Oct. 18 Edition of The Merciad

:Features On Page 3:

Arts & Entertainment On Page 4:

Tom Ridge Center

Erie Philharmonic

to feature

recital proves

dinosaur exhibit

to be a success

Sports On Page 7: Gomez de Segura reigns in PSAC finals

The MERCIAD

Read more inside & online

Mercyhurst university

Est. 1929 Vol. 90 No. 5

Wednesday, october 19, 2016

Fake IDs, real consequences

By Melanie Todd Staff writer

Fake IDs pose real consequences to underage students wishing to partake in the Erie nightlife.

Pennsylvania State Police recently informed Mercyhurst on the issue of fake ID usage.

This is not a new problem to any bar, in any town.

“I think it has been a problem in the past,” said Mercyhurst Police and Safety Chief Donald Furhmann.

Furhmann joined Mercyhurst Police and Safety this year.

“Apparently, it’s becoming more and more popular to obtain fraudulent IDs on the Internet,” said Furhmann.

Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement visited campus to address the issue.

“They have been on campus interviewing students,” Furhmann said.

Fake IDs are not simply an

Karah Hollis photo

Students in possession of a fake ID can be fined up to $500 simply for having it, and may face license suspension for up to 90 days.

issue of illegally purchasing alcohol.

“Merely possessing it is enough to get the charge.

Using it at the door to gain entrance to the bar-- that in itself is a crime. If you attempt to get alcohol with it,

then it’s another charge,” said Furhmann.

Identity theft is another issue associated with fake IDs. “Of concern to me, what info are you giving people to get these IDs? Are you opening yourself up for identity

theft?” said Furhmann.

Depending on the type of fake ID obtained, individuals could open themselves up for identity theft by providing the person making the fake IDs their real information including name, address and credit

card information. However, people can also be charged with identity theft if they are using another person’s ID. “In order to not get it on your record, you’re talking about hiring a lawyer. So you have the cost of the actual

ID itself, the fine from the citation and possible lawyer fees. Is it really worth it?” said Furhmann.

In Pennsylvania, a first violation for “possess[ing] an identification card falsely identifying that person by name, age, date of birth or photograph” is a misdemeanor of the third degree with a fine of up to $500. Additionally, your license may be suspended for up to 90 days for the first offense.

The second offense involves a mandatory suspension of up to one year. A third offense and any offense thereafter will incur up to two years of suspension.

The New York Times reports that fake IDs typically cost $80-$150 depending on whether or not the ID will scan properly. They also report that some bouncers will confiscate a fake ID just to make money off the individual not wanting the police to be called or simply wanting the ID back.

Mercyhurst celebrates its 90th year

By Alexandria Albano Staff writer

Mercyhurst has a long history of strong leaders and a strong community. Opened in 1926 by the Sisters of Mercy, the university is currently celebrating its 90th year.

These sisters were the backbone of the development of this institution. Sister Patricia Whalen states that they fund raised as well as provided for the institution with their own financial resources.

Sister Lisa Mary McCartney speaks highly of Mother Borgia Egan and her dedication to the university during a rough time in American history.

“Her determination in the enterprise of founding Mercyhurst was her persistence in building the tower and Christ the King Chapel right during the Depression.

That showed her desire and strength. It took her 24 years to find the right gates so they weren’t installed until 1950.”

Not only did Mother Borgia emphasize the building of the school, but she also emphasized building the faculty.

“She built a faculty of sisters with Ph.Ds at the time in the 1920’s. She sent them to many public universities in the country,” McCartney said.

Index

Chelsea Guida photo

A sign hung from the Center for Academic Engagement’s walkway at the front of campus, marking Mercyhurst’s 90th year.

Sister Carolyn Herrmann initiated the school becoming co-educational, as well as a plethora of other changes.

Herrmann became president of the college in 1962. She created the office of advancement and an admissions office. Additionally, Herrmann enlarged the library, built Zurn Hall and Baldwin Hall, and stressed the need to write grants.

“She recognized the importance of having campaigns to fund these buildings… Her leadership shifted the view to increase enrollment and make an administrative structure to help enrollment,” Whalen said.

According to McCartney,

Chart Title

President William Garvey furthered what Herrman started and created a football team, which attracted more students to the newly co-educational school. President Thomas Gamble brought Mercyhurst university status in 2012.

McCartney noted her support of current President Michael T. Victor being chosen as the 12th president in 2015, which she calls the most significant and promising event for Mercyhurst. “…In a year, he has managed to re-establish the strong teaching image of Mercyhurst and developed a new core curriculum that carries the original mission of the Sisters of Mercy,” McCartney said.

Both Sisters mention the presence of other sisters on campus being less prevalent than years ago. McCartney said when she was at Mercyhurst as a student in the 60’s, the college was staffed by sisters on campus. Now, she is the only Sister of Mercy in a full-time position left on campus. Whalen mentions this change as well.

Fortunately, they both believe that there is a commitment to mercy and the spirit of the Sisters still remains on campus.

“Sisters are still very interested in Mercyhurst and still active on the board. Our retired Sisters pray the Rosary every day for Mercyhurst.

There is still deep commitment, love and affection for Mercyhurst and it will still endure as long as the Sisters of Mercy endure,” Whalen said.

Victor mentioned other milestones throughout Mercyhurst this year.

“This is also the 20th year of the D’Angelo Performing Arts Center and the 25th year for Mercyhurst Northeast.

For D’Angelo, some events have been Chita Rivera and Apollo’s Fire to take place in December. We are also really focused on what we will do for the 100th year. We have a record freshman class as well during this 90th year.”

Victor said he believes

the important aspects of Mercyhurst is our Mercy mission, our liberal arts core and our motto, ‘Carpe Diem.’ He emphasized Mercyhurst’s welcoming community and desire to take care of the students.

Most importantly, he spoke of Mercyhurst’s growth from his first year as President.

“It has grown exponentially.

Mercyhurst is in a renewal. A sense of school spirit has been ignited that has not been seen in a decade with the Mass of the Holy Spirit, Homecoming, and Hurst Day. There is a new energy; it’s a friendliness and caring energy. We pulled it back in and renewed it,” Victor said.

Whalen further emphasizes that Mercyhurst University is truly a community, “For me, Mercyhurst is a combination of the vision of many people. It began with the sisters in 1926 and they wanted to educate females.

The commitment of the Catholic Intellectual Tradition for education focuses on the liberal arts and recognizes the preparation of students for jobs. It is a community effort.

Each year, staff embrace the vision and developed it throughout the years.” @TheMerciad

Online Poll Results

What do you want to dress up as for Halloween?

News Features A&E Opinion Sports Laker Living

1-2 3 4-5 6 7 8

Something random, like a narwhal. (44%) My favorite TV show character. (39%) Donald Trump, anyone? (11%) A ridiculous version of a D-list celebrity. (6%)

Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: 1

2

3

4

How do you feel about having classes canceled for Advising Day this year?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

October 19, 2016

The Merciad

Page 2

News

’Hurst & CVS keeping campus healthy “

A good dose of the flu can knock you out for one to two weeks.

By Kristian Biega Staff writer

Tis the season for flu shots.

