The Merciad April 20 Issue

News ................2-5 Features...........6-9 A&E ............. 10-11 Opinion........ 12-13 Sports ......... 14-15 Laker Living.......16 MERCYHURST UNIVERSIT Y

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WEDNE SDAY, APRIL 20, 2022

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VOL. 95 NO. 17

“Saturday Night” impressive show on any day of the week PAGE: 11

Online poll results

We asked: What is your favorite on-campus outdoor activity

Photo Credits: Contributed photo

3: Literary Festival events are ‘alive and kicking’ this April 7: RSCO Feature: Ultimate Frisbee Club 12: Opinion: Students should be able to “Zoom in”

Ta king a walk Playing a game/sport Sitting in the g rass

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Climbing trees

This week’s

POLL

How do you like to decorate your space?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu

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NEWS

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Tuesday Night Catholic Devotions hosts Stations of the Cross

By Ashley Barletta

News editor

On April 12, the Tuesday before Easter Break, the Tuesday Night Catholic Devotions (TNCD) group hosted a Stations of the Cross walk around campus.

TNCD always tries to hold an event that pertains to Easter. It all depends on how much time there is to prepare and what supplies might be needed.

“One year we walked around Christ the King Chapel, from one station to another, and read biblical passages,” said Olivia Gaffron, senior criminal justice major.

“We passed out paper booklets to everyone and had our friend Jake play the piano and sing songs such as, ‘Jesus Remember Me,’ from Taize.”

This year, the Stations began and ended in Christ the King Chapel with multiple stops around campus in between. These included the Mary statue in the outdoor grotto and the magnolia tree outside of Christ the King Chapel.

“It was such a blessing that we were given such wonderful spring weather. It was warm, and I truly enjoyed walking around the campus with the group,” Gaffron said.

Not only did participants have the chance to reflect on Jesus’ life, death, and sacrifice, but they also reflected on the past year of their own lives.

The event that TNCD holds varies from year to year, but participation in the group has gone down, so leaders have to impro-

vise.

“In 2019, we had actually planned a Stations of the Cross where the leaders, along with some helpers (and maybe MYRACLE too), acted out the stations in the front of Christ the King Chapel,” Gaffron said.

“We found costumes and props and we had a small gathering of people show up.”

The leaders of TNCD are students and are always looking for different activities to do that group members will enjoy. The point of the group is to take away stress, not put more of it onto students.

TNCD is a Campus Ministry group that meets every Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. Some of their activities, like the Stations, are Catholic-related, but some of the other activities held are more geared toward Fortunately, the weather was nice enough for the Stations of the Cross to take place outside. fellowship among participants.

Some of the other activities that TNCD has hosted in the past are paint nights, baking nights, rosary-making, and vision board making.

Once a month, TNCD hosts Eucharistic adoration and exposition in Christ the King Chapel.

This includes periods of silent prayer and song. Fr. Jim Piszker is also available for confessions during adoration.

Overall, TNCD is a group that will welcome anyone, Catholic or not. Anyone who chooses to join does not need to commit to showing up every week, only when they have the time.

Contributed photo

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The fourth station, “Jesus meets his mother,” was prayed in front of the Mary statue in the outdoor grotto.

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Stations of the Cross at the Magnolia tree.

Contributed photo

One station held at the Student Union gazebo.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

NEWS

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Literary Festival events are ‘alive and kicking’ this April

By Hannah Brooks

Features editor

For readers, writers and literature enthusiasts alike, the Mercyhurst English department has a meaningful opportunity for you. The longtime tradition of the Literary Festival is underway and set to continue on through the rest of the month.

Whether you are an English major, literature connoisseur or just a student looking for some fun events to attend, the Literary Festival certainly has some offerings that you just might enjoy.

The festival events began on Saturday, April 2, with a speech from author Marie Benedict.

The event included the initial talk with Benedict, which included her backstory of going from a ten-year career as a lawyer to being a successful author, a question-and-answer session and ended with a book signing.

Benedict has authored a number of award-winning books, including “The Personal Librarian,” “The Other Einstein” and “Carnegie’s Maid.”

Tables were set up throughout the PAC lobby, one offering a few of Benedict’s books for sale.

The second event, “Alive and Kicking,” took place on Tuesday, April 12, as a celebration of musicians, mainly in the folk genre, who produced music prior to 1982 and are “still alive and kicking.”

The event included performances by Jim Tometsko & Friends, Clint Jones, Jimmy Cuneo, Brittany Barko Krug-

ger, Kevin Sullivan and additional performances by Mercyhurst students.

The event is described by Jeffrey Roessner, Ph.D., professor of English, as being “fairly informal,” though lots of fun and gives the Mercyhurst community a chance to get on stage and make music with each other.

The next event will take place on Thursday, April 21 and will be a speech by Liberian-American poet Patricia Jabbeh Wesley.

The event will feature a speech from Wesley, followed by a workshop the next day which English students are invited to attend.

Wesley is a prominent poet, having authored several popular books such as “Becoming Ebony,” “The River is Rising” and “When the Wanderers Come.”

Wesley, in addition to being an award-winning poet and author, is also a human rights activist, anti-war advocate and prominent literary scholar.

This event will take place at 7:30 p.m. in the Taylor Little Theatre and all students are both invited and encouraged to attend.

The final event will celebrate the creative works of Mercyhurst students—this will be the unveiling of Mercyhurst’s well-known literary magazine, The Lumen.

Every aspect of the magazine from the cover, artwork inside and the creative works, are produced by Mercyhurst students.

This year’s editors-in-chief were Ash Carr and Emma

Coppolo, who worked along with graphic designers Megan Perusek and Sydney Dietz.

The cover and works will be unveiled to the public at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 28, in Taylor Little Theatre.

In addition to the official unveiling, students will also be awarded both for their works and for the P. Barry McAndrew critical literature essay award.

The entire month of events is overseen by the English department at Mercyhurst, with Roessner coordinating most of the events. Roessner says that the event is a great experience for all students to enjoy and features prominent literature in society.

“We bring terrific, engaging writers to campus to speak about their work and their caContributed photo reers. It’s an excellent opportunity for students to get to hear Marie Benedict kicked off the 2022 Literary Festival with a lecture from well-known authors who and workshop on Saturday, April 2. make literature come alive and speak to us in the here-andnow,” Roessner said. “Literature is not sealed in the covers of a dusty book, it is a vital presence, commenting on issues that matter to us all.”

The rest of the month is geared towards appreciation of inspiring literature.

Be sure to head over to the Taylor Little Theater on April 21 to attend Patricia Jabbeh Wesley’s speech—and then head back a week later, on April 28 to appreciate the literary works of your fellow Mercyhurst classmates with the official Lumen unveiling and awards ceremony.

Contributed photo

Patricia Jabbeh Wesley will speak in Taylor Little Theatre this Thursday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m.

Contributed photo

“Alive and Kicking” was a celebration of classic musicians that took place on Thursday, April 12, in Taylor Little Theatre.

Contributed photo

Brittany Barko Krugger performed a song at the “Alive and Kicking” event.

NEWS

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Wednesday, April 20, 2022

School shooting at Erie High Merciad IN A MINUTE Earth Day April 22 is Earth Day. MAC/SAC will be hosting an event in the Student Union on Earth Day from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m.

There will also be an Earth Day lecture on April 27 at 7 p.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room.

This lecture will be given by Lisa Britton.

Her speech will be titled “Creating a Healthier Future Using a Holistic Approach to Sustainability.”

Springfest tickets

Springfest is upon us! It will take place on April 23 in Warde Hall Parking Lot, featuring Bryce Vine and DJ Ca$hEra. Doors will open at 5:45 p.m. Enter through Zurn hall when you arrive.

Be sure to get your FREE ticket for Springfest 2022, April 20 and April 21 at the MSG table in Grotto Commons.

Illumination presentations Illumination is Mercyhurst’s annual celebration of student scholarship.

This year, it will be held on April 20 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. in the Waterford Room at Ryan Hall.

Students who present at Illumnation will have the chance to show off their research from many different fields of interest.

Mercy Gala On April 30, MAC/SAC will be hosting a Mercy Gala in the Student Union Great Room.

This event will begin at 8 p.m. and end at 11 p.m.

This is a formal event and this year’s theme is “Heavenly Bodies.”

Music and refreshments will be provided. There will also be chances to win prizes throughout the evening.

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

Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

By Bella Lee Staff writer

2022 has without a doubt been a difficult year for everyone. The continuation of the COVID pandemic, international war, the list goes on. However, there was a very difficult situation that hit very close to home for the Mercyhurst community.

On April 5, the Erie community was shaken to the core when it was reported that a shooting occurred at nearby Erie High School.

The shooting, which took place at 9:20 in the morning, injured one student, who is in stable condition. An unnamed student, who was identified as a suspect, turned themselves in the next day.

Following the news breaking of the school shooting, police responded on location and the

school was placed on lockdown, during which the police swept the school and made sure it was clear of any further dangers. The students were then dismissed to be picked up by their parents or take buses home.

Erie High remained out of session for the rest of the week, and were off the following week for Spring Break.

The school and the school district are currently working on a comprehensive plan to allow students to return safely. Counseling and other professional services have been made available for students and their families.

“We are devastated and angered by this senseless tragedy, and we are all hoping for the full and speedy recovery of the student involved,” superintendent Brian Polito said.

“I want to thank district and city police for their very prompt and thorough response.”

