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Arts & Entertainment On Page 5: :
Sports On Page 7: Soccer hosts
Fresh Face Forward
‘Dance 1- 2 - 3’
talks microbeads
to open in PAC
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The Merciad Mercyhurst university
Est. 1929 Vol. 89 No. 8
Wednesday, noveMber 4, 2015
Athletes to run, swim, row, skate into campus housing By Erin McGarrity Staff writer
Beginning in the fall of 2016, Mercyhurst will require all student athletes, excluding those in special circumstances, including commuting students and those with financial troubles, to obtain on-campus housing. Currently, approximately 650 athletes compete in 24 varsity sports at Mercyhurst. The university expects to move about 120 of these athletes in the next school year. According to Laura Zirkle, vice president of student life, the mandate stems from President Michael Victor’s vision of the Mercyhurst student experience. “This really goes along with his whole desire for student life to be as vibrant and dynamic as possible. We’ve seen that in a lot of different things already this year — Hurst Day, for example,” said Zirkle. “What group of students brings the most energy and spirit to campus? Athletes.” Mercyhurst’s long-term goal is to require virtually all undergraduate students to live
Student athletes will be required to live in on-campus apartments and townhouses beginning next fall.
on-campus. For now, university officials are slowly working their way toward that goal by beginning with the largest subset of off-campus students. Zirkle claims that despite concerns among the student body, the university will have more than enough room to house that many students. “That is, of course, one of the reasons why we’re not moving everyone at once. But
we are not concerned about space at all,” Zirkle said. Students reactions to the announcement are mixed. “Personally, I feel like administration’s first step should be to improve on-campus housing before they force students to live here because then more students would probably choose to live on campus and then probably won’t make a big fuss about it,” junior field hockey player
Alex Albright said. Zirkle says that the university will seriously consider renovations and improvements to existing housing in the coming years as a way to further enhance the student experience and accommodate larger incoming classes. Senior soccer playerMacarena Aguirre said she does not think it is a bad to have a larger on-campus community, but worries about the
Trang Nguyen photo
price and quality of housing, and wonders why athletes are being required to move first. She also mentioned her team gathering in off-campus houses for bonding activities. “If we didn’t have this there would be many activities that are a tradition that couldn’t happen again, because basically it’s impossible to fit 25 girls into an apartment and feel comfortable,” Aguirre said.
In the face of negative feedback from students, Zirkle wants to reassure them that this new requirement is not a punishment for athletes’ bad behavior. “The athletes make up the majority of our campus leaders. They are all good people,” said Zirkle. “I would hate for any of them to think that this is a form of punishment.” Further squashing the rumor that this requirement is meant to crack down on off-campus partying, Zirkle asserts that Mercyhurst officials have spoken to the Erie County Chief of Police, who has cited a major decrease in noise complaints over the past few years. Zirkle said that her biggest worry moving forward is the spread of the student body’s negative perceptions of this decision. “We are going to be very generous and flexible with students in accommodating all of this,” said Zirkle. “We all simply believe that the best way to be part of campus is to live on it, and we have no motivation other than that.” Read more student opinions on page 6.
Criminal Justice Department confronts domestic violence issue through month-long campaign By Devin Hardner Contributing writer
October was Domestic Violence Awareness Month and Mercyhurst students and faculty showed their support with a passive campaign by the Criminal Justice Department. Maria Garase, Ph.D., criminal justice associate professor and department chair, said the campus campaign emerged from her Women and Crime class, where the issue of women who are victims of domestic violence is discussed, along with the responses of the public. “The goal was to raise awareness that domestic violence occurs, to give informa-
tion how to identify domestic violence and to address that it affects all segments of the population,” Garase said. She noted that although women are primarily victims of domestic abuse, men can also be victims. Domestic violence exists among all socioeconomic statuses, ages, races, ethnicities and sexual orientations. Garase, who is also a member of the Bystander Intervention Committee, said the campaigners conversed with the Mercyhurst Counseling Center, as well as SafeNet in order to include validated information for victims. “We didn’t want to just present statistics but rather we wanted to present some examples of verbal and behavioral
cues in a relationship that may lead to domestic violence. We noted resources for individuals who read the signs and may identify or recognize these activities in their own relationships,” Garase said. Along with the Counseling Center, SafeNet and the Bystander Committee, the Criminal Justice Department also worked with the Step Up program. President Victor was asked to speak on the issue by the Bystander Committee and he responded with a campus-wide video. In his video, President Michael Victor explained how the Step Up program functions and its importance in ending domestic violence on campus. The program encourages everyone to take charge
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on-campus student, we have ‘no trespass’ orders, which prohibit the attacker from entering the campus,” Kuhn said. Kuhn also mentioned the Student Outreach Committee, online tool anyone can use to submit an anonymous observation of a potentially dangerous situation. This can be used for any situation. It is not limited to domestic violence. Aside from hanging informational flyers around campus including in women’s restroom stalls, Garase hosted a guest speaker in her Women and Crime class who was able to validate the campaign. “Robyn Young, director of counseling services at SafeNet, discussed how to identify behavioral and verbal
cues that indicate an unhealthy relationship and she also noted all of the services that SafeNet offers,” Garase said. SafeNet has a Silent Witness Project, which is a traveling exhibit of life-size, wooden silhouettes that represent the victims that have been killed by a significant other. It puts a visual aspect on an otherwise invisible problem. “There wasn’t a lot of direct feedback. However, anything that can raise awareness of this important issue is a step in the right direction. Domestic violence is seen as an invisible crime: it happens behind closed doors and is underreported,” Garase said. “If even one person saw the signs and sought assistance, then [the campaign] was a success.”
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in a problematic situation and try to help. “Be the one who looks out for others, especially those who are most vulnerable, and who is not afraid to confront or report abusive behavior,” Victor said. When there is an altercation on campus, Police and Safety should be the first to be called. According to Chief Robert Kuhn, there is rarely domestic violence on campus, but it happens every day within the City of Erie. “When two people who reside on campus get in a domestic dispute, we have ‘no contact’ orders, which prohibit the assaulter from contacting the victim. When there is a person from off-campus who threatens or harms an
Do you plan to vote in Tuesday’s upcoming election? 1 2 3 4
I’m not sure, but I would like to. (35%) Definitely, I believe voting is important. (29%) I’m not registered/able to vote in this election. (29%) I probably won’t. (6%)
Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: How do you feel about athletes having to move on campus?
