The Merciad February 17 Issue

Merciad THE

MERCYHURST UNIVERSIT Y

|

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

W E D N E S D AY, F E B R U A R Y 1 7, 2 0 2 1

|

VOL. 94 NO. 11

To reduce the spread of germs, please take this copy with you or recycle after reading.

Seize the Clay a success PAGE 6

Online poll results

We asked: What is your

favorite thing to do in the snow?

Stay inside and curl up with a book

2: NeCastro assumes presidential du-

Sledding

ties as President Victor departs

7: Art education student-teacher shares students’ Valentine’s Day cards 15: Men’s basketball win two against D’Youville

Have a snowball fight

PAGE 2

Building a snowman

This week’s

POLL

What is your favorite streaming site?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

NEWS

PAGE 2

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

NeCastro assumes presidential duties as President Victor departs

By Bella Lee Staff writer

Last semester, President Michael T. Victor announced that he would be retiring from his post and stepping down as President of Mercyhurst University at the end of June 2021. Since this announcement, a search committee has been formed and is working with the Board of Trustees to find the future 13th President of Mercyhurst.

Without prior warning to the student body, President Victor left Mercyhurst earlier than anticipated and has passed the reigns to a Mercyhurst friend and alumnus, Joe NeCastro.

Although NeCastro is happy to assume responsibilities, a new president will still be needed for the fall. Thus, the search has only intensified for our new official president.

“It has been a fascinating process,” said Lucy Belleau, senior Spanish Education major and MSG president who is a part of the search committee. “Over break, students were invited to join in on open Zoom calls with the firm running the search and I thought that this was an amazing way for the student body to voice their opinions and give their feedback about what they believe the next president of our university should be like.”

The search committee includes a mix of members of the Board of Trustees as well as faculty from Mercyhurst. Joining Belleau on the search committee include familiar names such as James Snyder, associate professor of Philosophy and Jodi Staniunas-Hopper,

Contributed photo

Contributed photo

Victor announced that he was stepping down as president of Mercyhurst University after serving in the position since 2015.

NeCastro will fulfill the duties of university president as the President Search Committee continues their efforts to name a new president.

associate professor of Graphic Design. Additional members of the search committee include John W. Saxon ‘89, Christina M. Marsh ‘88, Matthew W. Johnson ‘99 and Richard McCarty, president of the Mercyhurst Faculty Senate.

The search committee and the Board of Trustees are both headed

by Joseph NeCastro.

NeCastro, who serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees, has assumed day to day responsibilities associated with the President’s office until a new president is named. It is likely that he will be confirmed as the official interim president during the next meeting of the Board of Trustees.

An Erie native, NeCastro grew up in Little Italy and attended St. Paul’s and Cathedral Prep. He is an alumnus of Mercyhurst, having graduated in 1978 with a BA

board in 2011. During this time he also served as the chair of the Board of Directors for the Erie Innovation District, a project to transform downtown Erie and recreate it as a hub for cyber security and data science job opportunities.

He was gifted a Distinguished Alumni award in 2016 and appointed as chair of the board two years later in 2018.

While fulfilling the president’s duties, NeCastro will spend one week working on campus and one week working from home in Cleveland.

The process for selecting a new president can be long and arduous, but it will be rewarding at the end.

“The members of the search committee span a vast array of people within the Mercyhurst

in Accounting before going on to earn his MBA with a concentration in Finance and Operations Management from Harvard Business School.

NeCastro has held a number of impressive positions including chief financial officer of Penton Media from 1998 to 2002, various roles with Reader’s Digest Association Inc. from 1993 to 1998 and the chief financial officer for RDUSA. He later went on to serve as the chief financial officer of E. W. Scripps company where he led the spin-off to create Scripps Networks Interactive (SNI), an organization that owns popular channels including The Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel and DIY Network.

After retiring from SNI, NeCastro was appointed to Mercyhurst’s

community,” said Belleau. “In addition to members of the Board of Trustees, we are lucky enough to have representatives from the faculty, staff, Sisters of Mercy and of course, the student body. The common thread between us all, as stated in the announcement of membership on the Presidential Search Committee, is ‘a passion and commitment to Mercyhurst.’”

Hopefully we will learn who the new president is by the end of this semester, but if you want to keep track of the process questions, be sure to email presidential search@ mercyhurst.edu or visit mercyhurst.edu/president.

While we will definitely miss President Victor, we can’t wait to see what the new president will have in store for us.

Updated COVID precautions to include weekly sample testing of students, staff

By Samantha Weber Staff writer

For the spring semester, Mercyhurst University is using the COVID-19 Event Phase Model to monitor and direct campus behaviors to ensure the health and safety of those on camps.

On Feb. 2, Mercyhurst entered phase two of testing protocols: surveillance testing. Students received the news via an email from vice president for Student Life, Laura Zirkle, Ph.D., with the latest updates.

Zirkle leads the University’s Critical Incident Response Team since March of 2020, when COVID-19 began spreading rapidly. In the email, it stated that the last results from the

on-campus testing had been received.

Students needed to have negative test results no earlier than three days before being allowed to move back into their residence halls. Then, approximately a week after moving in, students were required to take another test which was administered by a professional.

Faculty and staff also participated in pre-semester testing.

In order try and stay ahead of a large outbreak, approximately 10 percent of our eligible campus population including students, faculty, and staff will be tested each week as an effort to monitor numbers.

If selected to be tested that week, students will receive an

email on Monday telling them what day and time to go and get tested.

The results from the on-campus tests were a small number of positive cases, which allows the university to ease some of the heightened restrictions for campus organizations and other groups.

In the first phase, all meetings were required to be virtual and there could not be any in-person gatherings. The only exception to this is classes, specifically those which started out as hybrids or fully in-person classes, with adequate space for social distancing.

The second phase allows for in-person meetings if it is necessary. Virtual meetings are still

encouraged and participants must always remain six feet apart if meeting in-person.

There is a capacity limit in every room on campus, so attendees must remain below that capacity. All mandates must still be followed including mask wearing, social distancing and intensified cleaning measures.

However, even with restrictions in place, we are all glad to have moved into the next phase.

Due to the lack of positive results from the on-campus tests, there was also an email sent out regarding students’ restrictions on campus. When they first arrived, students were not allowed to enter other people’s rooms.

On Feb. 3, students received an email stating that freshman

can enter the other freshman residence halls and residential students can begin to have limited guests again, although guests are permitted from off-campus.

To ensure proper social distancing, both Baldwin and McAuley Hall are limited to three people per room including the residents, and Warde Hall is limited to four people per room including residents. Upperclassmen can have one guest each.

The protocols are crucial to ensuring there is not a large outbreak on campus, but if cases arise, we can hope that testing will help to mitigate the spread.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

NEWS

PAGE 3

Jackie Robinson film prompts sports diversity conversation

By Ivory Easton Staff writer

In the midst of navigating the unforeseen circumstances of the pandemic and striving to create a diverse, inclusive space, Multicultural Student Services and Campus Involvement put together a film and a panel discussion to honor Black History Month on Feb. 8.

The best and safest way to conduct this event was through a virtual movie screening. By including as many campus partners as possible, the event helped to create unity across campus, knowing that efforts to end racism and unite students cannot just come from one office.

“If we as a university truly believe in and value diversity and inclusion, we must all come together to further these efforts,”

Sam Beckas, Activities and Spirit coordinator, said. “This is a prime example of the reputation and integrity of this university as well as the values that were put in place by the Sisters of Mercy.”

Beckas initiated planning and consulted with the director of the Center for Teaching Excellence, Averill Earls, Ph.D., to pull together faculty that have a wide array of insight and knowledge about various diversity, inclusion and African American history topics.

Additionally, Janiece Withers, president of the RSCO Black Students for Unity assisted in the selection and coordination of the movie series.

By choosing the film “42,” the discussion covered race and honor through the life of the first black athlete to play in Major League Baseball.

The film starred Chadwick Boseman as Jackie Robinson.

Boseman is best known for his role in “Black Panther,” in which his performance touched the lives of many because of his portrayal of a black hero.

The guest panel for this movie screening consisted of two faculty members and one staff member: assistant professor of Sports Business Management, John Parente, D. Ed., and Sports Business Management program director William Jeffress, along with football’s Assistant Head Coach, Ryan Riemedio.

The event was a free and encouraged discussion from attendees.

Students, faculty and staff who watched the film discussed the difficulty of oppression and pressure on racial minorities, specifically tied to how that had a neg-

ative effect on the start of Jackie Robinson’s career.

A large focus was that sometimes these conversations are uncomfortable, but it is important that we continue to have them and keep our minds open to these topics.

The encouragement of his allies and close peers helped Robinson to achieve his dreams.

Another large portion of the discussion was focused on the limiting expectations of how certain individuals should look and act. This has a very important impact, which is why conversations about diversity and inclusion are necessary.

“Listening and opening your mind to what somebody else’s perspective is is crucial in learning and understanding,” Beckas said.

Throughout the semester the

student body will see many faculty and staff members from across the campus facilitating these movie screenings and discussions.

The next movie screening will be “12 Years a Slave” on Feb. 22 at 6 p.m. The discussion will be hosted by English department chair, Brian Reed, Ph.D., associate provost, John Olszowka and Withers. These events are open to faculty, staff and students.

The Cultural Awareness Calendar on the Multicultural Student Services HUB page is also a great way for members of the Mercyhurst community to celebrate diversity. This calendar features awareness months, holidays, remembrances and historical events from many different cultures as well as information and activities about how they will be commemorated on campus.

The Merciad seeks new editors to continue campus traditions

By Victoria McGinty Features editor

One of the many unique things about Mercyhurst are its revered traditions.

From celebrating Hurst Day to the many ghost stories, Mercyhurst is a university unlike any other.

One Mercyhurst tradition that deserves just as much reverence is the student-run newspaper “The Merciad,” one of the oldest organizations on campus.

Created in 1929, “The Merciad” initially acted as much as a gossip column as a newspaper in its early years, but has evolved into the informative and fun newspaper we have come to know and love. One of the numerous great things about “The Merciad” is its excellent editing staff.

The team works diligently every week to edit and create each issue. Sadly, many of the editors on the staff are graduating this semester.

The crew is searching for fresh, aspiring students to take on their roles.

For the 2021-2022 academic year, “The Merciad” is looking to fill various rolls including editors for the news, arts and entertainment and sports sections.

First, the news section serves as a collection of events on campus that are exciting, tragic or anywhere in between. This section is positioned within the first pages of the paper and contains many compelling stories, such as upcoming events, shows on campus, student news and the Mercyhurst crime log.

