On the morning of Friday, Sept. 20, the campus awoke to shocking and tragic news — Christopher Swanson, 41, an ex-high school teacher from Clearfield County, had taken his life with a rifle in feet away from the statue of Mary in front of Old Main. Along with the shock of his death came many rumors at Mercyhurst, some of them apparently supported by Swanson’s own postings on the Internet prior to his death. Others were simply wrong. Swanson, a former high school physics teacher for the Smethport Area School District, reportedly had a previous relationship with a student now attending Mercyhurst. The student expressed to Swanson that she didn’t reciprocate his feelings. Swanson divulged that he intended to take
his own life throughout the past year. His stress became evident even in a Facebook post from 2011. “She’s going to Mercyhurst, I’m going to be left alone… She would never love me anyways. I’m 22 years older than she is.” Originally from Clearfield County, which is about two hours southeast of Erie, Swanson drove from his home late Thursday night or early Friday morning to Mercyhurst with clear intentions to end his own life. Several news media, including the Bradford Era, The Erie Times-News and the Huffington Post, have reported that he sent multiple text messages to loved ones and posted Facebook status updates in the days and hours preceding the event.
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NEWS
September 25, 2013
NEWS
September 25, 2013
Page 3
Café Diem opens its doors to students By Emani Burton Contributing writer
Mercyhurst students will be happy to know that they now have another eatery to enjoy on campus. Once again, the Café Diem, located in the first floor lobby of the Center for Academic Excellence (CAE), opened its shutters on Monday, Sept. 23, to those looking for an affordable treat. Run by the Hospitality Management program, the Café will be open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will soon have evening hours. Café Diem sells a variety of drinks including sodas, coffees, hot chocolates and teas. It will also serve sandwiches, wraps and salads. Typical snacks like nuts and candies are also being sold. The Café Diem is unique in a few
ways. It is run almost entirely by hospitality management students. Working for the Café gives students experience in management and provides a great reference for resumes. Students on work study can also fulfill that requirement by working at the Café Diem. The Café is also unique in its payment methods. Customers of the Café Diem must pay cash for their meals, however, management officials are sure that prices will be affordable for cash strapped college students and other customers. The menu, whose details remained under wraps until the Café’s grand opening, is open to suggestions. Patrons are encouraged to submit requests and most importantly to stop by and check out its selection. For more information, as well as employment inquiries for qualifying students, contact Serdjan Popovic at spopov37@lakers.mercyhurst.edu.
Taylor Rollins photo
Sam Strathern gets an order from hospitality student Bobby Spoden at Café Diem, which opened its doors to students this past week at the first floor lobby of the Center for Academic Excellence.
Local initiative spreads worldwide By Will Bickelmann Contributing writer
A random act of kindness by the parents of deceased Alyssa J. O’Neill, a freshman at an Erie college, became the spark for a multinational movement to “Pay it Forward.” The Pay it Forward campaign began with Alyssa’s parents paying for the next ten customers’ pumpkin spice lattes at a local Starbucks, asking the recipients to pay it forward, and has now spread to many countries all over the world. The campaign now stands as a movement to spread awareness of epilepsy, which was the cause of Alyssa’s death, and to inspire random of acts of kindness. “You can never really receive anything until you give. Alyssa understood that. We want to spread her message to the world,” said Alyssa’s father, Jason O’Neill. Alyssa’s parents went into a Starbucks coffee shop at Millcreek Mall and bought 10 pumpkin spice lattes for the next 10 customers who ordered one, honoring the last text message from Alyssa her parents had received, asking for one. The only condition was that #AJO, Alyssa’s initials, be written on the cups, and that the recipients try to pay it forward for someone else.
Mercyhurst University Police & Safety
Police Log
Friday, Sept. 13 Theft RICOH Mailroom Referred for discipline Friday, Sept. 20 Theft Cafeteria Referred for discipline
Mike Murphy photo
A sign at a local Starbucks coffee shop serves to inform people about the movement, which spread virally through social media. After a word with the manager, the number was increased to 40 drinks, which Starbucks then matched. Alyssa, age 18, was a freshman at Penn State Behrend, where she was beginning her studies in nursing. The AJO Forever in Our Hearts Facebook page was made soon afterwards and received 6,500 likes within two days. Cups with #AJO written on
them can now be found all over the U.S. and in many countries abroad. Recently, Mr. O’Neil announced that he and his wife were asked by Ellen DeGeneres to be on her show. The movement evolved from espresso drinks into pizzas, gift cards left on the window shields of cars, cookies, bracelets and anything else that can be given as a gift as part of the #AJO movement.
