The Merciad April 19 Issue

Autism panel enlightens MU community

By Bella Lee Staff writer

For Autism Acceptance Month, the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM) program does a variety of events to raise awareness of the month and especially the condition. On April 13, AIM teamed up with the Council of Exceptional Children to conduct the Brad McGarry Autism Panel.

The panel, conducted by Brady Esham, consisted of alumni Ben VanHook, graduate students June Durkee and Chris Streibich, senior Nico King and juniors Nate Wooten and Nash Jones.

The questions in the panel ranged from their transitions from living at home to living at school to how their social skills changed over the course of their time at Mercyhurst. “We have brilliant neurodiverse students and alumni that are changing our world,” said Amanda Mulder, director of AIM. “I’m proud of them every day. I’m thankful these students shared their experiences so we can learn, grow, and better embrace neurodiversity everywhere.”

Sadly, it is common for neurodivergent people to be silenced or outcasted due to the discomfort many hold towards them. However, there is much to learn from the neurodivergent community, and it is in Mercyhurst’s mission to uphold the dignity of each person.

Durkee, a graduate student in Organizational Leadership, has participated in discussions about autism in the past, which inspired her to be a part of this one. “One panel discussion I was fortunate to serve as a student panelist was with the National Association of Colleges and Employees (NACE) organization during my gap year where I got to share my education background and journey of how I am continuously learning about my autism,” Durkee said. “I also wanted to help tell my story since I had only discovered that I am autistic prior to my senior year in high school. So, for me, I’m constantly seeking ways to learn and explore what autism means to me and how I can become an advocate for others. This is what ultimately led me to this desire of participating in student panels like this.”

The work that AIM has done to help Durkee succeed during her time at Mercyhurst is what makes it so important to her that others are aware of autism and Autism Acceptance Month.

“It is very important that not just the Mercyhurst community, but society in general should start to express appreciation, acknowledgment, and acceptance that neurodivergent people are like everyone else,” Durkee said. “I feel it is essential to move away from all the

stigma labels that constantly downplay neurodiverse individual’s capabilities to succeed in the real world. The biggest label I feel strongly is eliminating the phrase or narrative that ‘students have a learning disability.’ That is not the right message because it makes it sound like employers would not want to hire someone if they were ‘disabled’ and perhaps unable to perform certain tasks in the workplace.” Durkee then went on to talk about how it sends a negative message and is discriminatory.

Instead, the AIM program should focus on peoples’ strengths and how those can be used to benefit them personally. Durkee mentioned how she prefers to say “we as students learn differently than others.” This is quite different from everyone assuming those on the spectrum have a learning disability.

There was much to learn from this panel, but the main thing everyone should take away from it is that neurodivergent people are worthy of equal treatment and equal opportunity, and that their condition is not a hindrance in life but rather equips them with unique gifts to succeed in the world.

The panel was named after Brad McGarry who is dedicated both personally and throughout his career to helping those with neurodivergence after his son was born with Angelman Syn-

drome.

This sparked a passion in McGarry to help those with any sort of developmental disabilities, specifically in education. McGarry is the former director of the AIM program at Mercyhurst.

He has an impressive background as he has testified before Congress and has served as a source for notable news networks. Because of this, the panel was named after him due to his great impact on the neurodivergent community, both on a smaller scale at Mercyhurst, and on a larger scale around the country. McGarry, whose appearances

on campus are limited due to his battle with ALS, was able to make an appearance at this panel, much to the joy of everyone in attendance.

He had a huge smile on his face during the entire program, especially when a video created by Esham and VanHook included messages from several alumni and current students.

The panel was a great success, and everyone involved had the opportunity to learn a lot about how impactful AIM can be.

Brad McGarry has made many impactful choices in his life that have changed students’ lives forever.

Even looking at it from the

small campus of Mercyhurst, it is remarkable to reflect on how many students in the AIM program were given opportunities to advance their education.

There are not many colleges with a program as unique as the AIM program at Mercyhurst, which is something education is falling short on.

Those with autism deserve an education just as much as those without a neurodivergence do, so hopefully this panel helped people see that.

Be sure to support those on the autism spectrum during April and every other month of the year.

Council for exceptional Children Instagram photo

Attendees and participants pose for a picture with Brad McGarry (center) after the panel on Autism Appreciation.

Autism is a condition that has many stigmas surrounding it, so the month of April is meant to educate people on autism and attempting to eliminate any prejudice towards the community.

Fashion students walk in Mutt Gala

By Eva Mihelich News editor

Fashion Merchandising students are walking down the pink carpet, but not to flaunt themselves, but rather adoptable dogs. In an event called the Mutt Gala, the Erie Humane Society hosts a fundraiser that shows off their adoptable dogs.

This is a great way for students in the Fashion Merchandising program to practice the skills they have learned in their classes, such as event planning and fundraising.

This event benefits both the students and the dogs. This is an opportunity for dogs to get adopted by people attending the event.

The Erie Humane Society is a valued part of the community and has been helping to house animals for 130 years. They are a very strict no-kill shelter and pride themselves in helping to assist animals with life-saving medical care. They are compassionate in their work and try to help as many animals get the help they need, and then eventually find a loving home.

Because they are a no-kill shelter, they rely solely on grants and donations to operate. They also utilize fundraising events to provide financial support, which is why events like the Mutt Gala exist.

The gala requires a pre-purchased ticket to reserve your spot. The event includes a sit-down dinner, drinks, music, the doggie fashion show and dancing. The Erie Humane Society’s website

states the excitement surrounding the event. The website states, “We are all bold and beautiful, and the Erie Humane Society’s pets are ready to strut their stuff on the catwalk in support of EHS’s second annual Mutt Gala.”

The students participating in the Mutt Gala will have a few responsibilities: writing commentary, selecting music, chronicling via social media, and fundraising. This is one of the many chances

Fashion Merchandising students get to practice their skills they have learned in real-life events.

Last year’s Mutt Gala had 300 attendees, and they are hoping to surpass that number this year with the goal of 400 attendees. They are reaching that goal with tickets nearly selling out currently.

The Mutt Gala will be hosted at the Bayfront Convention Center on Saturday, April 30. Support for this event is vital for

the success of the Erie Humane Society.

The money raised during this Mutt Gala will go towards the EHS Outpatient Medical Fund. The website says, “For many, emergency medical care is crucial for their survival and is a true testament of our dedication to rehabilitation. EHS strives to be an effective and innovative leader that works to strengthen the human-animal bond and improve the lives of companion animals,

as well as the people who care for them.”

Mercyhurst prides itself on getting students involved in the community, and the Mutt Gala is just one example of that. Students will be involved in a meaningful evening, while also practicing things they have learned about in the classroom.

Education department works to diversify field

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

In recent years it has become more apparent that the field of education is incredibly dominated by specific types of individuals.

In 2021, the national average ethnicity for teachers in the United States was over 68% Caucasian, 12.9% Hispanic and 10.1% African American.

These statistics make it shockingly clear that the national averages for the education field have staggering disparities, most notably when it comes to teachers’ ethnicities, socioeconomic statuses, and linguistic backgrounds.

Mercyhurst University has recently taken a major step towards changing these statistics as they introduced the NextGen814 initiative headed by the university’s Education Department.

This initiative aims to increase the total number of teacher candidates within the Erie area and beyond who are going to increase representation within schools for generations to come.

The NextGen814 initiative was founded in February as Mercyhurst began the process of partnering with the Erie School District to recruit seven high school students of color from Erie High School who were interested in the field of education and teaching.

The seven students selected to participate in the initiative lacked the access and support needed in order to pursue higher education. Mercyhurst’s goal with founding this initiative was to allow for these students to have an innovative route to the teaching profession.

Because of this reason the program was able to earn top funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Innovative Teacher Prep2Practice Grant Program, with a total of $100,000 in funding.

After earning this fund, the initiative now has the ability to help future students who may want to participate in this program as well.

