September 18th Edition of the Merciad

Merciad THE

MERCYHURST UNIVERSIT Y

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

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 1 8 , 2 01 9

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VOL. 93 NO. 2

NOW OPEN PAGE 5

Online poll results We asked: What is your favorite late-night snack?

3: Summer renovations unveiled

8: Fall Dining Series begins 15: MU remembers Folgs

Ice Cream (30%) Pizza (25%) Chips (25%) Cereal (20%)

This week’s What was your favorite part

POLL

of Hurst Day?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

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NEWS

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Kali Beutler, Grace Siwinski, Katy Vaccariello, Daniella Osorio and Ashley McWilliams are all smiles after the first round of the Hurst Day Scavenger Hunt.

RISE AND SHINE LAKERS AND SAINTS - IT’S HURST DAY 2019

Students get knocked around by one of the many inflatable games offered in Trinity Green.

Sam Beckas, Activities and Spirit Coordinator, and Steph Przepiora, Leadership and Outreach Coordinator twin in their Hurst Day outfits.

Senior Shannon Douthett, junior Braeden Barnett, senior Matt Mellish and senior Lauren Abbott take home first place in the Hurst Day Scavenger Hunt as the “What Is...Mercyhurst?” team.

At right: Senior Quinn Cooley shows off his bull-wrangling skills on Hurst Day. At far right: Luke the Laker shares the Hurst Day spirit with Campus Minister, Michelle Scully, and her son, Joe Scully. Joe had a blast on his first Hurst Day!

All photos contributed

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

NEWS

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Maya Bauer Photo

The first floor of the Hammermill Library got a total makeover during the summer. Students can now enjoy a more modern look with updated computers and study spaces.

Summer renovations stun

By Hannah Maloney

Contributing writer

This summer the university was busy with renovations. Some of the bigger and more apparent ones include the first floor of the library, Saxon Stadium and the Ice Center. Other renovation projects are underway.

“The library has been a longer term project. Really, the first part of the library started with the cyber lab and all the work they did in the basement last year. And then they moved up to the first floor this year,” said Laura Zirkle, Ph. D., vice president of Student Life.

The planning for the library began several years ago and started with the cyber lab. The first floor renovations began a year later in the beginning of June and were finished in early September.

Another new addition to campus was the sport court by Ryan Hall on Briggs Ave. When the demolition to Briggs Ave. buildings was done to make room for Ryan Hall, an old sport court also had to be removed. This court was a gift from an alumnus, so the university wanted to replace it.

“From the time we took that out, we knew we wanted to put something similar back in,” Zirkle said.

The planning of the sport court started mid-winter last year. They

had thought of just putting the same court back in, but previous MSG president, Vincent Marrazzo, ‘19, showed them what could be done. The sport court there now was decided back in February and constructed in the summer so it would be done when the students came back.

“We had a little bit of hold up because we had to get the grass growing around it,” Zirkle said.

Zirkle wanted to thank everyone for their patience, support and understanding. She also encourages people to come check it out, get involved and be a part of it.

The plans for the athletic renovations were years in the making as part of the Laker for Life Campaign that was kicked off last spring.

“I was fortunate to inherit great plans and made some small tweaks before we finalized and began construction,” Brad Davis, Mercyhurst Director of Athletics, said.

Davis was directly involved in each athletic renovation project.

He said many administrators have been involved but would like to personally recognize Ryan Palm, associate vice president for Advancement.

“Ryan has worked in step with me every step of the way and has been a huge help for me through-

out this process,” Davis said.

The Laker for Life Campaign was a $9.5 million dollar campaign geared toward the renovation and construction of these facilities.

“We have received numerous donations from many significant donors, including John and Patty Saxon, Owen McCormick and Bill and Betsy Vorsheck,” Davis said.

Saxon Stadium and the Ice Center have been newly renovated.

The stadium got lights so games can now be played at night for the first time in a decade.

Many of the athletic renovations still in motion will be completed by the end of fall. They include upgrades to the baseball field and four new locker rooms.

“We will begin construction on a new lighted turf field on the hill to be shared with Mercyhurst Prep later this fall. It will be the primary new home for our softball team,” Davis said.

“Our next plans include renovations to the Athletic Complex and the basketball facility, the fitness center and adding chair backs and VIP space in the Ice Center.”

Another upcoming renovation to campus will be the student-focused space in the Laker Inn called “Luke’s Landing.”

“Luke’s Landing was an MSG initiative,” Sarah Allen, executive director of Campus Involvement,

Maya Bauer Photo

The sport court outside of Ryan Hall was brought back after the old court behind the Briggs Apartments was demolished in renovations.

said. “The idea came about after seeing the popularity of The Roost and the want by MSG, to give students who are under 21 a place to hang out and enjoy weekend entertainment.”

Luke’s Landing will be located in the lower level seating area in the Student Union next to the Laker Inn. The projected delivery date is Friday, Sept. 20, with a grand opening to follow hosted

by MSG. “We are extremely excited to reveal this new space to students and will have more information

shared on our social media pages (@msgLakers) and around campus, in the coming weeks,” Abby Staub, MSG President, said.

Students will be welcomed with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to showcase the collaborative space where students can now dine, study or just hang out together.

The intention of Luke’s Landing is to be a complementary space to The Roost and Laker Inn.

Multi-Factor Authentication adds security

By Eva Philips

Contributing writer

Lakers can expect a new level of security for their Mercyhurst accounts beginning in just a few weeks when Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) goes into action.

“The technology trend the past couple years has been moving this way,” Ivan Palikuca, senior systems administrator at Mercyhurst, said.

Citing national research, he stated that “The amount of hacked accounts and accounts being broken into went down

99% just by implementing Multi-Factor Authentication.”

MFA is primarily intended to prevent hackers from accessing accounts. A stolen password will no longer be enough to access a stranger’s accounts. Soon, account access will require both a password and a verification code sent to the student’s mobile device.

The implementation of MFA at Mercyhurst will add an extra layer of security to student and faculty accounts, protecting valuable information such as account statements, grades and email.

Faculty and staff have already

made the transition to MFA, which went smoothly. Palicuka recalled only two or three cases in which the IT department’s services were required to fix an issue with MFA. He anticipates a smooth transition when MFA is put into action on student accounts in October.

Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 1, students with surnames beginning with letters A-G will be prompted to check their phone for a verification code when signing into their Mercyhurst account on any device.

Students are instructed to set up Multi-Factor Authenti-

cation through the Hub at hub. mercyhurst.edu if they have not already done so. Palikuca also recommended that students install the Microsoft Authenticator app, available for free on the App Store and Google Play.

The transition for students will occur in stages, with MFA taking place incrementally by surname throughout the month of October. This gradual approach aims to ease the burden on IT and address any issues that may arise in a timely fashion.

Those concerned that the change will be inconvenient can put their minds at ease. The MFA

double verification process will not necessarily occur every single time a student accesses their account on a personal device, if the student allows the browser to remember the sign-in information for next time. The MFA process will occur when students access public computers, such as those in the library, to increase security.

Overall, the implementation of Multi-Factor Authentication is a step toward greater account security at Mercyhurst, and students will soon be able to rest easy knowing that their account information is more secure than ever.

NEWS

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Wednesday, September 18, 2019

PA program furthers success by Merciad IN A MINUTE Mass of the Holy Spirit

On Thursday Sept.

19, the Mercyhurst community will gather together for the annual Mass of the Holy Spirit beginning at 11:15 a.m. in Christ the King Chapel.

There will be a picnic to follow in the Quad.

Our celebrant this year is Father Doug May, a Maryknoll Missionary who has spent most of his time in Egypt.

Classes are adjusted on that day so that the whole community is able to attend.

Broadway at the PAC Don’t miss your chance to see Kristin Chenoweth in Concert this Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7:30 p.m.

The show is sold out, but any cancellations, unused artist comps, unclaimed “will call” tickets and unoccupied seats will be released to patrons waiting in the cancellation line.

The box office will open at 6:30 p.m. the day of the concert, but patrons may start lining up earlier in the day.

Eucharistic Ministers needed Campus Ministry is in great need of Lectors and Eucharist Ministers for Sunday masses.

If you are interested and need to be trained, training will be given on Monday, Sept. 30 at 7 p.m. for Lectors and 7:30 p.m. for Eucharistic Ministers in Christ the King Chapel.

If you are trained, please contact Fr. Jim at jpiszker@mercyhurst. edu and we will get you on the schedule right away.

Plug for your club or group

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

Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

Receiving continuing accreditation

By Eva Philips

Contributing writer

The Mercyhurst University Physician Assistant (PA) Program has established itself as a force to be reckoned within healthcare education.

The PA program at Mercyhurst received accreditation in 2015 for the provisional pathway granted to all new programs and has recently been awarded Accreditation-Continued status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

Its success has been proven by glowing reviews during site visits by accreditors and a student firsttime pass rate average of 97% on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).

Robin Duke, MPAS, PA-C Department Chair and Program Director for the Mercyhurst PA program, and Holly Jodon, MPAS PA-C former Department Chair and Program Director and current faculty member, expressed

great excitement about the step from provisional to continued accreditation.

“Our goal was to obtain Accreditation-Continued, and we have” Jodon said, “it was a very successful process, a lot of work from the faculty.”

Jodon and Duke, both experienced physician assistants prior to entering the education field, explained some of the factors that set the Mercyhurst PA program apart from competitors.

“One of the strengths of our program is our small class size,” Duke said, noting that the program caps each yearly class at thirty students.

The experienced faculty holds a combined clinical experience of 131 years and combined teaching experience of nearly fifty years, as well as the emphasis on service in the Mercy tradition and the 24-month curriculum to set the Mercyhurst program apart.

The Mercyhurst PA program students have many opportunities that students at other programs

may not. Students have access to interprofessional education in working with fourth-year dental students at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to learn how to perform an oral health exam.

