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What it is really like being a Black student at Mercyhurst

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

This article was originally supposed to focus on the events Mercyhurst is putting on to celebrate Black History Month. However, with everything that has been happening on campus recently, this article will instead focus on what it is like to be Black at a predominately white institution, specifically at Mercyhurst University.

For this article, I interviewed Janiece Withers, a Black student on campus. Withers is a senior Fashion Merchandising major. Before we get into the interview questions, Withers has a message she wants all students, professors, and other faculty members to read. I have not edited anything that Withers wrote, as too often students of color on-campus are silenced. It is time for that silence to come to an end. Withers said:

“This article is a combination of what my friends and the POC community feel and have experienced on this campus.

I try my best to create a safe space for all POC to get together and relax. However, it’s hard to accomplish this with our conflicting schedules.

Being the face or token girl on campus is highly uncomfortable. I have friends from my underclassmen years who walk right past me with no acknowledgment. I guess me speaking out about the injustices I face restrict them from seeing me as a friend any longer. But there are also ‘friends’ I refuse to look at when crossing campus. The ones with the flags on their masks, shirts and trucks. It’s funny because I never noticed the dedication to that flag until after Summer 2020.

It’s always fun to start my mornings by passing a bright red truck with the confederate flag parked outside of Ryan Hall.

One of the obvious safe spaces I tried to give my community was the Black Lives Matter march, ‘Mercy March.’ But of course, many Black students informed me that they did not feel safe attending. In fact, one of my closest friends did attend and expressed a large amount of discomfort. Why? Well, many of the white students were there for extra credit or an assignment.

Professors did not stop to think that maybe their students would call out inappropriate words during speeches. Well, they did. Not to mention the number of athletes who we have heard say the N word proudly at parties, in the locker room and more. Remember Lakers, one Black person letting it slide does not give you the right to say it consistently around all your Black teammates, classmates and ‘friends.’

Let’s chat about the N word. Since it’s ‘just a word’ what does it mean to you, a white person? And if your parents say it, what does that word mean to them? How many times did your grandparents say it, and when they did call a person the N word, was it in a friendly buddy-to-buddy way?

Well, how about our lovely professors. Both ‘woke’ and not. What do you mean when you say the N word in class? Is it really for educational purposes? I’m not sure any of you have noticed, but I have been consistently writing ‘the N word,’ and I can say that word because I am Black.

I’m here to let you know that you no longer have the right to use this word in your classrooms. Not only does it serve no purpose, but the only thing you are teaching is that white people can say the N word based on their intentions. We don’t care if you intend to educate, or if you intend to bond with us, or if you intend to sing the song word for word. Your intentions do not give you any right to say these words in private, in public, and never in our faces.

I can’t imagine being called the N word to my face. But my friend has, last semester by her own roommate. And I can tell you the intention was not to sound cool or to bond. Her intention was to degrade her Black roommate. I think if there was anything to truly break my heart, it would be getting called the N word in my face and not allowed to retaliate in any way.

It’s what happened in the beginning of slavery, our people were constantly degraded and had to absorb it or lose their lives. But it looks like not much has changed. You see, my friend was FINED and CHARGED for responding to her roommate in anger and saying, ‘You are a Privileged White B***h.’

If someone called me a privileged white person, I’d take that as a compliment. But instead, she cried to Police and Safety, and of course, the police here love to support and protect their students. So much so that they defended her in court against my Black friend who was a victim of racism.

Now when I first got to this school, I was cool with P&S. They let me into my room when I was locked out, and that’s pretty much it. But you see all cops are great at doing their jobs, the question becomes, what do they do in a situation when a student experiences racism?

Maybe they don’t like us, well I know at least one of them does not like me. But I’m smart enough to not share that story, as I know their student friends will not be so happy. But I must say, it’s nice to know that if I throw a party in a pandemic, they will laugh and joke with me. But if I need help and assistance, they will show up with no greetings and no eye contact.

However, I’m Black and the girls who throw the parties are not. No hate to the pretty white girls though, I envy your ability to have pleasant interactions with our campus police.

