THE Merciad
EST. 1929 VOL. 87 NO. 9
MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2013
Car takes out apartment Unoccupied Lewis Ave. building hit at ground level By Jake Lowy
Contributing writer
Just after 2 p.m. on Tuesday, a motorist drove East 38th Street and into the 3808 Lewis Ave. apartment building, caving in the exterior wall of a basement level apartment. The apartment has been unoccupied this term, so no students were injured. The woman driving the car was alert and conscious when she was taken by ambulance for treatment. According to authorities at the scene Tuesday afternoon, the driver was westbound on E. 38th Street when she crossed the boulevard, crossed the eastbound lane of E. 38th Street, and then went up the curb and hit the apartment building on the corner of E. 38th Street and Lewis Avenue. According to Deputy Erie Fire Chief Jeff Carroll, “She tried turning onto Wayne Street, when she saw oncoming traffic approaching she sped up. She drove onto the grass and into the building.” The collision took out the window and at lease a foot of wall. The surrounding structure that didn’t caved in is and holding up at the time.
Jake Lowy photo
A motorist lost control of her car Tueday and crashed through the basement apartment of 3808 Lewis Ave. Here, college staff check the damage. No students were injured. The driver was taken for treatment of what appeared to be minor injuries.
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Jake Lowy photo
Jake Lowy photo
Broadway star visits ’Hurst By Chelsea Cool Contributing writer
Broadway legend Chita Rivera graced the stage of the Mary D’ Angelo Performing Arts Center (PAC), on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Rivera and Dr. Brett Johnson did a question and answer session in which Rivera shared her experiences in her expansive career on the stage. Rivera has originated such roles as Anita in West Side Story, Velma Kelly in Chicago, and Aurora in Kiss of the Spider Woman.
Merciad Index News.................................2 Features............................3 A & E...............................4 A & E...............................5 Opinion............................6 Sports...............................7 Laker Living.....................8
Rivera said, “I want to contribute something to the future.” Another way Chita was able to give back was by celebrating her birthday with the Broadway Cares foundation. Rivera did a show and helped to raise over $5,000 for the cherity. As a dancer, Rivera strived for perfection, she learned not to question her teachers and she learned to push herself to be better. She credits a lot of this to her early dance training, her family, God, her peers and mentors.
Rivera has had her fair share of success but she also had set backs, when asked how she handled set backs, Rivera said, “This is your life and it’s all about having support so set backs happen but learning from them is important and then moving forward.” Rivera has a love for the arts saying, “without the arts people would not know who they really are, it would be a sin not to have the arts.” Rivera talked about her career but she also wanted to share her advice by saying, “Kids need to know their history, how to listen to their
teachers, and believe in what they want to do, while having a sense of humor.” The event ended with the crowd on their feet and students talking about how in awe of Rivera’s life they are and how open she was in the talk. Sophomore Tonya Lenhart said, “She is just amazing and so humble. She was heartwarming and she connected with me and inspired me.”
Sami Rapp photo
@TheMerciad
Chita Rivera talks with Brett Johnson, Ph.D. Rivera shares her experiences regarding her years performing on Broadway.
Online Poll Results Are you feeling burnt out from the semester system?
9% No, this is easy! 26% Yes, I am like a zombie. 16% I would be dead if it wasn’t for coffee 49% Yes, semesters were the worst idea EVER.
Read more inside & online
News: - History students photograph Erie
Arts & Entertainment: - Yamato returns with an encore and a bang
Be sure to vote in this week’s online poll: For the up-and-coming student radio station, what genre of music would you like to hear?
merciad.mercyhurst.edu
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The Merciad
November 13, 2013
News History students photograph Erie By Will Bickelmann Staff writer
Mercyhurst students will be taking photographs of buildings all around Erie and getting testimonials about the chosen buildings as part of the project “Erie Places, Erie Stories.” For the term project, Prof. Chris Magoc, Ph.D., has assigned his students a section of Erie, from which they will then choose different buildings to photograph. This choice can be based on historical relevance, interesting architecture or anything else that makes the building stand out. After the photographs are taken, the students find a local person who knows about the building and can tell its story.
These testimonies, along with the pictures, are what the students turn in for their final product. The students of Magoc’s Introduction to Public History and Museum Studies were split into nine teams of three before being given a section of the city to work within. Magoc organized for intro to photography workshop to teach the students how to take intriguing photographs of the buildings. Most of the photographs were on camera phones and quite proficient. When asked about the general reaction of the students, Magoc said, “Most of the reactions I get are positive. The students are getting to do an interactive experience for their project rather than book-work. Except for those
with difficulties getting testimonies, they all seem to be enjoying it.” The photographs will be exhibited at Stairways Center City Arts at 138 E. 26th St., in December. They will be for sale and with the proceeds going towards locally run nonprofit causes. “This allows this project to raise awareness of the city’s historical relevance and simultaneously provide funding for local causes,” he said. “The new length of the semesters allowed the students to have enough time to complete it,” said Magoc. “I never could’ve assigned anything like this if Mercyhurst was still on trimesters.”
Taylor Rollins photo
@bickelmann_will
Ice Center upgrades sound system and scoreboards By Melanie Todd Contributing writer
The Mercyhurst Ice Center, home to the Division I men’s and women’s ice hockey teams as well as various community teams will be getting an upgrade. Partnering with Great Lakes Insurance and Erie Insurance has provided a budget of $150,000 for a new scoreboard as well as an updated sound system. “We’re thrilled about enhancing the image of our facility, our hockey programs and the institution,” said Senior Associate Athletic Director Aaron Kemp. There is a powerful connection between Mercyhurst
Mercyhurst University Police & Safety
and the overall community as shown by the partnership of the school with the two local companies. “We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with these two fine organizations and for their support of Mercyhurst, our hockey programs, and the community members who use our facility,” said Kemp. The players and fans alike are eager for the new sound system. When the music starts playing between the plays, depending on the game, spectators will either be dead silent allowing the music to focus the players or excitedly singing along. Student hockey fans say that the scoreboard and sound
Wednesday, Nov. 6 Controlled Substance McAuley Hall Referred for discipline Wednesday, Nov. 6 Vandalism Parking Lot #11 Closed Sunday, Nov. 10 Liquor Law Violation 613 E 38th St Res-life incident
LAKER MOMENT
system will add increased excitement and energy to the upcoming games. It is known that music helps organize the brain; the new sound system could prove to be useful for more than just entertainment. The sounds in and around a hockey game can cause stress but music can act as a point of focus for the players as they set up. The updates to the Mercyhurst Ice Center are another example of Mercyhurst University adapting to the changing society and technology while remaining true to its heritage.