After learning from trained professionals, they put those skills to work. Mercyhurst PA students visit Carpe Diem Academy, the after-school program for children in Erie Public Schools run by the Mercyhurst Education Department, for Dental Day, providing free oral health examinations for the children.

The Mercyhurst PA program is a graduate program, meaning that students already have earned a bachelor’s degree. Upon entering the program, students will complete a year of didactic, or classroom-based education, followed by a year of clinical rotations throughout the tri-state area.

The program is rigorous, with a 3.0 GPA requirement throughout the 2-year program, but it is rewarding. Students have the

opportunity to complete clinical rotations in a variety of medical settings, helping them to gain clinical experience and discern where they would like to practice in the future. Popular specializations for physician assistants include family practice, orthopedics and surgery.

Duke sees many advantages to becoming a PA rather than a medical doctor.

PA programs are significantly shorter and less expensive than medical school and physician assistants often have a better work/ life balance and more flexibility in their careers than medical doctors.

Additionally, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicted a 37% increase in jobs for physician assistants from 2016 to 2026.

Graduates of the Mercyhurst program have a bright future: the program has a 100% job placement rate for all three graduated classes. The PA program at Mercyhurst is expected to flourish, producing skilled medical professionals eager to serve their communities and seize the day.

Fashion Merchandising students ESRAP finalists

By Jordan Kessler

Staff writer

The Mercyhurst Fashion Merchandising Department took part in the 2019 Educators for Socially Responsible Apparel Practices (ESRAP) Student Merchandising Poster Competition.

There are ten teams in the finals and Mercyhurst has four in that top ten. The goal for these teams was to come up with a business plan for a socially responsible clothing retailer.

ESRAP holds this competition yearly for students all over the nation to participate in. The main goal of the competition according to the ESRAP is to “empower students to become change agents through the application of socially responsible business practices to fashion retail development.”

Each team of students had to design a poster that included at least one dimension of the companies’ triple bottom line strategy: people, profit and planet.

Additionally, ESRAP required that each team of students’ business plan would have to include eight sections specific to the design of the poster and business.

They are: have a sustainable strategy, a business concept, an industry segment and a market analysis, competitive analysis, a target customer group, a sourc-

ing structure, a marketing strategy and a solid budget to work from.

Each team that entered the competition could have up to four members and were required to have a faculty sponsor who is a current International Textile and Apparel Association (ITAA) member. ITAA has a direct relationship with ESRAP and helped monitor the competition this year. The deadline for this year’s competition entries was June 1 of 2019.

Students from around the nation worked hard for the top ten spots in the competition. Mercyhurst has four teams in the top ten currently. The Mercyhurst teams in the top ten include Brittnay Firman and Olivia Zucchi, Chloe Speranza and Mia Vassallo, Katy Vaccariello and Hannah Bill and Jillian Setek and Mary Jacobs.

Each of these students were in the Fashion Entrepreneurship course taught by Ashlee Rzyczycki, M.A. in the spring semester of the 2018-2019 school year.

“This recognition speaks volumes about the high-quality work of our Mercyhurst students,” Rzyczycki said in a press release from Mercyhurst University.

The ITAA hosts a conference in which the competition finalists are invited to go to Las Vegas to show off their posters and marketing strategies for their

Contributed photo

Clockwise from top left: Brittany Firman and Olivia Zucchi; Chloe Speranza and Mia Vassallo; Katy Vaccariello and Hannah Bill; and Jillian Setek and Mary Jacobs.

businesses. From Friday, Oct. 25 through Tuesday Oct. 29, the four groups from Mercyhurst, along with the other top ten groups, will fly to Las Vegas to present their business and marketing plans. The participating students will have an opportunity to show fashion industry professionals their hard work and

their business ideas. These professionals will evaluate the posters and determine the top three competitors of the competition this year and the winners will be announced at the end of the ceremony.

Congratulations to all of the finalists!

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

NEWS

What’s new at the Laker Inn?

By Erin Almeter

Staff writer

The bottom floor of the Sr. Carolyn Hermann Student Union, which is home to food options for students, has seen some major changes over the past two semesters. The Laker Inn closed last year in order to complete renovations and build The Roost. While it reopened last semester, the Laker Inn has undergone more changes in anticipation of this new school year.

Some recent changes were the Laker Inn’s hours of operation. The Cinco Cantina and The Grille are open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. Meanwhile, Crimson Cup Coffee, Bruetta Tea and On the Go are open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

At 4 pm, The Roost opens up and Monday through Wednesday, closes at 10 p. m. Thursday and Friday, it is open from 4 p.m. until midnight. The Saturday and Sunday opening time is at noon, but Saturday The Roost is open until midnight. Sunday The Roost closes at 10 p.m.

Last year the Cinco Cantina and the Egg Bar were located in the Laker Inn. However, this year the Egg Bar was transitioned into the Grille. This change came from direct meetings between the Mercyhurst Student Government Food Committee and Parkhurst.

“The major concern brought to them by the student body was to bring back The Grille items and so we listened,” Katie Boyd, Parkhurst Director of Dining

said.

However, students are still able to get the breakfast sandwich and occasional specials at the Grille section of the Laker Inn. The Grille and Cantina also added more variety in their food offerings. The Cinco Cantina offers made-to-order tacos, burritos, salads, tortilla chips, salsa and queso. The Grille offers madeto-order burgers, sandwiches, pizza logs and mozzarella sticks.

Weekly specials will still be offered at the Laker Inn and are planned in advance. When deciding what specials are offered, Boyd states that they look to the student’s comment cards as well as the culinary trends.

The Try-Its for freshmen that were offered in 2016 and 2017 are currently not in the Parkhurst plan to come back.

“It is not in the near future discussion; it is just because of how the meal plans are structured currently,” Boyd said.

As for any physical renovations, there are plans to transform part of the dining area of the Laker Inn into “Luke’s Landing.”

“It will be much nicer, up to date and make it a nice hang out for the students,” Boyd said.

There will not be any more renovations in the food service part of the Laker Inn as of right now.

Additionally, Boyd explained why it was decided that The Roost will be open on Fridays.

“Some students, especially the ones that are not here on the weekends, are able to experience The Roost during the week instead of having to come back on

weekends,” Boyd said.

The early weekend hours for The Roost are also meant to accommodate sporting events and arts and entertainment events that take place on campus Boyd explained as well.

The Roost will be hosting a variety of events throughout the semester as well.

Karaoke will happen every Tuesday night, there will be Trivia Nights every third Wednesday of the month and Irish Literature readings on Monday nights.

Additionally, there are different challenges planned throughout the year. The Pretzel Challenge, which occurred on Sept. 11, was the kickoff. Students have the opportunity to take part in the El Masivo Challenge on Oct. 2 and the Hot Wing Challenge on Nov. 13.

“Last year was opening and getting a feel for what the business was. This year is more engagement and refining the way things will be done,” Boyd said.

One more future plan that has been discussed is adding mobile ordering. Boyd said that students should be on the lookout for potential mobile ordering most likely for the Anchor Express in Ryan Hall with payment being done through the GET app.

Boyd stresses that she loves and appreciates hearing students’ comments. Be on the lookout for your personal comment cards being put on display or next to your food suggestions if you have left one.

If students have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out to Katie Boyd at kboyd@mercyhurst.edu.

Think you’ve got game?

Sign up today for the 3v3 Basketball Tournamnet hosted by the Senior Class Gift Committee and Exit 44.

All benefits go towards the 2019 Senior Class gift!

PAGE 5

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

This weekend’s campus events

Enjoy a live acoustic session with songwriter and singer Shanice Green on Friday Sept. 20.

The show begins at 8 p.m. so get there early to reserve your seats. You don’t want to miss this!

Grab some headphones and dance like no one is listening! Join MAC/SAC for Silent Formal on Saturday Sept. 21 in the Rec at 9 p.m. Attire can be formal or casual.

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG Sept. 8: Public drunkeness, disorderly conduct on Briggs Ave. Sept. 16: Harassment on 700 Block of 41st Street.

Sept. 16: Criminal mischief in the Ice Center.

Sept. 16: Possession of controlled substance on Briggs Ave.

FEATURES

PAGE 6

NEW AT HURST

JC Penney hosts ‘Suit-up Event’

By Erin Almeter Staff writer

Sarah Klein photo

Alekseevna joins the World Languages and Cultures department this fall.

By Sarah Klein Staff writer

This August the World Languages and Cultures department welcomed Kyunnyay Alekseevna Innokentyeva into the Mercyhurst community as the 2019-2020 Russian Fulbright.

Alekseevna hails from northeastern Russia, in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), the country’s largest region.

Alekseevna studied at Northeastern Federal University in her home city of Yakutsk, where she received a bachelor’s degree in English Language and Literature and a master’s degree in Linguistics and International Communication.

Alekseevna also spent one semester at Myongji University in Seoul, South Korea where she studied International Relationships.

Alekseevna spent seven years working toward her dream of participating in the Fulbright Program and coming to the US. The Fulbright Program is highly competitive, and in Russia only 30 participants are selected out of more than 500 applicants.

She is thrilled that Fulbright shares her motto of “education for everyone” and it is an incredible opportunity to share her language and culture. “My first impression about Erie was… flags of Ireland everywhere!” Alekseevna said.

She has loved Mercyhurst since she first toured the university with her supervisor, Alice Edwards Ph.D., professor of World Cultures and especially appreciates how she can quickly get between her apartment, office and the dining hall.

Erie, Pennsylvania is a long way from Yakutsk, Russia and much more south. It is already cold in Yakutsk and getting ready to snow. Alekseevna is happy that she does not have to wear so many layers.

The two cities have other differences, such as the location of malls, restaurants, offices, beauty studios and universities which are all downtown in Yakutsk but much more spread out in Erie.

This semester Alekseevna is taking two classes at Mercyhurst. One is a Spanish class with Edwards and the other is Cultural and Linguistic Diversity with Professor Janelle Newman.

