March 18th, 2015 Issue of the Merciad by The Merciad

Arts : & Entertainment On Page 5:

Features On Page 3: :

Exonerated inmate comes to Mercyhurst

Sports On Page 7:

Mercyhurst Literary Festival

Lakers made history by making playoffs

“Lumen” starting April 9

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The Merciad

Est. 1929 Vol. 88 No. 15

Mercyhurst university

Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Christ the King restored By Nathan Turner News editor

Salina Bowe photo

The new lighting in the chapel increased the visibility of the central mural. The space is now three times brighter, according to Rev. Piszker.

Police and Safety equipped with new body cameras By Nathan Turner News editor

Mercyhurst University Police and Safety are now wearing body cameras to protect both the student body and its officers. The cameras also record interactions between the officers and students. The department currently has only one camera, which is shared by all the officers. Two more units have been ordered. The decision to wear the device came in the wake of the troubles in Ferguson, MO and the fallout from the Michael Brown shooting, Police and Safety Chief Robert Kuhn said. “It protects the officer against false accusations,” said Kuhn. “A lot of places are going to them now. It’s an emerging trend.”

Merciad Index

While the camera protects the officer wearing it, there are theories that it may also deter the officer him or herself from engaging in inappropriate or illegal behavior, Police and Safety Lieutenant Matthew Platz said. It would also change the behavior of the people with whom the officers interact. “There are schools of thought. There’s an officer who may not be operating in a completely correct fashion, he will,” said Platz. “In Pennsylvania, we have to notify anyone that they’re being recorded. So immediately you say ‘You’re being recorded on video,’ their attitude is likely to change as well. So it will mitigate and kind of take care of some of the situations right away.” The act of recording a person changes his or her

demeanor, said Kuhn. “When people know they’re recorded on the phone, whole demeanor changes. They’re not screaming at you, yelling, swearing. It’s just human nature. Hopefully that’s how it will be with these kids, if they’re drunk or belligerent,” Kuhn said. The department’s use of the cameras are limited by federal and Pennsylvania law. There are several situations and locations where recording is forbidden or limited. The use of audio recording is governed by the same regulations which govern the use of wiretaps, Kuhn said. “Under Pennsylvania law, and most states have the same law, video you can use anytime. You don’t even have to tell anyone you’re using it, except in places like bathrooms, things like that. The

audio, you definitely have to tell them. Chapter 56 in the crimes code, wiretap laws, explains all that. You need their permission,” Kuhn said. The cameras are not always recording, even in instances where the law does not forbid it. Routine occurrences around campus are not likely to be recorded, Platz said. “If I get a call for a jumpstart, I’m not turning the camera on. But if I get a call for a loud apartment, and there’s swearing and it sounds like someone may be fighting, it’s going on,” Platz said.

@TheMerciad

On March 15, Mass was celebrated in the newly-renovated Christ the King Chapel. The restoration, which started on Jan. 5, was completed in early March. The most significant change to the chapel was an increase in lighting. The new fixtures and new lighting improve the visibility of the grand mural, Piszker said. “People were actually commenting [on Sunday] that the first time you can actually see the mural in its entirety because the sanctuary is probably three times brighter than it used to be. Someone actually said they had a hard time looking at me because they were too busy looking at the mural that they were then able to see,” Piszker said. More changes to the chapel include the addition of gold trim on the rafters and the beams of the roof, as well as painted boundaries around the stained glass windows to give them more definition. The pews were also removed and restored “It was really things that needed to be done. Painting certainly hadn’t been done in a long period of time. I don’t think anything had been done to the pews ever since the place was built. And lighting had been inadequate for a period of time,” Piszker said. The construction went relatively smoothly, but two noted problems were the choice of paint color and the treatment of the tile floor. “Either [the paint] was too dark or too light. This is sort of like a monastic chapel, you can’t change it. The trick was trying to preserve the semi-monastic style and still bring it up to date,”

Monsignor David Rubino said. The problems with the floor occurred after the workers increased separation of the pews by an half an inch to give people more space to enter and exit the pews. The repositioning left a series of holes in the floor, Rubino said. “There are 503 holes in the floor, where the pews were bolted in. They drilled the hole, once the pews were gone, and they filled it with a concrete stuff, and they put this speckled stuff on top. It’s fairly close to the original tone of the floor. That was a hard job and that took them forever,” Rubino said. The cost of the restoration totaled approximately $405,000 and private donors provided all the funds necessary. The remaining funds would hopefully go into an endowment or a reserve, Rubino said. “All of the money came from various donors, trustees, alums, friends. We ended up with about $407,000 and the restoration cost about $405,000,” Rubino said. With the restoration now completed, the student body’s respectful treatment of the chapel would be appreciated, Piszker said. There have been problems in the past with students mistreating the space and using it as a hallway between Old Main and Hirt. “It is sacred space and I can’t emphasize that enough. Even for people who don’t believe or want no part of it, that’s ok. It doesn’t make it any less sacred. This is not a classroom, this is not a concert hall, it is not any of the many things it could be, but first and foremost, it is not a hallway,” Piszker said. @TheMerciad

CTE accepting student nominations By Nathan Turner News editor

The Center for Teaching Excellence is accepting nominations from students for the Teaching Excellence Award. The award was established in 1990 and honors faculty members who have enriched the intellectual life of the university through their

teaching. Nominations from students are encouraged. Students wishing to nominate a professor can do so by going to the Mercyhurst Student Government Facebook page or to the Portal.

@TheMerciad

Online Poll Results What did you do for Spring Break?

News Features A&E Opinion Sports Laker Living

1-2 3-4 5 6 7 8

35% I went somewhere warm and debated not coming back to Erie 19% I slept an entire week 26% Sadly, I stayed here in the Arctic Circle 19% What break? All I did was catch up on school work.

Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: How has the temporary closure of the Student Union affected you?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

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March 18, 2015

The Merciad

News

Bioinformatics major formed for Fall 2015 By Jose Nufio Staff writer

A collaborative effort between the Biology and Computer Science Departments will bring the Bioinformatics major to Mercyhurst University next fall. The new DNA Sequencing Center opened last month in the Biology Department will enable the Biology and Computer Science Departments to analyze biological data as part of the growing field of study. “The idea of the new major followed closely with the establishment of the new DNA sequencing lab,” said Michael Elnitsky, Ph.D., Chair of the Biology Department. “When

we got the grants to establish the facilities, it was a natural progression to be able to offer the new major.” Bioinformatics is the combination of biology and the information content that is found in biological molecules, particularly DNA. Bioinformatics uses informatics or computer science techniques to analyze the data found in the molecules of DNA to make sense out of them in the biological context. “It’s essentially the marriage of computer science and biology. We are generating such a large amount of data that we have to use the techniques of computer science to be able to understand it,” Elnitsky said. The major is still in the developmental stage; however, the

Biology Department is taking steps to begin enrolling students for the fall 2015 semester. Current biology students are utilizing the DNA lab for research, but they will not officially join the major until it has been approved. The sequencing lab will be available to students taking classes in the major. The faculty teaching the major includes Michael Foulk, Ph.D., the new assistant professor of Biology who teaches Cellular and Molecular Biology, and possesses a background in bioinformatics. In addition, assistant professor of Biology Sara Turner, Ph.D., will teach courses in Genetics. Chad Redmond, Ph.D., associate dean of the Tom Ridge of School of Intelligence Studies

and Information Science will be teaching and developing new computer science courses for the major. “Following up on the lab and talking with the administration, we thought the pieces for the major were there, including the faculty expertise,” Elnitsky said. While the curriculum is not yet fully established, there are classes future students are expected to take. “The classes students would take in the biology side are Cellular Molecular Biology, Genetics, a Bioinformatics course, which will be a new offering, and some electives students will be able to choose from,” said Foulk. “From the computer side: math classes, including Statistics and Programming.”

According to Foulk, bioinformatics is not a popular field at the moment, but it is quickly growing. “It is the sexiest cutting edge in biology right now,” said Foulk. “This is the future of biology. Understanding biology at the sequence level is going to be a growing field going forward and it really is the leading edge of biological research right now.” The equipment utilized by Mercyhurst students is part of a growing field which can lead to advances in medical technology. “Within the next 10 years we are likely to be using personalized medicine, where you may walk into your doctor’s office, provide a DNA sample, and have your genome sequence

and then we can personalize your medicine,” Elnitsky said. Foulk said that with the direction that medicine and all of biological sciences are heading, bioinformatics tools will be integrated in everything from medicine to agriculture to forensic sciences. “All of biology is moving to this idea of genetics and big data sets and now we’ll be able to train students to use these tools,” Foulk said. Elnitsky claims that from a university standing, Mercyhurst is on the leading edge. Even other undergraduate degrees in bioinformatics lack the tools that Mercyhurst has. “Gannon offers bioinformatics. Gannon doesn’t have a lab like we do,” Elnitsky said.

Student Union under repair for flood damage By Kayley Dunn

Contributing writer

The Carolyn Herrmann Student Union will likely re-open April 10, once all flood damages have been repaired. On Feb. 21 the water main broke, flooding the Laker Inn and closing the entire building. “We are aiming to have the Student Union open by April 10 with full functionality,” said Sue Johnson, Director of Administration and Executive Assistant to the President. “Right now we are getting the lists of what needs to be replaced to the insurance company so new furniture and supplies can be ordered.” In addition to the problems with the student union, many other facilities on campus

have been affected, namely the Audrey Hirt Academic Center and the Center for Academic Excellence, as well as some upperclassmen housing. Morgan Johnson, a senior English major, has been struggling with the Laker being closed, particularly because she cancelled her meal plan sophomore year due to lack of use. “I have been paying out of pocket for the food I would get at the Laker, which is great because everything has a set price,” said Johnson. “I can get what I want and pay for only that. With the flooding leading to the Laker being closed, I haven’t been able to do that.” Junior History major and student ambassador Becky Schratz has also been affected by the flooding. “I eat most of my meals

quickly, on-the-go because of my busy schedule and that is hard to do without [going] to Laker,” Schratz said. Schratz also added that the damage has affected her work as an ambassador because it prevents her from showcasing some of the main buildings on campus while they are in disarray. While these issues are being dealt with, many of the offices located in the student union have had to be relocated to other places around campus. Leadership and Outreach Coordinator, Kristy Jamison and others have been trying to ease the confusion for students during this time, promising to relocate and contact clubs with reservations in the Union. @TheMerciad

Salina Bowe photo

The renovation and repair of the student union is ongoing. It is likely to be re-opened Apr 10, according to Sue Johnson, Executive Assistant to the President and Director of Administration.

MSG Report 3-16-2015 By Melanie Todd Staff writer

Parkhurst Dining Services is working to give students as many options as possible with the Laker currently out of commission. “Our challenge is finding a spot,” said Dean Schoenfeldt, General Manager for Parkhurst. “We are finding students do not want to walk all the way out to Warde.” The coffee bar in the bookstore is carrying sushi, salads, an extra line of sandwiches and the range of bottled products available at Warde Hall, according to Schoenfeldt. The bookstore coffee bar only accepts cash and dining dollars. The C-Store in Warde Hall is now able to accommodate board swipes. Parkhurst is currently exploring options for providing hot food at other

locations on campus. Suggestions have included providing To-Go hot food options and microwave stations and opening up the Concession Stand in the ice center. Parkhurst is also exploring options for a new and improved Laker. Currently, we do not know when the Laker will reopen. “The timeline is out of our hands,” Schoenfeldt said. Once the building is repaired, the Laker will still need to consult the health inspector and restock their supplies before it will be prepared to serve students. The proposed option to replace the Bento Bowl is an Egg Bar including eggs to order, breakfast sandwiches and burritos, French toast, pancakes, and waffles. The Egg Bar would operate from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. From 2 p.m.-8 p.m. the area would serve as

a specialty station. The menu would constantly rotate from items such as a sushi, pasta, soup, ethnic foods and more. Another proposed change is to the Smoothie Bar. There are two proposed options. One would provide a Vegan and Vegetarian Kitchen open from 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Food options would include sweet potato bean burritos, mushroom pasta, and barbeque bean burgers. The Smoothie Bar could also be revamped into a Salads by Design station. Students would be able to select the options they want for a customized salad or choice the chef inspired salad of the day. Senators will be looking for student feedback on all of these suggestions. @TheMerciad