Police Log Sunday, Nov. 3 Harassment 4010 Lewis Ave. Closed
Public history majors Allie Stacy and KayAnn Warner hold a 1922 map of the Frontier Park area in the city of Erie for the “Erie Places, Erie Stories” project.
@TheMerciad
Sami Rapp photo
Snow season is fun for students By Sami Rapp
It’s that time of year at Mercyhurst. The snow is back. We’ve gotten lucky so far this year, as this is the first snowfall that has stuck to the ground. On Monday night, the snow started to fall and it came down fast. Within four hours, about two inches of snow covered everything. Even though some students were not happy to see the snow, many others were excited to see it blanketing our school. Students were seen outside late Monday throwing snowballs, making snow angels and building snowmen. With the snow, Mercyhurst is transformed. Everything looks more magical and the snow makes everything seem less dreary. While the snow is beautiful, it can also be a hazard. Between the snow and ice, the roads are slippery so be careful. On Tuesday, a car crashed into a campus on lower Lewis due to the unsafe road conditions. Be careful, Lakers, and make sure to make the most out of the snow.
News Brief MSG to continue smoothie bar Dear Mercyhurst Students, On behalf of Mercyhurst Student Government, we’d like to thank you all for your support and contributions to the Smoothie Bar test run. The Smoothie Bar was only a pilot to help determine whether it would be a viable option in the future. MSG only gave out a limited number of coupons, because we wanted to make sure that the students would be purchasing smoothies even at market price. The $1 off coupons for the smoothie bar helped entice students to get smoothies and for promotion purposes. Again we would like to thank you all for your participation and taking the opportunity to support the cause. We sold a total of 675 smoothies. It will be open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 11-5pm for the rest of the semester. Warmly, Mercyhurst Student Government
November 13, 2013
The Merciad
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Features
It’s game time at National Defense U. By Nathan Turner Contributing writer
Many of the upperclassmen in the Intelligence Department know of Professor Kris Wheaton’s fascination with games. He uses them in his courses to help students implicitly learn concepts that will be helpful in their futures as analysts. “Games,” he says, “are great for teaching without teaching.” He uses the example of poker players and probability to further explain the concept. “A great poker player doesn’t have someone teach him how to use probability,” he said. “He learns it by learning to calculate the odds through the game and learning how to calculate the odds of him drawing the right cards.” Games are also capable of teaching students how to
avoid biases in judgment. Wheaton and Melonie Richey, a second year graduate student in the Intelligence Studies program, recently took this idea to the Center for Applied Strategic Learning at the National Defense University. The pair showcased a game called The Mind’s Lie, a game of their own design meant to help participants learn how to avoid cognitive biases through the use of realistic scenarios. They taught some of the nation’s top analysts, game designers and simulation experts how to play the game, while also displaying Wheaton’s research on the effectiveness of gamesbased learning. Both the game and the research were well received at the CASL, which is tasked with improving the “strategic decision making and critical thinking capabilities” of leaders from the US and all
over the world. Elizabeth Bartels, a CASL research analyst and the sponsor of the Mercyhurst team’s workshop at the NDU, voiced great excitement for the results of the workshop. “The demonstrations offered new tools for government teachers working to integrate cognitive issues into the education of policy makers,” she said. While this high praise is a great example of how Mercyhurst is seeking to be on the cutting-edge in improving intelligence analysis, the importance of this event is best summed up in Wheaton’s words. “It was a pretty big deal to be invited to present the workshops to top people involved in gaming and simulation within the Department of Defense; the fact that they loved it was an even bigger deal,” he said. @TheMerciad
Caitlyn Merkel photo
Melonie Richey and Prof. Kris Wheaton designed a game to showcase at the National Defense U.
Students develop faith in MYRACLE club By Dan Tarr
Features editor
The MYRACLE club at a retreat in Grove City.
Contributed photo
Students at Mercyhurst have many different religious backgrounds. One such background is the Roman Catholic faith. One way that Roman Catholic students at Mercyhurst can grow and deepen their faith is by joining MYRACLE, the only Roman Catholic club that Mercyhurst has to offer. The full title of the club is Mercyhurst Youth Retreats and Catholic Leadership Education (MYRACLE). The main thing the club does is attend retreats and service projects. The retreats are usually done whenever it
is the most convenient time for the students. This is usually at the end of the school week. The club was started back in 2011. It was created in order for students to share their faith with school-aged students. As of now, there are more than 30 members in the club. Most of them are actively involved; however, some of them are not as involved due to time or other obligations. MYRACLE has been to four states. They have also been to six or seven dioceses, and have reached out to 1,400 students in grade school. The main goal of each retreat is to help children
learn more about God’s message and deepen their faith. Ice-breakers are a big part of the retreats. At the end of each retreat, a survey is given out to the children to ask them how much they enjoyed the retreat. “A big part is getting kids to learn who they are and if they want to live as a ‘disciple of the Lord’,” senior member Kevin Dudek said. The club has also donated goods and other items to Lakers for Life and local homeless shelters in the Erie area. During Lent, the club has performed the Living Stations in the Erie diocese. MYRACLE was recently recognized by the Catholic Campus Ministry Associ-
ation for their Exemplary Program Award, in the category of “developing Leaders for the future.” This is an award that is one of six national awards presented to Catholic Campus Ministry programs. If you would like to know more about MYRACLE, or would like more information about becoming a member, contact the club at MYRAC L E @ m e r c y h u r s t . e d u . If you would like to know more about Campus Ministry in general, please contact Campus Ministry Director Greg Baker at gbaker@mercyhurst.edu. @dantarr88
Forum to ask “Religious? To Be or Not to Be?” By Alexandra Kleckner Contributing writer
If you didn’t mark a religious affiliation on your application to MU, chances are likely that you received an email from Betty Amatangelo, assistant director of Campus Ministry and Interfaith program coor-
MSG
dinator, last month asking if you would be interested in joining fellow students for an “open mic” student forum to discuss various opinions on religion and religious affiliation. Due to the amount of interest Campus Ministry received in response to the email, they have decided to host
the forum and have named it “Religious? To Be or not to Be.” All students are encouraged to attend the event which is being held on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 5:30-7 p.m. in the Student Union. Although this is an “open mic” of sorts, students do not have to speak in order
Senator Spotlight
Hello Everyone! My name is Emily Mashuda and I am a senior biology major. I am a senator for the School of Zurn as well as the Chair for MSG’s sustainability committee. I am involved in the honors program, Phi Eta Sigma, Sustainability Club, and am a former officer of the Outdoor Adventure Club. I absolutely
love being outside, which has caused me to focus my degree on aquatic ecology (basically, I’m a fish nerd). I am a student with problems, just like any of you, so I would love to learn what you want MSG to do for you, the students. If you see me around campus please feel free to stop me, we are your voice!