I have been here for three years and ongoing. Let’s just say I’ve seen it all.

I’ve seen Black students come and go. Each year I tearfully say goodbye to a friend who just can’t stay on this campus any longer. I can’t blame them, because if I did not love my classes, I would leave too. I would transfer in a heartbeat. Why? Because when half the school reads this, they will say ‘then go, BYE. Leave if it’s so bad.’ And only a couple handfuls will say, ‘I’m sorry you feel so uncomfortable every day on our campus, how can we help?’

You know what I say to my community at BSU meetings (which most of you still don’t know what it stands for)? I tell them, ‘I know it’s hard being here, only having a few people who can relate to you. Sitting through history classes and being the only Black student… sucks. Especially when others take notes and move along with their day, but you…you look at those graphics and see your family, your people, then you go about your day trying your best to shake that feeling off.’

I validate my peoples’ feelings, because when they express their concerns, white people try to crack a joke or change the subject.

You love our music, culture, and entertainment. You love dancing with us and laughing at our jokes. However, do you care about our comfort? Our entertainment? Or do you just love mimicking and flaunting your ‘first Black friend?’ Does this school care about us? Or do they love how progressive they are being?

We don’t often complain, but when we do, we get silenced and brushed off. If you learned nothing from me briefly sharing some students’ experiences, know this: We are strong, powerful, and smart individuals. But we won’t lose our jokes and pride. Each one of us will gladly take this diploma and become successful Black adults. You will know our full names and how to correctly pronounce them.”

The following questions were asked and responded to by Withers. Once again, none of Withers’ words have been edited. The questions have been marked with a “V” for Vydalia, and Withers’ responses have been marked with a “J” for Janiece.

V: What made you decide to go to a predominately white institution over a historically Black institution?

J: I figured since I went to a predominately white high school, it would be alright. I wanted to pick the best Fashion program for me, which was here. However, this place is much different than a suburb 45 minutes away from Chicago.

V: As a Black student at a PWI, did you have any difficulties making friends?

J: It was easy making friends and talking to people because I am very social. However, it was hard to find real friends. I’ve often found that people only wanted me to be their ‘first Black friend’ as they would tell me. I don’t know why they insist on telling me that. I’ve had a lot of fake friends who did not respect me as a Black person and more as a box to check off.

V: Have you ever faced a microaggression or worse on campus? If so, what was that experience like for you? How did you handle it? Was the university made aware?

J: I have experienced an excessive amount of microaggressions and pure ignorance from classmates, friends, teammates and professors. Each experience was gagging for me. I felt like I had no voice. Because I knew that people don’t understand what their words feel like. And who wants to tell their favorite professor that what they just said ruined your day? I want to say that I would alert the campus, but I never do. I have reported something once or twice but typically there is nothing they can do, and no proof of what happened. Also, there is not a Black person to report to who understands why a word or phrase is disrespectful. Each time I have found a person of color to confide in, they leave Mercyhurst for several reasons.

V: Why is it important that the university has a Black Students For Unity organization?

J: Because the administration lacks people of color in power. This club gives validation to the students who constantly deal with feeling neglected, disrespected, or unheard on this campus. Black students are very separated on this campus due to sports, schedules or simply never crossing paths enough to become friends. This is our way to say, ‘let’s get together and hear each other’s stories and empower them.’

V: What is the one thing that you believe the university can do to make it a more welcoming environment for students of color?

J: Hold people accountable. Listen to us when we tell stories of discomfort and do something. Bring people of color on campus for events, performances or to speak. Limit the confederate flags hung in windows and plastered on cars. Give us the freedom to be excused from explicit lectures. (We know what happened, it happened to our family and still happens in the modern-day). Remember what BSU stands for (it’s not difficult, most colleges have a BSU).

The ONE thing the school can do is show the students that they are putting their foot down. It’s not enough to have meetings behind the scenes. Tell the whole campus that you support us and that you want us here more than to fill a quota. Show the athletes that they matter on this campus more than just entertainment. And REWARD the students you consistently use for diverse publicity points.