Admiral Laker’s Police Brief

It is no secret that Admiral Laker likes his breaks but he was dreading the ensuing police report. Surely after three weeks off, there was going to be a mass of incidents awaiting him this week. To his surprise, just four dossiers of dastardly deeds donned his desk. (The Mercyhurst Police provided its usual lack of information so the alliteration continues.) First up, a student was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia on March 2 on Wayne Street. While no other information was provided, it seems reasonable to Admiral Laker to assume that the

paraphernalia in question was a device used to smoke marijuana. There were two incidents of criminal mischief over Admiral Laker’s hiatus. The first occurred on March 6 in the 600 block on East 38th Street. The student was referred for discipline. No other information was provided. A second criminal mischief charge was levied at someone in the 600 block on East 38th Street on March 16. The police log does not note the perp was referred for discipline, casting doubt upon whether the cretin is a student or not. Lastly, there was a theft in

the CAE on March 6, but it was not reported until March 15. There was no information pertaining to what was stolen but Admiral Laker ran to check his secret snack hiding spots. Luckily, his stash of Dunkaroos and Huggies was intact. It’s not a late night stakeout watching Intel majors complain about how difficult their lives are without graham crackers smeared in chemical icing and tropical-flavored sugar water.

@TheMerciad

Digital Exclusives Mock Trial competes in its first tournament

‘No Contest’ Election of Caleb Ohmer as MSG President

March 18, 2015

The Merciad

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Features

Exoneree, priest to discuss death row By Kevin Thomas Staff writer

This Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m. in the Taylor Little Theatre, Mercyhurst students will have the opportunity to hear from Joseph D’Ambrosio, who faced death row for 21 years of his life for a crime he did not commit. D’Ambrosio, a U.S. Army Veteran, was wrongfully-convicted of the stabbing of a 19-year-old in 1988 and sentenced to the Mansfield Correctional Institution in Ohio when he was 26. With the help of a Catholic priest, D’Ambrosio was exonerated by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2012 and released in 2013. Father Neil Kookoothe was a pastor at St. Clarence Catholic Church in North Olmsted and was visiting death row inmates in Ohio when he heard about D’Ambrosio’s situation. Kookoothe not only became D’Ambrosio’s priest, but also his nurse and attorney. He went through D’Ambrosio’s entire case file in one night and discovered numerous inconsistencies in the case against D’Ambrosio and it is there that their quest for justice began. Even with the help and dedication of Kookoothe, D’Am-

brosio’s long road to freedom was by no means an easy one. He continues to encounter challenges with the legal system, even in his newly-obtained freedom. “As a death row exoneree who was wrongly convicted and wrongly incarcerated, he has not received any compensation from the state of Ohio for his 21 years of wrongful incarceration,” Maria Garase, Ph.D, the chair of the Criminal Justice Department said, in an email to The Merciad. Garase organized the event as part of the university’s academic theme of “Confronting Justice.” Garase said she is excited for the presentation, as it fits with the “Confronting Justice” theme in several ways. “Many times people discount death row inmates as ‘out of sight, out of mind,’” said Garase. “Father Neil [Kookoothe] courageously visits death row inmates so that they are prepared to die with dignity of person still intact.” According to Garase, D’Ambrosio will discuss how there were “a number of prosecutorial misconduct issues (e.g. withholding exculpatory evidence, false confessions),” as well as issues regarding an “ineffective counsel who was not adequately prepared to

Contributed photo

Joseph D’Ambrosio and Father Neil Kookoothe will speak to students about their experience with capital punishment this Thursday, March 19, at 7 p.m. in the Taylor Little Theatre.

try a capital case.” The controversies surrounding capital punishment will also be a topic for the evening, Garase said. “As another death row exoneree said during a presentation I recently attended... ‘you can release an innocent person from death row, but you cannot release an inno-

cent person from the grave, it is an imperfect system at best,’” Garase said. Both Kookoothe and D’Ambrosio will be at Taylor Little Theatre to discuss their experience with students. Students in attendance will have the opportunity to hear both the experience of being an inmate on death row and

the complex emotions that D’Ambrosio experienced when exonerated only two years ago. The ethics of capital punishment will also be a topic for discussion during the evening. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, 150 people have been exonerated and freed from death row

since 1973. For more statistics about the death penalty, visit deathpenaltyinfo.org.

@TheMerciad

Committee seeks student submissions for ‘Illumination’ By Lucero Mendoza Staff writer

Mercyhurst University plans to highlight the diverse projects of its student population with an end-of-year event. On Friday, April 24, from 14 p.m. in the Center for Academic Engagement atrium, Mercyhurst students will have a chance to display posters of projects they worked on during the year in a showcase titled, Illumination 2015. The showcase is a chance for Mercyhurst students to create and display posters of projects they worked on during

the year and explain and discuss them with other students, faculty and the public. Formerly the Student Scholarship Symposium, Illumination has been opened to students of all majors and academic years. This decision was made by the Student Research Committee, Honors Program and Institutional Advancement in an effort to display a wide range of projects. Formerly open to traditional research projects, Illumination is now seeking entries relating to everything from arts and service projects, as well as the work and internship experiences of the student body. Thomas Cook, Ph.D., assis-

tant professor of Public Health and member of the Student Research Committee, said it was only natural to extend the showcase to all areas of student work and activity besides just traditional research, as it had been before this year. “With the new emphasis on experiential learning and internships, it made sense to include these in the showcase,” Cook said. Illumination is modeled after the Ovation event held at Baldwin Wallace University, which displays over 200 submissions each year and has a smaller student population compared to Mercyhurst, according to Cook. The Stu-

Zumbathon comes to REC By Kayley Dunn

Contributing writer

On Saturday, March 21, Student Activities Council (SAC) and Kappa Delta Pi will be hosting the first annual “Zumbathon” at 1 p.m. in the Mercyhurst Athletic Center. Students are invited to join in the event, which will support the children’s charity, Project Linus. SAC programmer Samantha Beckas helped to organize the event, which will feature two local Zumba instructors who will lead students in two hours of continuous Zumba.

