Features

NEW AT HURST

By Bella Lee Staff writer

Contributed photo

One of the new faces you might come across around campus this year is Anthony Fulgenzio, the new Vice President for Advancement. He is in charge of the university’s advancement endeavors including fundraising, annual funds, corporate relations, grant relations, alumni relations and donor relations.

According to Mercyhurst’s announcement welcoming him as vice president, “Fulgenzio will lead philanthropic initiatives and oversee key programs including major gifts, alumni and parent engagement, and planned giving, all while serving on President Getz’s senior leadership team.”

Fulgenzio has been in the academic setting for a long time now. His education took him to Gannon University, where he earned his Bachelor’s in Radio and Television Communications and his Master’s in Education Administration Leadership.

Following graduation, Fulgenzio spent 17 years at Gannon in a variety of fundraising roles, with his latest being the executive director of philanthropy and communications. Before his career in higher education, Fulgenzio was active in television and the communications industry. He was an Erie news anchor, managing editor and producer at WSEE-TV, better known as Erie News Now. This isn’t his first time serving as Vice President for Advancement, as he previously held the position for three and a half years at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio before joining the Mercyhurst community on Aug. 1.

Fulgenzio’s main job is fundraising, or, as he calls it, “friend raising.”

“Much of what we do is engaging alumni, corporate partners and friends of Mercyhurst and eventually securing financial support for endowed scholarships which directly benefit students as part of their overall financial aid package,” said Fulgenzio.

As one of a handful of new employees who had their start at Gannon, there is, fortunately, no bad blood for Fulgenzio.

“What I enjoy most about Mercyhurst is the excitement under the new leadership of Dr. Getz, the rich Mercy history of the University, the people and the warm, collegiate atmosphere,” Fulgenzio said, “it truly is a very special place.”

Fulgenzio’s role with the Mercyhurst community is quite important, but he’s just as happy as everyone else to call Hurst home. If you see him around, be sure to give him a warm welcome.

Career Exposition for Hospitality

By Samantha Weber Managing editor

On Nov. 4, the Office of Career & Professional Development hosted eight employers for the Hospitality Career Exposition. The eight companies were Ohio HIDTA, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Cedar Point, Giant Eagle Inc., Hilton Garden Inn Pittsburgh University Place, Piping Rock Club, Sheraton Erie Bayfront and White Lodging. If students were interested in attending the expo, they could have registered in three ways. They could have stopped by the Career and Professional Development offices in Egan Hall to sign up for specific companies, registered for the expo on Handshake or registered for separate interview sessions on Handshake. The event took place in the 24-hour lounge of the Center for Academic Engagement (CAE) from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. All the different employers had tables in the lounge and students were able to walk around at their leisure and the were able to talk with as many employers as they wanted to.

“I really like the opportunity to talk about different job opportunities with a wide variety of companies,” said sophomore Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts major, Veronica Kibbe. The location of this event is not only home to the Hospitality Management and Culinary Arts programs, but it is also the location of Cafe Diem, which is the student-run and operated cafe on campus. The students in the HM (Hospitality Management) and CA (Culinary Arts) programs have to work a set number of hours at the cafe to help them gain that real-world experience during their time in their undergraduate programs. The location of the event was a perfect segue for students to talk about the work they have done with Cafe Diem. The intention of the exposition was to help students find jobs.

Kibbe thought it was a successful event., “With summer internships already on my mind, I appreciated that the hospitality department took their time to set up this event in order to make my job hunting a little less stressful,” said Kibbe.

This year’s career expo looked a lot different than last year’s, and since that was Kibbe’s first year she had some thoughts about the way it was run. “My favorite part was that it was in person this year. Last year, all the online job fairs felt more like another zoom to attend rather than actual help in finding a summer position,” said Kibbe.

While sometimes it may seem like we are through the worst of the pandemic, it is still very prevalent in our society and it is essential that students feel safe while trying to further their careers.

“I also liked the fact we were allowed to put different color star stickers on our name tags showing our comfort in physical contact. Green meant you were willing to shake hands, yellow stood for only an elbow bump, and red meant please no contact,” said Kibbe. Overall, a lot of the HM students were pleased with the event.

“It was all put together really well, and it seemed like everyone had at least one engaging conversation with a potential employer,” said Kibbe.

The event as a whole was met with a large turnout and was highly successful. Junior Hospitality Management Major Kelly Lupton shared her thoughts as well.

“This event was really helpful or me. I loved getting to talk with employers and they really helped me once again realize how excited I am about working in such a unique industry,” said Lupton.

