The Merciad March 30 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 3 0 , 2 0 2 2

| VOL. 95 NO. 15

Women’s Softball splits Gannon double header PAGE: 14

Online poll results

We asked: How did you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day?

Photo Credits: Hurst Athletics photo

Attended on-campus celebrations Attended off-campus celebrations

4: Rent-a-Habitater returns

Stayed in and ejoyed the day

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8: Hurst Senior Class hosts successful auction 10: Leslie Odom Jr. performs

Went outside…it was beautiful out!

This week’s

POLL

Did you watch the Oscar’s?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

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NEWS

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

International Women’s Day poetry reading

By Ashley Barletta News editor

The Department of World Languages hosted an International Women’s Day poetry reading on March 23.

The event lasted from 4:30-6 p.m. at the Luke’s Landing in the Student Union.

There were a selection of poems written by women all around the world.

The poems were read by Mercyhurst students as well as faculty and staff.

The poetry reading was planned by Alice Edwards, Ph.D. “Dr. Edwards planned the event and asked students to read poetry at the reading. It was women-inspired, not language-specific,” said Allison Siegmann, a junior intelligence studies and Spanish double major.

“She always asks students to

do things for extra credit, but it gets us involved.”

Edwards made it a point to have poems written by women of different backgrounds. She had the poems sprawled out on a table in case anyone wanted to read a poem but didn’t bring their own.

“She tried to include poets of different ethnicities from around the world; there were a few Ukrainian poems and Rus-

sian poems, Latin American and Spanish, and I think there were poems by U.S. authors, too. Dr. Edwards is the biggest feminist I know. She’s so passionate about equal rights,” said Siegmann.

Having the poetry reading was an enlightening way to observe National Women’s History Month. Not only did it offer differing perspectives, but also gave participants a chance to reflect.

“It kind of brings different

perspectives into light, because you don’t always think about how in other countries women aren’t allowed to drive, or they don’t have equal trans rights,” Siegmann said.

“It seems like in the U.S. we are so closed in on our own perspectives that having the poetry reading shows us that we don’t have it too bad, though there is room for change everywhere.”

Contributed photo

Allison Siegmann, a junior intelligence studies and Spanish double major, read “Strike” by Gioconda Belli.

Contributed photo

Sabrina Pizzarelli, a sophomore Spanish and sociology double major, read “Poem (Let Us Live)” by Joshua Jennifer Espinoza.

Contributed photo

Madison Jukkola, a sophomore English major and double minor in Spanish and Chinese, read “Voy a Dormir” by Alfonsa Storni and “Mayo” by Giaconda Bell.

Board of Trustees elects three new members

By Sydney Dietz Sports editor

The Mercyhurst Board of Trustees will host their spring meeting on May 14. There will be three new faces attending the meeting; James G. Breckenridge Ph.D., Christine Spadafor, and Barbara Wening.

These three individuals are Mercyhurst’s newly elected trustees that will be welcomed at the meeting.

James G. Breckenridge, Ph. D. has a history with Mercyhurst.

From 1998-2001, Breckenridge served as director of admissions.

He was the first chair of the Intelligence Studies Department and was the founding dean of the Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences from 2014-2017.

Not only was he the dean of Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Sciences, but he also served as dean of the Walker School of Business and executive director of the research

arm of the intel department.

Breckenridge was named provost of the U.S. Army War College in 2017 where he served as the chief academic officer and senior civilian. The college is the U.S. Army’s senior institution for professional military education in which it educates over 2,400 military, Department of Defense (DOD) civilian, international and interagency students.

While Breckenridge was pursuing his military career, he taught Middle Eastern History and served as the course director for the World History Program at the United States Military Academy at West Point. He was honored with the Legion of Merit and was also chosen as a Foundation for Defense of Democracies Fellow for the study of Middle Eastern security issues.

Breckenridge has earned his doctorate in Organizational Learning and Leadership.

In addition to receiving his doctorate, he also has a Master’s in Business Administration. He is

an alumnus from the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech in which he earned a bachelor’s degree in history.

Christine Spadafor is an Erie native and is the CEO of SpadaforClay Group. She has worked as an advisor to Fortune 500 C-suite executives.

She serves as an independent director on boards of public and private companies such as Boyd Gaming Corporation, which is a $3.5B NYSE- listed company, Intus Care, and Kindred at Home, which is the largest provider of home care and hospice in the United States.

Spadafor has been on the advisory board for National Public Radio Station WBUR and is a commentator on the BBC “Business Matters” global radio broadcast and podcast.

Spadafor graduated from Harvard Law School and also Harvard School of Public Health.

On top of attending law school, Spadafor was recognized by the American Bar Association as one

of the top 20 female attorneys with business expertise for board service.

Spadafor also has ties relating back to Mercyhurst such as Breckenridge did. In 2019, Spadafor created an endowed chair in music and an endowed scholarship in voice performance in honor of her late mother, Mary Pellegrino Spadafor. She also gave the graduation address at the 91st commencement ceremony.

Barbara Wenig is a Mercyhurst alumni from Rome, Italy. She graduated from Mercyhurst University in 1995 and earned her bachelor’s degree in Finance and Business Administration.

After earning her degree, she obtained a successful career in New York City finance. While she was in New York she led strategic initiatives, oversaw client operations, and worked with data and analytics.

Her first job was an insurance startup that was affiliated with the New York University Medical Center. Wenig spent two years at

this job working on financial programs and analytics.

She later spent five years at HMS, which is a health care technology and analytics solutions firm where she earned her CPA and CFA designations and ran as the financial planning and analysis function.

However, in September 2021, she joined Principal Global Investors as the head of global operations and platforms.

Wenig is in control of advancing strategic initiatives, managing relationships with board members, clients, and industry constituents, and also engaging in new business efforts in support of PGI’s global platforms.

Mercyhurst is lucky to have knowledgeable and certified trustees joining the Mercyhurst Community. The three trustees will soon be joining the Mercyhurst University board, which means they will soon be able to call Hurst home (again).

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

NEWS

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Mask mandate lifted

By Isabella Johnson

Staff writer

Due to decreased COVID-19 cases across North America, most state legislations including Pennsylvania have lifted their mask mandates. Along with them, Mercyhurst University has recently made some changes to their mask policy.

“Because we have such a high vaccination rate on campus and we’ve seen the numbers of COVID cases drop in Erie, I’m very excited about the mask mandate being fully lifted,” said Laura Zirkle, the Vice President for Student Life at Mercyhurst.

“However, we are going to continue monitoring positive cases closely. One of the things that has been clear throughout this pandemic is that masking is one of the best mitigating factors we can implement. Our current plan is to monitor the amount of COVID cases on campus with different variants emerging. I’m hoping that people spending more time outside, our high vaccination rates, and the dropping COVID cases in the area will converge to make it so we don’t have to digress back to masks.”

In February, the indoor mask mandate at Mercyhurst University was lifted everywhere except for in academic classes. and labs.

The purpose of this lift was to test if positive cases would stay low and a complete lift of the mask mandate at a later date would be possible.

“The concern about classrooms is that you have people together from all different groups who usually don’t spend time together. There are also people going on and off of campus and commuters which makes classroom environments a little riskier,” Zirkle said.

“Part of the reason we lifted the mask mandate in phases was to give us a chance to see whether cases would spike before completely lifting it. We talked to the health department and our medical consultants, and we felt like we were at a point where it made sense to only require masks in classrooms. With everyone going on spring break so soon after the announcement our biggest concern was confusion by us telling students and faculty to go from not wearing masks indoors to wearing them again. Luckily the COVID numbers in Erie were so low that we were able to just keep the mandate as we had it.”

On March 27, Zirkle sent an email to the Mercyhurst community announcing that masks will no longer be required in academic classes. Those who want to wear their masks still can, and

there is an updated COVID-19 policy on the Student Hub. Type “COVID-19 Information” into the search bar on the Hub to view it.

“We’ve tried to be really upfront with everybody in the community and make clear what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. I know that students and faculty receive really long emails at times, but that’s because it is important to us that you don’t think we’re just arbitrarily doing this.

We weigh all the factors for every given decision because this is new territory for all of us,” said Zirkle.

In the event that COVID-19 cases on campus get out of hand, administration has also considered reverting back to masking indoors as a possibility.

“If we can get some time without masks and maybe never have to put them back on, that would be awesome. It feels like a reasonable time to take masks away,” Zirkle said.

“I’d rather do it now even if it means that at a later date, we have to bring the mask mandate back due to a variant. I feel that our community understands the importance of mask mandates and why we feel the need to use them.

Hopefully it doesn’t happen, but if we had to go back to masking for the safety of the community on this campus, I think that there

will be an understanding that we are doing it out of caution and the time without masks will still be appreciated despite the disappointment of having to wear them again. I don’t want to make it sound like we are planning on masking again, but it is always an option if necessary.”

Although masks are no longer required on campus, Zirkle along with the rest of the administration team that came to this decision, implore students to use good judgment and wear masks when they feel it is necessary.

“I would ask that if you see someone still wearing a mask be thankful. There are a lot of reasons that people may choose to continue wearing a mask like if someone is showing symptoms, going to be in a really crowded area, or even about to visit someone who is high-risk. We have folks on campus who have children who aren’t old enough to be vaccinated so they’re at a higher risk. Those people have to look out for their kids. I would encourage everyone to use good judgment on whether to wear one when they feel it is appropriate and to be supportive of others who chose to wear one,” Zirkle said.

Despite the excitement of being so close to normalcy on campus, the concern for protecting

one’s own health as well as the health of others still exists.

“I was really excited about it; [the recent mask lift] as much as I would still love to take precautions and protect people, I am very tired of this pandemic,” said Sophia Supinski, a freshman dance major.

Being in a learning environment during a pandemic has required a lot of adapting from the students and faculty members here at Mercyhurst. However, pre-pandemic university life is closer in reach than ever.

Zirkle said, “I have such an amazement and appreciation for how much the community at Mercyhurst has acted during all of this. I get emotional thinking about how supportive my peers have been in stepping up and doing extra work to help out students. It’s been a positive experience to see how this community has handled everything. I know that this all has been extremely difficult for some people and yet I’ve seen our community handle everything with good faith, good nature, and compassion.”

Joe the orangutan of the Erie Zoo passes away

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

On March 6, the Erie zoo opened for the 2022 season. As visitors came to take place in opening day festivities, many noticed the Bornean orangutan family was not present in their exhibits.