The program is set to begin this upcoming summer as students will participate in a paid internship as well as taking 6 credits

worth of pre-college teaching preparation courses. The internship portion of the initiative will consist of members of the groups acting as assistants to teachers within Mercyhurst’s Carpe Diem Academy.

They will be assisting at summer enrichment programs that are located throughout the Erie community for grades kindergarten to second grade.

A selection of pre-service teachers within the Mercyhurst Education Department and teachers of color from the Erie County School District will take part in acting as mentors for members of the initiative.

The length of the program depends on the participants grade as the support will last through the participant’s senior year.

Susan Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of Education at Mercyhurst and Amy Baushard, a Mercyhurst Education department faculty member began to create this program after they saw a need in the local community for inclusion within the education field.

A large majority of individuals

who want to pursue the field of education will never be given the chance due to their backgrounds and it is becoming increasingly clearer within the field as most of the world is calling for inclusion in all fields.

By starting this initiative, the Mercyhurst Department of Education is changing the way that Erie treats the education field and how educators look within the community for generations to come.

Diversity and representation has been a topic on the rise in the past ten years, and rightfully so.

It is so important to learn from other perspectives; otherwise, there would be no progress in anything.

This is especially true in education, because learning from a diverse set of teachers will expose students to different groups of people early on in life.

Exposure to different cultures and groups early on in life reduces the risk of that person developing prejudiced opinions, since many times prejudice comes from a lack of exposure.

If you are not exposed to dif-

ferent groups of people and different cultures, then you will be going strictly off of what you hear on the news, stereotypes, or what is shown on social media, which does not always give the full picture.

Many people have skewed perceptions of diversity in general, so it is important to educate yourself on topics like this one to avoid speaking ignorantly on the subject.

If you are an undecided major or if you are interested in pursuing a master’s in education, feel free to speak with anyone in the education department at Mercyhurst.

Becoming an educator today is a great thing to pursue, and the country is facing an educator shortage after recovering from the pandemic.

Many schools had to let go of many of their teachers due to the economic difficulties that came with COVID, so this is a job in high demand currently.

Overall, teachers have the opportunity to shape the next generation which is why diversifying will be crucial in coming years.

Erie Humane Society Image

Pictured above is the advertisement for the Erie Humane Society’s Mutt Gala

Merciad IN A MINUTE

Celebrate Songs of the Century

As a continuation of the 2023 Literary Festival, there will be live music on Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. in Luke’s Landing! Performances will be done by Mercyhurst students, professors, and more.

This is not an open mic—performers were invited to this event.

There will be a wide range of songs performed, from Britney Spears to Tom Petty.

Jim Tometsko and his band will be performing. Everyone is welcome.

Bookstore is Hiring

The Mercyhurst Bookstore is looking for new employees next academic year with many of its employees graduating this spring. Consider working for the Bookstore and joining a community of hardworking, fun people. Student employees receive a discount on apparel and the opportunity to help select the apparel that will be ordered for the store.

There are many benefits to having an oncampus job plus it is very convenient, so apply on Handshake!

Raw Edges XXV

The Mercyhurst Dance Program will be putting on a performance of Raw Edges the weekend of April 28-April 30.

This is a unique performance each time because seniors choreograph the show. This gives students the chance to put their skills to the test and to see it play out on stage.

It is described as a ‘cutting edge’ performance where dancers skillfully move to the music.

This is a yearly performance with different choreograph each time.

Consider supporting the dance program by attending a performance!

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

Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

New fungal infection is spreading quickly

By Christina Judy Staff writer

After a long fight against the COVID-19 virus, the world is being forced to shift their focus to another emerging microorganism.

This time, the fungus, Candida auris is posing a threat to many people in all countries but those who are hospitalized are at a higher risk of becoming infected because of its tenacious spread.

The concern started when healthcare facilities began noticing severe illness in their hospitalized patients which they observed as being yeast infections.

In an attempt to spread throughout the body, C. auris enters the bloodstream and causes invasive infections which are difficult to treat.

Some of the known infections are ear infections but there is speculation that it could develop lung or bladder infections.

The CDC is raising concern over this yeast because it is difficult to detect with the typical laboratory

equipment and requires specific technology.

Due to this, it is common for the yeast infection to be misidentified and therefore can throw healthcare providers off their target on a treatment plan.

C. auris is also highly contagious and has been reported to cause outbreaks in hospital settings and with the struggle to identify them, it is causing healthcare workers to be hyper aware of any yeast infection developments. Perhaps the biggest concern for those attempting to combat this infection spread is the multidrug resistance of Candida auris.

Its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs makes it challenging for the CDC to find a suitable pharmacological treatment to approve or administer.

To add to C. auris’ persistence, it has the ability to remain on surfaces in healthcare facilities and thus increases the spread of the disease.

Those who are at the highest risk for being in this environment are patients with a prolonged stay in

the intensive care unit, those who have serious medical conditions, and those who have received antibiotics or antifungal medications in the past.

Infection can be spread through mere contact with an infected person or a surface that is contaminated. The CDC is making a solid effort to provide information and advice to medical facilities and the general public.

They are advising for proper hand hygiene including washing with soap or sanitizing with an alcohol-based cloth.

Additionally, they are encouraging all healthcare professionals to follow strict control of spread measures such as dressing in gowns and gloves when appropriate. All healthcare facilities are instructed to take part in efficient room and equipment cleaning to deter the spread of infection.

There have been rumors of potential shutdowns happening again, which has been all too familiar for juniors in college as they prepare for senior year.

Their senior year of high school

was cut short by the COVID shutdown, so these rumors of a C. auris shutdown have been causing some students stress.

However, it is important to note that there has not been an official statement about a potential lockdown, so there is no need to stock up on toilet paper or canned soup yet.

Rather, everyone is encouraged to wash hands regularly and to be more cautious of their actions in an effort to shut this down before it becomes a more widespread fungal infection.

States and countries are reporting their cases to inform the general public and tract the spread of the infection.

Moreover, some strains of C. auris can be treated with antifungal drugs, so there is hope for a solution to the infection.

The CDC is also working alongside microbiology laboratories in the clinical setting to enhance the detection efforts of this fungal infection in patients.

Learn American Sign Language

By Eva Mihelich News editor

The Center for Hearing and Deaf Services is offering sign language courses year-round. Sign language is a valuable skill to learn, as deaf people make up a large part of the world’s population and deserve the right to communicate just as much as hearing people do.

Besides sign language enabling us to communicate fully with the deaf community, it also offers you a chance to connect your mind to your body, and to learn how to speak in a new way. ASL is officially recognized as a language, so if you become fluent in ASL, you can say that you speak another language besides the one you have grown up knowing.

Sharon Carpenter, the director of the Center for Hearing and Deaf Services, said that there has been a recent rise in interest of learning ASL. “Now more than ever, people are beginning to have an appreciation for sign language and Deaf culture. Sign language has influenced the hearing world more than we realize. When is the last time you waved hello to someone or put your index finger to your lips to tell someone ‘shhhhhhhh’? Ever heard of a football huddle? The huddle was invented by Gallaudet athletes and is used around the world,” said Carpenter.

Students are encouraged to partake in these sign language courses for many reasons, including the inclusivity it brings to the deaf community, and the valuable lessons you can take from the courses.

Carpenter provided a list of reasons that people should be interested in this. “It’s the most accessible language for the Deaf, allowing them equal footing in a conversations.”

“There are lots of people with disabilities, not just deafness, such as degenerative diseases, autism or even a speech disorder, who need sign language to be able to communicate. You can speak to someone in any silent environment (underwater, through windows, across a room) and never need to shout. As well as developing your ability to communicate with your facial, body and hand movements, your listening skills and visual attention will be called upon to levels you never suspected,” said Carpenter.

The Center for Hearing and

Deaf Services offers classes for both adults and children. They are currently offering ASL 1 and will offer ASL 2 in the fall. These classes each have 4 sessions which is very manageable for a college student’s schedule.

The second spring session for ASL 1 runs from April 27 until June 15. The total cost for all 4 sessions is $80.