“The shooting at Erie High School this morning is very saddening,” said Joe Schember, the mayor of Erie.

“Schools should be safe places where children learn and grow. I am receiving great updates from Superintendent Brian Polito and Police Chief Dan Spizarny.

I know this is difficult for parents to hear. But remember: all students are now safe! We must all stay away from the area until Erie’s Public Schools announces a dismissal process. My thoughts and prayers are with the students, teachers, administrators, and all the Police Officers who have secured the building. What they all need right now is our love and support.”

This marks the 22nd school shooting in 2022. This adds up to 114 school shootings since 2018, with 24 each in 2018 and 2019, 10 in 2020 and 34 in 2021.

Out of these, 32 people have been injured and six have been killed. The most recent death was that of a 12-year-old student at Tanglewood Middle School in Greenville, South Carolina on March 31, the most recent school shooting before Erie High.

An incident such as this hitting so close to home, the community is left wondering if such an event could happen again. No one perished, but this leaves everyone reeling and cherishing time with their loved ones.

We must all remain as safe as possible and work together to prevent this from happening again.

Housing selection process begins

By Isabella Johnson Staff writer

As the spring semester draws to an end, the housing selection process for the 2022-2023 school year is underway. Housing selection is important for returning students in order to pick their desired roommates and housing residence.

The first step for housing selection can be found in the Housing and Meal Plan Portal.

“Housing selection is an online process that is made up of several steps. Step one is the housing agreement or contract,” said Associate Director of Residence Life Ashley McCartney.

This agreement has two sections. The first is terms and conditions—overall rules, where to find Residence Life policies and procedures, and important dates for the next steps. The second section of the agreement is a questionnaire. The responses are used when we are matching students with roommates, especially if later in the year Residence Life needs to assign another student to an empty spot. In the Housing and Meal Plan portal, under under ‘Housing Forms’ one can find the Housing Contract.

Along with filling out the housing contract, students may also form their roommate groups through the Housing Portal, but only once a student has completed the housing contract.

To do this, select Roommate Group Selection in the menu and change the term to Fall 2022. Then, Roommate Search becomes an option. Search using a person’s last name, and be sure you double check the spelling, then click “Begin Search” and that person should appear underneath the search bar. Each member of the group will need to request each other member to

“mutually confirm” your roommate(s). “This way we can be sure that everyone in the group knows or at least agrees to live with each of the other members,” said McCartney.

To decide who gets first priority in choosing their living situation, Residence Life uses a point-based system. How quickly your roommate group was formed, along with some other factors such as year and number or credits, dictates how many points you have and how quickly you get to choose your housing.

“While students are forming their groups, Residence Life is determining each student’s housing points. Housing points are determined by looking at each student’s credit total and their conduct history. We only look at credits from completed courses and any credits for currently enrolled for the Spring semester. We cannot consider summer or Fall credit hours for classes that haven’t started,” said McCartney.

“Housing points are then added up and each group will be assigned a housing point total based on the group members who have all been mutually assigned. These group totals are done based on mutually confirmed groups as of April 13.”

Groups are then sorted by housing point totals. Each group is assigned a very short (about five minutes) timeslot based on their group’s rank. These times are then communicated to the students via their Mercyhurst email.

Important dates for housing selection start with April 20, when townhouse selection times are sent to each townhouse group. The groups will be able to select their preferred living space at their designated time on April 21.

Groups that were unable to

get a townhouse will need to reform to fit a three or four-person apartment by April 25.

On April 26, selection times for three or four-person apartments will be sent out. Selection for these apartments will take place on April 27. Selection times for groups of three who want a four-person apartment will be emailed on May 3, or May 4.

During the week of May 16, Residence Life will reach out to any groups of two or less in order to help them form a complete group and find housing.

“On the date and time of your selection, you will log into the housing portal. There will be a section on the main menu allowing them to see your time slot. Once it is your time, you can log in using a button that will become available on their main portal page. Only one member of the group needs to be available at this time,” said McCartney.

“Students will have the opportunity to log in and see all available housing options based on their group size. A group of five will only see five person townhouses. Since we only have five such townhouses, they will only be able to see those townhouses.

If there are six groups trying for those five, and all prior groups pick, that sixth group will not see any options. They will then have to either reform into two separate groups or join other groups to take part in a later selection time. We build in this ability to allow for regrouping after Townhouse selection.”

After signing up for their preferred living space, students will receive confirmation of their housing assignment over the summer through an email from Residence Life.

“Students who choose housing as part of the housing se-

lection process will be picking their own housing assignment.

As such they should note where they picked. There will also be an option within the Housing Portal until June 1 to view the Fall 2022 assignment. Once June 1 hits, this option will be hidden until mid-July,” said McCartney.

Housing assignments and roommate information will be communicated in addition to move-in information in mid-July, similarly to how it is communicated to first year students.

This should confirm what students already know after participating in the housing selection process.

The administration at Residence Life recognizes that the process of housing selection can be a very stressful time for students. However, they are here to help with any questions or concerns and can be reached at reslife@mercyhurst.edu.

“I know that housing selection is a very anxiety driven time.

Students are very interested in specific housing types that are limited. We strive to ensure that this process is as equal as it can be. We do not give priority outside of the housing points process,” said McCartney.

Be sure to pay attention to deadlines, create plans and backup plans with your potential roommates, and sign in during your timeslot for the best chances at your preferred living space next year.

NEWS Celebration of Scholars recognizes faculty research This weekend’s campus events

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Wednesday, April 20, 2022

STUDENT GOVERNMENT

By Libby Bullinger

Copy editor

One of the aspects that makes Mercyhurst unique is that faculty and staff are focused on their students first, unlike at other institutions where professors are more interested in conducting their own research and teaching on the side.

Even while focusing on this student-centered approach, Mercyhurst faculty members are still highly engaged in their own scholarship in addition to teaching.

On April 19, the Faculty Scholarship Committee hosted a Celebration of Scholars to recognize and honor this kind of academic achievement for faculty around campus.

The event took place from 3-5 p.m. in the Mercy Heritage Room and was open for all faculty to attend.

The Celebration of Scholars is a Mercyhurst tradition dating back over a decade.

Phillip Belfiore, Ph.D., who currently serves as the Director of Graduate Special Education and Applied Disability Studies, helped to establish the initial Celebration of Scholars in 2010.

At the time, Belfiore was working as Vice President for Academic Affairs, but now the celebration is organized through the Faculty Scholarship Committee on the Faculty Senate.

Despite the change in organi-

zations, Belfiore is still highly involved in this event by collecting and organizing the works of scholarship into a booklet that will document all work at the Celebration.

The structure of the event was informal and allows faculty from across various areas of campus to admire one another’s scholarship.

Although there have been some brief presentations in the past, most of the work was displayed on tables that allowed attendees to walk around and view each display throughout the event.

The Celebration of Scholars is inclusive of faculty from a wide range of disciplines on campus.

“In the past we have had films/ videos of dance performances viewed on laptops. It is designed as a casual gathering of folks to refresh, have a drink, and talk with colleagues from across the university,” says Belfiore.

Some of the research and projects that were presented are solely faculty conducted, while others involve some degree of student participation.

Each year the Celebration honors work from the previous calendar year, so for this year’s event faculty submitted research from 2021.

Although there were many submissions presented by 30-40 faculty members, some notable contributions this year are from Jodi Staniunas Hopper, Rich McCarty, Ph.D. and Chris Magoc, Ph.D.,

who all wrote entire books last calendar year.

Christy Rieger, Ph.D., English professor and co-chair of the Faculty Scholarship Committee also spoke briefly on the importance of faculty scholarship at a teaching-oriented university.

This event was a great opportunity for faculty to congratulate and celebrate one another on academic achievements in addition to expanding their horizon outside of their own academic area of expertise.

One way this was done was through extending invitation to academic administrators, the president of the university and the Athletic Director and coaches on campus.

Encouraging campus employees to come together for events like this one is just one of the ways of creating a sense of community at Mercyhurst.

The goal of the Celebration of Scholars is to be as inclusive as possible with recognition of works of scholarship in various forms including book and chapter publications, journal articles, conference presentations, juried art exhibits, performing art shows, grant awards, and anything else that demonstrates scholarship at Mercyhurst.

The Celebration also included regional, national, and international works.

Check out this upcoming event:

MERCYHURST CAMPUS

CRIME LOG April 7: Drug Violation in Briggs.

April 10: Criminal Mischief in Lewis.

FEATURES

PAGE 6

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Dr. Robert von Thaden wins the 2022 Teaching Excellence Award

By Bella Lee and Hannah Brooks Staff writer, Features editor

Every year, the Mercyhurst community presents the Teaching Excellence Award to a professor that has gone above and beyond for their students.

The 2022 award was presented to Robert von Thaden, Ph.D., of the Religious Studies Department. Von Thaden is a Professor of Religious studies who specializes in biblical and other sacred texts.

Von Thaden received his bachelor’s at Muhlenberg college, his M.A. from the University of Chicago and his Ph.D. from Emory University.

During his studies, von Thaden trained as a biblical scholar at Emory University.

In addition to his career at Mercyhurst, von Thaden has also written about early Christian texts, children in biblical texts, religion in American culture, and apocalyptic imagery in science fiction.

