The Merciad March 23 Issue

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

| W E D N E S D AY, M A R C H 2 3 , 2 0 2 2

| VOL. 95 NO. 14

Spring edition of STATEMENT now published PAGE: 9

Online poll results

We asked: What is currently causing you the most stress?

Photo Credits: Mercyhurst Fashion

Russia and Ukraine conflict Inflation

5: Ryan Hall Floods

COVID

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11: The 814- The Juice Jar 14: Men’s Hockey season comes to an end

Finishing this assignment

This week’s

POLL

How did you spend your St. Patrick’s Day?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

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NEWS

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Apply for Study Abroad 2022-2023

By Libby Bullinger

Copy editor

This semester, Mercyhurst began the first round of study abroad trips for students since 2020. Since the pandemic eliminated any option of traveling out of the country, plans for students to travel were put on hold until these trips could be conducted safely.

This semester, Spring 2022, students from Mercyhurst have been thrilled to resume study abroad trips. There are currently students enrolled in study abroad courses that will travel following the end of the semester and some that are already in other countries.

That being said, the Study Abroad office has announced travel options for the 2022-2023 academic year. One of the most popular study abroad options for Mercyhurst students is the 8-week long trip to Dungarvan, Ireland.

Given the school’s roots with the Sisters of Mercy originating in Ireland, there is a sister campus in Dungarvan to which students and faculty can easily travel. The Ireland study abroad option will take place in the Spring 2023 semester with travel planned for early March and the return is planned for early May. One of the advantages of doing the Ireland program is that there are many different options for REACH courses that students can take, meaning it is accessible to a wider range of the student population. For this upcoming trip, students can register for Ireland classes that cover the A, C and H areas of the general education curriculum.

In addition, there are classes that can apply to History, Physics, and Political Science majors and minors. Students also have the opportunity to secure their Beyond the Gates credit on this trip

if they have not already done so.

Students who choose to study abroad in Ireland take 2-3 classes in the Mini B course timeframe and live in university-leased accommodations. Given the length of this program, students are also able to travel around to other countries in the area on their weekends and breaks if they choose to do so.

The other option for students to engage in a study abroad experience is through a Faculty-Student Academic Travel, or FSAT, class. Students enrolled in these study abroad programs will register for a course on the Erie campus during the semester and take a 10-12 day trip following the end of the semester in which they took the class.

The professor teaching the course will be the one leading the students through their travels, which allows students to bond with their professor and peers be-

fore taking a trip abroad.

According to the Study Abroad office, FSAT courses are “Mercyhurst courses enhanced by travel and designed to engage students deeply in course content in the context of global awareness.”

FSAT courses for the 20222023 academic year are as follows: Art and Mind in Portugal and Spain including Sport Psychology International Context taught

by Matt Weaver, Ph.D. (Reach H or major/minor Psychology course) and Performing Spain and Portugal taught by Brett Johnson, Ph.D. (Reach E or minor Theatre course) traveling in January 2023; Food and Culture in France including France: People, History and Food taught by Doug Boudreau, Ph.D. (Reach E or major/minor French course) and Farm to Table: Food & Wine in France taught by Peter Zohos, Ph.D. (Reach H or major/minor Hospitality course) traveling in

May 2023; Fashion and Fiction in the UK including International French Trends taught by Amy Weaver (major/minor Fashion Merchandising course) and Fiction of the Capital Cities taught

by Brian Reed, Ph.D. (Reach E or major/minor English course) traveling in May 2023; Art, Culture and Service in Italy including Italy: Art, Culture and Service taught by Jodi Staniunas Hopper and Heather Denning (Reach E or major/minor Art course) traveling in May 2023.

Students interested in studying abroad in the upcoming academic year should submit their application by April 1 and are welcome to attend the open house on March 24 in Preston 102 to pick up application and ask questions about the programs.

NEWS

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

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Mercyhurst works to help Ukraine

By Bella Lee Staff writer

The ongoing situation that’s occurring in Ukraine is nothing less than scary. Hundreds of civilians have died including over a hundred children and millions of Ukrainians have been displaced and forced to flee as Russia attempts to take over.

Everyone is doing whatever they can to help, and Mercyhurst is no different.

On March 14, President Kathleen Getz sent a message to the Mercyhurst community expressing a desire and opportunity to help Ukraine.

“Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine is devastating for the people of Ukraine and has deeply affected many others, including members of our own community,” Getz said.

“I know I speak for all of us at Mercyhurst when I say that our hearts go out to every per-

son affected. In times of crisis, the Mercyhurst community has risen in support of others. I urge you to show your solidarity with the people of Ukraine through this effort and to continue to pray for a swift resolution leading to a lasting peace.”

Part of Mercyhurst’s support for Ukraine includes working with State Representative Bob Merski’s office as well as our sister city of Lublin, Poland, to collect donations for humanitarian aid.

The drive, which began on March 14, is accepting donations of personal hygiene items, underwear, bed linens, towels, first aid kits, bandages and nonperishable food products.

Donations can be dropped off in the receptacles just outside the President’s office on the first floor of Old Main.

Additionally, there was a prayer service in Christ the King chapel on March 1.

Greg Baker, D.Min., vice cyhurst is focusing our efforts president for Mission acknowl- to provide assistance. edged that many may already “It is a collaborative effort with state representative Bob Merski and Erie’s sister city in Poland, where many Ukrainian This crisis in refugees are being supported Ukraine is right now.”

Everyone in the community calling forth the has been concerned and everygoodness of one wants to help.

“From the moment that this people across invasion of Ukraine took place, the world I have heard from concerned people in the MU community (including those wondering what we can do,” of us at MU) to said Baker.

“But we are appropriately do our part.” moving from prayer to action.

Greg Baker, D.Min. War causes so much unnecessary death and suffering, and the plight of those who are forced to migrate (already more than 3 million people have donated through estab- have fled the country to Poland lished charities and that the alone) leaves a huge number of donation drive through the people with needs for basic life President’s office is where Mer- necessities.”

“

There are plenty that Mercyhurst students can do to show solidarity and action.

“We recognize that students might not have a lot of disposable income, but every little bit helps,” said Baker.

“Students can donate items they already have, or they might consider forgoing an expensive cup of coffee or some other luxury and share the money they saved to purchase basic necessities with these refugees. We are part of one, interconnected human family.

Our Mercy tradition calls us to solidarity with those who suffer, and to work to support the common good. This crisis in Ukraine is calling forth the goodness of people across the world (including those of us at MU) to do our part.”

Every little thing counts, so try to help and spread the word in any way you can.

Mercyhurst participates in large-scale cyber attack

By Samantha Weber

Editor-in-chief

Cyber security is one of the most important issues with the advanced and widespread technology we have today.

Mercyhurst always encourages students to get hands-on experiences before they graduate, and students in the Cyber Security major have a multitude of opportunities ahead of them.

A large-scale cyber attack simulation was recently sanctioned by the Department of Defense, and Mercyhurst faculty, staff and students were invited to participate.

According to the U.S. Army website, “the three-day exercise is intended to build unity of effort and familiarity with the effects of a cyber-attack among all partners of Homeland Defense (HD), All-Hazards, Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA)/Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) to prepare for disaster response and consequence management.”

The exercise lasted from March 8-10 and each day had different activities for the attendees to watch.

The first day had academic presentations and Mercyhurst’s own Cyber Security professor, Christopher Mansour, Ph.D., gave a presentation about Industrial Control System (ICS) threats. Mansour decided on this topic due to the fear of retaliation from Russia and Ukraine in their war. The goal of his presentation was to educate people on why our critical infrastructure needs to be secured and what we can do to protect it.

Mansour explained that most

cyber attacks are usually targeting critical infrastructure because it tends to have a larger effect on the country as a whole as opposed to just technology.

The second day featured a Tabletop Training exercise and Red Team Maneuvers. Mercyhurst’s Brian Fuller, director of operations for Ridge College, helped moderate the tabletop exercise and also assisted with Red Team activities.

The point of the Red Team activities is to find vulnerabilities in security and begin planning how to properly combat these vulnerabilities.

Students Ryan MacGurn and Matthew Sorensen both attended the event to assist with the tabletop exercises.

MacGurn said, “the Cyber Security program at Mercyhurst laid out the foundation and theory to go out and do my own research by applying it to the real world.”

MacGurn’s Red Team exercise was played from the hacker’s perspective and how to counterattack the hacker’s response in different scenarios. Fuller describes the exercise as a “comprehensive reaction to an event if it were to occur.”

The third day was a Communications Exercise.

Fuller’s goal is “to increase student participation as this experience puts Mercyhurst at a vanguard of cyber security and intelligence education in the nation.”

Both Cyber Security and Intelligence students collaborated to prepare for this exercise and they certainly wowed their audience. The event planners reached out to Fuller to state how impressed they were with

the level of preparation on the students’ parts and how they executed the exercises.

Another aspect of Fuller’s goal is to have an event here at Mercyhurst that is even more realistic. Fuller has a meeting with John Kelly, port security specialist for U.S. Coast Guard Sector Buffalo, at the end of the month to discuss bringing an event on campus so that more students have the opportunity to participate.

Mansour, MacGurn and Fuller all commented on the fact that it was nice to see how peo-

ple were willing to sacrifice their lives to help others who were victims of an attack.

Mansour said, “the military police, military, coast guard all have your back and that is what is great about this country.”

Mansour’s favorite part of the exercise was “watching Ryan and Matt conduct their exercise and seeing them excel at it.”

MacGurn’s favorite part of the exercise was “getting to know faculty on a more personal level and seeing how they care about their students and have their backs.”

Fuller commented, “This exercise was a foundation for getting everyone thinking of what to do for these scenarios, now they need to build the house upon the foundation to truly think of possible scenarios to mitigate the fallout from an attack.”

Contributed photo

The U.S. Department of Defense recently issued a large-scale cyber attack simulation in which Mercyhurst was invited to participate. The event took place in Buffalo, New York on March 8-10.