V: Knowing that you are involved in a lot on campus and very vocal about issues involving Black people, do you ever feel as if you are the “token” Black student?

J: There is not ONE organization I am a part of that I have not felt like I was the “token” Black student. In each setting on campus, I am always the only one who looks like me, and it is hard. From things as simple as not having uniformed hair and makeup like the rest of the dance team, to being in a E-board meeting and having to consistently remind people to think of the diverse community.

Often, I feel like if I don’t speak up for us, no one else will. If I don’t remind my peers that we need to be inclusive, then it won’t happen. Not only have I been the token for this school, but I get stared at by so many people who disagree with my efforts.

Not only have I run around campus like a headless chicken trying to do what everyone asks of me, but I have nothing to show for it. No scholarships, acknowledgment or credit. One day Sister Natalie told me she worries I give too much to this school, so I started saying no. I started having more time to study and hang out with my friends.

V: Overall, what is it like being a Black student at a PWI?

J: It’s hard. It is very hard. My junior year was the worst. I remember crying behind my masks in class after the teacher joked about Breonna Taylor. I remember shaking in anger when I heard of another death while sitting in a 2-hour class.

I remember having a MAC/ SAC event for Black History Month and the other programmers not engaging, and the chair called off. The times supervisors have touched my hair. The times people have told me to calm down before I had the chance to respond. I remember how my stomach turns around at the beginning of each Ambassador tour I give because you never know which family wishes they had a white tour guide.

I can still feel the anxiety attack I had at the first Mercy March but spoke through anyway because I knew I had to speak up for us all.

Sometimes it’s fun…like when my history class professor told us we would get extra credit for dressing up as a historical person for Halloween. My classmates had so many options of white people to dress up as. But who was Black during this time? You have me messed up if you think the only Black girl in class is coming dressed as a slave. Instead, I wore 3 white articles of clothing and two black clothing items. “What`s your costume?” I stunned the class by saying “I am the “3/5th compromise.” I’m proud to say I got extra credit.

I want to end this article with a few thoughts of my own. Mercyhurst must do better to protect their Black students and make it a welcoming environment for them to receive their education. Mercyhurst must hold those accountable that bring harm to students of color on campus whether that is physically, verbally, or emotionally. Finally, everyday of Black History Month should be acknowledged and celebrated on campus, not just a handful of selective days.

Why it is important to wear an N95/KN95 respirator

By Eva Phillips Staff writer

The world has been living with COVID-19 for over two years now, but the pandemic itself has changed greatly in that time. With the rise of new variants and the availability of vaccines, there are plenty of ways to stay safe and prevent the transmission of COVID-19.

Despite this, the virus has been spreading rapidly in recent weeks due to the development of the Omicron variant, which is highly contagious. Therefore, it is particularly important for everyone regardless of vaccination status to exercise greater caution.

The solution? Along with vaccination and booster shots, experts are still recommending face coverings.

But not all masks are created equal. Cloth masks may be popular because they can be customized in stylish patterns and colors, but pores of the cloth typically are several times larger than coronavirus particles. This would allow the virus to pass through the mask for the wearer to inhale.

Surgical masks are better than cloth masks, but still not perfect. They consist of multiple layers, but their primary intention is to catch infectious droplets that the wearer exhales rather than to prevent the wearer from inhaling the virus. Even so, they offer far better protection from COVID-19 than going maskless, especially if they are fitted properly without gaps.

Individuals can also choose to wear a cloth mask over a surgical mask for additional protection.

The best mask, experts say, is not technically a mask, but a respirator. N95 and KN95 respirators that meet international standards actively filter particles from the air. They are over 95 percent effective at catching airborne particles, large and small. They also catch any infectious particles that the wearer breathes out.

What makes KN95s and other respirators more effective? They include polypropylene fibers and other materials that physically block aerosols while carrying an electrostatic charge for even further protection.

At the beginning of the pandemic these respirators were hard to find. At that time, the general agreement was to reserve the supply of highly-protective respirators for healthcare workers.

Now, respirators are more common. Online retailers like Amazon sell them in multipacks, typically priced around one dollar apiece.

