The Merciad February 8 Issue

Damar’s Law introduced to Pennsylvania

By Bella Lee Staff writer

In the wake of the scary collapse and cardiac arrest of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin on Jan. 2, a Pennsylvania State Senator has introduced a new bill named “Damar’s Law.”

Damar’s Law would require that Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) be present at any sporting event hosted by a school district in the commonwealth.

“Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is not only a leading cause of death across the general population in the United States, but also the leading cause of death among student athletes participating in athletic practices and competitions,” said Senator Marty Flynn, who introduced the bill.

“During a recent professional football game, we witnessed the harrowing incident of SCA involving Damar Hamlin, a safety for the Buffalo Bills, including the immediate response from trainers and medical personnel. Thankfully, we also have seen him make tremendous strides in his recovery.”

While most schools already have AEDs on their campuses, Flynn wants to make sure that they are at all sporting events

and that athletic personnel are prepared to use them.

“Additionally, all coaches would be required to complete training on the proper use of AEDs. These requirements would ensure that the most critical component to increasing survivability after SCA is addressed: time,” said Flynn. “Damar Hamlin is a reminder that even elite athletes experience SCA. His recovery has been described as

‘miraculous’ by many, though it is undeniable that the immediate response saved his life.” Hamlin and the Bills were playing against the Cincinnati Bengals in Paycor Stadium when Hamlin suffered cardiac arrest following a tackle from Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins. As both teams looked on in fear, Hamlin remained on the ground for nearly ten minutes as CPR was administered to him.

He was then taken to the University of Cincinnati Medical Center and the matchup between the Bills and the Bengals was postponed and later cancelled.

An outpouring of support from both sides followed, with Bengals fans standing outside of the hospital in solidarity, Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs visiting his friend and teammate in the hospital, and most fascinat-

ing, the GoFundMe that Hamlin had created back in 2020.

Originally with a $2,500 goal to support a toy drive sponsored by Hamlin’s foundation, Chasing M’s, the foundation has now raised $9,046,970 as of this writing, with donations coming from various companies, fellow NFL teams and their owners and other athletes such as swimmer Michael Phelps and wrestler Chris Jericho.

Hamlin was finally released from UC Medical Center on Jan. 9 and was transferred to Buffalo General Medical Center, where he was able to go home on Jan. 11.

On Jan. 22, Hamlin was able to watch the playoff game between the Bills and the Bengals at Highmark Stadium, where he was welcomed by the roars and cheering of fans from both sides.

While the Bills ultimately lost to the Bengals 27-10, Hamlin received the homecoming he absolutely deserved.

Super Bowl LVII airs on Feb. 12, and while we will have to wait another year to see the Bills have a chance at glory, it is amazing to see how far Hamlin has come in the past month.

Residential Composting Program underway

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

In early January of 2023, Mercyhurst University announced a major step they are taking towards helping reduce their negative environmental impact.

A residential composting program was announced to all Mercyhurst University students that allows them to compost their food waste for a small charge monthly.

The program is a direct partnership with Saegertown Company Conservation Compost as an attempt to urge the Mercyhurst community to responsibly dispose of their food scraps and waste.

Saegertown Company Conservation Compost was founded by Ryan Nageotte and David Washousky in 2019 after the duo met in 2001 during college orientation at Allegheny College where the two were environmental science majors.

The company is known as the region’s first large-scale commercial composting facility that aims to provide both cost-effective composting and solutions to waste disposal.

A quick look at their company’s website shows that their mission is to divert organic materials that would otherwise be destined for landfills into locally produced compost. Since they were founded in 2019 the Saegertown Company has stopped roughly 304,000 pounds of organic waste from

entering landfills.

In their partnership with Mercyhurst University and the students that choose to partake in this program, that number would likely drastically increase.

Students who choose to participate in the composting program can expect to sign up to receive a five-gallon buck with a lid and liners that are placed inside of the buckets to take back to their apartments.

Anyone participating will be allowed to drop off their liners as they fill with collected food scraps to a set of designated bins located next to grotto commons dining hall. Once a week the bins will be emptied and brought to a local Saegertown Company Conservation Compost drop off sight.

The cost to students will be a flat $10 a month with a one-time fee of $5 for the purchase of the bin, lid and liners that go inside of the bin.

Composting is best explained as the collection of objects such as leaves, and in the case of Mercyhurst students participating in this program, food scraps, and turning them into soil fertilizer.

As the ingredients break down and decompose, they create oxygen and nutrient rich soils that are filled with benefits.

By composting any individual can help the environment in a multitude of ways like assisting in wetland reclamation.

Compost is used in wetland rec-

lamation as a cleaning barrier between automobile pollution from the cars on the roadways and the wetlands that border them.

This is especially important in a city like Erie as it borders one of the Great Lakes.

It also helps conserve water by retaining and efficiently transferring water, combat climate change by lowering the amount of greenhouse gases that enter the atmosphere, reduces the amount of

overall food waste and scraps that enter landfills yearly, and helps to promote healthier plant growth when plants are planted in the composted soil.

Helping a local company like Saegertown Company Conservation Compost protect and clean the environment is an amazing opportunity to get involved in.

Sometimes the goal of reaching an environmentally sustainable campus seems like something un-

attainable for each individual. However, this is a simple step that each person can take in order to do their part in making this world more environmentally clean.

If each person does something small like composting to help the Earth, then the big goals will not seem so far away.

Getty Images

Fans pose with signs for Damar Hamlin to show their support for him and his family during his recovery.

NPR Image

In the infographic, common things to compost are labeled, and things to avoid are also labeled.

Terrence Floyd keeps his brother’s name alive

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

On Wednesday, Feb. 1, at 8:30 p.m., approximately 280 Mercyhurst students, along with a countless numbers of faculty, staff and members of the community flooded into the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center to listen to Terrence Floyd speak.

Floyd is the half-brother of George Floyd who tragically died May 25, 2020, after Minneapolis, Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes.

In the midst of a global pandemic, thousands of people courageously took to the streets to protest police brutality and systemic racism after news of George Floyd’s death and video footage begin to spread throughout the nations.

Terrence Floyd was invited to campus by senior Cooper Hicks who serves as Mercyhurst Student Government’s Events Coordinator.

I, Vydalia Weatherly, along with senior Mercyhurst Student Government President, Lily Smith, had the privilege of interviewing Floyd.

In a crowded Performing Arts Center, Floyd spoke about the legacy of his brother.

Despite not growing up with his brother, Floyd discussed the bond they shared in their adult life and how losing his brother devastated his family.

Floyd, who lived a normal life out of the spotlight, became an activist and public speaker after his brother’s death to keep George’s memory alive and to prevent another family from feeling the pain his father went through.

“When you see me, think of George,” Floyd told the crowd repeatedly.

The Floyd family has launched a nonprofit organization named ‘We are Floyd’, to keep the memory of George alive.

In recent years, Floyd has been impressed by the resilience of the younger generation as they fight for social change, but says there is more we can do.

Floyd argues that one weakness of the younger generation is that we lack social skills needed to advance the fight.

Floyd shared that when he was younger he would go outside and interact with other people his age, but teens and young adults today prefer to spend their time on their phones or gaming de-

vices.

Floyd urged the crowd to be more social in their day-to-day lives, to go out and meet new people in person.

“It is only through communicating with one another and interacting with people from different backgrounds that social change can occur and last,” said Floyd.

At dinner before the event, Floyd revealed that he had been invited to attend Tyre Nichols’s funeral, but believed it was more

important than ever to come to Mercyhurst to share his message.

Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old black man was beaten by five Memphis police officers and died from his injuries three days later on Jan. 10.

Floyd told the crowd in the PAC that everyone must continue to talk about police brutality as it continues to occur throughout the nation.

Floyd commented that if even one person posted about his brother on social media each day, it will keep the conversation going and apply pressure for things to change for the better.

At the end of his discussion, Floyd told the crowd that we are all of the same race, the human race, and we must treat other better, love each other better, and protect one another from harm.

That is the only way for society to truly heal according to Floyd.

The next day on Feb. 2, Black Students for Unity hosted a dialogue to debrief after Floyd’s discussion.

Students, faculty members, and Erie residents gathered in Zurn 114 to discuss what they learned from Floyd’s talk, but also their hopes for the future of campus and the nation when it comes to bettering race relations and dealing with heavy issues, such as systematic racism.

To learn more about events going on campus and in Erie you can visit the Hub or follow @hurstcampuslife on Instagram.

