News

from November 30th Issue of the Merciad

A&E

PAGE 2 NEWS Wednesday, November 30, 2022 Erie company shows support for Ukraine

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

Erie-based shipping and logistics company, Logistic Plus, recently opened a brand new office in the port city of Gdansk, Poland. Gretchen Seth currently works for Logistic Plus.

When asked why he chose to place the office in Poland, Seth had a logical response.

“We expect this to be part of the rebuilding in Ukraine at the end of the war,” said Seth.

As of February 2022, the company had approximately 50 employees located in Ukraine. Logistics Plus had previously donated $500,000 to help support those employees in Ukraine.

Logistic Plus has already been playing a pivotal role in moving relief items into Ukraine through their warehouse in Rzeszow, near the Ukrainian border, and office in the west of Krakow in Katowice.

The company plans to help coordinate getting needed supplies out of Poland and into Ukraine.

“This area is full of maritime traffic and so we feel we’re ideally located to take advantage of this gateway into Poland and then across the border into

ajot.com photo Katowice, Poland Team: Olena Popova, Katia Kyrylenko, Aga Adamus, Katia Markelova, and Ola Kenig.

Ukraine,” Seth told reporters.

“We feel like eventually this conflict is going to end and when it does, we want to be in a good position to help right away so any kind of cargo you can think of: from humanitarian aid to big project cargo will be coming through this office,” Seth said.

The war in Ukraine has been going on since the neighboring country Russia launched a military offensive on Ukraine’s Soil on Feb. 24, 2022.

As of Nov. 21, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights reported that 16,784 civilian casualties, including 6,595 deaths have been recorded. However, the number is speculated to be much higher, and millions are still at risk. More than 7 million Ukrainians are internally displaced, while an additional 7.5 million have fled the war-torn nation.

The war in Ukraine has resulted in the biggest refugee crisis in Europe since World War Two.

Recently Russian has been facing many setbacks, including not being able to fend off Ukrainian troops from liberating the city of Kherson.

The United Nations has attempted to establish safe passage for life-saving medical supplies and essentials throughout Ukraine.

For the first time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, humanitarians from the United Nations were able to deliver essential supplies to citizens living in Kherson on Nov. 14.

On the same day, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution calling for Russia to pay war reparations to Ukraine. Ninety-four nations voted in favor of the resolutions, 73 nations abstained from voting, and 14 nations voted against the resolution. The World Health Organization has also come out to condemn Russia for violating international humanitarian and human rights law, accusing Russian of 703 attacks on healthcare sites since the beginning of the war.

On Nov. 16, Rosemary DiCarlo the United Nations political affair chair informed the security council that some of the most intense bombardments in Ukraine have occurred in recent days. DiCarlo warned against the risk of spillover into other nations.

Despite preparation for the end, the war in Ukraine is still ongoing and should be closely monitored.

It is companies like Logistic Plus that offer a source of hope for all of those watching this war from a distance.

It optimistically offers help for the future, showing that the war will end even if it seems eternal right now.

New animals find a home at the Erie Zoo

By Eva Philips Staff writer

The Erie Zoo is one of the most popular attractions in the area, and its recent addition of several new animals makes it even more appealing for visitors of all ages.

The Erie Zoo acquired a female Père David’s deer, as a companion for the other Père David’s deer that the zoo houses. The deer are named Lisa and Tai Yang. They live in the same enclosure as the zoo’s mouflon sheep herd.

While the addition of these new residents is exciting, visitors to the zoo will have to wait patiently to observe the deer in their habitat until the spring when the Safariland Train opens for the season.

In acquiring these Père David’s deer, the Erie Zoo is supporting efforts to conserve the species, which has been extinct from its natural habitat in China for over a century. Without organizations like the Erie Zoo, the species would be completely extinct.

Père David’s deer are also known as the milu or elaphure. While they appear similar to the white-tail deer common throughout the northeastern United States, their thick antlers and shaggier coat set them apart.

The deer were not the only new additions to the Erie Zoo’s population.

Also joining the zoo are two young red pandas, Lukas and Mikah. Lukas and Mikah are brothers and previously lived at the Seneca Park Zoo. Their new home at the Erie Zoo is in the Asia Tower’s red panda exhibit.

Lukas and Mikah were brought in to replace Neo, Joe, and Pumori, the previous group of red pandas at the Erie Zoo. These three red pandas were relocated to assist in breeding plans aimed at increasing the red panda population.

Red pandas are endangered, meaning that they face a high risk of becoming extinct in the wild.