Pictured in the photo (from left) are: Ryan MacGurn, Dr. Christopher Mansour, Brian Fuller, and Matthew Sorensen.

NEWS

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Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Mercyhurst holds period product Merciad IN A MINUTE Study Abroad Open There will be a Study Abroad open house on March 24 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

The open house will take place in Preston 102.

Refreshments will be provided.

Anyone who is interested in applying for a study abroad program is encouraged to attend.

Email studayabroad@ mercyhurst.edu with questions.

Women’s History Month Poetry Reading The Latin American and Spanish Studies Association (LASSA) is hosting a Women’s History Month poetry reading on March 23.

The event will be held in Luke’s Landing in the Student Union from 4:306 p.m.

This is a great opportunity to hear poetry from women from around the world.

drive for Women’s History Month

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

March is Women’s History Month. Starting in 1911, International Women’s Day was celebrated globally on March 8. In 1980, President Jimmy Carter made a Presidential Proclamation establishing Women’s History Week in the United States, aligning with International Women’s Day. In 1987, National Women’s History Week became a monthlong celebration.

During the week of March 1418, Multicultural Student Services hosted a Period Product Drive.

Students were able to get volunteer hours by sitting at the table and spreading the word about the importance of women’s rights.

There were pins that students could pick up that say, “I support all women’s rights.”

The purpose of this type of donation drive is to “collect unopened menstrual products (sanitary pads, tampons or menstrual cups) to donate to local women’s

shelters or organizations that provide aid to people who have periods,” said Jessica Hubert, Multicultural and Inclusion coordinator. “In some states, period products are considered luxury items and therefore have extra taxes added onto them, making it difficult for some folks to purchase them.”

Hubert pushed for the drive to happen and helped to organize the event. “I believed it was important to host a menstrual products drive this year because of the impact the pandemic has had on the local community. Women have to purchase these products on a monthly basis and they can be expensive, especially now due to the high rate of inflation. I intentionally advertised the drive to include all folks who have periods, not just people who identify as women,” said Hubert.

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted people’s ability to purchase menstrual products.

“A third of people have strug-

gled to purchase feminine hygiene products during the lockdown,” according to a recent Forbes article.

However, inaccessibility to period products has been a problem in the United States and worldwide prior to the pandemic.

“Many individuals are unaware of the fact that period poverty in the United States is real. Often viewed as an issue faced primarily by individuals in developing countries, many are shocked to learn that nearly only one in five American girls have either left school early or missed school entirely due to a lack of access to menstrual products. The ‘tampon tax,’ a tax on menstrual products that currently exists in 36 states, further aggravates the issue, and in a country where nearly 14 percent of girls and women live below the poverty line compared to just 11 percent of boys and men, it is crucial for menstrual equity to exist” wrote Shruti Sathish in a 2019 Women’s eNews article.

The fight for menstrual equity

has been occurring for decades and still continues today.

It is important to acknowledge that in our society, women are taught to hide their period and be shameful about it. Menstrual health is not often addressed properly in schools, so raising awareness about the issue was also a goal of the drive and Women’s History Month in general.

People who have periods should have access to the necessary products without worrying about the shame associated with it or struggling to find the funds to purchase sanitary products.

In total, the university collected 35 individual boxes of products.

The number of items inside each box ranges from 45 to 100 items.

These items will be donated to the Mercy Center for Women.

For those looking for events to celebrate the remainder of National Women’s History Month, the Department of World Languages and Cultures will be hosting a poetry night on March 23.

“Rent-aHabitater” returns

The Habitat for Humanity club is hosting another round of “Rent-aHabitater” for the spring semester.

“Rent-a-Habitater” will be both a service opportunity and a fundraiser.

Any questions can be directed to Ashley Kreeger, president of the Habitat for Humanity Club.

2022 Romero Award to be presented The Department of Religious Studies will present the 2022 St. Oscar Romero Award for “persons or organizations living in the call of faith and justice” to the Barber National Institute.

This event will be held in the Mercy Heritage Room on March 24 at 7 p.m.

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

Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

Contributed photo

The table for the Period Product Drive which happened in the Student Union. Students could drop off donations and pick up a pin that says “I Support All Women’s Rights.”

Rising inflation sparks anxiety

By Eva Mihelich

Staff writer

If you have been out and about recently, you may have noticed that prices everywhere are skyrocketing.

Grocery trips have become more expensive, gas tanks are much pricier to fill up and fun clothes are more of a luxury now that inflation has been on the rise.

In 2021, inflation rose to a staggering 7.5% which is the highest it has been since 1982.

Everyday routines have been altered by this inflation – prices rose 41% for used cars and trucks, 40% for gasoline, 18% for bacon and 11% for women’s dresses.

This rapid increase in inflation began in 2021, and many politicians brushed it off as a transitory problem from shipping delays and labor shortages. However, the

problem has persisted and grown to the level it is at now, and citizens are rightfully wondering how long this will last, because many people’s budgets are already suffering from it.

Unfortunately, economists have predicted inflation to elevate well into this year.

The good news, if it can be considered good news, is that it was caused by the pandemic.

When COVID-19 hit in spring of 2020, businesses took a huge hit and many places had to close, leading to masses of people filing for unemployment.

However, the economy staged a great recovery due to government aid, and vaccines helped businesses and other companies reopen.

This then caused a labor shortage as businesses tried to keep up with the sudden demand that customers had, which then caused a

shortage in global shipments.

Costs rose as the supply was low and the demand was high, getting us to where we are today.

Economists hope that, assuming COVID-19 is slowing down for good, inflation will gradually go back down and prices will return to the way they were.

So, how long will this last? If companies struggle to keep up with the demand for goods and services, this elevated inflation will still affect us.

The good news is that major supply chains are already starting to improve, but this does not mean that prices of everything are going to start going down soon.

Sarah House, senior economist at Wells Fargo, said, “We’re expecting CPI to still be roughly 4% at the end of this year. That is still well above what the Fed would like it to be and, of course, well

above what consumers are used to seeing.”

Many economists have been predicting that the global supply chain struggles may be nearing a plateau, but it is difficult to tell with the unpredictability of COVID-19. They have observed a growing disconnect between COVID-19 and the economy, which is a good sign.

Key sources of demand growth will slow down this year, which could help contribute to the gradual lowering of prices.

Regardless, right now prices will remain high as inflation continues to creep up. It is breaking many records so it should not come as a surprise the next time you have to pay much more for gas or groceries than you are used to.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

NEWS

Giving Day coming soon

By Ashley Barletta News editor

Mercyhurst will soon be holding the eighth annual Giving Day, a 24-hour campaign where alumni, parents and friends can donate to the Mercyhurst Annual Fund.

It will take place on March 29.

The theme for this year’s Giving Day is “One Day, Every Laker,” which encompasses the idea that when the Mercyhurst community comes together, it can have a positive impact on the lives of every individual student.

Last year was an odd year because of Covid, but the goal of $50,000 was surpassed.

“This is an annual day and it’s always so exciting to see the passion that our alumni, parents, friends and even students show in support of Mercyhurst,” said Lindsay Frank, director of alumni engagement.

Those who wish to make a donation can go online at https:// givingday.mercyhurst.edu.

Donations go directly to the Mercyhurst Annual Fund and Student Scholarship Program, which is a big help in paying for tuition expenses.

There is currently a countdown to Giving Day on the website, but there is an option to “Give Now.” This takes you to a page where you can fill out basic information and make a donation.

The website can also be checked throughout Giving Day to see how much MU has raised in total, and anyone can donate. All gifts are tax-deductible as the law permits, and gifts can be given in stocks.

The Mercyhurst Annual Fund is an unrestricted fund that helps support the school’s operational budget as well as student scholarships, student-faculty research, and athletic programs.

Donations made on Giving Day can also be matched by different donors.

“On Giving Day, we will have a match in which gifts up to a cer-

tain amount will be matched by a donor – this will be announced on Giving Day,” said Frank.

The minimum donation that is being accepted is $5, but you can also help out by sharing information about Giving Day on social media. You can put #HurstGivingDay in any posts you make and include the link to the Giving Day website.

There is even a Social Media Kit, found at https://givingday. mercyhurst.edu/social-media, where you can download different images to help spread the word.

Any other questions about Giving Day can be directed to Lindsay Frank at lfrank@mercyhurstnedu or give@mercyhurst.edu.

Please consider donating to Mercyhurst on Giving Day to support the wonderful students of Mercyhurst.

Thank you to all who support Mercyhurst University and the education of its students!

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STUDENT GOVERNMENT

This weekend’s campus events

Contributed photo

Those who would like to “Give Now” have the option to do so instead of waiting until Giving Day.

Ryan Hall floods

By Bella Lee Staff writer

On the afternoon of Feb. 25, a flood began in Ryan Hall caused by the sprinkler system in the building.

The sprinkler system was triggered by a student who hung a hoodie on one of the sprinkler heads in their room. Sprinklers are designed to put out and quell small fires, so as one might imagine, a great deal of water was expelled, flooding that student’s room as well as many rooms on the third, second and first floors in that wing.

Students waited outside of Ryan during the time immediately following the flood, as the fire alarm had gone off, most of them unsure of what exactly happened.

Depending on the severity of the flooding in their rooms, students that were affected were either temporarily or permanently

moved to other living areas, such as other free rooms in Ryan, or Briggs and Lewis apartments.

The damage was severe enough that outside intervention was needed in order to fix the issue.

“The university used an outside contractor who came to dry out the rooms directly affected by the flooding,” said Sidney Rice, assistant director of the sophomore area for Residence Life.

“The contractors opened walls, removed floor molding and inspected all spaces once they were dried. Each space was inspected for lasting damage, moisture and mildew. Once a space was cleared students were permitted to return to their original spaces.”

This situation left many students stressed and angry, as this occurred shortly before midterms and many of their items were damaged or at risk of being damaged.

