The Merciad

Merciad THE

MERCYHURST UNIVERSIT Y

|

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

W E D N E S DAY, S E P T E M B E R 3 0 , 2 0 2 0

|

VOL. 94 NO. 4

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

Lakers band together for Black Lives Matter march PAGE 2

Online poll results We asked: What is the best fall flavor?

Pumpkin Spice

5: Remembering RBG

Apple Cinnamon Salted Caramel

8: Class of 2021 announces “Beat the Odds” scholarship 15: Hurst Athletics moving forward

Maple

PAGE 2

This week’s What do your midterms

POLL

look like this year?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

NEWS

PAGE 2

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Lakers band together during oncampus Black Lives Matter march

By Kenzie Schroeder Contributing writer

On Sept. 21, the Black Students for Unity (BSU) held Mercyhurst’s first Black Lives Matter march. It brought all groups of students together, from all races, sports teams, and backgrounds.

The march started in the Grotto and then moved to the fountain in Munson Plaza, followed by the quad in front of Audrey Hirt Academic Center, down to the Center for Academic Engagement and finally ended in front of Old Main.

Each stop consisted of speakers sharing their stories and experiences of injustice.

A lot of planning went into the event as it was the first of its kind in Mercyhurst history. Mercyhurst’s BSU came together with Campus Ministry and Moralyzer to organize the march.

Prior to the event, students expressed interest to BSU President, Janiece Withers.

“Students came to me asking about a protest. Me and Moralyzer came together and decided we needed to do something on campus. Campus Ministry wanted to do a vigil and we decided

to come together,” said Withers.

“We wanted to show that Mercyhurst cares that black lives matter. We want every black student to feel safer on campus.”

Moralyzer is a platform designed by Mercyhurst graduate student Arseniy Sklyarov.

“Moralyzer is a first of its kind social advocacy platform that combines social media and tech to replace outdated petitions, donations, and events. We are excited to be working with the BSU and seeing where real change can happen,” Sklyarov said.

BSU members Lily Smith and Alana Lewis also commented on the planning efforts of both the board and members.

“This event was mostly planned by the board. I just joined this year, and I am just excited because Mercyhurst is a predominately white campus and it is important to bring black issues to the surface and bring awareness to the challenges black people face every day,” said Smith. “We have meetings every Tuesday at 4:00 PM, as of now we have no more marches planned.”

Lewis also commented on the planning of the event.

“Planning was a lot of Janiece,”

Kenzie Schroeder photo

BSU president Janiece Withers kicks off the march with a few words.

Kenzie Schroeder photo

Sr. Natalie Rossi poses with her “Equality for All” sign at the Grotto.

said Lewis. “She talked to people and started organizing it. We are trying to gather people and make signs and spread the word, which was the most important part of it as well as following COVID-19 guidelines.”

With the combined efforts, the event had a very successful turnout of hundreds of people.

The march opened with Withers speaking about recent injustices against people of color in the country and the purpose of the event. She spoke about her own experiences, family, and those that have died at the hands of police brutality.

Withers put the Black Lives Matter movement into perspective so that anyone of color could relate to it. She shared her own story of having a brother who could be any one of the police brutality cases we have seen in the news.

The first stop of the march was to the fountain in front of Baldwin Hall. The crowd gathered around to hear Qadry Ismail share a poem he wrote called “African First.”

The poem highlighted important black characters of history, emphasizing that they were Afri-

can before American. Jacob Holl, a teammate of Ismail, shared a quote from the Dr. Seuss’s “The Lorax:” “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot. Nothing is going to get better, it’s not.”

This brought attention to the fact that Black Lives Matter is something everyone should care and fight for, regardless of skin color.

The march progressed on to the quad in front of Audrey Hirt Academic Center. Members of BSU shared stories of those who have lost their lives to police brutality in the last few months.

Names and stories were read and followed with the mantra “say their name.” Some names and stories shared were Breonna Taylor, Daniel Prude, Jacob Blake, and George Floyd.

In honor of George Floyd’s name, attendees knelt for 8 minutes in a moment of silence to pay tribute to Floyd who died May 25 when Minneapolis Police Officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on his neck for 8 minutes.

From there, the march moved toward the front of the Center for Academic Engagement. At this stop in the march, Mercyhurst students came forward and

shared their own stories and experiences with racism.

The event concluded with a vigil in front of Old Main. Each attendee was given a candle to hold.

Members of BSU read the names of people of color who died from police brutality. A slideshow of victims was played throughout the whole vigil, sharing story lines depicting why police shot each victim.

“This event is to recognize the lives lost and to educate people on what is happening in the world currently,” Lewis said.

“In this environment it is hard to find people truly on your side and supporting this event shows true colors.”

This march brought students, faculty and community members together to peacefully march against the injustices that people have color have always faced.

Additionally, this showed students that Mercyhurst is a safe place and black lives matter on our campus.

Kenzie Schroeder photo

Students pose with their homemade signs prior to the beginning of the Black Lives Matter march.

Kenzie Schroeder photo

Students masked up while they attended the march to ensure that distancing guidelines were followed.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

NEWS

PAGE 3

Hurst grads break glass ceiling

By Maddie Boorse Contributing writer

On Sept. 15, Mercyhurst hosted a virtual seminar entitled “Breaking the Glass Ceiling: Women’s Alumnae Virtual Panel” in celebration of 100 years of women’s suffrage.

An audience of more than 60 viewers attended to hear from a wide array of alumnae who have taken strides in pursuit of their passions in their fields.

The panel included Emily Merski ‘04, Marlene Mosco ’68, Mary Schaaf ‘68, Kristen Hudak ‘05, Chanel Cook ‘17, Bea Habursky ‘85, Christina Marsh ‘89 and Melanie Titzel ‘80, and was moderated by Provost Leanne Roberts, Ph.D. The event started off with the panelists discussing how they got to where they are today and how Mercyhurst played a role in their journey. The panel included women in all stages of life, meaning that some had experienced great change in their industries.

According to director of Alumni Relations, Lindsay Frank, each panelist was selected to represent a range of ages, with some of the women in the beginning of their career while some graduated from Mercyhurst over 50 years ago.

“It was important to show this range because we had two of our alumnae from the class of 1968 who referenced a time where they were not able to enter a private club through the main door. As women they had to enter through the back.

Something like that sounds

outrageous today but it was the reality that they lived through,” Frank said.

One panelist, Merski, studied Intelligence at Mercyhurst, went on to get a law degree from Penn State University, and is now a public defender in the city of Erie.

She said that Mercyhurst’s emphasis on service throughout her education led her to want to give back to her community and legally represent those who needed it.

Another panelist, Habursky, had a long career in the education system in Erie, beginning as a teacher and moving through guidance counselor, principal and superintendent of the Erie School District.

People she met both at Mercyhurst and throughout her life encouraged her to keep taking chances to get where she is now.

She was moved to tears, feeling that she came full circle as a current adjunct Mercyhurst professor.

She is proud to be the person she looked up to as a young college student.

The next speaker, Kristen Hudak, graduated with a degree in Political Science, but she always had an interest in sports and is now the Baltimore Orioles Public Relations director.

She claimed that Mercyhurst is much more that just a degree, her time here allowed her to develop and combine both of her interests for a career she loves.

Taking a different approach, Schaaf had a zig-zagged career path. She graduated in the 1970s with a degree in edu-

cation and a math minor. She took this path because her passion for engineering was not a path for a woman at the time.

She enjoyed her time in education and was a part of history since she filed a class action lawsuit against discrimination on the basis of sex in hiring.

She won her case and expanded the civil rights acts to include education and school districts. She then began a pursuit in finances because she loved math so much, and was hired to work on Wall Street.

Each woman’s story is different, but through them all Mercyhurst has shaped their lives.

Many of the panelists work in male-dominated professions, so they shared advice for any women looking to work in similar fields and how to play a positive role in helping female colleagues.

Mosco talked about how it was hard to work in the legal

field as a woman, especially at the beginning of her career. She often was called ‘honey’ and ‘sweetheart’ in professional environments.

Her advice was to always be prepared and know what you are talking about so people take you seriously. She shared a story about how a man once asked how a pretty girl like her was going to defend these criminals. She responded by telling the man “upholding justice and defending my client’s rights, so you can sit up and watch and hold my handbag.”

Being knowledgeable and capable will help when you are challenged for being a female.

Marsh discussed how it was important to support your female colleagues. She was typically the only female leader in the room and emphasized the importance of both male and female colleagues to promote females, even when they are not

in the room.

Another piece of advice comes from Titzel. She highlighted the idea that advantages are what you make of them, so take them when they come.

Their advice comes from many challenges they have faced over the years. Cook talked about how she felt uncomfortable when she was younger as a black female, but she has come to embrace it by seeing other strong black women’s confidence. Her mantra is that you got the job for a reason and do not need to validate your position in the room.

The panel was very inspiring and shows how far women have come, but also how far we still have to go. Below are some final words of advice from the panelists on how to achieve your goals.

Dashboard informs community of current COVID case levels

By Maiya Florence Harding

Staff writer

On Sept. 11 students received an email from vice president of Student Life and pandemic officer, Laura Zirkle, Ph.D. about a new COVID-19 dashboard.

Working closely with Web and Digital Communications manager Kyndra Zacherl, executive director of Wellness Judy Smith, and Residence Life and Student Conduct director Megan McKenna; Zirkle and the rest of the COVID response team consolidated the COVID-19 updates and put them in one central place.

They asked themselves “how could we have information put out about what the numbers are?” and thus the dashboard was born.

The number of active cases on campus in the student, employee and “other” categories are front and center on the web page.

This table is updated in real time as soon as the response team gets updates.

Beneath the table is a narrative that gets updated weekly, although older updates remain further down so that anyone can see where Mercyhurst is in terms of COVID cases, quarantine, etc. at any given time.

The narrative was an important development in the dashboard so that everyone can compare how well the campus community is doing in terms of cases from week to week.

According to Dr. Zirkle, this is helpful so website visitors can compare where the school was from a month ago to today.

“We can see the historical context and the nuances in the numbers themselves,” Zirkle said.

This comparison shows how far the campus has come and the hope that numbers continue to decrease.

Each Tuesday the narrative is updated to inform students, employees and anyone else who may access the site about the number of people in quarantine and why they are in quarantine — whether it is due to an onset of symptoms, traveling to a high-risk state or close contact with an individual believed to have the virus.

It also mentions the number of new cases and whether they were believed to have been due to campus or outside exposure.

This helps keep everyone safe and informed.

All terms are also defined be-

neath the narrative including the current Pennsylvania Department of Health Order. There is a link to current “hotspot” states, so if members of the Mercyhurst community are going to travel they will know whether or not to quarantine before returning to campus.

The current COVID-19 24hour hotline (814-824-3600) can also be found on the bottom of the page.

This hotline is primarily to report suspected exposure or if you start to exhibit symptoms.