Mercyhurst’s Cohen Health Center and local CVS pharmacists have been coming together for many years to give free flu shots on the college campus to prevent the spread of disease. Monday, Oct. 10, was the first of two clinics that are free to students. The next clinic will beTuesday, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Student Union Great Room.

Judy Smith of the Cohen Health Center stressed the importance of getting vaccinated this year.

“A good dose of the flu can knock you out for one to two weeks,” Smith said. “This can lead to even more serious complications later.”

Missing this many classes for sickness is bad enough, but if the flu hits during finals or exams, the results can be detrimental to one’s grades.

”

-- Judy Smith

Contributed photo

Even Luke the Laker got his flu shot this season.

The more people that get vaccinated, the less chance the campus has of the disease

spreading and the less class students and faculty will miss.

The first clinic offered at the

school was a great success with 189 students and faculty receving vaccines.

It is always imperative to be properly vaccinated each flu and virus season. It is especially important to realize what immunization one is actually receiving.

“It is possible for people to contract the flu after getting a vaccine that may not protect that specific strain,” Smith said.

Doctors choose what strains the vaccines combat based on the prominent cases seen in recent years. The strains that the shots being administered at Mercyhurst protect against are Influenza A (H1N1), Influenza A (H3N2), and Influenza B. Smith said that she has not heard of the flu being especially severe this season, but

encourages the Mercyhurst community to take advantage of the clinic. Through the increased help from CVS, Mercyhurst was able to offer four nurses to administer the shots on both dates. She said she is proud and excited to work with CVS and is grateful to have them on campus.

The major worry that many people have coming into the clinic is the fear of needles or the pain of the injection.

On Oct. 10, even Luke the Laker braved the pain and was seen getting his flu shot.

He stayed at the event to give support to anyone else who was a little nervous as they got their vaccines. If Luke can do it, so can you!

@TheMerciad

Employees wear jeans to save veteran lives

By Alexandria Albano Staff writer

Each Friday, Mercyhurst employees have the opportunity to wear jeans for a $2 donation. The money will go to Mission 22, an organization that raises awareness for veteran suicide.

“The main goal of Mission 22 is raising awareness. Our second goal is to get veterans the help they need right away without having to wait.

I would say our third goal is developing the Ambassador program so that we have

representatives in every state who can educate the public through events, information and support,” said Cindy Stinson, outreach coordinator for Mission 22.

According to Stinson, Mission 22’s Ambassador Program and the War at Home Memorial are great ways to spread awareness. The second goal is achieved through partnering with nonprofit organizations, private doctors and therapists.

“Some of our partner organizations are Save A Warrior, Chambers of Hope, The Valor Clinic, Dr. Elk Foun-

dation, We Defy Foundation and more to provide free or reduced fee treatments for veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injuries. Eighty-eight point nine percent of all donations go directly toward these missions,” Stinson said.

The third mission is achieved with the development of the Ambassador program, which leads to representatives in every state to educate the population.

Sarah Allen, one of the members of the executive team of Mercyhurst’s Staff

Senate, speaks of the reality of Mission 22.

“Every day, 22 American combat veterans commit suicide as a result of untreated or improperly treated PTSD and traumatic brain injuries. We just wish to raise awareness and give hope to our veterans that are on campus,” Allen said.

This is the first time Mercyhurst has donated to this nonprofit cause. Allen said that it was brought up that Veterans Day is in the fall and Mission 22 is a great organization so they should donate.

Matt Sanfilippo, another member of the executive team of the Staff Senate, proposed that they donate to this cause.

“The Staff Senate donates to jeans days for a cause. I proposed that we need to stand behind our vets because they protect our lives and continue to do so. Mission 22 also partners with doctors and numerous organizations across the U.S for funding.”

Awareness is very important to this cause.

“Every time someone shares a Mission 22 post, it spreads awareness for Mission 22’s mission and also raises

awareness for PTSD,” Sanfilippo said.

Mission 22 is a dedicated organization. With the awareness that is being taught to the public, a decrease in veteran suicide can be achieved.

“We will continue our mission until the number of veteran suicides per day is zero.

Even one is too many. We have the tools, doctors and treatment centers to change lives,” Stinson said.

For further information and to spread awareness, visit Mission22.com @TheMerciad

Clown sighting reported on campus

By Melanie Todd Staff writer

On Friday, Sept. 30, at 11:45 p.m., a clown was sighted. The clown was said to be by the fountain on campus. A student reported the incident.

“Officers were dispatched and did not find anything,” said Mercyhurst Police and Safety Chief Donald Furhmann.

Mercyhurst Police and Safety take their calls very seriously.

“There was no description of the mask or any clothing,”

Furhmann said.

Students were very concerned when word spread about the sighting.

“Honestly the sighting really incited some panic in the freshmen dorms. I saw a suspicious white truck pull away as we walked up to it and we believed it was the one with the clown in it,” L.J. Yurick, residence assistant, said.

Mercyhurst reviewed all their security footage of the area and did not find any images of a clown.

“I know the city has had a few sightings, and Millcreek,” Furhmann said.

Yurick spoke of another clown sighting that was not reported to Mercyhurst Police and Safety.

“Girls in Warde had someone in a clown mask outside their window, supposedly.

Both of the instances we’ve had, the clowns have tried to scare female residents going up to their window if they live on the first floor or scaring them as they walk by Garvey Park. It’s very unnerving,” said Yurick.

It’s hard to tell if these instances are from malicious individuals or perhaps students preying on current

events and looking for a scare.

“If someone is in Munson Plaza dressed as a clown, we will investigate it,” said Furhmann.

Erie is actually home to a clown college, Erie Clowns Inc., that began in 1968. It is an eight-week program that teaches the basic skills of clowning, including make-up application. They sponsored a clown convention in April 2015.

“It’s not illegal to merely appear in public in costume.

Unless there is a criminal activity associated with it, it is merely appearing in public in

costume,” Furhmann said.

Most clowns by profession are harmless. However, this spark of clown-related incidents across the world is making even former clown lovers on edge. Some people do have a legitimate fear of clowns, called coulrophobia.

“It’s now a national hysteria,” said Furhmann.

Facebook seems to be littered with posts of clown sightings and the social media app, Vine, covered in videos.

It is difficult to ascertain the validity of these videos and posts.

According to the Interna-

tional Business Times, there are clown sightings in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia beginning as early as Aug. 1, in Wisconsin.

Residents in North and South Carolina report the clowns attempted to lure children into the woods. Clowns have also reportedly chased children and robbed fast food restaurants.

@TheMerciad

Hurst Crime Log Incident

Date

Location

Liquor law violation

Oct. 8

McAuley Hall

Liquor law violation

Oct. 9

McAuley Hall

Theft

Oct. 14

Egan Cafe

Possession of controlled substance

Oct. 14

Lewis Avenue

October 19, 2016

Page 3

The Merciad

Features

Cretaceous Park stomps into Erie

By Marco Cicchino

Need advice? Have a problem that needs fixing?

Mia is here to help.

Email askmia.merciad@ gmail.com for help.

Staff writer

At 62, Scott McKenzie has seen it all. As he enters his 30th year as a professor at Mercyhurst, he has certainly come across his share of both geologic relics and the next generation of prospective students seeking to follow in his footsteps.