“Students should remember that sprinkler heads are extreme-

ly sensitive and are designed to disperse hundreds of gallons of water per second,” said Rice.

“The pressure and water released from a single sprinkler head can cause thousands of dollars in damage for students affected. They can be triggered by heat, smoke, items being hung on them or even items hitting them.

Students should steer clear of them and remember to not use them as hooks. Students should also remember that they can insure their personal items with renters’ insurance in case floods, fires, or other damage is caused on campus. If any students are interested in renters’ insurance but don’t know where to start, they should reach out to Residence Life!”

This is important information to remember in the event that something like this happens again. Be safe, Lakers!

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG March 19: Criminal Mischief in Warde.

March 20: Criminal Mischief in Lewis.

FEATURES

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Wednesday, March 23, 2022

‘Water Dance’ raises awareness for environment

By Hannah Brooks Features editor

The National Honor Society for Dance Arts will be teaming up with National Water Dance (NWD) to bring awareness to the environment and preservation of water with an integrative and educational performance.

This event poses three questions for all to consider: In what ways has water been important to us? In what ways do we need and use water? What are the ways that we are grateful for water?

National Water Dance is a collaboration between the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, NWD, and Amy Parente, associate professor of Biology, who will be conducting a talk about water after the performance.

This will be the fifth iteration of the performance in Erie, with this year’s performance titled “The Ripple Effect,” according to Jenna Fritts, senior Dance major and president of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts.

“NWD began as a state-wide

project in 2011, and has expanded to over 65 locations across the United States,” said Fritts.

“In 2018, the event expanded to include Puerto Rico for the first time.”

According to the website for NWD, “with each event, National Water Dance recommits itself to the effort of increasing purposeful awareness to drive action on environmental issues, specifically climate change.

“Supporting the work of participants beyond our biannual event, National Water Dance spreads the word on the environmental issues they are tackling through monthly newsletters and social media. Our goal is to realize the power of dance as an engine of social change.”

Fritts adds that Erie’s NWD particularly focuses on effects of climate change on our regional waterways, specifically Lake Erie, with help from Mercyhurst’s Dr. Amy Parente.

Fritts also explained that regional water testing has shown levels of micro plastic content and treatment plant resistant toxins from human use, such as

chemical products and pills not extracted via water treatment systems.

Fritts has been busy working on this event, collaborating with other officers, the society’s advisor Solveig Santillano and coordinating with members of the Erie community to put everything together to make the event happen.

Some of the contributor so far include departments from Mercyhurst including Dance, Art, English and Chemistry; National Honors Society for Dance Arts; Mercyhurst Ambassadors and the Honors Program.

Various other artists from the Erie community will provide their art work for the event, along with crafts such as wearable art pieces, weaving projects, puppets and more.

“We have been busy doing things such as finding a location and contacting other departments and other students to find contributors,” said Fritts. “We have also been setting rehearsals to learn the opening and closing dance phrases that are performed to kick off NWD and

at times, but everybody has been so supportive in helping. This event is teaching me so many professional skills and will help make me invaluable to a professional dance company to help promote events.”

All students are not only invited, but highly encouraged to attend this event.

Fritts says that the event will be one that is “interactive, stimulating, and educational,” in addition to giving students the opportunity to watch the performances of other artists together in one space. All involved in the event are working hard to make it one that is enjoyable for all.

This event is one that you will not want to miss—make sure to take the time to attend, not only to appreciate the art and performances of Mercyhurst students and the community, but to reflect within and ask yourself how you can both conserve and be grateful for water.

The performances will take place at the Erie Maritime Museum on April 23, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Mark Santillano

Mark Santillano

Jenna Fritts poses for a promotion for National Water Dance

bring it to a close.”

The honor society’s advisor Solveig Santillano also adds that the process is very exciting, as well as very busy, though it is rewarding to see everything come together at the end.

“It is always super fun, exciting and exhausting,” said Santillano. “I am trying to create conversation, to not just make dance and art, but to make dance and art that is inspired by a purpose, to increase awareness for water concerns, inspire greater water stewardship—in a way that inspires conversation, water appreciation and enhanced care.”

Santillano and Fritts both add that they are thankful for the opportunity to put this event together, as well as thankful for the help of all those involved in the event.

“I am super grateful for all the collaborators,” said Santillano.

“It really takes a village, and Jenna has been an amazing help.”

“I have enjoyed being able to meet and collaborate with other Mercyhurst departments and artists,” said Fritts. “Coordinating everything has been stressful

Jenna Fritz and Sydney Gondringer, seniors, are working hard to put together the National Water Day event and performances.

LAKER MOMENT

On March 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., the annual Wellness Fair took place in the Hermann Student Union. This event featured multiple campus organizations such as the Health and Counseling Center, Safe Net, Mercyhurst Student Government, Academic Services and Support, Community Engagement and the Sports Medicine Department.

This event was open to all Mercyhurst students and faculty as a chance to promote health awareness and to encourage self-care. Activities such as making t-shirt bags to donate to local pantries with Community Engagement, learning about Women’s History Month at the period product drive and even mixing your own glitter jars with Academic Services and Support.

Sarah Beck

Students from Mercyhurst Student Government had a table at the Wellness Fair last Wednesday. From left to right, Olivia Pericak, Cooper Hicks and Gina Samara.

In addition, students who went to each table and learned about health, wellness and the multiple services/organizations offered here at Mercyhurst were able to enter their name into a raffle with the potential of winning a prize!

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

FEATURES

RSCO FEATURE

ANTI-HUMAN TRAFFICKING CLUB

By Hannah Brooks Features editor

One very unique opportunity afforded to Mercyhurst students is the Anti-Human Trafficking Club, a student cell that works not only around the school, but also in the community and even around the world!

Human trafficking is a very prevalent issue. According to the International Labor Organization, human trafficking is estimated to bring in global profits of about $150 billion per year, with an estimated $99 billion of that coming from sexual exploitation. According to the Polaris Project, nearly 9,000 cases were reported in the United States—though it is added that this data is not complete, as cases often go severely unreported.

The club at Mercyhurst does its part to bring these numbers down and try to prevent others from being a victim. You may have also heard of the club referred to as the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell, a part of the Anti-Human Trafficking Club, which was formed a few years ago.

The overall mission of the club is to do its part in combating human trafficking. The cell consists of two branches—the analysis branch and the operational side of the branch—with students having the opportunity to choose one or do both.

Elizabeth Reese, senior Intelligence Studies and World Languages and Cultures major, is a student coordinator for the club.

“The analysis portion of the club works with non-governmental organizations to write reports on human trafficking in areas of interest, which have included country studies on Colombia, Brazil, India, Thailand and the African Axis (Nigeria, Niger and Libya),” said Reese. “Our reports are used to give actionable information to law enforcement to help identify what human trafficking looks like in different regions.”

The operational branch of the club does a lot within the community, according to Samantha Strom, junior Intelligence Studies and Criminal Justice major.

“Members of the operational side go out in the community and do many things,” said Strom. “Some of which include talking with young students, hotels and other areas of interest to the coalition to raise awareness.”

The club offers many events that are engaging and important for students, such as guest speaker events and other opportunities to become involved in the cause.

Recently, student members of the coalition had research shared with Exodus Road. This is an honor not only for the students, but for the university as well. The work done by the group is incredibly helpful to nongovernmental organizations doing the work to combat human trafficking around the world and saving many lives.

The club also participates in The SOAP (“Save Our Adolescents from Prostitution”) Project, in which bars of soap wrapped with a red band with the National Human Trafficking Hotline number are distributed. Members of the club were trained by community coalition members this past year to be able to participate in this.

Additionally, the club works with the 211 service to include human trafficking responses to help victims access assistance quickly and easily.

The club has also recently came out with a pilot program in which they speak to high school students and raise awareness, and the club works with Exodus Road.

Reese adds that the club is interested in growing, and though it is made up of a lot of Intelligence Studies students, any student can join the club.

“Though Analyst positions are typically available to junior Intelligence Studies students, the operational branch has spots open for underclassmen and students who are not part of the Intelligence program,” said Reese.

“Any student interested in helping with this can reach out to me, Deborah Davies, or Brennan Perrycannon.”

Being a part of this club is an experience that is both valuable and rewarding to students involved—one of the biggest features to the club is being able to help others all around the world by participating. Both Reese and Strom remarked that their time in the Anti-Human Trafficking Club has been very fulfilling for them.

“This is a great cause and we are all proud of the work we do to try and help in any way that we can,” said Strom.

“I would say that this work is the most fulfilling work I have done in my time at Mercyhurst,” said Reese.

In addition to the club, Mercyhurst also offers a class about Human Trafficking, which is a Sociology course taught by John-Danzell, Ph.D. Students also have the opportunity to learn about this in other courses, such as courses focused on money laundering.

As part of all of the efforts at Mercyhurst to combat human trafficking, the club also works in the community, with an Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition existing in the Erie community. The student club works with the coalition on many things, with Professor Deborah Davies overseeing all operations and coordinating among the club and the community. Mercyhurst also offers community sessions to help raise awareness among the Erie community.

This club offers several opportunities to become involved not only locally, but around the world. Students are granted the opportunity to help others and prevent sex trafficking from happening to others. By joining this club, you will truly make a difference in the lives of others and help to combat the problem of sex trafficking—even if you do not join, this club truly needs to be recognized and supported.

PAGE 7

Laker Major/Minor Spotlight: Fashion Merchandising Major

By Eva Mihelic Staff writer

The Fashion Merchandising program is highly unique and competitive, but many people do not know what it entails.

As stated on the Mercyhurst website, the Fashion Merchandising program is a “comprehensive, business-oriented curriculum [that] provides students with an in-depth look into the fashion industry. This includes courses in fashion history, product line development, buying and planning, distribution, visual merchandising, textiles, styling and brand marketing.”

