The Merciad, March 26, 2014

Page 1

News On Page 4:

Mercyhurst’s new school: Tom Ridge School of Intelligence and Information Science

Features on Page 2:

Forensic Anthropology students aid in recovery of badly burned gas well worker

Arts & Entertainment on Page 6:

Audience impressed at Hurst Idol performance Read more inside & online

THE Merciad MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY

EST. 1929 VOL. 87 NO. 16

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 26, 2014

No glass slipper?

‘La Cenerentola’ opera gives new look to classic fairy tale By Garrett Erwin A&E editor

This weekend, the Performing Arts Center (PAC) will host the Mary D’Angelo School of Music’s annual spring opera. This year, the school has decided on the well-known fairytale, “La Cenerentola.” Although most people are more acquainted with the English translation of the title, “Cinderella.” Treated like a servant by her ridiculous father and stepsisters, Cenerentola eagerly awaits the day that a prince will come to sweep her off her feet and free her from her life as a maid. With a little help from both the prince’s tutor and his valet, Cinderella and her prince live happily ever after. La Cenerentola is full of laughs, using cleaver composing, Giaochino Rossini allows the audience to hear each character’s story while never losing sight of the well-loved story. Composed by Rossini, the tale follows the basic story line we are all familiar with; however, it contains a number of small, yet important details that have been altered. Rossini greatly preferred story lines that focused more on earthly, natural elements rather than focusing on all the enchantment and magic that the original story contains such as the fairy godmother, glass slipper or a magic pumpkin. In Rossini’s “La Cenerentola,” the evil stepmother is replaced by a stepfather and the fairy godmother is changed to a character named Alidoro, who acts as Prince Ramiro’s tutor and a philosopher. The last major change to the story is the glass slipper. Rather than a slipper, Cenerentola presents Prince Ramiro with one on her bracelets, telling him that if he searches for and finds her, and he still loves her, she will be his. The production will feature a combination of Mercyhurst students and faculty along with veteran vocalists and instrumentalists from the Erie community. The cast consists of 15 members, only two of which are hired from the Erie area. The orchestra contains a healthy combination of Mercyhurst University students and hired professionals. Senior Kathleen Reveille plays Cenerentola as the chorus announces the arrival of Prince Ramiro.

Ashley Favata photo

(Please turn to P. 6)

’Hurst considers arming police officers By Nathan Turner Staff writer

Dane Rimko photo

Patrolman Farrell is one of the many Police and Safety officers who will be trained and armed in case of emergency. Here she holds a baton.

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

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The Mercyhurst University Board of Trustees may decide at its May 31 meeting whether to approve issuing firearms to the university’s Police & Safety officers. At its Feb. 22 meeting, the board opted not to make a decision on the matter, saying it needed more information about insurance liability and to have campus-wide forums on the matter. The board will also open that meeting to hear from Police & Safety officers who wish to make their case to the trustees. For now, many students remember the Sept. 20 incident on campus when a mentally-disturbed individual

came onto campus and shot himself with a rifle in front of Old Main. Some students asked what could have happened if the man actually went into one of the buildings and started shooting. The question of whether or not Police & Safety should carry firearms has gone on for years. Gerard Tobin, Ph.D., who is leading the study for the Board of Trustees, revealed one incident that occurred in 2012. During a live exercise simulating a bomb threat at the CAE, “our Police and Safety officers (brought the emergency responders) to the building and (Police & Safety) were not permitted to enter the building because they were unarmed. And the emer-

gency responders had to go in blind.” Tobin said the administration began to realize its strategy of how Police & Safety responded to emergencies needed serious re-evaluation. It then began evaluating the need for firearms for campus officers. “The trend for colleges since 2007 is, if you have a sworn police force, to arm them,” he said. Sworn officers would be better trained than many departments. “By law, a sworn department has to qualify (on firearms) once a year,” said Chief Robert Kuhn. “I’m going to do it four times a year, twice with live fire, and twice with a firearms training simulator” which would simulate scenarios

which would require “shoot or don’t shoot” responses and would test the officers’ judgment skills. The highly-trained and highly-educated Police & Safety department (Kuhn has two degrees; several of his co-workers have master’s degrees, and all are police academy graduates) exists to serve the student body. Tobin said survey data shows that 91 percent of traditional students favor Police & Safety having some sort of access to a firearm, whether as a traditional sidearm or within a locked cabinet in the police vehicle. These figures are higher among associate degree students.

@TheMerciad

Online Poll Results

What do you think of the new State Street Smoothies at the Laker Inn? 35% It’s exactly what campus has been missing. 17% My life is now complete. 33% Call me when they have more flavors. 13% This should stop that gout problem I’ve been having.

Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: How do you feel about Police and Safety officers carrying firearms?

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