October 23rd 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, O C T O B E R 2 3 , 2 01 9

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VOL. 93 NO. 5

AIMing High in NYC

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Online poll results We asked: What is your favorite scary movie?

4: Intel hosts policy speaker

13: Opinions on social media 15: Women’s hockey beats RIT

I don’t like scary movies! (56%) It (19%) Friday the 13th (15%) Halloween (11%)

This week’s

POLL

What is your favorite dinosaur?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

NEWS

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Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Gillian Mazur photo

The Hammermill Library now holds the archives of Tom Ridge, the former governor of Pennsylvania and an extremely influential figure for the community and Mercyhurst University. He served as the first U.S Secretary of Homeland Security and helped fund Mercyhurst’s Intelligence Studies program. The university has an extensive collection of his memorabilia that has not been previously displayed.

New library display showcases legacy of Governor Tom Ridge

By Alex Trabold

Staff writer

During reconstruction of the Hammermill Library, Mercyhurst included several displays of The Ridge Archives on the first floor.

These archives display different artifacts, photos and letters that were significant to former Governor Tom Ridge.

University and Ridge Archivist, Bryan Colvin, was a key part of making this project a reality.

“It was higher administration’s idea to set the archives up,” Colvin said. “There were also donations given to them by the Arnold Palmer Foundation and the Hillman Foundation.”

The reason for the construction of a special place for the archives was because Mercyhurst wanted to showcase the life of Governor Tom Ridge in a more prominent area.

Until the display cases were built, the artifacts were only sitting in boxes in the archives, right next to Colvin’s office on the third floor of the library. The reconstruction of the library provided the perfect opportunity to showcase the history of Tom Ridge to the Mercyhurst community.

Tom Ridge was an extremely influential figure within the Erie community, and Mercyhurst in particular.

Gillian Mazur photo

One of the display cases on the first floor of the library holds a variety of items from former Govenor Ridge’s career.

Colvin believes that the displays will inspire future generations of students to succeed.

Colvin decided how the showcase layouts were designed and what specific items were on display.

The creation of these displays involved collaboration from many different members of the Mercyhurst community.

The placement and prints were chosen together by Dionne Veitch, Executive Director of Marketing and Brand Management, and Jeremy Hewitt, Graphic Designer and Print Manager of Marketing and Brand Management.

They helped to make the display cases visually appealing, along with providing photographic prints of any of the desired

images. Some students even aided with gathering items, such as senior History major Molly Kennedy and sophomore Political Science and Fashion Merchandising dual major Shannon Gotham.

The main display of the Ridge Archives is a timeline detailing all the events of his life with memorabilia accompanying it.

This display also has a screen

that plays a video explaining its importance.

To the left and right of the display are plaques dedicated to Elsie Hillman and Arnold Palmer, whose foundations helped finance the project with donations.

The first floor displays include a variety of items from Ridge’s career.

Mr. Rogers’ iconic sweater, given to Governor Ridge by the man himself, is on display along with a personalized note. There is also a series of letters sent by Presidents George Bush and Bill Clinton to Governor Ridge.

Aside from professional work, there are photos and items dedicated to his wife and family.

Other artifacts include items that he received from different Republican conventions that he attended, photos of him alongside celebrities such as Tom Hanks and a helmet gifted to him by the Seattle Fire Department after the Top Officials Exercise.

The plethora of memorabilia and information shown from these displays should give students an impression of who former Governor Tom Ridge is and his importance to the Erie community.

Colvin and his collaborators have worked to make sure that our students remember his legacy.

Come show off your performance skills at the Roost! There will be free Karaoke every Tuesday night from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Bring your friends for an evening of good food and quality entertainment!

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

NEWS

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MCAP poll results predict Erie County voting Democrat in 2020

By Eva Philips Staff writer

With the 2020 presidential election just over a year away, the Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics (MCAP) is already hard at work tracking Erie’s political views about the field of candidates.

Since February 2017, MCAP polls have tracked Erie County registered voters’ perceptions of President Donald Trump.

Their most recent poll revealed that, if the presidential election were held tomorrow, Erie voters would choose Democratic candidate Joe Biden over incumbent President Donald Trump by a fourteen-point margin.

Democratic candidates Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders were also more popular than President Trump in this poll, with Warren registering a seven-point lead over Trump, and Sanders leading Trump by four points.

Though MCAP’s polls have shown increasingly positive

public perceptions of the economy, it seems that the economic factor may not be enough to sway them in favor of President Trump, with 53% of those surveyed disapproving of the President’s performance.

The most recent poll indicates that Erie may be leaning Democratic once more.

Though the election is still over a year away, the findings of the poll are significant, especially due to Pennsylvania’s status as an electoral swing state.

Therefore, it should not come as a surprise that the MCAP poll was featured on CSPAN and in the New York Times.

Leading the MCAP polling center is Joseph Morris, Ph.D., associate professor and Chair of the Mercyhurst Political Science Department, as well as four student project managers.

Logan Ford and Sophia Jensen, seniors each double majoring in Intelligence Studies and Political Science, are two of this year’s project managers.

Jensen discussed the importance of MCAP, especially in the time since the 2016 elec-

tion, due to its usefulness in tracking political attitudes in Erie County.

“In 2016, Pennsylvania was almost like a swing state,” Jensen said. “Erie was the deciding factor, pretty much. Erie has been historically democratic — in 2016, it flipped.”

The surprising flip of the county spurred MCAP to develop the approval-rating poll.

Each question in the approval-rating poll asks respondents whether they approve of President Trump’s performance on issues like the economy, national security and more.

Additionally, each time the poll is conducted, questions related to current events are added to gauge opinions about the most ‘hot-button’ issues.

The questions are carefully worded to avoid bias, and the students conducting the poll must therefore adhere tightly to a script to maintain the exact wording from call to call.

Morris determines which questions will be included in each poll, then the students take over in the poll’s execution.

The polling center is staffed by twenty to thirty students per night, both paid workers and volunteers, who undergo training before the polling process begins. Then, over the course of two weeks for three hours a night, students call local residents to ask their opinions on various political issues. The project managers coordinate the polling efforts.

“We’re the ones in the center every night, making sure everyone is following the rules,” Jensen said of the project managers. “Because we’re under IRB [the Institutional Review Board], we have to make sure we’re doing everything the right way and it is all running smoothly.”

It may sound like tedious work, but the project managers make it enjoyable.

“After the first couple days, when everybody’s comfortable, we put on documentaries to try to keep everyone entertained,” said Jensen.

Despite having received national recognition, MCAP will likely maintain its regional fo-

cus, though it may expand to conduct multiple or different types of polls.

Currently MCAP conducts only one poll per semester.

MCAP’s work with real-world data sets Mercyhurst’s Political Science program apart from other colleges’ programs.

Working with MCAP helps to prepare students by giving them real-world experience and the chance to be involved in the exciting world of politics — a world that will become more exciting still as the 2020 election draws nearer.

Students interested in joining the polling team can reach out to Morris or one of the student project managers.

To read the Fall 2019 full report, visit the MCAP Polls page at https://www.mercyhurst.edu/ridge-college-intelligence-studies-and-applied-sciences/political-science/ mcap-polls.

Sisters of Mercy work to save Monarchs on university campuses

By Ashley Carr

Contributing writer

This fall, Mercyhurst joined other Mercy campuses in the Mercy Monarch Milkweed Project, a collaborative effort to improve habitats for the dwindling Monarch butterfly population to promote increased pollination.

Additional plants for the project were added to the already vibrant Sister Maura Smith Peace Garden, located behind Frances Warde Hall.

Sarah Bennett, M.S., Chair of the Mercyhurst Biology Department and Sustainability Officer, is the head of the Monarch project at Mercyhurst.

“The project is for Mercy campuses to plant milkweed, but also plants that butterflies can get nectar from in order to support monarch butterflies,” Bennett said.

The Sister Maura Smith Peace Garden was put in place on the Mercy Walkway in 2014 as a student initiative, funded by the Student Sustainability Fund.

The original plants, mostly perennials and edible plants, were chosen because they were favorites of Sister Maura, who passed away in 2015.

Twenty-five student volun-

Ashley Carr photo

The Sister Maura Smith Peace Garden has been located behind Warde Hall since 2014. It was dedicated to Sister Maura because of her commitment to environmental stewardship.

teers from Mercyhurst Student Government and Mercyhurst Sustainability Club collaborated to put in the new plants, which include a variety of native species. Native species and

perennials both increase the sustainability of the garden, working toward regeneration of natural wildlife in the area, with minimal upkeep.

Since Bennett came to Mer-

made it more than just for monarch butterflies. We are making it more of a pollinator garden,” Bennett said. “It needed new plants anyway, and so what we’ve done up there is we’ve planted a lot of pollinator-friendly plants. We tried to stick to native plants where we could, though they’re not all native.”

Greg Baker, Vice President of University Mission, was initially contacted by the Sisters of Mercy, asking if the university would like to be a part of the project. He then passed the information to Bennett, and the project grew to include a number of professors in various fields.

More information on the various sustainable goals of the Sister Maura Smith Peace Garden can be found in the garden’s bulletin kiosk.