An arts and entertainment editor is also needed. This person outlines news happening in fine arts and pop culture. The section covers campus arts events as well as those happening beyond the gates.

Another large role the staff is looking to

fill in the sports editor position. This portion of the paper focuses on our campus sports teams at both the club, Division II and Division I levels.

While “The Merciad” is looking to fill its section editor positions, the staff is also looking for a copy editor, managing editor and ad manager.

The task of copy editing is crucial because it tackles the responsibility of making sure the articles are as close as possible to perfection in grammar and content.

Most importantly, this editor must have the right eye for finding mistakes in writing and have a strong knowledge of AP style formatting.

Another position available is that of the ad manager. This role helps the staff secure paid advertisements for each issue and acts as a point of contact for any outside vendors looking to print an ad.

Lastly, the staff is in search of a new managing editor. This role is pivotal. They put the finishing touches together for the issue and act as one of the last eyes to overlook everything before the printing process.

While taking on the role of an editor sounds challenging, it is, in fact, one of the most rewarding roles one could take on.

“Being an editor is one of the best ways to learn more about campus, including different majors, clubs and events,” said news editor Rebecca Dunphy. “Not only have I met tons of new people through “The Merciad,” but I also came to appreciate our campus more and all it has to offer.”

While being an editor comes with significant responsibilities, it also comes with many advantages. First, becoming an editor provides a substantial opportunity for scholarship.

Many know that paying for college can

be tricky and stepping into such a leadership role is graciously recognized by the university.

Second, this role acts as an excellent tool for building a resume. It demonstrates that one contains qualities of responsibility, diligence and the ability to work as part of a team. It is also concrete proof of your written communication skills.

Finally, taking on a position as an editor grants one the opportunity to stand beside over ninety-two years of other “Merciad” editors in preserving the enriching history and traditions of Mercyhurst.

Anyone who may be interested is strongly encouraged to apply. Like any group on campus, “The Merciad” is welcoming to all majors, class years and interests.

“Being an editor for “The Merciad” is an incredibly rewarding experience. You have the opportunity to work with great people, gain experience within the world of communication and be involved at every step of the process, from generating article ideas to formatting pages and then seeing your work in print,” copy editor, Sarah Klein, said.

For anyone interested in applying for an editor position, applications open on Feb. 16 and are available through midMarch. Any questions about positions or the selection process can be directed to the current editor-in-chief Marina Boyle or advisor Steph Przepiora.

NEWS

PAGE 4

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Hurst marketing employee Merciad IN A MINUTE Dance Team fundraiser The Mercyhurst University Dance Team is holding a fundraiser on Feb. 22 at the Chipotle on Peach Street. Simply visit the restaurant between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. and mention that you are supporting the Dance Team. You can also support the team through mobile order by using the code ZML3ET4.

Note-takers needed The Learning Differences office is in need of note-takers for the Spring 2021 semester. This is a great way to make an extra bit of money, add to your resume and most importantly, help other students. Information can be found on the HUB.

Event phase update RSCOs are now operating under the Phase 2 model for events, meaning that some in person events are allowed to occur.

Keep in mind that social distancing practices should still be continued.

For further details on how this may effect your club or organization, visit the RSCO page on the HUB.

Service fair FlipGrids live The Post-Graduate Service Fair is live on the Hub! If you are thinking about committing yourself to service after graduation, consider checking out the available FlipGrids to learn more about different organizations that could gladly use your help.

Have a tip for Merciad in a Minute? Want to tell others about your club’s events?

Email us at newsmerciad@ mercyhurst.edu

featured in USA Today

By RayLynn Chraston Staff writer

Recently, Brandon Boyd, the Marketing coordinator here at Mercyhurst University, was interviewed on USA Today. This exciting opportunity came by chance when Boyd saw an advertisement on social media.

“To be honest, I was just scrolling around Twitter and saw that the USA Today was looking to speak with people who had been in a situation like mine. I reached out with an email, and the reporter and I ended up chatting on the phone for about 30 minutes that same day,” Boyd said. “It was cool to see my name and photo in USA Today, for sure. I think it is a good reminder to be an advocate for yourself and to put yourself out there for opportunities. Even with potentially sensitive information like finding a new job during a pandemic, being open and forthright is valuable.”

Boyd recently began the posi-

tion of Marketing coordinator, however due to the pandemic and all of the COVID restrictions it has not been easy.

Such restrictions made landing the job here at Mercyhurst a nontraditional process.

Boyd had applied for the position, and a few days after, Sean Cuneo, director of Marketing, had reached out to ask if Boyd wanted to interview for the job.

Boyd mentioned that the interview was completely virtual due to the COVID regulations. Having the interview virtually was the safest option in the eyes of Mercyhurst University.

Boyd and Cuneo had talked for a while, however, the call did not stay like that for long. Soon after, the entire marketing team had come on the call to ask Boyd questions and to get a feel for who he is as a person and if he would make a good addition to the team.

About a day or two after the initial interview, Boyd received a call in which he was offered the job.

Boyd could not give up this opportunity and he gladly took the position immediately.

His main roles for the position are to assist in the process of recruiting potential students to campus. This typically involves a lot of writing and proofreading.

“I have my hand in a lot of the marketing materials that go out to potential students. I have been here about a month and it has been what I wanted it to be so far.

I really like campus and the marketing team here at Mercyhurst is top-notch. I am living a Laker Life now and I really enjoy it,” Boyd said.

Since the article is about finding a job during the pandemic, Boyd offers a few tips for graduating seniors that are seeking jobs in the upcoming months.

“I would just say to know that you’re in unprecedented times and be patient with yourself and with the job market. It’s really difficult to find a job in this market,” said Boyd. “I was lucky enough to have

two offers after being furloughed from my previous company due to COVID, but I also have previous work experience.”

He also emphasized the importance of being able to advocate for oneself.

“No one is going to go to bat for you. You may have others who will help you along the way, but ultimately, it’s up to you to go for what it is you want,” he said.

Job applicants must also remain flexible throughout these ever-changing times.

“Find an opportunity and a potential for growth and take it.

Even with me here at Mercyhurst, I’m taking this opportunity to advance my skills, learn from others on my team and I even started toward earning my graduate degree in Organizational Leadership,” said Boyd. “Make an opportunity what you want it to be and you’ll find success.”

RA applications on Teams

By Ashley Barletta

Staff writer

Resident Assistants (RAs) do so much on campus, not only do they ensure our safety, but also our happiness. The RA selection process for the 2021-2022 school years has just begun, so if you are interested in becoming an RA, the time to apply is now.

Last week, assistant director of Residence Life and Student Conduct, Michael Grasso, sent out an email to all Mercyhurst students.

Contained in this email is a link to the Microsoft Teams page created for the aspiring RAs, a PowerPoint presentation outlining the position description and the application process, as well as some important dates that those who are interested should keep a close eye on.

“Don’t be intimidated by the application process. It might seem like a lot of steps, but if you break it down into bite sized chunks it won’t be too bad,” said Elizabeth Meade, junior Dance and Marketing double major and second year RA in the Briggs Apartments.

“All the current RAs are in the Application Teams group, so be sure to reach out to us with any questions about the application or about what it’s like to be an RA.” Requirements for becoming an RA are that you must be a fulltime student at Mercyhurst, have a minimum GPA of 2.5, are in good conduct standing and are willing and ready to complete any tasks assigned to you.

One of the obligations that an

RA must be able to fulfill is community development. This is done by hosting events, or programs, which take place within the residence in which you work. These events are always well-advertised with the use of signage in the hallways and Teams messages.

RAs also need to be ready to assist residents when necessary with maintenance issues, roommate conflicts, other housing problems, or occurrences and behaviors that go against the student code of conduct and need to be documented.

Application submissions are due on Feb. 26 at 4:30 p.m.

Anyone who submits an application will move on to the next step in the process, which is the completion of three activities on Microsoft Teams. These activities will need to be finished by March 8 at 9 a.m.

After that, successful applicants will need to provide references and be interviewed for the job.

These interviews will be held from March 10 through March 19, will be 30 minutes long and due to restrictions, will be all virtual.

Once all of these steps are finished, applicants will either receive a job offering, an alternate position or neither of these. If chosen to be an RA, there are summer training sessions which will need to be completed.

“I like being an RA because I can help support students in their social and academic endeavors,” Olivia Andazola, a sophomore Art Therapy major and RA in the Lewis Apartments, said.

Contributed photo

Ad from @hurstreslife about the RA hiring process. Follow them on instagram for more information.

Carin Rushnock, a junior Sports Medicine and Pre-Med major, as well as a RA in Baldwin Hall, echoed these sentiments.

“Being an RA is extremely rewarding. You get to meet some amazing people and you develop meaningful connections. It’s amazing getting to know your residents and having the chance to help them when needed,” said Rushnock. “If anyone is looking to find a purpose and way to help people I truly recommend applying to be an RA. It not only teaches you how to be a leader but it

also teaches you how to manage your life and live it to the fullest.

It’s a blessing in disguise sometimes, but it is great to be a part of the Residence Life staff.”

RAs also receive free housing and a meal plan or dining stipend.

To learn more, attend one of the two RA Info Nights which will be held by Grasso on dates to be announced later.

You can email him at mgrasso@ mercyhurst.edu with any questions.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

NEWS

PAGE 5

Mini-grant award This weekend’s winners announced campus events STUDENT GOVERNMENT

By Rebecca Dunphy News editor

Promoting diversity and inclusion have been on the forefront of many people’s minds over the last several months and Mercyhurst is no exception. To promote anti-racism efforts on campus, the Office of Mission advertised three mini-grants for the purpose of furthering the university’s goal to be a welcoming place for all.

The genesis of these projects came from the January OneBook program where participants read and discussed the book “So You Want to Talk about Race” by Ijeoma Oluo. Wanting to ensure that the wider campus community was engaged, the organizing committee thought it was important to provide funding to these efforts and thus the grant program was born.

Students, faculty and staff could all form teams to generate ideas and submit a formal grant proposal.

Vice president for Mission, Greg Baker, D.Min, established a group to select the winners, including associate provost, John Olszowka, Ph.D., social work professor, Laura Lewis, Ph.D., officer for Equity, Inclusion and Justice, Sr. Natalie Rossi and campus minister Michelle Scully.

“I convened this group to discuss and vote on the proposals that we thought would have the greatest impact within and beyond the MU community,” Baker said.