to attend, but rather are welcome to listen to what their peers have to say on the topic of religion in hopes of being exposed to new insight on the vehemently debated subject. According to Amatangelo, the forum will “give students the opportunity to participate in dialogue” and will appeal to all those who find diversity
intriguing. Religion is an issue that we have grown to shy away from discussing because of some unwritten law that it is taboo, similar to talking about sex or politics at a dinner party. The objective here is not to point any fingers or shame anyone based on their affiliation or lack thereof, but rather
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the forum aims to elicit understanding and thought-provoking discussion amongst the student body. “Hopefully, students will walk away with a sense of unity rooted in intelligent dialogue rather than division rooted in ignorance,” Amatangelo said. @TheMerciad
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Arts &
November 13, 2013
The Merciad
Entertainment
Artwork being accepted for juried student show By Mathew Anderson Editor-in-Chief
The Cummings Art Gallery is accepting entries for its annual Juried Art Show to be presented Jan. 13 through Feb. 9 and the deadline will be Jan. 8. Students who are interested are encouraged to enter up to three original works of art. These works may use any artistic medium, including drawing, painting, photography, computer generated works, ceramics, pen and ink, charcoal and mixed media. This list is not exhausted ,however, and works of any artistic medium may be submitted. All submitted works must be display-ready when submitted to the Gallery. Heather Dana, director of the Cummings Art Gallery, is especially excited about this opportunity for the students to show their talent in this showing. “I look forward to seeing all of the students’ entries for this year’s Juried Student Show. There is always such a wide variety of media-be it drawing, paintings, ceramic works, digital arts and photography. What the students have learned over the year in their art classes is reflected here. Such a strong showing of talent,” Dana said. Artwork that is to be judged must have been created at Mercyhurst University and cannot be more than two years old. Entries accompanied with a completed label can be taken to Cummings Art Gallery and dropped off on Jan. 7 and 8
Salina Bowe photo
Artwork is now being accepted for the annual juried student art show that will be presented in January.
from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s juror, Joanne Ivey of the Campbell Pottery Store, will judge all submitted work. For the past eight years, Ivey has been the director of the Stone-
wall Gallery and head merchandiser at Campbell Pottery Store. Ivey regularly attends the Buyers market of American Craft in Philadelphia. Ivey received her B.A. in Art History from Mich-
igan State University and M.F.A. in Painting from Edinboro University along with studying at the Vermont Studio School. Ivey’s works have been featured in the Friends of Mercyhurst annual exhibition, the Erie Art Museum’s annual Juried Spring Show and was featured in the Erie Art Museum in a one-person showing, titled “Paper work.” “Paper maché sculpture has been my medium of choice for over 20 years and while being a less than well respected art form, it has ceaselessly amazed me with its possibilities,” Ivey said. The deadline for submitted works will be Jan. 8; however, if a student is interested in submitting work but will not be on campus for the J-term, works may be submitted at Cummings Art Gallery Dec. 9-13 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Artists will be notified by email whether or not their artwork has been accepted into the exhibition on Jan. 10, following adjudication. The exhibition will run Jan. 13 through Feb. 9, 2014. The Cummings Art Gallery is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. For more information about volunteering or work study employment, please contact Cummings Art Gallery Director, Dana, at hdada@ mercyhurst.edu or by phone at (814) 824-2092.
By Megan Pacileo Staff writer
Online
Mary D’Angelo PAC Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 7:30 pm Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013 2:00 pm In celebration of 20 amazing years, Yamato - The Drummers of Japan will embark on a special anniversary tour “ROJYOH,” or “on the road.” Fans from all over the world will experience the spectacular celebration of their exhilarating combination of drumming and theatricality. This sensation returns to the Mercyhurst stage in an encore presentation for two performances of unforgettable, explosive rhythm you won’t want to miss.
@mathewanderson1
Yamato returns with an encore and a bang Yamato’s show has been called a show of “unbridled enthusiasm, much humor and great musical variety,” by The Scotsman Magazine. And now, they will be returning to Mercyhurst for a spectacular 20th anniversary show. The drummers of Yamato have been coming to Mercyhurst for years, since the early 2000s, always drawing in large crowds. This year, to celebrated 20 amazing years, Yamato, the drummers of Japan are embarking on a special anniversary tour, called “ROJYOH,” or “on the road.” This show is said to be quite the experience, a spectacular festivity of their adrenaline-charged mixture of drumming and theatricality. This tour will take them to central American and throughout North America. This extraordinary show is said to highlight Yamato’s most memorable performances. Using Taiko drums, some of which are more than 400 years old, Yamato channels up an ancient thunder, as their instruments light up the
Yamato
pac.mercyhurst.edu photo
pac.mercyhurst.edu photo
On Screen/In Person Film Series:
Mr. Cao Goes to Washington Taylor Little Theatre Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. Follow the unexpected journey of Rep. Joseph Cao–the first Vietnamese American elected to the U.S. Congress, the only non-white House Republican of the 111th Congress, and the only Republican to vote for President Obama’s Health Care Reform Bill. Filmmaker, S. Leo Chiang, will run a Q&A session following the film $6 for adults, $5 for students/seniors $1 for Mercyhurst students (with ID)
artssa.org photo
Well-known drumming band, Yamato, is celebrating 20 years of entertaining audiences around the world by returning to campus with an explosive performance.
stage with booming power. Audience members should expect quite a performance. Yamato is known not only for their skill as drummers, but their incredibly theatrical performances. This show is made possible by a partnership between Mercyhurst University and the Asian Pacific American Association of Erie. Erie APAA is a nonprofit organization made up of different groups from Asia to unite all different cultures in Erie. Before the show, they will be providing a fashion show in the lobby, to show audience
Full list of events can be found on the PAC website
members a variety of traditional Asian dress, as well as a table where people can view other Asian instruments. This sensation returns to the Mercyhurst stage in an encore presentation for two performances of extraordinary, booming rhythm you won’t want to miss. Yamato shows have sold out for years, and there are tickets still available, so be sure to buy them early. Mercyhurst students can see the show for just $5. All you have to do is purchase your ticket the day of the performance and present your student ID at the Box
Office window. The show will be held in the Mary D’Angelo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 17, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. Please contact Jamie Grady with any questions. For more information, including ticket prices, please check the Mercyhurst Institute of Arts and Culture, at http://miac.mercyhurst.edu/ events/yamato/.
