The Merciad, April 2, 2014

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News On Page 4:

Students head to Cambridge

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Arts & Entertainment on Page 6:

Students join efforts to fill ‘Empty Bowls’

Annual senior art thesis on display Read more inside & online

THE Merciad

EST. 1929 VOL. 87 NO. 17

MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 2, 2014

Students take sides on firearms By Will Bickelmann Staff writer

Salina Bowe photo

Members of the local chapter of People for Life, a Pro-Life group, protested Romero Award recipient Sister Simone Campbell’s reception due to her stance on the subject of abortion.

Pro-Life group demonstrates against Romero recipient By Nathan Turner Contributing writer

Forty-seven members from People for Life assembled outside of Mercyhurst demonstrating against Sister Simone Campbell and her work promoting both President Obama and the Affordable Care Act. Tim Broderick is the head of Erie People for Life, which is a nonpartisan, nonsectarian organization “dedicated to advancing true justice by working for the protection of all innocent human lives, whatever the age, race, sex, physical condition, economic status, or place of residence (including the womb),” according to its website. In a recent interview, Broderick said, “When [Campbell] was asked point-blank at the Democratic Convention ‘Do you think the unborn deserve legal protection?’ And here’s

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a person who has extensive views on things as complex as the federal budget, the national economy, and she’s not afraid to correct the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, correct the Pope, but when it comes to the question, ‘Should human beings be deliberately killed?’ She said, ‘I don’t know.’ “We think this is an opportunity to come out and say that some people still do know that killing is wrong. And it’s wrong not to protect the most defenseless, the most marginalized of all of the people in our human family, and that is, human beings prior to birth.” He also said that her “Nuns on the Bus” tour around the U.S. on the eve of the 2012 Presidential Election, which campaigned for President Obama, omitted the issue of abortion and human life was “a statement in itself ” as to her views. He also said that she “did a

great job whitewashing President Obama’s record on abortion and on human life issues,” making reference to the President’s position that abortion in all forms should be legal and that it should be federally funded. And that she denied “the federal government is pouring massive amounts of money into insurance plans that pay for abortion” under the Affordable Care Act. However, Broderick’s views are not the only ones at play. There are also the views of members of the Religious Studies department, who were the ones giving Campbell the award. Daniel McFee, Ph.D., chair of the department, gave his comments about the protest: “I think that protests are a valuable part of American democracy…it’s an integral part of it.” Continued on page 4

A March survey of Mercyhurst University students showed that the majority of students support issuing firearms to Police and Safety officers, Professor Gerry Tobin, Ph.D., recently told MSG. Despite this, some students still several who have qualms with the possibility of Police and Safety being permitted to carry firearms. Out of 96 votes on this week’s poll, 34 percent agree they would feel safer on campus if Police and Safety officers carried firearms and 35 percent believe there would need to be proper training and procedure for it to be useful. Caleb Ohmer, English and political science major and MSG vice president, saw both sides of the argument, saying “I’m hesitant approve of a jump to lethal force, when there non-lethal alternatives available...But I can still see the necessity of keeping our students safe at all costs. With the Virginia Tech and even

Two sides offered on firearms issue See story on page 4

Sandy Hook shootings, in recent memory, it has become clear that educational environments are becoming more and more dangerous.” Some students feel more protected knowing that Police and Safety may be able to carry guns. Intelligence Studies student Lauren Watson said, “I would feel safer if Police and Safety were able to carry guns. “No matter where you go in town, there is the possibility of a maniac who might want to hurt people. And in all these places there are armed police officers who have the ability to protect you. Why should Mercyhurst be any different?” she asked. Zachary Yost, also a political science major, believes that even

regular police shouldn’t carry firearms and campus police shouldn’t follow suit. Yost said, “I do not believe that the threshold to justify employing deadly force is high enough among regular police. To me, the best policy seems to be for campus security to have access to firearms but that they are only carried in extreme circumstances and not to bust up a dorm party or walk around campus.” Still, many students feel threatened by the introduction of guns into their life on campus. Criminal Justice major Mallorie Kaput said, “Mercyhurst is a small campus, and I really don’t feel that we have many threats. I only see the possibility for unfortunate accidents with Police and Safety getting guns.” Ian Mills, Intelligence Studies and Political Science major said, “I don’t see the need to give Police and Safety guns when the Erie Police Department already is in close proximity to campus.” @TheMerciad

Walker Business School earns reaccreditation By Jose Nufio

Contributing writer

After almost a three-year process, Mercyhurst’s business department was reaccredited by the International Assembly for Collegiate Business Education (IACBE). The reaccreditation process started in 2011-2012 academic year with former Walker School of Business and Communication Dean Monsignor David Rubino, Ph.D., and Associate Dean Amy Doolan, Ph.D. “The reaccreditation is an indication to students that Mercyhurst has a quality program. It is also indicates to employers that business students graduated from a quality

program and to people who want to go to graduate school, that they went to a quality program,” Doolan said. During the fall of 2011, the Walker School was informed by the IACBE that its business department was going up for reaccreditation. A selfstudy took place, in which the IACBE sent out a handbook with their reaccreditation principles. The handbook outlined their definition of academic excellence and the standards expected from the business school. According to Raj Parikh, Ph.D., who became dean the fall of 2013, one of these standards might ask that the faculty have professional qualifications or doctorates, so the school tried to find faculty

that has those qualification. The self-study report was submitted in January 2013. Over the spring of that same year, a group of individuals representing the IACBE, known as the site team, visited the school to meet the faculty, review the self-study, and make sure all criteria were met. After the visit, they wrote their own report, which was sent back to the school with recommendations and questions. The department responded and waited for the final decision. The board reaccredited the school on Dec. 5, 2013. The notification with the results was sent to the dean on March 1. Continued on page 4

Online Poll Results

How do you feel about Police and Safety officers carrying firearms? 35% As long as proper procedure and training are present. 23% It makes me feel uncomfortable. 7% I would need more research. 34% I would feel a lot safer around campus.

Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: Did you face any issues with the housing sign-up website?

merciad.mercyhurst.edu


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