In her spare time, Alekseevna loves to watch and record videos. She has already recorded one video about Erie but has plans to make more.

“Travel, improve yourself, meet new people and new cultures.” Alekseevna said, while she reflects on her first trip abroad when she was 20 years old and came to the US with only a rucksack.

That trip inspired her to think bigger than before and seek even more new experiences.

“Never be afraid to leave your comfort zone,” Alekseevna said.

“Life is all about risk and taking responsibility for your own actions and words. If you have a chance to go somewhere abroad, just go.”

Welcome to Mercyhurst!

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Mercyhurst’s Career Development Center has been promoting an event entitled JC Penney’s Suit-Up Event for all students. It will take place on Sept. 21 from 11a.m- 3 p.m at Millcreek Mall in Erie.

The JC Penney Suit-Up Event is a national event that is hosted by colleges and universities all across the country. It is being brought to Erie by the Career Development Offices in the colleges around the area that are partnering up.

One major benefit of this event is that students can get professional wardrobe pieces for up to 60% off. In addition to wardrobe items, students can stop by Sephora for a free mini makeover and samples, the salon for a free hair consultation and the portrait studio, which will be offering professional headshots starting at $30. New items this semester even go beyond clothes, as the poster states men’s khakis and basics, jewelry and handbags will

also be on sale.

This is not the first time that this event is being offered to students. Emma Kovacs, M.A, a Career Counselor in Mercyhurst’s Career Development Center, explained “the first JC Penney Suit Up Event was in Spring 2019.

The Career Development Center partnered with the surrounding universities of Gannon, Edinboro and Penn State Behrend to provide this service to students.”

Furthermore, Kovacs said that they hope to host one every semester, but the Mercyhurst community has the specific goal of getting more students each semester to attend.

When Kovacs was asked why students should attend she stated “it is such a great deal. Building a professional wardrobe can become costly so it only benefits students to take advantage of the up to 60% off deals offered through JC Penney Suit Up.” Additionally, what is not shown on the posters around campus, is that the event “offers measurements for suits and has career professionals there

to answer questions about professional attire. By taking advantage of this event, students are not only getting a professional wardrobe for a great cost but a professional wardrobe that is ‘tailor made’ for them,” Kovacs said.

The resources are vast for the students that choose to attend.

For students who may not have a car on campus or might not have a ride, another positive is that the E bus can take students to the mall. Make sure you stop by the OneCard office before boarding so that the bus ride is free.

Some more important reminders for students would be to bring their student ID to receive the extra coupon for the event. Additionally, when you download the JC Penney Mobile app ahead of time, students can earn $10 in rewards.

Students with any questions can contact Emma Kovacs at ekovacs@mercyhurst.edu or Heather Balas at hbalas@mercyhurst.edu or visit the Career Development Center located in Egan Hall.

Hurst celebrates Meatless Mondays

By Kailey Pisani

Contributing writer

Once again we see good progressive changes within our dining facilities here on campus!

Mercy Meatless Monday’s have begun this week and will continue throughout the month of September. This comes as a result of the Sisters of Mercy approaching Parkhurst with the hope of lessening Mercyhurst’s carbon footprint.

If there is a positive response to this on the student end, Parkhurst plans to cater to the needs and wants of the students and continue to hold Mercy Meatless Monday’s even past September.

“They [the Sisters of Mercy] are trying to show concern for the Earth, agriculture specifically.

When it comes to having to feed livestock… it greatly contributes to the greenhouse effect,” head Chef, Art Catrow said.

The greenhouse effect is a natural process which warms the Earth’s surface by means of the sun’s energy.

When this energy reaches Earth, some of it is reflected back to space, while the rest is absorbed by the Earth and re-radiated by greenhouse gases. These gases contain substances such as water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane,

nitrous oxide, ozone and a handful of artificial chemicals.

Cattle have unique digestive systems and thus emit large amounts of methane gas by means of belching and exhaling. Beef cattle account for roughly 70% of these emissions.

There is also the issue of methane gas being released during the decomposition of manure.

This only occurs when manure is stored as a liquid or in tanks, ponds, or pits since there is a lack of oxygen present.

Aside from cattle, rice farming, waste dumps and oil production produce large amounts of methane gas.

“It takes so much agriculture to maintain livestock versus the quarter that it takes to feed people on a plant-based diet. That is pretty much how we, from the Parkhurst side, can contribute to this and support the Sisters of Mercy with their initiative.” Catrow said.

The problem we currently face in this day and age is that human activities such as burning fossil fuels for electricity, heat and transportation, or land clearing increase the concentrations of greenhouse gases that are making the Earth unnaturally warm.

This results in environmental changes in temperature and chemistry that are happening

faster than humans can monitor and combat. Today’s atmosphere contains 42% more carbon dioxide than it did at the start of the industrial era.

“As far as for the students, we are trying to bring awareness to them as they go out into the world to understand the cause and effects of emissions; to know that it’s not just cars. Agriculture has more of a negative impact than automobiles do.” Catrow said.

Some ways for students to reduce greenhouse emissions on their own are to reduce, reuse and recycle, use less heating and air conditioning, make sure to replace lightbulbs, drive less, or at least drive smarter and carpool, buy energy-efficient products or lessen hot water use.

“The kids in this generation are a lot more aware of what’s going on and the impact of what’s happening with our environment.

We’re seeing change now.” Catrow said.

Look out for new vegetarian options at 501 Grille and the Daily Dish at the Grotto Commons for Mercy Meatless Mondays and join the Sisters of Mercy. Everyone is welcome!

For more information contact Parkhurst or Cathrow.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

FEATURES

PAGE 7

The Roost brings NEW AT HURST fun to campus

By Matt Mellish

Contributing writer

Contributed photo from The Morning Buzz

Regina joins the Mercyhurst staff as a new Marketing professor.

By Quinn Gannon Contributing writer

Alexander R. Regina, Ph.D., is the new assistant professor of marketing for the Walker College of Business and a self-described “magnet for weirdness.”

Regina was born and raised in Greensburg, PA and lived in the southside of Pittsburgh for the last 11 years. This position in Erie has led Regina to live the furthest from home he has ever been.

Regina attended Duquesne University from undergrad all the way through his doctoral program.

His undergraduate degree is in finance, then he achieved a Master of Business Administration in marketing and management.

His Ph.D., is in rhetoric and communications with an emphasis in integrated marketing. Regina has been teaching since 2012 and has taught a diverse spread of classes from marketing courses and business law to communications and human resources.

As someone from the Pittsburgh area, Regina is a sports fanatic who is a fan of the Steelers, Penguins, Pirates and pretty much every other Pittsburgh-based team. He is close with his family and often attends Steelers games with his father.

Regina has two side businesses. He works as an entertainment DJ and sells reptiles. He currently

owns 115 reptiles, including two red-footed tortoises and six pythons. He also has a dog, a Pomchi named Angie, and a cat named Ted. Regina has a plethora of interesting stories.

On one occasion he was at a Walmart in Westmoreland County when there was an attempted carjacking. The perpetrator was pushed out of the car and ran into the store where Regina chased him with a baseball bat he picked up from the sporting section.

One of Regina’s earliest memories is getting pecked by an emu at his grandmother’s house in the suburbs of Pittsburgh.

He also was able to hang out with the cast of Trailer Park Boys at a bar in Pittsburgh.

Regina is excited and nervous to be in Erie.

He is an avid fisherman and cook and is looking forward to checking out local fishing spots. He is also looking forward to attending Otters games and meeting new people.

As a “city person” who has lived in Pittsburgh the past several years, Regina must get used to the smaller, calmer Erie.

If you see Dr. Regina on campus be sure to say hello and welcome him to Mercyhurst and Erie.

Chances are he will have an interesting story to share with you.

The most recent addition to Mercyhurst University’s dining facilities has already made a conscious effort to provide a broad range of activities, in an attempt draw students together and form a sense of community.

From the outset, The Roost was created with an intent to promote a safe environment for appropriate alcohol consumption coupled with a fun atmosphere for everyone, no matter one’s age.

This homage to the school’s Irish heritage has not only provided an inclusive environment for students, faculty, alumni and others, but it has also taken a strong initiative to get students more involved with a variety of new opportunities that are exclusive to the pub’s dining experience.

With a genuine excitement for these events, the staff of The Roost truly enjoys trying to engage students with a variety of unique social functions.

The regular Karaoke Nights have already become well attended spectacles, both for the more seriously practiced individuals who decide to show their talents and others that just want to have a good time singing their favorite hits. Since their opening, the idea was always to have this be a reoccurring phenomenon and some-

thing that would hopefully bring excitement to the lower level of the Student Union, which it has seemingly accomplished.

Within the planning stages, a concept for food challenges had also emerged as a way to foster community.

From the initial aim to host a pretzel challenge, in which students are required to devour an entire pretzel fit for a small group to enjoy, brainstorming began for other eating contests, imagined by the Mercyhurst food committee and dining staff.

From the burrito to hot wing challenges, students are invited to participate, support their friends, or simply enjoy watching the show.

Not only do these activities encourage students to see what the pub offers, but they help foster entertainment and inclusion to build community on Mercyhurst’s campus. Alison Thurlow, Manager of Retail Operations, states that, “Our main goal is to get everyone involved and make sure you are all happy.”

She later went on to explain, “We want to show you all that we are here and want you to be involved. Other ideas from students are appreciated.”

These recent events have brought more attention to The Roost, though their main focus, to promote involvement among students, has been continually

accomplished with great student feedback and suggestions. The desire to build a fun all-encompassing place on campus allows the facility to become more than just a place to buy alcohol.

“Students let us know what they would like to see. We are trying to get everyone in here to have fun, and not allow it to just be a drinking place,” Thurlow said.

With a care for the individuals that call this campus their home, Thurlow also appreciates continually hearing student feedback and enjoys the communication that has already been provided by individuals, whether their thoughts concern the food offerings or events.

The Roost hopes to maintain the quality of this dining option by valuing others opinions, both positive and negative.

