The Merciad, February 19, 2014

THE Merciad

EST. 1929 VOL. 87 NO. 13

MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2014

Headed for Jerusalem Dancers use Kickstarter campaign to raise funds

Salina Bowe photo

Dance majors Emily Jarrett, Ellen Duddy and Maggie Doherty have been selected to join Mercyhurst University’s “Journey to Jerusalem” and travel to participate in this year’s Project Dance.

By Melanie Todd Staff writer

When Noelle Partusch, faculty advisor for the Liturgical Dance Ensemble, heard Project Dance was holding an event in Jerusalem, her only thought was, “I’m going to figure out how to go.”

She, as well as three of her students, a junior and two freshmen, will be dancing at the three-day dance concert in Jerusalem this March. To finance the trip, a Kickstarter fundraiser will begin Wednesday, Feb. 18.

The goal is to raise at least

$2,000 to offset the cost of the trip for the dancers. If they do not reach this fundraising goal, the money will be returned to the donors and the cost will default to the dancers.

Working in partnership with the Intelligence Studies Department and the Graphic Design Club, there are high hopes for success in the fundraiser.

Sadly, money was a deciding factor in determining which dancers in the ensemble could attend. The dancers are not receiving any credit for this trip. They are “purely going for their own benefit,” Par-

tusch said.

It is hard to believe that in nearly a month the dancers will be in Jerusalem. The trio has choreographed and perfected a number entitled “Fear and Great Joy.” “The girls are so excited,” said Partusch. “It will be an experience like no other.”

Partusch herself will also be dancing a solo titled, “Oh Praise Him.” While she has been dancing since she was seven years old, Partusch expects this opportunity to be “like nothing else.”

“The opportunity to dance in Jerusalem, experience another culture and

faith while sharing our own through dance is simply amazing,” Partusch said.

Typically a Project Dance concert would occur over three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. In Jerusalem, however, this will be different in order to honor the Sabbath on Saturday.

Friday will still be a day of check in with some small performances.

Saturday will not have any strenuous events though.

There will be small tours and a traditional dinner in honor of the Sabbath. Sunday, the dancers will be performing in the all-day dance concert in

the city of Jerusalem. Monday will hold classes from experts of various dance genres typical of other cultures. Project Dance looks to connect with individuals through dance.

It began in the Spring of 2002 to help heal New York City following the attack on Sept. 11, 2001. It has since expanded to any city that is willing to host it. Partusch looks to possibly host Project Dance in Erie in the future.

With the planning stages complete, all that is left to do is wait and raise funds.

“The plane tickets are sitting right here,” she said in expression of her excitement.

The Intelligence Studies Department has been working with the group to understand the conditions of Jerusalem.

They have put together reports of possible threats and things to look of for in general.

A former student of Partusch who currently resides in Israel comments, “you can go to Jerusalem or to New York City, but you want to be careful and aware of your surroundings in both cities.”

@TheMerciad

Campus Ministry organizes second Carpe Diem retreat

By Mary C. Nemecek Contributing writer

The basis for any retreat is simple: find yourself. But, if you cannot find yourself (yet), then find something, anything, but make sure your discovery is meaningful—make sure it has a purpose.

Carpe Diem II (named for its second year at Mercyhurst) is the place to find your pur-

Merciad Index Features Features News Opinion A&E Sports Laker Living

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pose or whatever you are searching for during your four years at Mercyhurst.

If you want to spend a weekend away from campus, technology and the raging thoughts in your exhausted brains, then CDII is the weekend getaway for you.

You live once. You get one chance to do everything you ever wanted to do. You have the resources and abilities to do anything and everything.

The Carpe Diem Retreat is your way to take the first step to achieving those dreams written on your bucket list.

The reason you should apply to attend CDII is the same reason I chose to attend Carpe Diem I: for yourself.

Take the opportunity to step back from reality and social media.

Get outside and breathe in the fresh air that keeps you

alive and will continue to keep you alive throughout your life.

We take for granted the little things (particularly breathing), and therefore, we should take three days to be thankful for them.

Plus, we never cease to let you go hungry or be deprived of good music.

Despite CDII’s short time at Mercyhurst, we are slowly becoming notorious for our love of food and good

music.

If, however, you choose not to apply for this amazing three-day weekend getaway, know that someone is rooting for you, that I am rooting for you.

You have a purpose. And if, by chance, you do now know what that purpose is, then take that leap of faith and apply for CDII. You never know what you will discover under all that

Online Poll Results What do you like best about this weather?

14% Everything, I love it.

22% I could live without the cold, but I like the snow.

26% Absolutely nothing.

38% I’ll give you an answer when my fingers thaw.

unnecessary stuff clogging up your brain.

Anyone interested in this opportunity (and have an interest in skydiving and/ or taking that literal leap of faith), stop by the Campus Ministry office in the Carolyn Herrmann Student Union or call (814) 824-2429.

@TheMerciad

Read more inside & online

News: - Springfest performers announced Features: - Bruce Jenner visits campus Arts & Entertainment: - Theatre club presents winter cabaret

Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: What do you think about the Springfest performers?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

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The Merciad

Features

February 19, 2014

Students deal with massive snowfall

By Nathan Turner Staff writer

Even though there is enough snow outside to confuse Erie with Antarctica, the Merciad would like to remind all students that life does go on during the winter.

Just because it’s hard to get out there, doesn’t mean that people don’t.

The winter weather offers some unique advantages, like a frozen lake on which to have fun, as students like Michelle Ahrens, sophomore and Erie native, do.

“The bay’s frozen more solid than I’ve ever seen,” Ahrens said. “It’s incredible.

I walked from Waterworks to Dobbins Landing a couple days ago. When else do you get to do that?”