To get involved with the garden and other green initiatives on campus, join the Sustainability Club, or contact Bennett at sbennett@mercyhurst.edu.

cyhurst, she made one of her F O L L O W T H E M E R C I A D goals to reinvigorate the Sis- O N F A C E B O O K , I N S T A ter Maura Smith Peace Gar- G R A M & T W I T T E R A T @ den, and her resolve has not THEMERCIAD changed.

“We’ve expanded this and

NEWS

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Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Intel hosts foreign policy speaker Merciad IN A MINUTE

By Erin Almeter

Need help with class registration?

Academic Support and Learning Differences are here to help you with all of your registration needs!

Stop by one of their information sessions for a brief tutorial of scheduling through SelfService.

Tutorials will be hosted at the following times and locations: Oct. 23 11:30 a.m. 1:30 p.m. in the Grotto Commons, Oct. 24 2:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in Ryan Hall, Oct. 28 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. in the Student Union and Oct 29 2:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in 114 Egan Hall.

Tutorials are only 15-20 minutes long, so bring your laptop, tablet or smart phone to be ready for scheduling day!

Summer Study Abroad

Are you interested in studying abroad for a SEMESTER? Would you like to earn course credit over the SUMMER? How about an INTERNSHIP abroad?

Deadlines are quickly approaching for Spring 2020!

Summer 2020 deadlines will be due by mid March, but it is not too early to start considering a trip!

Stop by Preston 101 or 105 or email: studyabroad@ mercyhurst.edu for more information.

Is a year of service for you?

Stop by Mercyhurst’s Post-Grad Service Fair on Wed., Nov. 6 from 3 5 p.m. in the Waterford Banquet Room in Ryan Hall. Speak with representatives from a variety of service organizations such as AmeriCorps, PULSE and Holy Family Service Corps.

Contact Bethany Woods in Community Engagement for more information.

Staff writer

The Mercyhurst National Security Club, under Mercyhurst’s Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences, will be hosting Ross Harrison, Ph.D., an author and Intelligence Studies professor from Georgetown University and University of Pittsburgh.

His visit is supported by both the Intelligence Studies and Political Science departments. It will take place on Oct. 28 from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. in Zurn 114.

Harrison is the author of “Strategic Thinking in 3D: A Guide for National Security, Foreign Policy, and Business Professionals.” This book is currently being used in some of the Intelligence Studies courses at Mercyhurst. At Georgetown, he teaches a wide array of courses about strategy including national security, foreign policy and business. He also teaches courses at the University of Pittsburgh on Middle Eastern politics.

Aside from his teaching experience, Ross is a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute and

has lectured at the U.S. Department of State, the National War College and National Defense University as well as the Matthew B. Ridgeway Center for International Security Studies.

At the Oct. 28 lecture, Harrison will be discussing the frameworks in his book and use this information to help students understand the challenges of conducting foreign policy.

Harrison will specifically discuss the United States’ foreign policy in regard to Iran.

The questions he will pose deal with how the United States’ policy affects the alliance system between Iran and the United States’ external environments. He will also explore questions of how the U.S. is dealing with Iran “face-toface” between leaders and how they maneuver in respect to one another, including how both domestic audiences are affected

by U.S. foreign policy. He will then finish with an assessment of the prospect of success for U.S. strategy.

Harrison’s book is about the following dimensions of strategy: systems or alliances, opponents or maneuvering be-

tween countries and groups, or domestic audiences. It is a framework that he explained as “helping analyze an opponent’s environment.”

He described that this framework is based on strategic thinking as being applicable beyond Iran as it is meant to ask the right questions rather than provide a reader with answers.

Harrison’s interest in foreign policy stemmed from his personal realization that there was both a strategic capacity deficit and a high demand for one. He wanted to provide a framework to help decision makers to ask the right questions about foreign policy When writing his book, Harrison stated that a senior government official explained that he was “writing the linguistics of strategy.” Harrison worked to find the common elements of strategy.

Harrison expressed it was important for students to study strategic thinking because students need to understand the difference between strategy and tactics.

“Operating strategically is important, as it provides the right

questions to ask,” Harrison said, “but is not a template or rubric to provide easy answers.”

Harrison cautions students that they must be careful when using the tool that is strategic thinking and fully recognize “use” versus “abuse” of the framework, much like understanding the difference between a butcher’s knife and a scalpel.

For Harrison, the scalpel represents strategic thinking being used appropriately as a tool, whereas the butcher knife represents the abuse that can occur when it is misused.

As for future work, Harrison is working on writing a book about Iranian foreign policies at large.

For any questions about the event, please reach out to Aaron Qiao, president of the National Security Club, at wqiao89@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.

The event is free for all students and faculty to attend, but registration is required using this link: https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/strategic-thinking-in-3d-middle-east-foreign-policy-tickets-73908316765

MU supports Domestic Violence Awareness Month

By Kristian Biega

News Editor

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. College students may not realize that domestic violence is a shockingly prevalent issue in many relationships today. Approximately 20% of college students have experienced some sort of violence from their current partner. That number increases to 33% when both partners past and present are taken into account. To help raise awareness of domestic violence and help prevent an increase in these statistics, Mercyhurst’s Empowerment and Prevention Project is teaming up with SafeNet to host fun and relevant events throughout the month of October.

Michael Madonia, M.S.W. is the Project Manager of Mercyhurst’s Empowerment and Prevention Project (MEPP). He is a part of the collaborative leadership team spearheaded by Judy Smith, Ph.D., executive director of wellness at the Cohen Health Center, that manages daily operations of the project. The Mercyhurst Empowerment and Prevention Project is the result of a federally funded grant from the Office of Violence Against Women, U.S. Department of Justice.

“I have found the Mercyhurst community very open to discus-

sion about these difficult issues,” Madonia said. “Open discussion will help end the problems of gender based violence and the burdensome shame and stigma that domestic violence and sexual assault survivors endure.”

Smith helped to achieve this grant for the purpose of encouraging a culture of respect and safety on campus and helping to prevent sexual assault, domestic/ dating violence and stalking.

Alice Agnew, Title IX coordinator, Megan McKenna, Director of Residence Life and Student Conduct, DJ Fuhrmann, Chief of Campus Police, along with the executive leadership at SafeNet and the Crime Victim Center in Erie make up the Empowerment and Prevention Project team.

They work with the student leaders and groups on campus such as MSG, MAC/SAC, SAAC, SAGA and MEOW to make events such as Domestic Violence Awareness Month happen.

This year’s events began on Oct. 21 with the “Silent Witness” exhibit at the Mercyhurst Hammermill Library. This project, created

by SafeNet, will be on display the entire week as a way to provide voices to those men and women who have died in the United States due to domestic violence.

There will also be educational materials available for students.

“Each one has a story,” Madonia said. “This exhibit includes life size silhouettes and narratives of people who have lost their lives as a result of domestic violence.”

On Oct. 24, the annual “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes” will be held to raise awareness of the sexual violence towards women. Men on campus are encouraged to wear red high-heels on the walk to remember, to appreciate and to understand womens’ experiences.

Over 50 students, faculty and staff are already signed up, but anyone on campus is welcome to join the walk between 12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. in front of the Student Union on Thursday.

“While the theme is very serious, the event itself is fun and lighthearted. Taking a stand against sexual violence is a great opportunity for our students and employees to start to step up to change our campus culture and take action to prevent sexualized violence,” Madonia said.

On Sunday, Oct. 27, SafeNet will host the annual “Boo Run” at Presque Isle at the Rotary Pavilion on Beach 7. The 5K run will begin at 9 a.m. Mercyhurst community members are encouraged to walk or run in their best Halloween costumes. In addition to the run, there will be a fire, music, refreshments and door prizes. Use the code “MERCYHURST2019”

to receive a 50% discount off of online registration for Mercyhurst students.

Madonia wants to remind students that just because Mercyhurst is a safe and small campus, domestic violence is still a real issue that the community must work together to solve.

“Generally speaking Mercyhurst is a safe campus and the leadership at the University, from the President on down the line, is very highly invested in keeping the University safe for everyone,” Madonia said. “And just the same we can’t pretend this problem doesn’t exist.”

According to Madonia, domestic and dating violence is physical and mental abuse that is inflicted in order to control another person by fear and it is not exclusive to one gender, background or sexuality. It has been proven, he stated, that once the abuse begins, it tends to increase over time, even becoming life threatening.

If students have experienced any form of domestic violence, they can anonymously seek out the resources here at Mercyhurst such as the Cohen Health and Counseling Center, Mercyhurst Title IX Policies and Procedures, the Mercyhurst Empowerment and Prevention Project and the services of Police and Safety.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

NEWS

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University increases Th i s weekend’s LAM’s investment fund STUDENT GOVERNMENT

By Sarah Klein Staff writer

Earlier this month, the Laker Asset Management club finalized negotiations with the university’s endowment committee to approve a significant increase in this year’s funding.

This year, the Mercyhurst endowment fund approved a 100% increase, which brings the total of university funds being managed by LAM to $200,000.

“Since we received the first $100,000 in February 2018, we have illustrated that we understand how to limit risk through proper diversification while keeping steady returns,” said current LAM president and one of four co-founders, senior Adrian Larsen. “In order to keep turnover of assets high from semester to semester and increase club engagement we asked for another $100,000.

The idea is that we can set aside a small portion of the money for shorter term investments, which will ensure that the club has something to invest with every semester.”