The day prior, 36-year-old Bornean orangutan Joseph, known by most as simply “Joe,” fell ill. Joe’s symptoms included behavioral changes, lack of appetite and fatigue, the Erie Zoo revealed in a news release.

A COVID-19 test was administered and came back negative, and subsequent tests did not result in a diagnosis.

Joe lived in the exhibit with his mate Dasa. The two came to the zoo together in 2002 to mate.

Despite having three offspring together, only Dasa’s and Joe’s 5-year-old offspring, Otis, lived in the Erie Zoo. Joe was the only one to come down with the mysterious illness, but the zoo removed the entire family from the exhibit as a precaution. While the family was away, the zoo set up a table outside of the orangutan exhibit to make get-well cards for the beloved family. Joe passed away on March 19.

“This is a truly sad day for the Erie Community and we are all heartbroken over the loss of Joe,” said Roo Kojancie, COO of the Erie Zoo, in a news statement.

“Joe has been a beloved member of the Erie Zoo family since 2002. He has touched the hearts of so many visitors, volunteers, and staff over the years. His absence is going to leave a hole in our hearts. I’m proud of our exceptional veterinary and animal care teams who dedicated themselves to leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of Joe’s health.”

Two days prior to his death, Joe went under intense testing.

“Several routine diagnostic tests were performed which did not yield enough information for a diagnosis,” the zoo said in the statement about Joe’s death.

“After extensive consultations with experts from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ (AZA) Orangutan Species Survival Plan and the Great Ape Heart Project, additional diagnostic evaluations under anesthesia were deemed necessary.”

Diagnostic tests revealed Joe the orangutan was suffering from heart failure.

Orangutans are an endangered species. According to the Orangutan Conservancy website,

orangutans have a life expectancy of 35 to 40 years in their natural habitats. However, in captivity orangutans have been known to live into their late 50s.

A contributing factor in orangutans becoming an endangered species is due to the unethical production of palm oil.

“The mass production of palm oil has relied on the destruction of rainforests, which leads to climate damaging emissions, as well

as loss of biodiversity, particularly for orangutans, and human rights issues” according to Ethical Consumer.

Despite recent efforts to reduce production and usage of palm oil, it is used in many products across the globe.

According to Ethical Consumer, “more than 50% of packaged supermarket products from margarine and oven chips to soaps and detergents” are made using

palm oil.

It is important to consider the products you use each day and consider to switching to a brand that uses ethically sourced palm oil if it is affordable.

The Erie Zoo said that there is no rush to replace the beloved orangutan, and that the other orangutans who shared the exhibit with Joe are healthy.

Photo credit: Western New York News Now website

Joe the orangutan of the Erie Zoo passed away on March 19. Tests show he died of heart failure.

NEWS

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Merciad IN A MINUTE Apply for Study Abroad There is still time to apply for one of the Study Abroad programs being offered during the 20222023 academic year.

Simply go on the Student Hub and type in “Study Abroad” and find the application.

The Hub also features information on the programs.

The deadline to apply is April 1, so be sure to check out the programs!

New RSCO Mercyhurst Equality of Women aka MEOW has been revived as an RSCO! They will be holding their first meeting on March 31 at 7:00 p.m. in the Great Room in the Student Union.

This club centers on the celebration of powerful women on campus in history and across the world. This club is welcoming to all students!

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Rent-a-Habitater returns for the spring semester

By Samantha Weber Editor-in-chief

With Spring and warm weather being right around the corner, the Mercyhurst Habitat for Humanity chapter is holding their Rent-a-Habitater once again.

For those who have not heard of this event before, it is a fundraiser for the club where students will go out and volunteer for faculty and staff of the university at their homes.

Typically, the students volunteering will be painting, raking leaves, gardening or doing other work around the house for whoever wants or needs the help.

“Some months we receive more traffic from professors than other months. Although, we try to offer as many opportunities as possible!

In order to find out about these opportunities, students should

join the club’s email list and organization on Laker Launchpad,” said Ashley Kreeger, secretary for Habitat for Humanity club.

This year, the club is offering more opportunities for students to volunteer.

“We try to offer multiple weekends for students to volunteer.

This semester we added many more weekends trying to have one every weekend that does not fall on a break,” said Abigail Springer, Habitat for Humanity president.

Service is a huge part of the Sisters of Mercy as they took a fourth vow of service when they became a sisterhood in 1831. This dedication to service has carried down through generations to Mercyhurst today.

Most students who attend Mercyhurst complete some type of service on their own time, and getting involved with Habitat for

Humanity is a great way to give back to the community.

“Habitat for Humanity’s ultimate goal for Rent-a-Habitater is to allow interested students to engage in the community beyond the gates. With this opportunity, students are able to go to professors’ homes to work on projects or tasks as directed,” Kreeger said.

This is a great fundraiser for the club as the money goes toward the club’s spring break trip. Every year, Habitat for Humanity will take a trip somewhere and spend the week building houses.

The past two years, the trip has been canceled due to COVID-19, but the club is optimistic that next year there will be a trip.

This year, the club had already picked a location for the Spring Break trip before COVID-19 canceled the trip for the second year in a row. This year students were

supposed to travel to Kentucky to volunteer and build houses.

During the last two trips students traveled to Monroe, North Carolina in 2018, and Alabama in 2019. These service trips are a great representation of how the Sisters of Mercy’s mission is still being practiced to this day.

The money raised from Rent-a-Habitater both in the fall and spring semesters goes toward offsetting costs for the spring break trip for students who wish to attend.

If there are any faculty or staff that want to request volunteers, they can reach out to Erin Smith, Rent-a-Habitater Coordinator, or use the link that was sent out in The Morning Tide on March 24.

If you are a student who wants to volunteer, you can reach out to Erin Smith or Abigail Springer.

Marie Benedict speaking Famous author and lawyer Marie Benedict is coming to Mercyhurst on April 2 to speak in the Performing Arts Center at 1 p.m.

Afterwards, Benedict will hold a workshop for students at 3 p.m.

Contact Jeffrey Roessner if you are interested in this opportunity to work on your writing skills with a published author.

Contributed photo

Ashley Kreeger and Beatrice Titus from a previous Rent-a-Habitater.

Contributed photo

Students position a tree in the gravel.

Trans Day of Visibility The Campus Involvement Center is hosting a screening of a documentary on Marsha P. Johnson to observe Trans Day of Visibility, March 31 at 7pm.

Johnson was an activist during the 1969 Stonewall Riots, which led to the Gay Liberation Movement.

The screening will be in Zurn 114 and followed by a discussion led by the Sexuality and Gender Acceptance Club.

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

Students who participate in Rent-a-Habitater may find themselves doing a variety of work, including yard work, painting, or building different structures.

NEWS

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

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Archbishop Oscar Romero Award presented

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

By Nicholas Klein

This weekend’s campus events

Staff writer

On March 24, 2022, the Barber National Institute for people with mental and intellectual disabilities was awarded the Archbishop Oscar Romero Award by Mercyhurst University.

The award was in honor of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was a Salvadoran Archbishop of San Salvador and was murdered by the military regime for speaking up for the poor and marginalized and for also speaking up against the regime. He was later canonized as a saint in October 2018 by Pope Francis.

Like Oscar Romero, Gertrude A. Barber spoke for the marginalized, who were children and adults with mental and intellectual disabilities. Gertrude Barber was born on Sept. 16, 1911, in Erie, Pennsylvania.

She had a passion for learning at an early age, which was recognized by the Sisters of Saint Joseph, who were her teachers at Saint Ann’s Church and School. In 1933, at the age of twenty-two, she became

a teacher in the Erie School District.

From there, she was often responsible for telling the parents, who had children with disabilities, that their children could not go to school. That job was tearing apart her life, until 1950 when she started to organize groups of parents, who wanted their children with disabilities to get educated.

In 1952, she opened the first classes for young students with intellectual disabilities in the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) Center in her hometown.

Six years later, Barber made the Lakeview Hospital into the first school and workshop for children and adults with hearing and intellectual disabilities. The basement was the cafeteria, the first floor was made for children’s classes, and the second floor was made for adults.

In 1962, John F. Kennedy appointed Gertrude Barber to be one of twenty-five experts on the National Task Force on Mental Retardation. She would later be one of the attendees to the signing

Nicholas Klein photo

The event took place in the Mercy Heritage Room.

of the Americans with Disabilities Act by President George H. W. Bush at the White House in 1990.

In the early seventies, as thousands of people with disabilities began to leave institutions, the Barber Center began to open the first community group homes in Erie and started programs in 1973, for those who were returning from Polk State Hospital.

She continued to do her charitable work for people with disabilities until her death on April 29, 2000, at the age of 88.

At the event, the speaker was the niece of the late Gertrude A. Barber, Maureen Barber-Carey.

She is currently the Executive Vice President of the Barber National Institute and is a current member of the Autism Focus Group for the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

The Barber National Institute is located on 136 East Avenue in Erie where the former hospital used to be. The institute does quarterly publications of the Barber Spirit, which is meant to spread Barber’s legacy.

Nicholas Klein photo

President Getz stands with Maureen Barber-Carey.

Service Honor Society accepting nominations

By Ashley Barletta News editor

It’s that time of year again; the time of year when seniors are preparing to graduate. Some seniors will soon be inducted into the Service Honor Society.

The Service Honor Society at Mercyhurst was established in 2006 in order to honor graduating seniors who “exemplify our Mission-centered commitment to be ‘Ambassadors of Service,” according to the Community Engagement Hub page.

Students who are ultimately inducted into the Service Honor Society must demonstrate the following: “significant and sustained service to the campus community and/or larger world, marked achievement in leadership, meritorious academic achievement, and recognized integrity and commitment to excellence,” as stated on the Community Engagement Hub page.

Right now, seniors who will be graduating in Spring 2022 are being nominated. Friends, faculty, staff, club advisors, coaches, or other members of the MU community can nominate the students they believe qualify.

Students also have the option to, and are even encouraged to nominate themselves.

To nominate a graduating senior, go to https://forms.office. com/r/4E0P2ZUXm6.

Once the students are nominated, there are a few steps that they must complete prior to actually being inducted.

“Nominated students are emailed and invited to complete a ‘service profile,’ or basically a resume of all of their service and co-curricular involvement over their years here at MU,” said Bethany Woods, associate director of Community Engagement.