“You don’t have to do the whole two hours,” said Beckas, “but it’s better if you at least start and get your heart rate up.” SAC partnered with Kappa Delta Pi, the Education Honor Society, to assist with one of the society’s philanthropy projects. “You don’t have to donate, but it’s highly encouraged,” said Beckas. “The first 100 people to donate get a custom water bottle.” All of the donations go toward Project Linus, an Eriebased group that makes blankets for children in need. Project Linus is an organiza-

tion whose mission, according to their website, is to “Provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans.” “It’s people in the community that we’re helping,” Michelle Farley, Student Activities Council Chair said. Registration for the event will be taking place from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Zumbathon will begin at 2:00 p.m. and last until 4 p.m. @TheMerciad

dent Research Committee’s hope is that all Mercyhurst students will want to participate and attend Illumination in the future. Renamed Illumination to emphasize the main idea that the goal is to “shed some light on student work, student ideas, and all the many good things students do,” Cook said. Awards and special recognitions will be offered for outstanding student entries. All entries will be rated on the quality of the presentation, ability of the presenter to explain their project in less than two minutes and other criteria, which can be applied across diverse projects. This

will be done regardless of their categories. Four student representatives and three faculty members serving on the Student Research Committee will decide which student entries to award or recognize as an outstanding contribution. Another new element in this year’s event is a Scholarship Donors Luncheon. This will allow donors a chance to see the entries of the students. The Student Research Committee wants more students to participate in Illumination, whether by presenting, helping to set up or just attending the event to view the projects of their peers.

Rolfe Peterson, Ph.D., assistant professor of Political Science and a member of the Student Research Committee, is also excited by the chance to view a wide range of projects completed by students. “We want to show the broad diversity of projects and experiences that students have at Mercyhurst,” said Peterson. “The goal for us is to include more perspectives in projects.”

@TheMerciad

Business club offers advice By Marcela Delgado Opinion Editor

This upcoming Thursday, March 19, at 7:30 p.m. in Sullivan 1, the Business Club, in collaboration with the Career Development Center will hold a seminar in successful interviewing. This event will benefit those who are seeking a job after graduation or an internship before graduation. The purpose of the event is to provide students with useful tips and techniques to have a successful interviewing experience and improve

their ability to land a job. Guest speakers for this event include Frank Rizzone from the Career Development Center and Kim Zacherl, professor of Marketing and Human Resources from the Walker School of Business. Every student attending the event will also have the opportunity to sign up to receive a digital copy of a resume workbook, a compilation of written articles and essays on successful interviewing for them to utilize in the future. Do not miss this opportunity to enhance your inter-

viewing skills and jumpstart into your career. For more information contact Mariano Lagos, President of the Business Club, at mlagos11@lakers.mercyhrust.edu. All Mercyhurst students are invited to join.

@TheMerciad

Alumni Relations raises funds for school’s Annual Fund By Emani Burton Staff writer

March is a particularly busy time of year for the Office of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at Mercyhurst. The office’s March campaign reaches out to alumni through mail, email, websites and over the phone for donations to support the university’s Annual Fund. This year, almost 70 percent of Mercyhurst’s fiscal goal for the year has been met. Tamara Walters, the Director of the Office of Alumni

Relations and Annual Giving, said that the March campaign is one of their most popular giving campaigns. “A spike in alumni donations is typical for this time of year,” Walters said. The money received through the campaign contributes to the Annual Fund, which offsets the operations budget used to run Mercyhurst programs. The Annual Fund is unrestricted, meaning that it funds university scholarships, athletics, academic programs and meets other university needs, according to Walters. The number of contribu-

tions has risen significantly since the campaign started in February. Their goal is to reach a 20% alumni participation rate. “We tend to have great success during this campaign,” said Walters. “It’s [fiscally] definitely where we want to be.” This campaign also helps with increasing alumni participation rates. Alumni who contribute at least $15 during the March giving campaign are given a small gift in appreciation. In acknowledgment of their philanthropy, donors

receive customized t-shirts designed to incorporate both Mercyhurst and St. Patrick’s Day. “At the Alumni Relations office, we want to encourage alumni to display a sense of ‘LakerPride,’” said Walters. The shirts serve as a way to “represent Mercyhurst around the world,” Walter added, and also allow alumni to keep in touch with their alma mater. “They are not a reward to donors, they are a relationship builder,” Walters said. According to Walters, the March campaign is successful partly due to the positive con-

nection between Mercyhurst alumni to St. Patrick’s Day and the University’s Irish roots. Some research suggests that people who were highly involved as students are likely to be highly involved post – graduation. The alumni relations office keeps this idea in mind as they shape and improve their fundraising methods, according to Walters. “My goal is to keep alumni engaged and wanting to support and invest back into their alma mater,” Walters said. She believes that while it is important to reach out to

graduates, current students are just as important for university empowerment. “Students are Lakers for Life,” said Walters. “We feel that each generation of graduates can aid the next through alumni donations. We hope to maintain close relations between past, present and future students.”

@TheMerciad

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Features

The Merciad

March 18, 2015

Police & Safety seek donations for K-9 unit By Sami Rapp

Managing editor

Due to a lack of university funding, Mercyhurst Police and Safety have turned to the public for donations to pay for Rico, the school’s K-9 unit. Mercyhurst Police and Safety is asking for public donations to support Rico’s needs. Rico’s veterinary fees, upkeep on equipment and the training for Corporal Brandon Miller, Rico’s handler cost the department thousands each year. “We receive no funding at all from the university. That is important for the public to know. I don’t want them to think that the school is funding us and that we are looking for funding on top of that,” Police and Safety Chief Robert Kuhn said. These funds are essential to the program, as Police and Safety relies on public generosity to maintain and finance the K-9 program. “That’s how we keep this program running: off of donations,” Miller said. Originally, the university was going to provide funding for Rico. Kuhn said that was

