April 20 Edition of The Merciad

Page 1

: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

The MERCIAD

Read more inside & online

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

News Features A&E Opinion Sports Laker Living

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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


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