The Merciad February 16 Issue

News ................2-5 Features...........6-9 A&E ............. 10-11 Opinion........ 12-13 Sports ......... 14-15 Laker Living.......16 MERCYHURST UNIVERSIT Y

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WEDNE SDAY, FEBRUARY 16 , 2022

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VOL. 95 NO.12

Men’s Basketball defeats Gannon PAGE 14

Online poll results We asked: What are you excited about for this semester?

Photo Credits: Contributed photo

New classes

3: Former Governor Ridge earns presti-

Snow/cold

gious award

When the flowers bloom

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6: MUber app launches for students 10: Pop-up gallery for Black History Month

Anticipation of warmer weather

This week’s

POLL

Why did you watch Superbowl LVI?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

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NEWS

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

How to combat harsh Erie snow

By Eva Mihelich Staff writer

If you have stepped out of your room in the past couple of weeks, you may have noticed the excessive amount of snow that is covering, or rather smothering, our campus.

Slippery sidewalks, ice-covered windshields and slush-slathered roads are all a part of our day now, and it is getting exhausting having to deal with it.

Students are getting frustrated, particularly as their vehicles are plowed in and are then unable to move for days at a time.

With all of the snow, it can be overwhelming at times to figure out a solution. We cannot pause our entire lives because of some snow that won’t melt, so it is important to know some easy fixes for the snow that seems to never stop falling. This is difficult to deal with as a college student, so all these options are doable for on-campus residents.

The first option to prevent hard frost from forming on your windshield overnight is to take some table salt, a moderate amount, and gently rub it all over your windshield. This is a simple solution that will make defrosting your car when you need it much more painless.

If you forget to use the first option the night before and your windshield is covered with pesky ice, then try using some rubbing alcohol. If you simply put some rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle and spray your windshield down, you can wipe off the ice and then dry it to ensure that frosting does not happen.

This will also leave your windshield clean and streak-free, so you might as well try out this hack.

If you are sick of wiping down

your car and want a practical solution even if it costs some money, then consider buying a car cover.

Just cover your car each time you park it, and then when you need to use your car, simply remove the cover and shake off the snow. Your car will be clean and ready for use underneath.

One of the most dreaded parts of winter is your car getting stuck in the snow. The tires are spinning, but the car is not moving. It is a feeling that many of us have experienced. A way to solve this issue is surprising but effective: kitty litter.

Putting kitty litter underneath and around the tires that are stuck allows them to grip onto something gritty, thus giving the tires traction.

Although kitty litter is not something you might have casually lying around, consider picking up a cheap bin of it at the store next time you’re out in preparation for the potential of getting The sunset gives the snow an extra sparkle! stuck.

It is important to mention that most of these options can be used for sidewalk spots outside of your apartment as well as the windshield and tires on your car.

If you know that there is a slick spot that you keep slipping on, consider helping out your neighbors and trying to melt the ice with salt or rubbing alcohol.

Although snow and ice can be a burden for many of us, especially those with cars, we have to remember the fact that we are in Erie, Pennsylvania, and this is something that is pretty expected around here. Snow and ice can be manageable if you are ready for it, so hopefully these tips can help you in the event that you’re stuck or want to prevent some buildup on your vehicle or sidewalks!

Photo by Allison Lineman

Photo by Allison Lineman

Walking behind Ryan Hall on a particularly snowy, and likely windy, evening.

Photo by Allison Lineman

Old Main on a cloudy snow day.

Photo by Allison Lineman Photo by Allison Lineman

Another blue sky sunset over the calm Erie snow.

Snowy days on campus are much prettier when the sun comes out.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

NEWS

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Former governor earns 2022 William Oliver Baker Award

By Samantha Weber

Editor-in-Chief

At the end of January, the Intelligence and National Security Alliance (INSA) announced that former Governor Tom Ridge received the 2022 William Oliver Baker Award.

Ridge is the namesake of Mercyhurst’s Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences.

The Baker Award was originally established in 1984 and is the highest honor presented by INSA. This award recognizes extraordinary contributions to U.S. intelligence and national security affairs.

INSA Chair Tish Long stated that, “when our nation came under attack, [Ridge] stepped up and helped create a nation-

al strategy to coordinate homeland security efforts across all of government. The foundational approach he established prioritized critical infrastructure protection, cybersecurity and importantly, recognized that information sharing between states, federal and private sector was an integral component in reducing America’s vulnerability to terrorism and natural disaster.”

Ridge was born in Pittsburgh, PA, but raised in Erie, PA. After receiving a scholarship, he graduated from Harvard with honors in 1967. He attended one year of law school before being drafted into the U.S. Army where he became an infantry staff sergeant in Vietnam.

Ridge also earned the Bronze Star of Valor for his service.

He returned to Erie and was elected to Congress in 1982 and proceeded to be re-elected five times.

Next in his career, Ridge went on to serve as the 43rd Governor of Pennsylvania from 19952001.

Ridge’s career was not over yet, as he was then named the first director of the Office of Homeland Security in 2001.

President George W. Bush created the Office of Homeland Security after the 9/11 attacks and felt that Ridge would be a great fit for the director position.

Bush tasked Ridge with establishing a coordinated national approach to protect the United States from terrorist threats.

After the Homeland Security Act of 2002 passed, Ridge be-

came the first Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. The DHS was the largest reorganization of government since the Truman administration.

Ridge worked with more than 180,000 employees from a combined 22 agencies to create a new cabinet agency. This cabinet facilitates the flow of people and goods; instituted layered security at air, land and seaports; developed a unified national response and recovery plan; protected critical infrastructure; integrated new technology; and improved information sharing worldwide.

Ridge is currently serving as the chairman of the National Organization on Disability, co-chairman of the Bipartisan Commission on Biodefense and

serves on the board of the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress.

Ridge can add this award to the long list of awards that he has received throughout his career. He has been awarded the Woodrow Wilson Award, the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Dwight D. Eisenhower Award, the John F. Kennedy National Award and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

The official ceremony where Ridge will be presented his award will be on Saturday, May 14. Registration is now open to those who want to attend the ceremony and students must be 21 years old to attend.

DEJI mini-grants available for students and employees

By Libby Bullinger

Copy editor

Given the current political and cultural climate in the United States and worldwide, many organizations, businesses and groups are attempting to turn more attention toward the area of diversity.

Advocating for diverse workplaces and learning environments is an essential part of most college mission statements, and Mercyhurst is no different.

Although these initiatives did exist on campus in previous years, the past several semesters have brought an increased awareness toward diversity and similar topics at Mercyhurst.

One way that this is reflected

in through the current DEJI min grant applications.

DEJI is an acronym standing for “diversity, equity, justice and inclusion,” a mission that has been brought forth by Mercyhurst’s newest president, Dr. Kathleen Getz.

Prior to her arrival at Mercyhurst, Getz was known at previous institutions for bringing together diverse populations and advocating for increased diversity in academia. This new leadership combined with the importance of diversity advocacy nationwide sparked a new initiative on campus.

Last spring, students and staff formed a new group called the “Anti-Racism Reflection and Action” cohort. This group was

a combination of students and staff alike with a mission to spread their passionate message of anti-racism.

The group involved students and staff from all areas of campus and was open to anyone interested in learning more about diversity and helping to incorporate this essential theme in our Mercyhurst culture.

As part of this diversity, equity, justice and inclusion effort, Mercyhurst’s Office of Mission set out to establish grants for projects specifically connected to anti-racism efforts.

This year the Office of Mission is again setting out to funds projects on campus but has expanded the criteria to include any aspect of the DEJI initiative.

The Office of Mission will be awarding at least three minigrants of up to 500 dollars to groups that apply.

There are several aspects groups applying must possess in order to be considered. First, the project must clearly revolve around a topic of diversity, equity, inclusion and justice that reach either Mercyhurst or the local Erie community. Next, applicants must be in groups of at least three members, which can include a mix of students, employees or both.

In order to qualify for consideration, the projects must also be scheduled to occur in the 2022 calendar year, either in the current spring semester or next semester in the fall.

Those interested in an application can apply on the Mercyhurst HUB. The application is simple to complete and asks questions such as who is involved in the project, how it will assist the university’s goal of diversity, equity, justice and inclusion, how much money is being requested and what the money will be used for.

The application is due on Monday Feb. 21, so be sure to submit your application soon if you are interested in applying.

The goal of these grants is to encourage an increase in projects revolving around diversity, equity, inclusion and justice, and to provide recognition and support for projects on campus already fulfilling these requirements.

Contributed photos

The link to apply for a DEJI mini-grant is on the student HUB page. Applying is easy, and anyone who meets the requirements can apply. When you click the link on the HUB to apply for a mini-grant, a Microsoft Forms page will pop up. Simply fill out the information and submit it to apply.