Not often, and maybe for not much longer.

There are some disadvantages, however, as this writer learned from Ahrens, who is also an avid runner.

Her sport was somewhat sidelined during the cold weeks we had in the middle of January. She developed a rule: “If the wind chills are in the double negatives, then running is not an option. How-

ever, if it gets to the single digits and above, then I’ll consider it.”

But looking beyond the campus, the issue of how the homeless of Erie deal with the cold comes to mind.

The answer can be found within the churches and other organizations in the community. Several churches, including the St. Joseph’s Bread of Life Catholic Church and The Church of the Nativity (Russian Orthodox), open their doors to the homeless as part of a program called Our Neighbor’s Place which takes place in Erie every winter.

The churches act as overflow shelters to accommodate those who can’t find a room at the typical shelters for the night. The churches are always looking for volunteers to help staff the shelters, and for the present, the shelter is at The Church of the Nativity, and the pastor of that church is Fr. Pimen Simon of the World Languages and Cultures Department.

Any students interested in helping with the shelter can contact him at ssimon@mercyhurst.edu. @TheMerciad

Ashley Favata photo

Katie McCafferty covers her face to protect it from the cold wind blowing around and the snow falling down on campus.

Salina Bowe photo

Helene Prince braces herself for the cold and snowy weather that recently hit campus.

Garvey Park gets covered during a massive snowfall that took place on campus.

Casey Bleuel photo

Ashley Favata photo

Cars parked on Briggs Ave. get their windows covered with snow.

Taylor Bookmiller photo

Danielle Silva dances around a snowman she made on a homemade ice rink outside of Baldwin.

Salina Bowe photo

The grotto next to the Student Union gets covered during the massive snowfall.

February 19, 2014

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The Merciad

Features

Bruce Jenner visits campus

By Marcela Delgado Contributing writer

Wednesday, Feb. 12, Mercyhurst Student Government hosted Olympic Athlete and television celebrity, Bruce Jenner.

His motivational speech titled, “Finding the Champion within,” motivated students to accomplish their goals just as he did in the 1976 Olympics, when he won a gold medal for his performance in a decathlon.

He told the audience about how he discovered this wonderful thing called sports in fifth grade. During gym class he was the fastest runner of the entire school.

Jenner left the audience with a last thought that encouraged students to gamble, cheat, lie and steal.

“Gamble your best shot in life. Cheat those who would

hinder your success. Lie in the arms of those you love.

Steal every moment of happiness,” Jenner said.

He presented a walkthrough from the moment he realized he wanted to play sports, until he won his gold medal. Jenner emphasized at the beginning of his speech that your biggest competitor is you.

During his speech, Jenner emphasized that when he wants something in life, he will work hard for it. “You have to believe in the power of you,” Jenner said.

The television celebrity kept his speech about his success and did not mention his family or any controversial issues that they might be having at the time.

The expectant audience started lining up at the doors of the PAC an hour early, and right before the doors would open, the lines went

all the way to the entrance of Zurn.

Before Jenner would make his appearance, a clip was presented that showed special moments of his performance as a professional athlete. When he finally made his appearance the audience gave him a warm welcome.

Students in the front rows had banners prepared for him.

Jenner’s visit to campus called the attention of the media as well. TMZ and US Weekly featured stories about his visit.

Jenner also said, “If you reach down into your soul, you can do amazing things in life.”

Jenner’s success and example motivated students to keep visualizing their goals and eventually achieve them. @mddg0293

Ashley Favata photo

A huge crowd turned up to hear Bruce Jenner speak inside the PAC on Wednesday, Feb. 12.

Fresh Face Forward does workshop in Egan

By Ryan Kushner Contributing writer

Casey Bleuel photo

Senior Leann Krysiak and grad student Elissa Reitz demonstrate non-toxic beauty products to senior Marcela Delgado.

Fresh Face Forward team members continued their campaign and the spreading of their message this past Wednesday, Feb. 12, by setting up a booth in Egan Dining Hall and offering students advice on fragrances and avoiding unhealthy chemicals, as well as a chance to mix their own personalized, natural scents for Valentine’s Day. Leann Krysiak, a senior communication major and Campaign Coordinator for Fresh Face Forward, said that the team’s overall goal for the Valentine-themed event was to show people how to create a natural fragrance, one that is chemical free, good for them and good for the environ-

ment.

“I don’t think a lot of people know how easy it is to make their own scents” Krysiak added. “Using oils, even if you make your own creams or body washes, you just have to add essential oils and you have got an instant scent.”

Regarding the typical cost of the natural oil alternatives, Krysiak said that the costs of oils start at $5 for the smaller containers that can be found in stores such as Walgreens and Giant Eagle. Krysiak referred to the purchase “an investment,” explaining the contents will last the buyer for a long time and will contain natural fragrances.

The Fresh Face Forward campaign began back in the spring term of 2013 and those involved have been dil-

igent in making its name and message known ever since.

It’s rare that a day goes by when a Mercyhurst student is not exposed to the organization’s eye-catching posters sprinkled around campus, promoting awareness as well as safer alternatives to unknown and potentially harmful chemicals used in many perfumes and beauty products.

When asked about future events, Krysiak said that Fresh Face Forward “will continue having monthly workshops until April.”

It will also advocate the active Natural Beauty Club, in which “members come together to talk about different products, what they like and what they didn’t like, and the cost. Not only do we have recipe alternatives but

we have product alternatives as well.”

Elissa Reitz, a first year Organizational Leadership graduate student and also a Campaign Coordinator with Fresh Face Forward, explained that the Natural Beauty club’s mission is “to help people switch their more harmful products over to safer products.”

Both events are open to students who are interested.