merciad.mercyhurst.edu
November 4, 2015
The Merciad
Page 2
News
Students weigh in on future of Erie Diocese By Catherine Rainey News editor
Thirteen Mercyhurst students and two members of Campus Ministry staff made the trip to Grove City, PA, to share a meal and participate in an open discussion with Bishop Lawrence Thomas Persico last Friday, Oct. 30. The dinner and discourse, which occurs annually through the Diocese of Erie, had Catholic students in attendance from a number of local colleges, including Gannon, Allegheny, Grove City, Clarion, Edinboro and Mercyhurst. The event typically features a question and answer session for students to engage with the bishop. This year, Persico was particularly interested in getting feedback from college students. “This year’s dinner was different in the sense that the bishop focused on the Diocesan Pastoral Plan and wanted to add the perspectives of college students to the developing plan for how Church will be lived out in the Erie Diocese in the coming decades,”
Greg Baker, director of Campus Ministry, said. After a buffet-style dinner, Deacon Stephen Washek, director of Campus Ministry at Gannon University, presented the results of a survey that the Diocese of Erie had distributed to campus ministers earlier in the semester to give to Catholic students. The surveys asked students about their involvement in and feelings towards the Catholic Church, as well as their own schools’ campus ministry programs. About 20 of the 60 student responses came from Catholic Mercyhurst students, according to Baker. The Erie Diocese and individual campus ministries can utilize the information provided by these surveys to help shape their plans and programs to young people’s needs and desires. Persico then took the floor to discuss the future of the Diocese of Erie, including the recent decision to restructure the diocese’s Catholic schools. He also recognized the desire to strengthen Catholic education programs designed for students who attend public
Contributed photo
Mercyhurst students and faculty member Greg Baker pose with Bishop Lawrence Persico in Grove City after the annual dinner and discourse event. Students pictured are Rebecca Harms, Michelle Ahrens, Catherine Rainey, Ryan King, Bridget Jacob, Vivian Suazo, Natalie Merucci, Matthew Jury, Tom Matheson, Anna Warner, Michael Best, Sergio Cortes and Mary Jaskowak.
schools. “The most important thing that the bishop talked about, in my opinion, was the need for witness,” said Father Jim Piszker, university chaplain, who attended the dinner.
“We need to express to one another what our faith means to us and how we can see God working in our lives.” Baker said he thinks dialogue with the bishop is beneficial for students because it
allows them to see how students seek to live out their faith on other campuses. “It was also especially valuable to recognize, as bishop Persico alluded to many times, that young adults cannot just
James Breckenridge, Ph.D., dean of the Ridge College.
Michael Elnitsky, Ph.D., dean of the the Zurn College of Natural Health and Sciences.
Raj Parikh, Ph.D., dean of the Walker College of Business and Management.
ask the church to provide services and make changes; young adults need to step forward to lead and to take an active role in parishes and ministries with which they are involved,” Baker said. Sophomore Ryan King, who said he enjoyed the dinner overall, had similar views. “I thought it was very informative and it was encouraging to see so many people who take their faith seriously,” King said. “I also thought the Bishop was very personable and easy to talk to.” Senior Michelle Ahrens, who attended dinner with Perisco her freshman year, was pleased with this year’s event. “Freshman year when I went, it was within the first few months of him becoming bishop, so it was a lot of questions like, what’s your favorite color, that kind of thing. I appreciated how this one was a lot more dialogue about relevant issues.”
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5K run to benefit Wounded Warrior Project for vets By Sergio Cortes Contributing writer
The Mercyhurst Sports Medicine Student Association and the Mercyhurst softball team are joining together for the first time to organize a 5K run/walk to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project. The Wounded Warrior Project is a national charity and veterans organization which provides a wide variety of programs, services and events for wounded veterans. The decision to benefit the Wounded Warrior Project arose last year, according to Leanne Baker, head coach of the softball team and one of the event’s orchestrator. “We have a handful of Sports Medicine majors on the softball team. Last year we were thinking of new community service projects that we could tackle and this idea came up,” Baker said. Veterans are not always receiving the care they deserve, according to Bradley Jacobson, the assistant director of the Sports Medicine Department and co-organizer of the event. This was another reason the groups decided to take on this project. “We are just attempting to assist and show our veterans that our community cares about them and they are not forgotten for the sacrifice that they have given to the citizens of our country,” Jacobson said. Baker said she hopes they are able to make a significant donation to the cause. The Sports Medicine Department has previous experience organizing 5k races, including the Linked by Pink Race in April of 2015 that supported breast cancer awareness and raised funds for local patients and their families. “Our department has organized 5K races across our campus for over 10 years. Leanne Baker contacted
me to see if I was interested in organizing a joint effort,” Jacobson said. Student chairs and co-chairs in the Sports Medicine Student Association who are involved with the event include Shannon Minihane, who is also a softball player, Sklyer Snyder, Lynne Gillott, August Mezzio, Connor Moran, Mike Lawson, Paul Callahan, Georgia Rieger, and Jena Clinch. Members of the softball team will assist these students to organize the event.
“
We are just attempting to assist and show our veterans that our community cares about them...
”
-- Bradley Jacobson
The run/walk, which will take place Nov. 15, and costs $20, will begin outside the Mercyhurst Rec Center at 8 a.m. The race is set to begin at 9:30 a.m. Awards will be presented to the top two overall male and female finishers. “We are hoping for a strong Mercyhurst community turn out. It’s the perfect tune up race for a turkey trot or holiday run,” Baker said.
Trang Nguyen photos
Leanne Roberts, Ph.D., dean of the Hafenmaier College of Humanities.
Deans prepare for new schools By Melanie Todd Staff writer
The new university structure includes new jobs for four full time academic deans. Each academic college now has its own full time dean who is fully accessible to students and faculty. “I’m excited to take on a new challenge and work more closely with all my colleagues,” Michael Elnitsky, Ph.D., dean of Zurn College of Natural and Health Sciences said. As with any new job there will be challenges and opportunities. “Meeting the needs of such a large college will be a challenge; however, one I look forward to,” Leanne Roberts, Ph.D., dean of the Hafenmaier College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. This year continues to be full of fast changes. “Our goal is to keep improving and we focus on that. We have master planning in progress,” Raj Parikh,
Ph.D., dean of the Walker College of Business and Management said. The Walker College has many goals for the future. “We hope to get better facilities in the future. We hope to get a trading room to train students to sell and trade stocks,” Parikh said. The Walker College also has academic goals. “Our vision is to become a premier college of business where we reflect Mercy values. Our goal is to be in the top 1/3 of all university and college students who take the major field test. We are almost there,” Parikh said. The Ridge College of Intelligence Studies and Applied Science will see higher academic goals as well. “We believe the Ridge College should be at the cuttingedge of teaching pedagogy and public scholarship. Each department within the new college will be expected to be a center of excellence for these initiatives. Service to the
community and the nation is a given; all faculty and staff will be expected to contribute in a meaningful way throughout the year,” James Breckenridge, Ph.D., dean of the Ridge College. There are challenges the Ridge School will need to overcome. “As we identify essential tasks, we will develop a way to measure and assess those tasks to achieve excellence,” Breckenridge said. However, there will not be many changes for the Zurn College of Natural and Health Sciences. “In the short term, we don’t see any dramatic changes at the undergraduate level. Eventually, we may add new programs at the graduate level. Some of our programs are really primed for growth and have untapped potential,” Elnitsky said. The biggest change will be for the deans themselves. The full-time deans will no longer have the ability to teach
classes, as they had in the past. “That will be the hardest part of the new job, not seeing the students and interacting with them on a day-to-day basis. That was one of the primary things that brought me to Mercyhurst — the ability to connect with the students,” Elnitsky said. Roberts agrees she will miss her time in the classroom. “I start every class with a few minutes of informal conversation with the students, finding out how they are doing, catching up with what is new in their worlds and often share something of my own. I do this not so much because it eases our way into the formal instruction, but because I am genuinely interested,” Roberts said. However, Roberts will not miss all of her teaching duties. “I can pinpoint what I won’t miss — the grading,” Roberts said. @TheMerciad
Hurst Crime Log Incident
Date
Location
Sexual assault
Oct. 27-30
Warde Hall
Trespass and Underage consumption
Oct. 31
Lewis Ave.
