The Merciad May 3 Issue

Alec Benjamin performs at SpringFest 2023

By Eva Mihelich News editor

On Friday, April 28, Alec Benjamin took the stage in the MAC for Mercyhurst’s beloved SpringFest tradition. The lights were all off and students stood with glow sticks, light up glasses and other accessories as they awaited DJ Cash Era to start off the set.

SpringFest is a great opportunity for students to kick back, dance and enjoy a live performance. It is highly anticipated each year, and this year was no different as Hurst welcomed Alec Benjamin, who will be joining John Mayer on his U.S. tour.

Before Benjamin took the stage, DJ Cash Era got the crowd excited and hyped up. She played all the fan favorites with genres ranging from “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus to “Rich Flex” by 21 Savage and Drake.

DJ Cash Era also opened up for Bryce Vine at last year’s Spring Fest, and students enjoyed her set so much that MSG requested her again this year. This was a smart move which was clear by how energetic the crowd was for her.

Shortly after DJ Cash Era got off the stage, Benjamin took her spot. He is a 28-year-old singer from Phoenix, Arizona. He has translated a few of his songs into Mandarin but primarily sings all of his songs in English.

He casually and humbly walked on the stage and said a quick greeting. With a pure smile, kind eyes, and a gentle voice, Benjamin piqued everyone’s interest.

He introduced himself and mentioned that he had been nervous to perform at a college, because he knows that his music is not the typical music that college students listen to. However, he sang and performed with a humble confidence that charmed many attendees.

Teddy Counihan, a junior History major, said that he originally was not going to attend the concert because of Benjamin’s music style.

“I’m usually not into slower songs that have a more acoustic style, but I really enjoyed it. I added a few of his songs to my playlists because I liked that his songs had meanings which you don’t find a lot nowadays,” said Counihan.

When asked about his favorite song, Counihan laughed and said, “I don’t want to say because it’s one of his sadder songs, but I definitely have to say ‘Water Fountain.’ It’s a song so catchy that most people probably don’t listen to the lyrics. But they should, because it really feels like a personal statement.”

Benjamin’s music can best be described as mellow, indie, thoughtful and melodic. Students were seen swaying back and forth to the groovy guitar strums, and the calming energy was a unique one that SpringFest has not seen in a while.

Between songs, Benjamin inter-

acted with the crowd and asked many questions. He shared that he dropped out of college after the first year, and that he was having fun performing for the Mercyhurst community because he felt like he was reliving his one year of college.

Alec Benjamin gained most of his popularity in 2018 after releasing his breakthrough single, “Let Me Down Slowly,” which talks about the feelings he had when he knew a significant other was going

to break up with him soon. This was the penultimate song he performed, and students were singing the lyrics back to him which made him smile and say that he knew at least some of us would know that song.

Benjamin’s set was around an hour long, but he did not seem to stick to a set list. He would occasionally ask the audience what song they wanted to hear, and then he would play whatever someone shouted out.

This created a very chill atmosphere that students appreciated. It felt very intimate, and it was refreshing to see an artist perform who treated a university concert the same way he would treat a big venue.

Overall, Benjamin’s performance at SpringFest was a big success. He engaged the audience, students danced the night away, and there was a little bit of everything for people to enjoy.

Benjamin is now off to Lon-

don to begin writing his new album. He usually goes on tour after his album is fully released, so if you want to see him live again, then follow him on social media to keep up to date on his career updates.

SpringFest is always a marker that the end of the semester is approaching, so as the excitement from the concert dies down, that means it’s time to hit the books and prepare for finals week!

Artist photo

Some of Alex Benjamin’s most popular songs include “Let Me Down Slowly” and “Water Fountain.”

Contributed photo

Alec Benjamin performs on stage at Mercyhurst University in the MAC, where students gathered with glowsticks and light-up accessories.

‘What They Wore’ exhibit promotes Sexual Assault Awareness Month

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

When an individual experiences a sexual assault, they are often met with a series of question by the individuals they interact with afterwards.

Often, the questions tend to vary depending on who they are talking to. Among these questions, many will experience the question “Well what were you wearing?”

That question itself clearly and blatantly depicts the common issue of victim blaming.

Victim blaming itself is any question or statement that questions someone who has experienced violence about their actions and what they could have done in order to prevent that action.

Mercyhurst has followed in the footsteps of many other universities in taking a stand against this kind of victim blaming.

In recent weeks students across campus have seen mannequins placed throughout buildings on campus like Old Main, Ryan Hall and Zurn Hall.

All of these mannequins had on different sets of clothes with an important story of a victim’s sexual assault attached.

If students stopped and looked, they would have seen papers located next to the mannequins, which showcased the stories of unnamed individuals who have decided to share the stories of what occurred to them when they were wearing the outfits that were showcased on the mannequins.

The outfits they were wearing, along with the story of the day that the event occurred varied depending on the mannequin that students were looking at.

The goal of the exhibit here at Mercyhurst was to attract attention to the stigmas typically placed on sexual assault survivors when they come forward with what happened to them.

Often these victims are faced with the feeling of needing to prove that they did not ask for what happened to them, which is harming to both the victim and also future victims due to the idea being perpetuated further.

In hopes of ending these stigmas, Mercyhurst took the step to showcase these outfits and stories so that they can both attract awareness but also showcase that it is never the victim’s fault.

It never matters what a victim is wearing at the time, and it is important for individuals to both realize this and be made aware of it.

The exhibits were part of a program that many universities have taken part of across the country in recent years.

The “What They Wore” exhibits originated over 10 years ago and have taken the world by storm ever since they began.

These exhibits illustrate stories that have been shared by survivors of sexual assault in an attempt to raise awareness for the hurtful stereotypes that victims are often accused of.

Since they started many individuals have been able to better understand the hurtful stereo-

types that they may place unknowingly on individuals who have experienced sexual assault. It is important for individuals who may come into contact with someone who has experienced a sexual assault to remember to be mindful of the questions they ask and things that they may say.

Victim blaming is incredibly harmful and if these individuals trust you enough to tell you about the experience, it is important to support them, not blame them.

Consider education or reminding yourself what full consent looks like, and what healthy

relationships are like. Educating yourself and others on consent and healthy relationships can help prevent others from entering dangerous situations, which although is not the only reason sexual assault occurs, it could lower the risk for it.

2023 Commencement quickly approaches

By Bella Lee Staff writer

The undergraduate Commencement ceremony celebrating the Class of 2023 will be held on Saturday, May 13, celebrating a grand total of 768 graduates, consisting of 591 undergraduates and 107 recipients of associate degrees.

Friday, May 12, will see an additional 177 candidates receive master’s degrees.

The recipients of this year’s student awards have big plans ahead.

Hayes Miller, graduating with a B.A. in Religious Studies and a minor in Anthropology/Archaeology, is the recipient of the Carolyn Herrmann Service Award.

“It is such a great honor to represent the outstanding work done in service by our graduating class,” they said. “All of my service work found its purpose

through the Mercy Core Values, and I do not take this lightly, as I will continue my dedication to service for the rest of my life.

“My greatest achievement would be how I had the opportunity to go beyond the gates on multiple occasions, spanning from Costa Rica to Texas to Cincinnati, and to the local Erie community.”

Miller will be staying at Mercyhurst following graduation to pursue their Master’s in Applied Intelligence.