Sunday, Sept. 22 Vandalism 3800 Block Lewis Ave. Referred for discipline Sunday, Sept. 22 Theft 3829 Briggs Ave. Referred for discipline
NEWS
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Res Life implements new policies By Mary Barnes
Contributing writer As students begin to fall back into a typical routine, slowly adjusting to the new guidelines of this semester’s professors and policies, Residence Life is also adjusting to a few new policies. These new additions to the student handbook will affect all students. According to page 71 of this year’s handbook, students can officially be charged with the odor of marijuana in their apartments. Alice Agnew, director of Student Life, said this change came about because it was necessary. “If the room smells that distinctly of the drug, you know it was recently in their possession. A student could have used or disposed of the drug immediately before opening the door.” If the scent is strong enough to be confirmed, the office of Student Life will take the necessary actions from
there. The first offense of unlawful possession, use, or odor of marijuana or other controlled substance includes a $250 fine, 50 hours of community service, probation, a parental notification, to name a few possible punishments. This major change may lead students to ask what other violations they could be making. As a campus with a dry freshman area, Mercyhurst does not permit any type of drug or alcohol paraphernalia, including but not limited to hookahs, pipes, bowls, shot and wine glasses. In upperclassman housing, however, if a single roommate is of legal age, alcohol accessories are permitted. Another common misconception about Student Life policies is that they are not as equal to our national regulations. Because Mercyhurst is a private school, the policies that it instills are not regulated at the same level as state schools. All residence life and student
conduct employees have the right to enter a dorm or apartment and to search all possessions in said apartment. As far as alcoholic consumption goes, students have the right to refuse questioning or alcohol strip tests, but that may not be the best idea. Agnew commented that “they have the right to refuse a strip test, but we assume that the student has been drinking at that point, in which case we take the necessary actions as if they had been under the influence.” According to the handbook, if a student denies drinking and then fails a strip test, they will also be charged for providing false information to authorities. The student handbook is available online through the portal and should be read by every student. Clearly the policies have changed on campus and students need to be careful about their weekend actions.
September 25, 2013
LAKER MOMENT
Tragedy on campus Continued from Page 1 According to the Bradford Era, a Facebook posting from Swanson said: “I’m going to kill myself,” the posts read. “Because I’m trapped in a hideous, vile, despicable world, a world maliciously engineered to obstruct the fulfillment of one dream, my only dream, sharing my life with” the student. One of Swanson’s last posts -dated Friday -- is the most chilling: “I awoke this morning for the last time.” Friends and co-workers of Swanson took notice of the warning signs and notified Smethport high school officials, according to the Huffington Post. Police presence was intensified, as nobody was quite sure what Swanson would do. The school was on lock-down Friday morning until word came from Erie that Swanson was dead. At no point, Mercyhurst’s Associate Vice President of Student Life Laura Zirkle said on Tuesday, did Mercyhurst officials have any advance indication that Swanson intended to end his life at Mercyhurst. Though Swanson clearly hinted that he intended to end his life, there was absolutely no speculation that he would step foot on campus, she said. According to Erie County Coroner Lyell Cook, Swanson’s death took place sometime between the hours of 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Friday. After further examination, according
to the Erie Times-News, it was discovered that the rifle contained two bullets. This raised the question — Was the other bullet meant for the Mercyhurst student or someone else here? “There is no hope ... I always knew it would end like this,” – Swanson. It took the Clearfield County officials by surprise, though, that he would drive two hours to Mercyhurst. At Mercyhurst, Swanson parked his car in the circle in front of Old Main, sent another message from his phone and then shot himself. For three to five hours, Swanson’s lifeless body lay on the sidewalk immediately south of the Mary statue. It went undiscovered until a university maintenance staffer found it around 7 a.m., just as students began to walk to class or to breakfast at Egan Hall. At least four Erie police officers, the Erie County Coroner’s Office, a Pennsylvania State Police trooper and an Erie Bureau of Fire engine responded and were on the scene until nearly 9 a.m. Questions continued around the Mercyhurst campus: Did no one see the car? Did no one hear the gunshot? Did Police & Safety patrol the circle? Zirkle said that security cameras in that area were located too far away or at the wrong angle to show what happened. Mercyhurst rallied together after the incident, however, offering endless amounts of love and support for
Sami Rapp photo
Michelle Ahrens takes a break from school by practicing her rather unique hobby — riding her unicycle.
Settle into your routine
By Sami Rapp, Photo editor
Zach Dorsch photo
each other. This support extended into the surrounding communities from our neighboring universities. “When you have a crisis like this, you really see the best in people, and that’s exactly what we saw. From Police and Safety to the counseling center - everybody went above and beyond the call of duty. It really was Mercyhurst and Erie at it’s best,” Zirkle said. Students are welcome to participate in prayer and are encouraged to contact the Mercyhurst counseling center at (814) 824-3650.
Now that school is in full swing and everyone is settling into their routines, everyone has more time for their hobbies. While some people read and others play sports for fun, one student in particular has a rather unique hobby — riding her unicycle around campus. Sophomore Michelle Ahrens taught herself how to ride this unconventional form of transportation. “I asked for it for Christmas.” During her junior year of high school, she said, “I’m going to learn how to ride a unicycle. Why not?” She originally tried to ride it on her porch in the snow, but ended up waiting until spring to learn how to ride. As she’s riding around, Ahrens told me about more intense unicycle hobbies. They include mountain unicycling, much like mountain biking, unicycle hockey and unicycle football. “Go YouTube unicycle football,” she said while laughing. With all the stress surrounding classes and homework it is nice to see students having fun doing things they enjoy. Joking, Ahrens and her friends, make comments about starting their own circus. They already have a unicyclist, a baton twirler and a plate spinner. Activities like these can help anyone unwind after a grueling day, full of classes and assignments. Take advantage of your free time, enjoy the nice weather or get together with friends and do something fun before the true academic pressure kicks in.
