:Features On Page 3:
Arts & Entertainment On Page 5:
Students attend
Sports On Page 7: Mens Lacrosse
‘Take Back the Night’
‘Hurst choir to join
rally in Erie
Erie Philharmonic
maintains positive attitude
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Mercyhurst university
Est. 1929 Vol. 89 No. 19
Wednesday, april 20, 2016
Students ‘feel the Bern’ at political candidate’s rally By Rae Pollock News editor
Sen. Bernie Sanders held a rally at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie yesterday. The Vermont senator gave a 50-minute speech and urged people to vote in the primary next Tuesday. “Let’s see the great state of Pennsylvania lead this country into the political revolution,” he said in an article for the New York Times. Sanders did not focus on the recent primary in New York or talk about his competitor, Hillary Clinton, but he instead devoted his speech to telling locals what he can do for Pennsylvania. “If elected president, Mr. Sanders said he would change trade policies that had hurt states like Pennsylvania and ensure that American workers would not have to compete with workers in countries with lower wages,” Yamiche Alcindor wrote in an article for the New York Times. Phil LiPari, a sophomore intelligence studies major, went to the rally and talked in greater detail about what Sanders said. “[Sanders] really appealed to the idea that we should take this country forward and start taking care of the people in our nation who can’t take care of themselves - the weak, the old, the poor, and the sick. He focused a lot on the need to
create fair paying jobs through unions and by rebuilding our infrastructure. He talked on women’s rights quite a bit, highlighting the disparity between male and female salaries. Then, he talked about the environment and the need to transition to green energy alternatives to make sure we leave behind something better than a rotting world,” said LiPari. “Other than that, [Sanders] really focused on the wealth concentration in the upper one percent and the need for them to inherit more tax burden to make sure that the rest of the country has access to basic goods and services.”
“
...He talked about the environment and the need to...make sure we leave behind something better than a rotting world.
”
- Phil LiPari
Other Mercyhurst students joined the crowd to hear what Sanders had to say. “I went [to the rally] because not everyday does a major political candidate or figure come to Erie. I felt it was important to attend a political rally because it may be a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Jonathan Hartman, a senior
business competitive intelligence studies major. Hartman commented on the energy he felt at the speech.
“
Being at the rally made you feel like you were part of something more, and not just a single individual. - Jonathan Hartman
”
“The event itself was electrifying once Bernie came on stage. His comments and overall speech were moving and seemed to connect everyone in the room, even if they weren’t a supporter,” said Hartman. “Being at the rally made you feel like you were part of something more, and not just a single individual. It was actually very patriotic and I really enjoyed it.” Riley Norton, senior social work major, agreed with Hartman. “[The rally] really was an awesome atmosphere. It was surreal to be there with my fellow classmates to listen to someone who could have the chance to implement fundamental change in our everyday lives,” said Norton. “He was so personable and relatable, and it was a truly great time.” Primary elections will be held in Pennsylvania next Tuesday, April 26.
Contributed photo
Students hold up their sign and show support for Sanders.
Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks at the Bayfront Convention Center in Erie.
Contributed photo
Erie Together earns Community Engagement Award The Community Action Council of Pennsylvania, or CAAP, is awarding Erie Together, a community movement with various members within the community, the Community Engagement Award for their efforts and hard work. The award will be presented on Thursday, April 21 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. “Erie Together is a community movement; not an own organization. It is a collaborated group of people,
Mercyhurst University, United Way, and Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC). Work is done by hundreds of volunteers as well,” Nicole Wethli, assistant facilitator of the movement, said. This movement is a response to research done in 2007 and 2008 by the Erie Foundation’s Poverty Work Group on how much poverty has an impact on this community. Two members of this movement who work for Mercyhurst University are Laura Lewis and Nicole Wethli. Lewis was also a member of the original team
Merciad Index
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By Alexandria Albano Staff writer
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for the studies in 2007. Members focus on three key areas: Learn, Work, and Thrive. The Learn section focuses on kindergarten readiness and provides for parents of young children parent training kits. The Work section deals with aspects such as better connections among educational institutions, businesses and other groups. Erie Together also helps people coming out of prison with transportation, housing and training to help them attain secure employment. Lastly, Thrive focuses on helping families gain better
knowledge of their situations and progress forward. Lewis and Wethli both gave details about this movement and why the public should be more aware of it. They also emphasize that anyone is welcome to join. “The more individuals and organizations work together outside of their silos, collaboratively with other sectors, the more likely that mutually agreed upon, community determined goals, that enhance opportunity for all, will be achieved. The whole community will benefit. Erie Together is not a social service and it is not an organiza-
tion. It is people from diverse sectors and backgrounds who are working to improve our community. Erie Together is a community driven initiative and welcomes participation from all community members,” Lewis said. “The next meetings will be on April 26 and 27. The meeting on April 26 will be on the Work section and the 27th will be on the Thrive section,” Wethli said. To find more information, people can go to www.erietogether.org Wethli, Mary Bualo, who works for United Way and other affiliates will be there to receive the award. Lewis
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will be unable to attend the ceremony, but said she is very happy the award is being given to Erie Together. “It is exciting for Erie Together to get this recognition. It is recognition for the many Erie Together volunteers, from many different sectors, who are the heart of Erie Together. If not for community members being willing to spend time and energy working to reach positive outcomes in the learn, work, and thrive areas there would be no Erie Together,” Lewis said. @TheMerciad
April 20, 2016
The Merciad
Page 2
News Bollheimer named general counsel
Mercyhurst announces new VP for finance & administration David P. Myron, CPA, assumes the position of vice president for finance and administration at Mercyhurst University, according to an announcement on April 19 by Mercyhurst President Michael Victor. Myron comes to Mercyhurst from Seton Hill University, where he served in the same capacity for the past three years. Victor said Myron brings nine years of public accounting experience, 22 years of nonprofit experience and three years of higher education experience to his new role at Mercyhurst. Myron will lead all of the institution’s business and financial affairs;
serve as a key member of the university’s leadership team; and provide support and analysis in strategic planning efforts. “We fully expect David to help Mercyhurst University transform into an institution that plans for and executes smart financial management across our academic and institutional operations,” said Victor. “We look forward to welcoming him to our college community.” Previous to his tenure as chief financial officer at Seton Hill University, Myron was in management from 1991 to 2013 at the largest economic development organization in
Pennsylvania — the Regional Industrial Development Corporation (RIDC) in Pittsburgh. He began as controller, then treasurer, with the last 14 years of his tenure serving as vice president and treasurer. Earlier in his career (19821991), he was staff accountant and audit senior manager at the Pittsburgh office of KPMG, an international audit, tax and advisory firm. Myron earned his Bachelor of Science degree in accounting and English at St. Francis University in Loretto. He holds numerous certifications and is active in community service, serving on multiple boards, particularly in the
areas of economic and community development. “I am excited about this opportunity to steward and enhance the financial, operational, human resources and administration of the university while applying my personal integrity, work ethic, and commitment to the Catholic mission as well as to the values and vision of the university,” Myron said.