Buying them online presents risks, however. Experts estimate that counterfeit KN95s make up around two-thirds of those for sale in the United States. It can be difficult to determine which respirators are authentic and which do not provide adequate protection.

Another challenge for some is the relatively high cost of KN95 and N95 masks. To remedy this, the Biden administration is distributing free N95 masks through health centers, pharmacies, and other stores.

For those who opt to purchase respirators themselves, N95s must be NIOSH-approved, and it is recommended that consumers purchase from verified manufacturers or reliable retail stores like CVS.

If the standard color options for most respirators seem too dull — they typically come in either black or white — retailer VIDA sells N95s and similarly-protective masks in a range of colors and are not that expensive. They are available from shopvida.com.

While any mask — cloth, surgical or respirator — is better than none at all, KN95s and N95s are the best option for preventing infection and protecting others. The more Lakers who choose to wear certified N95grade respirators, the healthier the Mercyhurst community will be, and the sooner we can all get back to “normal.”

Photo credit: The Wall Street Journal

This chart shows how long it will take for the coronavirus to transmit from person to person depending on what mask, if any, they are wearing.

Bridge collapse in Pittsburgh sparks concern on Erie infrastructure

By Nick Klein Contributing writer

In the early morning hours of January 28, 2022, the Forbes Avenue Bridge collapsed. The timing was impeccable as the tragedy occurred just hours before President Biden arrived in Pittsburgh.

Biden’s visit was to promote support for his recently passed infrastructure law and to uplift his plummeting approval ratings. Biden’s mission in visiting Pittsburgh was to talk about infrastructure, and it is clear that Pittsburgh’s needs to be addressed.

The president was disgusted at what he saw when he came to the site.

Biden said, “The idea that we’ve been so far behind on infrastructure for so many years, it’s mind boggling,” and he pledged that “we’re going to fix them all.”

Fortunately, no one was killed, but ten people sustained minor injuries and several vehicles, including a bus, are now stuck on the snowy grounds of Frick Park.

Despite the warning from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation that the bridge was in poor condition, city officials did not have much concern about it.

The collapse of Forbes Avenue Bridge alarms many people in Erie, especially those who are concerned about the state of Erie’s infrastructure.

YourErie reported that the total number of bridges in Erie County is 577, with 221 in good condition, 341 in fair condition and only 25 in poor condition. Just because only a small minority of the bridges are in poor condition does not mean that we should avoid trying to make sure our bridges are safe.

As Mark Bredl, Assistant District Bridge Engineer for PennDOT, said, “any part of the bridge that you can visually see and that you cannot see that’s underwater, we make absolutely sure that we inspect every element of that bridge.”

In general, bridges in good condition should be inspected at least once every two years, and for those in great condition it should be at least once every four years.

Not too far from Mercyhurst University is the Erie Zoo with a bridge over Mill Creek has been declared “needs repair or corrective action” by the National Bridge Inventory.

However, it is not just bridges in Erie that need to be rebuilt, but also other areas in infrastructure.

On July 1, 2020, a sewer collapsed on Fifth and Wallace Streets, creating a 30-foot sinkhole that swallowed a significant portion of the lumber yard of Frontier Lumber. One of the reasons why these incidents happen in Erie is that some of the sewage pipes date back to the 19th century.

Another incident was last September, when a damaged transformer below the corner at East 10th Street in Downtown Erie caused an electrical fire, forcing a half-dozen buildings and 800 customers to lose power.

There is, however, hope for the future of infrastructure.

Since the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act last November, $1.2 trillion has been poured into physical infrastructure in the country for the next eight years. One of Erie’s main transportation hubs, Erie International Airport, will receive $1.4 million in improvements.

Executive Director, Derek Martin, plans to use the money to realign the taxiway, which will expand the distance between the runaway and taxiway to reduce the chance of planes clipping one another.

Meanwhile, the Erie-Western Pennsylvania Port Authority is planning to renovate Sassafras Street, which connects downtown to the bayfront.

It is considered one of the region’s most important community priorities in improvement for several years and it is scheduled to be completed this fall.