Now three years old, Laker Asset Management views this increase in funding as an important milestone for the club, Larsen said.

“To have a second round of funding in three years is nothing short of remarkable,” Larsen said. “I am very excited about the fact that we will be able to provide our members the opportunity to have a larger say in the investments. The added $100,000 will increase participation and turnover in our invest-

ments.”

LAM was founded in the spring of 2017 to create an intellectually creative environment for hands-on experience in financial research. The club also boosts networking opportunities for current students with alumni and other professionals.

LAM meets weekly and devotes its time to research, discussions, making investment pitches and weighing in on portfolio decisions.

There are approximately 20 students who participate on a regular basis, with an additional 10 to 30 students who come to observe and join in from time to time.

LAM vice president Drew Hoover, a junior, said LAM meetings are designed to be equally educational and experiential.

“Every week, the club officers and board members try to provide a teaching aspect to the meeting for those students that are new to investing,” Hoover said. “About halfway through each meeting, we then dive into more developed research that applies directly to our portfolio. These two segments of our weekly meetings allow for a diverse group of Mercyhurst students to be interested in the club.”

LAM makes efforts to prepare students for their future careers and provides them the opportunity to manage a large amount of Mercyhurst’s endowment fund.

Students are broken down into teams, who then research new investment ideas.

“Since I’m a junior analyst in the domestic sector, I work with my team in researching domestic companies and finding potential investments,” said junior analyst Nathaniel Tennesen, a sophomore who joined LAM this year.

Another first-year LAM member, sophomore Michael Koniar, agreed that he values his investment research experience.

“I am most proud of the research I did for our solar investment,” Koniar said. “We just recently decided to buy a solar (exchange-traded fund) and the research that was done to find out if it was a good purchase was done by my group.”

Laker Asset Management is looking to expand their student experience even more over the next several months.

This semester, the club is sponsoring a trip to Pittsburgh to meet with finance professionals. Next semester, club members will embark on their annual trip to New York City, which they hope to expand from last year.

“This will be our second time visiting, and we plan on making more connections with people that are either alumni or friends of alumni,” Hoover said.

For students interested in getting involved with Laker Asset Management, weekly meetings take place each Tuesday at 7 p.m. in CAE 311.

Interested students can also check out the club’s website at lakerasset.com.

campus events

Get those bones rattling at the Rec Center with MAC/SAC! Come to the Hallohurst Dance Party beginning at 9 p.m. Wear something spooky to prepare for the costume contest and get ready to dance ‘til you’re dead!

Do you know the creepy ghost stories of Mercyhurst? Sign up for Haunted Hurst to find out! Saturday’s event is an Ambassador-led ghost tour of campus beginning at 8 p.m. in the Student Union. Arrive early to be sure to get on a tour...if you dare!

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG Oct. 10: Theft from vehicle in Lot 23.

Oct. 13: Harassment in Grotto Commons.

Oct. 19: Possession of controlled substance on E. 40th St. Oct. 20: Criminal mischief in Lot 19.

FEATURES

PAGE 6

RSCO FEATURE CRIMINAL JUSTICE ASSOCIATION

Abby Saunders photo

The Criminal Justice Association on a trip with real police officers.

By Sarah Klein

Staff writer

The place for anyone interested in criminal justice or related fields is the Criminal Justice Association, a well established club at Mercyhurst.

“The club is a supplement to the criminal justice classes offered on campus. We bring in various speakers, volunteer at multiple organizations throughout Erie, go on field trips to prisons, shoot guns at shooting ranges and basically do anything criminal justice-related that our members are interested in,” Criminal Justice Association secretary, Abby Saunders, a senior Criminal Justice major with concentrations in Law Enforcement and Criminology, said.

The Criminal Justice Association meets every Wednesday evening for about an hour.

If there is no speaker for the week, then the meeting time is used to go over general information and play games.

“We also go off campus for activities like shootdon’t-shoot simulations and anything else that the members want to do. Another thing we try to focus on is volunteering. We do service hours for multiple organizations, and this involves anything from helping out at after-school programs to participating in the Polar Plunge. We get to jump into Lake Erie with the Pennsylvania State Police,” Saunders said.

Recently, Criminal Justice Association members completed a training simulation with the North East Police Department where they learned how to clear out a school building, and what the typical day as an officer looks like.

In addition, on Advising Day the club visited SCI Albion in conjunction with the Student Alliance for Prison Reform.

“Members get to visit really cool places, hear from a variety of real-world criminal justice professionals and gain knowledge that they don’t get to learn while in the classroom. It really helps members figure out what line of work they want to go into (or don’t want to go in to) and also prepares them for real-life situations like talking to potential employers,” Saunders said.

Interested in getting involved with the Criminal Justice Association? All students are welcome to join, regardless of major.

While many members major in Criminal Justice, Intelligence Studies or Psychology, some members study more diverse disciplines such as Dance or Interior Design.

The Criminal Justice Association is partnering up with the Student Alliance for Prison Reform for their next meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 23 at 7:30 p.m. in Campus Ministry, where they will be learning how to prepare prison food.

For more information, you can contact Abby Saunders or the club advisor, EmmaLeigh Kirchner Ph.D.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Hurst tackles vaping issue

By Maria Williams

Features editor

In the past few years, Mercyhurst University has become a tobacco and vape free campus, but that doesn’t stop some students from indulging in the habit.

Vaping has become more and more popular in the past few years. Many teens and young adults turn to vaping instead of smoking cigarettes.

Vaping is going to continue to cause health issues in those who participate. So the question is, is Mercyhurst doing enough to teach the dangers of this habit?

An anonymous senior Public Health and Biology double major, is one of those young adults who partakes in this habit.

“The buzz you get from hitting it is the best feeling. It’s almost, like a buzz from alcohol,” the student said.

She is extremely aware of the health risks being that she’s a Public Health major.

“I don’t do it nearly as much because it makes me nervous, but I also haven’t quit completely,” the student said.

Public Health assistant professor, Lucy Thairu, Ph.D., said she didn’t personally know much on the issue of vaping, particularly as its effects are still yet to be known in the long term.

This, however, does not mean

that students are not being educated on the health risks.

Kelsey Wegelin, a senior Public Health major, recently studied vaping and the health risks that are involved. “[People between the ages of] 18 to 35 vape the most,” Wegelin said. “I find it interesting that many adults vape. I thought it was just a teen thing.”

Throughout her study, Wegelin used PubMed to find data on this ongoing issue. Using this information, she found the root of the vaping health risks.

“Vaping affects those who participate because the FDA does not regulate the liquid juice that is being put into the e-cigarettes.

The fluid is being heated up and going into our lungs which makes our lungs fill up with those fluids.

The health risks that go with this include lung disease, bronchitis, pneumonia and collapsed lung,” Wegelin said.

Mercyhurst does intend to bring more awareness to the issue of vaping on campus.

Megan McKenna, director of Residence Life, has been brainstorming ideas on how to bring awareness to this ongoing issue.

“Vaping is definitely one of the things that has emerged, especially in the last few months, that we’ve been taking a look at,” McKenna said.

In the recent months, there

have been several deaths and reports of pulmonary diseases linked to vaping.

California has been taking steps to ban sales of e-cigarettes.

This has sparked concern with staff and students at Mercyhurst.

McKenna, along with the Student Life Department, has taken the initiative to better educate themselves on the topic.

Once these deaths and diseases became more frequent, McKenna issued more fliers around campus.

McKenna and Laura Zirkle, Ph. D., Director of Student Life, have been working together on this.

“Dr. Zirkle and I said, ‘Okay, lets reissue this poster.” McKenna said.

The “No Vaping” poster can be seen around campus, with slogans like “taper the vapor.”

Although this is more of a passive approach, McKenna would like to take a more active approach when dealing with vaping in the future.

They are continuing to research ways to spread more awareness, and possibly implement educational programming.

Unfortunately, this will not stop all vapers, but can help some quit.

McKenna and Zirkle hope that this habit will no longer be harming the students and staff of Mercyhurst and its surroundings.

AIM students visit NYC

By Rebecca Dunphy Copy editor

In 2018, The AIM Program and Spectrum Design collaborated on the documentary called “This Business of Autism.”

This October, students were given the opportunity to witness “this business” firsthand during a trip to New York.

From Oct. 2 to 5, seven AIM students, Assistant Director of AIM, Brad McGarry and Career Path Coordinator, Kolleen Sullivan explored the Big Apple, visiting three different companies to learn about how they empower people with autism to find success and meaningful jobs in the workforce.

The first company they visited was Bloomberg, an organization that specializes in finance assistance, software data and media.

After this was a special opportunity with the United Nations.

“My favorite part was visiting the United Nations,” junior Political Science major Ben VanHook said. “It was very fitting for my major and I was able to engage with the representatives. I was

able to apply my knowledge from my Poli Sci classes when answering their questions, and I was able to communicate effectively.”

The last location on the itinerary was Spectrum Designs, where the group had the opportunity to meet some of the people featured in the film. They were also provided with a tour of the company’s three businesses: t-shirt printing, laundry and homemade granola bars.

“My favorite company that we visited was definitely Spectrum Design because I got to see the entire operation and how they employ people on the spectrum to work within this company,” junior Hospitality Management major June Durkee said.

“This really touched me the most because it gave me a wonderful visual representation of how certain work environments are implementing support systems that can benefit people like me who live with some form of autism.”