He is a published author, having written a book titled “Sex, Christ, and Embodied Cognition: Paul’s Wisdom for Corinth” (2012). He was also one of the editors of “Foundations for Sociorhetorical Exploration: A Rhetoric of Religious Antiquity Reader” (2016) and is currently working on a book titled “Exploring Galatians: Jewish God, Pagan Bodies,” which is a commentary on Paul’s letter to the Galatians.

Von Thaden discussed his achievement of winning this award, explaining that he is extremely humbled and grateful to be a recipient.

“I work with amazing colleagues, many of whom I consider pedagogical masters,” von Thaden said. “That this award comes from colleagues, students

and alumni makes it all the more special to me.”

Von Thaden has been teaching and involved in the Mercyhurst community for nearly two decades now and has discussed some of the rewarding opportunities he has gained from the experience, as well as some of the interesting classes he has had the opportunity to teach.

“I’m finishing up my 16th year at Mercyhurst and I have been able to develop and teach some amazing classes,” von Thaden said.

This semester, he is teaching “Desert Mothers and Fathers,” “New Testament and Christian Origins” and “Death and Dying.”

“I very much enjoy engaging my intellectually curious students in the variety of human thoughts and behaviors that fall under the umbrella of things we call ‘religion,’ von Thaden said.

“I’ve been lucky to have been able to use work from my scholarship to enhance what do with my students in the classroom and my students have pushed me to learn new things from the questions they ask.”

The Teaching Excellence award is one that invites students to nominate their professors who best display excellence in their teaching.

Von Thaden has been a critical member of the Mercyhurst family for nearly 20 years and is a fine example of the excellent teachers that Mercyhurst has to offer. His charisma and humor engages students in the content and creates a learning environment that is anything but boring.

According to the description of the award, the Teaching Excellence Award “recognizes one extraordinary faculty member who has contributed significantly to the intellectual life of Mercyhurst University.

A panel including previous

Contributed photo

From left to right, Christina Riley-Brown, Ph.D., Robert von Thaden, Ph.D., Verna Ehret, Ph.D., Elizabeth Pyne, Ph.D. and Alice Edwards, Ph.D. Riley-Brown, Dean of Hafenmaier College, joined Ehret, Edwards, and Pyne in a surprise celebration to award von Thaden the Teaching Excellence Award.

award winners reviews nominations from students, alumni, and colleagues, and they consider many criteria when selecting the award recipient. Recipients exhibit teaching approaches that are innovative and rigorous; they show dedication above and beyond in advising and mentoring; and they integrate current scholarly and professional contributions into their pedagogy.”

Each year, students are encouraged to nominate faculty members for this prestigious award. Students are told to consider a number of criteria listed on the Teaching Excellence webpage, with a few examples including “outstanding teaching effectiveness both inside and outside of the classroom; teaching that is innovative, intellectu-

ally rigorous, creative, engaging, and that fosters critical thinking; integration of their scholarship, and the most recent scholarship of their field, into the classroom.”

Recent previous winners of this award include philosophy professor James Snyder, Ph.D., in 2019, geology professor Scott McKenzie in 2021.

In 2020 no one professor was recognized through this award.

Instead, the Teaching Excellence award was given to all Mercyhurst professors in recognition of their hard work during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Faculty during this time was forced to adjust to online teaching nearly overnight, and the university wanted to highlight the dedication of all

professors during such a tough year.

Other recipients of this award include Alice Edwards, Ph.D., of the World Languages Department (2016), Brian Ripley, Ph.D., of the Political Science Department (2013) and Chris Magoc, Ph.D., of the History Department (2012).

Be sure to keep the Teaching Excellence award in mind for years to come - as Mercyhurst students, you have the opportunity to nominate exemplary professors. If you have a professor in mind who upholds teaching excellence, consider nominating them next year.

Be sure to congratulate von Thaden on this outstanding achievement.

LAKER MOMENT On April 12, the Grotto Commons hosted a fun and tasty event to help students and faculty embrace the Spring season. They offered a “decorate your own cookie station,” allowing students and faculty to decorate their own cut-out cookies.

They offered a variety of options for students to choose from, including Easter-themed bunny shapes, shamrocks in perfect Mercyhurst style, as well as a wide range of different colored frostings that participants could choose from.

Mackenzie Zent photo

The Grotto offered a cookie-decorating table on April 12, allowing students to decorate and enjoy Spring inspired cookies.

The Grotto offered a wide variety of toppings to incorporate such as sprinkles, mini chocolate chips and mini M&Ms. This was a really cute and delicious way to get everyone into the spring spirit. Be sure to keep an eye out for more fun and tasty events offered on campus by Parkhurst Dining Services!

FEATURES

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

RSCO FEATURE ULTIMATE FRISBEE CLUB

Laker Major/ Minor Spotlight: Teaching English Language minor

By Samantha Weber

By Raylynn Chraston

Editor in chief

Staff writer

Contributed photo

Students on the ultimate Frisbee team enjoy a fun game in the sun.

Among the several sports that Mercyhurst has to offer is the Ultimate Frisbee club. Ultimate Frisbee is a non-contact team game. The sport is played with a flying disc (Frisbee) that is thrown by the players. There are different techniques used when throwing the Frisbee such as throwing it underhand or overhand. Originally, this sport was developed in 1968 by a group of students in New Jersey, however this sport has recently become well known among various schools and universities.

“Ultimate Frisbee is a club that can either provide excellent exercise and competitiveness or laid-back fun and gives the ability to make new friends,” Jake Konopski, 2022–2023 President of the Ultimate Frisbee Club said. “In the last two years we have been one of the most popular clubs on campus receiving the most amount of signatures of students who are willing to sign up for the club. With my senior year coming up as president, I am striding toward having even more signatures than the last two years in hope to see more new faces.”

In the beginning of this academic school year, the Frisbee team went to the Skylander tournament on Oct. 2 and 3. This tournament was hosted at Edinboro University this year. Although this university did not have a collegiate club team to participate within the tournament, they had an adult team that made an appearance. During this tournament, the Mercyhurst team played an overall of seven games, where they took the win for the majority of them. This tournament was also an allday event and was seen to be a great opportunity for team members.

The team community is tight-knit and has been described by players as being like family. The team is also unique because they encourage both girls and guys to participate and be a part of one team. The team is very open and welcomes players of all ability levels.

The team elects officers and captains each year. For this process, each player decides who they would like to be named for such positions. The team has elected the following for leadership positions next year: Joseph Johnson, advisor; Jake Konopski, president; Ryan Wallace, co-captain; Maddie Rowland, tournament director; Matti Trimath, social media manager.

There was a winter league this year where the Frisbee team played every Sunday night from the beginning of November up until winter break. However, due to the collapsing of the dome in which they hosted events, they were not able to start the spring league at the start of the spring semester. The team is finally back and ready to play as the weather becomes nicer, and upcoming practices begin at the field on Wallace Street near the school. As of now, there is an upcoming tournament that the ultimate Frisbee team plans to play against Behrend.

If you are interested in being part of the team, be sure to reach out to Johnson or Konopski for more information about how to become involved. Ultimate Frisbee is a wonderful way to meet some new friends as well as become active in a unique and exciting way.

PAGE 7

English is perhaps one of the most useful languages to learn in the modern world.

According to Babble, English is the most-spoken language in the world and it is often used to communicate across different nations. It can certainly be more beneficial to learn another language if you want to travel a lot in your life and the most recommended second language to learn is English.

Mercyhurst offers a minor in Teaching English Language Learners if students feel like this could be a path for them. If students choose this minor, they will learn different methods for teaching English as an additional language. Students would also learn about the language acquisition theories, socio-cultural influences and program development strategies to help form culturally sensitive and effective instructors.

The minor includes six core classes, one elective and over 60 hours of practicum experience working with trained education profes-

sionals in Pre K-12 and adult education. This minor has been offered at Mercyhurst for about six years.

“Teaching English to speakers of other languages is a growing field in education in the U.S. In our area, Erie is a refugee resettlement city and receives hundreds of refugees and immigrants each year, which requires the area schools to offer English as a Second Language (ESL) support,” said Alice Edwards, Ph.D., chair of the Department of World Languages.

“In addition, area agencies offer adult ESL classes. Students already studying education at Mercyhurst can add this endorsement and increase their marketability to school districts.”

Edwards added that this minor is one that is not only beneficial to students going into the education field—it could also be a great supplement for a variety of degrees and programs, especially those in the humanities.

“Students who aren’t education majors can take the minor to enhance any degree in a human service field (social work, sociology, psychol-

ogy, etc). Other students may be considering living abroad after graduation—teaching ESL is a great way to fund living and working in other countries,” said Edwards.

The number of teachers the world will need for the English language will only increase as the language’s popularity continues to grow.

There are a lot of options for people who wish to teach English. Some of the opportunities include working with English language learners in the United States or traveling to another country to teach English to kids who have a different native language.

This minor is incredibly important and is crucial to the diverse world we live in.

This minor is one that is both important and beneficial. It is one that is very important to be considered, especially for students majoring in education or other various human services fields.

For more information, or if students have questions about the minor, they can reach out to the minor supervisor Regina Cocolin.

Contributed photo

Students in the World Languages department showcased their department to local high schools on “Day in World Languages.”

JOIN THE MERCIAD Write articles, get paid.

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

FEATURES

PAGE 8

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

HURST CLASS April events for Autism CATALOG Appreciation Month FRENCH CULTURE

By Sarah Beck Staff writer

French Culture, or French 125, is an entry-level course taught in English for any Mercyhurst student. In the class, students learn all about France, its history, people, traditions, institutions and more. The class is traditionally structured through the use of readings, in-class discussions and lectures.