Many people have the misconception that this program is solely about putting nice outfits together and learning about the best combinations in color schemes, but it is much more than that.

Fashion is an ever-changing industry, so students who complete this program learn to be critical thinkers who are globally and socially aware individuals who are involved in the business industry.

By graduation, students with a degree in Fashion Merchandising will have a set of distinct skills.

Per the Mercyhurst website, learning outcomes of the program include data gathering and problem-solving, the ability to distinguish the intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of textile complex, demonstrate written and oral presentation skills, demonstrate knowledge

of planning and production and demonstrate knowledge of mathematical concepts and financial statements related to merchandise buying and planning.”

A unique aspect to this program is the 3+1 program giving students a choice to either study abroad in Paris for their fourth year, or studying in New York City to obtain a B.S. in Fashion Merchandising at Mercyhurst and an associate degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology. This enables students to gain experience from other places besides Mercyhurst, opening the doors of the fashion business world.

Sarah Beck, a freshman Fashion Merchandising major, shared that she originally came into Mercyhurst as an undeclared major, but after taking one class in the fashion department, she fell in love with the program.

“I hope to gain a lot from the Fashion Merchandising program. I am passionate about education and the act of learning especially when the subject is something that I truly enjoy,” said Beck. “I primarily want to gain an inclusive and broad education that will guide me in my future career as well as in my personal life.”

Beck adds that she enjoys the opportunities to meet other students with similar interests and passions as her.

“I hope to gain more from the program than just an education. Through my time at

Mercyhurst and in the Fashion Merchandising program I aspire to build meaningful relationships with peers and professors as well as get connected with Mercyhurst fashion alumni to experience everything that I possibly can,” said Beck.

“In addition, I am currently still exploring what I specifically want to do in the fashion industry, so I also hope to discover where I will fit into the industry as I progress throughout this program,” she said.

In addition to the aforementioned study abroad opportunities within the fashion merchandising program, there is an additional FSAT study abroad trip for students in and out of the program to England, Ireland and Scotland that Beck said she is particularly excited about.

This is just another way that students in the program will be able to experience fashion firsthand outside of the U.S., giving them even more insight into fashion as a global business.

Students who are interested in the fast-paced world of fashion and enjoy business-oriented classes should consider picking up a fashion merchandising major or minor. It provides students with inquisitive attitudes and a great attention to detail that is greatly needed in today’s life. Plus, you’ll leave with a great sense of style which is just another incentive of the program!

Contributed photo

Students in the Fashion Merchandising department learn many invaluable skills and get a unique learning experience at Mercyhurst.

JOIN THE MERCIAD Write articles, get paid.

Reporters meetings Mondays at 7 p.m. in Hirt L103.

PAGE 8

HURST CLASS CATALOG GLOBAL PERSPECTIVES THROUGH YOGA

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

Are you looking for a fun class to switch it up from the constant lectures? Do you enjoy relaxing and doing yoga?

Then Global Perspectives Through Yoga is a great choice for you! Taught by Solveig Santillano, associate professor of dance, this course provides a global perspective through a historical, philosophical, physiological, and practical introduction to yoga.

Santillano explained that her passion for yoga is why she started teaching this course.

“I love all things yoga - it helped my career so much and personal life, and even skillfulness in relationships.

It’s been a great way to develop grounding/centering/ balancing practices, and so much fun to share useful tools with others,” said Santillano.

The course consists of lectures, discussions, class projects, research, active and mindful practices, and reflection essays. This is the perfect course to take if you need a break from the typical class structure or if you want to try something new. The course is currently held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and one of those days is in a lecture hall and the other is in a studio in the danceSpace, so it is a good way to switch up your environment. Students will explore the evolution and progression of yoga as a form of cultural expression, track yoga’s rising popularity in the west, and experience various practices and techniques.

This course can help students tremendously by teaching them methods to deal with situations that occur in their everyday life.

“The pandemic has made it even harder to get connected with one another and it’s been easy to lose perspective. Yoga helps us take those different viewpoints via theory and practice,” said Santillano.

“Not only do we learn how to pay attention (and expand it), foster stable/mobile balance, and get into our own creativity as well as discipline, but also literally and figuratively turn ourselves upside down, inside out, and focus out to the world as well as into our heart.”

Over the past two years, everyone has probably gone through a rough patch and when this happens it is important to take a step back and focus on yourself.

Santillano said, “I’m careful to say that yoga doesn’t take away the hurt - since being human is about being in relationships, falling in love and to love is to grieve, because birth and death are always paired. Things get so very real.”

Santillano adds that she hopes for students to feel inspired by the course, taking the time to reflect on their own lives as they learn more about the art of yoga.

“I hope students fall in love with their life, make friends with their obstacles, find their own autonomy as well as deepen relationships, get excited about building a practice that supports them, try a few ideas on for size, make the practice their own,” said Santillano. “There’s just so much to be inspired by - and I’m inspired by what the students bring to the experience. Their shared stories and insights make the conversation all the richer.”

This course is offered at random times, so be sure to keep your eye out for DANC-107 when you are planning your schedule for the upcoming semester. If you end up loving this class or just want to do some yoga while at school, the yoga club meets almost every Saturday at 9:15 in the danceSpace in Zurn Hall. They are also looking for officers for next year, so be sure to check it out if you are interested!

FEATURES

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Student research published by Exodus Road

By Hannah Brooks Features editor

Mercyhurst has the unique and exciting honor of being able to say that a group of very talented and passion-driven students recently had their research used to help others around the world. This past month, Mercyhurst students in the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell headed by Intelligence Studies Professor Deb Davies had research shared with Exodus Road.

Per their website, Exodus Road is a non-governmental organization with a mission to “disrupt the darkness of modern-day slavery by partnering with law enforcement to fight human trafficking crime”.

According to Samantha Strom, Junior Intelligence Studies and Criminal Justice major, the research was conducted on human trafficking activities taking place in different countries.

“The research conducted was an overview of human trafficking activities in three separate reports on Thailand, Brazil, and Colombia,” said Strom. “The reports looked at transit routes, recruitment techniques, trafficker and victim profiles, related organized crime, government approach, and non-profits working to combat human trafficking in each respective country.”

Conducting research and compiling reports is a regular function of the Cell, which operates not only as an organization at

Mercyhurst, but also works with the community and other organizations with goals of combating human trafficking. The Cell consists of two different branches, the operational branch and the analysis branch. Students have the opportunity to choose a branch to join or do both.

“The Anti-Human Trafficking Coalition works to provide students with real world opportunities to do research and analysis for actual companies combating human trafficking all around the world, as well as provide operational opportunities to go out and work with community organizations,” said Strom.

The research opportunities are very rewarding for Mercyhurst students to have the option to partake in, and the sharing of the research with prominent organizations, such as Exodus Road, is a very large honor not only for students, but for Mercyhurst University as well.

“I think it is a privilege to have an opportunity to work on and lead these projects that will clearly have an impact on anti-human trafficking efforts,” said Strom.

“It feels great knowing that the work I put in is recognizing and potentially preventing human trafficking efforts.”

Samantha Wutz, Junior Intelligence Studies and International Relations major, is also part of the Cell and is grateful for the opportunity to have the Cell’s research shared.

“It is an honor to work on these projects that provide so much to the students involved and the community,” said Wutz. “This is such a unique opportunity to get actual work experience while making a positive impact.”

Students part of the Cell are very dedicated to their work in combating human trafficking both in Erie, as well as around the world. In addition to conducting research and compiling reports, there are also opportunities for members to get out into the community and make physical efforts around the Erie area.

Strom is also grateful for the opportunity provided by the Intelligence Studies program, and credits Mercyhurst’s program for the experiences she has gained.

“Not every university, or even major at Mercyhurst, has the opportunity to write professional intelligence products that get published and shared with law enforcement and other officials in different countries for strategic and tactical use,” said Strom.

“The analysts of this organization are very dedicated to anti-human trafficking efforts and work hard.

Overall, this is a great cause and we are proud of the work we do.”

The efforts, research, and hard work put in by the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell help to make a difference in combating human trafficking around the world. The publication of this research is a huge honor for Mercyhurst.

Talented writers celebrated with awards

By Hannah Brooks Features editor

The English Department is accepting submissions for the P. Barry McAndrew award. For this scholarship, students will write critical essays on a piece of literature. The winner will receive an award certificate, a check for $250 and have their work displayed at the final installment of the Literary Festival. Per the event flier, this award strives to “honor the best examples of student writing each year.”

The award is endowed by the McAndrew family and named after Barry McAndrew, who was a professor in the English department at Mercyhurst for over four decades. McAndrew was a wellloved professor during his time at Mercyhurst. He was a very active part of the Mercyhurst community, working as an associate professor of English as well as the public address announcer for Laker football and basketball until his retirement in 2014.

“Barry McAndrew, even after retiring, was the voice of Mercyhurst athletics,” said Gregory Brown, assistant professor of English. “He was the announcer for our games, and also has quite an amazing voice.”

Brown is coordinating the

scholarship this year, although the award has been offered for over a decade now. Its goal is to motivate students to achieve literary excellence.

“The first awards were given in 2007, and have been given every year since,” said Brown. “It is important to acknowledge upcoming scholars, and we hope that this prize urges students to do their best work.”

Separate from the critical essay writing, all students who have their work accepted to the Lumen are automatically entered to win awards for Creative Writing and also have the opportunity to win $250.

Last year’s winner was Megan Siegfried, who received a bachelor’s in Professional Writing and is working on her master’s in Secondary Education: Pedagogy in Practice. Siegfried won the P. Barry McAndrew Award for her essay “Finding Truth with Eyes Closed: Perspective in James Joyce’s Ulysses.” She also won the Creative Writing award for her poem “Beartooth Lake.”

“My essay was interested in Joyce’s attempts to critique self-serving perspectives by developing blindness as a symbol throughout his novel,” said Siegfried. “My poem, which won the Creative Writing award, was

inspired by the scenery I encountered during a trip to Yellowstone National Park in 2019.”