FEATURES
September 25, 2013
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Mercyhurst celebrates Constitution Day By Ryan Kushner Contributing writer
This past Tuesday, Sept. 17, Mercyhurst campus, along with the rest of the United States celebrated the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution. Unlike the rest of the U.S., however, Mercyhurst students and faculty alike had the opportunity to gather at the Mercy Heritage Room Tuesday evening to listen to Tina Fryling, J.D., discuss some of the facts and flaws of the nation’s most scrutinized foundational document.
Fryling, an associate professor of criminal justice at Mercyhurst and member of the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, began her lecture by saying that even on its 224th birthday, the U.S. Constitution remains “interesting and full of life.” Judging by the standing-roomonly crowd, it would appear she was right. Though it was clear that some students were in attendance for a class requirement or extra-credit, there were still more there for the sole purpose of being refreshed on the concepts that shaped, and continue to
shape the United States as we know it today. Fryling went on to discuss the process that the Delegates went through in order to write the Constitution. Hearing about their intense schedule of debates, that ran from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., 6 days a week for 100 days, made Mercyhurst’s new semester system seem less murderous. She then talked about the most pressing issues in our society today, the issues that have people running back to reference the constitution; the three main ones being the NSA spying, gun laws and New York’s new “Stop and Frisk” policies.
“The Framers were not concerned about Facebook,” Fryling said while speaking on the NSA controversy. She said with confidence that the Framers would have been strongly against the recent invasions of the NSA. Fryling talked positively about the Constitution throughout most of the lecture, stating that it is still “absolutely as relevant as it was when it was written.” She summed up part of her admiration for it by quoting Will Rogers, who said that “Our Constitution protects aliens, drunks and U.S. Senators.” However, Fryling did admit that
she does not think the Constitution “makes everything right,” saying that we, as citizens, “have to challenge it.” However, regarding the flaws of the U.S. government, she went on to say, “At least we’re able to dialog about it.” The beauty of the United States, then, is “the fact that we know things are happening and that people can say things.” “Nobody stops you on your way to class and says ‘let me search your book bag,” she states. “… and if they do, come see me.”
Sustainability Office encourages students to donate wrappers By Sydne Nielson Contributing writer
If the Mercyhurst Sustainability Office has its way, that next candy bar wrapper you discard could eventually become part of that chic new purse you just have to have at the mall. Beginning this semester, the Mercyhurst Sustainability Office has partnered with TerraCycle to reduce, reuse and upcycle your used candy wrappers. Partnering with over 100 brands in the U.S. and overseas, TerraCycle focuses on reducing the amount of waste put in to landfills each year by taking normally non-recyclable items and turning them into useful items including purses, scrapbooks and clipboards. “Our goal is to make students more aware of their eating habits and decrease our carbon footprint,” said Brittany Prischak of the Sustainability Office.
Upcycling, the process of converting waste materials or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or for better environmental value, has been a trend sweeping the nation. “The trend has finally come to the Laker campus,” said Prischak. “We want to reduce the amount of solid waste produced on campus.” If Laker students and faculty respond in a positive way, Prischak said her office plans to add at least half a dozen more recycling bins in addition to those already in place at the entrance to Hammermill Library, the Hirt Center and Zurn Hall. Who knows…maybe someday the wrapper from that Nestle 100 Grand Bar could make its way into your $100 purse. If you would like to know more information, please contact Sustainability Department Chair Chris Magoc at (814) 824-2075 or cmagoc@mercyhurst.edu.
Random face across campus By Ryan Kushner Contributing writer
Taylor Rollins photo
The candy wrappers students donate will be reused for new products thanks to Sustainability.
If you have been to the second floor of Zurn lately, there’s a good chance you may have noticed a small picture of a rather perturbed looking bald man tacked on to the cork boards. No explanation of the face is provided. Its interpretation appears to be
up to the passerby. His beedy eyes could convey anger; however, they could also be saying “you can do this” to students as they approach their first examinations of the school year. Whatever the purpose, the bald man takes on the meaning you assign him as he peeks over the Recycling flyers of the second floor of Zurn.