However, it can also be called to ask questions or make a request.

Requests include face masks, empty sanitization stations, or a COVID test request.

A lot of work went into this website to make it easily accessi-

ble to all.

This included specifically deciding how to define quarantine and which statistics would be the most relevant, and in updating the site frequently.

Zirkle ended her email on a positive note.

“With your continued dedication, I’m confident that day [where we won’t have to worry about exposure] will be here sooner rather than later. Again, my sincere thanks to you for your compliance thus far and your resolve in the days ahead.”

The new dashboard can be found at https://www.mercyhurst.edu/covid19/dashboard or through Mercyhurst’s Resilience and Resolve web page.

NEWS

PAGE 4

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

New Hurst Dems clubs helps Merciad IN A MINUTE with local campaigning Seniors sell growlers

The Class of 2021 Senior Class Gift Committee is selling growlers to raise funds for the Class of 2021 scholarship.

Each growler costs $25 and can be refilled at the Roost. To make a purchase and support the Class of 2021, visit the Senior Class Gift or the Hurst Alumni HUB page.

Campus Life on Instagram Follow the new Twitter and Instagram account @HurstCampusLife to get more information about student life from the Campus Involvement Center.

This is a great way for students to stay informed about campus happenings and promote their club’s upcoming events.

MSG to host A’Lelia Bundles MSG will be welcoming award-winning author and journalist A’Lelia Bundles to campus on Oct. 12 as part of their Distinguished Speaker Series.

The event will be happening via Zoom at 8:30 p.m. and is accessible only to members of the Mercyhurst Community.

Life hacks in a COVID world Students are invited to take part in an 8-week series designed to help students better navigate the ever-changing circumstances of COVID-19.

This group, led by counselor Linda Graves, will meet Mondays from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. via Zoom.

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

Email us at newsmerciad@ mercyhurst.edu

By Zach Dumais Contributing writer

The 2020 Presidential Election is less than 40 days away, so it is no surprise that the Mercyhurst students are contributing their time and skills to the political scene. One of the new and exciting political developments in the Mercyhurst community is the College Democrats of Mercyhurst University.

The club was started this academic year because the founders wanted to provide every student with the opportunity to act on their political views. There is a College Republicans club at Mercyhurst, but there was nothing for students at the other end of the political spectrum.

“Equal representation is absolutely necessary” outreach coordinator, Doug Wilsch, said. He said it would be disproportionate if only one side of the American political system was represented at Mercyhurst.

The club is already very involved in the Erie political landscape despite just beginning this semester. The club volunteers every weekend with local Erie campaigns such as that of Democrat Ryan Bizzarro and Kristy Gnibus.

The club helped the campaigns by handing out literature and do-

ing phone calling. They also recently held a Zoom event with the Penn State-Behrend Dems Club and Gnibus to allow students the opportunity to ask the candidate questions about being involved in politics.

The Hurst Dems are already making strides and coming up with their own events as well.

They held a debate watch party on Sept. 29 in Hirt, to watch the first debate between presidential nominees Joe Biden and incumbent Donald Trump.

In addition to volunteering in person every weekend, they are also looking into virtual opportunities with the various campaigns.

According to Wilsch, the goals of the Hurst Dems are very clear.

He stated their goals as to “1. Aid, 2. Build and 3. Engage.”

“Our organizational goals are to aid Democratic candidates in the Erie community, build a strong coalition on campus and engage students in a lasting organization.”

He hopes that the club will be able to continue long after the current generation of students have left Mercyhurst.

He also emphasized the importance of having underclassmen involved in the club because of the future leadership roles they will have in the organization.

The club already has a signifi-

Contributed photo

Junior intelligence major Doug Wilsch and dance majors Libby Bullinger and Jenna Fritts aid in phone calling for Ryan Bizzaro.

cant number of members and it is very easy to join. Simply email Doug Wilsch (dwilsc78@lakers. mercyhurst.edu) and he will be able to add you to the mailing list and the Microsoft Teams group.

The club is also looking to become involved in social media, so there will be updates when those accounts are created.

“Sustaining a republic is hard, and even harder during a pandemic, but now more than ever is the duty of conscious-minded Americans to make their voices heard through expressing themselves at the voting box,” Wilsch said.

Luke the Laker remains a sign of Mercyhurst spirit

By Sarah Klein

Copy editor

The semester is well underway and with it has come dozens of changes to life at Mercyhurst.

Although things look different, including a decreased number of campus events, you will still see the familiar face of Luke the Laker around campus.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the number of students who don the Luke the Laker mascot costume during the school year has been limited. With this change, Luke’s presence on campus will look a little different this semester as the Luke coordinators have been forced to adjust to the new normal.

“With 4-6 students able to dress as Luke, he would normally be at a variety of events quite often. So unfortunately, we won’t be seeing Luke the Laker on campus as much as we normally would,” Activities and Spirit coordinator, Sam Beckas, said.

The one student designated to be Luke this year has been ap-

proved by administration and is responsible for the care of the costume, cleaning, and sanitizing it between appearances and airing it out for a minimum of three days between wears. There is also an effort to limit physical contact between Luke and students so foot hi-fives are encouraged in place of hugs or high-fives.

Despite the limitations, Luke the Laker has already been active on campus. He helped create a mask safety video for students arriving on campus and recently made an appearance at the Saxon Beach Day on Sept. 6.

Luke passed out freeze-pops and played lawn games with students, even running through the sprinklers a few times.

Luke also made an appearance at MSG Mascot Monday on Sept.

28 and will be involved in upcoming video projects. Despite these events, he will still not be as present on campus as normal.

For many Lakers, they are just glad that Luke will still be around this semester, even if it looks a little different.

“While Luke’s presence on cam-

Contributed photo

Luke poses with senior Intelligence Studies major Sarah Klein and sophomore Hospitality Management major Kailey Pisani.

pus is limited, we know he brings so much pride, spirit, and excitement to campus,” said Beckas.

“Luke misses our students, but he wants to keep himself and others safe and encourages others to do the same.”

Maxx Palisin, a senior Intelligence Studies major and a previous Luke the Laker, agreed.

“Luke is really the embodiment of Mercyhurst. Whenever he is

around, students and faculty alike light up,” said Palisin. “I’m glad he can be around this semester to cheer people up and show that although things look different this year, our Laker pride is stronger than ever.”

If you see Luke on campus this semester, make sure you take a moment to stop and say hello!

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

NEWS

Remembering RBG

By Elizabeth Nestor

Contributing writer

2020 has been a year that could become its own history book. It has felt like taking punches one after another. No one even remembers that it is a leap year.

As if this year could not get any more grim, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg recently died of metastatic pancreatic cancer. No matter how heavy this news comes, it is of great importance that people remember her legacy and her fight. One may disagree with some of her policies, but it is undeniable how significant she was for gaining human rights on the basis of sex.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg, more commonly known as RBG, was born into a low-income Jewish family in 1933. Throughout her youth, RBG was heavily influenced by her mother, Cecilia, who taught her the importance of fighting against society’s bias toward women.

Cecilia was a selfless warrior who died of cancer the day before Ginsburg graduated high school. Ginsburg then went on to attend Harvard Law School in an environment that was

male dominated and quite hostile. She was one of eight women amongst her class of 500.

After transferring and graduating from Columbia Law School, she navigated many careers. It was difficult for her to land a stable job because not only was she a woman, but because she was also a mother.

Throughout the 70s, Ginsburg acted as the director of the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil Liberties Union. During this time, she argued six landmark cases based on gender equality in front of the Supreme Court.

Of the five that she won, some of the most remarkable cases include Frontiero v. Richardson where she argued the equality of military benefits and Weinberger v. Weisenfeld regarding social security benefits.

Despite the hardships that Ginsburg faced, she remained diligent and determined to bring justice to the oppressed.

She was appointed to the Court of Appeals for Washington D.C. by former President Jimmy Carter in 1980. It was not until 1993 that she was chosen to fill the seat of late Justice Byron White on the Supreme Court by President Bill

Clinton. She was the second female justice and the first Jewish female justice.

When deciding the fate of the 2000 election, Ginsburg proudly objected the majority opinion with her concluding statement, “I dissent.” This was revolutionary as she broke the tradition of softening and minimizing her voice by saying “respectfully.” She was a stronghold for equality on the high court for 27 years.

After only eight days since Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s passing, President Trump announced his nominee, Amy Coney Barrett.

It is reported that Ginsburg’s dying wish was that she not be replaced until after a new president is elected.

If Barrett fills her seat, the Supreme Court would be a strongly conservative body with a 6-3 conservative majority. It is important, now more than ever, that people vote in the 2020 presidential election, because regardless of who you favor on the Supreme Court, Justices are nominated for life. As information is more readily accessible than ever before, it is crucial that people educate themselves on what is at stake.

PAGE 5

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

This weekend’s campus events

Mass of the Holy Spirit inspires MU community

By Ashley Barletta

Staff writer

Each year, Mercyhurst students and staff celebrate the Mass of the Holy Spirit as a way to celebrate Our Lady of Mercy. The event is intentionally held within the first few weeks of the semester so it can align with Mercy Day, Sept.

24, and start the semester off on a positive note.

“Beginning the year with the Mass of the Holy Spirit helps us to get our priorities in place,” said officer for Equity, Justice and Inclusion, Sr. Natalie Rossi. “The Holy Spirit dwells within us and brings wisdom, courage, knowledge, understanding, counsel, piety and fear of the Lord.”

Interim director of Campus Ministry and University chaplain Fr. Jim Piszker said that it plays an important role in establishing a sense of community on campus.

“I think it is important because it brings us together as a community calling on the guidance of the Holy Spirit to enlighten and enliven us in this academic year, which is particularly important this year because of COVID and other societal challenges,” said Piszker.

This year, the Mass of the Holy Spirit was held at 4 p.m. on Mercy Day, but it was celebrated in a

different way than usual.

Originally, the Mass was to be given by Fr. Greg Boyle but it ended up being led by a local priest, Fr. Chris Singer. The event was held in the chapel but shown virtually over YouTube, which students could access through a link on the Hub page.

“At one level, it is very sad not to gather physically our community in Christ the King Chapel this year, which also means that communion cannot be shared physically with those who gather to watch virtually. However, this live stream format means that more people may actually participate,” said Greg Baker, vice president for Mission.

“I hope that students will appreciate what we are doing for what it is, recognize that this is not a normal situation and appreciate that we would all like to be back to “normal,” something for which we all might pray during this particular mass,” said Piszker.

Since the Mass of the Holy Spirit was held virtually, many people who typically would not be able to attend the Mass, such as alumni, Board of Trustee members and Sisters of Mercy were able to observe the Mass this year.

To continue with the sense of community the Mass is known

for, various teams, clubs and groups across campus set up their own watch parties so they could enjoy each other’s company while still maintaining social distance.

“While different this year, this Mass of the Holy Spirit will also be memorable for many people,” Baker said.