Brentyn Muir, a double major in Data Science and Intelligence Studies, is this year’s recipient of the Bishop’s Award for Academic Excellence.

“Receiving the Bishop’s Award for Academic Excellence means a lot to me, as it recognizes my hard work, dedication, and achievements in my academic pursuits,” he said.

“I am deeply grateful for the

recognition and motivation to continue pursuing excellence in all aspects of my life. It is not an individual thing that was my greatest achievement, rather I am most proud of overcoming constant hurdles that I encountered during my time here.

“I am grateful to have made it through challenges that I thought were insurmountable at the time, and I am proud of the resilience and determination that I exhibited to overcome them.”

Muir plans on moving to the Washington, D.C., area in pursuit of a role that allows him to leverage both of his degrees while pursuing meaningful goals and outcomes.

Katharine Whitticom, who will have dual degrees in Political Science and Intelligence Studies with a minor in Russian Studies, earned the Mother Borgia Egan Honors Award this year.

“To me, this award is such an

honor, because I have known the past three winners,” said Whitticom. “Each one was very committed to not only being an intellectual or Honors student, but also to the leadership, professional, cultural awareness, and service that is required to remain in the Honors Program.

“The Honors Program has been such an influential part of my college career. My senior year, I was elected Honors Council president. Through my Honors events, classes and service, I made some of my closest friends, found a second major, but most importantly, learned who I wanted to be as not just a student but as a person,” she said.

Whitticom will be heading to Boston University to obtain her Master’s of Science in Applied Data Analytics.

Jillian Blas, who will be receiving a B.S. in Sports Medicine, is this year’s Female Scholar Athlete

of the Year. “When I arrived as a freshman, I had made it my goal to step out of my comfort zone and give 110% in everything that I do,” said Blas.

“I believe this award is a direct reflection of my goal that I had set as a freshman. None of this would have been possible without my family, friends, teammates, coaches, professors and everyone who has had an impact on me throughout my 4 years.”

Additional awards given this year include Lily Smith for the Frank Barry Leadership Award, Austin Cortopassi for Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, and Rondale Smith for the Carpe Diem Award.

Congratulations to the Class of 2023! We can not wait to see what all you accomplish in the future!

Cardinal Points infographic

The infographic above shows statistics of Campus Sexual Assault to raise awareness of an unfortunate issue that the exhibit is hoping to bring attention to.

Merciad IN A MINUTE

Need Summer Housing?

if you intend to stay on campus this summer, please fill out the summer housing form on Self Service.

There are limited number of apartments available for housing this summer, so make sure to fill this out ASAP to ensure you have a spot.

This is a great, affordable option for students who may have a job in Erie this summer or international students.

Spring Sale at the Bookstore

The Mercyhurst Bookstore is having an end-of-the-year sale. Everything is marked 20% off.

Use this opportunity to get a Mother’s Day gift which is approaching quickly, or to simply get some Mercyhurst gear for friends and family!

There have been a lot of new shipments in, so take a quick browse soon and see the new selection.

Take advantage of the sale so that you are equipped for the next academic year that will be full of plenty of chances to sport your Mercyhurst pride!

Discount for Seawolves

Mercyhurst has a special discount to offer. If you show your Mercyhurst ID at a Seawolves ticket box, you can get tickets for a discounted price.

You can get $10 upperbox tickets for a number of games throughout the following dates:

-May 9-14

-May 23-28

-Aug 29-Sept. 3

-Sept. 12-17

If you want to preorder your tickets, use the discount code HURSTISHOME at checkout to receive the special discount. Take advantage of this opportunity!

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

Email us at merciad@ mercyhurst.edu

Take a hike—at Erie’s Asbury Woods

By Eva Mihelich News editor

Asbury Woods contains over 216 acres of land and 5 miles of trails.

For this reason, it is a beloved part of the Greater Erie community. They host year-round programs to encourage Erie residents to get out in nature for some fresh air.

Additionally, they promote physical wellbeing, since hiking is a great form of exercise. For the second year, Asbury Woods participated in the City Nature Challenge, which is “an international effort for people to find and document plants and wildlife in cities across the globe,” according to the City Nature Challenge’s website.

This annual challenge started in 2016 by the staff at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and has since grown into a wellloved event all around the world.

Hiking itself is an activity that promotes both physical and mental health.

According to the official National Park Service website, hiking builds stronger muscles and bones, improves your balance, and improves overall health.

As far as mental health goes, the website says that hiking reduces stress, calms anxiety, and lowers your chance of depression.

Hiking with someone else can also strengthen your bond since you will overcome the various difficulties of hiking trails together, and there are no screens or anything to distract you from meaningful conversation and experience.

All of these reasons show that hiking and getting some steps in outside are great ways to ensure longevity and overall happiness!

Asbury Woods is taking part in the City Nature Challenge for years to come. Everyone is welcome, and people are encouraged to attend even if hiking has not been their hobby in the past. This is not a particularly strenuous hike, so as long as you are relatively able to walk a few miles then you should definitely consider taking part in this. This is the second year that Erie has taken part in the City Nature Challenge, and Asbury Woods re-

corded that the turnout was much larger this year which is encouraging for future challenges to come.

Although this event has ended for the year, keep the City Nature Challenge in mind for next year along with the many other events that Asbury Woods hosts throughout the year.

Getting outside is a free, easy way for college students to get off campus and find something fun and wholesome to do.

It is easy to get wrapped up in the campus bubble where you forget

that there are many parts to Erie that you probably have not seen. Take advantage of the beautiful trails at Asbury Woods, and support their City Nature Challenge next year!

In the fall, they have many fun events catered to Halloween, such as kid-friendly ‘haunted’ trail tours, or scenic fall scenery trail events. There is something for everybody when it comes to Asbury Woods, so consider staying up to date with their website.

A successful Campus Cleanup

By

Biology student Caitlin Gonter and Biology professor Rajinikanth Mohan, Ph.D., organized a campus cleanup event on Saturday, April 23, in celebration of Earth Day. This idea started as an extra credit opportunity in Gonter’s biochemistry class.

The task was to pick an idea that could be translated to a social change within the Mercyhurst or Erie community. Gonter chose to discuss littering and create a call to action that would be a trash cleanup event, which is exactly what she did.

Flyers were made and posted all around the Zurn building and posts were made on social media to advertise this event.

“Our campus is so beautiful and always filled with so much color and flowers that seeing

trash just laying around amidst this beauty only degraded our reputation,” Gonter said when asked why she chose to host this event on campus.

Despite the cold and undesirable weather, a group of students showed their support and gathered in the Student Union to receive their assigned areas on campus to cleanup.

Divided into teams of two or three, the students set out to pick up any trash that was found in their designated areas.

Items such as cigarette butts, bottles, cans, plastic utensils and candy wrappers were among the common trash found.

The students were encouraged to keep count and categorize each item they collected into plastics, metals, glass, or other.

Gonter and Mohan also provided both regular trash bags and recycling bags so that participants could appropriately dispose of

each piece of trash collected.

Participants were given a briefing on which items would be recyclable and of particular interest was in the plastics category.

In the state of Pennsylvania only plastic bottles, jars and jugs that are #1 and #2 can be recycled.

These numbers are resin identification codes that correlate to the types of plastics that Material Recover Facilities (MRFs) will accept in order to convert them into another usable form.

The claim as to the exclusion of plastics #3 through #7 is that plastic markets are looking for better quality plastic which they do not deem to be in these categories.