If they became extinct, the only remaining red pandas on earth would reside in zoos and other organizations. Conservationists have worked diligently to ensure the continued survival of the red panda species.

Recently, red pandas have gained extra publicity due to the release of Disney’s “Turning Red,” a movie in which the main character unwillingly turns into a giant red panda. Red pandas are known for their charming appearance, with a ringed tail, reddish coat, round face and pointed ears.

Finally, the population of the zoo grew naturally, with the births of two litters of naked mole rat pups. The naked mole rat exhibit is located within the zoo’s main building.

Also known as sand puppies, naked mole rats are native to the Horn of Africa. Unlike the Père

GoErie photo Two red pandas residing at the Erie Zoo (pictured), are now joined by two new red pandas, named Lukas and Mikah.

David’s deer and red pandas, naked mole rats are considered a stable species and are not in danger of extinction.

They are notable for the bald appearance that gives them their name and for their reliance on their sense of smell, as they are virtually blind and deaf.

The Erie Zoo has a number of other exciting exhibits, home to exotic animals like lions, leopards, tigers, alligators and pythons.

The zoo opened in 1930 and has welcomed scores of visitors ever since. Its proximity to Mercyhurst makes it a great destination for students looking for a fun weekend activity.

Though the zoo closes for the season on Dec. 1, be sure to mark your calendars for its spring opening on the first day of March — it will certainly be worth a visit.

The Erie Zoo has plenty of other exhibits besides the new animals mentioned, so make sure to see the great variety offered.

Exhibits include monkeys, giraffes, elephants and lions, so there are plenty of different animals for everyone to see.

The Erie Zoo is open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Consider visiting these new exhibits and all the other exhibits once it reopens in nicer weather.

Are Twitter’s days coming to an end?

By Bella Lee Staff Writer

Twitter is a social media giant that has been around since 2006. It has seen the rise and fall of social media platforms such as Myspace, as well as the rise and continued growth of social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. It has stood the test of time, but with Elon Musk’s acquisition of the platform on Oct. 27, its reign might just come to an end.

Ever since Musk’s acquisition and abrupt policy changes, employees have been leaving in mass migrations.

In just over a month, between 1,000 and 1,300 employees have resigned, after Musk has implemented schedules that have included 80-hour work weeks and not allowing employees to work from home.

Additionally, Musk has not followed through with many of his promises to employees, with one former employee taking to Twitter to express his frustrations. The employee was promised three months of severance pay if he were to resign, only to be suddenly fired shortly after and only being given four weeks of severance pay.

This has been part of Musk’s ultimatum to either work the 80-hour work weeks (equal to approximately 11.5 hours of work per day) or quit with the three months of severance pay, to which fewer than 50% of the less than 4,000 workers left remaining have agreed on.

To add fuel to the fire, this was already after he laid off half of the company. This could mean that Twitter will lose up to an additional 2,000 workers if Musk sticks to this plan.

This all culminated on Nov. 17, the deadline for the ultimatum to be made, when all of Twitter’s offices abruptly shut down.

It is said that the closure occurred in order to prevent physical sabotage while the company sorts out access revocations. In other words, it seems like Twitter is concerned that its disgruntled employees could wreak havoc on their way out the door.

The offices closing and the throes of employees leaving have left many concerned that this is the end of the line for Twitter. While Twitter is not the largest social media platform, it is still a popular one.

Large platforms need teams of people working day in and day out to make sure they run as they should. Users now fear that the company simply will not have enough people left to keep it running—especially with Twitter offices closed.

With Musk’s new additions such as paying $8 a month to have the blue check mark of verification next to people’s usernames, it is no surprise that this is a concern among users. As big as Twitter is, an actual shutdown is not totally likely to occur.

Peter Clowes, a senior software engineer at the company who resigned earlier this month, took to Twitter to explain his frustrations and why he left the company in a long thread.

“If I stayed I would’ve been on call constantly with little support for an indeterminate amount of time on several additional complex systems I had no experience in,” Clowes said.

“There was no vision shared with us...It allegedly is coming for those who stayed but the ask was blind faith and required signing away the severance offer before seeing it. Pure loyalty test.”

Right now, Twitter users do not have to worry about the platform shutting down just yet, but in the event that it does, Twitter has many ways that you can download an archive of your accounts.

Hopefully Twitter will stick around for longer, but with what Musk has in store, we will not know until we see it for ourselves.

Contributed photo

Elon Musk is the new owner of Twitter. Concerns arise about Twitter shutting down as employees quit by the thousands.

