The Merciad March 1 Issue

Local family shines light on substance abuse awareness

By Eva Mihelich News editor

Although there is a greater awareness today of the dangers of substance abuse, it is still a prevalent issue that impacts millions of people in the U.S. For instance, the current opioid crisis is just one example of the modern epidemic of addiction.

A local family in Erie recently held a fundraiser to honor a loved one who passed away from a drug overdose.

Tonya Pursell was only 20 years old when she passed away from an overdose, which just goes to show how early on people can struggle with substances.

Pursell’s family held this fundraiser at the Cab where they raffled off prizes and raised money for drug abuse awareness.

Her family wants to get the message out that you should not be afraid to ask for help if you need it, especially in cases of addiction.

Pursell was just 20 years old, which is why it is important to also talk about drug addiction and substance abuse in college communities.

Although this is not a common issue to find on Mercyhurst’s campus, it is still an issue nonetheless, and spreading awareness around the topic is one way to prevent others from falling into unhealthy patterns.

One common misconception about substance abuse is that it is solely when people are abusing hard drugs such as cocaine, fentanyl, or opioids.

However, substance abuse also includes alcohol, which is a common part of college culture today.

Drinking in college is something that is greatly emphasized. Binge drinking, severe hangovers and benders are all glorified and are commonly normalized on campuses across the country.

However, many people in college drop out of school due to issues with alcohol, which begs the question, “How do you know if someone is just partaking in college culture, or if they are developing an alcoholism issue?”

Judy Smith, director of the Counseling Center, said that this is an important issue that should not be tiptoed around.

When asked about what to do when a loved one is struggling with substance abuse, Smith said it is a tricky situation to bring up, “You should keep it short, sweet and simple – not confrontative.

You should approach them out of a place of concern, not ‘I’m angry with you,’ but rather ‘I’m happy to be of any help I could be for you,’” said Smith.

Another simple way to stage an intervention is to let the person know that you would be happy to give them some resources that they could utilize on their own, which gives them the space they

might need to heal on their own with the support of knowing that you care.

Regarding the line between a typical college lifestyle and binge drinking issues, Smith said that there are warning signs you should be on the lookout for.

“It’s how much their whole social, recreational life revolves around going out and drinking. There should be a balance to their usage, because it is not only physical health that can be impacted. It’s also your mental health, your academics and your friendships,” said Smith.

The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

(NIAAA) defines binge drinking as “a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08 percent or higher.”

For a typical adult, this pattern corresponds to consuming 5 or more drinks (male) or 4 or more drinks (female) in about 2 hours.

This definition puts things into perspective for those participating in the party scene of college.

Although binge drinking in America has become something quite normal, it is important to take a step back and reflect on the dangers binge drinking has

on your well-being.

NIAAA goes on to talk about the risks this has on college students. “Drinking this way can pose serious health and safety risks, including car crashes, drunk-driving arrests, sexual assaults, and injuries. Over the long term, frequent binge drinking can damage the liver and other organs.”

Students may neglect asking for professional help due to fear of law enforcement, especially if someone is drinking underage, or if they are using illegal drugs.

Regardless, it is important to remember that the Counseling Center, along with the Cohen

Health Center, has a system of confidentiality in which they cannot report you unless you are a danger to yourself or others.

Smith said that students should absolutely utilize the Counseling Center for situations like this, and that it is actually quite common for students struggling with substance abuse to make an appointment.

“Talk to somebody at the Counseling Center, that would be protected information. People sometimes come in and they think they’re smoking pot too much or they’re getting bored with the party scene, but they want to feel part of the group.

It’s rare, but maybe somebody is hitting something harder. If that person is willing to come in, we may refer them to somebody in the community or outside programs,” said Smith.

If you believe that you or someone else is struggling with substance abuse, please ask for help from either your friends, family or the Cohen Student Health Center.

It is not something to be ashamed about because it is much better to address the problem and solve it rather than allow it to spiral and get out of control.

Your life is valuable, and substance abuse can quickly take over if you do not act promptly.

The image above shows the various forms of substances that are abused, ranging from nicotine to an assortment of pills.

The infographic above shows the impact that binge drinking in college has had on people, which brings attention to the topic that sometimes gets overlooked due to college culture.

Erie weather’s impact on students

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

Many Mercyhurst students would agree with you if you said that the weather in Erie is unpredictable, especially at this point in the year.

During most students’ spring semester, they will arrive back onto campus after winter break to extremely low temperatures that will gradually rise as we get closer to the summer months.

However, during the months of February and early March it tends to vary.

For most this could lead to a multitude of concerns or issues such as seasonal depression, false hope for our bodies, or severe allergies.

Since students returned to campus in mid-January the weather has been especially unpredictable. The biggest range in weather since our return occurred on Feb. 9 to the 11. On the 9th he high was almost 63 degrees and by the time the 11th came the high was only 35.

Although these little bursts of sunshine and warmth give us brighter moods and remind us how close we are to summer, for many they also give our bodies a sense of false hope in a multitude of ways.

When weather like this comes around students are often plagued with severe allergies as pollen, mold, and changes in the humidity all rapidly grow. Tree and grass pollen are two of

the most common triggers for those with seasonal allergies and as a mix of cold and warm fronts sweep across Erie it carries pollen in from other parts of the country.

As these weather fronts come in they also bring with them thunderstorms, rain and severe snow and ice.

These wet environments or those freezing and thawing rapidly also allow for mold to bloom and grow rapidly, the mold spores are another large trigger for many

allergy symptoms. Lastly the changes in the humidity can cause peoples’ noses to dry out, throats to itch, and can cause irritation to some ears.

Owen Perkosky, junior Communications major, said that the changing weather has a significant impact on both his physical and mental health. “When the weather gets nicer for a few days, it gives me a sense of hope and lightness that was missing during the cold weather, and it just sucks when it goes back to being cold

after those few days of sunshine.

My allergies get super bad and it doesn’t help that my mood also drops a ton whenever it’s cold and dark outside. I’m just ready for it to be nice outside consistently” said Perkosky.

These weather changes not only bring about allergies but also for some it brings a much more serious issue. Seasonal Affective Disorder which is often referred to as SAD is a form of depression that occurs when there are changes in the weather.

It is often characterized by the recurrent seasonal pattern with symptoms lasting 4 to 5 months on average every year. It affects the most people in the late fall and early winter and usually begins to fade away in the spring and summer.

The symptoms that are included could be problems sleeping, feeling agitated, low energy, feeling hopeless or worthless, difficulty concentrating, and changes in appetite or weight.

For the millions of individuals that suffer from this form of depression, most may not ever even know that they are experiencing it as it is often just thought to be the weather making individuals gloomy and tired.

If you or someone you know may be experiencing SAD and you want to know your resources, reach out to the Mercyhurst Health and Counseling Center for advice and help.

Additionally, if you believe that your seasonal depression might be something more serious and not seasonal, consider having a professional assess your condition.

Symptoms to look out for that are a cause for concern include a new lack of motivation, chronic exhaustion, hopelessness, a severe change in appetite and recurring headaches. If you experience these even when the weather becomes nicer consistently, please reach out for help.

MSG introduces changes to meal plans

By Bella Lee Staff writer

Over the past couple of years, one of the biggest concerns regarding Mercyhurst student life has been the meal plans on campus. For the 2019-2020 academic year, freshmen were required to have an unlimited plan, while upperclassmen could choose from plans ranging between 225, 150, 105, or 75 meals per semester or use Dining Dollars instead.

The next year, it was changed so that all incoming students, regardless of class ranking, would receive an unlimited plan. However, this led to some frustration among students and their families, as unlimited plans generally cost more.

Fortunately, following a survey being sent out last semester, MSG has worked closely with administration to come up with a solution to be implemented in the 2023-2024 academic year.

Freshmen and sophomores would have access to what’s called a Laker Unlimited plan, which would consist of unlimited meals, $150 in Bonus Bucks, and five guest swipes per semester.

The junior and senior equiva-

lent of this, called Hurst Unlimited, would have access to something called Flex Points, which are the same as Bonus Bucks except that students can additionally receive a 10% discount at the Coffee Bar and the Roost.