“Anyone can join,” said Krysiak. “We have weekly meetings and definitely need other people’s ideas and inputs.”

Email freshfacefwd@ gmail.com for more information on how to get involved.

@TheMerciad

Carpe Diem Academy program starts in Erie

By Amanda Moore Contributing writer

Carpe Diem is an after-school program in Erie for underprivileged children. The issue on everyone’s mind is the 2012 grant, which made it possible, will expire this September.

This grant was for $500,000

per year from 2012 until Sep. 30, 2014. The organization runs on this money to supply their students with food and education tools that rotate through the different schools this program has been implemented in.

The program runs four days a week from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.. The average schedule has students eating snacks and jour-

nal writing, physical activity and a period of reading or math.

The schedule also includes a break bringing in a dance instructor from Spotlight Studio by Stacy, a fitness coach from JumpBunch, other activities and then a warm dinner before leaving.

The program is run by a site director who is a certified

Conflict-Free Campus Initiative

By Nathan Turner Staff writer

Students often don’t realize the power they wield with major corporations.

Student populations, when united behind a cause, can push companies to change their business practices. That’s the driving force behind Matt Vendeville and others’ drive to make Mercyhurst University a Conflict-Free Campus.

For those readers who don’t know this phrase means, Vendeville has the explanation: “Our mission is to advocate the problems that are happening specifically in the Congo, but all over Africa.”

While conflicts and civil wars are raging across parts of Africa, like the Congo, Mali or Guinea, there is an economic opportunity of which the belligerents are taking advantage.

“There is a need for diamonds and minerals in the world, which are used for elec-

tronics. The people in these countries are being forced to mine these minerals by the rebels or by the corrupt governments,” Vendeville said.

All of the economic benefits which come from controlling these minerals and diamonds are going to these rebels and corrupt governments. In other words, the dollars which American consumers spend are fueling the bloodshed in Africa.

Given that more than 5 million people have died, including 2.7 million children, it is imperative that students take a stand against this kind of violence. And the start of any change begins with education.

“We’ve put up posters for Valentine’s Day, giving list of companies which sell only conflict-free diamonds,” Vendeville said.

They also use similar tactics for Black Friday and try to educate people about which electronics companies use conflict-free minerals in

electronics. Some companies which were not conflict-free have become so because of the efforts of this nationwide Initiative.

“Apple is on the list of conflict-free companies,” said Vendeville. “They spent millions of dollars going back along their supply chain, getting rid of these conflict minerals.”

But education often spurs people to action, and so if students want to get involved, they can go online to Enough. com.

“Do what you’d do for your own problems,” Vendeville said.

For students who wish to get involved more directly with the group, their first meeting will be on Feb. 21 and will be open to the public.

For any further information, contact Matt Vendeville at mvende64@lakers.mercyhurst.edu. @TheMerciad

teacher enrolled in Mercyhurst’s graduate program and support teachers who are high standing Mercyhurst education majors.

Carpe Diem gives these students the ability to work in a real class environment.

Tom Gamble, Ph. D., President of Mercyhurst University, feels the students working at Carpe Diem, “will have the

opportunity for hands-on engaged learning which will aid their employment prospects also they are living the Mercy mission to reach out in service to those on the margins of society.

Leanne Roberts, Ph. D., Associate Dean of Mercyhurst School of Education and founder of Carpe Diem Acad-

emy, hopes to not only continue the program in the future, but to expand it.

“The School District asked if we would be willing to explain the Academy to all of the Erie Public Elementary Schools. We would love to do so,” Roberts said. @TheMerciad

MSG

Senator Spotlight

Hello, my name is Chris Gaertner and I am a Senior Communication major hailing from Cleveland, Ohio. On MSG, I serve as the Senator for the Walker School of Business and Communication and I am on both the Campus Life and Spirit Committees. Aside from MSG, I am a member of the Theater Appreciation Club, Outdoor Adventure Club, Mercyhurst Ambassadors, Toms Club and I was recently in the Fall musical, “Urinetown.” At my leisure, I love tweeting obsessively, watching Law and Order: SVU, marathons and clapping along to the FRIENDS theme song. I love Mercyhurst and have met some amazing people. I look forward to the rest of my final year here. If you see me walking the campus, approach me with your concerns or just say “hello!” Remember “We’re Your Voice!”

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February 19, 2014

The Merciad

News Hackers Pop punk bands phishing at lead Springfest acts Mercyhurst

By Nathan Turner Staff writer

Every year, as almost all the students know, Mercyhurst puts on an event known as Springfest, a weekend of festivities to celebrate the end of the year.

It ends with a massive concert where the University brings in a popular artist to give a show for the students.

This year, the school has announced the acts: New Politics and Mayday Parade, two alternative rock bands. Mark Ennis, MSG Events Coordinator, and Victoria Lewis, SAC Chair, sat down to speak about the upcoming event.

“We took some of the energy we had last year with White Panda and Super Mash Bros and we transformed it into live bands,” said Lewis.

“We took polls among the students to see which genre would be most popular. Alternative rock was definitely the winner.”

The announcement, however, came a little later than many students had expected.

The process of how Springfest is organized was one of the topics of the conversation.

The process, which started back in October, is fraught

with difficulties, such as refusals from artists. “We submit about 30 bids and we get a lot of ‘no’s. That’s definitely the hardest part,” Ennis said.

The reason for the delay was actually contract-related.

“One group wanted to perform first, and the other did,” said Lewis.

“Thankfully, we had a fantastic agent to help us out. He was able to calm them down and help us get the whole issue sorted out,” she said.

And while the announcement was delayed, it wasn’t without reserve on the part of the planners.

