January 21, 2015 Edition by The Merciad

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The Merciad

Est. 1929 Vol. 88 No. 11

Mercyhurst university

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Chapel gets major facelift By Catherine Rainey Staff writer

Tung Vu photo

Christ the King chapel is currently undergoing restoration. The statues of Joseph and Mary are laid on the floor of the altar, removed from their normal positions on the left and right of the altar. The Eucharist has been removed from the tabernacle and will reside in Prince of Peace Chapel during the restoration.

Haiti service trip canceled due to civil unrest By Karah Hollis Staff writer

Mercyhurst canceled the Haiti Service Learning trip Jan. 2 due to civil unrest in the country. Domestic unrest related to public’s displeasure with the government on Dec. 17 led the trip leaders, under advice from lawyers and other experts living in the country, as well as university administration, to cancel the trip for students’ safety. Mercyhurst’s travel policy states that a group cannot travel to a country that has a travel warning from the U.S. State Department. An ongoing travel warning existed a year ago due to a lack of infrastructure and slow emergency vehi-

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cle response times. Mercyhurst administration was willing to allow travel only under caution. Ground reports from Haiti said travel was very slow or impossible in parts of the capital Port-au-Prince and that protesters had thoroughfares blocked off. Tensions escalated with “violent anti-government street protests becoming increasingly common,” according to the New York Times. The leaders wanted to give the students a second option to replace the cancelled trip. Thomas Cook, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Public Health, and his wife Emily met with Colin Hurley, Director of Community Engagement, and Heidi Hosey, Ph.D., Dean of International Education, to salvage the trip and were able to recover 80

percent of the airline costs and most of the other expenses. Cook and his wife had connections through friends and co-workers in Puerto Rico and moved the trip there. Students and faculty said they were disappointed about having to switch locations at the last minute but it was necessary under the circumstances, Hurley said. “Initially, I was disappointed because I had been planning for this trip for almost a year and wanted to bring a positive impact to the people of Gros Morne,” said Erin Cox, a Public Health major. “After learning more about the protest and civil unrest taking place in Haiti, I was somewhat relieved because I did not want my classmates or myself to be put in a difficult or dangerous situation.”

Hurley said learning opportunities will be spread out in Puerto Rico rather than focusing on one town. Plans were made by the leaders before classes started to visit several hospitals with guest speakers from the Department of Health. Cook said the students will learn how the Department of Health handles disease control and how it compares to the U.S.’s approach. Haiti is still a location that the university will support, according to Hurley. “We hope to continue to participate as tensions ease,” Hurley said. “We stand in solidarity with the people.” Since taking office in 2011, President Michel Martelly had not held any type of elections. The country experienced

heightened anti-government protests in December 2014. Protesters called for new elections and for Martelly and Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe to resign. They are also protesting political corruption, poverty and Martelly’s autocratic rule. Hurley encouraged people to watch the Haiti elections January 12. “We need to keep our eyes on it and be with them,” he said. An electoral law did not pass by the January 12 deadline. Parliament has dissolved without an election. Protestors accuse Martelly of creating the crisis to force out opposition within the government.

Mercyhurst’s Christ the King Chapel is in the midst of a five to six month facelift to repair minor damages caused by wear and tear. The chapel is receiving several cosmetic fixes, including a fresh coat of paint, new overhead lighting, including focal lighting for its murals, and re-stained pews. According to Monsignor David Rubino, vice president of advancement the project is “totally funded by outside donations” and will cost $407,000. There will be no structural or architectural changes according to the Rev. Jim Piszker, the university chaplain and part of the project committee, which is made up of eight to 10 members of administration, faculty, staff and Sisters of Mercy. The renovations will be completed in March, Piszker added. While initial plans had the pews being repositioned to add more space between them, overseers of the project are unsure whether or not that will happen. According to Rubino, who heads the funding and contracting of the restoration, the integrity of the floor is the main concern. Moving the pews would mean drilling new holes in the floor, which could potentially damage it. Rubino said they may try moving one or two pews before deciding to move them all. The committee working on the restoration wants to ensure that the chapel keeps its original look, which is why minimal work is being done. “It’s a simple, almost monastic type of chapel and the trick here is not to overdo it because then you wreck the integrity of the building,” Rubino said. Piszker said questions were raised about why the restoration is taking place during the school year rather than the summer. “People forget that we do a lot of weddings here and summer is a prime wedding time,” said Piszker. “We had to figure out a time period when nothing is scheduled and it just so happened we had a time frame from November through April.” Sunday Masses are being held in the Taylor Little Theater and daily masses are held in the Prince of Peace Chapel for the remainder of the restoration.

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January 21, 2015

The Merciad

News

Mercyhurst cuts 14 support positions Financial concerns are likely to lead to further budget cuts

By Nathan Turner News Editor

On Nov. 20, Mercyhurst University eliminated 14 employee administration and support positions and cut six more positions from part-time to fulltime. The cuts, as part of a program to trim $2.5 million from the budget, which includes pay cuts for the top seven university administrators as well as the cessation of university payments into the employee retirement fund. The cuts come in the light of declining enrollment and decreased revenue for the university. The position eliminations did not affect faculty positions and no academic programs were cut or reduced on Nov. 20. More cuts are likely to come in the future as resources are re-distributed across the university. The Erie Times-News has reported that the university is “focusing on academic and athletic programs, and could make cuts of about $1 million in the 2015-2016 school year if enrollment doesn’t improve.” Cuts were made from departments across campus, with little notice for the employees who were cut or their immediate supervisors. The lack of notice was due to a short timeframe between a Board of Trustees meeting in October, when the administration was informed that it would need to cut $2.5 million from the proposed budget, and the cuts on Nov.