Mercyhurst University Public Relations Office
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Patio replaces Hirt arch Trang Nguyen Photo
Meredith Bollheimer moved from being an assistant professor to general counsel and vice president for legal affairs.
By Melanie Todd Staff writer
After 10 years of working for Mercyhurst, Meredith Bollheimer will now serve as general counsel and vice president for legal affairs. Bollheimer is an assistant professor and adviser for the Pre-Law Society. She is also the educational compliance adviser to the Office of Academic Affairs, and handles Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) compliance for the University. Now, a new door has opened for her. “As [General Counsel], I will provide legal advice to internal constituents across multiple areas. Some examples of the work include contract review and advising on compliance obligations,” Bollheimer said. That is just one part of what Bollheimer will be responsible for as general counsel. “The job requires a broadbased level of understanding across many different areas of the law, from tax law to real estate law, and this can be challenging because the legal field is so big,” Bollheimer said. Still, Bollheimer said she looks forward to the challenge. “You really have to be a generalist, but that is in part what makes the job so appealing. I get to do something different every day,” Bollheimer said. Bollheimer practiced law in insurance defense, worker’s compensation and family law before working at Mercyhurst. Her experience in these different areas as well as with her advising roles at Mercyhurst
will assist her in her new role as general counsel. “I really like the idea of getting to employ what I have learned over the past ten years in a way that provides a tangible benefit to the institution,” Bollheimer said. In this role, Bollheimer said she will continue to do what she enjoys. “I like helping people solve problems. In essence, this is what lawyers do — solve problems,” Bollheimer said.
“
I look forward to being able to serve the institution in this new role. - Meridith Bollheimer
”
Bollheimer hopes she will still be able to teach while fulfilling her role as General Counsel. “I love teaching and hope to be able to find time in my schedule to still get into the classroom,” Bollheimer said. Bollheimer said she thoroughly enjoys her time working at Mercyhurst, not only for the law opportunities. “Mercyhurst is such a great place to work. So many wonderful people work here and our students are so talented and hard-working. It is a pleasure to come here every day, and I look forward to being able to serve the institution in this new role,” Bollheimer said.
@TheMerciad
Contributed photos
Top: The Hirt arch as it once stood. Bottom: The empty spot where the Hirt arch destroyed the concrete.
By Melanie Todd Staff writer
The arch in front of the Audrey Hirt Academic Center mysteriously disappeared. The administration has big renovation plans for the space over the summer. “The arch was fairly unsightly. It didn’t bring a lot to the building. It was at an awkward angle and plain,” Forest Davis, head of maintenance, said. President Michael Victor
decided the $7.5 million building, built in 2002, needed an upgrade. “Victor wanted something a little more student friendly,” Davis said. Over the summer maintenance will be turning the space into a patio area for students. “We aren’t sure just yet but we’re looking at flagstone concrete that makes the building look more ‘Mercyhurst.’ We also want to add some sort of seating for students to use before and after class,” Davis said.
Students seem to be taking a liking to the idea. “I think that it would be a good idea. There is one at the Intel building and I think adding something special for Hirt will add a space for other majors and students who spend all day in Hirt,” Cassie Kern, a junior Early Childhood Education Major said. Winter took its toll on the concrete by the arch, the sidewalks, and even the grass. The necessary repairs made it the ideal time to remodel the space.
“We’ll fill in the ruts on the sides of the sidewalks with pavers as well,” Davis said. Hopefully, extending the sidewalks with the pavers will help prevent the ruts in future years. The entire project will come from a couple different summer budgets Mercyhurst has set. The estimate for the project will be available once materials are finalized. Mercyhurst maintenance staff will be completing the renovation.
Hurst Crime Log Incident
Date
Location
Liquor Law
April 9
Lot #8
Vandalism
April 10
Lot #16
Criminal Mischief
April 15
Lot #16
Criminal Mischief
April 16
4100 Briggs Ave
April 20, 2016
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The Merciad
Features
’Hurst how-to: Survive spring By Caitlyn Lear
Contributing writer
The end of the semester is quickly approaching and for most, that means writing papers, finishing papers and cramming in as much studying as possible. Weekends become time for study groups instead of partying when procrastination is no longer an option. Whether this is your last semester here, or you are just trying to make it to summer vacation, here are a few tips and tricks on getting through those last few weeks. Do not overload on caffeine. As much as places like Starbucks and Coffee Culture love college students this time of year, drinking too much caffeine is not always the solu-
tion. It may help you wake up in the morning or afternoon, but the effects do not last. Before you know it, you are reaching for your sixth cup or crashing, once the energy is gone. If you need help, get it. Finals week can be one of the hardest times of the year. In every class and lab, there is a project, paper, exam, practical or a combination of final assessments. It can become overwhelming and stressful. Maybe there is that one paper that you need edited or that one concept you do not understand. Do not be afraid to ask for help. Professors around campus are more than willing to lend a hand. Also, the writing center and tutoring are available up until the last few days of school. If all else fails, the Internet
has many sites to help you study. Waiting until Reading Day to study is not okay. A lot of people like to procrastinate until the last second before preparing for finals. This is not a tactic many would suggest. Most students have three to five classes that they have to study for, so waiting until the last day is not good. Waiting until the Monday before finals start, and spending 23 hours bouncing between subjects is a sure way to overwhelm yourself. In that short time, it is almost impossible to truly study everything you should and still get the grades you want. So, start now and save yourself the stress later. Staying up late every night to work is not a good idea. Everyone has a busy sched-
ule, between juggling classes, working, getting to the gym and finding time to eat. Twenty-four hours in a day just does not seem like enough time to get anything done. Most will resort to pulling all-nighters as much as they can, but that is not the best course of action. Your brain needs those few hours every night. It needs the time to slow down, rest and reboot for the next day. Getting just five or six hours each night will help you feel better and be more prepared for the day ahead. So make sure to get in some zzz’s. Getting through the end of the semester can seem impossible, but if you prepare the right way, it can be easier than you think. Good luck to everyone on the last few weeks.
LAKER MOMENT
Amber Matha
photo
Senior Class Gift Committee sponsored a Student vs. Faculty and Staff basketball game on Monday, April 18 at 6:30 p.m. The faculty fell to the students, 46-43, after leading most of the game.