Reducing pollution is imperative for the environment’s health as well as for human health. Creating a space that is free of pollutants allows students and faculty to enjoy the fresh air and

observe the beauty in nature that is embedded within the Mercyhurst Campus.

Additionally, ensuring that grass areas are free of trash helps preserve nature resources and keep the soil, and all the things living in it, healthy.

This becomes an attractive site for animals to make their home, which will increase biodiversity around campus and in the surrounding Erie community.

Cleaning up trash is not solely to make the environment look better, it really does create a healthy habitat for all living creatures.

Gonter provides her closing remarks about this event, saying “sustainability is not just something to recognize on days that have a label (Earth Day for example), but instead, every day. Sustainability is what’s going to allow our community to continue to grow in the future”.

Christina Judy Staff writer

Trip Advisor Photo

Asbury Woods hosts many events throughout the year to encourage people to get outside and hike.

Dr. Susan Johnson receives Teaching Excellence Award

By Bella Lee Staff writer

The Teaching Excellence Award is given to one extraordinary faculty member who has contributed significantly to the intellectual life at Mercyhurst. This year, the award was given to Susan Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of Education.

Johnson has been a member of the Mercyhurst faculty for the past 13 years, currently serving as the director of Undergraduate Education and chosen to be the Chair of the Department of Education for Fall 2023, a role she previously held from 20162022.

Her education includes receiving her B.S. Ed. in Speech Pathology and Audiology from State University of New York at Fredonia and her M.S. Ed. in Special Education from St. Bonaventure University.

Johnson earned her Ph.D. in Organizational Learning & Leadership from Gannon University. Her dissertation explored pre-service teacher perceptions of children from poverty and families who are poor.

This year will mark her 25th year in education.

Johnson’s fellow faculty members have praised her for all the work she’s put in.

“Dr. Susan Johnson is truly the embodiment of the Department of Education’s motto to ‘teach anyone, anywhere,’” said Dr. Amy Burniston, current Chair

of the Education Department in the press release. “Her magnetic personality, passion for special education, and conviction that all individuals are capable of learning is contagious.”

“Dr. Susan Johnson’s passion for teaching and commitment to her students’ success sets her apart as a truly outstanding educator,” said Amy Bauschard, program director of MELIA in the press release. “She has a unique ability to connect with her students on a personal level, creating a safe and inclusive learning environment that encourages intellectual curiosity and academic growth.”

Johnson’s students, both current and former, have also had her change their lives in many ways.

“Dr. Johnson has been an amazing advisor to have in the education program, as she always knows what to do to guide me in the right direction and is always able to answer any questions I’ve had,” said Matt Schwartz, junior Early Childhood/Special Education major.

“I learned a lot from taking the classes she’s offered at Mercyhurst, including Psych of Diverse Learners, and High Incidence Disabilities. She is easy to approach and very friendly, and

always willing to help out. She truly deserves her teaching excellence award,” he said.

“Susan Johnson is a pivotal part of who I have become as a teacher, a person, and an advocate. I would not be who I am without her,” said Cole Lowe ‘19, alumnus of the Education program. “In college, she noticed a first-generation student from a poor rural area and showed him how to be a teacher. She made sure I could be successful in college because my family wasn’t privileged to a college education to be able to answer questions. She saw a person eager to learn and gave me opportunities to

succeed. Simply put, Susan is the best.

“This award confirms who she is at her very core. There really is not any better award for Susan than an award for teaching excellence because her name is synonymous with it. Susan Johnson is teaching excellence.”

It is evident that Johnson cares deeply about her students and the career path that she chose.

Congratulations, Dr. Johnson!

LAKER MOMENT

Intramural Volleyball Championship

The finalists for the championship were the No. 1 seed Beach Babes against the No. 2 Gators. Both teams had clear skills on the court.

The Beach Babes dressed in colorful outfits had agility but the Gators height was the advantage. Both teams had perfectly placed spikes each point and the match was very competitive with players diving and sliding all over the court.

In the first match the Gators couldn’t hold onto their early lead and the Beach Babes got the win 24-22. In the second set the Gators turned the tide and secured a win 25-12 forcing a third set.

In a game to 15 the Gators were able to secure the title and win the Championship. The winning team is made up of Matthew Chambers, Nicholas Lang, Jeff Planutis, Pipe Ajayi, Lennon Dailey, Allison DeJidas, Andrew Hoying, Olivia Kincanon and Maddie Wiszomirski.

Megan McKay photo

The final match-up between the Beach Babes and the Gators.

Mercyhurst Marketing photo

Dr. Susan Johnson was surprised with the award during one of her classes on Friday, April 14.

RSCO FEATURE E-SPORTS CLUB

By Hailey Steidle Staff writer

On May 27, many Lakers received an email from the E-Sports Club on campus who were advertising their upcoming event. The newly formed club is marking their place on campus as a way for students to play video games together and establish a community, friendships, school spirit and a sense of belonging on campus for many of the students who get involved.

The club was formed to create an inclusive and fun competitive environment on campus for students who may enjoy video games. Those who are passionate about the video games they play can now showcase their talents in an inclusive and supportive environment. Many students who have an unspoken talent in playing video games now have an outlet to get to know others on campus as well as spend time with those that they meet and bond through their shared interests.

E-Sports is a world of competitive and organized video gaming that has both professional gamers and amateurs. Recently the world of E-Sports has taken off as streaming services and live events have turned everyday casual gamers into professionals who can make up to seven-figures from competitions and brand endorsements.

Common games that professionals play in competitions and on livestreams are League of Legends, Fortnite, Call of Duty, Overwatch and Madden. Massive crowds are often drawn in as millions tune in to watch professional compete in their favorite games, making it an incredibly good opportunity to companies to market and advertise, which is how these individuals earn up to 7-figures every year.

The club is hosting an event on Saturday, May 6, at 6 p.m. for any individual who may want to participate, whether as a spectator or a competitor. The event itself will be their first annual NBA 2K23 Tournament with brackets of 16 teams who signed up virtually on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mercyhurst focuses heavily on the involvement of their students in clubs, so the formation of this club now allows for students with more specific interests to find other individuals around campus who enjoy similar things to themselves.

The E-Sports club founders have made it known that the club is open to any student who may want to get involved, whether they play or just plan to spectate, all are welcome. The inclusive energy that the founders of the club have allows any possible future members to feel welcome and excited about the possibilities of meeting friends who are interested in similar activities.

If you are looking for a way to get involved on campus and love video games, the E-Sports club might be perfect for you!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

By Mackenzie Zent Opinion editor

May recognizes Mental Health Awareness Month, which raises awareness and educates people on mental illness and mental health.

For decades there has been a large amount of stigma against people living with mental illness, which is something Mental Health Awareness Month is trying to dissipate. Through education and advocacy, this can successfully be done.

Mental Health Awareness Month was first recognized in the U.S. in 1949, when it was founded by the organization called Mental Health America.

This came at a time right after World War II, when soldiers were coming home from the army and being diagnosed with PTSD. Since this was becoming so frequent, it finally started to be recognized as a mental disorder instead of something that was all in someone’s head.

Since this was recognized, it helped bring awareness to other mental illnesses too.

Today, studies show that 1-in-5 adults in the United States live with mental illness, and not even half of them receive treatment for it.