Consider registering for these ASL classes to learn a new skill and to work towards more inclusivity in communication.

For more information, contact Sharon Carpenter at her email address, scarpenter@ hdscenter.org. She would be happy to answer any additional questions.

If you are scared to go to these classes alone, do it with a friend or two.

Besides this being a valuable skill to learn in life, it can also greatly enhance your resume, especially if you will be working in a place with a lot of human interaction.

Employers like to see that you can communicate with a wide audience, so if you are able to use ASL to communicate to those who rely on it, that can make you stand out on job applications.

If nothing else, spread the word about these classes!

22nd Annual Walk for Autism 2023 to occur on April 29

By Bella Lee Staff writer

April is Autism Acceptance Month, so Mercyhurst is continuing their support to the cause by participating in the Walk for Autism on April 29.

Taking place at the Lake Erie Speedway, this is the 22nd annual event and is hosted by the Autism Society Northwestern Pennsylvania.

This is an important event for both AIM and Autism Society NWPA, as this is the largest event of the year for the latter.

According to the Autism Society Northweatern Pennsylvania website, “The Walk gives us the ability to provide support throughout the year including our Family Sensory & Social Outings, Family Support Activities and Education, and Therapeutic programming across the lifespan,” says the official description. “We are excited to be hosting our Annual Walk for Autism in 2023 this annual empowering, fun, family event! We are asking YOU and your fellow community members to register, donate, and join us on April 29, 2023, to make this the BEST Walk ever.”

A two-mile walk is held to increase awareness of Autism, fund programming, and activities for individuals with Autism in our community. 100% of the proceeds stay in the local area.

If you were able to pre-register prior to April 1, you had the opportunity, depending on how much you gave, you were able to also receive a commemorative t-shirt, long sleeve t-shirt,

or hoodie.

The Autism Society has been around for 58 years, working to connect people to the resources they need through education, advocacy, support, information and referral, and community programming.

Their mission is to create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully.

Their vision involves creating a world where everyone in the Autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it.

The organization believes in five values: dignity (where the value and self-determination of every individual is upheld), equity (where everyone with autism achieves the highest possible quality of life), inclusion (where every person is integrated into society without barriers or exceptions in a collaborative environment), diversity (where everyone is respected for their unique and individual differences), and integrity (where we conduct ourselves with honor, truth, and respect in our thoughts, words, and actions).

There are affiliates in 33 U.S. states as well as Washington DC.

Alongside the walk will be fun events and other commodities such as food trucks, complimentary coffee and hot chocolate.

Although there are events planned for Autism Acceptance Month all throughout April, participating in the Walk for Autism is one great way to show

support, so be sure to attend if you’re able to!

Keep your eye out for the various events that are happening

both on campus and in the Erie Community to show your support to the Autism community.

Please help end the stigma

around those on the spectrum.

LAKER MOMENT

Drag Queen Bingo

On Friday, April 14, 2023, MAC/SAC hosted drag bingo. Erie based drag queen, Alysin Wonderland hosted the popular event. Throughout the night multiple students won gifts ranging from gift cards, to squishmallows, to AirPods. Multiple rounds of bingo were played as traditional bingo and they decided to switch it up and so a more untraditional styles, such has doing a backwards L. As always, Alysin Wonderland looked fabulous and gave an incredible performance.

Vydalia Weatherly photo

MAC/SAC programmers posing with Alysin Wonderland who hosted the bingo night.

Contributed photo Students who attended the PAS Conference. Hill is in the front right hand side.

RSCO FEATURE LAKERS ABROAD CLUB

Celebrate Parkhurst dining staff next week

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

There is no doubt that the Parkhurst Dining staff has a tough job on their hands here at MU.

By Hailey Steidle

A new club has hit the Mercyhurst campus with a bang as more students who want to spend time abroad are looking to join the Lakers Abroad Club. The Lakers Abroad Club was founded this past semester in hopes of allowing members to explore cultures outside of their own and learn more about the opportunities that are available to them when it comes to studying abroad. The immersive experiences that this club is setting up allow for any individual on campus to gain an understanding of different areas of the world. The clubs members have hopes of allowing students to gain a better understanding of where they may want to travel one day as well as sharing any experiences they have had abroad with others who may want to learn more.

The club is sure to grow both in size and in its reputation across our campus in the coming semesters as its executive board hopes to hold a series of events that many students across our campus can take part in. Activities such as talks from international students and professors, multicultural nights, and language exchange events are being planned in hopes of allowing students to experience new cultures that they may have never been able to experience before without going abroad. By allowing individuals who have had the ability to travel abroad speak and interact with those who may not have the ability or who haven’t gotten the chance yet, allows for others to learn about cultures other than their own just be listening to those around them.

A quick talk with the clubs’ founder, Gabrielle Steppic, showed just how open they are to including new members. There was a large emphasis placed on how anyone is welcome to join the current members in upcoming events next semester. Any student interested in exploring new cultures, learning new languages, meeting individuals from other countries and cultures, and traveling abroad in any capacity whether for school or leisure are the perfect match for what this club has to offer. The club itself is not just for students who will or currently want to go abroad at some point. However, students who may be interested in spending any period of time outside of the United States whether its for schooling or not, would greatly benefit from experiencing what this club has to offer.

Any students who may be looking for a new club to participate in or even just events to attend next semester may want to take some time and give the Lakers Abroad Club a try. You may shock yourself with the amount you learn from those around you who are sharing their experiences with others, and you may even share your own experiences with others who may not be able to experience it.

People give them such a hard time even though they are always doing the best they can, but working in the food service industry is no easy job.

There are various events throughout the year that Parkhurst puts on to show their appreciation for their staff, but this upcoming week is a full week where students and staff can recognize the hard work that the Parkhurst staff puts into their jobs every day.

From April 24-27, the MU community is encouraged to join Parkhurst in dressing up for the spirit-filled week.

April 24, people are encouraged to wear tie-dye to match the Parkhurst staff.

On April 25, it is twinning Tuesday, so find a buddy and dress up with them.

April 26 is sports day so wear a jersey or shirt that

represents your favorite team and represent your hometown.

The final day is April 27 and this is the Color Wars Day. Employees of each dining location will be wearing a different color and they want the MU community to wear the color of their favorite sport to eat on campus.

The Roost and Roost Express will be wearing red, the Grotto Commons will be wearing blue, the 501 Grille will be wearing green and the Anchor Express and the Bookstore Coffee Bar will be wearing purple.

This is a fun little competition for the Parkhurst employees to see which dining facility is the favorite. All the dining halls are important and crucial to the campus running smoothly, but this is just a fun little competition.

Parkhurst is known for throwing special events in the dining facilities throughout the year.

There was a chili day, a super bowl tailgate and even a chicken day in the Grotto Commons and 501 Grille.

The bookstore coffee bar and the Roost all have different weekly specials to appeal to everyone’s preferred tastes.

The Anchor Express often runs specials where you get entered in a giveaway to win a special prize.

The Roost also offers trivia and karaoke nights every other week to provide students the opportunity to have a fun and relaxing environment while they eat and they can win really cool prizes during trivia!

The Parkhurst staff does a lot to ensure that the students and employees here at Mercyhurst have good food to eat every day.

Please use this opportunity as a way to thank them for all their hard work that often goes unnoticed.

Staff writer

Mercyhurst Dining Instagram photo

Photo of Parkhurst employees dressing up for St. Patrick’s Day.

CLASS CATALOG

PHIL 200: PHILOSOPHY & LITERATURE

FEATURES

All about Mercyhurst’s Chris Streibich

By Bella Lee Staff Writer

Over recent times at Mercyhurst, there have been many beloved staff members and students who have left a profound impact upon their departures. However, there’s one other person who has succeeded in projecting this for the six years that he’s been there, and that’s none other than Chris Streibich.

Chris’ journey at Mercyhurst began in August 2017 and will come to an end next month.

Do you enjoy talking and reading about philosophy?

If the answer to that question is yes, then PHIL200: Philosophy & Literature is the class for you.