The Hurst Unlimited Plan contains unlimited meals, $300 of Flex Points, five guest swipes a semester, one Anchor Bag a week, and one Hello Hurst a week.

Bethany Jentz, junior Intelligence Studies and Political Science double major, said that the updates to the meal plans have been highly beneficial. “I have absolutely loved the addition of the Anchor Bags to our meal plans. I love snacking, and now I don’t have to go off campus and buy snacks for myself. I also appreciate how easy it is.

I just order it in the morning and then pick it up after I go to the gym. I haven’t had the Hello Hurst kits yet but I can’t wait to try those as well,” said Jentz.

Juniors and seniors also have access to two other meal plans that are not unlimited. The Green Plan contains 225 meals, $150 in Bonus Bucks, one Anchor Bag a week, and one Hello Hurst a week, while the Blue

Plan contains 150 meals, $300 in Bonus Bucks, and one Hello Hurst a week.

Hello Hurst Kits are prepped meal kits that you can cook in your apartments. One example of a Hello Hurst Kit is a chicken fajita dinner with tortillas, chicken breasts and an assortment of toppings.

These kits are very easy to cook as well, so students are not expected to be experienced with cooking.

One thing to remember with Anchor Bags is that you must bring your reusable green bag when you arrive at the Roost Express to pick up your order. This is a part of Mercyhurst’s mission to make the campus as environmentally friendly as possible.

The prices for the meal plan have not been released yet but keep your eye out because it should be coming out very soon.

Overall, the meal plan changes were a part of MSG’s attempt to listen to student concerns. Hopefully these changes will appease some of the concerns that were observed.

This effort took a lot of work from MSG President Lily Smith and the University Operations

committee on student government as they hold monthly meetings with different departments on campus including Mercyhurst Dining.

This would not have been possible without the hard work of the students on MSG so be sure

to thank them if you see them. There is still not the option to opt-out of a meal plan completely and that has come with some controversy from some students, but at this point the student body will take what they can get.

This infographic shows common symptoms and causes of SAD which affect millions of people each year.

MSG Instagram

The infographic above outlines the changes to meal plans, and what will be made available for the next academic year.

Merciad IN A MINUTE

Spring Break Intent Form

As always, Residence Life requests that you fill out the Spring Break Intent form located in Self Service.

When you leave for break, make sure to clean out your fridge and take out any trash that is left.

Although Spring Break is just over a week long, you should still be cautious of anything that could spoil and attract pests.

Make sure you close all the blinds and unplug all electrical appliances.

There are limited dining hall hours over break.

Want an oncampus job?

The Mercyhurst Bookstore is looking for new employees next academic year with many of its employees graduating this spring. Consider working for the Bookstore and joining a community of hardworking, fun people. Student employees receive a discount on apparel and the opportunity to help select the apparel that will be ordered for the store.

There are many benefits to having an oncampus job plus it is very convenient, so apply on Handshake!

Blind Date With a Movie

Support the Hammermill Library’s Blind Date with a Movie fundraiser.

Choose from over 150 mystery DVDs in genres such as action, comedy, documentary, fantasy, and drama—there’s something for everyone!

The cost is $2 for one DVD or $5 for three.

Meet your mystery movie on the main level of Hammermill Library while supplies last.

This is something different so consider stopping by the library and finding something for you to watch with your friends or by yourself!

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

Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

Teaching Excellence Nominations Open

By Bella Lee Staff writer

As it begins to near the end of the spring semester, it is time to start thinking about who is deserving of the Teaching Excellence Award. This award is given annually to an outstanding member of the faculty.

This award was established to recognize contributions to the intellectual life of the university, to honor faculty members who embody excellence in all aspects of teaching, including advising, mentoring, teaching to mission and engaging students in their learning.

Students, faculty and alumni are invited to nominate someone for this award, and those who have won before cannot win again.

Criteria to consider when nominating someone can include outstanding teaching effectiveness both within and outside the classroom, teach-

ing that demonstrates a commitment to excellence, helping students discover their passions and develop a dedication to life-long learning and showing extraordinary success in providing intensive individual research experiences for students.

Receiving this award has been a great honor for those that have received it.

“I remember feeling what an honor it was to be acknowledged by students and peers as belonging in the company of the excellent teachers at Mercyhurst,” said Joanne Hosey-McGurk, Ph.D., Vice President for Academic Affairs, who received the award in 2008.

“There have been many extraordinary teachers here, so it was humbling to be considered one of them,” McGurk said.

“Though I received the award many years ago, I still consider it an honor, and one that I have tried to live up to every year since. Our founder, Mother

Borgia Egan, was said to have ‘made education a glorious and triumphant thing’ for all the students at Mercyhurst. I feel that as a mandate for what I’m supposed to be doing here.”

Chris Magoc, Ph.D., professor of History, who received the award in 2012, said receiving the award stunned and humbled him.

“To join such previous recipients—Mercyhurst luminaries—as Mike Campbell, Phil Belfiore, Brian Ripley, and Alice Edwards…it felt like I had been selected to the Mercyhurst Hall of Fame—by mistake,” Magoc said.

“Eleven years later, it remains the highest of all honors of my professional life as a teacher-scholar. And to have my family, including my parents there, meant more to me than I can express.”

Brian Ripley, Ph.D., Professor of Political Science and recipient of the award in 2013, shares this same excitement and honor.

“Mercyhurst is a very special

place to me,” Ripley said. “I won a teaching award at my previous institution but earning the respect and recognition from my Mercyhurst colleagues and students meant so much more.”

If you know a faculty member that is deserving of the Teaching Excellence Award, the nomination form is currently up on the Student Hub.

There are plenty of faculty members who are more than deserving of this honor, so nominate a professor of yours today!

Part of what makes Mercyhurst so special is its small class sizes, giving professors the opportunity to connect with their students on a deeper level and thus enriching the education of students. This personalized appeal gives students the chance to become familiar with professors, so consider showing some attention to your favorite professor by nominating them.

Visit the annual Wellness Fair for a holistic approach to wellness

By Eva Mihelich News editor

College students and wellness are two things that most of the time, do not seem to go together. Students are moving nonstop with classes, clubs, extracurricular activities, study sessions and many other things. It can be difficult to simply relax sometimes, especially with an endless number of deadlines and commitments.

However, wellness should be greatly emphasized for college students.

They are at a crucial stage of development where they are learning to live on their own and to manage their own lives and values.

Without an emphasis on wellness, they are at high risk for burnout in academics and their own personal lives.

Wellness is a broad term that is sometimes misinterpreted as simply physical wellness, which although important, is not the only part that makes up wellness.

Taking care of your body by exercising and eating healthy (for the most part) is highly important, but Mercyhurst wants to focus on holistic wellness for its students.

Holistic wellness is a specific approach to wellness that addresses the physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of health.

The rationale behind holistic

wellness is that when one aspect of your health is neglected, every other aspect is affected. Because of this, one should attempt to focus on each aspect and take care of oneself to avoid an overall decline in health.

Mercyhurst’s wellness fair will occur on Wednesday, March 15, from 2 to 5 p.m. in the Rec Center’s green gym.

There will be a wide variety of tables set up by student clubs, faculty and staff. Each table focuses on a specific aspect of wellness. For instance, one table that will be set up is organized by Campus Ministry. This table is titled ‘Prayer Labyrinth.’ This will have a variety of prayers to choose from which focus on the spiritual side to your health.

Another table that will be presented is titled ‘Healthy Foods and Smoothie Bike’ which is hosted by Parkhurst and Campus Involvement, which will introduce students to a variety of nutritious options to sustain their physical health.

The mental aspect to health will be represented by the ‘Pawsitively Calming’ table hosted by EARS, or Erie Area Rabbit Society and Rescue.

Rabbits will be available at this table to pet since spending time with animals has been proven to decrease stress in people and improve overall mental wellness.

The emotional part of wellness will be provided at a table called ‘Get Your Shine On Jars’ hosted by Academic Support.

The overall activity provides the social aspect of wellness. By attending, you will be getting out of your dorm or apartment and meeting new people. Consider going to the Wellness Fair with a few friends and making an effort to take care of yourself.

Social wellness can be as simple as striking up a small conversation with a worker in the dining hall, or the janitor in the bathroom. It is not healthy to isolate yourself constantly, so try to take care of your social wellness, which is sometimes overlooked.