NEWS

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Merciad IN A MINUTE Study Abroad Applications The application deadline for Summer or Fall 2022 is in mid-spring.

Contact the Study Abroad Office for an Advising Appointment at studyabroad@mercyhurst. edu. Visit the study abroad website by visiting the Study Abroad section of the Student Hub.

Pink Martini comes to PAC the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts and Culture (MIAC) will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center (PAC) with a performance by Pink Martini featuring China Forbes.

The performance will be held on June 4, but tickets are on sale now!

SoMar brings both ‘Sweet and Savory’

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

RA application process in motion

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

The Office of Residence Life and Student Conduct is looking for students to serve as Resident Assistants, or RAs, for the 20222023 academic year.

This year’s application process does look different than previous years. Students interested in applying can do so directly on the Handshake Application.

The RA application process will take place in three phases. During the first phase application will have until Feb. 25 to apply on Handshake, attend a RA information session and attain a reference letter from a RA. Applicants will also complete a “Hot Mess Express” where applicants will have the opportunity to show how they would tackle multiple situations if they were to occur at the same time.

The second phase of the appli-

cation process is due by March 4.

During this phase, the applicant will have to complete a mock program proposal, a virtual “Behind Closed Doors” session, a personality assessment and fill out an interview availability form.

The third and final phase of the application process will take place between March 14-19. During this phase, applicants will be interviewed for thirty minutes by two Residence Life staff members.

In between phases, applicants will be informed if they are not moving on to the next phase. At the end of phase three, applicants will get a notification as to whether or not they will be receiving a position.

A few weeks later, those who received a position will be informed of their official assignment.

Kylie Johnson currently works as the university’s Graduate Assistant Office Coordinator for the Office of Residence Life and Stu-

dent Conduct. She also served as an RA for two years.

“RAs are essential to campus life,” Johnson said, “RAs play a large role in keeping our community safe and educated. They provide opportunities to their residents for academic, professional, and personal growth through connecting them to the appropriate resources.”

Many students remain on the fence about applying for the position.

“We are seeing a lot of students hesitate to apply based on what they think the time commitment is,” Johnson said. “While being an RA is a large position, it can be easily combined with other campus commitments through good time management. We currently have RAs who are athletes, double majors, ambassadors, in clubs, and are part of MSG - even the MSG President manages being an RA!”

Some students may have applied for a RA position for prior semesters and were rejected. Those students are still encouraged to apply again.

“We are looking for students who have developed and are looking to be a part of other students’ development. If you have applied in the past and have not been hired, we look at growth in academics and your personal interests,” said Johnson.

Serving as an RA comes with many benefits. As compensation, RAs receive free housing and a meal plan or stipend that is determined by their assignment.

There are many skills students can learn from serving as an RA and it is a good position to have listed on a resume.

If you have any questions about what it truly means to be a RA you can reach out to Kylie Johnson or your RA to learn more.

The Mercyhurst Dance Department and SoMar Dance Works will present its “Sweet and Savory” concert on Feb. 19 and 20. The concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the Walker Recital Hall.

It is a free event and is open to the public, but make sure to arrive early enough to get a seat.

‘Pro-Black’ shirt sale Black Students for Unity is selling “Unapologetically Pro-Black” shirts to anyone who is interested.

Everyone is encouraged to buy a shirt, sweatshirt, or hoodie to support BSU. Contact Janiece Withers about ordering or with any questions you have.

Register for CD18 today

Carpe Diem 18 will be held off campus on March 25-27 (Friday afternoonSunday). All are welcome and encouraged to sign up - it is a great way to get to know yourself, get to know others and get off campus. It’s the weekend you didn’t know you needed!

Contact Michelle (mscully@mercyhurst.edu) with any questions!

Contributed photo

RAs have the job of creating spaces where residents can feel safe and happy. Part of creating that environment is putting information and resources in a place where residents can walk by and see it each day. This board was created by RA Evan Medvec.

NEWS

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

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Queen Elizabeth II celebrates 70 years Campus Events This Weekend on the throne STUDENT GOVERNMENT

By Ashley Barletta News editor

It has officially been 70 years since Elizabeth II first became Queen of the United Kingdom, which includes England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Following the death of her father, she was crowned queen on Feb. 6, 1952. She was only 25 years old at the time.

Her formal coronation, which took place on June 2, 1953, was the first international live televised event. She has led the United Kingdom through many trials and tribulations since then, with the most recent being the COVID-19 pandemic.

Queen Elizabeth is currently the longest-reigning British monarch of all time, beating Queen Victoria’s 63 years and 216 days.

When she was first born, it was unlikely that she would have ever become queen. However, her un-

cle renounced the throne and instead married an American woman. Elizabeth’s father became King George VI in 1936 and was the last Emperor of India.

During World War II, Queen Elizabeth’s father made her an honorary colonel in the 500 Grenadier Guards, which is a Royal Army regiment.

The queen’s engagement to Prince Philip was announced in 1947. They were married in November of the same year. Soon after, her father died of lung cancer and she ascended the throne.

She sought to modernize the monarchy.

She worked closely with Winston Churchill during his time as Prime Minister as well as the other 12 prime ministers who have served during her reign.

Queen Elizabeth also televised a Christmas broadcast, with the first being in 1957. She has continued the tradition annually.

Since the time when Elizabeth first ascended the throne, there have been many royal scandals, one of the more famous being the marriage of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

During the queen’s 40th year as monarch, Charles and Diana separated. Queen Elizabeth’s other son, Andrew, separated from his wife in the same year and Princess Anne and her husband divorced.

A more recent scandal happened when Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, left the royal family. It was rumored that Queen Elizabeth was not a fan of Meghan because she was different from the other members of the royal family.

Still, Elizabeth remains a very popular royal figure. The U. K. plans to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee in June 2022 with four days of festivities.

Photo credit: USA Today

Queen Elizabeth has always enjoyed the company of dogs, owning many corgis throughout her lifetime.

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG Feb. 5: Sex offense on Briggs Ave. Feb. 5: Harassment in Duval.

Photo credit: USA Today

The queen cuts a cake commemorating her 70th year on the royal throne.

Feb. 6: Criminal Mischief in Ryan Hall.

FEATURES

PAGE 6

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

MSG launches MUber initiative

By Samantha Weber Editor-in-chief

While Mercyhurst has a lot to offer students on campus, a change of scenery is needed at times– not to mention trips, errands, and getting out and about.

The free student bus pass is a nice perk for students, but bus schedules can cause headaches and turmoil. If you find yourself taking an Uber, Mercyhurst has a nice new incentive to help you save money with each trip.

On Feb. 14, Mercyhurst Student Government announced a rideshare partnership with Uber.

This will allow students to have a safer option of returning to Mercyhurst when they go off campus.

The announcement was a launch that started in the Mary Garden and showed Luke riding around campus in an Uber.

After hearing a friend at Ohio State talk about how she could get back to her place easily while going around town near campus, MSG President, Nick Brodfuehrer, wanted to start a similar program here at Mercyhurst.

“Obviously, we are not that

large to have our own app created by Uber or Lyft, but we had some options. As I began looking at programs available, we reached out to both Uber and Lyft to see what they could do. Uber was extremely receptive and met with us multiple times to make the program a success,” said Brodfuehrer.

He worked along with MSG Treasurer, Megan Krull, as Student Government worked to determine the feasibility of this idea.

“Once we realized capabilities, we focused on safety and what Uber required of their drivers, as well as how this could work as a Late Night option,” said Brodfuehrer.

This was Brodfuehrer’s original intent for the program, after concerns were brought to MSG Senate regarding students getting back to campus at night time.

The way the program works is that students will be able to join the MSG Business Account on the Uber App, register using their Mercyhurst credentials to create an account, and redeem the offer.

MSG will then approve your account and they will cover $5 per day, per person. One thought is that you should still travel with at

Contributed photo

Make sure to check out MUber next time you need a ride.

Mercyhurst University photo

Luke the Laker rides in style on Monday, promoting the new MUber program for students.

least one friend, so if you use your $5 on the way to your destination, your friend can use theirs on your way back.

“We wanted to expand it to all students. If someone wanted to get to Peach, we wanted to give them the ability to do that. Freshmen don’t have cars, so this would also alleviate stress of feeling ‘stuck on campus.’ All students are going to have the ability to take advantage of this program once per day,” said Brodfuehrer.

