Merciad THE
MERCYHURST UNIVERSIT Y
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W E D N E S DAY, O C T O B E R 31 , 2 01 8
News ................2-5 Features...........6-9 A&E ............. 10-11 Opinion........ 12-13 Sports ......... 14-15 |
VOL. 92 NO. 6
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Spookiest day of the year is here
Online poll results We asked: What is your favorite Halloween movie?
4: Hurst hosts Veterans Week celebrations
6: World language students celebrate Fall Festival 14: Ice hockey’s Coach Sisti ties for win record
“Hocus Pocus” (44%) “Ghostbusters” (24%) “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (18%) “Halloween” (15%)
This week’s
POLL
What is your favorite social media platform?
merciad.mercyhurst.edu
NEWS
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Wednesday, October 31, 2018
HURST HALLOWEEN ABOVE: Decorating pumpkins was part of the fun at Don’t Be a Drunken Pumpkin. AT LEFT: Sigma Tau Delta’s Halloween party drew a range of costumes. BELOW: Guests dress up for the Psych Club’s Halloween bash. Contributed photos
ABOVE: Guests came in costume to Sigma Tau Delta’s party. AT RIGHT: The Chemistry department got into the spooky spirit for its video in the Lip Dub Challenge.
Scholarship helps students ‘live the dream’ By Carlena Bressanelli Staff writer
The Senior Class Gift Committee of 2019 has been hard at work creating a lasting gift to leave behind when this team of seniors graduates in the spring. The gift that was chosen this year will be the “Living the Dream” scholarship. The quote “Living the Dream” references Curtis Zimmerman’s motivational talk, “Life at Performance Level,” that all freshman have attended during Welcome Week for the past several years. Senior Interior Design major Lauren Ostrzyzek came up with the idea for the scholarship to be called “Living the Dream.” “I feel really honored that my simple idea for a name has
turned into a team effort to create our class scholarship that will live on even after we graduate,” Ostrzyzek said. “I also love the fact that I get to share that honor with my fellow committee members as well. I couldn’t ask for anything better. It’s an opportunity I will never forget.” The idea came about during a meeting when all of the committee was brainstorming potential names for the scholarship. “I was thinking about something that I felt would really resonate and connect with our class and I thought of ‘Living the Dream’ because it’s something that a lot of people I know still say around campus,” Ostrzyzek said. “It makes me think of all of us as young adults in college here learning things we are passionate
about, so when we graduate we are prepared to go out and live our own dreams.” Lindsay Frank, director of alumni engagement, is the advisor of the Senior Class Gift Committee and liaison to the Office of University Advancement. “I am excited about the name of the scholarship because I too heard the ‘Living the Dream’ message during my freshman orientation 10 years ago in 2008,” Frank said. “I think it’s really great that it still resonates with students and how it is a similar idea to our beloved motto of ‘Carpe Diem.’” After the name was chosen, the team had to come up with what this scholarship meant and how students could “Live the Dream” while at Mercyhurst.
“Thinking about the quote, it was easy to incorporate internships because they are how we truly test our skills that we learn in college and they give us the first taste of our true passions in the real world and how Mercyhurst will always aid us in going out and being able to live our dreams,” Ostrzyzek said. Taylor Cavaretta, a senior Early Childhood and Special Education major and the event chair on the Senior Class Gift Committee, is thrilled with the way their scholarship idea turned out. “I am very excited about this year’s scholarship,” Cavaretta said. “It is unlike any other financial aid that Mercyhurst has previously offered.” Cavaretta also wanted to mention some other events that are
happening this semester such as the winter Bar Crawl on Dec. 8. The committee will be tabling to allow students who are over 21 to purchase tickets at the following times and locations: Nov. 5, noon to 2 p.m. in the Bookstore; Nov. 6 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Ryan Hall; Nov. 7 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Grotto Commons; and Nov. 8 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Bookstore. The committee is also hosting a Chipotle fundraiser on Nov. 8 from 4 to 8 p.m. Those who want to support should show the cashier the flyer (which will be posted to social media as the event draws near) or simply mention the fundraiser before paying. Any donations and support will help fund the “Living the Dream” scholarship.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
NEWS
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Contributed photo
Students had the opportunity to take part in classic Halloween activities during Don’t Be a Drunken Pumpkin, one of many Halloween-themed events at Mercyhurst.
Halloween hauntings at Hurst By Rebecca Dunphy
Staff writer
Ghosts, ghouls and haunts — oh my! Halloween is in full swing on campus with the Mercyhurst Student Government hosting a number of events sure to entertain students. This spooky season began with an interactive mystery theater on Oct. 19, where students were asked to “Attend the Masquerade Ball and solve the crime before the masked menace gets away!” Unfortunately, the following night’s event, Eerie Erie Ghost Tours with paranormal author Stephanie Wincik, was canceled due to weather. Luckily, students were still able to participate in a Halloween movie night and look forward to another weekend of Halloween fun. Don’t Be a Drunken Pumpkin kicked off Halloweekend, where students participated in classic Halloween games impaired by drunk goggles, while enjoying cider and donuts. While the information shared about alcohol awareness may be concerning, the real frights came Saturday night at Haunted Hurst. This year’s event was led by MAC/SAC programmers Hannah Gibson, Isabella Fragnoli and Sarah Klein. “I am excited to be a big part in the planning of this event this year because last year I enjoyed it as a freshman, and I really wanted to play a bigger role in Haunted Hurst this year,” Fragnoli said. “My favorite part has been collaborating with the other programmers to make it as fun and creepy as possible.” While part of the event’s fun is found in the continuance of the Mercyhurst tradition, this year’s programmers were sure to add their own spin on the event. “There will be a few new decorations and of course with different people taking part in giving
tours and ‘scaring’ there is always a fresh interpretation of the event,” Klein said. Taken from last year’s event, a creepy carnival was featured, in addition to two new floors: an apocalypse on the first floor and “A Quiet Place” on the fourth floor of Egan Hall. Guests were led through Old Main, Egan Hall and the Grotto by Ambassadors, where they would experience scares by this year’s Ambassador pledge class. Sophomore Ambassador Jessica Skinker described her experience as the leader of the fourth floor. “Pledges shushed the groups as they came around the bend to find a small room with chains hanging from the pipes,” Skinker said. “I sat in the corner and pointed them to the bathroom, where one of the pledges was sitting in a bathtub with a mask on and a broken babydoll in her arms. She would press on its stomach to make it talk, signaling another masked pledge to jump out and scare them. We got a lot of screams.” Freshman pledge Payton Carroll took a twisted approach to scaring, following guests down the Old Main hallway in an exorcist-style backbend. “It was a really cool experience,” Carroll said. “I’m normally not a huge fan of Halloween or haunted houses, but being on the flip side and getting to scare people rather than being the one scared was really fun.” In all, the event was extremely successful with fun had by all who participated. The haunts certainly do not end there, however, nor are they all superficial. Different areas on campus have been rumored to be haunted by former students, staff members and sisters, specifically the Queen’s Chapel, Old Main, Egan Hall and the Grotto. Perhaps the most infamous of these ghost stories is that of the
Contributed photo
Spooky decorations adorn the hallways for Haunted Hurst.
ring on the Infant of Prague statue located in the Queen’s Chapel of Old Main. As legend has it, during World War II, a young Mercyhurst student was engaged to a man called to active duty, intending to be married upon his return. She later received news that he was killed. In the grief of knowing she would never love again, she devoted herself to the church, becoming a Sister of Mercy. Years later she received a letter from her former lover, explaining that he had not in fact been killed, but was taken prisoner. This news drove her mad. Knowing she
could be never be with him, she killed herself, and the ring remains on the Infant of Prague statue. It is rumored that students in more recent years have tested the ring’s power, taking it for themselves, but later returned it in anguish after lovers of their own unexpectedly passed. This, however, is still not the most haunted place on campus. Just across the Mary Garden lies the site of the most paranormal experiences: Egan Hall. At last year’s Haunted Hurst, two students had their own unexplainable experiences, including Fragnoli.
As an Ambassador pledge last year, Fragnoli used some of her downtime in the event to explore some of the darker places that are not normally included on tours. “One of these places was a small room in the fourth floor of Egan where people swear that there’s a door covered in handprints that gets painted over every year,” Fragnoli said. “Despite this, the handprints always come back and I got to see the door which did, in fact, have hand prints.” Fellow ambassador Joanne Pringle also had an eerie experience on the fourth floor last year with her friend Addison Vickers when they were working as “scarers.” During tours, Vickers would hide in a tiny closet and then when guests walked by she would push open the door yelling “Help me!” During one of the tours, however, things didn’t go quite as planned and when she pushed the door it wouldn’t budge, leaving her trapped in the dark. “If I remember correctly, there’s no doorknob on that door. So from the outside I was grasping at nothing to get her out,” said Pringle. “Other pledges started coming upstairs to help pull the door open. We were all really scared.” Luckily, she was eventually able to help her friend out of the closet, however when sharing their experience months later with President Victor they learned some potentially justifying information. “A few months after this happened, without knowing our experience, President Victor told Addison that specific room is incredibly haunted and it’s rumored that if you go into the room and sit in the chair she sat in you will die.” With these true stories in mind, students can keep the spooky Halloween spirits with them all year. Happy Halloween, Lakers!