Keep in mind that attending this event will not improve your holistic wellness if you do not upkeep the practices that you explore at the different tables. Practice consistency in your habits and see how your overall wellbeing improves!

Taking little steps such as going on daily walks, meditating or journaling will add up and make you into a healthier individual. Holistic wellness may seem unattainable or unrealistic, but these small steps can help you start your wellness journey!

HurstCampusLife Instagram Photo

Mercyhurst’s annual Wellness Fair will take place on Wednesday, March 15.

Elections for MSG President and Vice President are being held now

By Bella Lee Staff writer

It is that time of year: time to choose who will be your MSG President and Vice President for next year! There are some great candidates that are looking to secure a spot, so they need all the support that they can get.

There is only one student running for MSG Vice President— sophomore Political Science major and Communications minor Ethan Frey, who is already the current Vice President.

Although he is running unopposed, being able to earn the support of students on campus is a great and rewarding responsibility for Frey.

“Although the primary role of the Vice President is to run the Senate, which is why it comprises of most of my platform, I have some ideas for how we can progress as a university,” said Frey.

“I want to continue providing students with opportunities to voice their opinion through surveys, like what we saw with the meal plan survey last semester.

“MSG was integral in transforming meal plans for next year, and it’s because of feedback from other students. I think we can do similar things with academics, mental health/wellness, campus life, and campus involvement.”

A lot of students are unaware of what people in MSG do on a daily basis.

I would also love to promote our weekly meetings to all students. We rarely get students from outside MSG to come to our meetings, and I would like to enhance the advertising so

that anyone can come to our meetings,” Frey said.

“I want to gather student input on how MSG can help the university be more inclusive to all diverse groups of students. We should also have more campus wide clean-ups to keep our campus looking beautiful. We also need to have our students know who their senators are/ who represents them in MSG so that they can easily contact them with their concerns,” he said.

Vydalia Weatherly, junior Criminal Justice and Political Science double major and MSG President candidate, also feels that weeks of campaigning will pay off if she is elected as President.

“As Mercyhurst Student Government President, my main goal is to create a campus culture that is inclusive to and supportive of all students,” said Weatherly. “The well-being of students is my top priority; therefore, as president, I will work every day to improve efforts related to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ), school spirit, campus involvement, academics and health (mental, physical, spiritual, intellectual and social).”

“During my presidency, I want to work to protect the campus’ beauty and global environmental impact through clear initiatives that will boost sustainability efforts on campus and educate students on the importance of treating Mercyhurst grounds and the planet with respect.”

Kaitlyn Low, junior Sports Medicine major and the opposing MSG President candidate, also believes she can implement

critical changes if she were to be elected as President.

Low’s platform, titled UNITY, includes four pillars: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Campus Wellness, Student to Faculty Relationships, and Student Body Engagement.

“I feel that it is important for me to run for this position because of the immense experience I have in the MSG organization,” said Low. “I am one of the longest current standing members, so I have more knowledge on how to get change for the students.”

“What I have learned in my

first three years is that compromise is huge when advocating for the students and that small steps toward an ultimate goal are better than no steps,” Low said. “I think one of the greatest advantages the student body has in electing me is that I already have established relationships with the people in all the departments across campus who can help me get change into action immediately. I want to listen to the students wants and take it to the people. The happiness of our students and the unity of our community are a few of my priorities, and I want students to

know that I will fight for them and with them for their best interest every day I am in office.”

Voting is open now until Friday, March 3. The ballots were sent via email to all students, and they are encouraged to vote before Friday.

These are all very accomplished students who can do wonderful things as MSG President or Vice President, so be sure to vote!

LAKER MOMENT

Tattoos and Toppings

On Friday, Feb. 24, MAC/SAC hosted Tattoos and Toppings in the Student Union. Students could receive an airbrushed tattoo, with popular designs like flowers, praying hands, dolphins, dragons and more. While they looked professional-grade, these airbrushed tattoos were painless and washed off after a few days. Additionally, the event featured an ice cream bar with a variety of tasty toppings and non-dairy options. The event drew a solid turnout of students lined up for a tattoo and sweet treat of their own, making it a great way to spend a Friday night.

Eva Philips photo

Students getting ready to receive airbrush tattoos this past Friday.

MSG Lakers Instagram photo

Students are encouraged to get out and vote for their next MSG president and Vice President.

RSCO FEATURE HURST HARMONICS

Jeans for a Cause donates over $600 to SafeNet Erie

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

By Vydalia Weatherly

Are you a fan of the hit movie series Pitch Perfect and/or the award-winning TV show Glee? Perhaps you love having your moment in the spotlight? Do you hum to yourself on the way to class while listening to your favorite song with your headphones on full blast? Do you consider yourself a creative and/or musically talented person? If you answered yes to any of the previous questions, there is a new a caawesome RSCO on campus that may be the perfect club for you.

Freshmen Music Education major Emily Turpin, and Music Therapy major Nova Bolling recently founded Hurst Harmonics.

“Nova and I have the goal of just starting the group, we want to start learning music with new people and having fun” said Turpin. Turpin serves as the RSCO’s president and Bolling serves as the Vice President.

“Our mission is to have a group of people who love to make music and work as a group. A capella can be an extremely bonding activity, and having a closeknit group is one of our goals” Turpin said about the mission of Hurst Harmonics.

Turpin and Bolling had plans to start the RSCO last semester, but due to having difficulties finding an advisor to sponsor Hurst Harmonics the RSCO did not become official until the end of this January. Since the RSCO is fairly new, they have not had the opportunity to host any events yet. However, the president and vice president are currently thinking of and working on different ideas for future events. The group’s first rehearsal will be held the week of March 13-17, with date and time still to be announced. More information will be available after Spring Break.

If you are on the fence about joining, there is no risk of giving the RSCO a chance. When asked who could join Turpin said, “Literally anyone who can sing, would like to sing, and who is open to learning.”

While Hurst Harmonics has yet to have any events, positive memories have already been created. “Nova and I worked really hard for like three months to get everything moving, and it was the best feeling when our RSCO was approved, and we got people to start signing up!” said Turpin.

“Please sign up! There are fliers in a lot of places, or anyone can reach out to me or Nova through our emails, etupri83@lakers.mercyhurst.edu and abolli78@lakers.mercyhurst.edu” said Turpin. The fliers currently hung around campus for Hurst Harmonics include a QR code which leads to a form students can fill out if they are interested in joining the RSCO.

As details are being finalized, stay tuned for more information about Hurst Harmonics following Spring Break from Turpin and Bolling.

Mercyhurst Staff Senate donated more than $600 to SafeNet Erie for the fall 2022 Jeans for a Cause fundraiser. The faculty and staff at Mercyhurst have the opportunity to participate in the Jeans For A Cause campaign. Each semester they hold a variety of fundraisers to raise money for a specific charity in the Erie community.

Every semester, the executive committee of the Staff Senate selects five nonprofit organizations that operate in the Erie community.

Those five organizations are then voted on by the entire staff senate and the organization with the most votes is the recipient of whatever is fundraised that semester. SafeNet was the one that was selected for fall 2022.

SafeNet provides domestic violence, abuse advocacy and support.

They use the slogan “reclaim your life.” On their website, there is a hotline number to call if you are in a crisis and information about the services they pro -

vide including, safety planning, counseling, support groups, legal advocacy and domestic violence education and advocacy. There is also a shelter with 45 beds where people can stay for up to 30 days to give them an alternate housing option to get back on their feet.

SafeNet has helped countless people get out of dangerous situations and reclaim their life for themselves.

This is an important cause that is fueled by donations and every little bit helps so this was a great organization for the Staff Senate to select as the recipient of the donation.

Jeans For A Cause has been a Mercyhurst tradition for a long time. During Thomas Gamble’s administration, which was from 2006-2015, staff and faculty began wearing jeans and MU gear and donating the money to local causes. Eventually, it was incorporated into the Staff Senate to be run by faculty and staff. The main fundraiser is when staff and administrators are encouraged to wear jeans and Mercyhurst gear if

they donate $2 to the fund.

Justin Ross, Ph.D., the President of the Staff Senate said, “It’s a bit like ‘casual Friday’ turned to good use!”

