The Merciad, March 5, 2014

THE Merciad

EST. 1929 VOL. 87 NO. 15

MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2014

Smoothie sailing

’Hurst adds new station to Laker Inn

Salina Bowe photo

Sami Rapp photo

Sami Rapp photo

Read more on page 2

Psychology department studies effects of nicotine

By Ryan Kushner Staff writer

Researchers from the Mercyhurst Psychology Department have taken on the challenge of understanding one of the biggest killers on Earth – tobacco.

According to the World Health Organization, tobacco kills an estimated 6 million people each year, making it “one of the biggest public health threats the world has ever faced,” as well as one of the most preventable.

Mercyhurst’s Professor of Psychology Matthew Weaver,

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

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Ph.D., and senior psychology major Jessica Braymiller have been working on a study that, according to Weaver, attempts “to understand how people respond to stimuli related to drugs.” The drug in this instance is nicotine.

Braymiller started the experiment in the spring of 2013. She began it as a research project required of all junior psychology majors and has continued this year as a senior research practicum and research assistant to Weaver.

The flyer posted around the Mercyhurst campus calls for participants who are heavy

smokers, advertising that “You can earn an Amazon Gift Card…Just by Smoking a Cigarette!”

The essence of the experiment is to test how smokers respond in various situations.

For example, if a student smoker is walking by an area he or she commonly associates with smoking, the experiment attempts to test whether he or she would have reacted differently if he or she had not passed that particular area.

“One of the great things about science, or one of the bad things about science, depending on where you

lean, is that it leads to more questions,” Weaver said.

Weaver, who was honored with the B.F. Skinner Foundation’s Early Career Research Award last year, said that he has enjoyed working with students his past year and a half at Mercyhurst.

“This is the population I am interested in. It is a time when we’re changing. To me, it is a moral obligation to find out how adolescents respond to drugs,” he said.

Still, like many psychological studies, there is a risk that participants will abuse the system. Regarding the possibility of students taking up

smoking just for the $15 gift card promised to smokers who participate in the study, Weaver said he “hope[s] they’re not that strapped for 15 bucks.”

“That’s a worry with anything,” Weaver said. “I would hope that someone would stay away from smoking.”

He added that there is a simple questionnaire that can tell whether a student is truly dependent on nicotine.

Braymiller said that she has run into this problem during the study.

“I have had someone who would say ‘I used to smoke, but I quit, so I came back,’”

Online Poll Results

How are you preparing for the upcoming midterm exams?

17% Thought about studying. . . but I got over it.

17% All I learned to do is reduce my expectations for life.

33% I spend all night in Hammermill Library.

33% What is this midterm you speak of ?

Braymiller said.“…That kind of skews the data a little bit.”

Asked if the study still permits a student who has relapsed on nicotine to continue with the experiment, Braymiller said “It depends on how far they are into the experiment. If they have done a lot of it, I have to pay them. I can’t get around that.”

“It is kind of the honor system,” she continued. “I would hope that people would not do that.” @TheMerciad

Read more inside & online

News: - Study looks to identify pitch injury indicators Features: - Flagship Niagara to set sail in summer Arts & Entertainment: - Color will run through Erie

Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: What do you think of the new State Street Smoothies at the Laker Inn?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

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March 5, 2014

The Merciad

Features Smoothie bar to open in Laker

By Amanda Moore Contributing writer

The Laker Inn will feature a brand new fruit smoothie bar opening March 17, according to Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG) representatives.

MSG developed the idea at the beginning of this academic school year to sponsor a place close to the gym where students would have access to healthy fruit smoothies. Each 16-ounce smoothie will cost $3.75.

MSG President Amber Penna has played a large role in the development of the smoothie bar. The smoothies will come in seven flavors ranging from classics like blueberry and strawberry to more exotic, tropical flavors.

“Student government does a project every year that they put a chunk of money towards. This year we looked at everything that would attract a student to our campus,” said Penna. “We looked at the food options on

campus and we came up with the smoothie bar because it’s different and we don’t have it now.”

After test run for the smoothie bar in late December, Dean Schoenfeldt, Dining Services General Manager, decided there was sufficient demand for a smoothie bar.

“It’s geared towards having a healthy option. We’re close to the athletic center so we feel those people in spin classes and other classes can finish their day here,” Schoenfeldt said.

During testing, Schoenfeldt analyzed what times of the day most students went to get smoothies in order to assess optimum operating hours.

The smoothie bar will be open 11:30 a.m to 2 p.m on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and 11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday.

Senior Minh Phi believes having the smoothie bar closed on the weekend will not hinder its business.

“Not many people eat here

on the weekends anyway. It wouldn’t be busy enough,” Phi said.

Some students are not satisfied with the healthiness of the product.

Senior Kellie Wendell frequents the gym and said she makes a smoothie every day for herself. She participated in the testing in November and thought there was syrup in the smoothie. “[The price] is a little high if they go and add the syrups. If they make it natural and since you can use dining dollars for them, I guess it would be fine,” Wendell said.

Porscha Imperial, a senior, feels the price should be based on the quality of the product. “I think the price is fair if they use real fruit,” Imperial said.

The smoothie bar is now in a soft opening. The hours are 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. @TheMerciad

Salina Bowe photo

MSG will be opening the smoothie bar in the Laker Inn on March 17.

Chris Magoc leads the history department

By Mary Barnes

Contributing writer

Contributed photo

Chris Magoc, Ph. D., is the chair of the history department at Mercyhurst University.

The faculty and staff are what shape the campus and the Mercyhurst experience to be what it is. Within each department, there is talent, experience, expertise, excitement and motivation brought to the table.

Chris Magoc, Ph. D., Mercyhurst’s history department chair, is full of life and excitement, both in the classroom and around the Erie community.

Having obtained his master’s at Pennsylvania State University in Harrisburg and his doctorate at the University of New Mexico, Magoc is a seasoned traveler and student.