NEWS
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Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Merciad IN A MINUTE MU is top college in Erie’s Choice awards The 2018 Erie’s Choice Awards concluded at the Bayfront Convention Center on Oct. 17, with more than 700 people in attendance and 141 awards given out. Much to the pride of the university, Mercyhurst won Erie’s Choice for Best College/University for 2018. The other finalists for this recognition were Penn State Behrend and Gannon University. The Erie’s Choice awards are sponsored by Erie Times-News and GoErie.com. However, the thousands of votes each year come from the readers and those in Erie’s community. Education is not the only category that was voted on as part of the awards. There was also voting on Business, Financial, Entertainment, Health, Home Services, Restaurant, Retail and Vehicle dealers and services. Locations in Erie get nominated and then the readers vote on the different categories. Many places are involved and have fun with Erie’s Choice each year. It can be seen in previous years that Mercyhurst was neither a winner nor a finalist. This was probably due to the fact that only three options are available and those were Gannon, Penn State and Edinboro University. This year was a big year for Mercyhurst then, not only being nominated for the first
time, but also winning. — Erin Almeter
Have a tip for Merciad in a Minute? Want to tell others about your club’s events? Email us at newsmerciad@ mercyhurst.edu
Contributed photo
Each year for Veterans Day, Mercyhurst University lines the front green with American flags as a tribute to veterans.
Hurst to honor veterans with ‘mega-observance’
By Bernard Garwig Sports Editor
It is typically a tradition for Mercyhurst University to make quite a display for Veterans Day. 2018 will be the third year that Mercyhurst hosts a Veterans tribute, which in years past has seen Old Main Drive lined with numerous American flags and a patriotic display at the Saturday football game. This year, though, the school is preparing to have a weeklong tribute in what is being referred to as a “mega-observance.” Each weekday of the Veterans Week is set to have a flag raising held at 8:45 a.m. as well as a flag lowering in the evening. “We have a series of high visibility events, to include raising and lowering the flag to the corresponding Army bugle calls, that will move the ROTC program more prominently into the minds of the Mercyhurst faculty and students,” said CPT Brandon Utykanski, of the Mercyhurst Pride of PA ROTC Battalion. The Cadet Battalion Commander wants to do high visibility, low impact things that can get the ROTC program into the minds of the faculty and the students a little more. The week will also feature a Cadet Cadence run on Nov. 7 and Nov. 9, with the Mercyhurst ROTC Pride of PA Battalion. Cadence runs will be open to all in the Mercyhurst community who are interested, and will not be as intense as normal cadence runs. Anyone who as ever wanted to run and sing along with the Army is more than welcome to join these runs, which start bright and early at 7 a.m. on each of the days. Additionally, there will be T-shirts for the first 50 students who register for the cadence runs. Anyone familiar with Mercyhurst knows of the bell carillon
This schedule explains the specific bugle calls that the bell carillon will play from Nov. 7 to Nov. 10.
that plays the alma mater at 2 p.m. and Christmas music throughout December. For the Veterans Week, though, the carillon will play bugle calls that would typically be played at a military installation. The calls are scheduled to run from Nov. 7 to Nov. 10 for the entirety of the tribute. Such calls are expected to be met with attention from bystanders. “While there’s not a large installation in the area, there’s definitely a lot of retired service members and family members,” said CPT Utykanski. “I hope that the veterans community get to see how important it is to the ROTC cadets to carry on the traditions they have established in previous generations of service.” On Nov. 7, a special ceremony will mark Mercyhurst’s designation as a Purple Heart University, a distinction only held also by St. Joseph University in the state. Thursday features a “Celebration of Valor” from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. that will be emceed by Ridge
College Dean Duncan McGill, Ph.D. On Nov. 9, there will be a mess hall-themed dinner for students to experience. You can expect a host of meals and servings that will emulate what service members have as their dining options. The week will be capped off with veterans events Nov. 10 at the football game between Mercyhurst and Millersville University. There will be a tailgate party, as well as a full barbecue buffet (free of charge for veterans). The Mercyhurst Marching Band is set to also perform a veterans tribute consisting of songs and themes for each of the United States’ Armed Forces service branches during halftime at the game. “The flag flies every day on my porch,” said Mercyhurst Marching Band director Bob Reid. “My relatives were all Navy..” A list of the Veterans Week events can be found on fliers posted in many buildings across campus.
“Having all of these military events during Veterans Day weekend is a true reflection of the recognition and appreciation Mercyhurst University has for those serving our country whether it be students, employees or community members,” said Ron Swift, LTC (retired) and Assistant Veterans Services Coordinator. Swift sees great value in honoring veterans in such an outward way at Mercyhurst and feels that it sets a positive example for students to carry on such traditions. “This starts at the top and demonstrates the importance of veterans and their families and the value each one brings to our university environment. Our students have a very unique opportunity to join in these events that they wouldn’t have on other campuses,” Swift said. “It’s my hope that many will decide to attend these patriotic events to share in the tribute and meet veterans who have helped secure and maintain our freedom.”
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
NEWS
Clubs help students exercise civic duty By Erin Almeter
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STUDENT GOVERNMENT
This weekend’s campus events
Staff writer
Midterm Election Day is rapidly approaching, and Mercyhurst University wants to help you vote! On Nov. 6, Mercyhurst’s Public Health, Pre-Law, Mock Trial and Model U.N. clubs are holding a Walk the Vote event to help students get to the polls. It is very important that students vote at the Mercyhurst polling location or by absentee ballot because this demographic has the power to greatly influence the current political climate. These student-organized clubs are supporting all students who decide to vote in the Midterm Elections by holding a walk with them to polling stations. Walk the Vote is in conjunction with the voter registration event that occurred earlier this semester on National Voter Registration Day. Registering to vote is just the first step. The Mercyhurst polling location is at Trinity Methodist Church, which is behind Frogurtz, about a five-minute walk from Hirt. If the weather is not supportive of a walk, transportation will be provided. This walk to vote is meant to empower students who may have not voted before. Voting is both exciting and crucial. All students, regardless of being involved in the clubs mentioned above, are welcome to participate. It is important to be an informed voter. To do so, you can go to ballotpedia.org and click on the “What’s on your ballot?”
“
Studies show that if you take a group to the polling place, more people are willing to vote. It enables people.”
Brett Conrad, junior
link. This provides a list of candidates running for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, Governor of Pennsylvania and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, among others. It is important to note that this resource can be used not just for those registered in Erie, but also other registered addresses. Brett Conrad, junior Public Health Major, believes that Mercyhurst students should utilize this opportunity in order to fulfill their civic duty.
“Studies show that if you take a group to the polling place, more people are willing to vote. It enables people,” Conrad said. Victoria Rickard, Ph.D., adviser for the Pre-Law Society and Mock Trial Club, said that going with a group creates a “strength in numbers or voting solidarity.” From both Rickard and Lucy Thairu, Ph.D., Public Health Club adviser, the message is clear: Voting is an important civic duty and has direct implications in our lives. Even if you are nervous or its your first time voting, this group walk is meant to help. Any questions, comments or concerns about the walk can be sent to Conrad. The polling places are open until 8 p.m., so even though students are very busy, there is ample amounts of time to get to a polling place. Join your fellow Mercyhurst voters, and Walk the Vote on Nov. 6!
Two Hurst dining facilities correct inspection violations Staff report On Oct. 9, two Mercyhurst University dining facilities received noncritical violations after inspections from the Erie County Department of Health. Mercyhurst’s Laker Inn and Café Diem received minor code violations during the inspections, which are conducted at least once a year at any facility in Erie County that serves unpackaged food. Five other Mercyhurst facilities were inspected Oct. 9-10 and were found to have no violations. The Erie County Department of Health deemed the Mercyhurst violations to be noncriti-
cal, meaning they are not critical violations but are undesirable in a food establishment. The Laker Inn was found to be out of compliance on two risk factors — with nonfood-contact surfaces as well as physical facilities, according to the inspection report. Notes on the inspection report advised cleaning shelves on a walk-in cooler. The report further noted that renovation work planned for winter break should take care of violations with the physical facilities. Dean Schoenfeldt, Parkhurst general manager, said that the timing of the inspection at the Laker Inn contributed to the violations, since plans to renovate the Laker were already in place.