DEIJ grant applications now open

By Eva Mihelich News editor

Mercyhurst is focused on creating an open, anti-racist, forward-thinking environment for their students.

One new initiative that the office for DEIJ has started is an opportunity for students or faculty to get mini grants. These grants are to be used for ideas to enhance the campus community, with a special focus on diversity and anti-racism.

This gives students the opportunity to give their input for how the Mercyhurst community could improve in terms of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice.

Past concerns of students have driven this new initiative, along with the other missions that Mercyhurst has started in order to combat racism.

The application for these mini grants can be found on the Student Hub. When the application is accessed, a message appears across the top banner.

“This spring the Office of Mission will award separate mini-grants of up to $500 each to teams of at least two people (which can include students, employees, or both) for creative programs or initiatives that will enhance the university’s goals for diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice.

We welcome projects specifically connected to antiracism and

we welcome projects that expand to other important areas of diversity and inclusion on campus and in the local community.”

Greg Baker, vice president for Mission said that this is the third year Mercyhurst is offering these mini-grants, but they are trying to put a greater emphasis on it this year.

“Each of the past two years we have awarded between 6-8 grants of up to $500 each. These projects need to take place between spring and fall 2023, and they need to involve a team of at least two people. We encourage teams that include both students and employees. These grants are made possible through a Mercy Endowment Fund that the Sisters generously built up over decades.”

The purpose of these grants is to give people an opportunity to lead creative and impactful initiatives for DEIJ work on campus.

Baker said, “When DEIJ was brought under the mission office a few years ago, I recognized that a lot of people on campus care deeply about this area of the campus experience, but people cited lack of time and lack of resources as what keep them from doing new things.”

The possibility of having a little bit of money helps people to think and dream differently!

These grants have been tremendously helpful in bringing about simple yet important initiatives, both on campus and in the local

community.

There have already been a number of great submissions for this year’s grants. This year’s deadline for submissions is Feb. 13. Baker said, “Soon I will gather with a small team to help me decide which of this year’s projects will be awarded a grant.”

If you have an idea for how Mercyhurst can improve their DEIJ mission, consider applying for a mini grant to get your plan in action.

Applying only takes a couple of minutes and it could have long lasting impacts on the Mercyhurst community. Use your

voice for good!

As a student at Mercyhurst University, you have the right to speak up for what you think campus should look like, so use that privilege for the betterment of the overall environment by applying for a grant.

Contributed Photo

Vydalia Weatherly and Lily Smith interviewed Terrance Floyd about who his brother was to him, and how we should use George Floyd’s life to fight for racial equality.

The infographic above shows the various aspects of DEIJ, which aims to make sure that everybody is included and has the tools required to achieve equality.

Merciad IN A MINUTE

MSG Elections

MSG elections are fast approaching. Don’t miss the deadlines if you are interested!

Letters of intent for president and vice president are due Feb. 13, the candidate debate is Feb. 22, and then letters of intent for appointed positions are due Feb. 27.

Following that are elections, and then the full board will be announced March 20.

After all of that, applications for the 20232024 Senate are due on March 24, and the actual elections are April 11-14.

MSG is a crucial part of the Mercyhurst community and it gives students the opportunity to speak for the student body, so take advantage

New Campus Ministry Times

Although most times remain the same, there are a few time changes to keep in mind for this semester regarding campus ministry events. Catholic devotions have moved from Tuesday evenings to Thursday evenings at 5 p.m.

There is also a time change for masses on Sunday. The previous 7 p.m. mass time has been updated to 4 p.m.

Consider taking part in some of campus ministry’s weekly events!

Stay updated by following @hurstcampusmin on Instagram.

Spring Involvement Fair

Want to get more involved on campus?

Consider attending the spring involvement fair on Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 2-4 p.m. in the student union.

Tables will be set up for all sorts of clubs and groups on campus with student representatives to talk to you firsthand.

Getting involved is a great way to feel like you are making an impact on the Mercyhurst community, plus you get to meet new people!

Have a tip for Merciad in a Minute? Want to tell others about your club’s events? Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

Honoring the legacy of William C. Sennett

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

William “Bill” C. Sennett passed away on Jan. 23, 2023, at the age of 92 while being surrounded by his family here in Erie, PA.

Attorney Sennett lived an impressive life and donated a lot of his time and money to Mercyhurst. His legacy will continue to live on with the school.

Attorney Sennett grew up in Erie and graduated from Cathedral Prep in 1948. He then graduated cum laude from Holy Cross College in 1952 and then from Georgetown Law School in 1955.

Post law school, Sennett clerked with the United States Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit for the Honorable John A. Danaher.

After his clerkship, he returned home to Erie and practiced law with his father, B. Walker Sennett for over 50 years. His law career was focused on areas in government, municipal law and industrial and corporate finance. From 1967 to 1970, Attorney Sennett served as the youngest Attorney General in Pennsylvania under Governor Raymond P. Shafer’s administration.

He then became President of McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett from 1985 to 1994.

He was actively involved in the Erie community as he served on numerous boards throughout his life.

He served as a Trustee of Mercyhurst University for four decades and 13 years as chairman.

Due to his commitment to the school, he was granted Trustee Emeritus status in 2014 and had a room in the Hammermill Library named in his honor, the Sennett Board Room.

Sennett started the Sennett Institute for Mercy and Catholic Studies in 2009 to “highlight thebreadth and depth of the Catholic intellectual tradition, as well as the five critical concerns of the Sisters of Mercy: caring for the poor, especially women and children; caring for immigrants; caring for the earth; promoting nonviolence; and combating racism.”

The institute became a premier voice for the mission of Mercyhurst and its Catholic tradition.

In the press release announcing his passing, President Kathleen Getz, Ph.D. said, “From the Sennett Institute for Mercy and Catholic Studies to the Sennett Board Room to many less tangible manifestations, we are reminded of his intense love of and commitment to this institution.”

Sennett’s benefaction of both his time and money to Mercyhurst will be long-lasting and he will continue to be honored for his dedication to his community.

Sennett’s first wife passed away in 2005, and they are survived by six children and eight grandchildren. Sennett remarried four years ago to Marlene Braham who survives along with her three children and four grandchildren. One of his children and one of his grandchildren also followed in the family business of becoming attorneys. His youngest grandchild, Jamie Sennett is currently a freshman at Mercyhurst University.

Erie’s religious leaders come together

By Eva Mihelich News editor

In today’s world, social justice is an umbrella phrase that many issues fall under. Racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and many other relevant topics today are examples of what social justice aims to aid to make the world a more accepting space for everyone. However, the term ‘social justice’ does not typically go together with religion, mainly because a lot of people sadly associate religion with those hateful prejudices.

Mercyhurst aims to use its religious background to promote social justice, since, to its core, each religion speaks of love. Every person deserves this love, regardless of any factor contributing to their identity. To promote this sense of unity between religion and social justice, Mercyhurst hosted a conversation between different Erie leaders of religion regarding social justice. The speakers had various religious backgrounds so that it is not a one-sided discussion that is not challenged or questioned in some way.

These Erie leaders discussed

social justice issues in the local sense and dissected how it relates to Erie, what issues especially pertain to our community, and what can be done to solve these issues.

The Very Reverend Melinda Hall of the Cathedral of Saint Paul, Sheikh Mazin Alsahlani of the Al-Makarim Islamic Foundation, and Sister Valerie Luckey, OSB, representing the Benedictine Sisters of Erie all spoke at this event.

Verna Ehret, Ph.D., Religious Studies professor, indicated the importance of attending discussions like this.

“There are a number of reasons this is an important event for students to attend. A year ago the Ethics Institute did a panel discussion titled ‘Individualism, Community, and the Power of Symbols.’ This panel is a kind of follow-up to that previous panel. This new panel is focusing on three local religious communities and their work toward social justice throughout Erie.

There was some reflection on the larger religious ideas of the communities as well as the active work of building a more just society that they are engaged in. Seeing this work within Chris-

tian communities (both Catholic and Protestant) as well as Muslim communities in Erie helps students see the way ethical concerns bring people together. The Q&A portion of the evening highlighted shared values and work across the three speakers,” said Ehret.