Equestrian Club seeking new members for the fall By Melanie Todd Staff writer
Mercyhurst’s Equestrian Club took an off-campus adventure to trail ride in Riply , N.Y. The club’s members are mostly students who like being around horses, but the club is open to anyone interested in horses. “The club is for anybody’s who’s interested in equestrian activities,” Karima Elsayed, current vice president of the club and next year’s president said, “they don’t have to have previous experience. It’s a great way to get experience and be part of a smaller community of people.” Some members do have extensive experience with the animal. Many have grown up around horses, taken lessons and some even want to become veterinarians. “I have ridden horses for my entire life, and when I saw Mercyhurst had a club I thought it would be a great opportunity. I also wanted to continue riding even though I was away from home,” Nora Wagner, secretary of the club
Contributed photo
From left to right, Zarah Pratz, Rachel Dunmire, Nora Wagner, Sam Horodyski and Julia Martino.
and next year’s vice president said. Mostly, the club initially attracts members that have experience with horses by catching their eye at the club fair in the beginning of the year. Both Elsayed and Wagner have been involved with the club since their first year at Mercyhurst. “I have always loved horses. I live on a farm and have a horse. I wanted to get the chance to ride more and do activities that involve horses. I was very excited when I found out as a freshman that the
Contributed photo
Members of the Equestrian Club after completing their trial ride on Sunday, April 10.
club existed,” Elsayed said. However, this club does not require any past experience with horses. They encourage anyone to join as long as they have an interest in working with or learning about horses. “I would love for other people to share that same kind of experience even if they don’t have prior knowledge of riding or horses, even if they just have an interest. I would like for people to see how amazing of an experience it is to ride a horse,” said Elsayed. Many schools do not have an Equestrian Club for students simply interested in horses and recreational rides. However, there are many clubs and teams who compete. “What sets us apart is that we accept members with varying riding backgrounds. Some have been riding their whole lives while others haven’t ever rode a horse until now. We also get to travel off campus for trail riding. Just being an equestrian club sets us apart because most schools don’t have one,” Wagner said. The club tries to get members out and riding on trails
as much as possible, but they hold a number of different activities for members with different levels of interest. “We do movie nights, haunted hay rides and of course trail rides. We also encourage our members to volunteer at TREC whenever possible. We try to do something every one to two months depending on weather,” Wagner said. The club works with a local organization the Therapeutic Riding Equestrian Center (TREC). “TREC is basically a local organization that provides riding therapy for children with special needs or mental illnesses. So basically the volunteer would lead the horse around while the child rides the horse. We can also groom the horses and spend time with them. We also help get them ready for the child to ride,” Elsayed said.
@TheMerciad
Using science to breed small undomesticed cats By Samantha Michalski Contributing writer
Artificial insemination sweeps the college. On Friday, April 15, William Swanson, director of artificial insemination at the Cincinnati Zoo and Conservation and Research of Endangered
Wildlife (CREW), gave a seminar on artificial insemination as part of the Christina Difonzo Biology Seminar Series. CREW is an organization that specializes in conserving the lives of endangered animals all over the planet. Their current projects include polar bears, rhinoceroses, excep-
Cheyanne Crum photo
William (Bill) Swanson, Ph.D. in front of a picture of Pallas cats, one of the breeds he has dedicated his life to saving.
tional plants and felids, or cats. They are working toward projects on freshwater otters and amphibians. Swanson works primarily with small, non-domesticated cats. There are 37 non-domestic cat types in the world. Most of them are threatened with extinction in the wild and are in critical need of improvement. Eighteen of those species, large and small, are maintained in North American zoos. “I work with small cats because no one else does and [everyone] focuses on large cats for conservation,” Swanson said. The small cats need conserved too. He works primarily with five species of small cats: Pallas cats, sand cats, ocelots, fishing cats and black-footed cats. “Most zoos cannot maintain their populations by natural breeding alone. Many species need the help of science to improve their populations,” Swanson said. Natural breeding can have many negative sides such as the animals may not get along or tolerate each other. Once, Swanson and his team put two cats together
for natural breeding and the female had her arm mutilated by the male to the point where it needed amputation. “She was still able to breed,” said Swanson. “But we did not want to risk putting her back with the male.” This female was successfully inseminated and gave birth to a kitten. To optimize captive breeding programs and to monitor hormones and cycles CREW uses gamete biology, cryobiology, endocrinology and ultrasonography. Swanson also gave characterizations of basic reproductive biology of these small felids. One project that Swanson discussed was the Pallas cats in the Cincinnati Zoo. Pallas cats only produce the hormones used to reproduce about three months out of the year, in the winter months. It was discovered that the Cincinnati Festival of Lights held every year was actually causing the Pallas cats to have an even shorter reproductive cycle. Swanson spent some time trying to fix this, before deciding to move the cats outside, which allowed the animals to cycle normally.
The kittens being bred outside unfortunately did not survive, as they were infected with Toxoplasmosis. The zoo staff developed a plan to bring the kittens inside shortly after birth and raise them until they were strong enough to survive themselves. This plan also worked extremely well. Swanson showed pictures of many of the kittens that have now been successfully bred using this method. CREW works with many different projects to determine ways to artificially inseminate felids. All of their experiments are conducted on domestic cats before they are tried on the exotic ones. Some of the issues that artificial insemination helps to suppress include: addressing behavioral or physical incompatibilities between the pair, connecting regional populations by transporting frozen semen and embryos, preserving genetic diversity and linking wild populations with zoo populations without having to bring more cats into captivity. The second part of Swanson’s seminar was about the sterilization of feral, free-roaming cats in the com-
munity. There are about 80 million free roaming cats in the United States. The goal of this project is to non-surgically sterilize these animals. Some of the projects that are being worked on to help this are Gonacon, an injectable vaccine that makes antibodies to stop the production of gametes, which is already being used on the white tailed deer population in some areas. Its affects are not permanent yet. The other method is gene therapy, this will also create antibodies but it would be injected directly into muscle cells. It would then use adenovirus to stop production. The latter of the two cannot replicate on its own and it will not integrate into the genome. This seems like a very odd job, but Swanson’s reasoning for choosing this career path is great. “I do it because I am a conservationist. I wanted to find any way I could to help preserve the cat population, I am passionate about keeping these species alive,” Swanson said.
Page 4
Features
April 20, 2016
The Merciad
Carpe Diem 6 retreat
Erie takes back the night By Cheyanne Crum Features editor
Contributed photo
Forty-three students of the Meryhurst community and 10 leaders attended the trip in Villa Maria.
The Carpe Diem 6 retreat took place this past weekend at Villa Maria Education and Spirituality Center in Villa Maria, Pa. Participants enjoyed a variety of activities and took advantage of the beautiful weather. Contributed photo
The 10 leaders that facilitated the retreat this past weekend.
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The annual community rally against rape and sexual assault, Take Back the Night, was Monday, April 18, at 7 p.m. The event began in Perry Square and went around the square until it ended on Gannon University’s campus. Mercyhurst, Penn State Behrend and Gannon were the colleges in the area that participated along with community members. “It is similar to Relay for Life in that it is to raise awareness for sexual assault,” Alex Dorado said. There are different stations where members of the community learn about the myths and truths of sexual assualt, according to Dorado. “You have your victims, your bystanders, you have your supporters and then you have the survivor,” Dorado said. The goal was to stand up for the dignity of all people and promise to make our community a safe place.