“This will be a great opportunity to renovate certain spots in the Laker Inn so that we can get these matters taken care of,” Schoenfeldt said. Café Diem received a noncritical violation because of sauces not being kept at the correct temperature, according to the inspection report. The Department of Health’s report noted that the violation was corrected at the time of the inspection, witnessed by the inspector. In a follow-up inspection of Café Diem on Oct. 23, the Erie County Department of Health found no violations. Donny Bryant III contributed to this report.
Ariana Brown is a Black Mexican American poet and performer to speak about Blackness in a Mexican American context, mental health, spirituality, womanhood and healing. This is an event you do not want to miss!
Due to low staffing at Splash Lagoon, the Nov. 3 event has been changed to Get Air Trampoline Park. Transportation is provided! Sign up to reserve your space today!
MERCYHURST CAMPUS
CRIME LOG Oct. 16: Possession of controlled substance on Lewis Avenue. Oct. 17: Possession of controlled substance in Warde Hall. Oct. 20: Liquor law violation in Warde Hall. Oct. 23: Assault on Lewis Avenue.
FEATURES
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Ask Mia
Halloween time brings happiness to Hurst By Marina Boyle Features editor
Anyone have a problem that they need help fixing? Ask for Mia’s advice at: askmia.merciad@gmail.com *******************
Dear Mia, I have no idea what I should be for Halloween! Any ideas?
Sincerely, Costume Hunter
Dear Costume Hunter, Maybe something to do with your major, favorite TV show or movie? Here is a list of ideas I’ve compiled to help you brainstorm possible Halloween costumes! For group ideas you could consider: • Bob Ross & Trees • Three blind mice & cheese • Swarm of bees & hive • Cards Against Humanity For couple ideas: • Cosmo & Wanda • Netflix & Chill • Hulu & Commitment For solo costume ideas: • Jesus • Ms. Frizzle • Russell from the movie ‘Up’ • Curious George • Frida Kahlo Or scariest of all, find a way to be student loans! Have fun getting creative, and enjoy spooky season!
Sincerely,
Mia
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Aside from the stressful periods of registration and scheduling for classes, late October is also a time of festivity at Mercyhurst for the celebration of Halloween. Various departments are organizing activities for students on Oct. 31, particularly as Halloween falls on a weekday this year. Halloween Dinner was held at the Grotto Commons on Oct. 30 with special foods and desserts to celebrate the day, as well as staff costumes and prizes. Dean Schoenfeldt, senior general manager of Parkhurst, is excited for the new opportunities and themes that the Mercyhurst Dining Services have planned for this year. “We are hoping everyone will join us for our Halloween themed foods, spooky dessert bar and creative costumes at our food facilities,” Schoenfeldt said. In particular, he is excited for the new ways of celebrating that will come with the second dining space on campus, the 501 Grille in Ryan Hall. “On Halloween, we will have our annual Halloween lunch at Ryan Hall. We have some really different themes this year and look forward to having the students check it out.” On top of this, the Erie Staff Senate is sponsoring a trick-ortreat event for students on Oct. 31, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
across the campus. Last year, 37 departments signed up to distribute treats, and all departments were invited to join this year’s list of stops. Current departments being represented include Academic Support, AIM, the Anthropology/ Archaeology Department, the Bookstore, Campus Ministry, the Education Department, Enrollment Management, Graduate & Continuing Education, the Honors Program, Human Resources, IT, the Hammermill Library, Marketing & PR, Police and Safety, the President’s Office, the Provost’s Office, the Registrar’s Office, Residence Life, Service Learning and many, many more. Michael Grasso, assistant director of Residence Life & Student Conduct, said he is excited to be giving out candy throughout the day. “Staff Senate strives to bring employees of the university together. What better to way to make employees feel connected to one another than by joining forces to do something fun for our students?” Grasso said. “Trick-or-treating gives students the chance to reconnect with their childhood while at the same time giving them the opportunity to get to know where our offices are. That way, if they ever need any help or have questions, they’ll know where to find us. Plus, they get candy so it’s win-win as far as we’re concerned.” Participating departments will
have posters hanging at their doors to indicate that they are a Treat Stop. While the event will run until 3 p.m., the first 150 participants can pick up a candy bag from the Campus Involvement Center inside the Student Union to carry their treats. “This is one of my favorite Halloween traditions,” said sophomore Intelligence Studies major Michelle Benedetti. “It’s so nice to see how much staff and faculty want to get involved and give us a wonderful Halloween day even when we have regular duties and classes.” Staff Senate Chair Travis Lindahl, director of Graduate and Continuing Education, is excited to be taking part and to be sponsoring this event. “Mercyhurst’s Staff Senate is continuously trying to find ways to help build our community,” he said. “Bethany Brun, assistant director of Community Engagement, does a great job each year of recruiting offices to participate in the Trick or Treat event. It gives students another chance to enjoy the holiday and discover some places, people or services on campus that they weren’t aware of, and it gives our staff and administrators a chance to meet students they may not normally interact with. “We’re always excited to see the latest and greatest elaborate costumes each year.” Lindahl said. “Our students are truly so wonderful and creative.”
World Language students celebrate Fall Festival By Sarah Klein Staff writer
On Oct. 25, the World Languages and Cultures department held its Fall Festival in the Faculty Dining Room. The event was aimed at all language majors and minors, as well as anyone else who is interested in learning about other cultures. The annual event consists of cultural activities, food and games, which bring multicultural understanding and give students from different language departments an opportunity to mix with one another. “Having a cross-language party is important to let our majors and minors get to know each other,” said Spanish professor Alice Edwards, who was the main organizer of the event. “Students from different majors and minors can interact,
when they might not otherwise, since French and Spanish and Mandarin students are not in class with each other.” The event also brings an opportunity for interaction between World Cultures staff and the Fulbright scholars. “I liked being able to meet other people from outside the Spanish department,” said sophomore Spanish Education major Lucy Belleau. “This was an awesome event.” Aside from the language majors and minors, the Fall Festival introduced this year’s World Learning students to the rest of the Mercyhurst student body. These World Learning scholars are exchange students who come to the U.S. for one semester to attend classes at Mercyhurst. This year, the students arrived from Russia, Malaysia, the Dominican Republic and Vietnam. “It was really cool to get to talk
to people of different cultural backgrounds,” said sophomore Brenden Jackett, who has a minor in Arabic and Islamic Studies. Activities included snacks, cookie decorating, icebreakers and a raffle with intercultural prizes. One of the icebreakers involved finding the person in the room who spoke the most languages, for which many people tied at four, but exchange student Kit Zhen Kong was victorious with fluency in five languages. Meng Wang, instructor of Asian Studies, also wrote everyone’s name in Chinese calligraphy. “My favorite activity was the raffle because I won a CD of Russian accordion music,” said sophomore Russian Studies major Jason Bowser. Overall, it was a great opportunity to celebrate world cultures and bring our Mercyhurst community together for fall.
F O L L O W T H E M E R C I A D AT @ T H E M E R C I A D
FEATURES
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
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Speaker Series hosts analyst “ By Marina Boyle Features editor
Marina Boyle photo
Mercyhurst alumna Sandra Larson, center, meets with Intelligence studies students Aaron Qiao and Julia Wrest after her talk Oct. 25. Larson received a master’s in Applied Intelligence in 2016.
The Alumni Speaker Series continued this week with a visit from Class of 2016 graduate Sandra Larson. The fourth speaker in the series this year, Larson earned a master’s degree in Applied Intelligence at Mercyhurst in 2016, and she is currently the senior director for LookingGlass Cyber Solutions. Larson spoke on Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room, where she discussed the field of Intelligence Studies and how she ended up in her position, and offered career tips for students interested in the field. Having graduated from Allegheny College in 2007 with a bachelor’s degree in International Studies, Larson left college fluent in Spanish, Russian and German. She had grown up traveling with her family and was looking for a career where her language experiences would be useful to her. Having studied abroad in Ukraine, she had both cyber experience and knowledge of the Russian language. She now tracks hackers, Russian and Ukrainian, as part of her job each day. Larson’s job title is senior director of intelligence for LookingGlass Cyber Solutions, a commercial cybersecurity agency based out of Virginia.
One in three people in the intel community has a tie to Mercyhurst.”
