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Mercyhurst university

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Damage forces student exodus By Nathan Turner News Editor

Salina Bowe photo

Water damage within the Honors housing on 4008 Wayne St. caused several students to relocate. The ceiling in the above photo has begun to bow inward from the melting ice on the roof.

Students living in the honors housing at 4008 Wayne St. are relocating due to extensive structural damage from melting snow. The roof began leaking two weeks ago and the damage has begun creeping into the rooms on the outer edge of the structure. Students began voluntarily moving out of the building one week ago and are free to find housing either on campus or off-campus. 4008 Wayne has been experiencing problems with melting snow for several years, but this is the first occasion where the damage has become so extensive to encourage students to move out. “It looks like there is a problem with that building’s roof,” said Jacob Middlestetter, a senior Intelligence Studies and Russian major. “Something is not structurally sound. People on the top floor are experiencing some leaks. Ice has gotten in. And when it melts, it starts leaking everywhere.” Representatives from ResLife were unable to be reached for comment by the time of publishing.

The damage varies from room to room, and though maintenance has attempted to apply some temporary remedies to the problem, they have not been effective. “Some temporary patches have been applied to [other people’s] roofs in the same spots where I was having problems,” Middlestetter said. “Those patches did not last and someone had water fall directly on their face while they were sleeping.” The issue of melting ice has been causing problems with the honors housing for several years. A former resident, Stefani Baughman, a senior Intelligence Studies and Political Science major, said she also had problems with ice and water damage last year when she lived there. “The ceiling buckled with water damage in the corner,” said Baughman. “They came and put a tarp down and took the outlet out of the wall. There was really nothing they could fix.” Even though the damage subsided, the incident was an influence for Baughman and her roommates to move off campus, combined with the price of housing on Wayne. “The price was a big factor for us making the decision to

move off-campus, but that definitely had an impact too. We’re paying so much, and this happened.” The response from Residence Life has improved since last year. While there were some minor attempts to mitigate the effects of the damage in 2014, Residence Life has taken a different stance this year. “They’ve been seemingly very willing to accommodate people for any issues that have come up,” Middlestetter said. “I guess they’ve come to terms with the fact that this is a problem in that building, that they can’t just force people to deal with it anymore.” The chief complaint about this situation has been that there have been opportunities for Mercyhurst University to address the damage, they have not done so. “Especially during the summer, when no one is there and the weather is much better, they have opportunities to do some serious renovations to prevent this, but it seems they’ve never taken those steps,” said Middlestetter.

@TheMerciad

MSG forms Multicultural Activities Committee By Melanie Todd Staff writer

With a secret ballot of 19-7, and two abstentions, Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG) has approved the formation of a Multicultural Activities Council (MAC), separate from Student Activities Committee (SAC). The change to the constitution was in conjunction with SAC. Caleb Ohmer, MSG Vice President said this idea is “based off of several factors, including, growth of the university, the depth and breadth of the diversity on campus, and our obligation to be globally responsible.” All questions to MSG and their responses have been posted on the MSG Facebook page for students to view. Avid debate questioned the effectiveness of a MAC in its ability to encourage unity. “The goal is to create

Merciad Index

two entirely new councils that will work together,” Public Relations Coordinator Garrett Erwin said. Student Government President Nick Latta expressed the desire to stretch beyond SAC’s current ability to reach the multicultural population of Mercyhurst. “Although SAC does a good job to include the multicultural population, we want to do more,” he said. Sam Collier, a guest at the MSG Senate meeting, emphasized the need for more work in reaching students from different cultures, and said that “a lot of students embracing their culture do not feel they can just walk up to you (MSG) and ask for help.” This is disturbing in our society and needs to be addressed, said Collier. However, there were differing opinions on how this would best be accomplished. Other Senate members did not feel creating a new

council and new position on the executive board would achieve the desired unity. “Creating two defined committees seems counterproductive to creating a united front,” MSG Senator TJ Lockhart said. Other members questioned whether it was necessary to create the MAC and add an MAC Chair to the MSG executive board. They indicated that one or the other would suffice. However, the vote showed that most senators agreed with the motion. “I suppose my opinion is that I see neither harm nor good coming out of the establishment of MAC,” MSG Senator Dylan Radtke said. MSG Senator Lauren Watson had faith in the decision to form the MAC, and said, “I trust the executive board in the research and consultations they conducted before coming up with the new MAC initiative. I think it is very import-

ant to expand our attention and focus to the growing multi-cultural community.” The decision to create the MAC appears to be responding to a national trend in colleges. There is growing recognition of the need for opportunities for students from other cultures. “This initiative is something that is happening on college campuses everywhere, and with that, MSG has decided to take this on as a new initiative,” Ohmer said. The constitution defines the Multicultural Chair’s mission as, “The mission committee shall coordinate activities and events to promote diversity on and off campus in cooperation with other RSCO and university entities.” It is also stated, “the committee will also aid in conducting MAC events.” The MSG duties of the MAC chair will be very similar to those of the SAC chair; how-

ever, they will be bringing a different perspective to the discussion. In addition, they will share budgetary expense. According to MSG Treasurer AJ Zahuranec, SAC will retain 75 percent of the weekend programming and therefore will be allocated 75 percent of the activities budget. MAC will be allocated 25 percent of the remaining activity fund to make up the remainder of the entire fund. The same amount of events will be available for students on campus.” The position will be effective in the next election for Student Government, and is expected to produce increased communication and opportunities for students to express their home cultures. “The entire Mercyhurst community could benefit from this because it gives us an opportunity to learn of or about the many unique cultures that make up this

community,” according to Watson. “We anticipate seeing that every student will find a way to learn more about themselves and others, both personally and culturally,” said Erwin. MSG is presenting this opportunity but ultimately the students will have to accept the opportunity in order for it to be successful, Erwin said. The best candidate for the job would need to possess a multitude of skills to enable effective communication and help encourage action among students. “Ideally a successful candidate would possess the following: a commitment to and understanding of multiculturalism, event management experience, creativity, strong communication skills, a team-focused and self-motivation,” Michelle Farley, SAC Chair, said. @TheMerciad

Online Poll Results What is your least favorite part about J-term?

