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NEWS
Wednesday, February 23, 2022
To the Mercyhurst Student Body To the Mercyhurst Student Body, On February 9, 2022, we read the Merciad article, “What it is really like being a Black student at Mercyhurst.” We were deeply moved. So much so, we want to make sure you hear, publicly, from the elected representatives of the faculty senate (now), and then more from the wider faculty in short time.
We hear you. We thought we were listening, but we weren’t listening. Our classrooms must never be places for words of hate, places that you fear. Our classrooms must be as intended at Mercyhurst University: spaces of learning and dialogue. Sometimes the things we study will make us uncomfortable, but no one should ever be made to feel
unsafe. We can promise you that we are listening. Anti-racism requires more of us as a collective group of faculty. Anti-racism requires us to be persistent and always attentive. Anti-racism requires us to listen and acknowledge our mistakes so that we can learn from them. We’re listening, and we acknowledge the important role that faculty have
in correcting these wrongs. We can’t control everything, but we can control the language we use in our classes. So, too, we want you to know that the faculty senate will be drafting a resolution of anti-racism—one that recommends actionable steps, and one which will provide the wider faculty an opportunity to sign their name and support. Sincerely,
The Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate, Dr. Richard W. McCarty, President Dr. Alice Edwards, Vice President Dr. Michael Elnitksy Dr. Averill Earls Dr. EmmaLeigh Kirchner Dr. Phil Belfiore
Student chosen for scholarship and summer internship in London By Hannah Brooks Features editor
A Mercyhurst student has made a very honorable and exciting accomplishment. Devon Daniels, senior Risk Management and Finance major, has earned a scholarship for an internship this summer in London. Daniels was chosen by the Wholesale & Specialty Insurance Association (WSIA) as the J.H. Blades Scholar for 2022. According to the WSIA website, the organization is a “worldclass member service organization representing the entirety of the wholesale, specialty, and surplus lines industry.” In addition to Daniels’ studies and hard work in his classes, he also is a part of the hockey team at Mercyhurst. In 2019, he was recognized as an Atlantic Hockey (ACHA) All-American Student Athlete of the Year. Additionally, he was named the Presque Isle CPCU Society Chapter Scholar for 2019 and 2021. Daniels enjoys playing on the team and will continue to play hockey after graduating as well. “I plan on pursuing my hockey career post-graduation,” said Daniels. “Many of my most notable experiences that I have had
during my time at Mercyhurst include all the time spent on the rink and playing hockey with my teammates.” Daniels is also the president of the Risk Management & Insurance Club at Mercyhurst. Per the Mercyhurst website, the purpose of the RSCO is to “promote, encourage, and sustain student interest in insurance, risk management, and actuarial science as professions; to encourage the high moral and scholastic attainments of its members; and to facilitate interactions of educational institutions and industry by forecasting research activities, scholarship, and improved public relations.” In addition to his skills on the ice rink, Daniels also works hard in all of his classes and focuses a lot on his studying, which did not go unnoticed by the professors who worked with him. “He is always very well-prepared and does well in class,” said Mark Simpson, professor and program director of the Finance program. “What impresses me most is the project performance. He is very meticulous about completeness, timeliness, and accuracy, most of the time with very little guidance.” “I found Devon to be persistent
and determined,” said Mahtab Athari, Ph.D., assistant Finance professor. “He was motivated and focused during class, and he recognized the importance of a strong work ethic and intellectual inquiry.” Daniels also added that he also enjoyed having the opportunity to work with Gary Sullivan, Ph.D., who was the former director of the F.W. Hirt Erie Insurance Risk Management program at Mercyhurst. The award was an honor for Daniels to receive, and he recognizes the work and dedication that he put in. “I was truly honored and proud to receive this award,” said Daniels. “I put in a lot of hard work in school and through the summer internship.” Daniels also recognizes the people and experiences that he had along the way that helped to get him to where he is currently. He notes that his professors, classes, and experiences at Mercyhurst helped pave the way and give him valuable knowledge both for his internship, and after graduation. “I am extremely grateful for the experiences and people I worked with, especially my mentors and WSIA for their guidance and support,” said Daniels.
Contributed photo
Devon Daniels was just awarded a scholarship and summer internship in London.
Daniels’ internship will take place in London, England on a three-week, all-expenses-paid trip abroad. Daniels’ accomplishment is one that is honorable and de-
serves to be applauded, and his accomplishments and hard work as a student are a huge honor to Mercyhurst.
Laker Leader applications open now By Maiya Harding Staff writer
Laker Leader applications opened Feb. 14 and with more than ample time to apply, it is important to consider doing so. Those selected to be an RA for the upcoming semester, may not want to read on; the dates are conflicting, and students are not able to be both. For everyone else, Laker Leaders are essentially Mercyhurst’s welcome committee for first year students. As a Laker Leader, your responsibility is to assist with summer orientation and New Student Welcome. This involves getting to know incoming students and making them feel like Hurst is Home
immediately through games, activities, small group discussions, ice breakers and more. Additionally, Laker Leaders are responsible for helping a faculty member teach an Intro to Mercyhurst (or IMU) class in both the Fall and Spring semesters. Occasionally, they are asked to do additional activities through the Division of Student Life, to further welcome new students to campus. Those interested should show strong school spirit and embody what it means to be a Laker. In addition to loving our campus, ideal candidates are those who show enthusiasm and dedication not only to schoolwork, but involvement outside of the classroom. Basic requirements are: being a
full-time, undergraduate student, having a 2.75 or greater GPA, and to be in good conduct standing with no serious sanctions, and to attend all meetings, trainings, and retreats. Students applying should also have a foundation of leadership skills, be committed to Mercyhurst’s values and mission, be able to work in diverse groups effectively, and have a desire to help other students. Through the training and experience, students will further their leadership and interpersonal communication skills. It is an overall rewarding experience to make students feel comfortable in a new environment. If this sounds interesting, the first info night is March 3 at 6 p.m. The
final application is due March 16 by noon. The application itself is easy and can be completed quickly. Students will need to provide two Mercyhurst faculty or staff members names as references, so be sure to ask a professor. It can be found by clicking the Laker Leader flier on the main student hub page. Current Laker Leader and junior, Curtis Elder, spoke highly of the program. He is relatively new to the program, becoming a Laker Leader just last Fall. In that short amount of time, he has assisted in New Student Welcome, orientation, Casino Night, and worked with the director of the Honors Program and Writing Center, Justin Ross, Ph.D., and the director of Alumni En-
gagement, Lindsay Frank in hosting IMU classes. He originally decided he wanted to be a Laker Leader to “develop public speaking and leadership skills.” This has helped him during his time as a cadet in Mercyhurst’s Army ROTC program where he will become a second lieutenant upon graduation. Since being selected as a Laker Leader, Elder has found it to be a great “opportunity to branch out and help others.” This is what he is most passionate about, and he highly recommends the experience to everyone. Even if you are only slightly curious about it, be sure to attend the info night, which might be just enough to sway you to apply.