Usually, the planning of the Mass is an extensive process and this year was no exception. Even though the event was held virtually, a lot of hard work went on behind the scenes by the planning committee.

“We usually take about a month to plan what we are going to do, line up ministers for the Mass itself and work on details right up to the last moment. This year has been very different in that we are livestreaming the Mass in order to protect the significant numbers of students, faculty and staff who would normally attend,” Piszker said.

Through all of these changes, Mercy prevails, and the Mercyhurst tradition continues.

“Our Mass of the Holy Spirit dates back to 1996 and it has become a part of the fabric of Mercyhurst University,” said Piszker.

Even through a pandemic, the Mercyhurst community is resilient so these traditions can live on.

More details of how to join in on Spirit Paint Night to come!

Check the Weekender hub page and @msglakers social media for info later this week!

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG Sept. 19: Liquor law violation at Warde Hall.

Sept. 19: Trespassing on E 40th Street.

Sept. 24: Harassment in McAuley Hall.

Sept. 27: Criminal mischief in Lot #22.

PAGE 6

NEW AT HURST

FEATURES

Lakers continue to volunteer during pandemic times

By Samantha Weber Staff writer

By Victoria McGinty

Features editor

Mercyhurst University has welcomed Karl Pontus Krohn, an assistant professor in the Intelligence Studies department. Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, Krohn has lived many places around the United States due to his military commitment, including Virginia Beach, Kansas, San Francisco, Rhode Island, and now Erie.

Krohn’s interest in the intelligence field came from his time in the Swedish military. In Sweden, every male must serve in the military for at least one year.

As Krohn served, his love for the field only grew. In 1993, Krohn graduated from the Swedish Naval Academy and from Stockholm University with a degree in International Relations.

Krohn has had an outstanding career while in the military. First, while a part of the European Union Naval Force, Krohn served on TaskForce 465 during Operation Atlanta. Second, Krohn ranked as a Naval Officer in the Swedish Armed Forces. Lastly, while at the Swedish Defense University, he acted as an adjunct faculty member within the Department of Military Studies.

While the military plays a significant role in Krohn’s life, he has revisited his International Relations passion a few times in his career. In 2009 he graduated with a master’s degree from Salve Regina University.

Today, he is currently furthering his studies with the Salve Regina International Business program to obtain a doctorate in International Business. Aside from his life’s work in International Business and Military, Krohn holds special research interests in US National Security, Chinese politics, and Russian politics and security.

Outside of his academic and work life, Krohn enjoys spending time outdoors hiking, skiing and camping.

While in Erie, Krohn also hopes to take up hunting.

Here at Mercyhurst, Krohn works as an assistant professor in the distinguished Intelligence Studies department and teaches three courses: Introduction to Intelligence Studies, Professional Communication and Contemporary Leadership in Intelligence.

“I love Mercyhurst for many reasons. It’s been interesting to find my teaching philosophy in unique courses that are interesting to the field. The thing I love most about the university, however, is the mission. It is so important, and I am thrilled to be here,” Krohn said.

Krohn can be found in his office in the Center for Academic Engagement.

Welcome to the Hurst, Professor Krohn!

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Mercyhurst University was founded in 1926 by the Sisters of Mercy. To this day, the school continues to preach the core values that heavily emphasize service within the community and out in the world.

Colin Hurley, director of Community Engagement, and Bethany Woods, assistant director, are focused on helping students become more involved in volunteering either on-campus or within the Erie community.

“Our Mission in conjunction with our Carpe Diem motto implies we seize every opportunity to think about and support others, and I think this week alone is a great testament to the creativity, the passion and the commitment to doing just that in the name of service to the community,” Hurley said, in relation to Mercy Week and the Get Out the Vote effort on campus.

Due to the global pandemic, volunteering this year will look a little different. As a result, there are fewer opportunities to go out into the community and volunteer in person.

However, there are still plenty of opportunities to volunteer through the online community.

Some examples of remote volunteering include virtual visits with older adults at senior resident facilities, making cards for homeless shelters to put on their “walls of encouragement,” and coordinating with local organizations to put together hygiene packets. These opportunities can keep students engaged with those beyond our Mercyhurst gates.

Last week’s main service opportunity was the table to help students register to vote if they were not already registered. Deadlines to vote are fast approaching in most states. Students were given the opportunity to sign up for a time slot to go to a booth on campus and assist other students with registering.

Mercyhurst also requires that all students do volunteer work through a class that focuses on service, named BTG. BTG, or Beyond the Gates, is a class that all students must take in their time here.

BTG connects students with a service project that the student is interested in. Each student engages with that service project throughout the semester and reflects on what they have learned while beyond the gates of Mercyhurst.

Some volunteer opportunities can be major-specific, which help

the students truly determine if they want to continue with this major or explore another field.

Other BTG experiences are connected to Study Abroad.

Currently, the opportunities to volunteer for Beyond the Gates off-campus are slim; thus, students will do their service work when they can do so safely and when the community needs them the most. For students currently enrolled, they can take the class and complete their service online.

“Taking advantage of these virtual volunteering opportunities is important to living out the Mercy mission and investing in your community even if you cannot physically be present to serve,” Woods said.

If interested, students can currently find volunteer opportunities on the Community Engagement page located on the HUB. “What MU is doing now is embracing the changes regarding safety during a pandemic, and not giving up, but rather we are leaning into the moment and seeing where are the needs of today and what can we still be doing in the meantime,” said Hurley.

The office is looking forward to planning on having volunteer opportunities in-person again when the time is right.

Mercyhurst provides voter registration resources

By Elizabeth Nestor Staff writer

As if it has not already been centered in everyone’s minds, 2020 is an election year This year’s election will impact various subjects, including student debt, landmark cases, healthcare and a myriad of other topics.

More and more college students become eligible to vote this year. This means that now is the time to fight for what we believe.

Voicing or evaluating political views now plays a significant role in the purpose of college. But, simply, voicing these opinions is not enough, and it is almost time to take them to the polls.

Mercyhurst University is rolling out its program called Get Out the Vote. This program aims to gain more registered voters and influence Mercyhurst students to vote in this year’s election.

As many have already seen, there are tables set up all around campus. At these booths, students can learn more information about how to vote. The booths are strictly non-partisan and focused only on ensuring that the Mercyhurst community votes, rather than ensuring who they vote for.

Students hosting the tables offer snacks, stickers and other complimentary gifts.

There is also more information about how to register to vote on the Mercyhurst student HUB page.

Voting is American’s crucial way to get involved in government.

It is imperative for students who are not residents of Pennsylvania to check deadlines for their own states if they will not use their Mercyhurst address.

For those unable to vote, including minors and international students, all students can still support democracy and encourage others.

“Taking part in planning the voter registration push on campus was really rewarding. Our right to vote is so fragile and important, yet so many people take it for granted. Our generation is the next largest voting bloc, with one in ten people voting being a part of Generation Z. It is so extremely important that we let our voices be heard, especially in such divisive times across our nation, and throughout the world,” junior Intelligence Studies major Nick Brodfuehrer, said. He was critical in setting up this effort, along

with other students.

The Sisters of Mercy’s core values call for the attentiveness of Mercyhurst students, particularly in response to their critical concerns. The Sisters highly value social justice, equality and fair treatment for all.

“We were thrilled to have the help of Ambassadors, the MSG Senate and Honors Program students, who worked volunteer shifts at the tables. There’s still a lot of work to do, and we’re not done yet,” junior Dance major Elizabeth Meade, said.

Junior Music Therapy major Rhyan Komsthoeft was one of the many students who helped to register people at the tables across campus.

“I wanted to get involved with the Get Out the Vote effort because now more than ever it is so important that our generation is registered to vote and able to make their voice heard. It was a great opportunity to reach students in the Mercyhurst community and help them get excited about the upcoming election,” Komsthoeft said.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

NEW AT HURST

FEATURES

AIM program has plans for a fun-filled semester

By Bella Lee Staff writer

By Miriam Gildea

Contributing writer

Amid the myriad of masks, a new face shines out.

Ricardo Estremera has recently joined the Mercyhurst family as an instructor of Applied Linguistics.

Estremera’s journey began in Puerto Rico, where he lived until moving to the United States. As a boy, his father taught at the University of Puerto Rico and Estremera, in respectful rebellion, decided to pursue biology so as to pave his own way. However, much to the benefit of Mercyhurst students, he too became an educator.

Upon coming to America, he hit the ground running – literally. Receiving a scholarship for track from the University of Albany, Estremera thrived as a student athlete.

Towards the end of his college days, he decided to also pursue a Spanish minor and encountered a teacher that would change his life. This passionfilled teacher taught Intro to Hispanic Linguistics, in a way that inspired young Estremera in terms of the complexities of social linguistics. As a biology major, science explaining language seamlessly combined all his interests into one field and became his new focus.

“It is important to provide quality education and be the best educator you can be, because you never know who you will impact,” Estremera said.

Beyond the classroom, Estremera embodies renaissance man qualities. He is constantly involved in community events and traveling greatly interests him.

Getting to know and understand other cultures has driven him and his wife Sherez Mohamed, an assistant professor of World Languages here at Mercyhurst, to adventure around the globe.

Cooking is a mutual love of the couple and a perfect tie-in to their enjoyment of travel.

In addition to this, Estremera dreams of running in the next Olympics. At around age 16 he discovered his special athletic talent and has been running ever since. A professional athlete, he is sponsored by Track Smith, and has turned a hobby into a fulfilling life goal.

His specialty is the 3,000 meter steeplechase and whenever the next Olympics take place, runners around the globe must be on the lookout for the Hurst’s speediest teacher.

All-in all, Estremera emphatically believes that “teachers or educators or faculty have such an impact on students.”

There is no doubt that with his drive and passion, his students will be beneficially impacted.

Welcome to the Hurst, Professor Estremera!

PAGE 7

It is without a doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed everyone’s lives here on campus. Classes typically taught in person have had to be taught online instead, there is no Hurst Day coming this semester, and many field trips and study abroad programs have been cancelled or postponed. Many sports and departments have had to make changes in order to keep staff and students safe, and the Autism at Mercyhurst (AIM) program is no stranger to these changes.

One major change that AIM had to make during these times was the cancellation of the CREATE summer program for this year.

“Every summer we bring 30-34 high school and beyond students on campus to engage in a summer experience designed to help potential students determine whether they are ready for the demands of college life,” Tessie Staaf, AIM’s intake coordinator, said.

“Due to the restrictions that we would have had to follow at that time, which would have been during the month of July, we felt the students would not be able to have the college experience that CREATE is known to provide for them and, as such, we decided to

postpone the summer 2020 program. The health and safety of all students and staff was our utmost concern. We do plan on having CREATE up and running for the summer of 2021 and look forward to sharing our beautiful Mercyhurst campus with a new cohort of college-bound students,” Staaf said.

