristine A. Kortonick as a Visiting Instructor of Applied Forensic Sciences and Stephanie Melillo as a Visiting Assistant Professor of Forensic Science.

Anthony V. Lanfranchi is also an Instructor of Applied Forensic Sciences that is new on campus.

The university is fortunate to have gained professors in primarily nursing, intelligence studies, applied forensic sciences and political sciences, but there are also many new professors in other practices. These professors include the following: Derek Beeler is an Assistant Professor of Athletic Training as well as a Clinical Education Coordinator.

Jesse Decker is an Instructor of Data Science. Lawrence M. Downey, Jr. is an Assistant Professor of Mathematics. Seyma Inan is an Assistant Professor of Psychology. Michelle Kephart is an Instructor of Sociology and Social Work.

Sadia Yaqub Khan is an Assistant Professor of Marketing.

William J. Meyer, Jr. is an Assistant Professor of Anthropology and Archeology. Julia M. Morgan is an Assistant Professor of Philosophy. Elizabeth M. Pyne is an Assistant Professor of Religious Studies. Katelyn S. Reisenauer is an Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies.

Elizabeth M. Sanders is an Assistant Professor of Applied Sociology and Social Work. Michael Silker is an Instructor of Criminal Justice. Katie Summers is an Instructor of Fashion Merchandising. Qiuju Tian is an Instructor of Education. Bradley Treece is an Assistant Professor of Physics.

It is wonderful to see the campus growing as these new faculty members begin their careers at Mercyhurst University. Every person has their own unique story to share and each of these stories offers something different to everyone. As a campus community, we are blessed to have these twenty-seven new members, so be sure to welcome them in the classroom and around campus.

This day in history: the death of Princess Diana

By Abigail Eyler

Contributing writer

On Aug. 31, 1997, Princess Diana died in a car accident.

She was thirty-six. Her boyfriend Dodi Fayed and the driver, Henri Paul also died. The accident occurred in Paris, at the entrance of the Pont de l’Alma tunnel. Previous to the accident, Dodi and Diana were vacationing in the French Riviera and arrived in Paris Aug. 30. Prior to the accident, they were at the Ritz Paris and left around midnight. They were intending to go to Fayed’s apartment on the Rue Arsène Houssaye. Due to Princess Diana’s fame and popularity, the car was tailed by several paparazzi on motorcycles. 3 minutes after leaving, the car crashed into a pillar.

Fayed and Paul were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Diana was announced dead at 6:00 am at the Pitié Salpêtrière hospital. The only passenger to survive the accident was Diana’s bodyguard, Trevor Rees-Jones, who left the scene seriously injured. Diana’s sisters, former husband, Prince Charles and members of royal family went to Paris that morning. Diana’s body was then brought to London.

With the death of Diana, many looked to place blame on someone for the accident. At first, the paparazzi were blamed due to aggressively tailing the car. Diana’s photos and whereabouts were seen as a commodity within the media market, so many paparazzi followed her every move.

This was also supported at first as several paparazzi tailed the car on motorcycles, allowing more vehicles on the road at once. However, a toxicology report done on Paul revealed that at the time of the accident, he was under the influence of alcohol and prescription drugs. After a formal investigation of the accident, it was concluded that the paparazzi did not cause the collision.

Diana’s death became a media speculation. Several conspiracy theories were made regarding her death. One conspiracy is that the royal family had planned her death. This specific conspiracy gained traction due to Queen Elizabeth II refusing to partake in the public mourning of Princess Diana. Another is that Diana never died in this car accident. The car accident was a hoax that allowed Diana and

Contributed photo

Princess Diana holds a speical legacy in the hearts of many even twenty-years after her death.

Fayed to live their lives without paparazzi involvement. The final and least popular conspiracy is that Diana’s death was plotted by florists. Due to the number of flowers bought in order to mourn, some believe that Diana’s death was to increase floral sales.

Diana’s death also led to a massive outpouring of grief.

Her epithet of “the People’s Princess”, along with her charitable attitude, made her a popular royal. Many mourners left flowers at Diana’s home, Kensington Palace. The piles reached approximately 30 feet from the palace’s gate due to the amount of mourner’s present.

On Sept. 7, 1997, Princess Diana’ funeral occurred.

The funeral had over two million spectators where peo-

ple watched the procession at Hyde Park. At the midpoint of the procession, Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Henry and Earl Spencer joined as the coffin was led to the abbey. Spencer, Diana’s brother, reprimanded the media and warned the royal family that sons, William and Henry, will be raised with her openness and her spirit.

Even twenty-four years later, the late Princess holds a special place in the hearts of many. Her legacy in fashion and in culture are many reasons why she remains so beloved today.

PAGE 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

The 814: Andora’s Bubble Tea has something for everyone

By Mackenzie Zent Contributing writer

In downtown Erie, Andora’s Bubble Tea Shop is a must-visit location for any bubble tea lovers at Mercyhurst.

Owners Andy and Rora Steinmetz opened the business a little over two years ago in May of 2019, and it has been growing rapidly ever since.