Ehret spoke on the experience and value of the three selected speakers. “Rev. Hall is Dean of the Episcopal Diocese of Erie, and her congregation is in the heart of downtown Erie. The congregation engages in a great deal of outreach and advocacy for the people of Erie. Sr. Luckey is one of the Benedictine Sisters of Erie, who are ever-present in the work of social justice throughout the city. Sr. Luckey in particular works with Emmaus Ministries. Sheikh Alsahlani is founder and head of the Almakarim Islamic Foundation in Erie, which is in the Shia tradition of Islam. Besides his work with the foundation, he travels nationally and internationally to give talks on peace and justice and in particular on inter-religious dialogue,” said Ehret. Interviewed before the conversation took place, Ehret said that she is excited to see what the

conversation brings.

“I am looking forward to seeing how these three people will build a conversation on social justice that engages their particular traditions while also opening up the ways justice transcends specific communities. Justice can be a tool not only for inclusion but also, and perhaps more importantly, for building belonging in the Erie community. I am very interested to see how each of them individually and collectively will explore that from their own traditions and experiences,” said Ehret.

The conversation took place on Feb. 7 in the Walker Recital Hall.

There was an impressive crowd, and a broad range of topics were brought up.

The speakers focused on finding similarities in their different religions, and focused on respectful dialogue, which is so important today.

Talks like this are great ways for students to see firsthand the beauty in different beliefs, and it also shows people that the beauty in community is finding those differences and yet coming together to make positive change.

Contributed Photo

William (Bob) C. Sennett’s faculty photo is posted above, who recently passed away.

Mercyhurst receives NCAA President’s Award for academics

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

The NCAA has released their list of honorees for the Presidents’ Award for Academic Excellence. It is awarded to Division II schools that have achieved a four-cohort Academic Success Rate of 90% or higher.

This is the 12th year the award has been given out. 44 schools earned this honor including Mercyhurst University. The NCAA and the federal government measure time to graduate within a six-year window of first-time enrollment.

Thus, the graduation rates for the 2012-2015 cohorts would

have been reported from 2019 to 2022. Mercyhurst was the only school in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) to receive the honor.

Laker student-athletes should be proud of their hard work to become distinguished by the NCAA.

Student-athletes have shown skills in their prospective sports and in the classroom that have challenged them to excel and even outperform the general academic population by 8 percentage points.

By achieving such high academic excellence it attests to the overall well rounded student-athletes being brought to Mercyhurst. With this year’s success, Mercyhurst is headed

in the right direction, to continuously be honored by the NCAA as a school with the recipe for both athletic and academic success.

Assistant Vice President for Athletics, Brad Davis described the accomplishment saying, “This is a huge honor for Mercyhurst and speaks to the academic commitment of our student-athletes. Mercyhurst’s 700 student-athletes continue to excel in the classroom, on the field and in the community. With the help of our faculty and staff, we have led the PSAC in academic performance in six of the last seven years. This fall, our student-athletes had a 3.4 GPA, which is higher than the university’s average. An incredible 119 student-athletes had a perfect 4.0 GPA.”

The NCAA President’s Award is clearly an overall testament to the hard work, commitment and dedication of athletes achieving academic excellence.

The skills athletes have demonstrated during the fall semester to maintain GPA’s above the university average while still participating in team endeavors is very impressive. It is without saying that the support from the Mercyhurst community is what has helped the athletes achieve this prestigious award.

Without the faculty, coaches, and students trust in the mission of Mercyhurst, success would not have become this evident.

LAKER MOMENT

BLANKET MAKING:

On Feb. 3, Mercyhurst’s MAC/SAC team hosted a blanket making event in the Student Union from 7-9 p.m. The event allowed the first 73 individuals to collect two pieces of blanket fabric that they would then use to create tie blankets. Students were allowed to either take their fabric to go or stay in the Student Union and create them whilst enjoying hot chocolate and music with their friends. By 7:05 the event had already run out of fabric as 73 students came through the doors. The programmers running the event said that individuals started lining up outside 30 minutes before the doors opened.

Contributed photo

Football team running out before the game against rival: IUP.

Hailey Steidle photo

Photo of the Blanket Making event where students loved getting to make their own blanket.

Contributed photo

Mercyhurst Men’s Basketball Team posing for their media day.

Contributed photo

Women’s tennis team poses in the Mary Garden for their media day.

RSCO FEATURE MUSIC THERAPY CLUB

ExZOOberant Paint Party supports Erie Zoo

By Nadine Fox Staff writer

On Friday, Feb. 3, members of the Mercyhurst community were encouraged to help paint 85 posts to help complete the Erie Zoo’s new Crayon Jungle Fence.

The ExZOOberant Paint Party was hosted by the university’s Department of Art in partnership with the Erie Zoo, which took place in the Zurn 121 studio from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

By

Attention Lakers! Are you looking to get more involved this semester on campus? There is a new and exciting RSCO on campus that you should consider. Music Therapy Club was formed in December 2022, but officially got approved to be an RSCO at the start of the spring semester. “Our main mission of Music Therapy Club is to educate students and the general community about the benefits of research-based music as it applies to a therapeutic setting. We also strive to operate on a theme of inclusivity as we address different populations through music therapy, and we want to advocate for ourselves and for others to really understand what music therapy is and the benefits of it” says Addie McCoy, a junior Musical Therapy major, who serves as the RSCO’s vice president.

Emily McGarvey, a senior Music Therapy major and psychology minor, serves as the RSCO’s president. While Music Therapy is still in its infancy, McGarvey hopes to increase membership and the influence of the RSCO. “We’re hoping to get our name out there and spread awareness for what music therapy is and what it can do. We’re hoping to help not only our music therapy majors become more informed about their own field and what is required, but also the Mercyhurst and Erie community,” says McGarvey.

Before it was an official RSCO, Music Therapy Club went caroling at two local nursing homes in December to spread holiday cheer. While Music Therapy Club may be a new RSCO, they are not taking things slow. Music Therapy Club is looking towards the future and has already started planning events for the rest of the semester. “This semester we are planning on doing Singing Valentines that we are making available for people to send to their professors, or to each other if they so choose. More details about that will be posted within the coming weeks. We also plan on reaching out to other organizations such as the Art Therapy Club and collaborating,” said McCoy.

The RSCO may be new, but it is already having a major impact on its members. “My favorite moment so far with the Music Therapy Club has been when we had our first meeting, and I saw how many people were just as excited as I was to start this club. I can’t wait to help out the underclassmen and show them the things that I’ve learned over the years,” said McGarvey.

Music Therapy Club meets every Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center in Classroom 1. “Anyone, and everyone can participate in our club. Right now, it is all music therapy majors, but we would really like others who have any interest in music therapy or are just curious of what we do to join,” said McCoy.

If you are interested in becoming involved with Music Therapy Club or have any questions, you can reach out to McGarvey or McCoy. To stay updated with what Music Therapy Club, go follow @HurstMTClub.

Faculty, staff, students and alumni were all encouraged to stop by, pick a color and paint a crayon.

The Chair of the Art Department, Jodi Staniunas Hopper, says of this repair, “We saw a need in the community that corresponded with the gifts of the art department and pursued a connection with the Erie Zoo to make this repair happen.” Staniunas Hopper saw this opportunity to model with students how their needs to be change in their community using the talents that they are given.

Staniunas Hopper said, “The last time the fence had been updated was 12 years ago. The zoo is providing all new pickets, while Mercyhurst is offering the labor.”

She encouraged community painters to dress appro -

priately and some aprons were provided. “Mercyhurst Green” will be at one end of the fence and “Mercyhurst Lakers Blue” at the other.

The remaining 83 crayons were a wide variety of colors created by the Art department Work Studies, Evelyn Swanson and Casandra Reese.

The students that paint the crayon get to help in naming the colors, such as “Cactus Green” or “Red Panda Rust,” which will be stenciled onto the posts. All the names must relate to nature in some sense. Senior

Art Therapist major Mackenzie Pestotnik attended the event and said, “This was a fun opportunity to create something that really makes a difference, something that can put a smile on someone’s face while doing something positive for a local business here in Erie.” This experience provided a creative escape for students who are already starting to feel the pressure of the semster. Students enjoyed giving back to the community and had a fun time while painting.

verywellmind.com photo

An example of what music therapy might look like.

Vydalia Weatherly

Staff writer

Nadine Fox photo

Students painting the crayons that will be used as the fence.

Nadine Fox photo

Students painting with vibrant colors to entice the kids at the zoo.

From the archives feature: this week in MU History

On the third floor of Hammermill Library, one can find shelves of library books, the Language Lab, study spaces — and the repository for historic documents, photographs, and objects dating back decades and capturing the entirety of Mercyhurst’s history. These are the Mercyhurst Archives, often overlooked by the student body but a vital part of the university’s functioning.