AIM began going virtual with their programming during the spring, and that continues to a significant extent now. Some programs, such as RA programs, remain virtual, but advisor meetings and lunch bunches are in person.

“In the spring we continued meeting with students on a regular basis through the end of the semester, but conducted these meetings virtually through Microsoft Teams,” Jennifer Surrena, associate director of AIM, said.

“We also created virtual activities and events for our students to connect with each other, whether through group discussion in a Teams chat, a virtual trivia game night or hosting a guest speaker, like Temple Grandin, who addressed our students via Zoom last April.”

Surrena also noted that efforts to guarantee space for social interaction have not stopped for the fall.

“We have continued to do some of the same virtual programming

this fall to accommodate large groups. While we have been meeting with students in person, we are also able to meet with them virtually if they are feeling unwell for any reason and want to remain in their room,” Surrena said.

Although there are still some aspects of AIM that remain in person, such as weekly meetings, efforts are still being made to combat the spread.

Amanda Mulder, student support coordinator in AIM, has been working hard at these efforts.

“Since AIM staff can meet with students in person, we measured 6 ft. in our offices, and rearranged our furniture to accommodate 6 ft. of social distancing, utilize plexiglass barriers and signs and markings on the floor,” said Mulder. “AIM has plenty of hand sanitizer and cleaning spray. AIM staff wear face masks during student meetings. Many of the AIM staff also have staggered work schedules to help with limiting hall traffic, so not all employees arrive at the same time. Students also must have an appointment to meet with staff members, so that helps with reducing the hall traffic at certain times of the day.”

AIM is just one of many departments working diligently to assist students at these times.

LAKER MOMENT The Mercyhurst Student Government has been hosting MSG Mondays every Monday from 5pm to 7pm outside of the Student Union. MSG member, Kali Beutler, stated that “each week, there are yard games such as Kan Jam, and cornhole, as well as other activities set up outside for everyone to enjoy!”

Grace Smrcka photo

FEATURES

PAGE 8

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Class of 2021 announces “Beat the Odds” scholarship

By Grace Smrcka Contributing writer

Each year, the Senior Class Gift Committee, or SCG, raises money through a series of fundraisers and events to then be donated toward a scholarship for the University.

Such scholarships are most often derived from people or concepts that well represent the core values and missions of the University and its community.

On Sept. 28 the Senior Class Gift Committee for the Class of 2021 announced its long-awaited gift for the Mercyhurst community, the Kenny Robinson “Beat the Odds” Scholarship. The scholarship is in memory of Mercyhurst Laker and baseball player Kenny Robinson who died tragically in May 2020.

In the words of the Committee announcement, “Kenny was a passionate athlete, a positive soul, a selfless friend, and a true teammate on and off the field. This scholarship will help a future Laker who embodies Kenny’s spirit and legacy in an inspirational and meaningful way.”

The announcement was made via email to the Class of 2021 ans shared on the Hurst Class Gift social media pages. The Committee will also work closely with the baseball team to spread the word and capture Kenny’s personality and legacy in the truest way possible.

The Committee will aim to raise $15,000 by the end of the

year for this gift.

Chaired by seniors Marina Boyle, Grace Siwinski and Claire Orr, the Committee meets on Thursdays at 7 p.m. in Zurn 214 and is always open to having new members come along.

On Sept. 24 the Committee hosted a Bingo event outside the Student Union. It had an excellent turnout and allowed students to play and donate to the gift at the same time.

They played various styles in each round with plenty of prizes to win. There were ten winners total, and on top of that, each participant won a deck of Mercyhurst themed cards.

Senior Class Gift events chair, Grace Siwinski, felt the event was a great start to the year.

“These events are a great way to donate to the Senior Class Gift and to enjoy your time on campus during these unique times,” Siwinski said.

The Senior Class Gift Committee is also selling Roost growlers to students, staff, and friends as another fundraiser. Anyone who is 21 or older can purchase one and use it at the Roost, and anyone who is not yet 21 can still purchase one and not use it for non-alcoholic beverages until they are of age.

Siwinski said that the Roost growlers are a one-time purchase of $25. After that, you simply pay the price of the beverage you wish to fill it with at the Roost.

The growlers can be ordered online and picked up from Egan 212

at your earliest convenience.

Finally, the Campus Crawl will be the Committee’s biggest event so far. It will be held on Oct. 16 from 5-7 p.m. Tickets will be $25, and it will be a walking food tour that is “Taste of Erie” themed from the comfort of the Mercyhurst campus.

There will be multiple stations where students can get food local to Erie, such as pepperoni balls, stuffed potato skins, sponge candy and lots more. Students will check in at Trinity Green and visit multiple tables around campus in order to get their food. There will also be a featured student performer at the crawl.

Signups are only open until Friday, Oct. 2 so be sure to sign up this week. You can get your ticket using this link: https://hurstalumni.wufoo.com/forms/p1svx4hc0l3i3wk/ “Afterwards, any students who are 21 or older are welcome to head to the Roost to fill up their growler. This will take place immediately following the Crawl from 7-8 p.m.,” Siwinski said.

Siwinski said that she is “excited for this year, and to create a scholarship that will help students in the years to come.”

The senior class is excited to raise money for this gift and pay tribute to the amazing spirit of Kenny Robinson. Any student, staff member or friend of the university can make a gift as a onetime donation, become a monthly donor to give $100 over the course of the year, or donate by

Contributed photo

The Class of 2021 will carry on the memory of Kenny Robinson with a slogan meaningful to his life - beat the odds.

Contributed photo

Signups for the Campus Crawl are currently open.

attending events.

The Senior Class Gift Committee is always open to hearing new event ideas. Anyone who has an idea should contact Grace Si-

winski, and the Senior Class Gift Committee will try to make it happen.

Keep an eye out for upcoming events to support the SCG!

International students feel the impact of COVID

By Victoria McGinty

Features editor

The unexpectedness of living in a COVID-19 era has altered many lives across the country and the world. In particular, there have been specific challenges for our international students.

One of the primary superheroes in the department is Brooke Fischman. The assistant director of the International Student Office, she handled helping students with the ever-changing immigration policies during the spring and summer months.

When COVID-19 first arose in January, anyone, including the International Student Office staff, never could have imagined that the virus would become anything like it is today. Fischman’s main concern at the time was reassuring and assisting students whose home countries were being impacted.

In March, however, the world as we once knew it shut down, and

we entered a world that would then change at a moment’s notice.

“As a department, our number one concern is always the health and safety of our students, but I was becoming increasingly concerned with what would happen to our students immigration-wise if Mercyhurst went to remote learning. My concern was that due to federal regulation, most international students are limited to one to two online courses per semester. Any more than that and students fall out of compliance, which means they have to leave the country,” Fischman said.

Thankfully, on Mar. 12, 2020, the SEVP issued guidance that permitted schools temporary procedural changes, which allowed students the chance to figure something out in terms of remote learning and housing during the now seven-month quarantine.

Over the days following the policy, Mercyhurst went fully remote.

From there, the department had to act quickly.

During that first week, all of their time was spent planning and making arrangements for the international students to either get home or find a temporary home either on campus or elsewhere.

Once remote learning was in full swing, the International Student Office continued to support their students as they would ordinarily, holding meetings via Zoom and Teams.

When the unique semester came to a close, the Office went back to work and began to plan for the coming months. When President Victor announced that the campus would open up, the International Student Office devised plans and protocols for any and all situations that may arise.

First, the staff reached out to students to let them know what their options looked like. For students who are unable to be with us in person this semester, they remain online, still maintaining their F1 immigration statuses.

However, most international stu-

dents are safely here on campus with us today.

Many students had difficult financial circumstances as a result of pandemic-related job losses and the unexpected costs of traveling home. Most then had to return amidst confusing immigration policies and to a mandatory 14day quarantine.

That said, for many Lakers, that was worth it in order to return to the Hurst.

“I am delighted to be at Mercyhurst this year for my final year of grad school, as well as coaching the Field Hockey team,” said Applied Intelligence Studies graduate student Libby Riedl. “Being on campus instead of completely remote learning is so beneficial to so many people across the school.

I am excited for this year and am incredibly happy to continue being able to work in athletics and get my degree in person, despite being in a global pandemic.”

Riedl returned from Canada to complete her education.

For Alex Nicanor Kenmogne Tayou, a graduate student from Cameroon, the pandemic meant staying on campus.

“I didn’t have the opportunity to go back home because the borders of my home country, Cameroon, were closed even before the U.S. closed its borders to the rest of the world. I was obliged to stay here on campus throughout the pandemic because I have no close family around. It was a very rough time given that it was my first semester in Erie, however I managed to get through this and I’m now looking forward to the future,” Tayou said.

Mercyhurst is very grateful for all of the hard work and dedication shown by the International Student Office thus far.

We are excited to have many of our international students back on campus with us.

FEATURES

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

PAGE 9

Mercyhurst professor writes book

By Ivory Easton

Contributing writer

Jennifer Craven, an instructor of Fashion Merchandising at Mercyhurst, has recently written a new book. Craven is also a blogger and mother, with three young children at home.

Her new book, entitled “A Long Way From Blair Street,” is a fictionalized biography of the life of Craven’s great-aunt Jeanne Gildea’s life. Although Craven’s account is close to factual, she “took liberties to fictionalize it, in certain areas” saying “I imagined some of the aspects.”

Jeanne Gildea has a story that is worth telling primarily because she started a movement through her own female empowerment.

Craven got the idea for the book from an available essay prompt online about Christmas traditions.

She remembers her great-aunt knitting custom, unique Christmas stockings for her immediate and extended family. According to Craven, this idea was the basis of her inspiration for a story.

“However, the book is bigger than a Christmas story, because I think her life was so interesting,” Craven said. Hence, the story turned into a full book.

Craven wanted to write the book about her great-aunt because of her amazing, inspiration-

al life, so that people outside of Craven’s immediate family could find inspiration from it.

Her great-aunt was born in the late 1920s in south Pennsylvania on Blair Street, and was diagnosed with polio as a child.

Gildea was in and out of hospitals, had radical surgeries and lived the rest of her life with a stiff leg.

Craven explained that despite this, Gildea’s nature was not one of self-pity.

“She was never ‘woe is me’, she never complained and she lived each day in reality. She lived with the mindset of ‘this is my life and I have to make the best out of it,’” Craven said.

As a result, “A Long Way from Blair Street” follows the wondrous life of a disabled woman who undergoes intense surgery, beats the odds, moves to Washington D.C. and triumphs despite her limitations.

The biographical novel explores themes of family dynamics and expectations, self-fulfillment and the will to overcome.

Through the lens of twentieth century America, “A Long Way from Blair Street” is a coming-ofage story with the central lesson of acceptance and the power of never giving up.

The book states, “she was a girl whose legs couldn’t work, but her fingers were magical.”