Monday, Dec. 6, 2013: Deadline for Submission
Thursday, May 1, 2014: The Lumen Reception
For more information contact:
Kenneth Schiff @TheMerciad
View upcoming performances: www.miac.mercyhurst.edu
Email: kschiff@mercyhurst.edu Phone: (814) 824-2461
www.merciad.mercyhurst.edu/ arts_entertainment
The Merciad
November 13, 2013
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Arts &
Entertainment
ARTPOP reinvents Gaga By Juan Mendez News editor
Lady Gaga is back in the industry and, this time, she’s coming for the crown. “ARTPOP,” Gaga’s third studio album, is anything but similar to any of her previous releases. With this release, Gaga describes herself as a “phoenix rising from the ashes.” Gaga speaks the truth, as she will surely soar thanks to “ARTPOP.” The songs feel like a breath of fresh air for fans of her music, as they are experimental, fun and different without removing the essence of her fame monster: a track listing that can make it to the top of the charts upon release. After a hip injury in the midst of her Born This Way tour, Gaga was forced to halt production of her newest project, giving her time to reevaluate the direction she wanted to take with the album and what tracks she wanted to feature. After 50 songs were recorded and considered to be put in the album, the list was narrowed to 11 tracks, most of which could be considered some of her best. I’ll cut to the chase and say this before anything else: “ARTPOP” is an exploration of popular culture and artistic expression. Unlike “The Fame Monster” or “Born This Way,” which were hit single machines for Gaga, “ARTPOP” feels fresh not because she’s given us more songs to listen on the radio that will stay in our heads for weeks, but because she’s letting her true artist out and still achieving the former. It is a ride filled with a variety of sounds and lyrics, which somehow manage to work excellently against and with each other. This is the result of Gaga’s collaboration with many artists and producers from all walks of the industry, from DJs such as Zedd and Madeon to rap artists like T.I., Twista and Too $hort. The result is an amazing exposition of her versatility as a singer, able to go from a breathtaking ballad to a rave song in the two seconds between tracks without breaking a sweat. The album kicks off with a trio that is best described as the main ingredients for a good time. “Aura,” “Venus” and “G.U.Y.” are empower-
ment tracks like never heard before set against beats that you wouldn’t expect from the singer. “Aura,” produced by Gaga and Zedd, explores middle-eastern guitar riffs and heavy electronic beats as Gaga explores the empowerment of women hidden behind their “cover,” be it their cultural wear or the reserved nature of their behavior. It serves as an amazing opening track, as the powerful vocals and intense bridges are both sultry yet bold, a common theme across the album. The other two, “Venus” and “G.U.Y. (Girl Underneath You),” both discuss the power of women beyond the bedroom, comparing them to the goddess of love, a mystical being capable of anything. Gaga takes us across the universe with her robotic instrumentals and references to ancient mythology and outer space. “G.U.Y.,” however, paints the image of a woman who doesn’t need to come out on top to know she’s in control. With lyrics like “I’m best when I’m in love and I’m in love with you,” Gaga tells her personal story of power, only fed by the affection of her lover. Although Gaga’s betting for full control of her relationship, “G.U.Y.” could easily give her control of the pop charts as well. For the sake of keeping the content family friendly, I will say the following: “Sexxx Dreams” and “Jewels n’ Drugs,” the latter of which features rap artists T.I., Twista and Too $hort, are both very raunchy tracks. The lyrics and production work that went into both songs made them raunchy in the best ways possible. Fans of previous songs such as Rihanna’s “S&M” and Katy Perry’s “Dark Horse” will fall in love with these two tracks, but so will anyone else. The songs are very demonstrative of Gaga’s range, both musically and lyrically. Not only can she be sultry and sexual, but she can also maintain the desire for fame that made “The Fame” and “The Fame Monster” such international successes. “MANiCURE” is one of those songs everyone will
jam out to at concerts, simply because of its high live potential. The guitar riffs and drum works are surely to work amazingly when Gaga performs the song live, but the track feels somewhat weak as compared to those preceding it. Nonetheless, it’s a “rock out” kind of song that brings the listener back to the golden ages of female empowerment, made possible by pop and rock artists alike. “Do What U Want,” the album’s second single, is Lady Gaga’s emancipation from the media attention. Following all the criticism she’s gone through for her weight, her addiction problems and certain rumors regarding her gender, Gaga starts a movement for pop culture. Her chorus, an exclamation of “you can’t have my heart and you won’t use my mind, but do what you want with my body” is her way of laying down the law for pop connoisseurs and critics alike: criticize her all you want, but you can’t take her creative genius away. R. Kelly’s appearance on the song is crucial to its success, as he compliments her strong vocals and the rather calm instrumentals excellently. “ARTPOP” is one of the album’s most defining tracks. Gaga sings about her beauty as an artist and how her creativity is unlimited and unique to her persona, all by saying that her “artpop” could mean anything. After all, the range in the album truly shows that her talent cannot be contained to one subject and one subject only; musician, singer, songwriter, performer and overall artist, Gaga is the queen of all trades. “Swine” is very similar to “Aura” in terms of the instrumental style and the empowerment theme, telling the audience that in fact, she is not a swine. It is a powerful track in terms of a heavily electronic beat and vocals shouted at you, which only makes it that much entertaining. “Donatella” and “Fashion!” are two very different tracks talking about the same thing: the high life of the fashion industry. What’s the difference? Their quality. “Donatella,” an anthem to couturier Donatella Versace, sounds shallow yet fun. It’s one of those songs that stick from the first listen on, a characteristic that “Fashion!” lacks. After a good 13 lis-
Admission and shuttle are free for all attendees. SAC encourages attendees to dress like their favorite Jersey Shore character, or club-classy. There will be a raffle to raise funds for the damage done to the Jersey Shoreline during super storm sandy in 2012. Tickets for baskets are 50 cents for one or $3 for an arms length. Baskets include: workout materials, movie, and tanning products and more. The items in the gift baskets are Jersey Shore themed in correspondence with their famous slogan G.T.L. G.T.L also stands for Give to Those who Lost, and is the theme of the event. Raffle tickets can be bought throughout the week at the student union table set up by MSG and SAC, as well as at the event. You must be in attendance to claim your prize. The funds are going to
Samaritans Purse Fund and all proceeds will be sent following the event. Farley says, “We chose this organization for many reasons. The larger organizations, like the Red Cross, use a decent amount of donated money for salaries, while Samaritan’s Purse gives the majority of funds received to the project at hand.” The fund will go towards the Ocean Country Relief Fund, a program within the US Disaster Fund. Farley chose this program because she said, “This program really hits home to me since my mom grew up in that county and much of my extended family still live there.” Farley wants to stress her frustration that the Jersey Shore does not receive much attention from disaster relief programs or the public in general due to the show Jersey Shore.