One of the reasons for this is that mental illness is not talked about enough, so some people

do not even realize they have it.

The hope is that with a month dedicated to education and opening up the discussion around mental health, more people will be able to reach out for the help they need.

Another aspect of this month is to help people understand mental disorders better.

Often times people will carelessly throw around phrases such as, “I hated that professor, I have PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) from being in his class,” or “I love keeping my room clean, I am so OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder).”

In reality, these are not accurate representations of either of these mental illnesses, which can actually be quite debilitating to those who experience them.

However, with more people opening up about their own experiences and raising awareness for mental health, others will start to understand that the language they use matters and not to throw around terms they do not understand.

Mental Health Awareness Month also promotes taking care of yourself and your mind through self-care and mindfulness activities. Especially for college students, burnout is real, but there are things that can be done to help prevent it.

With the fast-paced nature that can come with school, people often forget to take a second to relax and breathe. Taking a few moments out of the day to talk with friends, write down what you are grateful for or even just going on a walk can make a huge difference. Taking care of your mind is just as important as taking care of yourself physically and can help decrease burnout and stress.

For those living with a mental illness, it can be scary to not feel in control of your own mind. Not to mention others sometimes look down on them or believe they are not as capable of doing some things compared to those without mental illnesses.

All of these are factors for why Mental Health Awareness Month is important, and why everyone should try to learn something this May.

If you are struggling with mental illness, you are not alone. Resources are available to you to get the help you deserve. Reach out to the counseling center on campus: (814)-824-3650, or Police and Safety for crisis services: (814)824-3911.

By Samantha Weber Editor in chief

Please consider donating to this wonderful cause. There is such a hunger crisis for the people living in Kenya and this is a great opportunity to reflect on how fortunate we are to live in a country where food is readily accessible.

The hunger crisis is caused by a severe drought due to the failure of four consecutive rainy seasons. This drought has

left millions of people hungry and thirsty.

As everyone knows, malnutrition has a huge impact of the quality and duration of one’s life. Especially in children, early malnutrition and if it extends into their teenage years, they can see a rise in health issues including stunted physical growth, coronary heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

There were people stationed outside of the Grotto Commons on Monday who accept-

ed monetary donations.

There is also can opportunity to donate today at the Mental Health Awareness Walk from 3-5 p.m.

Terry, a Sister of Mercy and a student majoring in sociology, is raising the money to take with her back home to Kenya.

The humanitarian crisis that is going on in Kenya right now is not going to solve itself so we need to join forces and help a country in need.

Sister Terry is taking the

money directly back to Kenya and working with loved ones to distribute the funds to support the town.

This fundraiser is being run by students in the Social Work Program, but the Applied Sociology and Social Work Club is all advertising and supporting this cause.

If you know anyone in these majors or clubs please reach out to them if you have questions or want to donate.

Service is one of the values

CLASS CATALOG

ART-125: TWO-DIMENSIONAL DESIGN

By Christina Judy Staff writer

Two Dimensional Design or Art-125, is a unique course that is offered to students in an art-related major.

The course is taught here at Mercyhurst by Professor Alison Stinley of the Art Department.

This course is offered in the spring semester every year. It is recommended that students take ART-100 prior to taking this course but it is not a requirement.

Due to the nature of this course, the class period is an hour and 50 minutes long to ensure that students are getting the proper amount of time that they need to learn all the techniques and practice what they have learned.

Two-dimensional art refers to any form of visual art that exists in two dimensions. The art forms that can depict two-dimensions are drawings, paintings, prints and photographs.

Students who take this course will get exposure to all the different art forms that are listed above.

The description on selfservice course catalog said, “Introductory art foundations course focused on the exposure and study of elements and principles of design, creative processes, synthesis and the technical aspects of art production including media, tools and methods.”

While this course is for the students who have a major

or minor in art, as part of the liberal arts curriculum, students might feel inclined to add a major or minor in art and they would be able to have this course count toward that.

The art of design can open many opportunities for students beyond college, especially in our world where everything we see and everything we share is viewed a certain way which has remarkable effects.

Far too many students are not exposed to the opportunities other majors offer that may in fact suit their personal qualities better.

Mercyhurst hopes to open students’ eyes to new opportunities and ideas they may have not thought about otherwise.

of the Sisters of Mercy and it is our job to help marginalized people and alleviate their suffering.

Please consider donating any amount that you are able to as just $5 will fee one child for a whole day. Both cash and Venmo payments are accepted. Your donations will go to a great cause and you can be assured that the people of Kenya will actually see the benefits of your donations.

Poster advertising the Hunger Crisis Fundraiser.

Cross Country coach finishes among top in Boston Marathon

By Megan McKay Staff writer

Mercyhurst’s very own alumni and Cross Country Coach Mike Williamson recently completed one of the most prestigious races in the world, the Boston Marathon.

The Boston Marathon is no simple task running over 26 miles and qualifying alone requires competitive time standards. The marathon is not only one of the best known road racing events, but is also one of the world’s oldest marathons.

The marathon first began in 1897 and has been running for over 126 years. The event was inspired by the success of the first marathon competition in the 1896 Summer Olympics.

Williamson described the feeling of being a part of the race.

“There is nothing like the atmosphere at Boston. You get to run 26 miles with 30,000 of your closest friends and thousands along the course cheering you on,” he said.

Williamson was able to run a 2:36:25 and placed 403rd.

As Williamson mentioned there are over 30,000 runners in the marathon and placing in the top 1% is no easy task.

Coach Williamson is already looking forward to next year’s event hoping to improve both his time and place.

His commitment to excellence is nothing short of inspiring especially for the athletes he coaches.

He described his influence on the community.

“I hope the lesson my athletes, as well as athletes from other sports, take from me doing the event is the amount of hard work and dedication it takes to succeed at any sport, not just running.”

Working a full-time job in addition to being Mercyhurst’s Cross Country coach and training around 80 miles a week is no easy task.

Student-athletes should not just recognize what it takes to be a top 100 American race finisher but also the discipline it requires.

Spending up to 9-10 hours per week running, lifting and recovering your body can be done no matter where you are at in your life.

Williamson described the mindset it takes saying, “To be able to put that much time and effort into training, you truly have to enjoy what you do. In order to find success, you have to enjoy it. If you don’t enjoy it, success becomes much harder to find and attain.”

Coach Williamson could not have put it any better.

No matter what you’re looking to achieve in life, if you have lost the excitement factor it will be impossible to continue. It is so important that in whatever you do to prevent burnout you have to constantly find what you love and stay true to yourself.

Completing the Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon multiple times, Williamson

FROM THE ARCHIVES

has built quite an impressive resume along with his time running at Mercyhurst. While at Mercyhurst he earned a degree in Social Work while participating on the cross country team during the 2010-2013 season.

He was team captain for the Lakers and helped the men have the highest conference and regional finish at the time. Now as head coach for the Cross Country teams Williamson continues to leave a legacy and set the ultimate standard. He is the

definition of if you see it you can be it.

By Christina Judy Staff writer

The annual May Crowning was the event to celebrate around this week in Mercyhurst’s history. This event commemorated the start of spring while staying true to Mercyhurst’s religious roots by honoring Mary, the mother of Jesus. May is recognized as the month of Mary in the Catholic tradition.

The first May Crowning recorded in Mercyhurst’s history was in 1929 and was held at the Grotto, but was soon moved to the front of campus. The May Queen, a selected Mercyhurst student, had the honor of leading the celebrations while they ensued. However, the tradition it was halted in the late 1960s.