News Features A&E Opinion Sports Laker Living

1-2 3-4 5 6 7 8

11% Returning to America 51% 3 Hour classes 17% The gym is always packed 21% I like J-term

Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: What qualities would you like to see in the next president of Mercyhurst?

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Page 2

February 11, 2015

The Merciad

News

Poli Sci major earns D.C. job with Rep. Kelly By Jose Nufio Staff writer

Mercyhurst senior Mike Walter has used the experience of his time at Mercyhurst to gain a political career in Washington, D.C. After completing two internships for U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) Walter, a political science major, has earned a job in Washington D.C. at Kelly’s congressional office. Walter graduated from Mercyhurst North East campus in spring 2013 with a Liberal Arts degree with a concentration in Communication. He transferred over to Main campus as a Communicationsmajor, but halfway through the

first term, figured out Communication was not for him. “I would say it wasn’t my thing. I like it, but I always had a catch for politics,” Walter said During that term, he took American Congress and State and Local Politics. The combination of those courses and the influence of his professors aided his decision to change his major to Political Science. “He was a student who was very interested in politics, especially applied politics. So he already came to us with a fairly good understanding of how elections work, especially how local politics works and he wasn’t shy about getting in local elections,” said Michael Federici, Ph.D., Chair of the Political Science department.

In the summer of 2013, Walter started his first internship with Kelly in his Erie office. That fall, he talked to the district director about how his desire to work in the campaign. He got a call back and became part of the staff as a grassroots coordinator for the Erie, Crawford and Northern Mercer County. “It was a great experience, but I was also taking four classes along with working in the campaign. So that was pretty difficult,” said Walter. “I really worked hard. In the summer time, when I first interned, I worked there five days a week. I was an unpaid intern all summer. I went back there and did another internship and didn’t get paid anything.”

Working in the campaign and being a student was not an easy job for Walters. His typical day would consist of taking classes in the morning and working on the campaign until late at night. “On a Monday, I would have class early in the morning and then I would have an hour and a half break between my morning class and my afternoon class. So I would go back to the campaign and work for that hour and go back to school until like 3:30. After that I would go back to my campaign office. Sometimes, I would just sleep on the futon and I wouldn’t go home. It was quite the experience, but it paid off,” Walter said. The experience paid off with a full-time job on Capitol Hill. At the end of the campaign, the

day before Election Day, he was offered a job in Washington D.C. as a staff assistant. The work he will do in Washington is going to give him experience in a wide variety of areas. “You do everything as a staff assistant,” said Walter. “It’s not a specialized job. You do whatever needs to be done.” “I wouldn’t have gotten this if it wasn’t for the unpaid internship and the hard work that I did,” he said. “You really have to work hard and expect not to get paid. Especially if you’re in politics.” According to Federici, it is not every day that student receives this type of job. “They are very highly sought after by people from all over the country. [Congressmen] often

hire people anywhere, because hard working talented people want to be in Washington. The fact that Mike was able to reign in that competition is a testament to the kind of person he is,” he said. Walter plans to attend George Washington University and get his Masters in political management. and expects to keep working on campaigns in the future. Walter credits a lot of his success to his teachers who he claims made his achievements possible. “I learned a lot in all of their classes,” he said. “Without Dr. Federici, Dr. Peterson and Dr. Morris, I wouldn’t be here.” @TheMerciad

Fashion professor reaches out to urban youth By Amanda Moore Staff writer

Salina Bowe photo

Mollo instructs a student on the sewing machine. “If they are on a machine, they are happy,” she said.

Urban University, an Erie City Mission program created by RoseMarie Lackie, has come to Mercyhurst. Sixth, seventh and eighth graders from Wayne Middle School will come on campus every Wednesday for an 8-week semester schedule. Each semester has different classes for the students to experience, according to Erie City Mission’s website. However, the first class being taught at Mercyhurst is Abbey Mollo’s Fashion Merchandising class. Mollo, a Fashion Merchandising instructor at Mercyhurst, has volunteered her time to teach these students about fashion merchandising and how to make clothes. “Each class only has 10 students in it so that lends itself to a lot of hands-on activity and the ratio is two students for every one teacher, which is really good,” Mollo said. Each semester, they try to change the courses and theme to keep the lessons new and exciting. This semester’s theme is Dr. Seuss’ “Oh the Places You’ll Go.”

“We thought it was perfect to bring kids to a college campus because of this theme. Most of these kids would not have thought about going to college but having them here and seeing this beautiful campus the whole college environment,” Mollo said. The goal of the lessons is not just to encourage these students to go to college, but to mold them into more successful and confident individuals. “The whole idea is to build leaders in this community. These kids get a chance to participate in something that otherwise they would not have learned before,” Mollo said. While the program is faithbased because of the Erie City Mission, it is organized in a way that does not directly speak about religion. The classes use some ideas from faith practices, but keep it relevant to the lessons. “Where I put my faithbased approach in is looking at your body from an analytical standpoint. At 13 years old, you are so critical of yourself. That’s such a tough time and it’s just really important to get the message across is that no matter your skin

color, your eye color, your face shape-you’re perfect in God’s eyes because that is what he wanted you to have,” Mollo said. While she has an agenda of what she wants the students to get from the experience, the students had ideas of their own as well. “I came into the class with a little list of things I wanted to do, here’s a list of things I wanted to discuss. It wasn’t until I met them that I knew what they actually wanted to do,” Mollo said. “I spent the first day talking about personality types. The second half of the day, I gave them sheets of paper with designs on it and had them follow the line on the sewing machine and they loved it. If they are on a machine, they are happy.” Mollo is very optimistic about the future of her class and being able to reach the kids. “Every single one of them I asked at the end of the first day to raise their hands if they were more excited to sew than you ever were before and every single hand was raised,” she said.