It came to him as a relative surprise when he learned that a Tyrannosaurus rex was up next for display at the Tom Ridge Environmental Center. Known colloquially as “Tinker,” this nearly 60 percent-complete skeleton of a juvenile T. rex is the only one of its kind.

It was first discovered in 1997 in the Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota. The cast of Tinker was given to Mercyhurst after noted University of Pittsburgh Geologist Michael Sincak passed away in April 2014. McKenzie is now preparing the cast for display for the second time at the Tom Ridge Center.

“It’s unique in that aspect, (and) we’re the only ones that have the cast of it in these parts,” said McKenzie. “It’s a big animal, and it still had some growing to do.”

The actual specimen is currently being prepared for display in a museum in Germany.

Ten years ago, the entire skeleton was only 24 percent complete, but it had the majority of its 3-foot-long skull still intact, along with a skeleton of 20 vertebrae, at least seven ribs, the entire pelvic region and several other bones and claws.

The specimen is from the late Cretaceous period, specifically no later than 67 million years ago and was quickly identified as such.

******************* Dear Mia,

Cheyanne Crum photo

Scott McKenzie holding Tinker’s foot next to an adult T. rex skull. Tinker’s skull is about a third of the size as it is a juvenile.

As a juvenile, it possesses characteristics more related to an adult, namely 13 robust teeth in its lower jaw and 11 in its upper. This is the same as what it would have possessed at a more advanced age.

“The teeth of most predatory dinosaurs are recurved so that when T. rex bites into you, it’s very hard for you to struggle and get away without having a big lump of flesh and bone taken right out of you,” said Michael Deak, a sophomore Geology major who presented on a controversial species of dinosaur called the Nanotyrannus.

This is the most ambitious project that McKenzie has overseen. He is optimistic of the exposure the exhibit will receive, because this is such a unique opportunity for the area.

“You have to go to Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Denver, Washington or New York City to see something like that.

They would have to purchase a cast like this, and right now there’s probably at least a sixmonth wait for something like that to be put together,” McKenzie said.

McKenzie believes that this will make a difference in the scientific community and help the country earn some standing in creating scientific literature.

“I think the main value is that it will awaken the enthusiastic 10-year-old child that sleeps within us all and get people excited with science.

China and small countries like Holland and various other European countries are starting to really go full-bore on this and it’s time for us to reawaken that spirit that we’ve always had, and we’ve just got to get people excited about it so we continue to do that,” McKenzie said.

Deak agrees that this exhibit will bring more interest into science, whether a person becomes a geologist or paleontologist.

“The main part of our exhibit is that we’re going to get children involved in science. Dinosaurs are, in a sense, the gateway drug for children in science. It just has that ‘wow’ factor. They’re just so unique and alien to us that we just can’t get enough of them,” Deak said.

Assembly is set to commence later in October. Students will also be transporting other fossils to complement the skull, namely a triceratops cast from Zurn, a stegosaurus model, a nest with actual dinosaur eggs, coprolites, and other fossils to keep the public interested.

McKenzie says he is expecting between 1,000 and 3,000 people during the exhibition, and other displays have attracted nearly 500,000 people.

“If you want to go to see a dinosaur in one of the museums in Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Chicago, you’re probably talking $15 to $16 a head to see it. We’re providing it absolutely free for everybody, so this a wonderful opportunity for people to see this thing,” McKenzie said.

The exhibit opens on Nov. 7 on the second floor of the Ridge Center and runs through Feb. 24. Admission is free and will also include a screening of the 2016 movie “Walking with Dinosaurs.” @TheMerciad

’Hurst talks about domestic abuse

By Elizabeth Shewan Staff writer

Domestic violence carries a taboo in society. Even to say the words in conversation tends to lead to awkwardness. This is why Mercyhurst’s recent efforts on behalf of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month are so valuable and necessary.

“The Department of Criminology & Criminal Justice as well as the Bystander Intervention Committee is promoting a passive marketing campaign with signage noting what domestic violence is and what resources are available to people,” Criminal Justice professor Maria Garase, Ph. D., said.

This has involved posters, placed across campus with basic information on what domestic violence is and who students can go to if they find themselves in an abusive relationship.

Domestic violence, also called intimate partner violence, is defined by the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence as “the willful intimidation, physical assault, battery, sexual assault, and/or other abusive behavior as part of a systematic pattern of power and control perpetrated by one intimate partner against another.”

It can happen to anyone of any age, gender, ethnicity, sexuality, economic or educational background, or religion.

It is important for everyone to be aware of the signs of an abusive relationship.

“Many warning signs for abuse come down to increasing signs that there is an imbalance in power and control within the relationship,” Judy Smith, Ph.D., director of the Counseling Center said.

These signs might include verbal abuse (one partner calling the other names, making them feel guilty or humiliating them), or one partner

using their social standing to make all decisions for the other partner. The misuse of technology is becoming more common like when someone would break into a partner’s phone or email.

“Signs of abuse also include using intimidation, using threats (threatening to leave, to harm self with suicide, to expose private information of the partner or to use physical or sexual violence) or of course, actual use of physical or sexual violence,” Smith said.

Many people misunderstand domestic violence and what it is, and thus may fail to recognize they are in an abusive relationship. Even once it is recognized, it can be very hard to talk about domestic violence due to shame or fear.

Part of the aim of recent efforts is to make people aware of resources available to survivors of domestic violence. Any person who thinks they are in an abusive relation-

ship can contact SafeNet, a domestic violence agency in Erie. Mercyhurst students also have the option of contacting the Counseling Center.

If a student reaches out to the Counseling Center, they can be seen at any time.

“The counseling center will support and assist the student in making the decisions that make sense to that student,” said Smith. “Counselors will make the student aware of campus and community supports, suggest options and respect and support the student’s pace as she or he make decisions.”

A major obstacle to victims of domestic violence is the stigma surrounding talking about domestic abuse.

Through its recent efforts, Mercyhurst has made a positive step toward erasing that stigma and making positive social change. @TheMerciad

Who ‘dunnit’? Murder mystery dinner

By Jordan Pendel Staff writer

A murder is about to take place on campus, and hopefully someone can solve it in time. Kelly Fergus and Jimmy Duncan along with SAC will be hosting a Murder Mystery Dinner on Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m.

Murder mystery dinners are a type of dinner theater where guests try to solve a mystery while eating a full course meal.

Asking Mia

“Kind of like a real life Clue,” Fergus said.

These shows are often comedic and the actors can interact with the guests. Typically, the first act sets up the scene for the guests, the characters are introduced and someone is murdered. The remaining acts help the guests solve the murder. At the very end, the actors will reveal the murderer and the motive behind the killing.

“My freshman year they

killed one person at the meal,” said Fergus. “There were some audience who got to come up and look at the body of the scene.”

Floriano Productions will be performing the murder mystery and is located throughout Ohio. They currently have nine different murder mysteries they put on. One year Floriano Productions set their murder mystery in the 1920s and performed their “St. Valentino’s Massacre.” It is still

a mystery as to what productions the Mercyhurst student will have to solve.

The event is free to all students and will be located in the back section of the Laker.

Dinner will be catered by Parkhurst, but the menu has not been determined yet.

Fergus would like everyone to come out and make sure they reserve their spot online.

So what is more perfect for Halloween? Sit down and eat up, it’s time to solve a mystery.