Students learned much more than what services the companies offered during their trip.

“We additionally learned many

social skills in New York by taking public transportation and learning to navigate the city through various maps,” VanHook said.

Students saw some classic New York landmarks including Broadway and Times Square.

Durkee said the experiences she had while in New York will stay with her throughout her life.

“The most important lesson I gained from this vocational experience revolved around not feeling worried or scared to speak up for yourself when working in a big company,” Durkee said.

“I found that very vital, especially if you happen to work in a company that incorporates supportive programs, like having extra mentors guide you to succeed within the workforce. This was very well depicted when visiting Bloomberg and Spectrum Design where they provide additional services for employees who have autism, and this can be done by sharing a mentor, having a safe working environment, or the most important to me, being true and speaking up for yourself by explaining to coworkers that you identify with having autism.”

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, October 23, 2019

NEW AT

HURST

Career Development hosts grad school fair

By Erin Almeter Staff writer

Victoria McGinty photo

Shoulders is excited about working as an Academic Counselor here at Mercyhurst.

PAGE 7

On Oct. 16th, Mercyhurst’s Career Development Center put on a Graduate School Fair in the Mercy Heritage Room from noon until 3 p.m.

Students were able to come and talk to graduate school representatives about their future educational options.

A wide range of colleges and volunteer organizations were in attendance for students.

There was Canisius College, Carlow University, Clarion University, D’Youville College, Edinboro University, Gannon University, John Carroll University as well as Kelly Educational Staffing, Malone University, Mercy Volunteer Corps, Mercyhurst University, National Air and Space Intelligence Center and Navy Officer Programs

Buffalo.

Additionally, Penn State Behrend, Point Park University, Syracuse University, Institute of World Politics, University of Findlay and University of Pittsburgh were also invited to present to students.

With the colleges, there was a wide range of programs as well. They ranged from Public Health, Information Studies, Nursing, Education, Occupational Therapy and Business among many more.

Students that attended gained valuable information and help with figuring out what their future plans will or could be.

An additional benefit from attending was receiving many free gifts from the graduate schools such as water bottles, pens and lip balm.

Students that attended also were put

in raffle to win a $50 bookstore gift card.

Heather Balas, Director of the Career Development Center, said she was grateful for all the students that made the event a success.

The students’ attendance to the fair was very impressive and seemed to show that they were invested in their futures, Balas said.

“The recruiters that attended were happy with the turnout from Mercyhurst students as well,” said Balas.

If students need additional help, the Career Development Center welcomes everyone to come and ask questions.

They are located on the first floor of Egan Hall.

They also are encouraging everyone to create a Handshake account where there are even more resources available.

By Victoria McGinty Staff writer

The Mercyhurst Academic Support Department welcomed a fresh face to Egan Hall with the addition of Kyle Shoulders.

Born and raised in the Erie area, Shoulders knows the area like no other, including all of Erie’s great wonders.

Shoulders attended Edinboro University, where at first he yearned to seek his undergraduate degree in Special Education, but changed his mind thanks to his rewarding experiences as an Resident Assistant.

In light of his experiences with Residence Life, he majored in Psychology.

Eventually, Shoulders went on to obtain a Master’s degree in Counseling.

Throughout his upperclassmen years, Shoulders completed an internship at Penn State Behrend, where he worked as a Residence Life Coordinator.

Following his graduation from Edinboro, Shoulders officially worked alongside Residence Life at Penn State Behrend for four years and then worked as a health counselor specializing in Drug and Alcohol Safety and Awareness.

“Being at Penn State had both its challenges and rewards. I felt very at home while there because I worked there a long time, however many of the students I helped felt like they were only small fish in a massive pond. However, here, at Mercyhurst I feel accepted. The campus is beautiful and it amazes me how invested everyone is with all of their endeavors,” Shoulders said.

One of his favorite aspects of Mercyhurst is the Liberal Arts REACH curriculum.

“I appreciate the opportunity to open up to different experiences to students,” Shoulders said.

Outside of working here at the Hurst, Shoulders heavily values three things-- his wife, his newborn and fitness.

Shoulders and his family just recently moved back here to Erie. He and his wife have a six-month-old daughter, Mila.

In his free time, Shoulders loves working out and currently works part-time as a cross fit instructor at the Erie Fitness Academy.

If you need to contact Kyle Shoulders you can reach him at kshoulders@mercyhurst. edu or in Egan 127.

Tables were set up in the Mercy Heritage room to show students their options after undergraduate school.

Erin Almeter photo

Heather Balas and Kolleen Sullivan of Career Development Center at the Graduate School Fair.

Erin Almeter photo

Erin Almeter photo

Evan Hartono, senior Graphic Design major, looking at his options for grad schools.

FEATURES

PAGE 8

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Hurst welcomes celebrity speaker, Lauren Potter

By Alexandra Long Contributing writer

On Oct. 7, Lauren Potter spoke to the Mercyhurst community as part of Mercyhurst Student Government’s 2019 Speaker Series in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

Potter, an actress and activist, is best known for playing Becky Jackson on the FOX television series “Glee.” Since then, she has appeared in NBC’s “Chicago Med,” HBO’s “Veep,” Freeform’s “Switched at Birth” and Comedy Central’s “Drunk History.”

In addition, she has dedicated much of her life to advocating for the rights of individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities.

Potter began her speech by noting the fact that she has Down Syndrome, though she was quick to prove that this never stopped her from achieving her goals.

Potter knew she wanted to be a performer from a very young age, though she was unable to walk until the age of two and was told her disability would hinder her.

She pursued dance lessons at the age of three with the support of her family and instructors who helped her succeed on the stage.

At sixteen, Potter was cast in the movie, “Mr. Blue Sky” and was selected shortly after for the role of Becky Jackson, a spunky cheerleader, on “Glee.”

She expressed how excited she had been to play a cheerleader, an activity she had always wanted to pursue in high school but was denied because of her disability.

Aside from her movie and television appearances, Potter spoke about her experiences in advocating for the rights of others, both with and without disabilities.

She has been an Ambassador of the Special Olympics, spent three years on the National Board of Buddies, and was appointed to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities as an advisor to the White House by President Obama in 2011. She also was a partner in establishing the “Not Special Needs” campaign in 2017.

Each of these positions have allowed Potter to encourage others with disabilities to pursue their passions and achieve their goals.

In addition, she has shown how important it is to include diverse perspectives in conversations about disability, especially those with first-hand experience of living with various disabilities.

Potter then spoke on some of her most influential work: her anti-bullying advocacy and outreach programs.

She recounted the different forms of bullying she faced from physical abuse as a child to cyber-bullying on social media as a teenager.

Additionally, she mentioned how current leaders and influential role models normalize bullying and perpetuate

stereotypes.

Through the PSA campaign, “Stop Using the R-Word,” Potter partnered with fellow “Glee” actress, Jane Lynch in combating the usage of offensive slurs like “retard” and acts of bullying that hurt individuals with disabilities.

Throughout much of her speech, Potter emphasized the importance of support systems, especially within families and communities, for children with disabilities.

She spoke passionately about the gratitude she has for her parents, other family members and those in her community who saw her value and encouraged her to pursue her passions regardless of what society told her.

Finally, Potter called for a shift in the national conversation surrounding the topic of disability and emphasized how those without disabilities, especially those in powerful positions, can change how we approach and act on the topic.

Between two separate standing ovations, Potter answered questions from the audience.

She offered answers to questions which ranged from the advice she would give to the parents and community members of children with Down Syndrome (be brave, encouraging, and proud) to who her celebrity crush is (John Stamos).

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

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

FEATURES

Correa with one of his Marketing classes participating in this project, standing on the steps outside of Old Main.

PAGE 9

Victoria McGinty photo

MU creates dog tags for veterans

By Victoria McGinty

Staff writer

Mercyhurst University is widely known for its values for tradition and service. In light of Veterans Day, the two Principles of Marketing Classes currently in session within the Walker College of Business are launching a marketing campaign in support of our veterans.

This initiative will include the distribution of special Veterans Day Commemorative Dog Tags to the entire Mercyhurst University Community.

The dog tags, created by the students, will be distributed throughout the month of October.

This campaign is very special to Mercyhurst because this event is the first of its kind and its purpose will ultimately unite the Mercyhurst community and the Erie community to honor our veterans and celebrate those who served.

Peter Correa, faculty member in the Walker School of Business, first introduced the concept of this project from past experience.

Correa served in the United States Army from 19681996.

First enrolled at the brink of Vietnam, Correa represented America at a powerful era in our nation’s history.

Throughout his time on active duty, Correa has lived in over 19 different places throughout the world, including Panama, Germany and now Erie.

A rendition of the dog tag being distributed.

Contributed photo

During Vietnam, Correa was stationed at the West Point Military Academy in New York, while also pursuing a Bachelor’s in Engineering.

Following the war, Correa lived all over the world and eventually got married and started a family. He then obtained a Master’s degree in Finance.

Throughout his career, Correa obtained the status of 2nd Lieutenant Colonel and explored a range of opportunities including Airborne Ranger status.

While this academic year marks Correa’s first year here at Mercyhurst, Correa hopes that this event will provide his students with a visual symbol of both an appreciation and support for veterans.