This course is offered every year in the Fall semester. It is taught by James, Snyder, Ph.D., Department Chair of the Philosophy Department and Associate Professor. It is very evident that Snyder is passionate about the work that he is doing and the topics that he teaches his students.

The class is more of a discussion-style class as Snyder encourages participation from the students throughout his lectures. He loves hearing others’ opinions and will often challenge them in a respectful way to get them to think more outside the box.

The philosophy aspect of the class is observed through the literature that students read throughout the course. Some of the books that are read are “Siddhartha,” “God Help the Child,” and “A Death in Venice.”

Now some of these books talk about controversial topics, but they are important to discuss and that will lead to discussions in class about how standards in life have changed.

Snyder will take some of the concepts that are portrayed in the literature and use them as the basis of many class discussions where he attempts to get everyone’s opinion so that people can see other viewpoints.

Sometimes when the weather is nice, Snyder will take his classes outside for them to get a change of scenery and reflect on what all nature gives humanity.

Megan Kantz, a junior Biology major, took this course in the fall of 2022.

“It was a fun class that I was able to grow pretty close to the other students because it was a smaller class size,” said Kantz. Due to the smaller numbers, the students in the class were able to feel comfortable expressing their opinions and discussing the topics with everyone. This course is great for those who like thinking about why things are the way they are and who just enjoy spending time pondering life.

“I enjoyed the course because it gave me a break from the rigor of science courses and I was able to think about why and not just memorize how to do things like I normally do for my classes,” said Kantz.

The class starts out by looking at an image and Snyder asks every student what their thoughts are about this image and that is how the first class session goes every time.

Mercyhurst’s liberal arts curriculum provides students the opportunity to be exposed to many different topics and courses outside of their major. This is a great opportunity for students to learn new things especially if they are unsure of what they want their major to be.

This course is sometimes also offered as an honors course, so if you are in the Honors Program and need another course for the requirements, this one is a great one to pick.

Definitely look into this course if you need to satisfy your REACH curriculum and if you want a professor who is passionate about what they teach!

In 2021, he received his B.A. in Accounting and will receive his M.S. in Data Science in May 2023.

Over the course of his time at Mercyhurst, Chris has served in a variety of leadership roles, including as the Vice President of AIM for Friends this year and a Laker Leader during the 2020-2021 school year.

It goes without saying that Chris was heavily involved on campus. He thoroughly enjoyed every Homecoming weekend, Hurst Day and SpringFest that occurred during his time, and he could often be found at MAC/SAC events and athletic games.

You can find his countless selfies on Facebook and Instagram, and the chances are very high that you have been in a photo of his at least once. However, with all that he has done on campus, the place he will certainly be missed the most at is at the Stone. I can easily say that Chris is the king of Stone Wednesday. Chris has, without fail, attended every Stone Wednesday that has occurred over the past four years.

If you have been to even just one Stone Wednesday, you are guaranteed to find him among the crowd, surrounded by friends and fellow Mercyhurst

students who are enjoying his company.

His presence is so strongly known at the Stone that he has won the gift card for the Cornerstone three years in a row for the Senior Date Auction.

If one thing is going to feel drastically different after he leaves Mercyhurst, it will certainly be his presence at the Stone.

Chris has been around for all four years of my time here at Mercyhurst.

He was a junior when I was a freshman and I automatically felt like he helped welcome me to the community with open arms.

He always has a smile on his face and can cheer up just about anybody, regardless of

what mood they are feeling beforehand.

He is such an influential person, working hard to help others and making a great name out of organizations on campus such as AIM.

Chris is, without a doubt, a friend to everyone who comes across him. Everyone deserves a Chris in their life, and we are so fortunate that we have been able to have one.

Everyone who knows Chris only says nice things about him.

Mercyhurst will miss you greatly Chris, but we look forward to seeing what you will do in the future!

Contributed photo

Photo of Chris Streibech.

Contributed photo

Picture of Chris posing with Luke the Laker at a hockey game.

By Samantha Weber

Editor in chief

MU celebrates Transgender Day of Visibility on campus

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

March 31 is recognized as International Transgender Day of Visibility.

Mercyhurst celebrated this day by having a table set up in the Ryan Hall lobby where students could get information about the inclusivity of transgender individuals on campus.

There was a poster that told people where gender-neutral bathrooms are all around campus and the resources that are available to them on campus.

There were also a variety of buttons with the various flags representing the different categories in the LGBTQIA+ community for the taking. Students could take the button with the flag that they most closely identify with to wear with pride.

“It’s important to celebrate TDOV every year, but particularly at the current moment with so many anti-LGBTQ+, particularly anti-trans bills and legislation being introduced and passed in our nation. Trans individuals have a right to exist and live their lives.

TDOV is a day of solidarity for the queer community,” said Jessica Hubert, Multicultural & Inclusion Coordinator.

The transgender community began being recognized in

1998 after the death of Rita Hester.

Hester was a Black transgender woman who was brutally stabbed in her apartment in Boston, MA. After this, transgender women were tired of being targets and being dismissed by the press who made no effort to respect their pronouns.

To demonstrate their protest, the women marched through the Boston neighborhood and this is when Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was born.

This event was the only annual one that was for the transgender community and it was a very somber one.

Rachel Crandall-Crocker wanted transgender people to have a celebration where they could express themselves and be happy about who they are.

Crandall-Crocker, the creator of International Transgender Day of Visibility decided to stop sitting around waiting for someone else to do it, but eventually decided to take it into her own hands and encouraged people to organize events in their hometown.

There was also an LQBTQIA+ visibility walk that occurred on April 17 around campus. This was to combat all the anti-LGBTQIA+ laws that are being reconsidered throughout

FROM THE ARCHIVES

By Eva Philips Staff writer

the country. This walk was planned and executed by Mik Sciortino, junior social work major, and Catherine Segada, a junior anthropology/archaeology, and environmental science major. Sciortino and Segada wanted to create a space and time where people of the commu -

nity could feel safe being and expressing themselves.

Many people (and dogs) showed up to support the LGBTQIA+ community at the event, which was moved indoors due to weather.

Students gave speeches to encourage, empower, and bring awareness to issues in

the LGBTQIA+ community, especially in regards to the current political climate. These campus events and International Transgender Day of Visibility gives the transgender community a space to celebrate who they are.

This week in Mercyhurst history was an important milestone for Mercyhurst’s contributions to the scientific community. Nearly sixty years ago, in April 1964, a group of senior biology students — all of whom were women — presented research findings at the Eastern College Science Conference. It was held that year in Washington, DC, a lengthy distance from Erie. Seven students traveled to the conference, which included a reception and closing banquet in addition to scholarly presentations. The students were researching the drug Mustargen as a potential cancer treatment, taking part in Sister Eymard M. Poydock’s on-campus cancer research laboratory. The cancer research laboratory operated for several decades under Sr. Poydock’s supervision, giving students the chance to gain hands-on research experience on a crucial subject. While the project no longer operates, it remains a point of pride in Mercyhurst’s history.

Mercyhurst Archive photo

Students working on scientific research that they ended up presenting in Washington D.C.

Students posing at the table for Transgender Day of Visibility in Ryan Hall.

MIAC Live welcomes Grammy Award-winning artist Angélique Kidjo

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

On Thursday, April 13, the Mary D’Angelo Performance Arts Center was graced by the voice of five-time Grammy Award Winner Angélique Kidjo.

In addition to her five Grammy Award wins, Kidjo has been nominated 12 times. Kidjo is currently the most awarded African of all time.

During her Thursday night performance, Kidjo sang songs that she wrote not only to empower herself, but also to empower women all across the globe.

In addition to being a talented singer, Kidjo has dedicated her life to facilitating the lives of children and women worldwide.

In 2019 at the G7, France President Macron named Kidjo as the spokesperson for the Affirmative Fiance Axtuon for Women in Africa (AFAWA), an initiative created to close the financing gap for women entrepreneurs in Africa.