Mercyhurst Archive photo

Picture of The May Queen crowning the statue of Mary in the Grotto.

Coach Mike Williamson mid-run during the Marathon.

Hurst Hot Take: ‘Invincible’

Nolan teaches him how to be a superhero.

My family and I watched a variety of TV shows throughout lockdown at the beginning of COVID-19.

One show, however, that especially grabbed my attention was “Invincible.” It was our way of bonding with one another when we were stuck in the house.

The show came out in 2021 and is considered an Action Fiction show.

“Invincible” follows a teenage boy named Mark Grayson, whose father, Nolan Grayson, protects Earth under the guise of Omni-Man.

Nolan is actually an alien, hailing from the planet Viltrum, and when Mark starts developing superpowers,

Although the show is animated, it is not something suitable for children. The show does contain strong language and gore, which is not for the faint of heart. This is something that’s shown in just the first episodes it opens up the show, explaining the world with superheroes and showing Omni-Man fighting alongside the Guardians of the Globe, this Earth’s version of the Justice League.

However, in the last five minutes of the episode, things take an extremely dark turn when Omni-Man reveals his shady side by brutally murdering all of the members of the Guardians of the Globe.

“Invincible” only gets dark-

er from there, as Mark takes on the superhero alias of Invincible, hence the show’s name.

As the Guardians of the Globe is rebuilt, Mark meets powerful enemies and forges alliances with new superheroes, some attending the same school as him. These new heroes include Atom Eve, who can manipulate atoms and energy; Rex Splode, who can make things explode; and Dupli-Kate, who can clone herself. Viltrumites are sent to other planets to conquer them, with Nolan tasked to conquer Earth.

However, after marrying Mark’s mom and raising Mark, Nolan is conflicted between doing what he is told to do and caring for his family.

Additionally, Mark has to grapple with the fact that his dad is not on Earth to serve as its protector, as Nolan had initially told him as a child.

In the last episode of the season, Nolan beats Mark badly in a fight while explaining how the two of them are immortal and will far outlive Earth, exclaiming, “What will you have after 500 years?”

On the brink of death, Mark answers, “You, Dad. I’d still have you,” with a tear running down his face, prompting Nolan to abandon his mission and Earth, leaving many questions unanswered.

While “Invincible” only has one season, a second season is currently in the works.

The show is based on the comic series of the same

name by Robert Kirkman, creator of “The Walking Dead.” There is some overlap between the two shows, with several members of the original Guardians of the Globe being voiced by actors on “The Walking Dead.”

This show is very underrated, and I do not know many people who have also seen it, but it is worth the watch.

I recommend checking out this show if you think it is something that you would be interested in. It is currently streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

Again it is not for everyone but if this description peaked your interest I would recommend taking the time to watch one episode to see if you would like the rest of the series.

Invincible TV Show poster

By Bella Lee Staff writer

Season One of “Invincible” is streaming on Amazon Prime Video, with plans for a second season in the works.

IMDb.com photo

Poster of the main characters in the show “Invincible.”

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Aaron Tveit takes the stage as the last MIAC performer of the year

Aaron Tveit is coming to Mercyhurst, and students won’t want to miss the chance to see this star live.

Tveit is an American actor and singer performing May 3 in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center 7:30–9 pm.

Tveit is originally from Middletown, NY, and went to Ithaca College, but it was before that he was already starting his professional career, joining the national tour of “Rent.”

To this day, Tveit still per -

forms on Broadway and in Hollywood TV series. His performance here at Mercyhurst will be a set list of cover songs, Grease soundtracks, and his personal solo album, “The Radio in My Head: Live at 54 Below.”

Having a Broadway star singing at Mercyhurst is a fantastic but rare opportunity, especially for a celebrity like Tveit with many accolades.

He is famously known for his lead role in the “Moulin Rouge, The Musical” stage adaptation. He is still cast in it and has earned a Tony award and Out -

er Critics Circle awards for his role as Christian.

Other Broadway credits include “Wicked,” “Hairspray,” “Catch Me If You Can,” and “Next to Normal” (Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Supporting Performance).

Television audiences know him from the Apple TV+ series “Schmigadoon,” the USA network series “Graceland,” the CBS comic thriller “Braindead,” and the FOX musical “Grease: Live.”

His film credits include “Les Misérables,” in which he portrayed the character Enjolras

alongside Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, and Russell Crowe.

Tveit also had a recurring role in the hit drama series “Gossip Girl.”

He has won many prominent awards, including Best Actor at the Sunscreen Film Festival, MTV’s Best Musical Moment in Grease, and Favorite Leading Actor at the Broadway Audience Awards.

Tveit is a very talented singer, as his show sold out in record time, but fans may be able to get tickets before the show still.

Mercyhurst students may still

be able to request a FREE ticket by bringing their ID to the PAC box office during regular business hours (Tuesday-Thursday, 12–5 p.m., and 90 minutes before ticketed events at the performance venue).

MIAC Director Dr. Brett Johnson stated, “The geographical vastness of our audience for Tveit’s concert is a testament to his astonishing talent and devoted fanbase and how the Mercyhurst Institute for Arts & Culture has become a premier destination for world-class performing arts experiences.”

The demand for seeing Tveit outside of Broadway is high given his level of success as people from over 25 different states will be attending; his influence on the performing industry anointed titles as “Broadway’s Favorite Boyfriend,” and his devoted fanbase has drawn a significant amount of attention to the performance.

Fans who can get tickets can expect a great show, as Tveit mentioned to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, “I do realize you kind of have to play the hits a little bit,” he said.

“When I go to see an artist, there are four or five songs I always want to hear. I definitely try to center things around what I know people know me for.” Wednesday night will not disappoint as the Broadway, Hollywood, and Mercyhurst community all come together for an exceptional display of talent by Aaron Tveit.

By Megan McKay Staff writer

Backstage photo

Aaron Tveit as Enjoras in the 2012 movie “Les Miserables.”

Carey Purcell photo

Aaron Tveit will perform to a sold-out crowd in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m.

There is only a week and a half until the end of the semester!

How much truth does astrology really hold?

By Bella Lee Staff writer

The Merciad is being discontinued for next year.

GOOD BAD HOPEFUL

Hopefully everyone passes their finals.

The Merciad

STUDENT EDITORS

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.

Astrology is a pretty interesting concept. Personally, I am an Aquarius, but I am also a cusper and would have been a Capricorn had my birthday been just one day earlier. My dad is also a cusper, his birthday putting him in either Gemini or Cancer, depending on the chart you are reading. My mom is a Scorpio, my older brother is also a cusper being either Libra or Scorpio, both my younger brothers are Geminis, as is my stepmom, my stepdad is also an Aquarius, and my boyfriend is a Cancer.

However, that is pretty much as far as my knowledge or interest in astrology goes. I don’t use astrology to guide my everyday life, nor do I use it to determine all of my friendships or relationships. Despite this, especially with a roommate that is really into astrology and crystals, it has become quite interesting to learn.

Sometimes I like to read my horoscopes for fun, just to see how accurate they can be. However, they tend to be extremely wrong about the circumstances that I have actively gone through, but funny enough, the horoscopes that tend to be the most accurate for me are the ones the Merciad posts in their issues. I like to read these horoscopes to my boyfriend because his tend to be very accurate as well, so he and I will enjoy reading what the future allegedly has in store for us.