Siegfried adds that both awards were an honor for her to win, and the entire experience was both rewarding and exciting.

“When I found out that I won the awards, I was thrilled,” said Siegfried. “Last year was particularly challenging, not just for me, but for everybody, due to the problems that isolation and Covid-19 caused. Winning these awards were an incredible validation of the effort I had been putting forth all year.”

Siegfried also adds that she is thankful not only for the awards, but for the invaluable education that she received from the English department.

“I was incredibly proud of myself and my work for winning the awards,” she said. “The faculty in the English department here are unbelievably talented educators, and I would not be the writer I am today without them.”

The deadline to submit entries for the P. Barry McAndrew award is April 1. Submissions are to be sent to Gregory Brown at gbrown2@mercyhurst.edu.

Be sure to get your entries together soon and put forth your best efforts at writing and literary criticism!

FEATURES

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Men’s fashion steals the spotlight in Spring edition of ‘Statement’

PAGE 9

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY On March 20, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson notified the Alabama governor that he would be using federal authority to call upon the Alabama National Guard to supervise a Civil Rights march from Selma to Montgomery.

The march came in response to Bloody Sunday, which took place on Feb. 18, 1965, in which white segregationists attacked a group of peaceful protesters, resulting in the fatal shooting of Jimmie Lee Jackson, a young African American demonstrator. The historic march, along with Martin Luther King Jr.’s participation in it, raised awareness of the difficulties faced by Black voters and raised the urgent need for a national Voting Rights act.

Historical Event: March 20, 1965

Annie Markel photo

The Spring 2022 semester is the first edition of “Statement” to feature menswear.

By Sarah Beck Staff writer

If you haven’t gotten the chance to read the new publication of “Statement” for Spring 2022, you have to check it out!

“Statement” is the fashion merchandising department’s bi-annual magazine. This magazine features a variety of fashion-related information such as industry trends, small student-run businesses and current fashion events. In addition, the magazine simultaneously celebrates Mercyhurst student’s to grow their skills, outreach and platform.

Editor Chloe Sanfrantello, senior double major in Fashion Merchandising and Communications, and Co-Editor Annie Markel, sophomore Fashion Merchandising major and Graphic Design minor, decided to make the Spring 2022 edition of “Statement” focus on the theme of gender inclusivity.

This is the first issue to feature menswear.

“We had four wonderful men

on our cover [photos were taken

by Victoria McGinty] and each of them killed it in their own way, Erik, Jorge, Jerrad and Ramani,” said Markel. “I thought it turned out better than I think we all could have dreamed. The guys were so awesome and they really each got to shine in their own light.”

There were also numerous articles that tied into the menswear theme including a faculty spotlight on professor Brian Sheridan written by Sanfrantello, menswear trends of 2022 by Markel, as well as informational pages about the male cover models.

“My favorite part of this publication was seeing the different sides of these men and how they all came to fashion,” Markel said. “Each of their stories are so different and intricate.”

This publication also contains pieces such as an article written by sophomore Alayna Moorhead, double major in Fashion Merchandising and Marketing with a Graphic Design minor, who wrote about how fashion

Contributed photos

Chloe Sanfrantello (left), and Annie Markel (right), are this semester’s editor and co-editor for ‘Statement.’

has influenced her throughout her life. Moorhead described herself to be a big storyteller and this article was the perfect opportunity to tell her own story.

Moorhead has been involved with “Statement” since fall of 2020 when she was asked to be featured on the cover, which remains her favorite moment with the magazine thus far.

Moorhead said that she is looking forward to continuing working with “Statement” in the years to come. This was editor Sanfrantello’s last publication of “Statement” before she graduates.

“This issue meant a lot to me.

I took this position in the middle of last semester on a whim and I don’t regret a second of it,” said Sanfrantello. “Everyone was so kind and open to do whatever crazy idea we had.”

Anyone can get involved in the process of “Statement.”

Each semester the writers, editor and co-editor sit down to brainstorm themes and come up with a list of article ideas for the magazine. A photography session is planned for the cover model or models as the writers are busy drafting and editing their pieces.

Once all the materials have been collected, the editors work hard using the InDesign software to make a complete and professional product.

If you are interested in getting involved with “Statement” as a student writer or photographer, be sure to email fashion professor Katie Summers and follow Mercyhurst Fashion on Instagram to get updates!

Be sure to check out this semester’s edition of the magazine! You can access this magazine through the Mercyhurst Fashion Instagram’s linktr.ee or at issuu.com.

Top 3 Songs This Week According to Spotify’s Global Charts 1. “Heat Waves:” Glass Animals 2. “We Don’t Talk About Bruno:” Carolina Gaitan, La Gaita, Mauro Castillo, Adassa, Rhenzy Feliz, Diane Guerrero, Stephanie Beatriz 3. “Super Gremlin:” Kodak Black On the Charts This Week 70 Years Ago According to Billboards Charts 1. “Blue Tango:” Leroy Anderson 2. “Wheel of Fortune:” Kay Starr 3. “Cry:” Johnnie Ray & The Four Lads Top Artists Today Male: The Weekend Female: Doja Cat Top Artists 30 Years Ago Male: Gilbert O’Sullivan Female: Roberta Flack Top 3 Podcasts This Week According to Spotify 1. “The Joe Rogan Experience” 2. “Full Send” 3. “MrBallen Podcast: Strange, Dark & Mysterious Stories” Top Grossing Films This week: “The Batman” Fifty Years Ago: “Dirty Harry” Top 3 TV Shows on Netflix This Week 1. “Bad Vegan: Fame, Fraud, Fugitives” 2. “The Adam Project” 3. “Good Girls” Top 3 TV Shows 5 Years Ago 1. “The Americans” 2. “The Good Fight” 3. “American Vandal” In the News: 1. Ukraine Defies Russian Call to surrender Mariupol 2. U.S. FDA advisers to discuss COVID-19 vaccine boosters in April 3. Kanye West suspended from Instagram for 24 hours due to policy violation

PAGE 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Trauma turned TikTok: Does Gen Z take it too far?

By Mackenzie Zent Staff writer

As one of the youngest current generations, Gen Z is known for many things, one of which is making jokes out of serious topics. From current events to mental health, nothing is off limits.

This trend has really taken off on social media, especially on TikTok. Gen Z wastes no time in filming a video for a TikTok when there is a major current event or political matter happening in the world.

Usually, these videos are making a joke out of the situation, adding humor to it to make viewers laugh.

While scrolling on TikTok, users flip between seconds-tominutes-long clips ranging from dance trends to videos taken in-

side of active war zones.

This transition is incredibly jarring, but users have become used to it.

Additionally, the coverage on the app allows users to learn about major events as they are unfolding from diverse perspectives.

Recently, there have been many videos on fear of being drafted into the war in Ukraine.

Many Gen Z women have made jokes about their true place being in the kitchen and doing the housework to avoid the draft.

While this may seem like slight internalized misogyny, it is just to make themselves and others laugh during such a heightened state of tension in the world.

This is one of the biggest reasons Gen Z makes jokes out of serious subjects: to make hard situations easier.

Gen Z was born into and grew up in a post-9/11 world, and many of us graduated high school and entered college during a global pandemic.

These circumstances are not normal, and when the whole world seems to be going up in flames in front of you, what more can you do than try to make yourself feel better about it?

We are living in a time period where nothing is certain for the future.

The pandemic has been happening for two years, and sometimes it can feel nearly impossible to see the end.

High school and college experiences have been forever altered, and there have been many events people have missed out on.

By making jokes on social media and laughing at a reality that no one could have possibly pre-

dicted, it helps bring the generation together and share similar experiences.

If everyone is going through something together, it makes everyone else feel less alone.

These events are happening in the most formative years of people’s lives; it is natural to develop humor as a coping mechanism.

Perhaps Gen Z does this to feel like they do not have to deal with the repercussions of serious world and political events.

For many people, the war in Ukraine, political issues and mental health can be scary, and they need to find a way to deflect what is really going on. By making jokes and memes, it might make some of these things easier to deal with and digest. To look at the big picture, this way of thinking and acting is harmless.

A lot of these events are diffi-

cult to talk about and deal with, so if making jokes about them makes it easier, then that should not be a problem.

This is not done by any means to belittle or invalidate serious topics but rather to consume them in a familiar way.

That being said, it is understandable if not everyone agrees with using humor to cope with serious situations; everyone processes things differently.

Most of Gen Z has a great sense of humor, and it is nice that people can come together online through shared experiences and hopefully feel a little less alone.

This aspect of Gen Z is something that has allowed the youth to cope with harsh realities, so meme culture is incredibly important to the group identity of the generation.

2021 films to be awarded at Oscars

By Emma Coppolo A&E editor

The 94th Academy Awards will commence March 27, at the Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood & Highland Center in California to commemorate the film achievements of 2021.

The awards are always an incredible display of celebrity fashion and socialization, but this year’s movies ensure a tight race.

“The Power of the Dog” has an unbelievably star-studded cast. It features talents such as Benedict Cumberbatch, Kirsten Dunst and Jesse Plemons.

Cumberbatch is nominated for “Actor in a Leading Role” for his portrayal of rancher Phil Burbank.

Based on Thomas Savages’ novel, the film follows Phil exercising his fear-mongering behavior to scare off Rose (Dunst), brother’s (Plemons) wife.

The film has already generated quite the buzz after winning several Critics’ Choice Awards and Golden Globes.

The American Film Institute has already named “The Power of the Dog” as one of 2021’s best films, and a solid performance Sunday is expected.

Steven Spielberg’s take on “West Side Story” was one of the most anticipated movies of 2021 for several reasons. Firstly, the original 1961 version is an absolute classic.

Its main star, Rita Moreno, the original Maria, appears as Valentina in Spielberg’s version.

Contributed Photo

Andrew Garfield and Jessica Chastain as Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”.