20. The student body was also given little notice about the cuts, or the financial state which led to them. When asked about why the student body is not better informed about the financial state of the university which led to these personnel cuts, Mercyhurst Student Government President Nick Latta, said in an email, “there is not a lot to be concerned about currently...I see us at an exciting time with change occurring and new leadership (presidential) on the horizon. It’s a good time to be a laker.” Gary Brown, Ph.D, Vice President of Strategic Finance, said the process of deciding which positions would be cut was focused on selecting positions where “we could re-align some duties.” The vice-presidents of each administrative area were “challenged to make reductions in their area, and it would have to be in personnel…How they did it was up to them,” based on each department’s ability to re-distribute the responsibilities of each eliminated position. The need for the position elimination stems from the decreased enrollment in the university, in contrast to the growth of the university. “People don’t realize that we grew for a lot of years,” said Brown, concerning the increase in programs the university has experienced. However, due to the large increase in staff during the growth period, Brown said that “as the student population decreased, we [had] to cut some

Contributed photo

Positions were eliminated from several areas throughout the university’s organizational structure. Fourteen positions were cut due to financial concerns. Students and faculty were given little notice of the cuts prior to Nov. 20. MSG President Nick Latta said the university is in a good financial position.

positions because that was the area of growth over time.” The job of cutting positions fell to vice presidents of each administrative area. “The vice-presidents looked at the

list of personnel who work for them,” said Philip Belfiore, Ph.D, Vice President of Academic Affairs. “And all the vice-presidents came up with a list of, if we have to lose somebody, here are the people that we could lose. It was a painful thing, but it was done.” The salaries and benefits of the suggested personnel were taken into account, and the list was edited until a final copy was sent to President Tom Gamble for final approval. “None of the vice presidents ended up with a final list of everybody” who was eliminated, said Belfiore. “And we also didn’t know the official list until only a few days before the cuts were made.” The positions which were cut came as a surprise to several staff members and their supervisors and colleagues. One staff member whose position was eliminated was Brittany Prischak, the former head of the Sustainability office. “I had absolutely no idea that my position was being eliminated,” Prischak said. Prischak, who was co-teach-

ing a class with John Campbell, Ph.D, at the time of her elimination, as well as handling numerous other projects, left a substantial void. Many of the projects she left behind were picked up until “the end of this year and then there’ll have to be a question of what happens next year.” Similar questions of responsibility have been raised about the Sustainability program. There has been discussion of hiring a faculty member to handle both teaching and advising for the students in the program, although no commitment has been made to such a position. Currently, students are split between “four different faculty members in four different departments,” according to Prischak. Professor Chris Magoc, Ph.D, who co-founded the Green Team that became the Sustainability Office and served as Prischak’s immediate supervisor praised her efforts as Sustainability Coordinator, and said that she started as a collaborative partner and really became the leader” of developing the

office and the Sustainability program. Her elimination came as a “shock” to him. Magoc said that “although this feels like to a real blow to our efforts, many of us remain committed” to maintaining the Mercyhurst commitment to environmental sustainability, and the Sustainability Studies program. The frustration of losing Prischak partially came from how surprising it was, according to Magoc. “Two days before this happened,” he said, “she asked me, ‘Could I be on the list?’ because she had heard there were going to be cuts. I said that I hadn’t heard anything and that I would have been shocked if she was on the list. And if she was being considered, that someone would have told me about it. And nobody told me.”

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Students’ opinions sought in university’s presidential search By Nathan Turner News Editor

On Tuesday Jan. 27, Mercyhurst students on the Erie campus will have the opportunity to voice their concerns and desires about the next president of Mercyhurst University to the committee in charge of searching for President Gamble’s successor. Six dates have been allot-

ted for the two chairs of the presidential search committee, Mercyhurst alumni and trustees Richard Lanzillo, ’83, and Joseph NeCastro, ’78, and a representative from the search firm to visit the Mercyhurst main and North East campuses. These visits will include meetings with faculty, staff, administrators and students. On Jan. 27, the chairs and the representative of the

search firm will meet with students in Walker Recital Hall. It will give students a chance to speak with the people in charge of selecting Gamble’s successor, and give their input about what qualities they would like to see the next president of Mercyhurst University. @TheMerciad

J-Term meals come with registration By Emani Burton Contributing writer

Students who did not register for a class over the J-term will not be able to access Parkhurst meal services due to Mercyhurst’s payment plan with its catering services. Mercyhurst University One-

Card office uses the list of students registered for classes to determine which plans to activate during a time period. John Patterson, Director of the OneCard Office, said that if the students “aren’t registered, we can’t enter them into the system.” Financial concerns have

influenced the university’s payment plan. In order to save costs, the university is only activating spring term meal plans for students not registered for J-Term, even if their plans technically cover both terms. @TheMerciad