Harassment, Criminal mischief
Nov. 1
Baldwin Hall
November 4, 2015
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The Merciad
Features
Fresh Face Forward launches campaign By Phuong Nguyen Staff writer
Fresh Face Forward launches a new campaign to raise awareness about the harmful ingredients in personal care products. Founded by a group of female teachers and students at Mercyhurst, Fresh Face Forward was created to raise awareness about the toxic chemicals in personal care products and their damaging effect on bodies and the environment. By targeting tiny synthetic plastic particles called microbeads, the team hopes to spark change in Erie. “This campaign is important because people need to know what is in their products,” said Jade Gelsimino, senior communication major and campaign designer. Microbeads, like other plastics, can absorb toxins commonly found in our waterways. Studies have shown that fish and wildlife of all sizes consume the plastic, raising serious concerns about the impact of microbeads on aquatic species. Microbeads are found in
Trang Nguyen photo
Anne Zaphiris (left) is Fresh Face Foward’s faculty adviser. Zaphiris, along with other campaign coordinators, will bring awareness about the dangers found in personal care products.
some products that people use daily, including toothpastes and body scrubs. The campaign coordinators are Anne Zaphiris, faculty advisor; Trang Nguyen, junior Communication Major and social media editor and Gelsimino. This year, they are targeting microbeads and triclosan. From October to January, microbeads are the main
focus and from Feb. to May is tricolsan. “I think so far this year’s campaign is going well. We have a pretty steady rate of growing interest. The team’s effort is getting recognized,” Nguyen said. The campaign’s goal is to influence students to change their current personal care products to safer alternatives.
The group has held different events to bring awareness to students. On Wednesday, Oct. 28, an event was held in Egan, where they distributed information about microbeads and gave away free samples of body exfoliator and organic lip balms. They also gave out a Fresh Face Forward cosmetic bag to a lucky winner. An upcoming event with the
Kodellas hails from Greece By Lauren Murphy Staff writer
Originally from Greece, Spyridon Kodellas, Ph.D., is the newest addition to the Criminal Justice Department. Kodellas received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Faculty of Communication and Media Studies at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. After that, he worked as a professional journalist. One of the most interesting people he interviewed was Albert Bandura, Ph.D., a psychologist who came up with many fundamental theories of psychology. Kodellas interviewed Bandura in 2003 when he received an honorary Ph.D. at the National and Kapodistrian University. After working as a journalist for 10 years, Kodellas realized journalism was not for him. “I didn’t find being a journalist fulfilling. I wanted to make a difference. As a journalist I could not do that, but as a professor, I could make a difference in my student’s life,” Kodellas said. After leaving the life of journalism, Kodellas came to the United States in 2012,
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People took free samples of body exfoliator and organic lip balm from the Fresh Face Foward table in Egan.
same theme will take place in Warde Hall on Tuesday, Nov. 17. “There are so many personal care companies that have no regard for the effects their products may have on us and our environment. It is time that we advocate for change and take action,” Gelsimino said. In January, the campaign
Staff writer
Meghan Maker photo
where he was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Cincinnati in Ohio. He graduated with a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice. Unfortunately, all international students who receive a full-ride scholarship to the United States for their Ph.D. have to move back to their home country for two years before they can start working in the United States.
“The economy in Greece is not good right now, so as soon as my two years were up, I came back to the U.S.,” Kodellas said. In 2013, Kodellas was awarded with the Garvin Distinguished Dissertation Award. Between 2014 and 2015, he was a Visiting Instructor of Criminology at the University of South Florida Saraso-
ta-Manatee. In September of 2015, he began a tenure-track appointment as an Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Mercyhurst. So far, Kodellas is satisfied with his new life in Erie. “I’ve made my home here with my wife, and we are happy to start our family,” Kodellas said.
LAKER MOMENT
During Hollow-wellness day, Rhonda Blount (left) and Kim Kimmy (right) dressed up as cupcakes. Hollow-wellness took place on Wednesday Oct. 29, Egan Hall.
By Tung Vu
@TheMerciad
Quickstarter funds STEM boat By Brittany Smyth
Spyridon Kodellas retired as a journalist to pursue a Ph.D. in Criminal Justice. He is now the Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Mercyhurst and is happy with his new life in Erie.
will focus in bringing awareness about triclosan, an antibacterial and antifungal agent found in consumer products. Several states and counties have already started banning microbeads in products.
Erie native Jamie Trost will embark on a journey with fellow co-workers and students from the Mercyhurst community to recreate the Gunboat Schooner Porcupine, a ship from the War of 1812, scheduled to set sail during the summer of 2016. Trost started working fulltime last March at the Erie Bayfront Maritime Center. He is the project manager on the re-creation of Porcupine. When the task is complete, he will become the captain of the ship. Trost learned how to sail at an early age. “Learning how to sail began when I was five, but I became very passionate about it when I was around the age of 13. It was a family tradition,” Trost said. Trost and his team will be using donated fiberglass hulls from an Ohio couple, Keith and Kathy Palmerton, in the construction of the ship. With the help of a Mercyhurst Professor Kristan Wheaton, a Quickstarter campaign was brought to the Mercyhurst campus. Quickstarter is a tool to identify and help potential entrepreneurs conceive successful crowdfunding campaigns Rachel Betzner, a junior Intelligence Studies and Marketing Major, used Quickstarter as an opportunity to gain experience in the marketing field. Betzner is the project manager of the campaign conducted by the Erie Bayfront Maritime Center. “Before the launch of the campaign, I was working with students to design a logo for the t-shirts and to create video to put on the ‘Kickstarter’ webpage. I am also working with Trost and Wheaton to create a successful campaign,” Betzner said. “I am currently contacting all media outlets to let the community know about this project,” Betzner said.