“It’s their chance to sell themselves and highlight all that they’ve done while a student here.”

After all of the applications have been submitted to the Induction Committee, they will review the applications and decide who will be inducted.

“The SHS Induction Committee (made up of staff and faculty across the university) meets around Easter after reviewing the compiled profiles and determines who meets or exceeds the SHS descriptors and deserves to be inducted,” Woods said.

“If a student meets all the criteria, they are notified a few days later that they are invited to the induction ceremony and dinner.

At that ceremony, a student will receive cords and be celebrated for their service to the Mercyhurst

and surrounding communities.”

Students must be a full-time undergraduate student, be a senior who has been certified to graduate in the current calendar year, have a GPA of 2.75 or higher by the beginning of the spring semester of the induction year, be recommended for induction through the completion of an official nomination form, and complete and return by the designated deadline all materials requested by the Service Honor Society Selection Committee.

The Committee Chair will approve the final induction list, and then the induction process can begin.

At the induction ceremony inductees are provided the green and white Service Honor Cord which they will wear at their graduation, which recognizes their remarkable commitment to living Mercyhurst’s Mission through significant service both on campus and beyond the gates.

If you or someone you know fulfills the requirements to be inducted into the Service Honor Society, consider going on the Community Engagement Hub page and filling out a nomination form.

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG March 22: Domestic in Ryan Hall.

No other crimes this week. Good job, Lakers!

FEATURES

PAGE 6

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Hurst addresses seasonal mental health concerns

By Nadine Fox, Hannah Brooks health can contribute to a lack toring center is also an oppor- journaling and retreats. These Staff writer, Features editor

It’s getting to that point in the semester where things are wrapping up. Students are beginning to prepare for finals and create new schedules and housing plans for the upcoming year, or are planning their lives after Mercyhurst. This can lead to immense amounts of stress. On top of that, the regular stressors associated with college, accompanied by the impact of the pandemic, significantly affects the mental health of students. Many students feel the pandemic has increased their feelings of loneliness and it is incredibly common for students to struggle with mental health challenges.

Mental health problems can impact academic performance and success. Poor mental

of motivation and can cause problems with focusing which can lead to failing grades.

Campus-wide mental health resources for students to seek support could be the key to their academic success.

A new campus addition are the posters in bathroom stalls– a place where one may not expect to receive education about your mental health. These posters are placed in bathrooms all across campus and offer students various outlets for self care, whether it be going for a walk around campus, reflection, or heading off campus to the local community.

Mercyhurst Academic Support Center is one resource available to help students achieve their academic and career goals, a common source of stress. There are free tutoring services available, and the tu-

Mercyhurst Social Work photo

Students participated in the university’s first annual Suicide Awareness Prevention walk this past fall.

tunity for students to get a job on campus.

College is already a stressful environment for students, especially after a years-long pandemic. While Mercyhurst offers free campus counseling at the Cohen Health Center, there are also many other options for support. To help students who are struggling with grief and loss, Campus Ministry and the Cohen Health Center will be hosting grief and loss sessions from 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. on April 7, 14 and 21.

It is essential to have a campus that promotes suicide prevention and educates everyone on ways to help those who are struggling. Many students experience excessive stress, anxiety and depression. It is incredibly important to spread awareness for people to pay attention to the campus mental health resources available and take advantage of what’s available.

In honor of taking care of student mental health, Mercyhurst Academic Support and Campus Ministry are giving out bubble kits, encouraging students to spend time outside blowing bubbles and enjoying nature as spring arrives and letting go of their stresses as they let the bubbles float mesmerisingly away. Students are encouraged to blow bubbles outside and post selfies with the hashtag #MUBeattheBlues.

There are a variety of other ways that students can take care of their mental health in addition to the counseling options available. Campus Ministry offers a large number of events that are available for all students to attend, including “sip & stitch” sessions, spiritual

LAKER MOMENT

Nicholas Klein

Students had fun on stage participating in “Grotto Grooves Open Mic Night” on Friday, March 25.

events are open to all students, not just those who come from a specific faith background or tradition. These can be a fantastic way to reflect on yourself, as well as to take a relaxing break from school work.

Students may also try joining clubs to get involved in some activities they enjoy. Mercyhurst has a variety of different clubs students can join to do something they are passionate about and connect with people who have similar interests.

Getting involved in a club and participating in something enjoyable is not only a great break from school work, but also a great way to have fun.

Some clubs also have their own therapeutic values built in, such as Yoga Club and Art Therapy Club. Yoga is a really good way to take care of the mind, body and soul, while Art Therapy Club is a good way to get in touch with one’s artistry and challenge creativity. Another option is getting immersed in a new language. There is something for everybody through the RSCOs on campus.

Additionally, exercising is a wonderful way to help relieve stress and take care of mental health. There are a multitude of services available for students to take advantage of, including Zumba classes, Pilates, and so much more. The Mercyhurst community is also able to use the REC Center equipment to complete personal workouts, or even a simple walk across campus is beneficial. Per the National Association on Mental Illness (NAMI) website, exercise has been “researched and validated for treating a variety of mental issues and mental health conditions.”

If you feel you do not have the time to become involved, at the very least, it is essential to focus on self-care. Self-care can mean a variety of different things for different people.

Reflection and journaling may be an option; taking a bubble bath; cleaning your room; or even just knowing when it is time to take a break and say “no” to extra work can be a form of self-care. According to the NAMI website, “prioritizing self care is important– you can’t drive a car without fuel.

Maintaining a self-care practice is not an act of selfishness– it is an act of improving our ability to care.”

As college students, we are faced with various stressors each day. As we work to achieve academic excellence, struggle with financial issues and try to balance a social life on top of everything else, things can begin to get heavy. It is so essential to make sure to work on “you” and focus on your own mental health to make sure that you are operating at your very best. As the effects of stress on our bodies is often discussed in many of our classes, we need to make sure we are truly listening and doing everything we can to ensure that we are at our very best health– which includes our mental health.

The suggestions listed in this article are not intended to imply that any of these practices or activities will “cure” struggles related to mental illness, but it is still essential to take time to participate in activities that may improve your mental health. Please make sure to set aside some time for “you,” not every week or every month, but every single day.

Last Friday night, the MAC/SAC hosted a fun event called “Grotto Grooves Open Mic Night.” It was a night full of both storytelling and singing. Students got on stage and told their favorite stories and sang their favorite songs. In addition to all of the fun taking place on stage and in the open mic, various crafts were also offered for students to participate in. In the crowd, students painted records while they enjoyed listening to their friends perform on stage. This event was lots of fun and was filled with laughter and joy. Watching the performances of fellow students was very entertaining and was a great way to get a break from school work and unwind. The event was a smash hit, and you will not want to miss it if it is offered again! Make sure to keep your eye on Laker Launchpad for more events like this one, or others that may interest you.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

FEATURES

RSCO FEATURE

PAGE 7

Laker Major/ Minor Spotlight: Theater Minor

RUNNING CLUB

By Isabella Lee Staff writer

Alexis Bell Photo

This past fall, the running club participated in an obstacle course during one of their meetings.

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

Are you tired of constantly doing schoolwork all day? Are you looking for a great way to be active and get outside? Well, if you answered yes to those two questions, then you should check out the Running Club! Mercyhurst is fortunate to be able to offer a wide variety of clubs for students to be a part of.

Do not worry if you are not the best runner in the world, anyone is encouraged to join.

“We welcome runners, joggers, and walkers! There is a space for everyone, no one goes alone! There is always someone to run, jog, or walk with. We meet once a week. Currently, we are completing a two-mile loop, and often meet for core workouts,” said club president, senior Early Childhood/Special Education major Alexis Bell.

If you are worried about not being able to keep up with the rest of the group, do not worry as they split up into three separate groups to try and ensure everyone is comfortable with the pace they are going.

It is perfectly acceptable to walk the entire time at a running club because the whole point of the club is to not run, but it is to get to know more people while getting outdoors and away from schoolwork. In addition to walking and distance running, the club also offers other exciting activities for members.

“We often have relay races, and this is my favorite part,” said Bell.

For the rest of this semester, the club has some exciting plans as the weather will hopefully start to get nicer. “We plan on continuing to meet once a week and trying out some different routes to run, walk, and jog. We plan on more core workouts in the REC coming up and hoping for some warmer weather to get some more runs in,” said Bell. Additionally, the club would love to start having runs at Presque Isle once the weather becomes warmer.

Bell said, “My favorite thing about the club is all of the wonderful members involved. We all have so much to talk about. It makes the running part easy! It is fun to meet new people and do something I love. Running is something I have loved doing since I was 7, and it’s amazing to have the opportunity to share it with others as well!”

Bell talks about what she hopes students gain from the club, “In general, we hope that students are able to let out some stress in our club. This is such a good time to talk to some new people while doing something fun!

This is a time to get away from schoolwork and get involved.”

With spring finally beginning to bloom after a long and snowy winter, the running club is a fantastic way to not only get moving but also get out and enjoy the weather! In addition to the nice weather, exercise also has a tremendous number of positive effects, including stress relief. This club is one that all students could benefit from. Regardless of your level of experience with running, or even if you choose to walk, there is no doubt that you will be able to enjoy the running club.

The club is always welcoming new members, so if you are interested reach out to Alexis Bell or join the team on Laker LaunchPad.

Are you passionate about singing, dancing or music?

Do you want the opportunity to try out all three of these at once? Did you always want to be an actor? With the theater minor, you have the chance to try out all of this.

There’s a variety of classes, both required and optional, that students in the minor can take, such as Acting 1, Acting 2, Acting 3, Script Analysis, History of Musical Theatre and study abroad opportunities as well, with a trip to Spain and Portugal slated for January 2023.

Everyone has the chance to partake in plays, musicals, one acts and everything in between to determine if they want to pursue the theater minor or not. “A mainstage production season provides numerous opportunities for students to develop skills as directors, actors, stage managers, and technicians in a wide repertoire of classic and contemporary plays and musicals,” said Brett Johnson, Ph.D., director of the Mercyhurst theatre program.

“Recent productions include She Kills Monsters, A Dickens of a Carol (world premiere), The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940, Anne of Green Gables (world premiere), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Dracula, and The Diary of Anne Frank. Auditions are open to all Mercyhurst students, but theater minors get priority in casting.”