He taught his first course at the University of New Mexico in 1991 before he moved to Erie and became a Mercyhurst faculty member in 1999. Since that time, Magoc has instilled his sense of eagerness to learn about our country’s history in Mercyhurst students and made quite a name for himself on campus, throughout the community, and in the

history literature world.

As the history department chair, Magoc is responsible for budgeting, scheduling, recruitment of new professors for the department and producing a newsletter.

These duties are only the beginning of his involvement on campus.

Besides having chair responsibilities, he never loses sight of his first love: teaching.

He teaches America Since 1945, U.S. Environmental History, America in the Nuclear Age and many courses in the public history program.

Whether or not his students are history majors, Magoc quickly draws the classroom in with his sheer love of the country’s history.

“The most satisfying moments come when students teach me something I did not know,” Magoc said.

His dedication to teaching Mercyhurst students and learning from them earned him the Teaching Excellence Award in 2012.

This award is given annually to a professor who dedicates his or her self to learning and bettering

students’ experiences, and Magoc definitely fits the bill.

He is also involved in community service in the Erie area and is eager to get his students involved.

Magoc is the co-founder and president of Preservation Erie, a historic organization that is currently taking inventory and restoring historic buildings in the Erie county proximity.

Magoc is also a five-time published author and is in the process of completing and publishing an 880,000word encyclopedia of American Imperialism and Expansionism.

Overall, Magoc is an asset to the history department.

His pure joy in American history and the parallels it has over time captivates his audiences and pulls them into the field.

To know more about Chris Magoc, Ph. D., please contact him at cmagoc@mercyhurst.edu or (814) 824-2075.

@TheMerciad

Flagship Niagara to set sail

By Nathan Turner Staff writer

Unless they are fans of history, it is unlikely that students outside of Erie know about the rich naval history attached to the city.

They may have heard about the Battle of Lake Erie from a high school history class, or vaguely remember the name of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, but these are just things from a book.

Down on the lake, at the Erie Maritime Museum, there is a much better example of history, which can be seen, touched and sailed upon - the US Brig Niagara.

The seaworthy re-creation of the Niagara is the heart of “Sail Trainee Program,” which was founded six years ago and brings together about 45 people, consisting of 15 to 20 professional crew members and 20 to 25 volunteers and trainees.

Each year, this make-shift crew operates the Niagara and sails it across the Great Lakes.

“What we do is operate the Niagara, a 19th-century sailing vessel, and that’s the educational experience,” said Joseph Lengieza, Director of Marine Operations, US Brig Niagara.

The trainees will come on to the vessel for 2 to 4 weeks at a time to sail with the crew all throughout the Great Lakes.

The point is to educate the students about what life onboard a 19th century naval vessel was like.

There are other programs the Niagara has done over the years.

“One of the programs that we’ve had a lot of traction with for the last four years is our college science consortium,” Lengieza said. “That’s a group of regional schools that are mostly biology majors…

They’ve just published a paper about microplastic pollution within the Great Lakes and much of that sampling was done onboard the Niagara.”

Other programs allow for volunteers to work throughout the year at the museum, and then sail aboard the Brig Niagara in the summer free of

charge.

History professor Alan Belovarac, Ph. D., has been a member of the crew.

Intelligence studies instructor Bill Welch was on the crew in the 1990s.

Mercyhurst senior Alethea Gaarden sailed aboard the Niagara for three weeks last summer and plans to sail again this summer.

“It was great,” said Gaarden.

“My experience was absolutely incredible.”

This is despite some of the long hours she worked as part of the crew.

When Gaarden was asked if she would recommend it to anyone, she said, “Absolutely.”

Experiences of Mercyhurst students, and the many others who have sailed aboard the Niagara, give testimony to the fact that if one is interested in 19th century naval life, or even just interested in an adventure, the chance to be part of the Niagara crew is not one to be wasted. @TheMerciad

By Sami Rapp

Sami Rapp photo

On Monday, Anthropology Club held a bake sale in Zurn lobby. This is the first time in a couple of years that any club has held a bake sale in any academic building due to university rules. The Anthropology Club, needing funds and realizing that a lot of money would not be made at the Student Union, went back to what they knew would work. Students and professors alike were overjoyed to grab a sweet as they rushed between long blocks of classes with no time to run to the Laker or to Egan. The bake sale celebration was short lived, though, because of the anti-bake sale rule. Administrators are now working to see if rules can be changed and the bake sales can continue. Jessica Higley (right) and Jonathan Stine (left), both seniors are shown above working the bake sale.

March 5, 2014

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The Merciad

Features AIM program helps improve student’s academic performance

By Emani Burton Contributing writer

Sophomore Jeff Krull received help from the AIM program.

Alison Ockasi photo

Some students choose a college based on academic preferences, athletic opportunities or social environment.

Jeff Krull chose to come to Erie because of the support of the Asperger Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM).

The AIM Program helps students with autism-spectrum disorders and learning disabilities transition to college life.

Krull, who has Asperger syndrome, credits the AIM program for helping him become a successful college student.

A sophomore graphic design major, Krull had been socially anxious, but through support from the AIM program, Krull joined the Theater Appreciation Club.

Director of Learning Differences Dianne Rogers and the rest of the AIM staff form a support group for

students that caters to each student’s need. Students are supported through intensive one-on-one academic counseling, guidance and other accommodations.

“The support system at Mercyhurst is really good,” Krull said.

He noted that Brad McGarry, coordinator of the AIM program, has helped him greatly.

“The school is smaller so the professors have time for their students,” said Krull.

“And the housing situation is good, too. We have an entire building in the Mercy Suites.”

The AIM program at Mercyhurst has been like family to Krull, he said. His work was recently featured in the Mercyhurst Juried Art Show.

Many AIM faculty and students attended the showcase in support despite social anxieties.

“That really meant a lot to me,” said Krull. “It’s nice to have someone who under-

stands your problems.”

The AIM program is accepting applications for its Foundations Program, which takes place from July 12 to Aug. 2, 2014.

The Foundation Program is designed for students entering Mercyhurst who have conditions such as Asperger syndrome and high-functioning autism.