REVIEW
www.ladygaga.com photo
Lady Gaga has reinvented herself with her latest album, “ARTPOP,” a manifesto of what pop culture should sound like.
tens of the album, I still find myself skipping the song every time it comes on. The lyrics are decent at best, but the music is just weak. It’s a tragedy that there had to be one weak song on such a great album. “Mary Jane Holland” is easily my favorite track off of “ARTPOP.” Disregarding the very obvious references, Gaga has outdone herself in terms of finding the perfect balance between strong vocals and strong instrumentals. At no point do these two conflict, but they rather complement each other throughout the track. Lyrically, the song is rather genius: she talks about the effect of popular culture on the character of Mary Jane Holland, who refuses to give into the “blonde or the culture of the popular” but still lives a lifestyle of debauchery and excess. Even with the subject matter, the song manages to be tame and sultry without being too controversial. So far, Gaga showed the audiences she can be fun, shallow and thoughtful; however, “Dope” is the most
vulnerable of her songs. In the track, Gaga talks about her drug addiction and the support her family and lover provided her with. The song is a slow piano ballad that focuses more on the weakness in Gaga’s voice as she carries through beautiful lines and powerful choruses, comparing the need for company to her addiction. “Dope” is one of those tear-jerking apologies that have always had a spot in the heart of the industry. “Gypsy” is a combination of both a ballad and a power-pop track, accompanied with lyrics about finally being able to settle down in one place with someone after seeing it all. Madeon has done a great job of producing the track, as it is one of the most musically pleasing in the album: it’s techno and fun, but it’s not excessive. Finally, Gaga closes up “ARTPOP” with its lead single, “Applause,” where she claims the applause and the praise she receives from her fans and critics alike are what motivate her to continue
making music. After the hourlong show that is “ARTPOP,” she’s bound to get tons of it. To sum it up, “ARTPOP” is not a refined, exclusive experience: anyone can join in on the fun, as it has widespread appeal and a variety of tracks, almost guaranteed to please the masses. It’s a far step from “Born This Way,” but this musical gypsy life of hers has certainly made it a step in the right direction. All of the songs are genius, powerful and fun, a feat that has usually been a “pick two” system for most of the industry until now. Clearly, the applause is well deserved. There is little room for improvement in tracks like “Fashion!” and “MANiCURE,” but the album is still excellent as it is. “ARTPOP” is a must-have for any fan of pop music. Once again, Lady Gaga has managed to outdo herself, as she has blown the roars of the competition out of the water. @jaymnd
Restore the shore at Club Jersey By Sam Beckas Staff writer
Club Jersey is an event being held by Student Activities Council and was coordinated by junior Michelle Farley and sophomore Bri Macri. The purpose is to help raise funds to clean up the Jersey shore. Club Jersey will be held on Friday, Nov. 15th from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. The event is being held at the Metropolitan, or the Metro, in downtown Erie. The event is held solely for MU students and SAC asks that everyone bring their student I.D. Student Activities Council will be running a bus shuttle for attendees every half an hour from the student union starting at 10 p.m. and running until 2 a.m. However, students are able to drive to the venue if they wish.
“My cousin had to be rescued via Jet Ski and my other cousin’s boyfriend lost his house,” said Farley. But that’s not the only issue. Jersey is now requiring homes to be raised to a certain height. If your home can even be saved at all, the raising of a house costs roughly $30,000. “It is frustrating to me that due to the slanted view of Jersey that has been established in relation to the TV show Jersey Shore, people do not see the urgency of the situation and thus aid is not flowing in, especially since the disaster is comparable to Hurricane Katrina in its impact.” @Sambeckas
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November 13, 2013
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.
Graduate School Night provided limited success By Samantha Beckas Staff writer
The Business Club hosted Graduate School Night on Nov. 7 in the Mercy Heritage Room. Graduate School Night was meant to introduce graduate programs for students if interested in continuing their education after their undergraduate studies. There were supposed to be 10 schools in attendance including Mercyhurst. Those schools included Clarkson University, Duquesne University, Niagara University, Penn State Behrend, Robert Morris University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Syracuse University, University of Buffalo, University of Pittsburgh, and Mercyhurst. All of which are located in neighboring areas; however, University of Pittsburgh was not able to attend. For weeks, every student on campus saw fliers and received emails inviting them to the
event. The presentation encouraged students of all majors and all ages to attend. The fliers said, “It’s never too early to start thinking about graduate school.” That statement is true. As a sophomore I was very excited to attend the presentation and start planning my future, as were other students. As a hospitality student, I only slightly benefitted. Not many of the schools that were in attendance mentioned any kind of further degrees in hospitality. That’s ok. I have considered a master’s degree in business and that would work well for my area of study and career path. However, that’s not the case for students who study biology, archaeology, psychology, or any other major than a business major, offered on this campus for that matter. I was surprised to see the Mercy Heritage Room so full upon my arrival. There were people without seats…at first. After the first speaker, almost
half of the room got up to leave. I’m sure this was disappointing to the Business Club members as well as the representatives. As more speakers presented, more students left. I stayed at the presentation in case there turned out to be any hospitality opportunities and I was also interested in what the different schools had to offer. After talking to students that ended up leaving, they were disappointed that there was so much hype for them to attend but then were not able to get anything out of it. Graduate School Night is a great idea. I commend the Business Club and Walker School of Business staff on their effort and success among business students that night. A good thing about those who stayed, business student or not, is that they were introduced to schools they may not have known about and gained knowledge of them. The problem is that they invited all students and only
business students really benefitted and attendance was not as high as they probably hoped. The schools that presented were very enthusiastic about their programs and did not hesitate to answer any question thrown at them. There were a lot of papers and pamphlets to read and some schools gave freebies such as coasters and water bottles, and who doesn’t like freebies? Overall, for those who actually benefitted, the night was successful and the business club should be proud. For those who did not benefit, Mercyhurst and the Career Development Center should offer another “graduate school night” more similar to the Clubs and Organizations Fair or Career Fair, where there is more opportunity for all students.