Contributed photo
Contributed photo
Ready, set, relay By Caitlyn Lear
Contributing writer
It is that time of year again for the Relay for Life event on campus. This year’s theme is, you guessed it, movies. Students around campus, and members of the Erie community, are coming together in teams to compete with one another and to help raise money for cancer awareness. The Mercyhurst walk will be held on Saturday, April 30, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. It is a day filled with games, food and entertainment. “There are 26 teams signed up right now,” Danielle Dros said. Each team had picked a movie that they will represent at the event. They have designed special games, crafts, or entertainment for visitors to take part in, all while rais-
ing money that will go to the American Cancer Society. “Examples of some of the movies teams chose include; “Inside Out,” “Monsters University,” “Mulan” and “Finding Nemo,” Dros said. This year, the Mercyhurst Relay committee set a goal and hopes to raise over $20,000. The first Relay walk took place in 1985, when Gordon Klatt, M.D., walked for 24 hours and raised over $27,000. The event has only grown since then. Nearly $5 billion has been raised nationwide. So far, this year the Mercyhurst Relay for Life has earned $5,000 as of now, still over a week before the event. According to the American Cancer society, it is estimated that there will be 1,685,210 new cases of cancer and 595,690 deaths from cancer in the United States this year.
The first lap is always dedicated to survivors present at the walk. Another special part of any Relay event is the Luminaria Ceremony. Throughout the day, people will personalize bags for survivors, current battlers, and those who have lost the fight to cancer. Sometime after dark, the bags are placed around the path and each is lit with a small candle. If you want be on a team or make your own, there is still time. Just go online to the Relay website, sign up, pay the $10 registration fee, either online or later, and start raising money. Even if you are not on a team, you can donate and have fun, too. So bring your friends down to Garvey Park for a day filled with movies and more.
Casey Bleuel photo
Volunteers from neighboring schools can volunteer at the six different ESO dances throughout the year.
April 20, 2016
The Merciad
Page 5
Arts &
Entertainment
’Tis the season for student recitals By Jenny Sabliov
Arts and Entertainment Editor
Michelle Elleman-Cali, senior Voice major, is having two performances of her senior recital. The first is her dress rehearsal which will be informal. It takes place on Saturday, May 7, at 5 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall. She realized that many Voice majors may not be able to make the actual recital because of the choir concert dress rehearsal. Because of this, she decided to make the dress rehearsal another showing. The “official” recital will take place on Saturday, May 14, at 1 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall. There will be a reception with free food following the recital in the lobby of Walker. The May 14 performance will be her last performance at Mercyhurst before she graduates. The songs that she has chosen to sing will be in French, English, Italian and
German. Elleman-Cali had chosen too many songs for her recital, so the set list is not finalized. It would have gone over the set 30-minute to 45-minute time that is allowed for the recitals. The recital will consist of standard repertoire with few arias because she is a Mezzo-Soprano singer, a type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range lies between the soprano and the contralto voice types. Richard Danielpour is the most recent composer that Elleman-Cali has chosen for the recital. She will sing “Margaret’s Lullaby” from the dark and sad opera “Margaret Garner.” The opera is based on a true story. One of the first songs that she learned through her first voice teacher was written by French composer Gabriel Faure. It is called “After A Dream.” “I have a couple of Schumann actually because I love Schumann and Schumann loves me, apparently, because
Jenny Sabliov
Michelle Elleman-Cali, senior music major, is one of the students who has an upcoming recital.
he writes everything for Mezzos,” Elleman-Cali said. “‘Widmung’ is another old
one that I have performed, actually, about five years ago. It means dedication or devo-
tion and it is about talking to a loved one.” She plans to also sing “Prayer for Peace,” a French song by Francis Poulenc. It is a prayer written to Mary praying for peace for France to not get involved with World War II. It also became very popular after the bombing in Paris. There are a variety of songs that she is still deciding whether or not to perform. “This is music that I have learned and worked on over the years,” Elleman-Cali said There is no underlying theme for the recital. It is a culmination of songs that she has related to throughout her life and music career thus far. Joyce Kriner is the accompanist for the recital. Elleman-Cali is looking forward to graduation. She did half of her music education at Jamestown Community College and the other half at Mercyhurst University. Eventually, she wants to get back into music therapy when she has more time to complete the degree.
She began studying music therapy, but switched to majoring in Voice. Elleman-Cali is not the only music major that has an upcoming recital. Jared Hancock, senior voice performance major, is having one on Sunday, May 1, at 7 p.m. Sabrina Sosa, senior music major, has a recital on Saturday, May 7, at 1 p.m. Kevin Timko, junior music therapy major, is having a recital on Sunday, May 8, at 5 p.m. Timko’s recital is followed by Isaiah E. Howard, junior performance major, at 8 p.m. Like Elleman-Cali, Christina Cacchione, junior performance major, is also having a recital on Saturday, May 14, at 7 p.m. On Sunday, May 15, Jamie Zdunski has a recital at 1 p.m. The final recital is Elizabeth Klucher, senior performance major, which is on Thursday, May 19, at 7 p.m. They are all taking place in the Walker Recital Hall. @TheMerciad
A first look at the Lumen By Rachel Sobina Staff writer
Contributed photo
The senior Interior Design majors who are displaying their final projects in the exhibition.
Interior design is on display By Rachel Sobina Staff writer
The Interior Architect and Design Senior project is an exhibition of the final projects that wraps up all the educational and specialized skills students have learned in their four years at Mercyhurst University. “Each student spends 30 weeks dedicated to this project, researching and developing his or her own personal thesis. “Although we all help each other with critiquing, design ideas, and personal thoughts, each project is the student’s individual work,” Roxanne Oglesby said. This has been an annual event since 1986, even though displaying the work is a bit newer. The showcase has only been around since 1997. There are a total of 12 seniors this year, which is a large number. “With the help of our new professor Keyman Asefi and the head of the department, Kathy Weidenboerner, this year’s show will be a lot differ-
ent and more unique than the past years” Oglesby said. Oglesby also explained some of the finer details about how the projects were completed. “We have been utilizing five different computer programs to make our projects come to life. We display our 30 weeks of research, schematics, floor plans, sections and renderings on six boards 39 by 29 inches each. Late nights for months are almost an expectation of us in order to finish our projects in time.” The seniors have spent an incredible amount of time working for this show, the ending of it is a celebration of their accomplishments and the wrap-up of their education. Family, friends, professors and employers are all invited to the exhibition. The seniors spend the first semester researching issues surrounding a specific population of people, locations, construction and then create a design thesis on how to solve these issues. The second semester is
researching buildings and floor plans, and then taking an empty building shell and turning it into a well-thought out and research-planned design. They end the semester by presenting to local architects and designers. They receive feedback on their floor plan designs and discuss how they are solving their design issues. The last semester is dedicated to making changes to their floor plan. From there, they create the actual building. They build every wall, floor, door, window, architecture detail and furniture in SketchUp and bring it into a rendering program called Lumion. The renderings are the images that will be on display at the show and will depict the full designs. “We end by creating their presentation boards in Photoshop and send them to the printers in time for the show,” Oglesby said. Please come and show your support for some of our Mercyhurst Students. The work will be displayed in the Cummings Art Gallery until Sunday, May 22.