The program costs $4,500 to enter and this covers things such as activity and application fees, board, room and three-credit course tuition.

Activities for the Foundation Program include tutorials on college life and skills and seminars on how to navigate around the community surrounding the campus.

To learn more about the AIM program, please contact Dianne Rogers at drogers@ mercyhurst.edu or Brad McGarry at bmcgarry@mercyhurst.edu. @TheMerciad

SAC’s ‘Relaxation Day’ a success

By Emani Burton Contributing writer

Last Saturday, March 1, the Student Activities Council (SAC) sponsored a relaxation day in the Student Union.

Students who attended were treated to massages, yoga, a visit from the therapy dog and a flavored oxygen bar.

Students were encouraged to breathe deeply and pause their busy lives for quiet moments of reflection.

Organized by SAC junior members Gavin Oakley and Alison Gass, the event was sorely needed. “We wanted people to relax during this stressful midterm week,” said Gass.

Taught by Betty Amatangelo, yoga in the great room focused on relieving tension.

Upstairs was an oxygen bar, where students hooked up to machines that pump scented oxygens for users to inhale.

Each student received puri-

fied oxygen for a 3-minute session.

In the SAC lounge were massages. Given by members of the Athletic Training club, the massages were 10 minutes long. They served a double purpose by relaxing students and helping the club members hone their craft.

With an average 60 people in the first half-hour, turnout was larger than expected for the event.

The massage tables needed time slots to prevent extremely long lines.

Overall, Oakley said the relaxation day was beneficial to mental health.

“When you’re feeling stressed just take deep breaths and forget your troubles,” he said.

To learn more about SAC, and what they have coming up, please contact Preston Reilly at preilly@mercyhurst. edu. @TheMerciad

Ashley Favata photo

Campus Ministry employee Betty Amatangelo, lower right, teaches yoga to a group of students at SAC’s “Relaxation Day.”

MSG

Senator Spotlight

Hello, my name is Dominique Montilus Jr. and I am a senior Sports Business Management major. On MSG, I serve as the senator for the Walker School of Business and I am on the Budget and Finance Committee. Aside from MSG, I am a member of the Sports Business Management Club and the Business Club. I enjoy getting involved with serving and educating the community youth, sports, outdoor activities and traveling. If you see me walking the campus, approach me with your concerns or just say “Hello!”

Remember “We’re Your Voice!”

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March 5, 2014

The Merciad

News

’Hurst to recognize Study looks to identify teaching excellence pitch injury indicators

By Ryan Kushner Staff writer

Each year Mercyhurst University takes the time to recognize a professor with a positive impact on students and faculty.

The opportunity to nominate faculty for this year’s award is now available online on the Office for Academic Affairs’ portal page, as well as on paper forms found in Old Main 104. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, April 4.

This year’s recipient of the award will be announced on Friday, May 9, during the Faculty Reception.

The award’s tradition began in 1990 when Mercyhurst received a grant from the Sears-Roebuck Foundation’s Teaching Award Program, according to the Office for Academic Affairs.

Nominations begin six weeks before a committee

of the past award recipients gathers with the information and select the current year’s winner.

Philip Belfiore, vice president for Academic Affairs, is then responsible for informing the winner, who is later presented with a plaque and $1,000 at the end of the year.

Such an award is particularly significant for Mercyhurst, a school that prides itself on affording close interaction between faculty and students.

Previous recipients of the award noted its prominence.

“I was especially pleased to win the award because of the faculty who had previously won,” said Mercyhurst Political Science Department Chair Michael Federici, Ph.D. “To be considered with the likes of colleagues who I had long admired for their teaching excellence was an honor.”

Federici felt the importance teachers put on their students and their learning added to the honor.

“To win the award and be recognized for stellar teaching is important at a place like Mercyhurst,” he said.

Professor Randy Clemons, Ph.D., also in the Political Science Department, said that he accepted the award “both as a representative of the Mercyhurst faculty as a whole for their commitment and efforts and support,” as well as in honor of the past people and teachers in his life who inspired him and who “provided the key shoulders” that he walks “on intellectually.”

Brian Ripley, Ph.D., is the most recent professor to receive the recognition.

“I was very honored and humbled to receive the Teaching Excellence Award,” Ripley said. “I feel very motivated to try to become a better teacher now that the pressure is on.” @TheMerciad

By Melanie Todd Staff writer

It has become an unspoken guideline in baseball to pull a starting pitcher from a game after 100 pitches.

“Do as the winners do,” says senior Sports Medicine major Zachary Jacobson, who has been heavily involved in a research project on the topic from the beginning. “It has just become accepted.”

The research will look to identify “indicators for injury” and to see “if there is actually a change in the biomechanics of the actual pitching technique,” he explains. “[The] goal is to provide information to allow coaches from the major leagues all the way down to little league to make decisions to prevent injuries,” states Bradley Jacobson.

There is no significant research behind this theory

of a 100-pitch limit.

Tim Cooney of UPMC-Hamot and Kevin Cooney of Erie Shriners Hospital recognized there was no concrete data behind this practice.

They approached Bradley Jacobson, Chairman of the Sports Medicine Department at Mercyhurst University and

“

This is an example of the opportunities that can occur because the university fostered the chance.

”

Bradley Jacobson

Zachary Jacobson’s father.

Combined with the Movement Analysis Lab of Shriners Hospital and UPMC-Hamot’s blood work and biomarker capabilities, the research study would be possible.

This February, the data was

collected for the study, which has been in preparation for 18 months so far. Start to finish, it will probably take another 18 months to analyze all of the data and develop a product for publication.

Over the course of the study has allowed three graduate level Exercise Science majors and up to 20 undergraduate sports medicine majors to gain valuable experience in the field of research.