FEATURES
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September 25, 2013 September 3, 2008
Archaeology students repair Meadowcroft By Sami Rapp Photo editor
Late this summer and into this fall, five Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute students along with several faculty members traveled to Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Washington County, Pa., to repair damage to the site caused by rainfall. James Adovasio, Ph. D., the Dean of the Zurn School of Natural Sciences, is best known for his excavation and research of Meadowcroft Rockshelter. Meadowcroft is a prehistoric archaeology site that changed the views on when humans first inhabited the Americas. Before his research, it was thought that humans only came to the Americas around 13,000 years ago. Adovasio’s research pushed that date back even further to 16,000. From July 31 through Aug. 15 and again from Sept. 13 through 15, recent graduate Mike Way, seniors Lindsay Boyer, Jessica Higley, Jamie Badams, and junior Michelle Farley traveled several hours to the Meadowcroft site. While there, they used the skills they learned in their classes to repair part of the site that had been damaged during heavy rains. All five students have previously gone to Mercyhurst’s field school in Toas, N.M. As MAI Lab Director Anne Marjenin stated, the students did all of the
work. “The water had washed out portions of various excavation units and had apparently pooled at the bottom of those units, which left behind a moist collection of mixed sediments. The first thing we did excavation-wise was to remove that disturbed sediment from the floor of the excavation,” Badams said. At the site earlier in the summer two inches of rain had fallen within an hour, causing a leak that washed away part of the excavation profile. After removing the disturbed sediment the team used razor blades to re-establish the walls of the intact units. After re-establishing the original stratigraphy of the site, Professor Quinn, Adovasio, and Anne Marjenin, along with the group, mapped the site. Lindsay Boyer stated that the team, “actually referred to a map created during the first excavations in 1973!” While all the students said that the trip was great, two of them got ill during the first trip and had to go to the hospital. “As unfortunate and unpleasant as the ordeal was at the time, the sort of demented humor of the situation has resulted in some good laughs,” Badams said. Early in the year, this humor was evident as Badams and Farley walked throughout the archaeology department wearing homemade hazmat suits.
Fall Dining Series offers fine eating experience By Samantha Beckas Contributing writer
The fall dining series hosted by the hospitality department students is a meal you won’t want to miss. During both the fall and spring dining series, dinners are held in the Marriott Café Dining Room on the bottom floor of the Center for Academic Engagement on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. Doors open at 4:45 p.m., dinner is served at 5 p.m. and ends at 5:30 p.m. Dinners are open to the public, including students, and reservations can be made two weeks in advance starting at 9 a.m. by calling 824-2565. The dinners are limited to 40 guests. Dinners cost $10 plus tax. The menu can be found on the Mercyhurst website by going to the “MU News” section.
The students, who take the Foods III class as a capstone course create and develop their recipes and manage their own meals. Students who would like to be put on the private email list to receive the menu before it is posted to the public should email Allyson Minor at aminor@mercyhurst.edu. The funds made from the dining series go back into the department. The money is used to cover food costs for future meals. Some of the upcoming meals include “Forbidden Fruit,” “By the Bay,” “A Walk Around the World,” “There’s No Place Like Home,” and “A Night in Paris.” All of these meals will occur in October. For more information, contact Hospitality Department Assistant Professor Daryl Georger at dgeorger@mercyhurst.edu or (814) 824-2340.
MAI photo
A student in the archaeology department helps repair Meadowcroft Rockshelter during late summer.
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
September 25, 2013
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Erie Art Museum hosts Gallery Night By Sam Beckas Staff writer
The Erie Art Museum is hosting a gallery walk all around the downtown area of Erie. On Friday, Sept. 27 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m., the Erie Art Museum is hosting a gallery night that is like no other. This gallery is placed in multiple locations, such as restaurants and storefronts, in downtown Erie. This event has free admission to all galleries. The Erie Art Museum is offering a raffle for a $25 gift card to one of the hosting venues for anybody who visits five or more exhibits. Each exhibit has something specific and very special to it. Most artists are local and some are freshly graduated out of high school. Some exhibits are offering free refreshments and hors d’oeuvres. Meet and greets with the artists are available at multiple exhibits. Each exhibit is very different from all of the others. One exhibit was done in celebration of Yoga Month, which is September, and it showcases 12 dif-
Caitlyn Merkel photo
Chelsea Thompson, an occupational therapy major from Gannon University, sits to study a current exhibit build that is featured in the Erie Art Museum “Gallery Night” opening on Friday, Sept. 27. ferent yoga mats painted by local and national artists to express their feelings about the practice of yoga. Another exhibit is one that is close to Erie’s heart. Titled Ways of the Water, this exhibit shows paintings by Roy Ahlgren of Erie’s beautiful
beaches. The artist also incorporates water themed subjects into his pieces. There are multiple exhibits, which showcase jewelry and other fine art such as glass blowing and ceramics. For those interested in cultural diversity and exploration, there are
multiple exhibits showcasing other cultures such as Chinese porcelain art and photographs representing Muslim/American culture. The Erie Art Museum Gallery Night is an experience that is offering not only a new take on different art forms, but also a new take on how to view them by expressing them in new settings. Each exhibit is very unique. The exhibits are free to visit and are open from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Sept. 27. The map with addresses to all exhibits can be found on the Erie Art Museum website,erieartmuseum.org. Food and beverages are provided by Whole Foods and the event is sponsored by Erie Insurance. Be sure to support the Erie Art Museum. Starting Oct. 2 is a film series lasting until Dec. 18 and other events can be found on their website. For those looking to enjoy the art of Erie, or take a brisk walk in downtown, this event is perfect for you.