Customers can order inside or do curbside pick-up if they are in a hurry. There is a wide variety of teas, juices, lemonades and milk teas to choose from with the choice of tapioca pearls, popping boba or fruit jellies to put inside.

Unlike other bubble tea places that only offer tapioca or boba, Andora’s offers a more unique selection with the fruit jellies.

Online, the menu has all of their signature drinks like the house blend milk tea, taro milk tea, matcha latte and more.

They also offer a seasonal menu with their current most popular

Contributed photo

Students show off their bubble tea drink orders at Andora’s Bubble Tea Shop. Pictured are Strawberry Boba (left) and Passion Fruit Lemonade with strawberry boba (right).

item being the pumpkin pie pearl milk with tapioca.

The new seasonal flavors are perfect for the cool upcoming fall weather. I personally can’t wait to

go back to try them.

There is another section on the menu that allows customers to create their own custom drinks.

They have over 17 different flavors

of juice to choose from, and you can combine up to three flavors.

I ordered the passion fruit lemonade with strawberry boba, and it did not disappoint. The passion fruit juice was sweet yet offset by the tanginess of the lemonade, and I loved it.

The strawberry boba also paired perfectly with the flavors I chose.

It was one of the best bubble tea drinks I have ever had.

Something I really liked was instead of plastic straws, they gave out eco-friendly ones made from bamboo. I love when small businesses go the extra mile to be environmentally conscious, and I thought this was a nice touch to the whole experience.

The shop itself is aesthetically adorable. Outside they have a pride flag hanging up above the entrance which makes all customers feel welcome.

There are a few tables outside to sit at, and a chalkboard out front with some of the seasonal drinks they offer written on it.

Inside Andora’s, the atmosphere

is positive and relaxing.

They not only sell bubble tea, but also merchandise such as t-shirts, tank tops and bags with their logo on them.

While waiting in line, you can browse through the international Taiwanese snacks they sell such as different flavors of KitKats, sweet bread, Ramune soda and so much more.

Next to these, they also sell other fun items such as key-chains, earrings, pins and stickers. Many of the earrings and key-chains were little cups of bubble tea in different colors. Not only was the merchandise cute, it was also very on-brand for the shop.

Overall, I really enjoyed the experience, and I am excited to go back and try more!

Andora’s Bubble Tea Shop is located at 516 State Street; stop by and try it for yourself!

Dido and Aeneas brings opera to MU

By Abigail Eyler

Contributing writer

The D’Angelo Music department has chosen Dido and Aeneas to be the opera for this year’s largescale performance.

Composed between 1683-1688 with a premiere date in 1689, the opera is popular amongst English opera fans and Baroque music listeners due to it being one of the first English operas.

It is also one of the most wellknown Baroque operas with the libretto written by Nahum Tate.

Composed by Henry Purcell, this is his only true opera, as it is an all-sung dramatic performance.

The story is based off of Virgil’s Aeneid, specifically Book IV where it recounts Dido’s love for Aeneas after he lands in Carthage and the despair she has once Aeneas leaves.

Auditions for the opera have already taken place on Sept. 2 in Room 19 of the D’Angelo music building, but more information is to come for ways to get involved within the opera.

Music majors and non-majors were able to try out for the opera with a variety of characters and opportunities to be in the chorus.

The opera has heavy involvement for all involved musically.

The characters auditioned for include: Dido, the Queen of Carthage, also known as Elissa, sung by a soprano or mezzo-soprano; Aeneas, a Trojan prince, sung by a tenor or high baritone; Belin-

Contributed photo

Opera Atelier’s performance of Dido and Aeneas da, Dido’s sister and handmaid, sung by a light soprano; Second Woman, another handmaiden, sung by a soprano or mezzo-soprano; Sorceress/Sorcerer, sung by a mezzo-soprano or contralto, or sung by a countertenor or bass; First Witch/Enchantress: sung by a mezzo-soprano; Second Witch/ Enchantress: sung by a mezzo-soprano; Spirit, in the form of Mercury, sung by a soprano or countertenor and First Sailor, sung by a tenor.

The opera follows Dido, the widowed Queen of Carthage, as

she entertains Aeneas, a Trojan prince, after he is shipwrecked trying to go to Italy to find a new Troy.

The two eventually fall in love, but witches plan the destruction of Dido.

The sorceress then conjures a storm while the couple is hunting, and the impersonation of Mercury is performed by one in Sorceress’ coven.

While the storm breaks and the couriers head back to town, Mercury tells Aeneas that he must sail for Italy, leaving Dido in Car-

thage.

Aeneas and the sailors leave, and Dido proceeds to kill herself.

Those who are music majors can receive credit if their credit load permits, and those who are non-majors may be eligible to receive REACH credit for their artistic requirements.

Operatic experience is not required. Those who choose to be vocally involved in the opera must provide two songs which showcase technical singing, which can be arias, art songs or musical theatre songs, and must have a complet-

ed form along with sheet music of the two songs.

Songs must be memorized. A pianist will be provided for all vocalists.