January 21, 2015

The Merciad

Page 3

Features

‘Hurst, Erie communities celebrate MLK Day By Catherine Rainey Staff writer

The Mercyhurst and Erie communities celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day this past weekend with meals, a peace march and several service projects. The MLK Center held its annual MLK Peace March on Monday, Jan. 19, in downtown Erie. Mercyhurst Service Learning provided transportation to students who wished to attend. There are typically 15 to 45 students who attend this march and the Mercyhurst service projects every year, according to Bethany Brun, coordinator of Service Learning. The march was followed by a luncheon at Gannon University with several speakers. Mercyhurst had its own events on campus, including a luncheon in King’s honor, organized by Sarah Allen, director of the Campus Involvement Center, and Pertrina Marerro, director of the Multicultural Center. The luncheon, attended by more than 50 students, administrators, faculty and staff, took place on Friday, Jan. 16, in the Great Room of the Student Union. “We asked two participants to help celebrate the MLK

Legacy,” said Marerro. “Each person was responsible for presenting excerpts from two of Dr. King’s most influential pieces, ‘The Drum Major Instinct’ and ‘The Letter from the Birmingham Jail.’” Attendees listened to a portion of King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, according to Marerro, as well as a rendition of the song “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the Black American National Anthem. Parkhurst Dining provided a birthday cake for the luncheon in honor of King’s birthday, Jan. 15, 1929. A dinner, organized by Brun, was held on Sunday, Jan. 18, in the Student Union. It was attended by members of Keystone SMILES AmeriCorps, a service-learning program of AmeriCorps, as well as local AmeriCorps vistas and was open to any Mercyhurst students. “We’ll probably watch a short film about issues like civil rights, have an organic discussion about it and share a meal,” Brun said prior to the dinner. Brun organized a variety of service projects on that took place on Monday. During Service Learning’s “stuff the bus” initiative, students stood outside of a local K-Mart and Walmart and asked customers

Nhi Tran photo

People of all ages marched in downtown Erie in freezing temperatures in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day this past Monday, Jan. 19.

if they would donate school supplies to charity. Bags full of supplies were donated to four agencies. Keystone SMILES members visited the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania in Erie to volunteer their time. Others sorted over 160 books in the Student Union that were then donated

to six agencies. Brun said this holiday is important to recognize. “I’d like [people] to see that is a day on and not a day off,” said Brun. “MLK was committed and driven to support education. He sacrificed his life for striving to make everyone’s lives better. It’s good for us to sacrifice our time to sup-

port a man who did that.” Marerro shared similar sentiments about the meaning of the holiday. “Dr. King’s Legacy consisted of more than a speech about a dream and a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama,” said Marerro. “Today and every day, not just this moment but every

moment, find ways in which you can make a difference in the life of someone else.”

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McGarry to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro to raise awareness By Mackenzie Burns Staff writer

Bradley McGarry, director of Asperger/Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM) will begin the jouney to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro on February 5 in an effort to raise awareness for Autism. McGarry said he hopes this journey to the summit of Kilimanjaro, the largest free-standing mountain in the world, will “raise awareness for the lack of vocational resources for qualified adults on the Autism Spectrum.” McGarry added that he wants to bring attention to “the needs of these students [within the AIM program] and prompt businesses and universities across the country to help in providing quality employment opportunities for these well-qualified adults.” McGarry has previously

taken part in “Conquer the Canyon,” a campaign to support the National Angelman Syndrome Foundation with his son, Connor, who suffers from the disease, and had asked Mercyhurst students to join him to raise awareness for autism. In order to promote the Career Path Program, McGarry went to Gene Taylor, co-founder of the Conquer the Canyon initiative, asking if they could “add a piece to Conquer the Canyon to raise autism awareness.” Taylor already had the idea of climbing Africa’s Mt. Kilimanjaro. “Raise the Roof for Autism” came from a combination of their ideas. In early December, McGarry encountered his first obstacle, a bruised rib, which put him out of training. He said his “biggest obstacle is preparing to hike 10 to 14 hours, and who has time in their normal

day to do that?” McGarry also has five sons at home, adding to the difficulty of finding time to train. He trains with the time he has, spending time wearing a mask to acclimate himself to the changes in oxygen level, in a process called “climatization.” McGarry said he is funding half of the trip himself, and has taken to Facebook to help raise the remaining funds. Pfeffer, ALUSOURCE INC., Gander Mountain and Conquer the Canyon have all sponsored McGarry’s upcoming trip. Peek’n Peak has allowed McGarry to use their facilities for training. “I am as prepared as I can be, but you don’t know until you get there,” McGarry said. He is aware that this climb will be harder than his previous ones, but he said he is ready to take on the “long-term, lowlevel suffering” he will endure

on this 10-day adventure. “When you do something like this and you accomplish it, it really redefines your definition of hard,” McGarry said. “The cool thing about Mt. Kili is [that] it is like walking from the equator to the North Pole in a week,” he said. He and Taylor are planning to take the Lemosho route up the mountain, which is designed to minimize time spent hiking, and is also the best route for climatization. His friends keep asking him if he would consider doing Mt. Everest next. He did not rule out the prospect, but instead said “you never know what will come next.”