However, this is not the only exciting part of the

theater minor; students can also work with guest artists too. “Each year, the theater program offers a series of master classes, workshops, and Q&As with industry professionals. Recent guests include Bryce Pinkham, Anika Larsen, and Matt Doyle,” said Johnson.

Being in the theater minor can be tough at first but is very rewarding in the end. “The skills gained in the study of theater – critical thinking, creative problem solving, oral and written communication, self-expression, working cooperatively, time management, adaptability, self-discipline, concentration, and leadership – prepare students for successful endeavors, regardless of their chosen vocation,” said Johnson. Theater is a passion for Johnson as well as many students within the minor, “Theater provides a safe space for students to take risks, to practice empathy, to develop self-confidence, and to find their voice as artists, scholars, and citizens of the world.”

The students within the theater program, whether they are veterans or rookies, have all benefited from the minor. Lindsey Markiewicz, a freshman psychology major, despite being new to the minor still, has grown to love it.

“I chose to minor in theater for a few reasons. One I have always been a fan of the theater, my dad and I go to see shows at Playhouse Square all the time, so that is what sparked my interest,” said Markiewicz. “I have always been too nervous to try act-

ing myself so when I got to Mercyhurst I knew I wanted to get involved and challenge myself. So, I took Acting One this semester and instantly loved it and knew I wanted to continue this path and added on my minor. My favorite thing about being in the theater minor is connecting with like-minded individuals and being able to learn from them, especially Dr. Johnson!

Learning from them pushes me to be the most authentic version of myself.”

Justice Alleruzzo, a senior communications major, has been in the minor for all of his college career. “I chose the theater minor because it’s challenging and enjoyable,” Alleruzzo said. “I was involved in theater in high school, and my theater director at the time really inspired me to continue being in theater in college. I really like how the minor challenges you. For example, in the Script Analysis course, you actually have to think and dissect what the script is telling you, like being the director of the script, rather than just read it.”

The theater minor is open to anyone and everyone that is interested. Even if you are not interested in setting foot on stage yourself, be sure to check out the performances put on by students in the theater department.

Do not forget to mark your calendars for April 7-10 when the spring musical coming to Taylor Little Theater!

Mercyhurst University

A photo from a past performance put on by the theater department.

JOIN THE MERCIAD Write articles, take photos, get paid.

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

PAGE 8

HURST CLASS CATALOG GOLDEN AGE OF RUSSIA

By Bella Lee Staff writer

One of the things that Mercyhurst takes pride in is their World Languages Department. Spanish, French, Chinese and Arabic are just some of the many languages offered.

However, one of the most popular is Russian. A favorite of many Intelligence Studies and Cyber Security majors, Russian helps secure a language background for future careers.

Within the Russian department, a class that is offered is Golden Age of Russian Literature. This is a REACH course, meaning that it is open to all students.

Per the course description on the Mercyhurst website, this course is a “study of the major works and writers of the first half of the 19th century. There is a particular emphasis on the growth of Russian realism in light of the Slavophile-Westernizer debates of this era.”

“These years have an analogue in American history,” said Kathryn Duda, Ph.D. instructor of the course.

“Literature of the 1860s touches on the impetus of some Russians to encourage this alongside the tremendous cultural shift; this also came on the heals of the Crimean War (1853-56) that we looked at through the eyes of Lev Tolstoy.”

The class is currently learning about the 1860s which includes major literary figures such as Alexander Pushkin, Mikhail Lermontov and Nikolai Gogol. They will also study the emergence of Fyodor Dostoevsky and Lev Tolstoy, who would dominate the late 19th century.

“Students will work on a literary campaign at the end of the semester to advertise one of our texts to an American audience,” Duda said.

Regardless of your existing knowledge about Russian literature, this class is interesting to all that take it.

“I usually enjoy teaching this class because I am not a 19th-century specialist and so the conversations remain truly open to what interests students,” said Duda. “I have found these stories are rewarding to read alongside people who are working out as adults.”

Duda finds that while the stories might challenge and intimidate people who have never read them before, she believes that they may also find the stories and characters relatable.

“So many of the characters the class encounters are in the same boat, working out decisions about duty, responsibility, desire, love, sex, anxiety and fear of rejection,” Duda said. “While set against the backdrop of Russia’s 19th century, we also see ourselves and our concerns reflected in these texts. These texts challenge us to ask questions that people have struggled with for centuries, and I hope students will return to throughout their lives.”

However, this class is proving to be difficult to teach considering the situation that’s currently ongoing in Ukraine.

“I will confess that I am worried about this course being featured given Russia’s war in Ukraine,” said Duda.

“Russian culture, whether justified or not, has been used as an excuse to fan spurious claims about Ukraine having no real sovereignty and superiority of Moscowbased rule to anything else in the region.”

If you are interested in fulfilling a language credit, keep this class on your radar! If you are interested in this course or have any questions regarding Russian literature, be sure to reach out to Dr. Duda for more information! Consider this option when creating your schedule for next year.

FEATURES

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Hurst Senior Class hosts successful auction

By Hannah Brooks Features editor

As the spring semester starts to come to an end, not only will classes end for some of us soon, some Lakers are gearing up for life beyond the gates.

As the television lights up in the Academic Center for Engagement, as of today, there are less than fifty days until seniors will graduate.

To prepare for a way to make their mark for this year and many more to come, the Senior Class Gift Committee has been raising money for a renewable scholarship.

The Senior Class Gift Committee hosted its annual date auction on Wednesday, March 23. The Instagram page @hurstclassgift, explained the way in which the auction worked.

Those in attendance were to bid on dates with different students. Bidding went on until a winner was announced for each date. In addition to dates, many different items were also up for bidding.

Hannah O’Brien, senior Integrated Media and Strategic Communication major, is the social media chair for the Class Gift Committee this year.

“This year, the Senior Class Gift Committee is raising money for a renewable scholarship. The committee does this through various events held on campus throughout the year,” said O’Brien. “The

Patricia Jaskiewicz Scholarship honors Mercyhurst receptionist Patricia ‘Trish’ Jaskiewicz, who embodies the Mercyhurst spirit of community and exudes the Mercyhurst core values of compassionately hospitable and socially merciful.”

O’Brien added that the date auction was a success, raising over $4,000, with over one hundred students in attendance.

“We auctioned off over thirty items at the event, which included 14 reserved seats at graduation, lunch for five with President Getz, graduation portrait packages with student photographers, local restaurant gift cards and

much more,” said O’Brien. “Students who attended were able to bid on items to win.”

If you could not attend, you still have the opportunity to help out the cause. O’Brien explained that the committee still has upcoming events planned for April for anybody who was not able to make the auction.

Upcoming events include a bingo night on Friday, April 8, and Pitchfest, a bar crawl for students who are older than 21, on Wednesday, April 20.

Be sure to follow @hurstclassgift on Instagram for more information about these events and more!

Contributed photo

The Senior Date Auction was a massive success, with 100+ students in attendance.

MSG recognizes World Down Syndrome Day

By Nadine Fox and Hannah Brooks wear colorful, attractive, crazy In addition to these two events, socks on this day to spread aware- MSG strives to be inclusive to Staff writer, Features editor

Monday, March 21 was World Down Syndrome Day. Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome.

Chromosomes are small “packages” of genes in the body that determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows during pregnancy and after birth.

Typically, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes. However, babies born with down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes (chromosome 21). The medical term for having an extra copy of a chromosome is called ‘trisomy.’ Down syndrome is also sometimes referred to as Trisomy 21.

The first World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) was held on March 21, 2006. The day and month of the day were chosen specifically to correspond to three copies of the 21 chromosome.

In honor of this day, and spreading awareness Mercyhurst MSG students wore fun/mismatched socks for World Down Syndrome Day. The idea was created because chromosomes are shaped like socks. People all over the world

ness.

Carissa Budday, junior Fashion Merchandising major and MSG PR coordinator, explained that MSG participated in this event for a lighthearted way to promote awareness.

“Many primary schools do this with younger children to open the conversation, and since Mercyhurst has never spoken on it we thought that this would be a great opportunity to have that conversation with students as well as faculty,” said Budday. “It is very important to learn about individuals with Down syndrome and be inclusive of each and every student.”

Budday added that MSG tries to participate in as many events as possible to ensure that Mercyhurst is inclusive, respectful and aware of all individuals.

“One upcoming event that we are planning on taking part in is Denim Day, on April 27,” said Budday. “This is a worldwide day in which people wear denim to support survivors of sexual assault while also educating themselves and others.”

Budday also added that this event is important to take part in, as many men and women are sexually assaulted each year at college campuses across the world.

all students and is always open to student feedback about ways in which the school can be more inclusive, or other days in need of recognition.

“Although these are just two days we as an organization have chosen to participate in, we are aware that there are so many more. Please know that we are always open to ideas from the student body,” said Budday. “We want to be your voice. That is why we have decided to start taking part in more days like this.”

Check out the Cultural Awareness Calendar on the Student Hub so you do not miss out on more events like these!

The Multicultural Student Services will be recognizing and trying to spread awareness to a variety of important topics this year.

Some important events are Deaf History Month, Black History Month and advocacy for Women’s Rights.

The importance of recognizing and being involved in these events is a really good way to learn and engage in activities that are new or unfamiliar to expand your knowledge and worldview, as well as to be supportive of your peers.

FEATURES

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

PAGE 9

Literary Festival sets stage in April

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

By Hannah Brooks Features editor

Come one, come all! Mercyhurst’s annual Literary Festival begins in April. Exciting events will take place throughout the entire month, celebrating and emphasizing on literature of successful writers, including that of some of Mercyhurst’s very own creative writing. This event is one that you will not want to miss.

The festival will kick off promptly at the beginning of the month, with a presentation from author Marie Benedict. She is not only a lawyer with more than ten years of experience in the legal field, but also a talented and successful author.

Some of Benedict’s works include “The Other Einstein,” a historical novel telling the story of Albert Einstein’s first wife; USA today bestseller “Carnegie’s Maid” and New York Times bestseller “The Only Woman in the Room.”

These are just a few examples of the works of Benedict, with many more of her novels becoming bestsellers. The talk will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 2 in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

The next event will be a celebration of music entitled “Alive and Kicking: A Musical Celebration.”

This performance will include Jim Tometsko & friends, Jimmy Cuneo, Brittany Barko Krugger and Kevin Sullivan, along with other Mercyhurst students.

The event will feature works of songwriters, mainly in the folk genre. Per the event description, the organizers are “gathering to play music of survivors: those who recorded their first song before 1982 and who are still going strong today.”