This program has been in the works since last semester but really started coming together in early December. Talking about his hope for this program, Brodfuehrer said, “I hope students will find it easy to use. Myself and my Treasurer have spent a ton of time working on developing this program, so I hope they will Uber comfortably, safely whenever they want. I hope it helps them save a little bit of money as well.”

“MUber is an incentive program for all students to have a safe and reliable ride around Erie. In this

fashion, we encourage students to take advantage of this program to attend events and activities within the Erie community,” said Brodfuehrer.

An e-mail from Laura Zirkle, vice president for Student Life, was sent out to Mercyhurst students on Monday with some additional information about the program. According to the e-mail, “we encourage students to take advantage of this program to attend events and activities within the Erie area.” The e-mail additionally adds that “this program will encourage students to travel responsibly and comfortably, anytime, anywhere.” Make sure to check your e-mail so you can access the QR code in order to sign up and use the service.

The sign-up process is fairly quick and easy: simply scan the QR code, sign a disclaimer, then register using your school e-mail, which will allow you to connect your personal Uber account to the MSG business account. It only takes a few minutes and it is worth

the money you will save!

Though going out is undoubtedly a great way to relieve some of the stressors and getting a break from school, safety is imperative and MSG recognizes this and offers a great solution.

This program is a way to offer students the option to get off campus, while also encouraging student safety and well-being. Coordinating and navigating complex transportation plans can deter students from getting to the places they need or want to go, and this program is a way to eliminate those stressors and allow students to get off campus.

This incentive is a wonderful way to get out and explore some of the greatness that Erie has to offer! Whether you choose to spend time enjoying Presque Isle, Peach Street, or a night away downtown, make sure to take advantage of this awesome incentive that Mercyhurst Student Government is offering for students. Stay safe and ride in style in a MUber next time you leave campus!

LAKER MOMENT The 2022 Spring Involvement Fair on February 9th was a success! This event featured many of the Mercyhurst RSCO’s (recognized student clubs/organizations) with a representative from each to give Mercyhurst students the inside scoop about their club. The Spring Involvement Fair was a great way for students looking to become more involved and active on campus to do so. The fair not only had a ton of different RSCO’s to explore, there were also some delicious snacks and even an awesome raffle basket filled with Mercyhurst swag!

Sarah Beck photo

Students learn about the RSCOs Hurst has to offer.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

FEATURES

PAGE 7

Major/Minor Spotlight: Gender Studies Minor

RSCO FEATURE PSI-CHI

By Libby Bullinger

Copy editor

Contributed photo

The logo for Psi Chi, an honor society for students in the Psychology field.

By Bella Lee Staff writer

Are you a psychology major or minor? Are you interested in learning more about the world of psychology? Do you want to explore more opportunities to make new friends? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then Psi Chi is perfect for you.

This honor society, open to all majors, though it is geared towards excellence in the field of psychology, not only helps students maintain academic excellence, but also puts on events that are both stimulating and fun.

According to the official Psi Chi website, the mission of Psi Chi is to “recognize and promote excellence in the science and application of psychology.” Psi Chi is an international organization that includes professionals, scientists, students and more within the psychology field. There are “more than 1,200 chapters at colleges and universities across the U.S. 50 states, three U.S. territories, and 17 additional countries” This makes it one of the largest honors society in the country.

The Mercyhurst chapter of Psi Chi works hand in hand with the Psychology Club here on campus. Meetings usually take place in Briggs Hall, which is the home of the Psychology Department.

“Psi Chi hosts meetings and events that encourage, stimulate, and maintain excellence in scholarship, specifically in psychology, and work to advance the field of psychology,” said McKenzie Kestler, senior Psychology major and President of Psi Chi and Psychology Club. “We do this by hosting colloquiums, trips, book clubs, study sessions, meetings with guest speakers, and so on.”

The club participated in a number of interesting events this year including a colloquium in which Dr. Seyma Inan presented her research titled “Linguistic Diversity in the USA: Experiences and Attitudes of Turkish Immigrant Parents in the US: Transmission of Heritage Culture and Language,” as well as a book club on “This Is Your Mind on Plants.” The club also has plans in store for the remainder of the semester.

“We plan on having guest speakers this semester, as well as an induction department-wide event,” said Kestler.

All majors are welcome to join Psi Chi, but because it is an honors society which focuses on academics, students must meet club requirements that demonstrate academic excellence, including at least a 3.0 GPA and at least nine credit hours of psychology-related courses. New members must then get voted in by the executive board for Psi Chi. Psi Chi has a positive impact on its members and helps them to remain positive and organized when it comes to their schoolwork.

“I joined Psi Chi because I love the field of psychology, wanted to learn more about what is going on in the field and current research,” said Kestler. “I also hoped to develop new friendships with like-minded people, and that definitely happened.”

If you are a newer Psychology major, or interested in the field but not studying in this field, you could check out the Psychology Club to get yourself acquainted with the field before making your decision, and be able to make new friends alone with participating in activities related to Psychology.

If you are looking for an Honors Society that promotes academic excellence and has strong roots in the Psychology field, then Psi Chi will be the perfect fit for you. For more information, contact McKenzie Kestler, who acts as president of both Psi Chi and the Psychology Club, or Melissa Heerboth, Associate Professor of Psychology and advisor for the club.

With the diversity and flexibility required in today’s job force, many employers are looking to hire individuals with a wide variety of skills and areas of expertise. For this reason, many college students decide to add a minor into their studies in addition to their main major focus.

Mercyhurst offers a wide variety of minors with over 60 from varying departments on campus that help students supplement their major courses. One of those minors is the Gender Studies program.

Gender studies is a minor housed under three separate departments. Unlike many majors on campus that are less time intensive versions of major degrees, the gender studies minor is a unique combination of classes overseen by the Psychology, Anthropology and Sociology departments.

According to the course catalog, the gender studies minor “provides students with the opportunity to learn about the impacts of and variation in gender through a multidisciplinary encounter.”

Some of the content covered includes gender roles both throughout history and today, as well as an appreciation of gender differences and the impacts of gender.

Information presented in this course of study is impacted by the Mission of the Sisters of Mercy, but the courses explore genders outside of just females. Classes in the gender studies minor present information in a multidisciplinary and intersectional way. There is also emphasis on the social justice aspect of gender, another critical concerns of Mercyhurst’s founding Sisters.

Since this minor does not fall under one department alone, many may wonder what kinds of students are enrolled in this program.

Gender studies can be combined with many different majors across the board.

Information from this minor can help graduates in jobs in the corporate, government or private sectors of employment and disciplines ranging from the sciences and technologies to the humanities.

Given the complexity of gender and how it interacts with nearly every aspect of human life, students cannot go wrong obtaining this minor as the information will surely provide useful in a variety of circumstances.

Students obtaining a gender studies minor are only required to take two required courses: Introduction to Gender Studies and Psychology of Gender. The remaining five courses are chosen from a variety of electives

in departments such as Anthropology, History, Political Science, Catholic Studies, Religious Studies, Psychology, Sociology and even Criminal Justice. This flexibility allows students to tailor the minor to their career goals and incorporate their interests into learning.

Another huge advantage to this minor is being exposed to faculty from across campus. Interacting with professors in various disciplines provides opportunities for students to find new mentors and leaders and learn about the research being conducted in various fields.

Students enjoy small class sizes and close relationships with faculty, leading to individualized attention.

Gender studies is becoming increasingly popular among college campuses.

This course of study is easily paired with a variety of majors and job aspirations and is constantly evolving with the times.

Here at Mercyhurst, those in the gender studies minor are able to utilize research skills to conduct individual projects and attend national conferences surrounding the concept of gender.

This minor provides a variety of benefits and is a fantastic opportunity for students of all disciplines on campus.

Contributed photo

Former Mercyhurst professor and gender studies program director, Dr. Ruth Jolie, and two students met with renowned gender scholar Dr. Louise Lamphere.

JOIN THE MERCIAD Write articles, get paid.

Reporters meetings Mondays at 7 p.m. in Hirt L103

FEATURES

PAGE 8

HURST CLASS CATALOG

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Study Abroad Offers New Experiences

CONTEMPORARY MORAL ISSUES

By Sarah Beck Staff writer

Students in search of a religious studies course that is fascinating and fulfills the Reach curriculum requirement– keep reading! Contemporary Moral Issues is a course that dives into how religious perspectives can, and do, shape individuals’ moral perspectives on controversial topics. This course is offered by the Department of Religious Studies to any students who would like to take it. This course truly allows students to learn and discuss various moral and religious ideas from an academic perspective. Students begin this course by learning and studying what religion is and is not. After the initial introduction, the class broadens to examine what resources many religious traditions originate and draw from to make theological and moral claims.