Bradley Jacobson comments, “We tell our students you are the department.” “[This is an] example of the opportunities that can occur because the university has fostered the chance,” Brad Jacobson said. The relationship that has developed with Shriners Hospital and UPMC-Hamot provides increased opportunity for more research opportunities in the future. @TheMerciad

News Brief

Ballots open for MSG elections Starting at noon on Tuesday, March 4, students received an email containing a link to the Mercyhurst Student Government executive board ballot, where they can vote on the candidates running for the president, vice president and treasurer positions.

The ballots will remain open until noon on Thursday, March 6. Students who have yet not received an email with the link to the ballot or are having any other problems with submitting their votes should email msgpres@mercyhurst. edu.

Agosta to revisit Mercyhurst Olympic gold medalist and Mercyhurst alumni Meghan Agosta-Marciano will be coming to Mercyhurst on Friday, March 7, to help open the 2014 College Hockey America Women’s Hockey Tournament.

Agosta-Marciano will have a meet and greet open to members of the Mercyhurst and Erie communities from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Carolyn Herrmann Student Union.

She will also drop the ceremonial first puck to open the tournament when Mercyhurst faces Syracuse at 4 p.m. in the Mercyhurst Ice Center.

HEY YOU! The Merciad

Are you interested in journalism, communications, sports, or news?

is now accepting letters of interest for Editor positions for the 2014-2015 school year!

Submit a one page letter of interest by March 21, 2014 explaining why you want to be a part of the staff and some ideas that you have for that position!

Editor positions include: Copy Editor Opinion Editor Arts & Entertainment Editor Social Media Editor

Managing Editor News Editor Features Editor Sports Editor

Send letters of interest to:

editormerciad@mercyhurst.edu

March 5, 2014

Page 5

The Merciad

Opinion

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

Marijuana prohibition should not be controlled by the feds

By Zachary Yost Staff writer

Last week, the Mercyhurst Center for Applied Politics (MCAP) completed a public opinion poll about how Pennsylvania voters feel about marijuana legalization. The results can be found on the Mercyhurst website under Political Science.

Since my freshman year, I have had the privilege of working at MCAP and always find it very exciting to have the results of the poll that we all worked so hard on revealed. I find it ridiculous, however, that we even have to conduct such a poll in the first place.

To begin, what authority to do politicians have to tell you and I what we can do with our own bodies? If I want to drink, smoke and shoot myself up with heroin - why

can’t I do that? Do I own my body or does government own my body? Being an anarchist I think that social contract theory is a giant load of hogwash, but even if you believe in make-believe fairy tales such as the social contract you cannot justify things such as drug prohibition.

The foundation of social contract theory is that you give up some of the rights you possess to the government in order for it to protect you. This logically implies that the government cannot do anything that you would not have the right to do in the so-called “state of nature.”

Do you have the right to tell me what I can and cannot do with my body and use force to make me comply? No? So where does the government get that right?

The great economist and social thinker Ludwig von Mises once said, “A free man

must be able to endure it when his fellow men act and live otherwise than he considers proper. He must free himself from the habit, just as soon as something does not please him, of calling for the police.”

The live-and-let-live mentality is a core part of living in a free society. I personally have no desire to do heroin.

But what difference does it make to me if you desire to do so? You are not hurting me by doing heroin.

Perhaps my arguments have not convinced you about the criminality and sheer illegitimacy of telling people what they can and cannot do with their bodies. So I will leave you with this thought. If you believe it is OK that police violently assault people for being in possession of certain chemical substances and using those chemicals on their own bodies would you perpe-

trate the violence yourself ?

If I was in possession of cocaine, would you personally violently assault me and imprison me?

What if you found out your best friend had some LSD? Would you even call the police, let alone do the deed yourself ? I do not think you could call yourself their friend if you would.

The point is that advocating for the prohibition of certain substances, is the same as advocating for the brutal violence that is used against the people who violate the prohibition.

And if you would have a problem violently assaulting someone because they have a certain banned substance, then perhaps you should rethink your advocacy of someone else perpetrating the violence on your behalf. @TheMerciad

Tense crisis in Ukraine requires examination from multiple views

By Nathan Turner Staff writer

This article will have two different sources of opinion because the situation in Ukraine requires a couple of different perspectives.

The first one will be my own, which treats the situation as a geopolitical situation. It is an occurrence that is going on thousands of miles away in a country with which I have no ties.

I read the news and ponder how the U.S. may react, if it reacts at all. I hear about the events going on with Russia, and the incursion made by Russian troops into the Crimea, and see how this situation might become a bloodbath, or wonder what Putin’s plans are that would require such an incursion.

Vladimir Putin, in my humble opinion, has committed an incursion upon a sovereign nation’s territory under the guise of defending the ethnic Russian or Russian-speaking

population, and these actions have the same air of Hitler’s land-grabbing in 1938.

He’s acting on behalf of a population within another country, but he is acting in a way which violates international law and national sovereignty. In addition to that, his test-firing this week of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (ICBM) during this tension has shown his willingness to be dangerously provocative and callous about the situation. But my outlook is one of a person who has no direct connection with the events, and that opinion is incredibly limited. So this is why I’ve asked for a second source of this article.

The second source is one of the professors, Dr. Surzhko-Harned Ph.D., of the Political Science Department, a professor of Comparative Politics, and a Ukrainian citizen. I recently interviewed her to gain her opinion on the origins of the conflict, particularly in light of the recent actions taken by Putin,

and the incursion of Russian troops into the Crimea.

I asked about the situation in the Crimea, which was referenced earlier, and how it will affect Ukraine. Here is her assessment: “I’m very concerned about the situation.

Many political analysts have said that it’s a logical progression of this revolution.

“The Crimea, which is an autonomous republic, has the capacity to secede. And the scary part is that not everyone shares those views. Of course there is a percentage of the population who would like to secede, who would like to see the Crimea as part of Russia, perhaps.

“There are also those who don’t want this; who would like to preserve Ukrainian unity. And that’s what worries me. It must be done democratically. You cannot go about the secession process in a violent way.”