Those in attendance can also expect renditions of classics from well-known writers such as Neil Young, Pete Townshend, Gordon Lightfoot and more. This event will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12 in the Taylor Little Theater.

Setting the stage on Thursday, April 21 will be Patricia Jabbeh Wesley, professor of English, Creative Writing and African Lit-

By Sarah Beck Staff writer

Historical Event: March 25, 1911 On March 25, 1911, 146 workers were killed in the collapse of the Triangle Shirtwaist Company. This building was ten stories tall and located in downtown Manhattan, although the factory only occupied the top three floors.

The Triangle factory was a sweatshop owned by Max Blanck and Issac Harris who had a strange and suspicious history with factory fires. Over time it was concluded that Blanck and Harris intentionally set their workplaces on fire before business hours as a means of collecting fire-insurance policies that they had purchased. Although this was not the case for this specific factory fire, because of their history of fraud, it led to their refusal of placing safety systems such as sprinklers in their factories at a time.

Contributed photo

A photo from the 2020 edition of the Lumen. The 2022 cover will be unveiled on April 28 at 7:30 p.m.

erature.

Wesley is the author of numerous critically acclaimed books, including “Praise Song for My Children: New and Selected Poems” and “When the Wanderers Come Home.” Wesley’s work typically explores the Liberian civil war and Liberian and Grebo cultures, in addition to advocating for women.

Wesley has won a number of awards, including a World Bank Fellowship, a Crab Orchard Award for her book Becoming Ebony, and the 2016 Wise Woman Literary Arts Award.

Jeffrey Roessner, professor of English and associate dean of Hafenmaier College, explained that all of the featured speakers and performers are intended to inspire students and hear about the careers of several creative writers.

“We bring terrific, engaging writers to campus to speak about their work and their careers. It is an excellent opportunity for students to get to hear from wellknown authors who make literature come alive and speak to us in

Contributed photo

Marie Benedict (left) and Patricia Jabbeh Wesley (right) will both present at the Literary Festival in April.

the here and now,” said Roessner.

“The folk music performance is also fun for faculty, staff and students to take the stage and make music together at a fairly informal event.”

The fourth and final event will be the official unveiling of the Lumen, Mercyhurst’s student-produced creative arts magazine. Students of English and Arts design the entire layout of the magazine, from the cover, to the pages-both the artwork and creative writing pieces inside-as well as music and dance performances which are available on the website.

This year’s editors-in-chief Emma Coppolo and Ash Carr, and designers Megan Perusek and Sydney Dietz, have been working hard all semester to put together the publication which will be revealed on April 28 at 7:30 p.m. in the Taylor Little Theater.

In addition to the official unveiling, various awards will be given out, including the P. Barry McAndrew writing awards for the year’s three best pieces of creative writing and the best critical literature essay by students. After the unveiling and awards, students will be invited to read their works aloud during an open mic session.

“We recognize the inspiring achievements of a new generation of writers, designers and artists. It is a nice reminder of how talented our students are,” Roessner said.

The events are free of charge for all students, and all are encouraged to attend. Attending is a fantastic way to get to appreciate some of the creative works put out by fellow students and show support, as well as learn more about the careers of successful authors.

For more information about any of the events in the Literary Festival, reach out to Roessner or Greg Brown, Ph.D. for more details.

The Triangle Shirtwaist Company tragedy is known as one of the darkest moments in American industrial history and brought about many laws and regulations that helped to protect factory workers.

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 15 Years Ago According to Billboards Charts: 1. “Glamorous:” Fergie featuring Ludacris 2. “This Is Why I’m Hot:” Mims 3. “Don’t Know:” Akon Top Artists Today Male: Lil Durk Female: Doja Cat Top Artists 7 Years Ago Male: Luke Bryan Female: Taylor Swift Top 3 Podcasts This Week According to Spotify: 1. “The Joe Rogan Experience” 2. “Full Send” 3. “Rituals” Top Grossing Films: This week: “The Batman” Fifteen Years Ago: “300” Top 3 TV Shows on Netflix This Week: 1. “Is It Cake?”

2. “Inventing Anna” 3. “Good Girls” Top 3 TV Shows 8 Years Ago 1. “Fargo” 2. “Mad Man” 3. “True Detective” In the News: 1. “Satellite data shows entire Conger ice shelf has collapsed in Antarctica” 2. “Thousands of Ukrainian women choose to fight for their nation” 3. “Biden budget seeks minimum tax on households”

PAGE 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

‘Hamilton’ star comes to Hurst

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

On Saturday, March 26, Leslie Odom Jr. performed in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

The concert was sold out soon after tickets went on sale as many were excited to see the Broadway star perform.

The crowd lost it as soon as he first came out on stage and he and his band just jumped right into the first song.

Odom has had quite the career from starring in TV shows, movies and even on Broadway.

Most people know him from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton,” where he played Aaron Burr in the original New York cast.

He was also in “Law & Order: SVU” and his latest film, “One Night in Miami” in which played Sam Cooke, who is known as the inventor of soul music.

During a break in the concert, Odom explained that he was initially hesitant to play Cooke and felt that there were other people who were much more qualified than he, but he was eventually persuaded into playing the role.

He even recorded some of the songs that were used in the

movie, and, most notably, the last song “Speak Now” was an Odom original.

Odom received an Academy Award nomination for the original song and his performance in the movie.

Odom performed a variety of songs throughout the night. A few were some of his original songs, some were covers of older songs and some were songs from “Hamilton” that he sang as Aaron Burr.

He explained that the older songs that he performed are ones he discovered while watching some older films in preparation for his acting roles.

Although it was a dream come true to see him perform the “Hamilton” songs in person, there was one other song that he performed that really stuck out to me.

Odom began singing “L-OV-E” and after the first verse he continued singing it in a variety of different languages. It was really cool to see him step out of his comfort zone and sing in different languages.

Odom performed his original song “Foggy,” which he introduced as one of the most personal songs to him that he has ever written.

Another aspect of the concert that I really liked was that every

member of his band had a featured part in at least one song.

It was nice to see the amazing talents of the band members highlighted throughout, most notably the musicians on piano and the drums.

Odom’s main point of the night that he kept repeating was that artists spend their whole lives trying to give back to the place where they found their passion for art.

He talked about the first time he saw “Hamilton Mixtape” in a tiny theater before it was on Broadway. Odom recounted roadbloacks in his attendance, seeing as the showing was completely sold out. However, his friend who was an usher at the theatre was able to sneak him in. He knew from the very first time he saw the show that it was going to be a hit.

Odom even told the audience he thought whoever ends up singing “Wait for It” eight times a week was going to be a lucky guy, and that guy ended up being him.

I am an avid “Hamilton” fan, so I was ecstatic when I heard the beginning of “Wait for It.” The audience’s relentless applause at the end of the concert eventually led to two encores from Odom as he joked about how we should be watching the

MIAC photo

Leslie Odom Jr. performed to a sold-out crowed in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center last Saturday.

“SVU” marathon instead of staying at his concert so long.

This concert was originally supposed to be held in December as part of Odom’s “The Christmas Tour,” but COVID-19 canceled that performance. Thankfully, it was rescheduled for the spring.

Overall, Odom performance was incredible.

From his vocal performance to his uplifting message to his bright yellow suit, the night was one to remember. I would certainly recommend that anyone who get the chance to see him perform live take the opportunity.

Hurst Hot Take: ‘Hot Ones’

By Emma Coppolo A&E editor

One of my absolute favorite things in this world is spicy food.

I have a hot sauce collection that could rival any restaurant, and I love challenging my palate to see how much heat I can take.

I also love unconventional celebrity interviews, which is why “Hot Ones” is my favorite show.

Hosted by Sean Evans, “Hot Ones” is an interview show where celebrities are challenged to eat ten wings while answering questions.

The wings gradually increase on the Scoville scale, the unit used to measure how spicy something is.

Each wing has a different intended effect, so the palate continues to get more and more sensitive.

Some celebrities remain cool throughout the interview while others chug milk and pace.

The best part of the show is undeniably Sean Evans’ hosting skills. Somehow, he manages to have good chemistry with every guest he interviews.

His interviews are unlike any other due to how in-depth his research is. Evans is famous for having incredibly well-crafted questions that often refer to extremely obscure parts of interviewees’ lives.

There are countless compilations on YouTube of celebrities being shocked by Evans’ quality of questions.

At this point, Evans is a pro and rarely reacts to the wings. However, some episodes get the better of him and he struggles just as much as his guests.

One of my favorite recent episodes has to be Lorde’s.

The Kiwi singer approached the interview with the same calm demeanor that she is known for.

She shockingly remains unphased throughout the interview.

She even says things like, “delicious wing” and “delicious lunch.”

She carefully examines the ingredients of the sauces and really enjoys them.

As she savors the most infamous sauce, Evans looks at the camera with bewilderment.

Many fans have made videos comparing her reactions to some of the most severe ones, such as Gordon Ramsay and Shaquille O’Neal.

This is a great episode for the pure shock Evans experiences.

On the complete opposite side, Machine Gun Kelly’s first appearance as one of “Hot Ones’” earliest guests is a classic.

MGK and Evans both have a difficult time handling the heat.

MGK walks away from the ta-

Contributed Photo

The Season 17 hot sauce line up for “Hot Ones”.

ble as Evans wipes tears from his eyes.

This is one of the most famous episodes of the show, and MGK is one of the only celebrities to appear on the show on more than one occasion.

“Hot Ones” is an incredibly unique interview style, and First We Feast has marketed it extremely well.

The range of celebrities that appear on the show is absolutely unreal.

Seeing such famous idols cry over wings and struggle to answer questions in the process is absolutely priceless.

I think “Hot Ones” is one of

the funniest things that I have ever watched, and every episode has me laughing.

Back to my collection of hot sauces, I was fortunate enough to visit the shop in Brooklyn, called Heatonist, that produces the sauces for “Hot Ones” and ran into a First We Feast employee picking up sauces for the new season.

It was a weirdly surreal experience.

The sauces that I got from Heatonist were so good; I even got one of the First We Feast sauces made specifically for “Hot Ones.”

It is fantastic, and I 100% recommend it if hot sauce is your thing.

“Hot Ones” will have you daring yourself to test your heat tolerance, which is always a fun idea.

If you are especially interested in testing yourself, many fans purchase the sauces and complete the challenge on their own.