On a broader level, the class takes a look at why these theological and moral claims matter, even to a person who may not be religious. One of the unique things about this class is the ability students gain to analyze religious arguments about morality. According to the professor of this class, Dr. Richard McCarty, professor of Religious Studies, students can often mistake religion classes, especially religion courses paired with ethics, to be more of a religious indoctrination course. But, courses such as Contemporary Moral Issues are all about equipping students with the ability to analyze and respond to moral and ethical theories and issues. “Because we live in a very religious world, having the ability to analyze and dialog with religious voices is critically important for cultural competency,” said McCarty.

McCarty is a tenured full time professor and has been teaching at Mercyhurst for thirteen and a half years.

He has published two books on Christianity and sexual ethics and is currently working on his third book. His newest book is a fascinating examination of UFO’s, extraterrestrials, ghosts, monsters, angels and demons.

This book is based off of a class titled Contemporary Folklore, Legends and Mythology that is being offered here at Mercyhurst next semester (Fall 2022). McCarty stated that his favorite project throughout the semester is the student presentations.

McCarty said, “Mercyhurst University students always find the most interesting examples from real life; and my students are very good at offering substantive analyses of complex subjects.” Contemporary Moral Issues is truly a unique class that gives students a new perspective and equips them for having conversations about religion and ethics with proper verbiage and confidence.

According to McCarty, Contemporary Moral Issues gives space for students to “examine the technological enhancement and transformation of human beings; we study comparative religious responses to environmental ethics, and we look at the history of Catholic social teaching on capital punishment.” Throughout this class, students cover many interesting and controversial subjects and their relationship to religion as well as ethics.

McCarty is quite passionate about this class and said, “I love working with diverse students and helping them to develop their own arguments about these issues.”

If this sounds like a class you would be interested in taking, make sure to write it down so you can add it to your schedule for next semester, or future semesters to come!

Students and faculty take a hike through Peru during a FSAT trip.

By Hannah Brooks Features editor

Dungarvan, Ireland. Students will be departing in early March for their 8 week program in Ireland.

The locations for study abroad this semester are Paris, France; Grenoble, France; Seville, Spain; Valencia, Spain and Seoul, S. Korea.

Money is also another factor that may potentially scare students away from studying abroad, but Pasco said that students should not let this steer them away from checking out the program.

“There are so many options, including financial aid and scholarships that could help students out when it comes to paying for trips,” said Pasco.

There are many factors that come into play while planning a trip abroad, but when it comes down to the planning process, students should know that the Study Abroad office can help with anything they may need throughout the process.

Students are invited to attend pop-in info sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1-3 p.m., or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. in the Study Abroad office, which is located at Preston 101 and 105. You could also reach the

Study Abroad Office

office at any time by e-mail at studyabroad@mercyhurst.edu.

If you are starting to think about going abroad, the Office of Global Programs encourages students to start planning early.

“The Study Abroad office invites you to visit their website on the Student Hub under Academics and submit a form to schedule a time to meet with a study abroad advisor,” said Pasco.

Whether you are interested in a short trip, or a semester or year abroad, the Study Abroad program at Mercyhurst offers a plethora of opportunities for students to take advantage of. Make sure to pop in to the Study Abroad office soon to explore which options are best for you.

College is all about new experiences, and studying abroad is a perfect way to experience new things, meet new people, and broaden your horizons. Go out of your comfort zone and try something new!

When thinking of the “college experience”, more than likely, the first thing that comes to mind is all of the traditional parts of college. A dorm room to decorate and make one’s own, a roommate to seemingly love or hate with no in-between, a variety of new classes and experiences, and new friends.

One non-traditional part of the college experience that may not typically be considered is studying in a completely different country.

Students have many options when it comes to studying abroad. Maybe they are interested in studying abroad, but are not quite ready to commit for more than a couple of weeks. If that is the case, then students may want to take advantage of the Faculty-Student Academic Trips (FSAT), which last no more than two weeks.

There are many situations that may come into play when making a choice on what program is the best option for any given student and their circumstances, and that is what the Study Abroad Office is available to help with.

While time comes into play, location is another obvious factor.

Students choosing to study abroad would obviously want to spend time in a location that is intriguing and exciting.

According to Janet Pasco, coordinator of Administrative Services for Global Programs, the office announces the Faculty-Student Academic Trips (FSAT) every spring for the following year. There will be three different FSAT trips taking place this year. This year’s FSAT trips will be going to Greece, Israel and Costa Rica. For these trips, students will take a mini course in the spring and then travel to these locations in May. Students also travel every Study Abroad Office spring with Mercyhurst faculStudying abroad allows students to create memories that last a lifetime. ty to Mercyhurst’s program in

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

FEATURES

PAGE 9

Ten-Minute-Play Festival is a success

By Bella Lee Staff writer

On Feb. 11-13, the Mercyhurst community had the chance to attend a student-directed 10-minute play festival in Taylor Little Theater. The festival, which was free and open to the public, featured five plays that were starring, directed by, and organized solely by students. The festival gave students the option to show off their skills and talents to others.

The first play, “Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson,” was directed by senior Interior Architecture and Design major Seth Gibson. “I wanted to direct because I love theater and if I can understand the director’s perspective, then I will better understand a play when I act,” said Gibson.

The second play, “Ferris Wheel,” was directed by senior Cybersecurity major Jon Reddinger. “I thought that it was going to be a challenging, yet enjoyable experience,” said Reddinger. “I also wanted to see what it was like on the other side of the production team and see if there was anything I could learn to enhance my acting and believe me there was plenty I

learned. The reason I chose my show was I wanted one that was going to be fun yet demanding of their skills. With so little movement the actors had to adjust how they were playing their actions and over all how they were telling the story.”

The third play, “The Battle of Bull Run Always Makes Me Cry,” was directed by Junior Integrated Media and Strategic Communications major Joey Franz. “I wanted to direct a play because I have always loved theater,” said Franz. “I had my first go at directing during high school. I agreed to direct here because I knew it would be an even better experience.”

The fourth play, “Duet for Bear and Dog,” was directed by junior Sports Medicine major Braden Rosciszewski. “I wanted to direct a play because it was a new experience that I knew would push me out of my comfort zone,” said Rosciszewski. “I hope to not only gain experience as a director, but to make myself a better actor as well, having been on a new side of a production.”

This production included senior Communications major Justice Alleruzzo, who had pre-

viously been in the last one act play festival back in the spring of 2019. “It’s very entertaining.

I got to be bigger in my role and got more control and involvement, especially since I have been in a one act [play] in the past,” said Alleruzzo on the two experiences. “Also, this 10-minute play is a lot looser compared to last time, which was more tight-knit, so it’s really interesting to be on both sides.”

The final play, “Night Visits,” was directed by senior Psychology major Tori Altsman. “I wanted to take on a different role in the creative process,” said Altsman. “Most of the productions I’ve been involved in I’ve been on stage, so I wanted to take on a different perspective and see what another role in the creative team was like.”

The 10-minute play festival turned out to be a tremendous success with a great turnout.

Those who were unable to make the festival, make sure to check out the Mercyhurst Theater Program’s next event which will be the spring musical, Stephen Sondheim’s “Saturday Night,” which will take place Apr. 7-10.

“Adulting” classes ease student stress

By Eva Mihelich

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

Historical Event: February 15, 1898 On Feb 15, 1898, The USS Maine exploded in Cuba’s Havana Harbor. The USS Maine was one of the first-ever American battleships and cost over $2 million to build. In 1898, the USS Maine would have been considered a massive ship weighing more than 6,000 tons. A rebellion broke out in protest of Spanish rule a month before the explosion. The U.S. sent the USS Maine down to Cuba to protect American civilians and property located in the island nation but did not have the intention of causing any trouble with the Spanish.

Out of the less than 400 American crew members aboard the battleship at the time of the explosion 260 were killed by the blast. The origin of the explosion has been truly known, but there have been many speculations throughout the years.

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Staff writer

It is a common stereotype that this generation is not prepared for adulthood, but the reason for this issue is never brought up: we are not being taught basic yet valuable skills needed for the real world.

In order to combat this issue head-on and prepare students for life after graduation, Mercyhurst is offering weekly sessions titled “Adulting 404: File Not Found.” These sessions are aimed at providing students the chance to learn useful skills in order to help ease the stress of life after graduation.

Topics for this program range anywhere from finance to cooking, from emotional health to resume skills and from big purchases to healthy eating habits.

Bethany Woods, associate director of Community Engagement, shared the reason this program was started, “We started this initiative because students have been asking for it in varying degrees for the past few years, and when we took to social media to ask what the internet believes college graduates should know, alumni came to the post and said that they wish they had had some sort of adulting sessions to learn about the basics mentioned above. Given the response, we thought it was time to try!”