Upcoming events
There will be a faculty recital featuring Hilary Philipp, oboe, Rebecca Wunch, clarinet, and Nathan Hess, D.M.A, on piano, on Thursday, May 5, at 8 p.m. in Walker Recital Hall. The Mercyhurst University Jazz Ensemble, conducted by Scott Meier, Ph.D, will have a performance in Taylor Little Theatre on Saturday, May 7, at 8 p.m. General Admission tickets are $5 and Mercyhurst students and faculty tickets are $2.
The Lumen is a printed magazine with different forms of literary work by students, including fiction, poetry, visual artwork, clips of dance performances and original composition pieces. It is a huge interdisciplinary work among the students. Jeff Roessner, Ph.D., explained that it is a “representation of great students across the arts.” Roessner discussed how one gets submitted into the magazine and explained that the submission must be completed in the fall. Before the submission, there are a few creative writing workshops where students are critiqued by peers and given feedback on how to improve their submissions. The magazine is entirely
edited by students. The Lumen is a collaborative piece, so the English students do the mechanical editing, the graphic design students do the visual layout and imaginative work that goes into the layout. “In the past, the Lumen has been in 3D and even included a pair of 3D glasses,” Roessner said about the design of the magazine every year. “Each year, the magazine itself is a unique work of art,” Roessner said. Roessner talked about all of the different people who were involved with the magazine as well. Kenneth Schiff, Ph.D., retired recently but he previously oversaw the production of the Lumen. They worked closely with Jodi Staniunas-Hopper, M.F.A, who used to work in the Graphic Design Department but now is the chair of
the Art Department. For many years, Marnie Sullivan, Ph.D., in the English department took over the production of the Lumen. This year, Jaclyn Watterson, Ph.D., worked very hard to make the Lumen available online. The editors-in-chief this year are Caroline Magoc and Hailey Carone. The designers are Jordan Cargill, Christina Chazzara and Angela Zanaglio. Every year, three awards are offered for the best creative writing, and one for the best piece of critical writing. The awards are generously endowed by the family of long-time English Department Faculty P. Barry McAndrew. This event takes place on Thursday, April 28, at 8 p.m. in the Taylor Little Theatre.
Jordan Cargill, Christina Chazzara and Angela Zanaglio
The very first look at the cover for the Lumen Magazine before its unveiling on Thursday, April, 28.
Don’t miss the three B’s By Mackenzie Burns Staff writer
On Saturday, April 30, The Erie Philharmonic will be joined by soloists from the Pittsburgh Opera and Mercyhurst University’s very own Concert Choir in the finale of the Philharmonic’s season at The Warner Theatre. The “Glory of Beethoven” will contain pieces from the “Three B’s” as the company calls it, apologizing to Bach. The event will begin at 8 p.m., and will be preceded by a pre-concert talk with Brian Hannah starting at 7:15 p.m. The concert will open with
“Brahm’s Tragic Overture”. The dramatic piece builds the anticipation right off the bat. Brahm fuses seriousness with strong emotion into one whimsical piece that is both intense and exciting. Hector Berlioz’s “La Morte de Cleopatra” takes this musical journey a step further in his dramatic rendition of the anguish and death of Queen Cleopatra. Berlioz’s piece is written for the orchestra and contains a soprano solo to commemorate the demise of Cleopatra. Beethoven’s “Mass in C” concludes the performance with a piece of musical joy. The Mercyhurst Con-
cert Choir, under conductor Daniel Meyer, will combine with both the orchestra and soloists to present the exciting piece. Some relate with critic E. T. A. Hoffmann and enjoy Beethoven’s “expression of a childlike serene mind.” Other critics find an interest in the seriousness and candidness of the piece. Do not miss your chance to attend the performance and decide for yourself. For tickets and information, contact the Warner Theatre box office.
Page 6
April 20, 2016
The Merciad
Opinion
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Relay Life Church. successful Merciad or for the Catholic Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be emailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Teaching Excellence Award: All professors should be recognized By MacKenzie Burns Staff writer
With all of the requests for nominations for the Teaching Excellence Award, we all have been thinking about our favorite professors. The award is meant to go to a professor who is engaging, challenging and who goes above and beyond. Many students chose their favorite professor to nominate. Personally, I have yet to meet a professor at Mercyhurst who does not qualify for the award. I know I have only been taught by a handful of professors here, but I would definitely have a hard time choosing just one to call the best. The first Mercyhurst professor I met was Brian Reed, Ph.D. He taught my 8 a.m. English class where we all shared good laughs and sang show tunes every now and then. I love that Reed is con-
stantly using the phrase “I don’t know.” College is intimidating for most freshmen. It takes a lot of schooling and work to become a college professor, but it is nice for him to prove that professors do not always have all of the answers. I also love how I could drop into his office for no reason and have an hour long conversation about anything. Dennis Donovan, a retired state police sergeant, taught my first true major class, which put a heavy burden on his shoulders. If I did not enjoy that class, I likely would not have stayed in my major. Donovan tells it how it really is. He does not sugarcoat anything or make forensics seem “glamorous” like modern television. For that, he has gained my respect. I can honestly say Introduction to Forensic Science has been one of my favorite classes to date because I had a wonderful experience with a wonderful professor.
Heather Garvin, Ph.D., commented on the Teaching Excellence Award, saying it usually goes to the humanities professors over the science professors. This is true, but in no way means science teachers are not worthy of recieving the award. Garvin is a wonderful teacher. She is very thorough and has a strong desire for her students to genuinely enjoy the material. Garvin teaches Physical Anthropology, which can be controversial when it comes to certain religions. She does an excellent job of being mindful of this fact, which is by no means an easy task. My chemistry professor, Ronald Brown, Ph.D., is another great example of anexcellent science teacher. The material in his courses seemed to come naturally to me, and I know for sure that a good portion of that was due to his teaching style. I am not saying the humanities professors are any less
deserving than science professors. If I had not made the decision to take American Government with Joseph Morris, Ph.D., I would not have realized what I wanted to do with my life. I had no idea when I was registering for classes how influential a 100-level core class would be on the rest of my college career. Because of this class, I decided to declare a double major. Of course, I have had some professors that I like more than others. All of my classes have had an impact on my life in one way or another. I would rather look back on my years at Mercyhurst and remember having a series of excellent teachers, instead of only the “best” professor.