Other major events that have been planned for the semester’s calendar include monthly trivia nights, a murder mystery roleplaying event and holiday parties to celebrate Halloween and Christmas.

Coupled with the intention to serve great food and drinks, both alcoholic and not, The Roost tries to present a variety of offerings for the Mercyhurst community, so that anyone can find something there that appeals to them.

Matt Mellish photo

Students enjoy Karaoke night at The Roost

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PAGE 8

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Fall Dining Series begins

By Erin Almeter Staff writer

The Hospitality Management students here at Mercyhurst University will be starting the Fall Dining Series again this year.

According to their page on Mercyhurst’s website, the Dining Series will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until late November.

They take place in the J.W. and Alice Marriott Café on the lower level of the Center for Academic Engagement.

The Marriott Café is a state of the art working classroom for the students who plan, cook and serve the meals. For a three course gourmet meal, the cost is only $13 payable by cash or check.

Peter Zohos, professor of Hospitality Management, described the history of the Fall Dining Series.

It originally started back in the mid 1980’s. Instead of being held at the Marriott Café, as it is now, the meals were located at St. Mark’s.

When the Hospitality Management department started to grow in the 1990s as one of the largest majors, the Grotto Dining Room was built, as was an expansion on Sullivan Hall.

The Grotto Dining Room was where the Grill is on the upper level of Grotto Commons.

“This was the location until the

Fall of 2012 when the Hospitality Management department ushered in a new era with the opening of the J. Willard & Alice Marriott Café.” Zohos said.

He said it is also important to note that “none of the students on Erie’s campus are culinary students unlike the North East campus.”

He described the Fall Dining Series as a chance for students to create and plan a menu of their choice, order, purchase and receive products as well as plan out the labor and production of the dinner.

“It is a right of passage,” he goes on to say as it is a senior level capstone type course which requires intense focus and several weeks of planning and preparation.

The kickoff meal was managed by senior Hospitality Management major with a concentration in Event Management Victoria Noker on Sept. 13 and she served a maple and apple mixed green salad, maple-glazed salmon with parmesan risotto and crème brûlée.

Noker stated that the idea behind creating and managing the meal in this class is to “get real life commercial kitchen experience before going out and working in the hospitality field.”

It is a group effort of the Applied Service class, who serve in the restaurant atmosphere, and

the Advanced Foods classes, who are the head chefs for each individual meal, according to Noker.

She invites everyone to attend as the students “put their hearts and souls into their meals” for everyone to enjoy. Her second meal will take place on Oct 23.

Daniel Leonard, a senior Hospitality Management major with a concentration in Event and Hotel Management, adds “having the opportunity to apply what I’ve learned over the past three years is an amazing and a little nerve racking experience.”

He goes on to show appreciation to the other students by saying, “I’m grateful to be able to do it with some of my best friends.”

Leonard’s meals will be served on Sept. 18 and Oct. 28.

The full 2019 Dining Series menu with dates of the meals can be accessed at https://www.mercyhurst.edu/sites/default/files/ marriott_fall19.pdf.

Reservations can be made by calling 814-824-2565 and can be made by anyone at the university or in the community.

All are welcome to attend. Seating begins between 5 and 5:30 pm. Any questions can be sent to Allyson Schrimper-Minor at marriottcafe@mercyhurst.edu.

Erin Almeter photo

Salmon with risotto made by Noker for her Fall Dining Series.

Erin Almeter photo

Creme Brulee topped with a raspberry made by Noker for her Fall Dining Series.

Earls brings roleplaying to classroom

By Bella Lee

Staff writer

Averill Earls, Ph.D. professor of history has a unique way of teaching her students.

Earls roleplays historical moments. She speaks with a foreign accent and dresses like those in that moment of time, all while not breaking character.

When asked about how the use of role playing arrived at the classroom, Earls said it stemmed from her love of board gaming.

“I am a board gamer myself, and a few years ago I attended a session on role playing games for history classes at a professional history conference,” she said.

“In that session we got to play a mini version of a Constitutional Convention game. From that moment I was hooked-and I knew there’d be students at Mercyhurst who would love it too.”

And love it they do.

The students, both history and non-history majors alike, say the role playing games really help benefit their learning.

“It forces you to take on a historical position,” senior History and Anthropology major, Hannah Pfeifer said.

“It’s challenging, but it makes you understand the content at a high level.”

Many students agree.“It takes you one step further in your learning,” senior History major, Rachael Wilson said.

However, the game Earls played at the conference was for the Constitutional Convention, so why choose the French Revolution to implement this form of teaching?

“The Reacting Consortium has a really excellent ‘French Rev’ game, which focuses on the ideas of Jean Jacques

Rousseau and Edmund Burke. But even though the course is titled ‘French Rev through Simulation,’ I actually decided when I was designing the class to include both the French Rev game, and another game – one that isn’t published yet, but that the authors graciously sent me materials for – on the Haitian Revolution,” Earls said.

“It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that the Enlightenment ideas that created such upheaval in Europe in the 1790s, and in the Americas in the 1770s, are specific to ‘Western civilization,’ but in truth, the revolution that took place in Haiti was far more radical than anything in what would be the United States or even France, and I wanted to bring together these closely related historical moments through this immersive, challenging game play.”

The game can become challenging at times, but students can take away a lot from their participation.

“This game takes place over 200 years ago. Some students have to try to argue to preserve slavery. Others have to fight against women’s rights. All have to think about what ‘democracy’ means, how to compromise and about the conditions that created these revolutionary moments in France and Haiti.

Those are important questions that are absolutely still relevant and important to be asking today,” Earls said.

“Even though the ‘game’ can go off the ‘historical’ track, we spend a class period at the end talking about what really happened in history, and why our enactment of these historical moments went differently. That emphasizes historical contingency, context and nuance. These are all lessons I, as a History professor, strive to teach in all of my classes.

In a lot of ways, these role-playing games allow students to discover those lessons on their own.”

Earls’ students agree that lessons are learned when it comes to playing these games.

“It forces you to break out of your comfort zone,” senior History major, Bill Riva, said. “You go against your own thought process, you learn new things and get into character.”

“We understand the frustration members of the national assembly felt,” Alex Strauss, a fellow senior History major said.

“We understand the struggles France had during this time and it allows students to sympathize with historical events.”

Earls believes this method should be implemented in more classes.

“I actually just ran a session in our Center for Teaching Excellence on these games, and two of my current students joined me to give the professors who attended a chance to ask them questions about their experiences.

Already I know of two professors who plan to implement role playing games in their classes, this semester and next semester!

“However, I know there are other professors – like Dr. Clemons, for example – who run simulations in their courses, which are quite like these games, but built into the middle or end of a more traditional course. I’m sure anyone who has taken Geopolitics will tell you how awesome that course is, especially the simulation. It makes your heart race! You want to win! And in wanting to win, you probably do a little – or a lot – more work to prepare than you would in full-on traditional classes.” Earls said.

Be sure to look out for more of Earls’ roleplaying classes in the future.

FO L LOW T H E M E R C I A D O N FAC E B O O K , I N STAG R A M & T W I T T E R AT @ T H E M E R C I A D

FEATURES

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

PAGE 9

Contributed photo

AML club board members, Huyen Vu, Isabella Fragnoli, advisor Dr. Musa Tuzuner, Rebekah Prather and Emma Rastatter, standing with Bryan Chapman, John Waterstram and Gordon Placon at AML event.

Intel event brings AML speakers

By Hannah Maloney Contributing writer

On Sept. 12th an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) 101 event was held by the Anti-Money Laundering Club in the Performing Arts Center. The event started at 4:00 p.m. and ended at 7:00 p.m.

During the welcome, Duncan McGill, Ph.D, Dean of the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences said, “I would like to thank each of you for taking the time to come to share this first meeting of its kind at Mercyhurst.”

“The event was spectacular! We had a turnout of over 200 students in addition to AML professions in the surrounding Erie community.” said Musa Tuzuner, Ph.D, assistant professor of Intelligence Studies.

The Anti-Money Laundering Club board said that they decided to put on a big event at the beginning of the academic year to attract as many students as possible to the club.

“In addition, the speakers were able to educate the audience about the basics of money laundering and terrorist financing, which is a new topic to many students at Mercyhurst.” said the AML club board.

AML professionals have the ability to work in a variety of different fields.

Bryan Chapman and John Waterstram, AVP Detection

and Investigations Managers at PNC Bank and Gordon Plancon, BSA/AML Compliance Officer at Washington Financial Bank presented their backgrounds and how they got into AML after the welcome.

The speakers said that all companies, casinos and some universities have AML officers. There is a growing need for AML specialists across the board and it is a career students should look into.

A new Anti-Money Laundering minor will be added to the curriculum at Mercyhurst. It will officially begin during the Spring 2019 semester, said the AML club board.

The ACAMS event helped accomplish our club’s mission. Mercyhurst’s Anti-Money Laundering Club was formed in 2018. Our mission is to act as both a club and networking organization where students learn about money laundering by connecting with organizations for job and internship opportunities, while also working on collaborative projects,” said Tuzuner.

Approximately five percent of the global GDP is laundered every year (about $590 billion to $1.5 trillion). According to the US Bank Secrecy Act, financial and non-financial institutions are required to incorporate AML programs. In compliance, financial and non-financial institutions are opening AML positions requiring the knowledge and skills that Intelligence Studies students possess.

I have developed an AML minor program with its curriculum aimed to help students in related majors acquire

Contributed photo

Dr. Orlandrew Danzell introduces the AML event.

knowledge and skills needed to enter the AML profession,” Tuzuner said.

The club is always open to new members. If interested, please contact Emma Rastatter at erasta81@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.

LAKER MOMENT Celebrating Sr. Mary’s birthday

Contributed photo

Sr. Mary enjoying her cake for her 90th birthday.