related to student housing. However, the executive board encourages students to bring any and all issues to the attention of a senator or member of the executive board. “Housing has been an outgoing issue for the last couple of years and we would like to see some progress,” AJ Zahuranec, MSG Treasurer, said. In order for that progress to occur, they need to know what the issues are. Other issues on campus have come to the attention of MSG as well. “They do not have enough cameras to cover the parking lots,” Vice President Caleb Ohmer said. Every winter the snow makes driving in general and the parking lots more dangerous. The committees will be look into what can be done to effectively resolve this issue. If any student has an idea of

how to improve campus, the floor is now open for student proposals. Every year there is a budget allocated to student proposals. “Proposals are very open -ended. We have the budget for it and would like to use it,” Sarah Allen, faculty advisor, said. Students can speak with Allen for details on how to write a proposal. Upcoming events include Chocolate Night on Saturday, Feb. 14, at 8 p.m. in the Student Union in honor of Valentine’s Day. “It’s literally like Heaven,” said Student Activities Council Chair Michelle Farley. “Everything will be from Romolo’s chocolates plus a chocolate fountain from Parkhurst.”

@TheMerciad

MSG Report 2-9-2015

By Melanie Todd Staff writer

On Monday, Feb. 16, at 7:30 p.m., the Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG) will hold its Spring Forum for contracted services in the Student Union Great Room. Free pizza will be available and all are encouraged to attend. This forum will be able to address maintenance, dining hall and mailroom services on campus as well as any other contracted services. “If you do have a problem with any of the services, it’s important to bring them to me in order for me to bring them to the next level,” MSG President Nick Latta said. The Tuesday following the forum, Latta will bring the criticism before the Board of Trustees. This forum is not for issues

@TheMerciad

Admiral Laker’s Police Brief

Admiral Laker could get used to these two week breaks but Mrs. Laker is breathing down his neck to bring home a paycheck so it’s back to the weekly run down of Mercyhurst crime. First, on Jan. 31, a student was cited for vandalism in the Duval Apartments. The Phish poster was summarily burned. On Feb. 2, police cited someone for criminal mischief in Old Main Circle. The Mercyhurst police did not provide any additional infor-

mation but Admiral Laker thinks it’s safe to assume the malcontent parked in the circle that, due to inefficient snow removal, became impassable. Admiral Laker applauds the public flogging that surely accompanied such a ghoulish grid-locker. Similarly, on Feb. 1 (but the case was not closed until Feb. 3), there was a criminal mischief citation in Lot 8. Does Mercyhurst have an epidemic of grid lockers? Admiral Laker will let you be the judge,

Constant Reader. There was a theft in Egan Hall on Feb. 2. and an underage citation on Briggs Avenue on Feb. 7. Admiral Laker already wants to go back on a twoweek break from publishing. Descending into the depths of dastardly deeds every week is well on its way to wearing Admiral Laker out. Plus, it leaves Admiral Laker less time to practice his alliteration. @TheMerciad

February 11, 2015

Page 3

The Merciad

Features Bishop, students have Q&A BSU hosts ‘Black Lives’ series

By Darcie Kuchcinski Contributing writer

The conference room at Gannon University held over 80 people as Erie Bishop Lawrence Persico answered a variety of questions from students on Friday night, Feb. 6, at the 10th annual Student Q&A Dinner with the Bishop of Erie. The evening began at 5 p.m. as students from the campus ministries of Clarion, Edinboro, Gannon, Mercyhurst, Mercyhurst North East and Penn State Behrend gathered on the campus at Gannon University. After a brief introduction and prayer, the attendants dined on a buffet-style meal and had an informal discussion with Persico about issues facing the Catholic Church. “The Bishop does this every year, which is nice for the student’s to get to know him in a relaxed atmosphere, as well as the Catholic faith better,” according to Greg Baker director of Campus Ministry at Mercyhurst. Though the event has been held for over 10 years, the venue has always been different. Last year, the event was held at Penn State Behrend, and two years ago, the dinner was held at Mercyhurst. Initial questions ranged from Persico’s favorite holiday

By Nadine Marte Contributing writer

Darcie Kuchcinski photo

Campus Ministry Director Greg Baker, junior Michael Best, sophomore Mathew Jury, Bishop Persico, and junior Jenny Santiago stand after an open discussion dinner held at Gannon University on Friday, Feb. 6.

to his favorite saint. A student from Clarion asked if he had been to Rome and met the pope. As the evening progressed, the topic of the Church’s stance on abortion arose. When asked about the use of abortion for situations involving rape or incest, Persico said the Catholic Church believes

“life is precious regardless of the circumstance. The child is just as much a victim as the woman.” When asked about measures taken against Church leaders involved in sexual abuse, Persico said the diocese holds “a no tolerance policy when it comes to sexual abuse.” “We have a good relation-

ship with the DA and if an allegation is brought to my attention, the diocese will do everything in its power to remove the person, not only from the diocese, but also from the ministry,” Persico added. One question centered on the Church’s views of homosexuality.

“Every person is loved by God,” Persico said. “Our first concern is to the person and helping them develop and mold their faith.”