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AIM, Merciad have positive impact By Mathew
Jury Staff writer
I have been writing for The Merciad for about a year, and I have noticed that I have ruffled some feathers with several of my opinion pieces. I will not apologize for the content as I enjoy writing bluntly about how I see things. However, I will, at most, offer a “trigger warning” for anything I write in the future. Seeing as this is a college environment, we must be able to cope in a world where not everyone conforms to our standards and be able to participate in healthy debate. College is a time for developing your own beliefs and thoughts. I should probably explain why I may seem insensitive. It is no secret that people with autism tend to be blunt. I was diagnosed with Asperger’s as a child and went through rigorous social training. People, like me, are very honest. For example, if someone asks if their pants make them look large, a person on the autism spectrum who did not go through social training will not hesitate to say “yes” if
that is the case. I graduated first in my high school class before coming to Mercyhurst, with mostly accelerated courses. Despite having Asperbger’s, I made several friends. However, I had to hold my tongue or apologize profusely when I failed to do so in order to keep my social life. I came to Mercyhurst for several specific reasons, one of them being the Autism Initiative at Mercyhurst, a program headed by Bradley McGarry which helps students like me survive college. With our new Career Path program, the AIM staff is now focusing on honing our skills for the workforce or graduate school. Although I never thought I would need the AIM program, it has worked to my benefit. I found several people like me to befriend without fear of judgement, and I have managed to maintain a 3.9 grade point average while maintining my sanity because of this program. The AIM program has also been helpful for me to manage my stress and anxiety. My junior year was especially stressful since I moved on to my upper level courses. Both semesters consisted of four courses and three labs.
On top of this crazy course work, my J-term class was especially rigorous. In the fall, when I was not memorizing everything in the anatomy lab, I was either learning sousaphone with the athletic band, trying to understand kinematics or writing my CV. Right now, I am juggling between ridiculously long Criminalistics labs, applying for internships, interviews, physiology and studying for exam after exam. With my stressful workload and resulting anxiety, I have taken to writing for The Merciad. Like other Aspies, as we call ourselves, I have serious issues with confrontation. I have had several traumatic experiences in which I confronted others and ended up hurt even more. As a result, I had taken to just being the punching bag; not fighting back and letting it all build up to the point of meltdown. Not wanting to continue on this track, I decided I would use The Merciad to vent and bring awareness to important issues. I have taken inspiration from two famous Catholic journalists. The late foundress of EWTN, Mother Angelica, rose to fame with her rant
against the “liberal church in America” for heresy that was ruining the U.S. Church. I have also taken a liking to Michael Voris, the controversial founder of the apostolate ChurchMilitant.TV. He tells it as it is without holding back on the problems facing our church today because of the “Church of Nice.” I do not agree with him 100 percent, but I still try to channel my inner-Voris in my opinion writings. I am thankful The Merciad has put up with my opinions and I am glad students have the opportunity to express their First Amendment rights. The AIM program has been very helpful for me as a student and has allowed me to further emerge from my shell. Now, all I need to do is learn how to be more honest in spoken conversation. I look forward to another year at Mercyhurst with the AIM program and The Merciad. I hope for even greater self-improvement in my upcoming senior year.
Good The senior student basketball team defeated the faculty team in the Student-Faculty/Staff basketball game to benefit the Senior Class Gift on Monday, April 18. The winning shot was a 3-point buzzer-beater made by Preston McMean.
Amber Matha photo
Bad The flowering pear trees outside of The Audrey Hirt Academic Building are once again in bloom, blessing the campus with their unfortunate, disgusting odor.
Weird DogGonIt! The Run with Rico 5K was postponed for an undisclosed reason despite the beautiful, sunny weather on Saturday, April 16. The new event will be pawsitively awesome. A student opened up one of the strange DVD’s seen on campus telling students to open the files inside and pass it on. Inside were files on conspiracy theories. The student is now being followed by black helicopters.
The Merciad Editors Karah Hollis Catherine Rainey Rae Pollock Cheyanne Crum Diego Himede
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By Denise Kolivoski
Executive Director: NAMI
Letter written in reponse to the “Laker Lunatics: The Asylum” banner in the MIC.
Online
It has been brought to the attention of concerned families and individuals at The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Erie
County that this inappropriate sign is being used to promote student engagement at Mercyhurst University. With one in four each year facing challenges of mental health and wellness, that is 70,000 residents in Erie County that are not lunatics, but people trying to gain employment, return to school or have a good quality of life. I encourage you to take the
correct approach and write an article focusing on the real stories of people with mental illness. There is an Active Minds group on Mercyhurst’s campus that would be able to talk about the challenges and successes of people in recovery from mental illness. I would also be able to bring forward individuals that are living well with mental illness
Read more at
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to tell their story of recovery and resilience. Please respond to this mistake by taking corrective action to showcase to the student body there is education, support and hope for those facing the daily challenges of mental health and wellness with a positive article. @TheMerciad
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The Merciad is the official student-produced newspaper of Mercyhurst University. It is published throughout the school year, with the exception of finals weeks. Our office is in Hirt, Room 110. Our telephone number is (814) 824-2376. 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 to box PH 485 or via email at opinionmerciad@mercyhurst. edu.
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April 20, 2016
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The Merciad
Sports
Baseball finds their footing By Marco Cicchino Staff writer
Head Coach Joe Spano knew he had to make a move in order to keep his Laker baseball squad in contention to have a similar campaign from last season. A squad that won 40 games and advanced to the College World Series for the first time had won its first 15 contests, but by March 20, 2016, was plagued with three fewer losses than all of the previous campaigns. The Lakers were still holding opponents to only 3.5 runs per contest while scoring more than five, but these figures were still considerably lower than 2015. The Lakers immediately responded by breaking out the power and rattling off 12 straight wins between March 22 and April 8 The club’s current 18-1 stretch, since losing three of four to Seton Hill, sees them at 28-9 for the year and in sole possession of first place in the West at 16-4 in the PSAC competition. The Lakers’ magic number to clinch the West is down to 11 ahead of a critical homeand-home with the Cal University vulcans beginning on Friday, April 22. Seton Hill holds a tiebreaker with the Lakers after the Griffins took three of four from Spano’s squad over the weekend of
Contributed photo
The Lakers beat Pitt-Johnstown 8-2 on Saturday, April 16. This was an important victory for Mercyhurst’s momentum. They were 27-9 at that time. Players from left to right: Austin Alonge, Hank Morrison and Colin Mckee.