Groups of at least three participants, including students, faculty and staff, were welcome to submit proposals for review.

The group selected three projects entitled “African-American Heritage Trail Virtual Tour,” “Be the Change: Becoming a diverse, equitable, inclusive and anti-racist community—a student essay competition” and “Gaming Against Racism,” respectively.

The first proposal will help the African-American Heritage Trail, created by history professor Chris Magoc, Ph.D. and community partners, to become more accessible to a larger audience by offering a virtual tour option. The tour was unveiled last summer, but COVID-19 has prevented organizers from sharing it broadly.

With the goal of creating a 30-minute video, viewers will be able to learn about African-American history in Erie County with the help of recruited students who will provide 5-minute explanations of each site.

The second proposal, “Gaming Against Racism,” was conceived by associate professor of Psychology Matthew Weaver, Ph.D., assistant professor of History, Averil Earls, Ph.D., associate professor of Psychology, Melissa Heerboth, Ph.D., and assistant professor of Criminal Justice, Emmaleigh

Kirchner, Ph.D. With this funding, the group will be able to provide the campus access to a game entitled Star Power.

“Basically, Star Power illustrates how vulnerable individuals and groups become to temptations to abuse power over marginalized groups, which gets at some of the core aspects of racism,” said Weaver. “By using the game, or more accurately the simulation, we can address the problem of racism and in a manner that can be engaging, enlightening and active for the learners.”

The group plans to hold student game nights and discussions with the game in the hope that it will give students a more comprehensive understanding of systematic racism.

The third project, “Be the Change,” will invite students to participate in an essay contest about building a diverse, inclusive and anti-racist community.

“Conversation is the first step to action. We hope this essay competition, with the winning prize incentives, will motivate concerned students to express themselves and hopefully trigger student conversations and a chain reaction of social change to build a more inclusive and harmonious Lakers community,” assistant professor of biology, Rajinikanth Mohan, Ph.D., said.

Mohan created this proposal with the help of senior intelligence Studies majors, Sarah Klein and Marina Boyle, assistant professor of sociology Nicole John-Danzell, Ph.D. and assistant professor of English, Joanne Hosey-McGurk, Ph.D. The awarded grant money will provide cash prizes for the authors of the winning essays and memorabilia as an extra incentive for all those who take part.

“The funds will be used to support prizes for meritorious essays, to publish the essays to promote campus-wide awareness on this subject and to create memorabilia (e.g. T-shirts) bearing the same theme that students can wear to make a statement of their support for social change,” Mohan said.

After receiving so many exciting and creative proposals, Baker reached out to director of Community Engagement, Colin Hurley, seeking his office’s support so that additional projects could be fulfilled.

Because of the quality of the grant requests that were submitted, the number of grants to be awarded was increased from three to five.

“The two projects supported by Community Engagement were a clear fit for that office because they offer direct mission-centered support to the local community beyond campus,” Baker said.

The additional two proposals to be fulfilled are the “Sprout Proj-

ect” and “Diehl Mural.”

The Sprout Project, facilitated through Erie Arts and Culture, will provide students the opportunity to help members of the CHROMA Guild to brand their business or service. The CHROMA Guild is an organization focusing on providing opportunities and resources to creative and cultural professionals of color throughout the local area.

“This particular partnership enables us to exercise our core value of Hospitality and Global Awareness. Students will be digging into a variety of cultures in a way they may never have done before and relationships built on mutual respect will be the most important outcome from this design activity,” associate professor of Art, Jodi Staniunas Hopper, said.

The second project, as the name suggests, will support the painting of a mural at Diehl Elementary School that reflects the diversity of the school’s students and the Action Plan created by Diehl’s Community School Leadership Team.

“The student population at Diehl is very culturally rich and diverse. The idea behind the mural is to help create a school culture that reflects that diversity.

Every student deserves to have a sense of belonging – especially in their school,” said community school director for Diehl Elementary School, Karen Donnelly. “I think this project aligns with the Mercyhurst Mission beautifully, particularly the core values.”

Each of the award winners will be provided $300 for the development of their proposed project.

The funding allotted to the winners through the Office of Mission comes directly from a special fund by the Sisters of Mercy to support mission-centered programming.

When Baker was asked how all these projects, as a whole, support the Mercy Mission, he responded with the following.

“We will follow-up with all of the grant awardees to ask them that same question later this spring to see how successful we were, but we strongly believe that all of these initiatives, individually and taken as a whole, offer proactive and creative means to continue to talk about anti-racism and to listen to the stories and perspectives of others, all with an eye for improving policies and practices on campus and in broader society,” said Baker. “These initiatives clearly connect with the university’s goals for Equity, Inclusion and Justice from summer 2020, with the Sisters of Mercy’s critical concern for anti-racism and with the university’s core values.”

Congratulations to all award winners and best of luck with the fulfillment of their respective projects.

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG Feb. 2: Possession of controlled substance on E 40th Feb. 14: Liquor law violation on Wayne St. Feb. 14: Liquor law violation at McAuley Hall

FEATURES

PAGE 6

HURST CLASS CATALOG

Contributed photo

“Psychology of Women and Gender,” one of the texts used in the class.

By Madison Fryling Contributing writer

Psychology of Gender is one of the many psychology courses that are offered for the Spring 2021 semester. Taught by Marilyn Livosky PhD, this course aims to explore the qualities of factors of gender. Some of the course objectives of this course include: gaining a better understanding of issues of women’s and men’s lives, gaining an understanding of “masculinities” and “men’s issues”, and acquiring critical thinking skills. If one has an interest in learning about gender differences, then this class is for you.

This course focuses on men’s and women’s issues while also explaining how studies in the past have been conducted and how they are being conducted today. What this class has covered so far is the masculinities that men face daily as well as gender stereotypes and gender binary.

The course aims to explore these factors through two pivotal texts. The first one, “Psychology Of Women And Gender” and the second which is titled “Men’s Lives.” The first text aims to focus on women’s issues while the second book is filled with different articles that focus on men and their struggles.

Gender equality is still an issue in today’s world and this class focuses on those issues. If you can take this class, do it. It is worth your time and equally focuses on issues of both genders.

Women’s issues are often at the forefront, yet men’s issues are not commonly discussed.

Taking this course will show you a whole new perspective on why the world is the way it is and what we can do to step outside of what is socially acceptable and create a new reality. Dr. Marilyn Livosky is a great professor but unfortunately, this spring semester is going to be her last one since she is retiring. With a new professor, the class might look a little different. There might be new textbooks to explore and the material covered might differ.

Nonetheless, this is still a class that should be taken because everyone could learn more about gender stereotypes and how they differ between each gender. Everyone faces very different challenges regardless of their gender identity. There is so much more to it than what everyone thinks, so if you can, please take this class.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

BSU observes BHM

By Kenzie Schroeder Staff writer

February is a month notable for its Hallmark holiday of Valentine’s Day and its dedication as Black History Month. This year Moralyzer, a social media activism platform developed by Mercyhurst grad student Arseniy Sklyarov, and the Black Students for Unity (BSU) are planning an array of events to celebrate the month of February.

For the BSU, Black History Month will be expanding past the designated month of February. Janiece Withers, president of BSU, created the Black History Series to help spread black history awareness in February and beyond. Events of this series will take place throughout the whole semester to dedicate enough time to every piece included and as a way to break the stigma of only celebrating and discussing Black people for one month out of the whole year.

Over the month, BSU is partnering with other clubs and organizations on campus. On Feb. 15 Withers will be participating in a panel discussion set to start at 7:00 pm. Alongside Withers will be Professor Sherez Mohammad, Ph.D. On Feb. 22 Withers will also be joining two professors from

campus to watch and discuss the movie “12 Years a Slave.”

BSU and Parkhurst have started a partnership to collect recipes from Black students and staff on campus to showcase Black culture meals at the Bravo in the Grotto Commons.

Students can find the link to send in their recipes on the HUB. On Feb. 27, BSU, MAC/ SAC, and the Lumen are collaborating on an event celebrating Black voices in poetry and music. At this event, students can listen to rap and poetry performed by other students.

Lastly, in the last week of Black History Month, BSU will host a social media challenge called the “42 Challenge.” This event is meant to raise awareness of police brutality and social injustices we see in our community on the global stage and in sports.

Outside of the events this month, Black Students for Unity conducts weekly meetings on Mondays at 4 p.m.

During these meetings, members discuss popular shows, Black influencers and educate club members on Black society and normalize Black struggles and achievements. Meetings are open to all students and touch on topics relating to how to be an effective and supportive ally and virtually join in the

conversation as a white student.

Students should also keep their eyes open for Moralyzer’s upcoming app which is scheduled to launch in three months’ time.

Moralyzer is already up and running as a platform for activism, allowing Mercyhurst students and young people worldwide to use social media for good. Moralyzer has entered the business of creating partnerships with minority-owned businesses in order to give their customers 10% off their products.

One specific partnership consumers can look out for is with the ‘This Is It Network,’ hosted by Cheldin. The network is a global, female and minority TV network owned and operated by Cheldin, a news reporter to the network that focuses her stories on Black and female entrepreneurs.

One of the highlighted articles on the network’s site is binge-worthy shows to watch for Black History Month. Mercyhurst students should also look out for Moralyzer’s upcoming marketing internship positions. These positions will be available for all students of color and will be coming out within the next few months.

Happy Black History Month, Lakers!

MAC/SAC gears up for an exciting spring semester

By Bella Lee Staff writer

The spring semester has only just begun, but the Multicultural Activities Council and Student Activities Council, or MAC/SAC, already has a great lineup of weekend activities planned for students. Most of this semester’s events so far have been virtual but with restrictions beginning to loosen up, more opportunities for in-person events are returning.

Past events this semester have included a virtual ghost hunt, virtual Jeopardy and most recently a clay activity referred to as “Seize the Clay,” held on Feb. 13. This event allowed students to participate in-person or virtually and was a great success. Upcoming MAC/SAC events in February include “Name That Tune” on Feb. 19 and “Disney Bingo Trivia” on Feb. 26.

“While we are starting off the semester with a run of virtual events, we are looking for ways to connect in-person as well,” said Braeden Barnett, senior English major and MAC/SAC chair. “Whether it be through hybrid events where students

can participate in-person and virtually or socially distanced in-person events, MAC/SAC is committed to keeping our students safe while they enjoy themselves after a long week of class.”