when the school began watching its finances and they had to be careful on expenditures. “[President Tom Gamble] was going to do the initial funding to get the dog trained at the academy and then he changed his mind,” said Kuhn. “It is always an uphill battle to try and be progressive with the police department on campus. [Gamble] told me if I could get the funding to go ahead and do it.” Senator Sean Wiley donated the initial funds to purchase Rico and started the private fund for him. “Unfortunately in our budget, it is very expensive to maintain a full K-9 unit let alone one dog,” Kuhn said. Rico has become a regional asset since his arrival at Mercyhurst. Rico is not only trained in detecting explosive devices, but can also detect weapons and ammunition, as well as plastic explosives. The Erie City Police Department no longer has a K-9 unit, which keeps Rico in high demand, Kuhn said. In February, Rico was called out to Penn State Behrend because of a bomb threat, Kuhn said. “If someone went missing,

he has the capabilities to track him down. There is a lot he doesn’t do daily, however if the need arose he’s there for it,” Miller said. On campus, Rico is Corporal Miller’s partner and is part of the daily patrols around Mercyhurst’s campus. “He’s always on patrol with me. I’m sure you hear him barking like crazy. Pretty much he safeguards everything with me,” Miller said. Recently, donations were made allowing police and safety to obtain a Kevlar vest for Rico. The vest, which is custom-made, is bullet, stab and fireproof. While the need for such a vest seems unwarranted, protecting Rico is a number one priority. “They [K-9 units] are worth their weight in gold,” said Kuhn. “I was always a believer in dogs. I always kept that K-9 unit going.” When Rico is not on duty, he is at home with Miller acting like any other dog. “He goes right in and jumps on the couch. He thinks he’s a lap dog, always laying on me,” said Miller, “but when it’s time for work he has a good switch.” @TheMerciad

Salina Bowe photo

Corporal Brandon Miller poses with Rico the dog. Police and Safety currently relies on public generosity to maintain and finance the K-9 program.

‘Hurst officials discuss this year’s Spring Fest artist By Ryan Kushner Features editor

While the lyrics of T-Pain can be seen as suggestive, selecting him to perform at Mercyhurst University has not raised any strong opposition on campus. The choice was made by the Chair of the Student Activities Council (SAC) and the Events Coordinator for Mercyhurst Student Government (MSG), this year Michelle Farley and Megan Lawrence respectively, and then approved by the adviser for MSG, Director of Campus Involvement Sarah Allen. This year’s selection has received some of the most positive feedback on social media “in a long time,” Allen said, having reached over 10,000 people on Mercyhurst’s Facebook and Twitter accounts alone. The content of T-Pain’s music did not play a factor in the approval of the decision, according to Allen, as it was reviewed by neither her, nor by the Review Board for the Guidelines for the Affirmation of the Mercyhurst Mission, chaired by Lisa Mary McCartney, RSM, Ph.D. before the announcement. This is not uncommon, however. Since its implemen-

tation in 2005, the Review Board has never been consulted or asked to review an artist selected by MSG and SAC to perform at Mercyhurst for Spring Fest. The original intent of having the Review Board, according to McCartney, was “to help the students who were bringing in speakers and different groups to understand, respect and not undermine the [Mercyhurst] Mission.” “Whenever you think about that,” McCartney added, “you think in terms of human dignity, respect and tolerance for others.” McCartney said she views the Board as being more about consultation, primarily for public events or honors, which does not include Spring Fest, an event held privately for Mercyhurst students. “Review Board has a kind of authoritarian or a censorship notion, and we don’t want it to be that,” said McCartney. “We want it to be something where, in the best of the Catholic tradition, there is this principle of subsidiarity, and that means you deal with problems at the local level.” When it comes to the content of T-Pain’s music, McCartney said she was not aware of the artist’s style or music until asked to speak about him

with The Merciad. “I did look him up online, but I couldn’t find anything as far as hip-hop or rap, I couldn’t see anything just online that was vulgar, crude, profane,” said McCartney. “I would be concerned if his music had a lot of vulgarity, crudeness, profanity, racial or sexual slurs, violence, or if he was mean-spirited. And I didn’t find anything. What I found was that he was a really good musician.” The Review Board is composed the Vice President for Academic Affairs, Vice President of Student Life, the University Chaplain, the Director of the Center for Mercy and Catholic Studies, the President of the Erie Faculty Senate and the President of the Mercyhurst Student Government. While the Board has yet to hold a session, McCartney has been consulted about events in the past, such as a show sponsored by Victoria’s Secret at the North East Campus, and the screening of the film “Easy A” in Erie. She believes it would have the power to prevent a public speaker or artist that it objected to, saying that certain content is non-negotiable. The non-negotiable would typically consist of “a lot of violence of any kind, anything that would really demean

people or a group of people like racial slurs or sexual slurs, misogyny. A lot of vulgarity and profanity, and I guess things that wouldn’t lift the human spirit, or lift human beings,” McCartney said. While McCartney did find some of T-Pain’s lyrics to be “suggestive,” she said she does not know enough about the particular style to judge it as being against the Mercy Mission. “I remember when I was a student, we loved “Puff the Magic Dragon” and it never occurred to us that it was about drugs,” said McCartney. “John Denver’s “You Fill Up My Senses” is very sensual and erotic, but who’s going to get upset about that? There is a certain sense in the Catholic tradition, where there is not a puritanical notion toward sex.” Allen said that when reviewing a list of artists provided by an agent from Babco Entertainment LLC, the focus is on providing a variety each year to provide a wide range of experiences for the student during his or her four years. “What I do, and what I advise the students to do, is take a look at the experience they are providing the experience and to make sure that we want to bring entertainers in that students enjoy and stu-

dents listen to, and that we’re also mindful that we are not setting students up to experience something outside their norm or outside of what they feel is their comfortable space.” Allen does not personally look at the content of artists chosen by students for Spring Fest, but closely consults with Preston Reilly and Petrina Marrero, as well as the Chair of the SAC and Events Coordinator of MSG. “We keep in mind the core values of the institution but also understand the ability for students to make their own choices,” Allen said. When given the lyrics to one of T-Pain’s singles entitled “Church” that repeats in its chorus “god d***, you talking s***, better close your lips, you need to hush / Before the end of the night I’m gonna have to take your ass to church,” Allen said that while it is not personally her type of music, it is still the type of art commonly played on radio stations. “I don’t feel like his music is putting out there anything that our students haven’t heard in other places,” Allen said. Concerning the lyrics to T-Pain’s “Booty Wurk (One Cheek at a Time),” which states, “I like that booty, you know where to put it / Go