Mercyhurst University photo

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AIM director Bradley McGarry will climb Mt. Kilimanjaro this February in an effort to raise awareness for autism.

International students live Archaeology students on campus during break excavate “Vero” in Florida By Haleigh Giebel Staff writer

Mercyhurst University enrolled the largest international class in its history this year as it welcomed 80 undergraduates from 25 different countries. This is an increase from 44 international admissions in 2012, and 53 in 2013. As the school continues to embark on its 4-1-4 academic calendar, some international students are left on campus with little to do. Jenbli Cox, a freshman intelligence major from Jamaica, had to stay on campus during the week of Thanksgiving break this year. Cox said that it would be easier to stay on campus during breaks if Mercyhurst held different actives for the students that have to stay. “Even if Mercyhurst was able to set up volunteer

opportunities it would make a difference,” Cox said. Phuong Nguyen, a freshman communication major from Vietnam, was able to travel to Colombia with a few of her friends for the first week of Christmas break. After that week, she traveled back to Erie and stayed in the dorms for the remaining two weeks of break. “Staying in the dorms while no one else is on campus is quiet boring, but we made it fun by cooking food from home and just hanging out together all of the time,” Nguyen said. Nguyen suggested opening the dining halls during break and providing activities for students still on campus. Lan-Nhi Phung, a freshman biology major also from Vietnam, was able to stay with her friend’s family for two weeks of the Christmas break, which was her first traditional American Christmas.

“It was very exciting. I got to go Christmas shopping, cook, and decorate a Christmas tree for the first time” said Phung. “My friend’s family treated me as part of the family and even bought me gifts.” Both Phung and Nguyen said they were grateful that the school allows international students to stay on campus during break. “A lot of universities kick students out during break, so we are lucky Mercyhurst shows mercy to us,” Nguyen said. Laura Schmiedeler, a sophomore fashion merchandizing major from Arizona, also had to stay on campus during Christmas break. “It’s boring … but also very relaxing at the same time,” she said.

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By Casey Bleuel Staff writer

Five Mercyhurst students working with the Mercyhurst Archeological Institute have been given the opportunity to work on The Old Vero Man Site, otherwise known as “Vero,” in Florida over J-Term. The students, freshmen Steven Martz, Ele Hein, sophomore Amelia Bell, junior Clara Summa and senior Lauren Osmialowski were able to assist in excavating a site where animals and vegetation can be traced back to 22,000 years ago. Hein, a freshman archaeology major who hopes to become a professor, learned of the opportunity while in her World Cultures class taught by the director of the Mercyhurst Archeological Institute, J.M. Adovasio, Ph.D. Hein explained that along

with gaining skills and experience in her field, she “was able to see the ocean for the first time ever.” So far, various artifacts have been recovered during the excavation of Vero, such as stone flakes, bones and animal remains known as faunal material. According to Hein, it is an incredible feeling to be able to aid in the process of learning about and protecting the past. The presence of humans at Vero can be traced back to roughly 13,000-14,000 ago, according to Adovasio. The Old Vero Man Site, named after the set of fossilized human bones found near Vero Beach, Fla., first became of interest in 1916 when geologist E.H. Sellards claimed that ice age animal and human remains at the site were contemporaneous, in other words, suggesting that both had existed simultaneously during the Pleistocene period,

a geological epoch which lasted from roughly 2.58 million to 11,700 years ago. Sellards was ridiculed for what was such an outlandish concept at the time. Various people have researched Vero after Sellards, but overall, according to Adovasio, the site “languished in some sort of limbo ever since.” The Mercyhurst Archaeology Institute, along with the local non-profit Old Vero Ice Age Sites Committee, was given the opportunity to begin excavations on Jan. 6, 2014. The students along with professionals, were able to return to the site for the J-term to continue on with the excavations. Vero is just the beginning for Hein, she said. “I hope this adventure is one of many that I will have the honor to be a part of in my lifetime.” @TheMerciad

Page 4

Features

The Merciad

January 21, 2015

Coach gives advice for staying fit as a student By Ryan Kushner Features Editor

As January slowly schleps off of the calendars, some students may begin to come to the unfortunate realization that their resolution to get into shape this year had about the same lifespan as their childhood goldfish, Bubbles. May he rest in peace. It is at the heart of winter in Erie, and if staying physically active as a university student was not difficult before, many students are now faced with the added trials of below freezing temperatures and multiple feet of lake effect snow encouraging them to put off that resolution for another year. College students should participate in a minimum of two and a half hours of exercise each week, according to the Center for Disease Control. But between classes, studying and what The Weather Channel has deemed the second snowiest city in the United States, some Mercyhurst students may struggle to make physical activity a regular part of their day. Tom Herman, Assistant Athletic Director, director of the Mercyhurst Recreation Center (REC Center), and veteran football coach, said that the best way for students to stay fit in this type of environment is to add structure to their days.