“We wanted to announce, but thought that we shouldn’t while things were still up in the air,” she said.

Despite the slight delay, the student body received the announcement on Thursday.

Another issue which came up during the interview is the issue of how Springfest works.

In years past and this year as well, the concert has been free to the students.

Some students have stated that they would be willing to pay for tickets if it would bring a better or bigger act to perform.

“Most students say that they would pay about 10 to

By Mary Barnes Staff writer

Contributed photo

Mayday Parade and New Politics were the bands chosen to perform at this year’s Springfest.

20 dollars for a ticket, but it wouldn’t be that helpful,” Ennis said.

Despite the difficulties which may have plagued the show at the start, the planners are enthusiastic for the concert and Springfest in general.

Police and Safety warns students to stay warm

By Will Bickelmann Staff writer

In one of the coldest winters in over 30 years, Chief of Police and Safety Robert Kuhn warns the student body to be careful of hypothermia when outside.

“One of the most important things to remember in this weather is to dress appropriately and be careful,” Kuhn said. “Especially when drinking. If there’s one thing to learn from the recent death at Gannon, it’s that.”

The Gannon student Kuhn mentioned, Abbrielle M. Brynda, 21, was a nursing student found on Feb. 3 in an alleyway with signs of hypothermia, after attending a party the night before. She is one of three young adults to die from hypothermia in Erie

this year.

One of Kuhn’s primary concerns is students getting hypothermia when under the influence of alcohol.

“Alcohol makes you feel warmer, but in reality it takes heat away from your body making it much easier to freeze,” he said.

“Students need to know how important it is to stay together when they are out drinking. Getting separated can be dangerous when the weather is this cold.”

“Under conditions this harsh, it is very easy for students to end up with hypothermia,” Kuhn said.

Kuhn’s recommendations to students who are determined not to let the nasty weather get in the way of their drinking are to “don’t stay still, and whatever you do, don’t fall asleep outside.”

Signs of hypothermia include clumsiness or lack of coordination, slurred speech or mumbling, or when shivering stops—shivering is actually a sign that a person’s heat regulation systems are still active.

Some other signs of hypothermia are confusion and drowsiness.

If you are out and get separated from your friends, please call Police and Safety.

They will pick you up and take you home without writing up the student up for drinking.

“Our main concern is keeping the students here safe,” Kuhn said.

Police and Safety can be reached at 814- 824-2304.

@TheMerciad

Ennis’s words best sum up the view of the planners: “It’s going to be a fantastic year.” @TheMerciad

Just as students and faculty members have begun to fall back into a routine for the spring semester, many of them were greeted with a dangerous attempt to throw them off balance again.

Mercyhurst officials were recently made aware of multiple phishing attempts to hack into the campus’s wireless network.

For those who aren’t the most technology-savvy, phishing is an act performed by a third party acting as a legitimate source, in this case the IT Help Desk or another official “@mercyhurst.edu” contact.

Many students have found themselves opening and possibly replying to emails from these “phishers” who ask personal information from them.

These emails may ask for a variety of personal information, including credit and bank account information and Mercyhurst network details, among other things.

These emails can obtain information from users by including a link to “verify the account,” and with a legitimate-looking sender’s address,

many are fooled into complying and sending out this information.

The Information Technology Help Desk has been notified and many of its staff members are trained in helping callers deal with these attempts.

IT Help Desk employee Hannah Cox claims she has been made aware of the issues and is making the necessary precautions to ensure the attempts do not become serious.

Students and faculty members are advised to ignore these emails and never respond to them.

If there is an email from a Mercyhurst account asking for a verification or personal information, immediately delete the message.

Responding to an email of this type could affect yourself and other Mercyhurst accounts who did not reply to the email; in fact, it could potentially put the entire network in danger.

Direct questions to the IT help desk, located in the lobby of the Hammermill Library or at 814-824-3200.

@TheMerciad

News Brief

Students warned about scams Chief of Police and Safety Robert Kuhn warned students and faculty about reports of a man and a woman, spotted at the Tim Horton’s on East 38th and Pine, attempting to scam money from patrons by asking for money for a cab along with some vague emergency.

The suspects are a white female, middle-aged, with blonde hair and missing teeth, wearing a sweater and hat but no coat and a middle-aged white male with brown hair and missing teeth wearing red hat and a dark blue jacket with a grey undershirt.

He also advised people to call the police or enter the shop and ask the employees to call Erie police. Under no circumstances should they allow a stranger into their vehicle.

Police and Safety can be reached at 814-824-2304.

Erie region College Democrats host conference

Mercyhurst, Behrend, Gannon and Edinboro College Democrats join hands and resources to host the Pennsylvania College Democrats Western Regional Conference at Penn State Behrend on Saturday, March 1.

The daylong conference is an opportunity for College Democrat chapters to meet, network and exchange ideas with different chapters and elected officials. The schedule is filled with elected officials and political leaders, and will focus on training our young leaders to become instruments of progressive change.

Panelists and speakers will discuss topics like breaking the glass ceiling, running for office at a young age, getting political jobs and internships and lobbying state and local officials.

Speakers include Erie County Executive Kathy Dahlkemper, State Representatives Rep. Ryan Bizzarro, Rep. Flo Fabrizio, Rep. Pat Harkins and State Sen. Sean Wiley among others.

The conference is free, and will be followed by a networking reception at the Plymouth Tavern from 5-7 p.m. It is an excellent opportunity to learn how to get involved with local and state government as a young Democrat.

If interested, please RSVP with Zainab Javed at zainab-javed@live.com.