ahead, go ahead…Now let me see that booty work,” Allen said the vetting process of an artist does not simply look at one or two songs before making the decision. “They are not up there for two hours singing each song from their latest album, they’re not willing to do that,” said Allen. “He [T-Pain] is going to perform his popular songs that every student knows… If students came to Michelle [Farley] and Megan [Lawrence] and said, listen, we really don’t want this song played, they can request that. Those are requests that we can make.” Concerning whether she believes some of T-Pain’s lyrics contain certain amounts of debauchery, violence and misogyny, Allen said that “it is hard to find an artist that doesn’t.” “These two students, Megan [Lawrence] and Michelle [Farely], really wanted that fun, upbeat atmosphere. That is what they were after,” Allen said. Neither Michelle Farley nor Megan Lawrence responded to emails from The Merciad requesting an interview concerning their decision for the featured artist at Spring Fest 2015. @TheMerciad

Kuntz heads Intel Information Systems, plans to teach By Ryan Kushner Features editor

Charles Kuntz joined the Tom Ridge School of Intelligence this year as Coordinator in Information Systems. Kuntz has worked in IT since the early 1990s, owning his own computer consulting company, DSA of Erie. At Intel Studies, Kuntz is responsible for approximately 400 users in the network, including students, administrators and faculty, maintaining over 75 computers in the department. A native of Erie, Kuntz inherited his interest in computers. “My father started our company [DSA of Erie] in 1970 doing basic computer services and accounting services

and it grew to the point of supporting hundreds of local users through computer services and computer support,” Kuntz said. At DSA of Erie, Kuntz helped local businesses with their IT needs in network infrastructure, email set ups, trouble shooting and repairs. Kuntz heard of the position of Coordinator in Information Systems at Mercyhurst in August of 2014 from his longtime client, Kristine Pollard the Manager of Information Systems for the Intelligence Studies Department. Pollard “asked if I knew anyone interested and I said I would be interested in sitting down and talking about the position to see what it entails,” Kuntz said. Besides presiding over the welfare of the computers of

the Intelligence department, Kuntz also maintains several websites for the University, including the Tom Ridge School of Intelligence website and the website for Global Intelligence Forum. “We help any student that is a student of Intel Studies with their own personal computers,” said Kuntz. “They can bring a computer in to our department and not have to worry about finding a local computer company. We do the repairs for them.” Kuntz will also be teaching an Intro to Cyber course in the fall. “I’m very excited and from the taste that I got this [past] fall, I have a lot of things that I would like to offer to the course.” Having worked with cyber threats in DSA of Erie, Kuntz

is interested adding more emphasis about what could cause cyber threats from the outside, as well as how those can threats can be prevented. Kuntz said he wants to teach more “hands-on of what a company or an IT director can do to prevent cyber attacks and staying on top of technology to know what’s out there and available for those careers.” Kuntz is excited to have the opportunity of working with his passion. “Helping people with technology and I love helping the kids,” said Kuntz. “So it’s a great combination of everything, because I love technology. Technology motivates me and it has to because it’s always changing.” Kuntz is inspired by the dedication of the students he

works with in the Intelligence department. “The kids do a phenomenal job of juggling their work schedules with the demands of the classroom and just the demands of everyday life, said Kuntz. “They have a very strict regimen that they have to follow…they work hard and they want to be here and they want to learn.” This April, Kuntz also plans to hold the First Annual Tech Expo, an event planned to be executed by The Tom Ridge School’s IT department. The goal of the event will be to help “to educate the student body on the basics of computer as well as being able to freely interact with a wide variety of technology,” according to Kuntz. It will feature the latest technology from Lenovo and Dell, as well

as complimentary computer tune-ups by the Intelligence IT department, along with refreshments and giveaways. It is open to the entire University. “I believe it will be a wonderful educational event for all students, as well as a great way to show support for their fellow classmates who have put months of planning into this event,” Kuntz said. The Expo will take place April 15 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 300 in the Center for Academic Engagement.

@TheMerciad

The Merciad

March 18, 2015

Page 5

Arts &

Entertainment

Lit Festival fuses plays, poems, art By Naomi Greenstein Staff writer

Spring is in the air on campus, which means that the annual literary festival is on its way. The Mercyhurst Literary Festival, inspired by the renowned reading series at the University of Notre Dame, is hosted each spring by the English Department. The festival, which was the result of the collaboration of English professors Jeffrey Roessner, Ph. D. and Kenneth Schiff, Ph. D. in 2003, became the start of the new tradition at Mercyhurst that focuses on the celebration of literature and fine arts. Each year, the festival brings in a selection of talented speakers that vary in genres and can range from novelists to slam poets. The readings given by the speakers are held for the

public, but the authors often work and interact with students in small, intimate workshops as well. In the past, the speakers who have visited the Erie campus include slam poet Mohja Kahf, and the author of “The Jane Austen Book Club,” Karen Joy Fowler, winner of the 2014 PEN/ Faulkner Award. This year, the first event of the literary festival is an onstage conversation between Brett D. Johnson, Ph. D. and Elizabeth Ashley, one of the definitive interpreters of Tennessee Williams’ work, held at 8 p.m. on March 26 in Taylor Little Theatre. The spring play performed by the Mercyhurst Theatre Program, directed by Johnson, is the second event in the literary festival. The play, written by Tennessee Williams, is “Clothes for a Summer Hotel.” The play will be shown

April 9 to 12 in Taylor Little Theatre. Tickets are $10 for adults, $7 for seniors, students and President’s Cardholders and $5 for youths and students with their Mercyhurst ID. Poet Sean Thomas Dougherty will be also be making an appearance in the literary festival and performing some of his works on April 16, at 8 p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre. The final capstone event of the literary festival is the unveiling of Lumen, Mercyhurst’s Fine Arts and Literary Magazine. The magazine is entirely student-produced, and includes works of poetry, short fiction and art, completed and submitted by students, and serves as an opportunity for students to share their talents with their peers. The magazine also includes a flashdrive, which is reserved for longer works of fiction and poetry, and clips from

music and dance performances held on campus. At the final event of the literary festival, the winner of the P. Barry McAndrew Writing Contest will be announced, as well as the top three winners of the submissions to Lumen. There will also be an open mic to welcome any students who wish to read their works aloud. This year marks the 13th edition of the Mercyhurst Literary Festival, and the last organized by Schiff, who will be retiring this spring after 28 years on the Mercyhurst faculty. Be sure to attend these fantastic events and support the accomplished guest speakers and creative work by the Mercyhurst students. For additional information, contact Schiff at 814-8242461 or kschiff@mercyhurst. edu.