“There will be other in-person events later this semester, but there will most likely be a virtual option for those events as well, just so we can control the crowds and be safe during COVID times,” said Joey Franz, sophomore Media and Communications major and MAC/SAC programmer. “It also helps us having that virtual option for those students who maybe don’t feel comfortable leaving their rooms and for those who are not on campus this semester.”

A major event that will unfortunately be absent from this semester’s lineup of events will be SpringFest, generally held each year towards the end of April. Last year, students were looking forward to a performance by MAX, known for hits such as “Lights Down Low” and “Gibberish,” but the rise of the pandemic brought those plans to a halt.

There are plans of MAC/SAC

and the Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG), working together for a family weekend that could happen towards the end of March, so hopefully students will be able to have a bit of normalcy after missing key events such as Homecoming and Hurst Day. With people such as TikTok-famous comedian Ryan Kelly being scheduled for events, who knows what MAC/ SAC has in store for us this semester. “I am very excited for this semester,” said Barnett.

“This will be my sixth and final semester working with MAC/ SAC and I think we have a strong lineup of events for our Lakers.”

“I am super excited about what we have coming up,” said Franz. “There are lots of cool things planned and I hope that you can all come and check them out.”

If you want to catch up on what MAC/SAC and MSG have in store, be sure to follow them on social media @msglakers or @hurstcampuslife.

This weekend will have “Name That Tune” and “Carnaval,” so be sure to check those out.

FEATURES

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

PAGE 7

Art education student-teacher shares students’ Valentine’s Day cards

By Laren Reesman

Staff writer

Valentine’s Day is not only an opportunity for couples everywhere to splurge on cards, chocolate and stuffed animals; it can also be a day to reach out and let sick and disheartened individuals know they are in their communities’ thoughts and prayers.

Victoria (Tori) Riina, a senior art education student at Mercyhurst, shows us that Valentine’s Day can be uplifting even for those in difficult situations. Through her student teaching placement, she coordinated a Valentine’s Day card project for those who needed some extra love.

Riina mailed cards made by her students out to two places in the Erie community in need of support: Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Home.

Tori, affectionately called Ms. Riina, or Ms. Rhino by her quirky students, is currently a student teacher at Wattsburg Elementary School, bringing art education into the lives of K-4th graders.

It was a printmaking lesson for 2nd and 3rd grade that inspired

Laren Reesman photo

A handmade card from one of the students Riina is currently student teaching.

Tori to organize Valentine’s Day cards for the Erie community members.

She has a no-waste policy in the classroom and taught her students how to make ghost prints from the leftover paint on printmaking palettes.

“I was looking at these huge sheets of ghost prints, and I thought they would make really cool cards,” Riina said.

Tori cut between 150-200 cards

for her students to decorate along with a generic Happy Valentine’s Day message glued to each one.

About half went to Shriner’s while the other half were mailed to the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Home.

Shriner’s responded enthusiastically to the cards and contacted Riina to let her know that the school would receive a thank you card from the hospital.

Tori expanded the project to all age groups at the school, allowing anyone who finished a class project early to participate.

“They [2nd and 3rd grade] loved doing the ghost prints, and the 4th graders were really excited about filling out the cards,” Riina said.

Some of the cards contained cute misspellings, funny drawings and pick-me-up puns; perfect for recipients of all ages. In the age of technology, especially in this time of hardship, Tori knew that receiving a card in the mail would be memorable for whomever received it.

Tori knew her students would respond positively to the project because they have shown excitement in art class thus far.

She frequently gets comments

Laren Reesman photo

A card from one of Tori Riina’s students

like “[Y]ou’re super nice!” and “[Y]ou’re the goodest art teacher ever!”

She even started a quote book collecting any sweet or funny comments her students make.

During a previous project working with ink, one of her students called from the back of the classroom: “Ms. Riina, is this made from octopuses?”

Riina hopes to make community outreach through education and art somewhat of a prerogative for the school in the future.

Art, especially children’s art, really can make adverse situations bearable, whether it is a drawing hung on a family’s fridge or a Happy Valentine’s Day from a perfect stranger.

Writing and Tutoring Center now open for spring semester

By Elizabeth Nestor Staff writer

Assignments, due dates and exams are looming in every student’s mind. Especially with COVID-19, many students are left with lectures to watch, video assignments to film and endless typing.

Thankfully, Mercyhurst has the Writing Center and the Tutoring Center to help each and every student.

These two centers can help students better their writing, figure out classwork and overall, improve academic performance.

These centers, along with everything else, have been affected by COVID. Despite these challenges, however, the Writing and Tutoring Centers have been adapting well to the ever changing environment and restrictions.

Justin Ross, Ph.D., director of the Honors and Prestigious Awards Programs and the Writing Center, has been open to the changes he and his staff have had to adapt to.

“I give great credit to our staff and our students who have been able to adapt so well and so quickly to all of the changes we’ve faced

in the past several months,” Ross said.

Staffed with brilliant workers, the Writing Center and Tutoring Center are ready to tackle the semester alongside students. Similar to fall semester, the Writing and Tutoring Centers will be fully virtual. While face-to-face tutoring may be the favorable delivery of academic support, the Tutoring Center offers virtual tutoring sessions via Zoom which is not only COVID-friendly but allows students to attend even in their pajamas.

Last summer, the directors, Ross and Lori Krause and coordi-

nator, Jeanette Long, spent a great deal of time attending workshops to find ways to better equip these centers for virtual victory.

To say the least, the Writing and Tutoring Centers are well adapted to virtual delivery.

As usual, in order to get an appointment for the tutoring center, students must log on to TutorTrac and schedule a date and time. After scheduling, a tutor will get a notification of the appointment and a Zoom meeting will be generated.

On the day of the appointment, the student will revisit the TutorTrac website and find the link

associated with the meeting and a tutor will be ready to help.

The TutorTrac website can be accessed through the Mercyhurst student Hub page and will be used for the entirety of the spring semester for tutoring services.

As for the Writing Center, the staff is piloting a new platform called WCOnline.

The new program is being integrated with hopes of reducing confusion around navigating TutorTrac.

Until the new site is up and running, students can email writingcenter@mercyhurst.edu to schedule appointments.

LAKER MOMENT In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Luke the Laker handed out carnations to students and staff across campus on Feb. 12.

Contributed photo

Luke handed out carnations on Feb. 12.

Contributed photo

Luke with his Valentines from Parkhurst Dining

FEATURES

PAGE 8

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

CI Club hosts alumnus guest speaker

By Payton Cook

Staff writer

On Feb. 10 the Mercyhurst Competitive Intelligence Club (MCIC) hosted a guest speaker named Bryant Kimball, a distinguished Mercyhurst alumnus.

Kimball is an Erie native and graduated from Mercyhurst in 2012 with his undergraduate degree, before later returning for a Master’s in Applied Intelligence.

He is currently an analyst for FedSavvy Strategies in McLean, Virginia, and resides in Washington, D.C. However, competitive intelligence was not always Kimball’s career path. Kimball completed his undergrad with degrees in mathematics and computer science. It was not until 2019 when he completed his master’s degree and became a true analyst.

Kimball came into the Intelligence program thinking that he would work for the government one day, but as he moved through

the program he was exposed to different career opportunities.

The great thing about becoming an intelligence analyst is that there are other domains under which you can work. Kimball eventually chose the CI path, specifically doing competitive research for government contractors as part of a consulting company.

When asked what he likes most about competitive intelligence, he stated that he enjoys the pace of being a competitive analyst.

Kimball then went on to say that while doing this job, you never get bored because you are doing weekly or bi-weekly projects for different domains, such as the military or private business. He then gave some advice to current students.

“In terms of thinking about what you want to do, the pace of the work should always be a question you ask in interviews and should help you decide what you want your career to be,” Kimball said. He noted that finding the

right job is just as important as finding a job, and speaking with alumni is a key way to gain insight into different career paths which might suit you.

He began the presentation with an overview of the government contracting process. He explained that the budget for contract spending gets renewed every year, no matter how much the government is in debt. Hence, government contracts are a great way for contractors to make money.

One might be familiar with some of these contractors in the government contracting space: Boeing, SAIC, IBM, Northrop Grumman, Booz Allen Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, BAE Systems and General Dynamics. These companies compete against each other for government contracts, and these can be high-stakes pursuits worth millions of dollars.

Each company spends a lot of time and money to win these big deals.

This is where competitive intel-

ligence analysts come in. Companies hire competitive intelligence analysts to help them make sure that they are putting the right amount of money into winning the deal, or to let them know if they are wasting their time.

There is a tedious process to federal contracting, and there are two different functions - strategic and tactical intelligence.

Kimball explained how the government contracting process works. First, the government intends to procure a service. Second, the government issues a request for proposals (RFP) to an industry. This is like a list of instructions of what they need. The third step is where the money and people (experts) come in to come up with a complex, near 150-page paper and an oral presentation proposal to the government. The fourth and final step is that the government picks the best company. The analysts operate in between the first and second steps.

Analysts do competitive pro-

files. They complete a SWOT analysis and an overview of company capabilities in specific domains. The analysts do a lot of collection and turn that data into a smooth profile for a competitor.

“The hardest and most intense project I have worked on is something to do with navy ships, and intelligence reconnaissance and surveillance,” said Kimball. “Even I didn’t understand parts of it.”

Kimball concluded by comparing intelligence analysts to a fox as opposed to a hedgehog, meaning they quickly use their skills to adapt to specific situations. He says that anyone in the Intelligence Studies program now is in good hands and is well prepared for a future in the intelligence world.

If interested in Kimball’s work or FedSavvy’s mission, the company is now hiring a number of interns and will happily accept applications from Mercyhurst analysts.

RSCO feature: American Sign Language Club

By Samantha Weber Staff writer

According to the World Health Organization, about five percent of the world is deaf and therefore uses sign language as their main form of communication.

Knowing American Sign Language is a useful skill to have in life because you never know when someone uses it as their main form of communication, and it could make their day to have someone else be able to communicate with them the way they know.

One perfect opportunities to learn more about American Sign Language is through Mercyhurst’s

own American Sign Language Club.

Sophomore Fashion Merchandising major Megan Brady serves as the current president of the club and works alongside Learning Differences coordinator and facilitator Andrea Obert.

Brady joined the club in her freshman year after taking sign language all through high school.

This is her first year as president.

“I had the privilege this year, as a sophomore to take over the club and be the president. I am so happy to give back and show others how passionate I am about this language. I want others to feel the same way I do,” Brady said.

Currently, the club is meeting every other Thursday starting at 7 p.m. on Zoom. While the meetings are not in person, club members can still turn their cameras on and interact with one another just like they would if they were face to face.