Mercyhurst University Police & Safety

Police Log Wednesday, Feb. 12 Harassment 3827 Briggs Ave. Referred for discipline Thursday, Feb. 13 Theft REC Center Closed Sunday, Feb. 16 Criminal Mischief 3940 Lewis Ave. Closed

February 19, 2014

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The Merciad

Opinion

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

Maintenance crew works hard The Good... to keep our parking lots clean

By Nathan Turner Staff writer

So, we’ve all entered the phase of winter in which our vehicles, our doors and in some poor cases, our windows are covered in inches of cold, frozen snow.

I h e a r c o n s t a n t l y h ow people have to shovel themselves out of their parking spots and scrape ice from their cars.

The experience that I enjoy most, while admittedly realizing how twisted it sounds that I slightly enjoy other people’s

pain, is when they seem surprised by all the snow. I hear comments such as, “Why is there so much snow?” I have to say this, “You know that big blue body of water to the north, right next to Canada?

Blame that thing.”

T he conditions around campus are somewhat troublesome for those of us who drive due to all of the snow and ice. I think that many people are angry at maintenance for what some students see as their refusal to clear the parking lots and salt them.

I’ve got a news flash for those folks: They can’t clear

them unless you move your car, and they’ve been doing that across campus by shutting down parking lots and then clearing them. So, I tell those who are complaining about the parking lots: Just have patience with the crews.

They’re doing what they can.

And all those who may say that the maintenance crews aren’t working hard enough to clear the roads, two words: “Shut up.” Those men work extraordinarily hard to do what they can around here; they have families and lives to support, and do their jobs day-in and day-out. They

work much harder than some students on this campus do, so anyone wants to knock them for “not doing enough” need to re-think that statement.

I’d encourage the students to thank them instead. It’s just common decency. And if the snow is that much of a problem for you, I’d suggest either getting a really sturdy shovel and a good ice scraper, or transferring to a warmer climate.

@TheMerciad

Animal torture does not justify death threats to human life

By Nathan Turner Staff writer

The animal rights activists are up in arms again. From the title of the article and the opening sentence, many students already know of what incident I’m writing.

A week or two ago, a zoo in Copenhagen put down a healthy 18-month old giraffe, despite the petition signed by thousands of people to not do so, and then publicly dissected and fed the giraffe to the lions at the zoos.

It was done in the name of preser ving the genetic diversity of the species, as well as the fact that the zoo didn’t have room for him. I

believe that the zoo could have chosen another means by which to deal with the giraffe named Marius. Celebrities like Jack Hanna raise the good question of why the zoo is “breeding animals for which it doesn’t have room.”

Also, the idea of publicly shooting the animal in front of children and then publicly dissecting it seems a bit like overkill to me.

You want to educate the public about what conservation efforts sometimes require, fine. But may I ask why you’re going to cut open a giraffe and show its guts to a group of young children?

That seems a little gruesome for many of these kids. So, maybe that little part of the

show wasn’t the best idea.

If I may play Devil’s Advocate for a bit to criticize the public reaction to this foolish decision, however, many people stop looking at the situation once the giraffe’s dead and dissected. But the staff of the zoo is getting death threats for their actions.

Seriously, folks?

I love animals and all, but I’m not going to threaten to kill or actually kill an actual, living, breathing human being because of a foolish decision regarding animal care.

This is not a case of abuse or animal torture where there are many legitimate emotional reasons for thinking that the perpetrators should experience some degree of

what they made the animals endure.

Even in cases of animal torture, however, there is no logical or moral reasoning for threatening to take people’s lives. I do believe that people are far more important than animals in terms of value.

Animal life is a regrettable loss, but it is nowhere near the tragedy of the loss of a human life. So, while your emotions are rightfully flared over the death of Marius, please keep this whole thing in perspective, folks.

@TheMerciad

Animal testing is an unnecessary evil that should be avoided

By Marcela Delgado Staff writer

Online

With the presence of on-campus movements such as Fresh Face Forward, it is becoming more relevant for us to discuss the issue of animal testing for consumer products such as cosmetics, shampoos and deodorants.

Every year, animals are isolated, confined into laboratories, and afterwards subjected to cruel experiments.

We justify this treatment on the basis of medical advancement and animals’ absence of cognitive and emotional capacities inherent to humans.

However, animal testing has become outdated and inefficient to solve contemporary health problems. Moreover, animals are capable of experiencing pain as well as other emotional states and perhaps even cognitive faculties.

Therefore, if animals and humans possess similar characteristics, why do we not treat animals with the same moral obligation they deserve? Perhaps, it is because a lot of what we judge as “moral” is utterly a subjective belief used to validate our actions.

Nevertheless, it is remarkable how we label ourselves as “moral” beings with intellectual and emotional faculties, yet we are willing to infl ict suffering in animals for our self-interest.

We do not realize that using animals for cruel practices, will eventually affect our own existence, as we rely on animals as much as they rely on us. Thus, animal research is beyond ethically unac-

ceptable; it is also impeding medical progress and risking human health.

@TheMerciad

Students have come together to launch a conflict-free campus initiative. Students are trying to educate people and encourage them to buy products from companies that use conflict-free minerals and diamonds.

The Bad...

The new Student First campaign is a noble cause: Treat students with dignity and respect.

Sadly, many of the faculty have received pledge cards on this have let them go unsigned. Does that mean they already do this or they don’t want to?

Just because McAuley is an old building, it doesn’t mean the university has to keep looking it old and uninhabitable. A little facelift and would definitely go a long way.

The Ugly...

Apparently two scammers, each with missing teeth, are walking up to occupied vehicles opening the door and demanding money at businesses near campus.

The Weird...

We’re three weeks into the term, yet students are still receiving e-mails from Student Financial Services regarding changes in their account balances. I still causes a moment of panic with each change.