Correa with his other Marketing class participating in this project, standing on the steps of Old Main.

This dog tag event acts as a symbol to bring awareness and support to the Erie community.

“This event to me is a project that acts as an interesting way to show solidarity for our country and also is a visual to remind ourselves of our nation’s military,” Correa said.

The dog tag itself combines an iconic military tradition along with the traditions of Mercyhurst.

“My amazing Marketing students have spearheaded this initiative and they stand ready to initiate their distribution plan to every member of our Mercyhurst University learning community,” Correa said.

This project includes the distribution of over 5,000 of these custom dog tags, to every person on the Mercyhurst campus, as well as the members of the Erie community.

For everyone who has these dog tags, it is requested that they be worn every day from Nov. 1 through Nov. 11, as a way to showcase visible support for all of our veterans.

Additionally, Correa plans to distribute tags to any and all veterans on campus and also to veterans down the road at the Erie VA Medical Center, just half of a mile away from campus.

For any additional questions regarding this project, please reach out to Correa at pcorrea@mercyhurst.edu.

Victoria McGinty photo

PAGE 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

FAC U LT Y R E C I TA L R E V I E W

Magic flute came to Walker Recital Hall

By Rachele Heasley

Contributing writer

D major” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, which has cloudy origins but is nearly identical to his “Rondo in C major” for violin and orchestra.

Mozart is one of the most wellknown and influential composers of all time, and the reason is evident in this piece.

It uses interesting chromatic scales and soaring melody lines that are closely woven with the piano part.

My two personal favorite pieces played were Albert Franz Dop-

pler’s “Hungarian Pastorale Fantasie” and Giacomo Puccini’s “Vissi d’arte” from his opera “Tosca.”

“Hungarian Pastorale Fantasie” was whimsical and dramatic, and somehow almost tangible.

It is an example of musical exoticism, written with a flavor of traditional Hungarian folk music.

For the excerpt from “Tosca,” soprano and Mercyhurst alumna Nicole Tafe (‘07) was featured.

Tafe graduated from Mercyhurst with a degree in Music Education and went on to get her

Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from Carnegie Mellon University.

Tafe’s voice was a full, rich soprano with almost satiny vibrato.

The most recently composed piece in the recital, Sergei Prokofiev’s “Sonata for Flute and Piano in D major,” op. 94, was written during World War II. His mid-century Russian style is unmistakable, and the context of wartime in Russia is evident in the piece.

Each movement was vastly

Amanda Sage is an Adjunct Professor of Flute at Mercyhurst University and a flutist performing in the Pittsburgh area.

Sage also runs a private studio and performs in various ensembles in the Pittsburgh area.

Her performance was both spirited and very technically impressive, a combination that shone in the repertoire of the recital.

Sage is a scholar and advocate of early music and historical performance, also reflected in her chosen repertoire.

Her pieces ranged from as early as Telemann in 1739 to as late as Prokofiev in 1942.

Her first piece was Sonata in G major, written by George Philipp Telemann from his “Essercizii Musici,” a collection of solo and trio sonatas.

The collection was actually written so that it could apply to a variety of instruments common at the time of composition, including recorder, oboe, violin, and harpsichord.

The sonata was beautiful, the four movements (“Cantabile,” “Allegro,” “Affettuoso” and “Allegro”) all containing artful leaps and runs, with several sequences.

The most thoughtful movement was easily “Affettuoso,” more somber than the others yet lilting, with emotional lines that Nathan Hess, Nicole Tafe and Amanda Sage pose together after the recital. mimicked voices.

The next piece was “Rondo in

Photo by Rachele Heasley

different from the last; “Moderato” was characterized by large intervals skillfully surmounted by Sage’s technical ability, “Scherzo” was urgent with a wide tonal range, “Andante” was tender and sweet and “Allegro con brio” had gorgeous runs that hung onto the high notes.

For the finale, Tafe returned to the stage with Sage and Hess to perform Ary van Leeuwen’s flute arrangement of Leo Delibes’ “Le Rossignol,” or “the nightingale.”

The piece is a conversation between the soprano and the flutist, with the flutist playing the role of the nightingale.

The text is based on an old poem which urges the listener to hear the nightingale’s song and to take caution because although the flowers return each spring, love comes only once, never to return.

The call and response between flute and soprano was thoughtful and artful; each note was written for a reason.

Tafe’s performance in this piece was especially impressive as she matched pitch with the flute while it climbed ever higher.

Sage’s recital was filled with beautiful, unique pieces that each showcased her expansive talents.

The addition of a vocalist was a nice touch, especially an accomplished Mercyhurst alumna like Tafe.

The next recital of one of our exceptionally talented faculty members is on Nov. 16, featuring clarinetist Rebecca Wunch.

FAC U LT Y R E C I TA L R E V I E W

Ghost stories on an October evening

lodging in a house inhabited by stone in weight, but some of the whose screams mean death, just a poltergeist, a nasty spirit with a hauntings elicited chuckles, like not to the person they manifest Staff writer propensity for shaking up things when the poltergeist knocked ev- before. eryone out of bed one night.

Another reading featured a “Ghost stories give voice to in the house.

The stresses of living there Edwards’ reading featured shape-shifting ghost tricked into the marginalized,” Christy Rieger, PhD, said during her introduc- made him lose three-quarters banshees, wild, spectral women his own capture after getting tion to the second Reading at the Roost on Oct. 14.

This month’s Reading featured Irish Ghost stories performed by various faculty: Ben Friesen, Matt Weaver, PhD, Alice Edwards, PhD, Rob von Thaden, PhD, and Christina Riley-Brown, PhD. Ghost stories were shared under appropriately dim lighting, contributing to an even more eerie atmosphere.

The evening was equal parts spooky and light-hearted, with some stories that were creepy and chilling and some with more humorous elements.

One story featured a schoolmaster who decided to stay the night in his own schoolhouse.

He received the fright of his life, accented by appropriately chilling sound effects from a very reliable sound effects coordinator, Weaver’s young son.

Photo by Abby Stevens Another story featured the un- Audience members listen to the ghost stories performed at the Roost Reading. fortunate mishaps of a carpenter

By Abby Stevens

F O L L O W T H E M E R C I A D O N T W I T T E R AT @ T H E M E R C I A D

drunk and crawling into the whiskey jar for the last drops, only to be locked inside the jar by a priest.

The evening closed with a reading about the Woman in White, and some music.

The reading also featured three instrumentalists from a group called The Celtic Hooligans.

They regaled the audience between readings with songs about dead Irish people.

One song, very much in the Irish tradition of making fun of the British, invited audience members to sing along in a chorus about Anne Boleyn, running about the countryside “with her head tucked underneath her arm at the midnight hour.”

The event was very enjoyable and spooky, perfect to get everyone in the Halloween mood.

This month’s reading was so well-attended that there was a shortage of seating.

If you would like to attend the next reading, which will take place on Nov. 11 and feature readings from Oscar Wilde, it is a good idea to arrive early so you will get a good seat when the doors open at 6:30.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

ROCHE REVIEW

They ‘dech’ed the recital hall

By Rachele Heasley

Contributing writer

On Oct. 7, the Decho Ensemble gave a concert in the Walker Recital Hall, and on Oct. 8 they gave a master class to Mercyhurst senior saxophonists.

The Decho Ensemble is a saxophone trio out of western New York comprised of Jacob Swanson on the alto saxophone, Sarah Marchitelli on the tenor saxophone and Jared Yackiw on the baritone saxophone.

The repertoire for this concert had an immense range, from old pieces that had been arranged for saxophone to very contemporary songs.

The recital began with a selection of three fugues by Johann Sebastian Bach that had been adapted for saxophone trio.

Each was adapted from Bach’s massively famous collection “Das Wohltemperierte Klavier” or

“The Well-Tempered Clavier.”

Each fugue showcased the group’s precision.

Two of the pieces were quick with rapid motion and one of them had slower, gorgeous fluid lines.

The next piece was “Trio, Op. 87” by Ludwig van Beethoven.

Its high opus number is misleading, and the piece was actually written before his Opus 1.

Originally composed for two oboes and English horn, it was intended for the ever-increasing number of amateur musicians in Vienna.

The piece was very conversational, and the connection between the members of the ensemble was evident in the excellence of the performance.

For their first contemporary piece of the evening, the Decho Ensemble performed John C. L. Jansen’s “Fields of Jade.”

It was composed in 2014 for

two baritone saxophones and percussion, and another version was published later for two electric guitars and percussion.

The work was arranged for the Decho Ensemble in 2019 and was incredibly interesting.

It began with layering of the parts, and it felt urgent and dark.

Extended technique was employed to make the saxophone sound like an electric guitar by the use of vocal distortion.

This piece in particular demonstrated the talent of the ensemble and their command of embouchure.

After it had concluded, the group bounced back to the Classical Period with “Divertimento No. 4” by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

The five movements of this piece couldn’t be more different from each other, with a pastoral Larghetto section, a light and mysterious Adagio section and a

Photo by Rachele Heasley

L to R: Jared Yackiw, Jacob Swanson, Sarah Marchitelli, Greta Stoner (sophomore, Music Education) Miranda Wall (senior, Music Therapy), Rebekah Rebekah Peyton (sophomore, Music Therapy)

cheerful Allegretto section.

The most interesting piece of the night was Trio for Saxophones

by Werner Wolf Glaser.