“And the critical takeaway for all of Mercyhurst is: “The Ukrainian protesters who’ve been in Maidan, in the Main

Square for the last three months were not there merely for geopolitical reasons; for being pro-Russia, or against Russia; or pro-EU, against EU. Rather this protest was about a corrupt regime, a kleptomaniac regime. And Ukraine is often portrayed as a country split, ideologically, regionally, linguistically, ethnically. And while there may be some merit, I think it’s a simplified view. Very simplified view.

I don’t believe that there is true hatred of Russia in the Ukraine. The hatred is not of Russia, the hatred is of dictatorship. And the current administration of Russia and the way that it deals with its neighbors unfortunately does not warm other people to it.

It’s not particularly democratic. Its repertoire has not been particularly warming or inviting. I suppose that’s it.

It’s not about hatred towards Russia; it’s hatred towards dictatorship; it’s hatred towards the lack of freedom.” @TheMerciad

MSG never fails to surprise with its choice for Springfest performer

By Marcela Delgado Staff writer

Online

Mercyhurst Student Government recently announced the performers for spring break.

Opening the show they will have Transit and We are The In Crowd. They will be opening for New Politics and Mayday Parade.

MSG and SAC always manage to surprise the students with great performers and not necessarily in a good way. For the past two years with performers like Sean Kingston and The White Panda, this year expectations were high. Unfortunately,

not many people know about the performers and attendance to the most awaited event on campus.

Springfest is one of the biggest events of the year, especially for the concerts. This year the performing bands are of alternative and modern rock genres.

At this point of the year many students are excited about the announcement of the Springfest performers. This year’s performers disappointed many students, by the fact that not many people know about the band.

Recently, MSG posted on their Facebook account a video

for those who are not familiar with the bands.

The posts announcing the performers or the video have little number of likes compared to past year announcements.

This demonstrates the lack of excitement of students towards the performers.

Probably the performers will deliver a good show, but I am not sure if people are looking forward to this year’s Springfest as they have been for the past years.

Students expect a different kind of music, where they can dance and sing along. Not sure if this will be the case with the performing rock bands.

Read more at

merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion

Mayday Parade is an American rock band from Tallahassee, Fla. New Politics is an alternative rock band and they come from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Transit is an American band from Boston. We Are the In Crowd; the other opening band is an American pop punk band from Poughkeepsie, N.Y. With only a couple of months away from the Springfest, hopefully the bands will raise our expectations and deliver a good show.

@TheMerciad

The Good...

The new Laker smoothies are delicious and they’re actually made of real fruit and yogurt.

Mercyhurst is offering students several options for Ash Wednesday, with Masses being offered at Christ the King Chapel at 8 a.m. and 8:30 p.m.

The Bad...

Despite the buzz and anticipation the Evive water station in Old Main generated, we understand it has not produced as much revenue as was expected. Here’s one option that could be coming down the pike: a monthly or annual charge to use the station.

The Ugly...

This year’s Mercyhurst Student Government campaign borders on the obnoxious with all the unnecessary Facebook posts and groups. Those posts simply reflect the ugly talk students are engaging in all over the campus. Question? Is this the way an election should go?

The Weird...

Even though there are vending machines in several academic buildings around campus, when it comes to student efforts to raise money with a bake sale, options dry up. The only place bake sales have been allowed in recent years has been the Student Union. Archaeology students found this out the hard way at Zurn Hall this week.

Now we understand changes may be coming to the rule.

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

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

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

The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor. All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit. Letters are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters to box PH 485 or via email at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.

Write for The Merciad, email editormerciad@mercyhurst.edu

Page 6

March 5, 2014

The Merciad

Arts &

Entertainment Spring Color will run through Erie offerings

By Jose Nufio Staff writer

Running a 5 kilometer race sounds like a challenge, but running a 5 kilometer race while getting splattered in color sounds fun. Registration is now open for the first Color Run to be held in Erie.

The Erie Sports Commission announced that The Color Run will be in downtown Erie Saturday, Aug. 9.

Since its founding in January 2012, more than a million people worldwide have taken part in the 5K. Over the years, the event’s popularity in the United States has grown, making it the single largest event series in the country.

According to their website, the event promotes the ideals of health and happiness. Their goal is to bring the community together and support this new running event.

There are only two rules to be part of the 5K: wear white at the beginning of the race and finish it covered in colored powder.

After crossing the finish line, runners join the Finish Festival, a giant party consisting of music, dancing and more color.

“We were all in white at the beginning of the race and by the end we were covered in color, which was awesome. Everyone at the race was so supportive which made running the race easy,” said senior communication major Chris Gaertner, who did The Color Run last year in Cleveland.

Gaertner ran alongside his boyfriend and his best friends, also students from Mercyhurst.

He remembers The Color Run as an unforgettable experience.

“I would love to be a part of The Color Run again but it all depends where I end up after graduation. I would ask the same Mercyhurst students who ran the first time to run again,” Gaertner said.

Gaertner believes Erie will be a wonderful place to host The Color Run, because of all the college students that will to attend. Even though the event will happen Aug. 9, before most college classes start, he still believes that there will be a high attendance of college students.

“I think Erie is a great place for a Color Run. Erie has a large college population and when I ran, there were a lot of college students, so I think having it in Erie will increase participation.

at the Erie Art Museum

By Nathan Turner Staff writer

thecolorrun.com photo

The Color Run will be taking place on August 9 in downtown Erie with registration currently available through their website.

A lot of students stay here during the summer as well,” Gaertner said.

“With Mercyhurst, Gannon and Penn State Behrend being here and Edinboro not that far away, there will be plenty of college students who still run the race, regardless of when it is.”

Even though it is a 5K, Gaertner encourages anyone who is open to have a good time to

join the run.

“You can walk the entire thing if you want. It’s all about finishing. I saw people on crutches, people in wheelchairs and people without some limbs in the race.

If they can do it, so can you,” Gaertner said.

Registration is $40 for individuals and $35 per person on a team of four or more.

Registration prices are expected

to increase as the event date approaches. The charity, United Way of Erie County, will receive a portion of the money received from the event.