I have been having a hard time trying to figure out how to tell my friend that I am not happy with how our friendship is going. Freshman year we were best of friends and then we became roommates. It has since put a lot of stress on our friendship. It doesn’t seem like my friend really sees or cares how I am feeling. I have tried to keep it quiet because this friend gets really mad when anyone tries to say something they don’t want to hear about themselves. This friend uses my things all the time and never cleans up (especially my kitchen supplies), eats my food without asking, often leaving me with little left, volunteers me to do things without asking me first and never helps out with gas money when we go places. I’ve noticed that in the past year or so this friend has become very dependent on others for the decisions they make. They have started acting like they are better than everyone else, thinking they never need to clean the bathroom, do dishes, sweep the floor or vacuum. This friend thinks that all their problems are the world’s problems; always coming to me for advice and continues badgering me until I tell them what they want to hear. I am just very confused and at the point where I don’t want to continue our friendship or living arrangement next year. I have tried to listen, to talk, to give it some more time, but it always seems to get worse. I really valued our friendship from freshman year but with the way I have been treated since I feel more like a floor mat.

Is there anything you would suggest to help resolve this issue?

Sincerely,

SOS

Dear SOS,

I’m sorry that you have been put into this situation. Any type of relationship is hard, and it seems like your friend has gotten too comfortable and is taking advantage of you. You didn’t say it, but this friendship is probably mentally draining you. I think you should sit down with your friend one more time and let them know all of the things that are bothering you. Let them know how hurt you are when they do things without asking. It may sound harsh, but tell them exactly what you told me. Make a list and make sure to tell them your feelings. Remind them of how much you valued your friendship from freshman year, but you’re not sure if it should continue. It will be hard, but it’s important that you truly show your friend how you’re feeling. A true friend will listen and change the way they have been acting. If they get mad by what you are saying, then that should be the ending point in your friendship. Apologize and let them know you cannot be their friend anymore if they aren’t going to change. I know it’s hard, but sometimes you have to cut out the person who is not treating you the way you should be treated.

Sincerely,

Mia

Page 4

Arts &

Entertainment

October 19, 2016

The Merciad

REVIEW

Erie Phil’s special event was a success

By Nicholas Nasibyan Contributing writer

On Oct. 10, violinist Ken Johnston took the stage at Hirt Auditorium in the Blasco Library, whereupon he flawlessly executed a technically challenging and melodically satisfying program of works for solo violin and violin and piano.

Johnston is the well-known and highly skilled concertmaster of the Erie Philharmonic.

He was accompanied on the piano by our very own Nathan Hess, D.M.A., who is currently the chairman of the D’Angelo School, as well as professor of piano.

The concert opened with “Suite in the Old Style” by Alfred Schnittke.

This piece is a unique Schnittke piece as it is very tonal and romantic.

The first movement, “Pastorale,” began with a piano introduction and utilized a charming, simple and folklike melody.

One listening to the movement could imagine a young couple walking through a verdant pasture, hand in hand, past grazing sheep and a babbling brook.

The second movement, “Ballet,” was lively, bright and contrapuntal.

It utilized an angular and highly rhythmic motive.

Consistent with the movement’s name, one could imagine a courtly dance by noblemen and women.

The third movement, “Minuet,” which was in the key of A minor, was sentimental and reflective.

A listener could imagine an elderly man watching the leaves fall in autumn, while he reflects on his life that was full of loss and challenges.

The fourth movement, “Fugue,” utilized the piano more as a duet than accompaniment, playing an equally important role to the violin.

The movement was somewhat playful, dramatic and was also highly contrapuntal, a normal characteristic of fugue.

The final movement, “Pantomime,” which was lighthearted, expressed innocence along with subtle humor throughout the piece.

In the middle of the movement, the interval of a minor 2nd was sustained by the violin, which also added extra musical humor to the movement.

One could imagine a traveling street performer entertaining a crowd of people on a Sunday afternoon.

The second piece on the program was “Fuga” from the “C Major Sonata no. 3 for solo violin, BWV 1005,” by J.S. Bach.

The fugue had two and sometimes three distinct voices and utilized double, triple and quadruple stops throughout the entire piece.

Although this is very technically demanding for a solo violinist to play, it was played with great accuracy and pre-

cise articulation by Johnston.

Before the performance of the piece, Johnston joked that as long as he is able to perform this piece, he will consider himself to be proficient in playing the violin.

It was clear from the applause that the audience had been delighted by his spectacular performance.

The final piece was the “Violin Sonata no. 3 in D minor, op. 108” by Johannes Brahms.

The first movement, “Allegro,” was in the traditional sonata allegro form, which consists of three sections.

This was very effective and created extra tension and a sense of growth during the development section.

The second movement, “Adagio,” was very romantic and sentimental.

As the beautiful and wide– ranged melody sang and grew, double-stops were added to create very lush harmonies during the melodic high points.

Then, at the end, the energy slowly faded away, and the movement ended softly.

The third movement, “Un poco presto e con sentiment” was an intense, but playful movement that was beautifully written and which highlighted the intimate relationship between the piano and the violin.

While the piano was mainly accompanying the violin, it also was having musical conversations back and forth with the violin.

Nicholas Nasibyan

On the left is Ken Johnston, the featured violinist, and on the right is Nathan Hess, D.M.A.

Finally, the fourth movement, “Presto agitato,” was a very virtuosic and heroic movement, and grew in intensity that culminated in the final statement of its theme.

At the end of the concert, Johnston and Hess played an encore.

They performed the piece “Balletto,” which originated from the soundtrack of an Italian film called “Il Gattopardo,” which translates to “The Leopard.”

The piece was composed

by Nino Rota, and transcribed for violin and piano by Paolo Zannini.

The piece was short, charming and had a folklike quality.

The primary motive sounded like a happy folk dance, and the melody was

tossed back and forth between the violin and piano.

This cute motive was contrasted by a more legato, romantic and lush variant of the theme.

The simplicity and lighthearted nature of the piece was the perfect way to end the evening.

Overall, I thought that Johnston and Hess made a fantastic duo.

Each played with incredible stylistic accuracy, highly intuitive and genuine senses of musicality and displayed brilliant musical communication between one another.

The balance and blend between the two collaborators was impeccable and the repertoire was a delightful and well–balanced mixture of

musical periods.

From a compositional standpoint, out of all the pieces performed, my favorite was the “Suite in the Old Style.”

I particularly enjoyed how Schnittke was able to compose a piece in an older style but with a modern set of tools and a unique approach that brought it into the 20th century.

From a performance perspective, it is impossible to choose which work was my favorite.

I thought the whole concert was wonderfully prepared and presented, and it is my sincerest hope that there will be more Johnston-Hess recitals in the future.

Met Opera The cello sang during the recital Live presents ‘Don Giovanni’ REVIEW

By Jeanette Fournier Staff writer

Robin Hasenpflug’s recital was a delightful mix of 19th and 20th century composers, whose pieces were interpreted with a sensitive and sophisticated artistry by Hasenpflug, as well as her accompanist, Sarah Kahl, D.M.A. Hasenpflug opened with the 20th century Spanish composer Manuel de Falla’s 1914 work, “Siete Canciones Populares Españolas.”

The cello arrangement of de Falla’s piece had the interesting addition of the cello playing part of the accompaniment during interludes and postludes.