The vibe in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center (PAC) was impeccable on Thursday. Students, employees, faculty and community members all together to enjoy a night of live music.

Throughout the night, Kidjo’s energetic song lyrics, rhythm, and mesmerizing dance moves brought out something in the

crowd I had never seen before in the PAC or anywhere else in my life.

People were running to the stage in the front to dance, not caring if everyone else in the crowd was watching them.

Some of these brave individuals even went up to some of the shyer attendance members and encouraged them to join them at the front of the stage to dance with them. The energy was a rare sight to see.

The performance was interactive which is different than a lot of the performances that are normally in the PAC.

Not only is Kidjo an amazingly talented singer and performer, but she also has a great sense of humor. While she may not be a professional comedian, she did have the crowd laughing throughout the night.

Thursday was a beautiful day. At the beginning of her performance, she expressed how grateful she was that the snow was not up to her neck, which everyone in the crowd related to.

Audience members gifted Kidjo with flowers and bracelets, throwing the items onto the stage as I had never seen before. To this, Kidjo made a joke to her husband backstage about him not buying her flowers, which caused a lot of women in the crowd to chuckle.

Kidjo’s performance was amaz-

ing, and I am thankful to have had the opportunity to see her perform live.

It is performances such as Kidjo’s that showcase how music and the live arts can bring people from all different walks of life together.

Brett Johnson, Ph.D., the Mercyhurst Institute for Art and Culture (MIAC), and all the sponsors

make incredible perforamnces like this one possible.

The last MIAC performance of the year will be on Wednesday, May 3, when the Tony Awardwinner and theater, film and television star, Aaron Tveit, comes to the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.

Tickets are currently sold out,

but some may become available, so please keep an eye out.

On Thursday, May 4, the 20232024 MIAC Live lineup will be announced, so stay tuned!

The 814: Enrique’s Taqueria

By Vydalia Weatherly Staff writer

I attended the Fourth Vow Retreat hosted by Campus Ministry and Community Engagement this past weekend.

As part of the retreat, the seven other participants and I had to break into two teams of four to participate in the scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt immersed us in the community we served during the retreat.

Part of the scavenger hunt required us to find a place to eat for lunch. The two teams ended up combing, and we decided to go to Enrique’s South East Mexico Restaurant, Taqueria & Tortilla, located at 1801 Liberty Street, Erie, Pennsylvania 16502.

As soon as we entered the restaurant, we were immediately greeted by the most enthusiastic host. Despite having a party of eight, we were quickly seated together, and our waiter had to push two tables together, so we could all sit by one another.

As we looked over the menu,

we were served their tortilla chips, which they cut their homemade Nixtamal Style tortillas shells and deep fry them into light and crispy chips.

Their tortilla shells are made from Corn and are 100% gluten-free. The chips were absolutely delicious.

When it came time to place our orders, I ordered a taco of ground beef with tomatoes. I was super excited to try it.

All the food at the restaurant was incredibly well-priced; when it arrived, my mouth was watering just looking at it.

Unfortunately, when I examined the taco more, I realized the tacos had carrots, which I was unaware of when I ordered.

Due to a mild carrot allergy, I was unable to eat the taco, so I gave it to my friend to eat.

One of the participants offered me one of their quesadillas since their order came with three.

This was the best quesadilla I have ever tasted in my whole life, and it made up for the fact I could not eat the taco.

Enrique, the restaurant owner, also made the experience one of the best I have had at a restaurant lately.

Not only was he extremely friendly, but he was engaging as well. Throughout our lunch, he taught us several Spanish words and phrases, encouraging us to try again when we needed to pronounce them sprightly the first or second time.

Enrique also told us the story

of his life and what his restaurant means to him. At the end of lunch, the group took a photo with Enrique; it was my favorite photo of the retreat.

Enrique’s South East Mexico Restaurant, Taqueria & Tortilla, is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

You can dine at the restaurant as we did or take it to go.

Enrique’s South East Mexico

Restaurant is available on DoorDash, GrubHub and Uber Eats if you do not feel like going out or of you do not have a way of getting there.

If you are ready to place your order, call them at 814-6160037.

I highly recommend that everyone tries this restaurant at least once while they are in Erie.

OkayAfrica.com Photo

Angélique Kidjo with her Grammy as she demonstrates her fun personality.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Figure skating: exploring the art and the competition

By Meghan McKay Staff writer

The history of figure skating in general and Mercyhurst’s history of Club Figure Skating both involve the art and sport aspect of the beloved activity.

Figure skating has become a worldwide phenomenon thanks to the Olympics. Every four years, viewers worldwide are stunned by the impressive edge work, jumps, and dazzling shows performed on the international stage.

However, figure skating got its start long before the sport and art were implemented in the 1908 Summer Olympics.

Figure skating has surprisingly been around since 3,000 BC when Scandinavians and Russians designed skates for their animals to travel on the ice in winter.

Eventually, skating made its way to America before the Civil War, when it became an affordable recreational activity. New York City’s frozen pond in Central Park brought in many participants, but despite its popularity, competitiveness was taken abroad when the Vienna Skating Club hosted the first international championship.

Soon after, the sport’s first star flourished, Ulrich Salchow from Sweden, and second-best Madge Syers from the United Kingdom.

When figure skating made its Olympic debut at the summer games, Salchow won the men’s gold medal, and Syers won the women’s gold.

Figure skating would eventually return to the summer games in 1920 before becoming the first winter sport staged in 1924.

For a while, figure skating was the only event at the Winter Olympics, and even with the addition of over fifteen other disciplines, it remains the most highly viewed and liked sport.

With its growing popularity, the demand for a figure skating club eventually reached Mercyhurst in 2018. When the club started, it was made up of a single member before eventually being recognized as an Athletic Department Sponsored Club sport.

The team is now made up of up to 12 members each year and has substantially impacted the community.

Head Coach Anna Zelina has played a crucial role in developing the figure skating program.

She has been figure skating with the Figure Skating Club of Erie since she was five years old. Like many, she fell in love with

the sport and started competing when she was nine.

She competed throughout high school and college, where she competed for Penn State.

Zelina is a very qualified and high-achieving coach with an impressive resume, including becoming a USFSA Double Gold Medalist.

She described the opportunity to join Mercyhurst, saying, “In 2019, I was given the opportunity to help start the Figure Skating Program at Mercyhurst. So, I basically came full circle from being a collegiate skater to now coaching a collegiate program!”

Zelina continues to coach the program and provides free prac-

tices and lessons weekly to team members to help them grow.

The figure skating club has been around for a short period, but it has not stopped them from attending local competitions and hosting events.

The most recent event that the Lakers put together was a challenging task, being a part of the USFSA Intercollegiate Competitive Program.

Mercyhurst was one of only three schools selected to host the National Qualifiers and was able to host the Southeast Region by partnering with the Erie Sports Commission.

The event was held at Mercyhurst Ice Center on March 2526, comprising fifteen teams and about 185 skaters competing.

“This competition was important because we were the last regular season competition before Intercollegiate Finals (hosted at UCLA this year), so a lot of teams were trying to scoop up any last-minute points to qualify for the Finals,” said Zelina.

Individually, the Mercyhurst Figure Skating team has shown impressive growth in just a short time as a program.

“Our team, myself and our Club Sports Director Allison Brace, worked endlessly to ensure this event went smoothly in all facets,” Zelina said. “I am so proud of our team for not only having a great season and working up the ranks this year but accomplishing a successful event of this size! Some teams our size wouldn’t even consider a task of

this magnitude. It shows that if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything, no matter how big or small.”

For Coach Zelina, figure skating has shown how much hard work can get you no matter what.

Junior Hospitality Management major Veronica Kibbe, joined the Figure Skating team her freshman year.

“I am so glad that I joined the team when I first started here at Mercyhurst,” Kibbe said. “It has provided me the opportunity to continue a hobby that I love during and has introduced me to so many new people.”

The sport of figure skating started many years ago and eventually prospered because of two ambitious young talents who had to work to get it recognized on a world stage.