The class is unique because it gives students a very practical understanding of France and students are able to identify that this country has a major role on the world stage, especially through its relationship with the United States. French 125 is taught by Douglas Boudreau, Ph.D., associate professor of French.

He considers himself to be a “huge language nerd” because of his interest in learning odd bits of language trivia and history.

“You can learn a lot about a culture through their language,” Boudreau said. “English and French are the only languages I can carry a conversation in, but I also studied Russian when I was in college and, more recently, I’ve been trying to teach myself Danish, Ukrainian and Haitian Creole.”

Although there are a plethora of benefits for taking this course, Boudreau states two major benefits that stand out to him as the professor of this class.

“It provides an opportunity to learn something about a culture that is different from one’s own. It is always a good thing to know something about and to appreciate the different cultures that we share the planet with.

The second benefit is perhaps more subtle. In learning about a culture that is different from your own, it can help you better appreciate and understand your own culture. Learning about other cultures and gaining a different perspective of one’s own are important to realizing the qualities listed in the Mercyhurst Vision Statement of being ‘globally responsible’ and ‘compassionately hospitable,’ Boudreau said.

An example of class coursework is formulating a presentation that features and promotes tourism in a traditional France province. According to Boudreau, this is one of his favorite projects because “it’s a good way for the students to appreciate a part of France that is very different from Paris, and it can be a lot of fun when the students get into the ‘sales pitch’ aspect of the presentation.”

Boudreau’s favorite part of the course is when students find something that especially piques their interest.

“There are many subjects covered in the course that I personally find interesting, and I realize that they won’t all necessarily spark the same kind of interest for all of the students. However, when the class gets engaged, and a real exchange of ideas occurs, that is the best part of being a professor,” Boudreau said.

If you are interested in learning about France in a more hands-on way, Boudreau is planning on taking a group of students on a FSAT to France in Spring of 2023. The class “France: People, History, and Food” can fulfill an E requirement in REACH or serve as major or minor credit for a student in the French program.

If French culture sounds interesting to you, make sure to take note. This is a course that could be beneficial for all students and allow you to learn more about and appreciate French culture. Hopefully, in the future, you will be a student learning all about France with Boudreau in future semesters to come!

By Hannah Brooks Features editor

The month of April is recognized as Autism Appreciation month, formerly known as Autism Awareness month. April 2 was World Autism Awareness Day, which was recognized at Mercyhurst on the Cultural Awareness Calendar.

On April 8, Multicultural Student Services urged students to “wear shirts that commemorate World Autism Day for the United Nations.” There will be more events and opportunities at Mercyhurst available for students to take part in, one of which includes an off-campus walk that students are highly encouraged to take part in.

On April 21, staff members from the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst (AIM) program will hand out takeaways about AIM and Autism Appreciation month at a table in the Grotto Commons.

Students and employees should be sure to take the time to stop by and educate themselves on Autism Appreciation month.

The last university event for the month will be the Walk for Autism, sponsored by the Autism Society of Northwestern Pennsylvania, which will take place at the Lake Erie Speedway on Saturday, April 23, at 9:30 a.m. Both students and faculty members are highly encouraged to attend this event and show support. Mercyhurst’s AIM staff will be at the

event, and anybody in the Mercyhurst community who is interested is invited to attend. All who are interested can sign up at https:// www.autismnwpa.org/mainevent/walk-for-autism/.

As Autism Appreciation month continues, it is very important to be educated about Autism, as well as to respect and appreciate individuals who are Autistic.

The AIM program is an extremely important initiative existing at the university.

Per the Mercyhurst website, the mission of AIM is “to facilitate and support the successful adjustment and progression of college students on the autism spectrum in all domains of college life, thereby broadening their vocational opportunities, and enhancing social and community engagement.”

The program was officially founded in 2008 to “meet the unique needs of the growing population of college students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).” AIM began with just four students upon its founding in 2008, but now reports that it serves 70 students on campus every academic year.

The AIM program focuses on a variety of pertinent skills going beyond just academic success including self-advocacy and social skills. Students in this program receive several supports to help them academically, in the community and in the future such as skills training and development, specialized housing arrangements,

GoErie.com photo

A photo from a 2019 event recognizing Autism Appreciation Month.

access to the AIM career path program and more.

Even if you are unable to participate in the events offered on campus this April, take the time to do research on and educate yourself on Autism using reputable resources that promote advocacy and empowerment, such as the Autism Self-Advocacy Network.

Be sure to check out the AIM website at https://www.mercyhurst.edu/academics/autism-initiative-mercyhurst for more information about the program, as well as several resources offering more information about Autism.

Additionally, please consider supporting the initiative by attending the walk on Saturday.

MU ROTC creates leaders

By Lilly English Staff writer

Mercyhurst has a wide variety of clubs, activities and sports. One of the most underrated, yet impactful, opportunities at Mercyhurst is the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.

ROTC does not have a commitment right off of the bat to the Army. Students can join for up to two years and participate without ever making a commitment. Students can then decide to pursue a scholarship if they might want it to be a career or even a job opportunity right after college.

With ROTC, there is a class as well as physical training three times a week. There are also labs where students learn about skills such as land navigation, raids, ambushes and area defenses.

Mercyhurst is a part of a battalion involving Penn State Behrend and Gannon, so students interact with cadets from these schools as well. This allows for cadets to make friends from all around the area.

“ROTC has really helped me challenge myself more physically by never accepting just the

standard, and mentally in class to think about issues on a larger scale,” sophomore Jackson Feiock said.

Students in ROTC have physical training (PT) three days a week at 5:30 a.m. As bad as that sounds to some, ROTC students say that it has helped them to become more disciplined and start the day out on the right foot, awake and excited to go to class.

At PT, everyone is extremely encouraging and helps one another to reach their limits.

“Being apart of the program has improved my leadership skills of course, but more importantly has honed my ability to build meaningful relationships and properly mentor my subordinates,” junior Jacob Yohman said.

Students are able to explore many different career options with the army such as military police, infantry and even air defense artillery. Experience within the military also makes students more marketable to employers.

Many students who are involved with the program rave about the benefits that it has.

“ROTC introduced me to a lot of great people, both cadets and

cadre,” senior Emma Leeser said.

“I made all of my best friends in the program. It is an environment of support and pushing you to constantly better yourself. The opportunities ROTC presents allows students to grow.”

Leeser is currently the battalion commander, meaning that she is in charge of all three schools and typically helps to organize events that the battalion puts on. She helps to arrange labs, battalion PT and other events that allow students within the program to grow as leaders and future officers.

“I feel overall more confident, I feel stronger mentally and physically, and I feel capable of working well with others in a team,” said Lesser. “I am very thankful for the great program our school has to offer.”

She, along with many other graduating seniors, will be commissioning in just a few short weeks as second lieutenants in the United States Army.

Overall, ROTC helps to develop students in many ways, thereby creating leaders that help their peers to be better people as well.

FEATURES

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

PAGE 9

THIS WEEK IN HISTORY

Student conducts LGBTQ+ survey

By Victoria McGinty Managing editor

Sophomore Environmental Science major Catherine Segada has been working diligently to collect data for a project that hits home to them.

Segada is enrolled in GEOL 440, instructed by Nicholas Lang Ph.D., which is described by the course catalog as “an introduction to Geographic Information Systems.” Segada’s final project for the course includes a database/ survey to collect data that accounts for LGBTQ+ individuals and where they reside.

Segada feels strongly about this project because there is not a significant amount of data available considering where LGBTQ+

people reside. In addition, the question of whether or not a couple is same-sex or heterosexual was just added to the U.S. Census recently.

“I wanted to do this project because within the field of GIS, there is not much work done with LGBTQ+ persons and as a queer woman, I wanted to help start that conversation at Mercyhurst,” said Segada. They have worked diligently to make this project successful.

The survey is no longer open for students to participate in at this time, however, results have been collected and recorded.

The survey was a success, thanks to Segada’s hard work and the students who took the time to answer questions and participate

By Sarah Beck Staff writer

Historical Event: April 14, 1865

Contributed photo

Catherine Segada, sophomore Environmental Science major

in the survey.

Be sure to congratulate Segada on their hard work if you see them on campus!

Art alum makes her mark at Erie’s Bayfront Tattoo Lounge

By Hannah Brooks Features editor

Mercyhurst art alumni, Olivia Minichelli, has been working hard at a very creative and interesting opportunity—a tattoo apprenticeship at Bayfront Tattoo Lounge in Erie.

Minichelli graduated from Mercyhurst in December 2021 with a major in Graphic Design. In addition to her studies, she spent her time at the Hurst working in the Mercyhurst University Innovation Entente Lab. Since graduation, she began apprenticing at the Bayfront Tattoo Lounge under Ryan Quinn, an artist that she was able to meet at Mercyhurst when he came to speak with art students.

Tattooing has been something that Minichelli has always been interested in, but she didn’t know how to pursue this goal.

“I have always wanted to tattoo ever since I began drawing

and getting into the arts,” said Minichelli. “It was about middle school when I realized I was interested in tattooing, I just never knew how to go about finding an apprenticeship. When I had the opportunity to meet Ryan, everything just kind of fell into place nicely.”

During her time as a student, Minichelli took advantage of the many opportunities that the university offers for art students to improve their craft. The artist says that she still uses skills learned in some of those courses to this day during her journey as a tattoo apprentice, and the professors that she had the opportunity to learn from have impacted her greatly.