Managing editor
Online
The first track on Drake’s 2009 album, “Take Care” started slow and cautiously. In that song Drake counted his achievements and failures since his debut album, but he didn’t sound convinced that he had as yet made it to the top. Drake opens his new album, “Nothing Was the Same” by quickly stating, “This is nothing’ for the radio/ but they’ll still play it though/ Cause it’s the new Drizzy Drake/ thats just the way it go.” This Toronto born rapper is now more than confident that he has made it to the top. Drake’s third album reminds me a lot of Kanye West’s “Yeezus.” The album is very self-centered; most of the tracks don’t feature any guests and the production work is an adventur-
ous sampling from many decades and genres. Listeners will be glad to hear that the biggest difference between these two albums is that Drake traded in Kanye’s abrasiveness for a much airier sound. The fuel for Drakes lyrics on this album encompasses all of the doubts and regrets that still haunt him. On his track “From Time,” he raps over a soft piano to rhythmic snaps about his butchered relationship with a waitress with whom he had fallen in love. “Girl, I felt like we had it all planned out/ I guess I messed up the vision/Learning the true consequences of my selfish decisions.” “Wu-Tang Forever,” caught a lot of flak from fans for having nothing to do with his love for Wu-Tang. Drake instead uses the song’s classical piano lines to sample from Wu’s “It’s Yourz,” as the basis for his conflicted feelings about finding love and deal-
Full list of events can be found on the MIAC website
7 - 10 p.m. Gallery Night Erie Art Museum Saturday, September 28th 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. 15th Annual LEAF Festival Frontier Park Sunday, September 29th
Drake releases new album with a personal touch By Zach Dorsch
Friday, September 27th
2 p.m. Twelfth Night Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center 7 p.m. Rock Erie Music Awards Bayfront Convention Center
www.heavy.com photo
Rapper, Drake, adds his personal, heartfelt touch to his new album, “Nothing Was the Same” that released on Sept. 24. ing with fame. This album is not all self-loathing. Drake lets in a burst of fresh air with his current hit “Hold On, We’re Going Home.” This ‘80s-inspired R&B track shows how Drake can seamlessly switch from a hard spitting
rapper to a soulful R&B singer. With most of the Hip Hop industry focused on rapping about money, cars, and women it is refreshing to hear something more emotional and heartfelt. Thankfully, Drake gives us just that.
View upcoming performances at: miac.mercyhurst.edu
Saturday, October 5th 7 p.m. Erie Otters vs. North Bay Battallion Erie Insurance Arena
www.merciad.mercyhurst.edu/ arts_entertainment
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
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September 25, 2013 September 3, 2008
Underground Railroad ‘Twelfth Night’ to play in the PAC films in Erie
TheUndergroundRailroadfilm photo
“The Underground Railroad” is filming in local Erie locations through the end of this month for the release that is set for 2014.
By Kevin Thomas Staff writer
Who says that all major motion pictures have to be made in New York City or Hollywood? Erie, Pa. is getting the film treatment with the adventure comedy-drama film “The Underground Railroad” being released in 2014. The film is comprised of up-and-coming stars as well as the writing/directing debut for Tom Fox Davies, who composed the music for the film “Homecoming” back in 2011 and has acted in smaller projects such as “Sisters Grimm” and “Photo Shoot” in 2009.
The film, produced by Grant Larson Productions, is shooting in Erie until Sept. 28 and has employed the assistance of the Erie Police Department for patrol cars and officers. Principal photography was completed on Oct. 25, 2012, and the beautiful Mercyhurst campus was used for some scenes as well as State Street on Oct. 8. The official IMDB (Internet Movie Database) page for the film went up on Dec. 14, 2012. It provides the firstbilled cast members, plot description and director of the film. The film also has an official Facebook page (The Underground Railroad) with recent posts, which joined Facebook on Aug. 30, 2012.
Monday, Dec. 6, 2013: Deadline for Submission
Thursday, May 1, 2013: The Lumen Reception
For more information contact:
Kenneth Schiff Email: kschiff@mercyhurst.edu Phone: (814) 824-2461
miac.mercyhurst.edu photo
Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” will be performing on Sunday, Sept. 29, at 2 p.m. in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center.
By Megan Pacileo Staff writer
Described as “…hugely enjoyable and very funny,” by the London Times, Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night will be shown in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center performed by the Aquila Theater Company. As a reinterpretation of William Shakespeare’s comedic play “Twelfth
Night,” the show boosts the same amount of humor and laughs. The Aquila Theater Company tells the tale of Viola who disguises herself as a man to work for a duke as his page. She soon finds herself mixed up in a love triangle, with hilarious consequences. Twelfth Night promises to be a good time for audience members of all ages. The performance is on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 2 p.m. There is
a pre-show event being held in The Cummings Art Gallery at 1 p.m. The pre-show event includes the opportunity to dress up in Shakespeare-era clothing with a member of the cast. For more information, including ticket prices, check the Mercyhurst Institute of Arts and Culture webpage at http://miac.mercyhurst.edu/events.