Performances of the opera will be Friday, March 25, and Sunday, March 27, in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

The D’Angelo Opera Theatre will be under the leadership of its new director, Professor Royce Strider M.M. For any questions, contact Strider at rstrider@mercyhurst. edu.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11

Contributed photo

Fall performers top row left to right: Martin Short, Vanessa Williams, Ana Gasteyer and Leslie Odom, Jr. Spring performers bottom row left to right: Branford Marsalis, Postmodern Jukebox, the Ten Tenors, David Sedaris and Kelli O’Hara

Upcoming MIAC events are sure to dazzle campus this fall

By Bella Lee

Staff writer

Another year at Mercyhurst is off to a great start, which means another full slate of MIAC performers are on their way to campus!

This fall, the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture (MIAC) is bringing in some big names such as Martin Short, Vanessa Williams, Ana Gasteyer and Leslie Odom Jr. Martin Short, the first of these performers, will be welcomed to the D’Angelo stage on Sept. 23.

Best known for his breakout role in “The Three Amigos” as Ned Nederlander and as Jack Frost in the third “Santa Clause” film, Short has accolades across movies, television and theater.

Other movie credits include “The Prince of Egypt,” “Treasure Planet” and “Madagascar 3: Eu-

rope’s Most Wanted.”

Additionally, Short has had television roles in “How I Met Your Mother” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schimdt,” and theater roles in “Godspell” and “The Producers.”

Currently, Short is starring alongside Steve Martin and Selena Gomez in the Hulu original “Only Murders in the Building,” which premieres new episodes every Tuesday. The show has already received much acclaim and had the most-viewed comedy premiere in Hulu history.

In a career spanning over 35 years, Short is guaranteed to have the audience laughing until they are crying.

Vanessa Williams, coming to Mercyhurst on Oct. 22, has a well-rounded resume as an actress, singer and fashion designer.

She first received fame in 1984 as the first African American woman to win the Miss America

crown.

However, two of her most wellknown TV roles are as Wilhelmina Slater on “Ugly Betty” and Renee Perry on “Desperate Housewives.”

Williams has earned herself the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actress in a Motion Picture and was nominated three times for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

Ana Gasteyer, an actress and comedian, will be presenting her show “Sugar and Booze” on Nov. 30.

She is most well-known for being a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1996 to 2002, although she has also had roles in “Mean Girls,” “Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2,” “Frasier” and “Suburgatory.”

More recently, she was on Season 2 of “The Masked Singer” as The Tree.

Gasteyer’s comedic charm is sure to bring something special to the Mercyhurst stage.

A name beloved by many theater fans, Leslie Odom, Jr., rounds out MIAC’s fall performers with a performance from his Christmas tour on Dec. 6.

Most will recognize Odom for his role as Aaron Burr in “Hamilton,” but he has also had roles in productions such as “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Central Park” and theater productions like “Rent” and “Dreamgirls.”

Additionally, he has released four albums, including his Christmas album, so he will undeniably bring the Christmas spirit with his performance.

However, this is not the only thing students and staff alike should be excited about.

The spring semester is just as loaded with amazing performances.

The spring series starts out with Branford Marsalis joining the community on Feb. 1, Postmodern Jukebox entertaining the audience on Mar. 16, The Ten Tenors soothing the crowd on Mar. 30, David Sedaris making his return on Apr. 19, and Kelli O’Hara being welcomed on May 5.

More information on these performances will come as the spring semester approaches.

Make sure to clear your evenings on those dates as everyone within and outside the Mercyhurst community is ecstatic about these performances.

Students are eligible for one free ticket per performance with your student ID, so be sure to claim one at the box office located in the lobby of the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center while you can!

Hurst Hot Take: “Fear Street” Trilogy

By Emma Coppolo A&E editor

“Hurst Hot Takes” is a new section where Merciad writers get to share some news of their own!

Each week, this section will publish an article from a writer recommending a piece of media, whether it be a podcast, book, movie, show or album. Stay tuned to hear our recommendations.

This week, I will be recommending a Netflix original horror trilogy, “Fear Street.”

Based off of the books by R.L. Stine, the stories of “Fear Street” are set in three different years: 1994, 1978 and 1666.

The three movies were released in consecutive weeks in the summer of 2021, which was nice because the viewers did not have to wait for a long time to see what happens next.

The stories follow the common

thread of siblings Deena (Kiana Madeira) and Josh (Benjamin Flores Jr.) along with several friends as they attempt to uncover the true source of the mysterious misfortunes of their town, Shadyside.

While their town is notorious for an unbelievable number of mass murders committed by seemingly normal Shadysiders that just “snapped,” their neighboring town of Sunnyvale is strangely a perfect Utopia.

The first movie focuses specifically on Deena and Josh’s timeline, which is 1994.

When yet another killing spree occurs that hits close to home, Deena begins questioning the object of accusations for the town’s tragedies: Sarah Fier.

Sarah Fier, who is said to be a witch put to death in the early Union settlement that once was Shadyside, is often jokingly

blamed for the troubling town happenings.