Bryan Colvin, the University Archivist at Mercyhurst, explained the importance of the archives for Mercyhurst as an institution.

“Archives are important because they hold institutional memory, and as we approach the Centennial, sharing our memory with all stakeholders becomes more important,” he said, “We’re collecting memory.”

The Archives are preparing for the Centennial by organizing the large collection of archival photographs and providing information for those involved with the planning process.

Within the Archives is a wealth of information and records, making the Archives a great resource for a range of different people.

“People from the administration come because they’re promoting the history and nostalgia of the university to alumni,” Colvin said. “Alumni come

purely for nostalgia, students come for research and work, but everyone comes for information of some sort.”

The most popular collections, Colvin said, are the newsletters capturing daily happenings at Mercyhurst since the 1960s, the comprehensive assortment of Merciad issues dating back to the newspaper’s establishment in the college’s early years, the yearbooks and of course photographs capturing student life

and scenes around campus.

The Archives recently transitioned its online materials to a new digital archiving platform called Preservica. Preservica offers an improved search function and a superior user interface compared to the previous platform, ArchivesSpace. The transition required the combined efforts of Colvin along with a group of archival assistants, who are all undergraduate students here at Mercyhurst.

The Archives can provide fascinating insight into life at Mercyhurst throughout the decades of its nearly 100-year history.

For example, at this time over seventy years ago, the college experienced an unexpected shock to student life. On January 27, 1951, a fire broke out at Mercyhurst’s first student union. It was known as the Roost, and it was destroyed in the conflagration.

Today, it lives on, as the pubstyle eatery in the lower level of the Herrmann Student Union now bears its name.

Over a decade after that, Mercyhurst experienced another loss with the death of Mother Borgia Egan on February 11, 1962.

Mother Borgia was the founder of the college and worked tirelessly to overcome obstacles and secure a firm foundation for Mercyhurst’s future.

She was the college’s first president, then stepped down to serve in the administration for many years. While her passing in 1962 saddened the community, her life and achievements were celebrated.

Another milestone for the college occurred on Feb. 3, 1969, when the college’s Board of Trustees approved a proposal to welcome male students for the first time. This decision meant that Mercyhurst would become a coeducational institution. While it was met with trepidation from some at first, Mercyhurst opened its gates to men the following fall and has had a thriving coeducational student body ever since.

Sister Carolyn Hermann was president of Mercyhurst when the transition to coeducation occurred. In her tenure as president, she oversaw this drastic change as well as a significant expansion of the campus through the construction of several new buildings and the success of a capital campaign. But in January 1972, she announced that she would be retiring after the end of that school year. Her successor made history, too: Marion Shane took on the office after she retired, becoming Mercyhurst’s first male president.

The more recent developments from this week in Mercyhurst’s history were leaps forward for the institution. As hard as it is to imagine, there was a time before Mercyhurst depended on Outlook email and Blackboard to function — but the first sign of change came on January 31, 1994, when Mercyhurst received a grant to be connected to the internet for the first time.

And finally, on January 25, 2012, Mercyhurst as we know it was born when it was granted university status. Mercyhurst College was no more, replaced by Mercyhurst University.

All this information and more is held within the Archives, connecting the Mercyhurst community to its rich heritage and giving inspiration to face the future. The decorations this year are a beautiful way to celebrate the holiday season and the people of this country.

Eva Philips

Staff writer

Mercyhurst archives photo

Some students hanging out in the original student union (The Roost).

Mercyhurst archives photo

Students mingling at the start of the 1969-70 school year when the school became coed.

Amy Eisert Nominated for Women Making History

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

Amy Eisert, director of the Thomas J. Gamble Civic Institute at Mercyhurst University was nominated for Women Making History 2023. Women Making History is an honor given by the Mercy Center for Women. Eisert is one of 16 women in the Erie area to be nominated for this honor.

“It’s exciting to be nominated among 15 other amazing women doing remarkable work in the Erie area,” Eisert said. “It was a surprise and an honor.”

For Eisert, this nomination means a lot because it is through an organization that sets an example for collaboration within the community, something that is important to Eisert and her own work.

At Mercyhurst, Eisert has worked at the Civic Institute for 21 years now and it is a link to the community as it provides data, evaluation and best practice information to help support social causes that address issues such as criminal justice, child welfare, domestic violence, homelessness and education in Erie.

Eisert said she works to provide straight forward research and facts

to the organizations she works with. This way the organizations can use that information to create a plan that works for their needs.

“Data and science aren’t real popular right now,” Eisert said. Yet through this data she hopes to help organizations optimize the work they are doing and, in turn, make Erie a better place.

Erie has always held a special place in Eisert’s heart. “My roots are in Erie. It means a lot to me. It’s my home,” she said. Eisert was born in Erie, partially raised here and then decided to return as an adult and raise her own family here. She truly loves Erie and wants to it be the best place it can be for her family as well as everyone else.

“I want it to be a home my family can be proud of,” Eisert said, “and a place they can feel safe in and comfortable in.”

Aside from her work at Mercyhurst, Eisert does a lot for the Erie community. She has worked as a Research partner for Unified Erie since 2011. She works toward violence reduction with her department focusing primarily on the domain of prevention.

“We look for where there are gaps in resources and work to strengthen those resources organizations have,” Eisert said.

She has also worked with the Domestic Violence Action Alli-

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

ance since 2019 and is currently working to implement a Lethality Assessment Program county wide. The Lethality Assessment has previously been contingent specific police departments in the area but making it county wide would make a big difference for the safety of the Erie community.

Eisert has done and continues to do a lot of work here at Mercyhurst and in the community at large. Her work is something about which she cares deeply. “I love working with other people to solve problems,” Eisert said.

Eisert hopes that people know her work is not about politics or agendas. She is not trying to force any opinions. She works with data, research and the facts.

“Our only agenda is to do good work that is in the best interest of the community,” Eisert said.

The Women Making History honors will be presented on Monday, April 3, at the PAC. It will run from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Attendence is free and no reservation is required. More information can be found at the Mercy Center for Women’s website at mcwerie. org/events/women-making-history-2023.

The Beatles arrive in New York

Historical Event: Feb. 7, 1964

The British rock-and-roll quartet arrived for their first visit in the states at New York’s Kennedy Airport. They wore mod suits and their famous pudding bowl haircuts. The band was greeted by 3,000 screaming fans when the boys got off the plane.

Top 3 Songs This Week

According to Spotify’s Global Charts

1. “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus

2. “Kill Bill” by SZA

3. “Love Again” by The Kid LAROI

On the Charts This Week 10 Years Ago

According to Billboards Charts

1. “Gangnam Style” by Psy

2. “Diamonds” by Rihanna

3. “One More Night” by Maroon 5

Top Artists Today

Male: Harry Styles

Female: Miley Cyrus

Top Artists 7 Years Ago

Male: Drake

Female: Ariana Grande

Top 3 Podcasts This Week

According to Spotify

1. “The Joe Rogan Experience”

2. “Crime Junkie”

3. “The Daily”

Top Grossing Films

This Week: “Knock at the Cabin”

Fifteen Years Ago: “Spider-Man 3”

Top 3 TV Shows on Netflix This Week

1. “Lockwood & CO.”

2. “Ginny & Georgia: Season 2”

3. “Wednesday”

Top 3 TV Shows 60 Years Ago

1. “The Addams Family”

2. “Adam-12”

3. “The Andy Griffith Show”

In the News:

1. ‘Derailed train causes many to evacuate their homes in Ohio and Pennsylvania’

2. ‘Turkey-Syria earthquake’s death toll passes 7,800’

3. ‘Biden to make his second State of the Union address tonight’

Contributed photo

A photo of Amy Eisert, who is nominated for Women Making History 2023.

Hurst Hot Take: Trending new show “The Last of Us”

By Eva Philips Staff writer

It can be hard to carve out time during the semester for entertainment. Juggling schoolwork, extracurriculars, employment, and social life — not to mention minor details like sleeping and eating — can take up every last second of the 24 hours in a day. So finding a show so compelling that I have to set aside an hour every week to watch it is rare for me.

But “The Last of Us” is that show. While it is based on a popular video game, knowledge of the game is optional to dive in and enjoy. Just three episodes in, it is already one of the most anticipated and popular shows of the new year.