It is very telling that students are the ones who requested this program, showing that this gen-

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Top 3 Podcasts This Week According to Spotify: 1. The Joe Rogan Experience 2. The Deck 3. Call Her Daddy Top Grossing Films: This week: Jackass Forever Fifteen Years Ago: Ghost Rider Contributed photo

“Adulting 404: File Not Found” Sessions help ease student stress when it comes to post-college life and cover a wide variety of topics

eration is very eager to learn these things. Adding onto this, Michelle Scully, Campus Minister, shared the importance of offering these sessions for students.

“I do not think that your generation is more ill-prepared for adulthood than previous generations. Rather, your 20s tend to be a time of trial and error in a variety of life aspects – relationships, jobs, finances, living situations, etc. While some of that trial and error is natural and a necessity to growth, we’re hoping that we can help provide information that can help you get away from unnecessary mistakes that can be avoided,” said Scully.

Students of all ages are encouraged to attend Adulting 404 sessions, but it is specifically aimed towards juniors and seniors who

are starting to think about life after graduation.

It is highly recommended that students take advantage of this to save themselves from future stress. Students can simply attend the ones which sound useful to them, and do not need to attend every session.

Life after college is a whole new ballpark, and lessons like these will help to alleviate stress from building up and adding on unnecessary burdens for students approaching graduation.

For more information, contact Michelle Scully or Bethany Woods with questions.

The sessions are every Monday and Thursday at 3:30 p.m. in the Student Union. The topic changes each week so students can attend the day that works best for them!

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PAGE 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Pop-up gallery in Grotto Commons celebrates Black History Month

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

Throughout the week of Feb. 7-11, the Department of Multicultural Student Services and Campus Life hosted an art gallery in celebration of Black History Month. The name of the art gallery was “Through Resilience, We Rise.”

“Regardless of the mental and physical pain the Black community has endured, they rise to create beautiful works of art that express their emotions and experiences,” Jessica Hubert, Mercyhurst’s Multicultural and Inclusion Coordinator, said.

“The pieces chosen capture moments in time, bringing to life a narrative that has always been there but is too often pushed to the margins or forgotten completely.”

The gallery was held in the hallway outside of the Grotto

Commons for students and employees to stop and look at the art on their way to and from the dining hall.

There were various artists featured throughout the gallery from Langston Hughes and Maya Angelou, to more contemporary artists like Bisa Butler and Donte Collins.

“While I am very partial to Langston Hughes’ work, the artist I discovered while researching for the gallery that is now my favorite is Titus Kaphar,” Hubert said. “His pieces center those on the margins, in order to rewrite history that is often overlooked or flat out ignored. He uses many different types of media to discover contemporary relevance and connections in the past.”

Hubert made sure to intentionally present a variety of artists to provide students with a diverse view of Black art as well

as the evolution of the Black experience.

“The Black experience is not monolithic so it cannot be displayed in only one medium,” Hubert said. “A lot of artists chosen or the gallery used more than one medium to express themselves such as oil on canvas, sculpture, and complex displays.”

The gallery included multiple forms of media including poetry, paintings and photography.

“Having different forms of media also makes the gallery more interesting and interactive for the viewer,” Hubert said. “I included a collaborative poster in the gallery for people to contribute their own words of strength so they became a part of the gallery and in turn, a part of history”.

While the art gallery only lasted a week, there is a possibility it could grow in the com-

ing years, perhaps including other Mercyhurst departments such as Art Therapy Club.

When asked about whether there were plans to make the art gallery stay up for the entirety of Black History Month (as opposed to a week) or to be hosted in a bigger venue on campus, Hubert responded by saying, “I think this is a great idea for the future! I first started out with the Hispanic Heritage Month pop-up art gallery as a one-day installation and expanded to a full week for Black History Month, so if there is interest and want in having a full month or longer gallery, I would be happy to host one.”

It is interesting to see how this gallery will expand in future years, and it is great to have more opportunities on campus to celebrate cultures.

“Oftentimes, I feel like Black History Month focuses too

heavily on the strife and obstacles the Black community had and has to face,” Hubert said. “In this gallery, I wanted to really highlight images of Black history that often are not shown like smiling faces instead of brooding ones and bright colors instead of black and white photos of events that were not that long ago.”

Photos by Vydalia Weatherly

Pictures of the “Through Resilience, We Rise” gallery in the Grotto Commons Hallway celebrating Black History Month.

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11

Hurst Hot Take: ‘Pokémon Legends: Arceus’

By Bella Lee Staff writer

It is well known that Pokémon has been an integral part of many people’s childhoods ever since it was first released.

In recent years, it has even been mentioned increasingly in the news since modern releases like “Pokémon Go!” have gained popularity.

The 8th generation of Pokémon, “Sword and Shield,” was released in 2019, followed by “Pokémon Unite”, a battle arena game, in July 2021 and “Brilliant Diamond/Shining Pearl,” a remake of the “Diamond and Pearl” games, in November 2021.

However, with the release of “Pokémon Legends: Arceus” on

Jan. 28, fans have been able to experience a new kind of game that has never been seen.

Arceus is a Pokémon that was first introduced back in 2009 with the release of the original “Diamond and Pearl” games.

Arceus is believed to be the creator of all Pokémon and is dubbed the “original one.”

The game takes place in an ancient, Medieval-esque version of the Sinnoh region called the Hisui region.

Like all other games, you have the chance to select a starter Pokémon, but for the first time, they’re all from different starter regions.

Players can choose between fire-type Cyndaquil (from the Johto region in Gold/Silver), the grass-type Rowlet (from the

Alola region in Sun/Moon), or the water-type Oshawott (from the Unova region in Black/ White).

Since the game is set in the past, much of the technology from the game is also historical (which I think is a really cool addition).

The Poké Balls are made of wood and puff steam when you have successfully caught a Pokémon.

Additionally, the Pokédex, rather than being on an electronic device, is stylized as a book.

However, one of the biggest game-changers of “Legends: Arceus” is how you interact with the Pokémon.

Players have the ability to interact with both domestic and

wild Pokémon.

This doesn’t mean you can just casually waltz up to a Pokémon and catch it, unfortunately.

Some of these Pokémon you have to sneak up to instead, lest they see you and either run away or attack you.

Unlike other games, your avatar can actually be attacked by Pokémon and receive damage as a result.

This feature isn’t exactly ideal, but it feels fair.

My friend, who I’ve been playing the game with, was able to pre-order “Legends: Arceus” way back in March 2021.

He picked it up the second it was commercially released, and we’ve been playing it almost every day since.

It’s overall an extremely enter-

taining game, one that has been an unforgettable experience for the both of us.

If you are a Pokémon fan (c’mon, who isn’t?) you should try to get this game as soon as you can.

It has been flying off the shelves lately, but if/when you’re able to play it (it’s only on the Nintendo Switch), it’ll be all worth it.

The game is an exciting addition to the Pokémon universe, and it will be exciting to see what changes it makes to the franchise’s future projects.

Video game lovers everywhere should absolutely give this game a chance (you’ll thank me when you do)!

Super Bowl half-time show is the real MVP

By Hannah Brooks Features editor

Over the past week or so, when people asked me about whether or not I would be watching the Super Bowl, I jokingly replied, “There’s going to be a football game at the Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem concert?”

If that doesn’t tell you how excited I was about this halftime show, I am not sure what will.

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J. Blige, 50-Cent, Kendrick Lamar and Eminem put on an unforgettable performance Sunday night at the Super Bowl.

First, I have to talk about the stage. The setup was absolutely incredible: buildings representing homes, businesses and a recreation of Compton’s Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial took over the stadium, as well as a glittering map of Los Angeles.

The layout of the rooms in the house were horizontal, going from room to room with each performer.

These are musical geniuses who have been honing their craft for quite some time now, and their ideas for the performance definitely showed the love that they put into everything they do.

The show featured classics that people across the country undoubtedly belted out from the comforts of their couches.

The performance started with Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg performing “The Next Episode”, which was followed by “California Love” on the rooftops of their stage while dancers performed below them inside the buildings.

It was such a perfect way to start out the show and get the audience hyped - from those lucky enough to be inside the stadium to those watching from the comforts of their homes.

50-Cent was a surprise guest star, showing up hanging upside down surrounded by dancers as he performed “In Da Club.”

The entire scene was one that

easily could have happened circa 2003, which was what I recognized throughout each and every performance; it was all so timeless.

These were songs that I grew up listening to as a kid, so watching the performances years later as an adult was such an incredible feeling.

Up next was Mary J. Blige and she started singing “Family Affair” and ended her section falling down onto the stage.