The same can be applied to Mercyhurst as students, almost five years ago, made a significant impact on our athletic community by advocating for the addition of a figure skating club.

The figure skating club has an excellent opportunity to embrace the precision and traditions of an exceptional international sport with so much history and class.

If you are interested in joining the figure skating team, reach out to Zelina.

The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Museum photo

Photo of Madge Syers from the Figure Skating Hall of Fame.

Mercyhurst Club Figure Skating Instagram photo

Photo of the Mercyhurst Club Figure Skating team at their most recent competition. Head coach Anna Zelina is in the middle.

The flowers are finally starting to bloom around campus!

Spring is blooming and so are my Easter traditions

By Megan McKay Staff writer

There have been over 160 mass shootings in the US this year and we are only 109 days into the year so far.

GOOD BAD HOPEFUL

Hopefully SpringFest next week is a fun way to relieve some stress.

Holidays are not taken lightly in my family which means any chance there is to decorate, our house is done to the nines. The one to thank is my mother who, despite having a million things to do, always finds time to put up the holiday knick knacks.

Spring time of year also means that pastels are flourishing all throughout the house with peeps, bunnies, and eggs galore. I must admit it seems over the top but I love it deep down. There is nothing like coming home from college and feeling immersed in the spring season. But, the festivities do not end there. In our family every year we are always searching for new traditions. Certain years we may either be at home, or celebrating the day with relatives and with our grandparents out of town. But like any year, busier than ever, we stayed home and spent quality time together. While at home we can count on

The Merciad

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

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

the celebratory Sunday mass at our local church. For Christians, Easter mass is a special day to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. It is a joyful holiday and also a special season for all who love the warm weather.

Once mass has ended we follow the morning with a big breakfast at home with cinnamon rolls, croissants, orange juice, fruits and waffles. The best tradition of all is the activities we do as a family, just the six of us. After that we take some time to watch the Masters Golf Tournament which happens to fall around Easter time every year.

Our family also loves to get outside and enjoy the spring weather, whether it is playing a round of golf, or even pickleball. Playing board games like Monopoly or just laughing over home videos also make for some enjoyable traditions. We always find a way to cherish the time we have.

Another traditional Easter symbol that finds its way out every year are four little baskets my siblings and I used to collect Easter eggs with when we were younger. We differentiate each basket by our favorite colors.

Every year we could expect our mom to hide the baskets, and when we would start our hunt for eggs, we first had to find our baskets which were filled to the brim with Easter candy.

The famous Easter egg hunts through the house and on the golf course have always been a core Easter memory. It never mattered what was inside the Egg even if at the time we all made it seem like we cared about the number of treats or finding the coveted large golden egg which held a large sum of money.

Now today, despite outgrowing the egg hunt I will always remember the thrill of running around in search for those eggs. Whether it is decorating Easter eggs, having festive family meals, or attending church services, Easter is another special holiday.

Even though it is a religious holiday it can be celebrated by anyone who enjoys spending time with family and enjoying fun festivities in warm Spring weather.

Embracing autism to embrace acceptance for all!

By Bella Lee Staff writer

Autism Acceptance Month, otherwise known as Autism Awareness Month or Autism Appreciation Month, is celebrated every year in April.

For the past several years, Mercyhurst has commemorated this month by lighting up the O’Neill Tower blue in solidarity. This month is especially important to me, as someone who is on the autism spectrum. I was diagnosed with autism when I was three years old. At that point in time, I still was not speaking, which worried my parents. Since my diagnosis, two other family members of mine have also been given autism diagnoses: my mom’s cousin, who received a diagnosis when he was 15, and my 10-year-old brother, who was diagnosed in 2019.

At first glance, I appear as the stereotypical definition of “you don’t look like you have autism.” However, one of my greatest weaknesses in school, which extended all the way until I

started attending Mercyhurst, was my lack of proper social skills. I was painfully shy, to the point that my parents had to force me to make plans with my friends in high school in order to get some form of social interaction outside of school, and as a result was bullied a lot.

I did not understand social cues all that well, leading me to do things like interrupt conversations constantly.

Despite all of the negativity that I faced during my time in grade school, I have always been proud of having autism.

Going to a school like Mercyhurst, where the autism community is so strongly embraced especially thanks to the AIM Program, has been so imperative in me embracing being on the spectrum.

AIM has helped me so much and now I have been able to serve as a support system for younger students that are on the spectrum, as well as assisting my boyfriend on working towards getting an autism diagnosis for himself.

With all of this in mind, the stigma of autism being a bad thing is something that has been circulating the news for decades and needs to be stopped.

Over the past couple of years, autism support has been shifted from Autism Speaks to the Autism Self Advocacy Network (ASAN), because Autism Speaks has been revealed to have very negative views of autism. This includes promoting therapy that would make individuals with autism act as if they do not have it at all, “erasing” their autism in a sense.

Unfortunately, the negative views of autism will stick around, so long as there are anti-vaxxers who believe that vaccines cause autism. However, my friends and I have been able to make jokes about these views, such as lighthearted joking about how getting the COVID vaccines and their boosters just further increases our autism.

Overall, I am infinitely proud that I have autism.

No matter how accepted or unaccepted it is in whatever community I find myself in, I take great pride in the fact that I have autism.

It is extremely important to be educated on autism so that the stigma can be destroyed, and that autism can fully, 100% be accepted and it helps if people are educated about the topic.

Hug a tree to celebrate our beautiful planet this earth Day

By Christina Judy Staff writer

Whether you are as busy as a bee buzzing around or as chill as a wave in the ocean, everyone should go outside and hug a tree on April 22 as we celebrate our beautiful planet on Earth Day this year.

This annual celebration serves to inspire people to care for our planet and all that happens to it while taking time to reminisce about the positive strides that environmentalists have taken to protect all natural resources.

Many people have their fingers crossed that Erie is covered in sunshine on Earth Day, but even so they will find the time to scroll through their camera rolls to share incredible photos of the beautiful places they have traveled to.

In sharing their experiences and the beauty of our home it reminds us of all the wonderful places we have been to. The prettiest nature places I have ever visited was Kauai, Hawaii, Sarasota, Florida and Schwangau, Germany.

Hawaii’s natural beauty took me away the first time I saw the ocean.

It was a deep blue color that complemented the sky on a clear sunny day. Although it was a surreal site on the surface, the life underneath was cooler than any of the natural views.

My family was lucky enough to go on a boat ride while we visited the island and at a few points along the ride our captain got over the loudspeaker to tell us to look near the side of our boat. Sure enough, we saw dolphins breaking through the water and swimming in their pods alongside the boat.

That scenery of the Pacific Ocean was truly the most beautiful of the places I have ever been because of its mystifying beauty and the curiosity of the creatures that live below the surface of the water.

Florida is a popular vacation spot so it gets a lot of attention from students during their spring breaks, and there is a reason for its reputation. Siesta Key, in Sarasota, is my favorite place to travel to in Florida because of its white sand beaches.

The white quartz sands are soft and create a beautiful bridge between the solid land and the ocean. The ocean water is so refreshing in the summertime and with its aqua coloration it adds to this picture perfect atmosphere.

Another cool nature place I have visited was Schwangau, Germany, which is a village in southern Germany that houses the Neuschwanstein Castle. This castle is on top of a massive hill and surrounded by stunning natural wonders like trees and the Forggensee, Alpsee and Schwansee lakes.

HURST STUDENTS SPEAK UP

The castle on its own is spectacular but when the colors on the leaves change to a deep red in autumn, it makes for an incredible sight to see. This mountainous terrain leads adventurers to breathtaking views such as being at the foot of a lake and looking across the other end at a mountain with its summit covered in snow. These destinations display some of the beauty that our world has to offer. There is so much more to discover and appreciate. Observing Earth Day is a great way to start on a journey to explore the wonders of the world.

As we celebrate Earth Day, it is important to remember that we only get one Earth, so we have to take care of it.

We are lucky enough to live on such a beautiful planet, it is a shame that more people are not as passionate or willing to do their part to keep it clean and healthy.