However, Josh and his online friends believe that Sarah Fier truly was a real person that cursed Shadysiders.

As events escalate, the siblings must work with Sam (Olivia Scott Welch), Kate (Julia Rehwald), and Simon (Fred Hechinger) to stop the witch in a race against time.

The second movie is set at Camp Nightwing in 1978. Sisters Cindy (Emily Rudd) and Ziggy (Sadie Sink) Berman are polar opposites; Cindy does whatever she can to forget her Shadyside background whereas Ziggy embraces her troubled situation.

A murderer begins slaughtering the children of the camp, and the sisters have to evaluate their shortfalls and work together to stop the killings.

This story is being told to characters in 1994 in the hopes that it

will help them put a stop to the Shadyside curse, which the characters from 1978 clearly failed in doing.

The third movie follows the notorious Sarah Fier (Elizabeth Scopel) at the Union settlement in 1666.

Finally, the true story of what happened back then unfolds.

All of the questions presented in the first two movies are answered, and the 1994 characters are finally clued into Shadyside’s dark past.

I do not want to give too much away about these movies because I think one of their best assets is setting things up slowly for a fantastic eventual payoff.

Each movie is better than the previous one as the Fear Street universe expands and enriches itself.

I fully believe that these movies have some of the best plot twists and payoffs I have ever seen.

The trilogy was done in a brilliant way, that it keeps pulling me back in to watch again. I have rewatched them a few times since my initial viewing.

I think these movies are perfect for a Halloween marathon, and they are great especially if you love gore, teen horror and jump scares.

If you decide to watch them, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Be sure to check out the “Fear Street” trilogy on Netflix to watch this great series!

Check our next issue to learn about a new show, book, movie or podcast.

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD This is the first Merciad edition of the semester!

Thoughts on the mask mandate at Mercyhurst

By Bella Lee

Staff writer

BAD The weather is getting colder.

HAPPY Hurst Day is back!

The Merciad STUDENT EDITORS Gillian Mazur............................ Editor in Chief Samantha Weber ................ Managing Editor Ashley Barletta ............................News Editor Victoria McGinty .................... Features Editor Sydney Dietz .............................. Sports Editor Emma Coppolo ............................. A&E Editor Zach Dumais ........................... Opinion Editor Libby Bullinger ..............................Copy Editor Steph Przepiora ...................................Advisor Kristian Biega ........................................Advisor Contact editors at merciad@mercyhurst.edu

The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year. Our office is in Hirt, Room 110.

The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor.

All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit.

Letters are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters via email at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

COVID has been in our lives for over a year and a half now. Vaccines have been given for nearly a year now, social distancing measures have come and gone, and there’s still an ongoing battle on whether masks are good or not.

Through all of this, there has been almost as many waves of COVID in the country as there are waves in a wave pool!

Now, we are over halfway through 2021, and we are getting hit with nearly as many variants as was shown in Loki.

The Delta variant is ravaging the country, and there is also word of a Lambda variant and a Mu variant internationally, which could easily make their way to us.

As a result, many cities and schools across the country, including Mercyhurst, are bringing back masks to mitigate the spread.

However, most people are vaccinated at this point, and

feel like this isn’t necessary, which leaves the burning question: was it smart to bring masks back? I believe so.

As of now, members of the Mercyhurst community only have to wear masks indoors and in outdoor spaces that are crowded. Fortunately, this is the only restriction that’s in place; social distancing measures have been lifted and in-person classes are at full capacity.

I’ve been fully vaccinated for about 8 months now, but I still wear the mask where I need to because you can never be too careful.

As we are well aware, these variants have been creating breakthrough cases, where fully vaccinated people manage to get sick with COVID. While these cases are rare, they still exist, and cases like these are quickly on the rise. If we want these cases to decline and even go away, we must take all precautions and be vigilant.

With most people on campus being vaccinated by now, I am glad that we can take masks off outside, but I do miss not having to wear them at all. I was on campus over the summer working

for the CREATE program, and we didn’t have to wear masks at all unless we weren’t fully vaccinated or felt sick.

After a full academic year of having to wear a mask everywhere and social distance in every situation, it was refreshing to be in a place where everything felt normal again. However, this was also around the time that the Delta variant really began to rise in the country.

I was definitely disappointed when I first read the email that announced that masks were back, but I was also relieved that it was the only restriction for the year.

I’m also aware that the school is just doing its part to protect us from getting sick.

While I’m sure that most of us are sick of wearing masks, the best thing we can all do is comply and wear them so that we can work together to eradicate COVID for good.

On Pfizer’s full approval going through the list of qualifications back in late Contributing writer March of this year, even though I knew I wouldn’t qualify to get it any sooner than anyone else my age.

When I heard that As of August 23, 2021, Mercyhurst was offering the FDA fully approved the the vaccine, I made sure Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine I signed up right away. for everyone 16 and up.