Contributed photo

The Literary Festival welcomes renowned speakers, from poets to novelists. See the unveiling of this year’s Lumen at the capstone event in April.

‘Cinderella’ ‘It Happened’ in Taylor Little Newest recaptures the magic By Naomi Greenstein Staff writer

By Lucero Mendoza

Even though the weather seems to be warming up, it is always a treat to escape reality for a while and watch one of the Sunday afternoon movies in Taylor Little Theatre. This week, the Sunday movie is an old classic, “It Happened One Night,” starring Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert. The 1934 film has been described by numerous critics as “one of the greatest romantic comedies in film history, and a film that has endured in popularity.” Claudette Colbert plays a pampered socialite who runs away from her disapproving family and gets help from a roguish reporter, played by Clark Gable, who is only looking for a new story to scoop. The escapist theme of the film, appropriate during the

Cinema Club Member

miac photo

The classic film “It Happened One Night” will be playing on Sunday in Taylor Little Theatre.

Depression Era in which it was made, follows their story and the unlikely romantic pairing of a snobby heiress and a gruff, indifferent and recently-fired newspaper reporter. The film contains some of the most classic scenes ever made, such as the “Walls of

Jericho” scene, the doughnuts-dunking lesson and the dramatic wedding scene. Co-written and directed by Frank Capra, “It Happened One Night” went on to receive Winner of Best Picture, Director, Actor, Actress and Screenplay at the 1934 Academy Awards, and from

then on was regarded as one of the most cultural films of all time. The film will be shown this Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre. All tickets are $1. @naomiruth29

Director Kenneth Branagh’s new film “Cinderella” was produced with one idea in mind: the bigger, the better. From castles to gardens, from dresses to chandeliers, even personalities, Branagh made sure to focus on the idea of “big” when it came to everyone’s beloved Disney princess, Cinderella, played by Lily James. The film tells the wellknown story of a merchant’s daughter whose mother (Hayley Atwell) dies at a young age and whose father (Ben Chaplin), remarried, bringing into their home an evil stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her two self-centered daughters (Sophie McShera and Holliday Grainger). When Ella’s father dies on

a business trip, she is left to serve her stepmother and stepsisters’ every need. One may wonder what would be the point of seeing a film all too well known. To my surprise, I left the movie theater with answers to questions I have had since I was a kid. “Cinderella” gives moviegoers not just Ella’s typical point of view, but a diverse perspective from key characters, such as Prince Kit (Richard Madden) and his father the King (Derek Jacobi). This film not only has massive props, but the attention to detail in wardrobe and scenic design, works well to bring the beloved princess’s world to life. If I have to pick the best scene from this film, I would say it is when Ella’s mother tells her to “have courage and be kind.”

All Around Erie: Arts and Entertainment Edition By Megan Pacileo

Arts and Entertainment editor

Erie Station Dinner Theatre presents: ‘For Better or For Worse’ The Erie Station Dinner Theatre is introducing the opening of its new musical comedy. Titled “For Better or For Worse,” the show focuses on what happens after we say “I do.” This new musical comedy shows all the trials and tribulations of marriage and the good things too, making it a delightful look at marriage in all its marred majesty. The show takes a look at the wedded bliss of newlyweds and the stagnation that comes with being married for quite a while. The light-hearted images are quickly supplanted by the reality of the couples’ eroding relationships. Filled with hilarious gags, this musical comedy includes the dark side of marriage, as well as its lighter side. Guests will be served homemade wedding soup, salad , bread, roast beef, chicken parmesan, roasted red potatoes, baby carrots and apple pecan crunch for dessert. The musical will be performed from March 18 to 28 at 7 p.m. on Fridays, 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. For ticket prices, contact the Erie Station Dinner Theatre box office. For more information, call (814) 864- 2022.

FILM presents ‘Champs’ at Art Museum

Online

The Erie Art Museum continues to show visually-stunning and emotionally-uplifting films as part of their FILM series.

Full list of events can be found on the PAC website

This week, the film “Champs” follows the stories of several world-famous boxing champions. From inner-city housing projects to the biggest stages in boxing, this insightful and provocative documentary charts the lives of some of America’s heaviest hitters, including Mike Tyson, Evander Holyfield and Bernard Hopkins, as they seek to break out of poverty via one of the few outlets available. Director Bert Marcus skillfully weaves their personal histories and gripping footage from their biggest fights to explore the meaning of the American dream in a society increasingly fragmented between rich and poor. The film will be shown 0n March 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Erie Art Museum. Tickets are $5. For more information, call (814) 580-6608.

‘To Kill a Mockingbird’at Erie Playhouse The Erie Playhouse is proud to present the play adaptation of the novel by Harper Lee “To Kill A Mockingbird.” Set in Alabama during the Great Depression, this iconic story follows the journey of Jem and Scout Finch, whose father has been appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a black man on trial for a crime he did not commit. As the trial progresses, Jem and Scout witness their community in a tense tug-of-war between justice and racism. This timeless classic compels audience members to take an honest look at the nation’s past and our moral responsibility to one another. The play runs from March 19 to 29 at 7:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Sundays. Tickets can be purchased at the Erie Playhouse box office. For more information, call (814) 454-2852.