On Tuesday Sept. 17, Sister Mary Louis Oslick celebrated her 90th birthday. A Sister of Mercy, she is a familiar face to the boys of McAuley Hall and can be found each day sitting at the front desk greeting the visitors and students. That morning, Sister recieved a police escort from the Mother House to McAuley Hall. After arriving at McAuley, Sister was greeted with a packed lobby full of Residence Life staff, housekeeping, Police & Safety and McAuley residents. There was a catered breakfast and a cake to celebrate the occasion and everyone in attendance sang ‘Happy Birthday’ together. Assistant director Chris Lewand said, “We decided to have this celebration since Sister is a large part of the McAuley and campus community. We were happy to see the McAuley and campus community come together to mark such an important milestone in Sister’s life.”

Happy Birthday Sister Mary!

PAGE 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

MU Athletic Band for the win

By Kylie Johnston

Contributing writer

Photo by Kylie Johnston

L to R: Band members Matthew Bernarding (junior, Intelligence Studies), Salem Stacey (junior, Forensic Science and Anthropology) and Kirk Morrison (freshman, Music Education)

MIAC REVIEW

Before the fall semester even started, the Mercyhurst University Athletic Band was hard at work putting together an amazing halftime show.

From August 9 to 16, the band spent their last bits of summer tirelessly practicing for upcoming games and exhibitions.

Under the student leadership of Lauren Tucci, senior Music Education major; Greta Stoner, sophomore Music Education major and Emily Zbrzezny, senior Music Education major, the band readied themselves for the upcoming season.

The Mercyhurst Athletic Band consists of 76 total members.

They are led by three drum majors and two commanding officers.

The drum majors lead the band on the field and during the games, while commanding officers lead at the tailgates.

The 76 members are divided into five smaller sections: percussion, high brass, low brass, woodwind and pit.

Percussion consists of snare drums, bass drums, quads and tenors.

Low brass has trombones, tubas and a baritone, while high

brass has mellophones and trumpets.

Woodwinds are made up of alto, tenor and baritone saxophones, clarinets and flutes.

Separate from the main ensemble, the pit consists of a drum set, a xylophone and a marimba that play at the front.

They are led by Bob Reid.

Fans will be able to watch the athletic band perform at all Mercyhurst football games at Saxon Stadium.

They will be attending one away game at Clarion University in Clarion, Pennsylvania, on Nov. 9.

At the home games, you can expect a Laker worthy show by the athletic band.

They begin with our Alma Mater, followed by a valiant performance of “The Star Bangled Banner” and our fight song, which uses the tune of “Anchors Aweigh.”

After each touchdown scored by the Mercyhurst team, they play the fight song to show their Laker pride.

The halftime show is a much-anticipated tribute to the band Queen.

As the second quarter comes to an end, they march onto the field and take their places where they have practiced many times

before.

The show begins with a medley, which is a piece that seamlessly mixes multiple songs.

The medley starts with Queen’s most iconic hit, “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and effortlessly flows into “Another One Bites the Dust” and “We Will Rock You.” It ends with the last bit of “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

After the medley, they pick up with “Fat Bottomed Girls” and “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” and end with the fitting song “We Are the Champions.”

Catch this epic tribute at our homecoming game on Sept. 21 or any other home game.

When the game comes to an end, whether with a win or a loss, the band serenades the football team with the Alma Mater and the fight song.

Other than on the field during football games, you can find the athletic band at hockey and basketball games here on campus showing support for our student athletes.

To recruit new members they go to exhibitions where they play for high schools to entice their students to make Mercyhurst University and the Athletic Band their home.

ROCHE REVIEW

Readings at the First Roche recital featured Mercyhurst Dept. alumus Roost review

By Abby Whitman

Contributing writer

On the night of Sept. 9, the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture hosted their first reading in their newest series, called “Readings at the Roost.”

The concert reading was a performance of “Riders to the Sea,” an Irish one-act tragedy by John Millington Synge, and was performed by Mercyhurst University alumni and faculty members.

This is the first of many Irish works to be performed to celebrate Mercyhurst University’s Irish roots.

The setting of the series was inspired by the pubs in Ireland, where people gather to tell stories and sing music.

The cozy corner of The Roost was the perfect place to listen to Irish folk music performed by Louis Nicolia on fiddle, including the beloved ballad “Danny Boy,” before the reading, and then to enjoy this piece of classic Irish theatre.

“Riders to the Sea” is critically acclaimed as one of the greatest one act plays.

It takes place on the Aran island of Inishmaan, and the plot draws allusions from Greek mythology.

Even if you were not familiar

with theatre or Irish culture going into this performance, Joanne McGurk, Ph.D., associate professor of English, provided the audience the cultural and social context of the one-act play before the reading began.

Richard McCarty, Ph.D., associate professor of Religious Studies, read the stage directions, setting the stage for the hopeless tragedy that was about to take place.

Heidi Hosey, Ph.D., interim dean of the Walker College of Business, played Maurya, the matriarch of the family in “Riders to the Sea.” Mercyhurst alumni Bethany Sulecki (Nora), Sarah Krempasky (Cathleen) and Owen Hitt (Bartely) read the parts of the family of Maurya.

The audience was brought into the stormy and desolate world of the play and Maurya’s unceasing struggle with the sea that took the lives of their male family members.

The “Readings at The Roost” series is free and open to the public, located in the Playwright’s Snug of The Roost.

The next reading will be on Oct. 14.

It will be a telling of Irish ghost stories.

By Victoria Mcginty

Staff writer

Mercyhurst University has always supported its students.

This is true whether they are current students or alumni.

On Sept. 16, the 31st season of the Roche Guest Artist Series kicked off with a vocal recital by MU alumnus Jared Hancock, ‘16, baritone, accompanied on piano

by D’Angelo Department of Music Chair, Nathan Hess, D.M.A. Hancock performed pieces varying from arias in German and Italian to musical theater numbers.

The first half of the concert largely showcased Hancock’s mastery of German lieder and

French mélodie, with a song cycle by Franz Schubert and two of Henri Duparc’s surviving pieces, “L’invitasion au voyage” and “La vie anterieure.”

To conclude the first act, Hancock performed a contemporary aria entitled “Private First Class Jesse Givens,” a setting of a late soldier’s letter home while fighting the War on Terror.

This was a very moving piece, and it had me in tears.

The second half of Hancock’s concert intrigued the audience with a variety of works from Puccini to Sondheim.

To execute the beginning of the second act, Hancock performed arias from Puccini and Korngold’s operas, which heavily

flaunted Hancock’s vocal range and dynamic skills.

He then performed famous songs from the Great White Way, including “Johanna” from Sweeney Todd by Stephen Sondheim and “Stars” from Les Misérables

by Claude-Michel Schönberg.

Overall, Hancock’s recital was a successful start to the Roche Guest Artist Series.

His vocal technique was impressive, as was his command of dynamics.

His diligence was obvious throughout this performance.

With a captivating authority to his voice, Hancock made it very obvious that he is passionate about the art he creates.

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Wednesday, September 18, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Artist’s life recognized

By Gillian Mazur

Contributing writer

On Aug. 28, the beloved Patricia Anne Yahn passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by loved ones at 91 years old.

Born in Erie, Pennsylvania to the late Michael and Lauretta Prosser Sontheimer on June 7, 1928, Yahn lived a life full of adventure with the love of her life, her late husband Walter Johnson Yahn.

The two met as teenagers and were married for 66 years until his death in 2016.

Avid travelers, they explored Europe, the Baltic States, Scandinavia, Japan, China, Bangkok, Thailand, Russia, the Caribbean and Mexico, as well as most of the United States and Africa.

Wherever they traveled, Yahn never forgot to take her sketch pad and camera to continue her art as they traveled.

An adventurer at heart, Yahn was a passenger on the Orient Express, the Queen Mary, and the Concord.

She even took a submarine ride into the Cayman Trench and traveled to Alaska to participate in dog sledding in her late 60s.

As a student at Mercyhurst College, Yahn studied under the late Sister Angelica Cummings, the founder of Mercyhurst’s art program.

After college, she worked in the advertising departments at Trask’s department store and later the Boston Store.

As a commercial artist, she hand drew life-size sketches of the models wearing the store’s clothes to appear in the paper before photography became popular.

Later on, Yahn became involved with the Junior League of Erie and served as its president from 1968-1970.

She designed scenery and advertisements for their annual plays, dances and Santa’s Castle Scenery.

While in the Junior League, she helped to raise funds for the

Contributed photo

Patricia S. Yahn

construction of the Erie Planetarium, now the Yahn Planetarium at Penn State Behrend.

Throughout the 70s, she served on numerous boards, such as the Hamot Hospital Board, Wayside Church Board and Commonwealth Board of the Medical College of Pennsylvania.

She also served as President of the Millcreek School Board.

Yahn was also an active member for over thirty years in the Carrie T. Garden Club and served as its president.

She was a long-time member of the Carpe Diem Society and served as chairman for a while.

She received many awards in her life such as the International Women’s Year Award for her art exhibition in 1975.

In the 1980s, she also opened her interior design store, Interiors

of Erie, where she worked until her retirement in the 90s.

Most notably, Yahn is known on Mercyhurst University’s campus for her endowment of the annual Patricia S. (Sontheimer) Yahn Student Juried Art show.

She also provided an endowment for the Penn State Behrend Art Show as well as scholarships at UPMC Hamot.

She participated with her late husband in Mercyhurst University art exhibits.

Jodi Staniunas-Hopper, Professor and Chair of the Mercyhurst Art Department, said, “When Patricia’s husband passed, she decided to make a generous donation to Mercyhurst which allowed for the endowment of the student art show.”

A forever endorsement, this allows Mercyhurst to keep utilizing

the money from the growth versus the principal and it makes it possible to have the art show in perpetuity.

“Through her endowment, we’re able to generously award our students for their good artwork,” Staniunas-Hopper said.

“We’re able to hire an outside juror and have a nice opening, and this year we are even going to be adding a framing workshop so that the students can learn how to mat and frame their works.”