The Booker T. Washington Center continues to be a crucial asset

By Hannah Brooks Staff writer

The Booker T. Washington Center (BTW), located at 1720 Holland Street, is a branch of Mercyhurst University. This branch of Mercyhurst provides opportunities for students to return to school at affordable prices.

It has been in collaboration with Mercyhurst for quite some time and continues to be a strong asset for the university’s academics.

The BTW offers services to a variety of individuals; including high school students, dislocated workers and adults simply looking for a career change. Students can take advantage of a variety of degree and certificate programs or get started on their four-year degree. The BTW, much like Mercyhurst’s main campus, offers services to its students such as educational, physical and emotional wellness services. Students who attend the BTW campus have access to amenities provided at Mercyhurst’s main campus, such as academic support and career services.

The campus is conveniently located near downtown Erie, saving students from the hassle of commuting to classes. The academic programs offered at the BTW center include a Business Administration (Management) Associate Degree, a Criminal Justice Associate Degree and a Liberal Arts Associate Degree.

Students are also able to begin classes at the BTW center before transferring to Mercyhurst’s main campus, though the time spent at the Center varies by student. The BTW is very helpful to students who have jobs and families, helping each individual student to determine the best possible plan for academic success.

The Booker T. Washington Center is a great opportunity for students also working or raising a family, which are very difficult and time intensive activities.

It can also be very helpful for individuals who took a break from school after graduating high school as the transition back into schoolwork can be stressful at times, especially when paired with other factors.

The tuition rates are also cheaper than the main campus’ rates. The 2021- 2022 rates are $1665 per three-credit course and an $85 registration fee per term. The costs are lower but students are also able to get out-of-pocket costs greatly reduced through financial aid. Some grants are also available to students, such as the Booker T. Washington grant which saves students up to $200 per course. “The center offers evening classes with the intention of catering to nontraditional and adult students. In addition to providing evening classes, the BTW Center offers small, intimate classroom settings,” said Kaitlyn Dolak, Director of Programming at the Booker T. Washington Center. She also adds that it is a privilege to be able to serve the community at the level of importance that they do, and they hope to become more visible and raise more awareness about the services that they provide for Erie residents.

“It is a true asset to the City of Erie and is home to many great and necessary programs at a familiar setting in the community, providing a welcoming space to Erie City residents who are returning to school,” said Dolak.

To learn more about the Booker T. Washington Center and what they offer, you can visit the tab on the Mercyhurst University web page: https://www.mercyhurst. edu/mne/btw. or contact Katlyn Dolak at kdolak@mercyhurst. edu.

RSCO FEATURE

PRISON REFORM CLUB

By Eva Mihelich Staff writer

Prison reform is a hot topic today with the United States having the highest rates of incarceration in the world. More light has been shed on the poor conditions in prisons, with the environment hardly being livable.

In addition to the poor conditions, prison reform holds the belief that the entire system of incarceration must be rethought. Questions of the effectiveness of incarceration have been brought up in recent years, especially as human rights activists have begun to think about the inherent rights that people have despite the actions that might have gotten them locked up.

The goals listed on the website of The Sentencing Project are as follows:

Eliminating mandatory minimum sentences and cutting back on excessively lengthy sentences; for example, by imposing a 20-year maximum on prison terms.

Shifting resources to community-based prevention and treatment for substance abuse.

Investing in interventions to promote strong youth development and respond to delinquency in ageappropriate and evidence-based ways.

Examining and addressing the policies and practices, conscious or not, that contribute to racial inequity at every stage of the justice system.

Removing barriers that make it harder for individuals with criminal records to turn their lives around.

The Sisters of Mercy, who founded Mercyhurst University, have nonviolence listed as one of their five critical concerns. This deals with issues like the end to the death penalty and any mistreatment of humans. This mission, combined with Mercyhurst’s criminal justice program, prompted the creation of the Student Alliance for Prison Reform Club.

Mercyhurst’s website has a brief summary of the club that encapsulates its goals and mission: “The purpose of The Student Alliance for Prison Reform is to create and support student initiatives to bring about change in the U.S. Criminal Justice System. In the same way, the Mercyhurst student chapter bears the same objectives. The stated objectives shall be fostering new student initiatives by connecting students with a criminal justice community, advocating for justice reforms that support education, health, safety and rehabilitation, educating campuses and communities on criminal justice, sentencing policy and the effects of mass incarceration.”

Students in this club learn about the various elements of prison reform, which draws in many people who are Criminal Justice majors, but also those who are interested in social justice initiatives and human rights issues, since both of these passions drive the prison reform movement. It is important to have this club for college students because we are people who will eventually be guiding future generations, and future generations should know the importance of the dignity of human life, and the different opinions surrounding capital punishment and incarceration.