Infrastructure needs to be inspected more often and Erie’s precarious infrastructure is proof that Mercyhurst is not immune from its poor condition.

The country needs to encourage more education in engineering and more awareness surrounding local infrastructure. There can not be a repeat of the collapse of Forbes Avenue Bridge on one of the bridges here in Erie.

Merciad IN A MINUTE

Study Abroad applications

It’s always a good idea to start planning early for study abroad.

The application deadline for Summer or Fall 2022 is in mid Spring.

Contact the Study Abroad Office for an Advising Appointment

Studyabroad@ mercyhurst.edu.

Visit the study abroad website by going to the Student Hub - Academics - Study Abroad Black History Month resources

There are many resources for Black History Month being provided by Multicultural Student Services.

Resources include books, such as “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, movies, such as “The Hate U Give,” and podcasts, such as “Resistance” on Spotify.

For a list of resources, contact Jessica Hubert at jhubert@mercyhurst.edu.

Ice Cream sampling

On Feb. 10, Grotto Commons will host an ice cream sampling from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The ice cream comes from Northern Scoop, a shop in North East, PA. The ice cream is made from locally-grown produce and natural flavors.

Starting Feb. 16, Grotto Commons will serve Northern Scoop ice cream every Wednesday.

COVID-19 expert panel

The Chemistry and Biochemistry Club is hosting a COVID-19 expert panel on Feb. 12 from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

There will be six panelists who are experts in their respective fields that will be discussing the ongoing pandemic.

The event will be held in Zurn 114.

On-campus recycling resumes

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

On-campus recycling resumed on Jan. 31 after a delayed start.

Colin Hurley, Mercyhurst’s Sustainability Manager, and the executive director of Community Engagement, discussed why there was a delay.

“Waste Management requires unbagged clean recyclables that comply with their guidelines, and because the Aramark contracted employees are not contracted for their duties to physically sort through the recycling and dispose of it in an unbagged way, the Office of Sustainability has had to hire and train a student team to handle this operation for much of the academic, administrative, and residential areas of campus over the last several school years. It is often dirty and challenging work, yet the students really make it happen and keep MU compliant,” Hurley said.

The recycling team has an important job to do. They sort out all of the items from the recycling bin by hand to make sure that 1) the item is actually recyclable, and 2) the item is clean.

Hurley said, “The team uses a newer 2018 electric vehicle (EV) 4x4 to travel campus and collect recycling bags to carry out the important operation. If the university did not have a system for unbagging and sorting to achieve a clean single stream, it would be fined hundreds of dollars per dumpster per load by Waste Management and it would jeopardize the entire garbage truck load that would otherwise be clean and instead send it to the landfill.”

The process the recycling team goes through to recycle items had an unfortunate delay at the beginning of this semester.

“At the end of Finals Week of Fall 2021, that Sustainability vehicle was taken for service to a local repair shop. For a variety of supply chain, economic and health reasons, the repair shop has experienced unforeseen significant delays with the repair. The Community Engagement Department staff and the MU fleet vehicles came to the rescue during the week of Jan. 31 so the Sustainability team could at least resume some form of operations until their normal vehicle is repaired and returned,” said Hurley. Recycling is a complex process and has become even more complicated since the start of the pandemic.

“An example of complexity would be something as simple as a plastic clamshell container that had strawberries in it. It has a #1 triangle arrow symbol on the bottom just like a #1 water bottle, but it’s not recyclable like the water bottle. How can this be since they have the same #1 resin code? It has to do with their material melting point and also the physical recycling process and the demand, thus the reason for asking for plastic bottles or jugs and not other plastic types ‘When in doubt, throw it out’ is a good saying for when someone is unsure,’” explains Hurley.

Unfortunately, companies who recycle do not always have the environment in mind.

“Recycling is a business, and if there isn’t the demand or a recycling process that can make a company money, those items that we wish or think are recyclable do often end up in the landfill,” said Hurley.

Many students on campus lack the knowledge on what can and cannot be recycled here at Mercyhurst. However, Hurley has created several mechanizes to hopefully change that.