There was also a Chili Cook-Off for the staff where several people made their own chili and brought it in and then anyone could try all the different types of chili and vote on their favorite if they donated $5. The event in early February raised nearly $200 for the cause.

This year’s winners were Vicki Marzka for Best Traditional, Megan Fluegel for Best Nontraditional, a tie between Shelly Berlin and Justin Ross for Best Texas, Jenell Patton for Best Vegetarian and Megan Fluegel for Best Overall. Each winner received a trophy!

The next fundraiser that the organization will be participating in will most likely be a basket raffle in April. If for some reason this is not able to be achieved, then the next fundraiser will be in the fall.

CLASS CATALOG SPAN 209: INTRODUCTION TO SPANISH CIVILIZATION

ROTC Bataan Death March to honor fallen

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

On Sunday, March 19, sever Mercyhurst ROTC cadets will travel to the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico for the annual Bataan Memorial Death March.

The Bataan Death March is a world-recognized event that commemorates the heroic service members who defended the Philippines during World War II.

Cadets are currently running a series of fundraisers in order to raise enough money for their travels. Because the cadets will be driving from Erie to New Mexico they will need the funds to rent a van as well as funds for the gas it will take to get there and back.

Do you like Spanish culture? Do you like learning about the history of countries? Do you like the idea of countries having a royal family? Then this course would be perfect for you!

This course counts toward the Human and Connections(H) REACH curriculum category. However, students have to have taken SPAN 204 or an equivalent test to ensure their level of Spanish is sufficient enough to be able to get through the course.

The course is offered every other year in the Spring. So it is currently being offered now and will be offered in Spring 2025. There are 11 students currently in the class and they are all different majors but most have at least one major or minor in Spanish.

The course description on SelfService says, “This course presents an introduction to the culture and history of Spain. Literature, lecture, film and art introduce the student to the geography, history and politics of Spain as well as contemporary issues such as regionalism, immigration and the European Union which are shaping modern Spain.”

Students will write essays in Spanish, analyze poems and pieces of art and learn about the history of the royal family throughout Spain’s history. Spain has been around for far longer than the United States, so there is a lot of history that needs to be covered. Obviously what is learned in the class is not all the history of Spain, but the class only meets twice a week, so Edwards had to cut out the less important things.

This course is taught all in Spanish by Alice Edwards, Ph.D., Chair of the World Languages Department and Professor of Spanish. Anyone who has had Edwards as a professor knows how passionate she is about Spanish and her students, so she tries to make her courses fun and enjoyable for the students.

Edwards’ concentration of her academic studies surrounds literature so that is seen in most of her classes. Yes, the readings are in Spanish so if you are not confident in your reading skills in another language, you may want to reconsider this course.

Senior double major in Psychology and Spanish, Ally Burrington is currently in the course. “I love this course, Dr. Edwards makes learning all the material fun,” Burrington said.

Senior double majoring in Intelligence Studies and Spanish, Allison Siegmann is also taking the course this semester.

“I highly recommend this course to anyone who is remotely interested in early history and Spanish culture,” she said. “The class is always fun as we are all comfortable talking with each other since the class is so small.”

If anyone has questions regarding this course, reach out to Edwards directly for the best answers!

On April 9, 1942, thousands of American and Filipino soldiers were surrendered to the Japanese forces and were forced to march more than 60 miles through the heat of the Philippine jungles, thousands of individuals died and those who were able to survive became prisoners of war camps.

In order to memorialize this event, the Bataan Memorial Death March was founded in 1989 and has been held every year since in the same location.

The march itself is a challenging and grueling marathon that is said to test both the participants’ mental and physical abilities as they march through a high desert terrain for 26.2 miles with a 35-pound rucksack on their backs.

Since its creation the memorial march has grown from roughly 100 marchers at the original event to over 6500 marchers in the most recent march. The participants come from all across the United States as well as several foreign countries.

The course itself is a stretch of both paved and sandy trails that covers a full 26.2-mile marathon

distance or, for some who choose to partake, there is also an option of a 14.2-mile honorary distance.

The march has been regarded by the Marathon Guide as one of the top 30 marathons in the United States.

The race is made up of two individuals’ categories, the light and heavy, and finally the team category. The team’s category includes exactly five individuals who are only allowed to finish the race if all members finish together, based on the principle that one does not leave a teammate behind.

Within the two divisions it is broken up into civilian and military, while it is still primarily a military event. In the light category participants can wear any standard distance-running apparel. The heavy division, which

the Mercyhurst cadets are taking part in, is a little different as individuals must wear a minimum of 35 pounds in rucksacks or backpacks while wearing their Army combat uniform or other service equivalent uniforms.

ROTC cadet Lilly English shared about the event.

“With your support and donation to our GOFundMe, please aid in our team’s mission to be able to go and participate in this unique memorial event,” English said.

“The Bataan Memorial Death March is ‘More Than Just a Marathon;’ it’s a tribute to the sacrifices our American heroes had to endure and a tradition that needs to be carried on.”

You can also follow along with the team’s journey on Instagram, @popabataandeathmarch.

Soldiers on the original Death March that will be honored in March.

Hailey Steidle photo

Mercyhurst cadets training at Presque Isle for the upcoming marathon.

By Christina Judy

Staff writer

World Languages Department Helps at JoAnna Connell

By Christina Judy Staff writer

The World Languages Department recently spent a few hours volunteering with the Carpe Diem program at JoAnna Connell Elementary School.

The Carpe Diem program is an after-school program where kids stay longer at school until their parents are able to pick them up.

A few people from some of the World Language Department recruited students studying their language to help entertain the kids with different activities.

The Spanish table played a game called Loteria with the kids for their activity which is like Mexican Bingo.

The Russian table, which was run by the Russian Fulbright, Kristina Smagina, had coloring pages of Matryoshka Dolls. The dolls are a famous symbol of Russian culture and the kids would color the dolls however they wanted.

The Arabic table was run by Samira Bahadi who is the Fulbright for this language.

She taught the kids how to write their names in Arabic and taught them about her home country. The kids loved showing off their names in another language

and their colorful dolls.

The Mandarin table was run by Meng Wang, Ph.D., and the students were also exposed to writing their names in Mandarin.

Senior Psychology and Spanish major, Sabrina Pizzarelli who was there representing the Spanish table said, “I thoroughly enjoyed volunteering with the kids. They were all so eager to learn and were trying to speak in the other languages.”

The kids who participated in the activities were in first and second grade.

And a few of them spoke one of the languages that were represented in this event at home.

They enjoyed showing off the language they speak other than English. “I hope they were able to learn something about foreign cultures and that we were able to spark an interest in foreign language and culture,” said Pizzarelli.

Alice Edwards, Ph.D., chair of the department of World Languages, coordinated the event between the two schools.

Edwards tries to have the department visit other local elementary schools to help spark an interest in world languages from a young age.

The Spanish table had help from a few native speakers who are here through the World Learning Global

program that is sponsored by the Department of State. They are two of the five students who are here for the semester. Luciana Norori is from Nicaragua and María is from Colombia/El Salvador. They were able to talk to the students about the differences in culture between both the United States and their respective countries, but they also discovered that there are some differences between their own cultures.

The Mercyhurst Education Department has a partnership with this elementary school so some Mercyhurst students were there helping run the program to gain more experience working with kids.

The Department of World Languages is going to Grover Cleveland Elementary school on March 24 for their multicultural day.

The department partners with Language in Motion ™️, which is a program that promotes colleges and upper-level language speakers to help encourage the study of foreign languages in elementary school students.

If you are interested in volunteering on March 24, reach out to Dr. Edwards.

FROM THE ARCHIVES

By Megan McKay Staff writer

Around this time of year from Mercyhurst’s historic past, Father Daughter Weekend was taking place. The first Father Daughter Weekend began March 12-13, 1966. Gatherings and activities were held including a dinner dance, guest speaker, and sports events. The dad’s would not just attend classes but also hit the dance floor in style with their daughters. The annual “Dad’s Day” at Mercyhurst was eventually discontinued in 1985.

Mercyhurst Archive photo

Photo of the Holiday Inn sign that welcomed the Mercyhurst Dad’s when they came to visit for Dad’s Day.