Stopping this pandemic I believe that this is a that has taken so much huge milestone in fighting from us is so important. this pandemic. While I knew that the FDA many of us got the vaccine wouldn’t approve anything after it was approved for for emergency use if it emergency use months wasn’t safe, and I knew that ago, a large amount keeping people healthy was of people still remain a top priority. unvaccinated.

I was extremely happy I think this is the push when I heard the news that some people need to that the vaccine had been take that step and make approved because that their first vaccination meant two things: this appointment. vaccine is definitely going Personally, I knew I to keep us safe, and more wanted the vaccine as people will have peace of soon as it was available mind getting it. to me. I can remember I know there are many

By Mackenzie Zent

people who had their doubts about the vaccine and said it was rushed, but now is their chance to help do their part in keeping their community safe.

I think that getting vaccinated isn’t just for yourself, it’s for others too. I got the vaccine so I could have a normal college experience, I got it so I could hug my grandparents, I got it because not everyone is lucky enough to have herd immunity and the list goes on.

The vaccine is our best chance at putting an end to this pandemic, and I hope this gives people who were skeptical before the confidence they need to get vaccinated as soon as they can!

The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are welcome and can be emailed to merciad@mercyhurst.edu

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

OPINION

PAGE 13

Thoughts on the state HURST STUDENTS of Afghanistan a rope to the rails of the chopper, noosing the Staff writer person and taking off, lynching them in a public spectacle.* Biden could not even “No man left behind” is end this war peacefully. not simply an American Thirteen American soldiers doctrine in times of war; it died by terrorist’s hand is an American ideology— while evacuating U.S. an ideology that prompts citizens. the U.S. to be a protector Terrorists responsible for and leader on the world the deaths of hundreds, stage. America upholds even thousands, dare to sovereignty for all who show their faces again after seek it because we leave no decades of hiding. one behind in pursuit of The U.S. lost virtually freedom. every asset it had inPresident Biden’s recent country, hindering any way decision to cease all military to monitor Taliban activity and diplomatic presence in and hold them accountable.

Afghanistan goes against We have a responsibility both the doctrine and the not only to our numerous ideology. citizens, informants, Biden’s decision is one translators and allies still of the worst U.S. foreign in Afghanistan but to the policy failures of this Afghan people who have generation. He blatantly lived in relative peace for disregarded his advisors the past twenty years. who warned of the Women could work and complexity of a successful receive an education, and withdrawal and instead lost some level of religious a twenty-year war in the freedom existed. span of weeks.

Women are now outside The Taliban now hold the Kabul airport begging stores of billions of dollars to be rescued from a fate in U.S. military weapons of servitude to men and and equipment which renewed fears of violence they already used against for being disobedient. the stranded who helped Biden did not just America in the war effort.* abandon the people in There is footage of a Afghanistan; he abandoned helicopter being used for U.S. Afghan War veterans an execution by hanging and heroes who died

By Laren Reesman

SPEAK UP

fighting Taliban evil to make a better world for their families and fellow Americans.

No one wants to defend a country that turns its back on them. American sacrifice and bravery exist in systems built upon trust in and respect for the commander in chief. I fear Biden lost both of those in his handling of this crisis.

In a way, this policy also turned its back on the 2,977 lives taken in 9/11.

The Biden administration chose the twentieth anniversary of the worst terror attack on U.S. soil, and the Taliban had an express role to play in the success of that attack.

The U.S. is now closer than it has been since 9/11 of being the target of another large-scale terror attack, yet the Biden administration continues to not only defend this operation but praise it.

Never before have I felt this let down as an American citizen due to the blatant disregard for checks and balances, the unnecessary loss of American lives and a complete disregard for one of our key principles that ensures we do everything to not only defend Americans, but all our allies.

We asked: What are you most excited about this semester?

Abbi Costa, sophomore Biology and Marketing major: “I am most excited to make new friends and see campus alive again!”

Julia Kearns, sophomore Interior Architecture and Design major: “I’m most excited to see campus getting back to normal this year.”

Juliana Bablak, sophomore Forensic Biology and Criminalistics major: “I’m most excited to take more classes, getting closer to my major and getting more involved on campus.”

Vladimir Avila, second year graduate student, Data science major: “Enjoying the fall weather and beauty of our campus. Take part and organize activities on campus to celebrate our diversity.”

Compiled by Elphena Elsar

*The Merciad editors & Mercyhurst University do not claim any facts stated in the opinion section are verified to be true. Readers are encouraged to verify the validity of views/statements expressed in the opinion section.

Mandatory meal plans are unnecessary

By Ashley Barletta News editor

As returning students moved in this semester, many were looking forward to going to Grotto Commons with their friends. However, meal plans were not activated until August 24 at 4 p.m., the night before classes began. This was disappointing to many students, especially sophomores who were required to purchase an unlimited meal plan.

We [students] were being told that we could not use the meal plan that we did not ask for. We also had to pay extra money for any of the meals purchased from the dining hall before August 24. This is wrong

for so many reasons.

According to university administration, the cost of the meal plan was calculated based on the number of days which the meal plan would be active.

That being said, it would not have been very hard to calculate a few extra days into the blended housing and meal plan rates.