Glaser was a German composer displaced during World War II due to his Jewish ancestry.

He ended up settling in Sweden, where he would make his career.

This piece was incredibly difficult for the Decho Ensemble to get their hands on.

It was not stored in any libraries or archives in the United States.

The ensemble reached out to the publishing company that held Glaser’s other pieces, but they had only recently acquired the account and did not know of any surviving copies of the trio.

By a stroke of luck, the composer’s son showed up as a friend suggestion on Facebook.

He had a copy of the piece which he mailed to the Decho Ensemble, and they have been performing it since.

The piece is characterized by a variety of textures, a high range, and beautiful themes.

The final piece of the night was “Rough Winds Do Shake the Darling Buds” by Eric Moe, which was composed in 1999.

This piece has a contemporary sound, and the program notes described it as “edgy and lyrical, gritty and elegiac.”

It represents the nitty gritty of classical style music of the modern era.

Inspiration for this piece was drawn from Debussy, Jimi Hendrix, Bud Powell and jazz fusion.

It was rhythmic and exciting, with clear tones of progressive rock.

The Decho Ensemble displayed for Mercyhurst the true flexibility of the saxophone as a concert instrument.

Their blend was absolutely impeccable, and every note was spot on.

This group could be recommended to anybody.

PAGE 11

UPCOMING EVENTS Oct. 23 @ 7 p.m. in St. Mary’s Chapel: Concert Choir @ MNE Oct. 26 @ 7 p.m. in WRH: Loose Ends Dance Performance 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

T H E AT R E P RO G R A M R E V I E W

D&D play inspired audience nostalgia

By Abby Stevens

Staff writer

From Oct. 3 through 6, Taylor Little Theatre was transformed into a teenager’s bedroom, complete with posters and an unkept bed.

It was a scene pulled straight from 1995, perhaps more nostalgic for the adults in the audience, considering that most current college students were born a few years too late to have experienced the 90s in all their glory.

The Mercyhurst Theatre Program’s performance of Qui Nguyen’s “She Kills Monsters” truly appealed to the geek within us all.

The fast-paced, comedic adventure told the story of Agnes Evans (Jenna Rosciszewski, senior,

English) as she attempted to connect with her deceased sister, Tilly (Ella Santillano, senior, Forensic Antropology).

After the rest of her family died in a car accident, Agnes had nothing left to know her sister by except a Dungeons and Dragons module she found in the deceased girl’s bedroom.

Enlisting the help of a local high school nerd, Chuck (Jon Reddinger, sophomore, Cyber Security), Agnes embarked on a quest into the world of her sister’s imagination.

The production was everything a nostalgic geek girl could hope for: well-timed jokes, thrilling fight scenes, a party of strong female adventurers (and one token male), LGBT characters, scary monsters and even a five-headed

dragon.

There was never a dull moment or a lull in the action, and the focus shifted with ease between the battle-packed fantasy world and the real world that paralleled it.

The reality in this play does not come without its hardships, which were shown in the forms of Miles (Nick Woll, senior, Religious Studies and Psychology), Agnes’ boring and commitment-fearing boyfriend, and Vera (Abby Whitman, senior, Music Therapy) Agnes’ best friend who is also a chaotic high school guidance counselor.

Underneath all of the adventure and sexual innuendos, however, ran a more sobering, and saddening, truth.

Most of the play took place in the realm of fantasy.

No matter how lifelike Til-

ly looked and acted during their Dungeons and Dragons campaign, she was still dead in the real world.

The emptying of Tilly’s bedroom throughout the play emphasized this quite strikingly and poignantly.

Behind the scenes of Agnes and Tilly’s madcap adventures through the Dungeons and Dragons campaign, the boxes were being removed and posters taken down, all painful reminders that the bright teenage girl at the heart of this magic was gone and that their journey together would soon come to an end.

The lines between reality and fantasy blurred further as Agnes realized that many of the characters in Tilly’s campaign were inspired by people from the real

world, taking the form of a young love, close friends and high school bullies.

All of these factors combined to form an unforgettable story.

Containing equal notes of humor, adventure and sadness, the production was ultimately a smashing success.

While this production of “She Kills Monsters” has come to an end, the Mercyhurst Theatre Program will next be presenting “A Dickens of a Christmas Carol,” an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol” by Mary Barile.

This production will run from Dec. 5 through Dec. 8, and will be directed by Mercyhurst University alumna Sarah Krempasky (‘17, Music).

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD Halloween, everyone’s favorite holiday, is only a week away!

Why midterms were a letdown

By Eva

Philips Staff writer

BAD Everyone’s burnt out because we just got back from break.

INTERESTING The Communication Department has created a podcast room.

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.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Well, midterm exams — and fall break, sadly — have come and gone.

This was my first-ever set of midterms.

Now that it’s over, I have to say, it was a bit, how do you say, underwhelming?

Well, not that I’m complaining or anything!

Believe me, I’m glad that they went smoothly and without incident.

But I do feel somewhat surprised by how they went down.

Allow me to explain.

First off, I was expecting that midterm exams would all occur in the three days before break, or at least within the span of a single week.

So I was a bit surprised when I had exams in the middle of September that were labeled as midterms.

After all, one would expect midterms to fall in the middle of the term, around the seven- or eight-week mark.

Some of my midterms fell in

week five or six.

Upon considering this matter, I think that it’s wise not to complain.

After all, I’d rather have five exams spread out over a relatively lengthy period of a few weeks rather than squeezed into just a few days.

We’ll save that particular brand of stress for finals week, right?

Another thing I found odd was the lack of stress and fuss about midterms, both for me personally and for others around me.

Midterms really did not garner as much attention and dread as I had expected.

Even when I had two backto-back exams on the last day of classes, I was too focused on my excitement about going home for fall break.

I mean, which deserves more thought: major exams in my Data Science and Intelligence classes, or my upcoming plans for fall break?

As a side note: my plans for fall break were nonexistent.

When I say ‘plans’, I mean that I was deciding what to order from my favorite Thai restaurant when I got home that night and counting down the hours until I’d be happily reunited with my golden retriever.

But to get back to the point, almost nobody around me seemed all that worried about midterms.

The library wasn’t any busier than normal.

I didn’t see anyone stumbling around like a stressed-out, sleepdeprived zombie surviving only on coffee and ramen.

All in all, it was just strangely anticlimactic.

Just another week of class, really.

But hey — I’ll take it!

I’m sure once finals week rolls around I won’t be talking about how anticlimactic it is.

Instead, in all liklihood, I’ll probably be absolutely at my wits’ end.

I’ll be trying to study for exams, pack for winter break, prepare for Christmas, stay healthy and get enough sleep to be classified as a functioning human being.

Lakers, I hope that your midterms went as smoothly as mine.

Enjoy the next, oh, six weeks or so.

Enjoy them, before finals roll around and make us all question why we ever thought that a college education was a good idea.

In praise of MU sports

By Marina

Boyle

Managing Editor

Women’s sports are something that has been underappreciated across times and cultures.

When it comes to watching college football or college basketball, chances are we’re thinking of men.

That’s why when I started to notice the efforts of Mercyhurst University to promote women’s sports this year, I had to say something.

I am not a student-athlete, but as a Laker, I think we’re doing better than ever.

I have noticed so many posters this year with photos of our athletes; both male and female.

Women’s games have been at prime times and attendance has been great.

The MSG Spirit Committee has exclusively hosted spirit events at women’s games, for example by supporting field hockey and volleyball.

The new Division II bowling

team brings Mercyhurst’s number of men’s and women’s sports to equal.

Like I said earlier, I’m impressed with these efforts to increase the appreciation of women’s sports.

With the plans to increase our club sport offerings, I’m excited to see how that too could get more women involved.

Title IX legislation legally ensures equality of sexes in terms of treatment of athletes and the number of teams.

However, things like the amount of times they get to practice on the field, times of games and attendance or promotion of women’s sports are not governed by this.

That said, these seem to be the areas where Mercyhurst Univeristy is stepping up to the plate.

I remember being in a Walmart last year and seeing women’s athletics playing on a TV. I actually did a double take because that’s rare to see.

It made an impact on me because women’s sports were visible in lowkey and yet

mainstream way.

Where Mercyhurst has got it right this year is visibility.

I think we’re more aware that our girls are wonderfully talented than ever before.

I’ve been told by friends who are athletes that better game times and increased awareness reflect the efforts of coaches who are advocating for their teams.

As well as this, the Saxon Stadium renovations have helped to increase attendance.

This is because of better seating and lighting for both men and women.

This means more games can be played in the evenings so all sports can be played at later start times, which often draws more student support.

Marketing has also done its part with great branding and new poster designs.

We are not perfect, but it’s great to see athletics getting the attention it deserves.

For women in particular, I’m delighted to see that the sacrifices they make for their sports are being seen.

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, October 23, 2019

OPINION

How Mercyhurst uses social media

By Alex Trabold Staff writer

Mercyhurst’s use of social media has been a boon to spreading information and strengthening community across this campus.

With accounts on both Twitter and Instagram, the university has found a good way of communicating information and highlighting moments of triumph among the students, especially the athletes.

Contact with alumni is even maintained thanks to these accounts.

For example, this includes the Instagram account of Mercyhurst Athletics bringing light to alumni Patrick Smith singing the national anthem at a Baltimore Orioles game.