The rhythmic pizzicato of the cello added to the piano very nicely and really brought out the flavor of the Spanish style.

Hasenpflug’s artistry and interpretation of the Spanish text through the melodic line was exemplary, particularly in her performance of “Nana,” the fifth song in the set.

“Nana” is a traditional lullaby with a two against three pattern between the vocal line and the gentle, rocking, piano accompaniment.

Hasenpflug’s control of the cello allowed her instrument to sing this tender melody as if it was a human voice, with a rich, full legato tone as beautiful as one of the great vocal interpreters of this set, the Spanish mezzo soprano Teresa Berganza.

Even without the words, the messages and varied emotions of each song were clear, from her anguished tone in “Canción” to her mournful treat-

ment of the long, weeping lines of “Asturiana.”

The next piece that Hasenpflug offered was Robert Schumann’s 1849 work, originally written for French horn and piano, entitled “Adagio und Allegro.”

Hasenpflug and Kahl gently began together the lyrical first half of Schumann’s work with a beautiful balance between the two instruments.

As the adagio progressed, Hasenpflug and Kahl began to engage in a musical conversation back and forth consisting of short melodic phrases between the two instruments, and both performers played through this endearing section of the piece with grace and charm.

Kahl supported and built up Hasenpflug’s melodic line as it grew in size, sound and passion, only to come down gently at the end of the adagio with a delicate sequence on the keys as Hasenpflug held out the last note.

The allegro section of Schumann’s “Adagio und Allegro” does not prepare its listener for its abrupt and dramatic change of mood, and neither Hasenpflug nor Kahl held back as they dove headfirst together into this exuberant and passionate section of Schumann’s work.

The contrasting sections of this piece are a fascinating look at Schumann’s personality, and Hasenpflug brought both the dreamy, introspective mood and the fiery, passionate mood of Schumann to life.

Hasenpflug closed her recital with an exciting finish as she performed the French Romantic composer César Franck’s “Sonata in A Major.”

By Rachel Sobina Staff writer

Jeanette Fournier

On the left is Sarah Kahl, D.M.A., and on the right is the star of the recital, Robin Hasenpflug.

“Sonata in A Major” is yet another transcription for cello – Franck’s original piece was written for violin.

Hasenpflug introduced her audience to Franck’s gorgeous work with the winsome first movement, the “Allegretto ben Moderato,” which consisted of a wistful melody for the cello as the piano accompaniment varied from sweet, honeylike thirds to strong, heavy block chords in the lower register of the piano.

The second movement, the Allegro, began with a long, fast and exciting piano introduction from Kahl, which set up Hasenpflug’s sequential, rising cello melody, which, in the true style of Romanticism, seemed to constantly struggle upward throughout the movement until breaking into a lyrical section full of yearning.

The movement ended with a sparkling finish consisting of tense, rapid notes from both cellist and pianist as the piece raced toward its triumphant climax.

“The Fantasia,” the third movement, began with a passionate, sweeping melody in minor. Hasenpflug paid careful attention to phrasing in this movement as her lines seemed to both sigh and sob heart–wrenchingly as she played.

After reaching its climax, Hasenpflug brought the melody down gently, pianissimo, to its close at the end of the movement while Kahl played soft arpeggios on the piano.

The last movement, “Allegretto poco mosso,” began with an enchanting musical duet in major between Hasenpflug and Kahl that grew in intensity as the movement progressed.

The “Allegretto poco mosso” ends with a long cadence, during which Hasenpflug and Kahl had their audience on the edge of their seats in anticipation after the excitement of this exhilarating last movement.

The Metropolitan Opera Live will be showing a performance of “Don Giovanni” at the Performing Arts Center on Saturday Oct. 22 at 12:55 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera Live is a unique way to view a performance in real time without traveling very far or paying high rates for tickets.

The opera performance is live at a different theatre, usually in NY, and it is transmitted to theaters and performance spaces throughout the world, such as Mercyhurst University.

“Don Giovanni” takes place in a Spanish country during the mid-18th century.

Don Giovanni is a seductive man who can charm any woman into bed with him.

When he tries to lure the wrong woman, though, Giovanni quickly finds himself in a duel.

After killing the other man, Giovanni runs away for his own safety.

He soon runs into a group

of peasants celebrating a wedding and tries to seduce the bride, who is warned by others about Giovanni’s reputation.

As the opera continues, Giovanni is haunted by his past and ends up paying for his unwise decisions he made.

The performance runs for about three and a half hours.

The Opera is conducted by Fabio Luisi, and stars Simon Keenlyside as Don Giovanni.

Other performers include Hibla Gerzmava as Donna Anna, Malin Byström as Donna Elvira, Serena Malfi as Zerlina, Paul Appleby as Don Ottavia, Adam Plachetka as Leporello, Matthew Rose as Masetto and Kwangchul Youn as the Commendatore.

If watching an opera with action-filled duels, romantic moments and an underlying sense of remorse is up your alley, then come to the PAC on Saturday.

Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors and students and $10 for youth. Tickets are free for any Mercyhurst student who presents their ID at the box office.

MIAC photo

The Metropolitan Opera Live will stream a live performance of “Don Giovanni” at the Performing Arts Center.

October 19, 2016

The Merciad

Arts &

Page 5

Entertainment

Quartet has American spirit

By Caitlyn Lear

Dance department hosts guest artist

Staff writer

By Jenny Sabliov

On Friday, Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture will host “American Spiritual” presented by Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem.

The performance is at 7:30 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall.

Tickets are $15 for adults, $12.50 for seniors,$10 for students and youth. Tickets are free for Mercyhurst students who present their student ID at the box office.

The quartet consists of MIAC photo members Rani Arbo, Andrew The quartet Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem will perform ‘American Spiritual’ in Walker Recital Hall.

Kinsey, Anand Nayak and Scott Kessel.

His signature recycled drum well. blues, gospel and original The band has been together set is made of cardboard and When not on tour, the band compositions. for 15 years and is based out wooden boxes, cat food tins, a members live with their famWith their infectious camaof the New England area.

Danish butter cookie tin and a ilies and have other occupa- raderie, Rani Arbo and daisy Arbo is originally from New vinyl suitcase. tions from house builder, to mayhem draw in the audience York City and went to college Nayak did not start playing muralist and making more to join in with the perforfor geology, where she fell in guitar until he was 15. From music. mance. love with the fiddle and Cajun, then on, he was trying to play “American Spiritual” is one You can even get a preview honkytonk and bluegrass anything he could. of two programs that the of some of the band’s songs music.

He is a Grammy-nomi- band performs regularly. on its website www.raniarbo.

Kessel has been drumming nated producer, performer This show is a bona fide com. since he was in preschool, and writer, with numerous revival that draws on 200 Tickets for the show can and now is known for mixing other awards in family music. years of roots music that is be purchased at miac.mercyAmerican rock and pop beats Kinsey started his career as a uplifting and connects with hurst.edu or by calling the box with African, Afro-Cuban, bagpiper and picked up the the audience. office at 814-824-3000.

New Orleans and South guitar in college, and eventuThe audience will hear anyAmerican rhythms. ally the banjo and ukulele as thing from prison work songs,

On Oct. 26, from 8 to 9 p.m., the Mercyhurst University Dance Department will host a Guest Artist Chat with Nilas Martins.