OPINION
September 25, 2013
Page 9
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be emailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Mercyhurst is not Catholic enough By Paul Hakel Guest writer
The shift from a clear Catholic practice on “Catholic” college campuses seems to have happened after the Vatican two council of the 60s. Mercyhurst University is comparable to St. Bonaventure University, where I was a student. In studying SBU’s history, I saw in the online archives this exact transformation. I imagine if you’d check the MU archives and compare anything pre-Vatican 2 to today’s MHU, it would look like night and day. So, in a long quest of soul-searching that has not yet concluded, I have embraced sedevacantism, or the belief that we haven’t had a true
pope since the 60s. MU does not have the traditional Latin Mass; the whole campus culture has been radicalized and looks just like any other state school. I don’t know how “mass” attendance is, but I would guess it is pretty low. I don’t see people praying rosaries or dressed formally. The college has been largely secularized and liberalized. The Merciad paper had all about zero mention of Catholicism in a couple of the issues I saw during my first weeks attending the university. The “modern” disgusting art on campus flies in the tradition of constructing realist depictions of saints, angels, etc. to glorify God and inspire piety in devout believers. None of this critique will make
much sense until you do some research and see for yourself that “what used to be done” still should be done the same way. There was a logic behind why things were done “the old way” which is inferior to some replacements. A great case in point is the Ember Days, which happened just last weekend (Editor’s note: Sept 20) - these were three days of fasting, seasonally, and especial attention to prayer. Jesus notes in Matthew 17:21 that some demons are only cast out by “prayer and fasting”. The whole traditional Lenten calendar mandated daily fasting, besides on Sunday. This was all abolished in the 60’s, and the result is not freedom but that there are more demons which enslave people because they
are unlikely to go out of their way to find these methods to get rid of them. What was institutionally the norm, is now something that people have to go “out of their way” to find? By the way, there is a such thing as literal demons - mental illness is not always simply “chemical imbalances”. Tradition doesn’t go away, but Satan is trying to bury it. Traditional Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) Abp. Lefebvre was excommunicated within 72 hours of consecrating four bishops for the spread of traditional Catholicism, yet pro-abortion politicians who clearly violate Catholic principles are left in good standing with the “Church”. It is beyond insanity. All that matters is that we do our best to get to
heaven. All of this other stuff is a complete distraction and waste of time. Don’t forget Jesus’ words, “For what shall it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his soul?” Mark 8:36. Yes, we can still go to hell. Yes, all the pleasures of the world are passing quickly away. Pray God may restore Mercyhurst to Catholic greatness. Read some St. Thomas Aquinas. Don’t waste time drinking or in idleness, pray up and go for the eternal treasure! Mr. Hakel is not a former student. He is a frequent user of our campus facilities and wanted the opportunity to voice his opinion.
Universities deny titles to students By Marcela Delgado Staff writer
Students are falling behind in paying their student loans to the government. This is causing institutions to withhold their transcripts, making it harder for them to get a job. Today it is really hard to obtain a job in any field. Even students with an outstanding profile have difficulty finding their dream job. How can we demonstrate that we meet the standards employers are looking for if we do not have a title? Unemployment rates rise and this impacts recent grads when they graduate. According to USA Today, unemployment rates increased in 28 states and the District of Columbia in July. Unfortunately, this translates into less job opportunities for all of those who are graduating. This alarming trend is encouraging many current students deliberately prolong their time in college. This is not only preventing them from getting a job, but from admission to a graduate school. Institu-
tions, like employers, want good candidates to be part of their graduate programs. A title is the proof that we have completed our credits in school successfully, but not having it means that something is wrong. Employers want to hire people that have the skills required for the position and one of the considerations might be to be clear of debt. According to the LA Times, colleges keep students’ official transcripts as a punishment for falling behind in the payment of their loans. The federal government supports this action. Law does not mandate it, but it is encouraged so students pay their debt. Although, students are in debt there should be a way of letting them have their transcripts with a promise to pay. That promise might be to pay a fine if they do not pay the debt within a specified time period. This should not stop employers from bringing good candidates to the table; therefore, students should be encouraged to pay their debts on time to obtain good job opportunities.
Also, It would not be fair for them to lose the opportunity of expanding their knowledge in a graduate program just because they do not have their transcripts. This might serve as an incentive for students to pay their debt.
students “withEven an outstanding profile have difficulty finding their dream jobs. Marcela Delgado
”
In a world where opportunities are in demand, and jobs are harder to find, students should be up to date with their student loans. This way it does not become a factor that would restrict them from getting once in a lifetime opportunities.
If you don’t want it printed . . . don’t let it happen. Editors Mathew Anderson Zach Dorsch Juan Mendez Daniel Tarr Samantha Bante Garrett Erwin Leann Krysiak Nicole Lawrence Sami Rapp Ethan Johns Will DeFeo Bill Welch
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OPINION
Page 10
September 25, 2013
The views expressed in the opinion section of The Merciad do not necessarily reflect the views of Mercyhurst University, the staff of The Merciad or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be emailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Child pageants are more about the parents By Marcela Delgado Staff writer Students are beginning to focus less negatively on the longer semesters and more positively on how much shorter their class times are. In light of the Mary Garden suicide, the Mercyhurst community is staying strong and offering support whenever it is needed.