“Structure in your day gives you more energy,” said Herman, who has been coaching college football for over 30 years, the past seven of them at Mercyhurst. “Lack of structure in your day makes you do things late at night [which causes] you to sleep in.” Herman warns students against participating in what he refers to as “the Saturday Morning Syndrome.” “Saturday mornings, if you sleep in, you don’t want to do anything all day long. You become lethargic and lazy,” said Herman. However, Herman continued, “if you get up early on a Saturday morning early because you have to do something… you get more things done that day than you ever thought you could do.” Herman said the most successful athletes are the ones who “get up early and eat breakfast every day.” “You have to set a goal,” he continued. “That you’re going to eat a certain way, that you want to exercise a certain way… if you get into a system, your body just adjusts to it.” “It’s the same thing with life,” Herman added. “You should set your goals where you can see them as the first thing you see in the morning and the last thing you see at night to remind you of what you want.” Herman recommends setting not only fitness goals, but professional goals as well.

Sami Rapp photo

Freshman Taylor Cavaretta works at the front desk of the REC Center. The REC Center is available to students Monday - Thursday from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 10 p.m.

“If you have a goal, you can strive for it. If you don’t have a goal, it is like keeping balance on a bicycle standing still. It’s impossible. Unless you’re one of the people in the circus, you’re going to fall down,” Herman said. Herman also recommends contacting professors in the Exercise Science major for additional help with getting into a healthy lifestyle. “We’re lucky to have that major here

and with good people running it,” he said. Coming back as the official director for the REC Center after a year, Herman plans to increase the amount of options for offered classes in the spring term. “We are trying to get kids who are interested to teach again,” Herman said. The REC Center is currently striving to offer up to 12 Spin classes and 12 fitness

classes next term. “The kids have really grown to like them, and they really expect them,” said Herman of the classes. “We need more people who want to teach. I can help them reduce the cost to be certified.” Though the REC Center cannot offer students the going rate that Spin and fitness instructors typically make, many students in the past used the opportunity for

their Work Study, according to Herman. In order to teach a class at the REC Center, students must have a Mad Dogg Athletics Certification. Students interested in teaching a class at the REC may contact Tom Herman at therman@mercyhurst.edu.

STUDENTS TRAVEL TO GUYANA FOR J-TERM This J-term, a group of 10 students and two faculty members traveled to Guyana, the second poorest country in this hemisphere. While there for 10 days, the students participated in service learning at various ministries near Georgetown, the capital. In the mornings some worked at the hospital while others volunteered at the David Rose School for the Handicapped, the Red Cross’s convalescence home and other ministries. In the afternoons, everyone spent time with the boys living at St. Bosco’s Orphanage. The trip provided students with the opportunity to learn firsthand the core values of Mercyhurst. By spending time with the children and offering donations and support, the students attempted to help to make a difference. Top Right - The group spent two days at A Sanctuary, an orphanage about 40 miles from Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. Bottom Right - Amanda Wolterink, a sophomore Water Polo player poses with one of the young girls at A Sanctuary. Bottom Left - Rebecca Insalac, a sophomore Water Polo player, plays with one of the boys at St. Bosco’s.

Photo Story by Sami Rapp

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The Merciad

January 21, 2015

Page 5

Arts &

Entertainment

Eerie Horror accepting submissions By Jose Nufio Staff writer

The Eerie Horror Film Festival will once again have its annual film and screenplay competition where they will accept submissions from students and amateurs from all around the world. For the past 12 years the Eerie Horror Film Festival has provided young filmmakers and screenwriters the opportunity to showcase their talent in the genres of horror, science fiction, and suspense. The 3-day festival will take place on October 17-19 at the Erie Warner Theater. Submissions for the film and screenwriting competition are open, with the regu-

lar deadline for submissions being on March 1 and the late deadline on June 1. Entrants can submit films in various categories: Horror Feature, Horror Short, Science Fiction Feature, Science Fiction Short, Suspense Feature and Suspense Short. There is a special discount for students aged 10 to 17. Since its inception in October of 2004, the Eerie Horror Film Festival has screened over 400 movies and attracted thousands of fans from all around the world to Erie. This 3-day festival celebrates independent cinema within the horror, science fiction, and suspense genres. The festival will feature celebrity guests and industry professionals, along with

movie screenings and film workshops. The goal of the festival is to build relations between aspiring filmmakers and screenwriters with those working in the industry. Forums for filmmakers will be established where both beginners and veterans will have the chance to network and learn from each other. Since 2004, the film festival has counted with the appearance of various celebrity guests which include Norman Reedus from the “Walking Dead”, Sean Patrick Flanery and David Della Rocco from “The Boondock Saints”, Jason Mewes from “Clerks”, C. Thomas Howell from “The Outsiders”, Kane Hodder from “Friday the 13th”, Rich-

ard Hatch from “Battlestar Gallactica”, Ken Foree from “Dawn of the Dead”, among others. They have also counted with rock and roll artists such as Alice Cooper, Nine Inch Nails, The Misfits, Judas Priest, Heaven & Hell, Motorhead, Adam Lambert and various more. The Eerie Horror Festival expects to bring many more celebrities and artist for the upcoming festival that have yet to be announced. For more information about the competition and the festival, visit the Eerie Horror Film Festival website at http://eeriehorrorfilmfestival.com. eeriehorrorfilmfestival.com photo

Eerie Horror Film Fest is accepting submissions for 2015 expo.