Kendrick Lamar had a tough act to follow, but he sure managed to put on a good performance. Lamar performed “m.A.A.d city” and “Alright” while dancers surrounded him.

I was especially a fan of Eminem while I was growing up. His songs and albums from the early 2000’s still remain staples on my playlist (and more than likely always will).

I expected him to perform one of his newer songs, but was pleasantly surprised when he

came out with his 2002 classic “Lose Yourself ”.

He kneeled at the end of his performance, reportedly in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick.

Rumors say that he was told

by NFL organizers not to kneel, but, in true Eminem form, he did it anyway. Regardless of the rumors, the gesture was important.

The show ended with all the performers up on stage while Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg ended with “Still D.R.E.” The show was obviously precise and organized, yet it felt casual and chill, which is yet another aspect of the show I really appreciated.

The performers were comfortable and made it all seem so effortless.

The show was headlined by absolute legends in hip-hop and rap that I have grown to know and love over the years.

Lots of memes and jokes were created after the Super Bowl

half-time performance that parents were the one’s explaining the show to their kids and not the other way around, which it seems like has been the truth for a few years now.

Personally, they could have forgotten words to their songs and I would still be writing about how incredible the performance was.

My honest review of the show is that it was absolutely amazing. My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer.

I would have loved to watch the show without the football players guest-starring in the concert.

All jokes aside, it was incredible and I truly hope to see more come out soon from all of these performers together.

This year’s performance was my favorite in recent history, and I hope they only continue to get better.

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD The weather should get better this week!

BAD We’re getting closer to midterms.

HAPPY Spring Break is getting closer!

The Merciad

Great things about fall and spring semesters clubs I’m in, Anime Club and Tabletop Games Club, increased Staff Writer membership exponentially. I got to meet plenty of new students in my major, whether they were freshmen or changed majors, I am an extremely indecisive and I was able to teach them person. When asked “what’s the different teaching styles of your favorite semester?” I could the professors and what the not give you an answer. workload is like. I was also I have friends that prefer able to participate in my first the fall semester because of theatre production with the fall new beginnings and friends play, which was the first time that prefer the spring semester I did anything theatre-related because of a sense of routine. since high school. I also got to However, being the indecisive meet the new pledge class of person that I am, I’m going Ambassadors and assist them to list what I love about both in getting through the process semesters. successfully. Lastly, who can First off, the fall semester. forget Haunted Hurst? A There’s an endless list of what I terrifying, yet hilarious event love about it, but since I have that no one should miss. a word limit I’ll explain it as Let’s not forget spring briefly as I can. semester and all it has to offer, I love the fall semester though. because there’s a new class of For starters, we have students and transfers, which SpringFest, which I’m especially gives me an opportunity to excited about since I was never make new friends. Fall semester able to experience it my first also brings Hurst Day, a beloved two years here due to COVID. tradition to all that are on There are also more theatre campus. I’m on a Discord server opportunities; this spring I’m with a lot of other Mercyhurst playing in my first musical in students, and Hurst Day gave 7 years. As someone who loves me the opportunity to meet winter, the spring semester gets a good number of them in most of the snow, so there’s person. I was also able to be a that to enjoy if you prefer the part of the outdoor Campus cold. The spring semester is Involvement Fair, where two also bittersweet, as it’s the time

By Bella Lee

Contact editors at merciad@mercyhurst.edu

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

The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor.

All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit.

Letters are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters via email at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu.

to say goodbye to graduating seniors or professors that are retiring or moving to another school. Overall, spring semester serves as a time for new opportunities.

There are a variety of events that both fall and spring semester have that also can’t be forgotten. The two biggest ones for me are the karaoke nights and trivia nights that occur at the Roost. I’m there almost every time, singing to my heart’s content or answering nearly every question with ease.

It has come to the point where I have people every week asking me why I haven’t been on “Jeopardy!” yet. Additionally, with each set of new classes that I take every semester is a new chance to make new friends. As someone who struggled a lot with social skills for most of my life, this is probably the best thing about being in college.

So in all honesty, I could not choose one semester over the other. There’s new adventures, new friendships and new opportunities waiting around every corner that I just can’t wait to find.

Amenities could be improved students can rent would be a fun like Hurst Day and then go home to apartments that are far for all students rather than some. too often full of mold, pests, I feel like I’ve heard so much flooding or whatever other about the rink and how much crazy thing you’ve experienced. money went into it, but it’s We’re very fortunate to have the only really available to hockey opportunity to go to school and players. Luke’s Landing and the live on campus, but the quality old C store in Warde could be of housing on campus is so utilized more/reopened. I’m not disproportionate. Buildings like saying that we have to be one Warde and Ryan are like hotels of those campuses that has fast while buildings like McCauley food restaurants in between their and Lewis are crumbling. academic buildings and dorms, The same thing goes for but just a little bit of diversity in academic buildings. My casual things to do on campus humanities classes in Old Main would be another draw for are in rooms that literally have prospective students especially. plaster falling off of the walls and But honestly, there is a long ceiling. The fashion department list of very simple things that is tucked away on the third would significantly change floor where most people would campus life that don’t feel never even guess to find them. like too much to ask for. We The CAE, on the other hand, aren’t needy for requesting is absolutely stunning. And basic amenities, which is part that’s great for intel and poli two. Did I expect to come to sci students; it really is. I’m just college and find trampolines saying, I think that our campus and cotton candy machines on needs to reevaluate its trend campus? Absolutely not (shout of favoring certain academic out Hurst Day). Would I like demographics to invest in. to be able to park in the space All I’m saying is that we all that I have paid for? Shockingly, pay money to be here, and yes. It feels weird to advertise we should all be reaping the spaces like the rec and events benefits.

By Emma Coppolo way to make the ice rink usable A&E Editor

STUDENT EDITORS Samantha Weber .................... Editor in Chief Victoria McGinty .................. Managing Editor Ashley Barletta ............................News Editor Hannah Brooks...................... Features Editor Sydney Dietz .............................. Sports Editor Emma Coppolo ............................. A&E Editor Zach Dumais ........................... Opinion Editor Libby Bullinger ..............................Copy Editor Kristian Biega ......................................Advisor Steph Przepiora ...................................Advisor

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

The rec has been raked over the coals time and again by students claiming that it could be much better than it is. Even after the recent renovation, some feel that it could still be improved and/or that studentathletes have access to better equipment. This argument has been had far too many times to be had again, so I’d like to focus on other amenities that MU has to offer its students.

However, I feel that student amenities are majorly lacking on campus. This isn’t to sound privileged or ungrateful, and I can explain why I think this is an issue in two parts.

The first part is the nonessential. The word “amenities” usually suggests something special or extra. There are definitely some changes that could be made around campus to up our game in the amenity arena. Getting skates that

The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are welcome and can be emailed to merciad@mercyhurst.edu

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

OPINION

PAGE 13

The death penalty HURST STUDENTS should remain legal SPEAK UP issues, the manner of execution, or a person’s mental state. Never has the Supreme Court ruled that execution Contributing Writer itself is unconstitutional. For example, public hangings were found to be cruel and unusual while hangings In the last Merciad my colleague themselves were not. If execution Zach Dumais wrote an intriguing was unconstitutional then our Court article regarding the issue of capital would have ruled so long ago. punishment and why it should be The Violent Crime Control and abolished. I decided to respond Law Enforcement Act of 1994, with the opposite perspective. I shall signed into law by President Clinton, discuss two crucial areas: the legality established more than 50 federal and the morality. crimes for which a guilty person Legality: opponents of capital could be executed. Regardless punishment tend to point to the of policy preference, the death 8th amendment and its banning penalty is undoubtedly legal. The of punishment that is cruel and great scholastic theologian Thomas unusual. The question is, therefore, Aquinas explicitly stated that capital whether capital punishment punishment is a form of “lawful constitutes those criteria. Under slaying.”

American jurisprudence there is a Morality: so, is the death penalty simple answer: no, it is not cruel and right or wrong? To answer this, I am unusual. But do not take my word for going to ask some uncomfortable it, let us look to higher authority. questions that might be harsh, but The authors of the Constitution this is a harsh subject. Is all human clearly believed that capital life valuable? Is all human life equally punishment did not violate the 8th intrinsically valuable? Is it always amendment. The proof? One merely wrong to kill? Some may say yes to needs to look to the 5th amendment all of these but is that really the case? to see what they thought of execution. Some say that killing a killer makes us Our Constitution states there that killers, but does it really? no person, “shall be deprived of life Hypothetically if someone breaks liberty or property, without due into your home with malicious intent, process of law.” This means that those you have not only an absolute right who wrote about banning cruel and but a moral imperative to defend your unusual punishment also thought, home, your domain. You must either through due process of law, there use force or suffer the consequences. were situations in which a person Most will defend themselves and their could be deprived of life. That means family. Thus, in this scenario we have execution. developed the idea that one human The Supreme Court has ruled life, the home intruder attempting to in numerous cases that the death murder you or your family, is without penalty is constitutional. There have or of lesser value. Other examples been cases in which restrictions on could include a mass shooting and the death penalty have been placed, how to immediately stop the shooter. but those usually involve procedural

By Zachary Nichol

What should be done?