The team had reached their goal of raising $5,000 within 48 hours. The money will be used to install a wooden deck on the Porcupine. “From the launch time until the time we met our goal, I was checking my phone almost every hour to see our progress,” Betzner said. This project is being created to introduce STEM technology and teach students about the history behind the boat. Porcupine will be a schoolship for Erie. The boat will provide a hands-on learning tool for students interested in STEM technology and for those who want to learn more about its history. The Porcupine will be an historical attraction to the Erie community because the War of 1812. Daniel Dobbins, a former sailing master in the United States Navy, was able to convince President Madison that a fleet should be built on Presque Isle’s sheltered harbor to defend America. Trost called this project, “innovative” because with over two decades of history students can be engaged by Erie’s past. Students from Mercyhurst can get involved by helping monetarily or through the use of social media. The main goal is to get the word out to the community. Students can search Gunboat Schooner Porcupine at BMC on Facebook and like the page and share it with other friends. Students can also donate money to help rebuild the ship. For more information contact Jamie Trost at jamie. trost@bayfrontcenter.org.
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November 4, 2015
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Features
Hospitality heats up the kitchen By Brittany Smyth Staff writer
As part of the Advanced Foods Course, senior hospitality students run the Marriott Cafe in the CAE and prepare personalized meals every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Community members come to dine while the students take turns embodying different roles involved in running a restaurant. As the general managers, students are in charge of the restaurant during the evening for an assigned day of the week. Aaron Crecraft, senior Hospitality major was general manager for Wednesday’s event called “A Key West Adventure” for the evening’s guests. “We each have to do two meals a semester,” Crecraft said. The students work to make this more than just a meal for their capstone course, but an overall experience. They choose a theme for their meals, complete with centerpieces. Wednesday’s menu featured a classic wedge salad with blue cheese dressing. For the entree, cilantro lime chicken and shrimp were accompanied by asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes were served. For dessert there was Key lime pie. “When it’s your meal, you’re the general manager and everyone else from your class is your team. You really get put into a leadership role,” Crecraft said. Students have many responsibilities when managing. They buzz around the restaurant,
Salina Bowe photo
Senior Hospitality students run the Marriot Cafe as general managers on their assigned day of the week.
preparing meals, asking for clarification, setting tables and creating seating arrangements. All to create a pleasant experience for their guests. “The general manager for the meal is responsible for creating the recipes, costing out the meal, all things you would do in a real restaurant,” Crecraft said. “We take reservations and people come from the community. Reservations go very quickly some even two weeks before the date.” It is important for students to understand all roles in the team and be able to fill those roles. “We are preparing for real life,” Crecraft said. “This is what I really love about this program. It’s hands on, experiential learning.” As with the real world, things are not always perfect, so it is important for students
to prepare for those situations. “Things can go wrong and they do in the real world so we have to use our leadership skills to correct it,” Crecraft said. “The professors and instructors, they’ve done it. They understand the hospitality and they get to bring that experience and give it to us,” Crecraft said. Throughout the hospitality program, students are given important management skills. However, these learning opportunities extend beyond the CAE. “I interned at Walt Disney Resorts in Orlando. It was a fabulous experience and has really helped me,” Crecraft said. The hospitality faculty has established an extensive networking program to help students find real-world internship opportunities and
Relationship Psyc. take on Yik Yak By Sean McErlane and Lyndsey Justice
Contributing writers
As students enrolled in the class of Relationship Psychology, we have contemporary and research based insights into the world of relationships. One of the learning objectives in the class is to develop communication skills about relationships. College aged students, more than ever, are faced with complicated environments in which they need to discover and negotiate the intricacies of relationships with little valid information on these topics. Don’t worry, Relationship Psychology is here to help! Through the power of Yik Yak, an anonymous social media outlet, we have found that Mercyhurst students are facing many of the problems that we have been studying in class. Below, we have analyzed some of the more striking Yaks that we have seen over the past week, and give our input about what each Yakker should do from a scientific standpoint. Yik Yak Post: Remaining abstinent until marriage... Opinions? Sex for the first time is something that everybody has to deal with, whether you choose to wait until marriage or not. In general, having sex before turning 16 years old
leads to more awkward and less rewarding situations than if you were to wait until after 20 years old. However, the average age of sexual debut is 17-years-old. In one sample collected at Mercyhurst, 26 percent of participants said they have not ever had sex. Research in the United States shows that the average number of partners over the lifetime for men is about 6 and for women it is about 4. So, if you are a virgin, do not feel like you are the only one! Sex is something that you should take at your own pace and do on your own terms. In the end, the decision is ultimately up to you. You should wait until you are ready and insist on your right to postpone a sexual relationship. Be sure to set your own pace and wait until trust, comfort, and open communication exist in your relationships before you decide to get into bed with someone. Yik Yak Post: I just want to fall in love and live happily ever after. Is that too much to ask for?!
Romanticism is the view that love should be the most important basis for choosing a mate. Those high on romanticism believe that each of us has one “true” love, that true love will overcome any obstacle and that love is possible at first sight. People with beliefs
in line with romanticism experience more love, satisfaction and commitment in the first few months of their relationships than others. However, do these beliefs (and relationships built on these beliefs) last? Science would suggest that these beliefs erode as time goes by and that real relationships rarely meet such expectations. The belief that all you have to do to be happy in a relationship is to find the perfect partner is not advantageous. Basically, it is unrealistic. Instead of basing relationships on love and only love, studies show that that the happiest relationships over time are the result of hard work and dedication. Good relationships are believed to develop gradually as the partners work at surmounting challenges and overcoming obstacles. Instead of looking for true love, look for someone who is going to work hard with you to make a relationship work!
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Salina Bowe photo
Students in the Advanced Foods Lab carefully prepare the potatoes for a meal.
Salina Bowe photo
Milos Veres helps to prepare a classmates meal in the Marriot Cafe.
jobs upon graduation. “Be open to take on any adventure. It might be a great experience and broaden your
world. You can’t be focused on only one opportunity. Hospitality has shown me so many things I never thought I
would get into,” Crecraft said. @TheMerciad
Habitat for Humanity lends helping hand By Charles Hummel Contributing writer
By building homes and character, Habitat for Humanity Club is creating better lives for the citizens of Erie. Under the wing of Campus Ministry, Habitat for Humanity does various works within the community. Next weekend, Saturday, Nov. 7, the club is going to their local site in Erie with 12 students to continue construction on a house. They plan to return before Christmas and the house is expected to be completed by the end of this year. Habitat for Humanity is an international Christian nonprofit organization with over 1,400 local affiliates, including one in Erie. According to their website these affiliates are formed by concerned citizens who wish to help address the issues of poverty within their community. “Although Habitat for Humanity is a charity organization, those who receive the homes being built pay for them in sweat equity,” said Jeremy Hewitt, Habitat for Humanity Club advisor. This means they help pay for their house by helping to build it, and building the houses of others. In Erie County, Habitat for Humanity is not in short supply of potential projects. In an early 2015 study by the Erie County Department of Human Services, the unsheltered number of homeless is approximately 1,500 with an additional number of people
Contributed photo
Last Spring break, several members of the Habitat for Humanity club traveled to Oak Ridge, Tenn.