Ivory Easton photo

Instructor of Fashion Merchandising, Jennifer Craven, holds her new book, “A Long Way from Blair Street.” The book is an account of the life of her great-aunt, Jeanne Gildea.

Craven also expressed that the book has a message.

“There is an interesting lesson for anyone who wants to read something lighter and it is a book that puts things into perspective.”

This book captures her family dynamic and how proud Craven

is of her great-aunt’s amazing life.

The book is available at Press Bookstore and is sold on Amazon.

Craven is also working on another novel that is yet to be named – a historical fiction that will be available next year.

If anyone is interested in her

novel, posts of what she is working on and a cover reveal of her next available book can be found if you follow her on Instagram @jennifercravenauthor.

FROM THE ARCHIVES November 1939: Due to lack of money when Mercyhurst was built, the budget of the initial years could not stretch to cover the costs of building a chapel. The much-needed finances soon came from a pair of generous benefactors, James and Orva O’Neil. On Oct. 29, 1939 Mercyhurst College conferred its first honorary degree of Doctor of Letters on Mary Orva O’Neil in recognition of her outstanding religious and literary achievements.

The editors of the Merciad noted that “Mrs. O’Neil has long been an intimate friend of Mercyhurst. Her benefactions to the school have been many, most outstanding among them being the Mercyhurst Chapel of Christ the King, an architectural gem in the Erie community.” Mother Xavier O’Neil and Sr. Regis O’Neil of the Mercyhurst Order of Mercy were also sisters of her husband, the late James E. O’Neil.

PAGE 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

“Soundwalk” debuts in Central Park

By Laren Reesman

Staff writer

Central Park just got an upgrade, to the delight of walkers and picnickers living in New York. An app called “Soundwalk” allows the beautiful music of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra to flourish throughout the park, and anyone with the app can listen as they waltz their way through the various pieces dependent on what “cell” of the park you are in.

Accompanying the orchestra are two other New York groups—the Young People’s Chorus and the jazz band Poole and the Gang. There is a mixture of old and new compositions, from Beethoven’s “Pastoral Symphony” to “New York, New York.”

Then the trucks pull up. Well, more of a Bandwagon. It traverses the city at all hours of the day, searching for the per-

fect spot to set up a pop-up concert. The orchestra managed to add an element of mystery to a locked down city by announcing what pieces and musicians will play each week, but not disclosing a location.

The pickup simply appears on a curbside one day and invites anyone in the area to watch and listen.

The New York Philharmonic Orchestra created an atmosphere that not only keeps its presence relevant during this time but might even lend to a revival of the classical music genre.

The resources needed to start a program like “Soundwalk” are expensive and time-consuming. Smaller communities such as Erie could not garner the support for such a project, even with the help of local music groups and universities. Limitations on social gatherings and visitations to certain locations would also be

an obstacle, as Erie does not have a public space as large as Central Park.

The performing arts faculty at Mercyhurst University is “well overextended” trying to provide necessary opportunities for their students according to Jonathan Moser, the director of the Civic Orchestra at Mercyhurst.

The orchestra, which combines community members and Mercyhurst student musicians, was canceled for the fall semester. Mr. Moser noted how eager Erie musicians are to restart rehearsals and concerts in the spring. Even if the music department does not generate physical audiences this fall, several opportunities exist to “attend” concerts and recitals.

On Sept. 27, Mercyhurst had its first ever livestream recital. Subsequent livestreams will follow including small ensembles, the Civic Orchestra (strings only) and the Faculty Recital Series on Oct. 7

and 21 and Nov. 11.

The pandemic affected music and performance more than other arts.

Moser works as the Erie Junior Philharmonic artistic director, the Erie Philharmonic principal second violin, the Presque Isle ProMusica music director, the Philadelphia International Music Festival Orchestra program director and instrument repairman, and says “every single one of these has almost entirely disappeared.”

With the New York Philharmonic Orchestra’s annual budget of $87 million, they fly solo in the face of preserving musical and performing arts culture, especially classical music. However, they don’t hope to achieve this goal without dedicated students, teachers, and audiences. Give the livestreams a listen and enjoy.

Pulitzer considers awarding unstaged shows

By Eva Philips

Contributing writer

COVID-19 has brought changes to all parts of daily life, and one of its most obvious impacts has been on the arts.

Now that large gatherings are a source of potential danger, it has become impossible for performances like concerts, plays, and musicals to take place in front of a live audience.

However, thanks to recent policy changes by the Pulitzer Prize Board, dramatic works can get the recognition they rightfully deserve. These changes will allow the Pulitzer Prize Board to give award consideration to plays that were streamed online, performed in an alternative venue, postponed or canceled altogether.

This is a break from normal precedent. Previously, only in-person plays were eligible for the Pulitzer Prize in drama.

Since in-person productions were largely put on hold due to pandemic restrictions, this alteration makes sense.

It will allow dramatic works and their creators to receive the recognition they deserve, despite the unusual circum-

stances.

The rule changes apply to works performed or scheduled for performance in 2020, which will be eligible for the 2021 Pulitzer Awards. Pulitzer Awards are announced in the springtime every year, and as of right now, this tradition will hold.

The Pulitzer Board will give playwrights the power to decide when their plays are considered for the award. However, creators can only submit a work for consideration once.

These changes are not the first example of the interference of COVID-19 with the Pulitzer Awards.

This past April, the Pulitzer Board delayed the announcement of the recipients of the 2020 Pulitzer Awards in order to accommodate the journalists who participate in choosing the winners. As these journalists faced pressures due to the demands of covering the COVID-19 pandemic, covering anything else became less of a priority.

Therefore, the announcement of the award winners occurred on May 4 rather than Apr. 20, as previously planned.

The 2020 Pulitzer Award in Drama went to Michael R.

Jackson’s musical “A Strange Loop”, beating out finalists “Heroes of the Fourth Turning” by Will Arbery and “Soft Power” by David Henry Hwang and Jeanine Tesori.

This year, notable productions that will be eligible for consideration thanks to the rule change include Richard Nelson’s livestreamed trilogy of plays, Tracy Letts’ “The Minutes”, Noah Haidle’s “Birthday Candles” and the new musical “Flying Over Sunset”, as well as Lucas Hnath’s “Dana H.,” which was set to be performed off-Broadway prior to its cancellation.

Many have turned to the arts as a source of comfort during the COVID-19 pandemic and the stresses of modern life. Whether that comfort comes from television, literature, film, or drama, it is undeniably a vital part of human culture.

The alteration of the Pulitzer eligibility rules allows dramatic works to receive the appreciation they deserve and ultimately reflects the importance of art in the most difficult times.

Featured Ar tist

RACHEL BROWN Rachel Brown hails from Erie, PA. Though a military veteran, Brown graduated from Mercyhurst with a Culinary degree in 1998. She graduated once more with a Bachelor’s in Spring of 2020, and is returning again to complete her Master’s in Special Education.

During her family’s COVID-19 quarantine, she found a passion for painting as a way to release her creative energy. On a hike in Harborcreek, she happened upon some interesting rocks. After acquiring a few tools, she began conjuring up images of nature in her head and free-handing them on to the rocks with acrylic paint.

She has since given many as gifts and even sold some of her painted rocks. Her favorite rocks that she has painted are of cherry blossoms, inspired by the Cherry Blossom Tree Festivals she witnessed in Japan.

All in all, art is incredibly important to Brown because it brings joy to both herself and others.

Contributed photo

An example of one of Brown’s cherry blossom works.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11

UPCOMING EVENTS

“The Last Airbender” returns

By Nina Diplacido

Contributing writer

If you are on any form of social media, it’s hard not to recognize the return of a very popular show. From memes to conspiracy theories, the return of “Avatar: The Last Airbender” has dominated pop culture.

When the show aired in 2005 it had an average of 3.1 million viewers tuning in for every new episode.

Though the leading demographic at the time was six- to 11-year-olds, the return of Aang and his friends to Netflix this summer has attracted audiences of all ages.

Perhaps part of this could be the fact that those six- to 11year-olds grew up, and now watch it for the nostalgia.

When rewatching it in 2020, I found Avatar even more entertaining than I did before. Based on the whirlwind of TikToks and memes, I would guess I’m not the only one.

What is it that makes “Avatar” so appealing to everyone?

The main reason “Avatar: The Last Airbender” appeals to such a vast audience is because there is something in this show for everyone, despite age, political beliefs, sense of humor, or even basic personality traits.

No matter how young or old,

this storyline is entertaining. For younger kids and the current emerging adults, that could be enough of a reason to watch this show and enjoy every second.

Yes, it’s the classic good vs. evil storyline. The plot twists and new characters sprinkled throughout the show make it different and captivating.

Older adults may value entertainment, but they also might crave something “worthwhile.”

Could “Avatar: The Last Airbender” appeal to them? It can, in fact.

More serious and adult topics such as war, genocide and imperialism are common themes raised throughout the show, while also exploring issues of free will and destiny. While this show is truly entertaining, it can also be very thought-provoking.

Along with this idea, the societal issues of the show cannot be overlooked. A very relevant topic is the depiction of female characters, including Katara, Azula, Toph, Suki, Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee. Every single female character in this show is powerful. In certain points of the storyline, they even blatantly depict gender discrimination and battle it head-on.

For example, when Sokka first meets Suki and her warriors, he expresses his knowledge that he is stronger and better suited to fight

simply because he is male. The women quickly prove him wrong and train him as a warrior - only after he abandons his misogynistic views.

The way “Avatar: The Last Airbender” calls out gender discrimination and uses entertainment to convey the power of females is empowering to women of all ages.

However, empowerment in this show is not limited to just females. Prince Zuko strives for his father’s approval throughout the series, to his own extreme detriment. Yet he ultimately discovers this is not who he is, or what he wants.

This shows the younger generations that it is okay to choose a destiny, even though it may not always be what others want.

All generations can be educated by the iconic character of Uncle Iroh. He supports Zuko in the decisions he makes and encourages him to make his own path. Even when Zuko hurts Iroh, is impatient, or dismisses him, his uncle is always there to forgive him and provide him with guidance.

Uncle Iroh is popular, of course, for his iconic jokes and songs, but also because he is an image of what young generations want: support for their individualism and empowerment.

The sense of humor and per-

sonality traits of the characters are some of the key aspects to why audiences are so entertained by “Avatar.”

Between Sokka’s puns, Iroh’s sunny optimism, Toph’s sarcasm, and unique sound effects, there is an element of humor for anyone who likes to laugh.

The personality traits are also intriguing to us because we identify with the characters, or at least appreciate their characteristics. Katara’s responsibility, Sokka’s silliness, or Aang’s kindness are either things people see in themselves or just like about the character.

A huge aspect of this show is the personalities depicted by the types of bending and the want to identify with one type. The number of Instagram polls asking, “am I a Firebender or an Earthbender?” is astonishing. People want to know where they fit in the “Avatar” universe.

After looking at the show as a whole, there is no question as to why it has broken the internet.