Mercyhurst Archive photo

Father and daughters on the dance floor during the traditional Dad’s Day celebration.

World Languages Department photo

Bahadi teaching the students how to write their names in Arabic.

Hurst Hot Take: Selena Gomez documentary ‘My Mind & Me’

By Francesca Divincenzo A&E editor

When people hear the name Selena Gomez many things may come to mind such as Alex Russo, Justin Bieber’s ex and finally Mabel from “Only Murders in the Building.”

However, Gomez’s documentary is much more than what she has done.

Her documentary “My Mind And Me” goes in depth about her anxiety, her lupus condition, her psychotic break and her mental health.

Gomez was seven years old when she got her first acting role on the kids TV show “Barney” and her career just went up from there from starring on the hit Disney Channel show “Wizards Of Waverly Place” to being one of today’s most highly rated singers. But no one said that would be easy although fame is great she struggled a lot.

“I started working when I was seven and I never stopped,” Gomez said in the documentary.

I found that to be very powerful because I am not obsessed with Gomez, but she is always working on something whether it is a TV show or album she is

always working. Everyone needs a break and she needs a break.

During the documentary it discussed how when Gomez was on her revival tour she only made it through 55 shows but had to end her tour early because she had a mental breakdown and got admitted into a mental rehab facility where she was diagnosed with being bipolar.

One of the most heartbreaking scenes in the documentary was when she returned home from the mental hospital with her eyes filled with tears. She recounted how she feels bad for yelling at her mom and step dad even though she had no idea why she yelled at them. It was just really heartbreaking. It is one beast to have to deal with being bipolar and depressed, but it is another to have your life displayed all over magazines and new stations.

I like the documentary because it makes you realize that being a celebrity is not all red carpets and award shows.

The role can take a toll on the person’s health. Sometimes people forget that celebrities are humans too but their life is not private. They can not go to the hospital when they need to without the media finding out.

One of the other parts of the documentary that was interesting was when Gomez had a break down after being offered the idea of doing a song with Justin Bieber. “Why am I not good enough,” she said.

I think I can relate a bit to Go-

mez because sometimes it feels like my work is not good enough on its own or me in general.

It was very rough at first watching this documentary because it is like watching your childhood hero fall apart in front of you.

I have watched her for years on

Disney Channel and seeing her break down was very eye opening that is why I think everyone should watch this documentary because it shows that celebrities are humans too.

Rage Room a smashing success

By Nadine Fox Staff writer

Having a bad day? A bad week? Does life ever feel too chaotic and if you don’t do something about it your head is going to explode? Do you ever just feel so overwhelmed that you just want to break something?

It’s getting to that point in the semester where things are starting to pile up and in addition to life and our personal day-to-day stresses, it can be really difficult to handle.

And well, if you said yes to all the following questions you have likely been feeling a bit heavy, and rage rooms are the up-and-coming way to release some of that pent-up energy.

On Saturday, Feb. 25, from 7 to 9 p.m., Mercyhurst hosted a “Rage Room” event. This event held outside of the Student Union was intended for stressed-out students looking for an outlet to release some of their suppressed feelings.

At the event, there were a variety of plates where students were encouraged to write some of their worries and stresses.

One’s worries can range from big to small problems because even the little things add up from time to time.

Once the students finished addressing their fears, worries and stresses they were then at the end of the event able to smash the plate to let out some of that overwhelming amount of energy.

Smash rooms and anger rooms are becoming a new common way to help with anger management and give people the opportunity to help deal with their anger by letting it out.

Rage rooms help provide a place that encourages us to let loose and release our anger when we live in a society where it is not always appropriate to share exactly what we are thinking and feeling.

Anger is one of those emotions we are often taught to bottle up because it is often associated with violence but sometimes as a society, we hold ourselves back from feeling angry that we do not allow ourselves to ever address that piece of ourselves.

Anger is not always a bad thing, it can also be very ben -

eficial sometimes in giving us a sense of empowerment. Anger can usually stem from a sense of helplessness and lack of control over a situation.

So finding a way to channel your anger, even briefly, can help you reclaim your emotions and feel more empowered. Even though violence is not the typical way to go about things, there are certain emotions you can not walk away from or run from and even though it may not be a permanent fix for those emotions it’s a way to tune into how you are feeling, address it and to let off steam in a nonjudgmental, safe environment.

If you missed the event this past weekend, but are at all curious or interested in seeking some benefits from this event and want to tap into your deep emotions and let off some steam, there is one rage room in Erie called The Rage Room, located on West 12th Street.

Over the next few years, there are bound to be more rage rooms in the Erie area due to its growing market.

Meghan Gallagher at the Rage Room event with a plate that she decorated before she smashed it.

Selena Gomez’s documentary “My Mind & Me,” brings celebrity mental health to light.

Kingdom Choir has a soulful night as they pack the PAC

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

On Tuesday, Feb. 21, the Performing Arts Center was packed with young children and adults from the Erie community, Mercyhurst students and employees for the concert sponsored by the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture, also known as MIAC. Everyone gathered in that room came to listen and watch the Kingdom Choir. In 2018, the British gospel group became famous after performing at Prince Harry’s and Meghan Markle’s royal wedding that was broadcasted throughout the globe. Almost five years later, the Kingdom Choir brought their amazing vocals to our campus.

At 7:30 p.m. the Performing Arts Center filled with bright lights as the curtain raised revealing the Kingdom Choir decked in colorful outfits similar to those they wore to the royal wedding minus the fancy hats. The choir performed songs ranging from familiar favorites such as “Stand by Me,” “Amazing Grace” and “ I Say a Little Prayer” to new original songs from the choir like “Not Giving

Up.”

Throughout the performance, members of the Kingdom Choir offered up words of hope and wisdom to people in the audience. I watched the Kingdom Choir on TV during the royal wedding in 2018, but that experience was incomparable to listening to the choir’s amazing vocals live.

After the intermission, the choir brought a local choir of high school students onto the stage to join them in a song. I witnessed the Kingdom Choir share their moment with a young group of students who probably aspire to perform professionally, which was incredible.

In my three years on campus, I have never experienced a performance like the Kingdom Choir’s in the Performing Arts Center. The atmosphere was indescribable. The Kingdom Choir encouraged everyone to participate.

A room full of strangers of all ages sang together, danced together and enjoyed everyone’s company. At some point during the concert, the Kingdom Choir encouraged everyone to swing something in the air. Not having anything small, I found myself

swinging the sleeve of my jacket as others around me were swinging keys, tissues, and anything they could find to participate. Not being able to record the concert and practice theatre etiquette, I was able to enjoy being in the moment and free from all distractions.

For approximately two hours, everyone in that room was about to let loose and not worry about what others may think of their singing or dancing abilities. Ev-

eryone was able to have a good time and experience live music. From where I sat on the balcony, I could see President Getz singing along to the songs and occasionally doing little dances, which was a fun sight to see as well.

I want to thank the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture and Brett Johnson, Ph.D., for allowing Mercyhurst and the Erie community to experience live music. I highly encourage

every student to support the arts and attend a performance when they can, especially since most tickets for MIAC performances are free for students with their Mercyhurst ID.

The next MIAC performance will be held on Thursday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center and starring Tony Award winner Kelli O’Hara.

MIAC lineup for spring 2023 season

and TV shows such as “Sex and the City 2”, “Blue Bloods”, “Peter Pan Live” and “13 Reasons Why.”

For the 2022-2023 academic year, Mercyhurst is hosting a Live Series through the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture.

The Live Series hosts a broad lineup of Broadway singers, cultural icons and internationally acclaimed artists.

For the remainder of the spring semester, Mercyhurst will host four notable names of Broadway and international musicians with awards from the Grammy’s and the Tony’s. All Mercyhurst students can see these shows for free by just showing their valid Mercyhurst ID.

The next artist will be coming to Mercyhurst on March 2.

Kelli O’Hara is often referred to as one of the most extraordinary leading ladies on Broadway and will perform in the PAC for anyone who would like to attend. She established herself on Broadway when she portrayed Anna Leonowens in “The King and I,” from which she earned the 2015 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical.