Sandra Larson, ’16
Larson oversees 100 analysts and is focused on company strategy as well as high-end intelligence products. She acts as a liaison between the analyst and end client, as well as working with most of the three-letter government intelligence agencies and private sector firms. LookingGlass focuses heavily on hacktivists, attacks on corporate networks and drug cartels through mainly open source intelligence collection methods. “The program here was really fantastic,” Larson said. “They really trained me for the workplace and taught me what you need. They hope to have you ready for the workplace, not learning on the job, and they absolutely achieved that with me.” Larson is married to another Mercyhurst alum and has four children. She stressed both the importance of a work/life balance and the weight of the name Mercyhurst in the intelligence community.
“One in three people in the intel community has a tie to Mercyhurst. This connection is wonderful, and it is a network that you will need one day,” Larson said. In addition to the strong degree she earned from Mercyhurst, Larson puts her professional success down to an unpaid internship she took in the cybersecurity field almost 12 years ago that landed her the career she has now with LookingGlass. She stressed to students the importance of school involvement and never being afraid to take an internship without pay. “I learned to follow up,” Larson said. “When you send an email, start a project, whatever it is, follow up. Going the extra mile goes a long way. See what you can do to improve things. Be present and take initiative. These sorts of things will get you on the radar for the right reasons.” Larson told students more details about what she does and the importance of cybersecurity in our modern world, as well as details of internships her company is currently offering. LookingGlass Cyber Solutions is currently recruiting. Moreover, Larson has increased involvement with Mercyhurst planned, including work with the graduate and undergraduate Intelligence programs here.
Alum draws on Goldman Sachs experience in advice to students
By Marina Boyle Features editor
The Mercyhurst Competitive Intelligence Club, Career Development Center and the Anti-Money Laundering Club joined forces this week to offer a potential job opportunity with Goldman Sachs to Mercyhurst students. The three groups brought Mercyhurst alum Ryan Turner to the CAE for a presentation to students on Oct. 25, where he discussed his role as the financial crimes compliance officer with Goldman Sachs, a global investment bank and financial services company. Turner is a 2013 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Intelligence Studies and a business minor. His career path has involved various private sector jobs, particularly with banks, including roles as an anti-money laundering investigator, an officer in the Goldman Sachs global compliance division and a financial investigator for JP Morgan. Students were invited to hear Turner speak and learn from him. “Having someone come in from Goldman Sachs, especially alumni, helped to put into perspective the opportunities that are available for graduates. Mercyhurst might be small, but has a strong alumni commu-
nity that gives back and supports its school, and us, the current students,” said Arseniy Sklyarov, a junior Business and Competitive Intelligence Studies major who is part of the Mercyhurst Competitive Intelligence club. Sklyarov said the parts of Turner’s talk that he found most useful were his presentations on job opportunities in the compliance industries, information on protecting the firm from high-risk customers and explanation of an institution’s responsibilities to the Patriot Act. Krista Cousins, social media officer for the Competitive Intelligence Club, also felt favorably about having Turner visit. “Goldman Sachs gave students the opportunity to engage and learn about the financial and banking side of intelligence by giving real-life scenarios and interview experience. Bringing back a Mercyhurst Intelligence alum with potential job opportunities was a great addition to our club’s line of speakers,” Cousins said. Turner also talked at length about how law enforcement and government agencies use information to combat money laundering and its knock-on effect on a multitude of crimes. He explained the components of suspicious activity reports to the U.S. Department of Treasury and other related documents that intelligence students must
be trained to prepare. The day following his presentation, the Career Development Center arranged for Turner to conduct one-on-one interviews with Mercyhurst students interested in jobs in the financial compliance or anti-money laundering fields. The job interviews could potentially lead to internships and employment offers for students in the Business and Competitive Intelligence program or those considering career paths in related fields. Shelly Freyn, assistant professor of Competitive Intelligence, felt that this talk was particularly relevant to what the market is looking for today. “This event was eye-opening in showing the overlap of law enforcement intelligence with business. Mr. Turner was able to provide some real-world examples of tracking money that identified human trafficking and other forms of money laundering on an international scale,” Freyn said. “I think the students were able to acquire insight into a different form of intelligence and how it works in one of the biggest global organizations.” The interviews included topics such as terrorist financing, human trafficking and smuggling and reviewing of suspicious transactions. Students did not just get to network and
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put themselves forward for a job, but were also able to get experience interviewing in a formal setting. Isabella Fragnoli is a sophomore Intelligence Studies major and president of Anti-Money Laundering Club at Mercyhurst. “Our club is so grateful to have alumni like Mr. Turner who can provide opportunities like this for students,” Fragnoli said. “It is inspiring to see the success that Mr. Turner has had in the industry since his graduation from Mercyhurst only six years ago.” James Anderson, junior Business and Competitive Intelligence major who took part in the process, explained his enthusiasm for meeting Turner. He is also the secretary of the Competitive Intelligence Club. “It was extremely beneficial for current Intelligence students to meet and listen to Ryan Turner discuss his role in Goldman Sachs as an anti-money laundering analyst,” Anderson said. “It gave students an idea of what life could be like after college and where their Intelligence degree can take them. Ryan used the knowledge and methodologies gained here at Mercyhurst to create a great career for himself, and I think this inspired students to keep working hard and stay on the intelligence path, regardless of their focus.”
FEATURES
PAGE 8
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Contributed photo
Pedro Valdez Castro, an exchange student from the Dominican Republic, debates immigration as it pertains to the current political climate.
Students lead immigration debate By Joseph McCarthy Contributing writer
Mercyhurst students led a debate on the hot topic of immigration this week, ahead of the impending midterm elections. The debate was held in Hirt 213 on Oct. 24 with the goal of bringing students together to discuss a contentious issue that is often avoided as a topic of conversation. Juniors Megan Quinoñes and Luis Flores, who were able to organize this event with the help of a grant, led the student debate. The discussion was moderated by both of these students and held in conjunction with the Mercyhurst International Students Association. About 200 other universities also received a grant to organize a “day of action” and to talk about social justice issues. The goal of the evening was to allow students to make their voice heard and to engage in a candid, evidence-based conversation on immigration policy. Flores, a History and Economics double major, explained the purpose of this event in his eyes. “We hoped to bring people together to discuss the intricacies surrounding the immigration debate. People were encouraged to share their whole beliefs on the topic so
that we could share accurate information that would dispel any harmful misconceptions. Overall, the activity proved effective, with plenty stating they left better informed than when they came,” Flores said. The moderators wrote on the board, “The United States federal government should substantially reduce its restrictions on legal immigration to the United States.” Students were then able to pick a side of the room to sit at depending on the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with the statement. While there were certainly more students on the pro-immigration side of the room than on the anti-immigration side, it was a lively and spirited debate. The pro-immigration side opened the debate with eight minutes to provide their points in support of the argument. Following this, the other team had three minutes to ask questions. Then, the anti-immigration side spoke for eight minutes, followed again by questions from the opposition. Both teams then had time to refute arguments without bringing up any new points. The proposition discussed outsourcing of jobs and the need for migrant laborers, the decreasing American birth rate (which may cause a labor shortage that immigration could fill) and the impracticality of
completely rigid immigration laws that drive people away from finding a legal route into the nation. The opposing side’s opening argument focused on the need to protect the borders, look after American citizens first and ensure against disease, crime or terrorism entering the country from immigrants. Both sides also felt that the motion on the board was vague and needed clarifying definitions to establish the meanings of relative words like ‘substantially’ and ‘restriction.’ One issue that was contested was the idea that tighter immigration laws only increase illegal immigration because coming to the U.S. legally feels almost impossible. Disagreement emerged over whether or not having fewer restrictions is simply pragmatic or if ignoring illegal immigration sets a bad precedent of not enforcing the law. The debate went back and forth, with both sides making arguments and with the other side responding. Another point contested was that immigrants do the jobs that Americans don’t want to do, like landscaping, construction and field work. Both sides also discussed types of immigration and visas, such as those who come
LAKER MOMENT
Contributed photo
here as students, as highly skilled workers and those who flee horrific situations to seek asylum. The topic of Syrian refugees was central and also sparked a lively debate. Both sides discussed the morality of the Muslim ban and the obligations of America to other people as one of the richest countries in the world. The initial debate lasted over an hour. When it was over, the moderators began to explain the problems with each point, from both sides, and debunked some common myths or misconceptions about immigration. Those who took part received stickers and T-shirts and hopefully left feeling far more informed than they did upon arrival. Some things that both sides found common ground on were providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants with clean records who have been in the United States for a while, and screening of people for past criminal records or disease. While both sides did find some common ground, the biggest takeaway from the evening was how opinions on immigration can be misconceived, and that it helps to discuss issues regularly and continue learning as policy and public opinion change.