At the start of each meeting, there is usually a review of the common signs needed to carry out a conversation. At each meeting, one can expect to learn about 20 new signs.

Anyone can join, including grad students and faculty members who want to learn sign language or just more about the deaf community.

“I always create a slideshow of a theme related to that meeting and I make sure to incorporate signing games, videos, interpreting songs and learning about the Deaf culture into every meeting,” Brady said.

Due to the timing of the meetings this semester, they tend to fall right around a lot of holidays including Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter.

The meetings occurring near those holidays will have a theme that relates to different topics involving the holidays. Attendees can expect to learn new holiday signs to help keep them relate to what is going on at that point in

the year.

Brady spoke about her future goals for the club, saying, “I would love to get out beyond the gates to reach out to the Deaf community in Erie and hopefully in the future do a trip to attend a local Deaf event.”

There are multiple opportunities to become active with the new skills you have learned from the club.

The next meeting is on Feb. 25.

The club always enjoys seeing new faces at the meetings and would love to see new members who are interested in the deaf community at the next meeting!

Habitat for Humanity builds snowmen over houses

By Christa Knipes

Arts and entertainment editor

Of all the clubs impacted by COVID-19, Mercyhurst’s Habitat for Humanity Club has been one of the hardest hit.

The club members work almost exclusively off-campus, building houses in the Erie area or much further afield. For spring break, Habitat members traditionally travel off campus for a week long trip, usually to the south.

This year, things are a lot different.

Instead of building houses, students are being invited to build their own snow structures.

On Feb. 17 students can make snowmen or other snow sculptures anywhere on campus, take

a photo and tag the Habitat for Humanity Instagram @mercyhursthabitat.

The club will choose the best snow sculptures and give gift cards to their creators.

Everyone, Habitat Club members or not, is invited to get out and build with their friends, neighbors or roommates.

Masks and social distancing are required, but students are still encouraged to get out and mingle safely.

Later on in the semester Habitat for Humanity will continue to host safe, on-campus events.

Club members can volunteer to help with shoveling snow on campus and picking up any trash caught in the snow.

Any student who needs service

hours or wants to give of their time is also welcome to join.

If you are interested in joining Habitat for Humanity as an official club member, their first meeting of the year will be held on Feb. 24 at 7:30pm. This will take place on Zoom.

The board will be introduced, questions about the club will be answered, and there will even be a Kahoot. Gift card prizes will be distributed to the winners.

The Zoom link for the meeting can be found on the HUB page.

Whether you plan to attend any meetings or not, don’t forget to build your best snowman on Feb. 17 and share your pics by tagging Habitat!

FEATURES

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

PAGE 9

iMU students remove masks and mingle virtually as class moves online for spring

By Elizabeth Nestor and Marina Boyle

Staff writer and editor-in-chief

Unlike ever before, Mercyhurst iMU courses have had to transition to fully virtual delivery. As COVID-19 is an ever-present threat to our normal classroom existence, administration and professors alike have had to rethink their delivery of instruction.

As part of the freshman experience, freshmen take iMU as a class designed to build a student’s professional and personal repertoire.

This is done through activities, experiences and personal reflection. Another focus of iMU is to familiarize freshmen with campus, college resources, fellow students and staff. iMU traditionally runs as two mini courses, one during the fall and one during spring. During fall 2020, freshmen participated in an in-person module and attempted to keep the feeling of a normal iMU experience, albeit with masks and social distancing.

Such protocols make it difficult for new students to chat to one another without having to yell across the six foot gap, and also

inhibits group activities which might involve moving around the classroom, changing seats, or mingling in groups.

In acknowledgement of the restraints posed by the pandemic, spring semester iMU classes are proceeding entirely virtually.

While this may sound dismal, freshmen have actually adapted well to this new module and many are finding that they prefer this method to in-person or A/B classes.

“I was very nervous about iMU being taught through Zoom, mostly because of my inexperience,” said facilitator and director of Academic Support, Erica Cox. “However, I am finding that it is going much better than in the fall.

I can see students’ reactions so I know when they are bored or if they are really listening. The fall semester made it hard to read people’s faces.”

In fact, most students thoroughly enjoy the new virtual set up. Many freshmen have been loving the ease of Zoom meetings and being able to see each other’s faces without masks for the very first time.

“Transitioning from in-person

iMU classes to Zoom has been a smooth process for me. In my opinion, being able to see people’s faces without masks has made the experience more personalized and comfortable. There has also been more productive conversations which is good because it means the students in the class are getting comfortable with one another. Breakout rooms have been effective because talking in front of a smaller group is less intimidating than the whole class,” said junior Laker Leader, Jacob Yetzer.

Some students have said that they feel that the virtual delivery has helped make the class feel more personal.

“Being 100% virtual for iMU feels very different from years past.

At first it was a little bit difficult engaging with the students in the class. However, as the semester has progressed and people have settled in it has become much easier. We have primarily been using Zoom breakout rooms to facilitate various small group discussions, which I feel is helping students stay more engaged and interact with the course material more completely,” said senior Laker Leader, Brenden Jackett.

Shyness and anxiety are prevalent in first year students, which can be relieved through virtual classes. The chat box option can be an unintrusive and indirect way to communicate during class.

With this function, students who may not feel comfortable speaking during class are free to participate in ways that they feel comfortable.

“Breakout rooms allow for more in-depth conversations, and I am getting to know my students better,” Cox said. “I am still looking forward to the day when we can all be in a completely typical classroom and all together, but until then we are making the best of it and I think Zoom has given us the opportunity to make iMU still feel like iMU.” “I think one of the pros is that facilitators can do more group activities through breakout rooms, which can get the students engaged in the class,” senior Laker Leader, Chris Streibich said. “I think what might be more difficult is that it is harder to get to know the students personally because of the lack of face-to-face interaction.”

Director of Alumni Relations Lindsay Frank is facilitating iMU

this semester for the first time ever. “This is my first time facilitating iMU, meaning that I am not aware of how things were in-person. However, being on Zoom is a little tricky, but I appreciate that everyone is doing their best to be positive and cheerful even through a computer screen.”

Junior Laker Leader, Lauren Tone echoes the sentiment of her fellow Laker Leaders.

“I personally found the transition of iMU to Zoom enlightening as I am able to see the face of each individual student, rather than memorizing names due to physical location in the classroom.

As a virtual Laker Leader, I am losing the personal touch of speaking directly with each student in person. On the other hand, I am able to enhance each class and class participation through multiple attributes of modern-day technology. I believe this semester is superseding last semester. I have had the opportunity of working with a great facilitator and students who have made the online transition enjoyable and entertaining,” Tone said.

FROM THE ARCHIVES October 1968: 1968 was a tumultuous year for race relations in the United States.

Alicia King, a junior at Mercyhurst, called a meeting of all the students of color from Mercyhurst, Gannon and Villa Maria to establish a black power organization.

In May 1968 the Association of Black Collegiates was officially formed. The Association was swiftly recognized by the Mercyhurst administration, and in October 1968 was seeking recognition on the other two campuses.

Members were engaged in volunteer services at the Booker T. Washington Center, NATO III and the ACT Center, with plans to “grow and function as active organs of black unity and pride.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 10

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

A&E REVIEW

“Mercyhurst Made” made to be streamed

By Eva Philips Staff writer

Podcasts have seen a massive rise in popularity over the past few years, and for good reason.

Not only are they accessible to wide audiences, but they are also incredibly versatile.

Nowadays, there seems to be a podcast for everything, and Mercyhurst has taken advantage of that trend with the new “Mercyhurst Made” podcast.

The concept is simple: the podcast will share interviews with members of the Mercyhurst community, from alumni and faculty to students and staff.

Thanks to the dedicated on-campus podcast recording studio, the podcast is of professional-grade audio quality.

Each installment is about fifty minutes long, which may seem intimidating. However, the engaging subject matter, not to mention the personal connection for Lakers, makes the time fly by.

The first episode is hosted by former associate vice president for Advancement, Ryan Palm.

Palm has since moved on from Mercyhurst, but his dedication to ensuring the podcast is uploaded on various sites has allowed me to review it even after the fact.

Palm’s guest is Mercyhurst alumnus and vice president for Enrollment, Joe Howard.

After the cheerful theme music fades away, Palm first promotes upcoming admissions events for prospective students, taking advantage of the potential to draw listeners’ interest. Immediately after, he wastes no time in introducing his guest.

From the outset, Palm establishes a pleasant rapport with Howard that makes for easy listening. The atmosphere is unfailingly positive, as both host and guest demonstrate a genuine love for Mercyhurst that shines clearly through their words.

The podcast follows a traditional question and answer format,

with Palm posing open-ended queries to Howard on a variety of topics that are, of course, related to Mercyhurst.

This format is simple yet effective, as it gives the guest ample space and opportunity to voice his thoughts and allows the host to explore topics expansive in both breadth and depth.

These topics cover both personal experience and professional insights.

Palm starts the conversation by asking Howard how he came to Mercyhurst as a student, allowing Howard to share a meaningful story of inspiration from high school teachers and his experience as a first generation college student.

Howard goes on to discuss Mercyhurst’s strengths, noting its liberal arts program as especially impactful. He specifically discusses the Mercyhurst Ambassador program as a keystone of the college, referring to Ambassadors as the “preservers and transmitters of the

legacy that we inherited from the Sisters and the people who came before us.”

This legacy is important to both Howard and Palm, who discuss its importance to the spirit of Mercyhurst and the college’s ongoing mission.

Listening to their heartfelt conversation, it is impossible not to consider just how special Mercyhurst really is.

The conversation soon shifts to the world of higher education in general, as Howard discusses his background working in this field and shares some of the challenges facing higher education today — one of which is, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic.

To conclude the episode, Palm presents three questions which he will ask each guest in all subsequent episodes: he asks the guest to name their favorite spot on campus, a person within the Mercyhurst community who has had an impact on their life and one word that accurately describes

Mercyhurst.

It is a skillful way to add a bit of variety, diverging from the previous long-answer format, while bringing the conversation full-circle back to the Mercyhurst experience.

Available on Spotify and other podcasting platforms, “Mercyhurst Made” already has several episodes complete — the perfect way to pass a commute or a snowy afternoon on campus.

Ultimately, “Mercyhurst Made” is both informative and uplifting.

For listeners from outside of Mercyhurst, it provides a candid and personal perspective on the Mercyhurst experience, making it a great tool for attracting prospective students.