Contributing writer
I am going to probably draw a lot of ire for this opinion, but I believe Police and Safety should be able to carry firearms. Not just Tasers, but actual, lethal force firearms. My reason: I prefer low body counts. Let’s use the real-world example of someone trying to come on to the campus to inflict harm to members of the student body, like some of the instances that have occurred in the past. Now, let’s say that members
of Police and Safety come across this incident and that the offender is harmed with a firearm. Two ways this occurrence can end: 1: Police and Safety is unarmed. The offender sees Police and Safety officers and chooses to fire upon them. The batons they currently wield are useless and they are left with the option to either wait until he runs out of ammunition to respond, during which time he could kill multiple people, or run out into the line of fire and risk getting themselves killed in addition to whomever the offender came to harm.
Either way, the body count is unacceptable. 2: Police and Safety is armed. The offender sees Police and Safety officers with their weapons drawn and aimed at him. He is left with the option of surrender before harming anyone, or trying to fire upon them and having them shoot him. Either way, he is neutralized with minimal injury and/or loss of life. I don’t know if the readers have noticed that Mercyhurst isn’t exactly closed off from the rest of the world. There are threats which can, and have come onto this campus
Due to the overwhelming number of smoothies purchased in The Laker Inn over the past few days, MSG has decided to keep the smoothie bar running on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays throughout the remainder of the semester.
The Bad... A car crashed into a Lewis apartment building early Tuesday afternoon. Luckily, the apartment was vacant but the accident left a huge hole in the wall, as shown here.
@Sambeckas
The Ugly...
Police and Safety should carry guns By Nathan Turner
The Good...
in recent years. Since members of the student body cannot carr y firear ms of their own, I’d prefer that the men who are paid to protect us from these threats should be able to use deadly force if needed. It would be a deterrent for anyone who thinks they can just walk on campus and harm the student population. It does us no good to pretend that there are none who wish to harm us. “It does the sheep no good to agree on a policy of vegetarianism when the wolf disagrees.” @TheMerciad
Even though registration has just started, many students are already frustrated at not getting the courses they need or were counting on.
Correction: The Nov. 6 edition of The Merciad featured a “Weird” which wrongly questioned the spending of college funds regarding the new artwork installation in the main hallway of Old Main. This installation is comprised completely of donated works from local artists. It is due to the generosity of these artists that our main hallway is able to stay looking fresh and new each time the exhibition changes. The Merciad apologizes for the comment.
On-campus parking is atrocious The Merciad By Charles Robinson Contributing writer
Online
Parking on a college campus is a great privilege. On many college campuses, it is often restricted to just juniors and seniors, or those deemed necessary to needing a vehicle. On other campuses, parking costs are horrendous, often ranging from 50 to hundreds of dollars or more just for a parking pass. Fortunately, at Mercyhurst, we have the luxury of just being required to be a sophomore or older to obtain a regular parking pass for absolutely no charge. Not having to pay for parking is a wonderful thing, but it also comes with a price in itself. The parking facilities on the Mercyhurst campus are in deplorable condition. A number of the parking garages in the upperclassman area of Briggs and Lewis are unusable due to
their condemned state. The main parking garage on East Main Drive next to the Duval Apar tments is not much better. The garage’s stairs are rotted throughout, with gaping holes in the concrete and metal shards sticking every which way.
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The parking facilities on the Mercyhurst campus are in deplorable condition.
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The only solution to this that appeared to be offered so far is some yellow caution tape, which was not heeded by students using the garage. The garage’s concrete deck with its many cracks is also quite questionable. Also not to mention the occasional flooding from heavy rains due to clogged or poor function-
ing storm drains. The parking garages are not the only concern. The state of the regular, ground-level parking lots are also quite questionable. Many of these lots have numerous potholes or chipped asphalt. This is not only damaging to the vehicles of everyday campus goers, but it is not as welcoming to those coming to visit our beautiful school. Fortunately, the McAuley lot was patched during the summer, but is still a pretty rough go. As a result of forcing various parking garages or lots to close due to their poor conditions, the number of available parking spots has dwindled significantly and finding one of those spots on campus has become a nightmare in itself. Students and even some faculty and staff are forced to drive around a lot multiple times just to have hope in finding a parking spot. Many times we are forced to park in
Read more at
merciad.mercyhurst.edu/opinion
a lot all the way on the other side of campus, even when those lots may be filled to capacity as well. Parking on the street is also an option, but this is not the safest idea, both for ourselves and our vehicles, due to traffi c and other factors. Now, I am not asking to park on a golden throne. I am just asking for the administration and those atop the maintenance department to please reconsider. I understand that even on a small campus like ours, there are many things requiring your attention, but please consider funding some sort of parking makeover plan to get the garages and lots back up to par. It will be much safer for everyone involved, including faculty, staff and students alike. @TheMerciad
Editors Mathew Anderson Zach Dorsch Juan Mendez Daniel Tarr Samantha Bante Garrett Erwin Alejandra Zeron Leann Krysiak Nicole Lawrence Sami Rapp Ethan Johns Will DeFeo Bill Welch
Positions @mercyhurst.edu Editor-in-Chief editormerciad Managing Editor managingmerciad News Editor newsmerciad Features Editor featuremerciad Sports Editor sportsmerciad A&E Editor entertainmentmerciad Opinion Editor opinionmerciad Copy Editor copymerciad Graphics photomerciad Photo Editor photomerciad Web Editor ejohns89 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 120B. 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 13, 2013
Page 7
The Merciad
Sports
Makela earns CHA player of month By Samantha Bante Sports editor
With a record of 6-4-1 and being ranked no. 10 in the latest USCHO.com Division I Women’s Hockey Poll announced Monday, the Mercyhurst women’s hockey team is fighting to make this season one to remember. The recent drop in the poll was due to the split with Robert Morris University (2-0; 2-3) last weekend. But that is not stopping some significant players who have made it a point to step up for the team. Junior goaltender Amanda Makela was recently selected for the CHA goaltender of the month award. “It’s a great feeling to be recognized by the league. It’s also a compliment to the team as a whole. I have to give them a lot of the credit, they played very well in front of me blocking shots, lifting sticks and getting clears,” Makela said. Makela has been a great resource for the team, playing in every game thus far, and having a total of 258 saves, and average 1.73 per
Ed Mailliard photo
Junior goaltender Amanda Makela was recently selected for the CHA goaltender of the month award, having a total of 258 saves.