Hurst makes crafts for homes Members of the Mercyhurst Habitat for Humanity club came together this week to create miniature wooden houses in aid of Habitat. Sydney Zajac, Marina Delmoro and Michelle Benedetti created the crafts, which will be sold at Christmastime to fundraise for the club’s upcoming spring break trip, where they will build a home for a family in need. This year, the Mercyhurst chapter of Habitat for Humanity plans to travel to Birmingham, Alabama. Applications will open in November for those wishing to volunteer.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
FEATURES
PAGE 9
Lakers combat money laundering By Marina Boyle
Features editor
A group of Mercyhurst Intelligence Studies students has recently launched the Anti-Money Laundering Club (AMLC) as a new RSCO for Mercyhurst students this year. The club is overseen by Musa Tuzuner, assistant professor of Intelligence Studies, and is led by students Isabella Fragnoli, Rebekah Prather, Ella DiPietro, Emma Rastatter and Julia Wrest. The club has been set up with the intention of creating a higher profile for the study of money laundering as part of the Intelligence program, as well as the formation of a new platform for networking and collaborative project work. Fragnoli, sophomore Intelligence Studies major and AMLC president, is excited to take on a new leadership role that she feels can impact her peers. “Anti-Money Laundering Club aims to offer opportunities for networking and learning more Contributed photo about the world of combating money laundering through reAnti-Money Laundering Club executive board members, from left, are search and education. AMLC Isabella Fragnoli, Rebekah Prather, Ella DiPietro and Emma Rastatter, will provide resources to assist in all Intelligence Studies majors. finding internships and jobs and
will hopefully be truly helpful to Lakers as they enter the employment market and encounter illicit trade,” Fragnoli said. “I am excited to see what this club can bring to our campus this year.” As part of their curriculum, Mercyhurst Intelligence Studies majors learn about terrorism, drugs, arms smuggling and human trafficking, all of which are made possible partly by successful money laundering. “Everything in the world requires money; illicit activities are no different,” said sophomore Prather, co-founder and vice president of AMLC. The club plans to have meetings throughout the year and bring in guest speakers to educate members with regard to how money laundering can be monitored and prevented. Most recently, the club was involved in bringing alumnus Ryan Turner to Mercyhurst to discuss his role at Goldman Sachs, where he works as a Financial Crimes Compliance Officer. Rastatter, a sophomore Intelligence Studies major, is currently serving as club secretary. “I chose to get involved with the club because it gives students the unique chance to learn about
HURST TOON Student-drawn cartoon by Periwinkle
the growing AML strategies as well as opportunities to network with professionals within this field,” Rastatter said. “This club will help give students a variety of skill sets to enter into another potential career path after graduation, specifically for those students interested in business and competitive intelligence. The Anti-Money Laundering Club is looking forward to hosting speakers from banks and other institutions who specialize in white-collar crime.” As well as white-collar crime, the study of money laundering can be useful to anyone considering a career related to prevention of illicit drug manufacturing, people smuggling, corruption, fraud, extortion, kidnapping or theft. Prather noted the need for individuals trained in anti-money laundering and the career opportunities with intelligence agencies or financial institutions in the area of compliance. The club will meet Tuesday evenings, with their next meeting scheduled for Nov. 6 in the CAE. All interested students should contact Rastatter to become a member and be added to the email group.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
PAGE 10
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Dep‘art’ment professor’s show By Jenny Sabliov
Staff writer
Award-winning artist and Erie native Tom Hubert, a Mercyhurst University Art professor, will showcase his ceramics in the upcoming art show “Boogie Woogie in the Studio: Ceramics by Tom Hubert.” Hubert’s works will be on display in the Cummings Art Gallery, located in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center across from the box office. Well-versed in the arts, Hubert has won 17 awards through national and regional exhibitions. In addition, he has taught at Mercyhurst for 38 years. During his time at Mercyhurst University, he has held the titles of Director of the Art department, Art department chair and Professor of Art.
In addition, over the past 14 years, he has had 12 one-person shows. His work in ceramics extends far beyond traditional techniques and styles. Hubert’s pottery forms are complex. From utilizing wheel thrown and slab construction to incorporating hand carved and sanded wood parts, Hubert has a unique style and will showcase an eclectic variety of artworks in the upcoming gallery show. “Most recently, I have also been experimenting with cone six porcelain pottery forms, new layered glazes, underglazes and carved surfaces,” Hubert said in his biography. In addition to traditional pottery techniques, he also creates large-scale works on ceramic canvases. Hubert creates his large-scale art like a painter through the use of
brushes and sprays. He has created teapots, jars, plates and platters, bowls, vases, pitchers, wallpieces and murals, employing techniques such as carved porcelain and wood addition pieces. He has also worked on commissioned pieces. “Working with clay has always been a passionate endeavor for me,” said Hubert. “I hope you enjoy my ceramic creations,” he said. The show will take place from Nov. 5 to Dec. 11. A reception for Hubert is scheduled for Nov. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Cummings Art Gallery. The reception is free and open to the public. The art gallery is open Mondays through Fridays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m.
Contributed photo
Tom Hubert’s art work, including this piece, will be on display in an upcoming show at Cummings Art Gallery.
MOVIE REVIEW
‘A Star is Born’ is dazzling and autobiographical By Brent Pestotnik
Contributing writer
Contributed photo
Broadway star Norm Lewis is coming to Mercyhurst as part of the MIAC series.
He’s not your ‘Norm’al MIAC guest performer By Erin Almeter
Staff writer
Norm Lewis is coming to Mercyhurst as a guest artist in the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture series. Norm Lewis made his Broadway debut in 1993 and has done extensive work both on and off Broadway. Off Broadway, Lewis has performed in “Dessa Rose,” “Ragtime,” “Dreamgirls,” “Sweeney Todd” and “The Fantasticks,” among others. On Broadway, he has performed in “Porgy & Bess,” “Sondheim on Sondheim,” “The Little Mermaid,” “Les Misérables,” “Chicago,” “Amour,” “The Wild Party,” “Side Show,” “Miss Saigon” and The Who’s “Tommy,” in which he debuted. In addition, Lewis has been on the big screen in the movies “Magnum Opus,” “Winter’s Tale,” “Sex and the City 2,”
“Confidences” and “Preaching to the Choir.” On television, he has appeared on “Gotham,” “The Blacklist,” “Blue Bloods” and in the recurring role of Sen. Edison Davis on “Scandal.” He also was on PBS’s Live from Lincoln Center production of “Show Boat” with Vanessa Williams, in “Norm Lewis: Who Am I?” and in “New Year’s Eve: A Gershwin Celebration” with Diane Reeves. Most recently, Lewis was seen on NBC’s special of “Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert,” in which he worked alongside John Legend, Sara Bareilles and Alice Cooper. In 2014, Lewis was recognized for making history as the first African American to perform on Broadway as the Phantom in “The Phantom of the Opera.” Lewis has received numerous nominations for awards. In 2005, he was a nominee for
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical from the Drama Desk Award for his performance in “Dessa Rose.” In 2012, he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle and a Tony Award for his performance in “Porgy & Bess.” On Nov. 1 at 1:30 p.m., Lewis will be teaching a master class in the Walker Recital Hall that will be free and open to the public. The students who will perform are Aaron Holman, Alexis Webb, Jacob Tretinik, Abby Larimore, Erin Fink and Jillian Johannes. Lewis will also be performing a concert on Nov. 2 at 7:30 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall. Tickets for the Friday concert can be purchased in the Box Office. Adult tickets are $30, senior tickets are $25, and student/ youth tickets are $20. As always, they are free to Mercyhurst students with an ID.
The film “A Star is Born” is a musical romantic drama that stars and is produced and directed by Bradley Cooper. This film was Cooper’s directorial debut, and I have to say that he did a fantastic job remaking and rewriting the film. This was the fourth remake of the film, the most recent remake being the lauded 1976 version. Cooper’s version revitalizes this film, and his character is a famous and well-respected rock musician, Jackson Maine, who has a serious drinking problem and a troubled past. He meets Ally, played by Lady Gaga, after he hears her singing in a bar after one of his shows. He quickly falls in love with her and helps her career blossom in the music industry; his career simultaneously falls into a downward spiral. I am a huge Bradley Cooper fan, so I had very high expectations regarding his acting, and he well surpassed these expectations. He truly dedicated himself to this role, and spent hundreds of hours learning to play the guitar, and performed at Coachella and Glastonbury without being booed offstage. Cooper poured his whole heart into this role, using his own pain and addiction (which he was reluctant to talk about prior to taking on this role) to portray perfectly a great artistic talent who is broken inside and deals with serious addiction.