The cameo tied together the 1961 and 2021 stories in an interesting and effective way.

The film garnered controversy when Ansel Elgort was cast.

Following sexual assault allegations years prior, many believed that Elgort was an inappropriate choice for the role of Tony.

Regardless, the timeless story of the Sharks and Jets, gangs at odds during a time of culture

clash in New York City, won viewers’ hearts once again.

It has nominations in several categories, including Ariana DeBose as “Actress in a Supporting Role” and Spielberg himself for “Directing.”

If all of its nominations are clinched, “West Side Story” could seriously sweep some major awards at the Oscars.

Andrew Garfield is nomi-

nated for “Actor in a Leading Role” for his portrayal of Jonathan Larson in “Tick, Tick…

BOOM!” The film depicts the playwright’s struggles in New York City as he tries to craft a successful play.

This biopic is filled with celebrity cameos from the Broadway world and fantastic music.

Garfield’s dedication to the film undeniably stoked much

of its success.

The parallels between his performance and actual film of Larson performing are eerily similar. Additionally, Garfield learned to sing specifically for this role.

His performance is absolutely stellar, and his achievements in the past few years in the film industry have been incredible, as well.

While he is matched against some of the biggest names in the industry for the award, he is certainly one to watch.

Jessica Chastain is nominated for “Actress in a Leading Role” for her performance in “The Eyes of Tammy Faye.”

This biopic examines the rise and fall of Jim (Andrew Garfield) and Tammy Faye Bakker’s televangelism empire.

The couple is now infamous, but the film works to show all aspects of the eventual spiral.

Chastain’s performance is absolutely incredible, and she looks shockingly similar to the woman she portrays.

Linda Dowds, Stephanie Ingram and Justin Raleigh are nominated for “Makeup and Hairstyling” for their work on the film.

“The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is bound to be an underdog this Sunday.

Whether watching it for the fashion, interviews or awards, you should absolutely tune in this Sunday at 8 p.m.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11

Hurst Hot Take: ‘Good Trouble’

Contributed Photo

Promotion for Freeform’s hit spin-off “Good Trouble”.

By Mackenzie Zent Staff writer

One of the best shows on Freeform is, in my opinion, “Good Trouble.”

Made as a spin-off of the hit show “The Fosters,” it follows two sisters, Callie and Mariana Adams-Foster, as they navigate their new adult life.

For people who have watched “The Fosters,” “Good Trouble” is really cool because the audience sees Callie and Mariana grow up from crazy teenagers to professional young adults.

One thing that differs from the original show is that “Good Trouble” is set in Los Angeles, instead of San Diego.

Because of this, we do not get to see Callie and Mariana’s oth-

er siblings or parents as much; however, the actors do make guest appearances throughout the seasons. While the show lost some of the main characters from “The Fosters,” it gained many new ones.

Callie and Mariana live in a communal living apartment with people they were strangers to until they moved in. After adjusting, they learned to love their neighbors and their lofts.

The show follows the storylines of these new characters, and it is packed full of drama.

It is refreshing for people who have watched “The Fosters” because we get brand new storylines, but still the same drama, jokes and characters we love like Callie and Mariana.

Something I love about the show is that they talk about important topics like police brutality, race, eating disorders, body image, women’s rights and more, while still making it entertaining to watch.

It can be difficult for writers to have consistent storylines and tackle all of these issues at once while tying the show together and making it enjoyable, but the writers of “Good Trouble” are definitely able to do it.

This show is rich in diversity, and everyone is sure to find a character they relate to and maybe learn something new because of it.

The representation “Good Trouble” brings to media is also great because it is so important

for people for have characters that they identify with on TV. One example of this is that there is a non-binary character named Lindsay who becomes a reoccurring character starting in season two. There are not many mainstream shows that feature non-binary characters, so that makes it even more impactful and important to see Lindsay consistently.

Without giving too much away, there is a love triangle between Lindsay and two other characters that was very intense to watch.

Another great aspect of “Good Trouble” is that it is led by strong women. Mariana works in tech, and something we see throughout the seasons

is her struggle as a woman in STEM and how she navigates the workplace in a male-dominated field.

It is really interesting to see the types of oppression she faces and how she is able to deal with it and overcome it.

I think it’s really important to show young girls who may be watching this that science and technology is not just for men.

“Good Trouble” is on every Wednesday night at 10 p.m. on Freeform and available the next day on Hulu.

If you like drama, suspense, and a show that will make you laugh, “Good Trouble” is for you!

The 814: The Juice Jar

By Nadine Fox Staff writer

Looking for a great place in town to grab a juice, smoothie or healthy lunch?

Check out the Juice Jar, located at 2620 West 8th Street.

They have a variety of healthy foods and drinks with many dietary restrictive options.

Heidi Lutz, owner of the Juice Jar, opened her store to restore her health due to her Crohn’s disease.

She had been off medication for four years thanks to juice and healthy foods, so her main goal is to educate people and help them fuel their body with many plant-based products.

They have many vegan and gluten-free, nutrient-dense choices to suit everyone’s individual dietary needs.

One of their most well-known items is their smoothies. Some popular flavors include their newest flavor: the chocolate covered strawberry smoothie.

The ingredients listed are strawberries, banana, cocoa powder, maple syrup and almond milk topped with whipped cream if you like (both dairy & non-dairy available).

Another fan-favorite is called the “Commodore Berry”. Apple, blueberries, strawberries and raspberries pile into this smoothie, delivering a load of antioxidants, fiber and Vitamin C. A perfect pick-me-up for coffee lovers is “Morning Mocha,” which has banana, coffee, chocolate protein (vegan or gluten-free), cocoa powder, coconut sugar and coconut milk.

“Polar Bear,” which is made up of almond milk, bananas, organic peanut butter, vanilla protein and blueberries, is one of the simpler options. Regardless, it’s just as delicious as the others and perfect for picky eaters.

There is also an option for the addition of alternate ingredients, like chia seeds, honey, kale, oats, spinach, cinnamon, flaxseed,

protein powders and peanut butter. It does come at a slight up-charge, but it is worth it.

One popular juice is called the “Immunity Booster”, which helps reduce inflammation associated with seasonal changes due to the high amount of vitamin C and phytocompounds that strengthen the immune system and reduce allergies. It is vegan, dairy, gluten and nut free.

If the Erie weather has been as brutal for you as it has for me, this drink is perfect.

Some of their popular breakfast items are avocado toast, gluten free oatmeal with organic oats, vegan breakfast sandwiches and whipped feta toast.

A few of their lunch items include vegan burgers, jackfruit tacos, sweet potato fries and vegan and gluten-free soup.

While the Juice Jar is mostly known for its drinks, its food definitely has its own merits.

Many of their options are difficult to find anywhere else in the area; there are plenty of

Contributed photo

The Juice Jar logo portrays it’s healthy aspect of food.

options if you are looking for a change in pallet or a friendly cafe atmosphere.

The Juice Jar is open for breakfast Monday through Friday.

They are also open for lunch Monday through Saturday.

You can pick up or have your order delivered to you which is super convenient for busy college students on the go!

While the Juice Jar certainly has choices geared towards health-conscious patrons, they’re just as delicious as options anywhere else.

Their wide assortment of options and fantastic execution of them makes the Juice Jar a place definitely worth visiting.

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD St. Patrick’s Day was beautiful!

BAD The weather is supposed to be cold this week.

HAPPY We’re getting close to Easter break!

Things are looking up at MU the science and statistics and changed their policy to reflect Opinion editor what they discovered. The removal of masks in almost all areas does not appear to be incredibly dangerous when people are vaccinated. I hope Throughout my time with that the success of this policy the Merciad, I’ve written continues, and we may be able a few opinion articles that to get even closer to normal. have been somewhat critical Several aspects of student of Mercyhurst. With that life have also seen some being said, I also believe it is important to give credit when interesting developments.

The release of the ride sharing it is due. I believe that this program MUber has been a semester has been incredibly huge success. It is an extremely successful for Mercyhurst in useful program released by more than one way.

MSG that pays for $5 of One of the biggest your first Uber ride of the changes has been the mask day. From what I have heard and COVID-19 policies.

Mercyhurst has been criticized around campus, the program for its handling of COVID-19 has been very popular, and people seem to be enjoying in the past, but this semester what MSG has done for them. policies were changed to In a similar vein, people return closer to a pre-COVID also seem to be quite happy normal. with the SpringFest artist I applaud Mercyhurst for taking a calculated chance on pick, Bryce Vine. Vine has a an issue that had its fair share lot of very popular hits that it appears people are looking of skeptics and proponents. forward to hearing such as Mercyhurst closely evaluated

By Zach Dumais

Staff writer

STUDENT EDITORS Samantha Weber .................... Editor in Chief Victoria McGinty .................. Managing Editor Ashley Barletta ............................News Editor Hannah Brooks...................... Features Editor Sydney Dietz ..............................Sports Editor Emma Coppolo ............................. A&E Editor Zach Dumais ........................... Opinion Editor Libby Bullinger ..............................Copy Editor Kristian Biega ......................................Advisor Steph Przepiora ...................................Advisor Contact editors at merciad@mercyhurst.edu.

The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year. Our office is in Hirt, Room 110.

The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor.

All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit.

Letters are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters via email at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu.

“Drew Barrymore” and “Sour Patch Kids.”

MSG has also put on many enjoyable events throughout the semester such as Hurst is Hometown and the College Night at Flying Squirrel.

At the Hurst is Hometown event, students tried a wide variety of delicious foods from cities such as Pittsburgh and Buffalo. At the Flying Squirrel event, students went to a trampoline park for free on St. Patrick’s Day. As a senior in my last semester, it is nice to see a semester with such good news happening seemingly all the time. Everyone is beginning to enjoy the spring weather with great events. After two years of less-than-ideal circumstances, it certainly seems about time that people are able to enjoy their college experience a bit more. I only hope that this trend can continue throughout the semester and coming years.