The chat will take place in Zurn 114. Martins will be discussing his field and his career as well as answering any questions.

Martins is currently staying with the Dance Department during the month of October to work with them on George Balanchine’s “Concerto Barocco” for their 2017 spring concert.

It is a work from the New York City Ballet that will be combined with Act III of “The Sleeping Beauty.”

It will feature works by the composer Tchaikovsky.

They celebrate Princess Aurora’s royal wedding.

Guests include her court princesses, fairies, Puss in Boots, Red Riding Hood and many more familiar faces.

Martins was born in Copenhagen. His father is Peter Martins, a Danish danseur and

Arts and Entertainment editor

choreographer.

Martins received his early dance training at the Royal Danish Ballet School starting at the age of seven. Martins performed with the Royal Danish Ballet in such works as John Neumeier’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Glen Tetley’s “Firebird.”

In 1984, he moved to New York and enrolled at the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet.

In June 1986 he became an apprentice with New York City Ballet.

In September of the same year, he was made a member of the Company’s corps de ballet.

During the 1991 spring season, he was promoted to the rank of soloist, and in February of 1993, he was promoted to principal dancer.

He retired in 2010 due to a knee injury.

The Guest Artist Chat is free and open to the public.

@TheMerciad

Online

Advertisement

Full list of events can be found on the MU website

View upcoming performances: www.mercyhurst.edu/events

merciad.mercyhurst.edu/category/arts_ entertainment/

Page 6

October 19, 2016

The Merciad

Opinion

The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Relay Life Church. successful Merciad or for the Catholic Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be emailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.

Voting Catholic: Exploring the VPs

By Mathew

Jury Staff writer

In the upcoming 2016 presidential election, we all know that our two major candidates are Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Out of frustration with both of them, many people I know are suggesting ideas such as voting for Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson or writing in other candidates, ranging from Harambe to a Giant Meteor. I have thought about writing in Michael Voris of Church Militant TV. I feel that in these presidential elections, the vice presidential candidates are always ignored. However, it is common knowledge that if the president dies in office, the vice president takes over.

Therefore, it is crucial to analyze the running mates on the Democrat and Republican ballots, Tim Kaine and Mike Pence.

I will analyze these two using the same litmus as I did last year with the large pool of presidential candidates: The 5 Non-Negotiables.

For those who do not know,

the 5 Non-Negotiables come from the “Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics,” a document produced by Catholic Answers listing how faithful Catholics should vote based off of social issues.

The Five Non-Negotiable social issues include the following: abortion, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell research, human cloning and same-sex marriage.

According to this document and to the teachings of the Magisterium of the Church, faithful Catholics should vote for the candidate whose views most align with the Church on these issues.

What makes this election interesting is how both vice presidential candidates were, at least in some point in their lives, Catholic.

Pence converted to Evangelical Christianity, likely due to poor leadership in the post-Vatican II turmoil in the United States.

Kaine still professes to be Catholic, but has been heavily criticized by clergy and lay faithful alike for opposing several teachings of the Church.

On the first issue, Pence has been given a 100 percent prolife record by the National

Right to Life Committee.

In contrast, Kaine has stated that he personally opposes abortion, but feels the government needs to stay out of it, a view espoused by many Catholics who sell their souls to radical liberalism.

It must also be noted Kaine has a 100 percent NARAL Pro-Choice America rating.

Both candidates have supported restrictions to embryonic stem cell research to varying degrees.

While no information was found regarding Kaine’s stance on cloning, Pence voted yes on a proposed ban of human cloning for the sake of research. I was unable to find either candidate’s stance on euthanasia.

Regarding the highly contentious fifth issue listed, Kaine has gone in full support of same-sex marriage, even prophesying that the Catholic Church will change on this issue someday.

Obviously, with him supposedly being a Catholic, this was not received well in the authentic Catholic media world.

In fact, many of the faithful wonder why his bishop, Francis DiLorenzo, of Virginia,

refuses to enact Canon Law 915 upon him, which would forbid him from receiving Holy Eucharist in his state of sin.

Ironically, it is the ex-Catholic, Pence, who supports the traditional family, even voting yes on a proposed amendment restricting marriage to one man and one woman.

Overall, I feel the VP candidates are ignored too much.

I viewed the only VP debate last week, though I found it hard to pay attention to it since most of the debate was Pence trying to answer questions in a cool and composed manner while hothead Kaine interrupted him left and right.

Needless to say, the debate that ensued between the friends that joined me in our lounge was more entertaining than the actual VP debate, but I can say with confidence that Pence won.

I think we can all agree both Trump and Clinton are wretched people unfit for the White House. However, educated voters need to factor in the running mates before making a choice in voting.

Mini-mester term should be improved

By Cheyanne

Crum Features editor

In the winter, Mercyhurst’s campus looks like Hogwarts, blanketed in snow.

It is the perfect school to offer a Harry Potter-themed class and that was actually an option this year with the mini-mester classes. This Harry Potter class counted as an English credit through the REACH curriculum, and I decided to take it.

I love Harry Potter and anything to do with it. As the summer drew to a close, I was getting more and more excited for the year to start.

I was ecstatic to spend eight weeks talking about Harry Potter with other students that were just as obsessed, and when I got the textbook for the course, it just made me even happier.

The class was great. Our first assignment was to take the Sorting Hat Quiz to sort ourselves for a project that we would be doing later. We discussed the Harry Potter novels and themes in them.

My mini-mester class was two hours and 45 minutes long, two days a week. I understand that the class was cramming 15 weeks of material into eight but that is too long of a time to spend in one room.

Other Tuesday/Thursday classes are now one hour and 15 minutes, so there is a very large difference in the amount of time that is spent in this mini-mester.

Some days were harder than others. If we were talking about something that maybe was not very interesting or something that was just dragging, it was hard to sit there.

Realistically, it was better than a J-term class for

amount of time spent per week in the class, but during J-term, most people were only taking one class, not six.

The idea for the minimester classes is really innovative and interesting, but I think it needs to be executed differently. I know it was the first time and professors were adjusting, but the idea needs some work.

For the first five weeks of my mini-mester class, our only assignments were to read the essays that corresponded to the discussion for that week of class.

Then there was an abrupt change. In the last three weeks, we had a paper, an hour long group presentation and a solo project.

The class had knowledge of the group project from the beginning of the semester, but we could not start it until we received all of the information later in the term. I am fine with getting assignments,

but if they are going to be big ones, I like time to work on them in order to prepare.

These assignments could have been spread out more.

I know that the time constraints were problems for other mini-mester courses as well.

My roommates were taking a class that met two days a week at 5:30 p.m. and continued until 9:05 p.m. They did not receive their final paper assignment until the second to last class, and they still had a final to take before leaving for Fall Break.

Mini-mesters are a good idea. They allow students to get REACH classes done quickly and they offer more interesting classes than what is normally offered. The concept definitely needs work though. Professors need to realize that we are taking other classes, so give assignments and set deadlines accordingly.

Montreal pit bull ban unjust and cruel

By Sarah Miller

Contributing writer

Online

On Sept. 27, Montreal’s city managers signed a death warrant for thousands of dogs in response to the mauling and death of 55-year-old Christiane Vadnais in June.