I had already been looking forward to the show ever since a friend showed me a trailer for it last semester.

It airs on HBOMax every Sunday at 9 p.m., and each new episode spawns a new tide of memes, TikTok videos and tweets. Binge-watching is increasingly popular these days, but there’s something to be said about the more traditional experience of watching a new episode every week and having the week to discuss recent developments, emotional mo-

ments and plot speculation with friends and family near and far.

Fair warning — while “The Last of Us” is not horror, it is certainly an apocalyptic thriller with plenty of jump scares and moments of tension. But it also has humor, heartbreak and everything in between. The excellent cast is led by Pedro Pascal, who stars in “The Mandalorian” as a grizzled father

figure with a heart of gold, a role remarkably similar to his role in “The Last of Us.”

The show opens on a normal day, following a teenage girl going about an ordinary day in Texas — from home to school and back home again. But watch closely, and you might catch foreshadowing of the impending zombie apocalypse.

In “The Last of Us,” the culprit

is a mutated fungus that takes control of the human body. Luckily, no such phenomenon exists in nature, and scientists have reassured the public that such a mutation is highly unlikely, even with the changes wrought by global warming. Even so, it is a terrifying premise, especially just a few years after the start of the COVID-19 pandem-

ic. Watching the warning signs of the spreading plague in the show evokes chilling memories of the early months of 2020.

The suspense builds to a violent peak within the first half of episode one, with twists and turns that immediately make the viewer sympathetic for Joel, played by Pedro Pascal.

A time jump takes the audience twenty years after the onset of the fungal apocalypse, where stellar worldbuilding depicts crumbling cities overtaken by nature, a military government using force to maintain order in dreary conditions, and whisperings of a rebel movement protesting the harsh conditions of martial law.

We see Joel scraping out a difficult existence by working as a smuggler, cynical and jaded after years of hardship.

But by the end of episode one, there’s a glimmer of hope for the world in the form of a teenage girl who is seemingly immune to the deadly fungus. Is she the key to a cure?

That is what Joel and everyone who is hooked on this show is wondering. To find out, carve out some time to tune in. You will not regret it.

New year, new music: 2023 releases

By Megan Mckay Staff writer

2023 has only just begun, but the music industry has had some significant releases.

To kick off the New Year, singers have announced new songs and albums left and right.

Among the many artists entering the charts was Miley Cyrus, who nearly broke the internet when she dropped her new song “Flowers.” Cyrus teased the world about her single and a new era of her music in an Instagram post titled, “New Year, New Miley, New Single.” Her single was released on Jan. 13 and was her first drop in two years.

Fans went crazy over the catchy tune. An ode to loving yourself, the song has been rumored to be about her break up with Liam Hemsworth. The song was released on his 33rd birthday and hinted at aspects of their relationship.

“Flowers” then became the fastest song to surpass 100 million streams in Spotify history and topped the world charts at no. 1, including the Billboard Hot 100 for 2 weeks in January.

Cyrus celebrated by writing in an Instagram post, “I love that this record is connecting in such a positive way & it’s a pleasure to continue creating music for

you. These milestones are only made possible by the listeners & my incredible fans. Endlessly thankful.”

Be on the lookout for the release of Miley’s eighth album, “Endless Summer Vacation” coming March 10.

Miley was not the only one sitting at the no. 1 spot thus far in 2023. Taylor Swift’s “Anti-Hero” spent two weeks at the top of the charts. “Anti-Hero” also flourished through its release in November of 2022 and spent eight weeks at no. 1. The hit song is a part of her recently released album “Midnights,” which also became a hit with the announcement of Swift heading back on tour. Swift has spent the last four years working on re-recording her old albums.

She is set to release “Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)” in March of 2023.

To no surprise, the only other song that reached no. 1 on the charts for January was Mariah Carey’s holiday jingle, “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

The 1994 hit song continues to dominate the holiday season as it was no. 1 for 12 weeks and continued for another week in 2023. This year became Mariah Carey’s 19th hit on the Hot 100 Billboard; she is only one hit away from the all-time record set by The Beatles. For January,

women dominated the charts, and we expect that success to continue in 2023.

Across the pond, Sam Smith continues to lead after his eighth no. 1 hit with “Unholy” featuring Kim Petras, but the two have recently announced their fourth album “Gloria,” with many guest features. Smith recently released, “I’m Not Here to Make Friends.”

Italian hard rockers Måneskin have also released new music after they were propelled to huge success with their cover of “Beggin.” The group released their new album “Rush!” at the end of January.

Pop Country queen Shania Twain is also releasing her sixth full-length album on Feb. 3 titled “Queen of Me,” also the name of her upcoming world tour.

Pop-punk icons Paramore have been planning a big 2023 as well, with the release of their first album in nearly six years, “This Is Why.” The album’s lead single and title track was released in September and is currently a top-10 hit on the U.S. Rock Airplay chart, among others.

After parting ways with her ex-husband Brandon Blackstock, daytime TV host and American Idol winner Kelly Clarkson will be releasing a divorce album in 2023. No time-

line for the album’s release has been announced, but fans can expect to hear new music from Clarkson by the end of 2023.

Jennifer Lopez will also be debuting new music in 2023. She’ll release her ninth fulllength album since 2014. There have been no further details other than her thoughts where she said, “It’s my most honest work yet.”

In October, pop queen Selena Gomez announced that she would also be back in the studio recording a new album in 2023.

Australian pop star Kylie Minogue is set to release her 16th

full-length album in 2023. It is her first since 2018, and the album is expected to arrive sometime in the middle of the year.

Finally, to recap the music released thus far, Metallica released their single “Lux æterna,” which they released prior to their upcoming album, “72 Seasons.” The release of their album comes seven years after their last album’s release and is the group’s 12th album which will be released during their two-year stadium tour.

Get ready for these new releases and be sure to contact The Merciad to write a review!

CitiMuzik Contributed photo

Miley Cyrus’ cover for her latest single and she proves she can buy herself flowers.

IGN Nordic photo

The cover poster of the new hit show The Last of Us

Grammys kick off 2023 Award Season

By Isabella Lee Staff writer

It is known without a doubt that awards ceremonies are part of the backbone of American entertainment.

The main event with entertainment comes in the form of the big four, the Emmys, Grammys, Oscars and Tonys. It is coveted to win one and even more so to win all four for EGOT status.

On Feb. 5, the Grammys took place at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Many records and massive achievements came to fruition at this year’s Grammys.

The Big Four awards were won by Harry Styles (Album of the Year for “Harry’s House”), Samara Joy (Best New Artist), Lizzo (Record of the Year for “About Damn Time”), and Bonnie Raitt (Song of the Year for “Just Like That”).

Beyoncé, who entered the awards with nine nominations, left with four wins, making her the most decorated Grammy winner of all time with 32 wins.

This year also marks the 50th anniversary of the dawn of hip-

hop, with a performance featuring Run-DMC, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Salt-NPepa, Flavor Flav, Queen Latifah, Outkast’s Big Boi and Missy Elliott, among others.

Sam Smith and Kim Petras won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for their hit “Unholy,” making Petras the first transgender woman to win a Grammy.

Viola Davis won a Grammy for Best Audiobook, Narration, and Storytelling Recording, becoming the third Black woman and the 18th person to achieve EGOT status.

This year, five new awards were given out. The first, Best Alternative Music Performance, was won by Wet Leg for “Chaise Longue.”

Additionally, Best Americana Performance was won by Bonnie Raitt for “Made Up Mind,”

Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media was won by “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok,” Best Spoken Word Poetry Album was won by J. Ivy for “The Poet Who Sat by the Door” and Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical was won by Tobias Jesso Jr.

Of course, the awards cere-

mony, much less the Grammys, would only be complete with the extravagant outfits we are all entertained with.

Smith and Petras, joined by an entourage, entered the red carpet in all red ensembles.

Taylor Swift dazzled on the carpet in a sparkly blue crop top and skirt ensemble.

Kacey Musgraves joined in the

festivities wearing a light pink jumpsuit and a furry overcoat.

Harry Styles wore an overall-like jumpsuit that looked like it was quilted.

Overall, there were some very bold outfit choices made this year.

This year, there were a lot of surprise wins. Bonnie Raitt, who has been in the music industry since 1971, was just as shocked as social

media was when she won Song of the Year.

Everyone thought Beyoncé would win Album of the Year, but it went to Harry Styles instead. The next of the coveted awards ceremonies will be the Oscars, slated for March 12.