In addition, Cooper spent hours interviewing Lady Gaga to ensure that her character in the film was authentic to Gaga’s real life struggles. In my opinion, Lady Gaga deserves the Oscar for the Best Actress for this year. Her character was incredibly relatable, yet when it was her time to shine, she glowed up the entire screen and captivated the entire audience. The soundtrack for the film was excellent, and Bradley Cooper’s singing really impressed me; whenever Lady Gaga sang, she stole the show. You cannot help but feel completely moved after hearing Cooper and Gaga sing the film’s main song, “Shallow,” or when Lady Gaga sings my personal favorite, “Always Remember Us This Way.” I had really been looking forward to seeing this movie for several months and had been reading articles and watching YouTube videos and interviews prior to the release date. I saw the premiere of A Star is Born, and then saw it again five days later. I am big fan of movies centered around music, and as I said, I had very high expectations for the film. That being said, I give the film a 9/10. I highly recommend going to see it, as well as downloading the album on Spotify or AppleMusic, because it is filled with bangers.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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T H E AT R E D E PA R T M E N T R E V I E W
‘Women on the Verge’ had audience on verge of tears of laughter this weekend By Sarah Klein
Staff writer
“Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” was a tremendous success. The musical, based on the 1988 Spanish romantic comedy, was filled with well-put-together songs and the full spectrum of emotions. Alexis Webb (senior, Music) starred as Pepa, a small-time actress who begins to unravel after her boyfriend Iván, played by Jacob Tretinik, (senior, Biology) suddenly moves out, leaving a vague message on her answering machine. The matter becomes complicated with the introduction of Lucía, Iván’s ex-wife, and Carlos, their son, played by Owen Hitt (senior, Information Technology). Lucía, played by Abby Larimore (senior, contract major), was hilarious with a tall black wig and cateye sunglasses. Though she is suing Iván for the stolen years, she still loves him and vindictively sets out to get revenge on Pepa, his mistress. Carlos and his fiancé Marisa, played by Erin Fink (senior, Biochemistry), are searching for apartments, and this search leads
Contributed photo
The cast of “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” at Taylor Little Theatre.
them to the home of Pepa. Pepa is at first unaware of Carlos’ connection to Iván, but it comes out. Another character is Candela, played by Rosie Pregler (senior, Anthropology and Public History). Candela, Pepa’s best friend, is a
model who unknowingly becomes romantically involved with a terrorist, Malik, played by Chance Wandler (freshman, Criminal Justice). These players come together on Lucía’s day in court when they all end up in Pepa’s apartment.
The plot becomes more complicated with the addition of sleeping pill-spiked gazpacho, a man-hunt for the terrorist Malik, the news that Pepa is pregnant and the introduction of Iván’s surprising new lover. The musical comes to its con-
clusion when Lucía – aiming at Iván – shoots Malik, after Pepa saves Iván from the bullet. Iván realizes that he wants to be with Pepa, but Pepa knows that she must let him go. The final song is an emotional harmony between the four women who all look forward to the future. The musical, set in Madrid in the late 1980s, had masterfully performed songs that combined traditional Spanish and contemporary rhythms. Each song was catchy, and the variety of emotions kept it engaging. The strong cast delivered lines flawlessly, and the audience was at different times laughing and sharing the pain of the main character’s problems in love. I remained engaged throughout the entire performance, since there were several twists in the plot. The songs were exciting and well performed, and I was kept laughing at the lines and foils of the characters on stage. The Taylor Little Theatre was filled almost to maximum capacity and the audience reacted well to everything they saw. A round of applause for the Mercyhurst Theater department!
NOTICE: MERCYHURST CIVIC ORCHESTRA CONCERT HAS B E E N R E S C H E D U L E D T O N O V . 4 A T 3 P. M . I N T H E P A C .
OPINION
PAGE 12
GOOD It’s Halloween today! Have a spooky day, everyone!
BAD There was a water main break on campus over the weekend!
SAD Classes were not canceled because of the water main break.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Advising Day is a benefit for all take full academic advantage of the opportunity to work that By Megan Advising Day provides, it still is Siegfried incredibly beneficial. Contributing writer For students, Advising Day is used to rejuvenate their spirit. Have you been missing out on The stress of scheduling is something all college students are social interactions because of a rigorous schedule? forced to deal with. Hang out with friends! The anxiety becomes palpable Amid the stress of school around campus; everyone knows work and scheduling pressures, what horrid thing is soon to Advising Day offers time for come. some much-needed relaxation. Advising Day acts as a little My only complaint about reprieve that helps students to Advising Day is the limited bear those burdens until it is amount of time available for the finally time to schedule. actual meeting. Advising day, a day of both Faculty often use Advising Day responsibility and rest, is a great simply to check over schedules support for our student body. that are already planned by the It is a time for us as students student, and so they only allot 15 to sit down and have serious to 30 minutes for each meeting. discussions with our advisers Not much can be accomplished about our academic futures. in that short of a period of time. The knowledge we gain If students have more in-depth from their insight is absolutely questions, those answers are priceless. It is a wonderful thing that our going to take more time. I know that I especially needed school mandates this time for us extra guidance this year during to spend with faculty. Advising Day. The opportunity to meet Near the end of last semester, with professors one-on-one is advantageous in and of itself, but I finally declared a major, having so is having an entire day free of started my Mercyhurst career as an exploratory student. classes. It took time for me to figure After their meetings, the out what path I needed to follow students are free to go to work and what classes I should be immediately on the suggestions catching up on. given them by their adviser. Luckily, my adviser was willing Even when students do not
to meet with me multiple times to help figure out my mess of a schedule. In order to fix this problem of not having enough time with our faculty members, one of two things could be done. Faculty could offer extended slot times for those students who feel they may need a little more time and shorter times for those who just need a quick check. Offering the shortened meeting times would help to even out any serious time constraints caused by the extended meetings. Another consideration would be adding a second Advising Day. During the first day, advisers could guide students toward their academic path and recommend classes, while the second could be used to quickly approve more well thought out schedules. As is, Advising Day is a wonderful thing for the students at our university. It encourages faculty members and their advisees to get together and discuss future plans and scheduling options. Improvements could certainly could be made. But overall, our students can only benefit from this opportunity. I hope that everyone at Mercyhurst was able to take full advantage of Advising Day this semester.
everybody on campus. Decorating the campus to make it terrifying and taking Cohen everyone on haunted tours? Contributing writer What on earth is there to dislike about that? Does Mercyhurst University The Mercyhurst Student celebrate Halloween to a Government sure knows how to satisfactory extent? celebrate Halloween, and how Well, there is no such thing as to do so with clubs all around celebrating Halloween too much, Mercyhurst University. whether you are a kid or an adult. Circle K International, the But I would ultimately say that Psych Club and many other the answer to the above question clubs have had or will be having is yes. Halloween parties. Mercyhurst University, every The Autism Initiative Program year, holds two MAC/SAC events. has a Halloween party each “Don’t be a Drunken year, too. They now hold in the Pumpkin” allows everybody to Student Union Great Room. paint pumpkins while learning The Public Health Club made all about how to be safe with cards with leaves glued onto alcohol. them for kids in hospitals. It is fun to celebrate On Halloween, many offices Halloween, but you need to be around campus give out candy to safe, and I think this event does students. a great job at teaching students Last year, Black Students for how to be safe. Unity went trick-or-treating for “Haunted Hurst” is the UNICEF. ultimate Halloween party for The ambassadors have a
Halloween party every year in the Student Union Great Room. That is also where the English Department had its Halloween party last year. The Honors Society carves pumpkins, as does Circle K. This is the first year, however, when the Campus Ministry did not carve pumpkins. However, despite that they are still having a Halloween party on Halloween night. The Grotto Commons gets decorated and I keep seeing signs around campus for a pumpkincarving contest. Knowing Parkhurst Dining Services, I’m pretty sure that there will be Halloween-themed foods. I hear that the Irish Club is holding its first meeting on Halloween. I wonder if it will be Halloween-themed. I’ll find out when I go. On the whole, I think that Mercyhurst University celebrates Halloween to a very satisfactory extent.