A very busy semester

By Bella Lee

The Merciad

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Well, we’re already at the halfway point of the semester.

It feels like yesterday that we were just starting up, and now we have Advising Day and Graduation looming on the horizon.

As for COVID-19, we’re almost completely back to normal, with no masks required except for in the classrooms in labs, so that’s a relief. However, I don’t think the stress has gotten any easier to manage, especially since this is our fourth full semester in a pandemic.

For one, I have an absolutely loaded schedule. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, I have four classes back to back.

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I only have one class, but surrounding that is homework and meetings.

On top of this, I just started a new job at the 501 Grille, so on Wednesday through Friday, I am running nonstop from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. with my only break being for lunch.

The weekends aren’t much

better, since that time is reserved for finishing any homework that hadn’t been completed during the week and studying for any upcoming tests.

I’ve had to give up many extracurricular activities to fulfill my other work, such as the many clubs I’m involved in, but there’s still other commitments, such as the spring musical, that take up my time as well.

Even during spring break, I barely felt like I had an actual break. A few of my classes had assignments due the first day back, so I had to worry about those. Even when my mom traveled to see me for the weekend, I had to spend some of that time working on assignments.

Fortunately, it’s not all gloom and doom. I’m doing well in all my classes and have gotten good grades on everything I’ve turned in so far. I did super well on all my midterms, which was one of my main concerns at the beginning because the professors I had midterms for I’ve struggled with in the past.

I even got my first A and first 100% on two midterm essays,

both for a professor whose essays I’ve never gotten higher than a B+ on.

I’m making plenty of new friends and I’m strengthening the bonds I already had with my older friends. As the saying goes, you can’t have a rainbow without a little rain.

Even with all the good things that are going on, unfortunately I feel like the bad is outweighing the good.

The only normal semester I’ve had during my time here was my first semester freshman year, and even that was overwhelming due to being new to college and other commitments.

Ever since the pandemic derailed our lives, I have been suffering from extreme burnout after every semester and I’m already exhausted from this semester.

We students could really use a break, and an ACTUAL break too. One where we don’t have to worry about upcoming assignments or tests that are due right when we return.

I want a break where I don’t have to worry about anything, and I’m sure most will agree with me.

The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are welcome and can be emailed to merciad@mercyhurst.edu

OPINION

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

PAGE 13

Explore Erie this Spring HURST STUDENTS

By Nick Klein

May 8, however, only a few selected rides will be operational for this event.

Waldameer will become fully operational on May 14, from noon to 8 p.m. on Spring has already arrived in Erie. The snow has melted the weekends for the rest of away and people are starting the month. Water World, its water park counterpart, to take their warmer layers will open on Memorial Day off, which is why there are weekend from 11 a.m. to 7 new opportunities for us to try here in Erie, compared to p.m.

Erie’s baseball team, the winter.

Erie Seawolves, are set to You can take your boat have their opening day at from the bayfront and sail home on April 8 against the to Presque Isle State Park.

There, you can walk around Akron RubberDucks starting the beaches and hike through at 6:05 p.m. The Seawolves will play against Akron again the forests, where the trees on April 9 and 10, at 1:35 bloom. The beaches will p.m. They will also have their open on Memorial Day weekend and when they do, first away baseball game in you can swim or fish around Somerset, Pennsylvania on April 12 through 18. the beautiful lakeshore of For the month of April, Presque Isle. there will be no baseball Next to Presque Isle, is the game on any Monday. fourth oldest amusement However, they will play park in the state and tenth against the Richmond Flying oldest amusement park in Squirrels at home from April the country, Waldameer 19 through 25 and they will Park. play away from home again, First opening in 1896, this time in Binghamton, this park now contains 36 New York, against the Mets attractions, five being roller coasters, and one being a log from April 26 to May 1.

Nearby the university is the flume ride. The park first Erie Zoo which contains over opens on May 7 for Season 400 animals and 11 gardens Pass Photo Day, along with Staff Writer

FOLLOW US!

in its botanical gardens.

This Saturday, there will be an event called Enrichment Extravaganza, which will give people the opportunity to create enrichment for their favorite animal. This program allows visitors to help make enrichment activities for animals to keep them busy and happy in their habitats.

On Friday, April 15, there will be an Art Show that will contain artwork made by the zoo animals themselves.

The artwork will included canvases, pottery, travel mugs and other animal-inspired works of art. The event will also be held on Saturday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May will host “Rhino Day” on May 7 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to help save rhinos from extinction, the “Party for the Planet” on May 2, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and the zoo will host the “UPMC National Senior Health and Fitness Day” on May 25, from 10 am to 1 pm.

There are so many opportunities for us to experience this spring in Erie —too many to list for an article that is only 500 words long!

Twitter: @TheMerciad Instagram: @mumerciad Facebook: The Merciad

SPEAK UP We asked: Do you enjoy St. Patrick’s Day? Morgan Kellogg, freshman Music Education major: “I love St. Patrick’s day! My favorite thing to do is drink Shamrock Shakes!”

Tyson Antosh, sophomore Sports Medicine major: “I don’t really celebrate, but I do love Shamrock Shakes.”

Emily Cummings, sophomore Criminal Justice major: “I love St. Patrick’s day!

My family’s Irish, so we usually have a party where we all sing Irish songs.”

Jonny Chase, sophomore Business major: “I really like St. Patrick’s Day and going out to dinner with friends and getting Shamrock Shakes after.”

Compiled by Grace Elwood

Tag us in your newsworthy Hurst moments!

Bryce Vine is a great SpringFest choice

By Lilly English Staff writer

As SpringFest approaches, many students are getting excited for the semester to end and summer to begin.

Bryce Vine coming to Mercyhurst is very exciting, as he brings with him good vibes and fun times.

As summer nears and the weather begins to get nicer, it’s that time of the year when we start to drive with our windows down and listen to upbeat tunes. Vine is an artist who never fails to bring these good vibes and feelings to light.

With music that has a great beat and lyrics that are easy to sing along to, he creates a sense of calm, yet equal

excitement with his music.

As a current sophomore, I have never gotten to experience SpringFest here at Mercyhurst because of COVID-19, so it is extremely exciting for me to be able to experience SpringFest with an artist I am familiar with.

With hits like “Sour Patch Kids” and “Drew Barrymore,” Vine brings a cheerful vibe that matches my excitement as a student for spring to begin and the weather to get nicer.

As I listen to his songs, I picture myself outside, with a nice breeze and the sun on my skin singing along.

Many students who know his music are just as excited as I am to not only enjoy his music, but also the nice weather and time with friends that comes along with SpringFest.

with only one hit song in 2014, “Sour Patch Kids.”

However, he never gave up and four years later his next hit song, “Drew Barrymore,” debuted in the year 2018.

From here his music began to become popular, and he continues to grow his brand to this day.

As a student who is currently in college, his story inspires me to continue to pursue my dream, just as he did.

Although he did not succeed right away, Vine continued to follow his dream Vine as an artist is not As an artist who hails from Westlake Village, California, necessarily a household name, and is now achieving it.

He is a role model that but many of his songs are Vine brings songs that many students in college can recognizable and were very resemble the warm weather, look to for inspiration when popular in years past. sunshine and invigorating things get tough and that Vine is also a story of feelings of a state that is warm is a huge reason why I am inspiration who many and friendly all year long, in excited for him to come to students can look up to. He contrast to often cold and had a rough start to his career, Mercyhurst and share his gift dreary Erie. as an artist.

SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

Men’s hockey season comes to an end

By Annie Markel Staff writer

On March 18, the Mercyhurst Men’s Hockey team went up against American International College in the Atlantic Hockey Association Semifinals in Utica, New York.

The Lakers have been crushing their opponents in these semifinals. However, their season ended on Friday when our men fell to the Falcons.

The Lakers started out the first period by being outshot 13-4.

However, this did not stop sophomore forward, Dante Sheriff, from taking a 1-0 lead.

After making the most of an AIC turnover deep in the opposing zone, at the opening of the period at 12:32, he put the Lakers ahead. This was a great start for Mercyhurst.

The second period was all a tussle back and forth with two goals from both teams.

AIC scored their two goals first. Seeing this, our boys put on the pressure and hit back with two of their own. Sophomore forward Austin Heidemann, made the first goal by deflecting off a shot from senior defenseman Devon Daniels.

The AIC goalie was way out of position from Daniel’s shot and

Hurst Athletics photo

The Mercyhurst men’s hockey team celebrates after scoring a goal in a semifinal playoff game against American International College.

Heidemann made the most of it and took his.

Junior forward Rylee St. Onge came in with the second goal scored on a power play from an assist by senior defenseman Josh McDougall.

This would give the Lakers a 3-2 lead with five minutes left in the second period. It was look-

ing pretty good for us.

By this point, sophomore goalie Kyle McClellan had a grand total of 28 saves.

It was a tie game by the end of the second period. The third hung in the balance. Who would break the tie?

When asked what his mindset was going into the third period,

senior Own Norton said, “Just do whatever it takes to win. They are a hell of a team over there.

You can’t sit back and wait and see what they’re going to bring. I mean, you have to go up and get the next one.”

In the third period, AIC would come out on top with three more goals. One was even

an empty netter pushing the score to 5-3.

However, our Lakers did not give up. With a second goal from senior forward Rylee St. Onge with an assist sophomore forward Mickey Burns.

With only 1:20 left in the period, they pushed the final score to 5-4. It was a narrow loss.

McClellan rounded out his sophomore season with 44 saves in his tenth game of the season.

Head coach Rick Gotkin talked about what he was most proud of from the team this season.

“I’m just proud with how they embraced it, and we just got better as the year went on,” Gotkin said. “We got lots of great leadership. Pierce Crawford and Geoff Kitt, our number of seniors. You know, I’m happy for the senior class.”

The men’s hockey team had a great season. A long season of wins and losses and making it so far in the playoffs. They should be extremely proud of themselves.