Officers shot and killed the animal, which they described as a pit bull.

Thankfully, this “pit bull ban,” which would have sentenced a substantial number of dogs to death, has been suspended for an indeterminate amount of time.

Judge Louis Gouin of the Quebec Superior Court ordered a suspension of the

bylaw that would prohibit people from adopting “pit bull-type dogs,” and also would have required owners to pay high fees, go through a criminal-background check, keep a muzzle on the dog outside, obtain a special $150 permit and require the dogs to be spayed or neutered, microchipped and vaccinated.

One aspect of Gouin’s decision was that the term “pit bull-type dog” is too vague. However, other provisions of the new animal control regulation remain in effect.

The proposed ban would punish good dog owners as well as dogs that have never shown signs of aggressive

behavior. More significantly, who knows how many dogs would be wrongfully and undeservedly murdered in shelters.

Since the ban—as originally written—would mean that all pit bulls and pit mixes in Montreal shelters would have to be euthanized, the Montreal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has strongly advocated against it. Other opponents denounce the proposed ban saying that it unfairly paints all pit bulls and dogs similar in appearance as malicious.

The Montreal ban is extreme. Though I like the idea of protecting the community, it is entirely unrea-

Read more at

merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion

sonable to kill all pit bulls in shelters, expect owners to pay for meaningless permits, and muzzle their dogs even if they are in a fenced yard.

“We call it panic policy-making,” said Sterling Downey, an opposition councilman, and I agree.

To the relief of many, the suspension means pit bulls can still be adopted and muzzling is not mandatory as the law required. The law will remain unenforced and pit bulls will still be cared for in shelters until there is a final court ruling on the SPCA’s legal challenge of the bylaw.

For now, we can be glad to know that the “pit bull ban” has been put on pause.

Good Mercyhurst received $4 million from the Shaping Tomorrow grant from the Erie Community Foundation in order to help renovate downtown Erie and promote economic growth.

Bad Students have noticed glossy globules of saliva between the Herrmann Student Union and the Recreation Center. Watch where you step!

Weird There is a strange rock sitting outside of Preston Hall that has smaller rocks seemingly glued to it. It has made students ponder its origins and its meaning. Aliens?

Cheyanne Crum photo

The Merciad Editors Karah Hollis Catherine Rainey Cheyanne Crum Diego Himede Jenny Sabliov Amber Matha Miranda L. Miller Chelsea Guida Victoria Kreysar Kristin Bowers

Positions @mercyhurst.edu Editor-in-Chief editormerciad Managing Editor managingmerciad Features Editor featuremerciad Sports Editor sportsmerciad A&E Editor entertainmentmerciad Opinion Editor opinionmerciad Copy Editor copymerciad Photo Editor photomerciad Ad Manager admerciad Adviser kbowers

The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 110. Our telephone number is (814) 824-2376.

The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters to box PH 485 or via email at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst. edu.

Write for The Merciad, email editormerciad@mercyhurst.edu

October 19, 2016

Page 7

The Merciad

Sports

Gomez de Segura reigns in PSAC finals

By Bernard Garwig Staff writer

The Mercyhurst women’s tennis team put its best forward in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Singles/ Doubles Championship held Oct. 7-9 in Bloomsburg.

By the time the tournament was over, junior Saioa Gomez de Segura had won her third straight Singles Championship in her Mercyhurst tennis career.

In the beginning of the Singles portion of the tournament, the team had Gomez de Segura, sophomore Kayla Frost and junior Adrianna Jeffress entered. The first round saw all three advance, with scores of 6-1, 6-0 for Gomez de Segura, 6-3, 6-3 for Frost and 6-2, 4-6 and 11-9 for Jeffress.

The second round saw Jeffress eliminated 7-5, 6-4 by Seton Hill’s Diana Carvajalino, but Gomez de Segura and Frost both advanced with the scores of 6-0, 6-0 and 6-0, 6-2.

Frost would be eliminated in the quarterfinal of the Singles tourney by Carla Corrochano Moracho 6-4, 3-6 and 11-9.

Gomez de Segura would go on to win against her opponents in the quarter (6-0, 6-0) and semi-finals (6-0, 6-1), however, and eventually was able to best Jarka Petercakova of IUP in the final 6-4, 4-6 and 10-7 to be crowned the PSAC Singles Champion.

“Despite the weather conditions (wind and cold) I was able to bring up my best tennis,” said Gomez de Segura.

“I am really excited about this achievement. I didn’t expect winning the PSAC for the third time in a row.”

For the Doubles Tournament, senior Annie Baich and Gomez de Segura won their first two games 8-1 and 8-2, but lost to the duo of Luise von Agris and Petercakova of IUP 8-1. Petercakova and von Agris would later go on to win the Doubles Tournament in the match following theirs with Baich and Gomez de Segura.

Both Gomez de Segura and Baich took the time to weigh in on the result of the tournament. Gomez de Segura stated that she was “super excited” to win her third straight PSAC Singles, and that it came somewhat unexpectedly when she first won as a freshman. Gomez de Segura is a native of Vitoria, Spain, and was named PSAC West Freshman of the year and is overall 11-0 this year for Singles. When asked about the greatest strength of the team, Gomez de Segura cited the strong team chemistry and the fact that she and her teammates cheer on each other in their matches.

Baich commented that as a senior she was sad that the fall schedule was over, but was excited for team championships in the spring. She Hurstathletics viewed this season as the most successful of all her years so Junior Saioa Gomez de Segura won her 3rd PSAC singles championship in a row agaisnt Jarka far, citing the performance in Petercakova of IUP. Westwood Racquet Club. It ITAs and the success of the de Segura defeat Mercyhurst’s nament as well.

Doubles teams in the season own Jeffress and Frost for the The Women’s Tennis team will be the team’s first tournaas a whole. The ITA Tourna- Doubles Final, and Gomez de is next scheduled for Feb. 17 ment of 2017. ment saw Baich and Gomez Segura win the Singles Tour- against Lewis University at

MU soccer ends losing-streak against Mansfield University

Gannon shuts out Mercyhurst in cross-town game

By Diego Himede Sports editor

By Bernard Garwig

On Oct. 16, women’s soccer defeated Mansfield Mountaineers 2-0, ending a three-game losing streak at home. The Lakers earned their sixth win in the PSAC conference, leaving their conference record 6-6-1.

Mercyhurst’s first goal was scored on the 17th minute, by freshman Jinan Abdalah Funes, a Honduran forward.

The goal came from a corner kick made by senior Rebekah Craig, whose cross arrived to the box where Abdalah Funes was. She sent the ball into the goal with a header, scoring her sixth goal of the season.

“In that moment I was relieved since the objective was to score before halftime,” Abdalah Funes said. “Honestly, Rebekah Craig made a really good cross, which left the keeper in a bad position.

I headed the ball and it went in.”

With 13 games played, 2.15 shots per game and 0.46 goals per game, Abdalah Funes is currently one of the most influential player on the team, despite being a freshman. “At first I struggled a lot, but with time and dedication, I proved myself and showed what I am capable of bringing to the team,” she said.

Freshman Paz Aguirre Estalella, manager of the team, also had something to

Staff writer

Hurstathletics

Freshman Jinan Abdalah Funes scored her sixth goal of the season at the 17th minute against Mansfield University on Oct. 16.