For listeners who are part of the Mercyhurst community, it brings up fond memories and encourages the audience to reflect on their own ‘Mercyhurst Made’ stories — serving as a warm and welcome reminder of why Hurst is Home.

Senior dance majors prepare capstone “Raw Edges”projects for the stage

By Annie Markel

Staff writer

Being a dance major is so much more than what meets the eye. As any dance major will tell you, it is not just pirouetting and tutus all the time.

All dance majors pursuing the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree track are required to take four choreography classes by the end of their senior year.

In their final year they complete a capstone course alongside Choreography IV, during which they choreograph a 10 minute long piece that is centered around their capstone research topic.

Senior choreography is showcased on the Performing Arts Center stage as a ticketed event, and the entire department is involved with dancing and production. However, this year, due to COVID-19, the show will proceed a little differently.

“Hopefully, we will be in person in the theatre and the dancers will have their pieces realized on the stage,” said associate professor of Dance, Solveig Santillano. “We hope we will have the scheduled performance times that we normally would have, we just won’t have an audience present.”

Taking an introspective look at dance and finding a topic to base their piece around is just one ob-

Mark Santillano photo

Dance majors auditioning on the PAC stage for seniors’ capstone choreographic works.

jective for the students.

They also cast their own dancers through held auditions, work with lighting technicians and procure their own costumes for the performance.

This is not an easy feat for many and takes the entire spring semester.

Senior dance major Caroline Schroer chose to speak about how

to integrate social progress into classical ballet while still preserving the sense of ballet tradition.

Schroer noticed that there is a lot of stagnant and unjust traditions in classical ballet because no one wants to change them. These discriminatory principles are justified by excuses such as “it is tradition” or “it’s always been that way.”

“I think it is important to recognize that the ballet world has been constantly changing overtime,” said Schroer. “Continued change to reach a more equal and inclusive state is a good thing.”

Another senior dance major, Shelby Hildebrand, has chosen to research stigmas surrounding sex, sexual violence and relationships.

She is also exploring how those

stigmas differ between genders.

Hildebrand, like many other dancers, chose a progressive topic that calls for social change.

“More than anything, I think all my choreography classes and getting to watch the classes above me choreograph such diverse pieces has helped inspire me,” Hildebrand said.

However, not all dance capstone projects are moving because of a progressive drive, but are moving because of personal connection.

Some students chose a personal topic that they wish to share through the medium of art.

Senior dance major Austin Duclos chose to explore grief, and how each individual experiences it in a unique process that affects their future development.

Some dances are meant to express emotion and Duclos is using his project as an outlet for creative resolution.

“With this education and creative outlet, I feel I have the ability to be vulnerable in my choreography,” Duclos said.

The showcases are scheduled for Apr. 23 to Apr. 25, 2021.

The dance department will be live-streaming the performances to make the experience as normal as possible.

The dancers hope to see you there!

F O L LO W T H E M E R C I A D O N FAC E B O O K AT @ T H E M E R C I A D

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11

Arts celebrating Black History Month with vibrant virtual events

By Eva Philips Staff writer

Throughout February, institutions around the country will be celebrating Black History Month by honoring the achievements of black people in America.

There is no shortage of opportunities within the Erie community and beyond which highlight the arts and culture of Black Americans. With events ranging from film series to choral performances and more, everybody can find a way to take part in the celebrations.

To recognize the achievements of Black poets, Erie’s own Hagen History Center held a poetry hour on Feb. 6, 2021. The tribute, titled “The Beauty of a Colorful Mind: Honoring the Past While Inspiring a Brilliant Future,” recognized famous Black poets and artists while providing up-and-coming local poets with the opportunity

to share their works.

A recording of the live streamed event is available on YouTube.

Locally, the Erie Public Library and the other public libraries of Erie County are holding a Black History Month Reading Challenge. The challenge, open to all ages, runs through Feb. 28.

Many events around the country will also be in a live-stream format, making them widely available to viewers from near and far.

For those with a love of musical theatre, famed Black theater Karamu House is presenting a free musical documentary on the iconic jazz musical “Shuffle Along.”

The documentary, titled “The Impact of ‘Shuffle Along,’” examines the musical’s creation and legacy just in time for the 100th anniversary of its debut. It is available online throughout the month of February.

Film aficionados can take advantage of the Flint annual African

American film series, presented in partnership with Communities First.

February’s film is “Fast Color,” a supernatural drama focused on empowerment and family.

Viewers can access the film for streaming from Feb. 18 through 21.

For a whole month of film celebrations, Milwaukee Film has partnered with Black Lens MKE to offer a program of 30 films by Black creators and various corresponding cultural events and discussions. Viewers can purchase an all-access pass for $25 or individual tickets to separate films.

The musically-inclined can also take part in tuneful celebrations of Black History Month.

The Chicago Children’s Choir will stream a virtual concert on Feb. 25 at 8 PM EST, continuing its annual tradition of holding a Black History Month concert.

This year’s theme is “Preserving

and Persevering.”

The concert will feature musical arrangements from a variety of genres, all chosen to celebrate Black culture and heritage.

In addition, the city of Pittsburgh is recognizing Black History Month by honoring local jazz legends through social media posts and virtual tributes.

The jazz genre, which was pioneered by Black artists and which is a vibrant part of Black culture, continues to be exceptionally popular, and Pittsburgh’s Black History Month program aims to capture its significance.

The program includes historical information, interviews, biographies and performances, all of which are accessible online.

Many art museums have taken advantage of virtual spaces to share exhibits in honor of Black History Month.

For example, the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C.,

is sharing its “Portraits of African Americans” exhibit online, featuring a vast collection of portraits of Black history-makers alongside biographical information.

The Peabody Essex Museum in Salem, Massachusetts, has created a virtual tour of “Jacob Lawrence: The American Struggle.” The collection holds paintings by Black artist Jacob Lawrence honoring the contributions of Black Americans throughout America’s history.

The contributions of Black artists and creators to the artistic landscape of America are breathtaking and undeniably worthy of celebration, particularly throughout Black History Month.

Luckily, it is easy to take part in the celebrations through immersion in these virtual programs and in many others in cities across the country.

Victimization in Victorian Era postcards

By Ashley Barletta Staff writer

If you have ever looked at Victorian era postcards, you have probably seen Indian women posing in the photographs on them.

These women are dressed in exquisite jewelry, representing wealth, and lehenga choli attire.

They were hired to model for the postcards to make the Caribbean islands look enticing to tourists and British citizens. However, the story behind these photos is not so pretty.

The Indo-Caribbean women were indentured workers for the British, who referred to them as “coolies,” a racist term for Asian manual workers. Sometimes the words “belles” came after “coolie” because they were beautiful, yet still so far below the British authority who referred to them as such.

They mainly posed in front of cane fields or European-like pillars. Adding to the mystery of these women, they were nameless; solely anonymous and yet ex-

tremely captivating.

They signed contracts (which they could not read as most of them were illiterate) to work on sugarcane fields on the islands, typically for five years or more.

These job offerings were put out to make the women think that a better life awaited them.

The advertisements were especially appealing to women who had either been disowned by their families or were widowed. However, many women endured abuse during the time as indentured servants.

From there, they were transported to the British colonies and sent out to work. There were roughly two million indentured workers in the British colonies at the time.

With the advancement of technology during the Victorian era, photographs could be taken more easily, and therefore, were more easily accessible. Many people wanted to own postcards simply to make it seem as though they had traveled a lot, but the white people who purchased the post-

cards were appalled at the exposure of the Indian women’s arms and legs.

Not only did the depiction of these women sexualize them, but it also marginalized them.

Felix Morin was one of the men who photographed the women.

He was a French commercial photographer who, from 1869-1890, owned a studio in Port of Spain, the capital of Trinidad.

Though not much information on his life can be found, his photographs are still relevant today in that they captured the essence of the Indo-Caribbean women during the Victorian time period, a history that still remains widely unknown.

These women were not happy, even when depicted that way. The jobs which they had as indentured workers and models for postcard photos were their only hope of having a better life, but to no avail, because their beauty was used merely for profit.

The final abolition of indentured worker contracts did not occur until one century ago.

CNN photo

Examples of Victorian postcards featuring so-called “coolie belles.”

A visual artist named Andil Gosine referenced the Victorian postcards in his series “Cane Portraiture.” He asked Caribbeans who migrated to New York to pose in the traditional lehenga cholis in front of a backdrop containing a sugarcane field. His main motive in doing this was to get a feel for what was going on

Upcoming Events

Mar. 11 @ 7:30 pm on Zoom: Sean Astin Apr. 7 @ 7:30 pm on Zoom: Chris Thile

between the Victorian age women and Felix Morin. The photos taken by Gosine were eventually printed onto postcards as well.

Thankfully, we no longer hang postcards of victims of abuse and exploitation. But this part of history serves as an ample reminder that in photographs, not all is at it may seem.

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD There is a break day today!

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

The case for looser COVID restrictions that we should eliminate them entirely; that just puts the entire campus at risk of a super-spreader Staff writer event.

Instead, the students should be allowed to be given a little more freedom.

It’s been almost a year since In most of the dorms on everyone’s lives were turned upside down due to the COVID campus, students are only allowed one guest per dorm, pandemic. At this point in which makes it unfair if more time last year, we could throw than one roommate wants to parties, gather in large masses at bring a guest. Where I live, we are The Roost and enjoy a variety allowed one guest per resident, so of MAC/SAC events without since most apartments here have having to worry about harming two residents, we are allowed up anyone else’s health.

Nowadays, we can’t even leave to four people in one apartment, our living spaces without having which is something that could be extended to the dorms. to put on a mask and grab a Additionally, students can only bottle of hand sanitizer. We can only attend our classes in-person visit others within their living for half of the usual time, and in regions, so I’m not able to visit my friends in Ryan Hall because some cases, we can’t attend inI live in the Mercy Apartments, person classes at all. which is part of the freshman We’re barely able to see our region. We should be allowed to friends besides meals, and some of our friends either are attending visit our friends in their living classes remotely or never returned spaces even if they’re not in our region, otherwise we’re not able to Mercyhurst after last spring, to hang out with them as much so most contact with them is as we want. through texts or calls.

However, the biggest reason Life on campus has now why I’m such a big advocate for become almost suffocating, loosening restrictions is because and that’s why I believe the of the impact they have had on restrictions should be loosened our mental health. somewhat.

Being isolated for prolonged While the restrictions are periods of time can be helpful, there are only so many detrimental to us. Coming to we can handle. I’m not saying

By Bella Lee

BAD There’s no Spring Break this year.