game. “After a rocky start, we have been able to grow and improve. As a young team, I think we have done well but we also have room for improvement. Every game provides us with more experience in which we are able
to learn from,” Makela said. “We take what we have learned and apply it to our practices every week in order to constantly improve to continue our success as the season continues.” The Lakers are outscoring their opponents 29 to 18 in
11 games played this season. Mercyhurst continues to outshoot their opponents 419 to 284 and are averaging 38 shots per game. They are ranked 14th in combined special teams and are seventh in penalty kills. “Everyone plays a differ-
ent role on the team to help us win games. Our upperclassmen including Christine Bestland, Christie Cicero, Molly Byrne, Caroline Luczak, Shelby Bram and Kaleigh Chippy have been key players that have helped the team come together.
“They all possess the leadership, hard work and communication skills needed to lead our team on and off the ice,” Makela said. Another player that also had great success this past weekend was sophomore Emily Janiga was named the CHA Player of the Week. Janiga, who had a goal in the 2-0 win and added a point in each Mercyhurst goal during Saturday’s contest. “CHA League games also provide many challenges. Mercyhurst is always a top contender for league champions and therefore, we are the team to beat. We know that every team will bring their best so we have to work hard to continue the program’s success,” Makela said. “We would like to thank the Mercyhurst community for their continued support throughout the season,” Makela said. The Lakers’ next series will be on Friday and Saturday against Syracruse Unversity at the Mercyhurst Ice Center. The puck is set to drop at 7 p.m. Friday evening. @Sbante91
Men’s basketball looks forward to season By Katherine Donohue Staff writer
The Mercyhurst men’s basketball team was voted to finish sixth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division for the 2013-2014 season. These rankings are based on their division’s preseason coaches poll. Last season the men finished fifth in the division after earning 16 wins. This is a middle ranking and the Lakers look to prove they’re worthy of a higher seed. “We expect to finish higher than sixth and to show everyone how good we are. Our goal is to win a PSAC Championship,” said senior center Paul Bildo. The expectations for the winter are to surpass last year’s and continuing the winning record.
After winning strong in the Western Division last year, Indiana (Pa.) was voted to finish first while rival, Gannon, received the second slot. Another tough competitor, Slippery Rock takes third. California (Pa.) ranked fourth and right ahead of Mercyhurst in the fifth place ranking is Pitt-Johnstown who will make their PSAC debut. Luckily, the Lakers this season are full of veterans and have experience to back up their goals of moving ahead in the rankings. There is just one freshman on the team, Hian Hale, along with five other newcomers who seem to be fitting right in with the rest of the team. The practices leading up to this point already have been able to form a solid preseason training regimen. Bildo said, “In practice we are just playing hard, learning the system,
and building chemistry so that we play well together.” Last season, the Lakers made big waves by winning huge games against two nationally-ranked opponents. Also Jonathan Ouegnin made the infamous dunk that got him a clip on nationally-televised “Sports Center.” Ouegnin is back this year as a senior and ranked in the top five in three PSAC statistical categories including assists, steals, and assist-to-turnover ratio. This leaves a lot of excitement for the first league opening game Nov. 15 against Shepherd University. Be sure to come to the MAC and support them for their home opener Nov. 20 vs. Seton Hill University. @TheMerciad
Ed Mailliard photo
The men’s basketball team was voted to finish sixth in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Western Division for the 2013-2014 season.
Football beats Edinboro and Cal University By Daniel Edgar
Contributing writer
With another successful win of 23-20 against California University of Pennsylvania on Nov. 9, it has given the Lakers a 6-4 season. With this great win, three players received the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division II Weekly Awards. Senior running back Allen Jones II, redshirt junior linebacker Pat Behm, and senior placekicker Steven Wakefield. The Mercyhurst University football team defeated conference rival, Edinboro University at Tullio Field 19-6 on Nov. 2. The win moved the Lakers to a 5-4 overall season record and an even 3-3 in the PSAC Western Division. The Lakers did not produce their best offense game in the season but they were able to gain 266 yards on the ground against the Edinboro defense. Mercyhurst quarterbacks completed just seven of 16 passes, the second
straight game Mercyhurst has not thrown for at least 100 yards. Laker defense performed exceptionally well by only allowing Edinoboro a season low of 148 total offensive yards. With much difficulty, Edinboro could only generate 51 rushing yards on a total of 38 carries and just 97 passing yards. A relentless Laker defense sacked Edinboro quarterback a total five times and had eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage. Dustin Galich, who was one of the 21 seniors honored, led the defense with 11 tackles, twosacks, two tackles for a loss. His performance helped him earn the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division II Defensive Player of the Week. Redshirt sophomore Brandon Brown-Dukes finished the game prior to halftime after rushing for 67 yards on 10 carries, resulting in a 2,248 career rushing yards surpassing Mercyhurst Hall of Fame running back Tim Ruth (1982-85). Early in the game, the
Jake Lowy photo
After defeating California a week later, Mercyhurst moved to 6-4 for the season.
Lakers got on the scoreboard first after a poor snap by the Fighting Scotts resulting in a Mercyhurst safety. Five minutes later in the first quarter, senior Anthony Vendemia found wide receiver Steven Yarbrough for a 61 yard career first touchdown. Senior Steven
Wakefield’s follow up field goal put the Lakers 9-0. The Lakers scored again, five minutes into the second quarter, when red shirted sophomore Richie Sanders found a seam in the Edinboro defense and ran an 80-yard touchdown. Wakefield followed for another
field goal, 16-0. The win helped junior defensive back Colin Kimball and sophomore tight end John Matarazzo earn the Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District First. The duo will now be eligible for Capital One Academic All-America status, with
voting scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The Lakers look forward to their next game against East Stroudsburg University on Saturday Nov. 16. @TheMerciad
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November 13, 2013
The Merciad
Laker
Living Geek Weekly:
PS4 vs. Xbox One: Xbox One
By Zach Dorsch Managing editor
will offer an all you can listen to streaming service commercial free for a small monthly fee. As stated before, you will be able to connect your existing cable box up with the Xbox which allows you to do everything on one system.