“

We are more than a team. We are a family and I know we can count on each other.

”

Freshman Jinan Abdalah Funes

say about Abdalah Funes.

“She is playing really well.

She is definitely an important player for us. We have great players in the team, and they’re all important for us but Abdalah Funes is one of the best,” she said.

Mercyhurst’s second goal happened one minute after the first one. Maya Bauer got possession of the ball on the midfield and took it to the box, where she passed it to Maia Russo, who was on the right side. Russo shot to the lower-left corner and scored her second goal of the season.

On the second half, the Lakers continued with the possession, trying to score even more goals. Moreover, Mercyhurst’s defense allowed only one shot at goal in the entire second half.

Aguirre Estalella, being the manager for the Lakers this season, described the team’s

chemistry as optimal. She says they all get along and that there is a family feeling going all the time. According to her, the Lakers need only three wins out the four upcoming games to go to the playoffs.

She also claimed that they are feeling optimistic about it.

The next game for the Lakers is on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Kutztown University. This game will be held at Mercyhurst.

@TheMerciad

The Mercyhurst Lakers women’s volleyball team competed against Gannon University Golden Knights in an Oct. 11 game at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

Despite the final two matches being both competitive and close, the Golden Knights were able to put up three wins in a row to put an early end to the contest against the Lakers.

The first game saw the Golden Knights pull away with a 25-13 score over the Lakers.

The Golden Knights were able to put up several unanswered points in a row to top the Lakers in the first game.

The second game ended with the Golden Knights coming from an 8-14 deficit to eventually win it 25-21. For the final game, it was a bit closer, with both teams trading scores.

The ultimate result was 25-22, however, and Gannon walked away with a victory over the Lakers.

Lauren Kenny, Sarah Wegrzyn and Haley Adams led the Lakers in kills with 11, 9 and 6 respectively. Wegrzyn, Adams and Sarah Puckett each had one of Lakers’ three aces against the Golden Knights.

Hannah Tombaugh lead the assist category for the Lakers with 18, followed by Makayla

Molle with 15 and Shelby Chesko with one.

Seniors Kenny and Tombaugh weighed in on the aftermath of the game. “We went in with a solid game plan but failed to execute; Gannon executed really well,” said Kenny.

“What we struggled with was their blocking, and we didn’t really respond well to that.”

The Golden Knights had 14 blocks while the Lakers recorded just four against them.

Tombaugh added that “it was always fun to play Gannon because of the crosstown rivalry. We didn’t quite match their pace as well as we should have. We are better when we are dictating the pace of the game. Gannon really jumped down our throats in that aspect. I’m excited to see how we respond in their gym environment because it’s a way different environment than our gym.” The two teams will face each other again on Nov. 8, this time at Gannon.

The Lakers are now 11-7 overall and are 3-4 in the PSAC in the wake of the loss.

They will face Seton Hill next at home as well. The Golden Knights improve to 16-2 and a PSAC record of 5-1.

Let’s go Lakers!

Men’s soccer

Oct. 22

3:30 p.m.

Women’s soccer

Oct. 22

12:00 p.m.

Field hockey

Oct. 22

1:00 p.m.

Volleyball

Oct. 21

7:05 p.m.

Volleyball

Oct. 22

4:05 p.m.

@TheMerciad

Page 8

October 19, 2016

The Merciad

Laker

Living

’Hurst Hacks: Fall festivities Miranda L. Miller Copy editor

Whether with your friends or with your significant other, fall offers some of the greatest opportunities for dates out of the whole year.

In Erie, there are plenty of places that students can go for fall-time fun!

Harvest festivities are great, offering treats and entertainment galore. One such event is held at Mason Farms. Located at 839 Peninsula Drive, Pumpkintown USA brings carnival rides, great food and farm fresh produce together for maximum fall festivity enjoyment!

Check out their website at www.masonfarms.net.

For something a little more wild, check out ZooBoo at the Erie Zoo! Soak up the Halloween decor

while checking out the wildlife! This event is a hit every year, for everyone from ages 1 to 101. For more information, look on their website at www.eriezoo.org.

If you and your date are into puzzles, check out the Wooden Nickel Corn Maze in Edinboro. They do a different pattern in the maze each year, ranging from a tribute to the volunteer firemen to owls and other animals! To find out more, go to www.woodennickelbuffalo. com/.

To get your blood pumping and adrenaline coursing through your veins, you and your date could always take a tour through a haunted house. At the Eeriebyss on West 12th Street, endure an evening of terror in an old factory. More information can be found at www.eeriebyss.com. If getting scared in

a factory doesn’t seem to be your idea of fun, you could always check out the Ghost Lake at Conneaut. Called 13 Levels of Fear, the website is rife with warnings about heart defects and ensuring the presence of an ambulance for those who may get too frightened. If that’s what you and your date are into, check out www.ghostlake.net.

Another option for yearround adventure would be the Escape Game Erie. You and your date can participate in simulations. The theme of one simulation is a tour of a historic building that is hiding a few secrets from World War II up its sleeve.

Why is there a secret lab in the Meiser Building? That’s your group’s job to find out!

The second situation you and your date can find yourselves in is escaping from a captor’s grasp. Unfortu-

nately, your captors have captured other people and have experience in the art of throwing people in a dungeon. Fortunately, someone smarter than your captors has already escaped, and left you helpful tips on how to follow suit. Find out more on www. escaperoomerie.com.

A lot of us are going to go nuts on these plans. Two festivals a day! Picking apples!

Leaf peeping! Baking apple pie! However, some of us are going to embrace the inner hermit in all of us and decide to stay home and eat apple pie out of the pie pan with a fork while watching Halloween movies. Go to www.13nightsofhalloween. com/Schedule for the full 13 Nights of Halloween lineup on the Freeform channel.

Happy haunting!

Way back When...

The Merciad presents articles from yesteryear in their original form, including headlines. This week, our blast from the past is from February 1930.

Home Economics News The Clothing and Tailoring students of the Home Economics department staged a style show and exhibit Thursday, January 24, 1930, in the auditorium. The affair, which was well attended, was very interesting. Included in the exhibit were various styles of underwear and pajamas, with the girls modeling their own smocks, dresses and coats.

The Home Economics library profited by the money donated by our Bishop recently, with the addition of many worthwhile books on the history

of the Home Economics movement and other valuable texts on the many branches in our course.

The remodeling of our Practice House is well under way and we can now realize that it is no longer a dream, but a reality. In the very near future, there will be a shower for the Practice House, at which time we hope to receive many useful gifts from our school-mates to help make our home management house a “homey” place in which to spend six weeks of family life.

Margaret Burkhardt, ’30

The mother’s voice whispers to the growing child: “Be careful for the least, and you shall be worthy to receive greater things.” If the child has this advice whispered to him, grownups should have it shouted at them. Being grateful is a key to both happiness and success. The chap who gives thanks for everything always makes friends and comes out on top.

“If one considers the dignity of the giver, no gift will seem little or too mean for you.” So be grateful for every little act of kindness shown you by your friends and teachers. Sometimes there is a great deal of sacrifice behind these tiny deeds.

Don’t be an ingrate!

Thank every body for everything and just watch the amazing results.

—Florence Ammon, ’32

Gratitude

Game Zone