We were already disappointed in the high cost of the unlimited meal plan we are forced to buy, so it does not make sense to disappoint us twice by saying we can’t even use it when we move in.

A Residence Life email received on July 12 stated that we could begin moving in on Saturday, Aug. 21. It was only after I contacted Residence Life as well as Parkhurst Dining that I was notified of “early moveins” being any time before

August 24. This is because upperclassmen were not required to move in before August 24. This setup also disregards the parents who have to help their children move in.

Many people work on weekdays, and some can not afford to (or would rather not) take a Tuesday off to help their child move in when they can just move them in on a weekend.

As a student stuck in this situation, I had to bring my

own food to cook, or make sure I had Dining Dollars on my OneCard (I didn’t) since nobody seems to know whether the Grotto is accepting cash or not.

I am fortunate enough to live in a Briggs apartment where I have my own kitchen, so I was able to cook for a few days until the meal plan was activated, but not everyone was as lucky.

So, to the Mercyhurst University administration

FOLLOW US!

who does not want to take responsibility for all of the students who are unhappy with this situation, here is your wake-up call: nobody asked for the unlimited meal plan, we are definitely not paying extra money for food if we can help it and it should not be up to a student to bring up these issues in the newspaper just to get someone to listen to her.

Twitter: @mumerciad Instagram: @mumerciad Facebook: The Merciad

Tag us in your newsworthy Hurst moments!

SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

Volleyball plays Ram Fest tournament

By Zach Dumais Opinion editor

The Mercyhurst volleyball team traveled to West Chester, PA over the weekend to take part in the Ram Fest Tournament, which was hosted by West Chester University.

The Lakers had four matches over the weekend with two on Friday and two on Saturday. The tournament did not start out as well as they had hoped on Friday, as they were unable to pick up wins against Jefferson and Millersville.

The Lakers fought hard but lost both sets by a score of 3-1. Head Coach Ryan Patton said, regarding the Jefferson match, that the team had some non-volleyball things to deal with and we didn’t deal with them well enough.

“We did some okay things in the match, but not often or consistently enough,” said Patton.

In the Millersville match, Mer-

Annie Markel photo

Hurst women’s volleyball getting ready to play in their first tournament of the 2021 season.

cyhurst started out well by winning the first set, but were unable to close it out.

Mercyhurst bounced back and found their stride on Saturday though as they were able to win both matches. The team beat Goldey-Beacom and West Chester University to close out the weekend.

The Lakers fell to a 2-1 start in

the first match, but came back to win the next two sets decisively.

Beth Brady, Madison Kasper and Hailey Wilson led the offensive attack with 11, 9 and 9 kills respectively.

In the West Chester match, the Lakers had their best effort of the weekend with a 3-1 win.

“We’ve had three weeks of good practice, and this was the match

where our play finally represented what we’ve been doing as a team.

We were aggressive, strategic and executed as we should all year,” said Patton.

Coach Patton also spoke highly about all his players, specifically Beth Brady, Hailey Wilson and Hannah Vuylsteke.

Combined the three dominated all three aspects of the game over the weekend.

Brady had 15 kills in the second match. “[She] had a great offensive weekend, routinely hitting us out of trouble and carrying the offensive load for long stretches.”

Wilson also played extremely well. “She did what we hope from her stepping in where need and producing. Her serving was especially a highlight this weekend.”

Wilson also had 14 kills in the second match.

Finally on defense, Vuylsteke led the charge as she “covered the court and kept the ball off the floor like we’ve come to expect

from her, she’s pretty special with what she can do on offense.”

Vuylsteke was able to pick up 27 digs to lead Mercyhurst.

On the stat sheet, the second match was certainly a team win as Maggie Thomas also contributed 10 kills to the winning effort.

Madison Kasper and Thomas were also able to get four blocks each as well against West Chester.

Alex Mitchell and Isa McCaffrey both set well with 43 and 39 assists respectively between the two matches.

The Lakers will be back on the court on Friday when they travel to Walsh University for another 4-match tournament called the Cavalier Invitational.

With Walsh University being in North Canton, Ohio, it will be another long trip for the Lakers.

Season home opener win for Hurst football

By Annie Markel

Staff writer

Mercyhurst Laker football is back, baby! It has been 136 days since our men in green have taken the field to play the game they love. That could also be counted as 19 weeks, 3264 hours, 195,840 minutes or 11,750,400 seconds.

Whichever way one wants to look at it, it’s been a while. However, it has been 673 days since The Lakers have stepped on home soil in Saxon Stadium. This past weekend, Sept. 4, was the first game to kickoff the Mercyhurst Football season on our own turf.

Since 2019, the men have only played two NCAA football games.

The last game played on home ground was a winning game on Nov. 2, 2019, against Gannon University. Little did the players know that it would be almost two years before they played on the Saxon field again.

This moment was very special for many. Players, coaches, parents and fans all gathered in Saxon Stadium to watch our Lakers take on Alderson Broaddus for the first time.