To register and for more information about The Color Run go to http://www.thecolorrun. com/erie/2014-08-09/. @TheMerciad

The Irish Rovers bid farewell

By Sam Beckas Staff writer

For more than 50 years the Irish Rovers have played their music all over the world. As their music career comes to end, they are stopping by Mercyhurst on March 8.

Mercyhurst is just one of the early stops on their “Farewell to Rovin’” Tour, which is traveling to Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, is thru December of 2015.

Though all members are originally from Ireland, the band was formed in Toronto, Canada, in 1963. The band of eight has released over 40 albums worldwide.

The Irish Rovers have not only been successful musicians. They have found their way to the big screen numerous times.

They have hosted three television talk shows, guest starred in “The Virginian,” and filmed “Home in Ireland,” a movie made for television in Northern Ireland.

One of their recent hit singles, which led to a whole new album, is named “Drunken Sailor,” and

miac.mercyhurst.edu photo

The Irish Rovers will be performing on Saturday, March 8, in the PAC as one of their last stops on their “Farewell to Rovin” tour.

was released in 2012.

Though they have a very long history in the music and performance industry, they are looking forward to finishing the tour strong.

On Saturday March 8, the performance will take place at the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center. An hour before the show will be free beer tasting provided

by Lavery Brewing Company

and fun Celtic tunes performed by the local band The Bangerzz.

Tickets to the event are $45 and $43 for adults, $43 and $40 for seniors and $30-$32 for students.

The concert is a great way to kick off spring break and get in the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, which is right around the corner. @TheMerciad

EAM hosting weekend of photography

By Jose Nufio Staff writer

Online

If you love photography, you will not want to miss what the Erie Art Museum has prepared for this weekend. The museum will host a 4 day photography event called Photopalooza.

From Thursday, March 6, until Sunday, March 9, the Erie Art Museum will feature world renowned, Canadian-born New York City photographer Robert Polidori, along with other photographers from New York City and the Erie region. They will be part of the Photopalooza photography weekend hosted by the museum.

Photopalooza is a one-time event, celebrating the two major

photo exhibitions on display, Robert Polidori: Selected Works and Exposed: Recent Gifts to the Photography Collection.

The photography display is free to all and includes free lectures and workshops from the artists.

Polidori is one of the world’s most acclaimed photographers of human habitat and environment. His large-scale architectural images have been displayed in galleries and magazines all around the world.

Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Carolyn Eller, says “it’s a very rare and special treat that Robert Polidori is coming to the Art Museum.

We’re flying him in from LA. He’s a very famous photographer.”

The Photopalooza kicks off

Full list of events can be found on the MIAC website

Thursday with an artist reception where visitors will have the opportunity to meet and greet all the artists.

Friday, from 5 to 7 p.m., the museum will feature Gallery Night. The night will be packed with various exhibitions and activities. It will end with a lecture by Polidori regarding his work in the Erie Arts Museum.

The exhibit continues Saturday with the Photo Symposium.

From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., workshops will be given by various photographers featured in the Exposed: Recent Gifts to the Photography Collection. Among them, expect to find Len Speier, a New York City photographer and lawyer, who will give a talk about copyright infringement.

Photographer Tom Caravaglia

will give a workshop about dance photography alongside fellow New York City photographer Whitney Browne.

The event will conclude Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.. This will be everyone’s opportunity to take a look at the Polidori: Selected Works exhibit. Visitors will have the opportunity to become part of the art as described by Eller by “moving inside of projected images of the artist’s work. Also families can create their own compositions with photo slides and colored cellophane.”

Eller believes coming to the Photopalooza is an opportunity every art lover should take.

“It’s an honor to feature the work of Robert Polidori. Anyone interested in photography or art should check out the four days

View upcoming performances: www.miac.mercyhurst.edu

of events during Photopalooza next week,” Eller said.

The Erie Arts Museum has recently restored their mid-19 century facilities with modern, environmentally friendly expansions. They hold a collection of 8,000 objects, including works of American ceramics, Indian bronzes, Tibetan paintings, and many other works.

Although all activities for the weekend are free, groups of 10 or more must call the museum at 814-459-5477 to register. For more information visit erieartmuseum.org or call the number above.

The Erie Art Museum is open on Tuesdays thru Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

On State Street, there is a building which can seem nondescript from the outside. Once you step inside, you’ll find that there is much more than you expected.

The Erie Art Museum is one treasure. This center for visual art contains works of artists from Erie and around the world.

There are cycles of exhibits which go through the museum.

Currently, there is an exhibit from Robert Polidori, a photographer whose credentials include working as a staff photographer for the New Yorker for over 10 years, as well as being “internationally recognized as probably the world’s most renowned architecture photographer,” according to Carolyn Eller, the Museum’s director of Marketing and Public Relations.

That exhibit will include work from all over the world, as well as a talk given by Polidori, free to the public. The event is “Photopalooza” and the exhibit will last until late April. After the Polidori exhibit is removed, the spring art show will go up.

“People from within a 250 mile radius of Erie can pay to submit their work to be judged…and from the 900 or so pieces submitted each year, [the juror] whittles it down to about 75 pieces which make up the show,” Eller said.

Eller boasted the museum hosts one of the few live juried art shows in the country.

“Most museums have an electronic submission process, so the juror looks at slides on a computer screen. And we’re one of the only museums where the pieces are paraded in front of the juror and he says ‘yes’ or ‘no’,” Eller said.

The museum currently does not know what will be featured in the show, but Eller is excited to see what will adorn the walls of the main gallery when the show opens April 26.

Aside from the main exhibit and events which fill up the schedule, the museum contains a phenomenal permanent collection in the upper part of the museum.

The walls are covered with art works which come from Erie native, Joseph Plavcan, who Eller claims is “one of the most famous painters to come from Erie.”

His prodigy, Richard Anuszkiewicz, also from Erie, founded the optical art movement in the world.

Those are just two names which have come from Erie.”

