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.

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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.