As a continuation from last week’s column, this week we will be taking a look at Microsoft next generation system the Xbox One. Looks: The Xbox One is set for release on Nov. 22 with a baseline price of $499, this is $100 more then Sony’s PS4. The Xbox One was a much boxier look then the PS4 with a shiny black finish that features vented sections for cooling. The Xbox One can only be positioned horizontally due to its design. The system also comes with the revamped Kinect System that shares the same color palate and look. Hardware: In terms of hardware the Xbox One is powered by an AMD x86 processor and 8 GB of RAM, this is a similar set up to the PS4. The issue is the Xbox one is using DDR3 RAM instead of GDDR5, which is being used by Sony on the PS4 giving the PS4 a slight advantage. Microsoft recently announced that the CPU will be preforming at 1.75 GHz. Some of the other specs include a 500 GB hard drive to store all your media. It also has a Blu-ray disc drive and an HDMI pass-through, which allows you to hook up your cable or satellite box to the system allowing you to watch TV without the need to switch your input back to your box. The last piece of hardware I would like to talk about is the Kinect camera that comes standard with every Xbox One. The camera on the device is now shooting at 1080p and works much better in dimly lit rooms thanks to its new IR sensor. The camera now has the capability to track the movement of 25 individual joints as well as how fast each movement is. It features voice and face recognition that allows you to turn on and off the device, start up a game or answer a Skype call.
Online: Xbox will yet again reign as king when it comes to online play thanks to their 300,000 servers, and the fact of how simple it will be to move over the already massive community over to the new system. Xbox Live will feature add-ons like Twitch TV which allows for live broadcasting of your online gaming sessions. Microsoft has also hinted at the idea of using cloud computing in order to allow games to evolve and improve over time. Games: Xbox One also beats out the PS4 in terms of games being launched on the release of the system. Including games like Dead Rising 3, Forza 5, Titainfall and Ryse: Son of Rome. Controllers: The controller has been slightly changed from the Xbox 360 controller. Microsoft said it has updated the D-pad and analogue thumb sticks for greater accuracy. It also features colored LED that the connect system can recognize and the battery compartment now sits flush with the controller. Another interesting feature is the triggers now offer their own vibration feedback making pulling the trigger on shooting games or accelerating through a turn more realistic. The Xbox One can support eight wireless controllers at one time, but no eight-player games have been released yet for the system.
Pros: • True next gen feel • Great selection of launch games • Centered around entertainment Cons: • Hard Drive can’t be upgraded • Pricier • Slightly less powerful then the PS4
Entertainment: The Xbox One is by far one of the best systems when it comes to including a way to reach your more traditional forms of entertainment such as TV, movies and music. The system will feature things like Xbox Music which
@zdorsc22
Beauty Talks
Drink Turned Into Scrub By Leann Krysiak Copy editor
The cold weather is here and who doesn’t want to warm up with something hot like peppermint mocha or a pumpkin latte. Well, I don’t have a recipe for the drinks but I do have a recipe for a pumpkin latte body scrub. Turning this holiday drink into a body scrub was the best idea every, not mine of course, but I do need to share this brilliant idea. Samples of the scrub were available during Fresh Face Forward’s Beauty Secret Workshop on Tuesday, Nov. 12, so no need to fret if you lost your recipe card. Scrubs help remove dead skin cells, revealing radiant, youthful skin. With the dead cells removed, your skin can also absorb moisture better. It is reccomended to use a scrub 1-2 times a week. I was told the secret to using this scrub is to do with your
skin dry or slightly damp, but not wet. The scrub has two sugars that help exfoliate and the olive and coconut add moisture. The result is velvety, smooth skin that feels amazing. The week’s recipe comes from MissWish.com: Pumpkin Body Scrub 1 cup brown sugar 1 cup white sugar ½ a cup of coconut oil 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil 5 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice ½ teaspoon coffee extract Start by mixing the sugars together. Next heat the coconut oil slightly (does not need to be liquid) and add to the sugars.
The mixture will lump together so break up the clumps with a fork. In a separate bowl combine extra virgin olive oil, pumpkin spice and coffee extract and stir until completely combined. Combine the two mixtures and again it will clump. Use a fork to break up the clumps. Store mixture in an air tight container. It will keep for up to 6 weeks. Need help finding the ingredients? Check out the ingredient guide on Fresh Face Forward’s Recipe page. Did you like it? Love it? Tell me what you think on the Fresh Face Forward’s Facebook page or send your comments to freshfaceforward@gmail.com.
S’moresCupcakes
@LeannKrysiak
Difficulty: Intermediate Prep Time: 45 minutes Total Time: 1 hour Yield: 12 cupcakes
By Sami Rapp Photo editor
Why I like this recipe: Who doesn’t like a s’more? This cupcake tastes just like one. While it is a more difficult recipe it is totally worth it! Ingredients: Graham cracker cupcakes: 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs (about 15 whole crackers ground in processor) 1/2 cup all purpose flour 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1 stick butter 3/4 cups sugar 2 large eggs 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3/4 cup whole milk Chocolate ganache: 8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream Marshmallow fluff for the filling
Instructions 1.Make cupcakes: Preheat oven to 350°F and line a muffin tin with paper liners. 2.In a medium bowl, mix together graham cracker crumbs, flour, baking powder and a pinch of salt. 3.In a separate bowl, beat butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add 1 egg at a time, mixing in between each one. Add vanilla and stir until combined. 4.Add 1/3 of graham cracker mixture to butter mixture, then add 1/2 of milk. Continue to alternate additions, mixing in between, beginning and ending with graham cracker mix. 5.Pour batter into prepared tins until
about 3/4 full. Bake around 20-22 minutes until they are done Make chocolate ganache: 6.While the cupcakes are backing, bring cream just to a boil in a small saucepan, then pout it over the chocolate. Let sit for 1 minute, then stir until smooth. Set aside to cool until ganache is lukewarm. 7.Cut a circle about 1 inch deep into the middle of each cupcake and remove cake, leaving a small hole. 8.Spoon marshmallow fluff into the middle of the cupcakes, then dip the tops of the cupcakes into the ganache. When ready to eat, spoon some marshmallow fluff onto ganache. Place into broiler until lightly browned (30 seconds).
@srapp93