@TheMerciad

Bailey the dog gives ‘puppy love’ to students By Emani Burton Staff writer

Since 2012, Bailey has been a consistent canine presence at Mercyhurst’s Cohen Health Center. While some students may have visited the lower offices of the Wellness Center for medical services, the Center helps to provide mental and emotional support for students as well. The Center houses a relaxation room which students are free to enter Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Resident therapy dog, Bailey, will be there to greet them. Bailey, a four-year-old Havenese, is both a consummate professional and loving companion, according Judy Smith, Ph.D., director of the Mercyhurst Wellness Center. Smith has raised and trained Bailey since he was eight weeks old. “I’ve brought him to work with me every day since,” Smith said. This dedication to Mercyhurst is not purely for fun, however. Bailey has a job to do. He serves as a therapy dog to Mercyhurst students. “Studies have shown that therapy dogs can lower anxiety and improve the moods of

Jonah Jackson photo

Bailey the therapy dog spends most days in the Relaxation Room located in the Cohen Health Center on campus.

patients,” said Smith. “Animal therapy is well known in the mental health profession.” Therapeutic animal interaction is particularly popular in the armed forces and nursing home environments, according to Smith. “There are even therapy cats,” Smith said. However,

the introduction of cats to Mercyhurst is unlikely. Bailey was chosen in particular because of his Havenese breed. Members of the Bichon family, Havenese are known for their gentle temperament, medium size and hypoallergenic fur. “They are generally quiet

and not aggressive,” Smith said. Smith chose Bailey after researching therapy animals with the help of her granddaughter, Bethany Robertson, a Mercyhurst senior. Together, they raised and trained Bailey to recognize loud sounds, emotional distress and respond to obedience commands. An avid dog lover, Smith has two other pets, a Havenese and a German Shepherd mix that keep Bailey company away from the school. Regardless of his breeding, Bailey has always been special. “He was born like a little Buddha,” said Smith. She does not believe that her other companions have what it takes to be mental health professionals. Smith was initially inspired to introduce therapy dogs to the Mercyhurst Wellness Center after the unfortunate death of a dance major nearly four years ago. “We borrowed therapy dogs from another Wellness Center in the area, and students responded very well. It was a positive experience for us,” Smith said. Bailey currently has big plans for his future. He and Smith hope to complete his

certification as a crisis dog, where he can extend his services to large groups of people during disasters. “I want him to take one more obedience course before the test,” Smith said. She and Bailey have been steadily training with the help of some Mercyhurst students. Smith appreciates all of the effort that Bailey and others have been investing in his progress. She does not mind student involvement. “It is important to note that therapy dogs are not service dogs,” said Smith. “These dogs do not help handicapped people or track drugs. They provide emotional support and companionship.” Bailey recently hosted an open house at the Wellness Center this past Wednesday, Feb. 4. He, along with the rest of the Wellness staff, are happy to welcome students to come the center every Wednesday for special events focused on holistic heath education and treatment.

@TheMerciad

Class ‘dives deep’ into Belize during J-term By Victoria Kreysar Staff writer

While some students and faculty remained on campus during the J-term in the snowy Erie weather, some had the opportunity to study in warmer climates. An Aquatic Ecology class composed of 30 students and six faculty members spent 12 days traveling and studying in Belize City, Belize. The country is located on the eastern coast of the Caribbean in Central America and had temperatures in the 70s and 80s

during the time the class was there. The class, organized by Randall Howarth, Ph.D., split into two groups, one staying at an Eco-Tourism lodge and the other at the University of Belize marine biology station on Calabash Caye. Students had the opportunity to spend time in the jungle, visiting the Mayan sites of Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave, Caracol, and Xuantunich. They zip-lined and cave tubed as well. This is the first time the trip has been offered, but Howarth is already planning the next trip for 2017.

Ian Hausner, a junior Public History major who attended the study abroad trip, said the expeditions through the caves in Belize involved squeezing through tight spaces, including a crevice known as “the self-decapitator” due to a sharp edge protruding out at the neck level. “I know Indiana Jones isn’t real, but you feel just like him, climbing through there to find the archaeological sites,” Hausner said. The Belize Barrier Reef is the longest in the Western Hemisphere and second longest in the world after the

Great Barrier Reef. Students were able to go snorkeling on the reef and in mangroves right off the Belizean coast. Brianna Flynn, a junior, commented on how interesting it was to see the wildlife. “You would look at the pictures of different fish and stuff in textbooks, and then suddenly you get to see them in real life under the water,” Flynn said. “It was incredible.” Sara Turner, Ph.D., an assistant professor of biology, said her favorite part of the trip was when one of the groups went snorkeling for conch,

and upon collecting several served them up for dinner in the form of ceviche, a raw seafood dish marinated in lime or lemon juice and spices and served as an appetizer. Jamie Borowicz, Ph.D., an adjunct faculty member for the Archaeology department who attended the trip, said that the worst part of the experience was simply “landing in Cleveland in 10 degree weather after two weeks in the tropics.”

@TheMerciad

Mercyhurst University’s Black Students for Unity (BSU) club kicked off Black History Month this past Tuesday, Feb. 3, with a film series and panel discussion event titled “Black Lives Matter.” The evening began with a viewing of “Panther,” a 1995 film documenting the Black Panther movement of the 1960s. After the film, the event featured an open forum, and members of the Erie community, along with Mercyhurst students had plenty to discuss. Education, occupation, misconceptions of the black community and white privilege were prevalent topics throughout the evening, along with how the minority community is being portrayed by the media.

“

The black struggle is more geared toward getting resources. Kennethea Wilson

”

According to junior Kennethea Wilson, BSU president, by the end of the Black Lives Matter series, the members of BSU hope to highlight and prove the importance of change is something that needs to be distinguished. “My goal ultimately is to make sure it is not about black people trying to have different laws changed,” Wilson said. “The black struggle is more geared toward getting resources.” The event was just one of a series of events that BSU plans on hosting throughout the month of February in an attempt to bring students together to advocate for social issues that minority groups are faced with. “As long as you advocate for the prosperity and unity of people of all sorts of color then you can be part of this group,” Wilson said. BSU will be hosting a Sweetheart Dinner on Valentine’s Day, Feb. which will feature live entertainment and soul food in the Mercy Heritage Room. Individual tickets are $8 and couples tickets are $12. On Feb. 21, there will be a ’90s throwback party where students are encouraged to dress up in the garb of their favorite ’90s R&B or Hip Hop artist in the Student Union Great Room. During the panel, the topic of occupation in the minority community was discussed, as well as the need for minority communities to be assertive in obtaining goals and finding justice. “If you want something in this world, you have to take it,” said Petrina Marrero, BSU adviser and director of the Mercyhurst Multicultural Center. “I don’t mean steal it, I mean make it your own and replicate it.”