RECENT Many couples celebrated Valentine’s Day on Sunday and Luke gave flowers to all his Laker Valentines!

The Merciad STUDENT EDITORS Marina Boyle............................ Editor in Chief Gillian Mazur........................ Managing Editor Rebecca Dunphy .........................News Editor Victoria McGinty .................... Features Editor Michael Boylan .......................... Sports Editor Christa Knipes .............................. A&E Editor Zach Dumais ........................... Opinion Editor Sarah Klein ...................................Copy Editor Steph Przepiora ...................................Advisor 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.

Mercyhurst basically transformed me into a social butterfly, but after everything suddenly shut down last spring, I had to resort to taking classes from my bedroom.

By the time I returned to campus last fall, the social skills that I had developed over the previous year were pretty much vanquished, and I never went outside much besides for walks or for any in-person classes.

I could probably count on one hand the number of times I ate at the Grotto rather than take my food to go and eat at my apartment. My attendance at MAC/SAC events and The Roost, which had been frequent the previous semester, had been reduced to almost zero.

Luckily, I’ve been more social so far this semester, but I was definitely set back by the restrictions and the pandemic in general, and who knows how long it’ll be before I’m back to my social mindset pre-pandemic.

It’s not just a matter of what we want when it comes to restrictions and freedom; it’s what we need.

If students are to have improved mental, physical, and emotional health, then it’s important for Mercyhurst to try and loosen their restrictions.

Tighter COVID rules needed campus will not. It is better to be safe than sorry since we are still Fryling amidst a global pandemic.

Staff writer Plus, with everyone traveling from different parts of the country, there is still a chance COVID-19 is looking very that the cases could increase different on campus than it did when people are traveling home. last semester. The school was a lot Obviously, we are still allowed stricter with COVID-19 testing to travel outside of the gates this semester. as much as we want, but I still Although the same restrictions think that there should be limited were put in place when we travel. If you must go out, make all arrived back, that quickly sure you are being safe about it. changed after we got tested the I know we all want COVID-19 second time. They pulled back to be over, but if restrictions some of the restrictions after the keep loosening, then everyone is first week, but I feel like it was going to become more and more too soon. The restrictions should careless. It is better to get an early not be as loose as they are right start in being safe than having to now. go all online for the second time.

With the cafeterias being open I know that policies with masks for dine-in, this is a hot-spot for are strict but with the restrictions cases to spike. If the cafeterias loosening, people can become only had carry-out, there careless and not wear them would be less of a chance for an correctly. I hope that the mask outbreak of the virus to occur. policy is still as strict as it was in COVID-19 cases are slowly the beginning. It has been almost decreasing in Erie, but that does a year since the COVID-19 not mean that the cases here on outbreak began, so there should

By Madison

not be any excuses about not wearing them. I am sure we all understand how annoying they are, but it really is not that hard to wear one. If you are going out, just put a mask on. If you are feeling any symptoms at all, then stay home. It really is better to be safe than sorry.

Another restriction that should be put back in place is that no more than 6 people can gather.

There is a better chance of COVID-19 being passed from person to person when larger groups are hanging around each other.

Keeping crowds small will be beneficial to everyone. The more people you are around, the more likely you are to get COVID-19.

One person may have it and then pass it onto everyone else if you are in proximity of one another.

Keeping groups of 6 people or less would definitely help spread the virus to less people; especially if the group consists of people who do not hangout together on a regular basis.

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 17, 2021

OPINION

PAGE 13

Thoughts on the second HURST STUDENTS Trump impeachment trial all hashtag pages until Dec. 10, 2020 to help curtail election Staff writer fraud.

When the insurrection happened, Trump lost all of his biggest megaphones such as It has been over a month since Facebook, Twitter, Instagram the horrific insurrection on the and YouTube, which all U.S. Capitol. The attack left five suspended his accounts. He had people, including a police officer, one of the most-followed Twitter dead. It was the darkest day in accounts in history, garnering the history of the United States nearly 90 million followers. since the War of 1812, and by Trump’s involvement in the far the worst major event in the 21st century.

Now with former President Trump’s goal of Donald Trump acquitted of the attack was to inciting the insurrection, many disrupt, delay and are worried about him running overturn the 2020 for president in 2024.

Trump’s goal of the attack was election results to disrupt, delay and overturn after Democratic the 2020 election results after candidate Joe Biden Democratic candidate Joe Biden pulled off a rare pulled off a rare defeat of a sitting president. defeat of a sitting Many members of the president.” misogynistic group Proud Boys Patrick Corso directed the riot, which involved bypassing security, vandalizing Capitol property and even insurrection made history as he assaulting police officers. became the first federal office Nearly 140 officers were hurt holder and U.S. president to in the attack, including 15 that be impeached a second time, had to be hospitalized. after first being impeached for Even before the winner of obstructing Congress by helping the 2020 election was declared, Ukraine influence the 2020 Trump repeatedly made false election the previous year. claims of election fraud and His acquittal of both misinformation, which led to impeachment trials sparked Twitter labeling many of his outrage from Democratic tweets with the caveat “this claim supporters in the United States. is disputed.”

However, many are hoping Instagram, on the other hand, he cannot run for office again removed the ‘recent’ tab from in 2024. If he does and ends up

By Patrick Corso

“

winning, he would be the first person in almost a century to hold the presidency twice, after Grover Cleveland.

When Trump was suspended, he felt he could join Parler, which has a userbase of mainly Trump supporters.

Following the insurrection, Amazon Web Services cancelled Parler’s services, essentially leaving them in the dust. Parler still, to this day, remains offline.

Far-right network Gab was also used to coordinate the attack. The site had previously been taken offline back in October 2018 when a gunman killed almost a dozen people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh.

The insurrection was the reason why Joe Biden ranked Donald Trump the worst president in American history.

Trump made a number of missteps in 2020, including the poor handling of the coronavirus pandemic to his scandal involving Ukraine.

Ever since Biden took office, he has reversed many of Trump’s executive orders that caused backlash. Even if Trump runs for office again, although he may never be allowed to, spreading of misinformation could happen again, even though his internet presence has been pulled into the past.

After the insurrection that led to his Twitter suspension, Trump tweeted his peaceful transition on Inauguration Day.

SPEAK UP We asked: What qualities would you like to see in the next Mercyhurst President?

Christian Walsh, freshman Intelligence Studies major: “I believe that our next president should be a person of integrity. It is important that the students can put their trust in someone whose actions match their words.”

Kenzie Schroeder, junior Intelligence Studies major: “I would like to see a woman as our next Mercyhurst President. Mercyhurst has a rich history of female leaders.”

Sydney Zajac, senior Psychology major: “I feel that our ideal candidate for president would be someone who will uphold the values of the Sisters of Mercy and who is aware of what is going on with the student body.”

Grace Siwinski, senior Early Childhood and Special Education major: “I would like to see the next president of Mercyhurst put students’ quality of education and environment of learning first.”

Compiled by Maddie Boorse

Thoughts on President Victor’s tenure from his list of accomplishments alone he has significantly helped Managing editor chaperone the school to its current rankings.

When MTV first announced his plans for retirement on Oct. Even before attending 19, it came as a great shock to all Mercyhurst, President Michael of the Mercyhurst community.

T. Victor’s name preceded itself. Then, his retirement came Commonly referred to as sooner than planned, which was MTV by the Mercyhurst another shock. community, the first time I Personally, after every single heard MTV’s name was on my shock of the past year, I did tour of the Hurst. not really think much about I remember walking through his announcement beyond the the upper levels of the library thought of “Will there ever be and my Ambassador mentioned another Hurst Day?” his name in reference to Hurst In regard to will there ever Day - one of the days most be another Hurst Day, I have looked forward to by the student no worries because, since its body. introduction, Hurst Day has Throughout his time at become such an iconic tradition Mercyhurst as its 12th president, that I am pretty sure the student MTV has certainly helped lead body would revolt before they the school to where it is today. allowed it to be taken away While I was not able to forever. experience the Hurst before his In the grand scheme of things, time, I can without a doubt say I was not really concerned with

By Gillian Mazur

Victor’s retirement in one way or another because I know whoever will follow him will have to go through a rigorous hiring process in order to step foot through the gates of Mercyhurst to assume such a position.

According to Victor, he and his administration have accomplished all of the goals that they set out to complete.

While from the outside, MTV leaving in the midst of a worldwide pandemic may look like a captain jumping from a sinking ship, personally I understand his want to retire and move on to new things.

If a job no longer challenges or excites you and there is no more room for personal or professional growth, it is not really serving you as a person.

As a student, however, it can feel a little disheartening to see the leader of your school leave while the world is in such disarray.

I for one was looking forward to seeing this pandemic and its restrictions end and getting to return to the Hurst to walk across the graduation stage and shake Victor’s hand.

However, I am sure one thing most students will not miss is almost being hit by a speeding MTV in his black Mercedes or Jag on the way to his parking spot.

Although, the thought of free tuition from being hit by the President’s car has tempted students for years and left many in regret for jumping out of the way.

While I am sad to see MTV go, I have hope for the future of the University and its new leadership who will lead Mercyhurst into a postpandemic era.

FOLLOW US! Twitter: @ TheMerciad Instagram: @ MUMerciad Facebook: The Merciad

SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

Women’s bowling sweeps D’Youville 7-0

By Mike Boylan Sports editor

Mercyhurst Women’s bowling had their first dual match of the year this past week against D’Youville College. The Lakers hosted their first ever home match at Rolling Meadow Lanes on Sunday Feb. 14.

The dual match was added to the Laker Calendar just days prior on Feb. 10. Adding the event gave the athletes an opportunity to build more momentum into their season, with a third place finish at the Rail Splitter Classic hosted

by Lincoln Memorial University down in Harrogate, Tennessee the week prior.

The athletes were thrilled to be experiencing their first ever home game.

“Hosting for the first time at our home center Rolling Meadow Lanes was awesome,” said right-handed sophomore Samantha Strebel. “It would have been that much better if we could’ve

had our local bowling fans there to watch, but nonetheless it was still cool to have matches here for the first time, and come out with the victory!”

The Lakers did not drop a single game in the matchup, taking the first three traditional matches before going 4-0 in the best-ofseven Baker Series to round out the event.

In the first traditional match Mercyhurst took an 854-797 victory. This was led by an impressive 193 from Strebel.

The second traditional match saw a 895-768 victory led by freshman Arianna Clouse with a 200. Traditional match three was closer with just a 784-764 win, also led by Clouse who remained on fire with a 203.