in shelters. In a different study by United Way, 17 percent of Erie County residents live below the poverty line and within city limits, the number increases to 30 percent. These statistics help fuel the work of Habitat for Humanity. They hope to create low cost housing to help people out of the poverty line. In addition to doing work in the community, all Habitat for Humanity affiliates are required to give a certain percentage of their contributions to affiliates from across the globe. The goal is to end poverty at home and abroad. The Habitat for Humanity club at Mercyhurst does more than just work in Erie. Over spring break 2016, the club is sending 20 students to Monroe, NC, and 20 more to Port Huron, MI. This trip will consume all of the selected
student’s breaks, but Hewitt believes it is noble sacrifice. “Knowing that you’re building a home for this person’s children to grow up in is so rewarding,” said Hewitt. “Although these trips require time, effort and sweat, It’s just great” said junior Kelsey Davies, club president. For more information on trips or projects with Habitat for Humanity, email Kelsey Davies at kdavie69@mercyhurst.lakers.edu or Jeremy Hewitt at jhewitt@mercyhurst.edu. Students selected to go on these trips are done so on a first come, first serve basis.
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November 4, 2015
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The Merciad
Arts &
Entertainment
‘Dance 1-2-3’ event to raise funds for the Regional Cancer Center By Rachel Sobina Staff writer
If you enjoy an evening packed with a great dance performance, prizes and fun, then ‘Dance 1-2-3’ is just the ticket. This spectacular event will feature some fantastic and talented dancers from around the word. Tauna Hunter, dance department chair, professor of dance and director of this spectacular event, is a seven-year breast cancer survivor herself and feels very passionate about raising awareness. “This weekend is my way of bringing forward Brest Cancer Awareness. We will be partnering with the Regional Cancer Center Foundation and offering a Tribute to Cancer Awareness that I feel will be a very powerful moment for both performers and audience members,” Hunter said. Hunter has been with the university for 22 years. She began her dance training with Willam F. Christensen and continued at the University of Utah where she earned B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in ballet performance and choreography. During her affiliation with
Ballet West, she worked under the guidance of Bruce Marks and Toni Lander and received critical acclaim as one of the company’s leading ballerinas. She toured internationally and danced as a guest artist with numerous regional companies throughout the United States. In 1985, she co-founded DANSOURCE, a national networking and information service that connected dancers and companies for over ten years. Hunter has taught for companies, universities and private schools throughout the United States. She has staged numerous full-length classical ballets and choreographed over twenty-five contemporary works. In 2010, she was honored with the Chautauqua Artist Teacher Award and highlighted in Dance Teacher Magazine. This gala event will be going on Nov. 6 through 8, in the PAC. Performances will be held Friday, Nov. 6, at 4:30 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. Audience members will be offered a unique chance to meet and speak with the dancers after the Friday and Saturday night performances.
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Saturday’s performance will also offer an “after-performance” disco party themed “Dress-Up Disco Dance” until midnight with a DJ, prizes and other activities.
‘Dance 1-2-3’ will be going on from Nov. 6 through 8, in the PAC. Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for students with Mercyhurst IDs. Sarah Paschal Photos
‘The Normal Heart’ to play in Taylor Little Theatre By Naomi Greenstein Staff writer
As the weeks continue to fly by, we are slowly coming to the last few Sunday afternoon movies in Taylor Little Theatre. This weekend’s movie will be a showing of The Normal Heart, starring Mark Ruffalo, Julia Roberts, Matt Bomer and Jim Parsons. The 2014 drama takes place during the 1980s in New York City, when the HIV/AIDs crisis was first occurring and the nation was in a state of ignorant panic. The film, directed by Ryan Murphy, was once a stage play of the same name written by Larry Kramer in 1985. The story is depicted through the
eyes of the main protagonist, an openly gay writer named Ned Weeks, who was actually written as the alter ego of Larry Kramer. Ned is at the center of the AIDs crisis when a close friend who originally appears on the screen in good health, collapses during a birthday party in Fire Island Pines on Long Island. While traveling on the train back to the city, Ned comes across an article in the New York Times titled “Rare Cancer Diagnosed in 41 Homosexuals.” He immediately visits the office of Emma Brookner, Md, played by Julia Roberts. She does not find any lesions on his body like others who were diagnosed with the new condition, or any other symptoms for that matter, but asks
for his help in raising awareness of it in the gay community. Eventually, Ned becomes an activist and the founder of an HIV advocacy group, the Gay Men’s Health Crisis and fights to raise awareness and get more funding for research for the gay community while they are slowly dying around him from the disease. The Normal Heart is a powerful, heartbreaking drama, as well as a vital document of events leading up to and through the early AIDS crisis. The film will be shown this Sunday, Nov. 8, at 2 p.m. in Taylor Little Theatre. Tickets are $6 for adults, $5 for seniors, students and military, and $1 for students with their Mercyhurst IDs.
‘Stitches’ highlights fiber art By Jenny Sabilov Staff writer
Online
Fiber art is a fine art consisting of natural or synthetic fiber and other components, such as fabric or yarn. It focuses on the materials and on the manual labor as part of the works’ significance. It prioritizes aesthetic value over utility. Contemporarily speaking, fiber art takes its context from the textile arts. What makes it art is significant. The focus is on conveying a message or meaning and emotion beyond just simple fabrics patterns. One of the most common forms of fiber art is quilt-
Full list of events can be found on the PAC website
View upcoming performances: www.miac.mercyhurst.edu
ing, where layers of fabrics are stitched together. This, along with other types of art, engages contemporary themes and issues, will be presented in the Cummings Art Gallery on Monday, Nov. 9, at 9 p.m. and will be available until Dec. 3. There will also be a reception taking place on Saturday, Nov. 14, between 2 and 4 p.m. Using the chain stitch as inspiration, juror Tina Williams Brewer, a Pittsburgh fiber/quilt artist, began a chain, bringing together contemporary fiber artists for this exhibition of quilts and fiber art that engage contemporary themes and issues. Internationally-honored creator of story quilts, Wil-
liams Brewer is known for her artistic exploration of African-American history and the personal experiences associated with it. Her work is known for its displays of African American culture and heritage. She utilizes symbolism, textile and fabrics to create story quilts that are motivated by issues focusing on family, women, children and the spirituality of the culture. For over 30 years, her name has been synonymous in the artistic mention of the “Story Quilt.” Brewer’s spectacular, meaningful display is not one to miss because of the experience of rich culture told throughout the stitches.
www.merciad.mercyhurst.edu/ arts_entertainment
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November 4, 2015
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 Merciad Relay for Life successful or the Catholic Church. Responses on any subject are always welcomed and can be emailed to opinionmerciad@mercyhurst.edu.