Hurley said, “The entire process of recycling once an item is tossed into a bin is way more complex in 2022 than any of us probably realize. Recycling education should really be a part of the curriculum at MU. In fact, I created lesson plans and hands-on recycling kits for all IMU 101 classes to use in the Fall 2021, but unfortunately since the material couldn’t be mandated for each facilitator and section, most students didn’t receive the lesson. I remain hopeful it will be included in the future introduction to MU courses.”

Recycling initiatives have been taking place on-campus since it is such a vital part of being a sustainable school.

Hurley said, “While RAs were trained on recycling in Summer 2021 and encouraged to discuss it with their residents, there are a variety of physical challenges residents encounter ranging from how recycling is to be properly disposed of, the bin types and locations, Waste Management’s regulations and system and having apartments with no common indoor area for collection.”

Recycling is not the only sustainability effort occurring on campus. At the moment there are several initiatives taking place to make campus an eco-friendlier campus.

“We’ve recently completed a successful feasibility study on a large solar installation for Ryan Hall’s roof. The project leaders are now discussing financing options and hope to have good news to share later in 2022,” said Hurley.

Mercyhurst is also working to combat excess food waste. Instead of throwing food scraps in the garbage, extra food is being used as compost to give nutrients to growing plants.

“The office has partnered over the last year with the kitchen team in Grotto Commons and a local food compost company called Conservation Compost so that on a weekly basis we save up to 250 pounds of food prep waste from the landfill and send it to be turned into compost that can then be used by the public,” Hurley said.

On top of all that, have you seen the trees that were planted outside of the Center for Academic Engagement last semester?

Hurley said, “The Sustainability Office helped with some logistics and planning for the recent addition to campus known as the tiny forest which is being led by Dr. Chris Dolanc.”

It is important that we all recognize the work that is being done behind the scenes to make the Mercyhurst campus more earth centered.

“As a part of a 2030 District commitment to reduce our energy and emissions by 50% by 2030 as a university, we have a graduate assistant through the office who is helping to track our energy and water use for campus buildings so eventually we’ll be able to understand our university’s energy and water performance and make strategic building improvements over time,” Hurley said. “It’s important to realize that this work is a team effort for the entire university and there are a variety of people who commit daily to being good environmental stewards and teaching and modeling the behavior for others.”

“It is also important for everyone to see the human connection in what we are doing, especially in light of climate change’s effects on the most vulnerable. In fact, President Getz recently signed a seven-year commitment with many other Catholic universities around the world so MU can become a “Laudato Si” University. As Lakers, we will journey forward together towards a more integral ecology for both the people and planet to flourish,” said Hurley.

The university also has a sustainability club. If any students are interested in joining, they can reach out to the club President, Erin Smith, for more details.

Remember, it is up to us as people to care for our planet. Recycle what you can and throw away what you can not. Do not leave trash on the sidewalks, in the road, or on the grass. Support the eco-friendly initiatives that are happening on-campus. We only have one Earth, so we must work together to make the planet healthy again.

This poster shows what can and cannot be recycled in Mercyhurst recycling bins. What can and cannot be recycled on campus has to do with what can be recycled by the City of Erie. When you go to recycle an item, make sure the item is clean. Items placed in the recycling bin that are still dirty can make everything in the bin non-recyclable. Unfortunately, recycling has become quite expensive and very hard for many people to implement into their everyday lives. That is why it is important that universities are able to recycle. Take advantage of the opportunity to recycle while it is still here!

Wednesday, February 9, 2022

NEWS Valentine’s Day history and legends

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

Campus events during the week

By Frankie Divincenzo Staff writer

Valentine’s Day has always been a special day to celebrate love. However, many do not know how the day came to be.

One myth about Valentine’s Day is that the greeting card company invented the holiday, but that is not true. The common origin story is of Saint Valentine. It is said that he was around during the third century and Emperor Claudius II’s reign.

Emperor Claudius believed that men belonged in the army and not home with their families. To keep men away from home, he established a law stating that young men could not marry. The plan did not prevail.