Nothing makes a night better quite like late-night ice cream from Egan Cafeteria. Students were shocked to find that the dining hall now closes at 8 p.m. on the weekend, leaving many ice cream-less.
Students expressed disgust on Monday when biting into their chicken burritos from the Cantina de Laker. The most common description seemed to be “Dog food.” Food is supposed to smell appetizing, however, students report Egan Hall giving off a “funky” smell on the upper levels
It is a girls dream to participate and win a beauty contest. Make-up and costumes are what makes this experience exiting; to where it feels like they are queens and princesses when getting ready for an event. Spotlights, the runway and standing ovations are what motivate girls to participate, although mothers also tend to be part of this journey as well. As it seems now-a-days, some of the girls are forced by their mothers to participate for the money. Therefore, it is questioned whether it is the girls or the mothers interested to participate in these contests. Some girls refuse to participate and others dream to be part of them. Beauty contests are a good activity for girls to be involved in, but the problem arises when it becomes materialistic rather than a fun activity. These young girls are
exposed to different types of physical and emotional damages. Social skills are reduced since the time for them to play with other kids is spent preparing for these events. Parents are responsible for the participation of these girls in the contests and sometimes even heavily influential on the girls behavior. Parents are often responsible for the participation of girls in the competitions, and even sometimes influence the girls’ behavior. The experience parents have with beauty contests is the reason why they expose their children to them. In some cases, it is just a matter of a dream they did not have and are living it vicariously through their daughters. Some moms on lower socioeconomic levels think competition is healthy, others claim that they put their children into beauty contests so they can meet others. Another group of parents put their children into competitions because they found it helpful. The mothers of pageant participants argue that
the little girls like it. I guess they do, but then again, most six year-olds like wearing make-up and dressing up like princesses. Some of these little girls started competing in pageants at the age of three! Moms ignore the fact that girls can have fun for a while, but then it will feel like a routine to them. They are building a certain pattern of behavior that whenever they lose they become angry and start yelling. In some cases, mothers punish their children because they didn’t achieve what they were supposed to. The children no longer feel comfortable without the aid of make-up and other beauty treatments. Beauty contests have different effects on girls, but eventually they all end up being the same. False teeth, make-up, hair spray, tanning treatments and much more is what the innocent little girls are exposed to. They are probably enjoying the experience of feeling like princesses for a while, but it later becomes a battle. As they realize that their beauty is not
natural but fake. They have problems getting along with their peers because they fight easily over little things that can be fixed. When they grow up, girls should realize that these events are no more than a damage to themselves, and that the results are not always going to be as they expected. They have to learn to value and accept themselves as they are, because in life, there is no make-up to cover “the imperfections” that we might encounter. If what their moms are looking for is money or a reward, there are many other means to receive money and rewards that require hard work. Young girls are “sponges;”they are at an age where they absorb everything in their surroundings, therefore it is not proper for them to absorb a materialistic mentality. If what they want is to get a tiara and a first place, they can get the first place and be winners in life if they succeed being who they want to be, and not what their mothers want them to be.
Personal account: life as a freshman By Benjamin Reinert Staff writer
After nearly a month of being welcomed as a student here at Mercyhurst by the Deans and President, and joining all the clubs, I learned that I am still not fully detached from my home. It’s as if I increased the length of the invisible string attaching me to my comfortable abode. Somehow, I never really
left home. There’s a good side to that, because now I’m as far away from my teenage brother and graduated sister as I can possibly be. I won’t have to be nervous whenever my sister has her friends over, or distracted when my brother has the telly on. So I keep asking myself, why the heck do I miss them so bad? Truth is, that’s the power of love. They annoy me, but heck, I love them. Then there’s the empty-nest syndrome. Fortunately, my parents still
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have my brother. But we had to schedule times when my parents and I could video chat each other. Seeing them on the screen makes me happy. If only I could decode myself so that I could teleport through the screen so I could be with them. I also receive baked goods from my mom every now and then. Thanks mom, I know you still miss me. However, please keep in mind that I am an adult. I do appreciate your gifts. Even though I do feel homesick, at least I have
friends here on campus who can comfort me. Overall, I have learned that I don’t have to suffer being homesick by myself. I have found new friends through clubs and class. I have been having a wonderful time here at Mercyhurst thanks to all of the incredible support from kind sophomores, juniors, seniors and faculty. Every day I remember all of you to keep me going.