She has since added a Grammy, Drama League, Outer Critics and Oliver Nominations to her list of accomplishments.

Along with her achievements on Broadway, she has also been involved in a multitude of film

On March 28 at 7:30 pm in the PAC Theater, Mercyhurst will host Chris Botti, a Grammy award-winning master trumpeter and composer.

He has a vast history of performing with big names like Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennet, YoYo-Ma, Frank Sinatra, Sting, Paul Simon and Andrea Bocelli.

Since he began performing, he has garnered multiple gold and platinum albums and has been named the nation’s largest-selling instrumental artist. His performance will be one you surely will not want to miss.

On April 13, Mercyhurst will be hosting Angelique Kidjo as a part of the Live Series.

She will be performing her newest album, “Mother Nature,” in which the five-time Grammy Award winner joined with a number of her musical progeny to create—students interested in seeing this visionary should tune in for this fantastic concert.

The Guardian named Angelique Kidjo one of the Top 100 Most Inspiring Women in the World, and Times Magazine named her “Africa’s Premier Diva.”

On May 3, Mercyhurst will be hosting Aaron Tveit, who has earned many awards and has been credited in even more shows. Tve-

it has made a Tony Award and an Outer Critics Circle Award for when he leads the cast in the world premiere of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” on Broadway. He has also been credited in many other Broadway shows, such as “Wicked,” “Hairspray,” “Catch

Me If You Can,” and “Next to Normal.” On TV, he has been on “Graceland,” “Schmigadoon,” “Braindead,” “Grease: Live,” and finally, the film version of “Les Misérables.”

This is an impressive lineup that Mercyhurst is able to offer the

community so be sure to take advantage of them!

The box office is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 12-5 pm. Again, the tickets for students are free and discounted for employees of the university.

Hailey Steidle Staff writer

Contributed photo

Photo of Kingdom Choir with the high school choir that joined them on stage.

Contributed photo

MiAC advertisement of Kelli O’Hara, Chris Bottie, Angelique Kidjo, and Aaron Tveit.

Spring break is only a few days away!

Campus is not close enough to restaurants

By Bella Lee Staff writer

There are plenty of places on campus where students have the opportunity to have tasty meals.

If the Grotto or the 501 Grille does not have something you might like, you can still enjoy other great options such as the Roost or the Coffee Bar at the Bookstore.

It is midterms week.

GOOD BAD HOPEFUL

Hopefully people will learn more about the stigma and impact around eating disorders because it is Eating Disorder Awareness Week.

The Merciad

However, when campus food becomes tiresome, what are some places off campus that students can go? There are a few places that are within walking distance where students can get food if they are able to.

There is an Arby’s right across the street from the Lewis Apartments, which offers a quick option.

Additionally, the Cornerstone Bar and Grill, the home of many fun traditions such as Stone Wednesday. There is also a Tim Horton’s right behind the Stone where you can get breakfast if you have the time.

However, the main problem with this is that most other options that people enjoy for fast food, such a McDonald’s or Chick-fil-A, are further away, usually on Peach Street.

For those that have a car, this can still work for them, but there are still many students, such as freshmen or those that are from much further away, that do not have access to a car.

This means they often have to rely on services like DoorDash or Uber Eats. This can be very draining for a bank account, especially if a student does not have a steady source of income.

In short, there should be better options for students when it comes to restaurants outside of campus. MSG has already made a partnership with Uber that allows students to receive a nice discount whenever they need to travel to somewhere else in the town.

With that in mind, I believe that another service that students could greatly benefit from would be to receive a similar discount for food delivery services. Since delivery fees and taxes can stack up with orders, this could especially help students out.

For upperclassmen that have access to a kitchen, this could also apply to grocery delivery services such as Instacart.

While it is amazing that we have other services on campus to expand our options for getting meals like Swipe at Night and more recently Swipe a Bite, it is just as important that students have viable options off campus as well.

Students should have a variety of places, both on and off campus, that they can go to for a meal with friends or by themselves, but the options that are currently off campus are not enough.

It is also nice to be able to have ‘comfort’ food now and then that you might find at restaurants because the stress of school can be a lot sometimes.

Of course, simply building places would be a stretch, so for those that are not able to drive or do not have the funds, it would be smart to have a sort of discount program for Uber Eats, DoorDash, Instacart, and similar services just as we do for Uber.

Hoping for sunshine this break

By Megan McKay Staff writer

much needed Vitamin D in the sunshine.

After spending almost six months skating in a rink everyday your body can use the sun that it has not seen for awhile.

Spring Break is just around the corner, which means the much dreaded bipolar winter months in Erie are almost at a close. Spring Break not only signals the end of a season, but it also means the school year is reaching its final stretch.

The week students receive off for Spring Break is the most anticipated time of the year. Many students will travel back home, some will stay on campus training for their prospective sports and the fortunate ones will find their way somewhere warm.

The break is a great time to get some rest and rejuvenation.

It is imperative that most schools give a week or so off because it gives students the break they need in order to come back and finish their last term strong.

Erie has clearly had crazy winters and this year we have been fortunate with the limited amount of consistent heavy snowfalls.

continue to be a factor but after a long week off for break students and faculty will certainly be ready to end the year on a high note.

It will have been almost two months since Christmas Break which means many are anxious to visit family and take a week off from the books.

After going seven weeks without a single day off besides weekends, students need a break from the intensity that school brings.

Not only am I looking forward to conference playoffs and eventually the sun but also having more time to spend out and about.

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.

This spring I look forward to hopefully winning a conference championship with the women’s hockey team which will earn us a bid to the NCAA tournament. Therefore, we will not have a spring break, but there is nowhere I would rather be than continuing to play hockey with my teammates and earning a ring at the end of it all.

When the season does end however, I hope to make my way down to Florida to get some

Spring time is also the best time for athletes starting up outdoor sports as they will finally get to play in comfortable weather.

Also, students looking for just a nice day to walk around will now have that option as the sun begins to warm up the days and stay out longer.

Not only does the weather make the time of year, but it also boosts the mood around campus. There will no longer be any dreary Erie cold and cloudy days, but rather sunshine to smile about.

However, rain will certainly

It will be nice to really take in campus in the warm air and walk around without layers and bundling up.

We are also fortunate to live near Lake Erie as the beaches along Presque Isle are a popular spot to soak up the sun and the fresh water.

Spring Break this year starts Monday, March 6 and ends Sunday, March 12 followed by another break only a month after for Easter which starts Wednesday, April 6 to Monday, April 10.

Enjoy your well deserved break everyone!

Naloloxone in public schools can save lives

By Eva Philips Staff writer

A new proposal is under consideration in the Pennsylvania state legislature that could be a matter of life or death for teenagers in the state. This legislation would require all public high schools in the state to possess a supply of naloxone.

Naloxone is a drug used to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It can reverse the effects of drugs like fentanyl, morphine, heroin and prescription opioids. It works by attaching to opioid receptors to prevent opioids from affecting a person. While it is not a long-term treatment for addiction, it is a fast-acting drug that can be administered via nasal spray to save the life of a person suffering from an opioid overdose, often by restoring their ability to breathe.

Naloxone can be administered by injection, but nasal spray administration is also safe and effective. It can be easier for non-medical bystanders to use quickly in the event of an overdose.

Naloxone alone is not enough to completely prevent negative effects from an opioid overdose. After it is administered, the affected individual should receive professional medical

care as soon as possible. Additionally, the individual may experience physical withdrawal symptoms after receiving a dose of naloxone, but this is minor compared to the risk of death by overdose that could result if naloxone is not administered.

The opioid epidemic has plagued the nation for years, causing over half a million deaths in the past thirty years.

Deaths from opioids numbered over 80,000 in 2021, an increase over 2020. Synthetic opioids like fentanyl, which is more powerful than prescription opioids and heroin, are especially concerning.

Pennsylvania counted approximately 5,000 deaths resulting from opioid overdose in 2021 alone.

Clearly, this is a severe crisis that needs to be addressed.

Previously, Pennsylvania lawmakers attempted to pass similar legislation.

In 2017, they created House Bill 1774 to require public schools to contain naloxone as a first-aid medical drug. However, the bill encountered opposition from Republican representatives. This time, the state legislature has a more even balance between Republicans and Democrats.