“I took several studio art classes for fun which definitely helped me to improve my fine art skills,” said Minichelli. “However, the connections I made at Mercyhurst have helped me the most. My professor, Jodi Staniaunas Hopper, contacted me about [Ryan Quinn] coming to speak at Mercyhurst.”

Contributed photo

One of the tattoos that Minichelli has had the opportunity to do during her apprenticeship.

Minichelli is very excited about pursuing this opportunity and to be able to follow her dreams.

“This experience has been amazing. I have learned so much in just the few weeks that I have been tattooing, and I have met so many great people and artists through this journey so far,” said Minichelli.

Minichelli has gotten the opportunity to tattoo a variety of different things in many different styles and colors. When asked what her favorite piece she has gotten to do so far, she said that her favorite was an American traditional scorpion.

“It allowed me to get some experience with shading and bold linework,” said Minichelli. “It turned out to be a great tattoo.”

Minichelli said she has had a great experience so far and has a bright outlook for the future— one that involves a lot more tattooing.

“I am so excited to continue learning more as well as developing my own personal style,” said Minichelli.

If you have been on the fence about getting a tattoo, consider supporting a local Mercyhurst alumni who is showing just one of several unique places that a Mercyhurst education can take students.

Minichelli’s story is an exciting and inspiring example of a student being able to use their Mercyhurst education to follow their dreams.

The Bayfront Tattoo Lounge is located at 3256 West 26 Street in Erie. Be sure to reach out to the shop by phone at (814)-217-7237 or message them on their Instagram (bayfront_tattoo_lounge) to book with Olivia.

Be sure to also check out her Instagram at @oliviaminichelli to see more of her artwork!

On April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the head by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, D.C. Booth admitted that initially he had only planned to kidnap the president and take him to Confederate capital in Richmond, but the plan fell through because the President did not show up at the place that he had predicted for him to be at. This is when Booth conspired with a new and more sinister plan. He heard that President Lincoln would be in attendance at “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theatre on April 14 and decided he would assassinate him, Vice President Andrew Johnson and Secretary of State William Seward. Booth hoped that by killing the President and all of his successors, he would throw the United States into disarray. President Lincoln was fatefully wounded and died the next morning at a cheap lodging house across the street from the theatre.

Top 3 Songs This Week According to Spotify’s Global Charts: 1. “As It Was:” Harry Styles 2. “First Class:” Jack Harlow 3. “Heat Waves:” Glass Animals On the Charts This Week 35 Years Ago According to Billboards Charts: 1. “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me):” Aretha Franklin and George Michael 2. “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now:” Starship 3. “Don’t Dream It’s Over:” Crowded House Top Artists Today: Male: Red Hot Chili Peppers Female: Doja Cat Top Artists 7 Years Ago: Male: Maroon 5 Female: Taylor Swift Top 3 Podcasts This Week According to Spotify: 1. “Dateline NBC” 2. “The Ben Shapiro Show” 3. “Crime Junkie” Top Grossing Films: This Week: “Sonic The Hedgehog 2” 35 Years Ago: “The Secret of My Success” Top 3 TV Shows on Netflix This Week: 1. “The Ultimatum: Marry or Move On” 2. “Bridgerton” 3. “Is It Cake?”

Top 3 TV Shows 10 Years Ago: 1. “Breaking Bad” 2. “Parks and Recreation” 3. “The Walking Dead” In the News: 1. “Elon Musk makes a $43 billion unsolicited bid to take Twitter private” 2. “The Pentagon says Earth was possibly hit by an object from out of the solar system” 3. “Ukraine’s surprise strike on Russian fleet hobbles Putin’s Donbas strategy”

PAGE 10

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Will Smith banned from Oscars

By Bella Lee Staff writer

In case you missed it: this year’s Oscars ceremony has been taking over everyone’s minds lately for one reason.

Tensions have been extremely high ever since Will Smith slapped Chris Rock on live television during the prestigious ceremony.

Now, Smith is beginning to suffer the consequences of his actions.

He resigned from the Academy shortly after the incident, and a week later the Academy announced that Smith would be banned from all Academy events, including the Oscars, for the next 10 years.

“The 94th Oscars were meant to be a celebration of the many individuals in our community who did incredible work this past year; however, those moments were overshadowed by the unacceptable and harmful behavior we saw Mr. Smith exhibit on stage,” said the Academy’s official statement.

“Today, the Board of Governors convened a meeting to discuss how best to respond to Will Smith’s actions at the Oscars, in addition to accepting his resignation. The Board has decided, for a period of 10 years from April 8, 2022, Mr. Smith shall not be permitted

to attend any Academy events or programs, in person or virtually, including but not limited to the Academy Awards. This action we are taking today in response to Will Smith’s behavior is a step toward a larger goal of protecting the safety of our performers and guests, and restoring trust in the Academy. We also hope this can begin a time of healing and restoration for all involved and impacted.”

Smith only gave a simple reply in response, saying, “I accept and respect the Academy’s decision.”

The Academy began official disciplinary proceedings on March 30 and originally scheduled a board meeting for April 18 to take any disciplinary actions.

However, in light of Smith’s membership resignation from the Academy on April 1, Academy president David Rubin moved the meeting to April 8.

In the wake of this news, industry insiders and moviegoers still want further punishment for Smith.

There have been calls for his Oscar for Best Actor in “King Richard,” which he won only 20 minutes after his assault on Chris Rock, to be revoked.

In contrast, convicted criminals Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanski, both expelled from the Oscars following their crimes, still hold

Contributed photo

Will Smith celebrating his Oscar win shortly after his now-infamous outburst.

on to their multiple Oscars.

The last time the Academy has taken drastic measures to uphold conduct proceedings was in 2017 in the wake of the #MeToo movement and the expulsion of Harvey Weinstein.

If Smith can receive a punishment like this one, convicted criminals such as Weinstein and Polanski

should be held in the same regard.

Both of these two have multiple sexual assault allegations against them, many from victims who were said to be abused when they were only teenagers.

However, even though they have been expelled from the Academy, they still maintain their awarded Oscars (Weinstein has been nomi-

nated twice and won once; Polanski has five nominations and one win).

It is only the right thing to do to ensure that justice is served correctly.

I can only hope that Smith has learned his lesson.

Hurst Hot Take: Check out Dominic Fike

By Emma Coppolo A&E editor

After his appearances on the second season of Euphoria, many people have started to realize that Dominic Fike has not received the attention he deserves.

As an avid fan of his, I absolutely agree with this sentiment.

Fike’s music has the exact vibes that I look for. There is always a song of his that perfectly fits the mood you are in.

Honestly, there are very few (if any) songs of his that I can genuinely say I dislike.

There are a few, however, that I happen to like just a bit more than the rest.

His album “What Could Possibly Go Wrong” has countless tracks on it that I put on repeat.

My favorite is probably “Why.” It has a great beat that is perfect to put you in a good mood, especially on a sunny day.

The lyrics, though, are the best part.

The song is about a woman that has everything she wants, but Fike is questioning if she is really happy. Right after saying, “But it’s no business of mine how you waste your time,” the beat changes up and keeps getting better.

There’s a little synth riff at the end that brings it to the perfect close.

Contributed photo

Dominic Fike at the Euphoria Season 2 Premiere.

I have listened to this song an embarrassing amount of times, and it never gets old.

Another great song on the album is “Double Negative (Skeleton Shake).”

It has a sort of dissonance at the beginning that sets the tone for the rest of the song.

My favorite lyric in this song would have to be “if you feel out of place, it’s because you are.”

Fike’s lyrics are always spot-

on, so picking a favorite is always difficult to do as they all are amazing.

Another hit on the album is “Vampire”.

It opens with the lyrics, “I only showed up to tell you everyone at this party’s a vampire.”

I think this is an interesting commentary on Hollywood culture and artists being used for their notoriety. The tone of the song is exactly what you would

want it to be for the content.

I think it is different from other songs on the album in its overall feel, so I like that it breaks everything up a bit.

On his album “Don’t Forget About Me, Demos”, Fike’s song “3 Nights” was a mainstream hit. However, some of the album’s other songs got overshadowed by it.

“Socks” is one of Fike’s slower songs. It has a very chill tempo,

and Fike’s voice approach the lyrics beautifully. He is able to convey so much emotion in his lines.

That does not go just for this song, but it is quite apparent in this particular track.

“Babydoll” is a perfect example of Fike’s style. It is a bit rock, a rap, a bit of its own genre.

This song is only a minute and thirty-seven seconds long, which is actually part of the reason I like Dominic Fike.

I feel like sometimes artists make songs longer than they should really be just because it is the average in the industry.

Fike makes sure that his songs are only as long as is necessary.

This is likely part of the reason I rarely find myself skipping his songs.

Additionally, his lyrics are consistently good. His lyrics and music always blend together seamlessly, and his lyrics are both beautiful and eloquent.

The song that got me into Dominic Fike is “Westcoast Collective.” It was a perfect introduction to his style, so I recommend you start with that as well if you are interested in giving him a chance.

I have over twenty of his songs in my everyday playlist, and I can definitely say they make it better.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

PAGE 11

Review: “Saturday Night” impressive show on any day of the week

Contributed photo

Flier for Sondheim’s “Saturday Night.”

By Annie Markel Staff writer

Growing up around the arts with his siblings, theatre was naturally injected into his life.