Forcing all student athletes to live on campus bad for morale By William Patterson Contributing writer
There are big changes underway at Mercyhurst, and many students are not happy about it. Unless you completely isolated yourself last week, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of the new housing policy at Mercyhurst. President Michael Victor’s decision to require athletes (and eventually all students) to live on campus has only been known for about a week, but it has quickly turned into one of the most talked about things since Hurst Day, and the administration needs to start listening. A lot of students are won-
dering why this new policy is going into effect. The answer, of course, is that they want more of your money. This is not a cheap place to get an education and this new policy will only make it worse.
“
This is not a cheap place to get an education and this new policy will only make it worse.
”
Will Patterson
The most expensive on-campus housing option is almost $8,000 a year per student. On the other hand, the average three-person household off campus costs around
$4,800 a year per resident. For many students, living off-campus is a financial decision and this new policy could make it difficult for many to attend an already expensive university. Many students factored their living situation into their college choice. It is simply not fair when students were told before admission that they would be allowed to live off campus. All of the complaints from students so far boil down to one thing: There’s a reason students live off campus. It’s because they want to. If the students are not happy with the change, it’s not a good thing. If Mercyhurst students constantly complain about being
forced to live on campus, prospective students and athletes are going to take notice. And
“
The administration needs to start listening. Will Patterson
”
that is the last thing we need. After all, who would want to go to a school where all students do is complain about it? This university can’t operate without students, and I fear that this new policy will reduce morale on a campus that already has a tough time getting excited without free food and inflatables. @TheMerciad
On caffeine: Do the studying benefits outweigh the potential health risks? By Cheyanne Crum Staff writer
College students experience the perfect combination of precariously perched assignments, red-eyed “cram sessions,” horrible dietary habits, and sleepless nights of homework. Caffeine is one of the staple ingredients that allows for this insanity that is considered “the best four years of our lives” to continue without complete meltdowns. I will be the first to admit that I am addicted to caffeine. If I do not have some sort of caffeinated beverage throughout my day, I get massive migraines. As a college student, caffeine has become an even
bigger friend of mine than it was in high school. Since I see many of my peers and classmates carrying coffee cups or energy drink cans, I am clearly not alone in this. Everytime I enter the bookstore between classes, there is a line, sometimes out the door, leading straight to the coffee counter. This drug of choice is essential in our diets. The brain requires energy and a steady supply of sugar to function, just like any muscle in the body, according to healthguidance.org. This means that caffeine is able to help to wake you up and help you function during that 8 a.m. class you came to after rolling out of bed at 7:55 a.m. As with most things that taste good, caffeine comes with health risks. Caffeine is considered to
be a drug because it alters performance and is addictive. According to secondscount. org, it is actually recommended to only consume up to 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. (The average cup of coffee contains 95-200 miligrams). Unfortunately, in college, students tend to overlook the bad and focus on what they can get done with their midnight energy drink fix. Thomas Cook, Ph.D., chair of the Public Health department, said in an email that some of the health effects that are associated with caffeine usage can include negative effects on a student’s sleep cycle and chronic dehydration. Medical research has shown that health problems associated with high concentrations of caffeine are increased heart
and blood pressure and heart palpitations, according to secondscount.org. One study actually showed that 19 percent of college students that drink energy drinks experienced heart palpitations. Cook noted that there are few studies that “have found a direct biological link between increased caffeine [use] and specific health outcomes.” While keeping in mind the “indirect effects of overuse,” that Cook states “may be equally important,” I personally find myself in support of the use of caffeine. If I can get all the homework that I need to get done in a day with the help of a cup of coffee or an energy drink, then that is a pretty good day.
Good Out of the 13 speakers at this year’s TEDxErie, two of them will be Mercyhurst affiliates: Brad McGarry, the current director of the Mercyhurst AIM Program and Nick Cianci, a recent Mercyhurst graduate and current Director of Enrollment for the Kennedy Catholic Family of Schools.
Bad There must have been a blow-out sale on mulch this year, as Maintenance is still receiving loads to place around campus on a weekly basis. They are being stored in large quantities in parking spots behind the Briggs apartment buildings. Rumor is that the massive mulch piles will be sculpted into future housing on campus that athletes will be forced to live in.
Ugly The bus stop on Briggs Avenue was bus-ted over Halloween weekend after vandals did their dirty deeds. Shattered glass and caution tape covered the ugly scene.
@TheMerciad
The Merciad Surviving without a meal plan at MU By Alex Albano Staff writer
Online
For my sophomore year, I decided to not purchase a Mercyhurst meal plan. The reason for my choice is that it is much cheaper to skip the meal plan and put that money toward my tuition. I personally was a fan of Egan and all of the different options they had during my freshman year. I miss the brunches on the weekends the most. It was very convenient last year to have unlimited swipes. I went to Egan a lot and felt that I definitely got my money’s worth. When I began this year without the meal plan, my parents were very scared that I would be eating mainly junk food. So far, it’s not as bad as my family and I feared it would be. It’s actually really fun to
make a shopping list, budget and cook all of my own food. It definitely is more time consuming, but I’ve always loved food, so it’s really fun to try and experiment new ways to cook things. Based on my experience, it is really easy to live on campus without purchasing a meal plan. Every other week, one of my roommates and I go grocery shopping together. Our budget that we try to stick to is $40 each, but we usually go a little bit above our ideal amount we would like to spend. We usually go to Walmart because it is cheaper than Wegmans. Things that we get at Walmart are our meats, eggs, milk, breads, fruit, vegetables, starches, salad and snacks. When we go to Wegmans, we get our frozen vegetables in big packages so that they will last us. I get cheese there for pasta,
and in the future when I have more money aside, I will be able to purchase some of my favorite foods that are more expensive, such as olives and fish. For those who don’t like to cook or can’t cook well, there are a lot of eating places in Erie. We have Arby’s right next to school, Tim Horton’s and Frogurtz. On Peach Street, there’s even more: Panera Bread, Chipotle, Olive Garden and Ruby Tuesday, to name just a few. It would be very hard not to find something to eat in this city. Lisa Iadanza, a senior Bio-Archaeology student, also believes that not having a food plan is beneficial. “I like not having a meal plan because it allows for greater flexibility,” said Iadanza. “I also can cook what I want when I want. I am a big fan of Picasso’s, Panera Bread and Olive Garden.” That being said, I person-
Read more at
merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion
ally have found that there are many benefits to having a hand in how my food is cooked. I know what is going into it and how it is handled because I’m the one who is cooking it. It allows me to eat healthy and not worry about what is put into it. Also, it is good practice for helping me become a better cook. Food is a very important part in my Italian family’s life back home, so it is fun to learn how to cook like my parents. I am able to cook whatever I want and eat particular food when I want it. There are many different ways to live here and survive without a food plan.
@TheMerciad
Editors Sami Rapp Karah Hollis Catherine Rainey Jose Nufio Carly Contraguerro Megan Pacileo Ryan Kushner Mary Barnes Margaret Urso Victoria Kreysar Bill Welch
Positions @mercyhurst.edu Editor-in-Chief editormerciad Managing Editor managingmerciad News Editor newsmerciad Features Editor featuremerciad sportsmerciad Sports Editor A&E Editor entertainmentmerciad Opinion Editor opinionmerciad Copy Editor copymerciad Photo Editor photomerciad Ad Manager admerciad Adviser wwelch
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.