Additionally, this was covered by another alumni Kristen Hudek and the Orioles.

I believe that social media has been an overall improvement for human communication and cooperation.

Additionally, I believe that these social media accounts have done wonders to give a sense of belonging and pride to students of Mercyhurst, even to those that no longer attend.

The Twitter account is currently followed by more than 9,500 people and is free for people even outside of campus to follow.

This is great for bringing our news of on-campus events and the general look of the campus to those that are interested in Mercyhurst.

This allows companies, families and other parties that can benefit the university to get a better understanding of Mercyhurst, or help strengthen the community.

The account specifically cites students’ personal achievements and highlights special occasions, such as Fall Open House and Study Abroad Programs.

This gives these events the coverage needed for students or those that would like to join the program.

Mercyhurst’s use of social media has also encouraged additional communication between the students and the university itself.

Though I will say that Mercyhurst’s presence is stronger on Instagram than it is on Twitter.

On Instagram, many of the posts made by Mercyhurst University’s accounts are highlighting specific students.

They are also influenced by interactions with said students, such as the posts that focus on Mercyhurst alumni.

Twitter, on the other hand, is used mainly to publicize campus events, with most of the posts for the hockey team regularly getting around 20 likes.

Several companies over the past few years have been attempting to adopt “internet lingo,” or at least take part in

more “hip” ways of talking with customers online.

This includes Arby’s, Wendy’s and several other fast food companies.

Though this has been met with mockery by some, official company accounts have gotten more attention and interaction with regular social media users by adopting the language of most internet users.

Look into what these accounts are reading, saying, even “memeing,” and their appeal to both companies and common individuals becomes clear.

This may produce mixed results though, due to some accounts coming across as desperately trying to appeal to younger generations.

There is always a possibility of this happening when the older generation tries to mimic the style of the newer, however.

However, I do believe a higher level of engagement with both staff and the student body can be strengthened by having the social media accounts have more engagement with students, specifically club-oriented ones.

As I’ve said, social media has done wonders for communication in this generation, so why not try to communicate more?

Mercyhurst was brilliant to tap into using social media, but they can do so much more.

The community and ties of this campus are strong and can be even stronger.

Celebrating Halloween

Dance Party will occur.

In all my years of attending

By Bella school, I never heard of or Lee attended a Halloween-themed Staff writer dance, so this sounds very exciting.

October is, at long last, among But that’s not the only us.

Halloween-themed event This means witnessing the happening on campus in the runchange in foliage color, feeling up to the titular holiday. the temperature drop and The following day, Saturday, most importantly, anticipating Haunted Hurst arrives on Halloween. campus.

But does Mercyhurst as a From what I heard from older campus celebrate Halloween students on campus, Haunted enough?

Hurst is an event that involves I am a first-year student here, ghost tours through Old Main so I haven’t experienced many and Egan Hall, among other of the festivities surrounding activities.

Halloween.

I haven’t heard much about However, from scrolling these stories, so I can’t wait to through social media and the new finally find out what this is all Mercyhurst University Hub, it is about. obvious that Mercyhurst loves MAC/SAC isn’t the only Halloween. organization that’s holding The Multicultural Activities Halloween fun here at Council and the Student Mercyhurst, however.

Activities Council (MAC/SAC) The Autism Initiative at have two events planned for this Mercyhurst, or AIM, is throwing coming weekend. a party specifically for its students On Friday, the Hallohurst on Sunday.

This party will include its own costume contest, which sounds like a whole lot of fun to me.

On the same day, the Senior Class Gift committee is hosting a pancake breakfast in the lobby of the Center for Academic Engagement.

On Monday, the Grotto Commons is hosting a pumpkin carving contest.

All of this and so much more is arriving at Mercyhurst University as Halloween approaches.

Ever since I was little, I’ve always loved Halloween, especially dressing up and receiving tons of candy while trick-or-treating.

From everything I’ve seen and heard throughout my life, everyone seems to love Halloween.

I can’t wait to find out what fun these festivities hold as the school comes together to celebrate one of the most anticipated holidays of the entire year.

PAGE 13

HURST STUDENTS

SPEAK UP We asked: What is your favorite section of the Merciad?

Kali Beutler, Sophomore Integrated Media and Strategic Communications major: “My favorite part of the Merciad is the opinion pieces because I really like to hear from the people on campus and what they’re thinking.”

Madison Dorey, Sophomore Intelligence Studies major: “My favorite section is the comics because it reminds me of reading the comics with my grandparents and I miss them.”

Quinn Cooley, senior Psychology major: “My favorite section would have to be the comics because I’m horrible at drawing so I like to see what other people can do that is artistic.”

Mike Solazzo, Sophomore Economics major: “Opinions is my favorite because I always had the most fun writing those pieces for the paper.”

Compiled by Katy Vaccariello

After Mercyhurst

By Anthony Miller Opinion Editor

I think we should introduce graduate school as a potential path forward for students much earlier than we do.

It feels as if graduate school is largely ignored until students hit senior year, at which point, it becomes one of the major subjects you’re expected to have an opinion on.

I know it’s ironic to complain about needing to have an opinion in the opinion section, but the issue is that students are not given enough information about graduate school early enough.

I’ve talked to many seniors who don’t know what graduate school even is beyond the broadest of the broad strokes.

Then, when those students hit senior year, they’re supposed to intuitively know everything about it, and what it would

mean for them to pursue it.

I think that there are several ways for this to be corrected.

Maybe something like iMU could cover paths forward after graduation, with graduate school being one of the options covered. iMU already teaches students much of what they need to know to function on a campus like Mercyhurst, why not introduce them to what they can do after they graduate?

I think there could also be more resources available on campus to discuss graduate school.

While they exist right now, they are fairly limited when compared to something like career counseling.

While this isn’t the biggest issue in the world, it is still something worth talking about.

I firmly believe that introducing graduate school as an option to students early could help them better prepare for the future after they graduate from Mercyhurst.

SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Seton Hill tops MU football

By Will Zytnick Staff writer

The Mercyhurst University Lakers marched onto the field on Saturday with high hopes.

After a decisive and swift victory over the Edinboro Fighting Scots on Oct. 12, this week’s game featured a new challenge with the Seton Hill Griffins coming into Saxon Stadium with high hopes of their own.

Despite taking an early lead, the Lakers’ advantage faded in the second half, as Seton Hill pulled away 30-20.

On the game’s first drive, the Lakers took advantage of excellent field position to draw first blood when Garrett Owens capped off a six-play drive by plowing into the end zone, making the score 7-0 to the delight of Laker fans.

However, the Griffins answered on their first drive of the game, and with 2 minutes, 39 seconds remaining in the first, tied the score with a 22-yard touchdown pass that showed they wouldn’t go quiet heading into the second quarter.

Then something special happened not even a minute into the second quarter: Mercyhurst quarterback Doug Altavilla connected with wide receiver Clay Waldron for a 42-yard strike into the end zone making the score 13-7 with a

Victoria McGinty photo

Mercyhurst wide receiver Camden Laconi, No. 28, waits at the line of scrimmage during Saturday’s game.

Seton Hill overcame a Mercyhurst lead in the fourth quarter en route to a 30-20 win.

blocked extra point.

On their next drive, the Griffins marched down the field but settled for a 21-yard field goal to make the score 13-10, capping off a seven-play drive which resulted in 48 yards in the final minutes before halftime.

The Lakers would drive the length of the field with another

rushing touchdown by Owens to increase the lead to 20-10.

Seton Hill would counter by tacking on another field goal before both squads went in for halftime, with the Lakers up by seven with the score of 20-13.

The second half began with both teams battling hard for position, but Seton Hill would be

the only one to make noise in the third quarter.

At 9:01, the Griffins would once again settle for a field goal making the score 20-16, Lakers.

Unfortunately for Laker fans, the fourth quarter killed the optimism that marked the beginning of the game.

With 4:54 remaining, the Grif-

fins took their first lead of the game by scoring a 1-yard rushing touchdown that brought the Lakers to their knees, and went on to score another touchdown.

That was the dagger for the Lakers, as the Griffins pulled away.

To add insult to injury, quarterback Doug Altavilla was injured with on a targeting penalty by a Seton Hill defender and did not finish the game.

Head Coach Marty Schaetzle said the second half proved to be the turning point in the game.

“Well, we had a chance when it was 20-16,” said Schaetzle. “I thought if we had scored we would have gotten the momentum back and even at the end we thought we were in a good situation to take the lead but we didn’t.”

Schaetzle also shared what adjustments need to be made for a big game against California University on Saturday.

“Well, they’re a different offense, defense and special teams, so we have to watch films and put in a 14-hour day on Sunday and a 16-hour day Monday and get a breakdown of them.”

On the heels of the close loss to Seton Hill, the Lakers (3-4, 1-3) will try to get back on track on the road when they play California University (5-2, 3-1).

Men’s ice hockey HURST receives invite to RESULTS Northern Ireland “

By Marina Boyle

Managing editor

The Mercyhurst men’s hockey team has been invited to play in the Friendship Four hockey tournament in Northern Ireland in November of 2020.

The Lakers will join Sacred Heart University, the U.S. Military Academy and Quinnipiac University for games on Nov. 27 and 28.