The Merciad Editors Mathew Anderson Zach Dorsch Juan Mendez Daniel Tarr Samantha Bante Garrett Erwin Alejandra Zeron Leann Krysiak Nicole Lawrence Sami Rapp Ethan Johns Will DeFeo Bill Welch

By Ashley Favata

Positions @mercyhurst.edu Editor-in-Chief editormerciad Managing Editor managingmerciad News Editor newsmerciad Features Editor featuremerciad Sports Editor sportsmerciad A&E Editor entertainmentmerciad Opinion Editor opinionmerciad Copy Editor copymerciad Graphics photomerciad Photo Editor photomerciad Web Editor ejohns89 Ad Manager admerciad Adviser wwelch

The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 120B. Our telephone number is (814) 824-2376.

Men’s club hockey played RIT over the weekend, winning their game of Feb. 1.

Pat Mayhew is shown here waiting for the puck to drop.

Read more at

merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion

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 to box PH 485 or via email at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.

Write for The Merciad, email editormerciad@mercyhurst.edu

Page 8

The Merciad

Laker

February 19, 2014

Living Geek Weekly: Top streaming services

By Zach Dorsch Managing editor

Music streaming services have grown tremendously in the last four years. They come in all shapes and sizes offering such things as personalized radio stations, large libraries of music to look through and apps so you can play your favorites on the go. With such a wide selection of services to pick from it can be a struggle to find the one that fits your needs just right.

allowing users access to the music on their device as well as the option to sink up with your desktop. They offer very easy to use and attractive apps for Android and iOS that allow you to play offline or will continue playing if you drop off the network for a few seconds.

Xbox Music

Spotify

This is a fairly new service that was released by Microsoft as a replacement for their Zune software. This service is great for big Microsoft fans because it is compatible with your desktop, laptop, phone and Xbox as well as Android and iOS devices. Currently, Xbox Music offers over 30 million tracks, the largest of any service. Streaming is free if you don’t mind the ads and you can also seamless interrogation your existing music collection with the app. The paid version, which is also $9.99, does not offer off-line mode which is was not pleased about, though it does offer the user access to over 70,000 music videos as part of the offer.

With over 24 million active users, it is safe to say that some of you have already heard of Spotify. It offers one of the biggest music catalog of 20 million tracks. It is primarily used for people that want to listen to a specific artist or band. Spotify does offer a radio, but compared to other smart radios like Pandora, it is pretty dumb. Spotfiy also has a mobile app that will allow you to listen to music on both Android and Apple devices. If you want to take your experience even further, you can pay $9.99 a month for Spotfiy Premium. This monthly price will remove all advertisements, improves your audio quality significantly and allows you to use offline mode.

Google Play Music All Access Despite the mouthful of the name this is by far my favorite service out of all of them. This $10 a month service is structured much like Spotify Premium and Pandora mixed together. The radio on this is comparable to Pandora’s but without the limit on the number of songs you can skip. It also beats Spotify when it comes to mobile apps by

@zdorsc22

Beauty Talks

Homemade foot scrub

By Leann Krysiak Copy editor

Stop neglecting them. Stop shoving them into fuzzy socks and boots and show your feet some love. Ok, keep wearing fuzzy socks and boots because it’s Erie and it will be perpetually cold. But while you wait patiently for spring to come, show off an awesome pedi and give your feet a well deserved scrub. Everything you need for this recipe is easy to find or you might already have it. I recommend using after showering or soaking your feet for 5-10 minutes.

Now it may seem silly to buy a jar of honey or a bottle of oil when you only need a tiny amount, but these items can be easily incorporated into your diet. Honey is a great natural sweetener. Add some to plain yogurt with fruit and nuts and

inutes m 0 5 : e m i t l Tota inutes m 5 2 : e m i t Baking Level: Easy bars n e z o d 4 : d l e Yi

you have breakfast. Oil can be used to make salad dressing or to cook with. Get creative. Your use of these items doesn’t have to be limited to beauty care. This week’s recipe comes from JulieAnnArt.com: Homemade Foot Scrub:

Need help finding the ingredients? Check out the ingredient guide on Fresh Face Forward’s Recipe page.

2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon almond oil (can be substituted for olive oil)

Did you like it? Love it? Tell me what you think on the Fresh Face Forward’s Facebook page or send your comments to freshfaceforward@gmail.com.

Combine all ingredients. In the bath tub or over the sink, massage gently onto each foot for 1-2 minutes in circular

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

By Sami Rapp Photo editor

Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate morsels 1 cup chopped nuts

patterns. Rinse well and feel your soft feet. Be sure to rinse out the tub well as oil and honey can make the tub slippery.

A simple way to clean out the tub is to pour baking soda and scrub briefly. Rinse well.

@LeannKrysiak

Why I lo a new ve this reci pe tw Every ist on an o : This is ld clas one ha si s chip c ookies had chocol c. ate bu better as bar t they’re e ve s. ies the se are Just like br n nice a nd che ownwy.

Directions: PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool COMBINE flour, baking soda on baking sheets for 2 minutes; and salt in small bowl. Beat remove to wire racks to cool butter, granulated sugar, brown completely. sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well PAN COOKIE VARIATION: after each addition. Gradually Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. beat in flour mixture. Stir in mor- Prepare dough as above. Spread sels and nuts. Drop by rounded into prepared pan. Bake for 20 tablespoon onto ungreased to 25 minutes or until golden baking sheets. brown. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Makes 4 dozen bars.

@srapp93

February 19, 2014

The Merciad

Page 7

Sports

Men’s wrestling has strong hold on No. 8

By Carly Contraguerro Contributing writer

The No. 8 ranked Mercyhurst men’s wrestling team continued their winning streak with a 26-20 victory over the Ashland University Eagles during a great home match Thursday, Feb. 13.