With all of its beauty, the Earth has given us so much and it is time we start pitching in to give back to it for ourselves and future generations.

Earth Day is a reminder to get out in nature and to take a journey into everything this planet has to offer. So many beautiful places are ours to explore, we truly live on a breathtaking planet.

We asked: What is your favorite part of Spring?

Christina Judy, senior biology major: “What I love the most about Spring is seeing the flowers bloom.”

Maiya Harding, senior criminal justice major: “My favorite part about spring is being able to spend more time outside”

Bethany Jentz, junior Intelligence major: “My favorite part of Spring is getting to drive with my windows down.”

Lilly English, junior criminal justice major: “My favorite part about spring is the warm weather bringing everyone outside”

The truth behind the “RV Life” content creators

By Mackenzie Zent Opinion editor

With TikTok being such a broad social media app, there are all kinds of people you can come across on it. Recently there has been a rise in the “RV life,” which is exactly what it sounds like – families who live in an RV and travel around the country. However fun it might look, these families are a bit controversial on TikTok.

The most obvious issue would be personal space and privacy, because they are living in such a close space.

Some families have “bedrooms” for their kids which are basically walk through hallways with bunks beds on either side. Not to worry, parents have put privacy curtains alongside the bed areas to make the kids feel more

independent.

But because of this, these kids are essentially sleeping in a coffin sized area calling it their room. Parents who run the TikTok accounts to show off their way of life defend any comments about their kids having small rooms by saying where they really live is outdoors. While this is a nice sentiment, I still think privacy is really important especially if these families are traveling together constantly.

One specific TikTok account made a video about how they celebrated their oldest child’s 15th birthday.

The family checked into a hotel because the only thing their kid wanted was to spend a night in a hotel. A lot of people on TikTok saw this as a sign that they are not happy living in a constant state of traveling with no permanent home or real privacy.

Not to mention, with families

constantly vlogging their kids I can only imagine they get even less privacy than families who do not do this.

In my opinion, the biggest issue I see with RV families is that some of them brand themselves as reinventing what it means to live in an RV. They like to emphasize the fact that they are very different from what people would think of when they think of living in a trailer or an RV, meaning they are doing it in a classier way.

I saw a video talking about

this saying they were not “trailer trash” and since they chose to live in a large RV and make it nice, they are essentially better than people who live in a trailer park because they have to.

Everyone is so quick to judge and look down on families that live in an RV until a family that is not living in poverty does it and makes it into an aesthetic. Because it was their choice and they had the money to buy a huge RV and decorate it with expensive appliances, they are automatically seen as being

better than those who had no choice but to sell their house and live in a van.

I do not think it is right for content creators to brand themselves as being above other people living in an RV because they cannot afford to live anywhere else.

I think living in an RV to travel the country is a really cool idea but it is not always practical in terms of privacy, space and the social life and development for their kids.

Compiled by Hailey Steidle

NBA Playoffs: Who will hoist the O’Brien trophy?

By Bella Lee Staff Writer

With college basketball and March Madness behind us, it is time to focus on professional basketball again—the NBA that is, now that the playoffs are in full swing.

Following the play-in tournament on April 11-14, the playoffs officially began on April 15. This year’s NBA playoffs are seeing a lot of exciting matchups. The West contains the Denver Nuggets versus the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Phoenix Suns versus the Los Angeles Clippers, the Sacramento Kings versus the Golden State Warriors, and the Memphis Grizzlies versus the Los Angeles Lakers. The East involves the Milwaukee Bucks against the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers against the New York Knicks, the Philadelphia 76ers against the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics against the Atlanta Hawks.

There is lots to look forward to in these playoffs. This is the first time since all four of these teams shared a home state (California) that the Kings, Lakers, Clippers, and Warriors have all made it to the playoffs. On top of that, the Kings are seeing their first playoff appearance

since 2006. Additionally, this is the first playoff appearance Kevin Durant has seen in a Suns jersey since joining the team on Feb. 9 of this year, but it seems to be working out in his favor, as there was instant chemistry. This strikes some as hollow chemistry, with the opportunistic forward again jumping on board an established contend -

er, with his Golden State move in 2017. But it is real, based on Durant’s comments about Phoenix’s appeal and a little awe coming from his new teammates. “I’m watching every step that he makes very closely,”said Devin Booker.

Similar to Durant and the Suns, Donovan Mitchell is seeing his first playoff appearance

with a new team, in his case the Cavaliers. The ultra-confident scorer looked custom-tailored for the Cavaliers in the regular season. Now the team and its fans would love to see something akin to Mitchell’s “bubble” playoff form in 2020, when he averaged 36.3 points and 8.3 free throws, while hitting 51% of his threes.

One team that is expected to overcome a difficult row, however, is the Lakers, who are currently sitting at a 7 seed. The last team to be of a lower seed, but win it all was the 6 seed Houston Rockets in 1995, so the Lakers will have to pull off some miracles in order to achieve that.

The 76ers are also facing a tumultuous road. They have not reached the East finals since 2001, when Allen Iverson was bedeviling foes as The Answer. The current Sixers are bedeviled by The Question: Will they ever reach their potential? Coach Doc Rivers, Joel Embiid, James Harden and exec Daryl Morey should be feeling their seats getting warmer. Speaking of the 76ers, Harden is one of several NBA veterans, alongside Chris Paul of the Suns and Russell Westbrook of the Clippers, who has yet to win a title in their long careers. This could finally be a chance for one of them to see glory.

The playoffs will be going on for quite some time, with the Finals slated for the beginning of June. We can not wait to see how far these teams go!

Women’s Bowling concludes historic season

By Megan McKay Staff writer

Mercyhurst Women’s bowling’s historic season has unfortunately come to an end. The Lakers put together an impressive record this past season including the program’s first ever Conference Championship and bid to the NCAA tournament. Two weeks ago, the Lakers were able to secure the Eastern Conference Championship with excellent bowling and heart. With not much time to celebrate the historic feat the team was back to practice in order to prepare for their next matchup and the opening round of the NCAA tournament.

This past weekend the Lakers traveled to Pittsburgh to compete in the NCAA Regional round to play for a bid to the Championships in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Lakers first matchup in the opening round began Friday against the number 4 ranked Nebraska. This would not be the first time the two teams had seen each other. The Lakers faced off against the Cornhuskers at the McKendree Bearcat Open back in October where they beat Nebraska by a score of 4-1 and placed second at the tournament.

Head Coach of the Lakers, Michael Machuga, also bowled at Nebraska. There was certainly a personal touch to the matchup and a lot at stake. Machuga said, “It feels a little like destiny to be for our first trip to the dance and excited with how the draw went and looking forward to the matches.” There was certainly an excitement in the room he described as his team had taken down Nebraska once before and are not afraid of big teams.

As expected, the faceoff between Nebraska and Mercyhurst was a strong match back and forth. However, Nebraska took the first game 1049-914 and the lead. Nebraska would go on to beat the Lakers 2-0 after a final score of 1013-960. However, Mercyhurst was not finished with their NCAA appearance as they were faced in double elimination.

The Lakers were off to a great start in their second match as they defeated Stephen F. Austin 933835, but the Ladyjacks came back in the second game 1121-948. Tied 1-1 the teams faced off in a best of seven. Early in, the Ladyjacks took a 3-0 lead which put them on the defense and despite the Lakers effort to come back in the tiebreaker they lost 4-1 in the five game baker match and

Stephen F. Austin took the match 2-1. It was a heartbreaking end to a historic season but the Lakers have a lot to be proud of.

The team was able to accomplish more than any other team before and it says a lot about their dedication and commitment. The team was able to come in first in four tournaments from their season and even added on a fifth at the most important time of the year in Long Island, NY at the ECC Championships.