@TheMerciad

The Merciad

Page 4

Features

February 11, 2015

Conservationist speaks on Painted Dog

By Ryan Kushner Features editor

For the past 26 years, Greg Rasmussen, Ph.D., has dedicated his career to the conservation of the African Painted Dog. This past Friday, Feb. 6, in an event sponsored by Mercyhurst’s Biology and Education departments along with the Erie Zoo, Rasmussen shared his research and experiences with the Painted Dog to a crowded Zurn 114 lecture hall. With a bushy beard, a tan, wrinkled vest-jacket and dark eyes that lit up with excitement when talking about the habits of the Painted Dog, Rasmussen seemed to have all the qualities one might imagine of a man who has dedicated his life to the conservation of wildlife. According to Rasmussen, there are currently 4,000 to 6,000 African Painted Dogs currently in the wild, a number which has increased in recent years, but not enough to take them off of the endangered species list. “Ultimately, we all know that our wildlife is shrinking,” said Rasmussen. “Habitats are declining. But together if we want to make something happen, we can.” Rasmussen hails from Zimbabwe in the south of Africa where he works at the Hwange National Park. He

is currently touring zoos and schools in the United States to raise funds and awareness for conservation, as well as educational projects in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. He spoke about the prejudice that surrounded the Painted Dog, which had often been depicted as a dangerously vicious carnivore, and ultimately played a role in the wide-spread slaughtering of the animal by ranchers in Africa. “It’s important to look at history before you start to move forward,” said Rasmussen. “Know what’s on. It’s the same with a person. If you don’t know their history, you’re never going to understand them.” Rasmussen went to great lengths to understand the Painted Dog, including following and living closely with packs for three years at a time. “I took pack of dogs and I studied the hell out of them. Wherever they went, I went,” Rasmussen said. Despite his 26 years of familiarization with the species, Rasmussen continues to be surprised by the uniqueness of the Painted Dog. “I’m still learning things. It’s like pulling the slot machine. I get my rewards when I learn something new, or something new happens,” Rasmussen said. What Rasmussen learned during his intense study of the social life of Painted Dogs

drew several sighs from the audience. Roaming in packs that range from five to 20, painted dogs are one of the few speaies where there is no fighting, according to Rasmussen. The dogs are able to do this by practicing what Rasmussen has labeled “Preemptive Conflict Resolution.” They accomplish this by noisily greeting one another individually each morning. “It’s absolute chaos,” said Rasmussen, smiling. “But by doing that, conflict doesn’t occur.” Painted Dog packs have one alpha pair, as opposed to a dominant pair to rule the pack, according to Rasmussen. They choose their leaders democratically when they are pups. “We’re smart,” said Rasmussen. “We steal lots of ideas from nature, and we should keep stealing them, because nature has got a lot to offer us.” The pack likewise dedicates its time and energy toward working together to protect and raise its pups, and look out for one another when sick. “They care for each other deeply,” Rasmussen said of the dogs’ dedication to one another. “They are probably one of the most impressive social animals.” Rasmussen and his foundations, the Painted Dog Conservation (PDC) and the Painted Dog Research Trust

Nhi Tran photo

Greg Rasmussen, Ph.D., stands by a sign for his Protect the Pack Initiative after speaking with students about African Painted Dog Conservation this past Friday, Feb. 6.

(PDRT), are currently working on a solution to deaths caused by set snares that the dogs get caught in, which wrap around their necks. He is in the test period of a metal collar designed to prevent cuts and strangulation. Rasmussen was also rais-

ing funds for a Children’s Bush Camp to teach primary schools to focus on conservation. “Good conservation is not learned in cities, it’s learned in the field,” Rasmussen said. The Erie Zoo sold paintings done by Painted Dogs to sup-

port Rasmussen’s mission of conservation. “Conservation has to be creative,” said Rasmussen. “Our weapon has to be that we care.” @TheMerciad

Student to present essay at international conference By Jose Nufio Staff writer

Mercyhurst Junior Zachary Yost will present his senior thesis at the Austrian Student Scholars Conference at Grove City College Feb. 20-21. His essay, titled “Cognitive Dissonance, Envy, and the Psychological Roots of Anti-Liberalism,” will compete this year with students from colleges and universities across the country and around the world for cash prizes that go up to $1,500. The conference will be hosted by the Ludwig von Mises Institute, an educational institution devoted to the ideals of Austrian economics and classical liberalism. Yost found out about the conference when it came across his Facebook newsfeed as part of the Mises Institute blog. He decided to apply his senior thesis once completed. After finishing it over the J-term, he submitted it on Jan. 15 and was accepted just two hours after submission. The achievement was no surprise to Yost’s thesis advisor,