PA approves $1 million fund for Julia House

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

Pennsylvania has recently approved $1 million in funding for Julia House in an effort to ameliorate health care options for individuals suffering from serious illnesses in the Commonwealth.

Julia Hospice and Palliative Care is a non-profit organization that offers hospice, palliative, complementary and bereavement care for people in the Erie community suffering from terminal illnesses and their families.

Their philosophy of care includes three aspects: “Understanding the patient as the whole person behind their illness, partnering with the patient and all their caregivers including other doctors to facilitate true team-based collaborative care and employing personalized ‘holistic care’ that brings together both traditional and non-traditional treatments if it is beneficial to the patient’s well-being,” according to the statement on the organization’s website.

There is an urgent need for hospice care in Erie County. The nearest residential hospice facilities are in Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Jamestown, Warren and Meadville.

However, the distance often prevents individuals from being close to their loved ones in their final moments.

“My dad would call in the middle of the night when my mom would be in terrible pain from advanced colon cancer. I would race over to their house and spend the night trying to provide some comfort. Then, in the morning it was back to my place to see my son off to school before going into work all day. I was exhausted and felt drained both physically and emotionally. A hospice home would have provided a safe, caring compassionate place for mom but such a place didn’t exist, until now,” Erie County resident Mary Schaaf said on the organization’s website.

Currently, there is a construction plan in place for Julia House.

The current plan is for Julia house to be located in McKean, near I-90 and the I-79 interchange, providing close proximity to the center of the county to allow all residents of Erie County to have access.

It will have 18 beds and 38 rooms. Each of the 18-bed suites will have a living space and include a wheelchair-accessible bathroom and shower facility.

The suites will be approximately 300 square feet to accommodate loved ones to spend the night.

There will also be family spaces that include showers, bathrooms, lounges and kitchen facilities.

The facility will have community spaces available that include childcare rooms, exercise rooms, gathering spaces and a multi-denominational chapel.

In addition to administrative offices, the facility will have two patient care units that include the only outpatient palliative care clinic in the area.

The Palliative Care Unit will include a waiting room and three examination rooms.

Each examination room will allow for telemedicine to take place. This will allow patients to receive medical help in person within the facility or at their private homes.

According to their website, Julia House originally planned to break ground in 2022.

The organization also hoped to fully open Julia Hospice and Palliative Care open by the end of 2022. It is hoped that this recent funding will allow for these plans to become a reality.

Everyone deserves a comfortable end to their life, and Julia House will provide those suffering with just that.

Julia Hospice and Palliative Care has been a great part of the Erie community, and the addition of the Julia House is just another example of the great care that comes from their team.

Corry Journal photo Husband and wife team, Dr. Christopher Strzalka and Julia Strzalka, stand with the sign for Julia Hospice and Palliative Care

Merciad IN A MINUTE

Join Ski and Board Club

Interested in joining Ski and Board Club?

Email Emma Sayboldt (eseybo47@lakers. mercyhurst.edu) or MacKenzie Heasley (mheasl78@lakers. mercyhurst.edu) by Dec. 2.

Ski and snowboard at Peak’n Peak Resort in New York! It is not a long drive, making this club a convenient way for students to participate.

Free Flu Shots

Flu season is upon us. Take action now and prevent future sickness.

Flu shots are available at the Cohen Student Health Center by appointment only.

Call 814-824-2431 to schedule an appointment.

Bookstore offers great holiday deals

By Eva Mihelich News Editor

The holiday season is finally here, and with the season comes the great joy—and stress— of gift giving. The Mercyhurst Bookstore has you covered.

The Bookstore is offering a generous 20% off sale for all clothing and gifts now until Dec. 21. Students, faculty and staff have plenty of time before Christmas break to grab their gear.

There is a large variety of items that can be purchased. There are warm blankets to keep cozy in the cold weather, available in many different colors.

There are many winter hats in a plethora of styles and colors to accommodate everyone’s tastes in fashion.

Walking into the Bookstore, you will immediately see the great number of hoodies, crewnecks and long sleeve shirts. Many of the hoodies and sweatshirts are lined with fleece on the inside, perfect for the snow that is always expected with an Erie winter.

For those who decorate Christmas trees, there are a handful of ornament styles with the Mercyhurst logo on them. You can show your Laker pride, even on the branches of a tree.

Grace Mullins, a junior Dance major, works at the Bookstore. Mullins said that the items offered at the bookstore are plentiful, and students should definitely look for some of their gifts there.