We can not wait to see what happens then!

“Riverdale” soon to come to an end

After seven long seasons, The CW TV show “Riverdale” will be coming to an end this year.

The show initially aired in January of 2017 and is based on the “Archie” comic book series.

“Riverdale” is one of those shows where people either love or hate it, and there is no in-between. That being said, there have been a lot of mixed reviews on the show’s ending.

People took to Twitter when the news broke to share their feelings on the show coming to a close. Many seemed happy that it was ending, as one user remarked,

“just found out Riverdale finally got canceled; I can sleep peacefully at night again.” Apparently, it has been a long six years of sleepless nights for that individual.

There is a whole collection of tweets of fans seemingly breathing a sigh of relief instead of a sigh of mourning for the show.

Since it is so popular, these were different from the responses the producers were predicting.

However sad it may be for members of the cast and crew, all good things must end eventually.

Many people have even speculated that the cast might be relieved that the show is ending as well.

After many years on a show

that has almost become a joke to the internet, it makes sense that the actors are ready to move on and put their iconic roles behind them.

While the main actors and actresses of the show had other TV appearances before “Riverdale,” no doubt landing these roles skyrocketed their popularity and fame.

Even though there are adamant “Riverdale” haters out there, fans of the show have a few storylines they hope to get closure on as the show starts to wrap things up.

One of these is the Betty-Veronica-Archie love triangle and some rekindling between Betty and Jughead. People often forget that

Cole Sprouse (Jughead) and Lilli Reinhart (Betty) dated for a few years in real life.

After breaking up offscreen, it probably made it difficult to have the characters film scenes as a couple in the show, so it might be tricky to get the ending many “Bughead” fans are hoping for.

One fan explained that they are not upset that “Riverdale” is ending now. “It’s the perfect timing,” they said before explaining that they miss the show’s vibes of seasons 1-4.

This seems to be the case for many people who have seen the show, as it went in a completely different direction than it originally was.

The show started as a murder mystery and slowly became a bit more supernatural around the third and fourth seasons, which is what caused some fans to lose interest in the show.

What once was an interesting mystery started to become very unrealistic and not believable anymore.

Whether people love it, hate it, or love to hate it, it is time to say goodbye to one of the network’s most popular shows.

As fans see the ending of “Riverdale” unfold, they will be watching to see if their predictions for the series finale come true.

Mackenzie Zent opinion editor

Contributed photo

The cast of Riverdale poses in a promotional poster.

Grammy.com photo

Sam Smith and Kim Petras accepting their Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.

The Springfest artist is getting announced this week!

The Roost Express’ Swipe A Bite has mixed reviews

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

Grotto has not changed their ice cream flavors in a while.

GOOD BAD HOPEFUL

Hopefully we have temperatures higher than 15 degrees for the rest of winter.

The Merciad

STUDENT EDITORS

The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year. Our office is in Hirt, Room 110.

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

A new option for those with the unlimited meal plan this semester is Swipe A Bite at the Roost Express. If you have not tried this option yet, I highly recommend doing so this week because it is so good. I have tried the chicken tender sandwich and the breakfast bagel sandwich with egg, bacon and cheese. These two have been my personal favorites, but the menu includes a lot of other options.

The main options include breakfast bagels, breakfast burritos, cheeseburgers and a BLT bagel sandwich. There are a variety of different options for each menu item because you can get sausage or bacon with each breakfast sandwich.

The breakfast items come with two hashbrowns and the lunch items come with homemade chips. You also get a drink with your meal and that could be milk, juice, or a fountain drink.

The other great part about this

dining option is that they offer gluten free bread for every menu item. The gluten-free options are limited in both Grotto and Ryan Hall dining facilities so it is very beneficial to those who have to eat gluten-free to have this alternative option.

One of my friends is gluten-free and she always struggles to find food that she can eat besides salads and fries which is not a substantial meal.

My roommate has gone to get lunch there every day for the past two weeks. She has tried all the different menu options and her personal favorite is the BLT bagel. This is a great alternative if one is tired of the same food in the Grotto Commons or the 501 Grille.

Another perk to this new dining option is that you can order online ahead using the GET app. This means no waiting while your food is being prepared if you know you are going to be crunched for time.

The people who work in the Roost Express are all so excited to see people utilizing their dining services again. Due to COVID, students were not going there for food as frequently as they had been prior to the pandemic, so

the Swipe A Bite was intended to bring students back to the Student Union for lunches.

The only downside I have seen so far is that if you use the Swipe A Bite in the morning, then you can not use the Swipe At Night in the evening at the Anchor Express. The Swipe At Night was the only option last semester for students with the unlimited meal plan.

Even though I love Swipe A Bite, my friend tried it and she was not happy with her experience. She went to go get her food and one of the ladies that work there yelled at her for trying to take the container that said her name.

However, that could be understandable as they want to keep everything organized.

Once she got her food, she opened up the chicken sandwich to find a piece of metal inside. The whole experience did not seem worth it to her.

The Roost Express is open from 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Students are encouraged to sit down in Luke’s Landing and eat their food there if they have time.

Valentine’s Day: You won’t find a sweeter holiday

By Mackenzie Zent Opinion editor

Valentine’s Day is one of my favorite holidays. I feel like it gets a lot of unnecessary criticism from people because it has seemingly become so commercialized.

Some say it is a day that was made up by candy and card companies to make money, but in today’s society, what holiday is not capitalized off of? Therefore, I do not think that should be a valid argument against Valentine’s Day.

I recently saw a TikTok of a guy who was upset he had to ask his girlfriend to be his valentine for the fifth year in a row so she does not break up with him, and that made me sad.

If you do not like your girlfriend enough to buy her some flowers, then maybe you should re-evaluate your relationship. I get that maybe it is not everyone’s thing to go all out and make a big deal over the holiday, but it should not be something you dread.

Personally, I love an opportunity to get my girlfriend a little gift so she knows I am thinking about her, and Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to do that.

Valentine’s Day is a whole day dedicated to love and celebrating any kind of love in your life, not just romantic love.

When I was younger my parents used to get my siblings and I some candy and a little heart shaped balloon, it was so cute. My grandma also used to get each of my siblings a chocolate heart with our names on it, which is a nice memory I will always have to look back on.

These are things I will never forget, and part of the reason I think Valentine’s Day is not just meant for couples.

I think the idea of giving someone a little card or some candy to show them that you appreciate them is really sweet. Even something small like a lollipop or a box of conversation hearts would make me feel so good.

Giving valentines to friends has always been a fun thing for me. I am sure a lot of people have the shared experience of making and decorating ‘mailboxes’ for a Valentine’s Day party in

elementary school and giving out cards to all of their friends in their class. I still think it is fun to buy a box of valentines from the store and give them out to my roommates, best friends, and friends from classes just because I hope it will brighten their day.

The other thing I love about Valentine’s Day is the aesthetic of it.

Things like red velvet cake, arrow hearts, love letters, conversation hearts, roses and everything is pink and red for a day. That sounds pretty perfect to me, and pink is my favorite color, so naturally I would love the holiday.

Although I am not a fan of the standard conversation hearts, I do love the SweeTARTS conversation hearts they have every year.

I do not think Valentine’s Day deserves all the hate it gets from people.

It is a time to celebrate and appreciate those you love and the people that love you, which, in my opinion, totally deserves a whole day dedicated to it!

Check out hidden gem classes at Mercyhurst

By Christina Judy Staff writer

Exploration and adventure are two concepts that many students do not associate with their classes.

On syllabus day in the fall semester of 2022, I was not excited to find out that I had to go on a camping trip as part of the lab portion of my Forest Ecology class.

I had never been camping prior to that class and I would not say I am an experienced outdoorsman. Needless to say, I was very nervous to go, but when my friends and I arrived at the camp site, we quickly adjusted to the outdoors.

The first night we got there, we made a fire and had the opportunity to chat with people in our class.

Then, we pitched a tent and got in our sleeping bags for the night— I have also never slept in a tent so that was a unique experience.

The following day, we went hiking for the majority of the day and learned about different species of trees. I had a lot of fun exploring the surrounding woods and hanging out with my classmates.

Aside from the camping trip, each lab for Forest Ecology was a field trip to different parks, woods, forests, etc. We spent a few hours during each lab familiarizing ourselves with

different tree species and forests all while being completely immersed in nature.

As far as classes go, Forest Ecology was definitely unique and provided a realistic and fun environment for learning.