Elizabeth Marino, a senior Criminal Justice major, explained her viewpoint on the importance of prison reform.

“After learning so much about the corruption and ineffectiveness of prisons over the years, particularly private prisons, prison reform is a topic that I am very passionate about. It’s heartbreaking to learn about the great struggles people have when they get out of prison, and their inability to get back on track in life due to all the walls and stigmas put up around them,” said Marino.

If you are passionate about prison reform and learning more about the prison system, you should consider joining the Student Alliance for Prison Reform Club. It offers great knowledge and experience for anyone of interest!

Laker Side Hustle: Snider’s Keychains

By Hannah Brooks Staff writer

Keychains are a very common commodity for everybody to have. What other ways are there to spice up your plain old set of keys and give them some personality?

Nice keychains can be hard to come by at times, but if you ever find yourself in need of a keychain, you need not look any further than a local business; so local that it is right on Mercyhurst’s campus. Junior Interior Architecture and Design major, Jason (JJ) Snider runs his own business making and selling his original keychain creations.

To start, Snider’s keychains are affordable, especially for college students, ranging from $3-5 depending on the style. Customers are able to choose from three different styles. The pictures laid out in this article depict the three styles that are available for customers to choose from.

Each keychain is individually handcrafted by adding a personal touch for customers. The keychains are made out of paracord and come in a variety of different colors to choose from.

For the most accurate and upto-date information, one can contact Snider to find out what exactly is available and make your selections.

The keychain-making, for Snider, is something that he genuinely enjoys doing.

“I started making these [the keychains] because it always has been of interest to me and it gives me something to do,” said Snider.

He also adds that he has been making his keychains off-and-on over the past few years. The keychain crafting started out as a hobby and he just recently began selling them. Creating the keychains is a great way to keep busy and keep downtime enjoyable throughout the roller coaster ride that college truly is. It is also very important to shop local as much as possible: and what better way to do that than to purchase from a fellow student?

Your support of Snider will not only get you some bling for your boring lanyards filled with boring keys, but will also serve as a wonderful opportunity to support a fellow Laker.

Snider’s keychains also give a much more personal feel than a keychain that you would buy from a store – and the hand-crafted, personality of each keychain just adds to the entire experience for customers. It will also give Snider a way to keep busy and do what he loves.

With the holiday season creeping closer and closer by the day, it is to be remembered that keychains can make easy, personal gifts and with Snider’s affordable price offerings, you can get a keychain for all of your friends and family.

It is also great to support local businesses during the holiday season and think outside the box with the gifts that you purchase for others, rather than going to big retailers.

Also, remember that the keychains are completely customizable from color to style.

Any student who is interested in purchasing a keychain can contact Snider personally. He invites customers to primarily contact him by e-mail at jsnide98@ lakers.mercyhurst.edu.

Students can also call or text him at his personal phone number, which is 740-616-2503.

If you have a small business or know a friend who has one and want to have it featured in The Merciad’s “Laker Side Hustle” section, email merciad@mercyhurst. edu or message @merciadmu on Instagram to have your business featured.

Alternatively, one can also email the current Features section editor, Victoria McGinty, at vmcgin82@lakers.mercyhurst. edu for a chance to be featured.

Contributed photo

Some examples of the customizable keychains the Snider makes.

LAKER MOMENT

Contributed Photo The chill of Fall has finally made its way to campus. Although, the trees and autumn spirit are well and alive all across the Mercyhurst Community. With Halloween and Homecoming behind us, students are anticipating the end of the semester and a well-deserved Christmas vacation. Don’t forget to take a walk around campus and enjoy the serenity of the campus. Stay warm and well Lakers!

HURST CLASS CATALOG

SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING

By Mairead Stewart

Staff writer

As the people of the world continue to adapt to new waves of technology, education must change too. Mercyhurst now offers a course all about the concept of social media and how it is changing new generations.

The class is led by Kaitlyn Nelson, who was a marketing major here 15 years ago.

“My approach has been to overview how tech has evolved, how Social Media impacts the way that people communicate and how consumers interact with brands. We’ve really focused on looking at big picture messages and breaking them down into segments so that we can apply theory to this ever-evolving way of doing business,” said Nelson.

The class follows the textbook “Social Media Marketing,” but especially peculiar materials include actual social media apps and articles that are handpicked for the students.

Junior Carlos Cueva is just one lucky scholar who is currently enrolled in the course.“One important thing I’ve taken from the course so far is the concept of targeted segmentation. It is really interesting how accurate and efficient social media marketing can be through identifying targeted audiences,” said Cueva.