Granted, immediate action to stop further harm is one thing, but what of a prisoner who is already in the custody of the state? I just listed the above examples to show that clearly not all human life is always equally valuable. There are situations in which we as a society, in which we as individuals and in which natural law itself deem someone to have forfeited their right to life.

As for the death penalty, let us take another hypothetical. We have 100% unadulterated proof that a man committed a horrific act of violence, perhaps towards children. There is no debating it. He did it. DNA evidence, video recordings, murder weapon, witnesses, etc. all prove it. He has his fair trial, is found guilty of multiple counts of murder, and is sentenced to be executed.

If a police officer had been at the scene of the crime and been able to stop it, they would have. Even if it meant taking his life. Most virtuous people would try to stop him by any means as well. The ramification of his barbarism is that he has forfeited his right to life. Therefore, the state follows through on this logic and provides retribution for the victims.

This is justice.

The death penalty today is not used for traffic violations, low level drug crimes, or even physical assault.

The death penalty is now almost exclusively used to punish murderers, and usually rather heinous ones at that. Serial killers, child murderers, mass shooters. These are the types that get the death penalty today. The death penalty is THE ultimate justice done towards those that commit the ultimate crime.

We asked: What is your favorite Olympic event?

Hailey Steidle sophomore Intelligence Studies major: “Figure Skating.”

Sydney Tokasz, sophomore Risk Management major: “Ice Hockey.”

Christina Judy, junior Biology major: “Snowboard Half Pipe.”

Lilly English, sophomore Criminal Justice major: “Speed Skating.”

Compiled by Mackenzie Zent

Erie’s extreme weather has been harsh

By Ashley Barletta outside the door for ten minutes News Editor

wiping my boots on the rug and there would still be melted snow on the bottom of my soles.

Don’t even get me started on the It’s that time of year in Erie wind. It is already cold outside, we when all of the sudden it snows don’t need to get hypothermia just every day and we all know it is from walking to class because the here to stay a while. You never windchill made the temperature know if it will be 40 degrees or feel like minus 15 degrees. minus 8 degrees outside. Each day That reminds me, people who is played by ear because with the walk around in t-shirts and shorts, wind constantly blowing snow you are brave! I might sound like into your eyes, it’s hard to see. a middle-aged mother when I I know I just made Erie sound say this, but having exposed skin so depressing, but let’s face it; when it’s as cold as it has been is the weather we have been having dangerous! lately is ridiculous. I saw the People have legitimately died of mound of snow outside of Hirt, frostbite, but I guess it would still and it was quite a sight. take 30 minutes to get it despite Of course, the day I write this the daily temperatures and the article the roads and sidewalks are windchill factor, or so I learned completely clear, but I know it from a quick internet search. won’t be that way for long.

Anyway, you would never If you’re the type of person that catch me walking around without likes snow, then you probably at least a sweater on in the disagree with me. I hate snow. wintertime; I almost always have a It gets everywhere. I could stand coat. In fact, most people I know

recognize me by my bright blue coat, which is really heavy because I get cold easily.

This brings me to my next point: it doesn’t matter if it’s 30 degrees or 5 degrees, my hands are constantly freezing. I always have to keep really thick gloves in my coat pockets or else my hands will literally turn red or even purple just from walking to class for five minutes.

My hands also dry out in this weather, which isn’t helping my or Erie’s case right now.

The one good aspect of it is cozying up under heavy blankets and drinking hot cocoa. I even like to add cinnamon to mine!

I am told that Erie is so nice in the summertime, which is unfortunate for the students who attend college in Erie but don’t live here.

I live close enough to Erie that I come here for day trips in the summer, and let me tell you, it’s hot! Erie goes from one extreme to another in the change of seasons, so I like to enjoy the fall

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and spring weather in the small amount of time we have it.

At least during the warmer months I am able to walk around outside, which is one of my favorite activities because it is a change from the “sitting down, going to class, sitting for another hour” cycle.

Living in Erie during the cold months makes me miss the warmer months all the more.

Twitter: @TheMerciad Instagram: @mumerciad Facebook: The Merciad

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SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Lakers take on the Golden Knights

By Samantha Weber Editor-in-Chief

Mercyhurst’s Athletic Center was filled with electric energy as both the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams played the Gannon Golden Knights on Feb. 9.

The theme was a “whiteout” and all attendees were given a free t-shirt. There was an alumni reception at the Roost ahead of the games and all of the alumni had exclusive seating for the game.

The women’s team played first and during the first half, the Lakers were leading for the majority of the time.

Gannon had an early lead of 4-0, but the Lakers came back quickly as junior Jayde Boyd had a layup and redshirt junior Julia Buchman scored on a jump shot.

Boyd and Buchman would combine for the final nine points of the first quarter.

In the second quarter, Mercyhurst was up the entire time except for when the two teams were tied for about a minute.

Gannon scored the final few points at the end of the first half to be down just one point with a score of 29-28.

The third quarter was rough for the Lakers and despite them

Sydney Dietz photo

Women’s basketball plays against competitor Gannon University at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center during a double header game on Feb. 9.

having a game-high 17 points in the final frame, the Lakers were not able to beat the Golden Knights. The final score was 66-56.

Boyd was the lead scorer with a season-high 22 points and had six rebounds. Redshirt freshman Grace Centrulla was the next-highest total for Mercyhurst with 10 points for the game.

The men’s team was up next and by this point, the MAC was packed with students and alum-

ni.

The Lakers had a strong start to the game with seniors MiyKah McIntosh and Nicholas Lang both scoring three-pointers to give the team an 11-2 lead just three minutes into the game.

The score at halftime was 44-31 in favor of the Lakers.

McIntosh had nearly a perfect half as he was 6-6 from the floor, 4-4 from beyond the arc, and he only missed one of his free throws in the half.

In the second half, Lang made a pair of free throws that was the

first point scored after almost two minutes of play.

The Lakers then let their lead fall to just two points. McIntosh nailed a trio of free throws, which gave the Lakers the push to make their lead bigger.

The Lakers then proceeded to have a seven-point run and three-pointers from Lang and senior Steve Cannady.

The Golden Knights outscored the Lakers 46-43 in the second half but were unable to come back from their large deficit from the first half.

The Lakers were victorious with a 10-point win of 87-77.

Mercyhurst’s field-goal percentage from the floor was 54.2 while Gannon just had 50.9 percent.

McIntosh finished with 28 points to tie Gannon’s, Braden Olsen. The Lakers also had two 14-point scorers from graduate student Cameron Gross and Lang.

The team was greeted by the entire student section on the court as soon as the time hit zero in celebration of an exciting victory.

Get to know Men’s Ice Hockey coach

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

Rick Gotkin started playing hockey as a young child and eventually was able to make an entire career out of his enjoyment of the sport.

In 1988, Gotkin became the head coach of Mercyhurst’s men’s ice hockey team and has been leading teams to victory for 34 seasons.

Prior to working at Mercyhurst, Gotkin had several other coaching experiences: Rensselaer, SUNY Canton and SUNY Brockport. Ultimately, Gotkin said he came to Mercyhurst for “the chance to build a program from the ground up.”

Throughout the past 34 seasons, Gotkin has seen dozens of players come through the program. Gotkin understands that the sport is not everything. He constantly stresses the importance of academics to players.

For years, players on the team have had a high academic standard. When recruiting men to play for the team, Gotkin always examines a player’s skating ability, competitiveness, as well as their IQ. Gotkin has always encouraged players to do their best on and off the ice. Prior to each game, Gotkin tells the players to

“Trust the Process.” After a hard loss he encourages the team to “learn from our mistakes, and then get back to work as a team,” said Gotkin.

Even years after players graduate, Gotkin likes to remain in contact with former players to ensure they are doing well.

It is important to note that Gotkin does not spend all his time at the ice hockey center.

This past summer, Gotkin and his wife, Dianne, took up PickleBall. The duo enjoys playing the game during all seasons whenever they can get a spare moment.

