RSCO FEATURE CYBER SECURITY CLUB Upcoming “Waves of Life” performance

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

Cyber Security is one of the biggest majors offered here at Mercyhurst. A similar major or minor includes Data Science, students in this major are sure to find a variety of careers once they graduate. One of the RSCOs that exist to help students in this major or interested in this field is the Cyber Security Club.

“The main goals of the Cyber Security Club is to focus on members sharing their knowledge with others,” said Christopher Hess, junior Cyber Security and Intelligence Studies double major who serves as President of the club. “Cyber Security is constantly changing with new tools, vulnerabilities, and standards. As our technology advances, we must learn to adapt and respond. By enabling my peers to share their knowledge, we further learn in ways our professors may not think of.”

The Cyber Security Club has already done a lot this semester and has a lot more planned for the rest of the semester.

“This semester, we have done a social and speaking event based on Cyber Security response in the real world,” said Hess. “In addition, we are preparing for Capture the Flag competitions for the rest of the semester. Capture the Flag is a unique way for Cyber Security to compete to find various flags, which can be based on knowledge or compromising vulnerable machines in a closed environment. Next month, we will participate in the National Cyber League sponsored by Cyber Skyline.”

While the Cyber Security Club hasn’t been around for long, Hess is immensely proud of how much it has grown since its inception.

“The Cyber Security Club is important to me for several reasons,” he said. “First, as one of the founding members, I have seen this club grow from the ten minimum required members to a roster of 60 plus named members. This club has rapidly expanded to become a social group for Cyber Security to be discussed outside the classroom in a way that people want to be there. Secondly, this club has shown me and others how to spread our knowledge of Cyber Security; when people disseminate their expertise in our club, it is not because they are forced to for a classroom assignment but because they want to, whether it’s for competition or it is their interest.”

Nearly all majors and minors on Mercyhurst’s campus have a club to call home, and it’s amazing that Cyber Security Club is growing as quickly as it has been.

The Cyber Security program at Mercyhurst is nationally renowned, and the club is certainly doing a lot to keep it alive! You do not have to be a major or minor to join. If this sounds interesting then feel free to stop by a meeting.

On April 18 at 8 p.m., the Choreography II class will be putting on a performance for the Mercyhurst and Erie communities. This course further defines all choreographic elements culminating in a performance. Choreographers will produce work under the guidance of the instructor’s parameters, which is a great experience for those who wish to become dance teachers or choreographers when they graduate from college.

All dance majors at Mercyhurst are required to take this course.

This year’s show is titled “Waves of Life.” It represents the theme of human experience relayed through dance, which is a very important topic when talking about performing.

The choreographers did have some requirements when it came to their pieces. The performances had to be 5-8 minutes with a cast of 3-5 dancers. The music they had to select could not have lyrics and the choreographer could not be in their own piece.

This is to help them practice teaching others in their way.

Mia Semieraro, a sophomore dance major with an exercise science minor, is just one of the many people who will be performing.

Semieraro said, “My favorite part of preparing for this performance is seeing my vision executed and having it come together so nicely.”

The creative process that the choreographers go through to create their pieces is intense, so it is important that they are recognized for their hard work.

The students are guided through this process by their professor, Solveig Santillano. Santillano is an assistant professor of dance and is well-liked by the students of the dance department. She teaches all the choreography classes in the dance department, so the students become very comfortable with expressing their feelings through dance with her. Some of the pieces are extremely personal to the choreographers. Gabrielle Harris, a sophomore dance major, said, “ The piece I have created, “Coping with Panic” focuses on how people can become reliant on the feeling of anxiety and leave us wondering how to live without it.”

Jillian Pohl, sophomore dance major, said, “I found the inspiration of my piece after finding the music. Most people have a concept and then start from there, but I’ve always been different in this way.”

Not everyone in the class has seen their peer’s choreography, so the performance will be the first time most of them are seeing each other’s work. “I am looking forward to seeing the work of my peers because they are all so creative and I am always very inspired by them,” said Semieraro.

Harris echoed this and said, “I am very excited to see my peer’s choreography! I work alongside such talented and beautiful people who I am excited to share the stage with. I am also excited to see my own piece performed, looking at it as an audience member instead of a choreographer.”

If you want to support the dancers and recognize them for all their hard work, be sure to attend this performance. It will be located in the Palmer Studio of the danceSpace, which is right inside the Zurn doors. This event is free and it is a chance for dance students to show off all their hard work that they have put into this class so far this semester.