Write for The Merciad, email editormerciad@mercyhurst.edu
November 4, 2015
Page 7
The Merciad
Sports Women’s hockey earns first wins By Haleigh Giebel Staff writer
On Friday and Saturday, Oct. 30 and 31, the Mercyhurst women’s hockey team rallied to defeat Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) 5-0 and 4-3 for their first wins of the season. During the weekend series, freshman goaltender Sarah McDonnell recorded her first collegiate win and the Lakers’ first shutout of the season. “Our younger players are doing a great job,” said Head Coach Michael Sisti. “They have good work habits and they are eager to learn.” On Friday, in roughly a three minute span the Lakers’ went up 3-0 over RIT. Sophomore Sarah Robello started off the scoring with a wrist shot that went over the RIT goaltender’s glove. Senior
hurstathletics.com photo
Freshman forward, Rachael Smith (14) was named College Hockey America Offensive Player of the Week following the Laker’s sweep over RIT where she posted two goals with three assists.
Jenna Dingeldein had the lone assist. Freshman Rachael Smith got on the board next when she found the back of the
net off of a rebound. Freshman Sarah Hine and senior Hannah Bale had the assists on the goal. To end the 3-minute scoring
spree, junior Megan Whiddon scored her first goal of the season with assistance from junior Jillian Skinner and freshman Molly Blasen.
“We are working hard at practice and keeping our spirits up to overcome the losing streak,” said Smith. “I feel once we find our first win, they will just keep coming.” During the third period, Hine and Bale both recorded a goal to end the game 5-0 ,Lakers. Smith, Blasen and junior Paige Horton and Dingeldein had the assists on the 2 goals. “If we can match our talent with our work ethic we will have a chance to do something special this year,” freshman Morgan Stacey said. Saturday’s game went back and forth with goals from the Lakers and RIT, leading into overtime. During regulation play, the Lakers had goals from senior J’nai Mahadeo, Smith and Robello. Robello scored at 18:22 in the third period to tie the game and send it into
overtime. Smith, Hine and seniors Kathy Donohue and Lauren Kilroy all had assists on those goals. At 2:07 in overtime, Dingeldein found the back of the net to win the game and sweep RIT. The goal was assisted by Blasen and Hine. “We still have lots of room for improvement and we’re striving to be the best we can be,” said freshman Nicole Collier. “We are a strong team who has yet to show it, also considering that we are a young team, we still have a lot to learn.” The Lakers head to University Park, Pa. to take on Penn State University on Friday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m.
@TheMerciad
Wrestling aspires to repeat success By Noldon Starks Contributing writer
The Mercyhurst wrestling team had an outstanding season last year, finishing 18-1 overall and 7-0 in the PSAC. They continued their success through the season earning fourth place out of 48 in the NCAA National Championship. The team is determined to go as far this season as well putting in their best efforts during the preseason. “We had a groundbreaking performance last year. The kids have put in a lot of work in the off season and so far in the preseason. We finished fourth at Nationals, so this year our goal is to win it all.
The guys are working hard to put us in the same position for this year,” Head Coach Mike Wehler said. The wrestling team is starting the season ranked fourth in the country, according to the preseason Division II poll. There are also eight wrestlers ranked in the top eight in country in their respective weight classes. These wrestlers include redshirt juniors Willie Bohince, Dylan D’Urso and Francis Mizia, redshirt seniors Jeremy Landowski, Angelo Bortoluzzi and August Mizia and juniors Dakota DesLauriers and Andrew Welton. “Last year, confidence was big for us because in the previous years we had never had two all-Americans place in the same year. So it feels good
that as a team, we can perform at a higher level instead of having only two wrestlers place,” D’Urso said. The Lakers had six allAmericans last year and hope to have more members placed on the podium to be recognized this season. “Everybody trains each day to make each other better. It is a good thing. Everybody is competitive and everybody wants to see everybody to do good. Hopefully, we can heighten the ante and get in that position of success,” Bohince said. The wrestlers are recognized not only for their performances on the mat, but also for their accomplishments off the mat. Mercyhurst had four sports
honored by the PSAC for having the highest grade point average in their sports. Mercyhurst wrestling was among these teams. “When you are in season, you focus on two things: wrestling and school. Wrestling cuts out distractions so it is much easier to plan your workouts around your classes and then plan your homework around your workouts so we have a structured day. It’s not that difficult to balance things out,” D’Urso said. The wrestlers understand the dynamics of being a student athlete and putting in the time and effort to be successful in both. “We have study hall together as a team, we have quiet hours the guys can get work
done and make sure we stay focused. Our coach’s main focus is that we get a job after college, so it’s very important to stay diligent with our studies,” Bohince said. The wrestling team also gets involved in the community to volunteer their time. “We volunteer at the heart walk where they have designated little kids to be recognized each year. This year they had a 2-year-old boy who has gone through a couple of heart surgeries. He came to [Mercyhurst’s] homecoming and walked on the field with us when we got recognized as a team. This year we are trying to get him to at least one of our matches,” Wehler said. This team is not all about the wrestling program, even
though wrestling is the main focal point. Having good chemistry on and off the mat is crucial. “Whenever you have a team, your team chemistry is important. We have a tight team and they get along great, so that’s why they are successful,” Wehler said. Coach Wehler was named the NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year last season. The team’s first match is set for Saturday, Nov. 14, at the University of Mount Union Invitational.
@TheMerciad
Men’s soccer to host PSAC tournament By Liz Montemorano Staff writer
The Mercyhurst men’s soccer team clinched the PSAC regular season after their 2-1 double overtime win over Millersville. Mercyhurst was granted home field advantage to host the PSAC finals for the fourth season in a row. The Lakers did not expect to find themselves in this position early on in the season, though. There were struggles the team faced early on in the season, giving them a slow start. “The pressure was on, after winning last year. When the season started we were picked to win again this year. It was such a close race this year. We had lost three games in a row, and it really took us a while to get together,” junior Joe Korb said. Millersville was a big game
for the Lakers, as it determined who would host this year’s PSAC championship game. The Lakers were up 1-0 at the end of the first half due to a goal by graduate student Thom Derks. However, Millersville answered with a goal in the 56th minute to take the game into overtime. The game then went double overtime when Korb beat Millersville’s goaltender with just eight seconds left to play. “There was 30 seconds left in the game, and the ball was on the other side of the field. There was a foul on our team, and everyone kept saying ‘hurry up’ because the clock was running. Danny [ Lowton] came up and said ‘run straight to the goalie.’ Next thing I know there is 13 seconds left on the clock, the ball fell to my feet past three Millersville players, and everyone just yelled ‘shoot!” Korb
Sport
said. This goal was Korb’s fourth for the season and his second game-winning goal. The Lakers ended the season 9-7-1 overall. The losses at the beginning of the season took teammates by surprise. Although the Lakers lost seven games overall, they only lost one in their conference. After being known for winning last year, the new team learned success is not always going to be easy. “I didn’t know we would do this well. We started off with new players and injuries. We had to make some changes to the team and we thought we would just come back and win. Last year’s team did so well and not having certain players anymore gave us more pressure,” freshman Michael Blancato said. Following this win, Laker goaltender, graduate student Daniel Lowton, was named
Casey Bleuel photo
Junior midfielder Joe Korb (17) scored the Laker’s double overtime goal to defeat Millersville 2-1 and clinch the regular season PSAC title. This was his second game-winning goal of the season.