I have read a variety of horoscopes and seen plenty of memes, but the only thing that I’ve ever been able to deduce from all that is that Cancers have a tendency of being emotional. This makes sense, knowing what I know about my loved ones (including my boyfriend) that are Cancers. However, I also found a chart that labeled the different zodiacs from most to least emotional, and Cancer was the second most emotional (behind Pisces), while Aquarius is usually the least emotional. Thinking about it, I hate showing negative emotions

until I’m really pushed to the edge and explode, so this makes a lot of sense for me.

The biggest thing that I will never be able to understand, however, is why people think they can justify their actions because of their zodiacs. Honestly, I would love for someone to run a red light and hit several people with their car, then explain to the police that it happened because Saturn is in retrograde and they’re a Virgo with Sagittarius moon and Aries rising or something obscure like that. News flash: it’s not going to work, buddy.

Overall, zodiacs are certainly fun to read about and see if they can accurately predict the future in horoscopes or be guessed correctly in Buzzfeed quizzes, but they should not be used to dictate every aspect of one’s life. Just enjoy it and don’t ruin friendships or relationships over them. It’s that easy.

Snapchat’s new “My AI” feature brings up multiple concerns

By Megan McKay Staff writer

Within seconds of Snapchat releasing its new AI chatbot, many have expressed their concern. The new tool is titled “My AI,” which is powered by the infamous ChatGPT. The use of artificial intelligence has recently taken off as users can ask “My AI” questions and converse with it. Snapchat specifically describes the technology as “Your virtual friend on Snapchat. She’s kind, smart, and creative, and she’s always there to chat with you whenever you need someone.”

At first I was taken back by the idea of telling all your thoughts to someone that doesn’t exist; however the responses the bot comes up with are very intriguing, but the thought of our world becoming fully virtual is scary especially with this new addition. Whenever new technology comes into existence I can’t help but find myself wishing we could go back to simpler times where people interacted face to face without screens. Although, the recent technological innovations I can’t help but find fascinating, especially “My AI”.

What I find so interesting is

how much information the bot knows, you can ask it almost anything you want and it will be able to generate a sufficient response but it is comforting to know that it is not perfect, there are certainly limitations and parameters that AI cannot comprehend. Overall, the chatbot has specifically received backlash not only from parents concerned about a machine influencing their child’s lives but also older Snapchat users.

The app has been getting bombarded with bad reviews and criticism over privacy concerns. It is starting to feel more like Google and other social media apps that know everything you do and say. In a way you can’t escape the technology working together to try to understand exactly who you are to meet your needs. The AI can certainly be classified as creepy in a way that it is able to come across human-like rather than a normal computer generated response like SIRI.

I personally have mixed reactions towards the new feature. It is convenient to have a quick answer just a question away but it is also concerning that younger users have access to something entirely out of their parents control. “My AI” is also impossible to get rid of on the Snapchat app unless users pay for a premium subscription. Another concern that has been brought up is the ability to change the

name and personal icon to make the chat bot more human-like.

Snapchat has dubbed “My AI” as experimental; however it is no secret now how much access the app has to consumers location and personal data. For example, if a Snapchat user asks the bot what their favorite sports team is, the intelligence will respond with a sports team within relative distance to their location.

I believe it is only a matter of time before the artificial intelligence being used on Snapchat is eventually integrated into our phones entirely. Soon there will be no way of escaping the new technology. Snapchat has over 363 million active daily users and over 525 million users worldwide. Everyone of these users for the most part now has the new “My AI” feature pinned at the top of their screen when they open this app. This new step taken by Snapchat could possibly have more of a lasting impact then it had imagined.

I predict that when the time comes other social media apps will follow suit and there will be no escaping this new era of communication.

The dangerous toxins the U.S. permits us to consume

By Christina Judy Staff writer

DNA within cells it is said to be a genotoxic chemical.

The dangers borne from damaged DNA are serious and can lead to cancerous effects.

HURST STUDENTS SPEAK UP

The most important form of self-care is to ensure that all the foods we consume and products we use on our bodies are healthy and safe. I was alarmed when I read the amount of skin care and food products that were banned in Europe because of the potential for dangerous effects in humans, but were allowed to be use in the United States.

There has been a recent buzz about the presence of these toxic compounds in our U.S. products. The concern that stood out to me most was how many of these chemicals have the potential to be carcinogenic.

Potassium Bromate is an additive used in white flour and bread which adds to the volume of the bread and enhances its structure. The human body does a good job of breaking down bromate to a harmless form. However, there has been evidence in animal testing that shows the development of cancer in the specimens. If undigested, the remaining trace amounts of bromate could pose a cancer risk to consumers.

The dangers do not stop at carcinogens, some additives have been found to be genotoxic in studies. When a chemical is able to damage

The U.S. has a chemical like this as an additive used for food coloring for candies such as Skittles and Starbursts and in lieu of other food products.

Titanium dioxide cannot pass through the body easily and therefore can build up and put consumers at a dangerous risk. Europe has deemed this additive as unsafe and is looking to remove it from the market.

These are just a taste of the long list of dangerous additives and chemicals the United States still enables markets to use that Europe has made efforts to move away from.

Our bodies are precious because they allow us to do so many things from physical activity to just allowing us to be present in a space with friends.

The time will be well taken if we become more curious about the ingredients within the foods we consume. For the health benefits and the overall feeling of well-being, it is imperative that we nourish our bodies with healthy foods that are free from harmful chemicals.

The products that are used to revitalize our bodies are just as deserving of our attention. There is yet again a list of ingredients banned in other countries for use but allowed in the U.S., only this time referring to beauty care.

Among them is Phthalates, which is a known endocrine disrupter, is present in perfume, deodorant, and nail polish. Lead is a neurotoxin that is harmful in small doses but is still allowed for use in cosmetics- most commonly lipsticks- in the U.S.

You have probably heard of formaldehyde in criminal shows or even in school. Its practical use is in preserving dead bodies, however, the U.S. still approves it to be used in nail polishes, nail hardeners, and Brazilian blowouts. The EU has banned its use because it is a known carcinogen and has been found to create respiratory problems. This information is critical to be aware of because of the detrimental effects that they could have on our health. We only get one body and one chance at life, it is so important to be cautious of what we are consuming.

It may be time consuming but the pay off for reading through the ingredient lists of our products is a healthier body for which there is nothing more valuable.

We asked: What will you miss most from school over the summer?

Jackson Feiock, junior intelligence studies major: “When I go home this summer I am going to miss speaking to my teachers and friends the most and not being able to see everyone.”

Christina Judy, senior biology major: “I am going to miss the social atmosphere and learning from mentors the most.”

Bethany Jentz, junior Intelligence major: “I am going to miss seeing my friends every day.”

Lilly English, junior criminal justice major: “I think I am going to miss the convenience of having my friends close.”

Springfest 2023 was a glowing success

By Mackenzie Zent Opinion editor

SpringFest? More like SlayFest. I have to admit I was not that hyped for SpringFest when I woke up on Friday morning. The weather was dreary and rainy, and the vibes were not how they were last year.

I went to Grotto for lunch and to my surprise they had some good food and fun games to play. They had soft pretzels, fried pickles, funnel fries and frosted cookies, that, in my opinion were one of the best desserts they have had all year. I really hope they bring these back because I feel like they were super underrated.