‘Vincent’ plays in TLT ‘Sniper’ hits the mark By Megan Pacileo

By Megan Pacileo

Taylor Little Theatre is continuing their tradition of showing excellent movies on Sunday afternoons. With the cold weather still upon us, head over and watch this week’s showing of the movie “St. Vincent.” Bill Murray shines as Vincent McKenna, a vulgar and drunken Vietnam war veteran who lives in a dilapidated house and lives a less than moral life. That all changes when Vincents agrees to babysit the son of his newly divorced next door neighbor, played by the hilarious Melissa McCarthy. As Vincent and 12-yearold Oliver frequent bars, strip clubs and racetracks, the odd pair begin to help one another mature and grow. With genuine chemistry between his co-stars, and his physical comedy and unusually layered character, Bill Murray gives one of the best

Most movie goers know that anything directed by Clint Eastwood is going to be an exceptional film. His newest box office release is no exception. “American Sniper,” tells the true story of the most lethal sniper in U.S. military history. But there was much more to this true American hero than his skill with a rifle. And this is the story that Eastwood tries to portray. Based on the biographical novel of the same name, “American Sniper” tells the story of U.S. Navy Seal sniper Chris Kyle, played by Hollywood heart-throb Bradley Cooper, who is sent to Iraq with only one mission: to protect his fellow brothers-inarms at all costs. His pinpoint accuracy as a sniper saves countless lives on the battlefield and, as stories of his courage spreads, he earns the well-deserved nick-

Arts and Entertanment Editor

Arts and Entertainment Editor

miac photo

Comedic actor Bill Murray gives one of his best performances in the movie “St. Vincent,” in which he plays a grumpy old war veteran. See it in Taylor Little Theatre Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

performances of his career. The film is directed by newcomer Theodore Melfi and features A-list celebrtities Bill Murray, Jaeden Lieberher, Melissa McCarthy, Chris

O’Dowd and Naomi Watts. The movie will be playing in Taylor Little Theatre on Sunday, Jan 25 at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are only $1 with your student I.D.

impawards. com photo

Bradley Cooper gives one of the best performances of his career in the new movie “American Sniper,” directed by Clint Eastwood.

on his family back home inthe sates, Chris serves through four tours of duty in Iraq. But after returning home, Chris finds that he cannot leave behind the things he had to do while overseas. With a killer script and an amazing line up of talent, this movie is a must-see for any Eastwood or Cooper fans. Bradley Cooper gives one of the best performances of his career, showing his days of doing mediocore movies are behind him. The film also stars Sienna Miller with Luke Grimes, Kyle Gallner, Sam Jaeger, Jake McDorman and Cory Hardrict in supporting roles. This film is a must see for fans who enjoyed the movie, be sure to read the autobiography written by America’s most lethal sniper himself.

name “Legend.” Because of his reputation, enemies have put a price on his head, making him a prime target for insurgents. Despite the danger, as well as the toll his position places

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All Around Erie: Arts and Entertainment Edition By Megan Pacileo

Arts and Entertanment Editor

Erie Playhouse Presents Sleeping Beauty The classic fairytale about a beautiful sleeping princess comes to life on the stage of the Erie Playhouse. In this quirky adaptation of the popular fairytale, The King and Queen failed to invite the evil Trollarina to the christening of their new daughter, Princess Melisande. Trollarina exacts her revenge by forcing the princess into an everlasting sleep, but little does she realize that more than one spell will be broken by the kiss of an enchanted Faun. The show runs Jan. 23 to 24 with shows starting at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Erie Playhouse Box Office. For more information, call 814-454-2852.

Erie Philharmonic Invites Dinnerstein To Play Beethoven

Online

The music of Beethoven will fill the Warner Theater in a twopart symphonic experience that will leave the audience both inspired and amazed. Celebrity pianist Simone Dinnerstein joins the Erie Philharmonic in its first-ever presentation of Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 2. The second half of their performance will consist of Bruckner’s transformative Fourth Symphony (“Romantic”) which will captivate and inspire audience members. Before the show starts, be sure to join WQLN music host, Brian Hannah, for an entertaining and informative chat starting at 7:00 p.m. The performance will be held on Jan. 24 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Erie Insurance Arena Box Office. For more information, call 814-455-1375.

Full list of events can be found on the PAC website

Disney On Ice Treasure Trove See your favorite Disney princes and princesses, along with a magical medley of other Disney tales, in one jam-packed ice show that celebrates the legacy of Disney animated films. Disney is set to present their new show Disney On Ice presents Treasure Trove.. The show runs from Jan. 28 until Feb. 1 with shows starting at 7:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Erie Insurance Arena Box Office. For more information, call 814-452-4857

The Australian Bee Gees Show Good music is once again heading to the Warner Theater. On Tuesday, January 27, the Australian Bee Gees cover band will fill the theater with their record breaking music. Get ready for their new show, a multimedia theatrical concert experience that takes a nostalgic trip through the legacy of the original Bee Gees. The show celebrates over four decades of the infectious music written by the Gibb brothers. Having performed together for over 17 years, The Australian Bee Gees Show have mastered the look, sound and personality of the adored trio, while maintaining their reputation as the world’s leading Bee Gees show. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets prices start at $29.95 and can be purchased at the Erie Insurance Arena Box Office. For more information, call 814-452-4857.