September 25, 2013
SPORTS
Page 11
Pembleton receives PSAC player of week By Katherine Donohue Contributing writer
After opening the season with a hard fought loss against Millersville, the women’s field hockey team was able to pull off two straight wins with the help of junior Blair Pembleton. The Lakers regrouped as they headed into the next few practices. “The best advice I could give my teammates was to remember the feeling after such a tough loss and use it as our motivation in the next upcoming games,” Pembleton said. Scoring two goals against Limestone and a game-winning goal against East Stroudsburgh helped lead the team to a good momentum shift early on this season. Pembleton’s on-field success for the two wins earned her the PSAC player of the week. She is the first Laker to receive the award since 2009. “It was definitely an honor to receive the weekly PSAC award, but
Salina Bowe photo
Junior Blair Pembleton earns PSAC player of the week award for her efforts with the women’s field hockey team.
it really is a team award in my eyes, because I couldn’t have gotten it without them,” Pembleton said. Her attitude was strong heading into the next couple of games. “My personal mindset going into the next two games was to be hungry, to put the ball in the back of the net, and to work hard and give it 110 percent for all 70 minutes,” Pembleton said. When asked about the team’s success with three wins in the past four games, she mentioned “Key communication, supporting one another starting from the goalies all the way up to the forward line, and pushing each other,” as a helpful component. The ninth-ranked Lakers are continuing to do well with a current 3-2-0 record. They are hoping for more success as they face other top ranked teams coming up. “We have a new mindset this year... we’re all about coming together to make a statement to other teams and most importantly to reach our goal of making it to the PSAC championship,” Pembleton said.
Sports
Page 12
September 25, 2013
Martinez picked as PSAC player of week By Samantha Bante Sports editor
With a 5-2 lead on their season so far, and being undefeated (2-0) in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, the Mercyhurst men’s soccer team is determined to make this season yet another success by heading to the NCAA tournament. Junior Fernando Martinez received the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Player of the Week award for his efforts against West Chester University of Pennsylvania and East Stroudsburg University. “It’s nice to be named but actually being PSAC player of the week does not mean anything, this is a team sport, so no one can do nothing by themselves, the team does good, not just one player,” Martinez said. Martinez so far leads the Lakers with having the most total points scored of 17, and shots on goal per game of 30 along with three assists and seven total goals. “I would say our biggest goal this year is reaching the final game in the NCAA tournament since we know we are capable of going to the final,” Martinez said. With an eventful win 2-0 against University of District of Columbia
Jake Lowry photo
Fernando Martinez was selected as PSAC player of the week for his performance last week during the West Chester University of Pennsylvania and East Stroudsburg University matches. Firebirds on Monday, the Lakers seem to only be improving as the season continues on.
The Lakers defense held off the Firebirds by allowing only a total of twelve shots through Mercyhurst had
“I think we have had a good start of season. We have won five games and lost two games which in my opinion we did not deserve to lose. It’s early and we are still trying to click together at the fullest each game, but I feel each game we look better as a team,” Martinez said. Some other players to look out for are: goaltender Mikko Sarkkinen who has been holding strong all season, with yet another shutout against the Firebirds on Monday. Along with freshmen Danny Deakin and Jake Watson who are making their names known at the collegiate level. “We have some excellent and talented freshmen that didn’t have any problem adapting to this level of soccer. They know the sacrifice and dedication they have to put each training session and each game so we are happy with the help they are giving the team,” Martinez said. The Lakers will host two PSAC conference games this upcoming weekend on Sept. 27 and Sept. 28 against Shippensburg University and Millersville University. Kick-off for each game begins at 4:30 p.m.
20 attempted shots and continues their streak of outshooting every opponent this season so far.
Women’s soccer beats rival Gannon, 3-1 By Samantha Bante Sports editor
Online
Starting the year off with a strong lead and a solid 3-1 win against Gannon, their rival on Saturday, the Mercyhurst women’s soccer team is ready to make this year one to remember. Gaining a total of seven freshmen and having junior Janine Wong as their captain, the Lakers are ready to take this season to the next level. “Wong has a great work ethic and is easily one of the best technical players on the team. She has a cool
and collected attitude which rubs off on other players and it keeps us grounded and calm in high pressure games. Her best asset though is leading by example. She has a tremendous work ethic, excellent fitness, and great knowledge of the game,” sophomore Ellie McDougall said. “In my opinion, the team has improved greatly from last year. We defend more as a unit and we have more of attacking presence on offense than we did last year,” she said. “However, I think our biggest improvement is our depth. In previous years we did not have a deep bench but this year we have a lot of young talent
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We defend more as a unit and we have more attacking presence.
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Ellie McDougall
that have created a competitive atmosphere,” McDougall said. The win against Gannon women’s soccer team marks the first time the Lakers beat their cross-town rival since Oct. 29, 2010. During the Gannon game, sophomore Lauren Testa scored two goals,
while graduate student Maeve Clark scored her first goal as a Laker. Mercyhurst outshot Gannon 19 to 13, having led shots throughout each half of the game. “We were really pumped for the game because the history between the schools goes back for years. We knew that Gannon was going to be a tough team but we were confident and trusted our skills. In my opinion, it was our beat team performance of the year. We played together and shut Gannon down offensively,” McDougall said. Ellie McDougall picked up her third win of the season to improve to 3-2-1.
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McDougall made a total of four stops and recorded her first collegiate win against a nationally ranked opponent. “I do believe that we have great leadership on the team from an experienced senior class. They are who the team looks to for direction and motivation. They are a hardworking bunch and are the definition of great teammates,” McDougall said. The Laker’s next home game is Friday, September 27, against Shippensburg University at 2 p.m.
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