This concludes their season, but the hockey team will come back for more, like they always do, next year.

Tom Brady is not retiring from the NFL HURST RESULTS

By Bella Lee Staff writer

And we all thought he was actually gone for good.

Tom Brady, a man of many names. Taken by the New England Patriots in 1999 in the sixth round and 199th pick overall, no one thought he would dominate as the quarterback he has ever since.

Between the Patriots and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady has had 10 Super Bowl appearances, seven wins and five MVPs, more than any other player in history. In fact, he has more Super Bowl wins than any other NFL team, with the Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers being tied for most by a team with six each.

Brady initially announced his retirement on Feb. 3 after rumors had been circulating on the Internet for a week prior.

“As I look back on my career in football, the memories we have made, and the relationships we have built are by far the most meaningful,” Brady wrote on Instagram. “Yes, the scoreboard was important, but the toughest times always taught me the most important lessons. I am grateful to the people that stood with me through every high and low, win and loss, and the memories we created TOGETHER. Memories

Contributed photo

Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady.

that won’t ever fade. I played for the name on the front of my jersey and the name on the back of my jersey. I played for my friends, my family, and our community- every single one of you- that have given me what I have today.

I love you all. Thank you ALL for making this journey possible.”

Everyone, from current and former teammates, to rivals, to his family, congratulated Brady and gave him a well-deserved

sendoff.

However, everyone soon learned that this would not be the case just yet.

On March 13, Brady announced that he was returning to football.

“These past two months I have realized my place is still on the field and not in the stands,” Brady wrote on Instagram. “That time will come. But it’s not now.

I love my teammates, and I love

my supportive family. Without them, none of this is possible. I’m coming back for my 23rd season in Tampa. We have unfinished business.”

After just six weeks of retirement, Brady shocked everyone with his return. Many people made jokes, including how a nearly 45-year-old quarterback with 7 Super Bowls to his name could possibly have unfinished business and that the reason he was “unretiring” was because the gas prices have become so high, or he was not able to help his kids with their math homework.

Despite this surprise return, his family has been nothing but supportive.

An spokesperson for Brady said that his wife, model Gisele Bundchen, has backed him this entire time.

“Gisele has been vocal about wanting him to retire for years but she’s also his biggest cheerleader,” the spokesperson said.

“He would never do it if she weren’t on board. Everything they do they decide as a family.”

So, what will happen in Brady’s 23rd season?

Will he secure an eighth Super Bowl victory? Will he break more records? We will have to wait until Sept. 8, the beginning of the 2022 NFL season, to find out.

March 16: Women’s Lacrosse vs Slippery Rock University: 1310, Lakers March 18: Softball vs Seton Hill University: 9-6 Lakers March 19: Men’s Tennis vs Millersville University : 5-2, Lakers

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

SPORTS

PAGE 15

Women’s tennis wins weekend games

By Sydney Dietz Sports editor

The Mercyhurst women’s tennis team had two matches over the weekend.

The first match was against West Chester University of Pennsylvania which was played on March 18, at 11:45 a.m. The second match was played against Millersville University on March 19, at 3 p.m. Both matches were played in Erie, PA at Westwood Racquet Club.

The first match resulted in a win for Mercyhurst with an ending score of 7-0.

The Lakers started their back to back weekend matches by winning two of the three double matches played on Friday afternoon.

“I am extremely proud of our team,” Head Coach Jerome Simon said. “We have played the toughest schedule since I have been here and now those difficult matches are paying dividends.”

The pair of freshman Kayla Dean and Roisin Murphy won by a score of 6-2.

Senior Naomi Jahr and junior Nadja Ostojic swept the West Chester Rams with a final score of 6-0.

Hurst Athletics photo

Junior Janice Theodora helps the Lakers defeat Millersville University on Saturday, March 19.

In the singles match, the Lakers swept all six of their matches in straight sets. Freshman Sara Bertolez Puente had a perfect match winning 6-0, 6-0. Dean won her match 6-3,6-2, and Murphy won her match 6-1, 6-2.

“After these last wins, I am looking forward to the upcoming conference matches. Also, getting such good scores makes me feel

much more confident, both physically and mentally,” said Bertolez Puente.

Jahr swept her singles match 6-4,6-2 and Ostojic won with a score of 6-1.

Sophomore Valentine Budin closed the Lakers singles match with a 6-2, 6-1 score.

The second game was played on Saturday, March 19, against

Millersville University. The Lakers once again brought home a victory, resulting in a three game winning streak. All three of the games were played at home.

“The team’s support is very helpful especially in decisive moments, such as breakpoints or tie-breakers,” said Bertolez Puente in regards to the team’s back-toback win.

The ending score was 6-1 in favor of Mercyhurst. The Lakers swept their three singles matches.

Dean and Murphy came away with a 6-3 win and Jahr and Ostojic earned a 6-4 doubles win.

Junior Janice Theodora and Bertolez Puente ended the doubles with a 6-2 win, in favor of the Lakers.

In singles, the Lakers won five of the six matches with Dean having a score of 7-5, 6-; Jahr 6-4, 6-4; Ostojic 6-2, 6-1; Murphy, 6-0, 6-0; and Bertolez Puenete 6-2, 6-; all earning points for Mercyhurst.

When Simon was asked if there was any room for improvement he said “We are constantly evolving and keep trying to master the fundamentals.”

The Mercyhurst women’s tennis team will be facing West Liberty University next in West Liberty, West Virginia on Tuesday March 22.

“I absolutely feel the team is prepared for Tuesday’s match,” Bertolez Puenete said. “Even though West Liberty is a stronger team than the previous we have played, we have also been playing better, so I feel it will be a good opportunity for us to show our work over the past months.”

Get to know men’s soccer coach, Ryan Osborne

By Grace Elwood Staff writer

Ryan Osborne has been the head coach of the Mercyhurst men’s soccer team since January of 2020.

He received his bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the University of Charleston in 2013.

Playing as both a striker and central midfielder, Osborne was named twice to the Daktronics All Region team during his time at Charleston and an All WVIAC selection in 2011. Although a decorated player, Osborne says he has always had an intrigue and desire to get into coaching.

This dream soon became a reality in 2014 when Osborne started as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, in addition to receiving his master’s degree in Strategic Leadership.

Ryan Osborne moved on to Marietta College as an assistant coach, and his most recent team before joining the Lakers was at Notre Dame, where he was an associate head coach.

The Lakers went undefeated in their spring exhibition season in 2020 after the regular season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Osborne says he is “really happy with the strides the team has made from their COVID season.”

This past fall, the team fin-

Hurst Athletics photo.

Mercyhurst men’s soccer coach, Ryan Osborne.

ished with a 12-4-2 record, and the coach expressed his hopes of coming closer to reaching the goals the team has set for next season.

“We’re a lot more together now with a better understanding of what the fall semester looks like

and I think that’s really good for us,” Osborne said.

The team’s first games of the spring season are approaching, and the coach expressed his excitement for players that did not see the field as much last season having new opportunities.

Osborne is already looking to next season for new recruits.

“I look for people who are driven and have a passion to better themselves on and off the field and those that understand that it’s a process and takes time. With the right dedication, big things can be achieved,” he said.

The coach is looking forward to heading into next season as a “well-oiled machine,” and certainly has many players that share the same mindset for success.

“Ozzy and the coaching staff have a vision for the program and work tirelessly to help achieve it. As players it holds us to high standards and it’s a good feeling working towards something bigger than ourselves,” senior defenseman Martin Grzywa said.

If there is one thing to note about Osborne, it is his passion for something more than just developing strong players on the field.

Tyson Antosh, a sophomore defenseman, speaks highly of the coach, noting how he is “always willing to support players outside of the game and is very aware of the struggles college students face off the field.”

Certainly, Osborne’s love for coaching is fueled by more than his love for the game, but also his desire to instill personal development and resilience in his players.

LET’S GO, LAKERS!

March. 25, Erie, PA @ 1:00 p.m.: Baseball vs Clarion University March. 26, Lock Haven, PA @ 1:00 p.m.: Women’s lacrosse vs Lock Haven University March 27, Shepherdstown, WV @ TBA.: Men’s tennis vs Shepherd University

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Be careful about doing someone a favor when you don’t know the full story behind the request. Don’t rely on someone’s unsubstantiated assurances.

Insist on all the facts before you act.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) That workplace problem still needs your attention before you finally can close the book on it. Meanwhile, a long-anticipated reunion gets closer to becoming a happy reality.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You might be demanding more from others than they can give. Best advice: Have a long and frank talk to determine what the facts are. Tensions should abate as the week winds down.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Aspects are favorable throughout this week for making contacts that could be important to your career plans.

Meanwhile, an old friend offers the advice you’re seeking.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) It’s time to stop licking your wounds from past mistakes. Get up and get going toward your future. Loyal friends will be there to help the Lion get back into rip-roaring shape.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Take time out to go over what’s expected of you before you begin your new project. Otherwise, you run the risk of pushing yourself harder than you need to.

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) An unusual request could put you in an awkward position. Best advice: Deal with it immediately. The longer you delay, the more difficult it will be to get out of it.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) You should feel recharged and ready for whatever your workaday world holds for you. The same positive energy spills over into your personal relationships.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A prospect might be less than it appears to be. Like the Archer in your sign, you always aim for the truth. And this is no time to settle for less than full disclosure.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Start doing some serious thinking about a career move that could entail more than just changing job sites. Some lifestyle changes also might be involved.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) With tensions easing at the workplace, a more positive environment once again encourages the free flow of ideas so typical of the always-innovative Aquarian.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Show some of that usually hidden steel-strong Piscean backbone, and stand up for yourself if you hope to make a case for that promotion you know you deserve.

BORN THIS WEEK: You enjoy doing new things and staying ahead of the crowd. You would make a fine sports coach or military leader. © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

HURST TOON

Student-drawn cartoon by the Martian