Belfast, the capital city of Northern Ireland, has hosted the Friendship Four tournament for the last five years.

The aim of the tournament is to showcase American college hockey to people across the world.

Director of Athletics Brad Davis was the driving force in getting Mercyhurst into the tournament after hearing that organizers wanted teams from Mercyhurst’s conference, the Atlantic Hockey Association.

The tournament presents a new opportunity, for a team that has never traveled overseas to play.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for not only our men’s hockey program but really for our entire Mercyhurst University commu-

This is a wonderful opportunity for not only our men’s hockey program, but really for our entire community.”

Rick Gotkin, Men’s ice hockey Head Coach

nity as well,” coach Rick Gotkin said. “Our program will once again have the privilege to help spread the gospel about Mercyhurst University. It is going to be a terrific opportunity for our student-athletes to learn, explore and grow while in another country as we represent Mercyhurst while playing hockey against some very good competition abroad.”

The announcement of teams was made last week at Belfast City

Hall.

The games will be played at SSE Arena, home of the Belfast Giants of the Elite Hockey League.

Past Friendship Four tournaments have been deemed international successes, seen on television and attended by more than 20,000 spectators.

Additionally, the teams will take part in cultural experiences while overseas.

“Participating in the Friendship Four tournament in 2020 will be an amazing experience for men’s hockey student-athletes,” Davis said. “They will have the opportunity to network with sponsors, visit local schools and learn and appreciate the history of Northern Ireland. The trip is so much more than just hockey and will be very educational.”

Plans include speaking with youth groups and exploring the deep history of Northern Ireland.

“We talk a lot about the student -athlete experience here at Mercyhurst, and I cannot imagine any better way to enhance that experience then what our team will be taking part in in November 2020,” Gotkin said.

Oct. 9: Women’s soccer vs. California University of Pennsylvania: 4-1, Lakers

Oct. 15: Men’s soccer vs.

Salem University: 2-1, Lakers Oct. 19: Men’s water polo vs.

Penn State Behrend: 13-11, Lakers (Mercyhurst 6-13) Oct. 19: Men’s soccer vs.

Gannon University: 0-2, Gannon (Mercyhurst 5-3-2, 2-1-1) Oct. 19: Women’s soccer vs. Gannon University: 1-3, Gannon (Mercyhurst 6-4-2, 5-4-1)

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

SPORTS

PAGE 15

MU golf competes at PSACs

By Gillian Mazur

Staff writer

The Mercyhurst men’s and women’s golf teams traveled to Hershey, PA, to compete in the 2019-2020 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships Oct 18 through 20.

Held at the Hershey Country Club, both teams faced eight other teams in the 54 hole, three-day tournament.

The Mercyhurst women’s golf team found great success in the tournament, coming in second place overall with a total combined team score of 986 (322, 325, 339 each day).

In comparison, Gannon University came in first place with 962 (324, 317, 321) and the Clarion University finished last with a total score of 1,210 (407, 401, 402).

West Chester University of Pennsylvania placed third behind the Lakers, with a score of 1011 (337, 331, 343).

Junior Claire Orr said, “Our team played great even though we came up short, we put ourselves in a position to win which is all you can really ask for at the end of the day.”

“It [the PSAC championship] was a very special tournament for my teammates as three out of five

of them are seniors. I know that we were not satisfied with second as a team, but we all worked really hard throughout the season, and it definitely paid off,” freshman Kymberly Henry said.

With 44 competitors with individual scores, Henry placed second overall with a total of 238 strokes (78, 78, 82), shooting 25over par.

“The PSAC championship was a wonderful experience to be a part of. Considering that I am only a freshman, I think that I played my best according to the very poor conditions,” Henry said.

Seniors Abigail Vietmeirer (tied for fifth, 242) and Bridget Merten (tied for tentth, 251) also made the top 10.

Senior Michaela Thomas tied for 14th (255), and Orr brought the scores home, with a tie for 16th place (259).

“Personally, I didn’t play my best, but it’s a team sport and my teammates had my back out there and did a great job this week,” Orr said. “Kym played outstanding as a freshman to go out and get a second-place finish, and overall this tournament gives us a lot of confidence headed into the spring.”

Announced on Sunday at the

championships, Orr was named the PSAC Women’s Golf Champion Scholar. She joins only two other Lakers to win this award and the first to win since 2013.

Modeled after the NCAA’s Elite 90 award, it honors the student-athlete with the top gradepoint average who competes at the site of each of the PSAC’s 23 team championship finals.

A graphic design major, Orr has taken 66 credits and boasts a 4.0 GPA. “As far as the scholar athlete award goes, it’s an honor to be recognized for my work in the classroom and was unexpected. I’m truly honored to join the list of people who have won the award,” said Orr. On the men’s side, the Lakers landed in sixth place with a final combined team score of 942 (316, 314, 312).

Despite their relative scoring consistency, the Lakers were beat out by teams that jumped in the standings following the first day of competition.

“Hershey Country Club reveals your strengths and weaknesses as a golfer. If we want to achieve our goals as a team, we need to keep improving our weaknesses and believing that we are as good as any other team in the PSAC con-

ference,” said sophomore Ryan Peters.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania took first with a total score of 905 (311, 294, 300), and the University of Pittsburgh Johnstown ended in last place with 997 (330, 330, 337).

Crosstown rival Gannon University finished the tournament in third place with a score of 928 (320, 302, 306).

California University placed directly above the Hurst in fifth place. California’s score was 938 (321, 302, 315), four strokes above the Lakers.

Shephard University was directly below the Lakers in the final tallying, with a seventh place finish and a score of 945 (318, 311, 316).

“I think we are a little disappointed in our performance as a team at the PSAC Championship,” Peters said.

“We feel like we had a good chance to win this year, but we couldn’t quite put it together in any of the rounds. I think this tournament showed us what we need to improve this offseason to come out stronger for the spring season.”

Sophomore Jack Angelucci shared his teammate’s sentiments.

“As a team, we know that we

left a lot out there and it was by no means our best performance. We feel as if we are as talented as anyone that we come across, the issue is just finding that consistency heading into our spring season,” Angelucci said.

In the individuals competition, Indiana University’s Shaun Fedar came in first with 223 (76, 70, 77).

Laker senior Adrian Larsen placed in the top ten, tying for fifth with 226 (75, 77, 74).

Peters tied for 18th (235), and Angelucci tied for 22nd (237), while sophomore Dave Nichols tied for 33rd (244) to round out the Lakers’ top performers.

“My personal performance was not necessarily great, however I feel like I grinded out some solid scores in the first round and last round, when the weather made things really tough out there,” Angelucci said.

“Right now, me and the rest of the guys are going to take the fall as a learning experience and work hard this winter to come back ready to go in March.”

With the PSAC Championship tournament over, both of the Lakers’ golf teams are now done competing for the fall.

It won’t be until the spring that the golfs teams are back on the course.

Women’s ice hockey outskates LET’S GO, RIT in big weekend series win LAKERS!

By Will Zytnick

Staff writer

The Mercyhurst Women’s ice hockey team welcomed the RIT Tigers on Friday, Oct. 18 to the Mercyhurst Ice Center for the first of two games.

The first period began with an aggressive start from RIT, which broke open the scoring halfway into the first period, before the Lakers got even and scored a power-play goal by forward Emma Nuutinen to tie the game 1-1 going into the second period.

The second period began with a bang when defenseman Alexandria Weiss shot the puck through an RIT defender to give the Lakers a 2-1 lead with Nuutinen and Vasko tallying the assists.

At the midway point of the second period, the Lakers weren’t done. Megan Korzack scored on a one-timer set up by forwards Summer-Rae Dobson and Emily Pinto to increase the lead to 3-1.

But as the Lakers started to get comfortable with the two-goal lead, the Tigers muscled in a goal to begin the third period, cutting the lead to one. But that was the only resistance they would be able to muster that night.

In the final minutes of the game, Dobson cemented victory when she scored an empty-net goal with 40 seconds remaining to give the Mercyhurst University

Oct. 25, Buffalo, NY @ 4:30 p.m.: Women’s ice hockey vs.

University of Minnesota Duluth Oct. 25-26, Mercyhurst Ice Center @ 7:05 p.m.: Men’s ice hockey vs. Ohio State University Victoria McGinty photo

The Lakers’ Sam Isbell watches the puck during the Lakers’ game against Rochester Institute of Technology on Oct. 19. The games add two more winning tallies to the Lakers’ season.

Lakers the 4-2 victory and the first of two against the Tigers.

On Saturday, the Lakers turned it up, leaving the Tigers scoreless for the day.

Nuutinen put the Lakers up in the first period, but that would be merely the start of the scoring for the Lakers.

Nuutinen then kicked off the second period’s scoring, and was followed by scores from Dobson and Korzack off the power play.

Vasko and Pinto would finish the Lakers’ scoring in the third period, but by then the Lakers were coasting to a 6-0 victory over the Tigers in back-to-back wins.

After dominating RIT, the Lakers will travel to Buffalo, New York, for the Icebreaker Tournament.

The Lakers (4-1-1 overall, 2-0-0 CHA) will face the University of Minnesota Duluth Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Oct. 29, Mercyhurst Athletic Center @ 7:05 p.m.: Volleyball vs. Edinboro University

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

HURST TOON Student-drawn cartoon by the Chuckler