Eller then stated one of the museum’s goals in the community: “I think while it’s important that we’re showcasing work from Robert Polidori…we have pieces in our permanent collection from artists all over the world, but also some who have come from Erie. We’re about showcasing quality art in all its forms,” Eller said.

The Erie Art Museum is open on Tuesdays thru Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. @TheMerciad

www.merciad.mercyhurst.edu/ arts_entertainment

March 5, 2014

Page 7

The Merciad

Sports

Men’s hockey leads series with RMU

By Samantha Bante Sports editor

The Mercyhurst University men’s hockey team beat Robert Morris University with a 5-2 victory on Saturday and tied 5-5 in overtime on Friday to close out the regular 2013-14 season.

The Lakers improved to 19-12-7 overall and finished with a 17-4-6 mark in the Atlantic Hockey Association standings.

Redshirt junior goaltender Jordan Tibbett had a careerhigh with 48 saves while senior Daniel O’Donoghue scored a pair of goals Sunday to boost the Lakers score on Saturday.

“This weekend against Robert Morris had a real playoff atmosphere to it. We were absolutely terrible on Friday, but luckily they did not have a strong game either, so we were able to sneak out a tie.

Saturday was a much better effort top to bottom. It was good to finish the regular season on a high note,” said senior Nick Jones.

Robert Morris out shot Mercyhurst. They beat out the Lakers 50 to 27. The Lakers also went 2-for-5 on the power play and finished the weekend series going 5-for-10 with the man advantage.

“The biggest challenge will be consistency. When we get into trouble it is usually because we are straying from our game plan. Everyone is fighting for their life in the playoffs, you take one night off and your season will be over before you know it,” Jones said.

With redshirt junior goaltender Jordan Tibbett tying a career-high 48 saves, he was able to stand strong for the Lakers defense that evening, improving his overall record 3-8-1 for the season and 3-4-1 in conference play with the victory.

Another stand-out player throughout the series was junior forward Nardo Nagtzaam. Nagtzaam was named the Atlantic Hockey Association’s (AHA) Travel Team USA Co-Offensive Player of the Week, as announced on

Tuesday.

The Lakers will host a best-of-three quarterfinal series against an opponent to be determined on March 14, March 15, and, if necessary, March 16. All games are scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

“The team has done a great job this season bringing everything they have to the rink day in and day out and we were rewarded with a regular season championship. The championship is a source of pride for us but we know it’s just one small step towards our ultimate goal, which is to win the league playoffs and make it to the NCAA tournament,” Jones said.

“In the AHA tournament I am looking forward to erasing the memory of the championship game last year against Canisius. To be that close to a league title and have it all come crashing down was devastating. Hopefully, we can forge a better memory this year with a championship,” Jones said.

The Lakers prepare for a quarterfinal playoff series against opponents March 14-16.

Casey Bleuel photo

@TheMerciad

Wrestling team earns PSAC Division II championship

By Carly Contraguerro Contributing writer

The Mercyhurst wrestling team earned the PSAC Division II regular season dual championship for the second consecutive year. This made conference history as the first Division II dual titles to be won back-to-back.

The eight-ranked Lakers won with a 23-15 victory over 15th-ranked Pittsburgh at Johnstown on Feb 19.

Mercyhurst furthered its winning streak to 13 consecutive matches and completed the PSAC conference with a 7-0 record.

“It’s awesome to beat a team that we only beat one time before that, and to clinch the PSAC title with the win made it that much better. We were able to get bonus points in the matches where we needed them and that was the key to winning,” red shirt freshman Francis Mizia said.

Although the Laker’s started off the match behind with a score of 3-0 Pitt John-

Ed Mailliard photo

Redshirt freshman Francis Mizia was one of the wins during the Pit- Johnstown match.

stown, they bounced right back with four wins in a row

starting with Kody Young at 133 (11-3), Dylan D’Urso at

141 (7-3), Jeremy Landowski at 149 (5-3), and Mizia at 157

(10-1).

After already leading the match 5-0, red shirt sophomore August Mizia had a great pin 90 seconds into the match.

The last match of the tournament with the Lakers’ only five points ahead of Pitt-Johnstown was completed by heavy weight freshman Andrew Welton. Welton won the match, 3-0.

“Coach Wehler and I had talked and he told me that the match was most likely going to come down to my match. Knowing that made me a little nervous but I had already wrestled my opponent before in the PSAC tournament so I had confidence in myself,” Welton said.

This match was also Head Coach Mike Wehler’s first time beating Pitt-Johnstown since becoming coach at Mercyhurst in 2007.

“This season was a fantastic journey, I’m not surprised by the success of this team but I’m certainly very proud of it,” Coach Mike Wehler said.

“This is such a great group of young men with high standards for themselves both athletically and academically. It’s one thing to have goals, but it takes a commitment, internal drive, and a work ethic to make them come to fruition and this team has those intangibles to make them successful” Wehler said.

The Lakers finished their regular season with an 18-1 overall record. They headed back to Pitt-Johnstown this weekend for the NCAA Division II Super Region I Championship. Here, they finished third in the overall team standings.

Six wrestlers will go to the NCAA Tournament the weekend of March 14 and 15 including Young (133), Jeremy Landowski (141), D’Urso (145), Mizia (157), August Mizia (174) and Welton (285). This tournament will be in Cleveland Ohio.

@TheMerciad

Bestland named 2014 Patty Kazmaier Top-10 finalist

By Samantha Bante Sports editor

Senior Christine Bestland of the eighth-ranked Mercyhurst University women’s hockey team was announced as a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award announced today by The USA Hockey Foundation.

The honor is bestowed annually upon the top player in NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey and this year will be unveiled at a brunch ceremony at Oakdale Theater in Wallingford, Conn., on Saturday, March 22, as part of the NCAA Women’s Frozen Four weekend hosted

by Quinnipiac University.

“I am very honored to be named a top-10 finalist for the Patty Kazmaier Award.

The Patty Kazmaier Award is obviously an award that every Division I women’s hockey player strives for in their four years. Being named one of the top finalists is very rewarding for me,” Bestland said.