While students tried some carnival themed foods, they also had a jumbo Plinko game where you won a prize depending

on where the chip fell. I won a Pepsi shirt, and I was pretty happy about that because although I am not a huge fan of Pepsi, I love free shirts and I will definitely be using it as a new pajama shirt. One of my friends won a Celsius energy drink and my other friend won some Gatorade stickers. I thought this was a cool thing they set up for us, especially since it was a winner every time game, it made sure everyone got to have a chance at getting a prize.

I walked into the MAC at a little past 7pm and as I handed my ticket to the ticket tacker, the security man asked me if I had anything in my pockets, and he asked to see my keys to make sure I did not have pepper spray on them. Lucky for me, I remembered to take my pepper spray off my keys because last year they confiscated it from me, and I had to buy a new one. I thought it was a bit more

reasonable to be concerned about that this year since it was inside, because last year it was in the Warde parking lot and I thought for them to take it from me was ridiculous because I had walked through the Warde parking lot many times before with it on my keys. Anyway, once I got inside the lights were off and I saw people giving out tons of glow in the dark items. There were finger lights, glow sticks, light up bracelets, glow glasses and glowing foam sticks to wave

around. I really got a kick out of this because I love things that glow in the dark.

Once the DJ came on everyone got super excited and it was fun to hang out and see everyone having a good time.

DJ Cashera was a great choice to bring back again, I think everyone really liked her. A little after 8pm Alec Benjamin finally came on let me tell you, he certainly did not let anyone down slowly, his performance was fabulous. He was very interactive with the crowd,

Tag

almost too interactive I would argue because he kept talking throughout his songs. Even though his songs were all a bit sad he gave a nice performance and I liked that he was asking us questions, he seemed like he was enjoying himself.

I think SpringFest was a blast this year and I am glad I decided to go.

Facebook: The Merciad

Compiled by Hailey Steidle

Shamrock Awards: 2023 female scholar athlete of the year

By Hailey Steidle Staff Writer

Every year Mercyhurst nominates 8 female athletes who have spent their time working tirelessly on and off campus to depict strength, intelligence and care for their community to become the Female Scholar Athlete of the Year.

This year athletes from the Women’s Rowing, Ice Hockey, Soccer, Water Polo, Basketball, Field Hockey, Softball, and Lacrosse had the chance to win this prestigious award.

The eight nominees this year were Nicolette Arnold, Jillian Blas, Allison Dejidas, Hanna Good, Madison Hoover, Autumn Kearny, Ena Nystrom, and Rachel Plumley.

The Female Scholar Athlete of the Year is announced each year at the Shamrock Awards, an end of the year awards banquet for all Mercyhurst Student Athletes. This ceremony celebrates the hard work and dedication of all of our student athletes including the Female Scholar

Athlete of the Year.

Arnold is a senior in Data Science and Intelligence Studies who has upheld a 4.0 GPA over her four years here on campus. She has been named a PSAC Scholar-Athlete and has made it to the Dean’s List a multitude of times.

Arnold has also spent her free time volunteering at Give Kids the World Village, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania, and Rise Against Hunger.

Blas is a senior in Sports

Science who has achieved a 3.909 GPA over her 4 years spent on the Mercyhurst Field Hockey team, spending the last year as captain. She has spent her free time these past 4 years as a member of SAAC, Alpha Epsilon Delta, and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. Dejidas is a senior in Sports Medicine who has upheld a high GPA of 3.804 throughout 4 seasons on the Mercyhurst Softball team. Across these past 4 years she played in 140 game.

Hoover is a senior in Early Childhood Education and Special Education who has upheld a 3.972 GPA over the last 4 year. She spends her free time working as a volunteer with children in the Special Olympics as well as Diehl Elementary School and the Booker T. Washington Center.

Kearny is a senior in Intelligence Studies who has upheld a 3.813 GPA over her 4 years on the Mercyhurst Rowing team. She has spent her free time as a member in

the Russian Club, National Security Club, and interning with the FBI.

Nystrom is a senior in Business Management who has upheld a 3.835 GPA over her 4 years on the Women’s Ice Hockey team.

Recently she has earned the titled of CHA Goaltender of the Year and the HCA Goaltender to Watch list.

Plumley is a senior in Psychology who has upheld a 4.0 GPA over her 4 years spent on the Women’s Lacrosse team.

During her free time off the field she participated in the Student Advisory Psychology Committee, SAAC, Psi Chi, and Morgan’s Message.

During the Shamrock Awards ceremony, Mercyhurst awarded Jillian Blas with this prestigious award. Congrats Jillian!

NBA MVP: Which center will be crowned most valuable?

By Megan McKay Staff writer

The NBA has officially released the three finalists for the Most Valuable Player this season. The players on the list come to no surprise to fans of the game.

The finalist includes reigning two time MVP of the Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic, 76ers big man Joel Embiid, and Bucks all star Giannis Antetounmpo.

If Jokic wins this year’s MVP he will join a very few elite list and the first to win three straight since Larry Bird.

If Embiid wins it will be his first ever MVP for the league’s leading scorer. Antetounmpo will also be seeking his third MVP after winning in 2019 and 2020.

The finalists were only just released as the playoffs are in the first round which means the MVP will not be announced until deeper in the postseason.

It is tough to say who will take home the award for the best in the league but the current favorite is close between Embiid and Jokic.

Nikola Jokic has had a prominent past couple of sea-

sons. The Serbian basketball player has incredible passing, strong shooting, and lots of versatility.

He has been unstoppable and has proven that you don’t have to be on the best team as he has won MVP the past two seasons not on a Championship winning team.

Jokic has proven to be the best passer in the NBA, most efficient scorer, and took a struggling team to the playoffs.

As one of the best centers in the league he’s been putting up huge numbers this season, averaging 26 points, 11 rebounds, and 8 assists per game.

A crucial piece to the puzzle for the Nuggets is Jokic’s defensive ability.

When Jokic plays a two way game he becomes a big component to their chances at a playoff run.

The Nuggets have already secured their second round bid in the playoffs after defeating the Timberwolves 4-1 in the first round series.

Not far behind Jokic is Joel Embiid, the league’s leading scorer.

The Cameroonian player is one of the most dominant big men in the league, known

for his scoring ability, his rebounding, and his defense. Embiid has been putting up some huge numbers, averaging 29 points and 10 rebounds per game.

The 76ers are currently one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference and similar to the Nuggets, had no trouble in the first round of the playoffs.

The 76ers were able to defeat the Nets 4-0 in the series and will face the Celtics in the second round. Embiid has been an exceptional player becoming the back-to-back scoring champion.

The final candidate for the award is Giannis Antetounmpo who despite facing injury in the first round of the playoffs still has his name in the running for his phenomenal season. He is known for his incredible athleticism and scoring ability for the Bucks.

As a two-time MVP he had yet another impressive season averaging 28 points, 11 rebounds, and 6 assists per game.

Unfortunately, the Bucks postseason push ended in the first round against the Heat who took the series 4-1.

Out of the three candidates

the Bucks short lived postseason will benefit Embiid and Jokic.

The current media votes for first place have Embiid as the most favored with over half the first place votes and Jokic following closely behind.

This year’s MVP race has been one of the closest races ever for the award.