March 18. “We all started having a better approach at the plate because we knew we had to get runs across,” first baseman Hank Morrison said after taking a doubleheader from Pitt-Johnstown on Friday, April 15. “We were all seeing the ball very well, making sure we weren’t swinging at bad pitches.” The Laker’s current stretch sees the team hitting with the most consistent power they have produced all season, putting up 20 more runs in their
12-game streak than in their first 19. Individually, the Lakers have received production from virtually all its starters as evidence by its combined batting average and 246 runs batted in, fifth overall and second in the West. Leading the charge is Senior Morrison whose .402 average is 13th overall in the PSAC and seventh in the West. Morrison has started all 37 games this season, splitting time between first and right field. Although his Lakers are 15-1
when he is in the infield and 21-6 when batting cleanup. Despite hitting there and only sitting fifth on the Lakers in slugging percentage, his 49 hits lead the team, and his .479 on-base clip is second to fellow infielder Austin Alonge. “I was just trying to hit the strikes and get the pitches that I wanted and it worked out for me,” Morrison said. Meanwhile, Alonge is a consistent hitter in his own right; second on the team at .396, his 14 multi-hit games leading the team. He and sophomore
Daniel Elliott are also the only two Lakers to draw more than 20 walks this season. The pitching-rich Lakers have also been a factor into the team’s recent success, leading the PSAC with a 3.26 ERA and a .206 batting-average against while throwing eight shutouts. Leading the charge is redshirt junior Colin McKee, second in the PSAC in both ERA (1.41) and wins (one of four with seven). He is also one of five pitchers to throw five complete games.
“This season, I have been able to utilize all four pitches in most counts with confidence to keep batters off-balance,” McKee told NCAA. com on April 1. “For me, everything works off of my fastball, which I have been able to throw to both sides of the plate consistently. My slider was a new pitch for me last season and in the last year it has developed into my main out pitch.” Meanwhile, senior and Willoughby South product Cam Knott followed up McKee’s performance with six innings of his own in the second game of the doubleheader, allowing a home run and only four other hits. He sent down 10 batters on strikes en-route to an 11-1 victory, also his seventh. “As a whole, the entire pitching staff has great chemistry,” said McKee. “Having Cam in the rotation with me gives me great confidence entering a series that the team will be getting some quality innings from our starters.” The Lakers return to action Friday, April 22, as they prepare for a doubleheader with Cal U. as the first step to determining the West Division champion.
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Lacrosse keeps momentum going
Football’s day of service in Erie, Pa.
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By Haleigh Glebel
The 5th ranked Mercyhurst men’s lacrosse team handled Ohio Valley in a 19-4 defeat on Sunday, April 17, to improve their record to 10-2. “We are keeping the momentum going by doing what we’ve done all year and just trying to stay focused each week one game at a time,” junior James Crowe said. The Lakers scored the first eight goals and remained in the control for the rest of the game. After OVU scored their first goal, the Lakers answered with 10 straight goals. OVU then scored three, but the Lakers added one more to seal the deal. Only the Lakers scored in both the second and third period.
Sophomore Michael Convery led the Lakers with four goals and three assists. He also had five groundballs. Junior Keyan McQueen picked up three goals and sophomore Colin Greenway, senior Joe Gravino and freshman Dom Perna all added two goals each. Freshman Kurtis Woodland scored one goal and made two assists, while junior Derek Richards, senior Connor Enright, Crowe, freshman Myles Young and junior Brett Benzinger all chipped in one goal. Junior John Plaskey chipped in two assists and Crowe, Greenway, Young, juniors Alex Misterman and Kevin Vaughn and sophomore Ryan Vitale all added assists. Mercyhurst outshot OVU, 46-17, even though OVU held
a 14-13 advantage in face-offs. “We are focused on taking the rest of the season one game at a time and will carry that attitude over to the post season,” Crowe said. Following this game’s success, the lacrosse team rose to fourth place on the United States Intercollegiate Association/Nike poll. Woodland was named ECAC Rookie of the Week for the second week in a row for his performances from April 11 to 17. He totaled seven goals in the last games against Alderson Broaddus University and OVU. Woodland has 12 goals so far on the season. The Lakers next game is on Saturday, April 23, at 3 p.m on Tullio Field against Lake Erie College.
Men’s golf finishes 2nd at Spring Invitational
By Diego Himede Staff writer
The Mercyhurst men’s golf team hosted their Spring Invitational on Sunday, April 17 ,and Monday, April 18, where seven teams competed in a 72 par course at Lake View Country Club in North East, Pa. In the first day, Mercyhurst finished in first place with 299 (+11) with freshman Harison Laskey leading the team, finishing the first round 72 (E). Other top scorers for the Lakers were senior Blaze Hogan and junior Chris Kupwinewski tied at 3rd (74 + 2 each) and freshman Lester Lancaster at 7th (74 +2). Behind Mercyhurst, Rob-
erts Wesleyan College (302) finished 2nd, Penn State Behrend (306) finished 3rd, Gannon (308) finished 4th and Humber College (315) finished 5th. On day two, the 38 golfers took over the course one more time. However, the teams’ results were different. The Lakers were not able to keep their lead and finished 2nd (299, 304: 603) behind the Gannon Golden Knights (308, 294: 602). On the other hand, Roberts Wesleyan College dropped to third place (302, 307: 609), Humber College finished 4th (315, 307: 622) and Penn State Behrend, 5th place (306, 320: 626). On the individual front, Laskey kept his lead, taking
first place after beating Gannon’s Matt Barto. Laskey reached victory by making a par on the 18th hole. This is his first personal collegiate athlete title. Hogan (74, 75: 149+5), Michael Young Jr (79, 70:149) from Roberts Wesleyan College and Daegan Wall (78, 71:149, +5) tied for 3rd place . The men’s golf team is ranked 3rd in the Atlantic Region, which is more than enough to participate in the NCAA Division II Atlantic/ East Regional which will take place Monday, May 2, through Wednesday, May 4. Nonetheless, Mercyhurst was already qualified since they won the Pennsylvania Athlete Conference (PSAC) this past fall.