Not only is it entertaining, but it’s empowering and thought-provoking. From young children to their grandparents, there is truly something in this show for everyone.

“Avatar: The Last Airbender” may be defined as a children’s show but it has proven to be much more.

Oct. 1-3 @ 7:30 p.m. & Oct. 4 @ 2:00 p.m, on Zoom: The Canterville Ghost Oct. 11 @ 2 p.m. on Zoom: Angélique Kidjo Oct. 28 @ 7:30 p.m. on Zoom: Melissa Errico Nov. 12 @ 7:30 p.m. on Zoom: Rascasuelos Dec. 3 @ 7:30 p.m. on Zoom: Natalie MacMaster & DonnellLeahy present A Celtic Family Christmas

Photo Seniorplanet.org

Dancers participate in Times Square “Table of Silence” for 9/11 in 2019. The display looked a little different this year due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Table of Silence remembers 9/11

By Savannah Sass Staff writer

The Table of Silence was supposed to celebrate its tenyear anniversary this year, but COVID-19 completely changed the way that should look. The project originally began in 2010 as a tribute to the lives lost in the terrorist attacks on 9/11.

Jacqulyn Buglisi created the Table of Silence 9/11 Project to demonstrate a “multicultural prayer for peace” after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

In previous years, there have been large crowds who come to observe the more than 150 dancers who perform, but that was out

of the question this year.

This year there were only 28 dancers. The performance was not allowed to be watched in person, but there was a livestream of the event for anyone who wanted to watch it.

The event opened with violinist Daniel Bernard Roumain playing the National Anthem while the dancers entered the plaza. The performance consisted of a “Prologue” and a moment of silence at 8:46 a.m., which is when the first plane crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

The “Prologue” was new this year as an adaptation to the original “Table of Silence” that has been played annually for the past nine

years. The live stream also included footage from previous years.

The performance took place at Lincoln Center in New York City, which has been closed since Mar. 12, due to the COVID restrictions. While this event was a lot more concise than it has been in previous years, the ceremonial gestures remained relatively the same.

Jennifer McNamara, assistant professor of Dance at Mercyhurst, explained the event.

“This year, since the pandemic disrupted everything, the 12 gestures used in the piece became a meditation in and of themselves, and every week through the summer, people came together on

Zoom to practice them, to create a place and time for community, and to remember what humanity, the things we share, and the things that divide us really mean as we are moving through this extraordinary time.”

Everyone had to adapt in order to accommodate the new regulations around large-group gatherings. The live performance followed all NYS and CDC guidelines concerning social distancing and wearing masks.

There is no doubt that the attacks on 9/11 affected everyone in the United States and probably around the world, but people in the dance world now had a new story to tell through their art,

which was loss.

McNamara recalls, “when the attacks happened on 9/11, the company with which I was dancing had brought in a guest choreographer who had just begun to create a work telling the stories of soldiers killed in battle and the grief of those they left behind, so it rocked my world.”

McNamara continued, “like any event that upends a sense of normalcy, like this pandemic, the effects of 9/11 are still rippling through the economy, and to some extent that affects so many aspects of dance, theater, art and the making of any works in these mediums.”

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD It’s Halloween season!

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Ethical considerations for Elon Musk’s brain chip sound, as long as the insertion process does not cause undue suffering.

Contributing writer On the other hand, attempting to alter their behavior presents moral dilemmas on numerous different There has recently been news of another (the list just goes on, levels.

One, it would mean doesn’t it?) intriguing piece of technology from Elon Musk: his interfering with their autonomy.

This alone could be Neuralink brain chip. considered more than enough On Aug. 28, Musk hosted reason to avoid altering their a live demo to show the chip behavior with brain implants, in action in the brain of a pig seeing that the autonomy of named Gertrude. a living organism is central The chip relayed live signals to its identity, the massive from Gertrude’s brain. Using the chip in this manner could be influences of collective structures notwithstanding. useful for animal testing.

Two, altering their behavior Nonetheless, Musk hopes to in a way that would benefit eventually use a better version of this chip to treat neurological humans (i.e., making cows eat more in order to cause them conditions in humans and to be able to provide us with eventually merge human more meat) would mean using consciousness with computers.

And, while the device is still largely in a conceptual stage, there are still moral questions we In almost any should ask about its use, in both sense, the animals and humans. merging of human Even though these questions, consciousness with and the issues they relate to, are artificial intelligence extremely complex, I hope to would mean cover them in a meaningful way.

Firstly: is it even ethical to use sacrificing some this technology in animals? human autonomy.”

In Neuralink’s case, at least, Garrett Freas the insertion of this technology into the brain of Gertrude the pig can be considered ethical.

In a Business Insider article the animal as a means to end, on the technology, professor which is generally frowned upon Andrew Jackson of the University of Newcastle, who has morally.

But don’t we do this already worked with the same concepts, with animals? We largely do noted that the way the chip is when we treat them as sources of inserted benefits the welfare of food that can benefit us, and not any animal exposed to it. as living, feeling beings.

“Even if the technology Thus, maybe the moral issues doesn’t do anything more than raised by the usage of this chip what we’re able to do at the moment — in terms of number in animals can help us better of channels or whatever — just examine how we have been treating animals in the past. from a welfare aspect for the At the same time, though, our animals, I think if you can do experiments with something that currently immoral treatment of many animals (particularly doesn’t involve wires coming through the skin, that’s going to livestock) could lead to a moral improve the welfare of animals,” slide that would more easily enable us to treat them even Jackson said. more poorly in the future, such But even if the insertion of it is ethical, is the use of it as well? as with this chip.

But what about its usages in I think it depends on how the people? chip is used.

The degree to which the The chip being used to implant interferes with monitor the brain activity of autonomy is vital to the morality animals and better understand of it here as well. their behavior clearly has One of the potential uses different ethical implications than if it were used to alter their of it in humans is monitoring brain activity in order to behavior. better understand neurological Monitoring brain activity conditions such as Alzheimer’s or in order to better understand dementia. animals can help us better care This is similar to using it to for them and maximize their better understand and care for quality of life.

Such a usage would be morally animals.

By Garrett Freas

BAD The West coast is still getting ravaged by fires

HAPPY We are still able to have classes in-person, and are a pretty healthy campus

The Merciad STUDENT EDITORS Marina Boyle............................ Editor in Chief Gillian Mazur ....................... Managing Editor Rebecca Dunphy .........................News Editor Victoria McGinty .................... Features Editor Michael Boylan ..........................Sports Editor Christa Knipes .............................. A&E Editor Quinn Gannon ......................... Opinion Editor Sarah Klein ...................................Copy Editor 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 via email at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu.

“

Again, in this case, so long as the insertion of the chip does not cause significant pain for the participant, the benefits gained in terms of knowledge and treatment abilities would make using it morally acceptable (with the consent of the person involved).

Musk’s stated goal of merging human consciousness with AI is certainly less clear in its ethical implications, though.

In almost any sense, the merging of human consciousness with artificial intelligence would mean sacrificing some human autonomy.

Again, the autonomy of a living being is essential to its identity, and sacrificing some of it would mean altering their identity and doing so outside of the ‘laws of nature’.

For some, this could be considered highly immoral.

Relating to this are the different cultural perceptions of using this technology in such a way.

In many religious and spiritual practices, the body is considered sacred. In this sense, altering it with technology would be considered immoral.

Merging human consciousness with AI would also probably lead to ‘enhancements’ of humans’ cognitive abilities.

Such enhancements and the technologies they come from would likely only be economically feasible for the wealthy, at least at first.

This could quickly lead to greater inequalities between rich and poor, seeing that cognitive enhancements could allow the uber-rich to become even more successful, while those lower down on the socioeconomic ladder would initially be unable to acquire such enhancements.

In theory, this would make social mobility even more difficult for the lower and lowermiddle classes, likely making their lives harder than they already are.

While most of these concerns are completely hypothetical at this time, I still think it is important to consider them sooner rather than later.

Technological innovation moves faster in the twentyfirst century than it ever has in human history. Given this speed, I think it is imperative that we question the morals of what we are potentially getting into before it’s already a part of our daily lives.

Once an innovation or idea is already entrenched in society, it is extremely difficult to question and almost impossible to go back on.

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

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

OPINION

PAGE 13

You need to vote HURST STUDENTS in November 2020 SPEAK UP We should take the advice of

care.

If one does not care, they need experienced so much more.

But to take a step back and evaluate Staff writer at the end of the day, we are what they truly want to see out individuals that need to take our of life. own actions.

Does one believe in the Undoubtedly, this election will Asking the hard questions pursuit of life, liberty, and bring massive change for us as about personal philosophy is property, without impeding students, as a society, and as a crucial to engaging in legitimate others? country. debate. It is certainly not easy to Or does one believe in the But there is something deeper discuss or argue about politics pursuit of life, liberty and going on rather than simply the and can create all sorts of property, with assistance because tangible platforms. cognitive dissonance with past there are those who did not Through just the metric of beliefs. have the same advantages as the popular vote, who do you think However, if more people start person next to them? won 2016? thinking critically, then as a Thinking of values and ethics The answer is no one. The society, we will bring more focus like these will clearly shape one’s clear majority chose not to vote to our everyday lives political identity. with 29.9%, followed by Hillary Simply not engaging in voting The time has come, and a Clinton’s 19.8% and Donald is squandering a gift that people decision must be made.

Trump’s 19.5%. have fought for.

Failing to vote is not a protest, 28.6% of the population was Sitting in the middle without it is supporting the outcome no ineligible to vote. a legitimate position and simply matter what.

2020 is the absolute crucial saying, “I see both sides of the I believe voter turnout will time to come to terms with what argument” is not really saying be much stronger in 2020 than one believes, and even more anything at all.

2016, because I hope more importantly, why.

That is not to say do not vote people take an introspective look No matter who one supports, third party. I am speaking about at their values. a clear moral framework people who lack the strength to Make a plan to vote in person that points to that belief is a take a stance on an issue. or by mail, and make sure your necessity.

Individuals must form an ballot is read on Tuesday, Nov. 3.

Simply trying to be a opinion about what is being If all else fails and you still contrarian is not a valid point. debated and act accordingly. cannot decide who to mark on Nor is believing something Even more insidiously, there the ballot, ask yourself, “What solely because your family does. are people that simply do not future do you want to see?”

By Sam Peterson elders seriously as they have

FOLLOW US!

Twitter: @TheMerciad Instagram: @MUMerciad Facebook: The Merciad

We asked: What shows did you binge during quarantine?

Hallie Perry, senior Human Resource Management major : “During quarantine I watched Tiger King, Bones, Psych, Monk and Lake Erie Murders.”

Natalie Meure, freshman Political Science major: “I watched many shows during quarantine, including Outer Banks, Quantico, Love is Blind, Euphoria and American Horror Story.”

Lily Smith, sophomore Public History/ Museum Studies and Political Science major: “I watched The Society and Scandal during quarantine.”