Looking at the current syllabus, Nelson provides 3 exams and 4 quizzes that are high scoring, so there is no room for error. Surprisingly, taking notes on laptops and tablets is discouraged. Students are encouraged to steer away from machinery with the old fashioned pencil and paper.

“When I studied Marketing at Mercyhurst 15 years ago, there were 4 P’s - product, price, place, and promotion. Since the evolution of social media, there has been a 5th P identified: Participation. There are so many avenues that [this] could be studied from... content production and operations, analytics, social responsibility and ethics, and graphics. Social Media is its own language of sorts in Marketing, now, and the possibilities are endless of how to study it,” said Nelson.

Having a Laker alumni teaching this course provides an insight into how things used to be on campus. This insight is necessary and refreshing when dealing with such relatively new ways in which the world works.

As this new door of education is opening at the Hurst, one may ask who should look into adding this to their schedule over their time here?

Nelson fully recommends that marketing students take this course, considering the current marketing landscape.

This is a perfect course for one to keep updating marketing techniques. With everything being promoted through social media nowadays, this is a must-take course.

Mercyhurst Campus Ministry celebrates a successful semester

By Gillian Mazur Editor-in chief

A common tidbit pointed out to potential students about Mercyhurst University is the unique rarity that as a Catholic college, one can make their college experience as religious as they want to at Mercyhurst.

As a campus that welcomes people of all backgrounds, unlike other Christian colleges and universities, one is not forced to practice Catholicism or attend religious events.

Students from all faith traditions are supported and developed in both service and justice. For those who do want to continue to practice their faith or show interest in getting to know more about the Catholic faith, Campus Ministry is the place to be. With their doors always open, Campus Ministry, also referred to as Campus Min, holds and hosts several events throughout the week for students to further explore and develop their faith.

The goal of Campus Ministry is to create a hospitable environment with a focus on spiritual development for the entire campus as well as grounding in the Catholic tradition and Mercy heritage, which derives from the founders of the school, the sisters of Mercy.

Campus Ministry hosts a plethora of programs and events weekly such as Tuesday Night Catholic Devotions, Wednesday Night Fellowship, Thursday Night Bible Study, MYRACLE, Women’s Book Club, Sip’n Stitch, as well as other retreats and opportunities.

One retreat Campus Ministry is most famous for is their Carpe Diem retreat, which is typically offered twice a year and is open to students of any and no faith backgrounds.

“Right now, we are in the midst of our Busy Person’s Retreat, where students meet individually with campus ministers for a handful of times for intentional conversation and reflection,” said Campus Minister Michelle Scully.

Later in this semester, Campus Ministry is set hold their Advent Art Journaling, which is a time for students to stop in, relax, meditate and pray through art. No experience or art skills are required.

Other exciting events slated for the spring semester are the silent retreat, Live the Third retreat, Jubilee Conference, and Carpe Diem Retreat which will take place around Mar. 25-27.

“One event that always had a great impact on students’ experience on campus is the Carpe Diem retreat that is held once a semester,” said senior Athletic Training major, Lydia Zurinsky.

She is one student who has furthered her faith and found community in Campus Ministry throughout her time at Mercyhurst. Zurinsky helped to run the Wednesday Night Fellowship (WNF) program during her sophomore year where people from all faith backgrounds meet to have fellowship together.

“We tend to have a theme each year that the weekly events are based around,” said Zurinsky, “this year’s theme is ‘Be ____’ and then we fill in the blank each week. Last week was ‘Be Grateful.’”

Zurinsky is now in charge of running the weekly Women’s Book Club, which consists of a group of women who meet weekly to discuss contemporary Christian books. Although she is not in charge of the program, she helped to create Sip’n Stitch, also known as the Knitting and Crocheting Group. Open to all students, those who attend are provided with instructions and materials to learn and craft with other people who share similar skills such as knitting, crocheting and embroidery.

Although it can seem intimidating for outsiders to join many of the Campus Ministry tightknit groups, all are welcome.

“My best piece of advice would be to not be afraid to just walk into the lounge or attend an event or come talk to any of the staff,” said Zurinsky.

To get involved, one can either walk through the doors of Campus Ministry, which is located on the first floor of the Student Union, or fill out the Campus Ministry Interest form which can be found on their HUB page.

“You might be surprised what you like or how the staff may be able to assist you with a struggle or problem or even just [give] some advice about life. It was probably one of my best decisions freshman year to walk into the lounge even though I was nervous and joined some of the groups. I have found some lifelong friends from Campus Min with two of them asking me to be a bridesmaid in their weddings over the summer,” said Zurinsky.