Although the studying was intense, many imperative topics that directly impact our lives were covered in that class.

Discussions facilitated in Forest Ecology raised critical questions as to how we go forward in making decisions to preserve forested areas and incorporate various tree species in our yards.

While plants and forests are not what I want to work with after college, it was certainly cool to learn more about them in such a hands on way.

Another favorite class of mine is Microbiology. In the lab part of this class, each student was asked to collect a sample from whatever surface or area we wanted to. The purpose of this was to use lab techniques to isolate a bacterium and learn about the specifics on that bacterium.

Doing this experiment was really interesting because each student picked a different area to swab for their sample and got to see many bacteria grow on a single plate. Some examples of the samples were sink drains, keyboards, phone cases and more.

The kicker with this class was that we did not receive the name of our bacteria until the end of the course.

So, throughout the semester,

HURST STUDENTS SPEAK UP

we performed experiments that would give us characteristics of our bacteria and then we would conduct literature searches to piece together all the information we were gathering. This process was long but really fun and rewarding!

The lecture portion of Microbiology discussed many important topics and helped to change the viewpoint on microorganisms.

One of these topics includes our gut microbiome. Finding ways to diversify our gut microbiomes was a highly discussed subject in our class because of how influential our gut microbiome is to the overall health of an individual.

There are many interesting and thought provoking classes at Mercyhurst and I am sure this is just scraping the surface. Be sure to look though the course catalog on Self Service before advising day and registration day to find classes/ electives you can take!

Do not be afraid to explore something new in college, you just might learn to love it!

We asked: What is your favorite Valentine’s Day candy?

Maiya Harding, Senior criminal justice major: “My favorite Valentine’s Day candies are Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles.”

Jackson Feiock, junior, intelligence studies major: “My fella, my favorite are Snickers Peanut Butter Squared.”

Bethany Jentz, junior intelligence studies major: “My favorite Valentine’s Day candy is red and pink M&Ms.”

Lilly English, junior criminal justice major: “My favorite Valentine’s Day candies are heart-shaped Reese’s”

Being a senior has me wanting to pause time

By Bella Lee Staff writer

This semester is both exciting and bittersweet for me. Mercyhurst has been my home for the past four years, but now in about three and a half months, it will all be coming to an end.

In May, I will officially be graduating and moving on with my life.

I am looking forward to all the lasts that this semester will bring me.

The last final I will ever take, the last SpringFest I have the chance of attending, the last theatre performance I will partake in, the last time I can hang out with my friends and the last time I will ever be on Mercyhurst’s campus as a student.

I am in awe that I have made it this far in college. At this point

four years ago, I was still a senior in high school, having recently celebrated my 18th birthday, and not having even the slightest clue where I would be attending college.

Now, I am in my final semester of undergrad and actively looking at grad schools to attend in the fall.

I might even attend the same institution that my mom is currently doing her undergrad at!

Besides the firsts and the lasts, I still have a whole lot this semester that I continue to look forward to.

There are a lot of club meetings that I plan on attending as many meetings as I can until the very last one.

I am also taking a slate of very exciting and interesting classes with professors I have either had and enjoyed for a very long time, or new professors that I finally have the chance to take a class with.

To put it simply, I have loved being a student all this time and it is going to be so weird for me in the fall when I am not taking classes with the professors I have grown to admire so much.

I have a lot of ambitious plans for once I depart Mercyhurst. I want to complete graduate school, receive my doctorate, and eventually go back to Washington D.C., where I am from, and work in the Smithsonian. Until I can do all of that, I am enjoying every last moment I have of my time here at this

absolutely amazing campus. The past four years have flown by and I sometimes wish that I had the ability to slow down time.

To spend more time with the friends I have made along the way, to enjoy more of the events I went to or even attend events that I chose not to attend, learn from my mistakes and not meet certain people that did not make a great impact in my life, the list goes on.

I sometimes wish that I could turn back time, but the various events that I have gone through

all this time have led me to where I am today.

Parting will be such sweet sorrow when May comes around, but I am not done here just yet. I have truly enjoyed my time here and I am excited to see what this semester will bring for me.

Hurst has been home for the past four years, and it will always be home, long after I leave.

Compiled by Hailey Steidle

Championship Weekend: AFC and NFC

By Megan McKay Sports editor

The stage is officially set for Super Bowl LVII as the Kansas City Chiefs face off against the Philadelphia Eagles. The Super Bowl will be played Feb. 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 23-20 in a thriller to secure the AFC title. 2020 Heisman Trophy winner and current Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow was looking to make it to his second consecutive Super Bowl game after losing last year in the championship, 23-20 to the LA Rams.

However, Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes put together a legendary performance and finally defeated Joe Burrow for the first time.

Even after suffering an ankle injury a week prior, Mahomes completed 29 of 43 passes for 326 yards and two touchdowns in the contest, and Mahomes was exceptional.

Many were upset with the referees calls in the final minutes as the title game ended with Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai left crying on the bench after his late push of an out-of-bounds Mahomes.

Mahomes now has 32 career touchdown passes in the playoffs, matching Dan Marino for the eighth-most in NFL history.

Mahomes is now the youngest quarterback in league history to

win double-digit playoff games.

Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce also made history after catching seven passes for 78 yards and a touchdown.

Kelce now has the second-most receiving yards (1,467) in NFL postseason history, trailing only Jerry Rice (2,245). His 17 consecutive playoff games with three or more receptions marks the longest streak in league history.

Mahomes and Kelce have now connected for 13 career touchdowns in the postseason, making them the second-most productive duo in NFL playoff history.

Only the New England Patriots’ Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski (15 touchdowns) teamed up for more scores in the playoffs. This duo will be a force to be reckoned with for the Eagles in this year’s Super Bowl.

Kansas City is now headed back to the Super Bowl for the third time in the last four seasons, continuing a remarkable run of success that is unprecedented in franchise history.

The Chiefs have shown no signs of slowing down as they will have an opportunity to win a third Lombardi Trophy.

On the other side of the map in the NFC Championship game the San Francisco 49ers faced off against the Philadelphia Eagles.

In a more dominant fashion the Eagles trailed over the 49ers in a 31-7 victory. The championship game was anticlimactic and after the 49ers first series,

when starting quarterback Brock Purdy went down with an elbow injury and San Francisco had to resort to their fourth quarterback this season, Josh Johnson, it was over early.

It was overall a challenging offensive performance for the 49ers as the Eagles’ defense dominated them in every phase. Kenneth Gainwell led the Eagles in rushing with 48 yards on 14 carries.

Dallas Goedert led all pass catchers with five receptions for 23 yards.

Eagles QB Jalen Hurts was also a prominent factor as he had one of Philadelphia’s four rushing touchdowns. Hurts is making history by leading the Eagles to their fourth Super Bowl appearance in franchise history.

According to the network, the conference title game drew 47.5 million viewers, becoming its most-watched telecast of any kind since last year’s NFC championship.

The broadcast peaked at 52.3 million viewers and was the second most-streamed NFL game in Fox Sports’ history.

According to analysts the Chiefs have a slight edge over the Eagles with Mahomes as their QB, who has already won a Super Bowl and MVP award. However, the Eagles have high-level offensive abilities especially with their running backs.

The Eagles also have the upper hand with wide receivers AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Quez Watkins. Brown and Smith have been considered to

be the best WR duo in the NFL. Chiefs Kelce will also be a major difference maker as he has already become one of the best tight ends in NFL history.

The Eagles also have a deeper defensive line rotation which puts the Chiefs in a tough spot offensively.

There are a few historic firsts of this year’s Super Bowl. Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts will be the first black quarterbacks to face-off in Super Bowl history, while Jason and Travis Kelce brothers are set to be the first siblings to compete against each other in a Super Bowl.

Ho(o)ping For Victory: Lakers on 7-1 Run

By Christina Judy Sports editor

The Mercyhurst men’s basketball team has dominated by winning seven of their last eight games this season.

Their latest victory was against Seton Hill as the Lakers defended their home court with an end score of 82-71.

In this eventful feat the Lakers lead by as much as 21 at a point. Their record improved to 15-3 in the season and 11-3 in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play which clutches their tie for second place in the conference.

Second place in the PSAC is a big deal, as this will give Mercyhurst the opportunity to improve their record in upcoming games to move up to first place.

It is an exciting time to be a men’s basketball player at Mercyhurst.

The Lakers came into the game with high energy as they fought for offensive and defensive rebounds.