Additionally, the toll of the nationwide opioid epidemic has only continued to grow in the past several years, making it harder to ignore the crisis at hand.

HURST STUDENTS SPEAK UP

The legislation to require naloxone in public schools would make the life-saving drug available to over one million public school students.

These students are young and have their lives ahead of them, and they should have every resource available to them to ensure their health and safety.

Some people might argue that this is a waste of funding, or that it is not truly necessary because high schoolers seem less likely to suffer from opioid addiction. Even more appalling, some might claim that naloxone should not be administered because the individual who receives it will eventually overdose again.

However, these arguments ignore the fact that addiction is not a personal choice, nor is it a moral failing.

It is a disease that affects countless Americans and causes untold suffering. Therefore, the cost of this proposal is certainly worth it.

Even if this legislation only saves the lives of a few individuals, human life cannot be reduced to a simple monetary value.

Every person deserves the chance to live a good life.

This bill, if passed, could be the difference between literal life and death, and it should be considered with appropriate gravity.

We asked: What was your favorite spring flower?

Maiya Harding, senior Criminal Justice major: My favorite spring flowers are Dandelions and Baby’s Breath.”

MSG served with their new meal plan options

By Mackenzie Zent Opinion editor

Mercyhurst has been listening to what we want… they are no longer requiring all students to have an unlimited meal plan!

At the end of the 2020-2021 school year, Mercyhurst had announced that they would require everyone to have an unlimited meal plan, instead of just freshmen. Even after efforts by students to speak out against this, the school still required an unlimited meal plan for every student starting with the freshmen class in 2021.

Nearly two years later, Mercyhurst Student Government announced that upperclassmen no longer have to have an unlimited meal plan.

While every residential student is still required to have a plan, there are now different options that are cheaper but still allow students to

have full meals often at the dining halls.

What is great about these new meal plan options is that some of them offer Anchor Bags Hello Hurst meal kits.

Every plan includes either $150 or $300 in bonus bucks too, which I know is a selling point for me.

Two different unlimited plans are still options to choose for every student if they wish—the Laker Unlimited plan for freshman and sophomores and the Hurst Unlimited plan for juniors and seniors.

The Green plan is offered to juniors and seniors and includes 225 meals per semester, as well as $150 in bonus bucks and one Anchor Bag and Hello Hurst kit per week.

The other plan for juniors and seniors, the Blue Plan, includes 150 meals, $300 in bonus bucks and one Hello Hurst kit per week.

I am really excited about the Blue Plan because I love spending bonus bucks here. I currently have

$300 that I started the semester with, and it is the perfect amount to buy coffee from the bookstore pretty frequently and any snacks or food from the Anchor Express.

I also feel that I do not eat at the dining hall enough to make up for what I pay in my unlimited meal plan right now. 150 meals will work just fine for me next semester, especially since I can cook my own food in my kitchen because the money I do not spend on my meal plan can go to groceries.

The lower meal plans are helpful for students who have dietary

restrictions or food allergies because now they will not be paying for something they cannot have.

The dining halls have limited options for those who have food allergies, and many people are paying for something they cannot use just because it is a requirement by the school.

These new meal plan options will allow for flexibility and will be more cost effective for those who want to cook their own food to fit their dietary needs.

I want to commend MSG for listening to the voices of students

and working hard to come up with the new meal plan options for us. We are still waiting for the prices of the meals plans for next year cause that also influences the selection for many of the students. For more information on the new meal plans for next year check out @msglakers on Instagram! More details such as prices will be announced in the coming weeks as we get close to the end of the semester.

Dale McCormick, junior Business Management major: “My favorite spring flower is a Dandelion”

Bethany Jentz, junior Intelligence major: “Red Roses and Daffodils.”

Lilly English, junior Criminal Justice major: “My favorite spring flower is a Daisy.”

Compiled by Hailey Steidle

Cold as ice: Women’s Hockey advances to CHA Final

By Jon Chapman Sports editor

The Mercyhurst Women’s Hockey team continues to play great hockey as their season continues after an outstanding weekend of games.

In a two-game weekend hosted at the Ice Center, the Lakers came out victorious both times, defeating Syracuse by scores of 5-3 and 6-0.

The CHA Playoffs were originally a best-of-three series where the third game would only be played if necessary, however, after their staggering wins in the first two games the third of the weekend was then canceled.

In the first game, forwards Vanessa Upson and Liliane Perreault both put two goals in the net.

With a well-assisted power play goal, the Lakers had a strong showing in game one.

The team held an impressive 58.6 percent on faceoffs, and the defense kept the Orange at bay.

Goalie Ena Nystrøm closed out the game with a total of 28 saves, only letting in three goals. Nystrøm also shut out Syracuse in the final period, fortifying

the Lakers efficient gameplay.

In the second game of the weekend, the Lakers were ready to send Syracuse packing.

They played a stellar game in every way, winning with a decisive 6-0 score.

The team was able to score two goals within the first 18 minutes of the first period after Alexandria Weiss accepted the puck from Marielle Parks and Kylee Mahoney which soared right past the goal tender.

This was quickly followed up by Thea Johansson hitting the bar and flying directly to the back of the net.

Another two goals were scored in the second period by Sara Boucher after she accepted a puck from Megan McKay and Liliane Perreault during a power play, just three minutes later Liliane Perreault scored another goal with an assist from Sydney Wegner and Jordan Mortlock.

The final two goals of the game were scored in the third quarter by Johansson after the puck was passed by Vanessa Upson and with just minutes left in the game Grace Nelles scored the last goal of the game.

The team came up big to eliminate Syracuse from CHA

Finals contention, proving they meant business this weekend.

In the second game their faceoff percentage was even higher, finishing with 65.6 percent.

On defense, Makayla Javier had a career-high ten blocks, helping the Lakers play great two-way hockey.

Goalie Nystrøm posted another incredible performance, proving she was more than de -

serving of CHA Goaltender of the Month she was awarded with in February.

She finished the weekend with 20 saves and a shutout on Saturday, pushing the Lakers to the CHA Finals next weekend against the Penn State Nittany Lions.

At the CHA Finals this upcoming weekend, the matchup will be a single game where the

winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, which would be Mercyhurst Women’s Hockey’s 14th NCAA Tournament appearance and the first since 2020.

The team will be facing the Penn State Nittany Lions this upcoming weekend after they knocked Syracuse out of the competition.

Up for grabs: top NFL free agents and coach hirings

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

Rapidly after the Lombardi Trophy was won by the Kansas City Chiefs at the 2023 Super Bowl, the attention of many NFL viewers was switched from what would happen at the Super Bowl to what would be occurring in the 2023 offseason and the changes it will bring to the league.

From multiple NFL teams letting go of members and getting new coaches to the new upcoming seasons free agents, a general sense of excitement for what may come from the upcoming season is circulating among many viewers.

The implications of these additions and losses are at the forefront of many teams’ minds as many teams are changing who they have placed in their offensive coordinator positions as well as their defensive coordinator positions.

All across the league, teams are switching out their personnel across many levels.

The Arizona Cardinals have hired a new head coach, Jonathan Gannon who had previously worked as the Eagles defen-

sive coordinator. Multiple other teams have also hired new head coaches.

A short list of these teams are the Houston Texans who hired DeMeco Ryans who is the 49ers former defensive coordinator, the Indianapolis Colts who hired Shane Steichen who is the Eagles former offensive coordinator, and lastly the Denver Broncos who hired Sean Parton who was formerly the Saints head coach.

The Carolina Panthers are one of the teams who have hired the most new personnel to their team. These new members include a new head coach, Frank Reich who was the Colts former head coach.

A defensive coordinator, Ejiro Evero, who was the Broncos former defensive coordinator. They finally hired a new offensive coordinator, Thomas Brown, who is the Rams former assistant co-

ordinator.

Another major position that seems to be gaining a lot of new names is the defensive coordinator position. The Atlanta Falcons have hired Ryan Nielson who was the Saint former co-defensive coordinator and the Cleveland Browns hired Jim Schwartz who was the Titans former defensive assistant.

With free agency beginning on Wednesday, March 15, there

are sure to be plenty of player trades in addition to the new team personnel. The current free agency lineup has a few quality receivers and pass rushers while the offensive tackles will continue to be scarce.