Aubrey Cole, sophomore Early Childhood and Special Education major, “During quarantine I watched Outer Banks and New Girl.”

Compiled by Bella Lee

Tag us in your newsworthy Hurst moments!

Thoughts on requiring an unlimited meal plan for all four years

By Ashley Barletta Staff writer

A meal plan is one of the main concerns for residential college students, especially first-year students who are new to the college experience. Mercyhurst is now requiring an unlimited meal plan for all students starting with freshman in the fall of 2020 throughout their four years here.

This is so that they do not have to worry about running out of meal swipes while adapting to their new environment.

Though this seems to be very useful, there is much controversy among students surrounding the

topic.

“It’s convenient, but I don’t think it should be required” said Holly O’Donald, freshman Intelligence Studies major. “I can understand if it would be highly recommended, especially for those first entering into college, but it’s unnecessary for those who are not freshmen. I’m also not sure of the goal they want to achieve in making us have an unlimited meal plan all four years.”

For me, an unlimited meal plan means there is one less thing I have to stress about.

I don’t have to worry about not having enough meal swipes to last me through the semester, and it’s not like students aren’t taking advantage of the

unlimited meal plan, either.

Since the Grotto Commons is an all-you-care-to-eat facility, nobody can stop you from taking five slices of pizza, even if you aren’t going to eat them all right then and there.

However, I had no idea that I was required to have an unlimited meal plan while living on campus until I agreed to write this article.

In searching through the numerous emails I have received since June of this year, I have not found anything about my meal plan.

Not that I’m complaining, but it would have been nice to know about before moving in.

I can also understand why some people may not like the

idea of being forced to spend their money on an unlimited meal plan, because they may not have the need for one.

It is uncommon for many students to eat breakfast in the first place, but I have also heard of some students having back-toback classes from early morning to mid-afternoon.

These people do not necessarily have time to stop at the dining hall in between classes, and can probably only go in the evening.

Although they could stock up on food from Hurst-in-a-Hurry, it is not ideal to do so because they would have to carry the food around in their book bags until they could bring it to their dorms, where they may not have

a mini fridge to store it in.

Plus, there are no microwaves in the dormitories, and therefore, students would need to use the ones in the communal kitchen area in their residence halls.

Although I can’t be sure how I will feel as a junior or senior, in the end, I like having an unlimited meal plan for now.

Whether I am running to the Grotto after my 9 a.m. class for coffee before going to work study, or sitting at one of the picnic tables outside with my friends after a long day, I am happy to be able to swipe my OneCard whenever I need to get out of my dorm and relax.

SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

Professional sports affected by social distancing

By Bella Lee

Staff writer

The world of professional sports has seen some very interesting changes this year. From a significantly shorter baseball season to a lack of a preseason for football, things have certainly changed in order to score goals, points, touchdowns and home runs during the pandemic.

Sports fans already had to adjust to having hockey and basketball playoffs months later than originally anticipated, but when these games started up again, one key item was missing: the fans.

Many sports took measures

to ensure their players and staff could remain as safe as possible during the pandemic. For their delayed playoffs, the NBA opted to play their games and have their players and staff stay in a “bubble” in order to reduce travel and as a result reduce the risk of infection.

The NBA’s bubble is located at the ESPN’s Wide World of Sports inside Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

The NHL took a similar approach when they resumed their playoff games. One key difference from the NBA, however, is that the NHL has been using two “hub cities,” depending on whether the team is in the Eastern or Western Conference. Teams in the Eastern

Conference played their games in Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena, while Western Conference teams played in Edmonton’s Rogers Place. Once the Stanley Cup Finals are underway, the games will be played in Edmonton.

The MLB and NFL continue to travel to their opponents’ stadiums in order to play their games, but changes have been made in order to combat the virus. A typical MLB season has 162 games, but due to the delayed start to the season and the desire to end the season on time, this year’s season was significantly shortened to 60 games.

The NFL opted to cancel their preseason and start their normal

season as usual on Sept. 13. International games that were scheduled, including one in Mexico City and four in London, were rescheduled to be played in the United States. The Hall of Fame Game, scheduled to be played on Aug. 6, was rescheduled for Aug. 5, 2021. The Dallas Cowboys and Pittsburgh Steelers will play each other as originally intended.

The lack of fans at most of these games has certainly been strange for sports fans across the country.

For many fans, going four months without any sports on TV certainly took a toll on keeping people busy, especially as the dates of the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs came and went.

We had the NFL and MLB drafts during this time, but it was nothing like having games played again. I, like many other sports fans, was overjoyed upon hearing about the return of sports, but then seeing these games being played without fans just wasn’t the same. Be it the Washington Football Team or the Capitals (my personal favorites), the lack of colors and cheers was nothing less than disheartening. The sports world is looking very otherworldly right now, but in due time, we’ll all be reunited in stadiums and in the streets of our cities once again, cheering on our beloved teams as they work their way towards winning prestigious championships.

Athletics throwback: Women’s hockey hosts team China

By Alexis Lovewell

Staff writer

This week two years ago, the Mercyhurst University Women’s Ice Hockey team had the opportunity to play against a national team at their home rink.

On Oct. 3, 2017, Team China took a trip over to America to play some hockey.

Mercyhurst was able to play Team China because a Chinese businessman created two professional teams in China, Kunlun Red and Vanke. These two teams have a mix of both graduated NCAA players and also the top prospects from China.

The Chinese teams recruited former NCAA coaches in hopes of elevating the play of the Chi-

nese National Teams for the next Olympics.

“These two teams came over to the United States and Canada to play teams from the pro leagues here and on the trip. They sought out some NCAA teams for China’s National Team players to play,” Coach Sisti said.

Emily Janiga, a Mercyhurst alumnae and former captain of the Women’s hockey team on campus, was playing on one of the teams at the time so it was awesome to have her back on campus playing a sport she loves again.

Having her back on campus playing on a national team shows the other players what can be possible with hard work and dedication to the sport.

Janiga came back to visit her

alma mater with the two hockey clubs that consisted of 60 other players, coaches, and staff in total. Athletes on the Chinese teams consisted of former collegiate athletes that attended schools such as Cornell, Boston College, Brown University, Minnesota-Duluth, Dartmouth, Princeton and St. Lawrence University are all represented on these two teams.

Team China came to the United States and Canada in efforts to expand women’s ice hockey participation and build a competitive team before hosting the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Players on the two Chinese Olympic teams, Kunlun and Vanke, recruit elite players from not only just China and the United States, but also players from European coun-

tries.

Alexa Vasko, currently a senior on the Women’s ice hockey team, was able to be a part of this unique experience in 2017. She remembers the event as being very special to her since she was able to speak to athletes from a different country that shared the same passion as her.

“It was definitely a really cool experience for everyone on the team! It’s not every day you get to play against an international team, especially China, so that made it very special. Mercyhurst made this a really cool event, and it looked like everyone on campus enjoyed it,” Vasko said.

The game was treated as an exhibition match and there was no focus on score, as both teams used

the opportunity to see their players in all situations to prepare for the upcoming season.

Coach Sisti believes that this game was a nice tune-up game for the season and that it was a fun way to show off our campus to many new faces.

“It was great to be part of something new and help the sport of hockey continue to grow,” Coach Sisti said.

The visit from Team China was not only a valuable experience for the Mercyhurst team, but a push for women’s ice hockey on the global scale. While it showed how the sport transcends borders, it also helped Team China grow their team and gave talented players a chance to build their career as a hockey player.

New athlete profiles: Women’s soccer

By RayLynn Chraston

Staff writer

The Mercyhurst Women’s soccer team has added seventeen new athletes to the roster this year.

We would like to welcome the following athletes to Mercyhurst University.

Maddie Elbro #1 goalkeeper from Kinver, UK previously played for the Wolverhampton Wanderers. Elbro made her debut at the age of 16 while earning the Player of the Season award during her first season. Elbro is majoring in Sports Medicine and is a good addition to the Women’s soccer team.

Emily Mijares #10 Midfielder from Brooklin, ON. While playing for her high school, Mijares was named Athlete of the Year and won the League Champion title in 2018.

At Mercyhurst, Mijares enjoys the friendships that she has made with the soccer team and the ability to practice at a high intensity.

Tori Talone #16 from Hilton, NY. While playing for her high school, Talone helped her team to make an

appearance in the Sectional Semifinal and earned an All-County Second Team honors in 2017.

Talone is looking forward to playing with her whole team with no masks and restrictions.

Chloe Kalina #19 Midfielder from Canfield, OH. While playing for her high school, Kalina was a four-year varsity member while earning a team captain spot in 2019. Kalina is looking forward to getting to be able to play together as a team because she is excited to see the dynamic of everyone on the field.

Vanessa Evans #24 Forward from Cambridge, NY. While playing for her high school she was chosen as team captain and was selected to the All-State Fourth-Team. So far at Mercyhurst, Evans has enjoyed being able to train with her teammates while forming many new friendships.

Abigail Godlewski #26 Midfield from Erie, PA. Godlewski achieved four regional titles and went to the PIAA 2A State Final in 2019 for her high school. Godlewski is looking forward to playing in the spring with her team and working toward a PSAC championship.

Cora Mong #32 from Wooster, OH. While playing for her high school, Mong was named Honorable Mention WCAL twice, named Honorable Mention All-Greater Akron, earned a Defensive Award, and was given the Outstanding Distance Award. Mong is currently majoring in Physical Therapy with a minor in Exercise Science.

Kira Lewis #33 Defense from Randolph, NY. While playing for her high school, Lewis earned two FirstTeam All-Star selections. Lewis is currently studying Exercise Science and will be a great addition to the Women’s soccer team.

Maycen Anthony #34 Forward from Apollo, PA. While playing for her high school Anthony earned three-time WPIAL All-Selection and two-time All-WPIAL team. Anthony is looking forward to building relationships with her teammates and is excited to see what the future of this program will look like.

Reilly Kowal #35 Defense from Lancaster, NY. While playing for her high school, Kowal had earned the 2019 Erie County Interscholastic Conference Division title. So far

at Mercyhurst, Kowal has been enjoying training with her team and making new friendships.

Alyssa Poleski #36 Defense from Apollo, PA. While playing for her high school, Poleski earned All-Selection and All-WPIAL honors in 2019. She also played for Kiski Fire and Kiski Area Girls Varsity team. Poleski is currently majoring in Graphic Design and will be a great addition to the Women’s soccer team.

Juliana Angrignon #38 from East Aurora, NY graduated from Iroquois High School, where she played soccer.

Angrignon is a great addition to the Women’s soccer team.

Rylee Schumacher #39 from Erie, PA, graduated from Mercyhurst Preparatory.

While playing for her high school, Schumacher also played for Erie Admirals Club Soccer and LESC. Schumacher is a great addition to the Women’s soccer team.