However, he didn’t fully jump in until the end of high school and even more in university.

“I have been doing theatre for three years now, with my debut being the world premiere production of ‘A Dicken’s of a Carol’ at Mercyhurst.”

Braden loved his character, Gene, saying, “There’s still quite a lot I’d like to work out with this character, but part of the fun of live theatre is that you never get all the answers and are left to wonder what else you could have discovered.”

This was a play that I could watch unfold over hundreds of acts. I never got tired, so I agree with Braden about wanting to know what Gene’s next moves were off the stage.

The boys, Dino, Artie, Ray and Ted, all from the same house in Brooklyn, watch Gene tangle himself in this web of lies and money.

The boys were played by Kirk Morrison, Ben Vacca, Elijah Cowles and Rondale Smith.

However, they get dragged into this mess with their friend by trusting him in his biggest weakness.

By giving him money to invest

for them in the stock market, they actually enable Gene’s gambling and lies more.

Junior, Rondale Smith shared his favorite moment from the play, “My favorite scene would have been the club scene with the trumpet player and singer.

That was a nice scene and one of my favorite songs.”

The song was jazzy and smooth with Ali Forsythe vocalizing and suave Kirk Morrison on his beloved trumpet.

Smith is a Psychology and Criminal Justice double major, and a very, very busy man here on campus with theatre, football and Mercyhurst Ambassadors to keep him running around campus. His resume would make anyone’s head spin.

Smith explained how he prepared for opening night, “I actually had a lot going on just with football, school and social life, but how I prepared was by praying, reading the Bible and taking time out of my schedule to just breathe. Having a clear mind and taking time to rest and meditate on the word of God helps a lot.”

Junior Kirk Morrison, who played Dino, also told me about his preparation for opening night.

“Some of my preparations

The theatre program at Mercyhurst is one of many hidden gems here on campus. These astronomically talented humans always show talent, confidence and drive to make each show better than the last. This past production was just their newest addition to their resume of incredible shows.

Hidden away in the Taylor Little Theatre under the library, the show did not let the small venue dull its sparkle. The talent booming from the small space made it seem like the stage of Broadway.

“Saturday Night” is a musical written by Stephen Sondheim, based off the book by Julius J. Epstein and Philip G. Epstein, “Front Porch in Flatbush.”

The show is based in the Roaring 20’s, when the stock market was up, people were buying everything they could see and everyone was trying to become a millionaire like J.D. Rockefeller.

The show is so light and airy that one almost misses the incredible lessons that lie beneath the musical notes.

Main character, Gene Gorman, played by junior Braden Rosciszewski, is trying any way he can to make money in the stock market.

Gene claims that he isn’t supposed to be poor; he was born to be rich.

In the process of trying to increase his status, he ends up with a mismatched puzzle that he needs to put back together to stay out of jail.

As Gorman is trying to figure all this out, his friends look on and shake their heads.

“To me, and specifically, my character, Saturday Night was about escapism, adulthood/responsibility and authenticity,” Rosciszewski said, “Gene was a very complex character that desired more than he had without even realizing the riches he had in front of him.”

Braden is a Sport Medicine major with a minor in Theatre. The cast of Mercyhurst’s production of “Saturday Night.”

were lots of script analysis, accent work and memorization.”

You’ve got to learn those lines somehow.

Morrison is an extremely talented music man.

He is a Music Education major here at Mercyhurst.

Morrison made his theatrical debut in this very production!

I was shocked when he told me. “I have actually never been involved in theatre before this show. I decided to give it a try since I am involved in most other art forms, but not theatre.”

Morrison is such a natural that I was so amazed that this was his first play in his three years here at Mercyhurst.

He was such a natural character up on stage and had the crowd laughing with his antics and small one-liners that were written to be barely noticeable.

When one paid attention, his was definitely one of the funnier characters.

However, there is only one person that brings Gene to his senses in the end, and this is Helen Fogel, played by sophomore Tori St. John-Gilbert.

This hip flapper girl meets Gene as they are both trying to get into a dance club that they both have lost their tickets for.

Gene is instantly in love. Not

Contributed photo

only is he trying to impress his friends with his status, but now he is wowing his new belle, as well.

As Gene’s problem gets bigger, so does Helen’s dislike for his materialism.

St. John-Gilbert is a native Texan and a sophomore Dance major. She has the most incredible voice and was so astounding in her two-face role of Helen.

She started doing theatre in elementary school but had another love that she had to attend to.

“I took a pause from doing a lot of theatre in high school because I started to take dance more seriously. I would do productions growing up here and there in the summers when I could, but I didn’t really do much of anything with my high school theatre department, so it’s been absolutely lovely doing this show.”

Many actors want to find something from their character to connect to.

“There are a lot of aspects of her character that I can relate to, but one is that she is someone who wants a life larger and more extravagant than she has, but she doesn’t quite know how to go about getting it,” said St. John Gilbert.

She has big dreams of being in theatre or in the dance world for a long time after schooling. I don’t think she’ll have any issue; she is so talented!

Overall, this play was incredible. The vocals, music, acting, and costuming were so accurate and mind blowing.

I couldn’t believe we have so much talent on campus in such a small space.

These students work so tirelessly to put on a quality show for people they don’t even know.

If you missed this show, you missed out, but keep your eyes peeled for anything new from the Theatre Department!

OPINION

PAGE 12

GOOD There are only three weeks left in the semester!

BAD There are only two editions of the Merciad left.

HOPEFUL Hopefully it’s done snowing!

The Merciad

Students should be able to “Zoom in” and don’t believe I will ever be used to the snow that we get

By Hannah Brooks here). Some snow storms are Features editor severe enough to the point that plows and salt trucks cannot keep up and conditions are One thing that we were able hazardous. Not to mention to learn from the COVID-19 that pile ups on the interstates pandemic is that technology is seem to be basically inevitable a very prevalent and useful part when the snow falls hard. If of our lives, whether for better Zoom classes were offered, then or for worse. People were able professors and students who to use technology in an entirely commute would not have to different way—for doctor’s risk treacherous conditions to appointments, working, get to class. attending classes and more.

Additionally, I feel that What I am focused on here is the offering of Zoom classes the attending classes part. I could help to reduce absences think it is great that we were, from illness that may cause a and are, able to utilize Zoom student to miss class, but if for our classes when we are in given the option, they may quarantine for COVID-19. I be able to attend class over also feel that we should be able Zoom. It could also be helpful to use it for more reasons. for many other non-illness I can understand, as I have related reasons that a student been told by professors, that may miss class. Being able to Mercyhurst is a “residential attend class online would be school,” thus we cannot attend very beneficial for days where all of our classes virtually. a student may not necessarily However, I feel that in this be feeling at their best to day and age, we have the actually leave to attend class, technology so why not use it? I but could do fine by attending feel that offering Zoom class as online. To further reiterate an alternative to regular classes this point, I will talk about an could actually be very beneficial issue that is controversial on to both professors and students two sides—attendance policies. alike.

Some courses have none, while For instance, if you live in others are very strict and do Erie, you know it snows. (I’ve not even allow for more than lived here for my entire life one class session to be missed.

Contact editors at merciad@mercyhurst.edu

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

The Merciad welcomes letters to the editor.

All letters must be signed and names will be included with the letters. Although we will not edit the letters for content, we reserve the right to trim letters to fit.

Letters are due Mondays by noon and may not be more than 300 words. Submit letters via email at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu.

As a student, obviously I have a lot of thoughts on this and feel that it is not always fair. I can appreciate the viewpoint of professors—they spend a lot of time preparing the material and lectures, and some courses really do require a lot more participation and class time. If this option were to be considered, students could have a bit more flexibility on days where they could attend class but may not necessarily be able to make it to the classroom and professors may see less absences.

I really feel that this is an idea that should be considered by those who have the power to make it happen. I understand that the school may not want students to take advantage of this and only attend classes over Zoom, but even if students were given just a few days over the course of the semester where they could choose to attend class over Zoom, this could be beneficial. Professors could also benefit in a similar way to students if they were unable to make it to campus for some reason. Above all else, we have the technology, so why not use it?

The housing selection process must change

By Victoria McGinty

Managing editor

STUDENT EDITORS Samantha Weber .................... Editor in Chief Victoria McGinty .................. Managing Editor Ashley Barletta ............................News Editor Hannah Brooks...................... Features Editor Sydney Dietz ..............................Sports Editor Emma Coppolo ............................. A&E Editor Zach Dumais ........................... Opinion Editor Libby Bullinger ..............................Copy Editor Kristian Biega.......................................Advisor Steph Przepiora ...................................Advisor

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

It’s natural to stress over one’s last semester of college.

Worrying about classes and the many last to come and debating what I would like to do for my graduation photos are what I want to be stressing over.

Instead, there is something else on my mind these days.

With the housing process just around the corner, I and many other students are stressed. As a senior, I am worrying about whom I’ll be living with and where I’ll be—two things that should be the least of my worries.

For two consecutive years I haven’t known my housing status up until the week I would be moving back in. This year, my nerves are reeling yet again.

I believe students should have more input as to their desired housing. While the housing point system is unique, it does not put students’ minds at

ease. As a student who’s had unlikely luck with housing and roommates, feeling stressed about housing is the last thing I want on my mind.