The Merciad Halloween on campus
Editors Lauren Abbott Meghan Maker Kristian Biega Marina Boyle Bernard Garwig Lauren Ganger Anthony Miller Maria Williams Megan Stubbs Kristin Bowers
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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 opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
OPINION
Why Halloween is the best holiday sweet is always needed to fix a rough day. By Samuel Then, directly after Halloween Peterson night gets done wrapping up, Staff writer there is Thanksgiving, which is another personal favorite holiday Halloween is an incredibly of mine. magical time of the year for both But the holiday joy doesn’t myself and others. even stop there! Factually, I know that it is While I’m passing out on the absolutely difficult to prove couch after gorging myself with that something like a holiday is Thanksgiving dinner, I’ll close my “magical,” but I think Halloween eyes. qualifies. And in a cold sweat, I will There are endless claims that I seemingly wake up with a Santa can make to prove that Halloween hat on at my families Christmas is truly something magical. party. First off, Halloween is a After singing the many stepping stone to some major Christmas carols, I will take a holidays that provide even more deep breath. cheer. Then, before I seemingly even Halloween season starts right know anything is happening, as October begins for much of I will be blowing into a bright the population. party horn while celebrating the For many people, October new year. is not just the month in which Halloween ends a long holiday Halloween occurs; the month dry spell, which unfortunately itself is a celebration building up we have to return to after New to Halloween. Year’s Eve. During this time, the amount But, for me, it represents the of holiday spirit possessed is beginning of that magical time incredible. of the year where a wonderful There are Halloween parties, holiday is around every single dress-up days at work, spooky corner. decorations, contests, dances, The next holiday is not until scary movies and comfortable all the way in February with sweaters! Valentine’s Day, which is very hit Beyond all of that, who could or miss for some. ever forget all the free candy Beyond that, I love the weather every which way you can possibly and general atmosphere of the turn your head? Halloween season. On every counter corner, every I can smell the crisp, refreshing tabletop, every bedside table, one fall air. can find free candy. It is, after so very long, crisp Even if you are currently air that actually doesn’t burn my dieting, the allure of something face.
Nor does it cause me to choke on downright suffocating humidity. I do not have to dress heavy, as my fairly light jacket keeps me plenty warm in the light breeze. I can stay both indoors and outdoors without ever having the overwhelming feeling to run directly towards the nearest air conditioning unit. Additionally, the leaves offer a satisfying crunch on the ground, and the color they provide to every inch of every tree is unmatched. Keep them in your heart as you trudge through the countless massive mounds of Erie’s endless snowfall. The candle in the pumpkin is that Halloween night falls right before my birthday next month. That is something which only adds much more to the holiday being a gateway to more festivities. I can say with absolute confidence that Halloween truly is my favorite time of the whole year. That is not because I don’t enjoy other holidays, but because during Halloween the events I can look forward seem almost endless. I can anticipate the memories that will last. Memories of spending some much-needed time with my friends, parties, laughter, good food, a new year and general good times. And the lasting of those memories can be factually proven.
PAGE 13
HURST STUDENTS
SPEAK UP We asked: What is your favorite Halloween candy?
Peter Pentz, freshman Intelligence Studies major: “My favorite Halloween candy would have to be Butterfingers. Peanut butter and chocolate is a great combination, and I like my candies hard!” Adam Williams, sophomore Intelligence Studies major: “It would have to be candy corn. I am a person who is all about tradition, so candy corn is the perfect old candy that also tastes great!”
Sam O’Connell, sophomore Early Childhood Education major: “My favorite candy is 100 Grand bars because it’s that perfect combination of chocolate, crispy rice and caramel. I used to eat those all the time before my morning surf!” Ben Vanderpool, sophomore Criminal Justice major: “York Peppermint Patties are my favorite Halloween candy. Because I really like mint and dark chocolate. The mint is very refreshing!”
Compiled by Aaron Qiao
Student shares thoughts on talk from director of National Geospatial Agency
event was Robert Cardillo’s repeated focus on positions and careers involving Science, Garwig Technology, Engineering and Sports editor Math, or S.T.E.M. for short. Multiple times in his talk, For Intel, the future lies in Cardillo outlined how majors S.T.E.M. such as Data Science had This past Friday, students surged on his list of the NGA’s within the Ridge College of workforce background. Intelligence Studies and Applied Anyone following recent news Sciences had the privilege of or the events of the past two going to hear Robert Cardillo, years knows how much of a director of the National spotlight has been put onto Big Geospatial Agency (NGA), speak. Data. In Director Cardillo’s speech, Big Data, for those who do not or sales pitch as he described know, is the common term used it, he outlined what the NGA’s to describe vast quantities of purpose is. collected information. He also described the types of Much media and public students that he is searching for attention has been placed on the internships and positions in the misappropriation and misuse NGA. of such data, such as with the As for myself, as an Cambridge Analytica scandal Intelligence Studies major, what earlier this year. struck me the most about the However, companies and
By Bernard
agencies like the NGA are increasingly putting out the call for people that can make sense of massive amounts of collected information. It’s not that Director Cardillo’s desired student can’t or does not exist at Mercyhurst. The fact is, Mercyhurst University has and is currently responding to what is clearly a workforce trend. Despite being primarily known as a liberal arts school, Mercyhurst University has repeatedly responded to what the NGA and other agencies are looking for. They have done this by first creating a Data Science master’s program, followed by Cyber Security grad and undergrad programs, as well as a Data Science program for undergraduates. The Intelligence Studies major
itself had a preexisting computer track for students to focus on, but these new programs give even more opportunities and avenues for students to follow and learn within. All this is being done to ensure not only that Mercyhurst University remains a competitive university, but that the graduates that are being produced here can meet the growing demands of the market. Despite the heavy focus on technology in the event, Director Cardillo emphasized that there is still an incredibly deep need for the more traditional and old school Intelligence Studies. The NGA is not looking to fire Imagery Analysts. Nor are they looking to fire others with Cultural Studies, Political Science, or History backgrounds.
There is still great room and importance for people of these expertises. Most importantly of all, Director Cardillo emphasized to the attending audience the enduring importance of the human element in his field of work. No artificial intelligence or computer can make the same analysis and judgments in his field that the human analyst can make. Overall, the event gave me a lot to consider. I hope that Robert Cardillo’s talk gave others much to think on as well. But if nothing else, Director Cardillo’s visit to Mercyhurst University was a solid reaffirmation of the respect that Mercyhurst University has both in the Intelligence Community and beyond.
SPORTS
PAGE 14
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Lakers get two on PSU By Sam Peterson
Staff writer
Mercyhurst women’s ice hockey team won both of its games in a struggle of a series against Penn State. In the face of adversity, the Lakers showed off both their strength and tenacity. That started Oct. 26 at 3 p.m., when the puck dropped for the first game against the Nittany Lions. Right from the start, it was an even matchup, with the Lakers taking the slight advantage on shots taken. However, the first period was scoreless. The game remained scoreless until Emma Nuutinen shot the puck past Penn State goalie Jenna Brenneman with 2:48 remaining in the second period. Early in the third period, K.K. Thiessen caught a ricochet and fired the puck for her first goal of the season to put the Lakers up by two. In response, the Nittany Lions scored a goal, bringing them within striking distance to send the game to overtime.
Sam Peterson photo
Mercyhurst defender Molly Blasen skates forward as goalie Sarah McDonnell looks on at left.
Everyone in the whole stadium seemed to collectively hold their breath as the Nittany Lions pulled their goal tender and launched a vicious assault on the Lakers. With a mere four seconds remaining, the Nittany Lions scored, tying up the game. The disbelief was palpable
among the crowd. However, the officials waved the goal due to offsides and the Lakers went on to win 2-1. Oct. 27 started in much the same fashion. It was another extremely even matchup. Lakers Maggie Knot got the scoring started at 16:09 in the first period.
However, it was later tied up by Katie Rankin with only 23 seconds left in the first period. Penn State took this momentum and drove up the scoring in the second period to 4-1. Penn State’s Loli Fidler scored two goals, and Natalie Heising scored one as well.
The Lakers eventually struck back with Nuutinen scoring, followed by Sarah Hine, bringing the Lakers within one goal. The score at the end of the second period was 4-3, Nittany Lions. It didn’t take long for Mercyhurst to even the score out, with Nuutinen scoring another goal to tie the game. From here, the goaltending on both sides prevailed, and the game went to overtime. In overtime, a score seemed unlikely as the clock continued to count down toward a tie. The goalies on both sides made incredible saves. Over the entire game, Mercyhurst goalie Sarah McDonnell had 32 saves, and Chantal Burke of Penn State stopped 24 shots. But with five seconds left in overtime, Nuutinen scored yet another goal. This completed her hat trick and gave the Lakers a 5-4 win in overtime. The Lakers’ next game is at Lindenwood University in Missouri on Nov. 3 ,with a start time of 6 p.m.