Chair of the Political Science Department, Michael Federici, Ph.D. “He hustles, he works hard, he has a very strong work ethic and he is undaunted by challenges,” said Federici. “He seems to have endless energy to get involved in things and even to be the person who is responsible for them and organize them.” Yost, a Political Science major with minors in history and Economics, follows the principles of libertarianism or classical liberalism (described as liberalism in his essay). Libertarianism is the ideology that people should be free to do live their lives completely free from interference as long as their actions do not violate the freedom and property of others, according to Yost. Yost’s essay looks at what motivates anti-liberalism and explains how the sentiment of anti-liberalism by groups such as progressives, is a result of cognitive dissonance and envy. In the essay, Yost claims that anti-liberalism rises when attempting to reduce dissonance created by an inability

to cope with reality. The way that anti-liberals deal with that dissonance is by believing that they can change the structure of reality. According to Yost, liberalism is about adjusting oneself to reality. “I connect envy as basically the root of this dissonance,” said Yost. “Envy is the root of the inability to cope with reality. It’s because of this inability to cope with reality that manifests itself as envy. Therefore humans have to relieve this dissonance. “The new cognition, which is at the root of anti-liberalism, is that humans can change the structure of reality. “The spiritual sickness, or pneumopathology, will say that I can change reality so that I won’t feel bad about my inability and my inadequacies to change reality.” Yost plans to continue expanding and editing his thesis with Federici throughout the rest of the spring term. Eventually, he hopes to submit it for publication. This is not the first time Yost has presented an essay at event of this magnitude. Last year, his paper regarding the

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Junior political science major Zachary Yost will present his essay at the Austrian Student Scholars Conference later this month.

role in property right in agriculture in Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union, between peasant emancipation in 1861 to Stalin’s death 1952 was presented to the History honors society, the European East and West Symposium in Pittsburgh and the Students for Liberty and Institute for Humane Studies Student

Research Symposium in Philadelphia. Yost will graduate as a junior this spring and begin working at the Charles Koch Institute as part of its associate program over the summer. He is currently searching for a career through the program at a partner organization, which will include other free market

think-tanks and institutions. Yost is currently the president and founder of the Mercyhurst Liberty League, a student club promoting free market and libertarian ideals.

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Are you keeping up with your New Year’s Resolution? Need a new way to keep active? Try the Walk the Hurst Program. There are several different routes that take only 10 minutes. Complete the routes three times a day to get the recommended amount of activity to help reduce the risk of cardiovascular and other related diseases.

The Merciad

February 11, 2015

Page 5

Arts &

Entertainment

Juried Student Art Show opening soon By Tory Kreysar

Staff writer

Students can then take their best projects and enter them in the Juried Student Art Show, an annual art competition open to all Mercyhurst students. Every year, a guest judge called a Juror, (the “juried” part of the art show) assesses the artwork and selects pieces

he or she feels are most creative, the best quality, representative of talent, etc. The pieces chosen are then put on display in the Juried Student Art Show. This year the juror is Amara Geffen, an artist and community organizer. In addition, she teaches at Allegheny College in Meadville, PA. Amara will be at Mercyhurst on Feb. 13 to judge the artwork, a process that will take

her several hours. The pieces entered into the Juried Student Art Show range drastically in their medium of choice. Artworks range from pencil drawings, digital photographs, mixed media, ceramics, paintings, etc. Students can enter up to three works in any media they choose, with the only rule being that it must be a work of art created within the last

two years at Mercyhurst. All years and all majors are allowed to enter the art show, making for a show filled with quite a large range of media and pieces entered. The show offers a chance for students and faculty to view the artwork that their classmates have created over the course of the year. Heather Dana, the director of the Cummings Art Gallery, said, “These diverse art-

works also reflect on what an accomplished art faculty we have here at Mercyhurst University.” She encourages everyone to stop by the gallery during hours: Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on the weekends from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. Admission is always free. The show will be running from Feb. 16 through March 15, 2015.

Students and faculty are encouraged to stop by the Cummings Art Gallery and view the incredible artwork being shown for free. In addition there is an open reception held Thursday, Feb. 19 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. This event is free; everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend. @tory_krey

Powerful ‘Selma’ wows, disappoints Academy By Dennis Arthur

Cinema Club President

On the morning of the Academy Award nomination announcements, many were bewildered to find the film “Selma” received only two nominations, leaving director Ava DuVernay and lead actor

David Oyelowo without a single nomination. “Selma” is too excellent of a film to not have received several nominations. Her sophomore effort, director Ava DuVernay paints a moving portrait of the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting rights marches, an event which was not only a water-

shed period in American history, but also in the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The film takes us behind the scenes, showing the power struggles within this nationwide movement, as well as the intricate relationship between the government and the leaders of the movement. British actor David

Oyelowo, who plays MLK, gives a riveting performance reminiscent of Denzel Washington’s Oscar-nominated performance in the film “Malcom X.” Not only does he masterfully portray the face of the Civil Rights movement, but he also works to portray the man that is MLK.

His fears, insecurities and personal troubles are all brought to life on screen by Oyelowo. The supporting cast, which includes Oprah Winfrey as Annie Lee Cooper and Tom Wilkinson as Lyndon B. Johnson, are also worthy of praise for their delicate portrayal of key figures in this era.

Overall, “Selma” is a brilliant movie. It is also the first film to dutifully portray Dr. Martin Luther King, as the film Lincoln did for Abraham Lincoln and the film “Malcolm X” did for Malcolm X. I give this film a rating of 9.5 out of 10.

‘Rebels’ playing at TLT ‘Whiplash’ thrills viewers By Naomi Greenstein

By Dennis Arthur

Though piles of snow continue to fall on our beautiful campus, this week’s movie at Taylor Little Theatre will make digging out your car worth the trouble. The film, “Rebels With a Cause,” tells the story of a regional California effort that grew into a system of 14 National Seashores — the result of garden clubs, farmers, conservationists and volunteers working together through compromise and negotiation. Unconvinced by land developers who promoted residential construction as progress, citizens began banding together to preserve open spaces for parks and farms — and took the fight all the way to the White House. This film illustrates a fascinating example of a hard fought campaign to preserve something important to all of

Once a year, there are a few independent films that blow critics and audiences away. One such film is the new movie, “Whiplash.” “Whiplash” tells the story of a jazz drummer, played by Miles Teller, who strives to be like his idol Buddy Rich. The road to achieving this is heavily paved with just one obstacle, his fearsome teacher Terrence Fletcher, played by J.K. Simmons. There are many parts of this movie that make it so great. Director Damien Chazelle directs this jazz movie with the tenacity of an action movie director. The performances in this movie, however, are as good as performances get. Miles Teller gives it his all in this film with his performance as Andrew Neiman being enchanting, yet relatable. He portrays the strife that

Staff writer

Cinema Club President

rebelsdocumentray.org photo

“Rebels with a Cause” will be playing at Taylor Little Theatre.

us — our public land. It is a powerful tool to illustrate that the personal is political, and the local is global. “Rebels” is a feel-good cinematic experience that conveys an inspiring truth about how ordinary individuals have the power to change the rules. The film was shown at the Ecofalante Environmental Film Festival to great appeal.