PSAC Athlete of the Week. He had a career-high 11 saved stops against Millersville. In his 10 games played this season, he has only
allowed seven goals while saving 41 shots. The Lakers will play in the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 6, at 1:30 p.m. If they win and
Let’s go Lakers!
continue to advance, they will play on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 1 p.m.
Date
Time
Men’s Soccer (PSAC Semifinals)
Friday, Nov. 6
1:30 p.m.
Volleyball
Friday, Nov. 6
7:05 p.m.
Men’s Hockey
Friday, Nov. 6
7:05 p.m.
Volleyball
Saturday. Nov. 7
2:05 p.m.
Men’s Hockey
Saturday, Nov. 7
7:05 p.m.
Men’s Soccer (PSAC Championship)
Sunday, Nov. 8
1:00 p.m.
@TheMerciad
Page 8
November 4, 2015
The Merciad
Laker
Living
History in the Making By Victoria Kreysar Ad manager
This is my fourth year at Mercyhurst. I completed my undergraduate degree a year early and returned for the graduate program here, choosing to stay because I thought and felt that in some way I was not done yet. I thought I had more to discover and enjoy here, but as the year progresses, I am beginning to regret my decision. Now I have to wonder why I came back, if maybe I have overstayed my welcome. I sit in class every day, hearing lecture after lecture of poorly-taught, slapped together, cross-listed, inefficient classes and feel cheated. When did education become a game of politics with the theme of ‘keep your head down and get through it?’ This is not the education I wanted to pay for. This is not the education I deserve. Last week, as in every week since school has begun, I saw the cracks in the foundation. Not just the literal cracks, but
the metaphorical ones as well. I see frustrated, overwhelmed, angry, apathetic students and I have to wonder if you see them too. Do you know there is a underlying sense of unhappiness around campus? How can you not? One of my close friends was an Ambassador, devoting four years and one summer to Mercyhurst, explaining to me once it was her job to sell the school and make a good impression, which she certainly did. She would always point out someone she had given tours to now attending the school, and would always smile proudly thinking, and rightly so, that she was part of the reason they came to Mercyhurst. But now, now I see her silently wondering if she didn’t advise them incorrectly. I saw her slowly become disappointed, bitter and angry over all the time and money she feels she wasted, and I know she is not alone in that feeling because that applies to myself as well. People have told me to stop complaining and “take the
easy A.” But here’s the thing: I don’t care about a grade if I have not earned it. If I can’t come out on the other side of a class with more knowledge in my brain, then what was it for? So many students, undergraduate and graduate, share a common mantra: just get to graduation. Just graduate. Get your diploma and get out. I have to wonder, is that what our education has come to, the culture this school has produced? I did not come here just for a piece of paper, I came here for an education and lately it seems that is a minor point on the agenda of this school. I feel like members of this academic community have forgotten about the obligation they have to students. It is their jobs as professors to listen to our concerns, even if we are decades younger than them. Please, do not treat me or any student here as if being young were a crime. We are not guilty of our youth anymore than you are of your longevity upon this earth. My age does not mean I am stupid, it means I am inexpe-
rienced which I am beginning to see is the real crime in the world. I have yet to be jaded and turned cynical by the world’s harsh reality, but why is that seen as bad? I will remind you: it is not your job to talk about students behind our backs or form an opinion about what kind of students you think we are, especially without even knowing us. It is not your job to get defensive when we bring up problems to you, it is your job to be a professional and deal with the situation, to teach us how to approach problems and solve them. It is your job to set an example we can strive to follow. I have to remind you, dear members of the pay-check-receiving community: my tuition pays part of your salary. My tuition keeps this school alive, keeps the lights turned on and the roofs over your heads. Without students, you have no school. Call me entitled and pretentious, but it is true. You are not untouchable because you are comfortable and it is not your job to serve yourself. Sadly, for many, their
ego has blinded them to that fact. I feel bad. Actually, I feel a profound sense of pity because there are genuinely good people here and excellent faculty members that care. Some of you are the most intelligent people I have ever met. You have been my mentors, therapists, surrogate parents and motivators throughout my time here and I am forever grateful and indebted. To me it feels that your efforts have just been overshadowed by a silent and accepted corruption that somehow crept into this institution. I will not pretend to know what comes next. It would be foolish to speculate the upcoming moves, what the next pages in the story of Mercyhurst will be, but I feel I am not alone in holding hope for the future.
@tory_krey
Way back When... The Merciad presents articles from yesteryear in their original form, including headlines. This week, our blast from the past is from Nov. 5, 1958.
Opportunity for Depth During the past few years interest in Great Books Club has dropped considerably. Many students seem to be taking the attitude, “No one reads anything but novels,” and they would certainly hate to deviate from what the rest of their friends are doing. But, in addition to novels, there are many other books on the library shelves— the world classics. These books, which have lived through many centuries and are still enjoyable, certainly deserve some attention. Are Mercyhurst students to be satisfied without any knowledege of Aristotle, Tolstoy, Kant, and Mark Twain? To a certain extent, juniors indicate interest in the lively discussions on “great books.” This is, perhaps, an indication that there are students who are desirous of knowing some of the greatest works of all time. They want to discuss these works with others to gain greater insight into them. These students will, in the end, have a better education for their efforts. We have the minds of great men at our fingertips if we only take advantage of them.
Show Your Hand “If dirt was trump, what hand would you hold?” Here at Mercyhurst, in the kitchenette and lounges, one could answer, “A hand full of trump.” This is a sad comment to make about a woman’s college. However, everyone will agree that the conditions of the lounges and kitchenette is certainly disgraceful at times. Now, what are we going to do about this? It only takes a minute to return an empty Coke bottle, empty an ash try, or wash out a coffee cup. If each girl accepts her share of the responsibility, the situation will be greatly improved. “Order is heaven’s first law.” Let’s make Mercyhurst a little more heavenly!
Game Zone
Top 10 Places to eat in Erie 1. The Breakfast Place 2. Calamari’s 3. Valerio’s 4. Sara’s 5. The Tap House 6. The Ugly Tuna 7. Molly Brannigans 8. Picasso’s 9. Teresa’s Italian Deli 10. The Corner Stone