Regardless of if you like spicy food or not, the “Hot Ones” community is just good fun.

It is available on Hulu or YouTube, so make sure to check out new episodes like Euphoria’s Jacob Elordi and Spiderman’s Tom Holland.

As Evans says, “stay spicy!”

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11

Choreography II students present a ‘Kaleidoscope’ of original works

By Ashley Barletta

News editor

The Choreography II students are currently preparing for their showcase, which is to happen on Saturday, April 2, at 7 p.m. The show is entitled “Kaleidoscope.”

For the showcase, the students each choreographed an inspired piece to present.

“I wanted to do something fun and interesting. Blame it on my just being a tired college student, but I didn’t feel like tackling a big concept so I wanted to see how well I could convey a simpler idea through dance. This led me to decide on the movement and ‘character traits’ of ants,” said sophomore double major in Dance and Integrated Media and Strategic Communication Madeleine Plourde.

Plourde’s piece is titled “Consider the Ants” and the dancers will be dancing in pointe shoes.

She says that the piece includes “many crawling, shuffling movements, like an ant,” and a focus on lines, shapes and formations created by the people in her cast to convey the idea of strength and teamwork.

“It has been fun to see how such a simple idea, like an insect, can inspire such distinct movements and choreography for dancers,” Plourde said.

For Plourde, choreographing the dance and putting all of the pieces together was a challenge.

“It can be hard to not only decide on a concept, but actually translate that idea from my brain into my body,” Plourde said. “I have a vision of what the dance should look like in my head, but turning it into real movements and then having to communicate those ideas to other dancers can be a challenge.”

Plourde sees choreography as a mix of both creativity and trained knowledge. Applying those skills to teach others her choreography for this piece was both fun and a challenge.

Plourde estimates that while the technicality of planning out rhythms, music, and moves, took about a month, her entire creative process from brainstorming to teaching the choreography happened over the entire 10-week semester.

Another Choreography II student, sophomore Dance major and Social Justice minor Mara Isaacson, shared her experience.

“My piece is inspired by Our Lady of Fatima. I chose to do a bit of research on the apparitions and used that research to inspire the structure of my piece, as well as the movement,” Isaacson said.

Promotional flyer for the Kaleidoscope performance this April.

Isaacson also experienced some difficulties in choreographing her piece.

“Most of my difficulty was experienced in my decision making. I become very indecisive when I have to create a new piece,” Isaacson said.

On the other hand, Isaacson attributes the ease of the process to the four dancers featured in her piece.

“They have been wonderful to work with and made the process of teaching the piece super easy,” Isaacson said. “We also asked the composers of our chosen music for the rights to use their music, and my chosen composer was generous enough to let me use her music.”

The pieces are short, but each choreographer takes time to craft the dance. It also takes a while for the dancers to learn to perfect the choreographer’s vision.

“My piece is just shy of 5 minutes, and my dancers learned all of the choreography in a span of 4 rehearsals that were each an

hour and a half long. This process went faster than I had anticipated, so that was a pleasant surprise,” Isaacson said.

Katelyn Turner-Leftwich, a sophomore double major in Dance and Pre-Allied Health Sciences, focused her piece on the metaphor of “going down a rabbit hole.”

“It is about how we get lost in the knowledge and information that surrounds us daily,” Turner-Leftwich said.

She, too, had a few bumps in the road with staying on schedule and making sure she was able to convey what she wanted her dancers to do.

“It took me about 2 months to choreograph everything and give it to my dancers. However, during this process, I already had ideas about what I was going to choreograph for the end,” said Turner-Leftwich.

The Choreography II instructor, Jennifer McNamara, is very excited for her students to present their work.

However, there are some

Contributed Photo

hoops to jump through to make sure that the show can run smoothly.

“The choreographic showcases hosted by the Dance department actually have to be envisioned in a practical sense more than a year in advance,” McNamara said. “With so many performing arts programs on campus and such a rich intellectual life with lectures and other events, we all get together to request and book spaces for events 1-2 years out,” McNamara said.

She is well aware of the limited amount of time the students have to put their pieces together, but she is confident in her students’ abilities.

“One thing I like to do is challenge the students by giving them certain parameters within which to work, whether that’s an overall theme for the concert or assigning a group of dancers to choreograph for or suggesting music, as I did this time,” McNamara said.

She felt especially inspired by

the works of women for her students pieces.

“For this particular performance, I started looking for a theme during the fall semester and over winter break, I decided to strongly suggest that the students use music composed by women,” McNamara said.

“I found several lists with contemporary female composers and provided that as a jumping off place.”

McNamara is always trying to push her students to do something new but also something that is true to them.

“I hope that it opens new ideas about who they are as dance-makers and what they are capable of creating,” McNamara said.

As stated, this showcase does not happen overnight. The students spend weeks with their pieces from planning and brainstorming to placing movements and costumes.

“The students begin the process on the first day of the semester, when they learn about this assignment,” McNamara said. “This particular project has to be a researched work, in that they have to show some external evidence of inspiration–whether that’s a painting or a book or the idea of curiosity–they have to provide some sources outside their own imagination, that feed their vision throughout the process.”

She hopes that the process of choreographing the pieces gives her students a new perspective as dancers.

“Experiencing that on the other side, not as a dancer but as a dance-maker, is such a powerful, almost sacred moment, the fulfillment of the many, many hours of deep, hard work they’ve put into bringing forth their ideas in such a personal and yet intensely public way,” McNamara said. “Getting to watch that happen is incredibly special.”

McNamara always looks forward to seeing her students experience their own hard work on stage.

“I am most excited about watching the choreographers see their work realized on the stage–there’s something magical that happens in the space and time between the last rehearsal in the studio and the moment the dancers enter the stage for the performance,” McNamara said.

‘Kaleidoscope’ will be held in the Walker Recital Hall in the Audrey Hirt Academic Center and is free for everyone to attend. Be sure to come support the dancers and choreographers in the Mercyhurst Dance Department.

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD Advising Day was this week!

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

March Madness is always entertaining hadn’t made the cut. Back in 2020, Maryland was slated Staff Writer to be a 3 seed and had won the B1G championship; however, that was the year the COVID-19 decided Oh, it’s madness, alright. to make its debut and March Madness, that is. thus, March Madness March Madness is easily was canceled. However, the biggest sporting event Maryland made it all the that’s watched after the way to the Sweet 16 before Super Bowl. Whether you being eliminated in this pay attention to college year’s women’s tournament, basketball or not, everyone so I’m happy for that. is eager to make their Of course, no March brackets and see how far Madness would truly they can go during this complete without the exciting and tumultuous upsets. Among this year’s time. upsets include 12 seed I’m a sports nut. It’s Richmond taking out 5 undeniable. As the only seed Iowa, 11 seed Iowa girl out of three brothers, State eliminating 6 seed it shocks everyone that I’m LSU and of course, 15 seed the only child that watches Saint Peter’s upsetting 2 seed and pays attention to Kentucky. sports. I’m a die-hard fan Saint Peter’s has been of the Orioles, Capitals, this year’s unforgettable and Commanders (still the Cinderella story. After Redskins to me), but I also Kentucky, the Peacocks love the Wizards and Spurs. went on to defeat 7 seed As for any college sports, the Murray State, becoming the D1 school that has my heart 3rd ever 15 seed to make it is Maryland. to the Sweet 16. To add to I was very sad when the shock, they continued Selection Sunday rolled their winning streak by around and Maryland taking down 3 seed Purdue,

By Bella Lee

BAD Final exams are quickly approaching.

EXCITING Commencement is 46 days away!

The Merciad 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.

making Saint Peter’s the first ever 15 seed to make it to the Elite 8. UMBC, the last major Cinderella team, having shocked the world back in 2018 when the 16 seed Retrievers demolished the 1 seed Virginia, were among the many schools congratulating Saint Peter’s on their astonishing road to victory.

We’re now at the time where the Elite 8 games will happen. The first round of games saw Villanova and Duke emerge victorious over Houston and Arkansas, respectively. The second round is Miami vs. Kansas and Saint Peter’s vs. North Carolina. This will be followed by the Final Four games on April 2 and the championship game on April 4.

March Madness is an extremely exciting time. The games are always thrilling, especially as we watch these kids that could possibly make their way to the NBA after their college time. I love March Madness, if that isn’t obvious. I already can’t wait for next year!

I’m happy to see the MLB again

battling in the batter’s box against a talented pitcher, Opinion Editor but being able to go to the stadium and watch some of the best players in the world do their work comes pretty close. The atmosphere also just is full of good vibes, I am very excited to see that Major League Baseball is since its usually summer.

When I am able to go, I back after a 99-day lockout. usually go with my family, The lockout between MLB there’s good music and food, team owners and the MLB warm weather, and there’s players association occurred always the opportunity to after the expiration of the root for your favorite team.

2016 collective bargaining Out of all the stadiums I’ve agreement. Spring training been to, my favorite one is was slightly delayed, along PNC Park in Pittsburgh. with Opening Day, but I’m not from Pittsburgh, a 162-game season was but I love the city and the salvaged. stadium has an amazing I do not follow MLB as view no matter where you’re closely as I used to because sitting with the view of the of classes and such but it still brings me joy whenever Pittsburgh skyline.

Personally, my favorite I do have the opportunity team is the New York to watch it. As someone Yankees and despite some who has played baseball for mishaps in the past few years, most of my life, I love the I’m hoping that they will be sport and watching it is no able to get it together this different. There is nothing quite like being on the field, year. There are also a lot of

By Zach Dumais

very good teams this year between the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays to name a few, so it will certainly be a difficult road.

The defending World Series champs, the Atlanta Braves, likely will have a difficult time making it back, but it certainly is not impossible.

I hope that I will be able to follow this season closer than ones in years past because it is shaping up to be a very interesting and competitive season. For example, the LA Dodgers won in 2020 and were extremely close to making it back again last year.

It is a shame that the closest MLB team is a couple of hours away but at least there are a few within Erie’s general radius such as the Toronto Blue Jays, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Guardians.

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

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

OPINION

PAGE 13

The Merciad must make change

By Ashley Barletta News Editor

I think a lot of us saw this coming. As someone who has been with The Merciad since freshman year, I have noticed some things that I would like to politely point out for reevaluation.