“I’m most excited to watch our players play. They have worked hard for this moment” said Head Coach, Marty Schaetzle, when asked about what most excited him about this upcoming game and season.

The game started off with Mercyhurst’s defense putting on an incredible show. Holding the Battlers at only 86 yards and seven first downs. Senior Bradley Burrows, lead with 10 tackles, which included four sacks.

The Mercyhurst D-line was a

Annie Markel photo

The Mercyhurst football team competes aganist Alderson Broaddus University in Saxon Stadium. This is the Lakers’ first time competing on home turf in 673 days due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not pictured is the home stands with students in a white-out theme in support of the Lakers.

force to be reckoned with this Saturday with Burrows, but also many other defensemen. Senior, Thomas Zacharyasz, came second with five tackles to start his first game of the season. Seniors Ryan Funa, Jacob Holl and Graduate Student and Captain, Jehrod Gregory each put Broaddus players to the turf with 4 tackles.

With the first 15 minutes under the Lakers belt, the score still stood at nothing. However, this wouldn’t last long because Burrows stipulated a grounding call upon opposing Jaylen McNair of Alderson Broaddus with only 7:19 left on the clock Junior Brian Alsobrooks,

bagged two field goals in the final two minutes of the first half which would knock the score to 8-0 for the Lakers as they exited the field.

The Lakers came out of the locker room with a bang as they continued to gain yards at the start of the second half.

Junior Michael Lowery, was a star with his 5-for-5 in 39 yards which included a three-yard pass to sophomore Sean Banas to score the Lakers a touchdown. With Alsobrook’s field goal, this notched the score at 15-0. Alderson Broaddus still at nothing.

Lowery would finish the game with 274 yards, 24-of-36 and a touchdown pass.

“My main motivation going into this game was establishing myself as a college quarterback and proving to myself that I belong here at the next level,” Lowery said. “I think I played decent, I played better than I thought I was going to after not playing in two years and not playing an actual full game in three years but it felt good being back on the field!”

However, Broaddus would get on the board only a couple minutes later with a 25-yard field goal from kicker, Austin Hampton.

With a field-goal from Alsobrooks, this would cement the score in favor of the Lakers for the rest of the game, ending with

18-3.

Of course, more Mercyhurst players opened their first game with some incredible stats. Sophomore Rylan Davison rushed 96 yards with 7 catches. Senior Jason Armstrong added to the stat with 55 yards and 5 catches.

Freshman Ayron Rodriguez racked his first collegiate game with 58 yards, on 13 carries. Junior Dustin Shoaf also contributed 42 yards on 14 carries.

The Lakers are back to work in Saxon Stadium on Saturday when they host West Chester at 12 p.m.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

SPORTS

PAGE 15

Start of a season for Men’s soccer

By Samantha Weber Managing editor

On Thursday, Sept. 2, the Mercyhurst Men’s Soccer team had their first game of the season.

The game was the first of the 2021 season to be played at home on the Mercyhurst Soccer field. At 2 p.m., the Lakers faced West Liberty University in the first of their four non-conference matches of the season.

Two of their other non-conference games will take place before their regular season starts in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC). The Lakers lost their first game this season to the Hilltoppers with a final score of 3-1.

After COVID-19 canceled the team’s season in the fall of 2020 and only allowed for a small sixmatch exhibition in the spring of 2021, the men’s soccer team will have a mostly normal season with a full schedule this coming fall.

The Lakers face some pressure going into their season as they went 6-0 in the exhibition in the spring, so they will have to work hard to maintain a good record.

The Lakers have not played a proper game with a crowd in 657

LET’S GO, LAKERS!

Sept. 10, Erie, PA @ 1:00 p.m.: Men’s soccer vs University of the District of Columbia Sept. 10, North Canton, OH @ 11:00 p.m.: Volleyball vs Davenport University Sept. 11, Erie, PA @ 12:00 p.m.: Football vs West Chester

HurstAthletics photo

Senior soccer player Sidney Warden shoots the ball to score.

days (about 2 years). In addition to allowing people to watch from the stands, the game was also live streamed for those who could not make it in person.

Mercyhurst has thirty-one returning players including thirteen sophomores, thirteen juniors and five seniors. New to the Lakers

this year are fourteen freshmen, two undergraduate transfers and two graduate transfers.

The Hilltoppers scored all three of their goals in the first half.

Mikel Ubeda scored soon after the first half started at 8:54 with an assist from Adam Lynch. Their next goal came about twenty-five

From Hurst to NLL

By Sydney Dietz Sports editor

On Aug. 27 and 28, the Buffalo Bandits hosted the National Lacrosse League Draft at the Keybank Center in Buffalo, New York.

The National Lacrosse League’s Commissioner, Nick Sakiewwicz and Chairman, Mike French were both present at the draft and were ready to induct new lacrosse players into the league.

Three Mercyhurst Lakers had a great accomplishment of being a part of this draft. Nathan Grennon, Caleb Kueber and Devin Pipher were all drafted.