It is no secret that there are limited options for housing for on-campus students. Needless to say, the majority of those options for upperclassmen are less than comfortable. The apartments are aging quickly and show that age. As for Ryan Hall, I have loved being here for the last two years and I believe that I should be able to live comfortably there during my last semester.

Although, being told “we’ll place you where we can” is ridiculous.

Being a full-time student and paying the tuition to grant that title, students should be able to have more control over their desired living situation for the next semester. Additionally, off-campus housing should be permitted. For first and secondyear students I understand that living on campus is a good way to get acclimated but, at twenty-two years old, dorms should be a distant memory.

Additionally, for students in long-term relationships, they

should be able to live together if the circumstances seem ideal.

As someone who has been with their significant other for five years now, given the option, I would rather live with my significant other than endure another sixteen weeks of roommate drama.

I loved Mercyhurst and I would be lying if I said I won’t be sad when I graduate in December. Although, given all of the roommate drama and irritation I have experienced with the Residence Life Department during my years here, it has put a damper on my time at the University. Additionally, much of the nonsense I have endured could have been avoided if my concerns and accommodations were properly met however, I have been met with infuriating emails and sour memories. While I have loved my academic endeavors, I will not miss dealing with the housing placement process and I hope this process will improve someday.

The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are welcome and can be emailed to merciad@mercyhurst.edu

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

OPINION

PAGE 13

Preparing for finals is HURST STUDENTS always a challenge

By Francesca Divincenzo Staff Writer

Preparation for finals will never be easy because of the added stress of this being the year’s final grade.

I think many professors forget that at one time, they were in our seats working towards getting a good grade on the finals.

I am lucky only to worry about two finals this semester, but others are not so lucky. Studying for finals will never be easy because your brain is switching in many ways, especially at this time of year.

One minute you are studying for geology and then studying for math.

Our brains can only take in so much information. Some information is bound not to be registered. The only advice I can give to students is to use the multitude of resources on campus.

Yes, that only cuts in on our social time if you let it. If you have friends in your class, form a study group and help each other succeed. Or, if you’re worried that studying with others will be distracting, sign up for tutoring and the writing center. One meeting with a tutor can go

a long way.

Students can also meet with professors during their office hours.

Professors want us to succeed, so ask for help even if you think it will hurt your ego. What would you rather have, a bruised ego or fail a final? Only you can answer that question.

If your class requires you to memorize a lot of terminology, then make a Quizlet of the terms and quiz yourself. Some professors concentrate on examples of the vocabulary, so focus on writing up examples of them.

It is important that you are not cocky about passing your finals because it’s one thing studying outside of the test, but it all changes that day of the exam. Some students know the information, but test anxiety can be crippling.

It is essential to stay active, and take care of your mental and physical health, especially in the weeks leading up to the finals. Taking a walk around the campus with your headphones on can get your brain out of the test mindset.

Dealing with stress is essential, so be kind to yourself, take a walk, or reward yourself with a treat like getting ice cream from

SPEAK UP

the dining hall. I know I eat a lot near test time to deal with the stress, but that can be problematic as well, so be good to yourself and don’t consistently use food as a stress reliever.

Another way to deal with finals is to make a studying schedule. I study from seven-thirty to noon in the morning because my brain does not like to work at night—but everyone is different.

It is also important to remember you only have to pass, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Take a study break and go hang out with friends. It is important also to remember procrastination is not the best thing to do, especially since some finals cover every unit from the class, so that is more information to remember.

In conclusion it is essential to be kind to yourself and do what is best for you in order to succeed on your finals, use your resources, work hard, and it will all turn out okay.

We asked: How was your Easter break?

Jacob Yetzer, junior Business Economics and Competitive Intelligence Studies major: “My Easter break was great, I was able to relax, catch up on sleep, and spend time with loved ones.”

Noah Coppins, junior Competitive Intelligence Studies major: “My break was excellent! Excited for the good weather to be here.”

Max Samoilovich, junior Cyber Security major: “My Easter break was great! It was relaxing and I got a lot of reading done on astrophysics & orbital dynamics and how to write coding programs for them.”

Lexie Lovewell, senior Intelligence Studies and Cyber Security major: “My Easter break was very good! I love being able to spend time with my family and friends, and see my dog.”

Compiled by RayLynn Chraston

Mercyhurst should become more accessible all had to adapt over the years as accessibility laws Copy Editor and building codes have developed.

However, it seems as though Mercyhurst has not As a senior about to caught up to many other graduate, I have walked campuses of a similar size the Mercyhurst campus and type. more times than I can As an Ambassador, I count. From going to class have toured many students to showing prospective and families around the students around the Mercyhurst grounds, and buildings, I am more than something that every familiar with nearly every Ambassador dreads hearing entrance and exit to the is that they are giving a buildings around campus. handicapped tour. This A huge issue that I means that someone in the firmly believe needs to be tour group has accessibility addressed is the lack of issues such as using a cane accessibility on our campus. or wheelchair.

Mercyhurst was built in The reason this is such a the early 20th century when hassle as an Ambassador is concepts like accessibility because we have an entirely were not included in separate tour route to the construction plans. accommodate these campus This is the case with visits. many universities in the This involves propping country and they have doors, taking an incohesive

By Libby Bullinger

route through campus to be able to use accessible walkways and avoid stairs, and not being able to show certain buildings and areas of the campus, which certainly does not give the best impression to prospective students and family members.

Although I have realized this issue for a while now, I am more aware of this issue and experiencing it first hand as I recently broke my foot.

Simple things such as getting to class have become much more difficult with the lack of sidewalks around the townhouses, indirect pathways to get between buildings, almost no automatic door openers other than in the newest buildings, uneven concrete all around campus and the lack of elevators. Not to mention none of the upperclassman housing areas are accessible.

Some of these issues

FOLLOW US!

will be much more easily addressed than others, but the safety and inclusion of all on campus must be revisited and prioritized in order to honor the mission we preach here at Mercyhurst.

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

Tag us in your newsworthy Hurst moments!

SPORTS

PAGE 14

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

Men’s lacrosse dominates in West Virginia

By Zach Dumais Opinion editor

The Mercyhurst men’s lacrosse team traveled to Philippi, West Virginia, on April 16, to take on the Alderson Broaddus Battlers.

The Mercyhurst men’s lacrosse team has been red hot as of late, as they were on a seven-game win streak going into the matchup.

Their record on the season was 8-2 and they have won all six of their games at home in Erie. The Lakers were just coming off of a great win against Roberts Wesleyan College on April 13.

In that matchup, Mercyhurst dominated with a final score of 26-10. The 26 goals were the most Mercyhurst has scored all season and there were two players who each scored at least five goals.

Alderson Broaddus and Mercyhurst have played each other many times in the past with this being the ninth game between them. Mercyhurst first played the Battlers on April 7, 2013, and it was a victory for the Lakers with a final score of 19-5.

The Lakers have gone on to win every single game against Alderson Broaddus, leading to an eightgame win streak against their GMAC rival.

Would the Lakers be able to

Hurst Athletics photo

Sophomore Colin Schmatz attempts to score in the April 16 match against Alderson Broaddus.

capitalize on this momentum?

The game started at 4 p.m. and shortly after, the men’s lacrosse team was out to a hot start. In the first 15 minutes of the game, Mercyhurst was able to put up eight unanswered goals on the board.

The first quarter scoring was created by junior Myles Hamm,-

junior Bryce Johnson with two, senior Todd Redman, senior Liam Bogedain, junior Patrick Carrozi, freshman Matt Mojsej and freshman Jackson Saulpaugh.

The Lakers continued the offensive attack into the second quarter as they scored six more to go into the halftime intermission with a

14-0 lead. This offensive scoring in the second quarter was led by sophomore Casey Scott with two, freshman Antonio Rossetti with two, freshman Josh Michel and freshman Tim Weisenel.

The defense naturally played extremely well in the first half to prevent the Battlers from scoring.

However, the Battlers did have a bit of a breakthrough in the second half. They were able to score their first and second goals in the third quarter.

The first was at the very start of the third quarter, just over two minutes in. The second came a little before halfway into the quarter at the 7:54 mark. These two scores would be the only ones that Alderson Broaddus would be able to score against the Lakers’ strong defense.

It was a relatively quiet quarter for Mercyhurst as they ended up scoring three goals in the third, making it a 17-2 lead going into the fourth quarter.

Saulpaugh scored his second goal of the day in the third, Michel also scored his second, and Rossetti scored his third.

The Lakers could not be stopped as they finished off the day with five goals in the fourth quarter.

These scores came from freshman Adam Oscarson, junior Jared Butler, Mosjej with his second, freshman Lucas Hoskin and freshman Kevin Sprague.

The final tally for the Lakers was a 22-2 win and they continued on to a eight-game win streak.

Get to know Hurst’s volleyball coach

By Sydney Dietz Sports editor

Ryan Patton has loved volleyball for the majority of his life.

Growing up, Patton has been exposed to high levels of play and ‘volleyball thinking’.

He stated that he has never had the chance to not love the sport. Throughout his life, his father coached volleyball and was in three halls-of-fame because of it. Patton participated in his first state championship game when he was 10 years old.

When asked about his past experience with playing volleyball Patton stated, “I’d probably sell myself short if I didn’t say I was a pretty good player. Anyway, I was probably as successful as a guy with the explosiveness and hangtime of a washing machine could be.”

Patton attended Juniata College and majored in math. Juniata College is a small college in central Pennsylvania that consists of 1100 students.