The film will be shown on Friday, Feb. 13 at 7:30 p.m. The filmmaker will be present for a discussion following the film, so be sure to stay after for a chat. Tickets are available at Taylor Little Theatre and are $1 for students with their Mercyhurst student ID. @naomiruth29

cinercia.es photo

“Whiplash is sure to thrill audiences with its acting and direction.

many people go through to be the best at what they do. The best part of this film, however, is J.K. Simmons. Simmons completely transforms into every student’s worst nightmare. His performance as a jazz teacher who pushes his students beyond their limits is so riveting, and entertaining, yet

scary at the same time. “Whiplash” is everything expected from an independent movie; inspiring, intimate and genuine. This contender for the Academy Award for Best Picture is without a doubt one of the best films of 2014. I give this film a rating of 9.5 out of 10.

All Around Erie: Theatre, Comedy and Nature Edition By Megan Pacileo

Arts and Entertainment editor

Bill Engvall

Online

Dusty Guitar Promotions is proud to announce that comedian Bill Engvall will perform at the Warner Theatre on Friday, Feb. 13. The thing that makes any entertainer successful is the ability to connect with an audience, and it is this quality of sharing the humor in everyday situations that has made Bill Engvall one of the top comedians today. Bill has hosted numerous television shows, including the show LINGO for GSN, Country Fried Videos and Mobile Home Disasters for CMT, as well as several award shows. He had a 3-episode arc on the TNT show “Hawthorne,” narrated a documentary for the Speed Channel on Darrel Waltrip and starred in the Hallmark Channel movie “Kiss at Pine Lake.” Bill was part of the enormously successful Blue Collar Comedy concert films, which are some of the most watched movies and special in Comedy Central history. The soundtrack for Blue Collar Comedy Tour- “One For The Road” was also nominated for a Grammy Award. Along with his Blue Collar movies, Bill has several solo specials which aired on Comedy Central, including Aged and Confused, Live.

He recently reunited with Jeff Foxworthy and Larry the Cable Guy on the “Them Idiots Whirled Tour,” which was filmed as a special for CMT and aired in March of 2012 as well as “15° Off Cool” and “Here’s Your Sign.” He will be performing at 8 p.m. Ticket prices run from only $39 to $59. Tickets can be purchased at www.erieevents. com, or by visitng the Erie Insurance Arena box office For information, call (814)452-4857.

‘Murder Among Friends’ at Erie Station Dinner Theatre The Erie Station Dinner Theatre brings the game of Clue to life in this murder comedy. Take an aging, exceedingly vain actor, his very rich wife and a double-dealing, double-loving agent and plunk them down in an elegant New York duplex, add dialogue crackling with wit and laughs and what do you have? The basic elements for an evening of pure, sophisticated entertainment! A murder occurs, but none of the planned ones. Enjoy a delicious dinner as you try to solve the mystery and discovery the murderer. The show will take place Friday, Feb 13 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Erie Station Dinner Theatre. For information, call (814)864-2022.

Full list of events can be found on the PAC website

Agatha Christie’s Witness For The Prosecution” All An Act Theatre presents a play by the Mistress of Suspense: Agatha Christie. Leonard Vole is arrested for the murder of a wealthy older widow, named Emily French. Since Mrs. French made him her principal heir, not aware that he was a married man, things look bad for Leonard’s defense. But the final blow comes when his wife, Romaine, agrees to testify, not in Leonard’s defense, but as a witness for the prosecution. Can he escape the hangman’s noose? The play runs from Feb 13 to March 7 with shows starting at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Theatre Box office. For information, call (814)450-8553.

Erie Playhouse presents ‘The Addams Family’ Come see the beloved television come to life when the Erie Playhouse puts on “The Addams Family.” In this magnificently macabre musical comedy, Wednesday Addams, the ultimate princess of darkness, has grown up and fallen in love with a sweet, smart young man from a respectable family, a man her parents have never met.

View upcoming performances: www.miac.mercyhurst.edu

And if that was not upsetting enough, she begs her father not to tell her mother. Now, Gomez Addams must keep a secret from his beloved wife, Morticia. Everything will change for the whole family on the fateful night they host a dinner for Wednesday’s “normal” boyfriend and his parents. The show runs from Feb 13-28. Tickets can be purchased from the Erie Playhouse Box Office. For information, call (814)454-2852.

Nature’s Relationships Presque Isle

Presque Isle State Park will take people on an adventure across the park to teach hikers about the plants that grow on Presque Isle. There are many unique relationships between flora and fauna found in the natural world. Discover these amazing natural wonders with a Park Naturalist for a two-mile walk on Old Gas Well Trail, Duck Pond Trail and the beach. Hikers will meet at the Rotary Pavilion. Make sure to dress for the outdoors. There is no registration or fee to participate. The hike is on Feb 14 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. For information, call (814)833-7424. @MeganPacileo

www.merciad.mercyhurst.edu/ arts_entertainment

February 11, 2015

The Merciad

Page 6

Opinion

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

Ineffective snow removal should yield policy change By Victoria Kreysar Staff writer

Anyone who has ever spent an extended period of time here in Erie knows that it snows for what feels like an eternity. So why is removing the snow a problem every year when we know it’s coming? There is an obvious feeling of frustration and disenchantment with the condition of sidewalks and parking lots. Surprisingly, West Briggs, 38th Street, parking lot 4 and the bookstore parking lot are all contracted to an outside firm. East Briggs to Lewis, including the 41st Street townhouses are contracted to

another firm. The question then is: Why are we paying firms who are incapable of doing a good job at clearing roads?