Staniunas-Hopper added, “All of this is made possible through Patricia’s gift to the College, for which we are very thankful and blessed.”

Mercyhurst Art Gallery Director Jessica Stadtmueller said, “I went to her house a few years back to select a piece from her watercolor paintings for a watercolor exhibition we were doing in her honor, and I got to go downstairs to her studio space to pick anything I wanted to put in the exhibit.”

“What I found amazing about her house and studio out in the woods was that it was beautiful, and there was framed art everywhere,” said Stadtmueller.

Yahn traveled extensively, and Stadtmueller noted that she had many things from around the world in her home.

“She was always a happy, welcoming and warm person. Every time she was here at the gallery, she was very encouraging to the students. When I would ask her if she had any advice for the students, she said that they just need support and encouragement and that that was so important for our young artists to have. She was one of those people that you just like being around, she was so full of life and inspiration,” said Stadtmueller.

Patricia Yahn is survived by many family members including her brother-in-law and his wife, three nieces and nephews, her four children, thirteen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

FILM REVIEW

Film prompts important conversations

By Carlena Bressanelli Staff writer

Some of you may have attended the screening of the documentary “The S Word” on Sept. 9 in the Performing Arts Center out of curiosity or for extra credit.

Those who experienced this film know that the “S” stands for “suicide,” which can be a tough topic to talk about, let alone watch a film about.

This screening was put on by the Sociology and Social Work Clubs.

Before the documentary started, Mandy Fauble, Ph.D., L.C.S.W., an adjunct professor of Social Work, took a moment so everyone could

take out their phones and put in the suicide national hotline number (1-800-273-8255) because you never know when you’ll need it.

There were counselors present at the screening in case it became overwhelming for audience members.

It was very educational to watch the documentary and see how people feel and what they go through.

This was an especially important experience since September is National Suicide Prevention Month.

The documentary followed Dese’Rae Stage, a photographer who felt that there was no one talking about suicide attempt sur-

vivors. There is a stigma concerning this topic, and she wanted to break the silence.

She herself is a suicide attempt survivor, and she went on a mission to find other people like her.

During her search, she found many people of different races, sexual orientations and religions She wanted to show that anyone and everyone could have had a suicide attempt.

The documentary switched back and forth between different stories. After they told their stories, Stage tooks their photographs. Towards the end of the documentary, it showed this project on display.

The portraits were hanging in

the gallery, and next to them were headphones with which you could hear the survivors sharing their stories.

After the documentary was over, there was a call for any questions from the audience.

There were a lot of great questions during this portion of the event, and it got people talking about what they can do to continue the discussion.

The documentary forced people to ask questions and not remain silent.

The screening was open to the public and free to view.

If you want to learn more about the documentary, visit theswordmovie.com.

PAGE 11

UPCOMING EVENTS Sept. 19 @ 7:30 p.m. in PAC: Kristin Chenoweth in Concert Sept. 23-Oct. 26 in CAG: Coming Home After Incarceration Oct. 3-6 in TLT: She Kills Monsters Oct. 6 @ 4:30 p.m. in PAC: Mercyhurst Civic Orchestra Oct. 7 @ 8 p.m. in WRH: Decho Ensemble Oct. 16 @ 8 p.m. in WRH: Amanda Sage Faculty Recital Oct. 18 in PAC: David Sedaris Oct. 23 @ 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Chapel: Concert Choir @ MNE Oct. 27 @ 4 p.m. in PAC: Wind Ensemble Nov. 2 @ 7:30 p.m. in PAC: O Solo Wainwright: An Evening with Rufus Nov. 4-Dec. 7 in CAG: The National Collage Society’s 35th Annual Juried Art Show Nov. 6 @ 8 p.m. in WRH: Nathan Hess & Rebecca Wunch Faculty Recital Nov. 9 @ 7 p.m. in TLT: Jazz Ensemble Nov. 10 @ 7 p.m. in WRH: Kristin Skarupski Senior Recital Nov. 14 @ 7:30 p.m. in PAC: Rosanne Cash & Band: She Remembers Everything Nov. 15 @ 7 p.m. in WRH: Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD We had Hurst Day on the same week as Mass of the Holy Spirit!

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

MU North East closing down of students will worsen the situation.

Back in 2011, we already had Gannon around 4300 students attending Contributing writer Mercyhurst on all campuses.

Over 500 students will be In late August, Mercyhurst transferring from North East to president Michael T. Victor made main campus. a large announcement.

Will we really have the He announced that the infrastructure and facilities to Mercyhurst North East campus support this? would be moving most of its There are plans to do some programs to the main campus renovating around campus to over the next two years. support this change.

In many ways, this move makes Although, it seems as though sense. there is always an expensive A good deal of the students project happening at our main who go to Mercyhurst North campus.

East have to take the lengthy From what I have seen, parking commute there. accommodations have not been Victor announced that around included in these plans.

90 percent of the students in Will these renovations be the health care program are enough, and will construction commuting from Erie. disrupt classes?

On a safety level, it also makes The negative economic effect lots of sense. on North East, PA is also a tragic Erie does have more hospitals effect of this decision. and provides more healthcare Over 150 jobs will be leaving services than North East, PA. for the City of Erie.

While I can see the benefits They will also miss the students to this shift, I also have some who stimulated their local concerns. businesses.

As a commuter student, I North East is a fairly small worry about parking. town, so this loss may devastate Our main campus already has the community. parking issues.

The town fought hard to see I worry that this sudden influx our North East campus stay

By Quinn

BAD Midterms are already only two weeks away.

WEIRD Grade-school kids have been coming through the HIRT all day long.

The Merciad STUDENT EDITORS Lauren Abbott ..........................Editor in Chief Marina Boyle ........................Managing Editor Kristian Biega ...............................News Editor Maria Williams .......................Features Editor Bernard Garwig ..........................Sports Editor Lauren Ganger ..............................A&E Editor Anthony Miller ..........................Opinion Editor Rebecca Dunphy ...........................Copy Editor Megan Stubbs ............................ Ad Manager Steph Przepiora ...................................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 to box PH 485 or via email at merciad@mercyhurst.edu.

there, and officials are upset to see it leave.

Mercyhurst North East is also located in the former St. Mary’s Seminary.

The buildings and grounds there are beautiful.

Mercyhurst currently plans to sell off the grounds to a private business.

I am concerned that a private business or entity will not preserve or utilize these facilities properly.

What if the land is purchased and the beautiful buildings are demolished?

It would be a massive shame to lose these many historic buildings.

Overall, I think this shift will be beneficial.

I know commuters from Erie who have to drive all the way to North East every day for their classes.

In the harsh Erie winters, this can be a tiring trip.

It also makes sense to keep these students in Erie closer to more hospitals and healthcare facilities.

I hope our main campus is ready to take on all these new students and I hope North East, PA is able to survive this economic hit.

Celebrating Hurst Day

Hurst Day is a nice rest before mid-terms begin.

Besides being a day off, Hurst Klein Day is a great way to help build Staff writer community, especially between the different classes and between My third Hurst Day has come students and faculty and and gone! administration.

After three years I am able to My day started out with being reflect on past Hurst Days and surprised with an extra hour of see how the beloved tradition has sleep, which I always appreciate. continued to evolve.

My roommates and I After a rainy Hurst Day 2018, participated in the scavenger this year’s beautiful weather was hunt, so we were in the Mary more than welcome.

Garden by 9:45 am to begin the The warmth and sun of midday’s activities.

September is perfect for a day Compared to past years’ clues, of food and activities around I liked how the clues for the first campus, and I preferred having round were trivia questions that Hurst Day earlier in the semester, were not impossible but also as opposed to October, as it has presented a bit of a challenge. been for the previous two years.

However, where we had to go The weather is more likely to for each location was farther than be ideal and I like being able to before. have Hurst Day before my classes Although this made it more start having more tests, projects challenging for more athletic and presentations that may be students, it presented an even interrupted by the day off. greater challenge for others.

Regardless of when Hurst Day Tired from the first round, falls, it is always my favorite day my roommates and I began the of the Fall Semester! second round of the scavenger Just as Thanksgiving Break hunt which consisted of taking gives us a reprieve before finals, selfies at various locations around

By Sarah

campus.

However, this was not especially difficult in terms of finding where to take the picture, but rather it came down to how fast you could get there.

Following the scavenger hunt, we changed into our Hurst Day shirts and headed over to the center of campus to enjoy the rest of the day!

The theme of the year was games, which I found to be unique and fun.

There were several different food options and definitely something for everyone.

The inflatable activities being offered has expanded over the years.

New activities such as bumper cars made the day new and exciting, even for upperclassmen who have experienced several Hurst Days.

Overall, I had a great Hurst Day and enjoyed the three-day weekend!

Hurst Day continues to get better and better each year!

I am both excited and sad for my fourth and final Hurst Day next year!

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 18, 2019

OPINION

Getting hyped for football season

By William Zytnick Staff writer

Finally, after dealing with another Super Bowl championship won by The New England Patriots, who at this point have earned the nickname the “Evil Empire,” the 20192020 NFL Season is officially underway.

In it, dozens of teams are chasing that ultimate dream of beating the competition and securing a Super Bowl win.

It’s a season that many sports fans, including myself, will be watching closely.

The NFC is going to be extremely interesting this year.

Last year the Rams ended up winning the NFC Championship game against the Saints in a tightly won, yet controversial game.

They then advanced to last year’s Super Bowl against the Patriots.

In my eyes, the teams that should make the playoffs this year in the NFC are as follows: The Saints, Rams, Cowboys, Bears, Eagles and Falcons.

The sleeper teams that could sneak into the postseason are: The 49ers, Packers, Vikings and possibly the Seahawks.

The teams that are on the outside looking in are the Panthers, Buccaneers, Lions, Redskins and Giants.

In free agency this year the

biggest loser of all the teams in the NFC was the New York Giants.