Women’s ice hockey’s HURST RESULTS Sisti tied No. 2 for wins By Marco Cicchino Staff writer
Don’t look now, but Mercyhurst women’s ice hockey Head Coach Michael Sisti is back and ready to compete. But that’s the way he’s always been, and now he has the data to prove it. In what is expected to be a back-and-forth battle for one of the top records in women’s college hockey, the trajectory just so had it that a win in Syracuse on Oct. 13 tied Sisti with Harvard’s Katey Stone and Wisconsin’s Mark Johnson for the career wins record by a coach (464). But after sweeping the Lakers in Erie three weeks ago, Johnson took it back the following day when the then-No. 2 Badgers defeated Minnesota-Duluth and was poised to capitalize two weeks later on a 5-1 Robert Morris win in Erie on Oct. 20. This past Saturday, Oct. 27, he was upset at home by third-ranked Minnesota, ending a 35-game winning streak at LaBahn Arena in Madison and keeping Sisti in record contention. Meanwhile, Stone picked up win 465 over Dartmouth on Oct. 19, but fell in Ithaca to No. 7 Cornell and Hamilton to No. 9 Colgate this past weekend. “Both Katey (Stone) and Mark (Johnson) have had remarkable
careers in our sport and are regarded as outstanding coaches,” Sisti said. “I feel very proud to have led such a successful program and work with so many great student athletes, coaches and administrators. We have been fortunate to attract so many motivated and talented people over the years.” Now in his 28th season coaching college hockey, Sisti started behind the bench in 1990 at Canisius College after scoring 74 goals and 163 points in four years at his alma mater, becoming captain as a senior. He left after three years to join the then-Division II men’s program at Mercyhurst, reaching the national title game in 1995 while assistant and later associate coach under Rick Gotkin. In 1999, Sisti was appointed head coach of the new women’s ice hockey program, and to this day he is the only head coach the program has ever known. Sisti guided the Lakers to an unprecedented streak of 10 straight appearances in the NCAA tournament between 2004 and 2013, including a national title game appearance in 2009 and three more Frozen Four appearances in 2010, 2012 and 2013. He was named Coach of the Year in 2005 by the NCAA and 2007 by USCHO.com. He has graduated some of the best names
the game has ever seen, including three-time Olympic gold medalist Meghan Agosta-Marciano, the all-time leading scorer in women’s college hockey, and 2010 Kazmaier Award winner Vicki Bendus. However, the last four years have been trying times for the program, with youth leadership and new faces both on the ice and behind the bench. In 2014, Sisti went 23-9-3 and captured the CHA regular season title, but the postseason streak was halted with a home loss to RIT in the CHA semifinal. Over the next three seasons, he graduated several of the top names in program history, including Shelby Bram and Amanda Makela in 2015; Emily Janiga, Jenna Dingeldein and Jaclyn Arbour in 2016; and Taylor Accursi and Jillian Skinner in 2017. The Lakers returned to the postseason in 2016, finishing the regular season and tournament championship double for the 10th time in the CHA and 11th overall. Over the following two years, the team fell victim to quickly improving Robert Morris, Syracuse and Penn State programs and last season recorded the worst start in program history. The Lakers did rebound, however, finishing second in the regular season and knocking off Robert Morris in the CHA title game before taking eventual national
champion Clarkson to overtime in the NCAA quarterfinals. “As a coach and a person, I think all of us are always evolving and trying to find new ways to better ourselves,” Sisti said. “I think players today are more educated on nutrition and fitness than in the past. Regardless who is in our program, we stress the importance of education and graduating as well as striving to improve in all areas of their lives”. This season represents another key challenge for the program. Brooke Hartwick graduated in 2017 after four impressive seasons on the Hill. The impassable goaltending combination of Kennedy Blair and Sarah McDonnell, respective CHA Goaltending trophy winners last year and in 2016. This coincided with Emma Nuutinen’s first full season after guiding Finland to bronze in Pyeong-Chang and returning stars Maggie Knott, Sarah Hine, Vilma Tanskanen, and Summer-Rae Dobson, have this team poised to make another deep postseason run. “As we embark on our 20th women’s season, it has been a very rewarding experience,” Sisti said. “I hope (the current players) are proud to be part of a program with a successful tradition and realize they presently are carrying the torch for us and are a key part of molding our future.”
Oct. 23, field hockey vs. Edinboro University: 1-0, Lakers (4-11)
Oct. 27, men’s soccer vs. East Stroudsburg University: 3-2 (OT), Lakers (Finish season 9-6-2, 5-4-2 PSAC) Oct. 27, women’s soccer vs. Mansfield University: 3-0, Lakers (Finish season 8-9-1, 6-9-1 PSAC) Oct. 28, men’s water polo vs. Salem University: 14-15, Salem (Lakers are 12-9, 4-2 MAWPC)
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
SPORTS
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MU beats Gannon 38-21 By Bernard Garwig
Sports editor
In a game that saw little break from a constant light rain, the Mercyhurst football squad broke a first-half scoring deadlock to pull away and top Erie rival Gannon University 38-21. The Oct. 27 game saw Lakers running back Garrett Owens make a statement with three touchdowns and 268 rushing yards on the Golden Knights’ home turf for the annual Niagara cup. Owens, who broke a school record for all-purpose yards (419 for the game) would go on to be the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference player of the week for his performance. However, it was ultimately defense that played a key role in shutting down the Golden Knights’ star running back, Marcus Jones. Jones was held to a net of 152 yards and a touchdown. The first quarter saw both teams trade touchdowns.
tially after the next drive with a Bryce Mostoller via Doug Altavilla touchdown, but they continued to trade scores with the Golden Knights until the end of the second quarter. At the very end of the quarter, the Lakers converted their final drive of the half with a Mark Shafer field goal to put them up 24-21. The Golden Knights would not touch the scoreboard from this point on. Owens and Mercyhurst running back Frederick Green added two touchdowns to the Lakers’ tally in the third and fourth quarter, respectively, for the 38-21 final. The Lakers’ (3-6) next opponent is the Clarion University Golden Eagles, who come to Erie for a Nov. 3 game. The Golden Eagles are 4-5 for Amelia Kanonczyk photo the year, and were beaten by the Lakers last year in a close 21-18 The Lakers hoist the Niagara cup victoriously after their 38-21 victory over the Gannon University on Oct. 27. The victory marks the third year in a row that the Lakers football squad has beaten Erie rival Gannon. victory at Clarion. The season will end Nov. 10 with the veterans game against The Golden Knights got up ini- soon followed on the next drive his first score of the game. tially with a touchdown but was with Owens and the Lakers for The Lakers took the lead ini- Millersville University.
Men’s ice hockey falls to Army in home series By Breonna Bailey Staff writer
Unfortunately, the Mercyhurst Lakers men’s ice hockey team fell short this weekend as they hosted Army West Point on Oct. 26 and 27 at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. On Oct. 26, the Lakers fell 1-5 to Army. The Lakers’ only goal was scored by Ethan Johnson. Johnson got the Lakers on the board at 3:15 of the first period, with an assist from Devon Daniels. The Lakers held the lead, but it did not last long. Six minutes later, Army answered the Lakers goal and tied the game. During the second period, Army capitalized on the power play, giving Army the lead. Just 1:22 later, however, Army tallied another one, giving the team a 3-1 lead. At 13:41 of the third period, Army found the back of the net again for a 4-1 lead. With 51 seconds left in the third period, Army scored an empty net goal, ending the game with five goals to the Lakers’ one. In goal for the Lakers was Stefano Cantali, who made 22 saves in net for the Lakers. On Oct. 27, the Lakers suf-
LET’S GO,
LAKERS! Nov. 2, Edinboro University @ 6 p.m.: Volleyball vs. Edinboro University Nov. 2-3, Mercyhurst Ice Center @ 7:05 p.m.: Men’s Ice Hockey vs. Rochester Institute of Technology
Aaron Qiao photo
The Lakers line up at their end of the ice before the start of the game against Army West Point.
fered an overtime loss to Army West Point, 3-2. Dalton Hunter got the Lakers on the board first with a power-play goal with assists from Taylor Best and Joseph Duszak. The Lakers strengthened their lead with a goal from Matthew Whittaker, assisted by Derek Barach and Josh McDougall. The Lakers started the third period with a 2-0 lead over Army. However, Army found its way onto the board early in the third
period with a power-play goal to answer the Lakers. Michael Wilson found the back of the net for Army with 10.1 seconds left in regulation. The play was initially put under review but was deemed a goodgoal. With the teams 1:37 into overtime, Michael Wilson netted one for Army, ending the contest. Cantali was in net for the Lakers, making 30 saves. The Lakers were 1-for-7 on the
power play while Army was 2-of7 for the game. “We just have to keep working hard and keep battling and find a way to get better,” head coach Rick Gotkin said following the back-to-back losses against Army West Point. The Lakers return to action on Nov. 2-3 against Rochester Institute of Technology at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. Puck-drop is 7:05 p.m. both nights.
Nov. 3, Tullio Field @ noon: Football vs. Clarion University Nov. 3-4, Cathedral Prep: Men’s water polo at the CWPA championship
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Wednesday, October 31, 2018