First, having weekly issues. This is simply unnecessary. We are supposed to be reaching a good portion of Mercyhurst students, but most of them don’t even know what The Merciad is. It seems like we are reporting the same things every week because there aren’t actually enough events at Mercyhurst for a weekly issue.

Second, having a certain number of articles to fill. I also see this as unnecessary. Once again, there isn’t a whole heap of things happening at Mercyhurst that are available for us to report on.

There is nothing wrong with not having that many events, but I’ve seen editors who start reporting on general Erie community news/events and even world news/events, which is fine, but you know they only do it to fill the 16 pages in the newspaper every week. Don’t get me wrong, the things that happen outside of Mercyhurst are important for us to know, but it certainly doesn’t get much interest from writers or readers of The Merciad.

Not to mention, the Merciad always reports on the same things, this is hardly anything exciting or gossip-worthy and if there is, it is always simplified and the flavor is taken away. People want to know the juicy details when things happen on campus, and you would think the newspaper would have the answers alas, they never do.

It would be much more effective to report on things as needed.

Nobody would have to worry about having enough articles prepared, and it might get more students interested in writing for The Merciad, since getting paid $10 per article doesn’t seem to be getting people to sign up.

Third, putting so much pressure on editors. I see this every week.

Lately, many of the writers have not been getting their articles in on time, including writers who are experienced in the way The Merciad operates. This puts way too much pressure on editors who already have enough on their plate to then chase down the writer who didn’t turn their article in, OR they end up writing the article themselves. I have talked to all of the editors at The Merciad; every last one of them is beyond frustrated by this.

There is an endless cycle of Merciad from week to week that each person who does work for the newspaper must keep at the back of their mind. I know the writers and editors want and deserve to be acknowledged for their hard work.

So yeah, I’m sure the editors are tired of bending over backwards, mostly because of the scholarship they receive from the university for taking on the daunting task of being an editor. That is something that the school seems to keep hush hush about, and what for? “Oh no we have too many people interested in this position of ‘editor,’ what will we do?” The same thing you always do: hire the best person for each position and hope they actually stick with it for the entire time they’re at Mercyhurst. Again, I’m friends with all of the editors, and they are exhausted.

Fourth, not enforcing the rules to writers. Again, there have been issues with writers not turning articles in, and there are so few writers who

HURST STUDENTS

SPEAK UP

even take articles in the first place that it’s really hard to fill a whole 16 pages worth of content every week. In fact, I’m making sure to make this article extra long not only because I am passionate about seeing improvements to the school’s beloved newspaper, but also because I want to help out the Opinion editor to fill space in his section.

While I understand that it’s kind of hard to put your foot down on 18+ year-old college kids who aren’t doing what they’re supposed to be doing, The Merciad also can’t afford to continue operating in the manner in which they are currently operating.

Obviously, the writers have just as much going on in their lives as the editors, but what is asked of them is not that difficult.

Very simple. Not rocket science.

Yet, somehow, people still don’t do what is asked of them.

I feel I have given a lot to the newspaper on campus and would really like to see it improve. I say all of these deconstructive things because I care about The Merciad.

But, I’ve got to say, I care way more about the people who work endlessly to make The Merciad happen each week than the paper itself, and the people are all burned out. Every week becomes more difficult for the reasons I have stated above, and I don’t see anything getting better unless there is reform. I believe I have stated my case clearly and have made suggestions for improvement fair and evident.

At the end of the day, I hope this article can help instead of hurt The Merciad because it truly is a Mercyhurst tradition that I, and I’m sure many others, would like to see continue on into the future. It would be a shame to loose it forever.

With that being said, I hope my remarks are taken seriously.

We asked: What did you do for St. Patrick’s Day? Hailey Steidle sophomore Intelligence Studies major: “I hung out with some friends at the pavilion.”

Sydney Tokasz, sophomore Risk Management major: “I hung out with my friends.”

Maiya Harding, sophomore General Studies major: “I got the Arby’s mint shake and went on a sunset walk.”

Lilly English, sophomore Criminal Justice major: “I ate some wonderful St. Patrick’s Day food at the Grotto.”

Compiled by Mackenzie Zent

T.V. dramas can be extremely damaging most devasting and traumatizing of her life. The actual events were difficult enough for her to go the book was, and reading the A&E Editor through, and now she is forced to stories as told from the band’s relive it all without being given point of view was such a surreal experience. A movie adaptation, the opportunity to empower In the past few years, tellherself and reclaim her narrative. simply entitled “The Dirt,” was all biographical shows and I think that today’s celebrities released by Netflix in 2019. My movies have exposed the most friends and I absolutely love this are more exposed to public difficult and triumphant times scrutiny than ever before; their movie, and we watch it every in celebrities’ lives. While fans privacy has fizzled to nearly time we hang out. However, have loved these in-depth “The Dirt” specifically consulted nonexistent in a world that examinations of pop culture Motley Crue members to ensure demands constant access. While moments, the reception by the that the movie was as accurate as these shows and movies are people being portrayed has been possible, even in the darker parts. certainly entertaining, they mixed. I personally think that the definitely come at a cost for those This attention to detail and margin of error in creating these care was not taken in Hulu’s portrayals is incredibly small, but Pam and Tommy. Audiences the best way to avoid hurting and critics alike have praised celebrities in the process is by the show. However, Pamela including and consulting them Anderson herself has been after receiving permission. incredibly outspoken about Motley Crue was one of the her disdain for the show. first experiences I had with According to Anderson, she this sort of situation. In 2001, was not consulted at all in the the band published “The Dirt: series’ creation. While this may Confessions of the World’s not seem incredibly serious, Most Notorious Rock Band.”

Anderson explains that the events I read this book in early 2019, being depicted are some of the and I absolutely loved it. I

By Emma Coppolo couldn’t believe how revealing

portrayed and those around them. Even in Motley Crue’s case, there are undeniably people who were hurt by the movie.

Even if the band was happy with it, it would be naïve to believe that there were no negative impacts. Pamela Anderson’s story is a clear indicator for why these portrayals are dangerous.

Profiting off of other people’s trauma has become extremely normalized in today’s media, and the public absolutely endorses it.

I’m choosing not to watch Pam and Tommy because of

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the damage I believe stories like it cause. I don’t think that it’s wrong for others to watch it, but I think that it’s important that they understand the wider context and take the reality of it all into account. If movies and shows are going to be depicting such graphic and traumatizing storylines, I think that it all needs to be approached with an air of delicacy. Hopefully, in the future, Hollywood will finally understand empathy and respect.

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

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SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

Men’s lacrosse team continues to succeed

By Sydney Dietz Sports editor

The Mercyhurst men’s lacrosse team got their fourth win in a row this past weekend in a game played against the Chestnut Hill College Griffins. The game was at noon and was played in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The men’s lacrosse team has played eight games so far this season and they have won five out of the eight games.

“I have been happy with the effort the team has put forward this year so far,” said Men’s Lacrosse Coach Christopher Ryan. “We lost two games early but the guys played hard. The games of late have been decidedly in our favor but I believe the team has played well in those games and handled business as they should have.”

The away game victory ended with a score of 17-9 in favor of the Lakers. The game started with six different Lakers scoring in the first 15 minutes of the first quarter, which led to a 7-1 lead for the Lakers.

The first Laker to score in the game was junior David Fiorini, who scored just eight seconds into the game.

Junior Bryce Johnson and sophomore Ethan Landymore scored

soon after Fiorini earned the first point of the night.

Chestnut Hill scored at the 8:55 mark of the first quarter. However they did not let that goal stop them, both senior Nicholas Made and sophomore Collin Schmatz scored to finish the quarter.

The Griffins managed to score first in the second quarter, but soon after, the Lakers went on a four point streak that lasted throughout the rest of the quarter.

Landymore scored two of the four goals resulting in his third goal of the night. Junior Myles Hamm racked up the other two goals for Mercyhurst. Going into halftime, the score was 11-2 with the Lakers in the lead.

In the third quarter, both teams scored three goals. The three goals were scored by Landymore, Hamm and Johnson. At the end of the third quarter the game score was 14-5.

In the fourth and final quarter, Landymore, Hamm and Johnson all scored again.

“It feels really good to score goals, but it isn’t just about scoring. Although I am very thankful for the four goals we scored, we played as a team, and that is what feels the best,” Landymore said. “I’m more thankful for the guys on the team who assisted my

goals. It was a team effort.”

Although the Lakers scored three more goals in the last quarter, they were out-shot by the Griffins.

“Credit to Chestnut Hill they gave us problems in some areas of the game and we were exposed a bit,” Ryan said. “Not sure our response was the best. We need to be tougher between our ears if we want to knock off one of the best teams in the nation Saturday at Mercy.”

Despite the four goals scored in favor of Chestnut Hill, the Lakers still brought home the win with a final score of 17-9.

“It is always great to win and we will never apologize for being successful but I would have liked,” Ryan said. “I am sure the guys would agree, to get a more complete effort on Saturday against Chestnut Hill.”

Junior goalie Brett Olney received his fifth win of the season.

Olney stopped 11 of Griffin’s 20 shots that were taken against the Lakers.

Junior Stephen Katz led the Lakers with three caused turnovers and junior Shawn Doran got 18 of 24 faceoff chances to go along with 12 ground balls.

“We have a few things that we need to clean up and perfect

Hurst Athletics photo

Senior Nicholas Mabe runs with the ball in a game against Chestnut Hill College on Saturday March 26..

throughout this week, but when it comes game time we will be ready for anything that is thrown our way. Mercy will be one of our toughest opponents,” Landymore said when asked if the team feels ready to compete against Mercy College.”

The Mercyhurst men’s lacrosse team will be facing Mercy Col-

lege in Dobbs Ferry, New York at noon on Saturday, April 2.

“We need to come mentally ready to play against this high-level opponent. As a team, it is important to continue to grow and get better, rather than becoming complacent,” Landymore said.

“We hope to come out of next weekend 6 and 2.”

Softball splits Gannon double header

By Zach Dumais Opinion editor

The Mercyhurst softball team has done incredibly well this season, coming to a 15-6 overall record.

The MU softball team traveled down state street on March 24, to take on the rival Gannon Golden Knights in a two-game series.

The first game was slated to start at 4 p.m. and the second was supposed to start at 6 p.m.

The first game began with a hot start for the Lakers, with junior Allison Dejidas hitting a tworun home run that brought in Cheynne Hindman. Dejidas’ hit gave MU a 2-1 lead in the second inning, but unfortunately the lead did not last very long.