They had a horrendous offseason by trading away franchise wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr, despite the huge extension they had granted him in 2018. He was traded in exchange for Jabrill Peppers.

Finally, the Giants received the 17th selection in the NFL draft.

The big winner in the NFC for the offseason would go to the San Fransisco 49ers.

The 49ers are quietly building a solid team.

They landed with the second overall pick in the draft Nick Bosa (younger brother of Joey Bosa), who was the best defensive player in this year’s draft class.

They signed a good running back in Tevin Coleman, and added more secondary help in Jason Verrett.

Though, if this team gets into the playoffs, it would be solely on the health and production of their quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

He is truly the X-Factor for the 49ers if they have any chance at sniffing the postseason.

And now the AFC is still obviously dominated by New England, who beat out the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC title game last year.

However, others in this conference believe they can and will try to do their best to topple Tom Brady.

Their biggest rival is the

Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Steelers ended up beating the Patriots last year in a dramatic finish, and this year they have decided to change the script by letting two of their key players walk for the betterment of the team.

Those players were Lev’eon Bell & Antonio Brown.

From my perspective, this needed to be done for the hope of bringing title number 7 to Pittsburgh.

However, closer to Pittsburgh, the Browns have decided to become bold and extremely aggressive. After years of being written off, the Browns have had something of a rise in recent times.

This offseason, the Browns got Odell Beckham Jr in a blockbuster trade with the New York Giants.

They also got Olivier Vernon, who is an excellent pass rusher.

They added even more fuel to the fire by bringing in Sheldon Richardson.

The Browns were the champions of the entire offseason.

Now, they must translate this new culture to winning games and proving us all wrong.

On the whole, I expect the the Patriots, Chiefs, LA Chargers and Steelers to make the playoffs.

Sleeper teams would include the Titans, Texans and Ravens.

This will hopefully be a great season, featuring less controversy with the officials.

Good luck to all fanbases.

PAGE 13

HURST STUDENTS

SPEAK UP We asked: What is your favorite thing about fall?

Aubrey May, freshman English Education major: “My favorite thing about fall is watching all of the leaves changing colors and how pretty the trees get.”

Lucas Spangoli, freshman Cyber Security major: “My favorite thing about fall is the season change. The air gets colder and all the colors that come out are beautiful.”

Sydney Knapp, freshman History Education major: “My favorite thing about fall is when the leaves change and walking through leaves. I’m also a big fan of pumpkin spice flavoring! ”

Brett Wilson, freshman Intelligence Studies major: “My favorite thing about fall is when the weather starts to get colder and watching the leaves change colors.”

Compiled by Aaron Qiao

Thoughts on The Roost one year later

neither of the other dining halls on campus offer those.

By Alexander Incidents such as students Trabold getting roofied by off campus Contributing writer strangers have occurred in the past.

Last semester, Mercyhurst The reason why they’ve University introduced The Roost happened is due to the lack of to the campus. staff supervision that comes with At the time, The Roost was a leaving the institution. deeply controversial decision that With the presence of The ignited a great amount of debate Roost, students can attend around campus. an establishment that serves Now that it has been around alcoholic beverages while under for some time, I think it is time the watch of personnel. to ask for students’ opinions.

With this small change, For my money, I am a big fan students are now being protected of The Roost. from off campus violence.

The Roost has bolstered Even people from off campus not only my own lifestyle on can visit The Roost, so it boosts the campus, but also positively the popularity of the University contributed to the student and to those not attending. faculty community.

The food choices at The Roost The benefits of this new are also consistent and unique to establishment range from brand the bar. new meal options to campus I always arrive there to eat safety. wings and fries.

Recent years had students Wings and fries are always needing to leave campus in order on the menu every time that I to attend a restaurant or bar that attend. served alcoholic beverages, since How often do you go to

Grotto Commons, only to find that they don’t have what you want in stock on that day?

If the students have a specific preference for what they’d like to eat on certain afternoons, then The Roost will always have what they want.

It is much better than the daily shifting menu at the other food courts.

Students also aren’t required to spend physical money on the meal, besides on the alcoholic beverages, in order to eat.

They can just use cash on their meal plan.

However, the Roost isn’t just good for students, it’s good for professors as well.

I’ve also seen professors getting together not just to eat, but to mingle and talk amongst themselves.

I believe that the restaurant’s physical structure is to be praised too.

Having an actual bar, country room and lounge room provides both the faculty and students with a comfortable and warm

atmosphere to get together and mingle.

A sense of community is strengthened just by having a place for the students to wind down, drink cider or beer and talk about whatever is currently on their minds.

I firmly believe that The Roost is an amazing addition to the campus.

Not just because the stress of schoolwork and club activity gives everyone the need for some down time, but because The Roost provides that down time while also not having you holed up in your room.

I myself don’t usually socialize during meals.

However, time to time I’ve sat next to my peers at The Roost, even those that I absolutely didn’t know.

During one visit to The Roost, I met an elderly lady who was just visiting the campus due to a local church event.

She was quite the friendly person, discussing things such as religion and my ambitions on the

campus.

It was a wholesome, informing conversation that has stuck with me.

Obviously, I would have never had an encounter like this had I just eaten my supper at Grotto Commons that day.

At Grotto Commons, people either sit alone or with friends, but they never socialize with strangers like they do at The Roost.

This interaction would not have happened in Grotto Commons.

Overall, I would say that The Roost has been a wonderful contribution to my life here at Mercyhurst University.

It provides a place to both unwind and socialize.

I imagine that both faculty and my fellow Mercyhurst students feel the same.

I look forward too many more visits to that place until my graduation.

And, perhaps, I’ll come back to eat there every now and then afterwards.

SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

XC races at Kutztown U.

By Erin Almeter Staff writer

On Sept. 14, the men’s and women’s cross country teams competed at the Kutztown University Invitational DII/III Challenge.

“The weather was fair and cool at the start of the morning races,” Mercyhurst Women’s cross country Head Coach Kathy Noble-Fraley said. “Everyone on both teams gave their best effort.”

The men’s competition took place at 9 a.m. and the women’s at 9:45 a.m.

Given the amount of teams present, the Kutztown Invitational had a larger and more talented field for the athletes to measure their progress.

The Mercyhurst women, coached by Noble-Fraley and assistant coach Michael Williamson, placed sixth out of 15 teams at the invitational.

There were 158 individuals at this event, with Mercyhurst being led by freshman Anna Alberti, who finished seventh overall with a time of 23:37.

Rebecca King followed with a time of 24:19 in 22nd place and Claire Miller finished 35th with a

Contributed photo

Mercyhurst’s Benjamin Barnes runs with a pack of racers through a field during Saturday’s race. The men placed 12 out of 15, while the women’s team placed sixth.

time of 24:53.

Rounding out Mercyhurst’s top five were Margaret Sutherland (60th, 25:31) and Maria Marullo (70th, 25:49).

When King described the team’s performance she said, “It was a pretty tough course, but I was really happy with the way everyone performed as individu-

als and also as a team. Everyone worked really hard.”

Moving forward, King thinks it is important that everyone stays healthy and they all continue to improve.

She stated that their goals for the season are “to be the best we can be and hopefully move up in our rankings for the region.”

MU football rallies, but unable to beat Sheperd University

By Will Zytnick

Contributing writer

Despite a losing outcome, two attributes, grit and determination, defined the Mercyhurst University Lakers football team in their Sept. 14 game against the Shepherd University Rams.

The game ended in a disappointing 22-17 defeat, after the Lakers came up short in a series of fourth down attempts on offense.

The contest began with an unfortunate safety, from which the Rams capitalized early, making the score 2-0.

However, fortunes seemed to change for the Lakers afterwards, when defensive linebacker Jake Tarasovitch intercepted a pass, and the Lakers took a 3-2 lead off Brendan Cole’s 25 yard field goal.

The Rams then countered with the first touchdown of the day, coming in the final minutes of the first quarter to make the score 9-3.

During the game’s first quarter, quarterback Doug Altavilla became the Lakers’ all-time leading passer, throwing overall for 205 yards and running for a touchdown during the game; an amazing accomplishment for our senior quarterback.

In the second quarter, the Lakers’ other quarterback, Michael Lowery made a tremendous play by throwing his first career touchdown pass, which was a 13 yard strike to Austin Hence for a score, giving the Lakers a 9-3 advantage with 2:02 remaining.

However, the Rams would not go quietly; they responded with another touchdown with 1:04 remaining in the first half.

The dagger for the Lakers came at 10:10 when the Rams scored another touchdown, bringing the Lakers to their knees.

The Lakers would respond with a one yard touchdown from Altavilla, but that was all the Lakers could muster.

The top playmakers in this game were wide receivers Austin Hence and Clay Waldron.

Hence led the Lakers’ receivers with six catches for 111 yds and a touchdown.

Waldron also contributed to the Lakers’ offensive yardage, adding five catches for 96 yards.

The Lakers’ defense played admirably, standing tall against the Rams.

Tarasovitch had the big interception that jumpstarted the Lakers in this game and leading the defense was defensive back Hunter Merritt with 11 tackles.

While the attempted comeback bid against the Rams was unsuccessful, the Laker faithful should hold their heads high, as Head Coach Martie Schaetzle offered some praise for his team while accepting the loss.

“Our quarterbacks played extremely well,” Schaetzle said.

“Our wide receivers stepped up and made big plays when they needed to be made, but the loss is on me, and I take full responsibility for the loss.”

Coach Schaetzle also discussed what the Lakers need to improve on for their upcoming game with the Bloomsburg University Huskies.

“We need better control on the line of scrimmage and our coaching staff needs to call better plays in crucial situations,” Schaetzle said.

The Lakers will look to rebound in their first away game of the season, taking place on Sept.

21 at the Huskies’ Danny Hale Field. Kickoff for the Lakers is at 2 p.m. The Huskies are 1-1 for the season.

Hopefully the Lakers will be fueled with that same grit and determination they showed against the Rams, but this time around, walk away victorious against the Huskies in their house.