By James Karasek
Every year, incoming Mercyhurst students take part in a day of service to help others in the Erie community, which is in line with the vision of the university. Mercyhurst University seeks to be a leading higher educational institution that integrates excellence in the liberal arts, professional and careerpath programs, and service to regional and world communities. The Laker football team has embodied this vision and did their share of service days this semester. Players have volunteered their time with Erie’s youth, put on a football clinic for the Boys & Girls club, read to students at Lincoln Elementary for Read Across America, served as security for the NCAA Super Region wrestling tournament, and helped with the Special Olympics Bowl-a-thon. Hometown product and Mercyhurst Prep alum, redshirt sophomore Thomas Higgins III and teammates also volunteer at the Holy Rosary Church Christmas party every year. “I do that every year, too, because I grew up a block away and that’s the neighborhood I grew up in, so it’s a big deal to me,” said Higgins. “I always told myself that if I ever made it big I would come back and try and help Erie out. I don’t have a lot of money or status in the community, but this (football) gives me a platform to do something.” Not only is the community benefiting from the Lakers volunteering, but the team is gaining an opportunity to mesh with one another, a cru-
Mercyhurst Football photo
The team putting on a football clinic for the Boys & Girls Club of Erie.
cial element for success on the field. “Community service projects definitely give guys a chance to not only go hang out with who they’re helping, but a chance to hang out together and bond together,” said Higgins. “If anyone has doubts about community service, I would say give it a try because it’s an opportunity to experience something that you probably don’t experience every day.” Higgins’ roommate and fellow Iron Man award winner for the football team, junior running back Drew Robinson, has also been involved in the community as one of the players to read to Lincoln Elementary School students. Higgins and Robinson received the Iron Man award the past two seasons for their commitment to excellence and being the hardest working individuals on the team. “People are always watching in a way. Some people may call it self-centered, but in my mind I have people counting on me. I feel like I’m in a position where my team needs me, I’m representing for my family, the school. I feel like I have people counting on me and I don’t want to let them
down,” Robinson said. Having achieved such recognition, both players have regard for the importance of the football team in the community and what volunteering means to personal development and cohesion on the field. “It’s a humbling experience I think. I never thought growing up that I’d be someone that someone would want to look up to. We went and talked to the kids and read Dr. Seuss books wearing our jerseys and they looked at us like we were super heroes,” said Robinson “It takes a special type of person to take time out of their day to help other kids out who may be less fortunate or just need a person to talk to. We can relate on a personal level with certain kids and that brings everyone together. It lets you know that it’s not just about football; it’s about being a team, and being a family.”
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Page 8
April 20, 2016
The Merciad
Laker
Living Way back When...
The Merciad presents articles from yesteryear in their original form, including headlines. This week, our blast from the past is from Friday, April 22, 1983. Frances M. Moavero Merciad News Editor
a pick-up truck pulling the trailer loaded with three 8-man boats, one 4-man boat and four sets The Mercyhurst crew of oars. team encountered a Belovarac approached mishap last weekend a downgrade and was which resulted in an forced to brake. The estimated $27,000 loss in truck and the trailer equipment. function as separate Al Belovarac, head systems, Belovarac said, coach of the crew team, therefore the truck was was returning from a able to come to a slower crew race in Charlespace, but the trailer did ton, West Virginia on not respond. Interstate 79 when the This forced the truck brake of the trailer he to increase its speed. was pulling failed, and “With that steep of a caused it to jackknife, grade, the truck was like hit the median, destroy a run-away freight train,” the trailer and the crew he said. boats being transported. Belovarac cannot relate No one was injured in the incident distinctly. the accident. He said, “Who knows Belovarac was traveling what happened, it was north on the interstate in an act of God.”
He speculates that the trailer jackknifed and swayed into the median and then swerved to the right side of the road. Belovarac said he was traveling on the right side of the road and somehow avoided a car traveling in the left lane. At this time, Belovarac was losing control of the truck due to the weight and swaying movement of the trailer. Fortunately, the trailer detached itself from the truck which caused the pick-up to do two complete 360 degree turns before coming to a halt. Belovarac was accompanied by his father, Matthew Belovarac, on the trip. Belovarac presumed
the ordeal could have been more tragic if the trailer had not snapped away from the truck. Crew team members were not traveling with the boats, and did not witness the incident. All four boats, along with one set of oars, were severely damaged and are irreparable. “We will be able to recover most of the loss through insurance,” Belovarac commented. Three sets of oars were salvaged as well as some equipment secured in a storage box on the trailer. Along with the three sets of oars which were not damaged, the team also has two 8-man boats and one 4-man
boat to complete the season. These two boats, which were not taken to the race, are the remaining boats which stand in the Laker boathouse on Presque Isle Bay. “There is ample equipment to complete the season,” said Jack Beck coach of the women’s crew team. One of the boats is a 25 year-old shell while the other is a new boat which just arrived at the boathouse recently and has not been utilized prior to the accidents. Since the trailer, valued at $3,000, was damaged, the team has had to find other means of transporting their boats for the remaining season. Jack Garner, coach
of the Mercyhurst Prep crew team, will loan the college crew a cattle truck. The cattle truck was used for transporting the shells before a trailer was purchased, Jack Beck said. While the cattle truck will be used to transport the boats to the home meets at Findley Lake, a temporary trailer is being built by Belovarac’s father. This trailer will be utilized when the team travels to Marietta, Ohio in May. “Everybody has pulled together and made the best of the situation,” concluded Beck.
Grad goodbyes: Good grief By Margaret Urso Staff writer
Game Zone
It’s that time of year again; time to say goodbye. This year is different than last year, though. Last year, I was coming back, and I knew at the end of the summer I would see most of my friends again. This year, at the end of the summer, I will be staying in Chicago–hopefully working in the martketing department at an awesome company, while I do Second City in my free time. On May 22, I will put on my cap and gown and walk to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance.” But before that day comes, I will have to say goodbye to all of the amazing friends I have made here at Mercyhurst. I managed to make a lot of good friends within these past two years. They are honestly some of the best friends that I have ever had. When I first started at Meryhurst, I never thought I was going to make that many friends, especially good friends. I was shy and did not want to put myself out there. Luckily, I had a roommate who had an awesome group of friends that welcomed me with open arms. I eventually started making friends in my major as well. The only problem was, I was going through a really rough time last year, and I managed to alienate some of the most important people in my life. Unfortunately, those friendships did not survive my first year at Mercyhurst. However, I managed to find a group a people who not only gave me the support I needed to get through the year, but who really made me feel like Mercyhurst was where I was meant to be. They helped me to grow more confident and get more involved in extracurricular activites such as The Merciad and Laker TV. This year, I have made even
more good friends. I never thought I would have so many amazing people surrounding me, but I honestly could not be happier. This is what leads to my current issue, though. Saying goodbye has never been easy for me. Even at family parties, I would just give a general “peace out” and leave, because I did not want to have to deal with the goodbyes. As I sit here right now, I realize there is no way I can just “peace out” of Mercyhurst. I have already had people telling me how much they are going to miss me next year, and it reminds me that the day where I will have to say it back is getting closer and closer. I will never be able to repay any of my friends for what they have done and how much they have helped me here. We have already made plans to see each other over the summer, and I know I am going to come back and visit next year. But, we all know it is not going to be the same. I mean, lets be real; it was determined in my philosphy class that my best friend and I do not exist independently from each other. Technically, this is not true, but I think the point I am trying to make is obvious. I have grown so close to what I now consider my second family, and the thought of saying goodbye makes me really sad. I know these goodbyes are going to lead to great things as we all move on in our lives. I also know that this is not the end of all our friendships. Thanks to technology, we are all just a phone call, text message or even just a tweet away from each other. The friendships I have made here mean the world to me, and that will most likely never change.
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