Clouse was also named as a PPG athlete of the week for Mercyhurst following the dual meet.

The Lakers started out the bestof-seven by taking the first game 184-180. Game two was won 155-127. Mercyhurst stepped up

Hurst Athletics photo

Freshman Arianna Clouse during the dual match against D’Youville. Clouse led the Lakers in two of the traditional matches, bowling 203 and 200.

in the third game, winning by a drastic 239-157. They rounded out with a 138-134 win for the final game.

The athletes enjoyed having the ability to yet again compete and gain some more victories under

their belt. planned upcoming matches but “It felt great to add some more look to continue building off their wins to our record! It was a fun lit- success this season. tle dual, and we appreciate D’Youville coming down for the matches,” Strebel said.

The Lakers currently have no

HURST RESULTS Hurst Athletics photo

Redshirt Senior Trevor Johnson following his 5-2 win against Luigi Yates at 174 pounds.

Wrestling rounds out regular season against Gannon

By Marina Boyle Editor-in-chief

The Mercyhurst wrestling team has closed out their regular season by winning seven bouts in a competitive matchup with Gannon University. The Lakers scored their seven wins at the Hammermill Center on Feb. 10 ahead of their regional competition at the end of this month.

The Lakers had a mixed performance overall. Trevor Johnson came away with a big win at 174 pounds when he upset Gannon’s No. 5 Luigi Yates 5-2.

Mercyhurst also picked up a pair of wins at 133 pounds with No. 4 Eric Bartos picking up a tech fall and Roland Mills scoring a 14-4 major decision over Gannon’s Jacob Gardner.

At 157 and 165 pounds, Gannon was able to fall Lakers Spencer Head, Jason Breeden and Dom Ferranti. Aiden Burke won

a pair of matches at 141, pinning Gannon Knight Hayden Butterfield and picking up a 9-0 major decision over Parker Loera.

Matthew Ferraro scored a fall at 149 defeating Joel Huck, while No. 2 Jacob Robb ran his record to 4-0 with a first period pin of Gehrig Hutchison.

Eric Bartos, a redshirt junior majoring in accounting and finance, said the match was a learning experience.

“With regard to the match this weekend against Gannon, I think we had improvement but the match showed that we are one small adjustment away from being an elite team,” said Bartos.

“I think we sit on the fence of being a good team and a great team and if we can tweak our mentality, we will be able to compete and be a threat to the best teams in the country. We had some really good matches against Gannon which showed where we

were strong at.”

The Lakers were due to finish out their regular season with a matchup against Ashland, scheduled for Feb. 13.

The match was canceled and will not be rescheduled, meaning the team will next return to the mat on Feb. 28 when Men’s wrestling will host the Super Region I tournament at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center.

“We tend to wrestle well at regionals so if we can build on our match then we’d be looking at a lot of Mercyhurst national qualifiers,” Bartos said.

“I’m excited for the guys to have an opportunity to compete in the postseason. They have made a lot of sacrifices in order to be in this position and I’ll be very grateful if we get a complete postseason in,” said Coach Mike Wehler.

Feb. 9: Men’s ice hockey vs. Cannisius College: 1-3, Golden Griffins Feb. 10: Men’s wrestling vs. Gannon University: 7 of 18 Feb. 13: Men’s basketball vs.

D’Youville College: 9931, Lakers Feb. 14: Men’s water polo vs. McKendree University: 11-17, Bearcats

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

SPORTS

PAGE 15

Men’s basketball win two against D’Youville

By Zach Dumais Opinion editor

The Mercyhurst Men’s basketball team moved to 9-0 after cruising past the D’Youville Saints twice over the weekend.

Both games were played at the Mercyhurst Athletic Center and the hosts took advantage of being the home team.

The first game, held on Feb. 12, resulted in a 90-56 Lakers win.

The leading scorer for the Lakers in this match up was junior guard Steve Cannady who had a season-high 19 points on 7-11 FG. Mercyhurst jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after Cameron Gross and MiyKah McIntosh both had layups. The start of the game was close, however, with the game being 11-10 after a 7-0 D’Youville run.

The game did not start out as well as Mercyhurst would have liked but after a few late runs, the Lakers were able to head into the break with a 37-34 lead.

Mercyhurst took advantage of the break and sprinted out on a 21-5 scoring run to open the second half. The Lakers took over from that point on and never relinquished their lead.

By the time the 8-minute mark came, the Lakers had an impressive 74-44 lead off of a 11-point run by Steve Cannady.

Four Lakers played incredibly well and posted double-digit scoring efforts. MiyKah McIntosh went 6-17 FG and scored 15 points while Michael Bradley shot 5-9 from the field and scored 12 points. Daniel Ogele had a great game as well, nearly posting a double-double, with 11 points and 9 rebounds. The defense was also incremental to the winning effort as they forced 36 turnovers on D’Youville.

The second game was even more impressive for the Lakers as they completed the two-game sweep with a 99-31 victory against D’Youville. After a 6-4 start for the Lakers, they lit it up with a 13-0 run which led to a 19-4 lead with 14:20 left in the half.

The D’Youville Saints pulled within 10 before the Lakers went on a 26-4 run. The Saints did not score within 5 minutes left in the half and the Lakers were up 59-17 at the half.

The Lakers completely dominated the second half as well with a 50-point lead with 5 minutes gone.

After making it 72-21, Mercyhurst went on a 15-0 run. Mercyhurst did not allow D’Youville to score even 15 points in the second half.

The story of this game was the significant contributions from numerous players from the Lakers,

HurstAthletics photo

Guard Jeff Planutis drives to the basket during the 99-31 Lakers victory over D’Youville on Feb. 13th.

with scoring opportunities present throughout the entirety of the game.

13 total players scored for Mercyhurst in the second game. Owen Chambers, Sean Lang, and Kofi Osei all scored their first points in a Mercyhurst uniform. Michael

Bradley led the team with 12 points and Mercyhurst shot 61% as a team.

The Lakers also shot 41% from three-point range and controlled the glass by out rebounding the Saints 44-31. Mercyhurst’s defense prevailed in this one as

well by forcing 28 turnovers on D’Youville.

The Lakers’ next game is at home on Feb. 20 at 3:30 p.m. against Gannon University.

Athletic throwback: 2015 wrestling team wins third straight PSAC Crown

By Mike Boylan Sports editor

This week six years ago, the Mercyhurst men’s wrestling team defeated Pitt-Johnstown to be crowned the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) regular season champions.

It was the third consecutive year the Lakers won the PSAC Division II Regular Season Dual Championship.

Mercyhurst entered the match up ranked fifth while Pitt-Johnstown ranked sixteenth. The hardfought match ended with a 24-15 Laker win. With the victory Mercyhurst improved their record to an impressive 18-1.

Redshirt sophomore Willie Bohince opened the event at 125 pounds with a 1-0 victory over Evan Link. Following the night, Bohine held a 28-4 record overall while having gone 18-1 in duals.

Next up was redshirt senior Ryan Bohince at 133 pounds.

Ryan fell 2-4 to Corey Bush of UPJ. This was followed by redshirt junior Kody Young who fell to UPJ’s Sam Hanau 7-4 at 141 pounds.

Following this, redshirt junior

Hurst Athletics photo

Mercyhurst 2015 wrestling team after winning the PSAC Division II Regular Season Dual Championship against Pitt-Johnstown.

Jeremy Landowski and redshirt sophomore Francis Mizia both delivered major decision wins for Mercyhurst. At 149 pounds, Landowski won 15-2 against his cousin and UPJ wrestler Cole Landowski. Mizia, competing at 157 pounds, defeated Steve Edwards with a score of 12-0.

Nationally-ranked redshirt

junior Angelo Bortoluzzi competed for Mercyhurst at 165 pounds against UPJ’s own nationally-ranked Tyler Reinhart. Bortoluzzi took a 4-3 lead to start but ended up falling 6-4 after a late takedown by Reinhart.

Next up were three consecutive wins for the Laker wrestlers. These came from redshirt junior August

Mizia at 174 pounds, sophomore Dakota DesLauriers at 184 pounds, and redshirt junior Brian Beattie at 197 pounds. Mizia won by major decision 9-1 over UPJ John Blankenship.

DesLauriers pinned opponent Nick Pasqualle in just 48 seconds in the match following.

For the last match of the day,

Beattie took a 4-0 victory over Forrest Tuttle.

Mercyhurst had five wrestlers ranked in the top eight of their weight class on the national level.

These included Bohince, Landowski, Francis Mizia, Bortoluzzi, and August Mizia.

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Time is on your side in the early part of the week. But anything left undone by midweek will need to be put into rush mode. The weekend offers choices for you and someone special.

TAURUS (April 30 to May 20) Finally getting credit for a contribution is nice for all you idea-generating Ferdinands and Fernandas. But don’t sit on your laurels under the cork tree. Use it as a first step to a bigger opportunity.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Despite the progress made, a hint of doubt might set in. That’s OK. You need to stop and consider not only what you’re doing but also how you are doing. Make adjustments where needed.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) The dreamer is dominant in the Moon Child’s aspect, but a dollop of hardheaded practicality is coming up fast and jockeying for space. The challenge is to make room for both modes.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s a good week for Leos and Leonas to start assessing what they’ve done and what they plan to do. Moving to a new environment — home or job-related — is a possibility for some Cats.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) The week calls for Virgos to make tough decisions, but in a way that leaves the door open for changes.

Ask for advice from someone who has been in the position you’re in now.

Wednesday, February 17, 2021

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Disappointments are never easy to take, but you have the ability to learn from them and go on to success.

Meanwhile, continue to build up your contacts. You’ll need them soon.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Things might still be going much too slowly to suit you. But you need the time to make sure they’re going in the right direction. It’s easier to make a course correction now rather than later.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Showing some temperament at the way things are going is one way of getting your point across.

Just don’t overdo it, or you risk turning away more-moderate supporters.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Things could change more quickly this week than you like. But don’t fret; you’ll most likely find that you’re up to the challenges. The weekend offers much-needed relaxation.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Big challenge coming up?

Uncross those fingers and believe that you’re going to do well. And keep in mind that so many people have faith in your ability to succeed.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Testing the waters is a good way of learning about an opportunity before plunging right in. Ask more questions and be alert to any attempts to avoid giving complete answers.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a gift for making people — and animals, too — feel special and loved. © 2021 King Features Syndicate, Inc.

HURST TOON Student-drawn cartoon by the Martian