“Whenever I’m working a shift at the Bookstore, I take a couple laps around just to see what we have in stock. I’m always tempted to buy things, especially now that it’s getting colder and we have so many cute hoodies and sweatshirts. I sent my mom a couple links to my favorite options, so I’m hoping I’ll add a few more to my collection,” said Mullins.

For those who are buying gifts from home, the Bookstore has a website where you can order your goods and have them shipped to you. You also have the option to buy things online and then pick them up in store.

The Bookstore staff encourages you to look around and see if anything catches your eye. When you go home for Christmas break, wear your new gear to proudly show everyone that Hurst is home!

CJ Poinsettia The Criminal Justice Fundraiser MU Theatre presents one of Honors Society, Alpha Phi Sigma, is hosting a poinsettia fundraiser through Friday, Dec. 2. America’s most famous plays

Small 6.5 inch arrangements are $15 and tall 8.5 inch arrangements are $20.

There will be a table set up with order forms in the Grotto Commons to The Mercyhurst Theatre Proorder, and students will gram celebrates the 125th come around to offices to anniversary of playwright conduct cash and check Thornton Wilder’s birth with a sales. production of his masterpiece,

Orders will be delivered “Our Town,” Dec. 1-3, in Tayon Friday, Dec. 9. Contact lor Little Theatre. Dr. Adam Saeler, Jacob There will be a total of four Yohman, or Kylie Essman shows the first week of Dewith any questions. cember. Opening night will be Thursday, Dec.1 at 7:30 p.m. There will also be a show on Support Hurst Friday, Dec. 2, at 7:30 p.m. On alum GoFundMe Saturday, Dec. 3, there will be two performances at 2 p.m. and

Alumnus Moe Diakhaby, 7:30 p.m. was a victim of a hit and “Our Town” is directrun by a drunk driver. He ed by guest artist Doug Powhas been paralyzed from ers, Ph.D., who has previously the waist down and is worked on the Mercyhurst Thefacing many medical bills atre Program’s productions of alone. “The Tempest,” “Dancing at

Consider donating to his Lughnasa,” “Dracula,” “ForbidGofundme and keeping den Broadway’s Greatest Hits,” him in your thoughts and “Anne of Green prayers. Gables,” “Through the Look-

The donation link can be ing-Glass,” and “A Midsummer found in the @hurstmbball Night’s Dream.” Instagram bio. “‘Our Town’ is the great American play,” Powers said in a MerHave a tip for Merciad in a Minute? Want to tell others cyhurst press release. “Planted firmly in the cultural landscape, about your club’s events? the play still resonates. It also Email us at merciad@ still packs a devastating blow, as mercyhurst.edu we journey through all the stages of living.” “Our Town” takes place in Grover’s Corners and follows the simple daily lives of the Webb and Gibbs families. The play is split into three acts titled: “Daily Life,” “Love and Marriage” and “Death and Eternity.” The audience will watch the children fall in love, marry, and eventually, die. The cast of “Our Town” includes Rondale Smith (Stage Manager), Michael Harper (Dr. Gibbs), Mason Reynolds (Joe Crowell/Si Crowell), Vanessa Nolan (Howie Newsome), Bella Lee (Mrs. Gibbs), Tori Altsman (Mrs. Webb), Braden Rosciszewski (George Gibbs), Faith Mackinnon (Rebecca Gibbs), Zach Hansen (Wally Webb), Ali Forsythe (Emily Webb), Ash Carr (Professor Willard), Ben Vacca (Mr. Webb), Katelynn Bizzarro (Woman in the Balcony), Bridget Gedeon (Man in the Auditorium), Maureen Krihwan (Lady in the Box), John Carroll (Simon Stimson), Maya Dildine (Mrs. Soames), Sam Harnum (Constable Warren), Gabby Schmidt (Sam Craig), Cole Lowe (Joe Stoddard), Abigail Bender, Abby Craig and Yekaterina Kanazin (People of the Town). Adults tickets are $15, senior citizens and non-Mercyhurst Students are $10 and youth and Mercyhurst students are $5 with I.D. Each ticket order is subject to a tax of $1.50 per ticket processing fee regardless of purchase or payment method. The box office is open Tuesday-Thursday, noon-5 p.m., and 90 minutes before each ticketed

By Nadine Fox Staff writer Contributed photo ‘Our Town’ is known as Thornton Wilder’s great masterpiece. It follows the lives of the Webb and Gibbs families. event. Reserve your tickets online at the MIAC ticketing website, by phone at 814-824-3000 or at the PAC box office. All performances are general admission, with doors opening 30 minutes prior to curtain.