The Manitoba native has been a leader on and off the ice as a captain of the Mercyhurst Lakers the past two seasons.

Bestland leads the team in goals (20), and assists (30) and leads the conference in assists and points for the 2013-14 season.

Bestland was also named the College Hockey America Player of the Week announced Monday, Feb. 24.

“Being named the College American Hockey Player of the Week is a good feeling, especially after the past weekend being my last league games as a Mercyhurst Laker,” Bestland said.

Heading into the playoffs series, Bestland has combined for 222 career points on 90 goals and 132 assists in 139 games.

When asked what she will miss most playing for Mercyhurst Bestland said, “What I will miss the most playing for Mercyhust would be the constant pressure of being a successful team. As a team we have extremely high standards and goals which

Dane Rimko photo

Senior captain Christine Bestland, center, heads into the playoffs with 222 career points and has played 139 games for the Lakers.

we set for ourselves every year. These standards are ones we really respect and commit ourselves to over the

entire season.

Each year as players leave and new ones come in, those same high standards

still apply and I’m confident in my team that once the seniors leave, they will be able to continue set and

achieve goals they make.”

The three finalists will be chosen by a 13-person selection committee made up of NCAA Division I women’s ice hockey coaches, representatives of print and broadcast media, an at-large member and a representative of USA Hockey. The top-three finalists will be announced on Thursday, March 6.

The Lakers will advance to the College Hockey America Championship-semifinals on Friday, March 7, against Syracuse University at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The puck is set to drop at 4 p.m.

“As we prepare for the CHA semifinals, we need to work extremely hard during the practice week in order to be fully prepared to compete against whoever it may be. We need to push one another to our full potential and need everyone on our team to step up and fill their roles,” Bestland said.

@TheMerciad

Page 8

The Merciad

Laker

March 5, 2014

Living Geek Weekly: Samsung unvails flagship

By Zach Dorsch Managing editor

and verify your Samsung account. Adding your fingerprint is easy: All you have to do is slide any one of your fingers from top to bottom on the home button around eight times.

Samsung unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5, at the World Congress tradeshow last Monday.

They also revealed two smart devices as companions for the S5, a wristband that is finesse-based and another smart watch.

The Galaxy S5’s camera got another upgrade from 13-megapixels to 16. They also offer a real time HDR mode and an improved autofocus that is much quicker than the older Galaxies. The front side camera also got upgraded to 2.1 megapixels to ensure that your selfies are at the highest quality.

The handset is set to be released in April on more than 150 carriers so there is a good chance you will be able to get your hands on it. There is currently no information on price.

The device has a slightly different look than its S4 predecessor. Samsung traded in the cross-hashed design for a metallic look on the sides and the back plate. Sadly, the metallic look is about as close as we get to metal for this device. Samsung yet again opted for polycarbonate instead of metal for this device. The back plate has a bezel partner that will help improve gripping the device. On the front side the S5 has a 5.1 inch Super AMOLED display.

One of the best improvements is the fact the S5 is both water and dustproof. Samsung states that the device can chill in your bathtub with you for up to 30 minutes before it starts to malfunction. This is thanks to an inner seal on the back cover that prevents moisture from entering into the important parts of the device. They have also added a seal on the charging port cover.

The S5 is slightly bulkier, a few millimeters wider, and heavier, by 15 grams, then the S4, which is just enough for you to notice a difference between that and your previous device.

The device runs on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 that has a clock speed of 2.5GHz meaning that all of your apps will open super fast and run smoothly. It ships with the latest version of Android, version 4.4 KitKat overtop of an overhauled version of TouchWiz.

samsung.com photo

The new Galaxy S5 will come in four new colors and sport an upgraded 16 megapixels camera.

Fitness is another main focus of this phone. They have added a heart-rate sensor underneath the LED flash. The sensor uses your finger to get your reading and syncs that data with the S-Health application that comes with the phone.

Samsung jumped on the fingerprint scanner bandwagon with the S5. Now users can slide their finger down the home button to unlock there phone, verify purchases from PayPal @zdorsc22

Beauty Talks Shaving Cream

By Leann Krysiak Copy editor

I present to you the ultimate recipe. It’s not just for women, but also men. Ladies can use it to get silky soft legs and men can use it for clean shave. This recipe gives you a lot of options for ingredients, but I make mine with coconut oil, Shea butter, honey and Vitamin E. I have also made it with and without clay and prefer it with clay.

There is the recommendation to take out the baking soda for men’s shaving cream as it can be irritating to sensitive skin. This week’s recipe comes from the healthy-living blog, Wellness Mama:

Shaving Cream 1/4 cup olive, almond or coconut oil 2-3 TBSP Shea Butter 1/4 cup Aloe Gel or Honey 1 TBSP Kaolin clay or white cosmetic clay (optional) 2 tsp baking soda (do not use for men’s version) 1/4 cup Liquid Castille Soap 3-4 Vitamin capsules E or GSE (to preserve)

Melt the oil and Shea butter in a double boiler until just melted and remove from heat. Add remaining ingredients and stir for 3 minutes. Transfer to a container and stir periodically to prevent separation.

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

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

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By Sami Rapp Photo editor

Ingredients: 2 cups flour 1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon baking powder 1 cup hot water 2/3 cup unsweetened baking cocoa 3/4 cup shortening 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla

1.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place paper baking cups in 24 regular-size muffin tins.

2.

In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda, salt and baking powder; set aside. In a small bowl mix hot water and cocoa until dissolved; set aside.

3.

In a large bowl, beat shortening with an electric mixer on medium speed for 30 seconds. Gradually add sugar, about 1/4 cup at a time, beating well after each addition and scraping bowl occasionally. Beat for 2 more minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each. Beat in vanilla. On low speed, alternately add flour mixture, about 1/3 of mixture at a time, and add cocoa mixture, about ½ at a time, beating until blended.

4.

Divide batter evenly among muffin cups.

5.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in pans for 5 minutes. Remove cupcakes and allow to cool before frosting.

@srapp93