Alternatively, one can also reach out to any of the Campus Ministry staff members for more information.

The easiest ways to stay up to date on Campus Ministry and its activities are to check their weekly e-bulletin that all students should receive on Tuesdays as well as following their Instagram @hurstcampusmin.

Mercyhurst Resources: Upcoming IDEA Course Surveys

By Mackenzie Zent Staff writer

Mercyhurst offers a unique opportunity to students that allows them to give feedback on their professors and classes. Individual Development and Educational Assessments (IDEA) is a great way for students to express their opinions and true feelings on their learning experience within a class.

With the end of the semester nearing, it is important for students to start thinking about whether or not they have had the learning experience they anticipated. A lot of students are excited to get started in their classes at the beginning of the semester, however, not all students will have a positive experience with their professors or courses.

These IDEA surveys are sent out to all Mercyhurst students for all of their classes during the last week of the semester via email.

Some professors will allow for time in class to fill these out, but other professors just encourage students to complete them on their own time.

These surveys are completely anonymous, so there is no need to worry about professors thinking about a student differently or grading a final exam poorly due to how a student reviewed them.

The process is easy, simple and does not take long at all. There are a series of questions where the student will rate how well they did in the class, how well they thought they would do and what skills they acquired from the class.

There is also a part to review the professor, and how well they taught and how effective their teaching skills were.

Finally, there is a spot to give open feedback on the course, the professor and to talk about anything the student liked or disliked about their experience in class.

Many students skip this part, but it is one of the most valued parts of the survey, as the professors and Mercyhurst get to hear directly from the student.

Professors value students’ thoughts on their teaching, and the university does too.

With this in mind, it is important to provide honest feedback, so that professors know how they can improve.

It also allows for Mercyhurst to have some insight should there be a major problem with a professor or a specific course.

Students are highly encouraged to take part in the surveys as it will gain the best percentage of feedback as to how the university can make for the most rewarding classroom environment a success.

The IDEA surveys are a great way for students to feel like their voice is being heard.

Students can sometimes feel powerless when they have a bad experience with a professor, but this is a unique way for students to say how they really feel, and hopefully draw attention to some of the negative aspects of the professors’ teaching skills.

Professors will review these surveys and take into consideration any constructive criticism from previous students.

This helps them improve their course and give an even better learning experience to others.

On the other hand, IDEA surveys are a really nice way of telling a professor how much a student liked them.

The surveys have been well received in the past. With COVID taking numerous classes online, these surveys made all the difference for the university’s staff and administrators. Everyone has had a professor they got along with and whose class they enjoyed, why not tell them? Giving professors positive feedback on IDEA surveys shows them just how much of a difference they are making in a student’s life, and encourages them to keep doing what they are doing.

The university will be emailing out IDEA surveys within the next few weeks. Each survey is catered to each student and the courses they are enrolled in. The surveys take almost no time at all and have a critical impact as to how the university can improve its academic rigor across all classes.

For more information on IDEA surveys students are encouraged to visit the HUB page or talk with their professors.

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THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

By Maiya Harding Staff writer

Historical Event: Nov. 5 1941

History.com photo

80 years ago, Top-Secret Order No.1 went out to the Japanese fleet. It said that in one month and 2 days (December 7, 1941), Pearl Harbor, Malaysia, the Dutch East Indies, and the Philippines were to be bombed. Tensions had risen since the U.S. made trade embargoes to stop Japan’s global expansion. Japan realized if they controlled Pearl Harbor, they controlled the Pacific. In an effort to destroy the United States Pacific fleet, they carefully planned and bombed Pearl Harbor. Four battleships were sunk, four damaged and 2,400 Americans killed. They missed oil tanks, repair facilities and many aircrafts, which was their mistake. This surprise attack forced the U.S. into World War II, causing Japan’s loss.

Top 3 Songs This Week: According to Spotify’s Global Charts 1. Easy on Me: Adele 2. STAY: Justin Bieber, Kid LAROI 3. Industry Baby: Lil Nas X, Jack Harlow

On the Charts This Week 30 Years Ago:

According to Billboards Charts 1. CREAM: Prince and the N.P.G 2. Romantic: Karyn White 3. Can’t Stop Until We Get this Thing Started: Bryan Adams

Top Grossing Films: This week: Dune Thirty years ago: Terminator 2

Top Artists Today: Male: Drake Female: Adele

Top Artists 30 Years Ago: Male: Bryan Adams Female: Mariah Carey

Top 3 Podcasts This Week: According to Spotify’s Global Charts

1. The Joe Rogan Experience 2. The Problem With Jon Stewart 3. Muder, Mystery, and Makeup