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The MERCIAD
Read more inside & online
Mercyhurst university
Est. 1929 Vol. 89 No. 20
Wednesday, april 27, 2016
Graduation goes traditional
Contributed photo
Mercyhurst students at last year’s graduation. This year’s graduation will be a combination of undergraduate and graduate students and will be on May 22.
By Melanie Todd Staff writer
This year’s graduation will include undergraduate and graduate students, a total of 698 candidates, in the same ceremony. While many are apprehensive of this combination, this idea is not new for Mercyhurst. Traditionally, graduation has been held as one ceremony. “[The graduations] were separated because the classes were getting too large to be held in the Warner Theatre. Then, we had adult graduation with the adult students and graduate students. Then,
the adult students wanted to be with the traditional students so they moved over and it was just a graduate ceremony,” Sister Patricia Whalen, registrar said. Graduation is now held at the Erie Insurance Arena, where there is plenty of room for all graduation candidates and their families and friends. “You just get into the habit of doing what you’ve been doing,” said Whalen. “With the new president and fresh eyes, he decided we should recombine them. It’s my understanding that President Victor is quite interested in maintaining tradition and restoring it.” Many are concerned about the length of the combined
ceremony. “I’m not sure how long it will be, at least two to two and a half hours. We’ve planned very carefully. We try to move it along in a respectful way,” Whalen said. This year will also feature Thomas Hagen, Chairman of the Board of Erie Insurance Group, as commencement speaker. During the ceremony, Mercyhurst will give Hagen the honorary Doctor of Laws degree for his community contributions. “The honorary degree recognizes Hagen’s lifelong commitment to community leadership and his unwavering dedication to public service to the greater
Erie community and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” Debbie Morton, director of public relations and media relations manager said. Mercyhurst graduations have not featured a commencement speaker outside of the university in many years. “Hagen is the Chairman of the Board of Erie Insurance Group, where he began as a part-time file clerk in 1953. He retired 40 years later as chairman and chief executive officer of the only Fortune 500 company headquartered in Erie, which just this past year celebrated its 90-year anniversary,” Morton said. During the ceremony, the
dean of the candidate’s respective college will read the candidate’s name and announce his or her major. Diplomas will not be given out at the ceremony because grades are not finalized until after the commencement ceremony. “Each of our graduates walks across the stage, shakes hands with the president and the board president. They get their picture taken with the president and with their diploma cover,” said Whalen. While there are many names to be read at graduation, with 615 of the 698 candidates participating in the ceremony, it is a special moment for everyone to be recognized for their
accomplishment. “It really is a lovely day, and I’ve enjoyed working with it. There is excitement in the air. People are just waiting for their son or daughter to walk across the stage,” said Whalen. “It’s also a day of remembrance and gratitude, I think, of getting an education and attending a university. It’s a day worth celebrating. The friendships that have been formed and the wonderful memories throughout the time with studies.” Students will be recognized for their achievements on graduation day, Sunday, May 22. @TheMerciad
Mercyhurst Police and Safety Chief Kuhn to retire By Melanie Todd Staff writer
Chief Robert Kuhn will be ending his 44-year law enforcement career at the end of May. Kuhn has been with Mercyhurst Police and Safety since 2010. “I grew up in Erie. I graduated from Gannon, with four years in ROTC. I was commissioned as a second lieutenant. It was right at the end of the Vietnam War. I volunteered to go but they were going through a RIF, reduction in force, so I was laid off so to speak. I wanted to make a career out of it but it wasn’t going to work out, so I traded uniforms,” Kuhn said. Kuhn worked for the Erie City Police for 32 years then as a detective for the District Attorney’s office for six years before coming to Mercyhurst. “I knew working [at Mercyhurst] was going to be
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my last job in law enforcement,” Kuhn said. Kuhn came into the position of Chief of Mercyhurst Police and Safety experienced and ready to help the university. “The guy who was chief, I worked for him when I was at the city [police department]. He called me up and said he was retiring. When I retired from the city, I was 32 years in and retired as Assistant Chief. I was used to being in charge,” Kuhn said. Kuhn described the difference between working in a city and working at a university police department. “[When working for the city,] you feel good when you clear a case and help the victims of a crime. Here, you’re trying to protect the kids, keep them out of trouble and keep them from outside influences,” Kuhn said. Compared to his previous positions, working at
Mercyhurst has been a calmer work environment for Kuhn. Kuhn recounted one of his most memorable cases from his time as a detective. “My last case with the detectives before I got my first admin job, I got a case where a girl was raped and murdered. It took us 12 years to get a conviction but we did right before I retired. She had had a 10-month-old baby and that kid was 12 when we got the conviction and he was there, too,” Kuhn said. Kuhn reminisced in another interesting case where he was involved in a surveillance detail. He was looking for a serial rapist who was attacking women in the area of Saint Vincent Hospital. The perpetrator selected specific women who were all about the same height and weight, in their mid-20s and had brown hair. “Chuck [Kuhn’s partner] and I decided to follow him once we caught onto him as a
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suspect. We had nothing to go on but a hunch. We used my Cadillac. When he walked out we thought ‘not tonight, he’s got the baby,’ but we followed him anyway. We thought he caught onto us so we pulled away,” said Kuhn. “Then, the radio call came in and he had attacked two women within minutes. We called in the license plate and we got him and everything we needed to crack the case.” The most fun Kuhn had, however, was as a motorcycle officer with Erie City police. The mayor personally selected each officer, and they served as the protection detail for the mayor and other distinguished individuals. “We called ourselves the ‘Chosen Frozen.’ Many are called, but few are frozen,” Kuhn said. In retirement, Kuhn plans to enjoy time with his wife in Yadkin Valley, NC exploring the vineyards.
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Chief Kuhn is retiring from Mercyhurst Police and Safety after six years of service.