“

Don’t pride yourself on never closing the gates when the road to get through them is unavigable.

”

Victoria Kreysar.

Around campus, it’s maintenance’s job to clear snow. Workers often arrive no later than 5 a.m. to remove snow when a storm hits; that being said there are only six groundskeepers to do the job. This year, the salt manu-

facturer has cut Mercyhurst’s allotment, causing a shortage not only here but at North East as well. Equipment to remove large quantities of snow is often rented — only we are unable to rent certain ones until the end of February. Furthermore, Mercyhurst has no specific instructions when it comes to snow removal; maintenance tries to focus on the areas around academic buildings. “We cannot always achieve this during persistent snow fall,” said Ken Stepherson, the general manager of facility services. He also added, “there is no way to keep things clear all the time during a storm,” specifically a storm like the one we

had last week. Asking six people to clear an entire campus is a tall task, especially when we have lake effect snow. They would basically have to work 48 hours straight to keep things perfectly clean, which calls into serious question some of Mercyhurst’s policies. If Mercyhurst insists on refusing to call a snow day, they need to make it safe for us to get to class or rethink some of their policies. Don’t pride yourself on never closing the gates when the road to get through them is unnavigable.

@tory_krey

Super Bowl commercials target hearts, have less laughs this year By Emani Burton Staff writer

Once charted as the second most popular video in the United States, a Nationwide insurance commercial certainly has people talking. Dubbed #Makeitsafe Nationwide’s 47-second marketing nightmare is estimated to have cost over 4.5 million for permission to show during Super Bowl. Nationwide is best known for its heartwarming and emotional commercials, depicting testimonials from victims of theft, natural disasters and fraud. They always end with the catchy jingle, “Nationwide is on your side.” When the commercial ended with closing images of a dead child included, viewers, were outraged. With more than 18,000 dislikes on YouTube alone, I’m in good company. There is no time that a dead

child commercial would ever be appropriate to Super Bowl viewers. However, this level of hatred and infamy for the Make It Safe commercial could not have been possible without the legacy of highly emotional, politicized and idealized commercials that came before. Super Bowl 2014 graced viewers with Doritos time machines and patriotic pistachios, commercials that were funny. Unfortunately, 2015 Super Bowl sponsors were just serious, period. We viewed heartfelt fathers bonding with their children, pondered the meaning of existence with Mathew McConaughey in car ads and promised #Nomore domestic and sexual abuse. Let’s not forget the important anti-bullying campaign by Coca cola and pay with Love movement from McDonald’s. Needless to say, 2015 gave

people a lot more than nachos to chew on. Perhaps Nationwide hoped its commercial would be taken lightly like many other immature Super Bowl gags of the past. Maybe they hoped that its commercial would invoke the same emotion that are typical of its advertisements. While other companies tugged on heartstrings, Nationwide assaulted its customers with a series of highly disturbing images. Now Nationwide is cleaning up its own house, as the commercial has become an ugly stain on its public relations record. One YouTuber, Mark Dice, summed up the thoughts of many: “Football fans want fantasy, not reality. They hate this commercial because it reminds them of the lives they hope to turn off during the Super Bowl.” Football has always been equal parts American pastime and distraction. We tune in

to tune out the demands and pressures that Monday brings. We imagine each team as tough gladiators, but if the Super Bowl is a gladiator fight, we, like the Romans before us, ignore and forget the harsh realities of our entertainment. For example, the fact that many NFL athletes make more than 10 times our nations leader, that current criminal offenses are often ignored, covered up or minimally prosecuted and that the NFL is a tax exempt organization, similar to nonprofits and religious orders. The Nationwide commercial broke the fantasy – that’s why people are angry. We won’t even begin to discuss how Nationwide insurance can’t prevent children from getting killed in accidents. That’s another story entirely.

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Valentine’s Day: Love or marketing? By Mariano Lagos Contributing writer

Online

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, people everywhere have probably decided already on the right present to give to their significant other. Stores have stocked up on teddy bears, chocolate, and several other amorous motifs, ready to help out desperate lovers. While it is assumed we understand what Valentine’s Day is all about, the truth is Valentine’s Day bears a deeper, more sentimental meaning. People also refer to Valentine’s Day as the day of romance. However, Valentine’s Day is much more than romantic love. The feast is named after a

Christian saint named Valentinus, who – according to legend – officiated weddings on February 14, and who later became a martyr and died in Rome. The historical accuracy of the legend of Saint Valentinus has become less relevant today, as Valentine’s Day is about showing love and affection. Naturally, the celebration has been commercialized like many other feasts (e.g. Christmas, Halloween), and people have grown less interested in understanding and practicing its true meaning, and have focused more on its material and traditional implications: exchange of gifts between lovers. While giving or receiving gifts is not wrong, it is fundamental that we understand Valentine’s is the day to

show our affection to everybody who has supported us and loved us at any point in our lives. Valentine’s is not and should not be exclusively about our love for our significant other. Love is an umbrella term used to describe different forms of affection we feel and express on different levels to people, objects or ideas, and Valentine’s Day the day of love should honor love in all its forms. At the end of the day, although a lover may come and go, our parents will always be our parents and our true friends will always be there for us. Love is not selfish, so why not share it with others on Valentine’s Day? We live busy lives nowadays, and it is very easy to