Rachel Frederick #41 from Sugar Grove, PA graduated from Eisenhower High school. While playing for her high school she earned Team Defensive MVP twice and Team MVP once.

Frederick also played with Kinzua Soccer Club as well.

Samantha Stone #42 from Pittsburgh, PA, graduated from West Allegheny High School. So far at Mercyhurst, Stone has enjoyed the beautiful campus and the amazing staff members. Stone is looking forward to being able to practice with the whole team and not just in their pods.

Emily Parker #46 Forward from Brockport, NY, graduated from Brockport High School where she earned All-State team honors in 2019.

Parker played soccer for Empire United as well. Currently, Parker is majoring in Chemistry.

Kaitlyn Low #50 Goalkeeper from North Royalton, OH , graduated from Walsh Jesuit High School. While playing for her high school, Low earned three North Coast League titles, three Ohio District championships. Low is majoring in Biology with a Pre-Physical Therapy minor.

SPORTS

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

PAGE 15

Hurst athletics moving forward

By Kenzie Schroeder Contributing writer

With COVID-19 looming over the start of the year, Mercyhurst athletic teams were forced to adapt to new safety precautions in order to start their seasons. While fall 2020 sports are cancelled and rescheduled to start this coming January, sports teams are still practicing, lifting, and working toward the spring when they can hopefully compete against other PSAC teams.

This year, athletic teams are working through phases that dictate the number of players in contact with one another, how often they practice, and for how long.

There are five phases that Athletics must work through to effectively practice in the COVID-19 pandemic.

Phase 1 entailed athletic practices being open for only scheduled and supervised use, but no field coaching. Students must wear masks at all times, remain six feet apart, there can be no contact or incidental contact drills, and hand sanitizer must be used before entering and exiting the playing surface.

The second phase allowed athletic venues to be scheduled, student athletes placed in pods of 12 or less, mask enforcements, and organized lifts.

The most recent phase that the athletic teams have entered is Phase 3. This phase continues enforcing the previous phases rules

but allows for athletes to be in pods of 24 or less.

With Phase 4 coming up next, the teams will have no limit on their pod sizes for practice and contact drills will be allowed.

The final phase is Phase 5, which entails all precautions listed in the previous phases, but athletes will only have to sanitize before entering and exiting the playing surface.

Every athlete on campus must fill out a symptom form every morning prior to them having practice and lift. This symptom form is their ticket to getting a daily wrist band from their team’s athletic trainer and being allowed to step on to the field or ice. Players must also sanitize and wear a mask while practicing.

“It has definitely been an adjustment, but I am glad to have the opportunity to be able to play and be on the field again. I am looking forward to hopefully getting out small groups and into some larger scale playing,” Rebeca McGwin, sophomore Women’s Lacrosse player, said.

While athletes have had to adapt to their new circumstances of playing their sport, coaches have also been tasked with working around the COVID-19 phases and safety guidelines.

“The transition to phase two is going well. It’s about the mindset and determination of the players.

I am thankful every day we have on the field, it’s definitely going well so far, but I am looking for-

ward to having bigger numbers on the field. It will allow for more drills and will keep our players interested in getting better and staying motivated every day,” Sam Struss, Women’s lacrosse assistant coach, said.

Kevin Cooke, head coach of the Women’s lacrosse team, spoke to the team’s progress through the phases.

“Our plan is to continue staying in the guidelines. We are excited for the next phase because it will give us an opportunity to work with more players at the same time and it’s an opportunity to socialize our team. This year is different because we are doing everything backwards. Usually we start practice on high and then slow down in October and November, but as a coach you have to adapt to what is given in front of you,” Cooke said.

Fall sports will not be able to compete until 2021. Field Hockey is one of many fall teams currently missing out on their regularly-scheduled game days, but the team has remained positive throughout the adversity.

“Things have been going great!

It has been a big adjustment with the new COVID-19 guidelines and now a new coach,” Libby Jones, a junior Field Hockey player, said. “I think it has pushed us to work harder and to appreciate every moment we have together on the field or in the weight room. I think right now we are grateful for the playing time we do

Contributed photo

have because some schools in the PSAC are not together or playing, so competing is a luxury we are looking forward to.”

Athletes received news on Sept.

25 that the Athletic Department plans on advancing into Phase 4 on Oct. 5 if the things continue to go well.

Masks are allowed to be removed when physical distancing can be guaranteed during individual drills and outdoor condition-

ing drills. Teams must remain in pods of 24 and contact drills are allowed with masks on.

Collegiate athletes at Mercyhurst and all around the country have lost or had a season postponed. While the return to sports in 2020 has been different than past years and involves wearing masks, athletes are grateful for the opportunity to just be on the field, playing their sport.

New athlete profiles: Men’s hockey

By Maiya Florence Harding Staff writer

Mercyhurst University’s NCAA Division I Men’s hockey team welcomes 11 new recruits this year, both freshmen and transfers.

The new team members include Carson Briere, Garrett Dahm, Austin Heidemann, Hank Johnson, Kimball Johnson, Noah Kane, Matt Lenz, Kyle McClellan, Marko Reifenberger, Dante Sheriff, and Keanan Stewart.

Carson BriereFrom Philadelphia, PA, Briere is a freshman and Communication Major and the son of former NHL athlete Daniel Briere. Last season, Carson Briere was on the Trail Smoke Eaters team in the British Columbia Hockey League. His three goals and nine assists in 24 games last season and 89 points in 59 games the year prior in the North American Hockey League’s Johnstown Tomahawk’s, made him an obvious pick for an offensive position here at Mercyhurst.

Garrett DahmA freshman from Belleville, Illinois, Dahm is currently an undecided major. Previously, he played for the Youngstown Phantoms in the United States Hockey League. In his 48 games last season, he scored 16 points in three goals and 13 assists.

Austin HeidemannFrom Maplegrove, Minnesota, Heidemann chose Mercyhurst because he loved the campus and connected with the coaches right away. He previously played for the Sioux Falls Stampede and the Sioux City Musketeers in the United States Hockey League. Out of his 36 games last season, he scored eight goals and three helpers, totaling 11 points.

With the Mercyhurst team he is most looking forward to growing together as a group on and off the ice. He believes “the future is very bright with the group we have.” He is a

Sports Management major.

Hank JohnsonTransferring from Bemidji State, Johnson is a senior who already has experience with three seasons in the NCAA. Last season he made four starts and had a .910 save percentage. Associate head coach Greg Gardner is most excited for Johnson’s “Senior leadership and… calming veteran presence.”

Kimball JohnsonOriginally from Coppell, Texas, Johnson played for the Minnesota Wilderness in the North American Hockey League. He played 49 games and last season earned 27 points on eight goals and 19 assists. He chose to play for Mercyhurst because of the coaching staff identifying it as “one of the best in college hockey.” Even in COVID times, he is enjoying practices, workouts, and hanging out with the team. He’s looking forward to the season and believes in starting with setting “smaller goals starting with winning our conference and building up from there.” Johnson is a Business Intelligence Major.

Noah KaneA freshman from Buffalo, New York, Kane was the captain of the Maine Nordiques in the North American Hockey League. His 24 goals and 34 assists in 54 games made him a standout offensive player. Hockey runs in his family as his brother plays for the DIII Lake Forest team and his cousin plays for the Chicago Blackhawks in the NHL. Kane is currently an undecided major.

Mathew LenzLenz chose to play for Mercyhurst because of the “firstclass” team and “all-class” people. He is a freshman coming from Grapevine, Texas and played with the Steinbeck Pistons on the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Last season he played 38 games with a .922 save percentage and 2.13 goals against average. He is most excited for “seeing how good our team will be and continuing to build everyday

toward our team goals with the guys.” Lenz is majoring in Business Finance.

Kyle McClellanMcClellan is from Manchester, Montana and played for the Omaha Lancers in the United States Hockey League.

In his 32 games, he racked up a .909 save percentage and 2.39 goals against average. Associate head coach Greg Gardner believes McClellan will “have a strong start here at Mercyhurst.” He is an undecided major.

Marko ReifenbergerRecruited out of the National American Hockey League, Reifenberger earned the spot as captain of the Minnesota Magicians last season. In his 51 games, he scored 33 points via nine goals and 24 assists. He is a freshman from Hastings, Minnesota, and a Communications major. Gardner has only good things to say about him because “on the ice he is a hard-nosed player who can make plays and make players around him better.”

Dante SheriffSheriff has experience with the Austin Bruins in the North American Hockey League. Out of the 47 games he played, he scored 62 points from 17 goals and 45 assists.

He has most enjoyed meeting and hanging out with the guys on the team. He believes that “we have a lot of young talent, so our potential is sky high.” This will make them likely to be contenders for the National Championship each year. He is a freshman from Brampton, Ontario, and is currently an undecided major.

Keanan StewartStewart is a freshman coming from Elmira, Ontario and has declared his major in Sports Business Management.

He played 54 games for the Burlington Cougars of the Ontario Junior Hockey League last season and earned 52 points for his 30 goals and 22 assists. According to Coach Gardner, he “can play all 3 forward positions… [and] has a knack for playing in the hard, dirty areas of the ice.”

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A workplace change doesn’t seem to have turned out quite as you’d hoped. Never mind: Just treat yourself to a healthy dollop of that Aries self-confidence, and you’ll soon view things differently.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Some of the support you might have hoped for in a difficult situation might not be there. But you have the strength to rely on your own capabilities if you must. Good luck.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A disagreement with a longtime friend can be painful, but it also can be a learning lesson. Insist on a full and complete airing of views. You’ll both come away the better for it.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A stalled relationship can be restarted with some give and take on both sides. And while it could take more time than you expect, don’t rush it. Be patient, and let it happen naturally.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) An opportunity to move a long-stalled project from concept to construction might be opening up for the Big Cat. Meanwhile, be prepared to spend more time dealing with family matters.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Use your Virgo organizational skills to line up support to help you deal with a sticky workplace problem. A personal matter also might be helped with friendly intervention.

Wednesday, September 30, 2020

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Trying to resolve a workplace problem with a longtime associate can be difficult. Consider bringing in an impartial third party to help you both reach a mutually acceptable solution.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) This is a good time to assess your current career situation. Consider whether you have a chance to move up where you are now, or if you should look elsewhere.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) With education being a dominant part of this week’s aspect, one of the things you might want to think about is taking courses to enhance your career opportunities.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) You might have a problem trying to stay focused on a matter you’d rather not deal with. But the sooner you do, the sooner it will be resolved and out of the way.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) An unforeseen complication creates a difficult problem. But things get resolved once you use your ability to turn negative situations into positive experiences.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) The Pisces penchant for doing the right thing at the right time helps you deal with a particularly troublesome situation. Consider your best option, and act accordingly.

BORN THIS WEEK: Although you might sometimes seem rigid in your views, your love of justice makes you a trusted friend everyone can rely on. © 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.

HURST TOON Student-drawn cartoon by Z-Man