View upcoming performances: www.miac.mercyhurst.edu

Presque Isle After Dark - Dead Pond Trail Once again, Presque Isle State Park is open for visitors to explore. Hikers will be able to explore the interior of Presque Isle at night. Attendees will meet at the Pine Tree Pavilion for an approximate 3-mile hike on various wooded trails. Along the way, hikers will search for nocturnal wildlife in their natural habitats. If attending, be sure to dress for the weather. There is no fee or registration for those wishing to attend the hike. The hike will take place from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on March 20. For more information, call (814) 833-7424.

Asbury Woods Beach Glass Jewelry Workshop With beach season right around the corner, it is time to start the staff of the Asbury Woods Nature Center to create some summer-inspired jewelry. Join them to make your own attractive beach glass necklace using a wire wrap technique. Barbara Legie will be providing step-by-step instructions for those who attend. All tools and materials to make a necklace will be provided, and each participant will take home his or her own necklace. The event costs $16 for members and $18 for non-members. Registration and payment must be received at least 24 hours before the class. For more information, call (814) 835-5356.

www.merciad.mercyhurst.edu/ arts_entertainment

March 18, 2015

The Merciad

Page 6

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.

Arming Police and Safety is cause for relief, not fear By Jacob Middlestetter Staff writer

As of Monday, March 2nd, Mercyhurst Police and Safety officers are armed. After an unexpected extra time of bureaucratic hurdling, the officers are now carrying firearms. While not everyone agreed arming Police and Safety would be a good thing, there has not been an arbitrary increase in danger to any body’s life. Police and Safety has had little to no reason to use any kind of force to do their jobs in the past, and there is no

reason to assume that will change now that there is a new tool with which to do so. The firearms are merely a contingency for the unexpected, the tragic and the most perilous of circumstances.

to dispel any potential threats. In addition, I have close contact with the Police and Safety staff and officers on a regular basis. I have talked with the chief and deputy chief, the lieutenant and several of the offiAfter an unexpected cers. And in my experience, extra time of the switch to armed officers bureaucratic hurdling, has had negligible consequences. the officers are now The guns are secured in holcarrying firearms. sters on many of the staff, but there is no unnecessary hanJacob Middlestetter dling of the firearms. In all, I take comfort in the Police and Safety appears to thought that I never have had have no reason to drastically to fear for my life while at change their behavior because Mercyhurst and that there are threats have not increased. trained personnel at the ready What this means, for the

“

student body, is that the officers are continuing to do their job as they always have (well, I would say), and this change which has brought the firearms to campus is merely being ready for a day which we all hope will never come.

”

Staff writer

Mercyhurst University is a Catholic institution. T-Pain is a rapper who sings about getting drunk and partying. Those two things do not go together very well. I do not have a problem with rappers; it is odd that a Catholic school would get a rapper who sings about taking girls home after getting them drunk. It’s cool that Mercyhurst has an on-campus event like Spring Fest where students can cool off from the studying and drama of daily life to just relax and have some fun. However, having an event where students get drunk (we need to admit that it happens here), while listening to songs about getting drunk (as well

as other unmentionable activities) does not reflect well on the school’s Catholic reputation. If students who are of age wish to get a little tipsy at this event, then all power to them, but having an artist who practically promotes getting drunk on a college campus is not a good decision. T-Pain’s lyrics don’t go with the values Mercyhurst claims to have. T-Pain has the ability to rap, and in listening to his music in preparation for this article, he has a good voice. His lyrics are what get me. However, he has a song called “Bartender” that is a four-minute declaration of love for a bartender that is surprisingly sweet. It is not necessarily a bad song; in fact, I would almost call it romantic. That romantic side is totally

absent in his song “Take Your Shirt Off,” about him trying to get a girl to do what the title implies and let nature take its course. While it’s meant to be a party song, this is a Catholic campus, and it is a questionable decision to let him play at Springfest. T-Pain is probably a nice person in real life, and I respect his accomplishments in the music industry, but he should not play at Spring Fest. I do not want to sound like I’m on a soapbox, but I would like to know how and why the school decided to ask T-Pain to play this year. My best guess would be because he’s popular with my generation, he can sing well, and his songs have a good, fun beat. I bear the unfortunate trait of listening more to the lyrics of a song than the beat

@TheMerciad

itself, to see what the song is about instead of just saying “it sounds good.” Like dialogue in a screenplay, lyrics in a song are what determine its longevity. Many of the Beatles’ greatest songs are remembered for their catchy lyrics along with their beats, something that should come naturally to a singer or artist. Because of that, the lyrics of T-Pain’s songs are just not something I want to hear on a Catholic campus. I am not overly religious, but it is an odd choice.

Staff writer

Online

We have all counted down the days, hours, minutes and seconds until spring break. While this is one of the most exciting times of the year for most college students, spring break fun can be deadly. ABC News states the biggest danger during spring break is binge drinking. Orbitz says Las Vegas retained its rank as the most popular spring break destination for 2015. Vegas is full of gambling and alcohol. According to a study conducted by the American College of Health, the average male reported drinking 18 drinks per day, and the average female reported drinking up to 10 during spring break. That amount is well above the safe level of alcohol consumption. Most students are 21 for less than half of their college career. It is not a secret

that many college freshmen and sophomores, as well as under-aged upperclassmen, choose to consume alcohol. Some students travel to other countries in order to be able to drink legally.

“

The concept of spring break can be beneficial to college students, if the time is spent wisely.

”

Mackenzie Burns

The legal drinking age in other parts of the world can be as low as 14 and often unenforced. Binge drinking is not the only danger students can experience over spring break. Upwards of 50 percent of college-aged sexual encounters during spring break do not involve protection. In addition, many of those involved are under the influence of alcohol at the time of

the event. Studies show that as many as 1,400 students, age 18 to 24, die each year during spring break. On top of that, roughly 2,500 will be arrested for under-age drinking and sexual assault. No one believes it will happen to them, but there is a very real possibility that it could happen. The concept of spring break can be beneficial to college students, if the time is spent wisely. Working students can make big bucks during break, or students can grab some volunteer hours to add to their résumé. Even if break is spent sleeping or relaxing, it can do wonders for mental health and stress levels. Spring break can be the perfect time to reconnect with old friends, catch up on homework or spend time with family members. For the majority of institutions, spring break coincides with the middle of the semes-