Big Green Screen Movies at TREC The Tom Ridge Environmental Center is continuing to show environmentally conscience movies, on their very large green screen. On Nov. 10, TREC will be showing three movies. The first “Mysteries of the Unseen World” will show at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m.

View upcoming performances: www.miac.mercyhurst.edu

“Mysteries” is a film adventure that takes audiences on an extraordinary journey into the hidden dimensions that are beyond our normal vision to see the mysteries of things that move too fast, too slow, or are too small to see. Next is the movie “Great White Shark,” showing at noon and 4 p.m. The story unravels the mystery of the underwater creature we love to fear the misunderstood great white shark and tells the true story of its role atop the ocean’s food chain. Third is the movie “Wonders of the Arctic,” showing at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Today, the Arctic is the focus of intense scientific research. Instead of looking to take control of the north, scientists are searching for answers to some of the troubling questions about the impacts of human activities around the world. Tickets can be purchased at TREC before the movie. For any questions, call 814-833-7424.

Snowshoe Hike at Erie Bluffs State Park Join the Park Naturalist for a snowshoe hike at Erie Bluffs State Park. Hikers will meet at the main parking lot before the hike begins. If conditions permit, snowshoes will be available for participants to borrow. A 2.5 mile hike will follow with or without snowshoes as hikers explore the park in the winter. Be sure to dress appropriately for the chilly winter weather. There is no fee to attend the hike, but registration is limited. The hike will be on Jan 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

@MeganPacileo

www.merciad.mercyhurst.edu/ arts_entertainment

Page 6

Opinion

January 21, 2015

The Merciad

The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad Relay for Life successful or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be emailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.

Cuts handled poorly at Mercyhurst University By Nathan Turner News editor

After the Nov. 20 elimination of 14 positions among the support and administrative staff at Mercyhurst University, there has been discussion of more cuts at the University. This time the cuts may include the athletics and academic departments. In any case, I hope that whatever cuts happen, whether they include the elimination of personnel or not, they are handled more effectively than the cuts on Nov. 20. The cuts on Nov. 20 came with a stack of stories of how poorly they were managed. Employees were informed

that day they were going to be eliminated. There has been little-to-no notification of the student body as to why these particular individuals (most of whom had at least 15 years of experience at the university) were chosen to be eliminated. Their colleagues were also poorly notified as to why they were chosen. There are budget concerns, I’ve been told. I understand that. However, the budget has been an area of concern for three years and enrollment has been dropping for the past two years, according to faculty members. Why the sudden shift from growth into contraction? If the university enrollment has been decreasing, why has the

university kept expanding? Why was there not a more gradual decrease? And the question still remains why these particular employees were chosen for elimination. The employees with whom I have spoken and their colleagues are still unsure. This makes it seem as if names were just chosen out of a hat. People are rightfully angry about it. An alum who has been connected with the university for almost 40 years has severed his ties with us. This is a cause for concern. Vital personnel on campus were released from their positions on campus. There is the temptation among management to see

the positions as just “positions,” hypothetical employees and plaques on the walls. However, people occupied those positions. People who deserved better than to be fired before Thanksgiving and with no notice. If the cuts had to be made, then they should have been made with more warning. There’s a better way to do this than to give them a kick out the door. I hope the administration remembers that. If you’re going to talk about being compassionate, then start putting your money where your mouth is. @TheMerciad

Freedom of speech and religion debated due to Paris attack By Marcela Delgado Opinion editor

Freedom of speech and freedom of religion are rights that we are all entitled to as human beings. These two rights have been debated the last couple of weeks due to the happenings in Paris. Charlie Hebdo, a satirical magazine in Paris offended the Muslim community with material that was published. They published cartoons of depictions of the Prophet Muhammad. In response to the published material, terrorists attacked

the offices of the magazine, killing 12 people. The topic has been highly debated and people have been going hard from both sides. Many people have had different reasons why they would support either side. There are also others that have seen things from a different perspective and have their reasons to see both sides as equally extreme. Pope Francis responded to this situation by acknowledging that there is a limit to both sides. He defended freedom of expression, but he also supported freedom of religion. “One cannot provoke, one

cannot insult other people’s faith, one cannot make fun of faith,” Pope Francis said. He respects the faith of other people and would like for other people to respect it too. Religion is not something that should be mocked; instead it should be respected Pope Francis also mentioned how freedom of speech is a right we all have, but it should have it limits. On the other hand, Pope Francis also said, “One cannot kill in the name of God.” Both sides went to the extreme and there should be a balance. The press and other people have the right to express what they think, but it should be

moderate and respectful to a certain extent. If they know they will be highly affecting other people’s faith, then the material should be reconsidered before publishing. Also, people can respond to something that was published, but not by killing people. They can do so peacefully without harming other people This is a very delicate situation, in which both sides have their viewpoints, but there should be a limit as to what should be published and the way people respond to what is published. @TheMerciad

Letter to the editor:

The Good... Christ the King Chapel is undergoing renovations. In the meantime, Mass is being held at Taylor Little Theatre. They expect to open back on March with the new and renovated Chapel. Double swipes at the Laker Inn are back thanks to Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG), who made the suggestion of bringing back the double swipes to Mercyhurst Dining Services after students complained about it on their weekly meetings. Thumbs up to MSG for being the Lakers’ voice. Students are going to be able to attend the meetings regarding the search for the new president. It is good students are going to be involved in the process. The first meeting will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 27, at 8 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall. The second meeting will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 28 form 3-4 p.m. at Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center (PAC).