Individually the team had impressive seasons among players both young and old. Graduate Student, Haley Youker, has been the player to watch of the year. Recently receiving her second Bowler of the Year award, she has accomplished so much in her time here. She has bowled over 300 games and arguably has become the best bowler Mercyhurst has ever seen. In her final match as a Laker she showed her skill with an impressive 256 knocked pins in her first match and 235 in her second. Youker commented on being named the ECC Bowler of the Year saying, “Last year didn’t go as planned, as I dealt with injuries, over the summer I learned how to manage my injuries to make it through the season. I powered myself forward and put in the

work. It’s nice to see the results.”

Leaders on the bowling team like Youker, Samantha Strebel and Samantha Schurr have set a strong precedent for the future bowling players to come. The team is currently made up of eleven women, six of whom are underclassmen.

Coach Machuga has also taken the bowling program under his own reigns. Over the course of the season there were certainly bumps in the road especially in the ECC Championships but the team

looked to prosper. Machuga is the first coach the program has seen who has paved a new path and spotted excellence. Therefore, it is promising to say the bowling program has a bright future ahead and has proved their excellence in our community and on the National stage.

Bowling team celebrating at a recent tournament.

Hurst Athletics photo

2023 NBA Playoff Bracket entering Tuesday.

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NCAA Finals: Clark and Reese among the impressive showings

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

Every year basketball fans tune into college basketball for the annual championship games. Both men’s and women’s teams from DI schools across the country compete head-to-head to earn the glory of winning it all. Going into the event this year the women’s showdown featured the LSU Tigers and the Iowa Hawkeyes, the men’s featured the San Diego State Aztecs and the Connecticut Huskies.

The women’s championship between the LSU Tigers and the Iowa Hawkeyes occurred first on April 2. Kim Mulkey lead the LSU Tigers to take home the championship title that night, with an ending score of 102-85.

How many people expected the record-breaking views of the game, which had over 9.9 million viewers tune in to watch. That barely scratched the surface because after the game aired it became viral on social media due to the actions of two-star players. As a result of the virility of the game, college women’s basketball may now have its own ESPN deal next year.

Caitlin Clark who is a junior at Iowa State and the star forward for LSU, Angel Reese, went viral after

the game due to their taunting antics, which came with severe backlash after the game. The brunt of the criticism for these taunts was placed on Angel Reese, however, after comments began to flood in, Caitlin Clark defended her. Even with the criticism they have faced they both performed outstanding games with Clark gaining her 11th career triple-double and 30 points total in the championship game, and Reese scoring 15 points.

The men’s championship game between the San Diego State Aztecs and the Connecticut Huskies occurred on April 3.

Leading up to the game the UConn Huskies were favored to win as they had averaged 78.6 points per game and the San Diego Aztecs only had 71.5 points per game.

This standing held strong in the championship game as the Huskies took the title with a final score of 79-59. This championship win is the fifth title for the Huskies and the first win since 2014 for the team, making them the sixth program that has ever reached this mark.

Even though they did not come home with a championship title, the San Diego State Aztecs still had something to be proud of. This is because before this season San Di-

ego State had never even reached the elite eight, let alone making it to the championships.

Standout names from the men’s championship were Keshad Johnson, Lamont Butler and Darrion Trammel who all had within the double digits by the end of the

game.

The game itself was led by UConn the entire time, with the gap between scores shrinking and growing the entire time. UConn led with a score of 14-10 with 11 minutes still left in the first half and by the time 2:55 was left in the first half UConn

Women’s LAX defeats Lock Haven

By Christina Judy Staff writer

The Mercyhurst Women’s Lacrosse team conquered Lock Haven University on Saturday, April 8. The Laker’s 14-11 victory was gained defending their own home field in this PSAC match-up.

The beginning of the game was a lot of back and forth until junior midfielder Meghan Nasman took her free position and successfully notched a goal in the top of the net at 6:28.

The Lakers went on to boost their score to 2-0 about one minute later when they frazzled the Bald Eagles defense.

Senior Rachel Plumely kept her calm until she spotted attacker Maggie Newton coming off a back door cut leaving her defender in the dust. Newton caught the pass from Plumely and shot it swiftly into the back of the net to earn her first point of the day.

Lock Haven started to feel the pressure and capitalized on their next offensive possession, making the score 2-1.

Mercyhurst answered when Newton took an open drive toward the net and scored. The back-and-forth continued as the Bald Eagles scored on a free position to close the gap in the score.

However, Newton would not let up and went on to earn a hat trick at the end of the first quarter. She dodged around her initial defender and then got a shot off before the defensive crash could get to her, this goal made

the score 2-4. Lock Haven followed with a goal to close out the first quarter.

The Bald Eagles came into the second quarter on a mission, scoring a goal to tie the score up at four. Mercyhurst was not phased, instead midfielder Marlee Antinora took advantage of a beautiful leading pass from freshman Whitley Easton and scored within the eight.

Lock Haven was able to score two more goals a few minutes apart to take the lead. Laker Nation did not have time to be bothered with Lock Havens goals because sophomore and Ohio native Amanda Bailey ripped through multiple defenders and scored to give herself her first goal of the game.

Lock Haven fought back and scored two more goals towards the end of the quarter, giving them the lead. The Lakers rallied together to push for a goal delivered by Newton to give them a tied score 8-8 going into halftime. At the end of the second quarter, the Lakers had an impressive stat sheet of 100% on their clears and seven draw controls.

The Lakers pumped up at halftime as they went into the third quarter with a Plumely to Newton connection once again. This gave Newton her fifth goal of the game and gave the Lakers a one-point lead.

Senior captain Victoria Gottorff worked her way around the crease and past a defender to score a goal and ex-

tend the Laker lead.

The Bald Eagles made an attempt to lessen the gap with their goal at 10:11, but their efforts quickly vanished when Plumely netted one herself with an assist from Megan Millard. Newton scored another with seconds dwindling down in the quarter.

The fourth quarter was a scene of teamwork as Antinora awarded herself a hat trick at 9:57. Millard took a healthy advantage of a free-position and scored for the Lakers.

Lock Haven fell short to the Lakers ending with a score of 14-11!

was up 36-20.

Things finally started to look up for San Diego with 6:58 left in the second half when the scores jumped to 58-50, however the change happened too late, leaving UConn with a 20 point lead at the end.

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The Lakers prep for their rivalry match-up against Gannon

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese in a standoff in the NCAA finale.

FROM KING FEATURES WEEKLY SERVICE, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803

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FOR RELEASE APRIL 17, 2023

EDITORS: These horoscopes are for use the week of April 24, 2023.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) This week offers new opportunities for adventurous Sheep, both personal and professional. Single Sheep could find romance with a Taurus or Scorpio.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) Your big break is about to happen in the workplace. Expect to hear more about it within a few days. Meanwhile, enjoy some much-needed fun time.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) Your past tendency for breaking promises could be catching up with you. You need to reassure a certain someone in your life that this time you’ll keep your word. Good luck.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Watch your tendency to be overcautious in your personal relationships. Give people a chance to show who they are, not who you assume them to be.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Aspects favor closer attention to family matters, especially where it concerns older relatives who might need special care. A co-worker has information that can help.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) A workplace change causes a temporary delay in your plans. Still, continue working on your project so that you’ll be ready when it’s time to start up again.

LIBRA (September 23 to Octo-

ber 22) Stick with your plans despite some recent disappointments. Persistence will pay off. A family member’s health takes a happy turn for the better.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Your gift for seeing through to the heart of a matter (or the heart of a person) impresses someone who is in a position to make you a very interesting offer.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your colleagues believe in your leadership abilities because you believe in yourself. Your strength inspires others to follow your example.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A sensitive situation needs sensitive handling. Show more patience than you usually do. This will allow everyone time for some really hard thinking.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) You are determined to take charge of a difficult situation and turn it around. Good for you. Accept much-needed help and advice from a Libra.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) You are able to help people by sensing their deepest pain, but be careful not to let your own emotions get injured. Try to maintain a safe balance.

BORN THIS WEEK: Yours is one of the most emotional signs of the zodiac. You are empathetic and have a deep spiritual core that gives you your great strength.

© 2023 King Features Synd., Inc.