However, even with scarce offensive tackles there are sure to be plenty of linebackers, safeties and runningbacks for teams to choose from.

The National Football Leagues official website has a current ranking of free agents, which is subject to change as players are released from other teams and join the list of free agents.

The top ten on their list are as follows: Lamar Jackson, Geno Smith, Javon Hargrave, Orlando Brown, Daniel Jones, Derek Carr, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, James Bradberry, Jessie Bates and finally coming in #10 is Saquon Barkley.

Although most NFL teams are in the clear in regards to their teams and personnel, there is a group of teams who still are uncertain what will be needed in order for their teams to succeed this season; leaving many fans and coaches feeling uncertain about the upcoming season.

Top NFL Free Agents Geno Smith, Lamar Jackson and Saquon Barkley look to sign new contracts.

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The Lakers skate past Syracuse, winning both matchups this weekend.

Hurst Athletics photo

Michael Bradley Scores 1,000th Point for Lakers

By Megan McKay Staff writer

On Saturday Feb. 18 the Lakers got their 20th win on the season over Clarion.

The Lakers secured the win by a score of 62-55 but that was not the biggest accomplishment of the night. In his final bucket of the game guard Michael Bradley got his 1,000th point of his career. He recorded 8 points in the Lakers win against Clarion in addition to his impressive milestone.

Bradley is a senior from San Antonio, Texas. He has had a crucial impact since entering Mercyhurst his freshman year where he led the team in assists. Bradley has continued to excel as he has had a strong senior season with a high of 31 points against Clarion. He is not just a dominant force offensively but also posts strong defensive efforts each game. He consistently steals the ball and collects rebounds in crucial parts of the game.

Bradley thanked many of the people who have helped him get to where he is today in achieving the amazing feat. Without a strong work ethic Bradley would not have found the success he has. Bradley said,

NBA

By Bella Lee Staff writer

The end of the NBA season is fast approaching, which means it’s time to begin considering who will be joining the greats in the NBA Hall of Fame as part of the 2023 class.

There are some big names that are on the list of nominees, and any one of them can be worthy of joining the 2023 class.

One of the major names that could join the Hall of Fame is superstar Dwyane Wade, who spent 16 years in the NBA, mainly with the Miami Heat. Over the course of his career, Wade won three NBA Championships, was a 13time NBA All-Star, and was an Olympic gold medalist for Team USA in 2008. Another massive name that could join the ranks is Dirk Nowitzki, who spent his entire 21-year career with the Dallas Mavericks. During his time in the NBA, Nowitzki led the Mavericks to 15 NBA playoffs, four division titles, two Finals appearances, and one championship. Additionally, Nowitzki ranks number six on the all-time scoring list, hitting 31,550 points.

Another international superstar that could join besides Nowitzki is Pau Gasol. A legend among Spain like Nowitzki is among Germany, Gasol was a six-time NBA All-Star, a four-time All-NBA Team selec-

“It’s something that I am very proud of. This accomplishment wouldn’t be possible without God, my parents, work ethic and I ultimately would not be able to get this without the amazing help of my teammates. Everyday stepping on the court they have the belief to put the ball in my hands and allow me to have the confidence I need to get the job done. I was able to accomplish this by everyday just working, improving my craft and ultimately staying consistent always finding ways to better myself.” Bradley attributes the strong season he has had thus far to the work the team has put in.

He described how the work he has put in is not for himself but for the team. Many players who reach these career setting point accomplishments are the most selfless and dedicated players on the team. As Lebron James said after reaching his historic milestone to become the NBA leading goal scorer, “I didn’t even try to do it.” Bradley described the Lakers focus this season, “We focus on what we can control a day at a time, and don’t let any factors change who we are. Basketball season is very long, so it is important to stay in the moment and to

never let the past or future affect your present.” Bradley has become only the 16th Laker to enter the 1,000 point club and he got to do it on his senior night in front of his parents. He described the moment being an incredible feeling. He thanked his teammates saying, “I’ve had a lot of great players to look up to and learn from such as MiyKah McIntosh, and Steve Cannady so to be able to enter such an elite club is something

to definitely be proud of.” The Lakers currently sit 21-4 and in their most recent win against Seton Hall. Bradley has not slowed down after leading the Lakers with 20 points during that game. The Lakers have secured a bye into the opening round of the PSAC tournament. As the team prepares for postseason play, Bradley shared the team’s mindset, “For the final stretch of the season I would say our team goals are to

ultimately be as connected as possible when playoffs begin for us. We know the team that we have developed and the culture established so as long we continue to do whatever it takes to win then I see a very deep playoff run ahead.”

The Lakers rounded out their final regular season game last Saturday against Gannon where they won 105-70.

tion, two NBA Championships, and the first non-American to win Rookie of the Year. Another nominee that is well-known is Tony Parker, who spent all but one year of his entire career with the San Antonio Spurs. Parker won four NBA Championships, six NBA All-Star Games, three All-NBA Second Teams, and one All-NBA Third Team.

Additionally, there are some legendary coaches that have a chance at making it to the Hall of Fame. One of the greatest includes Gregg Popovich, the president and head coach of the Spurs. Popovich had 22 consecutive winning seasons with the Spurs, the most in NBA

history, is one of only five NBA coaches to win five NBA Championships and was the head coach of Team USA in the 2020 Summer Olympics, leading them to a gold medal. Additionally, coaching legends nominated include Purdue men’s basketball all-time wins leader Gene Keady; Marian Washington, who amassed 560 wins in 31 years coaching the University of Kansas women’s team; Gary Blair, who led Texas A&M to the women’s championship in 2011; Gene Bess, who won 1,300 games and two national championships with Three Rivers Community College; and David Hixon, who won 826 games in 42

years at Amherst College.

Finally, there are a selection of WNBA names being nominated, including Becky Hammon, a sixtime All-Star in her WNBA career and Jennifer Azzi, a collegiate national champion at Stanford, an Olympic gold medalist for USA Basketball in 1996 and a five-year WNBA veteran.

The official NBA Hall of Fame 2023 class will be announced on April 1, the date of the March Madness Final Four.

In order to be eligible for the Hall of Fame, nominees must earn at least 18 votes from a voting committee of 24. We can’t wait to see who makes it!

Including players and coaches, the 2023 Hall of Fame nominees

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Guard Michael Bradley becomes the sixth Laker to reach 1,000 points

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SALOME’S STARS #12345_20230227

FOR RELEASE FEB. 27, 2023

EDITORS: These horoscopes are for use the week of March 6, 2023.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Seeing the silly side of some really ridiculous situations helps give the Lamb a new perspective on how to handle them. Some important contacts can be made this weekend.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Try to complete your outstanding tasks by midweek. This leaves you free to take advantage of new possibilities — both professional and personal — opening up by week’s end.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) With both your creative side and energy levels rising this week, you should be able to tackle that too-long-neglected project again. A family member might have important news.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) An explanation you requested seems to be more confusing than enlightening. You should insist on clarifications now, rather than dealing with problems that might arise later.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Your energy levels might be ebbing a bit. But that’s no excuse for taking catnaps when you could be working on those unfinished tasks. There’ll be time to curl up and relax by week’s end.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) It’s a good time to get those ideas out of your head and into a readable format if you hope to turn them into something doable. In other news, a good friend is ready with worthwhile advice.

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Careful — you might be stepping into dangerous territory if you decide to exaggerate the facts too much. Remember: The truth speaks for itself and needs no embellishment.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Although your workplace successes have earned you many admirers, there are some colleagues who are not among them. Be careful how you proceed with your new project.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) You might have to go into great detail to explain why you’re currently reluctant to make changes to an already prepared plan. Be sure you have all the facts to back yourself up.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Travel plans might still be uncertain. But instead of getting upset about the delay, open yourself up to other possibilities and begin checking out some alternative destinations.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Changing conditions might require you to alter some of your plans. While you might be agreeable to this, be prepared with explanations for those who do not want changes made.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Although you might have to deal with some detractors who aren’t too kind in their critiques, you gain points in your favor when you’re willing to stand up and defend your work.

BORN THIS WEEK: You have a gift for creating a warm and loving environment between yourself and others.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.