Saint Valentine would marry couples in secret. When Emperor Claudius II found out, he sent Valentine to prison and planned to have him beheaded. Legend has it that Valentine was fascinated with the jailer’s daughter, who went to see him from time to time. The tale also says that Valentine would leave the girl cards signed “Your Valentine.”

There are many Valentine’s Day traditions among different nations. According to Huff Post in Brazil, Brazilians skip the Feb. 14 celebration and instead celebrate Dia dos Namorados, or “Lovers’ Day,” on June 12.

In England, the night before Valentine’s Day, women place five bay leaves on their pillows to imagine dreams of their future spouses.

On Feb. 14 in Denmark, men give women a joking letter that is entirely anonymous. If the woman guesses who the letter came from, she gets an Easter egg later that year.

In South Korea, Valentine’s Day is a little different. On Feb. 14, the gift-giving begins with the women giving the men the gifts. One month later on March 14, also known as “White Day,” the man showers the woman with gifts. There is a holiday known as “Black day” where singles mourn their status by eating black beanpaste noodles.

Even though COVID-19 has put a damper on peoples’ lives, that does not stop them from celebrating Valentine’s Day.

According to Select, having a stay-at-home paint night can be very romantic where you or your partner picks up a paint kit and follows a video tutorial at your own pace.

You can also sit down and watch a movie together, snuggling up to each other and being in the moment.

Another idea is getting into your comfy clothes with your partner and having a night of playing board games.

Remember, Valentine’s Day is not all about gifts and fancy dinners. It is about sharing moments with your sweetheart and loved ones.

It is also essential to know that Valentine’s Day is not only about couples; self-love is a crucial kind of love. Loving yourself is extremely important, especially on a day when the universe seems to remind you that you are alone.

No matter who you are, you can celebrate on Feb. 14.

The Merciad wishes you a Happy Valentine’s Day!

Learning Differences and AIM receive grant

By Bella Lee Staff writer

Learning Differences and AIM (Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst) have both been crucial in giving students the extra help they need to succeed in college. Learning Differences assists students in the form of any needed class and test accommodations, while AIM has aided students on the autism spectrum in getting adjusted to college life in the form of social events and extra advising.

On Jan. 20, Learning Differences and AIM were awarded a $128,100 grant from the Edith L. Trees Charitable Trust, an organization that is dedicated to promoting self-sufficiency and independence for individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities.

Learning Differences is planning on using their share of the grant to purchase Glean Note Taking software, which will help improve the note-taking experience.

“This software will allow students to produce high quality, secure audio-recordings of lectures both online and in-person,” said Jeanette Long, director of learning support services.

“They can then relisten to the recordings after class to help them retain information learned and to take more detailed notes.”

This technology has been used at many big-name schools, such as Marquette University, the University of Central Florida, and Missouri State University.

Glean will assist with note taking to offer a more efficient way to get notes, both for the note-taker and the student that is receiving the notes.

“Under our current peer note taker system, Learning Differences hires other students to take notes, then share them with the student who needs them,” said Long.

“This leaves the student who needs the notes as almost a bystander in their own education— they aren’t taking the notes, they aren’t interpreting information in their own ways, and, in some cases, they are waiting a long time to get their notes. With Glean, students will be able to record class, then go home and listen to the lecture again, take notes, include diagrams, web resources, and more,” said Long. “Essentially, Glean will allow students with learning differences to engage with class material like they never have before.”

AIM plans on using their share of the grant towards Transportation Solutions to work with 10 AIM students to earn their drivers’ licenses. As they continue to learn how to be more independent, Transportation Solutions can further assist these AIM students in being independent outside of campus by teaching them the skills necessary to drive and earn their license.

Additionally, these funds will help AIM travel off-campus for experiential and vocational opportunities. Having firsthand experiences outside of a known environment allows AIM students to more confidently approach novel situations knowing that they have encountered them before and successfully dealt with them.

This grant will give AIM the ability to give once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to current and future AIM students, such as Conquer the Canyon and the summer CREATE program.

This is a massive amount of funding that Learning Differences and AIM are extremely grateful to receive. This will greatly benefit future students that will need to utilize these services in order to grow in their college life.