The couple also golfs together and like to travel whenever they get the chance. Gotkin and his wife have a daughter and a son together. Their daughter Lindsey is currently a practicing attorney in Washington D.C. Their son Brandon played for Mercyhurst’s Men’s ice hockey team during his undergraduate years. Brandon followed his

father’s steps and is currently coaching the Maryland Black Bears.

Throughout the years, there have been many game moments that Gotkin still remembers vividly to this day.

However, the one game that always sticks out in Gotkin’s mind occurred in 2001 when the men’s ice hockey team played in the NCAA Division One National Tournament. Gotkin said it was “very exciting” to almost upset the University of Michigan, which was the number one team at the time of the tournament.

Throughout his time as Mercyhurst’s head coach, Gotkin has achieved a lot, including being inducted into the Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame in June of 2015.

When asked if there was anything else he would like to achieve while he is still the head coach at Mercyhurst, Gotkin said that “there is always more to do for sure. I would like to see our team win another league championship and return to the NCAA Division One tournament for the fourth time.”

With a few games left in the 2021-2022 season, we will all be keeping a close eye to see what the team and Gotkin accomplish next.

HURST RESULTS

Feb. 5: Women’s water polo vs Wittenberg University: 12-8, Lakers

Feb. 11: Women’s ice hockey vs Syracuse: 9-0, Lakers

Feb. 12: Men’s lacrosse vs Wingate University12-16, Wingate

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

SPORTS

PAGE 15

The LA Rams win the Lombardi Trophy

By Nick Klein

Contributing writer

As a Cincinnatian, I could remember that one miserable day back in 2016 when I felt the Bengals should have won.

With the score of 15 to 0 and the time being only one and a half minutes left, the playoff game should have declared the Bengals victors. However, this was not to be, as Bengals running back Jeremy Hill fumbled the ball and from there things went downhill.

Through childish acts and reacting through their emotions rather than learning from their mistakes, the Bengals lost 1816 to the Steelers. That night I cried and my dad was so frustrated at the Bengals’ poor performance at the very end.

Six years later, the Bengals changed beyond recognition.

Super Bowl LVI was the Bengals’ third appearance in the big game, with the two previous appearances being in 1982 and 1989.

In these previous games the Bengals lost, but this game offered hope to the Bengals that they would win this time against the Los Angeles Rams.

The game started at 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 13, and I was at The Roost with AIM (Autism Ini-

Photo credits: AZ Central

An empty Sofi Stadium sits before the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams take the field to play in Super Bowl LVI.

tiative at Mercyhurst).

I was there only for the first quarter and part of the second quarter, yet I already experienced one of the highlights of the Bengals in the game.

Just about a minute and a half away from the end of the first quarter, quarterback Joe Burrow threw the ball at the 35yard mark on the other side and landed at the hands of Ja’Marr Chase who received the ball less than 20 yards away from the goal but fell just short of the

touchdown.

In the end, the Bengals scored a field goal that caused the score at the end of the first quarter to be seven for the Rams and three for the Bengals.

At Halftime, the Rams were still leading 13-10 against the Bengals, but in the third quarter, the Bengals went ahead with a field goal and a touchdown.

This field goal and touchdown allowed the Bengals to take the lead with the score of 20-16 at the end of the third quarter.

However, similar to the game back in 2016, the victory was stolen at around one and a half minutes left of the game. The Rams scored a touchdown, taking back the lead and winning the game with the score of 23 to 20.

Unlike the game back in 2016, the Bengals did play well, and us Cincinnatians didn’t expect the Bengals to be at the Super Bowl this year. While some people have been frustrated as to why the Bengals didn’t

win, I believe that the Bengals at least deserve credit for how much sportsmanship and effort they put into their previous games to eventually make it to the Super Bowl.

As a Cincinnatian myself, I hope that the Bengals will truly win the Super Bowl someday in my lifetime and although I have only watched part of the event, I am so glad that I have witnessed the spectacular game between the Bengals and the Rams live on television.

Men’s hockey faces back to back wins on home ice

By Sydney Dietz Sports editor

The Men’s hockey team faced Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) at home on Friday, Feb. 11, and Saturday, Feb. 12.

The Lakers left the crowd cheering both nights after bringing home a win.

It was a low-scoring game on Friday night with the final outcome being 1-0, in favor of the Lakers.

Junior defenseman Cade Townend scored the only goal of the night at the 8:10 mark of the second period. This goal was assisted by sophomore forward Dante Sherif and graduate student forward Pierce Crawford.

Not only was it a good game for Townend, but sophomore goalie Kyle McClellan had a shutout and 34 saves.

“Getting a shutout is obviously nice and helps a bunch when it comes to confidence leading into the rest of the weekend but I’m happier that we were able to get the win Friday and then another the following night,” said McClellan.

Townend now has two games that have resulted in a shutout.

On Saturday, the Lakers went on to continue their winning homestead with a final score of 4-2.

These back to back wins resulted in Mercyhurt’s Men’s hockey

first sweep of the year.

The first goal was made at 16:34 in the first period. This goal was scored by junior forward Rylee St. Onge, and was assisted by Townend, Sheriff, and sophomore center Carson Briere.

Not long after the second period started, Briere got the puck in the net resulting in a score of 2-0 for the Lakers. Sheriff picked up his 15th assist of the season and sophomore forward Austin Heideman also assisted, gaining a team lead of 24 points.

The scoring in the second period did not end there, with only ten seconds remaining, Townend wrapped the puck around the net to get his second goal of the weekend and third goal of the night. Townsend’s goal was assisted by senior defenseman Devon Daniels and Crawford.

After the second period, the Lakers were ahead by three with a score of 3-0, but were outshot 28-25, with RIT having 28 shots. At the 3:23 mark of the third period, the Lakers were fortunate enough to be on a powerplay.

While on the powerplay, St. Onge scored again, getting his second goal of the night and tenth goal of the season. This goal was assisted by Briere and Crawford.

Soon after, the RIT Tigers scored their first goal of the weekend changing the score to

Hurst Athletics photo

Mercyhurst Junior defense man Cade Townend fights off opponent to take a shot on goal.

4-1.

However, their scoring was not over, with just 48 seconds left in the game, the Tigers scored again making the final score of the game 4-2.

Over the past two home games, McClellan made 76 saves all together and only allowed two goals to get past him.

He went into the weekend being named the Atlantic Hockey Goalie of the Week for twice in a row.

McClellan’s save percentage is the third in their conference.

McClellan intends to keep up this level of play.

“I think I have to keep working hard in practice, not get too high or low throughout the week and prepare the way I have been for the past few weeks,” he said.

Before this weekend the Lakers sat in ninth place, but despite earning six points at the homestead, they however still sit in ninth place with eight points

away from third place in the conference.

Men’s hockey only has four games remaining in the season.

Their next game will be played on Friday, Feb. 18 against American International College at the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

This game will be followed by another home game on Saturday, Feb. 19 also against American International College.

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

Wednesday, February 16, 2022 LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) It’s nice to know that you’re finally getting due credit for your efforts.

You also should know that new opportunities will follow. A family member brings important news.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Your ideas are finally reaching those who can appreciate them. But don’t expect any immediate reactions. That will come later. Meanwhile, a personal matter needs your attention.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your energy levels are rising, and you’re feeling restless and eager to get into some activity, whether it’s for profit or just for fun. In either case, the aspects are highly favorable, so go for it.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A relationship seems to be winding down from passionate to passive. It’s up to you to decide what the next step will be.

But don’t wait too long to take the initiative. Delay could create more problems.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) A decision looms. But be very sure that this is what you really want before you sign or say anything. Once you act, there’ll be little or no wiggle room for any adjustments.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Money matters improve, but you still need to be cautious with your spending. Also, set aside that Leonine pride for a bit and apologize for contributing to that misunderstanding.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A tempting financial situation could make the usually unflappable Virgo rush in before checking things out. Be alert to possible hidden problems. Get the facts before you act.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Any uncertainty that begins to cloud an impending decision could signal a need to re-examine your reasons for wanting to take on this commitment.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You benefit from taking time out of your currently hectic schedule to do more contemplation or meditation. This will help re-energize you, both in body and soul.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Nursing hurt feelings can zap the energies of even the usually self-confident Sea Goat. Best advice: Move forward. Success is the best balm for a painful ego.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) A display of temperament surprises you, as well as those around you. It could be all that pressure you’re under. Consider letting someone help you see it through.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Some things don’t seem to be working out as you’d hoped. Don’t fret.

Instead, take some time out to reassess your plans and see where changes could be made.

BORN THIS WEEK: You enjoy traveling and meeting people. You are especially good with children and would make an excellent teacher. © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

HURST TOON Student-drawn cartoon by the Martian