Currently, the Lakers have a record of 6-0 in the PSAC conference and this victory gave the Lakers a 17-1 record over all. With 17 victories, the wrestling team has beaten their previous record of going 16-0 during their 2008-2009 season. With that record, they have also set a new record streak of consecutive wins with 11.

Helping the Lakers break these records at the Ashland match was Jeremy Landowski, ranked No. 8 in the country at 149 pounds, who won by a 5-1 decision against his opponent whose record

was 25-4 before the match compared to Landowski’s 17-4.

“One of the ways we make each other better is taking the right attitudes into practice every day. Before practice all joke around and have a good time but once practice starts a switch goes off and we become very serious” Landowski said.

Another big contributor to the team is Dylan D’Urso who won by a technical fall 15-0 over his opponent at the Ashland match. D’Urso is now 17-0 in dual matches and 24-2 for the season.

“We’ve recovered really well since our loss in San Francisco and we are all wrestling great as a team” D’Urso said.

Landowski added, “In the tough moments knowing your team is behind you can make you push through that tough moment.”

Mercyhurst is very strong with six ranked wrestlers but

Ed Mailliard photo

The No. 8 ranked Mercyhurst men’s wrestling team continued their winning streak with a 26-20 victory over Ashland.

the entire team is playing a huge part in the success of the team this season. The Lakers have two wrestlers, D’Urso and Landowkski,

who are ranked nationally and seven wrestlers who are ranked in the PSAC. These wrestlers include Ryan Bohince, Kody Young,

August Mizia, Francis Mizia, and Andrew Welton.

“The commitment that everyone has for the team is unbelievable. Even though

wrestling is an individual sport, team success usually leads to individual success.

Everyone knows if they put in the work to get better they will make the team better” Landowski said.

“With the accomplishments we have had this year, it is a clear indication of the commitment brought by this team.”

The Lakers will travel to the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Saturday, March 1, to take on the mountain cats at their last match of the regular season.

UPJ is ranked second in the PSAC and has a record of 12-1.

“The work isn’t finished yet though and we have to finish strong against UPJ and then perform well at regionals. If we wrestle to our ability good things will happen,” D’Urso said. @TheMerciad

Men’s lacrosse prepares for successful spring season

By Connor Edgar Contributing writer

With the spring athletic season right around the corner, the Mercyhurst men’s lacrosse team has received several high preseason rankings, have raised expectations for the upcoming 2014 season.

The Lakers rank second in the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Coaches’ Preseason Poll, voted as favorite to win the Eastern Conference Athletic Conference (ECAC) for the 2014 season and received third ranking in Lacrosse Magazine’s NCAA Division II 2014 preseason rankings.

The Lakers preseason accolades can be referenced to an exciting 2013 season.

The Mercyhurst men’s lacrosse team fought for an 18-1 2013 record, placing No. 1 in the ECAC conference after defeating Limestone.

The season resulted in an appearance at the NCAA championship game last May for the third time in school history.

Jake McAndrew, senior attackman and Captain, weighed in on the team’s reaction to the preseason rankings and the team’s outlook for the 2014 season.

“We don’t see the rankings as an indicator at all. We have a large senior class that has been successful and has learned to overcome adversity.

We know coming in each year, we have the ability to win a National Championship. All of the rankings don’t mean anything to us.”

“So far the team looks good” added McAndrew. Despite the winter weather preventing the team from receiving full field time very much this year, “this team is the most prepared and in shape team I’ve been on.”

The Lakers have several freshmen who will see significant minutes this year.

Chad Levick and Keyan McQueen, both Canadian, are going to see significant time on man up opportunities.

Also, Kenny Nelson, another freshman, will contribute at attack.

The biggest strength this year is the returning defense led by Andrew Wagner who was chosen as Lacrosse Magazine’s Division II Preseason Player of the Year.

Wagner earned the William C. Schmeisser Award as Division II’s Most Outstanding Defender in 2012 and 2013.

The biggest weakness for the Lakers is the loss of Brian Scheetz on attack. He was a USILA Second Team

Alison Ockasi photo

With a returning strong senior defense and a young talented offense, the Lakers are ready to repeat and capture last season’s prosperity.

All-American and leading scorer in program history.

“He was a one of a kind player,” McAndrew commends. “I have been issued with taking over his role of quarterback of the offense. If I can learn from him and con-

tinue to mature, the offense should be able to continue to get better,” McAndrew concludes with confidence, “the difference with this team is that the offensive guys who haven’t seen a lot of time in the past

have shown the ability to step up and make plays, if that happens the team will be very successful this season.”

The Mercyhurst Lakers men’s lacrosse team, thinking past the preseason hype, is focused and ready to have

another successful season.

With a returning strong senior defense and a young talented offense, the Lakers are ready to repeat and capture last season’s prosperity. @TheMerciad

Women’s basketball suffers loss to Edinboro 61-64

By Samantha Bante Sports editor

The Mercyhurst women’s basketball team lost, 61-64, at Edinboro on Saturday, Feb. 15, as a potential tying 3-pointer came up short at the last sound of the buzzer.

During this game at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Western Division contest at McComb Fieldhouse in Edinboro, four Lakers scored double digits.

These four Lakers include: junior Adrienne Kloecker who led the team with 14 points, five assists, and four rebounds, followed by senior Alayna White who posted 13 points, and freshman Katie Fischer who scored 13 points as well. Freshman Mariah Penascino added 11 points on 4-4 shooting and was the last Laker of the evening to score in double digits.

After falling behind early in the game, the Lakers rallied, cutting their deficit to five at halftime. Edinboro tried to pull away in the second half

of the game, but Mercyhurst held on, fighting strong for a solid win.