Alongside the women, the Mercyhurst men’s team, who are coached by Head Coach Mike Fraley and assistant coach Michael Williamson, placed 12th out of 15 teams in the competition.

There was a total of 132 athletes that competed in the event.

Mercyhurst was led by Joe Groth, finishing in 58th place

with a time of 27:52. Ben Barnes followed in 61st place, with a time of 27:56. These two were followed by Maxx Palisin with 29:12, Dylan Bemiss with 29:14, and Estaban Waldmann with 30:24.

When asked about improvements moving forward, Palisin stated, “We need to focus on our end game, being conferences and regionals. It’s okay to have a bad race here and there, but we really need to put our eyes on the prize.” He added about the team’s performance, “every race we are beginning to look more and more like a full team.”

As for goals for the rest of the season, Palisin said they would really want to prove the PSAC pre-season poll wrong and shoot for anything in the top seven by the end of the season.

Mercyhurst’s next competition will be on Sept. 21 at the Lock Haven Invitational where they will be racing against Edinboro, Lock Haven, Slippery Rock and other teams within the PSAC and the region.

“The meet will give the teams exposure to the top competition in our region and experience racing in a large field,” Noble-Fraley said.

HURST RESULTS Sept. 14: Volleyball vs. Urbana University: 3-1, Lakers (6-1) Sept. 14: Women’s soccer vs.

Wheeling University: 10-0, Lakers (1-0-1) Sept. 14: Men’s soccer vs.

University of the District of Columbia: 4-3 (OT), Lakers (2-01) Sept. 14: Field hockey vs.

West Chester University of Pennsylvania: 1-3, West Chester (The Lakers are now 1-3) Sept. 15: Men’s water polo vs.

La Salle University: 8-18, La Salle (The Lakers are now 2-5)

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

SPORTS

PAGE 15

MU remembers ‘Folgs’

By Bernard Garwig Sports editor

After a courageous battle with stage IV cancer, longtime Mercyhurst ice hockey equipment manager Mike Folga passed away on Aug. 31.

“The Lakers lost a great one in Mike Folga,” Mercyhurst University President Michael Victor said. “Folgs had a genuine likeability. You simply felt good being around him. We will miss his friendship, his storytelling, his humor and his good nature. He truly was one of a kind.”

Folga, affectionately known as ‘Folgs’ on campus, served as the equipment manager for Mercyhurst Men’s ice hockey.

“He just had this kindness about him,” vice president for Student Life Laura Zirkle, Ph.D. said. “He loved hockey, and he loved Mercyhurst hockey. It’s a real loss for the university.”

Before coming to Mercyhurst to be the program’s equipment manager, Folga worked inside a number of professional sports organizations.

Folga’s start was in baseball, working with the Cardinals, Pirates and Cubs organizations.

After working in baseball, Folga switched into hockey, starting with minor league teams in Virginia and Peoria, IL. Folga then moved into the major leagues, spending 11 years in the NHL with St. Louis, Chicago and the New York Rangers.

“My heart’s broken, and I’m very sad,” Mercyhurst men’s ice hockey Head Coach Rick Gotkin said. “We lost a really special guy, and even though we kind of knew it was coming, it’s very difficult to

wrap your arms around. He was a gigantic part of our program. He has touched so many countless lives in our program, and even with his whole background globally. He’s touched so many lives.

He’s a giver.”

Gotkin, who has been the Men’s ice hockey coach since the program’s inception, had worked with Folga since that period.

Last January, Mercyhurst rallied around Folgs in a game against American International, with the night designated “Fighting for Folgs”.

“Mike was an unbelievable ambassador of the university,” Athletic Director Brad Davis said.

“For our athletes, for our staff, for anyone. He was everything Mercyhurst is. We’re lucky we got to celebrate ‘Fighting for Folgs’ last year, for his family and for the Mercyhurst community. Just who we are, Mike embodies that.”

Given his connection with the program, Folga touched the lives of numerous members of the Mercyhurst men’s ice hockey team, past and present.

“To many he was the guy wearing camo, but Mike Folga is one of the most selfless human beings I have ever been around,” Garrett Metcalf, redshirt senior goalie for the Lakers said. “Many may think that being an equipment manager is an easy job, and I can tell you it’s not. Folgs spent many nights sleeping at the rink, making sure skates were sharpened, laundry was done. He ensured every detail needed for individual success was taken care of. He never once complained, his enthusiasm never wavered, even when he was fighting cancer. I don’t know anyone who liked being at the rink, or

around the game of hockey as much as Folgs.”

Fogla’s longspanning career also meant he was present for many memorable moments of Mercyhurst hockey.

One such occasion was when the Lakers hosted the Stanley Cup on campus during the 2014 season.

The event was an exhibition during the Men’s ice hockey game against Bentley University.

Folga, who had been the equipment manager for the 1994 Stanley Cup-winning New York Rangers, got to hoist the cup during the event.

“The place was packed,” Gotkin said. “The Stanley Cup was on campus, and the line was out to the Student Union door. People came from everywhere to see the Cup and to see Mike Folga’s name on the Cup.” But what defined Folga the most was his committment to the team and giving it his all.

“One of my favorite stories about Folgs comes from when we were on a weekend long road trip my freshman year,” senior forward Brendan Riley said. “Our hotel was 30 minutes away from the rink where we were playing that weekend. Folgs took it upon himself to actually spend the night in the rink and sleep on the trainers table in the visitors locker room so that he could prepare for our morning skate and the game that next night. Sharpening skates, preparing equipment, organizing the room and even doing the laundry through the night just to make our lives as players and coaches a little easier. Folgs put others before himself and tirelessly dedicated himself to making the lives

Contributed photo

Mike Folga hoists the Stanley Cup during the 2014 Men’s ice hockey exhibition against Bentley University.

of others more enjoyable.”

Such stories about Folga are shared by everyone, including Gotkin, who had a long friendship with Folga.

“Everybody can tell you a Mike Folga funny story, and a Mike Folga giving story,” Gotkin said.

First time I met Mike Folga, he came up to me and said ‘I don’t want to make you nervous, but the last four Head Coaches that I worked with in the NHL all got fired’. I was like ‘Oh no, what does that mean,’ but I’m still here, and Mike and I had a great relationship over the past 20 years.”

The funeral for Mike Folga will

be held Saturday, Sept. 21; friends may call at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, East 26th and Wallace St. from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.

“If you want to honor Mike Folga, you live your life the right way,” said Gotkin. “You be kind to people, you be respectful to people, be inclusive of everybody and find a way to give, because Mike Folga gave.”

“He was more than an equipment manager, he was a friend, a jokester, hard worker, Folgs was family,” Metcalf said. “And he will be missed dearly by the Mercyhurst community, and all others who knew him.”

Sport court hosts tourney LET’S GO,

By Krisitian Biega

News editor

The new outdoor sport court was full of activity and fierce competition on Saturday Sept.

8. Kody Miles, senior communications major and creator of the Exit 44 social media brand, hosted a three-on-three basketball tournament to build community while promoting his project.

Miles created Exit 44 in his hometown of Rochester, NY to promote local creatives such as artists, athletes, comedians and musicians.

The brand now has a following at Mercyhurst and has featured several artists on their Instagram page as well.

There were 12 teams that competed in a double elimination basketball tournament that began at 10 a.m. outside of Ryan Hall.

The day included music as well as t-shirts and a trophy for the winning team of three.

The winning team, “The Cavs,” included senior Nate Myers,

freshman Seth Myers and alumni Vitaly Tserger.

They fought hard in every round and were able to go undefeated throughout the competition. Coming in second with just as much stamina was “Average Joe’s Gym” with only one loss in the tournament.

The second place team included senior Noah Dziak, junior Trey Deitrick and senior Hunter Burri.

“There were a lot of intense games with a lot of good competition which I didn’t really expect,” Miles said. “A lot of teams came to play. I thought people would sign up more for fun but they took it seriously. Either way if they were doing it for fun or not, it made for a better turn out.”

The game included a mix of upper and underclassmen as well as athletes and non-athletes.

Even some friends of Exit 44 came from Buffalo and Pittsburgh as well as Mercyhurst alumni.

“We had a lot of teams come and a lot of people come to watch who weren’t even playing,” Miles

“

We had a lot of teams come and a lot of people come and watch.

It was cool to see everyone come together.”

Kody Miles, Senior Communication Major

said. “It was cool to see everyone come together in that one place for basketball.”

After the success of the first tournament, Exit 44 is teaming up with the Senior Class Gift Committee to host another three on three tournament on Wednesday Sept. 25 at 4 p.m. on the outdoor sport court.

There will be a $15 fee per team for this tournament and

sign ups can be found at mhur.st/ scg-3v3 or by contacting Miles at kmiles37@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.

That idea of community engagement combined Miles’ work with his passion for basketball in forming the Exit 44 basketball league and the first three on three tournament.

The basketball league is quickly becoming the forefront of Exit 44.

“I’m just trying to create a cultural movement on campus that will get students, faculty and staff as well as outside members of the University community excited to get involved and show love to the Exit 44 brand,” Miles said.

“I hope that highlighting individuals on social media and hosting events like this one will get people to come out and get engaged.”

“The tournament was was a lot of work and I’ve been planning it since June. But now that I know how to do it, it’s a lot easier to get it going,” Miles said. “I think there will be more in the future and it will be only up from here.”

LAKERS!

Sept. 20, Wheeling University @ 1 and 7 p.m.: Volleyball vs.

Fairmont State University and Wheeling University Sept. 21, Bloomsburg University @ 2 p.m.: Football vs. Bloomsburg University Sept. 21, Saxon Stadium @ 7 p.m.: Women’s soccer vs.

Slippery Rock University Sept. 22-23, Lakeview Country Club: Men’s golf hosting the Mercyhurst Invitational

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

HURST TOON Student-drawn cartoon by the Chuckler