Their efforts gave them many opportunities to find openings for shooting and they sure did take advantage. In the first

quarter alone, the Lakers made seven of their first nine shots to put them ahead by double-digits against Seton Hill.

With an assist from guard Nicholas Lang, MiyKah Mclntosh drained a three pointer to make the score 17-6 just four minutes into the game. The energy on the court electrified the Lakers as they pushed on to finish out the first half with a 42-29

lead.

Coming out of half-time Mercyhurst sought to continue their momentum through to the end of the game.

They increased their lead by playing solid defense which converted to their offensive opportunities.

Pipeloluwa Ajayi, a sophomore forward stole the ball and on a fast break saw teammate Jeff

Planutis who was set up nicely for a quick dunk to extend the Lakers lead to 57-36.

The Seton Hill Griffins attempted to fight back but the Lakers were too much to handle.

The game ended with the Lakers on top as Mclntosh scored a season-high 23 points accompanying five rebounds and two steals.

His teammates were inspired

as Ajayi, Reichert, Bradley, and Planutis locked in double-digits to close out the game. Planutis put on his own show as one of the leading scorers by notching 19 points.

From Greensburg, Pennsylvania, the Seton Hill Griffin’s had a two and a half hour drive back home to reflect on their loss.

Since this was a home game, the Lakers had the environment to keep their foot on the pedal, with support from the student section, as well as the band that played during time outs and between quarter breaks.

Hopefully the Lakers will be able to keep up this hot streak throughout their season. With few losses so far this season, there is a good chance they will make it deep in the PSAC tournament.

They are set to rematch Seton Hill on Wednesday, Feb. 22, this time taking place in Greensburg, PA.

This team of ballers are ho(o)ping for a repeat victory against Seton Hill in a few weeks, to stay on fire.

Hurst Athletics photo

Sporting News photo

Eagles Quarterback Jalen Hurts winds up for the throw in Philadelphia’s NFC Championship victory.

Graduate student Nicholas Lang accepting an award.

What to Know About the Super Bowl

By Isabella Lee Staff writer

It’s February, which means one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year is just around the corner: the Super Bowl! Super Bowl LVII (57) will be on Feb. 12 this year, and there’s a lot of exciting things to look forward to.

One interesting tidbit that has lots of fans excited about the upcoming game is that this will be the first ever Super Bowl that will have brothers facing off against one another as players.

Ten years ago, in Super Bowl XLVII, what was dubbed the “Har-Bowl” was played, as the head coach for the Baltimore Ravens, John Harbaugh, and the head coach for the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Harbaugh, were brothers.

However, this year’s matchup will have tight end Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs against his older brother, center Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles. Fans have even been advocating for their mother, Donna Kelce, to perform the ceremonial coin toss at the beginning of the game.

However, one of the most exciting aspects of the game is that this will be the first Super Bowl ever that will have two Black quarterbacks facing off against

one another, with the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts versus the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes. One person who is especially excited for this matchup is Doug Williams, the first Black quarterback to both win the Super Bowl and Super Bowl MVP, doing so when the then-Washington Redskins defeated the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII in 1988.

“That’s what I’m talking about! Yes! Yes! We’ve got two Black quarterbacks in the Super

Bowl!” Williams shouted into the phone. “Man, after Jalen won earlier, I was pulling for Patrick. I was sitting here on pins and needles to see if it would happen. I’ve got such a smile on my face right now, but I’ve got water in my eyes, too. I’m talking, but I don’t think I can even explain what this means. We have come such a long way. It has been so hard, so many barriers, but we did it. Two Black quarterbacks in the Super Bowl!” This is a journey that is over

100 years in the making, since the NFL used to believe that Black men did not have the intelligence or leadership skills to succeed in professional sports’ most important position, that of the quarterback.

Marlin Briscoe became the first Black quarterback for the NFL in 1968, with Williams not achieving his successes in the Super Bowl until twenty years later.

Since Williams, there have only ever been two other Black quarterbacks that have won the Super

Striking Gold: Haley Youker’s Perfect Game

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

On the weekend of Jan. 20, Mercyhurst University’s bowling team competed in the Northeast Classic along with 32 other universities and colleges.

One participant on the Mercyhurst team stood out in particular during the competition.

Haley Youker, a graduate student majoring in sports medicine, broke a school record after she bowled the first ever perfect game in Mercyhurst’s history.

On the Friday she was competing in the second game of the traditional rounds when she was able to bowl a 300, or in bowling terms a “perfect game.”

After finishing as the 2nd best bowler in the tournament, Haley was then named the PPG Athlete of the Week as well as the East Coast Conference Bowler of the week.

Winning titles is not something new for Haley though, as she has been highly ranked for years. She has an extensive list of titles under her belt from previous seasons, such as being named a conference player of the year during her most recent full season, gaining five Youth Bowling titles, being named to the Syracuse Jr. Masters and bowling yet another 300 game in a previous JBT Tournament.

She also has placed second at a DV8 shootout in Chicago as

well as both 8th and 4th place at the Teen Masters in both Richmond and Las Vegas.

Haley’s record of wins during her time at Mercyhurst is long and impressive, dating back to 2019 when she was just a sophomore at the school.

During the 2019-2020 school year she played in a total of 35 games, which she finished with a total of 7600 pins.

Her recorded high for the year was a game with 1,391 pins, which allowed for her game average that year to finish at 217.1.

She has finished first at the Medaille Tournament as well as the Wildcat Invite in previous

years. In 2019 alone she was named the most valuable player four separate times and also name to the All-Tournament team seven straight times.

During her 2020-2021 season she lived up to her reputation from the previous year as she bowled in 272 frames and ranked second on the team with an average of 18.06 per frame. These records allow her to hold an impressive strike percentage of 40.4%.

The Mercyhurst bowling team was able to secure a strong 12th place finish out of the 33 teams that competed at the Northeast Classic.

Facing a plethora of DI and DII teams like Arkansas State, Tulane, Vanderbilt, North Carolina A&T, Maryville and Central Missouri the competition was strong.

A 12th place finish for the Mercyhurst team is a great start to the 2023 competition year.

As the season continues on throughout this year two things are certain, Mercyhurst’s bowling team is sure to do well again in future competitions this season and Haley Youker’s name is one to watch out for in the bowling realm.

Bowl, with Russell Wilson winning for the Seattle Seahawks in Super Bowl XLVIII in 2014 and Mahomes winning for the Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV in 2020. Super Bowl LVII will be taking place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

This is the Eagles’ fourth appearance in a Super Bowl, with one previous win, and the Chiefs’ fifth appearance with two previous wins. Feb. 12 can not come any faster!

Lakers bowler Haley Youker posing proudly after an incredible perfect game.

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SALOME’S STARS #12345_20230206

FOR RELEASE FEB. 6, 2023

EDITORS: These horoscopes are for use the week of Feb. 13, 2023.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) A hectic period begins to wind down. Take time to draw some deep breaths and relax before getting into your next project. A long-absent family member could make contact as well.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20)

You’re eager to move forward with a new challenge that suddenly dropped into your lap. But you’d be wise to take this one step at a time, to allow new developments to come through.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20)

You’re almost ready to make a commitment. A lingering doubt or two, however, should be resolved before you move ahead. An associate could provide important answers to your questions.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22)

Caution is still the watchword as you move closer toward a decision about a new situation. If you act too fast, you might miss some vital warning signs. Go slowly and stay alert.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your new goal looks promising, and your golden touch does much to enhance its prospects for success. In your private life, Cupid does his best to make your new relationship special.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) That impatient side of yours is looking to goad you into moving before you’re ready to take that big step. Stay calm and cool. Let things fall into place before you act.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A legal matter you hoped would finally be settled could be a pesky problem for a while until all the parties agree to stop disagreeing with each other. Be patient.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Partnerships — personal or professional — which began before the new year take on new importance. They also reveal some previously hidden risks. So, be warned.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your associates are firmly on your side, and that persistent problem causing you to delay some activities should soon be resolved to your satisfaction.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Favorable changes continue to dominate, and you should be responding positively as they emerge. Someone wants to become more involved in what you’re doing.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A friend wants to share a secret that could answer some questions you’ve wondered about for a long time. Meanwhile, travel aspects continue to be strong.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Stay on your new course despite so-called well-meaning efforts to discourage you. Rely on your deep sense of self-awareness to guide you to do what’s right for you.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have the capacity to meet challenges that others might find overwhelming and turn them into successful ventures.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.