The Golden Knights took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the third inning and later made it a 4-2 lead in the fourth inning.

Unfortunately, the Lakers were not able to claw their way back because the game ended with a final score of 4-2 in favor of the Golden Knights.

Mikaela Schramski started the game on the mound for the Lakers and did well, going 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on six hits.

Kaitlin Hoffner came in for relief and dominated by throwing 2.1 shutout innings. She took care of business by striking out one batter and causing six groundouts.

Hurst Athletics photo

The Mercyhurst softball team enjoys the atmosphere at the double header against Gannon University.

Schramski was unfortunately given the loss in her start which brought her to 8-3 on the season.

In game one, Cheynne Hindman, Dejidas, Marisa Cartellone and Sarah Koscho all went 1-3 in the box.

Hindman and Dejidas both

scored runs while Dejidas had two RBIs. The second game went much better for the Lakers, and they started out hot.

In the second inning, Hannah O’Geen hit a sacrifice fly to left field in the second inning that

brought in Hannah Rozanski.

The Lakers scored even more in the second inning when Marisa Cartellone hit a single up the middle that brought in Hindman.

The game ended in a 2-1 victory for the Lakers.

Morgan Hilty had a brilliant start on her ninth of the season.

She went all seven innings, allowing only a single run on five hits with two walks.

She also struck out four batters while forcing 11 ground balls outs. Hilty’s win brought her to a 6-3 total on the season. Kacie Irwin went 2-3 in the second game while Cartellone and Rozanski both went 1-3.

Rozanski scored a run while Cartellone had an RBI. The fielding went well for the Lakers with there only being one error between both games.

“Splitting a game series with Gannon is a big win, they are a great team and every time we play you can count on it being a tight game,” Dejidas said of the two games. “Bouncing back after losing a close game one just shows what type of team we are. We are looking good as a team right now and I’m excited for what the season has in store for us.”

The Laker softball team’s next games are a doubleheader against Slippery Rock on Saturday, April 2.

LET’S GO, LAKERS!

April. 1, California, PA TBA: Men’s tennis vs West Virginia Wesleyaan College April. 2, Erie, PA @ 10 a.m.: Women’s Water Polo vs Penn State Behrend April. 2, Dobbs Ferry, NY @ noon: Men’s Lacrosse vs Mercy College

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

SPORTS

PAGE 15

Former Erie Otters reunite in the NHL

By Bella Lee, Sydney Dietz Staff writer, Sports editor

Erie is known for a variety of things, from being the only coastal city in the entire state to the copious amounts of fish and frog statues scattered throughout the city.

However, one other notable piece of Erie is the sports. Along with the Erie Otters, part of the Ontario Hockey League, or OHL, Erie is home to a minor league baseball and hockey team, as well as the former home of a minor league basketball team (Erie BayHawks).

Ever since the Otters moved to Erie in 1996, there’s been a grand total of 48 Otters alumni that have made their way to the NHL. Perhaps none of them are more notable, however, than Connor McDavid.

A member of the Edmonton Oilers, McDavid is so far the only Otter alum to have been selected first overall, being selected in 2015 by the Oilers.

Just a year later, McDavid would become captain of the Oilers at the grand old age of 19 years and 266 days, the youngest permanent NHL captain in history.

McDavid is easily the most successful Otter alum in the NHL, with four seasons where he scored

USA Today

Former Erie Otters Dylan Strome (left) and Alex DeBrincat (right) celebrate after scoring a goal with the Chicago Blackhawks.

more than 100 points and 97 points this season so far, he is easily heading for a fifth season with over 100.

McDavid is now joined by former Erie Otter Warren Foegele.

Foegele started his NHL career with the Carolina Hurricanes, but later got traded to the Oilers making him teammates with McDavid.

Another prominent Otter alum is Alex DeBrincat, selected by the Chicago Blackhawks as the 39th overall pick in the 2016 NHL draft.

He played for the Otters for three seasons, including his draft year, and has been playing with the Blackhawks for five seasons now.

He was named as an alternate

captain for the Blackhawks for the 2021-22 season, and he shows no signs of slowing down.

DeBrincat is not the only former Otter to play for the Blackhawks, he is also accompanied by 2015 first round draft pick and former Erie Otter captain Dylan Strome and now the newest Blackhawk member Taylor Raddysh.

Raddysh was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in 2016. However, he did not make his NHL debut until 2021.

He started his NHL career in Tampa Bay while playing alongside former Erie Otter defenseman Erik Cernak and center Anthony Cirelli.

Despite playing many games with the Tampa Bay Lightning and scoring his first NHL goal while on the team, he recently got traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.

Raddysh now is reunited with both DeBrincat and Strome. Ever since Raddysh made the move, the three players have been clicking and Raddysh has scored three goals as a Blackhawk.

There have even been a few Otters alumni that have gone on to become Stanley Cup Champions.

One of them, Andre Burakovsky, was selected by the Washington Capitals in the 2013 draft, the first round, 23rd overall pick.

Get to know the women’s basketball coach

By Libby Bullinger Copy editor

In April of 2019, Brooklyn Kohlheim joined Mercyhurst as the head coach of the women’s basketball team.

Coach Kohlheim has an extensive background in basketball, beginning with her childhood.

“I was born in Indiana, so playing basketball comes with the territory,” Kohlheim notes in a description of her history with the sport.

After her high school career, she went on to play at the collegiate level at Florida Southern College as a four-year starter and received several recognitions for her achievements on the team.

Prior to coming to Mercyhurst, Kohlheim had experience coaching at the high school level while also teaching U.S. History.

She has coached at other institutions including University of Indianapolis, Nova Southeastern University and Lake Erie College.

When asked about her journey to Mercyhurst, Kohlheim mentioned that she had never heard of the school until an administrator reached out and asked her to consider applying for a position in athletics.

Once she stepped foot on campus, Kohlheim felt that the women’s basketball program “was a sleeping giant and has a lot of the

Hurst Athletics photo

Mercyhurst Women’s Basketball Coach Brooklyn Kohlheim

pieces to build towards a championship program.”

Building on the theme of championship, Kohlheim also points out her eagerness to lead her team to victory.

Although the team has experienced some setbacks in their seasons, their coach reminds them that every bump in the road is a chance to learn and grow.

“Obviously our goal is to win and win the right way, but my hope is the team understands

some bigger aspects that come with the game like sacrifice, growth and opportunity. We want them to be good teammates now so they can be good teammates when they leave here.”

Kohlheim mentions that every stop along the way in her coaching career has brought her to meet great people and learn important lessons, which is something that continues through her time at Mercyhurst.

Although the coach has more

hopes and dreams for the future, she is happy to be where she is and to work with the women’s basketball team.

When asked about her favorite coaching memory over the past several seasons at Mercyhurst, Kohlheim mentioned winning a home game against Edinboro.

Kohlheim praises the people involved in the athletics program, pointing out that they are a fun group of people to be around that are constantly sharing and teaching her something new every day.

In her free time, Kohlheim is a big fan of the outdoors. She enjoys various outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking, golfing and attending live music concerts, but also describes her love for snowboarding in the winter season.

Kohlheim also is not afraid to take a trip to a nearby city such as Pittsburgh or Cleveland to get a change of scenery in her time off from coaching.

Kohlheim always knew she would eventually make a career out of coaching, remembering that all of her friends and family growing up knew she would go down this path.

She is optimistic about the future of the team and fostering strong, independent individuals on the women’s basketball team, both on and off the court.

He went on to win the Stanley Cup with the Capitals, the team’s first ever, in 2018. Burakovsky has been with the Colorado Avalanche since the 2019-20 season, but is as strong of a player as ever, recording 18 goals and 28 assists for a total of 46 points as of this writing.

Along with Burakovsky, Cernak and Cirelli have also been Stanley Cup champions. However, they were lucky enough to get their name on the cup twice due to the Tampa Bay Lightning’s back to back Stanley Cup championship.

Raddysh also won a Stanley Cup Championship in 2021 while he was playing for the Lightning.

The Erie Otters themselves are impressive in their own right. As one of only three American teams in the OHL, they have been proving themselves lately.

They have been Midwest Division Champions seven times, first place in the regular season three times, Western Conference Champions three times and OHL Champions twice, in the 2001-02 and 2016-17 seasons.

Mercyhurst students have the opportunity to attend Otters games for a discounted price of $10 on Friday nights if a student ID is shown at the Erie Insurance Arena- so don’t let this opportunity go to waste. Go Otters!

HURST RESULTS March 25: Men’s Tennis vs Shepherd University: 7-0, Lakers March 26: Women’s lacrosse vs Lock Haven University: 16-9, Lakers

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Avoid having someone else take credit for the project you started by finishing it yourself. Then it will be you lovely Lambs who will be wearing those well-deserved laurels.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) The facts about a new opportunity are still emerging. Wait until they’re all out in the open, and then use your keen business sense to help make the right decision.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) You might feel confused, even hurt by a friend who suddenly puts distance between you. If she or he won’t discuss it, don’t push it. An explanation should come in time.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Your willingness to be part of the team opens doors that had been shut to you. Keep them open by keeping your promises even when your commitment seems to be wavering.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Congratulations. You’re really getting things done to purr-fection. And don’t forget to take a catnap now and again to keep those energy levels up and bristling for action.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your “plain-talking” honesty is admirable. But sometimes sharp words can leave painful scars. Be careful that what you say doesn’t come back to hurt you.

Wednesday, March 30, 2022

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) A stress-filled period takes a positive turn as you deal with the underlying problem. Act now to avoid a recurrence by changing some basic rules in your relationship.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your rising energy levels make it easier for you to achieve some important objectives. This could lead to a big boost in how you’re perceived, both at home and on the job.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) A changing picture begins to emerge as you learn more about an offer that seemed so right but could be so wrong. Look to a trusted adviser for guidance.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) Spiritual aspects are strong. Take time to reflect on the path you’re on and where you hope it will lead you. It’s also a good time to reach out to loved ones.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You could be assuming far too many responsibilities, whether it’s at work or in personal matters. Be careful that you’re not weighed down by them.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You’re getting closer to your goals.

And since nothing succeeds like success (or the promise thereof), don’t be surprised to find new supporters swimming alongside you.

BORN THIS WEEK: You are always the first to try new ventures and confront new challenges. You inspire others with your courage to follow your bold example. © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

HURST TOON

Student-drawn cartoon by the Martian