The Bad... MSG President, Nick Latta, does not think that the university is experiencing financial trouble, despite having cut 14 positions.

The Ugly... The first weeks of January, Erie got a great amount of snow and now sidewalks are icy and students run the risk of falling down since little or no salt is being applied at some locations around campus.

The Weird... New year resolutioners have invaded the REC Center. For the last couple of weeks the gym has been packed by the people who is trying to be healthier this new year. The limited schedule the Rec Center offered for J-Term, makes it even harder for people to spread out and find the right time to “hit the gym.”

Former Mercyhurst staffer speaks out Dear Editor: On November 20, 2014, a week before Thanksgiving, two valued members of the Mercyhurst Athletic Department - assistant sports information director Brian Vail and director of the Ice Center Mike Parry - were fired. Director of Athletics Joe Kimball, as well as the two men, were blindsided by the action. Joe and Brian had actually left for Wheeling Jesuit University early that morning to support the women’s volleyball team which had an opening contest in the NCAA Regional. Joe had to tell Brian the bad news in the lobby of the Wheeling Jesuit athletic building. Mike Parry, on the other hand, was on campus at the time of the notification. The administrator who terminated him said during the course of the conversation that he “really didn’t know what Mike did” or words to that effect. A member of the Student Athlete Advisory Board and I tried to meet with the President about the dismissals, but were told he was “booked solid” (or words to that effect) the week in question. So, on Monday, Dec. 8, I announced to the local media that I was ending my association with Mercyhurst after nearly 36 years. (student, Director of Athletics, Sports Information Director, Adjunct Faculty Member in Communications Department, General Manager

WMCE, Veterans Administration representative, playby-play announcer for various sports, Director of the Ice Center and Hockey Operations, periodic MC, etc.) It’s been nearly a month since I made that decision. I relaxed a little bit over the holidays but my foot has returned to the accelerator now that 2015 is here and many students are back in class. First of all, I want to thank everyone who has reached out to me since then: Sisters of Mercy, trustees, current and former employees, current and former student-athletes, parents, members of the Mercyhurst Athletic Hall of Fame, Sports Information Directors, Mercyhurst Ice Center renters, and even people on the street. Your concern and understanding are greatly appreciated. Second, I’ve never billed myself as a paragon of virtue or as a moral or ethical compass. But I learned a long time ago how to treat people – from my parents, from a seven-year term in the U.S. Air Force and, ironically, from Mercyhurst professors themselves. I graduated “cum laude” from Mercyhurst in 1981 with a degree in “Business Administration”. So both my education and my conscience told me that what happened to Brian and Mike was wrong – not only what was done, but when it was done and how it was done. (zero notification)

Third, make no mistake. I love Mercyhurst; always have and always will. I believe my alma mater is worth fighting for. Fourth, there are a lot of wonderful people who work at Mercyhurst - on both sides of the campus. Many work in relative anonymity. You have my undying admiration and respect. Fifth, I’d like to thank the Mercyhurst Office of Marketing and Public Relations for the generous inclusion of athletic-related articles and an athletic front cover in its Fall 2014 edition of the Mercyhurst Magazine. Well done! Like it or not, athletics is a major component of the University. There is a reason why newspapers devote sections to - and why television and radio stations allocate time for - sports. Can you really put a price tag on all the local/regional/national publicity, promotion, and good will athletics has brought the University over the years? I was constantly told during my tenure on the hill that Mercyhurst was a “family” operation. Certainly tough love is necessary, at times. But dismissing “family” members indiscriminately and insensitively is bad for business, suggests a troubled “family”, and contradicts what I believe to be the teachings of the Sisters of Mercy. Right now a search is underway for a new President. And,

right now, there is no athletic representative on the committee. That, I believe, is a serious mistake. There are 616 varsity athletes at the moment, or one-fourth of the student population. That number doesn’t include those who play club sports, cheerleaders, dance team members, and those who are part of the athletic band. There are also rumors circulating at the moment (even I’ve heard them and have seen comments on-line) that sports are going to be cut and/or that athletics will move to NCAA Division III. How they began I have no idea. But, for a university that is apparently losing enrollment at the moment, those types of rumors - especially if they are unfounded - can only exacerbate the situation. I don’t know what 2015 will bring. But, mark my words: the loss of Brian Vail and Mike Parry - and their corresponding positions will seriously affect athletic department operations, both internally and externally. I know. I worked in both areas during my tenure as a fulltime employee. For instance: Gannon’s SID ran the laptop for our home basketball games against the Knights on November 22. Embarrassing? You bet! To conclude, I’m very concerned about the future of Mercyhurst. I hope you are too! John Leisering

The Merciad Editors Zach Dorsch Sami Rapp Jordan Power Nathan Turner Ryan Kushner Carly Contraguerro Megan Pacileo Marcela Delgado Mary Barnes Salina Bowe Will DeFeo Bill Welch

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