Although Patton graduated with a degree in math, he also got his Masters Degree in Physical Education in which he is utilizing to make a very good career for himself as a volleyball coach.

Patton started his coaching at Juniata College and coached there from 1996-2002. While he was a coach at Juniata, his team

won the Molten Division III National Championship in 1998.

In 1999, Patton’s team was the first Division III team to advance to the semi finals of the Eastern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association. Patton has been coaching volleyball at Mercyhurst for 18 seasons.

He started coaching in 2005 and has continued ever since.

During his time at Mercyhurst, Patton was named PSAC West Coach of the year in 2008.

In 2008 and 2009, Patton took the team to the NCAA Championship, which was a first in Laker history.

The best season Patton has had was in 2012 when the Women’s volleyball team won 25 matches which led them to the NCAA tournament.

For the 2021-2022 season, the women’s volleyball team had an overall record of 11-16.

“For at least the last six weeks of last season we played at an NCAA tournament level. I’m so happy with that,” Patton said.

“Unfortunately before that we had a health issue we had to deal with and were frustratingly ‘close enough’ but didn’t have the results to actually get us in the tournament. I hold my head real high.”

Patton said the team has potential to achieve some neat things and he stated the team has the

principles and precepts that make them bound for greatness.

One of Patton’s best memories as a volleyball coach is “seeing the team enjoy a hard-earned win and countless successes of my players both big and small, on and off the court.”

However, he also made it to the men’s D II national championship in 1998.

In addition to volleyball, Patton also enjoys the sport cricket in his spare time.

“I’m pretty obsessed with the sport of cricket and set alarms to watch games in India and Australia,” Patton said.

He also collects books and loves going to book sales to collect used books.

“I have a library of over 1500 volumes and to answer everybody’s next question, no I haven’t read all of them,” Patton joked.

Patton is not the only member of his family to work at Mercyhurst. His wife Jenell Patton works in Campus Ministry and also works with the volleyball team. The Pattons have two sons, Deke, who is 17 and Ike, who is 15. Both boys are keeping the volleyball tradition alive in the family.

Patton is excited for the next season of volleyball.

“Progress is what drives me, so I’m always excited for the next season, the next match, the

Hurst Athletics photo

Mercyhurst volleyball coach, Ryan Patton.

next practice,” Patton said. “This for the game and his love for volshould be a fun group to head leyball is reflected in his coaching into all of those ‘nexts’ with.” and his passion for the team.

Patton has a very big passion

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

SPORTS

PAGE 15

Heavyweight rowing continues to win

By Samantha Weber Editor-in-chief

The Mercyhurst rowing team has had a very successful season this year; they even beat Harvard’s rowing team earlier this season.

Their success continues as the men’s team recently won four medals at the Knecht Cup on Saturday, April 9.

Mercyhurst had five boats advance to the finals. The men’s varsity fours finished second place in the Grand Finals as they came in behind LaSalle, but defeated George Mason University, MIT, Lafayette and Virginia.

In the Lakers’ second final, the women’s fours came in fourth with a time of 8:10.97 and were just .06 seconds short of coming in third behind Rhode Island.

They beat Barry and Thomas Jefferson and were defeated by Lafayette and Penn State.

In the next race, the men’s fours earned first place with a time of 6:59.21.

The Lakers were the only non Division I team in the race and they were able to defeat Michigan, Rhode Island, two boats from Pitt and a boat from George Mason.

In the Grand Finals of the women’s varsity eights, the Lak-

Hurst Athletics photo

On Saturday, April 9, the Lakers heavyweight rowing team defeated competitors from Michigan, Rhode Island, two boats from Pitt and a boat from George Mason.

ers had a time of 6:40.37 which earned them third place. They beat MIT, Villanova and Boston University while losing to Georgetown and Drexel.

In the final race of the day, the men’s varsity eights Grand Final, the Lakers were the only Division II boat competing. They came in second with a time of 5:53.56, which was just over a second after first place, Colgate University.

The Lakers came in second and

defeated MIT, Marist, Michigan and Virginia.

Most recently, the Lakers competed on April 16 in Adrian, Michigan. The men’s varsity eights took first place with a time of 6:21.8 where they defeated Marietta to earn first place.

The heavyweight varsity fours defeated both Marietta and Adrian to win first place as well.

In the second final, the men’s lightweight team took home first by defeating Marietta’s two boats

with a time of 7:29.4.

Women’s varsity eights won their race with a time of 7:35.7, which was 30 seconds before the next boat finished.

The women’s varsity fours earned the top seed in the preliminary round by finishing 28 seconds before the next boat and in the finals, they won by over a minute.

The women’s rowing team was recently ranked the top team in the country.

On April 13, it was announced that the team beat out the reigning national champion, Central Oklahoma, to take the 1st place ranking.

The Lakers will compete again on May 1 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Mid-America Collegiate Rowing Association Championships.

Steelers tragically lose a great quarterback

By Bella Lee

LET’S GO,

Staff writer

The NFL has lost one of its rising stars.

Dwayne Haskins, a quarterback for the Washington Commanders and Pittsburgh Steelers who rose to prominence during his college days at Ohio State, was tragically killed on Saturday, April 9, when he was hit by a truck in South Florida.

He was less than a month from his 25th birthday.

Haskins was drafted by the Commanders with the 15th overall pick in 2019 and was preparing to enter his second season with the Steelers.

With the news breaking of his sudden death, tributes came pouring from all over.

Haskins’ alma mater, Ohio State, honored him on April 16 with a moment of silence, the players and coaching staff all donning “DH” decals and pins and CJ Stroud, the current Buckeyes quarterback, wearing Haskins’ number 7 jersey.

Haskins had a formidable career at Ohio State. Following a redshirt freshman year, he exploded in his sophomore year, completing 40 of 57 passes for 565 yards and four touchdowns.

He holds the school record for total offense in a season (4,900+), total offensive yards in a game (477) and total passing yards in

LAKERS!

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins passes the football to a teammate.

a game (470).

Haskins’ teammates, both current and former, and his rivals also mourned his sudden loss.

“Dwayne meant so much to so many people,” said Steelers defensive tackle Cam Heyward.

“His smile was infectious and he was a guy you wanted to be around. We are all in shock about losing him. We are going to miss the heck out of him as well. We lost you way too early. Luckily I got a chance to get to know you.”

He was with the Commanders (originally known as the Redskins) for two seasons, seeing his first win against the Detroit Lions in 2019.

“I am absolutely heartbroken to hear the news of the passing of Dwayne Haskins Jr.,” said Commanders head coach Ron Rivera.

“Dwayne was a talented young man who had a long life ahead of him. This is a very sad time and I am honestly at a loss for words.

I know I speak for the rest of the team in saying he will be sorely missed. Our entire team is sending our heartfelt condolences and thoughts and prayers to the Haskins family at this time.”

In 2021, he signed with the Steelers as a third-string quarterback, only seeing action in one game that season.

“The world lost a great person

Sky Sports photo

today,” said Steelers linebacker TJ Watt. “When Dwayne first walked into the locker room I could tell he was an upbeat guy.

He was always making people smile, never taking life for granted. His impact on me will last forever.”

In the wake of Haskins’ death, a particularly heartbreaking video surfaced. It showed him as a child, touring the Ohio State football complex and proclaiming with joy, “I’m going to go to college here.”

Haskins is a true talent that will be sorely missed.

April. 22, Fresno, CA @ 3 p.m.: Women’s Water Polo vs Cal State East Bay April. 23, Indianapolis, IN @ 12 p.m.: Men’s Lacrosse vs University of Indianapolis April 23, Indiana, PA @ 3 p.m.: Baseball vs IUP

PAGE 16

LAKER LIVING

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) Temper your typical Aries urge to charge into a situation and demand answers. Instead, let the Lamb’s gentler self emerge to deal with a problem that requires delicacy.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) You are aware of what’s going on, so continue to stand by your earlier decision, no matter how persuasive the counterarguments might be. Money pressures soon will ease.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) By all means, have fun and enjoy your newly expanded social life. But don’t forget that some people are depending on you to keep promises that are very important to them.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) You need to wait patiently for an answer to a workplace problem and not push for a decision. Remember: Time is on your side. A financial matter needs closer attention.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) You now have information that can influence that decision you planned to make. But the clever Cat will consult a trusted friend or family member before making a major move.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Good news: You’re finding that more doors are opening for you to show what you can do, and you don’t even have to knock very hard to get the attention you’re seeking.

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

LIBRA (September 23 to October 22) Your gift for creating order out of chaos will help you deal with a sudden rush of responsibilities that would threaten someone less able to balance his or her priorities.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) Congratulations. Your energy levels are coming right back up to normal — just in time to help you tackle some worthwhile challenges and make some important choices.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) The sage Sagittarian should demand a full explanation of inconsistencies that might be cropping up in what had seemed to be a straightforward deal.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A conflict between obligations to family and to the job can create stressful problems. Best advice: Balance your dual priorities so that one doesn’t outweigh the other.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Don’t guess, speculate or gossip about that “mystery” situation at the workplace. Bide your time. An explanation will be forthcoming very soon.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Boredom might be creeping in and causing you to lose interest in a repeat project. Deal with it by flipping over your usual routine and finding a new way to do an old task.

BORN THIS WEEK: You can warm the coldest heart with your lyrical voice and bright smile. You find yourself at home, wherever you are. © 2022 King Features Synd., Inc.

HURST TOON Student-drawn cartoon by the Martian