Grennon was selected with the 11th pick, and got drafted by Panther City LC. He earned USILA Midfielder of the year along with being a First-Team-All- USILA All American resulting in 43 points, 32 goals and 11 assists in only 14 games. Grennon was also a three time All-G-MAC selection.

Kueber also got drafted to Pather City with the 17th overall pick of the draft. He scored 56 goals and 32 assists in 14 games while at Mercyhurst finishing his college career with 188 points.

Pipher was another former Mercyhurst student that got drafted. He was taken by the Georgia Swarm with the 37th pick. Pipher assisted the Hurst lacrosse team by scoring 50 assists and 24 goals resulting in 74 total points.

“Hearing my name being called in the draft was an experience I cannot even put into words. It

has been a lifelong dream of mine to become a professional lacrosse player in the NLL, and that dream has become that much more real,” said Pipher.

“I was lucky enough to be surrounded by close family and friends when it happened which made the experience that much better. It was nice to see that all my hard work over the past 18 years has finally been recognized, but the job is not over yet.”

A goal of Pipher’s is to make the Georgia roster, along with winning a conference championship at his current school, Monmouth University, and eventually win a championship at the professional level at both the NLL and Sr. A level.

Being drafted into a National League is an accomplishment for any athlete and their Mercyhurst statistics show how well these three Lakers played.

“I definitely feel like playing under coach Ryan and playing at Mercyhurst helped prepare me for the draft. Our practices were always very high tempo and super demanding in order for us to remain a top contending team in division 2 every year,” said Pipher.

“Coach Ryan is big on nailing down the fundamentals in practice so that when it comes down to game time there are little to no mistakes, our hard work doing the little things right ultimately pays off in the long end.”

minutes later when Vitor Otsuka scored with help from Daniel Rovira. Their third goal came just six minutes shy of halftime as Adam Lynch scored his first and only goal of the game unassisted.

Mercyhurst’s lone goal came less than ten minutes into the second half when Sidney Warden took a

penalty kick and scored.

The Lakers outshot the Hilltoppers 14 to 7, but were not able to convert the shots into goals. Jonathan Gomes, goalkeeper for Mercyhurst, had three saves during the game.

Ryan Osborne, Head Coach of the Mercyhurst Men’s Soccer team, just started his first full season with the Lakers after being hired right before COVID-19 hit.

Osborne is hopeful for the season even though the first game did not go the way the way they had wanted. “We are excited by the group we have. We have a lot of quality and I truly believe that we will only get stronger as the season progresses,” said Osborne.

“We will continue to work and look forward to building again.”

Mercyhurst played their second match against the Bloomsburg Huskies on Sept. 5, at 12 p.m., where Mercyhurst had their second loss of the season as they fell to Bloomsburg 2-1.

The Lakers’ next game is on Sept. 10, against the District of Colombia. The first conference game of the season is Sept. 29, where the Lakers will travel to compete against Seton Hill.

HURST RESULTS Sept. 4: Women’s soccer vs.

Davis & Elkins College: 2-1, Lakers Sept. 4: Men’s waterpolo vs.

Harvard University: 6-24, Harvard Sept. 4: Women’s waterpolo vs. West Chester University of Pennsylvania: 3-1, Lakers Sept. 6: Field Hockey vs. Queens University of Charlotte: 4-5, Charlotte

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Mars, your ruling planet, helps you deal with career challenges in a way that reflects some of your own hidden strengths. This impresses some important decision-makers.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your strong Bovine will, combined with your romantic nature (you are ruled

by Venus), helps turn a romance with a potential for problems into one with more-positive possibilities.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Mercury’s influence creates some unsettling moments, but nothing that you can’t live with. You’ll soon learn more about that major change that is about to be revealed.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Opportunities for you are like the phases of the Moon: constantly appearing and reappearing. So, cheer up. The opportunity you think you let slip by will be replaced by another.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) An opportunity that you hoped would open up for you remains closed. Stop wasting time scratching at it. Something else you’ll like will soon make itself apparent and accessible.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Congratulations. You’ll soon hear some positive feedback for all the hard work you recently put into a project. A Pisces could soon swim into your personal life.

Wednesday, September 8, 2021

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Someone whose friendship you felt you had to write off will try to revive it. What you do is up to you.

But don’t do it without giving it considerable thought.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A job-related plan might need to be reworked to allow for changes.

Lucky for you that Saturn remains a strong influence that can help you focus on getting it done right.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) This is a good time to move into areas of self-discovery. You might be surprised about who you really are and how you really relate to those around you.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Expect to confront someone who will make an unwelcome request. Stand by your resolve to do the right thing no matter what “persuasion” might be offered.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A friendly competition could become more contentious than you expected. Take time out to discuss the reasons behind this unexpected change, and act accordingly.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You have a wonderful mind for solving mysteries, so you should feel confident about solving the one developing very close to you. An unlikely source offers help.

BORN THIS WEEK: You’re a great host or hostess. You love being with people, and you’re very good about planning all sorts of social events that bring folks together. © 2021 King Features Synd., Inc.

HURST TOON Student-drawn cartoon by the Martian