There can easily be a case for many players as each team had superstars coming in big time this past season. However, all eyes will be on the 76ers and Nuggets superstars in the run for each of their first NBA titles.

Hurst Sports photo

Jillian Blas wins 2023 Female scholar-athlete award.

NBA.com photo

Top players from the 2022-2023 season.

Liam Hendriks, MLB Closer announces that he is cancer free

By Bella Lee Staff writer

The sports world is known for having its ups and downs, its victories and its heartbreaks.

This time, it’s the MLB that is seeing a major victory, with Chicago White Sox pitcher Liam Hendriks officially being cancer-free.

A native of Australia, Hendriks has been a part of the MLB since 2011, when he debuted with the Minnesota Twins. Since then, he has played for the Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, and Oakland Athletics, and has been a member of the White Sox since 2021.

Through the 2022 season, Hendriks has recorded an impressive 724 strikeouts and 115 saves.

These past few months, however, have been difficult for Hendriks. On Jan. 8, he announced that he had been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and immediately began treatment.

Fortunately, his battle was short, as he announced on social media on April 5 that he was to complete his last round

of chemotherapy and was officially cancer-free on April 20.

“REMISSION,” Hendriks wrote in an Instagram post that had videos and pictures of him going through his treatment.

“It’s official. I’m cancer free. You never think you will be the one who hears ‘you have cancer’ but there I was...in shock and fear not knowing what comes next. I started treatment after SO many life altering appointments on January 9th, 2023. Every 28 days, I would have another round. Every 28 days, I got closer to the PET scan that would dictate how many more rounds there would be. Every 28 days, I got closer to this moment. These past 5 months have been both the quickest and slowest of my life. Being able to ring this victory bell has been one of the most emotional things I’ve ever done. I cannot thank my team of doctors and nurses enough for coming up with the best medical plan for me. No words can express the gratitude I have for them saving my life.”

While the White Sox are having a weak season right now, being 8-21 as of this writing, the

By Christina Judy Staff writer

Mercyhurst men’s baseball conquered California University of Pennsylvania on Friday, April 21 to kick-start their weekend series of games. In this 3-1 feat, junior John Susnik had a walk-off home run to secure the Laker win. However, the story of game one would not have predicted this happy ending for the Lakers. The Vulcans came out strong in the first two innings as they were able to put three runners on during this time. They really had the fans believing that they were going to score the first run of the game in the top of the second. That thought did not stay in the air for long though as Luke Jackson, an Erie native stopped the runner at the plate with a fantastic throw.

Continuing this momentum, freshman Zachary Kourous earned his spot on the team with a home run-his second of the season-in the bottom of the second inning. The ball went soaring over the right field wall to put the Lakers on the scoreboard. Kourous sought to keep making his team proud but this time on the defensive end. The build up the Lakers solid defensive unit, he made a heads-up play which blocked Cal from getting on the scoreboard. When the Vulcans bunted, Kourous fielded it and drew the Vulcan runner at third base far enough off the bag by

faking a throw to first. This allowed his teammate Matt Christopher to position himself properly to lock in the out.

Cal U could not get on the board until the top of the sixth when they got their run off an RBI to tie the game at 1-1. Susnik did not let this tiny scare phase him when he stepped up to the plate, and he successfully hit a home run to increase the score to 3-1.

Each team was given little time to rest as they prepared for their second game of the day against each other. The Vulcans strong start gave them something to prove for

return of Hendriks is sure to give them an edge.

Much to the delight of the team and the fans, Hendriks was able to return to training on April 29.

Hendriks has made the trip to each of the three last All-Star Games.

Since the start of the 2019 season, he’s pitched to a 2.26 ERA while striking out 13.5 batters per nine innings and

posting a 0.88 WHIP.

Congratulations for Hendriks came from both players and veterans of MLB alike. “That’s it mate!” said Ryan Burr, Tampa Bay Rays pitcher. James McCann, Baltimore Orioles catcher, shared a pair of praying hand emojis. Billy Hamilton, White Sox center fielder, posted a set of strong arm emojis. Julio Rodríguez, Seattle Mariners outfielder, wrote, “Incredi -

ble,” with a set of praising hand emojis.

It will certainly be great that Hendriks will be coming back to baseball and assisting his team in winning more games. Congratulations, Liam Hendriks!

it this time around and they gained the lead at 1-0 at the top of the third. With a team effort, the Lakers changed their fate in the game. Christopher allowed his teammate Joe Trivisonno to run it home after he doubled it into the right-center field gap. Moments later, outfielder Chris Juchno gave Mercyhurst the advantage of the Vulcans with his hit that flew over the right field wall in the sixth inning. With the pressure on, the Vulcans were not ready to settle for losing another game, so they tied the score at 2-2 at the top of the seventh.

Anticipation grew but the weather worsened, and the game was called at the bottom of the 12th inning. The game was picked up the following Sunday and the Lakers pulled off the win with a 3-1 score.

Jarrett Heilman put up another wonderful performance on the mound giving up only one run in five innings. This was his first run giving up in the entire month of April, which ended his 26-inning scoreless streak. Overall, the Lakers saw a successful weekend and went 3-1 in their series against California University of Pennsylvania.

Hurst Athletics photo

Jarrett Heilman puts up another impressive outing.

AP News photo

Liam Hendriks in his Chicago White Sox city edition jersey.

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SALOME’S STARS #12345_20230501

FOR RELEASE MAY 1, 2023

EDITORS: These horoscopes are for use the week of May 8, 2023.

ARIES (March 21 to April 19) That sometimes contrarian Arian streak emerges and could affect an important decision. Try to keep your mind open to the possibilities, even if they currently seem remote.

TAURUS (April 20 to May 20) It could be a long wait before you get an answer to a question involving financial matters. Meanwhile, check on other interesting possibilities.

GEMINI (May 21 to June 20) A misunderstanding shouldn’t keep you from continuing to work. Pursue a reconciliation with someone who really cares. Talk it out before you consider walking out.

CANCER (June 21 to July 22) Exercise some discipline — don’t keep changing your mind. An upcoming decision requires that you stay focused on the direction you need to follow.

LEO (July 23 to August 22) Although family matters take up much of your time these days, you still need to deal with important workplace issues. Try to balance both obligations wisely.

VIRGO (August 23 to September 22) Your on-the-job problems appear close to being resolved. Now, make time to repair those personal relationships that you might have ignored for too long.

LIBRA (September 23 to October

22) Someone might suddenly balk at fulfilling an important agreement. There could be a hidden reason that you’ll need to uncover before you take this to arbitration.

SCORPIO (October 23 to November 21) A friend seeks to confide a secret, knowing it will be safe with you. But, given your friend’s history, you might not want to know what you’ll be told.

SAGITTARIUS (November 22 to December 21) Your new “self-improvement” course will continue to hit bumps in the road until you start shedding those unnecessary loads you’ve toted for too long.

CAPRICORN (December 22 to January 19) A decision to move to a new home needs to be delayed until you have accurate reports about its condition. Rely on facts, not assurances.

AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18) Congratulations! Your good work is beginning to pay off. Reward yourself. Take some much-needed rest and recreation time with loved ones.

PISCES (February 19 to March 20) Fishing for compliments isn’t always wise. Build your self-esteem on your own worthy achievements, and don’t rely on others to tell you how good you are.

BORN THIS WEEK: People who meet you want to get to know you better, but you tend to be difficult to please when it comes to forming friendships.

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