A free throw made the score jump to 50-37 with a lead for Edinboro with 10:52 remaining in the game. The Lakers answered with a 12-0 run to turn the game around making Edinboro fight for a victory.

Mercyhurst shot 50 percent (22-44) and held Edinboro to 35.7 percent (20-56) on all of its attempts. The Lakers’ bench outscored the Scots’ 31-1 on the day.

The Lakers strength showed in the second half of the quarter where they moved their shot percentage up to 52.4 percent and were able to keep their three pointers up by 57.1 percent scoring four out of seven shots.

The Lakers are now 6-17 overall and 4-9 in the PSAC and will travel to Indiana on Wednesday to take on (IUP) Indiana University of Pennsylvania. The ball is set to drop at 5:30 p.m

Salina Bowe photo

@TheMerciad

Freshman guard Alex Artise goes for the ball during a game against Slippery Rock on Feb. 12 when the Lakers lost 63-70.

Page 8

The Merciad

Laker

February 19, 2014

Living Geek Weekly: Top streaming services

By Zach Dorsch Managing editor

Music streaming services have grown tremendously in the last four years. They come in all shapes and sizes offering such things as personalized radio stations, large libraries of music to look through and apps so you can play your favorites on the go. With such a wide selection of services to pick from it can be a struggle to find the one that fits your needs just right.

allowing users access to the music on their device as well as the option to sink up with your desktop. They offer very easy to use and attractive apps for Android and iOS that allow you to play offline or will continue playing if you drop off the network for a few seconds.

Xbox Music

Spotify

This is a fairly new service that was released by Microsoft as a replacement for their Zune software. This service is great for big Microsoft fans because it is compatible with your desktop, laptop, phone and Xbox as well as Android and iOS devices. Currently, Xbox Music offers over 30 million tracks, the largest of any service. Streaming is free if you don’t mind the ads and you can also seamless interrogation your existing music collection with the app. The paid version, which is also $9.99, does not offer off-line mode which is was not pleased about, though it does offer the user access to over 70,000 music videos as part of the offer.

With over 24 million active users, it is safe to say that some of you have already heard of Spotify. It offers one of the biggest music catalog of 20 million tracks. It is primarily used for people that want to listen to a specific artist or band. Spotify does offer a radio, but compared to other smart radios like Pandora, it is pretty dumb. Spotfiy also has a mobile app that will allow you to listen to music on both Android and Apple devices. If you want to take your experience even further, you can pay $9.99 a month for Spotfiy Premium. This monthly price will remove all advertisements, improves your audio quality significantly and allows you to use offline mode.

Google Play Music All Access Despite the mouthful of the name this is by far my favorite service out of all of them. This $10 a month service is structured much like Spotify Premium and Pandora mixed together. The radio on this is comparable to Pandora’s but without the limit on the number of songs you can skip. It also beats Spotify when it comes to mobile apps by

@zdorsc22

Beauty Talks

Homemade foot scrub

By Leann Krysiak Copy editor

Stop neglecting them. Stop shoving them into fuzzy socks and boots and show your feet some love. Ok, keep wearing fuzzy socks and boots because it’s Erie and it will be perpetually cold. But while you wait patiently for spring to come, show off an awesome pedi and give your feet a well deserved scrub. Everything you need for this recipe is easy to find or you might already have it. I recommend using after showering or soaking your feet for 5-10 minutes.

Now it may seem silly to buy a jar of honey or a bottle of oil when you only need a tiny amount, but these items can be easily incorporated into your diet. Honey is a great natural sweetener. Add some to plain yogurt with fruit and nuts and

inutes m 0 5 : e m i t l Tota inutes m 5 2 : e m i t Baking Level: Easy bars n e z o d 4 : d l e Yi

you have breakfast. Oil can be used to make salad dressing or to cook with. Get creative. Your use of these items doesn’t have to be limited to beauty care. This week’s recipe comes from JulieAnnArt.com: Homemade Foot Scrub:

Need help finding the ingredients? Check out the ingredient guide on Fresh Face Forward’s Recipe page.

2 tablespoons brown sugar 1 tablespoon honey 1 teaspoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon almond oil (can be substituted for olive oil)

Did you like it? Love it? Tell me what you think on the Fresh Face Forward’s Facebook page or send your comments to freshfaceforward@gmail.com.

Combine all ingredients. In the bath tub or over the sink, massage gently onto each foot for 1-2 minutes in circular

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

By Sami Rapp Photo editor

Ingredients: 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened 3/4 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs 2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) semi-sweet chocolate morsels 1 cup chopped nuts

patterns. Rinse well and feel your soft feet. Be sure to rinse out the tub well as oil and honey can make the tub slippery.

A simple way to clean out the tub is to pour baking soda and scrub briefly. Rinse well.

@LeannKrysiak

Why I lo a new ve this reci pe tw Every ist on an o : This is ld clas one ha si s chip c ookies had chocol c. ate bu better as bar t they’re e ve s. ies the se are Just like br n nice a nd che ownwy.

Directions: PREHEAT oven to 375° F.

BAKE for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool COMBINE flour, baking soda on baking sheets for 2 minutes; and salt in small bowl. Beat remove to wire racks to cool butter, granulated sugar, brown completely. sugar and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well PAN COOKIE VARIATION: after each addition. Gradually Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan. beat in flour mixture. Stir in mor- Prepare dough as above. Spread sels and nuts. Drop by rounded into prepared pan. Bake for 20 tablespoon onto ungreased to 25 minutes or until golden baking sheets. brown. Cool in pan on wire rack.

Makes 4 dozen bars.

@srapp93